JP2002325159A - Image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing system that can more simply transfer image data in a plurality of memory boxes in comparison with a conventional image processing system. SOLUTION: A digital composite machine 20 is provided with a memory box placed in a memory box area 8a of an image memory 8, a main control section 1 stores image data from an image read section 2 to the memory box in the memory box area 8a (a step S5 in Figure 4), and transmits image data stored in a designated memory box to a client PC 30 in response to an image data transfer request signal from each client PC30 (steps S11 and S12 in Figure 5). An operation section 105 of the client PC30 can designate any of a plurality of the memory boxes storing image data in the memory box area 8a in the image memory 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to image processing for reading an original image, converting the image into image data, and performing predetermined processing, such as an image scanner (hereinafter, referred to as a scanner) or an image reading section of a digital multifunction peripheral. About the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A digital multifunction peripheral, which is a facsimile machine with a copy, printer, and scanner function, and a plurality of client devices such as personal computers are connected to a local area network (hereinafter referred to as LAN).
A LAN system that is connected via the Internet has been put to practical use. In this prior art LAN system, a scanner in a digital multifunction peripheral reads a document image and converts it into image data, stores it in a memory box in an image memory corresponding to each client device, and transmits a transfer request from each client device. The image data is read from the memory box in the image memory in response to the signal, and transferred to the corresponding client device via the LAN.

[0003]

However, in the prior art LAN system, when it is necessary to transfer image data in a plurality of memory boxes, it is necessary to repeat the operation for designating the transfer by the number of memory boxes. . Further, if the user does not operate with the client device, the image data cannot be taken in, and the image data cannot be automatically taken into the client device at a predetermined time, which is inconvenient.

A first object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system which can solve the above problems and can transfer image data in a plurality of memory boxes more easily than the conventional example. is there.

A second object of the present invention is to provide, in addition to the first object, an image processing system capable of automatically loading image data into an external terminal device such as a client device at a predetermined time. It is in.

[0006]

An image processing system according to the present invention is an image processing system including an image processing device and an external terminal device, wherein the image processing device includes a plurality of image processing devices each storing image data. A storage unit having a storage area, and a second step of transmitting image data stored in the specified storage area to the external terminal apparatus in response to a transfer request signal from an external terminal apparatus including information for specifying the storage area. 1
Wherein the external terminal device comprises: an operation unit for designating a plurality of storage areas in the image data stored in the storage means; and a transfer including information for designating the plurality of designated storage areas. Second control means for generating a request signal and transmitting the request signal to the image processing apparatus while receiving image data transmitted from the image processing apparatus is provided.

In the image processing system, the second control means may generate the transfer request signal and transmit the signal to the image processing apparatus when the current time reaches a preset transfer specified time. It is characterized by.

Further, in the above image processing system,
The operating means inputs and sets the designated transfer time for each of the storage areas.

[0009]

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

<Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a LAN system provided with a digital multifunction device 20 which is a facsimile device having a copy, printer and scanner function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The LAN system according to this embodiment comprises a plurality of N client personal computers (hereinafter, referred to as N).
Client PC. ) 30-1 to 30-N (hereinafter collectively referred to as 30), a digital multifunction peripheral 20 connected to a public telephone network 80 via a public telephone line L, and a router connected to the Internet 90 Device 6
0 is an image processing system configured by being connected via a LAN 70. By connecting from each client PC 30 to the Internet 90 via a router device 60 or a mail server device (not shown), it is possible to browse a homepage and send and receive e-mails. Composite device 2
By accessing 0, the functions of the copy, printer, scanner, and facsimile of the apparatus 20 can be commonly used.

Digital composite device 2 according to this embodiment
0, the main control unit 1 includes a memory box in the memory box area 8a of the image memory 8;
Is stored in the memory box in the memory box area 8a (step S5 in FIG. 4), and in response to the image data transfer request signal from each client PC 30, the image stored in the designated memory box is received. The data is transmitted to the client PC 30 (step S in FIG. 5).
11-S12). On the other hand, the operation unit 105 of the client PC 30 can designate a plurality of memory boxes among the image data stored in the memory box area 8a in the image memory 8, and the main control unit 101 A transfer request signal including information designating a box is generated and transmitted to the digital multifunction peripheral 20 (steps S22-S23 in FIG. 6).
Is received (steps S31 to S33 in FIG. 7).

The main controller 1 of the client PC 30
Generates a transfer request signal and transmits it to the digital multifunction peripheral 20 when the current time reaches a preset transfer designation time (steps S21-S22 in FIG. 6) (step S23). Further, the operation unit 5 can be set by inputting a designated transfer time for each memory box.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the client PC 30 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, the client PC 30
An external terminal device, which is a known personal computer, executes processes such as generation, recording, and storage of image data and character data. In the present embodiment, for example, the client PC 30 is used as an external terminal device or an external device that receives image data scanned by a scanner. The main control unit 101 is specifically configured by a CPU, is connected to the following hardware units via a bus 113, controls them, and executes various software functions to be described later. In the client PC 30, an image reading unit and an image recording unit (not shown) are optionally provided. The display unit 104
A display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a CRT display, which displays the operation state of the client PC 30 and displays image data of a document to be transmitted and received image data. The operation unit 105 is, for example, a keyboard for inputting character data and instruction commands. Here, the operation unit 105 is configured to be able to designate a plurality of numbers of memory boxes to be transferred among the image data stored in the image memory 8 of the digital multifunction peripheral 20. Is designated, the main control unit 101 generates a transfer request signal including a plurality of memory box numbers, and transmits the transfer request signal to the digital multifunction peripheral 20.

The ROM 106 stores the client PC 3
0 are stored in advance, which are various software programs necessary for the start-up operation and executed by the main control unit 101. Here, the ROM 106 stores a program for the image data capturing process of FIGS. 6 and 7. Also,
The RAM 107 is configured by an SRAM, a DRAM, an SDRAM, or the like, and is used as a working area of the main control unit 101 and stores temporary data generated when a program is executed. Here, the RAM 107 includes a capture management table 107a, and the capture management table 10a.
Reference numeral 7a stores information such as a file name of image data to be captured from the digital multifunction peripheral 20, a memory box number, a designated capture time, or an instant. Further, the hard disk drive 108 is a storage device having a built-in recording medium, and stores an application program to be executed and an image memory. Furthermore, the clock circuit 109
Clocks the current time, and outputs the information to the main control unit 101 as necessary.

The client PC configured as described above
At 30, the main control unit 101 of the client PC 30
When transferring the image data stored in the corresponding memory box in the memory box area 8a after being scanned and converted by the image reading unit 2 to its own device, the instruction data instructing the corresponding memory box is transmitted. A transmission request signal including the transfer request signal is transmitted to the main control unit 1 in the digital multifunction peripheral 20 via the LAN interface 112 and the LAN 70, and in response thereto, image data transmitted from the digital multifunction peripheral 20 via the LAN 70 Is received and stored in the hard disk drive 108.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digital multifunction peripheral 20 shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, the digital multifunction peripheral 20
Is an image processing apparatus configured to have each function of a copy, a printer, and a scanner in addition to a conventional facsimile communication function such as the G3 system. The main control unit 1 is specifically composed of a CPU, is connected to the following hardware units via a bus 13, controls them, and executes various software functions to be described later. The image reading unit 2 reads a document with a scanner using a CCD or the like, and outputs dot image data converted into black and white binary. The image recording unit 3 is, for example, a printer device of an electrophotographic system or the like, and prints out, as a hard copy, image data scanned and converted by the image reading unit 2 or image data received by facsimile communication from another facsimile device. Record or record character data.

The display unit 4 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a CRT display. The display unit 4 displays the operation state of the digital multi-function peripheral 20, as well as image data of a document to be transmitted and received image data. Is displayed. The operation unit 5 includes character keys, dial numeric keys, speed dial keys, one-touch dial keys, various function keys, and the like necessary for operating the digital multifunction peripheral 20. The display unit 4 may be configured to be a touch panel type so that some or all of the various keys of the operation unit 5 can be substituted.

The ROM 6 stores the digital multifunction device 20
In this embodiment, at least image data storage processing to the memory box shown in FIG. 4 and transfer of image data shown in FIG. 5 are stored in advance. Includes processing program. RAM7 is SRAM, DRAM, SDRA
M, which is used as a working area of the main control unit 1 and stores temporary data generated when the program is executed. When a flash memory is used as the RAM 7, even if the power is cut off due to a power failure, a movement of the apparatus, or the like, the contents of the data are not lost.
Here, the RAM 7 stores the memory box management table 7a.
And a transfer management table 7b. The memory box management table 7a stores, for a plurality of memory boxes in the memory box area in the image memory 8, information such as the address of image data, the file name, and the client PC used for each memory box. The transfer management table 7b stores the numbers of the plurality of memory boxes included in the transfer request signal from the client PC 30 in each client P.
The information is temporarily stored for each C30, and such information is stored for each transfer request signal.

The image memory 8 is composed of a DRAM or the like, and stores image data to be transmitted or received image data, or scanned and converted image data. here,
The image memory 8 includes a memory box area 8a divided into a plurality of memory boxes. In each memory box, the image data transmitted / received by the facsimile function, or the image data scanned and converted by the scanner function or the copy function, and the image data when using the printer function are transferred and temporarily stored. When reading data from a memory box, a transfer request signal is transmitted to read data from the corresponding memory box and transfer it.
Further, the hard disk drive 9 is a storage device having a built-in recording medium, and stores various data and programs.

The fax modem 10 is connected to a public telephone line L
And has the function of a fax modem for normal facsimile communication. An NCU (Network Control Unit) 11 is a hardware circuit that performs closing and opening operations such as a DC loop of an analog public telephone line L and has an automatic dial function. To the public telephone line L. Here, the NCU 11 detects an ID receiving terminal activation signal and a normal telephone call signal in the outgoing telephone number notification service, and transmits a primary response signal and a secondary response signal in the outgoing telephone number notification service as necessary. can do. The NCU 11 may be connected to a baseband transmission type digital line (for example, an ISDN line) via a predetermined terminal adapter and a DSU (Digital Service Unit).

Further, the LAN interface 12
While being connected to the LAN 70 and receiving signals and data from the LAN 70, it transmits signals and data to the LAN 70 and executes interface processing related to LAN communication such as signal conversion and protocol conversion.

In the facsimile communication function of the digital multifunction peripheral 20 configured as described above, the dot image data transferred from each of the client PCs 30-1 to 30-N or the dot image data read by the image reading unit 2 is M defined in the standard of facsimile communication
After being encoded by software in accordance with an encoding system such as H, MR, MMR, etc., it is transmitted to the other party's facsimile apparatus, and on the contrary, the encoded data received from the other party's facsimile apparatus is also decoded into software by the software. After being converted, it is stored in the image memory 8 and printed by the image recording unit 3 as needed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process of storing image data in the memory box, which is executed by the main control unit 1 of the digital multifunction peripheral 20 of FIG.

In step S1 of FIG. 4, a document is first set, and in step S2, a memory box number for storing image data of a document image is designated.
At 3, it is determined whether the start key has been turned on. If YES, the process proceeds to step S4, while if NO, the process returns to step S2. Next, in step S4, scanning of the document is started, and in step S5, the scanned document image is converted into image data, and the image data is stored in the memory box of the designated memory box number. In step S6, the scanning is completed. It is determined whether the answer is YES. If YES, the process proceeds to step S7, while N
In the case of O, the process returns to step S4. Further, step S7
In the memory box management table 7, scan information including the address and file name of the image data in the image memory 8, the specific name of the client PC 30 to be used, and the like are stored.
a, and ends the process of storing image data in the memory box.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the image data transfer processing executed by the main control unit 1 of the digital multifunction peripheral 20 of FIG.

In step S11 of FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not a transfer request signal has been received from client PC 30, and the process of step S11 is repeated until the result of step S11 is YES. Is stored in the transfer management table 7b, and transmits an acknowledgment signal to the corresponding client PC. Next, in step S13, it is determined whether or not there is a memory box in which image data is not stored among the designated memory box numbers. If YES, the process proceeds to step S15, and if NO, the process proceeds to step S14. In step S14, a non-storage notification signal including a memory box number of a memory box in which image data is not stored is transmitted, and the process proceeds to step S15. In step S15, a transfer notification signal including one memory box number to be transmitted is transmitted to the corresponding client PC 30, and in step S16, the corresponding image data is read from the memory box of the memory box number and transferred to the client PC 30. In S17, it is determined whether or not the transfer has been completed. If NO, the process returns to Step S16, while if YES, the process proceeds to Step S18. Further, it is determined in step S18 whether or not there is a memory box of the image data to be transferred next. If the determination is YES, the process returns to step S15. If the determination is NO, the transfer process of the image data is ended.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the client PC of FIG.
30 is a flowchart illustrating a process of capturing image data, which is executed by the main control unit 101 of FIG.

In step S21 of FIG. 6, data of the current time is fetched from the clock circuit 109, and
22, the current time and the capture management table 107a
, It is determined whether there is a memory box to which image data is to be captured, and the capture management table 107 is determined.
In a, if there is a specified time immediately or before the current time, Y
If the determination is ES, the process proceeds to step S23. If the determination is NO, the process of capturing the image data ends. Then
After transmitting the transfer request signal including the one or more memory box numbers to the digital multifunction peripheral 20 in step S23, it is determined in step S24 whether an acknowledgment signal has been received from the digital multifunction peripheral 20. If YES, the process proceeds to step S26, while N
In the case of O, the process proceeds to step S25, an error indicating that the acknowledgment signal has not been received is displayed on the display unit 104, and the fetching process ends. On the other hand, it is determined in step S26 whether or not a non-storage notification signal has been received from the digital multifunction peripheral 20, and if YES, the process proceeds to step S31 in FIG. 7, while if NO, the process proceeds to step S27. In step S27, the display unit 1 displays the unstored memory box number.
After the display at 04, the process proceeds to step S31 in FIG.

In step S31, it is determined whether a transfer notification signal has been received from the digital multifunction peripheral 20.
If the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step S32; In step S32, the image data is received from the digital multifunction peripheral 20 and stored in the hard disk drive 108. In step S33, it is determined whether the reception of the image data is completed. If NO, the process returns to step S32, while if YES, the process returns to step S32. It returns to step S31. On the other hand, when NO is determined in the step S31, the end of the image data capturing process is displayed in a step S34, and the capturing process is completed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the main control section 1 of the digital multifunction peripheral 20 stores the image data from the image reading section 2 in the memory box in the memory box area 8a (FIG. 4). Step S5), the image data stored in the designated memory box is transmitted to the client PC 30 in response to the image data transfer request signal from each client PC 30 (Steps S11-S12 in FIG. 5). The operation unit 105 of the PC 30 is a memory box area 8 a in the image memory 8.
The main control unit 101 generates a transfer request signal including information for specifying the specified memory boxes, and sends the transfer request signal to the digital multifunction peripheral 20. While transmitting (steps S22-S23 in FIG. 6), the digital multifunction peripheral 2
The image data transmitted from 0 is received (steps S31-S33 in FIG. 7). Therefore, a plurality of memory boxes are set on the client PC 30 side, and the image data is collectively received from the digital multi-function peripheral 20. Therefore, the operation is performed only once, which is convenient and simpler than the conventional example. Then, the image data in the plurality of memory boxes can be transferred.

The main control unit 1 of the client PC 30
Generates a transfer request signal and transmits it to the digital multifunction peripheral 20 when the current time reaches a preset transfer designation time (steps S21-S22 in FIG. 6) (step S23). Therefore, the image data can be automatically taken into the client PC 30 at the time designated in advance.

Further, the operation unit 5 can be set by inputting a designated transfer time for each memory box. Therefore, the transfer designation time can be set by inputting the transfer designation time for each memory box, so that the transfer designation time can be designated for one or a plurality of files, and the operability can be greatly improved.

<Modifications> In the above embodiment, an example of the digital multifunction peripheral 20 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be widely applied to an image reading apparatus or an image processing apparatus having a scanner function. Can be.

In the above embodiment, the image data of the original image read by the image reading section 2 which is a scanner is stored in the memory box. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the digital multifunction peripheral may be stored in the memory box. The image data received by the facsimile function 20 may be stored in a memory box and transferred to the client PC 30.

[0038]

As described above in detail, according to the image processing system according to the present invention, there is provided an image processing system including an image processing device and an external terminal device. Storage means having a plurality of storage areas for storing the image data stored in the designated storage area in response to a transfer request signal from the external terminal apparatus including information for designating the storage area; The external terminal device comprises: an operation unit for designating a plurality of storage areas in the image data stored in the storage means; and a first control means for designating the plurality of storage areas. And a second control unit for generating a transfer request signal including information to be transmitted and transmitting the generated signal to the image processing apparatus, and receiving image data transmitted from the image processing apparatus. Therefore, a plurality of memory boxes are set on the external terminal device side, and the image data is collectively received from the image processing device, so that only one operation is required and the operation is convenient. Then, the image data in the plurality of memory boxes can be transferred.

In the image processing system, the second control means generates the transfer request signal and transmits it to the image processing apparatus when the current time reaches a preset transfer designation time. Therefore, the image data can be automatically taken into the external terminal device at the time designated in advance.

Further, in the above image processing system,
The operation means inputs and sets the transfer designation time for each of the storage areas. Therefore, the transfer designation time can be set by inputting the transfer designation time for each memory box, so that the transfer designation time can be designated for one or a plurality of files.
Operability can be greatly improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a LAN system including a digital multifunction device 20 which is a facsimile device with a copy, printer, and scanner function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a client PC 30 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the digital multifunction peripheral 20 of FIG.

4 is a main controller 1 of the digital multifunction peripheral 20 shown in FIG.
6 is a flowchart showing a process of storing image data in a memory box, which is executed by the computer.

5 is a main controller 1 of the digital multifunction peripheral 20 shown in FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing a process of transferring image data, which is executed by the CPU.

6 is a main control unit 10 of the client PC 30 in FIG.
3 is a flowchart illustrating a first part of a process of capturing image data, which is executed by the image processing device of FIG.

7 is a main control unit 10 of the client PC 30 in FIG.
3 is a flowchart illustrating a second part of the image data capturing process executed by the image processing device 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main control part, 2 ... Image reading part, 3 ... Image recording part, 4 ... Display part, 5 ... Operation part, 6 ... ROM, 7 ... RAM, 7a ... Memory box management table, 7b ... Transfer management table, 8 ... Image memory, 8a ... Memory box area, 9 ... Hard disk drive, 12 ... LAN interface, 13 ... Bus, 20 ... Digital multifunction device, 30, 30-1 to 30-N ... Client personal computer (client PC), 60 ... Router device, 70: Local area network (LAN), 80: Public telephone network, 90: Internet, 101: Main control unit, 104: Display unit, 105: Operation unit, 106: ROM, 107: RAM, 107a: Import management Table, 108: Hard disk drive, 112: LAN interface Vinegar, 113 ... bus.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C087 AA09 AB01 AB05 BB10 BC02 BC14 BD52 5B021 AA01 BB01 BB04 CC05 EE01 QQ04 5C062 AA05 AA05 AA13 AB38 AB42 AC36 AC41 AC42 AC43 BA04 5C075 AB90 BA11 BB11 CA14 CD25 FF09

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image processing system comprising an image processing device and an external terminal device, wherein the image processing device has storage means having a plurality of storage areas each storing image data, and designates the storage area. First control means for transmitting image data stored in a designated storage area to the external terminal device in response to a transfer request signal from the external terminal device including the information to be transmitted. Operating means for designating a plurality of storage areas in the image data stored in the storage means, and generating a transfer request signal including information designating the plurality of designated storage areas and transmitting the transfer request signal to the image processing apparatus On the other hand, an image processing system comprising: a second control unit that receives image data transmitted from the image processing apparatus. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second control means generates said transfer request signal and transmits it to said image processing apparatus when a current time reaches a preset transfer designation time. 2. The image processing system according to 1. 3. The image processing system according to claim 2, wherein the operation unit inputs and sets the transfer designation time for each of the storage areas.