Document management system for automating operations performed on documents in data storage areas

Abstract

This invention is related to document management systems, and more particularly, to a document management system for automating selected operations to be performed on at least one document in a data storage area. The invention is directed to a method and system for automatically performing preselected operations on electronic documents. The method and system comprising the steps of and means adapted for receiving at least one electronic document into a data storage area accessible by a plurality of users; associating at least one preselected operation with the data storage area, such that such preselected operation is performed automatically by any document received into the data storage area; and performing the preselected operation on each electronic document received into the data storage area.

1 . A computer-implemented method for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents comprising the steps of: 
 receiving, from an associated user, selection data representative of at least one selected document processing operation selected from a plurality thereof to be associated with a selected electronic document folder;    generating an icon on an associated graphical user interface, which icon is representative of the selected folder;    associating the at least one selected document processing operation with the folder such that such the at least one selected document processing operation is performed automatically on any document received into the folder;    receiving at least one electronic document into the folder by input from an associated user wherein an indicia of the at least one electronic document is associated with the icon via the associated graphical user interface; and    commencing the at least one preselected operation on each electronic document received into the folder.    
   
   
       2 . The computer-implemented method for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents of  claim 1  further comprising the step of receiving from an associated user, operation data representative of each preselected operation.  
   
   
       3 . The computer-implemented method for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents of  claim 1  further comprising the step of receiving, from an associated user, an instruction for selectively enabling the at least one preselected document processing operation.  
   
   
       4 . The computer-implemented method for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the at least one preselected operation includes a document print operation; and    operation data includes data representative of a selected print output for the electronic document.    
   
   
       5 . The computer-implemented method for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents of  claim 4  further comprising the step of copying the electronic document to at least a second folder.  
   
   
       6 . A system for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents comprising: 
 means adapted for receiving, from an associated user, selection data representative of at least one selected document processing operation selected from a plurality thereof to be associated with a selected electronic document folder;    means adapted for generating an icon on an associated graphical user interface, which icon is representative of the selected folder;    means adapted for associating the at least one selected document processing operation with the folder such that such the at least one selected document processing operation is performed automatically on any document received into the folder;    means adapted for receiving at least one electronic document into the folder by input from an associated user wherein an indicia of the at least one electronic document is associated with the icon via the associated graphical user interface; and    means adapted for commencing the at least one selected operation on each electronic document received into the folder.    
   
   
       7 . The system for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents of  claim 6  further comprising means adapted for receiving from an associated user, operation data representative of each preselected operation.  
   
   
       8 . The system for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents of  claim 6  further comprising means adapted for receiving, from an associated user, an instruction for selectively enabling the at least one preselected document processing operation.  
   
   
       9 . The system for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents of  claim 6  wherein: 
 the at least one preselected operation includes a document print operation; and    operation data includes data representative of a selected print output for the electronic document.    
   
   
       10 . The system for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents of  claim 9  further comprising means adapted for copying the electronic document to at least a second folder.  
   
   
       11 . A computer-implemented method for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents comprising the steps of: 
 receiving, from an associated user, selection data representative of at least one selected document processing operation selected from a plurality thereof to be associated with a selected electronic document folder;    generating an icon on an associated graphical user interface, which icon is representative of the selected folder;    associating the at least one selected document processing operation with the folder such that such the at least one selected document processing operation is performed automatically on any document received into the folder;    receiving at least one electronic document into the folder by input from an associated user wherein an indicia of the at least one electronic document is associated with the icon via the associated graphical user interface; and    performing the at least one selected operation on each electronic document received into the folder.    
   
   
       12 . The computer-implemented method for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents of  claim 11  further comprising the step of receiving from an associated user, operation data representative of each preselected operation.  
   
   
       13 . The computer-implemented method for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents of  claim 11  wherein: 
 the at least one preselected operation includes a document print operation; and    operation data includes data representative of a selected print output for the electronic document.    
   
   
       14 . The computer-implemented method for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents of  claim 13  further comprising the step of copying the electronic document to at least a second folder.  
   
   
       15 . A system for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents comprising: 
 means adapted for receiving, from an associated user, selection data representative of at least one selected document processing operation selected from a plurality thereof to be associated with a selected electronic document folder;    means adapted for generating an icon on an associated graphical user interface, which icon is representative of the selected folder;    means adapted for associating the at least one selected document processing operation with the folder such that such the at least one selected document processing operation is performed automatically on any document received into the folder;    means adapted for receiving at least one electronic document into the folder by input from an associated user wherein an indicia of the at least one electronic document is associated with the icon via the associated graphical user interface; and    means adapted for performing the at least one selected operation on each electronic document received into the folder.    
   
   
       16 . The system for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents of  claim 15  further comprising means adapted for receiving from an associated user, operation data representative of each preselected operation.  
   
   
       17 . The system for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents of  claim 15  wherein: 
 the at least one preselected operation includes a document print operation; and    operation data includes data representative of a selected print output for the electronic document.    
   
   
       18 . The system for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents of  claim 17  further comprising means adapted for copying the electronic document to at least a second folder.  
   
   
       19 . A method for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents comprising the steps of: 
 receiving at least one electronic document into a folder accessible by at least one user, which folder is associated with at least one preselected document processing operation, such that such the at least one preselected document processing operation is performed automatically on any document received into the folder; and    commencing the preselected operation on each electronic document received into the folder.    
   
   
       20 . The method for automatically performing a preselected operation on electronic documents of  claim 19  further comprising the step of receiving from an associated user, operation data representative of each preselected operation.  
   
   
       21 . The method for automatically performing preselected operations on electronic documents of  claim 19  further comprising the step of receiving, from an associated user, an instruction for selectively enabling the at least one preselected document processing operation.  
   
   
       22 . The method for automatically performing preselected operations on electronic documents of  claim 19  wherein: 
 the least one preselected operation includes a document print operation; and    operation data includes data representative of a selected print output for the electronic document.    
   
   
       23 . The method for automatically performing preselected operations on electronic documents of  claim 19  further comprising the steps of: 
 generating an icon on an associated graphical user interface, which icon is representative of folder; and    receiving the at least one electronic document by input from an associated user wherein an indicia of the electronic document is associated with the icon via the associated graphical user interface.    
   
   
       24 . The method for automatically performing preselected operations on electronic documents of  claim 22  further comprising the step of copying the electronic document to at least a second folder.  
   
   
       25 . A system for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents comprising: 
 means adapted for receiving at least one electronic document into a folder accessible by at least one user, which folder is associated with at least one preselected document processing operation, such that such the at least one preselected document processing operation is performed automatically on any document received into the folder; and    means adapted for commencing the preselected operation on each electronic document received into the folder.    
   
   
       26 . The system for automatically performing a preselected operation on electronic documents of  claim 25  further comprising means adapted for receiving from an associated user, operation data representative of each preselected operation.  
   
   
       27 . The system for automatically performing preselected operations on electronic documents of  claim 25  further comprising means adapted for receiving, from an associated user, an instruction for selectively enabling the at least one preselected document processing operation.  
   
   
       28 . The system for automatically performing preselected operations on electronic documents of  claim 25  wherein: 
 the least one preselected operation includes a document print operation; and    operation data includes data representative of a selected print output for the electronic document.    
   
   
       29 . The system for automatically performing preselected operations on electronic documents of  claim 25  further comprising: 
 means adapted for generating an icon on an associated graphical user interface, which icon is representative of folder; and    means adapted for receiving the at least one electronic document by input from an associated user wherein an indicia of the electronic document is associated with the icon via the associated graphical user interface.    
   
   
       30 . The system for automatically performing preselected operations on electronic documents of  claim 28  further comprising means adapted for copying the electronic document to at least a second folder.  
   
   
       31 . A method for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents comprising the steps of: 
 receiving at least one electronic document into a folder accessible by at least one user, which folder is associated with at least one preselected document processing operation, such that such the at least one preselected document processing operation is performed automatically on any document received into the folder; and    performing the preselected operation on each electronic document received into the folder.    
   
   
       32 . The method for automatically performing a preselected operation on electronic documents of  claim 31  further comprising the step of receiving from an associated user, operation data representative of each preselected operation.  
   
   
       33 . The method for automatically performing preselected operations on electronic documents of  claim 31  wherein: 
 the least one preselected operation includes a document print operation; and    operation data includes data representative of a selected print output for the electronic document.    
   
   
       34 . The method for automatically performing preselected operations on electronic documents of  claim 31  further comprising the steps of: 
 generating an icon on an associated graphical user interface, which icon is representative of folder; and    receiving the at least one electronic document by input from an associated user wherein an indicia of the electronic document is associated with the icon via the associated graphical user interface.    
   
   
       35 . The method for automatically performing preselected operations on electronic documents of  claim 33  further comprising the step of copying the electronic document to at least a second folder.  
   
   
       36 . A system for automatically performing at least one preselected operation on electronic documents comprising: 
 means adapted for receiving at least one electronic document into a folder accessible by at least one user, which folder is associated with at least one preselected document processing operation, such that such the at least one preselected document processing operation is performed automatically on any document received into the folder; and    means adapted for performing the preselected operation on each electronic document received into the folder.    
   
   
       37 . The system for automatically performing a preselected operation on electronic documents of  claim 36  further comprising means adapted for receiving from an associated user, operation data representative of each preselected operation.  
   
   
       38 . The system for automatically performing preselected operations on electronic documents of  claim 36  wherein: 
 the least one preselected operation includes a document print operation; and    operation data includes data representative of a selected print output for the electronic document.    
   
   
       39 . The system for automatically performing preselected operations on electronic documents of  claim 36  further comprising: 
 means adapted for generating an icon on an associated graphical user interface, which icon is representative of folder; and    means adapted for receiving the at least one electronic document by input from an associated user wherein an indicia of the electronic document is associated with the icon via the associated graphical user interface.    
   
   
       40 . The system for automatically performing preselected operations on electronic documents of  claim 38  further comprising means adapted for copying the electronic document to at least a second folder.