Data access methods and multifunction device therefor

• US 7,263,524 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2001
• Issued: 08/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Wiley, Jeffrey G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong; Cam-Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ehichioya; Fred I.
• Application Number:
  US10/033,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20030084049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,133 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.14, 358/1.12, 358/1.2, 358/442, 358/468, 700/17, 707/10, 709/220, 709/224, 709/230, 709/204, 709/219, 709/231, 711/113, 711/114, 711/147
• US Class Current: 707/770
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device

Abstract

Data access methods and multifunction device therefor. The invention is preferably embodied in computer-readable media operatively associated with a multifunction device and having computer-readable program code thereon. The computer-readable program code may comprise program code for identifying a remote storage device having the data operatively associated therewith, and program code for accessing the data operatively associated with the remote storage device from the multifunction device.

Claims

1. A method for providing access from a multifunction device to an electronic document at a user-specified remote storage device, comprising:

identifying said user-specified remote storage device having said electronic document based at least in part on a path thereto specified by a user at said multifunction device;

establishing a link between said multifunction device and a user-specified remote storage device having said electronic document;

accessing said electronic document at said user-specified remote storage device from said multifunction device over said link established therebetween;

sending said electronic document from said multifunction device;

converting a document to electronic format at said multifunction device; and

combining said document in electronic format with said electronic document from said user-specified remote storage device.

2. A method for providing access from a multifunction device to an electronic document at a user-specified remote storage device, comprising:

identifying said user-specified remote storage device having said electronic document based at least in part on a path thereto specified by a user at said multifunction device;

establishing a link between said multifunction device and a user-specified remote storage device having said electronic document;

accessing said electronic document at said user-specified remote storage device from said multifunction device over said link established therebetween;

combining said accessed data said electronic document from said user-specified remote storage device with an electronic document generated at said multifunction device; and

sending said combined electronic documents from said multifunction device to a network destination.

3. A method for accessing user-requested data from a configured multifunction device, comprising:

identifying a remote storage device having a user-requested document based at least in part on a path for said remote storage device specified by a user at said configured multifunction device; and

retrieving said user-requested document from said configured multifunction device;

converting a document to electronic format at said configured multifunction device; and

combining said document in electronic format with said retrieved user-requested document.

4. A method for accessing user-requested data from a configured multifunction device, comprising:

identifying a remote storage device having a user-requested document based at least in part on a path for said remote storage device specified by a user at said configured multifunction device; and

retrieving said user-requested document from said configured multifunction device;

combining said retrieved user-requested document with an electronic document generated at said configured multifunction device; and

sending said combined electronic document and retrieved user-requested document from said configured multifunction device to a network destination.

5. A multifunction device comprising:

computer-readable media operatively associated with said multifunction device and having computer-readable program code thereon including program code for identifying data operatively associated with a user-specified remote storage device; and

program code for accessing said data operatively associated with said user-specified remote storage device from said multifunction device;

wherein said computer-readable media further comprises;

program code for combining a document in electronic format with a document image at said multifunction device;

program code for sending said combination of said document in electronic format and said document image from said multifunction device to a network destination.