JP2003208437A - Image distributor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image distributor capable of distributing to a user of communication terminal equipment as a distribution image of the same contraction scale, in response to requirement by an F code. <P>SOLUTION: A document image read by a scanner part 16 is enlarged or contracted to generate an image of a reference scale, and clips the image of the reference scale to be included within a range of a prescribed reference image size when the image of the reference scale is not included within the range of the prescribed reference image size. The image of the reference scale when the image of the reference scale is included within the range of the prescribed reference image size, and the clipped image when the image of the reference scale is not included within the range of the prescribed reference image size are accumulated in a distribution image database as the distribution image, while correlated to a zip code or the like. A communication part 2 acquires the F code based on an ITU-T including the zip code or the like issued by the communication terminal equipment 201, and transmits the distribution image corresponding to the zip code or the like included in the F code, to the communication terminal equipment 201. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention can deliver an original image, one of the characteristics of which is represented in a reduced scale, to a user of a communication terminal device as an image for delivery in the same reduced scale in response to a request by an F code, for example. Regarding the image distribution devices that can be used, the image distribution side can easily create data (reading the distribution image, inputting the image identification code, etc.), and the image distribution side can use the image whose format and size match the terminal. The present invention relates to an image distribution device capable of easily acquiring the.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various information services using a facsimile machine (described as "FAX" in this specification) have become widespread. With this kind of service,
The server side accepts the image acquisition request from the communication terminal device using the F-code based on the ITU-T standard subaddress and the polling function, and transmits the image corresponding to the image acquisition request to the communication terminal device.

At present, F-codes are almost always used by data providers, and for example, the use at the business establishment level of an individual or a corporate body is unavoidable because specialized knowledge is required for setting. It tends to be done. In particular,
When trying to build a FAX database of highly unique information, the cost must be enormous because the software developer must be requested. Further, in the case where the FAX database is used by an unspecified person, confidentiality cannot be maintained, so that the target of data handled is limited.

[0004] Conventionally, as in Japanese Patent No. 2992956, an information service in which a server receives a FAX document with a predetermined mark from a communication terminal device and FAX-transmits image information specified by the mark to the communication terminal device. The technology is known. In this type of information service technology, the communication terminal device side can only specify the image to be acquired by the fixed menu, and the server side also requires a complicated system.

A method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-331435 is also known as a FAX database using the F code. According to this method, the communication terminal device uses the ITU-T recommendation T.264. When the polling transmission is performed using the F code standardized by 30, the F code is transmitted with the identification code of the file or page or is transmitted with the file list. However, in this type of technology, information for identifying an image such as an identification code is merely attached to the description of the F code transmitted from the communication terminal device,
It did not develop the technology of the FAX database itself.

[0006] Further, it is also practiced to construct a database using the Internet by making full use of computer applications without using FAX. However, in a database that uses a computer, a dedicated server must be prepared and a complicated program must be used. Therefore, there is a problem that both hardware and software are required to make capital investment, and maintenance by a person having specialized knowledge is required.

An object of the present invention is to deliver an image of an original document, one of the characteristics of which is represented in a reduced scale, to a user of a communication terminal device as an image for delivery in the same reduced scale in response to a request by an F code. To provide a device. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image distribution apparatus in which an image distribution side can easily create a distribution image and a side receiving the image distribution can easily perform an operation for acquiring the distribution image. .

[0008]

An image distribution apparatus of the present invention is an image reading unit for reading an original image, and an image read out for enlarging or reducing the original image read by the image reading unit to generate a reference scale image. When the scaling means and the reference scale image generated by the read image scaling means are not included in the range of the predetermined reference image size, the reference scale image is clipped so as to be included in the range of the reference image size. Clipping means, the reference scale image when the reference scale image generated by the read image scaling means is included in the range of the reference image size, and the reference scale image generated by the read image scaling means is the reference. The image clipped by the clipping means when the image is not included in the image size range is identified by the image identification code. And having a distribution image database in association with the de accumulates as a distribution image. In the present invention, an ITU-T compliant F code including the image identification code issued by the communication terminal device is acquired, and an image for distribution corresponding to the image identification code included in the F code is acquired as the communication terminal device. Can have communication means for transmitting to.

According to the present invention, since a large number of images to be distributed are unified and managed at a specific scale, the user can always obtain the same scale image. Therefore, there is no error in the distance or size of the target displayed on the display. Further, by using the F code, it becomes easy for a user who requests distribution to specify an image to be acquired. Further, since the read image is automatically processed into the distribution image, the distribution image can be stored in the database without any specialized knowledge.

In the image distribution apparatus of the present invention, when the image of the reference scale generated by the read image enlarging / reducing means is not included in the range of the reference image size, a selection screen for the clipping area is displayed on the display surface of the operation panel. It is possible to have clipping region selection means for displaying and allowing the person who performs the image reading operation to select the clipping region. When reading an image to be distributed, a person who performs a reading operation usually sets the document on a scanner so that a required portion of the document image is located at the center of the read image. However, when it is not possible to set such an original, for example, when it is not easy to set the original position at a predetermined position because the reading device uses a feeder system, clipping of the read image causes a desired read image to be obtained. The image area of can be selected as the distribution image.

Further, in the image distribution apparatus, when the image of the reference scale generated by the read image enlarging / reducing means is included in the range of the reference image size, the image of the reference scale,
And for the image clipped by the clipping unit when the image of the reference scale generated by the read image scaling unit is not included in the range of the reference image size, character recognition, symbol recognition, line diagram recognition, background recognition Do at least one of them, and depending on the recognition result, characters,
It can have an image changing means for deleting or processing symbols, diagrams and backgrounds. As a result, for example, only necessary characters or the like (object) in the distribution image can be displayed in a specialized manner.

In the image distribution device of the present invention, the communication means acquires the F code by handshake with the communication means on the communication terminal device side, or from the description of an electronic mail transmitted from the communication terminal device. The F code can be obtained. This makes it possible to diversify the use of the F code. In the image delivery device of the present invention, the communication means may include a case where the F code acquired from the communication terminal device does not include information designating an image file format, or the F code stores information designating an image file format. If it is included and the designated file format is a format used for facsimile transmission, the distribution image is transmitted by polling transmission to the communication terminal device by facsimile, and the image is displayed on the F code acquired from the communication terminal device. If the designated file format includes information for designating a file format and is not used for facsimile transmission, the image for distribution can be attached to the communication terminal device and transmitted as an e-mail. . As a result, the distribution image can be distributed to the communication terminal device as a general-purpose format such as JPEG or GIF.

In the image distribution apparatus of the present invention, the communication means, when the F code acquired from the communication terminal apparatus includes viewer information of the communication terminal apparatus,
An image for delivery that matches the viewer can be retrieved from the image database for delivery, or an image that matches the viewer can be generated based on the image for delivery retrieved from the image database for delivery. As a result, even when the communication terminal device is a mobile communication terminal or a mobile phone, an easily viewable image is displayed on the display of the communication terminal device.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the image distribution device 100 according to the present embodiment. Image distribution device 10
Reference numeral 0 includes a scanner / plotter unit 1, a communication unit 2, a power supply unit 3, and a bridge 4. The bus B1 of the scanner / plotter unit 1 and the bus B2 of the communication unit 2 are driven independently of each other, and they are connected via a bridge 4. The configuration of the communication unit 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, a scanner / plotter unit 1
Is a CPU 11, a system memory unit 12, a compression / expansion control unit 13, a read image storage unit 14, an operation panel unit 15,
Scanner unit 16, plotter unit 17, and I / O unit 18
It is configured to include. The CPU 11 controls the scanner / plotter unit 1 as a whole and also controls the image distribution apparatus 100 as a whole. System memory unit 12
Is the ROM 121 and the battery-backed R
It is composed of an AM 122 and a work RAM 123. ROM
121 stores a scanner driver, a plotter driver, various programs such as a later-described calculation program for a determination value γ, and the like, and a RAM 122 stores various setting information, user information, and the like. Further, the work RAM 123 temporarily stores, for example, the read data from the scanner unit 16 or the plotting data from the compression / expansion unit 13.

The compression / expansion controller 13 has a work RAM 1
The read data temporarily stored in 23 can be compressed and stored in the read image storage unit 14, and the compressed image data stored in the read image storage unit 14 can be expanded and temporarily stored in the work RAM 123. . The read image storage unit 14 includes a RAM in this embodiment.

The operation panel unit 15 is a user interface commonly used by the scanner / plotter unit 1 and the communication unit 2, and includes an operation panel control unit 151, a keyboard,
And an operation panel 152 including a display. The scanner unit 16 includes a scanner control unit 161 and a scanner 162. The plotter unit 17 includes a plotter control unit 171 and a plotter 172. The I / O unit 18 includes an I / O control unit 181, and various I / Os 182 that interface with paper, door sensors, temperature sensors, various motors, and the like.

The power supply section 3 is provided with an AC / DC converter, and the scanner / plotter section 1 and the communication section 2 are provided with circuit driving power, various mechanical parts (motors, LEDs), and display devices (displays and LEDs). Can be supplied with drive power. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the communication unit 2 includes a communication controller 21, a system memory unit 22, a FAX image processing unit 23, a FAX image storage unit 24, a large capacity data storage unit 25, an analog communication unit 26, and a digital communication unit. 27, LA
An N control unit 28 and a UART control unit 29 are included. FIG. 2 also shows the scanner / plotter unit 1 and the bridge 4.

The communication controller 21 controls the entire communication unit 2. The system memory unit 22 is a ROM 221.
And a battery-backed RAM 222 and a work RAM 223. Various programs such as a communication circuit driver and a database program are stored in the ROM 221. The RAM 222 stores setting information, user information and the like. Further, the work RAM 223 has an analog communication unit 26, a digital communication unit 27, a LAN.
The image data (including electronic mail) received from the control unit 28 and the UART control unit 29, the FAX image data from the FAX image processing unit 23 is temporarily stored, or the image data stored in the large capacity data storage unit 25 is stored. It is temporarily stored when sending by facsimile.

The FAX image processing section 23 has a work RAM 2
FAX reception data temporarily stored in 23 and the scanner 1
The image read by the 62 is converted into a desired format (J
PEG, TIF, etc.) and can be stored in the FAX image storage unit 24. In the present embodiment, as will be described later, the FAX image processing unit 23 can enlarge or reduce (enlarge or reduce) the read image temporarily stored in the work RAM 223, and the FAX image storage unit 24 stores the read image. It is possible to convert image data of a predetermined format into another format (transmission format such as JPEG, TIF). The image data that has been subjected to the scaling processing or the format conversion is appropriately stored in the work RAM 223.
It can be stored (or re-stored) in the FAX image storage unit 24. The FAX image storage unit 24 is composed of a RAM in this embodiment.

The large-capacity data storage unit 25 stores the FAX database data. Analog communication unit 26
Is composed of a G3 FAX modem 261 and an analog line interface (I / F) 262, and the analog line interface (I / F) 262 is connected to a public analog line network and an analog extension network. Digital communication unit 2
An ISDN control unit 271 and a digital line interface (I / F) 272 are provided, and the digital line interface 272 is connected to the ISDN line network.

The LAN control unit 28 is connected to the LAN 700, and the UART control unit 29 is connected to the computer. The bridge 4 can exchange data on the bus B1 of the scanner / plotter unit 1 and data on the bus B2 of the communication unit 2 with each other. That is, the central processing unit (CPU) 11 on the scanner / plotter unit 1 side,
It acts as an intermediary for exchanging commands with the communication controller 21 on the communication unit 2 side (see FIG. 2), and between the work RAM 123 on the scanner / plotter unit 1 side and the work RAM 223 on the communication unit 2 side (see FIG. 2). Image data can be exchanged between pages, blocks, or lines.

FIG. 3A shows the image distribution device 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the communication terminal device 201 corresponding to the F code.
And are connected via a public line network (analog line network or digital line network) N1. Figure 3
In (A), the image delivery apparatus 100 is connected to the file server 301 via the LAN 700. By using the file server 301, a more sophisticated database can be constructed. Below is the fax of map information
The operation of the image delivery apparatus 100 will be described using a database as an example.

First, the image data storage process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When inputting the map information from the image distribution apparatus 100 into the FAX database, the user operates the keys on the operation panel 152 to select the menu screen. This menu screen can be used to make initial settings when storing image data (S10).
1).

In FIG. 3A, the image distribution device 100
A scale (default scale A, for example, 1/250) when the image data is transmitted from the FAX to the communication terminal device 201 by FAX.
00, 1/10000) and the image size (size SZ of the initial setting image Z: print size) are specified by the user from the operation panel 152 as the initial setting information INIT.

The initial setting information INIT is passed to the CPU 11 via the operation panel control section 151. CP
U11 passes this information INIT to the communication controller 21 via the bridge 4, and the communication controller 21 stores it in the RAM 222 (S102).

Next, the user switches the menu screen by operating the function buttons or the like on the operation panel 152,
Select the image data storage mode. In the image data storage mode, first, the image attribute information CHR including the original document scale B and the registration number Nx is input, the original document (map) is set on the scanner 162, and the start button is pressed (S1).
03).

As a result, the map is read. The map scale, that is, the document scale B is, for example, 1 / kkkk
Specified by kk. The registration number Nx can be, for example, a serial number, area code, postal code, or a combination thereof. For example, the registration number Nx is designated by "yyyyyyyy" in the case of a postal code. Scanner 16
The document image data read by 2 is passed from the scanner control unit 161 to the CPU 11. The CPU 11 sets this as the document size X (here, JIS standard sizes A4, B4
Etc.), the data length LNG (the number of bytes), and the like, and the accumulated information F is accumulated in the work RAM 123.

Further, the above-mentioned image attribute information CHR is passed from the operation panel control section 151 to the CPU 11, and the CPU
11 stores this together with the image data in the work RAM 123 as a part of the stored information F (S104). Also, the number of scanned documents (map) (count value)
Is recorded in a predetermined counter (not shown).

In order to smoothly perform the continuous accumulation operation, the input of the image attribute information CHR (the input can be omitted when the scale is the same as the immediately preceding information, and the input can be omitted when the registration number N is a serial number). Can be omitted), Scanner 1
The reading of the map by 62 is repeated (S105). When the user operates the operation panel 152 to exit from the image data storage mode (EXIT), the CPU 11 notifies the communication controller 21 that the storage information F, the number of sheets count value K, and the image (map) have been read. (S106).

The scaling process and clipping process of the read image will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The communication controller 21 uses the initial setting information INIT stored in the RAM 222 and the work RAM 12
The enlargement ratio or reduction ratio (hereinafter referred to as “enlargement / reduction ratio”) is calculated from the accumulated information F stored in 3 (S201).
Here, the enlargement / reduction rate γ is defined as in Expression (1).

[0032]     [Scale ratio γ]       = [Default Scale A] / [Document Scale B] (1)

[Expansion / reduction rate γ] is a one-dimensional (length) expansion / reduction rate. If [enlargement / reduction rate γ] ≦ 1, reduction occurs, and if [enlargement / reduction rate γ]> 1, increase occurs. [Default scale A] = 1/10000, [Document scale B]
= 1/15000, [scaling rate γ] = 1.5, [initial scale A] = 1/5000, [original scale B] = 1/10000, [scaling rate γ] = 2. .

The communication controller 21 compares the size of the initially set size Z with the read image. That is, it is checked whether or not the size Y of the image (enlarged / reduced image) after the enlargement / reduction processing of the read image is within the range of the initially set size Z (S203). Here, the following [determination value J] is defined.

[Judgment Value J] = [Area SY of Enlarged / Reduced Image Size Y] / [Area SZ of Initially Set Image Size Z] = [Area SX of Original Size X] × [Enlargement / Reduction Ratio γ] ² / [Initialized Image] Area SZ of size Z] (2)

In this example, the document size X and the initial setting image size Z may be standard JIS standards, but the invention is not limited thereto. [Judgment value J] ≦ 1 means that the read image has the initial setting image size Z.
Means that the read image exceeds the initial set image size Z (that is, exceeds the print size).

9A and 9B show a scaled image size Y.
The case where the size of is less than or equal to the initial setting image size Z, that is, the case of [determination value J] ≦ 1 is illustrated. Also,
In FIGS. 9C and 9D, the size of the scaled image size Y is
A case where the image size is larger than the initially set image size Z, that is, [judgment value J]> 1 is exemplified.

[Judgment value J] ≦ 1 (“Y” in S203)
In the case of "ES"), the following processing is performed. For example, when [enlargement / reduction rate γ] = 1.5, [area SZ of initial setting image size Z] = B4 (257 × 364 mm = 935)
48 mm ² ), [area SX of document size X] = A5 (1
When 48 × 210 mm = 31080 mm ² ), [judgment value] ≈0.75.

As described above, when [judgment value] ≦ 1,
The image data accumulated in the work RAM 12 of the scanner / plotter unit 1 is read from the head bit (from the head reading position read by the scanner 162) and sequentially transferred to the work RAM 22 of the communication controller 21. FIG. 10A shows the order of reading image data.

At the same time, the FAX image processing unit 23
To fit within the range of the default image size Z (B4),
Original image size X (A
The image data of 5) is enlarged in accordance with [scaling rate γ] (1.5) to generate image data of image size Y having the same scale as the default scale A, and the image data is initialized in the work RAM 22 again. The data is stored again in the data area corresponding to the area SZ of the set image size Z (S204). Then, the remaining portion of the data area corresponding to the area SZ of the initial setting image size Z is filled with white data (S205). Figure 10
(B) shows the processing result at this time.

[Judgment value J]> 1 (“N” in S203)
In the case of "O"), the following processing is performed. For example, when [enlargement / reduction rate γ] = 2, [area SZ of initial setting image size Z] = B4 (257 × 364 mm ² = 93548)
mm ² ), [area SX of document image size X] = B5 (1
82 × 257mm ² = 46774mm ²⁾ which when a is the Judgment value] = 2. Further, [enlargement / reduction rate γ] = 2, [area SZ of initial setting image size Z] = A4 (210 × 29
7mm ² = 62370mm ^2), [the area of the original image size X SX] ^{= B5 (182 × 257mm 2 =} 46774m
In the case of m ² ), [determination value] = 3.

As described above, when [judgment value J]> 1, in the present embodiment, the image data of the original image size X (A5) accumulated in the work RAM 12 of the scanner / plotter unit 1 is stored in the work RAM 22. Before being transferred, the image data is enlarged in accordance with [enlargement / reduction rate γ] (γ = 2 in the above example), and image data of an enlarged / reduced image size Y with the same reduction scale as the initially set reduction scale A is generated. This image data is transferred to the work RAM 1 again.
It is stored again in step 2 (S206). Then, from the first bit (see FIG. 10A), the communication controller 2 is sequentially
1 to the work RAM 22. In this case, the image data of the image size Y is the default image size Z (B
It cannot fit within the range of 4). However, the portion overflowing from the data area corresponding to the area SZ of the initial setting image size Z is not transferred (S207). That is, it is not included in the scaled image size Y. FIG. 10C shows the processing result at this time.

The above process is repeated for all pages (maps) (S208). FAX image processing unit 23
Encodes the expanded / contracted image data of each map stored in the work RAM 22 into a predetermined format (here, a FAX transfer format), and stores it in the large-capacity data storage unit 25 as a map file (S20).
9). The file information of each map file is stored in the RAM 222 together with the accumulated information F of each map temporarily stored in the work RAM 223 (S21).
0). An F-code correspondence map database is constructed by the map file stored in the large-capacity data storage unit 25 and the file information stored in the RAM 222.

Usually, the required area is the initial setting image size Z.
Since the image is read so as to be included in the above, in the above example, when [judgment value J]> 1, the data overflowing from the data area corresponding to the area SZ of the initial setting image size Z is to be stored. Not. In such a case, the read image can be divided into a plurality of areas, and a program for automatically creating an image file of the same scale as the initial reduced scale A from each of the divided images XC can be prepared in advance in the ROM 221. . By executing this program, a plurality of image files are automatically created from one image reading. This makes it possible to construct a map database without omission.

Further, in order to construct a map database without omission, it is possible to perform clipping of the read image by a user operation when [judgment value J]> 2. The communication controller 21 obtains the [enlargement / reduction rate γ] by the equation (1) and obtains the [determination value J] by the equation (2). At this time, when [judgment value J] ≦ 1, 1 <[judgment value J] ≦ 2, a map file is created in the same manner as described above.

When [judgment value J]> 2, the communication controller 21 notifies the CPU 11 to display the divided image selection menu. In response to this, the CPU 11 displays the divided image selection menu. In this selection menu, a layout of 2 divisions, 4 divisions, 6 divisions, etc. is shown according to the size of [judgment value J]> 2, and one of the divided areas can be selected.

FIG. 11A illustrates the display of the divided image selection menu displayed on the display of the operation panel 152. Further, FIGS. 11B and 11C exemplify a state in which the enlarged / reduced image Y is divided by the divided regions. FIG. 11 (A)
So the user can see the center, top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right,
One of the five divided areas can be selected by using, for example, the ten keys on the operation panel 152. The divided area may be displayed only by a frame, or may be displayed as a thumbnail depending on the display capability of the display of the operation panel 152.

When this selection is made, the operation panel control unit 151 sends data indicating which divided image has been selected to the CPU 11, and the CPU 11 notifies the communication controller 21 of this. The communication controller 21 performs clipping on the divided image (stored in the work RAM 223) selected by the user and performs the processing of S204, S205 or S206, S207 shown in FIG.

Since the [determination value J] is [area SY of enlarged / reduced image size Y] / [area SZ of initial set image size Z] as described above, when the read image is divided into four, it is 2 When [Judgment value J] ≦ 4, for example, as shown in FIG. 11B, and when 4 <[Judgment value J], the read image is 4
When divided, it becomes as shown in FIG. In the case of an atypical original, the division pattern (the number of divisions or the number of vertical and horizontal frames) can be changed as appropriate.

In this embodiment, the FAX image processing unit 23
Is capable of erasing unimportant information or emphasizing important information during processing such as thinning during smoothing when the image size is scaled up or down. For example, specific processing can be added to a specific type of "picture" (hereinafter referred to as "object"). Examples of the specific type of object include characters, figures (including straight lines and curves), and symbols.

Specific processing includes background removal, isolated point removal,
Various processes such as object extraction (including extraction for each color), smoothing processing of the extracted object, enlargement / reduction processing, color change, line type change (thickening / thinning) are included. A menu (program) for selecting one of a plurality of menus related to these processes, for example, "general document", "document including line drawing", "photograph", "line drawing", "map", etc., is prepared in the ROM 121. The user can select an appropriate item from the operation panel 162. In this example, since the original is a map, "map" is selected from the menu.

[Map] specializing in three of line segment, character and symbol
The case of constructing will be described below. When the original image is read by the scanner unit 16 and the read image is accumulated in the work RAM 123, the CPU 11 causes the work RAM to operate.
The read image of 123 is transferred to the work RAM 223.

The FAX image processing section 23 has a work RAM 2
Remove the background to the read image (unscaled) transferred to 23,
Filtering such as isolated point removal is performed. In this filtering process, the filter characteristics are matched according to the [scaling rate γ]. The filtered image is stored again in the work RAM 223.

The FAX image processing section 23 then performs pattern extraction. Here, since it is known that the read image is a map, the pattern extraction object is specially extracted and classified into line segments, characters, and symbols. The line segment can be classified into a thick line, a normal line, and a thin line according to the number of dots of the line width. In the extraction of characters, the characters are classified into large size characters, medium size characters, and small size characters according to the size of the character area. It is preferable to perform character recognition with high accuracy in consideration of a case where a character overlaps a line segment in an original image. In the extraction of symbols, the symbols are classified into large size symbols, medium size symbols, and small size symbols according to the size of the symbol area. For a character, for example, a character table in which the coordinates of the center point are recorded is created in a predetermined area of the work RAM 223. FIG. 12A shows an image before the above processing is performed, and FIG. 12B shows an image in which the character portion is deleted. An example of a character table is shown in FIG.

For simplification, after the above extraction, (1) characters are left to some extent, (2) characters other than main ones are removed, but map symbols (stations, schools, banks, police boxes, etc.) It is possible to perform processing such as leaving what is recognized as a symbol, and (3) removing other than main line segments and main characters.

When these processes are performed, the character can be copied as a code to the character table of the work RAM 223, or the character can be copied as image data to a predetermined area of the work RAM 223. At the same time, the character portion is deleted from the processing target image. Further, when the [enlargement / reduction rate γ] is smaller than a predetermined value (for example, γ ≦ 2), small size characters are removed. In this case, it is possible to correct a portion which is not displayed overlapping the small size character in the image in which the character is deleted.

The image information (excluding characters) created in this way is subjected to the same scaling processing (S204,
See S205 or S206, S207). The character information is superimposed on the image information in the same size or in a scaled-down manner. Figure 1
2 (D) shows an image example at this time. It should be noted that, in smoothing at the time of scaling, the smoothing strength can be changed according to the scaling rate γ.

Next, a case of accessing the F code corresponding map database from a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone or a palmtop computer will be described. As shown in FIG. 3B, the mobile communication terminal 202 can access the mobile communication network N2 via the base station 601. The mobile communication network N2 can be connected to the public line network N1 via the relay station 602. The mobile communication terminal 202 has an F code function and B code.
A FAX modem with FT function is installed.

From the mobile communication terminal 202, the image distribution device 1
In 00, for example, a 13-digit F code as shown below is set in the PWD section and transmitted.

Xxxxxxyyyyyyz (4) Here, the F code is the above-mentioned 13-digit number string is “xxx
4 digit function number indicated by "x" and "yyyyyyyy"
It consists of a 7-digit postal code indicated by and a 2-digit file format number indicated by "zz".

In this example, the image distribution device 100 is
By receiving a handshake when receiving a fax, the receiving capability of the mobile communication terminal 202 and the telephone number of the mobile communication terminal 202 can be read. Further, the F code transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 202 can be recognized and the PWD portion can be taken out from the FAX protocol. The file format is determined by "zz". If the file format is not specified (“zz” is not described and the F code has 11 digits), the default setting is to send the MMR image by the FAX procedure as it is. Note that, for example, "z
When "z" is "00", it is handled in the same manner as the above default.

When a value other than "00" is given as "zz", the standard BFT (binary file transfer) is switched to and the handshake procedure is executed.
Upon receiving the F code, the communication controller 21 takes out the image corresponding to the postal code “yyyyyyyy” from the large capacity data storage unit 25 and passes it to the FAX image processing unit 23.

The FAX image processing section 23 extracts the image (that is, the designated postal code "yyyyyyyy").
Is re-decompressed to the specified file format (when the original file format is the same as the specified file format, it is unchanged) and transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 202 by the BFT. FIG. 13A shows a BFT handshake protocol, and FIG. 13B shows a normal F-code protocol for reference.

In FIG. 4, F using the mobile communication terminal 202
The case where the code is transmitted and the map is received by e-mail is shown. The mobile communication terminal 202 is connected to the relay station 602 via the mobile communication network N2, and the mobile communication network N2 is connected to the public line network N1 via the relay station 602. The public line network N1 is connected to the Internet N3 via a backbone gateway 603.

The LAN 700 includes the gateway 40.
Is connected to the Internet N1 via
N700 includes the image distribution device 100 and the file server 30.
1. The mail server 302 is connected.

In the example of FIG. 4, when the mobile communication terminal 202 performs F-code polling transmission to the image distribution apparatus 100 via the public line network N1, the F-code file format is supported by FAX transmission / reception. Not J
It is assumed to be "11" which means a specific format format such as PEG (hereinafter referred to as "unique format format"). Here, the unique format is a case where “xx” is designated as a code other than “00”.

In this case, the communication controller 21 checks the file format in the F code in the connection procedure. Here, since the format is a unique format that is not supported by FAX transmission, an acknowledgment (ACK) indicating that the file is transmitted in the unique format is returned to the mobile communication terminal 202. Subsequently, the mobile communication terminal 202 transmits its own e-mail address, the communication controller 21 returns an acknowledge (ACK) to the communication controller 21, and disconnects the telephone line.

Thereafter, the communication controller 21 reads the image file corresponding to the designated postal code "yyyyyyyy" from the large capacity data storage device 25, and sends it by FAX.
It is passed to the image processing unit 23. The FAX image processing unit 23 decompresses the compressed image data and converts it into a predetermined file format (the format specified by “11”) to create a transmission image file. The communication controller 21 is a ROM 22
The electronic mail creating program in 1 is created to create an electronic mail, the image file for transmission is attached to this, and the electronic mail address of the mobile communication terminal 202 is transferred.

FIG. 5 shows a case where even a portable communication terminal 202 with a facsimile function that does not have an F code function can perform the same transmission / reception as if it has a pseudo F code function. . In FIG. 5, the mobile communication terminal 202
To send an e-mail containing an F code and receive a map by FAX.

First, the mobile communication terminal 202 transmits the character string of the F code to the image distribution apparatus 100 by electronic mail.
For example, it is assumed that an electronic mail having the content of subject: DL body: Fcode xxxxyyyyyyyzz is transmitted to the image distribution device 100 on the LAN 700 via the mobile communication network N2, the public line network N1, and the internet N3.

Here, the above 13-digit number sequence after "Fcode" is the same as the above-mentioned equation (4), the 4-digit function number shown by "xxxx" and the 7-digit number shown by "yyyyyyyy". And the two-digit file format number indicated by "zz". In FIG. 5, the image distribution device 100 and the backbone gateway 604 are the ITU-T recommendation T.264. Three
It complies with 8. ITU-T Recommendation T. 38 is a standard that defines a procedure for exchanging image information between image communication apparatuses by Internet Protocol (IP).

In this example, the communication controller 21 analyzes the received e-mail to extract the F code, then attaches the map specified by the F code to the e-mail, and from the gateway 400 to the Internet. N3
Send to the above backbone gateway 604. The backbone gateway 604 is connected to the public line network N1, and the public line network N1 is connected to the mobile communication network N2 via the relay station 602. The core gateway 604 transfers the image (map) attached to the electronic mail to the mobile communication terminal 202 by FAX transmission.

FIG. 6 shows a case where the F-code corresponding map database can be used even in a communication terminal device that does not have a facsimile function (and therefore does not have an F-code function). In FIG. 6, the communication terminal device is a mobile phone 20.
3, the image is requested and received by e-mail.

First, the mobile phone 203 sends the character string of the F code by e-mail to the image distribution device 1 as in the example of FIG.
To 00. The image delivery apparatus 100 can acquire the email address of the mobile phone 203 by receiving the email. Image distribution device 1
00 can be transmitted to the mobile phone 203 by attaching a map to an electronic mail.

In the present embodiment, the image distribution device 100 is
The size SZ of the initial setting image Z is ignored, the default size of the mobile phone is ignored, and the viewer size (display size) of the mobile phone is used as the created size. Here, according to the display of the mobile phone,
Plural smoothing patterns are prepared. The FAX image processing unit 23 performs pattern extraction. Here, FIG.
As described in (A) to (D), the pattern extraction object is specifically extracted and classified into line segments, characters, and symbols. In the extraction of the line segment of, according to the number of dots of the line width,
Characters can be classified into thick lines, normal lines, and thin lines. When extracting characters, the characters are classified into large size characters, medium size characters, and small size characters. Considering the case where characters overlap with line segments in the manuscript image, it is preferable to perform character recognition with high accuracy.
Depending on the size of the symbol area, large size symbols, medium size symbols,
It can be classified into small size symbols. Work RAM 2
For a character, a character table in which the coordinates of the center point are recorded is created in a predetermined area 23. Further, it is preferable to prepare a large scale map for a mobile phone. Further, the image stored in the FAX image storage unit 24 in advance may be subdivided and displayed.

In the example of FIG. 6, when reducing, the thick line is changed to be slightly thinner than the thickness, the thickness of the normal line is not changed, and the thin line is deleted. Also, with regard to the character information, large and medium size characters can be deleted, and only medium size characters can be recognized. A specific name, for example, a name that serves as a mark such as "school" or "bank" is stored in advance in the FAX image processing unit 23 or the FAX image storage unit 24, and is stored as a character string on the map. Can be converted into a specific abbreviated character (for example, “gaku” for school, “silver” for bank, etc.) or a symbol meaning them without deleting these characters.

As for the symbol information, as in the case of characters, a specific symbol is stored in advance in the FAX image processing unit 23 or the FAX image storage unit 24, and the symbol on the map is compared with the stored symbol. Then, the symbols that match the stored symbols are deleted, and the symbols that do not match are deleted. In addition, when transmitting the map to the mobile phone, it is possible to attach an electronic mail in which the symbol explanation and the like are described on the map.

In the example of FIG. 6, line elements on the map, characters and
The symbol element is stored separately in another area on the work RAM 223, the line element is thinned / deleted by the above-described method, and the character / symbol element is reduced / rotated / deleted. A map image is created by superimposing these processed line elements and character / symbol elements. The image file may be stored in a typical format (JPEG or the like) and converted into a format suitable for the image display capability of the mobile phone when being transmitted to the mobile phone.

The image distribution device of the present invention can also be applied to a host station for portable telephone service. In this case, the image distribution device 100 has the handshake I / F of the mobile phone 203. In this embodiment, the smoothed image is stored in the FAX image storage unit 24 in a created size that matches the display unit of the mobile phone 203. By designating the area code (for example, zip code) from the mobile phone 203, the corresponding image (map) is transmitted. You may be able to specify the area code continuously and scroll north, south, east, and west.

[0080]

According to the image delivery apparatus of the present invention, an original image whose scale is one of the characteristics is delivered to the user of the communication terminal device as an image for delivery at the same scale in response to a request by the F code. can do.

Further, the image distribution side can easily process the distribution image into the image for the database, and the image distribution side can easily obtain the distribution image and can use it in its own terminal. An adapted image can be acquired.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an image distribution apparatus according to the present embodiment, focusing on a scanner / plotter unit.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an image distribution device according to the present embodiment, focusing on a communication unit.

3A is a diagram showing a state in which the image distribution device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and an F code compatible communication terminal device are connected via a public network, and FIG. 3B is a diagram shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the image distribution device shown in FIG. 2 and an F code compatible mobile communication terminal are connected via a public line network and a mobile phone communication network.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a case where an F code is transmitted and a map is received by electronic mail using a mobile communication terminal.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a case where a mobile communication terminal with a facsimile function that does not have an F code function performs the same transmission / reception as if it has a pseudo F code function.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a case where an F code corresponding map database can be used even in a mobile communication terminal having no facsimile function.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing image data storage processing in the image distribution device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a scaling process and a clipping process of a read image.

9A and 9B are diagrams showing a relationship between a judgment value and a scaled image size, FIGS. 9A and 9B are views showing an example in which [judgment value J] ≦ 1; and FIGS. , [Determination value J]> 1 is a diagram illustrating a case.

10A is a diagram showing an order of reading image data from a memory in a scaling process, and FIG. 10B is a [determination value].
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a scaling process result when ≦ 1 and FIG. 9C is a diagram showing a scaling process result when [judgment value J]> 1.

FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating a display of a split image selection menu displayed on the display of the operation panel,
(B) and (C) are diagrams exemplifying a state in which a scaled image is divided by a divided region.

12A and 12B are diagrams showing pattern extraction by a FAX image processing unit, FIG. 12A shows an image before a pattern extraction process is performed, and FIG. 12B shows an image in which a character portion is deleted; C) is a diagram showing an example of a character table.

FIG. 13A is a diagram showing a BFT protocol;
(B) is a diagram showing a normal F code protocol.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Scanner / Plotter 2 Communications department 3 power supply 4 bridge 11 CPU 12 System memory section 13 Compression / expansion controller 14 Read image memory 15 Operation panel section 16 Scanner section 17 Plotter part 18 I / O department 21 Communication Controller 22 System memory section 23 FAX image processing unit 24 FAX image storage 25 Large capacity data storage 26 Analog Communication Department 27 Digital Communications Department 28 LAN control unit 29 UART control unit 100 image distribution device 121 ROM 122 RAM 123 Work RAM 121 ROM 122 RAM 151 Operation panel control unit 152 Operation panel 161 Scanner Control Unit 162 scanner 171 Plotter control unit 172 plotter 181 I / O controller 182 Various I / O 100 image distribution device 201 communication terminal device 202 mobile communication terminal 203 mobile phone 221 ROM 222 RAM 223 Work RAM 261 G3 FAX modem 262 Analog line interface (I / F) 271 ISDN controller 272 Digital line interface (I / F) 301 file server 302 Mail server 400 gateway 601 base station 602 relay station 603 Core gateway 700 LAN B1 and B2 buses N1 public network N2 mobile communication network N3 Internet

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 5B075 KK07 ND06 ND23 NR02 NR20                       PQ03 PQ05 UU32                 5C073 AB01 AB11 AB17 CD05                 5C075 BB11 CD25                 5C076 AA02 AA03 AA21 AA22 BA06                       CA08

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image reading unit for reading a document image, a read image scaling unit for enlarging or reducing a document image read by the image reading unit to generate a reference scale image, and a read image scaling unit. When the reference scaled image is not included in the range of the predetermined reference image size, the reference scaled image is clipped so as to be included in the range of the reference image size, and the read image scaling unit generates the clipped image. The reference scaled image when the reference scaled image is included in the range of the reference image size, and the clipping when the reference scaled image generated by the read image scaling unit is not included in the range of the reference image size. Images clipped by means are stored as images for distribution in association with the image identification code. And an image database for distribution which is provided. 2. An ITU-T compliant F code including the image identification code issued by a communication terminal device is acquired, and the F code is acquired.
The image distribution device according to claim 1, further comprising a communication unit that transmits a distribution image corresponding to the image identification code included in the code to the communication terminal device. 3. When the image of the reference reduced scale generated by the read image enlarging / reducing means is not included in the range of the reference image size, a clipping area selection screen is displayed on the display surface of the operation panel to read the image. The image distribution apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a clipping area selection unit that allows an operator to select the clipping area. 4. An image of the reference scale when the image of the reference scale generated by the read image scaling unit is included in the range of the reference image size, and an image of the reference scale generated by the read image scaling unit. Is not included in the range of the reference image size, at least one of character recognition, symbol recognition, diagram recognition, and background recognition is performed on the image clipped by the clipping unit, and the character recognition is performed according to the recognition result. 4. The image distribution apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image changing unit that deletes or modifies symbols, diagrams, and backgrounds. 5. The communication means acquires the F code by handshake with the communication means on the communication terminal device side, or acquires the F code from a description of an electronic mail transmitted from the communication terminal device. The image delivery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image delivery apparatus is an image delivery apparatus. 6. The communication means, if the F code acquired from the communication terminal device does not include information designating an image file format, or the F code contains information designating an image file format,
When the designated file format is a format used for facsimile transmission, the distribution image is polled and transmitted by facsimile to the communication terminal device, and the image file format is added to the F code acquired from the communication terminal device. If the designated file format includes the designated information and the designated file format is not used for facsimile transmission, the image for distribution is attached to an electronic mail and transmitted to the communication terminal device. The image distribution device according to claim 1.