Image reading device and image processing method utilizing the same

• US 9,350,885 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2013
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kajita, Koji, Kadowaki, Toshihiro, Ejiri, Seishi, Yamamuro, Soichi, Kondo, Masaya, Kumagai, Takekazu, Tsukamoto, Takeshi, Saruwatari, Masaru, Toyama, Masaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Madelein A
• Application Number:
  US13/874,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20130242358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00095 Systems or arrangements for the transmission of the picture signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• 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 1/00228 Image push arrangements, e.g. from an image reading device to a specific network destination push-based network services H04L67/55
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00432 using tabs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4413 involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

There is disclosed an image processing apparatus provided with a reader for reading an original image, a connection unit for connection with a network to which plural computers are connected, and a transfer units for transferring the image data, read by the reader, to a computer through the connection unit, the apparatus comprises a specifying unit for specifying desired one among the computers connected through the connection unit, and a designation unit for designating image reading by the reader, wherein the transfer unit is adapted to transfer the image data, read by the reader in response to the designation by the designation unit, to a computer specified by the specifying unit.

Claims

1. A printing apparatus which can communicate with a computer, the printing apparatus comprising:

a printing unit;

a display unit;

a connecting unit configured to establish a connection with the computer via a network;

a display control unit configured to control to display, on the display unit, a screen for inputting specifying information for specifying a file managed by the computer;

a requesting unit configured to issue a request to the computer, for causing the computer to transmit file information of the file specified by the specifying information inputted through the screen displayed on the display unit;

a receiving unit configured to receive the file information transmitted according to the request; and

a printing control unit configured to control the printing unit to print an image based on the file information received by the receiving unit,

wherein the connecting unit disconnects, by issuing an instruction of network disconnection from the printing apparatus to the computer, the connection which has been established with the computer without affecting a power supply of the printing unit according to a user not operating the printing apparatus for a predetermined period of time.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specifying information includes (a) first specifying information for specifying the computer from a plurality of computers, (b) second specifying information for specifying a directory managed by the computer specified by the first specifying information, and (c) third specifying information for specifying a file in the directory specified by the second specifying information.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display control unit controls to display, on the display unit, a list of the plurality of computers, and

wherein the first specifying information for specifying one of the plurality of computers is input while the list is displayed on the display unit.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the directory specified by the second specifying information stores a plurality of files,

wherein the display control unit controls to display, on the display unit, file names of the plurality of files in the directory specified by the second specifying information, and

wherein the third specifying information for specifying one of a plurality of files is input while the file names are displayed on the display unit.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display control unit controls to display, on the display unit, (a) a first display screen for a user to input the first specifying information, and (b) a second display screen for the user to input the third specifying information.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first display screen displays a list from which the user selects a computer, wherein the first specifying information is obtained in accordance with the computer selection by the user.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second specifying information is obtained in accordance with a file selection by the user.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second display screen displays a file list for a directory, and provides an interface for the user to specify a directory other than the directory.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second display screen'"'"'s interface allows the user to specify a parent directory.

10. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display control unit controls to display, on the display unit, (a) a first display screen for a user to input the first specifying information, and (b) a second display screen for the user to input both (i) the second specifying information and (ii) the third specifying information.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit controls to display, on the display unit, a preview image corresponding to the specified file.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the received file information received by the receiving unit is generated by the computer based on application software corresponding to the file.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the requesting unit issues the request to the computer through the connection, and the receiving unit receives the file information from the computer through the connection.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the requesting unit issues the request to the computer through a LAN connection, and the receiving unit receives the file information from the computer through the LAN connection.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the requesting unit issues the request to the computer by obtaining a network address of the computer, and sending the request via the connection using the network address.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the requesting unit issues the request to the computer by generating a network packet addressed to a network address of the computer, and transmitting the network packet on the network.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the requesting unit issues the request to the computer directly.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the requesting unit issues the request to the computer directly in accordance with a network address of the computer.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the request issued by the requesting unit is received by the computer.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection uses TCP/IP.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein at least one of the following conditions is met:

(a) the connection is a password-protected connection,

(b) the connecting unit comprises a unit configured to disconnect the connection with the computer via the network in accordance with a manual operation by a user,

(c) the connecting unit disconnects the connection with the computer via the network in accordance with a detection by a sensor that a user is not physically present at the printing apparatus for a predetermined period of time after the printing by the printing unit was completed, and

(d) after the connecting unit disconnects the connection, the display unit automatically returns to an initial display screen.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the connecting unit comprises a unit configured to disconnect the connection with the computer via the network in accordance with a manual operation by a user.

23. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the connecting unit disconnects the connection with the computer via the network in accordance with a detection by a sensor that a user is not physically present at the printing apparatus for a predetermined period of time after the printing by the printing unit was completed.

24. A control method of a printing apparatus which has a printing unit and a display unit and can communicate with a computer, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a connection with the computer via a network;

displaying, on the display unit, a screen for inputting specifying information for specifying a file stored in the computer;

issuing a request to the computer, for causing the computer to transmit file information of the file specified by the specifying information inputted through the screen displayed on the display unit;

receiving the file information from the computer;

printing, by the printing unit, an image based on the received file information; and

disconnecting, by issuing an instruction of network disconnection from the printing apparatus to the computer, the connection which has been established with the computer without affecting a power supply of the printing unit according to a user not operating the printing apparatus for a predetermined period of time.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to cause a computer to execute the method according to claim 24.

26. A printing apparatus comprising:

a display unit;

a connecting unit configured to establish a connection with an external apparatus via a network;

a display control unit configured to control to display, on the display unit, a screen for inputting specifying information for specifying a file managed by the external apparatus;

a requesting unit configured to issue a request to the external apparatus, for causing the external apparatus to transmit file information of the file specified by the specifying information inputted through the screen displayed on the display unit;

a receiving unit configured to receive the file information transmitted according to the request;

a printing unit configured to print an image based on the file information received by the receiving unit; and

a disconnecting unit configured to disconnect, by issuing an instruction of network disconnection from the printing apparatus to the external apparatus, the connection which has been established with the external apparatus without affecting a power supply of the printing unit.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the disconnecting unit disconnects the connection with the external apparatus via the network when it reaches a predetermined timing.

28. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the disconnecting unit disconnects the connection with the external apparatus after a lapse of a predetermined time from a condition that the printing apparatus enters a standby state.

29. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the specifying information includes (a) first specifying information for specifying the external apparatus from a plurality of external apparatuses, (b) second specifying information for specifying a directory managed by the external apparatus specified by the first specifying information, and (c) third specifying information for specifying a file in the directory specified by the second specifying information.

30. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the requesting unit issues the request to the external apparatus by obtaining a network address of the external apparatus, and sending the request via the connection using the network address.

31. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the requesting unit issues the request to the external apparatus by generating a network packet addressed to a network address of the external apparatus, and transmitting the network packet on the network.

32. A control method of a printing apparatus that comprises a printing unit and a display unit, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a connection with the external apparatus via a network;

displaying a screen for inputting specifying information for specifying a file stored in the external apparatus;

issuing a request to the external apparatus, for causing the external apparatus to transmit file information of the file specified by the specifying information inputted through the screen;

receiving the file information from the external apparatus;

printing an image based on the received file information; and

disconnecting, by issuing an instruction of network disconnection from the printing apparatus to the external apparatus, the connection which has been established with the external apparatus without affecting a power supply of the printing unit.

33. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to cause a computer to execute the method according to claim 32.

34. A printing apparatus which can communicate with a computer, the printing apparatus comprising:

a printing unit;

a display unit;

a connecting unit configured to establish a connection with the computer via a network;

a display control unit configured to control to display, on the display unit, a screen for inputting specifying information for specifying a file managed by the computer;

a requesting unit configured to issue a request to the computer, for causing the computer to transmit file information of the file specified by the specifying information inputted through the screen displayed on the display unit;

a receiving unit configured to receive the file information transmitted according to the request; and

a printing control unit configured to control the printing unit to print an image based on the file information received by the receiving unit,

wherein, according to a user not operating the printing apparatus for a predetermined period of time, (a) the connecting unit disconnects, by issuing an instruction of network disconnection from the printing apparatus to the computer, the connection which has been established with the computer and (b) the printing apparatus returns to an initial display on the display unit.

35. A printing apparatus which can communicate with a computer, the printing apparatus comprising:

a printing unit;

a display unit;

a connecting unit configured to establish a connection with the computer via a network;

a display control unit configured to control to display, on the display unit, a screen for inputting specifying information for specifying a file managed by the computer;

a requesting unit configured to issue a request to the computer, for causing the computer to transmit file information of the file specified by the specifying information inputted through the screen displayed on the display unit;

a receiving unit configured to receive the file information transmitted according to the request; and

a printing control unit configured to control the printing unit to print an image based on the file information received by the receiving unit,

wherein, according to a user not operating the printing apparatus for a predetermined period of time, (a) the connecting unit disconnects, by issuing an instruction of network disconnection from the printing apparatus to the computer, the connection which has been established with the computer and (b) the printing apparatus returns to an initial state other than a state where a main power source of the printing apparatus is turned off.