JP4239533B2 - Image management method, image generation apparatus, image storage apparatus, and image management system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image management method. , Image generation device, image storage device, image management system About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, there have been increasing opportunities for storing and reusing a document obtained by reading a document with a scanner or the like together with printing, or storing a document for reading and printing the document at different times.
[0003]
A document obtained by reading a document with a scanner or the like is usually stored as an electronic document in a file of a predetermined format. When saving such a file, it is necessary to give the file a name. There are two general methods for assigning file names to files.
[0004]
One is a method in which the system automatically assigns a file name such as an ID that is unique within the system to the file. As a technique for automatically assigning a file name as described above, for example, “electronic file apparatus and file management method” described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-21069 and “network image processing apparatus” described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-200394. Etc.
[0005]
As another method, the user designates a file name, and the system assigns the designated file name to the file. As a technique for performing such processing, there are, for example, “image reading apparatus and image reading system” described in JP-A-9-51397, “network facsimile transmission system” described in JP-A-10-126539, and the like.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional method in which the user designates the file name cannot be said to be convenient for the user, and the method in which the system automatically assigns the file name means that subsequent file identification is easy. I could not say it.
[0007]
In addition to the technology described above, there is also a file system that organizes images taken with a digital camera by assigning serial numbers in order of date. However, a document read by a scanner or the like is often stored after image processing such as file format conversion or resolution conversion, and the processing speed of these image processing is not constant. Even if serial numbers are assigned, the serial numbers are not always assigned in the order in which processing is instructed, and as a result, confusion may occur.
[0008]
Therefore, the present invention provides an image management method capable of easily identifying a saved file based on the order of processing instructions without a user specifying a file name. , Image generation device, image storage device, image management system The purpose is to provide.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 provides image generation. apparatus Save images based on jobs that contain images generated in apparatus In the image management method for storing an image included in the job as a file, the image generation apparatus Acquires a file name or a part of the file name from the image storage device before sending the job, The generated image and The acquired file name or a part of the file name When Include the image in the job and save the image apparatus And send the image to apparatus The image generation apparatus When a file name or a part of a file name is requested from a file, a file name or a part of the file name that can specify the issue order is issued and the image is generated. apparatus When the job is received from, the image included in the job is converted into a file, and the converted file is saved with a file name specified from the file name included in the job or a part of the file name. Features.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, a part of the file name is a number that is consecutive in the order of issue, and the file name includes the number.
[0011]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the image generation is performed. apparatus Is a file format for saving a corresponding image when acquiring a file name or a part of the file name from the image storage device. Notify image storage device And save the image apparatus The image formation apparatus From notification A file name or a part of the file name that can specify the issue order is issued for each file format.
[0012]
The invention of claim 4 An image generation device that stores a generated image as a file in an image storage device, and accepts an image generation instruction from a user Image generation instruction means; Request the image storage device to issue a file name, Image storage apparatus File name acquisition means for acquiring a file name or a part of the file name from the image generation instruction means, by To instructions Generated based on A job including an image and a file name acquired by the file name acquisition unit or a part of the file name is generated, and the generated job is stored in the image apparatus And a job sending means for sending to the printer.
[0013]
The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 4, wherein the file name acquisition means is the image generation instruction means. After the image is generated based on the instruction by, a file name or a part of the file name corresponding to the number of the generated images is obtained from the image storage device. It is characterized by acquiring.
[0014]
The invention of claim 6 An image storage device that saves an image included in a job as a file based on a job including an image generated by the image generation device, the image generation device responding to a request from the image generation device A file name issuing means for issuing a file name or a part of the file name that can specify the issue order; an image generated by the image generating apparatus from the image generating apparatus; and a file name issued by the file name issuing means or A job receiving unit that receives a job including a part of a file name; an image converting unit that converts an image included in the job received by the job receiving unit into a file; and the job receiving unit that converts the image into a file converted by the image converting unit. The file name specified from the file name or part of the file name included in the job accepted by the means is attached, and the file ; And a file storage unit for storing the Le in the image storage unit It is characterized by that.
[0015]
The invention of claim 7 In the invention of claim 6, the file name issuing means generates numbers that are consecutive in the order of issue, issues the generated numbers as part of the file name, and sets the file name including the generated number as the file name. Issue as It is characterized by that.
[0016]
The invention of claim 8 In the invention of claim 6, the request of the image generation device includes designation of a file format for storing an image, and the file name issuing means determines the issue order for each file format designated by the image generation device. Issue an identifiable file name or part of the file name It is characterized by that.
[0017]
The invention of claim 9 An image management system comprising an image generation device and an image storage device, wherein the image storage device stores an image included in the job as a file based on a job including an image generated by the image generation device In the management system, the image generation device includes an image generation instruction unit, a file name acquisition unit, and a job generation unit. The image storage device includes a file name issue unit, an image conversion unit, and a file storage unit. The image generation instruction means accepts an image generation instruction from a user, and the file name issuing means can specify an issue order based on a file name issue request from the image generation apparatus A file name or a part of the file name is issued, and the file name acquisition means is a file name or file issued by the file name issue means. The job generation unit obtains a job including an image generated based on an instruction from the image generation instruction unit and a file name or a part of the file name acquired by the file name acquisition unit. And the image conversion unit converts an image included in the job generated by the job generation unit into a file, and the file storage unit generates a job generated by the job generation unit into a file converted by the image conversion unit. A file name specified from a part of the file name or a part of the file name is attached, and the file is stored in the image storage unit It is characterized by that.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an image management method according to the present invention , Image generation device, image storage device, image management system One embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0020]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an image processing system to which the present invention is applied. As shown in the figure, the image processing system includes an image reading device 1 (1-1 to 1-n), an image processing device 2, an image storage device 3, and an image forming device 4 (4-1 to 4-m). The client 5 (5-1 to 5-l) is connected via the network 6.
[0021]
The image reading device 1 is a device that reads a document such as a scanner and outputs image data. The image processing device 2 performs predetermined image processing on the image data output from the image reading device 1 and stores the image data in the image processing device 2 itself or the image storage device 3 as a file.
[0022]
The image storage device 3 is a device that stores files such as a file server. Note that when the image processing apparatus 2 is configured to store the image data in the image processing apparatus 2 itself, the image storage apparatus 3 is unnecessary.
[0023]
The image forming apparatus 4 is an apparatus that prints an image on a sheet based on image data such as a printer. The client 5 is a personal computer or the like, and makes various inquiries to the image processing apparatus 2 and instructs the reuse of stored files.
[0024]
Next, main parts of the image processing system will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating functional configurations of the image reading apparatus 1 and the image processing apparatus 2.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading apparatus 1 includes a document reading unit 11, a display / control unit 12, a job sending unit 13, a number acquisition unit 14, and a processing status acquisition unit 15. Further, the image processing apparatus 2 includes a job reception unit 21 and a number issuing unit 22, a processing status notification unit 23, an image conversion unit 24, a process determination unit 25, an image registration unit 26, a job transmission unit 27, and an image storage unit 28. Configured.
[0026]
The original reading unit 11 reads an original and generates an image. The display / control unit 12 receives input from the user such as printing conditions and storage conditions, a document reading start instruction, and displays various information such as job processing status. The job sending unit 13 sends a job with the number or file name acquired by the number acquiring unit 14 to the image generated by the document reading unit 11 to the image processing apparatus 2. The number acquisition unit 14 acquires a number or file name from the image processing apparatus 2 at a timing such as when a document reading start instruction is input from the display / control unit 12. The processing status acquisition unit 15 acquires the job processing status and the like from the image processing apparatus 2.
[0027]
The job reception unit 21 receives a job sent from the image reading apparatus 1. The number issuing unit 22 issues a number or a file name in response to a number issuing request from the image reading apparatus 1 and holds the issued number as a reserved number. The number issued by the number issuing unit 22 is a continuous number for each file type, and if necessary for issuing the number, the number assigned to the existing file is acquired by the image registration unit 26. The file name issued by the number issuing unit 22 includes the above-mentioned number.
[0028]
The processing status notification unit 23 notifies the image reading device 1 of the job processing status in the image conversion unit 24 in accordance with a request from the image reading device 1. The image conversion unit 24 converts the image data included in the job received by the job reception unit 21 into a designated file format, and executes image processing such as resolution conversion. The process determination unit 26 determines whether the image data converted by the image conversion unit 24 is to be sent to the image forming apparatus 4, stored in the image storage unit 28, or both.
[0029]
The image registration unit 26 registers the image data determined to be stored in the image storage unit 28 by the process determination unit 25 in the image storage unit 28. The job sending unit 27 sends the image data determined to be sent to the image forming apparatus 4 by the processing judging unit 25 to the image forming apparatus 4 designated as a job. The image storage unit 28 stores the image data registered by the image registration unit 26.
[0030]
In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the image processing apparatus 2 stores image data. However, when the image data is stored in the image storage apparatus 3, the number issuing unit 22, the image registration unit 26, and the image storage are stored. The unit 28 is arranged in the image storage device 3, and the image storage device 3 is provided with a job reception unit that receives a job including image data to be stored.
[0031]
Next, the operation of the image reading apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the image reading apparatus 1.
[0032]
The image reading apparatus 1 receives a document when a document is placed on the document table or the ADF and various conditions are input from the display / control unit 12 (step 101). Thereafter, when the display / control unit 12 instructs to start reading a document (YES in step 102), the number acquisition unit 14 acquires a number or a file name from the image processing apparatus 2 (step 103), and also reads the document. The unit 11 reads the original (step 104). Then, the original reading unit 11 repeats reading of the originals until all originals are read (NO in step 105), and when all originals are read (YES in step 105), the job sending unit 13 causes the original to be read. A job in which the number or file name acquired by the number acquisition unit 14 is added to the image data generated by the reading unit 11 is sent to the image processing apparatus 2 (step 106), and the processing is terminated.
[0033]
Note that the number acquisition unit 14 acquires the number and the like and the document reading unit 11 reads the document in parallel, and the number acquisition unit 14 displays the control unit 12 when acquiring the number or the file name. Among the various conditions input to, the file format for storing the image data is acquired and transmitted to the image processing apparatus 2. Then, a serial number assigned to each file format or a file name including the serial number, such as “aaa001.tif”, is acquired.
[0034]
In addition, the processing shown here is processing when the number of documents is one, or when saving is instructed in a file format that supports multiple pages, that is, when the generated image can be saved as one file. When storing a plurality of images as files corresponding to the number, different processing is performed.
[0035]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the image reading apparatus 1 when a plurality of images are stored as files corresponding to the number of images.
[0036]
The image reading apparatus 1 receives a document when a document is placed on the document table or the ADF and various conditions are input from the display / control unit 12 (step 121). Thereafter, when the display / control unit 12 gives an instruction to start reading a document (YES in step 122), the document reading unit 11 reads the document (step 123). Then, the document reading unit 11 repeats reading the document until all the documents are read (NO in step 124). When all the documents are read (YES in step 124), the number acquisition unit 14 performs image processing. A number or file name corresponding to the number of documents is acquired from the apparatus 2 (step 125).
[0037]
Then, the job sending unit 13 sends a job in which the number or file name obtained by the number obtaining unit 14 is attached to each of the image data generated by the document reading unit 11 to the image processing apparatus 2 (step 126). Exit.
[0038]
Even when a plurality of images are stored as files corresponding to the number of images, if it is permitted to assign a file name based on the acquired number and page number, such as “aaa005_001.tif”, FIG. The image can be saved as a file by the processing shown in FIG. 3 without performing the processing shown in FIG.
[0039]
Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus 2 will be described. First, the number issuing process of the image processing apparatus 2 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations in the number issuing process of the image processing apparatus 2.
[0040]
When the number issuing unit 22 receives a number acquisition request from the image reading device 1, the image processing apparatus 2 first confirms the file format for storing the image data included in the number acquisition request (step 201).
[0041]
Subsequently, the number issuing unit 22 confirms the largest registered number corresponding to the confirmed file format with the image registration unit 26 (step 202), and confirms the reserved number held by itself (step 202). Step 203).
[0042]
If the number issuing unit 22 holds a reserved number (YES in step 204), the number issuing unit 22 compares the largest reserved number with the largest registered number previously acquired. (Step 205). If the reserved number is larger (YES in step 206), the next number of the largest reserved number is reserved (step 207), and the reserved number is notified to the image processing apparatus 1 (step 207). 208), the process is terminated.
[0043]
On the other hand, when the registered number is larger than the reserved number held by the number issuing unit 22 (NO in step 206), or when the number issuing unit 22 does not hold the reserved number. (NO in step 204), the number issuing unit 22 reserves the next number of the largest registered number (step 209), notifies the reserved number to the image processing apparatus 1 (step 208), and ends the processing. .
[0044]
Next, job execution processing of the image processing apparatus 2 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of operations during job execution processing of the image processing apparatus 2.
[0045]
In the image processing apparatus 2, when the job receiving unit 21 receives a job from the image reading apparatus 1, the image conversion unit 24 confirms the processing conditions of the image included in the job (step 221), and the confirmed processing conditions The image is converted according to (step 222). This image conversion is conversion of resolution or the like or conversion to a specified file format.
[0046]
Then, when the image conversion is completed, the image conversion unit 24 acquires the number or file name included in the job, assigns the file name including the number to the converted file, and passes through the processing determination unit 25. The image registration unit 26 stores the file in the image storage unit 26 (step 224).
[0047]
Subsequently, the image registration unit 26 notifies the number issuing unit 22 that the file has been saved, and the number issuing unit 22 deletes the file name or number of the notified file from the reserved number (step 225), and the processing is performed. finish.
[0048]
When the image processing apparatus 2 not only saves a file but also performs printing at the same time, the image conversion unit 24 converts the image into a file for saving and also converts the data into printing data. The converted print data is sent from the job sending unit 27 to the image forming apparatus 4 via the process determining unit 25.
[0049]
Next, processing of a number or a file name when image reading is canceled after the image reading apparatus 1 acquires the number will be described.
[0050]
When the image reading is canceled, the simplest method is to discard the number acquired by the image reading apparatus 1 without performing any processing. In this case, the file stored in the image processing apparatus 2 may have a missing number, but the number is still assigned in the order of processing request. Further, if the image reading device 1 simply abandons the number, the reserved number remains in the number issuing unit 22 of the image processing device 2, so that the image reading device 1 notifies the cancellation and erases the reserved number. Or the number issuing unit 22 deletes the reserved number after a predetermined time has elapsed.
[0051]
Further, even if the reading of the image is cancelled, if it is not desired to generate a missing number in the file to be stored, the number issuing unit 22 performs a process of incrementing the number. Processing in this case will be described below.
[0052]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the image processing apparatus 2 when image reading is canceled. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the image processing apparatus 2 when a job is received after image reading is canceled. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of operation | movement.
[0053]
When the number issuing unit 22 receives the cancel request sent from the number acquisition unit 14 of the image processing apparatus 1, the image processing apparatus 2 acquires a canceling number or a file name including the number from the cancellation request (step 241). . If the cancel request includes a number, the corresponding file format is also included.
[0054]
When the number issuing unit 22 acquires the number to be cancelled, the number issuing unit 22 subsequently checks the largest registered number from the image registration unit 26 (step 242). If the number to be canceled is larger than the registered number (NO in step 243), the number issuing unit 22 confirms the reserved number held by itself (step 244).
[0055]
As a result of the confirmation, if the number to be canceled is the latest reserved number, that is, the largest reserved number (YES in step 245), the reserved number is deleted (step 246), and the process is terminated.
[0056]
On the other hand, as a result of checking the reserved number, if the number to be canceled is not the latest reserved number (NO in step 245), the number issuing unit 22 records the number corresponding to the transfer table (not shown). (Step 247), the process ends. For example, if the reserved number held by the number issuing unit 22 is “003”, “004”, “005” and the number to be canceled is “004”, the transfer table records “ Any method can be used as long as the contents such as “use the number“ 004 ”when saving the file converted from the job with the number“ 005 ”” are understood. At this time, the number associated with the cancellation is not deleted. This is because if the number “005” which becomes unnecessary due to carry-up is deleted, the number “005” may be newly issued before the job with the number “005” is received. . For this reason, the number is erased when a job is received.
[0057]
If the registered number is larger than the number to be canceled (YES in step 243), the number issuing unit 22 deletes the reserved number corresponding to the number to be canceled (step 246) and performs processing. Exit. In this case, a missing number is generated in the file stored in the image storage unit 28, but the file name including the registered number has already been notified or referred to the already stored file. This is because changing these file names causes confusion.
[0058]
Next, processing when the image processing apparatus 2 receives a job will be described. When the job receiving unit 21 receives a job from the image reading device 1, the image processing device 2 acquires the number included in the job (Step 261) and issues the acquired number as a number. Notification to the unit 22.
[0059]
When the number issuing unit 22 receives the notification of the number from the job receiving unit 21, the number issuing unit 22 checks the transfer table (step 262), and if it is determined that the number transfer is not required (NO in step 263), the job processing is continued. Is notified to the job reception unit 21, and the processing shown in FIG. 6 is continued (step 266).
[0060]
On the other hand, if the number issuing unit 22 checks the transfer table and determines that the number needs to be transferred (YES in step 263), the number issuing unit 22 transfers the number according to the contents of the transfer table, and receives the job reception unit. 21 (step 264), and the corresponding number is deleted from the transfer table (step 265). Thereafter, the processing shown in FIG. 6 is continued (step 266).
[0061]
In the process of step 265, if a reserved number that does not correspond to the transfer table is held in the number issuing unit 22, this reserved number is also deleted. This reserved number is an unnecessary number generated by carry-over, and the fact that it does not correspond to the transfer table indicates that a subsequent number has not been issued.
[0062]
In the above description, the case where the file is stored in the image processing apparatus 2 has been described. However, the same process is performed even when the file is stored in the image storage apparatus 3. In that case, the image reading apparatus 1 acquires a number or a file name from the image storage apparatus 3, but this acquisition may be performed directly from the image storage apparatus 3, via the image processing apparatus 2. You may make it perform.
[0063]
In the above description, the case where the file name includes a continuous number has been described. However, instead of this number, a character string or the like is used so that the character string continues in alphabetical order or alphabetical order. It is also possible to use a simple file name.
[0064]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, before an image reading device sends a job, a file name or a number included in the file name is acquired from a file management side such as an image processing device or an image storage device, Since the acquired file name or number is included in the job and sent, even if the time required for job processing differs, the file is saved with the file name assigned in the order in which the processing was requested It is possible to easily identify the saved file.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing system to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image reading apparatus 1 and the image processing apparatus 2;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the image reading apparatus 1;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations of the image reading apparatus 1 when a plurality of images are stored as files corresponding to the number of images.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation at the time of number issue processing of the image processing apparatus 2;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations during job execution processing of the image processing apparatus 2;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations of the image processing apparatus 2 when image reading is canceled.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the image processing apparatus 2 when a job is received after image reading is canceled.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 1-1 to 1-n image reading apparatus
2 Image processing device
3 Image storage device
4-1 to 4-m image forming apparatus
5-1-5-l client
6 network
11 Document reader
12 Display / Control Unit
13 Job sending part
14 Number acquisition part
15 Processing status acquisition unit
21 Job reception department
22 Number issuing department
23 Processing status notification section
24 Image converter
25 Processing judgment part
26 Image registration section
27 Job sending part
28 Image storage unit

Claims (9)

In an image management method in which an image storage device stores an image included in the job as a file based on a job including an image generated by the image generation device .
The image generation apparatus, including a part of the image storage device acquires the part of the file name or file name from the generated image and the acquired file name or a file name before sending the job to the job To the image storage device,
The image storage device issues a file name or a part of a file name that can specify an issue order when the image generation device requests acquisition of a file name or a part of the file name, and from the image generation device When the job is received, the image included in the job is converted into a file, and the converted file is stored with a file name specified from the file name included in the job or a part of the file name. Image management method. Part of the file name is
It is a number consecutive in the order of issue,
The image management method according to claim 1, wherein the file name includes the number. The image generation device includes:
When obtaining a file name or a part of a file name from the image storage device, the image storage device is notified of the file format for storing the corresponding image,
The image management method according to claim 1, wherein the image storage device issues a file name or a part of a file name that can specify an issue order for each file format notified from the image forming device . An image generation device for storing a generated image as a file in an image storage device,
Image generation instruction means for receiving an instruction to generate an image from a user ;
Requesting the image storage device to issue a file name, and obtaining a file name or a part of the file name from the image storage device ;
And an image generated based on an instruction by the image generation instruction means, wherein the generating a job including a portion of the file virtuoso resulting unit has acquired the file name or file name, sends the job thus generated to the image storage device An image generation apparatus comprising: The file name acquisition means
5. A file name or a part of a file name corresponding to the number of generated images is acquired from the image storage device after generating an image based on an instruction from the image generation instruction means. The image generating apparatus described. An image storage device that stores an image included in the job as a file based on a job including the image generated by the image generation device,
In response to a request of the image generating apparatus, and a file name issuing means for issuing a part of the file name or file name that can identify the issue order on the image generating device,
From the image generating apparatus, an image generated by the image generating apparatus, the job accepting unit configured to accept a job and a part of the file name or file name the file name issuing means issued,
Image conversion means for converting an image included in the job received by the job reception means into a file;
A file storage unit for attaching a file name specified from a file name included in the job received by the job receiving unit or a part of the file name to the file converted by the image converting unit and storing the file in the image storage unit An image storage device comprising: The file name issuing means
7. The image according to claim 6 , wherein numbers that are consecutive in an issue order are generated, the generated numbers are issued as a part of the file name, and a file name including the generated number is issued as the file name. Storage device . The request of the image generation apparatus includes specification of a file format for storing an image,
The image storage device according to claim 6, wherein the file name issuing unit issues a file name or a part of a file name that can specify an issue order for each file format specified by the image generation device . An image management system comprising an image generation device and an image storage device , wherein the image storage device stores an image included in the job as a file based on a job including an image generated by the image generation device In the management system,
The image generation apparatus includes an image generation instruction unit, a file name acquisition unit, and a job generation unit,
The image storage device includes a file name issuing unit, an image conversion unit, and a file storage unit.
The image generation instruction means receives an image generation instruction from a user,
The file name issuing means issues a file name or a part of a file name that can specify an issue order based on a file name issue request from the image generation device,
The file name acquisition means acquires the file name issued by the file name issuing means or a part of the file name,
The job generation unit generates a job including an image generated based on an instruction from the image generation instruction unit and a file name or a part of the file name acquired by the file name acquisition unit,
The image conversion unit converts an image included in the job generated by the job generation unit into a file,
The file storage unit attaches a file name specified from a file name included in the job generated by the job generation unit or a part of the file name to the file converted by the image conversion unit, and the file is stored in the image storage unit. Save to
An image management system characterized by that.

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