JP2003536327A - Meta information handling - Google Patents

Abstract

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a system and method for transmitting an image acquired as a digital image file (6) by an image information acquisition means (5) during an image information acquisition operation to a data network (2). About. The system includes an input device (4) for inputting meta-information about a selected image, the selected image including image information that can be obtained by an image information obtaining means. The system further includes means for combining meta-information relating to the selected image into a digital image file (6) in connection with the image information obtaining operation, whereby the image information obtaining means (5) is adapted to select the selected image. Obtain image information of an image. The system also includes means for transmitting meta information (18b) and a digital image file (18a) relating to the selected image to the data network (2).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001] Technical Field The present invention is, by the image information acquisition means, the image information acquired as a digital image file in an image information acquisition operation, to a system and method for transmitting to the data network.

[0002] With the development of (the invention of background) computer, it began to process the document and image in a different way. Today, documents and images are processed both in paper and digital form in computers. This means that there is often a desire to convert a paper document or image into a digital format and employ the document for computer processing. Converting a document on paper into a digital document or an image into a digital representation of said image is accomplished by some type of image acquisition. The acquired image is captured as a digital image file,
This file can be processed in the computer.

Digital image files carry large amounts of many resource information that a computer needs to analyze and process. Therefore, the user needs to add special information of the digital image file to the computer to instruct the computer how to process the digital image file. This particular information can be, for example, searchable information about a database or other information about the contents of a digital image file.

Today, when it is necessary to add information to a document to be scanned, the user must go to the scanner location to scan the document and then go to the client station to enter the special information. Even though the user can access and scan the document at the client station, the user must find the file in the file system before adding this special information. This method adds in extra steps after the actual scanning process, which is inefficient for the user. It also requires access to a client station where special information can be added.

However, there are other ways to obtain this special information. This is accomplished by using software to interpret the scanned document image and various image processing and OCR (optical character recognition) techniques to derive this extra information from the document itself. The problem with this method is that it is very complex and resource intensive. A server may even be needed to process the scanned document or image. The processing software needs to know exactly how to format the various documents to derive this particular information. Thus it cannot be very easily adapted to new documents.

EP 0 748 107 A2 discloses a method for scanning and adding extra information. According to this, the document information regarding the document to be scanned is filled or printed in one form. Then this form is scanned,
Special information is extracted using image recognition techniques. In this information extraction,
Although the scanning device is not as complex as when extracting information from the document itself, it still requires image processing and presents other problems. The scanning device must be able to recognize that the paper being scanned is an information format, and thus must use a limited number of formats. If the format is changed, for example because some other information is needed, the scanning device must be reprogrammed to extract this information.

In known techniques, special information may be added in the scanning procedure, the purpose of which is simply to inform the computer how to process the digital image file. When the digital image file is transmitted from the first user who acquired the image to the second user, the second user must analyze the digital image file. The first user may want to add extra information to the second user to indicate what the second user should do.
This kind of information is used when transmitting the digital image file to the second user.
The first user has to add in an additional step.

An object of the present invention (Summary of the invention) is to provide to remove the above problems, the possibility to conveniently enter special information about the digital image file when the image acquisition operations to the user .

This is achieved by providing a system according to claim 1 or by a method according to claim 9. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in claims 2-8 and claims 10-14.

A system is provided for connecting the image information acquisition means to a data network and transmitting the acquired image information as a digital image file to the data network. The system comprises an input device for inputting meta-information about a selected image, means for combining the meta-information about the selected image into the digital image file in connection with an image information acquisition operation, and the selected device. Means for transmitting the meta information about the image and the digital image file to the data network.

The image information acquisition means acquires image information in the image information acquisition operation. The operation thus obtains the image information of the selected image and provides the digital image file.

Meta information is special information about this image, its content, or any other information about this particular document. This meta-information is used by other users or devices, such as databases, file servers, computers, etc., to control how this digital image file is handled. Therefore, it is appropriate for the user transmitting the digital image file to add meta information to the file so that the file can be properly processed later. The meta information also simplifies the subsequent processing of the digital image file, allowing automatic processing without resource requirements without adding any new instructions to the digital image file.

The system allows a user to enter meta-information that is bound to a digital image file at the time and place of an image acquisition operation. No special effort is involved and data processing is reduced. If the user wants to transmit the document to a recipient who needs instructions on how to process the document, the user can perform image acquisition transmission and instruction in one step.

In a preferred embodiment, the system further comprises means for requesting the input of said meta-information according to the selected image.

As a result of this, the system knows what information is required when it is entered, so the system can easily interpret the meta information. Moreover, this is a great help to the user as he is informed what information is needed about the digital information file.

In another preferred embodiment, the system further comprises means for using a control file to dynamically control the request for meta information.

The information required by this system is thus easily modified in a number of ways to suit different image information or destination applications.

In yet another embodiment, the means for using a control file to dynamically control in response to an entered destination of a digital image file may require meta information according to the requirements of the entered destination. It is arranged.

The request for meta-information can be controlled in such a way that when a user enters a particular destination for a digital image file, an appropriate particular request is made to this destination.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the system further comprises means for controlling the format of the meta information transmitted to the data network.

By this, the file sent to the network is adapted to the destination, so that the user does not need to adapt the information format. The system may use some input information to determine in what format the meta information is transmitted.

The object of the invention is also achieved by a method of supplying a digital image file with meta-information, the digital image file comprising image information of a selected image, obtainable by an image information obtaining means, Requesting meta-information about the selected image in connection with the information acquisition operation, inputting the meta-information with an input device in response to the request, and digitally transmitting the meta-information about the selected image. Binding to an image file, and transmitting the meta-information about the selected image and the digital image file to the data network.

This method allows the user to enter meta information to be combined into a digital image file at the time and place of the image acquisition operation. No special effort is involved and data processing is reduced. A user who transmits a document to a recipient who needs instructions on how to process the document can perform image acquisition, transmission, and instruction in one step. Moreover, the advantage of requesting meta information is that the system does not have to worry about what kind of information is input, and that the user does not have to remember the order in which specific data is input.

[0024]   Preferably, the digital image file is acquired by the scanning device.

One scenario in which this is useful is that when a user scans a document with a scanning device such as a digital copier, scanner or MFP, the user can add some special information to the image. For example, when an invoice is scanned, the user can combine the invoice number and the last payment date with this image. This combined meta-information is then used by various applications such as accounting software or stored under a unique name in the database server.

In a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises using a control file to dynamically manage the request for this meta information.

This means that the user can be controlled to input the meta information required for the digital image file. Also, the request for information depends on what the user inputs. For example, a particular destination for a digital image file is entered by the user, and then an application at that destination is requested to modify the meta information.

In another preferred embodiment, the control file is editable by the administrator.

This means that an administrator can control the request for information in line with the request of an application or a person, for example. This allows any administrator to modify the request for information as appropriate for the data network.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the method further comprises controlling the format of the meta information transmitted to the data network.

This is advantageous because the information and digital image files can be adapted to suit the destination application, which is very different depending on whether the destination application is the recipient of the email or the database. Because there is a demand.

[0032]   Preferably, the method further comprises the step of validating the entered information.

As a result, the information is controlled so that it has the correct format. For example,
When a certain amount is requested, this verification ensures that the information entered is numeric.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a system 1 according to the present invention is connected to a network 2. The system 1 is a network document server (N
DS) 3, input device 4, and connection to image information acquisition means 5. The system further includes means for requesting information regarding image information. The image information acquisition means 5 is a scanner in most cases, but may be a digital copier, a fax machine, a digital camera or the like. The input device 4 is any type of input device, for example a keyboard or pen scanner, which can enter information by simply inserting data or selecting from the list presented on request. The means for requesting information is a display of any kind or a voice device for requesting information audibly.

The NDS 3 is the central part of the system 1 and connects the scanner to the data network 2. The NDS 3 can be an independent device embedded in the scanner 5 or located near the scanner 5. The NDS 3 includes a scanner 5 and an input device 4
Process the information received from it to further manage the transmission to the data network 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, the functions of NDS3 are described in detail. The NDS 3 receives the image information 6 from the image information acquisition means 4 in the form of a digital image file.

The control file 7 controls what data is entered in the meta information and also controls the interaction between the NDS 3 and the user. This control file 7 is FTP, H
Retrieved by NDS3 from TTP, database or native file server. The NDS 3 uses the parsing means 10 to parse the control file 7, verify it and generate an object model representation 8 of the control file 7. This object model representation 8 to NDS 3 requests meta information from the user 12. This meta information is additional information about the digital image file 6, for example to which destination it should be transmitted, what kind of information the digital image file 6 holds, how to interpret this information. For example, Kika.

Extensible Markup Language (XML) is used as the language to define the required meta information. The definition file 9 or XML schema is used, and the control file 7
Specifies the syntax of the format. The control file 7 is the definition file 9 or X.
It should follow the conventions defined in the ML schema. Definition file 9 or XM
The L schema is used for parsing and verifying the control file 7. The definition file 9 can describe not only a document but also a procedure and a flow using XML. This is used to allow a description of how the meta information entry process works for the user.

The system administrator can create or change the control file 7. Then download the control file 7 to NDS3 to request new meta information.
3 can be adapted. However, it is also possible to download the control file 7 directly from the destination selected by the user for the digital image file 6. This, of course, indicates that the selected destination holds the service that supplies the control file 7 to the NDS 3.

The object model representation 8 dynamically controls what information is requested.
Different meta information is required depending on what information is input by the user. This ensures that the meta information contains the information needed by the recipient of the digital image file 6. It also makes it possible to limit the meta-information to useful information. In the preferred embodiment, the information required depends on the destination selected for the digital image file 6. If some destinations are selected, meta information is required for all destinations. For different applications at multiple destinations, meta-information is transmitted in a format that allows the information to be modified for them. NDS3 can transmit all meta information of different sections to all destinations, making the meta information adaptable to different applications. Multiple destination applications read certain sections of relevant meta-information and ignore other sections.

The request is presented to the user by means 14 in order to request the input of meta-information. The input device 4 allows the user to input meta information. The NDS 3 receives the meta information and validates it with an input validator 16. This means checking that the correct type of information has been entered, eg a valid range value. The input of the meta information can be performed before, during or after the image acquisition. The system can also be designed to prevent image acquisition until the meta information has been entered.

The system administrator can also automatically add special meta information in the control file 7. This can be any kind of information that the NDS 3 can access without extensive processing, such as a time stamp for scanning, the size of the digital image file 6 or the name of the scanner 5 that produces the digital image file 6. .

When the NDS 3 receives the digital image file 6 and inputs all the meta information, the NDS 3 connects the meta information 18b to the digital image file 18a. The meta information 18b can be embedded in the same file as the digital image file 18a, which is shown as 18 in FIG.
It may be in a file independent of 8a. If the meta information 18b is in a separate file, it is preferably supplemented with a pointer to the image file.

The NDS 3 transmits the digital image file 18 a and the meta information 18 b to the selected destination on the data network 2. This destination is not necessarily the same for the digital image file 18a and the meta information 18b, the digital image file 18a is transmitted to some catalog, for example on a file server, while the meta information 18b is for other files on other file servers. Can be transmitted to the catalog.

The components shown as internal NDS components in FIG. 2 may be external components that are accessed on the network when needed.

A process using the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In step 101, the administrator writes the control file 7, and in step 102, the administrator puts the control file 7 on the server. In order to search the control file 7 in step 103, the administrator ND
Configure S3. Then in step 104 NDS 3 retrieves the control file. The control file 7 is then processed by the NDS 3 in step 105. During this process, the control file 7 is parsed and verified, and if the control file 7 is incorrect, error information is sent to the administrator interface in step 106 and the control file 7 is ignored. The administrator corrects the control file in step 107, and the process returns to step 102.

If it is determined in step 105 that the control file 7 is correct, the control file 7 is N
It can be used to control the request for meta information in DS3. In connection with the image information absorption operation, the user is then required to enter the meta information. The required information is prompted on the NDS display in step 108. If the user enters a value in step 109, this value will be
0 is checked according to the specifications of the control file 7. If this value is not correct, the process returns to step 108.

If the correct value is entered in step 110, the control file 7 is entered in step 111.
NDS3 checks if more information should be requested according to. If so, the process returns to step 108, otherwise in step 112 an output file containing the meta information is generated. Some special meta information can be automatically added to the output file. This is a time stamp for scanning, digital image file 6
, Or the name of the scanner 5 that generated the digital image file 6, which is information that the NDS 3 can access without extensive processing. The control file 7 holds the format specification of the output file corresponding to the format required by the destination of the output file. The output file is then sent to the destination in step 113.

Finally in step 114 it is checked whether the meta information and the digital image file should be sent to a further destination. If so, NDS3 can be restarted at step 108 and designed to prompt the user for the information needed for this destination. Alternatively, NDS3 may first request all the information for all the destinations and then transmit the meta information to the destinations. If so, NDS3 creates a new output file for the next destination in step 112. Then, an output file is prepared corresponding to the destination application. In step 114,
If there are no further destinations, the process is complete.

Specific applications of the present invention are described below. This application is
It is an example of how this system can be used and how it relates to invoice processing. Many different people within a company can receive invoices. However, all invoices are processed by the same department or by accounting software. When a person receives an invoice, it is sent to the invoice handler. The invoice handler wants to receive specific information about the invoice to avoid further analysis of this invoice. This information may be an invoice number, a payment description and the name of the orderer.

The system administrator designs the control file of the system according to the present invention so that when the invoice handler is selected as the destination of the scanned document, the user will be required to provide the specific information required by the invoice handler. . The administrator gives an attribute of information as to whether certain information is requested, optional, or confidential. If this information is requested, the user must enter it so that they can send the document. On the other hand, if this information is optional, entering the information is optional for the user. If this information is confidential, the user does not understand that this information has been added, so it is automatically acquired. In addition, the administrator sets a pattern that checks the lexical correctness of the entered value. In this case, the invoice number is set with a five digit number, the payment description is set with a date in the format DD / MM / YYYY, and the name of the orderer can be set with free text.

The person receiving the invoice scans the invoice with a scanning device equipped in the system according to the invention and transmits the scanned document to the invoice handler. At the time of scanning, this person is asked for meta information about this invoice. When the person enters the invoice handler as the destination for the scanned document, the dynamic control of the request ensures that the person is prompted for the specific information the invoice handler needs. Once all the required information has been entered, the scanned document will be sent to the destination along with the meta information. The recipient will then have all the information needed for further processing of this document.

It should be emphasized that the preferred embodiments described herein are not limiting in any way and that many alternative embodiments are possible within the scope of protection defined in the appended claims. Is. For example, languages other than XML can be used to define the required information.

[Brief description of drawings]

  The invention has been described in detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a data network having various applications including a system according to the present invention.

[Fig. 2]   1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a system according to the invention.

[Figure 3]   3 is a schematic diagram of a work procedure according to the present invention.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (81) Designated countries EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, I T, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE, TR), OA (BF , BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, G M, KE, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ , UG, ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AE, AG, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, B Z, CA, CH, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE , DK, DM, DZ, EC, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, I N, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC , LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MZ, NO, NZ, P L, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK , SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW (72) Inventor Johansson, Christophel             Sigtunagata, Malmo, Sweden             4 (72) Inventor Berglen, Peter             Sofiave, Lund, Sweden             Gen 1 A (72) Inventor Olson, Wolf             Malmo, Sweden             Nkarsugatan 7 F-term (reference) 5B082 AA13 EA01                 5C062 AA05 AA14 AA29 AA35 AB17                       AB20 AB38 AB42 AC02 AC22                       AC35 AF00

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A system for connecting image information acquisition means to a data network and transmitting the acquired information as a digital image file to the data network, wherein meta-information regarding a selected image is input. An input device, the meta information about the selected image to the digital image file,
Means for connecting in connection with an image information acquisition operation, the meta information about the selected image and the digital image file,
Means for transmitting to the data network; 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said image information acquisition means comprises a scanning device. 3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for requesting the input of the meta-information according to a selected image. 4. The system of claim 3, further comprising means for using a control file to dynamically control the request for the meta information. 5. The means for using a control file to dynamically control in response to an input destination for the digital image file requests meta-information according to the requirements of the input destination. The system of claim 4, wherein the system is: 6. The system according to any of claims 1 to 5, further comprising means for controlling the format of the meta information transmitted to the data network. 7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the input device is a keyboard. 8. The system according to claim 3, further comprising means for displaying requests. 9. A method of supplying a digital image file having meta-information, wherein the digital image file contains image information of selected information and is obtained by an image information obtaining means to obtain one image information obtaining operation. Relatedly, a step of requesting meta information about the selected image, a step of inputting the meta information by an input device in response to the request, a step of inputting the meta information about the selected image to the digital image The method comprising the steps of binding to a file and transmitting the meta-information about the selected image and the digital image file to the data network. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the digital image file is acquired by a scanning device. 11. The method of claim 9 or 10, further comprising using a control file to dynamically control the request for the meta information. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the control file can be edited by an administrator. 13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising controlling the format of the meta information transmitted to the data network. 14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of validating the input information.