JP2006197412A - Image reading system and reader selecting equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reading system capable of giving a user an effective support for selecting a picture reading equipment to be used, in the environment where multiple sets of equipment are available through a network containing different models with respect to the spec, or the structure. <P>SOLUTION: Once manuscript information DCi and conditions SPi are specified, then an equipment information collector 14 will collect the information EXis on each external equipment connected to the network NT by using a communication portion 13 through the network NT. If all the external equipments are prepared available as connected with the network NT, then an availability judging portion 15 specifies the list EXOKs of the available equipment based on manuscript information DCi and conditions SPi from the information EXis on each external equipment. The list display unit 16 displays the list EXOKs of the available equipment obtained from the availability judging portion 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading system and a reading device selection device used in an environment where a plurality of image reading devices are connected.

  Conventionally, there is an image reading system in which a plurality of image reading apparatuses are connected to a network. In such an image reading system, for example, a plurality of image reading apparatuses including different models may be mixed, such as a scanner of a multi-function printer (MFP) and a network scanner connected to the same network.

As an image reading apparatus used for such an image reading system or the like, for example, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1 by the present applicant. The image reading apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a storage control unit that stores image data in a designated storage location, and can easily transfer image data on a medium such as a printed material that has been read and digitized to another location. I am doing so.
JP 2001-358882 A

However, in the conventional image reading system described above, between the connected image reading apparatuses, for example, specifications such as correspondence to the document size, whether to support double-sided originals, whether to support color originals, resolution, Network traffic and other conditions may be different.
In a situation where a plurality of image reading apparatuses including models having different specifications and states are mixed, in order for the user to identify which image reading apparatus is most suitable for performing the target image reading In this case, the user needs to grasp the specifications of each device, and there is a possibility that the convenience for using the device is lacking.

  The above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is suitable for facilitating data transfer as an image reading apparatus, but there are a plurality of image reading apparatuses including models with different specifications and states. The improvement of convenience below was not considered.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and even in an environment where a plurality of image reading apparatuses including models having different specifications and states are mixed among apparatuses usable via a network. An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading system and a reading device selection device that can effectively support selection of an image reading device to be used by a user.

  In order to achieve such an object, an image reading system according to a first aspect of the present invention is an image reading system in which a plurality of image reading devices each having an image reading function are connected to a network, and an input means for receiving an input. And determining means for determining available image reading devices based on information input from the input means, and display means for displaying a list of image reading devices determined to be available by the determining means. Features.

  When at least one of reading document designation information and reading condition designation information is input from the input unit, the determination unit described above preferably determines an available image reading apparatus based on the input information. .

  The apparatus includes a device information collecting unit that collects information on other devices via the network, and the determining unit determines an available image reading device by further using the information collected by the device information collecting unit. Is preferred.

  It is preferable to provide an optimum determination unit that rearranges the list of image reading apparatuses determined to be usable by the determination unit described above in the optimal order based on the priority and displays the list on the display unit.

  It is preferable that at least the input unit, the determination unit, and the display unit described above are included in an image reading apparatus connected to a network.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reading device selection device that is used in an image reading system in which a plurality of image reading devices having an image reading function are connected to a network, and receives an input. An input unit; a determination unit that determines an available image reading device based on information input from the input unit; and a display unit that displays a list of image reading devices determined to be usable by the determination unit. It is characterized by that.

  When at least one of reading document designation information and reading condition designation information is input from the input unit, the determination unit described above preferably determines an available image reading apparatus based on the input information. .

  The apparatus includes a device information collecting unit that collects information on other devices via the network, and the determining unit determines an available image reading device by further using the information collected by the device information collecting unit. Is preferred.

  It is preferable to provide an optimum determination unit that rearranges the list of image reading apparatuses determined to be usable by the determination unit described above in the optimal order based on the priority and displays the list on the display unit.

  It is preferable that the reading device selection device is integrally included in the image reading device connected to the network.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even in an environment in which a plurality of image reading apparatuses including models having different specifications and states are mixed among apparatuses that can be used via a network, image reading to be used is performed. The selection by the user of the device can be effectively supported.

Next, an embodiment to which an image reading system and a reading device selection apparatus according to the present invention are applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Each of the following embodiments exemplifies a suitable one that improves the convenience of the image reading apparatus connected to the network.

[First Embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading system according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes an image reading device SC, a composite device MF having an image reading function, a copying device CP, a printing device PL, and a reading device. The device selection device 1 is configured to be connected to the network NT.
As described above, in the example of the image reading system illustrated in FIG. 1, the reading device selection device 1 is connected to the network NT, and the image reading device SC, the composite device MF, and the copy are examples of devices having an image reading function. The device CP is connected to the network NT, and as another device example, the printing device PL is connected to the network NT.

  The image reading device SC, the composite device MF, and the copying device CP each have an image reading function and can communicate with the reading device selection device 1 via the network NT.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the reading device selection device 1 includes a document information input unit 11, a reading condition input unit 12, a communication unit 13, a device information collection unit 14, an availability determination unit 15, and a list display unit. 16 and at least.

The document information input unit 11 has a function of receiving document information including the number of documents, the size of the document, whether the document is a double-sided document, or whether it is a color document.
The reading condition input unit 12 has a function of receiving input of reading conditions such as color / monochrome and resolution.
The communication unit 13 has a function of communicating with an external device.
The device information collection unit 14 has a function of collecting information such as the function, performance, and state of an external device connected to the network NT using the communication unit 13.

The availability determination unit 15 can be used based on the document information input by the document information input unit 11, the reading condition input by the reading condition input unit 12, and the device information collected by the device information collection unit 14. It has a function to determine the correct device.
The list display unit 16 has a function of displaying a usable device list determined by the availability determination unit 15.

Next, the operation of the reading device selection apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
As an explanation of terms used in the following description of the operation, the document information DCi indicates information such as the number of documents, the size of the document, whether the document is a double-sided document, or whether it is a color document.
The reading condition SPi indicates color / monochrome, resolution information.
The information EXis of each external device refers to information such as the identifier, function, performance, and status of each device.
The list of available devices EXOKs indicates the identifier, performance, and status of each device.

  First, when this processing is started, the reading device selection device 1 waits until the user specifies the document information DCi by the document information input unit 11 (step S1), and further sets the reading condition SPi by the reading condition input unit 12. Wait for designation (step S2). When the document information DCi and the reading condition SPi are designated in this way, the device information collecting unit 14 subsequently collects information EXis of each external device connected to the network NT via the network NT by the communication unit 13 ( Step S3).

When all the external device information that can be used by being connected to the network NT is gathered (step S4; Yes), thereafter, the availability determination unit 15 is based on the document information DCi and the reading condition SPi from the information EXis of each external device. A list of available devices EXOKs is specified (step S5).
Finally, the list display unit 16 displays a list of available device list EXOKs, which is a device identification result by the availability determination unit 15 (step S6).

In this way, by displaying a list of available device lists EXOKs by the reading device selection device 1, the user can obtain list information of available devices only with a simple operation. Thereafter, the user can select one of the devices according to the purpose from the list of available devices, so that the device can perform a reading operation.
The example shown in FIG. 1 shows a case where the user selects and accesses the copying apparatus CP and reads an image.

  As described above, the reading apparatus selection apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to read document information and reading conditions in an environment in which a plurality of image reading apparatuses including different models and a composite apparatus having an image reading function are connected to a network. A means for determining available devices based on the contents input by the input means, and a display means for displaying a list of available devices together with their status and performance Have.

  Thus, according to the reading device selection device 1 as the present embodiment, it is possible to present a device that can realize the requested content based on the information DCi of the document on which the image is read and the reading condition SPi. The user can easily specify an available device from a plurality of devices having an image reading function.

  For this reason, according to the image reading system as the present embodiment, even in an environment where a plurality of devices having an image reading function are connected to a network, it is possible to realize image reading of contents requested from those devices. The user can easily identify the device.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, an image reading system as a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, in addition to the function of the reading device selection device 1 in the first embodiment described above, it is possible to determine a more suitable image reading device by setting a priority to the reading condition. is there.
Components similar to those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the image reading system according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes an image reading device SC, a composite device MF having an image reading function, a copying device CP, a printing device PL, and a first device. The reader selection device 2 as the second embodiment is configured to be connected to the network NT.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the reading device selection device 2 includes a document information input unit 11, a reading condition input unit 12, a communication unit 13, a device information collection unit 14, an availability determination unit 15, and a list display unit. 16, a priority input unit 27, and an optimum determination unit 28.

The priority input unit 27 has a function of receiving input of image quality at the time of image reading or priority of processing time.
The optimum determination unit 28 has a function of determining a more suitable image reading device based on the priority input by the priority input unit 27 and the determination result in the availability determination unit 15.

Next, the operation of the reading device selection apparatus 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
As an explanation of terms that are newly used in the following description of operations, the priority order information PRi refers to information such as whether image quality at the time of reading or processing time is prioritized.
The list of devices EXOKsp arranged in an optimal order refers to the same contents as the list of available devices EXOKs rearranged in the optimal order based on the priority order information PRi.

  First, when this process is started, the reading device selection device 2 waits until the user designates the document information DCi by the document information input unit 11 (step S11), and then continues to the reading condition SPi by the reading condition input unit 12. (Step S12), and further waits for the priority order information section 27 to designate the priority order information PRi (step S13).

When the document information DCi, the reading condition SPi, and the priority order information PRi are designated in this way, the device information collection unit 14 continues to communicate with each external device connected to the network NT via the network NT. Information EXis is collected (step S14).
When all the external device information that can be used by being connected to the network NT is gathered (step S15; Yes), thereafter, the availability determination unit 15 is based on the document information DCi and the reading condition SPi from the information EXis of each external device. Then, device information EXOKs that can be used is specified (step S16).

Next, the optimum determination unit 28 rearranges the available device information EXOKs into the device list EXOKsp arranged in the optimum order based on the priority order information PRi (step S17).
The list display unit 16 performs a list display of the device list EXOKsp thus rearranged (step S18).

In this way, by displaying the list EXOKsp of the devices arranged in the optimum order by the reading device selection device 2, the user can acquire the list information of the devices arranged in the optimum order only by a simple operation. . Thereafter, the user can select one of the devices according to the purpose from the list information of the devices arranged in the optimum order, and the device can perform the reading operation.
The example shown in FIG. 4 shows a case where the user selects and accesses the copying apparatus CP and reads an image.

  As described above, the reading device selection device 2 according to the present embodiment has document information and priority levels in an environment in which a plurality of image reading devices including different models and a composite device having an image reading function are connected to a network. Means for inputting a reading condition with a mark, means for determining an available device based on the content input by the input means, means for determining an optimum device according to the priority of the available device, Display means for displaying a list of the available devices in accordance with the optimum order of the status and performance of each device.

  As a result, according to the reading apparatus selection device 2 as the second embodiment of the present invention, based on the information DCi of the document on which the image is read, the reading condition SPi, and the priority in the reading condition (priority order information PRi). The devices that can realize the requested contents can be arranged and presented in an optimal order, so that the user can easily select the most suitable device to use from a plurality of devices equipped with an image reading function. Can be identified.

  For this reason, according to the image reading system as the present embodiment, even in an environment where a plurality of devices having an image reading function are connected to a network, it is possible to realize image reading of contents requested from those devices. The device can be easily specified by the user, and a device more suitable for realizing the requested content can be presented.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, an image reading system as a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The third embodiment shows a case where the reading device selection device 1 in the first embodiment described above is integrally mounted on a device having an image reading function.
Components similar to those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 7, the image reading system according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes an image reading device SC ′, a composite device MF ′ having an image reading function, a copying device CP, and a printing device PL. Are connected to the network NT.
In the example shown in FIG. 7, the image reading device SC ′ and the composite device MF ′ having an image reading function are integrally provided with the reading device selection device 1 in the first embodiment described above.

Next, the operation of the image reading system as the third embodiment will be described with reference to the example shown in FIG.
When the user selects an image reading device, the user first accesses the reading device selection device 1 incorporated in the image reading device SC, and selects from the list of available devices EXOKs displayed by the reading device selection device 1. The image is read by the apparatus.
The example shown in FIG. 7 shows a case where the user selects the image reading device SC ′ from the list of available devices EXOKs and performs image reading. Depending on the case, a plurality of devices may be used as in this example. The user can select the image reading device and perform the image reading operation without accessing the device, so that the convenience for the user can be improved.

  As described above, according to the image reading system as the third embodiment of the present invention, at least one of a plurality of image reading apparatuses including different models connected to a network and a composite apparatus having an image reading function is provided. Since the reading device selection device 1 in the first embodiment described above is integrally mounted, the convenience for the user can be improved, and the introduction cost and the maintenance cost can be reduced.

  In the above-described third embodiment, the image reading device SC ′ and the composite device MF ′ having an image reading function are integrally provided with the reading device selection device 1 in the first embodiment described above. As described above, the reading device selection device 1 can be realized in the same manner even if it is a device having an image reading function as a unit.

  In the above-described third embodiment, the case where the reading device selection device 1 in the above-described first embodiment is integrally mounted on a device having an image reading function has been described. Even if the reading device selection device 2 in the second embodiment described above is integrally mounted on a device having a function, it can be realized in the same manner as in the third embodiment described above.

  As described above, at least one of a plurality of image reading apparatuses including different models connected to the network and a composite apparatus having an image reading function is integrally mounted with the reading apparatus selecting apparatus 2 in the second embodiment described above. With this configuration, the device for specifying the information of the document to be scanned, the scanning conditions, and the priority thereof is integrated with the device having the image scanning function. Convenience can be improved, and introduction costs and maintenance costs can be reduced.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, at least one of a plurality of image reading apparatuses including different models connected to a network and a composite apparatus having an image reading function is the first described above. Alternatively, since the reading device selection device according to the second embodiment is integrated, it is possible to provide a user with an environment that is easy to use when reading a document, and it is necessary to provide a dedicated reading device selection device. Therefore, the image reading system according to the present invention can be realized at a relatively low cost.

Each of the above-described embodiments is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.
For example, the availability determination unit 15 is based on the document information input by the document information input unit 11, the reading conditions input by the reading condition input unit 12, and the device information collected by the device information collection unit 14. Although it has been described that the usable apparatus is determined, the apparatus information is added to at least one of the document information input by the document information input unit 11 and the reading condition information input by the reading condition input unit 12. The configuration may be such that the available device is determined by using the device information collected by the collection unit 14.
According to this, it is possible to determine and display an available device based on at least one of the document information input by the document information input unit 11 and the reading condition information input by the reading condition input unit 12. Can do.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example and a usage example of an image reading system as a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the reader selection apparatus 1 in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the reading device selection device 1. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example and utilization example of the image reading system as the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the reader selection apparatus 2 in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the reading device selection device 2. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example and utilization example of the image reading system as the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2 Reading device selection device 11 Document information input unit (an example of input means)
12 Reading condition input part (an example of input means)
13 Communication Unit 14 Device Information Collection Unit 15 Usability Determining Unit (Example of Determining Unit)
16 List display part (an example of display means)
27 Priority input section (an example of input means)
28 Optimum judgment part

Claims (10)

An image reading system in which a plurality of image reading devices having an image reading function are connected to a network,
Input means for receiving input;
Determination means for determining an available image reading device based on information input from the input means;
An image reading system comprising: display means for displaying a list of image reading apparatuses determined to be usable by the determination means.   When at least one of reading document designation information and reading condition designation information is input from the input unit, the determination unit determines an available image reading device based on the input information. The image reading system according to claim 1. Comprising device information collecting means for collecting information of other devices via the network;
3. The image reading system according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit determines an available image reading device by further using the information collected by the device information collection unit.   4. An optimum determination unit that displays a list of image reading apparatuses determined to be usable by the determination unit in an optimal order based on a priority and displays the list on the display unit. The image reading system according to any one of the preceding claims.   5. The image reading system according to claim 1, wherein at least the input unit, the determination unit, and the display unit are included in an image reading apparatus connected to the network. 6. . A reading device selection device used in an image reading system in which a plurality of image reading devices having an image reading function are connected to a network,
Input means for receiving input;
Determination means for determining an available image reading device based on information input from the input means;
A reading device selection apparatus comprising: a display means for displaying a list of image reading apparatuses determined to be usable by the determination means.   When at least one of reading document designation information and reading condition designation information is input from the input unit, the determination unit determines an available image reading device based on the input information. The reading device selecting device according to claim 6. Comprising device information collecting means for collecting information of other devices via the network;
8. The reader selection apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the determination unit determines an available image reading device by further using the information collected by the device information collection unit.   9. An optimal determination unit that displays a list of image reading apparatuses determined to be usable by the determination unit in an optimal order based on a priority and displays the list on the display unit. The reading apparatus selection apparatus of any one of Claims.   The reading device selection device according to claim 6, wherein the reading device selection device is integrally included in an image reading device connected to the network.

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