JPS63204874A - Electronic filing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically form a document data base accessible with a keyword by generating an identification code based on a keyword to be formed, and associating the keyword to be formed with a defument file having the generated identification code. CONSTITUTION:The followings are provided: a keyword forming means (personal computer 8) to form a keyword information for a document sheet read by an image reading means, a keyword association means (control means 12) to associate a keyword information formed by the means 8, and an association information counting means (control means 12) to sequentially update the keywords associated by the keyword association means. Hence a keyword information formed rated by the means 8 is associated with an image file by the keyword association means 12. The number of the keyword information to be associated is sequentially updated by the association information counting means 12 and managed. As a result, without necessitating a complicated keyboard input operation through the keyboard at the time of registering a keyword, a document information readable by an arbitrary keyword can be automatically registered.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an electronic file system for registering image information read by an image reading means in a large-capacity recording medium.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in this type of electronic file system, a large amount of information is registered in a recording medium such as an optical disk, and the registered information, such as a document or image, can be retrieved by inputting readout information (keywords) added at the time of registration. It is configured so that it can be read out at any time.

In this case, the information to be registered (sheet-like or book-like) is optically read by an image reader (optical scanner) and binarized, and then the operator registers the operation of inputting keywords from an input means such as a keyboard. Create a type for each piece of information and a keyword file for the document file to be registered in advance, read the document file from the image reader, and when the reading is finished, the operator can read the keyword file and document file described above. I was working on linking the relationship.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Therefore, in the former case, when registering multiple documents, the operator must perform a key operation to add a keyword to each document, resulting in a significant drop in document registration efficiency. was there. Regarding the latter, although multiple documents can be manually processed at once, the operator must link the keywords for each document after inputting, and the time required to register documents in electronic filing is longer than the time required to retrieve documents. The problem was that it took much more time than it would take to do so.

This invention was made to solve the above problems, and by generating an identification code based on the generated keyword and combining the generated keyword with a document file having the generated identification code. The purpose of this invention is to obtain an electronic file system that can automatically create a document database based on keywords.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The electronic file system according to the present invention includes a keyword creation means for creating keyword information of a document sheet read by an image reading means, and a keyword creation means for creating an image of the keyword information created by the keyword creation means. The present invention is provided with keyword combining means for combining files, and combined information counting means for sequentially updating the number of keyword information combined by this keyword combining means.

[Effect]

In this invention, the keyword combining means combines the keyword information created by the keyword creation means with the image file. The number of keyword information to be combined is sequentially updated and managed by the combined information counting means.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is an external view illustrating the configuration of an electronic file device showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which numeral 1 denotes a reader section which also serves as a reading means of the present invention, and an automatic document feeder (ADF) 2.
An identification means 11 that optically reads a document sheet or an ID code sheet (described later) conveyed by the document sheet and identifies both sheets, and the scanning speed of an optical scanning unit (described later) is determined based on the identification information output from the identification means 11. Alternatively, it has a control means 12 for controlling the document conveying speed of the automatic document conveying device 2. Note that the identification means 11 and the control means 12 are provided in a feeder interface section 21, which will be described later. Further, the identification means 11 is configured to be able to detect oblique conveyance of an ID code sheet, which will be described later. The control means 12 also serves as a keyword combination means and a combination information counting means of the present invention, and combines keyword information created by a microcomputer, which will be described later, with an image file, and generates combination data 55, which will be described later, each time image files are combined. is updated. Reference numeral 3 denotes a printer section serving as an image output means of the present invention, which is composed of, for example, a laser beam printer. Reference numeral 4 denotes a paper feed section that outputs a sheet-shaped recording medium to an image forming section inside the printer. Reference numeral 5 denotes a workstation section which also serves as a pattern generation means of the present invention, which includes an image registration section 5a in which an optical recording medium constituted by an optical disk is stored, a keyboard 5b for inputting operation commands, a pointing device 5c, and a reading from the reader section 1. It consists of a bitmap display 5d for displaying document images as raster images, etc., and is connected to the printer section 3 and reader section 1 through a communication line 6.7. Note that the workstation section 5 includes each section 58 to 5d and a printer section 3. It has a control unit (CPU) that comprehensively controls the reader unit 1 and the like. Reference numeral 8 denotes a personal computer serving as a keyword creation means of the present invention, which edits a keyword group for document sheet registration, registers it on a recording medium, for example, a floppy disk sheet, and delivers it to the workstation section 5 or sends it to a communication medium. Keyword information can be transmitted to the workstation unit 5 via the computer.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the structure of the reader section 1 shown in FIG. 1, and the same parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

In this figure, reference numeral 1a denotes a light source that irradiates light onto a document sheet or ID code sheet that is automatically conveyed by an ADF 2 to a document mounting table (platen) on a reader unit 1. A reading sensor 1b receives reflected light from the light source 1a. 1
Reference numerals c and 1cl denote scanning mirrors which pass reflected light through an optical lens 1e to form optical information onto an image pickup element (line sensor) 1f constituted by, for example, a CCD. 1g is an image processing unit that also serves as an image processing means of the present invention, and performs predetermined processing on an image signal based on image information output from the line sensor 1f.
For example, halftone processing (dither processing).

Binarization processing is performed based on the slice level, which will be described later, and the information is transferred to the workstation section 5 via the reader interface section 21.

Reference numeral 2a denotes a document tray, on which document sheets (indicated by broken lines) and ID code sheets (indicated by solid lines) are stacked, and are automatically conveyed sequentially starting from the bottom sheet. In addition, ADF2
The optically scanned sheet is automatically conveyed to the original table by the scanner, and the sheet that has been optically scanned is automatically ejected. Further, an optical scanning section is configured by the reading sensor 1b and the light source 1a,
This optical scanning section moves in the direction of the arrow to read the sheet placed on the platen.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a laser beam printer showing an example of the printer section 3 shown in FIG. 1, and parts that perform the same functions as those in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

In this figure, 3a is a laser unit that modulates the semiconductor laser on/off based on image information sent from the printer interface unit 22. 3b is a scanning mirror, which is a polygon mirror (
The photosensitive drum 3C is irradiated with a laser beam LB deflected by a laser beam (not shown) to form an electrostatic latent image. 3d is a developing device that converts the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 3C into a developer (
toner) to visualize it. Reference numeral 3e denotes a transfer charger that transfers a toner image onto the recording paper fed from the paper feed section 4. 3f is a conveyor belt that conveys the recording paper on which transfer has been completed in the direction of the dotted arrow.

A fixing roller 3g fixes the toner image transferred to the recording paper onto the recording paper and discharges the paper to a paper discharge tray.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram illustrating the control configuration of the electronic file system shown in FIG. 1, and the same components as in FIGS. 1 and 2 are given the same reference numerals.

In this figure, 23 is, for example, a 680 manufactured by Motorola.
00 (32-bit) CPU controls each section based on a control program stored in the ROM 24. In addition,
The CPU 23 is a UN resident in a specific area of the ROM 24.
IX operating system (O3), e.g. SYS
Each part is controlled by TEMV. 25 is a pass line, which connects the workstation section 5. Printer section 3. It communicates information with the reader section 1. 26 is image memory,
Binary image information of the document sheet read from the reader unit 1 is stored. A mark information memory 27 stores address information of various timing marks printed on an ID code sheet to be described later.

28 is video RAM (VRAM), image memory 26
The compressed data obtained by thinning out the binary image information stored in the memory at a predetermined ratio is stored and transferred to the bitmap display 5d. Reference numeral 29 denotes an input/output interface unit (I10 interface) which transfers operating inputs from the keyboard 5b and pointing device 5c to the CPU 23 via the pass line 25. Reference numeral 30 denotes an optical disk interface section for reading information written on the optical disk stored in the image registration section 5a or for reading the information from the image memory 26.
Write compressed data of binary image information stored in C
Control is performed based on control commands transferred from the PU 23 via the pass line 25.

An ADF controller 31 controls the conveyance and conveyance speed of the document sheet or ID code sheet conveyed from the ADF 2.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of an ID code sheet output by the printer section 3 shown in FIG.
1 is an ID code sheet with an identification pattern 42. ID code pattern 43. It is composed of a keyword group 44 and the like. The identification pattern 42 is a pattern for identifying whether the original read by the reader section is a document sheet or an ID code sheet 41. The ID code pattern 43 is a unique pattern generated when the edited keyword file is registered in the workstation section 5, and corresponds one-to-one to the keyword information 44a.

Next, the procedure for creating a keyword file will be explained.

A keyword file is created by inputting the keyword group 44 shown in FIG. 5 using a personal computer 8 independent of the workstation section 5 shown in FIG. 1 or a system connected to the path line 25 shown in FIG. The data to be configured is manually registered in a recording medium such as a floppy disk sheet, and then stored in the workstation section 5.
The keyword group 4 can be sent to the workstation unit 5 by inputting it into
Hand over the data of 4.

As a result, the workstation section 5 begins editing work for outputting the ID code sheet 41.

First, a data group of the input keyword group 44, that is, a keyword file is displayed on the bitmap display 5d.
Read out. This allows bitmap display 5d
The keyword group 44 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. Here, the keyboard 5b or the pointing device 5
When a command is input to save arbitrary keyword information 44a such as 0, the workstation unit 5 saves the identification pattern 42 and I for the keyword information 44a.
A D code pattern 43 is generated, linked, and registered in a keyword file.

As a result, when the keyword file list is displayed on the bitmap display 5d using the keyboard 5b or the pointing device 50, the desired keyword information 44a is selected, and image output is commanded, the ID code shown in FIG. The sheet 41 can be output as an image. Image output ID code sheet 4
1 is conveyed from the ADF 2 shown in FIG. 1 to the reader unit 1 and read, thereby transmitting a document sheet (original sheet) to be read subsequently to the image registration unit 5a as an image file subordinate to the registered keyword information 44a. Can build a database.

Next, the keyword registration procedure will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the keyword registration procedure according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (8) indicate each step.

First, the CPU 23 calls the keyword file (1), and determines whether the keyword file created by, for example, the personal computer 8 is a new file (2). If this judgment is YES, set the editing mode (3), perform editing using the keyboard 5b or pointing device 5C, and input an instruction to save the edited keyword file (4). Generate code pattern 43,
In addition to linking to the keyword information 44a and registering it in the keyword file, the management file MF (described later)
Add the file name to (5).

On the other hand, if the judgment in step (2) is NO, that is, if the keyword file has already been registered, the management file MF for managing the keyword file is transferred to the CPU 23.
6), and it is determined whether the document is registered using the keyword name registered in the keyword file (7). If this judgment is No, the process returns to step (3), and if YES, editing is disabled.8) In other words, if the same keyword file has already been accessed, the document file is combined with that keyword file. is prohibited and control is terminated. Step (1) above
(8), the ID code pattern 43 shown in FIG.
It can be output as a D code sheet 41, and by placing this ID code sheet 41 and document sheet on the ADF 2 and transporting it to the reader section 1, an image file subordinate to the registered keyword can be constructed.

Next, the management file according to the present invention will be explained.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a management file MF that manages the construction of an image file based on registered keywords, and is stored as management data in a part of the image registration section 5a shown in FIG. 1.

In this figure, numeral 51 is an ID number, which is sequentially counted up when a keyword file is registered. 52 is a file name, which corresponds to the registered keyword file name. 53 is the number of sheets data, file name 52
Indicates the number of image files registered in . 54 is a state variable, which is an ID generated from the ID code pattern 43 read from the ID code sheet 41 input from the reader section 1.
When the image file corresponding to number 51 is constructed, the workstation section 5 sets the state variable 54 to "1" to disable keyword registration from then on, and uses the ID read from the ID code sheet 41 input from the reader section 1. If the image file corresponding to the ID number 51 generated from the code pattern 43 has not been constructed, the state variable 54 is
QJ, waits for keyword registration, and ID number 51 generated from ID code pattern 43 read from ID code sheet 41 input from reader unit 1.
An image file corresponding to has already been constructed and the state variable 5
4 is set to "1", the state variable 54 is set to "1".
2" to indicate that a file has occurred that cannot be registered as a keyword. 55 is combined data, the ID code sheet 41 is read and the ID is determined from the ID code pattern 43.
Each time the image file corresponding to number 51 is accessed, the count is incremented (however, the initial value is "O"). This combined data 55 indicates how many keywords the image file with the file name 52 has.

Next, processing when the state variable 54 is "2" will be explained.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating the temporary save file TF according to the present invention, and 61 is a serial number, which is a number that is counted sequentially when the state variable 54 shown in FIG. 7 is set to "2". , is attached to image files for which the keyword could not be registered.

62 is number data, in which the number of image files for which the keyword could not be registered is written. 63 is a keyword file name, into which the file name 52 shown in FIG. 7 is written.

When the image file corresponding to the ID number 51 generated from the ID code pattern 43 read from the ID code sheet 41 manually input from the reader unit 1 has already been constructed and the state variable 54 is set to "1", sets the state variable 54 to "2", counts up the serial number 61 (however, the initial value is "0"), and calculates the number of image files, that is, the number of sheets read by the reader section 1, for example "3". '' is written in the number of sheets data 62, and the file name 52, for example, ``a'' is registered in the keyword file name 63, and the image file is temporarily saved.

Next, the image file registration process using unregistered keywords will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an unregistered management file RF that manages image files with unregistered keywords, in which 71 is a serial number, and an ID code sheet 41 with keywords unregistered in the keyword management file is a reader unit 1. , a sequential number will be added. 72 is sheet number data, in which the number of image files to which the serial number 71 is attached, that is, the number of sheets read by the reader unit 1 is written.

ID code sheets 41 to 3 input from reader section 1
ID generated from the sold ID code pattern 43
If the number 51 is not found in the management file MF shown in FIG. 6, the workstation unit 5 adds the serial number 71 to the document sheet input from the reader unit 1 and registers it in the unregistered management file RF. At the same time, the number of image files sold by Soda Club 1 is recorded as number data 7.
2, and after image registration is completed, unregistered management file R
By accessing the serial number 71 of F, it can be confirmed, for example, on the bitmap display 5d.

Next, the automatic registration operation of image files according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the automatic registration operation of image files according to the present invention. In addition, (1) to (1
3) shows each step.

When the sheet conveyed from the ADF 2 shown in FIG. 2 is conveyed to the reader section 1, the light source 1a is turned on and document scanning is started. This reflected light is guided to the reading sensor 1b and it is determined whether the original is the ID code sheet 41 (1)
. This judgment is made using the identification pattern 42 of the ID code sheet 41.
The judgment is made based on whether or not it is detected. In this judgment, if the identification pattern 42 is detected, the reading sensor 1b detects the ID.
Wait until code pattern 43 is detected 2), ID
When the code pattern 43 is detected, the workstation section 5 is provided in the image registration section 5a in order to calculate an ID code from the detected ID code pattern 43 (3) and load the ID number 51 corresponding to the calculated ID code. Access the management file MF shown in Figure 6 (4
). Through this access, it is determined whether the ID number 51 corresponding to the ID code is registered in the ID number 51 (5). If the result of this judgment is No, call the unregistered management file RF shown in FIG. 9 (6), increment the serial number 71 (7), and step (10).
), and if YES, it is determined whether the state variable 54 in the management file MF is "0" (8). If this determination is YES, the state variable 54 is incremented by "1" (9), the image data read by the reader section 1 is registered in the image memory 26 (10), and the process proceeds to other controls.

On the other hand, if the judgment in step (8) is No, access the temporary save file TF shown in FIG. 811).
Increment serial number 61 by "1" (12)
. Next, the state variable 54 of the management file MF is set to "r2" (13), and the process returns to step (10). on the other hand,
If the judgment in step (1) is No, step (10)
).

As a result, when an ID code sheet 41 with no keyword registered is read by the reader section 1, the next ID code sheet 41 is read under the management of the temporary save file TF.
The read image data can be held in the image memory 26 until the image is detected, and the reading operation can be continued without interruption.

Next, the document sheet registration operation using keywords according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the document sheet registration operation according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (8) indicate each step.

First, a sheet is conveyed from the ADF 2 to an unillustrated document mounting table of the reader section 1 (1). Next, the optical scanning system starts scanning to read the document. At this time, it is determined whether the identification pattern 42 of the ID code sheet 41 has been read by the sensor 1b by reading the reflected light reflected from the light source 1a (2). If this judgment is YES, the skew transport amount of the ID code sheet 41 is calculated from the read identification pattern difference, that is, the reading timing difference between the two identification patterns 42 (3), and the calculated skew transport amount is Please judge whether it is within the allowable skew conveyance amount 4), N
If YES, the process returns to step (1), and if YES, the ID code pattern 43 is subsequently detected (5). Next, a keyword database is constructed from the detected ID code pattern 43 (6), and the process returns to step (1).

On the other hand, if the determination in step (2) is No, the sheet type read by the reading sensor 1b is determined to be a document sheet, and the image data binarized by the image processing unit 1g is sequentially stored in the image memory on the second day. Do (7). Then step (
Linking the image data stored in the image memory 26 to the keyword database constructed in 6) (8),
Return to step (1). Thereby, keyword registration of image data is performed, and image data registered at any time can be managed using keywords.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a keyword creation means for creating keyword information of a document sheet read by an image reading means, and a keyword combination means for combining the keyword information created by the keyword creation means with an image file. By providing a combined information counting means for sequentially updating the number of keyword information combined by this keyword combining means, it is possible to read into any keyword without performing complicated keyword manual operations from the keyboard when registering keywords. This method has an excellent advantage of being able to automatically register document information, and efficiently registering images without performing complicated keyword processing.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an external view illustrating the configuration of an electronic file device showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a laser beam printer showing an example of the printer section shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a control of the electronic file system shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a control block diagram illustrating the configuration; FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the ID code sheet output by the printer unit shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the keyword registration procedure according to the present invention. , FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the management file MF that manages the construction of image files based on registered keywords, FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating the temporary save file TF according to the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an unregistered management file RF that manages image files with unregistered keywords, FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the automatic registration operation of image files according to the present invention, and FIG. It is a flowchart explaining registration operation. In the figure, 1 is the reader section, 2 is the ADF, 3 is the printer section, 4
5 is a paper feed section, 5 is a workstation section, 8 is a personal computer, 11 is an identification means, 12 is a control means, 21
2 is a reader interface section, 22 is a printer interface section, 23 is a CPU, 24 is a ROM, 25 is a pass line, and 26 is an image memory. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 5 Figure 1 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an electronic file system that registers image information read from an image reading means in a large-capacity recording medium and displays the registered image file on a display means, a keyword for creating keyword information of a document sheet read from the image reading means. The method further comprises: a creation means, a keyword combination means for combining the keyword information created by the keyword creation means with the image file, and a combined information count means for sequentially updating the number of keyword information combined by the keyword combination means. A distinctive electronic file system.