JP2002041552A - System and method for housing document, scanner and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remarkably improve the efficiency of document housing work when scanning and housing an original document. SOLUTION: In the scanner for scanning and reading a document, generating image data and transmitting the image data to an external information processor, prescribed information is inputted by an operator (S802) and image data in a hierarchical structure containing the image data provided by reading and a plurality of attribute item information are generated and outputted to the external device (S803-S808). In this case, a plurality of attribute item information contain the resolution of reading inputted by the operator, image type, the number of bits, the designation of double side or single side, an original size, an image format, an operator's name, a charging belonging code and the transmission destination of the image data or the like. Besides, the information contains the date or machine place name of reading or image memory capacity and the number of originals or the like to be provided as a result of reading the original.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a document storage system and method for storing image data obtained by reading an original, a scanner device used in the system, and a control method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when a document is scanned using an image scanner or the like and stored in a database or the like, a keyword or index information for document search is used to facilitate a later search operation of the stored document. As attribute items of the document in a hierarchical structure.

[0003] Such an operation of inputting attribute items of a document is performed by:
After the scanning operation of the document manuscript was completed using a scanner driver or a utility software dedicated to index input, it was generated as a separate operation.

[0004]

However, as described above, since the input operation of the document attribute item is performed again as a separate operation after the scan operation is completed, the operation efficiency is extremely poor, and especially the attribute to be input is required. When there are many items, there is a problem that it takes a long time to work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to automatically create and store at least a part of document attributes in scanning and storing an original document. Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to remarkably increase the work efficiency of document storage work.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a document storage system comprising: a reading device for optically reading a document to obtain image data; and a reading device for reading the document. Holding means for holding obtainable attribute information, generating means for generating document data using the image data obtained by the reading means, and attribute information held by the holding means, Storage means for storing the generated document data.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a scanner device for optically reading an original document, comprising: operating means for inputting predetermined information regarding reading of an original image; Holding means for acquiring and holding attribute information from the content input by the means, and output means for outputting image data obtained by reading the document image and attribute information held by the holding means to the outside. Prepare.

A document storage method according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a document storage method in a document storage system including a reading device for optically reading a document to obtain image data. In reading, a holding step of holding attribute information that can be obtained by the reading device, a generation of generating document data using the image data obtained in the reading step, and the attribute information held in the holding step And a storing step of storing the document data generated in the generating step.

Further, a control method of a scanner device according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a control method of a scanner device for optically reading an original document, wherein predetermined information is inputted with respect to reading of an original image. Operation steps;
A holding step of acquiring and holding attribute information from the content input in the operation step, and an output step of outputting image data obtained by reading the document image and the attribute information held in the holding step to the outside And

[0010]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that image data obtained by scanning is stored in a hierarchical document structure (for example, an XML document structure). In such a hierarchical document structure, there is a hierarchy of property sheets for representing the attributes of the document. In the present embodiment, the efficiency of the scanning operation is improved by simplifying the writing of the attribute to the property sheet.

When scanning a document, there are setting items for specifically instructing the scanner device to perform a scanning operation. For example: Document attribute items (settings for originals to be read) (1) Double-sided original or single-sided original? (2) What is the manuscript size? (3) What is the resolution (dot per inch = how many pixels per inch) to read? (4) Document or photo? (5) Selection of image format type (6) Number of scanned documents 2. Device attribute items (items related to scanner device) (1) Scanner device ID, etc. (2) Date and time Attribute items related to the operator (1) Setting items such as user ID login for operating the scanner device, (2) input of billing code for billing of the scanner device, and (3) determination of transmission destination.

These items can be used as they are as search keywords. Therefore, in this embodiment, the items set for the scanner device during the scanning operation are automatically written in the document attribute items. This allows
In particular, in operations such as scanning a large number of documents and storing the image data in a database, the operator does not need to input the attribute items of those documents each time, thereby greatly improving work efficiency. it can.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the scanner device according to the first embodiment. Reference numeral 100 denotes an image reading device (hereinafter, referred to as “scanner”), 150 denotes a printing device (hereinafter, referred to as “printer”), and 500 and 600 denote external devices (hereinafter, referred to as “PCs”). It is connected to the scanner 100.

In the scanner 100, the scanner unit sequence controller 101 is the center of sequence control,
Processing such as network control, image display, and image processing is controlled mainly by the CPU 120.

Reference numeral 121 denotes a random access memory (RAM) for recording predetermined data, and 122 denotes a read-only memory (RO) storing a predetermined processing program.
M) and 123 are image processing units that perform predetermined processing on image data. Reference numeral 124 denotes a network controller, which performs control for exchanging data with peripheral devices via the network 1. Reference numeral 125 denotes a storage device for storing image data and the like.

Reference numeral 200 denotes an ADF (automatic document feeder), and the ADF controller 105 controls manuscript handling such as feeding and discharging double-sided manuscripts.

An operation panel 300 displays a message to an operator and includes a touch sensor input function for instructing an operation. The operation panel 300 also displays a pre-scan image, and also plays a role in transmitting an outline of the scan image to the operator. 106
Is an operation panel controller that controls the operation panel 300.

Reference numeral 107 denotes an exposure system controller, which is a contact type C
Drives the CD line sensor to convert the original on the platen into RGB
It is read for each color, color-separated, and converted to point-sequential analog image signals. This analog image signal is represented by A /
The data is converted into an 8-bit digital image signal by the D conversion unit, and is output in a line-sequential manner with luminance.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation panel 300 of the scanner 100 shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a scan button, and 302 denotes a viewer screen. A scan button 301 is for starting a document scanning operation.

Reference numeral 303 denotes a window for designating the resolution, in which a desired resolution in the main scan can be selected from a menu or a numerical value can be input by a key (not shown). Reference numeral 304 denotes a document size designation window, which can be selected from a menu. FIG. 3 shows a state in which 600 dpi and A4 size are selected as default values of the resolution 303 and the document size 304, respectively.

Reference numeral 306 denotes an image quality selection window, which can be selected from a menu. The example in FIG. 3 shows that the original to be read is treated as a document original. In the case of a photograph or the like, the gray scale mode is selected as the image quality selection. Reference numeral 309 denotes a window for selecting an image format. When a document image is scanned, a TIFF format or a multi-page TIFF is often selected. However, other image formats include JPEG and JBIG compression. You can choose. A window 308 is used to specify a destination of the read image data.
In the example, the setting is made to transmit to the personal computer 500.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing attribute items of a document.
In the present embodiment, each attribute item shown here is automatically recorded as a document attribute item at the time of a document scanning operation, and the input work of the document attribute item by the operator is reduced. FIG.
, 401 denotes a document attribute item, 402 denotes a device attribute item, and 403 denotes an operator attribute item.

The document attribute item 401 has a resolution (150,
300, 600 dpi, etc.), image type (black and white reading, color reading, etc.), number of bits (bits per pixel), single-sided or double-sided original, image size (A4, A
3 etc.), image formats (TIFF format,
JPEG format, etc.), the size of the image memory as a result of reading, and the number of pages in total.

The device attribute item 402 is an attribute item relating to the scanner device. In the date item, the date when the scan reading was executed is entered. This is effective when the scanner has a clock counter function, and the date obtained from the clock counter function can be automatically written. Further, in the item of the machine place name in the figure, a machine number, a nickname, and the like possessed by this machine can be automatically described. In the example of FIG. 4, it is General Affairs Division No. 2.

The operator attribute item 403 is an attribute item relating to the operator. In the item of the operator name, the name of the operator who executed the scan can be described, but a number such as a personal name code may be input. Further, in the case where the scanner device can total the usage fee for each affiliation, the affiliation code can be input so that the usage fee is charged for each affiliation. Finally, in the item of the transmission destination, information such as where the read image is transmitted and stored is described.

FIG. 5 is a memory map showing a hierarchical structure of a read original document. This shows that the first part of the image file contains the attribute item information shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 shows a screen for logging in to the scanner device. Reference numeral 601 denotes a window for inputting a section code, which is used for counting usage charges and charging the same. In the document scanner system of the present embodiment, when searching the scanned image database later, the section code can be used to perform a batch search in section units. Reference numeral 602 denotes a window for inputting a user name. By inputting the user name here, the user can retrieve an image temporarily stored after scanning afterward.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the login operation. The log-in operation from the standby state after the power of the scanner device 100 is turned on or before the start of the scanning operation is shown.

First, in step S701, a login initial screen (shown in FIG. 6) is displayed. When the login initial screen is displayed, the section code is input to the section code input window 601 in step S702, and step S703 is performed.
To enter the user name in the window 602 for inputting the user name.

The contents of the attribute items (the operator name and the charge affiliation code in FIG. 4) obtained from the operator are determined by the processing in steps S701 and S702 described above.
At 704, this information is written to the storage device 125.

FIG. 8 is a main flowchart showing the flow of a reading process including an operation for reading a document. Hereinafter, the scanning operation according to the present embodiment will be described along this.

In step S801, a bundle of originals to be read is placed on the stacking tray 201 (FIG. 2) of the ADF 200. Next, in step S802, designation of resolution, document size, and use of both sides is performed from the operation panel 300. In step S803, according to the designation in step S802, the document attribute item 401 shown in FIG.
Write 25. In step S804, the scan button 301 is pressed.

By pressing the scan button 301,
The process proceeds to step S805, where a scan process is started. FIG. 9 shows the scan processing in step S805.
This will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step S901, a document is fed. A series of operations from the original feeding to the original discharging will be described later in detail, including the double-sided operation. In step S902, a scan operation for reading a document is performed. After the scanning of the first page on one side is completed, the image data is written to the storage device 125 in step S903.

In step S904, it is determined whether the reading of the original is double-sided reading or single-sided reading. If double-sided reading is specified, the process proceeds to step S905. If single-sided reading is specified, the process returns to step S805 (scan processing is performed). finish).

In step S905, it is determined whether the original just read is the front side or the back side. If it is determined that the original is the front side, the process proceeds to step S906. If it is determined that the original is the back side, the process returns to step S805 (step S805). End the scanning process).

In step S906, the original is turned over,
The process proceeds to operation step S902 for reading the second page on the back side. The back side scan is performed in the same manner as the front side scan in step S9
The operation is repeated from 02, and when the back side scanning is completed, the end of both sides is determined in step S904, and the process returns to step S805.

Referring back to FIG. 8, in step S806,
It is determined whether the page of the document that has been read is the last page. If there is a document to be read continuously, the process returns to step S805, and the above-described scan processing routine (FIG. 9)
repeat. On the other hand, if there is no document to be subsequently read, that is, if reading has been completed up to the last page, the process advances to step S807.

In step S807, the total number of pages of the read document is counted, and each attribute item (number of documents, image memory capacity) shown in FIG. 4 is written. This completes the document scanning operation, and then starts the transmission operation.

In step S808, the read image data is transferred from the storage device 125 via the network 1 to the personal computer 500 designated as the transmission destination 309 of the operation panel.
Sent to. Here, the document data having the hierarchical structure as shown in FIG.
Sent to. Finally, in step S809, the document is removed from the ADF, and all operations are completed.

Hereinafter, the feeding of a document by the ADF will be described in detail.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the ADF. Arrows (1) to (9) show paths through which a document is conveyed.

First, an original to be read is placed on the original stacking tray 201 upward. The document stacking tray 201 leans to the left to feed a document, and tilts to the upper right as shown by the dashed line in the figure. Thereafter, the document advances in the direction of the arrow (1) and reaches the half moon roller 203. The document is separated one page at a time from the upper side by the rotation of the half moon roller 203 and the separation roller 204, and the first page at the top of the document is transported in the direction of the arrow (2). This document is held by the transport roller 205 and advances in the direction of arrow (3), and is eventually guided by the transport belt 206 in the direction of arrow (4). In the full-surface transport belt 206, a frictional force acts to suck and transport the original over the entire surface, and the original can be stopped accurately at a predetermined position on the platen. The sequence control of these ADF operations is all performed by the ADF controller 105.

The original stopped at a predetermined position is
The document is exposed under the control of the exposure system controller 107 at 00, the document is scanned, and the surface of the first page is read. After the scanning of the front surface of the first page is completed, the entire conveying belt 2
Reference numeral 06 rotates in the reverse direction, and operates to move the document in the direction of the arrow (5) opposite to the direction of the arrow (4). The manuscript is an arrow
It proceeds in the direction (6), and in the direction of the arrow (7) so as to be wound around the roller by the rotational conveyance force of the large conveyance roller 207.

Here, the operation of the switching flapper 210 will be described. The switching flapper 210 has a role of switching the transport direction in order to select whether to discharge the original or to reverse the original and read the original again. The switching flapper 21 shown in FIG.
The position of 0 indicates the position when the document is inverted and read again. By this control, the document advances to the arrow (8), and is eventually held by the transport roller 205,
After being stopped at a predetermined position by the entire-surface transport belt 206 in accordance with the same sequence as described above, the image is read by the scanner 100 as the back surface of the first surface.

After the scanning of the back surface of the first page is completed, the paper discharge sequence operates in the same manner as described above, and the paper is conveyed in the order of arrows (5) → (6) → (7). By switching the switching flapper 210 counterclockwise from the position shown in FIG. 2 around the black mark,
The document is conveyed in the direction of arrow (9), and finally returns to the stacking tray 201 by the discharge roller 208.

From the second page onward, the original is sequentially scanned from the front side to the back side in the same sequence as the first page, and a series of original reading is completed when the back side of the last page is completed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the attributes of the document to be scanned are described in the document scanner device, and when image data is output as a structured document, the attribute items to be described are: By inputting the data by the start of the scanning operation and automatically writing the data by the scanner device, the workload of the operator can be greatly reduced, and even if the read image data is searched later, it is attached to the document. There is an effect that it is possible to search with high accuracy due to the presence of many attribute items.

The present invention can be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), but can be applied to a single device (for example, a copier, a facsimile). Device).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (a computer) of the system or the apparatus. Or a CPU or MPU) reads out and executes the program code stored in the storage medium,
Needless to say, this is achieved. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
In addition, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also based on the instructions of the program code,
The operating system (OS) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code. , The CPU provided in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In scanning and storing the original document, at least a part of the document attributes is automatically created and stored, so that the work efficiency of the document storing operation can be significantly improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a scanner device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an ADF according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation panel according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating document attribute items according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a hierarchical structure of a manuscript document according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a screen for logging in to the scanner device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a login operation according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a main flowchart illustrating a flow of a reading process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a scan process according to the first embodiment.

Claims (27)

[Claims] A reading device that optically reads a document to obtain image data; a reading device that holds attribute information that can be acquired by the reading device in reading the document; and a reading device that is obtained by the reading device. Document storage, comprising: generating means for generating document data using image data and attribute information stored in the storing means; and storing means for storing the document data generated by the generating means. system. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an operation unit configured to input predetermined information regarding reading of the document image, wherein the holding unit holds attribute information obtained from the predetermined information input by the operation unit. 2. The document storage system according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The attribute information obtained from the predetermined information input by the operation means, the resolution in the reading,
Image type, number of bits, double-sided single-sided specification, original size,
3. The document storage system according to claim 2, wherein the document attribute includes at least one of an image data format. 4. The attribute information obtained from the predetermined information input by the operation means is a name of an operator who has performed the reading operation, a charge affiliation code, and information indicating a storage location of the document data by the storage means. 4. The document storage system according to claim 2, wherein the attribute is an operator attribute including at least one of the attributes. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit holds at least one of a name set in the reading device and a date when the original document was read as attribute information. Document storage system described in Crab. 6. The holding unit is obtained as a result of reading the original document by the reading device.
6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the number of documents and the image memory capacity is stored as attribute information.
Document storage system according to any one of the above. 7. The document storage system according to claim 1, wherein the reading device and the device having the storage unit are connected via a network. 8. A scanner device for optically reading an original document, comprising: operating means for inputting predetermined information regarding reading of an original image; and acquiring and holding attribute information from the content input by the operating means. A scanner device comprising: a holding unit; and an output unit that outputs image data obtained by reading the document image and attribute information held by the holding unit to the outside. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information acquired by the holding unit includes at least one of a resolution, an image type, a bit number, designation of one side of both sides, a document size, and an image data format in the reading. Item 9. The scanner device according to item 8. 10. The attribute information acquired by the operation means includes at least one of a name of an operator who has performed the reading operation, a charge affiliation code, and information indicating a storage location of the document data by the storage means. The scanner device according to claim 8, wherein: 11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said holding means further holds, as attribute information, at least one of a name set in said reading device and a date when said original document was read. The scanner device according to any one of the above. 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the holding unit further holds, as attribute information, at least one of the number of documents and the image memory capacity obtained as a result of reading the document image. 12. The scanner device according to any one of items 11 to 11. 13. The document processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output unit forms document data based on image data obtained by reading the document image and attribute information held by the holding unit, and outputs the document data. The scanner device according to claim 8. 14. A document storage method in a document storage system including a reading device that optically reads a document and obtains image data, wherein a holding device holds attribute information obtainable by the reading device in reading the document. Generating document data using the image data obtained in the reading step and the attribute information held in the holding step; and storing the document data generated in the generating step. And a document storage method. 15. The reading apparatus further comprises an operation step of inputting predetermined information regarding reading of the document image, and the holding step holds attribute information obtained from the predetermined information input in the operation step. The document storage method according to claim 14, wherein: 16. The attribute information obtained from the predetermined information input in the operation step includes at least one of a resolution, an image type, the number of bits, a designation of one side of both sides, a document size, and an image data format in the reading. The document storing method according to claim 15, wherein the document is a document attribute. 17. The attribute information obtained from the predetermined information input in the operation step includes the name of an operator who performed the reading operation, a charging affiliation code, and information indicating a storage location of document data in the storage step. 17. The document storage method according to claim 15, wherein the attribute is an operator attribute including at least one of them. 18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the holding step holds, as attribute information, at least one of a name set in the reading device and a date when the original document was read. Document storage method described in Crab. 19. The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the holding step holds, as attribute information, at least one of the number of documents and an image memory capacity obtained as a result of reading the document by the reading device. 14
19. The document storage method according to any one of claims 18 to 18. 20. The reading device and a device having a storage medium as a storage destination of the document data in the storing step are connected via a network, and the storing step includes:
The method according to claim 14, further comprising transmitting the document data via the network. 21. A method for controlling a scanner device for optically reading an original document, comprising: an operation step of inputting predetermined information regarding reading of an original image; and acquiring attribute information from the content input in the operation step. A method of controlling the scanner device, comprising: a holding step of holding the document image; and an output step of outputting image data obtained by reading the document image and the attribute information held in the holding step to the outside. 22. The attribute information acquired in the holding step includes at least one of a resolution, an image type, a bit number, designation of one side of both sides, a document size, and an image data format in the reading. Item 22. The control method for a scanner device according to item 21. 23. The attribute information acquired in the operation step includes at least one of the name of an operator who has performed the reading operation, a charging affiliation code, and information indicating a storage location of document data in the storage step. The control method for a scanner device according to claim 21, wherein: 24. The storage device according to claim 21, wherein the holding step further holds, as attribute information, at least one of a name set in the reading device and a date when the original document was read. The control method of a scanner device according to any one of the above. 25. The method according to claim 21, wherein the holding step further holds, as attribute information, at least one of the number of documents and an image memory capacity obtained as a result of reading the document image. 24. The control method of a scanner device according to any one of 24. 26. The output step, wherein document data is constructed based on image data obtained by reading the document image and attribute information held in the holding step, and the document data is output. A method for controlling a scanner device according to any one of claims 21 to 25. 27. A storage medium storing a control program for realizing the method according to claim 14 by a computer.