JP2001306457A - Communication apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the input operation of a destination address in the internet FAX. SOLUTION: A digital composite unit 10 is provided with the internet FAX function and a pen-type scanner 16 for reading a mail address. A user holds the pen type scanner 16 in hand to trace the mail address which is written in the visiting card 100 of a transmission opposite party on a reading surface so that the address is inputted to the composite unit 10. A character string being a reading result is displayed in a display and operation part 12. The user views it and performs correction, etc., as necessary. When the user depresses the start button of the composite unit 10, the composite unit 10 reads an original which is set in an original reading part 14, generates an electronic mail comprising the original image and transmits it to the inputted destination address.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for simplifying a task of inputting a communication destination address to a communication device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Digital multifunction peripherals having functions of a copier, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile and the like have become widespread. In recent years, Internet F
It is also possible to provide an AX (I-fax) function. In the case of Internet FAX, the transmission content can be transmitted as an e-mail to the e-mail address of the other party. Therefore, when using the Internet FAX, an e-mail address may be input.
However, an e-mail address is generally longer than a telephone number or a facsimile number, and more characters are used. In particular, when trying to send an e-mail from a multifunction machine or a facsimile machine, input devices such as a keyboard are often poor compared to a personal computer or the like, and inputting a mail address is often troublesome.

[0003] In order to improve such a problem, many techniques for simplifying the operation of inputting address information of a communication destination have been proposed. For example, JP-A-6-244979, JP-A-6-268793, and JP-A-6-164778
Each publication discloses a facsimile apparatus which reads a facsimile number from an image of a business card placed on a document table by character recognition and transmits a facsimile to the number.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-27313 discloses a network facsimile apparatus having a function of reading a mail address from an image of a business card placed on a document table by character recognition and registering the mail address in an address book of an electronic mail system. Have been.

[0005]

In each of the above prior arts,
It is necessary to specify a part of the business card image from the read image and further specify a facsimile number and a mail address position from the business card image. Therefore, unless a business card reading position is set on the platen and a measure such as placing a business card there is taken, the mail address or the like cannot be quickly recognized.

In many cases, business cards are stored in a business card folder (album) or the like. In such a case, in the related art, there is a problem that business cards must be taken out of the folder and set on a document table. is there.

[0007] Also, in addition to business cards, mail addresses and the like may be written on postcards, books, and the like. However, the above-described conventional technology is compatible with mail addresses and the like described on such various types of media. Was very difficult.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and a communication apparatus capable of reading a facsimile number, a mail address, or the like described on a business card or other medium by a simple operation and performing communication therewith. The purpose is to provide.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a communication apparatus according to the present invention comprises a hand-held scanner for holding a user's hand to read a reading section toward a target portion, and a hand-held scanner for reading. An address acquisition unit that performs character recognition on the image read in step 1 and obtains the address of the communication destination, and a communication unit that accesses the communication destination by using the obtained address and performs communication.

The address mentioned here includes an electronic mail address, a telephone number, a facsimile number, a web page address, and the like. In this configuration, since the user operates the hand-held scanner to specify the reading area, there is no need to provide a means for specifying a reading position as in the related art for reading a business card placed on a document table. Further, it is possible to read a business card or the like while putting it in an album or the like, and it can correspond to addresses displayed on various media such as business cards, postcards, and books.

If a pen-type scanner is used as a handy-type scanner, addresses of various lengths can be flexibly handled.

[0012] In a preferred aspect, the communication device includes start instruction means for receiving a communication start instruction from a user, and address accumulating means for accumulating addresses sequentially read by the handy-type scanner. When a start instruction is received, the communication unit communicates with the address group stored in the address storage unit. In this aspect, a plurality of communication destinations can be continuously scanned and input.

In a preferred aspect, the communication device includes a plurality of communication means having different communication methods, and a determination means for determining which communication method corresponds to the address obtained by the address obtaining means. Selecting means for selecting a communication means to be used from the plurality of communication means in accordance with a result of the judgment by the judgment means.

According to this aspect, it is possible to automatically select an appropriate communication means according to the type of the address read by the hand-held scanner and perform communication.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a digital multifunction peripheral 10 which is an example of a communication device according to the present invention. FIG.
The digital multifunction peripheral 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a document reading unit 14 for reading a document to be copied, facsimile transmitted, and e-mail transmitted, and a display / operation unit 12 as a user interface device for operating the multifunction peripheral 10. Provided. The display / operation unit 12 includes, for example, a touch panel for displaying and inputting, a keyboard such as a numeric keypad, a start button, and the like.

The multifunction device 10 further includes a document reading unit 1
A pen-type scanner 16 for reading an e-mail address or the like is provided separately from the electronic mail address 4. The pen-type scanner 16 has a reading width that covers the character height (for example, 8 to 10 points) of an e-mail address or the like printed on a business card or the like. The character string is read by tracing. The pen-type scanner 16 is connected to the main body of the multifunction peripheral 10 by a cable.
It is accommodated in a holder provided in the main body.

If the e-mail address printed on the destination business card 100 is traced by the pen-type scanner 16 while the business card 100 is kept in the business card folder 110, the information of this address is transmitted to the control unit of the digital multifunction peripheral 10. Can be entered.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the digital MFP 10. Among them, the display / operation unit 12, the document reading unit 14, and the pen-type scanner 16 have already been described.
The system control unit 11 is a unit that controls the overall processing of the digital MFP 10. Communication control unit 13
Is a mechanism for performing processing for facsimile communication via a telephone line or network communication via a LAN or the Internet.

The OCR processing unit 15 includes a pen type scanner 16
Is a means for performing a character recognition process on the image read by. In the present embodiment, since the facsimile number and the e-mail address are to be recognized, the OCR processing unit 15 only needs to be able to recognize alphanumeric characters. The image forming apparatus 17 is an apparatus that performs printing on a sheet at the time of copying, printing, receiving a facsimile, and the like. The mode control unit 18 also controls the multifunction device 1
This is a mechanism for controlling an operation mode of 0. In this example,
The operation modes of the MFP 10 include copy, scanner, facsimile (FAX), and e-mail. The switching of the operation mode is performed by the user directly selecting a mode from the display / operation unit 12 or by performing an operation input specific to a certain mode. FIG. 3 shows an example of a user interface screen for mode selection displayed on the display / operation unit 12. A screen as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed as, for example, an initial screen of the display / operation unit 12, and the user can select a mode on this screen.

FIG. 4 shows a digital multifunction peripheral 10 according to the present embodiment.
9 is a flowchart showing a procedure for transmitting an e-mail in FIG.

When the user wants to send an e-mail using the I-fax function, the user sets the transmission original on the platen of the reading unit 14 or an ADF (automatic original feeder), and sets the e-mail mode on the display / operation unit 12. Select (S10). Then, the mode control unit 18 switches the mode of the MFP 10 to the e-mail mode. Note that even if there is no explicit mode selection instruction as described above, the multi-function device 10 sets the e-mail mode if the character string read by the pen-type scanner 16 has the characteristic of an e-mail address (S20). Works with

Next, the user inputs a destination e-mail address. In inputting the address, the pen-type scanner 16 can be used in the present embodiment. The user turns on the reading operation by holding the pen-type scanner 16 with his / her hand, and traces the e-mail address of the business card of the transmission partner on the reading surface (S12). Thereby, the image of the mail address portion is read and sent to the OCR processing unit 15. The OCR processing unit 15 performs processing such as character segmentation and character recognition on the image to extract a character string included in the image (S14). Next, it is determined whether the e-mail mode has been selected (S16). If the e-mail mode has been selected, the character string (e-mail address) is displayed to receive confirmation from the user.
It is displayed on the operation unit 12 (S18).

FIG. 5 shows a display / display screen in the e-mail mode.
4 shows an example of a user interface screen displayed on the operation unit 12. The character string 200 of the read mail address is displayed on this user interface screen. Note that this screen is provided with buttons for specifying attributes such as resolution, document type, and reading density, in addition to address display.

If the e-mail mode is not selected in S16, it is determined whether or not the character string has the characteristics of the mail address (including the "@" mark) (S20), and the characteristics of the mail address are determined. If you have
It is displayed on the display / operation unit 12 (S18). S20
If it is determined that the character string is not an email address,
The process shifts to another mode corresponding to the character string, such as a copy mode or a facsimile mode (S22).

When the character string of the mail address is displayed on the user interface screen (see FIG. 5), the user determines whether or not it is correct (S24). If incorrect, the user presses the clear button on the display / operation unit 12 to clear the address (S26) and re-reads the address (S12), or uses the keyboard to input the e-mail address displayed on the screen. Correct (S2
Perform step 8). When the correction operation is performed, the correction result is displayed on the screen (S18). Pen type scanner 1
When using No. 6, not only misrecognition of characters, but also reading of only the middle of the address or reading of characters displayed next to the address may occur. The correct address can be set by correcting the address character string. If the characters next to the address have been read, the address may be cut out and set by recognizing a space (blank) by software processing in the OCR processing unit 15 or the like. It is possible.

If the user determines that the e-mail address displayed on the screen is correct (S24), and there is another destination (S30), the user reads it with the pen-type scanner 16 (S12). In this case, the mail address displayed so far is stored in the buffer. By repeating such address reading, confirmation / correction operations, a plurality of destination addresses can be input.

After inputting and confirming the addresses of all the destinations to which the mail is to be transmitted (S3)
0), the user presses the start button of the display / operation unit 12. Then, the multifunction peripheral 10 reads the original set on the original platen or the ADF (S32), creates an e-mail attached with the image of the original, and transmits the e-mail to all destination addresses that have accumulated the e-mail in the buffer. Yes (S3
4). When transmission is completed, all addresses stored in the buffer are deleted.

As described above, in this embodiment, the user holds the pen-type scanner 16 having a narrow reading width by hand, and performs reading by touching the reading surface to an address display portion such as a business card.
Processing for specifying a business card portion and an address portion from an image is almost unnecessary, and address information can be obtained more efficiently than in the related art in which a business card is read by placing a business card on a document reading section. Since the pen-type scanner 16 was used,
The address can be read while the business card is still in the business card folder, or the address can be read from various shapes and sizes of paper other than the business card such as a postcard or a book. In the present embodiment, addresses read from a plurality of business cards and the like are sequentially accumulated in a buffer, and an e-mail is sent to all of the addresses by pressing a start button. Documents can be sent efficiently.

In the above example, a pen-type scanner is used for address reading. Instead, a hand-held (portable) type one-dimensional scanner having a reading width of about the line width of a business card address is used. It is also possible. However,
The pen-type scanner is more flexible because it can handle addresses of any length.

In the above example, the case where the e-mail address is read and the mail is transmitted is taken as an example. However, the destination FAX number in the case of the facsimile transmission is similarly read by the pen-type scanner 16 and used. Can be.

The OCR determines whether the character string read by the scanner 16 is a mail address or a fax number.
If the character string is a mail address, the MFP 10 is set to the e-mail mode, and the character string is
In the case of the AX number, automatic setting such as setting to the FAX mode is also possible. The FAX number can be identified by being composed only of numbers, by the number of digits of numbers arranged with "-" (hyphen) therebetween, and the like.

In the above example, the case where the document image is transmitted by e-mail or facsimile is taken as an example. However, in the apparatus of this embodiment, the URL of the WWW Web page is compounded using the pen-type scanner 16. It is also possible for the MFP 10 to access the page using the URL and print it out.

If one pen-type scanner 16 is intended to cope with some variation in character size, it is necessary to increase the reading width of the scanner 16. In such a case, if the character size of a mail address written on a business card or the like is small, a single scan may read a plurality of lines such as a FAX number and a mail address at the same time. As a countermeasure in such a case, for example, a mechanism may be provided in which the address character string of each line read simultaneously is displayed on the user interface screen, and the user can select a necessary one. When the e-mail mode is set, automatic selection in conjunction with the mode setting is possible, such as the system selecting an e-mail address determined from a plurality of addresses read at the same time.

In the above description, a digital multifunction peripheral has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to a facsimile machine and the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an initial screen for mode selection.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of transmitting an e-mail using the apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface screen in an e-mail mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 digital multifunction machine, 12 display / operation unit, 14 original reading unit, 16 pen-type scanner, 100 business card, 11
0 Business card holder.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kohei Genda 3-2-1, Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa KSP R & D Business Park Building Inside Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hironobu Nagayama Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa 3-2-1, KSP R & D Business Park Building Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5C072 AA01 PA04 PA10 5K036 BB01 DD22 DD46 KK06 KK09 5K101 NN04 NN14 RR12

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A hand-held scanner that holds a user with a hand and directs a reading unit toward a target portion, and performs character recognition on an image read by the hand-held scanner to obtain a communication destination address. A communication device comprising: an address acquisition unit that performs communication by using the acquired address to access a communication destination. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the handy scanner is a pen scanner. 3. A start instruction unit for receiving a communication start instruction from a user, and an address storage unit for storing addresses sequentially read by the handy-type scanner, wherein when the start instruction unit receives a communication start instruction, The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit communicates with the address group stored in the address storage unit. 4. An original reading means, wherein the communication means comprises:
2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein data of the document read by said document reading means is transmitted to said communication destination. 5. A communication device comprising: a plurality of communication means having different communication methods; a determination means for determining which communication method the address acquired by the address acquisition means corresponds to; 2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: selecting means for selecting a communication means to be used from the plurality of communication means.