JP2001273333A - Digital composite machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital composite machine equipped with a document registering and managing function for allowing a reader to easily and quickly discriminate a registered document corresponding to a document for management. SOLUTION: In a synthetic picture for a document for management, the size of a reduced picture in the first page is made larger than the sizes of reduced pictures 101 in the other pages. Also, a margin area 102 for a memo for allowing a user to write down a memo is secured at the upper right corner of the synthetic picture. Moreover, the picture of an identification mark 103 is inserted into the prescribed position of the lower left corner of the synthetic picture. The reduced pictures 101 in the other pages are arrayed in the same size in the remaining areas other than the area occupied by the reduced picture 100 in the first page and the margin area 102 for a memo of the layout.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a document registration / management function capable of registering a document, creating a management document for managing the document, and searching for the document using the management document. Related to MFPs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital multifunction peripherals having realized functions such as copy, printer, and facsimile in one apparatus have appeared, and a digital multifunction peripheral has a large-capacity memory to provide a document registration / management function. What you have is provided.

One of the methods is to register a read document in a storage device, create and print a management document in which a registration code is combined with a cover image of the document, read the management document, and read the management code from the registration code. There is a system for searching for a desired registered document.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional document registration / management system, a management document is created by synthesizing a registration code with an image of a cover of a document to be registered. I can see only the cover of the registered document by looking at the document. For this reason, it is often difficult for a viewer of the management document to quickly determine which management document corresponds to which registered document.

In order to solve such difficulties, it is conceivable to reduce all the pages of the registered document at the same reduction ratio and arrange them together with the registration code in a one-page management document. In this case, it is excellent in that all or most of the registered documents can be browsed at once, but as the number of pages increases, the image of one page becomes smaller, so that it becomes difficult to see the contents of the document.
It is difficult for a viewer to instantly determine the contents of a document.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a digital composite provided with a document registration / management function that allows a viewer to easily and quickly determine a registered document corresponding to a management document. The purpose is to provide a machine.

[0007]

In order to solve this problem, a digital multi-function peripheral according to the present invention generates management information including at least a document ID for identifying the document when storing the image information of the document. While managing the image information together with the management information, an identification mark is generated from the document ID, and an image signal of a management document in which all or some pages of the identification mark and the image information are combined into one image is output. Then, the output control means reduces and arranges the image information in the composite image, and reduces the reduced image of the image information so that one specific page is larger than the other pages.

Thus, not only the cover but also other pages are included in the management document, so that it is possible to easily and quickly determine which document the management document corresponds to. further,
By reducing the specific one-page image information so as to be larger than the reduced image of the other page, the content of the reduced image of the specific one page can be more easily seen than the other pages, and the management document by the user can be obtained. Can easily search for a registered document.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A digital multifunction peripheral according to a first aspect of the present invention has a storage unit for storing image information of a document, and at least identifies the document when registering the document image in the storage unit. Document management means for generating management information including a document ID and managing the image information together with the management information; identification mark generation means for generating an identification mark from the document ID; and all pages of the identification mark and the image information Output control means for outputting an image signal of a management document in which some pages are combined into one image, wherein the output control means reduces and arranges the image information in the combined image;
In addition, the reduced image of the image information has a configuration in which one specific page is reduced so as to be larger than another page.

With this configuration, when registering a document, the user does not need to perform a complicated operation for specifying the registered document, such as inputting a keyword, so that the document can be easily registered. In addition, even if the time has elapsed since the registration of the document, since not only the cover page but also other pages are posted in the management document, only the cover page is posted in the management document and the cover page is not very characteristic. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation where the management document cannot be searched without remembering which registered document it corresponds to, and it is possible to easily and quickly determine to which document the management document corresponds by visual observation.

Further, by reducing the image information of one specific page, for example, the image information of the first page, to be larger than the reduced image of the other page, the reduced image of the specific one page becomes the reduced image of the other page. Since the size of the document is more easily viewable, the user can see the reduced image of one specific page to roughly approximate the corresponding document. Since it is easy to concentrate on the reduced image of the page and to easily view it, it is possible to efficiently perform the operation of determining which management document corresponds to which document.

Further, if a plurality of pages are listed in the management document, there is a case where the management document alone is sufficient without the need to output the registration document. In such a case, the registration document is unnecessary. This eliminates the need for output, thereby preventing waste of recording paper.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the first aspect, the image information of another page includes:
The reduced images of the specific one page of the composite image were reduced at the same reduction ratio and were arranged in the remaining area where the reduced images were arranged.

With this configuration, since the image information of all pages of the document is stored in the one-page composite image, the number of management documents is one. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a part of the management document is lost, such as a case where a plurality of management documents are lost, and cannot be searched or registered contents cannot be grasped. Further, since the reduced images of the other pages can be arranged neatly by making the reduction ratios of the other pages uniform, the management document can be easily viewed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the first aspect, a memo blank area is further secured in one composite image.

According to this configuration, a blank is provided for writing a memo in the management document, and necessary items in the management document can be described in the blank, so that information on the registered document is managed on separate sheets. When searching for a registered document, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of separately searching for a memo describing necessary items, thereby simplifying information management.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the digital multifunction peripheral according to the third aspect, the image information of another page is
The reduced image of a specific page of the composite image is reduced at the same reduction ratio, and is arranged in the remaining area where the memo blank area is secured.

With this configuration, since the image information of all pages of the document is stored in the one-page composite image, only one management document is required. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a part of the management document is lost, such as a case where a plurality of management documents are lost, and cannot be searched or registered contents cannot be grasped. Further, since the reduced images of the other pages can be arranged neatly by making the reduction ratios of the other pages uniform, the management document can be easily viewed. Furthermore, since a margin is provided for writing a memo in the management document, necessary information can be described in the management document in this space, thereby preventing information related to the registered document from being managed on a separate sheet. In addition, when searching for a registered document, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of separately searching for a memo that describes necessary items, thereby simplifying the management of information.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the digital multifunction peripheral according to the third aspect, the memo blank area is always the same size regardless of the total number of pages of the document.

With this configuration, even when the total number of pages of the document is large, a memo blank area of the same size is always secured, so that a blank space for a memo can be reliably secured in the management document. Necessary items can be described in the management document, and information management can be simplified.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the digital multifunction peripheral according to the third aspect, a reduced image of one specific page and a memo margin area are arranged in an upper half area of the composite image. Further, the reduction ratio of the image information of the other page is set so that the reduced images of the other page can be arranged in the lower half area of the composite image.

With this configuration, when searching for a desired management document from among a plurality of management documents, the size and arrangement position of the reduced image of a specific one page are unified, so that the same Since a specific page can be viewed by looking at the position, the work of searching for a desired management document can be quickly performed. It is particularly preferable that the specific one page be the first page of the registered document, since the user can search for a desired management document by relying on the first page (cover) of the document.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the digital multifunction peripheral according to the third aspect, the image information of a specific one page is reduced at a first reduction ratio, and the image information of the other page is the same as the image information of the other page. The document is reduced at a fixed second reduction ratio smaller than the first reduction ratio, and the memo area increases as the total number of pages of the document decreases.

With this configuration, when the total number of pages of the document is small, a large margin for memos can be secured in the management document, so that much information can be described in the margin.
When the total number of pages of the document is large, the memo margin of the management document can be reduced to prevent the reduced images of other pages from becoming excessively small.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the third aspect, image information of another page is reduced at a constant reduction rate regardless of the total number of pages of the document, and The image information of the page is converted into the specific one page according to the total number of pages of the document such that the reduced image of the other page is accommodated in the remaining area where the reduced image of the specific page is arranged in the composite image. Was made variable.

According to this configuration, the size of the specific first page is made variable depending on the total number of pages of the document. When the total number of pages is large, the reduction ratio of the image information of the specific one page and the image information of the other pages And the reduced image of the specific page can be given a strong impression, and the reduced images of the other pages can be maintained in a relatively easy-to-view size. If is fixed, the reduced image of the other page is too small, and after a certain amount of registration is given with the reduced image of a specific page, the management document corresponds to which document This makes it possible to prevent the task of narrowing down the task from becoming difficult.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the first aspect, a reduced image of a specific page is arranged in a composite image, a minimum area is reserved as a memo blank area, and the remaining area is reserved. The image information of another page is reduced and arranged at the same reduction ratio.

With this configuration, even when the total number of pages of the document is large, a minimum area is secured as a margin for a memo in the management document, so that necessary items can be described in the management document. Information management can be simplified.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the digital multifunction peripheral according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, reading means for reading image information of a document and storing the image information read by the reading means are provided. And a registration means for registering the information in the means.

With this configuration, when registering a document, it is only necessary to read the document by the reading means, and there is no need to perform a complicated operation for specifying the registered document such as input of a keyword. Registration work can be performed easily.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital multi-function peripheral according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, wherein
Document extraction means for retrieving an identification mark from an image signal acquired by reading the management document, recognizing a document ID from the identification mark, and extracting image information of a document corresponding to the document ID from a storage means. And

With this configuration, when the image information of the document registered in the storage unit is taken out, the image of the desired document can be searched and taken out only by reading the management document. It is not necessary to perform an operation for retrieving a document, such as inputting a document, and the operation of retrieving image information of a document in a digital multifunction peripheral having a small number of input keys can be extremely simplified.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the eleventh aspect, the document fetching means fetches only the image information of the specified page from the document corresponding to the document ID. .

According to this configuration, the document extracting unit outputs only the designated page instead of outputting all the pages of the image information of the retrieved document, so that unnecessary pages are output and recording paper is wasted. It can be prevented from being used.
Also, since only the necessary pages are output, it is possible to obtain the image information of the necessary pages faster than when outputting the image information of all the pages.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a digital multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the digital multifunction peripheral shown in FIG. 1, a scanner controller 3, a printer controller 4,
The AX controller 5 and the network controller 6 are connected. The operation of the image scanner unit 7 is controlled by the scanner controller 3, and the operation of the laser printer unit 8 is controlled by the printer controller 4.
Further, the facsimile controller 5 executes facsimile communication for transmitting and receiving facsimile data, and the network controller 6 exchanges data between the MFP (CPU 1) and the computer network 9.

Further, a storage device 12 is connected to the digital multifunction peripheral via an interface controller 11. The storage device 12 is a place where registered documents are stored, and its storage capacity is large enough to store a large number of documents. The storage device 12 is a secondary storage device such as a hard disk drive.

The management information and the document code for managing the registered document stored in the image file area in the storage device 12 are stored in the management information storage area in the storage device 12. The management information of the registered document includes a document ID, a size, a date, and other information given when the document was registered. The document code of the registered document includes a document ID and other information (for example, a device ID assigned to the digital MFP,
(User ID, manufacturer ID). The document code is converted into an identification mark composed of a specific pattern image. Device ID, user ID,
The manufacturer ID is stored in advance at a predetermined address in the management information storage area. The nonvolatile memory 13 is an additional memory, and the ROM 2 stores a program executed by the CPU 1.

An instruction from the user to the digital MFP is input from the operation panel 14. This operation panel 14
Has input means for inputting instructions and display means for providing various information to the user, and is constituted by, for example, a touch panel display. The touch display displays various buttons including a mode instruction button for selecting a document registration mode and a document search mode, in addition to the normal copy mode and facsimile mode.

When the user registers a document in the digital multi-function peripheral, the user selects the document registration mode. When the document registration mode is selected, the image read by the image scanner unit 7 is stored in the storage device 12 and registered as a document. More specifically, the image scanner unit 7 scans an image on a document table or an automatic document feeder, collects light on an image sensor, and outputs an analog image signal. The analog image signal is converted into a digital image by the A / D converter 15. Next, in order to improve the image quality, the digital image is subjected to gradation correction, MTF
Binary processing such as multi-level image signal processing including correction and pseudo halftone processing is performed. The binary image signal from the input image processing circuit 16 is input to the image compression circuit 18 via the multiplexer 17. The multiplexer 17 selects one of the image compression circuit 18 and an image cutout processing circuit 20 described later as an output destination of the binary image signal. The image compression circuit 18 converts the binary image signal into MH, MR, MMR, JB
Compressed in real time by a method such as IG
Enter 9 The CPU 1 stores the compressed image written in the main memory 19 in the storage device 12 as a registered document.

The image scanner unit 7 registers an image,
It is also used when taking out images. In this case, the multiplexer 17 selects the image cutout processing circuit 20 as an output destination of the binary image signal from the input image processing circuit 16. Thus, the binary image signal is passed to the image cutout processing circuit 20 without being compressed. The image cutout processing circuit 20 cuts out only an image signal having a specified width from the binary image signal. The cut-out image signal (hereinafter, referred to as an identification mark image signal) is stored in an identification mark image storage area on the main memory 19.

After storing the registered document in the storage device 12, a management document for later searching the registered document is created.
Specifically, a unique document ID is assigned to the registered document, and the document ID is combined with the device ID, user ID, and maker ID stored in the management information storage area of the storage device 12 to generate a document code. Generate. This document code is converted into an identification mark. Then, the identification mark is attached to a predetermined position of the image obtained by reducing and combining the first page or a plurality of pages of the registered document into one page.

When synthesizing a pattern image on the first page of the registered document, the compressed image of the corresponding page is read from the storage device 12 to the document image storage area on the main memory 19. This compressed image is expanded by an image expansion circuit 21, and the obtained binary image signal is output to a selector 22.

On the other hand, when pasting a plurality of pages to a predetermined position of an image reduced and combined into one page, the image decompression circuit 21 outputs a binary image signal to the image reduction / combination processing circuit 23. The image reduction / synthesis processing circuit 23 performs an electronic zoom process on the input binary image signal, and
The value image signal is written into the image synthesis memory 24. Further, a binary image signal is read from the image synthesis memory 24 and output to the selector 22. When writing the binary image signal to the image synthesis memory 24, the image reduction / synthesis processing circuit 23 not only writes the address by sequentially increasing the address, but also writes the address by sequentially increasing the address by the designated number, and then writes the address. By repeatedly skipping the designated number automatically and then sequentially increasing the designated number of addresses to start writing, data is written only in a partial rectangular area in a large image plane. This image reduction / combination processing circuit 23 reduces and combines a plurality of pages into one page.
A value image signal is created and output to the selector 22.

The selector 22 selects an output from one of the image decompression circuit 21 and the image reduction / synthesis processing circuit 23 and inputs the output to the output image processing circuit 25. The output image processing circuit 25 converts the input binary image signal into a multi-valued image signal and performs gamma correction for correcting output gradation characteristics. The multi-level image signal output from the output image processing circuit 25 is input to the pattern synthesis circuit 26.

The pattern synthesizing circuit 26 is supplied with bitmap data of the identification mark from the CPU 1. The pattern synthesizing circuit 26 creates a management document in which an identification mark is superimposed on a predetermined position of an image obtained by reducing the first page or a plurality of pages of the registered document into one, and the D / A conversion circuit 27 performs analog modulation on the laser signal. Then, it is printed out from the laser printer unit 8.

In this way, a management document composed of a part or all of the registered document and the unique identification mark is created. Note that a numeric string of a document code may be written next to the identification mark.

When the document search mode is selected by the user, the multiplexer 17 selects the image cutout processing circuit 20 as an output destination of the binary image signal from the input image processing circuit 16. As a result, the binary image signal is passed to the identification mark image cutout processing circuit 20 without being compressed. The image cutout processing circuit 20 cuts out only an image signal having a specified width from the binary image signal. The cut-out image signal (identification mark image signal) is stored in the identification mark image storage area on the main memory 19. The CPU 1 searches for the identification mark from the identification mark image signal stored in the identification mark image storage area, and analyzes the identification mark, if any, to recognize the document code. The registered document corresponding to the recognized document code is retrieved and retrieved from the storage device 12. The extracted registered document data is decompressed by the image decompression circuit 21, passed through the processes of the image reduction and synthesis processing circuit 23 and the pattern synthesis circuit 26, and output from the laser printer unit 8.

When the output destination of the search document is a network or a facsimile, it is output to the network controller 6 and the facsimile controller 5 and transferred therefrom to the final destination.

Next, the image reduction / combination processing in the image reduction / combination processing circuit 23 in the digital multifunction peripheral according to the above-described embodiment will be described in further detail.

In the digital multi-function peripheral according to the above-described embodiment, the ROM 2 stores a plurality of composite parameter tables. These synthesis parameter tables are:
Various parameters indicating a layout for reducing the image of the registered document of a plurality of pages and arranging them on one page are registered. The combination parameter table is used properly according to the total number of pages of the registered document. FIGS. 2 to 4 show specific examples of the combination parameter table, the layout of the combination image corresponding to the combination parameter table, and the size of the combination image. In this example, three synthesis parameter tables having a total page number of up to 5 pages, 6 pages to 10 pages, and 11 pages or more are prepared. Regardless of the layout of the composite image corresponding to any of the composite parameter tables, the size of the reduced image 100 on the first page is larger than the size of the reduced image 101 on the other pages. In other words, the reduction ratio of the reduced image 100 of the first page is higher than the reduction ratio of the reduced image 101 of another page. In this example, the reduced image 100 of the first page is shown in FIG.
4 have the same size in all layouts, the reduced images 101 of other pages are smaller as the total number of pages is larger.

In any layout, the user writes a memo in a part of the upper half area of the composite image, more specifically, in the upper right corner of the composite image and approximately one eighth of the page. A margin 102 (hereinafter referred to as a memo margin area) for writing is secured. This memo blank area 102
Are secured at the same position and the same size in any layout.

Further, in any layout,
The image of the identification mark 103 is inserted at a predetermined position in the lower left corner of the composite image.

The reduced image 101 of another page has the same size as the remaining area (hereinafter referred to as a remaining area) of the layout other than the area occupied by the first page reduced image 100 and the memo blank area 102. Are arranged. That is,
The reduced images 101 of other pages are reduced to the maximum size that can be arranged in the remaining area, and are evenly arranged. Therefore, as the total number of pages of the registered document increases, the size of the reduced image 101 of another page decreases.

In the document registration mode, the CPU 1 selects one of these composite parameter tables according to the total number of pages of the registered document, and sets the parameters (start position, main scanning width, sub-scanning width, The image is sequentially reduced from the first page and synthesized according to these parameters.

Hereinafter, a document registration procedure in the digital multifunction peripheral according to the above embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a document registration procedure in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the above embodiment.

When the document registration mode is selected on the operation panel 14 and a document registration request is issued (ST501), the CPU
1 reads a new document ID value from the document ID value storage area of the storage device 12. Further, the read new document ID value is incremented by one and set in the document ID value storage area (ST502).

Next, CPU 1 creates a document image file in storage device 12 (ST504). The file name of this document image file is a character string in which the read new document ID value is expressed in decimal notation. Thereafter, the CPU 1 instructs the image scanner unit 7 to read the first page of the document. The image signal read by the image scanner unit 7 is sequentially processed by the A / D conversion unit 15, the input image processing circuit 16 and the image compression circuit 18 as described above, and stored in the document image storage area in the main memory 19. Then, the data is further written to the image file area in the storage device 12 (ST50).
5). At this time, the CPU 1 instructs the image scanner unit 7 and the input image processing circuit 16 with the zoom ratio and the document size specified by the user from the operation panel 14. The image scanner unit 7 and the input image processing circuit 16 appropriately read a document based on the designated zoom ratio and document size, and perform image processing.

CPU 1 determines whether or not the document has a next page (ST506). If there is a next page, the total page number count value N is incremented by 1 (ST507),
Next, the process returns to ST504 to read and register the document of the next page (ST504, ST505). Thus, ST504 to ST508 are repeated, and all pages of the document are read and registered. Also, the total number of pages Nmax
To get.

Thereafter, the CPU 1 shifts to a procedure for creating a management document. First, CPU 1 selects a combination parameter table based on the total number of pages Nmax of the registered document (ST508).

Next, reduction synthesis processing is performed sequentially from the first page of the registered document. First, the parameters of the corresponding page are read from the selected composite parameter table (ST50).
9). Next, the CPU 1 executes the image reduction / combination processing circuit 23.
Instruct the user to set the position parameters of the start position (main) and the start position (secondary) (ST510). Further, CPU 1 instructs image reduction / synthesis processing circuit 23 to set the size parameters of the main scanning width and the sub-scanning width (ST511). Further, CPU 1 instructs image reduction / synthesis processing circuit 23 to set a rotation parameter indicating the presence or absence of rotation (ST51).
2). In accordance with the parameters set in ST510 to ST512, image reduction / combination processing circuit 23 writes the image signal of the relevant page received from image expansion circuit 21 in image composition memory 24 (ST513).

Thereafter, CPU 1 determines whether or not the registered document has a next page (ST514). If there is a next page, the process returns to ST509, and repeats the processing of ST509 to ST513 to perform the reduction synthesis processing of the next page. When the reduction synthesizing process is completed for all pages of the registered document, the CPU 1 reads out the document code from the management information storage area in the storage device 12, generates an identification mark, and stores the identification mark in the identification mark image storage area of the main memory 19. Store (ST51)
5). Next, the CPU 1 reads out the identification mark from the identification mark image storage area and inputs it to the pattern synthesis circuit 26. Pattern combining circuit 26 writes an identification mark at a predetermined position of the combined image (ST516). Thereafter, the composite image signal is analog-modulated into a laser signal by the modulation circuit 27 and printed out from the laser printer unit 8 (S
T517).

Next, a document search procedure in the digital multifunction peripheral according to the above embodiment will be described. FIGS. 6 and 7 are flowcharts showing a document search procedure in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the above embodiment.

First, when the document search mode is selected on the operation panel 14 and a document search request is generated, the CPU 1 instructs the image scanner unit 7 to read a management document. The image signal of the management document read by the image scanner unit 7 is sequentially processed by the A / D conversion unit 15 and the input image processing circuit 16 and then input to the image cutout processing circuit 20 without compression. Image cut-out processing circuit 20 cuts out a predetermined area from the image signal, and stores the cut-out identification mark image signal in the identification mark image storage area on main memory 19 (ST602). Next, CP
U1 searches for an identification mark from the identification mark image signal (ST603). Here, if an identification mark is found (ST604), the CPU 1 decodes the identification mark and acquires a document ID (ST605).

CPU 1 opens the document image file corresponding to the document ID from storage device 12, and acquires the total number of pages and the registration date and time (ST606). CPU 1 causes removal operation screen to be displayed on the touch panel display of operation panel 14 (ST607). FIGS. 8A to 8C are diagrams showing screen transition states of the touch panel display in the digital multifunction peripheral according to the above embodiment. First, on the touch panel display, an extraction operation screen (A) shown in FIG. 8A is displayed. On this screen (A), a document ID 801 and a registration date and time 802 are displayed. A total page number 803 is displayed, and an all page button 804 for instructing an all page print mode for printing all pages is displayed.
And a designated page button 805 for designating a designated page print mode for printing the designated page. Further, a plurality of option setting buttons 806 for designating print options are displayed.

On this screen (A), a designated page button 805
Is pressed, that is, when the designated page printing is selected (ST608), a print designation screen (B) shown in FIG. 8B is displayed (ST609). On this screen (B), page buttons 807 for the total number of pages for designating printing are arranged. Set all page buttons 807 to 1
If the screen cannot be displayed on one screen (B), a scroll button 808 is displayed at the end, and when this scroll button 808 is pressed, a screen (C) displaying the remaining page buttons 807 as shown in FIG. Is displayed. By pressing the scroll key 809 displayed at the top of the page button 807 on the screen (C), it is possible to return to the screen (B).

When the page button 807 is pressed by the user, the printing of the corresponding page is designated, and the page button 80 is pressed.
7 is highlighted. The user presses the OK button 810 provided at the upper right corner of the screens (B) and (C) when the designation of the page is completed. This returns to the screen (A). When an OK button 811 is pressed on the print designation screen (A), the CPU 1
Is instructed to print. Further, the print parameters representing the contents specified here are written in a predetermined area of the main memory 19. Here, when the all-page print mode is selected, it is considered that all pages are specified.

CPU 1 receives a print instruction (S
T610), print parameters are read from the main memory (ST611). Next, the CPU 11 reads the image signal of the designated page from the storage device 12 and inputs the read image signal to the image expansion circuit 21. The image signal is sequentially processed by the image expansion circuit 21, the selector 22, the output image processing circuit 25, and the D / A converter 27, and printed by the laser printer 8 (ST613).

CPU 1 determines whether or not the images of all the specified pages have been printed (ST614), and repeats ST61 until the printing of the images of all the specified pages is completed.
Steps 23 to ST614 are repeated.

On the other hand, if no identification mark is found in ST604 shown in FIG. 6, it is displayed on the touch panel display of operation panel 14 that no identification mark is found (ST615), and the process is terminated.

As described above, according to the digital multi-function peripheral according to the above embodiment, the user registers the document by
By simply instructing reading of a document after selecting the document registration mode, the digital multifunction peripheral automatically generates management information such as a document ID, stores the management information in the storage device 12, and registers and manages the management information. There is no need to perform a complicated operation for specifying a registered document such as input of a document, and the document registration operation can be easily performed.

Further, the digital multifunction peripheral according to the above embodiment outputs a management document in which reduced images of all pages or most pages of the document are registered when the document is registered. Other pages are also posted. When only the cover page is posted on the management document as in the past, this management document cannot be remembered even if the cover page is viewed after a long time since the registration of the document, or because the cover page is not very characteristic. However, it is difficult to determine which document corresponds to which situation, and it is easy to occur that necessary information cannot be retrieved from the management document. However, according to the present embodiment, such a situation is prevented. In addition, the user can easily and quickly determine which registered document corresponds to the management document by visual observation.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the image information of the first page of the registered document includes the reduced image 10 of another page.
The reduced image 100 of the first page is made smaller than the reduced image 101 of the other page so that the size of the reduced image 100 is smaller than that of the other page. Therefore, it is easy to concentrate on the reduced image of one page when looking at the reduced image 100 of the first page to roughly approximate the corresponding registered document, and then further narrowing down by viewing the reduced image 101 of another page. Since it is easy to see, it is possible to efficiently perform the operation of determining which management document corresponds to which registered document.

Further, according to the digital multi-function peripheral according to the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS.
In the case of a page or less, the image information of the other pages from the second page onward is reduced at the same reduction rate, and the remaining area of the composite image in which the reduced image 100 of the first page and the memo blank area 102 are arranged Are arranged within. Thus, since the reduced images of all pages of the registered document are stored in the one-page composite image, the number of management documents can be one. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation where a plurality of management documents are lost and a part of them is lost, so that the registered documents cannot be searched or registered contents cannot be grasped. Further, since the reduced images 101 of the other pages can be arranged in an orderly manner by making the reduction ratio of the image information of the other pages uniform, the management document can be easily viewed.

Further, since the memo blank area 102 is provided in the composite image, a blank is provided for writing a memo in the management document. Necessary items in the management document can be described in this margin. If there is no margin, the necessary records are described on memo sheets other than the management document. In this case, since information about the registered document is separately managed in the management document and the memo paper, these are likely to be separated from each other. According to the above embodiment, the image information and the write information can be combined into one in the management document, so that there is no need to separately search for a memo sheet describing necessary items when searching for a registered document. Therefore, the information management of the registered document can be simplified.

In the above embodiment, the memo blank area 102 always has the same size regardless of the total number of pages of the registered document. As a result, even when the total number of pages of the registered document is large, the memo blank area 102 of the same size is always secured, so that a blank space for the memo can be reliably secured in the management document. Necessary items can be described in documents, and information management can be simplified.

Further, as shown in the layout of the composite image shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the reduced image 100 on the first page and the memo blank area 102 are all arranged in the same size and at the same position. Therefore, when searching for a desired management document from a plurality of management documents, if the same position of the plurality of management documents is viewed, the reduced image 100 on the first page and the memo can be viewed, and the desired management document can be viewed. The work of searching for a document can be performed quickly. In particular, it is suitable when the first page of the registered document is a content representing the content of the registered document such as a cover, a table of contents, or the like.

Further, according to the digital multi-function peripheral according to the above-described embodiment, there is provided the image scanner section 7 for reading the image information of the document, and the CPU 1 for registering the image information read by the image scanner section 7 in the storage device 12. Therefore, when registering a document, the user simply needs to use the image scanner unit 7.
The document registration operation can be easily performed because there is no need to perform a complicated operation for specifying a registered document, such as inputting a keyword, only by performing the operation of reading the document.

Further, in the digital multifunction peripheral according to the above-described embodiment, the management document is read by the image scanner 7 and the image scanner 7 is read by the image cutout processing circuit 20.
The CPU 1 cuts out an identification mark image signal of a predetermined size from the image signal output from the CPU, searches for the identification mark from the identification mark image signal, recognizes the document ID from the identification mark, and outputs the registered document corresponding to the document ID. The image information is taken out from the storage device 12. Thus, when extracting the image information of the document registered in the storage device 12, the user searches the image information of the desired registered document only by reading the management document into the image scanner unit 7,
Since it is possible to retrieve the registered document, the user does not need to perform a task for searching for the registered document such as inputting a keyword or the like, and the task of retrieving the image information of the registered document in a digital multifunction peripheral having a small number of input keys is extremely simplified. can do.

As shown in FIG. 8, the digital multi-function peripheral according to the above-described embodiment, when retrieving a registered document,
Since only the image information of the designated page can be taken out of the image information of the searched registered document, unnecessary pages can be printed by the laser printer unit 8 and the recording paper can be prevented from being wasted. Further, since only the necessary pages are printed, the required page image information can be obtained faster than when printing the image information of all pages.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, in the composite image for the management document, the reduced image 100 of the first page is the reduced image 1 of the second and subsequent pages.
01, but the registered document 1
If there is a page (for example, a table of contents) that is more representative of the contents of the registered document than the page (for example, the cover), the user specifies the page and the image information of the page becomes larger than the reduced images of other pages. And may be arranged in a composite image.

The memo blank area 102 need not always be provided. In this case as well, the image information of the other pages is reduced at the same reduction rate, and the first page of the composite image is reduced. It is preferable to arrange the images 100 in the remaining area where the images 100 are arranged. Also in this case, since the reduced images of all pages of the registered document are stored in the one-page composite image, the number of management documents is one, and the reduction ratio of the image information of other pages is uniform. Thereby, the reduced images of other pages can be arranged in an orderly manner.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the reduced image 100 of the first page and the memo blank area 102 are arranged in the upper half area of the composite image, and the reduction ratio of the image information of the other pages. May be set so that reduced images of other pages can be arranged in the lower half area of the composite image. With this configuration, when searching for a desired management document from a plurality of management documents, the size and arrangement position of the reduced image 100 on the first page and the memo blank area 102 are unified, so that a plurality of management documents are obtained. If you look at the same position in the document, you can see the reduced image 100 on the first page and the memo,
The work of searching for a desired management document can be quickly performed. In particular, it is suitable when the first page of the registered document is a content representing the content of the registered document such as a cover, a table of contents, or the like.

The image information of the first page is reduced at the first reduction ratio, and the image information of the other pages is reduced at the fixed second reduction ratio smaller than the first reduction ratio. The memo area can be made larger as the total number of pages is smaller. In this case, when the total number of pages of the registered document is small, a large space for a memo can be secured in the management document, so that much information can be described in the margin. When the total number of pages of the registered document is large, the memo margin of the management document can be reduced to prevent the reduced images of other pages from being excessively small.

Further, a reduced image of a specific page is arranged in the management document, a minimum area is secured as a memo blank area, and image information of another page is reduced in the remaining area at the same reduction rate. By arranging, even when the total number of pages of the document is large, a minimum area is secured as a memo space in the management document, so that necessary items can be described in the management document.

Further, the image information of another page is reduced at a fixed reduction ratio regardless of the total number of registered documents, and the image information of the first page is arranged in the reduced image 100 of the first page in the composite image. The reduction ratio of the image information of the first page may be variable in accordance with the total number of pages of the registered document so that the reduced image 100 of another page fits in the remaining area. In this case, the size of the reduced image 100 of the first page is made variable according to the total number of pages of the registered document, and when the total number of pages is large, the first reduction ratio and the second reduction ratio are brought closer to each other to make one page. Since the reduced image 101 of the first page can be given a strong impression and the reduced image 101 of the other page can be kept at a relatively easy-to-see size, the reduction of the image information of the first page is fixed and the reduction of the other page is reduced. After the image 101 has become too small, it is difficult to narrow down the management document corresponding to a registered document by looking at the reduced image 101 of another page after giving a certain degree of registration to the reduced image 100 of the first page. Can be prevented.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described digital multifunction peripheral, but can be applied to a scanner, a facsimile, a copier, an analog multifunction peripheral, etc. having a document registration / management function.

[0087]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since not only the cover page but also other pages are included in the management document, it is possible to easily and quickly determine which registered document the management document corresponds to. Further, by reducing the specific one-page image information so as to be larger than the reduced image of the other page, the content of the reduced image of the specific one page can be more easily seen than the other pages, and can be managed by the user. It is possible to easily search for a registered document from a business document.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a digital multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a composite parameter table having a total page number of up to 5 pages, FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a layout of a composite image, and FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating a size of a reduced image;

3A is a diagram illustrating a second specific example of a composite parameter table having a total number of pages up to 10 pages, FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a layout of a composite image, and FIG. 3C is a diagram illustrating a size of a reduced image;

4A is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a composite parameter table having a total page number of 11 or more, FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a layout of a composite image, and FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating a size of a reduced image;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a document registration procedure in the digital MFP according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a document search procedure in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a document search procedure in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the embodiment.

FIGS. 8A to 8C are diagrams showing screen transition states of a touch panel display in the digital multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment.

9A illustrates another specific example of a combination parameter table in which the total number of pages is 11 or more, FIG. 9B illustrates a layout of a combined image, and FIG. 9C illustrates a size of a reduced image;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CPU 2 ROM 3 Scanner controller 4 Printer controller 5 FAX controller 6 Network controller 7 Image scanner part 8 Laser printer part 9 Computer network 11 Interface controller 12 Storage device 13 Non-volatile memory 14 Operation panel 15 A / D conversion part 16 Input image processing circuit 17 Multiplexer 18 Image Compression Circuit 19 Main Memory 20 Image Extraction Processing Circuit 21 Image Decompression Circuit 22 Selector 23 Image Reduction Synthesis Processing Circuit 24 Image Synthesis Memory 25 Output Image Processing Circuit 26 Pattern Synthesis Circuit 27 D / A Converter 100 First Page Reduced image 101 Reduced image of another page 102 Margin space 103 Identification mark 804 All page button 805 Specified page button

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shoji Shikata 2-3-8 Shimomeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo Matsushita Electric Transmission System Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B050 BA10 BA16 EA12 EA19 FA19 GA08 5B075 ND06 ND07 ND30 ND40 PQ16 PQ46 PQ48 UU06 5C076 AA14 AA22 AA37 BA03 BA06 CB02

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit for storing image information of a registered document, and management information including at least a document ID for identifying the document when registering the document image in the storage unit, and generating the management information together with the management information. Document management means for managing image information; identification mark generation means for generating an identification mark from the document ID; and a management document in which all or some of the pages of the identification mark and the image information are combined into one image Output control means for outputting an image signal of
The output control means may reduce and arrange the image information in the composite image, and reduce the reduced image of the image information so that a specific one page is larger than another page. A digital multifunction device characterized by the following. 2. The image information of another page is reduced at the same reduction ratio and arranged in a remaining area where a reduced image of a specific one page of the composite image is arranged.
Digital multifunction peripheral as described. 3. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, further comprising a memo blank area secured in the composite image. 4. The image information of another page is reduced at the same reduction ratio, and a reduced image of a specific page of the composite image is arranged and arranged in the remaining area where a memo blank area is secured. The digital multifunction peripheral according to claim 3, wherein: 5. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 3, wherein the memo blank area always has the same size regardless of the total number of pages of the document. 6. A reduced image of one specific page and a memo blank area are arranged in an upper half area of the composite image, and a reduction ratio of image information of another page is set to be smaller than that of another page. 4. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 3, wherein the multifunction peripheral is set so that it can be arranged in a lower half area of the composite image. 7. The image information of a specific one page is reduced at a first reduction ratio, and the image information of the other page is reduced at a fixed second reduction ratio smaller than the first reduction ratio. 4. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 3, wherein the memo area increases as the total number of pages of the document decreases. 8. The image information of another page is reduced at a fixed reduction ratio irrespective of the total number of pages of the document, and the image information of a specific page is arranged in the composite image with the reduced image of the specific page. 2. The digital composite according to claim 1, wherein the reduction ratio of the specific one page is made variable according to the total number of pages of the document such that the reduced image of the other page fits in the remaining area. Machine. 9. A method in which a reduced image of a specific page is arranged in a composite image, a minimum area is secured as a memo blank area, and image information of another page is reduced and arranged at the same reduction rate in the remaining area. The digital multifunction peripheral according to claim 1, wherein: 10. Reading means for reading image information of a document,
10. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, further comprising a registration unit that registers image information read by the reading unit in a storage unit. 11. A document retrieving means for retrieving an identification mark from an image signal acquired by reading a management document, recognizing a document ID from the identification mark, and retrieving image information of a document corresponding to the document ID from a storage means. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, further comprising: 12. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 11, wherein the document extracting unit extracts only image information of a designated page from a document corresponding to the document ID.