JP2002118702A - Image input output system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image input output system that can effectively utilize scanner data through the use of a general-purpose browser. SOLUTION: In the image input output system, PCs, WSs, FAXs and storage server devices are connected to a digital copying machine 1, having a network interface via a LAN. The image input output system has a function, that transfers all data of an input image to an external storage device 22 provided in this system or a storage server device via a network, and stores only the image data (number of pages) a user desires to use immediately for a valid period and a function that automatically transfers and restores required parts of the image data from the image data stored in the external storage device or the storage server device to an external storage device 21 of the system, when the user desirably uses data not stored in the digital copying machine 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a digital copying machine,
Alternatively, the present invention relates to an image input / output system in which image input / output devices such as a remote scanner are connected to a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, networking of PCs (personal computers) and WSs (workstations) has rapidly become widespread, and LANs are being constructed in offices. Digital copiers have also been used as shared remote printers on PC and WS networks.

On the other hand, digital copiers also have a scanner function, and are already used by being directly connected to a PC or the like. However, in the case of a remote scanner connected to a network, it is inevitably necessary to take time. Will accompany. For example, when used as a remote scanner, an original is set on a digital copying machine, a scanner application is started on a remote PC or the like, and an instruction to read the original is issued. Next, it is necessary to return to the digital copying machine again and retrieve the set original.

In many cases, a digital copying machine is used as a copy by a plurality of persons, and there is a problem that other persons cannot use the digital copying machine because originals are left during use by a scanner. . In addition, there is also a problem that the cover is opened by another person without knowing and the original is rejected.

As a conventional technique for solving this problem, for example, there is known an automatic image transfer method of a scanner system reported in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-271535. This technique is intended to allow a document set operation, a read start instruction, and a document collection operation when a remote scanner is used to be performed at a set position of the remote scanner.

[0006] In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-133094, data input by a scanner with an image input / output device is stored in an auxiliary storage device, storage information is stored in an IC card, and information from the IC card is transmitted from another terminal. A method for collecting desired data is shown.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-93376 discloses a technique of storing data input by a scanner in a digital copying machine in a removable memory off-line.

[0008]

Among the above prior arts, the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-271535 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 7-271535. Then, the user presses the scanner start button to transfer the image, returns to the PC again, and uses the image data. In addition, since the entire image is transferred, the transfer time may take a corresponding amount of time, and the receiving may be interrupted by a storage error on the PC side during reception, and the document must be scanned and read again.

In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H6-133094, after receiving stored information, a user accesses an image input / output device using the information when necessary and reads scanner data from the image input / output device. The image input / output device was not occupied until the image transfer was completed or the image application process was completed.However, the data was still stored in the image input / output device, Occasionally, they would forget to pick up. If the storage expiration date or the total capacity of the auxiliary storage device that can store the data input by the scanner with the image input / output device is likely to exceed the usable limit, the process ends with an error or the old one is automatically deleted. There were things.

Furthermore, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-93376, data input by a scanner in a digital copying machine is stored off-line in a removable memory. There is a problem that it takes time to read and then transfer to the server.

[0011] Recently, browsing software has been distributed free of charge due to the spread of the Internet, and has been commonly used as a terminal browsing tool for groupware. In order to view it with this browse tool, it must be sent to the terminal in hypertext. This browsing tool also has a mail function, and if there is a hypertext address in the content of the received mail, clicking on the address with the mouse in the browsing tool causes a hypertext compatible image input / output device via a network. Will be accessible.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an image input / output system that can effectively use scanner data by using a general-purpose browser under such a background.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a large-capacity first auxiliary storage device directly connected to an image input / output device or a network. A large-capacity second auxiliary storage device of the file server, and an operation for designating a user ID registered by the operator, setting an input of the scanner, setting an input of the number of designated images to be stored in the auxiliary storage device, and starting input of the scanner Means,
Designation means for designating an access list of stored information for access from the terminal side from already registered hypertext patterns, data compression means for compressing data inputted by the scanner, and management for each user of the auxiliary storage device Holder storage means for storing an input image in the holder, display means for displaying storage information after the storage operation is completed when the storage data is stored in the holder, and a second auxiliary storage device for storing data which is normally infrequently accessed Confirmation means for confirming the start of image transfer to the apparatus, reduction means for reducing the scanner-input image of the size designated by the designated hypertext pattern after confirmation, and data storage means for storing the created reduced image data Creation means for automatically creating an access list from a specified hypertext pattern, Notification means for notifying the storage address of the created hypertext and the general storage information to the personal computer or workstation of the designated user connected to the network, and the input image data file stored in the first auxiliary storage device. A transfer unit for transferring the image data to the second auxiliary storage device; and a deletion unit for deleting the designated image data not stored from the input image data file stored in the first auxiliary storage device. Output system.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image input / output system according to the first aspect, wherein the second auxiliary storage device is a storage server device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control unit for transferring image data not held in the first auxiliary storage device from the second auxiliary storage device and storing the image data in the first auxiliary storage device. The image input / output device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

In the image input / output system of the present invention, all the data of the input image is stored in an external storage device (first auxiliary storage device) provided in the system or a storage server device (second auxiliary storage device) via a network. ) So that only the image data (the number of pages) that the user wants to use immediately is held during the validity period. In addition, the system has a function of automatically restoring an image data portion required when the user wants to use data that is not held in the external storage device of the present system from image data stored in an external storage device or a storage server device.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital copying machine as an image input / output device showing an embodiment of the present invention. The digital copier 1 stores a main controller 2, an operation unit 3, a scanner 4 for reading a document to be copied, a plotter 5 for recording information of the read document on a recording sheet, and various control programs. A memory 6 for temporarily storing information of the read document, a compression / decompression unit 7 for encoding and decoding the read information, an external storage unit 8, a search unit 9, a file information storage unit 10, a LAN communication control unit 11, An external storage unit 12 is provided.

The external storage unit 8 attaches a file number to information of a document read by the scanner 4 and
Is stored in an external storage device 21 composed of a large-capacity hard disk such as a readable / writable optical file attached to the storage device.
The external storage unit 12 stores data in the external storage device 22.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an image input / output system (network image forming system). A plurality of PCs 31,
WS 32, FAX 33, and storage server device 34
The digital copier 1 having a network interface device is connected to the digital copier 1 through a network 35. PC31, WS
Reference numeral 32 has a CRT display device and a keyboard, and can selectively execute a plurality of software processes by an intelligent function.

The LAN communication control unit 11 shown in FIG. 1 controls communication between the digital copying machine 1 and another terminal device. The digital copying machine 1 stores the data obtained by scanning the original in the external storage device 21 (auxiliary storage device) of the digital copying machine 1 or in the LA.
It can be stored in the auxiliary storage device of the storage server device 34 via N35.

An external storage device 22 connected to the digital copying machine 1 or a storage device 36 connected to a storage server device 34 existing in the LAN 35 (shown in FIG. 6 described later. Good) is a storage device having a larger capacity than the auxiliary storage device 21 and serves as a warehouse for storing data that is normally accessed less frequently. As an example, a tape device (tape autochanger) in which a tape cartridge is automatically replaced, or an autochanger device for a CD-RW or a DVD-RW can be considered.

FIG. 3 is a layout diagram of the operation unit of the digital copying machine. A hypertext pattern is designated using each key of the operation unit (operation console) 3.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the processing contents of the first embodiment, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the processing contents of the second embodiment, and FIG. 6 shows the processing contents of the third embodiment. Illustrated illustration,
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing processing contents of the fourth embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the processing content of the fifth embodiment, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the processing content of the sixth embodiment.

In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4, first,
The hypertext pattern of the scanner input document is designated from the operation unit 3. At this time, the document title is also specified from the operation unit 3. In addition, the storage mode is specified, and the number of working images to be retained is specified. Next, the image data is stored in the external storage device 21 by the scanner input of the digital copying machine 1. Then, a designated reduced image is created from the designated hypertext pattern, and a storage address is set in the hypertext file 41. Then, the hypertext file 41 in which the storage information is embedded is stored in the external storage device 21.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the storage data is transferred from the external storage device 21 to a storage device (external storage device).
Transfer to 22. In addition, the digital copier 1 creates a storage key. In addition, a reduced image file and a hypertext for accessing stored information are created. Then, after creating the hypertext, the non-holding specified image file in the image data file is deleted. After the storage is completed, the address of the created storage access hypertext and the storage information are notified to the designated user PC 31A.

In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a storage request is issued to the storage server 34 and the storage server 34
To create a storage key and transfer it to digital copier 1. The stored data is transferred from the external storage device 21 to the storage device 36 of the storage server device 34. Then, a hypertext for accessing each reduced image file and storage information is created.
After the creation of the hypertext, the non-retained image data in the image data file is deleted. After the storage is completed, the designated user PC 31A is notified of the address of the created hypertext for storage access and the storage information.

In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG.
1, a browsing software 53 is incorporated. This software designates the storage address of the storage information hypertext, downloads the holding work file, checks the stored information and the reduced image, and specifies restoration and printing. An image file transfer request is made between the digital copying machine 1 and the PC 31 by designating the address of the storage information hypertext.

In the fifth embodiment shown in FIG.
In step 1, the method of restoring the stored information hypertext is specified. The storage device 22 transfers the designated restoration data from the storage key to the external storage device 21. In the external storage device 21, the designated image data is added to the held data and restored.

In the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the same control as in FIG. 8 is performed by using a storage device 36 of a storage server device 34 instead of the storage device 22 of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a document example of the storage notification and a display example of the terminal browser tool. Click the mouse to start the browser and access the image input / output system at the specified address.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for storing input image data from an external storage device to another. In order to scan a document from the digital copier 1 and store data, the operator copies the document to the digital copier 1.
The original is set on the digital copying machine 1 for inputting by a scanner (S10).

The operation section 3 of the digital copying machine 1 displays a user list on the operation panel in accordance with an instruction from the operator (S11). The operator selects a user from the user list and inputs a password (S12-1). The operation unit 3 checks the input user and password with data stored in the storage unit.

The operator specifies the input setting of the scanner 4 from the operation unit 3 and the number of pages of the image data held in the external storage device 21, sets the storage information hypertext pattern to be automatically stored, and sets the storage device ( External storage device 2
2 or the network-connected storage server device 34) is set (S12-2). A document is input from the scanner 4 of the digital copying machine 1 by a scanner (S13), and the data is inputted to the compression / decompression unit 7 (S13).
To compress the input data (S14), and store the data in the designated holder (S15).

When a plurality of pages have been input (S16), the next original is input. If the scanner input is completed, this is confirmed (S17), and the file information storage unit 10 for each holder is checked.
Each of the file information is recorded in a file, and a message indicating the end of scanning is displayed on the operation unit 3 to check whether there is image data input by a scanner designated by the operator. The designation of the storage device is checked (S18). If the designation of the storage device is the external storage device 22, a connection request is made to the external storage device 22, and a storage key for restoration is created (S19).

If the storage device designation is the storage device 36 of the storage server device 34, a connection request is made to the designated storage server device 34, and a storage key for restoration is received from the storage server device 34 (S20). If the connection of the storage device is OK (S2
1) Add the holder information for storage and the storage key information for restoration, and transfer the storage holder to the external storage device 22 or the storage server device 34 (S22). The image input / output device confirms the completion of storage (S23).

The format of the storage information hypertext specified by the user is extracted from the data for storage, the stored image data is converted into the specified reduced image, and the external storage device 21
And stores the storage address in the hypertext (S24). The storage information is extracted from the storage data file, the information is stored in the storage hypertext, a storage hypertext for the storage data is created, and stored in the external storage device 21. It is created repeatedly for each image file stored in the folder.

A hypertext of a storage information access list for each image file is created from each file information (S25). The created storage information is converted to the mail address of the hypertext storage address of the access list (S26). An e-mail is sent to the specified user or group user (S27). When the above processing is completed normally, the image data other than the image data held in the specified external storage device 21 is deleted from the image file (S2).
8).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for restoring designated image data to an external storage device. The digital copier 1 receives a restoration request of the designated image data to be restored by clicking a restoration request button embedded in the hypertext displayed on the browser of the user PC via the LAN. Sent to device.

The digital copying machine 1 receives the request for restoring the designated image data, and checks the validity of the designated storage key (S30). If the designated image data restoration is appropriate (S31), the designated restoration method is extracted from the storage key information and the designated restoration mode is set (S32). If the storage device designation is the external storage device 22 (S33), the external storage device 2
2 and a search for an image file is made from the storage key (S34).

If the storage device specification is the storage device 36 of the storage server device 34, a connection request is made to the specified storage server device 34, and a storage key is specified to request the restoration of the specified image data of the image file (S35). If the connection of the external storage device 22 is OK (S36), the specified image data of the storage city image file is transferred from the external storage device 22 or the storage server device 34, and the specified image data is restored (S3).
7).

When adding the image data to be restored to the image file held by the image input / output device (S38),
The specified image data is added to the held image file, and the image files corresponding to the required image data are restored. The image input / output device confirms the completion of the restoration and transmits the hypertext of the storage completion to the browser of the user PC (S3).
9).

Here, the operation means (operation section 3) has the function of the designation means and the display means described in the claims. The LAN communication controller 11 has the function of the notification means. The main control unit 2 has the functions of a confirmation unit, a creation unit, a transfer unit, and a deletion unit.

[0043]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the user can know the location of the stored data, and can prevent loss of an important image data file and forgetting to take back the image data of the user. . In addition, the designated user accesses the storage information list address of the hypertext that has received the image data input by the scanner to the image input / output device using a general-purpose browser of the terminal, thereby obtaining a reduced image of the storage information of the image data. Can be seen. In addition, the restoration of the stored image data can be designated based on this, and the data after the restoration can be collected. Further, since the PC to be used is not limited, the designated user can effectively use the scanner data by using the general-purpose browser on the PC to be used at that time.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the user can work efficiently by using image data that is not frequently used only when necessary.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital copying machine as an image input / output device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a network image forming system.

FIG. 3 is a layout diagram of an operation unit of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing processing contents of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating processing contents according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating processing contents according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing processing contents of a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing processing contents of a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating processing contents of a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a document example of a storage notification and a display example of a terminal browser tool.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for storing input image data from an external storage device to another.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process of restoring designated image data to an external storage device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital copier 2 Main control part 3 Operation part 4 Scanner 5 Plotter 6 Memory 7 Compressor / Decompressor 8 External storage part 9 Search part 10 File information storage part 11 LAN communication control part 12 External storage storage part 21 External storage device 22 External storage Device 31 PC 32 WS 33 FAX 34 Storage server device 35 LAN 36 Storage device 41 Hypertext file

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/21 H04N 1/21 5C073 F term (Reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP04 HJ06 HQ12 HR07 2C087 AA03 AA09 AA18 AB01 AB06 AB08 BA03 BB10 BC04 BC07 BC18 BD06 BD40 2C187 AD03 AE01 AE06 AE11 5B050 BA10 CA07 FA02 FA13 FA19 5C062 AA05 AA13 AA35 AB20 AB23 AB38 AB42 AC23 AC24 AC25 AC41 AC42 AC43 AF00 BA04 5C073 AB01 AB07 AB11

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A large-capacity first auxiliary storage device directly connected to an image input / output device or a large-capacity second auxiliary storage device of a file server connected via a network, and an operator is registered. The operation means for specifying the user ID, setting the input of the scanner, setting the number of designated images to be stored in the auxiliary storage device, starting the input of the scanner, and the access list of the storage information to be accessed from the terminal side have already been registered. Designating means for designating from a hypertext pattern, a data compressing means for compressing data inputted by a scanner, a holder storing means for storing an input image in a holder managed for each user of the auxiliary storage device, and data stored in the holder. In some cases, after the storage operation is completed, a display means for displaying storage information, and a second auxiliary for storing data which is normally accessed less frequently Confirmation means for confirming the start of image transfer to the storage device, after confirmation, reduction means for reducing the size of the image input by the scanner of the size specified by the specified hypertext pattern, and data for storing the created reduced image data Storage means, creation means for automatically creating an access list from a designated hypertext pattern, and notification for notifying the storage address and summary storage information of the created hypertext to a designated user's personal computer or workstation connected to the network. Means, transfer means for transferring the input image data file stored in the first auxiliary storage device to the second auxiliary storage device, and no transfer from the input image data file stored in the first auxiliary storage device An image characterized by comprising: a deletion means for deleting specified image data; Input / output system. 2. The image input / output system according to claim 1, wherein the second auxiliary storage device is a storage server device. 3. A control device for transferring image data not held in the first auxiliary storage device from the second auxiliary storage device and storing the image data in the first auxiliary storage device. The image input / output system according to claim 1 or 2.