Apparatus and method for digital filing

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor;
• at least one digital image of a paper-based document, the at least one digital image containing an image of a pre-printed label, the at least one digital image residing in the memory;
• and
• a digital filing application residing in the memory and being executed by the at least one processor, wherein the digital filing application extracts a globally unique identifier from the image of the pre-printed label and uses the globally unique identifier to link the digital image to a database record which was created prior to the creation of the digital image, the digital filing application further comprising:
• an auto-rotate mechanism;
• and
• a user interface which dynamically resizes the at least one digital image, the user interface being activated by using a mouse.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor;
• at least one digital image containing an image of a pre-printed label, the at least one digital image residing in the memory;
• and
• a digital filing application residing in the memory and being executed by the at least one processor, the digital filing application further comprising an audit/action mechanism;
• wherein the digital filing application extracts a globally unique identifier from the image of the pre-printed label and uses the globally unique identifier to link the digital image to a database record which was created prior to the creation of the digital image;
• and
• wherein the audit/action mechanism executes at least one filing instruction.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor;
• at least one digital image containing an image of a pre-printed label, the at least one digital image residing in the memory;
• and
• a digital filing application residing in the memory and being executed by the at least one processor, the digital filing application comprising a security mechanism;
• wherein the digital filing application extracts a globally unique identifier from the image of the pre-printed label and uses the globally unique identifier to link the digital image to a database record which was created prior to the creation of the digital image;
• and
• wherein the security mechanisn controls access to the at least one digital image.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor;
• at least one digital image containing an image of a pre-printed label, the at least one digital image residing in the memory;
• and
• a digital filing application residing in the memory and being executed by the at least one processor, the digital filing application comprising:
• an auto-rotate mechanism;
• an audit/action mechanism;
• and
• a security mechanism;
• wherein the digital filing application extracts a globally unique identifier from the image of the pre-printed label and using the globally unique identifier to link the digital image to a database record which was created prior to the creation of the digital image;
• wherein the auto-rotate mechanism automatically rotates the at least one digital image for display using the image of the pre-printed label to determine a correct display orientation;
• wherein the audit/action mechanism parses the database record and executes at least one post-scan processing instruction;
• and
• wherein the security mechanism controls access to the at least one digital image.

A method comprising the steps of:

• dispensing at least one pre-printed label from a label dispenser, the pre-printed label containing a globally unique identifier;
• affixing the at least one pre-printed label to a paper-based document;
• indexing the paper-based document using a digital filing application, thereby creating a record in a database describing the paper-based document;
• scanning the paper-based document to create a digital image of the paper-based document;
• extracting the file name from the pre-printed label;
• storing the digital image in a file, using the globally unique identifier to name the digital image and to link the digital image to the record in the database.

A method of processing digital images, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) affixing a machine-readable pre-printed label to a paper-based document, wherein the pre-printed label contains a globally unique identifier;
• b) indexing the paper-based document with at least one index value;
• c) creating a record in a computerized database containing the at least one index value for the paper-based document using the globally unique identifier that is contained in the pre-printed label;
• d) scanning the paper-based document, thereby creating a digital image of the paper-based document, including a digital image of the pre-printed bar code;
• e) processing the digital image of the paper-based document to extract the globally unique identifier from the image of the pre-printed label;
• and
• f) storing the digital image of the paper-based document in a computerized image repository, using the globally unique identifier extracted from the pre-printed label to link the at least one index value with the digital image of the paper-based document.

A method of processing digital images, the method comprising the steps of:

• affixing a pre-printed label to a paper-based document, wherein the pre-printed label contains a globally unique identifier;
• indexing the paper-based document with at least one index value;
• creating a record in a computerized database containing the at least one index value for the paper-based document using the globally unique identifier that is contained in the pre-printed label;
• indicating a post-scan operation for the digital image of the paper-based document, prior to scanning the paper-based document;
• linking the indicated post-scan operation to the record for the at least one index for the paper-based document using the globally unique identifier contained in the pre-printed label, prior to scanning the paper-based document;
• scanning the paper-based document;
• creating a digital image of the paper-based document, including a digital image of the pre-printed bar code;
• de-speckling and de-skewing the digital image of the paper-based document;
• controlling access to the digital image of the paper-based document;
• processing the digital image of the paper-based document to extract the file name from the image of the pre-printed label;
• automatically rotating the digital image of the paper-based document, based on the orientation of the pre-printed label;
• storing the digital image of the paper-based document in a computerized image repository, using the globally unique identifier extracted from the pre-printed label, thereby linking the at least one index value and the indicated post-scan operation with the digital image of the paper-based document;
• and
• executing the indicated post scan operation.

A method for digital filing comprising the steps of:

• creating an index record in a database, the index record being identified by a globally unique document identifier;
• storing a plurality of data describing a paper-based document in the index record;
• affixing a pre-printed label bearing the globally unique document identifier to a paper-based document;
• creating a digital image of the paper-based document by scanning the paper-based document;
• extracting the globally unique document identifier from the label;
• and
• linking the digital image to the index record in the database using the globally unique document identifier.

A method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a paper-based document;
• affixing a label which is pre-printed with a globally unique identifier to the paper-based document;
• creating a record in an image index database for the paper-based document;
• storing the globally unique identifier for the paper-based document in the record, thereby synchronizing the record in the image index database with the paper-based document;
• scanning the paper-based document and creating a digital image of the paper-based document;
• extracting the globally unique identifier from the label;
• and
• storing the digital image in an image repository using the globally unique identifier to link the image to the record in the image index database.

A method for indexing, storing, and retrieving a digital image of a paper-based document, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) receiving the paper-based document;
• b) extracting a single label from a desktop label dispenser, the label being pre-printed with a globally unique identifier;
• c) affixing the label to the paper-based document;
• d) indexing the paper-based document using a web browser-based digital filing application;
• e) creating a record in an image index database for the paper-based document;
• f) storing the globally unique identifier for the paper-based document in the record, thereby synchronizing the record in the image index database with the paper-based document;
• g) indicating a post scan operation for the paper-based document;
• h) using a fax machine to scan the paper-based document and the label affixed to the document, thereby creating a digital image of the paper-based document which includes an image of the label;
• i) transferring the digital image to an image repository via the internet;
• j) extracting the globally unique identifier from the digital image of the paper-based document;
• k) storing the digital image in the image repository using the globally unique identifier to create link to the record and the digital image;
• l) appending an extension to the file name to indicate the graphical format of the digital image;
• m) de-speckling and de-skewing the digital image of the paper-based document;
• n) executing the indicated post-scan operation for the paper-based document;
• o) automatically rotating the digital image of the paper-based document, based on the orientation of the pre-printed label;
• p) controlling access to the digital image using the globally unique identier to determine access privileges for the digital image;
• q) creating a URL and a web page to display the digital image of the paper-based document using the globally unique identifier;
• and
• r) retrieving the digital image over the internet using a web browser-based application.