Patent Publication Number: US-2003225824-A1

Title: System and method for transferring image data to a server

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] This invention is directed to a system and method for transferring image data to a server. More particularly, this invention is directed to a system and method for transferring image data from a document reading device, such as a scanning device, to a file transfer protocol (FTP) server via FTP.  
       [0002] Typically, when a user uses a scanner, copier, or other document reading device, the generated image data is saved to shared network drives to be processed further. These shared network drives are easily accessed from a Windows environment. However, non-Windows users often have problems accessing the data in the shared network drives and have to go through a cumbersome process to move the data to a local workstation after the data is generated. For example, if a user wants to send the image data to a remote FTP server by FTP, the user needs to move the data to a device that has the FTP capability and send the data to the FTP server. Further, a user may need to install an application or spend additional time configuring his workstation or device in order to access the data.  
       [0003] There is a need for a system and method for easily transferring image data to a server and which enables easy access to the image data by Window users and non-Windows users.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a system and method for easily transferring image data to a server.  
       [0005] Further, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a system and method which enables easy access to image data by Windows users and non-Windows users.  
       [0006] Still further, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a system for transferring image data from a document reading device to a server. The system comprises means adapted for receiving image data from an associated document reading device. The system also comprises means adapted for selecting an associated data transfer signal, the data transfer signal including data representative of at least one selected data transfer format and a data transfer target. The system further comprises means adapted for transmitting the image data via a data transfer system from an associated document reading device to an associated file server in accordance with the data transfer selection signal.  
       [0007] Still further, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for transferring image data from a document reading device to a server. The method comprises receiving image data from an associated document reading device. The method further comprises selecting an associated data transfer signal, the data transfer signal including data representative of at least one selected data transfer format and a data transfer target. The method also comprises transmitting the image data via a data transfer system from an associated document reading device to an associated server in accordance with the data transfer selection signal.  
       [0008] Advantages of the system and method of the present invention, include, but are not limited to, the ability to easily transfer image data between a document reading device and a file server and the ability for Windows users and non-Windows users to easily access the image data.  
       [0009] These and other advantages, aspects, and features will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the specification. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the preferred embodiment of the system according to the present invention.  
     [0011]FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  show a sample summary template for the desired settings for the document reading device and the desired data transfer signal.  
     [0012]FIGS. 3 a,    3   b,  and  3   c  show sample templates for selecting the desired settings for the document reading device.  
     [0013]FIG. 4 shows a sample template for selecting the desired data transfer signal for transmitting the generated image data to the file server.  
     [0014]FIG. 5 is a sample screen that shows the status of the transfer of the image data.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0015] The present invention is directed to a system and method for transferring image data from a document reading device to a server. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram preferred embodiment of the system according to the present invention generally designated as  100 . The system comprises a document reading device  102 , such as a scanner or copier, for generating image data. The document reading device is any suitable document reading device known in the art. Preferably, the document reading device is a scanning device, a copying device, and an optical character recognition device. More preferably, the document reading device is a scanning device. Suitable commercially available document reading devices include, but are not limited to, the Toshiba e-Studio Series Controller. The document reading device further comprises a controller  104  which controls the functions of the document reading device and includes storage means for storing the image data.  
     [0016] In operation, the user inputs the document or other data into the document reading device to generate the image data and selects the desired settings for generating the image data. The image data is stored as a rector file  106  on the controller or any other suitable memory device. The image data is then converted by the controller to an appropriate format, such as TIFF or PDF, as shown by  108 . A Transfer Agent  110  is used to access the image data on the controller. An data transfer session is initiated on the communication link  112  to the remote file server  114  whereupon the image data is transferred to the remote file server via a data transfer system. The communication link is comprised of one or more segments of wired or wireless communications. Suitable communications link include, but are not limited to, FTPLIB-3.1. In a preferred embodiment, the file server is an FTP server and the data transfer system is FTP. Preferably, the data transfer is completed on an system operating under Linux or Unix.  
     [0017] The controller  104  includes means adapted for selecting the desired settings for generating the image data and means adapted for selecting a desired data transfer signal for transferring the generated image data to the server. FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  show a preferred sample summary template for the desired settings for the document image device and the desired transfer signal. FIG. 2 a  shows the top half of summary screen  200 . The screen shows the document scanning method  202 , the document type  204 , the exposure  206 , and the paper size  208  chosen. The screen also shows the IP address and port of the server to which the image data is to be transferred  210 , the usemame  212 , and the password  214  of the user. The user selects the Cancel button  216  to cancel the settings or the Scan button  218  to initiate the process. The user can also select the Settings button  220  to change the scanning parameters as shown in FIGS. 3 a,    3   b,  and  3   c.    
     [0018]FIG. 2 b  shows the bottom half of summary screen  200 . The screen shows the selected the desired file format as selected from single page TIFF  222 , multi-page TIFF  224 , and multi-page PDF  226 . The screen also shows the selected the folder in which the image data is to be store  228  and the document name for the image data  230 .  
     [0019] Preferred sample screen displays for selecting the desired settings for generating the image data is shown in FIGS. 3 a,    3   b,  and  3   c.  FIG. 3 a  shows scanning parameter setting screen  1  shown as  300 . The user selects if the document is to be scanned using a single page method  302 , book method  304 , or tablet method  306 . The user next specifies the rotation from the four choices shown as  308 ,  310 ,  312 , and  314 . The user can cancel the settings by selecting the Cancel button  316 . The user can go to scanning parameter screen  2  by selecting the Next button  318 . The user can also proceed to selecting the appropriate agent and associated data transfer signal by selecting the OK button  320 .  
     [0020]FIG. 3 b  shows scanning parameter screen  2  as  330 . The user first selects the document type as either text  332 , text/photo  334 , and photo  336 . The user then selects the resolution for the image data from 600 dots per inch (dpi)  338 , 400 dpi  340 , 300 dpi  342 , 200 dpi  344 , and 150 dpi  346 . The user then selects the exposure mode from Auto  348  or manual  350 . The user can cancel the settings by selecting the Cancel button  352 . The user can go back to scanning parameter screen  1  by selecting the Prev button  354 . The user can go to scanning parameter screen  3  by selecting the Next button  356 . The user can also proceed to selecting the appropriate agent and associated data transfer signal by selecting the OK button  358 .  
     [0021]FIG. 3 c  shows scanning parameter screen  3  as  360 . The user can select Auto  362  for auto paper size detection mode. The user can also select Mixed Original Sizes  364  for the mixed original sizes mode. The user can also select the original paper size from the choices shown in region  366 . The user can cancel the settings by selecting the Cancel button  368 . The user can go back to scanning parameter screen  2  by selecting the Prev button  370 . The user can also proceed to selecting the appropriate agent and associated data transfer signal by selecting the OK button  372 .  
     [0022] A preferred sample screen display  400  for selecting the desired agent and associated data transfer signal is shown in FIG. 4. The user first selects whether an e-mail should be sent to the user when an error occurs  402  and/or whether an e-mail should be sent to the user when the job is completed  404 . The user then enters the e-mail address to which to send the notifications  406 . The user then selects the desired agent to which the image data should be sent as shown at  408 . The user then specifies the server settings by selecting the file server  410  and the file server port  412  to which the image data is to be transferred. The user then inputs his usemame  414  and password on the file server account  416 . The user then selects the transfer settings by selecting the option to retry when the transfer fails  418 . If the user selects to retry should the transfer fail, the user then inputs the retry count  420  and the retry interval  422 . The user then provides the destination parameters by specifying the file path  424  and the file name  426  for the image data. The user next selects the particular file format in which the image data is to be transferred which is shown as  428 . The image data format is preferably selected from PDF, single page TIFF, and multi-page TIFF. The user can also select whether to overwrite an existing file of the same name by checking the box shown as  430 . The user can then select the OK button  432  to save the settings or the Cancel button  434  to cancel the settings entered.  
     [0023] Upon selecting the OK button, the controller  104  begins the process of transferring the image data to the file server. In one embodiment, the status of the job is provided by a sample status screen as shown in FIG. 5 as  500 . The job log is shown as  502  and the status of a particular job is shown as  504 . Electronic mail notifications as to the status and any errors are also sent to the user as described above.  
     [0024] While in the preferred embodiment the present invention is implemented in software, as those skilled in the art can readily appreciate it may also be implemented in hardware or a combination of software and hardware.  
     [0025] Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It will be appreciated that various changes in the details, materials and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the area within the principle and scope of the invention as will be expressed in the appended claims.