Document processing system and method

A computer-implemented method for processing documents in a networked computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one processor;
• providing a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one processor performing the steps of:
• (A) a user inputting a first stamp number corresponding to the user and specifying document processing instructions corresponding to the first stamp number, the first stamp number and corresponding document processing instructions being stored in a post office application;
• (B) receiving a new scanned document;
• (C) processing the new scanned document to determine a second stamp number on a stamp on the new scanned document, where the second stamp number comprises an identification number on the stamp, wherein the identification number on the stamp is the same for each stamp in a roll of stamps assigned to the user;
• (D) sending the second stamp number to the post office application;
• (E) the post office application receiving the second stamp number corresponding to the new scanned document, and determining the second stamp number matches the first stamp number entered by the user;
• (F) determining from the user input the document processing instructions corresponding to the first stamp number;
• and
• (G) returning the document processing instructions corresponding to the first stamp number that define how to process the new scanned document.

A computer-implemented method for processing documents in a networked computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one processor;
• providing a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one processor performing the steps of:
• (A) a user using a web browser to access a web-based post office application in the networked computer system, the user entering in the web browser a first stamp number corresponding to a number on all stamps in a roll of stamps and specifying corresponding document processing instructions for the first stamp number;
• (B) in response to step (A), the web-based post office application creating an entry in a database that correlates the first stamp number to the corresponding document processing instructions, the document processing instructions comprising a default preference and a next document preference;
• (C) a mailman application in the networked computer system that monitors at least one network location for scanned documents;
• (D) when a new scanned document is in the at least one network location, the mailman application processes the new scanned document to read a second stamp number on the new scanned document;
• (E) the mailman application sending the second stamp number to the web-based post office application to determine document processing instructions for the new scanned document from the web-based post office application;
• (F) the web-based post office application reading the second stamp number and determining the second stamp number and the first stamp number are the same;
• (G) the web-based post office application reading the document processing instructions corresponding to the first stamp number;
• (H) the web-based post office application returning the document processing instructions corresponding to the first stamp number to the mailman application as document processing instructions defining how to process the new scanned document;
• (I) the mailman application processing the new scanned document according to the document processing instructions received from the web-based post office application, the processing comprising redacting the stamp in the new scanned document to generate a redacted new scanned document;
• (J) the mailman application storing the redacted new scanned document to the web-based post office application;
• (K) the web-based post office application storing the redacted new scanned document to a document repository in a database;
• and
• (L) the web-based post office application delivering the redacted new scanned document according to the document processing instructions.

An article of manufacture comprising software stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the software comprising:

• a post office application in a post office that includes an interface for a user to input a first stamp number corresponding to the user and to specify document processing instructions corresponding to the first stamp number that are stored in the post office;
• a mailman application that receives a new scanned document, processes the new scanned document to determine a second stamp number on a stamp on the new scanned document, where the second stamp number comprises an identification number on the stamp, wherein the identification number on the stamp is the same for each stamp in a roll of stamps assigned to the user, the mailman application including an interface for communicating with the post office application;
• and
• the post office application receiving from the mailman application the second stamp number corresponding to the new scanned document, determining the second stamp number matches the first stamp number entered by the user;
• determining from the user input the document processing instructions corresponding to the first stamp number, and returning to the mailman application the document processing instructions corresponding to the first stamp number that define how to process the new scanned document.