JP5347280B2 - Document information management apparatus and document information management program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a document information management device and a document information management program for managing information including content to be output on sheets as electronic data. <P>SOLUTION: When electronic mail received by a mail processor 100 is printed by an output device 210, the output device 210 prints (sheet-output) electronic mail with an image to specify ID applied to the processing of printing. Also, the ID is managed by an input/output recording part 105 so as to be associated with the ID of the received electronic mail. Thus, when the image to be obtained when a user writes the information on the output sheets of electronic mail is input through an input device 220 (scanner) to a mail processor 100, ID is newly applied to the image, and the image is managed so as to be associated with the electronic mail received at first in the mail processor 100. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a document information management apparatus and a document information management program, and more particularly to a document information management apparatus and a document information management program capable of managing an electronic mail document.

  In recent years, the number of people who manage their own work flow with electronic data such as e-mails has increased, and in particular, there has been an increase in the number of people who work in a so-called mail-driven system that manages their work with e-mails. As a work flow by such a method, for example, in addition to an e-mail of a job request sent from another person, refer to the e-mail addressed to himself by sending the work to be done to himself / herself There are those that recognize a work to be performed and delete an e-mail corresponding to the work or move it to a different folder each time the work is performed.

  In such a system, it is necessary to manage the work flow in the form of electronic data, including the contents printed out on paper (output on paper). Various methods for electronically managing the contents printed out on paper have been disclosed.

  For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-227966 (Patent Document 1), management ID data is given to a printed sheet, and the server determines the validity of the ID and information described on the sheet. A technique is disclosed in which an apparatus that manages the information and inquires of a server about the validity of the information described on the paper.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-275153 (Patent Document 2), when information is entered on a sheet based on a predetermined condition, the person who fills out the information from the information entered on the sheet based on the condition. A technique for recognizing intended information is disclosed.
JP 2006-227966 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-275153

  In the above-described prior art, a rule is set in advance for a position for entering a mark or the like on a printed sheet, and it is possible to manage information entered according to the rule. However, as expected in the mail-driven manner described above, no consideration has been given to the point of managing the information that is freely entered by the user on the paper output.

  The present invention has been conceived in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a document information management apparatus and a document information management program capable of managing information including contents output on paper as electronic data. That is.

A document information management apparatus according to the present invention includes a receiving unit that executes processing for receiving an e-mail, and first information generation that generates first management information that is information for managing the e-mail. Means, second information creation means for creating second management information which is information for specifying processing performed in connection with the electronic mail, the first management information and the second management information A record table stored in association with the e-mail; an e-mail received by the receiving unit; or a receiving unit that receives an output instruction of the data of the process that created the second management information; and the receiving unit in response to reception of the output instruction, if the instruction to output the e-mail, the data of the first management information and the e-mail, other such that they are both output as image data And it outputs the vessel, wherein when the output instruction of the data of the second management information is created process, the data processing created the second management information and the second management information, these as There are both output as image data, and output means for outputting to another device, an input unit that receives an input of image data from another device, the image data which the input unit receives the first management When the image data corresponding to the information or the second management information is included, third management information that is information for managing the received image data is created and added to the record table. And an information creating means.

Further, in the document information management apparatus of the present invention, the first, second and third management information is serial is stored in a particular format by憶means, for displaying the stored in a specific format information It is preferable to include display means for executing the processing for the above.

  In the document information management apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the first, second, and third management information include IDs that do not overlap each other.

A document information management program according to the present invention is a computer program that causes a computer to function as a document information management apparatus, the computer executing a process for receiving an e-mail; Creating first management information, which is information for management, creating second management information, which is information for specifying processing performed in relation to the e-mail, and the first management Creating a record table for storing information and the second management information in association with the e-mail; and outputting instructions for the e-mail or the data of the process that created the second management information In the case of the e-mail output instruction in response to the receiving step and the output instruction, the first management information The data of the e-mail and, they are outputted to another device so as to be both output as image data, when the output instruction data of the second processing created management information, the second of the data processing created management information and the second management information, as they are both output as image data, and outputting to another device, the input image data from another device The information for managing the received image data when the image data corresponding to the first management information or the second management information is included in the receiving step and the image data that has received the input The third management information is created and added to the record table.

  In the present invention, when the e-mail output instruction is input when the e-mail data is output to the other device, so that the related identification information is output together with the e-mail, Output with email data. When the input image data includes image data corresponding to the related specific information, the management information of the input image data is stored in association with the management information of the original e-mail in the storage unit. The

  Thus, according to the present invention, when an electronic mail is output on paper, the image data of the paper output can be managed in association with the original electronic mail.

Hereinafter, an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The information processing apparatus 1 includes an operation unit 10, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 13, a hard disk 14, various circuits 15, a communication I / F (interface) 16, It includes an image I / F 17, an input / output I / F 18, and a media I / F 19.

  The CPU 11 controls the overall operation of the information processing apparatus 1. The RAM 12 functions as a work area for the CPU 11. The ROM 13 stores information such as a program executed by the CPU 11. The hard disk 14 stores programs executed by the CPU 11 and various setting values. The various circuits 15 include circuits necessary for the information processing apparatus 1 to function as a known information processing apparatus (for example, a power supply circuit). The operation unit 10 includes, for example, a device for a user to input information to the information processing apparatus 1 such as a keyboard.

  The communication I / F 16 is connected to a hub 50 for connecting to an external network. The image I / F 17 outputs data for displaying image data stored in the hard disk 14 or the like on an external monitor 60.

  The input / output I / F 18 is provided to exchange data with the external input / output device 20. The input / output device 20 includes, for example, a scanner that inputs image data and a printer that prints received data.

  The media I / F 19 is an interface for the external recording medium M. The CPU 11 reads data recorded on the recording medium M and writes data to the recording medium M via the media I / F 19.

  The program executed by the CPU 11 may be recorded on the hard disk 14 or may be recorded on the ROM 13. The CPU 11 can also execute a program recorded in the recording medium M and downloaded from the network via the media I / F 19 or the communication I / F 16 and installed in the hard disk 14. .

  FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a relationship between a program for causing the information processing apparatus to function as a document information management apparatus, data generated by these programs, and an external input / output device in the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, since the concept of program execution is described, the ROM 13 and the RAM 12 that have a well-known function at the time of program execution are not shown. Referring to FIG. 2, the hard disk 14 is commonly used in various application programs executed in the information processing apparatus 1 such as input / output functions such as keyboard input and screen output and memory management in the information processing apparatus 1. An OS (Operating System) program for providing basic functions is installed. Also, on the hard disk 14, various application programs 145, a mailer program 141 (hereinafter simply referred to as "mailer 141") that is an application program used for sending and receiving e-mails, and a command for issuing a print instruction to an external printer. A printer driver 142 and a scanner driver 143 for receiving image data from an external scanner are installed. When the CPU 11 executes the printer driver 142, communication is performed with the external printer 211 via the input / output I / F 18. Further, when the CPU 11 executes the scanner driver 143, communication with the external scanner 221 is performed via the input / output I / F 18.

  The input / output management information storage unit 140 corresponds to a part where data generated by the execution of the mailer 141 is stored on the hard disk. Information stored in the record table storage unit 140A and the input / output recording file storage unit 140B of the input / output management information storage unit 140 will be described later.

  The CPU 11 executes each program of the mailer 141, the printer driver 142, the scanner driver 143, and the OS program 144, thereby realizing mainly the function as the document information management apparatus of the present invention. In the present specification, a processing device realized by these components is hereinafter referred to as a mail processing device 100. In other words, the mail processing device 100 is configured by, for example, hardware for program execution processing of the information processing device 1, a program group executed to function as the mail processing device, and data generated by the program group. Is done.

  In the present specification, hereinafter, a device that performs output (printing (paper output), audio output, video output, etc.) of data transmitted from the information processing device 1 such as a printer is referred to as an output device. . A device that inputs image data (or audio data, moving image data, etc.) data to the information processing apparatus 1 like a scanner is called an input device.

  Next, FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram for explaining functions as a mail processing apparatus when a program group for the mail processing apparatus 100 is executed by the CPU 11 in the present embodiment. The correspondence relationship between each functional block in FIG. 3 and the program in FIG. 2 for realizing the functional block will be described. The mail management unit 101 corresponds to the mailer 141. The output unit 102 corresponds to the mailer 141 and the printer driver 142. The ID generation management unit 103 corresponds to the mailer 141. The input unit 104 corresponds to the mailer 141 and the scanner driver 143. The input / output recording unit 105 corresponds to the mailer 141. In FIG. 2, the OS program 144, the printer driver 142, and the scanner driver 143 may be generally used in personal computers. In the present embodiment, the mailer 141 includes functions unique to the present embodiment, and each function unique to the present embodiment is mainly realized by the mailer 141.

  Referring to FIG. 3, mail processing apparatus 100 includes a mail management unit 101, an output unit 102, an ID generation management unit 103, an input unit 104, and an input / output recording unit 105.

  The mail management unit 101 manages the transmission / reception operation of the electronic mail in the information processing apparatus 1. That is, the mail management unit 101 transmits / receives e-mail data to / from the mail server 200 via the communication I / F 16 (see FIG. 1). When an e-mail is transmitted from the information processing apparatus 1, the e-mail data is transmitted to the mail server 200 via the mail management unit 101. When the information processing apparatus 1 receives a mail, the mail server 200 transmits the data of the electronic mail to the mail management unit 101.

  When output of e-mail data (for example, paper output) is instructed to the information processing apparatus 1, the mail management unit 101 sends the e-mail data to the external output device 210 to the output unit 102. To send to. When the e-mail data is output to the output device 210, the e-mail data is transmitted to the output device 210 together with the information generated by the ID generation management unit 103 and corresponding to the e-mail ID. The information corresponding to the ID can be, for example, a QR code (Quick Response code) that records the ID assigned to the electronic mail.

  In the mail processing apparatus 100, in response to the mail management unit 101 receiving an email, the input / output recording unit 105 defines an ID for the email based on ID data acquired from the ID generation management unit 103. Create a record table for the email. Further, the input / output recording unit 105 creates a file (input / output recording file) for recording the reception of the electronic mail in response to the reception of the electronic mail.

  Note that the output of e-mail data in the present embodiment may be audio output or video output.

  In this embodiment, as information corresponding to the ID, in addition to the QR code, a barcode or a background pattern is embedded (a method of embedding information as a dot pattern in the background of the image), and the ID is directly visible in the image. For example, the computer (input unit) can recognize the ID from the scan data obtained by reading the image after the printout with a scanner.

  In the present embodiment, when an e-mail is received, an instruction to print the received e-mail is given, or an e-mail is sent back in response to the e-mail, an ID is assigned to each process. A file for defining the process and recording the process is generated. In the input / output management information storage unit 140, the file created in this way is recorded in the input / output recording file storage unit 140B and attached to one e-mail received by the information processing apparatus 1. The ID and the ID assigned to the process performed in relation to the electronic mail are recorded in one table (record table). Table 1 shows an example of such a record table.

  Referring to Table 1, in the record table, an input / output record name, a parent ID, and a child ID are stored in association with the ID as described above. The input / output recording name is the file name of the above input / output recording file. The parent ID is an ID given to the process (or received e-mail) that is the source of the process that caused the corresponding input / output recording file to be created. The child ID is an ID given to a process executed in association with a process in which a corresponding input / output recording file is created. In the information processing apparatus 1, the file name of the input / output recording file is given according to a predetermined rule.

  In Table 1, information about an electronic mail with an ID “123” is registered. In Table 1, since the input / output recording file “File A” is associated with the ID “123”, when an e-mail with the ID “123” is received, The file name of the created input / output recording file is “file A”.

  In Table 1, an input / output recording file “file B” is associated with the ID “124”. This ID is associated with “123” as a parent ID. As a result, the file B associated with the ID “124” is an e-mail with the ID “123” and related to the process received by the information processing apparatus 1 (printing of the e-mail, This is an input / output recording file created in response to a reply mail transmission to the electronic mail.

  Since the ID with “124” is attached to the process related to the electronic mail with the ID “123”, the child ID with the ID “123” includes “124”.

  The record table as shown in Table 1 is recorded in the record table storage unit 140A of the input / output management information storage unit 140.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the information processing apparatus 1 receives an email, prints the email, or sends a reply email about the email, each process is managed. ID assignment and input / output recording file creation are performed. Below, the aspect of the management of the electronic mail in the information processing apparatus 1 and the management of the process relevant to the said electronic mail is demonstrated as the content of the process performed concretely.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of information management processing performed by the mailer 141 executed by the CPU 11. Hereinafter, as an operation of the functional block described in FIG. 3, a flow of information management processing of the information processing apparatus 1 as the mail processing apparatus 100 will be described.

  Referring to FIG. 4, in the information management process, mail management unit 101 first determines in step S10 whether or not the information processing apparatus 1 has received an electronic mail. The processing is shifted to the mail reception input / output file creation processing (step S20) of the unit 105.

  In step S20, as input / output recording file creation processing for mail reception, the input / output recording unit 105 executes processing including generation of data for managing reception of electronic mail.

  Here, the contents of the process of step S20 will be described with reference to FIG. 5 which is a flowchart of the subroutine of the process.

  Referring to FIG. 5, in the mail receiving input / output recording file creation process, in step S201, input / output recording unit 105 creates an input / output recording file based on the received e-mail data and creates an input / output recording file. It memorize | stores in the memory | storage part 140B. Here, the input / output recording file preferably has a data structure similar to that of an e-mail so that it can be viewed using the mailer 141.

  In step S <b> 202, the input / output recording unit 105 acquires a new ID from the ID generation management unit 103. The ID generation management unit 103 can issue an ID that does not overlap with the ID that has been issued so far in the information processing apparatus 1, for example, by incrementing the counter by one.

  In step S203, the input / output recording unit 105 creates a new Message-ID that is a character string corresponding to the new ID, using the new ID acquired in step S202. Subsequently, in step S204, the input / output recording unit 105 changes the Message-ID in the input / output recording file created in step S201 to the one created in step S203.

  In step S205, the input / output recording unit 105 newly creates a record table and returns the process. An example of the record table created at this time is shown in Table 2.

  In Table 2, only the ID for the received electronic mail and the file name of the input / output recording file are registered.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of the data of the input / output recording file created in the mail receiving input / output recording file creation process described with reference to FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 10, the input / output recording file basically has a data structure similar to that of an e-mail so that it can be browsed by the function of mailer 141. It should be noted that the input / output recording file at the time of mail reception mainly includes the contents of the received electronic mail. However, in the example shown in FIG. 10, the character string “Message-ID: 00000000000123@suzuki.kmjp” shown in the 13th line from the top is changed in the header part of the received electronic mail. The information shown in the 13th line is the Message-ID created in step S203. In this embodiment, the message-ID of the received email is changed to create an input / output recording file.

  In the input / output recording file according to the present embodiment, the ID is assigned to manage each input / output recording file by the mailer.

  Message-ID is required in the data structure of e-mail. In this embodiment, in Message-ID, the part before “@” (in the case of “00000000000123@suzuki.kmjp”, the part of “00000000000123”) is the same as the numerical value of the ID of the input / output recording file itself. The portion after “@” (“suzuki.kmjp” if “00000000000123@suzuki.kmjp”) is data unique to the information processing apparatus 1. In this embodiment, the Message-ID has the same format as an email address consisting of two character strings with “@” in between. However, the Message-ID format is not necessarily this It is not limited to such a thing.

  In the present embodiment, the file name of the input / output recording file is unique on the hard disk of the information processing apparatus 1 and is given independently of the ID described above.

  In the example shown in FIG. 10, the other parts mean the same field names and field values as used in general e-mail data, as shown in Table 3.

  Returning to FIG. 4, in step S <b> 30, the mail management unit 101 determines whether or not a reply e-mail to the mail received by the information processing apparatus 1 has been transmitted. The process proceeds to the trusted input / output record file creation process. If it is determined that the process is not performed, the process proceeds to step S50.

  Note that the determination in step S30 is realized by determining whether or not an e-mail has been transmitted by using the function of replying to the received mail in the mailer 141. It should be noted that a well-known technique can be adopted for a technique in which an e-mail is transmitted using a received mail reply function in a mailer, and therefore detailed description thereof will not be repeated here.

  In step S40, the input / output recording unit 105 executes a reply transmission input / output recording file creation process, which is a process for generating information for managing a process in which a reply for the received electronic mail is transmitted.

  Here, the process of step S40 will be described with reference to FIG. 6 which is a flowchart of the subroutine of the process. In the reply transmission input / output recording file creation process, the input / output recording unit 105 first creates an input / output recording file for the reply of the mail in step S401 and stores it in the input / output recording file storage unit 140B.

  In step S402, the input / output recording unit 105 acquires a new ID from the ID generation management unit 103 in the same manner as in step S202 (see FIG. 5). Subsequently, in step S403, the input / output recording unit 105 creates a Message-ID using the new ID acquired in step S402.

  In step S404, the input / output recording unit 105 changes the Message-ID to the one created in step S403 in the input / output recording file created in step S401.

  In step S405, the input / output recording unit 105 adds the ID acquired for the reply mail transmission process to the record table including the ID acquired when the e-mail that is the source of the reply is received. The record table in the record table storage unit 140A is updated, and the process is returned.

  Depending on the above, the I / O record file added when the reply mail is sent includes mainly the contents of the sent email, just like the I / O record file added when receiving the mail. Message-ID is changed from the content of reply mail. For example, when a reply mail transmission process is performed on the received mail with ID “123”, the ID of the input / output recording file related to the reply mail transmission process is “124”. Assuming that the input / output file “file B” is created for the transmission process for the received mail in which “file A” is created as the input / output recording file, “124” with the parent ID “123” is recorded in the record table. Then, “124” is recorded as a child ID of ID “123” (see Table 1).

  Returning to FIG. 4, in step S50, the mail management unit 101 determines whether or not an instruction to print an electronic mail received by the information processing apparatus has been input. If it is determined that the instruction has been input, the process proceeds to step S60. If it is determined that no input has been made, the process proceeds to step S80.

  In step S60, the output unit 102 executes a process (email print process) for printing e-mail data. Here, the contents of this process will be described with reference to FIG. 7 which is a flowchart of the subroutine of the process.

  Referring to FIG. 7, in the mail print process, output unit 102 first acquires a new ID from ID generation management unit 103 in step S601 as in step S202 (see FIG. 5).

  Subsequently, in step S602, the output unit 102 creates an image of a code including information specifying the ID acquired in step S601, and advances the process to step S603. The code image created here can be a QR code image, for example.

  In step S603, the output unit 102 transmits the e-mail data instructed to be printed and the image data created in step S602 to the printer 211 so that the e-mail data and the code image data are printed on the same sheet. And return the process. As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, a code image 901 is printed on a sheet 900 on which electronic mail data is printed.

  Returning to FIG. 4, after the mail printing process is executed in step S60, the input / output recording unit 105 executes the mail printing input / output recording file creation process in step S70. Here, the contents of this process will be described with reference to FIG. 8 which is a flowchart of the subroutine of the process.

  Referring to FIG. 8, in the mail print input / output recording file creation process, input / output recording unit 105 first acquires the data transmitted to printer 211 in step S603 (see FIG. 7) in step S701. The data transmitted to the printer 211 is an image that can specify the data of the e-mail instructed to be printed and the ID (obtained in step S601) assigned to manage the printing process of the e-mail. It is data of.

  In step S <b> 702, the input / output recording unit 105 creates an input / output recording file for managing e-mail print processing. In step S703, the input / output recording unit 105 creates a Message-ID using the ID acquired in step S601. In step S704, the input / output recording unit 105 adds the Message-ID created in step S703 to the input / output recording file created in step S702.

  In step S <b> 705, the input / output recording unit 105 adds the ID acquired for managing the printing process to the record table including the acquired ID in response to the reception of the email that is the printing source. The record table in the record table storage unit 140A is updated, and the process is returned.

  Referring to FIG. 11, the input / output recording file for mail printing is created in a format including data similar to that of electronic mail. In general, transmission of image data to a printer is different in data transmission method from transmission of e-mail, but in this embodiment, in order to leave mail printing processing in the same record as e-mail transmission processing Create an input / output recording file for mail printing. Specifically, in the input / output recording file created in this way, the Return-Path and From fields indicate the mail address of the printer that has instructed printing (in effect, the information processing apparatus 1 that has instructed transmission to the printer). And the Delivered-To and To fields are data indicating the printer (not necessarily a mail address such as a domain on the printer network). In the created input / output recording file, the Date column is the date and time when the mail printing process was executed, the Message-ID is added in step S704, and the Subject column is the input / output recording unit 105. The character string is automatically assigned as appropriate. Since the input / output recording file has the same format as the mail data, the printout image data is recorded as an attached file in a predetermined file format. Further, the “MIME converted text” corresponding to the mail text in the e-mail may be blank, or may be an appropriate text automatically added by the input / output recording unit 105.

  In the screen 950 shown in FIG. 16, a list of input / output recording files is displayed in the display field 951. The title 951A corresponding to the input / output recording file shown in FIG. 11 is displayed in a selected state, and the contents are displayed in the display field 952.

  In the display column 952, the content corresponding to the portion below “From:” in FIG. 11 is displayed in the sender column 952A, and the portion below “To:” in FIG. 11 is displayed in the destination column 952C. . Also, the attached file in FIG. 11 is displayed in a column 953C indicating the attached file. In the text display field 953D, information corresponding to the text in FIG. 11 is displayed.

  Table 4 shows an example of the record table after being updated in step S705.

  Table 4 shows a state where an ID of “125” has been acquired for printing an e-mail. In Table 4, “124” is described in the parent ID column for a process in which an ID “125” is assigned and an input / output recording file named “file C” is created. The ID “124” is an ID corresponding to the reply e-mail described above. In other words, the process with the ID “125” means the printing process (for the reply e-mail that has been sent) of the process with the ID “124”.

  Returning to FIG. 4, after the mail print input / output recording file is created in step S70, the input unit 104 determines in step S80 whether a family mail image has been input, and determines that it has been input. Then, the process proceeds to step S90, and when it is determined that no input has been made, the process returns to step S30. Here, the family mail image is an image including an image for specifying an ID acquired for managing the processing related to the e-mail, as created in step S602.

  More specifically, an image of a family mail is an image of an email received by the information processing apparatus 1 or an email associated with the email, and more specifically, stored in the record table storage unit 140A. It is an image including a code image corresponding to an ID included in any one of the record tables.

  In step S90, the input / output recording unit 105 executes an input / output recording file creation process for image input, and returns the process to step S30. The contents of the process in step S90 will be described with reference to FIG. 9 which is a flowchart of the subroutine of the process.

  With reference to FIG. 9, in the input / output recording file creation processing for image input, the input / output recording unit 105 first acquires the image data input to the information processing apparatus 1 in step S901.

  In step S902, the input / output recording unit 105 acquires a new ID from the ID generation management unit 103 as in step S202 (see FIG. 5).

  In step S903, the input / output recording unit 105 creates an input / output recording file for managing input of family mail images.

  In step S904, the input / output recording unit 105 creates a Message-ID using the ID acquired in step S902.

  In step S905, the input / output recording unit 105 adds the Message-ID created in step S904 to the input / output recording file created in step S903.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of the input / output recording file created in step S903 and added with the Message-ID in step S905.

  The input / output recording file created at the time of inputting the family mail image shown in FIG. 12 is also created in a format including the same data as the electronic mail. In general, input of image data from the scanner via the input / output I / F is different from the reception of an e-mail in the format of input (received) data. An input / output recording file is created to record the input as equivalent to the e-mail reception process. Specifically, in the input / output recording file created at this time, the Return-Path and From fields are data indicating the scanner (they may not be email addresses, such as the domain on the scanner network). The Delivered-To and To fields are their own mail addresses that have received the images (substantially their own mail addresses registered in the mailer 141 of the information processing apparatus 1 that has received the images from the scanner). The In the input / output recording file, the Date column is the date and time when the information processing apparatus 1 received the image, the Message-ID column is the Message-ID added in step S905, and the Subject column is The input / output recording unit 105 automatically sets a character string appropriately. Since the created input / output recording file has the same format as that of electronic mail, input (received) image data is recorded as an attached file in a predetermined file format. In the created input / output recording file, the “MIME converted text” corresponding to the mail text in the e-mail may be blank, or the text is automatically added as appropriate by the input / output recording unit 105. May be.

  The input / output recording file shown in FIG. 12 is created by receiving an image from the scanner by the input / output I / F 18, but when the image from the scanner is received by e-mail, An image (attached file) attached to an e-mail is analyzed to determine whether or not the ID in the present embodiment is included in the image. If included, an input / output recording file is created. May be.

  Returning to FIG. 9, in step S906, the input / output recording unit 105 adds the ID acquired in step S902 to the record table including the ID specified by the image of the code included in the image data acquired in step S901. And update the process to return the process. Here, an example of the record table updated in step S906 is shown in Table 5.

  Referring to Table 5, this record table is obtained by adding data with an ID of “126” to the record table shown in Table 4. In “126”, “125” is described in the parent ID column. This means that the input of the image corresponding to the ID “126” is the input of the image printed by the printing process with the ID “125”. It should be noted that the image input corresponding to the ID “126” includes an image entered by the user in a freehand manner such as a memo on the paper printed corresponding to the ID “125”. included. That is, as described with reference to FIG. 7, when an e-mail is printed, the code image is transmitted to the printer together with the e-mail data so that the e-mail is printed on the printed paper. It is also possible to print an image indicating that the content is related to an e-mail managed in the information processing apparatus 1. As a result, when the user writes information on such a sheet freehand, causes the scanner 221 to read an image represented on the sheet, and inputs the image data to the information processing apparatus 1 The image data is managed in the information processing apparatus 1 in association with the original electronic mail.

  In the present embodiment described above, when an electronic mail is received by the information processing apparatus 1, the electronic mail and related processing are managed in the record table. Also, these pieces of information can be displayed to the user as well as managed.

  For example, in FIG. 14, the mailer 141 displays the titles in the input / output files for a plurality of e-mails on the mail display device 61 in the order in which the corresponding input / output recording files were created. The state is shown. Specifically, FIG. 14 shows input / output records 911 to 916 corresponding to each input / output recording file. The mail display device 61 is realized by displaying an image on the monitor 60 based on the execution of the mailer 141 by the CPU 11.

  When one of the input / output records, for example, the input / output records 911, 914, 915, and 916, is operated via the operation unit 10, the mail display device 61 in FIG. As shown, the input / output records associated with the operated input / output record are displayed in a tree in another display area 920. This tree display is performed by referring to a record table including an operated input / output record, extracting a related input / output record file, and generating a display screen based on the contents. Specifically, in the record table including the input / output record 911, if the input / output records 914, 915, and 916 are associated with each other, an operation for selecting one of these is performed, and the corresponding operation is performed. The display screens 921, 924, 925, and 926 shown in FIG. 15 are generated by extracting the input / output recording files to be referred to and referring to the time and titles in the files, and the display screen generated as described above Then, those display images are arranged in association with each other. In the example of FIG. 15, the input / output record that becomes the parent ID is displayed at the upper level, the input / output that becomes the child ID is displayed at the lower level, and the mutual relationship is indicated by an arrow.

  In the present embodiment, the processing for the attached file of the received mail may be managed in the record table for the electronic mail received by the information processing apparatus 1. In order to perform such management, for example, when an attached file is processed by executing an application program, the input / output recording unit 105 receives a new ID from the ID generation management unit 103 at the start of the processing. Is obtained and passed to the application program, and an input / output recording file indicating that is created. Then, for example, when printing the attached file, the application program notifies the input / output recording unit 105 to that effect together with the new ID. In response to this, the input / output recording unit 105 further acquires a new ID, and creates a new input / output recording file corresponding to the fact that the attached file of the received mail is printed.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the information processing apparatus which is one embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a relationship between a program for causing an information processing apparatus to function as a document information management apparatus, data generated by the program, and an external input / output device in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a function as a mail processing apparatus when a program group is executed by the CPU of FIG. 1 in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart of the information management process which CPU which functions as a mailer of FIG. 1 performs. 6 is a flowchart of a subroutine of mail receiving input / output recording file creation processing of FIG. 4. 5 is a flowchart of a subroutine of a reply transmission input / output recording file creation process of FIG. 4. 5 is a flowchart of a mail printing process subroutine of FIG. 4. 5 is a flowchart of a subroutine of mail print input / output recording file creation processing of FIG. 4. 5 is a flowchart of a subroutine of image input / output recording file creation processing of FIG. 4. It is a figure which shows an example of the input-output recording file produced in the information processing apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of the input-output recording file produced in the information processing apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the input-output recording file produced in the information processing apparatus of FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a state in which data transmitted from the information processing apparatus in FIG. 1 is output on paper. It is a figure which shows an example of the display mode of the input-output recording name managed in the record table of the information processing apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of the display mode of the input / output recording name managed in the record table of the information processing apparatus of FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed when a CPU executes a mailer in the information processing apparatus of FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information processing apparatus, 10 Operation part, 11 CPU, 12 RAM, 13 ROM, 14 Hard disk, 15 Various circuits, 16 Communication I / F, 17 Image I / F, 18 Input / output I / F, 19 Media I / F, 20 I / O device, 50 hub, 60 monitor, 61 mail display device, 100 mail processing device, 101 mail management unit, 102 output unit, 103 ID generation management unit, 104 input unit, 105 input / output recording unit, 140 input / output management Information storage unit, 141 mailer program, 142 printer driver, 143 scanner driver, 144 OS program, 145 application program, 200 mail server, 210 output device, 211 printer, 220 input device, 221 scanner.

Claims (4)

Receiving means for executing processing for receiving e-mail;
First information creating means for creating first management information which is information for managing the e-mail;
Second information creating means for creating second management information which is information for specifying processing performed in relation to the e-mail;
A record table for storing the first management information and the second management information in association with the e-mail;
An accepting means for accepting an output instruction of the e-mail received by the receiving means or the data of the process that created the second management information;
In response to the reception means receiving the output instruction,
In the case of the output instruction of the e-mail, the first management information and the e-mail data are output to other devices so that both are output as image data ,
Wherein when the output instruction of the data of the second management information is created process, the data of the second management information and the second processing created management information, as they are both image data Output means for outputting to other devices so as to be output;
Input means for receiving input of image data from another device;
The image data which the input unit receives, when included image data corresponding to the first management information or the second management information, the third information for managing the received image data A document information management device comprising: third information creation means for creating management information and adding it to the record table. The first, second and third management information is stored in a specific format by the storage means,
Comprising display means for performing the processing for displaying the stored in a particular format information, the document information management apparatus according to claim 1. It said first, second and third management information includes a respective non-overlapping ID, the document information management apparatus according to claim 1 or ~ claim 2. A computer program for causing a computer to function as a document information management apparatus,
Performing a process for receiving e-mail;
Creating first management information which is information for managing the e-mail;
Creating second management information, which is information identifying processing performed in connection with the email;
Creating a record table for storing the first management information and the second management information in association with the email;
Receiving an output instruction of the e-mail or the data of the process that created the second management information;
In response to receiving the output instruction,
In the case of the output instruction of the e-mail, the first management information and the e-mail data are output to other devices so that they are output together as image data ,
Wherein when the output instruction of the data of the second management information is created process, both the data of the second management information and the second processing created management information, as they are image data Outputting to other devices to be output,
Receiving image data input from another device;
When the image data that has received the input includes image data corresponding to the first management information or the second management information, a third management that is information for managing the received image data A control program for a document information management apparatus that causes information to be created and added to the record table.

Images