SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SCANNING/ACCUMULATING IMAGE, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT

• US 20090231637A1
• Filed: 03/12/2009
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Nagatsuka, Tetsuro, Sato, Nahoko, KEMMOCHI, Eiji, Nakatomi, Masashi, Iga, Soichiro
• Application Number:
  US12/402,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20090231637A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/474
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00206 Transmitting or receiving computer data via an image communication device, e.g. a facsimile transceiver H04N1/00236 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2183 the stored images being distributed among a plurality of different locations, e.g. among a plurality of users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0017 Notifying a communication result
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3276 of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3277 The additional information being stored in the same storage device as the image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission

Abstract

An image scanning/accumulating system including an information issuing unit that acquires image data; and an information managing unit that includes an image-data database for storing therein the image data acquired by the information issuing unit, and manages the image data. The information managing unit includes a task-information database, and manages task information stored in the task-information database. The information issuing unit includes an image pickup unit that scans a paper-based document thereby obtaining image data, and registers the image data in the image-data database; an information display unit that acquires task information from the task-information database to be associated with the image data obtained by the image pickup unit, and displays acquired task information on a task-information setting screen; and a notifying unit that notifies a contact address included in the task information that the image data associated with the task information is registered in the image-data database.

Claims

1. An image scanning/accumulating system comprising:

an information issuing unit that acquires image data; and

an information managing unit that includes an image-data database for storing therein the image data acquired by the information issuing unit, and manages the image data, wherein

the information managing unit includes a task-information database, and manages task information stored in the task-information database, and

the information issuing unit includes

an image pickup unit that scans a paper-based document thereby obtaining image data, and registers the image data in the image-data database;

an information display unit that acquires task information from the task-information database to be associated with the image data obtained by the image pickup unit, and displays acquired task information on a task-information setting screen; and

a notifying unit that notifies a contact address included in the task information that the image data associated with the task information is registered in the image-data database.

2. The image scanning/accumulating system according to claim 1, wherein

the information display unit displays a contact-address selection screen where a user can select an arbitrary contact address included in the task information, and

the notifying unit notifies a contact address selected by the user via the contact-address selection screen that the image data associated with the task information is registered in the image-data database.

3. The image scanning/accumulating system according to claim 1, wherein the information issuing unit includes a first communication unit and the information managing unit includes a second communication unit, and the first communication unit and the second communication unit being connected via a network so as to be able to exchange information therebetween.

4. The image scanning/accumulating system according to claim 1, wherein the contact address is an electronic mail address.

5. The image scanning/accumulating system according to claim 1, wherein the task information is at least one selected from schedule information, ToDo information, project information, and user group information.

6. The image scanning/accumulating system according to claim 1, wherein the information display unit displays a user-information input screen where a user can input user information for identifying the user, and acquires task information associated with the user information input by the user via the user-information input screen from the task-information database.

7. The image scanning/accumulating system according to claim 1, wherein the information display unit displays a user-information selection screen where a user can select user information for identifying the user, and acquires task information associated with the user information selected by the user via the user-information selection screen from the task-information database.

8. The image scanning/accumulating system according to claim 1, wherein

the information managing unit includes a user-information database that contains at least password information indicative of password of a user, and manages the password information,

the information display unit displays a password input screen where a user can input a password, and

the information issuing unit includes a user authentication unit that verifies whether the password input by the user via the password input screen matches the password information acquired from the user-information database, and allows the user to use the image scanning/accumulating system if the user is authenticated by the user authentication unit.

9. An image scanning/accumulating method implemented in an image scanning/accumulating system that includes an information issuing unit that includes an image pickup unit capable of scanning a paper-based document thereby obtaining image data;

and an information managing unit that includes an image-data database for storing therein the image data acquired by the information issuing unit and manages the image data, and a task-information database, and manages task information stored in the task-information database, the image scanning/accumulating method comprising;

the information issuing unit acquiring task information from the task-information database to be associated with the image data obtained by the image pickup unit, and displaying acquired task information on a task-information setting screen on an information display unit;

the information issuing unit causing the image pickup unit to scan a paper-based document thereby obtaining image data, and registering the image data in the image-data database of the information managing unit; and

a notifying unit of the information issuing unit notifying a contact address included in the task information that the image data associated with the task information is registered in the image-data database.

10. The image scanning/accumulating method according to claim 9, wherein

the information issuing unit displaying a contact-address selection screen on the information display unit where a user can select an arbitrary contact address included in the task information, and

the information issuing unit notifying a contact address selected by the user via the contact-address selection screen that the image data associated with the task information is registered in the image-data database.

11. The image scanning/accumulating method according to claim 9, wherein the information issuing unit displaying a user-information input screen on the information display unit where a user can input user information for identifying the user, and acquiring task information associated with the user information input by the user via the user-information input screen from the task-information database.

12. The image scanning/accumulating method according to claim 9, wherein the information issuing unit displaying a user-information selection screen on the information display unit where a user can select user information for identifying the user, and acquiring task information associated with the user information selected by the user via the user-information selection screen from the task-information database.

13. The image scanning/accumulating method according to claim 9, wherein

the information issuing unit displaying a password input screen on the information display unit where a user can input a password, and

a user authentication unit of the information issuing unit verifying whether the password input by the user via the password input screen matches password information acquired from the information managing unit, and allowing the user to use the image scanning/accumulating system if the user is authenticated.

14. A computer program product that includes a computer program stored on a computer-readable recording medium which when executed on a computer causes the computer to realize an image scanning/accumulating method implemented in an image scanning/accumulating system that includes an information issuing unit that includes an image pickup unit capable of scanning a paper-based document thereby obtaining image data;

and an information managing unit that includes an image-data database for storing therein the image data acquired by the information issuing unit and manages the image data, and a task-information database, and manages task information stored in the task-information database, the computer program causing the computer to execute;

the information issuing unit acquiring task information from the task-information database to be associated with the image data obtained by the image pickup unit, and displaying acquired task information on a task-information setting screen on an information display unit;

the information issuing unit causing the image pickup unit to scan a paper-based document thereby obtaining image data, and registering the image data in the image-data database of the information managing unit; and

a notifying unit of the information issuing unit notifying a contact address included in the task information that the image data associated with the task information is registered in the image-data database.

15. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein

the information issuing unit displaying a contact-address selection screen on the information display unit where a user can select an arbitrary contact address included in the task information, and

the information issuing unit notifying a contact address selected by the user via the contact-address selection screen that the image data associated with the task information is registered in the image-data database.

16. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein the information issuing unit displaying a user-information input screen on the information display unit where a user can input user information for identifying the user, and acquiring task information associated with the user information input by the user via the user-information input screen from the task-information database.

17. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein the information issuing unit displaying a user-information selection screen on the information display unit where a user can select user information for identifying the user, and acquiring task information associated with the user information selected by the user via the user-information selection screen from the task-information database.

18. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein

the information issuing unit displaying a password input screen on the information display unit where a user can input a password, and

a user authentication unit of the information issuing unit verifying whether the password input by the user via the password input screen matches password information acquired from the information managing unit, and allowing the user to use the image scanning/accumulating system if the user is authenticated.