Method and system for executing document scanning jobs that are intended for a remote work station through using a wireless interconnection between the work station and a scanner facility

• US 7,419,100 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2005
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Océ-Technologies B.V. (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Océ-Technologies B.V. (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Van Den Tillaart, Robertus C. W. T. M., Groeneboer, Dennis W. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Daniel A
• Application Number:
  US11/156,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20050279835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472.02, 235/472.01, 358/474, 358/500, 358/505, 455/41.3, 715/243, 715/700, 715/717
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• 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 1/00962 Input arrangements for operating instructions or parameters, e.g. updating internal software program loading in general G06F9/445; network-specific protocols involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0097 Storage of instructions or parameters, e.g. customised instructions or different parameters for different user IDs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

A method and system are described for executing document scanning jobs intended for a remote work station through using a wireless connection between the work station and a scanner facility. When a user, carrying a mobile device, approaches a multifunctional reproduction device, automatically a scanning template will be uploaded from the mobile device to the multifunctional device. In case the user now makes himself known to the multifunctional device and prepares for a scan job, at the user interface of the multifunctional device, the scan template will be displayed for further specification of the scan job by the user. After completion of the scan job the scanned data is downloaded to the mobile device. When the connection is closed the scanning template and data belonging to the scan job are removed from the multifunctional device.

Claims

1. A method for executing document scanning jobs intended for a mobile device through using a wireless interconnection between the mobile device and a scanner facility, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing a wireless connection between the mobile device and the scanner facility;

at the mobile device, transmitting a preset and prestored scanning template and appropriate identifier via the established connection;

at the scanner facility, receiving the scanning template and the identifier via the established connection, displaying the received scanning template having at least partially completed user specification for specifying an associated scan job, and thereupon awaiting a completion to the user specification if appropriate through a user interface at the scanner facility and a job start indication, and thereupon executing the scan job as specified to create a scan job file and associated meta data; and

at the scanner facility, transmitting the scan job file and associated meta data through the established connection to the mobile device and thereupon closing the connection and subsequently removing the scanning template.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

upon receiving the scanning template and identifier at the scanner facility, opening or accessing a book-keeping account.

3. A system for executing document scanning jobs intended for a mobile device through using a wireless interconnection between the mobile device and a scanner facility, said system comprising:

at the mobile device, means for establishing a wireless connection, means for prestoring at least one preset scanning template and transmitting the at least one scanning template and appropriate identifier via the established connection;

at the scanner facility, means for establishing a wireless connection, and means for receiving the at least one scanning template and the identifier via the connection, user interaction means for displaying the received scanning template having at least partially completed user specification for specifying a scan job, user input means for awaiting an appropriate completion signalization to the user specification and a job start indication, and scanning means activated by the job start indication for executing the scan job as specified to create a scan job file and associated meta data; and

at the scanner facility, transmitting means for transmitting the scan job file and associated meta data via the connection to the mobile device, and connection management means for thereupon closing the connection and subsequently removing the scanning template.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said connection management means is arranged to close the communication channel upon at least one of the following events:

a user request at the scanner facility,

a user request at the work station,

a watchdog-controlled delay period elapsing; and

a signal strength pertaining to the wireless connection falling below a threshold.

5. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the scanning template comprises at least one parameter of the following list:

a time stamp, a scan job name, a destination, a transport encryption definition, and a scan job parameter.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the scan job parameter is one of the following:

single/double sided, zoom parameter, source document format and scan resolution.

7. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein upon receiving the scanning template and identifier at the scanner facility, the system further comprises means for opening or accessing a book-keeping account.

8. The system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising alarm signaling means for signaling a condition of incomplete and/or suspended transfer.

9. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein a wireless transport speed of the wireless interconnection is made subject to a wireless signal strength.

10. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein in case of premature closure of the communication channel, the scanning is then nevertheless executed, but the scan data are saved in the scanner facility.

11. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the identifier identifies a particular user.

12. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the identifier identifies a particular work station.

13. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein communications between the mobile device and the, scanner facility are provided based on IEEE 802.11a protocols.

14. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mobile device is one of the following:

a workstation, a laptop, a PDA, and a mobile phone.

15. A mobile device for executing document scanning jobs through using a wireless interconnection with a scanner facility, the mobile device comprising:

means for establishing a wireless connection with the scanner facility;

means for prestoring at least one preset scanning template which is to be modified at the scanner facility through a user interface at the scanner facility; and

means for transmitting the prestored at least one scanning template and an identifier via the established wireless connection to the scanner facility, and receiving results of a scan job processed at the scanner facility using the modified scanning template.

16. The mobile device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the at least one scanning template includes one or more of the following:

a time stamp, a scan job name, destination information, a transport encryption definition, and a scan job parameter.

17. The mobile device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the mobile device is one of the following:

a workstation, a laptop, a PDA, and a mobile phone.

18. The mobile device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the means for transmitting transmits the at least one scanning template and the identifier using IEEE 802.11g protocols.

19. A scanner facility for executing document scanning jobs in cooperation with a mobile device through using a wireless interconnection between said scanner facility and the mobile device, the scanner facility comprising:

means for establishing a wireless connection with the mobile device;

means for receiving at least one prestored and preset scanning template and identifier via the connection from the mobile device;

user interaction means for displaying the received scanning template having at least partially completed user specification for specifying a scan job;

user input means for awaiting an appropriate completion signalization to the user specification and receiving a job start indication directly from a user at the scanner facility;

scanning means activated by the job start indication for executing the scan job as specified to create a scan job file and associated meta data;

transmitting means for transmitting the scan job file and associated meta data via the connection to the mobile device; and

connection management means for thereupon closing the connection and subsequently removing the scanning template.

20. The scanner facility as claimed in claim 19, wherein communications between the mobile device and the scanner facility are provided using IEEE 802.11g protocols.

21. The scanner facility as claimed in claim 19, wherein the at least one scanning template includes one or more of the following:

a time stamp, a scan job name, destination information, a transport encryption definition, and a scan job parameter.