JP2000069221A - Network scanner system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network scanner system which is satisfactory in operability accumulating an original in a data base by utilizing a scanner server connected to a network scanner device and the network scanner device having the original scanned. SOLUTION: A general-purpose computer such as a PC or a WS is used to a scanner server device 2, the scanner server device 2 controls an operation panel control part 13 of a network scanner device 1 through a network, has the network scanner device scan an original and accumulates it is a data base of a data base/mail server device 3. It is possible to utilize network scanner system for a variety of jobs and purposes through the application of the scanner server device 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a network scanner system comprising a network scanner device and a scanner server device connected to a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent spread of networks, various devices have been connected to the networks and have been used as shared devices by a plurality of users. In particular, a network compatible printer is a typical example. Conventionally, scanner devices have been used by being directly connected to a personal computer PC or the like by SCSI or the like. Recently, however, many attempts have been made to incorporate a network interface and directly connect to a network.

In the case of a scanner device, unlike a printer,
The major issue is how to capture the scanned image. In order to solve this problem, conventionally, a method has been attempted in which scanning conditions and the like are registered in advance in a network scanner device from a client side, and the condition ID is selected when a document is read from the network scanner device. Was.

In recent years, with the development of software, software compatible with groupware such as e-mail has been used as an information infrastructure mainly by companies. For this reason, as a function of the network scanner device, dedicated software is installed on the client side and images are not taken in, but stored directly in the groupware database from the scanner device on the network or directly to the specified e-mail address The demand for sending is increasing.

[0005]

In order to satisfy the demand for the conventional technology, it is necessary to specify a database or a mail address. However, unlike a PC or the like, the operation panel of the scanner device is simple. Because
There has been a problem that, at most, designation using a numeric keypad and several lines of LCDs is only possible. Therefore, using a network TWAIN that is an extension of TWAIN, which is a standard interface conventionally used for SCSI connection, a client PC selects a storage destination database, a transmission mail address, and the like. A method has been considered in which an image is read from a scanner device on a network in the same manner as the device, and is transmitted from a client PC to groupware.

However, in this method, the user sets a document on a scanner device at a remote place, returns to the PC at his seat, operates the PC, performs a desired process, and goes to the scanner device again. , There was the trouble of getting the manuscript. In order to solve this problem, in the conventional network scanner system, the client PC side
Select the storage database, set the destination address, etc., send it to the network scanner system in advance, design the scanner conditions, then go to the scanner device, select the scanner conditions and scan the original And so on. However, even in this case, the operation on the PC is required, and all the client PCs using the network scanner device are required.
On the other hand, there was a disadvantage that the software for that purpose had to be installed.

[0007] In groupware such as Lotus Notes, a database is generally created for various uses and purposes. Therefore, each database is given a database name according to the purpose. Specifying this database name from the network scanner device requires that a digital copier or scanner device that has only a simple operation panel list the database list in the same way as a Notes client on a PC, It is impossible to choose.

For this reason, it is generally considered that the ID is numerically set using a numeric keypad or the like. This method corresponds to a shortened dial in a FAX machine. That is, “01” is assigned to the “information bulletin board” of the database in advance, and when “01” is input as the destination from the scanner device, the scanned image data is transmitted to the database of the “information bulletin board”. is there. However, in this case, there is a problem that it is difficult to recognize that this is an information bulletin board with “01”.

[0009] In the network scanner device, I
It is also conceivable to have a relation table between D and a database name, and to display the database name associated with the LCD when an ID is input. However, in this case, if all processing is performed by the network scanner device, advanced processing such as storage areas for tables, setting mechanisms, and exchanges with groupware is required, and the device itself becomes extremely expensive. In addition, there has been a problem that the existing digital copier or scanner cannot be used, and the scanner becomes a dedicated scanner device.

The present invention solves the above-described problem. When scanning a document, a network scanner device utilizes a scanner server device connected to the device to store a groupware storage database and a destination mail. By providing a method for selecting, specifying, and confirming addresses, and installing a method in which the scanner server device controls the information on the operation panel of the network scanner device via the network, the user can operate the PC at his / her desk without performing any operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a network scanner system with good operability in which a document is directly scanned in a network scanner apparatus, and a document is scanned as if a copy is taken, and the document is stored in a target database.

[0011]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network scanner system connected to a network and a scanner connected to the network scanner device. In a network scanner system having a configuration with a server device, a database storage unit for storing a database of groupware and a scanned database, a database selection unit for selecting the stored database, and checking the selected database. It is characterized by comprising a database confirmation means and an operation panel control means for controlling the selection and confirmation of the database by an operation panel of the network scanner apparatus via the network by the scanner server apparatus.

Further, the network scanner system according to the second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that it has an ID setting means for setting an ID for defining input data when performing the scan.

The network scanner system according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the network scanner system has a table search means for confirming the set ID.

Further, the network scanner system according to the invention of claim 4 is characterized in that the ID is a document type and a registrant ID.

Further, in the network scanner system according to the present invention, when the scan is started,
It is characterized by having start display means for notifying the start of scanning.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network scanner system showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a network scanner device 1 and a scanner server device 2, a database / mail server device 3, which is a server for groupware, etc., and an unspecified number of client PCs 4 and clients on a local area network LAN or a wide area network WAN. PC5, Client PC6
Is connected. Although three client PCs are shown in FIG. 1, the number is not limited to three, and many connections are possible. The client PC represented by the client PC 4 is a groupware database /
It is possible to exchange documents with the mail server device 3 to view and edit documents registered in the database.

The network scanner device 1 has an internal BU
S and a CPU 11 connected to the internal BUS, a network control unit 12 connected by a network cable to exchange communication control unit signals with the scanner server device 2 through a network, and an operation panel control unit 1 including an operation panel
3. A scanner device control unit 14 that controls a scanner device to actually read an original or the like, and a scan control unit 15 that controls these control units to control a network scan function.

The scanner server device 2 is composed of a personal computer PC and a workstation WS, controls the network scanner device 1 via a network, and stores / transmits the read document data to the database / mail server device 3. The database / mail server device 3 operates with a groupware server installed.

FIG. 2 shows a first operation example of the network scanner system of the present invention. The operation of FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the user goes to the network scanner device 1 with a document and presses the scanner mode button on the operation panel (21). The press of the button is detected by the operation panel control unit 13 of the network scanner device 1 and scanning is performed. Notify the control unit 15. The scan controller 15 switches the network scanner device 1 to the network scanner mode, and notifies the scanner server device 2 of the “network scanner mode” via the network controller 12.

When the scanner server device 2 receives the notification from the network scanner device 1, it transmits a command for displaying a message "Please input the ID of the registration DB" to the LCD of the network scanner device 1.
When this command is received by the scan control unit 15 of the network scanner device 1 through the network control unit 12, the “registration DB” is displayed on the LCD through the operation panel control unit 13.
Please input the ID of "." (22).

Subsequently, the scanner server device 2 sends the input command to the network scanner device 1, and upon receiving the command, the scan control unit 15 similarly operates the operation panel control unit 1.
Wait for a key input through 3 (23). When the user inputs an ID such as “03” from the numeric keypad (2
4) "03" is displayed on the LCD display (25), the scan control unit 15 receives the ID input from the operation panel control unit 13, and notifies the scanner server device 2 of the network destination via the network control unit 12 of the ID. I do.

The scanner server device 2 receives the received ID
Is converted into a database name by a table search based on the table search command, and the network scanner device 1 is again instructed to display the database name, for example, “information bulletin board”. Subsequently, the scanner server device 2 sends a message “press the start button” to the network scanner device 1 so that the network scanner device 1
The message "Press the start button" is displayed on the upper LCD together with the display of "information bulletin board" (26).

Further, the scanner server device 2 sends a command waiting for input to the network scanner device 1, and upon receiving the command, the network scanner device 1 waits for a user input. Further, by enabling the LED control from the scanner server device 2 to the network scanner device 1, it is possible to transmit “turn on the LED of the start button” with the LED display command simultaneously with the input waiting command,
At the same time as waiting for the start button, the LED of the start button is turned on, so that a user-friendly operation can be provided.

When the user sets a document and presses the start button (27), the network scanner 1 also recognizes that the start button has been pressed through the operation panel control section 13, and the start button is input. This is notified to the scanner server device 2. The scanner server device 2 that has received the input of the start button reads an original from the network scanner device 1 using an interface such as a network TWAIN that is an existing technology, receives the read data, and then uses the interface of the groupware to perform a book operation. The process of writing to a preset database described in the operation of the invention is performed. This writing can be easily performed by using the Notes API when the groupware uses Lotus Notes, for example.

Next, an example will be described in which the configuration of the present invention can be applied to other tasks without changing the configuration and functions of the network scanner device 1 on the application software side of the scanner server device 2. Since the scanner server device 2 is a PC or WS as described in FIG. 1, it is extremely easy to create an application.

FIG. 3 shows a second operation example of the network scanner system of the present invention. The operation of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. Up to the switching to the scanner mode (31, 32, 33), the operation is exactly the same as the operation description (21, 22, 23) of FIG. FIG.
In this example, a message for selecting a document type from the scanner server device 2 is sent to the network scanner device 1 here.
Is displayed. In this example, for example, “01” is a general document, and “02” is assigned to a contract or the like.

When the user inputs "02" (34),
“02” is added to the LCD display (35), and the scanner server device 2 prompts the user through the network scanner device 1 to input the registrant ID, and the LCD server displays the LCD (36). Here, by registering the registrant ID as an employee number or the like, the user inputs his / her own employee number (37). The scanner server device 2 receiving this number confirms the registrant ID by a table search, returns the employee name to the network scanner device 1, echoes it back, displays it on the LCD (38), and recognizes it to the user. Easy operation can be provided. Thereafter, as in the first operation example of FIG. 2, reading is started by the user's start button, and the read data can be stored in a predetermined database or the like.

As described above, the network scanner device 1
The application business that uses is wide-ranging, and various usage methods are expected. Incorporating functions into the network scanner device 1 for each of these applications means that the network scanner device 1 is assumed to be a digital copying machine or a normal scanner device, and thus can be easily incorporated into these devices or used in such devices. Developing software that runs on equipment is not easy. In this regard, the control method of the operation panel between the scanner server device 2 and the network scanner device 1 according to the present invention requires only application development in the scanner server device 2 in which application development is very easy.
It can be used for various purposes. Further, the network scanner does not need to have a complicated configuration.

FIG. 4 shows an example of commands exchanged between the scanner server device 2 and the network scanner device 1 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the present invention based on the present invention.

[0030]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, according to the present invention, a general-purpose computer such as a PC or WS is used as a scanner server, and a network scanner such as a digital copying machine or a scanner is used. By being able to control the operation panel of the device, even with a simple configuration of the network scanner device, the network scanner device can be connected to the network for various tasks and applications by the application of the scanner server device without expanding the network scanner device. It can be utilized. Further, even with a limited operation panel, it is possible to provide a network scanner system having good operability, such as setting conditions in an interactive manner with a user. Further, since all operations can be performed in front of the network scanner device by the user, it can be easily used even by a user unfamiliar with the operation of the PC.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, by setting the ID, the operation can be simplified and the operation time can be shortened.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, by performing a table search for confirming the ID,
D can be displayed with a content display added thereto, thereby facilitating confirmation.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, the IDs are the document type and the registrant ID, and the user can be limited to the registrant, thereby enabling the security management of the database.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the start of the scanner can be notified and the operation is facilitated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a network scanner system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation diagram showing an operation flow of the network scanner system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an operation diagram showing an operation flow of the network scanner system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a command diagram in the operation of the network scanner system shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network scanner device 2 Scanner server device 3 Database / mail server device 4, 5, 6 Client PC 11 CPU 12 Network control unit 13 Operation panel control unit 14 Scanner device control unit 15 Scan control unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A network scanner system comprising a network scanner device connected to a network and a scanner server device connected to the network scanner device, wherein a database of groupware and a scanned database are stored. A database storage unit; a database selection unit that selects the stored database; a database confirmation unit that confirms the selected database; and a scanner server device that performs selection and confirmation of the database on an operation panel of the network scanner device. A network scanner system, comprising: an operation panel control unit for controlling via a network. 2. The network scanner system according to claim 1, further comprising ID setting means for setting an ID for defining input data when performing the scan. 3. The network scanner system according to claim 2, further comprising table search means for checking the set ID. 4. The network scanner system according to claim 3, wherein said ID is a document type and a registrant ID. 5. The network scanner system according to claim 1, further comprising a start display unit for notifying the start of the scan at the start of the scan.