Abstract:
An information processing apparatus includes a first-information acquiring section, a transmitting section, a second-information acquiring section, and a storage. The first-information acquiring section acquires first image information which is read by a reading apparatus. In response to the first image information which is acquired by the first-information acquiring section and which indicates that the reading apparatus is permitted to perform a reading operation, the transmitting section transmits instruction information to the reading apparatus. The instruction information indicates that the reading apparatus be permitted to perform the reading operation. The second-information acquiring section acquires second image information which is read by the reading apparatus in accordance with the instruction information. The storage stores the second image information in association with the first image information.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-064806 filed Mar. 26, 2014. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an image reading system, and a computer-readable medium. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus including a first-information acquiring section, a transmitting section, a second-information acquiring section, and a storage. The first-information acquiring section acquires first image information which is read by a reading apparatus. In response to the first image information which is acquired by the first-information acquiring section and which indicates that the reading apparatus is permitted to perform a reading operation, the transmitting section transmits instruction information to the reading apparatus. The instruction information indicates that the reading apparatus be permitted to perform the reading operation. The second-information acquiring section acquires second image information which is read by the reading apparatus in accordance with the instruction information. The storage stores the second image information in association with the first image information. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary overall configuration of a scan service system to which an exemplary embodiment is applied; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram for describing an exemplary configuration of a server according to a first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram for describing an exemplary configuration of a scanner according to the first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary authentication card; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram for describing an exemplary configuration of user data stored in a user-data storage unit; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram for describing an exemplary configuration of reservation data stored in a reservation storage unit; 
         FIG. 7  is a sequence chart for describing an exemplary first operation in the scan service system according to the first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a sequence chart for describing an exemplary second operation in the scan service system according to the first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram for describing an exemplary configuration of a server according to a second exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram for describing an exemplary configuration of a scanner according to the second exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  is a sequence chart for describing an exemplary first operation in the scan service system according to the second exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 12  is a sequence chart for describing an exemplary second operation in the scan service system according to the second exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram for describing an exemplary configuration of a scanner and an exclusive-use setting apparatus according to a third exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the exclusive-use setting apparatus; 
         FIG. 15  is a sequence chart for describing an exemplary first operation in the scan service system according to the third exemplary embodiment; and 
         FIG. 16  is a sequence chart for describing an exemplary second operation in the scan service system according to the third exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the attached drawings. 
     First Exemplary Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary overall configuration of a scan service system  1  to which a first exemplary embodiment is applied. 
     The scan service system  1  has a configuration in which a client group  10  including a first client  11 , a second client  12 , and a third client  13 , a server  20 , and a scanner  30  are connected to each other via a network  40 . 
     In the scan service system  1 , multiple users share one scanner  30  via the client group  10 . In the scan service system  1 , image data (hereinafter referred to as document image data) obtained by each user using the scanner  30  to read a document  200  is stored in the server  20  in such a manner that the image data is associated with the user. In the scan service system  1 , the server  20  manages document image data for each of the users. In the scan service system  1 , when a user wants to use the scanner  30  to read the document  200 , the user exclusively uses the scanner  30  via the client group  10  and the server  20 . In the scan service system  1 , when a user is to exclusively use the scanner  30 , authentication is performed on the basis of image data (hereinafter referred to as authentication image data) obtained by reading an authentication card  100  carried by the user by using the scanner  30 . In this example, the authentication image data serves as first image information, and the document image data serves as second image information. 
     Each of the first client  11  to the third client  13  which constitute the client group  10  is constituted by a computer, such as a desktop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, or a smartphone. Each of the computers constituting the client group  10  has a web browser for viewing web pages. In this example, three clients constitute the client group  10 . However, the number of clients is not limited to this. Multiple users may share one client. 
     The server  20  is also constituted by a computer. The server  20  according to the first exemplary embodiment has a function of storing the document image data obtained by using the scanner  30  to read the document  200 , for each of the users, as described above. 
     The scanner  30  serving as an exemplary reading apparatus or an exemplary reading section reads an image formed on the authentication card  100  or the document  200  which is the target to be read. Examples of a method of reading an image by using the scanner  30  include a method in which an image is read while the target to be read stands still, and a method in which an image is read while the target to be read is being transported. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram for describing an exemplary configuration of the server  20  according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
     The server  20  according to the first exemplary embodiment includes an input/output unit  21  which inputs/outputs various types of data between the network  40  (see  FIG. 1 ) and the server  20 , a user-data management unit  22  which manages data (hereinafter referred to as user data) which is set for each of the users, a user-data storage unit  23  which stores the user data, an exclusive-use instruction generating unit  24  which generates an exclusive-use instruction on the basis of a request for exclusive use (request for use) of the scanner  30  which is transmitted by a user from one of the clients constituting the client group  10 , and an exclusive-use setting unit  25  which performs exclusive-use setting (reservation for use) of the scanner  30  on the basis of the exclusive-use instruction generated by the exclusive-use instruction generating unit  24 . The user data stored in the user-data storage unit  23  includes a feature value (hereinafter referred to as a user feature value) obtained by performing a known process of extracting a feature value, on the authentication image data obtained by reading the authentication card  100  carried by each of the users who use the scan service system  1  according to the first exemplary embodiment. The details about this will be described below. The exclusive-use instruction generated by the exclusive-use instruction generating unit  24  also includes the user feature value corresponding to a user who has transmitted a request for exclusive use. Examples of a feature value include a value which is mathematically calculated from the authentication image data, and a value calculated from character information on an image for authentication. The feature value may be obtained by combining these calculated values. 
     In the first exemplary embodiment, the input/output unit  21  has functions as an exemplary first-information acquiring section, an exemplary second-information acquiring section, and an exemplary transmitting section. The user-data storage unit  23  has a function as an exemplary storage. 
     In the first exemplary embodiment, the exclusive-use setting unit  25  included in the server  20  includes an exclusive-use state management unit  251  which manages an exclusive-use state of the scanner  30  on the basis of the exclusive-use instruction transmitted from the exclusive-use instruction generating unit  24 , a reservation storage unit  252  which stores the exclusive-use instruction for the scanner  30  as reservation data, a feature-value extracting unit  253  which extracts a feature value (hereinafter referred to as a read feature value) by performing image processing on the authentication image data transmitted from the scanner  30 , and a checking unit  254  which checks the read feature value (exemplary image feature value information) extracted by the feature-value extracting unit  253  against the user feature value corresponding to a user who has transmitted an exclusive-use instruction. 
     In the first exemplary embodiment, the exclusive-use state management unit  251  has a function as an exemplary reserving section. The feature-value extracting unit  253  has a function as an exemplary feature-value extracting section. In the first exemplary embodiment, the checking unit  254  has functions as an exemplary determination section, an exemplary checking section, and an exemplary prohibiting section. 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram for describing an exemplary configuration of the scanner  30  according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
     The scanner  30  according to the first exemplary embodiment includes an input/output unit  31  that inputs/outputs various types of data between the network  40  (see  FIG. 1 ) and the scanner  30 , a reading controller  32  that controls an image reading operation, and an image reading unit  33  that reads an image of a target which is to be read, such as the authentication card  100  (see  FIG. 1 ) or the document  200  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary authentication card  100  serving as an exemplary medium for identification. In this example, an employee ID card on which a photograph of a user&#39;s face is printed is illustrated as the authentication card  100 . On the authentication card  100 , the company name (XX Inc.) and the user name (Taro YY) are described on the left side of the figure, and a photograph of the user&#39;s face is printed on the right side of the figure. When an employee ID card or the like is used as the authentication card  100 , electronic information may be added to the authentication card  100  by using an integrated circuit (IC) chip embedded in the authentication card  100 , or magnetic information may be added by using a magnetic tape provided for the authentication card  100 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an entire area  100   a  including the entire surface of the authentication card  100  and a specified area  100   b  including a part of the area (a central portion in this example) of the authentication card  100 . In the description below, a feature value extracted from data which is read from the entire area  100   a  of the authentication card  100  is called an entire feature value. A feature value extracted from data which is read from the specified area  100   b  of the authentication card  100  is called a partial feature value. The user feature value described above includes an entire feature value (hereinafter referred to as an entire user feature value A) and a partial feature value (hereinafter referred to as a partial user feature value B). The read feature value described above also includes an entire feature value (hereinafter referred to as an entire read feature value a) and a partial feature value (hereinafter referred to as a partial read feature value b). 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram for describing an exemplary configuration of the user data stored in the user-data storage unit  23  (See  FIG. 2 ). 
     In the first exemplary embodiment, the user data is data in which a user identification (ID) as exemplary user identification information which is given to each of the users, the user feature value (the entire user feature value A and the partial user feature value B) as exemplary user feature value information which is obtained by reading the authentication card  100  carried by the user in advance, and the user image data C including the document image data which is obtained in such a manner that the user uses the scanner  30  to read the document  200  are associated with each other. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the user ID “000001” is assigned to the owner (Taro YY in XX Inc.) of the authentication card  100  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Thus, the entire user feature value A 1  corresponding to the user ID “000001” is based on the reading result of the entire area  100   a  of the authentication card  100  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The partial user feature value B 1  corresponding to the user ID “000001” is based on the reading result of the specified area  100   b  of the authentication card  100  illustrated in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 5  illustrates user data for three users (user IDs “000001” to “000003”). Actually, the number of pieces of user data matches the number of users who use the service. 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram for describing an exemplary configuration of reservation data stored in the reservation storage unit  252  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     In the first exemplary embodiment, the reservation data is data in which a reservation number, an exclusive-use instruction, and a remaining time are associated with each other. The exclusive-use instruction has a data configuration in which the user ID of a user who has transmitted a request for exclusive use is associated with the user feature value (the entire user feature value A and the partial user feature value B) corresponding to the user ID. The remaining time is a time with which countdown is started at the time when the reservation is registered in the reservation storage unit  252 . When the remaining time reaches 0:00, the reservation of the corresponding reservation number is deleted. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 6 , two reservations for the user IDs “000001” and “000003” are set. The number of reservations which may be received is not limited to two, and may be one or more than two. 
       FIG. 7  is a sequence chart for describing an exemplary first operation in the scan service system  1  according to the first exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 7  illustrates a case in which a user who has made a reservation by transmitting a request for exclusive use uses the scanner  30  before a timeout occurs in a timer using the remaining time. 
     In one of the clients constituting the client group  10 , a user opens a web browser corresponding to the scan service, thereby starting use of the scan service. Then, the user transmits a request for exclusive use of the scanner  30  on the web browser, whereby the request for exclusive use is output from the client to the server  20 . The request for exclusive use includes the user ID of the user who has transmitted the request. 
     In the server  20 , the exclusive-use instruction generating unit  24  receives the request for exclusive use via the input/output unit  21 . Then, the exclusive-use instruction generating unit  24  obtains the user ID included in the received request for exclusive use, and transmits the obtained user ID to the user-data management unit  22 . The user-data management unit  22  refers to the user data stored in the user-data storage unit  23 , and reads out the user feature value (the entire user feature value A and the partial user feature value B) corresponding to the user ID. The user-data management unit  22  transmits the user feature value corresponding to the user ID, back to the exclusive-use instruction generating unit  24 . The exclusive-use instruction generating unit  24  generates an exclusive-use instruction in which the user ID included in the request for exclusive use is associated with the user feature value received from the user-data management unit  22 , and outputs it to the exclusive-use setting unit  25 . 
     In the exclusive-use setting unit  25 , the exclusive-use state management unit  251  which receives the exclusive-use instruction registers the exclusive-use instruction as reservation data in the reservation storage unit  252 , and starts countdown of the remaining time by using a timer. 
     The user who has transmitted the exclusive-use instruction via the client goes to the scanner  30 , sets the authentication card  100  carried by the user himself/herself, on the image reading unit  33 , and makes the image reading unit  33  read an image. The authentication image data obtained by reading the authentication card  100  is output via the reading controller  32  and the input/output unit  31  from the scanner  30  to the server  20 . 
     In the server  20 , the feature-value extracting unit  253  included in the exclusive-use setting unit  25  receives the authentication image data via the input/output unit  21 . The feature-value extracting unit  253  extracts a feature value from the received authentication image data, and obtains a read feature value including an entire read feature value a based on the entire area  100   a  and a partial read feature value b based on the specified area  100   b . The feature-value extracting unit  253  transmits the obtained read feature value to the checking unit  254 . 
     The checking unit  254  transmits an inquiry to the exclusive-use state management unit  251 . The exclusive-use state management unit  251  transmits reservation data stored in the reservation storage unit  252  back to the checking unit  254 . The checking unit  254  checks the read feature value received from the feature-value extracting unit  253  against the reservation data (user feature values) received from the exclusive-use state management unit  251 , and determines whether or not a user feature value matches the read feature value. 
     If a user feature value in the reservation data matches the read feature value, the checking unit  254  outputs a request to read a document which is exemplary instruction information, via the input/output unit  21  from the server  20  to the scanner  30 . 
     In the scanner  30 , the reading controller  32  receives the request to read a document through the input/output unit  31 . The reading controller  32  which receives the request to read a document permits the user reading of the document  200 . The user sets the document  200  on the image reading unit  33 , and makes the image reading unit  33  read an image. The document image data thus obtained by reading the document  200  is output via the reading controller  32  and the input/output unit  31  from the scanner  30  to the server  20 . 
     In the server  20 , the user-data management unit  22  receives the document image data via the input/output unit  21 . The user-data management unit  22  registers (stores) the received document image data as the user image data C in the user-data storage unit  23  in such a manner that the document image data is associated with the corresponding user ID, and the series of processes end. 
     In this example, the user-data storage unit  23  stores the user image data C, as it is, in such a manner that the user image data is associated with a user ID. This exemplary embodiment is not seen to be limiting. For example, in the case where a configuration is employed in which the user image data C is stored in a data server (not illustrated) provided outside the server  20 , the user-data storage unit  23  may register the uniform resource locator (URL) of the data server in which the user image data C is stored in such a manner as to be associated with a user ID. 
       FIG. 8  is a sequence chart for describing an exemplary second operation in the scan service system  1  according to the first exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 8  illustrates a case in which a user who has not made a reservation by transmitting a request for exclusive use, or whose reservation made by transmitting a request for exclusive use has been released due to a timeout uses the scanner  30 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the procedure until the server  20  performs checking is the same as that in the example illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Therefore, the detail of the procedure will not be described. 
     If no user feature values in the reservation data match the read feature value, the checking unit  254  outputs an error notification via the input/output unit  21  from the server  20  to the scanner  30 . 
     In the scanner  30 , the reading controller  32  receives the error notification via the input/output unit  31 . The reading controller  32  which receives the error notification prohibits the user from using the image reading unit  33  to read the document  200 , and the series of processes end. 
     Second Exemplary Embodiment 
     In the first exemplary embodiment, the server  20  has a function of setting exclusive-use of the scanner  30 . In a second exemplary embodiment, the scanner  30  itself has a function of setting exclusive-use of the scanner  30 . In the second exemplary embodiment, components similar to those in the first exemplary embodiment are designated with identical reference numerals, and will not be described in detail. 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram for describing an exemplary configuration of the server  20  according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
     The server  20  according to the second exemplary embodiment includes the input/output unit  21 , the user-data management unit  22 , the user-data storage unit  23 , and the exclusive-use instruction generating unit  24 . 
       FIG. 10  is a diagram for describing an exemplary configuration of the scanner  30  according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
     The scanner  30  according to the second exemplary embodiment includes the input/output unit  31 , the reading controller  32 , the image reading unit  33 , and an exclusive-use setting unit  34 . 
     In the second exemplary embodiment, the exclusive-use setting unit  34  included in the scanner  30  includes an exclusive-use state management unit  341 , a reservation storage unit  342 , a feature-value extracting unit  343 , and a checking unit  344 . Each of the functions of the exclusive-use state management unit  341  to the checking unit  344  is similar to a corresponding one of the functions of the exclusive-use state management unit  251  to the checking unit  254  in the first exemplary embodiment. 
       FIG. 11  is a sequence chart for describing an exemplary first operation in the scan service system  1  according to the second exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 11  illustrates a case in which a user who has made a reservation by transmitting a request for exclusive use uses the scanner  30  before a timeout occurs in a timer using the remaining time. 
     In one of the clients constituting the client group  10 , a user opens a web browser corresponding to the scan service, thereby starting use of the scan service. Then, the user transmits a request for exclusive use of the scanner  30  on the web browser, whereby the request for exclusive use is output from the client to the server  20 . The request for exclusive use includes the user ID of the user who has transmitted the request. 
     In the server  20 , the exclusive-use instruction generating unit  24  receives the request for exclusive use via the input/output unit  21 . Then, the exclusive-use instruction generating unit  24  obtains the user ID included in the received request for exclusive use, and transmits the obtained user ID to the user-data management unit  22 . The user-data management unit  22  refers to the user data stored in the user-data storage unit  23 , and reads out the user feature value (the entire user feature value A and the partial user feature value B) corresponding to the user ID. The user-data management unit  22  transmits the user feature value corresponding to the user ID, back to the exclusive-use instruction generating unit  24 . The exclusive-use instruction generating unit  24  generates an exclusive-use instruction in which the user ID included in the request for exclusive use is associated with the user feature value received from the user-data management unit  22 , and outputs it via the input/output unit  21  from the server  20  to the scanner  30 . 
     In the scanner  30 , the exclusive-use state management unit  341  included in the exclusive-use setting unit  34  receives the exclusive-use instruction via the input/output unit  31 . The exclusive-use state management unit  341  registers the exclusive-use instruction as reservation data in the reservation storage unit  342 , and starts countdown of the remaining time by using a timer. 
     The user who has transmitted the exclusive-use instruction via the client goes to the scanner  30 , sets the authentication card  100  carried by the user himself/herself, on the image reading unit  33 , and makes the image reading unit  33  read an image. The authentication image data obtained by reading the authentication card  100  is transmitted through the reading controller  32  and the input/output unit  31  to the exclusive-use setting unit  34 . In the scanner  30 , the feature-value extracting unit  343  included in the exclusive-use setting unit  34  receives the authentication image data. The feature-value extracting unit  343  extracts a feature value from the received authentication image data, and obtains a read feature value including an entire read feature value a based on the entire area  100   a  and a partial read feature value b based on the specified area  100   b . The feature-value extracting unit  343  transmits the obtained read feature value to the checking unit  344 . 
     The checking unit  344  transmits an inquiry to the exclusive-use state management unit  341 . The exclusive-use state management unit  341  transmits reservation data stored in the reservation storage unit  342  back to the checking unit  344 . The checking unit  344  checks the read feature value received from the feature-value extracting unit  343  against the reservation data (user feature values) received from the exclusive-use state management unit  341 , and determines whether or not a user feature value matches the read feature value. 
     If a user feature value in the reservation data matches the read feature value, the checking unit  344  outputs a request to read a document, to the reading controller  32 . The reading controller  32  which receives the request to read a document permits the user reading of the document  200 . The user sets the document  200  on the image reading unit  33 , and makes the image reading unit  33  read an image. The document image data thus obtained by reading the document  200  is output via the reading controller  32  and the input/output unit  31  from the scanner  30  to the server  20 . 
     In the server  20 , the user-data management unit  22  receives the document image data via the input/output unit  21 . The user-data management unit  22  registers (stores) the received document image data as the user image data C in the user-data storage unit  23  in such a manner that the document image data is associated with the corresponding user ID, and the series of processes end. 
       FIG. 12  is a sequence chart for describing an exemplary second operation in the scan service system  1  according to the second exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 12  illustrates a case in which a user who has not made a reservation by transmitting a request for exclusive use, or whose reservation made by transmitting a request for exclusive use has been released due to a timeout uses the scanner  30 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the procedure until the scanner  30  performs checking is the same as that in the example illustrated in  FIG. 11 . Therefore, the detail of the procedure will not be described. 
     If no user feature values in the reservation data match the read feature value, the checking unit  344  outputs an error notification to the reading controller  32 . The reading controller  32  which receives the error notification prohibits the user from using the image reading unit  33  to read the document  200 , and the series of processes end. 
     Third Exemplary Embodiment 
     In the second exemplary embodiment, the scanner  30  itself has a function of setting exclusive-use of the scanner  30 . In a third exemplary embodiment, an exclusive-use setting apparatus  50  (see  FIG. 13  described below) which has a function of setting exclusive-use is locally connected to the scanner  30  through Universal Serial Bus (USB) or the like. In the third exemplary embodiment, components similar to those in the first or second exemplary embodiment are designated with identical reference numerals, and will not be described in detail. The configuration of the server  20  in the third exemplary embodiment is the same as that described in the second exemplary embodiment (see  FIG. 9 ). 
       FIG. 13  is a diagram for describing the exemplary configuration of the scanner  30  and the exclusive-use setting apparatus  50  according to the third exemplary embodiment. 
     The general configuration of the scanner  30  according to the third exemplary embodiment is the same as that described in the first exemplary embodiment (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     The exclusive-use setting apparatus  50  includes an input/output unit  500  which inputs/outputs various types of data between the scanner  30  and the exclusive-use setting apparatus  50 , an exclusive-use state management unit  501 , a reservation storage unit  502 , a feature-value extracting unit  503 , and a checking unit  504 . Each of the functions of the exclusive-use state management unit  501  to the checking unit  504  is similar to a corresponding one of those of the exclusive-use state management unit  341  to the checking unit  344  in the second exemplary embodiment. 
       FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary hardware configuration of the exclusive-use setting apparatus  50 . 
     The exclusive-use setting apparatus  50  is implemented by using a computer. As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the exclusive-use setting apparatus  50  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  51  which is an arithmetical unit, a main memory  52  which is a storage, and a hard disk drive (HDD)  53 . The CPU  51  executes various programs, such as an operating system (OS) and application software. The main memory  52  is a storage area which stores various programs, data used to execute the programs, and the like. The HDD  53  is a storage area which stores input data for various programs, output data from various programs, and the like. The exclusive-use setting apparatus  50  also includes a communication interface (communication I/F)  54  for communicating with the outside. The programs executed by the CPU  51  are stored in the main memory  52  in advance. In addition, for example, the programs may be provided for the CPU  51  by storing them in a recording medium such as a compact disc-read-only memory (CD-ROM), or may be provided for the CPU  51  through the network  40  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     The exclusive-use setting unit  25  included in the server  20  in the first exemplary embodiment or the exclusive-use setting unit  34  included in the scanner  30  in the second exemplary embodiment has a hardware configuration similar to that of the exclusive-use setting apparatus  50  illustrated in  FIG. 14 . The details about this are not described. 
       FIG. 15  is a sequence chart for describing an exemplary first operation in the scan service system  1  according to the third exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 15  illustrates a case in which a user who has made a reservation by transmitting a request for exclusive use uses the scanner  30  before a timeout occurs in a timer using the remaining time. 
     In one of the clients constituting the client group  10 , a user opens a web browser corresponding to the scan service, thereby starting use of the scan service. Then, the user transmits a request for exclusive use of the scanner  30  on the web browser, whereby the request for exclusive use is output from the client to the server  20 . The request for exclusive use includes the user ID of the user who has transmitted the request. 
     In the server  20 , the exclusive-use instruction generating unit  24  receives the request for exclusive use via the input/output unit  21 . Then, the exclusive-use instruction generating unit  24  obtains the user ID included in the received request for exclusive use, and transmits the obtained user ID to the user-data management unit  22 . The user-data management unit  22  refers to the user data stored in the user-data storage unit  23 , and reads out the user feature value (the entire user feature value A and the partial user feature value B) corresponding to the user ID. The user-data management unit  22  transmits the user feature value corresponding to the user ID, back to the exclusive-use instruction generating unit  24 . The exclusive-use instruction generating unit  24  generates an exclusive-use instruction in which the user ID included in the request for exclusive use is associated with the user feature value received from the user-data management unit  22 , and outputs it via the input/output unit  21  from the server  20  to the scanner  30 . 
     In the scanner  30 , the input/output unit  31  receives the exclusive-use instruction. The input/output unit  31  transfers the received exclusive-use instruction to the exclusive-use setting apparatus  50 . 
     In the exclusive-use setting apparatus  50 , the exclusive-use state management unit  501  receives the exclusive-use instruction via the input/output unit  500 . The exclusive-use state management unit  501  registers the exclusive-use instruction as reservation data in the reservation storage unit  502 , and starts countdown of the remaining time by using a timer. 
     The user who has transmitted the exclusive-use instruction via the client goes to the scanner  30 , sets the authentication card  100  carried by the user himself/herself, on the image reading unit  33 , and makes the image reading unit  33  read an image, whereby the obtained authentication image data is output. The image reading unit  33  outputs the authentication image data via the reading controller  32  and the input/output unit  31  from the scanner  30  to the exclusive-use setting apparatus  50 . 
     In the exclusive-use setting apparatus  50 , the feature-value extracting unit  503  receives the authentication image data via the input/output unit  500 . The feature-value extracting unit  503  extracts a feature value from the received authentication image data, and obtains a read feature value including an entire read feature value a based on the entire area  100   a  and a partial read feature value b based on the specified area  100   b . The feature-value extracting unit  503  transmits the obtained read feature value to the checking unit  504 . 
     The checking unit  504  transmits an inquiry to the exclusive-use state management unit  501 . The exclusive-use state management unit  501  transmits reservation data stored in the reservation storage unit  502  back to the checking unit  504 . The checking unit  504  checks the read feature value received from the feature-value extracting unit  503  against the reservation data (user feature values) received from the exclusive-use state management unit  501 , and determines whether or not a user feature value matches the read feature value. 
     If a user feature value in the reservation data matches the read feature value, the checking unit  504  outputs a request to read a document, via the input/output unit  500  from the exclusive-use setting apparatus  50  to the scanner  30 . 
     In the scanner  30 , the reading controller  32  receives the request to read a document via the input/output unit  31 . The reading controller  32  which receives the request to read a document permits the user reading of the document  200 . The user sets the document  200  on the image reading unit  33 , and makes the image reading unit  33  read an image. The document image data thus obtained by reading the document  200  is output via the reading controller  32  and the input/output unit  31  from the scanner  30  to the server  20 . 
     In the server  20 , the user-data management unit  22  receives the document image data via the input/output unit  21 . The user-data management unit  22  registers (stores) the received document image data as the user image data C in the user-data storage unit  23  in such a manner that the document image data is associated with the corresponding user ID, and the series of processes end. 
       FIG. 16  is a sequence chart for describing an exemplary second operation in the scan service system  1  according to the third exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 16  illustrates a case in which a user who has not made a reservation by transmitting a request for exclusive use, or whose reservation made by transmitting a request for exclusive use has been released due to a timeout uses the scanner  30 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 16 , the procedure until the exclusive-use setting apparatus  50  performs checking is the same as that in the example illustrated in  FIG. 15 . Therefore, the detail of the procedure will not be described. 
     If no user feature values in the reservation data match the read feature value, the checking unit  504  outputs an error notification via the input/output unit  500  from the exclusive-use setting apparatus  50  to the scanner  30 . 
     In the scanner  30 , the reading controller  32  receives the error notification via the input/output unit  31 . The reading controller  32  which receives the error notification prohibits the user from using the image reading unit  33  to read the document  200 , and the series of processes end. 
     According to the first to third exemplary embodiments, the description is made by taking the case in which the scan service system  1  is implemented as a so-called server-client system, as an example. However, the scan service system  1  is not limited to this. The scan service system  1  may be implemented as a so-called cloud computing system. 
     The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.