JP2001223866A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To update accumulated time information when image information is transferred and to avoid the automatic deletion of the picture information. SOLUTION: In image processors 70 and 80, image information to which accumulated time is given is transferred between an inner storage device 94 and an outer storage device 95 of the image processor, and image information is automatically deleted when the image information transferred from the outer storage device 95 is the image information after prescribed time passes from accumulation time. When a means 60 selecting the image information to be transferred to any storage device selects the image information to be transferred to the inner storage device 94 from the outer storage device 95, the accumulation time of the image information is updated to present time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as a digital copying machine, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus having image storage means for storing image information. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus capable of automatically deleting old image information from the image storage means by adding storage time information to the information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a digital copying machine has a built-in semiconductor memory or a large-capacity hard disk for storing original image data to be copied. It is possible to do so, or to enable electronic sorting that outputs in page order. It is also possible to store image data read from a scanner or image data in which character codes are expanded (bit-mapped) on a large-capacity hard disk, and output the stored image data at a later date. When storing image data in the large-capacity hard disk, storage time (year, month, day, hour, minute) information is conventionally given as one of the attribute information of the image data. Since the image storage means has a limited storage capacity, old image data is deleted with reference to the storage time information. It should be noted that a method has been conventionally provided in which the deletion at this time is automatically performed in ascending order of the value of the accumulation time information. Also, when searching for image data from the stored data, the storage time information is also used when specifying the storage time and extracting the corresponding image data. Further, in the prior art, image data in the hard disk is transferred to a storage medium that is detachable from the digital copying machine, so that image information on the hard disk in the copying machine can be backed up or stored for a long time. That is, an external image storage device that reads and writes image information such as image data from a removable storage medium, image data read from a document, image data transferred from the external image storage device, and the like. Is provided with an internal image storage device for storing the image data. As a removable storage medium, a large-capacity storage medium such as a writable CD-R, a writable CD-RW, a large-capacity DVD, and a data tape is used. For example, an image processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2622376 is one of the image processing apparatuses described above, and stores information necessary for copying and an operation procedure program in addition to image data in a removable storage medium. And improved operability. Further, in the image processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-256269, not only image data but also date information storing the image data is stored in a removable storage medium, and the image data is stored on paper again. In order to speed up the retrieval of image data when outputting the image data to a computer.

[0003]

As described above, when storing image data in the image storage means, storage time information is added to the image data, and the image data is stored in the image storage unit in the order of older storage time value. Although the image data is automatically deleted from the means, the image data is transferred from the image storage means (internal storage means) fixed in the image processing apparatus such as a hard disk to a removable storage medium (external storage means). rear,
If you save the storage medium for a while and return the image data in it to the hard disk or the like again, the storage time information given to the returned image data is old, However, there is a problem that it is automatically deleted immediately after returning. Accordingly, the present invention provides an image processing apparatus which automatically deletes old image data stored in an image storage unit fixed inside, wherein the image data is stored in a removable storage medium from the image storage unit. After transferring the image data for a while, even if the image data therein is returned to the internal image storage means again, the returned image data is prevented from being returned and automatically deleted immediately. Subject. In addition, in the present invention, in consideration of the fact that old storage time information may be useful information, when returning image information read from the internal storage unit to the external storage unit, the second storage unit may inherit the old storage time information. Subject. It is a third object of the present invention to provide a simple means for preventing image data returned to an internal storage means from being automatically deleted immediately after being returned. If the state is fixed to eliminate the problem, an inconvenient situation may occur. Therefore, it is a fourth problem to secure an environment where it can be deleted when necessary. Furthermore, the present invention
In view of the fact that image processing apparatuses and personal computers for creating image data are often used by being connected to a network, it is possible to realize each of the above-described problems in an image processing apparatus that can be connected to a network. Subject.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for transferring image information having storage time information between an internal storage device and an external storage device of an image processing apparatus, and detecting the storage time information. Means, an image processing apparatus having means for automatically deleting image information that has passed a predetermined time based on the detected accumulation time information, and means for selecting image information to be transferred from any of the storage means, An image processing apparatus comprising means for updating storage time information of image information selected from an external storage device to current time information.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the transfer unit adds storage time information read from the external storage unit to the image information selected from the internal storage unit. An image processing apparatus for transferring.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a means for transferring image information having accumulation time information between an internal storage device and an external storage device of an image processing apparatus, a means for detecting the accumulation time information, What is claimed is: 1. An image processing apparatus comprising: means for automatically deleting image information for which a predetermined time has elapsed based on accumulation time information, wherein: means for selecting image information to be transferred from any of the storage means; An image processing apparatus comprising means for adding identification information for prohibiting automatic deletion to the image information obtained.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the third aspect, the transfer means deletes the identification information for inhibiting the automatic deletion of the selected image information from the internal storage device and transfers the image information. It is an image processing apparatus characterized by the following.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the third aspect, the storage time information of the image information added with the identification information for inhibiting the automatic deletion is updated, and the storage time information is updated. An image processing apparatus further comprising means for deleting the identification information.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the second to fifth aspects, information indicating image information read from an external storage device is used as identification information for inhibiting the automatic deletion. An image processing apparatus characterized in that:

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in an image storage device connectable to a network, a means for receiving image information to which storage time information is added, a means for detecting storage time information of image information, An image processing apparatus having means for automatically deleting image information for which a predetermined time has elapsed based on accumulation time information, comprising means for updating accumulation time information of received image information to current time information. Image processing device.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in an image storage device connectable to a network, a means for receiving image information to which storage time information is added, a means for detecting storage time information of the received image information, An image processing apparatus having means for automatically deleting image information that has passed a predetermined time based on detected storage time information, characterized by having means for adding identification information for inhibiting automatic deletion to received image information. Is an image processing apparatus.

A ninth aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to the eighth aspect, further comprising means for deleting the identification information for inhibiting the automatic deletion.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. With the configuration shown in the figure, the image processing apparatus of this embodiment includes an automatic document feeder (AD).
F) A document bundle is placed on a document table 2 above 1 with the image side facing up, and when a start key on an operation unit described later is pressed, the lowermost portion of the document bundle is fed by the feed roller 3 and the feed belt 4. The originals are fed to a predetermined position on the contact glass 6 in order from the original. It has a counting function for counting up the number of documents when the feeding of one document is completed. The image of the document on the contact glass 6 is read by the reading unit 20, and the read document is discharged by the feed belt 4 and the discharge roller 5. Further, when the document set detection sensor 7 detects that the next document is present on the document table 2, the document is fed onto the contact glass 6 in the same manner as the previous document. Also,
The transfer sheets stacked on the first tray 8, the second tray 9, and the third tray 10 are fed by the first sheet feeding device 11, the second sheet feeding device 12, and the third sheet feeding device 13, respectively. The sheet is conveyed by the conveying unit 14 to a position where it contacts the photoconductor 15. Then, the image data read by the reading unit 20 is written on the photoconductor 15 by the laser beam from the writing unit 27, and the developing unit 3
1 to form a toner image. Further, the toner image on the photoreceptor 15 is transferred onto transfer paper conveyed at the same speed as the rotation of the photoreceptor 15 by the transfer belt 16,
After that, the image is fixed by the fixing unit 17, and the finisher 40 as a post-processing device is
Is discharged. The finisher 40 can guide the discharged transfer sheet toward the discharge roller 42 or toward the stapling section. By switching the switching plate 41 upward, the sheet is discharged to the sheet discharge tray 44 via the sheet discharging and conveying roller 42, and by switching the switching plate 41 downward, the sheet is transferred via the conveying rollers 45 and 46. Thus, the sheet is conveyed to the staple table 47. The transfer paper stacked on the staple table 47 is aligned by a paper alignment jogger 48 each time one sheet is discharged, and is bound by a stapler 49 when one copy is completed. Then, the transfer paper group bound by the stapler 49 is stored in the stapling completed paper discharge tray 50 by its own weight. Note that the normal paper discharge tray 44 is a paper discharge tray that can move in a direction orthogonal to the paper conveyance direction.
Such a paper discharge tray 44 moves in the orthogonal direction for each original or for each number of automatically copied copies, and sorts out the discharged copy paper.

When images are formed on both sides of the transfer paper, the transfer paper fed from each of the paper feed trays 8, 9, and 10 is not guided to the finisher 40 side, but a branch claw for path switching. By setting 52 to the upper side, it is temporarily stocked in the duplex paper supply unit 51. Then, double-sided paper feed unit 5
In order to transfer the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 15 again, the double-sided paper feeding unit 51
After that, the sheet is re-fed, and then guided to the switching plate 41 by the branching claw 52 for path switching set on the lower side. The photoconductor 15, the transport belt 16, the fixing unit 17, the paper discharging unit 18, and the developing unit 31 are driven by a main motor, and each of the paper feeding devices 11, 12,
13 is driven by the driving force of the main motor being transmitted by the paper feed clutch. Further, the vertical transport unit 14 is driven by a driving force of a main motor being transmitted by an intermediate clutch. The reading unit 20 includes a contact glass 6 on which an original is placed and a scanning optical system. The scanning optical system includes an exposure lamp 21, a first mirror 22, a lens 23, a CCD image sensor 24, and the like. ing. Exposure lamp 21, first mirror 22, second mirror 25
The third mirror 26 is fixed on a carriage (not shown). This scanning optical system is driven by a scanner drive motor (not shown). The document image is read by the CCD image sensor 24, converted into an electric signal, and processed. The writing unit 27 includes a laser output unit 28, an imaging lens 29, and a mirror 30,
Inside the laser output unit 28, there is provided a polygon mirror (polygon mirror) that rotates at high speed at a constant speed by a laser diode and a motor as a laser light source.
A laser beam is output from the writing unit 27, and the laser beam is applied to the photoconductor 15 of the image forming system. Although not shown, a beam sensor for generating a main scanning synchronization signal is disposed at a position near one end of the photoconductor 15 where the laser beam is irradiated.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the operation unit 60. As shown, the operation unit 60 includes a liquid crystal touch panel 61, a numeric keypad 62, a clear / stop key 63, a print key 64, a preheat key 65, a reset key 66, an initial setting key 67, a copy key 68, and a copy server key 69. In addition, the liquid crystal touch panel 61 displays function keys, the number of copies, a message indicating the state of the image processing apparatus, and the like. By pressing the initial setting key 67 in the operation unit 60 configured as described above, the initial state of the image processing apparatus can be arbitrarily customized. Also, the size of the paper stored in the image processing apparatus can be set, the state set when the mode clear key of the copy function is pressed can be set arbitrarily, and the priority can be given when there is no operation for a certain period of time. It is also possible to set the application to be selected, set the transition time to the low power state according to the International Energy Star plan, and set the transition time to the auto-off / sleep mode. When the preheating key 65 is pressed, the image processing apparatus shifts from the standby state to the low power state,
The fixing temperature is lowered or the display of the operation unit 60 is turned off. By pressing the copy key 68, the content of the copy processing is set, and by pressing the start key 64, the original image can be copied. Copy server key 69
Is used to execute a copy server function for moving or copying image data stored in the internal image storage device to the external image storage device. The details of the copy server operation will be described later.

FIG. 3 shows the liquid crystal touch panel 6 of the operation unit 60.
1 shows a display example. This is a display example displayed when the copy server key 69 is pressed. When the user touches a key displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 61 in such a display state, the function indicated by the key is selected, and the key is inverted to black. When the details of the function must be specified (for example, when the printing conditions are specified), by touching a predetermined key, a setting screen for the detailed function is displayed. The liquid crystal touch panel 61
Since the dot display is used, an appropriate display suitable for the situation at that time can be graphically performed as described above. As described above, the display screen shown in FIG. 3 is a display example displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 61 when the copy server key 69 shown in FIG. 2 is pressed, and the display area has already been stored in the internal image storage unit. As image management information for specifying stored image data, a user ID (user identification code), a document name, the number of pages, a storage time, a printing order, and a size (data amount) are displayed. Since the user ID is assigned in the printer driver of the personal computer connected to this image processing apparatus, it is displayed only when the image is stored by the printer function.
A document name is given each time an image is stored. The number of pages is the number of stored document images. The storage time is the time when the image data was stored, and the printing order is the printing order given when printing the stored plurality of image data. Note that the displayed image management information is held in the nonvolatile memory NV-RAM, and the image management information is kept held even when the power is turned off. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the operation unit display screen is a key for copying image information (image data and image management information) to an external image storage device in which a removable storage medium is mounted [ Copy Document to External Media] key is displayed. Although not shown, a screen for transferring image information to an external image storage device, or for transferring or copying image information from an external image storage device to an internal image storage device such as a hard disk device can be displayed.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control device including the main controller 70 and the like. The illustrated main controller 70 controls the entire image processing apparatus. The main controller 70 includes an operation unit 60 for controlling display displayed to the user and input of function settings from the user, control of the scanner, control of writing original image data to the image memory, and control of image data stored in the image memory. An image processing unit (IPU) 80 for performing image formation control and the like, an automatic document feeder (ADF) 1, and the like are connected. Also,
Main motor 32 and various clutches 3 necessary for paper conveyance
4, 35, 36, 37 are also connected. As described below, the main controller 70 has a clock circuit 74 therein. FIG. 5 is a configuration block diagram of a main part of the main controller 70. As shown in the figure, the main controller 70 is a CPU 71, a ROM 72 storing a program to be executed by the CPU 71, a RAM 73 storing various data, and a clock means for clocking the current time. A clock circuit 74 is provided. Note that a part of the program may be stored in the ROM 72 and the other part may be loaded from the hard disk device to the RAM 73. FIG. 6 shows an image processing unit (IP
U) It is a configuration block diagram of 80 and the like. With such a configuration, the image processing unit 80 photoelectrically converts the reflected light emitted from the exposure lamp 21 by the CCD image sensor 24, and converts the reflected light into a digital signal by the A / D converter 81. The image data converted into the digital signal is subjected to shading correction by a shading correction unit 82, and then subjected to MTF correction, γ correction, and the like by an MTF / γ correction unit 83. Then, the image data that has passed through the scaling unit 84 is enlarged or reduced according to the scaling ratio, and flows to the selector 85. The selector 85 switches the destination of the image data to the writing γ correction unit 89 or the image memory controller 86. The image data that has passed through the writing γ correction unit 89 is corrected for writing γ in accordance with the image forming conditions, and is sent to the writing unit 27. The image memory controller 86 and the selector 85 are configured to be able to input and output image data in both directions. Further, a CPU 88 for setting the image memory controller 86 and the like and controlling the reading unit 20 and the writing unit 27, and a ROM 90, a RAM 91, and an NV-RAM 92 for storing programs and data thereof are provided. The CPU 88 can write and read data in the image memory 87 via the image memory controller 86.

The image data sent to the image memory controller 86 is compressed by an image compression device in the image memory controller 86 and sent to the image memory 87. Although it is possible to write the data of 256 gradations corresponding to the maximum image size directly into the image memory 87 without compression, the reason for compressing the image data in this embodiment is that the image compression is limited by the image compression. This is because the memory can be used effectively. Also, since many original image data can be stored at one time, for example, when using the sort function,
Document image data can be output in page order using the image memory 87. In this case, the image data in the image memory 87 is output while being sequentially expanded by the expansion device in the image memory controller 86. Further, the image memory 87 can be used to sequentially read a plurality of document image data into an area obtained by dividing the area of one transfer sheet of the image memory 87. For example, four original images are sequentially written into four equally divided areas of one transfer paper in the image memory 87, so that the four originals are combined into one transfer paper image and the aggregated copy output is obtained. It is possible to obtain. Such a function is generally called “aggregated copy”. The image data in the image memory 87 is stored in the CPU 8
8 is accessible. For this reason, it is possible to process the contents of the image data in the image memory 87, and for example, it is possible to perform a thinning process of the image data, a cutout process of the image, and the like. At the time of processing, image data is processed by writing control data to a register in the image memory controller 86. The processed image data is stored again in the image memory 87. The image memory 87
The image data to be processed is divided into a plurality of areas according to the size of the image data to be processed, so that input and output of image data can be simultaneously executed. To enable the input and output of image data to be performed in parallel for each of the divided areas, two sets of address and data lines for reading and writing are connected to the interface with the image memory controller 86. I have. Thus, an operation of outputting (reading) image data from area 2 while inputting (writing) image data to area 1 is enabled.

The image data of the image memory 87 is stored in the CP
U88 reads out the data through I / O port 93, and the operation unit 6
0 can be transferred. In general, since the screen display resolution of the operation unit 60 is low, the original image data in the image memory 87 is subjected to image thinning, and
Sent to 0. Since a large amount of image data is stored in the image memory 87, a hard disk device 94 may be separately provided for reasons of storage capacity. The use of the hard disk drive 94 also has a feature that image data can be retained permanently even when the power is turned off. In the configuration having the hard disk device 94, the image memory 87 and the hard disk device 94 constitute an internal image storage device as image storage means, and in the configuration without the hard disk device 94, the image memory 87 becomes the internal image storage device. . In order to read and hold a plurality of fixed originals (format originals) with a scanner, the hard disk device 94 is generally used. Also, as an external image storage means,
An external image storage device 95 having a removable storage medium such as a CD-R, a CD-RW, and a DVD having a larger storage capacity is provided. The external image storage device 95 is controlled by a bus by the SCSI controller 96, and executes writing and reading of image data. At the time of writing and reading, the image data is temporarily stored in the image memory 87 in order to absorb the difference between the processing speed of image formation and image reading from the scanner. That is, when writing the image data from the scanner to the external image storage device 95, the writing is always performed via the image memory 87. Further, the external image storage device 95
When sending the image data from to the writing unit 27,
Write unit 2 once stored in image memory 87
7 will be sent. Image memory 87 for storing image data, hard disk drive 94, external image storage 95
The image memory controller 86 determines the image path for reading and writing image data, inputting image data from a scanner (such as the reading unit 20), and outputting image data to be sent to the writing unit 27. FIG. 8 shows an example of combinations of input and output of image paths. CPU88
Determines the input source and output destination of image data,
An image memory controller 86 connected to 88 can switch the flow of image data.

The transfer timing of one page of image data in the selector 85 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 7, / FGATE represents an effective period of one page of image data in the sub-scanning direction. / LSYN
C is a main scanning synchronization signal for each line, and image data becomes valid at a predetermined clock after this signal rises. A signal indicating that image data in the main scanning direction is valid is / LGATE. These signals are synchronized with the pixel clock VCLK, and data of 8 bits (256 gradations) per pixel is sent for one cycle of VCLK. In this embodiment, the writing density on the transfer paper is 400 dpi, and the maximum number of pixels is 4800 pixels in the main scanning direction and 6 pixels in the sub-scanning direction.
800 pixels. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the closer to 255 the image data is, the whiter the image becomes. FIG. 9 shows an example of an operation screen of a copy application (copy of an original image) mounted as one of the applications of the image processing apparatus. Since the copy application is known, the detailed description is omitted. FIG. 10 is a system configuration diagram of the image processing apparatus. As shown, the means for processing the image data stored in the internal image storage device exists as a copy server application processing unit (abbreviated as a copy server application in FIG. 10) composed of hardware and software. Similarly, the same level of a copy application processing unit (abbreviated as a copy application in FIG. 10) and a printer application processing unit (abbreviated as a printer application in FIG. 10) composed of hardware and software. They can be activated as activation targets, and each operates independently. An operation unit 60 (see FIG. 2) that is a shared resource, an operation unit controller for controlling the operation unit, a peripheral device (for example, ADF1) and a peripheral device controller for controlling it, an image forming apparatus (for example, the writing unit 27, etc.) and it Image forming apparatus controller for controlling the
), The image reading device controller that controls it, and the memory unit are arbitrated by the system controller. Each of these controllers is realized by the main controller 70 and the IPU 80. Each application processing unit can write the respective operation screen information in a virtual screen area (memory area corresponding to a real screen) provided by the operation unit controller. The operation unit controller develops and displays the operation screen information of the virtual screen area instructed by the system controller on the real screen. When the external image storage device 95 is provided outside,
An external image storage device 95 is connected to a connection port of the SCSI controller 96 shown in FIG. 5, and the external image storage device 95 is controlled by the SCSI controller 96. In this embodiment, the read means and the read / write means described in the claims are realized by the external image storage device 95, and the transfer means are the image memory controller 86 and the CPU.
88, and a data bus or the like, and the time information updating means, the automatic deleting means, the identification information giving means, the prohibiting means, and the accumulation time giving means are provided by the main controller 70.
Is realized by: Further, the image information described in the claims is simply the image data or information including at least the image data. Further, in this embodiment, the main controller 70 performs location management data for managing image data of each image file stored in the image storage means such as an internal image storage device or a removable storage medium for each unit image, It creates image attribute management data such as file configuration information and storage time information for managing one or more images as an image file collectively, and image file list data (image file list data), and stores them in the image storage means. Is stored in association with the image data.

FIG. 11 shows a data structure of an information group including the location management data, image attribute management data, and image file list data created by the main controller 70. Such a group of information is stored in the storage medium in the hard disk device 94 or the external image storage device 95. As shown in FIG. 11, location management data is stored in the first area. FIG. 12 shows the configuration of the location management data. As shown in the figure, the information includes, for example, a block number, location information, and information indicating busy / free. The block number is a number obtained by dividing a continuous image data area in which a plurality of image data are stored into a plurality of blocks of the same size, and assigning each block. Assign consecutive numbers from the beginning in the order in which they are arranged. The image attribute management data area is a continuous area different from the image data area, and its block size is smaller than the block size for image data. The location information is information indicating the head position of each block, and is a serial number in which the storage area of the image storage means is assigned to a plurality of storage units (for example, a unit called a sector in the case of a hard disk) in an arrangement order. Is shown. Since the block size is fixed, only the location information of the first block may be set, and the positions of other blocks may be calculated from the block numbers. Also, "in use" means that valid image data is stored in the block. For example, "1" is set in "in use", and "0" is set in "free" state. Image file list data is stored in an area next to the area where the location management data is stored. For example, the file name of the image file stored in the image data area is stored. Also, pointer information indicating the head position of the image file having the file name is stored in association with each file name. Note that the user ID and the number of pages shown in FIG. 3 are also stored in the image file list data. The area following the image file list data is an image data area and an image attribute management data area, and stores a plurality of image data and the like. As shown in FIG. 11, image attribute management data is stored at the apparent head of each image file,
If the unit image forming the image file is a page image, the image data of the first page is stored next to the image attribute management data, and the image data of the second page is stored next. However, the areas where these are stored are not necessarily continuous. When storing image data, block numbers of a plurality of vacant blocks are acquired by referring to the location management data, and are sequentially stored in the blocks of the acquired block numbers. Therefore, if the acquired block number is skipped, the storage area of the image data of one file becomes discontinuous. If the image data of one page does not fit in one block, the image data of one page may be discontinuous. Therefore, the image attribute management data area contains 1
The block number of each unit image (page in this example) constituting the file is stored. FIG. 13 shows an example of the image attribute management data. In this example, one image file is composed of four pages. For example, one page has a block number 0.
01, and two pages are stored at 003, 00
This indicates that the data is stored in three blocks of 4,007. Although not shown, in the image attribute management data area, when image data is input from a scanner or the like, attribute information when the image data added to the image data is output on paper, for example, paper size information, Information indicating whether or not double-sided copying is performed, print mode information, search information, and the like are also stored.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, an operation when image data is transferred between a storage medium (for example, a CD-RW) mounted on the external image storage device 95 and the hard disk device 94 will be described in accordance with the operation flow shown in FIG. First, the user presses the copy server key 69 in the operation unit 60 and uses the displayed liquid crystal touch panel 61 to instruct which image storage device to transfer image data to which image storage device. Then, if the main controller 70 reads out from a storage medium such as a CD-RW in the external image storage device 95 and transfers it,
If the image file list data is acquired from the storage medium via the hard disk drive 94 and transferred from the hard disk device 94, the image file list data is acquired from the hard disk device 94. If the image file list data is not read for the first time after the storage medium is mounted and the image file list data is held in, for example, the hard disk device 94, the image file list data is acquired.
Then, the main controller 70 displays a list of file names on the liquid crystal touch panel 61 in accordance with the acquired image file list data (see FIG. 3; however, this screen is a screen for copying image data in the hard disk drive 94 to a storage medium). A), and one or more image file names to be transferred are selected from among them (S1). In this way, when the image file name is selected and it is recognized that reading and transfer of the image file has been instructed (S
2) The main controller 70 acquires the number N1 of image files to be transferred, that is, the number of designated image files (S3), and clears (sets) the number N2 of transferred files in a predetermined area of the RAM 73 to 0 (S4). ). Subsequently, the main controller 70 determines the number of transferred files N2.
It is determined whether or not has reached the image file number N1 (S
5). That is, it is determined whether or not all the transfer of the designated image file has been completed. Of course, the first
Since it is determined that the number of image files has not reached the number N1 in the second determination (No in S5), the main controller 70 acquires the location management data of the transmission source from the transmission source and transmits the read location management data. The image attribute management data of the transfer image file is acquired using the original image file list data (S6). Next, the main controller 70 determines whether the image data transfer is from the storage medium (for example, CD-RW) to the hard disk drive 94 or vice versa (S7). If the former (Yes in S7), the current time at that time is obtained from the clock circuit 74 in the main controller 70 (S8), and the accumulated time information in the image attribute management data read out in step S6 is obtained. Update to the acquired current time (S9). Also, referring to the location management data of the hard disk drive 94 (after reading it out if it has not yet been read out from the hard disk drive 94),
A free block number is obtained, the free block number is allocated as an image data storage area of each page of the transfer image file, and image attribute management data (image attribute management data read out in step S6, ie, Update the image attribute management data of the stored storage medium.

Further, the main controller 70 writes the image attribute management data in one of the allocated blocks, and writes the image data of the image file being processed through the IPU 80 in the other allocated block (S1).
0). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S7 that the transfer is from the hard disk device 94 to the attached storage medium (No in S7), the storage time information in the image attribute management data of the image file to be transferred is not updated. ,
That is, the storage time information read from the hard disk device 94 is added as the storage time information of the image file written to the storage medium at this time, and only the block number indicating the storage area is updated and the image attribute management data is written to the storage medium. Then, the image data of the image file being processed is written (S10). After that, when the transfer of one image file between the two image storage devices is completed,
The main controller 70 increases the value of the transferred file number N2 by 1 (S11), and returns to step S5. Then, it is determined whether or not the transferred file number N2 has reached the image file number N1 (S5). That is, it is determined whether or not the transfer of the designated image file has all been completed. If the transfer has not been completed (No in S5), steps S6 and subsequent steps are repeated for other image files.
(Yes in 5) Exit from this operation flow. Thus, according to this embodiment, when transferring an image file (image data) from an attached storage medium to an image storage means such as a hard disk device 94 fixed inside, the accumulation time information is updated to the current time at that time. Therefore, even if the oldest image file having the accumulation time information in the image file stored in the image storage means is automatically deleted, the returned image file is automatically deleted immediately after returning. Disappears. Further, when transferring the image file from the image storage means to the attached storage medium, the storage time information is not updated, that is, the storage time information given when the image file is stored in the image storage means is stored in the storage medium. Since the time information is added as the time information, the accumulated time information when the image file is stored in the image storage means can be used when deleting an old image file from the storage medium or when searching for the image file.

FIG. 15 is an operation flowchart of the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, an operation when image data is transferred between a storage medium (for example, a CD-RW) mounted on the external image storage device 95 and the hard disk device 94 will be described in accordance with the operation flow shown in FIG. First, the user presses the copy server key 69 in the operation unit 60 and uses the displayed liquid crystal touch panel 61 to instruct which image storage device to which image storage device the image file is to be transferred. Then, the main controller 70 operates the CD-RW in the external image storage device 95.
For example, if you read from a storage medium and transfer it,
If the image file list data is obtained from the storage medium via the U80 and is read from the hard disk device 94 and transferred, the image file list data is obtained from the hard disk device 94. Note that if the image file list data is not read for the first time after the storage medium is mounted and the image file list data is held in, for example, the hard disk device 94, the image file list data is acquired. Then, the main controller 70 displays a file name list on the liquid crystal touch panel 61 in accordance with the obtained image file list data, and selects one or a plurality of image file names to be transferred from the list (S21). In this way, when the image file name is selected and the reading of the image file and recognizing that the transfer is instructed (S22), the main controller 70 acquires the number N1 of the image files to be transferred (S23) and the predetermined area of the RAM 73. Clears (sets) the number of transferred files N2 to 0 (S2)
4). Subsequently, the main controller 70 determines whether or not the transferred file number N2 has reached the image file number N1 (S25). That is, it is determined whether or not all the transfer of the designated image file has been completed. Naturally, in the first determination, it is determined that the number of image files has not reached N1 (No in S25), and here, the main controller 70 acquires the location management data of the transmission source from the transmission source and reads the location management data. The image attribute management data of the transfer image file is acquired using the image file list data of the transmission source (S26).

Next, the main controller 70 is a storage medium (eg, CD-RW) on which image data transfer is mounted.
From the hard disk drive 94 or vice versa (S27). If the former (Yes in S27), specific identification information for preventing automatic deletion is set as one of the image attribute management data of the image file being processed (stored) in the hard disk device 94 (written). It is added to the image attribute management data acquired in step S26 (S28). The identification information is, for example, information indicating that the image information is image information (image data or management information thereof) read from a removable storage medium. The hard disk drive 94
With reference to the location management data (after reading from the hard disk drive 94 if not already read), a free block number is obtained, and the free block number is allocated as an image data storage area of each page of the transfer image file. In S26, the block number in the image attribute management data acquired is updated to the assigned block number. Further, the main controller 70 writes the image attribute management data with the updated block number or the like in one of the allocated blocks, and writes the image data of the image file being processed into the other allocated block via the IPU 80 (S29). ). On the other hand, step S2
7, if it is determined that the transfer is from the hard disk device 94 to the attached storage medium (N in S27)
o) Without adding specific identification information, simply update the block number indicating the storage area, write the image attribute management data to the storage medium, and write the image data of the image file being processed (S29). ). When the movement of one image file between the two image storage devices is completed in this way, the main controller 70 determines the number of transferred files N2
Is increased by 1 (S30), and the process returns to step S25. Then, it is determined whether or not the transferred file number N2 has reached the image file number N1 (S25). That is, it is determined whether or not the transfer of the designated image file has all been completed. If the transfer has not been completed (No in S25), steps S26 and subsequent steps are repeated for other image files, and if the transfer has been completed (Yes in S25). ) Exit from this operation flow.

Next, an operation for automatically deleting an image file according to the operation flow shown in FIG. 16 will be described.
In this embodiment, the illustrated operation flow is executed periodically (for example, every one minute). When the operation flow starts, the main controller 70 automatically deletes the registered image file. It is determined whether the deletion mode is set (S31). The user operates the operation unit 6
Whether or not to set the automatic deletion mode is set in advance by using 0. If it is determined that the automatic deletion mode is set (Yes in S31), the number M of image files registered in the hard disk drive 94 is acquired (S32). Subsequently, the main controller 70 determines whether or not the acquired number of image files is 0 (S33).
If it is not 0 (No in S33), it is determined whether the processing has been completed for all M image files (S3).
4). Then, since it is determined that the processing has not been completed at this point (No in S34), the identification information for automatic deletion in the image attribute management data of the first image file read from the hard disk drive 94 is checked (S35). .
In this way, for example, if it is determined that the information indicating the image information read from the removable storage medium is not set as the identification information, that is, if it is determined that the file is the automatic deletion permission file, (Ye in S36
s) The storage time information in the image attribute management data is obtained, and the current time at that time is obtained from the clock circuit 74 (S37). Then, it is determined whether or not a value obtained by subtracting the accumulation time from the current time is larger than a predetermined value A (A may be 0) (S38), and if it is larger than the predetermined value A (Y in S38).
es), a process of deleting the image file from the hard disk device 94 is executed (S39). In other words, old image files are automatically deleted.

Thereafter, the flow returns to step S34 to determine whether or not the processing has been completed for the M image files registered. If the processing has not been completed (No in S34), steps S35 and subsequent steps are repeated to terminate. If yes (Yes in S34), the process exits from this operation flow. When it is determined in step S31 that the mode is not the automatic deletion mode (No in S31), and when it is determined in step S33 that the registered image file is 0 (that is, no image file is registered), (Yes in S33),
Immediately exit from this operation flow. Thus, according to this embodiment, the image file (image data) transferred from the attached storage medium to the image storage means such as the hard disk device 94 fixed inside is not automatically deleted. Even if the image file with the oldest accumulation time information in the image file stored in the storage medium is automatically deleted, the image file returned from the storage medium is not automatically deleted immediately after returning. In the second embodiment, image data of an image file to which identification information for preventing automatic deletion is added is updated, for example, version (version) information or the like in the image attribute management data is updated. When the accumulated time information is updated to the current time at that time as a result of updating the search information or the like, the identification information in the image management data added to the image file is deleted. Thereby, after returning the image file from the removable storage medium, the trouble of manually deleting the image file for a part of the image file can be omitted.

Next, a third embodiment in which the configuration of various types of management information stored in the image storage means is changed will be described. In this embodiment, the main controller 70 stores image file list data, which is a list of image files stored in image storage means such as an internal image storage device or a removable storage medium, and image data in one unit image (for example, 1 unit image). Allocation data (FAT) managed for each page), file configuration information for managing one or a plurality of unit images collectively as an image file, and a cluster for managing the use state of blocks (clusters) constituting the unit images Information is created and stored in association with image data stored in the image storage means. Note that the allocation data is the first management information, and the file configuration information is the second management information (however, the image number that is a pointer to the allocation data included therein is also the first management information). The image file list data is the third management information (however, the file number that is a pointer to the file configuration information included therein is the second management information). FIG. 17 shows image file list data and allocation data (FA
T) shows a data configuration of an information group including cluster information and file configuration information. Such a group of information is stored in the storage medium in the hard disk device 94 or the external image storage device 95. As shown in FIG. 17, image file list data is stored in the first area. As shown in FIG. 18, the document name (document name) is stored as information of each record (each line) corresponding to each image file. The information to be displayed in the display area 106 shown in FIG. 3, such as a file name, a user identification code (user ID), and a storage time, and a file number assigned to each image file are stored.

FIG. 19 shows the structure of allocation data. As shown in the figure, one record (one line in the figure) is an image number assigned to each unit image (for example, one page) constituting the image file, and the first record in which the image data of the unit image is stored. Block (cluster)
(The address is a serial number assigned to each storage area obtained by subdividing the entire storage area into the same size in the arrangement order), and image size information indicating the number of blocks in each image unit. In the area following the allocation data, cluster information as shown in FIG. 20 is stored. As shown in the figure, each record is composed of information indicating use / vacancy and the address of the next block assigned for the unit image of the assigned image number. If there is no next block assigned for each unit image, for example, “END” is written. Also, in the example shown in FIG. 20, continuous blocks are assigned, but empty blocks are not always continuous, so that assigned blocks may be skipped.
The numbers on the left side shown in 20 are block numbers.
Also, "in use" means that valid image data is stored in the block. For example, "1" is set in "in use", and "0" is set in "free" state.
Note that instead of writing "END" to the last block,
An address value that does not actually exist (for example, 99999) may be written, and the address value may be regarded as the last block. Instead of providing a data area indicating whether the area is in use or empty, an address value that does not actually exist (such as 88888) is written in an area indicating the next block address, and such a value is written. Blocks may be considered to be in an “empty” state. In the next area, file configuration information as shown in FIG. 21 is stored. As shown in the figure, in each record corresponding to each image file, when the unit image constituting the image file is an image of one page, the image numbers assigned to each page are stored in the page order. Note that this area also stores, for example, file attribute information that is not displayed on the screen shown in FIG. 3, such as information used for printing. Next is an image file area in which image data of a plurality of image files is stored. If the unit image constituting the image file is a page 1 image, the image data of the first page is stored first, and the image data of the second page is stored next. However, the areas where these are stored are not necessarily continuous. When storing image data,
A plurality of vacant blocks are acquired by referring to the cluster information, and are sequentially stored in the arrangement order of the acquired blocks. Therefore, if the acquired block is skipped, the storage area of the image data of one file becomes discontinuous. If the image data of one page does not fit in one block, the image data of one page may be discontinuous.

With this configuration of the management data, this embodiment operates in substantially the same manner as the operation flows shown in the first and second embodiments. Hereinafter, an operation flow corresponding to FIG. 14, which is the first embodiment, will be described with reference to the operation flow shown in FIG. First, the user presses the copy server key 69 in the operation unit 60 and uses the displayed liquid crystal touch panel 61 to instruct which image storage device to transfer (move) image data from which image storage device to which image storage device. Then, if the main controller 70 reads out and transfers from the storage medium in the external image storage device 95, the image file list data, the allocation data, the cluster information,
If image data is read from the hard disk drive 94 and transferred, the image file list data, allocation data, cluster information, and file configuration information are obtained from the hard disk drive 94. If the image file list data and the like are not read for the first time after the storage medium is mounted and the image file list data or the like is held in, for example, the hard disk device 94, the image file list data or the like is acquired. Then, the main controller 70 displays the image file list information such as the file name on the liquid crystal touch panel 61 in accordance with the acquired image file list data (see FIG. 3, but this screen allows the image data in the hard disk drive 94 to be copied to a storage medium). Screen), a line corresponding to one or a plurality of image files to be transferred is selected from the screen (S41). In this way, when the image file is selected and it is recognized that the reading and the transfer of the image file are instructed (S42), the main controller 70 acquires the number N1 of the image files to be transferred, that is, the number of the instructed image files, and (S43), the number N2 of transferred files in a predetermined area of the RAM 73 is cleared (set) to 0 (S44). Subsequently, the main controller 70 determines whether or not the transferred file number N2 has reached the image file number N1 (S45). That is, it is determined whether or not all the transfer of the designated image file has been completed.
Naturally, in the first determination, it is determined that the number N1 of image files has not been reached (No in S45). Next, the main controller 70 determines whether the image data transfer is from the mounted storage medium to the hard disk drive 94 or vice versa (S46). If the former (Yes in S46), the main controller 70
The current time at that time is obtained from the clock circuit 74 in (S)
47), the storage time information of the image file being processed in the image file list data read from the storage medium is updated to the acquired current time (S48).

Further, various management information of the hard disk drive 94 is read, a necessary number of empty blocks (determined from various management information of the storage medium) is obtained by referring to the cluster information among them, and the empty blocks are transferred to the transfer image file. And the file configuration information, allocation data, and cluster information read from the hard disk drive 94 are updated in accordance with the allocation. Subsequently, the main controller 70
Obtains the file number of the image file being processed from the read image file list data of the storage medium,
The image number associated with the file number in the file configuration information is obtained, the image start address of the block associated with the image number in the allocation data is obtained, and stored in the block at that address. The image data is read through the IPU 80 and written in the first block obtained in the hard disk drive 94 (S49). Then, the address of the subsequent block is obtained by referring to the cluster information read from the storage medium, and further, the allocation data and the cluster information are used to obtain the address of the subsequent block according to the image number of the subsequent page obtained via the file configuration information. The address is acquired, the image data stored in the block of the address in the storage medium is sequentially read, and written to the acquired subsequent block in the hard disk drive 94 (S49). Further, the moved image files in the image file list data of the storage medium are moved to the image file list data of the hard disk drive 94. In addition, along with this movement, the file configuration information, allocation data, and cluster information of the storage medium are also updated. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S46 that the transfer is from the hard disk device 94 to the attached storage medium (S46)
No), the storage time information of the image file to be transferred is added as the storage time information of the image file written to the storage medium at this time without updating the storage time information of the image file to be transferred, that is, the storage time information read from the hard disk device 94. The management information of the hard disk device 94 is updated, and the image data of the image file being processed is read from the hard disk device 94 and written to the storage medium (S49).

Thereafter, the main controller 70 increases the value of the transferred file number N2 by 1 (S50), and returns to step S45. Then, it is determined whether or not the transferred file number N2 has reached the image file number N1 (S4).
5). That is, it is determined whether or not the transfer of the specified image file has all been completed, and if not completed (S45).
(No in S45) Repeat steps S46 and subsequent steps for other image files. In this way, as in the first embodiment, when transferring an image file from an attached storage medium to an image storage means such as a hard disk device 94 fixed inside, the accumulation time information is updated to the current time at that time. However, even if the oldest image file having the accumulation time information in the image file stored in the image storage means is automatically deleted, the returned image file may be automatically deleted immediately after being returned. Disappears. Further, since the storage time information is not updated when the image file is transferred from the image storage means to the attached storage medium, the storage time information given when the image file is stored in the image storage means is stored in the storage medium. Since then,
The accumulation time information when the image file is stored in the image storage means can be used when deleting an old image file from the storage medium or when searching for an image file. 23 corresponding to FIG. 15 of the second embodiment.
In the operation flow shown in FIG. 22, step S47 shown in FIG.
The operation is the same as that in FIG. 22 except that steps S48 and S48 are replaced with step S57. In step S57, specific identification information for preventing automatic deletion is set as one item of data to be added to the image file list data of the hard disk device 94 as image files stored (written) in the hard disk device 94. Give. The identification information is, for example, information indicating that the image information is image information (image data or management information thereof) read from a removable storage medium. The operation flow corresponding to FIG. 16 is the same in the case of the third embodiment. However, in the third embodiment, in step S35, the identification information for automatic deletion is obtained from the image file list data.

The above description is intended to prevent deletion of data to be stored when image data transferred from an external storage device is stored in an internal storage device in one image processing apparatus. However, in recent years, a plurality of image processing apparatuses are connected on a network, and exchange of image data is performed between these image processing apparatuses in many cases. This prevents the image data transmitted and received by the device from being automatically deleted.

FIG. 24 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system connected to a network. Print data created by an image forming apparatus 103 having a scanner or a printer function and a host apparatus 104 such as a personal computer is transmitted through a LAN 105 and a LAN 105. It is exchanged between image forming apparatuses through a parallel interface (I / F) 106. In addition, various types of information can be exchanged between these image forming apparatuses.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram of a control device mounted on the image forming apparatus. The basic configuration is the same as that of FIG. 4. In FIG. 25, a printer controller 100 and a LAN controller 101 relating to a network system are shown. , A parallel I / F controller 102 is provided. In FIG. 25, the main controller 70
As in FIG. 4, the entire image processing apparatus is controlled. The main controller 70 includes an operation unit 60 for controlling display displayed to the user and input of function settings from the user, control of the scanner, control of writing original image data to the image memory, and control of image data stored in the image memory. An image processing unit (IPU) 80 for performing image formation control and the like, an automatic document feeder (ADF) 1, and the like are connected. Further, the main motor 32 and various clutches 34, 35,
36 and 37 are also connected. The main controller 70 has a clock circuit 74 therein. Further, the main controller 70 includes the printer controller 10.
0 is connected, an externally input image and a command for print instruction are analyzed, a bit map is developed so that the image data can be printed, a print mode is analyzed from the command, and output to a printer engine (not shown). Determine the behavior of Further, it receives image information from a personal computer or another image forming apparatus, and receives an image processing unit IPU.
The data is stored in the hard disk drive 94 via the image memory in the memory 80. The printer controller 100 receives an image and a command via a LAN and a parallel I / F and operates the LAN controller 101 and the parallel I / F in order to operate.
By connecting the F controller 102, FIG.
A network connection with a personal computer or an image forming apparatus shown in FIG. As a communication means via a network, TPC / IP, which is widely used as a standard protocol of the Internet, can be used. Through this communication means, transmission and reception of machine configuration information and operation status of each image forming apparatus connected to the network, or control commands such as remote output and accumulation commands, and setting commands are also performed.

Here, a description will be given of a fourth embodiment in which when an image file stored in an image forming apparatus is transferred to another image forming apparatus on a network, the file is not automatically deleted at the transfer destination. FIG. 26 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of the image processing apparatus showing the embodiment of FIG. In a certain image forming apparatus 103 (or personal computer 104), image data having storage time information has already been stored in a hard disk device or the like (external image data storage processing in FIG. 26). When the copy server key 69 is pressed in the transfer source image forming apparatus, a list of the stored files and the transfer destination image forming apparatus is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 61, and the file to be transferred is selected from the list. The transfer destination image forming apparatus is determined. When the transfer instruction is detected, the main controller 70 obtains information such as the number of image files to be transferred and transmits a “file transfer request command” to the transfer destination image forming apparatus.
Issue Hereinafter, the processing is executed in the transfer destination image forming apparatus according to the flow of FIG. Although FIG. 26 describes the transfer of one file, the transfer of a plurality of files may basically be performed by repeating the one-file transfer operation. The transfer destination image forming apparatus determines whether or not the main controller 70 has received a file transfer request from the transmission source image forming apparatus (S61). If there is no file transfer (NO in S61), this process ends. If there is a file transfer (YES in S61), the main controller 70 transmits the location management data of the transmission source in preparation for accumulation of a new file. The location management data is acquired from the transmission source and set processing is performed (S62). When the setting process is completed, the receiving end notifies the transmitting end of the setting process, the transmission of the file is started in response to the notification, and the receiving side image forming apparatus receives and processes the image data of the file (S63). . Then, the image data is developed in page units so that the image data can be stored in the memory (S64).
The main controller 70 determines whether or not image development for one page has been performed (S65), and if it has not reached one page (NO in S65), returns to step 63,
Further, the reception, processing and image development of the image data are continued until the data reaches one page. When the image development for one page is completed (YES in S65), the image data of the page is stored in the hard disk 94, the location management data is updated, and the information written to the hard disk 94 is stored in the RAM 73 (S66). When the above processing is completed, the main controller 70 executes
It is determined whether the process has been executed up to the final image of all pages of the file, that is, whether a file registration request has been made (S6)
7) If the final image has not been processed (N in S67)
O) Returning to step 63, the above processing is continued until the processing of the final image is completed. Processing of the final image is completed,
When a file registration request is made (YES in S67),
Image attribute management data information including a file name, storage time information, and the like is obtained from the write information to the hard disk 94 (S68), and the current time is obtained from the clock circuit 74 (S69). Then, the storage time information of the image attribute management data information acquired at the current time is updated, and the file creation is completed by storing the information in the hard disk 94 (S70), and the process ends. According to the fourth embodiment, since the accumulation time information of the file transferred in this way is updated, when the file is transferred from the image forming apparatus connected to the network to another image forming apparatus, the file is not updated. Immediately after the transfer, the data is not deleted by the automatic deletion function based on the accumulation time of the transfer destination.

Further, a fifth embodiment for preventing the file from being automatically deleted at the transfer destination will be described. In the fifth embodiment, when a file is transferred from one image forming apparatus connected to a network to another image forming apparatus, the storage time information of the file is important in itself, and it is desired to update the information at the time of transfer. In some cases, the storage time information is not automatically deleted at the transfer destination without updating the storage time information. FIG. 27 is an operation flowchart of the image processing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. 27, image data having storage time information has already been stored in a hard disk device or the like in a certain image forming apparatus 103 (or personal computer 104) (external image data storage processing in FIG. 27). In the transfer source image forming apparatus, when the copy server key 69 is pressed, the liquid crystal touch panel 61 is pressed.
A list of stored files and transfer destination image forming apparatuses is shown, and the user selects a file to be transferred from the list and further determines the transfer destination image forming apparatus. When the transfer instruction is detected, the main controller 70 obtains information such as the number of image files to be transferred and transmits a “file transfer request command” to the transfer destination image forming apparatus.
Issue Hereinafter, the processing is executed in the transfer destination image forming apparatus according to the flow of FIG. Although FIG. 27 describes the transfer of one file, the transfer of a plurality of files may basically be performed by repeating the one-file transfer operation. The transfer destination image forming apparatus determines whether the main controller 70 has received a file transfer request from the transmission source image forming apparatus (S71). If there is no file transfer (NO in S71), this process ends. If there is a file transfer (YES in S71), the main controller 70 transmits the location management data of the transmission source in preparation for accumulation of a new file. The location management data is obtained from the transmission source and set processing is performed (S72). When the setting process is completed, the receiving end notifies the transmission source of the end of the setting process, the transmission of the file is started in response to the notification, and the receiving side image forming apparatus receives and processes the image data of the file (S73). . Then, the image data is developed in page units so that the image data can be stored in the memory (S74).
The main controller 70 determines whether or not image development for one page has been performed (S75), and if it has not reached one page (NO in S75), returns to step 73,
Further, the reception, processing and image development of the image data are continued until the data reaches one page. When the image development for one page is completed (YES in S75), the image data of the page is stored in the hard disk 94, the location management data is updated, and the write information to the hard disk 94 is stored in the RAM 73 (S76). When the above processing is completed, the main controller 70 executes
It is determined whether the process has been executed up to the final image of all pages of the file, that is, whether a file registration request has been made (S7).
7) If the final image has not been processed (N in S77)
O) Returning to step 63, the above processing is continued until the processing of the final image is completed. Processing of the final image is completed,
When a request for file registration is made (YES in S77),
From the write information to the hard disk 94, image attribute management data information in which a file name, accumulation time information and the like are described is obtained (S78). In the acquired image attribute management data, a specific identification symbol for preventing the automatic deletion is given as one of the image attribute management data information, and the file creation is completed (S79), and this processing ends. .
By setting the non-deletion information addition mode using the operation unit 60, the identification information can be automatically added to the image information received by the main controller 70. Become.

According to the fifth embodiment, specific identification information is added to the file transferred in this manner, so that a file is transferred from an image forming apparatus connected to a network to another image forming apparatus. In addition, the image forming apparatus receiving the file, without updating the original storage time information,
In other words, the deletion of the file is blocked while leaving it.

Furthermore, after the identification information for non-deletion of the image information is added at the transfer destination, a situation may arise in which the storage time information is newly rewritten and converted to the deletion target. In order to cope with such a situation, the identification information once given can be canceled. FIG. 28 is an operation flowchart for canceling the assigned identification information. The user presses the copy server key 69 in the operation unit 60, uses the displayed liquid crystal touch panel 61 to check which storage time information of the image information is to be updated, selects a file to be updated, and instructs an update. (FIG. 28). Then, the main controller 70 reads the designated file from the storage device 95 and determines whether or not the event is to update the accumulation time information (S81). If not (NO in S81), the process ends. , If that event (Y in S81)
ES), it is determined whether or not identification information for prohibiting automatic deletion is set (S82). If it is set (YES in S82), the main controller 70 cancels the setting of the identification information for prohibiting the automatic deletion in the image attribute management data (S83). Then, the storage time information in the data is updated with the current time (S84), and this processing ends. In step S82, if the identification information for prohibiting the automatic deletion is not set (N in S82).
O), the storage time information in the image attribute management data is updated (S84), and the process ends.

As a result, the file is released from the automatic deletion non-target file state set after the transfer, that is, the automatic deletion prohibition state, and can be handled as an automatic deletion target file.

[0041]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when image information is transferred from a storage device (external storage device) connectable to the image processing device to a storage device (internal storage device) of the image processing device, the image data is transferred to an external storage device. Since the old accumulated time information stored in the storage device is updated to the new current time information, the image information is not automatically deleted immediately after the transfer. Advantageous Effect of the Invention According to the second aspect: When transferring from the internal storage device to the external storage device, the old accumulation time information is used, so when deleting old image information from the external storage device or searching for image information , It can be determined based on that. According to the third aspect of the invention, when image information is transferred from a storage device (external storage device) connectable to the image processing device to a storage device (internal storage device) of the image processing device, identification information for prohibiting automatic deletion is added. With this simple method, it is possible to eliminate automatic deletion immediately after transfer. According to the fourth aspect of the invention, when transferring from the internal storage device to the external storage device, the identification information of the automatic deletion prohibition is deleted, so that it can be left as image information to be deleted, and can be deleted if necessary in the future. Can be According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, as a result of updating the image data of the image information to which the identification information is added, or updating, for example, version (version) information, search information, and the like in the data, the storage time information is currently updated. If the time is updated,
The assigned identification information can be deleted. Further, it is not necessary to manually delete a part of the image information. According to the sixth aspect of the invention: Since information indicating that the image information is image information read from the external storage device is used as the identification information, the identification information can be easily added. Effect of the Invention of Claim 7: In an image storage device connectable to a network, the same effect as the effect of the invention of claim 1 can be obtained. According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the same effect as the third aspect of the invention can be obtained in an image storage device connectable to a network. According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in an image storage device connectable to a network, image information can be left as a deletion target, and can be deleted if necessary in the future.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image processing apparatus according to each embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a main part of an image processing apparatus according to each embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a screen view of the image processing apparatus according to each embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a main part of an image processing apparatus according to each embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is another block diagram of a main part of the image processing apparatus according to each embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is another block diagram of a main part of the image processing apparatus according to each embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart of a main part of the image processing apparatus according to each embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of an image processing apparatus according to each embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is another screen view of the image processing apparatus according to each embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus according to each embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a data configuration diagram of a main part of an image processing apparatus according to each embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is another data configuration diagram of a main part of the image processing apparatus according to each embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is another data configuration diagram of a main part of the image processing apparatus according to each embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an operation flowchart of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an operation flowchart of an image processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is another operation flowchart of the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a data configuration diagram of a main part of an image processing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is another data configuration diagram of a main part of the image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is another data configuration diagram of a main part of the image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is another data configuration diagram of a main part of the image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is another data configuration diagram of a main part of the image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is an operation flowchart of an image processing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is another operation flowchart of the image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a schematic configuration diagram of a network system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 25 is another block diagram of a main part of the image processing apparatus according to each embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is an operation flowchart of an image processing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is an operation flowchart of an image processing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is an operation flowchart for canceling identification information according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

27 writing unit, 60 operation unit, 61 liquid crystal touch panel, 62 numeric keypad, 68 copy key, 69
Copy server key, 70 main controller, 7
1 CPU, 73 RAM, 74 clock circuit, 80 image processing unit, 85 selector, 86 image memory controller, 87 image memory, 88 CPU, 91 R
AM, 94 Hard disk drive, 95 External image storage

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme Court ゛ (Reference) (72) Inventor Hiroshi Masuyama 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Ryonosuke Miyazaki 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Claims (9)

[Claims] A means for transferring image information having storage time information between an internal storage device and an external storage device of the image processing apparatus; a means for detecting the storage time information; What is claimed is: 1. An image processing apparatus comprising: means for automatically deleting image information having passed a predetermined time, means for selecting image information to be transferred from any of the storage means, and storage time of the image information selected from an external storage device An image processing apparatus comprising: means for updating information to current time information. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer unit transfers the image information selected from the internal storage device by adding storage time information read from the external storage unit. 3. A means for transferring image information having storage time information between an internal storage device and an external storage device of the image processing apparatus, a means for detecting the storage time information, and a method for detecting the storage time information based on the detected storage time information. What is claimed is: 1. An image processing apparatus comprising: means for automatically deleting image information for which a predetermined period of time has passed, wherein: means for selecting image information to be transferred from any of the storage means; An image processing apparatus comprising: means for adding identification information prohibiting deletion. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer unit deletes the identification information prohibiting the automatic deletion of the selected image information from an internal storage device and transfers the image information. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
An image processing apparatus, further comprising means for updating storage time information of image information to which identification information prohibiting automatic deletion has been added, and deleting the identification information of the image information whose storage time information has been updated. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein information indicating image information read from an external storage device is used as identification information for prohibiting the automatic deletion. Image processing device. 7. An image storage device connectable to a network, comprising: means for receiving image information to which storage time information has been added; means for detecting storage time information of image information;
An image processing apparatus having means for automatically deleting image information for which a predetermined time has elapsed based on the detected accumulation time information, and having means for updating the accumulation time information of the received image information to current time information. An image processing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 8. An image storage device connectable to a network, a means for receiving image information to which storage time information has been added, a means for detecting storage time information of the received image information, and the detected storage time information Claims: 1. An image processing apparatus comprising means for automatically deleting image information after a predetermined period of time based on a received image information, comprising: means for adding identification information for inhibiting automatic deletion to received image information. . 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
An image processing apparatus further comprising means for deleting the identification information prohibiting the automatic deletion.