JP2008060717A - History information processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a history information processing apparatus which can improve convenience. <P>SOLUTION: While an instruction on image processing is received and a processing history information is generated based on the instruction; an image for storing is generated based on at least part of an image processed by the instruction, and the processing history information and the image for storing are associated and held at a database. When a list information is generated for the processing history information, the list information is generated so as to include each image for storing associated with at least part of a processing history information to be included in the list information, based on the information held at the database. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a history information processing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art A technique for recording processing (jobs) executed by an image processing apparatus such as a printer, a scanner, or a facsimile and trying to specify an information distribution route has attracted attention.

  In an apparatus for recording such a job, information for specifying a user who has issued an instruction for image processing, date and time when the image processing instruction is accepted, contents of the image processing instruction (for example, the number of copies to be printed, the output destination of a scanned image, a facsimile) There is a type that records image data (image history) processed by the job in association with each job history.

When a user wants to find a record when a specific image is processed, the user searches the image history for image data similar to the specific image (image serving as a search key), and the image data found by the search. Outputs the job history associated with. Here, the search of the image data in the image history is performed by a well-known similar image search process. For example, this difference is determined in advance based on the difference between a predetermined feature vector related to an image serving as a search key and a predetermined feature vector related to each image data in the image history to be searched. There is a method of using image data that is less than a threshold as a search result.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-208048

  However, in presenting such search results, a list of job histories is only displayed. Therefore, the user cannot confirm from the list of job histories whether or not the result searched by the similar image search truly matches the image as the search key, and the convenience is low. Note that Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a technique for preventing information leakage.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a history information processing apparatus that can improve convenience.

  A history information processing apparatus for solving the problems of the conventional example is processed by means of receiving an input of an image processing instruction and generating processing history information that is a history of processing based on the instruction. Means for generating a storage image based on at least a part of the image to be stored, history information holding means for holding the generated processing history information and the storage image in association with each other, and the history information holding means Means for generating list information of processing history information based on the information, and means for generating the list information of processing history information associates at least a part of the processing history information included in the list information with each of them. The list information is generated including the stored image.

  Here, the means for generating the list information of the processing history information selects at least a part of the processing history information to be included in the list information based on a predetermined condition, and is associated with the selected processing history information The list information may be generated including a storage image.

  In addition, a program according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a procedure for generating processing history information based on an instruction of an image processing received by a computer and at least a part of an image processed by the instruction. Based on the procedure for generating the storage image, the procedure for storing the generated processing history information and the storage image in association with each other in the database, and the processing history information list information based on the information stored in the database And a procedure of including a storage image associated with each of at least a part of the processing history information to be included in the list information.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The history information processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is a so-called multi-function machine that provides functions of, for example, a scanner, a copier, and a printer in a complex manner. As shown in FIG. The unit 12 includes a storage unit 13, an operation unit 14, a scanner unit 15, a printer unit 16, and a communication unit 17. The history information processing apparatus 1 is connected to at least one user-side apparatus 2 via a network.

  The control unit 11 is a program control device such as a CPU, and operates according to a program stored in the storage unit 12. In the present embodiment, the control unit 11 specifies information specifying the user who has issued an image formation instruction, the date and time when the image formation instruction is accepted, and the formation conditions (such as the number of copies) included in the image formation instruction. As well as image data (image history) formed by the job in association with each job history. In addition, the control unit 11 performs processing for generating list information of processing history information. Details of the processing of the control unit 11 will be described later.

  The storage unit 12 includes a storage element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory). The storage unit 12 stores a program executed by the control unit 11. The storage unit 12 also operates as a work memory for the control unit 11.

  The storage unit 13 is, for example, a device such as a hard disk, and operates as a database that holds a job history, an image history, and the like in the present embodiment. The operation unit 14 includes a liquid crystal touch panel, a keypad such as a numeric keypad, and the like. The operation unit 14 outputs the content of the operation performed by the user to the control unit 11.

  The scanner unit 15 is, for example, a flat bed scanner, optically reads a document placed on a reading surface, generates image data thereof, and outputs the image data to the control unit 11. The printer unit 16 forms an image on a sheet in accordance with an instruction input from the control unit 11.

  The communication unit 17 is a network interface or the like, and transmits specified data to a specified destination via the network in accordance with an instruction input from the control unit 11. The communication unit 17 outputs data received via the network to the control unit 11.

  The user side device 2 is a personal computer, for example, and sends image data to be formed and a formation instruction to the history information processing device 1.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 11 receives an image processing instruction for reading an original, and transmits processing (scan processing) of image data of the original read by the scanner unit 15 to the user-side device 2; In response to an image processing instruction indicating that copying should be performed, the image data of the document read by the scanner unit 15 is output to the printer unit 16 and printed out (copying process). The image processing instruction to the effect that the image forming process is to be received is received, and the image data to be formed is output to the printer unit 16 to be printed out (printing process).

  When the image processing instruction is input, the control unit 11 may authenticate the user who has input the image processing instruction. For example, when accepting an instruction relating to a scanning process or a copying process, a password is associated with information for specifying a user in advance, such as a user name, and stored in the storage unit 12 to input an image processing instruction. In addition, the user is requested to input a user name, a password, and the like in the operation unit 14. Then, it is checked whether or not the input user name and password are held in association with each other in the storage unit 12, and if they are not held in association with each other in the storage unit 12, the image processing instruction is not accepted, or Control not to execute processing according to the image processing instruction.

  If the input user name and password are stored in advance in the storage unit 12 in association with each other, the image processing instruction is accepted and processed according to the instruction. In the case of an image processing instruction for print processing, a user name or the like authenticated by the user device 2 may be accepted as an image processing instruction.

  Here, for example, a guest user or the like who can input an image processing instruction without a password may be set. In this case, for example, when it is determined that the user name representing the guest user has been input, the control unit 11 accepts the image processing instruction without referring to the information related to the password, and processes according to the instruction.

  For example, if the image processing instruction includes a forming condition (color / monochrome, paper size designation, etc.) such as the number of image forming copies (number of copies or printing), the control unit 11 Outputs the formation conditions to the printer unit 16 and instructs to form an image according to the conditions.

  The control unit 11 records the history information (processing history information) related to the contents and processing results of the image processing performed in this way, and the image data to be processed according to the image processing instruction (the scanned image data in the case of scanning processing, In the case of copying or printing processing, an image based on image data to be image-formed is generated as history information (storage image). By the history information generation process by the control unit 11, the history information processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment functionally operates as having the configuration shown in FIG.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the history information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment functionally includes a processing history information generation unit 21, a storage image generation unit 22, a database access unit 23, and a report generation process. Part 24. The report generation processing unit 24 includes an image output condition setting unit 31, an output target image selection unit 32, and a report image generation unit 33.

  In the following description, it is assumed that the history information processing apparatus 1 issues a unique job identifier for each instruction when an image processing instruction is input.

  The processing history information generation unit 21 extracts information predetermined as information to be recorded as processing history information from information regarding the executed image processing, and the database access unit 23 as processing history information together with the issued job identifier. Output to. Here, for example, from the image processing instruction, the type of processing (separate scan processing, copying processing, and printing processing), information specifying the user who has input the image processing instruction (instructor information), and input of the image processing instruction The date and time, the formation conditions (color / monochrome, paper size designation, etc.) are extracted.

  The storage image generation unit 22 performs predetermined processing such as conversion to a predetermined format on image data to be subjected to image processing or image data resulting from the image processing, and records image data ( Image for storage). Then, the storage image generation unit 22 outputs the generated storage image together with the corresponding job identifier to the database access unit 23.

  Upon receiving the processing history information from the processing history information generation unit 21 and the storage image generation unit 22 from the storage image generation unit 22, the database access unit 23 receives processing history information related to a common job identifier and The image for storage is associated with the image and stored in the database. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 13 stores a database as shown in FIG. As a specific example, here, the processing history information (A) including the formation instructor information, the reception date and time of the image formation instruction, the formation conditions, and the corresponding storage image (B) are held in association with each other. .

  The report generation processing unit 24 generates report information in a predetermined format. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the report information includes a list (L) of processing history information that satisfies a specified condition. In the report generation processing unit 24 according to the present embodiment, for a part of the processing history information included in the list (L), the report information includes images based on the storage images associated with the processing history information.

  That is, the image output condition setting unit 31 of the report generation processing unit 24 generates a report generation condition (output target image selection condition) for including an image based on the related storage image in the processing history information included in the list (L). This is set based on the instruction of the user (report requester) who instructs As the output target image selection condition, for example, a condition determined by information included in the processing history information, such as whether or not the user specified by the instructor information is authenticated (that is, is not a guest user). Alternatively, conditions relating to the image for storage, such as whether or not the image for storage is similar to an image registered in advance, may be used. These conditions will be described later. The image output condition setting unit 31 causes the storage unit 13 to hold the output target image selection condition specified by the user.

  For each piece of processing history information included in the list, the output target image selection unit 32 determines whether the processing history information and the storage image associated therewith satisfy the output target image selection condition set by the image output condition setting unit 31. The report image generation unit 33 is instructed to include an image based on the storage image if satisfied.

  The report image generation unit 33 receives a history selection condition from the user, selects processing history information stored in the storage unit 13 that satisfies the received history selection condition, and generates a list thereof. And output to the output target image selection unit 32. Here, the history selection condition includes, for example, a condition that the input date and time of the image processing instruction is included in a specified period (for example, “last week”), a condition related to the processing type (“copy processing”, etc.), etc. There is.

  The report image generation unit 33 generates a report image by arranging the processing history information included in the generated list. Further, according to the instruction from the output target image selection unit 32, the report image generation unit 33 includes, in the report image, an image based on the associated storage image for at least a part of the processing history information included in the list.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the report image is an array of information of processing history information included in the generated list (processing type, date and time when an instruction is input, information such as a user). Also good. When an image is included, the image may be arranged adjacent to the processing history information related to the included image (P). In this case, the image indicated by the storage image is reduced and arranged. In the case of a plurality of pages, an image of a predetermined page such as the first page may be extracted and included in the report image, or an integer random number equal to or less than the number of pages is generated, and the random value The image of the page represented by can be extracted and included in the report image. In addition, when extracting the image of a predetermined page, you may determine which page image is extracted according to a process classification. As a specific example, when receiving an image processing instruction for transmission or reception by facsimile, for the storage image related to transmission / reception of the facsimile, a cover (invoice) is often included on the first page. The second page may be extracted, and the range of random number values may be from the second page to the last page. The page to be extracted may be specified in advance by an administrator or the like, and the specified content may be stored in the storage unit 12. In this case, the report image is output including the image of the designated page among the images represented by the storage image. Note that the number of pages to be included is not limited to one page. For example, the page range to be output is specified by the administrator and stored, and a plurality of pages included in the page range are extracted and used as a report image. May be included.

  As another report image, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the image included in the report image is displayed on the entire sheet, and at least a part of the processing history information related to the outer peripheral portion is displayed. It may be displayed (B).

  The report image generation unit 33 outputs the generated report image to, for example, the printer unit 16 and prints it out.

  Note that the condition for selecting an image to be output included in the report (output target image selection condition) is, for example, a condition as to whether or not the image is a storage image related to image processing based on an instruction from an authenticated user. May be included. The storage image related to the authenticated user instruction may be included in the report image, and the storage image related to the guest user instruction may not be included in the report image. In addition, a storage image related to image processing based on an instruction from a guest user may be included in the report image, and a storage image related to image processing based on an instruction from an authenticated user may not be included in the report image.

  Further, an image whose output is to be restricted is held in advance in the storage unit 12 as an output restriction image, and the relationship between the output restriction image and the storage image (whether they match or a similarity equal to or greater than a predetermined value). Whether or not the contents of the storage image are included in the report image may be determined.

  For example, for each piece of processing history information selected as satisfying the history selection condition, a related storage image is selected as a comparison target. Then, the selected comparison target is compared with each preset output restriction image. Here, when it is determined that the storage image to be compared is the same or similar to one of the output restriction images, the storage image to be compared is not selectively included in the report image. You may control.

  Conversely, if it is determined that the comparison target storage image is the same or similar to any of the output restriction images, the comparison target storage image is selectively included in the report image. You may control.

  As for the comparison process between the image for storage and the output restricted image, a process for determining the similarity between the widely known images (a method for determining the identity of the extracted line segments, or a color is used. A detailed description thereof will be omitted. If the degree of similarity can be evaluated step by step (for example, numerically), the administrator can set a similarity threshold value in advance, and the degree of similarity exceeding the threshold value is saved. The image for use may be an output restricted image.

  An image representing a difference from the output restricted image determined to be the same or similar may be generated, and the image of the difference may be included in the report image.

  Further, although an example in which an image itself is set as the output restricted image has been described here, for example, when a specific image is included, the output restricted image may be used. For example, an image for storage that includes a line segment similar to a designated form form may be determined as an output restriction image.

  Further, using an optical character recognition process (OCR process), a character string included in the storage image is extracted, and when the specified character string (keyword) is included in the character string, the storage image is displayed. The output restriction image may be used.

  The report image generation unit 33 receives a history selection condition from the user, selects processing history information stored in the storage unit 13 that satisfies the received history selection condition, and generates a list thereof. And output to the output target image selection unit 32. Here, the history selection condition includes, for example, a condition that the input date / time of the image processing instruction is included in a specified period (for example, “recent week”).

  The report image generation unit 33 generates a report image representing a list of processing history information, and in accordance with an instruction from the output target image selection unit 32, at least a part of the processing history information included in the list is associated. Include an image based on the saved image in the report image. The report image generation unit 33 outputs the report image thus generated to, for example, the printer unit 16 and prints it out.

  In the description so far, the generated report image is output to the printer unit 16, but the report image may be output to a display. In this case, the report image may be generated as an HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) document, for example. For the storage image to be included in the report image, a thumbnail image is generated by reducing the image represented by the image, and the thumbnail image is included in the HTML document as the report image. A link to data (that is, a storage image) may be set and provided via a web browser. In this case, when the viewer performs an operation such as clicking a thumbnail image by the operation of the web browser, the original storage image is displayed.

  Further, although the storage image is described as being stored in the storage unit 13 here, the storage image may be transmitted to and held by an external file server (not shown). In this case, when the history information processing apparatus 1 selects the processing history information to be included in the report image, the history information processing apparatus 1 acquires a storage image associated with the selected processing history information from the server, and each of the acquired storage images May be determined whether or not to include them in the report image.

  Further, when a part of the storage image stored in the storage unit 13 is transmitted to an external file server and held, the history information processing apparatus 1 selects processing history information to be included in the report image. Of the selected processing history information, the storage image associated therewith is stored in the file server, the storage image obtained from the server and stored in the storage unit 13 Reads out the storage image from the storage unit 13 and acquires it. Then, it may be determined whether or not each of the acquired storage images is included in the report image.

  The report requester is authenticated, and the output target image selection condition may be made different depending on whether or not the user is a predetermined user. For example, when the report requester is an administrator, all the storage images associated with the processing history information included in the report image may be included in the report image.

  Since the history information processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has the above configuration, for example, it operates as follows. The administrator registers in advance an image whose output is to be restricted (output restricted image). The registration of the output restriction image may be performed, for example, by selecting from among the images for storage, or may be performed by causing the scanner unit 15 to read an image that is an output restriction image.

  When the history information processing apparatus 1 receives a reading (scanning), copying, or printing instruction, the history information processing apparatus 1 specifies the processing instruction, the information specifying the user who issued the instruction, and the date and time when the instruction was input. And the image data to be processed is generated as a storage image and recorded in association with the processing history information.

  For example, the report requester designates a period and instructs the history information processing apparatus 1 to generate a report of history information related to the designated period. The history information processing apparatus 1 extracts processing history information based on an instruction input during a designated period. Then, the history information processing apparatus 1 extracts a storage image associated with each extracted processing history information.

  The history information processing apparatus 1 sequentially sets each extracted storage image as a comparison target, and compares the storage image that is the comparison target with each of the registered output restriction images. Then, when it is determined that the storage image to be compared is similar to any output restriction image at a predetermined similarity or higher, the storage image to be compared is The image is stored in the storage unit 12 as a storage image to be included in the report image.

  The history information processing apparatus 1 performs this process on the storage images included in each of the extracted storage images, so that a storage image similar to one of the output restriction images is selectively selected from the storage images. To be included in the report image.

  The history information processing apparatus 1 generates a report image in which the extracted processing history information is laid out as a list, further reduces the image represented by the storage image extracted to be included in the report image, and performs an associated process Layout with history information and synthesize it into a report image. At this time, a character string representing the value of the similarity ratio may be combined.

  The report requester confirms whether the image registered as the output restriction image is not copied by referring to the similarity value included in the report image and the image of the storage image combined with the report image. To do.

  In addition, the history information processing apparatus 1 further receives an input of information for specifying the processing history information (for example, a unique identifier (job identifier) issued every time an instruction is accepted) and the processing specified by the information. The history information is extracted, and the storage image recorded in association with the extracted processing history information is extracted, and the contents of the extracted processing history information and the contents of the storage image are output as a detailed report. Also good. In this way, even if it is difficult for the report requester to determine from the reduced image data, a detailed report can be obtained using information specifying processing history information related to the image data as a key, and the output restricted image However, it becomes possible to know whether or not it has become a target of processing, the user who has been the target of processing, and the date and time.

It is a block diagram showing the structural example and connection example of the log | history information processing apparatus which concern on embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram showing the example of the log | history information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of the log | history information accumulate | stored in the log | history information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of the report image which the log | history information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention outputs. It is explanatory drawing showing another example of the report image output to the log | history information processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 History information processing apparatus, 2 User side apparatus, 11 Control part, 12 Storage part, 13 Storage part, 14 Operation part, 15 Scanner part, 16 Printer part, 17 Communication part, 21 Processing history information generation part, 22 Image for preservation | save Generation unit, 23 Database access unit, 24 Report generation processing unit, 31 Image output condition setting unit, 32 Output target image selection unit, 33 Report image generation unit

Claims (3)

Means for receiving an input of an image processing instruction and generating processing history information which is a history of processing based on the instruction;
Means for generating an image for storage based on at least a portion of the image processed by the instruction;
History information holding means for holding the generated processing history information and a storage image in association with each other;
Means for generating list information of processing history information based on information held in the history information holding means;
Including
The means for generating the list information of the processing history information generates the list information including a storage image associated with each of at least a part of the processing history information to be included in the list information. History information processing device. The history information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The means for generating the list information of the processing history information selects at least a part of the processing history information to be included in the list information based on a predetermined condition, and the storage image associated with the selected processing history information A history information processing apparatus characterized by generating the list information. On the computer,
A procedure for receiving processing instruction information and generating processing history information based on the instruction;
Generating a storage image based on at least a portion of the image processed by the instruction;
A procedure for associating the generated processing history information with the image for storage and holding them in a database;
A procedure for generating processing history information list information based on the information held in the database, and including a storage image associated with each of at least a part of the processing history information to be included in the list information;
A program characterized in that is executed.

Images