JP4073936B2 - Data processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus that unconsciously transfers processing data to be copied, transmitted or recorded as backup data to a storage means, and more specifically, so that data processing can be performed while avoiding backup even in the same operation as usual. About what you did.

  In recent years, electronic file systems have been introduced along with the advancement and speeding up of data processing and the reduction in the cost of storage means. Data stored in this type of file system is generally read by a scanner and stored in a storage means.

  However, since the file-purpose data is usually copied, facsimile, etc. after being printed out, the applicant of the present application disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-291451 the print data, copy data, facsimile data. By automatically acquiring the same processing data as the processing data (hereinafter referred to simply as processing data) during the processing and storing / accumulating it in the storage means, it is possible to back up the processing data without being conscious of it. In addition, a file system is proposed in which the processing data can be easily retrieved and used when necessary.

  However, in such a conventional file system, there is no problem when a large-capacity storage device having a sufficient storage capacity is used as the storage means, but the storage means stores all long-term processing data to some extent. If there is no storage capacity that can be stored, for example, processing data that will be processed again later due to an erroneous operation, or a document to be printed on a trial print that does not need to be clearly stored. However, since it is unconsciously and forcibly backed up, it is necessary to avoid wasting storage capacity due to the processed data.

  Further, in the case of processing data such as a secret document that is not allowed to be stored in a commonly used storage unit, the data processing apparatus cannot be used unless backup is avoided.

  As a means for avoiding such backup of processing data, it is conceivable to provide an input means such as a button for inputting a storage avoidance command in an operation unit of a data processing apparatus such as a copying machine. In this case, it is possible to avoid backup of the processing data by inputting a storage avoidance command between immediately before the data processing and the completion of the storage of the processing data.

  However, a button or the like for avoiding accumulation of processing data requires an operation different from the normal operation, and part of the effect as an unconscious file system is lost. In addition, there is a possibility that processing data that should be prevented from being stored by forgetting to input an accumulation avoiding command may be backed up, or that processing data that should be backed up by mistake may be avoided. For this reason, it is desirable to be able to avoid backup of processing data that is not preferable to be accumulated even in normal operations similar to the others.

  Therefore, the present invention enables processing of data that needs to avoid accumulation by the same operation as usual by enabling acquisition of necessity of backup from the characteristics of processing data, and unconsciously processing data. The purpose is to further improve the usability and reliability of the file system.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a data processing device connected to a storage device for storing image data, the receiving means receiving image data, and the image received by the receiving means. Intention acquisition means for determining whether or not there is an avoidance symbol indicating avoidance of accumulation of the image data in the data, transmission means for transmitting the image data to be accumulated in the accumulation device, and the image When the data is image data determined to have an avoidance symbol by the intention acquisition unit, an accumulation avoiding unit for prohibiting transmission of the image data by the transmitting unit, and an image received by the receiving unit Processing for compressing data and performing facsimile communication to a predetermined facsimile terminal, processing for communicating image data received by the receiving means to a predetermined PC terminal, and receiving by the receiving means Is characterized in further comprising to an execution unit for executing image data processing for printing out, any one of the processes of the.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the image data received by the receiving means is image data received by facsimile communication from a predetermined facsimile terminal, image data received by data communication from a predetermined PC terminal, The image data is one of image data received by reading an image on a medium with a scanner .

The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the avoidance symbol is a predetermined symbol and is formed at a predetermined position of the image data . According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the intention acquisition unit determines that there is an avoidance symbol after the transmission unit transmits image data to the storage device, the storage avoidance unit A storage avoidance command is transmitted to the storage device to delete the image data.

In the present invention, the processing data for which the intention to avoid accumulation is not acquired is transferred to the storage means as the backup data as it is, and is stored and accumulated. On the other hand, when the intention to avoid the accumulation is acquired, the processing data is the same as the processing data. It is avoided that data is accumulated in the storage means as backup data. Therefore, by using different characteristics for the data to be processed, it is possible to avoid backing up by grasping / notifying that the processing data does not need to be accumulated even in the same data processing operation. .

In the present invention, it is possible to acquire the intention to avoid the accumulation of processing data by recognizing that it is different from the normal time by the accumulation avoidance dedicated paper characterized by a specific color, mark, barcode or the like. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the processing data from being backed up only by using the storage avoidance dedicated paper as a manuscript or recording paper such as a secret document or a test print document.

In the present invention, specified processing conditions for data processing, for example, specification of a set position of a document to be copied or transmitted by facsimile, including pressing of a stop key, specification of a set position of recording paper used for copy, facsimile reception or printout, By setting the processing data by specifying the position to discharge the recorded recording paper, the destination and source of facsimile data, or the requester of recording of print data, etc. Recognize and get different times. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the processing data from being backed up by an operation for specifying the processing conditions in the same way as in the normal time.

  According to the present invention, in a data processing apparatus that uses processing data as backup data without the user's awareness, when processing data that does not clearly require backup, such as a test print or a secret document, a dedicated sheet is used. You can use it or set up processing conditions such as position designation and destinations that are different from normal, and acquire data that avoids accumulation even in the same operation as normal, and process it without backing up can do. Therefore, it is possible to process only necessary processing data to be stored as backup data without requiring a special operation and causing trouble. For this reason, the storage capacity of the storage means is not wasted. As a result, the usability and reliability of the system for unintentionally filing process data can be improved, and the degree of completeness can be increased.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 3 are diagrams showing an example of a file system to which the first embodiment of the data processing apparatus according to the present invention is applied. This embodiment corresponds to the inventions described in claims 1 and 2.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a high-performance digital copying machine connected to an intranet N in the office. The intranet N to which the copying machine 10 is connected is constructed as a data management file system for effectively using data. This file system has a data backup function and is constructed so that the backup data can be reused as required by the user.

  The intranet N is used to process data processed by a plurality of personal computers (PC) 11a to 11n (n: natural number) that can use the copying machine 10 and the copying machine 10 and PCs 11a to 11n (hereinafter simply referred to as PC11). Connected to a data communication device such as another facsimile device or the Internet via a public communication line such as a telephone line or ISDN network, and a server device 13 that stores, stores and manages it in the mass storage device 12 so that it can be received, read and returned It is constructed by the connection device 14 for doing this.

  The copying machine 10 has a transmission function for performing facsimile communication for transmitting image data and data communication for transmitting document data to and from the PC 11, a copying function for recording and outputting read image data, and facsimile reception data. And a data processing device having a recording function for recording / printing document data created on the PC 11 and can be used not only as a copying machine but also as a facsimile device, a printer device, or a scanner device. it can.

  The server device 13 receives data to be processed by the copying machine 10 via the intranet N, sends it to the mass storage device 12 on the intranet N constituting the storage means, and stores it as it is. The server device 13 can also read out the processing data stored in the mass storage device 12 in response to a request from the user, transfer it to the copying machine 10, and output it for recording. The mass storage device 12 may be built in the copying machine 10 as a mass HDD device.

  The PC 11 includes a CPU, a memory (ROM, RAM, etc.), an I / O (Input / Output) circuit, and the like. By operating a keyboard, a mouse, etc. while looking at the display, the PC 11 is in a hard disk device (storage medium) (not shown). It can be used as a system for performing various processes such as creating documents and images by performing arithmetic processing according to the application program read from the machine, and the created data is sent to the copier 10 as a processing instruction. As a result, it is possible to print out using various functions of the copier 10 and send it to the input destination by facsimile, as well as receiving image data received by the copier 10 or having the copier 10 read it. Image data can be received.

  The connection device 14 functions as a network hub for terminal devices such as the copier 10, the server device 13, and the PC 11, and constructs a local area network (LAN) environment by relaying data communication between them and connects to the Internet. The intranet environment is constructed by functioning so that various information can be used by accessing the service provider on the Internet from the copying machine 10, the server device 13, or the PC 11.

  The file system constructed in this way has substantially the same configuration as that described in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-291451 proposed by the present applicant, and operates a backup function so that data can be reused. Since it is only necessary to construct it so that it can be performed, the description of the file system itself is limited to the above simple description.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the copying machine 10 is configured such that a control unit 21 controls each part of the apparatus, and the control unit 21 has a built-in CPU (Central Processing Unit) ROM (Read Only Memory). According to the control program read from the inside, the present invention is stored together with various functions to be described later by using a RAM (Random Access Memory) that stores various information such as driving conditions and management data of each part of the apparatus and stores data necessary for operation. Execute the process.

  The control unit 21 includes a display unit 22 that displays various information such as driving conditions, device status, or input information on the display, and various operation keys such as one-touch keys and abbreviated keys. An operation unit 23 for performing an operation, and an NCU unit (network control unit) 24 for connecting to or disconnecting from a line by executing predetermined line control at the time of outgoing / incoming calls connected to a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). In addition, the modem device incorporating image data and various procedure signals modulates and demodulates and performs facsimile communication (transmission / reception) via the NCU unit 24, and is connected to an intranet via an interface (not shown) and is connected to an intranet to store document data such as image data and character data. Set on the document table, a communication control unit 25 that transmits and receives images, a reading unit 26 that reads image data from a document conveyed to a reading position, and a document table. The original document is separated and fed one by one to the reading position, and the original is transported to the original tray after reading, and the recording medium is based on the image data read / received on the recording paper conveyed to the recording position. A recording unit 28 for recording images, a paper feeding unit 29 for separating and feeding recording sheets one by one from the recording paper cassette to the recording position, and discharging the recording paper on which an image is recorded on the discharge tray after recording is completed. A paper discharge unit 30 for storing, an image memory 31 for storing read / received image data, and a DCR (encoding) for compressing and encoding the image data to be transmitted while decompressing and decoding the received image data An image processing unit 32 that functions as a decoding) and performs a conversion process of image data scaling processing and character data (code data) in the image memory 31 to generate image data upon request, and the like. Connected via bus 33 .

  The copying machine 10 has substantially the same configuration as that described in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-291451. For example, when facsimile transmission is selected by operating the operation unit 23, or when copying is selected. The same processing data is encoded by the image processing unit 32 in parallel with the reading unit 26 reading the original set on the original table of the original conveying unit 27 by pressing the start key and transmitting or copying the image data by facsimile. After compression, the data is transferred to the server device 13 via the intranet N, and the server device 13 stores and stores the sent processing data as it is in the mass storage device 12 for management. In addition, the copying machine 10 records and outputs the sent data on the recording paper by the recording unit 28 when there is a print request for the data created by the PC 11 or when a facsimile is received. In parallel, the same processing data encoded and compressed by the image processing unit 32 is transferred to the server device 13. Accordingly, the processing data processed by the copying machine 10 is stored and managed as backup data without requiring a special input operation in addition to the operation for executing the processing.

  The copying machine 10 instructs the image processing unit 32 to recognize a part of the processing data before encoding / compression (before transferring it to the server device 13) and to avoid using the processing data as backup data. It is determined whether or not (intention) is attached, and the control unit 21 prohibits (cancels) transfer of processing data to the server device 13 when an avoidance instruction is attached. For example, the read image data to be transmitted / copied and the received read image data at the other party are formed with a predetermined avoidance symbol in the instruction area Pa at the upper left of the first page of the document P shown in FIG. When the original using the storage avoidance paper P is read, or when the image data obtained by developing a map, such as a document or figure created on the PC 11, is similarly written with an avoidance symbol in the upper left On server device 13 Ri avoids stored and managed as backup data. That is, the image processing unit 32 constitutes an intention acquisition unit, and the control unit 21 constitutes an accumulation avoiding unit.

  Further, the copying machine 10 can determine whether or not the paper feeding unit 29 (or the paper discharge unit 30) is instructed to avoid the processing data from the recording paper as backup data. For example, confirming the intention to avoid using the processing data as backup data depending on whether the transmission avoidance paper that transmits light at the upper left is used as the recording paper. (Acquire), and when there is an avoidance instruction, the control unit 21 prohibits the transfer of the processing data to the server device 13. That is, the paper acquisition unit 29 can be configured with intention acquisition means.

  Therefore, when facsimiles are sent / copied for documents that are problematic when backed up, such as in-house confidential documents, the user only has to use a storage avoidance sheet with the avoidance symbol added when preparing the manuscript. When the avoidance symbol is recognized from the processing data, it is possible to prevent the secret document from being transferred to the server device 13 and backed up.

  In addition, in the case of an original document that has already been created on a normal sheet that is not an accumulation avoidance sheet, or when a document that has been created on the PC 11 is printed on a trial basis, the accumulation avoidance sheet is placed in the recording sheet cassette of the sheet feeding unit 29. It is possible to avoid that the processing data to be recorded on the recording paper is acquired to avoid accumulation and transferred to the server device 13 and backed up.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, even if the copying machine 10 can store and manage the processing data to be transmitted / received / copied / printed out by facsimile without being conscious of the user, When processing data that does not clearly require backup, such as trial prints or confidential documents, use a dedicated storage avoidance sheet to send / receive / copy facsimile without taking backups as usual. / You can print out. Therefore, it is possible to back up only the necessary processing data to be stored without making the operation cumbersome or making a mistake in the button operation in order to request a special button operation, which may waste storage capacity. Absent.

  In the present embodiment, it is described that an avoidance symbol is attached to the instruction area Pa as a document accumulation avoidance sheet, and light can be transmitted through the instruction area as a recording sheet accumulation avoidance sheet. Needless to say, the reading means may be arranged in any one of them, and not only the avoidance symbol, but also a bar code, a colored paper as a storage avoidance paper by making it possible to recognize the color and tone of the paper. For example, it may be possible to have a characteristic different from that of normal paper.

  Further, in this embodiment, when processing data that avoids accumulation is acquired, a case where transfer to the server device 13 itself is prohibited will be described, but when transfer control is possible earlier than the recognition time May be deleted by sending a storage avoidance command to the server device 13 during the process or after the transfer of processing data. Further, it goes without saying that the intention to avoid accumulation may be determined even when the stop key is pressed during operation of facsimile transmission / reception / copy / printout due to an operation error or the like.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a file system to which the second embodiment of the data processing apparatus according to the present invention is applied. This embodiment corresponds to the inventions described in claims 1, 3, and 4. Since the present embodiment is configured in substantially the same manner as the above-described embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the same components in FIG. 1 and FIG.

  In FIG. 4, the copying machine 10 has a document table 27a for setting a document to be processed normally without limiting the backup of the processing data as a position for setting a document to be separated and fed to the reading position of the reading unit 26, and processing data. A manuscript table 27b for setting a manuscript such as a secret document that avoids backup is provided in the manuscript transport unit 27. When the start key is pressed in a state of detecting the manuscript on the manuscript table 27a, When the same processing data as the scanned image data of the document to be transmitted by facsimile or copied is transferred to the server device 13 as it is to make a backup, while the start key is pressed while the document on the document table 27b is detected (acquired). The document transport unit 27 notifies the control unit 21 of the detection information, and the control unit 21 prohibits transfer of processing data to the server device 13 and performs backup. Avoidance to. That is, the document conveying unit 27 constitutes an intention acquisition unit.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to acquire whether to back up the processing data to be transmitted / copied by facsimile, depending on which of the document tables 27a and 27b the document is set on the document transport unit 27. It is possible to avoid backup of processing data without requiring a special operation.

  Next, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a file system to which the third embodiment of the data processing apparatus according to the present invention is applied. This embodiment corresponds to the inventions described in claims 1, 3, and 4. Since the present embodiment is configured in substantially the same manner as the above-described embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the same components in FIG. 1 and FIG.

  In FIG. 5, the copying machine 10 sets recording paper cassettes 29a and 29b for setting recording paper for normal processing that does not restrict the backup of processing data as the position for setting the recording paper to be separated and fed to the recording position of the recording unit 28. And a recording paper cassette 29c for setting a secret document that avoids backup of processing data and a recording sheet for trial printing, are provided in the paper feeding unit 29, and the control unit 21 is used for facsimile reception / copy / printout. When it is specified that the recording paper to be used is to be separated and fed from the recording paper cassettes 29a and 29b, the same processing data is transferred to the server device 13 as it is in accordance with the processing conditions for backup, while the recording paper cassette 29c. Is specified, the transfer of processing data to the server device 13 is prohibited according to the processing conditions to avoid backup. That is, the control unit 21 constitutes an intention acquisition unit.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, processing data to be received / copied / printed out for facsimile is backed up depending on which of the recording paper cassettes 29a to 29c is selected as the setting position of the recording paper fed by the paper feeding unit 29. It is possible to acquire whether or not processing data can be backed up without requiring a special operation.

  In addition, as a first other aspect of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, hand trays 29 d and 29 e on which recording paper to be fed by the paper feeding unit 29 to the recording position of the recording unit 28 can be set. Provided is a normal processing recording paper that does not restrict the backup of processing data in the hand tray 29d, while a secret document or test printing recording paper that avoids the backup of processing data is set in the hand tray 29e. As an example, the control unit 21 may avoid backup of the same processing data in accordance with the designation (processing condition) of the hand tray 29e used at the time of facsimile reception / copy / printout.

  In addition, as a second other aspect of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, as shown in FIG. One or both of them may have a plurality of stages for stacking and sorting according to the number of copies), and a normal processing recording sheet that does not restrict the backup of processing data is discharged to the discharge tray 30a. In this case, it is assumed that the recording paper that avoids the backup of the confidential document and the trial printing is discharged to the paper discharge tray 30b, and the recording paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 30b at the time of facsimile reception / copy / printout (processing conditions) Accordingly, the control unit 21 may avoid backup of the same processing data.

  Next, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a file system to which the fourth embodiment of the data processing apparatus according to the present invention is applied. This embodiment corresponds to the inventions described in claims 1 and 3. Since the present embodiment is configured in substantially the same manner as the above-described embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the same components in FIG. 1 and FIG.

  In FIG. 8, in the copying machine 10, the reading unit 26 can recognize the background member 27c that holds the document at the reading position provided in the document conveying unit 27 disposed so that the reading position of the reading unit 26 can be opened and closed from the reference white color. When the image processing unit 32 recognizes that the background member 27c read from outside the reading area of the original is different from the reference white color by exchanging with one having a different color or tone, the control unit 21 Therefore, it is determined that an instruction to avoid backup of processing data to be transmitted / copied is issued, and transfer of the processing data to the server device 13 is prohibited.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to specify the processing condition of whether or not to back up the processing data in the copying machine 10 by simply replacing the background member 27c of the document conveying unit 27. Can be avoided without requiring special operations.

  Further, as another aspect of the present embodiment, although not shown in the figure, facsimile transmission is performed for each facsimile transmission destination registered in advance so as to be selectable by a one-touch key or a shortened key provided on the operation unit 23. The instruction information for avoiding the backup of the processing data may be registered in association with each other, and the control unit 21 may avoid the backup of the processing data in the case of facsimile transmission of the destination to which the avoidance instruction information is attached. . Similarly, the facsimile transmission source or printout request source information notified from the other party at the time of reception is registered in advance, and the control unit 21 avoids backup of processing data from the other party to which the avoidance instruction information is attached. You may make it do. With this configuration, the processing data of a specific destination can always be kept secret or no backup is required.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case of the high-function copier 10 having a facsimile function, a copy function, and a printer function will be described. However, a single-function device having only one of a printer function, a facsimile, a function, and a copy function is described. Needless to say, this is also applicable to cases.

It is a figure which shows an example of the file system to which 1st Embodiment of the data processor which concerns on this invention is applied, and is a connection diagram which shows the system configuration | structure. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the 1st Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the process original by the 1st Embodiment. It is an external appearance front view which shows 2nd Embodiment of the data processor which concerns on this invention. It is an external appearance front view which shows 3rd Embodiment of the data processor which concerns on this invention. It is an external appearance front view which shows the 1st other aspect. It is an external appearance front view which shows the 2nd other aspect. It is a partial external appearance perspective view which shows 4th Embodiment of the data processor which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Copier (data processing equipment)
11a-11n Personal computer
12 Mass storage device (storage means)
13 Server device
14 Connected devices
21 Control unit (Accumulation avoidance means, intention acquisition means)
22 Display
23 Operation unit
24 NCU Department
25 Communication control unit
26 Reading unit
27 Document feeder (intention acquisition means)
27a, 27b Document table
27c Background material
28 Recording section
29 Paper Feeder (Intention acquisition means)
29a-29c Recording paper cassette
29d, 29e Hand tray
30a, 30b Output tray
30 Output section
31 Image memory
32 Image processing unit (intention acquisition means)

Claims (4)

A data processing device connected to a storage device for storing image data,
Receiving means for receiving image data;
Intention acquisition means for determining whether or not there is an avoidance symbol indicating avoidance of accumulation of the image data in the image data received by the reception means;
Transmitting means for transmitting the image data for storage in the storage device;
When the image data is image data determined by the intention acquisition means to have an avoidance symbol, accumulation avoidance means for prohibiting transmission of the image data by the transmission means,
Processing for compressing image data received by the receiving means and performing facsimile communication to a predetermined facsimile terminal, processing for communicating image data received by the receiving means to a predetermined PC terminal, and receiving by the receiving means Execution means for executing any one of the processes of printing out image data;
A data processing apparatus comprising: The image data received by the receiving means includes image data received from a predetermined facsimile terminal by facsimile communication, image data received from a predetermined PC terminal by data communication, and an image on a paper medium read by a scanner. Any of the received image data
The data processing apparatus according to claim 1. The avoidance symbol is a predetermined symbol and is formed at a predetermined position of the image data.
The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein When the intention acquisition unit determines that there is an avoidance symbol after the transmission unit transmits image data to the storage device,
The accumulation avoiding means transmits an accumulation avoidance command to the storage device to delete the image data.
The data processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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