Browser, method, and computer program product for managing documents

Abstract

A browser, method and computer program product for managing documents. The browser can receive and process a request from an input device of a image processing device. Based on this processing, the browser can transmit information over a network to a document manager connected to the scanning device via the network. The document manager can be connected, for example, to application service providers that store documents or to servers that deliver documents, such as e-mail servers and fax servers. The browser can receive information from the document manager. The information exchanged between the browser and the document manger can include, but is not limited to, documents, requests to retrieve documents, requests to store documents, requests to retrieve destination information (e.g., e-mail addresses and fax numbers), and search criteria.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:  
     
         1 . A method for managing documents, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a request from an input device of a scanning device;    processing said request;    based on said processing step, transmitting information over a network to a document manager connected to said scanning device via said network; and    receiving information from said document manager.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of displaying at said scanning device said information received from said document manager.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said request comprises a request to retrieve a document,    said information transmitted to said document manager comprises a search criterion for searching said document, and    said information received from said document manager comprises said document.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said request comprises a request to store a document,    said information transmitted to said document manager comprises said document, and    said information received from said document manager comprises information about the storage of said document.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said request comprises a request to retrieve destination information,    said information transmitted to said document manager comprises a search criterion for searching said destination information, and    said information received from said document manager comprises said destination information.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said destination information comprises an e-mail address.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said information transmitted to said document manager comprises login information.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said transmitting step is performed by transmitting data using an HTTP protocol and an XML format.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving said request comprises receiving said request from a display of said scanning device.  
     
     
         10 . A method for managing image processing apparatus, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a request for an image processing apparatus;    processing said request so as to generate a command information;    transmitting said command information to a computer using a network;    receiving a response information from said computer, wherein said response information is generated by processing in said computer; and    controlling said image processing apparatus based on said response information.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , where said controlling comprises generating an image for an LCD panel of said image processing apparatus.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said providing step comprises providing text information by a user, and further comprising transmitting said text information to said computer.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said text information is a user password.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 processing image information with said image processing apparatus; and    transmitting said image information to said computer.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said image information comprises a scanned document.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , said response information comprises a control information for said image processing apparatus.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said control information comprises a user authentication.  
     
     
         18 . A browser for a scanning device, comprising: 
 means for receiving a request from an input device of said scanning device;    means for processing said request;    means for transmitting information based on said request over a network to a document manager connected to said scanning device via said network; and    receiving information from said document manager.    
     
     
         19 . The browser of  claim 18 , further comprising means for displaying at said scanning device said information received from said document manager.  
     
     
         20 . The browser of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said request comprises a request to retrieve a document,    said information transmitted to said document manager comprises a search criterion for searching said document, and    said information received from said document manager comprises said document.    
     
     
         21 . The browser of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said request comprises a request to store a document,    said information transmitted to said document manager comprises said document, and    said information received from said document manager comprises information about the storage of said document.    
     
     
         22 . The browser of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said request comprises a request to retrieve destination information,    said information transmitted to said document manager comprises a search criterion for searching said destination information, and    said information received from said document manager comprises said destination information.    
     
     
         23 . The browser of  claim 22 , wherein said destination information comprises an e-mail address.  
     
     
         24 . The browser of  claim 18 , wherein said information transmitted to said document manager comprises login information.  
     
     
         25 . The browser of  claim 18 , wherein said means for transmitting comprises means for transmitting data using an HTTP protocol and an XML format.  
     
     
         26 . The browser of  claim 18 , wherein the means for receiving said request comprises means for receiving said request from a display of said scanning device.  
     
     
         27 . A computer program product, comprising: 
 a computer storage medium and a computer program code mechanism embedded in the computer storage medium for causing a scanning device to manage documents over a computer network, the computer program code mechanism comprising: 
 a first computer code device configured to receive a request from an input device of said scanning device;  
 a second computer code device configured to process said request;  
 a third computer code device configured to transmit information based on said request over a network to a document manager connected to said scanning device via said network; and  
 a fourth computer code device configured to receive information from said document manager.  
   
     
     
         28 . The computer program product of  claim 27 , further comprising a fifth computer code device configured to display at said scanning device said information received from said document manager.  
     
     
         29 . The computer program product of  claim 27 , wherein: 
 said request comprises a request to retrieve a document,    said information transmitted to said document manager comprises a search criterion for searching said document, and    said information received from said document manager comprises said document.    
     
     
         30 . The computer program product of  claim 27 , wherein: 
 said request comprises a request to store a document,    said information transmitted to said document manager comprises said document, and    said information received from said document manager comprises information about the storage of said document.    
     
     
         31 . The computer program product of  claim 27 , wherein: 
 said request comprises a request to retrieve destination information,    said information transmitted to said document manager comprises a search criterion for searching said destination information, and    said information received from said document manager comprises said destination information.    
     
     
         32 . The computer program product of  claim 31 , wherein said destination information comprises an e-mail address.  
     
     
         33 . The computer program product of  claim 27 , wherein said information transmitted to said document manager comprises login information.  
     
     
         34 . The computer program product of  claim 27 , wherein said third computer code device is configured to transmit data using an HTTP protocol and an XML format.  
     
     
         35 . The computer program product of  claim 27 , wherein said first computer code device is configured to receive said request from a display of said scanning device.