Browser, method, and computer program product for managing documents

Abstract

A browser, method and computer program product for managing documents. The browser can receive and process a request from an input device of a image processing device. Based on this processing, the browser can transmit information over a network to a document manager connected to the scanning device via the network. The document manager can be connected, for example, to application service providers that store documents or to servers that deliver documents, such as e-mail servers and fax servers. The browser can receive information from the document manager. The information exchanged between the browser and the document manger can include, but is not limited to, documents, requests to retrieve documents, requests to store documents, requests to retrieve destination information (e.g., e-mail addresses and fax numbers), and search criteria.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is a divisional application of Ser. No. 10 / 243,643 (“the parent application”) filed Sep. 16, 2002 (now pending) and claims priority to Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 374,811 filed Apr. 24, 2002, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention is directed to browsers used in systems for managing documents or files. More particularly, the present invention allows a multi function device to interact with another device connected to the multi function device via a network. [0004] 2. Discussion of the Background [0005] Browsers are already known. For example, Netscape's Communicator™ and Microsoft's Internet Explorer™ are known World Wide Web browsers that allow personal computers to interact with a Web server. Typically, a Web browser contacts a Web server and transmits a request for information. The Web se...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The present inventors have determined that there is a need for a browser that can be efficiently incorporated in a device, such as a multi-function device (MFD), to allow a user to manage documents over a network. An MFD can incorporate a scanner, a copy machine, a printer, a fax machine, a digital camera, other office devices, and combinations thereof. One object of the present invention is to provide a browser that allows the user of an MFD to transmit and receive documents, requests, information to and from a document manger connected to the MFD via a network. The document manager can be a device connected to application service providers (ASPs) via a network and configured to manage documents between the ASPs and the MFD.

Problems solved by technology

While these conventional browsers work well for personal computers, they are not designed to efficiently work with certain other devices.

In particular, these conventional browsers may not work efficiently with multi-function devices that incorporate scanners, copy machines, printers, and / or fax machines.

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