JPH0991363A - Information processor and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the information processor and its method which can improve the reproduction of an output document as an electronic document by adding additional information for improving the read recognition of the output document to the output document and providing the device which can read the output document and added additional information. SOLUTION: The attribute that an image formed with data has is discriminated and on the basis of the discriminated attribute, an additional information code is generated by an additional information code read part 6. Then the additional information code is added to the data to generate data for image formation. Consequently, the generated data for image formation are outputted from a data output part 9. The image document having specific information showing the attribute of the image is read by the document read part 6 and the read image document is converted into image data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of information processing devices, general documents (electronic documents) have been generated on the information processing devices. The electronic document is stored as electronic data in the information processing apparatus and, at the same time, finally output to paper or the like, circulated, distributed, and stored. Documents that have been distributed once have walked by themselves, and the number of opportunities to be input again into the information processing device at the distribution destination has increased. In such a situation, in order to convert the documents output on paper etc. back to electronic documents,
It was reproduced on the information processing device as electronic data using an image area separator, OCR, or the like.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing an output of an electronic document created on a conventional information processing apparatus and a processing function of reproducing the output document again into an electronic document by using an image area separator, an OCR or the like. . The conventional processing will be described below with reference to the drawings. The electronic document a1 stored in the RAM 113 on the information processing device is digital data. In order to output the electronic document as an output document, first, in the intermediate data generation unit 3, character information (font, position on page, character code, color, etc.) and graphic information (shape, page on page) from the electronic document a1. Information such as "the position of the page, the filling, etc.)" and "where on the page is written" is generated as intermediate data.

Next, in the raster data generation unit 4, characters are written on the bit map developed in the RAM 113 of the information processing device based on the intermediate data generated by the intermediate data generation unit 4,
Raster data a1 for drawing a figure is generated. The size of the raster data a1 is determined by the resolution of a printer engine (not shown) built in the output data output unit 9 and the print area set for each output paper size (A4, B5, etc.).

The raster data a1 is stored in a print area portion of a page memory (not shown) built in the data output unit 9. The page memory has a size corresponding to the maximum printable area of a printer (not shown) built in the data output unit 9, and is usually wider than the print area. The raster data a1 stored in the page memory is recorded on paper or the like by a printer engine (not shown) to obtain an output document.

Next, a process of reproducing an output document into an electronic document will be described. The document reading unit 6 reads the output document and generates raster data b1. Raster data b1
Is separated into image areas by the image area separating unit 10 such as a character portion which is a character portion and a graphic portion which is a graphic portion. Then, the raster data b1 obtained by image area separation is converted by the OCR unit 11 into a character code for a character part and image data for an image part.

Through the above processing, the output document is reproduced as an electronic document and the electronic document b1 is displayed on the display unit 116.

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the image area used when the electronic document created on the information processing device is output to paper and the output output document is reproduced again to the electronic document. Since the separator and the OCR are designed in consideration of the processing for the existing printed matter, the user has to intervene in order to recognize the output document more accurately. For example, conventionally, the user has performed the area designation of the character portion, the graphic portion, etc., and the inspection confirmation of the erroneously recognized words. As described above, in the above-described processing, it may not be possible to simply perform the processing because human intervention may be required.

Further, it has been desired that documents for ordinary paperwork be reproduced easily and accurately into electronic documents without requiring a specialized operator or the like. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and as an object,
By adding the additional information for improving the read recognition of the output document to the output document and providing the device for reading the output document and the added additional information, the accuracy of reproducing the output document into the electronic document can be improved. An object is to provide an information processing device and a method thereof. Another object is to output the electronic document itself as an additional information code, and thereby to accurately reproduce the original electronic document only by reading the output document composed of the additional information code. It aims to provide that method.

[0010]

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration.
That is, a discriminating means for discriminating the attribute of the image formed by the data, and a first generating means for generating specific information based on the attribute discriminated by the discriminating means,
The image forming apparatus further comprises second generating means for generating the image forming data by adding the specific information to the data, and first outputting means for outputting the image forming data generated by the second generating means.

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is, a reading unit for reading an image original including specific information indicating the attribute of an image,
And a conversion unit that converts the image original read by the reading unit into image data based on the specific information.

[0012] Preferably, the recording medium further comprises recording means for recording the specific information at a predetermined position. This is because recording at a predetermined position can facilitate recognition of where the specific information is recorded. Also,
Preferably, the attribute is position information of a character portion and a graphic portion in the image forming area.

Further, preferably, the attributes are font information and the number of characters in a character portion in the image forming area.
Further, preferably, the recording means records the specific information by a bar code. By recording with a barcode, it is possible to improve the read recognition rate when reading an output document.

Further, preferably, the recording means records the specific information by a magnetic code using magnetic ink. Further, preferably, the predetermined position is a position outside a recording area where an image is recorded. By recording outside the recording area, it is possible to easily recognize where the specific information is recorded. Further, since the image original and the specific information are recorded in different positions, they do not interfere with the image original.

An information processing method according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is, a discrimination step of discriminating an attribute of an image formed by data, a first generation step of generating specific information based on the attribute discriminated by the discrimination step, and adding the specific information to the data. Second to generate image forming data
A generation step and a first output step of outputting the image forming data generated by the second generation step are provided.

An information processing method according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is, a reading step of reading an image original including specific information indicating an attribute of an image,
And a conversion step of converting the image original read by the reading step into image data based on the specific information.

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned other object has the following configuration. That is, an information processing apparatus comprising: a conversion unit that converts the image forming data into a barcode for forming an image, and an output unit that outputs the specific information converted by the conversion unit.

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above other object has the following configuration. That is, an information processing apparatus comprising: a reading unit that reads a barcode for forming an image; and a conversion unit that converts the specific information read by the reading unit into image data.

An information processing method according to the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned other object has the following configuration. That is, it includes a conversion step of converting image data into specific information for forming an image, and an output step of outputting the specific information converted in the conversion step.

An information processing method according to the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned other object has the following configuration. That is, it includes a reading step of reading specific information for forming an image and a conversion step of converting the specific information read by the reading step into image data.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. <First Embodiment> FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 111 denotes a CPU, which performs various controls of the RAM 113, the keyboard 114, the processing unit 115, the display unit 116, the storage unit 117, and the reading unit 118 according to the programs stored in the ROM 112. 112 is a ROM, and the keyboard 1
It stores various programs for executing processing of data input from 14 and processing of the processing unit 115. 11
A RAM 3 is used for various programs and a keyboard 114.
It is a work area and a temporary save area for data input from. A keyboard 114 is used to input data.
Also, the setting as to whether or not additional information is added is made by key input.

Reference numeral 115 denotes a processing unit which incorporates an intermediate data generating unit 3, a raster data generating unit 4 and an additional information code generating unit 1 which will be described later and performs various processes. A display unit 116 displays data and electronic documents input from the keyboard 114. A recording unit 117 has a data output unit 9 to be described later incorporated therein, and records the data displayed on the display unit 116 and the electronic document on a recording medium. 118 is a reading unit,
A document reading unit 6, an image area separating unit 10, an OCR unit 11, and an additional information code reading unit 2 which will be described later are built in, and the data and electronic document recorded on the recording medium are read and reproduced on the information processing apparatus. Also, the reproduced data and electronic document are displayed on the display unit 116.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the process steps of the first embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is an additional information code generation unit, which generates an additional information code from intermediate data. The additional information code is a code of the additional information that is easy to read by the information processing device. The additional information code is written in the page memory of the data output unit 5. Also,
The setting for adding the additional information code is performed by key input from the keyboard 114, and it is possible to output without adding the additional information code depending on the application.

An additional information code reading unit 2 reads the additional information code from a predetermined location of the raster data b and generates additional information for controlling the image area separating unit 10 and the OCR 11. The additional information controls the image area separation unit 10 and the OCR 11 from character information (font, position on page, character code, color, etc.) of intermediate data and graphic information (shape, position on page, fill, etc.). This is the extracted information necessary for.

An intermediate data generation unit 3 generates intermediate data from the electronic document a created on the information processing device. A raster data generation unit 4 generates raster data a from the intermediate data. The raster data a is written in a page memory (not shown) built in the data output unit 9.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a data output unit, which is a raster data a
Is stored in the print area of the page memory, the additional information code is stored in a specified location outside the print area, and the data in the page memory is output onto paper by a printer engine (not shown). A document reading unit 6 reads an output document and generates raster data b. Reference numeral 10 denotes an image area separation unit that separates an image area based on the additional information if the raster data b has additional information. If there is no additional information, the conventional image area separation is performed. Here, the image area separation is controlled by using the positional information of the character portion and the graphic portion as additional information.

Reference numeral 11 denotes an OCR section which, if there is additional information, performs OCR based on the additional information. If there is no additional information, the conventional OCR is performed. Here, character font information, the number of characters, a character code, etc. are used as additional information to
Control CR. FIG. 4 is an example of an output document to which the additional information code according to the first embodiment is added. A portion surrounded by a dotted line is a print area and raster data is output.
The additional information code is output to a predetermined portion (lower portion in the figure) outside the print area.

Next, an output process of outputting an electronic document created on the information processing apparatus as an output document will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. An input process of reading (inputting) an output document to generate an electronic document will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the output processing of the first embodiment.

In step S1, the intermediate data generation unit 3 reads the electronic document created on the information processing device. In step S2, intermediate data is generated. In step S3,
The additional information code generation unit 1 generates an additional information code from the intermediate data. In step S4, the raster data generation unit 4
Generates raster data a from the intermediate data. In step S5, the raster data a is written in the print area of the page memory of the data output unit 9. In step S6,
It is determined whether or not there is a setting for adding the additional information code to the output document. If the additional information code is set to be added to the output document (YES in step S6),
Proceed to step S7. In step S7, the data output unit 9
Writes the additional information code in a predetermined location outside the print area of the page memory.

If the additional information code is not set to be added to the output document (NO in step S6), the process proceeds to step S8. Note that the additional setting for setting the additional information code in the output document is performed by the keyboard 1 before outputting the electronic document.
14 allows the user to freely set. In step S8, the raster data a and the additional information code stored in the page memory are printed on the paper by the printer engine from the data output unit 9. As a result, an output document is obtained.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the processing flow of the input processing of the first embodiment. In step S9, the document reading unit 6 scans the entire output document to generate raster data b. In step S10, the additional information code reading unit 2 automatically confirms whether the additional information code exists at a predetermined location in the raster data b. If there is an additional information code (YES in step S10), the process proceeds to step S11. If there is no additional information code (N in step S10)
O), and proceeds to step S13.

In step S11, the additional information code reading section 2 reads the additional information code. Step S12
Then, the additional information is generated from the additional information code reading unit 2. In step S13, if there is additional information, the image area separation unit 10 controls the image area separation by the additional information. If there is no additional information, image area separation is performed as usual. Step S
At 14, the OCR unit 11 determines that the additional information is O if there is additional information.
Control CR. If there is no additional information, the conventional OCR is performed.

In the first embodiment, the additional information code generated by the additional information code generation unit 1 is output to the outside of the print area by the data output unit 5, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the raster data generation unit 4 can easily incorporate the additional information code into the raster data a and output the additional information code in the print area. Also,
In the first embodiment, the bar code as shown in FIG. 4 is used as the additional information code, but the bar code is not limited to this. Any form of code may be used as long as the additional information is added to the output document. For example, it is possible to easily output with a magnetic code of magnetic ink that can be read by a machine but cannot be seen by a human due to the special ink.

In the first embodiment, the additional information code is read by front-scanning the output document.
It is also possible to easily read only the part of the additional information code with a small scanner such as a handy scanner. As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the electronic document is output, the information related to the electronic document is encoded and added to the output document, so that the process related to the input of the output document can be controlled from the output side. become.

In the present embodiment, by having the information for controlling the image area separation and OCR as the additional information to the output document, the image area separation and the OCR can be controlled. <Second Embodiment> In the first embodiment, the additional information code is output outside the print area as shown in FIG. 4, but in the second embodiment, the data itself forming the electronic document a is used as the additional information. All output documents obtained by output are composed of additional information. Then, the output document including the additional information code is read by the additional information code reading unit 2 described later to reproduce the electronic document a. Figure 5 below shows
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment.

The function in the block having the same number as that in FIG. 1 is the same function in FIG. Also, by key input on the keyboard 114,
It is possible to set whether to add the additional information code. When the additional information code is not set, the intermediate data generation unit 3 generates intermediate data from the electronic document a. Then, the raster data generation unit 4 writes the raster data a in the page memory. The data written in the page memory is output by the data output unit 9 to generate an output document.
The document reading unit 6 generates raster data b from the output document. An electronic document a is generated from the raster data b. In this case, nothing is processed by the additional information code reading unit 2 and the output document a is directly output from the original reading unit 6.
Is generated.

When setting the additional information code, the additional information code generator 1 generates the electronic document a into the additional information code. Then, the generated additional information code is written in the page memory. The data output unit 9 outputs data that is the additional information code stored in the page memory and generates an output document. The document reading unit 6 converts the raster data b from the output document including the additional information code.
Generate The additional information code reading unit 2 reads the additional information code from the raster data b and generates the electronic document a.

Next, the processing flow of the output processing of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the output processing of the second embodiment. In step S61, the electronic document created on the information processing device is read. In step S62, it is determined whether to add the information addition code. When adding (YES in step S62), the process proceeds to step S63. If not added (NO in step S62), the process proceeds to step S64.

In step S63, the read electronic document is converted into an additional information code. Then, the data output unit 9
Writes the additional information code in a predetermined location in the print area of the page memory. In step S64, intermediate data is generated. In step S65, the additional information code generation unit 1 generates an additional information code from the intermediate data.

In step S66, the raster data generator 4
Generates raster data a from the intermediate data. In step S67, the raster data a is written in the print area of the page memory of the data output unit 9. Step S68
Then, the raster data a or the additional information code stored in the page memory is printed on the paper from the data output unit 9 by the printer engine. As a result, an output document is obtained.

Next, the processing flow of the input processing of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the input processing according to the second embodiment. In step S71, the document reading unit 6
Scans the output document to generate raster data b.
In step S72, the additional information code reading unit 2 automatically confirms whether the additional information code exists at a predetermined location in the raster data b.

If there is an additional information code (step S7)
If YES, the process proceeds to step S73. If there is no additional information code (NO in step S72), step S75
Proceed to. In step S73, the additional information code reading unit 2 reads the additional information code. In step S74, the additional information is generated from the additional information code reading unit 2.

In step S75, the electronic document is reproduced based on the read data (additional information code or raster data b). As described above, according to the second embodiment, by outputting the electronic document itself as the additional information code, the original electronic document can be accurately reproduced only by reading the output document composed of the additional information code. It becomes possible.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0045]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, additional information for improving the read recognition of the output document is added to the output document, and the output document and the added additional information are read. By providing the apparatus, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus and method capable of improving the accuracy of reproducing an output document into an electronic document. Further, by outputting the electronic document itself as the additional information code, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus and a method thereof which can accurately reproduce the original electronic document only by reading the output document composed of the additional information code. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a process of processing according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of output processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of input processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an example of an output document to which an additional information code according to the first embodiment is added.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing a process of processing according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of output processing according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of input processing according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing an output of an electronic document created on a conventional information processing apparatus and a processing function of reproducing the output document into an electronic document again using an image area separator, an OCR, or the like.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Additional Information Code Generation Section 2 Additional Information Code Reading Section 3 Intermediate Data Generation Section 4 Raster Data Generation Section 6 Original Reading Section 9 Data Output Section 10 Image Area Separation Section 11 OCR Section 111 CPU 112 ROM 113 RAM 114 Keyboard 115 Processing Section 116 Display unit 117 Recording unit 118 Reading unit

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A discriminating means for discriminating an attribute of an image formed by data, a first generating means for generating specific information based on the attribute discriminated by the discriminating means, and the specific information for the data. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a second generating unit that generates image forming data by adding the above, and a first output unit that outputs the image forming data generated by the second generating unit. 2. A reading unit for reading an image original including identification information indicating an attribute of an image, and a conversion unit for converting the image original read by the reading unit into image data based on the identification information. An information processing device characterized by: 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising recording means for recording the specific information at a predetermined position. 4. The attribute is a character portion in an image forming area,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is position information of the graphic portion. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attributes are font information and the number of characters in a character portion in the image forming area. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the recording unit records the specific information by a bar code. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the recording unit records the specific information by a magnetic code of magnetic ink. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined position is a position outside a recording area where an image is recorded. 9. A discriminating step of discriminating an attribute of an image formed by data, a first generating step of generating specific information based on the attribute discriminated by the discriminating step, and the specific information in the data. And a first output step of outputting the image formation data generated by the second generation step. 10. A reading step of reading an image original including identification information indicating an attribute of an image, and a conversion step of converting the image original read by the reading step into image data based on the identification information. An information processing method characterized by: 11. An information processing apparatus comprising: a conversion unit that converts image forming data into a bar code for forming an image; and an output unit that outputs the specific information converted by the conversion unit. . 12. An information processing apparatus comprising: a reading unit that reads a barcode for forming an image; and a conversion unit that converts the specific information read by the reading unit into image data. 13. An information processing method comprising: a conversion step of converting image data into specific information for forming an image; and an output step of outputting the specific information converted in the conversion step. 14. An information processing method comprising: a reading step of reading specific information for forming an image; and a conversion step of converting the specific information read by the reading step into image data.