JPH10308840A - Network image input device and image input method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network scanner that directly transmits image data from the network scanner to a client PC. SOLUTION: The device is provided with an input control unit 45 that temporarily stores image data obtained from a scanner of an image input section 21 to a storage area 36a once and with converts the image data in the storage area 36a when connection is set up and transmits the converted data to a client PC via a network connection section 22. Since it is possible to adjust a timing and an amount of image data when the scanner reads the image data and a timing and an amount of image data when the image data are transmitted to the client PC via the network 5 by storing once the image data in the storage area 36a, the image data are sent to the client PC not via a file server, the network traffic is relieved and the server load is also relieved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network image input device and an image input method capable of reading an image via a computer network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the performance of personal computers and the like has been improved, and processing of color images has become relatively easy. Along with this, a color scanner capable of reading a color image has been widely used. Many scanners 3 are locally connected to a user's personal computer (client PC) 1 by a cable such as a Centro cable or a SCSI cable as shown in FIG. 10, and are used in the following procedure.

[0003] 1. The original is set on the scanner 3. 2. The application program is started on the client PC 1 and the parameters of the scanner 3 are set. 3. The client PC 1 starts scanning using an application program. 4. The scanner 3 sends the scanned image data to the client PC 1. 5. The client PC 1 displays image data on an application program.

[0004]

In recent years, a network-compatible scanner that allows a plurality of client PCs to share a scanner has been studied. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, a network compatible scanner 4 capable of transmitting image data to a computer network (network) 5.
Transmits the read image data to the server 2 once, gets the image file stored in the server 2 on the client PC 1 side, and receives the image data. Therefore, when inputting image data using such a network scanner 4, the following is performed.

[0005] 1. The application of the client PC 1 registers the user and the scanner parameters for each user, and stores the data in the file server 2.
Put on. 2. A document to be scanned by going to the network scanner 4 is set. 3. A user name and a parameter to be set are selected using the parameter file of the file server 2 on the operation panel of the network scanner 4. 4. Start scanning the document. 5. The scanned image data is transmitted to the file server 2. 6. The client PC 1 constantly polls the file server 2 for scan data. In response to this, the server 2 sends a response indicating that there is scan data to the polling after all the scanned image data has been transmitted. 7. When the client PC 1 receives the presence of the scan data, it reads the scan data from the server and displays it on the monitor of the client PC.

Although the scanner can be shared by such an operation, the image data is once transmitted to a server having a large storage capacity and a high communication processing speed to create an image file.
You need to do a lot of things before you can use it. In addition, network traffic is degraded, resulting in server load. In particular, since a color image has a data amount several tens times that of a normal monochrome image, it has a large effect on network traffic and server capacity. Therefore, transmission of scan data directly to the client PC is being considered. However, data for each scan line read by the scanner is sent to the client PC,
If the processing for reading the next scan line is performed after waiting for the confirmation, the speed of reading the original is slow and cannot be used in practice. Further, since the scanning cannot be started unless a connection with the client PC is established, there is also a problem that the operation does not start immediately even if the start button of the scanner is pressed. Further, it is pointed out that the scanner cannot be used unless a connection with the client PC is established.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a network image input apparatus and an image input method that can directly transmit image data from a scanner to a client PC via a network and do not cause the above-described problems. And It is another object of the present invention to provide a network image input device and an image input method that can be shared by a plurality of users without causing a load on a server or network traffic.

[0008]

For this purpose, a network image input apparatus according to the present invention comprises an image input means capable of acquiring image data by scanning a document, and a network connection capable of transmitting and receiving data by connecting to a computer network. Means, and control means capable of exchanging data between the image input means and the network connection means, further comprising: an input control means capable of controlling the image input means by setting a scanning parameter in the control means; A storage unit capable of temporarily storing the image data obtained by the control unit; and a transmission control unit capable of transmitting the image data stored in the storage unit to an address of the client PC via a network connection unit. I have. In the network image input apparatus of the present invention, a large-capacity storage means such as a magnetic disk capable of storing image data is provided, and the image data is obtained from the image input means by temporarily storing the image data in the storage means. The amount and timing of image data and the amount and timing of image data that can be transmitted from the network connection unit can be adjusted.

That is, in the network image input apparatus of the present invention, for example, data for each line read by the image input means is temporarily stored in the storage means. Therefore, the image input means can continue the reading operation of the document at a predetermined speed regardless of whether the data is sent to the client PC side. In addition, even if the connection with the client PC has not been established, the document reading process can be started. Further, even when a connection with the client PC cannot be established during the reading operation, the image data may be stored in the storage means and the image data may be transmitted to the client PC after the reading is completed. If transmission is not possible, processing for temporarily storing image data in the server is also possible. Therefore, the network image input apparatus of the present invention can perform the image reading process without being affected by the state of the connection with the client PC.
The reading process can be performed at high speed without waiting for a response from C. Therefore, image data can be transmitted directly from the network image input device to the client PC, and network traffic and the load on the server can be reduced.

Therefore, according to the present invention, image data obtained by scanning an original with an image input device is transmitted from the image input device to a client PC via a computer network.
The following steps can be adopted in the image input method for inputting the image data into the image data.

1. A setting step of acquiring an address of the client PC; 2. A reading step in which when the acquisition of the image data is started, the image data is temporarily stored in a storage unit provided in the image input device. 3. A connection step of establishing a connection with an address in a computer network when starting acquisition of image data. 4. A transmission step of transmitting the image data stored in the storage means when the connection is established.

As described above, by providing the storage means, the reading step of acquiring image data and the transmitting step of transmitting image data can be performed in parallel at respective timings and speeds. Therefore, it is possible to directly input image data from the image input device to the client PC in a short time.

[0013] In addition, a backup step of transmitting image data to a preset server address when a connection cannot be established in the connection step by temporarily storing the image data in the storage means can be provided. It is possible to prevent a situation in which the apparatus is monopolized for a long period of time or the operation is restarted without inputting image data. Such an image input method can be provided as software, and can be provided on a hard disk (H
DD) or a storage medium readable by a processing device such as a ROM.

Further, since the network image input apparatus of the present invention enables the image data to be directly input to the client PC via the network, the processing for setting the scanning parameters is also performed from the client PC side. Can be done. That is, the client PC is connected via the network connection means.
By providing the input control means capable of receiving the scanning parameters from the client PC, the client PC can control the image input device connected to the network. Subsequent to the above setting step, a parameter setting step of receiving scanning parameters from the client PC via the computer network can be provided.

[0015] Further, the network connection means may be a TCP /
By enabling transmission and reception of data using IP, a more versatile network image input device can be provided. By providing the input control means with an HTTP server unit capable of transmitting a setting file in which a scanning parameter can be set by the browser of the client PC, the input control means is not affected by the hardware of the client PC or the operating system (OS). Scanning parameters can be set via a network.
The image data is also transmitted to the transmission control means by the client PC.
By providing an HTTP server unit that can send to browsers, client PCs with different hardware and OS
Thus, image data can be transmitted reliably. Also,
It is also possible to control reading of image data from a client PC via a computer network. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a network image input device and an image input method that can be used without depending on the platform of the client PC.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of a network scanner 10 as a network image input device of the present invention. The network scanner 10 of the present example has a shape in which the side of a conventional color scanner extends,
An operation panel in which an LCD 11 and a touch panel 12 are stacked is arranged in an extended portion of the housing 10a, and a management unit 17 is installed inside the operation panel. The network scanner 10 is further connected to a computer network (network) 5 such as a LAN, and the user's personal computer (client PC) via the network 5.
1 and the server 2 can exchange data.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the network scanner 10 using a block diagram. The network scanner 10 of this example has a network 5 and a 10BA
A network connector 15 for connection using a cable such as SE-T or 100BASE-T is provided, and is connected to a bus 19 via a network control unit 18. The network connector 15 and the network control unit 18 constitute a network connection unit 22. Further, an image input unit 21 is constituted by the scanner 13 for scanning a document to obtain image data and the control unit 16 thereof. The network connection unit 22 and the image input unit 21 are connected to the bus 19,
Data can be exchanged via the control unit 20.

The control unit 20 of the present embodiment includes a CPU 25 as a central processing unit of the network scanner 10 and a CP.
It includes a ROM 26 storing software and data for operating the U25 and the like, and a RAM 27 used as a primary storage area. An LCD 11 and an LCD control unit 31 are provided as output devices for displaying the state of the network scanner 10 and the set values of each mode, and the touch panel 12 and the touch panel control unit 32, which are operation panels for setting parameters, are provided. Is provided. Further, a character generator 33 for generating characters for display and the like, a compression / decompression unit 34 for compressing and decompressing data to be transmitted and received, and image data input from the image input unit 21 to the client PC 1
An image processing unit 35 that performs processing such as conversion in accordance with a file format that can be handled by a computer, for example, a file format such as GIF or JPEG using hardware. Further, the network scanner 10 of the present embodiment includes a temporary storage area for image data input from the image input unit 21, a storage area for setting parameters of the scanner 13 set for each user,
Further, a hard disk (HDD) 36 used as a storage area for software and the like and an HDD control unit 37 are provided.

[Schematic Configuration of Network Scanner] FIG.
2 is a functional block diagram showing each function of the network scanner 10 of the present example. Network scanner 1 of this example
Reference numeral 0 denotes an image input unit 21 including the scanner 13, a network connection unit connected to a computer network (network) 5 for transmitting and receiving data, and an image input unit 2.
1 and a control unit 20 for controlling input and output of image data obtained by the image input unit 21. The control unit 20 of the present embodiment includes an image input unit 21 including the scanner 13.
The reading operation is started by setting parameters for reading the original, and the acquired image data is stored in the image data storage area 3 of the HDD 36 which is a temporary storage unit.
6a, an input control unit 45 for storing in the storage area 3
A transmission control unit 46 for converting the image data stored in the storage device 6a into image data for the client PC 1 and transmitting the converted image data via a network;
Transfer Protocol) using HTML (Hyper Tex
t files written in Markup Language) or JAVA language, etc.
An HTTP server unit 47 capable of transferring data to a C1 WWW browser is provided. Also, the control unit 2 of the present example
0 is the input control unit 45 and the transmission control unit 4
6 is provided with an operation unit 23 which can be operated on the machine side of the network scanner 10. The touch panel 12 as input means and the LCD 11 as display means are connected.

In the network scanner 10 of the present embodiment, the network driver of the network
Data can be transmitted and received using the IP, and the scanner 1 is used as a transfer file of the HTTP server unit 47.
The HDD 36 stores a file for setting parameters, a file for operating the scanner 13, and a file for displaying image data read by the scanner 13.
Is prepared in the transfer file area 36b. Therefore,
In the network scanner 10 of the present embodiment, the HTTP
The server unit 47 has a function of receiving parameters from the client PC 1 via the network 5, and includes an HTTP server unit 47 and an input control unit 4.
In step 5, an input control unit 41 for controlling the image input unit 21 based on the parameters can be formed. Also, since the HTTP server unit 47 has a function of transmitting the image data converted by the transmission control unit 46 to the client PC 1 via the network 5, the transmission control unit 46 and the HTTP server unit 47 use the transmission control unit. 42 can be formed.

The network scanner 10 of the present embodiment
By installing a network compatible scanner driver (TWAIN driver) on the client PC side, the client PC accesses the input control unit 45 via the network 5 and the network connection unit 22 to input parameters such as setting parameters. Control can be performed. Further, the image data stored in the HDD 36 can be transmitted to the client PC 1 via the network 5 using the output control unit 46.

Further, the network scanner 10 of the present embodiment
Can of course control the scanner 10 locally using the operation unit 23, the LCD 11 and the touch panel 12 and transmit image data read by the scanner 10 to the client PC 1 via the network 5. Alternatively, various processes can be performed according to the type of the document. Further, the network scanner 10 of the present example is configured to
When the connection with the image data is not established or when the connection is interrupted in the middle, a function is provided for automatically changing the output destination and transmitting the read image data to the server 2 on the network. For this reason, the client PC 1
The image data remains on the server side even when the data transfer to the network scanner fails, so that the time and effort of re-reading the original with the scanner 10 is eliminated, and the case where the network scanner 10 is occupied is reduced. I have to.

[Local Processing Procedure] FIGS. 4 to 9 show some examples of processing for transmitting image data to a client PC using the network scanner 10 of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, the network scanner 10 of this embodiment is normally in a standby state waiting for an operation request to be input in step 51. When an operation request is issued, the network scanner 10 responds to the operation request. Perform processing. First, in step 52, the operation unit 23 of the network scanner 10
If there is an operation request via the, local processing is performed in step 60. As shown in more detail in FIG. 5, in the local processing, the operation unit 2 is selected in step 61 to select a client to send image data.
In step 3, the address of the client PC is input using the LCD 11 and the touch panel 12. Alternatively, an address of a user who has already been registered in the network scanner 10 is selected. Next, at step 62, the operation unit 2
3 is used to set parameters for scanning. The parameters can be newly set using the touch panel 12, or a combination of parameters already registered with a user name can be displayed on the LCD 11, and selected from the combinations and used. . When the preparation for reading the document is thus completed, the document is set on the scanner 10 and the start key of the network scanner 10 is depressed in step 63. This causes the scanner 10 to start processing.

First, in step 64, the input control unit 45 sets the image input unit 2 in accordance with the set parameters.
1 to start scanning. As a result, the scanner 13 starts reading the document, the input control unit 41 acquires image data for each scanning line, and stores the image data in the storage area 36a of the HDD in step 65. Then, in step 67, the process is repeated until the reading of the document is completed.

In parallel with the process of reading the image data, the transmission control unit 46
In step 70, a connection is established with the client PC to which the image data is to be transmitted. In order to establish a connection, the client PC is in the Listen state with a fixed socket number. Step 7
If it is confirmed in step 1 that the connection has been established, the process proceeds to step 66, and transmission of image data stored in the storage area 36a of the HDD is started. Client P
On the C side, the fact that the image data has been received is displayed on a monitor or the like. As shown in FIG. 5, a process of storing image data in the HDD (step 65),
The process of transmitting the image data (step 66) is performed in parallel. Once the connection is established, the image data is read from the image input unit 21 having the scanner 13 and the image is transmitted from the network connection unit 22. Data transmission is performed simultaneously. On the other hand, if the connection with the client PC cannot be established in step 71, the transmission destination is changed to a predetermined server 72 on the network in step 72, and the process proceeds to step 66 to transmit the image data to the server. If a connection cannot be established, the fact can be displayed on the LCD 11 of the scanner, and the user can select subsequent processing. Further, instead of changing the transmission destination to the server, it is also possible to select a process of reading a document and periodically trying to establish a connection with the client PC while the image data is stored in the HDD. Of course it is possible.

If the connection with the client PC 1 or the server has been established, at step 68
The process of transmitting the image data to the client PC or the server is repeated until the image data in the storage area 36a of the HDD is completed. When the image data ends in step 68, the connection is released in step 69, and the transmission ends.

As described above, the network scanner 10 of this embodiment temporarily stores the image data for each line received from the image input unit 21 in the storage area on the hard disk, and transfers the image data from the storage area to the client PC 1 side. Is transmitted, and the process of storing the image data in the storage area and the process of transmitting the image data from the storage area are performed in parallel by multitasking. Therefore, the reading of the image data can proceed regardless of the state of the connection between the network scanner 10 and the client PC 1, and the reading of the image data can be started regardless of whether the connection is established. Therefore, the function of the scanner 13 can be fully exhibited regardless of the connection status with the network. In addition, since the step of establishing a connection and the step of acquiring image data with the scanner can be performed in parallel, if a start order is issued to the network scanner 10, the scanner 13 can be started without waiting for the establishment of a connection. It is possible to significantly reduce the time required for the user to operate the network scanner 10 locally. In the network scanner 10 of the present embodiment, reading of a document and a client PC for image data are performed.
1 are processed in parallel, so that the total processing time of the network scanner 10 is greatly reduced.
Even when it is determined that a connection with the client PC cannot be established, the image data can be output by switching to the server 2, so that the image data read by the scanner 13 is not wasted.

[Processing by Scanner Driver (TWAIN)] Returning to FIG. 4, when there is an operation request to the network scanner 10 via the network 5 in step 53, the client PC in step 54
It is confirmed whether the request is an operation request using a network-compatible scanner driver (TWAIN) installed in the server. If a scanner process using TWAIN is requested, a process corresponding to TWAIN is performed in step 80. First, the user once sets a document on the network scanner 10 and sets the scanner to a state in which the user is using the touch panel 12 of the scanner. An indication that the scanner is being used is displayed on the LCD 11 of the scanner. Such processing can also be performed from the client PC side. In this state, the scanner 10
When there is an access from the client PC via the network, as shown in FIG.
6 acquires the address of the client PC in step 81 and sets it as the transmission destination. On the other hand, the input control unit 46
Waits for an image processing application to be started on the client PC in step 82 and parameters set by the application via TWAIN. In step 83, when the scanner parameters are set using the application on the client PC side,
In step 84, the process waits until a packet for starting scanning is transmitted from the application of the client PC. When a scan start packet is received, scanning of the document is started.

In the process corresponding to TWAIN via the network, the same process as transmitting image data locally to the client PC is performed. First, in step 85, the input control unit 45 controls the image input unit 21 according to the set parameters, and starts scanning. As a result, the scanner 13 starts reading a document, the input control unit 41 acquires image data for each scanning line, and the
It is stocked in the DD storage area 36a. Then, in step 88, the process is repeated until the reading of the document is completed.

On the other hand, the transmission control unit 46 starts transmitting the image data stored in the storage area 36a of the HDD in step 87 in parallel with the processing of reading the image data, and in step 89, the storage area 36 of the HDD
The process of transmitting the image data to the client PC is repeated until the image data of a ends. When the image data is transmitted, the fact that the image data has been received is displayed on a monitor or the like on the client PC side. As shown in FIG. 6, the process of storing image data in the HDD (step 86) and the process of transmitting image data from the HDD (step 87) are parallel processes. Reading of image data from the input unit 21 and transmission of image data from the network connection unit 22 proceed simultaneously.

As described above, even in the processing corresponding to the network TWAIN, the network scanner 1 of the present embodiment is used.
0 temporarily stores the image data for each line received from the image input unit 21 in a storage area on the hard disk, and transmits the image data from the storage area to the client PC 1 side. And a process of transmitting image data from the storage area is performed in parallel by multitasking. Therefore, regardless of the transmission speed via the network 5 and the state of the network traffic, the image input unit 21 and the input control unit 45 can proceed to read the image data. Therefore, regardless of the connection status with the network, it is possible to make full use of the function of the scanner 13 to proceed with the processing, and the time for which the user occupies the network scanner 10 can be reduced as much as possible. Therefore, even if the network traffic situation is bad and it takes time to transmit the image data, the reading of the document in the image input unit 21 proceeds at the normal pace of the scanner 13 and the network scanner 10 is handed over to the next job or user. Can be. Therefore, the network scanner 10 can be shared very efficiently, and the scanner is suitable as a peripheral device connected to the network.

[Processing by Browser] Returning to FIG. 4, it is determined in step 55 that there is an operation request using the browser to the network scanner 10, and scanning processing corresponding to the browser is performed in step 100. . In this process also, the user once sets the document on the network scanner 10, sets the scanner in use by the user using the touch panel 12 of the scanner, and displays an indication that the scanner is in use on the LCD 11 of the scanner. . Such processing can also be performed from the client PC side. In this state, when there is an access via the browser started by the client PC 1, the transmission control unit 46 acquires the address of the client PC in step 101 and sets it as the transmission destination as shown in FIG. The network scanner 10 of the present embodiment is configured to execute WW on the client PC 1.
W browser, for example, Internet Explorer by Microsoft, Netscape Navigator by Netscape, etc., and launch URL (UniversalResou
By setting "http: // (IP address of the network scanner 10) / (file for setting scanner parameters) .html" as the rce locator and establishing a link, it is possible to access via the network. Then, the network scanner 10
When there is access from the browser, step 101
To obtain the IP address of the client PC 1 that has accessed. Next, in step 102, the HTTP
The server 47 transmits the HTML file created in the HTML for parameter setting to the client PC 1. Upon receiving the HTML file, the client PC 1 displays the setting screen of the scanner 13 on the browser. Therefore, the client PC 1 can set parameters of the scanner 13 under the same conditions as those of a scanner locally connected via the network 5.

When the control screen of the scanner 13 appears on the client PC 1, setting of the parameters of the scanner 13 is started, and the scanner 10 waits for parameter setting in step 103. During this time, the user can set a document on the document table of the scanner 13 of the network scanner 10. Further, it is possible to perform a preview using a setting screen displayed on the browser of the client PC 1 and select parameters of the scanner 13 based on the preview screen. When the parameters for scanning are determined, the parameters are transmitted to the network scanner via the screen of the browser, and the HTTP server 47 of the network scanner receives and sets the parameters in the input control unit 45 in step 104. Client P
The parameters set in C1 are stored in the HTTP server 4 using an API such as HTTP get or post.
7, the parameters are sent to the input control unit 41, and the scanner 13 is set. At this stage, since the connection between the client PC 1 and the network scanner 10 has been established, the user can operate the network scanner 10 in the same manner as a locally connected scanner. For example, the parameters can be set so that the user can obtain his / her favorite image by repeating the preview while changing the scanner parameters. During this time, it is desirable to display something on the LCD 10 of the scanner 10 to indicate to other users that the network scanner 10 is in use. When another PC accesses the same network scanner, it is desirable to display the in-use (user information) on a browser or on the network TWAIN.

The parameters of the scanner 13 set in step 104 can be registered in the network scanner 10 together with the user's IP address and the like. Then, the user can select one suitable for the document to be read from among the plurality of registered parameters and set the scanner 13. The selection of such registered parameters is performed by the client PC 1
It is also possible from the side of
It is also possible to use the operation panel 19 of “0”. The registered parameters are subjected to a scanning operation on the side of the network scanner 10 as described above, and are locally processed by the client PC 1 (step 60).
This is particularly effective when transmitting image data by using.

When the setting of the parameters is completed, the process proceeds to the process of starting the scan. First, in step 105, an HTML file that can transmit an order to start scanning is set to H.
The file is sent from the TTP server to the client PC, and the user is caused to set a file name for storing the scan data. In step 106, the scanner 13 is started after waiting for a file request command such as GIF or JPEG to be received on the client PC 1 side to the network scanner 10. When the network scanner 10 receives a packet requesting an image file, the input control unit 45 controls the image input unit 21 according to the set parameters, and starts scanning.
As a result, the scanner 13 starts reading the original in step 107, and the input control unit 41 acquires image data for each scanning line in step 108, and stores the image data in the storage area 36a of the HDD. Then, in step 111, the process is repeated until the reading of the document is completed.

In the process of the present embodiment, similarly to the above, in step 110, the transmission control unit 42, in parallel with the process of reading the image data, stores the image data stored in the storage area 36a of the HDD into, for example, 1 The image data is converted into image data such as GIF or JPEG in the file format requested by the client PC 1 for each scanning line and sent to the network connection unit 22. The network connection unit 22 transmits image data to the IP address of the client PC 1 by a network driver. And step 11
In step 3, the conversion and transmission of the image data are repeated until the image data stored in the storage area 36a is completed. When the client PC 1 receives the image data for each scanning line from the HTTP server 47, the client PC 1 displays the received data converted for display on the browser, and recognizes the reception status from the network scanner 10.

At step 111, when the reading of the original by the scanner 13 is completed, and when the transmission of the image data temporarily stored in the storage area 36a is completed at step 113, a series of image input using the network scanner 10 is performed. The processing ends, and the connection with the client PC is released. On the other hand, in step 109, if the connection with the client PC 1 is cut off when sending the image data, the process of sending the image data is bypassed. Then, when the reading of the original is completed in step 111, it is determined in step 112 whether or not the image data has been normally transmitted to the client PC.
If the transmission has failed, the process proceeds to a file transfer process described later. In the file transfer process, image data that could not be transmitted by temporarily transferring the image data to the network server 2 is prevented from being stored in the storage area 36a, and the client PC 1 could not be connected to the network 5 for some reason. At any time, a desired image file can be obtained from the server 2 later. Thus, the temporary storage area 36a
Once the image data is stored in the server 2, the server 2 can be used as a backup storage area.

As described above, even in the process using the HTTP server, the network scanner 10 according to the present embodiment temporarily stores the image data received from the image input unit 21 in the storage area, and transfers the image data from the storage area to the client PC 1 side. Image data is transferred. For this reason,
Regardless of the state of the connection between the network scanner 10 and the client PC 1, for example, regardless of the traffic on the network or the status of the program processing in the client PC 1, the network scanner 10 can read the image data. Is trying to maximize the benefits of sharing by minimizing the time occupied. Further, similarly to the above process, when the connection is established, a process of storing image data in the storage area 36a,
Since the process of transmitting the image data to the client PC 1 at any time is performed simultaneously and in parallel, the total processing time of the network scanner 10 is greatly reduced. Further, since the image data is stored in the storage area 36a, the client P is not read during the reading operation.
Even when it is determined that the connection with C has been interrupted, the image data can be switched to the server 2 and output, so that the image data read by the scanner 13 is not wasted. It is of course possible to provide a step of re-establishing a connection with the client PC 1 before transferring the image data file to the server 2.

As described above, the network scanner 1 of this embodiment
0 indicates that the document can be read in a short time after the connection is established, and the image data can be transmitted directly to the client PC 1. Therefore, as compared with the processing in which the conventional network scanner must always file and store the image data in the server and obtain it from the client PC side, the network traffic and the load on the server can be significantly reduced. .

Since image data can be sent directly by establishing a connection with the client PC 1, it is possible to establish a connection with the client PC 1 even when setting scan parameters. Therefore, it is possible to perform the same operation as the scanner connected locally while performing the preview, and set the parameters so as to obtain a desired image.

Further, in the processing of this example, communication with the client PC 1 is possible using TCP / IP, and HTT
Using P, the parameters for scanning can be set on the client PC 1 side. Therefore, a utility for setting parameters in a format independent of the platform of the client PC can be provided, and the trouble of developing and providing a scanner driver for each hardware or OS of the personal computer can be omitted. The same function as that of the scanner parameter setting file using the HTML supplied from the HTTP server 47 in the network scanner 10 of the present embodiment is the same as the processing using the network compatible scanner driver (TWAIN) described above (step 8).
0) is also possible, but in this case, it is necessary to develop and provide a network-compatible scanner driver for each personal computer hardware or OS.

[Parameter Setting Processing and File Transfer Processing] Returning to FIG. 4, when a request for parameter setting via the network 5 is made to the network scanner 10 in step 56, processing for setting parameters in step 120 is performed. . As shown in FIG. 8, the process for setting these parameters is a TWAIN-compliant scan process 80 or a scan process 10 via a browser.
This is the same process as the parameter setting as the initial setting of 0. That is, in step 121, the address of the client PC is acquired and temporarily set as the transmission destination. Next, in step 122, the process waits until a parameter is set from the application of the client PC.
Stores the set parameters. This parameter can also be selected and used in the local process 60 or the scan processes 80 and 100 via the network.

Next, returning to FIG. 4, when there is a request for file transfer in step 57, as shown in FIG.
A process 125 of transferring the primary file of the image data stored in the DD 36 to the server 2 is performed. If the image data read by the scanner 13 cannot be transmitted to the client PC or server for some reason, the HD
D36 is stored in the storage area 36a. Accordingly, when the connection is established, the image data held in the HDD 36 can be transferred by issuing a file transfer request from the server 2 or the client PC. The transfer destination is the server 2 connected to the network as a default, but it is of course possible to change the transfer destination to the client PC.

As described above, the network scanner 10 of the present embodiment is provided with various processes in consideration of being connected to the network and shared by a plurality of users. Therefore, the user can use the network scanner 10 of the present example via a network, a local operation, a scanner driver, or a browser. Further, by transferring the reading and transferring of image data via the HDD in a multitasking manner, the occupation time of the network scanner 10 can be reduced, and even if the connection is interrupted, the read image data is wasted. For example, the network scanner 10 according to the present embodiment can be shared very efficiently, for example, by preventing such a situation.

[0046]

As described above, the network image input apparatus of the present invention is provided with an input control means for temporarily storing image data obtained from an image input unit in a storage means, and a storage means when a connection is established. Means for converting the image data of the means and transmitting the converted image data to the client PC via the network connection unit, and by temporarily storing the image data in the storage means,
Timing and amount of image data read by a scanner of an image input unit, and client PC via a network
The image data can be transmitted to the client PC without passing through a file server because the timing and amount of transmission of the image data can be adjusted. Therefore, the network image input apparatus according to the present invention can directly transmit an image data input request from a client PC on the network to the client PC when the image data input request is received from the client PC. Can transmit image data.
Therefore, the operation for acquiring the image data is very simple, and the network traffic does not needlessly increase. Further, since an image file having a very large data amount such as a color image need not be temporarily provided in the file server, the load on the server can be reduced.

Further, since the network scanner of the present invention can provide a parameter setting and operation using HTTP and a utility for displaying a read screen, a service independent of the OS of a personal computer or the like is possible. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a network scanner of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a network scanner of the present example.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the network scanner according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of control of the network scanner of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an outline of a local process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an outline of TWAIN-compliant processing.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing corresponding to a browser.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of a parameter setting process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of a file transfer process.

FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing a state where a conventional scanner is locally connected.

FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a network scanner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, client PC 2, server 5, computer network 10, network scanner 11, LCD 12, touch panel 17, housing 18, management unit 19, operation panel 20, control unit 21, image Input unit 22, Network connection unit 23, Operation unit 36, HDD 41, Input control unit 42, Transmission control unit 45, Input control unit 46, Transmission control unit 47, HTTP server unit

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An image input means capable of scanning a document to obtain image data, a network connection means capable of transmitting and receiving data by connecting to a computer network, and transmitting data between the image input means and the network connection means. Having an exchangeable control means, wherein the control means can set a scanning parameter to control the image input means, and can temporarily store the image data obtained by the input control means A network image input apparatus comprising: a storage unit; and a transmission control unit that can transmit image data stored in the storage unit to an address of a client PC via the network connection unit. 2. The network image input device according to claim 1, wherein said input control means is capable of receiving said scanning parameters from said client PC via said network connection means. 3. The network image input device according to claim 1, wherein said network connection means is capable of transmitting and receiving data using TCP / IP. 4. The network according to claim 3, wherein said input control means includes an HTTP server unit capable of transmitting a setting file in which said scanning parameter can be set by a browser of said client PC. Image input device. 5. The network image input device according to claim 3, wherein said transmission control means includes an HTTP server unit capable of transmitting said image data to a browser of said client PC. 6. An image input method for inputting image data obtained by scanning an original in an image input device to a client PC from the image input device via a computer network, wherein an address of the client PC is obtained. A setting step, a reading step of temporarily storing the image data in a storage unit provided in the image input device when the acquisition of the image data is started, and a computer network when the acquisition of the image data is started. An image input method, comprising: a connection step of establishing a connection with the address in the memory; and a transmission step of transmitting the image data stored in the storage means when the connection is established. 7. The image input method according to claim 6, further comprising a backup step of transmitting the image data to a preset server address when a connection cannot be established in the connection step. 8. The image input method according to claim 6, further comprising, following the setting step, a parameter setting step of receiving a scanning parameter from the client PC via the computer network. 9. The computer according to claim 8, wherein data can be transmitted / received to / from the computer network by using TCP / IP, and the client PC is scanned by using HTTP before the parameter setting step. An image input method comprising a step of transmitting a setting file for setting parameters. 10. The image input method according to claim 6, wherein in the reading step, reading of the image data can be controlled from the client PC via the computer network. 11. The computer network according to claim 6, wherein the computer network can transmit and receive data using TCP / IP, and in the transmitting step, the image data is transmitted to the client PC using HTTP. An image input method characterized in that: