Abstract: One or more parameters, such as time, are reported to a center using a form. The center then automatically extracts data from the form and converts it for storage and subsequent processing or review. The form is preferably a tangible form, which the sender completes, and then faxes or emails to the center. Image capture, registration, and feature recognition routines are included to enable the center to extract the reported data with no need for data reentry or human intervention. The invention is particularly suitable for remote employees who need to submit time sheets, expense reports, and the like to an employer, or for automatic analysis of submitted inventory reports, product orders, etc.

Abstract: A current set of user-selectable choices is associated with a displayed graphical input device, which is used to select a value of an input parameter. Each user-selectable choice has at least one pair of information fields separated by a delimiter and each information field comprises sequentially ordered characters. A search for a matching entry to assign to the input parameter is carried out as the user enters each of a sequence of characters, and if a match is not found in a first information field, then (or simultaneously) it is sought in a different information field, also on the basis of the character-by-character user entries.

Abstract: One or more parameters such as time is reported to a center using a form. The center then automatically extracts data from the form and converts it for storage and subsequent processing or review. The invention allows other parties, upon proper authentication, to annotate received data, to indicate acceptance or rejection of the reported data. Depending on the relationship of the various parties and business rules stored with the center, parties other than the sender and center may also download reported data for subsequent processing, even where they have different hardware and software platforms. The invention is particularly suitable for senders such as employees who need to submit time sheets, expense reports, and the like to an employer, or for automatic analysis of submitted inventory reports, product orders, etc.

Abstract: A graphical input device having the appearance of a drop-down menu in a browser-based display is generated locally, within a user's computer, in place of a pull-down menu expressed in a mark-up language such as HTML or its derivatives downloaded into the user's computer. The set of possible entries to be displayed along with the graphical input device may vary depending on the user. The minimum display width needed for full-width display of even the widest entry is evaluated locally by scripting and the width of the displayed graphical input device is adjusted accordingly. The drop-down list and its listed entries may be wider than the data entry field. The user can thus view and select customized possible entries that cannot fit within the nominal displayed data entry field of the assumed pull-down menu.

Abstract: An originator accesses a client system to select a form, then enters data to be associated with a particular instance of the form. When the originator requests printing of the partially completed form, the print command is intercepted by a driver in the client system, which communicates with a form-processing application in the center, which assigns a unique identifier to the form and associates the identifier with the form in a data base. The form is then printed for the originator, who sends the form to a user. The user completes the form, including markings such as a signature or handwritten information and returns it to the center. After extracting the identifier from the returned form and verifying the form, the center automatically routes and/or indexes and/or forwards the image of the form to the proper location(s), and may also automatically enter the extracted data, properly indexed, into a data base.

Abstract: One or more parameters such as time is reported to a center using a form. The center then automatically extracts data from the form and converts it for storage and subsequent processing or review. The form is preferably a physical form, which the sender fills in and then faxes to the center. Image capture, registration, and feature recognition routines are included to enable the center to extract the reported data with no need for data reentry or human intervention. The invention is particularly suitable for employees who need to submit time sheets, expense reports, and the like to an employer, or for automatic analysis of submitted inventory reports, product orders, etc.

Abstract: A graphical input device, preferably in a browser-based display, resembles a pull-down menu, with a displayed data entry field. The set of possible entries to be displayed along with the graphical input device varies depending on the user. The minimum display width needed for full-width display of the entries is evaluated by scripting and the actual display of the set is generated accordingly. The drop-down list and its listed entries may be wider than the data entry field. The user can thus view and select customized possible entries that cannot fit within the displayed data entry field. According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment of the invention, when the user is making selections from the drop-down list, multiple keyboard entries can be used to cause rapid scrolling to entries that match not only the first character entered, but also to entries whose first n characters match n characters entered while viewing the list.