JPH07182360A - Image information processor and multiple parallel-connected viewers used for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image information processor which enables plural users to perform retrieval simultaneously and the multiple parallel-connected viewers which are used for the image information processor. CONSTITUTION:To this invented image information processor, plural viewers 4 to 6 through which plural users retrieve image information are connected in addition to a main console 2 on which image information is registered in the image information processing main body and retrieved. The multiple parallel- connected viewers each have a means for inputting retrieval ID of image information, a means 8 which displays the retrieval ID, a means which transfers the retrieval ID to the image information processor, a means which receives retrieved image information from the image information processor main body, and a means 7 which displays the retrieved image information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image information processing apparatus such as an image filing apparatus for registering and retrieving image information and a multiple viewer used for the same.
r) concerning.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image of a document or the like that is generated in large quantities in office work or the like is read by a scanner device (two-dimensional scanning device), the read image is stored in an image disk, and any stored image is stored. Search and read
An image filing device has been put into practical use, which outputs it in a state in which it can be viewed by an output device such as a CRT display device or a printer device.

Such an image filing apparatus has been originally developed for a large number of users for the purpose of paperless office work and efficient filing and retrieval of documents.

However, conventionally, one image filing device is connected to a main console having one CRT display device, and only one user occupies and uses it for a certain period of time.

[0005]

As described above, since the conventional image filing apparatus cannot be used by a plurality of users at the same time in practice, when there is a user who used first, a user who comes later uses , Had to wait for the device to become free.

As described above, the registered image is printed out from the printer device in order to make a plurality of users feel the stress of being unable to use the device when they want to use it, and to prepare for the inability to use the device in real time. Then, there was a problem that a copy was kept at hand, and eventually paper was scattered in the office.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and by connecting a plurality of viewers having a function for easily performing a search in addition to the main console, a plurality of users can be simultaneously provided. An object of the present invention is to provide an image information processing device that can be used and a multiple viewer used for it.

[0008]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an image information processing apparatus main body capable of registering and retrieving image information, and the image information processing for registering and retrieving the image information. There is provided an image information processing device including a main console connected to a main body, and at least one viewer connected to the image information processing device for searching the image information.

According to the present invention, the input means for inputting the search ID relating to the image information registered in the image information processing apparatus main body, and the search ID input by the input means
, A transfer means for transferring the search ID input by the input means to the image information processing apparatus main body, and image information corresponding to the search ID from the transfer means for the image information processing apparatus. There is provided a multiple viewer including a receiving unit for receiving from a main body and a search image displaying unit for displaying image information received by the receiving unit.

[0010]

By connecting a plurality of simple (personal) viewers to one image filing apparatus, a plurality of users can search different images at the same time and view the images.

That is, since a single image filing apparatus can be used by a plurality of users at the same time, the efficiency of use of the image filing apparatus is improved, the idle waiting time of the user's apparatus is eliminated, and the work efficiency of the user is improved. Will be able to.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view when three viewers 4, 5 and 6 are connected to the image filing device 1 in addition to the main console 2.

The image filing device 1 responds to commands from the viewers 4, 5 and 6 in addition to commands from the main console 2 having a CRT display device, and serves the retrieved image.

From each of the viewers 4, 5 and 6, the user who uses the viewer can enter the search image ID in the ten (numeric) key section 9.
When a key is input from, the ID is displayed on the ID display unit 8 and a search request is made to the main body of the image filing apparatus 1.

Then, after the search is completed, the image filing apparatus 1 decodes the search image, transfers the search image to the viewer 4 or 5 or 6 of the search request source, and displays it on the search image display section 7.

In this way, even if the main console 2 is being used by a user, up to three other users can simultaneously search for a desired image using the viewers 4, 5, and 6. .

Here, each of the viewers 4, 5 and 6 may be a simple one provided with an ID display section 8 by a liquid crystal display (LCD), a search image display section 7 and a ten (numeric) key section 9.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a concrete example of the viewers 4, 5, and 6. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 401 is a CP as a controller that controls the entire viewer.
U and 402 are LCD drivers for driving the ID display unit 8,
Reference numeral 403 is a keyboard controller for controlling the numeric keypad unit 9, 404 is a video memory controller and video memory coupled to the search image display unit 7, 405 is an interface connector connected to the image filing device 1, and 406 is each module. 407 is a control bus and 408 is an image bus.

That is, as described above, when the user inputs the ID of the image to be searched by using the ten-key unit 9 using the viewer configured as described above, the ID is I
It is displayed on the D display unit 8.

Next, the CPU 401 interprets this ID,
The ID is transmitted to the main body of the image filing device 1 and a search request is issued. Then, when the image is searched, the searched image is received in the video memory 404 and displayed on the searched image display unit 7.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a concrete configuration of the image information processing apparatus of the present invention, for example, an image filing apparatus. That is, the image filing device includes a control module 10, a memory module 12, an image processing module 14, a viewer module 16, a scanner device 18,
Optical disc 19 and optical disc device 20, keyboard 23, CRT display device 24, printer device 2
5, a magnetic disk 26 and a magnetic disk device 27, a mouse 29, a system bus 30, and an image bus 32.

The control module 10 includes a CPU 34 that performs various controls for storing, retrieving and editing images.
And keyboard 23, mouse 29, optical disk device 2
0, a magnetic disk device 27, a reading start switch of the scanner device 18 which will be described later, and an interface circuit 36 for connecting the CPU 34.

The memory module 12 is a main memory 38 for storing various control programs for image storage, retrieval, editing, etc. and management information, and an image memory having a storage capacity corresponding to several pages of an A4 size document. Page memory 40, a display memory 42 as a display interface, and a display controller 44.

A buffer memory area 40a is provided in a part of the page memory 40. Page memory 40
Is a memory for temporarily storing, for example, an image stored in the optical disc 19 or an image read from the optical disc 19.

The display memory 42 is for temporarily storing an image displayed by the CRT display device 24. In the display memory 42, an image actually displayed in the display window of the CRT display device 24, for example, an image from the page memory 40 or an image from the buffer memory 40a is enlarged, reduced, rotated, inserted or inserted. An image subjected to black-and-white reversal or the like is stored.

The display control unit 44 controls the display processing of the CRT display device 24 and the like. The image processing module 14 includes an enlarging / reducing circuit 46 for enlarging and reducing an image, and a vertical / horizontal converting circuit 4 for rotating an image.
8. Encode and decompress the image (reduce the redundancy) to restore the original redundancy.
Decompression / decompression circuit (CODEC) 5 when performing decoding processing
0, scanner interface 5 for scanner device 18
2. Printer interface 5 for printer device 25
4, the scaling circuit 46, and the vertical / horizontal conversion circuit
And compression / decompression circuit 50, scanner interface 5
2. An internal bus 56 for connecting the printer interface 54.

The compression / expansion circuit 50 is a MH (Modified Huf
Bandwidth compression or bandwidth expansion is performed using an fman) method, an MR (Modified Read) method, or the like.

The viewer module 16 is connected to each of the third viewers 4, 5, 6 described above. The system bus 30 is a bus for control signals of various devices, and connects the control module 10 with the memory module 12, the image processing module 14, and the communication control module 16.

The image bus 32 is an image bus, and includes the memory module 12 and the image processing module 14.
It connects to the viewer module 16. The scanner device 18 is, for example, a two-dimensional scanning device and obtains an electric signal according to an image on the original by scanning the original (document) two-dimensionally.

The optical disk device 20 sequentially stores the images read by the scanner device 18 through the interface 36 on the optical disk 19. The optical disc 19 is searched for an image corresponding to the search code designated by the keyboard 23 or the like.

The keyboard 23 is provided in the main console 2 described above, and is used to input a unique search code corresponding to an image stored in the optical disk 19 and various operation commands such as storage, search, and edit processing. .

The mouse 29 can be moved by moving a cursor (not shown) displayed on the display window of the CRT display device 24 vertically or horizontally to give an instruction at a desired position. It is for selecting or instructing the displayed contents (various operation modes, titles or area designations or icons for image editing, etc.).

The CRT display device (cathode ray tube display device) 24 is provided in the above-mentioned main console 2 and displays an image read by the scanner device 18 and an image retrieved from the optical disk 19.

Icons and the like are displayed at the upper end, the lower end, and the right end of the display window of the CRT display device 24. The printer device 25 uses the image read by the scanner device 18, the image retrieved from the optical disc 19, or the CR.
The image displayed on the T display device 24 is printed out (hard copy).

The magnetic display device 27 has a magnetic display 26 mounted on the magnetic display device 27.
In addition to storing various control programs, search data (search information) including a search code input from the keyboard 23 and a storage address on the optical disk 19 in which an image corresponding to the search code is stored, an image size, a search frequency, and the like. Is to remember.

Next, the image data processing operation in the electronic fine rig apparatus having such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, particularly only the search operation using the multiple viewers.

That is, if there is a search request in step S1, the process proceeds to step S2 and it is determined whether or not a search is currently being performed. If the determination is that the search is in progress, the process waits until the search is completed. If not, the process proceeds to step S3 to acquire the search ID from the user.

At this time, which user made the request is stored. When requests are made at the same time, the priority order is main console> viewer 4> viewer 5> viewer 6.

Next, in step S4, the optical disc 19 is accessed to obtain the image size data corresponding to the search ID. Next, in step S5, it is determined whether or not there is an empty area in the image memory (page memory 40).

If this judgment indicates that there is an empty area, the process proceeds to step S6 to search the optical disk 19 for the coded image corresponding to the search ID. Next, step S
The image data retrieved in 7 is decoded by the CODEC 50.

Next, in step S8, it is judged where the search request source is, that is, which of the main console 2, the first viewer 4, the second viewer 5, and the third viewer 6 has made the search request. Is determined from the previously stored contents, and the decrypted image is transferred to the search request source in step S9.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5 that there is no free area, the flow advances to step S10 to determine where the search request source is in the same manner as in step S8, and in step S11 the search request source for another user. Notify that there is no free area in the image memory for display.

When a multiple viewer is used in preparation for an unexpected situation such that the image memory has no empty area, the capacity of the image memory (page memory 40) may be expanded more than usual. desirable.

That is, as described above, a plurality of users can retrieve and display a document at the same time to view it, so that the waiting time of the user's device is eliminated and the work can be performed efficiently. Further, this eliminates the need to bother to search and print the registered image and keep it at hand, promoting the paperless office work and enhancing the original value of the image filing device.

[0045]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, in addition to the main console, by connecting a plurality of viewers having a function for easily performing a search,
It is possible to provide an image information processing apparatus that can be used by a plurality of users at the same time and a multiple viewer used for the image information processing apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the viewer shown in FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of an image fine rig device and a viewer shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Image filing device, 2 ... Main console, 3 ... Optical disc device, 4 ... First viewer, 5 ... Second viewer, 6 ... Third viewer, 7 ... Search image display section, 8 ... (input image) ID display section, 9 ... Numerical value key section, 401 ... CPU, 402 ... (ID display section) LCD driver, 403 ... Keyboard controller, 404 ... (for search image) video memory, 405 ... Interface connector, 406 ... Battery .

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI Technical display area H04N 1/21

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image information processing apparatus body capable of registering and retrieving image information, a main console connected to the image information processing body for registering and retrieving the image information, and retrieving the image information. An image information processing apparatus comprising: at least one viewer connected to the image information processing apparatus. 2. Input means for inputting a search ID relating to image information registered in the main body of the image information processing apparatus, search ID display means for displaying the search ID input by the input means, and input by the input means. Transfer means for transferring the search ID to the image information processing apparatus main body, receiving means for receiving image information corresponding to the search ID from the transfer means from the image information processing apparatus main body, and receiving means for receiving the image information A multiple viewer comprising a search image display unit for displaying image information.