Filing system which provides increased availability of image data stored therein

• US 7,222,134 B1
• Filed: 09/29/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Yoshikawa, Takashi, Maruyama, Teruyuki, Miyamoto, Masayoshi, Araumi, Yuichi, Kakii, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): ABEL JALIL, NEVEEN
• Application Number:
  US09/407,768
• Time in Patent Office: 2,792 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/102, 707/104.1, 707/200, 707/201, 707/500.1, 386/46, 386/95, 386/107, 382/140, 382/305, 348/231, 348/211, 348/222, 348/552, 348/150, 397/100.01, 397/100.17, 710/3, 710/8, 710/62
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2179 Interfaces allowing access to a plurality of users, e.g. connection to electronic image libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4413 involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

In a filing system, a data processing apparatus is connected to a file server via a transmission path. Image data of a document is captured into the data processing apparatus. The captured image data is stored onto an image storage medium. A plurality of owner identifications are acquired when the image data is captured. The owner identifications are correlated with the image data stored on the image storage medium, and the stored image data is allowed to be accessed when any of the owner identifications correlated with the image data is verified. The image data is output in a readable manner by retrieving the stored image data of the image storage medium when the access to the image data is allowed.

Claims

1. A filing system in which a data processing apparatus is connected to a file server via a network, comprising:

a data capturing unit provided in the data processing apparatus and configured to capture image data of a document into the data processing apparatus;

a data storing unit configured to store the captured image data in an image storage medium of the data processing apparatus;

an access management unit configured to correlate owner identifications of users who use the data processing apparatus to process the image data, with the stored image data in the image storage medium, to correlate re-use owner identifications of users who are at least one of a user unit and a group unit allowed to retrieve or read the stored image data, with the stored image data in the image storage medium, and to allow the stored image data to be accessed when any of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications correlated with the stored image data is verified;

a data output unit configured to output the image data in a readable manner by retrieving the stored image data of the image storage medium when the access to the stored image data is allowed by the access management unit;

an owner identification acquiring unit configured to acquire the owner identifications; and

a re-use owner identification acquiring unit configured to acquire one or more of the re-use owner identifications;

wherein at least one of the owner identification acquiring unit and the re-use owner identification acquiring unit include;

a list displaying unit configured to display, on a display screen, a list of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications each containing at least one of user names and user identifiers; and

a selection input unit configured to select one of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications from among the displayed list on the display screen when a corresponding selection button of the display screen is depressed;

wherein the access management unit is configured to store the image data from the data capturing unit into the image storage medium, and to correlate each of the owner identifications of the owner identification acquiring unit and the re-use owner identifications of the re-use owner identification acquiring unit with the stored image data each time the image data is stored in the image storage medium;

wherein the owner identification acquiring unit and the re-use owner identification acquiring unit are configured to acquire the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications in a sequence of selections from the displayed list of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications by the selection input unit, wherein one of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications acquired in said sequence is selected from among the displayed list on the display screen when the corresponding selection button of the display screen is depressed;

wherein the data output unit is configured to output the image data in a readable manner by retrieving the stored image of the image storage medium correlated with the selected one of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications;

wherein the owner identification acquiring unit and the re-use owner identification acquiring unit are configured to acquire a preset owner identification when the data capturing unit is provided in the data processing apparatus having at least one of a copying function, a facsimile function and a scanning function and configured to allow a user to operate the data processing apparatus when the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications are acquired; and

wherein the access management unit is configured to add or change the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications.

2. A filing system in which a data processing apparatus is connected to a file server via a network, comprising:

a data capturing unit provided in the data processing apparatus and configured to capture image data of a document into the data processing apparatus;

a data storing unit configured to store the captured image data in an image storage medium of the data processing apparatus;

an access management unit configured to correlate owner identifications of users who use the data processing apparatus to process the image data, with the stored image data in the image storage medium, to correlate re-use owner identifications of users who are at least one of a user unit and a group unit allowed to retrieve or read the stored image data, with the stored image data in the image storage medium, and to allow the stored image data to be accessed when any of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications correlated with the stored image data is verified;

a data output unit configured to output the image data in a readable manner by retrieving the stored image data of the image storage medium when the access to the stored image data is allowed by the access management unit;

an owner identification acquiring unit configured to acquire the owner identifications; and

a re-use owner identification acquiring unit configured to acquire one or more of the re-use owner identifications;

wherein at least one of the owner identification acquiring unit and the re-use owner identification acquiring unit include;

a list displaying unit configured to display, on a display screen, a list of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications each containing at least one of user names and user identifiers; and

a selection input unit configured to select one of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications from among the displayed list on the display screen when a corresponding selection button of the display screen is depressed;

wherein the access management unit is configured to store the image data from the data capturing unit into the image storage medium, and to correlate each of the owner identifications of the owner identification acquiring unit and the re-use owner identifications of the re-use owner identification acquiring unit with the stored image data each time the image data is stored in the image storage medium;

wherein the owner identification acquiring unit and the re-use owner identification acquiring unit are configured to display, when the data capturing unit is provided in the data processing apparatus having at least two of a copying function, a facsimile function, a scanning function and a printing function, the list of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications on the display screen of the selection input unit of the data processing apparatus in a sequence of selections from the displayed list of the owner identifications of the re-use owner identifications by the selection input unit, wherein one of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications displayed in said sequence is selected from among the displayed list on the display screen when the corresponding selection button of the display screen is depressed;

wherein the data output unit is configured to output the image data in a readable manner by retrieving the stored image of the image storage medium correlated with the selected one of the owner identifications or the reuse owner identifications;

wherein the owner identification acquiring unit and the re-use owner identification acquiring unit are configured to acquire a preset owner identification when the data capturing unit is provided in the data processing apparatus having at least one of a copying function, a facsimile function and a scanning function and configured to allow a user to operate the data processing apparatus when the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications are acquired; and

wherein the access management unit is configured to add or change the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications.

3. A filing system in which a data processing apparatus having at least two of a copying function, a facsimile function, a scanning function and a printing function is connected to a file server via a network, the filing system comprising:

a data capturing unit provided in the data processing apparatus and configured to capture image data of a document into the data processing apparatus;

a data storing unit configured to store the captured image data in an image storage medium of the data processing apparatus;

an access management unit configured to correlate owner identifications of users who use the data processing apparatus to process the image data, with the stored image data in the image storage medium, to correlate re-use owner identifications of users who are allowed to retrieve or read the stored image data, with the stored image data in the image storage medium, and to allow the stored image data to be accessed when any of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications correlated with the stored image data is verified;

a data output unit configured to output the image data in a readable manner by retrieving the stored image data of the image storage medium when the access to the stored image data is allowed by the access management unit; and

an owner identification acquiring unit configured to acquire the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications;

wherein the access management unit is configured to store the image data from the data capturing unit into the image storage medium, and to correlate each of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications of the owner identification acquiring unit with the stored image data each time the image data is stored in the image storage medium;

wherein the owner identification acquiring unit includes;

list displaying unit configured to display, on a display screen, a list of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications; and

a selection input unit configured to select one of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications from among the displayed list on the display screen when a corresponding selection button of the display screen is depressed wherein the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications are acquired in a sequence of selections from the displayed list of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications by the selection input unit and one of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications acquired in said sequence is selected from among the displayed list;

wherein the data output unit is configured to output the image data in a readable manner by retrieving the stored image of the image storage medium correlated with the selected one of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications; and

wherein the access management unit is configured to add or change the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications.

4. The filing system according to claim 3, wherein the owner identification acquiring unit is configured to acquire a preset owner identification when the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications will not be acquired, and

wherein the access management unit uses a Web server function to create a Web page configured to set the preset owner identification to allow a client computer, connected to the data processing apparatus via the network, to transmit the Web page with the preset owner identification to the access management unit.

5. The filing system according to claim 3, wherein each of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications contains at least one of user names and user identifiers.

6. A filing system in which a data processing apparatus is connected to a file server via a network, comprising:

a data capturing unit provided in the data processing apparatus and configured to capture image data of a document into the data processing apparatus;

a data storing unit configured to store image data in an image storage medium of the data processing apparatus;

an access management unit configured to correlate owner identifications of users who use the data processing apparatus to process the image data, with the stored image data in the image storage medium, to correlate re-use owner identifications of users who are at least one of a user unit and a group unit allowed to retrieve or read the stored image data, with the stored image data in the image storage medium, and to allow the stored image data to be accessed when any of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications correlated with the stored image data is verified;

a data output unit configured to output the image data in a readable manner by retrieving the stored image data of the image storage medium when the access to the stored image data is allowed by the access management unit;

an owner identification acquiring unit configured to acquire the owner identifications; and

a re-use owner identification acquiring unit configured to acquire one or more of the re-use owner identifications;

wherein at least one of the owner identification acquiring unit and the re-use owner identification acquiring unit include;

a list displaying unit configured to display, on a display screen, a list of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications each containing at least one of user names and user identifiers;

a selection input unit configured to select one of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications from among the displayed list on the display screen when a corresponding selection button of the display screen is depressed; and

a user selection number counting unit configured to count a user selection number for each of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications;

wherein the access management unit is configured to store the image data from the data capturing unit into the image storage medium, and to correlate each of the owner identifications of the owner identification acquiring unit and the re-use owner identifications of the re-use owner identification acquiring unit with the stored image data each time the image data is stored in the image storage medium;

wherein the list displaying unit is configured to display, on the display screen, a part of the list of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications which appear in a sequence based on the user selection number counted for each of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications by the user selection number counting unit, wherein one of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications appearing in said sequence is selected from among the displayed list on the display screen when the corresponding selection button of the display screen is depressed;

wherein the data output unit is configured to output the image data in a readable manner by retrieving the stored image of the image storage medium correlated with the selected one of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications;

wherein the owner identification acquiring unit and the re-use owner identification acquiring unit are configured to acquire a preset owner identification when the data capturing unit is provided in the data processing apparatus having at least one of a copying function, a facsimile function and a scanning function and configured to allow a user to operate the data processing apparatus when the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications are acquired; and

wherein the access management unit is configured to add or change the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications.

7. The filing system according to claim 6, wherein the owner identification acquiring unit and the re-use owner identification acquiring unit are configured to acquire a preset owner identification when the data capturing unit is provided in the data processing apparatus having at least one of a facsimile function and a printing function and configured to inhibit a user from operating the data processing apparatus when a capture inhibition identification is acquired, and

wherein the access management unit is configured to add or change the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications.

8. The filing system according to claim 6, wherein the access management unit uses a Web server function to create a Web page configured to set the preset owner identification to allow a client computer, connected to the data processing apparatus via the network, to transmit the Web page with the preset owner identification to the access management unit.

9. The filing system according to claim 6, further comprising a unit configured to monitor an amount of available storage of the image storage medium and to display the amount of available storage,

wherein, when the amount of available storage of the image storage medium is below a lower limit, a warning message indicating a lack of the available storage is displayed.

10. The filing system according to claim 6, wherein the data storing unit includes a first storage device of the data processing apparatus and a second storage device of the file server, and

wherein the data processing apparatus includes a communication control unit configured to transmit the image data, stored in the first storage device, to the second storage device via the network.

11. A filing system in which a data processing apparatus is connected to a file server via a network, comprising;

a data capturing unit provided in the data processing apparatus and configured to capture image data of a document into the data processing apparatus;

a data storing unit configured to store the captured image data in an image storage medium of the data processing apparatus;

an access management unit configured to correlate owner identifications of users who use the data processing apparatus to process the image data, with the stored image data in the image storage medium, to correlate re-use owner identifications of users who are allowed to retrieve or read the stored image data, with the stored image data in the image storage medium, and to allow the stored image data to be accessed when any of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications correlated with the stored image data is verified;

a data output unit configured to output the image data in a readable manner by retrieving the stored image data of the image storage medium when the access to the stored image data is allowed by the access management unit; and

an owner identification acquiring unit configured to acquire the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications;

wherein the access management unit is configured to store the image data from the data capturing unit into the image storage medium, and to correlate each of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications of the owner identification acquiring unit with the stored image data each time the image data is stored in the image storage medium;

wherein the owner identification acquiring unit includes;

a list displaying unit configured to display, on a display screen, a list of the owner identifications or the reuse owner identifications; and

a selection input unit configured to select one of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications from among the displayed list on the display screen when a corresponding selection button of the display screen is depressed wherein the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications are acquired in a sequence of selections from the displayed list of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications by the selection input unit and one of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications acquired in said sequence is selected from among the displayed list;

wherein the data output unit is configured to output the image data in a readable manner by retrieving the stored image of the image storage medium correlated with the selected one of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications; and

wherein the data processing apparatus has at least two of a copying function, a facsimile function, a scanning function, and a printing function.

12. The filing system according to claim 11, wherein the access management unit is configured to add or change the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications.

13. The filing system according to claim 12, wherein the owner identification acquiring unit is configured to acquire a preset owner identification when the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications will not be acquired, and

wherein the access management unit uses a Web server function to create a Web page configured to set the preset owner identification to allow a client computer, connected to the data processing apparatus via the network, to transmit the Web page with the preset owner identification to the access management unit.

14. The filing system according to claim 11, wherein each of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications contains at least one of user names and user identifiers.

15. A printing device which is connected to a file server via a network, the printing device comprising:

a data capturing unit provided in the printing device and configured to capture image data of a document into the printing device;

a data storing unit configured to store the captured image data in an image storage medium of the printing device;

an access management unit configured to correlate owner identifications of users who use the printing device to process the image data, with the stored image data in the image storage medium, to correlate re-use owner identifications of users who are allowed to retrieve or read the stored image data, with the stored image data in the image storage medium, and to allow the stored image data to be accessed when any of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications correlated with the stored image data is verified;

a data printing unit configured to print the image data on a printing medium by retrieving the stored image data of the image storage medium when the access to the stored image data is allowed by the access management unit; and

an owner identification acquiring unit configured to acquire the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications;

wherein the access management unit is configured to store the image data from the data capturing unit into the image storage medium, and to correlate each of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications of the owner identification acquiring unit with the stored image data each time the image data is stored in the image storage medium;

wherein the owner identification acquiring unit includes;

a list displaying unit configured to display, on a display screen, a list of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications; and

a selection input unit configured to select one of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications from among the displayed list on the display screen when a corresponding selection button of the display screen is depressed whereby the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications are acquired in a sequence of selections from the displayed list of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications by the selection input unit and one of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications acquired in said sequence is selected from among the displayed list;

wherein the data printing unit is configured to print the image data on the printing medium by retrieving the stored image of the image storage medium correlated with the selected one of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications; and

wherein the printing device has at least two of a copying function, a facsimile function, a scanning function, and a printing function.

16. The printing device according to claim 15, wherein the access management unit is configured to add or change the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications.

17. The printing device according to claim 16, wherein the owner identification acquiring unit is configured to acquire a preset owner identification when the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications will not be acquired, and

wherein the access management unit uses a Web server function to create a Web page configured to set the preset owner identification to allow a client computer, connected to the printing device via the network, to transmit the Web page with the preset owner identification to the access management unit.

18. The printing device according to claim 15, wherein each of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications contains at least one of user names and user identifiers.

19. A printing device which has at least two of a copying function, a facsimile function, a scanning function and a printing function and is connected to a file server via a network, the printing device comprising:

a data capturing unit provided in the printing device and configured to capture image data of a document into the printing device;

a data storing unit configured to store the captured image data in an image storage medium of the printing device;

an access management unit configured to correlate owner identifications of users who use the printing device to process the image data, with the stored image data in the image storage medium, to correlate re-use owner identifications of users who are allowed to retrieve or read the stored image data, with the stored image data in the image storage medium, and to allow the stored image data to be accessed when any of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications correlated with the stored image data is verified;

a data printing unit configured to print the image data on a printing medium by retrieving the stored image data of the image storage medium when the access to the stored image data is allowed by the access management unit; and

an owner identification acquiring unit configured to acquire the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications;

wherein the access management unit is configured to store the image data from the data capturing unit into the image storage medium, and to correlate each of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications of the owner identification acquiring unit with the stored image data each time the image data is stored in the image storage medium;

wherein the owner identification acquiring unit includes;

a list displaying unit configured to display, on a display screen, a list of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications; and

a selection input unit configured to select one of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications from among the displayed list on the display screen when a corresponding selection button of the display screen is depressed wherein the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications are acquired in a sequence of selections from the displayed list of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications by the selection input unit and one of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications acquired in said sequence is selected from among the displayed list;

wherein the data printing unit is configured to print the image data on the printing, medium by retrieving the stored image of the image storage medium correlated with the selected one of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications; and

wherein the access management unit is configured to add or change the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications.

20. The printing device according to claim 19, wherein the owner identification acquiring unit is configured to acquire a preset owner identification when the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications will not be acquired, and

wherein the access management unit uses a Web server function to create a Web page configured to set the preset owner identification to allow a client computer, connected to the printing device via the network, to transmit the Web page with the preset owner identification to the access management unit.

21. The printing device according to claim 19, wherein each of the owner identifications or the re-use owner identifications contains at least one of user names and user identifiers.