Method for paperless attachment of supplementary forms to a world wide web application

Abstract

An electronic copy of a paper document, such as high school transcript, can be attached to an electronic document, such as an application for admission to an institution. The high school providing the paper document is required to have only a simple fax machine. When a student requests that a transcript accompany an electronic application, a request for the transcript is automatically generated by the application servicer and transmitted to the high school. The request includes a return facsimile cover sheet that includes an identifier that can be automatically machine-interpreted when the cover sheet is transmitted back to the servicer with the transcript. The identifier marking is sufficiently robust that it will be machine interpretable, even after rough treatment or serial copying and transmission by the high school. Upon receipt of the transcript facsimile, the servicer automatically interprets the identifying information on the return facsimile cover sheet to identify the student and the particular admissions application for which the transcript was request. The transcript is forwarded preferably along with application to the appropriate institution after being converted, if necessary, to a data format specified by the institution. The servicer may also store the transcript in electronic form in a secure database for subsequent transmission for a different term or to different institution. Each facsimile cover sheet is preferably 'branded' with the logo of the institution to which the student is applying, although the return facsimile number is preferably a toll free number to a computer facsimile server of the servicer. Thus, the servicer can be invisible to the high school.