Methods and systems for imaging device metadata management

• US 7,684,074 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2005
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yamamura, Shinichi, Reddy, Amarender Reddy Kethi
• Primary Examiner(s): EBRAHIMI DEHKORDY, SAEID
• Application Number:
  US11/255,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20060092097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.16, 358/1.18, 358/1.14, 358/468, 358/402, 358/403, 709/203, 709/205, 709/218, 709/208, 709/223, 709/249, 707/10, 707/101, 707/201, 707/100, 707/104.1, 707/202, 707/204, 715/205, 715/777, 715/765, 455/74, 455/414.2, 455/414.1, 718/1, 370/401, 370/389, 370/469, 705/7, 705/41
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/502 relating to the structure of the control menu, e.g. pop-up menus, help screens
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5075 Remote control machines, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00109 Remote control of apparatus, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/41 where a single sign-on provides access to a plurality of computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/84 output devices, e.g. displays or monitors
• 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 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32561 using a programmed control device, e.g. a microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• 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 2201/3221 of a job number or identification, e.g. communication number

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems, methods and devices for imaging device file metadata management.

Claims

1. A method for imaging device file metadata management, said method comprising:

a) retrieving a metadata configuration file (MCF) that is associated with a file folder, wherein said MCF comprises parameters for creating a metadata file associated with a data file in said file folder, and wherein said retrieving is performed with a processor and a memory;

b) identifying at least one metadata parameter with said MCF;

c) sending user prompt data to an IDev for prompting a user for metadata input that conforms to said metadata parameter;

d) receiving said metadata input from said IDev; and

e) storing said metadata input as a metadata file in said file folder, wherein said metadata file conforms to said parameters in said MCF and wherein said storing comprises storing said metadata input as a file in said destination folder and storing said associated data file in said destination folder and wherein said data file and said metadata file share a common file name element.

2. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising receiving a file folder selection identifying said file folder.

3. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising correlating said metadata file with another file.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said user prompt data comprises markup language content configured for an IDev UI display.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said identifying comprises populating a metadata class object with field data from said MCF.

6. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising storing said metadata input as an ASP.NET session object.

7. A method for imaging device file metadata management, said method comprising:

a) receiving a selection of a destination file folder for storing a data file;

b) retrieving a metadata configuration file (MCF) associated with said destination file folder, wherein said MCF comprises parameters for creating a metadata file for each file in said file folder, and wherein said retrieving is performed using a processor and a memory;

c) identifying at least one metadata parameter with said MCF;

d) sending user prompt data to an IDev for prompting a user for metadata input that conforms to said metadata parameter;

e) receiving said metadata input from said IDev;

I) storing said data file in said destination file folder;

g) associating said metadata input with said data file, wherein said metadata input is stored according to said parameters in said MCF; and

h) wherein said associating said metadata input with said data file comprises storing said metadata input as a file in said destination folder and storing said data file in said destination folder and wherein said data file and said metadata file share a common file name element.

8. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said receiving a selection of a destination file folder comes from said IDev.

9. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said retrieving an MCF comprises retrieving a file from a remote storage device.

10. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said sending user prompt data comprises sending a metadata class object populated with field data from said MCF to said IDev.

11. A method as described in claim 7 further comprising receiving said data file from said IDev.

12. A method as described in claim 7 further comprising converting said metadata input to a markup language format.

13. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said storing said data file comprises sending said data file to a remote storage device using a file transfer protocol.

14. A system for imaging device file metadata management, said system comprising:

a) an MCF retriever for retrieving a metadata configuration file (MCF) from a file folder to which said MCF is associated, wherein said MCF comprises metadata parameters for creating a metadata file for each file in said file folder, and wherein said retriever comprises a processor and a memory;

b) an MCF reader for reading said MCF to identify at least one metadata parameter in said MCF;

c) a prompt sender for sending user prompt data to an IDev for prompting a user for metadata input that conforms to said metadata parameter;

d) a metadata receiver for receiving said metadata input from said IDev; and

e) an associator for storing said metadata input as a metadata file and associating said metadata file with a data file destined to be stored in said file folder wherein said associating comprises naming said data file and said metadata file with a common file name element.

15. A system as described in claim 14 wherein said system further comprises a folder selection receiver for receiving a selection identifying said file folder.

16. A system as described in claim 14 wherein said system further comprises a metadata validator for validating said metadata input.

17. A system as described in claim 14 wherein said IDev farther comprises an IDev interface for initiating an IDev function.