JP3571300B2 - Image reading system, image reading device, server, and portable terminal device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an image reading system in which each user temporarily stores image data in a server and then reads out the image data stored in the server to a client, and an image forming the image reading system. The present invention relates to a reading device, a server, and a portable terminal device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed an image reading system in which image data of a user is temporarily stored in a server, then read out to a client such as a personal computer owned by each user, and processing of the image data is performed.
[0003]
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-11159 discloses a computer for control to which an image reading device is connected or a storage means as a server in the network, among a plurality of computers constituting a network, and the image reading device is connected. There is disclosed a configuration in which an image reading device performs an image data reading operation from an operation computer that is not performed via a control computer, and the read image data is stored in a storage unit. Further, in this configuration, it is possible to perform the processing of the image data stored in the storage means from the operation computer via the control computer.
[0004]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-224566 also discloses that image data taken by a local terminal lent to a user is wirelessly transmitted from the local terminal to a server and stored therein, and the user uses the Internet at his or her home terminal. There is disclosed a configuration in which own image data is obtained from a server via the server.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-11159, a person who can use the system is limited to a person who can operate a computer for operation constituting a network together with a computer for control. There is a problem that data reading processing and processing cannot be performed.
[0006]
In the configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-224566, a dedicated digital camera having a function of wirelessly transmitting captured image data to a server is indispensable, and a digital camera owned by each user may be used. Can not. For this reason, it is necessary to rent, return, and perform maintenance and inspection of the dedicated digital camera, confirm personal information to identify the user when renting the digital camera, and check the return status of the lent digital camera. Complicated work requiring manual labor such as work to settle and collect usage fees when grasping and returning the digital camera is required, resulting in a problem that not only equipment costs but also operating costs such as labor costs rise.
[0007]
In order to prevent the image data stored in the server from being read out by others, care must be taken to prevent the leakage of the user's personal information and password to the outside. There is a problem that strict management is required to keep the system secret and the system cannot be easily operated.
[0008]
Further, there is a problem in that the usage fee charged in accordance with the storage period cannot be collected for storing the image data in the server, and a detailed system operation cannot be performed.
[0009]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading system capable of easily and finely operating a system for storing image data of an unspecified user in a state readable by a terminal device owned by the user, at low cost, and Another object of the present invention is to provide an image reading device, a server, and a portable terminal device that constitute the image reading system.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has the following arrangement as means for solving the above-mentioned problems.
[0011]
(1) An image reading system that stores image data read by an image reading device in a specific storage area in a server in a state where a client can read the image data.
The mobile terminal device owned by the user transmits an instruction to start image data reading processing in the image reading device, information about the user identification, and information about the image data storage area in the server via the connector. In addition to transmitting / receiving data to / from the image reading device, the image reading device transmits, via a network, the read image data, information relating to identification of image data to be stored in the server, and information relating to identification of an image data storage area in the server. For transmitting and receiving data to and from the server.
[0012]
In this configuration, an instruction to start image data reading processing in the image reading apparatus, information relating to user identification, and information necessary for processing for reading image data stored in the server to the client are owned by the user. Image data that is transmitted and received between the portable terminal device and the image reading device, and information related to specifying the image data to be stored in the server, and information related to specifying the storage area of the image data in the server. It is sent to and received from the server. Therefore, even when the user is at a position distant from the client, the user operates the portable terminal device connected to the image reading device via the connector, so that the image data read by the image reading device can be transmitted to the client. The setting of the information necessary for storing in the server in a state where only the user can read the information is completed.
[0013]
(2) The portable terminal device transmits a reading request including authentication information for specifying a user to the image reading device via a connector based on an input operation instructing the start of a reading process to the image reading device. Receiving storage destination information for specifying a storage area from the image reading device,
The image reading device executes a reading process of the image data based on the reading request, and transmits a storage request including authentication information included in the reading request, and the image data to the server via a network. Receiving the storage destination information for specifying the storage area of the image data from the server and transmitting it to the mobile terminal device,
The server stores the image data to which the authentication information is added, transmits storage destination information for specifying the storage area to the image reading device, and stores the image data to which the authentication information included in the read request from the client is added. Is transmitted to the client, and the charge amount including the usage fee of the image reading apparatus is determined based on the storage amount and the storage period of the image data.
[0014]
In this configuration, when the start of the reading process is instructed in the portable terminal device connected to the image reading device via the connector, the portable terminal device transmits the authentication information for specifying the user to the image reading device. Upon receiving the reading request from the mobile terminal device, the image reading device transmits a storage request including authentication information to the server, executes an image reading process, and transmits the read image data to the server. The image data transmitted to the server is stored in the server, and storage destination information for specifying the storage area of the image data in the server is transmitted to the portable terminal device via the image reading device. When a read request including authentication information is transmitted from the client to the server, image data corresponding to the authentication information is transmitted from the server to the client. Further, the server determines a billing amount including a fee for using the image reading apparatus based on the storage amount and the storage period of the image data.
[0015]
Therefore, a reading request, a storage destination information, and a storage request required for the image data reading process in the image reading device, the process of storing the read image data in the server, and the process of reading the image data stored in the server to the client. The identification information and the authentication information are transmitted and received between the portable terminal device owned by the user and the image reading device. Accordingly, even when the user is at a position away from the client, the user operates the portable terminal device connected to the image reading device via the connector, so that the image data read by the image reading device can be read. The setting of information necessary for storing in the server in a state in which only the user can read in the client is completed, and the cost amount related to the use of the system is accurately determined.
[0016]
(3) The server performs a billing destination confirmation process based on the authentication information transmitted from the image reading device prior to the transmission of the image data, and determines whether the image data reading process can be performed based on the confirmation result. Is transmitted.
[0017]
In this configuration, the image data reading process is performed only when the billing destination is confirmed based on the user authentication information transmitted from the image reading device. Therefore, the image reading device can read only the image data of the user who can confirm the billing destination and can collect the cost for using the system.
[0018]
(4) In an image reading system that stores image data read by an image reading device in a specific storage area in a server in a state where the client can read the image data,
The mobile terminal device owned by the user transmits an instruction to start image data reading processing in the image reading device, identification of image data to be stored in the server, and information on identification of an image data storage area in the server by a connector. And transmits and receives data to and from the image reading apparatus via a mobile communication network.
[0019]
In this configuration, information necessary for a process of reading image data in the image reading device, a process of storing the read image data in the server, and a process of reading the image data stored in the server to the client are provided by the user. It is provided to the image reading device and the server via the portable terminal device owned by the user. Therefore, even when the user is at a position distant from the client, the user operates the portable terminal device connected to the image reading device via the connector, so that the image data read by the image reading device can be transmitted to the client. The setting of the information necessary for storing in the server in a state where only the user can read the information is completed.
[0020]
(5) The portable terminal device transmits a read request including storage destination information for specifying a storage area of the image data in the server via the connector to the image reading device based on an input operation instructing the start of the reading process. Receiving identification information specifying the image data from the image reading device, and transmitting a storage request including authentication information and identification information specifying the mobile terminal device to the server via the mobile communication network,
The image reading device executes the reading process of the image data based on the reading request, and transmits the image data with the identification information to the server specified by the storage destination information included in the reading request via the network,
The server stores the image data to which the identification information matching the identification information included in the storage request is added in a storage area corresponding to the authentication information included in the storage request, and stores the authentication information included in the read request from the client. The image data stored in the storage area corresponding to the image data is transmitted to the client, and the charge amount including the usage fee of the image reading apparatus is determined based on the storage amount and the storage period of the image data.
[0021]
In this configuration, when the start of the reading process is instructed in the portable terminal device connected to the image reading device via the connector, a reading request including the storage destination information is sent from the portable terminal device to the image reading device to the image reading device. At the same time, the storage request including the authentication information and the identification information is transmitted to the server. The image reading device executes an image reading process upon receiving a reading request from the portable terminal device, and the read image data is transmitted to the storage destination information server with identification information added thereto. The image data transmitted to the server is stored in a storage area corresponding to the authentication information in the server. When a read request including authentication information is transmitted from the client to the server, image data corresponding to the authentication information is transmitted from the server to the client. Further, the server determines a billing amount including a fee for using the image reading apparatus based on the storage amount and the storage period of the image data.
[0022]
Therefore, a reading request, a storage destination information, and a storage request required for the image data reading process in the image reading device, the process of storing the read image data in the server, and the process of reading the image data stored in the server to the client. , Identification information and authentication information are provided to the image reading device and the server via the portable terminal device owned by the user. Accordingly, even when the user is at a position away from the client, the user operates the portable terminal device connected to the image reading device via the connector, so that the image data read by the image reading device can be read. The setting of information necessary for storing in the server in a state in which only the user can read in the client is completed, and the cost amount related to the use of the system is accurately determined.
[0023]
(6) The network is the Internet, and the server is a server of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to which the client subscribes.
[0024]
In this configuration, the image data read by the image reading device is stored in the server of the ISP to which the client subscribes. Accordingly, the image data stored in the server of the ISP is easily read out to the client via the Internet, and the cost for using the system is easily collected by adding the image data to the Internet usage fee.
[0025]
(7) The storage area of the image data in the server is a use area for the Internet assigned to the client in advance in the server of the ISP.
[0026]
In this configuration, the image data read by the image reading device is stored in the Internet use area of the ISP server known to the user. Therefore, when instructing the start of the image reading process, the portable terminal device does not need to acquire the storage destination information to be transmitted to the image reading device together with the reading request from the server prior to the transmission of the reading request. The communication procedure for storage is simplified, and there is no need for the ISP to secure a new storage area in the server.
[0027]
(8) The image reading device transmits the read result of the image data to the portable terminal device, and transmits the image data to the server based on the selection result of the image data to be stored in the server in the portable terminal device. And
[0028]
In this configuration, of the image data read by the image reading device, the image data to be stored in the server is selected by the user by operating the portable terminal device. Therefore, of the image data read by the image reading device, only the image data selected by the user is stored in the server.
[0029]
(9) An image reading device included in the image reading system according to any one of (1) to (3) or (8), wherein the image reading device executes a reading process of image data based on a reading request, and performs authentication information. Is transmitted to the server via the network, while the storage destination information for specifying the storage area of the image data in the server is received from the server and transmitted to the portable terminal device.
[0030]
In this configuration, after the image data is read by the image reading device constituting the image reading system based on the reading request transmitted from the portable terminal device, the storage destination information for specifying the storage region of the image data in the server is displayed. Sent to the mobile terminal device. Therefore, in the image reading system including the server and the portable terminal device, the reading process and the transmission process of the image data are executed reliably.
[0031]
(10) An image reading device included in the image reading system according to any one of (4) to (8), wherein the image reading device executes a process of reading image data based on a reading request and adds identification information. Data is transmitted to a server specified by storage destination information included in the read request via a network.
[0032]
In this configuration, after the image reading device constituting the image reading system reads the image data based on the reading request transmitted from the mobile terminal device, the image data to which the identification information is added is designated by the storage destination information. Sent to the server. Therefore, in the image reading system including the server and the portable terminal device, the reading process and the transmission process of the image data are executed reliably.
[0033]
(11) In the configuration of (9) or (10), a digital copying machine installed in a store can be used as the image reading device.
[0034]
According to this configuration, an image reading system can be constructed at a low facility cost by using an existing digital copying machine in a store.
[0035]
(12) A server included in the image reading system according to any one of (1) to (3) or (8), which stores image data to which authentication information is added and specifies a storage area. Destination information to the image reading device, the image data to which the authentication information included in the read request from the client is added to the image reading device, and the image reading device based on the storage amount and the storage period of the image data. It is characterized in that a billing amount including a usage fee is determined.
[0036]
In this configuration, the server constituting the image reading system stores the image data to which the identification information is added, and transmits the image data corresponding to the authentication information included in the read request from the client to the client. The charge amount including the usage fee of the image reading device is determined based on the data storage amount and the storage period. Therefore, in the image reading system including the image reading device and the portable terminal device, the storing process, the reading process, and the use amount determining process of the image data are reliably executed.
[0037]
(13) A server included in the image reading system according to any one of (4) to (8), wherein the image data to which the identification information included in the storage request is added corresponds to the authentication information included in the storage request. The image data stored in the storage area corresponding to the authentication information included in the read request from the client is transmitted to the client, and the image data is stored based on the storage amount and the storage period of the image data. It is characterized in that a billing amount including a use fee of the reading device is determined.
[0038]
In this configuration, the server constituting the image reading system stores the image data to which the identification information is added, and stores the image data stored in the storage area corresponding to the authentication information included in the read request from the client. Is transmitted to the client, and the charge amount including the usage fee of the image reading apparatus is determined based on the storage amount and the storage period of the image data. Therefore, in the image reading system including the image reading device and the portable terminal device, the storing process, the reading process, and the use amount determining process of the image data are reliably executed.
[0039]
(14) A portable terminal device included in the image reading system according to any one of (1) to (3) or (8), which is used via a connector based on an input operation for instructing start of a reading process. A reading request including authentication information specifying a user is transmitted to the image reading apparatus, and storage destination information specifying a storage area of the image data in the server is received from the image reading apparatus.
[0040]
In this configuration, a reading request including storage destination information is transmitted to the image reading device based on an input operation instructing the start of a reading process by the portable terminal device configuring the image reading system, and the image data storage area in the server is stored. Is received from the image reading apparatus. Therefore, in the image reading system including the image reading device and the server, the reading process of the image data in the image reading device is reliably started, and the storage area of the image data in the server is reliably recognized by the user.
[0041]
(15) A portable terminal device included in the image reading system according to any one of (4) to (8), wherein the image data of the server is transmitted via a connector based on an input operation for instructing a start of a reading process. A reading request including storage destination information for specifying a storage area is transmitted to the image reading device, while identification information for specifying image data is received from the image reading device, and the mobile terminal device is specified via the mobile communication network. The storage request including the authentication information and the identification information is transmitted to the server.
[0042]
In this configuration, a reading request including storage destination information is transmitted to the image reading device based on an input operation for instructing start of a reading process by the portable terminal device constituting the image reading system, and identification information for specifying image data is provided. Is received from the image reading apparatus, and a storage request including the authentication information and the identification information is transmitted to the server. Therefore, in the image reading system including the image reading device and the server, the reading process of the image data in the image reading device is reliably started, and the storage of the image data in the server is reliably performed.
[0043]
(16) In the configuration of (14) or (15), a mobile phone owned by a user can be used as the mobile terminal device.
[0044]
According to this configuration, information can be easily exchanged between the mobile terminal device and the server via the mobile communication network, and the telephone number of the mobile phone can be used as the authentication information.
[0045]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image reading system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The image reading system 10 includes a scanner 1 that is an image reading device of the present invention, a mobile phone 2 that is a mobile terminal device of the present invention, a server 3, a connector 4, a mobile communication network 5, and a data that is a network of the present invention. It is constituted by a transmission line 6 and the Internet 7. The scanner 1 is selectively connected to the mobile phone 2 via a connector 4 and to the server 3 via a data transmission line 6. The server 3 is connected to a home terminal device 8 such as a personal computer as a client of the present invention via the Internet 7.
[0046]
The scanner 1 includes an interface 11 to which one end of the connector 4 is connected, an image reading unit 12 for reading an image of a document placed on a document table, an input unit 13 such as a key switch for receiving a setting input of reading conditions, and the like. A data holding unit 14 for temporarily storing image data and the like read by the reading unit 12, an interface 15 to which the data transmission line 6 is connected, a data transmission unit 16a for transmitting image data, and communication with the mobile phone 2. The mobile phone communication unit 16b, the image processing unit 16c that performs predetermined image processing on the image data read by the image reading unit 12, and the storage unit 16d that stores the ID number of the device that specifies the scanner as the identification information of the present invention. And a control unit 16.
[0047]
The mobile phone 2 includes a wireless communication interface 21 for performing wireless communication with a base station of a mobile communication network (not shown), a receiver 22 for generating a call sound received via the wireless communication interface 21, and collecting the call sound. , An input unit 24 such as a key switch for receiving a setting input such as a telephone number of a call destination, an interface 25 to which the other end of the connector 4 is connected, and a call received via the wireless communication interface 21. A processing unit 26a that processes sound and mail, a storage unit 26b that stores a telephone number set in the mobile phone 2 as authentication information of the present invention, and a storage that stores storage destination information for specifying a storage destination of image data A control unit 26 including a unit 26c is provided.
[0048]
The server 3 includes an interface 31 to which the data transmission line 6 is connected, a network interface 32 to be connected to the Internet 7, a data transmission unit 34 for transmitting and receiving data via the interfaces 31, 32, the data transmission line 6, and the interface 32. A data storage unit 35 for storing image data transmitted from the scanner 1 via the scanner 1, a directory management unit 36 for managing a storage area of the image data in the data storage unit 35, and management of writing / reading of image data to / from the data storage unit 35. A data recording / retrieval unit 37, and a charging unit 38 for calculating a system usage fee based on the storage amount and storage period of image data in the data holding unit 35.
[0049]
The home terminal device 8 includes a dial-up interface 81 connected to the Internet 8, an input unit 82 such as a keyboard for receiving setting input of processing contents such as image data reading processing, a storage unit 83 for storing read image data, and a storage unit 83. A display unit 84 for displaying the image data stored in the storage unit, and a control unit 85 for integrally controlling these input / output devices.
[0050]
As the scanner 1, for example, a document reading unit of a digital copying machine installed in a store such as a convenience store can be used. Further, instead of the mobile phone 2, a dedicated mobile terminal device can be used. However, in consideration of convenience, the mobile terminal device should be owned by each user. In this respect, the mobile terminal device has a function of making a call to the mobile communication network 5 and a function of connecting to an external device, and has the authentication information. It is desirable to use an existing mobile phone in which an individual telephone number is set.
[0051]
In this image reading system 10, the scanner 1 is always connected to the server 3 via a dedicated data transmission line 6, and the server 3 is a server owned by a company that installs the scanner 1 or a manager of a convenience store. Server dedicated to storing image data. The network connecting the server 3 and the home terminal device 8 is not limited to the Internet 7.
[0052]
FIGS. 2 to 4 are flowcharts showing processing procedures of the scanner, the mobile phone, and the server in the image reading system. When the user stores the image of the document in the server, the user goes to the scanner 1 with his / her mobile phone 2 and connects the mobile phone 2 to the scanner 1 via the connector 4. In this state, when the user instructs to start the reading process by a predetermined key operation on the input unit 24 of the mobile phone 2 (201), the mobile phone 2 includes the telephone number of the mobile phone 2 as authentication information in the scanner 1. A read request is transmitted (202).
[0053]
Upon receiving the reading request (101), the scanner 1 transmits an authentication request to which the telephone number included in the reading request is added to the server 3 (102). This authentication request instructs execution of an authentication process for determining whether or not the user specified by the telephone number has a billing destination that can request collection of the usage amount of the system. Thereafter, the scanner 1 waits for the result of the authentication process to be transmitted from the server 3 (103, 104).
[0054]
Upon receiving the authentication request (301), the server 3 executes an authentication process based on the telephone number included in the authentication request (302), and confirms whether the user specified by the telephone number has a billing destination. . If the billing destination is not confirmed in the authentication processing, the server 3 transmits to the scanner 1 processing disable information indicating that image data storage processing cannot be performed (303, 304). If the billing destination can be confirmed in the authentication process, the server 3 transmits to the scanner 1 processable information indicating that the image data can be stored (305), and transmits the transfer information from the scanner 1. It waits (306).
[0055]
When the scanner 1 receives the processing impossible information from the server 3, the scanner 1 notifies the mobile phone 2 that the reading process cannot be performed (104 → 105). When the processable information is received from the server 3, the scanner 1 starts an image reading process (106), and transmits a reduced image of the read image data to the mobile phone 2 (107). When the scanner 1 has a display unit, a reduced image can be displayed on the display unit instead of or together with the transmission to the mobile phone 2.
[0056]
When the mobile phone 2 receives the read processing inability notification, it displays the fact on the display screen and ends the processing (203, 204). On the other hand, upon receiving the reduced image transmitted from the scanner 1 (205), the mobile phone 2 displays the reduced image on the display screen (206), and determines whether the displayed image should be stored in the server 3 or not. Is received (207), and the result of selection by the user is transmitted to the scanner 1 (208).
[0057]
When the selection result indicating that the image should be stored is transmitted from the mobile phone 2, the scanner 1 saves the read image data (108, 109), and displays the integrated reading fee (110). The scanner 1 executes the above-described processes 106 to 110 for all of the user's images (111), and when the image selected by the user is stored as an image to be stored in the server 3, the data size or the like. Is created and transmitted to the server 3 (112, 113).
[0058]
Upon receiving the transfer information transmitted by the scanner 1 (306), the server 3 secures a directory having a capacity corresponding to the data size included in the transfer information (307), and stores the storage destination information for specifying the secured directory in the scanner 1. And waits for the image data to be transmitted (308, 309).
[0059]
Upon receiving the storage location information transmitted by the server 3 (114), the scanner 1 transmits the storage location information to the mobile phone 2 (115), and then transmits the stored image data to the server 3 (116). .
[0060]
Upon receiving the storage destination information transmitted by the scanner 1 (209), the mobile phone 2 stores this in a predetermined storage area (210). On the other hand, the server 3 stores the image data received from the scanner 1 in the secured directory with the telephone number added as the authentication information (310), and calculates the usage fee according to the capacity of the directory. Then, the fee information is transmitted to the billing destination (311).
[0061]
Thereafter, the user accesses the server 3 via the Internet 7 with the home terminal device 8 and refers to the storage location information stored in the mobile phone 2, whereby the user is specified by the storage location information in the server 3. Can read out its own image data stored in the directory.
[0062]
As described above, according to the image reading apparatus 10 of this embodiment, the user's mobile phone 2 is connected via the connector 4 to the scanner 1 connected to the server 3 via the data transmission line 6, By operating the mobile phone 2, the server 3 can transmit and receive information necessary for storing image data between the scanner 1 and the server 3, and store the user's image data in the server 3. Since the directory where the image data is stored in the server 3 is specified by the storage location information transmitted from the server 3 to the mobile phone 2 via the scanner 1, the user can use the storage location information stored in the mobile phone 2. , The image data can be read from the server 3 to the home terminal device 8.
[0063]
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image reading system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The image reading system 20 according to the embodiment uses the data transmission line 6 in the image reading system 10 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 to use an ISP to which a user subscribes as a server for storing image data. Instead, the scanner 1 is connected to the Internet 7 and communicates between the mobile phone 2 and the ISP 30 via the mobile communication network 5 and the public telephone network 9. Other configurations of the image reading system 20 are the same as those of the image reading system 10, and the same reference numerals in FIG. 5 as those in FIG.
[0064]
As described above, the ISP 30 includes the dial-up interface 33 connected to the public telephone network 9 for performing communication with the mobile phone 2 via the mobile communication network 5 and the public telephone network 9.
[0065]
6 to 8 are flowcharts showing processing procedures of the scanner, the mobile phone, and the ISP in the image reading system. When a user stores an image of a document in the ISP, the user goes to the scanner 1 with his / her mobile phone 2 and connects the mobile phone 2 to the scanner 1 via the connector 4. In this state, when the user instructs the start of the reading process by a predetermined key operation on the input unit 24 of the mobile phone 2 (501), the mobile phone 2 gives the scanner 1 the telephone number of the mobile phone 2 as authentication information, and Then, a read request including the Internet address given from the ISP 30 as the storage destination information is transmitted (502).
[0066]
Upon receiving the reading request (401), the scanner 1 stores the telephone number and the Internet address included in the reading request (402), and transmits an ID number preset in the scanner 1 to the mobile phone 2 ( 403), image reading processing is started (404), and a reduced image of the read image data is transmitted to the mobile phone 2 (405).
[0067]
Upon receiving the reduced image transmitted from the scanner 1 (503), the mobile phone 2 displays the reduced image on the display screen (504), and accepts a selection operation as to whether or not the image being displayed should be stored in the server 3 (step 504). (505), the result of selection by the user is transmitted to the scanner 1 (506).
[0068]
When the selection result indicating that the image should be stored is transmitted from the mobile phone 2, the scanner 1 saves the read image data (406, 407), and displays the integrated reading fee (408). The scanner 1 executes the above processes 404 to 408 for all of the user's images (409), and when the image selected by the user is stored as an image to be stored in the server 3, the data size or the like. Is transmitted to the mobile phone 2 (410, 411), and transfer information in which the telephone number received from the mobile phone 2 and its own ID number are added to the image information is created and transmitted to the ISP 30 (412).
[0069]
Upon receiving the image information (507), the mobile phone 2 creates transfer information to which the ID number of the scanner 1, its own telephone number, and a storage request instructing storage of the image data are added, and transmits the transfer information to the ISP 30. (508).
[0070]
Upon receiving the transfer information transmitted by the mobile phone 2 (601), the ISP 30 determines whether the capacity of the directory allocated to the user is sufficient or not based on the data size included in the transfer information (602), and stores it. If the size of the directory is insufficient compared to the size of the image data to be transmitted, the size of the directory is expanded and the mobile phone 2 is notified that additional charge is to be made (603, 604).
[0071]
Thereafter, when the transfer information transmitted by the scanner 1 is received (605), the ISP 30 matches the telephone number and the ID number included in the transfer information of the scanner 1 with the telephone number and the ID number included in the transfer information of the mobile phone 2. A determination is made as to whether or not the processing is to be performed (606). If the two do not match, the storage inability information indicating that image data storage processing cannot be performed is transmitted to the mobile phone 2 (607). The permission information for permitting the execution of the image data storage processing is transmitted to the mobile phone 2 (608).
[0072]
When the mobile phone 2 receives the non-storage information, it displays the fact and terminates the process (509, 510), and when the mobile phone 2 receives the permission information, transmits the permission information to the scanner 1 (511, 511). 512). When the mobile phone 2 receives a notification from the ISP 30 that an additional charge is required for expanding the capacity of the directory, the mobile phone 2 displays the notification. At this time, the mobile phone 2 accepts a selection operation as to whether or not to continue the processing, and determines whether or not to continue the processing, such as transmitting the transfer information to the ISP 30 only when the continuation of the processing is selected. It is also possible to determine whether or not to send image data from the scanner 1 to the ISP 30 according to the content of the selection operation.
[0073]
Upon receiving the permission information transmitted from the mobile phone 2 (413), the scanner 1 transmits the stored image data to the Internet address included in the reading request (414).
[0074]
Upon receiving the image data transmitted by the scanner 1 (609), the ISP 30 stores the received image data in a directory corresponding to the Internet address (610), calculates a usage fee according to the capacity of the directory, and sends the usage fee to the billing destination. The charge information is transmitted (611).
[0075]
Thereafter, by accessing the Internet address in the ISP 30 from the home terminal device 8, the image data stored in the ISP 30 can be downloaded to the home terminal device 8, and processing and transmission / reception can be easily performed.
[0076]
As described above, according to the image reading apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment, the user's mobile phone 2 is connected to the scanner 1 connectable to the Internet 7 via the connector 4, and the mobile phone 2 and the scanner 1 are connected to the scanner 1. Information necessary for storing image data in the ISP 30 is transmitted to and received from the ISP 30, and image data of a user can be read by the scanner 1 and stored in the ISP 30. The directory in which the image data is stored in the ISP 30 is assigned in advance by the ISP 30 to the user who owns the mobile phone 2, and is specified by the user's Internet address. Thereby, the own image data stored in the ISP 30 can be read out to the home terminal device 8.
[0077]
In the image reading systems 10 and 20 according to the first and second embodiments, the server 3 and the ISP 30 determine the billing amount based only on the storage capacity of the image data. The charge amount may be determined in consideration of the storage period.
[0078]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
[0079]
(1) A mobile phone owned by a user stores an instruction to start image data reading processing in the image reading apparatus, information on user identification, and information necessary for processing to read image data stored in a server to a client. The image reading device transmits and receives between the terminal device and the image reading device, and reads the read image data, information about specifying the image data to be stored in the server, and information about specifying the image data storage area in the server. By operating the portable terminal device connected to the image reading device via the connector even when the user is at a position distant from the client, the image data read by the image reading device Can complete the setting of the information required to store the data on the server in a state that only the user can read the data on the client. You. This makes it possible to easily operate a system for storing image data of an unspecified user in a state where the image data can be read out to a terminal device owned by the user at a low cost.
[0080]
(2) A read request, storage destination information, and storage required for image data reading processing in the image reading apparatus, processing for storing the read image data in the server, and processing for reading the image data stored in the server to the client. The request, the identification information, and the authentication information are transmitted and received between the portable terminal device owned by the user and the image reading device, so that the image reading device can be connected via the connector even when the user is away from the client. Operating the mobile terminal device connected to the server to complete the setting of the information necessary for storing the image data read by the image reading device in the server in a state where only the user can read the image data at the client. And the cost of using the system can be accurately determined. This makes it possible to easily and smoothly operate a system for storing image data of an unspecified user in a state where the image data can be read out to a terminal device owned by the user at a low cost.
[0081]
(3) By performing image data reading processing only when the billing destination is confirmed based on the user authentication information transmitted from the image reading device, the billing destination can be reliably confirmed. By allowing the image reading device to read the image data of the user who can collect the cost for use, the operation of the system can be smoothed.
[0082]
(4) The user owns information necessary for image data reading processing in the image reading apparatus, processing for storing the read image data in the server, and processing for reading the image data stored in the server to the client. By providing the image reading device and the server via the portable terminal device, even when the user is at a position away from the client, the user can operate the portable terminal device connected to the image reading device via the connector to read the image. It is possible to complete the setting of information necessary for storing image data read by the device in the server in a state where only the user can read the image data in the client. This makes it possible to easily operate a system for storing image data of an unspecified user in a state where the image data can be read out to a terminal device owned by the user at a low cost.
[0083]
(5) A reading request, storage destination information, and storage required for image data reading processing in the image reading apparatus, processing for storing the read image data in the server, and processing for reading the image data stored in the server to the client. By providing the request, the identification information, and the authentication information to the image reading device and the server via the portable terminal device owned by the user, even if the user is at a position away from the client, the image reading device can be connected via the connector. It is possible to complete the setting of the information necessary to store the image data read by the image reading device in the client in a state where only the user can read the image data by operating the portable terminal device connected to the server. At the same time, it is possible to accurately determine the cost of using the system. This makes it possible to easily and smoothly operate a system for storing image data of an unspecified user in a state where the image data can be read out to a terminal device owned by the user at a low cost.
[0084]
(6) By storing the image data read by the image reading device in the ISP server to which the client subscribes, the image data stored in the ISP server can be easily read to the client via the Internet, By adding to the Internet usage fee, the cost of using the system can be easily collected.
[0085]
(7) By storing the image data read by the image reading device in the Internet use area in the server of the ISP known to the user, the portable terminal device can instruct the image reading device when instructing the start of the image reading process. On the other hand, it is not necessary to acquire the storage destination information to be transmitted together with the read request from the server before transmitting the read request, so that the communication procedure for storing the image data can be simplified, and the ISP newly stores the information in the server. There is no need to secure a storage area, and the system can be operated smoothly.
[0086]
(8) By allowing the user to select image data to be stored in the server from the image data read by the image reading device by operating the portable terminal device, the user can select the image data read by the image reading device. By storing only the selected image data in the server, the storage area of the server can be used efficiently.
[0087]
(9) After the image reading device constituting the image reading system reads the image data based on the reading request transmitted from the mobile terminal device, the storage destination information for specifying the storage area of the image data in the server is stored in the mobile terminal device. In the image reading system including the server and the portable terminal device, the image data reading process and the transmission process can be reliably executed.
[0088]
(10) After the image reading device constituting the image reading system reads the image data based on the reading request transmitted from the portable terminal device, the image data added with the identification information is transferred to the server specified by the storage destination information. By transmitting the image data, in the image reading system including the server and the portable terminal device, the reading process and the transmitting process of the image data can be reliably executed.
[0089]
(11) The server constituting the image reading system stores the image data to which the identification information is added, transmits the image data corresponding to the authentication information included in the read request from the client to the client, and stores the image data. By determining the charge amount including the usage fee of the image reading device based on the amount and the storage period, in the image reading system including the image reading device and the portable terminal device, the storing process, the reading process, and the use amount of the image data are determined. Processing can be executed reliably.
[0090]
(12) The server constituting the image reading system stores the image data to which the identification information is added, and transmits the image data stored in the storage area corresponding to the authentication information included in the read request from the client to the client. By transmitting and determining a billing amount including a usage fee of the image reading device based on the storage amount and the storage period of the image data, in the image reading system including the image reading device and the portable terminal device, the image data storage processing, The reading process and the use amount determining process can be executed reliably.
[0091]
(13) The mobile terminal device constituting the image reading system transmits a read request including storage destination information to the image reading device based on an input operation instructing the start of a reading process, and specifies a storage area of the image data in the server. In the image reading system including the image reading device and the server, the reading process of the image data in the image reading device can be reliably started, and the image data of the image data in the server is received. The storage area can be surely recognized by the user.
[0092]
(14) The mobile terminal device constituting the image reading system transmits a read request including storage destination information to the image reading device based on an input operation for instructing the start of a reading process, and transmits identification information for specifying image data to the image reading device. By receiving a storage request including authentication information and identification information from a reading device and transmitting the storing request to a server, the image reading system including the image reading device and the server can reliably start image data reading processing in the image reading device. And the server can reliably store the image data.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an image reading system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a scanner in the image reading system according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a mobile phone in the image reading system according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a server in the image reading system according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image reading system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a scanner in the image reading system according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a mobile phone in the image reading system according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a server in the image reading system according to the second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1- Scanner (image reading device)
2-Mobile phone (mobile terminal device)
3-server
4-connector
5-Mobile network
6-Data transmission line
7-Internet (network)
8- Home terminal device
10,20-image reading system

Claims (14)

An image reading system that stores image data read by an image reading device in a specific storage area in a server in a state where the client can read the image data,
The mobile terminal device owned by the user transmits an instruction to start image data reading processing in the image reading device, information about the user identification, and information about the image data storage area in the server via the connector. In addition to transmitting / receiving data to / from the image reading device, the image reading device transmits, via a network, the read image data, information relating to identification of image data to be stored in the server, and information relating to identification of an image data storage area in the server. An image reading system for transmitting and receiving data to and from a server. The portable terminal device transmits a read request including authentication information for specifying a user to the image reading device via a connector based on an input operation instructing start of a reading process to the image reading device. Receiving the storage location information to be specified from the image reading device,
The image reading apparatus executes image data reading processing based on a reading request, transmits image data to which authentication information has been added to a server via a network, and specifies a storage area of the image data in the server. Receiving the destination information from the server and transmitting it to the mobile terminal device,
The server stores the image data to which the authentication information is added, transmits storage destination information for specifying the storage area to the image reading device, and stores the image data to which the authentication information included in the read request from the client is added. 2. The image reading system according to claim 1, wherein the charge is transmitted to the client, and the charge amount including the usage fee of the image reading device is determined based on the storage amount and the storage period of the image data. The server performs a billing destination confirmation process based on the authentication information transmitted from the image reading device prior to the transmission of the image data, and transmits to the image reading device whether or not the image data storage process is possible based on the confirmation result. The image reading system according to claim 2, wherein: An image reading system that stores image data read by an image reading device in a specific storage area in a server in a state where the client can read the image data,
An instruction to start image data reading processing in the image reading device, information on identification of image data to be stored in the server, and information on identification of an image data storage area in the server are provided by the portable terminal device owned by the user. An image reading system for transmitting and receiving data to and from an image reading device via a connector and transmitting and receiving data to and from a server via a mobile network. The portable terminal device transmits a reading request including storage destination information for specifying a storage area of image data in the server via a connector to the image reading device based on an input operation for instructing start of a reading process, Receiving the identification information specifying the mobile terminal device from the image reading device, and transmitting a storage request including the authentication information and the identification information specifying the mobile terminal device to the server via the mobile communication network,
The image reading device executes the reading process of the image data based on the reading request, and transmits the image data with the identification information to the server specified by the storage destination information included in the reading request via the network,
The server stores the image data to which the identification information matching the identification information included in the storage request is added in a storage area corresponding to the authentication information included in the storage request, and stores the authentication information included in the read request from the client. Transmitting the image data stored in the storage area corresponding to the image data to the client, and determining a charging amount including a usage fee of the image reading apparatus based on the storage amount and the storage period of the image data. Item 6. The image reading system according to Item 5. The image reading system according to claim 5, wherein the network is the Internet, and the server is a server of an Internet service provider to which a client subscribes. 7. The image reading system according to claim 6, wherein the storage area of the image data in the server is a use area for the Internet assigned to the client in advance in the server of the Internet service provider. The image reading apparatus transmits a read result of the image data to the portable terminal device, and transmits the image data to the server based on a selection result of the image data to be stored in the server in the portable terminal device. Item 8. The image reading system according to any one of Items 1 to 7. An image reading apparatus included in the image reading system according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus executes a reading process of the image data based on a reading request and adds authentication information. An image reading apparatus for transmitting image data to a server via a network, receiving storage destination information for specifying a storage area of image data in the server from the server, and transmitting the information to the portable terminal device. An image reading device included in the image reading system according to claim 4, wherein the image reading device executes a reading process of the image data based on the reading request, and uses the image data added with the identification information in the reading request. An image reading apparatus for transmitting, via a network, a server specified by included storage location information. A server included in the image reading system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or claim 8, wherein the server reads image data to which authentication information is added and reads storage destination information for specifying a storage area. The image data to which the authentication information included in the read request from the client is added is transmitted to the client, and the usage fee of the image reading device is based on the storage amount and the storage period of the image data. A server for determining an amount of money. 9. A server included in the image reading system according to claim 4, wherein the image data to which the identification information included in the storage request is added is stored in a storage area corresponding to the authentication information included in the storage request. Transmitting the image data stored in the storage area corresponding to the authentication information included in the read request from the client to the client, and using the image reading device usage fee based on the storage amount and the storage period of the image data. A server for determining a billing amount including: 9. A portable terminal device included in the image reading system according to claim 1, wherein authentication is performed to identify a user via a connector based on an input operation for instructing a start of a reading process. A portable terminal device, wherein a reading request including information is transmitted to an image reading device, and storage destination information for specifying a storage area of image data in a server is received from the image reading device. 9. A portable terminal device included in the image reading system according to claim 4, wherein a storage area of image data in a server is specified via a connector based on an input operation for instructing start of a reading process. While transmitting a reading request including the storage destination information to the image reading device, receiving the identification information for specifying the image data from the image reading device, and the authentication information and the identification information for specifying the portable terminal device via the mobile communication network. A portable terminal device, which transmits a storage request including the following to a server.

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