JP3143942B2 - Form creation device and form processing method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a form creation device and a form processing method. For example, a delivery form (or data) (output form) from an application form (input form) such as year-end gift or Chu-Yuan to an individual destination. And a form processing method for processing the input form.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a form creation apparatus as described above, the contents of an advance application form are optically read, and read information corresponding to predetermined fields such as a requester, a destination, a product, and a price of each delivery slip is stored. A configuration for allocating and printing is known. For example, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 62-73957, Japanese Utility Model Application
No. 4-23164, JP-A-2-39368 and JP-A-2-39369.

FIG. 2 shows a format example of a gift application form (input form) in a department store, and FIG. 3 shows a format example of a delivery form (output form).
Shown in The gift application 10 has one requester column 12 for entering the address and name of the requester, and a number of destination columns 14 for entering the address and name of the destination. Next to each destination column 14, a control column 16 for attaching a function mark for controlling operations of image reading and transcription processing of entry data, a product name column 1 for entering a product code (part number), a product name and the number of a gift, and the like.
8 and an amount column 20 for entering the amount. Also, in each application form 10, the application form number is pre-printed in the application form number column 22, and the application form bar code column 24 has
The barcode corresponding to the application number is printed.

[0004] The delivery slip 30 is usually in a state where a large number of copies are stacked, and is a continuous sheet for printing by a dot printer. In the delivery slip 30, a requester column 32,
There are a destination field 34, a product name field 36, an amount field 38, a delivery slip number field 40, and a delivery slip barcode field 42. Delivery slip 3
At 0, as a matter of course, only one column 32 to 42 is provided. A delivery slip number is printed in advance in the delivery slip number column 40, and its barcode is printed in the delivery slip barcode column 42.

[0005] A conventional form creation device for creating the delivery slip 30 shown in FIG. 3 from the contents of the application form 10 shown in FIG. 2 will be briefly described. Application 10 is usually A4 or B4
First, when the whole is read by an image input device (a so-called image scanner), the positions of the cut-out ranges of the respective columns 12 to 20 of the application form 10 are designated. The print position of each of the columns 32 to 38 of 30 is designated, and the correspondence between the columns 12, 14, 18, and 20 of the application form and the columns 32, 34, 36, and 38 of the delivery slip 30 is set in advance.

[0006] Then, the entire application form 10 in which the client, the addressee, the product name, etc. are entered is read by an image scanner, and each column 1 is read in accordance with the cut-out range previously set.
The entry data of 2 to 20 are cut out, allocated to the corresponding columns 32 to 38 of the delivery slip 30 (format converted), and printed by the printer. In accordance with the contents of the control column 16, the operation of reading and transferring the image of the entry data is controlled.

[0007]

[0005] A conventional form creation device transcribes (prints) a delivery slip as it is as an image of a requester's address name, a destination address name, and a product name, etc., which are handwritten in an advance application form. ), And if not filled out carefully, it can lead to misunderstanding of the delivery person or give the recipient an unpleasant feeling.

[0008] On the other hand, such a gift application form is periodically
That is, it is used repeatedly during the year of the year and during the middle of the year, and the same client often sends a gift to one or more same destinations. Therefore, it is common for department stores to convert the contents of the gift application form into a database as customer information. That is, the name of the address of the client, the name of the destination, etc. are encoded and stored in a large-scale file device such as an optical disk.

In order to avoid the inconvenience of the client filling out the same address in the application form each time, and to prevent the use of other department stores, the department store, together with the name of the client's address, provides the previous application form. Send a new gift application form to the client as soon as possible, with the address and name of the recipient entered in. Of course, in this case, there is also a problem of appearance, and the client's address name and destination address name are not printed as they are from the previous entrance application form, but are printed beautifully using the character code information of the customer database described above. It is preferably printed in characters. For example, since there are several months from the middle year to the next year's end of the year, the characters are coded manually. However, it is preferable that this operation can also be automated.

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a form creation apparatus and a form processing method that solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided a form creation apparatus comprising: first and second information entry columns;
ID information that describes identification information indicating the content of the information description column
Report form to output book with report columns
A form creating apparatus for creating the votes, those of the input form
Image reading means for reading the first and second information entry fields and the ID information field, and the image reading means
Interpretation to read the contents of the ID information column read in
Means and the input form according to the interpretation result of the interpretation means.
A determining means for the description of the first information, wherein the column of it is determined whether the registered or not in the reference file, those of the input form
The content of the first information entry column is registered in the reference file.
If not recorded by the image reading means
Description of the first and second information of the read input form
Read the image in the column to the format of the output form.
Content of the first information entry column of the input form
Is registered in the reference file,
Read from the reference file according to the contents of the D information column
Registration information and the input book by the image reading means.
The read image of the second information entry field of the vote and the output
And characterized in that it consists of a format converting means for relocating the format of a form, the form creation unit for creating the output <br/> force form the rearrangement result of the format conversion means
I do .

Further, the form processing method according to the present invention, first
And the second information entry column, and the first information entry column
The ID information column that describes the identification information indicating the content of the
Create an output form from an input form provided in a certain place
That a form processing method, the first and the input form
Read the image in the second information entry field and the ID information field
An image reading step and the image reading step
Interpretation for reading the contents of the read ID information column
Step and the interpretation result of the interpretation step
A determining step of the description of the first information, wherein the column of force document to determine whether registered or not in the reference file, the input
The contents of the first information entry column of the
If the file is not registered in the file,
The first and second of the input form read by the means
The read image in the information entry column of the
In the first information entry column of the input form.
Is registered in the reference file
From the reference file according to the contents of the ID information column
The read registration information and the image reading means
A read image of the second information entry column of the input form;
Format that relocates the
Conversion step and rearrangement of the format conversion means
Results, characterized in that it consists of a form generating step of generating the output form.

[0013]

According to the above-mentioned means, graphic information can be replaced with character codes as much as possible, and the output form can be printed with a high quality.
By using an existing database as a reference file, existing data can be used effectively. By combining character recognition processing, character data can be automatically obtained and stored as data.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 50 denotes a processing device including a computer for controlling the whole. The processing device 50 includes an image input device (image scanner) 5 for reading the application form 10 as an image.
2. an image memory 54 for storing an image input by the image input device 52, at least one printer (for example, a dot impact printer) 56 on which the continuous form delivery slip 30 shown in FIG. 3 is set, a monitor 58, and a keyboard 6
0 and a large-capacity auxiliary storage device 62 composed of an optical disk device and a hard disk device. This is a basic configuration.

The auxiliary storage device 62 stores a database (hereinafter referred to as an application file) for the information (or customer information) of the previous application form corresponding to each column of the application form 10 in FIG. Application number, client (name and address),
There are fields for the destination (address and name), product name and price. The fields for the destination (address and name), product name and price are a plurality of structures (or sub-files).
Cases). Each field contains a data type field indicating whether the recorded data is character code data or graphic data, and whether the data in the field is alphanumeric, kana (hiragana or katakana) or kanji as characters. Is provided with a code type field that indicates For example, item name column 18
The part numbers are alphanumeric. Although the details will be described later, the character recognition level is controlled according to the setting of the code type field.

Of course, as the customer information, it is common to store and accumulate past information, and other useful information (for example, a delivery slip number to each destination and the request date thereof) is stored. Needless to say, it can be linked to a database.

The advance application form 10 is machine-readable and therefore not preferably bent, and because of the large number, a new large-scale application form is printed using a special large-size printing device using the above-mentioned advance application file. At this time, a serial number is given to each leaf as an application form number in the advance application form, which is printed in the application form number column 22, and a corresponding barcode is printed in the application form barcode column 24. This application number is written in the application number field. If the character code has not yet been converted to the destination, the image is printed as it is read.

Next, the processing operation of the applied gift application form will be described. 4 and 5 show the flowchart.

First, a character recognition level is set (S
1). For the character recognition level, for example, character recognition is unnecessary (#
0), recognizes only alphanumeric characters (# 1), recognizes even kana (#
2) and kanji recognition (# 3).
Set one. Etc. If you want to process a large amount of Shinmotsu application form, if less split Keru time on a single sheet of Shinmotsu application form,
Set the level as low as possible.

The gift application form 10 is set in the image input device 52, and the whole image is read and stored in the image memory 54 (S2). The figure in each of the columns 12 to 24 described in FIG. 2 is cut out (S3), and a format check is performed (S4). That is, whether the back of the application is read by mistake, whether the read application corresponds to the set cut-out range, whether there is a description in the requester column 12 or at least one destination column 14, etc. Perform a formal inspection of These can be determined based on whether or not the cut-out requester column 12, the application form number column 22, and / or the application form barcode column 24 are blank. Further, the logical consistency of the control column 16 may be checked. At the time of this format check, a variable Nmax is set to the number of valid destinations (including intermediate blanks and deletions).

If the format check is passed (S5), the bar code in the application form bar code column 24 is decoded (S6). It is checked whether or not the decoded application form number is registered in the gift application file of the auxiliary storage device 62 (S7). If there is a registration, a registration flag R is set (R = 1). Is cleared (R = 0) (S8, 9). As will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. 5, if there is a registration, the character code string of the registered data is substituted, and if the character is not registered, the character code obtained by character recognition or keyboard input is used. Substitute with a column (S10).

If necessary, the product name, quantity, amount, shipping fee, etc. are replenished from the keyboard 60 (S11). If there is a registration in the gift application file (R = 1) (S12),
The record is updated (S13), and if there is no registration (R
= 0) (S12), additional registration is made (S14).

The thus completed gift application data is allocated (format converted) to the format of a delivery slip (for example, delivery slip 30 shown in FIG. 3) set in the printer 56 (S15), and a character code (column) ) Is developed into a graphic of a print character pattern, and the graphic is left as it is (or after appropriate compression / decompression).
6 (S16). It is preferable that a bar code reader is arranged near the printer 56 so that the bar code of the printed delivery slip is read. By linking the read delivery slip number to the above-mentioned delivery application file and linking it to the delivery application number, the corresponding delivery slip can be immediately found from the delivery application form afterwards.

If the type inspection fails (S5), a warning is displayed on the monitor 58 (S18). If there is a next application form, the process returns to S1, and if not, the process ends (S17). When the delivery slip has been printed (S16), the process returns to S1 if there is a next advance application form, and ends if not (S17).

Referring to FIG. 5, the details of S10 in FIG. 4 will be described. First, the requester column 12 is processed. If there is a registration (registration flag R = 1) (S20), and if there is no correction (S21), instead of the figure cut out in the column 12,
The character code string of the client (address and name) recorded in the gift application file is inserted (S22). Correction (eg address)
When character recognition is performed according to the setting of S1 in FIG. 4 (S23), character recognition is performed, and input is performed from the keyboard 60 as necessary (S24). In recent years, dictionaries for converting postal codes into addresses are commercially available, so that input of addresses can be performed relatively easily. Alternatively, only the postal code may be character-recognized, the address may be obtained from the recognized postal code, and the shortage may be input from the keyboard 60. If there is no registration (registration flag R = 0) (S20) and character recognition is performed (S2
3) Perform character recognition, and input from the keyboard 60 if necessary (S24).

When a figure read from an image is replaced with a character code string or converted into a character code by character recognition or keyboard input, an identification code indicating character code information is set in the data type field. Keep it. When the image is read, the data
An identification code indicating graphic information is set in the type field. The same applies to the following destination structures.

Next, the destination structure (columns 14, 16, 18,
20) are sequentially processed. The loop variable N is initialized (S25). It is checked whether or not there is a deletion mark in the control column 16 (S26). If there is no deletion mark and the registration flag R is 1 (S27), it is checked whether or not there is a record of the Nth destination in the gift application file. (S2
8). This can be determined, for example, by pre-recording the presence or absence of registration as a function mark in the control column 16 and determining whether there is a mark in the corresponding control column 16 of the processing application for advancing goods. Also, the presence / absence of registration of the Nth destination may be recorded in the gift application file. If there is a record of the Nth destination in the gift application file, the character code string of the Nth destination field of the gift application file is inserted instead of the cutout figure in the Nth destination field 14 (S29).

When the registration flag R is 0 (S27), and when the registration flag R is 1 and there is no record of the N-th destination in the gift application file (S28), according to the setting of S1 in FIG. S30) Character recognition is performed, and an input is made from the keyboard 60 if necessary (S31). Needless to say, the name of the address in the destination field 14 is the same as that in the requester field 12, and the characters are recognized at the kanji level (when using the conversion from the postal code, the postal code is at the alphanumeric level). Product code and number in the item name column 18 and amount column 2
Even if the character recognition level is the kana level or the kanji level, the character amount 0 is recognized at the alphanumeric level.

If there is a deletion mark (S26), S
The processing of 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 is bypassed.

The variable N is incremented (S32), and the processes of S26 to S32 are repeated until the variable N exceeds the maximum number Nmax. As a result, for the data registered in the gift application file, the figure read by the image input device 52 is replaced with the figure of the print character pattern, and the print image has a very beautiful finish.

In this embodiment, a beautiful delivery slip using printed characters can be created by effectively utilizing the character-coded information. In addition, by combining this with character recognition, a new delivery destination or customer can not only create a beautiful delivery slip using printed characters, but also create a character code database on the spot. If the character code is used, the data amount is reduced, and a storage device having a smaller storage capacity can be used, and the processing time can be shortened accordingly.

In this embodiment, a delivery slip is created immediately by reading an image of the advance application form. However, when the data for the delivery slip is obtained, the delivery slip is temporarily stored in the auxiliary storage device 62 and collectively collected. You may make it print on a delivery slip. At this time, if each delivery slip data is provided with a print flag indicating whether or not the delivery slip has been printed, and the print flag is set for the printed slip data, double issuance of the delivery slip can be prevented.

In the present embodiment, the registration of presence or absence is performed by using both the application form number and the function mark of the control column 16 for the individual destination. Alternatively, other identification information may be used.

[0035]

As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, character-coded information can be effectively used, and the burden of character recognition can be greatly reduced. Since the output is made not by coarse characters by image reading but by printing characters, the finish is fine and the risk of reading errors is reduced. For example, in the case of a delivery slip, a town name or an address is not read and erroneous delivery is prevented.
Further, the accumulated information of the existing database can be effectively used, and new information can be automatically added or updated by combining the character recognition processing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a format example of a gift application form.

FIG. 3 is a format example of a delivery slip.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a main routine of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a detailed flowchart of S10 in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Gift application form 12: Requester field 14: Destination field 1
6: Control column 18: Product name column 20: Amount column 22: Application form number column 24: Application form barcode column 30: Delivery slip 32: Requester column 34: Destination column 36: Product name column 3
8: Amount column 40: Delivery chit number column 42: Delivery chit bar code column 50: Processor 52: Image input device (image scanner) 54: Image memory 56: Printer 58: Monitor 60: Keyboard 62: Large capacity auxiliary storage apparatus

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 19/00 G06K 9/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] (1)The first and second information entry columns and the
Describe identification information indicating the content of the first information description column.
Is an input form that has ID information fields at certain locations
Form creation device for creating an output form from the The Input formThe first and second information entry columns and I
D information columnImage reading means for reading an image,A description of the ID information column read by the image reading means.
A reading means for reading the contents, According to the interpretation result of the interpretation means, the input form
The content of the information description column 1 is Registered in reference file
Determining means for determining whether or notIf the content of the first information entry column of the input form is
If it is not registered in the reference file,
The first and the second of the input form read by the
And the read image of the second information entry column
Rearranged in the format and the first information of the input form
The content of the description column is registered in the reference file
In this case, the reference file is
Registration information read from the file and the image reading means
Of the second information entry column of the input form by the user
Rearrange the image and the format of the output form Pho
Format conversion means and the format conversion meansFrom the relocation resultOutput book
Form creation means for creating votesCharacterized by
Form creation device. 2. The image reading device according to claim 1, further comprising :
2. The form creation device according to claim 1, further comprising means for character-recognizing a read image of the first information entry column of the input form and inputting it with a keyboard if necessary. (3)The first and second information entry columns and the
Describe identification information indicating the content of the first information description column.
Is an input form that has ID information fields at certain locations
A form processing method for creating an output form from The Input formThe first and second information entry columns and I
D information columnScan an imageImage readingSteps andThe ID information column read in the image reading step
A reading step of reading the content of According to the interpretation result of the interpretation step, the input form
If the content of the first information entry column is Registered in reference file
Whether or notDiscriminationDoDiscriminationSteps andIf the content of the first information entry column of the input form is
If it is not registered in the reference file,
The first and the second of the input form read by the
And the read image of the second information entry column
Rearranged in the format and the first information of the input form
The content of the description column is registered in the reference file
In this case, the reference file is
Registration information read from the file and the image reading means
Of the second information entry column of the input form by the user
A format for relocating images and images to the format of the output form
Format conversion Steps andFrom the rearrangement result of the format conversion means, the output book
Form creation step for creating votes Consisting ofIt is characterized by
DoForm processing method. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the format conversion step comprises :
The content of the first information entry column of the input form is the reference
If the image is not registered in the file,
The first information record of the input form read by the means
Characters are read from the image read in the column, and keyboard
Input characters with the keyboard and recognize the characters and / or keyboard
The input result and the read image of the second information
It has a step of rearranging to the format of the output form
Form processing method according to claim 3 that.