Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention describes a method and system for using related data from external systems employing incompatible character sets to affect a business process. For one embodiment, a first external system uses a first character set. A first data set is received from the first external system, the first data set using the first character set. A second external system uses a second character set. A second data set is received from the second external system, the second data set using the second character set. The first data set and the second data set are converted to use a third character set, the third character set a superset of the first character set and the second character set. The first data set and the second data set, as converted and integrated, are then used to effect one or more business processes. For one embodiment, the third character set is Unicode.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention describes a method for controlling character set conversion. A request for data from a first computing system using a first character set is received by a second computing system using a second character set. The first character set is a subset of the second character set. Prior to transmitting the requested data, the second computing system performs a simulated conversion of the data from the second character set to the first character set. The simulated conversion identifies the prospective character set conversion failures and error-handling response of the first computing system's character conversion routine. The second computing system identifies and stores prospective character conversion failures and uses this information to determine responsive action including preempting the data transmission.

Abstract: A method for handling of a document in a computer system, includes digitizing the document with the scanner to form a digitized image, determining a feature vector for the digitized image, comparing feature vectors of a plurality of previously stored images to the feature vector, returning a list of locations in the memory having at least one of the plurality of previously stored documents with a feature vector similar to the feature vector, and performing a task on the digitized image appropriate for documents in a selected location in the memory.

Abstract: A user interface providing a cabinet, drawers, folders and documents for manipulating and organizing the documents. An image of a file cabinet is used where the user can create, name, describe, lock and position the drawer within a space in the file cabinet. Each drawer can be marked with a graphic icon for easier visual identification. The drawer, and drawer text, can also be colored. When a drawer is selected it "opens" and to show file folders within the drawer in or more windows on the screen. The folders can similarly be named, described and keyed with a color. Each file folder is shown having a label tab with a name on the label tab. The label tabs are visible even when multiple folders are shown on the within a window. When a folder is opened, documents within that folder are shown in thumbnail size in an open-folder window. Suggestions may be given to associated documents with file folders.

Abstract: A method for handling of a document in a computer system, includes digitizing the document with the scanner to form a digitized image, determining a feature vector for the digitized image, comparing feature vectors of a plurality of previously stored images to the feature vector, returning a list of locations in the memory having at least one of the plurality of previously stored documents with a feature vector similar to the feature vector, and performing a task on the digitized image appropriate for documents in a selected location in the memory.