Automated Document Package Separation Using Recognition Rules

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face a tedious and error-prone manual process when trying to manage document packages in existing document management systems, as they need to split the packages into individual documents before accessing system features.

Innovation Solution

An online document system that allows users to upload document packages, automatically identifying and separating component documents using package templates and document identification rules, and taking actions such as providing documents for signature or review.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users manually split document packages into individual documents, then documents can be managed in the system, but the process becomes tedious and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of document separationVSAvoidease of document package processing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic document identification and separation without requiring user intervention. The online document system analyzes uploaded document packages, identifies component documents using package templates and recognition rules, and separates them automatically, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring manual user processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical process of reviewing and separating documents is replaced with an automated recognition system. The system uses package templates, document identification rules, and probabilistic recognition algorithms to automatically identify and separate component documents, substituting human manual operations with automated computational processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Quantity of substance

If the number of pages in a document package increases, then more information can be managed, but the manual splitting process becomes more time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of documents in packageVSAvoidtime required for splitting

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically handles document packages of any size without requiring proportional increases in user time investment. The automated recognition and separation process processes all pages in the document package simultaneously, eliminating the linear time increase that would occur with manual processing of larger packages

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously processes all pages in a document package through automated recognition and separation. Rather than requiring users to sequentially review each page, the system maintains continuous automated processing throughout the entire document package, significantly reducing the time required even as the number of pages increases

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Measurement precision

If users individually review each page to assign pages to component documents, then accurate separation can be achieved, but the barrier to entry increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of page assignmentVSAvoidease of system access

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs page assignment and document identification without requiring user review. The online document system uses package templates and recognition rules to autonomously assign pages to component documents, eliminating the need for users to individually review and assign each page while maintaining high accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces package templates and document identification rules as intermediaries between the uploaded document package and the final separated documents. These intermediaries provide structured guidance for automatic recognition and separation, enabling accurate page assignment without requiring direct user intervention in the assignment process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12340612B2Document identification and splitting in an online document system

Publication Date: 2025.06.24 DOCUSIGN INC

AI summary

An online document system can allow users to upload a document packages containing multiple individual document files. The online document system then automatically identifies and separates the component documents within an uploaded document package based on a package template for that type of document package. Based on the documents included in the document package, the online document system can automatically take action on the identified documents. The online document system may recognize component documents within a document package using a set of rules defining potential component documents that may appear within the received document package and one or more methods of recognizing each type of component document. In some embodiments, the online document system can improve package templates and recognition of component documents over time using feedback from the importing users through updates to the document identification rules and/or a supplementary probabilistic recognition system.