Title of Invention

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SENDING A SCANNED DATA TO A GROUP OF RECIPIENTS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of group network scan. In this invention scanned data can be sent to multiple PC over the network. By doing so, scanning time would be saved as scanning will happen only once and data would be transfer to many PC over the network. This is made possible by doing Group Login and group transfer. Group login will tell MFP that to whom scanned data to be sent. Once group formation is completed, user can choose to do group transfer of scanned data.

Full Text

FIELD OF INVENTION This invention in general relates to Multi Function Peripheral (MFP) devices. Further, this invention relates to scanning in computer networks. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of group network scan. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART MFP supports various network application like scan to email, scan to FTP etc. One of such feature is network scan. Network scan feature allows user to scan the document and send it to PC connected to the network. In this feature, document would be scanned from MFP and sent to a single PC by using IP network. Figure 1 describes the blocks of related art and illustrates how it functions. There are following parts for the related art. 1. MFP the device with which scanner is attached. 2. NIC Network Interface Card which makes MFP network aware. 3. A Program is running at PC. There is no provision to send the scanned document to multiple PC. It means scanning is required to send to each PC. Figure 2 describes the flow for the related art. The following steps are followed in the related art: 1. Load the document in the Scanner. 2. Start Scanning. 3. Send the data to PC connected to the network. Related art functions in the manner given below: 1. Load the document in the scanner. '2. Start the scanning from the device or from the MFP. 3. Scanned data is sent to PC through IP network. 4. If Scanned image need to be sent to some more PC then repeat step 1 to 3 for all the PCs as shown in the drawing above. Scanning is required each time scanned data is to be sent to PC. As we have seen above, scanning is required each time scanned data to be transfer to PC. The weakness of the prior art can be shown below by an example: Suppose you have a scanned document which needs to be sending to 5 PC. > Approximate time of color scanning of single page at 200 dpi: 57 Sec > Approximate time of Data Transfer to PC for the page: 3 Sec > Total time for sending a single page by color scanning to 5 PC: (57 + 3) * 5 = 300 Sec So if we have 10 page document which need to be sent to 5 PC then Total Time = 3000 Sec i.e. 50 Minutes. It does not include the time which needed to start the job. We will see in coming sections how this would improve by this invention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention will address the weakness in the related art. This invention will make it possible that scanned data can be sent to multiple PC over the network. By doing so, scanning time would be saved as scanning will happen only once and data would be transferred to many PC over the network. This would reduce scanning time. Scanning time is major contribution in total job time as we have seen in above example. This invention is a method of group network scan allowing user to scan the document and sent it to PC connected to the network comprising the steps of: (a) group login which tell MFP whom to send the scanned data; (b) loading and scanning the document in the scanner; (c) storing data till it is transferred to all PC's using buffers; (d) encoding the data into buffer by Encoder module; (e) group transfer of data in the group based on the said group login by group transfer module; and (f) alerting and logging the information of the group. These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings and the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS Figure 1 describes the blocks of related art. It shows how it functions. Figure 2 describes the flow for the related art. Figure 3 describes the blocks of current invention. It shows how it functions. Figure 4 is a flow Chart for Current Invention Function. Figure 5 depicts usage of Two Buffers. Figure 6 depicts usage of two buffers by Scanner Module. Figure 7 depicts usage of two buffers by GTH module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood however that the disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. The following description and drawings are not to be construed as limiting the invention and numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention, as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention. However in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention in detail. Figure 3 describes the blocks of current invention. It shows how it functions. Here scanned data can be sent to multiple PC over the network. Also there is need of scanning to happen only once. This functions in the manner given below: 1. Load the document in the scanner. 2. Start the scanning from the device or from the MFP. 3. Scanned data is sent to PC through IP network. 4. If Scanned image need to be sent to some more PC then a mechanism is devised to sent the same scanned data to all the PC's. Figure 4 shows the Flow Chart for Current Invention Function. The following steps need to be followed for the function mentioned in the invention: 1. Group Login: Group login will tell MFP whom to send the scanned data. Group can be entered manually also. 2. Load the document in the scanner. 3. Start Scanning. 4. Send the Data to all the PCs in the group. Data can be sent packet by packet to each client or page by page. Step 4 is new in this invention. Concept of group login also is new as far as network scanning is concerned. Figure 5 shows usage of two buffers in the present invention for a method to be introduced which will store the data till it is transferred to all PCs. There is following parts of the invention: 1. Group Transfer Handler Module at MFP 2. Extra Memory required for group network scan 3. Group Transfer Handler Module at NIC The structure of this invention can be defined in two ways: 1. Parts of the invention 2. Usage of the part Parts of the invention have been defined in the above section. Usage of the part is given below. Group Transfer Handler at MFP: The job for this module is as follows: 1. Inform NIC about group transfer. 2. Hold the data for the page till it is sent to all the member of group. Extra Memory required for group network scan Memory equivalent to two encoded page size is required in case of group network scan. This memory would be divided in two buffers as shown in figure 5. The use of this memory is to reduce the delay for scanner. Memory for one page size is still required in related art also so effective requirement is for one encoded page size memory i.e. around 1 MB. Group Transfer Handler at NIC: The job for this module is as follows: 1. NIC has to send data to each member of the group. 2. Do fine tuning with client This section will describe the operation of the invention. Whole operation can be divided into three parts. 1. Group formation 2. Alerts and Logging Information of Group 3. Group transfer of Data Group Formation: Group formation will be done at MFP. User can make a group by selecting entry for PC from the subscription table maintained by MFP. When a PC client for network scan subscribe to MFP he can chose not to be part of any group. An entry for each PC client for network scan would be made at MFP Data Base named Subscription Table. In that scenario that user would not be allowed to be a part of the group. Group information can be seen by a user. To authenticate, user should login into the system to access group related functionality. Only a valid user in subscription table can form the group. It means before forming a group user has to login into MFP. The information of group creator would be maintained at MFP. Alerts and Logging Information of Group: A group journal would be maintained for group information. This journal would contain name of the group and creator of the group and member of the group and their IP addresses. A journal for group transfer also would be maintained for logging information. This journal would make an entry for each group transfer. This will have name of the group and the result of transfer. If communication to any member if the group is failed then name of that member would be mentioned in the journal. An alert would be send to the pc client for network scan of group creator in case of communication failure of any member of the group. If failure occurs for group creator then no alerts would be sent to any client. Usage of extra memory required for group network scan So around 1 MB size of memory is required for group network scan. By using this extra memory we would have 2 buffers of 1 MB each for network scan. Usage of this memory would be as follows: Figure 6 shows usage of two buffers by Scanner Module. Scanner scans the data first. Then buffer 1 is checked for its availability. If it is available Encoder module encodes the data and stores the data into bufferl If more scanned data exist and the buffer 1 also gets filled encoder module checks for the availability of buffer 2. If it is available Encoder module encodes the data and stores the data into buffer2.lf more scanned data exist and the buffer 2 also gets filled encoder module checks for the availability of buffer 1 again. Initially while checking the availability. Figure 7 shows usage of two buffers by GTH module. Group Transfer Handler Module at MFP read data from buffers and sends it to the NIC. First the GTH module confirms if there is any data to be read. It checks for buffer 1 for any data to be read. If buffer contains data buffer 1 is read and data send to NIC. This is done till buffer 1 becomes empty. Then it checks for buffer 2 to be read or not. If buffer contains data buffer 2 is read and data send to NIC. This is done till buffer 2 becomes empty. For Bufferl: Scanner scans the data. Encoder module encodes the data and stores the data into bufferl (Figure 6) Group Transfer Handler Module at MFP read data from buffer2 and sends it to the NIC. (Figure 7) For Buffer2: Scanner scans the data. Encoder module encodes the data and stores the data into buffer2. (Figure 6) Group Transfer Handler Module at MFP read data from bufferl and sends it to the NIC. (Figure 7) So scanner continues scanning to one buffer when group transfer module is sending data to NIC from another buffer. So both buffers would be used in tandem. Group transfer of Data: Once group formation is completed, user can choose to do group transfer of scanned data. The following activity will be done for group transfer. 1. Scan the document 2. Encode the data 3. Store the data into extra memory for group network scan. 4. Send data to NIC from the memory for network scan. 5. NIC will transfer the data to each member of group one by one. 6. Step 4 and 5 will be repeated till the whole data is transferred to every member. This step will not be required if NIC can hold one page of data. In such case, NIC can receive full page of data and the transfer it to all the member of group. 7. Go to Step 1 if there are more documents to scan. The foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed herein. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes only, various equivalent modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate. As indicated, these modifications may be made to the present invention in light of the foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention and are to be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of embodiments of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth. Therefore, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the essential scope and spirit of the present invention. It is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular terms used in following claims and/or to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include any and all embodiments and equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims. GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND THEIR DEFINITIONS Client: Program running at PC to handle Network Scan Requests MFP: Multi Function Peripherals NIC: Network Interface Card NMFP Protocol: NMFP protocol is the SAMSUNG propriety protocol. This protocol is used to communicate from NIC to PC program running at PC. This is used to achieve related art functionality in SAMSUNG MFP. Same protocol with little modifications, would be used to achieve functionality describe in the invention. WE CLAIM 1. A method of group network scan allowing user to scan the document and sent it to PC connected to the network, the method comprising the steps of: (a) group login which tell MFP whom to send the scanned data; (b) loading and scanning the document in the scanner; (c) storing data till it is transferred to all PC's using buffers; (d) encoding the data into buffer by encoder module; (e) group transfer of data in the group based on the said group login by group transfer module; and (f) alerting and logging the information of the group. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the data send to all the PCs in the group is packet by packet or page by page. 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein Group login will be done at MFP. 4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the user make a group by selecting entry for PC from the subscription table maintained by MFP. 5. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein when a PC client for network scan subscribe to MFP it can choose not to be part of any group. 6. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein an entry for each PC client for network scan is made at MFP Data Base named Subscription Table. 7. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein to authenticate, user login into the system to access group related functionality. 8. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein only a valid user in subscription table can form the group. 9. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein before forming a group user login into MFP. 10. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the information of group creator is maintained at MFP. 11. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein storing data till it is transferred to all PC's is done using buffers and encoding the data and storing the data into buffer is done by encoder module. 12. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein group transfer of data in the group based on the said group login by group transfer module involves Group Transfer Handler Module at MFP and Group Transfer Handler Module at NIC. 13. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein Group Transfer Handler at MFP inform NIC about group transfer and hold the data for the page till it is sent to all the member of group. 14. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein Group Transfer Handler at NIC send data to each member of the group and do fine tuning with client. 15. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the group transfer of data involves the steps of: (a) scanning the document; (b) encoding the data; (c) storing the data into extra memory for group network scan; (d) sending data to NIC from the memory for network scan till the last data; (e) transferring the data to each member of group one by one by the NIC till the last data; and (f) continuing scanning if there are more documents to scan. '16. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein when NIC can hold one page of data NIC can receive full page of data and the transfer it to all the member of group. 17. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein for alerting and logging the information of the group a group journal is maintained which contain name of the group and creator of the group and member of the group and their IP addresses. 18. A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein a journal for group transfer is maintained for logging information which makes an entry for each group transfer containing name of the group and the result of transfer. 19. A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein when communication to any member of the group is failed then name of that member would be mentioned in the journal and an alert would be send to the pc client for network scan of group creator in case of communication failure of any member of the group. 20. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein when failure occurs for group creator then no alerts would be sent to any client. 21. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein usage of extra memory is required for group network scan which is achieved by using 2 buffers. 22. A method of group network scan such as herein substantially described particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

288-CHE-2005 AMENDED CLAIMS 31-05-2012.pdf

288-CHE-2005 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 31-05-2012.pdf

288-CHE-2005 POWER OF ATTORNEY 31-05-2012.pdf

288-che-2005 abstract 19-06-2006.pdf

288-CHE-2005 AMENDED CLAIMS 16-04-2012.pdf

288-CHE-2005 AMENDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION 16-04-2012.pdf

288-che-2005 claims 19-06-2006.pdf

288-CHE-2005 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 10-05-2012.pdf

288-che-2005 correspondence others.pdf

288-che-2005 description (complete) 19-06-2006.pdf

288-che-2005 drawings 19-06-2006.pdf

288-CHE-2005 EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECEIVED 16-04-2012.pdf

288-che-2005 form-1 18-03-2005.pdf

288-che-2005 form-1 19-06-2006.pdf

288-CHE-2005 FORM-1 16-04-2012.pdf

288-che-2005 form-13 19-06-2006.pdf

288-che-2005 form-18 04-12-2007.pdf

288-che-2005 form-2 18-03-2005.pdf

288-CHE-2005 FORM-5 16-04-2012.pdf

288-CHE-2005 POWER OF ATTORNEY 10-05-2012.pdf

288-CHE-2005 POWER OF ATTORNEY 16-04-2012.pdf

288-che-2005 power of attorney.pdf

288-CHE-2005 ABSTRACT.pdf

288-CHE-2005 CLAIMS.pdf

288-CHE-2005 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS.pdf

288-CHE-2005 DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

288-CHE-2005 DRAWINGS.pdf

288-CHE-2005 FORM 1.pdf

288-CHE-2005 FORM 13.pdf

288-CHE-2005 FORM 18.pdf

288-CHE-2005 POWER OF ATTORNEY.pdf