Patent ID: 8312274
Filing Date: 2012-11-13
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A printing apparatus, comprising: authentication means for performing a first authenticating of a user account by determining whether the user account and a password entered by a user correspond with a registered user account and a password associated to the registered user account, respectively; scan means for scanning a document to obtain image data after the first authentication has been made; compression means for compressing the obtained image data according to a specified file format contained in a received scan instruction; encryption means for encrypting the compressed obtained image data; transmission means for transmitting the encrypted compressed obtained image data and the authenticated user account to an archive server through a network; decompression means for decompressing the compressed obtained image data; printing means for printing, automatically without user intervention, the image data responsive to receipt of a notification indicative of completion of archiving of the image data and the authenticated user account after transmitting the obtained image data and the authenticated user account; inquiry means for inquiring about whether a communication with the archive server is available, when the notification is not received; wherein the transmission means is further constructed for retransmitting the encrypted compressed obtained image data and the authenticated user account to the archive server through the network when it is found that a communication with the archive server is available by the inquiry; wherein, responsive to receipt of a notification indicative of completion of archiving of the image data and the authenticated user account after retransmitting the encrypted compressed obtained image data and the authenticated user account, the authentication means is further constructed for allowing a user to reenter a user account and a password before printing the image data, and for performing a second authenticating of the user account by determining whether the user account and the password reentered by the user correspond with a registered user account and a password associated to the registered user account, respectively; and determination means for determining whether the user account authenticated by the first authentication corresponds with the user account authenticated by the second authentication; wherein the printing means is further constructed for printing the image data in a case where the user accounts are determined to correspond.