JPH11316821A - Method and device for information processing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize standardized operation circumstances by realizing a desired processing even for a document picture, which should be read in by a scanner, by the same operation as that for documents in an ordinary folder. SOLUTION: A folder tree display area 104 and a document display area 105 are displayed on the display device of an information processor to which the scanner is connected. When a special folder corresponding to the scanner displayed in the folder tree display area 104, an icon 202 corresponding to a document on the scanner is displayed in the document display area 105. When this icon 202 is drugged and dropped (print indication) as shown by, for example, a route (2) in the same manner as icons of ordinary data files, the document is scanned by the scanner and obtained picture data are uploaded and recorded by a printer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus and method suitable for managing image documents.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image document management tool for managing a plurality of image documents has been known. In this type of tool, the functions of storing image data scanned by a scanner in a folder on a PC and executing print processing and OCR analysis processing on image data in the folder are provided by the respective functions. It was realized by instructing execution.

Also, when data on a paper medium is read into a PC and subjected to various processing such as OCR analysis, 1) scanning operation is performed, and after storing the data as a file, 2) A method of giving an instruction by a special operation method for instructing that an OCR analysis is performed after automatically scanning and then performing an operation for each process is adopted. Was common.

[0004]

However, in the above method 1), two operations, a scan operation and an OCR analysis operation, must be performed, which is troublesome. The above 2)
However, the method has a problem that the user easily forgets the operation method because of the special operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and enables a desired process to be performed on a document image to be read by a scanner by performing the same operation as that for a document in a normal folder. Another object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and an information processing method having improved operability by realizing a unified operation environment.

[0006]

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has, for example, the following arrangement. In other words, when the information processing device is connectable to an image reading device and the image reading device is connected,
Display control means for displaying a predetermined icon corresponding to the image reading device; specifying means for specifying the predetermined icon displayed by the display control means and desired processing; and specifying the predetermined icon by the specifying means. Reading control means for starting reading of a document by the image reading device when specified; and image data obtained by the document reading operation of the image reading device by the reading control means, wherein the image data is designated by the specifying means. Execution means for executing processing.

Further, according to the present invention, there are provided an information processing method executed by the information processing apparatus and a control program for causing a computer to execute the external information processing method.

[0008]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing apparatus capable of executing an image document management tool according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a CPU, which realizes various controls by executing a control program stored in a ROM 12 or a RAM 13. 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes a ROM which stores a boot program executed when the information processing apparatus is started and various data. 13
Denotes a RAM, which provides an area for storing a control program loaded from an external storage device and a work area for the CPU 11. An input device 14 includes a keyboard and a mouse. Reference numeral 15 denotes a display, which performs various displays under the control of the CPU 11.

Reference numeral 16 denotes an external storage device, which comprises, for example, a hard disk or a CD-ROM. The external storage device 16 stores an image document management tool program 16a, which is loaded into the RAM 13 as needed and executed by the CPU 11. Reference numeral 17 denotes an interface for connecting peripheral devices. Reference numeral 18 denotes a scanner having an automatic document feeder (ADF). From the scanner 18 to the interface 17, in addition to the read image data,
A signal indicating whether or not a document to be read exists on F (hereinafter, referred to as a document presence / absence signal) is output. Reference numeral 20 denotes a bus that connects the above-described components.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a window screen when the image document management tool according to the present embodiment is executed. The screen of FIG. 2 is displayed on the display 15. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 101 denotes a title bar for displaying the name of the application, displaying a selected document, and the like. A menu bar 102 is a Windows (trademark) standard menu operation area for activating various functions. When each menu in the menu bar 102 is selected, a pull-down menu is displayed.
The operation is started when a desired function is selected from the displayed pull-down menu. A toolbar 103 is an area in which buttons for activating frequently used functions are arranged.

Reference numeral 104 denotes a folder tree display area.
This is an area for displaying the folder tree structure in the application. The folder displayed in the folder tree display area is "In Box" that stores fax reception images.
"Out" for storing folders, documents that are being sent by fax or waiting to be sent
Box folder, "Scan" folder for storing images scanned by the scan tool, "Sent Fax" folder for storing faxed documents, "Trash" (trash can) folder for data disposal, user can create freely There is a "My Folder" folder for personal management. Reference numeral 109 denotes a special folder (ADF folder).
This is displayed in the folder tree display area when the scanner is connected to the PC.

A document display area 105 displays a list of documents in the folder selected in the folder tree.
As a display method, a method of displaying each document in a list and a method of displaying each document as a thumbnail (small image) can be selected. FIG. 2 shows a state displayed by thumbnails. The display in the document display area 105 may be an icon display representing each data. 10
Reference numeral 6 denotes a command bar in which icons for instructing execution of processes such as printing and OCR analysis on the document selected in the document display area 105 are arranged.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a display screen when “My Folder” is selected in the folder tree display area 104.

FIG. 3 shows a special folder (ADF folder) 1
It is a figure showing the example of a display of the window screen at the time of selecting 09. The screen of FIG. 3 is displayed on the display 15. When a scanner is connected to the information processing apparatus, the ADF is displayed in the folder tree display area 104.
The folder is displayed. AD of connected scanner
When the ADF folder 109 is selected while originals are loaded on the document F, the virtual AD
The F document 202 is displayed in the same form as the normal document as shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation example when a thumbnail in the document display area is selected and some processing is performed on a document corresponding to the selected thumbnail. In addition,
An operation method for a designated document includes an operation method of dragging and dropping a document icon (thumbnail) to a desired processing icon on the command bar, an operation method of clicking a processing icon on the command bar after selecting a desired document, and There is an operation method of selecting a process by pulling down a file menu after selecting a desired document. However,
In the following description, it is assumed that a document processing instruction operation is performed by dragging and dropping a document icon onto a desired processing icon on the command bar.

FIG. 4 shows five drag and drop operations (1) to (5). The details of each process are as follows.

The movement of the selected document to the designated folder (in the example of FIG. 4, the "Fax" folder in the "My Folder" folder). If the designated document is the virtual ADF document 202 in this operation, the original loaded on the ADF of the scanner 18 is scanned, and the obtained image data is stored in the RAM.
Then, the data is downloaded to the temporary memory area secured at 13 and moved to the designated folder.

This is an operation for printing the selected document. In this case, when the designated document is the virtual ADF document 202, the original on the ADF is scanned by the scanner 18, the obtained image data is downloaded to a temporary memory area secured in the RAM 13, and the image data is automatically Perform print processing.

This is an operation for faxing the selected document. In this case, if the designated document is the virtual ADF document 202, after inputting the destination on the destination input screen,
The scanner 18 scans the document on the ADF, downloads the obtained image data to a temporary memory area secured in the RAM 13, and performs a FAX transmission process on the image data.

This is an operation for transmitting the selected document by e-mail. In this case, if the designated document is the virtual ADF document 202, first, the ADF of the scanner 18
The upper document is scanned, and the obtained image data is stored in RAM1.
3 is downloaded to the temporary memory area secured.
Thereafter, a predetermined e-mail tool is activated, and the image data is transmitted as an attached file.

This is an operation for expanding the selected document into each application program. For example, when the selected document icon is dropped on an application icon such as a word processor, the selected document is subjected to OCR analysis and developed on a word processor. In this case, if the designated document is the virtual ADF document 202, the scanner 18 first scans the document on the ADF, and downloads the obtained image data to a temporary memory area secured in the RAM 13. Then, the image data is automatically subjected to OCR analysis and developed on a word processor.

The image document management tool 16a of the present embodiment described above will be further described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of display control in the document display area. This process is started when a folder is selected in the folder tree display area 104.

First, in step S402, the folder information selected in the folder tree display area 104 is obtained. In step S403, the selected folder is a folder for normal document data or a special folder which is a feature of this embodiment. 109 is determined. If it is determined that the folder is a folder for normal document data, the process proceeds to step S404. In step S404, the document information in the designated folder is confirmed.
At 5, the document in the folder is displayed in the document display area. At this time, thumbnail display or list display is performed according to a predetermined document display type.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S403 that the selected folder is the special folder 109, the process proceeds to step S406. In step S406, the scanner 18 connected to the information processing apparatus
Information on whether or not a document is loaded on the DF (document table) is obtained, and the presence or absence of the document on the ADF is determined. Here, depending on the type of scanner, information indicating the presence or absence of a document on the ADF may not be obtained. In such a case, it is assumed that the document is on the ADF.

If the original is in the ADF, the virtual ADF is displayed in the document display area 105 in step S407.
Display the document. Here, an icon display or a list display meaning a virtual ADF document is displayed according to a predetermined document display type. In step S408, it is determined whether any document in the document display area has been selected by the user.
At 409, a frame is displayed around the selected document to clearly indicate the selected document.

The selection of a folder or a document by the user is realized by a mouse operation or the like, but such processing is generally known and will not be described here. Various methods such as highlighting can be applied to the display for clearly indicating the selected document, in addition to the frame display as described above.

Next, as an example of processing performed on a selected document, printing of a document and facsimile transmission of the document will be described.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process for an instruction operation of a print process. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process for an instruction operation of the facsimile transmission process.

There are the following methods for starting the printing of the designated document and the facsimile transmission. That is, (1) an operation by dragging and dropping a document icon to a processing icon on the command bar, (2) an operation by clicking a processing icon on the command bar after selecting a specified document, and (3) a file menu after selecting the specified document. The operation is performed by selecting a process by pulling down.

FIG. 6 shows a process which is started when a print process of a designated document is instructed by any of the above operations (1) to (3). When the document printing process is started in step S501, it is determined in step S502 whether or not there is a selected document. If there is no selected document, the process is interrupted. On the other hand, step S502
If there is a selected document in step S503, the process proceeds to step S503.
The selected document is a document file existing in a normal folder, or the selected
It is determined whether the document is a virtual ADF document meaning a document on F.

If the result of this determination is that the selected document is a virtual ADF document, the flow advances to step S504. In step S504, the original on the ADF is scanned by the scanner 18, and the obtained image data is downloaded.
The data is accumulated in the temporary memory area secured in the AM 13. At this time, the scan operation mode (color / monochrome, resolution, size, etc.) of the scanner 18 is set to a mode specified in advance. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S503 that the document is a normal document, step S504 is skipped. In step S505, the designated document data (image data in a temporary memory area in the case of an ADF original) is spooled by a printer driver to perform a document print process.

Similarly, FIG. 6 shows a flowchart when the fax transmission process of the designated document is started by any of the above operations.

Next, the facsimile transmission process will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 7 as well, by performing any of the above operations (1) to (3), the fax transmission process of the designated document is started.

When the document FAX transmission process is started, it is determined in step S602 whether or not there is a selected document. If there is no selected document, the process is interrupted. On the other hand, if there is a selected document, the process advances to step S603 to display, for example, a dialog box for inputting a communication destination and prompt the user to input a communication destination of the selected document.
Next, in step S604, whether the selected document is a document file existing in a normal folder,
It is determined whether the document is a virtual ADF document meaning a document on the ADF.

If the document is a virtual ADF document, the flow advances to step S605 to cause the scanner 18 to scan the original on the ADF, download the obtained image data, and
In the temporary memory area secured in At this time, the operation mode (color / monochrome, resolution, size, etc.) of the scanner 18 is set to a mode specified in advance. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S604 that the selected document is a normal document, step S605 is skipped. In step S606, the designated document data (in the case of an ADF document, image data in a temporary memory area) is spooled by a fax transmission driver, so that a fax transmission process of the document is performed.

The setting of the scan operation mode in each process described above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 employs the same procedure as the operation method for displaying the file attribute of a normal document file. For example, in the case of Windows (trademark), a virtual ADF document is selected with a mouse or the like, and a property (file attribute) in a file menu is selected, or a right-click on the virtual ADF document with a mouse causes a pop-up menu to appear. By selecting a property (file attribute), a document reading mode setting dialog is displayed, and the user can set the mode.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining processing when the scanner 18 sets the original reading mode according to the present embodiment. When a property is selected as described above (for example, from a pop-up menu), it is determined whether or not the target of the property display is a virtual ADF document (steps S702 and S703). Here, virtual AD
If the F document has been designated, step S7
In step 04, a dialog for setting a document reading mode of the scanner 18 is displayed on the display 15. When an instruction to end the original reading mode setting is input,
The process proceeds from step S705 to step S706, and the contents set in the dialog are reflected in the subsequent operation of the scanner 18.

The scanner connected to the information processing apparatus is a book-type scanner, and the automatic document feeder (AD)
When the processing operation is performed on the virtual document without F), it may be handled as a one-page document. Further, in this case, at the time of the document reading operation, it is possible to deal with a document of a plurality of pages by asking the user whether to read the next page.

As described above, the image document management tool according to the present embodiment uses the folder tree display area 104 showing the structure of a folder for storing and organizing each document.
And document display area 105 for displaying documents in a folder
A scanner 1 having an ADF (automatic document feeder) which can execute a process by selecting a desired document in the display area 105 and giving an instruction such as printing or transmission.
8 is connected, a special folder (icon) representing the scanner 18 is displayed in the folder tree display area 104.
Is displayed, and when this icon is clicked, a virtual ADF document representing a document on the ADF of the scanner device is displayed in the document display area 105. Then, by selecting the virtual ADF document in the same manner as a normal document and performing an instruction operation such as printing or transmission, the document is automatically scanned, and the instruction operation is performed on the obtained image data. (Processing such as printing and transmission) can be executed. Therefore, the original on the scanner can be processed by the same operation as the operation on the document in the normal folder.

According to the above embodiment, the setting screen of the scanner reading mode during the automatic scanning operation of the ADF document is displayed by the same operation as the operation of acquiring the property (file attribute) for the normal document. , For the user.

Even if the present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile, etc.) comprising one device Device).

Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Document images that should be read from the scanner
A desired process can be realized by an operation similar to an operation on a document in a normal folder, and a unified operation environment is provided, so that operability is significantly improved.

[0049]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an information processing apparatus capable of executing an image document management tool according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a window screen when the image document management tool according to the embodiment is executed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a window screen when a special folder (ADF folder) 109 is selected.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation example when a thumbnail in a document display area is selected and a desired process is performed on a document corresponding to the selected thumbnail.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of display control in a document display area.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process for an instruction operation of a printing process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process for an instruction operation of a facsimile transmission process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process when a document reading mode is set by the scanner according to the present embodiment.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI G06F 9/00 320 G06F 9/00 320B H04N 1/00 106 H04N 1/00 106Z

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus to which an image reading device can be connected, wherein when the image reading device is connected, a display control means for displaying a predetermined icon corresponding to the image reading device; Designating means for designating the predetermined icon displayed by the control means and desired processing; and reading control means for starting reading of the document by the image reading device when the predetermined icon is designated by the designating means. An information processing apparatus comprising: an execution unit configured to execute a process designated by the designation unit with respect to image data obtained by an operation of reading the original by the image reading device by the read control unit. 2. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays the icon only when a document is present on an automatic document feeder included in the image reading device.
An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the table control means displays the predetermined icon as one of normal data icons corresponding to a normal data file. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the designating means designates the predetermined icon and designates processing by the same operation as the designation operation performed on the normal data icon. Information processing device. 5. A mode setting means for displaying a setting screen for setting a document reading mode of the image reading apparatus when a property display operation on the normal data icon is performed on the predetermined icon. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said mode setting means includes setting of color / monochrome selection, resolution, and reading size when reading of a document image by said image reading apparatus is performed. Information processing device. 7. The display control means includes: a folder tree display area showing a hierarchical structure of folders for storing and organizing each document; and a document display for displaying documents in a folder selected in the folder tree display area. And displaying a folder corresponding to the image reading device in the folder tree display region. When a folder corresponding to the image reading device is designated in the folder tree display region, the folder is displayed in the document display region. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined icon is displayed. 8. When an image reading device is connected,
A display control step of displaying a predetermined icon corresponding to the image reading device; a designation detection step of detecting designation of the predetermined icon and a desired process displayed in the display control step; A reading control step for starting reading of the document by the image reading device when the designation of the predetermined icon is detected; and for the image data obtained by the document reading operation of the image reading device in the reading control step, An execution step of executing the processing detected in the designated detection step. 9. The display control step displays the icon only when a document is present on an automatic document feeder included in the image reading device.
An information processing method according to claim 1. 10. The information processing method according to claim 8, wherein in the display control step, the predetermined icon is displayed as one of normal data icons corresponding to a normal data file. 11. The designation detecting step detects that the predetermined icon and a desired process are designated when an operation similar to a designation operation performed on the normal data icon is performed. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein
An information processing method according to claim 1. 12. A mode setting step of displaying a setting screen for setting a document reading mode of the image reading device when a property display operation on the normal data icon is performed on the predetermined icon. The information processing method according to claim 10, wherein: 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the mode setting step includes setting a color / black and white selection, a resolution, and a reading size when a document image is read by the image reading device. Information processing method. 14. The display control step includes: a folder tree display area indicating a hierarchical structure of folders for storing and organizing each document; and a document display for displaying documents in a folder selected in the folder tree display area. And displaying a folder corresponding to the image reading device in the folder tree display region. When a folder corresponding to the image reading device is designated in the folder tree display region, the folder is displayed in the document display region. The information processing method according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined icon is displayed. 15. A computer-readable memory storing a control program for managing an image document, the control program comprising: a predetermined icon corresponding to the image reading device when the image reading device is connected to the computer-readable memory; A code of a display control step of displaying the predetermined icon displayed in the display control step and a code of a designation detection step of detecting designation of a desired process; and the designation of the predetermined icon in the designation detection step A code of a reading control step for starting reading of a document by the image reading device when detected, and for the image data obtained by the document reading operation of the image reading device by the reading control process, A code for an execution step for executing the detected processing. Memory.