# US 8,786,910 B2 · Scanning device and method with phantom folder

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- Number: US 8,786,910 B2
- Document ID: US8786910B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/568,438
- Filed: 2012-08-07
- Published: 2013-02-14
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2011-08-08
- Assignees: Pfu Limited
- Applicants: Hari Sri Asuri
- Inventors: Hari Sri Asuri
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786910B2

## Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a scanning device, a scanning method, and a computer-readable medium capable of easily performing display of a scanner on a computer of a user and display for starting scanning operation. A scanning device include a controller for displaying a phantom folder corresponding to a usable scanner on a display unit only when the scanner can be used, and for starting scanning operation by the scanner when the phantom folder is selected, a receiver receiving scan data from the scanner, and a storage storing the scan data received.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A scanning device comprising:
a controller configured to display, on a display unit, a phantom folder corresponding to a scanner, only when the scanner is ready for scanning operations, and to start a scanning operation by the scanner when the phantom folder is selected;
a receiver for receiving scan data from the scanner; and
a storage for storing the scan data received.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the controller displays the phantom folder on the display unit by using an open command of an application.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the controller starts scanning operation by a scanner by transmitting a scan start signal conforming to a standard API which supports scanners, to the scanner.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the controller converts the scan data into a document type which is set by the user and stores the resultant data in the storage.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the controller displays the scan data in the phantom folder.

### Claim 6

A scanning method comprising:
displaying, on a display unit, a phantom folder corresponding to a scanner, only when the scanner is ready for scanning operations;
starting a scanning operation by the scanner when the phantom folder is selected;
receiving scan data from the scanner; and
storing the scan data received into a storage.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The scanning method of claim 6, further comprising displaying, on the display unit, a second phantom folder corresponding to a second scanner; and starting a scanning operation by the second scanner when the second phantom folder is selected.

### Claim 8

A computer readable non-transitory medium storing a computer program, the computer program when executed by a computer causing the computer to execute a process, the process comprising:
displaying, on a display unit, a phantom folder corresponding to a scanner, only when the scanner is ready for scanning operations;
starting a scanning operation by the scanner when the phantom folder is selected;
receiving scan data from the scanner; and
storing the scan data received into a storage.