Image reading apparatus

An image scanner which can be used by connecting to an external information processing apparatus, comprising:

• (a) input means for inputting a read command, said input means being operable also to input a password together with said read command;
• (b) reading means for reading an image of an original and outputting image data;
• (c) storing means for storing said image data;
• (d) an interface, connected to the external information processing apparatus, for inputting and outputting information;
• (e) control means for controlling in a manner such that said reading means reads said original image in accordance with said read command and said storing means stores said image signal and the image signal stored in said storing means is read out in response to the command from the external information processing apparatus and is outputted to the external information processing apparatus through said interface;
• and
• (f) password collating means,
• wherein when said password collating means detects that the password inputted by said input means together with said read command was inputted from the external information processing apparatus, said control means outputs the image signal stored in said storing means to the external information processing apparatus through said interface.

An image scanner which can be used by connecting to an external information processing apparatus, comprising:

• (a) a reading unit adapted to read an image of an original and to output an image signal;
• (b) a storing unit adapted to store the image signal;
• (c) a transfer unit adapted to transfer the image signal to said external information processing apparatus;
• (d) a detecting unit adapted to detect a state of the external information processing apparatus;
• and
• (e) a mode switching unit adapted to switch a first mode to store the image signal into said storing unit and to transfer the stored image signal by said transfer unit and a second mode to transfer said image signal by said transfer unit without storing it into said storing unit in response to the detected state of the external information processing apparatus.

An image scanner which can be used by being connected to an external information processing apparatus, comprising:

• (a) an operation unit adapted to input a read command and a password;
• (b) a reading unit adapted to read an image of an original and output image data in response to the read command inputted by said operation unit;
• (c) a storing unit adapted to store the image data and the password concerned with the image data;
• and
• (d) a controller adapted to perform a predetermined image processing on the stored image data and output the processed image data to the external information processing apparatus in response to an instruction from the external information processing apparatus, when a password inputted from the external information processing apparatus coincides with the stored password.