Data control system capable of present current image of writer with data

• US 7,984,033 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2005
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Itoh, Atsushi, Kato, Ai, Araki, Tadashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong; Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kim T
• Application Number:
  US11/121,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20050267890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,267 Days
• Field of Search: 707/706, 707/803
• US Class Current: 707/706
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A data control system is disclosed, including a storage unit that stores multiple data items and a presentation unit that presents at least one of the multiple data items upon a request. An identification acquisition unit acquires upon the request identification for identifying one of multiple imaging units. The identification is registered and related to the data item to be presented. An image data acquisition unit acquires image data using the imaging unit the identification of which is acquired by the identification acquisition unit. An image presentation unit presents the at least one of the multiple data items and the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit.

Claims

1. A data control system connected with a plurality of clients via a network, the data control system comprising:

a processor;

a storage unit configured to store a plurality of data items;

a plurality of communication systems each configured to allow a particular client to communicate with another client using a different communication method;

an identification acquisition unit configured to acquire identification for identifying one of a plurality of imaging units provided to the plurality of clients, the identification being registered in the storage unit and related to the data item to be presented, and the imaging unit being configured to capture a still picture or a moving picture of at least one person who has produced the data item to be presented;

an image data acquisition unit configured to acquire image data that is the still picture or the moving picture captured using the imaging unit corresponding to the identification acquired by the identification acquisition unit;

a presentation unit configured to present, in response to a request from the client, one of the plurality of data items to the client; and

a selection unit configured to allow a user of the particular client to select one of the communication systems,

wherein the presentation unit is further configured to present the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit for the user'"'"'s selection of the communication systems.

2. The data control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data item is document data.

3. The data control system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a communication unit configured to enable users of the data control system to communicate through a network.

4. The data control system as claimed in claim 3, the communication unit enables communication through video conference.

5. The data control system as claimed in claim 3, the communication unit enables communication through e-mail.

6. The data control system as claimed in claim 3, the communication unit enables communication through chat.

7. The data control system as claimed in claim 3, the communication unit is further configured to register a return document as a response to the data item presented by the presentation unit.

8. The data control system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising at least one more communication unit configured to enable users of the data control system to communicate through the network.

13. The data control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the imaging unit is an image capture unit and the image data is captured with the image capture unit.

14. The data control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the imaging unit is configured to capture the image data at the time of the request.

9. In a data control system connected with a plurality of clients via a network and having a plurality of communication systems each configured to allow a particular client to communicate with another client using a different communication method, a method of controlling data, the method comprising the steps of:

acquiring identification for identifying one of a plurality of imaging units provided to the plurality of clients, the identification being registered in the storage unit and related to a data item to be presented, and the imaging unit being configured to capture a still picture or a moving picture of at least one person who has produced the data item to be presented;

acquiring image data captured using the imaging unit corresponding to the acquired identification;

presenting the acquired image data that is the still picture or the moving picture captured for the selection of the communication systems;

selecting one of the communication systems in response to a user operation; and

presenting, in response to a request from the client, the data item to the client.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the data item is document data.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the step of enabling users of the data control system to communicate through a network.

15. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising capturing the image data at the time of the request.

12. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that causes a computer to register a plurality of data items and present at least one of the plurality of data items upon a request, the computer program comprising the steps of:

acquiring identification for identifying an imaging unit provided to one of a plurality of clients, the identification being registered in a storage unit and related to a data item to be presented, and the imaging unit being configured to capture a still picture or a moving picture of at least one person who has produced the data item to be presented;

acquiring image data that is the still picture or the moving picture captured using the imaging unit corresponding to the acquired identification;

presenting the acquired image data for the selection of a plurality of communication systems each configured to allow a particular client to communicate with another client using a different communication method;

selecting one of the communication systems in response to a user operation; and

presenting, in response to a request from the client, the data item to the client.

16. The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 12, wherein the imaging unit is configured to capture the image data at the time of the request.