JP2000101795A - Network scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network scanner which distributes image information without excessively burdening network traffic and the throughput of a distribution-destination terminal. SOLUTION: The network scanner which is connected to a LAN 150 making a network communication according to a specific communication protocol and transfers image information to connected distribution-destination terminals is provided with a console panel part 107 for inputting a distribution-destination terminal as a distribution object and a picture quality level as a transfer object, i.e., immediate/nonimmediate transfer mode, a CPU 101 which performs document read control and transfer control based upon respective pieces of input information, and a RAM 105 which stores a read document image temporarily, and the CPU 101 selects image compressing algorithm out of predetermined kinds according to the transfer execution time zone and transfer capacity of the inputted transfer mode and compresses and transfers the document image by the selected image compressing algorithm.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to the Internet /
When transferring image information to a plurality of destination terminals connected to a network such as an intranet and the like, the optimum image compression algorithm for the transfer capacity and transfer execution time is determined. The present invention relates to a network scanner that executes reading image transfer in consideration of the situation and the load and processing capacity of a distribution destination terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a system has been constructed in which a scanner device is connected to a network such as a LAN, and a plurality of terminals to which image information read by the scanner device is distributed, for example, a personal computer or a facsimile device. It is performed and is known as a so-called network scanner. When distributing this image information from the scanner device to a designated terminal, it is generally distributed in a predetermined file format to a designated distribution destination.

In a conventional network scanner,
Regardless of the presence or absence of a photographic image, the image information is compressed based on a fixed compression algorithm for each job and the image information is distributed. Furthermore, in the conventional network scanner, when distributing a plurality of pages, the compression algorithm is changed on a page basis as needed to reduce the capacity.

[0004]

However, in the conventional network scanner as described above, when delivering image information, the size of data to be transferred and the congestion state of network traffic (communication amount of a communication line) are required. Since the data is unilaterally distributed irrespective of the (load state) and the processing capacity of the distribution destination terminal, the communication of the data to be distributed becomes a load on the network and may hinder other communication processing.

[0005] Further, as a feature of an application such as a network scanner, since the transfer data is image data, the transfer data size increases, the load on the network increases, and the receivable capacity of the distribution destination is exceeded. In some cases, communication processing is not performed smoothly.

In order to avoid such a problem, the speed of the network itself is increased and an image compression technique (higher compression) is used.
However, with the recent spread of networks, the number of terminals to be connected is increasing, and network congestion is becoming more serious.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has as its object to provide a network scanner for distributing image information without imposing an extra load on network traffic and processing capacity of a distribution destination terminal. With the goal.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a network scanner according to the first aspect is connected to a network that performs network communication according to a predetermined communication protocol, and is connected to the network. In a network scanner for transferring image information to a plurality of destination terminals, the destination terminal to be delivered, the image quality level to be transferred, and the Input means for inputting a non-immediate transfer mode, scanner control means for executing document reading control and transfer control based on each input information by the input means, and storage means for temporarily storing a read document image Wherein the scanner control means performs a transfer operation in a transfer mode input through the input means. Select from the time zone and plural kinds of predetermined image compression algorithm in accordance with the transfer capacity, compressing the original image by an image compression algorithm the selection, and transfers.

Further, in the network scanner according to the second aspect, the scanner control means selects an image compression algorithm from a plurality of predetermined types in accordance with the past transfer capability of the transfer destination terminal. The original image is compressed by the selected image compression algorithm and transferred.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the network scanner according to the third aspect, the scanner control means performs a time-division transfer in accordance with an immediate / non-immediate transfer mode input through the input means. The image compression algorithm is selected from a plurality of predetermined types according to the information on the remaining amount of the data storage capacity, and the original image is compressed by the selected image compression algorithm.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the network scanner according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(System Configuration) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a network scanner according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image scanner device 100 is
A CPU 101 as a scanner control means for reading out a control program stored in a ROM 102 and executing control of the apparatus based on the control program, a ROM 102 storing a control program of the apparatus, and an image pickup device such as a CCD. A scanner unit 103 for optically scanning an original to be read by using an element;
A RAM 104 used as program data (working memory) during a control operation;
03, a RAM 105 as storage means for storing image data and the like read in step 03 in a memory area thereof, a RAM 106 having a memory area for storing read information, transfer information, destination information, and the like; The operation panel unit 107 having a function as an input unit for setting a transfer mode (immediate / non-immediate) and performing a reading start operation is connected to the LAN 150 and connected to the LAN 150.
LAN control unit 10 as LAN control means for transmitting image information to a server on a network via AN 150
8 and a data compression unit 10 for compressing the image read by the scanner unit 103 based on a compression algorithm described later.
9 is provided.

The LAN 150 is, for example, a communication protocol for the Internet / intranet, which is TC
P (Transmission Control Pr)
otocol) / IP (Internet Proto)
In addition to the above-described image scanner apparatus 100, a pre-registered distribution destination terminal, a server, and a client PC are connected using the (col) protocol.

(Operation of System) Next, an example of a control operation which is a feature of the present invention in the image scanner apparatus 100 as a network scanner configured as described above will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a control operation procedure of the network scanner according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, first, a user designates a delivery destination, an image quality level (high / low), and a transfer mode (immediate / non-immediate) (S201), and then reads a document to be transferred by the scanner unit 103 (S202). When the reading of the original is completed, the total size (uncompressed) of the read image is determined (S203).

Subsequently, the transfer mode is determined as follows (S204). First, the past results of the distribution destination, that is, the average transfer performance of several times, are read from the logging data area from each of the registered distribution destinations. Then, the transfer time required is calculated from the predicted image size of each compression algorithm predicted from the main data and the total image size (uncompressed) (predicted from the average compression ratio). The calculated transfer time is compared with a settable threshold value (setting for each algo). Further, it receives the information on the remaining amount of the distribution destination and determines the transfer mode based on the information. When a new distribution destination is designated, "1" is set, and the setting of "1" is prioritized, and the transfer mode is determined. Then, the transfer mode is determined from the above-described information as in the compression algorithm selection example shown in FIG. 3 (compression algorithm example is shown in FIG. 4).

That is, as shown in FIG.
The transfer performance of the destination (high /
The image quality level is determined based on each combination condition of (low) and the remaining amount of reception (large / small) based on a compression algorithm example shown in FIG.

Subsequently, the temporarily stored data is read out, and the data is compressed based on the determined compression algorithm (S205). Then, compression algorithm information is added to the compressed data as a header to form an image data file format (S206).

Subsequently, the image data file created in step S206 is delivered (transferred) at the delivery time determined as the delivery destination (S207). After the transfer, the transfer performance (data amount / execution time) is logged as the latest data (S208).

The compressions 1 to 4 in FIG. 4 may be determined by the average compression of a compression algorithm to be actually incorporated. For example, JPEG (Joint Photog)
graphic Experts Group; compression of high-definition images by color still image compression), JB
IG (Joint Bi-level ImageGr)
uop; a scheme for highly efficient encoding of binary images), MMR
(Modified modified READ; a kind of data compression / decompression technique), MH (modified
Huffman; a kind of data compression / expansion technique). In lossy compression in FIG. 4, resolution conversion (1: 600 dpi, 2: 400 dpi, 3: 3
00 dpi, 4: 200 dpi).

Further, the gist of this embodiment will be additionally described. In the case of immediate transfer (high urgency) specified by the user, there is a high possibility that data transfer will be given priority over the state of network traffic and the state of the destination terminal. Data must be supplied to the other party. On the other hand, non-immediate transfer (low urgency) is performed in consideration of the network traffic status and the status and processing capacity of the destination terminal, and performs nightly transfer with sufficient traffic, and the processing capability of the destination terminal ( Transmission capacity, remaining memory, etc.), select a compression algorithm with a high image quality level,
To process. This makes it possible to reduce the overall load on the network. Since these processes are automatically performed, the operation by the user is not complicated.

[0021]

As described above, according to the network scanner of the present invention (claim 1), a plurality of image compression algorithms are predetermined according to the transfer execution time zone and the transfer capacity in the input transfer mode. Choose from seeds,
The original image is compressed by the selected image compression algorithm and transferred. Therefore, the optimum transfer execution time and image compression algorithm are determined from the transfer capacity and transfer execution time zone, so that appropriate and efficient transfer is realized, and unnecessary load supply for network traffic and the processing capacity of the destination terminal. Can be avoided.

According to the network scanner of the present invention (claim 2), in addition to the options of claim 1, an image compression algorithm is predetermined according to the past transfer capability of the transfer destination terminal. The original image is compressed and transferred by the selected image compression algorithm by the selected image compression algorithm, so that an appropriate and efficient transfer is realized and an extra load is supplied to the network traffic and the processing capacity of the destination terminal. Can be avoided.

Further, according to the network scanner of the present invention (claim 3), in addition to the alternatives of claims 1 and 2, when the time zone transfer is performed in accordance with the immediate / non-immediate transfer mode, the distribution is performed. Appropriate and efficient transfer is realized because the image compression algorithm is selected from a plurality of predetermined types according to the information on the remaining amount of data storage capacity, and the original image is compressed and transferred by the selected image compression algorithm. However, unnecessary load supply to network traffic and the processing capacity of the distribution destination terminal can be avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a network scanner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a control operation procedure of the network scanner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a table showing an example of selecting a compression algorithm according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a table showing a setting example of a compression algorithm according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 image scanner device 101 CPU 102 ROM 103 scanner unit 104, 105, 106 RAM 107 operation panel unit 108 LAN control unit 109 data compression unit 150 LAN

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A network scanner connected to a network for performing network communication according to a predetermined communication protocol and transferring image information to a plurality of distribution destination terminals connected to the network. Input means for inputting a distribution destination terminal to be distributed, an image quality level to be transferred, and an immediate / non-immediate transfer mode among a plurality of distribution destination terminals, and a document based on each input information by the input means Scanner control means for executing reading control and transfer control; and storage means for temporarily storing the read document image, wherein the scanner control means executes transfer in a transfer mode input via the input means. The image compression algorithm is selected from a plurality of predetermined types in accordance with the time zone and the transfer capacity. A network scanner for compressing and transferring the original image by an image compression algorithm. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said scanner control means selects an image compression algorithm from a plurality of predetermined types in accordance with past transfer capabilities of the transfer destination terminal to be transferred, and compresses said original image by said selected image compression algorithm. 2. The network scanner according to claim 1, wherein the network scanner performs the transfer. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scanner control unit performs a time-based transfer according to an immediate / non-immediate transfer mode input via the input unit, according to remaining information on the data storage capacity of the distribution destination. 3. The network scanner according to claim 1, wherein an image compression algorithm is selected from a plurality of predetermined types, and the original image is compressed by the selected image compression algorithm.