JP2000011159A - Document reading system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a document reading system for reading the data of a document reading device from a computer on a network. SOLUTION: This document reading system is provided with a document reading device 1 for reading prescribed data, reading controller (computer) 2 arranged on a network 4 and connected with the document reading device 1 for reading the data from the document reading device 1, storage means 10 for storing the data read by the reading controller 2, and operation controller (computer) 3 arranged on the network 4 for allowing the reading controller 2 to execute the data reading operation of the document reading device 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document reading system using a document reading device on a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional document reading system will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0005] As shown in FIG.
It is directly connected to a computer 21 for reading data from the document reading device 1 via a general-purpose interface (not shown). The computer 21 is configured by means for controlling a reading process from the document reading device 1. Specifically, the computer 21 includes a control unit 5, a reading unit 8, a file operating unit 9, a storage unit 10, and a display unit 11. Become.

An operation of reading a document in the document reading system configured as described above will be described.

[0005] When a reading operation instruction and an execution start instruction are input by the operating means 5 (step S1), an instruction command is transferred to the original reading apparatus 1 by the reading means 8 (step S2), and image reading is performed. (Step S3). The details of the reading operation of the document reading device 1 are omitted here.

[0006] The read data is stored in a computer 21.
Or stored in the storage means 10 (step S4). Next, it is determined whether or not the reading operation has been completed (step S5). If not, the process returns to the process of executing the reading operation again.
When the processing is completed, the processing shifts to post-processing.

Here, since the data to be read is divided into a plurality of lines and read, steps S2 to S4 are often repeated a plurality of times. In general, a procedure in which the above operation is performed in a pre-scan in order to specify a reading range, a resolution, or the like, and the same operation is repeated in a main scan is common.

[0008]

As shown in FIG.
Conventionally, a document reading apparatus and a computer were generally directly connected. However, in recent years, as the usage of a plurality of computers connected to a network has increased, the need to use the document reading device as a shared resource has increased.

However, the conventional document reading system (FIG. 15) can be executed only by a computer connected to the document reading device. For this reason, there is a problem that it is difficult to effectively use the document reading device as a shared resource.

[0010] Even if there is a mechanism that can share a document reading device on a network, not all computers have sufficient memory and storage for reading images from the document reading device. Then, there is a problem that an effective reading process cannot be performed depending on a computer.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a document reading system capable of reading data of a document reading device from a computer on a network.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a document reading system capable of effectively processing data read from a document reading device even in a computer without sufficient memory or storage.

[0013]

In order to solve this problem, a document reading system according to the present invention includes a document reading device for reading predetermined data, and a document reading device arranged on a network and connected to the document reading device. A reading control device for reading data from the reading device, a storage means for storing the data read by the reading control device, and an operation control arranged on the network for causing the reading control device to execute the data reading operation of the document reading device And a device.

This makes it possible to read the data of the document reading device from the operation control device, which is a computer on the network to which the document reading device is not connected.

Further, in the original reading system according to the present invention, in the above-mentioned invention, the operation control device sends data having a lower resolution than the data read from the original reading device from the reading control device and displays the data. is there.

Thus, even if the computer does not have sufficient memory and storage, it is possible to effectively process data read from the document reading device.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a document reading apparatus for reading predetermined data, and a document reading apparatus disposed on a network and connected to the document reading apparatus.
A reading control device for reading data from the document reading device, a storage means for storing the data read by the reading control device, and an operation arranged on the network for causing the reading control device to execute the data reading operation of the document reading device The document reading system includes a control device and an operation control device, which is a computer on a network to which the document reading device is not connected, and can read data of the document reading device.

The invention according to claim 2 of the present invention provides:
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the operation control device is a document reading system in which data having a lower resolution than data read from the document reading device is transmitted from the reading control device and displayed. Even if the computer does not have the function, the data read from the document reading device can be effectively processed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the reading control device is controlled by the operation control device to edit the data read by the document reading device. This is a document reading system provided with editing means for performing, and has an effect that it becomes possible to perform an editing operation on the read image data by an instruction from a computer.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or the second aspect of the present invention, the operation of the reading control device is controlled by the operation control device, and the data read by the document reading device is transmitted to an electronic mail. This is a document reading system provided with a mail transmitting means for transmitting the image data, and has an effect that the read image data can be attached to an electronic mail and transmitted.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the operation of the reading control device is controlled by the operation control device, and the data read by the document reading device is transmitted by facsimile. This is a document reading system provided with a facsimile transmitting unit that has a function of transmitting read image data by facsimile.

[0022] The invention described in claim 6 of the present invention is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:
This is a document reading system provided with a plurality of operation control devices, and has an effect that read image data can be shared with each other.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the sixth aspect, the reading control device is controlled in operation by the operation control device, and edits the data read by the document reading device. A document reading system provided with a means, capable of performing an editing operation on image data read by a plurality of computers with each other, and further having an effect that data contents can be updated almost simultaneously. .

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In these drawings, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description is omitted.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an original reading system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing each component of the document reading system of FIG. 1 in detail, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document reading system of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the document reading system according to the present embodiment, a reading control device (computer) 2 for reading data from a document reading device 1 and an operation control for causing the reading control device 2 to perform a predetermined operation. Devices (computers) 3 are connected on the same network 4. The document reading device 1 is connected to a reading control device 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the reading control unit 2 communicates with the operation control unit 3, a communication unit 7, a reading unit 8 that sends a command to the document reading unit 1 to read data, and a reading unit 8. It comprises a file operation means 9 for storing data. The file operating means 9 is connected to a storage means 10 which is a storage device for storing predetermined information. The operation control device 3 includes an operation unit 5 for inputting a command for causing the reading control device 2 to perform a predetermined operation based on the screen display, a communication unit 6 for performing communication with the reading control device 2, It comprises display means 11 for displaying an image.

The operation of reading a document by the operation control device 3 in the document reading system configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in the operation means 5 of the operation control device 3, a reading operation command and an execution start command are input from the screen to instruct scanning (step S1). Then, the input scan parameters are passed to the communication unit 6 (step S2), and transmitted to the communication unit 7 of the reading control device 2 via the network 4 (step S3).

Based on the received scan parameters, the reading means 8 transfers a command to the document reading device 1 (step S4), and the image is read (step S5).

The read image data is stored in the storage means 10 via the memory of the reading control device 2 by the file operation means 9, and image data for screen display (for example, low-resolution image data) is generated. (Step S6). Note that the storage means 10 here is configured to exist in the reading control device 2, but may be arranged on a file server on a network.

Next, the generated screen display image is returned from the communication means 7 to the communication means 6 of the operation control device 3 (step S7) and displayed on the display means 11 (step S7).
8).

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the designated reading range has been completed (step S9). If the reading has not been completed, scanning parameters are further transmitted from the communication means 6 and reading is repeated. When the processing is completed, the processing shifts to post-processing.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the original reading device 1 is connected to the reading control device 2 connected on the network 4, and the operation control device 3 connected on the same network 4 is read. Since the control device 2 is caused to perform the data reading operation of the document reading device 1, the data of the document reading device 1 can be read from the operation control device 3, which is a computer on a network to which the document reading device 1 is not connected. Becomes possible.

Further, since data of lower resolution than the image data read from the document reading device 1 is displayed by the operation control device 3, even if the operation control device 3 is not provided with a sufficient memory or storage, the operation control device 3 may use a computer. Even if there is, the data read from the document reading device 1 can be effectively processed.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a document reading system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention in detail, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document reading system of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the document reading system of the present embodiment, the reading control device 2 is further provided with an editing means 12 for editing the image data read from the document reading device 1. Is different from that shown in the first embodiment.

The operation of editing the image data read by the reading control device 2 in the document reading system configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

First, an editing parameter is generated by performing an operation such as input of a character, input of a marker, or conversion of a color on an image displayed on the screen by the operation means 5 of the operation control device 3 (step S1). S1). Next, the editing parameters generated in this manner are passed to the communication means 6 (step S2), and transmitted to the communication means 7 of the reading control device 2 via the network 4 (step S3).

The reading control device 2 reads the original image as a target of the received editing parameters from the storage means 10 into the memory (step S4). Next, the editing means 12
The editing operation is performed on the original image on the memory according to the contents of the editing parameters (step S5), and the original image is stored again in the storage means 10 (step S6). At this time, an image for screen display is also regenerated, and this image is
Is transmitted to the communication means 6 of the operation control device 3 (step S7), and is displayed again by the display means 11 (step S8).

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the editing operation has been completed (step S9). If the editing operation has not been completed, the editing parameters are further transmitted from the communication means 6 and the editing execution is repeated. When the processing is completed, the processing shifts to the next post-processing.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the editing means 12 whose operation is controlled by the operation control device 3 is provided in the reading control device 2. Editing work can be performed on the image data read by the control device 2.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a document reading system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention in detail, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document reading system of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the document reading system according to the present embodiment, the reading control device 2
Is provided, and a mail server 14 for transmitting an e-mail is arranged on the network 4, which is different from that shown in the first embodiment.

In the document reading system configured as described above, the document reading device 1 read by the reading control device 2
The operation in the case of transmitting the image data by e-mail (that is, the operation after the processing after reading described in the first embodiment) will be described with reference to FIG.

First, an instruction parameter (for example, a destination address, a title, a text, etc.) for transmitting an image displayed on the screen by e-mail is input by the operation means 5 of the operation control device 3 (step S1). Next, the input instruction parameters are passed to the communication means 6 (step S).
2) It is transmitted to the communication means 7 of the reading control device 2 via the network 4 (step S3).

The reading control device 2 transmits the original image to the mail server 14 in the same manner as a normal electronic mail operation, based on the received instruction parameters (step S4). At this time, the operation result message (status) of the e-mail is transmitted from the communication means 7 to the communication means 6 of the operation control device 3 (step S5), and is displayed on the display means 11 (step S6).

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not all the e-mail transmission instructions have been completed (step S7). If not, the instruction parameters are further transmitted from the communication means 6 and the e-mail operation is repeated. When the processing is completed, the processing shifts to post-processing.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the mail transmission means 13 is provided in the reading control device 2, the image data read by the reading control device 2 is attached to the electronic mail and transmitted. It becomes possible to do. In this case, the operation control device 3 does not need to be provided with an e-mail transmission unit.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing in detail the configuration of a document reading system according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document reading system of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the document reading system according to the present embodiment, a facsimile transmitting means 15 is provided in the reading control device 2, and a facsimile server 16 for performing facsimile transmission is provided on the network 4. In that it differs from that shown in the first embodiment.

In the document reading system configured as described above, the document reading device 1 read by the reading control device 2
The operation when facsimile transmission of the image data (that is, the operation after the processing after reading described in the first embodiment) will be described with reference to FIG.

First, an instruction parameter (for example, a destination telephone number) for transmitting an image displayed on the screen by facsimile is input by the operation means 5 of the operation control device 3 (step S1). Next, the input instruction parameters are passed to the communication means 6 (step S2), and transmitted to the communication means 7 of the reading control device 2 via the network 4 (step S3).

The reading control device 2 transmits the original image to the facsimile server 16 based on the received instruction parameters in the same manner as a normal facsimile operation (step S).
4). At this time, after the facsimile operation result message (status) is transmitted from the communication means 7 to the communication means 6 of the operation control device 3 (step S5), it is displayed on the display means 11 (step S6).

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not all facsimile transmission instructions have been completed (step S7). If not completed, instruction parameters are further transmitted from the communication means 6 and the facsimile operation is repeated. When the processing is completed, the processing shifts to post-processing.

Although the case where the facsimile is transmitted using the facsimile server 16 on the network is described here, the facsimile may be directly transmitted from the reading control device 2 to the telephone line.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the facsimile transmission means 15 is provided in the reading control device 2, the image data read by the reading control device 2 can be transmitted by facsimile. become. In this case, it is not necessary for the operation control device 3 to include a facsimile transmission unit.

(Embodiment 5) FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a document reading system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing each component of the document reading system of FIG. 10 in detail. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document reading system of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 10, the document reading system of the present embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in that an operation control device (computer) 17 is further connected to the network 4. I have. The operation control device 17 includes, as shown in FIG.
It comprises a display means 19 and an operation means 20, and has the same components as the operation control device 3 similarly connected on the network 4.

In the document reading system configured as described above, the document reading device 1 read by the reading control device 2
In the case where only the image for screen display is copied and transmitted to the operation control device 17 with the image data of
The operation after the processing after the reading indicated by () will be described with reference to FIG.

First, an instruction parameter (for example, a network address) for transmitting an image displayed on the screen to the operation control device 17 is input by the operation means 5 of the operation control device 3 (step S1). Next, according to the input instruction parameters, the display information (including the image) is passed to the communication means 6 (step S2), and transmitted to the communication means 18 of the operation control device 17 via the network 4 (step S3). ).

In the operation control device 17, the received screen display information is displayed by the display means 19 (step S).
4).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the plurality of operation control devices 3 and 17 are provided on the network 4, the image data read by the reading control device 2 is shared with each other. It becomes possible.

(Embodiment 6) FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing in detail the configuration of a document reading system according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention, and FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document reading system of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 13, in the original reading system according to the present embodiment, the same components (that is, operating means 5, 20, two control devices 3, 1 provided with communication means 6, 18 and display means 11, 19)
7 are provided. In addition to the communication means 7, the reading means 8, and the file operation means 9, the reading control device 2 is provided with an editing means 12 for editing the image data read from the document reading apparatus 1.

In the document reading system configured as described above, the document reading device 1 read by the reading control device 2
Of the image data in the operation control device 3 and the edited image data is displayed again on the screen of the operation control device 17 (that is, the operation after the process shown in the fifth embodiment). This will be described with reference to FIG.

First, an editing parameter is generated by performing an operation such as input of a character, input of a marker, or conversion of a color on an image displayed on the screen by the operation means 5 of the operation control device 3 (step S1). S1). Next, the editing parameters generated in this manner are passed to the communication means 6 (step S2), and transmitted to the communication means 7 of the reading control device 2 via the network 4 (step S3).

The reading control device 2 reads the original image that is the target of the received editing parameters from the storage means 10 into the memory (step S4).

Next, the editing means 12 performs an editing operation on the original image in the memory according to the contents of the editing parameters (step S5), and saves it in the storage means 10 (step S6). At this time, the image for screen display has also been regenerated, and after this image is transmitted from the communication means 7 to the communication means 6 of the operation control device 3 (step S7), it is displayed again by the display means 11 (step S7). S8). Further, the display image is transmitted from the communication means 7 to the operation control device 17.
At the same time, and displayed on the display means 19 (step S10). As a result, the screens of the operation control devices 3 and 17 are simultaneously updated.

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the editing operation has been completed (step S9). If the editing operation has not been completed, the editing parameters are further transmitted from the communication means 6 and the editing execution is repeated, and the respective screens are updated. . When the processing is completed, the processing shifts to the next post-processing. Note that such processing can also be performed by the operation control device 17.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the plurality of operation control devices 3 and 17 are provided on the network 4, and the reading control device 2 further stores the data read by the document reading device 1. Since the editing means 12 for performing the editing is provided, the operation control device 3 and the operation control device 17 can perform the editing operation on the image data read by each other, and can update the data contents almost simultaneously. it can.

[0072]

As described above, according to the present invention, the original reading device is connected to the reading control device connected to the network, and the operation control device connected to the same network reads the original to the reading control device. Since the data reading operation of the apparatus is performed, it is possible to obtain an effective effect that data of the document reading apparatus can be read from the operation control device which is a computer on the network to which the document reading apparatus is not connected. Can be

According to the present invention, data of lower resolution than the image data read from the original reading device is displayed on the computer, so even if the computer does not have sufficient memory and storage, Thus, an effective effect that data read from the document reading device can be effectively processed can be obtained.

If an editing means whose operation is controlled by a computer is provided, it is possible to obtain an effective effect that an editing operation can be performed on the read image data by an instruction from the computer.

If the reading control device is provided with a mail transmitting means, an effective effect is obtained that the read image data can be attached to an electronic mail and transmitted.

If a facsimile transmission means is provided in the reading control device, an effective effect that the read image data can be transmitted by facsimile can be obtained.

If a plurality of computers are provided on the network, an effective effect that the read image data can be shared with each other can be obtained.

If a plurality of computers are provided on the network and an editing means is provided in the reading control device, the plurality of computers can perform an editing operation on the image data read by each other, and furthermore, the data contents can be read almost simultaneously. An effective effect of being able to update is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a document reading system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing each component of the original reading system of FIG. 1 in detail;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document reading system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a document reading system according to a second embodiment of the present invention in detail;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document reading system of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a document reading system according to a third embodiment of the present invention in detail;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document reading system of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a document reading system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention in detail;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document reading system of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a document reading system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing each component of the document reading system of FIG. 10 in detail;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document reading system of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a document reading system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention in detail;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document reading system of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional document reading system in detail.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document reading system of FIG. 15;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 document reading device 2 reading control device (computer) 3 operation control device (computer) 4 network 10 storage means 12 editing means 13 mail transmission means 15 facsimile transmission means 17 operation control device (computer)

Claims (7)

[Claims] An original reading device for reading predetermined data; a reading control device arranged on a network and connected to the original reading device for reading the data from the original reading device; A document reading device, comprising: storage means for storing the read data; and an operation control device disposed on the network and causing the reading control device to execute the data reading operation of the document reading device. system. 2. The operation control device according to claim 1, wherein the data having a lower resolution than the data read from the document reading device is sent from the reading control device and displayed. Document reading system. 3. The reading control device according to claim 1, further comprising editing means controlled by said operation control device to edit the data read by said document reading device. Or the document reading system according to 2. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading control device is provided with a mail transmitting means controlled by the operation control device to transmit the data read by the document reading device by e-mail. The document reading system according to claim 1. 5. The facsimile transmission means which is facsimile-transmitted by the reading control device, the operation of which is controlled by the operation control device, and facsimile transmission of the data read by the document reading device. 1 or 2
Document reading system as described. 6. The document reading system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the operation control devices are provided on the network. 7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said reading control device is provided with editing means for controlling the operation of said operation control device and editing said data read by said document reading device. Document reading system as described.