Image scanner and image scanning system

• US 8,553,256 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2009
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Ohara, Kiyotaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Demeter, Hilina K
• Application Number:
  US12/562,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20100079797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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 1/00225 details of image data generation, e.g. scan-to-email or network scanners using an image reading device as a local input to a computer H04N1/00241
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00405 Output means output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2175 with local image input
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/444 to a particular document or image or part thereof
• 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 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An image scanning system comprising an image scanner and a terminal, wherein the image scanner comprises an image storing unit to store the image data; a terminal designation unit to designate the terminal as a transmission target; a terminal storing unit to record correspondence data to associate the image data with the terminal; an information notification unit to transmit a notification of information concerning image data to the designated terminal; a request receiving unit to receive a request for image data; and an image transmission unit to transmit the image data associated with the designated terminal for which the request has been received, and the terminal comprises: an indication unit to make an indication in response to receipt of the notification; and a request transmission unit to transmit the request to the image scanner when a user operation for requesting image data is received.

Claims

1. An image scanning system, comprising:

an image scanner configured to scan an image in accordance with a command directly inputted by a user and to generate scan image data based on the scanned image; and

a terminal device configured to display an image corresponding to the scan image data generated by the image scanner,

the image scanner comprising;

a processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the image scanner to function as;

a scan image data generating unit configured to generate first scan image data and second scan image data different from the first scan image data

an identification data generating unit configured to generate first identification data identifying the first scan image data and second identification data identifying the second scan image data;

an image storing unit configured to store the first scan image data and the second scan image data;

an identification data storing unit configured to store the first identification data and the second identification data;

a destination designation receiving unit configured to receive a user input of a destination to which one of the first and second scan image data is to be transmitted;

an information notification unit configured to transmit the first identification data to the terminal device if the terminal device is designated by the user as the destination to which the first scan image data is to be transmitted, and the second identification data to the terminal device if the terminal device is designated by the user as the destination to which the second scan image data is to be transmitted;

a request receiving unit configured to receive one of the first identification data and the second identification data from the designated terminal device; and

a scan image data transmission unit configured to transmit the first scan image data identified by the first identification data to the terminal device if the request receiving unit receives the first identification data, and to transmit the second scan image data identified by the second identification data to the terminal device if the request receiving unit receives the second identification data,

the terminal device comprising;

a processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the terminal device to function as;

an information receiving unit configured to receive the first identification data and the second identification data from the image scanner;

an indication unit configured to display a first indication image including the first identification data, and a second indication image including the second identification data; and

a request transmission unit configured to transmit the first identification data to the image scanner if the user designates the first indication image, and the second identification data to the image scanner if the user designates the second indication image.

2. The image scanning system according to claim 1,

wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the image scanner, when executed, further cause the image scanner to function as:

a first deletion unit configured to delete the scan image data stored in the image storing unit; and

a deletion notification unit configured to transmit a deletion notification of information concerning scan image data to be deleted, to the designated terminal device corresponding to the scan image data to be deleted by the first deletion unit,

wherein the instructions stored in the memory of the terminal device, when executed, further cause the terminal device to function as;

an information storing unit configured to store the information concerning the scan image data notified by the information notification unit of the image scanner; and

a second deletion unit configured to delete the information concerning the scan image data for which the deletion notification is received, from the information concerning the scan image data stored by the information storing unit, in response to receipt of the deletion notification of the information concerning the scan image data to be deleted from the image scanner,

wherein the indication unit makes an indication to the user in response to at least a piece of the information concerning scan image data being stored in the information storing unit.

3. The image scanning system according to claim 1, wherein:

the information notification unit is configured to transmit the first identification data together with device information, which indicates the image scanner, to the terminal device if the terminal device is designated by the user as the destination to which the first scan image data is to be transmitted, and the second identification data together with the device information to the terminal device if the terminal device is designated by the user as the destination to which the second scan image data is to be transmitted,

the information receiving unit is configured to receive the first identification data and the device information, and the second identification data and the device information, and

the indication unit is configured to display the first indication image including the first identification data and the device information, and the second indication image including the second identification data and the device information.

4. The image scanning system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first indication image includes a first icon indicating presence of the first scan image data to be transmitted to the terminal device, and the second indication image includes a second icon indicating presence of the second scan image data to be transmitted to the terminal device, and

the request transmission unit is configured to transmit the first identification data to the image scanner if the first icon is clicked by the user, and to transmit the second identification data to the image scanner if the second icon is clicked by the user.

5. The image scanning system according to 1, wherein:

the information notification unit is configured to transmit the first identification data and first time information, which indicates a time at which the first identification data and the first scan image data were stored in the image scanner, to the terminal device if the terminal device is designated by the user as the destination to which the first scan image data is to be transmitted, and the second identification data and second time information, which indicates a time at which the second identification data and the second scan image data were stored in the image scanner, to the terminal device if the terminal device is designated by the user as the destination to which the second scan image data is to be transmitted,

the information receiving unit is configured to receive the first identification data and the first time information, and the second identification data and the second time information, and

the indication unit is configured to display the first indication image including the first identification data and the first time information, and the second indication image including the second identification data and the second time information.

6. The image scanning system according to claim 1,

wherein the scan image data transmission unit is configured to transmit the first scan image data which is associated with the first identification data and has been generated by the scan image generating unit before the request receiving unit receives the first identification data, to the terminal device in response to receipt of the first identification data by the request receiving unit, and

wherein the scan image data transmission unit is further configured to transmit the second scan image data, which is associated with the second identification data and has been generated by the scan image generating unit before the request receiving unit receives the second identification data, to the terminal device in response to receipt of the second identification data by the request receiving unit.

7. An image scanner, comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the image scanner to function as;

a scan unit configured to scan an image in accordance with a command directly inputted by a user and to generate first scan image data and second scan image data different from the first scan image data;

an identification data generating unit configured to generate first identification data identifying the first scan image data and second identification data identifying the second scan image data;

an image storing unit configured to store the first scan image data and the second scan image data;

an identification data storing unit configured to store the first identification data, and the second identification data;

a destination designation receiving unit configured to receive a user input of a destination to which one of the first and second scan image data is to be transmitted;

an information notification unit configured to transmit the first identification data to a terminal device if the terminal device is designated by a user as the destination to which the first scan image data is to be transmitted, and the second identification data to the terminal device if the terminal device is designated by the user as the destination to which the second scan image data is to be transmitted;

a request receiving unit configured to receive one of the first identification data and the second identification data from the designated terminal device; and

an image transmission unit configured to transmit the first scan image data identified by the first identification data to the terminal device if the request receiving unit receives the first identification data, and to transmit the second scan image data identified by the second identification data to the terminal device if the request receiving unit receives the second identification data.

8. The image scanner according to claim 7,

wherein the information notification unit is further configured to transmit the first identification data together with device information, which indicates the image scanner, to the terminal device if the terminal device is designated by the user as the destination to which the first scan image data is to be transmitted, and the second identification data together with the device information to the terminal device if the terminal device is designated by the user as the destination to which the second scan image data is to be transmitted.