Information processing methodology

A method of processing information from a diversity of types of hard copy documents, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) scanning a diversity of types of had copy documents and storing information from said diversity of types of hard copy documents into a memory, said information not fixed from one document to the next, said scanning not preceded b scanning of a separate document containing format requirements;
• (b) recognizing portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to a first data field;
• and
• (c) storing information from said portions of said hard copy documents corresponding to said first data field into memory locations for said first data field.

A method of processing data extracted from a diversity of types of hard copy documents, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving output representing a diversity of types of hard copy documents from an automated digitizing unit and storing information from said diversity of types of hard copy documents into a memory as stored document information, said receiving step not preceded by scanning, via said automated digitizing unit, a separate document containing format requirements;
• (b) recognizing and selecting portions of said stored document information corresponding to data fields required by an application unit;
• (c) formatting said selected portions of said stored document information into a transmission format used by said application unit;
• and
• (d) transmitting said formatted selected portions of said stored document information to said application unit.

An application program interface, comprising:

• an automated digitizing unit which extracts information from a diversity of types of hard copy documents and stores said information from said diversity of types of hard copy documents in a memory as stored document information;
• a processor recognizing and selecting portions of said stored document information corresponding to data fields required by an application unit, said processor operative without reference to information extracted, via said automated digitizing unit, from a separate document containing format requirements;
• a formatter formatting said selected portions of said stored document information into a transmission format used by said application unit;
• and
• an output unit transmitting said formatted selected portions of said stored document information to said application unit.

A method of processing data extracted from a diversity of types of hard copy documents, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving output representing a diversity of types of hard copy documents from an automated digitizing unit and storing information from said diversity of types of hard copy documents into a memory as stored document information, said receiving step not preceded by scanning, via said automated digitizing unit, of a separate document containing format requirements;
• (b) recognizing and selecting portions of said stored document information corresponding to data fields required by an application unit;
• and
• (c) transmitting said selected portions of said stored document information to said application unit.

An application program interface, comprising:

• an automated digitizing unit which extracts information from a diversity of types of hard copy documents and stores said information from said diversity of types of hard copy documents in a memory as stored document information;
• a processor recognizing and selecting portions of said stored document information corresponding to data fields required by an application unit, said processor operative without reference to information extracted, via said automated digitizing unit, from a separate document containing format requirements;
• and
• an output unit transmitting said selected portions of said stored document information to said application unit.

A method of processing data extracted from a diversity of types of hard copy documents, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving output representing a diversity of types of hard copy documents from an automated digitizing unit and storing information from said diversity of types of hard copy documents into a memory as stored document information, said receiving step not preceded by scanning, via said automated digitizing unit, a separate document containing format requirements;
• (b) recognizing and selecting portions of said stored document information corresponding to data fields required by an application unit;
• and
• (c) formatting said selected portions of said stored document information into a transmission format used by said application unit.

An application program interface, comprising:

• an automated digitizing unit which extracts information from a diversity of types of hard copy documents and stores said information from said diversity of types of hard copy documents in a memory as stored document information;
• a processor recognizing and selecting portions of said stored document information corresponding to data fields required by an application unit, said processor operative without reference to extracted information scanned, via said automated digitizing unit, of a separate document containing format requirements;
• and
• a formatter formatting said selected portions of said stored document information into a transmission format used b said application unit.