Information storage device and information storage method

#This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2004254572, filed on Sep. 1, 2004, the entire subject matter of the application is incorporated herein by reference thereto.

#Aspects of the present invention relates to an information storage device having a storage function for storing inputted information and outputting the stored information afterward, such as an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) having a plurality of input units for inputting information to the device and output units for outputting the information.

#MFPs (Multi Function Peripherals), capable of automatically creating, presenting and publishing a Web page of a document (for example, as the object of processing, including diagrams, tables, etc.) in response to simple and easy operations by a user (like those for printing, copying, etc.), have recently been known, as described in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. HEI 11-195128 (as shown the second embodiment of the Publication). The MFP converts documents described in page description languages (PDLs) such as PostScript, images read by a scanner, etc. into HTML files, JPEG files, etc. and stores the files on a hard disk. In response to a browsing request from a personal computer on a network, the HTML files, JPEG files, etc., which have been stored on the hard disk are transmitted to the requesting personal computer via the network according to the request.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an illustrative example of a composition of an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) as an information storage device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram explaining each field of a contents table in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

#FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram explaining each field of a data table in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

#In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information storage device having a storage function for storing information inputted thereto and outputting the stored information afterward, comprising an input unit, which inputs information to the information storage device, an output unit, which outputs the information inputted by the input unit, a storage unit, which stores the information inputted by the input unit, a storage inquiry unit, which outputs an inquiry concerning whether or not to let the storage unit store the information inputted by the input unit, a storage inquiry result reception unit, which receives an instruction from a user in response to the inquiry outputted by the storage inquiry unit, and a storage control unit. The storage control unit controls the output unit to output the information when the information is inputted by the input unit, controls the storage inquiry unit to execute the inquiry, and controls the storage unit to store the information inputted by the input unit if the instruction received by the storage inquiry result reception unit designates storage of the information in the storage unit while preventing the storage unit from storing the information inputted by the input unit if the instruction does not designate the storage of the information in the storage unit.

#The inquiry by the storage inquiry unit may be executed either after the output unit has finished outputting the information or while the output unit is outputting the information, as long as the user checking the information outputted by the output unit can judge whether the information is worth storing in the storage unit or not. The information may be image data, for example.

#By the information storage device configured as above, the user checking the outputted information can judge whether the information should be stored in the storage unit or not and give the instruction according to the judgment. Therefore, the problem with conventional information storage devices: storage of information in an undesired state (not desired or intended by the user) in the storage unit to be disclosed, can be eliminated. Further, the user is relieved of the task of checking already-stored information and executing the deleting operation afterward.