EP0460995A1 - Means for document classification with incorporated electronic planner - Google Patents

Abstract

These classification means comprise walls (3 to 7) delimiting a volume which receives documents which have to be managed in time. The constituent means of an electronic planner (9) carrying out the management in time of the documents, are integrated into or applied against at least one of the walls. The electronic planner comprises: means of acquisition (10) and of memory storage (11) of information relating to the documents, means of counting down (12) the time, means of memory storage and execution (13) of a management program for the documents on the basis of time, and means of visual display (18) of arrivals at expiry date relating to these documents. The assembly can be presented in the form of a filing cabinet, the constituent means of the planner being integrated into the thickness of the cover (2) of the filing cabinets. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to means for the classification of documents to be managed over time and provided for this purpose with an incorporated electronic schedule. These classification means can take, in particular, but not exclusively, the form of a binder comprising a rigid cover and receiving removable sheets belonging to "files" which can be followed over time, thanks to the electronic schedule integrated in the filing cabinet or applied against this filing cabinet, timetable which will indicate in particular the deadlines to be observed and the deadlines for the processing of said files.

Monitoring files with deadlines interests the legal, commercial, fiscal, financial, etc. professions and activities as well as technical services and construction sites, and more generally all professions and activities that must keep files up to date, at the same time a calendar of actual achievements corresponding to the documents in the files.

Traditional methods of managing deadlines use either manually held timetables or agendas or schedules; in all cases, these are means which remain separate from the files themselves, resulting in cumbersome, complicated management which is not without the risk of errors or omissions. Even the known use of sophisticated calendars or schedules, using computer processing means and optical signals or electrical displays, does not currently manage to eliminate the disadvantage of dissociation between the binders, a on the one hand, and said processing means, on the other hand.

There is therefore always a need to rationalize and simplify the management over time of the files, in particular with the use of computer processing means capable of entering and memorizing information relating to these files for the entire duration necessary, to restore this information each time the user wishes to consult it, and to clearly indicate any deadline until the next date, to allow the user to deal in good time with the files for which he is responsible, without the risk of omitting the slightest file, therefore with increased reliability.

• des moyens électroniques de saisie d'informations se rapportant auxdits documents,
• des moyens électroniques de mémorisation de ces informations,
• des moyens de décompte du temps,
• des moyens de mémorisation et d'exécution d'un programme de gestion des documents en fonction du temps, et
• des moyens de visualisation d'arrivées à échéances, relatives à un ou plusieurs documents,

tous ces moyens combinés constituant un échéancier électronique incorporé auxdits moyens pour le classement de documents et assurant la gestion dans le temps des documents.To this end, the invention essentially relates to means for the classification of documents to be managed over time, of the type comprising walls delimiting a volume capable of receiving the documents to be managed, classification means which are characterized in that they further comprise, integrated into or applied against at least one of their walls, and in combination:

• electronic means for entering information relating to said documents,
• electronic means for memorizing this information,
• means of counting time,
• means for memorizing and executing a document management program as a function of time, and
• means for viewing arrivals at due dates, relating to one or more documents,

all these means combined constituting an electronic schedule incorporated into said means for classifying documents and ensuring the management over time of documents.

Thanks to the techniques currently available, this electronic schedule can have a reduced bulk and in particular a small thickness, allowing its integration into the thickness of a wall of the cover of a filing cabinet or a filing box, or its application against such a wall without significant excess thickness.

Electronic means for entering information, in particular identification and deadlines, relating to the documents to be managed, can be implemented in the form of a alpha-numeric keyboard, easily integrated into one side of a file cover.

Given the needs for memorizing information and counting time, in practice by a clock, the electrical supply of the electronic schedule is advantageously ensured by a rechargeable battery or battery, associated with a solar supply, to avoid any risk. power failure.

In a preferred embodiment, the display means are designed to be able to display multiple due dates, so that the user is warned that a file, or several files, are about to expire. The invention thus allows the simultaneous management of multiple files, gathered in the same classification means. In addition, multiple and differentiated display means are advantageously provided, such as several indicator lights of distinct colors, capable of indicating various degrees of urgency or of importance relating to the processing of a file.

Furthermore, the system is designed to allow the user to consult the stored information preventively, in order to know the deadlines that are coming to an end in a given time interval.

• Figure 1 est une vue d'ensemble en perspective d' un classeur comportant application de l'invention, à l'état fermé;
• Figure 2 montre la couverture du classeur de Figure 1 en position ouverte, faisant apparaître divers composants de l'échéancier électronique incorporé;
• Figure 3 est un schéma synoptique de cet échéancier électronique.

In any case, the invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawing representing, by way of nonlimiting example, an embodiment of these means for classifying documents, with incorporated electronic timetable.

• Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of a filing cabinet comprising application of the invention, in the closed state;
• Figure 2 shows the cover of the Figure 1 binder in the open position, showing various components of the built-in electronic schedule;
• Figure 3 is a block diagram of this electronic schedule.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the invention is illustrated here in the case of its application to a workbook designated as a whole by the reference 1, the cover 2 of which comprises a back 3, two large faces 4 and 5 and two flaps 6 and 7. In the closed state, shown in FIG. 1, the cover 2 delimits a certain parallelepiped volume which receives documents 8 requiring management over time, that is to say that the documents 8 are part files whose processing involves deadlines, with deadlines and deadlines to be respected for the various interventions involved in the processing of these files.

The management over time of the documents 8 is ensured by a specially designed electronic assembly 9, called "electronic timetable", which is represented alone in a synoptic form in FIG. 3 but which, in the concrete embodiment, is truly incorporated into the structure of folder 1 and, more particularly, integrated into cover 2 of this folder 1.

The electronic schedule 9 comprises an alphanumeric keyboard 10, a memory 11, a clock 12 for counting the time t, means 13 for memorizing and executing a program P, and various display means 14 to 18, specified below. All of this electronic assembly is supplied with electrical energy by a cell or battery 19, combined with a solar power supply 20.

The alpha-numeric keyboard 10, which can be incorporated into a large face 4 of the cover 2 of the filing cabinet 1 (see also Figure 2), is used for entering information relating to the documents 8, in practice the name or the reference coded file (s) to manage, and the deadline (s) relating to each file, expressed either under the form of a specific deadline, either in the form of a week number. The information entered is stored in memory 11, which is designed to allow the simultaneous management of a certain number of files and delays, this number being able to be high, for example of the order of one hundred.

• trois voyants lumineux 14, 15, 16 tels que des diodes électroluminescentes, de couleurs distinctes par exemple jaune orangé, rouge et vert, qui sont disposés extérieurement sur le dos 3 de la couverture 2 du classeur 1;
• un afficheur17, également disposé extérieurement sur le dos 3 de la couverture 2, par exemple au-dessus des voyants;
• un autre afficheur 18, disposé intérieurement sur la grande face 4 de la couverture 2, par exemple juste au-dessus du clavier alpha-numérique 10.

The means 13 execute the program P for which they are responsible, this in cooperation with the clock 12 which provides a time base suitably expressed (in days or weeks), for emitting a particular signaling at the approach of each previously recorded deadline; the signaling being effected by the display means which include, in the example shown:

• three indicator lights 14, 15, 16 such as light-emitting diodes, of distinct colors, for example orange-yellow, red and green, which are arranged externally on the back 3 of the cover 2 of the binder 1;
• a display17, also arranged externally on the back 3 of the cover 2, for example above the indicator lights;
• another display 18, disposed internally on the large face 4 of the cover 2, for example just above the alpha-numeric keyboard 10.

The signaling of a particular deadline takes place automatically, for example one week in advance with respect to the initially entered deadline, by the illumination of the indicator 14 of orange-yellow color. The red indicator 15 will automatically light up on the deadline proper, therefore on the deadline. The green indicator 16 can be automatically lit two weeks before this deadline, according to the user's desire, for greater security.

In addition to the lighting of the indicators, the P program causes, when the time comes, on the display 17 and / or the display 18, the indication of the file to be processed, concerned by signaling the deadline.

In the case where the electronic schedule 9 manages several files simultaneously, a particular sign (arrow, dot, star, etc.) also appears on the display 17 and / or 18 to indicate to the user, if this is the case. case, that at least a second deadline, even a third etc ... must also be treated simultaneously.

The electronic schedule 9 also allows the user to consult the information stored in the memory 11 at any time, to find out which files will expire, for example in the next three, four, five or six weeks. The interrogation is carried out by a pre-established procedure, using the alpha-numeric keyboard 10, the requested indications then appearing on the display 18 placed just above this keyboard 10.

The automatic signaling of an expiry date, for a given file, indicates to the user that he must intervene on this file in one way or another; the intervention itself can be active, in the form of the execution of an operation by the user, or passive, such as waiting and obtaining a response from outside. Once this intervention has been carried out, the user can erase from memory 11 the deadline in question, or the file if the processing of the latter is then finished, by an appropriate command on the keyboard 10. On the other hand, if the deadline pass without the operation concerned having been able to be executed, for example for lack of instructions, the signaling remains, as long as the user does not erase, electronic storage means, the information concerned by this deadline.

Referring to Figure 2, the cell or battery 19 is arranged for example on the back 3 of the cover 2, while the electronic circuits (memory 11, clock 12 and means 13 for memorizing and executing the program) are grouped together as a circuit board electronics 21, integrated into the second large face 5 of the binding 2. The solar power supply 20 is finally disposed on the back 3 of the filing cabinet, this naturally on the outside, for example under the indicators 14 to 16 (See Figure 1). All the components of the electronic schedule 9 are thus effectively integrated into the thickness of the cover 2, which is a few millimeters.

A particular optical signal, such as a simultaneous flashing of the indicators 14 to 16, or the appearance of a specific symbol on the external display 17, indicates that the battery 19 should be quickly recharged or replaced. Thanks to the solar power supply 20, the time base and the information in memory are kept, without any interruption, during the replacement of the battery 19.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the sole embodiment of these means for the classification of documents which have been described above, by way of examples; on the contrary, it embraces all of the variant embodiments and applications respecting the same principle. Thus, one would not depart from the scope of the invention by having recourse to all equivalent means, with regard to the components of the incorporated electronic schedule, or by incorporating such a schedule into means filing cabinets other than a filing cabinet, the invention also being applicable to filing folders, filing boxes or containers, or even cabinets or other document storage furniture.

Claims (10)

1.- Means for the classification of documents to be managed over time, of the type comprising walls (3 to 7) delimiting a volume capable of receiving the documents to be managed (8), characterized in that they further comprise, integrated in or applied against at least one of their walls, and in combination: - electronic means for entering (10) information relating to said documents (8), - electronic storage means (11) for this information; - means of counting (12) the time (t); means for storing and executing (13) a program (P) for managing documents as a function of time (t), and - display means (14 to 18) of due dates, relating to one or more documents, all these combined means (10 to 18) constituting an electronic schedule (9) incorporated into said means for classifying (1, 2) documents and ensuring the management over time of documents (8) 2.- Means for classifying documents, with incorporated electronic timetable, according to Claim 1.-characterized in that the electronic means for entering information relating to the documents to be managed are produced in the form of an alpha-numeric keyboard ( 10). 3.- Means for classifying documents according to Claim 2.- produced in the form of a filing cabinet, characterized in that the alpha-numeric keyboard (10) is integrated into one face (4) of the cover (2) of the folder (1). 4.- Means for filing documents, with incorporated electronic schedule, according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the electrical supply of the electronic schedule (9) is ensured by a rechargeable battery or battery (19), associated with a solar power supply (20). 5.- Means for classifying documents, with incorporated electronic timetable, according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the display means (14 to 18) are designed to be able to display arrivals of multiple deadlines . 6.- Means for classifying documents, with incorporated electronic timetable, according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that they comprise multiple and differentiated display means, such as several indicator lights (14, 15 , 16) of distinct colors, capable of indicating various degrees of urgency. 7.- Means for the classification of documents, with incorporated electronic timetable, according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that they are produced in the form of a filing cabinet (1), including the cover (2 ) carries, on one or more faces (3, 4, 5) all the constituent means (10 to 20) of the electronic schedule (9). 8.- Means for filing documents, with electronic schedule, according to Claim 7.- characterized in that the constituent means (10 to 20) of the electronic schedule are integrated into the thickness of the cover (2) of the filing cabinet (1). 9.- Means for filing documents, with incorporated electronic schedule, according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the display means (14 to 18) are arranged, at least partially, externally on the back (3) of the filing cabinet (1). 10.- Means according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the electronic means for memorizing (11) information, the means for counting (12) the time (t), the means for memorizing and execution (13) of a document management program (P) as a function of time (t) and the display means (14 to 18) of arrivals of deadlines relating to one or more documents are arranged so that the display means (14 to 18) act beyond each deadline concerned, as long as the information concerned by this deadline has not been erased from the electronic means of storage (11).

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