JPH10283468A - Image data file transfer system and image scanner and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To exclusively manage each user of plural servers, and to share an image scanner in an on-line mode related with a system in which the file of image data read by an image scanner is transferred to a server except a default server. SOLUTION: An account for applying an authority to use a file server A to a user C is registered in the file server A, and an image data file which can be read by the user C is stored in a network. The account of a network scanner D is registered in a file server B, and the account of the network scanner D is registered in the file server A. When the network scanner D is logged in the file server B, and the logical address of the file server A is designated by the address designating means of the network scanner D, it is logged in the file server A, and the file of the image data read by the network scanner D is transferred to the file server A.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for transferring a file of image data read by an image scanner connectable to a client / server type network to a server other than the default server, and an image scanner used in this system. And a recording medium on which a computer program for image data file transfer is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a terminal device on a network logs in to start using the network, for example, when a telephone is called by a telephone, a user name and a password are entered to indicate that the user is an authorized user of the network. Required. Also, for example, on the Internet,
Each terminal device connected to the network is assigned a logical address on the network called an IP address for identifying the terminal device.

Therefore, when using image data read by an image scanner via such a network, the user inputs a user name and password to log in to the network when transferring the read image data, and further transfers the image data. It is necessary to specify the destination terminal by IP address. However, since the image scanner is provided with only keys for setting the reading size, density, resolution, and the like, the image scanner is connected to a network via a personal computer, a workstation, or the like having a full keyboard.

However, providing a full keyboard for inputting a login name, a password, an IP address, and the like in order to directly connect the image scanner to a network causes an increase in the size of the apparatus and an increase in price. Therefore, a method of directly connecting an image scanner to a network without providing a full keyboard has been proposed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-37013).

In this method, an image scanner is positioned as a network user, and a user who requests transfer of image data read by the image scanner is defined as an image scanner user. In other words, the user of the image scanner uses the ftp protocol to log in to the server with the ID number,
Double login to log in by entering an ID number
Is taking a process.

[0006] Therefore, the network administrator needs only an account / image scanner that is a user of the network.
You only need to manage security, so a network OS
(User management) with low dependence on (operating system) is realized. In the user management in this case, a lookup table in which the user ID is associated with the transfer destination directory of the image data file is stored,
The transfer destination directory is searched by simple login by inputting an ID.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a connection state of a network using an image scanner (hereinafter, referred to as a network scanner) which can be directly connected to the network. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional method of transferring an image data file in a network in a connected state as shown in FIG.

User C (user name: GUSER, ID: 00415)
) Has an account on the file server A, and the file server A holds management information for controlling the user C, such as a directory path (/ home / 00415), as the default server for the user C. The directory path of the user C registered as a user in the file server A is stored in the lookup table in association with the ID.

Network scanner D (user name: NTSC)
AN, ID: 0041) has an account on the file server B, and the file server B serves as a default server of the network scanner D, for example, a directory path (/ h).
ome / 0041), which holds management information for controlling the network scanner D. The directory path of the network scanner D registered as a user in the file server B is stored in the lookup table in association with the ID.

Next, a method of transferring a file of image data read by the network scanner D will be described. When the power of the network scanner D is turned on, the network scanner D outputs a user name and logs in to the file server B which is a default server, and firmware or network information necessary for initializing the network scanner D is stored in the file server. B is downloaded to the network scanner D. When the user inputs the user's ID to the network scanner D and logs in, the file server B refers to the lookup table and gives the directory path corresponding to the input ID to the network scanner D. The network scanner D reads the image data and stores the read image data file by the obtained directory path.
Store in the appropriate directory.

[0011]

As described above, in the conventional transfer method, the default file server B is used.
Holds the management information of the network scanner D, which is a client, has the advantage that the management is unified. On the other hand, in the above setting, the image data can be transferred to a server other than the default server. Did not. Therefore, in the setting as shown in FIG. 5, for example, a material obtained during an overseas business trip is read locally by a network scanner capable of sending a higher-quality image than a facsimile machine, and its own file server is read over the high-speed Internet. Could not be directly transferred to the database.

Although it is possible to use the network scanner D by registering the user C in the file server B, a plurality of file servers manage the user exclusively by dividing the domain for the sake of user management. In the case of a network that does, it is impossible to respond. There is also a method to change the default server of the network scanner to the default server of the user.
In that case, the default value must be changed in the offline mode where the file server is not connected to the network, and similarly, when the changed default value is restored, the default value must be changed to the offline mode and then changed. Such a complicated operation is required.

Further, when the default server is changed, the changed default server must have the management information of the network scanner. But,
When the management information of the network scanner is managed in a multi-dimensional manner, for example, the firmware level managed by the default server may be different from the firmware level of the original default server. Each time, the firmware level of the default server was checked, and if the level was different, it was necessary to download the firmware from the default server and initialize the network scanner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and it is noted that an image scanner which can be directly connected to a network performs proxy login of a user. By having an account as a user on one server, you can exclusively manage each user on multiple servers, and temporarily use online mode without the troublesome work of resetting the default in offline mode. An image data file transfer system, which enables image scanner users to transfer image data files to servers other than the default server, and allows image scanner users to transfer image data files to any server. Image scanner to be used and image data file Yl transfer computer program is intended to provide a recording medium that have been recorded.

[0015]

An image data file transfer system, an image scanner and a recording medium according to the present invention register an account of the image scanner in a second server on a network to which a plurality of servers are connected, An account of this terminal device, which gives the terminal device on this network the right to use the first server, is registered, and an account of the image scanner is stored in the first server in which an image data file readable by this terminal device is stored. If the logical address of the first server is specified by the address specifying means for specifying the logical address on the network when the image scanner logs in to the second server, the image scanner logs in to the first server, The first server can connect to the network, and the second server The image scanner to default server to transfer files of the image data read.

In the image data file transfer system and the recording medium according to the present invention, the second server may store the image data file which can be read by a terminal device on a network to which a plurality of servers are connected. Is stored as management information of the image scanner, and when the image scanner logs in to the second server, the login information is acquired, and when the login information to the first server is acquired, the first server is acquired. Can be connected to the network, and the management information
, And transfers a file of image data read by the image scanner, which is stored in the second server and the second server is the default server.

Thus, the image data can be transferred from the image scanner to a server other than the default server without any complicated operation in the online mode.

Further, the image data file transfer system of the present invention stores a list in which information specifying a server and logical addresses of the server on a network are associated with each other in a second list.
Of the image scanner, the address specifying means of the image scanner displays this list, accepts a selection from the displayed list, and specifies a logical address on the network based on the information selected from the list. specify.
This makes it possible to specify a transfer destination server with a small number of procedures, for example, based on an easy-to-remember name.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a remote login which is a first transfer method when an image data file transfer system of the present invention is connected to a client / server type Internet. It is assumed that the image data transfer system of the present invention operates in a network environment using, for example, Windows NT (Microsoft Corporation, USA) as an OS.

In the Internet, each terminal device connected to the network is provided with a
A logical address on the network called an IP address is assigned. User C (user name: GUSER, ID: 00
415, IP address: 172.02.028.217) has an account on file server A, and file server A is user C
As the default server, the management information for controlling the user C, such as a directory path (/ home / 00415), is stored. The directory path of the user C registered as a user in the file server A is stored in the lookup table in association with the ID.

Network scanner D (user name: NTSC)
AN, ID: 0041, IP address: 172.022.028.215) has an account with the file server A and the file server B, and the file server B is used as a default server of the network scanner D, for example, a directory path (/ h).
ome / 0041), which holds management information for controlling the network scanner D. The directory path of the network scanner D registered as a user in the file server B is stored in the lookup table in association with the ID.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the first transfer method.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an example of an operation panel of the network scanner D. The operation panel shown in FIG. 2A has a display for displaying a reading setting state and the like, a mode key (Mode1, Mode2) for switching to an image data reading mode or a numeric input mode, and a reading mode. A numeric keypad that functions as a key for setting the reading size (Size), density (Dens), resolution (Reso), etc. of the image data of the network scanner D, and as a key for inputting numerical values such as an IP address and ID in the case of a numerical input mode. , A start key (Start), a stop key (Stop), and an IP address input transition key for interrupting the input of a user ID as described later.

The operation panel shown in FIG. 2B is provided with scroll keys for scrolling the display on the display up and down in addition to the above-mentioned keys. This is a UNIX
Like the HOSTS file, a table of domain names that assigns an easy-to-remember name to the server's IP address is registered in the default server, and a list of the table is displayed on the display and used for user selection. .

Next, the first transfer method will be described.
When the power of the network scanner D is turned on, the network scanner D outputs a user name (NTSCAN), logs in to the file server B, and
The firmware or network information required for initialization of the network scanner D is downloaded from the file server B to the network scanner D, and the network scanner D enters a steady state of waiting for input of a user ID. In this state, when the user presses the IP address input shift key on the operation panel of the network scanner D to interrupt the input of the user ID and inputs the IP address (172.022.028.217) of the file server A, the network scanner D transmits the temporary file. The server recognizes that the server is the file server A, and logs in the file server A because the user account of the network scanner D is registered in the file server A. If the login is successful, the network scanner D returns to the state of waiting for the input of the user ID again.

Next, when the user inputs the ID (00415) to the network scanner D and logs in, the network scanner D searches the lookup table of the file server A and finds the directory path (/ home) corresponding to the input ID. / 00415). Network Scanner D
Reads the image data and stores the read image data file in a corresponding directory according to the obtained directory path.

Since the IP address of the server is usually composed of three decimal digits × 4 digits, the UNIX HOSTS
Register a domain name table, such as a file, that assigns an easy-to-remember name to the server's IP address in the default server, and display a list of the table on the operation panel display so that the user can select it. You may.

Also, like NetWare (Novell, USA),
If the server uses the IPX / SPX protocol instead of TCP / IP, the server directly corresponds to the MAC address, and there is no IP address to identify the server.
In a network in such a case, usually, a server on the network is searched for by broadcast. Therefore, the network scanner can dynamically create a server list, and the user specifies a file server.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a second transfer method when the image data file transfer system of the present invention is connected to the client / server type Internet. In this transfer method, the user logs in to the default server and transfers only the image data file to a server other than the default server.

User C (user name: GUSER, ID: 00415)
, IP address: 172.022.028.217) has an account on file server A (IP address: 172.022.028.217), and file server A is the default server for user C, such as a directory path (/ home / 00415). It holds management information for controlling the user C. The directory path of the user C registered as a user in the file server A is stored in the lookup table in association with the ID.

Network scanner D (user name: NTSC)
AN, ID: 0041, IP address: 172.022.028.215) has an account with the file server B (IP address: 172.022.028.215), and the file server B logs into the file server A, for example, as a default server of the network scanner D. It holds management information for controlling the network scanner D, including information [172.022.028.217 (IP address of the file server A) GUSER / **** (password) home /]. FIG. 2A shows an operation panel of the network scanner D for realizing the second transfer method.
The following is used.

Next, the second transfer method will be described.
When the power of the network scanner D is turned on, the network scanner D outputs a user name (NTSCAN), logs in to the file server B, and
The firmware or network information required for initialization of the network scanner D is downloaded from the file server B to the network scanner D, and the network scanner D enters a steady state of waiting for input of a user ID.

In this state, when the user inputs the ID (0041) of the network scanner D from the operation panel of the network scanner D and logs in to the network scanner D, the network scanner D searches the lookup table of the file server B, and inputs the information. Login information [172.022.028.217 (IP address of file server A) GUSER / **** (password) home /] corresponding to the given ID.

The network scanner D reads the image data, and stores the read image data file
The file is stored in the corresponding directory of the file server A to which the user logs in based on the obtained login information.

According to this method, for example, for an anonymous ftp server, image data can be transferred by setting the user name to “anonymous” and the password to an e-mail address, so that facsimile communication using the Internet is realized. You.

As described above, according to the present invention, for example, a material obtained during a business trip abroad is read locally by a network scanner capable of sending a higher quality image than a facsimile machine, and the data is read over the high-speed Internet. Can be transferred directly to a file server database.

Further, one network scanner can be used for a plurality of purposes, such as normally using a network scanner for electronic filing in an office and temporarily issuing an order form to the outside.

The image data file transfer system of the present invention is specifically realized by a combination of an image scanner as a network scanner and a recording medium for causing a server to read the computer program for transferring the image data file of the present invention. Is what is done.

[0038]

As described above, the image data file transfer system of the present invention, the image scanner and the recording medium used in the system, pay attention to the point that the image scanner which can be directly connected to the network performs the proxy login of the user. However, since the image scanner has an account as a user on multiple servers, each user on multiple servers is exclusively managed, while the on-line operation is performed without the complicated work of resetting the default in offline mode. An excellent effect that the image scanner file can be temporarily transferred to a server other than the default server in the line mode, and the image scanner user can transfer the image data file to any server. To play.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a first transfer method of the system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of an operation panel for realizing the transfer method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a second transfer method of the system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a network connection state;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional transfer method.

Claims (6)

[Claims] An account of a terminal device, which gives a terminal device on the network a right to use the first server, is registered in a first server on a network to which a plurality of servers are connected. In a system for transferring an image data file to a first server on a network in which an image data file that can be read by a terminal device is stored, connection to the network is possible, and the second server is set as a default server. An image scanner having an address designating unit for designating a logical address on the network; a unit for registering an account of the image scanner in a second server; and a unit for registering an account of the image scanner in a first server. When the image scanner logs in to the second server,
Means for logging in to the first server when the logical address of the first server is designated by the address designating means; and file for image data read by the image scanner when logging in to the first server by the means. Transferring the image data to the first server. 2. A list in which information for specifying a server and a logical address of the server on a network is associated with a second list.
Means for storing in the server, the image scanner includes means for displaying the list, and means for receiving selection from the displayed list, and the address designating means of the image scanner includes: 2. The image data file transfer system according to claim 1, further comprising means for designating a logical address on a network based on the information selected from. 3. A system for transferring an image data file to a first server storing an image data file that can be read by a terminal device on a network to which a plurality of servers are connected, wherein connection to the network is possible. Storing the management information in the second server, and setting the second server as a default server; storing the login information to the first server in the second server; Means for storing information as information, means for acquiring the login information when the image scanner logs in to the second server, and means for reading when the means acquires login information for the first server. Means for transferring the image data file to the first server. Image data file transfer system that. 4. A second server on a network to which a plurality of servers are connected is set as a default, and the image data file is transferred to a first server storing an image data file which can be read by a terminal device on the network. An image scanner, comprising: an address designating unit that designates a logical address on the network; when logging in to a second server, if the logical address of the first server is designated by the address designating unit, reading is performed. An image scanner for transferring a file of image data to a first server. 5. An account of the terminal device, which gives a terminal device on the network the right to use the first server, is registered in a first server on a network to which a plurality of servers are connected, and A first server can be connected to the network on a network in which the image data file that can be read by the terminal device is stored. The second server can be a default server, and a logical address on the network can be changed. Registering an account of the image scanner in a second server on a recording medium in which a computer program for transferring a file of image data read by an image scanner provided with an address designating means is designated; Registering the image scanner account on a server; When the image scanner has logged in to the second server,
A step of logging in to the first server when the logical address of the first server is designated by the address designating unit; and a step of logging in the file of the image data read by the image scanner to the first server when logging in to the first server. Transferring the data to a server. 6. A first server that stores an image data file that can be read by a terminal device on a network to which a plurality of servers are connected and that can be connected to the network and transmits management information to a second server. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for transferring a file of image data read by an image scanner stored in a second server and having a second server as a default server. Storing the login information as management information of the image scanner; obtaining the login information when the image scanner logs in to the second server; and obtaining the login information to the first server. In the case, the image data file read by the image scanner is stored in the first file. Recording the computer program including a step of transferring to a server.