JP2002319014A - Image input/output system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To create accounting information for each person to be charged when data expired as to a designated expiration date of storage, contained in the external recording device of an image input/output device, are stored in an external storage device having a larger capacity than the external recording device. SOLUTION: A digital copier 1 includes a main control part 2 for managing an entire system; an operating part 3; a scanner 4; a plotter 5 or recording document information onto recording paper; a memory 6 for storing a variety of control programs and for temporarily saving the document information read; a compression extension part 7 for encoding and decoding the information read; an external storage part 8; a retrieving part 9; a file information storage part 10; a LAN communication control part 11; an external storage part 12; and an accounting part 13. The external storage part 8 attaches a file number to the document information read by the scanner 4 and stores the information in the external storage device 21. The external storage part 12 stores the data in the external storage device 22. The accounting part 13 produces accounting information when the data expired as the expiration data of storage are stored in the external storage device 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input / output system in which an image input / output device having a remote scanner function is connected to a network, and more particularly, to a designated storage in an external storage device of the image input / output device. When storing expired data in a large-capacity external storage device,
For example, the present invention relates to an image input / output system that creates billing information for each billing person (for example, a department or a group).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, networking of PCs (personal computers) and WSs (workstations) has rapidly spread, and construction of LANs (local area networks) in offices has been progressing. Digital copying machines have also been used as shared remote printers on networks of PCs and workstations.

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 scanner (remote scanner) connected to a network, it is troublesome. there were. For example, when using a digital copier as a remote scanner, first go to the digital copier, set a document on the digital copier, start the scanner application of the digital copier on a remote PC or the like, An instruction to read a document is issued. Thereafter, it is necessary to retrieve the original set in the digital copying machine.

Conventionally, digital copiers are often used as copies by a plurality of persons, and while the scanner is being used by a scanner, originals are left on the copier and cannot be used by other persons. was there. Another problem is that the cover is opened and the document is removed without the knowledge of others.

To solve these problems, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 7-271535 (scanner print server system and automatic image transfer method of the scanner print server system) discloses an image input / output device used as a remote scanner. It has been proposed that a document set, a reading start instruction, and a document collection operation can be performed at a remote scanner setting position (that is, an image input / output device position). However, in this method, after setting the transfer destination to the scanner device in advance from the PC or the like, set the transfer destination, go to the remote scanner device, press the scanner start button there, transfer the data, collect the original, and again, Since the method uses the data returned to the PC, there is a problem that it takes time and effort to perform the previous setting. In addition, since all images are transferred, there is a problem in that transfer time may be required accordingly. Further, the transfer may be interrupted due to a storage error on the PC side during reception, and in that case, there is a problem that the document must be scanned and read again.

[0006] Therefore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 000-4339 (image input / output device) describes a method of temporarily storing data input by a scanner with an image input / output device in a connected auxiliary storage device, and after storing the data, a terminal connected to a network. In an image input / output device that performs data collection at a time, in case the user forgets to collect data, the data is stored even after the storage expiration date has passed.
An automatic storage function for automatically saving expired data to a large-capacity external storage device connected to the image input / output device or a storage server device connected to the image input / output device via a network is added.

[0007]

When data is stored and stored in an external storage device connected to the image input / output device or a storage server device connected to the image input / output device via a network, various departments of the company store the data. In consideration of this, it is necessary to account for the management cost for storage for each person to be charged such as a department. For this reason, a function for charging for each person to be charged is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and is intended to transfer data whose designated storage expiration date in an external storage device of an image input / output device has a larger capacity than an external storage device. When storing and storing in an external storage device of the device or in a storage server device connected to the image input / output device via a network, charging information is created for each charging target person. , Create information that aggregates the billing information for each specified billable person,
The information is intended to be able to be viewed by a user within a person to be charged.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in an image input / output system in which an image input / output device having a remote scanner function and a PC are connected via a network, An external storage device that has a main control unit, a charging unit, and stores data obtained by scanning a document, and a storage device having a larger capacity than the external storage device.
An external storage device for storing data that is normally accessed infrequently is provided, and the main control unit is configured to execute a process when a specified storage expiration date has passed among data stored in the external storage device. Storing the data in the external storage device, storing the data after the storage processing, and storing, in the external storage device, charging information for each charging target extracted from the external storage device by the charging unit as charging management information; The control unit deletes data in the external storage device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image input / output system in which an image input / output device having a remote scanner function, a PC, and a storage server device are connected via a network. An external storage device having a main control unit, a billing unit, and the like, and storing data obtained by scanning an original, is provided. The storage server device is a storage device having a larger capacity than the external storage device, and usually has a low access frequency. The main control unit stores data.
When there is data whose specified storage expiration date has passed among the data stored in the external storage device, the data is stored in the storage server device, and after the storage processing, the storage server is stored in the charging unit. Charging information for each person to be charged extracted from the device is stored in the external storage device as charging management information, and the main control unit deletes data in the external storage device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the image input / output device has a monitoring means for monitoring the set totaling date and time. Tallying means for retrieving the billing information of the person to be billed and counting the billing information, converting means for converting the tallying result totalized by the tallying means into hypertext, and storing the hypertext file in the external storage device And a notifying means for creating an e-mail containing the access address of the stored file and transmitting the e-mail to a designated person to be charged.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an example of a digital copying machine used for an image input / output system according to the present invention. In the drawing, a digital copying machine 1 manages the entire apparatus. A main control unit 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 a memory for storing various control programs and for temporarily storing information of the read document 6. Compression / decompression unit 7 for encoding and decoding the read information, external storage unit 8, search unit 9, file information storage unit 1.
0, a LAN communication control unit 11, an external storage and storage unit 12, and a charging unit 13.

The external storage unit 8 attaches a file number to information of a document read by the scanner 4 and
For example, the data is stored in an external storage device 21 including a large-capacity hard disk such as a readable and writable optical file. The external storage unit 12 stores data in the external storage device 22. The billing unit 13 creates billing information when storing expired data in the external storage device 22.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of the image input / output system according to the present invention.
C31, WS32, FAX33, storage server device 34
Is connected via a LAN 35 to the digital copying machine 1 having a network interface function. PC
31, WS32 has a display device and a keyboard, and can selectively execute a plurality of software processes by an intelligent function.

The LAN communication controller 11 of the digital copying machine 1
Controls communication between the digital copying machine 1 and another terminal device, and converts data obtained by scanning a document into, for example, LA.
It can be stored in the external storage device 36 (see FIG. 4) of the storage server device 34 connected via N35.

The external storage device 22 connected to the digital copier 1 and the storage device 36 connected via the LAN 35 and the storage server device 34 include the digital copier 1.
This storage device has a larger capacity than the external storage device 21 and normally serves as a warehouse for storing data with low access frequency. Examples include a tape autochanger in which a tape cartridge is automatically replaced, a CD-RW
Alternatively, a DVD-RW autochanger is conceivable.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the flow of accounting management information between the external storage device 21 and the external storage device 22 of the digital copying machine 1 shown in FIG. When there is stored data that has passed the time limit, (1) the stored data is transferred to the external storage device 22 (S1). (2) The external storage device 22 creates a storage key, acquires billing information, and (S2), the charging unit 13 registers the charging information in the external storage device 21 (S3), and, after the storage is completed, deletes the image file (storage data) in the external storage device 21 (S4). .

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the flow of accounting management information between the external storage device 21 of the digital copying machine 1 shown in FIG. 2 and the storage device 36 of the storage server device 34 via the LAN. When there is stored data whose storage expiration date has passed in the external storage device 21, the digital copying machine 1 transmits a storage request and a billing information acquisition request to the storage server device 34 (S5); 34 sets a storage key and charging information (S6), and transmits the storage key and charging information to the digital copying machine 1 (S6).
7), the charging unit 13 registers the charging information (S8), and the external storage device 21 stores the stored data in the storage server device 3.
4 (S9). After the storage processing, the image file (storage data) in the external storage device 21 is deleted (S10).

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the flow of accounting information tallying. When a preset accounting tally date and time has been reached, the accounting unit 13 starts accounting accounting processing (S11). The accounting result is converted into a hypertext, and an access list notification is created (S12). After storing the access list notification in the external storage device 21, the access accounting result result address information is stored in the designated person in the accounting target. Notify (transmit) to the administrator PC 31a (S1)
3). After that, the administrator who received the address information can browse the accounting result by specifying the storage address of the hypertext by the address information using the browse software, and the administrator can view the storage data based on the accounting result. Can be found.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing for storing and charging when storing scanner data. First, in order to scan the original with the digital copying machine 1 and obtain data, the operator converts the original into a digital form. Copier 1
And set it on the digital copier 1 (F1
0). The operation unit 3 of the digital copying machine 1 displays the user list on the operation panel (F11). -The operator selects a user from the user list and inputs a password. The operation unit 3 checks the input user and password against the data stored in the memory 6 (F12). If the operator selects in the menu of the operation panel to make the input data accessible within the group (F1
3-Yes), and record the group accessible flag (F14). The operator selects whether to store the storage location of the input data manually or to automatically assign the digital copying machine 1 (F15). .

Next, the setting of the expiration date for automatic storage due to the expiration of the expiration date, the setting of the billing summary notification, and the storage device for storing and storing (the external storage device 22 or the storage device 36 of the network-connected storage server device). Is set (F16). If the selection in F15 is a manual selection (F17-Y
es) The operation unit 3 displays the directory list on the operation panel, and allows the operator to specify a storage location. The storage location name is stored in the file information storage unit 10 (F18). If the selection in F15 is automatic designation (F1
7-No), and automatically allocate storage locations (F1
9). An original is input from the scanner 4 of the digital copying machine 1 by a scanner (F20), the input data is compressed by the compression / expansion unit 7 (F21), and the data is stored in a designated storage location (F22). In the case of multiple page input (F23-Yes), the next original is input (F20). If the scanner input is completed (F23-No), each file information is recorded in the file information storage unit 10 (F2
4).

FIG. 7 shows a storage device 36 of the storage server device from the external storage device 21 via the external storage device 22 or the LAN.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of a process of storing data in a storage device and a flow of a billing process.
It searches for expired data in 0 and checks whether storage is necessary (F30). If there is data that needs to be stored (F31-Yes), it is expired from the file information storage unit 10. The data storage settings are retrieved (F32). If the storage destination specified in the storage setting is the external storage device 22 connected to the image input / output device (F33—storage device), a connection request is issued to the external storage device 22 to create a storage key for restoration. (F34). The storage device 36 of the storage server device 34 in which the designated storage destination is connected to the image input / output device via the LAN.
If it is (F33—storage server), 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 (F35). If the connection of the storage destination is OK (F36-Yes), the storage device 36 of the storage server device 34 is added via the external storage device 22 or the LAN by adding file information for storage and storage key information for restoration. Transfer the stored data to (F3
7). Digital copier 1 confirms that storage is complete (F3
8). Acquisition information is acquired from the external storage device 22 or the storage server device 34 (F39). The accounting unit 13 registers as accounting management information for each group and stores it in the external storage device 21 (F40). When the above processing is completed normally, the external storage device 21
The stored data is deleted (F41).

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a flow of performing the accounting process at the designated aggregation date and time. The accounting date and time is periodically monitored by the accounting date monitoring process of the accounting unit 13 (F50). -When the date and time when the tally is required (F51-Ye
s) The charging unit 13 extracts the charging management information of the designated group stored in the external storage device 21 (F52). The charging unit 13 totals the charging information from the charging management information (F53). Based on the accounting totaling result information and the accounting management information, the information is converted into hypertext using a hypertext template for displaying the aggregation result, that is, it is accessible by a browser and can be accessed from the network of the external storage device 21. (F54). -Convert the access address and notification information of the created hypertext file into mail data (F55). Send mail data to, for example, a designated manager within a designated person to be charged (F56).

[0024]

According to the image input / output system of the present invention, data stored and stored in a storage device (external storage device or storage server device) is charged for each person to be charged. Therefore, even if the storage device and the storage data are shared and used by a plurality of charging target persons, the sharing of the cost can be clarified.

According to the image input / output system of the present invention, by notifying the designated chargeable person of the hypertext access address which is the storage location of the charge totaling result, for example, the chargeable person Managers can access the billing summary results using a general-purpose browser on the terminal, and even if the storage location and data are shared and used by multiple You can grasp the share, and you can know the location of the stored data from the billing total result,
Loss of important data and forgetting to collect data can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a digital copying machine used for an image input / output system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of an image input / output system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the flow of accounting management information between an external storage device and a storage device of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the flow of charging management information between an external storage device of the digital copying machine and a storage server device via a LAN.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a flow of accounting information totalization notification.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing for setting storage and charging when storing scanner data.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process of storing data from an external storage device to a storage device or a storage server device, and a flow of a billing process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of performing accounting totaling processing at a specified totaling date and time.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Digital copying machine, 2 ... Main control part, 3 ... Operation part, 4 ...
Scanner 5, plotter 6, memory 7, compression / decompression unit 8, external storage unit 9, search unit 10, file information storage unit 11, LAN communication control unit 12, external storage storage unit 13, reference numeral 13 Billing unit, 21 external storage device (auxiliary storage device), 22 external storage device, 31 PC, 31a administrator PC, 32 WS, 33 FAX, 34 storage server device, 35 LAN, 36 … A storage device.

Claims (3)

[Claims] In an image input / output system in which an image input / output device having a remote scanner function and a PC are connected via a network, the image input / output device has a main control unit, a billing unit, and the like. An external storage device for storing data obtained by scanning a document, and an external storage device for storing data having a larger capacity than the external storage device and usually having a low access frequency, the main control unit includes:
When there is data whose specified storage expiration date has passed among the data stored in the external storage device, the data is stored in the external storage device. Image input / output, wherein charging information for each charging target person retrieved from the storage device is stored in the external storage device as charging management information, and the main control unit deletes data in the external storage device. system. 2. An image input / output system in which an image input / output device having a remote scanner function, a PC, and a storage server device are connected via a network, wherein the image input / output device includes a main control unit, An external storage device for storing data obtained by scanning originals, wherein the storage server device is a storage device having a larger capacity than the external storage device, and stores data that is normally accessed less frequently; When the data stored in the external storage device includes data whose storage expiration date has passed, the main control unit stores the data in the storage server device. Thereafter, the charging unit stores, in the external storage device, charging information for each charging target extracted from the storage server device as charging management information,
The image input / output system, wherein the main control unit deletes data in the external storage device. 3. The image input / output system according to claim 1, wherein the image input / output device includes a monitoring unit that monitors a set total date and time, and a charging target designated when the total date and time comes. Tabulation means for taking out the billing information of the user and totalizing the billing information, converting means for converting the tally result compiled by the tallying means into hypertext, and storing the hypertext file in the external storage device An image input / output system, comprising: means for notifying an e-mail containing an access address of a stored file and sending the mail to a designated person to be charged.