JP2000181868A - Information processor, information processing method and computer-readable memory - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manage document data having access right complying with usage more by managing an annotation added to document image data and its access right while making them correspond to each other. SOLUTION: A data table for managing annotations is displayed on a display 5. The mode corresponding to a desired annotation to be added is selected out of tool bars of the data table and drawn on a document on a display part by using a mouse 8 and a keyboard 7. Or a text box for adding the annotation is arranged and a text is inputted to the box. The annotation which is thus added to the document image data is managed by the data table wherein its kind and property are made to correspond to each other. Each annotation is managed in an access right management table wherein its right and the user having the right are made correspond to each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method for managing input document image data, and a computer readable memory.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an information processing apparatus capable of managing document image data with annotations,
An access right is set for each document image data, and a user who can create document image data is managed. Normally, in an application for opening document image data, input of a user name and a password is required to determine a user to operate.

In addition, access rights are often simple such as read / write (update). The write right may be managed in several types, such as a change of document image data and a change or deletion of a storage folder.

[0004]

However, in the management of document image data in the conventional information processing apparatus, the right to access the document image data and the right to access the annotation are not separately managed. I couldn't say that even if I allowed, I didn't allow annotation changes.

[0005] In addition, even if a certain user "A" can change the annotation "X" in each of the annotations, it cannot change the annotation "Y". In addition, the user "B" could not manage access rights in detail, such as allowing the user to change both the annotation "X" and the annotation "Y".

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and enables fine-grained access rights to be easily set for annotations added to document image data. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus and method capable of managing document image data, and a computer-readable memory.

[0007]

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following arrangement.
That is, an information processing apparatus that manages input document image data, comprising: an adding unit that adds an annotation to the input document image data; and an access right to the annotation that is added to the document image data by the adding unit. Setting means, and an annotation added by the adding means, and a managing means for managing the access right set by the setting means in association with each other.

[0008] Preferably, the access right has one or more security levels or security types according to the items that can be operated.

Preferably, the user who operates the document image data is given a common security level to all the annotations managed by the management means.

[0010] Preferably, a user who operates the document image data is given a security level separately for each annotation managed by the management means.

[0011] Preferably, the type of access right set in the annotation includes at least editing operations such as movement, deletion, and resizing, and a setting for disabling the display of the access right annotation and a setting right for the annotation. Setting that disables overlapping of annotations and its setting right Has visibility of annotations and its setting right.

[0012] Preferably, the management means further manages thumbnail images of the document image data, and displays the thumbnail images in response to an instruction.

Preferably, the thumbnail image is provided with an annotation having a visibility right, a symbol indicating the annotation, and a non-displayable annotation.

An information processing method according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is, an information processing method for managing input document image data, comprising: an adding step of adding an annotation to the input document image data; and an access right to the annotation to be added to the document image data in the adding step. And a management step of managing the annotations added in the adding step and the access rights set in the setting step in a storage medium in association with each other.

A computer readable memory according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is,
A computer readable memory storing a program code of information processing for managing input document image data, wherein a program code of an adding step of adding an annotation to the input document image data, A program code of a setting process for setting an access right to an annotation added to the image data,
And a program code of a management step of managing the annotation added in the adding step and the access right set in the setting step in a storage medium in association with each other.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU, which controls various processes executed in the present invention. Reference numeral 2 denotes a CD-ROM drive, which stores various programs and data such as a program for executing the processing executed in the present invention.
With. Reference numeral 3 denotes a printer which outputs an image or the like displayed on the display 9 to a recording medium. Reference numeral 4 denotes a hard disk drive (HDD) that stores various programs such as a program for executing processing executed in the present invention and various data. Reference numeral 5 denotes a floppy disk drive (FDD).

Reference numeral 6 denotes a communication device which enables connection to a network or the like, and exchanges data with a scanner, a printer, or a disk drive device on the network.
Reference numeral 7 denotes a keyboard for performing various inputs. Reference numeral 8 denotes a mouse for performing various inputs. A display 9 displays image data to be processed, processing results, and the like.

The information processing apparatus stores various programs and data such as a RAM (not shown) functioning as a data work area and a temporary save area, and a program for executing processing executed in the present invention. It has a ROM (not shown).

Next, in the processing executed in the first embodiment, an execution window displayed on the display 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an execution window according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 18a denotes a minimize button for minimizing a window. 18b is a maximize button for maximizing the window. A close button 18c closes the window. Reference numeral 12 denotes a window title bar, which is a document name 17 displayed as an application name.
Is displayed. Reference numeral 13 denotes a menu bar on which various processing menus are arranged. Some of the various processing menus are provided as tool buttons 14 and buttons of the toolbar 11, and clicking on the button changes various processing associated with the button, for example, a mode for attaching various annotations. The process of selecting can be executed. In the first embodiment, the toolbar 11 is used for selecting an operation in a specific mode. Reference numeral 22 denotes a background display unit for displaying a window background. Reference numeral 16 denotes a status display unit indicating the current state. A document display unit 23 displays the document (image) 15 to be processed.

Next, a data table for managing annotations will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data table for managing annotations according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The operation itself of adding an annotation to document image data is not particularly different from a general GUI (graphical user interface). For example, a mode corresponding to the annotation to be added is selected from the toolbar 11, and the mouse 8 and the keyboard 7 are used to draw on the document 15 on the document display unit 23, or a text for adding the annotation. Annotation can be added by arranging boxes and inputting text in the generated text boxes. To specify the position and size of a text box by specifying a point between two points using the mouse 8, it is generally determined that the position and size of the text box having the two points as vertices are determined. This is a known operation.

As described above, the annotations added to the document image data are managed as a data table in which types and attributes are associated with each other, as shown in FIG.
Note that the types of annotations include markers, texts, memos, figures (rectangles, circles, lines), highlighters (highlighted display), stamps (text stamps, image stamps), and the like. The attributes include common items and different items depending on the types. For example, there are line types, arrows, thicknesses, colors, font types, surface types, frames with / without, figures, and the like.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, each annotation is managed as an access right management table in which a right attached to each annotation is associated with a user having the right.

The types of access which are types of rights include the following.

Editing operations such as movement, deletion, resizing, etc., and access rights thereof. Settings for disabling the hiding of annotations, and setting rights for disabling overlapping of annotations. Right and Setting Right Next, a specific example of a method of using the access right of the annotation when having such an access type will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a specific example of a method of using the access right of the annotation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the document 15 displayed on the document display unit 23, and reference numeral 30 denotes the whole document image data. 31 to 35 are added annotations. Reference numeral 31 denotes a rectangle with a white frameless surface, and the surface color is white. Reference numeral 37 denotes a document image hidden by the rectangle 31. For example, if a certain user is not given the above-mentioned access right or the like to the rectangle 31, the user will be given
Can not see. Reference numeral 32 denotes an image stamp, which cannot be made invisible unless all the users have the above-mentioned access rights.

33 and 34 are memo annotations,
If the user having the access right disables the superimposition of the memo annotation, other annotations cannot be superimposed, and the annotations are not carelessly hidden during editing. The annotation 35 is a text annotation and cannot be viewed by a user who has not set an access right.

Here, the mouse 8 is used to move the cursor to any one of the annotations 31 to 35 and perform operations such as double-clicking the button on the mouse 8 or clicking the right button of the left and right buttons. Then, a pop-up menu as shown in FIG. 6 appears. The item of "right setting ..." in this menu can usually be selected by the creator of the annotation or a document administrator having a privilege. Also, the user whose right to set the right is recognized by “right setting ...” can be used.
When "Right setting ..." is selected, a dialog box 40 as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. When the pull-down menu of the combo box 41 in FIG. 7 is selected, a pull-down menu as shown in FIG.
And a right holder for setting the right can be registered. This registration is performed as follows.

First, when any one of the items in the pull-down menu of FIG. 8 is selected, the user having the right is displayed on the right holder list 42 of FIG. Here, when a desired user name is selected from the all user list 43 which displays a list of all user names not registered in the right holder list 42 and the add button 45 is pressed, the user of the selected user name is authorized. Can be added to the right holder list 42 as a trustee. To delete a user from the right holder list 42, select the user name to be deleted and press the delete button 44, the user of that user name has no right, and the user name selected in the all user list 43 is displayed. Is added. When the setting operation in the dialog 40 is stopped halfway, the operation can be ended by pressing the cancel button 46.

The setting of the item "cannot be superimposed" or "cannot be hidden" in the pop-up menu shown in FIG. 6 can be changed by a person having the right. It switches and a check mark is added next to the pop-up menu according to the selection. Thereby, the current setting state can be known. By doing so, only the user whose right has been registered in the dialog box 40 can edit or view the editing right and the viewing right.

Next, of the processing executed in the first embodiment,
A process in a case where an annotation already added to the document image data is selected using the mouse 8 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing executed for the annotation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In step S1, the position on the document image data is determined from the position of the annotation selected by the mouse 8 on the document display unit 23 in FIG. Step S2
To determine the annotation selected from the position of the document image data. In step S3, with reference to the access right management table of FIG. 4, it is determined whether or not a user having an edit access right to the annotation has operated. If the user having the access right operates (NO in step S3), the process ends. In this case, the user cannot select the annotation.

On the other hand, when the user having the access right operates (YES in step S3), the process proceeds to step S4, and the user is notified that the annotation is selected. For example, display processing such as enclosing the selected annotation with a symbol is performed. Then, in step S5, a free editing operation process is performed on the selected annotation, and when an annotation selecting operation or the like is performed in a portion other than the annotation, the editing operation ends.

Next, drawing processing of the document image data to which the annotation has been added will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a drawing process of the document image data to which the annotation is added according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The drawing process is performed by the document display unit 23.
, And is also applied to print processing. Also used when exporting as a file.

First, in step S21, drawing of document image data excluding annotations is performed. Step S22
Then, it is determined whether or not to add an annotation in the document display unit 23 or in drawing for printing. If it is to be added (YES in step S22), the process proceeds to step S25, where one of all the annotations to be added to the document image data is selected, and writing processing (drawing processing) of the selected annotation is performed. On the other hand, if not added (NO in step S22), the flow advances to step S23 to acquire information on the annotation.

In step S24, it is determined whether or not the annotation cannot be hidden. If non-display is not impossible (NO in step S24), the process proceeds to step S26, and writing is not performed. On the other hand, if non-display is not possible (YES in step S24), annotation writing processing is performed in step S25 regardless of the condition for not adding an annotation.

In step S26, it is determined whether or not the writing of all the annotations to be added to the document image data has been completed. If not completed (N in step S26)
O), the process returns to step S23, and processing for the next annotation is performed. On the other hand, if it has been completed (step S
The process ends.

Next, an example of the writing process in step S25 in FIG. 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the writing process in step S25 of FIG. 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

First, in step S31, it is determined with reference to the access right management table of FIG. 4 whether or not the current user is set as a visible right holder of the annotation to be processed. If it is set as a view right holder (NO in step S31), the process proceeds to step S33. On the other hand, if it is not set as a view right holder (YES in step S31), the process proceeds to step S32.

In step S32, it is determined whether or not the annotation to be processed cannot be hidden. If non-display is not possible (YES in step S32), step S3
Proceed to 3. On the other hand, if it is not non-displayable (step S3
2 is NO), and the process ends.

In step S33, the state of the overlapping of the annotations is obtained. In step S34, it is determined whether or not there is an overlap and there is a setting of a non-overlapping condition. When no superimposable condition is set (step S
(NO at 34), the process proceeds to step S36. If there is a superimposition disabled condition (YES in step S34), the process advances to step S35 to move one of the overlapping annotation positions. If there is an annotation being edited, the annotation being edited is moved. Then, in step S36, an annotation drawing process is performed. [Modification 1] Like the access right management table shown in FIG. 4, the access right is not managed for each annotation.
For all annotations, each user may be managed so as to have one common access right. An example is shown in FIG. In this case, the user is managed in association with the type of access right held for each user,
For example, it can be seen that the user 3 has the access right 1 and the access right 3. [Modification 2] The editing right of the access right in the first embodiment may be individually divided into, for example, a moving right, a resizing right, and a deleting right. [Modification 3] The access rights may be classified for each level without being divided into a plurality of types of access rights. For example, level 1
Indicates the type of access right, level 2 indicates the type of access right, level 3 indicates the type of access right,.
,..., Level 4 may include lower-level rights, such as access rights,. Or at level 1 view
Until ing (visible right), the read right (copy and the like can be performed) at level 2, the write right (changeable) at level 3, and the delete right at level 4.

When this is applied to the first modification so that all annotations have a common access right,
What is necessary is just to configure the access right management table as shown in FIG. When applied to the first embodiment, an access right management table as shown in FIG. 14 may be configured. [Modification 4] In addition to Modification 3, a table as shown in FIG. 15 is provided as each piece of annotation information of each document image data, and the user can select, for each annotation, the level of the annotation and the level of the user himself.
Access to a lower level may be permitted. In this case, since the operation permitted for each annotation and the access right of each user become clear, even a person unfamiliar with the operation of the application can use the application without any problem. [Modification 5] In the above embodiment, the access right to the document image data is not described. However, if the annotation addition (creation) right is provided in the type of the access right, more detailed management becomes possible. In addition, the annotation creation right may be effective for all users for the document, or different users may manage rights that differ for each user, and some users may not be able to add annotations. You may do it. By doing so, if an annotation that cannot be hidden is created without permission, the information hidden under the annotation cannot be read, so that it is possible to prevent a specific user from creating the information. [Modification 6] The setting of non-sharable may be made for each annotation. In this case, if sharing is disabled, all annotations cannot be viewed or accessed by anyone other than the creator. However, anyone can view only non-displayable annotations.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the access right is set for each annotation to be added to the document image data, and one or more levels are prepared as the access right. Data management can be performed. In addition, by providing a setting of non-display non-display and a setting of non-overlapping for each annotation, it is possible to easily perform operations such as hiding an important part and hiding a confidential part. Further, the document image data can be more finely managed by preventing unintentional changes, setting visibility rights, and the like.

Thus, for example, a common access right can be given to all annotations for each user to facilitate management, or the access right for each annotation can be changed for each user. In addition, the access right for editing operations such as moving, deleting, and resizing of annotations is provided so that the hidden parts of the annotations cannot be seen without permission, and inconvenient parts in the document are filled with rectangular annotations with planes. It is possible to prevent intentional change of a use, a stamp, a date position and contents in document image data. it can. In addition, by providing the setting right of non-display of the annotation, it is possible to make the above operation meaningful, and to make it impossible to make necessary annotations invisible in the document image data. Furthermore, by setting a setting right that is not allowed to be superimposed, it is possible to prevent another annotation from being superimposed on an annotation to make necessary information invisible. Further, by setting the visibility right, it is also possible to hide annotation information which should not be given to some users. A user who adds an annotation to document image data can set these access rights as needed. Further, the administrator of each document image data can have all these rights. [Embodiment 2] In the above embodiment, a thumbnail image is created by reducing the document image data to be drawn on the document display unit 23, and the thumbnail image is displayed on the document display unit 23. It is possible to easily confirm the managed document image data. In this case, a menu for thumbnail display is prepared in the menu bar 13, and when operated, the document display unit 2 is displayed.
3 lists and displays the thumbnail images of the document image data currently managed. In addition, the thumbnail image is displayed with an annotation having the visibility right, a symbol indicating the annotation, and an annotation that cannot be hidden.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, in addition to the effects described in the first embodiment, document image data that can be viewed by the user can be provided as thumbnail images.

Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), a device including one device (for example, a copier, a facsimile machine) Etc.).

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)
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 implements the functions 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 instruction 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.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Information processing apparatus and method capable of easily setting finer access rights to annotations added to document image data and managing document image data having access rights according to applications, and computer-readable Can provide memory.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an execution window according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data table for managing annotations according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an access right management table according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a method of using the access right of the annotation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pop-up menu according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a dialog box according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pull-down menu according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed on an annotation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a rendering process of document image data to which an annotation is added according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view showing step S2 in FIG. 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a writing process of No. 5;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of another access right management table according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of another access right management table according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of another access right management table according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a table for managing annotations according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1 CPU 2 CD-ROM drive device 3 Printer 4 HDD device 5 FDD device 6 Communication device 7 Keyboard 8 Mouse 9 Display

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus for managing input document image data, comprising: an adding unit that adds an annotation to the input document image data; and an adding unit that adds the annotation to the document image data by the adding unit. An information processing apparatus comprising: setting means for setting an access right; an annotation added by the adding means; and a managing means for managing the access right set by the setting means in association with each other. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the access right has one or more security levels or security types according to an operable item. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a user who operates the document image data is provided with a common security level for all the annotations managed by the management unit. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a user who operates the document image data is given a security level separately for each annotation managed by the management unit. . 5. The type of access right set for the annotation includes at least editing operations such as movement, deletion, and resizing, and setting of the access right to prevent the annotation from being hidden and the setting right of the annotations. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus has a setting for disabling superposition and a setting right for the annotation. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the management unit further manages thumbnail images of the document image data, and displays the thumbnail images according to an instruction. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thumbnail image is provided with an annotation having a visibility right, a symbol indicating the annotation, and an annotation that cannot be hidden. 8. An information processing method for managing input document image data, comprising: an adding step of adding an annotation to the input document image data; and an annotation adding to the document image data in the adding step. A setting step of setting an access right to the storage medium; and a management step of managing the annotation added in the adding step and the access right set in the setting step in a storage medium in association with each other. Method. 9. The information processing method according to claim 8, wherein the access right has at least one security level or security type according to an operable item. 10. The information according to claim 8, wherein a user who operates the document image data is given a common security level to all the annotations managed in the storage medium in the management step. Processing method. 11. The user according to claim 8, wherein the user who operates the document image data is given a security level separately for each annotation managed in the storage medium in the management step. Information processing method. 12. The type of access right to be set in the annotation includes at least editing operations such as moving, deleting, and resizing, and setting to disable the access right annotation from being hidden and the setting right between the annotations. 9. The information processing method according to claim 8, wherein the information processing method has a setting for disabling superposition and a setting right for the annotation. 13. The information processing method according to claim 8, wherein the managing step further manages a thumbnail image of the document image data and displays the thumbnail image according to an instruction. 14. The information processing method according to claim 8, wherein an annotation having visibility right, a symbol indicating the annotation, and an annotation that cannot be hidden are added to the thumbnail image. 15. A computer readable memory storing a program code of information processing for managing input document image data, wherein the program code is for an adding step of adding an annotation to the input document image data; A storage medium that associates the program code of the setting step for setting an access right to the annotation added to the document image data in the adding step, the annotation added in the adding step, and the access right set in the setting step And a program code for a management process for managing the data.