JP2002366408A - File management program, computer readable recording medium with its program recorded, file management method and file management device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily inhibit the contents of a file whose display is not desired from being displayed. SOLUTION: A computer is made execute a step (S05) for discriminating whether or not an inhibition mark is included in the contents of a file and a step (S06) for associating the file whose inhibition mark including is discrinated by the discrimination step with an inhibition file indicating that the display of the contents of a file is inhibited. Thus, the file in which the inhibition mark is included is associated with the inhibition file so that it is possible to inhibit the contents of the file associated with the inhibition mark from being displayed without changing the contents of the file.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a file management program, a computer-readable recording medium storing the file management program, a file management method, and a file management apparatus. The present invention relates to a file management program, a computer-readable recording medium storing the file management program, a file management method, and a file management device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image reading apparatus such as an image scanner reads a document set in a reading section, converts the document into digital image data, and connects to an image reading apparatus directly or via a network. The information is transmitted to an information processing device such as a computer. The information processing device displays the received image data on a display,
For example, predetermined image processing can be performed. The image data is recorded on a magnetic recording device or the like provided in the information processing device.

On the other hand, in an information processing apparatus, in order to confirm a file recorded in a recording apparatus such as a magnetic recording apparatus, the file is displayed as a reduced thumbnail. When the contents of a file are displayed as thumbnails, the contents of each of the plurality of files are displayed in a reduced size, so that the contents of the file can be confirmed more reliably than when referring to a file name or the like.

As described above, image data obtained by reading a document with the image reading device is displayed as a thumbnail on the display of the information processing device.

[0005]

However, among the files stored in the information processing apparatus, there are files that the creator of the file does not want to disclose to others. If the application software that created the file or the application software that can edit the file content has a function that prohibits the file content from being displayed, the file content is displayed using the function that prohibits the display. Can be prevented.

[0006] Regarding a file of image data obtained by reading an original with an image reading device, if there is a function for prohibiting application software for displaying image data on a display from displaying the contents of the file with a thumbnail. By using the function of prohibiting display, the contents of the file can be prevented from being displayed.

However, after transmitting the image data obtained by reading the document by the image reading device to the information processing device, a predetermined operation must be performed to prohibit the display by the information processing device. Was necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one of the objects of the present invention is to make it possible to easily display the contents of a file not desired to be displayed without changing the contents. An object of the present invention is to provide a file management program that can be prohibited, a computer-readable recording medium storing the file management program, a file management method, and a file management device.

It is another object of the present invention to easily prohibit the display of the contents of a file not desired to be displayed without changing the contents and to make the user recognize the existence of the file not desired to be displayed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a file management program, a computer-readable recording medium storing the file management program, a file management method, and a file management device.

[0010]

According to one aspect of the present invention, a file management program includes a step of determining whether or not predetermined information is included in the contents of a file; Causing the computer to execute a step of associating the file containing the predetermined information in the determination step with the prohibition information indicating that the display of the content is prohibited.

According to the present invention, a file determined to contain predetermined information is associated with prohibition information.
The display of the file associated with the prohibition information can be prohibited. As a result, a file management program capable of prohibiting the display of the contents of a file that is not desired to be displayed by a simple operation without changing the contents, and a computer-readable recording medium recording the file management program are provided. Can be provided.

[0012] Preferably, the prohibition information is a prohibition file having predetermined contents, and the associating step includes a step of creating management information indicating a relation between the prohibition file and a file associated with the prohibition file.

According to the present invention, management information indicating the association between a prohibited file and a file associated with the prohibited file is created. For this reason, a file associated with the prohibited file can be specified using the management information, so that a file whose display is prohibited can be easily specified.

Preferably, the method further includes the step of displaying the contents of the prohibited file in place of the contents of the file associated with the prohibited file by the management information.

According to the present invention, the contents of the prohibited file are displayed instead of the contents of the file associated with the prohibited file. For this reason, the user can be made aware of the existence of a file whose display is not desired.

Preferably, the step of associating the file associated with the prohibition information with the authentication information, and canceling the association with the prohibition information in response to input of the authentication information associated with the file associated with the prohibition information And a step.

According to the present invention, when the authentication information associated with the file whose content display is prohibited is input,
The display prohibition is released. Therefore, the display prohibition can be released by inputting the authentication information, so that only the person who knows the authentication information can release the display prohibition.

Preferably, the method further includes the step of transmitting a file associated with the prohibition information and the prohibition information.

According to the present invention, a device that has received the file associated with the prohibition information and the prohibition information can prohibit the display of the contents of the file associated with the prohibition information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a file management program reads management information associated with a plurality of files, and inhibits display of the plurality of files associated with the read management information. And displaying the contents of the prohibited file in place of the contents of the file associated with the prohibited file.

According to the present invention, when a plurality of files associated with the management information include a prohibited file indicating that display is prohibited, the prohibited file is replaced with the prohibited file in place of the file associated with the prohibited file. Is displayed. For this reason, file management that can prohibit the display of the contents of files that are not desired to be displayed by a simple operation without changing the contents and that allows the user to recognize the existence of files that are not desired to be displayed. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program and a file management program are recorded can be provided.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, in the file management method, a step of determining whether or not the content of the file includes predetermined information, and the predetermined step includes the predetermined information. Associating a file with prohibition information indicating that display of contents is prohibited.

According to the present invention, the file determined to contain the predetermined information is associated with the prohibition information.
The display of the file associated with the prohibition information can be prohibited. As a result, it is possible to provide a file management method capable of prohibiting the display of the contents of a file not desired to be displayed by a simple operation without changing the contents.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, in a file management method, a step of reading management information in which a plurality of files are associated, and display of the plurality of files associated with the read management information is prohibited. And displaying the contents of the prohibited file in place of the contents of the file associated with the prohibited file when the prohibited file indicating that the file is prohibited is included.

According to the present invention, the display of the contents of the file not desired to be displayed is prohibited by a simple operation without changing the contents, and the user is made aware of the existence of the file not desired to be displayed. Can be provided.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the file management device determines that the content of the file includes the predetermined information, and the determination unit includes the predetermined information. Associating means for associating the file and the prohibition information indicating that the display of the content is prohibited.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a file management apparatus capable of prohibiting the display of the contents of a file not desired to be displayed by a simple operation without changing the contents.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the file management device reads the management information associated with the plurality of files, and inhibits the display of the plurality of files associated with the read management information. Display means for displaying the contents of the prohibited file in place of the contents of the file associated with the prohibited file when the prohibited file indicating that the file is prohibited is included.

According to the present invention, the display of the contents of the file not desired to be displayed is prohibited by a simple operation without changing the contents, and the user is made aware of the existence of the file not desired to be displayed. A file management device capable of performing the above can be provided.

[0030]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a file management system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding members, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a file management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the file management system 1 includes an image management device 1
00, 100A, and 100B, and the copying machine 101.

Image management devices 100, 100A, 100B
And the copier 101 are connected to a local area network (L
AN) 103. The image management apparatuses 100, 100A, and 100B can communicate with the copier 101 via the LAN 103.

In the present embodiment, a copying machine will be described as an example of an image reading apparatus. However, a facsimile, an image reader equipped with an image reading apparatus, or a multifunction machine combining these may be used. .

In the present embodiment, one copier 101 and three image management apparatuses 100, 100A, 1
00B is connected to the LAN 103, but the number of each is not limited to this. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, an example will be described in which image data obtained by reading a document by copying machine 101 is transmitted to image management apparatus 100.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image management apparatus 100 of the file management system 1 according to the present embodiment. The image management device 100 is configured by a personal computer or the like. Referring to FIG. 2, image management apparatus 100 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 111 for controlling the entire image management apparatus 100, and a read-only memory (ROM) for storing a program to be executed by CPU 111. ) 112, a random access memory (RAM) 113 used as a work area when the CPU 111 executes a program, a fixed storage device 114 such as a magnetic disk device, an external storage device 115, a display control unit 116, It includes a control unit 117 and a network interface card (NIC) 118 for connecting the image management apparatus 100 to the LAN 103.

The fixed storage device 114 is a magnetic disk device such as a hard disk drive. Fixed storage device 11
Reference numeral 4 stores a program to be executed by the CPU 111, image data received from the copier 101, virtual combination information, and the like. Further, the fixed storage device 114 stores the copy machine 1
01 is stored. The information on the copying machine 101 includes the IP (internet pro
tocol) address and other network addresses. Further, the fixed storage device 114 stores a program for decompressing image data encoded by a compression process or the like, an application program for displaying image data, and the like.

The external storage device 115 reads a program or data recorded on the computer-readable recording medium 122 and sends it to the CPU 111. The CPU 11
In accordance with the instruction from 1, the necessary data is written to the computer-readable recording medium 122.

As the computer-readable recording medium 122, a tape system such as a magnetic tape or a cassette tape,
Magnetic disk (flexible disk, hard disk, etc.) and optical disk (CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD)
Etc.), a card system such as an IC card (including a memory card) or an optical card, or a mask RO
A medium that fixedly carries a program, such as a semiconductor memory such as an M, EPROM, or flash memory.

Further, the recording medium 122 may be a recording medium that carries the program in a fluid manner so that the program can be downloaded from the network. The external storage device 115 is configured to be able to read or write a program or data recorded on such a recording medium 122.

The display control unit 116 includes a display 119
And displays information such as characters and graphics on the display 119 in response to an instruction from the CPU 111. The input control unit 117 includes a keyboard 120 and a mouse 1
21. Information input from the keyboard 120 and the mouse 121 is transmitted to the CPU 111.

The NIC 118 sets the image management device 100 to L
Connect to AN103. For this reason, the image management device 100
Can communicate with the copier 101 via the LAN 103.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine of the file management system according to the present embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 3, copier 101 includes a control unit 131 for controlling the entirety of copier 101, a reading unit 133 for reading a document, and an image for processing image data output from reading unit 133. A processing unit 132, an image forming unit 134 for forming image-processed image data on a recording medium such as paper, a display 135 for displaying necessary information, and inputting necessary instructions to the copying machine 101 And a network interface card (N) for connecting the copier 101 to the LAN 103.
IC) 138, a fixed storage device 139 for storing programs executed by the control unit 131 and predetermined information, and an external storage device 137.

The control unit 131 includes a central processing unit (CPU) for executing the program, a ROM for storing the program to be executed by the CPU, and a memory area required for executing the program by the CPU. RAM used.

The reading unit 133 irradiates a document to be read with light, and receives the reflected light with a photoelectric conversion element such as a charge-coupled device (CCD). The received light is converted into an electric signal, and the converted electric signal is transmitted to the image processing unit 132 as image data.

The reading section 133 includes an automatic document feeder. When the printing is instructed, the automatic document feeder automatically sets a plurality of documents set in the document feed tray from the lowermost document to the reading position, and when the reading by the reading device is completed, the document is discharged. Discharge to paper tray. For this reason, the user can sequentially read all of the plurality of originals only by giving a print instruction after the plurality of originals are sequentially stacked with the first page as the lowermost layer and set on the automatic document feeder. .

The image processing unit 132 receives the image data received from the reading unit 133 or the NIC 138 and the LAN.
Image data received from a personal computer or the like via the image processing unit 103 is subjected to correction processing such as noise removal processing or color correction processing, or image compression processing for reducing the amount of data for transmission. The image data processed by the image processing unit 132 is transmitted to the image forming unit 134 or the NIC 138.

The image data transmitted to the NIC 138 is
The image processing unit 132 may perform an encoding process such as an image compression process. A program for performing the image compression processing is stored in the fixed storage device 139, and is read out and executed by the image processing unit 132 as needed.

The image forming section 134 forms an image on a recording medium such as paper using the image data received from the image processing section 132.

The fixed storage device 139 stores a program to be executed by the control unit 131, an IP address of the image management apparatus 100 connected to the LAN 103, an image compression program corresponding to a plurality of compression formats, and the like.

The input unit 136 includes a numeric keypad or a touch panel, and is used to input necessary instructions such as document reading conditions to the copying machine 101. Here, an input is made to select whether to copy the image data obtained by reading the original by the copying machine 101 or to transmit the image data to the image management apparatus 100 via the LAN 103.

The display 135 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device, and displays a menu screen for setting an operation mode of the copying machine 101, an operation mode in which the copying machine 101 is set, and the like.

The NIC 138 connects the copying machine 101 to the LAN 1
This is an interface for connecting to the 03. The copying machine 101 can communicate with the image management apparatus 100 via the NIC 138. Also, NIC 138
It is possible to connect to an externally connected personal computer and public line. The NIC 138 mainly includes a communication control unit that performs communication control for transmitting and receiving control signals and image data to and from a personal computer, and a control signal and a control signal that are transmitted to and from a device connected to an external LAN via the LAN. A network control unit for performing network control for transmission and reception of image data, a facsimile conversion unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from the control unit 131 during facsimile operation, and performing a conversion such as a pixel density and an encoding method; It is composed of a G3 unit and the like that performs communication control such as modulation and demodulation of control signals and is connected to a telephone line and controls communication with the PSTN.

The external storage device 137 reads a program or data recorded on a computer-readable recording medium 140 and transmits the program or data to the control unit 131. The control unit 13
In accordance with the instruction from 1, the necessary data is written to the computer-readable recording medium 140. The computer-readable recording medium 140 is the same as the recording medium 122 described above.

The image data obtained by reading the original by the copying machine 101 is a bitmap image. Further, predetermined compression processing is performed as necessary. The image data obtained by being read by the copying machine 101 is stored in the image management apparatus 100 by LA.
It is transmitted via N103. The image management device 100 stores the received image data in the fixed storage device 114. If the received image data has been compressed, the image data is decompressed as necessary and stored in the fixed storage device 114.

Next, the thumbnail display processing executed by the image management apparatus 100 will be described. The thumbnail display process is a process of displaying the contents of the file stored in the fixed storage device 114 on the display 119 as thumbnails.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the thumbnail display process executed by the image management device 100 according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 4, in the thumbnail display processing, first, it is determined whether or not an instruction to display a file belonging to a folder as a thumbnail has been input (step S01). If there is an instruction to display a thumbnail, the process proceeds to step S02; otherwise, the process enters a standby state. Instead of the standby state when there is no display instruction in the thumbnail, an interrupt may be generated when the display instruction is issued to execute the following processing.

An instruction to display a thumbnail is made by designating a folder. The designation of the folder is performed by the keyboard 120 or the mouse 12 of the image management apparatus 100.
1 is performed by performing a predetermined operation.

A plurality of files are stored in the fixed storage device 114, and each of the files is classified and stored in a folder. In step S01, one of the folders stored in the fixed storage device 114 is designated.

When a folder is designated and a display instruction with a thumbnail is accepted, all files belonging to the designated folder are detected (step S02).

Then, in the next step S03, it is determined whether or not the file detected in step S02 includes a virtual combination file. If a virtual combination file exists in the designated folder, the process proceeds to step S12; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S04. Whether or not there is a virtual combination file in the designated folder can be detected, for example, by the extension of the file name.

Here, the virtual combination file will be described. The virtual combination file stores management information for associating a plurality of files. The management information includes the file names of the associated files and the order of those files. The file associated by the virtual combination file is hereinafter referred to as a configuration file. Here, the virtual combination file and the configuration file defined by the virtual combination file exist in the same folder. It is not always necessary to put the virtual combination file and the configuration file defined by the virtual combination file in the same folder. Here, an example will be described in which a virtual combination file and a configuration file whose association is defined by the virtual combination file exist in the same folder.

The determination in step S03 is to proceed to step S12 if the file is a virtual combination file, otherwise to step S04. In addition, for the configuration file in which the association is defined by the virtual combination file, the processes of steps S12, S13, and S14 are performed, and the process does not proceed to step S04. Therefore, the process of step S04 is executed in the case of a file belonging to the designated folder that is neither a virtual combination file nor a configuration file.

In step S04, a prohibition mark detection process is performed on the files belonging to the designated folder that are neither the virtual combination file nor the constituent files. The prohibition mark is a mark of a predetermined shape included in the image. This prohibition mark is a mark determined in advance by the user. The prohibition mark is a bitmap image determined in advance by the user, and is stored in the fixed storage device 114 or the ROM 112. In the prohibition mark detection processing, the fixed storage device 114 or RO
The prohibition mark stored in advance in M112 is read, and an area having the same shape as the prohibition mark is detected from the file to be processed using the pattern matching technique. If an area having the same shape as the prohibition mark is included in the image data of the target file, the process proceeds to step S06; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S11.

Here, the prohibition mark will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a prohibition mark used in the image management device according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 5, a prohibition mark 201 of “+” is shown in the upper right part of document 200. The prohibition mark 201 is a symbol, character, graphic, or a combination thereof having a predetermined shape attached to the document. As the shape of the prohibition mark 201, any shape may be used as long as the shape is predetermined by the user. The prohibition mark 201 is stored in the fixed storage device 114 or the ROM 112 in a shape predetermined by the user. Also,
The prohibition mark 201 is not limited to the shape, and may use a color. The prohibition mark may be defined only by the color, or may be defined by a combination of the shape and the color. When the prohibition mark is defined by a color, the reading unit 133 of the copying machine 101 needs to be able to read a color image.

Further, the position where the prohibition mark 201 is attached may be any position within the document 200. Preferably, it is preferably near a document frame which is a blank portion of a normal document. By determining the position of the prohibition mark in advance, the area to be subjected to pattern matching can be narrowed, so that the processing time required for the prohibition mark detection processing can be reduced.

Returning to FIG. 4, it is determined in step S04 whether a prohibition mark has been detected from the image data of the target file (step S05). If a prohibition mark has been detected, the process proceeds to step S06, and so on. If not, the process proceeds to step S11.

In step S06, a virtual combination file is created. The virtual combination file created here is a file containing management information for associating the file to be processed with the prohibited file.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual combination file created by the image management apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 6, the file name is “report.do”.
The example of the virtual combination file created in step S06 of FIG. 4 when the file “c” is set as the target file is shown. Referring to FIG. 6, the virtual combination file stores data having items of rank, file name, keyword, and comment. The rank is an item for defining the rank of the associated file. The file name is an item that defines the file name of the associated file. The keyword and the comment are a character string or the like for a search determined by the user for the associated configuration file. The comment is the title of the configuration file and information that the user can freely add to the configuration file.

In FIG. 6, the management information is such that a configuration file having a rank “1” and a file name “prohibited file” is associated with a configuration file having a rank “2” and a file name “report.doc”. . In this way, the target file “report.doc” is the second configuration file, and the file having the file name “prohibited file” in the first order is defined as the configuration file.

Here, the file having the file name “prohibited file” is a bitmap image predetermined by the user, and is a file stored in the fixed storage device 114 or the ROM 112. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a prohibition file stored in advance in the image storage device according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 7, prohibited file 210
Is a bitmap image, and is image data in which characters of "secret document" are represented. In the present embodiment, the prohibited file is a bitmap image. However, the file is not limited to a bitmap image, and an image created by executing arbitrary application software can be used. As the prohibited file, data created by any application software may be used as long as the file name and the contents of the file are predetermined.

Returning to FIG. 4, when the virtual combination file is created in step S06, the contents of the prohibited file in the first rank of the virtual combination file are displayed as thumbnails on the display 119 (step S07). In this case, the content of the configuration file (target file) in the second rank of the virtual combination file is not displayed as a thumbnail. Therefore, display of the target file as a thumbnail is prohibited.

Then, in the next step S08, a password setting screen is displayed. The password setting screen is a screen for setting a password for enabling page turning in the virtual combination file. This will be described in detail later.

When the password setting screen is displayed in step S08, it is determined in next step S09 whether or not a password has been input. If a password has been input, the process proceeds to step S10; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S08. In step S10, the input password is stored in the fixed storage device 114 in association with the virtual combination file created in step S06. Then, the process proceeds to step S15.

The password input in step S09 is a password used to release the association between the target file to be processed and the prohibited file. Note that a password is not set every time a virtual combination file is created, but one password is set in the image management device 100, and is created when a prohibition mark is detected in step S05. The same password may be set for all the virtual combination files. In this case, steps S08 to S1
The process of 0 becomes unnecessary.

On the other hand, if no prohibition mark is detected from the image data of the target file in step S05, the process proceeds to step S11. In step S11, the contents of the file to be processed are displayed as thumbnails on the display 119.
To be displayed. Then, the process proceeds to step S15.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S03 that a virtual combination file exists, the process proceeds to step S12.
In step S12, it is determined whether or not a prohibited file is included in the configuration file defined by the virtual combination file. If the configuration file contains prohibited files,
Proceed to step S13; otherwise, step S13
Proceed to 14.

As the virtual combination file created in the process of step S06, a virtual combination file was created in which the file to be processed has the second rank and the prohibited file has the first rank. Therefore, whether or not the prohibited file is included in the configuration file is determined by checking whether or not the file name of the configuration file ranked first in the virtual combination file is the same as the file name of the prohibited file. Step S
In step 13, the contents of the prohibited file are displayed as thumbnails.

On the other hand, if the prohibition file is not included in the configuration file, the contents of the configuration file ranked first in the virtual combination file are displayed as thumbnails in step S14.

Then, in step S15, step S
02, it is determined whether or not the processing of steps S03 to S014 has been performed for all the files detected. If the processing has been completed for all the files, the thumbnail display processing has been completed. Goes to step S03.

By executing the thumbnail display processing shown in FIG. 4, if a file including a prohibition mark exists in the designated folder, one virtual combination file is created for those files. You. Regarding this, the file name is “imageA.ti” in the folder A.
f "," imageB.gif "and" report
t. An example will be described in which three files “doc.doc” are classified and a file having a file name “report.doc” includes a prohibition mark. When the thumbnail display process is executed, a file having a file name of “report.doc” is associated with the prohibited file, and a virtual combination file A having these files as constituent files is created in the folder A.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between folders and files after the thumbnail display processing has been executed by the image management apparatus according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 8, before the thumbnail display processing is executed, the file names of folder A are “imageA.tif” and “i
imageB. gif "and" report.doc "
The virtual combination file A is created after the thumbnail display process is executed for the three files having only the three files. This virtual combination file A is the virtual combination file shown in FIG. 6, and includes a prohibited file whose file name is “prohibited file” in the first rank and a file whose file name is “report.doc” in the second rank. This file is defined as a configuration file.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a thumbnail display screen displayed by executing a thumbnail display process in the image management apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 9, file names “imageA.tif” and “i
imageB. gif "and" report.doc "
Are classified, and the file name is "repo".
rt. An example is shown in which the file “doc” includes a prohibition mark.

Referring to FIG. 9, thumbnail display screen 22
0 includes an area 221 for specifying a folder and an area 222 for displaying the contents of files included in the specified folder as thumbnails. In the area 221, “Folder A” is highlighted, indicating that “Folder A” is designated. In the drawing, the inverted display is shown by hatching.

In the area 222, the contents of the files belonging to the designated folder A with the file names "imageA.tif" and "imageB.gif" are represented by thumbnails 223 and 224, respectively. Also, the thumbnail 225 is the prohibited file 2 shown in FIG.
Ten contents are displayed. This is because a prohibition mark is included in the file having the file name “report.doc” and the display is prohibited. In other words, the file having the file name “report.doc” includes the prohibition mark, is associated with the prohibition file, and is a second-order configuration file of the virtual combination file. As a result, the content of the first prohibited file is thumbnail 2
25 is displayed.

Below the thumbnail 225 are page turn buttons 226 and 227 and page turn buttons 226 and 2
An area for displaying the number of pages is displayed between 27.
In the area for displaying the number of pages, “1 of 2” is displayed, indicating that the first page of the two pages is displayed as a thumbnail.

The thumbnails 223, 224, and 225
The file name is displayed above. Therefore, the user can confirm the file by the file name and the thumbnail that displays the content of the file in a reduced size.

As is clear from FIG. 9, the content of the file having the file name “imageA.tif” is displayed as a thumbnail 223, and similarly, the file name is “i.
imageB. The contents of the “gif” file are also displayed as thumbnails 224. However, since the file including the prohibition mark and having the file name “report.doc” is virtually combined with the prohibition file, the content of the prohibition file is displayed as the thumbnail 225.

For this reason, if the file name is “report.
The contents of the “doc” file are not displayed as thumbnails. On the other hand, the page forward button 22
By pointing at 6,227 with a pointing device such as a mouse, the page can be turned. In the present embodiment, this page turning is prohibited. For this reason, since page turning is prohibited, the content of the file having the file name “report.doc” is not displayed as a thumbnail. The prohibition of page turning will be described later in detail.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a password setting screen displayed by executing the thumbnail display processing in the image management apparatus according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 10, password setting screen 230 is displayed in area 222 of screen 220. Screen 2 for password setting
30 includes an area 231 for inputting a password, an OK button 232, and a cancel button 233.

An area 231 is an area where a password can be input from the keyboard 120 or the like. OK button 232
Are buttons instructed when the input of the password to the area 231 is completed. Cancel button 233 is
This button is instructed when the input of the password is interrupted halfway. The OK button 232 and the cancel button 233 are instructed using a pointing device such as a mouse. If a password is entered in the area 231 and the OK button 232 is instructed, it is assumed that the password has been entered, and if the cancel button 233 is instructed, it is assumed that the password has not been entered.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of the display prohibition canceling process executed by the image management apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 11, in the display prohibition release processing, first, it is determined whether or not a page feed command for a thumbnail has been input (step S21).
It is determined whether or not the page feed command has been input by detecting that the page feed buttons 226 and 227 have been instructed by a pointing device such as a mouse. In step S21, if there is an input of a page feed command for a thumbnail, the process proceeds to step S22; otherwise, the process enters a standby state. Instead of the standby state, an interrupt may be generated when a page feed command is input, and the display inhibition release processing may be executed.

In step S22, it is determined whether or not the thumbnail to which the page feed command has been input displays the contents of the prohibited file. If the contents of the prohibited file are displayed, the process proceeds to step S23; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S29. Here, the case where the content of the prohibited file is displayed on the thumbnail is the case where the prohibited file is defined as the first rank in the virtual combination file. The file associated with the prohibited file by the virtual combination file is a file whose contents are prohibited from being displayed by the above-described display prohibition process.
Therefore, in step S23, the password input screen is displayed without performing the page turning process.

[0093] A case will be described in which the page forward button 226 or the page forward button 227 is instructed with a pointing device such as a mouse when the screen 220 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. In this case, since the content of the prohibited file is displayed in the thumbnail 225, a password input screen is displayed.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a password input screen displayed by executing the display prohibition canceling process in the image management apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 12, a password input screen 240 is displayed in area 222 of screen 220. The password input screen 240
A comment "Please enter a password" is displayed, an area 241 for entering a password, and an OK button 2
42, and a cancel button 243.

An area 241 is an area where a password can be input from a keyboard or the like. The OK button 242 is a button that is instructed when the input of the password to the area 241 is completed. The cancel button 243 is a button that is instructed when inputting a password is interrupted halfway. OK button 242 and Cancel button 2
43 is designated by using a pointing device such as a mouse. If a password is entered in area 241 and an OK button 242 is designated, it is assumed that the password has been entered. On the other hand, when the cancel button 243 is instructed, it is determined that the password has not been input regardless of whether or not the password has been input to the area 241.

Returning to FIG. 11, after the password input screen is displayed in step S23, it is determined whether or not a password has been input (step S24). If a password has been entered, the process proceeds to step S25; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S28.

In step S25, the input password is collated with the password stored in association with the virtual combination file. If they match, the process proceeds to step S26, and if not, the process proceeds to step S28.

In step S26, the contents of the configuration file associated with the prohibited file in the virtual combination file are displayed as thumbnails. Thus, the display prohibition of the file whose display has been prohibited is released.

Then, in the next step S27, the virtual combination file is deleted. This is because the display prohibition has been released, and it is not necessary to associate the display prohibition file.

On the other hand, if no password has been input (NO in step S24), or if the input password does not match the stored password (NO in step S25), an error occurs in the processing in step S28. A message is displayed, and the display prohibition release processing ends.

On the other hand, in step S29, a page feed process is executed. If the thumbnail for which the page feed command is input does not display the contents of the prohibited file (NO in step S22), the file is a file whose display is not prohibited. In this case, a page turning process is performed. The content of the next page is displayed as a thumbnail, and the process ends.

As described above, in the file management system according to the present embodiment, when the prohibition mark is included in the image data, the file including the prohibition mark and the prohibition file are associated by the virtual combination file. Then, when the display instruction with the thumbnail is given, the contents of the prohibited file are displayed, and the contents of the file including the prohibition mark are not displayed. For this reason, by writing a prohibition mark on the original before the original is read by the copying machine 101, the display 119 of the image management apparatus 100 can be displayed.
To display the contents of the file.

Also, since the contents of the prohibited file are displayed instead of the display of the image data including the prohibition mark, the existence of the file having the image including the prohibition mark is displayed to the user by displaying the contents of the prohibition file. Can be recognized.

Also, in order to prohibit the display of the image including the prohibition mark, the virtual combination file is used as the management information for associating the prohibition file with the file of the image. It is possible to prohibit the display of the image including the prohibition mark by a simple process of performing the operation.

Furthermore, the display of the image including the prohibition mark is
Since the display prohibition is released by setting the password, only those who know the password can see the contents of the image data whose display is prohibited.

Further, since the virtual combination file is used to prohibit the display, it is only necessary to delete the virtual combination file to cancel the display prohibition. Therefore, the prohibition of the display can be released by an easy operation. <Modification> Hereinafter, a modification of the file management system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. In the above-described file management system, image data obtained by reading a document by the copying machine 101 is transmitted to the image management apparatus 100,
The image management apparatus detects whether a prohibition mark is included in the received image data. Then, when a prohibition mark is included in the image data, a virtual combination file is created for associating with a prohibition file in order to prohibit display.

In this modification, the copier 101 creates a virtual combination file and transmits it to the image management apparatus 100.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a flow of a document reading process executed by the copying machine 101 in a modification of the file management system of the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 13, in the document reading process, first, an input of a reading condition is received (step S31). The reception of the input of the reading condition is performed by the user inputting the reading condition from the input unit 136. The input of the reading conditions by the user
The reading condition input screen shown in FIG. 14 is displayed on the display 135, and the user looks at the displayed document reading condition input screen and inputs a destination, a compression format, and a file name.

FIG. 14 shows a display 1 of a copying machine 100 according to a modification of the file management system of the present embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a document reading condition input screen displayed on 35. Referring to FIG. 14, document reading condition input screen 30
0 includes an area 301 for inputting a destination, an area 302 for inputting compression conditions, and an area 303 for inputting a file name. When the user presses a predetermined key from the input unit 136, the cursor moves to any of the areas 301, 302, and 303. Each area 301, 30
The input of data into the fields 2303 is performed by displaying a pop-up screen listing data candidates to be input and selecting a desired candidate from the displayed options.

For example, in the area 301 for inputting the destination, the image management apparatuses 100 and 100
A and 100B are displayed. Here, unique names of these image management devices are displayed. In the fixed storage device 139 of the copying machine 101, the image management devices 100, 100A, 1
A network address is stored in correspondence with each name of 00B. The network address of the image management device set as the transmission destination is specified based on the name of the image management device input in the transmission destination input area 301 of the document reading condition input screen 300.

In a region 302 for inputting a compression format, a format for compressing the read image data is selected. The compression format includes, for example, JPEG (joint photog
raphic experts group), TIFF (tagged image fil)
e format) and GIF (graphic interchange format), and a desired compression format is selected from these compression formats.

In the area 303 for inputting a file name, a name of a virtual combination file to be described later is input. The virtual combination file name is input by storing a plurality of file names as candidates in advance, displaying the candidates on a pop-up screen, and selecting the user. Also, the input unit 13
An arbitrary character string may be input from step 6.

When the reception of the reading condition input is completed, next,
It is determined whether the start button of input unit 136 has been pressed (step S32). If the start button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S33; otherwise, the reception of the reading condition input is repeated.

In step S33, an encoding program for encoding image data in the compression format specified in the reading condition input accepting process in step S01 is read from the fixed storage device 139. For example, if the TIFF compression format is specified as the compression format in step S01, a program for encoding the image data in the TIFF format is read.

In the next step S34, the original set in reading section 133 is read. Then, in step S35, the program for encoding read out in step S33 is executed to encode the image data. For example, when TIFF is selected as the compression format, the read bitmap image data is
The image data is converted into a TIFF format. Then, a configuration file name is given to the compressed image data and stored in the fixed storage device 139 (step S3).
6). An arbitrary file name may be given to the configuration file name here, but the same configuration file name is not allowed for a configuration file belonging to a virtual combination file described later.

In this embodiment, the processing for compressing an image has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other image processing such as image sharpening processing, smoothing processing, and color correction processing may be used. Is also good.

In the next step S37, a prohibition mark is detected for the image data obtained by reading the original in S34. The prohibition mark is detected by performing pattern matching between the prohibition mark previously stored in the fixed storage device 139 and the image data, and thereby determining whether or not the image has the same shape or the same color as the prohibition mark. . If the same shape or color as the prohibition mark is detected in the image, it is determined that the prohibition mark has been detected. The prohibition mark is created in advance and stored in the fixed storage device 139 or the ROM of the control unit 131.

In the next step S38, it is determined whether or not a prohibition mark has been detected. If detected, the process proceeds to step S39, and if not, the process proceeds to step S42.

In step S39, a virtual combination file is created. The virtual join file created at this time is
The prohibited file is defined as the first rank, and the file stored in step S36 is defined as the second rank. As the file name of the virtual combination file, the file name input in receiving the reading condition input in step S31 is used. The prohibited file is stored in the fixed storage device 139.
Alternatively, it is stored in the ROM of the control unit 131 in advance.

At step S40, the virtual combination file is transmitted via the NIC 138 to the destination input at step S31.

Next, the prohibited file is transmitted via the NIC 138 to the destination input in step S31 (step S41).

Then, the compressed image data is given a configuration file name and transmitted to the destination input in step S31 via the NIC 138.

As described above, in the modified example of the file management system according to the present embodiment, when the image data obtained by reading the original by the copying machine includes the prohibition mark, the image data and the prohibition file are stored. A virtual join file is created to associate Then, the created virtual combination file, the prohibition file, and the image data including the prohibition mark are transmitted to the specified destination image management apparatus. Therefore, the image management device can easily grasp the image data associated with the prohibited file based on the received virtual combination file, and can display the prohibited file instead of displaying the image data.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a flow of a thumbnail display process executed by the image management device 100 in a modification of the file management system 1 of the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 15, in the thumbnail display processing, first, it is determined whether or not an instruction to display a file belonging to a folder as a thumbnail has been given (step S51).
If there is an instruction to display a thumbnail, step S
Go to step 52, otherwise enter the standby state. In addition, instead of entering the standby state when there is no display instruction,
When a display instruction is issued, an interrupt may be generated to execute a thumbnail display process.

An instruction to display a thumbnail is made by specifying a folder. The folder can be specified by using the display 119 or the mouse 1 of the image management apparatus 100.
21 is designated by performing a predetermined operation.

When a thumbnail display instruction is received, all files belonging to the designated folder are detected (step S52).

Then, in the next step S53, it is determined whether or not the detected file is a virtual combination file. If the detected file is a virtual combination file, the process proceeds to step S54, and if not, the process proceeds to step S57.

In step S54, it is determined whether or not a prohibited file is included in the configuration file included in the virtual combination file (step S54). If the prohibited file is included in the configuration file, the process proceeds to step S55; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S56.

At step S55, the contents of the prohibited file are displayed as thumbnails. In step S56, the contents of the highest-order configuration file among the configuration files are displayed as thumbnails.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S53 that the file is not a virtual combination file, it is determined in step S57 whether or not the file to be processed is a configuration file (step S57). The configuration file is a file associated with another file in the virtual combination file.
If it is determined that the file is a configuration file, the process proceeds to step S59; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S58.

At step S58, the contents of the file to be processed are displayed as thumbnails.

In step S59, it is determined whether or not the processing in steps S53 to S58 has been executed for all the files detected in step S52. If it is determined that the processing has been completed, the thumbnail display processing ends. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S53.

In the image management apparatus 100 according to the modification of the file management system 1 of the present embodiment,
The display prohibition release processing shown in FIG. 11 is executed. In this case, when the virtual combination file is received from the copying machine 101, the password associated with the configuration file is stored in association with the predetermined password with the virtual combination file. In this case, the password is predetermined by the image management device 100 and is stored in the fixed storage device 114 or the R.
Stored in the OM 112.

As described above, in the modification of the file management system 1 according to the present embodiment, the copying machine 101 determines whether or not image data obtained by reading a document contains a prohibition mark. When a prohibition mark is included, a virtual combination file that associates the image data with the prohibition file is created. And the copying machine 10
From 1 to the image management apparatus 100, the virtual combination file, the prohibited file, and the image data obtained by reading are transmitted. Therefore, the image management apparatus 100 can easily specify a file whose display is prohibited based on the virtual combination file. The image management device 1
The processing executed to prohibit the display with the thumbnail at 00 can be reduced.

The prohibition mark is detected from the image data obtained by reading the original by the copying machine 101, and when the prohibition mark is detected, the image data and a signal indicating prohibition of display are transmitted to the image management apparatus. 100 may be transmitted. In this case, in the image management apparatus 100, a virtual combination file in which the received image data and the prohibited file are associated is created, and the contents of the virtual combination file are displayed as thumbnails instead of the image data.

The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a file management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image management device of the file management system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a copying machine of the file management system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a thumbnail display process executed by the image management device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a prohibition mark used in the image management device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a virtual combination file created by the image management device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a prohibition file stored in advance in the image management apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a relationship between a folder and a file after a thumbnail display process is performed by the image management device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a thumbnail display screen displayed by executing a thumbnail display process in the image management apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a password setting screen displayed by executing a thumbnail display process in the image management apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a display prohibition canceling process performed by the image management apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a password input screen displayed after the display prohibition canceling process is executed by the image management apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a document reading process executed by the copying machine 101 in a modified example of the file management system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a document reading condition input screen displayed on a display 135 of the copying machine 100 in a modified example of the file management system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a thumbnail display process executed by the image management device 100 according to a modification of the file management system 1 of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 File management system, 100, 100A, 100
B image management device, 100 copying machine, 101 copying machine,
114 fixed storage device, 115 external storage device, 116
Display control unit, 117 input control unit, 119 display, 120 keyboard, 121 mouse, 122 recording medium, 131 control unit, 132 image processing unit, 133
Reading unit, 134 image forming unit, 135 display, 136 input unit, 137 external storage device, 139
Fixed storage device, 140 recording medium, 200 originals, 20
1 prohibition mark, 210 prohibition file, 220 thumbnail display screen, 223, 224, 225 thumbnail, 230 password setting screen, 240 password input screen, 300 original reading condition input screen.

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A step of determining whether or not predetermined information is included in the contents of a file, and indicating that display of the file and the contents determined to include the predetermined information in the determination step is prohibited. A file management program for causing a computer to execute the step of associating the information with prohibition information. 2. The prohibition information is a prohibition file having a predetermined content, and the associating step is a step of creating management information indicating a relation between the prohibition file and a file associated with the prohibition file. The file management program according to claim 1, comprising: 3. The file management program according to claim 2, further comprising the step of displaying the contents of the prohibited file in place of the contents of the file associated with the prohibited file by the management information. 4. A step of associating a file associated with the prohibition information with authentication information, and associating the file with the prohibition information in response to input of authentication information associated with the file associated with the prohibition information. 2. The file management program according to claim 1, further comprising: releasing. 5. The file management program according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting a file associated with the prohibition information and the prohibition information. 6. A step of reading management information associated with a plurality of files, and when the plurality of files associated with the read management information include a prohibited file indicating that display is prohibited. Displaying the content of the prohibited file in place of the content of the file associated with the prohibited file. 7. A computer-readable recording medium on which the file management program according to claim 1 is recorded. 8. A step of determining whether or not predetermined information is included in the content of the file, and indicating that display of the file and the content determined to include the predetermined information in the determination step is prohibited. Associating with prohibition information. 9. A step of reading management information associated with a plurality of files, and when the plurality of files associated with the read management information include a prohibited file indicating that display is prohibited. Displaying the contents of the prohibited file in place of the contents of the file associated with the prohibited file. 10. A judging means for judging whether or not predetermined information is included in the contents of a file, and displaying that the file and the contents whose predetermined information is judged to be included by the judging means are prohibited. A file management device comprising: an associating unit for associating the information with prohibition information. 11. A step of reading management information associated with a plurality of files, and when the plurality of files associated with the read management information include a prohibited file indicating that display is prohibited. Display means for displaying the contents of the prohibited file in place of the contents of the file associated with the prohibited file.