Document and data handling and retrieval system

Claim 1

An apparatus for gathering data from a plurality of source documents comprising means for sequentially receiving documents, optically scanning each document and forming a series of digitalized signals representative of digital patterns closely approximating patterns on each document from which an image of each document can be reproduced; means for imprinting in a predetermined area of each document a set of characters uniquely identifying each document and for producing electrical signals representative of said characters; buffer means for storing the series of digitalized signals along with said signals representative of said characters; means for recalling from said buffer means groups of said digitalized signals and for producing on a viewable screen an image of the digitalized patterns of the document from which said signals were formed; manually operable control means for selecting a plurality of locations in said document image to identify selected segments of the digital patterns therein and for adding to said selected segments address information to control subsequent disposition of said segments; and a mass data file for receiving and storing said segments in digitalized form and said address information.

Claim 2

An apparatus for gathering data from a plurality of source documents comprising means for sequentially receiving documents, optically scanning each document and forming a series of digitalized signals representative of digital patterns closely approximating patterns on each document from which an image of each document can be reproduced; means for imprinting in a predetermined area of each document a set of characters uniquely identifying each document and for producing electrical signals representative of said characters; buffer means for storing the series of digitalized signals along with said signals representative of said characters; means for recalling from said buffer means groups of said digitalized signals and for producing on a viewable screen an image of the digitalized patterns of the document from which said signals were formed; manually operable control means for selecting a plurality of locations in said document image to identify selected segments of the digital patterns therein and for adding to said selected segments address information to control subsequent disposition of said segments; and a mass data file for receiving and storing said segments in digitalized form and said address information.

Claim 13

An apparatus for selectively storing information derived from source documents comprising means for receiving source documents, optically scanning each document and forming a series of digitalized electrical signals representative to a digitalization of patterns on each document from which an image of each document can be reproduced, buffer means for storing the series of digitalized signals, means for recalling from said buffer means groups of said digitalized signals and for producing on a viewable screen an image of digitalized patterns of the document from which said signals were formed; manually operable control means for selecting a plurality of locations in said document to identify selected segments of the patterns therein and for adding to said selected segments address information to control subsequent disposition of said segments; and a mass data file for receiving said segments in digitalized form and said address information.

Claim 14

An apparatus for selectively storing information derived from source documents comprising means for receiving source documents, optically scanning each document and forming a series of digitalized electrical signals representative to a digitalization of patterns on each document from which an image of each document can be reproduced, buffer means for storing the series of digitalized signals, means for recalling from said buffer means groups of said digitalized signals and for producing on a viewable screen an image of digitalized patterns of the document from which said signals were formed; manually operable control means for selecting a plurality of locations in said document to identify selected segments of the patterns therein and for adding to said selected segments address information to control subsequent disposition of said segments; and a mass data file for receiving said segments in digitalized form and said address information.

Claim 19

A method of inputting and preparing data from source documents comprising the steps of scanning each source document and forming signals representative of digitalized patterns derived from images of characters and graphics thereon, temporarily storing the signals representative of the digitalized patterns, selecting segments of the stored signals for further processing, converting signals representative of digitalized patterns of characters in only the selected segments into a machine code, displaying the digitalized patterns from the storage of signals for each character not successfully converted into machine code, manually entering a code for the digitalized pattern, and storing the machine code and digitalized pattern signal for subsequent use.

Claim 20

A method of inputting and preparing data from source documents comprising the steps of scanning each source document and forming signals representative of digitalized patterns derived from images of characters and graphics thereon, temporarily storing the signals representative of the digitalized patterns, selecting segments of the stored signals for further processing, converting signals representative of digitalized patterns of characters in only the selected segments into a machine code, displaying the digitalized patterns from the storage of signals for each character not successfully converted into machine code, manually entering a code for the digitalized pattern, and storing the machine code and digitalized pattern signal for subsequent use.

Claim 32

A method of preparing source documents and inputting selected data therefrom into a storage and retrieval system comprising manually marking each source document with machine readable distinctive marks identifying one or more segments of material thereon which are to be stored, scanning each source document and forming signals representative of digitalized patterns derived from images of characters and graphics in the selected segments, temporarily storing the signals representative of the digitalized patterns, converting signals representative of digitalized patterns of characters in the selected segments into a machine code, displaying the digitalized patterns from the storage of signals for each character not successfully converted into machine code, manually entering a code for the digitalized pattern, and storing the machine code and digitalized pattern signal for subsequent use.

Claim 33

A method of preparing source documents and inputting selected data therefrom into a storage and retrieval system comprising manually marking each source document with machine readable distinctive marks identifying one or more segments of material thereon which are to be stored, scanning each source document and forming signals representative of digitalized patterns derived from images of characters and graphics in the selected segments, temporarily storing the signals representative of the digitalized patterns, converting signals representative of digitalized patterns of characters in the selected segments into a machine code, displaying the digitalized patterns from the storage of signals for each character not successfully converted into machine code, manually entering a code for the digitalized pattern, and storing the machine code and digitalized pattern signal for subsequent use.