Additional input sources for data acquisition at distributed scan management systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for acquiring document data from additional input sources to a DSM system. In an embodiment, a DSM computing device includes a remote image receiver service configured to connect to a remote image source via a network connection, receive configuration information and image data from the remote image source, and determine post scan processing instructions based, at least in part, on the configuration information. In another embodiment, a DSM computing device includes an input selection service configured to identify one or more input sources available at the computing device, receive input source information identifying a particular input source of the one or more input sources, receive image information identifying the particular image data residing on the particular input source, retrieve the particular image data from the particular input source, and make the particular image data available to a distributed scan management service.

What is claimed is:   
     
       1. A computing device comprising:
 one or more processors; 
 one or more memories; 
 a scan service, implemented by the one or more processors and being configured to scan a document; 
 an input selection service, implemented by the one or more processors and being configured to:
 identify one or more input sources, available to the computing device, other than the scan service, 
 cause information identifying the scan service on the computing device and the one or more input sources to be displayed in a graphical user interface, 
 receive, via the graphical user interface, input source information identifying selection of a particular input source of the input sources displayed in the graphical user interface comprising: the one or more input sources, and the scan service, 
 receive image information identifying particular image data residing on the particular input source, 
 retrieve the particular image data from the particular input source, and 
 make the particular image data available to a distributed scan management support service implemented by the one or more processors on the computing device; and 
 
 wherein the distributed scan management support service implements a distributed scan device protocol and a distributed scan processing protocol and is configured to:
 receive information for post scan processing instructions, and 
 send the particular image data with the post scan processing instructions to a scan server. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The computing device of  claim 1  wherein the particular image data is not generated by the scan service. 
     
     
       3. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, cause:
 a scan service executing on a scanning device and being configured to scan a document; 
 an input selection service executing on the scanning device and:
 identifying one or more input sources available to the scanning device, other than the scan service, 
 causing information identifying the scan service on the scanning device and the one or more input sources to be displayed in a graphical user interface, 
 receiving, via the graphical user interface, input source information identifying selection of a particular input source of the input sources displayed in the graphical user interface comprising: the one or more input sources, and the scan service, 
 receiving image information identifying particular image data residing on the particular input source, 
 retrieving the particular image data from the particular input source, and 
 making the particular image data available to a distributed scan management service executing on the scanning device; and 
 
 wherein the distributed scan management service performs the steps of:
 implementing a distributed scan device protocol and a distributed scan processing protocol, 
 receiving information for post scan processing instructions, and 
 sending the particular image data with the post scan processing instructions to a scan server. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 3  wherein the particular image data is not generated by the scan service. 
     
     
       5. A computer-executed method comprising:
 a scanning device executing a scan service configured to scan a document; 
 the scanning device identifying one or more input sources available to the scanning device, other than the scan service; 
 the scanning device causing information identifying the scan service on the scanning device and the one or more input sources to be displayed in a graphical user interface, 
 the scanning device receiving, via the graphical user interface, input source information identifying selection of a particular input source of the input sources displayed in the graphical user interface comprising: the one or more input sources, and the scan service; 
 the scanning device receiving image information identifying particular image data residing on the particular input source; 
 the scanning device retrieving the particular image data from the particular input source; 
 the scanning device receiving information for post scan processing instructions; and 
 sending the particular image data with the post scan processing instructions to a scan server; 
 wherein the scanning device implements a distributed scan device protocol and a distributed scan processing protocol. 
 
     
     
       6. The computer-executed method of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the particular image data is not generated by the scan service. 
 
     
     
       7. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the input selection service is further configured to:
 cause directory listing information, identifying data stored at the particular input source, to be displayed in a graphical user interface; 
 wherein the directory listing information comprises information identifying the particular image data. 
 
     
     
       8. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the particular image data represents a particular image file; and 
 the image information identifies selection of the particular image file from among one or more image files represented on the particular input source. 
 
     
     
       9. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 3 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause:
 the input selection service causing directory listing information, identifying data stored at the particular input source, to be displayed in a graphical user interface; 
 wherein the directory listing information comprises information identifying the particular image data. 
 
     
     
       10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the particular image data represents a particular image file; and 
 the image information identifies selection of the particular image file from among one or more image files represented on the particular input source. 
 
     
     
       11. The computer-executed method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 the scanning device causing directory listing information, identifying data stored at the particular input source, to be displayed in a graphical user interface; 
 wherein the directory listing information comprises information identifying the particular image data. 
 
     
     
       12. The computer-executed method of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the particular image data represents a particular image file; and 
 the image information identifies selection of the particular image file from among one or more image files represented on the particular input source.