Image processing apparatus and data management system

Abstract

To allow a user to easily download or browse image data stored on a network from an apparatus even if the apparatus is different from an apparatus that has uploaded the image data.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 1 comprises: a network interface unit 91 that performs data communication with an external apparatus; a document reading unit 5 that reads an image of a document; a control unit 100 that uploads, by accessing a cloud storage 3, image data obtained through document reading performed by the document reading unit 5 through the network interface unit 91; a code generation unit 101 that generates a QR code including information indicating the access destination of the cloud storage 3 to which the image data is uploaded; and a display unit 473 that displays the QR code generated by the code generation unit 101 under the control by the control unit 100.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and a data management system, and more particularly to a technique for managing data stored in a storage on the cloud.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a storage service for managing documents on the cloud by uploading a document from a terminal device to a storage existing on the cloud or downloading the document from the storage. Patent Documents 1 to 3 below describe the use of data stored on a network.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Some image forming apparatuses, such as copiers and multifunction printers, are equipped with a document reading unit for reading an image of a document and have a scanning function. It is possible to save the image data of the document obtained by using the scanning function on a network using the above storage service.

[0005] However, it is not easy to download image data using a device different from the device (for example, a multifunction printer) that has uploaded the image data onto the network (for example, a mobile device such as a smartphone), and it is troublesome for the user.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to enable easy download or browsing of image data stored on a network even from a device different from the device that uploaded the image data.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] An image processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an image processing apparatus that communicates with a cloud storage, and includes a first communication unit that performs data communication with an external device, a document reading unit that reads an image of a document, and a first control unit that accesses and uploads, via the first communication unit, image data obtained by reading a document by the document reading unit to a cloud storage indicated by a predetermined access destination. The image processing apparatus further includes a code generation unit that generates a two-dimensional code including information indicating the access destination of the cloud storage to which the image data has been uploaded, and an output unit that outputs the two-dimensional code generated by the code generation unit under the control of the first control unit.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, a two-dimensional code having information indicating a storage destination of image data is output to a user. A mobile device such as a smartphone has a built-in camera (imaging unit), and based on information indicating the storage destination of the image data from the two-dimensional code photographed by the camera, accesses the cloud storage in which the image data is stored, and can download or browse the image data stored therein. Therefore, by outputting the two-dimensional code to the user, it is possible to easily access the storage in which the image data is stored from a device different from the device that uploaded the image data (for example, the mobile device), and thus it is possible to easily download or browse the image data stored on the cloud.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, a data management system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the whole of a data management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] The data management system 11 includes an image forming apparatus 1 that uploads data to a cloud storage (hereinafter simply referred to as storage) 3 existing on a network, and a management apparatus 2 that performs billing processing. Further, the data management system 11 may include a portable terminal device 4 carried by a user and having an imaging unit. In the present embodiment, the data management system 11 includes the image forming apparatus 1, the management apparatus 2, and the portable terminal device 4. The image forming apparatus 1, the management apparatus 2, and the portable terminal device 4 are connected to be communicable with each other through a network using the Internet or the like.

[0012] For the storage 3, various processes necessary for uploading and downloading image data are executed by a storage service such as Google Drive or Drop Box, for example.

[0013] The image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction device having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function, for example. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 is an example of an image processing apparatus in the claims.

[0014] The management apparatus 2 is a server, for example, and performs billing processing. The portable terminal device 4 is a mobile device such as a smartphone capable of data communication through a network, for example.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a main internal configuration of the management apparatus 2. The management apparatus 2 includes a control unit 21, a communication unit 22, and a storage device 23.

[0016] The communication unit 22 is a communication interface that performs data communication with external devices on the network. For example, the communication unit 22 performs data communication with the image forming apparatus 1, the storage 3, and the mobile terminal device 4 shown in FIG. 1.

[0017] The storage device 23 is a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), and stores various control programs.

[0018] The control unit 21 is configured to include a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a dedicated hardware circuit. The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The control unit 21 includes a control section 210 and a charging processing section 213.

[0019] The control unit 21 functions as the control section 210 and the charging processing section 213 by the operation of the above-described processor according to the control program stored in the storage device 23. However, the control section 210 and the like can also be configured by hardware circuits without depending on the operation according to the control program by the control unit 21. Hereinafter, unless otherwise particularly noted, the same applies to each embodiment.

[0020] The control section 210 is in charge of overall operation control of the management device 2. The control section 210 is connected to the communication unit 22 and the storage device 23, and performs operation control of the above-described connected components and transmission and reception of signals or data between the components.

[0021] The charging processing unit 213 executes charging processing for charging the upload fee for the upload of image data performed by the image forming apparatus 1. For example, when the upload to the storage 3 is performed by the image forming apparatus 1, the charging processing unit 213 receives an upload notification from the image forming apparatus 1 and starts the charging processing. When receiving the notification, the charging processing unit 213 calculates the upload fee using an existing settlement technology, generates a settlement barcode (an example of the code image in the claims) reflecting the calculated fee, and transmits the generated settlement barcode to the portable terminal device 4. Through an existing settlement system, payment processing based on the settlement barcode is performed. When the charging processing unit 213 receives a completion notification of the payment processing from the settlement system via the communication unit 22, the charging processing unit 213 ends the charging processing as payment completion.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a document feeder 6, a document reading unit 5, an image forming unit 12, a paper feeding unit 14, and an operation unit 47.

[0023] The document feeder 6 is configured to be openable and closable on the upper surface of the document reading unit 5 by a hinge (not shown), and the document feeder 6 functions as a document pressing cover when reading a document placed on a platen glass (not shown). The document feeder 6 is also called an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), and includes a document placement tray 61 on which documents are placed and a document discharge tray 62 provided below the document placement tray 61. The document feeder 6 supplies the documents placed on the document placement tray 61 to the document reading unit 5 one by one and discharges the documents to the document discharge tray 62.

[0024] A case where a document reading operation is performed in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. The document reading unit 5 optically reads an image of a document supplied to the document reading unit 5 by the document feeder 6 or a document placed on the platen glass, and generates image data. The image data generated by the document reading unit 5 is stored in an image memory (not shown).

[0025] The image forming unit 12 includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum, an exposure device for exposing the surface of the photosensitive drum to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum, a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum into a toner image, and a transfer device for transferring the toner image (image) on the surface of the photosensitive drum to a recording sheet, etc., and prints the image indicated by the above image data on the recording sheet.

[0026] A case where an image forming operation is performed in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. Based on the image data generated by the original document reading operation or the image data received from a computer as an external device (for example, a personal computer) connected to the network, the image forming unit 12 forms a toner image on a recording sheet as a recording medium fed from the paper feeding unit 14.

[0027] The recording sheet on which the toner image is formed by the image forming unit 12 is subjected to a fixing process by a fixing unit 13 (FIG. 4) described later, and the recording sheet subjected to the fixing process is discharged to a discharge tray 151. The paper feeding unit 14 includes a plurality of paper feeding cassettes 141.

[0028] The operation unit 47 includes hard keys such as numeric keys and a start key, and receives instructions such as an image forming operation execution instruction from the operator regarding various operations and processes that the image forming apparatus 1 can execute according to the operations of these keys. The operation unit 47 includes a display unit 473 for displaying operation guidance to the operator, etc. Further, the operation unit 47 receives an input of an instruction from the user based on an operation (touch operation) by the user on the operation screen displayed on the display unit 473 or an operation by the user on a physical key via a touch panel provided in the display unit 473.

[0029] The display unit 473 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like. The display unit 473 is provided with a touch panel. When the operator performs an operation of touching a button or a key displayed on the screen, an instruction associated with the touched position is received by the touch panel. Note that the display unit 473 and the image forming unit 12 are an example of an output unit in the claims.

[0030] Figure 4 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a document feeder 6, a document reader 5, an image forming unit 12, a fixing unit 13, a paper feeding unit 14, an operation unit 47, a network interface unit 91, and a storage unit 8.

[0031] The fixing unit 13 heats and presses the recording paper on which the toner image has been formed by the image forming unit 12 to fix the toner image on the recording paper, and the recording paper on which the fixing process has been performed is discharged to a discharge tray 151 (Fig. 3).

[0032] The network interface unit 91 is a communication interface that performs transmission and reception of various data with external devices (for example, the management device 2) within a local area or on the Internet. Note that the network interface unit 91 is an example of the communication unit in the claims.

[0033] The storage unit 8 is a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD or an SSD, and stores various control programs and the like.

[0034] The control unit 10 includes a processor, a RAM, a ROM, and a dedicated hardware circuit. The processor is, for example, a CPU, an ASIC, or an MPU. The control unit 10 includes a control unit 100, a code generation unit 101, and a charging processing unit 102.

[0035] The control unit 10 functions as the control unit 100, the code generation unit 101, and the charging processing unit 102 by the operation of the processor according to the control program and the like stored in the storage unit 8. However, the control unit 100 and the like can also be configured by hardware circuits without depending on the operation according to the control program and the like by the control unit 10. Hereinafter, unless otherwise particularly noted, the same applies to each embodiment.

[0036] The control unit 100 controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 100 is connected to the document feeder 6, the document reading unit 5, the image forming unit 12, the fixing unit 13, the paper feeding unit 14, the operation unit 47, the network interface unit 91, and the storage unit 8, and performs drive control and the like of these units. The control unit 100 executes various processes necessary for image formation by the image forming apparatus 1. For example, the control unit 100 controls the operation of the image forming unit 12 to perform a copy process of forming an image indicated by the image data obtained by reading by the document reading unit 5 on a recording medium.

[0037] Further, the control unit 100 executes the upload of the image data of the document obtained by reading by the document reading unit 5 to the storage 3 via the network interface unit 91.

[0038] Further, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 473 to display a preview image of the image data of a plurality of documents obtained by reading by the document reading unit 5, and among the image data indicated by the preview image, the image data for which the operation unit 47 has received an instruction to perform an upload is uploaded from the network interface unit 91 (an example of the first communication unit in the claims) to the storage 3.

[0039] The code generation unit 101 generates a two-dimensional code including access destination information (for example, a download URL) indicating a storage destination of the image data in the storage 3 and for accessing the storage destination, which has been transmitted from the storage 3. For example, the code generation unit 101 encodes the download URL transmitted from the management device 2 and generates a QR code (registered trademark) including the same.

[0040] The control unit 100 controls the display of the display unit 473 to cause the display unit 473 to display the QR code generated by the code generation unit 101 (first output). Further, the control unit 100 causes the QR code to be formed as an image on the recording medium by the image forming unit 12 (second output). The control unit 100 outputs the two-dimensional code by either the first output or the second output according to an instruction from the user received by the operation unit 47.

[0041] The charging processing unit 213 of the management device 2 performs charging processing for the first output and charging processing for the second output. Here, the charging processing for the second output performs both charging for the display of the two-dimensional code and charging for the image formation of the two-dimensional code. In the charging for the image formation of the two-dimensional code, a predetermined amount lower than the amount charged when reading a document and forming an image is charged by the charging processing unit 213.

[0042] For example, when the copy unit price when a copy is made by reading a document and forming an image is 30 yen per sheet, the unit price for the process of displaying a QR code on the display unit 473 is 50 yen per time, and the unit price for the process of forming an image of the QR code on a recording medium by the image forming unit 12 is 10 yen per sheet. That is, the unit price of the first output is 50 yen per time, and the unit price of the second output is 60 yen per time.

[0043] Next, regarding the process until the image data of the document is uploaded to and stored in the storage 3 using the image forming apparatus 1 and a QR code having information indicating the storage destination of the image data in the storage 3 is displayed, it will be described using the operation screen displayed on the display unit 473 shown in FIGS. 5 to 11 and the flowchart shown in FIG. 12.

[0044] The control unit 100 of the image forming apparatus 1 causes the display unit 473 to display an operation screen G1 as shown in FIG. 5(A) as an example. An operation button B1 marked with "Scan to Cloud" is displayed on the operation screen G1.

[0045] Here, when the operation unit 47 receives an instruction to request the upload of image data scanned by the document reading unit 5 based on a user operation on the operation button B1 (FIG. 5(B)), the control unit 100 causes the display unit 473 to display an operation screen G2 for selecting an available storage service as shown in FIG. 5(C). On the operation screen G2, an operation button B2 marked with "Cloud Storage A" and an operation button B3 marked with "Cloud Storage B" are displayed. As storage services that provide cloud storage, as described above, for example, "Google Drive" of Google and "Dropbox" of Dropbox.

[0046] When the operation unit 47 receives a storage selection instruction to select a storage destination for upload based on a user operation on the operation button B2 (FIG. 5(D)) when the operation screen G2 is displayed, the control unit 100 accesses the storage 3, which is the selected cloud storage A, via the network interface unit 91. The control unit 100 causes the display unit 473 to display an operation screen G3 as a login screen provided by the storage 3 (an example is shown in FIG. 6(A)) (S1). On the operation screen G3, a text box TX1 for accepting the input of an email address as an account, a text box TX2 for accepting the input of a password, and an operation button B4 marked with "Login" are displayed.

[0047] When the user inputs an account and a password by operating the operation unit 47, as shown in FIG. 6(B) as an example, the control unit 100 causes the input account to be displayed in the text box TX1 and the input password to be displayed in the text box TX2. In this state, when the control unit 100 receives a user operation on the operation button B4 marked with "Login" by the operation unit 47, it transmits the input account and password to the storage 3 via the network interface unit 91. Based on the account and password received from the image forming apparatus 1, the storage 3 authenticates whether the user (the person who wishes to log in) corresponding to the account and password is a legitimate user of the storage 3.

[0048] When the storage 3 approves that the above user is a legitimate user of the storage 3, the control unit 100 of the image forming apparatus 1 receives an authentication notice about the user from the storage 3 via the network interface unit 91 (YES in S2). Then, the control unit 100 causes an operation screen G4 as shown in FIG. 6(C) as an example to be displayed on the display unit 473. On the operation screen G4, an operation button B5 marked with "single" and an operation button B6 marked with "multiple" are displayed.

[0049] For example, when the control unit 100 receives a manuscript reading instruction based on a user operation (FIG. 6(D)) on the operation button B5 marked with "single" by the operation unit 47, it controls the operations of the manuscript feeding unit 6 and the manuscript reading unit 5 to cause the manuscript reading unit 5 to read one manuscript placed on the manuscript loading tray 61 (FIG. 3) or one manuscript placed on the platen glass (S3).

[0050] After reading the above manuscript, the control unit 100 causes an operation screen G5 as shown in FIG. 7(A) as an example to be displayed on the display unit 473. In the central part of the operation screen G5, a preview image PV1 showing the image data of the manuscript obtained by reading by the manuscript reading unit 5 is displayed. Also, an operation button B7 marked with "upload" is displayed in the lower right part of the operation screen G5.

[0051] The operation button B7 is an operation button for receiving an upload instruction to upload image data corresponding to the preview image PV1 (that is, the image data of the document obtained by reading by the document reading unit 5) to the storage 3.

[0052] When the control unit 100 receives an upload instruction based on a user operation on the operation button B7 marked with "Upload" by the operation unit 47 (YES in S5), it uploads the image data of the document obtained by reading by the document reading unit 5 to the storage 3 via the network interface unit 91 (S6).

[0053] When the storage 3 receives the above image data to be uploaded from the image forming apparatus 1, it stores the received image data in the above storage area for the user. Then, the control unit 100 stores information (download URL) indicating the storage destination of the above image data in the storage 3, that is, the above storage area for the user in the storage 3.

[0054] In the image forming apparatus 1, when the control unit 100 stores the above download URL (S7), the control unit 100 causes a button B71 indicating "QR code generation" to be displayed on the operation screen G5 instead of the button B7.

[0055] When the control unit 100 receives a QR code generation instruction based on a user operation of the operation unit 47 on the operation button B71 (YES in S8), it encodes the received download URL and generates a QR code including access destination information indicating an access destination to the management apparatus 2 and the download URL, etc. (S9).

[0056] As shown in the example of FIG. 7(C), the control unit 100 displays an operation screen G6 showing the QR code generated by the code generation unit 101 on the display unit 473 (S10). A QR code CD1 is displayed on the operation screen G6, and an operation button B8 marked with "PRINT QR CODE (Print QR code)" is also displayed.

[0057] When the control unit 100 receives a print instruction for a QR code based on a user operation (Fig. 7(D)) on the operation button B8 labeled "PRINT QR CODE" by the operation unit 47 (YES in S11), it controls the operations of the image forming unit 12 and the like to form the QR code CD1 generated by the code generation unit 101 on a recording medium (S12). Note that when a predetermined time (e.g., 60 seconds) has elapsed without the operation unit 47 receiving a print instruction for the QR code (NO in S11), the process of S12 is skipped. That is, when YES in S10 and S11 and the process of S12 are performed, it is the first output, and when NO in S8 and S11 are processed, it is the second output.

[0058] After NO in S8 or S11, the control unit 100 transmits an upload notification including the identification number of the upload, information on which of the first output and the second output was performed, and user information, etc. to the management device 2 via the network interface unit 91 (S13).

[0059] When the management device 2 receives the upload notification from the image forming device 1, it starts the charging process based on the upload notification. The charging processing unit 213 calculates the charging amount based on the identification number of the upload, information on which of the first output and the second output was performed, and user information, and generates a settlement barcode reflecting the calculated charging amount and user information.

[0060] The mobile terminal device 4 reads the QR code displayed on the display unit 473 of the image forming device 1 or the QR code printed on the recording medium with its imaging unit (camera). At this time, the control unit of the mobile terminal device 4 analyzes the QR code and accesses the management device 2 based on the access destination information included in the QR code.

[0061] When there is the above access from the mobile terminal device 4 in the management device 2, the generated settlement barcode is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 4 that has made the access.

[0062] When the user's mobile terminal device 4 receives the above payment barcode, the payment barcode is displayed on the display screen of the display unit. The user shows the display screen on which the payment barcode is displayed to, for example, a person in charge of a predetermined existing payment system (e.g., a convenience store clerk, etc.), and completes the payment of the charged amount to the person in charge and the payment system based on the reading of the payment barcode by the payment system. When the payment process based on the payment barcode is performed, the payment system sends a completion notice of the payment process to the management device 2. When the charging processing unit 213 of the management device 2 receives the completion notice of the payment process via the communication unit 22, the charging processing unit 213 sends the completion notice of the payment process to the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication unit 22. After transferring it to the management device 2, the above charging process is terminated as payment completion.

[0063] After transmitting the upload notice to the management device 2 in S13, the control unit 100 of the image forming apparatus 1 waits to receive the completion notice from the management device 2 (S14). Here, when the completion notice is received from the management device 2 to the control unit 100 via the network interface unit 91 (YES in S14), the process ends.

[0064] On the other hand, after transmitting the upload notice to the management device 2 in S13, if the completion notice is not received from the management device 2 to the control unit 100 via the network interface unit 91 within a predetermined time (e.g., within 3 minutes) (NO in S14), the control unit 100 accesses the storage 3 again via the network interface unit 91, and deletes the image data that has been uploaded from the user's storage area of the storage 3 (S15). In this case, the control unit 100 stores the account and password input by the user at the time of logging in to the storage 3, and accesses the storage 3 using the account and password. Thereby, the user who has not completed the payment is made unable to download the image data uploaded to the storage 3 from the storage 3.

[0065] Here, another embodiment of the upload process when a plurality of manuscripts are read by the manuscript reading unit 5 as the upload target will be described.

[0066] Further, when the control unit 100 receives a manuscript reading instruction based on a user operation (FIG. 8(A)) on the operation button B6 marked with "plural" on the operation screen G4 shown in FIG. 6(C), the control unit 100 controls the operations of the manuscript feeding unit 6 and the manuscript reading unit 5 to cause the manuscript reading unit 5 to read a plurality of manuscripts placed on the manuscript placement tray 61 (FIG. 3) (S3). Then, as shown in FIG. 8(B) as an example, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 473 to display an operation screen G7 for displaying preview images based on each of the image data of the plurality of manuscripts obtained by reading by the manuscript reading unit 5. The operation screen G7 shows an example where five manuscripts are read.

[0067] In the central part of the operation screen G7, preview images PV11 to PV15 based on each of the image data of the five manuscripts obtained by reading by the manuscript reading unit 5 are displayed, and the preview images PV11 to PV15 are each in the form of an icon. Also, an operation button B7 marked with "Upload" is displayed in the lower right part of the operation screen G7.

[0068] When the control unit 100 receives an image designation instruction based on a user operation (FIG. 8(C)) on the operation unit 47 for the preview image PV11, for example, as shown in FIG. 8(D) as an example, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 473 to display an operation screen G8 in which the designated preview image PV11 is enlarged and displayed.

[0069] When the control unit 100 receives a screen transition instruction based on a user operation (FIG. 9(A)) on the operation button B9 which is the "Return button" displayed in the upper right part of the operation screen G8 by the operation unit 47, as shown in FIG. 9(B), the display screen is returned to the same state as in FIG. 8(B) where the preview images PV11 to PV15 are displayed.

[0070] When the control unit 100 receives a selection preparation instruction based on a long-press operation (Fig. 9(C)) of the operation unit 47 on any of the preview images PV11 to PV15, as shown in Fig. 9(D), it displays a check box CX for each of the preview images PV11 to PV15, and also displays an operation button B10 marked with "DELETE" and an operation button B11 marked with "DONE".

[0071] As shown in Fig. 10(A), when the operation unit 47 receives a user operation on the preview image PV12, for example, the control unit 100 displays a check mark in the check box CX provided in the preview image PV12 to turn it on.

[0072] When the control unit 100 receives a deletion instruction based on a user operation (Fig. 10(B)) of the operation unit 47 on the operation button B10 marked with "DELETE" while check marks are displayed in the check boxes CX provided in the preview images PV11 and PV12, it removes the image data corresponding to the preview images PV11 and PV12 from the upload target, deletes the preview images PV11 and PV12 from the operation screen G7 as shown in Fig. 10(C), and only displays the preview images PV13 to PV15.

[0073] When the control unit 100 receives a user operation on the operation button B11 marked with "DONE" of the operation unit 47 as shown in Fig. 10(D), it displays the operation screen G7 as shown in Fig. 11(A).

[0074] When the control unit 100 receives an upload instruction based on a user operation (Fig. 11(B)) of the operation unit 47 on the operation button B7 marked with "UPLOAD" (YES in S5), at this time, the image data corresponding to the preview images PV13 to PV15 displayed on the operation screen G7 is set as the upload target, and is transmitted to the storage 3 via the network interface unit for upload (S6).

[0075] When the control unit 100 receives a QR code generation instruction based on a user operation on the operation button B71 by the operation unit 47 (YES in S8), it encodes the download URL and generates a QR code including access destination information indicating the access destination to the management device 2 and the download URL, etc. (S9).

[0076] As shown in an example in FIG. 11(C), the control unit 100 displays an operation screen G7 showing the QR code generated by the code generation unit 101 on the display unit 473 (S10). On the operation screen G7, a QR code CD2 is displayed, and an operation button B8 labeled "PRINT QR CODE (Print QR code)" is also displayed.

[0077] When the control unit 100 receives a QR code printing instruction based on a user operation (FIG. 11(D)) on the operation button B8 labeled "PRINT QR CODE" by the operation unit 47 (YES in S11), it controls the operations of the image forming unit 12, etc., and forms the QR code CD2 generated by the code generation unit 101 on a recording medium (S12).

[0078] Next, the communication process between the management device 2 and the mobile terminal device 4 will be described. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the mobile terminal device 4.

[0079] First, the electrical configuration of the mobile terminal device 4 will be described. The mobile terminal device 4 is, for example, a smartphone or a mobile device. The mobile terminal device 4 includes a display unit 411, a touch panel 412, a network (NW) communication unit 413, a storage unit 418, an imaging unit 414, and a control unit 40. These components are capable of transmitting and receiving data or signals to and from each other through a bus.

[0080] The display unit 411 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic EL (OLED).

[0081] The touch panel 412 is a touch panel such as a so-called resistive film method or a capacitance method. The touch panel 412 is arranged on the screen of the display unit 411 and detects contact such as a finger on the soft keys on the screen of the display unit 411 together with the contact position. When the touch panel 412 detects contact such as a finger, it outputs a detection signal indicating the coordinates of the contact position to the control unit 40. Therefore, the touch panel 412 serves as an operation unit for inputting a user operation on the screen of the display unit 411.

[0082] The network communication unit 413 is a communication interface having a communication function such as a LAN chip (not shown). This network communication unit 413 is connected to the image forming apparatus 1, the management apparatus 2, and the storage 3 through a network such as the Internet, and performs data transmission and reception with the portable terminal device 4.

[0083] The imaging unit 414 includes a camera function composed of a CCD or a CMOS, etc., and images a subject.

[0084] The storage unit 418 is a storage device composed of a non-volatile memory, etc., and stores various application programs and various information, etc.

[0085] The control unit 40 is composed of a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. The processor is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU, or an ASIC, etc. The control unit 40 functions as a control unit 41 when a control program stored in the above ROM or the storage unit 418 is executed by the above processor.

[0086] The control unit 41 is in charge of the overall operation control of the portable terminal device 4. The control unit 41 is connected to the display unit 411, the touch panel 412, the network communication unit 413, the imaging unit 414, the storage unit 418, etc., and performs operation control of these components and signal or data transmission and reception between each of these components.

[0087] Further, the control unit 41 serves as a processing unit that executes processes such as processing according to operations on the touch panel 412. Furthermore, the control unit 41 has a function of controlling the communication operation of the network communication unit 413. The control unit 41 controls the display operation of the display unit 411.

[0088] In the mobile terminal device 4, according to an instruction input by the user to the operation unit, it is assumed that the control unit 41 causes the imaging unit 414 to image the QR code displayed on the display unit 473 of the image forming apparatus 1 or the QR code printed on the recording medium. FIG. 14 shows an example of a state in which the QR code displayed on the display unit 473 or the QR code formed on the recording medium is photographed by the camera of the mobile terminal device 4, the QR code is captured by the mobile terminal device 4, and the QR code CD3 is displayed on the display unit 411 of the mobile terminal device 4.

[0089] The control unit 41 analyzes the QR code and detects access destination information to the management device 2 included in the QR code and information indicating the storage destination of the image data in the storage 3 (download URL).

[0090] Then, the control unit 41 first accesses the management device 2 based on the access destination information. When there is such an access, the management device 2 transmits a payment barcode to the mobile terminal device 4. When the control unit 41 receives the payment barcode of the payment page via the network communication unit 413, it causes the display unit 411 to display the payment barcode of the payment page (FIG. 15).

[0091] When the payment barcode is displayed on the display unit 411, the user shows the display screen of the display unit 411 on which the payment barcode is displayed to the person in charge of the payment system, and pays the charged amount to the person in charge and the payment system based on the reading of the payment barcode by the payment system. When the payment process based on the payment barcode is performed, the payment system transmits a completion notice of the payment process to the management device 2.

[0092] Here, the processing by the management device 2 will be described. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the processing by the management device 2. When the charging processing unit 213 of the management device 2 receives the completion notice of the payment processing via the communication unit 22 (YES in S21), the charging processing unit 213 transmits the completion notice of the payment processing to the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication unit 22 (S22). Further, the charging processing unit 213 transmits permission information for permitting access to the storage 3 to the mobile terminal device 4 (S23).

[0093] In the mobile terminal device 4, when its control unit 41 receives the above permission information from the management device 2 via the network communication unit 413, based on the information (download URL) indicating the storage destination of the image data in the storage 3, it accesses the storage 3 and causes the display unit 411 to display the content stored at the storage destination of the image data in the storage 3, that is, an image indicating each stored data. After that, according to an instruction input by an operation of the operation unit of the mobile terminal device 4 by the user, the control unit 41 downloads the image data instructed by the user from the storage destination or causes the display unit 411 to display it in a viewable manner.

[0094] On the other hand, in the management device 2, when the charging processing unit 213 has not received the completion notice of the payment processing from the settlement system via the communication unit 22 (NO in S21), it does not proceed to the processing after S22 until it receives the completion notice of the payment processing from the settlement system, and thus does not transmit the above permission information to the mobile terminal device 4. Therefore, unless the user completes the payment through the settlement system, the user cannot download or view the image on the touch panel from the storage 3 using the above QR code from the mobile terminal device 4.

[0095] As described above, according to the above embodiment, a QR code as a two-dimensional code having information indicating a storage destination in the image data storage 3 is output to the user by display or printing. A mobile device such as a smartphone as the portable terminal device 4 incorporates an imaging unit 414, and based on the information indicating the storage destination of the image data from the two-dimensional code captured thereby, it accesses the storage 3 in which the image data is stored, and it is possible to download or view the image data stored therein. Therefore, by outputting the above two-dimensional code to the user, it is possible to easily access the storage 3 in which the image data is stored from a device different from the device that uploaded the image data (for example, the above mobile device), and thus it is possible to easily download or view the image data stored on the cloud.

[0096] The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. Further, in the above embodiment, the configurations and processes shown by the above embodiment using FIGS. 1 to 16 are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not intended to be limited to such configurations and processes.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0097] 11 Data management system 1 Image forming apparatus 100 Control unit 101 Code generation unit 102 Billing processing unit 12 Image forming unit 47 Operation unit 91 Network interface unit 473 Display unit 2 Management apparatus 213 Billing processing unit 3 Storage 4 Portable terminal device 5 Document reading unit

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus that communicates with cloud storage, comprising: a first communication unit that performs data communication with an external device; a document reading unit that reads an image of a document; a first control unit that accesses and uploads, via the first communication unit, image data obtained by reading a document by the document reading unit to cloud storage indicated by a predetermined access destination; a code generation unit that generates a two-dimensional code including information indicating the access destination of the cloud storage to which the image data has been uploaded; an output unit that outputs the two-dimensional code generated by the code generation unit under the control of the first control unit.

2. a display unit; an operation unit that receives an input of an instruction from a user, and further comprising: The first control unit displays a preview image of image data of a plurality of documents obtained by reading by the document reading unit, and uploads the image data for which the operation unit has received an instruction to upload from the first communication unit to the cloud storage. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. an operation unit that receives an input of an instruction from a user; a display unit; and an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, further comprising as the output unit: The first control unit outputs the two-dimensional code by performing a first output of displaying the two-dimensional code on the display unit or a second output of forming an image of the two-dimensional code on the recording medium by the image forming unit according to an instruction from a user received by the operation unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.

4. A data management system comprising the image processing apparatus according to claim 3 and a management apparatus that communicates with the image processing apparatus, wherein: the management apparatus: a second communication unit that performs data communication with an external device; a charging processing unit that executes a charging process according to information indicating the content of the upload received by the second communication unit from the image processing apparatus, wherein: the charging processing unit: performs a charging process for the first output and a charging process for the second output; The charging process for the second output performs both charging for displaying the two-dimensional code and charging for forming an image of the two-dimensional code. In the charging for forming an image of the two-dimensional code, a predetermined amount lower than the amount charged when reading a document and forming an image is charged. A data management system.

5. A data management system comprising the image processing apparatus according to claim 3, a management apparatus that communicates with the image processing apparatus, and a mobile terminal apparatus that communicates with at least the management apparatus, the code generation unit of the image processing apparatus generates the two-dimensional code including access information indicating an access destination of the management apparatus together with information indicating the access destination of the cloud storage, the mobile terminal apparatus, a third communication unit that performs data communication with an external apparatus, an imaging unit that images a subject, a third control unit that analyzes the two-dimensional code imaged by the imaging unit, and when information indicating the access destination of the cloud storage and the access information are detected by this analysis, accesses the management apparatus indicated by the access information through the third communication unit before accessing the cloud storage, the management apparatus, a second communication unit that performs data communication with an external apparatus, a charging processing unit that executes a charging process according to information indicating the content of the upload received by the second communication unit from the image processing apparatus, a second control unit that causes the second communication unit to transmit a code image for charging the upload determined by the charging process by the charging processing unit to the mobile terminal apparatus when there is an access from the mobile terminal apparatus, and when the second communication unit receives from a predetermined charging system completion of payment processing for the charging indicated by the code image, causes the second communication unit to transmit an access permission to the cloud storage to the mobile terminal apparatus, the mobile terminal apparatus, further includes a third display unit, the third control unit, causes the third control unit to display the code image received from the management apparatus, when the third communication unit receives the access permission from the management apparatus after the display, accesses the cloud storage via the third communication unit based on the information indicating the access destination of the cloud storage, and a data management system that causes the third display unit to display information indicating the image data stored in the cloud storage.

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