Image processing device, image processing method and remote-scan image processing system using the same

• US 7,649,644 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2006
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Minato, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, II; Jerome
• Application Number:
  US11/557,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20070070415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 358/407, 358/452, 358/401, 358/505, 358/403, 358/426.05, 358/400, 358/404, 358/444, 358/475, 358/443, 358/448, 358/1.6, 358/1.15, 358/1.16, 358/3.07, 382/312
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00095 Systems or arrangements for the transmission of the picture signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00114 with transmission of additional information signals for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver H04N1/32101
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00214 details of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00217 only involving computer data transmission protocols, e.g. SMTP, WAP or HTTP communication protocol aspects and techniques in packet data networks H04L69/00; network-specific arrangements or communication protocols supporting networked applications H04L67/00
• 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 1/00384 Key input means, e.g. buttons or keypads electromechanical details of key input means in general H01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2175 with local image input
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence

Abstract

In the image processing device, method and system of the present invention, a destination identifier of an image file is stored, the destination identifier indicating one of a plurality of external stations as a destination station which receives the image file from the image processing device through a network. At least one of a sender identifier of the image file, a subject identifier of the image file and a scan condition of the image file is stored. The image file is transmitted, together with at least one of the sender identifier, the subject identifier and the scan condition, through the network to one of the external stations indicated by the stored destination identifier.

Claims

1. An image processing system including an image processing device and a plurality of external stations connected to the image processing device through a network, the image processing device comprising:

a scanner unit reading image data from a document;

an image memory storing a plurality of image data read from documents by using the scanner unit;

a transmission unit transmitting an image file, derived from the stored image data of the image memory, to one of the plurality of external stations through the network; and

an operation unit selecting one of the external stations as a destination station which receives the image file through the network, by input information;

wherein said one of the external stations comprises a file format selection unit which selects one of a plurality of file formats from a file format list, as a file format of an image file received at said one of the plurality of external stations, in accordance with input information input by an operator on said one of the external stations, and

wherein the image processing device further comprises;

a storage unit that stores the file format list containing the file format selected for said one of the external stations; and

a file combining unit combining a plurality of image files to produce a combined image file from the plurality of image data from the image memory, in accordance with the selected file format from the file format list of the storage unit, before the image file transmission.

2. An image processing device which transmits an image file to one of a plurality of external stations through a network, comprising:

a scanner unit reading image data from a document;

an image memory storing a plurality of image data read from documents by the scanner unit;

a transmission unit transmitting an image file, derived from the stored image data of the image memory, to one of the external stations through the network;

an operation unit selecting one of the external stations as a destination station which receives the image file through the network, in accordance with input information input by an operator from the operation unit; and

a file combining unit combining a plurality of image files to produce a combined image file from the plurality of image data from the image memory, in accordance with a defined file format, before the image file transmission, so that the transmission unit transmits the combined image file, produced by the file combining unit, through the network to said one of the external stations selected as the destination station by the operation unit.

3. An image processing method for transmitting an image file from an image processing device to one of a plurality of external stations through a network, comprising:

reading image data from a document by using a scanner unit;

storing a plurality of image data, read from documents by using the scanner unit, into an image memory;

transmitting an image file, derived from the stored image data of the image memory, to one of the external stations through the network;

selecting one of the external stations as a destination station which receives the image file through the network, in accordance with input information input by an operator from an operation unit; and

combining a plurality of image files to produce a combined image file from the plurality of image data from the image memory, in accordance with a defined file format, before the image file transmission, so that the combined image file is transmitted through the network to said one of the external stations selected as the destination station.

4. An image processing system including an image processing device and a plurality of external stations connected to the image processing device through a network, the image processing device comprising:

a scanner unit reading image data from a document, the scanner unit being provided with an automatic document feeder that transports the document to the scanner unit when reading of the image data;

an image memory storing a plurality of image data read from documents by the scanner unit;

a transmission unit transmitting an image file, derived from the stored image data of the image memory, to one of the external stations through the network;

an operation unit selecting one of the external stations as a destination station which receives the image file through the network, in accordance with input information that is input by an operator from the operation unit; and

a file combining unit combining a plurality of image files to produce a combined image file from the plurality of image data from the image memory, in accordance with a defined file format, before the image file transmission, so that the transmission unit transmits the combined image file, produced by the file combining unit, through the network to said one of the external stations selected as the destination station by the operation unit.

5. The image processing system according to claim 4, wherein one of the plurality of external stations comprises a secondary file combining unit which combines a plurality of image data, received from the image processing device through the network, into a single image file.

6. An image processing method for transmitting an image file from an image processing device to one of a plurality of external stations through a network, comprising:

reading image data from a document by using a scanner unit;

storing a plurality of image data, read from documents by using the scanner unit, into an image memory;

selecting one of the external stations as a destination station which receives the image file through the network, in accordance with input information that is input by an operator from an operation unit;

transmitting the plurality of image data, stored in the image memory, from the image processing device to said one of the external stations, selected as the destination station, through the network;

receiving the plurality of image data, transmitted by the image processing device, at the destination station; and

combining the plurality of image files, received at the destination station, to produce a combined image file in accordance with a defined file format.

7. An image processing system including an image processing device and a plurality of external stations connected to the image processing device through a network, the image processing device comprising:

an image memory storing a plurality of image data, read from documents by a scanner unit;

a transmission unit transmitting an image file, derived from the stored image data of the image memory, to one of the external stations through the network;

an image data selecting unit selecting one of a plurality of document identifiers of a document list as the image file which is transmitted to one of the external stations through the network, in accordance with key-in information that is input by an operator; and

a destination identifier selecting unit selecting one of a plurality of destination identifiers of a destination list as a destination group which receives the image file through the network, in accordance with key-in information that is input by the operator,

wherein one of the plurality of external stations comprises a file combining unit which combines a plurality of image data, received from the image processing device through the network, into a single image file,

wherein one of the external stations comprises;

a secondary image data selecting unit selecting one of the plurality of document identifiers of the document list as the image file which is received from the image processing device through the network, in accordance with key-in information that is input by an operator; and

a secondary destination identifier selecting unit selecting one of the plurality of destination identifiers of the destination list as the destination group which receives the image file from the image processing device through the network, in accordance with key-in information that is input by the operator.

8. The image processing system according to claim 7, wherein the image processing device further comprises a secondary file combining unit which combines a plurality of image files, derived from the image data of the image memory indicated by the document identifiers selected from the document list, into a single image file before the image file transmission.

9. An image processing device which transmits an image file to one of a plurality of external stations through a network, comprising:

an image memory storing a plurality of image data, read from documents by a scanner unit;

a transmission unit transmitting an image file, derived from the stored image data of the image memory, to one of the external stations through the network;

an image data selecting unit selecting one of a plurality of document identifiers of a document list as the image file which is transmitted to one of the external stations through the network, in accordance with key-in information that is input by an operator;

a file combining unit combines a plurality of image files, derived from the image data of the image memory indicated by the document identifiers selected from the document list, into a single image file before the image file transmission; and

a destination identifier selecting unit selecting one of a plurality of destination identifiers of a destination list as a destination group which receives the image file through the network, in accordance with key-in information that is input by the operator,

wherein the file combining unit produces a newly combined image file from the selected image data based on offset values that are input by the operator.

10. An image processing method for transmitting an image file from an image processing device to one of a plurality of external stations through a network, comprising:

storing a plurality of image data, read from documents by a scanner unit, into an image memory;

selecting one of a plurality of document identifiers of a document list as the image file which is transmitted to one of the external stations through the network, in accordance with key-in information that is input by an operator;

selecting one of a plurality of destination identifiers of a destination list, as a destination group which receives the image file through the network, in accordance with key-in information that is input by the operator;

combining a plurality of image files, indicated by the selected document identifier, into a single image file wherein a newly combined image file is produced from the selected image data based on offset values that are input by the operator; and

transmitting the combined image file through the network to the destination group of said one of the external stations selected as the destination station.

11. An image processing device which transmits an image file to one of a plurality of external stations through a network, comprising:

a scanner unit reading image data from a document;

an image memory storing the image data read by the scanner unit;

a first file combining unit producing a combined image file from document files selected from the stored image data of the image memory;

a printer unit printing an image of the combined image file produced by the first file combining unit, wherein an operator determines offset values of the selected document files from the printed image of the combined image file;

a second file combining unit producing a newly combined image file from the selected document files based on the offset values; and

a transmission unit transmitting the newly combined image file, produced by the second file combining unit, to one of the plurality of external stations through the network.

12. The image processing device according to claim 11, wherein the printer unit supplies a printed image sheet including a vertical scale that is parallel to a sub-scanning direction and a horizontal scale parallel to a main scanning direction, in order to facilitate the operator'"'"'s determination of the offset values that provide a proper page layout of the combined image file.

13. An image processing device which transmits an image file to one of a plurality of external stations through a network, comprising:

a scanner unit reading image data from a document;

an image memory storing the image data read by the scanner unit;

a file combining unit producing a combined image file from document files selected from the stored image data of the image memory, the file combining unit performing OR operations of the image data of the selected files such that black dots, fixed to start positions of the images of the selected files, match with each other; and

a transmission unit transmitting the combined image file, produced by the file combining unit, to one of the plurality of external stations through the network.

14. An image processing system including an image processing device and a plurality of external stations connected to the image processing device through a network, the image processing device comprising:

a scanner unit reading image data from a document;

an image memory storing the image data read by the scanner unit;

a file combining unit producing a combined image file from document files selected from the stored image data of the image memory, the file combining unit performing OR operations of the image data of the selected files such that black dots, fixed to start positions of the images of the selected files, match with each other; and

a transmission unit transmitting the combined image file, produced by the file combining unit, to one of the plurality of external stations through the network.

15. An image processing method for transmitting an image file from an image processing device to one of a plurality of external stations through a network, comprising:

reading image data from a document;

storing the read image data into an image memory;

producing a combined image file from document files selected from the stored image data of the image memory;

printing an image of the combined image file, wherein an operator determines offset values of the selected document files from the printed image of the combined image file;

producing a newly combined image file from the selected document files based on the offset values; and

transmitting the newly combined image file to one of the plurality of external stations through the network.

16. An image processing method for transmitting an image file from an image processing device to one of a plurality of external stations through a network, comprising:

reading image data from a document;

storing the read image data into an image memory;

producing a combined image file from document files selected from the stored image data of the image memory, wherein OR operations of the image data of the selected files are performed such that black dots, fixed to start positions of the images of the selected files, match with each other; and

transmitting the combined image file to one of the plurality of external stations through the network.

17. An image processing device which transmits an image file to one of a plurality of external stations through a network, comprising:

a scanner unit reading image data from a document;

an image memory storing the image data read by the scanner unit;

a transmission unit transmitting an image file, derived from the stored image data of the image memory, to one of the plurality of external stations through the network;

an image compression unit producing compressed image data from the image data, read by the scanner unit, before the transmission of the image file; and

a compression ratio calculation unit calculating a compression ratio based on an available storage amount of the image memory and a memory space needed to store the image data read by the scanner unit;

wherein the image processing device is configured to cause the image compression unit to produce the compressed image data from the image data by using the compression ratio calculated by the compression ratio calculation unit, and to cause the image memory to store the compressed image data into the image memory,

the image processing device further comprising a determination unit determining whether the calculated compression ratio is above a maximum compression ratio, wherein the image processing device is configured to select the calculated compression ratio for use in the image compression unit when the calculated compression ratio is less than the maximum compression ratio.

18. The image processing device according to claim 17, further comprising a determination unit determining whether the calculated compression ratio is above a minimum compression ratio, wherein the image processing device is configured to select the minimum compression ratio for use in the image compression unit when the calculated compression ratio is less than the minimum compression ratio.

19. An image processing system comprising:

an image processing device according to claim 17; and

the plurality of external stations connected to the image processing device through a network,

the plurality of external stations comprising a server which receives and stores image data sent by the image processing device.

20. An image processing method for transmitting an image file from an image processing device to one of a plurality of external stations through a network, comprising:

reading image data from a document;

storing the read image data into an image memory;

transmitting an image file, derived from the stored image data of the image memory, to one of the plurality of external stations through the network;

producing compressed image data from the read image data before the transmission of the image file; and

calculating a compression ratio based on an available storage amount of the image memory and a memory space needed to store the read image data;

wherein the compressed image data are produced from the read image data by using the calculated compression ratio, and the compressed image data are stored into the image memory,

wherein the image processing method further causing the image compression unit to produce the compressed image data from the image data by using the compression ratio calculated by the compression ratio calculation unit, and causing the image memory to store the compressed image data into the image memory.

21. An image processing system comprising:

an image processing device; and

a plurality of external stations connected to the image processing device through a network;

the image processing device comprising;

a scanner unit reading image data from a document;

an image memory storing the image data read by the scanner unit;

a transmission unit transmitting an image file, derived from the stored image data of the image memory, to one of the plurality of external stations through the network;

an image compression unit producing compressed image data from the image data, read by the scanner unit, before the transmission of the image file; and

a compression ratio calculation unit calculating a compression ratio based on an available storage amount of the image memory and a memory space needed to store the image data read by the scanner unit;

wherein the image processing device is configured to cause the image compression unit to produce the compressed image data from the image data by using the compression ratio calculated by the compression ratio calculation unit, and to cause the image memory to store the compressed image data into the image memory,

the image processing device further comprising a determination unit determining whether the calculated compression ratio is above a maximum compression ratio, wherein the image processing device is configured to select the calculated compression ratio for use in the image compression unit when the calculated compression ratio is less than the maximum compression ratio.