TW201419829A - A scanner, an intelligent scanner system and a method for controlling remote printing of the scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a scanner, an intelligent scanner system and a method for controlling remote printing of the scanner. The scanner including: a scanning module for scanning files in order to generate a digital message; an operation unit for entering the command to the scanner; a network connection for connect the scanner to network; and a processor connected to the scanning module, the operation unit and the network connection. The operation unit can operable to set a remote print mode, and at the remote print mode, the digital message can be directly print by a scanner which doesn't network connected to the scanner. The printer is connected to a computer, and the computer receives the digital message from the scanner by the Internet. The present invention extends the scope of application, compatibility and extensibility of the scanner.

Description

Scanners, smart scanner systems, and scanners that control far-end printing law

The present invention relates to a scanner, a smart scanner system, and a method of controlling remote printing by a scanner.

A scanner is an image capture device that converts images into digital formats that the computer can display, edit, store, and output, such as JPEG, JPG, TIFF, MTIFF, or PDF. Scanners can be used in a wide range of applications, such as combining art graphics and photo scanning into a single document; scanning printed text into a word processing software to avoid re-typing; scanning fax files into library software or word processing software Store in; add images to multimedia, and more. The current scanner is still a computer external instrument. As an image capture and input device, it must be displayed, edited, stored and outputted by other computers, such as scanners for photos, file pages, drawings, Art drawings, photographic film, film film, and even three-dimensional objects such as textiles, signboards, and printed board samples can be used as scanned objects to extract and convert original lines, graphics, texts, photos, and flat objects into computers. The format and form of the edit.

In the trend of informationization, the informationization process of input devices including scanners is indispensable. In today's rapid development of network information technology, an active, intelligent and portable scanner is needed. Complete functions such as information capture, fast conversion, archiving or printing, record storage, etc., and the role of traditional scanners as a peripheral device and input device is far from meeting the needs of the market.

In the context of the rapid development of cloud computing and cloud storage, users can store information in the cloud server, which is easy to download and use anytime, anywhere. The cloud scanner technology is also beginning to take off. The user sends the digital information obtained by scanning to the cloud server for storage through the network. Under certain conditions, the digital information can also be sent to the network printer through the network. Print operation, however, not all printers are connected or may be connected to the network. For example, the early printers were used as peripherals of the computer, and they were connected to the PC via the USB interface to enable drive printing instead of Through the Internet, especially in the printer environment of a small space such as the home, it is often connected to a printer through a desktop PC instead of an expensive network printer. These printers cannot directly print digital information sent by the cloud scanner.

The object of the present invention is to provide a smart scanner, a scanner system and a scanner for controlling remote printing. The scanner sets a remote printing mode, and can send the scanned digital information to one and scan. The printer without a network connection prints directly.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a scanner having a scanning unit for scanning an object to generate digital information, further comprising an operation interface unit capable of inputting an instruction to operate the scanner, a network connection unit for connecting the scanner to the network, and a processor, wherein the processor is connected a scanning unit, an operation interface unit and a network connection unit, the operation interface unit operatively setting a remote printing mode, wherein in the remote printing mode, the digital information can be connected to the scanner without a network connection The printer directly prints, and the printer is connected to a computer host, and the scanner and the computer host transmit and receive information through the network.

Further, the operation interface unit includes: a storage function key for setting a scan storage mode of the scanner; and a print function key for setting a send print mode of the scanner. The remote printing mode can be set when the storage function key and the printing function key are simultaneously triggered.

Further, the operation interface unit includes a remote print setting button to set the remote printing mode.

Further, the operation interface unit can manually input an IP address to set an IP address of the computer host.

Further, the scanner further includes an address management unit connected to the processor, and the operation interface unit can select an address stored in an address book in the address management unit to set an IP bit of the computer host. site. The addresses in the address book are categorized according to the specific purpose and the identification font size is configured. The address management unit sorts the address of the address book according to the number of uses.

Further, the network connection unit has a wireless network transceiver device that connects the scanner to the network through a wireless link. The scanner further includes a touch screen, and the operation interface unit inputs an instruction by using the touch screen.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a smart scanner system is provided. The system includes: a scanner that scans an object to generate digital information, and the scanner accesses the network through a network connection unit; a computer host that accesses the network; a printer connected to the computer; wherein the scanner can set a remote printing mode, and in the remote printing mode, the computer host receives the After the digital information sent by the scanner, the digital information can be directly printed directly by the printer connected to the host computer.

Further, the computer host and the scanner transmit and receive information through the network.

Further, the scanner includes a remote print setting button for setting the remote print mode.

Further, the scanner can set an IP address of the host computer. The scanner also includes a data conversion unit for converting the digital information into a data format that can be directly recognized and printed by a computer.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for controlling remote printing by a scanner is provided. The scanner is used to connect the scanner to a network by a network connection unit. The method includes the following steps: providing a a printer having no network connection with the scanner is connected to a computer host; setting an IP address of the computer host; selecting a remote printing mode of the scanner; scanning the object to generate digital information; and transmitting the digital information to The computer host; and the printer directly prints the digital information.

Further, a storage function key and a printing function key on the scanner are simultaneously triggered to select a remote printing mode of the scanner.

Further, it is selected by a remote print setting button on the scanner. Set the remote print mode.

Further, manually input the IP address to set the IP address of the host computer.

Further, an address in the address book stored in the scanner is selected to set an IP address of the host computer.

According to the technical solution of the present invention described above, the scanner, the smart scanner system and the scanner for controlling the remote printing method are provided by the scanner, and a remote printing mode is set by the scanner, and the scanning can be generated. The digital information is sent directly to a printer that is not connected to the scanner, without the need for the computer to operate the digital information, so that the scanner can be sent to the network printer for printing, or Sending to printers without internet connection prints expands the range of scanners and optimizes scanner compatibility and scalability.

100‧‧‧Scanner

101‧‧‧ processor

102‧‧‧ scan unit

103‧‧‧Operation interface unit

1031‧‧‧Storage function keys

1032‧‧‧Print function keys

1033‧‧‧ remote print setting button

1034‧‧‧Digital keyboard

1035‧‧‧Page key

1035a‧‧‧Additional Department

1035b‧‧‧Decrease setting department

104‧‧‧Network connection unit

105‧‧‧Storage

106‧‧‧Display unit

106a‧‧‧ address sequence display area

106b‧‧‧Send address display area

107‧‧‧Address Management Unit

130a‧‧‧Black and white scan key

130b‧‧‧Color scan key

200, 210‧‧‧ computer host

300, 400‧‧‧Printer

The above and other objects, features, advantages and embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent and understood.

2 is a schematic view showing an operation interface unit and a display unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a system of a scanner, a computer mainframe, and a printer according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the scanner in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a flow chart showing the address input processing in Fig. 4.

The invention will be further clarified with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, which are to be construed as illustrative only and not to limit the scope of the invention. Modifications of equivalent forms are intended to fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

As shown in FIG. 1, in an embodiment of the present invention, the scanner 100 includes a processor 101, a scanning unit 102, an operation interface unit 103, a network connection unit 104, a storage (for example, a memory) 105, and Display unit 106. The processor 101 is connected to the scanning unit 102, the operation interface unit 103, the network connection unit 104, the storage 105, and the display unit 106, respectively. The scanning unit 102 is configured to scan an object to generate digital information; the operation interface unit 103 is configured to input an instruction to cause the scanner to operate; the network connection unit 104 is configured to connect the scanner to the network; and the storage unit 105 is configured to store the scanner. Various information, including but not limited to materials and programs.

The scanning unit 102 has a common component of a scanner such as an optical imaging module, and is used for scanning an image (such as a document, a picture, a photo, a film, a slide, a 3D item, and the like carrying a certain information) to capture image information. , generate a digital information. The digital information is compressed and stored in the storage 105, which saves storage space. Of course, the digital information can be stored in a 1:1 data file. The storage device 105 can be a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory or an EEPROM for storing data and software programs, and includes a control program and a plurality of functions for implementing various functions. material. The scanning unit 102 further includes a data conversion unit (not shown) for converting the digital information into a data format that can be recognized by the printer and directly printed without being operated or edited by the host computer.

Referring to FIG. 2, the operation interface unit 103 includes a storage function key 1031 and a print function key 1032, as shown in FIG. 2, a "Host" key and a "Printer" key, respectively, for setting the scan storage mode of the scanner. And send the print mode. In the send storage mode, the digital information is sent to the host computer for storage; in the send print mode, the digital information is sent to the network printer for printing.

However, in actual use, not all printers are connected or can be connected to the network, and can be used to directly receive digital information sent by the scanner for printing. Therefore, in the embodiment, as shown in the scanner 100 of FIG. 3, the operation interface unit 103 further includes a remote print setting button 1033 for setting the remote printing mode of the scanner at the remote end. In print mode, the digital information generated by the scan can be printed directly by the printer 400 that is not networked to the scanner.

As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the printer 400 is connected to the host computer 210 through a USB interface to realize data transmission and reception. The host computer 210 is connected to the network through a wired or wireless manner, and can communicate with the scanner. After receiving the digital information sent by the scanner 100, the digital information is a printable file, which is connected to The printer 400 of the host computer 210 will directly print digital information. There is no need to send a print command to the printer 400 through the host computer 210, so that the scanner 100 can scan the generated digital information directly from the scanner without the network. The connected printer 400 prints directly, enhancing the compatibility and expandability of the scanner 100.

As shown in FIG. 3, the scanner 100, the host computer 210, and the printer 400 form a remote printing system. Obviously, the scanner 100 can also send digital information to the computer host 200, the network printer 300, etc. through the network for storage and printing operations.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the scanner 100 further includes an address management unit 107. The operation interface unit 103 further includes a digital keyboard 1034 and a page turning key 1035. The user can input the computer host through the digital keyboard 1034. (200, 210) or the IP address of the network printer 300, or the computer host (200, 210) or network may be selected from the address already stored in the scanner internal storage 105 by the page key 1035. The IP address of the printer 300.

The address management unit 107 can identify the address book imported from the outside and store it in the storage 105. Preferably, the plurality of addresses in the address book can be classified according to specific purposes by an external device such as a PC or the like. One type of address, two types of addresses, and three types of addresses are respectively configured with identification font numbers. Among them, one type of address refers to the IP address of a computer that can receive digital information, the second type of address refers to the IP address of the printer in the access network, and the three types of addresses refer to the connection and the scanner without a network. The remote printer connected to the road implements the IP address of the computer that is printed remotely. As shown in Figure 2, one type of address is marked as "P", the second type of address is marked as "H", and the three types of addresses are identified as "R". Of course, it may be marked by way of illustration, and details are not described herein again. The address management unit 107 also has a sorting unit (not shown) which sorts the addresses according to the number of uses of the addresses to form an address sequence.

As shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 106 is an LCD display screen, which can display various information such as the working mode, the settable parameters, and the time information of the scanner 100, thereby facilitating the user's operation. The LCD display screen 106 includes an address sequence display area 106a and a transmission address display area 106b. After the scanner is started, the address sequence display area 106a displays a mixed address sequence sorted according to the number of uses, and is pressed. After the "Host" key 1031, the address sequence display area 106a will display the address sequence sorted for a type of address. Similarly, after pressing the "Printer" key 1032, the display will sort the second type of address. After the address sequence 1033 is pressed, the sequence of addresses after sorting the three types of addresses will be displayed.

Preferably, on the address sequence display area 106a, each page can display 5 addresses, and the address of the first bit is automatically selected as the selected transmission address, and is input to the processor 101. The address is displayed in the transmission address display area 106b. When it is necessary to select an address of another location as the transmission address, the user can implement the page turning key 1035. The page turning key 1035 is configured as a center symmetrical structure and has an adding portion 1035a and a minus setting portion 1035b. The user presses the adding portion and the reducing portion to page up and down correspondingly, and the corresponding address is Flip up and down to select the sending information address. As described above, when the address to be sent is turned to the first bit, the address is automatically selected as the sending address and displayed at the sending address. Displayed on area 106b. In turn, the IP address of the host computer (200, 210) or network printer 300 can be selected.

A plurality of addresses in the address book may also be pre-named, and an IP address in the address book is named with a corresponding name, and the address management unit 107 The named name can be identified and displayed on the LCD display 106.

In another embodiment, the display unit 106 can also be implemented by using a touch screen to implement a control function of command input.

In another embodiment, the remote remote print setting button 1033 may not be provided on the scanner 100, but the remote print mode is set by simultaneously triggering the storage function key 1031 and the print function key 1032.

The aforementioned network refers to the Internet, and in another embodiment, it may be an internal network such as a local area network (LAN).

The computer mainframe refers to a computer device with a storage and computing function, such as a desktop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet smart terminal device (PAD), a smart mobile internet device (MID), and the computer device can receive a scanner for printing. The digital information sent by the file, a printer connected to the host computer and having no network connection with the scanner, directly prints the digital information without the need for the computer device to send a print command to the printer.

The operation flow and principle of an embodiment of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to Figures 1 through 4, in a system consisting of the scanner 100, the host computer 210, and the printer 400 having no network connection with the scanner 100, the scanner 100 will determine whether the user's operation of the scanner is set. The remote print mode (step S1), as described in the embodiment of the present invention, the remote print setting button 1033 is triggered or pressed by the user to set the far end print mode. After entering the remote printing mode, the scanner will determine whether to manually input the address to set the IP address of the host computer 210 (step S2), and if so, perform the address input processing in step S3; if not, then Stored in the scanner The IP address of the host computer 210 is selected in the address book.

Next, the scanner accepts the black and white/color scan key (130a/130b) for confirmation of the black and white/color scan job, the processor 101 controls the scan unit 102 to perform a scan job and generates digital information, and the processor 101 controls the scanner 100 to be listed. The printable file sends the digital information to the host computer 210 corresponding to the set or selected IP address. After the computer host 210 receives the digital information, the printer 400 connected to the computer host directly prints the digital information. .

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the address input processing in FIG. Where N is the number of digits the scanner needs to accept. In this embodiment, the IP address is 12 bits, and all N>12 indicates that the IP address of the 12-bit number has been accepted. The IP address only accepts 0-9 digital input. Therefore, if the digital input other than 0-9 is not a legal IP address input, it will not accept and simultaneously determine whether the input is a back key. If the user presses the back key, Said to delete an already accepted number, that is N-1, so complete the input of the IP address. In addition, the address input processing can also adopt an input manner, for example, on a computer, a smart phone, or a tablet computer. Such an input manner is easily implemented by those skilled in the art and will not be described again.

In summary, the present invention provides a scan 100 and a method for controlling remote printing thereof, and a smart scanner system, which enables the scanner to not only send digital information to a network printer for printing, but also to send The digital information is directly sent to the host computer and printed directly by the printer connected to the host computer without a network connection to the scanner, which expands the application range of the scanner and optimizes the compatibility and expandability of the scanner. The end user is using the scan When you need to purchase a network printer separately, you can use the traditional printer to scan and send the documents, saving users money.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and the present invention can be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope is subject to the definition of the scope of the patent application attached.

Claims (20)

A scanner capable of controlling remote printing, having a scanning component capable of scanning an object to generate digital information, the scanner comprising: an operation interface unit for inputting an instruction to operate the scanner; and a network connection An element for connecting the scanner to the network; and a processor connecting the scanning element, the operating interface unit, and the network connecting component, wherein the operating interface unit is operable to set a remote printing mode, In the remote printing mode, the digital information can be directly printed by a printer that is not connected to the scanner, wherein the printer is connected to a computer host, and the computer host receives the network through the network. The information transmitted by the scanner. The remotely printable scanner of claim 1, wherein the operation interface unit comprises: a storage function key for setting the scanner to send the digital information in a storage mode; and a printing function key for using The digital information is sent in the print mode by setting the scanner. The scanner capable of controlling remote printing as claimed in claim 2, wherein the storage function key and the printing function key can set the remote printing mode in a simultaneous trigger state. The remotely printable scanner of claim 1, wherein the operation interface unit includes a remote print setting button for setting the remote column Print mode. The scanner capable of controlling remote printing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operation interface unit can manually input an IP address to set an IP address of the computer host. The scanner capable of controlling remote printing as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an address management unit connected to the processor, wherein the operation interface unit selects an address book in the address management unit The address is used to set the IP address of the host computer. The remotely printable scanner as claimed in claim 6, wherein the address in the address book can classify and configure the identification font size. The remote printable scanner as claimed in claim 7, wherein the address management unit sorts the addresses in the address book according to the address usage times. The remotely printable scanner of claim 1, wherein the network connection component has a wireless network transceiver device through which the scanner is connected to the network. The remotely printable scanner of claim 1, wherein the scanner further comprises a touch screen connected to the processor, and the operating interface unit inputs an instruction by using the touch screen. A smart scanner system includes: a scanner for scanning an object to generate digital information, and a network connection component for accessing the network; a computer host that accesses the network; and a printer, Connected to the computer; wherein the scanner can set a remote printing mode, in the remote printing mode, after receiving the digital information sent by the scanner, the computer host connects to the printer of the computer host The machine will print the digital information directly. The smart scanner system of claim 11, wherein the computer host and the scanner transmit and receive information over the network. The smart scanner system of claim 12, wherein the scanner includes a remote print setting button for setting the remote print mode. The smart scanner system of claim 11, further comprising a second printer, the second printer directly receiving and printing the digital information of the scanner through the network. The smart scanner system of claim 11, wherein the scanner further comprises a data conversion unit for converting the digital information into a data format that can be directly recognized and printed by the printer. A scanner for controlling remote printing, the scanner is connected to a network by a network connection component, the method comprising: providing a printer connected to the scanner without a network connection to a computer Hosting the IP address of the host computer in the scanner; touching the remote print mode of the scanner; scanning the object to generate digital information; sending the digital information to the computer host; and directly printing the printer Print the digital information. The method of claim 16, wherein the remote print mode of the scanner is touched by simultaneously triggering a memory function key and a print function key on the scanner. The method of claim 16, wherein the remote print mode is touched by a remote print setting button on the scanner. The method of claim 16, wherein the IP address of the computer host is set by manually inputting an IP address. The method of claim 16, wherein the IP address of the computer host is set by selecting an address in the address book in the scanner.