Image reading device, control method of the same, and program

Abstract

To more preferably set a timing of starting an exclusion control in an image reading device.SOLUTION: An image reading device includes: a first scanning function (a browser scanning function) that performs a scanning processing in accordance with a scanning instruction received via a setting screen displayed by a Web browser in a terminal device; and a second scanning function (a PULL and a PUSH scanning function) that performs a scanning processing in accordance with the scanning instruction received without using the Web browser. The image reading device starts an exclusion control that performs a control so as not to receive the scanning instruction for the second scanning function in accordance with the display of the setting screen by the Web browser in the case where a priority mode is set in which a reception of the scanning instruction for the first scanning function is prioritized over the second scanning function.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] An image reading device that reads an image of an original document and generates image data of the read image may have scanning functions such as a PULL function and a PUSH function. The PULL function is a function that executes a scan process according to a scan instruction sent from a PC. The PUSH function is a function that executes a scan process according to a scan instruction received via an operation unit of the image reading device main body, and transmits the obtained image data directly to a predetermined destination without going through a PC. In addition, an image reading device in which a Web server is implemented to enable access from an external device via a Web browser may further have a browser scan function that executes a scan process according to a scan instruction received via an operation screen provided to the Web browser.

[0003] In the above-mentioned image reading device, exclusive control is performed to prevent the device from accepting a scan instruction from a certain user until the scan process is completed. When exclusive control is performed in an image reading device with a browser scan function, for example, a certain user may set a document, issue a scan instruction for the pull scan function by another user before the exclusive control is executed by issuing a scan instruction using a browser screen after issuing a document set by the certain user. As a result, a problem occurs in which image data of the scanned image of the set document is stored in another user's terminal.

[0004] In order to avoid such a problem, the exclusive control may be started before a scan instruction is received. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technique in which the exclusive control is started when a user operates the scanner device to issue an exclusive instruction, rather than when the scanner device receives a scan reservation instruction from an external device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-062337 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As described above, by changing the timing of starting exclusive control in the image reading device, it is possible to prevent image data of a read image obtained by reading a document set by a certain user from being saved on a terminal of another user. However, for example, when a document is set on the scanner device while a browser screen for scan instructions is displayed, a problem occurs in that another user issues a scan instruction using the pull scan function before an exclusive instruction is issued by operating the scanner device, and the image data of the read image of the set document is saved on a terminal of the other user.

[0007] The present invention provides a technique for enabling more appropriate setting of the timing for starting exclusive control in an image reading device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] An image reading device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a processing means for performing a scan process by reading an image of a document to generate image data, the processing means providing a setting screen for scan settings, the setting screen being capable of accepting a scan instruction to start the scan process, to a Web browser operating on a terminal device capable of communicating with the image reading device, and having a first scan function for performing the scan process in accordance with a scan instruction accepted via the setting screen displayed by the Web browser, and a second scan function for performing the scan process in accordance with a scan instruction accepted without using the Web browser; and a control means for performing exclusive control so as not to accept new scan instructions while the scan process is being performed, wherein when a priority mode is set that prioritizes acceptance of scan instructions for the first scan function over the second scan function, the control means initiates exclusive control so as to not accept scan instructions for the second scan function in response to the setting screen being displayed by the Web browser.

[0009] An image reading device according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes a processing means for performing a scan process by reading an image of a document to generate image data, the processing means providing a setting screen for scan settings, the setting screen being capable of accepting a scan instruction to start the scan process, to a Web browser operating on a terminal device capable of communicating with the image reading device, and having a first scan function for performing the scan process in accordance with the scan instruction accepted via the setting screen displayed by the Web browser, and a second scan function for performing the scan process in accordance with a scan instruction accepted without using the Web browser; and a control means for performing exclusive control so as not to accept a new scan instruction while the scan process is being performed, the control means operating in a control mode selected by a user from among a first mode for starting the exclusive control so as to not accept a scan instruction for the second scan function in response to the start of the scan process by the first scan function, and a second mode for starting the exclusive control so as to not accept a scan instruction for the second scan function in response to the display of the setting screen by the Web browser.

[0010] An image reading device according to yet another aspect of the present disclosure is provided with a processing means for performing a scan process by reading an image of a document to generate image data, the processing means having a first scan function that provides screen information capable of accepting a scan instruction for executing the scan process to a Web browser operating on a terminal device capable of communicating with the image reading device, and performs the scan process according to the scan instruction accepted from the Web browser, and a second scan function that performs the scan process according to the scan instruction accepted without using the Web browser, and a control means that performs exclusive control so as not to accept new scan instructions while the scan process is being performed, wherein when a priority mode is set that prioritizes acceptance of a scan instruction for the first scan function over the second scan function, the control means starts the exclusive control earlier after the screen information is displayed on the Web browser than when a priority mode is not set. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to more appropriately set the timing for starting exclusive control in an image reading device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration example of an image reading device 100. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration example of an image reading unit 104. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the image reading apparatus 100. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image reading system. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the image reading apparatus 100. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen used in a browser scan function. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a sequence of a scan process using a browser scan function. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of exclusive control when using the browser scanning function. [Figure 9] An example of an operation screen used in the PUSH scan function is shown. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an error screen displayed during execution of exclusive control. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the invention. Two or more features among the multiple features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. In addition, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0014] First, a configuration example of an image reading device (original transport device) according to some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described.

[0015] <Image reader> 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration example of an image reading device 100 according to the present embodiment. The image reading device 100 includes a platen 102 on which a document 101 to be read is placed. The document on the platen 102 is detected by a document detection sensor 110. The documents on the platen 102 are separated one by one by a paper feed roller 106 and sent to a conveying path 108. The document 101 sent to the conveying path 108 and conveyed through the conveying path 108 is detected by a registration sensor 109. When the registration sensor 109 detects the document 101, the image reading unit 104 starts reading an image of the document 101 (an image formed on the document) being conveyed through the conveying path 108.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading device 100 of this embodiment includes two image reading units 104 on both sides of a transport path 108. One image reading unit 104 is configured to read an image on a first side (front side) of an original 101, and the other image reading unit 104 is configured to read an image on a second side (back side) of the original 101. A background plate 105 is disposed at a position facing each image reading unit 104 across the transport path 108. The background plate 105 is, for example, a black member. The image reading device 100 may be configured to include only one image reading unit 104.

[0017] The original 101, whose image has been read by the image reading unit 104, is transported along the transport path 108 by transport rollers 107 toward the discharge section 103, and is finally discharged to the discharge section 103 and stacked there. An original detection sensor 111 provided in the discharge section 103 is used to detect the original 101 that has been discharged to and stacked on the discharge section 103. An original detection sensor 112 provided near the discharge opening of the transport path 108 is used to detect the original 101 remaining on the transport path 108. By using the original detection sensors 111 and 112, it is possible to detect whether the original 101 remains on the transport path 108 or has been discharged to the discharge section 103.

[0018] The image reading device 100 further includes a multi-feed detection sensor 120 at a position between the feed roller 106 and the registration sensor 109 along the conveying path 108. The multi-feed detection sensor 120 is used to detect a multi-feed when a plurality of overlapping originals (a state in which a plurality of originals are in close contact with each other due to static electricity or the like) are conveyed along the conveying path 108. The multi-feed detection sensor 120 is configured, for example, with an ultrasonic sensor including an ultrasonic transmitter and receiver. When an ultrasonic sensor is used, it is possible to detect a multi-feed based on the amount of attenuation of ultrasonic waves when the originals (original sheets) pass through the conveying path 108.

[0019] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration example of the image reading unit 104. The image reading unit 104 includes a housing 1041 and a glass plate 1042 provided facing the transport path 108. The inside of the image reading unit 104 is sealed by the housing 1041 and the glass plate 1042. An image sensor 1043 and a pair of light emitting units 1044a and 1044b are provided inside the image reading unit 104.

[0020] The image sensor 1043 is composed of a line image sensor, for example, a CCD line sensor or a contact image sensor, and is arranged along a direction (main scanning direction) perpendicular to the conveying direction of the original 101. The image sensor 1043 reads the image of the original 101 being conveyed line by line in the main scanning direction, and outputs an image signal.

[0021] The light emitting unit 1044a has a light source arranged upstream of the image sensor 1043 in the transport direction of the original 101. The light emitting unit 1044b has a light source arranged downstream of the image sensor 1043 in the transport direction of the original 101. The image sensor 1043 is arranged at a position sandwiched between the light emitting units 1044a and 1044b. The light emitting units 1044a and 1044b are arranged in parallel with the image sensor 1043 along the main scanning direction and are each composed of an LED array including a plurality of LEDs. As shown in FIG. 2, the image sensor 1043 reads an image on the original 101 by receiving reflected light of light irradiated onto the original 101 by the light emitting units 1044a and 1044b.

[0022] 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the image reading device 100 according to this embodiment. The control unit 10 of the image reading device 100 includes a CPU 11, a RAM (random access memory) 12, a storage unit 13, an input / output I / F (interface) 14, and a communication I / F 15.

[0023] The CPU 11 is composed of one or more processors. The CPU 11 controls the entire image reading device 100 by reading out a program stored in the storage unit 13 into the RAM 12 and executing it. The RAM 12 is used as a working area by the CPU 11. The storage unit 13 is configured to store various programs (e.g., control programs) executed by the control unit 10, and various information or data used in processing by the control unit 10. For example, image data obtained by reading an image of a document by the image sensor 1043 is stored in the storage unit 13. The storage unit 13 is composed of one or more storage devices (memories), such as a RAM (random access memory), a ROM (read only memory), a HDD (hard disk drive), and an SSD (solid state drive).

[0024] A driving circuit 24 and an image processing circuit 26 are connected to the input / output I / F 14. The driving circuit 24 drives the light emitting parts 1044a and 1044b of the image reading unit 104. The image processing circuit 26 is connected to the image sensor 1043 via the ADC 25. The image sensor 1043 reads the image of the document 101 being conveyed line by line in the main scanning direction and outputs an image signal. The ADC (analog / digital converter) 25 converts the analog image signal output from the image sensor 1043 into digital image data and outputs it. The image processing circuit 26 performs image processing such as shading correction on the image data output from the ADC 25. The CPU 11 acquires the image data output from the image processing circuit 26.

[0025] The communication I / F 15 is an interface for communicating with an external device, and may be configured as a wired communication interface, a wireless communication interface for wireless LAN communication or Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication, a USB interface, a SCSI interface, or the like. In the present embodiment, as an example, the communication I / F 15 is a wired communication interface connected to a wired LAN (local area network). Note that the image reading device 100 may include a plurality of communication I / Fs 15 connected to individual external devices or networks. For example, the image reading device 100 may include, as the plurality of communication I / Fs 15, a USB or SCSI interface directly connected to an external device, and a wired communication interface connected to a wired LAN.

[0026] The communication I / F 15 can communicate with an external device according to any communication protocol and can communicate with the external device via any communication path. When multiple external devices are connected, different communication protocols and communication paths may be used for each external device. For example, the communication I / F 15 may be configured to communicate with one terminal according to the HTTP protocol and communicate with another terminal according to the FTP protocol. The image reading device 100 of this embodiment has a Web server 500 (FIG. 5) that can communicate with an external device according to the HTTP protocol. Therefore, the external device can access the Web server 500 of the image reading device 100 by a Web browser running on the external device.

[0027] The image reading device 100 includes an operation unit 130 connected to the control unit 10. The operation unit 130 includes an input unit and an output unit. The input unit includes a touch panel, hard keys, etc., and receives various operations from the user. The output unit (display unit) includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and outputs (displays) various information to the user. The input unit and the output unit may be realized as a single module, such as a touch panel display.

[0028] <Image reading process> In the image reading device 100, the control unit 10 (CPU 11) starts image reading processing for the original 101 set on the original table 102, for example, when the control unit 10 receives an instruction to start reading the original (scan instruction) by operating the operation unit 130 or from an external device. In the image reading processing, the CPU 11 first drives the paper feed roller 106 to start transporting the original 101 from the original table 102. When multiple sheets of the original 101 are set on the original table 102, the originals are separated one by one and transported through the transport path 108. Thereafter, when the original 101 is detected by the registration sensor 109, the CPU 11 controls the image reading unit 104 to read the image of the original 101, based on the timing of the detection.

[0029] Specifically, the CPU 11 controls the emission of light-emitting units 1044a and 1044b and drives the image sensor 1043 to read the image of the original 101. The image reading unit 104 reads the image of the original 101 using the image sensor 1043, generates image data of the read image, and outputs the generated image data to the control unit 10. The control unit 10 temporarily stores the obtained image data in the RAM 12 or the storage unit 13 of the image reading device 100. The image data may be stored in an external device (server device) capable of communicating with the image reading device 100.

[0030] <Image reading system configuration> 4 shows an example of the configuration of an image reading system according to this embodiment. The image reading system includes an image reading device 100 and terminal devices (terminals) 200 and 300 that can communicate with the image reading device 100 via a network. The network includes a wired LAN and a wireless LAN. In this embodiment, a communication I / F 15 of the image reading device 100 is connected to the terminals 200 and 300 via the network so as to be able to communicate with them.

[0031] The terminals 200 and 300 are configured as information processing devices such as, for example, a personal computer (PC) or a mobile terminal. For example, when the terminal 200 or 300 is configured as a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal, the terminal may communicate with the image reading device 100 by wirelessly connecting to a wireless access point for wireless LAN communication and connecting to a wired LAN via the wireless access point.

[0032] In this embodiment, the terminal 200 is a terminal device used by a user (operation user) who operates the image reading device 100. The terminal 300 is an example of a terminal operated by a user different from the operation user, and has the same configuration as the terminal 200. The terminal 200 has a Web browser 210 pre-installed. The operation user operates the image reading device 100 via the Web browser 210 running on the terminal 200. The terminal 200 accesses a Web server 500 (see FIG. 5) of the image reading device 100 through the Web browser 210 according to the operation of the operation user. As a result, the Web browser 210 acquires HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) data from the Web server 500 as screen data corresponding to an operation screen for operating the image reading device 100, and displays the operation screen based on the acquired HTML data. When the terminal 200 (Web browser 210) accepts an instruction to start reading a document (scan instruction) from the operation user via the displayed operation screen, it transmits the scan instruction to the image reading device 100.

[0033] The control unit 10 (CPU 11) of the image reading device 100 performs the image reading process as described above in accordance with the scan instruction received from the terminal 200. The CPU 11 starts conveying the document 101, reads the document, and temporarily stores image data of the read image obtained by the reading in the RAM 12 or the storage unit 13. The stored image data is then transmitted to the terminal 200 or an external device such as a server device via a network.

[0034] <Functional configuration of the image reading device> 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration (example of a software configuration) of the image reading device 100. The image reading device 100 has a Web server 500 as an application that runs on the OS. When the image reading device 100 is started, the CPU 11 starts the OS and then starts the Web server 500. The Web server 500 runs as a process that resides on the CPU 11 and waits until it receives a request via the network. In response to receiving the request, the Web server 500 returns a response according to the request. Note that a Web service task for communicating with a Web browser of an external device resides on the Web server 500 and accepts requests from the Web browser.

[0035] The image reading device 100 has a UI display application (UI display application) 501 and a scan application (scan application) 502 as applications that operate on the Web server 500. The UI display application 501 is started in response to the start of the Web server 500, and controls the display of a screen on the operation unit 130. The scan application 502 is started by the Web server 500 when the Web server 500 receives an instruction to start an image reading process (a scan instruction). The scan application 502 performs an image reading process (scan process) by controlling the image reading unit 104 via a scanner driver (not shown) in accordance with the received scan instruction.

[0036] In this embodiment, the scan application 502 functions as an example of a processing unit that performs a scan process that reads an image of a document and generates image data. The scan application 502 has a push scan function, a pull scan function, and a browser scan function, which will be described later, as scan functions. The browser scan function is an example of a first scan function that provides a setting screen for scan settings, which is capable of receiving a scan instruction to start a scan process, to a Web browser operating on a terminal device (such as the terminal 200) that can communicate with the image reading device 100, and performs a scan process according to the scan instruction received via the setting screen displayed by the Web browser. The push scan function and the pull scan function are examples of a second scan function that performs a scan process according to the scan instruction received without using a Web browser.

[0037] <Session ID (SID)> A session generally refers to a period from the start to the end of communication. In this specification, a session starts when a connection is made from a Web browser running on a terminal device to the Web server 500, and ends when the connection is cut off from the Web server 500. Managing the start and end of such a session is called session management.

[0038] When sending a response, the Web server 500 generates a session ID (SID) for managing the accessing Web browser (e.g., managing the identification state and processing state). The SID is an identifier (ID) for identifying a session used by the Web browser during communication. The SID is assigned individually to multiple users (terminal devices). A user (terminal device) to which an SID is assigned is a user who is authorized to perform scan operations on the image reading device 100.

[0039] <Scanning Function of Image Reading Device 100> The image reading device 100 of this embodiment has three scan functions, which are referred to as a PULL scan function, a PUSH scan function, and a browser scan function as examples in this specification. Here, each scan function of the image reading device 100 will be described.

[0040] ●PULL scan function The pull scan function is a function that generates image data of a scanned image by executing a scan process according to a scan instruction (read instruction) sent from an external device such as a PC without using a web browser. For example, the scan instruction is sent from a scan application or scanner driver pre-installed in the external device. The image data of the scanned image obtained by the scan process is sent to the external device that sent the scan instruction.

[0041] ●PUSH scan function The PUSH scan function is a function that executes a scan process according to a scan instruction (read instruction) received via the operation unit 130 (operation panel) of the image reading device 100 main body, and transmits the image data of the obtained read image directly to a predetermined destination. In the PUSH scan function, image processing is performed on the image data of the read image inside the image reading device 100 without going through an external device such as a PC, a file in a predetermined format (such as PDF format) is generated, and the file is transmitted to the destination (such as a shared folder designated by the user).

[0042] 9 shows an example of an operation screen used in the PUSH scan function, which is displayed on the operation unit 130 (display unit) of the image reading device 100. After the image reading device 100 is started up, the UI display application 501 displays a home screen 900 shown in FIG. 9(A) on the operation unit 130. When a scan button 901 is pressed by a user on the home screen 900, the UI display application 501 displays a setting screen 910 for scan settings shown in FIG. 9(B) on the operation unit 130. On the setting screen 910, for example, it is possible to set each setting item such as resolution, document size (standard size such as A4 or A5, or automatic detection), color mode (color, gray, or black and white), and reading side (single-sided or double-sided).

[0043] When the user presses a start button 911 after inputting settings for each setting item using the setting screen 910, the UI display application 501 notifies the scan application 502 of the scan setting contents and a scan instruction on the setting screen 910. As a result, the scan application 502 starts executing a scan process according to the scan settings.

[0044] ●Browser scan function The browser scan function is a function that provides a setting screen for scan settings, which can receive a scan instruction (read instruction) for starting a scan process, to a Web browser operating on a terminal device (terminal 200, etc.) that can communicate with the image reading device 100, and performs a scan process according to the scan instruction received via the setting screen displayed by the Web browser. That is, the browser scan function generates image data of a read image by executing a scan process according to a scan instruction transmitted from a Web browser operating on the terminal device. The image data of the read image obtained by the scan process is transmitted to the terminal device, for example, by being transmitted to the Web browser in response to a request from the Web browser of the terminal device.

[0045] Here, examples of operation screens used in the browser scan function will be described with reference to Fig. 6. These operation screens are displayed on a terminal device (hereinafter, terminal 200) based on screen data (e.g., HTML data) transmitted from Web server 500 of image reading device 100 to a Web browser of the terminal device. Figs. 6(A) to (D) respectively show a home screen 600, a scan setting screen 610, an image confirmation screen 620, and a function setting screen 630 as examples of operation screens displayed as browser screens by Web browser 210 on terminal 200.

[0046] 6(A) is displayed on the terminal 200 in response to an access to the web server 500 by the web browser 210 of the terminal 200. The home screen 600 includes a scan start button 601 for transitioning the display screen to a scan setting screen (FIG. 6(B)), and a setting button 602 for transitioning the display screen to a function setting screen of the image reading device 100 (FIG. 6(D)).

[0047] 6B is an operation screen for accepting input of scan settings. In the scan setting screen 610, for example, it is possible to set each setting item of color mode (color, gray, or black and white), document (paper) size, resolution, and reading side (single-sided or double-sided), or setting items of whether or not to perform double feed detection, whether or not to perform image tilt correction, and output mode (pdf, jpg, etc.), which is the format of the output file. When the user presses the scan button 611 after inputting the setting for each setting item using the scan setting screen 610, the terminal 200 (Web browser 210) transmits the scan setting and a scan instruction to the image reading device 100, thereby causing the image reading device 100 to execute a scan process.

[0048] FIG. 6C shows an image confirmation screen 620 for confirming the read image (scanned image). The image confirmation screen 620 includes a display area 621, a save button 622, and a continue scan button 623. The Web browser 210 displays a preview image of the read image in the display area 621 for the user to confirm the read image. Here, a thumbnail of the read image is displayed, and the read image is still in the image reading device 100. The save button 622 is used to instruct the terminal 200 to acquire (download) image data of the read image obtained by the scan process from the image reading device 100 via the network and store the image data in the terminal 200. The continue scan button 623 is used to instruct the execution of a scan process to acquire a new read image to be added to the image data of the read image obtained by the scan process.

[0049] <Exclusive control when using the browser scanning function> 8 shows an example of exclusive control when using the browser scan function in the image reading device 100. When the CPU 11 of the image reading device 100 receives a scan instruction for any of the scan functions (PULL scan function, PUSH scan function, or browser scan function) from the user, the CPU 11 performs exclusive control so as not to receive any new scan instruction while the scan application 502 is performing a scan process.

[0050] For example, when the CPU 11 receives a scan instruction for the browser scan function from the Web browser of the terminal 200 and performs a scan process, the CPU 11 performs exclusive control so as not to receive scan instructions for the PULL scan and PUSH scan functions. Furthermore, the CPU 11 also does not receive scan instructions for the scan function (first scan function) via a setting screen provided to a Web browser running on another terminal device, in addition to scan instructions for the PULL scan and PUSH scan functions (second scan functions).

[0051] In this embodiment, the execution state of the exclusive control is managed using an exclusive flag that indicates the execution state of the exclusive control and is held in the RAM 12. The CPU 11 starts the execution of the exclusive control by setting the exclusive flag, which indicates the execution state of the exclusive control, to ON. When the exclusive flag is set to ON, it indicates a state in which the exclusive control is being executed, and when the exclusive flag is set to OFF, it indicates a state in which the exclusive control is not being executed. It is assumed here that the exclusive flag is set to OFF in advance.

[0052] The image reading device 100 of this embodiment has a normal mode (priority mode: disabled) and a priority mode (priority mode: enabled) as control modes for exclusive control when the browser scan function is used. The normal mode and the priority mode have different timings for starting exclusive control. The timing for starting exclusive control can be switched by switching the control mode setting between the normal mode and the priority mode. The priority mode is set to prioritize the acceptance of a scan instruction for the first scan function via the browser over the second scan function (PULL and PUSH scan functions) that performs scan processing according to a scan instruction accepted without using a Web browser.

[0053] The normal mode is a control mode in which exclusive control is started when a scan process is started. When the normal mode is set, the image reading device 100 performs the above-mentioned exclusive control while a scan process is being performed. Thus, the normal mode is an example of a first mode in which exclusive control is started so as not to accept a scan instruction for the second scan function (PULL and PUSH scan functions) upon start of a scan process by the first scan function (browser scan function).

[0054] The priority mode is a control mode in which exclusive control is started when the display of the operation screen for the browser scan function in the terminal device transitions to a scan setting screen (e.g., scan setting screen 610) rather than when the scan process is started. When the priority mode is set, the image reading device 100 performs the above-mentioned exclusive control while the scan setting screen is being displayed in the terminal device and while the scan process is being performed in accordance with a scan instruction accepted via the scan setting screen. Due to this exclusive control, while the scan setting screen is being displayed, acceptance of a scan instruction for the browser scan function is prioritized over acceptance of a scan instruction for another scan function. In this way, the priority mode is an example of a second mode in which exclusive control is started to prevent acceptance of a scan instruction for the second scan function (PULL and PUSH scan functions) in accordance with the display of the setting screen by the Web browser 210.

[0055] Figures 8(A) and (B) show examples of exclusive control (whether or not to accept scan instructions for each scan function other than the browser scan function) according to the display state of the operation screen for the browser scan function (the display screen of the web browser). Figure 8(A) shows a case where the normal mode is set as the control mode (priority mode is disabled), and Figure 8(B) shows a case where the priority mode is set as the control mode (priority mode is enabled).

[0056] 8(A), when the normal mode is set, control is performed to accept scan instructions for the PULL and PUSH scan functions when a home screen (e.g., home screen 600) or a scan setting screen (e.g., scan setting screen 610) is displayed on the terminal 200. On the other hand, control is performed to accept scan instructions for the browser scan function from a web browser of another terminal only when the home screen is displayed on the terminal 200.

[0057] 8(B), when the priority mode is set, control is performed to accept scan instructions for other scan functions (other than the browser scan function) only when the home screen is displayed on the terminal 200. In this way, when the priority mode is set, control is performed to not accept scan instructions other than the browser scan when the scan setting screen for the browser scan function is displayed on the terminal 200, unlike the normal mode.

[0058] <Priority mode setting operation> 6D shows a function setting screen 630 displayed by the Web browser 210 on the terminal 200. As described above, when the setting button 602 is pressed on the home screen 600, the Web browser 210 transitions the display screen to the function setting screen 630.

[0059] The function setting screen 630 includes a toggle switch 631 for switching between enabling and disabling the priority mode, and a button 632 for saving the setting. For example, when a user uses the toggle switch 631 to set the priority mode to enabled and presses the button 632, the Web browser 210 transmits setting data indicating the setting content to the image reading device 100. The image reading device 100 enables the priority mode (sets the control mode to the priority mode) by storing the setting data received from the Web browser 210 in the storage unit 13. After transmitting the setting data, the Web browser 210 returns the display screen to the home screen 600.

[0060] In this example, the setting of the priority mode is described using an operation screen (setting screen) displayed by the Web browser 210 in the terminal 200, but a setting screen similar to that shown in Fig. 6(D) may be displayed on the operation unit 130 of the image reading device 100 to accept the setting of the priority mode from the user. Also, the setting of the priority mode may be accepted from a hard key or the like provided on the image reading device 100.

[0061] <Scanning using browser scan function> FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a sequence of a scan process by the browser scan function in the image reading device 100. As shown in FIG.

[0062] In order to cause the image reading device 100 to execute a scan process using the browser scan function, the user of the terminal 200 accesses the Web server 500 of the image reading device 100 via the network using the Web browser 210 of the terminal 200. First, the user operates the terminal 200 to start up the Web browser 210.

[0063] In S701, the user of the terminal 200 inputs the IP address of the Web server 500 operating on the image reading device 100 into a URL input field on a browser screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal 200 by the Web browser 210. As a result, the Web browser 210 transmits an HTTP request to a URL including the IP address of the Web server 500.

[0064] When the Web server 500 receives an HTTP request from the Web browser 210, the Web server 500 transmits screen data (HTML data) of the home screen 600 as a response to the HTTP request to the Web browser 210. As a result, the Web browser 210 displays the home screen 600 as a browser screen.

[0065] Next, in S702, when the user of the terminal 200 presses the button 601 on the home screen 600 to input an instruction to display the scan setting screen 610, the Web browser 210 first transmits a request to issue a SID (session ID) to the Web server 500.

[0066] The Web server 500 issues an SID to the Web browser 210 in accordance with the received request, and stores the issued SID in a session management table. The session management table is stored in, for example, the RAM 12 or the storage unit 13. The Web server 500 transmits the issued SID ("AAA" in the example of FIG. 7) to the Web browser 210 as a response to the received request. However, if the Web server 500 has already issued an SID to another terminal (another Web browser), it transmits a response including error information to the Web browser 210.

[0067] In this way, when Web server 500 receives an access from Web browser 210 to be provided with a setting screen (scan setting screen 610), it establishes a session with Web browser 210 and stores and manages the SID corresponding to the session in a session management table. Web server 500 manages the session (manages the SID) so as to maintain the session with Web browser 210 until transmission of image data obtained by the scan process is completed.

[0068] When the image reading device 100 receives a request (other than a request to issue an SID) from the Web browser, the image reading device 100 performs processing according to the request (request processing), including confirmation of the validity of the SID, using a Web service task on the Web server 500.

[0069] First, the image reading device 100 checks whether or not an SID is added to the request. If the received request does not include an SID, the image reading device 100 sends a response to the Web browser to display error information indicating that there is no SID, and ends the request processing in the Web service task on the Web server 500.

[0070] On the other hand, when an SID is included in the received request, image reading device 100 checks whether the SID is stored in the session management table. When the SID is not stored in the session management table, image reading device 100 transmits a response for displaying error information indicating that the SID does not exist, and ends the request processing in the Web service task. When the SID included in the received request is stored in the session management table, image reading device 100 transmits a response to the received request to the Web browser.

[0071] However, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the upper limit number of SIDs stored in the session management table is 1. In this case, as described above, when an SID issued to another browser is already stored in the session management table, the image reading device 100 transmits a response to the received request to display an error. After that, the image reading device 100 ends the request processing in the Web service task.

[0072] When the response including the issued SID is transmitted from the Web server 500 in S702, the Web browser 210 receives the response. In response to the reception of the response, in S703, the Web browser 210 transmits a request for the scan setting screen 610 to the Web server 500.

[0073] Upon receiving the request in S703, the Web server 500 refers to the setting data stored in the storage unit 13 in S704 and determines whether the priority mode is enabled (priority mode is set as the control mode). If the priority mode is enabled (priority mode is set as the control mode), the Web server 500 starts the execution of the above-mentioned exclusive control in S705 and proceeds to S706. The Web server 500 (CPU 11) starts the execution of exclusive control by setting an exclusive flag, which is stored in the RAM 12 and indicates the execution status of the exclusive control, to ON. On the other hand, if the priority mode is disabled (normal mode is set as the control mode), the Web server 500 proceeds to S706 without starting the execution of exclusive control.

[0074] In S706, the Web server 500 transmits screen data of the scan setting screen 610 to the Web browser 210 as a response to the request for the scan setting screen 610. As a result, the Web browser 210 displays the scan setting screen 610 as a browser screen.

[0075] Next, in S707, the user of the terminal 200 inputs a scan instruction by pressing the scan button 611 on the scan setting screen 610. In response to this, the Web browser 210 transmits a request to start the scan process (a scan instruction to start the scan process) to the Web server 500.

[0076] Upon receiving the request, the Web server 500 starts the scan application 502 in S708, and instructs the scan application 502 to start a scan process according to the scan settings specified in the scan instruction from the Web browser 210.

[0077] In S709, the started scan application 502 refers to the setting data stored in the storage unit 13 and determines whether the priority mode is enabled (priority mode is set as the control mode). If the priority mode is disabled (normal mode is set as the control mode), the scan application 502 starts the execution of the above-mentioned exclusive control in S710 and proceeds to S711. The scan application 502 (CPU 11) starts the execution of exclusive control by setting an exclusive flag, which is stored in the RAM 12 and indicates the execution state of the exclusive control, to ON. On the other hand, if the priority mode is enabled (priority mode is set as the control mode), the scan application 502 proceeds to S711 as it is since the exclusive control is already being executed. In S711, the scan application 502 performs scanning according to the scan setting received from the Web browser 210.

[0078] When the scan process is successfully started by the scan application 502, the Web server 500 in S712 transmits information indicating that the scan process has started (result: 0) to the Web browser 210 as a response to the request received in S707.

[0079] After receiving the response including information indicating that the scan process has started, in S713, the Web browser 210 transmits a status acquisition request to the Web server 500 to check the status (execution status) of the scan process. If the scan process is being executed, the Web server 500 transmits a response including status information (status: 1) indicating that the scan process is being executed to the Web browser 210. Note that the status acquisition request is repeatedly transmitted, for example, at predetermined time intervals.

[0080] When the scan process is completed, the scan application 502 transmits a notification indicating that the scan process is completed to the Web server 500 in S714. After that, when the Web server 500 receives a status acquisition request similar to that of S713 from the Web browser 210 in S715, the Web server 500 transmits a response including status information (status: 0) indicating that the scan process is completed to the Web browser 210.

[0081] Upon receiving a response including status information indicating that the scan process is complete, in S716, the Web browser 210 transmits a request to the Web server 500 to acquire image data of the read image obtained by the scan process. The Web server 500 transmits screen data of the image confirmation screen 620 to the Web browser 210 as a response to the received request. As a result, the Web browser 210 displays the image confirmation screen 620 as a browser screen.

[0082] Next, in S717, the user of the terminal 200 inputs a save instruction by pressing the save button 622 on the image confirmation screen 620. In response to this, in S718, the Web browser 210 transmits a request to the Web server 500 for downloading image data of the read image obtained by the scan process. The Web server 500 starts transmitting the image data to the Web browser 210 in response to the received request. At that time, the Web server 500 transmits a notification indicating the start of transmission of the image data (scanned image file) to the Web browser 210. Note that when the continue scan button 623 is pressed on the image confirmation screen 620, the Web browser 210 returns the process to S707 and transmits a request to the Web server 500 again for starting the scan process.

[0083] Thereafter, in S719, the Web browser 210 transmits a status acquisition request for checking the status of the transmission of the image data to the Web server 500. If the transmission of the image data is in progress, the Web server 500 transmits a response including a notification indicating this to the Web browser 210. Note that the status acquisition request is repeatedly transmitted, for example, at predetermined time intervals.

[0084] When the Web server 500 completes sending the image data to the Web browser 210, in S720 it sends a response including a notification indicating completion of sending the image data as a response to the status acquisition request from the Web browser 210. Furthermore, in S721, the Web server 500 ends the execution of the exclusive control (started in S705 or S710). The Web server 500 (CPU 11) ends the execution of the exclusive control by setting to OFF an exclusive flag that is held in RAM 12 and indicates the execution status of the exclusive control.

[0085] When the transmission of image data to Web browser 210 is completed, communication between Web server 500 and Web browser 210 ends. In response to this, Web server 500 disconnects the session with Web browser 210 and deletes the SID stored in the session management table. In this way, when the priority mode is set, CPU 11 performs exclusive control so as not to accept a scan instruction for the second scan function (PULL and PUSH scan functions) while a session with Web browser 210 is established (a state after scan setting screen 210 is displayed on the Web browser, in other words, while the SID is maintained in a state stored in the session management table).

[0086] <Example of exclusive control> An example of exclusive control when execution of exclusive control is started in S705 or S710 will be described. For example, assume that a user operates the operation unit 130 of the image reading device 100 to display the setting screen 910 for scan settings, inputs settings for each setting item, and then presses the start button 911 (inputs a scan instruction for the PUSH scan function). In this case, the UI display application 501 (CPU 11) does not accept a scan instruction for the PUSH scan function according to the fact that the exclusive flag held in the RAM 12 is ON (i.e., according to the fact that exclusive control is being executed). At that time, the UI display application 501 notifies the user that another device is using the image reading device 100 by displaying an error screen 1000 shown in FIG. 10 on the operation unit 130.

[0087] As described above, in the image reading device 100 of the present embodiment, the scan application 502 performs a scan process for reading an image of a document and generating image data. The scan application 502 has a first scan function (browser scan function) for performing a scan process according to a scan instruction received via a setting screen (scan setting screen) displayed by a Web browser on a terminal device, and a second scan function (PULL and PUSH scan function) for performing a scan process according to a scan instruction received without using a Web browser. The CPU 11 performs exclusive control so as not to receive a new scan instruction while the scan process is being performed. When a priority mode is set in which the reception of a scan instruction for the first scan function is given priority over the second scan function, the CPU 11 starts exclusive control so as not to receive a scan instruction for the second scan function in response to the display of the setting screen by the Web browser.

[0088] In this way, the image reading device 100 of the present embodiment is configured to be able to set a priority mode that prioritizes the acceptance of a scan instruction for the first scan function (browser scan function) over the second scan function (PULL and PUSH scan functions). When the priority mode is not set, the CPU 11 starts exclusive control to prevent the acceptance of a scan instruction for the second scan function in response to the start of a scan process by the first scan function. On the other hand, when the priority mode is set, the CPU 11 starts exclusive control to prevent the acceptance of a scan instruction for the second scan function in response to the display of a setting screen by the Web browser 210. In this way, the timing to start exclusive control can be changed depending on whether or not the priority mode is set. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, by providing such a priority mode, the timing to start exclusive control in the image reading device 100 can be set more appropriately.

[0089] For example, by disabling the priority mode, it is possible to prevent image data of a scanned image obtained by scanning a document set by a certain user from being saved in a terminal of another user. On the other hand, by enabling the priority mode, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the image reading device 100 cannot be used even though it is not being used by anyone, for example, when a browser screen for scanning instructions is displayed on a terminal device and the terminal device is left without issuing a scanning instruction.

[0090] The image reading device 100 of the present embodiment may also be configured as follows. Specifically, the scan application 502 provides screen information capable of accepting a scan instruction for executing a scan process to a Web browser running on a terminal device, and has a first scan function (browser scan function) that performs the scan process according to a scan instruction accepted from the Web browser, and a second scan function (PULL and PUSH scan function) that performs the scan process according to a scan instruction accepted without using a Web browser. The CPU 11 performs exclusive control so as not to accept a new scan instruction while the scan process is being performed. When a priority mode is set in which acceptance of a scan instruction for the first scan function is prioritized over the second scan function, the CPU 11 starts exclusive control at an earlier timing after the screen information is displayed on the Web browser than when the priority mode is not set. Even with this configuration, the timing to start exclusive control can be changed depending on whether or not the priority mode is set, as in the above-mentioned embodiment. Therefore, by providing the priority mode, the timing to start exclusive control in the image reading device 100 can be set more appropriately.

[0091] <Modification> The above-described embodiment can be modified in various ways. For example, the image reading device 100 may be configured to be able to cancel the priority mode as necessary when the priority mode is set. Specifically, the CPU 11 may cancel the priority mode when a document set on the document table 102 of the image reading device 100 is removed and a new document is set on the document table 102 while the priority mode is set. In addition, the CPU 11 may temporarily cancel the priority mode at that time until a scan instruction is received, and set (enable) the priority mode again after the scan instruction is received. Alternatively, the image reading device 100 may be configured to be able to forcibly cancel the priority mode by the user using an operation screen displayed on the operation unit 130. In this way, by being able to cancel the priority mode as necessary, it is possible to improve the convenience for the user.

[0092] The disclosure of this specification includes the following image reading apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program. (Item 1) An image reading device, A processing means for performing a scan process to read an image of a document and generate image data, a first scanning function that provides a setting screen for scan settings, the setting screen being capable of receiving a scan instruction for instructing the start of the scan process, to a Web browser operating on a terminal device capable of communicating with the image reading device, and performs the scan process in accordance with the scan instruction received via the setting screen displayed by the Web browser; a second scan function for performing the scan process according to a scan instruction received without using the web browser; The processing means having a control unit that performs exclusive control so as not to accept a new scan instruction while the scan process is being performed; when a priority mode is set in which acceptance of a scan instruction for the first scan function is prioritized over acceptance of a scan instruction for the second scan function, the control means starts exclusive control to prevent acceptance of a scan instruction for the second scan function in response to the setting screen being displayed by the Web browser. 1. An image reading apparatus comprising: (Item 2) The control means When the priority mode is not set, the exclusive control is started so as not to accept a scan instruction for the second scan function in response to the start of the scan process by the first scan function; when the priority mode is set, in response to the display of the setting screen by the Web browser, starting the exclusive control for not accepting a scan instruction for the second scan function. 2. The image reading device according to item 1, (Item 3) a management unit that, when an access for receiving the setting screen is accepted from the web browser, establishes a session with the web browser and manages the session so as to maintain the session until the scanning process is completed; When the priority mode is set, the control means prevents a scan instruction for the second scan function from being accepted while the session is established. 3. The image reading device according to item 1 or 2. (Item 4) the control means enables the terminal device to receive a scan instruction for the second scan function while the setting screen is being displayed by the Web browser in the terminal device when the priority mode is not set. 4. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein: (Item 5) and when the priority mode is not set, the control means enables a scan instruction to be received via a setting screen provided to a Web browser operating on another terminal device while the setting screen is being displayed by the Web browser on the terminal device. 5. The image reading device according to item 4, (Item 6) A setting unit is further provided for setting the priority mode in accordance with a user's operation, the setting means receives an instruction for setting the priority mode from a user via an operation screen provided on the Web browser; 6. The image reading device according to any one of items 1 to 5, (Item 7) the second scanning function includes a scanning function of executing the scanning process in accordance with a scanning instruction received via an operation unit of the image reading device and transmitting image data obtained by the scanning process to a predetermined destination; 7. The image reading device according to any one of items 1 to 6, (Item 8) the second scanning function includes a scanning function that executes the scanning process according to a scanning instruction transmitted from an external device capable of communicating with the image reading device without using the Web browser; 8. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein: (Item 9) When the priority mode is set, the control means prevents a scan instruction from being accepted via a setting screen provided to a Web browser operating on another terminal device in a state in which the setting screen is being displayed by the Web browser on the terminal device. 9. The image reading device according to any one of items 1 to 8, (Item 10) When the document placed on the document platen of the image reading device is removed and a new document is placed on the document platen while the priority mode is set, the control means cancels the priority mode. 10. The image reading device according to any one of items 1 to 9, (Item 11) when an original document set on a platen of the image reading device is removed and a new original document is set on the platen while the priority mode is set, the control means temporarily cancels the priority mode until the scan instruction is received. 11. The image reading device according to item 10, (Item 12) An image reading device, A processing means for performing a scan process to read an image of a document and generate image data, a first scanning function that provides a setting screen for scan settings, the setting screen being capable of receiving a scan instruction for instructing the start of the scan process, to a Web browser operating on a terminal device capable of communicating with the image reading device, and performs the scan process in accordance with the scan instruction received via the setting screen displayed by the Web browser; a second scan function for performing the scan process according to a scan instruction received without using the web browser; The processing means having a control unit that performs exclusive control so as not to accept a new scan instruction while the scan process is being performed; The control means a first mode in which the exclusive control is started in response to the start of the scan process by the first scan function, so that a scan instruction for the second scan function is not accepted; a second mode in which the exclusive control is started in response to the setting screen being displayed by the web browser, so that a scan instruction for the second scan function is not accepted; Operates in a control mode selected by a user from among 1. An image reading apparatus comprising: (Item 13) An image reading device, A processing means for performing a scan process to read an image of a document and generate image data, a first scanning function that provides screen information capable of accepting a scan instruction for executing the scan process to a web browser operating on a terminal device that can communicate with the image reading device, and performs the scan process in accordance with the scan instruction accepted from the web browser; a second scan function for performing the scan process according to a scan instruction received without using the web browser; The processing means having a control unit that performs exclusive control so as not to accept a new scan instruction while the scan process is being performed; when a priority mode is set in which acceptance of a scan instruction for the first scan function has a higher priority than acceptance of a scan instruction for the second scan function, the control means starts the exclusive control at an earlier timing after the screen information is displayed on the Web browser than when a priority mode is not set. 1. An image reading apparatus comprising: (Item 14) A method for controlling an image reading device, comprising: a processing step of performing a scan process by reading an image of an original document and generating image data, the processing step including providing a setting screen for scan settings, the setting screen being capable of receiving a scan instruction for initiating the scan process, to a Web browser operating on a terminal device capable of communicating with the image reading device, and enabling the scan process to be executed by a first scan function that performs the scan process according to the scan instruction received via the setting screen displayed by the Web browser, and a second scan function that performs the scan process according to the scan instruction received without using the Web browser; a control step of performing exclusive control so as not to accept a new scan instruction while the scan process is being performed, In the control step, when a priority mode is set in which acceptance of a scan instruction for the first scan function is prioritized over acceptance of a scan instruction for the second scan function, exclusive control is started in response to the setting screen being displayed by the Web browser, so that a scan instruction for the second scan function is not accepted. 23. A method for controlling an image reading device comprising the steps of: (Item 15) A method for controlling an image reading device, comprising: a processing step of performing a scan process by reading an image of an original document and generating image data, the processing step including providing a setting screen for scan settings, the setting screen being capable of receiving a scan instruction for initiating the scan process, to a Web browser operating on a terminal device capable of communicating with the image reading device, and enabling the scan process to be executed by a first scan function that performs the scan process according to the scan instruction received via the setting screen displayed by the Web browser, and a second scan function that performs the scan process according to the scan instruction received without using the Web browser; a control step of performing exclusive control so as not to accept a new scan instruction while the scan process is being performed, In the control step, a first mode in which the exclusive control is started in response to the start of the scan process by the first scan function, so that a scan instruction for the second scan function is not accepted; a second mode in which the exclusive control is started in response to the setting screen being displayed by the web browser, so that a scan instruction for the second scan function is not accepted; The image reading device operates in a control mode selected by a user from among the above. (Item 16) A method for controlling an image reading device, comprising: A process for performing a scan process to read an image of a document and generate image data, a processing step of providing screen information capable of accepting a scan instruction for executing the scan process to a Web browser operating on a terminal device capable of communicating with the image reading device, and enabling the scan process to be executed by a first scan function that performs the scan process according to the scan instruction accepted from the Web browser and a second scan function that performs the scan process according to the scan instruction accepted without using the Web browser; a control step of performing exclusive control so as not to accept a new scan instruction while the scan process is being performed, In the control step, when a priority mode is set in which acceptance of a scan instruction for the first scan function has a higher priority than acceptance of a scan instruction for the second scan function, the exclusive control is started at an earlier timing after the screen information is displayed on the Web browser than when a priority mode is not set. 23. A method for controlling an image reading device comprising the steps of: (Item 17) A program for causing a computer of an image reading device to execute the control method according to any one of items 14 to 16.

[0093] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0094] 100: image reading device, 104: image reading unit, 10: control unit, 11: CPU, 13: storage unit, 130: operation unit, 210: web browser, 500: web server

Claims

1. An image reading device, A processing means for performing a scan process to read an image of a document and generate image data, a first scanning function that provides a setting screen for scan settings, the setting screen being capable of receiving a scan instruction for instructing the start of the scan process, to a web browser operating on a terminal device capable of communicating with the image reading device, and performs the scan process in accordance with the scan instruction received via the setting screen displayed by the web browser; a second scan function that performs the scan process according to a scan instruction received without using the web browser; The processing means having a control unit that performs exclusive control so as not to accept a new scan instruction while the scan process is being performed; when a priority mode is set in which acceptance of a scan instruction for the first scan function is prioritized over acceptance of a scan instruction for the second scan function, the control means starts exclusive control to prevent acceptance of a scan instruction for the second scan function in response to the setting screen being displayed by the Web browser.

1. An image reading apparatus comprising:

2. The control means When the priority mode is not set, the exclusive control is started so as not to accept a scan instruction for the second scan function in response to the start of the scan process by the first scan function; when the priority mode is set, the exclusive control is started in response to the display of the setting screen by the Web browser, so that a scan instruction for the second scan function is not accepted.

2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus comprises:

3. a management unit that, when an access for receiving the setting screen is received from the web browser, establishes a session with the web browser and manages the session so as to maintain the session until the scanning process is completed; the control means, when the priority mode is set, does not accept a scan instruction for the second scan function while the session is established.

3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a digital camera.

4. the control means enables the terminal device to receive a scan instruction for the second scan function in a state in which the setting screen is displayed by the web browser when the priority mode is not set.

3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a digital camera.

5. When the priority mode is not set, the control means enables a scan instruction to be received via a setting screen provided to a web browser operating on another terminal device in a state in which the setting screen is displayed by the web browser on the terminal device.

5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4,

6. A setting unit is further provided for setting the priority mode in accordance with a user's operation, the setting means receives an instruction for setting the priority mode from a user via an operation screen provided to the Web browser; 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a digital camera.

7. the second scanning function includes a scanning function of executing the scanning process in accordance with a scanning instruction received via an operation unit of the image reading device and transmitting image data obtained by the scanning process to a predetermined destination; 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a digital camera.

8. the second scanning function includes a scanning function of executing the scanning process in accordance with a scanning instruction transmitted from an external device capable of communicating with the image reading device without using the Web browser; 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a digital camera.

9. When the priority mode is set, the control means prevents a scan instruction from being accepted via a setting screen provided to a web browser operating on another terminal device in a state in which the setting screen is being displayed by the web browser on the terminal device.

3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a digital camera.

10. the control means cancels the priority mode when the document placed on the document table of the image reading device is removed and a new document is placed on the document table while the priority mode is set.

3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a digital camera.

11. when an original document set on a platen of the image reading device is removed and a new original document is set on the platen while the priority mode is set, the control means temporarily cancels the priority mode until the scan instruction is received.

11. The image reading device according to claim 10,

12. An image reading device, A processing means for performing a scan process to read an image of a document and generate image data, a first scanning function that provides a setting screen for scan settings, the setting screen being capable of receiving a scan instruction for instructing the start of the scan process, to a web browser operating on a terminal device capable of communicating with the image reading device, and performs the scan process in accordance with the scan instruction received via the setting screen displayed by the web browser; a second scan function that performs the scan process according to a scan instruction received without using the web browser; The processing means having a control unit that performs exclusive control so as not to accept a new scan instruction while the scan process is being performed; The control means a first mode in which the exclusive control is started in response to the start of the scan process by the first scan function, so that a scan instruction for the second scan function is not accepted; a second mode in which the exclusive control is started in response to the display of the setting screen by the web browser, so that a scan instruction for the second scan function is not accepted; Operates in a control mode selected by a user from among 1. An image reading apparatus comprising:

13. An image reading device, A processing means for performing a scan process to read an image of a document and generate image data, a first scanning function that provides screen information capable of receiving a scan instruction for executing the scan process to a web browser that operates on a terminal device that can communicate with the image reading device, and that performs the scan process in accordance with the scan instruction received from the web browser; a second scan function that performs the scan process according to a scan instruction received without using the web browser; The processing means having a control unit that performs exclusive control so as not to accept a new scan instruction while the scan process is being performed; when a priority mode is set in which acceptance of a scan instruction for the first scan function is prioritized over acceptance of a scan instruction for the second scan function, the control means starts the exclusive control at an earlier timing after the screen information is displayed on the Web browser than when a priority mode is not set.

1. An image reading apparatus comprising:

14. A method for controlling an image reading device, comprising: a processing step of performing a scan process of reading an image of an original document and generating image data, the processing step including providing a setting screen for scan settings, the setting screen being capable of receiving a scan instruction for initiating the scan process, to a web browser operating on a terminal device capable of communicating with the image reading device, and the scan process being executable by a first scan function that performs the scan process according to the scan instruction received via the setting screen displayed by the web browser, and a second scan function that performs the scan process according to the scan instruction received without using the web browser; a control step of performing exclusive control so as not to accept a new scan instruction while the scan process is being performed, In the control step, when a priority mode is set in which acceptance of a scan instruction for the first scan function is prioritized over acceptance of a scan instruction for the second scan function, exclusive control is started in response to the setting screen being displayed by the Web browser, so that a scan instruction for the second scan function is not accepted.

23. A method for controlling an image reading device comprising the steps of:

15. A method for controlling an image reading device, comprising: a processing step of performing a scan process of reading an image of an original document and generating image data, the processing step including providing a setting screen for scan settings, the setting screen being capable of receiving a scan instruction for initiating the scan process, to a web browser operating on a terminal device capable of communicating with the image reading device, and the scan process being executable by a first scan function that performs the scan process according to the scan instruction received via the setting screen displayed by the web browser, and a second scan function that performs the scan process according to the scan instruction received without using the web browser; a control step of performing exclusive control so as not to accept a new scan instruction while the scan process is being performed, In the control step, a first mode in which the exclusive control is started in response to the start of the scan process by the first scan function, so that a scan instruction for the second scan function is not accepted; a second mode in which the exclusive control is started in response to the display of the setting screen by the web browser, so that a scan instruction for the second scan function is not accepted; Operates in a control mode selected by a user from among 23. A method for controlling an image reading device comprising the steps of:

16. A method for controlling an image reading device, comprising: A process for performing a scan process to read an image of a document and generate image data, a processing step of providing screen information capable of receiving a scan instruction for executing the scan process to a web browser operating on a terminal device capable of communicating with the image reading device, and enabling the scan process to be executed by a first scan function that performs the scan process according to the scan instruction received from the web browser and a second scan function that performs the scan process according to the scan instruction received without using the web browser; a control step of performing exclusive control so as not to accept a new scan instruction while the scan process is being performed, In the control step, when a priority mode is set in which acceptance of a scan instruction for the first scan function is prioritized over acceptance of a scan instruction for the second scan function, the exclusive control is started at an earlier timing after the screen information is displayed on the Web browser than when a priority mode is not set.

23. A method for controlling an image reading device comprising the steps of:

17. A program for causing a computer of an image reading device to execute the method for controlling an image reading device according to any one of claims 14 to 16.

Images