JP2004096279A - Image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing system composed of an image reader and an information processor connected to a network which deals with various image data formats with a reduced load of the image reader, and improves the degree of operation freedom for transmitting electronic mails of images read by the image reader. <P>SOLUTION: An image reader has a means for sending image data read by an image reading means to an information processor. The information processor has a means for receiving the image data from an image data sending means, and a mail processing means for forming and sending a mail accompanied with the image data received by the image data receiving means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing system, and more particularly, to an image processing system in which an image reading device such as a scanner or a copier and an information processing device are connected via a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a scanner having an image reading unit for reading an image from a document on which an image is recorded and outputting the image as image data, and an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet or the like based on image data together with a similar image reading unit Image reading apparatuses such as digital copying machines are well known.
[0003]
Conventionally, an image processing system used in a network environment has been provided.
[0004]
The image processing system includes, for example, an image reading device such as a digital copying machine, and an information processing device such as a personal computer or a workstation for instructing the image reading device to scan (read) or print (print) an image. Are connected to each other by a network. Further, a configuration in which a plurality of image reading apparatuses and a plurality of information processing apparatuses, and a plurality of image forming apparatuses such as a digital copying machine and a printer are connected to the network may be adopted.
[0005]
In such an image processing system, for example, there is known a usage method as a scanner mode in which an information processing apparatus instructs an image reading apparatus to read an image and transfers the image read by the image reading apparatus to the information processing apparatus. ing.
[0006]
In a conventional image processing system, for example, a function of directly sending an image file of an image read by an image reading device in the scanner mode using an electronic mail function in the image reading device is realized.
[0007]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-333237 discloses that when performing various image processing on image data, the image processing is performed by an image reading device or the image data is transferred to an information processing device via a network. An image processing system that allows a user to select whether to perform image processing in the information processing apparatus is disclosed.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when performing image transmission using the e-mail function in the image reading device as described above, it is necessary to execute mail processing by the CPU of the image reading device, for example, a copying machine, so that the load is increased accordingly. In some cases, the normal copying operation of the copying machine may be interrupted or delayed.
[0009]
Conventionally, only a specific format (for example, tiff format) can be supported, and when a new method is required, such as when the other party cannot use the image format, it is necessary to introduce a corresponding program. In such a case, there is a problem that it takes much time and the load on the CPU of the copying machine increases due to the introduction of a new program.
[0010]
In addition, there is a problem in that the operation screen provided in the image reading apparatus such as a copying machine is small in size and the operation and setting with a high degree of freedom cannot be performed in terms of an empty space of the apparatus.
[0011]
Further, the conventional image processing system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-333237 has means for transferring image data from an image reading device to an information processing device, but discloses transmission of an image by e-mail. Absent.
[0012]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in an image processing system including an image reading device and an information processing device connected to a network, when an image read by the image reading device is transmitted by e-mail, It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing system capable of coping with various image data formats while reducing the load on the image reading device and improving the degree of freedom of operation.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an image processing system comprising an information processing apparatus and an image reading apparatus having image reading means for reading an image from a document to obtain image data, the network being connected to an image reading apparatus, The image reading apparatus further includes image data transmitting means for transmitting image data obtained by reading by the image reading means to the information processing apparatus, wherein the information processing apparatus transmits the image data from the image data transmitting means. It is characterized by having image data receiving means for receiving, and mail processing means for creating a mail attached with the image data received by the image data receiving means, and transmitting the created mail.
[0014]
Further, in the invention according to claim 1, the information processing apparatus further includes an image format conversion unit for converting the image data received by the image data reception unit into a predetermined format, wherein the mail processing unit However, the present invention is characterized in that a mail with the image data converted by the image format converting means is attached, and the created mail is transmitted.
[0015]
Also, in the present invention according to the second aspect, the image reading device further includes an image format specifying unit that specifies a format for converting image data attached to a mail, and the image format converting unit includes the image format converting unit. The image data received by the image data receiving means is converted into a format designated by the image format designating means, and the image reading device reads the image data obtained by the image reading means by the image format designating means. A second image format converter for converting the image data into a designated format, and a second mail for creating a mail attached with the image data converted by the second image format converter and transmitting the created mail Processing means, and the image format designating means Mail transmission source selection means for transmitting image data by image data transmission means based on the format specified by the user and selecting whether to use the mail processing means at the transmission destination or to use the second mail processing means And further characterized by:
[0016]
Further, in the invention according to claim 3, the image reading apparatus further includes an image format input unit for inputting a format for converting image data attached to a mail by a user, and the image format designating unit includes The format input by the image format input means is designated as a format for converting image data attached to a mail.
[0017]
Also, in the present invention according to the third aspect, a second information processing apparatus is connected to the network, and the second information processing apparatus inputs a format for converting image data to be attached to a mail by a user. Image format inputting means, and image format transmitting means for transmitting the format input by the image format inputting means to the image reading device, wherein the image reading device transmits the image data from the image format transmitting means. There is further provided an image format receiving means for receiving, wherein the image format designating means designates a format received by the image format receiving means as a format for converting image data attached to a mail.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an embodiment of an image processing system according to the present invention.
[0020]
In this embodiment, an electrophotographic digital copying machine will be described as an example of an image reading apparatus, and a PC (personal computer) will be described as an example of an information processing apparatus. Further, a PC that plays a role of a server in the network system among the plurality of PCs is hereinafter referred to as a server.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing system according to the present embodiment is configured by connecting PCs 1 to 3, a server 4, and digital copying machines 5 to 8 via a network 9.
[0022]
Each of the digital copying machines 5 to 8 is capable of reading (scanning) and forming an image (printing) of a document independently. In addition, the digital copying machines 5 to 8 are connected to a network 9 and read by the digital copying machine 5, for example. The transferred image can be transferred to the digital copying machine 6 to form an image on the digital copying machine 6, and vice versa. That is, an image read by one of the digital copying machines 5 to 8 is transferred to another device via the network 9, and an image received from another device via the network 9 is read by any of the digital copying machines 5 to 8. To form an image.
[0023]
In the present embodiment, the server 4 is also connected to the network 9. The server 4 receives the image data read by the digital copiers 5 to 8, creates a mail attached with the image data, and transmits the mail. In this case, the server 4 is connected to the network to which the mail destination is connected, and the mail is transmitted to this network.
[0024]
In FIG. 1, the network 9 may be any network such as a LAN such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or a token ring, or the Internet. An address (for example, an IP address) on the network is set in advance for each device connected to the network 9, and each device is identified by this address, and communicates with another device connected to the network 9. I do.
[0025]
In FIG. 1, the numerical relationship between the PC, that is, the information processing device, and the digital copying machine, that is, the image reading device, is many-to-many. However, this may be one-to-many or many-to-one. Needless to say.
[0026]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the digital copying machine 5 shown in FIG.
[0027]
The digital copying machines 5 to 8 shown in FIG. 1 have the same basic configuration according to the present embodiment, and therefore, the digital copying machine 5 will be described as a representative here.
[0028]
The digital copying machine 5 includes a network connection unit 51 which is an interface with the network 9 shown in FIG. 1, a control unit 52 for controlling the entire operation of the digital copying machine 5, an image reading unit 53 for reading an image from a document, For example, an image forming means 54 for forming an image on paper or the like, a storage means 55 for storing image data read by the image reading means 53 and other parameters necessary for the operation of the digital copying machine 5, And input means 56 for inputting an operation, an instruction, and the like, and display means 57 for displaying various information to the user. Note that the input unit 56 and the display unit 57 may be configured as an integrated operation screen such as a touch panel.
[0029]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the server 4 shown in FIG.
[0030]
The server 4 stores a network connection unit 41 which is an interface with the network 9 shown in FIG. 1, a control unit 42 for controlling the operation of the entire server 4, a program executed by the control unit 42, image data, and the like. The storage unit 43 includes an input unit 44 for a user to input an operation, an instruction, and the like to the server 4, and a display unit 45 for displaying various information to the user.
[0031]
The server 4 may have a function as a DNS (Domain Name System) server.
[0032]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the PC 1 shown in FIG.
[0033]
The PCs 1 to 3 shown in FIG. 1 have the same basic configuration according to the present embodiment, and therefore, the PC 1 will be described as a representative here.
[0034]
The PC 1 includes a network connection unit 11 which is an interface with the network 9 shown in FIG. 1, a control unit 12 for controlling the operation of the entire PC 1, a storage unit 13 for storing a program executed by the control unit 12, and a user. Has input means 14 for inputting operations, instructions and the like to the client PC 1 and display means 15 for displaying various information to the user.
[0035]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
[0036]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the operation of the image processing system shown in FIG.
[0037]
First, the user uses the input unit 56 and the display unit 57 of the digital copying machine 5 to specify an e-mail address of a partner who wants to send an e-mail with attached image data, a format of the attached image data, and the like (A -1).
[0038]
By the way, the input means 56 and the display means 57 of the digital copying machine 5 have to be reduced due to space and other problems on the apparatus. For this reason, it is difficult to provide, as the input means 56 of the digital copying machine 5, a full-key keyboard having input keys for all characters.
[0039]
Therefore, in the present invention, the digital copier may be remotely controlled from a PC, for example. In this case, for example, a web server is provided in the digital copying machine, and the web server of the digital copying machine is accessed by a web browser operating on the PC, whereby the digital copying machine can be remotely operated from the PC.
[0040]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen on the display unit 15 of the PC 1 shown in FIG.
[0041]
The display screen 20 shown in FIG. 6 is a screen for inputting an address or the like shown in step (A-1) of FIG. In the address field of the display screen 20, the mail address of the transmission destination is input, and in the format field, the format of the image data to be attached to the mail and transmitted is selected from the list. Examples of the format of the image data include tiff and PDF.
[0042]
By operating the digital copying machine using the input unit 14 and the display unit 15 of the PC 1 in this manner, the input of a mail address and the like can be easily performed. The file will be sent. "
[0043]
Returning to the description of FIG. 5, in step (A-2), the image is read by the image reading means 53 of the digital copying machine 5 to obtain image data.
[0044]
When reading of the image is completed, the digital copying machine 5 transmits the image data to the server 4 together with the information such as the address and the format input in step (A-1) (A-3). It is preferable that the address (for example, IP address) of the server 4 is stored in the storage unit 55 of the digital copying machine 5 in advance.
[0045]
At this time, the image data may be compressed into a predetermined compression format, thereby reducing the amount of memory used and the transfer time of the image data. When the image data is compressed in this manner, the server 4 at the transmission destination may perform the decompression processing.
[0046]
If the digital copying machine itself has a mail server function, the image data is transmitted to the server 4 in step (A-3) only when the format of the image data which cannot be handled by the digital copying machine is designated. However, when the format of the image data that can be handled by the digital copying machine is designated, the image data is not transmitted to the server 4 and the digital copying machine itself converts the image data into the designated format, and converts the converted image data. May be created and transmitted. In this case, it is necessary to connect the digital copying machine to a network to which the mail destination is connected.
[0047]
Even when the digital copying machine has a mail transmission function, if the digital copying machine is busy during a copying operation, the digital copying machine transmits image data and the like to the server 4 for load distribution, and the server 4 transmits the mail. It may be performed.
[0048]
When the server 4 receives the image data and the like from the digital copier 5 and receives a request for mail processing, the server 4 converts the image data into a specified format, creates a mail with the converted image data attached, and mails the image. Transmit (A-4). In the server 4, a program for receiving a mail processing request is run in the background, so that upon receiving a mail processing request, the mail processing is automatically executed. If the program for accepting the request for the mail processing is set to be automatically executed when the server 4 is started, the user only needs to start the server 4 to check the existence of the server 4 (from which device, the mail transmission is performed). The mail processing by the server 4 can be used without being conscious of whether the process has been performed.
[0049]
In general, the mail operation does not require immediateness. Therefore, by performing a separate process on the server 4 side, the digital copying machine 5 can immediately proceed to the next operation after transmitting image data or the like. it can.
[0050]
When the transmission of the mail is completed, the transmission result (transmission success / transmission failure, etc.) is transmitted from the server 4 to the digital copying machine 5 (A-5). Upon receiving this, the digital copying machine 5 displays the received transmission result on the display means 57 to notify the user. When the mail processing is executed by remote control from the PC 1, the transmission result may be displayed on the display unit 15 of the PC 1.
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when an image read by an image reading device is transmitted by e-mail in an image processing system including an image reading device and an information processing device connected to a network, It is possible to provide an image processing system that can cope with various image data formats while reducing the load on the apparatus and that can improve the degree of freedom of operation.
[0052]
Further, according to the present invention, the user can transmit the mail without being aware of the existence of the server.
[0053]
Further, according to the present invention, the format of image data can be selected with a high degree of freedom.
[0054]
Further, according to the present invention, by distributing the load, the copy operation / print operation can be performed by the digital copying machine even during mail transmission.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an embodiment of an image processing system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the digital copying machine shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a server illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a PC shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flowchart of an operation of the image processing system shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen on a display unit of the PC illustrated in FIG. 4;
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 2, 3 PC
4 server 5, 6, 7, 8 digital copying machine 9 network 11 network connection means 12 control means 13 storage means 14 input means 15 display means 20 display screen 41 network connection means 42 control means 43 storage means 44 input means 45 display means 51 Network connection means 52 Control means 53 Image reading means 54 Image forming means 55 Storage means 56 Input means 57 Display means

Claims (5)

An image processing system comprising an information processing apparatus and an image reading apparatus having an image reading unit that obtains image data by reading an image from a document and connected to a network,
The image reading apparatus further includes image data transmitting means for transmitting image data obtained by reading by the image reading means to the information processing apparatus,
The information processing apparatus, an image data receiving unit that receives image data from the image data transmitting unit, a mail that attaches the image data received by the image data receiving unit, and a mail that transmits the created mail. An image processing system comprising: a processing unit. The information processing apparatus further includes an image format conversion unit that converts the image data received by the image data reception unit into a predetermined format,
2. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the mail processing unit creates a mail to which the image data converted by the image format converting unit is attached, and transmits the created mail. The image reading apparatus further includes an image format designating unit that designates a format for converting image data attached to a mail,
The image format conversion unit converts the image data received by the image data receiving unit into a format specified by the image format specification unit,
A second image format conversion unit configured to convert the image data obtained by the image reading device by the image reading unit into a format designated by the image format designation unit; and a second image format conversion unit. A second mail processing unit that creates a mail attached with the format-converted image data, and transmits the created mail; and an image data transmission unit based on the format specified by the image format specification unit. 3. The image according to claim 2, further comprising: a mail transmission source selection unit that selects whether to use the mail processing unit of the transmission destination or to use the second mail processing unit. Processing system. The image reading apparatus further includes an image format input unit for inputting a format for converting image data to be attached to mail by a user,
4. The image processing system according to claim 3, wherein the image format designating unit designates a format input by the image format input unit as a format for converting image data attached to a mail. A second information processing device is connected to the network,
An image format input unit configured to allow a user to input a format for converting image data attached to a mail, and an image format configured to transmit the format input by the image format input unit to the image reading device; Transmission means,
The image reading apparatus further includes an image format receiving unit that receives image data from the image format transmitting unit,
4. The image processing system according to claim 3, wherein the image format designating unit designates a format received by the image format receiving unit as a format for converting image data attached to a mail.

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