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.

1 . A scan server, comprising: 
 an authentication device configured to perform authentication;    an administration device configured to manage a plurality of profiles, each profile corresponding to one of a plurality of multi-function devices connected to the scan sever and indicating an authentication scheme;    a directory gateway configured to communicate with a directory server connected to the scan server; and    a document router configured to route documents received from each of the plurality of multi-functional devices to an appropriate destination.    
   
   
       2 . The scan server of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first communication interface configured to receive login information from one of the plurality of multi-function devices connected to the scan server.    
   
   
       3 . The scan server of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the login information comprises a login name and a password.    
   
   
       4 . The scan server of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the authentication device is configured to determine an authentication scheme corresponding to the received login information.    
   
   
       5 . The scan server of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a second communication interface configured to send the login information to a network domain controller remotely connected to the scan server; and    the second interface configured to receive, from the network domain controller, a result of an authentication process at the network domain controller.    
   
   
       6 . The scan server of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a second communication interface configured to send the login information to the directory server connected to the scan server; and    the second interface configured to receive, from the directory server, a result of an authentication process at the directory server.    
   
   
       7 . A method of managing profiles at a scan server, comprising: 
 storing, at the scan server, a plurality of profiles, each profile corresponding to one of a plurality of multi-function devices connected to the scan sever and indicating an authentication scheme;    receiving login information from one of the plurality of multi-function devices connected to the scan server; and    retrieving an authentication scheme corresponding to the login information by accessing a profile corresponding to the received login information.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 the login information comprises a login name and a password.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 transmitting the login information to a network domain controller remotely connected to the scan server; and    receiving, from the network domain controller, a result of an authentication process at the network domain controller.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 transmitting the login information to the directory server connected to the scan server; and    receiving, from the directory server, a result of an authentication process at the directory server.    
   
   
       11 . A scan server, comprising: 
 means for storing, at the scan server, a plurality of profiles, each profile corresponding to one of a plurality of multi-function devices connected to the scan sever and indicating an authentication scheme;    means for receiving login information from one of the plurality of multi-function devices connected to the scan server; and    means for retrieving an authentication scheme corresponding to the login information by accessing a profile corresponding to the received login information.    
   
   
       12 . The scan server of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the login information comprises a login name and a password.    
   
   
       13 . The scan server of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 means for transmitting the login information to a network domain controller remotely connected to the scan server; and    means for receiving, from the network domain controller, a result of an authentication process at the network domain controller.    
   
   
       14 . The scan server of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 means for transmitting the login information to the directory server connected to the scan server; and    means for receiving, from the directory server, a result of an authentication process at the directory server.    
   
   
       15 . A recording medium including computer program instructions which cause a computer to execute a method of managing profiles, comprising: 
 storing, at the scan server, a plurality of profiles, each profile corresponding to one of a plurality of multi-function devices connected to the scan sever and indicating an authentication scheme;    receiving login information from one of the plurality of multi-function devices connected to the scan server; and    retrieving an authentication scheme corresponding to the login information by accessing a profile corresponding to the received login information.