JP4636061B2 - Scanning system, image reading apparatus, and information processing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a scanning system that transmits image information read by a reading device such as a scanner to an information processing device. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image reading device that reads a document, an information processing device that can be used by switching a plurality of user accounts without logging off, and a scanning system that uses them.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 1, a personal computer (PC) 1a, 1b, 1c and a multifunction peripheral device (MFP) 2 having a scanner function for reading a document are connected via a network 40. A scan system that transmits read data to a predetermined PC has been constructed.

For example, in the image data transmission system disclosed in Patent Document 1, a technique relating to a push scan function and a pull scan function is disclosed. The “push scan function” is a function that scans a document based on an operation of the MFP and automatically transmits the scan data to a PC designated by the user. On the other hand, the “pull scan function” is a function of scanning a document based on an operation of the PC and automatically transmitting the scan data to the PC that has transmitted the scan instruction.
JP 2004-215209 A

  In recent years, PCs that can be used by switching a plurality of user accounts without logging off have been put into practical use. For example, an Apple PC is provided with a function that allows a plurality of users to share one PC without logging off as a “fast user switch”. Also, Microsoft Windows (registered trademark), an operating system (OS) of Microsoft Corporation, provides a function for switching users without logging off.

  A PC having such a user switching function manages applications and other resources for each user account. When user B logs in without logging off while user A is logged in, user B's account operates in an active state, and user A's account operates in the background. At this time, the application used by the user A is not terminated. When returning to the user A account, it is not necessary to terminate the user B account. In this way, users can be switched quickly by switching accounts without ending the application.

  When a PC having the user switching function as described above is connected as a PC constituting the scan system, the following problem occurs. That is, when the scan data is transmitted from the MFP including the scanner to the PC, the transmission destination PC is selected and transmitted. At that time, as the MFP, it is unknown which user is active on the PC side. On the other hand, as a PC, an active user acquires data. Therefore, if the user who is active on the PC side is different from the user who operates on the scanner side, the user who operates the scanner will transmit data to a third party, and the scanned data will be viewed. End up.

  In the image data transmission system disclosed in Patent Document 1, contention of scan instructions from a plurality of PCs is avoided, and scan data is prevented from being transmitted to a PC other than the PC designated by the user. However, when the account in the PC is switched, it is possible that the sender and the receiver do not match even though the user on the scanner side is a PC that is assumed to be under his / her management. .

  The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the above-described conventional scanning system. That is, the problem is to provide a highly reliable scanning system, image reading apparatus, and information processing apparatus that reliably avoids browsing of scan data by a third party.

A scanning system designed to solve this problem has an image reading device that reads a document and a function that switches between multiple user accounts without logging off, and acquires an image of the document read by the image reading device. The information processing device includes a login user who has logged in and a link between the login user who has instructed establishment of the link and the image reading device, and another login user. A state in which the link is established by the establishing means under the control of each of the plurality of logged-in users of the information processing apparatus and the establishing means to establish on the condition that the link with the image reading apparatus has not been established. If it is, and characterized in that it comprises an acquisition unit that acquires image data stored in the memory of the image reading apparatus To have.

In the scan system of the present invention, there are a plurality of acquisition means in an information processing apparatus that can be used by switching a plurality of user accounts without logging off. Further, in this scanning system, after establishing the link by the establishing unit, the scan system enters a standby state and maintains communication between the image reading apparatus and the acquiring unit. Then, after the link is established, the image reading apparatus waits for a document reading start command by a user input and starts reading the document. Furthermore, acquisition means is under the management of each login user, based on the operation of the image reading apparatus, and acquires the image data by the image reading apparatus has read.

Furthermore, the scan system of the present invention can acquire the image data read by the image reading device when the link is established by the establishing means. On the other hand, the information processing apparatus comprises inhibiting means for inhibiting the acquisition means not established link by establishing means, the acquisition of image data. As a result, only the user who manages the acquisition means for which the link is established receives the image data, and the user who is not established does not receive the image data. That is, transmission of image data to a third party is prevented.

In addition, the image reading apparatus of the scan system of the present invention has a verification function for verifying that the user is managing the acquisition unit in a state where the link is established, and the user verification is performed before the reading of the document is started. It is better to do.

In other words, in the scanning system of the present invention, after the link is established on the acquisition means side, reading (scanning) of the document is started on the image reading apparatus side. Therefore, it may be possible that another user starts scanning with the image reading apparatus after the link is established and before scanning is started. In that case, the logged-in user will receive third party data. Therefore, the user is verified by a verification function such as a password to prevent scanning by a third party. Thereby, leakage of image data can be prevented.

Further, the information processing apparatus of the scan system according to the present invention provides the establishing means when the establishment means establishes a link in a state where the link between the other login user and the image reading apparatus has already been established. better When providing the informing means for informing the display unit of the information processing apparatus that by that link is already state of being established. That is, when a link has already been established by another user, the fact is notified. As a notification method, for example, an error message display can be applied . As a result, the user can grasp the link establishment state, and convenience is improved.

Further, it is better that the content notified by the notification means includes information on the login user who manages the acquisition means in a state where the link is established by the establishment means. By including the login user information (for example, login user name and scan start time), it is possible to grasp which user has established the link , and the convenience is further improved.

Further, the scan system of the present invention releases the link established by the establishing means by satisfying at least one of elapse of timeout time, reception of image data for the set number of scans, and input of a reset instruction. Then better. Thereby, it is possible to avoid being occupied by a specific user for a long time .

The present invention is also an image reading apparatus having a function of reading a document and transferring the read image to the information processing apparatus. In response to an inquiry of a logged-in user instructing establishment of a link from the information processing apparatus , On the condition that the link with the logged-in user has not been established, the transmission side establishment means for establishing a link to the information processing apparatus , the reading means for reading the document, and the image data read by the reading means, link and a transfer means for transferring the information processing apparatus is a state has been established, the reading means, after the link is established, to start reading the original waiting for instruction to start reading of the document by the user input A characteristic image reading apparatus is included.

The present invention is also an information processing apparatus having a function of switching and using a plurality of user accounts without logging off, and logs in a user who inquires of an image reading apparatus having a document reading function and instructs link establishment. A receiving side establishing means for establishing a link between the image reading apparatus and the image reading apparatus on the condition that a link between the other logged-in user and the image reading apparatus has not already been established ; An information processing apparatus comprising: an acquisition unit configured to acquire image data stored in a memory of the image reading device when the link is established by the reception side establishing unit under management Contains.

  According to the present invention, a scan system, an image reading apparatus, and an information processing apparatus that reliably avoid browsing of scan data by a third party and have high reliability are realized.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments embodying a scanning system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a scan system in which an MFP having a scanner function and a PC that receives scan data are connected via a network.

[Scanning system configuration]
As shown in FIG. 1, the scan system 100 according to the present embodiment includes PCs 1a, 1b, and 1c as information terminal devices, and an MFP 2 having a scanner function for reading a document. In the scan system 100, the PCs 1a, 1b, 1c and the MFP 2 are connected to a LAN cable of the LAN 40. Note that the number of MFPs constituting the scan system 100 is not limited to one, and a plurality of MFPs may be connected. Further, the number of PCs constituting the scan system 100 is not limited to three, and any number of PCs may be connected. The connection between each PC and the MFP 2 is not limited to a wired LAN cable, but can be a USB cable, other serial communication cable, parallel communication cable, or a wireless communication path such as a wireless LAN.

As shown in FIG. 2, the PC 1a (an example of the information processing apparatus) includes a CPU 11 (an example of an acquisition unit, an establishment unit (reception side establishment unit), a prohibition unit) that executes various arithmetic processes, and a CPU 11 that is activated when the PC 1 is activated. ROM 12 storing a startup process program (BIOS) and the like, RAM 13 used as a temporary storage area when CPU 11 performs various processes, and hard disk drive (HDD) 14 storing various programs and data. And have.

Further, PC1a includes an operation unit 15 including a keyboard and a mouse, a display unit 16 including a liquid crystal display or the like (an example of a notification unit), the printer port interface 17 (a parallel interface for exchanging signals with the MFP 2, USB interface, etc.) and a network interface 18 for exchanging signals via a network such as a LAN or the Internet.

  Further, an operating system (OS), an application that can edit image data (for example, document creation software, drawing software, spreadsheet software, photo data editing software, etc.), and print data are transmitted to the MFP 2 in the HDD 14 of the PC 1a. The printer driver to be stored is stored. Further, a program for processing image data sent from the MFP 2 at the time of execution of push scan or pull scan is stored. The PCs 1b and 1c have the same configuration.

The MFP 2 (an example of an image reading apparatus) stores a CPU 21 ( an example of an establishment unit (transmission side establishment unit) and a transfer unit) that executes various arithmetic processes, a program for an activation process performed by the CPU 21 when the MFP 2 is activated, and the like. The ROM 22 includes a RAM 23 that is used as a temporary storage area when the CPU 21 performs various processes, and a hard disk drive (HDD) 24 that stores various programs and data.

  Further, the HDD 24 of the MFP 2 stores a program for acquiring image data when executing push scan or pull scan and transmitting the image data to a designated PC. Further, the HDD 24 stores a registration information database for storing information such as a PC connected to the MFP 2 and application software incorporated in the PC.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the registration information database. The registration information database according to the present embodiment includes the name of the PC connected to the MFP 2 or the name of the interface (transmission destination) to which the PC is connected, and application software (such as mail software and image editing software) installed in the PC. , The IP address of the PC, the port number related to the PC, and a timeout value related to the time for holding the image data.

  In addition, the MFP 2 includes an operation unit 25 including a plurality of buttons disposed outside the casing of the MFP 2, a display unit 26 including a liquid crystal display panel and the like, which are also disposed outside the casing, and an external information terminal. A printer port interface 27 (parallel interface, USB interface, etc.) for exchanging signals between them, and a network interface 28 for exchanging signals via a network such as a LAN or the Internet.

  The operation unit 25 includes a scan setting button for setting a push scan, a scan start button for performing an operation for starting reading a document in push scan, and a cancel for performing an operation for stopping the reading of the document. Buttons are provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the display unit 26 displays a selection screen for selecting a PC that transmits image data when a push scan is executed.

  Further, the MFP 2 includes a printing unit 30 that forms an image on a sheet as a recording medium or an OHP sheet. The printing unit 30 may adopt an electrophotographic method, an ink jet method, or another general image forming method. Further, even if a color image can be formed, it may be dedicated to a monochrome image.

Further, the MFP 2 includes a scanner unit 31 (an example of a reading unit) that reads a document and creates image data of the read document. As a document reading method, there are a flat bed (document fixed scanning) method and an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) (document moving scanning) method, which has a mechanism corresponding to each reading method. In this embodiment, a description will be given of a configuration in which a document is read by the ADF method when a push scan or a pull scan is executed.

[Scanner Application Configuration]
Next, the application configuration of the scan system 100 will be described.

  In the scan system 100, as shown in FIG. 5, a scanner application 310 (hereinafter referred to as “scanner application”) instructs the MFP 2 to read a document and transmits image data created by the scanner unit 31 to a designated PC. 310 ”) is incorporated.

  Further, the scanner application 310 monitors pressing of a scan setting button 311 for setting scan, a scan stop button 312 for instructing to stop scanning, and a scan start button 313 for instructing to start scanning. Further, the scanner application 310 includes a password authentication unit 314 that performs password authentication. The scanner application 310 regulates the operation of the scanner unit 31 by a third party by verifying the password performed by the password authentication unit 314.

  On the other hand, the PC 1a can switch and use a plurality of user accounts without logging off, and work areas 50a and 50b on the memory are assigned to each user account. The PC 1a incorporates a scan application (hereinafter referred to as “scan application”) that inquires the scanner application 310 of the MFP 2 and acquires image data. Hereinafter, the scan application read to the work area 50a is referred to as a scan application 52a. The scan application read out to the work area 50b is referred to as a scan application 52b.

  Further, the scan applications 52a and 52b can perform various settings for push scan or pull scan. For example, in the push scan setting, as shown in FIG. 6, the number of scans, a timeout value, and the like can be set. In addition, a password for user authentication can be set.

  In the scan system 100, when receiving image data from the MFP 2, a connection (link) is established so that one scan application occupies a driver with the scanner application 310. In this embodiment, that is, in this scan system 100, only the scan application with which the link is established continues to maintain communication with the MFP 2, and only the scan application receives image data. The link establishment procedure will be described later.

  In FIG. 5, the scanner application 310 and the scan application 52 a directly exchange data. This exchange is performed on the LAN 40 via the network I / Fs 18 and 28.

[Scan operation]
Next, an operation sequence of scan processing performed by the scan system 100 will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, it is assumed that user A and user B are logged in to PC 1a, user A is an active user, and user A performs scanning. In addition, when the user A performs a scanning operation, it is assumed that the scan application 52a and the scanner application 310 are activated in advance.

  First, as a preparatory operation for scanning, a link is established between the scan application 52a and the scanner application 310 under the control of the user A who receives the image data (hereinafter referred to as “link user”). That is, the scan application 52a requests the scanner application 310 to establish a link.

  The scanner application 310 establishes a link to the PC 1a and sends a link completion notification to the scan application 52a. As a result, the authority to acquire image data is given to the user A, and the operation of acquiring image data of users other than the user A is restricted. After the link is established, the MFP 2 continues to request the image data to be transmitted to the MFP 2, but in effect, the MFP 2 does not respond to the request until the scan start button 313 is pressed (hereinafter referred to as a standby state). Also called).

  If the link has already been established (that is, the link has been established with another user), the link establishment fails and user A is restricted from acquiring image data.

  Next, as a main scan operation, the document is placed on the ADF of the scanner unit 31 of the MFP 2. The document may be placed before the link is established. Then, the scan start button 313 is pressed. As a result, the scanner application 310 causes the scanner unit 31 to read the document and creates image data of the document. The image data created by the scanner unit 31 is sent to the PC 1a (link establishment destination). The scan application 52a acquires the image data.

  When a predetermined condition such as after the reading of image data is satisfied, the scanner application 310 releases the link of the PC 1a. Then, a link release notification is sent to the PC 1a. As a result, the link of the scan application 52a is released, and an image data acquisition operation for a user other than the user A becomes possible.

[Scan app operation]
Next, the operation of each application that realizes the scan operation of the scan system 100 will be described in detail. First, the operation of the scan application 52 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, as a preparatory operation process for scanning, a password for authenticating that the user has instructed scanning is set (S101). That is, in the scan system 100 of this embodiment, after the link is established on the PC 1a side, scanning is started on the MFP 2 side. Therefore, it is conceivable that another user starts scanning with the MFP 2 after the link is established and before scanning is started. In this case, user A receives third party data. Therefore, a password is set to restrict operations at the third-party scanner unit 31. Then, by starting scanning after authenticating the password, a desired document is read, and image data of the document is sent to the PC 1a (link establishment destination). Note that setting a password is optional, and if there is no setting, no password is set.

  Next, the number of scans in the scanner unit 31 and a timeout value are set (S102). The number of scans can be set arbitrarily. If there is no setting, the number of scans is one. Note that the process of S101 and the process of S102 may be performed in reverse order.

  Next, a link establishment notification is sent to the scanner application 310 (S103). Thereafter, when a link completion notification is received from the scanner application 310 (S104: YES), it is determined that the link is successful, and the process proceeds to S105.

  On the other hand, when the link completion notification is not received (S104: NO), an error message is displayed (S111). A possible reason for not receiving the link completion notification is that the link has already been established by another user. In that case, an error message as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed to let user A recognize that another user is in use. As another reason, in the case of communication timeout, the fact is displayed as an error message. Thus, if the link establishment fails, the scanning operation of itself is limited.

  In FIG. 9, it is displayed that “another user” is in use, but more specific information may be displayed as an error message. For example, the user name of the link user may be received together with the in-link notification, and the user name may be displayed.

  Subsequent to the processing of S105, the main scanning operation is performed. First, image data transmitted from the MFP 2 is acquired (S105). When image data is not received within a predetermined time, a link release notification is output as a timeout. At that time, as in the process of S111, the fact that a timeout has occurred may be displayed as a message.

  Next, it is determined whether or not there is a link release notification (S106). The link release notification corresponds to, for example, a scan cancellation instruction by the user A as a compulsory link release instruction in addition to the end of image data transmission. If there is such a link release instruction (S106: YES), this process ends.

  If there is no link release notification (S106: NO), the process returns to S105 and the acquisition of the image data is repeated. As a result, the image data is received for the set number of scans in the process of S102.

  That is, when the link is established, the scan application 52a can receive the scan notification from the scanner application 310 and can receive the image data. On the other hand, unless a link is established as a link user, image data cannot be received from the scanner application 310.

[Operation of the scanner application]
Next, the operation of the scanner application 310 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, it is determined whether a link establishment notification has been received (S201). If the link establishment notification has not been received (S201: NO), this process ends. If the link establishment notification has been received (S201: YES), the process proceeds to S202.

  Next, it is determined whether a link has already been established by another user (S202). If the link is being established (S202: YES), it is notified that the link is being established (S211), and this process is terminated. In addition, in the link establishment notification, information of a user who is establishing a link may be notified in addition to a signal for recognizing that the link is being established. For example, the user name of the link user and the scan start time of the user may be notified.

  If the link is not established (S202: NO), the link is established and the link user is designated as user A (S203). As a result, the scan application 52a of the user A can receive the image data from the MFP 2. Further, scanning requests from PCs other than the link request source (PCs other than PC 1a in this embodiment) are limited. Thereafter, the MFP 2 notifies the display unit 26 of the MPF 2 that the user A is waiting to start scanning (S204).

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, it is displayed that scanning is waiting for scanning. At that time, for example, by displaying which user has instructed or how many seconds remain until timeout, distrust of other users can be eliminated.

  Next, a link establishment notification is sent to the scan application 52a (S205). Thereafter, a scan execution process for acquiring the image data and transmitting the image data to the PC 1a is performed (S206). Details of the process of S206 will be described later.

  After the acquisition and transmission of the image data by the process of S206 is completed, the link is released (S207). That is, the exclusive state of the user A is canceled and the link establishment of other users is permitted. Thereafter, the link release is notified to the PC 1a (S208), and this process is terminated.

  Next, the scan execution process by the process of S206 is demonstrated, referring the flowchart of FIG.

  First, it is determined whether or not the scan start button 313 has been pressed (S301). If the scan start button 313 has not been pressed (S301: NO), it is determined whether or not a timeout has occurred (S311). If it is not time-out (S311: NO), the pressing of the scan start button 313 is continuously detected. If the timeout has occurred (S311: YES), this process ends.

  Next, when the scan start button 313 is pressed (S301: YES), it is determined whether or not a password is set when executing the scan (S302). If the password is not set (S302: NO), the process of S303 and S304 is bypassed and the process proceeds to S305. If a password has been set (S302: YES), the operator of the MFP 2 is prompted to input the password, and the input password is collated with the password set through S101 described above (S303).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the password verification is successful (S304). If the password verification fails (S304: NO), the process returns to S301 to wait for the scan button to be pressed.

  On the other hand, if the password verification is successful (S304: YES), the scanner unit 31 is instructed to read the document (S305). Then, the image data of the scanned document is acquired, and the image data is transmitted to the designated PC (S306). The scanner application 310 does not recognize the log-in user of the destination PC, and transmits image data to the designated PC according to the link establishment state.

  Next, it is determined whether or not scanning for the set number of scans set via S102 described above has been executed (S307). If the scan for the set number of scans has been executed (S307: YES), this process ends.

  On the other hand, if scanning for the set number of scans has not been executed (S307: NO), it is determined whether or not there is a forced link release instruction (S308). As the compulsory link release instruction, for example, a scan stop instruction by the user A is applicable. If there is such a link release instruction (S308: YES), this process ends. If there is no link release instruction, the process returns to S301 and waits for the next scan start button 313 to be pressed.

  When the user A is in a link establishment state as a link user, the scanner application 310 is in a link establishment state with the user A even if the user B becomes an active user as shown in FIG. Continue. Furthermore, the establishment of the link of user B is rejected (S211). As a result, if user A is in a link established state as a link user, only user A can receive image data. Therefore, transmission of data to other users is suppressed.

  As described above in detail, the scan system 100 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of scan applications 52a and 52b in the PC 1a that can be used by switching a plurality of user accounts without logging off. The scan system 100 is in a standby state until the scan start button 313 is pressed after the link is established, and maintains communication between the PC 1a and the MFP 2. Then, the MFP 2 starts reading the document after confirming that the scan start button 313 is pressed. Each scan application 52 is under the management of each logged-in user, and acquires image data read by the scanner unit 31 after the scan start button 313 is pressed.

  Furthermore, when the link is established, the scan system 100 can acquire image data by the scan application 52 that established the link. On the other hand, when a link is established by a certain login user, the establishment of the link by another login user is restricted. As a result, only the user who manages the scan application 52 for which the link is established receives the image data, and the user for whom the link is not established does not receive the image data. That is, transmission of image data to a third party is prevented. Accordingly, a scan system, an image reading apparatus, and an information processing apparatus that reliably avoid browsing of scan data by a third party and have high reliability are realized.

  Note that this embodiment is merely an example, and does not limit the present invention. Therefore, the present invention can naturally be improved and modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the image forming apparatus is not limited to the MFP, and may be a copier, a FAX, or a printer having a scanner function. Further, the information processing apparatus is not limited to a PC, and may be a workstation, a portable information terminal apparatus, or the like.

  Further, when the link is established, there is a user who will use the MFP 2 soon. Therefore, in a state where the link is established, processing using the scanner unit 31 (for example, copy processing) may not be accepted.

  Further, when establishing a link, the document reading means is selected to be a flat bed or ADF, and the use of the reading means not selected is restricted when the link is established. May be.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the scanning system which concerns on embodiment. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a PC and an MFP that constitute a scan system according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a registration information database registered in an HDD of an MFP. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a selection screen displayed on a display unit of the MFP. FIG. It is a block diagram (active: user A, link: user A) which shows the structure of the application of the scanning system which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting dialog of a scanning application. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement sequence of the scan which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the scan application which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the error message at the time of link establishment failure. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the scanner application which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the display in the scanning standby of a scanner application. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the scanning execution process of a scanner application. It is a block diagram (active: user B, link: user A) which shows the structure of the application of the scanning system which concerns on embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1a Personal computer 2 Multifunctional peripheral device 31 Scanner part 310 Scanner application 313 Scan start button 314 Password authentication part 50a Work area 52a Scan application

Claims (9)

In a scanning system comprising: an image reading device that reads a document; and an information processing device that has a function of switching and using a plurality of user accounts without logging off, and that acquires an image of the document read by the image reading device;
The information processing apparatus includes:
Of the logged-in users who are logged in, the link between the logged-in user who has instructed the establishment of the link and the image reading apparatus, and the link between the other logged-in user and the image reading apparatus has not been established. As conditions, the establishment means to establish,
Acquisition of acquiring image data stored in the memory of the image reading apparatus when the link is established by the establishing means under the control of each of a plurality of logged-in users of the information processing apparatus Means ,
A scanning system comprising: The scanning system according to claim 1,
The image reading apparatus , after the link is established, waits for a document reading start command by a user input and starts reading a document. In the scanning system according to claim 1 or claim 2,
The image reading apparatus has a verification function for verifying that the user manages the acquisition unit in a state where the link is established, and performs verification of the user before starting to read a document. Scanning system. In the scanning system as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Scan system, comprising a prohibiting means for the acquisition means the link is not established by establishing means, prohibits the acquisition of the image data. In the scanning system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The information processing apparatus includes:
In a state where the link has already been established between the other login user and the image reading apparatus, when establishing a link by said establishing means is instructed, the link that due to the establishing means is already established A scanning system comprising a notifying unit for notifying a display unit of the information processing apparatus that the information processing apparatus is in a state of being in a state. The scanning system according to claim 5, wherein
The content notified by the notification means includes information of a logged-in user who manages the acquisition means in a state where the link is established by the establishment means. The scan system according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A scan system that releases the link established by the establishment means by satisfying at least one of elapse of a timeout time, reception of image data for a set number of scans, and input of a reset instruction . In an image reading apparatus having a function of reading a document and transferring the read image to an information processing apparatus,
In response to a login user's inquiry instructing establishment of a link from an information processing device, a sender is established that establishes a link to that information processing device on the condition that a link with another login user has not been established. Means,
Reading means for reading the document;
Transfer means for transferring the image data read by the reading means to an information processing apparatus in which the link is established ;
With
An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after the link is established, the reading unit waits for an instruction to start reading a document by a user input and starts reading the document. In an information processing apparatus having a function of switching and using a plurality of user accounts without logging off,
A link between the logged-in user who inquired the image reading apparatus having the document reading function and instructed establishment of the link and the image reading apparatus, and a link between the other logged-in user and the image reading apparatus has already been established. A receiver establishment means to establish on the condition that
Obtaining means for obtaining image data stored in a memory of the image reading device when the link is established by the receiving side establishing means under the control of each of a plurality of logged-in users ;
An information processing apparatus comprising:

Images