Printing system

• US 20070245014A1
• Filed: 06/12/2007
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Fukazawa, Koshi, Maekawa, Yohei, Hibino, Masaaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,757,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/608 Secure printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00222 details of image data generation or reproduction, e.g. scan-to-email or network printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00233 details of image data reproduction, e.g. network printing or remote image display using an image reproducing device as a local output from a computer H04N1/00238; digital output from computer to printer unit G06F3/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4413 involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/444 to a particular document or image or part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0043 Point to multipoint H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

An imaging system is provided with an authentication data storage that stores a plurality of pieces of authentication data in relationship to user If)s respectively representing owners of the plurality of communication devices. Further included is a reading system that reads out one of the plurality of pieces of the authentication data corresponding to a user ID if the user ID is transmitted from the external device in relationship to the image data, and a searching system searches for a communication device with which a connection authentication is established using the authentication data read out by the reading system within a predetermined communication area with respect to the imaging system. An imaging system forms an image represented by the image data transmitted in relationship to the user ID from the external device when the communication device is detected by the searching system.

Claims

1. A data management system including a plurality of imaging devices that form images represented by image data, a data management device that is capable of communicating with the plurality of imaging devices, and a communicating device that is capable of communicating with said data management device and said imaging devices,

said communicating device including:

a searching system that searches for the imaging device that can communicate with said communicating device; and

an ID information transmitting system which transmits, when said searching system detects an imaging device, first identification information for identifying the imaging device, together with second identification information for identifying the communicating device, to said data management device,

said data management device including;

a readout system that readouts recipient information incorporated in the image data representing a recipient of the image represented by the image data from the image data to be processed by one of the plurality of imaging devices;

an ID information receiving system that receives the first identification information and the second identification information from said ID information transmitting system; and

a data transmitting system that transmits the image data from which the recipient information corresponding to the second identification information received by the ID information receiving system to the imaging device which is identified based on the first identification information received by said ID information receiving system.

2. The data management system according to claim 1, wherein said data transmitting system transmits the image data to a predetermined imaging device if said readout system does not readout said recipient information form the image data.

3. The data management system according to claim 1,

wherein, when said readout system readouts the recipient information incorporated in the image data, said data management device includes a receipt notification system that notifies a notification of receipt to said communication device corresponding to the recipient information, and

wherein said searching system of said communication device starts searching for the imaging device if the communication device receives the receipt notice.

4. The data management system according to claim 1,

wherein, when said readout system readouts the recipient information incorporated in the image data, said data management device includes a receipt notice transmission system that transmits a receipt notice to the communication device corresponding to the recipient information, and

wherein, when said communication device receives the receipt notice, said communication device executes a notification operation for notifying receipt of the receipt notice to the user of said communication device.

5. The data management system according to claim 1,

wherein said searching system of said communication device obtains data intrinsic to an imaging device stored in the imaging device which can communicate with said communication device, and

wherein said ID information transmitting system transmits the intrinsic information obtained by said searching system as said first identification information to said data management device.

6. The data management system according to claim 1,

wherein said searching system searches for the imaging device in accordance with a communication method in which intrinsic information is exchanged between communicating devices, and

wherein said ID information transmitting system transmits the intrinsic information exchanged by said searching system as said first identification information to said data management device.

7. The data management system according to claim 1,

wherein said searching system searches for the imaging device within an area in which the searching system can communicate with an imaging device through the wireless LAN, and

wherein if a plurality of imaging devices are simultaneously located within the area, the are is reduced until only one imaging is located in the area.

8. A data management device employed in a data management system which includes a plurality of imaging devices that form images represented by image data, the data management device being capable of communicating w with the plurality of imaging devices, the data management system further including a communicating device that is capable of communicating with said data management device and said imaging devices,

said data management device including:

a readout system that readouts recipient information including a semi-fixed link key incorporated in the image data representing a recipient of the image represented by the image data from the image data to be processed by one of the plurality of imaging devices;

an ID information receiving system that receives first identification information for identifying the imaging device and second identification information for identifying the communicating device from said communication device; and

a data transmitting system that transmits the image data from which the recipient information corresponding to the second identification information received by the ID information receiving system to the imaging device which is identified based on the first identification information received by the ID information receiving system.

9. The data management device according to claim 8, wherein said data transmitting system transmits the image data to a predetermined imaging device if said readout system does not readout said recipient information form the image data.

10. The data management device according to claim 8,

wherein, when said readout system readouts the recipient information incorporated in the image data, said data management device includes a receipt notification system that notifies a notification of receipt to said communication device corresponding to the recipient information, and

wherein the searching system of the communication device starts searching for the imaging device if the communication device receives the receipt notice.

11. The data management device according to claim 8,

wherein, when said readout system readouts the recipient information incorporated in the image data, said data management device includes a receipt notice transmission system that transmits a receipt notice to the communication device corresponding to the recipient information, and

wherein, when the communication device receives the receipt notice, the communication device executes a notification operation for notifying receipt of the receipt notice to the user of the communication device.

12. A communication device employed in a data management system including a plurality of imaging devices that form images represented by image data and a data management device that is capable of communicating with the plurality of imaging devices, said communicating device being capable of communicating with said data management device and the imaging devices, said communicating device including:

a searching system that searches for the imaging device that can communicate with said communicating device; and

an ID information transmitting system which transmits, when said searching system detects an imaging device, first identification information for identifying the imaging device, together with second identification information for identifying the communicating device, to said data management device.

13. The communication device according to claim 12,

wherein, when the readout system readouts the recipient information including a semi-fixed link key incorporated in the image data, the data management device includes a receipt notice transmission system that transmits a receipt notice to the communication device corresponding to the recipient information, and

wherein, when said communication device receives the receipt notice, said communication device executes a notification operation for notifying receipt of the receipt notice to the user of said communication device.

14. The communication device according to claim 12,

wherein said searching system of said communication device obtains data intrinsic to an imaging device stored in the imaging device which can communicate with said communication device, and

wherein said ID information transmitting system transmits the intrinsic information obtained by said searching system as said first identification information to said data management device.

15. The communication device according to claim 12,

wherein said searching system searches for the imaging device in accordance with a communication method in which intrinsic information is exchanged between communicating devices, and

wherein said ID information transmitting system transmits the intrinsic information exchanged by said searching system as the first identification information to the data management device.

16. The data management system according to claim 12,

wherein said searching system searches for the imaging device within an area in which the searching system can communicate with an imaging device through the wireless LAN, and

wherein if a plurality of imaging devices are simultaneously located within the area, the area is reduced until only one imaging is located in the area.