Abstract: An electronic writing solution server includes a workflow dashboard application that comprises a dashboard generator. The dashboard generator receives a collection of forms, each form in the collection being of a same type and having been created from a dashboard template, the dashboard template including an association of fields, steps and indicators in each form, identifies which fields have been filled in by at least one user for each form, determines a current step of a multistep workflow based on the fields that have been filled out for each form and generates a dashboard for displaying a number of forms that correspond to each step.

Abstract: An electronic writing solution server includes a classification application that comprises a classifier and a user interface engine. The classifier receives multimedia data on a form, identifies at least one field in the form to be modified and modifies the at least one field in the form based on the multimedia data. The user interface engine provides the modified form to a user.

Abstract: A system and method for paper-based, automated completion of forms allows a user charged with filling out multiple forms containing some common information to write each unique piece of information one time, and the system generates a set of completed forms with the required information on each form with no change to the use or structure of the current forms. The control module is operable on a processor to determine a mapping between common fields on multiple forms or multiple pages of the same form, copy information written in a field on one form to equivalent fields on other forms, and produce a set of completed forms. The system is computationally simple and independent of language because these operations can be performed without having to understand, translate or convert the writing. Furthermore, there is no loss of security or privacy beyond the use of paper forms because these operations can be performed without access to a centralized database and without connectivity to other systems.

Abstract: Compound document images are usually high resolution and high quality images that include color, graphics, and images in addition to text. The need for good compression is important for storage and transmission. Due to the large size, even compressed, it is often difficult to access document images quickly and efficiently for display on monitors. The nascent JPM file format enables the best compound document image compression in terms of rate-distortion. However, the access into a JPM file is limited by the access features of the coders used. JPEG 2000 is an image coding system that allows access to lower resolutions, progressive bit-rates, and regions of interest.

Abstract: A system and method for applying a pre-existing physical seal authorization to documents provides for authentication of electronic documents using physical seals and without interrupting the electronic workflow. The system of the present invention includes a seal capture device coupled to a computer, and the computer coupled by a network to a paper-like document server. The seal capture device detects depression of a seal thereon and outputs the image of the seal and other metadata to the computer. The computer stores the metadata in its local log using a logging module. The computer also adds the image of the seal and other metadata to the electronic document being displayed. Finally, the computer sends the metadata for storage in the global log of the paper-like document server, and the authorized document to the next step in the electronic workflow. The paper-like document server stores the metadata in other servers or entangles the global log with the logs of other servers for additional security.

Abstract: A system for device enabled verifiable stroke and image based workflows comprises a plurality of portable computing devices, coupled by a network to a stroke and image workflow server. The portable computing devices include a display, stroke capture capability and a wireless communication capability. The portable computing devices are adapted to receive images, add stroke annotations to the received images, and send the annotated received images. The stroke and image workflow server is coupled to the network for communication with the portable computing devices. The stroke and image workflow server sends and receives documents from the portable computing devices, maintains a log for verification, and implements a paper like workflow and processing the documents. Essentially, this stroke and image workflow server implements paper like workflow and handles the overhead of processing electronic documents so that it is invisible to the user.

Abstract: The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art with a system for stroke and image aggregation and analytics. The system is particularly advantageous because it provides a system for distributing page images such as worksheets, examinations or forms to multiple devices. The system allows independent paging and writing on the distributed materials; collection of the strokes added to the distributed pages images; and aggregating and displaying those strokes or summary information in a useful manner. For example, an instructor might receive the current work of the students for a particular examination question and view those strokes in a parallel manner or a combined manner.

Abstract: A multi-provider forms processing system with retry upon failure comprises: a plurality of portable computing devices, a plurality of service providers and a paper-like forms server coupled by a network. The paper-like forms server performs the scheduling, routing, logging, verification and billing for the paper-like processing of compound documents. The paper-like forms server comprises a central schedule, a retry module and a billing module. The multi-provider forms processing system is advantageous because it monitors for failure of transactions, automatically issues a retry or replacement transactions and adjusts the billing for the failed transaction. In particular, the central scheduler tracks and determines when transaction failures occur, and based on these failures revises the billing to users and credits to service providers.

Abstract: Electronic Paper Displays can suffer from “ghosting” or previous images remaining partially visible after the display has updated to show a new image. A pseudo-random noise intermediate image is used to make the ghosting less visible to human observers. Further, other intermediate images can be used to convey visible information or to convey secret information, e.g. a watermark. A control signal for driving the bi-stable display from the current optical state to an intermediate state, then to a final optical state is also determined. In some embodiments, the intermediate state for each pixel is determined in a pseudo-random manner. The pseudo-random noise values are applied to the bi-stable display to remove noise and other artifacts from the end resulting images. The determined control signal is applied to the bi-stable display to drive the bi-stable to the intermediate state, then to the final optical state.

Abstract: The system includes a constraint-based registry server and a plurality of devices. The constraint-based registry server is coupled to the plurality of devices for publishing or registering spots, managing places and authenticating membership and places. The constraint-based registry server includes a data store for constraint metadata, an authentication module, a spot manager module, a place manager module and a query response module. The devices are adapted to collect field values, create spots, access places, and interact and share information with other spots. In one embodiment, the devices include a constraint collection module, a spot creation module, a query module, a challenge creation module, a presentation module, a challenge response module, a spot action module and a spot communication module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically publishing content based identifiers are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises accessing an electronic communication to obtain a content based identifier (CBI) contained in the electronic communication. In one embodiment, the method may also comprise using the CBI to validate integrity of a hash chained log.

Abstract: Techniques for pricing a task are provided. The pricing may be based on attributes of the input information and one or more rules determined for the input information. The rules may be based on one or more variables and customer-specified constraints.

Abstract: Techniques for performing a task while preserving the privacy or confidentiality of information used as input for the task. In one embodiment the task is broken down into smaller tasks (called subtasks or microtasks), which are then outsourced. The input information for each microtask is based upon and is generally a subset of the input information received for the task. The determination of microtasks for the task is performed in such a manner that constraints associated with the task are satisfied. For example, microtasks may be determined for the task based upon risk (e.g., the risk associated with the privacy or confidentiality of the input information being compromised as a result of the outsourcing), quality constraints (e.g., desired quality of the work product resulting from performance of the task), cost constraints, and other constraints associated with the job.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for data filling is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving an image and a mask associated with the image and performing a block-based, iterative multi-pass data filling process to fill a layer as part of compound document compression.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for processing document images. In one embodiment, the method comprises extracting one or more features corresponding to one or more objects from a JPM compressed file, including extracting at least one of the one or more features without decoding, ranking document objects based on a task being performed by an application, and the one or more extracted features, and selecting a set of the document objects based on rank and at least one constraint.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing compressed images is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises characterizing quantization noise in reconstructed low pass coefficients generated in response to application of an inverse wavelet transform and removing the quantization noise from the reconstructed low pass coefficients constructed during decoding.

Abstract: The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art with a system for stroke and image aggregation and analytics. The system is particularly advantageous because it provides a system for distributing page images such as worksheets, examinations or forms to multiple devices. The system allows independent paging and writing on the distributed materials; collection of the strokes added to the distributed pages images; and aggregating and displaying those strokes or summary information in a useful manner. For example, an instructor might receive the current work of the students for a particular examination question and view those strokes in a parallel manner or a combined manner.

Abstract: A system and method for applying a pre-existing physical seal authorization to documents provides for authentication of electronic documents using physical seals and without interrupting the electronic workflow. The system of the present invention includes a seal capture device coupled to a computer, and the computer coupled by a network to a paper-like document server. The seal capture device detects depression of a seal thereon and outputs the image of the seal and other metadata to the computer. The computer stores the metadata in its local log using a logging module. The computer also adds the image of the seal and other metadata to the electronic document being displayed. Finally, the computer sends the metadata for storage in the global log of the paper-like document server, and the authorized document to the next step in the electronic workflow. The paper-like document server stores the metadata in other servers or entangles the global log with the logs of other servers for additional security.

Abstract: A system for paper-like forms processing includes a plurality of portable computing devices coupled by a network to a paper-like forms server. The portable computing devices are adapted to receive images (e.g., compound documents/forms), add stroke annotations to the received images, and send the annotated received images or the stoke annotations themselves to the paper-like forms server. The paper-like forms server comprises a central scheduler and a logging module. The paper-like forms server processes compound documents as paper like forms and sends input to and receives results from service providers to perform various types of paper like processing on the compound document. The paper-like forms server performs the scheduling, routing, logging, verification and billing for the paper-like processing of compound documents. The central scheduler also stores results from service providers for later retrieval.

Abstract: A system for device enabled verifiable stroke and image based workflows comprises a plurality of portable computing devices, coupled by a network to a stroke and image workflow server. The portable computing devices include a display, stroke capture capability and a wireless communication capability. The portable computing devices are adapted to receive images, add stroke annotations to the received images, and send the annotated received images. The stroke and image workflow server is coupled to the network for communication with the portable computing devices. The stroke and image workflow server sends and receives documents from the portable computing devices, maintains a log for verification, and implements a paper like workflow and processing the documents. Essentially, this stroke and image workflow server implements paper like workflow and handles the overhead of processing electronic documents so that it is invisible to the user.