JP2001326793A - Method and device for read information control and recording medium for them - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a device for read information control and a recording medium for them, which shorten the document read time of a reader to efficiently read a document and simplify the operation of a read set value. SOLUTION: A document automatic detection means 1 detects the presence or the absence of an edge of a document area from a document picture read with the fastest read set value by N lines as a unit by a reader 100 (step S503); and in the case of the presence of the edge (YES in the step S503), a set information report means 2 stores the position and the width of the document picture, and the fastest read set value is switched to a read set value corresponding to the position and the width (range) of the document area (step 8508), and the reader 100 is made to read a picture in the document area through a control instruction issuing means 3, and thus the document read time of the reader 110 is shortened to efficiently read the document and the user operation for switching of the read set value is simplified.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a read information control apparatus and method, and a recording medium thereof.
The present invention relates to a read information control device and method for automatically detecting a read position and range of a document, and a recording medium for the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A typical example of a sheet feed type reading apparatus for reading a document by inserting a document sheet into a sheet feeder is a scanner, but a scanner capable of setting and specifying an arbitrary document size. In reading out a photograph or magazine clipping, the user specifies and selects a wider range than the required size of the original image by sandwiching the originals with a clear holder or the like, and reads the original. Select the size of the document image and transfer it to an application, etc., or read the rough range with monochrome low resolution and select the required range from the preview screen displayed on a display device such as a monitor, and then copy the document. It was set on the sheet feeder again to read at a desired resolution.

[0003]

However, in the conventional scanner device, it is not possible to set an accurate position and range (area) of a document image in a reading device before or during reading of a document. It was necessary to take the time to scan the manuscript.

When reading a fixed size document or a document whose size (width × height) has been measured in advance, even if the size of the document is selected or input to the reading device, the position of the document inserted into the clear holder, In some cases, a slight error may occur in the position of the original depending on the feeding state of the original, and accurate reading may not be performed.

As a result, it takes time to read the area of the original image accurately and troublesome operation by a user operation, which causes a reduction in work efficiency.

The present invention relates to a read information control apparatus and method capable of shortening the time required to read a document by a reading apparatus and enabling efficient reading, and simplifying the operation of a read set value, and a recording medium therefor. The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reading information control device connected to a reading device for reading a document having a document area based on a predetermined reading set value. A reading information control device for controlling a reading device, a document area detecting means for detecting the document area from a document image read by the reading device, and a setting information notifying means for notifying the reading device of the predetermined reading setting value Wherein the setting information notifying means switches the predetermined reading setting value to another reading setting value when the document area is detected by the document area detecting means.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a read information control device.
2. The read information control device according to claim 1, further comprising control command issuing means for issuing a control command based on the predetermined read setting value to the reading device, wherein the setting information notifying means controls the predetermined read setting value. The reading device is notified through an instruction issuing means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a read information control device,
The read information control device according to claim 1 or 2,
The setting information notifying means includes a comparing means for comparing the detected image of the document area with a predetermined determination value, and a document area for detecting a start position and an end position of the image of the document area according to the comparison result. And a detecting means.

[0010] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a read information control device.
4. The read information control device according to claim 3, wherein the start position and the end position of the document area are edges of an image of the document area.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a read information control device,
5. The read information control device according to claim 1, wherein the document area detection unit detects a position and a range of an image in the document area when detecting the document area. 6. And

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a read information control device.
6. The read information control device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined read set value is a fastest read set value, and the other read set values are based on a position and a range of the document area. It is a reading set value.

[0013] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a read information control apparatus.
7. The read information control device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined read set value and the other predetermined read set value are at least a read width, a read method, and a resolution. And

The read information control device according to claim 8 is
The read information control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a set value selecting unit for designating or selecting the other predetermined read set value, wherein the setting information notification unit is configured to perform the setting information notifying unit. Is displayed on a display device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a read information control method for controlling a reading apparatus that reads a document having a document area based on a predetermined reading set value. A document area detecting step of detecting the document area from a document image read by the reading apparatus, and a setting information notifying step of notifying the reading apparatus of the predetermined reading set value, wherein in the setting information notifying step, When the document area is detected in the document area detecting step, the predetermined reading set value is switched to another reading set value.

A read information control method according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the read information control method according to the ninth aspect, further comprising a control instruction issuing step of issuing a control instruction based on the predetermined read set value to the reading device. In the information notifying step, the predetermined reading set value is notified to the reading device via the control command issuing step.

In the read information control method according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the read information control method according to the ninth or tenth aspect, the setting information notification step compares the image of the detected document area with a predetermined determination value. A comparison step; and a document area detection step of detecting a start position and an end position of the image of the document region according to the result of the comparison.

A read information control method according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention is the read information control method according to any one of the ninth to eleventh aspects, wherein the start position and the end position of the document area are the same as those of the image of the document area. It is an edge.

A read information control method according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention is the read information control method according to any one of the ninth to twelfth aspects, wherein the original area is detected when the original area is detected in the original area detection step. The position and range of the image in the document area are detected.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the read information control method according to any one of the ninth to thirteenth aspects, the predetermined read set value is a fastest read set value, and Is a reading set value based on the position and range of the document area.

A read information control method according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention is the read information control method according to any one of the ninth to fourteenth aspects, wherein the predetermined read setting value and the other predetermined read setting value are: It is characterized by at least a reading width, a reading method, and a resolution.

A read information control method according to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention is the read information control method according to any one of the ninth to fifteenth aspects, wherein the set value for designating or selecting the other predetermined read set value is provided. A selection step is provided, and in the setting information notifying step, the other read set value is displayed on a display device.

In order to achieve the above object, a storage medium according to claim 17 is a readable storage medium storing a program for executing a read information control method, wherein the program is read by the reading device. A document area detecting step of detecting the document area from the read document image, and a setting information notifying step of notifying the reading device of the predetermined reading set value, wherein in the setting information notifying step, the document area detecting step When the document area is detected, the predetermined read set value is switched to another read set value.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an entire reading system including a read information control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the read information control device 20
Numeral 0 is connected to the reading device 100 for reading the image of the document, the display device 300 for displaying the document image, and the output device 400 for printing or outputting the document image, and controls these devices. Read information control device 2
Reference numeral 00 mainly includes a document area detecting means 1, a setting information notifying means 2, a control command issuing means 3, and a setting value selecting means 4.

The document area detecting means 1 includes a reading device 10
0, and is connected to the setting information notifying means 2 to detect the presence or absence of a document sandwiched between the clear holders in the reading device 100, to analyze the read document image, and to transmit the result together with the document image to the setting information notifying means 2. Send to The document image is transmitted from the setting information notification means 2 to the display device 300 and is displayed on the display device 300 as needed. When the reading device 100 has read all the document images to be read, the setting information notifying means 2 trims the document image and transfers the document image to the output device 400.

The setting information notifying means 2 is connected to the control command issuing means 3, the setting value selecting means 4, the display device 300, and the output device 400, and has a storage means (memory) for storing a program for controlling each of these units. . Further, at the start of the reading of the document image, a reading set value (reading resolution, reading size, etc.) designated or selected by the setting value selecting means 4 is notified to the control command issuing means 3 and transmitted to the display device 300. The display device 300 displays the designated or selected reading set value. The setting information notification means 2 is notified of the presence or absence of an area of the document image detected by the document area detection means 1 during reading of the document, and switches the reading setting value to another reading setting value based on the detection result and performs control. Notify the instruction issuing means 3.

The control command issuing means 3 includes a reading device 10
0 and the setting information notifying means 2 during reading of the document.
When receiving another reading setting value from the scanner device, the reading device 100 issues a control command (control command) and data for reading an area of the document image based on the other reading setting value to the reading device 100.

The setting value selection means 4 is for the user to specify or select a necessary reading method, that is, a reading setting value, for each setting item of the reading setting value displayed on the display device 300. When the read set value is designated or selected by the set value selecting means 4, the set value selecting means 4
Is notified to the setting information notifying means 2 and displayed on the display device 300.

Next, the flow of document reading control by the reading information control device 200 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, when a reading request of a document is first received from the user, the setting information notifying means 2 sets various setting items of the reading device 100 and the reading information control device 200 and detailed setting values thereof. Is transmitted to the display device 300 as the display instruction command 24, and the setting contents are displayed on the display device 300. Further, the setting information notifying unit 2 transmits the recommended setting value and the default setting value for the setting value of the setting item and the like to the display device 300 as the display instruction command 24, and displays the setting value on the display device 300.

The user can select the set value selecting means 4 if necessary.
The reading setting value of the document is designated or selected, and as a result, the setting value selecting means 4 notifies the setting information notifying means 2 of the designated or selected reading setting value as the reading execution command 27. The read setting values that can be specified or selected relate to a reading method (color, monochrome, etc.), a reading resolution, a reading size (width × height), and the like. The reading size of the document is specified by the user as a reading size larger than the reading image of the document image.

The setting information notification means 2 reads the read execution instruction 2
7, the reading setting value different from the reading setting value of the reading execution command 27, that is, the fastest reading setting value (reading method, reading width, reading resolution, appropriate threshold value, etc.) that can be read at the fastest. Setting information 2
As 5, the control instruction issuing means 3 is notified. Next, when the control command issuing means 3 receives the setting information 25, the setting information 25
Is issued to the reading device 100 as the reading control command 26, and the reading device 100 starts reading the document based on the fastest reading setting value.

The reading device 100 reads the read control command 2
When the document 6 is received, first, a predetermined line (N lines) on the document is read by the fastest reading set value, and the read image is transmitted to the document area detecting means 1 as read image data 21. The number of N lines is an optimal number of lines for detecting an edge from the read image.

When receiving the read image data 21, the document area detecting means detects the document area from the read image, and sets the image data of the detected document area to the document detection flag 2
As setting number 2, the setting information notifying unit 2 is notified. After trimming the image data of the detected document area, the setting information notification unit 2 transfers the image data to the output device 400 as the image transfer command 23 and also transfers the image data to the display device 300 as the display command 24. .

Next, the detection of the area of the original image by the original area detecting means 1 in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the scanning direction and reading size of a document in the reading apparatus 100 of FIG.

In FIG. 2, a document area of ABCD size exists on a document having the size of IJKL. The document I-J direction is defined as a main scanning direction X, and the IL direction is defined as a sub-scanning direction Y. I do.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a document area detecting method by the document area detecting means 1 of FIG.

In FIG. 3, when reading the original shown in FIG. 2, the reading device 100 reads the fastest reading set value (for example, reading width IJ, reading type monochrome, resolution 90 dpi, etc.) notified from the setting information notification means 2. )
A document corresponding to N lines in the sub-scanning direction Y is read using an appropriate predetermined threshold value (judgment value) at a reading width of. The document area detection means 1 detects the presence or absence of the document area 60 from the image data of the read image 50, that is, the presence or absence of an edge of the image of the document area 60, and notifies the setting information notification means 2 of the detection result. Document area detecting means 1
Does not detect the edge of the image of the document area 60 from the read image 50, notifies the setting information notifying means 2 of the detection result. When the setting information notifying means 2 receives the notification, the next N lines The control instruction issuing means 3 is notified to read the original with the fastest reading set value.

On the other hand, when the document area detecting means 1 detects the edge of the image of the document area 60 from the read image 50,
That is, when the start end of the document area 60 is detected, the setting result notification unit 2 is notified of the detection result. When the setting information notifying unit 2 receives the notification, the start position and width of the document area 60 are stored, and a reading set value (for example, reading width) based on the position and width (range) of the document area 60 without feeding the document. AB, reading method color, resolution 360dp
i), or the reading apparatus 100 is notified via the control command issuing means 3 to read the read image 50a (the hatched portion in FIG. 3) according to the reading set value designated or selected by the setting value selecting means 4. The reading device 100 performs reading while feeding the document until the document region detection unit 1 detects the end of the document region 60 or to the range specified or selected by the setting value selection unit 4. Thereby, a document image including the document area 60 can be read.

When the document area detecting means 1 detects the end of the document area 60, the setting information notifying means 2 notifies the reading device 100 that the reading of the document has been completed, and discharges the document in the discharge direction. The read document image is trimmed.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a document image read by the document area detection method of FIG.

In FIG. 4, the document image read by the document area detection method of FIG. 3 has the size of EFGH, and the height EH (FG) is a multiple of n times the reading width of N lines. Depending on the size of the document area ABCD, an image that is not a document area may be included before and after that. The setting information notifying means 2 further trims the document area ABCD by edge detection from the document image EFGH, and then transfers the image of the document area to the output device 400 by the image transfer command 23. For example, when the color of the document area ABCD is read at a resolution of 360 dpi, the user specifies the above-mentioned reading setting and a rough reading size IJKL (for example, equivalent to a clear holder size) by the setting value selection unit 4. Setting information notification means 2
Notifies the control command issuing unit 3 to read the read size IJKL at the fastest read set value (for example, monochrome read at a resolution of 90 dpi). Until the edge of the document area is detected, the document is read with the fastest reading set value.
The original area ABCD is read in a color of 60 dpi. When the end of the document area is detected, the reading is completed, the document is discharged, and then the document image is trimmed as described above and transferred to the output device 400.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the document area detecting process by the document area detecting means 1 of FIG.

In FIG. 5, the reading width (for example, I
J), a reading method (for example, monochrome), and a reading setting value for resolution (for example, 90 dpi) are specified (step S501). Next, an original of N lines is read (step S502). The read image is compared with a predetermined determination value, and it is determined whether or not the leading edge, which is the leading edge position of the document area, has been detected based on the comparison result (step S503). If YES in step S503, the process proceeds to step S508, and if no start edge is detected (step S5)
03 (NO in step S504), the read image is compared with a predetermined determination value, and it is determined whether or not the trailing edge which is the trailing position of the document area is detected based on the comparison result (step S504).

As a result of this determination, when the trailing edge is not detected (NO in step S504), step S5
09 and when the terminal edge is detected (step S
The document is discharged (YES in 504) (step S50).
5) The read document image is trimmed (step S506), and the image of the document area is transferred to the output device 400 or the like (step S507), and the process ends.

In step S508, a reading width (for example, AB), a reading method (for example, color), and a resolution (for example, 360 dp) are determined based on the detected original image.
The reading set values of i) are changed, and the process proceeds to step S502 to read the original for N lines.

If the result of determination in step S504 is that no trailing edge has been detected from the read image (NO in step S504), the document is fed (step S5).
09), it is determined whether or not an image is being read (step S).
510) When an image is being read (step S
If it is determined that the image is not being read (step S510: YES), the processing after step S508 is performed (step S510).
NO), the processing after step S501 is performed.

According to the present embodiment, the document area detecting means 1 detects the presence or absence of an edge of a document area from a document image read every N lines with the fastest reading set value by the reading device 100 (step S503). If the edge exists (YES in step S503), the setting information notifying means 2 stores the position and width of the document image, and sets the reading setting according to the position and width of the document region from the fastest reading setting value. The value is switched to a value (step S508), and the reading device 100 causes the reading device 100 to read the image in the document region via the control command issuing means 3. Therefore, the reading time of the document by the reading device 110 can be shortened and the reading can be performed efficiently. The user operation for setting value switching can be simplified.

According to the present invention, a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a scanner device, etc.)
, Or may be applied to an apparatus (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, etc.) including one device.

The present invention can be implemented by writing a program to a recording medium, reading the program from the recording medium by a known device, and supplying the program to the system or the device. As a recording medium for supplying this program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, CD
-ROM, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, RO
M or the like may be used.

[0054]

As described above in detail, according to the apparatus of the first aspect and the method of the ninth aspect, the original area is read from the original image read by the reading apparatus based on the predetermined reading set value. When a document area is detected and detected, a predetermined reading setting value is switched to another reading setting value, so that the reading time of the document of the reading device can be shortened and the reading can be efficiently performed. User operation can be simplified.

According to the apparatus of the second aspect and the method of the tenth aspect, a control command based on a predetermined read setting value is issued to the reading apparatus, and the predetermined reading setting value is notified to the reading apparatus. The apparatus according to the first aspect and the method according to the ninth aspect can be effectively performed.

According to the apparatus of the third aspect and the method of the eleventh aspect, the detected image of the document area is compared with a predetermined judgment value, and the start position of the image of the document area and Since the end position is detected, a document of a more accurate size can be read.

According to the apparatus and the method of the twelfth aspect, the start and end positions of the original area are edges of the image of the original area. 11 can be effectively performed.

According to the apparatus of the fifth aspect and the method of the thirteenth aspect, when the original area is detected, the position and range of the image in the original area are detected, so that the original area on the original can be more accurately detected. Can be read.

According to the apparatus of the sixth aspect and the method of the fourteenth aspect, the predetermined reading setting value is the fastest reading setting value, and the other reading setting values are the reading setting values based on the position and range of the document area. Since the value is a value, the document reading time of the reading device can be shortened and the document can be read efficiently.

According to the recording medium of the seventeenth aspect, the same effect as that of the apparatus of the first aspect and the method of the ninth aspect can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an entire reading system including a read information control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a scanning direction and a reading size of a document in the reading device 100 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a document area detection method by the document area detection means 1 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a document image read by the document area detection method of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a document area detecting process by the document area detecting means 1 of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 document area detecting means 2 setting information notifying means 3 control command issuing means 4 setting value selecting means 100 reading device 200 reading information control device 300 display device 400 output device

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A reading information control device connected to a reading device for reading a document having a document area based on a predetermined reading set value and controlling the reading device, wherein the document is read from the document image read by the reading device. Document area detecting means for detecting an area; and setting information notifying means for notifying the reading device of the predetermined reading set value, wherein the setting information notifying means has detected the document area by the document area detecting means. A reading information control device for switching the predetermined reading setting value to another reading setting value. 2. A control command issuing means for issuing a control command based on the predetermined read setting value to the reading device, wherein the setting information notifying means sends the predetermined read setting value via the control command issuing means. 2. The reading information control device according to claim 1, wherein the reading device is notified. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said setting information notifying means includes a comparing means for comparing the image of the detected document area with a predetermined determination value, and a start position and an end position of the image of the document area according to the comparison result. 3. The read information control device according to claim 1, further comprising: a document area detecting unit that detects the document information. 4. The read information control device according to claim 3, wherein the start position and the end position of the document area are edges of an image of the document area. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document area detecting unit detects a position and a range of an image in the document area when detecting the document area. Read information control device. 6. The reading setting value according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined reading setting value is a fastest reading setting value, and the other reading setting value is a reading setting value based on a position and a range of the document area. 6. The read information control device according to any one of 5. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined read setting value and the other predetermined read setting value are at least a reading width, a reading method, and a resolution.
7. The read information control device according to any one of claims 6 to 6. 8. A setting value selecting means for designating or selecting said another predetermined reading setting value, wherein said setting information notifying means displays said other reading setting value on a display device. The read information control device according to claim 1. 9. A reading information control method for controlling a reading device that reads a document having a document region based on a predetermined reading set value, wherein the document detecting the document region from a document image read by the reading device. An area detecting step; and a setting information notifying step of notifying the reading device of the predetermined reading set value. In the setting information notifying step, when the document area is detected in the document area detecting step, the predetermined A read information control method characterized by switching a read set value of a read command to another read set value. 10. A control command issuing step of issuing a control command based on the predetermined read setting value to the reading device, wherein the setting information notifying step includes the step of sending the predetermined read setting value via the control command issuing step. 10. The read information control method according to claim 9, wherein the reading device is notified. 11. The setting information notifying step includes a comparing step of comparing the image of the detected document area with a predetermined determination value, and a start position and an end position of the image of the document area according to the comparison result. 11. The read information control method according to claim 9, further comprising: a document area detecting step of detecting a document area. 12. The read information control method according to claim 9, wherein the start position and the end position of the document area are edges of an image of the document area. 13. The method according to claim 9, wherein in the document area detecting step, when the document area is detected, a position and a range of an image in the document area are detected.
The read information control method according to any one of the above items. 14. The reading setting value according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined reading setting value is a fastest reading setting value, and the other reading setting value is a reading setting value based on a position and a range of the document area. 14. The read information control method according to any one of items 13 to 13. 15. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined read setting value and the other predetermined read setting value are at least a reading width, a reading method, and a resolution. Read information control method. 16. A setting value selecting step for designating or selecting said other predetermined reading setting value, wherein said other reading setting value is displayed on a display device in said setting information notifying step. The read information control method according to any one of claims 9 to 15. 17. A readable storage medium storing a program for executing a read information control method, the program comprising: a document area detecting step of detecting the document area from a document image read by the reading device. Setting information notifying step of notifying the reading device of the predetermined reading setting value. In the setting information notifying step, when the document area is detected in the document area detecting step, the predetermined reading setting is set. A recording medium characterized by switching a value to another reading set value.