Image reading apparatus, personalizing method, program, and storage medium

• US 20060209359A1
• Filed: 04/02/2004
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kadowaki, Toshihiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,876,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/474
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00965 using a plug-in memory module, e.g. memory card, memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An image reading apparatus which can improve the operability in making various settings required for direct transmission of read image data to services on the Internet. The image reading apparatus is connected to at least one external service, which provides at least one service for image data output from the image reading apparatus via a network. Personalized service list information for personalizing the service is acquired so that the operator can use the service. A setting screen, a setting procedure, and contents of setting for the operator are personalized according to the acquired service list information. Various settings based on the setting screen, setting procedure, and contents of setting personalized for the operator are transmitted via the network to the external service, together with the image data.

Claims

1. An image reading apparatus comprising:

image reading unit, arranged to read an image on an original and output image data thereof;

connecting unit, arranged to connect to at least one external service providing at least one service for the image data output from said image reading unit via a network;

personalized service information acquiring unit, arranged to acquire personalized service information for personalizing the service so that an operator can use the service;

personalizing unit, arranged to personalize a setting screen, a setting procedure, and contents of setting for the operator according to the acquired personalized service information; and

transmitting unit, arranged to transmit various settings based on the setting screen, setting procedure, and contents of setting personalized for the operator by said personalizing unit, together with the image data via the network to the external service.

2. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said personalized service information acquiring unit comprises:

reading unit, arranged to read operator identification information and the personalized service information corresponding to the operator from a detachable storage medium; and

identification unit, arranged to identify the operator according to the operator identification information read from the storage medium.

3. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said personalized service information acquiring unit comprises:

wireless communication unit, arranged to communicate with a storage medium capable of carrying out wireless communication, the storage medium storing operator identification information and the personalized service information corresponding to the operator; and

identification unit, arranged to identify the operator according to the operator identification information stored in the storage medium.

4. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an external server holding personalized service information associated with respective operator identification information is connected to the network, and said personalized service information acquiring unit transmits operator identification information to the external server via the network, and acquires personalized service information corresponding to the transmitted operator identification information from the external server.

5. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an external server holding personalized service information associated with respective operator identification information and respective apparatus identification information is connected to the network, and said personalized service information acquiring unit transmits operator identification information and apparatus identification information to the external server via the network, and acquires personalized service information corresponding to the transmitted operator identification information and apparatus identification information from the external server.

6. An image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the external service comprises a plurality of external services existing on the Internet, and the external server exists on an intranet.

7. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the personalized service information includes identification information on services to be used by the operator, and defaults of various settings for the services to be used.

8. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the personalized service information includes identification information on services to be used by the operator, and setting values which can be set by the operator for the services to be used.

9. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the personalized service information includes identification information on services to be used by the operator, and setting values inhibited from being used for the services to be used.

10. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the personalized service information includes identification information on services to be used by the operator, and setting values which can be used by the operator for the services to be used.

11. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the personalized service information includes identification information to be used by the operator, and setting items inhibited from being used for the services to be used.

12. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external service is inhibited from being used when said personalizing unit omits personalization of the service to be used.

13. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external service provides a print and book-binding service for the transmitted image data, and said transmitting unit transmits, as the various settings for the external service, settings relating to print format and book-binding format for the print and book-binding service.

14. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external services comprise a print and book-binding service for the transmitted image data, and said transmitting unit transmits, as the various settings for the external service, settings relating to an address for delivery of a printout obtained by the print and book-binding service.

15. An image reading apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the personalized service information includes information indicative of an address of the operator as the address for delivery.

16. An image reading apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the personalized service information includes information indicative of the operator as who is to be charged for the service.

17. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the personalized service information includes part of authentication data to be used for user authentication when the operator uses the service.

18. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said personalized service information acquiring unit acquires plural pieces of personalized service information, and said personalizing unit comprises selecting means for selecting a desired service from among services personalized for the operator according to the acquired plural pieces of personalized service information.

19. An image reading apparatus according to claim 18, comprising adding unit, arranged to add various settings as to the service personalized for the operator according to the acquired personalized service information as new personalized service information to the acquired personalized service information.

20. A personalizing method for an image reading apparatus comprising an image reading unit arranged to read an image on an original and output image data thereof, and connecting unit arranged to connect to at least one external service providing at least one service for the image data output from the image reading unit via a network, the method comprising:

a personalized service information acquiring step of acquiring personalized service information for personalizing the service so that an operator can use the service;

a personalizing step of personalizing a setting screen, a setting procedure, and contents of setting for the operator according to the acquired personalized service information; and

a transmitting step of transmitting various settings based on the setting screen, setting procedure, and contents of setting personalized for the operator in said personalizing step, together with the image data via the network to the external service.

21. A program for causing a computer to execute a personalizing method for an image reading apparatus comprising image reading unit arranged to read an image on an original and output image data thereof, and connecting unit arranged to connect to at least one external service providing at least one service for the image data output from the image reading unit via a network, the program comprising:

a personalized service information acquiring module for acquiring personalized service information for personalizing the service so that an operator can use the service;

a personalizing module for personalizing a setting screen, a setting procedure, and contents of setting for the operator according to the acquired personalized service information; and

a transmitting module for transmitting various settings based on the setting screen, setting procedure, and contents of setting personalized for the operator by said personalizing module, together with the image data via the network to the external service.

22. A storage medium storing a program according to claim 21 for reading by a computer.