Network communication system and network multifunction product

• US 7,577,662 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Kasatani, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Wilson
• Application Number:
  US11/065,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20050219640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707200-204, 709/203, 709/219, 709/217
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5087 for receiving image data
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5091 for user-identification or authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• 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 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

In a network communication system, data is exchanged between a source computer and a destination computer via a file server. The source computer is a network multifunction product and includes an uploading unit that uploads a file to the file server; and a URI sending unit that sends a Universal Resource Identifier (URI) of the file to the destination computer by e-mail. The destination computer is also a network multifunction product and includes a table that holds security information that is required to access to the file; a URI receiving unit that receives the URI; and a downloading unit that downloads the file from the file server using the security information that corresponds to the URI.

Claims

1. A network communication system comprising a file server, a source computer, and a destination computer, wherein the source computer is a network multifunction product, comprising:

a scanner configured to create a digital image by optically scanning a surface of a document;

an uploading unit configured to upload a file including the digital image to the file server;

a URI sending unit configured to send a Universal Resource Identifier (URI) of the file to the destination computer by e-mail;

a transmitter configured to attach the file to an e-mail and send the e-mail including the attached file to the destination computer; and

an interface configured to accept a selection of whether to send the e-mail including the attached file or the URI of the file to the destination computer.

2. The network communication system according to claim 1, wherein the source computer further includes a folder creating unit configured to create a folder to store the file on the file server.

3. The network communication system according to claim 2, wherein a name of the folder is a combination of a predetermined prefix, a physical address of the source computer, and date when the file is uploaded to the file server.

4. The network communication system according to claim 1, wherein the URI sent to the destination computer is not a URI corresponding to a location to which the file is uploaded by the uploading unit.

5. The network communication system according to claim 1, wherein the destination computer is a network multifunction product and comprises:

a table configured to hold security information that is required to access the file;

a URI receiving unit configured to receive the URI; and

a downloading unit configured to download the file from the file server using the security information corresponding to the URI.

6. The network communication system according to claim 5, wherein the security information includes a user ID and a password.

7. The network communication system according to claim 1, wherein

the source computer further includes a storage period sending unit configured to send a storage period, which is a period for which the file is to be stored, to the file server, and

the file server is configured to delete the file when the storage period of the file has expired.

14. The network communication system according to claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to display a screen allowing for selection of whether to attach the file including the digital image to an e-mail and send the e-mail attached with the file or to send only the URI of the file via e-mail, and to accept the selection via the screen presented at the interface.

8. A network multifunction product that is connected to a file server in a network communication system, comprising:

a scanner configured to create a digital image by optically scanning a surface of a document;

an uploading unit configured to upload a file including the digital image to the file server;

a URI sending unit configured to send a Universal Resource Identifier (URI) of the file to a destination computer by e-mail;

a transmitter configured to attach the file to an e-mail and send the e-mail including the attached file to the destination computer, and

an interface configured to accept a selection of whether to send the e-mail including the attached file or the URI of the file to the destination computer.

9. The network multifunction product according to claim 8, further comprising:

a folder creating unit configured to create a folder to store the file on the file server.

10. The network multifunction product according to claim 9, wherein a name of the folder is a combination of a predetermined prefix, a physical address of the source computer, and date when the file is uploaded to the file server.

11. The network multifunction product according to claim 8, further comprising:

a table configured to hold security information that is required to access to the file;

a URI receiving unit configured to receive the URI; and

a downloading unit configured to download the file from the file server using the security information that corresponds to the URI.

12. The network multifunction product according to claim 11, wherein the security information includes a user ID and a password.

13. The network multifunction product according to claim 8, further comprising:

a storage period sending unit configured to send a storage period, which is a period for which the file is to be stored, to the file server, wherein

the file server is configured to delete the file when the storage period of the file has expired.

15. The network multifunction product according to claim 8, wherein the interface is configured to display a screen allowing for selection of whether to attach the file including the digital image to an e-mail and send the e-mail attached with the file or to send only the URI of the file via e-mail, and to accept the selection via the screen presented at the interface.