IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,639,018
Granted Patent B2
US 12,639,018 · App. 18/411,582 · Granted May 26, 2026

System including operation device and information storing apparatus, method performed by the system, and the information storing apparatus

Inventor: Kazuhiro Yamada (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
G06F3/1245G06F3/1204G06F3/1206G06F3/1232G06F3/1247G06F3/1268G06F3/1286G06F3/1292H04N1/00251H04N1/00334H04N1/00344H04N2201/0039H04N2201/0075H04N2201/0094
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,639,018
App. No.
18/411,582
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system includes an operation device and an information storing apparatus, which are connected via a network. The operation device determines, based on information input from the outside of the operation device in response to an operation performed on the operation device, an electronic device among a plurality of electronic devices connected to the system, for causing the electronic device to input electronic data to the information storing apparatus, and sends, to the information storing apparatus, a first request to cause the determined electronic device to input the electronic data to the information storing apparatus. The information storing apparatus sends, to the determined electronic device, a second request based on the first request sent from the operation device, and stores the electronic data that has been sent from the determined electronic device based on the sent second request.

Claims (87)

1 . An operation device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions, which when executed cause the processor to:

display a first screen (i) including a button to receive scanner setting information, and (ii) indicating an obtaining method, the obtaining method for obtaining identification information for connecting the operation device, via a communication method which is different than the obtaining method, to an electronic device;

receive the scanner setting information;

identify, after the scanner setting information is received, the electronic device by obtaining the identification information from the electronic device;

send a scan command to the electronic device corresponding to the identification information, to cause the electronic device to generate scanner data based on the scanner setting information and to send the scanner data to the operation device;

receive the scanner data sent from the electronic device;

receive printer setting information;

display data obtained from a server, the data including attribute information of printable file data;

receive, at the operation device, a selection of the attribute information which is within the data;

obtain, from the server, the printable file data corresponding to the attribute information which was selected;

display a second screen (i) including a preview image of the printable file data, the preview image corresponding to an image contained within the printable file data, and (ii) indicating the obtaining method, the obtaining method for obtaining the identification information for connecting the operation device, via the communication method which is different than the obtaining method, to the electronic device;

identify, after the printer setting information is received, the electronic device by obtaining the identification information from the electronic device by the obtaining method; and

send a print command and the printable file data to the electronic device AFP corresponding to the identification information, by the communication method, to cause the electronic device to print the printable file data based on the printer setting information.

2 . The operation device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:

obtain the identification information from the electronic device via wireless communication.

3 . The operation device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

the identification information includes an IP address of the electronic device.

4 . The operation device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

the scan command includes the scanner setting information.

5 . The operation device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:

send the scan command without receiving user input corresponding to a key press, and

send the print command without receiving user input corresponding to a key press.

6 . The operation device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to:

send the scan command, without receiving any input after specifying the electronic device by the identification information, and

send the print command, without receiving any input after specifying the electronic device by the identification information.

7 . The operation device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

the attribute information includes at least one of a file name, a file size, a last-modified time, a creation time, or a format of the printable file data.

8 . The operation device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

the print command includes the printer setting information.

9 . The operation device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:

receive the printable file data from the server;

send, to the electronic device specified by the identification information, the printable file data received from the server, and the print command to instruct the electronic device to output the printable file data.

10 . The operation device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

the data includes a list for the attribute information of the printable file data.

11 . A method, comprising:

displaying a first screen (i) including a button to receive scanner setting information, and (ii) indicating an obtaining method, the obtaining method for obtaining identification information for connecting an operation device, via a communication method which is different than the obtaining method, to an electronic device;

receiving the scanner setting information;

sending a scan command to the electronic device corresponding to the identification information to cause the electronic device to generate scanner data based on the scanner setting information and to send the scanner data;

receiving the scanner data sent from the electronic device;

receiving printer setting information;

identifying, after the printer setting information is received, the electronic device MFP by obtaining the identification information from the electronic device;

displaying data obtained from a server, the data including attribute information of printable file data;

receiving a selection of the attribute information which is within the data;

obtaining, from the server, the printable file data corresponding to the attribute information which was selected;

displaying a second screen (i) including a preview image of the printable file data, the preview image corresponding to an image contained within the printable file data, and (ii) indicating the obtaining method, the obtaining method for obtaining the identification information for connecting the operation device, via the communication method different than the obtaining method, to the electronic device;

identifying, after the printer setting information is received, the electronic device by obtaining the identification information from the electronic device by the obtaining method; and

sending a print command and the printable file data to the electronic device corresponding to the identification information, by the communication method, to cause the electronic device to print the printable file data based on the printer setting information.

12 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the attribute information includes at least one of:

a file name, a file size, a last-modified time, a creation time, or a format of the printable file data.

13 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising:

sending the scan command without receiving user input corresponding to a key press, and

sending the print command without receiving user input corresponding to a key press.

14 . The method as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising:

sending the scan command, without receiving any input after specifying the electronic device by the identification information, and

sending the print command, without receiving any input after specifying the electronic device by the identification information.

15 . The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein:

the data includes a list for the attribute information of the printable file data.

16 . A system comprising:

an operation device; and

an electronic device,

wherein the operation device comprises,

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions, which when executed cause the processor to:

display a first screen (i) including a button to receive scanner setting information, and (ii) indicating an obtaining method, the obtaining method for obtaining identification information for connecting the operation device, via a communication method which is different than the obtaining method, to the electronic device;

receive the scanner setting information;

identify, after the scanner setting information is received, the electronic device by obtaining the identification information from the electronic device;

send a scan command to the electronic device corresponding to the identification information, to cause the electronic device to generate scanner data based on the scanner setting information and to send the scanner data to the operation device;

receive the scanner data sent from the electronic device;

receive printer setting information;

display data obtained from a server, the data including attribute information of printable file data;

receive, at the operation device, a selection of the attribute information which is within the data;

obtain, from the server, the printable file data corresponding to the attribute information which was selected;

display a second screen (i) including a preview image of the printable file data, the preview image corresponding to an image contained within the printable file data, and (ii) indicating the obtaining method, the obtaining method for obtaining the identification information for connecting the operation device, via the communication method different than the obtaining method, to the electronic device;

identify, after the printer setting information is received, the electronic device by obtaining the identification information from the electronic device by the obtaining method; and

send a print command and the printable file data to the electronic device corresponding to the identification information, by the communication method, to cause the electronic device to print the printable file data based on the printer setting information.

17 . The system as claimed in claim 16 , wherein:

the attribute information includes at least one of a file name, a file size, a last-modified time, a electronic device time, or a format of the printable file data.

18 . The system as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to:

send the scan command without receiving user input corresponding to a key press, and

send the print command without receiving user input corresponding to a key press.

19 . The system as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to:

send the scan command, without receiving any input after specifying the electronic device by the identification information, and

send the print command, without receiving any input after specifying the electronic device by the identification information.

20 . The system as claimed in claim 16 , wherein:

the data includes a list for the attribute information of the printable file data.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2024
From: YAMADA, KAZUHIRO
To: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 066114/0288 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2012-154914 · Jul 10, 2012 · national
JP 2013-139587 · Jul 3, 2013 · national
Continuity (7)
Continuation 16670005 · Oct 31, 2019
Continuation 15933968 · Mar 23, 2018
Continuation 15497573 · Apr 26, 2017
Continuation 15181553 · Jun 14, 2016
Continuation 14849708 · Sep 10, 2015
Continuation 14239587
Related Publication 20240160394A1 · May 16, 2024
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