TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to electronic scanning devices, and, more particularly, to a system and method for automatically assigning a filename to a scanned document.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Scanning devices are useful in many applications where it is desirable to transfer an image from printed form into electronic form. Scanners capable of reading and converting a page into electronic format have been available for quite some time. Typically, a scanner will electronically read a page and electronically store the information for later presentation and use.
After scanning, the electronic version of the scanned document is typically saved onto a computer disk using a filename. Typically the filename is queried from the user, requiring interaction between the user and the scanner software. Alternatively, and to avoid querying the user, a standard filename having a unique number for each scanned document might be used. For example, the scanner software might assign the filename "scanl.jpg" to the first scanned document and the filename "scan2.jpg" to the next scanned document, and so on. Another manner in which filenames have been assigned to scanned documents is to query the user as to how the document is to be processed. For example, as a Word (.doc) document, as a bitmap in JPEG (.jpg) format, or as a text document in plain text (.txt). Still another manner in which a filename may be assigned is to use a standard "File Save As" dialog box.
Unfortunately, all the existing methods for assigning a filename to a scanned document require either interaction between the user and the software, or will assign a filename that is non-descriptive of the content of the scanned image.
Therefore, a need exists for an automatic filename assignation system in which a filename that is descriptive of the scanned image is automatically created and applied to the document with little or no interaction from the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a system and method for automatically assigning a filename to a scanned document.
Architecturally, the present invention can be conceptualized as a system for automatically assigning a filename to a scanned image. The system includes a scanner, a document analysis and processing software component in communication with the scanner, and automatic filename assignation logic in communication with the document analysis and processing software component. The automatic filename assignation logic is configured to detect a region in a scanned image, the region including filename information, and assign a filename to the scanned image based upon the detected filename information.
The present invention may also be conceptualized as a method for automatically assigning a filename to a scanned image, comprising the steps of: scanning an image in a scanner, detecting a region in the scanned image, the region including filename information, and assigning a filename to the scanned image based upon the detected filename information.
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The invention has numerous advantages, a few of which are delineated, hereafter, as merely examples.
An advantage of the invention is that it permits the scanner software to automatically assign a filename to a 5 scanned document without querying the user.
Another advantage of the invention is that it improves batch processing speed by eliminating the need for a user to assign filenames to scanned documents and by eliminating the need for a user to reassign filename after the software 10 arbitrarily assigns a filename that is not descriptive of the content of the scanned document.
Another advantage of the invention is that it allows the user to determine whether handwriting on a predetermined s portion of a scanned document or whether a notation on the scanned document will provide the basis for the automatic filename assignation.
Another advantage of the invention is that a user may indicate the format under which to save the document by 20 indicating a desired filename extension with which to process the document, such as, for example, .rtf, .jpg, etc.
Another advantage of the invention is that it is simple in design and easily implemented on a mass scale for commercial production. 25 Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. These additional features and advantages are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present invention.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention, as defined in the claims, can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. 35 The components within the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplar scanner and 40 computer system in which the automatic filename assignation logic of the present invention resides;
FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating the user interface and analysis and processing logic of FIG. 1 in which the logic of the present invention resides; 45 FIGS. 3 through 5 are flow diagrams collectively illustrating the operation of the automatic filename assignation logic of FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 6 is a graphical representation of one embodiment of
the automatic filename assignation logic of FIGS. 1 and 2; so , & &
and
FIG. 7 is a graphical representation of an alternative embodiment of the automatic filename assignation logic of FIGS. 1 and 2.
55 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The automatic filename assignation logic of the present invention can be implemented in software, hardware, or a
60 combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment(s), the automatic filename assignation logic is implemented in software or firmware that is stored in a memory and that is executed by a suitable instruction execution system (microprocessor). If implemented in hardware, as in an
65 alternative embodiment, the automatic filename assignation logic can implemented with any or a combination of the following technologies, which are all well known in the art:
