Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-03
2004-08-24
Ali, Mohammad (Department: 2177)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C709S217000, C355S036000, C358S001150
Reexamination Certificate
active
06782402
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a network copy-file management system which is made up of a copy system and terminals, both being interconnected through a computer network, and sends image data read out information from an original document in the copy system to the terminals, a copy system forming such a network copy file management system, a copy server serving as one of major components of such a copy system, a file server, a network copy file managing method by the network file management system, and a computer readable medium which stores a program causing a computer to function as the copy server.
The present application is based on Japanese Patent Applications No. Hei. 11-126074, 11-126075 and 11-126076, which are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional copy system is of the analog type in which an image on an original document located on a document table is directly imaged on a photosensitive drum, and is developed onto a copy sheet by use of electrophotography process. With development of recent digital technology, to realize higher level image processing, a copy system of the digital type gradually takes the leading place in the market. In the digital copy system an image on the original document is read in the form of digital image data, the read image is appropriately processed, and printed.
The digital copy system is made up of an image reader for reading image information from an original document, a printing device for printing, and a copy server which controls those devices and appropriately controls image data received from the image reader and sends the processed one to the printing device. Of those devices, the image reader and the printing device operate on the basis of the same principles as of the scanner and the printing device, which are used in the computer system. If the architecture as of the computer system, such as a PC-AC, is employed for the architecture of the copy system, the scanner and the printer may be used for the image reader and the printing device. A general personal computer into which a print control program is installed or a dedicated computer may be used for a copy server.
Where a personal computer, such as a PC-AT, is thus used for the copy control unit, the copy system and the terminals may be interconnected through a computer network by giving the copy server a communication protocol, such as TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/internet protocol) or HTTPD (hypertext transfer protocol demon) and a network hardware. When the copy system and the terminals are thus interconnected in a communicative manner, the computer may be utilized in various ways by use of a terminal with a computer being capable of executing various types of processes in accordance with programs to be executed. If image data read out from the original document of the copy system is stored in the copy server, and if the readout rough image data may be displayed on a display screen of the terminal on an as-needed base, and it may be down-loaded into the terminal, it is possible to actually confirm states (e.g., optical density, resolution, disposition, coloring, etc.) of an image to be copied and printed on a printing sheet on the screen of the terminal, on the basis of image data. This leads to prevention of useless copies, paper saving, and eventually contribution of earth environment protection.
If image data read by the copy system is stored in the copy server, and if a list of image data pieces are displayed, when necessary, on the display screen of the terminal and specific image data designated by the terminal is transmitted (moved, copied) to a network device, the image data may be transmitted to a necessary network device. Therefore, an image can be transmitted to a single or a plurality of remote network devices at much higher speed and image quality than by a conventional FAX mail service or in much simpler manner than when image data is transmitted by a PC communication.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a network copy file system in which image data that a copy system obtains through the reading of an original document is stored in the form of image files into a disc in a copy system, management information of a plurality of image files within a range requested is displayed on the screen of the terminal in response to a request from a terminal connected through a computer network to this copy system, and the terminal is caused to down load the image files corresponding to specific management information, which are requested by an operator on a terminal, which belong to those management information displayed, a copy system forming such a network copy file management system, a copy file server as a major portion of such a copy system, a network copy file management method by use of such a network copy file management system, and a computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to function as a copy system as mentioned above.
To solve the above problems, the present invention uses the following constructions.
A network copy file management system according to a first aspect of the present invention, comprises a copy system and terminals which are interconnected through a network, wherein
(A) the copy system comprises:
a scanner for reading information from an original copy;
a printer for printing;
an operation panel which accepts execution commands for a copy process to cause the printer to print image data read out by the scanner;
a control unit for executing the copy process, wherein the copy system may communicate with the terminal through the net work;
image data converting means for converting image data read out from information on the original by the scanner into a image file format;
a storage portion for storing the image file, wherein the operation panel further accepts execution commands for an image-file storing process, after image data read out of the original by the scanner is converted into the image file format, the image file being stored into the storage portion by the image-file storing process, and wherein, when the operation panel accepts execution commands for the image-file storing process, the control unit causing the data converting means to convert image data into the format of image files, and then storing the image files into the storage portion;
a management information responding portion, when one of the terminal requests management information of image files within a predetermined range stored in the storage portion, the management information responding portion sending the requested management information of image files within the predetermined range to the terminal; and
an image file transmitting portion, when the terminal requests an image file corresponding to any of the management information transmitted to the terminal, the image file transmitting portion reads out the requested image file from the storage portion and sending the readout image file to the terminal; and
(B) each of the terminals comprises:
a management information request portion for requesting the copy system to send management information of image files within a predetermined range;
a display portion for displaying management information that the copy system sends in response to a request;
an input portion which accepts data input by an operator, the data to specify any of image files indicated by the management information displayed on the display portion; and
an image file request portion for requesting any of image files specified by the input data accepted by the input portion for the copy system.
With such an arrangement, the scanner reads image information from the original document, and image data gathered by the document reading operation is converted to a format of the image file and stored into the storage portion. Accordingly, when a number of original documents are read, a number of image files are stored into the storage portion. When in a state that the image files are s
Hidaka Takeo
Hirabayashi Shinji
Ali Mohammad
Seiko Epson Corporation
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