Patent Application
20110019242
The present invention relates to an image processing system in which an image processing apparatus and an information processing apparatus consisting of a personal computer are interconnected via a network, an image processing apparatus such as an image forming apparatus capable of reading documents, an image data transfer method, and a computer readable recording medium having an image data transfer program recorded therein to make a computer execute processing.
Some of the multifunctional digital image forming apparatuses (MFP: Multi Function Peripherals) collectively having multiple functions such as the copy function, the print function, the scan function and the data transmission function, further have the data transfer function that is so-called “Scan to SMB (Server Message Block)” and “Scan to FTP (File Transfer Protocol)”. This is a data transfer function to transfer image data read out from a document by a document reader, to an image processing apparatus consisting of a personal computer (hereinafter, also will be referred to as “PC”).
In order to transfer image data read out from a document, by using such a data transfer function, a user has to specify a destination folder by operating an image forming apparatus.
As disclosed in the Japanese Unexamined Laid-open Patent Publication No. H05-119955, there is a technology to allow to remotely and mutually operate a screen shared with terminals, not depending on hardware/software configurations employed in the respective terminals.
However, in conventional practices, available destination folders to transfer image data by using the data transfer function are limited to those set in advance as shared folders by operating the PC. Thus, it has been disadvantageous that the destinations for image data are limited.
Furthermore, if no destination folders are preliminarily registered in the image forming apparatus, manual entry of a path to specify a destination folder is required. Also, it has been disadvantageous that such a manual operation is troublesome.
And furthermore, available destination folders are limited. Thus, in order to store image data in a preferable folder, a user has to move the image data to his/her preferable folder after transferring the image data. Such a manual operation is also troublesome.
The Japanese Unexamined Laid-open Patent Publication No. H05-119955 mentioned above does not bring a solution against the troubles that occur when image data scanned by the image forming apparatus is transferred to the information processing apparatus as described above.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing system with a high usability and a capability of allowing users to store image data in a preferable destination folder among those not limited to a certain range, without requiring manual entry of a path to specify a destination folder.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus preferably employed in the image processing system above.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an image data transfer method implemented in the image processing system above.
It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a computer readable recording medium having a program recorded therein to make a computer of the image processing apparatus implement the image data transfer method.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, an image processing system comprises an image processing apparatus and an information processing apparatus consisting of a personal computer, interconnected via a network, wherein: the image processing apparatus comprises:
According to a second aspect of the present invention, an image processing system comprises an image processing apparatus and an information processing apparatus consisting of a personal computer, interconnected via a network, wherein:
the image processing apparatus comprises:
According to a third aspect of the present invention, an image processing apparatus capable of being connected via a network to an information processing apparatus consisting of a personal computer, comprises:
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an image processing apparatus capable of being connected via a network to an information processing apparatus consisting of a personal computer, comprises:
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, an image data transfer method is executed between an image processing apparatus and an information processing apparatus consisting of a personal computer, interconnected via a network, wherein:
the image processing apparatus executes:
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, an image data transfer method is executed between an image processing apparatus and an information processing apparatus consisting of a personal computer, interconnected via a network, wherein:
the image processing apparatus executes:
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a computer readable recording medium has an image data transfer program recorded therein to make a computer of an image processing apparatus execute:
According to a eighth aspect of the present invention, a computer readable recording medium has an image data transfer program recorded therein to make a computer of an image processing apparatus execute:
Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to some Figures.
As shown in
As shown in
The CPU 11 centrally controls all operations of the MFP 1. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the CPU 11 requests the PC 2 to allow to obtain screen data to reproduce the PC 2's screen, and determines a position over a remote screen that is the PC 2's screen reproduced based on the screen data, when a user specifies that position. Detailed explanation thereof will be provided later.
The ROM 12 is a memory that stores in itself an operation program executed by the CPU 11. The RAM 13 is a memory that provides a working area for the CPU 11.
The scanner 14 reads an image on a document and converts it into image data that is an electronic signal.
The operation panel 15 includes an entry keys portion 151 having various keys such as a start key and numeric keys, and a display 152 consisting of a liquid crystal display with touch panel functionality, or etc.
The memory 16 consists of a recording medium such a hard disk drive (HDD), or etc., and stores in itself, image data read out from a document by the scanner 14 and other data. Furthermore, the memory 16 registers in itself, authentication information of the respective users, used for user authentication, and address information of the PCs 2 owned by the respective users.
The printer 17 prints out image data read out from a document by the scanner 14, document data received from the PC 2 and other data, according to a print instruction.
The external interface (I/F) 18 serves as a communicator that exchanges data with the PC 2 and other external apparatuses, via the network 3.
The authenticator 19 authenticates users trying to log in. Alternatively, an external authentication server collectively holding user authentication information may authenticate users trying to log in.
As shown in
The CPU 21 centrally controls the entire PC 2 by executing a program recorded in the ROM 22. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the CPU 21 transmits to the MFP 1, screen data for the MFP 1 to reproduce the screen displayed on the display 24, in response to a request for the screen data, received from the MFP 1, and calculates a position over a screen displayed on the display 24, based on position data, when the position data is received from the MFP 1. Furthermore, the CPU 21 identifies what is displayed in the calculated position, determines a destination folder to store image data, based on what is displayed in that position, stores in the determined folder image data received from the MFP 1, and performs other operations. Detailed explanation thereof will be provided later.
The ROM 22 is a recording medium that stores in itself, a program executed by the CPU 21 and other data.
The RAM 23 is a recording medium that provides a working area for the CPU 21 to execute processing according to an operation program.
The display 24 consists of a CRT display, a liquid crystal display or etc., and displays on itself, the desktop screen based on an OS (Operating System: for example, a Windows (registered trademark) series by Microsoft Inc.) that is basic software, screens brought by various applications, and other screens.
The memory 25 consists of a recording medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD), and stores in itself various application programs and other data.
The entry operation portion 26 consists of a keyboard, a mouse and etc., and is used by users for entry operations.
The communication interface (communication I/F) 27 serves as a communicator that exchanges data with the MFP 1 and other external apparatuses, via the network 3.
Hereinafter, the method to store in the PC 2, image data (also referred to as “scan data”) read out from a document by the scanner 14 of the MFP 1, will be described.
A user logs in the MFP 1 after being authenticated, and presses a mode key of the operation panel 15, not shown in Figure. Then, a “Scan to Desktop” button 152a is shown on the display 152 of the operation panel 15, as shown in
Meanwhile, the MFP 1 identifies a PC owned by this login user among the information of the PCs 2 owned by the respective users, which is registered in the memory 16, then connects to the PC 2.
The user presses the “Specify Destination” button 152c shown in the screen of
In response to the request, the PC 2 transmits to the MFP 1 screen data of the screen currently displayed on the display 24.
The MFP 1 displays on the display 152 of the operation panel 15, a remote screen that is the PC 2's screen reproduced based on the screen data received therefrom.
As indicated by an arrow here, a user specifies a position over the window 154 by using a predetermined entry pen. Then, the specified position (the touched position) over the remote screen is determined and position data indicating the determined position is transmitted to the PC 2.
Receiving the position data indicating the determined position, the PC 2 calculates a position over the screen displayed on the display 24, corresponding to the position indicated by the position data.
Meanwhile, the MFP 1 transmits scan data obtained by the scanner 14. The PC 2 identifies what is displayed in the calculated position, and determines a folder to store the scan data based on what is displayed in that position, and then stores the scan data in the folder. In other words, as if data has been dragged and dropped inside the PC 2, the scan data is stored in a folder determined based on what is displayed in the calculated position, and also a file icon representing the scan data is displayed in the calculated position.
In an example of
If a position over the desktop screen 153 displayed in the remote screen is specified as a transfer destination as shown in
If a position over a window 155 opened by e-mail software in the desktop screen 153 displayed on the remote screen, as shown in
If a position calculated by the PC 2 is overlapped with an data discarding icon (so-called “trash box”) 153b shown in the desktop screen 153 as shown in
If a position calculated by the PC 2 is overlapped with an icon not holding folders (for example “my computer” icon) 153d shown in the desktop screen 153, as shown in
Meanwhile, if a position calculated by the PC 2 is overlapped with a file folder icon shown in the desktop screen 153, in other words, if a user specifies a file folder icon shown in the remote screen, the scan data is stored into a folder represented by the file folder icon.
As described above, when a user simply specifies a position (transfer destination) over a remote screen displayed on the display 152 of the operation panel 15 of the MFP 1, scan data is stored into a folder determined based on what is displayed in the corresponding position over the PC 2's screen. And thus, available destination folders are not limited, and manual entry of a path to specify a destination folder is not required. Furthermore, users are allowed to store image data into a preferable folder, simply by specifying a position over the remote screen, as if directly operating a screen displayed on the display 24 of the PC 2, which would be extremely advantageous.
Hereinafter, operations performed when the “Available Destination” button 152b shown in the screen of
When the “Available Destination” button 152b is pressed, the MFP 1 transmits to the PC 2, a request for data of the available destination folders to transfer scan data, and further transmits thereto the scan data. The scan data is temporarily stored into the memory 25.
Receiving the request and the scan data, the PC 2 performs character recognition on the scan data; extracts a keyword therefrom; detects icons related to the keyword or strongly related to the keyword among the icons shown in the desktop screen; and returns to the MFP 1, a list of the folder names and/or the file names of the detected icons, as data of the available destination folders. The keyword may be a string of large characters such as a headline, property information or etc.
Receiving the data of the available destination folders, the MFP 1 displays the available destination folders 152d on the display 152 of the operation panel 15, as shown in
When a user specifies a preferable destination folder among those displayed thereon, specified destination data indicating the specified destination folder is transmitted to the PC2.
If the specified destination data is a folder name of the icon, the PC 2 having received the specified destination data, transfers the scan data to the folder having that folder name. Meanwhile, if it is a file name, it transfers the scan data to a folder holding the file having that file name.
As described above, when the “Available Destination” button 152b is pressed, the available destination folders 152d are listed on the display 152, based on data of the available destination folders, received from the PC 2. And when a user simply specifies a preferable destination folder among the available destination folders, scan data is automatically transferred and stored into the destination folder. And thus, available destination folders are not limited, and manual entry of a path to specify a destination folder is not required. Furthermore, users are allowed to transfer scan data to a preferable destination folder among the available destination folders. That could improve usability of the image processing system.
User authentication is performed in Step S01, and the pressing of the “Scan to Desktop” button is detected in Step S02. Then, a connection with the PC 2 operated by the login user is established according to PC address information recorded in the memory 16, in Step S03. And authentication information of the user is transmitted to the PC 2 in Step S04. Based on the authentication information received therefrom, the PC 2 performs user authentication to check if the PC 2 is owned by the user logged on the MFP 1.
Then, the pressing of the “Specify Destination” button 152c or the “Available Destination” button 152b is detected in Step S05, and it is judged in Step S06, whether or not the “Specify Destination” button 152c is pressed by the user.
If the “Specify Destination” button 152c is pressed (YES in Step S06), a request for screen data is transmitted to the PC 2 in Step S07.
And in Step S08, a remote screen is displayed on the display 152 of the operation panel 15, based on the screen data received from the PC 2.
The user specifies a destination to transfer scan data, via the remote screen displayed thereon. Then, this is accepted in Step S09, and coordinates of the position specified by the user are detected and position data is created in Step S10. After that, the created position data is transmitted to the PC 2 in Step S11.
Subsequently, the user places a document on the scanner 14 and presses a start button. Then, this is detected and scan data is obtained by reading the document, in Step S12. And the scan data is temporarily stored in the memory 16 and transferred to the PC 2, in Step S13.
Receiving the scan data, the PC 2 stores the scan data into a folder that is determined based on what is displayed in the position specified by the user.
Meanwhile in Step 506, if the “Available Destination” button 126b is pressed (NO in Step S06), a request for data of the available transfer destinations, is transmitted to the PC 2, in Step S14.
Subsequently, the user places a document on the scanner 14 and presses a start button. Then, this is detected and scan data is obtained by reading the document, in Step S15. And the scan data is temporarily stored in the memory 16 and transferred to the PC 2, in Step S16.
The PC 2 performs character recognition on the received scan data; extracts a keyword therefrom; detects available destination folders by the keyword; and returns data of the available destination folders to the MFP 1.
In Step S17, the data of the available destination folders is received by the MFP 1 from the PC 2. And in Step S18, the available destination folders 152d are listed on the display 152 of the operation panel 15. When the user specifies a destination folder, this is accepted in Step S19, and specified destination data indicating the specified destination folder is transmitted to the PC 2 in Step S20.
Receiving the specified destination data, the PC 2 stores the scan data received in advance, in the specified destination folder.
In Step S101, an X-coordinate and a Y-coordinate of the position over the display (touch panel) 152 of the operation panel 15, specified by the user, are detected.
In Step S102, [X/X max] and [Y/Y max], which are the ratios of a value X of the detected X-coordinate and a value Y of the detected Y-coordinate against a maximum value ‘X max’ of the X-coordinate and a maximum value ‘Y max’ of the Y-coordinate, of the remote screen displayed on the display (touch panel) 152, respectively, are calculated. And the calculated ratios are defined as position data in Step S103. After that, the subroutine returns.
Concretely, the specified position over the remote screen displayed on the display (touch panel) 152, is determined by calculating the ratios of X-coordinates and Y-coordinates. The specified position over the remote screen corresponds to a position over the screen displayed on the display 24 of the PC 2, represented by the ratio of the values X and Y against the maximum values ‘X max’ of the X-coordinate and the maximum value ‘Y max’ of the Y-coordinate. In this way, a position over the screen displayed on the display 24, corresponding to the specified position over the remote screen, can be calculated easily and accurately.
Software installed on the PC 2 is activated in Step S31, and a request for screen data or data of the available destination folders is received from the MFP 1 in Step S32. Then it is judged in Step S23, whether or not it is a request for screen data.
If it is a request for screen data (YES in Step S33), the mode is switched to the remote desktop mode, and in Step S34, screen data is transmitted to the MFP 1.
In Step S35, position data indicating a position over the remote screen, specified by the user, is received from the MFP 1 in Step S35, and scan data is received from the MFP 1 in Step S36. Then, the received scan data and other data are temporarily stored in the memory 25 in Step S37.
Then in Step S38, a position over the desktop screen displayed on the display 24, corresponding to the specified position, is calculated based on the position data.
In Step S39, it is judged whether or not the calculated position is overlapped with a data discarding icon (trash box) shown in the desktop screen. If it is overlapped therewith (YES in Step S39), then in Step S40, the scan data is stored into the desktop folder, not into the data discarding icon, and a file icon representing the scan data is provided in the vicinity of the data discarding icon.
Meanwhile in Step S39, if the calculated position is not overlapped with a data discarding icon (NO in Step S39), then it is judged in Step S41, whether or not it is overlapped with an icon representing an application or a window opened by an application.
If it is overlapped with an icon representing an application or a window opened by an application (YES in Step S41), a certain operation is performed as if the scan data is dragged and dropped into the icon or the window, in Step S42.
If it is not overlapped with an icon representing an application or a window opened by an application (NO in Step S41), then it is judged in Step S43, whether or not it is overlapped with a file folder icon.
If it is overlapped with a file folder icon (YES in Step S43), then in Step S44, the scan data is stored into a folder represented by the file folder icon, and a file icon representing the scan data is provided in the vicinity of the file folder icon.
If it is not overlapped with a file folder icon (NO in Step S43), then it is judged in Step S45, whether or not the calculated position is overlapped with an icon not holding folders.
If it is overlapped therewith (YES in Step S45), then in Step S46, the scan data is stored into the desktop folder and a file icon representing the scan data is provided in the vicinity of the icon.
If it is not overlapped with an icon not holding folders (NO in Step S45), the scan data is stored into a folder corresponding to the position, in Step S47. In other words, the scan data is stored into the desktop folder and a file icon representing the scan data is provided in the position.
Meanwhile in Step S33, if it is judged that a request for data of the available destination folders is received from the MFP 1 (NO in Step S33), the routine proceeds to Step S48.
In Step S48, the routine waits until scan data is received from the MFP 1. The MFP 1 transmits scan data, then in Step S49, the scan data is received and temporarily stored into the memory 25.
In Step S50, character recognition is performed on the scan data by software for character recognition; a keyword is extracted therefrom; folder icons or file icons related to the keyword are detected among those displayed in the desktop screen; the folder names or file names of the icons are detected as the available destination folders, and listed.
Then in Step S51, the data of the available destination folders is transmitted to the MFP 1.
The MFP 1 transmits specified destination data, then in Step S52, the specified destination data is received. In Step S53, it is judged whether or not the specified destination data is a folder name. If it is a folder name (YES in Step S53), the scan data recorded in the memory 25 is stored into the folder having that folder name in Step S54.
If the specified destination data is a file name (NO in Step S53), then in Step S55, the scan data is transferred and stored into a folder holding the file having the file name, and a file icon representing the scan data is provided in the vicinity of the file icon having the file name.
This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-241817 filed on Sep. 19, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The terms and expressions provided herein have been employed for the purpose of explaining, never for the purpose of limiting interpretation or eliminating any equivalents of the characteristic objects illustrated or described herein. It should be understood that various other modifications can be made within the range of what the present invention claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-241817 | Sep 2008 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2009/065869 | 9/10/2009 | WO | 00 | 9/24/2010 |
