Allen E Harris

US Patent:

6144975, Nov 7, 2000

Filed:

May 5, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/073011

Inventors:

Allen W. Harris - Briarcliff Manor NY
Kurt E. Liberatore - Franklin MA
Shawn D. Persels - Northboro MA

Assignee:

FMR Corporation - Boston MA

International Classification:

G06F 1721

US Classification:

707901

Abstract:

A computer system includes several inputs for receiving documents being transmitted via different media, and several outputs for transmitting outgoing documents via different media. An input component is coupled to each of the inputs and an output component is coupled to each of the outputs. The input component and the output component each communicate with a processing system providing database services. The input component converts requests communicated through inputs into service items that typically include at least one document production item. Service items are communicated to the processing system, which tracks them. The processing system passes the service items on to the output component, which instructs appropriate ones of the outputs to produce output documents. Each of the input manager and output manage communicate with the processing system via a generalized API, and communicates with respective inputs and outputs via API's specific to those machines. The input manager and the output manager thereby serve as functional abstraction layers between the processing system and the document inputs and outputs.