Patent Publication Number: US-8125670-B2

Title: Data processing apparatus and recording medium

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-265321, filed on Sep. 28, 2006, the entire subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Aspects of the present invention relate to a data processing apparatus for reading or recording data on a non-contact tag, and relate to a recording medium equipped with a non-contact tag available for the data processing apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A non-contact tag such as a Radio Frequency Identification tag (RFID tag) is attached to (or embedded in) a recording medium such as sheet. An image is formed on such recording medium and at the same time, data is recorded on the non-contact tag. For example, JP-A-2002-3337426 describes to record software digital data on a non-contact tag and form an image indicating a manual of the software on a recording medium. 
     SUMMARY 
     Generally, software is composed of a plurality of data (files), so that corruption of any one of them would cause a failure in the operation thereof. However, there is no way of finding out a storage location at which such corrupted data recorded on a non-contact tag is previously recorded in data source. Therefore, it is difficult to restore the corrupted data. On the other hand, even data other than software, a user may desire to check a storage location at which the data is stored in the data source in order to restore the data. 
     Aspects of the present invention relate to the above problem. According to at least one aspect of the invention, a image processing apparatus may be provided that reads or records data on a non-contact tag and facilitate restoration of data with at least location information stored on the non-contact tag. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, data processing apparatus includes a data reading unit that reads data from a non-contact tag, and a restoration unit that restores a file when the data reading unit reads, from the non-contact tag, (i) location information indicating a storage location where the file is previously stored and (ii) at least one of a flag indicating that the file is to be restored and a restoration program for restoring the file, in accordance with the read at least one of the flag and the restoration program. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the accompanying drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the configuration of a data processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of a printer included in the data processing apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  is an explanatory view showing an example of the configuration of a sheet attached to a non-contact tag; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing a file save process to be executed in a personal computer that is included in the data processing apparatus; 
         FIG. 5  is an explanatory view showing an example of a file structure image that is displayed in the file save process; 
         FIG. 6  is an explanatory view showing an example of the file structure image with highlighting; 
         FIG. 7  is an explanatory view showing an example of a print image prepared in the file save process; 
         FIG. 8  is an explanatory view showing an example of the print image with highlighting; 
         FIG. 9  is an explanatory view showing another example of the print image with highlighting; 
         FIG. 10  is an explanatory view showing another form of the print image; 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart showing a printer printing process to be executed in the printer; 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart showing a tag data reading process to be executed in the printer; 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart showing a file restoration process to be executed in the personal computer; 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart showing a step of saving into a specified folder in the file restoration process in detail; 
         FIG. 15  is a flowchart showing a step of saving into an original location in the file restoration process in detail; 
         FIG. 16  is a flowchart showing a modified example of a step of saving into the specified folder; 
         FIG. 17  is an explanatory view showing an example of a folder structure made by the process; 
         FIG. 18  is a flowchart showing a modified example of the printer printing process; and 
         FIG. 19  is a flowchart showing a modified example of the tag data reading process. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Overall Configuration of the Embodiment 
     Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.  FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the configuration of a data processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the data processing apparatus of this embodiment includes a printer  1  serving as a terminal and a personal computer (herein after simply referred to as PC□  800  serving as a host connected to the printer  1  via a network  700 . Note that the network  700  may be any network such as an intranet LAN or the Internet. 
     [Description of the configuration of the printer  1 ] 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the printer  1 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , within a main body case  2 , the printer  1  includes a feeder part  4  for feeding sheet  3  serving as a recording medium; a multi-purpose tray  14 ; a process unit  18  as an example of an image forming unit for forming an image on the fed sheet  3 ; and a fixing unit  19 . Note that in the printer  1 , the side on which the multi-purpose tray  14  is mounted in the main body case  2  (the left side in  FIG. 2 ) is herein after referred to as the “front part,” while the side opposite on which the multi-purpose tray  14  is mounted in the main body case  2  is referred to as the “rear part.” 
     [Description of the Configuration of the Feeder Part  4 ] 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in the bottom part of the main body case  2 , the feeder part  4  includes a detachable sheet feed tray  6 , a sheet retainer plate  8  provided in the sheet feed tray  6 , a feed roller  12  provided above an end of the sheet feed tray  6 , and a separation pad  13 . In addition, there is provided a curved feed path  7  from the feed roller  12  to an image forming position P (or a contact part between a photosensitive drum  23  and a transfer roller  25 , i.e., a transfer position at which a toner image on the photosensitive drum  23  is transferred onto the sheet  3 ). 
     The sheet retainer plate  8 , which can retain the sheets  3  stacked in layers, is pivotably supported at the distal end part relative to the feed roller  12 , thereby the proximal end part is allowed to move up and down. The sheet retainer plate  8  is upwardly energized by a spring  8   a  on its back. The separation pad  13  is disposed to oppose the feed roller  12 , so that a pad  13   a  composed of a member having a high friction coefficient is pushed against the feed roller  12  by a spring  13   b.    
     On the other hand, the feed path  7  is formed in a curved shape by a pair of guide plates  7   a  and  7   b  for guiding the sheet  3 . In addition, there are disposed at appropriate intervals on the feed path  7  sequentially from the upstream of the sheet feed direction, the feed roller  12 ; a pair of feed rollers  11  including a pair of a drive roller and a follower roller; a pair of feed rollers  10  including a pair of a drive roller and a follower roller; and a pair of registration rollers  9  including a pair of a drive roller and a follower roller disposed immediately before the image forming position P. 
     In the feeder part  4  configured as described above, the topmost sheet  3  of those stacked in layers on the sheet retainer plate  8  is pushed against the feed roller  12 , and sandwiched between the feed roller  12  and the separation pad  13  by the feed roller  12  being rotated, thereby sheets are fed one by one. The thus fed sheet  3  is also fed by the feed rollers  11 , and then sequentially by the feed rollers  10  and the registration rollers  9  to the image forming position P with a predetermined timing. 
     [Description of the Configuration of the Multi-Purpose Tray  14 ] 
     On the front part side of the main body case  2  above the feeder part  4 , there are disposed the multi-purpose tray  14  which serves to supply the sheets  3  manually or automatically and a multi-purpose side sheet feed mechanism  15  for feeding the sheets  3  stacked in layers on the multi-purpose tray  14 . The multi-purpose side sheet feed mechanism  15  includes a feed roller for the multi-purpose tray  15   a  and a multi-purpose side sheet feed pad  15   b , and allows the multi-purpose side sheet feed pad  15   b  to be pushed against the feed roller for the multi-purpose tray  15   a  by a spring  15   c  disposed on the back of the multi-purpose side sheet feed pad  15   b . In addition, the multi-purpose side sheet feed mechanism  15  includes a pair of feed rollers  15   d  including a pair of drive roller and a follower roller. 
     In the multi-purpose tray  14  configured as described above, the sheets  3  stacked in layers on the multi-purpose tray  14  are sandwiched between the feed roller for the multi-purpose tray  15   a  being rotated and the multi-purpose side sheet feed pad  15   b , and then fed one by one to the registration rollers  9  via a pair of feed rollers  15   d.    
     There is also disposed a tag reader  16  serving as data reading unit between the feed rollers  15   d ,  10  and the registration rollers  9 . When the sheet  3  as shown in  FIG. 3  having a Radio Frequency Identification Tag (RFID tag: herein after simply referred to as the tag)  3 A as an example of a non-contact tag is used, the tag reader  16  reads data recorded on the tag  3 A. Consequently, while the sheet  3  equipped with the tag  3 A is transported from the sheet feed tray  6  or the multi-purpose tray  14  to the image forming position P, the tag reader  16  can read data from the tag  3 A attached to the sheet  3 . Note that when data is read from (read out from) the tag  3 A attached to the sheet  3  held in the multi-purpose tray  14 , it is not always necessary to read (read out) the data while the sheet  3  is being fed. For example, with the sheet  3  being held (placed) in the multi-purpose tray  14 , the data may be read (read out) from the tag  3 A attached to the sheet  3 . 
     [Description of the Configuration of a Scanner Unit  17 ] 
     The scanner unit  17  is disposed under a sheet discharging tray  36  in the upper part of the main body case  2 , and includes a laser emitting part (not shown), a rotatably driven polygon mirror  20 , lenses  21   a  and  21   b , and a reflection mirror  22 . The laser emitting part emits a laser beam and the laser beam is passing through or reflected from the polygon mirror  20 , the lens  21   a , the reflection mirror  22 , and the lens  21   b  so that the scanner unit  17  allows a laser beam to illuminate and quickly scan across the surface of the photosensitive drum  23  of the process unit  18 . 
     [Description of the Configuration of the Process Unit  18 ] 
     The process unit  18  includes the photosensitive drum  23  serving as an electrostatic latent image carrier, a scorotron type electrifier  37 , a drum cartridge having the transfer roller  25  or the like, and a developing cartridge  24  detachably attached to the drum cartridge. The developing cartridge  24  includes a toner accommodating part  26 , a developing roller  27 , a layer thickness restricting blade  28 , and a toner supply roller  29 . 
     The toner accommodating part  26  is filled with positively charged non-magnetic one-composition polymeric toner as a developer. The toner is supplied by the toner supply roller  29  to the developing roller  27 , at the time of which the toner is positively charged by friction between the toner supply roller  29  and the developing roller  27 . Furthermore, the toner supplied onto the developing roller  27  is carried on the developing roller  27  in a thin layer of a uniform thickness by the layer thickness restricting blade  28  as the developing roller  27  rotates. On the other hand, the rotating photosensitive drum  23  is disposed opposite the developing roller  27 , with the drum body being grounded and its surface being formed of a positively charged organic photosensitive material. 
     The scorotron type electrifier  37  is disposed above the photosensitive drum  23  with a predetermined gap there between so as not to be in contact with the photosensitive drum  23 . The scorotron type electrifier  37  is a positively charging scorotron type electrifier which generates corona discharge from an electrifying wire such as of tungsten, and is designed to positively electrify the surface of the photosensitive drum  23  uniformly. 
     Then, as the photosensitive drum  23  rotates, the surface of the photosensitive drum  23  is first uniformly and positively charged by the scorotron type electrifier  37 , and thereafter exposed to the laser beam from the scanner unit  17  during a quick scan, thereby an electrostatic latent image is formed based on the image data. 
     Subsequently, as the developing roller  27  rotates, the positively charged toner carried on the developing roller  27  is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum  23 . At this time, the toner is supplied onto the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum  23 , i.e., onto the exposed part having a reduced potential due to the exposure to the laser beam on the uniformly and positively charged surface of the photosensitive drum  23 . Thus, the toner is selectively carried to visualize the image, thereby a toner image is formed. 
     The transfer roller  25  is disposed below the photosensitive drum  23  to oppose the photosensitive drum  23 , and supported rotatably in the clockwise direction in  FIG. 2  in the drum cartridge. The transfer roller  25  is configured such that a metal roller shaft is coated with a roller formed of an ionic conductive rubber material, and receives a transfer bias (forward transfer bias) applied thereto from a transfer bias application power supply during transfer. Consequently, the toner image carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum  23  is transferred onto the sheet  3  at the above-described image forming position P while the sheet  3  is passing through between the photosensitive drum  23  and the transfer roller  25 . 
     [Description of the Configuration of the Fixing Unit  19 ] 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the fixing unit  19  is disposed to the right of the process unit  18  downstream of the feed direction, and includes one heating roller  31 , a pressure roller  32  disposed to push against the heating roller  31 , and a pair of feed rollers  33  provided downstream of them. The heating roller  31 , which is formed of a metal such as aluminum and includes a heater such as a halogen lamp for heating, allows the toner transferred to the sheet  3  in the process unit  18  to be thermally fixed while the sheet  3  passes through between the heating roller  31  and the pressure roller  32 . Thereafter, the sheet  3  is fed by the feed rollers  33  into the discharging path in the rear side part of the main body case  2 , and then further fed by feed rollers  34  and discharge rollers  35 . Subsequently, the sheet  3  is discharged onto the sheet discharging tray  36 . 
     Furthermore, there is provided a tag writer  38 , as an example of data recording unit capable of recording data on the above-described tag  3 A, on the sheet feed path between the heating roller  31 , the pressure roller  32 , and the feed rollers  33 . Consequently, when the sheet  3  equipped with the tag  3 A is used, desired data can be recorded on the tag  3 A of the sheet  3  after an image has been formed thereon. 
     [Description of the Control System of the Printer  1 ] 
     In addition, on the upper surface of the printer  1 , there are provided various types of buttons (not shown) such as a tag reading button  220 A or an operation panel  220  (see  FIG. 1 ) with a liquid crystal display. Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the operation panel  220  is connected to a controller  200  in conjunction with the process unit  18 , the scanner unit  17 , the tag writer  38 , and the tag reader  16 . The controller  200  is configured as a microcomputer including a CPU  201 , a ROM  202 , a RAM  203 , and a NVRAM  204  in which stored contents will not be erased even when the power supply switch is turned OFF. In addition, the controller  200  is connected to the PC  800  via a printer port interface (printer port I/F)  230  and the network  700 . 
     A PC main body  810  of the PC  800  includes a CPU  811 , a ROM  812 , a RAM  813 , and a hard disk drive (HDD)  814 . In addition, the RAM  813  includes a tag writing data area  813 A, a print data area  813 B, and a restoration area  813 C, to be described later. The PC main body  810  is connected to a display  820  such as a CRT, a keyboard  830 , a mouse  840 , a printer port interface (printer port I/F)  850  for connecting to the controller  200  of the printer  1 , and the like. 
     [Process in the Control System (File Save Process In the PC  800 )] 
     Now, description will be made to the process in the control system.  FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing the file save process to be executed in the PC  800 . Note that this process is started by the CPU  811  executing a predetermined program stored in the HDD  814  when an instruction to perform this process is issued on the PC  800 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the process is started, first in S 1  (herein after S stands for step), an image of a file structure at a particular location within the HDD  814  is generated and then displayed on the display  820  so that a user can specify a save file. For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the diagram of a tree structure showing Root to the end files is displayed on the display  820 . The user can specify a file data save for saving the whole file data in the tag  3 A or a file location save for saving, in the tag  3 A, only location information containing a filename such as “A:¥B¥C 1 ” of the file data with a mouse  840  or the like. The location information indicates a storage location where a file is originally (previously) stored when the file is saved to the tag  3 A. For example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , once specified, a black square mark and a black triangular mark are displayed on the display  820  for a file specified for the file data save and a file specified for the file location save, respectively. 
     In S 2  subsequent to S 1 , it is sequentially determined file by file whether the specified file is specified for the file data save or the file location save. If it is determined that filed at a save is specified (S 2 : Y), then in S 3 , the location information, filename, and file data itself of the file are written as tag writing data onto the tag writing data area  813 A, and then the process proceeds to S 5 . On the other hand, if it is determined that the file location save is specified (S 2 : N), then in S 4 , the location information and filename of the file are written as tag writing data onto the tag writing data area  813 A, and then the process proceeds to S 5 . In S 5 , it is determined whether any other file has been specified. If any other file has been specified (S 5 : Y), then the process proceeds to S 2  described above; if no other file has been specified (S 5 : N), the process proceeds to subsequent S 6 , respectively. 
     In S 6 , it is determined whether a restoration upon reading is specified to automatically restore data when data is read from the tag  3 A. If the restoration upon reading has been specified (S 6 : Y), then in S 7 , a flag indicating that the file is saved for restoration and a file system restoration application software (herein after referred to as the restoration software or the restoration program) are written as tag writing data onto the tag writing data area  813 A. If no restoration upon reading has been specified (S 6 :N), then the process proceeds to S 10 . 
     In S 10 , print image data (herein after simply referred to as print data) corresponding to the file name specified in S 3  or S 4  and location information is generated and then written onto the print data area  813 B. For example, when the file data save and the file location save have been specified as shown in  FIG. 6 , the print data which corresponds to an image as shown in  FIG. 7  is generated and then written onto the print data area  813 B. The image is obtained by removing location information or the like from the files specified as shown in  FIG. 6 . When the print data may correspond to a plurality of pages of the sheet  3 , the print data is generated in S 10  page by page. 
     In S 11 , tag writing data corresponding to the print page is set up to the storage capacity of the tag  3 A. Note that the above-described flag and restoration software may be determined as data for the first page. On the other hand, the storage capacity of the tag  3 A may be acquired via the tag reader  16  by the sheet  3  being fed immediately before the registration rollers  9 . Alternatively, when the storage capacity of the tag  3 A is standardized with its value stored in a predetermined area such as the HDD  814 , the value may be read. 
     In S 12 , of the print data, the file to be written onto the tag is highlighted, and the data in the print data area  813 B is consequently updated. For example, as shown in  FIG. 8 , when all data corresponding to the page are written on one tag  3 A, the rectangular frame indicating a file corresponding to each data is filled in with a predetermined color. Note that other various methods of highlighting can be optionally selected such as attaching a star mark to the right end of a filename in  FIG. 7 . 
     When data corresponding to the page is written onto, e.g., two tags  3 A, the process of S 12  is repeated twice by the process described below, so that as shown in  FIG. 9 , only the data written on the respective tag  3 A attached to the sheet  3  of each page is highlighted. 
     In S 13 , the data set in S 11  of the tag writing data written on the tag writing data area  813 A, and the print data written on the print data area  813 B and updated as required is sent to the printer  1 . Then, the process proceeds to S 14 . 
     In S 14 , it is determined whether or not a data not written in the same page yet is present, which has not been able to be written onto the tag  3 A within its storage capacity in S 11 . If the data not written yet is not present (S 14 : N), then in S 15 , it is determined whether print data of the next page is present. If no print data of the next page is present (S 15 : N), the process ends. If print data of the next page is present (S 15 : Y), then the process proceeds to S 10  described above to generate print data of the next page. 
     On the other hand, if data not written in the same page yet is present (S 14 : Y), the process proceeds to S 16 , where as in S 11 , the remaining tag writing data corresponding to the page is set up to the storage capacity of the tag  3 A. Then, the process proceeds to S 12  described above. In this case, in S 12 , newly set data is highlighted as described above, and the previous highlighting set through the process of S 12  is released. Then, if all the tag writing data corresponding to the page has completely been set (S 16 , S 11 ) and sent to the printer (S 13 )(S 14 :Y), the process proceeds to S 15  described above. 
     Through the processes, the print data corresponding to an image as shown in  FIG. 8  or  FIG. 9 , and the file data, filename, location information and the like corresponding to each page are sent to the printer  1 . If the image of a file cannot be printed on one sheet  3  (S 15 : Y), then, for example, as shown in  FIG. 10 , images of a plurality of pages are generated as print data □S 10 □, which are sent to the printer  1  with the tag writing data respectively corresponding to each page □S 11 , S 16 , and S 13 ). 
     [Process in the Control System (Process in the Printer  1 )] 
     Next,  FIG. 11  is a flowchart showing a printer printing process executed by the controller  200  of the printer  1  in response to the processing of S 13  described above. This process is started when the PC  800  sends data to the printer  1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , when the process is started, the data sent from the PC  800  is received in S 201 . In S 202 , it is determined whether the received data is print data. If the received data is print data (S 202 : Y), then in S 203 , the print data is written onto a print buffer defined in the RAM  203 . If the received data is not print data (S 202 : N), the process proceeds to S 204 . 
     In S 204 , it is determined whether the received data is tag writing data. If the received data is tag writing data (S 204 : Y), then in S 205 , the tag writing data is written onto a tag write buffer defined in the RAM  203 . On the other hand, if the received data is not tag writing data (S 204 : N), the process proceeds to S 206 . Note that in S 205 , the print data is also written as tag writing data onto the tag write buffer. In S 206 , it is determined whether the data from the PC  800  has completely been received. If the data has not completely been received (S 206 : N), the process proceeds to S 201 , so that the processes of S 201  to S 205  described above will be repeated. 
     On the other hand, if the data has completely been received from the PC  800  (S 206 : Y), the process proceeds to S 207 , where printing on the sheet  3  is started by driving the scanner unit  17 , the process unit  18  and the like in accordance with the print data. In S 208 , it is determined whether the sheet  3  has been transported to the tag write position at which the tag writer  38  can write data onto the tag  3 A. If the sheet  3  is not at the tag write position (S 208 : N), the process proceeds to S 210 . If the sheet  3  is at the tag write position (S 208 : Y), then in S 209 , the tag writing data is written onto the tag  3 A, and thereafter, the process proceeds to S 210 . 
     In S 210 , it is determined whether printing of data on the sheet  3  and writing of data on the tag  3 A have been finished. If not completed yet (S 210 : N), the process proceeds to S 207 , so that the processes of S 207  to S 209  described above will be repeated. If printing onto the sheet  3  and writing onto the tag  3 A are finished (S 210 : Y), then the process is once ended. Through the foregoing processes, the file image as described above is printed on the sheet  3  and the corresponding tag writing data is written onto the tag  3 A. 
     Furthermore, the controller  200  executes the following tag data reading process when the controller  200  has received from the PC  800  an instruction for reading data on the tag  3 A or when the tag reading button  220 A of the operation panel  220  is pressed. 
       FIG. 12  is a flowchart showing the tag data reading process. As shown in  FIG. 12 , when the process is started, it is first determined in S 250  whether the sheet  3  is placed in the multi-purpose tray  14 . If the sheet  3  is not placed (S 250 : N), the process waits as it is in S 250 . If the sheet  3  is placed (S 250 : Y), then in S 251 , the sheet  3  is started to be transported. 
     In S 252  that follows, it is determined whether the tag reader  16  can communicate with the tag  3 A. If they cannot communicate with each other (S 252 : N), the process proceeds to S 254 . If they can communicate with each other (S 252 : Y), then in S 253 , data is read from the tag  3 A via the tag reader  16  and written onto the tag buffer in the RAM  203 , and then the process proceeds to S 254 . In S 254 , it is determined whether the tail end of the sheet  3  has passed and the sheet  3  is ejected onto the sheet discharging tray  36 . If the tail end of the sheet has not passed (S 254 : N), the process proceeds to S 251  described above, where the processes of S 251  to S 253  will be repeated. If the tail end of the sheet has passed (S 254 : Y), the process proceeds to S 255  that follows. In S 255 , the data read from the tag  3 A in S 253  is sent to the host (in this case, the PC  800 ), and the process ends. 
     Note that when data is read from the tag  3 A attached to the sheet  3  held in the multi-purpose tray  14 , it is not always necessary to read the data while the sheet  3  is being fed. For example, the data may be read (read out) from the tag  3 A attached to the sheet  3  with the sheet  3  held (placed) in the multi-purpose tray  14 . 
       FIG. 19  shows the tag data reading process which enables such a reading operation. In the process, each of the processes of S 251 , S 252 , and S 254  shown in  FIG. 12  is omitted. 
     [Process in the Control System (File Restoration Process in the PC  800 )] 
     Now,  FIG. 13  is a flowchart showing the file restoration process to be executed in the PC  800  on the data sent from the printer  1  through the process of S 255  described above. Note that the CPU  811  of the PC  800  executes the process according to a predetermined program stored in the HDD  814  when the data is received from the printer  1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , when the process is started, first in S 31 , the data received from the printer  1  is saved in the restoration area  813 C. In S 33 , it is determined whether a flag indicating that a file is saved for restoration is present in the data. If it is not present (S 33 : N), then in S 35 , the data from the printer is displayed in a list on the display  820 , and the process ends. Then, the following processes as to whether data described below is subsequently restored or saved are left to the user. 
     On the other hand, if the flag is present in the data from the printer  1  (S 33 : Y), then in S 37 , the restoration software is installed. In S 38 , a message is displayed on the display  820  to execute a restoration location selecting process for allowing the user to select the restoration location of files. In S 39 , it is determined that whether a specified folder has been selected or an original location has been selected in the restoration location selecting process. Note that the specified folder may be selected on the tree folder structure displayed on the display  820  or by directly inputting the location information on the keyboard  830 . Then, if the specified folder is selected as the restoration location (S 39 : Specified folder), then in S 40 , the data is saved in the specified folder. On the other hand, if the original location is selected as the restoration location (S 39 : Original location), then in S 50 , the data is saved at the original location. Then, the process ends. 
     Note that when the restoration program is not stored in the tag  3 A, the restoration software may not be installed. In this case, the process of S 37  in the file restoration process may be omitted. 
     Note that it may be determined whether the restoration software is present in the data from the printer  1  in S 33  instead of determining whether the flag is present in the data from the printer  1 . And when the restoration software is present in the data, the software program is installed in S 37 . 
     That is, the restoration may be performed when either one of the flag and the restoration program would be stored in the tag  3 A. 
       FIG. 14  is a flowchart showing in detail the process of S 40  for saving data in the specified folder. As shown in  FIG. 14 , first in S 401 , the above-described print data saved in the restoration area  813 C is saved in the specified folder. In S 402 , one data is read from the restoration area  813 C, and it is then determined in S 403  whether the data includes only a filename or location information containing a filename. 
     If the data contains only location information or a filename (S 403 : Y), the data is restored into the original file data as follows. That is, in this case, first in S 404 , the file corresponding to the location information or filename is searched. This search is carried out by the process in the PC  800  when the location information indicates a predetermined area in the PC  800 ; however, the search may also be conducted according to a URL via a network  700 . 
     In S 405  that follows, it is determined whether the file is found. If the file is found (S 405 : Y), then in S 406 , the data of the file is acquired. If the file is not found (S 405 : N), then in S 407 , a fault report is generated as failure information indicating that the file data could not be acquired. After that, the process proceeds to S 408 . 
     In S 408 , the data having been acquired is saved in the specified folder. For example, if the file data has been acquired (S 406 ), then the file data and the location information or filename read in S 402  are saved in the specified folder. On the other hand, if the file has not been found (S 405 : N), then nothing may be saved or an empty file may be saved. Alternatively, only the location information or the filename having been read in S 402  may be saved in the form of a file. 
     Furthermore, if it is determined in S 403  that the data does contain not only location information or a filename (S 403 : N), the data is the file itself or a flag, which does not require to search for a file to be restored. Thus, in this case, the process directly proceeds from S 403  to S 408 , where the data having been read in S 402  is saved in the specified folder. 
     In S 409 , it is determined whether the next saved data is still present in the restoration area  813 C. If the next data is present (S 409 : Y), then the process proceeds to S 402  described above, so that the processes of S 402  to S 408  are executed on the next data. If the processes of S 402  to S 408  described above are completely performed on all data in the restoration area  813 C (S 409 : N), then in S 411 , the fault report is saved (only when the fault report is present), and then the process ends. 
     Now,  FIG. 15  is a flowchart showing in detail the process of S 50  for saving data into an original location. As shown in  FIG. 15 , in this step, the same processes as those of S 401  to S 407  described above are first executed in S 501  to S 507 . That is, print data is saved (S 501 ) and one data is read from the restoration area  813 C (S 502 ). However, in this step, a folder for saving data is not specified. Thus, in S 501 , print data is saved in a pre-specified folder of the HDD  814  (e.g., in My Pictures of Microsoft Windows (trade mark)) or saved in a location specified on the PC  800 . 
     If the data read in S 502  contains only location information or a filename (S 503 : Y), the corresponding file is acquired (S 504  to S 506 ). When the file cannot be acquired, a fault report is generated (S 507 ), and then the process proceeds to S 510 . On the other hand, if the data read from the restoration area  813 C does not contain only location information or a filename (S 503 : N), then it is not necessary to search for a file to be restored, and thus the process proceeds directly from S 503  to S 510 . 
     In S 510 , it is determined whether or not a folder structure defined by the location information is present in the PC  800 . If no such folder structure is present (S 510 : N), then in S 511 , the folder structure is made based on the location information. In this step, in some cases, for example, it is made from Root A shown in  FIG. 5 . In S 512 , it is determined whether the folder structure has been made. If it has been made (S 512 : Y), then in S 513 , the data and the restored file data is saved at the location of the location information. On the other hand, the folder structure is present from the beginning (S 510 : Y), the process directly proceeds from S 510  to S 513 , where without making a folder structure, the data is saved at the location of the location information in the existing folder structure (S 513 ). 
     In S 514 , as in S 409  described above, it is determined whether the next data is present. If the next data is present (S 514 : Y), the process proceeds to S 502  described above. On the other hand, if it is determined that a folder structure could not be made in S 512  (S 512 : N), then in S 515 , the process generates a fault report as failure information indicating that a folder structure could not be made, and then the process proceeds to S 514  described above. If the processes of S 502  to S 515  described above have completely been performed on all data in the restoration area  813 C (S 514 : N), then in S 516 , the fault report is saved (only when the fault report is present), and then the process ends. 
     Effects of the Embodiment 
     As described above, in this embodiment, the data recorded on the tag  3 A can be readily restored as a file with only location information or a filename, and then saved in a desired specified folder or at the original location. In addition, when the data of the tag  3 A is attached with the flag, this process can be automatically executed. Note that saving data in the specified folder (S 40 ) will provide easy access to the restored file, while saving data at the original location (S 50 ) will provide further improved convenience when the data is used in other applications or the like. In addition, in the latter case, even when a folder structure itself corresponding to the original location has been lost, the folder structure is regenerated to save the data (S 511 ), thereby convenience is further improved. 
     Furthermore, in this embodiment, since a fault report is generated when the process has failed to restore a file or make a folder structure, the user can quickly take countermeasures. In addition, since the print data of an image printed on the sheet  3  is also saved (S 401  and S 502 ), the image can be easily printed on another sheet  3 . 
     Note that in the embodiment, the processes of S 404  to S 406  and S 504  to S 506  correspond to the restoration unit; the process of S 408  corresponds to the first saving unit; the processes of S 511  to S 513  correspond to the second saving unit; the processes of S 407 , S 507 , and S 515  correspond to the failure information generation unit; the processes of S 401  and S 502  correspond to the image data saving unit; the process of S 1  corresponds to the data specifying unit; and the process of S 2  corresponds to the recording control unit, respectively. 
     Modified Examples of this Embodiment 
     The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment but may also be implemented in various forms without deviating from the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, the present invention is also applicable to such a system that has no printing function and only reads and writes data on a tag  3 A. In this case, the tag  3 A may not be attached to the sheet  3 . 
     Furthermore, in the process of saving data in the specified folder, the process of S 408  may also be changed as follows.  FIG. 16  is a flowchart showing such a modified example. Note that this process is the same as that of  FIG. 14  except that the process of S 408  described above is changed into those of S 480  to S 482 . Thus, description will be made for only those changes. 
     That is, after file data is acquired (S 406 ) and other processes have been performed, the process proceeds to S 480 , where it is determined whether a folder structure defined by the location information is present in the specified folder. If the folder structure is not present (S 480 : N), then in S 481 , the folder structure is made based on the location information. In this case, the folder structure may also be made from Root, in the case of which for example, the name of Root is changed as appropriate as shown in  FIG. 17 . In S 482  that follows, the restored file data or the like are saved at the location indicated by the location information in the made folder structure, and then the process proceeds to S 409  described above. On the other hand, if the folder structure is present from the beginning (S 480 : Y), the process proceeds directly from S 480  to S 482 , where the data is saved at the location, which is indicated by the location information, in the existing folder structure within the specified folder (S 482 ). In this example, without affecting the original folder structure, the restored file data can be saved in the specified folder with the folder structure corresponding to the previous storage location. 
     Furthermore, file data may be restored in the printer  1 .  FIG. 18  is a flowchart showing a printer printing process according to an embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 18 , in this process, first in S 260  to S 264 , as in S 250  to S 254  described above, data is read from the tag  3 A to be written onto a tag buffer, and then the process proceeds to S 270 . In S 270 , one data is read from the tag buffer. In S 271 , it is determined whether the data includes only a filename or location information containing a filename. 
     If the data contains only location information or a filename (S 271 : Y), then in S 272 , the file corresponding to the location information or filename is searched. This search is carried out, for example, according to a URL or the like via the network  700  when the network  700  is connected with a plurality of PCs  800  or servers. 
     In S 273  that follows, it is determined whether the file is found. If the file is found (S 273 : Y), then in S 274 , the data of the file is acquired, and the process proceeds to S 275 . If the file is not found (S 273 : N), then the process proceeds to S 275 . 
     In S 275 , the data having been acquired at that time is saved in a transmission buffer. For example, if file data has been acquired (S 274 ), then the file data and the location information or filename read in S 270  are saved in the transmission buffer. On the other hand, if the file has not been found (S 273 : N), only the location information or the filename having been read in S 270  are saved in the transmission buffer. 
     Furthermore, if it is determined in S 271  that the data does not contain only location information or a filename (S 271 : N), the data is the file itself or a flag, which does not require to search for a file to be restored. Thus, in this case, the process directly proceeds from S 271  to S 275 , where the data having been read in S 270  is saved in the transmission buffer. 
     In S 276  that follows S 275 , it is determined whether the saved next data is still present in the tag buffer. If the next data is present (S 276 : Y), then the process proceeds to S 270  described above, so that the processes of S 270  to S 275  are executed on the next data. If the processes of S 270  to S 275  described above are completely performed on all data in the tag buffer (S 276 : N), then the data in the transmission buffer is sent to the host (in this case, the PC  800 ) in S 278 , and then the process ends. In this case, the load on the PC  800  can be alleviated, thereby prevented is adverse effects on other processes in the PC  800 . 
     Note that in the printer printing process shown in  FIG. 18 , as with the case of  FIG. 12 , it is not always necessary to read data from the tag  3 A attached to the sheet  3  while the sheet  3  held in the multi-purpose tray  14  is fed. For example, as in the tag data reading process shown in  FIG. 19 , the data may be read with the tag reader  16  from the tag  3 A attached to the sheet  3  with the sheet  3  held (placed) in the multi-purpose tray  14 . 
     Furthermore, the tag  3 A attached to the sheet  3  may be held over a tag reader, which is provided on the upper surface of the main body case  2  of the printer  1 , thereby the data is read (read out) from the tag  3 A. In order to successively read the data of the tag  3 A on a plurality of sheets  3 , the sheets  3  may be held one by one over the tag reader for the reading operation. Alternatively, a so-called anti-collision function may be used to sequentially read data from the tag  3 A with a plurality of sheets  3  tied in a bundle. 
     Furthermore, for example, in the case of a multi function device including a scanner (original document read) function, a copy function, a facsimile function in addition to the printer function, the data recorded in the tag  3 A may be read with a tag reader which is disposed along the feed path while the sheet  3  attached with the tag  3 A is being fed with an automatic document feeding mechanism (so-called ADF mechanism) included in the scanner function. 
     Furthermore, as the non-contact tag of the present invention, it is also possible to employ a tag which utilizes infrared light to transmit and received at a. On the other hand, when the printer  1  includes the operation panel  220  of a moderate size and a folder structure in the internal storage area, all the processes that are executed by the PC  800  in the embodiment may be executed in the controller  200 . In this case, the printer  1  as a single unit can constitute the data processing apparatus of the present invention. 
     Furthermore, the embodiment implements restorations using a flag or restoration program; however, the restoration can also be performed anyway without using a flag or restoration program. 
     The present invention provides illustrative, non-limiting embodiments as follows: 
     A data processing apparatus includes: a data reading unit that reads data from a non-contact tag; and a restoration unit that restores a file when the data reading unit reads, from the non-contact tag, location information indicating a storage location where the file is previously stored and a flag indicating that the file is to be restored or a restoration program for restoring the file, in accordance with the read at least one of the flag and the restoration program. 
     According to the above configuration, the data reading unit reads data from the non-contact tag. Then, when the data reading unit reads, from the non-contact tag, location information indicating a storage location of a file and a flag or a restoration program for restoring the file, the restoration unit restores the file in accordance with the flag or the restoration program. 
     According to the above configuration, when the location information indicating the storage location of the file and the flag or the restoration program for restoring the file are recorded on a non-contact tag attached to a recording medium, it may be possible to readily restore the file. Note that the data of the file itself may or may not be recorded on the non-contact tag of the recording medium. 
     The data processing apparatus may include a first saving unit that saves the file restored by the restoration unit in a specified storage location. In this case, the first saving unit may enable the data restored by the restoration unit to be saved at the pre-specified storage location. Consequently, this facilitates access to the restored data. 
     The first saving unit may make a folder structure defined by the location information in the specified storage location and saves the file restored by the restoration unit in the storage location indicated by the location information in the specified storage location. In this case, the restored data is saved at the specified storage location together with the folder structure corresponding to the previous storage location. This can be done without affecting an original folder structure. 
     The data processing apparatus may further include a second saving unit that saves the file restored by the restoration unit at the storage location indicated by the location information. In this case, the restored data can be saved at the previous storage location, thereby convenience is further improved when the data is used by other applications or the like. 
     When the storage location indicated by the location information is not present, the second saving unit may make a folder structure defined by the location information and saves the file restored by the restoration unit in the storage location indicated by the location information. In this case, even when a folder structure itself corresponding to the previous storage location has been lost, the entire folder structure can be restored, thereby convenience is further improved. 
     The data processing apparatus may include a terminal including the data reading unit, and a host including the first or second saving unit. In this case, the restoration unit may be provided in the terminal or in the host. In the former case, data can be more positively restored, while in the latter case, it can be inhibited to have an adverse effect on other processing in the host. 
     The data processing apparatus may further include a failure information generation unit that generates failure information indicating that the restoration unit fails in restoration processing or the first or second saving unit fails in storage processing. In this case, based on the failure information generated by the failure information generation unit, the user can find out that the restoration unit has failed in restoration processing or the first or second saving unit has failed in storage processing. This makes it possible to take countermeasures quickly. 
     The restoration unit may access a storage location indicated by the location information, thereby the data is restored. In this case, it is possible to restore similar data very quickly in a simple process when the data is present at the previous storage location. 
     When the data read by the data reading unit includes a flag indicating that the file is to be restored, the restoration unit may automatically execute the restoration, where as if the flag is not included, it displays the data read by the data reading unit to wait until the user provides an instruction. In this case, based on whether or not the data of the non-contact tag includes the flag, it is possible to allow the restoration to be executed automatically or decided by the user. 
     When the data read from the non-contact tag by the data reading unit includes the flag indicating that the file is to be restored and the restoration program for restoring the file, the restoration unit may automatically installs the restoration program and restores the file with using the restoration program. In this case, a newly installed restoration program is used to execute the restoration, thereby data can be restored further reliably. 
     The data processing apparatus may further include an image data saving unit that, when the data read by the data reading unit includes either one of image data and original data of the image data corresponding to an image formed on a surface of a recording medium equipped with the non-contact tag, saves the either one of the image data and the original data. In this case, based on the data saved by the image data saving unit, the image formed on the surface of the recording medium attached with the non-contact tag can be formed again on another recording medium. 
     The non-contact tag may be attached to a recording medium on which an image based on contents of the data stored in the non-contact tag. 
     A data processing apparatus include: a data recording unit that records data on a non-contact tag attached to a recording medium including a surface on which an image is capable to be formed; a data specifying unit that specifies a file to be recorded by the data recording unit on the non-contact tag, and a recording control unit that controls the data recording unit to selectively record either one of: (i) at least data of the specified file and location information indicating a storage location where the specified file is stored; (ii) at least a file name of the specified file and the location information; (iii) at least the data of the specified file, the location information, and at least one of a flag that indicates that the specified file is to be restored and a restoration program for restoring the specified file; and (iv) at least the file name of the specified file, the location information and at least one of the flag and the restoration program. 
     According to the above configuration, specifying data by the data specifying unit would allow the data recording unit to record the data on a non-contact tag attached to a recording medium capable of having an image formed on a surface thereof. In addition, at this time, the recording control unit selectively allows the data recording unit to record either one of (i) at least data of the specified file and location information indicating a storage location where the specified file is stored; (ii) at least a file name of the specified file and the location information; (iii) at least the data of the specified file, the location information, and at least one of a flag that indicates that the specified file is to be restored and a restoration program for restoring the specified file; and (iv) at least the file name of the specified file, the location information and at least one of the flag and the restoration program. When the (i) or (iii) is selected, the specified file can be directly read from the non-contact tag. On the other hand, when (ii) or (iv) is selected the specified data can be readily restored by the data processing apparatus with the restoration unit, and the capacity of the non-contact tag can also be ensured. 
     The data processing apparatus may further include: an image forming unit that forms, on the surface of the recording medium, an image based on contents of data to be saved in the non-contact tag. 
     A data processing apparatus includes: a data reading unit that reads data form a non-contact tag, and a restoration unit that restores a file when the data reading unit reads, from the non-contact tag, location information indicating a storage location where the file is previously stored, based on the read location information. 
     According to the above configuration, the data reading unit reads data from the non-contact tag. Then, when the data reading unit reads the location information indicating the previous storage location of the file from the non-contact tag, the restoration unit restores the file in accordance with the location information. 
     Consequently, according to the embodiments it may be possible to readily restore the data when the recording medium has recorded the location information indicating a previous storage location of the data. 
     A recording medium includes: a non-contact tag storing location information indicating a storage location where a file is previously stored, and at least one of a flag indicating that the file is to be restored and a restoration program for restoring the file; and a surface on which an image indicating a relationship between the storage location and other file and folder is formed. 
     According to the above configuration, the data processing apparatus with the restoration unit can readily restore data by reading the location information and the flag or restoration program recorded on the non-contact tag. In addition, the relationship between the previous storage location of the data and other data and folder saved on the indication surface of the recording medium is available, thereby clearly shown is the location of the data in the system.