JP4306447B2 - Image reading system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading system in which an image reading apparatus that obtains image data by reading an image of a document and an information processing apparatus are connected via a network, and in particular, transfer of image data from the image reading apparatus to the information processing apparatus. About.

  As a method of transmitting scan data read by the scanner device to a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) on a network without using a server, there is the following method.

  First method: First, a user registers a transfer destination folder by using scan data receiving software installed in a PC. Next, the transfer destination folder is registered on the Web Page (transmission destination management data registration screen) provided by the scanner device using the Web browser function of the PC. In the scanner device, the user selects a transfer destination folder on the display unit after executing the scan. As a result, the scan data is transferred to the selected transfer destination folder. In the PC, the scan data receiving software receives the scan data and saves the received data in the transfer destination folder (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Second method: The user selects “template” via the user interface of the scanner device. Here, the “template” is a series of commands accompanying the scan data, and includes the IP address of the transfer destination computer and the transfer destination folder name. The scanner device transfers the scan data to a predetermined transfer destination folder according to the selected template.

JP 2002-077177 A JP 2003-115969 A

  However, the above method has the following problems.

  In the first method, the user must separately create the transfer destination folder and register the transfer destination folder in the scanner device.

  In the second method, the user must separately create a transfer destination folder, create a template, and register a template in the scanner device.

  That is, in the above-described method, the work for constructing an environment for capturing scan data from the scanner device to the PC is complicated, and the burden on the user is large.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an image reading system capable of easily constructing an environment for taking in image data read by an image reading apparatus into an information processing apparatus.

  The present invention is an image reading system in which an image reading device that reads an image of a document and an information processing device are connected via a network, and the information processing device reads the image data read by the image reading device into the image data A request accepting means for accepting a request to construct an environment for loading into the information processing apparatus from a user; a storage area creating means for creating a storage area in the information processing apparatus in response to the request; Including instruction for transferring the image data to the storage area, instruction information creating means for creating instruction information for instructing the image reading apparatus to process the image data, and the created instruction information for the image reading apparatus. Instruction information transfer means for transferring the instruction information, the image reading device storing instruction information storage means for storing the transferred instruction information, and a document An image reading means for reading an image, the image data obtained by the image reading means, and having and an image data processing means for processing according to the instruction information stored by the instruction information storage means.

  In the above configuration, the storage area is a logical or physical storage area in which data is stored, for example, a folder or a directory. The instruction information includes a file in which a processing procedure (job flow) for image data is described in a predetermined format. However, the format is not particularly limited, and may be any information that enables at least image data transfer to the storage area of the image reading apparatus. For example, only the address of the storage area may be used.

  In the above configuration, the information processing apparatus creates a storage area in response to a request from the user that an environment should be constructed, creates instruction information including an instruction to transfer image data to the storage area, and further creates The designated instruction information is transferred to the image reading apparatus. This makes it possible to continuously or automatically make preparations necessary for capturing image data, and to easily construct an environment for capturing image data.

  In the image reading apparatus of the present invention, the image reading apparatus further includes instruction information selecting means for receiving selection of at least one of one or more instruction information stored in the instruction information storing means, and the image data processing Preferably, the means processes the image data in accordance with the selected instruction information.

  Preferably, the storage area creation by the storage area creation means, the instruction information creation by the instruction information creation means, and the instruction information transfer by the instruction information transfer means are executed as a series of operations.

  In the above configuration, the storage area and the instruction information may be created in any order. For example, when a rule for creating a storage area is predetermined, the creation of the instruction information can be executed simultaneously with or before the creation of the storage area. The series of operations means that storage area creation, instruction information creation, and instruction information transfer are continuously executed in response to a user's environment construction request. However, an operation input from the user may be accepted during a series of operations. For example, there may be a mode in which information to be included in the instruction information is interactively received via a GUI (graphical user interface).

  Preferably, at least the storage area creation by the storage area creation means and the instruction information transfer by the instruction information transfer means are automatically executed.

  Preferably, the storage area is a shared folder on the network set by a file sharing function of an operating system of the information processing apparatus.

  The present invention is also an image data acquisition method for capturing image data read by an image reading device into an information processing device via a network, wherein the information processing device captures the image data into the information processing device. A request accepting step for accepting a request for constructing the environment from the user, a storage area creating step for creating a storage area in the information processing apparatus in response to the request, and the image in the created storage area An instruction information creating step for creating instruction information for instructing the image reading apparatus to process the image data, including an instruction to transfer data, and instruction information transfer for transferring the created instruction information to the image reading apparatus An instruction information storage step in which the image reading device stores the transferred instruction information; An image reading step for reading an image of a manuscript, and an image data processing step for processing the image data obtained in the image reading step according to the instruction information stored in the instruction information storage step are performed. .

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus connected to an image reading apparatus that reads an image of a document via a network, and an environment for capturing image data read by the image reading apparatus into the information processing apparatus. Request accepting means for accepting a request for construction from a user, storage area creating means for creating a storage area in the information processing apparatus in response to the request, and transferring the image data to the created storage area Instruction information creating means for creating instruction information for instructing the image reading apparatus to process the image data, including instructions for performing instructions, and instruction information transferring means for transferring the created instruction information to the image reading apparatus; It is characterized by having.

  In the information processing apparatus of the present invention, creation of a storage area by the storage area creation means, creation of instruction information by the instruction information creation means, and transfer of instruction information by the instruction information transfer means are executed as a series of operations. It is preferable.

  Preferably, at least the storage area creation by the storage area creation means and the instruction information transfer by the instruction information transfer means are automatically executed.

  Preferably, the storage area is a shared folder on the network set by a file sharing function of an operating system of the information processing apparatus.

  Preferably, the storage area creation means sets authentication information for access restriction in the storage area, and the instruction information includes an instruction to access the storage area using the authentication information.

  Preferably, the instruction information includes an instruction to send the image data by facsimile or e-mail.

  Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes instruction information storage means for storing the instruction information transferred to the image reading apparatus and the network address of the image reading apparatus in association with each other.

  Preferably, the information stored in the instruction information storage unit is referred to, the instruction information inspection unit that inspects whether or not the instruction information is correctly stored in the image reading apparatus, and the instruction information inspection unit If the result of the inspection by step (1) indicates that the instruction information is not correctly stored, the information reading unit further includes instruction information retransmission means for retransmitting the instruction information to the image reading apparatus.

  Preferably, the instruction information that refers to the information stored in the instruction information storage means and inspects whether or not the information about the storage area included in the instruction information matches the information about the current storage area If the information does not match as a result of the inspection by the inspection unit and the instruction information inspection unit, the information on the storage area included in the instruction information is changed to information on the current storage area, and the instruction information after the change is Instruction information retransmission means for retransmitting to the image reading apparatus.

  The present invention is also an image acquisition environment construction method for constructing an environment for capturing image data read by an image reading apparatus into an information processing apparatus via a network, wherein the information processing apparatus includes the image data A request accepting step for accepting a request to construct an environment for capturing the information in the information processing apparatus from a user, a storage area creating step for creating a storage area in the information processing apparatus in response to the request, and the creation An instruction information creating step for creating instruction information for instructing the image reading apparatus to process the image data, including an instruction to transfer the image data to the stored area; and And an instruction information transfer step of transferring to the apparatus.

  The present invention also relates to an image acquisition environment construction program for constructing an environment for capturing image data read by an image reading device into an information processing device via a network, wherein the image data is stored in the information processing device. A request accepting step for accepting a request to construct an environment for capturing the information in the information processing apparatus from a user, a storage area creating step for creating a storage area in the information processing apparatus in response to the request, and the creation An instruction information creating step for creating instruction information for instructing the image reading apparatus to process the image data, including an instruction to transfer the image data to the stored area; and And an instruction information transfer step of transferring to the apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily construct an environment for capturing image data read by an image reading device into an information processing device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an image reading system 100 according to an embodiment. In the image reading system 100, one or more multifunction peripherals 10 and one or more computers (hereinafter referred to as PCs) 20 are connected to each other via a network N such as a LAN (local area network). In FIG. 1, two MFPs 10A and 10B and two PCs 20A and 20B are connected to each other. The multifunction machine 10 is a device that functions as an image reading apparatus that reads an image of a document and obtains image data. In the present embodiment, the multifunction machine 10 further includes a facsimile function, a printer function, and an electronic mail function. The PC 20 is an information processing apparatus that captures image data obtained by the multifunction machine 10 into an internal storage area.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the multifunction machine 10. 2, the multifunction machine 10 includes an operation display unit 11, an instruction information storage unit 12, an instruction information selection unit 13, an image reading unit 14, and an image data processing unit 15.

  The operation display unit 11 is a user interface that displays various information and receives an operation input from a user, and is a touch panel here.

  The instruction information storage unit 12 stores an instruction file as instruction information. Here, the instruction file is used to instruct the multifunction machine 10 about the processing contents for the image data. In the present embodiment, the instruction file is an XML (eXtensible Markup Language) file in which a processing procedure for image data in the multifunction machine 10 is described. The instruction file may be transmitted from the PC 20 to the instruction information storage unit 12 via the network N. In the multi function device 10, the instruction file is created by the user on the operation display unit 11 and then stored in the instruction information storage unit 12. Sometimes it is done.

  The instruction information selection unit 13 receives from the user at least one of the one or more instruction files stored in the instruction information storage unit 12. The instruction information storage unit 12 can store a plurality of types of instruction files for each of a plurality of users. Therefore, the instruction information selection unit 13 causes the user to select an instruction file via the operation display unit 11.

  The image reading unit 14 is a scanner that optically reads an image of a document placed on a document table and obtains image data.

  The image data processing unit 15 processes the image data obtained by the image reading unit 14 according to the instruction file selected by the user by the instruction information selection unit 13. Specifically, the image data processing unit 15 includes a facsimile transmission function for facsimile transmission of image data to a predetermined destination, an e-mail transmission function for e-mail transmission of image data to a predetermined destination, and a file in a predetermined format. A file format conversion function for converting the image data to a predetermined PC 20 and an image data transfer function for transferring the image data to a predetermined PC 20.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the PC 20. In FIG. 3, the PC 20 includes a display device 21, an input device 22, a request reception unit 23, a storage area creation unit 24, an instruction information creation unit 25, and an instruction information transfer unit 26.

  The display device 21 is a liquid crystal display or the like that displays various information on a screen. The input device 22 is a keyboard, a mouse, or the like that receives input from the user.

  The request accepting unit 23 accepts from the user a request that an environment for capturing image data read by the multifunction machine 10 into the PC 20 (hereinafter referred to as an environment construction request). The storage area creation unit 24 creates a storage area (hereinafter referred to as a transfer destination folder) in the PC 20 in response to the environment construction request. The instruction information creating unit 25 creates an instruction file including an instruction to transfer the image data to the transfer destination folder. The instruction information transfer unit 26 transfers the instruction file created by the instruction information creation unit 25 to the multifunction device 10.

  In the present embodiment, the above-described units 23 to 26 are realized by an image acquisition environment construction program according to the present embodiment stored in a recording medium such as a ROM or a hard disk being executed by the CPU and RAM. However, the implementation | achievement aspect of each said parts 23-26 is not limited to this.

  Hereinafter, the operation procedure of the image reading system 100 having the above configuration will be described in detail in an image data acquisition environment construction stage and an image data acquisition stage.

[Image data acquisition environment construction stage]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the PC 20A in the image data acquisition environment construction stage.

  First, in the PC 20A, when the image acquisition environment construction program according to the present embodiment is started by the user (S11), the request reception unit 23 causes the display device 21 to display the main screen 50 shown in FIG. (S12). On the main screen 50, icons 51 and 52 representing the MFPs 10A and 10B searched on the network N are arranged. When the user right-clicks the icon 51 of the multifunction machine 10A, a right-click menu is displayed. When “Build a scan data acquisition environment” is selected from the right-click menu, the request accepting unit 23 constructs an environment for fetching image data read by the multifunction machine 10A into the PC 20A. The request is accepted (S13). Then, the request reception unit 23 notifies the storage area creation unit 24 that the request has been received.

  The storage area creation unit 24 creates the transfer destination folder “scan_data” in the hard disk drive of the PC 20 according to a preset rule in response to the notification from the request reception unit 23 (S14). In the present embodiment, the transfer destination folder is a shared folder set by the file sharing function of the operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) of the PC 20 and shared on the network N.

  At this time, the storage area creation unit 24 sets authentication information for access restriction in the transfer destination folder. Here, the authentication information is a password automatically generated by the storage area creation unit 24. However, the authentication information may be input by the user. The authentication information may include a user name and the like. The authentication information setting may be omitted.

  Next, the storage area creation unit 24 passes the address (path) of the created transfer destination folder and the password set in the transfer destination folder to the instruction information creation unit 25.

  When the instruction information creation unit 25 acquires the address of the transfer destination folder from the storage area creation unit 24, the instruction information creation unit 25 creates an instruction file (S15).

  Specifically, the instruction information creating unit 25 first displays on the display device 21 a dialog 60 that prompts the user to input various information used for creating the instruction file (see FIG. 6). The dialog 60 is provided with a text box 61 for accepting input of an instruction file name, a radio button 62 for accepting selection of an image data distribution mode, and a radio button 63 for accepting selection of a file format of image data. In this dialog 60, when the instruction file name is input by the user, the distribution mode of the image data is selected, the file format is selected, and the OK button 64 is clicked, the instruction information creating unit 25 is The input information is received. Here, it is assumed that the instruction file name “INST-A” is input, the distribution mode “scan data is faxed and transferred to the PC” is selected, and the file format “PDF” is selected.

  The instruction information creation unit 25 creates an instruction file based on the information received from the user as described above and the information acquired from the storage area creation unit 24. Here, it is assumed that the instruction file shown in FIG. 7 has been created. In FIG. 7, the first line indicates that the instruction file name is “INST-A”, the second line indicates that the distribution mode is “transmit the scan data by fax and transfer it to the PC”, and the third line indicates Indicates that the file format is “PDF”. The fourth line is that the IP address of the PC 20A that is the source of the instruction file is “xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx”, and the fifth line is that the path of the transfer destination folder is “c: \ documents / scan_data”. The sixth line indicates that the password set in the transfer destination folder is “4517”.

  The instruction file name may be automatically generated by the instruction information creating unit 25 and notified to the user. Further, the distribution mode of the image data may be fixed to “transfer scan data to PC”. The file format may be fixed to a predetermined format. That is, the acquisition of information from the user by the dialog 60 may be omitted. That is, the instruction information creation unit 25 can create an instruction file completely automatically. Conversely, various information such as the FAX number of the transmission destination, the e-mail address of the transmission destination, or the resolution of image reading may be received from the user by the dialog 60.

  The instruction information creation unit 25 passes the created instruction file to the instruction information transfer unit 26. The instruction information transfer unit 26 transfers the instruction file acquired from the instruction information creation unit 25 to the MFP 10A selected by the user on the main screen 50 in step S13 via the network N (S16). The multi function device 10A stores the instruction file transferred from the instruction information transfer unit 26 in the instruction information storage unit 12.

[Image data acquisition stage]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the multifunction peripheral 10A in the image data acquisition stage.

  When “scan” is selected by the user from among “copy”, “fax”, and “scan” on the menu screen displayed on the operation display unit 11 of the multifunction machine 10A, the instruction information selection unit 13 prompts the user. An instruction file selection screen for prompting selection of an instruction file is displayed on the operation display unit 11. One or more instruction files stored in the instruction information storage unit 12 are displayed on the instruction file selection screen, and a plurality of types of instruction files for each of a plurality of users can be displayed. Here, selection of the instruction file “INST-A” is accepted on this instruction file selection screen (S21). Then, the instruction information selection unit 13 reads the selected instruction file “INST-A” from the instruction information storage unit 12 and passes the instruction file “INST-A” to the image data processing unit 15.

  Next, when the user presses the start button of the operation display unit 11, the image reading unit 14 reads the image of the document placed on the document table and obtains image data (S22). Then, the image reading unit 14 passes the obtained image data to the image data processing unit 15.

  The image data processing unit 15 processes the image data received from the image reading unit 14 in accordance with the description content of the instruction file (see FIG. 7) received from the instruction information selection unit 13. More specifically, the image data processing unit 15 has an instruction “Scan the scan data and transfer it to the PC” on the second line of the instruction file. A prompt screen is displayed on the operation display unit 11. When a FAX number is received via this screen, the image data is transmitted by facsimile to the FAX number (S23). Next, the image data processing unit 15 converts the image data into a PDF file because there is an instruction “file format is PDF” in the third line of the instruction file (S24). Next, the image data processing unit 15 transfers the image data converted into the PDF file to the transfer destination folder “scan_data” of the PC 10A using the access information to the transfer destination folder described in the 4th to 6th lines. Are stored (S25). Specifically, the shared folder “scan_data” on the network is identified by the IP address described in the fourth line and the path described in the fifth line. Then, the identified shared folder is accessed using the password described in the sixth line. At this time, for example, an SMB (Server Message Block) protocol used in a Windows (registered trademark) file sharing service or a CIFS (Common Internet File System) protocol used in various OSs is applied.

  Here, it is preferable to transfer information related to facsimile transmission or e-mail transmission, for example, transmission date and time, transmission result, and the like to the transfer destination folder together with the image data. This is because the transmission history can be saved.

  In the PC 20A, the software on the PC 20A monitors the transfer destination folder and notifies the user via the arrival of the image data. For example, a dialog notifying arrival of image data is displayed, or a transfer destination folder is opened and displayed on the screen. The software on the PC 20 can automatically transfer the image data to another predetermined folder or convert the file format of the image data when the image data arrives.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  (1) The PC 20 (or the image acquisition environment construction program) creates a transfer destination folder, creates an instruction file, and instructs the multifunction device 10 in response to an environment construction request from the user on the main screen 50 shown in FIG. Perform file transfers continuously. Therefore, it is possible to easily construct an environment for capturing image data read by the multifunction machine 10 into the PC 20. More specifically, the user only has to interactively operate according to the screen instructions of the image acquisition environment construction program, and there is no need to perform folder creation, instruction file creation, and instruction file transfer separately with various tools. .

  (2) Since the creation of the transfer destination folder and the transfer of the instruction file are automatically executed, the user need only interactively input or select the contents to be described in the instruction file. Furthermore, when the instruction information creation unit 25 automatically sets the instruction file name, the file format, etc., the user only has to input an environment construction request. For this reason, the user can construct | assemble the environment for taking in image data very easily.

  (3) Since various processing contents can be described in the instruction file, the multifunction device 10 can execute various processing.

  (4) Since the transfer destination folder is a shared folder on the network set by the file sharing function of the OS, dedicated application software for receiving image data from the multifunction machine 10 and storing it in a predetermined folder is used on the PC 20. There is no need to stay resident. For this reason, it is not necessary to install such application software in the PC 20. However, the transfer destination folder is not necessarily a shared folder on the network. In this case, dedicated application software for acquiring image data is required.

  (5) Since the storage area creation unit 24 automatically sets a password in the transfer destination folder, access to the transfer destination folder can be restricted without imposing a burden on the user. Furthermore, since the instruction information creation unit 25 automatically includes the password in the instruction file, the user does not need to be aware of the password.

  (6) With the instruction file, the image data can be transmitted by facsimile or electronic mail, and the image data can be transferred to the PC 20. Thus, what has been scanned twice to save a copy so far is only one scan. In addition, a transmission history can be automatically taken.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing apparatus 30 according to another embodiment. Since this information processing apparatus 30 is almost the same as the information processing apparatus 20 according to the above-described embodiment, common portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 9, the information processing apparatus 30 includes an instruction information storage unit 31, an instruction information inspection unit 32, and an instruction information retransmission unit 33.

  The instruction information storage unit 31 stores the instruction file transferred to the multifunction device 10 and the network address (for example, IP address) of the multifunction device 10 in association with each other.

  The instruction information inspection unit 32 refers to the information stored in the instruction information storage unit 31 and checks the consistency of the instruction file.

  Specifically, the instruction information inspection unit 32 inspects each instruction file stored in the instruction information storage unit 31 to determine whether or not the instruction file is correctly stored in the multifunction machine 10. Here, there are cases where the instruction file has been deleted from the multifunction machine 10 or the description content of the instruction file has been rewritten as a case where the instruction file has not been correctly saved.

  In addition, for each instruction file stored in the instruction information storage unit 31, the instruction information inspecting unit 32 matches the information about the transfer destination folder described in the instruction file with the information about the current transfer destination folder. Inspect whether or not Here, examples of information regarding the transfer destination folder include a path of the transfer destination folder and authentication information set in the transfer destination folder.

  The inspection by the instruction information inspection unit 32 may be performed at an appropriate timing. For example, it is performed every predetermined time or every time the instruction information inspection program is started.

  The instruction information retransmission unit 33 retransmits the instruction file stored in the instruction information storage unit 31 to the corresponding multifunction device 10 when the instruction file is not correctly stored as a result of the inspection by the instruction information inspection unit 32. If the information does not match as a result of the inspection by the instruction information inspection unit 32, the information on the transfer destination folder included in the instruction file is changed to the information on the current transfer destination folder, and the changed instruction file is handled. Retransmits to the multifunction machine 10.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the effects (1) to (6), the following effects can be obtained.

  (7) Since the instruction file transferred to the multifunction device 10 and the network address of the multifunction device 10 are stored in the PC 30 in association with each other, the instruction file is deleted or changed in the multifunction device 10 In addition, when the password of the transfer destination folder is changed, it can be easily recovered. This recovery may be performed automatically or by the user.

  (8) Whether or not the instruction file is correctly stored in the multifunction device 10 is checked. If the instruction file is not stored correctly, the instruction file is retransmitted. Therefore, the instruction file is deleted or changed in the multifunction device 10 for some reason. Even if it is, it can be repaired automatically.

  (9) It is checked whether or not the information related to the transfer destination folder included in the instruction file matches the information related to the current transfer destination folder. If the information does not match, the instruction file is corrected to the current contents and retransmitted. Therefore, even if the path or password of the transfer destination folder is changed, it can be automatically restored.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to said embodiment.

  For example, user authentication information (such as a user name and password) for a device may be registered in advance in the multifunction device 10 and user authentication may be performed in the multifunction device 10. In this case, if the user name is included in the instruction file and only the instruction file of the user authenticated by the instruction file selection screen is displayed, the user's instruction file is used by others, and It is possible to prevent accidental use of another person's instruction file.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image reading system 100 according to an embodiment. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multifunction machine 10. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of PC20. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of PC20A in an image data acquisition environment construction stage. It is a figure which shows the screen state of the main screen 50 of the image acquisition environment construction program which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the screen state of the dialog. It is a figure which shows the description content of an instruction | indication file. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the multifunction machine 10A in an image data acquisition stage. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the information processing apparatus 30 which concerns on other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image reading system, 10 MFP (image reading apparatus), 11 Operation display part, 12 Instruction information storage part, 13 Instruction information selection part, 14 Image reading part, 15 Image data processing part, 20, 30 PC (information processing apparatus) ), 21 display device, 22 input device, 23 request reception unit, 24 storage area creation unit, 25 instruction information creation unit, 26 instruction information transfer unit, 31 instruction information storage unit, 32 instruction information inspection unit, 33 instruction information retransmission unit .

Claims (1)

It met information processing apparatus connected to the image reading equipment for reading an image of a document via a network,
Request accepting means for accepting a request from the user that an environment for capturing image data read by the image reading device into the information processing device should be constructed;
When the request is accepted by the request accepting means, a storage area is created in the information processing apparatus, and authentication information for access restriction is set in the storage area;
Processing for the image data, including an instruction to receive the address and authentication information of the created storage area from the storage area creation means, and to transfer the image data to the storage area specified by the address using the authentication information Instruction information creating means for creating instruction information for instructing the content to the image reading device;
Instruction information transfer means for receiving the created instruction information from the instruction information creating means and transferring the instruction information to the image reading device;
Instruction information storage means for storing instruction information transferred to the image reading apparatus and an address on the network of the image reading apparatus in association with each other;
Referring to the information stored in the instruction information storage means, instruction information inspection means for inspecting whether or not the information related to the storage area included in the instruction information and the information related to the current storage area match,
If the information does not match as a result of the inspection by the instruction information inspection means, the information on the storage area included in the instruction information is changed to information on the current storage area, and the changed instruction information is sent to the image reading apparatus. Instruction information resending means for resending;
An information processing apparatus comprising:

Images