JP2010074510A - Data processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology for preventing erasure of data which is not yet read by a user in a data processing apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: When there is not free memory enough to store a document when storing the document, documents already read are preferentially deleted to ensure an available memory capacity as well as prevent erasure of documents not yet read by the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data processing device that can receive data from an external device and present it to a user.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some apparatuses that receive data, such as a facsimile machine, include a memory that stores received data. In such an apparatus, when data is received in a state where the remaining memory is low, how to secure the remaining memory for receiving data becomes a problem.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1, a priority according to the other party is set for the received document file by the processor, and when the memory is full and no further reception is possible, the processor receives the memory from now on. Compare the priority of the original file to be received with the priority of the already stored original file. As a result, the priority of the original file to be received in the already stored original file is compared. When a document file with a low priority is detected, this document file is deleted.

Further, in Patent Document 2, in a facsimile apparatus including a plurality of memory boxes, setting for overwriting or adding is made for each memory box. When a facsimile is received, the data is stored in the memory box corresponding to the subaddress sent from the transmission side. If this memory box is overwritten, the data currently stored in the memory box is invalidated. After that, the received data is stored, and if it is an additional setting, it is additionally stored.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-175056 JP 2001-320560 A

  In the conventional technology, there is a possibility that even data that is not seen by the user is deleted.

  In view of the above-described problems of the conventional technology, an object of the present invention is to provide a technology capable of preventing data not seen by a user from being deleted.

  In order to solve the above problems, a data processing device according to claim 1 is a data storage unit that stores data, a presentation unit that presents the data to a user, and each data in the storage unit by a user by the presentation unit. When the remaining memory capacity of the storage device is less than a certain value, the read history data that is already presented to the user is deleted from the data in the storage unit. A data deletion unit.

  According to this data processing apparatus, since data that has been presented to the user is deleted, it is possible to prevent data that is not seen by the user from being deleted.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the data processing device according to the first aspect, the data deleting unit deletes the read data when the data storage unit stores new data. May be.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the data processing device of the second aspect further includes a data receiving unit that receives data from an external device, and the data deleting unit is configured to receive data when the data receiving unit receives data. Assuming that new data is stored in the data storage unit, the read data may be deleted.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the data processing device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the data deletion unit requires the remaining memory capacity of the storage unit to be stored for the new data. When the value is less than the value, the data in the storage unit may be deleted.

  Moreover, as described in claim 5, in the data processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the presentation unit includes an image forming unit that prints data in the data storage unit on a sheet, The presentation history storage unit may store that the data has been printed by the image forming unit.

  In addition, as described in claim 6, in the data processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the presentation unit includes a display unit that displays data in the data storage unit as an image, and the presentation The history storage unit may store that the data is displayed on the display unit.

  Moreover, as described in claim 7, in the data processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the presentation unit includes a data transmission unit that transmits data in the data storage unit to an external device, The presentation history storage unit may store that the data has been transmitted by the data transmission unit.

  In addition, as described in claim 8, the data processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 controls the presenting unit to present the read data to the user before deletion. May be further provided.

  According to the data processing device of the present invention, since data that has been presented to the user is deleted, it is possible to prevent data that is not seen by the user from being deleted.

[1] First Embodiment (1-1) Overview of Multifunction Device 1 An overview of a multifunction device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the multifunction machine 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction device 1 includes an image reading unit 11, a facsimile communication unit 121, a PC communication unit 122, an encoding / decoding unit 13, a buffer memory 14, a document storage unit 15, an image forming unit 16, and a display unit. 17, an operation receiving unit 18, a control device 19, and the like, which are connected so as to be able to exchange data with each other.

  The image reading unit 11 acquires image data from a document. Specifically, the image reading unit 11 illuminates the document, an image sensor that detects reflected light from the document and converts it into an electrical signal, and guides illumination light from the light source to the document, and from the document to the image sensor. And an optical member such as a mirror or a lens for guiding reflected light.

  The facsimile communication unit 121 and the PC communication unit 122 are examples of a data reception unit that receives data from an external device and a data transmission unit that transmits data to the external device.

  Specifically, the facsimile communication unit 121 performs facsimile communication with the external facsimile apparatus 2 via a telephone line or the like.

  The PC communication unit 122 performs data communication with an external PC (Personal Computer) 3 via a communication line such as a LAN. In particular, the PC communication unit 122 can present a document to the user via the display of the PC 3 by transmitting a document in the document storage unit 15 described later to the external PC 3.

  The encoding / decoding unit 13 can convert data such as image data obtained by the image reading unit 11 into a code that can be transmitted to the outside by the facsimile communication unit 121 or the PC communication unit 122, and these function units are externally connected. Data obtained from the device can be decrypted.

  The buffer memory 14 can temporarily store data obtained by the facsimile communication unit 121 from the facsimile apparatus 2, data obtained by the PC communication unit 122 from PC 3, data obtained by the image reading unit 11, and the like.

  The document storage unit 15 can store data obtained by the facsimile communication unit 121 from the facsimile apparatus 2, data obtained by the PC communication unit 122 from the PC 3, data obtained by the image reading unit 11, and the like, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk). Drive) and the like. In the document storage unit 15, a plurality of boxes B are provided under the control of the control device 19 in accordance with a user instruction via the operation reception unit 18. Box B is provided corresponding to each user. The “document” can be rephrased as “data” and includes data such as characters, symbols, images, pictures, and drawings.

  The image forming unit 16 prints out the data on a sheet. In particular, the image forming unit 16 can print the document in the box B on paper.

  The display unit 17 can provide various information to the user by displaying an image on the liquid crystal display panel. In particular, the display unit 17 can display the document in the box B as an image. Here, “image” may be rephrased as “screen” and refers to characters, symbols, pictures, drawings, and other images.

  That is, the facsimile communication unit 121, the PC communication unit 122, the image forming unit 16, and the display unit 17 function as a presentation unit that presents a document to the user. That is, provision of data to the user via the facsimile apparatus 2 or the PC 3, display by the display unit 17, and printing by the image forming unit 16 are examples of presenting data to the user.

  The operation receiving unit 18 includes a hard key such as a start key and a numeric keypad, and a touch sensor that forms a touch panel together with the liquid crystal display panel of the display unit 17 and can receive an instruction from a user.

  The control device 19 controls the operation of each part of the multifunction device 1. Specifically, the control device 19 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), and other storage media.

(1-2) Read Information Storage Processing performed by the control device 19 when the document in the box B is read will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the operation receiving unit 18 receives a presentation instruction from the user for the document in the box B (Yes in step S11), the document designated by the user is presented under the control device 19 (step S11). S12).

  The control device 19 further stores the read information about the presented document (step S13). The read information is information indicating that the document has already been presented to the user, and is stored in the document storage unit 15 in association with each document. That is, the document storage unit 15 functions as a data storage unit that stores document data, and also functions as a presentation history storage unit that stores a presentation history for this data. A document with read information is referred to as a “read document”. The read document is an example of read data.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the already-read information is attached to a document displayed by the display unit 17 or printed by the image forming unit 16, but the control device 19 is not limited to the facsimile communication unit 121 or the PC. The read information may also be attached to the document transmitted by the communication unit 122.

(1-3) Data Reception With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3, processing by the control device 19 when a new document is saved will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when a new document is to be saved (Yes in step S21), the following processing is performed. The time when the document should be newly stored may be when the facsimile communication unit 121 or the PC communication unit 122 receives data from the facsimile apparatus 2 or the PC 3, or the image read by the image reading unit 11 is stored in the box B. It may be when the operation accepting unit 18 accepts an instruction to do so.

  Under the control of the control device 19, the document to be stored is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 14 (step S22). Then, the control device 19 refers to the remaining memory capacity of the document storage unit 15 (step S23). The control device 19 compares the size of the document to be stored with the remaining memory capacity (step S24). If the remaining memory is insufficient to store this document (Yes in step S25), the document storage unit 15 is searched for a read document (step S26).

  Insufficient memory means that the remaining memory is less than the value necessary for storing the document, that is, the size of the document to be stored.

  If the read document exists as a result of the search (Yes in step S27), the control device 19 causes the image forming unit 16 to print the read document (step S28). Then, the control device 19 deletes the printed read document (step S29).

  In this way, the control device 19 prints and deletes the read document until a sufficient memory capacity for document storage can be secured, and stores the document to be stored in the document storage unit 15 (step S30). At this time, if the storage destination box is designated, the document is saved in the designated box B.

  If it is determined in step S28 that the read document does not exist (No in step S28), the control device 19 causes the display unit 17 to have a new memory unless the stored document is deleted because the memory is insufficient. A warning message is displayed to inform the user that a simple document cannot be saved (step S31). When the user receives an instruction to specify a document in the document storage unit 15 and delete the document from the user via the operation reception unit 18 (Yes in step S32), the control device 19 specifies the specified document. Is deleted from the document storage unit 15 (step S33). If there is no deletion instruction, the display of the warning message is continued (No in step S32). In this way, the user can select a document to be deleted.

  If a newly saved document is sent from the facsimile apparatus 2 in this way, processing such as disconnection of the communication line is performed when saving to the document storage unit 15 is completed, and a series of processing is completed.

  In this way, the multifunction device 1 can secure a remaining memory and store a new document. Then, the already-read document that has been presented to the user once is deleted. That is, since an unread document is preferentially left, it is possible to prevent the document from being deleted without touching the user's eyes.

  Further, the control device 19 functions as a presentation control unit, and before the read document is deleted, the read document is printed by the image forming unit 16 and presented to the user. Therefore, necessary data is not deleted without the user's knowledge. By such processing, even if the user loses the printed matter already created for the deleted document, the printed matter for the document remains at the user's hand, which is highly convenient for the user.

  “Delete” in steps S29 and S33 includes “overwrite”.

[2] Other Embodiments The first embodiment can be modified as follows.

  (2-1) In the first embodiment, the document storage unit 15 includes the box B and the document is stored in each box B. However, the document storage unit 15 does not need to include the box B. . That is, the document storage unit 15 may simply store a document without distinguishing between boxes.

  (2-2) Printing in step S28 in FIG. 3 is merely an example of a method for presenting a read document to the user. That is, in step S28, not only printing but also display by the display unit 17, transmission by the facsimile communication unit 121 or the PC communication unit 122, or a combination thereof can be employed as a presentation method to the user.

  When the presentation method is transmission, the control device 19 sets the owner of the read document to be deleted, for example, the PC or facsimile device of the owner of the box B where the document is stored as the transmission destination. can do.

  (2-3) Presenting to the user before deleting a read document is not essential. That is, the process of step S28 in FIG. 3 can be omitted.

  (2-4) The control device 19 is an example of a data deletion unit, and when the remaining memory capacity is less than a certain value, the timing at which the control device 19 deletes the read document from the document storage unit 15 is the first implementation. The present invention is not limited to saving a new document such as a form. For example, if the remaining amount of memory is less than a certain value when the storage of the document is completed, the control device 19 deletes the read document so that the remaining amount of memory becomes a certain value or more at that time. It may be.

  When deleting a read document when saving a new document, the control device 19 can delete the read document at an arbitrary timing from the start to the end of saving the new document.

  (2-5) The “constant value” in (2-4) above is the remaining memory capacity for storing a new document in the first embodiment, but other than this, a predetermined value is used. For example, it may be set to 50%, 30%, 10%, or 0% of the total capacity.

  (2-6) “Remaining memory capacity” in the above (2-4) and (2-5) may be the remaining memory capacity of the entire document storage unit 15, or a storage destination for a new document. It may be the remaining amount of memory allocated to the box B designated as.

  In the former case, the search target in step S26 is the entire document storage unit 15, and is not limited to a box designated as a new document storage destination. However, in the case where it is not appropriate to show a document owned by a certain user to other users, the search target is preferably the box B designated as the storage destination.

  In the latter case, a certain memory capacity may be allocated to each box B in advance. In this case, the search target in step S26 is the box B designated as a new document storage destination.

  (2-7) The present invention can be applied to an apparatus having a function of storing data and a function of presenting data to a user, in addition to the multifunction peripheral. Examples of such an apparatus include a facsimile machine, a printer, a copying machine, and a scanner.

  (2-8) The techniques obtained by combining the techniques described in the different columns are also included in the embodiments of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a multifunction machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing at the time of document presentation in the multi function device. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing at the time of document storage in the multi function device.

Explanation of symbols

1 MFP 2 Facsimile machine 3 PC
121 Facsimile Communication Unit 122 PC Communication Unit 14 Buffer Memory 15 Document Storage Unit 16 Image Forming Unit 17 Display Unit 18 Operation Accepting Unit 19 Control Device

Claims (8)

A data storage unit for storing data;
A presentation unit for presenting the data to the user;
For each data in the storage unit, a presentation history storage unit that stores information presented to the user by the presentation unit;
When the remaining amount of memory in the storage device becomes less than a certain value, a data deletion unit that deletes read data that is already presented to the user among the data in the storage unit;
A data processing apparatus comprising: The data deletion unit is configured to delete the read data when the data storage unit stores new data.
The data processing apparatus according to claim 1. A data receiving unit for receiving data from an external device;
The data deletion unit is configured to delete the read data, assuming that the time when the data receiving unit receives data is when new data is stored in the data storage unit.
The data processing apparatus according to claim 2. The data deletion unit is configured to delete the data in the storage unit when the remaining memory capacity of the storage unit is less than a value necessary for storing the new data.
The data processing apparatus of any one of Claims 1-3. The presenting unit includes an image forming unit that prints data in the data storage unit on paper,
The presentation history storage unit stores the fact that the data has been printed by the image forming unit.
The data processing apparatus of any one of Claims 1-4. The presenting unit includes a display unit that displays data in the data storage unit as an image,
The presentation history storage unit is adapted to store that the data is displayed by the display unit.
The data processing apparatus of any one of Claims 1-5. The presenting unit includes a data transmission unit that transmits data in the data storage unit to an external device,
The presentation history storage unit stores the data transmitted by the data transmission unit.
The data processing apparatus of any one of Claims 1-6. Further comprising a presentation control unit that controls the presenting unit to cause the user to present the read data before deletion,
The data processing apparatus of any one of Claims 1-7.

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