Abstract:
In a data processing system, a document transmission apparatus capable of transmitting acquired data, a computer system including a data management unit for storing and managing data and a data storage unit for performing a process of causing to store the data transmitted from the document transmission apparatus in the data management unit, and an information processing terminal to be used by a user are connected through a network. In this system, the data storage unit comprises a storage destination acquisition unit adapted to acquire storage destination information of the data stored by the data management unit, from the data management unit, and a notification unit adapted to transmit, to the information processing terminal, a notification to which the storage destination information acquired by the storage destination acquisition unit has been added. Thus, it is possible to reduce a load on the network and improve security.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a data processing system and a data processing method. More specifically, the present invention relates to a data processing system which includes a data transmission apparatus capable of transmitting acquired data, a data storage apparatus for storing received data, an a client apparatus for acquiring the data stored in the data storage apparatus, a data storage method which is applicable to the data storage apparatus in the data processing system, a recording medium which stores a program to achieve the data storage method, and the program itself. 
   2. Related Background Art 
   In a conventional data storage system which stores data of documents and images, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of a document stored in a box (memory) of an apparatus such as a multifunction device or the like having a scan function and a facsimile reception function is directly notified to a user by an electronic mail, or a URL of a document temporarily stored based on a document storage application up and running in a computer is notified to a user. Besides, for example, a URL of an image stored from a device such as a digital camera into a web server is notified to a user by the web server through an electronic mail (e.g., International Publication No. WO 97/38510). 
   However, in the conventional data storage system described as above, in the case where the document is stored in the box of the apparatus or the document is stored based on the document storage application, because the capacity of the box of the apparatus or the capacity of the document storage area for the document storage application is limited, it is necessary for the user to extract the document stored in the box or to transfer the document to a document management application up and running in another computer, whereby traffic of a communication network increases. 
   Further, in the case where the image is stored in the web server, when it is constructed that a web server option is added to the document storage application, it cannot cope with a case where there is no web server. That is, when there is no web server, a useless mail having no URL is delivered to the user. 
   Furthermore, in the case where the image is stored in the web server, the mail is transmitted to the user stored in the web server or to the partner designated by the stored user. That is, access authority of the destination to which the image is stored is not considered. 
   Thus, the load on the communication network concerning transmission/reception of the stored documents, the stored images and the like is large, and security is weak, whereby there is still room for improvement in the above related background art. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a data processing system which eliminates such conventional problems as described above. 
   The feature of the present invention is to provide a data processing system which reduces a load on a communication network. 
   Moreover, the feature of the present invention is to provide a data processing system which improves security. 
   Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the structure of a data storage system in the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a structural view of the software operating on a PC 3  (personal computer  3 ) in the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a module structural view of the document storage application in the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a view showing a table of login information of the document storage application to the document management application when the document is stored, in the embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a view showing a table of destination information of the document storage application when the document is stored, in the embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing the procedure of transmitting a URL to a user by a mail (E-Mail) when the document is stored, in the embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Here, it should be noted that the portion having the same function in the respective drawings is denoted by the same numeral, and the explanation of the later-appeared portion will be omitted therefore. 
   (Structure Of Apparatus) 
     FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the structure of a data storage system according to the present embodiment. In  FIG. 1 , numeral  1  denotes a multifunction device which has a scanning function, a FAX reception function and a network transmission/reception function, which includes a function of transmitting data of documents and images (hereinafter, the above data is simply called the “document” for the sake of convenience), captured by a scanning operation, received by the FAX reception, or received through a network, to the document storage application through a communication network. Numeral  2  denotes a PC 1  (personal computer) on which the document management application used for storing and managing the document sent from the multifunction device  1  operates. Numeral  3  denotes a PC 2  on which a WEB server operates when a WEB option is added. Numeral  4  denotes a PC 3  on which the document storage application operates. Numeral  5  denotes a PC 4  (client PC) which receives a URL of the stored document transmitted from the document storage application, which is used for browsing and downloading that document by a user. It should be noted that plural multifunction devices and plural personal computers to be used by users can be connected on the network, and the plural multifunction devices can transmit data to the personal computers having the document storage application and the plural client personal computers can browse the document. 
   The document storage application operating on the PC 3  denoted by the numeral  4  has the function of storing the document transmitted from the multifunction device  1  ( 101  in  FIG. 1 ) in the document management application operating on the PC 1  ( 102  in  FIG. 1 ), acquiring the URL of the stored document from the WEB server via the document management application, acquiring the access authority to the stored document every user from the document management application ( 103  in  FIG. 1 ), and transmitting the URL to the only user holding the access authority by a mail (E-mail) ( 104  in  FIG. 1 ). 
   Numeral  41  in the PC 3  shown in  FIG. 1  denotes a CPU which executes a document storage process by using the software shown in  FIG. 2  and the document storage application shown in  FIG. 3  or which executes a process, in the procedure shown in  FIG. 6 , of transmitting the URL of the stored document to the user by the mail. Numeral  42  in the PC 3  denotes a ROM (read only memory) in which the basic software such as a BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) or the like shown in  FIG. 2  is stored. Numeral  43  in the PC 3  denotes a RAM (random access memory) which temporarily loads the software shown in  FIG. 2  or  3  from a hard disk (HD)  44  and is used to enable the CPU  41  to execute the software. Numeral  44  denotes the HD which stores an OS (operating system) shown in  FIG. 2 , the document storage application shown in  FIG. 3 , various data necessary for processes, tables and the like. Numeral  45  in the PC 3  denotes an input device which is used to operate a UI (user interface) in a case of executing the software shown in  FIG. 2  or  3 . Numeral  46  in the PC 3  denotes a monitor which is used to display the UI, an execution status or the like of the software shown in  FIG. 2  or  3 . Numeral  47  in the PC 3  denotes a communication network I/F (interface) which is used to connect the PC 3  to a LAN. 
   In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the LAN is used as an example of a communication network and a FTP (file transfer protocol) is used as a protocol of the data transfer. As the WEB option of the document management application, for example, a WEB server of IIS (Internet Information Server) of the Windows™ 2000 server is used, and a URL is created as linkage information of the document stored in the document management application. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the document management application and the WEB option are respectively operating on different servers. Sequential processes, to be described later, such as an image data conversion process when the document of the document storage application is stored, the user authentication to the document management application, a process of storing the document, and the like may be the processes similar to the prior art known to the person skilled in the art. 
     FIG. 2  is a structural view of the software operating on the PC 3  in the present embodiment. An operating control of the hardware of each of the structural members in the PC 3  is performed by a BIOS  203  and an OS  202 . A communication on the LAN is performed by use of, for example, TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), and the handling of that protocol is performed by the OS. A document storage application  201  has functions of communicating with the multifunction device  1  and storing the document. 
     FIG. 3  is a structural view of the document storage application  201 . A protocol control division  303  performs the transmission/reception of the document between the document storage application  201  and the multifunction device  1  by using, for example, a protocol such as FTP. A document storage division  304  can store the document transferred from the protocol control division  303  in a desired storage destination of the document management application operating on the PC 1 . At that time, the image data conversion process is executed in accordance with the destination when the document is stored in the document management application. 
   At that time, the document storage division  304  acquires the URL of the stored document from the WEB server operating on the PC 2  via the document management application and further acquires the access authority to the document for every user from the document management application, and then creates a list of a mail of including the URL and a user who transmits the mail in accordance with the acquired information. Thereby, the mail can be transmitted. An overall control division  302  manages the transference of the document from the protocol control division  303  to the document storage division  304  and an operating condition (success in reception, success in storage, error and the like) of the protocol control division  303  or the document storage division  304  and performs a notification of error to the user when the error occurs. 
     FIG. 4  is a view showing a table of login information which collectively holds the login information such as user IDs, passwords or the like used in case of storing the document in the document management application operating on the PC 1  from the document storage application  201  and addresses of the users used in transmitting the mail. The table of login information is previously held by the PC 3  and is managed by the document storage application  201 . 
     FIG. 5  is a view showing a table of destination information of the document storage application  201  when the document is stored in the document management application. This table includes destination names, paths of the storage destinations, addresses when transmitting the mail, and the protocol to be used. The document storage application  201  creates a list of the user who transmits the URL on the basis of the table of destination information, the table of login information shown in  FIG. 4  and the access authority to the actually stored document every user. The table of destination information is previously held by the PC 3  and is managed by the document storage application  201 . The access authority to the stored document for every user is previously held by the PC 1  and is managed by the document management application. 
   In the table of destination information shown in  FIG. 5 , an ID and a password of the login user when the document is stored are associated with each other for every destination and an image data conversion process of the document for every destination is also associated with the ID and the password. A setting module  301  shown in  FIG. 3  can set whether or not the destination information, the ID and the password of the login user, the image data conversion process and the URL are transmitted by the mail, and can set which user is sent with these information in case of transmitting the mail. 
   (Explanation Of Operation) 
     FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the present embodiment of transmitting the URL to the user having the access authority to the stored document only in a case that the WEB server exists by checking existence of the WEB server by the document storage application  201  when the document is stored. This processing procedure is executed by loading the document storage application  201  in the RAM  43  by the CPU  41  of the PC 3  denoted by the numeral  4  shown in  FIG. 1 . Hereinafter, the document storage in a data storage system, the delivering of the URL at a storage destination and the user authentication according to the present embodiment will be explained with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
   Initially, in the CPU  41  of the PC 3 , a status of waiting for reception of the document from the multifunction device  1  is kept in a step S 51 . Here, when the CPU  41  receives the document, a flow advances to a step S 52 , where an ordinary document storage process, that is, a sequential process of executing the image data conversion process in accordance with the destination added to the transferred document when the document is stored in the document management application, performing the login to the document management application and storing the document in a path of the storage destination, is executed. 
   Next, in a step S 53 , the CPU  41  acts such that a parameter which indicates whether or not the WEB server exists is returned from information of the WEB option managed by the document management application as a return value from the document management application in the PC 1  when the document storage process is executed. When the WEB server does not exist, the CPU  41  acts to return the process to the step S 51 , wherein the status of waiting for reception of the stored document is kept again. 
   When the WEB server exists, the flow advances to a step S 54 , where the CPU  41  acquires a URL which is created by the WEB server, of the just stored document via the document management application. Further, the CPU  41  acquires the access authority to the just stored document for every user from the document management application in a step S 55 . 
   Next, in a step S 56 , the CPU  41  compares a mail address of the table of login information of a user having the access authority to the document with a mail address included in the table of destination information with reference to the table of login information to the document management application shown in  FIG. 4  and the table of destination information shown in  FIG. 5  and creates a list of the mail address of the user who transmits the URL. For example, as indicated by numeral  501  shown in  FIG. 5 , a process, wherein the document transferred to a destination A is stored, and when the access authority to the document exists on only the side of a user A, a mail address of a user C is written for the destination A, however only the address of the user A is included in the list of the mail address of the user who transmits the URL, is executed. 
   In a step S 57 , the CPU  41  adds the acquired URL to the previously prepared mail text and creates a mail in which the address in the list of the mail address is set to the transmission destination and then the formed mail is transmitted in a step S 58 . Thereafter, the CPU  41  acts to return the process again to the step S 51 , where a status of waiting for reception of the stored document is kept. 
   Another Embodiment 
   The following embodiments can be performed besides the above embodiment.
         1) In the above embodiment, although the document management application and the WEB option respectively operate on different computers as shown in  FIG. 1 , those may operate on the same computer.   2) In the above embodiment, although the document storage application and the document management application respectively operate on different computers as shown in  FIG. 1 , those may operate on the same computer.   3) In the processing procedure shown in  FIG. 6 , when, in the step S 53 , the WEB server does not exist, the CPU  41  acts to skip the process to the step S 55 , and a mail not including the URL is transmitted in the step S 57 . Thereby, that transmission may be regarded as a notification of terminating the document storage.   4) As another situation, an apparatus for executing the above process may be properly modified or combined with another apparatus.   5) The present invention also includes a case where the program codes of software for realizing the functions of the above embodiment are supplied to an apparatus connected to the various devices or a computer in a system so as to operate the various devices to realize the functions of the above embodiment, and the functions are realized by operating the various devices in accordance with the programs stored in the computer (or CPU or MPU) in the system or the apparatus.   6) In this case, the program codes themselves of the software realize the functions of the above embodiment, and the program codes themselves and the means for supplying the program codes to the computer, for example, a storage medium storing such the program codes constitute the present invention.   7) As the storage medium for storing the program codes, for example, a floppy™ disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magnetooptical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM or the like can be used.   8) It is needless to say that such the program codes are included in the embodiment of the present invention not only in a case where the functions of the above embodiment are realized by the execution of the program codes supplied to the computer, but also in a case where the functions of the above embodiment are realized by such program codes which cooperate with an OS (operating system) functioning on the computer, another application software or the like.   9) Further, it is needless to say that the present invention includes a case where the supplied program codes are once stored in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted in the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, then a CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit executes all the process or a part thereof according to the instructions of such the program codes, thereby realizing the functions of the above embodiment.   10) The same functions may be realized by using the software or separately and properly using the hardware and the software.       

   Specific Effects Of Embodiments 
   In the present embodiment, since a user downloads only the necessary document after confirming the document instructed by the URL by transferring only the URL of the stored document from the document storage application to the user, the load in a communication network can be decreased. For example, in a case that the WEB option is not added or a WEB server is not yet activated, since a mail is not transmitted, the load in a communication network can be decreased. Otherwise, in this case, by transmitting a mail not including the URL, that transmission can be regarded as a notification of terminating the document storage. Further, an access control can be performed for the stored document by transmitting the URL by the mail to only the user who can access to the stored document among users in the mail transmitting destinations set in the destination information. 
   According to the above-explained embodiments, in a data storage system, an effect of suppressing the unnecessary delivering on a communication network is obtained for the stored document or image. 
   Further, in the data storage system, an effect of performing an access control to the stored document or image is obtained. 
   Although the above embodiments have been explained in order to show examples of the present invention, the present invention can be modified besides the above embodiments. As long as the modification is based on the technical idea of the present invention mentioned within the scope of the appended claims, the modification is included in a technical field of the present invention. 
   This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-411059 filed on Dec. 9, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.