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US 2004/0201622 A1Published application
Free-form routing of physical and electronic documents
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorsBradley Rhodes, Gregory Wolff, Kevin Ridout
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A document distribution system provides free form routing of documents through the system. Recipients can annotate documents, and track their progress through the system. Flexibility of routing is provided by facilities which allow recipients, as well as the originating user, to modify the document routing through the system.
Claims43
A method for routing documents comprising:
- receiving a document resource, said document resource representative of one or more documents for distribution;
- receiving distribution information comprising one or more recipients, said distribution information including a plurality of stages, each stage having one or more recipients;
- distributing said document resource to first recipients of a first stage, said first recipients performing one or more actions on said one or more documents;
- and
- subsequent to performing said one or more actions, distributing said document resource to second recipients of a second stage, said second recipients performing said one or more actions on said one or more documents,
- wherein said document resource is eventually distributed to last recipients in a last stage, said last recipients performing said one or more actions on said one or more documents.
3 more elements
A method for routing documents comprising:
- receiving a document resource, said document resource having an associated owner;
- associating a distribution list to said document resource, said distribution list comprising one or more recipients and one or more routing conditions;
- distributing said document resource to said one or more recipients in accordance with said distribution list and said routing conditions;
- and
- receiving from said one or more recipients information to modify said routing conditions,
- wherein said distributing is performed in accordance with said distribution list and said routing conditions as modified.
3 more elements
A method for routing documents comprising:
- receiving a first document resource, said first document resource having an associated owner;
- receiving first information representative of a document route, said document route comprising one or more distribution steps, each distribution step having associated recipients;
- receiving second information representative of distribution criteria, each said distribution step further having corresponding distribution criteria;
- distributing said first document resource to first associated recipients of a first distribution step;
- and
- distributing said first document resource to second associated recipients of a subsequent distribution step in accordance with modified first corresponding criteria, said modified first corresponding criteria being a result of modifications received from one or more of said first associated recipients.
3 more elements
A system for distributing documents comprising:
- a computer system, said computer system having a communication component operable to communicate with one or more users;
- first program code configured to operate said computer system to receive a document, said document having an associated owner;
- second program code configured to operate said computer system to receive a distribution list, said distribution list comprising one or more recipients;
- third program code configured to operate said computer system to distribute said document to said one or more recipients in accordance with said distribution list;
- and
- fourth program code configured to operate said computer system to receive from said one or more recipients information representative of one or more modifications to said distribution list.
3 more elements
A document distribution apparatus comprising:
- means for receiving a document for distribution;
- means for receiving a list of one or more recipients of said document;
- means for receiving a set of distribution criteria;
- means for distributing said document to said one or more recipients in accordance with said distribution list and said distribution criteria;
- and
- means for receiving from said one or more recipients one or more modifications to said distribution list or to said distribution criteria,
- wherein said means for distributing includes distributing said documents in accordance with said distribution list and said distribution criteria as modified.
4 more elements
A user interface for document routing comprising:
- a first information exchange portion for presenting a document, said document having an associated owner, said document having an associated document route comprising one or more recipients;
- a second information exchange portion to present said document route;
- a third information exchange portion to obtain related information associated with said document;
- and
- a fourth information exchange portion which allows said owner and said one or more recipients to modify either or both said document route.
2 more elements
A computer program product for distributing documents comprising:
- a computer usable medium having computer readable program code, said computer readable program code suitable for execution on a computer system, said computer readable program code comprising:
- first program code configured to operate said computer system to receive a document, said document having an associated owner;
- second program code configured to operate said computer system to receive a list of one or more recipients;
- third program code configured to operate said computer system to receive routing conditions;
- fourth program code configured to operate said computer system to distribute said document to said one or more recipients in accordance with said routing conditions;
- and
- fifth program code configured to operate said computer system to receive from said one or more recipients information representative of one or more modifications to said list or to said routing conditions.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.