JP2005122324A - Apparatus, method, and program for document electronization, and document electronization system equipped with same apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus, a method, and a program for document electronization that can securely classify images of documents, and a document electronization system equipped with the same apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: A document electronization server 4 acquires a PDF file from a folder after OCR processing and extracts a document management number as a file name from the acquired PDF file; when document property data including the same document management number as the extracted document management number are registered in a registered slip DB, the document electronization server 4 acquires specified data of a document kind, a comment, a manager code, etc., among the document property data registered in the registered slip DB, imparts the acquired specified data to properties including the file size and the number of pages of the PDF file, and retrieves a folder to be stored with the PDF file from storage-destination folders in another root directory on the document electronization server 4 according to the acquired manager code to move the PDF file to the corresponding folder. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document digitizing apparatus, method, program, and document digitizing system including the apparatus, and in particular, a document for classifying digitized files created by digitizing images of a plurality of documents by an image reading apparatus. The present invention relates to an electronic device, a method, a program, and a document electronic system including the device.

  In a conventional document digitization system, an image reading device such as a scanner or a multi-function device reads an image of a paper document, PDF (Portable Document Format), JPEG (Joint Photographic Exports group), TIFF (Tagged Image File Format), An electronic file is created by digitizing an image in a file format such as Multi-TIFF. Further, if an image reading apparatus having an ADF function (automatic document feeding function) is used, images of a plurality of paper documents can be digitized at once.

  However, if a paper document is only digitized as image data, automatic character search or the like cannot be performed on the image data. Therefore, it is necessary to visually search desired character information from the created digitized file.

  Therefore, by applying OCR (Optical Character Reader) processing when digitizing paper documents, enabling automatic character search within the digitized file, or adding document attribute information to the digitized file, A method for facilitating file classification work with reference to the document attribute information is conceivable.

  As an example of the above method, the document attribute extraction sheet for designating the item of the document attribute information to be added to the digitized file is used as a cover of the paper document, and is read by the image reading device, so that it is described in the paper document itself. A technique has been proposed in which document attribute information is read and the document attribute information is added to an electronic file (for example, Patent Document 1).

According to this technique, the user assigns document attribute information to the digitized file by designating an area in which the document attribute information of the paper document is described and an item of the document attribute information to be given to the digitized file. As a result, it is possible to reduce the work burden of the user on adding document attribute information.
JP 2002-55985 A

  However, when document attribute information is read from a paper document by the above technique, if there are, for example, five items of document attribute information to be read, if an error in reading the document attribute information occurs in one of the items, digitization is performed. Incorrect document attribute information is given to the file. Therefore, the paper document cannot be classified accurately based on the document attribute information.

  Further, in the above technique, if the user makes a mistake in filling in the document attribute extraction sheet for designating the item of the document attribute information to be added to the digitized file, the document attribute information cannot be read appropriately.

  Furthermore, in the above technique, the user cannot confirm whether or not the document attribute information given to the digitized file is accurate when the digitized file is created by reading the paper document.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a document digitizing apparatus, a method, a program, and a document digitizing system including the apparatus capable of reliably classifying document images.

  In order to achieve the above object, the document digitizing apparatus according to claim 1 is a document electronic device for extracting the described identifier from an image of a document including an identification document in which a predetermined identifier is described in a predetermined area. In the conversion apparatus, storage means for storing an identifier for identifying the document, extraction means for extracting the described identifier from an area corresponding to the predetermined area in the image of the identification document, and the extracted A discriminating unit that discriminates whether or not the stored identifier and the stored identifier coincide with each other; and a storage unit that saves the image of the document based on a result of discrimination by the discriminating unit. .

  The document digitizing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, in the document digitizing apparatus according to claim 1, when the extracted identifier and the stored identifier do not coincide with each other, the storage unit stores the image of the document. Is stored in the mismatch folder.

  The document digitizing apparatus according to claim 3 is the document digitizing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein display means for displaying an image of the identification document included in the document stored in the mismatched folder, and the identification document And an input unit that inputs an identifier of an identification document on which an image is displayed. The storage unit stores an image of the document in a storage folder based on the input identifier. Features.

  The document digitizing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, in the document digitizing apparatus according to claim 1, when the extracted identifier and the stored identifier coincide with each other, the storage unit stores the image of the document. And assigning an identification name to the storage folder based on the matched identifier.

  The document digitizing apparatus according to claim 5 is the document digitizing apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the storage unit stores document attribute information indicating an attribute of the document including the identifier, and the storage unit includes The stored document attribute information is added to the image of the document to which the identifier is assigned, and the image is saved in the save folder.

  The document digitizing apparatus according to claim 6 is the document digitizing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the storage unit stores an image of the document to which the document attribute information is assigned based on the document attribute information in the storage folder. It is stored in a subfolder.

  The document digitizing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the document digitizing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 counts the number of times the extracted identifier and the stored identifier match each other. And a counting means.

  The document digitizing apparatus according to claim 8 is connected to an image output apparatus that reads the document including the identification document and outputs the image in the document digitizing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7. So that the predetermined identifier is described in the predetermined area, and a format of an identification document not including the predetermined identifier is transmitted to the image output device, and output by the image output device Receiving means for receiving an image of the document that has been read.

  The document digitizing apparatus according to claim 9 is the document digitizing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image output apparatus receives an identifier to be stored in the storage means according to the format of the identification document. A terminal device for inputting to the predetermined area; a printing device for printing the identification document to which the identifier is input; and an image reading device for reading an image of the document including the printed identification document. It is characterized by.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, a document digitizing method according to claim 10 is a document electronic method for extracting the described identifier from an image of a document including an identification document in which a predetermined identifier is described in a predetermined area. In the conversion method, a storing step of storing an identifier for identifying the document, an extracting step of extracting the described identifier from an area corresponding to the predetermined area in the image of the identification document, and the extraction A determination step for determining whether or not the stored identifier and the stored identifier match each other, and a storage step for storing the image of the document based on the determination result in the determination step. And

  In order to achieve the above object, a program according to claim 11 is a document digitizing method for extracting an identifier described from a document image including an identification document in which a predetermined identifier is described in a predetermined area. A storage module for storing an identifier for identifying the document, and an extraction module for extracting the described identifier from an area corresponding to the predetermined area in the image of the identification document. A determination module that determines whether the extracted identifier and the stored identifier match each other, and a storage module that stores an image of the document based on a determination result by the determination module It is characterized by that.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, an electronic document output system according to claim 12, an image output device that reads a document including an identification document whose predetermined identifier is described in a predetermined area, and outputs the image, and In a document digitizing system comprising a document digitizing device that extracts the described identifier from the output image, the document digitizing device includes a storage unit that stores an identifier for identifying the document, and Discriminating means for extracting the described identifier from an area corresponding to the predetermined area in the image of the identification document and determining whether or not the extracted identifier and the stored identifier match each other Means and a storage means for storing the image of the document based on the result of determination by the determination means.

  The document digitizing system according to claim 13 is the document digitizing system according to claim 12, wherein the document digitizing apparatus describes the identifier so that the identifier described in the identification document is the predetermined area. Transmitting means for transmitting a format of an unidentified identification document to the image output device, the image output device receiving an identifier to be stored in the storage means according to the format after receiving the format of the identification document A terminal device for inputting to a predetermined area; a printing device for printing the identification document to which the identifier is input; and an image reading device for reading an image of the document including the printed identification document. Features.

  According to the document digitizing apparatus according to claim 1, the method according to claim 10, the program according to claim 11, or the system according to claim 12, whether the extracted identifier and the stored identifier match each other. Since the image of the document is stored based on the result of determination of whether or not, the image of the document can be reliably classified. Further, since the identifier described from the area corresponding to the predetermined area in the image of the identification document is extracted, the user can be prevented from designating the predetermined area, and the operability for the user can be improved. .

  According to the document digitizing apparatus of claim 2, when the extracted identifier and the stored identifier do not match each other, the image of the document is stored in the mismatch folder. It is possible to stop assigning an identifier to the image.

  According to the document digitizing apparatus of the third aspect, by displaying an image of the identification document included in the document stored in the mismatched folder and inputting the identifier described in the displayed identification document Since it is stored in the storage folder based on the input identifier, for example, even if there is an extraction error, the input identifier is given to the image of the document based on the input identifier, and it is surely classified in the storage folder Can do.

  According to the document digitizing apparatus of claim 4, when the extracted identifier and the stored identifier match each other, an identification name is given based on the identifier that matches the image of the document and saved in the save folder. Therefore, the image of the document can be surely classified in the storage folder based on the identifier.

  According to the document digitizing apparatus of claim 5, since the stored document attribute information is added to the image of the document to which the identifier is assigned and saved in the save folder, the image of the document is based on the document attribute information. Can be reliably classified in the storage folder.

  According to the document digitizing apparatus of the sixth aspect, since the image of the document to which the document attribute information is assigned based on the document attribute information is stored in the subfolder of the storage folder, the document image is surely determined based on the document attribute information. Can be categorized in subfolders.

  According to the document digitizing apparatus according to claim 7, the number of times that the extracted identifier and the stored identifier match each other is counted. Can be counted. Further, when there are a plurality of documents, it is possible to easily identify in which document the extraction error has occurred, and to improve the operability for the user.

  According to the document digitizing apparatus according to claim 8, since the format of the identification document in which the predetermined identifier is not described is transmitted to the image output device so that the predetermined identifier is described in the predetermined area, The document digitizing apparatus can easily specify a predetermined area, and can reliably reduce extraction errors.

  According to the document digitizing device according to claim 9 or the system according to claim 13, the terminal device receives the format of the identification document from the document digitizing device and inputs the identifier into a predetermined area according to the format. The printing device prints the identification document to which the identifier is inputted, the image reading device reads the image of the document including the printed identification document, and the image is output to the document digitizing device. The electronic apparatus can more reliably reduce extraction errors.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

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

  In FIG. 1, a document digitizing system 1 reads an image from a user terminal 2 operated by a user of the document digitizing system 1 and a paper document, and converts a PDF file (digitized file) as, for example, PDF format image data. An image reading device 3 to be created, a document digitizing server 4 (document digitizing device) that performs OCR processing on the image data of the created PDF file and assigns document attribute data indicating the document attribute of the paper document, and document electronics An administrator terminal 5 that is operated by an administrator to perform error processing on the PDF file in which an error is detected in the conversion server 4 is connected to each other via a LAN 6.

  Of course, the communication line to which the devices are connected to each other is not limited to the LAN.

  The user terminal 2 creates (prints) a registration slip (identification document), which will be described later, from predetermined document attribute data input by the user, and sends document attribute data including a document management number to the HDD of the document digitizing server 4. Registered in the registration form DB recorded on the recording medium. Note that the server (not shown) for managing the registration form DB may be another computer. The image reading device 3 reads a paper document with a registration form as a cover as image data to create a PDF file, and the document digitizing server 4 performs OCR processing on the image data of the PDF file and reads it from the registration form. Document attribute data corresponding to the document management number is assigned to the PDF file. When the document attribute data corresponding to the document management number read from the registration form is not registered in the document digitizing server 4, the administrator terminal 5 performs error processing.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the user terminal 2 in FIG. The administrator terminal 5 has the same configuration as the user terminal 2, and the document digitizing server 4 also has the same configuration as the partial configuration of the user terminal 2, so that the description thereof is omitted. .

  2, a user terminal 2 includes a CPU 11 that executes a program, a RAM 12 that functions as a main memory and a work area of the CPU 11, a ROM 13 that stores a program for operating the CPU 11, and a storage device. HDD 14, recording device 15 capable of recording data on a removable recording medium, video adapter 16 and display device (not shown) for providing a display function, keyboard (K / B) 17 and mouse 18 as input devices And a network interface card (NIC: Network Interface Card) 19 for converting data to be communicated to a network and an electrical signal, and a printing device (not shown) for printing a registration form. One printing apparatus may be shared by a plurality of user terminals 2 via the LAN 6.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a registration form creation process executed by the user terminal 2 in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, first, the user inputs authentication information including an ID for identifying the user and a password for logging in to the login screen shown in FIG. 4 displayed on the display device of the user terminal 2. When the login button is pressed, the user terminal 2 transmits the input authentication information to the document digitizing server 4 (step S101), and an error message indicating that the user is not a valid user from the document digitizing server 4. Is determined (step S102).

  Note that the authentication unit may be other than a method using an ID and a password as long as the user can be identified and authenticated.

  As a result of the determination in step S102, if the document digitizing server 4 is not authenticated as a valid user and an error message is obtained from the document digitizing server 4, the process returns to step S101 and no error message is obtained. When the document attribute data input screen information is obtained from the document digitizing server 4 (step S103), the document attribute data input screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed (step S104).

  The document attribute data input screen information acquired from the document digitizing server 4 is, for example, HTML format data, and the user terminal reads the HTML format data with a browser such as the Internet Explorer (trademark), The document attribute data input screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed.

  The user can enter the document attribute data such as his / her department information, administrator code (manager number) (or creator code (creator number)), document type, storage period, creation date, and comments. When each of the above items is entered and transmission of document attribute data is instructed by pressing the registration button (YES in step S105), the input document attribute data is transmitted to the document digitizing server 4 (step S106). It is determined whether or not an input omission indicating that at least one of the items of the document attribute data has not been inputted is notified from the document digitizing server 4 (step S107). 6, an input omission error message as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed (step S108), and the process returns to step S104. It prompts you to enter the book attribute data.

  Each item on the document attribute data input screen is selected or input by the user. On the screen that displays the document attribute data input screen (step S104), the user logs in from a database managed separately from the system. As long as the corresponding item regarding the user can be acquired, it is also possible to make the state already selected or input. For example, if the department information related to the user managed by the groupware can be acquired, the document digitization server acquires the department information of the login user and belongs to the login user acquired in the document attribute data input screen information. Add the department information and send it to the user terminal.

  Further, it may be selected or inputted from document attribute data already registered in a registration form database (DB) of the document digitizing server 4 described later.

  In the case of digitizing a document, it is generally considered that the owner of the document creates and prints a registration slip and digitizes the document from the image reading device 3 using the registration slip. Since it is cumbersome to digitize a document from the image reading device 3 using a vote, it is convenient if another person can be requested to share the digitization work. In this way, when sharing electronic work, it is sufficient to request the digitization by handing out the organized registration forms and documents, but if you can also ask other people to create registration forms, it is possible to share the work more become able to. Therefore, when the person who requested the work sharing creates a registration slip, the management number of the person who uses the digitized file (usually the person who requested the creation) is entered, and finally the digitized file Is stored in a folder of a predetermined user. 5 and 9, the management number (administrator code) means a person who uses the digitized file (= a person who understands and uses the contents of the file), and the creator (creator code) is It means a person who creates a registration form.

  The person who creates the registration slip needs to know at least the management number of the file to be digitized when creating the registration slip, but if the management number is an employee code, It is necessary to investigate using the employee search function of groupware.

  In FIG. 5, “automatic setting (document type−comment−document management number)” is described in the “file name” item. This is the name (identification name) given to the final digitized file. ) Is automatically set by the document computerization server, and only means that (document type-comment-document management number) is given as the name assignment method. It goes without saying that the law of grant can be adopted.

  Note that the document digitization server checks for input omissions for items, but there is no need to provide a mechanism to notify if there is any omission, for example, when there is no input for “comment” May provide an item that does not notify input leakage such as not reporting input leakage.

  If the input omission is not notified as a result of the determination in step S107, when the user gives a print instruction via a print button (not shown) (YES in step S109), the user terminal 2 is shown in FIG. Such a registration slip is created (step S110), and a printing instruction for the created registration slip is transmitted to the printing apparatus (step S111). According to the printing instruction, the printing apparatus manages a document in a predetermined area shown in FIG. The registration slip is printed so that the number is written, and the process is terminated.

  The “document management number” in FIG. 7 is a unique number assigned by the document digitizing server when document attribute data is transmitted from the user terminal 2. In order to obtain a unique number, for example, it is possible to give a number such as “personal code + accumulated number for each personal code”. The “document management number” in FIG. 7 is “123456000001”, where “123456” is a personal code and “000001” indicates the cumulative number of document attribute data registered by the user “123456”.

  The “document management number” only needs to be a unique number, and may be assigned on each user terminal 2 side as long as uniqueness can be ensured.

  Note that creation / printing of a registration form in the user terminal 2 is, for example, document attribute data transmitted to the document digitizing server stored in the RAM 12 or the HDD 14 or document attribute data received from the document digitizing server. Then, an item to be printed on the registration form is taken out, and the taken out item is created and printed via spreadsheet software or the like so as to be printed in a predetermined area of the template. Here, since the “document management number” is assigned by the document digitizing server, the data received from the document digitizing server is used. However, when the “document management number” is managed and assigned at each user terminal, data need not be received from the document digitizing server.

  According to the processing of FIG. 3, the user terminal 2 creates a registration slip (step S110), and transmits a print instruction for the created registration slip to the printing apparatus (step S111). It is possible to classify paper documents to be read using the image reading device 3.

  Since the document attribute data is transmitted to the document digitizing server 4 (step S106), the document attribute data transmitted to the document digitizing server 4 and the image of the registration slip read by the image reading device 3 can be easily obtained. Can be compared.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the document attribute data registration process executed by the document digitizing server 4 in FIG.

  The process of FIG. 8 is performed in parallel with the registration form creation process of FIG.

  In FIG. 8, when the document electronic server 4 acquires the authentication information transmitted by the user terminal 2 in step S101 (YES in step S201), the document electronic server 4 determines whether or not the user is a valid user from the acquired authentication information. It discriminate | determines (step S202).

  If it is determined in step S202 that the user is not a valid user, an error message is transmitted to the user terminal 2 (step S203), and the process returns to step S201. Document attribute data input screen information (format such as HTML) is transmitted to the terminal 2 (step S204).

  Next, when the document attribute data transmitted from the user terminal 2 is acquired in step S106 (YES in step S205), whether or not there is an input omission in at least one item among the items of the acquired document attribute data. (Step S206), and when there is an input omission, an input omission notice is transmitted to the user terminal 2 (step S207), and the process returns to step S205.

  As described with reference to FIG. 3, it goes without saying that a mechanism may be used in which items that are notified of item omission are separated from items that are not notified.

  If there is no omission as a result of the determination in step S206, the acquired document attribute data is registered in the registration form DB as shown in FIG. 9 (step S208), and this process is terminated.

  In addition, when the “document management number” is assigned on the document digitizing server 4 side, when the acquired document attribute data is registered in the registration form DB, a unique (unique) “document management number” is assigned and registered.

  When the “document management number” is assigned on the document digitizing server 4 side, the registration slip is printed on the user terminal 2 side. Therefore, the “document management number” necessary for printing the registration slip is used on the user terminal. 2 need to be notified.

  In the registration form DB, as shown in FIG. 9, document attribute information (document attribute data) such as a document management number, creator code, administrator code, and processing counter is registered as registration form data (storage means). . The value of the processing counter is counted up when the registration form data registered in the registration form DB is added to the PDF file.

  Here, as described above, a number for identifying the person who created the registration slip is registered in the “creator code”, and the “administrator code” is electronically registered with the registration slip having the document management number. A number for registering the person who uses the converted file is registered. As an example, in FIG. 9, the person who created the registration slip having the document management number “123457000001” is the person who has “2345678” as the identification code, and was digitized by the registration slip having the document management number. The person who uses the file indicates that the person has “123457” in the identification code.

  The user who is authenticated in the processes of steps S102 and S202 displays the registration form data corresponding to the user among the registration form data registered in the registration form DB, and displays the registration form list screen as shown in FIG. It is possible to display a list on two display devices.

  As the registration form data to be displayed as a list, the “administrator code” in the registration form DB shown in FIG. 9 matches the code for identifying the user (the code is acquired from, for example, login information). May be displayed as a list, or a list of codes in which either the “manager code” or the “creator code” matches the code for identifying the user may be displayed.

  The registration form data to be displayed in a list is not limited to the user, and all registration form data in the registration form DB or registration form data belonging to a specific department may be displayed as a list.

  Furthermore, it is possible to provide a condition input screen (not shown) for inputting a search condition regarding each item stored in the registration form DB. By providing such a condition input screen, for example, it is possible to display a list of registration form data whose “document type” is a contract and whose “creation date” is January 1, 2003 or later.

  In FIG. 10, at least a document management number is assigned to the file name, so that the user can easily recognize the document management number of the registration form corresponding to the user.

  In addition, an item “presence / absence of processing” is also provided to determine whether or not the document has been digitized using the printed registration form. Accordingly, if “not yet”, it can be determined that the document has not been digitized yet, and if “completed”, it can be determined that the document has already been digitized. This item is displayed as “not yet” when the value of the processing counter in the registration slip DB is “Null”, and “done” when it is “1” or more. ", The count value may be displayed as it is. By doing so, it becomes possible to determine how many times the computer has been digitized.

  In addition, when link information is embedded in the characters “uncompleted” or “completed” and the user clicks the character with the mouse 18 or the like, more detailed information on the registration slip is obtained from the registration slip DB, and the user You may make it display on the terminal 2, and you may make it display the screen which corrects the registration content of the registration form DB regarding the said registration form. Here, the items that are permitted to be corrected are usually “document type”, “comment”, etc., which the user first registers. If the "document management number" and "file name" assigned on the document digitizing server can be modified, they will be overwritten if the same "document management number" or "file name" already exists. Because. However, since overwriting can be prevented by error processing to be described later, in such a case, it is natural that the user can also correct the “document management number” and “file name”. .

  Needless to say, embedding the link information is not limited to the “process presence / absence” item. For example, link information may be embedded in the “file name” item, or a dedicated item for displaying the link information is provided separately, and the document digitizing server 4 or the user terminal 2 assigns a predetermined number. Thus, link information may be embedded in the number.

  According to the process of FIG. 8, when the document attribute data transmitted from the user terminal 2 is acquired in step S106 (YES in step S205), the acquired document attribute data is registered in the registration form DB (step S208). Therefore, based on the document attribute data (registration form data) registered in the registration form DB, it is possible to classify paper documents whose images should be read using the image reading device 3, and register them in the registration form DB. The registered registration slip data can be easily compared with the registration slip image read by the image reading device 3.

  Next, digitization processing of a PDF file created by reading an image of a paper document with the image reading device 3 will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the directory structure of the document digitizing server 4 in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the document digitizing server 4 has a monitoring destination folder, a folder after OCR processing, and an error folder. The image reading device 3 transmits a PDF file created by reading images of a plurality of paper documents having a registration slip as the first page to the document digitizing server 4 and stores it in a monitoring destination folder of the document digitizing server 4. . When there are a plurality of paper documents, a registration slip is inserted on the first page of each copy. However, the image reading device 3 reads a plurality of paper documents at a time and creates one PDF file. become. The PDF file created in this way is given a file name such as “20030701091727.pdf” shown in FIG. 11 based on the year, month, day, and time when the image of the paper document is read.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the file classification process executed by the document digitizing server 4 in FIG.

  In FIG. 12, after the image reading device 3 reads an image of a paper document to create a PDF file and transmits it to the monitoring destination folder of the document digitizing server, the document digitizing server 4 has the PDF file in the monitoring destination folder. Judge whether or not. If there is a PDF file (YES in step S301), the document digitizing server 4 acquires the PDF file from the monitoring destination folder (step S302).

  The file acquired by the document digitizing server 4 is stored in a work area such as the RAM 12 and used by a program. The same shall apply hereinafter.

  As an example of a method for monitoring whether or not there is a PDF file, a method of searching whether or not there is a PDF file in the monitoring destination folder at regular intervals (for example, 10 seconds) can be considered. Note that if the interval between periodic searches is short, the document digitizing server 4 may acquire the PDF file before the PDF file transmitted from the image reading device 3 is completely stored in the monitoring destination folder. Therefore, in such a case, it is conceivable to take a method of obtaining a complete PDF file by monitoring a change in the PDF file size.

  As a search method for determining whether the file is a PDF file, for example, there is a method of searching for the extension (.pdf) of the file.

  In step S303, the acquired PDF file is subjected to predetermined correction processing such as top-and-bottom correction, and the character “registration card” is searched from the corrected PDF file (step 304). Since the characters “registration slip” are always printed on the coordinates as shown in FIG. 7 on the registration slip, the characters “registration slip” are printed in advance on the document electronic server 4 as shown in FIG. For example, in the search processing in step S304, OCR processing is performed on the image data in the region 600 as shown in FIG. Search whether or not.

  Note that it is only necessary to perform OCR processing on the image data of the predetermined area 600 and finally obtain the character code after the OCR of the area 600. For example, the image data of the predetermined area 600 is cut out, The extracted image data may be subjected to OCR processing to acquire a character code, or may be acquired after performing OCR processing on all pages. In the case of a PDF file corresponding to a plurality of paper documents in which a registration slip is inserted in the first page of each copy, an image is obtained by searching whether or not there is a character “registration slip” in a predetermined area. The image data of the paper document other than the registration slip read by the reading device 3 and the image data of the registration slip (hereinafter referred to as “registration slip image”) can be almost certainly distinguished.

  Next, it is determined whether or not there are a plurality of registration form images (step S306).

  If there are a plurality of registration form images as a result of the determination in step S306, the PDF file is divided for each registration form image, that is, corresponding to each part of the paper document (step S307), and the divided file is stored in the RAM 12 or the like. . Then, one registration form image is acquired from the divided PDF file (step S308), and OCR processing is performed on the acquired registration form image (step S309). On the other hand, when there is only one registration form image, the processing of steps S307 and S308 is skipped, and the OCR process is performed on the registration form image (step S309).

  Next, a document management number is acquired from the registration form image after OCR processing corresponding to a predetermined position (coordinates) 710a of a predetermined area 700 of the registration form image as shown in FIG. 14 (step S310) (extraction means) Then, the file name of the PDF file after the OCR process is replaced with the acquired document management number (step S311), and the PDF file replaced with the file name is moved to the folder after the OCR process as shown in FIG. (Step S312).

  A predetermined area 700 (coordinates 710a) where the document management number is printed is designated by the document digitizing server 4.

  In order to prevent duplication processing, when moving to the folder after OCR processing, the original PDF file in the monitoring destination folder is deleted.

  When the PDF file is divided in the process of step S307, it is determined whether or not each process of steps S308 to S312 has been completed for all the divided PDF files (step S313), and all the divided PDF files are determined. However, when the processes are not completed, the processes after step S308 are repeated, and when the processes are completed for all the divided PDF files, the process is terminated. Therefore, when there are a plurality of registration slips in the paper document, that is, when the PDF file is divided into a plurality of pieces, a plurality of PDF files are stored in the folder after the OCR processing as shown in FIG. Become.

  12, the document management number is extracted from the registration form image after the OCR process corresponding to the predetermined position 710a (FIG. 14) in the predetermined area 700 of the registration form image (step S310), and the OCR is performed. The file name of the PDF file after processing is replaced with the acquired document management number (step S311), and the PDF file is moved to the folder after OCR processing (step S312). PDF files can be divided in some cases and stored in a folder after OCR processing based on the document management number. The document management number of the PDF file stored in the folder after OCR processing is stored in the registration form DB. It can be easily compared with the document management number.

  As described above, the document digitizing server 4 causes each user terminal 2 on the LAN 6 to create a registration form (format) unique to the document digitizing server 4 (step S204), and the paper document including the printed matter. Is transmitted to the document digitizing server 4 (step S301). Therefore, the document digitizing server 4 can set the target area 700 from which the document management number is extracted as the image data of the printed matter of the registration slip unique to the document digitizing server 4, and the user can read the document management number reading area. It is possible to eliminate the designation of 700, and the document digitizing server 4 can reduce the occurrence of a document management number reading error.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the document attribute data adding process executed by the document digitizing server 4 in FIG.

  In FIG. 17, when there is a PDF file in the folder after the OCR process (YES in step S401), the document digitizing server 4 acquires the PDF file from the folder after the OCR process (step S402), and the file from the acquired PDF file A document management number as a name is extracted (step S403) (extraction means).

  Note that the search method for determining whether or not there is a PDF file in the folder after OCR processing is the same as in step S301 in FIG.

  Next, an inquiry is made to the registration form DB using the extracted document management number as a key (step S404), and whether or not document attribute data including the same document management number as the extracted document management number is registered in the registration form DB. (Step S405) (discriminating means), and when document attribute data including the same document management number as the extracted document management number is not registered in the registration form DB, for example, as shown in FIG. There is a dirt “.” (Noise) between “1234560” and “00001” in the area 710b of the document management number “123456000001” of the vote (FIG. 18). Occurs, it is replaced with the file name with the reading error. A search of the registration form DB and the number to the key, it is not possible to detect the document management number matching. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 19, the PDF file is moved into the error folder (mismatch folder) (save means), and the management terminal 5 executes error processing to be described later (step S406). This process ends.

  In order to prevent duplication processing, when moving to the error folder, the original PDF file in the folder after OCR processing is deleted.

  As a result of the determination in step S405, when document attribute data including the same document management number as the extracted document management number is registered in the registration slip DB, the document attribute data registered in the registration slip DB Predetermined data such as type, comment, administrator code, etc. is acquired (step S407), and as shown in FIG. 20, the acquired predetermined data is assigned to properties including the file size and the number of pages of the PDF file (step S408). ). Then, the “document type”, “comment”, and “document management number” in the registration form DB are connected with a hyphen, and the file name of the PDF file such as “contract document-XXX Inc. basic contract document-123456000001.pdf”, for example. (Step S409). The name of the PDF file to be renamed is arbitrary, and the combination can be set in the electronic document server.

  Next, a folder in which the PDF file is to be saved is searched from a saving destination folder in another root directory of the document digitizing server 4 or a saving destination folder in another server (step S410), and the folder is renamed in the corresponding folder. It is determined whether a PDF file having the same file name as the file name exists (step S411).

  As keys for searching for a storage destination folder, “manager code”, “affiliation headquarters”, “affiliation department”, “affiliation section”, etc. in the registration form DB can be used as keys. If the “administrator code” is used as a key, it is stored in the save destination folder, which is the personal folder of the person who has the “administrator code”. If "Affiliation Department", "Affiliation Department", etc. are used as keys, it is saved in the save destination folder, which is a shared folder managed by the "Affiliation Headquarters", "Affiliation Department", "Affiliation Department", etc. It can be managed by people.

  If there is no folder to save, you can stop saving the digitized file. For example, create a name that includes the key used for the search as a new folder name and digitize the folder. You can also save the file.

  If the saving of the digitized file is canceled or saved in a new folder in this way, the person managing the document cannot know where the document data read by the image reading device 3 is. Therefore, the document digitizing server may notify the processing result by e-mail or the like.

  If there is no PDF file with the same file name in the corresponding folder, the PDF file is moved into the corresponding folder (step S412) (save means), while the PDF file with the same file name is in the corresponding folder. If the file exists, the PDF file is moved into the corresponding folder and the PDF file with the same file name existing in the corresponding folder is deleted (overwritten) (step S413) (save means), and the registration form DB The process flag for the process counter is counted up (step S414), and this process ends.

  In order to prevent duplication processing, when moving to the save destination folder, the original PDF file in the folder after the OCR processing is deleted.

  In the processing of steps 410 to 412, for example, when the acquired administrator code is “123456”, as shown in FIG. 21, the PDF file is “123456 folder corresponding to the folder in which the PDF file is stored. "Is stored in.

  According to the process of FIG. 17, predetermined data is acquired from the document attribute data registered in the registration form DB (step S407), and the acquired predetermined data is assigned to the property of the PDF file (step S408). Document attribute data can be surely assigned to a PDF file created by reading a paper document with an image reading apparatus, so that the PDF file can be reliably classified based on predetermined data.

  For example, when searching for a folder in which a PDF file is to be stored based on the acquired administrator code (step S410), the PDF file is finally moved to a folder owned by the administrator (step S412). The administrator of the PDF file and the creator of the registration form may be different, and work sharing can be achieved.

  Furthermore, when the same document management number as the document management number extracted from the PDF file does not exist in the registration form DB (NO in step S405), the PDF file is moved to the error folder (step S406). By referring to, it is possible to easily know that there was a reading error for the document management number.

  Further, since the processing flag for the processing counter in the registration form DB is counted up (step S414), the number of times the PDF file is overwritten, that is, the digitization of the document including the registration form to which the “document management number” is assigned. The total number of times processing has been performed will be recorded.

  For a paper document in which a reading error has occurred in the image reading device 3, it is not necessary to create a PDF file again by the image reading device 3 using the same registration slip. This is because document digitization processing can be continued by performing error processing described later.

  By the way, when 10 documents are digitized using 10 registration slips, if there is an error in reading the “document management number”, it is moved to the error folder, so which set of registrations It is possible to specify whether or not there is a reading error for the vote. However, when there is a reading error between numbers included in the document management number, for example, “5” is “6”, and there is a PDF file identical to the document management number of the reading error, this PDF Since the file is overwritten with the PDF file with the reading error, the PDF file having such a reading error is not moved to the error folder. It is not possible to specify whether or not there was. When overwritten with a PDF file having a reading error in this way, there arises a problem that the consistency between the file name and the contents of the file does not match, but the user can refer to the value of the processing counter from FIG. An overwritten PDF file can be estimated. For example, when the number of times of processing for a registration form that should be digitized only once is two, it can be estimated that the file has been overwritten.

  FIG. 22 is a flowchart of error processing executed by the administrator terminal 5 in FIG. 1 in step S406 in FIG. This process is executed at an arbitrary time by the user who is the administrator using the administrator terminal 5. Note that this error processing may be executed in the user terminal 2 or the document digitizing server 4 if there is a program capable of performing error processing described later.

  In FIG. 22, first, the administrator terminal 5 determines whether or not the registration form DB of the document electronic server 4 is accessible (step S501), and is not connected to the registration form DB so as to be accessible. When an error message is displayed (step S502), the process returns to step S501. On the other hand, when the registration form DB is accessible, the process proceeds to step S504 to determine whether there is a PDF file in the error folder. To do.

  If the result of the determination in step S504 is that there is no PDF file in the error folder, this process is terminated. If there is a PDF file in the error folder, the document management number correction screen shown in FIG. (Step S505).

  As shown in FIG. 23, the document management number correction screen displays an image corresponding to the image data of the registration slip read by the image reading device 3 and an image for inputting the document management number. The document management number can be corrected while visually recognizing the image of the registration form.

  The document management number correction screen shown in FIG. 23 displays, for example, a “document management number correction” input screen for correcting the document management number shown in FIG. 23 when a program for executing error processing is started. The object for reading is read and the PDF file in the error folder is read in the background, so that it is displayed on the display device of the administrator terminal 5.

  In the document management number correction screen shown in FIG. 23, the “document management number” in which the reading error has occurred is not displayed, and the image data read by the image reading device 3 is displayed. This is because the image data read by the image reading device 3 allows the user to visually recognize the “document management number” although there is dirt.

  Since the PDF file in the error folder has already been subjected to OCR processing, when the program for executing error processing is started, the “document management number correction” input screen for correcting the document management number shown in FIG. 23 is displayed. A misrecognized character string can be stored and displayed in the “document management number” field in the object to be displayed. By doing so, the correction work is completed only by correcting the erroneously recognized character.

  Returning to FIG. 22, when the document management number (input value) of the PDF file in the error folder displayed in the background is input on the document management number correction screen and the search button is pressed (YES in step S506). ) Using the input value as a key, an inquiry is made to the registration form DB (step S508), and it is determined whether or not a document management number that matches the input value exists in the registration form DB (step S511).

  If it is determined in step S511 that there is no document management number that matches the input value in the registration form DB, an error message is displayed (step S512), and the process returns to step S505 to re-enter the document management number after correction. On the other hand, if there is a document management number that matches the input value in the registration form DB, predetermined data is acquired from the document attribute information data in the registration form DB (step S513), and is acquired as shown in FIG. Each predetermined data is displayed in a corresponding item on the document management number correction screen (step S514), and when the user presses the registration button (YES in step S515), the file name of the PDF file is set to the predetermined file. The name is replaced (step S516). The combination of the predetermined items is arbitrary, and a predetermined file name is created based on an instruction to the administrator terminal 5 or the document digitizing server.

If the predetermined file name is a combination of items stored in the registration form DB, the predetermined file name may be created based on the information once acquired by the administrator terminal 5 in step 513. Then, a predetermined file name may be created based on an item acquired by requesting the document electronic server again for a predetermined item.

  When the registration button is pressed in step S515, the administrator terminal 5 searches for the PDF file having the same document management number as the corrected document management number in the corresponding folder in the save destination folder, and the same document. If there is a PDF file with a management number, the value of the processing counter stored in the registration form DB is referred to.

  Next, the administrator terminal 5 refers to the processing counter in the registration form DB to determine whether or not a PDF file having the same document management number has been created at least once (step S517). 25 is displayed (step S518). If it is not determined that the message has been created, the process of step S518 is skipped, the process is terminated, and FIG. The process returns to step S409.

  In the process of step S518, when the administrator terminal 5 acquires information indicating that a PDF file having the same document management number has already been created a predetermined number of times, for example, three times by referring to the registration form DB, FIG. Display the message screen as shown.

  Thereafter, the same processing as the processing from step S408, S410 to step S414 in FIG. 17 executed in the document digitizing server 4 is performed in the administrator terminal 5, and the document digitizing processing is ended.

  Note that the program that executes this error processing performs the same processing as the processing from steps S408, S410 to S414 executed by the document digitizing server in the administrator terminal 5 when there is no reading error. As a matter of course, it may be executed on the document digitizing server 4 side. In this case, the manager terminal 5 gives a processing instruction to the document digitizing server 4.

  According to the processing of FIG. 22, the user inputs the document management number (input value) of the PDF file in the error folder displayed in the background on the document management number correction screen while visually confirming it (step S506). Therefore, a valid document management number can be surely assigned to a PDF file having a document management number reading error. By acquiring predetermined data from the document attribute data in the registration slip DB (step S513), the user confirms that the predetermined data for the input document management number is registered in the registration slip DB, and then presses the registration button. Can be pressed (YES in step S515). When the administrator terminal 5 detects that the registration button has been pressed, the administrator terminal 5 changes the file name to a predetermined file name (step S516).

  In this way, since a valid document management number for a PDF file in the error folder can be input, it is not necessary to read again the PDF file in which the reading error has occurred by the image reading device 3.

  When it is determined that the administrator terminal 5 has been created (YES in step S517), a message screen is displayed (step S518), so that the user can use a PDF file having the same file name as the message target. Can be overwritten (updated). Thereby, it can be confirmed that the digitization process has been completed once. When a message screen is displayed for a file that cannot be digitized, it can be determined that there is an error in the input of the “document management number” by the user himself / herself in error processing. By doing so, it is possible to prevent creation of an electronic file in which the file name and the file content do not match.

  In the above embodiment, each device constituting the document digitizing system 1 is connected via the LAN 6, but the LAN 6 may be any network capable of data communication.

  In the above embodiment, the image reading device 3 creates a PDF file from the image of the read paper document. However, the image reading device 3 is not limited to the created PDF file, but is a TIFF file, a Multi-TIFF file, a JPEG file, or the like. There may be.

  Further, the document digitizing server 4 classifies the images from the image reading device 3 using the document management number as an identifier. If the identifier is a character that the document digitizing server 4 can identify by OCR processing, the document digitizing server 4 is a number or the like. Numbers, letters such as alphabets, predetermined marks, or combinations thereof may be used.

  In the present invention, a software program (the registration form DB of FIG. 9 and the flowcharts of FIGS. 3, 8, 12, 17, and 22) for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a computer or CPU. This can be achieved by the computer or CPU reading and executing the supplied program.

  In this case, the program is directly supplied from a storage medium storing the program, or downloaded from another computer or database (not shown) connected to the Internet, a commercial network, a local area network, or the like. Supplied.

  The form of the program may be in the form of object code, program code executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to an OS (operating system), and the like.

  The present invention also supplies a computer or CPU with a storage medium storing a software program that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the computer or CPU reads and executes the program stored in the storage medium. Can also be achieved.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

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

  The function of the above-described embodiment is not only by executing the program code read from the computer, but the OS or the like running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code. Can also be realized.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the document digitization system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the user terminal 2 in FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a registration form creation process executed by a user terminal 2 in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the login screen displayed by step S101 of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the document attribute data input screen displayed by FIG.3 S104. It is a figure which shows an example of the input omission error message displayed by step S108 of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the registration form produced by step S110 of FIG. It is a flowchart of the document attribute data registration process performed by the document digitization server 4 in FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a registration form DB in which document attribute data is registered in step S208 of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the registration form list screen which can be displayed with the display apparatus of the user terminal 2 in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the directory structure of the document digitization server 4 in FIG. It is a flowchart of the file classification | category process performed by the document digitization server 4 in FIG. FIG. 13 is a partial view of a registration form image used for explaining registration form search in step S304 of FIG. 12. FIG. 13 is a partial view of a registration form image used for explaining acquisition of a document management number in step S310 of FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a PDF file is stored in a folder after OCR processing in step S312 of FIG. 12 in the directory structure of the document digitizing server 4 as shown in FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of the state in which the PDF file is stored in the folder after the OCR process in step S312 of FIG. 12 in the directory structure of the document digitizing server 4 as shown in FIG. It is a flowchart of the document attribute data provision process performed by the document digitization server 4 in FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case where a document management number area is contaminated in the registration slip as illustrated in FIG. 7. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a PDF file is stored in an error folder in step S406 of FIG. 18 in the directory structure of the document digitizing server 4 as shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the property of the PDF file to which the document attribute data was provided in step S408 of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the other directory structure of the document digitization server 4 in FIG. 1, Comprising: An example of the state by which the PDF file was stored in the preservation | save destination folder by FIG.18 S412 and S413 is shown. 18 is a flowchart of error processing executed by the administrator terminal 5 in FIG. 1 in step S406 in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen for document management number correction displayed by step S505 of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen for document management number correction displayed by step S514 of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the message screen displayed by step S518 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of the message screen displayed by FIG.22 S518.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Document digitization system 2 User terminal 3 Image reading device 4 Document digitization server 5 Administrator terminal

Claims (13)

  In a document digitizing apparatus for extracting the described identifier from an image of a document including an identification document in which a predetermined identifier is described in a predetermined area, storage means for storing an identifier for identifying the document, Discriminating means for extracting the described identifier from an area corresponding to the predetermined area in the image of the identification document and determining whether or not the extracted identifier and the stored identifier match each other And a storage means for storing an image of the document based on a result of determination by the determination means.   2. The document digitizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the extracted identifier and the stored identifier do not match each other, the storage unit stores the image of the document in a mismatch folder.   A terminal device comprising: display means for displaying an image of an identification document included in a document stored in the mismatched folder; and input means for inputting an identifier of an identification document on which the image of the identification document is displayed 3. The document digitizing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the storage unit stores the image of the document in a storage folder based on the input identifier.   When the extracted identifier and the stored identifier match each other, the storage unit assigns an identification name to the image of the document based on the matched identifier and stores it in a storage folder. The document digitizing apparatus according to claim 1.   The storage means stores document attribute information indicating an attribute of the document including the identifier, and the storage means assigns the stored document attribute information to an image of the document to which the identifier is assigned. 5. The document digitizing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the document digitizing apparatus stores the data in a save folder.   6. The document digitizing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the storage unit stores an image of the document to which the document attribute information is assigned based on the document attribute information in a subfolder of the storage folder.   7. The document digitizing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a counting unit that counts the number of times that the extracted identifier and the stored identifier match each other.   An identification document that is connected to an image output device that reads a document including the identification document and outputs the image, and does not include the predetermined identifier so that the predetermined identifier is described in the predetermined area. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the format of the document to the image output device; and a reception unit that receives an image of the document output by the image output device. Document electronic equipment.   The image output device receives a format of the identification document, and prints an identification document to which the identifier is input, a terminal device that inputs an identifier to be stored in the storage unit in the predetermined area according to the format 9. The document digitizing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a printing device that performs printing; and an image reading device that reads an image of the document including the printed identification document.   In a document digitizing method for extracting the described identifier from an image of a document including an identification document in which a predetermined identifier is described in a predetermined area, a storing step of storing an identifier for identifying the document; An extraction step for extracting the described identifier from an area corresponding to the predetermined area in the image of the identification document, and a determination for determining whether the extracted identifier and the stored identifier match each other And a storing step of storing an image of the document based on a result of the determination in the determination step.   A program for causing a computer to execute a document digitizing method for extracting the described identifier from an image of a document including an identification document in which a predetermined identifier is described in a predetermined area, the identifier for identifying the document A storage module that stores the identifier, the extraction module that extracts the described identifier from an area corresponding to the predetermined area in the image of the identification document, and the extracted identifier and the stored identifier match each other A program comprising: a discrimination module for discriminating whether or not to perform; and a storage module for saving an image of the document based on a discrimination result by the discrimination module.   An image output device that reads a document including an identification document in which a predetermined identifier is described in a predetermined region and outputs the image, and a document electronic device that extracts the described identifier from the output image In the document digitizing system, the document digitizing apparatus includes a storage unit that stores an identifier for identifying the document, and the identifier described from an area corresponding to the predetermined area in the image of the identification document An extracting means for extracting the image, a determining means for determining whether or not the extracted identifier and the stored identifier match each other, and storing the image of the document based on the determination result by the determining means A document digitization system comprising storage means.   The document digitizing apparatus includes a transmission unit that transmits a format of an identification document that does not include an identifier to the image output device so that an identifier described in the identification document is the predetermined area, The image output apparatus receives the format of the identification document, and prints the identification document to which the identifier is input, and a terminal device that inputs the identifier to be stored in the storage unit in the predetermined area according to the format 13. The document digitizing system according to claim 12, further comprising: a printing device that prints; and an image reading device that reads an image of the document including the printed identification document.

Images