Network scan server support method using a web browser

A method for operating a scan peripheral in a network including at least one client having a general purpose software capability in a web user interface application and a server connected to the scan peripheral, the method comprising the steps of:

• initiating, by the client, a universal resource locator scan request;
• responding, by the server, to said client universal resource locator addressed request by forwarding to the client a general purpose format software program for creating and running a scan web page;
• accepting, by the server, a scan job from the client;
• implementing, by the server, a scan job program to control a scan peripheral;
• communicating between the server and the client through the general purpose software program to initiate actions of the scan job program which control the scan peripheral, including transmitting image data from the server to the client and provide user displays through the client,
• adjusting the size of image data prior to transmitting it from the server to the clintient;
• inserting a tagged image file format header into the image data prior to transmitting it from the serve r to the client;
• inserting, by the server, an image file directory including an image length se t by the scan job;
• padding, by the server, the image data if the actual length of image data from a completed scan job is less than the length set by the scan job;
• truncating, by the server, the image data if the actual length of image data from a completed scan job is greater than the length set by the scan job.

A method for operating a scan peripheral in a network including at least one client having a general purpose software capability in a web user interface application and a server connected to the scan peripheral, the method comprising the steps of:

• initiating, by the client, a universal resource locator scan request;
• responding, by the server, to said client universal resource locator addressed request by forwarding to the client a general purpose format software program for creating and running a scan web page;
• accepting, by the server, a scan job from the client;
• implementing, by the server, a scan job program to control a scan peripheral;
• communicating between the server and the client through the general purpose software program to initiate actions of the scan job program which control the scan peripheral and provide user displays through the client
• polling the scan peripheral, prior to said step of accepting, to determine availability status of the scan peripheral;
• notifying the client of the availability of the scan peripheral;
• and
• repeating said polling and notifying steps while continuing with said step of accepting.

A server for operating a scan peripheral in a network having at least one client with a general purpose software capability in a web user interface application, the server being connected to the scan peripheral via the network, the server comprising:

• means for responding to a client generated universal resource locator addressed request and forwarding to the client a general purpose format software program for creating and running a scan web page that can be displayed by the client;
• means for accepting a scan job requested by the client using said general purpose format software program;
• means for implementing a scan job program to control the scan peripheral;
• and,
• means for communicating with the client through the general purpose software program to initiate actions of the scan job program which control the scan peripheral and provide data that enables the client to generate user displays relating to the operation of the scan peripheral.