Abstract: A method for locating competence in relation to a given subject in a group of users that are connected to an electronic communications network, includes sending a message to a user via said network, the message inviting the user to return a response message containing a reference to one or more other users who, in the opinion of the responding user, might have competence in relation to the subject; upon receipt of the response message, sending a message analogous to the one in the first sending step to each user who has been referred to in the response message; iterating the second sending step for all response messages, with the exception of those users who had already been referred to in a preceding iteration step; and storing competence data on the basis of the self-assessments and references as established in the above steps. The competence data may further be enhanced by adding a self-assessment of the user's competence in relation to the subject, to the response message.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for scanning a document and processing the image data generated in the process by extracting operator-designated text layout elements such as words or groups of words and including the latter in a designator for the scan file. At least part of the document image is shown on a display for a user. A pointing control element in a user interface, such as a mouse or a touch screen, is operated by a user to generate a selection command, which includes a selection point in a layout element of the image. An extraction area is then automatically constructed around the layout element that contains the selection point. The proposed extraction area is displayed for the user, who may confirm the extraction area or adjust it. Finally, the intended layout element is extracted by processing pixels in the extraction area. The file designator may be a file name for the scan file or a “subject” string of an e-mail message including the scan file.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer software for automatically analysing a filled in questionnaire, are provided. The method includes automatically analysing a filled in questionnaire, the method comprising the steps of: providing a questionnaire having answer locations; scanning at least two copies of the questionnaire with the answer locations filled in differently and complementarily in a predetermined way, to produce a first scan and a second scan; automatically determining answer locations by comparing the first and second scans; providing a filled in questionnaire having certain answers; scanning the provided filled in questionnaire as a third scan; and automatically judging the certain answers with the determined answer locations.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling document processing in a networked system. The system includes a digital image reproduction device for document processing, this device having a local user interface unit including a fingerprint input unit. The system also includes a user workstation, and a management unit for managing a dynamic set of logical storage spaces for digital image files, each storage space dedicated to a respective user of the system and being dynamically maintained for storing image files of that user, for storing print and/or scan files. The method comprises detecting a user entering a fingerprint at the fingerprint input unit and, in response, identifying the user from the fingerprint entered, accessing one of the logical storage spaces in accordance with access rights of the user as identified, and automatically and without requiring any further user interaction initiating a document processing workflow related to the accessed logical storage space.

Abstract: A method and device are described for extracting metadata from an image of pixels, such as a title or author of a document. At least part of the image is shown on a display for a user. A pointing control element in a user interface, such as a mouse or a touch screen, is operated by a user to generate a selection command. The selection command includes a selection point in a metadata element in the image. A region of foreground pixels is determined, the region containing pixels that are connected to the selection point. An extraction area is constructed around the region. Finally metadata is extracted by processing pixels in the extraction area.