JP2001169041A - Image input device, controlling method of image input device and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To finally and automatically store image data fetched from a plurality of image input devices as a single document in a server. SOLUTION: An operating part 208 designates the storage sequence of the image data fetched by a self-device and 2nd to N-th image input devices 103 to 105, and a CPU 205 performs control so that the self-device and the 2nd to N-th image input devices 103 to 105 can fetch the image data according to the designated storage sequence and successively transmits a plurality of pieces of image data successively fetched by the self-device and the 2nd to N-th devices 103 to 105 as a single piece of image data to a server 101 through a communicating part 209.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input device capable of communicating with a plurality of other image input devices and storage devices via a predetermined communication medium, a control method of the image input device, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image input system to which a conventional image input device is applied.
It comprises an image input device 400, a communication line 412, and a host computer (server) 411.

In the image input apparatus 400, a document illuminating unit 401 illuminates (scans) a document on a document table 402 with a lamp. A light receiving unit 403 combines light reflected from the original in proportion to the density of the original image illuminated by the original illuminating unit 401 with a light receiving element unit via a mirror, a lens, and the like (not shown) to sequentially form small points (pixels). And at the same time, output an image signal converted (electrically converted) into high and low levels of electricity.

[0004] Reference numeral 404 denotes an image processing unit which performs shading correction and digital signal correction for correcting variations in the light amount distribution of the original illumination lamp and variations in the sensitivity of the light receiving unit 403 with respect to the image signal output from the light receiving unit 403. Perform level correction.

Reference numeral 410 denotes a storage device, for example, a RAM, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, nonvolatile memory card, silicon disk, etc.
And temporarily stores the image data output by the light receiving unit 403.

A CPU 405 operates based on a control program stored in the ROM 406 or a recording medium (not shown), and controls the image input device 400 as a whole. 40
Reference numeral 7 denotes a RAM which is mainly used as a work area and an image buffer during execution of various programs by the CPU 405. An operation unit 408 includes an LCD, an LED, a switch, and the like, and allows an operator to input various settings and display an error message.

[0007] A communication unit 409 is a host computer (server) 41 via a wired or wireless communication line 412.
It is possible to communicate with an information processing device such as the first information processing device.

The image input apparatus 400 can automatically feed a plurality of pages of the document placed on the apparatus onto a document table one by one by an automatic document feeder (feeder) (not shown).

A host computer (server) 41
1 includes a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM.
Alternatively, the image input device 400 can be controlled via the communication line 412 based on scanner driver software stored in another recording medium (hard disk, floppy disk, magneto-optical disk, or the like).

The operation of each unit will be described below.

An original on an original platen 402 is illuminated by an original illuminating unit 401.
When illuminated by the lamp, the reflected light from the original in proportion to the density of the original image is combined at the light receiving element of the light receiving section 403 through a mirror and a lens (not shown), and is sequentially decomposed into small points (pixels). It is converted to the strength of electricity (photoelectric conversion).

Thereafter, the image processing unit 404 corrects shading correction for correcting variations in the light amount distribution of the original illumination lamps, variations in the sensitivity of the light receiving element, and the like, and corrects the level of the digital signal. Then, the communication unit 409 controls the server 41 via the communication line 412.
Send to 1.

Hereinafter, an image input processing operation by a conventional image input device will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an image input processing procedure by the conventional image input device. Note that S50
1 to S510 indicate each step.

First, in step S501, the server 411 for storing the input image data is operated by the operation unit 408.
Specify by. Next, in step S502, a file name of the image data to be stored in the server 411 is designated by the operation unit 408. Further, step S503
, An image reading condition such as a resolution or a size of a document is set by the operation unit 408.

Next, in step S504, a scan start instruction is waited, and reading of an image is started by the scan start instruction.

Next, in step S505, a service session for storing image data in the server 411 is opened. In step S506, the image data is fetched. In step S507, the fetched image data is temporarily stored in the storage device 410. I do.

In step S508, it is determined whether reading of all documents has been completed. If it is determined that reading of all documents has not been completed, the process returns to step S506.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S508 that reading of all the originals has been completed, the process proceeds to step S50.
In step 9, the image data temporarily stored in the storage device 410 is stored in the server 411.

Next, in step S510, the service session with the server 411 is closed, and the process ends.

[0021]

However, in the above conventional example, when a large number of documents are to be scanned, each image input device operates independently even if a plurality of image input devices are available. Therefore, there were the following problems.

(1) Even if the data read by a plurality of image input devices is to be stored in the server 411 in a file format that supports a plurality of pages in one file, for example, a multi-page TIFF format, the data stored in the server 411 Is a separate file for each image input device. Therefore, there is a problem in that a complicated operation of linking the files for each image input device by a user is necessary to make one document. Was.

(2) Alternatively, there is a problem that the server 411 needs to execute dedicated software for linking image data sent from each image input device to one document. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and the objects of the first to fifth inventions according to the present invention are embodied by the own apparatus and a plurality of other image input devices. The operation unit specifies the storage order of the image data to be stored in the server, and controls the own device and the other image input devices to take in the image data in the specified storage order. Automatically storing, in a server, image data captured from a plurality of image input devices as a single document by sequentially transmitting a plurality of image data sequentially captured by the image input device to the server as one image data. And a control method and a storage medium for the image input device.

[0025]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of other image input devices (second to Nth image input devices 103 to 105 shown in FIG. 1) and a storage device (FIG. 1). Input device (FIG. 1) capable of communicating with the server 101 shown in FIG. 1 via a predetermined communication medium (the network 106 shown in FIG. 1).
(First image input device 102 shown in FIG. 2), a capturing means (document illumination unit 20 shown in FIG. 2) for capturing image data.
1, the light receiving unit 203 is controlled by the automatic document feeder
2) or image data is taken in from a document placed directly on the document table 202 by the user), and the order of storing image data taken in by the taking means and the other plurality of image input devices in the storage device. (Operation unit 208 shown in FIG. 2), and a control unit (control unit) for controlling image data to be captured by the capturing unit and the plurality of other image input devices in the storage order specified by the specifying unit. CPU 205 shown in FIG.
Performs control processing based on a program stored in the ROM 206 or another storage medium (not shown)), and sequentially converts a plurality of image data sequentially captured by the capturing means and the other plurality of image input devices into one image data. Transmission means for transmitting to the storage device (C shown in FIG. 2)
The PU 205 performs a transmission process via the communication unit 209 based on a program stored in the ROM 206 or another storage medium (not shown)).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of image input devices (second to Nth image input devices 103 to 1 shown in FIG. 1) each including a storage device for storing the captured image data.
05) and an image input device (the first image input device 102 shown in FIG. 1) capable of communicating with the storage device (the server 101 shown in FIG. 1) via a predetermined communication medium (the network 106 shown in FIG. 1). Means for taking in data (the document illuminating unit 201 and the light receiving unit 203 shown in FIG. 2 are fed to the document table 202 by the automatic document feeder or directly take image data from a document placed on the document table 202 by the user) Storage means for storing image data captured by the capture means (storage device 210 shown in FIG. 2), and storage of image data captured by the capture means and the plurality of other image input devices in the storage device A designating unit (an operation unit 208 shown in FIG. 2) for designating an order; and image data to be stored in each storage device by the plurality of other image input devices. Control means for controlling to simultaneously start the capture processing, and for sequentially capturing image data from the storage means or the storage devices of the plurality of other image input devices in the order designated by the designation means ( The CPU 205 shown in FIG. 2 performs control processing based on a program stored in the ROM 206 or another storage medium (not shown)) and a plurality of image data sequentially captured by the capturing means and the other plurality of image input devices. Transmission means for sequentially transmitting image data to the storage device (the CPU 205 shown in FIG.
Transmission processing is performed via the communication unit 209 based on a program stored in the storage unit 206 or another storage medium (not shown).
And

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the transmitting means sequentially connects a plurality of image data sequentially captured by the capturing means and the other plurality of image input devices to one image data, and The transmitted image data is transmitted to the storage device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling an image input device capable of communicating with another plurality of image input devices and a storage device via a predetermined communication medium. A designating step (step S305 in FIG. 3) for designating the order in which the image data taken in by the image input device is stored in the storage device, and the image data stored by the own device and the other image input devices in the designated storage order. A capturing step for capturing data (step S30 in FIG. 3)
9) and a transmission step (step S310 in FIG. 3) of sequentially transmitting a plurality of image data sequentially captured by the own apparatus and the other plurality of image input apparatuses to the storage apparatus as one image data. is there.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image input device capable of communicating with another plurality of image input devices and a storage device via a predetermined communication medium, including its own device and the other plurality of image input devices. (Step S305 in FIG. 3) for specifying the storage order of the image data taken in by the storage device in the storage device, and the image data is taken in by the own device and the plurality of other image input devices in the specified storage order. A capturing step (Step S309 in FIG. 3) and a transmitting step (Step in FIG. 3) in which a plurality of image data sequentially captured by the own apparatus and the other plurality of image input apparatuses are sequentially transmitted as one image data to the storage apparatus. S31
0) is stored in a storage medium in a computer-readable manner.

[0030]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of an image input system to which the image input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a server, which is a computer for storing image information and the like to be shared between computers connected to the network 106.

Reference numerals 102, 103, 104, and 105 denote a first image input device, a second image input device, and an (N-1) th image input device, respectively.
The image input device and the Nth image input device are for optically reading an image of a document and converting the image into an electric signal.
The network 106 is for performing communication between the server 101 and the first to Nth image input devices 102 to 105 connected via a wired or wireless network, such as an Ethernet network.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the control configuration of the image input system shown in FIG. 1. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Here, the first to N-th image input devices 102 to
105 has the same configuration, and the first image input device 102 will be described in detail below.

In the image input apparatus 102, reference numeral 201 denotes a document illuminating unit which illuminates (scans) a document on a document table 202 with a lamp. Reference numeral 203 denotes a light receiving unit, which combines reflected light from the original in proportion to the density of the original image illuminated by the original illuminating unit 201 via a not-shown mirror, lens, or the like by a light receiving element unit, and sequentially forms small points (pixels). And at the same time, output an image signal converted (electrically converted) into high and low levels of electricity.

Reference numeral 204 denotes an image processing unit which performs shading correction and digital signal correction for correcting variations in the light amount distribution of the original illumination lamp and variations in the sensitivity of the light receiving unit 203 with respect to the image signal output from the light receiving unit 203. Perform level correction.

Reference numeral 210 denotes a storage device such as a RAM, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a nonvolatile memory card, and a silicon disk.
And temporarily stores the image data output by the light receiving unit 203.

A CPU 205 operates based on a control program stored in the ROM 206 or a recording medium (not shown), and controls the image input device 102 as a whole. 20
Reference numeral 7 denotes a RAM, which is mainly used as a work area and an image buffer during execution of various programs by the CPU 205. An operation unit 208 includes an LCD, an LED, a switch, and the like, and allows an operator to input various settings and display an error message. A communication unit 209 can communicate with the server 101 via the network 106.

The first to N-th image input devices 102 to 1
Reference numeral 05 denotes an automatic document feeder (feeder) (not shown) that automatically prints a plurality of pages of documents placed on the apparatus.
Pages can be sent on the document table 202 one by one.

The first to N-th image input devices 102 to 1
The printing unit 05 may include a printing unit that prints out image data processed by the image processing unit 204 on a recording medium.

The operation of each section will be described below.

An original on an original table 202 is illuminated by an original illuminating unit 201.
When illuminated by the lamp, the reflected light from the original in proportion to the density of the original image is combined at the light receiving element of the light receiving section 203 through a mirror and a lens (not shown), and is sequentially decomposed into small points (pixels). It is converted to the strength of electricity (photoelectric conversion).

Thereafter, the image processing unit 204 corrects shading correction for correcting variations in the light amount distribution of the original illumination lamps and variations in the sensitivity of the light receiving element and the level of the digital signal, and temporarily stores them in the storage device 210. I do.

The server 101 includes a CPU, a RAM,
A storage device such as a ROM, a hard disk or a magneto-optical disk is provided, and the CPU is connected via the network 106 based on scanner driver software stored in the ROM or another recording medium (hard disk, floppy disk, magneto-optical disk, etc.). The first to Nth image input devices 102 to 105 can be controlled.

The server 101 can also be used as a storage device for storing image data transferred from the first to Nth image input devices 102 to 105 in a storage device.

Hereinafter, a case where N image input devices (first to N-th image input devices 102 to 105) are available will be considered.

A document composed of a plurality of pages is divided into N parts, and the divided documents are sequentially placed in the first image input device 1
02 to the N-th image input device 105.

Next, the first image input device 102 controls each of the image input devices (second to Nth image input devices 103 to 105), reads the image data captured by each device into its own device, and connects the image data. Then, the image data is stored in the server 101.

Hereinafter, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The control operation of the image input device of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a first control processing procedure of the image input apparatus of the present invention. In the first image input apparatus 102, the CPU 205 shown in FIG.
The program is executed based on a program stored in the storage medium 206 or another storage medium (not shown). Note that S30
1 to S314 indicate each step.

First, in step S301, a server in which the input image data is to be stored is designated by the operation unit 208. Next, in step S302, the file name of the image data to be stored in the server specified in step S301 is specified by the operation unit 208, and
In step 303, image reading conditions such as resolution and size of a document are set.

Next, in step S304, an image input device to which the image data is to be connected is specified. Further, in step S305, the order in which the image data transferred from each image input device specified in step S304 is to be connected is determined. specify.

Next, in step S306, the process waits for a scan start instruction, and starts reading an image according to the scan start instruction.

First, in step S307, a service session for storing image data in the server specified in step S301 is opened.

Next, in step S308, the variable L
Is set to 1 and the number of image input devices to be used is set to a variable M.

Next, in step S309, image data is fetched from the L-th image input device. At this time, the L-th image input device feeds the image data from the original placed on the original platen 202 by the automatic original feeder or receives the image data from the original placed directly on the original platen 202 by the user according to the instruction from the first image input device. Transfer to one image input device.

Next, in step S310, the image data captured by the L-th image input device is stored in step S301.
Store to the server specified in.

Next, in step S311, it is determined whether or not reading of all documents by the L-th image input device has been completed. If it is determined that reading of all documents has not been completed yet, It returns to the process of step S309.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S311 that reading of all the originals by the L-th image input apparatus has been completed, the variable L is incremented (L = L + 1) in step S312, and in step S313
Determine whether the variable L is greater than the variable M (L> M),
If it is determined that the variable L is not larger than the variable M, the process returns to step S309.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S313 that the variable L is larger than the variable M (L> M), in step S314, the service session with the server specified in step S301 is closed, and the process ends. .

According to the above-described processing, in a system for capturing image information into a host computer (server) using a plurality of image input devices, storage means for storing image data, and the image information captured from each image input device. The order in which the stored image data is stored in the storage device of the host computer (server), and controls each image input device;
By capturing image data in a designated order and storing the captured image data in a host computer (server), the image data captured from a plurality of image input devices can be finally converted into one document. it can.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment,
Although the image data was transferred to the server every time the image data was acquired, if each image input device had a storage device for temporarily storing the image data, for example, the storage device 210, each image input device Scanning is performed and image data is stored in the storage device 210 in advance, and the first image input device 1
02 sequentially obtains image data from each image input device,
You may comprise so that it may be stored in a server sequentially. Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described.

Hereinafter, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The control operation of the image input device of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a second control processing procedure of the image input apparatus according to the present invention. In the first image input apparatus 102, the CPU 205 shown in FIG.
The program is executed based on a program stored in the storage medium 206 or another storage medium (not shown). Note that S40
1 to S417 indicate each step.

First, in step S401, the operation unit 208 specifies a server in which the input image data is to be stored. Next, in step S402, a file name of the image data to be stored in the server specified in step S401 is specified by the operation unit 208, and
In step 403, image reading conditions such as resolution and document size are set.

Next, in step S404, an image input device to which the image data is to be connected is designated. In step S405, the order in which the image data transferred from each of the image input devices specified in step S404 is to be connected is determined. specify.

Next, in step S406, a scan start instruction is waited, and reading of an image is started by the scan start instruction.

First, in step S 407, all the image input devices designated in step S 404 are instructed to start capturing image data.

In response to this instruction, the second to L image input devices capture the image data according to the instruction from the first image input device, and temporarily store the captured image data in the storage device 210.

Next, in step S408, the image data is fetched by itself, and in step S409, the fetched image data is temporarily stored in the storage device 210.

Next, in step S410, it is determined whether reading of all documents has been completed. If it is determined that reading of all documents has not been completed,
The process returns to step S408.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S410 that reading of all originals has been completed, the process proceeds to step S41.
Proceed to 1.

Next, in step S411, a service session for storing image data in the server specified in step S401 is opened.

Next, in step S412, the variable L
Is set to 1 and the number of image input devices to be used is set to a variable M.

Next, in step S413, the L-th image input device requests the L-th image input device to transfer the image data that has been captured and temporarily stored in the storage device. Acquire (receive) the captured image data.

In response to the image data transfer instruction, the L-th image input device transfers the image data temporarily stored in the storage device to the first image input device 102.

Next, in step S414, the image data is stored in the server specified in step S401.

Next, in step S415, the variable L
Is incremented (L = L + 1), and step S416 is performed.
It is determined whether or not the variable L is greater than the variable M (L> M). If it is determined that the variable L is not greater than the variable M, the process returns to step S413.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S 416 that the variable L is larger than the variable M (L> M), in step S 417, the service session with the server specified in step S 401 is closed, and the process ends. .

With the above processing, each image input device can operate in parallel, so that the time required for image input can be reduced.

[Other Embodiments] In the second embodiment,
Each image input device scans in parallel and stores image data in the storage device 210 in advance, and the first image input device 102 acquires image data from each image input device,
After the connection, the connected image data may be stored in the server.

Further, in the first embodiment, the image input system connected by the network 106 has been described.
For example, they may be configured so as to be directly connected to each other by a Centronics interface, SCSI, or the like.

Further, in step S305 in FIG. 3 and step S405 in FIG.
08, the order of transfer from each image input device to the server has been specified. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be set remotely from the server 101 or another computer (not shown) capable of communicating with the network 106. May be configured.

As described above, since the image input device is provided with the specifying means for specifying the order in which the image data taken from each image input device is stored in the server, the image data can be distributed and input by a plurality of image input devices. Image data can be stored in the server as one document.

When a storage device is provided for each image input device, each image input device can perform a scanning operation in parallel, and the time required for image input can be reduced.

Further, in the first embodiment, the case where the connection order of the image data taken in by each image input device is specified (step S305 in FIG. 3), but the page described in the header or footer of the document is described. The numbers may be read and the pages may be automatically linked in the order of the pages.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program that can be read by the image input device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs readable by the image input device according to the present invention.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, a creator, etc. are also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, for example, a program is stored in the storage medium. An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. Also, if the programs and data to be installed are compressed,
A program for decompressing may also be stored.

The functions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. And in that case, CD-ROM, flash memory, FD
The present invention is applicable even when a group of information including a program is supplied to an output device from a storage medium such as the above or from an external storage medium via a network.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

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

Examples of a storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, and C
DR, DVD-ROM, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, silicon disk and 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. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes 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, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or the apparatus, the system or the apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. .

Further, by reading and reading a program represented by software for achieving the present invention from a database on a network by a communication program, the system or apparatus can be
It is possible to enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0100]

As described above, according to the first and third aspects of the present invention, the storage order of the image data captured by the capturing means and the plurality of other image input devices in the storage device is specified. Means, and the control means controls the capturing means to capture image data by the capturing means and the plurality of other image input devices in the storage order specified by the specifying means, and the capturing means and the other plurality of images The transmitting unit sequentially transmits a plurality of image data sequentially captured by the input device to the storage device as one image data, so that the image data distributed and input by the plurality of image input devices can be stored as one document in the server. .

According to the second aspect, the designating means designates the order in which the image data taken in by the taking-in means and the plurality of other image input devices are stored in the storage device, and the order in which the image data is taken in by the other plurality of image input devices. A storage unit for controlling the image data capturing processes to the storage device to start simultaneously, and storing the image data captured by the capturing unit in the order specified by the specifying unit, or the other plurality of image input devices; The control means controls the image data to be sequentially captured from the storage device, and sequentially transmits the plurality of image data sequentially captured by the capturing means and the other plurality of image input devices to the storage device as one image data. Transmits image data distributed and input by a plurality of image input devices as one document to the server. It is possible to store a plurality of image input device can be operated in parallel, it is possible to shorten the time required for image input.

According to the fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention, the storage order of the image data taken in by the own device and the plurality of other image input devices is specified in the storage device, and the own device is specified in the specified storage order. And the image data is captured by the plurality of other image input devices, and the plurality of image data sequentially captured by the own device and the other plurality of image input devices are sequentially transmitted to the storage device as one image data. The image data distributed and input by the image input device can be stored in the server as one document.

Therefore, there is an effect that image data taken in from a plurality of image input devices can be automatically stored in the server as one final document.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image input system to which an image input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the image input system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first control processing procedure of the image input apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second control processing procedure of the image input apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the image input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image input system to which a conventional image input device is applied.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an image input processing procedure by a conventional image input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Server 102 First Image Input Device 103 Second Image Input Device 104 (N-1) th Image Input Device 105 Nth Image Input Device 106 Network 201 Document Illumination Unit 202 Document Plate 203 Light Reception Unit 204 Image Processing Unit 205 CPU 206 ROM 207 RAM 208 Operation unit 209 Communication unit 210 Storage device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image input device capable of communicating with another plurality of image input devices and a storage device via a predetermined communication medium, a capture unit for capturing image data, the capture unit and the other plurality of image inputs. A designation unit for designating an order in which image data to be taken in by the device is stored in the storage device; and an image data to be taken in by the acquisition unit and the plurality of other image input devices in a storage order designated by the designation unit. Control means for controlling; and transmitting means for sequentially transmitting a plurality of image data sequentially captured by the capturing means and the other plurality of image input devices to the storage device as one image data. Image input device. 2. An image input device capable of communicating with a plurality of other image input devices and a storage device via a predetermined communication medium, the image input device including a storage device for storing the captured image data. A storage unit configured to store image data captured by the capturing unit; a designating unit configured to specify a storage order of the image data captured by the capturing unit and the plurality of other image input devices in the storage device; Control is performed so as to simultaneously start the image data capture processing to each storage device by the other plurality of image input devices, and in the order specified by the specifying unit, the storage unit or the other plurality of image input devices Control means for controlling to sequentially take in image data from a storage device; An image input apparatus characterized by comprising: a transmitting means for transmitting to sequentially said storage device sequentially plurality of image data captured by the image input device as one of the image data. 3. The transmitting unit sequentially connects a plurality of image data sequentially captured by the capturing unit and the other plurality of image input devices to one image data, and combines the one connected image data with the image data. 3. The image input device according to claim 1, wherein the image is transmitted to a storage device. 4. A method for controlling an image input device capable of communicating with a plurality of other image input devices and a storage device via a predetermined communication medium, the image data being captured by the own device and the other plurality of image input devices. A designation step of designating an order of storage in the storage device; a capturing step of capturing image data by the own device and the plurality of other image input devices in the designated storage order; Transmitting a plurality of image data sequentially taken in by the image input device to the storage device as one image data, a control method of the image input device. 5. An image input device capable of communicating with a plurality of other image input devices and a storage device via a predetermined communication medium, and storing the image data captured by the own device and the other plurality of image input devices. A designation step of designating an order of storage in the device; a capturing step of taking in image data by the own device and the plurality of other image input devices in the designated storage order; and a self device and the other plurality of image input devices A transmission step of sequentially transmitting a plurality of image data sequentially captured by the computer as one image data to the storage device, and a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-readable program.