System and method for storing and retrieving matched paper documents and electronic images

A method of processing corresponding pairs of original paper documents and resulting electronic images, said system comprising:

• (a) producing said resulting electronic images from said original paper documents by scanning to provide said pairs in an arbitrary real time sequence;
• (b) automatically specifying each pair by a unique date/time identifier;
• (c) storing in a physical repository at least one physical collection of said paper documents substantially in said real time sequence;
• (d) each of said paper documents in said physical collection being logically classified by a date/time identifier with the date/time identifiers of the other paper documents in said physical collection;
• (e) said paper documents in said physical collection being logically classified by other identifiers into restricted virtual groups;
• (f) paper documents of different ones of said restricted virtual groups being intermingled physically throughout said physical collection;
• (g) an electronic storage for containing at least one electronic collection of said electronic images;
• (h) each of said electronic images in said electronic collection being logically classified by a date/time identifier with the date/time identifiers of the other electronic images in said electronic collection;
• (i) said electronic images in said electronic collection being logically classified by said other identifiers into restricted image groups;
• (j) digitally recording said date/time sequence and selectively presenting said restricted image groups;
• (k) said physical repository having a plurality of physical containers for holding said paper documents substantially in said date/time sequence;
• and
• (l) marking said physical containers with physical media designating ranges of said date/time identifiers.

A document storage and retrieval system comprising a physical system for filing a sequence of paper documents, a scanner for converting said sequence of paper documents to a sequence of electronic images at a sequence of date/time instances that specify seconds, and an electronic system for filing said sequence of electronic images, each one of said date/time instances uniquely designating a matched pair of one of said paper documents and one of said electronic images:

• (a) said physical system including a primary physical repository and a plurality of secondary physical repositories therein, selected ranges of said sequence of paper documents corresponding to selected ranges of said date/time instances, said selected ranges of said sequences of paper documents being contained by selected ones of said secondary physical repositories, said selected ones of said secondary physical repositories being visually marked with physical indicia corresponding to said selected ranges of said date/time instances;
• (b) said electronic system presenting an electronic table representing a grid containing rows of electronic records and colorants of electronic fields, said electronic fields including a ONE electronic field and a plurality of MANY electronic fields, said ONE electronic field including a sequence of date/time entries that designate a corresponding sequence of said paper documents and said electronic images, said MANY electronic fields including arrangements of other entries that designate corresponding arrangements of logical groups of said paper documents and logical groups of said electronic images;
• (c) said logical groups of said paper documents including virtual collections of said paper documents that are intermingled throughout said secondary repositories so as to be unadapted for immediate physical compilation, the location in said secondary repositories of any one paper document being indicated by a record that includes the date/time instance by which said one paper document is uniquely identified, said logical groups of said electronic images being identified by logical groups of said electronic records so as to be adapted for immediate electronic compilation.

A database system comprising a physical system and an electronic system that process a plurality of pairs of paper documents and electronic images:

• (a) the paper document and the electronic image of each of said pairs being substantially identical visually;
• (b) as canner for producing said electronic images from said paper documents to provide said pairs in an arbitrary real time sequence;
• (c) each of said pairs being uniquely identified by one of a succession of date/time entries in said primary field;
• (d) said electronic system presenting an electronic table representing a grid containing rows of electronic records and columns of electronic fields;
• (e) at least one of said fields being a primary field characterized by a date/time data type;
• (f) at least a plurality of other fields being secondary fields characterized by at least another data type;
• (g) said physical system including a primary container and a plurality of secondary containers therein;
• (h) a physical collection of said paper documents being deposited in said plurality of secondary containers;
• (i) each of said pairs being designated by one of said records;
• (j) said paper documents in said physical collection being logically classified by said other identifiers into restricted virtual groups;
• (k) paper documents of different ones of said restricted virtual groups being intermingled physically throughout said physical collection;
• (l) the physical location of a particular document being indicated by a particular one of said date/time instances;
• (m) electronic storage for containing said collection of said electronic images;
• and
• (n) a digital processor for recording said date/time sequence and for presenting said restricted image groups.

A digital system for producing a collection of electronic images from a collection of paper documents in an arbitrary date/time sequence of transactions, the paper documents and electronic images thereby being matched in pairs:

• a. each pair being uniquely identified by one of said date/time sequence of transactions;
• b. different pairs being classified by different contents in different logical groups;
• c. a primary physical container and a plurality of secondary physical containers therein;
• d. ranges of said paper documents being deposited in said secondary physical containers;
• e. said ranges being uniquely identified by corresponding ranges of said date/time sequence;
• f. said secondary physical containers being marked with physical indicia corresponding to said ranges of said date/time sequence;
• g. an electronic table representing a grid containing rows of electronic records and columns of at least a primary electronic field and a plurality of secondary electronic fields;
• h. entries in said primary field identifying said date/time sequence of transactions;
• i. entries in said secondary fields identifying said different logical groups;
• j. paper documents identifying said different logical groups being intermingled in said secondary physical containers;
• k. logical groups of electronic images being organized by said entries in said secondary fields for electronic presentation;
• l. the date/time entry for any electronic image indicating the physical location in said secondary containers of the paper document represented thereby.

A digital process for producing a collection of electronic images from a collection of paper documents in an arbitrary date/time sequence of transactions, the paper documents and electronic images thereby being matched in pairs:

• a. uniquely identifying each pair by one of said date/time sequence of transactions;
• b. different contents classifying different pairs in different logical groups;
• c. depositing ranges of said paper documents in a plurality of secondary physical containers;
• d. depositing said plurality of secondary physical containers in a primary physical container
• e. automatically identifying said ranges of paper documents by corresponding ranges of said date/time sequence;
• f. marking said secondary physical containers with physical indicia corresponding to said ranges of said date/time sequence;
• g. creating an electronic table representing a grid containing rows of electronic records and columns of at least a primary electronic field and a plurality of secondary electronic fields;
• h. inserting entries in said primary field identifying said date/time sequence of transactions;
• i. inserting entries in said secondary fields identifying said different logical groups;
• j. intermingling paper documents identifying said different logical groups in said secondary physical containers;
• k. organizing logical groups of electronic images by said entries in said secondary fields for electronic presentation;
• l. the date/time entry for any electronic image indicating the physical location in said secondary containers of the paper document represented thereby.

A document storage and retrieval system comprising a physical system for filing a sequence of paper documents, a scanner for converting said sequence of paper documents to a sequence of electronic images at a sequence of date/time instances, and an electronic system for filing said sequence of electronic images, each one of said date/time instances uniquely designating a matched pair of one of said paper documents and one of said electronic images:

• (a) said physical system including a primary physical repository and a plurality of secondary physical repositories therein, selected ranges of said sequence of paper documents corresponding to selected ranges of said date/time instances, said selected ranges of said sequences of paper documents being contained by selected ones of said secondary physical repositories, said selected ones of said secondary physical repositories being visually marked with physical indicia corresponding to said selected ranges of said date/time instances;
• (b) said electronic system presenting an electronic table representing a grid containing rows of electronic records and columns of electronic fields, said electronic fields including a primary electronic field and a plurality of secondary electronic fields, said primary field including a sequence of date/time entries that designate a corresponding sequence of said paper documents and said electronic images, said secondary fields including arrangements of other entries that designate corresponding arrangements of logical groups of said paper documents and logical groups of said electronic images;
• (c) said logical groups of said paper documents including virtual collections of said paper documents that are intermingled throughout said secondary repositories so as to be unadapted for immediate physical compilation, the location in said secondary repositories of any one paper document being indicated by a record that includes the date/time instance by which said one paper document is uniquely identified, said logical groups of said electronic images being identified by logical groups of said electronic records so as to be adapted for immediate electronic compilation.