JP2007129737A - Network scanner connection apparatus and method, medium with program for controlling network scanner connection recorded thereon, and scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that if a hard disk is provided, much costs may be required but if not, operations become complicated. <P>SOLUTION: Even without providing a bulk storage in a scan box 10 itself, a scan application is executed by another client 50 connected to a network 30, such that read conditions or the like of a scanner 20 are read from a setting information area 41 of a file server 40 in response to a read starting operation from the scan box 10 and read data are transferred to an image area 42 of the file server 40 while controlling the scanner 20 by the scan application on the same conditions, thereby comfortably sharing the scanner 20 among a number of users in simple configuration of the scan box 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a network scanner connection device, a network scanner connection method, and a medium recording a program for controlling network scanner connection.

Conventionally, a device that includes a hard disk and a control device and connects the scanner to a network has been informed.
According to this apparatus, an image is read by a scanner, and the read image is stored in a hard disk. When there is an access from a terminal connected to the network, the read image data is output.

  On the other hand, some scanners are connected to a network independently without a hard disk.

The above-described conventional network scanner connection device has the following problems.
A device with a hard disk or a control device is convenient but expensive. In addition, unless the usage frequency is high, the degree of use of the hard disk is low, and resources are likely to be wasted.

In the case of connecting to a network without providing a hard disk, it is necessary to start the application for reading from a client on the network and use the scanner at the place where the scanner is installed. That is, operations at two places are necessary and complicated.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and controls a network scanner connection apparatus, a network scanner connection method, and a network scanner connection that enable a scanner to be used with a simple operation without providing storage in the scanner itself. The purpose is to provide a medium on which the program is recorded.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a scanner connecting unit that connects a predetermined scanner to a network, and a storage unit that is connected to the network and stores an image data read by the scanner. And a scanner control unit that is connected to the network and that stores the image data read by the scanner in the storage unit via the network.

In the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above, the scanner connection means connects the scanner to the network, and the image data read by the scanner is scanned by the scanner control means connected to the network. And stored in a predetermined storage area in another storage means connected to the network via the network.
That is, the image data read by the scanner is stored in a predetermined area in another storage unit on the same network.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the network scanner connection device according to the first aspect, the scanner connection unit includes an operation unit, and the scanner control unit monitors the operation of the operation unit and responds to the operation. Thus, the scanner is controlled.
In the invention according to claim 2 configured as described above, the scanner control unit monitors the operation of the operation unit provided in the scanner connection unit, and when a predetermined operation is performed, the scanner is operated in response to the operation. Take control.

Furthermore, the invention according to claim 3 is the network scanner connection device according to claim 2, wherein the storage means includes an area for storing setting information for reading by the scanner, and the scanner control means includes: The operation by the scanner connection means is monitored, the setting information selection operation is accepted, and the scanner is controlled based on the setting information.
In the invention according to claim 3 configured as described above, setting information for reading by the scanner is stored in the storage unit, and when the setting information is selected by the scanner connection unit, The scanner control means monitors and accepts the operation, and controls the scanner based on the setting information.

Furthermore, the invention according to claim 4 is the network scanner connection device according to claim 3, wherein the storage unit includes an area for storing the setting information corresponding to a plurality of users, and the scanner control unit includes: The operation by the scanner connection means is monitored, the selection operation of the user is accepted, and the setting information is extracted based on the selected user.
In the invention according to claim 4 configured as described above, when the storage unit stores the setting information corresponding to a plurality of users and the scanner connection unit performs the selection operation of the user. The scanner control means extracts the setting information based on the selected user.

Furthermore, the invention according to claim 5 is the network scanner connection device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the scanner control means sets the setting information.
In the invention according to claim 5 configured as described above, the setting information stored in the storage means can be set via the scanner control means.
Further, the invention according to claim 6 is the network scanner connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the scanner control means identifies and individually controls the plurality of scanner connection means. It is as.

In the invention according to claim 6 configured as described above, even when a plurality of scanner connection means are connected to the network, the scanner control means identifies each scanner connection means and controls them individually.
Further, according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the network scanner connection device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the scanner connection unit includes a display unit, and the scanner control unit displays information on the display unit. It is configured to control.

In the invention according to claim 7 configured as described above, since the scanner connecting means includes a display unit, the scanner control unit appropriately controls the display unit to perform a desired display or the like.
As an example of such display, the invention according to claim 8 is the network scanner connection device according to claim 7, wherein the scanner control means monitors whether or not the reading of the image data is normally completed, and the reading is normal. If not completed, the scanner connecting means is configured to display a predetermined display.

As described above, the method of storing the image data read by the scanner in the storage area connected on the network is not necessarily limited to a substantial apparatus, and it can be easily understood that the method also functions. For this reason, the invention concerning Claim 9-Claim 16 is comprised as the method instead of a substantial apparatus.
By the way, such a network scanner connection device may exist alone or may be used in a state of being incorporated in a certain device, but the idea of the invention is not limited to this and includes various aspects. It is a waste. Therefore, it can be changed as appropriate, such as software or hardware.

In the case of computer software as an embodiment of the idea of the invention, it naturally exists on a recording medium on which such software is recorded and must be used. For this reason, the invention according to claims 17 to 24 is configured as a medium on which a program for controlling network scanner connection is recorded.
Of course, the recording medium may be a magnetic recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium, or any recording medium that will be developed in the future. In addition, the duplication stages such as the primary duplication product and the secondary duplication product are equivalent without any question. In addition, although different from the medium of the present invention, even when the communication is performed using a communication line as a supply method, the present invention is not used as a result.

Further, even when a part is software and a part is realized by hardware, the idea of the invention is not completely different, and a part is stored on a recording medium and is appropriately changed as necessary. It may be in the form of being read.
When the present invention is implemented by software, a configuration using hardware or an operating system may be used, or may be implemented separately from these.

  Further, when the present invention is implemented by software, the present invention is not only realized as a medium storing a program, but the present invention is naturally realized as a program itself. Appears.

  As described above, according to the inventions according to claims 1, 9, and 17, even if the scanner and the apparatus that connects the scanner to the network do not have an area for storing the image data, the image data is stored on the network. Network scanner connection device, network scanner connection method, and medium recorded with program for controlling network scanner connection, which can be stored in another storage area and prevent increase in cost while improving usability be able to.

Further, according to the inventions according to claims 2, 10, and 18, the operation on the scanner side can be detected, and the usability is improved through various selection operations as well as the fixed use. Can do.
Further, according to the inventions according to claims 3, 11, and 19, the reading conditions prepared in advance can be used as the setting information, and various readings can be performed simply by making the selection on the scanner side. can do.

Furthermore, according to the invention according to claim 4, claim 12, and claim 20, since a plurality of users can be registered, each person can use only the setting information used by each person. It is possible to prevent an operation from being mistaken or troublesome by setting information that is not used.
Further, according to the fifth, thirteenth, and twenty-first aspects of the present invention, setting information can be easily set.

Further, according to the inventions according to claims 6, 14, and 22, a plurality of scanners can be shared and used on the same network.
Further, according to the inventions according to claims 7, 15, and 23, it is possible to positively control the display on the display unit to make the operation easy to understand.
Further, according to the inventions according to claims 8, 16, and 24, even when reading is not completed, this can be easily known on the side where the scanner is installed, and can be read again.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a network image reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, a scan box 10 is interposed between a scanner 20 and a network 30. In the scan box 10, a SCSI interface 11 for connecting directly to the scanner 20 and a network interface 12 for connecting to the network 30 are connected to the bus 13, and the CPU 14 connected to the same bus 13 serves as a work area. While the RAM 15 is being used, the firmware written in the ROM 16 is executed to perform control such as reading an image. An LCD 17 and an operation panel 18 are connected to the bus 13 via a predetermined interface, and control can be changed in response to an operation on the operation panel 18 while displaying necessary information on the LCD 17 under the control of the CPU 14. It is like that. Of course, this scan box 10 constitutes a scanner connection means.

  FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the scan box 10 in plan view. The LCD 17 has a two-line display area, and the operation panel 18 includes up / down cursor keys 18a and 18b, a start key 18c, and a stop key 18d. In the present embodiment, the LCD 17 constitutes a display unit, and the operation panel 18 constitutes an operation unit. These are convenient for improving the operability, but the present invention can be realized even if they are not necessarily provided. Further, the display unit may be realized by an LED or the like, or the operation panel 18 may be configured by arranging a touch panel on the LCD 17.

  Returning to FIG. 1, a file server 40 is connected to the network 30. The file server 40 enables data read / write to / from a predetermined area from each client connected to the network 30. Each area can be stored in a hierarchical structure, and an arbitrary directory is formed to form data. Can be saved. A setting information area 41 and an image area 42 are provided as storage areas. The setting information area 41 stores a user information area 41a and job information 41b, and the image area stores read image data. It has come to be. This file server 40 constitutes a storage means. In the present embodiment, the hierarchical structure is used, but it is not always necessary to manage the hierarchical structure. The setting information area 41 and the image area 42 do not need to be in the same storage device, and the physical area may be divided according to the access frequency.

  The client 50 is a terminal connected to the network 30, and can communicate with the network 30 via the network communication function 52 of the operating system 51. A scan application 60 is executed via the operating system 51. The scan application 60 controls the scanner 20 connected to the scan box 10 as will be described later, and includes a TCP processing unit 61 and a UDP processing unit 62 that perform TCP connection as communication functions used in the control. The remote drive mapping function 63 for storing the image data in the file server 40 is provided.

The client 50 constitutes a scanner control unit. In the present embodiment, the scanner control unit is realized on the client 50 different from the file server 40, but may be realized by the file server 40.
FIG. 3 schematically shows the execution phase of the scan application 60. A setup phase 64 for setting setting information necessary for image reading, a test phase 65 for testing whether or not execution is possible based on the set setting information, and image reading control as needed while waiting. The thread phase 66 to be executed is executed. A scanning procedure 67 for actually reading an image is executed in the thread phase 66.

  FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the scan application 60. In step S102, initial settings such as securing a work area are performed. In step S104, selection of a phase to be executed is accepted. The selection is accepted by displaying the GUI shown in FIG. On the screen, a setup button 71, a test button 72, a standby button 73, and an end button 74 are displayed for operation input, and a message display area 75 indicating an error content is also prepared. When the selection operation is performed using the mouse or the mouse, the process branches depending on which operation is performed in steps S106 to S112. When the setup button 71 is selected, the process proceeds to step S116 through step S114. Step S114 will be described later.

  FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of the setup phase. In the setup phase, the user information / job information setting screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. The screen includes a scan box IP display area 81, a user IP selection button 82a and the same display area 82b, a user name selection button 82c and the same display area 82d, a job number display area 83, a document selection area 84, a resolution selection area 85, a mode. A selection area 86, a password input area 87, an execution button 88a, a cancel button 88b, an add button 89a, a correction button 89b, and a delete button 89c can be displayed. However, these are not always inputable or selectable, and are appropriately displayed in gray when they cannot be input or selected. For example, the user IP selection button 82a is normally selected so that the user IP display area 82b can be used, and the user name display area 82d is grayed out and cannot be used. However, when a user name is selected with the user name selection button 82c, the user name display area 82d can be used, and the user IP display area 82b is displayed in gray.

  In the previous step S114, the scan application 60 broadcasts to the network 30, and replies are obtained from all the connected scan boxes 10. In order to be able to use even when a plurality of scan boxes 10 are connected, each scan box 10 is managed by an IP address, holds the reply IP address obtained in step S114, and proceeds to the setup phase. proceed. In step S202 of the setup phase 200, only the obtained IP address of the scan box 10 is displayed in the scan box IP display area 81 for selection. That is, if IP addresses of a plurality of scan boxes 10 are obtained, an up / down arrow prepared at the right end of the scan box IP display area 81 is valid, and clicking any one displays other IP addresses. . When any one is selected and the execution button 88a is clicked, the relationship between the selected scan box 10 and the client 50 is searched in step S204.

  The setting information area 41 of the file server 40 is searched. FIG. 8 shows the directory structure of the file server 40. In the directory “scap” assigned to the scan application 60, three directories “user_info”, “job_info”, and “image” are formed. The user information is stored as the user information database u_db shown in FIG. 9 stored in the directory user_info. In this user information database u_db, the terminal IP address of the client 50 and the user name are stored corresponding to each user, an image directory for storing image data, a job information directory for storing set job information, and The password for accessing from the client 50 having a different IP address is stored in association with each other.

In step S204, the user information database u_db is referred to based on the IP address of the selected scan box and the IP address of the client 50. First, it is checked whether a user corresponding to the IP address of the client 50 is registered. If this is registered, it is determined whether job information has already been registered by referring to the job information directory.
Here, the job information to be registered will be described. The job information is set using the GUI shown in FIG. 7, and the job information is collectively stored for each directory formed in the job information directory job_info in the setting information area 41. This directory is formed for each user, and in the case of user A, the directory ..job_info \ 1 corresponds. In this directory ..job_info \ 1 is stored a job information database j_db having the contents shown in FIG. 10 in which job information is summarized for each user, and for associating corresponding users from this directory ..job_info \ 1. A link information file usr_link shown in FIG. 11 is also stored.

  The job information database j_db stores NO as a serial number assigned to each job, the IP address of the scan box to be used, the type of document, and the reading mode. Since each user can set a plurality of jobs for each scan box 10, the IP address of the scan box 10 is also entered. However, since the scan box 10 is selected in advance when reading out the job information, only the job information having the same IP address is acquired.

  Therefore, if the IP address of the client 50 is registered in step S204, the above-described job information database j_db is referred to by referring to the corresponding job information directory. There is also a corresponding job information database j_db, and if the IP address of the scan box 10 selected earlier is found in the job information database j_db, it means “with master”. Also, the IP address of the client 50 is registered and there is a corresponding job information database j_db. If the IP address of the selected scan box 10 is not found among them, it means “other than master”. If the IP address of the client 50 is not registered, it is “new”. Otherwise, it is “error”.

  If there is a master, the process proceeds to step S216 through step S208, job information is acquired as described above, and each job information is applied to the GUI shown in FIG. 7 and displayed in step S218. That is, NO is displayed in the job number display area 83, the document type is displayed in the document display area 84, the resolution is displayed in the resolution selection area 85, and the reading mode is displayed in the mode selection area 86. These can be selected according to the performance of the scanner 20, and can be selected by an up / down arrow provided at the right end of each display area. When the selection is changed, the existing job information can be rewritten with the correction button 89b, and new job information can be written with the addition button 89a. Unnecessary jobs can be deleted with the delete button 89c. Such a database update is performed in step S218.

  On the other hand, if “new”, the process proceeds to step S218 without passing through step S216, and the job information is input. In the case of “other than master”, the password is input in step S212 through step S210. Since the IP address of the client is found in the user information database u_db, it is possible to obtain the password set for each user, and if this matches the entered password, the client's IP address is the same as in the case of “new”. The job information corresponding to the IP address and the IP address of the selected scan box 10 is input.

In the case of “error” or when the passwords do not match, an error is displayed in step S220 or step S224, and whether to retry is selected via a GUI (not shown) in step S222, and in the case of retrying, the scan box 10 in step S202 is selected. Perform the following selection again.
If the setting information is input in step S218, or if it is selected not to retry in step S222, the setup phase ends. In this example, the contents that can be set up are the job information and the IP address of the scan box 10, and the location of the image directory is fixed inside the directory image. However, the location of the image directory may be set within the range allowed by the file server 40. Further, as described above, when a user name is selected by the user name selection button 82c, the user can be specified by the user name in addition to the IP address. If job information can be registered for each user in this way, each user does not have to select his / her own from the setting information of other users, which is convenient, but registering multiple users is an indispensable requirement is not.

Next, when the test button 72 is selected on the selection screen of FIG. 5, the process proceeds to the test phase of step S118 via step S108 shown in FIG.
FIG. 12 shows the test phase. In step S302 of the test phase 300, the IP address of the scan box 10 is selected in the same manner as in step S202, and in step S304, the selected scan is performed in the same manner as in step S204. The setting information area 41 is searched using the IP address of the box 10 and the client 50. If job information has already been registered, “Master exists”, and if not registered, “New”. In the case of “with master”, after step S306, the display is made in step S312 in the same manner as in step S216, and in the same manner as in step S218, an operation such as correction can be performed in step S314. In the case of “new”, a new setting can be made in step S314 through step S308. If “new”, an error is displayed in step S310, and a retry is made in step S316.

When the standby button 73 is selected from the operation screen shown in FIG. 5 for the above-described preparatory processing, the ready packet is waited in step S120 after the determination in step S110 shown in FIG. Since this ready packet is sent when the start key 18c is pressed in the scan box 10, it waits until the scan box 10 tries to start reading.
When the ready packet is received, a thread for processing is created in step S122. If the thread creation fails, an error is displayed in step S124, and a reply is given to the ready packet in step S126. When a thread is created, a thread phase is executed in step S128.

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of the thread phase 400. FIG. 14 shows a flowchart of the scan box 10, and FIG. 15 shows a specific processing order of the reading operation.
To start reading, the start key 18c of the scan box 10 is pressed. As shown in FIG. 14, the scan box 10 determines whether or not the start key 18c is pressed in step S502. When the start key 18c is pressed, the scanner 20 is locked in step S504, and a ready packet is sent in step S506. Send to scan application and wait for Ack.

  The scan application receives a ready packet and executes the thread phase 400. First, in step S402, it is checked whether information is registered from the IP address of the scan box 10. If the setup phase has not been passed, the IP address of the scan box 10 should not be registered. In this case, Nack is transmitted in step S404. However, if already registered, in step S406, a normal packet (Ack) is transmitted with respect to the ready packet.

  The scan box 10 waits in step S508 to receive the packet (Ack). If the Ack cannot be received, the scan box 10 waits again in step S502 until the start key 18c is pressed. In this example, no error message is displayed, but a reason message may be displayed when Nack is received. When Ack is received, a packet requesting user information is transmitted in the next step S510.

  The scan application side waits for the next instruction packet from the scan box 10 in step S408, and if it is a request information request packet, the job information database j_db is referred to in step S418, and the scan box Search for a user who has registered 10 at least. Specifically, the job information database j_db is searched in all directories in the job information directory job_info in the setting information area 41, and if the IP address of the scan box 10 is included, the link information file usr_link in the same directory is referred to. To obtain corresponding user information. When the user information is acquired, a hand packet is created and transmitted in step S420 in order to transmit this user information to the scan box 10.

  During this time, the scan box 10 side stands by until it can receive a hand packet of user information in step S512. When the hand packet is received, the user information is displayed on the LCD 17 in step S514. If there is a plurality of pieces of user information, the operator can select one by scrolling with the up and down cursor keys 18a and 18b. When the start key 18c is pressed, it is accepted that the user information at that time is selected.

  If user information is selected, job information is requested to the scan application while notifying the user information in step S516. Then, the scan application receives a job information request in step S414, refers to the user information database u_db in the setting information area 41 in step S422, and locates the job information directory registered in the corresponding user information. Then, the job information of the corresponding scan box 10 is acquired by referring to the job information database j_db in the registered job information directory (..job_info \ 1), and the process proceeds to step S424 based on the acquired job information. When the hand packet is created, the hand packet is transmitted in step S426.

  During this time, the scan box 10 side waits until it can receive a hand packet of job information in step S518. When the hand packet is received, the job information is displayed on the LCD 17 in step S520. If there are a plurality of pieces of job information, the operator can select one by scrolling with the up and down cursor keys 18a and 18b. When the start key 18c is pressed, the job information at that time is accepted as selected.

When job information is selected, a packet including user information and job information is output, and the scan application determines that this is a GO packet that is an instruction to start reading. In this example, job information selection and reading start are processed at the same time in order to avoid redundant operations, but the start key 18c may be pressed separately.
The scan application receives the GO packet, transmits the reply packet (Ack) in step S428 through the determination in step S410, and starts scanning in step S430.

  Note that scanning is performed in the network Twain process. That is, while scanning, image data is transferred in the TCP connection mode using the TCP processing unit 61, and in other cases, the UDP processing unit 62 is used in the UDP connection mode. In UDP connection, connection confirmation must be performed by itself, but since the header is light, the processing can be lightened. In addition, in the TCP connection mode, there is an effect that the common specification called network Twain can be used as it is.

  The scan box 10 waits for a reply (Ack) from the scan application in step S523, and when a reply is obtained, the scan box 10 shifts to the transfer mode in step S524. This transfer mode is the processing of the network Twain. The scan application controls the scanner 20 via the network 30 and the scan box 10 to read the image data, and the image data is input to the scan application. The scan application divides the blocks into blocks and stores them in the image directory specified for each user in the image area 42 of the file server 40. Of course, the reading conditions at this time are specified by the job information.

  The scan box 10 waits until the scanning is completed. If it is determined in step S526 that the scan is completed, the scan parity is output to the scan application in step S528. As described above, the scanning is performed in the TCP connection mode during the scanning, and the scan box 10 cannot know whether the scanning has been normally completed during the scanning. Therefore, this check parity is output in order to determine whether or not the scan application has ended normally.

  In the scan application, when the check parity is received, it is checked through step S416 if the scan is normally completed in step S432. Therefore, a flag is prepared for the transfer process in the network Twain, and the end result of the network Twain is determined based on the flag. In step S434, Ack is output if the process is normally completed, and Nack is output if the process is not completed normally. If it has been completed normally, this thread phase is terminated in step S436. If it has not been terminated normally, an instruction for the next treatment is awaited in step S408.

Further, if the Ack is received on the scan box 10 side, it is determined that the process has been completed normally, and the scanner 20 is released (scanner unlocked) in step S532, and if the Nack is received, it is determined that the process has not been completed normally. In step S534, the error is displayed on the LCD 17, and in step S532, the scanner 20 is opened.
In this way, when the thread is created and the thread phase is executed, the thread is closed in step S130 and the selection is returned to the selection in step S104 again. If the end is selected in the same selection, after determining in step S112, all threads are closed in step S132 and the process is ended.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.
The user activates the scan application of the client 50 with the scan box 10 and the scanner 20 connected. Since user information and job information should not be set immediately after startup, the setup button 71 is selected on the operation screen shown in FIG. Then, in step S114, the IP address of the scan box 10 connected at that time is acquired, and in step S116, the setup phase is executed. Based on the IP address of the scan box 10 and the IP address of the client 50, A user information database u_db and a job information database j_db are created using the GUI shown in FIG.

With the user information and job information stored in the setting information area 41 of the file server in this way, the client 50 selects the standby button 73 to place the scan application in the standby state. In this standby state, it is not necessary to occupy the client 50, and the user can execute other processes.
Thereafter, the user goes to the location of the scan box 10 and the scanner 20 connected to the network 30, sets a document to be read on the scanner 20, and presses the start key 18c. This scanner box 10 can be basically used by anyone, and it is expected that the reading conditions will be different for each person. For this reason, it is necessary to select job information. However, job information is stored in association with user information, and it is necessary to select user information in order to narrow down job information.

  The contents of the processing will be described below with reference to FIG. When the user presses the start key 18c of the scan box 10, a ready packet (a1) is transmitted in step S506. When an Ack (a2) is received from the scan application in step S508, user information is obtained in step S510. Request (a3). Then, since the scan application returns the user information registered in the scan box 10 (a4), the scan box 10 displays the user information received on the LCD 17 in step S514 through step S512. The user information substantially uses the search function of the file server, and when the scan application sends a request (b1) for searching for user information in the file server 40, the search function searches the user information area 41a and applies. The user information (b2) to be output is output. When a plurality of users are displayed on the LCD 17, the user is selected by the up and down cursor keys 18a and 18b. After selection, the start key 18c is pushed again. Then, a packet (a5) for requesting job information is output to the scan application together with the user information selected in step S516.

  The scan application selects the job information database j_db based on the selected user information, and returns only the job information corresponding to the IP address of the scan box 10 among them. Also in this case, when a request (b3) for actually searching for job information in the file server 40 is transmitted, the search function searches the job information area 41b and outputs the corresponding job information (b4, a6). Yes. Then, the scan box 10 displays a plurality of job information received in step S520 on the LCD 17, and waits for selection by the up and down cursor keys 18a and 18b. If the start key 18c is pressed, the user information and job information at that time are output as selection information (a7) to the scan application in step S522. Then, the scanning application interprets this as a GO packet, transmits a reply (a8), and controls scanning in step S430 to cause the scanner 20 to read an image based on the job information. To do.

  Scanning is executed in the network Twain, and the scan box 10 during execution is in the transfer mode. Then, it waits until the transfer mode ends. The read image data (a9) is sent to the network 30 via the scan box 10 and stored in the image area 42 of the file server 40 in predetermined block units. Thereafter, when the scan box 10 detects that the transfer mode has been completed in step S526, it outputs a check parity (a10) in step S528 to inquire the scan application whether or not the desired reading has been normally completed. To do. This is because the transfer mode is performed in the TCP mode, and the scan application performs block transfer and writes it in the file server 40, so that the scan box 10 cannot determine directly. Normally, the reading is completed smoothly and Ack (a11) is returned, thereby completing the reading. If reading is not completed due to an error, the error is displayed on the LCD 17 on the scan box 10 side. At the start and end of the operation by the scan box 10, a lock command (c1) in step S504 and an unlock command (c2) in step S532 are output to the scanner 20, respectively.

  As described above, even if the scan box 10 itself does not include a large-capacity storage, the scan application is executed by another client 50 connected to the network 30, so that the scanning start operation from the scan box 10 can be performed. Correspondingly, the reading condition of the scanner 20 is read from the setting information area 41 of the file server 40, and the scanned application transfers the read data while controlling the scanner 20 to the image area 42 of the file server 40 under the same condition. Thus, the scanner 20 can be comfortably shared by a large number of users while the scan box 10 has a simple configuration.

It is a block diagram of the network scanner connection apparatus concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of a scan box. It is a figure which shows the outline of the control content of a scanning application. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of a scan application. It is a figure which shows the selection screen in a scanning application. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of a setup phase. It is a figure which shows the setting screen of user information and job information. It is a figure which shows a directory structure. It is a figure which shows the content of a user information database. It is a figure which shows the content of the job information database. It is a figure which shows the content of the link information file. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of a test phase. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of a thread phase. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of a scan box. It is a figure which shows the specific processing order of reading operation.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Scan box 20 ... Scanner 30 ... Network 40 ... File server 41 ... Setting information area 42 ... Image area 50 ... Client 60 ... Scan application 200 ... Setup phase 300 ... Test phase 400 ... Thread phase

Claims (24)

Scanner connection means for connecting a predetermined scanner to the network;
Storage means connected to the network and comprising an area for storing image data read by the scanner;
A network scanner connection apparatus, comprising: the scanner connection means connected to the network, and scanner control means for storing the image data read by the scanner in the storage means via the network.   2. The network scanner connection device according to claim 1, wherein the scanner connection unit includes an operation unit, and the scanner control unit monitors the operation of the operation unit and controls the scanner in response to the operation. A network scanner connection device comprising: The network scanner connection device according to claim 2, wherein the storage means includes an area for storing setting information for reading by the scanner,
The network scanner connection device, wherein the scanner control means receives an operation for selecting the setting information by monitoring an operation by the scanner connection means, and controls the scanner based on the setting information. The network scanner connection device according to claim 3, wherein the storage means includes an area for storing the setting information corresponding to a plurality of users,
The network scanner connection device, wherein the scanner control means monitors an operation by the scanner connection means, accepts the user's selection operation, and extracts the setting information based on the selected user.   5. The network scanner connection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the scanner control means sets the setting information.   6. The network scanner connection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scanner control means identifies a plurality of the scanner connection means and individually controls the scanner connection means.   7. The network scanner connection device according to claim 1, wherein the scanner connection unit includes a display unit, and the scanner control unit controls display on the display unit. Connected device.   8. The network scanner connection device according to claim 7, wherein the scanner control means monitors whether or not the reading of the image data has been normally completed. If the reading has not been normally completed, the scanner control means A network scanner connection device characterized in that a predetermined display is performed.   A network scanner connection method for reading image data with a scanner connected to a network via a predetermined scanner connection device, wherein the image data read by the scanner is connected to the scanner connection device and the network via the network. A network scanner connection method comprising: storing in a predetermined area in a storage device on a network.   10. The network scanner connection method according to claim 9, wherein an operation of an operation unit provided in the scanner connection device is monitored, and the scanner is controlled in response to the operation of the operation unit. Connection method.   11. The network scanner connection method according to claim 9, wherein setting information for reading by the scanner is stored, and when a selection operation for the setting information is accepted, based on the setting information A method for connecting to a network scanner, wherein the scanner is controlled.   12. The network scanner connection method according to claim 11, wherein the setting information is stored for a plurality of users, the selection operation of the user is received, and the setting information is extracted based on the selected users. A characteristic network scanner connection method.   13. The network scanner connection method according to claim 11, wherein the setting information is set.   The network scanner connection method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein a plurality of the scanner connection devices are identified and individually controlled.   The network scanner connection method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein display on a display unit provided in the scanner connection device is controlled.   16. The network scanner connection method according to claim 15, wherein whether or not the reading of image data is normally completed is monitored, and if the reading is not normally completed, a predetermined display is performed. Network scanner connection method.   A medium recording a program for controlling a network scanner connection for reading image data using a scanner connected to a network via a predetermined scanner connection device, wherein the image data read by the scanner is A medium storing a program for controlling network scanner connection, which realizes a function of saving in a predetermined area in a storage device on the network via the scanner connection device and the network.   18. On a medium recording a program for controlling connection of a network scanner according to claim 17, the operation of an operation unit provided in the scanner connection device is monitored, and the scanner is controlled in response to the operation of the operation unit. A medium having recorded thereon a program for controlling a network scanner connection characterized by realizing a function.   19. Setting information for reading by the scanner is stored on a medium on which a program for controlling connection of a network scanner according to claim 17 is recorded, and a selection operation for the setting information is accepted. A medium storing a program for controlling network scanner connection, which realizes a function of controlling the scanner based on the setting information.   In the medium which recorded the program which controls the network scanner connection of the said Claim 19, the said setting information is preserve | saved corresponding to several users, the said user's selection operation is received, and the said operation | movement is based on the selected user A medium on which a program for controlling network scanner connection is recorded, which realizes a function of extracting setting information.   21. A program for controlling a network scanner connection, which realizes a function for setting the setting information on a medium recording the program for controlling the network scanner connection according to claim 19 or 20. The medium that recorded.   A medium having recorded thereon a program for controlling network scanner connection according to any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein a plurality of scanner connection devices are identified and individually controlled. A medium that records a program that controls network scanner connection.   23. A medium on which a program for controlling network scanner connection according to any one of claims 17 to 22 is recorded, wherein a function for controlling display on a display unit provided in the scanner connection device is realized. A medium that records a program that controls network scanner connection.   24. In the medium on which the program for controlling the network scanner connection according to claim 23 is recorded, it is monitored whether or not the reading of the image data has been completed normally. If the reading has not been completed normally, a predetermined display is displayed. A medium having recorded thereon a program for controlling connection of a network scanner, characterized in that a function for performing the function is realized.

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