US6751648B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for sharing image input device on network
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1999-10-01
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Granted: 2004-06-15
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Expires: 2019-10-01
Abstract
Abstract It is an object of this invention to allow a user to perform operations while he or she is unconscious of the types of interfaces of various image input devices on a network. An image input server device on a network is searched for, device control information of an image input device locally connected to the found image input server is obtained from the server, and virtual device information based on a universal image in-out interface is generated from the obtained device control information. An image reading session is executed in collaboration with the image input server device by using the virtual device information and information of communication with the image input server device. An image input server device to which an image input device is locally connected receives a session request from a client on a network and determines the type of requesting client from the session request. Different image reading sessions are executed when the determination result indicates that the requesting client is a dedicated client and that the requesting client is a universal client.
Inventors
- 👤 Atsushi Kakimoto
- 👤 Masashi Kuroshima
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:51
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/2803; H04L12/283; H04L12/2834; H04L12/2805; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00127; H04N1/00204; H04N1/00236; H04N1/00241; H04N1/32; H04N1/32561; H04L12/2807; H04L12/281; H04L12/2816; H04L12/282; H04L12/2836; H04L2012/2847; H04L2012/2849; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/0008; H04N2201/0015; H04N2201/0077; H04N2201/0081; H04N2201/0082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
An information processing apparatus connected to a network, comprising: connecting means for locally connecting to an image input device; control means for controlling the image input device; server means for executing an image reading session in collaboration with said control means, in response to a session request sent from a client device on the network; and determining means for determining a type of a client module of the client device that sent the session request, wherein said server means includes: server extension function control means for communicating with one or more client devices on the network and for controlling operations of said server means; universal interface means for providing an interface to a universal client application; download means for downloading to the client device a universal client extension module, which extends one or more functions of the universal client application; and client interface means for providing an interface to a dedicated client module, wherein said server means executes an image reading session based on a determination result from said determining means, and wherein the extension module includes user interface information for operating the image input device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
An information processing apparatus connected to a network, comprising: connecting means for locally connecting to an image input device; control means for controlling the image input device; server means for executing an image reading session in collaboration with said control means, in response to a session request sent from a client device on the network; and determining means for determining a type of a client module of the client device that sent the session request, wherein said server means includes: server extension function control means for communicating with one or more client devices on the network and for controlling operations of said server means; universal interface means for providing an interface to a universal client application; download means for downloading to the client device a universal client extension module, which extends one or more functions of the universal client application; and client interface means for providing an interface to a dedicated client module, wherein said server means executes an image reading session based on a determination result from said determining means, and wherein the extension module includes user interface information for operating the image input device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said server means determines whether the extension module is to be downloaded by checking whether the client device has the extension module.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said server means determines whether the extension module is to be downloaded based on an access right of the client device.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
247 words
A system comprising a plurality of client devices and an image input server device connected via a network, wherein a client device of said plurality of client devices comprises: client means for sending an image reading session request to said image input server device, and converting means for converting communication information of said image input server device into communication information of a universal image in-out interface; and said image input server device comprises: connecting means for locally connecting to an image input device, control means for controlling the image input device, server means for executing an image reading session in collaboration with said control means, in response to a session request sent from a client device on the network, and determining means for determining a type of a client module of the client device that sent the session request, wherein said server means includes: server extension function control means for communicating with the plurality of client devices and for controlling operations of said server means; universal interface means for providing an interface to a universal client application; download means for downloading to the client device a universal client extension module, which extends one or more functions of the universal client application; and client interface means for providing an interface to a dedicated client module, wherein said server means executes an image reading session based on a determination result from said determining means, and wherein the extension module includes user interface information for operating the image input device.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
247 words
A system comprising a plurality of client devices and an image input server device connected via a network, wherein a client device of said plurality of client devices comprises: client means for sending an image reading session request to said image input server device, and converting means for converting communication information of said image input server device into communication information of a universal image in-out interface; and said image input server device comprises: connecting means for locally connecting to an image input device, control means for controlling the image input device, server means for executing an image reading session in collaboration with said control means, in response to a session request sent from a client device on the network, and determining means for determining a type of a client module of the client device that sent the session request, wherein said server means includes: server extension function control means for communicating with the plurality of client devices and for controlling operations of said server means; universal interface means for providing an interface to a universal client application; download means for downloading to the client device a universal client extension module, which extends one or more functions of the universal client application; and client interface means for providing an interface to a dedicated client module, wherein said server means executes an image reading session based on a determination result from said determining means, and wherein the extension module includes user interface information for operating the image input device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 4 , wherein said server means determines whether the extension module is to be downloaded by checking whether said client device has the extension module.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 4 , wherein said server means determines whether the extension module is to be downloaded based on an access right of said client device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 4 , wherein the client module is a TWAIN interface.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of sharing a locally connected image input device on a network, comprising the steps of: providing a server for communicating with one or more client devices on the network, wherein the server includes: universal interface means for providing an interface to a universal client application; download means for downloading to the client device a universal client extension module, which extends one or more functions of the universal client application; and client interface means for providing an interface to a dedicated client module, receiving a session request sent from a client device on the network; determining a type of a client module of the client device that sent the received session request; and executing an image reading session, based on a determination result in said determining step, by controlling the image input device, and wherein the extension module includes user interface information for operating the image input device.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of sharing a locally connected image input device on a network, comprising the steps of: providing a server for communicating with one or more client devices on the network, wherein the server includes: universal interface means for providing an interface to a universal client application; download means for downloading to the client device a universal client extension module, which extends one or more functions of the universal client application; and client interface means for providing an interface to a dedicated client module, receiving a session request sent from a client device on the network; determining a type of a client module of the client device that sent the received session request; and executing an image reading session, based on a determination result in said determining step, by controlling the image input device, and wherein the extension module includes user interface information for operating the image input device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 8 , wherein whether the extension module is to be downloaded is determined by checking whether the client device has the extension module.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 8 , wherein whether the extension module is to be downloaded is determined based on an access right of the client device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 8 , wherein the client module is a TWAIN.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
188 words
A method of using an image input device locally connected to an image input server on a network, comprising the steps of: in a client device on the network, sending an image reading session request to the image input server device, and converting communication information of the image input server device into communication information of a universal image in-out interface; and in the image input server device, receiving the session request sent from the client device, determining a type of a client module of the client device that sent the received session request, executing an image reading session, based on a determination result in said determining step, by controlling the image input device, providing an interface to a universal client application, downloading to the client device a universal client extension module, which extends one or more functions of the universal client application, and providing an interface to a dedicated client module, wherein the image input server includes server extension function control means for communicating with one or more client devices on the network, and wherein the extension module includes user interface information for operating the image input device.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
188 words
A method of using an image input device locally connected to an image input server on a network, comprising the steps of: in a client device on the network, sending an image reading session request to the image input server device, and converting communication information of the image input server device into communication information of a universal image in-out interface; and in the image input server device, receiving the session request sent from the client device, determining a type of a client module of the client device that sent the received session request, executing an image reading session, based on a determination result in said determining step, by controlling the image input device, providing an interface to a universal client application, downloading to the client device a universal client extension module, which extends one or more functions of the universal client application, and providing an interface to a dedicated client module, wherein the image input server includes server extension function control means for communicating with one or more client devices on the network, and wherein the extension module includes user interface information for operating the image input device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 12 , wherein, when the determination result indicates that the client module is a universal client module, an extension module for extending a function of the universal client module is downloaded to the client device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 12 , wherein whether the extension module is to be downloaded is determined by checking whether the client device has the extension module.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 12 , wherein whether the extension module is to be downloaded is determined based on an access right of the client device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 13 , wherein the universal client module is a TWAIN interface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-06-15 | 2007-12-15 | 2008-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-06-15 | 2011-12-15 | 2012-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-06-15 | 2015-12-15 | 2016-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |