Methods and systems for providing remote file structure access to an imaging device

• US 7,934,217 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• 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): Ho; Andy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kraft; Shih-Wei
• Application Number:
  US11/192,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20060090128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,097 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 719/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• 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 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00464 using browsers, i.e. interfaces based on mark-up languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00503 Customising to a particular machine or model, machine function or application
• 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

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to systems, methods and devices for providing remote file structure data access to an imaging device user interface. Some aspects relate to methods and systems wherein a request for file structure data is sent from an imaging device (IDev) to a remote computing device (RCD) that is capable of retrieving and converting file structure data. Some aspects relate to reading the file structure data of a remote resource and converting that file structure data to a format that is compatible with an IDev user interface (UI). The converted file structure data may then be received by the IDev and displayed at the IDev UI.

Claims

1. A method for imaging device remote file structure data access, said method comprising:

receiving a request for remote storage device file structure organization data directly from an imaging device (IDev) web service at a remote computing device (RCD), wherein said request comprises an identification of IDev UI characteristics with IDev UI parameter data and wherein said request is formatted as a markup language message;

receiving storage device file organization structure data at said RCD from a remote storage device, wherein said RCD is remote to said IDev;

wherein said remote storage device file organization structure data indicates what files are stored on said remote storage device and provides access data for accessing files stored on said remote storage device, but said file organization structure data is not stored in a format that is compatible with a user interface (UI) on said IDev (IDev UI);

converting said remote storage device file organization structure data to a format that is compatible with said IDev UI based on said IDev UI parameter data received from said IDev thereby creating converted file structure data (CFS data); and

sending said CFS data to said IDev.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said sending comprises using an Extensible Markup Language/Simple Object Access Protocol (XML/SOAP) message.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said converting comprises formatting said file structure data using a markup language.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said file structure data comprises file folders available on a storage device that is part of said RCD.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said file structure data comprises file folders available on a storage device that is remote to said RCD and said IDev.

6. A method for imaging device remote file structure data access, said method comprising:

receiving a file structure data request from an imaging device (IDev) web service at a remote computing device (RCD), wherein said file structure data request relates to a remote storage device and wherein said file structure data request is formatted as a markup language message;

receiving IDev user interface (UI) parameter data comprising an identification of IDev UI characteristics at said RCD, wherein said UI parameter data is formatted as a markup language message;

sending a storage device file structure data request from said RCD to said remote storage device;

receiving remote storage device file organization structure data at said RCD from said remote storage device;

wherein said remote storage device file organization structure data indicates what files are stored on said remote storage device and provides access data for accessing files stored on said remote storage device, but said file organization structure data is not stored in a format that is compatible with a user interface (UI) on said IDev UI;

converting said remote storage device file organization structure data to a markup language format that is compatible with an IDev UI browser, thereby creating converted markup language file structure (CFS) data, wherein said converting is based on said IDev UI parameter data received from said IDev; and

sending said CFS data to said IDev.

7. A method as described in claim 6 wherein said sending a storage device file structure data request comprises using an operating system application programming interface (API) on the RCD.

8. A method as described in claim 6 wherein said sending a storage device file structure data request comprises using a programming language application programming interface (API) on the RCD.

9. A file structure conversion device comprising:

a request receiver for receiving a request for remote storage device file structure organization data directly from an imaging device (IDev) web service at a remote computing device (RCD), wherein said request comprises an identification of IDev user interface (UI) characteristics with IDev UI parameter data and wherein said request is formatted as a markup language message;

a structure data receiver for receiving storage device file organization structure data at said RCD from a remote storage device, wherein said RCD is remote to said IDev;

wherein said remote storage device file organization structure data indicates what files are stored on said remote storage device and provides access data for accessing files stored on said remote storage device, but said file organization structure data is not stored in a format that is compatible with said IDev UI;

a converter for converting said remote storage device file organization structure data to a format that is compatible with said IDev UI based on said IDev UI parameter data received from said IDev thereby creating converted file structure data (CFS data) formatted as a markup language message; and

a communication link for transmitting said CFS data to said IDev web service.

10. A device as described in claim 9 wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting an Extensible Markup Language/Simple Object Access Protocol (XML/SOAP) message.