Image scanner and image scanning system

• US 8,681,366 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2013
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Ohara, Kiyotaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Demeter, Hilina K
• Application Number:
  US14/027,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20140016164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 190 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 scanner, comprising:

a scanning unit configured to scan one or more images on a first document and a second document;

an input unit;

memory storing computer-readable instructions; and

a control unit configured to execute the computer-readable instructions, the computer-readable instructions, when executed, causing the image scanner to;

receive input of destination information through the input unit;

receive, through the input unit, a first scan start command to start scanning an image of the first document and to generate first scan image data which is to be transmitted to a terminal device identified by destination information associated with the first scan start command;

generate the first scan image data based on the first document scanned by the scanning unit in response to the first scan start command;

receive, through the input unit, a second scan start command to start scanning one of;

the image of the first document and an image of the second document and to generate second scan image data which is to be transmitted to a terminal device identified by destination information associated with the second scan start command;

generate the second scan image data based on the one of the first document and the second document scanned by the scanning unit in response to the second scan start command;

store the first scan image data and the second scan image data;

transmit a first notification to the terminal device identified by the destination information associated with the first scan start command, the first notification including information related to the stored first scan image data;

transmit a second notification to the terminal device identified by the destination information associated with the second scan start command, the second notification including information related to the stored second scan image data;

receive a request for scan image data from the terminal device to which the first notification was transmitted or the terminal device to which the second notification was transmitted;

transmit the first scan image data to the terminal device to which the first notification was transmitted if the request for the first scan image data is received from the terminal device to which the first notification was transmitted; and

transmit the second scan image data to the terminal device to which the second notification was transmitted if the request for the second scan image data is received from the terminal device to which the second notification was transmitted.

2. The image scanner according to claim 1, wherein the first notification and the second notification respectively include device information identifying the scanning device.

3. The image scanner according to claim 1, wherein the first notification and the second notification respectively include time information indicative of a time at which the respective scan image data is stored by the scanner.

4. The image scanner according to claim 3, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed, further cause the image scanner to:

store first time information in association with the first scan image data; and

remove the first scan image data if a predetermined period has passed from a time indicated by the first time information associated with the first scan image data.

5. The image scanner according to claim 4, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed, further cause the image scanner to notify removal of the first scan image data to the terminal device to which the first notification was transmitted.

6. The image scanner according to claim 1, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed, further cause the image scanner to remove the stored first scan image data after the first scan image data is transmitted to the terminal device to which the first notification was transmitted.