Image Scanning Device Automatic Email Composition via Feature Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image scanning devices require users to manually set subjects, bodies, and destination addresses for email attachments, which is burdensome due to differences in usability compared to information terminals like smartphones and personal computers.
Innovation Solution
An image scanning device that extracts image features from scanned data and matches them with stored email data to automatically generate and send new emails with attachments, using periodicity keywords and modification rules to simplify the email sending process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If character recognition is performed to detect keywords for automatic destination email address setup, then the setup assistance function is improved, but users still need to manually set subject, body, and other email components which increases operation time and effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the email composition task into multiple components: destination address (automatically detected via keyword recognition), subject line (automatically generated from scanned document content), and body text (automatically populated with scanned data). This segmentation allows different parts of the email to be handled by different automation strategies, reducing overall manual effort while maintaining flexibility for user review.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically generating email subjects from scanned document content, automatically populating email bodies with scanned data, and intelligently detecting destination addresses from the document. This reduces the need for user intervention in routine email composition tasks, allowing the system to serve itself in completing the email setup process.
2Ease of operation
If automatic email generation based on scanned data is implemented, then user burden is reduced, but the device complexity increases compared to conventional scanning devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality by integrating document scanning, optical character recognition, keyword detection, email subject generation, and email composition capabilities into a single device. This allows the scanning device to perform not only its traditional scanning function but also intelligent document processing and automated email composition, reducing the need for separate tools and justifying the increased complexity through enhanced versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary processing layer that bridges the scanned document data and the final email output. This intermediary layer performs keyword detection, extracts relevant information, generates subject lines, and formats the email body, acting as a mediator between the raw scanned data and the composed email. This modular approach manages complexity by creating distinct processing stages rather than monolithic functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
An image scanning device includes: a storage that stores therein an image feature of image data attached to a sent email; an image scanner that scans a document to obtain scanned data; and a hardware processor. The hardware processor extracts an image feature from the scanned data, and judges whether the image feature extracted from the scanned data is similar to the image feature of the image data attached to the sent email. When judging affirmatively, the hardware processor generates a new email by using part of the sent email, and sends the new email with an attachment of the scanned data.