JP2005107690A - Document managing device, its control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a document management device capable of reading a plurality of documents at a time and efficiently performing operations on the read document images for a plurality of electronic documents, its control method, and a program. <P>SOLUTION: A reader part 101 reads a plurality of documents to which documents IDs are added, and an image input/output control part 104 extracts the document IDs in the plurality of document images read. The electronic documents, matching the document IDs extracted, are retrieved by a reading means in the same order that the documents are read. A list of retrieval results for the electronic documents is outputted to the display part of an operating part 103, in the order that they are read. The operating part 103 is used to input operational instructions for operations on the list of retrieval results outputted. Based on the operating instructions inputted, the operations for the electronic documents, matching document information shown by the list of retrieval results, are executed in batch. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a document management apparatus that manages an electronic document by a unique document ID that identifies the electronic document, a control method thereof, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, with the development of computer technology, electronic documents obtained by converting paper documents into electronic information have been frequently handled in business, instead of paper documents.

  An electronic document is created on a personal computer workstation, and editing, deletion, and the like are performed in the computer.

  A document database is used to manage these electronic documents in the office. In addition, for electronic documents managed in the document database, management such as sharing of electronic documents, security improvement by setting a password for the electronic document, history management of electronic documents, and the like is performed.

  In contrast to the advantages of electronic documents, paper documents have high readability, and there are many opportunities to generate and use paper documents by printing them with a printer.

  In addition, there are increasing opportunities to digitize printed documents and handwritten documents again using a scanner, a digital camera, or the like.

  Thus, in offices, the integration of paper documents and electronic documents is progressing.

  In such a situation, when a paper document is printed in order to take a correspondence between the paper document and the electronic document, an electronic document storage location (for example, a storage address of a document management database) is added, and the paper document is There is a system for accessing electronic documents.

As an example of this, Patent Document 1 proposes a method for searching for an electronic document by printing an ID mark for specifying the electronic document at a corner of a paper document and reading it with a scanner.
JP-A-10-308868

  However, in the conventional document management system, when a document is operated, there are many cases where a plurality of documents are processed at once. For example, a plurality of electronic documents scattered in the document management database are duplicated in one place of the database, or the plurality of electronic documents are rearranged in order and collected as one electronic document. In particular, with regard to the combination of electronic documents, the combination order is important.

  In Patent Document 1 described above, an electronic document can be accessed from a paper document. However, when an operation on a plurality of electronic documents is realized, a plurality of operations are performed for the first time by repeating the operation on the one electronic document. Therefore, there is a problem with the operability of document editing.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a document management apparatus capable of reading a plurality of originals at a time and efficiently performing operations on the plurality of electronic documents on the read original images, and a control thereof. The object is to provide a method and a program.

In order to achieve the above object, a document management apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
A document management apparatus that manages an electronic document with a unique document ID that identifies the electronic document,
Reading means for reading a plurality of documents with the document ID added thereto;
Extracting means for extracting each document ID in a plurality of document images read by the reading means;
Search means for searching for an electronic document corresponding to the document ID extracted by the extraction means in the reading order in which the reading means reads the original;
Output means for outputting a search result list of electronic documents to the display unit in the search order searched by the search means;
Input means for inputting operation instructions for the search result list output by the output means;
And executing means for collectively executing electronic document operations corresponding to the document information indicated in the search result list based on operation instructions input by the input means.

  Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes storage means for storing a database for managing the electronic document.

  Preferably, the operation includes at least one of combining, deleting, moving, copying, printing, transmitting, and rereading a document read by the reading unit.

  Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes setting means for setting the order of the document information shown in the search result list.

  Preferably, when the operation instruction is a combination of electronic documents, the execution unit generates a new electronic document by combining electronic documents corresponding to the document information indicated in the search result list. .

  Preferably, when the operation instruction is deletion of an electronic document, the execution unit deletes the electronic documents corresponding to the document information indicated in the search result list in a batch.

  Preferably, when the operation instruction is movement of an electronic document, the execution unit moves the electronic documents corresponding to the document information indicated in the search result list to a destination.

  Preferably, when the operation instruction is a copy of an electronic document, the execution means collectively copies the electronic document corresponding to the document information indicated in the search result list to a copy destination.

Preferably, the apparatus further includes a printer unit that prints an image based on the electronic document.
When the operation instruction is printing of an electronic document, the execution unit prints the electronic document corresponding to the document information indicated in the search result list collectively with the printer unit.

  Preferably, when the operation instruction is transmission of an electronic document, the execution unit transmits the electronic documents corresponding to the document information indicated in the search result list in a batch.

  Preferably, when an electronic document to be searched by the search means is not searched, the output means registers information indicating that in the search result list as a search result of the electronic document.

In order to achieve the above object, a method for controlling a document management apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
A control method of a document management apparatus that manages an electronic document by a unique document ID that identifies the electronic document,
A reading step of reading a plurality of documents with the document ID added thereto;
An extraction step of extracting each document ID in the plurality of document images read in the reading step;
A search step of searching for an electronic document corresponding to the document ID extracted in the extraction step in the reading order in which the original is read in the reading step;
An output step of outputting a search result list of electronic documents to the display unit in the search order searched in the search step;
An input step of inputting an operation instruction for an operation on the search result list output in the output step;
An execution step of collectively executing operations on electronic documents corresponding to the document information indicated in the search result list based on the operation instruction input in the input step.

In order to achieve the above object, a program according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
A program that realizes control of a document management apparatus that manages an electronic document with a unique document ID that identifies the electronic document,
A program code of a reading process for reading a plurality of documents with the document ID added thereto;
A program code of an extraction step for extracting each document ID in a plurality of document images read in the reading step;
A search process program code for searching an electronic document corresponding to the document ID extracted in the extraction process in the reading order in which the original is read in the reading process;
A program code of an output process for outputting a search result list of electronic documents to a display unit in a search order searched in the search process;
A program code of an input process for inputting an operation instruction for an operation on the search result list output in the output process;
And a program code of an execution step that collectively executes electronic document operations corresponding to the document information indicated in the search result list based on the operation instruction input in the input step.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a document management apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program that can read a plurality of originals at a time and efficiently perform operations on the plurality of electronic documents on the read original images.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The document management system of the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of databases connected via a network, or may be applied to a document management system provided on a storage function in one device.

  Further, the present invention can be implemented by reading the system or apparatus from a computer-readable storage medium such as a ROM storing a program for realizing this.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a document management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a reader unit 101 reads a document image and outputs image data corresponding to the document image to the image input / output control unit 103.

  The printer unit 102 records an image corresponding to the image data from the image input / output control unit 104 on a recording sheet.

  The operation unit 103 includes a touch panel display and hard keys, and can perform operation instructions, operation settings, and the like to the document management system by accepting operations from the user.

  The image input / output control unit 104 is connected to the reader unit 101, the printer unit 102, and the operation unit 103, and includes a core unit 105, a barcode recognition unit 106, a storage unit 107, a facsimile unit 109, and a network interface unit 110. The

  The core unit 105 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. The core unit 105 controls the entire image input / output control unit 104, and also includes a reader unit 101, a printer unit 102, a facsimile unit 109, a storage unit 107, a network interface unit 110, a bar Data transmission / reception between the code recognition unit 106 and the operation unit 103 is controlled.

  Note that the ROM in the core unit 105 stores various programs including a program for realizing a flowchart described later. The RAM of the core unit 105 functions as a data work area and a temporary save area.

  The barcode recognition unit 106 analyzes image data of a two-dimensional barcode described later.

  The storage unit 107 manages electronic documents as a database. The electronic document indicates a storage location thereof, and a unique document ID (identification information) that identifies the electronic document is assigned. When the document ID is determined, the electronic document is determined. A hard disk 108 is connected to the storage unit 107, and the storage unit 107 stores the electronic document transferred from the core unit 105 in the hard disk 108 together with a document ID for searching for the electronic document.

  Further, the storage unit 107 searches the electronic document stored in the hard disk 108 based on the document ID transferred via the core unit 105, reads the searched document data, and transfers it to the core unit 105. In addition, the storage unit 107 can communicate with the external database 112 via the network interface unit 110 and refer to electronic documents managed by the external database 112.

  The facsimile unit 109 decompresses the compressed image data received via the telephone line and transfers the decompressed image data to the core unit 105 or compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 105 to compress the image data. The compressed image data is transmitted via a telephone line.

  The network interface unit 110 is an interface between the personal computer or workstation (PC / WS) 111 or the external database 112 and the core unit 105.

  The network connecting the image input / output control unit 104, the PC / WS 111 and the external database 112 is typically the Internet, LAN, WAN, telephone line, dedicated digital line, ATM, frame relay line, communication satellite line. It is a so-called communication network realized by any one of a cable TV line, a data broadcasting radio line, or a combination thereof, and it is only required to be able to transmit and receive data.

  The PC / WS 111 has standard components (for example, CPU, RAM, ROM, hard disk, external storage device, network interface, display, keyboard, mouse, etc.) mounted on a general-purpose computer. The above functions are realized by elements.

  Furthermore, the printer unit 102 adopts, for example, a laser beam method as its printing method, but it is also possible to adopt various printing methods such as an inkjet method and a thermal transfer method.

  Next, an example of a paper document with a document ID for searching for searching for an electronic document from a database used in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a paper document with a document ID for search according to the embodiment of this invention.

  An image 201 is obtained by printing an electronic document registered in the document management system. Further, the document ID that identifies the electronic document and indicates the storage destination is converted into image data as a two-dimensional barcode 202 (for example, QR code), and is printed at the lower right of the image 201.

  The document ID is not limited to a two-dimensional barcode, and may be a barcode, for example. Furthermore, as long as it can be printed or embedded together with the image 201 on a print medium including paper, it is not limited to a barcode, and may be, for example, an IC chip (for example, μ chip) or digital watermark information.

  Also, the paper document with a document ID for search is used for the electronic document to be printed when the user is instructed to add the document ID when printing the electronic document registered in the document management system. It is assumed that the document ID of the electronic document is synthesized and output as an image.

  Next, processing executed by the document management system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the document management system according to the embodiment of this invention.

  In FIG. 3, particularly, a description will be given of processing when the user performs a plurality of electronic document operations collectively using a plurality of paper documents with document IDs for search.

  In executing the processing of FIG. 3, the document management system performs personal authentication for the user. Here, there are a large number of methods for personal authentication, including methods already known, and they are not the gist of the present invention, so they are omitted. When the personal authentication is completed and the user is permitted to log in to the document management system, the user places a plurality of paper documents with document IDs to be operated on the reader unit 101. When a search instruction for a search using a paper document with a document ID is input from the operation unit 103 by the user, the document management system starts the process of FIG.

  First, in step S301, the document management system detects a document (paper document with a document ID) placed on the reader unit 101. At this time, when the document is placed on an auto document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF), the reader unit 101 detects the document by using the document detection information of the ADF. On the other hand, when the document is placed on the pressure plate, the reader unit 101 can detect the document by confirming from the operation unit 103 to the user whether there is a document that has not yet been read. it can.

  In step S302, it is determined whether a document is detected. If a document is detected (YES in step S302), the process proceeds to step S303. On the other hand, if no document is detected (NO in step S302), it is determined that reading of the paper document with the document ID has been completed, and the process advances to step S312.

  In step S303, the document ID on the paper document with the document ID is read. Details of the processing in step S303 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing details of the process in step S303 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, in step S401, the reader unit 101 is used to read only one original as image data.

  Next, in step S402, a two-dimensional barcode image is extracted from the read image data.

  Next, in step S403, it is determined whether or not a two-dimensional barcode image can be extracted. If the two-dimensional barcode image cannot be extracted (NO in step S403), the process proceeds to step S407. If a two-dimensional barcode image has been extracted (YES in step S403), the process proceeds to step S404.

  In step S404, the barcode recognition unit 106 analyzes the extracted two-dimensional barcode image, and obtains a document ID from the two-dimensional barcode image.

  In step S405, it is determined whether the document ID can be acquired. If the document ID can be acquired (YES in step S405), the process proceeds to step S406. On the other hand, if the document ID cannot be acquired (NO in step S405), the process proceeds to step S407.

  In step S406, a document ID is set as a processing result.

  On the other hand, in step S407, information indicating the reason why the process failed in step S403 or step S405 is set as a processing result.

  The above is the details of a series of processes for reading the document ID from the paper document with the document ID in step S303.

  If the document ID is successfully read as the processing result in step S303, the document ID becomes the processing result. If the document ID fails, information indicating the reason for the failure becomes the processing result.

  Returning to the description of FIG.

  Next, in step S304, whether or not the document ID can be acquired is determined based on the processing result in step S303. If the document ID can be acquired (YES in step S304), the process proceeds to step S305. On the other hand, if the document ID cannot be acquired (NO in step S304), the process proceeds to step S311.

  In step S305, the storage unit 107 is used to search for an electronic document having the acquired document ID. At this time, if an electronic document corresponding to the document ID exists in the in-device hard disk 108, the hard disk 108 is searched. On the other hand, when a document corresponding to the document ID exists in the external database 112, the storage unit 107 accesses the external database 112 via the network interface unit 110 and searches for an electronic document.

  Next, in step S306, it is determined whether or not there is an electronic document for the document ID.

  Normally, if the document ID can be acquired, the electronic document is determined. However, after printing a paper document with the document ID using the electronic document in the database, the electronic document is deleted, moved, or the like. If done, electronic documents may not be searched. Alternatively, the electronic document may not be searched even when the electronic document to be searched exists in the external database 112 on the network and the network cannot be used for some reason (traffic load, physical disconnection). For this reason, the determination here is executed to confirm whether or not a corresponding electronic document actually exists even though the document ID has been acquired.

  If the electronic document is not searched in step S306 (NO in step S306), the process proceeds to step S311. On the other hand, if an electronic document has been searched (YES in step S306), the process proceeds to step S307.

  Next, in step S307, an access right for the retrieved electronic document is acquired. At this time, the access right is confirmed using the personal authentication information input by the user.

  Next, in step S308, it is determined whether there is an access right for the retrieved electronic document. If the logged-in user has access rights to the electronic document (YES in step S308), the process proceeds to step S309. On the other hand, if there is no access right (NO in step S308), the process proceeds to step S311.

  In step S309, document information for the retrieved electronic document is acquired. Here, the document information is bibliographic information about the electronic document such as the document name of the electronic document, the thumbnail image of the electronic document, the creation date, and the size, and is a group of information displayed to the user as a search result. The document information is managed on the database together with the image data and document ID of the electronic document.

  In step S310, the document information acquired in step S309 is added to the search result list indicating the search result list. Then, in order to read the next document, the process returns to step S301, and the processing from step S301 to step S310 is repeated until there is no more document.

  On the other hand, in step S311, in step S304, step S306, or step S308, error information indicating that the process has failed is added to the search result list.

  Note that this error information cannot be acquired when the process fails in step S304, and therefore error information indicating that (for example, “Document ID cannot be acquired” as a message). Is generated. If the process fails in step S306, the document ID was acquired, but the corresponding electronic document could not be searched. Error information indicating that (for example, a message “Document not found. N ”). Further, if the process fails in step S308, the document ID and the electronic document corresponding to the document ID can be searched, but the access right is not available. Therefore, error information (for example, “access right” is displayed as a message). Is not ").

  As described above, each time the processing from step S301 to step S311 is repeated, document information or error information is sequentially added to the search result list.

  If there is no paper document on the ADF, or if the user instructs that all the documents have been read, it is determined in step S302 that there is no document, and the process moves to step S312 to use the reader unit 101. The search ends.

  Next, in step S312, a search result list that is a search result obtained by repeating steps S301 to S310 is notified (output) to the user using the operation unit 103. Here, an example of the search result list will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a search result list according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The search result list shown in FIG. 6 displays the search results in the reading order of the originals in the process of FIG. The search result list shown in FIG. 6 shows a list composed of a number indicating the reading order of the original, the document name of the electronic document corresponding to the read original, the document ID, the position (storage location) of the document, the update date and time, and the size. However, this configuration is not limited to this, and for example, a thumbnail image of an electronic document may be configured.

  Further, as described above, in step S311 in FIG. 3, when the electronic document is not searched, error information indicating that fact is registered in the search result list. In particular, in FIG. 6, the record of number 3 is an example of displaying error information as error information when an electronic document is not searched. In this case, since the electronic document is not searched, the position, update date / time, and size of the document that is the document information of the electronic document are not displayed.

  Returning to the description of FIG.

  Next, in step S 313, operation instructions for a plurality of searched electronic documents are received using the operation unit 103. The input of the operation instruction can be realized through an operation menu provided on the touch panel of the operation unit 103, for example.

  Next, in step S314, it is determined whether or not the operation instruction received in step S313 is an operation end. If the operation has ended (YES in step S314), the process ends. On the other hand, when the operation is not finished (NO in step S314), the process proceeds to step S315.

  Next, in step S315, an operation corresponding to the operation instruction received from the user in step S313 is executed.

  Here, details of the processing in step S315 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of the processing in step S315 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 5, examples of operations for a plurality of electronic documents are described by combining, deleting, moving, copying, printing, transmitting, and re-reading electronic documents. However, the types of operations are not limited thereto. Needless to say, various operations can be realized depending on the application and purpose. In particular, the document management system according to the present embodiment can be realized as, for example, a multifunction peripheral (or copier) having a copy function, a scanner function, and a printer function. Can be realized. For example, in the duplication function, the settings include the duplication size, the number of duplications, scaling (enlargement / reduction) duplication, etc., and operations for these settings are also included in the present invention.

  In step S501, it is determined whether or not the operation instruction received in step S313 is an electronic document combining operation. If the operation instruction is a join operation (YES in step S501), the process proceeds to step S502.

  In step S502, the combination order is set. Here, in the initial state, the merge order of the electronic documents is the record order of the search result list. When combining in the record order, it is not particularly necessary to set the merge order, and the merge order is the merge order. Will be. On the other hand, when it is desired to set a join order different from the record order, setting (change) of the join order is accepted via the search result list on the operation unit 103.

  Note that the method for setting the combination order is not particularly limited. For example, when the operation unit 103 is configured with a touch panel, records to be processed are sequentially selected, and the number of the record is set as desired. By setting the number, it is possible to set the combination order.

  In step S503, the electronic documents are combined in the combination order set in step S502, and the user inputs the electronic document name after combining through the operation unit 103, and the storage location is input to the user. Save the combined document as a new electronic document in the input storage location. At this time, it is also possible to print the combined document, which is the combined result, using the printing unit 102 or to transmit using the facsimile unit 109 or the network interface unit 110.

  On the other hand, if the operation instruction is not a join operation (NO in step S501), the process advances to step S504 to determine whether or not the operation instruction is an electronic document deletion operation. If the operation instruction is a delete operation (YES in step S504), the process proceeds to step S505.

  In step S505, the electronic documents on the search result list are collectively deleted. When this deletion operation is executed, the electronic document to be deleted is deleted and the document information is also deleted.

  On the other hand, if the operation instruction is not a deletion operation (NO in step S504), the process advances to step S506 to determine whether the operation instruction is an electronic document moving operation. If the operation instruction is a move operation (YES in step S506), the process proceeds to step S507.

  In step S507, the user inputs the destination of the electronic document on the search result list via the operation unit 103, and the electronic documents are collectively moved to the input destination. When this movement operation is executed, the position of the document in the document information of the electronic document to be moved is updated to the movement destination.

  On the other hand, if the operation instruction is not a moving operation (NO in step S506), the process advances to step S508 to determine whether or not the operation instruction is an electronic document duplication operation. If the operation instruction is a duplication operation (YES in step S508), the process advances to step S509.

  In step S509, the copy destination of the electronic document on the search result list is input by the user via the operation unit 103, and the electronic document is collectively copied to the input copy destination. When this duplication operation is executed, the document information and document ID of the electronic document to be duplicated are newly generated.

  On the other hand, if the operation instruction is not a duplication operation (NO in step S508), the process advances to step S510 to determine whether the operation instruction is an electronic document printing operation. If the operation instruction is a printing operation (YES in step S510), the process proceeds to step S511.

  In step S511, the print order is set in the same procedure as in step S502. In addition to the setting of the printing order, it goes without saying that the printing mode (for example, color / monochrome, scaling (enlargement / reduction), number of copies, etc.) is set via the operation unit 103. Here, in the initial state, the print order of the electronic document is the record order of the search result list. When printing in the record order, it is not particularly necessary to set the print order, and the print order is printed. Will be. On the other hand, when it is desired to set a print order different from the record order, the setting (change) of the print order is accepted via the search result list on the operation unit 103.

  The print order setting method is not particularly limited, as is the case with the combination order setting method. For example, when the operation unit 103 is configured with a touch panel, the records to be processed are sequentially selected. The printing order can be set by setting the number of the record to a desired number.

  In step S512, the electronic document is printed using the printing unit 102 in the printing order set in step S511. At this time, it is possible to simultaneously set the printing style or print with the print settings set for each electronic document.

  On the other hand, if the operation instruction is not a print operation (NO in step S510), the process advances to step S513 to determine whether or not the operation instruction is an electronic document transmission operation. If the operation instruction is a transmission operation (YES in step S513), the process proceeds to step S514.

  In step S514, the transmission order is set in the same procedure as in step S502. Needless to say, in addition to the setting of the transmission order, setting of a transmission destination and setting of a transmission form (for example, facsimile transmission or data transmission via a network) are performed via the operation unit 103.

  Here, in the initial state, the transmission order of the electronic document is the record order of the search result list. When sending in the record order, it is not necessary to set the transmission order, and printing is performed in the transmission order. Will be. On the other hand, when it is desired to set a transmission order different from the record order, the setting (change) of the transmission order is accepted via the search result list on the operation unit 103.

  Note that the transmission order setting method is not particularly limited as is the case with the combination order setting method. For example, when the operation unit 103 is configured with a touch panel, the records to be processed are sequentially selected. The transmission order can be set by setting the number of the record to a desired number.

  In step S515, the electronic document is transmitted to the designated transmission destination using the facsimile unit 109 or the network interface unit 110 in the transmission order set in step S514.

  On the other hand, if the operation instruction is not a transmission operation (NO in step S513), the process advances to step S516 to determine whether or not the operation instruction is a document re-reading operation. If the operation instruction is a re-read operation (YES in step S516), the process proceeds to step S517.

  This re-reading operation is performed as error information on the search result list, in particular, in order to retrieve a document ID when the document ID cannot be obtained again, obtain the document ID, and retrieve the corresponding electronic document. Operation.

  In step S517, when the document on which the document ID could not be acquired is placed again on the reader unit 103 and a search is input from the operation unit 103, the user executes the processing of steps S301 to S311 in FIG. To do. Here, when this re-reading operation is executed, a record having error information that does not have a document ID is deleted from the search result list, and steps S301 to S311 in FIG. 3 are performed on the document placed on the reader unit 103. Each time is executed, the processing result is added to the search result list. As a result, in the first search process, only the original corresponding to the electronic document that could not be searched can be read again, and the target electronic document can be re-searched.

  On the other hand, if the operation instruction is not a re-read operation (NO in step S516), the process ends.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the document management system that manages an electronic document, various operations on a plurality of electronic documents managed therein are performed using a paper document corresponding to the electronic document. It can be easily executed in a batch.

  In addition, by simultaneously reading a plurality of paper documents with document IDs, it is possible to operate the electronic documents corresponding to the paper documents in the reading order with respect to the plurality of electronic documents corresponding to the plurality of document IDs. Accordingly, the user reads a paper document with a document ID in a desired order, thereby performing a desired operation (for example, combining, sending, printing, etc.) on the electronic document in the document management system in the desired order. It becomes possible to execute.

  When the operation for a plurality of electronic documents is printing, the user can acquire a paper document with a document ID on the spot.

  Further, when the operation for a plurality of electronic documents is transmission (particularly, facsimile transmission), the user can distribute a paper document with a document ID to a remote place to a remote party.

  In addition, even when a large number of paper documents with document IDs are read and the reading order is wrong and an electronic document is searched in an unintended order, the electronic document is changed to the intended order directly. Therefore, the trouble of reading the paper document again in the intended order can be omitted.

  Further, when reading of the document ID fails, only the paper document with the document ID that failed to be read can be read again and the reading of the document ID can be attempted, so that all the paper documents to be processed are read again. Time and effort can be reduced.

  Note that when the document management system of the present embodiment is realized as a multifunction machine having a copy function, a scanner function, and a printer function, the reader unit 101 assumes the scanner function in the multifunction machine. In this case, the system is made compact. Can be built.

  In this embodiment, the case where a paper document with a document ID is read as an original has been described as an example. However, the original is not limited to paper, and document IDs such as cloth, plastic film, and metal plate are widely used. Any print medium that can be printed or embedded and can be read by the reader unit 100 may be used.

  Although the embodiments have been described in detail above, the present invention can take an embodiment as, for example, a system, an apparatus, a method, a program, or a storage medium, and specifically includes a plurality of devices. The present invention may be applied to a system that is configured, or may be applied to an apparatus that includes a single device.

  In the present invention, a software program (in the embodiment, a program corresponding to the flowchart shown in the figure) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment is directly or remotely supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer of the system or apparatus Is also achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, or the like.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R) and the like.

  As another program supply method, a client computer browser is used to connect to an Internet homepage, and the computer program of the present invention itself or a compressed file including an automatic installation function is downloaded from the homepage to a recording medium such as a hard disk. Can also be supplied. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.

  In addition to the functions of the above-described embodiments being realized by the computer executing the read program, the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program is a part of the actual processing. Alternatively, the functions of the above-described embodiment can be realized by performing all of them and performing the processing.

  Furthermore, after the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or The CPU or the like provided in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the document management system of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the paper document with document ID for a search of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process which the document management system of embodiment of this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of a process of step S303 of Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the process of step S315 of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the search result list | wrist of embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Reader part 102 Printer part 103 Operation part 104 Image input / output device 105 Core part 106 Bar code recognition part 107 Storage part 108 Hard disk 109 Facsimile part 110 Network interface part 111 PC / WS
112 External database

Claims (13)

A document management apparatus that manages an electronic document with a unique document ID that identifies the electronic document,
Reading means for reading a plurality of documents with the document ID added thereto;
Extracting means for extracting each document ID in a plurality of document images read by the reading means;
Search means for searching for an electronic document corresponding to the document ID extracted by the extraction means in the reading order in which the reading means reads the original;
Output means for outputting a search result list of electronic documents to the display unit in the search order searched by the search means;
Input means for inputting operation instructions for the search result list output by the output means;
A document management apparatus comprising: an execution unit that collectively executes electronic document operations corresponding to the document information indicated in the search result list based on an operation instruction input by the input unit. The document management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores a database that manages the electronic document. The document management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation includes at least one of combining, deleting, moving, copying, printing, transmitting, and rereading an original document read by the reading unit. The document management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit that sets an order of document information indicated in the search result list. When the operation instruction is a combination of electronic documents, the execution unit generates a new electronic document by combining electronic documents corresponding to document information indicated in the search result list. The document management apparatus according to claim 1. 2. The document according to claim 1, wherein when the operation instruction is deletion of an electronic document, the execution unit collectively deletes the electronic documents corresponding to the document information indicated in the search result list. Management device. The said execution means moves the electronic document corresponding to the document information shown by the said search result list to a movement destination collectively, when the said operation instruction | indication is a movement of an electronic document. The document management apparatus described. The said execution means copies the electronic document corresponding to the document information shown by the said search result list collectively to a replication destination when the said operation instruction | indication is a replication of an electronic document. The document management apparatus described. A printer unit for printing an image based on the electronic document;
The said execution means prints the electronic document corresponding to the document information shown by the said search result list collectively by the said printer part when the said operation instruction | indication is printing of an electronic document. Document management device described in 1. 2. The document according to claim 1, wherein when the operation instruction is transmission of an electronic document, the execution unit transmits the electronic document corresponding to the document information indicated in the search result list in a batch. Management device. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein when the electronic document to be searched by the search unit is not searched, the output unit registers information indicating the fact as a search result of the electronic document in the search result list. Document management device. A control method of a document management apparatus that manages an electronic document by a unique document ID that identifies the electronic document,
A reading step of reading a plurality of documents with the document ID added thereto;
An extraction step of extracting each document ID in the plurality of document images read in the reading step;
A search step of searching for an electronic document corresponding to the document ID extracted in the extraction step in the reading order in which the original is read in the reading step;
An output step of outputting a search result list of electronic documents to the display unit in the search order searched in the search step;
An input step of inputting an operation instruction for an operation on the search result list output in the output step;
A document management apparatus comprising: an execution step of collectively executing electronic document operations corresponding to the document information indicated in the search result list based on the operation instruction input in the input step Method. A program that realizes control of a document management apparatus that manages an electronic document with a unique document ID that identifies the electronic document,
A program code of a reading process for reading a plurality of documents with the document ID added thereto;
A program code of an extraction step for extracting each document ID in a plurality of document images read in the reading step;
A search process program code for searching an electronic document corresponding to the document ID extracted in the extraction process in the reading order in which the original is read in the reading process;
A program code of an output process for outputting a search result list of electronic documents to a display unit in a search order searched in the search process;
A program code of an input process for inputting an operation instruction for an operation on the search result list output in the output process;
And a program code of an execution step that collectively executes electronic document operations corresponding to the document information indicated in the search result list based on the operation instruction input in the input step.

Images