WO2005057907A1

WO2005057907A1 - Image display device and apparatus which communicates with image display device

Info

Publication number: WO2005057907A1
Application number: PCT/JP2004/018767
Authority: WO
Inventors: Toshihiro Kadowaki
Original assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Priority date: 2003-12-11
Filing date: 2004-12-09
Publication date: 2005-06-23
Also published as: JP2005175942A; JP4537045B2

Abstract

This invention includes a reception unit (3) which receives, from a first external device (11), a document having document data for display and transfer original document data as constituent elements, or a document having document data for display and location data of transfer original data as constituent elements, a holding unit (2) which holds the document received by the reception unit (3) in a holding unit (2), a display unit (6) which displays as an image the document data for display of the document received from the reception unit (3), and a transmission unit (3) which transmits data associated with a document selected from the documents displayed on the display unit to a second external unit (20, 21). This arrangement allows acquisition of a desired document from an electronic binder formed from electronic paper or a circular notice.

Description

DESCRIPTION IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE AND APPARATUS WHICH COMMUNICATES WITH IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image display device, an apparatus which communicates with the image display device, and a system including them and, more particularly, to an image display device which can display a plurality of document images and is used to, for example, circulate a circular notice.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, circular notices have been circulated by using a sheet of paper. A sheet of paper is lightweight and allows display of information without requiring power. In addition, display of information on a sheet of paper exhibits high visibility. Even a large size sheet of paper is inexpensive and allows writing of information. If, however, the above conventional method of circulating a circular notice by using a sheet of paper, the following problems arise:

(1) A person who receives the circular notice may write something on the sheet during circulation.

(2) The circular notice may be contaminated during circulation. (3) Even if a person needs the electronic data of the contents written on the circular notice, he/she cannot obtain it.

(4) A circular notice containing old contents may be circulated.

(5) It cannot be helped but to circulate common contents to all persons who are to receive the circular notice. Unnecessary information may be circulated to some person. (6) Any person can see the circular notice. Besides, self-notification, e.g., making checks on the circular notice, is the only way to comprehend who have seen it. Under the circumstances, a circular notice like that described above may be circulated by using a general notebook PC using a liquid crystal display device. In the above conventional method of circulating a circular notice by using a general notebook PC using a liquid crystal display device, similar problems arise as follows:

(1) A person who reads the circular notice may write something on it during circulation. The notebook PC may be set to inhibit writing on the document file. In this case, however, no writing is permitted at all. (2) In the case of the notebook PC, there is no chance that the circular notice is contaminated during circulation. However, a person who reads the notice may rewrite the contents.

(3) The electronic data of the contents written on the notebook PC during circulation can be generally obtained by operating the notebook PC. In other words, any person can obtain the electronic data. In addition, in order to obtain the electronic data, cumbersome operation, e.g., connecting the notebook PC to a network, is required.

(4) A circular notice containing old contents may be circulated.

(5) It cannot be helped but to circulate common contents to all persons who are to see the circular notice. Unnecessary information may be circulated to some person. (6) Any person can see the circular notice. Besides, self-notification, e.g., making checks on the circular notice, is the only way to comprehend who have seen it. In addition, when the notebook PC is used, the following problems arise: (7) The liquid crystal display device is a display device having a liquid crystal sealed between glass frames. Since this device needs the glass frames, it is too heavy to be used as a circular notice.

(8) The liquid crystal display device consumes a large amount of power even while displaying a still image, and hence is not suitable as a circular notice.

(9) The liquid crystal display device has a limited viewing angle and hence is difficult to see at an angle. In addition, in an environment in which external light strikes the liquid crystal display device, e.g., in the open air, the device is not suitable as a circular notice.

(10) In order to make the notebook PC display various types of documents, various types of applications must be installed and run. This makes it necessary to mount a high-performance CPU and memory, resulting in an expensive device. In addition, the device needs to have a network I/F, keyboard, and the like, and hence becomes expensive. Furthermore, as the display size of the device increases, it becomes more expensive. Therefore, this device is not suitable as a circular notice to be circulated to a plurality of persons.

(11) The notebook PC takes time to start up, and hence is not suitable as such a common circular notice.

(12) The general notebook PC is high in the degree of appropriation, and hence tends to be stolen. This makes it impossible to use the device as a circular notice.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve at least one of the above problems. It is another object of the present invention to allow acquisition of the electronic data of a document such as a circular notice, as needed. It is still another object of the present invention to allow acquisition of the electronic data of a document such as a circular notice in a required format . It is still another object of the present invention to ensure security at the time of acquisition of electronic data. It is still another object of the present invention to, even if the contents of a circular notice are edited, circulate the contents before edition to the next person who is to see the circular notice. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a portable image display device according to the first embodiment; Fig. 2 is a view showing the outer appearance of an MFP 11 when the portable image display device is mounted thereon; Fig. 3 is a view showing the arrangement of the window display unit of the portable image display device; Figs. 4A to 4C are views showing other examples of the window display unit of the portable image display device; Fig. 5 is a view showing an example of an operation window of the window display unit of the portable image display device; Fig. 6 is a view for explaining the element information of each document held in a plural document holding unit in the first embodiment; Fig. 7 is a view for explaining personalized data; Fig. 8 is a view for explaining display order information subjected to sort processing and filter processing; Fig. 9 is a flowchart for the MFP 11; Fig. 10 is a flowchart for main processing in the portable image display device; Fig. 11 is a flowchart for print data transmission processing in the portable image display device; Fig. 12 is a flowchart for transfer data transmission processing in the portable image display device according to the first embodiment; Fig. 13 is a flowchart for display processing or the like in the portable image display device; Fig. 14 is a block diagram of a portable image display device according to the second embodiment; Fig. 15 is a view for explaining the element information of each document held in a plural document holding unit in the second embodiment; Fig. 16 is a view for explaining how document data for display, postscript data, and an original document URL are combined; Fig. 17 is a flowchart for transfer data transmission processing in the portable image display device according to the second embodiment; Fig. 18 is a block diagram of a portable image display device according to the third embodiment; Fig. 19 is a flowchart for transfer data transmission processing in the portable image display device according to the third embodiment; and Fig. 20 is a flowchart for transfer data processing in the fourth embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (First Embodiment) Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a document circulating system including a portable image display device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This document circulating system is comprised of the portable image display device 1, an MFP (multifunction apparatus) 11, a network 19, and personal computers (to be referred to as PCs hereinafter) 20 and 21 of users. In this embodiment, the digital paper (electronic paper) 1 which is the portable image display device 1 holds a plurality of types of document data in a plural document holding unit 5 incorporated therein, and displays them as images on a window display unit 6. A control unit 2 controls the overall portable image display device, and has, as internal parameters, a DP ID for identifying the portable image display device itself and a connectable MFP ID of an MFP which is permitted to connect to the portable image display device. As will be described later, an instructing unit/postscript data input unit 4 is a user input interface to be used by the user to press keys and input postscript data. An IC card reader/writer unit 8 is used to read and write data from and in an IC card 9 which is a detachable storage medium. The IC card 9 holds personalized data 10 of the owner of the IC card 9, who is the current operator of the portable image display device . A charging battery 7 is the power supply unit of the portable image display device 1. When the portable image display device 1 is mounted on the MFP 11, recharging is performed through a power supply line 23. An MFP-I/F 3 serves to interface (I/F) with the MFP 11. When the portable image display device 1 is mounted on the MFP 11, the MFP-I/F 3 serves to transmit/receive various types of document data and destination information between the portable image display device 1 and the MFP 11 through a signal line 22. In this embodiment, the signal line 22 is realized by a wire in the form of USB. However, the signal line 22 may be realized by radio communication such as infrared communication. In general, the digital paper 1 is carried offline and used for circulation without being mounted on the MFP 11. When the digital paper is to be browsed, each person inserts the IC card 9 of his/her own into the IC card reader/writer unit 8. The MFP 11 is a multifunction apparatus having copy, scan, and print functions. The MFP 11 also has a function as a base unit for the portable image display device 1. The MFP 11 has a function of supplying power for recharging to the portable image display device 1 through the power supply line 23. This makes it unnecessary for the portable image display device 1 to have an AC power supply unit. As a consequence, the device becomes lightweight and decreases in cost. The MFP 11 has a document writing function with respect to the portable image display device 1. When document data to be written on a given portable image display device 1 is sent from a given PC on the network, the data is held in that area of a DP spool area 16 which corresponds to the portable image display device on which data is to be written. This transmission may be performed at an arbitrary timing, and the portable image display device 1 need not be mounted on the MFP 11. The image read from an original (not shown) by an image reading unit 14 of the MFP 11 is also held in that area of the DP spool area 16 which corresponds to the portable image display device on which the data is to be written, in accordance with an instruction from the operator. When the portable image display device 1 is mounted on the MFP 11, the MFP 11 receives the DP ID of the portable image display device 1 at an arbitrary timing to recognize which portable image display device has been mounted. The MFP 11 then transmits the document data, held in that area of the DP spool area 16 which corresponds to the mounted portable image display device, to the portable image display device 1 through a DP-I/F 12. The MFP 11 also has a function of receiving document data or the like from the portable image display device 1 and printing it or transferring it to each PC on the network. The MFP 11 receives document data for printing, which is to be printed by the MFP 11, from the portable image display device 1 through the DP-I/F 12, and prints it. The MFP 11 also receives transfer document data, which is to be transmitted to the PCs 20 and 21 on the network, and destination information from the portable image display device 1 through the DP-I/F 12, and mails the data to the designated destinations through an N/W-I/F 13. When such printing and mailing are actually performed, the portable image display device 1 may be dismounted from the MFP 11. As described above, the portable image display device 1 of this embodiment has no N/W-I/F and uses the N/W-I/F 13 of the shared MFP 11. This makes it possible to decrease the cost of the portable image display device 1 and eliminate the necessity to perform cumbersome N/W setting operation. Since necessary document data can be printed by only mounting the portable image display device 1 on the MFP 11, there is no need to perform cumbersome printer setting operation. In addition, since necessary document data can be transmitted by only mounting the portable image display device 1 on the MFP 11, there is no need to perform cumbersome transmission setting operation. The MFP 11 has the copy function. The MFP 11 reads a paper original (not shown) using the image reading unit 14. The read image data is sent to an image printing unit 15 to form a copy image. The MFP 11 has the network scanner function. The MFP 11 reads a paper original (not shown) using the image reading unit 14. The read image data is sent to the PCs 20 and 21 of the respective users through a control unit 18, the N/W-I/F i3, and the network 19. The MFP 11 has the network print function. Document data or image data received from the PCs 20 and 21 of the respective users through the network 19, N/W-I/F 13, and control unit 18 are bitmapped as needed, and are sent as image data to the image printing unit 15 to be printed. The control unit 18 of the MFP 11 performs overall control of the MFP 11, and has, as internal parameters, an MFP ID for identifying the MFP 11 itself and a connectable DP ID representing the portable image display device which is permitted to be connected to the MFP 11. Fig. 2 is a view showing the outer appearance of the MFP 11 when the portable image display device 1 is mounted thereon. The portable image display device 1 is normally carried and used in an arbitrary place. When, however, a document is to be received, transmitted, and printed or recharging is performed, the portable image display device 1 is mounted on the DP-I/F 12 which is a mount slot in the upper portion of the MFP 11. Referring to Fig. 2, reference numeral 24 denotes a document platen portion of the image reading unit 14; and 25, an operation unit of the MFP 11. When the portable image display device 1 is mounted in the mount slot in the upper portion of the MFP 11, the user can check a display image on the portable image display device 1 even while it is mounted. Fig. 3 shows the structure of an electrophoretic display device used in the window display unit 6 of the portable image display device 1 according to this embodiment. As described in detail in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-72258, in the electrophoretic display device, as shown in Fig. 3, a disperse system 33 comprising charged particles 32 and an insulating liquid 31 is sandwiched between substrates 36 and 37 through an outer partition wall 42, and a pair of electrodes 38 and 39 are arranged. In this arrangement, when a voltage is applied between the electrodes 38 and 39, the charged particles 32 can be attracted to the electrode side with polarity opposite to that of the charge of the particles. In this case, coloring the insulating liquid 31 and the charged particles 32 in different colors makes it possible to perform display depending on the direction of an electric field applied to the electrodes 38 and 39. More specifically, when the substrate 36 side is regarded as the observer side, and charged particles move to the substrate 37 side opposite to the observer side, the observer observes the color of the insulating liquid 31 without recognizing the color of the charged particles 32, as indicated by the right side of Fig. 3. When the direction of the electric field applied between the electrodes 38 and 39 is reversed to move the charged particles 32 to the electrode 38 side, the observer observes the color of the charged particles 32 adhering to the electrode 38, as indicated by the left side of Fig. 3, thereby performing two-color display with the colors of the charged particles 32 and insulating liquid 31. Assume that when the charged particles 32 are moved to the electrode 38 (39) side, a fixing layer 40 (41) is subjected to a charging process. In this case, even if the applied voltage to the electrode 38 (39) is turned off or decreased, the charged particles 32 can be made to keep adhering to the fixing layer 40 (41), thereby reducing the power consumption without changing the display. An electrophoretic display device like the one shown in Fig. 3 is a reflection type display device which performs display by reflecting external light by charged particles or insulating liquid. The difficulty in seeing characters on the screen of this device, which depends on the angle at which the screen is seen or reflected light, is smaller than that in a liquid crystal display device. That is, the electrophoretic display device has excellent visibility. The electrophoretic display device need not be a backlight, and requires only slight power to maintain the display of a still image because charged particles are kept attracted to each electrode by using the fixing layer. This device is therefore characterized by low power consumption. In addition, the device requires no glass frames or the like, and hence is lighter than the liquid crystal display device. Furthermore, even if the screen size of the device is increased, the cost does not increase. Therefore, the electrophoretic. display device is suitable as a display device such as a portable large-screen circular notice, which is required to always maintain the display of an image although displayed information is not rewritten so often. Figs. 4A to 4C are views showing other arrangements of the window display unit in the portable image display device. The arrangement of the electrophoretic display device used in the window display unit 6 in this embodiment is not limited to the form shown in Fig. 3. For example, an arrangement like the one shown in Fig. 4A may be used, in which the electrodes 38 and 39 which apply a voltage to a disperse system are arranged with their surfaces being placed in directions perpendicular to each other. Referring to Fig. 4A, reference numeral 34 denotes a light-shielding layer. The electrophoretic display device may have an arrangement like the one shown in Fig. 4B, in which disperse systems are filled in microcapsules . In this arrangement, when a coating 35 of each microcapsule is subjected to a charging process, the coating can be formed into a fixing layer in this arrangement. In this case, the fixing surface for the charged particle 32 is the inner wall of the microcapsule coating 35. In addition, the electrophoretic display device may have an arrangement like the one shown in Fig. 4C, in which the electrodes 38 and 39 are arranged on the same substrate through an insulating layer 43, and the charged particles 32 translate to the substrate surface. In this case, the fixing layer 40 is formed on the surface of the insulating layer 43. Fig. 5 is a view showing an example of the operation window displayed on the window display unit 6 of the portable image display device 1. The window display unit 6 comprises the electrophoretic display device described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4A to 4C. A touch panel is mounted on the surface of this unit, and the instructing unit/postscript data input unit 4 can detect a key input at an arbitrary position or a postscript character input at an arbitrary position with a pen. Referring to Fig. 5, in an area 51, the user ID in the currently mounted IC card 9 is displayed, and the document ID of the currently display document is also displayed. In an area 52, the contents of the document are displayed. The characters displayed in an area 58 are postscript data which is not contained in the original document and is additionally written with the pen. A key 53 is used to issue an instruction to display an immediately preceding document. A key 56 is used to issue an instruction to display an immediately subsequent document. A key 54 is used to issue an instruction to transmit the original data of the displayed document to the mail address of the operator. A key 55 is used to issue an instruction to print the displayed document. When such a transmission instruction or print instruction is issued, a print instruction flag or transmission instruction flag (not shown) for each document is set to 1. When the document is displayed, information indicating whether or not the print instruction or transmission instruction has been issued is displayed in an area 57 depending on whether the corresponding flag is set to 1. In this embodiment, when the key 54 or 55 is pressed while the instruction has been issued, toggling operation of canceling the instruction is performed. However, an instruction cancel key may be explicitly provided. Since the portable image display device 1 is normally carried and used offline, even if a print instruction or transmission instruction is issued on the window in Fig. 5, the instruction is not immediately executed. The instruction is executed afterward when the portable image display device 1 is mounted on the MFP 11. In this manner, the shared portable image display device 1 is circulated, and only necessary information is printed on a sheet of paper to be individually owned. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of paper consumed. In addition, the shared portable image display device 1 is circulated, and only the electronic data of necessary information is transmitted to a given PC to be individually owned. This can further reduce the amount of paper consumed. Fig. 6 is a view for explaining the element information of each document held in the plural document holding unit 5. L101 to Llll are the element information of the first document. L112 to L122 are the element information of the second document. L123 to subsequent symbols are the pieces of element information of the third document and subsequent documents. With regard to the first document, the intra-DP document number of LlOl is a management number indicating the serial number of each document held in the plural document holding unit 5 of the portable image display device 1. The document ID of L102 is the identification number of each document which is uniquely assigned to each document in the overall document circulating system. The document data for display of L103 is data used when the corresponding document is displayed on the window display unit 6 as shown in Fig. 5. In L103, the file name of this document data for display is written. The entity of the file is held in another area of the plural document holding unit 5. In this embodiment, the document data for display is held in a low-resolution JPEG format which is common to all documents. This makes it possible to display all documents by using only a viewer for displaying JPEG images; there is no need to prepare various types of applications. In addition, since display processing for the display of data in the low-resolution JPEG format can be done lightly, it requires only a short period of time to display the data, and no expensive CPU or memory is required. That is, data can be displayed by a device with an inexpensive arrangement. This document data for display is generated by an external PC or the MFP 11 on the basis of original document data or original document data for printing (to be described later), and is sent, as one element of the document, to the portable image display device 1. The original document data of L104 is the original data of this document, which is held in a format unique to the application by which the document is generated, and can be edited by the application. In order to display each original document data, a corresponding application must be installed in the portable image display device 1. In this embodiment, however, since the portable image display device 1 is designed to perform only transfer of each document data without displaying it, there is no need to install such an application.. In other words, even document data generated by an arbitrary application can be handled. The original document URL of L105 is the information of the location of the latest original document data on the network. The original document data of L104 is the document data generated by the original application at the time of generation of this document. This data may have been updated thereafter. In this embodiment, therefore, the latest original document data is held in a file server (not shown) on the network and is allowed to be updated. The URL of the updated data is then circulated as an element of the corresponding document . This makes it possible to access the latest original document data by accessing this URL. Note, however, that the portable image display device 1 of this embodiment is normally used offline without being connected to the network, and cannot access the file server. For this reason, the original document data of L104 is normally used. The original document data for printing of L106 is data in an optimal format for printing this document, and is data in the PostScript format in the case of L106. Having PDL data in the PostScript format or the like as original document data for printing and as an element of the document makes it possible to obtain a high-quality output image by sending the data to a printer such as the MFP 11 and making the printer process the PDL data. In contrast to this, if, for example, document data for display is printed, since the document data for display is in the low-resolution JPEG format, the quality of the printed image becomes poor. In addition, if original document data is to be printed, the application which is used to generate the original document data is required to print it. The postscript data of L107 is postscript data written by the operator, like that described with reference to Fig. 5, which is held independently of other document elements such as the document data for display. The attribute information of L108 is a keyword representing the type of this document. This information is sent as one element of the document to the portable image display device 1. In the case of L108, this document indicates a document associated with "Trip" and "A-Town". The display permission information of L109 is the description of the user ID of each user who is permitted to browse this document. In the case of L109, if a given user ID coincides with one of 012345-002350, 012385, and 00500, the corresponding user is permitted to browse the document . The print permission information of L110 is the description of the user ID of each user who is permitted to print this document . The transfer permission information of Llll is the description of the mail address of the destination to which this document can be transferred. In the case of Llll, this information indicates that this document can be transmitted to the destination of the mail address "***@A-town,Kawasaki-city, com" (*** means

"arbitrary"). Describing the permission information of each type of operation for each document and limiting each type of operation accordingly can construct a document circulating system with high security strength. In this embodiment, with regard to each document, document data for display always exists, but original document data, an original document URL, original document data for printing, or postscript data does not necessarily exist. The transfer permission information of. the first document indicates permission/inhibition with respect to the mail address of a destination as in the case of Llll. However, this information is not limited to this. For example, like the transfer permission information of the second document, the information may indicate permission/inhibition with respect to the user ID of a user who is to transmit the document . Fig. 7 is a view for explaining the personalized data 10 held in the IC card 9. Although the portable image display device 1 is a shared device for circulation, the portable image display device 1 in this embodiment is personalized by using the personalized data held in the IC card 9 to improve usability. Referring to Fig. 7, first of all, L201 is the user ID of the owner of the IC card 9, i.e., the operator who is currently using the portable image display device 1. L202 is the E-mail address of the operator. In general, when mail is transmitted to this E-mail address, the mail reaches the PC owned by this operator. L203 is preference information of this operator. This information indicates that the operator favors document associated with "Trip", "Garden", and "Photo" in the order named. In the case of a paper circular notice, the contents of the notice are common to all persons who are to see the notice. In contrast, the portable image display device 1 of this embodiment sorts the notice contents according to the preference information of a given operator and sequentially displays the items of the contents in order of interest to the operator. This makes it possible to shorten the time required to check the circular notice. L204 is non-display processing filter information of this operator. In the case of this operator, this information indicates that documents associated with "Woman" and "Diet" are unnecessary to be displayed. In the case of a paper circular notice, the notice contents are common to all persons who are to see the notice. In contrast, the portable image display device 1 according to this embodiment filters the contents of a circular notice in accordance with the filter information of each operator so as not to display any items in which the operator is not interested, thereby eliminating the time to check unnecessary items of the circular notice. This makes it possible to improve the operability of the device. L205 to L207 are DP IDs of portable image display devices which this operator can use. This information is used to inhibit any unauthorized person from using the portable image display device 1. L208 and L209 are MFP IDs of MFPs 11 which the operator can use. This information is used to inhibit the portable image display device 1 from being connected to the MFP 11. In this embodiment, DP ID or MFP ID is realized by an IP address in an Ipv6 (Internet protocol version 6) format which is assigned to each device, as shown in Fig. 7. Note that IPvy is a new protocol for a data transfer system (IP) used on the Internet. Fig. 8 is a view for explaining display order information 59 which has been subjected to sort processing based on the preference information of the personalized data in Fig. 7 and filter processing based on the non-display processing filter information. Assume that the respective documents described with reference to Fig. 6 are held in the plural document holding unit 5 of the portable image display device 1, and the IC card 9 of a given user is mounted in the device. In this case, these documents are subjected to sort processing based on the preference information in the personalized data in the IC card 9 and are also subjected to filter processing based on the non-display processing filter information. Referring to Fig. 8, L301 is a display pointer which indicates the ordinal number of the document which is currently displayed. The information of L301 indicates that the fourth document is being displayed. L302 is the number of documents displayed, excluding any document which is determined so as not to be displayed in accordance with non-display processing filter information. The information of L302 indicates that 20 documents are to be displayed. L304 and subsequent symbols indicate the display order of the documents to be displayed. The numbers corresponding to these symbols correspond to the intra-DP document numbers described with reference to Fig. 6. Since this operator favors documents associated with "Trip", "Garden", and "Photo" in the order named as described in the preference information in the personalized data in Fig. 7, documents having "Trip" as an attribute are searched out from the plurality of documents held in the plural document holding unit 5, and are arranged first as indicated by L304 to L307. Documents having "Garden" as an attribute are then searched out, and are arranged next as indicated by L308 to L310. Documents having "Photo" as an attribute are searched out, and are arranged next as indicated by L311 to L313. Documents having "Woman" or "Diet" as an attribute are excluded from the remaining documents, and the resultant documents are arranged next as indicated by L314 to L316. In this embodiment, each document is made to have an attribute like "Trip", "Garden", or "Photo" assuming that a circular notice is to be circulated in a local community. If, however, a circular notice is to circulated in a company, each document may have an attribute such as a. project name or organization name. Fig. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a processing sequence executed on the MFP 11 side. First of all, when this sequence is started, it is checked in step SlOl whether or not the digital paper 1 which is the portable image display device 1 is newly mounted on the MFP 11 as shown in Fig. 2. If it is determined that the digital paper 1 is not mounted, the flow advances to step S102 to execute other processing such as copy processing, scan processing, or print processing. The flow then returns to step SlOl. If it is determined in step S102 that the digital paper 1 is newly mounted on the MFP 11, the flow advances to step S103 to start recharging the portable image display device 1 and receive DP ID from the digital paper 1 through the DP-I/F 12. On the contrary, the MFP 11 transmits its MFP ID to the digital paper 1. The flow then advances to step S104 to collate received DP ID with connectable DP ID held in the control unit 18 to check whether or not they are a connectable pair. If it is determined that they are not a connectable pair, the flow returns to step SlOl without connecting them. If it is determined in step S104 that they are a connectable pair, the flow advances to step S105 to read out each document data to be transmitted to the portable image display device 1 from that area of the DP spool area 16 which corresponds to received DP ID and transmit the data to the digital paper 1 through the DP-I/F 12. This document data includes the respective elements described above with reference to Fig. 6, e.g., a document ID, document data for display, original document data, original document URL, attribute, and various types of permission information. The flow then advances to step S106 to receive document data for printing which is to be printed from the portable image display device 1 through the DP-I/F 12 and start printing the received data for printing. If document data and postscript data are received as document data for printing, they are combined in the MFP 11 to be printed as a composite image in a state similar to that displayed in the image display area 52 in Fig. 5. The flow then advances to step S107 to receive transfer document data to be transferred and destination information from the portable image display device 1 through the DP-I/F 12 and mail the transfer document data to the mail address designated by the destination information. The flow advances to step S108 to display a transfer status and print status on the operation unit 25 of the MFP 11. The transfer status is, for example, an indication indicating that the transfer has been normally completed or has not been able to be done because of an error or an indication indicating a specific destination of the transfer from specific digital paper. The print status is an indication indicating the progress of printing of each document . According to this embodiment, when a transfer request or print request is received from the digital paper 1, the request is directly executed. However, after the operator checks each request through the operation unit 25 of the MFP 11, printing or transfer may be executed. In the former case, the operator need not perform any operation. In the latter case, erroneous printing or transfer can be prevented. In this embodiment, when a transfer request or print request is received from digital paper, the request is directly processed. However, the operation unit 25 of the MFP 11 may add or change requested print settings or transfer settings. In the former case, since no setting is changed, a usage method can be limited. In the latter case, the degree of freedom in usability increases, and an instruction for a print appearance unique to the MFP 11, e.g., a finishing instruction, can be issued by using the operation unit 25 of the MFP 11. Fig. 10 is a flowchart for main processing on the digital paper 1 side which is the portable image display device 1. This flowchart corresponds to the flowchart of Fig. 9 on the MFP 11. When this sequence is started, it is checked in step S201 whether or not the digital paper 1 is newly mounted on the MFP 11 as shown in Fig. 2. If it is determined upon this check that the digital paper 1 is not newly mounted, display processing or the like to be described later with reference to Fig. 13 is executed in step S202, and the flow returns to step S201. If it is determined in step S201 that the digital paper 1 is newly mounted on the MFP 11, the flow advances to step S203 to start recharging the digital paper 1. The digital paper 1 transmits its DP ID to the MFP 11 through the DP-I/F 12. On the contrary, the device receives MFP ID of the MFP 11 from the MFP 11. In step S204, received MFP ID is collated with connectable MFP ID held in the control unit 2. If they are not a connectable pair, the flow returns to step S201 without performing connection. In step S204, received MFP ID is also collated with connectable MFP ID (L208 and L209 in Fig. 7) in the personalized data in the IC card 9. If the MFP 11 is not a connectable MFP, the flow returns to step S201 without performing connection. If they are a connectable pair, each document data in that area of the DP spool area 16 in the MFP 11 which corresponds to DP ID of the device is received from the MFP 11 through the DP-I/F 12. This document data includes various elements described with reference to Fig. 6, e.g., a document ID, document data for display, original document data, original document data for printing, original document URL, attribute, and various types of permission information. The flow then advances to step S206 to transmit through the DP-I/F 12 document data for printing which is to be printed to the MFP 11 and issue a print request, as will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 11. The flow advances to step S207 to transmit transfer document data to be transmitted and destination information to the MFP 11 through the DP-I/F 12 and issue a transfer request, as described in detail later with reference to Fig. 12. In step S208, a transfer status and print status are displayed on the window display unit 6 of the digital paper 1. This makes it possible to check the transfer status and print status on the digital paper 1 as well. Fig. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the details of print data transmission processing in the portable image display device in step S206 in Fig. 10. First of all, in step S301, it is checked whether or not the document for which a print instruction has been issued contains original document data for printing. If it is determined as a result of this check that the document contains original document data for printing, the flow advances to step S302 to transmit the original document data for printing and postscript data to the MFP 11 and issue a print request. If it is determined as a result of the check in step S301 that the document contains no original document data for printing, original document data for printing and postscript data are transmitted to the MFP 11 and a print request is issued in step S303. It is checked in step S304 whether or not processing for all the documents is complete. If the processing is not complete, the flow returns to step S301 to perform processing for a document for which the next print instruction is issued. If the processing for all the documents is complete, the flow returns to the routine in Fig. 10. In this embodiment, in printing operation, original document data for printing is sent to the MFP 11. However, original document data may be sent instead. In the former case, PDL data or the like which is data in a format optimal for printing can be sent to the MFP 11, thereby facilitating processing on the MFP 11 side. In the latter case, original document data for printing and original document data can be unified. Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing the details of transfer data transmission processing in the portable image display device in step S207 in Fig. 10. First of all, in step S401, it is checked whether or not the document for which a transfer instruction has been issued contains original document data. If it is determined as a result of this check that the document contains original document data, the flow advances to step S402 to transmit original document data, postscript data, and destination information to the MFP 11 and issue a request to transfer the original document data and postscript data to the designated address . If it is determined as a result of the check in step S501 that the document contains no original document data, document data for display, postscript data, and destination information are transmitted to the MFP 11, and a request to transfer the document data for display and postscript data to the designated address is used in step S403. In this embodiment, as the destination information, the mail address (L202 in Fig. 7) of the operator himself/herself in the personalized data 10 acquired from the IC card 9 is automatically used. In step S404, it is checked whether processing for all the documents is complete. If it is determined as a result of this check that the processing is not complete, the flow return to step S401 for a document for which the next transfer instruction has been issued so as to perform the processing. If the processing for all the documents is complete, the flow returns to the routine in Fig. 10. In this embodiment, if the document contains no original document data, document data for display is sent instead. Assume that the document contains original document data. Even in this case, however, if the transfer of the original document data is not permitted, document data for display may be sent instead. Fig. 13 is a flowchart for explaining the details of display processing and the like in the portable image display device 1 in step S202 in Fig. 10. First of all, in step S501, it is checked whether the IC card 9 is newly mounted in the portable image display device 1. If it is determined as a result of this check that the IC card 9 is newly mounted, the personalized data 10 is acquired from the newly mounted IC card 9 in step S502. The flow then advances to step S503 to sort the documents in the portable image display device 1 in accordance with preference information in the acquired personalized data as described with reference to Fig. 8, thereby determining a display order. In step S504, first of all, the display permission information of each document described with reference to Fig. 6 is collated with the user ID in the IC card 9, and any document which is not permitted to be displayed to the user ID in the IC card 9 is deleted from the display document list. As described with reference to Fig. 8, any document of the documents in the portable image display device which is inhibited from being displayed is deleted from the display document list in accordance with non-display processing filter information in the acquired personalized data. If permitted DP IDs (L205 to L207 in Fig. 7) in the acquired personalized data are checked to find that DP ID of the self-device is not contained, it is determined that the user is basically inhibited from using this DP, and any document to which any type of access control is assigned is deleted from the display document list. In this embodiment, as described above, even an unauthorized person can browse a document to which no access control is assigned. However, an unauthorized person may be inhibited from performing any operation. If it is determined as a result of the check in step S501 that the IC card 9 is not newly mounted, the flow advances to step S505 to determine display documents on the basis of the display order determined in step S503 or S504 and the values of display pointers representing current display documents and display the document data for display of the determined display documents on the window display unit 6 as described with reference to Fig. 5. If there is postscript data to be added to the documents, the postscript data is combined with the documents and displayed. In step S506, the flow waits for key input operation or write input operation by the operator. If the transfer instruction key in Fig. 5 is pressed, the flow advances to step S507 to collate the transfer permission information of the document described with reference to Fig. 6 with the user ID and destination mail address in the IC card 9. It is determined as a result of this collation that transfer is permitted, a transfer flag (not shown) in the currently displayed document data is set to "1". The flow then returns to the flowchart of Fig. 10. If it is determined in step S506 that the print instruction key in Fig. 5 is pressed, the print permission information of the document described with reference to Fig. 6 is collated with the user ID in the IC card 9 in step S509. If printing is permitted to the user ID in the IC card 9, a print flag (not shown) in the currently displayed document data is set to "1" in step S510. The flow then returns to the flowchart of Fig . 10 . If it is determined in step S506 that the "previous" instruction key or "next" instruction key in Fig. 5 is pressed, the display pointer is incremented/decremented in accordance with the instruction in step S511. The flow then returns to the flowchart of Fig. 10. If it is determined in step S506 that information like that in the area 58 in Fig. 5 is written, the written postscript data is associated with the currently displayed document data and held as one element of the document, as described with reference to Fig. 6. The flow then returns to the flowchart of Fig. 10. For the sake of simplicity, in this embodiment, there is no description about a flowchart for processing to be done when the IC card 9 is removed. When the IC card 9 is removed or is not mounted after the power supply is turned on, processing in step S503 or S504 is executed on the basis of the default personalized data (not shown) stored in the control unit 2, thereby determining display documents and their display order. In this case, if, for example, only document data permitted with respect to every person is allowed to be displayed or printed, even a person who does not own the IC card 9 can access some documents. On the other hand, with the arrangement of this embodiment, when a document on which any type of access restriction is imposed is to be displayed, printed, or transferred, the IC card 9 of a user who is permitted to access the document is required for each operation. This makes it possible to construct a document circulating system with high security strength. In this embodiment, when the IC card 9 is removed, the postscript data written by the operator can be cleared. However, this device may be designed so as not to clear the postscript data. In the former case, there is hardly any danger that a given person who sees the circular notice will misunderstand it and becomes confused owing to the data written by another person. In the. latter case, a circular notice can be used as a message board among persons who are to see the circular notice. (Second Embodiment) The second embodiment of the present invention differs from the first embodiment only in the destination on which a portable image display device 1 is mounted, the input means for personalized data, the input means for destination information, the input means for various types of permission information, the permission unit of each type of permission information, the expression method for original document data, and the like. Therefore, only different portions will be described below. Fig. 14 is a block diagram of a document circulating system including the portable image display device 1 according to the second embodiment. This document circulating system is comprised of the portable image display device 1, a dedicated cradle 64, a network 19, PCs 20 and 21 of the respective users, a DP server 69, an access right server 71, and an MFP 11. The following is the first different point between the first and second embodiments. In the first embodiment, the portable image display device 1 is mounted on the shared MFP 11 to perform recharging, reception of a document, and transmission of a transfer document or print document. In contrast, in the second embodiment , the portable image display device 1 is mounted on the dedicated cradle 64 to recharging, reception of a document, and transmission of a transfer document or print document . The arrangement of the first embodiment is advantageous in that the documents data read by the MFP 11 on which the portable image display device 1 is mounted can be transmitted to the portable image display device 1, and the document data sent from the portable image display device 1 can be directly printed by the MFP 11. The arrangement of the second embodiment is advantageous in that a cradle can be mounted on a desk or can be owned by every home because the cradle is compact and inexpensive. The cradle 64 has a simple arrangement including only a DP-I/F 65 serving as an I/F with a cradle I/F 61 provided in the portable image display device 1, an N/W-I/F 66 serving as an I/F with a network 19, a control unit 67, a power supply unit 68, and the like. In the first embodiment, document data to be held in the portable image display device 1 is transmitted to the portable image display device 1 after being temporarily held in the DP spool area 16 in the MFP 11. In contrast, in the second embodiment, such data is held in a DP spool area 70 in the shared DP server 69. The arrangement of the first embodiment is advantageous in that, since there is no need to access an external server, the device can be used even in an environment in which it cannot access any server, and the processing speed is high. According to the scheme of the second embodiment, in which document data is acquired from the DP server 69, each document can be acquired through an arbitrary cradle on the network 19. The following is the first different point between the first and second embodiments. The first embodiment uses the contact type IC card 9 and contact type IC card reader/writer unit 8. In contrast, the second embodiment acquires personalized data by using a noncontact type wireless IC card 63 and wireless IC card reader/writer 62. The following is the second different point between the first and second embodiments . A contact type IC card like the one in the first embodiment is low in cost and is free from interference which may occurs in the use of a wireless IC card. In contrast, according to a wireless scheme like that in the second embodiment, the IC card 9 is only required to be brought near the IC card reader/writer 62 instead of being mounted in the IC card reader/writer unit 8. This scheme therefore offers good operability, and makes the IC card 63 less breakable owing to the noncontact type. In addition, there is no chance that the IC card 63 will be forgotten and left in the portable image display device 1. Although this embodiment uses the radio IC card 63, anything that can exchange personalized data in a noncontact manner can be used. For example, a cell phone, PHS, or PDA can be used. In addition, an infrared communication scheme may be used. The following is the third different point between the first and second embodiments. In the first embodiment, only the mail address written in the personalized data in the IC card 9 is automatically set as a transfer destination. In contrast, in the second embodiment, the operator is made to input a transfer destination with an instructing unit/postscript data input unit/address input unit 4 on a window (not shown) . In the arrangement of the first embodiment, since information is sent to only the mail address written in the personalized data, the degree of security is high. In contrast, the arrangement of the second embodiment increases the degree of freedom in operation can be increased. For example, the operator can give information to his/her acquaintances. The following is the fourth different point between the first and second embodiments . In the first embodiment, access permission information for each document is held in advance in the plural document holding unit 5 in the portable image display device 1. In contrast, in the second embodiment, access permission information 72 for each document is acquired from the access right server 71 on the network 19 to be used. A scheme like that of the first embodiment allows the use of the device even in an environment in which it cannot access an external server, because there is no need to access any external server, and can realize a high processing speed. In contrast, a scheme of accessing the access right server 71 like that in the second embodiment is advantageous in that it can realize centralized management of access rights to each document. Assume that the access right to a given document is to be changed. In this case, the access right can be quickly changed by only changing it on the access right server 71. Note that in this embodiment, since the access permission information of each document is temporarily copied to the plural document holding unit 5, the device can be used even in an environment in which it cannot access any server. The following is the fifth different point between the first and second embodiments . In the first embodiment, the access permission information of each document is information indicating whether access to each document is permitted or inhibited. In contrast, in the second embodiment, access permission information indicates whether access to each element of each document is permitted or inhibited. In this case, each element of each document includes document data for display, original document data, the location data of an original document (URL or the like), postscript data, and the like which constitute each document . The arrangement of the first embodiment is advantageous in that it can simplify access permission information. In contrast, the arrangement of the second embodiment is advantageous in that it can elaborately designate access permissions. The following is the sixth different point between the first and second embodiments. In the second embodiment, expiration date information is provided for each document in addition to access permission information. This prevents old information exceeding the expiration date from being circulated, and hence can avoid the occurrence of confusion. The following is the seventh different point between the first and second embodiments . In the first embodiment, when a transfer instruction is issued, original document data is transmitted. In contrast, in the second embodiment, the URL of original document is transmitted. The arrangement of the first embodiment is advantageous in that since original document data is transmitted without any change, the receiving side can directly use the data. In contrast, the arrangement of the second embodiment has the following advantages :

(1) It suffices to set a small transfer size because the URL of an original documents is sent instead of the original document data.

(2) When a person who has received the URL of an original document is to access the URL, access control can be elaborately performed by user authentication as compared with a case wherein the original document is directly transmitted.

(3) Even if an original document is updated, a person who has received the URL of the original document can access the latest document by having updated the document held in the place designated by the URL. The following is the eight different point between the first and second embodiments . In the first embodiment, printing is performed by the MFP 11 on which the portable image display device 1 is mounted. In contrast, in the second embodiment, printing is performed by the external MFP 11 through the cradle 64 and network 19. In this case, document data for printing is transmitted to the MFP 11 in the same manner as the transmission of transfer document data to each PC. Fig. 15 is a view for explaining the element information of each document held in the plural document holding unit 5 in the second embodiment . Fig. 15 corresponds to Fig. 6 in the first embodiment. The second embodiment differs, first of all, from the first embodiment in that the document data for display of L403 and the postscript data of L406 are both held in the PDF format. Holding the two data in the common format makes it easy to combine them. In the first embodiment, transfer permission information is held for each document . In the second embodiment, as indicated by L409 to L412, transfer permission information is held for each element constituting a document. First of all, L409 is the transfer permission information of document data for display. The information of L409 indicates that permission is given to all persons. L410 is the transfer permission information of original document data. The information of L410 indicates that permission is not given to all persons . L411 is the transfer permission information of an original document URL. L412 is the transfer permission information of postscript data. The information of L412 indicates that transmission to only the mail address of the operator is permitted. In this embodiment, as indicated by L413, expiration date information is provided for each document. In the embodiment, as indicated by L414, there is provided DP ID of a portable image display device which is permitted to perform various types of operations with respect to each document . This information is checked together with display permission information in the processing in step S504 in Fig. 13, thereby displaying the corresponding document on only the permitted portable image display device. This prevents any document from being displayed on a wrong portable image display device when it receives the document, and also prevents the device from issuing a print instruction or transfer instruction. This embodiment is therefore advantageous in that it can increase the security degree. In this embodiment, various types of operations are permitted/inhibited with respect to each DP for each document. However, each type of operation may be permitted/inhibited separately. Alternatively, various types of operations may be permitted/inhibited for each type with respect to each document and each cradle. This makes it possible to acquire specific document data through an arbitrary cradle and to limit a specific cradle through which specific original document data can be transmitted or document data can be printed. Fig. 16 is a view for explaining how document data for display, postscript data, and an original document URL are combined. In the first embodiment, document data for display and postscript data are separately transmitted to the MFP 11 or the PC of each user to make the MFP 11 combine them and print the resultant data, or to make the PC of each user combine them and display the resultant data. In contrast, in the second embodiment, document data for display, postscript data, and original document URL are combined into one image, and the resultant data is transmitted to the PC of each user or the MFP 11. The arrangement of the first embodiment is advantageous in that it can eliminate the necessity to perform combining processing in the portable image display device 1. The arrangement of the second embodiment is advantageous in that since data are combined into one transfer image, it is easy to handle the data, and there is no need to perform combining processing in the PC of each user or the MFP 11. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 16, postscript data 82 and location data (URL) 83 of an original document are combined on display image data 81 as a base image so as to be transmitted as one image. As shown in Fig. 16, the respective elements constituting one document, i.e., document data for display, postscript data, and an original document URL, are independently held and combined together at the time of display or transfer. As compared with the scheme of combining them together in advance and holding the resultant data, this scheme is advantageous in that each element can be independently updated. For example, when the location of the original document UR is changed, it suffices to change only the original document URL data. Fig. 17 is a flowchart for transfer data transmission processing in the portable image display device according to the second embodiment . This flowchart corresponds to the flowchart of Fig. 12 in the first embodiment. Referring to Fig. 12, original document data and postscript data or document data for display and postscript data are separately transmitted. In contrast, referring to Fig. 17, various document elements are transmitted after they are combined. First of all, in step S601, document data for display is set as transfer document data. In step S602, it is checked from the postscript data transfer permission information in Fig. 15 whether or not the transfer of the postscript data is permitted. If the transfer of the postscript data is permitted, the postscript data is combined with the transfer document data. In step S603, it is checked whether there is any original document URL corresponding to the document and it is also checked from the original document URL transfer permission information described with reference to Fig. 15 whether or not the transfer of the original document URL is permitted. In addition, it is checked whether the expiration date of each document has passed. If all are "OK", the original document URL is combined with the transfer document data in step S604. As a consequence, a composite image like the one shown in Fig. 16 is generated as transfer document data by combining the document data for display, postscript data, and original document URL. If "NG" is determined in any one of the checks in step S603, it is checked from the display document data transfer permission information, described with reference to Fig. 15, in step S605 whether or not the transfer of the document data for display is permitted, and it is also checked whether the expiration date of each document described with reference to Fig. 15 has not passed. If all are "OK", the flow shifts to step S606. In this case, as transfer document data, a composite image like the one described with reference to Fig. 16 is generated by combining the document data for display and postscript data. If "NG" is determined in any one of the checks in Fig. 605, the flow shifts to step S607, and no transfer processing is performed. In step S606, the transfer document data and destination information are transmitted to the cradle to request it to mail the transfer document data to the mail address designated by the destination information. In this embodiment, as destination information, the destination mail address arbitrarily input by the operator on a window (not shown) is used. In this embodiment, transfer permission checks in steps S602, S603, and S605 are performed with respect to the destination mail address input by the operator. This makes it possible to allow only a permitted user to issue instructions to browse and transfer each document and to allow only a user at a permitted destination to receive a transfer document. This can check not only an access right for each person who transfers a document but also an access right for each person who receives a document. It is then checked in step S607 whether processing is complete for all documents. If the processing is not completed, the flow returns to step S601 to perform processing for a document for which the next transfer instruction is issued. Referring to Fig. 17, when an original document URL is to be sent, document data for display and the original document URL are combined, and the resultant data is sent. However, only the original document URL may be sent . (Third Embodiment) The third embodiment of the present invention differs from the first embodiment only in the destination on which a portable image display device 1 is mounted, an input means for personalized data, a transmission element selection method, an access log function, a location information recognition function, and the like. Therefore, only different portions will be described below. Fig. 18 is a block diagram of a document circulating system including the portable image display device 1 according to the third embodiment. This document circulating system is comprised of the portable image display device 1, a network 19, PCs 20 and 21 of the respective users, a DP server 69, a personalize server 95, a access log server 97, an MFP 11, another portable image display device 99, and a wireless location notification device 92. The following is the first different point between the first and third embodiments . In the first embodiment, each document data is transferred to the PCs 20 and 21 of the respective users through the MFP 11. In contrast, in the third embodiment, the portable image display device 1 itself has a wireless LAN-I/F 94 to directly transfer each document data to the PC of each user. The arrangement of the first embodiment is advantageous in that the portable image display device 1 is low in cost and lightweight because it has no LAN-I/F, and the degree of security is high because original document data cannot be transmitted without through the specific MFP 11 or cradle. In contrast, the arrangement of the third embodiment is advantageous in that since original document data can be sent without through the MFP 11 or cradle, an improvement in convenience can be accomplished. The following is the second different point between the first and third embodiments. In the first embodiment, personalized data for each operator is acquired from the IC card 9. In contrast, in the third embodiment, personalized data 96 for each operator is acquired from the personalize server 95 on the network

19. More specifically, when the operator inputs a user ID with an instructing unit 4 on a window (not shown) of the portable image display device 1, the portable image display device 1 sends the user ID to the personalize server 95 to acquire the personalized data 96 corresponding to the sent user ID from the personalize server 95. As in the first embodiment, the scheme of acquiring personalized data for each operator from the IC card 9 is advantageous in that it requires no personalize server and can be used without being connected to a personalize server. On the other hand, the scheme of acquiring personalized data for each operator from the personalize server 95 as in the third embodiment is advantageous in that the size of personalized data is not limited by the storage size of the IC card 9, centralized management can be provided for the personalized data for each operator in the personalize server 95, and the IC card 9 need not be carried around. In addition, in the third embodiment, since the portable image display device 1 has the LAN-I/F 94, it can always access the personalize server 95. Other portable image display devices 99 exist on the network 19. Each of these devices also acquires personalized data to be used therein by using the personalize server 95 as in the same manner as the portable image display device 1. The following is the third different point between the first and third embodiments . In the first embodiment, when a document is to be transmitted, the operator cannot designate any specific elements of the plurality of elements constituting the document, and elements to be transmitted are automatically determined. In contrast, in the third embodiment, the operator can designate specific elements to be transmitted by using a window (not shown) and the instructing unit 4. The arrangement of the first embodiment is advantageous in that there is no need to designate elements to be transmitted. The arrangement of the third embodiment is advantageous in that specific elements to be transmitted can be elaborately designated. The following is the fourth different point between the first and third embodiments. In the third embodiment, an access log generated when documents were displayed, transferred, and printed by using the portable image display device 1 can be recorded on the access log server 97. This makes it possible to grasp who has seen or has not seen a circular notice. This makes it easy to check whether or not circulation has stagnated. In addition, since a record indicating who has seen which document of a circular notice, who has printed, and who has transmitted original document data is left, the degree of security becomes high. The following is the fifth different point between the first and third embodiments. In the third embodiment, the portable image display device 1 has a location information recognition function. The wireless location notification device 92 is placed in each place where there is a possibility that the portable image display device 1 is used. The location notification device 92 internally has unique location ID information 93, and wirelessly transmits the location ID information 93 so as to cover the area in charge. The portable image display device 1 includes a wireless location recognition unit 91, which recognizes the location ID sent from the location notification device 92 to recognize a specific place where the portable image display device 1 is currently used or not used. In the portable image display device, this location ID is collated with the accessible location ID (not shown) written in access permission information, thereby inhibiting the execution of various operations outside the accessible place. This prevents, for example, any person who has stolen the portable image display device 1 from seeing the contents of the portable image display device 1 outside a predetermined place, thus increasing the degree of security. In addition, this acquired location ID is used as information recorded as location information in the above access log when the operator performs various types of operations. This makes it possible to grasp the current position of the portable image display device, grasp the stagnated state of circulation processing, and increase the degree of security. The following is the sixth different point between the first and third embodiments. In the first embodiment, printing is performed by the MFP 11 on which the portable image display device 1 is mounted. In the third embodiment, document data for printing is directly sent to the external MFP 11 through the network 19 to print the data. Fig. 19 is a flowchart for transfer data transmission processing in the portable image display device 1 according to the third embodiment. This flowchart corresponds to the flowchart of Fig. 12 in the first embodiment. Referring to Fig. 12, when a document is to be transmitted, the operator cannot designate any specific elements of the plurality of elements constituting the document, and elements to be transmitted are automatically determined. In contrast, referring to Fig. 19, the operator can designate specific elements to be transmitted by using a window

(not shown) and the instructing unit 4, and a transfer document is determined accordingly. As shown in Fig. 19, first of all, in step S701, when an instruction to transfer document data for display has been issued and the transfer of the document data for display is permitted in the display document data transfer permission information described with reference to Fig. 15, the document data for display is set as transfer document data. Otherwise, blank data is set as transfer document data. In step S702, when an instruction to transfer postscript data has been issued and the transfer of postscript data is permitted in the postscript data transfer permission information described with reference to Fig. 15, the postscript data is combined with the transfer document data. In step S703, when an instruction to transfer an original document URL has been issued and the transfer of the original document URL is permitted in the original document URL transfer permission information described with reference to Fig. 15, the original document URL is combined with the transfer document data. As a result, a composite image like the one shown in Fig. 16 or its subset is generated as transfer document data by combining the document data for display, postscript data, and original document URL. In step S704, it is checked whether or not the transfer document data is blank data, and the expiration date of the document is also checked. If "NG" is determined in step S704, the flow shifts to step S707. If the check result in step S704 is "OK", the transfer document is directly mailed to a designated destination in step S705. In step S706, the device transmits, to the access log server 97, the transmission destination information, the transmission document ID, the transmitted document element type information, the transmission date, the DP ID of the portable image display device which has transmitted the document, the location ID information at the time of transmission, and the user ID of the user who has operated the portable image display device at the time of transmission. In step S707, it is checked whether processing for all the documents is complete. If NO in step S707, the flow returns to step S701 to perform processing for a document for which the next transfer instruction is issued. The transfer processing has been described above with reference to Fig. 19. However, when print processing or browse processing is performed, various data are transmitted to the access log server 97 as in step S706. In this embodiment, after transfer is performed, the above data are recorded on the access log server 97. However, transfer may be performed after the data are sent to the access log server 97. The former operation is advantageous in that transfer can be started quickly. The latter operation is advantageous in that the security strength increases. In addition, when it is checked whether a log has normally reached the access log server, and it is determined that the log has not normally reached, transfer is inhibited. This arrangement is advantageous in that the security strength increases . In this embodiment, the user ID of the operator is input. However, the identification information of the operator may be acquired by a biometric authentication means such as fingerprint authentication. In addition, in this embodiment, both transmission and reception of document data are performed through the wireless LAN. However, either transmission or reception may be performed through the MFP 11 or a cradle 64. If, for example, document data is transmitted through the MFP 11 or cradle 64, transmitting operation for original document data can be performed only in a specific place. This increases the security strength. On the other hand, if document data is transmitted through the wireless LAN, original document data, an original document URL, and various types of permission information can be updated in real time. (Fourth Embodiment) The fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the interface scheme between a portable image display device 1 and an MFP 11 and the like. Therefore, only different portions will be described below. First of all, in the first embodiment, the portable image display device 1 and MFP 11 are interface with each other by an electronic communication means such as the signal line 22. In contrast, in the fourth embodiment, they are interfaced by an optical means. Fig. 20 is a flowchart summarizing the transfer document reception processing in step S170, which describes the processing performed on the MFP 11 side in Fig. 9 in the first embodiment, and the transfer document transmission processing on the portable image display device 1 side in Fig. 12. In step S801, the operator instructs the portable image display device 1 to transfer a document to the MFP 11. The portable image display device 1 combines the document data for display of the designated document, postscript data, an original document URL, a destination, and document ID, and displays the resultant image on the window display unit 6. This display image is, for example, an image obtained by adding the mail address of a destination and the document ID to the lower portion of the image shown in Fig. 16. The operator places the portable image display device 1, on which such an image is displayed, on the original glass table of the MFP 11 like an ordinary sheet of paper. In step S802, the operator gives the MFP 11 an operation instruction for "transfer from portable image display device". The MFP 11 captures the document data for display, postscript data, original document URL, destination, and document ID displayed on the portable image display device placed on the original glass table by optically scanning them. In step S803, the MFP 11 analyzes the image captured by scanning to extract the destination information and document ID. In step S804, the MFP 11 acquires transfer permission information from the access right server 71 with respect to the extracted document ID. In step S805, it is checked on the basis of the acquired transfer permission information whether or not transfer to the extracted destination is permitted. If NO in step S805, no transfer is performed. If YES in step S805, the image captured by scanning is mailed to the extracted destination. Interfacing the portable image display device 1 with the MFP 11 by using an optical means in this manner makes it unnecessary for the MFP 11 to have the dedicated communication line 22. In addition, checking transfer permission information on the MFP 11 side as in this embodiment makes it unnecessary to check transfer permission information in each portable image display device. In this embodiment, an original document URL, destination, and document ID are visibly combined with document data for display, and the resultant image is displayed. However, such information may be embedded, by using a watermark image embedding technique, in a display image in a state in which they cannot be identified by the human eyes . The former technique is advantageous in that it is easy to process data. The latter technique is advantageous in that a person who receives a document cannot see unnecessary information. In this embodiment, the optically scanned display image is mailed. If, however, the MFP 11 can acquire original document data on the basis of a received original document URL, the original document data may be transmitted instead of the scanned display image. In each embodiment described above, an electrophoretic display means is used as a portable image display device. However, a liquid crystal display means may be used. Although the liquid crystal display means is disadvantageous over the electrophoretic display means in terms of power consumption, weight, and cost, an embodiment of the present invention may be implemented by using the liquid crystal display means. In each embodiment described above, only one type each of original document data and original document URL to be transferred is prepared for each document . However, a plurality of types of each of such data may be prepared for each document, and one of them may be transmitted in accordance with preference information in personalized data. For example, a plurality of types of original document data and original document URLs are prepared for each document, including, for example, Japanese and English versions , color and monochrome versions , large- and small-character versions, and application format and PDF versions . These original document data and original document URLs to be transmitted are switched in accordance with directive information in personalized data. Each embodiment described above has exemplified a digitized version of a shared paper circular notice. However, an embodiment of a shared electronic binder obtained by digitizing a paper binder is also another embodiment of the present invention. A paper binder also has the same drawbacks as those of the prior art. Therefore, applying the present invention to a paper binder can provide a portable image display device which can solve the drawbacks in the prior art, operate with an inexpensive CPU and memory, provide good visibility, is lightweight, consumes a small amount of power, is inexpensive, can be personalized, and allows acquisition of the electronic data of the contents of a plurality of documents held in the binder. The following modifications can be considered in addition to the above embodiments:

(a) Display permission information and print permission information are prepared for each element of each document.

(b) Print data and display data are prepared.

(c) A check is made on a combination of a DP and an MFP (cradle) . (d) An original document URL, destination information, or document ID is transferred to an MFP by visible light .

(e) An MFP is allowed to execute iCOPY on the basis of the original document URL or document ID transferred to the MFP by visible light.

(f) A transfer permission check is made in an MFP or cradle.

(g) A document ID is also sent as an element of a document. The document ID is also combined with a transfer image.

(h) The display language or character size is changed in accordance with personalized data.

(i) An operator is allowed to change a URL afterward.

( j ) When original document data can be acquired by an MFP or cradle on the basis of an original document URL, the original document data is transmitted instead of the URL. The following can be considered in other modifications :

(a) When the expiration date of a given document has passed, error mail is transmitted instead of the document .

(b) When access permission information is checked, transmission location information is also checked.

(c) An access right server is allowed to make various types of checks . (d) A DP is made to have biometric authentication information such as fingerprint data for "Send" or the address of an access right server. The DP is made to have such information for each document.

(e) When a DP-ID is brought close to an MFP, a storage window is displayed (in the case of a wireless I/F).

(f) The information in an IC card is encrypted. A password for the use of the IC card is then set to prevent posing and the like.

(Other Embodiment) The present invention also incorporates the following arrangement within its category. In this arrangement, in order to make the respective devices to operate so as to realize the functions of the above embodiments, the program codes of software for realizing the functions of the above embodiments are supplied to a computer in an apparatus or system connected to the respective devices, thereby causing the computer (CPU or MPU) in the system or apparatus to operate the respective devices in accordance with the program codes . In this case, the program codes of the software themselves realize the functions of the above embodiments, and the program codes themselves and a means for supplying the program codes to the computer, e.g., a recording medium in which the program codes are stored, constitute the present invention. As a recording medium storing such program codes, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magnetooptical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used. The above program codes are included in the embodiments of the present invention not only in a case wherein the functions of the above embodiments are realized when the computer executes the supplied program codes but also in a case wherein the functions of the above embodiments are realized by the program codes in cooperation with the OS (Operating System) , another application software, or the like running on the computer. In addition, the present invention incorporates a case wherein the supplied program codes are stored in the memory of a function expansion board in the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of actual processing on the basis of the instructions of the program codes, and the functions of the above embodiments are realized by the processing. According to the present invention, the electronic data of the contents written in a circular notice can be easily acquired. As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims .

CLAIM OF PRIORITY This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-413684 filed on December 11, 2003, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An image display device comprising: document reception means for receiving, from a first external device, a document including document data for display and data associated with the document data for display as constituent elements; holding means for holding the document received from said document reception means in a document holding unit; display means for displaying, as an image on a display unit, the document data for display of the document received from said document reception means; selection means for selecting a document to be transferred from the document displayed on the display unit; and transmission means for transmitting data corresponding to the document selected by said selection means to a second external device.

2. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the data associated with the document data for display is transfer original document data corresponding to the document data for display.

3. The image display device according to claim

1, wherein when the document selected by said selection means contains no original document data, the transmission means transmits the document data for display instead.

4. The image display device according to claim 2, wherein the document data for display is in a format common to all documents, and the original document data is in an arbitrary format with respect to each document .

5. The image display device according to claim 2, wherein the document data for display is image data common to all documents, and the original document data is dat in a format unique to an application which has generated the document.

6. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the data associated with the document data for display is location data of a transfer original document corresponding to the document data for display.

7. The image display device according to claim

6 , wherein when the document selected by said selection means contains no location data of an original document, said transmission means transmits the document data for display instead.

8. The image display device according to claim 6, wherein said transmission means transmits data obtained by combining the document data for display and the location data of the original document.

9. The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting transfer destination information of the document selected by said selection means, wherein said transmission means transmits document data to an external device at the transfer destination set by said setting means .

10. The image display device according to claim 9, wherein said transmission means transmits transfer destination information to the second external device, and causes the second external device to further transfer the transmitted document data to a designated transfer destination.

11. The image display device according to claim 9, further comprising acquisition means for acquiring personalized data of a current operator, said acquisition means setting a transmission destination contained in the acquired personalized data as the transfer destination.

12. The image display device according to claim 11, wherein the personalized data includes document preference information, and said display means displays a plurality of documents from said storage means in an order in which the documents are sorted according to the preference information.

13. The image display device according to claim 11, wherein the personalized data includes document filter information, and said display means displays a document of a plurality of documents stored in said storage means which has been subjected to filter processing based on the filter information.

14. The image display device according to claim 11, wherein the data associated with the document data for display includes a plurality of data for each document, the personalized data include document directive information, and said transmission means selects and transmits data of a plurality of associated data which is suitable for the directive information.

15. The image display device according to claim 9, wherein said each document data includes transfer permission information, and said transmission means transmits a document depending on whether a transfer destination set by said transfer destination setting means is permitted by the transfer permission information.

16. The image display device according to claim 9, further comprising transfer permission information acquisition means for acquiring transfer permission information for said each document data from an external access right server, wherein said transmission means transmits a document depending on whether a transfer destination set by said transfer destination setting means is permitted by the transfer permission information.

17. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein transfer permission information is set for each of a plurality of elements constituting each document. and said transmission means determines for each element of each document whether transmission is permitted.

18. The image display device according to claim 17, wherein in transferring the associated data, if transfer of the data is not permitted and transfer of corresponding document data for display is permitted, the corresponding document data for display is transmitted instead of the associated data.

19. The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising notification means for notifying a third external device of a transmission record, the transmission record notified by said notification means including one of transmission destination information, identification information of a transmitted document, transmission date information, identification information of the image display device, location information at the time of transmission, and operator information at the time of transmission.

20. The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising recharging means for recharging an internal charging battery upon reception of power from the first external device, wherein said reception means receives a document from the first external device at a timing when said reception means comes into contact with the first external device to recharge the internal charging battery.

21. The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising recharging means for recharging an internal charging battery upon reception of power from the second external device, wherein said reception means transmits a document from the second external device at a timing when said reception means comes into contact with the second external device to recharge the internal charging battery.

22. The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising: writing means for performing writing on a document displayed on said display means; and write data holding means for holding write data written by said writing means as one element of a document separately from other elements of the document , wherein said transmission means transmits the write data in addition to other elements of the document.

23. The image display device according to claim 22, whrein said transmission means transmits data obtained by combining other elements of the document and the write data.

24. The image display device according to claim 22, further comprising discrimination means for discriminating a connected state of the third external device which stores the personalized data of an operator, wherein when the third external device is set in a disconnected state, said write data holding means clears the write information which is held when the third external device is in the connected state.

25. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein said selection means has a function of selecting an element to be transmitted from a plurality of elements constituting a selected document, and said transmission means transmits the element of the document which is selected by said selection means .

26. An image display device connection apparatus which can communicate with an image display device defined in claim 1, comprising: communication means for communicating with the image display device; and means for serving as a base unit of the image display device and performing at least one of recharging, reception of a document, transfer of a document , and printing of a document .

27. An image display method comprising: a document reception step of receiving, from a first external device, a plurality of documents each including document data for display and data associated with the document data for display as constituent elements; a document holding step of holding the plurality of documents received in the document reception step in a document holding unit; an image display step of displaying, on a display unit, the document data for display of the document received in the document reception step as an image; a transfer document selection step of selecting a document to be transferred from the plurality of displayed documents; and a document transmission step of transmitting associated data corresponding to the document selected in the transfer document selection means to a second external device.