Abstract:
An image transmission system capable of reducing the amount of labor required of the user during registration of one-touch information. The image transmission system comprises an image transmission apparatus and a relay apparatus that sends image data received from such image transmission apparatus to a prescribed recipient. Such relay apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives from the image transmission apparatus image data and setting information for the transmission thereof, a specifying unit that specifies the user who sent the image data, a storage unit that stores and associates the specified user and the setting information, a transmission unit that sends the received image data to a prescribed recipient in accordance with the setting information, and an output unit that, when accessed by the user, outputs the setting information stored in the storage unit and corresponding to such user as information for creation of one-touch buttons. Such image transmission apparatus includes a transmission unit that sends the image data and the setting information to the relay apparatus, a receiving unit that receives the information for creation of one-touch buttons that was output from the relay apparatus, and a display unit that creates one-touch buttons based on the information for creation of one-touch buttons and displays them.

Description:
[0001]     This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-142643 filed in Japan on May 12, 2004, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to an image transmission system, and more particularly to an image transmission system that can easily register information for creation of a one-touch button as well as to an image transmission apparatus and relay apparatus included in such system.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Apparatuses that include a scanner that reads an original document, such as MFPs (Multifunction Peripherals), are known in the conventional art, and electronic data obtained though scanning using an MFP or other apparatus can be sent to others.  
         [0006]     When a user operates the operation panel of an MFP or similar apparatus to send image data to a desired recipient, a one-touch button is often used. One-touch buttons are buttons displayed on the liquid crystal display of the operation panel (or buttons comprising mechanical switches), and by pressing a one-touch button, transmission is made to the recipient corresponding to that one-touch button using parameter values corresponding to that one-touch button (such as scan mode or transmission mode).  
         [0007]     The use of a one-touch button reduces the amount of effort needed by the user to input the setting information.  
         [0008]     The prior art includes Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-30108, which discloses a technology that, in connection with a facsimile machine that sends and receives images, extracts and automatically registers the e-mail address from a received image e-mail.  
         [0009]     Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-307782 discloses a scanner that registers scanning parameter values in association with a user ID input into the scanner main unit.  
         [0010]     Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-148753 discloses a network scanner for which the scan parameter values are reserved therein in advance from the host computer. According to this technology, when an IC card is inserted in the scanner, personal authentication is carried out based thereon, a list of scan parameter values reserved in advance is loaded, and user selection of parameter values is accepted from among this list.  
         [0011]     Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-87479 discloses a technology for a scan server to record scanning information including the user ID and scanning parameter values and send the scanning information corresponding to the user ID to the scanner. The scanner displays the received scanning information on the operation display to enable the user to change them.  
         [0012]     However, because information such as the recipient and transmission parameter values (one-touch information) must be registered in association with a one-touch button, the user is required carry out a registration operation.  
       OBJECT AND SUMMARY  
       [0013]     An object of the present invention is to provide an improved image transmission system that resolves the various problems identified above.  
         [0014]     Another object of the present invention is to provide an image transmission system that can reduce the amount of labor required of the user during registration of one-touch information.  
         [0015]     These objects can be attained by providing an image transmission system comprising an image transmission apparatus and a relay apparatus that sends image data received from such image transmission apparatus to a prescribed recipient, wherein 
        such relay apparatus including: 
            a receiving unit that receives from the image transmission apparatus image data and setting information for the transmission thereof;     a specifying unit that specifies the user who sent the image data;     a storage unit that stores and associates the specified user and the setting information;     a transmission unit that sends the received image data to a prescribed recipient in accordance with the setting information; and     an output unit that, when accessed by the user, outputs the setting information stored in the storage unit and corresponding to such user as information for creation of one-touch buttons, and    
            such image transmission apparatus including: 
            a transmission unit that sends the image data and the setting information to the relay apparatus;     a receiving unit that receives the information for creation of one-touch buttons that was output from the relay apparatus; and     a display unit that creates one-touch buttons based on the information for creation of one-touch buttons and displays them.   
               
 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0026]     These and other objects and features of the present invention will become clear from the following description taken in conjunction with the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the construction of an image transmission system comprising one embodiment of the present invention, which includes a relay apparatus and image transmission apparatuses;  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the construction of one of the MFPs  100   a ,  100   b  shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing the construction of either of the PCs  300   a ,  300   b  or the server  400  shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  explains the processing carried out by the MFP  100 , server  400  and PC  300   a;    
         [0031]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing the processing carried out by the server  400 ;  
         [0032]      FIG. 6  shows a specific example of one-touch buttons displayed on the operation panel  127  of the MFP;  
         [0033]      FIG. 7  shows a specific example of a one-touch registration management table; and  
         [0034]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart showing the processing carried out by the MFP  100 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0035]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the construction of an image transmission system comprising one embodiment of the present invention, which includes a relay apparatus and image transmission apparatuses.  
         [0036]     With reference to the drawing, the image transmission system comprises MFPs  100   a ,  100   b , which serve as image transmission apparatuses, user PCs  300   a ,  300   b , and a server  400  serving as a relay apparatus, all of which are connected to a network.  
         [0037]     Where image data read by the MFP  100   a  (or  100   b ) is to be sent to the external PC  300   a  (or  300   b ) via the server  400 , the MFP  100   a  sends the setting entered by the MFP user to the server  400  as well. Where a session is underway between the MFP  100   a  and the server  400  for one user account and the received setting is not saved in the server  400  as a setting for that user, the server  400  saves the received setting as setting (one-touch information) for that user.  
         [0038]     For example, an e-mail or a dedicated software program may be used to transmit an image from the MFP  100   a . Where transmission is made using an e-mail, the server  400  serves as a mail server.  
         [0039]     Where a session is underway between the MFP  100   a  and the server  400  using a public account (i.e., an account that can be used by any user, who need not be a specified user) or where no session is underway, the server  400  specifies the user who sent the image from the ‘From:’ address of the received e-mail or the like, and saves this information as a setting (one-touch information) for that user.  
         [0040]     The setting thus saved is sent from the server  400  to the MFP  100   a  or  100   b  next time onward when a session is held between the MFP  100   a  or  100   b  and the server  400 . The MFP  100   a  or  100   b  creates and displays one-touch buttons on its liquid crystal display or the like based on the received setting (one-touch information). The user can easily execute transmission without entering any setting information by using these one-touch buttons.  
         [0041]     According to this embodiment, because one-touch information is automatically registered based on communication between the MFP and the server as described above, it is no longer necessary for the user to register one-touch information using a dedicated registration operation. In addition, because one-touch information is registered on the server, one-touch information can be shared among multiple MFPs. In other words, one-touch information registered using the MFP  100   a  can be used on the MFP  100   b  as well.  
         [0042]     Furthermore, because one-touch information is recorded on the server, there is less of a limitation on the number of registrations that can be made in comparison with the situation in which one-touch information is recorded on a device such as an MFP.  
         [0043]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the construction of one of the MFPs  100   a ,  100   b  shown in  FIG. 1 . An MFP is a complex apparatus including a scanner function, copier function, fax function and printer function.  
         [0044]     With reference to the drawing, the MFP  100  has a panel application  101  to control the operation panel, a printer application  103  for printer control, a scanner application  105  for scanner control, a CPU  151  that executes these applications and performs various types of processing, a facsimile application  107  for sending and receiving faxes, and a box application  109  to control the box (hard disk drive) that stores image data.  
         [0045]     The scanner application  105  is a software program to execute such processes as scanner control, format conversion, e-mail creation, e-mail transmission and job management.  
         [0046]     The MFP  100  includes a control layer API (Application Program Interface)  111 , an I/O control block  113 , an engine control block  115 , an OS (Operating System)  117  and a hard disk drive (box)  119 .  
         [0047]     The MFP  100  also has a printer  121  comprising hardware, a scanner  123  comprising scanning means, an I/O  125  and an operation panel  127 .  
         [0048]     The operation panel  127  in this embodiment comprises a liquid crystal display device layered with a touch panel. One-touch buttons are displayed on the liquid crystal display device based on one-touch information, and pressing of a one-touch button is detected via the touch panel.  
         [0049]     When scanning of an original document is carried out by the scanner  123  (operation ( 2 ) in  FIG. 2 ) through the operation of the operation panel  127  (operation ( 1 ) in  FIG. 2 ), the scan data is sent to the scanner application  105 , which performs format conversion of the scan data as well as e-mail creation and transmission (operation ( 3 ) in  FIG. 2 ). The data is subsequently sent to an external apparatus via the I/O  125  (operation ( 4 ) in  FIG. 2 ). The arrow in  FIG. 2  shows this data flow.  
         [0050]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing the construction of any of the PCs  300   a ,  300   b  and the server  400  shown in  FIG. 1 . These comprise ordinary personal computers, and in this embodiment have identical constructions.  
         [0051]     With reference to the drawing, the PC (or server) includes a CPU  601  that controls the entire apparatus, a display  605 , a LAN (Local Area Network) card (or modem card)  607  to enable connection to a network or communication with an external device, an input device  609  comprising a keyboard and mouse or the like, a flexible disk drive  611 , a CD-ROM drive  613 , a hard disk drive  615 , a RAM  617  and a ROM  619 .  
         [0052]     Program or other data recorded on a flexible disk F can be read by the flexible disk drive  611 , and program or other data recorded on a CD-ROM  613   a  can be read by the CD-ROM drive  613 .  
         [0053]      FIG. 4  is a drawing to explain the processing that takes place in the MFP  100 , server  400  and PC  300   a  of this embodiment. This processing is executed by the CPU of each apparatus in accordance with control programs installed respectively in the MFP  100 , server  400  and PC  300   a  (in the case of the MFP  100 , the scanner application  105  shown in  FIG. 2 ).  
         [0054]     An example in which the user sends image data obtained by scanning using the MFP  100  to the PC  300   a  via the server  400  will be described herein.  
         [0055]     (1) First, the user goes to the location of the MFP  100  and inputs his user account using the MFP operation panel  127 . The MFP  100  performs authentication with the server  400  using such user account (operation ( 1 ) in  FIG. 4 ). When authentication is successful, a session is established between the MFP  100  and the server  400 .  
         [0056]     (2) When authentication is successful, the server  400  sends the MFP  100  the public one-touch information (i.e., the one-touch information shared by multiple unspecified users) and the one-touch information for the user himself (operation ( 2 ) in  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0057]     (3) The MFP  100  creates one-touch buttons based on the one-touch information and displays them on the operation panel  127  (operation ( 3 ) in  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0058]     (4) When the user begins scanning using the MFP  100  regardless of whether a one-touch button is used, the MFP  100  sends the image data and the setting information therefor (one-touch information) to the server  400  (operation ( 4 ) in  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0059]     (5) The server  400  registers the received one-touch information as one-touch information for the user for whom a session is underway (operation ( 5 ) in  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0060]     (6) The server  400  transmits the image data using the specified delivery method (operation ( 6 ) in  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0061]     The transmission method can be e-mail, FTP or SMB, but in this embodiment, an example of transmission by e-mail will be used. The setting information (one-touch information) that the MFP  100  sends to the server  400  together with the image data comprises image data recipient information and scanning parameter values (scan mode) or transmission parameter values, but it is also acceptable if such setting information comprises only part of such information.  
         [0062]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing the processing performed by the server  400 .  
         [0063]     If login (in this example, login by the user A) is received from the MFP in step S 101 , authentication is carried out in step S 103 . If authentication is approved, one-touch information for the authenticated user (the user A in this example) and the ‘public’ one-touch information are sent to the MFP in step S 105  based on the one-touch registration management table (see  FIG. 7 ) recorded on the hard disk  615 .  
         [0064]     It is also acceptable if the public one-touch information is not sent or if the user can select whether or not to send the public one-touch information.  
         [0065]     The MFP then displays one-touch buttons on the operation panel  127  based on the received one-touch information, receives input therefrom, scans the original document and sends the image thereof.  
         [0066]     If an e-mail and one-touch information are received by the server  400  from the MFP in step S 107 , it is determined in step S 109  whether or not the received one-touch information is registered in the one-touch registration management table in connection with the authenticated user.  
         [0067]     If the answer in step S 109  is NO, the one-touch information is recorded in the one-touch registration management table cell for the authenticated user in step S 111 . The ‘recipient’ information comprising a one-touch information item can be obtained from the ‘To:’ window of the e-mail.  
         [0068]     The data is then sent to the original recipient from the server  400  in step S 113 .  
         [0069]     If the answer in step S 109  is YES, because that means that the same information is already registered in the one-touch registration management table, no new registration is carried out, and the MFP advances to step S 113  without executing any processing.  
         [0070]      FIG. 6  shows a specific example of one-touch buttons displayed on the operation panel  127  of the MFP.  
         [0071]     An example in which one-touch buttons are displayed with the one-touch information comprising recipient and scan parameter value information is described here. The one-touch information for each user is read from the server, and one-touch buttons as shown in  FIG. 6  are displayed.  
         [0072]     When the user presses a one-touch button, the recipient and parameter values (such as the scan mode or the transmission mode) are automatically set.  
         [0073]     When the ‘unregistered recipient’ button in  FIG. 6  is pressed, transmission to a recipient using parameter values not registered with a one-touch button can be made. When transmission is made to such an unregistered recipient using unregistered parameter values, this information is stored in the server in association with the user as new one-touch information.  
         [0074]      FIG. 7  shows a specific example of the one-touch registration management table.  
         [0075]     With reference to the drawing, the one-touch number and the recipient and scan mode information corresponding thereto are recorded for each user (account).  
         [0076]     A ‘one-touch number’ is a number that indicates the order of display for the one-touch buttons, and corresponds to ( 1 )-( 3 ) shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0077]     In this drawing, one recipient is recorded in association with a single one-touch number, but it is also acceptable if multiple recipients are recorded in association with a single one-touch number. In this case, it is determined in step S 109  in  FIG. 5  whether or not a registration matching all of the multiple recipients has been carried out.  
         [0078]     Where only the recipient information is recorded as one-touch information, the ‘scan mode’ column in  FIG. 7  is not needed. In this case, only the recipient information is shown in connection with the one-touch buttons shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0079]     Where only the scan mode is recorded as one-touch information, the ‘recipient’ column in  FIG. 7  is not needed. In this case, only the scan parameter values are displayed in connection with the one-touch buttons shown in  FIG. 6 . It is also acceptable if transmission parameter values (transmission mode) are recorded as one-touch information instead of scan parameter values.  
         [0080]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart showing the processing performed by the MFP  100 .  
         [0081]     With reference to the drawing, when the user executes login in step S 201 , authentication is carried out by the server  400 . In step S 203 , the one-touch information for the authenticated user and the public one-touch information sent from the server  400  are received.  
         [0082]     In step S 205 , one-touch buttons are created based on the received one-touch information and displayed on the liquid crystal display device. In step S 207 , scanning of the original document is carried out and in step S 208  the one-touch information comprising the recipient information and parameter values is input.  
         [0083]     In step S 209 , the one-touch information comprising the recipient information, etc. is sent to the original recipient together with the image data via the server  400 . If such information is not currently registered as one-touch information in the server, it is registered as new one-touch information.  
         [0084]     According to this embodiment, the burden on the user can be reduced by having one-touch information used by the user on an MFP or the like automatically registered on the server. In addition, the operability of the operation panel of the MFP or the like is also improved.  
       MODIFIED EXAMPLE 1  
       [0085]     In the embodiment described above, the user was specified based on the account and one-touch information was recorded, but it is also acceptable if the user is specified based on the ‘From:’ address of the e-mail and one-touch information is recorded in association with the user.  
         [0086]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , the following processing is carried out in this modified example.  
         [0087]     (1) When the user inputs the public account from the operation panel  127  of the MFP  100 , the MFP  100  performs authentication with the server  400  using the public account (operation ( 1 ) in  FIG. 4 ). When the authentication is successful, a session becomes established.  
         [0088]     (2) When authentication is successful, the server delivers the public one-touch information (see  FIG. 7 ) to the MFP (operation ( 2 ) in  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0089]     (3) The MFP  100  creates one-touch buttons based on the one-touch information (operation ( 3 ) in  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0090]     (4) When the user begins scanning regardless whether or not he uses a one-touch button, the MFP sends one-touch information (comprising recipient information and scanning parameter values, for example) to the server  400  together with the image data (operation ( 4 ) in  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0091]     (5) The server specifies the user from the ‘From:’ address of the e-mail header, and registers the one-touch information as one-touch information for that use (operation ( 5 ) in  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0092]     Where the user cannot be specified based on the ‘From:’ address, user specification is carried out based on the history of past recipients and is registered as one-touch information.  
         [0093]     (6) The server  400  sends the image data to the original recipient using the specified delivery method (operation ( 6 ) in  FIG. 4 ).  
       MODIFIED EXAMPLE 2  
       [0094]     In the embodiment described above, the user was specified based on the account and one-touch information was recorded, but it is also acceptable if one-touch information is recorded in association with the user without the establishment of a session.  
         [0095]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , the following processing is carried out in this modified example.  
         [0096]     (1) The user accesses the server  400  from the MFP  100  panel and requests updating of the one-touch information stored on the MFP. When this occurs, no session is underway (operation ( 1 ) in  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0097]     (2) The server  400  delivers the registered one-touch information to the MFP  100  (operation ( 2 ) in  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0098]     (3) The MFP  100  creates one-touch buttons based on the one-touch information (operation ( 3 ) in  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0099]     (4) When the user begins scanning regardless of whether or not a one-touch button is used, the MFP  100  sends one-touch information (comprising the recipient information and scanning parameter values, for example) to the server  400  together with the image data (operation ( 4 ) in  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0100]     (5) The server  400  specifies the user from the ‘From:’ address of the e-mail header, and registers the one-touch information as one-touch information for that user (operation ( 5 ) in  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0101]     Where the user cannot be specified based on the ‘From:’ address, user specification is carried out based on the history of past recipients and is registered as one-touch information.  
         [0102]     (6) The server sends the image data using the specified delivery method (operation ( 6 ) in  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0000]     [Other] 
         [0103]     Image data may be sent from the MFP to the server as a file attached to an e-mail or simply by itself.  
         [0104]     The one-touch information sent from the MFP to the server may be included in the ‘To:’ address of the e-mail that indicates the recipient or in the main text of the e-mail. It can also comprise attached data or be included in the image data.  
         [0105]     A program that executes the processing shown in the flow charts for the above embodiment may be provided, and such program may be provided to the user by recording it on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk, hard disk, ROM, RAM or memory card. Alternatively, the program may be downloaded to an apparatus via a communication circuit such as the Internet.  
         [0106]     An MFP was used as an example of the image transmission apparatus in the embodiment described above, but the image transmission apparatus of the present invention may comprise a different type of apparatus. For example, the image transmission apparatus may comprise a scanner having a network function, for example.  
         [0107]     Although the present invention has been fully described in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications are apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims unless they depart therefrom.