Network file processing system for sending multicast acceptance requests for transmission of image data via a network

A scanner device, which is connected to a network, for reading a document and generating image data page by page, comprising:

• an acceptance request issuance unit for sending, page by page, multicast acceptance requests for the image data to a plurality of file servers across the network after generating the image data;
• a data transmission unit for transmitting, when a reading response is returned from any one of the plurality of the file servers after sending the acceptance requests, the image data of a page corresponding to the reading response to the file server that has returned the reading response firstly;
• a related information saving unit for saving related information associated with the image data;
• and
• a storing unit for storing the image data that is generated, wherein
• the storing unit deletes the image data of the page that is stored in the storing unit after the scanner device receives an image deletion notification from the file server that has returned the reading response firstly, after transmitting the image data of the page.

A network file processing system, comprising:

• a scanner device connected to a network, for generating image data page by page;
• a plurality of file servers connected to the network, each having an area to save data to;
• the scanner device comprises:
• an acceptance request issuance unit for sending, page by page, multicast acceptance requests for the image data to the plurality of file servers across the network after generating the image data, a first data transmission unit for transmitting, when a reading response is returned from any one of the plurality of file servers after sending the acceptance requests, the image data of a page corresponding to the reading response to the file server that has returned the reading response firstly, a saving unit for saving information associated with the image data, and a storing unit for storing the image data that is generated;
• the plurality of file servers each comprise a response unit for returning the reading response in response to the acceptance request, and a data saving unit for saving the image data transmitted via the network into the area to save data to, wherein:
• the response unit sends an image deletion notification of the image data of the page to the scanner device after the image data of the page is saved in the data saving unit;
• and
• the storing unit deletes the image data of the page that is stored in the storing unit after the scanner device receives the image deletion notification from the file server that has returned the reading response firstly, after transmitting the image data of the page.