JP7324305B2 - Electronic form creation device, electronic form creation method, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic form creation apparatus, an electronic form creation method, and a program.

For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-100001, characters currently being input are displayed with light colored dots inside the input area 12, and characters that have already been input and are recognized as results are displayed with dark colored dots. A character input device is disclosed.

In addition, in Patent Document 2, background display means for converting pixel values such as gradation into an image of an application is used, or a semi-transparent character input area is used to distinguish between background display and written input character patterns. A character input device is disclosed that enables

Further, in Patent Document 3, in a handwritten character input device, every time stroke information is updated by input from a coordinate input device, input region information generation means for generating input region information based on stroke information; Background display data generating means for generating background display data obtained by converting pixel data in an area specified by the information into a light color value or semi-transparency is provided, and the handwritten characters are displayed by superimposing the handwritten input display data and the background display data. An input device is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-346120 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-223228 JP 2005-267292

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic form creation device capable of easily creating an electronic form suitable for a computer such as a tablet terminal.

An electronic form creation apparatus according to the present invention includes an image acquisition section that acquires scan image data of a form, an area designation section that designates a partial area of the scan image data acquired by the image acquisition section, and the image a form data generation unit that generates a data file of the form in which the area designated by the area designation unit is filled with a specific color based on the scan image data acquired by the acquisition unit.

Preferably, the area designating section designates the area based on the shape of an image element included in the scanned image of the form, and the form data generating section fills the area designated by the area designating section with a single color. generate a data file of the form.

Preferably, the area specifying unit presents a plurality of quadrangular areas included in the scanned image of the form as candidates for the specified area, and selects a quadrangular area selected by the user from among the presented quadrangular areas as the specified area. do.

Preferably, the form data generation unit further includes a color determination unit that determines a color to be used for filling based on color data included in the area designated by the area designation unit. generates a data file of the form in which the area specified by the area specifying unit is filled with the color determined by

Preferably, the system further includes an input setting unit for setting an input field for the input method selected by the user for the area specified by the area specifying unit, and the form data generation unit is set by the input setting unit. Create a data file of the form that contains the input fields.

Preferably, the form data generation unit fills in the area specified by the area specifying unit with a single color and superimposes a layer in which input fields are defined on a layer of the scanned image data of the form to generate the form. data file.

Preferably, the input setting unit determines the font size of the input field based on the size of the area specified by the area specifying unit or the size of the character image existing in the vicinity of the specified area.

Further, an electronic form creation method according to the present invention includes an obtaining step of scanning an existing paper form to obtain scanned image data, an area designating step of designating a partial area of the obtained scanned image data, and a display step of displaying the acquired scan image data in a state where the designated area is filled with a specific color.

Preferably, in the obtaining step, the filled-in paper form is scanned to obtain the scanned image data.

Further, the program according to the present invention includes an obtaining step of obtaining scanned image data of a form, an area designating step of designating a partial area of the scanned image data obtained by the obtaining step, and an obtaining step of obtaining the scanned image data by the obtaining step. and a form data generation step of generating a data file of the form in which the area designated by the area designation step is filled with a specific color based on the scanned image data.

Electronic forms suitable for computers such as tablet terminals can be easily created.

1 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a form management system 1; FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an editing device 3; FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an editing device 3; FIG. (A) is a diagram for explaining the area specifying section 330 in more detail, and (B) is a diagram for explaining the color determination section 340 in more detail. 4 is a flowchart for explaining electronic form creation processing (S10) by the editing device 3; 4 is a flowchart for explaining a form display input process (S20) by the user terminal 9; It is a figure which illustrates the entry column of a paper form. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an electronic form; 9 is a diagram exemplifying definition information of input fields included in the electronic form of FIG. 8; FIG.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a form management system 1. As shown in FIG.
As exemplified in FIG. 1, the form management system 1 includes a computer terminal (editing device 3) of a user who creates an electronic form file, and a computer terminal (user terminal 9) of a general user who inputs data into the electronic form. , and a form management server 2 that manages electronic forms and their input data.
A scanner 38 is connected to the editing device 3 of this example via a USB cable or the like. An electronic form data file is created, and the created electronic form data file and its definition information are registered in the form management server 2 . Note that the editing device 3 is an example of an electronic form creating device according to the present invention.

The form management server 2 is a server device, stores the data file (electronic form file) of the electronic form created by the editing device 3 and its definition information, and in response to a request from the user terminal 9, creates the electronic form file. I will provide a.
The user terminal 9 is, for example, a computer terminal such as a tablet terminal or a smartphone, displays a form based on the electronic form file provided from the form management server 2, and accepts an input operation for the displayed form. The entered information is transmitted to the form management server 2 .

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the editing device 3. As shown in FIG.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the editing device 3 has a CPU 300, a memory 302, an HDD 304, a network interface 306 (network IF 306), a display device 308, and an input device 310. These components are connected via a bus 312. connected to each other.
CPU 300 is, for example, a central processing unit.
The memory 302 is, for example, a volatile memory and functions as a main memory.
The HDD 304 is, for example, a hard disk drive device, and stores computer programs (eg, the editing program 32 in FIG. 3) and other data files as a non-volatile recording device.
The network IF 306 is an interface for wired or wireless communication, and realizes communication with the form management server 2, for example.
The display device 308 is, for example, a liquid crystal display.
Input device 310 is, for example, a keyboard and mouse. Further, the input device 310 controls the scanner 38 and executes input processing of images read by the scanner 38 .

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the editing device 3. As shown in FIG.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, an editing program 32 is installed and operates in the editing device 3 of this example. The editing program 32 is stored in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, for example, and installed in the editing apparatus 3 via this recording medium.
The editing program 32 has an image acquisition section 320 , an area designation section 330 , a color determination section 340 , an input setting section 350 , a definition information generation section 360 and a form data generation section 370 .
Part or all of the editing program 32 may be implemented by hardware such as ASIC, or may be implemented by partially borrowing functions of an OS (Operating System).

In the editing program 32, an image acquisition unit 320 acquires scanned image data of a form. In this example, the scanner 38 scans an existing paper form, and the image acquisition unit 320 acquires scanned image data of the paper form read by the scanner 38 .

The area designating section 330 designates a partial area of the scanned image data acquired by the image acquiring section 320 . For example, the area designating unit 330 presents a plurality of rectangular areas included in the scanned image of the form as candidates for the designated area, and selects a rectangular area selected by the user from among the displayed rectangular areas as the designated area.

Color determining section 340 determines a color to be applied to the area designated by area designating section 330 . For example, the color determination unit 340 may determine the color selected by the user from the palette as the color to be applied, or may select the color included in the area specified by the area specification unit 330 as the color to be applied. may be determined as

The input setting unit 350 sets an input field for the input method selected by the user for the area specified by the area specifying unit 330 . For example, the input setting unit 350 provides an input field for inputting text using a keyboard, an input field in which radio buttons are arranged, an input field for selecting a date and time, and an input field for selecting the date and time for each of the regions designated by the region designating unit 330 according to the user's operation. A field or an input field for receiving handwritten input via a touch panel or the like is set.

The definition information generation unit 360 generates definition information of the form based on the scan image data of the form acquired by the image acquisition unit 320 . The definition information includes, for example, information indicating the positions of the input fields in the form image, and information indicating the attributes of the information to be input in each input field (for example, name, date, time, quantity, etc.). ing.

The form data generating unit 370 generates a data file of a form in which the area specified by the area specifying unit 330 is filled with a specific color based on the scanned image data acquired by the image acquiring unit 320 . “Painting with a specific color” may be any color as long as it is opaque, and may be a single color, a plurality of colors, or a gradation. For example, the form data generation unit 370 fills the area specified by the area specifying unit 330 with a single color and superimposes a layer in which input fields are defined by the input setting unit 350 on the layer of the scan image data of the form. and use it as the data file of the electronic form.

FIG. 4A is a diagram for explaining the area designating section 330 in more detail, and FIG. 4B is a diagram for explaining the color determining section 340 in more detail.
As exemplified in FIG. 4A , the area specifying section 330 includes a rectangular area extracting section 332 , a candidate presenting section 334 and an area determining section 336 .
The rectangular area extracting unit 332 extracts a rectangular area from the scanned image data acquired by the image acquiring unit 320 based on the shape of the image element included in the scanned image (for example, an area surrounded by horizontal and vertical lines). Extract multiple regions.
The candidate presenting unit 334 presents the plurality of regions extracted by the rectangular region extracting unit 332 to the user as candidates for the designated region.
The area determination unit 336 determines the area selected by the user from among the candidates presented by the candidate presentation unit 334 as the specified area. For example, when the user simultaneously selects a plurality of candidate areas adjacent to each other, the area determining unit 336 determines an area obtained by combining these selected candidate areas as the specified area.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the color determining section 340 includes a color extracting section 342, a color candidate presenting section 344, and a color determining section 346.
The color extraction unit 342 extracts colors included in the area specified by the area specification unit 330 . If the specified area contains multiple colors, the color extractor 342 extracts the multiple colors. The color extraction unit 342 may exclude the colors of characters and ruled lines included in the specified area and extract only the background color of the area.
The color candidate presenting unit 344 presents the colors extracted by the color extracting unit 342 to the user as candidates.
The color determination unit 346 determines the color selected by the user from among the colors presented by the color candidate presentation unit 344 as the color to be used for filling the designated area.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining electronic form creation processing (S10) by the editing device 3. As shown in FIG.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, in step 100 (S100), when an existing paper form is set on the scanner 38 and scanned, the image acquisition unit 320 of the editing device 3 acquires the scanned image data of the paper form from the scanner 38. get.
At step 105 ( S<b>105 ), the definition information generating section 360 generates form definition information based on the scanned image data acquired by the image acquiring section 320 . The definition information generator 360 may acquire definition information generated in advance.

At step 110 ( S<b>110 ), the rectangular area extracting section 332 of the area designating section 330 extracts a rectangular area from the scanned image data acquired by the image acquiring section 320 .
The candidate presenting unit 334 displays the rectangular regions extracted by the rectangular region extracting unit 332 on the display device 308 as candidates for the designated region.

At step 115 (S115), when the user selects one of the candidates presented by the candidate presenting unit 334, the region determination unit 336 determines the selected region as the specified region.
The editing program 32 proceeds to the processing of S120 when the user selects any candidate, and proceeds to the processing of S130 when the user does not select any candidate.

At step 120 ( S<b>120 ), the color extractor 342 extracts colors included in the designated area determined by the area determiner 336 . The color candidate presenting unit 344 displays a plurality of colors including the color extracted by the color extracting unit 342 as candidates on the display device 308 . The color determining unit 346 determines a color to be used for filling the designated area from among the color candidates displayed by the color candidate presenting unit 344 according to the user's selection operation.
At step 125 (S125), the input setting unit 350 sets the input fields for the specified area determined by the area determining unit 336 according to the user's operation.

At step 130 (S130), the editing program 32 proceeds to the process of S135 if the user instructs to finish editing the electronic form, and returns to the process of S110 if the user does not give an instruction to finish editing the electronic form. .
At step 135 (S135), the form data generation unit 370 fills the specified area determined by the area determination unit 336 with the color determined by the color determination unit 346, and the input setting unit 350 fills in the specified area. A layer in which the input fields set by is arranged is created, and the created layer is superimposed on the scanned image acquired by the image acquisition unit 320 to generate an electronic form file.
The electronic form file generated by the form data generation unit 370 is stored in the form management server 2 together with form definition information indicating the layout and attributes of input fields.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the form display input process (S20) by the user terminal 9. As shown in FIG.
As exemplified in FIG. 6, in step 200 (S200), when the user terminal 9 receives an instruction to display the electronic form file received from the form management server 2, the default screen is displayed, and the instruction from the user is displayed. wait for The default screen may be, for example, a form layout screen or an input screen.

In step 205 (S205), the user terminal 9 shifts to the process of S210 when the user instructs input to the electronic form (for example, when any of the input fields is tapped), and the user touches the screen. If the user instructs to switch between the two, the process proceeds to S215, and if the user instructs to save the data, the process proceeds to S235.
At step 210 (S210), the user terminal 9 accepts the user's input operation in the input field set in the specified area of the electronic form.

In step 215 (S215), the user terminal 9 proceeds to the processing of S220 when the user switches the screen to the form layout screen, and proceeds to the processing of S225 when the user switches the screen to the input screen. Transition.
At step 220 (S220), the user terminal 9 displays the layer in which the filled areas and input fields are arranged based on the electronic form file in a state superimposed on the scanned image.
At step 225 (S225), the user terminal 9 displays input fields arranged with radio buttons or the like according to the settings of the input fields selected by the user.

At step 230 (S230), the user terminal 9 displays the electronic form with the input data displayed in the input fields.
At step 235 (S235), the user terminal 9 saves the electronic form file and the input data in the form management server 2 in accordance with the user's data saving instruction.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an entry column of a paper form.
As shown in FIG. 7, when the input fields are simply superimposed on the scanned image of the paper form, some of the items written on the paper form are unnecessary when inputting with a tablet or the like. It will be visible and the form will be difficult to see. Therefore, the editing device 3 of the present embodiment fills each entry field with a single color as a designated area, and arranges an entry field suitable for tablet input.
Specifically, as exemplified in FIG. 7A, when an existing paper form includes an entry column for selecting a period with a circle, the editing device 3 designates the entry column for entering the circle as a specified area. , it is filled with a single color to make it invisible, and an input field for selecting the period is superimposed on it.
In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, when the paper form includes an entry column for entering the date, the editing device 3 fills in the entry column with a single color as a designated area, and displays "Heisei", " Hide year, month and day. In this case, the input setting unit 350, for example, arranges a date input dialog and sets the font size of the displayed date based on the vertical size of the specified area in the case of horizontal writing.

As exemplified in FIG. 7(C), when an existing paper form includes an entry field for entering a name, the editing device 3 fills this entry field with a single color as a designated area, and writes "(with a ballpoint pen Please fill in)" is hidden. In this case, input setting unit 350 superimposes an input field for accepting handwritten input.
Also, as shown in FIG. 7(D), even when an electronic form is created based on a filled-in paper form, since filled-in character strings are hidden, even if the filled-in paper form Available.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an electronic form.
FIG. 9 is a diagram exemplifying definition information of input fields included in the electronic form of FIG.
In FIG. 8, of the scanned image of the paper form (insurance policy application form), the input items A to D are designated areas, which are filled with a single color. The position of each input item is defined by "Left", "Top", "Width" and "Height" in the definition information of FIG. The fill color is defined in "Background-Color". The input fields for input item A, input item B, and input item D are set for text input using a keyboard or the like, and the input field for input item C is set for handwriting input.

As described above, according to the form management system 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to easily create an electronic form suitable for input from a computer such as a tablet terminal based on an existing paper form. Even a paper form that has already been filled in can be made into an easy-to-read electronic form by hiding the filled-in fields.

(Modification)
A modification of the above embodiment will be described.
In the above embodiment, the input setting unit 350 determines the font size of characters to be input in the horizontal input field based on the vertical size of the specified area (input field). For example, the font size of the input field may be determined based on the size of characters written in the specified area.

1 form management system 3 editing device 32 editing program 38 scanner

Claims (8)

an image acquisition unit that acquires scanned image data of a form;
an area specifying unit that specifies a partial area of the scanned image data acquired by the image acquiring unit;
an input setting unit for setting an input field for an input method selected by a user for the area specified by the area specifying unit;
A layer in which the area specified by the area specifying unit is filled with a single color and the input field set by the input setting unit is defined in the layer of the scanned image data acquired by the image acquiring unit. and a form data generation unit that superimposes and generates a data file of the form. The area designating unit designates an area based on a shape of an image element included in a scanned image of a form,
2. The electronic form creation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the form data generation unit generates a data file of a form in which the area designated by the area designation unit is filled with a single color. 2. The area designating unit presents a plurality of rectangular areas included in the scanned image of the form as candidates for the designated area, and selects a rectangular area selected by the user from among the displayed rectangular areas as the designated area. The electronic form creation device according to . a color determining unit that determines a color to be used for filling based on color data included in the area specified by the area specifying unit;
2. The electronic form creation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the form data generating unit generates a data file of the form in which the area specified by the area specifying unit is filled with the color determined by the color determining unit. 2. The input setting unit according to claim 1 , wherein the input setting unit determines the font size of the input bucket based on the size of the area specified by the area specifying unit or the size of the character image existing in the vicinity of the specified area. electronic form creation device. an acquisition step of scanning an existing paper form to acquire scanned image data;
an area specifying step of specifying a negative area of the acquired scan image data;
an input setting step of setting an input field for an input method selected by a user for the area specified by the area specifying step;
A layer in which the area specified by the area specifying step is filled with a specific color and the input field set by the input setting step is defined is superimposed on the layer of the scanned image data acquired by the acquiring step. In addition, a form data generation step for generating form data files
and an electronic form creation method. 7. The method of creating an electronic form according to claim 6 , wherein in said obtaining step, the filled-in paper form is scanned to obtain scanned image data. an acquisition step of acquiring scanned image data of a form;
a region designation step of designating a negative region of the scanned image data obtained by the obtaining step;
an input setting step of setting an input field for an input method selected by a user for the area specified by the area specifying step;
A layer in which the area specified by the area specifying step is filled with a specific color and the input field set by the input setting step is defined is superimposed on the layer of the scanned image data acquired by the acquiring step. A program for causing a computer to execute a form data generation step of generating a data file of the form.

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