Image reading device and method for controlling the same, and program

Abstract

To more efficiently release an image reading device from an occupied state after the completion of scanning processing.SOLUTION: When starting scanning processing, an image reading device 100 enters an occupied state in which the image reading device 100 is occupied by a user of a terminal 200 (operating user). Upon completion of scanned image editing operation performed by using an editing screen 700 provided to a web browser 210 after the completion of the scanning processing, a web server 500 releases the image reading device 100 from the occupied state. The web server 500 detects the presence or absence of operation for the image forming apparatus 100 in the occupied state at a predetermined time interval. When detecting the operation for the image reading device 100, the web server 500 causes the web browser 210 to display, on the terminal 200, a screen including a message for urging the user to release the image reading device 100 from the occupied state (release request screen 900).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] As an image reading device that reads an image of an original document and generates image data of the read image, there is known an image reading device that is equipped with a web server to enable access from an external device via a web browser. An image reading device equipped with a web server can receive a scan instruction via an operation screen provided to the web browser without requiring a dedicated application or driver. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an image reading device that performs a scan process according to a scan instruction received via a setting screen provided to the web browser and provides image data via the web browser.

[0003] An image reading device that has a function for performing a scan process according to a scan instruction received via a setting screen provided to a Web browser may perform exclusive control when it receives a scan instruction from a user, so as not to receive a new scan instruction from another user until the scan process is completed. When exclusive control is performed, the image reading device is placed in an exclusive state occupied by the user who instructed the execution of the scan process. This makes it possible to prevent conflicts in the scan process caused by the reception of scan instructions from multiple users. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-011307 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The above-mentioned exclusive control may be continued until the editing operation of the scanned image is completed. For example, when there is not enough free memory capacity in the image reading device for storing image data of the scanned image, the exclusive control must be performed until the editing operation (including transmission to the outside) of the image data stored in the memory is completed and the image data can be deleted. In addition, when other users can access the image reading device while the image data remains in the memory, there is a possibility that the scanned image may be secretly viewed by the other users. In such a case, the exclusive control must be continued until the editing operation is completed and the image data is deleted from the memory. However, on the other hand, when the image reading device is occupied for the editing operation of the scanned image, there is a problem that other users cannot use the image reading device for a long period of time.

[0006] The present invention provides a technique that enables the image reading device to be more efficiently released from an occupied state after the scan process is completed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An image reading device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a processing means for performing a scan process to read an image of an original document and generate image data of a scanned image in accordance with a scan instruction received via an operation screen provided to a Web browser running on a terminal device capable of communicating with the image reading device, and a control means for placing the image reading device in an occupied state occupied by a user of the terminal device when the scan process is started, and releasing the image reading device from the occupied state when an editing operation of the scanned image performed using the editing screen provided to the Web browser after the scan process is completed, wherein the control means detects whether or not an operation is performed on the image reading device at a predetermined time interval, and when an operation on the image reading device is detected in the occupied state, causes the Web browser to display on the terminal device a screen including a message prompting the user to release the image reading device from the occupied state. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to more efficiently release the image reading device from its occupied state after the scanning process is completed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [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] 5A and 5B are diagrams showing examples of a login screen and a scan setting screen. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an editing screen for a scanned image. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an error screen. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a release request screen. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure for login control. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure for scan control. [Figure 12] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for release processing (S1114, S1310). [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for release control. [Figure 14] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for confirming a release request (S1302). [Figure 15] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for confirming a release request (S1302). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] 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.

[0011] [First embodiment] First, a configuration example of an image reading device (original transport device) according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0012] <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.

[0013] 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.

[0014] 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.

[0015] 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.

[0016] 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.

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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 each arranged in parallel with the image sensor 1043 along the main scanning direction and are 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] 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).

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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 (see 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] <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 for reading the image of the original 101 based on the timing of the detection.

[0026] 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.

[0027] <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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] <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.

[0032] The image reading device 100 has a UI display application (UI display application) 501, a scan application (scan application) 502, and a scanner driver 503 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 (a scan process) by controlling the image reading unit 104 via the scanner driver 503 in accordance with the received scan instruction.

[0033] In this embodiment, the scan application 502 functions as an example of a processing means for performing a scan process that reads an image of a document and generates image data of a scanned image (read image) in accordance with a scan instruction received via an operation screen provided to a Web browser running on a terminal device (terminal 200, etc.) capable of communicating with the image reading device 100. The Web server 500 also functions as an example of a control means for putting the image reading device 100 into an occupied state occupied by a user of the terminal device when the scan process is started, and releasing the image reading device 100 from the occupied state when the editing operation of the scanned image performed using the editing screen provided to the Web browser 210 after the scan process is completed.

[0034] <Session ID (SID)> A session generally refers to the period from the start to the end of a communication. In this specification, a session starts when a connection is made from a web browser operating on a terminal device to a web server 500, and ends when the connection is disconnected from the web server 500. Managing such start and end of a session is referred to as session management.

[0035] When the web server 500 transmits a response, it generates a session ID (SID) for managing the web browser of the access source (for example, managing the identification state and processing state). The session ID is an identifier (ID) for identifying the session used by the web browser during communication. The session ID is individually assigned to a plurality of users (terminal devices). The user (terminal device) to which the session ID is assigned becomes a user logged in to the image reading device 100 and is permitted to perform a scan operation on the image reading device 100.

[0036] <Example of display screen by web browser> Next, an example of a display screen by the web browser 210 when an operating user operates the terminal 200, accesses the image reading device 100 using the web browser 210, and causes the image reading device 100 to execute a scan process will be described.

[0037] The image reading device 100 of the present embodiment displays a two-dimensional code obtained by encoding the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the web server 500 on the operation unit 130 (display unit). The two-dimensional code is composed of, for example, a QR code (registered trademark). Note that, instead of the two-dimensional code, a one-dimensional code such as a barcode may be used. The image reading device 100 may display the two-dimensional code according to the operation of the operating user using the operation unit 130. The two-dimensional code may be displayed in a part of the display area of the operation unit 130, or a display unit dedicated to displaying the two-dimensional code may be provided in the operation unit 130 separately from the display unit for screen display such as a message screen or an operation screen.

[0038] In order to make the Web browser 210 access the Web server 500, the operating user uses the camera function (photographing function) of the terminal 200 to read the two-dimensional code displayed on the operation unit 130. As a result, the Web browser 210 of the terminal 200 acquires the URL of the Web server 500 contained in the two-dimensional code. The Web browser 210 accesses the Web server 500 using the acquired URL.

[0039] FIG. 6A shows an example of a login screen (login screen 600) displayed as an initial screen on the display unit of the terminal 200 by the Web browser 210. The Web browser 210 displays the login screen 600 as a browser screen based on screen data provided from the Web server 500 in response to an access to the Web server 500. The login screen 600 includes an input field 601 for a login name (user name) and a password, and a login button 602. When login information (login name and password) is input into the input field 601 and the login button 602 is pressed, the Web browser 210 transmits the login information to the Web server 500. The login screen 600 includes a URL display field 603 that displays the URL of the access destination. When the "x" button 604 is pressed, the terminal 200 closes the browser screen being displayed and terminates the operation of the Web browser 210.

[0040] If the user authentication based on the login information received from the Web browser 210 is successful, the Web server 500 transmits screen data of the scan setting screen to the Web browser 210, thereby causing the scan setting screen to be displayed as the browser screen. On the other hand, if the user authentication fails, the Web server 500 causes the Web browser 210 to display a dialog box (not shown) showing an error message (e.g., "User name or password is incorrect") as a login error screen. In this case, the Web browser 210 continues to display the login screen 600 after displaying the dialog box.

[0041] 6B shows an example of a scan setting screen (scan setting screen 610) displayed by the Web browser 210 on the terminal 200. On the scan setting screen 610, for example, it is possible to set the setting items of color mode (e.g., color, gray, or black and white), resolution (e.g., 100 or 300 DPI), document (paper) size (e.g., A4 or letter), reading side (e.g., single-sided or double-sided), and output file format (e.g., PDF or JPEG). When the operating user inputs the setting for each setting item using the scan setting screen 610 and then presses the scan button 611, the Web browser 210 (terminal 200) transmits the scan setting and a scan instruction to the Web server 500 (image reading device 100). As a result, the terminal 200 causes the image reading device 100 to execute a scan process.

[0042] When the scan process ends normally, the display screen (browser screen) of the terminal 200 transitions to an editing screen (see FIG. 7) on which the read image (scanned image) obtained by the scan process can be edited. On the other hand, when an error occurs during the execution of the scan process, the Web browser 210 displays an error screen 800 as shown in FIG. 8. As an example, the error screen 800 includes a message indicating that an error has occurred during the execution of the scan process, and an OK button 801 for instructing the transition of the display screen to the scan setting screen 610.

[0043] 7 shows an example of an editing screen (editing screen 700) displayed by the Web browser 210 on the terminal 200. The editing screen 700 is used to provide the operating user with a function for editing a scanned image and to accept an editing operation of the scanned image from the operating user. The editing screen 700 includes a display area 701 in which a scanned image stored in the image reading device 100 is displayed, and a page number display 702 that indicates the page number of the scanned image displayed in the display area 701. A thumbnail image of the scanned image of the page indicated by the page number display 702 is displayed in the display area 701. At the time when the editing screen 700 is displayed on the terminal 200, the image data of the scanned image is not downloaded to the terminal 200 and is in a state of being stored in the image reading device 100.

[0044] The editing screen 700 further includes a page back button 711 for going back one page of the scanned image displayed in the display area 701, and a page forward button 712 for going forward one page of the scanned image displayed in the display area 701. The editing screen 700 further includes buttons 713 to 715. The button 713 is used to instruct execution of a binarization process as an editing process (image processing) for the scanned image displayed in the display area 701. The button 714 is used to instruct saving (downloading) the image data of the scanned image stored in the image reading device 100 to the terminal 200. The button 715 is used to instruct discarding (deleting) the image data of the scanned image stored in the image reading device 100 and terminating the editing process (image processing) using the editing screen 700.

[0045] The operating user uses the page back button 711 and the page forward button 712 to change the scanned image displayed in the display area 701, thereby performing an operation to display the scanned image to be edited (processed) in the display area 701. The operating user further presses a button 713 to instruct execution of an editing process (binarization process in this example) on the scanned image displayed in the display area 701. This instruction is transmitted from the Web browser 210 to the Web server 500. As a result, the image reading device 100 performs an editing process (binarization process in this example) on the image data of the target scanned image, and stores the processed image data in the RAM 12 or the storage unit 13. Thereafter, the operating user can press a button 714 to download the image data of the edited scanned image from the image reading device 100 to the terminal 200.

[0046] In this embodiment, an example is shown in which binarization processing is performed as an editing process for image data of a scanned image, but other image processing (for example, color dropout processing that removes a specific color) may be applied as the editing process. Also, a configuration may be made in which a desired process can be selected from a plurality of editing processes. Also, in this embodiment, an example is described in which processing is performed on a target scanned image displayed in the display area 701, but a configuration may be made in which editing processing can be instructed to be performed simultaneously on a plurality of scanned images.

[0047] The image reading device 100 of this embodiment performs exclusive control so as not to accept a new scan instruction from the start of a scan process until the scan process ends and editing and saving of the scanned image obtained by the scan process ends. When exclusive control is performed, the image reading device 100 is in an occupied state occupied by a user (operating user) who has instructed the execution of the scan process. When the image reading device 100 detects that an operation (for example, an operation on the operation unit 130) has been performed by a user other than the operating user in the occupied state, the image reading device 100 determines that a release request has been issued to release the image reading device 100 from the occupied state. In this case, the image reading device 100 causes the terminal 200 to display a release request screen by the Web browser 210 to inform the operating user that a release request has been issued.

[0048] In this embodiment, the Web browser 210 transmits a confirmation instruction for the release request to the Web server 500 at a predetermined time interval in order to confirm with the Web server 500 whether or not a release request has been issued. (Such periodic transmission of confirmation instructions by the Web browser 210 is also called "polling.") In response to receiving the confirmation instruction from the Web browser 210, the image reading device 100 performs a process of detecting, at a predetermined time interval, whether or not an operation has been performed on the image reading device 100 in the occupied state. This process is performed as a release request confirmation process, which will be described later with reference to Figs. 13 and 14.

[0049] When an operation of the image reading device 100 is performed by another user while an operating user is performing an operation using the editing screen 700 on the terminal 200 accessing the image reading device 100, it is determined that a release request is to be issued in the image reading device 100. In response to the determination that a release request has been issued, the Web server 500 transmits screen data of the release request screen to the Web browser 210.

[0050] 9 shows an example of a release request screen (release request screen 900) displayed by the Web browser 210 on the terminal 200. The release request screen 900 is an example of a screen including a message prompting the user to release the image reading device 100 from an occupied state, and is displayed on the terminal 200 as a dialog box by the Web browser 210.

[0051] The release request screen 900 includes a message to inform the operating user that another user is about to use the image reading device 100, and to prompt the operating user to release the occupied state of the image reading device 100 (prompt the operating user to stop occupying the image reading device 100). In the example of Fig. 9, the operating user is prompted to release the occupied state of the image reading device 100 by a message prompting the user to end the editing operation of the scanned image. The release request screen 900 includes a button 901 for instructing the user to continue the editing operation of the scanned image, and a button 902 for instructing the user to discard (delete) the scanned image and end the editing operation.

[0052] When the release request screen 900 is displayed by the Web browser 210, the operating user can select whether or not to continue editing the scanned image using the button 901 or 902. An instruction using the button 901 or 902 is transmitted from the Web browser 210 to the Web server 500. When the button 901 is pressed, the image reading device 100 notifies other users who are attempting to use the image reading device 100, for example, by displaying a message on the operation unit 130 indicating that editing of the scanned image will continue. On the other hand, when the button 902 is pressed, the image reading device 100 discards (deletes) the image data of the saved scanned image and ends the editing process of the scanned image, thereby releasing the image reading device 100 from the occupied state.

[0053] As in the above example, the message prompting the user to release the image reading device 100 from the occupied state may be displayed in a display mode other than switching the display from the editing screen 700 to the release request screen 900. For example, the Web server 500 may cause the Web browser 210 to display in a part of the editing screen 700 the message prompting the user to release the image reading device 100 from the occupied state.

[0054] The process executed in the image reading device 100 will be described in more detail below.

[0055] <Login control> 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure for login control executed by the Web server 500 in the image reading device 100. The processing according to the procedure in FIG.

[0056] In S1001, the Web server 500 transmits screen data of the login screen 600 to the Web browser 210 (terminal 200). Thereafter, in S1002, the Web server 500 receives login information input via the login screen 600 from the terminal 200 and performs user authentication based on the received login information. In S1003, if the user authentication is successful, the Web server 500 advances the process to S1004, and if the user authentication is unsuccessful, the Web server 500 advances the process to S1007.

[0057] If the user authentication is successful, the Web server 500 generates a session ID for the accessing Web browser 210 (terminal 200) in S1004, and transmits the generated session ID to the Web browser 210 (terminal 200) in S1005. As described above, the user (operator of the terminal 200) to whom the session ID is assigned is placed in a logged-in state in the image reading device 100, and is permitted to perform a scan operation in the image reading device 100. Thereafter, the Web server 500 transmits screen data of the scan setting screen 610 (FIG. 6(B)) to the Web browser 210 (terminal 200) in S1006, and ends the processing according to the procedure in FIG. 10.

[0058] On the other hand, if the user authentication fails, the Web server 500 transmits screen data of a login error screen to the Web browser 210 (terminal 200) in S1008, and ends the processing according to the procedure in Fig. 10. Note that an error message such as "User name or password is incorrect" may be displayed on the login error screen. Note that this user authentication may be omitted. In that case, S1001 to S1003 in Fig. 10 may be omitted, and processing may be performed from S1004 in response to an initial access from the terminal 200.

[0059] <Scan control> Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure for scan control executed by the Web server 500 in the image reading device 100. The processing according to the procedure in Fig. 11 is started in response to transmission of screen data of the scan setting screen 610 to the Web browser 210 (terminal 200).

[0060] In S1101, the Web server 500 determines whether or not scan settings and a scan instruction have been received from the Web browser 210 (terminal 200). As described above, when the scan button 611 is pressed on the scan setting screen 610, the Web browser 210 (terminal 200) transmits the scan settings and a scan instruction to the Web server 500. When the Web server 500 receives the scan settings and a scan instruction, the process proceeds to S1102. Note that the configuration may be such that at least one setting item of the scan settings is transmitted individually, rather than simultaneously with the scan instruction, and the scan instruction can be transmitted thereafter. In this case, the process may proceed to S1102 when the Web server 500 receives the first scan setting.

[0061] In S1102, the Web server 500 determines whether an occupancy flag indicating whether the image reading device 100 is in an occupied state or a non-occupied state is ON. The occupancy flag is stored, for example, in the RAM 12. In this example, if the image reading device 100 is in an occupied state, the occupancy flag is set to ON, and if the image reading device 100 is in a non-occupied state (not in an occupied state), the occupancy flag is set to OFF.

[0062] If the occupancy flag is ON, the Web server 500 advances the process from S1102 to S1103. In S1103, the Web server 500 transmits screen data of an error screen for notifying the user of the terminal 200 of the occurrence of an error to the Web browser 210 (terminal 200), and ends the process according to the procedure in Fig. 11. This error screen is, for example, a screen including an error message indicating that the image reading device 100 is being used by another user.

[0063] On the other hand, if the occupancy flag is OFF, the Web server 500 advances the process from S1102 to S1104. In S1104, the Web server 500 sets the occupancy flag (stored in the RAM 12) to ON, thereby putting the image reading device 100 into an occupied state in which it is occupied by the user operating the terminal 200 when the scan process is started. In the occupied state, the CPU 11 of the image reading device 100 performs exclusive control to prevent new scan instructions from being accepted from other users. Furthermore, in S1105, the Web server 500 causes the UI display application 501 to display on the operation unit 130 a message indicating that the image reading device 100 is occupied (used by another user).

[0064] After transitioning to the occupied state by setting the occupancy flag, in S1106 the Web server 500 starts the scan application 502. Furthermore, in S1107, the Web server 500 transmits the scan settings and scan instructions received from the Web browser 210 to the scan application 502, thereby causing the scan application 502 to start executing the scan process according to the scan settings.

[0065] The scan application 502 performs a scan process by controlling the image reading unit 104 according to the scan settings via the scanner driver 503. The scan application 502 controls the scan process so that the documents set on the platen 102 are conveyed one by one in order and the image reading unit 104 reads the images of the documents. The scan process continues until all the documents set on the platen 102 are gone. Note that a predetermined number of documents may be set as the scan target, or the number of documents to be read may be set in the scan settings received from the terminal 200. The scan application 502 stores image data of the read image (scanned image) generated by the image reading unit 104 in the RAM 12 or the storage unit 13.

[0066] The scan application 502 notifies the Web server 500 that the scan process has been completed, and ends the scan process. On the other hand, if any error occurs, the scan application 502 notifies the Web server 500 of error information indicating the content of the error that has occurred, and ends the scan process. For example, if the document detection sensor 110 does not detect a document on the document tray 102 at the start of the scan process, the scan application 502 notifies the Web server 500 of error information indicating the occurrence of a document-not-present error, which indicates that no document is set. Furthermore, if the multifeed detection sensor 120 detects a multifeed during the execution of the scan process, the scan application 502 notifies the Web server 500 of error information indicating the occurrence of a multifeed error.

[0067] In S1108, the Web server 500 determines whether or not the scan process by the scan application 502 has ended based on the notification from the scan application 502, and if it determines that the scan process has ended, proceeds to S1109. In S1109, the Web server 500 determines whether or not an error has occurred during the execution of the scan process based on the notification from the scan application 502. If an error (e.g., a no-original error or a double-feed error) has occurred during the execution of the scan process, the Web server 500 proceeds to S1110, and if no error has occurred, proceeds to S1111.

[0068] At S1110, Web server 500 transmits screen data of error screen 800 (FIG. 8) to Web browser 210 (terminal 200), and proceeds to S1114. At S1114, Web server 500 executes release processing for releasing image reading device 100 from the occupied state, and ends the processing according to the procedure in FIG. 11. This release processing is executed according to the procedure shown in FIG. 12, which will be described later. The release processing can also be executed in response to receiving a notification from Web browser 210 indicating that OK button 801 on error screen 800 displayed by Web browser 210 on terminal 200 has been pressed.

[0069] On the other hand, in S1111, the Web server 500 transmits screen data of the editing screen 700 to the Web browser 210 (terminal 200), and proceeds to S1112. The editing screen 700 (FIG. 7) is an operation screen for accepting an editing operation of a scanned image obtained by a scan process from an operating user. In S1112, the Web server 500 executes a process corresponding to an operation of the operating user on the editing screen 700 (the operation described above with reference to FIG. 7). Specifically, when the Web browser 210 accepts an operation using buttons 711 to 715 from the operating user, it transmits an instruction corresponding to the accepted operation to the Web server 500. The Web server 500 (image reading device 100) executes a process according to the instruction received from the Web browser 210.

[0070] For example, when button 713 is pressed on editing screen 700, image reading device 100 performs editing processing (binarization processing in this example) on the image data of the target scanned image, and stores the image data of the scanned image after processing in RAM 12 or storage unit 13. Web server 500 generates screen data of editing screen 700 in which the scanned image after processing is displayed in display area 701, and transmits the screen data to Web browser 210.

[0071] Furthermore, when a page back button 711 or a page forward button 712 is pressed on the editing screen 700, the Web server 500 changes the scanned image displayed in the display area 701. The Web server 500 generates screen data for the editing screen 700 in which the scanned image displayed in the display area 701 has been changed, and transmits the screen data to the Web browser 210.

[0072] Furthermore, when button 714 is pressed on editing screen 700, Web server 500 transmits image data of the edited scanned image to Web browser 210 and ends the editing process (image processing) using editing screen 700. On the other hand, when button 715 is pressed on editing screen 700, the editing process (image processing) using editing screen 700 ends without transmitting the image data of the saved scanned image to Web browser 210. Here, transmitting image data from Web server 500 to Web browser 210 includes downloading image data stored in Web server 500 to Web browser 210 or image reading device 100 using a function of Web browser 210.

[0073] During the display of the edit screen 700 by the Web browser 210, the Web server 500 determines in S1113 whether the operation using the edit screen 700 has ended. If the button 714 or 715 has not been pressed, the Web server 500 determines that the operation using the edit screen 700 has not ended, and returns the process to S1112. On the other hand, if the button 714 or 715 has been pressed, the Web server 500 determines that the operation using the edit screen 700 has ended, and advances the process to S1114. In S1114, the Web server 500 executes a release process for releasing the image reading device 100 from the occupied state, and ends the process according to the procedure in FIG. 11. This release process is executed according to the procedure shown in FIG. 12, which will be described later. In this way, when the editing operation of the scanned image performed using the edit screen 700 provided to the Web browser 210 after the scanning process is completed, the Web server 500 executes a release process for releasing the image reading device 100 from the occupied state.

[0074] <Release process (S1114, S1310)> FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the release process executed by the Web server 500 in S1114 of FIG. 11 and in S1310 of FIG. 13 which will be described later.

[0075] When the release process starts, in S1201, the Web server 500 deletes the image data of the scanned image stored in the RAM 12 or the storage unit 13. Furthermore, in S1202, the Web server 500 sets the occupancy flag (stored in the RAM 12) to OFF, thereby releasing the image reading device 100 from the occupied state occupied by the user operating the terminal 200. In other words, the Web server 500 transitions the image reading device 100 from the occupied state to the unoccupied state. This causes the CPU 11 of the image reading device 100 to operate so as to receive a new scan instruction from another user.

[0076] Then, in S1203, the Web server 500 causes the UI display application 501 to display on the operation unit 130 a message indicating that the image reading device 100 is being released from the occupied state (for example, a message indicating that use by another user has ended). Finally, in S1204, the Web server 500 transmits screen data of the scan setting screen 610 (FIG. 6(B)) to the Web browser 210 (terminal 200), and ends the processing according to the procedure in FIG.

[0077] <Release Control> Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure for release control related to the execution of release processing, which is executed by Web server 500 in image reading device 100. After the scan processing is completed, Web server 500 starts the processing according to the procedure in Fig. 13 in response to transmitting screen data of edit screen 700 to Web browser 210 (terminal 200) in S1111. This processing is executed in parallel with the processing according to the procedure in Fig. 11 while an operation using edit screen 700 is being performed on terminal 200.

[0078] First, in S1301 and S1309, the Web server 500 performs processing to wait for a confirmation instruction for a release request transmitted from the Web browser 210 while the editing screen 700 is being displayed on the terminal 200. As described above, the Web browser 210 transmits a confirmation instruction for a release request to the Web server 500 at a predetermined time interval in order to confirm with the Web server 500 whether or not a release request has been issued.

[0079] In S1301, the Web server 500 judges whether or not a confirmation instruction for the release request has been received from the Web browser 210. If the Web server 500 has not received the confirmation instruction, the process proceeds to S1309, and the process proceeds according to the judgment result of S1113. If the operation using the edit screen 700 has ended ("YES" in S1113), the Web server 500 ends the process according to the procedure of FIG. 13, and if the operation using the edit screen 700 has not ended ("NO" in S1113), the process returns from S1309 to S1301. In this way, the Web server 500 waits for a confirmation instruction for the release request transmitted from the Web browser 210 while the edit screen 700 is displayed on the terminal 200. If the confirmation instruction is received from the Web browser 210, the Web server 500 proceeds to S1302 from S1301.

[0080] In S1302, the Web server 500 performs a release request confirmation process to confirm whether a release request has been issued to release the image reading device 100 from the occupied state, according to the procedure in Fig. 14. The release request confirmation process is executed in response to reception of a confirmation instruction from the Web browser 210 at a predetermined time interval (e.g., Yes in S1301 in Fig. 13), and is an example of a process for detecting the presence or absence of an operation on the image reading device 100 in the occupied state at a predetermined time interval.

[0081] In this embodiment, the Web server 500 determines that a release request has been issued (S1404) in response to an original being placed (set) on the platen 102 ("YES" in S1401) or the operation unit 130 being operated ("YES" in S1402). The setting of an original on the platen 102 is determined based on the output signal of the document detection sensor 110. On the other hand, if neither an original has been set on the platen 102 nor operation of the operation unit 130 has been performed ("NO" in S1401 and "NO" in S1402), the Web server 500 determines that a release request has not been issued (S1403). In this way, the Web server 500 determines that a release request has been issued based on detection of an operation on the image reading device 100 in the occupied state.

[0082] The Web server 500 may be configured to determine that a release request has been issued even when it receives an access (operation on the image reading device 100) from a Web browser (another Web browser) running on another information processing device (e.g., the terminal 300) different from the terminal 200. At this time, since the user of the other information processing device issues an operation instruction from the other Web browser, it is assumed that the user does not operate the operation unit 130. However, if it is determined that a release request has been issued only on the condition that an access has been received from the other Web browser, there is a possibility that confusion between the user and the other user (of the other information processing device) may occur if there is another user operating the operation unit 130 of the image reading device 100 or placing a document on the document table 102 at this time.

[0083] Therefore, in the above case, it is preferable that the condition for determining that a release request has been issued is not only that an access from another Web browser has been accepted, but also that the user authentication described with reference to FIG. 6(A) has been performed. For example, the image reading device 100 displays a dialog box (confirmation screen) including user information related to the user authentication performed based on the login information received from the other Web browser on the operation unit 130 (display unit) of the image reading device 100. The displayed dialog box is configured to allow the user to select whether or not the user who is operating the operation unit 130 of the image reading device 100 or setting a document to be read on the document table 102 is the same as the user who logged in to the image reading device 100 using the other Web browser. This makes it possible to confirm whether or not the user related to the operation from the other Web browser (the user who has been authenticated) and the user related to the operation of the operation unit 130 or the setting of a document on the document table 102 are the same user. In addition, in this case, it is preferable to set a condition that a document is set on the document table 102 after the access from the other Web browser has been accepted. In other words, it is preferable to configure the system so that if an access is received from another browser while a document is set on document table 102, a release request is not issued.

[0084] In other words, it is preferable to configure the system so that when a document is placed on the document holder 102, it is determined that a release request has been issued without requiring user authentication, and on the other hand, when access is received from another Web browser, it is determined that a release request has been issued on the condition that user authentication has been performed via that Web browser.

[0085] In S1303, the Web server 500 returns the process to S1301 if a release request has not been issued according to the determination result in the release request confirmation process (S1302), and advances the process to S1304 if a release request has been issued.

[0086] In S1304, the Web server 500 transmits screen data of the release request screen 900 (FIG. 9) to the Web browser 210 (terminal 200), thereby causing the Web browser 210 to display the release request screen 900 on the terminal 200. In this manner, when an operation is performed on the image reading device 100 in the occupied state, the Web server 500 causes the Web browser 210 to display on the terminal 200 a screen (release request screen 900) including a message prompting the user to release the image reading device 100 from the occupied state. In S1305, the Web server 500 further causes the UI display application 401 to display on the operation unit 130 a message indicating that an inquiry is being made to the operating user currently using the image reading device 100 about releasing the occupied state of the image reading device 100.

[0087] Thereafter, in S1306, the Web server 500 determines whether or not a continue instruction has been received from the Web browser 210 (terminal 200) requesting that the editing operation of the scanned image be continued (to continue the occupancy state). The continue instruction is transmitted from the Web browser 210 to the Web server 500 in response to pressing of button 901 on the release request screen 900. On the other hand, when button 902 is pressed, an end instruction requesting that the image data of the scanned image be discarded and the editing process (editing operation) be ended is transmitted from the Web browser 210 to the Web server 500.

[0088] When the Web server 500 receives the continuation instruction, the process proceeds from S1306 to S1307. In S1307, the Web server 500 transmits image data of the editing screen 700 to the Web browser 210. As a result, the Web server 500 causes the Web browser 210 to display the editing screen 700 again on the terminal 200 (i.e., causes the display screen of the terminal 200 to transition from the release request screen 900 to the editing screen 700). Furthermore, in S1308, the Web server 500 causes the UI display application 401 to display on the operation unit 130 a message indicating that the editing operation of the scanned image will be continued by the operating user (the occupancy state will be continued), and returns the process to S1301.

[0089] On the other hand, if the Web server 500 has not received the instruction to continue (has received an instruction to end), the process proceeds from S1306 to S1310. In S1310, the Web server 500 executes a release process for releasing the image reading device 100 from the occupied state, and ends the process according to the procedure in Fig. 13. This release process is executed according to the procedure shown in Fig. 12 described above.

[0090] A timeout period may be set for an inquiry to the operating user. In this case, the Web server 500 may execute a release process (S1310) in response to the lapse of the timeout period from the timing of the start of the inquiry (transmission of the screen data of the release request screen 900) to release the image reading device 100 from the occupied state. This makes it possible to release the image reading device 100 from the occupied state when the operating user does not notice the display of the release request screen 900.

[0091] As described above, in the image reading device 100 of the present embodiment, the scan application 502 (CPU 11) performs a scan process to read an image of a document and generate image data of a scanned image according to a scan instruction received via an operation screen provided to the Web browser 210 running on the terminal 200. When the scan process is started, the Web server 500 (CPU 11) sets the image reading device 100 to an occupied state in which the image reading device 100 is occupied by a user (operating user) of the terminal 200. In addition, when the editing operation of the scanned image performed using the editing screen 700 provided to the Web browser 210 after the scan process is completed, the Web server 500 (CPU 11) releases the image reading device 100 from the occupied state. In the occupied state, the Web server 500 (CPU 11) detects the presence or absence of an operation on the image reading device 100 at a predetermined time interval. When the Web server 500 (CPU 11) detects an operation on the image reading device 100, it causes the Web browser 210 to display on the terminal 200 a screen (release request screen 900) including a message prompting the user to release the image reading device 100 from the occupied state.

[0092] For example, when the Web server 500 detects an operation using the operation unit 130 or detects the setting of a document to be read on the document platen 102 while the editing screen 700 is being displayed by the Web browser 210 (while the image reading device 100 is in an occupied state), the Web server 500 controls the display of the release request screen 900 for the terminal 200. Also, when the Web server 500 detects an operation (instruction) from another Web browser operating on another information processing device (e.g., a terminal device such as terminal 300) different from the terminal 200 while the editing screen 700 is being displayed by the Web browser 210 (while the image reading device 100 is in an occupied state), the Web server 500 controls the display of the release request screen 900 for the terminal 200.

[0093] According to this embodiment, by prompting the user of the terminal 200 performing editing operations on the scanned image to release the image reading device 100 from its occupied state, it becomes possible to more efficiently release the image reading device 100 from its occupied state after the scanning process is completed.

[0094] [Second embodiment] In the first embodiment, when a document is placed on the document table 102 or the operation unit 130 is operated, the Web server 500 determines that a release request has been issued (S1302, S1404), and causes the terminal 200 to display the release request screen 900 (S1304). However, if the editing operation by the operating user is frequently interrupted by the display of the release request screen 900 while editing the scanned image using the editing screen 700 on the terminal 200, it may become difficult to perform the editing operation efficiently.

[0095] Therefore, in the second embodiment, an example will be described in which the Web server 500 controls the display of the browser screen of the terminal 200 so as not to display the release request screen 900 on the terminal 200 while an editing operation is being performed by an operating user using the editing screen 700. In the following, a description of the parts common to the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0096] The Web server 500 of this embodiment performs login control (FIG. 10), scan control (FIG. 11), and release control (FIG. 13) in the same manner as in the first embodiment. However, while the Web browser 210 is displaying the edit screen 700 on the terminal 200, each time an operation (edit operation) is performed using the edit screen 700 by the operating user, the Web server 500 records the time at which the operation was performed as the last operation time. The last operation time is held in, for example, the RAM 12.

[0097] Specifically, in scan control (FIG. 11), the Web server 500 updates the last operation time held in the RAM 12 to the current time when the screen data of the edit screen 700 is transmitted to the Web browser 210 (terminal 200) (S1111). Thereafter, the Web server 500 updates the last operation time held in the RAM 12 to the current time every time an operation using the edit screen 700 (operation using buttons 711-713) is performed. Also, in release control (FIG. 13), after transmitting the screen data of the release request screen 900 (S1304), the Web server 500 updates the last operation time held in the RAM 12 to the current time when a continuation instruction is received by an operation of the operating user (S1306). Note that when a Web page based on HTML data or the like is used as the Web page displayed in the Web browser, and a configuration is made such that a setting item can be changed from a pull-down menu or the like arranged in the Web page, usually no notification to the Web server is required if an item selected from the menu is changed. In such a case, in this embodiment, Javascript (registered trademark) or the like is used to configure the Web server side to obtain information regarding the change operation (i.e., to detect the change operation) when a selected item is changed in a pull-down menu or when another menu setting item is changed. This allows the Web server 500 side to update the last operation time when an edit operation is performed on the edit screen 700. Also, if the edit screen 700 is open in the Web browser 210 and the Web browser 210 is active, the edit screen 700 may be configured using Javascript or the like to periodically issue a notification that an edit operation has been performed.

[0098] In addition, the Web server 500 of this embodiment executes the process of S1302 in the release control (FIG. 13) according to the procedure of FIG. 15. Note that the same step numbers are used for the processes equivalent to those in FIG. 14, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Specifically, in S1501, the Web server 500 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the last operation time (whether the elapsed time from the last operation time to the current time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time). If the predetermined time has not elapsed since the last operation time, the Web server 500 advances the process to S1502. In S1502, the Web server 500 causes the UI display application 401 to display on the operation unit 130 a message indicating that an editing operation of the scanned image is being performed by the operating user, or returns the message to another Web browser that has requested access, and advances the process to S1403. In S1403, the Web server 500 determines that a release request has not been issued.

[0099] Through such processing, the Web server 500 determines that a release request has not been issued while the operating user is performing an editing operation using the editing screen 700, even if a document is placed on the document table 102 or the operation unit 130 is operated. As a result, while the operating user is performing an editing operation using the editing screen 700, the display of the release request screen 900 on the terminal 200 is suppressed.

[0100] On the other hand, if the predetermined time has passed since the last operation time, the Web server 500 advances the process to S1401. In this case, the Web server 500 determines that a release request has been issued (S1404) in response to a document being placed on the document platen 102 ("YES" in S1401) or the operation unit 130 being operated ("YES" in S1402), as in the first embodiment.

[0101] As described above, in the image reading device 100 of this embodiment, the Web server 500 (CPU 11) prevents the release request screen 900 from being displayed on the terminal 200 while the operating user is performing an editing operation using the editing screen 700. That is, the Web server 500 (CPU 11) performs display control to display the release request screen 900 on the terminal 200 only when the timeout time has elapsed with no operation being performed by the operating user on the terminal 200. This allows the operating user to perform efficient editing operations since the operating user is not prompted to release the image reading device 100 while editing a scanned image.

[0102] [Third embodiment] In the first and second embodiments, the Web server 500 of the image reading device 100 prompts the user operating the terminal 200 to release the image reading device 100 by displaying the release request screen 900 only when it is determined that a release request has been issued. For example, in the first embodiment, it is determined that a release request has been issued when a document is placed on the document tray 102 or the operation unit 130 or the like is operated. Also, in the second embodiment, it is determined that a release request has been issued when a predetermined time has elapsed since the last operation time and a document is placed on the document tray 102 or the operation unit 130 is operated. However, in the image reading device 100, for example, when transitioning to a power-off state, it may be necessary to forcibly release the image reading device 100 from an occupied state.

[0103] Therefore, in the third embodiment, an example will be described in which the Web server 500 performs a process of forcibly releasing the image reading device 100 from the occupied state in accordance with a specific condition even when an editing operation is being performed by an operating user using the editing screen 700. In the following, a description of the parts common to the first and second embodiments will be omitted.

[0104] The image reading device 100 of this embodiment includes a power button and a memory clear button (not shown) arranged on the operation unit 130. When the power button is pressed while the image reading device 100 is running, the CPU 11 performs a process of turning off the power of the image reading device 100. When the memory clear button is pressed, the CPU 11 performs a process of deleting the image data of the scanned image stored in the RAM 12 or the storage unit 13.

[0105] The Web server 500 of this embodiment performs login control (FIG. 10), scan control (FIG. 11), and release control (FIG. 13) in the same manner as the first or second embodiment. However, in the release request confirmation process (S1302), the Web server 500 determines that a release request has been issued not only when a document is placed on the document tray 102 or the operation unit 130 is operated, but also when the power button or memory clear button is operated (pressed).

[0106] When the power button or the memory clear button is operated, the Web server 500 transmits image data of a release request screen 910 exemplified in FIG. 9B as a release request screen to the Web browser 210 (terminal 200) in S1304. The message included in the release request screen 910 notifies the operating user that it is impossible to continue the editing operation on the scanned image due to an operation to discard the image data of the scanned image (operation of the power button or the memory clear button). When the operating user presses a button 911 included in the release request screen 910, the Web browser 210 instructs the Web server 500 to end the editing process (editing operation) of the scanned image. In response to receiving the instruction from the Web browser 210, the Web server 500 executes a release process to release the image reading device 100 from the occupied state in the procedure of FIG. 12.

[0107] As described above, in the image reading device 100 of this embodiment, when the power button or memory clear button is operated, the Web server 500 (CPU 11) causes the Web browser 210 to display on the terminal 200 a screen including a message indicating that continuation of the editing operation is impossible, and releases the image reading device 100 from the occupied state. This makes it possible to forcibly release the image reading device 100 from the occupied state according to specific conditions, even if an editing operation is being performed by the operating user using the editing screen 700.

[0108] 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 of reading an image of an original document and generating image data of a scanned image in accordance with a scan instruction received via an operation screen provided on a Web browser running on a terminal device capable of communicating with the image reading device; a control means for placing the image reading device in an occupied state occupied by a user of the terminal device when the scanning process is started, and releasing the image reading device from the occupied state when an editing operation of the scanned image performed using the editing screen provided to the Web browser after the scanning process is completed, The control means detecting at a predetermined time interval whether or not the image reading device is operated in the occupied state; when an operation on the image reading device is detected, a screen including a message prompting the user to release the image reading device from the occupied state is displayed on the terminal device by the web browser. 1. An image reading apparatus comprising: (Item 2) the operation is an instruction from another web browser operating on another information processing device different from the terminal device connected to the image reading device; 2. The image reading device according to item 1, (Item 3) when the control means accepts an operation for the image reading device from the other Web browser, the control means causes the screen to be displayed on the terminal device by the Web browser on condition that authentication of a user using the other Web browser has been performed. 3. The image reading device according to item 2, (Item 4) When the control means accepts an operation for the image reading device from the other web browser, the control means displays a confirmation screen on an operation unit of the image reading device to allow a user who is about to place a document to be read on a document platen of the image reading device to confirm whether the user is the same as the authenticated user. 4. The image reading device according to item 3, (Item 5) and when the control means receives an instruction to continue the editing operation from the user in response to the display on the screen, the control means displays a message indicating that the occupancy state will be continued on an operation unit of the image reading device. 5. The image reading device according to any one of items 1 to 4, (Item 6) and when the control means receives an instruction to end the editing operation from the user in response to the display on the screen, the control means releases the image reading device from the occupied state. 6. The image reading device according to any one of items 1 to 5, (Item 7) the screen includes a button for accepting an instruction to continue the editing operation and a button for accepting an instruction to end the editing operation; 7. The image reading device according to any one of items 1 to 6, (Item 8) the control means, when a document to be read is set on a document platen of the image reading device in the occupied state, causes the screen to be displayed on the terminal device by the web browser. 8. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein: (Item 9) the control means causes the terminal device to display the screen through the web browser in response to an operation being performed on the image reading device in the occupied state only when a timeout period has elapsed with no operation being performed by the user on the terminal device. 9. The image reading device according to any one of items 1 to 8, (Item 10) the editing screen is configured so that, when an operation for changing an item on the editing screen is performed, the operation can be detected by the image reading device. 10. The image reading device according to item 9, (Item 11) when a power button for instructing to power off the image reading device or a memory clear button for instructing to delete image data stored in the image reading device, which are disposed on an operation unit of the image reading device, are operated, the control means causes the terminal device to display, via the Web browser, a screen including a message indicating that continuation of the editing operation is impossible, and releases the image reading device from the occupied state. 11. The image reading device according to any one of items 1 to 10, (Item 12) A method for controlling an image reading device, comprising: a step of performing a scan process of reading an image of an original document and generating image data of a scanned image in accordance with a scan instruction received via an operation screen provided on a web browser running on a terminal device capable of communicating with the image reading device; a step of setting the image reading device in an occupied state in which the image reading device is occupied by a user of the terminal device when the scanning process is started, and releasing the image reading device from the occupied state when an editing operation of the scanned image performed using the editing screen provided to the Web browser after the scanning process is completed; detecting at a predetermined time interval whether or not the image reading device is operated in the occupied state; when an operation on the image reading device is detected, causing the web browser to display on the terminal device a screen including a message prompting the user to release the image reading device from the occupied state; 2. A method for controlling an image reading apparatus comprising: (Item 13) Item 13. A program for causing a computer of an image reading device to execute the method for controlling an image reading device according to item 12.

[0109] 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]

[0110] 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 of reading an image of an original document and generating image data of a scanned image in accordance with a scan instruction received via an operation screen provided on a web browser operated on a terminal device capable of communicating with the image reading device; a control means for placing the image reading device in an occupied state occupied by a user of the terminal device when the scanning process is started, and releasing the image reading device from the occupied state when an editing operation of the scanned image performed using the editing screen provided to the Web browser after the scanning process is completed, The control means detecting at a predetermined time interval whether or not the image reading device is operated in the occupied state; when an operation on the image reading device is detected, a screen including a message prompting the user to release the image reading device from the occupied state is displayed on the terminal device by the web browser.

1. An image reading apparatus comprising:

2. the operation is an instruction from another web browser operating on another information processing device different from the terminal device connected to the image reading device; 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus comprises:

3. when the control means receives an operation for the image reading device from the other web browser, the control means causes the screen to be displayed on the terminal device by the web browser on condition that authentication of a user using the other web browser has been performed.

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

4. When the control means receives an operation for the image reading device from the other Web browser, the control means displays a confirmation screen on an operation unit of the image reading device to allow a user who is about to place a document to be read on a document table of the image reading device to confirm whether the user is the same as the authenticated user.

4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 3,

5. and when the control means receives an instruction to continue the editing operation from the user in response to the display on the screen, the control means displays a message indicating that the occupancy state will be continued on an operation unit of the image reading device.

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

6. and when the control means receives an instruction to end the editing operation from the user in response to the display on the screen, the control means releases the image reading device from the occupied state.

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

7. the screen includes a button for accepting an instruction to continue the editing operation and a button for accepting an instruction to end the editing operation; 5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a digital camera.

8. the control means, when a document to be read is set on a document platen of the image reading device in the occupied state, causes the screen to be displayed on the terminal device by the web browser; 5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a digital camera.

9. the control means causes the terminal device to display the screen by the web browser in response to an operation being performed on the image reading device in the occupied state only when a timeout period has elapsed with no operation being performed by the user on the terminal device.

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

10. the editing screen is configured so that, when an operation for changing an item on the editing screen is performed, the operation can be detected by the image reading device.

10. The image reading device according to claim 9,

11. When a power button for instructing to power off the image reading device or a memory clear button for instructing to delete image data stored in the image reading device, which are disposed on an operation unit of the image reading device, are operated, the control means causes the terminal device to display, via the Web browser, a screen including a message indicating that the editing operation cannot be continued, and releases the image reading device from the occupied state.

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

12. A method for controlling an image reading device, comprising: a step of performing a scan process of reading an image of an original document and generating image data of a scanned image in accordance with a scan instruction received via an operation screen provided on a web browser operated on a terminal device capable of communicating with the image reading device; a step of setting the image reading device in an occupied state occupied by a user of the terminal device when the scanning process is started, and releasing the image reading device from the occupied state when an editing operation of the scanned image performed using the editing screen provided to the Web browser is completed after the scanning process is completed; detecting at a predetermined time interval whether or not the image reading device is operated in the occupied state; when an operation on the image reading device is detected, causing the web browser to display on the terminal device a screen including a message prompting the user to release the image reading device from the occupied state; 2. A method for controlling an image reading apparatus comprising:

13. A program for causing a computer of an image reading device to execute the method for controlling an image reading device according to claim 12.

Images