JP2003308325A - Device, method and program for registering data, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically form a document data into an image data, and to automatically register a keyword, when the document data is registered in a DB. <P>SOLUTION: When a printing start command for the document data is issued from a GDI, a data of which the printing data is clusterized in the GDI is converted into the image data, and the printing data is stored in a memory when the data is a text data. When page printing is finished, the image data and the text data are transferred to a direct converter. When a printing finish command is issued from the GDI, the image data into which the document data is converted by the direct converter is registered in the DB, and the text data stored in the memory is registered as the keyword for the document data. An error in keyword registration is eliminated since the keyword is registered automatically from a printing data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data registration device, a data registration method, a data registration program and a recording medium suitable for use when managing document data and image data in the same database.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, most documents such as documents, materials, manuals, and reports handled in offices are created as electronic data.
By creating the document data as electronic data, paperless and space saving can be achieved, and the document data can be easily reused.

In many document data, text data and image data are mixedly used. Conventionally, when registering such document data in which text data and image data are mixed in the same document in a database, the document data is first converted into image data and then registered as image data in the database. It was

For example, document data in which text data and image data are mixed is printed on paper by a printer device. The printed document is scanned by an image scanner or the like, converted into image data, and loaded into a computer device. If the printed document data is composed of multiple pages, this operation is performed for each page. On the other hand, the keyword for the document data is input from the computer device. This keyword is added to the corresponding image data to register the document data in the database. The document data registered in the database is searched by inputting a keyword and output as image data.

[0005]

Conventionally, in the case where the document data in which the text data and the image data are mixed as described above is made into a database, it is necessary to make the image data for each page. Therefore, for example, when registering a huge amount of document data in the database,
There is a problem that processing is very troublesome.

[0006] Further, the keyword input when actually registering the document data in the database is manually performed. Therefore, when inputting a keyword, there is a problem that a keyword that is not suitable for the content of the actual document may be input.

Further, there has been a problem in the prior art that no apparatus or system for converting image data of document data into images or registering keywords by automatic processing has existed. For example, when converting document data into image data and registering the same in a database, an electronic device that manages reduced image data corresponding to the image data of the document data and tags attached to each page in association with the registered document data Filing devices have already been proposed. However, even in this electronic filing apparatus, the registration of the tag has been performed manually by the operator.

According to this electronic filing apparatus, registration of document data is performed as follows. First, a document including one or more pages is read by a scanner and converted into digital data. Then, according to a predetermined program on the computer device, a document ID is given to the read document. Further, the program generates image data and reduced image data for each page based on the digital data, and stores the image data and the reduced image data in association with the document ID in, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) of a computer device.

At this time, the reduced image is displayed on the display device connected to the computer device. The operator refers to the reduced image corresponding to each page displayed on this display device, and attaches a tag corresponding to each page. For example, a character string can be input by clicking a predetermined portion of the reduced image on each page with a mouse. Thereafter, the operator inputs an appropriate character string, for example, a table of contents, an item name, or a summary for the image from the keyboard, and the level corresponding to the tag is, for example, the highest level "1" to the lowest level. It is selected and designated from "4". The designated tag data is associated with the document ID and stored in, for example, the HDD.

The retrieval of the document data stored in this way is performed as follows, for example. When the user specifies the document ID, the reduced image image or tag data corresponding to the specified document ID is read from the HDD. Then, the read reduced image image or the image (table of contents image) based on the tag data is displayed on the display device connected to the computer device.

Based on the display on this display device, the user designates a desired page or range among a plurality of reduced image images, for example. When the table of contents image is displayed on the display device, the user specifies the character string corresponding to the desired tag from the displayed table of contents image. In the computer, the image data of the document corresponding to the specified page or range or the specified tag is HD.
The user can browse the desired document by reading out from D and displaying it on the display device.

It is also possible to specify a character string related to the document to be browsed and search for tag data containing the specified character string. Document I corresponding to the retrieved tag data
By reading the image data of the document having D from the HDD and displaying it on the display device, the user can browse the desired document.

As described above, the electronic filing apparatus according to this conventional technique can search for a document based on the tag data associated with the document. However,
Even in the electronic filing device according to this conventional technique,
Since the tag data was input by the operator who registered the document, the problem that there is a possibility that a keyword that is not suitable for the actual content of the document may be input when the keyword is input cannot be solved. It was

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a data registration device, a data registration method, and a data registration program that automatically process image data conversion and keyword registration of document data when registering the document data in a database. And to provide a recording medium.

[0015]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a data registration device for converting document data into image data and registering the same in a database, wherein the document data is processed by a print control unit of an operation system. A conversion unit that converts raster data rasterized in page units so as to be printable into image data in a predetermined format, and a printer driver configured to hold the text data passed as print data from the print control unit. A data registration device comprising: a registration unit that registers image data converted by the conversion unit and text data held by the printer driver in a database in association with each other.

Further, according to the present invention, in a data registration method for converting document data into image data and registering it in a database, raster data is rasterized in page units so that the document data can be printed by the print control unit of the operation system. A step of converting the data into image data in a predetermined format; a step of holding the text data passed as print data from the print control unit by a printer driver; an image data converted by the conversion step; A registration step of registering the text data held by the driver in a database in association with the text data.

Further, according to the present invention, in a data registration program for causing a computer device to execute a data registration method of converting document data into image data and registering it in a database, the document data can be printed by a print control unit of the operation system. A conversion step of converting the raster data rasterized in page units into image data of a predetermined format, a step of holding the text data passed as print data from the print control section by the printer driver, and a step of conversion. The data registration program is characterized by causing a computer device to execute a registration step of registering in the database the image data converted by the above and the text data held by the printer driver in association with each other.

Further, according to the present invention, in a recording medium recording a data registration program for causing a computer to execute a data registration method of converting document data into image data and registering the image data in a database, the document data is a print control of an operating system. A printer driver holds the conversion step of converting raster data rasterized in page units so that it can be printed by a copy unit into image data in a predetermined format, and the text data passed as print data from the print control unit. A data registration program for causing a computer device to execute a step and a registration step of registering the image data converted by the conversion step and the text data held by the printer driver in a database in association with each other is recorded. Special Which is a recording medium to be.

As described above, according to the present invention, the rasterization processing is performed on the page data so that the document data can be printed by the print control unit of the operation system. The printer driver retains the text data passed as print data from the printer, and the converted image data and the text data retained by the printer driver are registered in the database in association with each other. Based on this, the document data registered in the database can be searched.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. According to the present invention, a virtual printer driver adapted to generate a print image of document data as image data and to extract character data from the document data is used. The virtual printer driver converts the document data to be registered into image data and automatically extracts the text data from the document data. Then, by using the extracted document data as a keyword, imaging of the document data and keyword registration at the time of registering the document data database are automatically performed.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a configuration of an example of a document data management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Server 2 and client 4 for network 1,
4, ... are connected. The server 2 has a database 3 in which document data is registered and managed. The database 3 is a database unit that substantially stores data and a DBMS that manages the data stored in the database unit.
(Data Base Management System). Not limited to this, the database 3 is the database unit itself, and
The server 2 may be in charge of BMS.

The network 1 is an intranet constructed within the same organization, for example. Of course, the network 1 is not limited to this, and may be the Internet.
The server 2 and the clients 4, 4, ... Are computer devices and can communicate with each other via the network 1.

A printer device 5 for the network 1
Can be connected. Server 2 and client 4,
It is possible to cause the printer device 5 to perform printing by transmitting predetermined print instructions and print data from the printers 4, ... To the printer device 5 via the network 1. The printer device 5 is not limited to this example, and may be connected to the server 2 or to any one of the clients 4, 4, .... Note that the printer device 5 is not always necessary in this embodiment.

In such a configuration, for example, the client 4 creates document data in which text data and image data are mixed. The document data is printed by the virtual printer driver described above in the client 4 to be converted into image data and text data is extracted. Image data and text data based on these document data are sent from the client 4 to the server 2 via the network 1. In the server 2, the sent text data is associated with the image data as a keyword for full-text search and registered in the database 3. As a result, the document data created by the client 4 is registered in the database 3.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the structure of the client 4. CPU (Central Processing Un
it) 11, ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, RAM (Rand
om Access Memory) 13 and a video interface (hereinafter referred to as video I / F) 14 are respectively connected. Further, for the bus 10, a hard disk drive (hereinafter, HDD) 16 and a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read O)
An nly memory) drive 17 and an input interface (hereinafter, input I / F) 18 are connected to each other. An input device such as a keyboard 19 or a mouse 20 is connected to the input I / F 18.

The HDD 16 stores programs and data. The CPU 11 reads the program stored in the HDD 16, for example, and executes the read program using the RAM 13 as a work memory. A control signal according to a user operation is output from an input device such as the keyboard 19 or the mouse 20, and the output signal is supplied to the CPU 11 via the input I / F 18 and the bus 10. In the CPU 11, for example, in response to this control signal,
Various processes based on the program are performed.

Further, according to the processing based on the program,
A display control signal is generated by the CPU 11. This display control signal is supplied to the video I / F 14 via the bus 10, and is used, for example, in a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or an LCD (Liquid).
The signal is converted into a signal that can be displayed on the monitor 15 including a display device such as a d crystal display, and is supplied to the monitor 15.

Further, a communication interface (hereinafter, communication I / F) 21 is connected to the bus 10. The communication I / F 21 is connected to the network 1 described above, for example. The communication I / F 21 controls communication between the client 4 and the network 1.

The CD-ROM drive 17 can read data from a CD-ROM loaded in a predetermined manner. The read data is transferred to, for example, C via the bus 10.
It is supplied to the PU 11 and the RAM 13. In addition, CD-RO
The M drive 17 is an example of a read drive for an external storage medium, and is not limited to this example. For example, an F that can read / write an FD (flexible disk)
An MO drive capable of reading / writing a DD (FD drive) or an MO (magneto-optical disk) may be connected. It is also possible to connect multiple types of drive devices.

The client 4 uses a GUI (Graphic).
al User Interface) is applied, and an intuitive operation by a user using a pointing device such as the mouse 20 is possible. For example, by indicating a button or the like that is arranged and displayed on the screen on the basis of the coordinate information output from the pointing device and performing a predetermined operation on the pointing device, the function assigned to the displayed button Can be executed. Hereinafter, a series of processes for displaying a button using this pointing device will be referred to as “operating a button”, “pressing a button”, and the like. Of course, not only the pointing device but also other input means such as the keyboard 19 may be used to execute the predetermined function.

A general computer device can be applied to the server 2, and its configuration is substantially the same as the configuration of the client 4 described above. Therefore, the description thereof is omitted to avoid complexity. To do.

FIG. 3 schematically shows the architecture of the client 4 for instructing printing to the printer device 5, for example. The configuration shown in FIG. 3 is based on an operating system (OS) developed by Microsoft Corporation in the United States.
em), which is based on Windows NT (registered trademark).

The application 30 is software that runs on the OS, and is a GUI (Graphical User Interface).
rface) and other user interfaces. In the application 30, processing such as printing by the printer device 5 is set based on an instruction made by the user using this user interface. API (Applica
An option programming interface 31 is an interface for calling a function of an OS (not shown) from the application 30.

Of the API 31, printing, screen display, etc.
GDI (Graphics Devi) is responsible for drawing-related functions.
ce Interface) 32. That is, the command is issued from the application 30 to the GDI 32 for all the operations related to the drawing such as screen display and printing by the application 30. For example, the display target on the screen of the monitor 15 and the drawing target by the GDI 32 such as the printer device 5 are referred to as device context. The GDI 32 converts the command to the device context into a request to the screen or the printer driver of the printer device 5, and issues a drawing command to the corresponding device context.

The GDI 32 has a drawing function of a straight line, a circle, a polygon, a character and the like. The drawing command passed from the application 30 is converted by the GDI 32 into a request to the screen or the printer driver 33 based on the drawing command corresponding to the drawing function of the straight line, the circle, the polygon, the character and the like which the GDI 32 has.

In the printer driver 33, the GDI 32
A plurality of entries required for print processing called from are provided. For example, for processes such as "start printing", "end printing", "start page printing", "end page printing", "output image data", "output line data", and "output text data". A corresponding entry is provided. The printer driver 33 passively proceeds with these entries. That is, the GDI 32 distributes the request to the printer driver 33 to these entries according to the contents, and passes it to the printer driver 33.

In the printer driver 33, the request passed from the GDI 32 is converted into a printer control code for controlling the printer. The printer control code is GDI
Then, the print data is converted to raster data by being rasterized based on the printer control code. The rasterization process is a process of converting print data into page data.

The printing process in such a configuration is performed as follows, for example. When printing of document data is designated in the application 30, print data such as image data, text data, line data, font information used for printing text data, page break information, etc. is output based on the document data. The output print data is converted into a request to the printer driver 33 by the GDI 32 and passed to the printer driver 33. Based on this request, the printer driver 33 converts the print data into a printer control code and passes it to the GDI 32. G
In the DI 32, rasterization processing is performed based on the passed printer control code, and print data is developed as an image. For example, the rasterization process develops the characters of the text data into dot images based on the font information. This dot image is finally passed to the printer device for actual printing.

In the present invention, the actual printer device is not controlled based on the printer control code obtained by converting the print data by the printer driver 33. That is, the printer driver 33 is a virtual printer driver. Therefore, by passing the document data to the virtual printer driver, the raster data obtained by rasterizing the document data is converted into image data without actual printing. Then, in the virtual printer driver, when converting the print data into the printer control code,
The text data is extracted from the print data using the function of the GDI 32 described above. Then, the extracted text data is used as a keyword when searching the document data.

In the following, in order to avoid complexity,
Virtual printing performed using the virtual printer driver is simply referred to as "printing".

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of print processing by the virtual printer driver according to this embodiment. First, in the predetermined application 30,
When an instruction is given to print the document data in which the text and the image are mixed, the instruction is passed to the GDI 32. Step S1
At 0, the GDI 32 issues a print start command to the virtual printer driver based on this instruction. Next, in step S11, the virtual printer driver notifies the direct converter that printing has started.

The direct converter is software for registering the text data extracted by the virtual printer driver and converted into image data into the database 3. With this direct converter, it is possible to set the name for the document data registered in the database 3 and the tag index corresponding to the table of contents for the content of the document data.
Details of the direct converter will be described later.

When the start of printing is notified to the direct converter in step S11, the process proceeds to step S1.
Moved to 2. Print data based on the document data is passed from the GDI 32 to the virtual printer driver.
The print data is, for example, according to the printing order on one page,
Passed sequentially. At this time, as described above, GDI32
Thus, the print data is distributed so as to correspond to the entry of the virtual printer driver based on the content, and is passed to the virtual printer driver. The virtual printer driver makes various determinations according to the entry to which the print data is passed.

In step S12, the virtual printer driver determines whether the printing of one page is completed. For example, this determination is made depending on whether or not the page division information is passed from the GDI 32 to the virtual printer driver. If it is determined that the printing of one page is not completed, the process proceeds to step S13,
The print data is received from the GDI 32, the print data is converted into the printer control code as described above, and the GDI
Pass it to 32. The GDI 32 performs rasterization processing based on the printer control code to generate raster data.

This raster data is, for example, data consisting of pixel information for each page. The raster data is converted into image data of a predetermined format by the virtual printer driver. For example, if the virtual printer driver supports color, JPEG (Joint
It is converted into image data of the image format of Photographic Experts Group). If the virtual printer driver only supports monochrome, Wind
It is converted into image data of an image format of ows bitmap format.

This image data is stored in the memory (RAM 13).
It is stored in the area allocated above. HDD1
6 may be temporarily stored.

In the next step S14, the virtual printer driver determines whether the print data received from the GDI 32 is text data (character data). If it is determined that the received print data is text data, the data is stored in a predetermined area of the memory (RAM 13) in step S15. The text data is stored in order on the memory with one line of text output as one line.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S14 that the received print data is not text data, the process returns to step S12.

In step S12 above, if 1
If it is determined that the printing of the page is completed, the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, the image data rasterized by the virtual printer driver based on the print data is passed from the virtual printer driver to the above-described direct converter, and the direct converter is notified that the page printing is completed.

In the next step S17, it is determined whether the GDI 32 has given a print end command to the virtual printer driver. If it is determined that the print end command has not been passed, the process returns to step S12,
The next page is printed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S17 that the print end command has been passed from the GDI 32 to the virtual printer driver, the process proceeds to step S18. In step S18, the virtual printer driver notifies the direct converter of the end of printing.

When the printing process of the document data by the virtual printer driver is completed in this way, the process shifts to the registration process of the document data in the database 3 by the direct converter.

FIG. 5 shows a screen display of an example of the direct converter for performing the registration process of the document data in the database 3. On the direct converter screen 40, the input unit 41 specifies the document group to which the document printed using the virtual printer driver belongs. Input unit 42
Specifies the document number for the printed document,
By pressing the button 43, a list of document numbers of registered documents is displayed.

By checking the input section 44, the tag edit button 45 is activated and the tag index can be set for the printed document. As described above, the tag corresponds to the table of contents for the contents of the document data. If the tag edit button 45 is pressed while the input section 44 is checked and the tag edit button 45 is enabled, a tag index registration screen for setting the tag index for the document is displayed (not shown). .

In the tag index registration screen, for example, the converted image data of the document is reduced in size for each page and displayed. A pointing device such as the mouse 20 is used to specify a page to which a tag is to be set, and tag information corresponding to the page can be input as text. A table of contents, item name, summary, etc. are input as tag information. Further, the tags can be set to levels of, for example, 1 to 4, and high-level tags can be configured to include lower-level tags.

The input unit 46 sets the security level for the document. The confidentiality level is, depending on the confidentiality level of the document, for example, the level “4” to “1” from the higher confidentiality level.
Can be set. Documents set to confidentiality level "1"
It can be accessed by a user who has an access right of confidentiality level “1” or higher (that is, all “1” to “4”). On the other hand, documents set to confidentiality level "4" are confidentiality level "4" or higher (that is, only confidentiality level "4").
It can be accessed by a user who has the access right of. That is, the document set to the confidential level "4" is
It is supposed that only a very limited number of people can browse.

For example, it is possible to set the access authority for each individual by the combination of the user ID and the password when logging in to the database 3. For example,
The table in which the confidential level is set for the combination of the user ID and the password for each user is stored in the server 2
Has. When a user accesses the database 3, by referring to this table, it is possible to give the user an access right according to the set confidentiality level.

The input unit 47 specifies the document name and the virtual storage location of the document for the document.

On the direct converter screen 40,
When all the necessary information is input and the registration button 48 is pressed, the document data is registered in the database 3. For example, when the registration button 48 is pressed on the client 4, the image data and text data stored in the memory and the data input to each item on the direct converter screen 40 are transmitted to the server 2 via the network 1. . The server 2 registers these transmitted data in the database 3 according to the data format of the database 3. At this time, conversion processing for the transmitted data and generation of management information are performed as necessary. This document data database 3
The details of the registration process to the will be described later.

The document data thus registered in the database 3 from the direct converter screen 40 is managed based on the directory structure as shown in FIG.

The database 3 has a document group directory 50 as a root directory, and has a function of managing a plurality of image data stored in the memory in step S13 of the flowchart of FIG. 4 described above as a plurality of data. Have. Database 3
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to manage image data in which a document printed on paper is read by a scanner.

Below the document group directory 50, a group version directory 51, a DOC directory 52, an STG directory 55, a BIN directory 58 and a TMP directory 60 are formed. The group version directory 51 is a directory for storing version information of the created document group directory 50. The DOC directory 52 stores information regarding a plurality of image data for each document.

Below the STG directory 55, the first
A document STG directory 56, a second document STG directory 57, ... Are formed. This first document ST
The G directory 56 stores information such as image data stored in the first document STG directory 56 and attached files managed on a one-to-one basis. Actually, if the attached file for a certain document is managed on a one-to-one basis, it does not have a one-to-one correspondence for each page, but has it for each document, for example. In this attached file, for example, the first document STG directory 56
It includes a table graph and the like related to the result of analyzing information such as image data of.

The BIN directory 58 is a directory for storing an index for performing a full text search for a plurality of image data. The TMP directory 60 is a directory for temporarily storing data.

Below the DOC directory 52 is a first
Document directory 53, second document directory 54, ...
.. is formed. For example, the first document directory 5
3, an index file 70 (related information group) and an actual file 71 (data group) are stored in the file 3, preferably a thumbnail file 72, a tag file 73, a common annotation file, A page summary file 74 and an attachment list file 75 are stored.

The database 3 manages, for example, a plurality of image data as an index file 70 and an actual file 71, and preferably also manages a thumbnail file 72, a tag file 73, a common annotation file, a page summary file 74 and an attachment list file 75. To be done.

The actual file 71 is a file in which real size image data printed by the virtual printer driver is stored and can include a plurality of image data. On the other hand, the index file 70 shows information about the actual file 71. For example, if the actual file 71 includes a plurality of image data, the index file 70 has information about the resolution of the image data included in the actual file 71. Details of the index file 70 and the actual file 71 will be described later.

On the other hand, the thumbnail file 72
Stores reduced version image data in which the size of the image data included in the actual file 71 is reduced. When the document data is searched from the database 3, the thumbnail image stored in the thumbnail file 72 is displayed by predetermined software, so that the entire document can be roughly grasped.

The tag file 73 stores the tag index set on the direct converter screen 40 described above. That is, the tag file 73 is a file for handling the index of each image data of the document. The details of this tag file 73 will be described later.

The common annotation file shows the annotation of the document. The page summary file 74 is data indicating the summary information of the actual file 71. The attachment list file 75 shows a list of attachment files stored in the above-described first document STG directory 56.

FIG. 8A shows an example data structure of the above-mentioned actual file 71, and FIG. 8B shows an example data structure of the above-mentioned index file 70.
In FIG. 8, an example in which the actual file 71 includes four image files is shown.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the database 3 allows, for example, four image data 80A to 80D (first image data 80A, second image data 80B, third image data 80C and fourth image) as a plurality of data. The data 80D) is managed as a configuration in which tags 81 (tags 81A, 81B and 81C, respectively) as delimiter information are combined and integrated.

Specifically, the first image data 80A and the second image data 80A
A tag 81A is provided between the image data 80B, and a tag 81B is provided between the second image data 80B and the third image data 80C.
A tag 81C is provided between C and the fourth image data 80D. Therefore, the image data 80A, 80B, 8
0C and 80D are separated by tags 81A, 81B and 81C, respectively, so tags 81A and 8D
It can also be easily separated based on 1B and 81C.

Further, as an example is shown in FIG. 8B, the index file 70 has a header 85 at the beginning and a body 86A corresponding to the image data 80A, 80B, ... Contained in the actual file 71. ~ 86D (first body 86A, second body 86
B, a third body 86C and a fourth body 86D).

In the index file 70, the header 85 is information for distinguishing each index file 70 from other index files (not shown).
The bodies 86A to 86D respectively include image data 80A, 80B, ... Which are included in the actual file 71.
It is data representing information regarding. Specifically, the first body 86A includes related information such as the resolution regarding the first image data 80A.

FIG. 9 shows the index file 7 of FIG. 8B.
An example of a data format of 0 is shown. Note that in FIG. 9, bodies 86B, 86C, ... Other than the first body 86A in the index file 70 shown in FIG. 8B.
Are omitted to avoid complexity.

The index file 70 is mainly composed of "IN
"DEX" tag, "IDX_HEAD" tag, "IDX_
It has a BODY "tag. "IDX_HEAD {IDX_BODY} (*)" following the "INDEX" tag is
This indicates that one or more "IDX_HEAD" tags and "IDX_BODY" tags exist.

"DTAG_OFF" in FIG. 9 indicates an offset from the tags 81A, 81B, .... “DTAG_COUNT” is the tag 8 shown in FIG. 8A.
The number of 1A, 81B, ... Therefore, by referring to “DTAG_COUNT”, the number of image data 80 included in the actual file 71 can be grasped.

"DABS_OFF" indicates an offset from the head of the page summary file 75 of FIG. 7 described above. “DABS_LEN” indicates the number of bytes of the page summary file 75 in FIG. 7. The number of bytes referred to here does not include the header in the page summary file 75, for example.

The "IDX_BODY" tag is "D
"EG" tag, "ACT_WIDTH" tag, "ACT_
"HEIGHT" tag, "ACT_DPI" tag, "AC
"T_CMP" tag, "ACT_OFF" tag, "ACT
_LEN ”tag,“ THUMB_WIDTH ”tag,
"THUMB_HEIGHT" tag, "THUB_CM
"P" tag, "THUMB_OFF" tag, "THUMB"
_LEN ”tag,“ TAG_OFF ”tag,“ TAG_
NUM ”tag,“ ANN_OFF ”tag,“ ANN_N
"UM" tag, "ABS_OFF" tag, "ABS_LE"
"N" tag, "ABS_REGD" tag, "RESV1"
It includes tags, "RESV2" tags, and "RESV3" tags.

The "DEG" tag is used for the image data 80A, 8A.
The rotation angles of 0B, ... "ACT_WID
The “TH” tag and the “ACT_HEIGHT” tag indicate the offset from the beginning of the page summary file 75 of FIG. 7 described above. The “ACT_DPI” tag indicates the resolution of image data (actual image). "ACT
The “_CMP” tag indicates an example of the image data compression method. The “ACT_OFF” tag indicates an offset from the beginning of the actual file 71. "AC
The “T_LEN” tag indicates the number of bytes of image data.

The "THUMB_WIDTH" tag and the "THUMB_HEIGHT" tag indicate the dot size of the thumbnail file 72. "THUMB_
The “CMP” tag indicates the compression rate of the thumbnail file 72. The “THUMB_OFF” tag indicates an offset from the beginning of the thumbnail file 72.
The "THUMB_LEN" tag is the thumbnail file 7
2 indicates the number of bytes.

The "TAG_OFF" tag indicates the offset from the beginning of the tags 81A, 81B, ... Shown in FIG. 8A. The "TAG_NUM" tag is the tag 81A,
81B, ...

The "ANN_NUM" tag indicates the number of annotations. The “ABS_OFF” tag indicates an offset from the top of the page summary file 75. "A
The “BS_LEN” tag indicates the number of bytes of the page summary file 75. The “ABS_REGD” tag indicates whether or not the summary file 75 has been registered. This tag is used in OCR (Optical Character Reader) or the like.

The tag file 73 will be described. The tag in the tag file 73 is a character string that is assigned to each page of the document as desired, as shown in FIG. 10, and can be used as a table of contents of each page and used for searching. be able to. In addition, any level of 1 to 4 can be assigned to the tag, which makes it possible to automatically create a hierarchical table of contents of the document.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the data structure of the tag file 73. In FIG. 11, each row is a tag file 7
3 shows data items, and each line shows each tag. In the tag file 37, the first tag content 90 indicating the date of the tag, the second tag content 91 indicating the character string attached to the tag, and the tag hierarchy information 9 indicating the hierarchy of the set tag.
2. The start page information 93 indicating the first page and the end page information 94 indicating the last page are included among the pages related to this tag. The tag hierarchy information 92 corresponds to the level set in the above-mentioned tag. Note that FIG.
In the first example, only one item of the second tag content 91 is prepared as an item in which the character string given to the tag is stored, but this is not limited to this example, and a plurality of items may be provided. it can.

Next, the process of registering the document data in the database 3 will be briefly described. When the registration process is performed by the direct converter screen 40 described above,
An intex file 70 as shown in FIG. 8B is generated based on image data obtained by converting the document data, text data extracted from the document data, information input at the time of registration on the screen 40, and the like. Also, at this time,
A thumbnail file 72 is generated based on the image data obtained by converting the document data.

The image file is an actual file 71 as described later. The size information of the actual file 71 and the thumbnail file 72 shown in FIG. 7 are, for example, “ACT_LEN” and “THUMB_LE” of the index file 70 shown in FIG. 9, respectively.
N ”is registered. The full-text search index storage directory 59 shown in FIG. 6 stores keywords for full-text keyword search for this actual file 71.

As this keyword, the text data extracted when the document data is printed by the above virtual printer driver can be used. The text data is extracted for each page of the document data based on the flowchart of FIG. 4 described above. The text data for each page is
One document is collected and stored in the full-text search index storage directory 59 in association with the document data. Not limited to this, the text data of each page may be stored in association with the corresponding page of the document data.

As described above with reference to FIG. 8, a plurality of image data are combined into one actual file 71. Tags 81A and 81 in the actual file 71 shown in FIG. 8A are used to combine the image data.
B ... Change information. As a specific method for doing this, for example, in the index file 70 shown in FIG. 9, the data of “DTAG_COUNT” is increased by the amount of “DTAG_COUNT” from which it is inserted. On the other hand, in the actual file 71, as shown in FIG.
As shown in A, for example, the tag 81C to be inserted
And the fourth image data 80D form a set, and are combined after the third image data 80C.

In this way, the database 3 separates, for example, four pieces of image data as a plurality of data from each other like the image data 80A, 80B, ... Shown in FIG. 8A described above. As tags 81A,
It is managed as an actual file 71 combined by 81B, .... Image data 80A, 80B, ...
.. are combined and managed, so image data 80A,
, 80B, ... Are integrated and managed, and the trouble of managing such image data not to be separate is saved.

In addition to the actual file 71, the database 3 manages an index file 70 as information about the actual file 71. This index file 70 includes image data 80A, 8
Body 86A, 86 corresponding to 0B, ...
.. and a header 85. That is, the bodies 86A, 86B, ...
Information about resolutions corresponding to A, 80B, ... In this way, the bodies 86A, 86
B, ... Can be managed in an integrated manner.

When the document data is searched, the full-text search is performed on the text data stored in the full-text search index storage directory 59 based on the keyword input for the search, for example. When the text data having the portion that matches the input keyword is searched, the image data of the document data associated with the text data is output from the database 3. When a plurality of candidates are output as the search result, a keyword can be further input to narrow down the search. The output image data is displayed on the monitor 15 of the client 4, for example.
It is preferable to output the thumbnail file 72 as the image data because the outline of the retrieved document data can be easily grasped. Of course, the actual file 71 may be output.

A case where image data for one page of the document is added to the document data registered in the database 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following similar figures, dotted lines indicate that the data are linked.

The actual file 71 before the image data is added is, for example, as shown in FIG.
1, tag 81, image data A2, tag 81, image data A3, and end of file (EOF). Further, in the index file 70 before the addition, as shown in FIG. 12B, for example, information regarding the order of the bodies 86A, 86B, and 86C (for example, “1”,
“2” and “3”) are stored.

The actual file 71 shown in FIG. 12A.
A case where the image data B1 shown in FIG. 13 is added between the image data A2 and the image data A3 will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 14A, image data B1 is added to the actual file 71 via a tag 81,
Finally, EOF is added. Thus, in the actual file 71, the image data A2 and the image data A2
The image data B1 is not added while being separated from the data No. 3 and No. 3. That is, the actual file 71
In, since the image data B1 is only added to the end side, high speed processing is possible.

On the other hand, in the index file 70, the length is extended by the amount corresponding to the image data B1 to be added, and as shown in FIG. 14B, the position of the page or the like into which the image data B1 is inserted is "" in the body 86D. 3 ”is set. At the same time, the body 86C is set to "4" indicating the position of the image data A3.

FIG. 15 shows modification of an example of the index file 70 accompanying addition of image data. FIG. 15A shows
The setting of the index file 70 before image data addition is shown. The index file 70 is modified in accordance with the above-described additional processing, and the settings are set as shown in FIG. 15B.
As described above, the addition process (insertion process) is completed.

A case where the image data as one page of the document is deleted from the document data registered in the database 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17.
The actual file 71 before deletion is, for example, FIG. 16A.
As shown in, the image data A1, the tag 81, the image data A2, the tag 81, the image data A3, the tag 81, the image data B1 and the EOF are included. In addition, in the index file 70 before deletion, as shown in FIG. 16B, for example,
Information about the order as bodies 86A, 86B, 86C and 86D (eg "1", "2", "4",
“3”) is stored.

A case where the image data B1 is deleted from the actual file 71 shown in FIG. 16A will be described. First, in the actual file 71, the image data B1 is not actually deleted. On the other hand, in the index file 70, information indicating the invalidation, for example, the symbol “x” is set in the body 86D corresponding to the image data B1 to be deleted (for example, the deletion process as shown in FIG. 17B). ).

FIG. 18 shows modification of an example of the index file 70 accompanying deletion of image data. FIG. 18A shows
The setting of the index file 70 before image data deletion is shown. The index file 70 is modified in accordance with the above-described deletion processing, and the settings are set as shown in FIG. 18B.
The deletion process is completed as described above.

The process of dividing the document data registered in the database 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. The actual file 71 before division is, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in 9A, the image data A1, the tag 81, the image data A2, the tag 81, the image data A3, the tag 81, and the image data B1 are included. Further, the index file 70 before division stores information (for example, “1”, “2”, “4”, “3”) regarding the order of the bodies 86A to 86D as shown in FIG. 19B, for example. ing.

The actual file 71 shown in FIG. 19A.
The case where the image data B1 is divided from will be described. First, in the actual file 71, as shown in FIG.
As shown in 0A, the image data B1 is not deleted. Therefore, the actual file 71 can be deleted at high speed. Then, in the index file 70, as shown in FIG. 20B,
In the body 86D corresponding to the image data B1 to be deleted,
Information indicating that it has been invalidated, for example, the symbol “x” is set.

Further, the image data B1 of the actual file 71 is copied as shown in FIG. 21A to be the actual file 71 having EOF added to the rear part thereof. Further, an index file 70 related to the actual file 71 shown in FIG. 21A is generated as shown in FIG. 21B.

FIG. 22 shows an example of modification of the index file 70 accompanying the division of a document. FIG. 22A shows the setting of the index file 70 before division. The index file 70 is modified in accordance with the above-mentioned division processing,
The settings are as shown in FIG. 22B. The division is completed as described above.

In the conventional document data management system, the data to be searched is the OCR (Optical Chara
It was created by reading with ctar Reader) and converting it into electronic data. However, due to the accuracy of the OCR, the data read by the OCR is rarely completely recognizable, and the search data is deteriorated.

On the other hand, in the document data management system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the text information directly extracted from the print data at the time of printing is directly used as the search data. Therefore, there is an advantage that the search data can be created without deteriorating the quality.

The virtual printer driver and the direct converter are supplied with the program files for executing them recorded in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM. The CD-ROM in which the program file for executing the virtual printer driver and the direct converter is recorded is the CD of the client 4.
A program file for executing the virtual printer driver and the direct converter by loading the ROM drive 17 and performing a predetermined operation on the client 4 is stored in the HDD 16 in a predetermined manner, and the virtual printer driver and the direct converter are executed by the client. Four
Installed on. By reading out these program files from the HDD 16 and expanding them on the RAM 13, for example, the CPU 11 can be executed.

The virtual printer driver and the direct converter may be recorded on different recording media and provided. The recording medium in which the virtual printer driver and the direct converter are recorded is not limited to the CD-ROM, and the client 4 such as an FD (flexible disk) or MO (magneto-optical disk) can be used.
Other types of recording media may be used as long as they are readable recording media. In addition, the virtual printer driver and the direct converter are connected to the client 4 via the network 1.
May be supplied to. Further, the virtual printer driver and the direct converter are programs that run on the server 2, and the clients 4 to 2
It is also possible to call and execute the functions of the virtual printer driver and the direct converter.

In the above description, the document data management system is described as being configured between the servers 2 / clients 4, 4, ... Through the network 1, but this is not limited to this example. The client 4 as a personal computer that operates standalone can be independently configured. In this case, the database 3 is configured in the HDD 16.

Further, in the above description, the raster data rasterized by the GDI 32 is converted into the image data by the virtual printer driver, but this is not limited to this example. For example, the process of converting raster data into image data may be performed by another program. Further, for example, the raster data is temporarily stored in the RAM 13 or the HDD 16, and after the virtual printer driver finishes printing all the pages of the document data, the stored raster data is temporarily collected by another program into image data. It can also be converted.

[0112]

As described above, according to the present invention, the text data in the print data is extracted from the document data and stored in the memory, and the image data in which the document data is rasterized is stored in the memory. Image data stored in the memory is printed in the database by using the virtual printer driver, and text data stored in the memory is registered in the database as a keyword for full-text search of the document data. . Therefore, when the text data and the image data are registered in the same database, there is an effect that a keyword registration omission or an error does not occur.

Further, in the document data management system according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the text information extracted at the time of printing is used as it is as the search data, the search data can be stored without deterioration in quality. It has the advantage that it can be created.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a configuration of an example of a document data management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of a client.

FIG. 3 is a schematic architecture diagram when a client instructs a printer to perform printing.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of print processing by the virtual printer driver according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a screen display of an example of a direct converter.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example directory structure in which document data is managed.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of files stored in a document directory.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of an actual file and an index file.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a data format of an example of an index file.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining tags in a tag file.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a data structure of an example of a tag file.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a process of adding image data as one page of a document to registered document data.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a process of adding image data as one page of a document to registered document data.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a process of adding image data as one page of a document to registered document data.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating modification of an example of an index file accompanying addition of image data.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a process of deleting image data as one page of a document from registered document data.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a process of deleting image data as one page of a document from registered document data.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing modification of an example of an index file accompanying deletion of image data.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a process of dividing registered document data.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a process of dividing registered document data.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining a process of dividing registered document data.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing modification of an example of an index file accompanying document division.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Network, 2 ... Server, 3 ... Database, 4 ... Client, 11 ... CPU,
13 ... RAM, 16 ... HDD, 21 ... Communication interface, 30 ... Application, 31
... API, 32 ... GDI, 33 ... Printer driver, 40 ... Direct converter screen, 50
... Document group directory, 53 ... First document directory, 59 ... Full text search index storage directory, 70 ... Index file, 71
... Actual file, 73 ... Tag file

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Masayuki Takeuchi             4-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Soni             -Information system solution             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Shinichi Kitou             4-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Soni             -Information system solution             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Takeshi Yoshino             4-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Soni             -Information system solution             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Hideo Izumisawa             1-10-10 Kita-Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo             Tomo Ueno Building No. 5 Intercom Co., Ltd.             Within (72) Inventor Masami Sugiura             6 27-28 Minamioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Small             Hayashi Building 4F P & P Co., Ltd.             In software F-term (reference) 5B021 AA01 CC06 CC07 DD00                 5B075 ND06 NK06 NK13 UU06                 5C073 AB01 AB07 AB11

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A data registration device for converting document data into image data and registering it in a database, wherein predetermined raster data is rasterized in page units so that the document data can be printed by a print control unit of an operation system. Conversion means for converting into image data according to a format, a printer driver adapted to hold the text data passed as print data from the print control section, the image data converted by the conversion means,
A data registration device, comprising: a registration unit configured to register the text data held by the printer driver in the database in association with each other. 2. The data registration device according to claim 1, wherein the text data is registered in the database as a keyword when searching the document data. 3. The data registration device according to claim 1, wherein the conversion unit is included in the printer driver. 4. A data registration method for converting document data into image data and registering the same in a database, wherein rasterized data is rasterized in page units so that the document data can be printed by a print control unit of the operation system. A step of converting into image data according to a format; a step of holding the text data passed as print data from the print control unit by a printer driver; the image data converted above by the conversion step; And a registration step of registering the stored text data in the database in association with each other by the printer driver. 5. A data registration program for causing a computer to execute a data registration method of converting document data into image data and registering the image data in a database, in a page unit so that the document data can be printed by a print control unit of the operation system. The conversion step of converting the rasterized raster data into image data in a predetermined format, the step of holding the text data passed as print data from the print control unit by the printer driver, and the step of conversion described above. A data registration program for causing a computer to execute a registration step of registering the converted image data and the text data held by the printer driver in the database in association with each other. 6. A recording medium having a data registration program for causing a computer apparatus to execute a data registration method of converting document data into image data and registering the image data in a database, the document data being printable by a print control unit of the operation system. A step of converting the raster data rasterized in page units into image data in a predetermined format; a step of holding the text data passed as print data from the print control unit by the printer driver; A data registration program is recorded which causes a computer device to execute a registration step of registering the image data converted by the conversion step and the text data held by the printer driver in the database in association with each other. A recording medium characterized in that