Image sending apparatus, image sending system and image sending method

• US 8,054,492 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Takehisa, Yoshida, Okihisa, Kobayashi, Minako, Akita, Katsuhiko, Miyamoto, Hirohisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, II; Jerome
• Application Number:
  US12/243,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20090091788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/474, 358/1.9, 358/444, 358/1.6, 358/438, 358/439, 358/440, 709/224, 709/218, 709/246
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00212 Attaching image data to computer messages, e.g. to e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00214 details of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00222 details of image data generation or reproduction, e.g. scan-to-email or network printing
• 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 1/0048 Indicating an illegal or impossible operation or selection to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32523 a plurality of output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32545 Distributing a job or task among a plurality of input devices or a plurality of output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33323 transmission mode only, e.g. speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33369 Storage of mode or retrieval of prestored mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3222 of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3276 of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID

Abstract

An image sending system including a server and a plurality of image sending apparatuses. The server (i) receives sending method specification information specified by a receiver and indicating a sending method for image data addressed to the receiver, (ii) records the sending method specification information and an identifier of the receiver in association with each other, (iii) and receives updated sending method specification information and rewrites the recorded sending method specification information with the updated sending method specification information. Each image sending apparatus (i) receives a selection of an identifier of a receiver of image data to be sent, (ii) obtains from the server the recorded sending method specification information and identification of the receiver, and (iii) when the identifier of receiver in the received selection matches the obtained identifier of receiver, sends the image data 505 by the sending method indicated by the obtained sending method specification information.

Claims

1. An image sending system in which a server providing sending methods for image data and a plurality of image sending apparatuses are network-connected, wherein

the server includes:

a recording medium;

a registration update reception unit operable to receive a registration and an update of sending method specification information specified by a receiver and indicating a sending method for image data addressed to the receiver; and

a recording controller operable to, (i) when the registration is received, record on the recording medium the sending method specification information and an identifier of the receiver in association with each other, and (ii) when the update is received, rewrite the recorded sending method specification information with updated sending method specification information; and

each of the plurality of image sending apparatuses includes;

a selection reception unit operable to receive a selection of an identifier of a receiver of image data to be sent;

an obtaining unit operable to obtain from the server the recorded sending method specification information and identifier of the receiver; and

a sending controller operable to, when the identifier of the receiver in the received selection matches the obtained identifier of the receiver, send the image data to be sent by the sending method indicated by the obtained sending method specification information.

2. The image sending system of claim 1, wherein

the sending method specification information includes a plurality of sending methods, to which priority has been assigned, and

the sending controller includes:

a storage storing therein sending function information which indicates one or more sending methods executable on the image sending apparatus; and

a selection unit operable to, when the identifier of the receiver in the received selection matches the obtained identifier of the receiver, select in reference to the sending function information, as the sending method for the image data to be sent, a sending method which is executable on the image sending apparatus and to which highest priority has been assigned from among the plurality of sending methods.

3. The image sending system of claim 2, wherein

the sending method specification information includes, as a 1^st preferred sending method to which the highest priority has been assigned, a sending method executable on one of the plurality of image sending apparatuses, and as a 2^nd preferred sending method to which second highest priority has been assigned, a sending method executable on all of the plurality of image sending apparatuses.

4. The image sending system of claim 2, wherein

the sending method specification information includes, as a 1^st preferred sending method to which the highest priority has been assigned, a sending method executable on one of the plurality of image sending apparatuses, and as a 2^nd preferred sending method to which second highest priority has been assigned, a sending method executable commonly on, among the plurality of image sending apparatuses, image sending apparatuses that cannot execute the 1^st preferred sending method.

5. The image sending system of claim 3, wherein

the sending controller further includes:

a notification unit operable to, in a case where the 1^st preferred sending method cannot be executed on the image sending apparatus, notify to the user the 1^st preferred sending method being not executable on the image sending apparatus; and

an instruction reception unit operable to receive instruction of whether to use the 2^nd preferred sending method, and

the selection unit selects the 2^nd preferred sending method in a case where the instruction indicates use of the 2^nd preferred sending method.

6. The image sending system of claim 4, wherein

the sending controller further includes:

a notification unit operable to, in a case where the 1^st preferred sending method cannot be executed on the image sending apparatus, notify to the user the 1^st preferred sending method being not executable on the image sending apparatus; and

an instruction reception unit operable to receive instruction of whether to use the 2^nd preferred sending method, and

the selection unit selects the 2^nd preferred sending method in a case where the instruction indicates use of the 2^nd preferred sending method.

7. An image sending apparatus network-connected to a server providing sending methods for image data, wherein

the server (i) includes a recording medium, (ii) receives a registration and an update of sending method specification information specified by a receiver and indicating a sending method for image data addressed to the receiver, (iii) records on the recording medium, when the registration is received, the sending method specification information and an identifier of the receiver in association with each other, and (iv) rewrites, when the update is received, the recorded sending method specification information with updated sending method specification information, and

the image sending apparatus comprising:

a selection reception unit operable to receive a selection of an identifier of a receiver of image data to be sent;

an obtaining unit operable to obtain from the server the recorded sending method specification information and identifier of the receiver; and

a sending controller operable to, when the identifier of the receiver in the received selection matches the obtained identifier of the receiver, send the image data to be sent by the sending method indicated by the obtained sending method specification information.

8. The image sending apparatus of claim 7, wherein

the server is connected to a plurality of image sending apparatuses in which the image sending apparatus is included,

the sending method specification information includes a plurality of sending methods, to which priority has been assigned, and

the sending controller includes:

a storage storing therein sending function information which indicates one or more sending methods executable on the image sending apparatus; and

a selection unit operable to, when the identifier of the receiver in the received selection matches the obtained identifier of the receiver, select in reference to the sending function information, as the sending method for the image data to be sent, a sending method which is executable on the image sending apparatus and to which highest priority has been assigned from among the plurality of sending methods.

9. The image sending apparatus of claim 8, wherein

the sending method specification information includes, as a 1^st preferred sending method to which the highest priority has been assigned, a sending method executable on one of the plurality of image sending apparatuses, and as a 2^nd preferred sending method to which second highest priority has been assigned, a sending method executable on all of the plurality of image sending apparatuses.

10. The image sending apparatus of claim 8, wherein

the sending method specification information includes, as a 1^st preferred sending method to which the highest priority has been assigned, a sending method executable on one of the plurality of image sending apparatuses, and as a 2^nd preferred sending method to which second highest priority has been assigned, a sending method executable commonly on, among the plurality of image sending apparatuses, image sending apparatuses that cannot execute the 1^st preferred sending method.

11. The image sending apparatus of claim 9, wherein

the sending controller further includes:

a notification unit operable to, in a case where the 1^st preferred sending method cannot be executed on the image sending apparatus, notify to the user the 1^st preferred sending method being not executable on the image sending apparatus; and

an instruction reception unit operable to receive instruction of whether to use the 2^nd preferred sending method, and

the selection unit selects the 2^nd preferred sending method in a case where the instruction indicates use of the 2^nd preferred sending method.

12. The image sending apparatus of claim 10, wherein

the sending controller further includes:

a notification unit operable to, in a case where the 1^st preferred sending method cannot be executed on the image sending apparatus, notify to the user the 1^st preferred sending method being not executable on the image sending apparatus; and

an instruction reception unit operable to receive instruction of whether to use the 2^nd preferred sending method, and the selection unit selects the 2^nd preferred sending method in a case where the instruction indicates use of the 2^nd preferred sending method.

13. An image sending method used on an image sending apparatus network-connected to a server providing sending methods for image data, wherein

the server (i) includes a recording medium, (ii) receives a registration and an update of sending method specification information specified by a receiver and indicating a sending method for image data addressed to the receiver, (iii) records on the recording medium, when the registration is received, the sending method specification information and an identifier of the receiver in association with each other, and (iv) rewrites, when the update is received, the recorded sending method specification information with updated sending method specification information, and

the image sending method comprising:

a selection reception step of receiving a selection of an identifier of a receiver of image data to be sent;

an obtaining step of obtaining from the server the recorded sending method specification information and identifier of the receiver; and

a sending control step of, when the identifier of the receiver in the received selection matches the obtained identifier of the receiver, sending the image data to be sent by the sending method indicated by the obtained sending method specification information.

14. The image sending method of claim 13, wherein

the server is connected to a plurality of image sending apparatuses in which the image sending apparatus is included,

each of the plurality of image sending apparatuses has a storage storing therein sending function information which indicates one or more sending methods executable on the image sending apparatus,

the sending method specification information includes a plurality of sending methods, to which priority has been assigned, and

a selection step of, when the identifier of the receiver in the received selection matches the obtained identifier of the receiver, selecting in reference to the sending function information, as the sending method for the image data to be sent, a sending method which is executable on the image sending apparatus and to which highest priority has been assigned from among the plurality of sending methods.

15. The image sending method of claim 14, wherein

the sending method specification information includes, as a 1^st preferred sending method to which the highest priority has been assigned, a sending method executable on one of the plurality of image sending apparatuses, and as a 2^nd preferred sending method to which second highest priority has been assigned, a sending method executable on all of the plurality of image sending apparatuses.

16. The image sending method of claim 14, wherein

the sending method specification information includes, as a 1^st preferred sending method to which the highest priority has been assigned, a sending method executable on one of the plurality of image sending apparatuses, and as a 2^nd preferred sending method to which second highest priority has been assigned, a sending method executable commonly on, among the plurality of image sending apparatuses, image sending apparatuses that cannot execute the 1^st preferred sending method.

17. The image sending method of claim 15, wherein

the sending control step further includes:

a notification step of, in a case where the 1^st preferred sending method cannot be executed on the image sending apparatus, notifying to the user the 1^st preferred sending method being not executable on the image sending apparatus; and

an instruction reception step of receiving instruction of whether to use the 2^nd preferred sending method, and

the selection step of selecting the 2^nd preferred sending method in a case where the instruction indicates use of the 2^nd preferred sending method.

18. The image sending method of claim 16, wherein

the sending control step further includes:

a notification step of, in a case where the 1^st preferred sending method cannot be executed on the image sending apparatus, notifying to the user the 1^st preferred sending method being not executable on the image sending apparatus; and

an instruction reception step of receiving instruction of whether to use the 2^nd preferred sending method, and

the selection step of selecting the 2^nd preferred sending method in a case where the instruction indicates use of the 2 nd preferred sending method.