WO2002023399A1

WO2002023399A1 - Combined storage and retrieval of paper documents, scanned documents and electronic

Info

Publication number: WO2002023399A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/025451
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerald Altman
Original assignee: Papercomp, Inc.
Priority date: 2000-09-17
Filing date: 2000-09-17
Publication date: 2002-03-21
Also published as: AU2000275859A1

Abstract

A storage system (25) is provided for paper (38) and electronic documents (45). The documents may be completely unrelated to one another in form and content. The electronic image documents (41) and electronic work documents (43) are acquired and cataloged in real time sequence (52, 54, 70 72). Acquired or produced physical documents are simply added to the front or back of one or more physical stacks (29, 31). The physical locations (37, 39) of the physical documents are uniquely indexed through the electronic documents by their associated date/time instances (52, 54, 70, 72). The date/time indexes serve as an archiving parameter for disposal or records on any specified archive termination date.

Description

SYSTEMS, PROCESSES, AND PRODUCTS FOR STORAGE AND

RETRIEVAL OF PHYSICAL PAPER DOCUMENTS,

ELECTRO-OPTICALLY GENERATED DOCUMENTS, AND

COMPUTER GENERATED ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to systems, processes and products for the storage and retrieval of documentary information, including: physical paper documents; corresponding electro-optically generated electronic documents, e.g. digital images produced by scanning or photography; and computer generated electronic documents, e.g. digital text produced by word processing and/or digital graphics produced by computer aided design. The Prior Art

Numerous systems and processes have been proposed for the storage and retrieval of documentary information. Traditional practices over the centuries, of course, have involved storage and retrieval by manually accessing indexed arrangements of original papers and "hard copies" in folders, boxes, shelving and cabinets. Later practices have involved photographically reducing the original papers to produce indexed miniaturizations in microfilm spools or microfiche sheets, storing the spools or sheets in indexed containers, folders or other physical repositories, and retrieving images or hard copies of the miniaturizations by optical projection or photographic reproduction.

Now there are a proliferation of proposals for digital computer systems that opto-electronically scan original papers: to create electronic representations in computer memory; to store digital records of these representations in magnetic and/or optical media; and to retrieve images or hard copies corresponding to these records electro-magnetically or electro-optically. It is common experience that effective paper filing systems have required unerring care by trustworthy persons who acquire some understanding of the business or other activity involved. Considerable reliance has been placed on the memory of such persons, who have a tendency to become "indispensable" in mission critical situations. Moreover, even a generally effective system often is not conducive to physical and logical arrangements capable of implementing prompt storage and retrieval without constant inquiries to and guidance by professional level personnel. Finally, of course, a paper file is available to only one person at a time unless hard copies are made, in which case undesired paper proliferation occurs.

Although a few, but not all, of these problems are alleviated by the use of microfilm and microfiche, new and different problems arise. It is true that a large number of photographic miniaturizations can be stored in a much smaller space than an equivalent number of original papers. However, problems of storing and retrieving containers and folders of microfilm and microfiche are not unlike problems of storing and retrieving batches of their paper counterparts. More important, producing, imaging and retrieving photographic miniaturizations often are costly procedures requiring unwieldy hardware. As a practical matter, microfilm and microfiche may be limited to archival-type documentation, which may not be compatible with a dynamic work environment. A critical advantage of electronic files over paper and microfilm/microfiche files is that electronic files can be readily generated, sorted, retrieved and reorganized. Also, electronic media are a readily available source of paper (hard) copies whenever desired.

Recent advances in low cost computer architecture, particularly, faster clock speeds, higher resolution displays, and denser storage media, have generated discussions of whether or not a "paperless office" is possible, and, indeed, what is the meaning of "paperless office." It is apparent that electronic files are capable of obviating tedious manipulation of original paper files when there may be no further need ever to refer to them.

Nevertheless, despite the rapid growth of electronic filing, paper documents continue to proliferate. One possible reason for this phenomenon is a natural reluctance on the part of many to discard original paper files even after they have been imaged and stored in electronic media. For many, it simply will be difficult to overcome a habitual predilection to keep paper documents indefinitely, and to accept the idea that electronic media, in many cases, are a secure and relatively versatile substitute. Furthermore, in many cases, reference to original papers or other original physical documents, even if infrequent, may be essential. For example, original physical documents may be required or desired: (1) in litigation where specific rules of evidence pertain; (2) as backup in the event that lost or faulty images are discovered later; (3) in major commercial, financial and insurance dealings where physical signatures may be important or merely may be perceived to be important; (4) in Internet transactions where the parties do not meet legal requirements for dispensing with paper records or do not agree to do so; (5) as backup for technical graphics, precision photographs, medical diagnostics, and the like, where differences in resolution between images and originals may become significant; (6) as backup in the event of corruption of electronic files; (7) as complete copies of voluminous treatises in which only the table of contents and/or other selected portions have been imaged for convenience; and (8) in large organizations, where careful planning requires the periodic destruction of selected corresponding paper and electronic records that may bear dates prior to some legally mandated or permitted threshold, or where unnecessary paper proliferation may become a source of confusion. Modern society demands knowledge work that is appropriate for the information age. The requirements are that: tedious, relatively low paying manual work, like filing paper documents, must be phased out; and more interesting, relatively high paying knowledge work, like processing electronic documents, must be phased in. The fact is that total elimination of paper documents may be unachievable or undesirable. Rather, the present invention is based on the insight that there is an essential interaction between minimizing the inherent inefficiency of paper documents, and maximizing the inherent efficiency of electronic documents.

Much confusion has been encountered in the implementation of systems that are based on: original paper documents themselves; imaged electronic documents of the type that are created by scanning or photographing paper documents and the like; and computer generated electronic documents of the type that are created by word processors and the like. This confusion compounds a variety of conflicts, among which are: whether to store bit maps based on simple scanning, or text resulting from optical character recognition, or both; whether or not to mix optically generated electronic documents and computer generated electronic documents; whether or not the storage of optically generated electronic image files should mirror the storage of the original paper documents; whether or not an original paper filing system should be retained without change; whether or not a system is so sophisticated that computer literate professional level operators and/or supervisors are required; and whether or not a system is so rudimentary that even entry level operators may be sufficiently trustworthy.

The foregoing problems are greatly magnified in networked systems, where difficulties may be encountered particularly in standardizing, at disparate locations, the storage and retrieval of original physical paper documents, and, sometimes, hard paper copies of electro-optically generated and computer generated documents . There is a requirement for systems: in which the physical filing of paper documents is radically simplified; in which access to infrequently needed paper documents is precisely indicated; and in which optically generated electronic documents and computer generated electronic documents are clearly differentiated.

DEFINITIONS In order to maintain clarity, the present application adopts the following definitions :

(I) physical documents (sometimes abbreviated to physical files) are defined herein as actual paper documents or actual photographs or the like, of the type that are directly visually perceptible.

(II) electronic image documents (sometimes abbreviated to image documents or image files) are defined herein as electronic files of the type that are generated electro- optically by scanning or photographing physical documents such as actual paper documents, photographs, and the like. In one form, these electronic image documents are bitmap documents .

(III) electronic work documents (sometimes abbreviated to work documents or work files) are defined herein as electronic files of the type that are generated in a computer by a word processor program, a spreadsheet, a computer aided design program, or the like. In one form, these electronic work documents are PostScript documents . PostScript is a page description language originated by Adobe Systems, Inc.

(IV) electronic documents (sometimes referred to as electronic files) include electronic image documents and electronic work documents .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary object of the present invention is to provide, for the storage and retrieval of original physical documents (printed paper and photographic presentations) , electronic image documents (electro-optically generated electronic documents) , and electronic work documents (computer generated electronic documents): systems, processes and products, which facilitate the use of electronic documents rather than physical documents whenever feasible or acceptable, but which also facilitate the use of physical documents rather than electronic documents whenever necessary or preferred. The result is less organizational confusion and emotional frustration, and more creative use of time and resources. The systems, processes and products of the present invention are particularly advantageous in connection with simultaneously archiving and later simultaneously disposing of corresponding physical and electronic documents. More specifically, the present invention contemplates the following features. (1) Electronic image documents and electronic work documents , which may be completely unrelated in form or content, are acquired or produced to provide one or more real time sequences of electronic documents in one or more real time sequences of date/time instances. (2) Acquired or produced physical documents, for ultimate convenience, simply are added to the front (or the back) of one or more cumulative physical stacks. (3) The resulting electronic records, with assured precision, uniquely identify the physical locations of the physical documents and the electronic locations of the electronic documents, both in terms of their associated date/time instances. (4) In effect, these date/time instances guarantee that virtual sets of related physical documents may be conveniently accessed and physically retrieved, and that corresponding sets of related electronic documents may be immediately displayed and suitably presented. (5) Also, pursuant to any particular archive policy, these date/time instances can guarantee the joint disposal of corresponding physical and electronic documents that have been received and/or created prior to any selected date .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference is made to the following specification, which is to be taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates a system embodying the present invention; Fig. la is a flow diagram of the system of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 illustrates a graphical user interface displaying a form with date/time indexing features and a window that presents thumbnail displays of images and views, the entries of which fall within a specific date/time interval; Fig. 3 illustrates a graphical user interface displaying a form with date/time indexing features and an imaging window that displays a blow-up view corresponding to one of the thumbnail views of Fig. 2, the entries of which fall within a specific date/time interval; Fig. 4 illustrates labels that are affixed to a first stream of primary and secondary repositories in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 5 illustrates a file folder of the first stream having visual indicia specifying a date/time interval that bounds a sequence of physical paper documents of the type corresponding to the thumbnail images of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 illustrates a box of the first stream having visual indicia specifying a date/time interval that bounds a sequence of file folders of the type corresponding to the file folder of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 illustrates labels that are affixed to a second stream of primary and secondary repositories in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 8 illustrates a file folder of the second stream having visual indicia specifying a date/time interval that bounds a sequence of physical paper documents of the type corresponding to the thumbnail images of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 illustrates a box of the second stream having visual indicia specifying a date/time interval that bounds a sequence of file folders of the type corresponding to the file folder of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 illustrates a plurality of stacks of boxes that are organized pursuant to one application of the system of the present invention;

Fig. 11 illustrates a table of a relational database that supports the system, process and product of Fig. 1; Fig. 12 illustrates another table of the relational database referred to in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 illustrates a further table of the relational database referred to in Figs . 11 and 12 ;

Fig. 14 represents an electronic diagram that indicates relationships among the tables of Figs. 11, 12 and 13;

Fig. 15 illustrates an electronic query based upon the electronic diagram of Fig. 14; and Fig. 16 illustrates another electronic query based upon the electronic diagram of Fig. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Introduction As shown in -Fig. 1 and la, the illustrated embodiment of the present invention comprises a master system 25 that includes a physical system 30 and an electronic system 32. The physical and electronic systems share a scanner 34 and a printer 36. Scanner 34 processes random sequences of paper documents 38 to produce sequences of electronic image documents 27 in sequences of date/time instances. In the present embodiment, scanner 34 processes two document streams 29 and 31 to produce two streams of electronic image documents 33 and 35. Physical documents 29 and electronic image documents 33 of the first stream are archived permanently. Physical documents 31 and electronic image documents 35 of the second stream are archived for limited date/time periods. The Physical System In the first document stream 29, date/time sequences of physical folders 42 store date/time sequences of paper documents 38 from the scanner 34, and date/time sequences of boxes 44 in turn store date/time sequences of folders 42. In the second document stream 31, date/time sequences of physical folders 46 store date/time sequences of paper documents 38 from the scanner 34, and date/time sequences of boxes 48 in turn store date/time sequences of physical folders 46. The destination of folders 42 and boxes 44 of the first stream 29 is location 37, designated Location A. The destination of folders 46 and boxes 48 of the second stream 31 is location 39, designated Location B. The physical folders and boxes typically are constructed from inexpensive materials, for example, cardboard, plastic or the like.

As is shown in Fig. 4, the physical visual indicia are in the form of pressure sensitive labels 52 and 54, which are removably mounted on the plastic coated faces of carrier sheets 56 and 58, respectively. As shown in Fig. 5, when label 52 is peeled from carrier sheet 56 and applied to folder 42, printed indicia 60 and 62 indicate the start and finish of the range of date/time instances of the paper documents therewithin, and additionally their physical destination, Location A. As shown in Fig. 6, when label 54 is peeled from carrier sheet 58 and applied to box 44, printed indicia 64 and 66 indicate the start and finish of the range of date/time instances of the folders therewithin, and additionally their physical destination, Location B.

As is shown in Fig. 7, the physical visual indicia are in the form of pressure sensitive labels 70 and 72, which are removably mounted on the plastic coated faces of carrier sheets 74 and 76, respectively. As shown in Fig. 8, when label 70 is peeled from carrier sheet 74 and applied to folder 46, printed indicia 78 and 80 indicate the beginning and ending of the range of date/time instances of the paper documents therewithin, and additionally the physical destination, location B 37, of the relevant document stream. As shown in Fig. 9, when label 72 is peeled from carrier sheet 76 and applied to box 48, printed indicia 82 and 84 indicate the beginning and ending of the range of date/time instances of the folders therewithin, and additionally the physical destination, location B 37, of the relevant document stream.

As shown in Fig. 10, distinguishably marked boxes 44 and 48 are stored on shelves 50 and 51 in physical locations A and B, respectively. Location A receives those physical documents that are to be archived permanently, and location B receives those documents that are to be archived for limited periods of time.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the different documents of the sequential batches are separated by slip sheets, which are imprinted with applicable date/time instances by printer 36. The integrity of any designated stack is maintained by monitoring the physical storage and retrieval of any processed document to and from that stack. The Electronic System

As shown in Fig. 1, electronic system 32 includes a workstation 86 and an electronic storage 88. Workstation 86 is operatively connected to scanner 34 for transmission to the scanner of control signals that synchronize the production of date/time instances, and that receive, from the scanner, data signals representing electronic image documents and their date/time identifiers. Workstation 86 is operatively connected to electronic storage 88 for transmission to and retrieval from electronic storage 84 of control and data signals that represent electronic documents, and their date/time identifiers.

As shown in Fig. 2, electronic image documents 33 and 35 are assembled by electronic system 32 as a date time sequence of electronic image documents 41. Also, under the control of any of a variety of word processor, fax, computer aided design (CAD) , and e-mail programs, computer 86 produces a date/time sequence of electronic work documents 43. Electronic image documents 42 and electronic work documents 43 are assembled by electronic system 32 as a date/time sequence of electronic documents 47. Electronic documents 45 are assembled by electronic system 32 in a relational database 47, to be described in detail below. Electronic work documents 43 include electronic image documents in any of various bitmap, vector, text or other formats, such as the PDF (Portable Document Format) format promulgated by Adobe Systems, Inc., or the XML (Extensible Markup Language) format promulgated by Microsoft Corporation, among others. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, workstation 86 can present the electronic documents 45, generated by scanner 34 and computer 86, as thumbnail views 90 or blow-up views 92. Workstation 86 is operatively connected to printer 36 for transmission to and receipt from the printer of control signals, and for the production of visual materials. These visual materials include labels 52, 54, 70 and 72, as well as read-outs of logical sets of records that are retrieved from relational database 47.

Relational database 47 includes tables, which are shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13. The fields of these tables are described in the following schedules.

SCHEDULE 1 (See Table 1, Fig. 11)

Field Name Data Type Field Type - Description

Entity_Code Text Primary - unique identifier of associated organization or individual

Entity_Name Text Secondary - name of organization or individual

Entity_Address Text Secondary - address of organization or individual

Entity_Info Text Secondary - relevant notes

Entity_Tel_No Text Secondary - telephone number of organization or individual

Entity_Fax__No Text Secondary - fax number of organization or individual

Entity_Emai1 Text Secondary - uniform resource locator of organization or individual

Reference_Code Text Secondary - entity code of contact or other associated individual or organization

Reference_Kind Text Secondary - nature of association

Reference_Info Text Secondary - relevant notes

SCHEDULE 2 (See Table 2, Fig. 12)

Field Name Data Type Field Type - Description

Pro ect_No Text Primary - unique identifier of project

Project_Kind Text Secondary - select from categories [1], [2], ..., [n]

Proj ect_Name Text Secondary -formal project name

Security_Level Text Secondary - select from categories [1], [2], ..., [n]

Archive_Term Date/Time Secondary - document stream selection - term finish date

Task_Entry_Date Date/Time Secondary - review date

Task_Due_Date Date/Time Secondary - due date

Task_Done_Date Date/Time Secondary - done date

Review_Due_Date Date/Time Secondary - due date

Review_Done_Date Date/Time Secondary - done date

SCHEDULE 3 (See Table 3, Fig. 13; As will be seen in Fig. 14, the following relational links exist among Tables 1, 2 and 3 of Figs. 11, 12 and 13, above. The Entity_Code MANY (secondary) field of Table 1 is linked to the Entity_Code ONE (primary) field of Table 2. The Project_No MANY (secondary) field of Table 1 is linked to the Pro ect_No ONE (primary) field of Table 3.

Preferably, a date/time instance value in the Entry_Date/Time field of Table 1 is automatically generated by the system during scanning or computer generation. In one form, this value is in terms of year, month, day, hour, minute, second, and fractions of second, i.e., yy, mm, dd, hh, nn, ss, ff . In another form, this value is in terms of year, month, day, hour, minute and sequential integers, i.e., yy, mm, dd, hh, nn, ii. The timing is arranged so that each electronic document (image or work) is uniquely identified at the moment of its acquisition or creation by entry of a date/time instance or a date/time instance that includes an integer.

OPERATION The system, processes and products of the present invention operate as follows. Electronic image documents 41 and electronic work documents 43 are acquired or produced to provide one or more real time sequences of electronic documents 45 in one or more real time sequences of date/time instances 52, 54, 70, 72. Acquired or produced physical documents simply are added to the front (or the back) of one or more cumulative physical stacks 29, 31. The resulting electronic records, as shown in Tables 1, 2 and 3 (Figs. 11, 12 and 13), uniquely identify the physical locations of the physical documents 38 and the electronic locations of the electronic documents 45, both in terms of their associated date/time instances. These date/time instances guarantee that virtual sets of related physical documents 38 may be readily located and conveniently retrieved, and that corresponding sets of related electronic documents 45 may be immediately displayed and suitably reported. Pursuant to any particular archive policy, these date/time instances guarantee the joint disposal of corresponding physical and electronic documents, which are scheduled for disposal on any selected archival termination date.

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. A system for processing corresponding pairs of original paper documents and resulting electronic images, said system comprising: (a) a scanner for producing said resulting electronic images from said original paper documents to provide said pairs in an arbitrary real time sequence; (b) each pair being automatically specified by a unique date/time identifier; (c) a physical storage for containing at least one physical collection of said paper documents substantially in said real time sequence; (d) each of said paper documents in said physical collection being logically classified by said date/time identifier with the date/time identifiers of the other paper documents in said physical collection; (e) said paper documents in said physical collection being logically classified by other identifiers into restricted virtual groups; (f) paper documents of different ones of said restricted virtual groups being intermingled physically throughout said physical collection; (g) an electronic storage for containing at least one electronic collection of said electronic images; (h) each of said electronic images in said electronic collection being logically classified by said date/time identifier with the date/time identifiers of the other electronic images in said electronic collection; (i) said electronic images in said electronic collection being logically classified by said other identifiers into restricted image groups; (j) digital processing means for recording said date/time sequence and for presenting said restricted image groups; (k) said physical storage having a plurality of physical containers for holding said paper documents substantially in said real time sequence ; (1) said physical containers being uniquely marked with visual media designating ranges of said date/time identifiers; and (m) paper documents of different ones of said restricted virtual groups being intermingled physically throughout said physical containers.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said date/time identifiers specify seconds.

3. A method of processing corresponding pairs of original paper documents and resulting electronic images , said method comprising the steps of: (a) producing said resulting electronic images from said original paper documents by scanning to provide said pairs in an arbitrary real time sequence; (b) automatically specifying each pair by a unique date/time identifier; (c) storing in a physical repository at least one physical collection of said paper documents substantially in said real time sequence; (d) each of said paper documents in said physical collection being logically classified by a date/time identifier with the date/time identifiers of the other paper documents in said physical collection; (e) said paper documents in said physical collection being logically classified by other identifiers into restricted virtual groups; (f) paper documents of different ones of said restricted virtual groups being intermingled physically throughout said physical collection; (g) an electronic storage for containing at least one electronic collection of said electronic images; (h) each of said electronic images in said electronic collection being logically classified by a date/time identifier with the date/time identifiers of the other electronic images in said electronic collection; (i) said electronic images in said electronic collection being logically classified by said other identifiers into restricted image groups; (j) digitally recording said date/time sequence and selectively presenting said restricted image groups; (k) said physical repository having a plurality of physical containers for holding said paper documents substantially in said date/time sequence; and (1) marking said physical containers with physical media designating ranges of said date/time identifiers.

4. A document storage and retrieval system comprising a physical system for filing a sequence of paper documents, a scanner for converting said sequence of paper documents to a sequence of electronic images at a sequence of date/time instances that specify seconds, and an electronic system for filing said sequence of electronic images, each one of said date/time instances uniquely designating a matched pair of one of said paper documents and one of said electronic images : (a) said physical system including a primary physical repository and a plurality of secondary physical repositories therein, selected ranges of said sequence of paper documents corresponding to selected ranges of said date/time instances, said selected ranges of said sequences of paper documents being contained by selected ones of said secondary physical repositories, said selected ones of said secondary physical repositories being visually marked with physical indicia corresponding to said selected ranges of said date/time instances; (b) said electronic system presenting an electronic table representing a grid containing rows of electronic records and columns of electronic fields, said electronic fields including a ONE electronic field and a plurality of MANY electronic fields, said ONE electronic field including a sequence of date/time entries that designate a corresponding sequence of said paper documents and said electronic images, said MANY electronic fields including arrangements of other entries that designate corresponding arrangements of logical groups of said paper documents and logical groups of said electronic images; (c) said logical groups of said paper documents including virtual collections of said paper documents that are intermingled throughout said secondary repositories so as to be unadapted for immediate physical compilation, the location in said secondary repositories of any one paper document being indicated by a record that includes the date/ time instance by which said one paper document is uniquely identified, said logical groups of said electronic images being identified by logical groups of said electronic records so as to be adapted for immediate electronic compilation.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said primary depository is a box and imprinted on said box are visual indicia specifying a limited date/time range of physical documents therein.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein each of said secondary depositories is a folder and imprinted on said folder are visual indicia specifying a limited date/time range of physical documents therein.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein said date/time in part specifies seconds.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein said digital computer automatically generates electronic date/time indicia in said ONE field at each of said date/time instances.

9. A database system comprising a physical system and an electronic system that process a plurality of pairs of paper documents and electronic images: (a) the paper document and the electronic image of each of said pairs being substantially identical visually; (b) a scanner for producing said electronic images from said paper documents to provide said pairs in an arbitrary real time sequence; (c) each of said pairs being uniquely identified by one of a succession of date/time entries in said primary field; (d) said electronic system presenting an electronic table representing a grid containing rows of electronic records and columns of electronic fields; (e) at least one of said fields being a primary field characterized by a date/time data type; (f) at least a plurality of other fields being secondary fields characterized by at least another data type; (g) said physical system including a primary container and a plurality of secondary containers therein; (h) a physical collection of said paper documents being deposited in said plurality of secondary containers; (i) each of said pairs being designated by one of said records; (j) said paper documents in said physical collection being logically classified by said other identifiers into restricted virtual groups; (k) paper documents of different ones of said restricted virtual groups being intermingled physically throughout said physical collection; (1) the physical location of a particular document being indicated by a particular one of said date/time instances; (m) electronic storage for containing said collection of said electronic images; and (n) a digital processor for recording said date/time sequence and for presenting said restricted image groups.

10. A digital system for producing a collection of electronic images from a collection of paper documents in an arbitrary date/time sequence of transactions, the paper documents and electronic images thereby being matched in pairs : (a) each pair being uniquely identified by one of said date/time sequence of transactions; (b) different pairs being classified by different contents in different logical groups; (c) a primary physical container and a plurality of secondary physical containers therein; (d) ranges of said paper documents being deposited in said secondary physical containers; (e) said ranges being uniquely identified by corresponding ranges of said date/time sequence; (f) said secondary physical containers being marked with physical indicia corresponding to said ranges of said date/time sequence; (g) an electronic table representing a grid containing rows of electronic records and columns of at least a primary electronic field and a plurality of secondary electronic fields; (h) entries in said primary field identifying said date/time sequence of transactions; (i) entries in said secondary fields identifying said different logical groups; (j) paper documents identifying said different logical groups being intermingled in said secondary physical containers ; (k) logical groups of electronic images being organized by said entries in said secondary fields for electronic presentation; (1) the date/time entry for any electronic image indicating the physical location in said secondary containers of the paper document represented thereby.

11. The digital system of claim 10 wherein said date/time sequence specifies seconds .

12. A digital process for producing a collection of electronic images from a collection of paper documents in an arbitrary date/time sequence of transactions, the paper documents and electronic images thereby being matched in pair : (a) uniquely identifying each pair by one of said date/time sequence of transactions; (b) different contents classifying different pairs in different logical groups; (c) depositing ranges of said paper documents in a plurality of secondary physical containers; (d) depositing said plurality of secondary physical containers in a primary physical container; (e) automatically identifying said ranges of paper documents by corresponding ranges of said date/time sequence; (f) marking said secondary physical containers with physical indicia corresponding to said ranges of said date/time sequence; (g) creating an electronic table representing a grid containing rows of electronic records and columns of at least a primary electronic field and a plurality of secondary electronic fields; (h) inserting entries in said primary field identifying said date/time sequence of transactions; (i) inserting entries in said secondary fields identifying said different logical groups; (j) intermingling paper documents identifying said different logical groups in said secondary physical containers; (k) organizing logical groups of electronic images by said entries in said secondary fields for electronic presentation; (1) the date/time entry for any electronic image indicating the physical location in said secondary containers of the paper document represented thereby.

13. The digital process of claim 12 wherein said date/time sequence specifies seconds.

14. A document storage and retrieval system comprising a physical system for filing a sequence of paper documents, a scanner for converting said sequence of paper documents to a sequence of electronic images at a sequence of date/time instances, and an electronic system for filing said sequence of electronic images, each one of said date/time instances uniquely designating a matched pair of one of said paper documents and one of said electronic images: (a) said physical system including a primary physical repository and a plurality of secondary physical repositories therein, selected ranges of said sequence of paper documents corresponding to selected ranges of said date/time instances, said selected ranges of said sequences of paper documents being contained by selected ones of said secondary physical repositories, said selected ones of said secondary physical repositories being visually marked with physical indicia corresponding to said selected ranges of said date/time instances; (b) said electronic system presenting an electronic table representing a grid containing rows of electronic records and columns of electronic fields, said electronic fields including a primary electronic field and a plurality of secondary electronic fields, said primary field including a sequence of date/time entries that designate a corresponding sequence of said paper documents and said electronic images, said secondary fields including arrangements of other entries that designate corresponding arrangements of logical groups of said paper documents and logical groups of said electronic images; (c) said logical groups of said paper documents including virtual collections of said paper documents that are intermingled throughout said secondary repositories so as to be unadapted for immediate physical compilation, the location in said secondary repositories of any one paper document being indicated by a record that includes the date/time instance by which said one paper document is uniquely identified, said logical groups of said electronic images being identified by logical groups of said electronic records so as to be adapted for immediate electronic compilation.

15. The document storage and retrieval system of claim 14 wherein said date/time instances specify seconds.

16. A document storage system comprising: (a) a physical system and an electronic system for storing pairs of paper documents and electronic images; (b) each of said pairs being specified by a unique date/time identifier; (c) a physical storage for containing at least one physical collection of said paper documents; (d) each of said paper documents in said physical collection being logically classified by said date/time identifier with the date/time identifiers of the other paper documents in said physical collection; (e) said paper documents in said physical collection being logically classified by other identifiers into restricted virtual groups; (f) paper documents of different ones of said restricted virtual groups being intermingled physically throughout said physical collection; (g) an electronic storage for containing at least one electronic collection of said electronic images; (h) each of said electronic images in said electronic collection being logically classified by said date/time identifier with the date/time identifiers of the other electronic images in said electronic collection; (i) said electronic images in said electronic collection being logically classified by said other identifiers into restricted image groups; (j) digital processing means for recording said date/time sequence and for presenting said restricted image groups; (k) said physical storage having a plurality of physical containers for holding said paper documents in said date/time sequence; (1) said physical containers being uniquely marked with visual media designating ranges of said date/time identifiers; (m) paper documents of different ones of said restricted virtual groups being intermingled physically throughout said physical containers.

17. The document storage system of claim 16 wherein both said physical system and said electronic system provide matched archival termination indicia, which enable concomitant disposal of physical documents and electronic images bearing the same date/time termination indicia.

18. A system for processing corresponding pairs of original paper documents and resulting electronic images, said system comprising: (a) a physical system and an electronic system; (b) a scanner and a printer, both operatively connected to said physical system and said electronic system; (c) said physical system having a primary physical repository and a plurality of secondary physical repositories therein; (d) said secondary physical repositories holding selected sequences of said physical documents corresponding to selected ranges of date/time instances; (e) selected secondary physical repositories receiving selected ranges of said selected sequences of said physical documents; (f) selected primary repositories receiving selected ranges of said selected secondary repositories; (g) said selected physical repositories being visually marked with physical indicia corresponding to selected ranges of date/time instances; (h) said electronic system containing a database that includes a plurality of electronic tables, each representing a grid of rows of electronic records and columns of electronic fields; (i) said electronic fields including at least one primary electronic field and a plurality of secondary electronic fields; (j) said primary field including entries of said date/time instances that designate corresponding logical groups of paper documents and corresponding logical groups of electronic documents; (k) said secondary fields including other entries that designate corresponding logical groups of the paper documents and of the electronic documents; (1) said primary field and said secondary field constituting an interactive combination of electronic records, which specify the precise physical locations of selected paper documents in terms of their date/time instances; (m) said selected date/time instances designating selected logical groups of said physical documents and selected logical groups of electronic documents, said selected logical groups of the paper documents being virtual collections that are intermingled throughout said secondary repositories so as to be unadapted for immediate physical compilation, said selected logical groups of electronic documents being adapted for immediate electronic compilation and presentation.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said primary depositories include file folders.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein said primary depositories include file pockets.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein said secondary depositories include boxes.

22. The system of claim 18 wherein said secondary depositories include shelves .

23. The system of claim 18 wherein said secondary depositories include at least a room.

24. The system of claim 18 wherein said electronic files include electronic image files and electronic work files .