JP2008172288A - Information processor and twain driver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor and TWAIN driver capable of passing image data to application software for processing by selecting the image data from image data stored in an external information processor and those stored in an information processor. <P>SOLUTION: The image data are selected from image data stored in a composite machine 3, those stored in the information processor 1, and those stored in a common folder in a network 2, and the selected image data are passed to the application software for processing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a TWAIN driver connected to an external information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication path.

As this type of prior art, there is an image data receiving means that is a client device connected to an image reading device via a network, and that can wait for image data sent from the image reading device in a constant connection mode. Means for storing received image data; operating means for inputting a command; and taking out image data from the image data storing means in accordance with a command inputted via the operating means, and the taken image data is instructed by the command. There are image data processing means for performing processing according to the set conditions (Patent Document 1, Claim 1, etc.).
JP 2002-330249 A

  However, in the above prior art, the image data receiving unit can only process the image data received from the image reading apparatus, and cannot process the image data stored other than the image data receiving unit.

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to select image data from the image data stored in the external information processing apparatus and the image data stored in the information processing apparatus, and use the image data as application software. It is to provide an information processing apparatus and a TWAIN driver that can be passed and processed.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention of claim 1 is an information processing apparatus connected to an external information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication path, and stores application software for performing document processing. A storage unit capable of storing image data, an operation unit that receives an operation input, and an information processing unit that performs information processing based on the application software read from the storage unit, wherein the information processing unit includes the application In response to a request by information processing based on software, image data specified by an operation input via the operation unit is selected from the image data stored in the external information processing apparatus and the image data stored in the storage unit. Information processing based on the application software is performed on the image data. .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, the information processing apparatus is connected to a predetermined network, and the information processing unit responds to a request by information processing based on the application software. The image data stored in the external information processing apparatus, the image data stored in the storage unit, and the image data stored in a shared folder provided in the network via the operation unit. Image data designated by an operation input is selected, and information processing based on the application software is performed on the image data.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the external information processing apparatus is a multifunction peripheral connected to the information processing apparatus via a network.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus connected to an external information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication path, a storage unit capable of storing image data, an operation unit for receiving operation input, From the image data stored in the external information processing apparatus and the image data stored in the storage unit, image data designated by an operation input via the operation unit is selected, and processing for the selected image data is performed. And an information processing unit to perform.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is a TWAIN driver that is read into a computer connected to an external information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication path, and is installed in the computer into which the TWAIN driver is read. An operation unit provided in the computer is selected from image data stored in the external information processing apparatus and image data stored in the storage unit provided in the computer in response to a request from the application software. The image data designated by the operation input given through the operation is passed to the application software.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, image data is selected from the image data stored in the external information processing apparatus and the image data stored in the information processing apparatus, and the image data is used as application software. It can be handed over and processed, which is convenient and can flexibly respond to user requests.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, image data stored in a shared folder provided in the network can be selected and handed over to application software for processing, which is convenient.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily process the image data captured by the multi-function peripheral, which is convenient.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, image data is selected from the image data stored in the external information processing apparatus and the image data stored in the information processing apparatus, and the image data is processed. It is convenient and can flexibly respond to user requests.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, image data is selected from the image data stored in the external information processing apparatus and the image data stored in the information processing apparatus, and the image data is used as application software. It can be handed over and processed, which is convenient and can flexibly respond to user requests.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, an outline of the information processing apparatus 1 and the configuration of the entire system to which the information processing apparatus 1 is connected will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 1 includes a control unit 11, a display unit 12, an operation unit 13, a storage unit 14, and an external interface 15 as information processing units connected to each other by a bus 10. Has been. The information processing apparatus 1 is a facsimile multifunction peripheral (hereinafter simply referred to as “multifunction apparatus”) 3 as an external information processing apparatus via a network 2 as a communication path constituted by a LAN (Local Area Network) or the like. And one or a plurality of terminal devices 4. The information processing apparatus 1 and the terminal apparatus 4 according to the present embodiment are configured by a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) or the like.

  The control unit 11 supervises the control of the information processing apparatus 1 and includes a CPU or the like. The control unit 11 reads and executes a program stored in the storage unit 14 and is defined in the program. Various kinds of information processing are executed.

  The operation unit 13 is for receiving an operation input to the information processing apparatus 1 and includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like.

  The storage unit 14 includes a storage device such as a ROM, a RAM, and a hard disk device. The storage unit 14 includes various programs to be executed by the control unit 11, setting data regarding operation settings of the information processing device 1, a user, and the like. Stores various saved data saved by.

  The external interface 15 is for connecting the information processing apparatus 1 to the network 2. The control unit 11 cooperates with the external interface 15 to handle SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), POP (Post Office Protocol), SMB (Server Message Block), HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), and the like. Features are provided.

  The multifunction machine 3 has a printer function, a facsimile function (including an Internet facsimile function), a copy function, a scanner function, and the like. The scanner function includes a so-called scan-to-folder function that stores image data read by the scanner unit in a shared folder in a predetermined network 2.

  The storage unit 3a in the multifunction device 3 can store an image data file read by the scanner function of the multifunction device 3, an image data file related to a facsimile transmission / reception image, and the like.

  Further, the multifunction machine 3 takes in the image data stored in the storage unit 3a of the multifunction machine 3 into the PC or the image data read by the multifunction machine 3 by a PC or the like in which a predetermined TWAIN driver is installed. Can be received in a shared folder of each PC, or the MFP 3 can perform an image reading operation by remote control from the PC, and the image data can be taken into the shared folder of the PC.

  The terminal device 4 has substantially the same configuration as that of the information processing device 1, and detailed description regarding the configuration is omitted.

  The information processing apparatus 1 is installed with a predetermined TWAIN driver for causing the information processing apparatus 1 to execute processing operations as described later. The processing operation will be described below.

  The information processing apparatus 1 is installed with a predetermined TWAIN driver and application software for performing document processing (for example, document creation, printing, facsimile transmission, etc.). These drivers and software are stored in the storage unit 14, and are read and executed by the control unit 11 as necessary, thereby causing the information processing apparatus 1 to perform predetermined processing operations. Yes.

  The TWAIN driver according to the present embodiment causes the information processing apparatus 1 to store image data stored in the storage unit 3a of the multifunction machine 3 and the storage unit 14 of the information processing apparatus 1 in response to a request by information processing based on application software. Image data specified by an operation input via the operation unit 13 among image data stored in the network 2 and image data stored in a shared folder provided in the network 2. It is supposed to work to pass to.

  Further, the application software can be linked with the TWAIN driver. Document processing corresponding to an operation input given to the information processing apparatus 1 via the operation unit 13 based on the image data received from the TWAIN driver. (For example, document creation, printing, facsimile transmission, etc.) are operated.

  More detailed contents of the processing operation will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 2, when there is an image data acquisition request for the TWAIN driver from the application software being executed in step S1, the process proceeds to step S2.

  In step S2, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, an operation input image 21 for allowing the user to select an image data acquisition destination is displayed on the display unit 12, and image data acquisition is performed by an operation input via the user operation unit 13. If the MFP 3 (MFP) is selected as the destination, the process proceeds to step S6. If the shared folder in the information processing apparatus 1 or the network 1 is selected as the image data acquisition destination, the process proceeds to step S3.

  When there is only one multifunction device 3 registered in the information processing apparatus 1, when the multifunction device 3 is selected as the image data acquisition destination, login processing for the multifunction device 3 is performed in step S3. In the case where a plurality of multifunction devices 3 are registered, and the multifunction device 3 is selected as the image data acquisition destination, one multifunction device 3 is selected from the plurality of multifunction devices 3 to the user. A selection acceptance process for making a selection is performed.

  In step S3, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, an operation input image 31 for causing the user to select image data to be acquired is displayed on the display unit 12, and image data acquisition in the information processing apparatus 1 and the network 2 is performed. The selection operation of the previous folder or image data file is accepted. In the operation input image 31, a folder structure display unit 31a, a file list display unit 31b, a preview display unit 31c, a resolution setting unit 31d, a reading range setting unit 31e, a pixel type setting unit 31f, and the like are provided.

  The folder configuration display unit 31a displays the configuration of the folder provided in the storage unit 14 of the information processing device 1 and the shared folder provided in the other terminal device 4 in the network 1 and obtains image data. The previous folder can be selected via the operation unit 13. In the file list display unit 31b, a list of image files stored in the folder selected in the folder configuration display unit 31a is displayed. From this list, the user selects image data for which the operation unit 13 is to be acquired. It can be done. In the preview display unit 31c, the image of the image data file selected in the file list display unit 31b is displayed in a reduced size. This preview display function can be switched by a user operation depending on whether or not a check button 31g is checked.

  The resolution setting unit 31d can adjust the resolution at the time of capturing image data by operating a radio button corresponding to a desired resolution among a plurality of radio buttons. The reading range setting unit 31e can specify a page range of data to be captured when the image data file includes a plurality of pages of image data. In the pixel type setting unit 31f, it is possible to specify whether the pixel type used when capturing image data is captured as a monochrome binary image or a grayscale image.

  When the image data to be captured is determined and the setting of conditions such as resolution at the time of capturing the image data is completed, the image data designated at that time is designated by operating the read button 31h via the operation unit 13. It is imported based on the setting conditions and passed to the application software. When it is desired to end the image data capturing operation, it can be ended by operating the end button 31 i via the operation unit 12.

  In step S4, it is determined whether or not image data to be captured has been designated, that is, whether or not the read button 31h has been operated. If the read button 31h has been operated, the process proceeds to step S5, while the read button 31h has been pressed. If not operated, the process returns to step S3, and the processes of steps S3 and S4 are repeated until the read button 31h is operated.

  In step S5, the image data designated in step S4 is fetched from the selected folder, transferred to the requesting application software, and processed by the application software based on the image data.

  On the other hand, when the multifunction device 3 is selected as the image data acquisition destination in step S2, a login process is performed in step S6. In this login process, user information (for example, a user ID and a password) related to the access authority to the multifunction device 3 is input via the operation unit 13 or the like, and the user information is combined via the network 2 as an access destination complex. It is sent to the machine 3 and the multifunction machine 3 is made to confirm the presence or absence of access authority. Only when the access authority is granted by the access destination multifunction device 3, access to the stored data of the multifunction device 3 is permitted, and the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S 7, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, an operation input image 41 for causing the user to select image data to be acquired is displayed on the display unit 12, and an image data acquisition destination folder or the like in the multifunction device 3 is displayed. An image data file selection operation is accepted. The operation input image 41 has substantially the same configuration as the operation input image 31 described above, and includes a folder configuration display unit 31a, a file list display unit 31b, a preview display unit 31c, a resolution setting unit 31d, a reading range setting unit 31e, and a pixel. A type setting unit 31f and the like are provided. The operation input image 41 is substantially different from the operation input image 31 in that the folder structure display unit 31a and the file list display unit 31b are displayed in the storage unit 3a of the multifunction machine 3 to be accessed. In addition, only a list of image data files stored in each folder is used, and portions corresponding to each other are denoted by the same reference numerals to avoid duplication of description.

  In step S8, it is determined whether or not image data to be captured has been specified, that is, whether or not the read button 31h has been operated. If the read button 31h has been operated, the process proceeds to step S9, while the read button 31h has been pressed. If not operated, the process returns to step S7, and the processes of steps S7 and S8 are repeated until the read button 31h is operated.

  In step S9, the image data designated in step S8 is fetched from the selected folder, transferred to the requesting application software, and processed by the application software based on the image data.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, among the image data stored in the multifunction machine 3, the image data stored in the information processing apparatus 1, and the image data stored in the shared folder in the network 2. The image data can be selected from the image data, and the image data can be passed to the application software for processing, which is convenient and can flexibly meet the user's request. For example, image data stored in a shared folder in the network 2 by the MFP 3 using the scan-to-folder function of the MFP 3 can be transferred to the application software via the TWAIN driver. High convenience.

It is a block diagram of an information processor concerning one embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart regarding image data delivery processing using a TWAIN driver of the information processing apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation input image displayed on the information processing apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation input image displayed on the information processing apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation input image displayed on the information processing apparatus of FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information processing apparatus 2 Network 3 Facsimile compound machine 4 Terminal apparatus 11 Control part 12 Display part 13 Operation part 14 Storage part 15 External interface

Claims (5)

An information processing apparatus connected to an external information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication path,
Application software for performing document processing is stored, a storage unit that can store image data, an operation unit that receives operation input, and information processing that performs information processing based on the application software read from the storage unit With
The information processing unit performs an operation via the operation unit from among image data stored in the external information processing apparatus and image data stored in the storage unit in response to a request by information processing based on the application software An information processing apparatus, wherein image data designated by input is selected, and information processing based on the application software is performed on the image data. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The information processing apparatus is connected to a predetermined network;
The information processing unit is provided in the network according to a request by information processing based on the application software, image data stored in the external information processing apparatus, image data stored in the storage unit, and the network Information that selects image data designated by an operation input via the operation unit from image data stored in a shared folder, and performs information processing based on the application software on the image data Processing equipment. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The external information processing apparatus is a multifunction peripheral connected to the information processing apparatus via a network. An information processing apparatus connected to an external information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication path,
A storage unit capable of storing image data;
An operation unit for receiving operation inputs;
The image data designated by the operation input through the operation unit is selected from the image data stored in the external information processing apparatus and the image data stored in the storage unit, and processing for the selected image data is performed. An information processing apparatus comprising: an information processing unit for performing A TWAIN driver that is read by a computer connected to an external information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication path,
In the computer loaded with the TWAIN driver,
In response to a request from application software installed in the computer, the image data stored in the external information processing apparatus and the image data stored in the storage unit included in the computer are provided in the computer. A TWAIN driver which operates to pass image data designated by an operation input given through a given operation unit to the application software.

Images