Image reading system, image reading method, and program

Abstract

To provide a system for properly sharing a scanner through a simple procedure.SOLUTION: An image reading system includes an image reader, and an image providing apparatus which provides image data read by the image reader. The image providing apparatus includes: a receiving unit which receives, from the image reader, image data read by image reading processing in association with identification information identifying the image reading processing; an access information generation unit which generates Web access information for web-accessing the image data received by the receiving unit and associated with the identification information; and a return unit which returns the Web access information generated by the access information generation unit to the image reader. The image reader includes an access information output unit for outputting the Web access information returned from the return unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image reading system, an image reading method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image input device control apparatus that controls a control unit and an image input device associated with the control unit via a network, the apparatus including: authentication information acquisition means for acquiring authentication information; image data storage means for storing image data; storage area generation means for generating, within the image data storage means, a storage area in which an access right corresponding to the authentication information acquired by the authentication information acquisition means is set; and image acquisition means for acquiring the image data from the image input device and storing the image data in the storage area generated by the storage area generation means.

[0003] Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a scanning system including an information processing apparatus, a server apparatus, and an image processing apparatus having a scanning function, wherein the information processing apparatus includes: a ticket generation unit for generating a scan ticket based on scan settings; and a ticket transmission unit for transmitting the scan ticket to the server apparatus; the server apparatus includes: a list management unit for managing the scan tickets received from the information processing apparatus in a list; a list transmission unit for transmitting the list to the image processing apparatus in response to a list request from the image processing apparatus; and a first image transmission unit for transmitting an image received from the image processing apparatus to the information processing apparatus; and the image processing apparatus includes: a list request unit for requesting the list from the server apparatus; a scan execution unit for performing a scan based on the scan ticket selected from the list and generating an image; and a second image transmission unit for transmitting the image generated by the scan execution unit to the server apparatus.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 3 discloses a system comprising a photo booth terminal and a server that manages data files constituting a homepage for acquiring photo booth image data, wherein the photo booth terminal has a function to upload data to the server, and the server has a function to create an individual page and send a URL upon receiving the data.

[0005] Furthermore, Patent Document 4 describes an image management unit that stores image data received from an image creation and printing device that provides image creation and image printing services, and an information presentation management unit that accepts access from a user's communication terminal and presents information. When the information presentation management unit receives a request from the communication terminal for information presentation regarding predetermined image data, if the image data has not been received from the image creation and printing device, it requests the communication terminal to input a print ID that is shown on a printed document printed by the image creation and printing device, and if the image data has been received from the image creation and printing device, it presents information regarding the image data to the communication terminal. The disclosed management device is characterized in that the display management unit receives an information presentation request including information about the printed material ID from the communication terminal that has accessed the device based on access information displayed on the image creation and printing device or on the printed material, and based on the result of determining the user's membership type using the user information of the communication terminal included in the access, it presents information to the communication terminal so as to display a screen requesting input of the printed material ID corresponding to the user's membership type, and when requesting the communication terminal to input the printed material ID, it displays a screen on the communication terminal in which the printed material ID has already been entered into the input field for inputting the printed material ID. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2011-139341 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6732607 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-085657 [Patent Document 4] Patent No. 6889360 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] The objective is to provide a system that allows for the proper sharing of scanners through simple procedures. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The image reading system according to the present invention is an image reading system comprising an image reading device and an image providing device that provides image data read by the image reading device, wherein the image providing device receives image data read by the image reading process from the image reading device. Receive and process the image data. Associate with identification information that identifies the image reading process. save A receiving unit, and the receiving unit The saved images Web access information for accessing image data via the web Based on information indicating the storage location of the image data. The system includes an access information generation unit that generates access information, and a reply unit that returns the Web access information generated by the access information generation unit to the image reading device. The image reading device has an access information output unit that outputs the Web access information returned from the reply unit.

[0009] Preferably, the access information generation unit generates a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for accessing the image data read by the image reading process, and the access information output unit displays a two-dimensional code corresponding to the URL generated by the access information generation unit.

[0010] Preferably, the image reading device further includes a passcode input unit that accepts the input of a passcode in response to user operation, the receiving unit receives the passcode entered by the image reading device along with the image data, and the image providing device further includes an authentication unit that performs authentication based on the passcode received by the receiving unit when there is a Web access based on Web access information returned by the reply unit, and a providing unit that provides the image data received along with the passcode according to the authentication result by the authentication unit.

[0011] Preferably, when the receiving unit receives multiple image data read by one image reading process, it associates one of the identification pieces of information with these image data, the access information generation unit generates one piece of Web access information for these image data, and the access information output unit displays one piece of Web access information for accessing these image data via the Web.

[0012] Preferably, when multiple image reading processes are executed consecutively, the receiving unit associates one of the identification pieces of information with the image data read by these image reading processes, the access information generation unit generates one piece of Web access information for these image data, and the access information output unit displays one piece of Web access information for accessing these image data via the Web.

[0013] Preferably, the image reading device further includes an image correction unit that performs a blank page removal process on the image data read by the image reading process, and an error output unit that, when the image data read by the image correction unit is no longer read, does not display the Web access information and outputs an error notification.

[0014] Furthermore, the image reading method according to the present invention is an image reading method using an image reading device and a computer that provides image data read by the image reading device, wherein the computer receives image data read by the image reading process from the image reading device. Receive and process the image data. associating with identification information for identifying an image reading process save a receiving step in which the computer The saved images generates Web access information for accessing the Web with respect to the image data Based on information indicating the storage location of the image data. an access information generating step, a replying step in which the computer replies the Web access information generated in the access information generating step to the image reading apparatus, and an access information outputting step in which the image reading apparatus outputs the Web access information replied from the computer.

[0015] Also, in a computer that provides image data read by an image reading apparatus, a program according to the present invention includes a receiving step of associating the image data read by an image reading process with identification information for identifying the image reading process from the image reading apparatus, Receive and process the image data. an access information generating step of generating Web access information for accessing the Web with respect to the image data, and a replying step of replying the Web access information generated in the access information generating step to the image reading apparatus to cause the image reading apparatus to output the Web access information. save and the receiving step The saved images wherein Web access information for accessing the Web with respect to the image data is Based on information indicating the storage location of the image data. generated, and a replying step of replying the Web access information generated in the access information generating step to the image reading apparatus to cause the image reading apparatus to output the Web access information is executed.

Advantages of the Invention

[0016] A scanner can be appropriately shared with a simple procedure.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] [Figure 1] It is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image reading system 1. [Figure 2] It is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a file providing server 2. [Figure 3] It is a diagram mainly illustrating a hardware configuration of a control portion among scanners 4. [Figure 4]This diagram illustrates the functional configuration of file provisioning server 2. [Figure 5] This diagram illustrates the functional configuration of scanner 4. [Figure 6] This diagram illustrates the information registered on the file provision server 2. [Figure 7] This is a sequence diagram illustrating the overall operation (S10) of the image reading system 1. [Figure 8] This flowchart provides a more detailed explanation of the scanner-side processing (S20) in the image reading system 1. [Figure 9A] This flowchart provides a more detailed explanation of the image reception process (S30) on the server side in the image reading system 1. [Figure 9B] This flowchart provides a more detailed explanation of the server-side image response process (S34) in the image reading system 1. [Figure 10] This diagram illustrates the operation screen 80 displayed on the scanner 4. [Figure 11] This figure illustrates the error message 806 output by the error output unit 520. [Figure 12] This diagram illustrates the set of scan data provided to user terminal 6. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the image reading system 1. As illustrated in Figure 1, the image reading system 1 includes a file provision server 2, a scanner 4, and a user terminal 6, and the scanner 4 and user terminal 6 are connected to the file provision server 2 via the internet 7. The file provision server 2 is a server device that stores data files received from the scanner 4 in a temporary storage location and, in response to a request from the user terminal 6, returns the data files stored in the temporary storage location to the user terminal 6. Scanner 4 is an image reading device that optically reads an image from a document. Scanner 4 may connect directly to the Internet 7 via WiFi, or it may connect to the Internet 7 via a computer terminal. Scanner 4 may also send the image data itself read from the document to the file provision server 2, or it may perform data processing such as OCR on the image data read from the document and send the processing results to the file provision server 2. User terminal 6 is a computer terminal operated by the user, such as a tablet or smartphone.

[0019] In the above configuration, we want to be able to easily use the scanner 4 from the user terminal 6. Specifically, we want to be able to use the scanner 4 without installing any driver software on the user terminal 6. In addition, we want it to be usable whether the user terminal 6 is a personal computer, a mobile device, or a tablet device. Furthermore, since users find managing account information (such as user IDs and passwords) cumbersome, we want to make Scanner 4 available without requiring account registration.

[0020] On the other hand, one possible method to eliminate the need for account registration is to use the scanner 4's serial number as login information for the web application. However, since the serial number can be easily guessed, it would become possible for a third party who does not own a scanner 4 to gain unauthorized access to the data. Furthermore, due to the limitations of web applications, unlike native applications, they cannot directly access scanner information. Therefore, the application cannot determine whether the serial number entered by the user is connected to the device being used (scanner 4). Furthermore, since the image data scanned by scanner 4 is transferred to the user terminal 6 via the web through file provision server 2, it is difficult for the user to match the unit of the scanning process with the unit of the transferred image data. For example, when scanning multiple documents consecutively with scanner 4, multiple image data files are transferred, but it is difficult to recognize the relationship between the multiple transferred image data files and a single scanning operation.

[0021] Therefore, in the image reading system 1 of this embodiment, the file provision server 2 assigns a URL to the image data scanned by a single scan operation and displays a two-dimensional code indicating the assigned URL on the scanner 4. The user terminal 6 uses a web browser to access the file provision server 2 via the web based on the URL (two-dimensional code) displayed on the scanner 4 and downloads a data file from the file provision server 2. Thus, in the image reading system 1 of this embodiment, a single scan operation by the user is associated with a URL for accessing the image data scanned by this scan operation, and the image data can be downloaded only by web access via a web browser.

[0022] Figure 2 illustrates the hardware configuration of the file provision server 2. Note that the file provision server 2 is an example of an image provision device according to the present invention. As illustrated in Figure 2, the file provision server 2 includes a CPU 200, memory 202, HDD 204, network interface 206 (network IF206), display device 208, and input device 210, and these components are connected to each other via a bus 212. CPU200 is, for example, the central processing unit. Memory 202 is, for example, volatile memory and functions as main memory. HDD204 is, for example, a hard disk drive, which stores computer programs (for example, server program 3 in Figure 4) and other data files as a non-volatile recording device. Network IF206 is an interface for wired or wireless communication, and for example, it enables connection to the Internet 7. The display device 208 is, for example, a liquid crystal display. The input device 210 is, for example, a keyboard and a mouse.

[0023] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the control unit portion of the scanner 4. As illustrated in Figure 3, the scanner 4 includes a CPU 400, volatile memory 402, non-volatile memory 404, a network interface 406 (network IF 406), and a touch panel 408, and these components are connected to each other via a bus 412. CPU400 is, for example, the central processing unit. Memory 402 is, for example, volatile memory and functions as main memory. The non-volatile memory 404 stores computer programs (e.g., the scanner program 5 in Figure 5) and other data files, for example, as a non-volatile recording device. The network interface IF406 is an interface for wired or wireless communication. The touch panel 408 is, for example, an LCD touch panel.

[0024] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the file provision server 2. As illustrated in Figure 4, the file provision server 2 in this example has server program 3 installed and is running. Server program 3 is stored on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, and is installed on the file provision server 2 via this recording medium. The server program 3 includes a receiving unit 300, a URL generation unit 310, a reply unit 320, a continuous scan identification unit 330, an authentication unit 340, and a file reply unit 350. Furthermore, some or all of the server program 3 may be implemented using hardware such as an ASIC, or it may be implemented by partially borrowing the functions of an OS (Operating System).

[0025] In server program 3, when the receiving unit 300 receives image data read by the image reading process from the scanner 4, it associates the received data file (image data) with identification information that identifies this image reading process and saves it to a predetermined storage location. In this example, the receiving unit 300 saves the data file received from the scanner 4 to a storage area (temporary storage location) determined by the URL generation unit 310. Furthermore, when the receiving unit 300 receives a passcode entered by the scanner 4 along with the image data, it stores the received passcode in association with the image data and identification information.

[0026] The URL generation unit 310 generates web access information for accessing image data associated with the identification information received by the receiving unit 300. The web access information is, for example, a URL. In this example, the URL generation unit 310 determines the storage location of the data file received from the scanner 4 and generates a URL to access the determined storage location. For example, the URL generation unit 310 generates a URL to access the data file received from the scanner 4 based on information indicating the determined storage location and the serial number of the scanner 4.

[0027] The reply unit 320 sends back the web access information (URL) generated by the URL generation unit 310 to the scanner 4. The web access information may be part or all of the URL, or it may be a two-dimensional code representing the URL.

[0028] The continuous scan identification unit 330 identifies multiple scan operations performed consecutively by the user while the user terminal 6 is occupied, and associates the scan processes (multiple image reading processes) corresponding to the identified scan operations with a single identification information (URL). In this example, when the continuous scan identification unit 330 detects that the "Continue Scan Button 802" in Figure 10 has been selected and subsequent scan operations have been performed, it associates these scan operations with a single identification information (URL) as a continuous scan operation. Furthermore, the continuous scan identification unit 330 may also detect a continuous scan operation if the scanner 4 encounters an error during scanning and the user performs the scan operation again.

[0029] The authentication unit 340 performs authentication based on the passcode received by the receiving unit 300 when there is a web access based on the web access information returned by the reply unit 320. In this example, when there is a web access based on the web access information returned by the reply unit 320, the authentication unit 340 prompts the user terminal 6 that accessed the web to enter a passcode, compares the entered passcode with the passcode received by the receiving unit 300, and if the passcodes match, it permits the file return unit 350 to provide the data file, and if the passcodes do not match, it prohibits the file return unit 350 from providing the data file.

[0030] The file reply unit 350 replies with a data file corresponding to a URL in response to a web access based on a URL by the user terminal 6. Furthermore, if a passcode is set, the file reply unit 350 makes the data file corresponding to this URL available for download from the stored data files when there is a web access from the user terminal 6 based on a URL corresponding to a data file and authentication by the authentication unit 340 is successful.

[0031] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the functional configuration of scanner 4. As illustrated in Figure 5, the scanner 4 in this example has the scanner program 5 installed and is in operation. The scanner program 5 in this example is pre-installed on the scanner 4, but is not limited to this; for example, it may be stored on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM and installed on the scanner 4 via this recording medium. The scanner program 5 includes an image correction unit 500, a transmission unit 510, an error output unit 520, a passcode input unit 530, and a URL display unit 540. Furthermore, part or all of the scanner program 5 may be implemented using hardware such as an ASIC, or it may be implemented by partially utilizing the functions of the OS (Operating System).

[0032] In scanner program 5, the image correction unit 500 automatically transports the document placed on the document glass in response to the user's scanning operation, scans it sequentially, and performs image correction processing on the image data generated during the scanning process. Image correction processing includes, for example, cropping to identify the outer edge of the document, tilt correction processing to correct the tilt of the image, and blank page removal processing to remove blank pages (pages that do not contain image elements).

[0033] The transmission unit 510 automatically transmits the image data corrected by the image correction unit 500 to the file provision server 2. If an error is detected by the error output unit 520, the transmission unit 510 stops transmitting the image data to the file provision server 2.

[0034] The error output unit 520, if an error occurs during the scanning operation, requests the file provision server 2 (file deletion unit 330) to delete the transmitted data and outputs an error. The error output may be displayed on the touch panel 408, emitted as a warning sound, or illuminated as a warning lamp. For example, if the image data read by the image correction unit 500 is lost as a result of the blank page removal process, the error output unit 520 will not display the Web access information (two-dimensional code indicating the URL) on the URL display unit 540, as illustrated in Figure 11, but will display an error message 806 on the operation screen 80 of the touch panel 408. In addition, if all pages are blank, the error output unit 520 may display a message indicating that the front and back sides were scanned incorrectly in the single-sided scan setting, or if the first page is blank, it may display a message indicating that the front and back sides were scanned incorrectly. Furthermore, the error output unit 520 may display a message indicating that multi-feeding occurred during scanning if page skipping (discontinuous page numbers printed on the paper) is detected, or it may display a message indicating that the original document was folded if paper cropping failed and the resulting document was of an irregular shape.

[0035] The passcode input unit 530 accepts a passcode input in response to user operation. In this example, the passcode input unit 530 displays a passcode input screen for accessing scanned data on the touch panel 408, accepts a passcode input from the user, associates the entered passcode with the image data, and transmits it to the transmission unit 510.

[0036] The URL display unit 540 outputs the Web access information (URL) returned from the reply unit 320 (Figure 4) of the file provision server 2. In this example, as illustrated in Figure 10, the URL display unit 540 converts the URL received from the file provision server 2 into a two-dimensional code 800 and displays the converted two-dimensional code 800 on the touch panel 408. The URL display unit 540 may also display the URL received from the file provision server 2 as a string on the touch panel 408, or it may transmit the received URL to the user terminal 6 via short-range wireless communication or the like.

[0037] Figure 6 is an example of a management table stored in the file provision server 2. As illustrated in Figure 6, the file provision server 2 stores the image data received from the scanner 4, associating it with a scan ID that identifies the scan process, a URL indicating the storage location of the image data, and a passcode received along with the image data. Setting a passcode is optional, and it is registered only if the user requests to set one. The image data associated with a single scan ID consists of one or more image data read by the scan process corresponding to that scan ID. Furthermore, when a continuous scan operation is identified by the continuous scan identification unit 330 (Figure 4), multiple image data read by multiple scan processes are registered for a single scan ID and URL.

[0038] Figure 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating the overall operation (S10) of the image reading system 1. As illustrated in Figure 7, in step 100 (S100), when the user places a document on scanner 4 and taps the scan button, scanner 4 starts the scanning operation. In step 102 (S102), the scanner 4 displays a passcode input screen on the touch panel 408 and accepts the input of a passcode. In step 104 (S104), the scanner 4 performs correction processing on the image data read by the scanning process.

[0039] In step 106 (S106), the scanner 4 sends the corrected image data to the file provision server 2. If a passcode was entered in S104, the entered passcode is sent to the file provision server 2 along with the image data. In step 108 (S108), the file provision server 2 temporarily stores the image data received from the scanner 4, associating it with a scan ID. In step 110 (S110), the file provision server 2 generates a URL for web access to the temporarily stored image data and notifies the scanner 4 of the generated URL.

[0040] In step 112 (S112), the scanner 4 converts the URL received from the file provision server 2 into a two-dimensional code 800 and displays the converted two-dimensional code 800 on the operation screen 80 in Figure 10. In step 114 (S114), when the user takes a picture of the two-dimensional code 800 displayed on the scanner 4 with their user terminal 6, the user terminal 4 identifies the URL from the captured two-dimensional code 800. In step 116 (S116), the user terminal 6 accesses the file provision server 2 via the Web based on the identified URL.

[0041] In step 118 (S118), when the file provision server 2 receives a web access from the user terminal 6, it determines whether a passcode is set for the accessed image data. If a passcode is set, it requests the user terminal 6 to enter the passcode. If no passcode is set, it skips processes S120 to S124 and proceeds to process S126. In step 120 (S120), the user terminal 6 accepts a passcode input operation in response to a request from the file provision server 2. In step 122 (S122), the user terminal 6 returns the passcode entered by the user to the file provision server 2. In step 124 (S124), the file provision server 2 compares the passcode received along with the image data with the passcode returned from the user terminal 6 to perform authentication. If authentication is successful, it enables the download of the image data corresponding to the URL.

[0042] In step 126 (S126), the file provision server 2 sends the image data corresponding to the URL to the user terminal 6. In step 128 (S128), when the user terminal 6 successfully completes the download of image data, it notifies the file provision server 2 of this fact.

[0043] Figure 8 is a flowchart that explains in more detail the scanner-side processing (S20) in the image reading system 1. As shown in Figure 8, in step 200 (S200), the scanner 4 sequentially transports the documents placed on the document glass in response to the user's scanning operation and optically reads image data from the documents. The passcode input unit 530 displays a passcode input screen on the touch panel 408 and accepts the input of a passcode. In step 205 (S205), the image correction unit 500 (Figure 5) of the scanner 4 performs correction processing such as cropping, tilt correction, and white page removal on the image data read from the original document.

[0044] In step 210 (S210), the error output unit 520 proceeds to the process in S220 if normal image data is obtained as a result of the correction process by the image correction unit 500, and proceeds to the process in S215 if normal image data is not obtained. In step 215 (S215), the error output unit 520 displays an error message 806 on the operation screen 80 of the touch panel 408, as illustrated in Figure 11, and terminates the scanner-side processing (S20).

[0045] In step 220 (S220), the transmission unit 510 sends the scan data (image data corrected by the image correction unit 500) generated by the scanner 4 to the file provision server 2. If a passcode is entered in S200, the transmission unit 510 also sends the entered passcode to the file provision server 2 along with the scan data. In step 225 (S225), the URL display unit 540 waits until it is notified of a URL from the file provision server 2 (S225: No), and when it receives a URL from the file provision server 2 (S225: Yes), it proceeds to the process in S230.

[0046] In step 230 (S230), the URL display unit 540 converts the URL received from the file provision server 2 into a two-dimensional code and displays the converted two-dimensional code 800 on the touch panel 408.

[0047] Figure 9A is a flowchart that explains in more detail the image reception process (S30) on the server side in the image reading system 1. As shown in Figure 9A, in step 300 (S300), the file provision server 2 (server program 3) establishes a connection with the scanner 4 in response to an access request from the scanner 4. In step 305 (S305), the receiving unit 300 receives the scan data transmitted from the scanner 4. If a passcode is set in the scan data, the receiving unit 300 receives the passcode along with the scan data. In step 310 (S310), if the user selects the "Continue Scan Button 802" in Figure 10 (S310: Yes), the continuous scan identification unit 330 returns to the process in S305 and has the receiving unit 300 receive the scan data for the subsequent scan process. If the user selects "Scan Complete 804" in Figure 10 (S310: No), the unit proceeds to the process in S315.

[0048] In step 315 (S315), the receiving unit 300 associates the scan data received from the scanner 4 with a scan ID, etc., and saves it to a temporary storage location determined by the URL generation unit 310. In step 320 (S320), the URL generation unit 310 generates a URL for web access to the scan data stored in the temporary storage location saved by the receiving unit 300. The reply unit 320 notifies the scanner 4 of the URL generated by the URL generation unit 310. The URL notified to scanner 4 is displayed as a two-dimensional code and read by user terminal 6.

[0049] Figure 9B is a flowchart that explains in more detail the server-side image response process (S34) in the image reading system 1. As shown in Figure 9B, in step 340 (S340), when the file provision server 2 (server program 3) receives a web access request based on the notified URL from the user terminal 6 within the valid period, it establishes a connection with the user terminal 6. In step 345 (S345), if a passcode is set for the scanned data accessed via Web, the server program 3 proceeds to process S350; otherwise, it proceeds to process S360. If no passcode is set for the scanned data, the scanned data stored in the temporary storage location is discarded if there is no Web access within the validity period.

[0050] In step 350 (S350), the authentication unit 340 requests the user terminal 6 to enter a passcode. In step 355 (S355), the authentication unit 340 compares the passcode entered into the user terminal 6 with the passcode associated with the scanned data. If the passcodes match, it proceeds to the process in S360. If the passcodes do not match, it notifies the user terminal 6 of the authentication failure and terminates the image reply process (S34).

[0051] In step 360 (S360), the file reply unit 350 replies the scanned data to the user terminal 6 that accessed the web. The replied scanned data becomes viewable on the user terminal 6, as illustrated in Figure 12. In the example in Figure 12, through a continuous scan operation, the scanned data set of "New Product Announcement Notice," the scanned data set of "Latest Trends Report" (a set of image data scanned from a single document bundle), and the scanned data set of "Presentation Report" are presented from the file provision server 2 via a single two-dimensional code 800, allowing the user to download the selected scanned data set all at once. Furthermore, the scanned data set selected by the user can be transferred to other applications for easy application integration.

[0052] As described above, the image reading system 1 of this embodiment allows for secure sharing of the scanner 4 through a simple procedure by permitting the download of scanned data on the condition that a URL is read on the scanner 4. Furthermore, security can be further enhanced by setting a passcode. This provides a system that makes it as easy as possible for the scanner 4, which can be used by a large number of people in places such as business hotel lobbies and university co-ops, to be used without requiring the installation of a dedicated app or account registration.

[0053] Although embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The above embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0054] 1. Image reading system 2 File provision server 3 Server Program 4 Scanners 5 Scanner Programs 6. User terminals

Claims

1. An image reading system including an image reading device and an image providing device that provides image data read by the image reading device, The aforementioned image providing device is A receiving unit receives image data read by the image reading process from the aforementioned image reading device and stores the image data in association with identification information that identifies the image reading process. An access information generation unit generates web access information for accessing image data stored by the receiving unit, based on information indicating the storage location of the image data. A reply unit that returns the Web access information generated by the access information generation unit to the image reading device. It has, The aforementioned image reading device is Access information output unit outputs the web access information returned from the aforementioned reply unit. has Image reading system.

2. The access information generation unit generates a URL for accessing the Web using the image data read by the image reading process. The access information output unit displays a two-dimensional code corresponding to the URL generated by the access information generation unit. The image reading system according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned image reading device is A passcode input section that accepts passcode input in response to user actions. It further possesses, The receiving unit receives the passcode entered by the image reading device along with the image data. The aforementioned image providing device is When a web access is made based on the web access information returned by the aforementioned reply unit, the authentication unit performs authentication based on the passcode received by the receiving unit, A providing unit provides the image data received along with the passcode, in accordance with the authentication result by the authentication unit. It further possesses The image reading system according to claim 2.

4. When the receiving unit receives multiple image data read by one image reading process, it associates one of the identification pieces of information with these image data. The access information generation unit generates one piece of Web access information for these image data, The access information output unit displays one piece of web access information for accessing these image data via the Web. The image reading system according to claim 1.

5. When multiple image reading processes are executed consecutively, the receiving unit associates one of the identification pieces of information with the image data read by these image reading processes. The access information generation unit generates one piece of Web access information for these image data, The access information output unit displays one piece of web access information for accessing these image data via the Web. The image reading system according to claim 4.

6. The aforementioned image reading device is An image correction unit performs a blank page removal process on the image data read by the aforementioned image reading process, If, as a result of the blank page removal process by the image correction unit, no image data is read, the error output unit will not display the Web access information and will output an error notification. It further possesses The image reading system according to claim 1.

7. An image reading method using an image reading device and a computer that provides image data read by the image reading device, The computer receives image data read by the image reading process from the image reading device, and stores the image data in association with identification information that identifies the image reading process. The computer generates web access information for web accessing the image data stored in the receiving step, based on information indicating the storage location of the image data. The computer sends back the web access information generated in the access information generation step to the image reading device in a reply step, The image reading device performs an access information output step in which it outputs web access information returned from the computer. An image reading method having [a specific feature / ability].

8. In a computer that provides image data read by an image reading device, The process includes a receiving step of receiving image data read by the image reading process from the image reading device and storing the image data in association with identification information that identifies the image reading process, An access information generation step generates web access information for accessing the image data stored in the aforementioned receiving step, based on information indicating the storage location of the image data. A reply step which involves sending the Web access information generated in the access information generation step back to the image reading device, causing the image reading device to output the Web access information. A program that executes the command.

Images