JP2002281481A - Method and system for saving text and image through network - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for providing service by which texts and images can be utilized from anywhere when needed by saving the texts and the images through a WAN(wide area network) such as the Internet. SOLUTION: In this network text and image saving system, servers 1a to 1c store a user ID, texts and images information addressed to the ID and an application program for information processing, the servers requests the transmission of a text and image designation DT 3 and a transmission destination designation DT 4 in response to access from the portable telephone 3a through the network 2, process designated text and image information with the application program if necessary and transmit the designated text and image information to a designated destination, the portable telephone 3a accesses the servers through the network 2 to give his/her ID and transmits the text and image designation DT 3 and the transmission destination designation DT 4 for designating a destination different from his/her ID in response to the transmission request by the server.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for providing a service in which a document is stored via a WAN (Wide Area Network) such as the Internet, and the document can be used from anywhere when needed.

A portable communication device having only a small display screen, such as a mobile phone, outputs a document to a nearby facsimile (FAX), an image forming output device such as a printer or a copying machine, or a computer such as a personal computer to use the document. For technology.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In a "network system" disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-78328, the location of available printers is managed by a server mainly in order to use a high-performance color printer not owned by a client. The client proposes a technique in which a client selects a printer at a convenient place from among them and transmits a document to be printed.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-3192 discloses "network communication with a print system" in which a client prints a document on a remote printer via a network.

[0005] In an office or at home, it is possible to print out a document on a personal computer (PC) at hand with a printer on a network by network communication disclosed in the above-mentioned publication. This is useful when the printer at hand is out of order, when it is desired to use paper of a size that cannot be printed by the printer at hand, or when the speed of the printer at hand is too slow to print a large amount.

[0006]

It is usually impossible to access from the Internet even if a document on one's PC is needed when not at an office or home, such as on a business trip or going out. This is because it is protected by a firewall or the IP address is not fixed.

[0007] If you put all the necessary documents in a notebook PC and carry it around at all times, you can always access the documents, but it is not common to always carry a small device of 1 kg or more.

Accordingly, a document storage server is provided on the Internet, and the document is stored therein. Documents are managed so that only users authenticated by a password or the like can access them. This way, you can use the necessary documents from anywhere, as long as you have a PC connected to the Internet.

However, this alone does not change the situation in which a document cannot be accessed without a PC registered in the document storage server, that is, a client PC. Since a document is generally created using an application program (application software) on a PC such as a word processor, it cannot be displayed without the application (word processing software).

[0010] In recent years, mobile phones have been replaced by WWW (World Wide).
Since a service that can access (Web) is provided,
It is desirable to be able to access necessary documents from a mobile phone. However, a mobile phone has a small display screen, which is inconvenient for displaying a document.

If the mobile phone can instruct the document storage server to print out or display the document using a facsimile, printer, copier, or PC at hand, the document can be used anywhere. It is a first object of the present invention to provide a system that allows this.

FAX, printer or copier or PC
Is assumed to be used at a store that provides a print service or at a mobile phone user's destination. If the mobile phone can instruct the sending of the e-mail of the document, the document can be e-mailed to an acquaintance at an office or the like to be visited and a print request can be made. It is also an object of the present invention, a second object, to provide a system that makes this possible.

[0013]

[Means for Solving the Problems] (1) Information server (1a-1)
c) holds the user ID authentication information, the document information addressed to the user ID, and an application program for processing the document information into information suitable for the output device of the transmission destination; Communication device (3a)
In response to the access from the communication device (3a), if the ID of the communication device (3a) is registered or authenticated and registered, the document designation information (DT
3) Request transmission of destination specification information (DT4), process the document information specified by the transmitted document specification information with the application program if necessary, and send the transmitted destination specification information. The portable communication device (3a) accesses the information server (1a-1c) via the network (2) to give its own ID, and sends the document server information (DT3 ) And destination designation information (DT4)
In response to the sending request, the document designation information and the transmission destination designation information for designating a destination different from the self ID are transmitted;

To facilitate understanding, the symbols of the corresponding or equivalent elements of the embodiment shown in the drawings and described later are added for reference in parentheses. The same applies to the following.

According to this, the document information of the information server (1a-1c) protected by the user ID authentication is accessed by the portable communication device (3a) and the familiar output device (4 / 6a / 6b / 3b) is accessed. ) Can be used to provide a document storage service on the wide area network (2), and can access the document any time it is needed.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (2) In response to reception of document designation information (DT3) and transmission destination designation information (DT4) via a network (2) from a communication device (3a) having a user ID registration. ,
An information server (1a-1c) for sending the document information specified by the document designation information to the destination designated by the destination designation information; and a destination different from the document designation information and the self ID to the information server via the network. A network document storage system including a portable communication device (3a) for transmitting destination specification information for specifying a destination.

According to this, the document information of the information server (1a-1c) protected by the user ID authentication is accessed by the portable communication device (3a), and the familiar output device (4 / 6a / 6b / 3b) is accessed. ) Can be used to provide a document storage service on the wide area network (2), and can access the document any time it is needed.

(3) The information server (1a-1c) has a user ID
A user management server (1
a), a document storage server (1b) for managing document information addressed to a user ID, and user authentication and the portable communication device
(2) The network document storage system according to (2), comprising an application server (1c) for communicating with (3a).

Since the document storage server (1b) protected by user authentication can be used through the application server (1c), a wide area network such as the Internet (2) can be used.
You can provide a document storage service above, and you can access the document whenever you need it.

(4) The application server (1c) has a document format conversion means (conversion software) for converting a document in a predetermined format into data in a format that can be processed by a destination output device. Network document storage system.

The application server (1c) transmits the contents of the document to a facsimile (4), a printer (6a, 6b), a copying machine or
Since it is converted into data that can be processed by a three-dimensional display, if you save a document created by a general word processor, you can use a printer, FAX or CRT, LC
D or other image output device.

(5) The network document storage system according to (3), wherein the document storage server (1b) manages the document in a format that can be processed by the destination output device in association with the original document.

The document storage server (1b) can store the original document and data that can be output to an image output device such as a printer, a facsimile, a CRT, or an LCD. Therefore, regardless of the application program that created the document, You can always output to an image output device.

(6) The application server (1c) has means for facsimile transmitting the document information, and transmits the document information to the facsimile device (4) designated by the transmission destination designation information of the portable communication device (3a). The network document storage system according to (4) or (5), wherein the charging information is updated.

The document in the document storage server (1b) is always stored in F
Since it can be received by the AX (4), display and distribution of necessary documents can be performed. Also, the billing information is automatically updated.
It is not necessary for the X service provider to collect the fee directly from the user.

(7) The application server (1c) has means for transmitting the document information to the printer (6a / 6b), and transmits the document information to the printer specified by the transmission destination designation information of the portable communication device (3a). And (5) the network document storage system for updating billing information.

Since the document in the document storage server can be printed at any time, the necessary document can be displayed and distributed.
Further, since the billing information is automatically updated, it is not necessary for the print service provider to directly collect the fee from the user.

(8) The network document storage system according to the above (6) or (7), which also outputs an output slip describing the user information and the total number of pages.

Since the output print is accompanied by a transmission slip containing user information, the fax or print service provider can easily determine to whom the print should be given. Since the total number of pages is also described in the transmission slip, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not a page is missing when storing the print.

(9) The network document storage system according to (7), wherein the application server (1c) has a print date and time reservation unit.

Since the user can specify the print date and time,
By changing the printing fee depending on the time zone, the printing operation can be smoothed.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0033]

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a system configuration of the present invention. The user management server 1a performs user authentication and charge management based on the following table.

[0034]

[Table 1]

The document storage server 1b stores a document in a table as shown in Table 2 below. Only the owning user can read or delete, and deny access from other users. The calligraphy has a calligraphy ID as a primary key. In addition to the properties shown in Table 2, various properties such as a registration date and a keyword can be managed.
By generating an appropriate index, it is possible to search using properties other than the document ID.

[0036]

[Table 2]

The application server 1c interacts with the users (3a, 3b) through the WWW network, ie, the Internet 2, and also manages the user management server 1c.
a, Call the document storage server 1b.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the application server 1c. The function of each component is as follows: WWW server 11: HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Pro)
communication with the clients 3a and 3b.
The information obtained from the clients 3a and 3b is transmitted to the service providing means 12. The service providing means 12: the main body of the document storage and output service. Hand over to server 1a to request authentication. The authentication result is returned to the service providing unit 12.

Document search means 14: service providing means 12
Requests the document storage server 1b to obtain a list of documents whose owner is the user ID received from the server. In addition, the content of the document or the output image of the designated document ID is stored in the document storage server 1.
b), charge management means 15: stores various data for calculating usage charges for various services. The charge of the designated service is calculated, and the user management means is requested to update.

Document creation application management means 16:
It manages applications such as word processors and format conversion of image data. If there is an instruction, the application is started and the passed document is converted into image data. Transmission form creation means 17: Receives user information and output page information and generates a transmission form as an image. FAX transmission means 18: FAX Receives a number, image data, and a transmission form and transmits them by facsimile according to a predetermined procedure. A print queue: manages a set of information necessary for data output to the printer and an output date and time.

The user performs user registration only once at first. Then, the user ID and authentication data (such as a password) are determined, and a disk area that can be used by the user on the document storage server is allocated.

FIG. 3A shows a process of registering a user in the application server 1c using the user's personal computer 3b. The user accesses the application server 1c using the personal computer 3b, and inputs information for specifying an individual such as an address, a name, and a telephone number in the membership registration form given by the application server 1c (step s1).
The usage fee settlement method is specified (step s2), and a reply is sent to the application server 1c. When the application server 1c receives the password and determines that the password is appropriate, the application server 1c determines a password and transmits the password to the user (step s3). The application server 1c determines the use area index of the document storage server 1b for the user, and registers this and the user information in the user management server 1a. In the following, the word “step” is omitted in parentheses, and step No. Only symbols are shown.

When the registration is completed, the user can access the application server 1c using the personal computer 3b and freely register, search, read, revise, delete, etc. the document. These processes are the same as those of the conventional document storage system, but are performed on the area (user's document) of the document storage server 1b addressed to the user.

FIG. 3B shows a process of registering a document in the application server 1c using the user's personal computer 3b. The user accesses the application server 1c using the personal computer 3b, inputs a user ID and a password on the document storage processing menu screen provided by the application server 1c (s11), specifies a file, and specifies the properties of the document. The registration is designated, and execution is instructed (S12, s13, s14). In response, the application server 1c writes the user's document in the designated file of the document storage server 1b.

The user uses the document storage server 1b instead of storing the document on a disk on a local (office or home) personal computer PC (for example, 3b). This is because there are advantages of being able to access, not having to back up data by yourself, and being able to search using various properties of a document as a key.

When there is a user in an office or home, a PC
The application server 1c can be used to access the application server 1c to retrieve and display a document from the document storage server 1b. However, when the user is outside the office or home, the user may not be able to use his / her PC 3b. In this case, the document is printed on a printer at a nearest store or the like which provides a print service, or on a copying machine having a facsimile or communication function. Alternatively, if an acquaintance who has access to a PC and a printer is nearby, the person can e-mail the document and have it printed instead.

If there is a function of accessing the WWW such as a mobile phone or a PDA, the user can access the application server 1c to search for a target document from the document storage server 1b and issue a print instruction, even if the display unit is small.

Referring to the user input screens DT1 to DT8 in FIG. 4, the user's operation and the processing functions of the application server 1c when a print is instructed from the user's mobile phone 3a will be described: The user uses the mobile phone 3a to enter a predetermined URL (Uni
1. Connect to the application server 1c by specifying a form resource language). Screen D for requesting input of user ID and password
2. Since T1 and DT2 are displayed, the user inputs and transmits them. 3. The application server 1c queries the user management server 1a for the user ID and the password. If the inquiry is successful, a list of documents owned by the user is obtained from the document storage server 1b, and a document selection screen DT3 is obtained.
4. 5. The user selects and sends the required document, The application server 1c presents an output destination (destination device type) selection screen DT4. 7. A user selects an output destination and sends it, a. When the user selects FAX, (a1) the application server 1c presents a FAX number input screen DT5, and the user inputs the destination FAX number and transmits it. (A2) The application server 1c Converts the contents of the document into FAX image data, and
Send to a number, b. When the mail is selected, (b1) the application server 1c presents an input screen DT6 of a mail address, and the user designates a transmission destination address and transmits the input screen. (B2) The application server 1c transmits the contents of the document. Send as e-mail to the specified address, c. When a printer is selected, (c1) the application server 1c presents a printer selection screen DT7 available to the user, and the user selects and transmits the printer. (C2) The application server 1c transmits the document contents. 7. Convert to printer image data and output to designated printer; The application server 1c passes the user ID and the usage fee to the user management server 1a. The user management server 1a updates the billing information of the user.

-Printer Selection Screen-To present the printer selection screen DT7, the location and model of the printer are registered in the application server 1c, the user specifies the location and the model, and the application server 1c searches. A method to do this is also available. However, the user uses the PC 3b to register a printer that he or she may use in advance in the application server 1c.
If the user is registered in the (user management server 1a) with an easy-to-understand name and a printer is selected from a list of the names, the printer selection operation is simplified.

-Conversion of Document Information- A document may be an image or an application-specific data (text) such as a word processor. To output a document to a facsimile, printer or copier, the document is converted into image data in a format that can be received and developed. When there is an image (image) in the document, this image transmission processing is shown in FIG.
Shown in If the image exists and is of general image processing, the image information is transmitted as it is (s21, s
22, s23). If the image is to be converted by the application held by the document creation application management means 16, the image is converted and transmitted (s22, s).
24, s25). If the image is to be converted by a special application and the application is not in the document creation application management means 16, the image is not sent (s24, s26).

In the case of sending by e-mail, the application that created the document is not always available on the receiving PC, so a general format (such as TIFF or JPEG) is used.
It is better to convert the image data before transmitting. If a general word processor, image processor, or the like is operated on the application server 1c (or another server 1a / 1b), a document in that format is sent to a corresponding word processor software (program) at the time of transmission. The image data can be converted into image data using image processor software (program).

However, since the application programs that can be prepared are limited, it is more general to have the user prepare image data in a general format corresponding to the original document and manage it in the document storage server 1b. High in nature.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the document storage server 1b
As shown in Table 2, in addition to the original document, data obtained by converting the image into an image are also registered. Whether to register image data depends on the user's judgment.

-Reservation of Print Time- When outputting to a printer, the printer is frequently used during the day, and there is a possibility that the waiting time until the print is completed becomes longer. In order to avoid this, it is useful to provide a difference in the printing fee depending on the time zone, and to guide the user to use the printer during the time when the printer is available (eg, late at night).

In order to make this possible, the application server 1c adjusts the date and time of printing as follows: After the user selects a printer, the application server 1c provides a print date / time reservation screen DT.

2. 2. The user specifies the print date and time and sends it. 3. The application server 1c submits the print job to an appropriate place in the print reservation queue. The application server 1c periodically checks the print reservation queue and executes a print job whose reservation date and time matches the actual date and time.

-Output Form of Document-When a document is output to a printer, a facsimile or a copier, the user does not always receive the print immediately. It is often the case that after receiving a print instruction from a remote place, the print is received after a while. Therefore, when a document is output to a printer, a facsimile or a copier, the application server 1c simultaneously outputs user information such as a user ID and a user's name and an output slip describing the total number of pages of printed paper. Based on this output slip, the print service provider can easily manage the printed paper and confirm the delivery of the print to the user.

[0058]

According to the present invention, the document information of the information server (1a-1c) protected by the user ID authentication is accessed by the portable communication device (3a) and transferred to the familiar output device (4 / 6a / 6b / 3b). It can provide a document storage service over a wide area network (2) and can access the document whenever it is needed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an application server 1c shown in FIG.

FIG. 3A is a flowchart showing operations s1, s2, and s4 of the user and a response s3 of the application server 1c when the user registers himself / herself as a user in the application server 1c using the personal computer 3b. . FIG. 4B is a flowchart showing an operation of the user when the user registers document information in the application server 1c using the personal computer 3b. (C) is a flowchart showing a process in which the application server 1c sends out an image (image) read from the document storage server.

FIG. 4 is an input screen provided by the application server 1c to the mobile phone 3a when the user accesses the application server 1c using the mobile phone 3a to support transmission of a document stored in the document storage server 1b. It is a top view which shows DT1-DT8.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DT1 to DT8: input screen

Claims (7)

[Claims] An information server has a user ID authentication information, document information addressed to a user ID, and an application program for processing the document information into information suitable for an output device of a transmission destination; In response to access from a communication device via
If D is registered or authenticated and registered, it requests transmission of the document designation information and the destination designation information, and sends the document information specified by the sent document designation information to the application program if necessary. The portable communication device accesses the information server via the network, gives its own ID, and sends the document designation information of the information server. And, in response to a transmission request for transmission destination designation information, transmitting the transmission destination designation information for designating a destination different from the document designation information and the self ID; a network document storage method. 2. The destination designation information designates the document information specified by the document designation information in response to receiving the document designation information and the destination designation information via a network from a communication device having a user ID registration. Information server to send to the destination;
And a portable communication device for transmitting the document designation information and transmission destination designation information designating a destination different from the self ID to the information server via the network. 3. An information server, comprising: a user management server for managing user ID authentication information and billing information; a document storage server for managing document information addressed to a user ID; and a user authentication and communication with the portable communication device. 3. The network document storage system according to claim 2, wherein the network document storage system is an application server that performs the operation. 4. The network document storage system according to claim 3, wherein said application server has a document format converting means for converting a document in a predetermined format into data in a format that can be processed by an output device of a transmission destination. 5. The network document storage system according to claim 3, wherein the document storage server manages the document in a format that can be processed by the output device of the transmission destination in association with the original document. 6. An application server having means for facsimile transmitting document information, transmitting the document information to a facsimile device designated by the transmission destination designation information of the portable communication device, and updating the billing information. The network document storage system according to claim 5. 7. An application server having means for transmitting document information to a printer, transmitting the document information to a printer designated by the transmission destination designation information of the portable communication device, and updating billing information. Or the network document storage system according to claim 5.