Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Sap Ag

Andrea Mariotti

Edward L Schwartz

Gregory J Wolff

Max E McFarland

Daja Phillips

Bradley J Rhodes

Stephen R Savitzky

Sergey Chemishkian

Haixia Yu

Michael G E Griffin

Patty Case

Michael J Gormish

Kathrin Berkner

Berna Erol

Kenneth F Gudan

Andrew Y Ng

Kirpal Singh Khalsa

Siddharth Joshi

Susan Dybbs

Vincent Mendocino

A distributed workflow-enabled system includes: a workflow-enabled provider and a workflow-enabled client communicatively coupled by a network. The workflow-enabled provider and the workflow-enabled client include a workflow unit. The workflow unit allows the workflow-enabled provider and the workflow-enabled client to communicate, distribute processes and present a user interfaces by providing a communication manager, a process control module and a user interface module. The present invention also includes a number of novel methods including a method for communication, a method for processing by a process control module, a method for creating and presenting the user interface and a method for retrieving processes executable by the process control module.

Distributed workflow-enabled system

A method, system and computer product for discount coupon acquisition, management and redemption. In one embodiment, the method comprises scanning a coupon with a portable computing device without establishing a data connection to the portable computing device. The method further comprises decoding a scanned image of the coupon for storage in the portable computing device, and generating information of the coupon by the portable computing device for redeeming the coupon.

Method for using a camera phone to acquire, store, manage and redeem discount coupons

A method is disclosed. The method includes receiving a request regarding a first document, retrieving a second document from a cache, the second document having a pre-existing relationship with the first document, extracting data from the second document image data, applying image processing to the first document using the extracted data from the second document image data to create a third document and printing the third document.

Mechanism for speculative printing

A system for printing independent of location and using a universal print module comprises a computing device having a print anywhere sending module and a printer having a print anywhere receiving module coupled by a network. The print anywhere sending module is adapted to interface with the computing device to generate a print file. The print anywhere sending module broadcasts the availability of a print file or job and transmits that print job to a responding print anywhere receiving module. The print anywhere receiving module interfaces with the printer to provide the print file and to print the file. The present invention also includes a variety of methods including a method for printing, a method for printing using a universal print module, and a method for printing using the print key.

System and method for printing independent of location and using a universal print module

The system includes a registry server and devices. The registry server is coupled to the devices for publishing or registering spots, managing places and authenticating membership and places. The 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. The present invention includes methods for creating a spot, for generating and approving a challenge, for direct communication or sharing of documents, for performing an action based upon information space membership and for searching for available places.

Method for determining constraint-based relationships between devices for interacting and sharing information

A workflow-enabled provider includes a service provider and a workflow manager interface unit. The workflow manager interface unit couples the service provider to a workflow manager to provide the automatic discovering, distributed processing and dynamic user interface generating functionality. An advertisement monitor listens for broadcasts from the workflow manager regarding new clients. A request module and a response module handle the transfer of data and control signals between the workflow manager and the service provider. A process control module performs a plurality of processing functions including aggregating requests from clients, selecting requests it can service, presenting user interfaces, processing input via the service provider and controlling the service provider. The user interface module is coupled to the process control module and dynamically generates user interfaces for display by the service provider.

Workflow-enabled provider

A workflow-enabled client comprises a client and a workflow manager interface unit. The workflow manager interface unit couples the client to a workflow manager to provide the automatic discovering, distributed processing and dynamic user interface generating functionality of the present invention. A communication manager of the workflow-enabled client has a registration unit that registers, and unregisters, the client with the workflow manager such as by providing a name, a data and other commands. A polling module uses a received location from the workflow manager to retrieve data. The process control module performs a plurality of processing functions such a processing polled data, storing it or providing it to other clients. The process control module can also initiate other clients. The present invention also includes a number of novel methods including a method for registering a client, a method for polling data, and a method for initiating other clients.

Workflow-enabled client

A small home/office tactile printing system comprises a print head assembly and a paper feed assembly. The print head assembly includes a print head for printing with ink and an applicator for applying a liquid. The paper feed assembly moves paper (or any other medium suitable for printing) relative to the print head assembly and its components for printing the ink on the paper, applying the liquid to the medium and curing the liquid. The liquid is ultraviolet (UV) curable glue and curing is exposure of the UV liquid to UV light. The present invention also includes a variety of methods including a method for printing tactile information, a method for copying a document having tactile printing, a method for binding sheets of a media, a method for scratch-off printing and method for copying a bound document.

Tactile printing

Systems and methods consistent with embodiments of the present invention provide for a method for remote data validation of shipment information. In some embodiments consistent with the present invention shipment information including at least one item identifier of an item in the shipment and at least one entity identifier of an entity associated with the item is captured by a remote unit and sent to a dispatcher with a request for validation. Entity identifiers in the received validation request are used to identify validators that are targets of dispatcher generated validation requests. Validators retrieve additional shipment information using item identifiers in the validation request received from the dispatcher and return a response based on degree to which information in the received request corresponds to stored information. In some embodiments consistent with the present invention, the dispatcher assimilates the received responses and relays the assimilated response to the remote unit.

Systems and methods for remote validation

A workflow manager handles the communication between a workflow-enabled provider and a workflow-enabled client. The workflow manager maintains a directory of clients, translates a transaction from a provider into multiple transactions suitable for the client, and handles security. In one embodiment, the workflow manager connects with the workflow-enabled client by registration and with the workflow-enabled provider by advertising and activation. Subsequent communications between the workflow manager and the workflow-enabled provider and the workflow-enabled client are with a request/response protocol. The workflow manager also comprises data storage for storing data for transmission to the workflow-enabled client or the workflow-enabled provider, and workflow storage for storing information related to registered clients. The present invention also includes a number of novel methods including a method for a method for registering a client and a method for activating a provider.

Workflow manager for a distributed system

Systems and techniques to manage tasks in a data processing environment. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes monitoring a task in a data processing environment and, using an instance of a distributed application, assessing when to initiate recovery of the monitored task based on an expected execution time derived using the task's associated class and historical execution times. In another implementation, the technique includes forecasting an execution time of a task in a data processing environment using a class of the task and historical task execution times as input into a statistical analysis tool comprising multiple interconnected processing elements and servicing the task based on the forecast execution time.

Initiating recovery of an executing task using historical information and task information

A method and apparatus for automated document layout creation is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a first layout of document image objects and creating a second layout of document image objects subject to placement constraints corresponding to placement of document image objects, at least one of the placement constraints being based on object content in one or more of the document image objects.

Growing community of inventors

San Carlos, CA, United States of America

Andrea Mariotti