Patent ID: 7148983
Filing Date: 2006-12-12
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image input system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses, each having a scanner function, a printer function and a network function and forming an image, and a plurality of personal computers are connected to a network, each of the image forming apparatuses comprising: first setting means for setting a public folder made public on the network; and first storage means for setting therein at least one public folder through the setting by the first setting means; each of the personal computers comprising: second storage means for storing image data; second setting means for setting exclusion of access by another personal computer to the public folder set in the image forming apparatus; transmission means for transmitting to said another personal computer via the network access exclusion setting information for excluding access to said at least one public folder set by the second setting means; reception means for receiving via the network permission/non-permission information on the access exclusion setting, which is returned from said another personal computer in response to said access exclusion setting information transmitted by the transmission means; and control means for executing a control, in the presence of new image data in at least one public folder, on which access has been permitted in the access exclusion setting, on the basis of the permission/non-permission information on the access exclusion setting, which has been received by the reception means, to read the new image data from the public folder and store it in the second storage means, and delete the new image data from the public folder.