JP2008042803A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor capable of selectively accumulating an image log set as a necessary image log while reducing a load associated with communication. <P>SOLUTION: The image processor performs processing designated for image data to be processed on receiving input of the designation for the processing, and is connected to a server which records a history of processing. The processor accumulates information when the processing is performed based upon the input designation as a processing record while relating the processing record and the image data as object of the processing to each other, and transmits the processing record to the server. When prescribed conditions are met, the image data as the object of the processing are transmitted to the server. The processing record includes image specification information specifying the related image data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral.

In recent years, in image processing apparatuses such as copiers and printers, for the purpose of dealing with information leakage, recording of processing performed by the image processing apparatus and recording of image data subjected to the processing as a log. Is widely practiced. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228667 discloses a technique for transmitting read image data to a copy server and storing it.
JP 2004-102549 A

  However, in general, image data processed by a multifunction machine or the like has a large amount of data, and when it is configured to transmit and store it to the server side each time it is read as in the conventional technique, The communication load becomes too large. Also, it is not always necessary to record all image data. For example, image data that has not been processed (such as image data that has been instructed but is not printed) There is no need to record as.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of selectively accumulating an image log set as necessary while reducing the communication load. One of them.

  The present invention for solving the problems of the above conventional example is an image processing apparatus that receives an input of a processing instruction and executes the instructed processing on image data to be processed. Connected to a server that records the history of the information, and stores and stores the information when processing is performed based on the input instruction as the processing record in association with the processing record and the image data to be processed Storage means; means for transmitting the processing record to the server; and means for transmitting the image data to be processed to the server when a predetermined transmission condition is met. Is characterized by including image specifying information for specifying the associated image data.

  Here, an instruction to transmit the image data specified by the image specifying information together with the image specifying information is received from the server, and the image data specified by the received image specifying information is transmitted according to the instruction. It is good also as transmitting to a server.

  Further, it may further include means for requesting the server to make a processing request when a predetermined request start condition is satisfied.

  One embodiment of the present invention is an image processing method, which is connected to a server that records a processing history, receives the input of a processing instruction, and performs the instructed processing on the image data to be processed. A process of storing and storing information relating to processing performed based on the input instruction as a processing record in association with the processing record and the image data to be processed using the image processing apparatus that executes And a step of transmitting the processing record to the server, and a step of transmitting the image data to be processed to the server when a predetermined transmission condition is satisfied.

  Furthermore, another aspect of the present invention is a program that is connected to a server that records a history of processing, receives an input of a processing instruction, and performs the instructed processing on image data to be processed. A procedure for storing and storing information relating to processing performed on the basis of the input instruction as a processing record in association with the processing record and image data to be processed in a computer to be executed, and the processing A procedure for transmitting a record to the server and a procedure for transmitting the image data to be processed to the server when a predetermined transmission condition is satisfied are executed.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is realized as a multifunction machine 1 having a copy function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, a scan function, a print output function, and the like. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 1 includes a scanner unit 10, a controller unit 20, a printer unit 30, and a communication unit 40. The controller unit 20 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit, and a storage unit. A unit 22, an operation unit 23, and an interface unit 24 are included. The communication unit 40 includes a facsimile (FAX) transmission / reception unit 41 and a network interface unit (NIC) 42.

  The multifunction machine 1 is also connected to the server device 2 via a network. The server device 2 includes a control unit 51, a storage unit 52, a storage unit 53, and a communication unit 54.

  Hereinafter, each of these parts will be described.

  The scanner unit 10 is, for example, a flatbed scanner, and optically reads a document placed on a document table in accordance with an instruction input from the controller unit 20 and outputs image data obtained by the reading to the controller unit 20. .

  The control unit 21 of the controller unit 20 includes a program control device such as a CPU. The control unit 21 operates according to a program stored in the storage unit 22, controls each unit based on an instruction given by the user, and processes image data. In addition, the control unit 21 records in the storage unit 22 a history of processing based on an instruction given by the user (corresponding to the processing record of the present invention, referred to herein as “job processing log”). In addition, image data (hereinafter referred to as “image log”) that has been processed by the instruction is recorded in the storage unit 22. Further, the control unit 21 performs processing for transferring the recorded job processing log and image log to the server device 2. Specific operations of these control units 21 will be described in detail later.

  The storage unit 22 includes a storage element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The storage unit 22 may be configured to include a disk device such as a hard disk. The storage unit 22 holds a program executed by the control unit 21 and also operates as a work memory of the control unit 21. In addition, the storage unit 22 stores user instruction content and image data that is processed by the instruction.

  The operation unit 23 includes a keypad and the like. The operation unit 23 receives the instruction operation of the user and outputs the content of the instruction operation to the control unit 21. The interface unit 24 is connected to the scanner unit 10, the printer unit 30, and the communication unit 40, and transmits an instruction output from the control unit 21 to each unit. In addition, data input from each unit is output to the control unit 21.

  The printer unit 30 receives a print instruction and image data input from the controller unit 20 and forms the image data on a recording medium such as paper. The FAX transmission / reception unit 41 of the communication unit 40 is connected to the telephone line network, receives the transmission instruction and the image data input from the controller unit 20, and issues the other party via the telephone line network in accordance with the transmission instruction. Call. When the other party receives a call, the input image data is transmitted to the other party using the FAX protocol.

  The NIC 42 is connected to the network, receives information on the destination (network address) input from the controller unit 20 and data to be transmitted, and transmits the data to the designated destination. Further, the NIC 42 outputs data received via the network to the controller unit 20.

  The control unit 51 of the server device 2 includes a program control device such as a CPU. The control unit 51 operates according to a program stored in the storage unit 52 and stores a job processing log and an image log received from the multi-function peripheral 1 in the storage unit 53. For example, the control unit 51 may acquire information on the date and time when the job processing log is received from a calendar IC (not shown) and store the job processing log and the image log in association with the acquired information on the date and time.

  Further, when the control unit 51 receives a browsing request from a personal computer (PC) or the like via a network together with a search condition for job processing logs and image logs, the control unit 51 extracts a job processing log and image log that match the search conditions. To the requesting PC or the like.

  The storage unit 52 holds a program executed by the control unit 51. The storage unit 52 also operates as a work memory for the control unit 51. The storage unit 53 is a hard disk or the like, and accumulates and stores job processing logs and image logs in accordance with instructions input from the control unit 51.

  The communication unit 54 is a network interface or the like, and transmits data to a designated destination according to an instruction input from the control unit 51. Further, the communication unit 54 outputs data received via the network to the control unit 51.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the controller unit 20 of the multifunction machine 1 will be described. The controller unit 20 executes image processing in response to an instruction from the user. In the MFP 1 according to the present embodiment, “scan processing” in which image data obtained by reading a document with the scanner unit 10 is transmitted to a PC or the like via a network, and obtained by reading the document with the scanner unit 10. “Copy processing” for outputting image data to the printer unit 30 for image formation, “print processing” for outputting image data received from a PC via the network to the printer unit 30 for image formation, and scanner The image data obtained by reading the document by the unit 10 is output to the FAX transmission / reception unit 41 for FAX transmission, or the image data received by the FAX transmission / reception unit 41 is output to the printer unit 30 for printing. The “FAX reception process” is performed.

  The control unit 21 of the controller unit 20 receives instructions to perform these processes, controls each unit, issues a unique identifier (for example, a serial number), and includes a timing unit (not shown) such as a calendar IC. From the date and time when the instruction is received and the date and time when the process is executed.

  Then, the control unit 21 associates the issued unique identifier, date and time information, instruction contents, and processing contents such as a result of processing image data based on the instructions, and stores them as a job processing log. The image data to be processed is recorded as an image log in association with a unique identifier. Here, for example, when image data described in a page description language for printing is received, the image log may be the image data itself (image data before processing) described in the page description language. The image data obtained by converting the image data into a bitmap, that is, the image data after executing the processing based on the instruction may be used. And thus pre-processing of the image data, the which one is recorded as an image log to the image data after processing, it may be previously determined or become either pre-determined in advance in accordance with the content of the processing It may be left. In addition, the job processing log may record the processing contents as a character string such as “scan processing”, “copy processing”, or the like, and settings and processing performed in relation to each processing are executed. The contents may also be recorded as a job processing log. The contents of this setting include, for example, resolution settings and other color / monochrome settings for scan processing, and copy settings for the number of copies, enlargement / reduction ratio settings, etc. There are processing contents, processing results and error information when processing is performed based on the setting.

  Further, the control unit 21 may acquire information for specifying the user who has instructed the processing and include the information in the job processing log. If the information specifying the user is an instruction to be performed by the operation unit 23 such as a copy instruction, the user is authenticated by the operation unit 23 (such as requesting input of a user name or password). When the image data is received from the PC via the network, the network address of the PC may be recorded as information for identifying the user. What is necessary is just to record the other party's telephone number etc. as information which identifies a user. In addition, when the information which identifies a user cannot be acquired (when input of a user name is refused etc.), a user name is recorded as unknown.

  That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the job processing log includes an identifier, information on the date and time when the instruction is received, information for identifying the user, the content of the instruction (processing type), and the setting content. It will be related. In addition to this, the information on the device that executed the process, the date and time when the process was executed, the information about the processing result, the information about the error when an error occurs, and the like may be further associated. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the image log is obtained by associating an identifier with image data. Thereby, the processing record (job processing log) and the image data are associated with each other and recorded in the storage unit. That is, in this embodiment, image data is specified by this identifier, and the identifier is used as image specifying information.

  The control unit 21 transmits the job processing log generated in this way to the server device 2. In addition, when the transmission condition is determined in advance, the image data associated with the identifier included in the transmitted job processing log is transmitted. Here, the transmission condition may be a condition related to the processing of the multifunction device 1 such as the remaining capacity of the storage unit 22 being less than the threshold, or the user name could not be acquired (unknown) And the fact that the date and time when the processing instruction is received satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, use after a scheduled time or use on a holiday) It may be determined whether or not the transmission condition is satisfied.

  Further, the transmission condition may be a condition that a transmission instruction is received from the server device 2. In this case, when the control unit 51 of the server apparatus 2 determines whether or not to acquire an image log related to the job processing log based on the content of the received job processing log, An instruction for transmitting the image data specified by the image specifying information is sent to the multi-function device 1 together with the identifier (image specifying information) of the job processing log that is the basis of the image processing log.

  Here again, the conditions related to the job processing log are that the user name could not be acquired (becomes unknown), and that the date and time when the processing instruction was received satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, use after a fixed time) And the use of holidays, etc.), and further, it may be set according to the type of processing (such as copy processing).

  Next, the operation of the multifunction machine 1 as the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. In the following description, it is assumed that a condition that a transmission instruction is received from the server apparatus 2 is set as an image log transmission condition, and the control unit 51 of the server apparatus 2 is based on the contents of the received job processing log. It is determined whether or not to acquire an image log, and an instruction is transmitted to the multi-function device 1 to transmit the image log when it is determined to acquire the image log.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the MFP 1 according to the present embodiment receives an input of processing instructions together with image data from the user, executes processing on the image data according to the instructions (S1), and The contents of the process are recorded as a job process log (S2). Also, image data to be processed according to the instruction is recorded as an image log (S3). Here, a common identifier is included in the job processing log and the image log.

  The multi function device 1 transmits the recorded job processing log to the server device 2 (S4). The server device 2 receives this job processing log and stores it in the storage unit 53 (S5). Then, the server device 2 refers to the received job processing log and determines whether to acquire an image log (S6).

For example, as a condition for acquiring an image log in advance in the multifunction machine 1,
(1) User name is “unknown”,
(2) The date and time when the processing instruction is received satisfies a predetermined condition;
(3) The type of processing is “copy processing”,
The following conditions are set.

  In other words, when the received job processing log matches any of these conditions, the server device 2 determines to acquire the image log and transmits an instruction to transmit the image log (S7). . This instruction includes identifier information included in the job processing log.

  The multifunction device 1 receives an instruction to send an image log, reads the image log associated with the identifier received together with the instruction, and sends it to the server device 2 (S8). The server device 2 receives the image log and stores it in the storage unit 53 (S9). At this time, the server device 2 may send a signal confirming that the image log has been stored to the multifunction device 1. In this example, the MFP 1 executes the process related to the image data first (in process S1), and then transfers the job processing log and the image log to the server device 2. Depending on user settings or the like, the processing relating to the image data may be executed after receiving the confirmation signal.

  Further, the multifunction device 1 may delete the image log sent in this way from the storage unit 22 (S10).

  In the above description, when the multifunction device 1 generates a job processing log, it is transmitted to the server device 2 immediately. However, when a predetermined job processing log transfer condition is satisfied (for example, unsent job processing The unprocessed job processing logs may be collectively transmitted to the server apparatus 2 every time the log reaches a predetermined number).

  The server device 2 may transmit an instruction to delete the image log according to a predetermined setting. For example, instead of the process S6 described above or together with the process in the process S6, it is determined whether or not a condition for deleting a predetermined image log is satisfied based on the job process log received in the process S5. It is determined whether or not to delete the image log associated with the job processing log. For example, the image data transmitted by FAX can be deleted.

  Further, when it is determined whether or not to acquire an image log on the server device 2 side in this way, deletion of whether or not the image log should be transmitted on the multifunction device 1 side due to processing delay in the server device 2 or the like is deleted. It is not possible to determine whether or not to do so, and a situation is assumed in which the image log is accumulated and the storage capacity of the storage unit 22 is compressed.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, when it is determined whether or not to acquire an image log on the server device 2 side, the multifunction device 1 satisfies a predetermined request start condition for each predetermined timing. It is also possible to send a request for prompting (processing request) to the server device 2 when the request start condition is satisfied.

  Here, the request start condition can be set, for example, as the remaining storage capacity of the storage unit 22 is less than a predetermined threshold. When receiving the processing request, the server device 2 determines at least one of obtaining an image log with reference to the received job processing log and instructing to delete the image log (processing S6 in FIG. 4). The following processing is performed.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to selectively accumulate image logs set as necessary while reducing a load related to communication.

1 is a configuration block diagram illustrating an example of a multifunction peripheral as an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and a server apparatus connected thereto. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a content example of a job processing log held by a multifunction peripheral as an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of the content of the image log which the multifunctional machine as an image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention hold | maintains. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of communication contents between a multifunction peripheral as an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and a server apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Multifunctional device, 2 server apparatus, 10 scanner part, 20 controller part, 21,51 control part, 22,52 memory | storage part, 23 operation part, 24 interface part, 30 printer part, 40,54 communication part, 41 facsimile transmission / reception part 42 Network interface unit, 53 Storage unit.

Claims (5)

An image processing apparatus that receives an input of a processing instruction and executes the instructed processing on image data to be processed.
Connected to the server that records the processing history,
Storage means for storing and storing the processing record and the image data as the processing target in association with each other as information about the processing performed based on the input instruction;
Means for transmitting the processing record to the server;
Means for transmitting the image data to be processed to the server when a predetermined transmission condition is satisfied;
Including
An image processing apparatus characterized in that the processing record includes image specifying information for specifying associated image data. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
An instruction to transmit the image data specified by the image specifying information together with the image specifying information is received from the server, and the image data specified by the received image specifying information is transmitted to the server according to the instruction. An image processing apparatus for transmitting. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
An image processing apparatus further comprising means for requesting the server to perform a processing request when a predetermined request start condition is satisfied. Connected to a server that records the history of processing, receives an input of processing instructions, and uses an image processing apparatus that executes the instructed processing on the image data to be processed,
Storing and storing the information when processing based on the input instruction as a processing record in association with the processing record and the image data to be processed;
Transmitting the processing record to the server;
A step of transmitting the image data to be processed to the server when a predetermined transmission condition is satisfied;
The image processing method characterized by performing. A computer that is connected to a server that records a processing history, receives an input of a processing instruction, and executes the instructed processing on the image data to be processed.
A procedure for storing and storing information relating to processing performed based on the input instruction as a processing record in association with the processing record and image data to be processed;
Sending the processing record to the server;
A procedure for transmitting the image data to be processed to the server when a predetermined transmission condition is satisfied;
A program characterized in that is executed.

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