Image processing method

Claim 2

An image processing method according to claim 1, further comprising: a step of displaying the plurality of original documents based on entered image data of the plurality of original documents.

Claim 3

An image processing method according to claim 2, further comprising: a step of selecting an original document image to be actually scanned from among the plurality of displayed document images.

Claim 4

An image processing method for a scanner server system comprising a scanner for photoelectrically reading an original document image, and a server for storing image data from the scanner and outputting the image data to an external unit through a network, said image processing method comprising: a step of inputting information for specifying a plurality of original documents and information for identifying an input processing job; a step of prescanning the plurality of original documents at a low resolution by the scanner; a step of entering image data of the plurality of prescanned original documents, and information for specifying the plurality of original documents and information for identifying an input processing job; a step of setting processing information including a scan area and resolution in the plurality of prescanned original documents; and a step of finally scanning the plurality of original documents by the scanner based on the processing information corresponding to the information for specifying the plurality of original documents and information for specifying an input processing job.

Claim 5

An image processing method according to claim 4, further comprising: a step of displaying the plurality of original documents based on entered image data of a plurality of original documents.

Claim 6

An image processing method according to claim 5, further comprising: a step of selecting an original document image to be finally scanned from among a plurality of displayed document images.

Claim 7

An image processing method, comprising: a step of prescanning a plurality of original documents which are fed in sequence by a document feeder; a step of storing prescanned image data; a step of previewing a plurality of original documents based on the stored image data; a step of selecting an original document image which should be subjected to image processing from the plurality of previewed original documents; and a step of finally scanning the image of the selected original document.

Claim 8

An image processing method according to claim 7, further comprising: a step of entering information for specifying the selected document image in a table.

Claim 9

An image processing method according to claim 8, further comprising: a step of setting image processing conditions for the plurality of previewed document images.

Claim 10

An image processing method for a scanner server system comprising a scanner for photoelectrically reading an original document image, and a server for storing image data from the scanner and outputting the image data to an external unit through a network, said image processing method comprising: a step of prescanning a plurality of original documents which are fed in sequence by a document feeder by the scanner; a step of storing the prescanned image data in the server; a step of previewing a plurality of document images in an external unit based on the stored image data; a step of selecting an original document image which should be subjected to image processing by an external unit from the plurality of previewed document images; and a step of finally scanning by the scanner the image of the selected document from among the plurality of documents which are fed in sequence by a document feeder.

Claim 11

An image processing method according to claim 10, further comprising: a step of setting image processing conditions for the plurality of previewed document images.

Claim 12

An image processing system, comprising: a scanner for scanning an original document image; storage means for storing image data of a plurality of document images scanned at a low resolution by said scanner and information for specifying each of the plurality of documents; means for setting image processing conditions for the image data of the plurality of document images stored in said storage means; and means for processing information for specifying each of the plurality of documents stored in said storage means and image data of the plurality of document images scanned at a low resolution by said scanner in accordance with the image processing conditions set by said setting means.

Claim 13

An image processing system according to 12, wherein said setting means selects an original document image which should be subjected to image processing from among the plurality of document images stored in said storage means.

Claim 14

An image processing system according to 12, further comprising: means for displaying some or all of the plurality of document images based on the image data stored in said storage means.

Claim 15

An image processing system, comprising: a scanner for scanning a document image; storage means for storing image data of a plurality of document images which have been prescanned by said scanner; display means for displaying some or all of the plurality of document images based on the image data stored in said storage means; selection means for selecting an original document image which should be subjected to image processing from the original document images which have been displayed on said display means; and processing means for causing said scanner to finally scan the document selected by said selection means and for processing image data of the document image which is finally scanned.

Claim 16

An image processing system according to claim 15, further comprising: means for setting image processing conditions for the plurality of document images.

Claim 17

A computer network including a document scanner server, configured such that a batch of original documents may be prescanned at the scanner server and previewed at a user terminal to define specific scanning and/or processing instructions for the or each image, and such that the batch of original documents can be subjected automatically to the specified scanning and processing operations at the scanner server.

Claim 18

A computer network including a document scanner server, configured such that a series of documents may be fed by a document feeder for pre-scanning and reviewed at a user terminal, and such that a selection made at the user terminal causes a selected one or more of the documents in the document feeder to be subjected to a final scanning operation.

Claim 20

A scanner server configured for operation in accordance with any preceding claims.

Claim 21

A digital colour copier configured for operation as the scanner server in accordance with any of the preceding claims.

Claim 22

A computer readable medium conveying instructions for automatically configuring a network or scanner server to operate in accordance with any of the preceding claims.