Technical Field
The present invention relates to a system and method for scanning the documents, and more particularly relates to a network based scanning in a shared environment. The present invention can also be deployed for faxing and electro-stating the documents in a network based shared environment.
Background
Apart from printers, scanners are probably the most used peripheral resources in an enterprise. However, scanners are costly resources, and are not rampant in an enterprise. Compared to printers, scanners prices have still not rationalized to levels where an enterprise can install a large number of scanners. The high costs make an even better case for scanners to be shared among the users on a network. Whereas network printers are shared among the users on network for effective shared usage, sharing scanners on a network is not the norm. This is due to some obvious complexities in sharing the scanners over a network. These complexities include the scanning process itself, which requires a user and the physical document to be present while scanning the document; security of documents to be scanned; etc. Therefore, the predominant approach by organizations is to have only a few scanners installed, and associate them with a single machine on the network. Users, who want to use the scanner, have to physically go to the machine on which the scanner is installed, feed the paper to the scanner for scanning, configure scan settings, preview the scan and then perform the scanning. This approach, although fraught with many problems, is widely used for sharing the scanners. The associated problems include limiting the use to a particular machine, disruption of work if another user is using the machine for some work, time delays resulting from repeatedly walking to and from scanner and user machine, inefficient use of scanner, and so on.

In order to use scanners over the network as shared resources, some solutions have been proposed. These include using network scanners, which are still higher in costs and require installing scanner drivers on each user's machine for sharing the scanner. As the number of scanners increase on a network, user needs to install scanner-specific driver on his/her machine in order to perform scanning.
In addition to these problems, the user interface screen/panel at a network scanner is limited in size and is not very user friendly. Therefore, it is cumbersome for the user to perform all the settings quickly and easily. The problem is further aggravated when different users want to have different scan settings at the scanner to scan their documents. For example, a user might want to scan his/her documents at 70 contrast and 60 brightness, whereas another user might prefer to have his/her documents scanned at 50 contrast and 70 brightness. Other users might want to scan at different combination of these and other parameters such as image resolution, image type, file type. In a traditional network scanner, it is not possible or is very cumbersome for users to store their pre-configured scan parameters settings and immediately fetch those for scanning, as the solution is completely hardware oriented. Individual users either have to scan at pre-existing settings or reset the value of scan parameters each time he/she wants to scan his/her documents. Also, as different users may have different preferences for scan parameters such as image resolution, image type, file type, brightness, contrast, etc., it may take substantial amount of time if all these scan settings are performed centrally at the scan station by every user. This may further result in the scanner being occupied by a user for mundane tasks, which should ideally not eat up the precious scanning time of other users.
Yet another problem with existing network scanning is the essential physical movement of the user in case there is problem with a network scanner. If the user has issued a scan command, and he/she finds out that the scanner he/she sent the

scan command to is busy, down or temporarily unavailable, he/she has to go back to his/her machine and reissue the scan command to another scanner on the network. Accordingly, he/she has to carry the physical documents to be scanned from one scanner to another. In a multi-scanner scenario, cases where a particular scanner is too heavily occupied, whereas other scanners on network being relatively idle, are common. The entire process is not only time consuming but also frustrating for the user, as it requires the user to walk to and from the network scanner repeatedly, which results in lot of time wastage and lower work efficiency. Further, in the existing systems which entails using a network scanner, one of the main drawbacks is that most of the network scanners are not compatible with industry-standard scanning protocols such as TWAIN and ISIS, and, instead, work using company-specific protocols. This makes any changes, upgradations of these systems vendor-specific and costly.
Therefore, in existing network scanners, apart from the major cost factor, there are several other problems, which leads to reduced efficiency and inconvenience for other employees who wants to scan their documents.
In addition, there is no system that provides centralized administration of scanning on a network. This is required to carry out proactive maintenance and proper management of scanning resources and also ensure precious scanner resources are not used for frivolous purposes. Monitoring and administrating the scanner(s) usage on a network is an important activity, and effective administration can lead to rationalization and optimization of scanning in a network environment.
On a network, there might be certain users who habitually abuse the shared resources like scanner - they use the scanner to scan unofficial articles, documents, photographs, and so on. Similarly, users fax documents for personal use. They have little regard for scanning and faxing policies, which mandate only

certain types of documents to be scanned and other stipulations. Such users are a drain on the scanning resources. By actively recording users' scanning patterns, volume of scanning and monitoring such activities from a central location, such users can be held accountable for unnecessary usage and abuse of the scanning facility.
Although these methods give some semblance of network scanners, they are still a long way off in making a scanner truly a network device. High cost of these scanners is another deterrent.
Various systems exist that describe methods to share a scanner over a network for the optimum use of the time and resources of the organization.
U.S. 5,764,866 describes a device for scanning an image to create image data to be transmitted to a network to which the device is connected. The scanning device includes an operation panel for selecting each of settings of scan conditions, a scan unit for scanning at least one image to create image data according to the settings of scan conditions, a memory unit for storing the image data, and a network-interface unit for sending the image data stored in the memory unit to the network.
U.S. 20040261084 describes a method and system for facilitating communication between a computing device and a network scanner upon discovery of the network scanner. The system includes a driver having an operating system communication layer and a scanning profile communication layer. The driver includes a translation mechanism for translating information between a scanning communication protocol of the scanning profile communication layer and an operating system communication mode of the operating system communication layer. The driver includes a scanning command module for transferring scanning commands from the driver to the network scanning device and a data handler for

opening a communication channel between the driver and the scanner and transmitting scan data over the communication channel.
U.S. 6,459,499 describes a system for scanning a document and sending a corresponding image file to a remote recipient using a software autosend utility that accesses predefined profiles of potential recipients. The predefined profiles including transport protocols and image scanning characteristics for such recipients. According to the invention, a utility is launched, and it receives user input identifying the remote recipient. Based on the profile corresponding to the identity of the remote recipient, image scanning characteristics and a transport protocol for the resulting image data are determined. The document is scanned in accordance with the determined image scanning characteristics, and a temporary image file containing image data for the scanned document is stored. The temporary image file is sent to the remote recipient using the determined transport protocol.
US 5,764,866 talks about a central scanner where the user can do scan settings and then perform scanning and then from that device send or fetch the scanned images to his/her user machine. The point is that by doing this the user can avoid going back and forth between the network scanner and user machine. However, unlike the prior art, our system gives the user the flexibility to set the scan settings at his terminal and the system sends the same over the network. Also, our system is able to handle multiple scan request on a network.
US 20040261084 describes a network scanner which requires a mini driver being installed on the network machine. This mini driver is scanner agnostic and can work with any type of scanner on the network. In contrast, our system does not require as first it does not need any installation of drivers on end-user machine. In addition, we also provide a mechanism to handle multiple scanning request on a network.

US 6,459,499 talks about a system for scanning a document and sending a scanned image to a remote recipient using a software auto send utility. Upon receiving a scan command the system scans the document and automatically sends the document to the user. The scan settings and mode of sending the scanned document are based on the predefined user profile. The predefined profiles include image scanning characteristics and transport protocols for such recipients.
The main disadvantage with these and other similar methods in the field is that these methods require special devices and solutions for network scanning. Either they lack the functionality to perform scan settings at the host machine or are too tedious to implement in an enterprise environment to be efficiently used.
Also, the existing system mostly requires the installation of some utility or scanner-specific drivers to access the scanners every time a new scanner is added on the network to perform operations on a network. This kind of an arrangement can be tedious for the user at an organizational level.
In addition, some existing systems are not able to provide users the functionality to securely scan their documents. Going further, existing systems are poorly equipped to efficiently leverage usage of multiple scanners on a network.
The fallouts of all these problems are time-consuming scanning and poor scan efficiency across the organization.
Accordingly, there is a need for a network scanner system/device, which enables regular, everyday-use scanners to work as network scanners, wherein the scanners allows setting of scan parameters and scanning of an image at the user machine, which is either located on a local network or at a remote location within the enterprise network, so that the central scanner(s) are not occupied during the settings of the scan settings and the work load on the scan center, the time required to scan a data, is significantly reduced. Also, the user must be able to use any of

the scanners on the network by issuing the command only once. Desirably, the system must also be scanner-independent in that the user need not install new drivers every time he/she wants to use a new scanner. The system must shield the user from installing scanner drivers everytime a new scanner is added to the network. The system must seamlessly display to user the presence of all existing and new scanners. Further, the system must also leverage the presence of more than one scanner on the network to enable an efficient way for scanner usage that results from minimum time spent by the user in performing the scanning. In addition, it is also desirable that the system provides a way for users to securely scan their documents even on the network. It is also required that such a functionality be extended for the facsimile and electro-stating facility in a network, wherein the users on a network are able to issue a fax command from their machines and then send fax from any of the central fax machine(s).
Object and Summary
The object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for scanning of documents in a network-based environment.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a network-based scanning whereby user can login, specify and submit the user interface settings along with at least one command from any user machine to any scanner connected in the network.
It is also an object of the present invention to make any regular scanner work as a network scanner that is compatible with industry-standard scanning protocols, TWAIN and ISIS.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide powerful centralized monitoring and administration facilities to ensure optimum resource utilization and proactive maintenance of scanning resources on the network.
It is yet another object of the present invention to automatically synchronize the multiple commands from multiple users for scanning the documents.
It is yet another object of the present invention to scan the documents at the scanner(s) in the network without the installation of scanner-specific drivers at the user machine.
It is further object of the present invention to automatically detect and display the incorporation of the new scanner in the network in the user interface of the user machine.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide enhanced security to scanned documents by storing the scanned documents only at the user machine or some other designated machine on the network.
It is yet another object of the present invention to automatically store the scanned document at the specified shared path location at the user machine.
It is yet another object of the present invention to facilitate faxing or electro-stating of the documents in the network.
It is yet another object of the present invention to scan the documents according to the user interface settings that are either pre-configured in template files or configured at the time of scanning the documents.

To achieve the aforementioned objects, the present invention provides a method for facilitating scanning at one or more scanners connected in a network, comprising of:
• customizing scan settings in user interface at the user machine for scanning the documents;
• specifying a shared path location at first instance for storing a scanned document at the user machine;
•
• submitting the user interface settings and issuing at least one command for scanning to the network scanner(s);
• feeding the documents to the network scanner(s) connected in the network;
• logging in an interface/panel attached to the network scanner(s) and executing said command;
• receiving the scanned document either on the use machine storage media or on a web-based email; and
• providing centralized monitoring and administration facilities to ensure optimum resource utilization and proactive maintenance of scanning resources on the network.
The present invention further provides for a system for facilitating scanning at one or more scanners connected in a network, comprising of:
• customization means for customizing scan settings in user interface at the user machine for scanning the documents;
• means for specifying a shared path location at first instance for storing a scanned document at the user machine;
• means for submitting the user interface settings and issuing at least one command for scanning to the network scanner(s);

• means for feeding the documents to the network scanner(s) connected in the network;
• means for logging in an interface/panel attached to the network scanner(s) and executing said command;
• means for receiving the scanned document either on the use machine storage media or on a web-based email; and
• means configured to provide centralized monitoring and administration facilities to ensure optimum resource utilization and proactive maintenance of scanning resources on the network.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The proposed method and system is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components.
FIG. 1 illustrates an overall architecture of the system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates an overview of the proposed system according to the instant invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates the scanning and faxing settings template formats for configuring and setting various scanning and faxing parameters.
FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary method for specifying a shared path location for storing scanned documents.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary method of centralized administration of the scanning activities on the network according to the instant invention.
FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method of scanning or faxing the document according to the instant invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
System and method for facilitating scanning at one or more scanners connected in a network are described. The system and method is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention herein shown and described of which the system and/or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated.
The instant invention describes a system and method for facilitating scanning of documents at one or more scanners connected in a network. The system enables any regular scanner to function as a network scanner by providing a centralized system for automated and efficient scanning operations in the network, which can be a local area network or an enterprise network. The user can configure various scanning parameters from their workstations or machines and can issue multiple commands for scanning the documents at one or more scanners without the need of installing scanner specific drivers on their machines. The user logs in the panel or an interface attached to the scanner for identifying the command and executing it. The scanned document is automatically saved at shared path location specified

by the user. The scanned document can also be mailed to the user by means of specified e-mail id.
In another embodiment, the above stated system and method can also be deployed for faxing or electro-stating the documents in a network.
The techniques described herein may be used in many different operating environments and systems. Multiple and varied implementations are described below. An exemplary environment that is suitable for practicing various implementations is discussed in the following section with reference to the accompanying figures.
EXEMPLARY SYSTEM
FIG. 1 is an overview of the architecture of the system 100 according to the instant invention. The system is a network which can be a local area network or an enterprise network. The system 100 consists of multiple numbers of user nodes 102i...n which can be personal computer, desktop computer, laptop, notebook computer or any of available personal computers in the market. The system 100 also consists of scanners, fax machines with a panel/interface 104i .n connected in a network and to user nodes. The network 100 provides for communication between various entities. Each of the entities, 102 to 104, can communicate bi-directionally with each other via network 100. For instance, user interface settings can be transferred from user machines 102 to scanners or fax machines 104 via network and scanned document is transferred back from scanners 104 to user machine 102 after scanning.
FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram representative of an embodiment of the system 200 for scanning the documents at one or more scanners in the network. In a

preferred embodiment, system 200 comprises of user machine 202, storage means 204, panel/scanner/fax/electro-stat machine which can be named as unit 206 for the purpose of explaining the invention and administrator 208 connected in a network through a network interface. The user machine 202 can be a personal computer, desktop computer, laptop computer, notebook PC or any other personal computer available in the market. The user machine 202 consists of an input means which can be a keyboard, a mouse, or any other input means for entering the data in the form of user interface settings in the user machine. It also comprises of output means which can be visual display unit in various forms such as LCD, TFT screen for outputting data. The user machine 202 also comprises of primary and secondary storage means 204. The primary storage means are RAM, ROM for storing temporary data. The secondary storage means are hard disk drive, floppy disk drive, tape storage drives or any other magnetic storage media.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the unit 206 can also be used as a fax machine or electro-stat machine for faxing or electro-stating the documents in a network using the above described system. The users on the network can use the facsimile as a network service by issuing the fax commands from their machines 202 and subsequently faxing the document from the fax machine in the unit 206. The fax settings can be customized and submitted to the fax machine from the user machine 202 in a similar manner as specified for scanning device or scanner. Similarly, centralized photocopying/electro-stating of the documents can be performed.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the storage means 204 can store the scanned document which is scanned at the unit 206 and then send to the storage means 204 of the user machine 202 either through a web based e-mail facility or through a shared path location specified by the user when customizing settings for

scanning at the user machine 202. No copy of the scanned document is stored at the unit 206 on which scanning is performed.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the storage means 204 are further configured to store the pre-configured template files that contain all the settings for scanning the documents. The template file formats for scanning and faxing the documents are described in FIG. 3. The settings can be regular settings or advanced settings. The regular settings include the basic scanner configuration like resolution, scan type, size, batch level settings etc. The advanced settings include de-skewing, auto-cropping, auto noise-removal etc. Similarly, the fax settings include basic fax settings such as filename, resolution, receiver name etc. More number of settings can also be configured in addition to these pre-defined settings. The template files are beneficial for the users who have no knowledge about scan settings and properties. They can directly use the template files for optimized scanning. The user can create multi-settings configurable scan profiles to scan different types of documents as per the desired scan settings, which are then stored on the storage means 206. In a batch-processing environment, user can specify the scanning of different pages of a document in different modes i.e. color/black & white, etc. The system 200 can be used as web based scanning where the user can login, specify and submit the scan settings from any machine to any networked scan device or scanner.
The usage of scan settings at different time of scanning the documents is explained by referring to method 300 in FIG. 4. During the first scan at 302, the user access user machine 202 to set scan parameters or scan settings at 304. At the same time, the user also specifies the shared path location for saving the scanned document after it is scanned at the unit 206. The user then issues the scanning command at 306 for scanning the document. In the second scan at 308, the user either retains and uses the settings already configured during first scan or can change the

settings to specify some additional scan parameters at 310. Thereafter, the user issues another command for scanning the documents at 312.
According to another embodiment, the scanner in the unit 206 can be any regular scanner, which can work as a network scanner and can perform scanning from end-user machines 202 in a network, which can be a local area network or an enterprise network. The user machines 202 are not required to install scanner specific drivers for each of the scanners connected in the network. The system 200 also provides the technique of automatically detecting any new scanner along with their features that is incorporated in the network by making it visible in the interface of the user machine 202 without the need to install scanner specific drivers in the user machine 202. In yet another embodiment, multiple requests from multiple users for scanning the documents are synchronized automatically, since as the user logs in a panel attached in the unit 206, the requests are processed sequentially and automatically.
In another embodiment, scanner in the unit 206 which works like a network scanner is compatible with industry-standard scanning protocol i.e. TWAIN or ISIS. There are no company-specific/non standard protocols, which any organization that is deploying the system 200 has to adhere to thereby making changes and up gradations of the system highly cost effective.
In yet another embodiment, the unit 206 has a panel attached to it which can be in the form of a graphical user interface or a like a keyboard-screen combo where the user logs in and provides his/her credentials to identify his/her command issued from the user machine 202 for scanning the document. The credentials may include username or password. The user after logging in the panel accesses the command(s) he/she has issued, submits the appropriate command and feeds the

documents for scanning. The process can be repeated by selecting and submitting the scan command(s) in series for scanning multiple documents.
System 200 also consists of an administrator 208 residing on a central server in the network that provides centralized monitoring and administration facilities to ensure optimum resource utilization of the scanning resources on the network.
The functions of the administrator can be explained in more detail by referring to method 400 in FIG. 5.
The user at 402 can log in the panel attached to the scanner at the scan station 412 to scan the document. The scanned document is automatically saved at the shared path location or sent through e-mail at the user machine. The user at 402 can access the scanner through a web-based login or can access the scanner on the local area network at 404. Then at 406, the user configures scanning parameters in the user interface, which are transmitted to the central server at 408. The administrator residing at central server can use comprehensive monitoring and administration tools to monitor the scanning policies at 410. The administration tools such as dynamic dashboard, time-wise and group-wise reports, usage patterns, cumulative scans done by individuals in a day, week, month or year, scanning-activity logs, restraining advanced settings for individual users or a department, and other tools are used by the administrator for monitoring purposes.
With comprehensive scanning details available at a mouse-click, administrators are well equipped to take corrective and preventive maintenance actions. Using the central dashboard, administrator can fetch multifarious data such as how many pages scanned at each scanner; daily, weekly, monthly, yearly load on individual scanners; frequency of downtime of a scanner; and several other details. The administrator can also view time-wise, group-wise, scanner-device-wise reports,

fax-device-wise reports, usage patterns, cumulative scan commands issued by individuals in a day, week, month or year, scanning-activity logs, centralized scan settings, etc. Using these details, the administrator can take timely, informed decisions for proper maintenance of scanners on the network to ensure optimal efficiency and productivity. Additionally, alerts and reminders can be set for regular upkeep of scanners.
Administrator can also view details of Reports, Logs, Services, Devices, Panels, Locations, and configure settings and policies. The system provides a Web-based administration, thereby providing anytime, anywhere administration of the scanning activities throughout the enterprise environment. Dashboard presents a graphic view of the scanner usage across the network. Some of the reports that the administrator can view are top five users (based on number of pages scanned), top five departments, exhaustive scan list of all scan commands, cumulative scans for the whole month, quarter, six months, years, etc. Further, these reports can be viewed on various criteria such as location, device usage, time-span, and various filters that are provided. In addition, multiple other filters, which can be used by organizations based on their requirements, are also provided to produce customized reports. The administrator can view the reports using different graphs and charts, such as Pie Chart, Bar Chart, and so on. Administrator can view even the user level activity by exploring the repository details. Various logs that are maintained include device log, user log, user audit log, and system audit log. The system provides the administrator great flexibility in terms of deciding specific users' rights to scan in color or black and white. Administrator can also define the policy of storing the scanning job. This allows the administrator to define as to for how many days would the job remain in the scan queue.
The above stated administrator policies can also be applied to faxing and electro-stating the documents in the network, which can be either a local area network or an enterprise network.

EXEMPLARY METHOD
Exemplary methods for scanning the documents at one or more scanners in the network are described with reference to FIG. 6. The methods are illustrated as a collection of blocks in a logical flow graph, which represents a sequence of operations that can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. The order in which the process is described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described blocks can be combined in any order to implement the process, or an alternate process. Additionally, individual blocks may be deleted from the process without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein.
FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram representation of an exemplary implementation 500 of scanning the documents at one or more scanners in a network. The network can be a local area network or an enterprise network.
At block 502, the user machine which can be a general purpose computer as described in FIG. 1 & 2 is connected in the network.
At block 504, the user logs in and access the scanning service installed at the user machine for configuring various scanning parameters and preparing the document for scanning.
At block 506, the user specifies various regular and advanced settings for scanning the document or for faxing the document.
At block 508, the user either creates new scan profile at block 512 by customizing new settings for scanning or faxing the documents or the user selects an already saved template file format for scanning or faxing the documents and updates the

settings using regular or advanced settings to updated the already created template file.
At block 514, the user submits scan or fax request to the scanner or fax machine connected in the network.
At block 516, the user logs in the panel/interface attached to the scanner or the fax machine at the scan center to identify the command he/she has issued.
At block 518, the user selects the command, which he/she wishes to execute from the scanning queue which contains a list of all the commands issued by a particular user.
At block 520, the document that is scanned or faxed is transferred to the user machine through a network in the form of web-based email or saved on the user machine at a specified shared path location without storing a copy at the scan center.
The embodiments described above and illustrated in the figures are presented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of the present invention. Elements and components described herein may be further divided into additional components or joined together to form fewer components for performing the same functions. As such, it will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art that various changes in the elements and their configuration and arrangement are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

1. A system for facilitating scanning at one or more scanners connected in a
network, comprising of:
• customization means for customizing scan settings in user interface at the user machine for scanning the documents;
• means for specifying a shared path location at first instance for storing a scanned document at the user machine;
• means for submitting the user interface settings and issuing at least one command(s) for scanning to the network scanner(s);
• means for feeding the documents to the network scanner(s) connected in the network;
• means for logging in an interface/panel attached to the network scanner(s)-and executing said command(s);
• means for receiving the scanned document either on the user machine storage media or on a web-based email; and
• means configured to provide centralized monitoring and administration facilities to ensure optimum resource utilization and proactive maintenance of scanning resources on the network.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scanning of documents is network (local area network, enterprise wide area network, or web) based scanning whereby user can login, specify and submit the user interface settings from any user machine to at least one scanner in the network.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface settings for scanning the documents are either pre-configured in template files or configured at the time of scanning the documents.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein multiple commands from multiple users for scanning the documents are synchronized automatically.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface settings for scanning the documents are regular settings or advanced settings.
6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein scanning of the documents at the scanner(s) in the network is attained without the installation of scanner specific drivers at the user machine.
7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein any regular scanner is utilized as a network scanner which is compatible with industry-standard TWAIN or ISIS protocols.
8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein incorporation of new scanner in the network is automatically detected and displayed in the user interface at the user machine.
9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein scanning of the documents is performed on any other scanner(s) connected in the network without re-issuing said command.
10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the network is a local area network or enterprise network or a combination thereof.
11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system provides enhanced security to scanned documents by storing the scanned documents only at the user machine.
12. The system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said system is configured for faxing or electro-stating the documents in the network.
13. A method for facilitating scanning at one or more scanners connected in a network, comprising the steps of:

• customizing scan settings in user interface at the user machine for scanning the documents;
• specifying a shared path location at first instance for storing a scanned document at the user machine;
• submitting the user interface settings and issuing at least one command(s) for scanning to the network scanner(s);

• feeding the documents to the network scanner(s) connected in the network;
• logging in an interface/panel attached to the network scanner(s) and executing said command(s);
• receiving the scanned document either on the use machine storage media or on a web-based email; and
• providing centralized monitoring and administration facilities to ensure optimum resource utilization and proactive maintenance of scanning resources on the network.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said scanning of documents is network (local area network, enterprise wide area network, or web) based scanning whereby user can login, specify and submit the user interface settings from any user machine to the at least one scanner in the network.
15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the user interface settings for scanning the documents are either pre-configured in template files or configured at the time of scanning the documents.
16. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein multiple commands from multiple users for scanning the documents are synchronized automatically.
17. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the user interface settings for scanning the documents are regular settings or advanced settings.
18. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein scanning of the documents at the scanner(s) in the network is attained without the installation of scanner specific drivers at the user machine.
19. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein any regular scanner is utilized as a network scanner which is compatible with industry-standard TWAIN or ISIS protocols.

20. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein incorporation of new scanner in the network is automatically detected and displayed in the user interface at the user machine.
21. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein scanning of the documents is performed on any other scanners) connected in the network without re¬issuing said command
22. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the network is a local area network or enterprise network or a combination thereof.
23. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said system provides enhanced security to scanned documents by storing the scanned documents only at the user machine.
24. The method as claimed in all the preceding claims, wherein said method is utilized for faxing or electro-stating the documents in the network.