Method for outputting image data, image processing apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium for computer program

1. A method for outputting image data generated by an image processing apparatus to a portable storage medium connected to an interface, the method comprising:

issuing an identifier of the image data;

encrypting the identifier by using an encryption key of a user who has given a command to generate the image data and writing the identifier thus encrypted into the storage medium without waiting for the image data to be generated completely by the image processing apparatus;

associating the image data with the identifier and storing the image data in a storage portion after generating the image data;

reading out the identifier from the storage medium when the storage medium is connected to the interface again;

decrypting the identifier; and

writing, into the storage medium, the image data stored in the storage portion in association with the identifier thus decrypted.

2. A method for outputting image data generated by an image processing apparatus to a portable storage medium connected to an interface, the method comprising:

reading out, from the storage medium, an identifier of the storage medium without waiting for the image data to be generated completely by the image processing apparatus;

associating the image data with the identifier after generating the image data,

encrypting the image data by using an encryption key of a user who has given a command to generate the image data and storing the image data thus encrypted in the storage portion;

reading out the identifier from the storage medium when the storage medium is connected to the interface again; and

decrypting the image data stored in the storage portion in association with the identifier thus read out and writing the image data thus decrypted into the storage medium.

3. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a generating portion that generates image data;

an identifier writing portion that writes an identifier for identifying the image data into a portable storage medium without waiting for the image data to be generated completely by the image processing apparatus;

a storage portion that stores the image data in association with the identifier;

a reading portion that reads out the identifier from the storage medium;

an image data writing portion that writes, into the storage medium, the image data stored in the storage portion in association with the identifier thus read out; and

a decrypting portion that decrypts data, wherein

the identifier writing portion encrypts the identifier by using an encryption key of a user who has given a command to generate the image data and writes the identifier thus encrypted into the storage medium,

after the identifier is read out from the storage medium, the decrypting portion decrypts the identifier, and

the image data writing portion writes, into the storage medium, the image data stored in the storage portion in association with the identifier thus decrypted.

4. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a generating portion that generates image data;

a first identifier reading portion that reads out, from a portable storage medium, an identifier of the storage medium without waiting for the image data to be generated completely by the image processing apparatus;

a storage portion that stores the image data in association with the identifier;

a second identifier reading portion that reads out the identifier from the storage medium when the storage medium is connected again; and

a writing portion that writes, into the storage medium, the image data stored in the storage portion in association with the identifier read out by the second identifier reading portion, wherein

the storage portion encrypts the image data by using an encryption key of a user who has given a command to generate the image data and stores the image data thus encrypted therein, and

the writing portion decrypts the image data and writes the image data thus decrypted into the storage medium.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing thereon a computer program used in an image processing apparatus for generating image data, the computer program causing the image processing apparatus to perform:

generating image data;

encrypting an identifier for identifying the image data by using an encryption key of a user who has given a command to generate the image data and writing the identifier thus encrypted into the storage medium without waiting for the image data to be generated completely;

storing, in a storage portion, the image data in association with the identifier;

reading out the identifier from the storage medium; and

decrypting the identifier, and

writing, into the storage medium, the image data stored in the storage portion in association with the identifier thus decrypted.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing thereon a computer program used in an image processing apparatus for generating image data, the computer program causing the image processing apparatus to perform:

generating image data;

reading out, from a portable storage medium, an identifier of the storage medium without waiting for the image data to be generated completely;

encrypting the image data by using an encryption key of a user who has given a command to generate the image data and storing the image data thus encrypted in the storage portion in association with the identifier;

reading out the identifier from the storage medium; and

decrypting the image data stored in the storage portion in association with the identifier thus read out and writing the image data thus decrypted into the storage medium.