JP2005128925A - Document editing system, document editing program, and document editing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a document editing system, a document editing program, and a document editing method for easily generating a new document by reusing the excellent design and contents of an existing document. <P>SOLUTION: A document recording medium in which a first document 101 is recorded is scanned so that the image information of the first document 101 can be acquired, and template information is extracted from the acquired image information. Then, a document recording medium in which a second document 103 is recorded is scanned so that the image information of the second document 103 can be acquired, and content information is extracted from the acquired image information. Finally, the template information extracted from the first document 101 is combined with the content information extracted from the second document 103 so that a composite document 109 can be generated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a document editing system, a document editing program, and a document editing method. In particular, the present invention relates to a document editing system, a document editing program, and a document editing method that can easily generate a new document by reusing an excellent design, content, and the like of an existing document.

  Conventionally, there has been a demand to use highly designed layout information in order to arrange characters, illustrations, etc. of existing documents in a well-balanced manner, and new documents are generated using commercially available templates. Devices, systems, etc. have been proposed. On the other hand, in consideration of the arrangement of characters, illustrations, etc., devices, systems, etc. for digitizing and managing existing documents have been proposed.

  In the invention of Patent Document 1, in order to reuse a content of an existing document and generate a new document, template information indicating an arrangement of areas such as characters and illustrations in the document is prepared in advance. There has been proposed an apparatus that reads a necessary part of content information to be shown from an existing document and lays out the content information of the necessary part read based on template information prepared in advance.

Further, in the inventions of Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, in order to digitize and manage an existing document, an apparatus for recognizing and extracting a region such as a character or a plate from image information of the existing document is proposed.
JP-A-6-187333 Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-32712 JP-A-5-159101

However, in the invention of Patent Document 1, the content information of an existing document that the user wants to reuse cannot be laid out based on the template information of an existing document such as a magazine or an advertising flyer that the user wants to reuse. In addition, it takes time and cost to generate template information that the user wants to use.
Further, in the inventions of Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, by extracting regions such as characters and illustrations from the image information of the existing document, the existing document is considered in consideration of the template information that is the arrangement of the characters and illustrations. It was not possible to reuse the template information of existing documents simply by managing them.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and is a document editing system capable of easily generating a new document by reusing the excellent design, contents, etc. of an existing document, An object is to provide a document editing program and a document editing method.

The following invention is provided to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems.
[Invention 1] The invention 1 is a document editing system for synthesizing document content information and template information, image information acquisition means for acquiring image information of a first document and image information of a second document; From the image information of the first document acquired by the image information acquisition means, the template information extraction means for extracting the template information, and the image information of the second document acquired by the image information acquisition means, Content information extracting means for extracting content information, and document synthesizing means for generating a synthesized document in which the content information extracted by the content information extracting means is laid out based on the template information extracted by the template information extracting means And a synthesized sentence that outputs the synthesized document generated by the document synthesizing means And a document output means.

  With this configuration, the image information acquisition unit acquires the image information of the first document and the image information of the second document, and the template information extraction unit acquires the first information acquired by the image information acquisition unit. Template information is extracted from the image information of the document, and content information is extracted from the image information of the second document acquired by the image information acquisition unit by the content information extraction unit. In addition, the document composition unit generates a composite document in which the content information extracted by the content information extraction unit is laid out based on the template information extracted by the template information extraction unit. The generated composite document is output.

As a result, it is possible to relatively easily generate a new document that reuses an excellent design, content, and the like of an existing document. That is, template information of an existing document that the user wants to reuse can be combined with content information of an existing document that the user wants to reuse relatively easily.
Here, the document includes photographic image information, graphic image information, character information, and the like. The document is a printed material on which the information is printed, a file in which the information is electronically managed, and the like.

[Invention 2] Invention 2 is the invention 1, wherein the image information acquisition means includes a first document recording medium on which the first document is recorded and a second document on which the second document is recorded. A document editing system comprising image information reading means for scanning a recording medium and reading image information of the first document and image information of the second document.
With such a configuration, the first document recording medium on which the first document is recorded and the second document recording medium on which the second document is recorded are scanned by the image information reading unit, and the first document recording medium is scanned. The image information of the document and the image information of the second document are read.

As a result, it is possible to generate a new document that reuses an excellent design, content, etc. of an existing document by a relatively simple user operation. Here, the relatively simple user operation is an operation similar to the user operation in, for example, a multifunction peripheral or a copier.
The document recording medium is paper, film, fabric, cloth, leather (leather), plastic, iron plate, board, wood board, resin, and the like, and the recording is printing, handwriting, and the like.

[Invention 3] Invention 3 is the invention 2, wherein the image information reading means is a first document recording medium on which the first document is recorded and a second document on which the second document is recorded. A document editing system including an automatic capturing unit that automatically captures a recording medium.
With such a configuration, the first document recording medium in which the first document is recorded and the second document recording medium in which the second document is recorded are automatically captured by the automatic capturing unit. .

Thereby, it is possible to acquire image information of a large amount of documents relatively easily and relatively quickly.
[Invention 4] The invention 4 is the invention 2, wherein the image information reading means automatically takes in a first document recording medium on which the first document for extracting the template information is recorded. And a second automatic capturing means for automatically capturing a second document recording medium in which the second document for extracting the content information is recorded. Is a document editing system.

In such a configuration, the first automatic recording unit automatically captures the first document recording medium on which the first document for extracting the template information is extracted, and the second automatic capturing unit. The second document recording medium on which the second document for extracting the content information is recorded is automatically taken in.
Thereby, it is possible to clearly distinguish and acquire the image information of the document from which the template information is extracted and the image information of the document from which the content information is extracted. In addition, the user can execute an operation that explicitly specifies a document from which template information is extracted and a document from which content information is to be extracted.

  [Invention 5] The invention 5 according to any one of the inventions 1 to 4, wherein the image information acquisition means inputs the image information from an information storage medium in which image information of the document is stored, and A document editing system comprising at least one means for inputting the image information from a system or apparatus in which image information of the document connected so as to be communicable via a network is stored. .

With such a configuration, the image information acquisition means inputs the image information from the information storage medium storing the image information of the document. In addition, image information is input from a system or apparatus that stores image information of documents that are communicably connected via a network.
As a result, it is possible to acquire and reuse a document that has already been digitized by an electronic filing system or the like directly from the system or via an information storage medium.

  [Invention 6] Invention 6 is the invention according to any one of Inventions 1 to 5, wherein the template information is extracted from the image information acquired by the image information acquisition means, the content information is extracted, and Extraction mode setting means for setting any one of the template information and the mode for extracting the content information is further provided, and when the mode for extracting the template information is set, the template information extraction means When the mode for extracting the template information and extracting the content information is set, the content information extracting means extracts the content information, and when the mode for extracting the template information and the content information is set Further, the template information extraction means is the template information. Extracting, further the content information extracting unit is a document editing system characterized by extracting the content information.

  With such a configuration, the extraction mode setting unit is configured to extract template information, content information extraction mode, or template information and content information extraction mode from image information acquired by the image information acquisition unit. When any one mode is set and the mode for extracting the template information is set, the template information extracting unit extracts the template information, and when the mode for extracting the content information is set, the content information extracting unit When the content information is extracted and the template information and the mode for extracting the content information are set, the template information is extracted by the template information extracting means, and the content information is further extracted by the content information extracting means.

  Thus, for example, whether a document captured by one automatic capturing unit is a document from which template information is extracted, a document from which content information is extracted, or a document from which template information and content information are extracted. Can be clarified. In addition, the user can execute an explicit operation as to whether template information is extracted from the document, content information is extracted, or template information and content information are extracted.

  [Invention 7] The invention 7 is the extraction rule for extracting at least one of the template information and the content information from the image information acquired by the image information acquisition means in any one of the inventions 1 to 6. An extraction rule setting means for setting the document information, the template information extraction means extracts the template information based on the extraction rule, and the content information extraction means extracts the content information. An editing system.

  In such a configuration, the extraction rule setting unit sets an extraction rule for extracting at least one of the template information and the content information from the image information acquired by the image information acquisition unit, and the set extraction rule Based on the above, template information is extracted by the template information extracting means, and content information is extracted by the content information extracting means.

As a result, the user can re-execute from a large number of documents without performing an operation to specify whether template information is extracted from the document, content information is extracted, or template information and content information is extracted. It is possible to extract at least one of template information and content information to be used.
[Invention 8] Invention 8 is the invention according to any one of Inventions 1 to 7, wherein the template information extracted by the template information extraction means is stored in a storage unit, and stored in the storage unit. Template information acquisition means for acquiring the template information used to generate the composite document from a plurality of template information, wherein the document composition means is the template acquired by the template information acquisition means A document editing system characterized in that the composite document is generated using information.

With such a configuration, the template information storage means stores the template information extracted by the template information extraction means in the storage unit, and the template information acquisition means selects from the plurality of template information stored in the storage unit. Template information used for generating a composite document is acquired.
Thus, when the user recognizes that the template information is likely to be reused, the template information of the document can be extracted and stored. In addition, the user can reuse desired template information acquired from a plurality of stored template information.

[Invention 9] The invention 9 is the invention 8, wherein the template information acquisition means generates the composite document by using the template information selected from a plurality of the template information stored in the storage unit by a user. The document editing system is characterized in that the document editing system is obtained as the template information to be used.
This makes it possible to generate a new document that reuses the desired template information selected by the user.

[Invention 10] The invention 10 is the invention 8, wherein the template information acquisition means is configured to select from the plurality of template information stored in the storage unit based on the content information used for generating the composite document. The document editing system is characterized in that the template information used for generating the composite document is searched.
As a result, it is possible to retrieve template information that is relatively optimal for content information from among a plurality of template information. Further, it is possible to reduce the operation of selecting template information by the user.

  [Invention 11] The invention 11 is the invention according to any one of the inventions 1 to 10, wherein the content information extracted by the content information extraction means is stored in a storage unit, and is stored in the storage unit. Content information acquisition means for acquiring the content information to be used for generation of the composite document from a plurality of the content information, wherein the document composition means acquires the content acquired by the content information acquisition means A document editing system characterized in that the composite document is generated using information.

With such a configuration, the content information extracted by the content information extracting unit is stored in the storage unit by the content information storage unit, and the content information acquiring unit selects from the plurality of content information stored in the storage unit. Content information used for generating a composite document is acquired.
As a result, when the user recognizes that the content information can be reused, the content information of the document can be extracted and stored. In addition, it is possible for a user to reuse desired content information acquired from a plurality of accumulated content information.

[Invention 12] The invention 12 is the invention 11, in which the content information acquisition means converts the content information selected from a plurality of the content information stored in the storage unit by a user into the composite document. It is a document editing system characterized in that it is acquired as the content information used for generation.
This makes it possible to generate a new document that reuses the desired content information selected by the user.

[Invention 13] The invention 13 is the invention 11, in which the content information acquisition unit is configured to select from the plurality of content information stored in the storage unit based on the template information used to generate the composite document. The document editing system is characterized in that the content information used for generating the composite document is searched.
Thereby, it is possible to search for content information that is relatively optimal for the template information from among a plurality of content information. Further, it is possible to reduce the operation of selecting content information by the user.

[Invention 14] The invention 14 according to any one of the inventions 1 to 13, further comprising printing means for executing printing based on image information of the composite document output by the composite document output means. Is a document editing system characterized by
With such a configuration, printing is executed by the printing unit based on the image information of the synthesized document output by the synthesized document output unit.

As a result, it is possible to print a new document that reuses an excellent design, content, etc. of an existing document by a relatively simple user operation. That is, for example, like a copier, a user can obtain a printed matter of a document in which desired content information is laid out based on desired template information relatively easily and relatively quickly.
[Invention 15] The invention 15 is a program for causing a computer to execute a process of combining content information of a document and template information, and an image for acquiring image information of a first document and image information of a second document. An information acquisition means; a template information extraction means for extracting the template information from the image information of the first document acquired by the image information acquisition means; and an image of the second document acquired by the image information acquisition means. Based on the information, content information extraction means for extracting the content information, and a composite document in which the content information extracted by the content information extraction means is laid out based on the template information extracted by the template information extraction means Generated by the document synthesizing unit and the document synthesizing unit A document editing program characterized by being a program for causing the computer to execute a process for realizing a synthesized document output means for outputting the synthesized document.

With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing by the read program, the same operation and effect as those of the document editing system according to the first aspect can be obtained.
[Invention 16] The invention 16 is a document editing method for synthesizing document content information and template information, and an image information acquisition step for acquiring image information of a first document and image information of a second document; From the image information of the first document acquired by the image information acquisition step, from the template information extraction step of extracting the template information, and from the image information of the second document acquired by the image information acquisition step, the A content information extraction step for extracting content information, and a document synthesis step for generating a composite document in which the content information extracted by the content information extraction step is laid out based on the template information extracted by the template information extraction step And a synthesized sentence that outputs the synthesized document generated by the document synthesizing process And a document output process.

  Thereby, an effect equivalent to that of the document editing system according to the first aspect can be obtained.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of document editing processing according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, a document for which template information is to be reused is a first document 101, and a document for which content information is to be reused is a second document 103. Further, it is assumed that the first document 101 and the second document 103 are divided into areas such as characters and illustrations, and the images 105 and 107 represent the arrangement of each area.

  First, the document recording medium on which the first document 101 is recorded is scanned (scanned) to acquire image information of the first document 101, and template information is extracted from the acquired image information. That is, template information indicating the arrangement of areas such as characters and illustrations as shown in the image 105 (in FIG. 1, the title 1 area, the text 1 area, and the photograph 1 area) is extracted. Next, the document recording medium in which the second document 103 is recorded is scanned to acquire image information of the second document 103, and content information is extracted from the acquired image information. That is, content information indicating the contents of areas such as characters and illustrations as shown in the image 107 (the title 2 area, the text 2 area, and the photograph 2 area in FIG. 1) is extracted. Here, either the template information extraction process or the content information extraction process may be processed first.

  Finally, the template information extracted from the first document 101 and the content information extracted from the second document 103 are combined to generate a combined document 109. That is, the content information extracted from the second document 103 is automatically laid out based on the template information extracted from the first document 101. Specifically, the contents of the title 2 area are laid out in the title 1 area, the contents of the text 2 area are laid out in the text 1 area, and the contents of the photo 2 area are laid out in the photo 1 area.

Therefore, the composite document 109 is divided into areas such as characters and illustrations, and an image 111 showing the arrangement of each area includes a title 1 area whose content is title 2, a text 1 area whose content is text 2, and This is an image in which a photo 1 area whose content is photo 2 is arranged.
Next, the document editing system of the present invention will be described by taking a document editing apparatus provided with each function of the document editing system in one apparatus as an example.

FIG. 2 is an example of a schematic diagram of the document editing apparatus of the present invention.
The document editing apparatus 130 according to the present invention includes an automatic paper feed unit 141, a scanner unit 143, a main body unit 145, a first paper discharge unit 147, and a second paper discharge unit 149. As shown in FIG. 2, the document editing apparatus 130 automatically arranges a paper on which a document for obtaining at least one of template information and content information is recorded on the automatic paper feeding unit 141, and scans the scanner. The image information of the document recorded on the sheet taken in by the unit 143 is read. The main body 145 acquires at least one of template information and content information from the read image information, and creates a new document (hereinafter referred to as “composite document”) based on the acquired information or the already acquired information. Generate. Further, the sheet on which the generated composite document is recorded is discharged from the first paper discharge unit 147, and the paper taken in from the automatic paper supply unit 141 is discharged from the second paper discharge unit 149.

FIG. 3 is an example of a functional block diagram of the document editing apparatus 130.
As shown in FIG. 3, the document editing apparatus 130 includes an image information acquisition unit 201, an extraction mode setting unit 203, an extraction rule setting unit 205, a template information extraction unit 207, a content information extraction unit 209, a template information storage unit 211, a content An information storage unit 213, a template information acquisition unit 215, a content information acquisition unit 217, a document composition unit 219, a composite document output unit 221, a printing unit 223, a template information storage unit 231, and a content information storage unit 233 are provided.

The image information acquisition unit 201 uses the automatic paper supply unit 141 to capture a sheet on which a document for acquiring at least one of template information and content information is recorded, and uses the scanner unit 143 to The captured paper is scanned to obtain image information of the document recorded on the paper.
The extraction mode setting unit 203 includes a mode for extracting template information from the image information acquired by the image information acquisition unit 201, a mode for extracting content information from the image information, and a mode for extracting template information and content information from the image information. Set one of the modes. That is, information to be extracted from the image information acquired by the image information acquisition unit 201 is determined.

The extraction mode setting will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 4 is an example of a schematic diagram of the operation panel.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the extraction mode setting operation.
As shown in FIG. 4, the operation panel includes a “template scan” button for setting extraction of template information from image information acquired by the image information acquisition unit 201, and a “content scan” button for extracting content information. Is provided. In addition, a “start” button is provided, which is used when starting a process of extracting at least one piece of information from the template information and the content information. In addition, a “template selection” button and a “content selection” button, which are buttons for selecting template information and content information described later, are provided.

  When setting the mode for extracting the template information from the image information, as shown in FIG. 5, the template information is extracted by pressing the “template scan” button on the operation panel to light it, and then pressing the “start” button. Is started. In other words, by pressing the “start” button, the image information acquisition unit 201 uses the automatic paper feeding unit 141 to take in the paper on which the document is recorded.

  Similarly, when a mode for extracting content information from image information is set, extraction of content information is started by pressing a “content scan” button and turning it on, and then pressing a “start” button. Also, when setting the mode for extracting template information and content information from image information, press both the “template scan” button and the “content scan” button to light both buttons, and then press the “start” button. By pressing, extraction of template information and content information is started. Here, the order of pressing the “template scan” button and the “content scan” button may be either.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the extraction rule setting unit 205 sets an extraction rule for extracting at least one of template information and content information from the image information acquired by the image information acquisition unit 201. For example, when acquiring image information of a plurality of documents as an extraction rule, one of the “template scan” button and the “content scan” button is pressed using the operation panel as described in FIG. If the user presses the “Start” button, a rule for alternately executing template information extraction and content information extraction is set for each document.

  The template information extraction unit 207 generates a template from the image information acquired by the image information acquisition unit 201 based on the extraction mode set by the extraction mode setting unit 203 or based on the extraction rule set by the extraction rule setting unit 205. Extract information. Here, the template information is extracted by dividing the image information into areas such as characters and illustrations, and obtaining information indicating the arrangement of the detected areas.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the template information extraction process.
A character area and a picture area are distinguished and extracted from a document A as shown in FIG. The arrangement of the character area and the picture area of the extracted document A is represented by an image A as shown in FIG. That is, in the image A, a character area A-1, a character area A-2, and a picture area A-1 are arranged. In this way, information indicating the arrangement of the character area and the picture area is extracted as template information. The extracted template information is stored in the template information storage unit 231 by the template information storage unit 211 described later.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the content information extraction unit 209 is acquired by the image information acquisition unit 201 based on the extraction mode set by the extraction mode setting unit 203 or based on the extraction rule set by the extraction rule setting unit 205. Content information is extracted from the obtained image information. Here, the content information is detected by dividing the image information into areas such as characters and illustrations, acquiring the contents of each detected area, and associating each area with the contents of each area. It is extracted by acquiring.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the content information extraction processing.
A character area and a picture area are distinguished and extracted from a document B as shown in FIG. The arrangement of the character area and the picture area of the extracted document B is represented by an image B as shown in FIG. That is, in the image B, a character area B-1, a character area B-2, and a picture area B-1 are arranged. Moreover, each area | region of the image B and the content of the area | region are matched as shown in FIG.7 (c). Information associating each region of the character region and the plate region with the contents of the region is extracted as content information. The extracted content information is stored in the content information storage unit 233 by the content information storage unit 213 described later.

Returning to FIG. 3, the template information storage unit 211 stores the template information extracted by the template information extraction unit 207 in the template information storage unit 231. Further, the template information extracted by the template information extraction unit 207 is passed to a template information acquisition unit 215 described later.
The content information storage unit 213 stores the content information extracted by the content information extraction unit 209 in the content information storage unit 233. Further, the content information extracted by the content information extraction unit 209 is passed to the content information acquisition unit 217 described later.

The template information acquisition unit 215 acquires template information used for generating a composite document from a plurality of template information stored in the template information storage unit 231 or directly receives template information passed from the template information storage unit 211. get.
The content information acquisition unit 217 acquires content information used for generating a composite document from a plurality of content information stored in the content information storage unit 233, or directly receives content information passed from the content information storage unit 213. get.

Here, the template information and the content information selected by the user are acquired as information used for generating a composite document.
The selection of template information and content information by the user will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 4, the operation panel is provided with a “template selection” button for selecting template information and a “content selection” button for selecting content information.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining selection of template information and content information.
When selecting template information, as shown in FIG. 8, the “template selection” button on the operation panel is pressed to start the template information selection operation. When the selection of the template information is completed, the “template selection” button is turned on in order to notify the user that the template information used for generating the composite document has been confirmed.

Similarly, when selecting content information, the “content selection” button is pressed to start the content information selection operation. When the selection of content information is completed, the “content selection” button is lit.
After the “template selection” button and the “content selection” button are turned on, the user is in a state in which the template information and the content information can be combined, that is, in a state in which the combining process can be started. Flash the “Start” button to inform When the blinking “Start” button is pressed by the user, the composition processing of the confirmed template information and content information is started.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of template information and content information selection processing.
As shown in FIG. 9, first, the selection target selected by the user is received (S102). That is, from the operation panel, the user presses either the “template selection” button or the “content selection” button, and information on the pressed button is input. Next, it is determined whether the selection target selected by the user is template information (S104).

When the selection target selected by the user is template information (S104; Yes), that is, when the “template selection” button is pressed by the user, a list of template information stored in the template information storage unit 231 is displayed. The information is displayed on a display device (S106).
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a list of images indicating template information.

  As shown in FIG. 10, a list of images representing the template information stored in the template information storage unit 231 is displayed, and the user is allowed to select an image representing the template information used for the composite document. Here, there are four pieces of template information stored in the template information storage unit 231, and images representing the respective template information are referred to as an image C, an image D, an image E, and an image F.

  Next, returning to FIG. 9, the template information selected by the user from the displayed list of template information is received (S108), and the received template information is determined as template information used for generating a composite document. (S110). Next, in order to notify the user that the template information used for generating the composite document is confirmed, the “template selection” button is turned on (S112), and the process proceeds to the next step S122.

  When the selection target selected by the user is content information (S104; No), that is, when the “content selection” button is pressed by the user, a list of content information stored in the content information storage unit 233 is displayed. (S114). Next, the content information selected by the user from the displayed list of content information is received (S116), and the received content information is determined as content information used for generating a composite document (S118). Next, in order to notify the user that the content information used for generating the composite document is confirmed, the “content selection” button is turned on (S120), and the process proceeds to the next step S122.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the template information and the content information used for generating the composite document are determined (S122). If the template information and the content information used for generating the composite document are determined (S124; Yes) flashes the “start” button to notify the user that the compositing process can be started (S124), and ends the process. On the other hand, when the template information and content information used for generating the composite document are not fixed (S124; No), the process returns to step S102, and the steps until the template information and content information used for generating the composite document are fixed. S102 to S122 are repeated.

Returning to FIG. 3, the document composition unit 219 generates a composite document based on the template information acquired by the template information acquisition unit 215 and the content information acquired by the content information acquisition unit 217.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a process of laying out content information based on template information. Here, generation of a composite document obtained by combining the template information represented by the image F illustrated in FIG. 10 and the content information of the document B illustrated in FIG. 7C will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, the content information of the document B is laid out in the arrangement of each area as shown in the image F. That is, the contents of the character area B-1 are laid out in the character area F-1, the contents of the character area B-2 are laid out in the character area F-2, and the contents of the illustration area B-1 are displayed in the illustration area F-1. Layout. At this time, the size of the illustration, the size of the character, the line feed of the character, the fit on the page, etc. are automatically determined, and a composite document is generated.

As shown in FIG. 11B, the document F ′ is generated by laying out the content information of the document B based on the template information represented in the image F. That is, a new document F ′ having a different appearance from the existing document B is generated.
Returning to FIG. 3, the composite document output unit 221 outputs the image information of the composite document generated by the document composition unit 219. For example, image information of a generated document generated via a network is output.

The printing unit 223 executes printing using the image information of the composite document output by the composite document output unit 221 and discharges the paper on which the document is printed from the first paper discharge unit 147.
Here, although not shown, the document editing apparatus 130 includes a CPU that controls the operation and the entire apparatus based on a control program, a ROM that stores a CPU control program in a predetermined area, a ROM, and the like. It has a RAM for storing the read information and calculation results required in the CPU calculation process, and an interface for mediating input / output of information to / from an external device. Further, the CPU, ROM, RAM, and interface are connected to each other via a bus that is a signal line for transferring information so that information can be exchanged.

The interface is connected to an external device, an input device that can input data as a human interface, a storage device that stores data and tables as files, a display device that displays a screen based on image signals, and the like. The template information storage unit 231 and the content information storage unit 233 are part of the storage device.
The CPU is composed of a microprocessing unit (MPU) or the like, and activates a predetermined program stored in a predetermined area of the ROM, and acquires and synthesizes content information and template information of an existing document according to the program. The document editing process for generating a new document is executed in a time-sharing manner.

  The document editing process includes an image information acquisition unit 201, an extraction mode setting unit 203, an extraction rule setting unit 205, a template information extraction unit 207, a content information extraction unit 209, a template information storage unit 211, a content information storage unit 213, a template. The information acquisition unit 215, the content information acquisition unit 217, the document composition unit 219, the composite document output unit 221, and the printing unit 223 are processes realized by the CPU.

  As described above, the document editing apparatus 130 includes the image information acquisition unit 201, the extraction mode setting unit 203, the extraction rule setting unit 205, the template information extraction unit 207, the content information extraction unit 209, the template information storage unit 211, and the content information storage. By providing a unit 213, a template information acquisition unit 215, a content information acquisition unit 217, a document composition unit 219, a composite document output unit 221, a print unit 223, a template information storage unit 231, and a content information storage unit 233, the existing document is superior. It is possible to generate a new document that reuses the design, contents, etc. relatively easily. That is, template information of an existing document that the user wants to reuse can be combined with content information of the existing document that the user wants to reuse relatively easily. Further, it is possible to generate a new document that reuses an excellent design, content, etc. of an existing document by a relatively simple user operation.

  In the above embodiment, the document editing system 130 of the present invention will be described by taking the document editing apparatus 130 having each function of the document editing system in one apparatus as an example. However, a plurality of apparatuses, terminals, and other devices are described. May be realized as a network system connected in a communicable manner. Here, each function of the document editing system may be functioned in any of a plurality of devices connected so as to be able to communicate with each other.

In the above-described embodiment, the document editing apparatus 130 of the present invention can be realized as one function of, for example, a multifunction peripheral or a copier.
In the above-described embodiment, when extracting template information, the document is captured by pressing the “start” button after pressing the “template scan” button. A document may be imported simply by pressing. The same applies when extracting content information.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the user selects the template information and the content information, the display device is used to display each information as a list and allow the user to select the template information and the content information. Based on the index sheet on which the content information is printed, the template information to be selected and the number of the content information may be input from the operation panel.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the list display of the template information as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed in the order stored in the template information storage unit 231, but based on a predetermined priority order, You may make it display in order of a priority.
In the above-described embodiment, the contents of the character area and the illustration area indicated by the content information are laid out in the character area and the illustration area indicated by the template information. The contents (for example, characters marked with a pen of a special color) may be laid out. In addition, a function is provided for associating the character area and the picture area indicated by the template information with the contents of the character area and the picture area indicated by the content information to the user. A composite document may be created based on the result.

  In the above-described embodiment, all the template information stored in the template information storage unit 231 is displayed as a list of images representing each template information, and the template information used for generating a composite document is selected by the user. However, based on the content information used for generating the composite document, appropriate template information is searched from all the template information stored in the template information storage unit 231, and the searched template information is It is also possible to display an image to represent. Furthermore, the user may be allowed to select an image representing appropriate template information from among the displayed images.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 10, in the image C, the image E, and the image F, two character areas and one illustration area are arranged. In the image D, two character areas and two illustration areas are arranged. On the other hand, the content information of document B includes contents associated with two character areas and contents associated with one illustration area. Therefore, it is not appropriate to lay out the content information of the document B based on the template information represented by the image D. Therefore, only the images C, E, and F representing the template information determined to be appropriate are displayed.

Further, based on the template information determined to be appropriate, an image in which the content information is laid out is displayed as a preview via a display device (not shown), and further, from among the displayed preview images. It is also possible to allow the user to select an appropriate composite document preview image.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a preview display of a composite document.

  As shown in FIG. 12, based on the template information determined to be appropriate based on the content information of the document B, preview images C ″, E ″, and F ″ of the synthesized document in which the content information of the document B is laid out are displayed. The user selects a preview image of the most appropriate composite document from the displayed preview images. For example, when the user selects the preview image F ″, the document F ′ as shown in FIG. Generated.

  In the above determination, whether or not the content information is suitable for layout is determined based on the number of character areas and the number of picture areas. Further, based on the area and position of the character area and the picture area. It is also possible to determine. In addition to being divided into two areas, a character area and a picture area, it is also possible to divide into smaller areas (for example, a photo area, an illustration area, a table area, a title area, a body area, etc.).

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the document editing apparatus 130 has only one automatic paper feeding unit 141, but image information for extracting template information is recorded. A first automatic paper feeding unit that takes in the paper that is being used and a second automatic paper feeding unit that takes in the paper on which the image information for extracting the content information is recorded may be provided.
FIG. 13 is an example of a schematic diagram of a document editing apparatus including two automatic paper feeders.

As shown in FIG. 13, the document editing apparatus 160 includes a first automatic paper feeder 171 for taking in a sheet on which a document for extracting template information is recorded, and a document for extracting content information. And a second automatic paper feeding unit 173 for taking in the paper on which is recorded.
In the above-described embodiment, the image information of the document is acquired using the scanner unit 143. However, an existing electronic filing system that stores and manages the image information of the document can be used via a network. It is also possible to input image information. It is also possible to input image information from an information storage medium storing document image information.

  In the document editing apparatus 130 according to the above-described embodiment, the image information acquisition unit 201 corresponds to the image information acquisition unit of the inventions 1 to 15 and the image information acquisition process of the invention 16. The automatic paper feeding unit 141 corresponds to the automatic capturing unit of the third aspect, and the scanner unit 143 corresponds to the image information reading unit of the second aspect. The extraction mode setting unit 203 corresponds to the extraction mode setting unit of the sixth aspect, and the extraction rule setting unit 205 corresponds to the extraction rule setting unit of the seventh aspect. The template information extraction unit 207 corresponds to the template information extraction unit of the inventions 1 to 15 and the template information extraction process of the invention 16, and the content information extraction unit 209 includes the content information extraction unit of the inventions 1 to 15 and the invention. This corresponds to 16 content information extraction steps. Further, the template information storage unit 211 corresponds to the template information storage unit of the inventions 8 to 10, and the content information storage unit 213 corresponds to the content information storage unit of the inventions 11 to 13. The template information acquisition unit 215 corresponds to the template information acquisition unit according to the eighth to tenth aspects, and the content information acquisition unit 217 corresponds to the content information acquisition unit according to the eleventh to thirteenth aspects. The document composition unit 219 corresponds to the document composition unit of the inventions 1 to 15 and the document composition step of the invention 16, and the composition document output unit 221 includes the composition document output unit of the inventions 1 to 15 and the composition of the invention 16. Corresponding to the document output process, the printing unit 223 corresponds to the printing means of the fourteenth aspect. The template information storage unit 231 corresponds to the storage unit of inventions 8 to 10, and the content information storage unit 233 corresponds to the storage unit of inventions 11 to 13.

Further, the case where the control program stored in advance in the ROM of the document editing apparatus 130 is executed when the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 is executed has been described, but the program for executing these steps is stored. The program may be read into the RAM from the information storage medium and executed.
Here, the information storage medium is a semiconductor storage medium such as RAM or ROM, a magnetic storage type storage medium such as FD or HD, an optical reading type storage medium such as CD, CDV, LD, or DVD, or a magnetic storage such as MO. A type / optical reading type storage medium, including any information storage medium that can be read by a computer, regardless of electronic, magnetic, optical, or other reading methods. The program may be downloaded and executed via a network.

  In addition, the above-mentioned embodiment is for description and does not limit the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, those skilled in the art can employ embodiments in which each or all of these elements are replaced by equivalents thereof, and these embodiments are also included in the scope of the present invention.

The conceptual diagram of the document edit process of this invention. 1 is a schematic diagram of a document editing apparatus of the present invention. 3 is a functional block diagram of the document editing apparatus 130. FIG. Schematic of the operation panel. The figure for demonstrating extraction mode setting operation. The figure for demonstrating the extraction process of template information. The figure for demonstrating the extraction process of content information. The figure for demonstrating selection of template information and content information. The flowchart of the selection process of template information and content information. The figure showing the list of the images which show template information. The figure explaining the process which lays out content information based on template information. The figure which shows the preview display of a synthetic document. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a document editing apparatus including two automatic paper feeders.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... 1st document, 103 ... 2nd document, 105 ... Image, 107 ... Image, 109 ... Composite document, 130 ... Document editing apparatus, 141 ... Automatic paper feeder, 143 ... Scanner part, 145 ... Main part, 147 ... First paper discharge unit, 149 ... second paper discharge unit, 160 ... document editing device, 171 ... first automatic paper feed unit, 173 ... second automatic paper feed unit, 201 ... image information acquisition unit, 203 ... Extraction mode setting section, 205 ... Extraction rule setting section, 207 ... Template information extraction section, 209 ... Content information extraction section, 211 ... Template information storage section, 213 ... Template information acquisition section, 215 ... Content information storage section, 217 ... Content information acquisition unit 219 ... Document composition unit 221 ... Composite document output unit 223 ... Print unit 231 ... Template information storage unit 231 33 ... content information storage unit

Claims (16)

A document editing system for combining document content information and template information,
Image information acquisition means for acquiring image information of the first document and image information of the second document;
Template information extraction means for extracting the template information from the image information of the first document acquired by the image information acquisition means;
Content information extraction means for extracting the content information from the image information of the second document acquired by the image information acquisition means;
Based on the template information extracted by the template information extracting means, a document synthesizing means for generating a synthesized document in which the content information extracted by the content information extracting means is laid out;
Synthetic document output means for outputting the synthetic document generated by the document synthesis means;
A document editing system characterized by comprising: The image information acquisition means
The first document recording medium in which the first document is recorded and the second document recording medium in which the second document is recorded are scanned, and the image information of the first document and the second document recording medium are scanned. 2. The document editing system according to claim 1, further comprising image information reading means for reading image information of said document. The image information reading means includes
An automatic capturing means is provided for automatically capturing the first document recording medium on which the first document is recorded and the second document recording medium on which the second document is recorded. The document editing system according to claim 2. The image information reading means includes
First automatic capturing means for automatically capturing a first document recording medium on which the first document for extracting the template information is recorded;
Second automatic capture means for automatically capturing a second document recording medium in which the second document for extracting the content information is recorded;
The document editing system according to claim 2, further comprising: The image information acquisition means
Means for inputting the image information from an information storage medium storing the image information of the document, and the image from the system or apparatus in which the image information of the document connected to be communicable via a network is stored 5. The document editing system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one means for inputting information. Any one of a mode for extracting the template information from the image information acquired by the image information acquisition means, a mode for extracting the content information, and a mode for extracting the template information and the content information is selected. It further comprises extraction mode setting means for setting,
When a mode for extracting the template information is set, the template information extracting means extracts the template information,
When the mode for extracting the content information is set, the content information extracting means extracts the content information,
The template information extraction unit extracts the template information when the mode for extracting the template information and the content information is set, and the content information extraction unit extracts the content information. Item 6. The document editing system according to any one of Items 1 to 5. An extraction rule setting unit that sets an extraction rule for extracting at least one of the template information and the content information from the image information acquired by the image information acquisition unit;
The said template information extraction means extracts the said template information based on the said extraction rule, The said content information extraction means extracts the said content information, The any one of Claim 1 to 6 characterized by the above-mentioned. Document editing system. Template information storage means for storing the template information extracted by the template information extraction means in a storage unit;
Template information acquisition means for acquiring the template information used for generating the composite document from among the plurality of template information stored in the storage unit,
The document editing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the document synthesizing unit generates the synthesized document by using the template information acquired by the template information acquiring unit. The template information acquisition means includes
9. The template information selected from a plurality of the template information stored in the storage unit by a user is acquired as the template information used for generating the composite document. Document editing system. The template information acquisition means includes
The template information used for generating the synthesized document is searched from the plurality of template information stored in the storage unit based on the content information used for generating the synthesized document. The document editing system according to claim 8. Content information storage means for storing the content information extracted by the content information extraction means in a storage unit;
Content information acquisition means for acquiring the content information used for generating the composite document from among the plurality of content information stored in the storage unit;
11. The document editing system according to claim 1, wherein the document synthesizing unit generates the synthesized document using the content information acquired by the content information acquiring unit. The content information acquisition means includes
12. The content information selected from the plurality of pieces of content information stored in the storage unit by a user is acquired as the content information used for generating the composite document. Document editing system. The content information acquisition means includes
Based on the template information used for generating the synthesized document, the content information used for generating the synthesized document is searched from the plurality of content information stored in the storage unit. The document editing system according to claim 11.   14. The document editing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a printing unit that executes printing based on image information of the synthesized document output by the synthesized document output unit. system. A program that causes a computer to execute a process of combining document content information and template information,
Image information acquisition means for acquiring image information of the first document and image information of the second document;
Template information extraction means for extracting the template information from the image information of the first document acquired by the image information acquisition means;
Content information extraction means for extracting the content information from the image information of the second document acquired by the image information acquisition means;
Based on the template information extracted by the template information extracting means, a document synthesizing means for generating a synthesized document in which the content information extracted by the content information extracting means is laid out;
Synthetic document output means for outputting the synthetic document generated by the document synthesis means;
A document editing program characterized by being a program for causing the computer to execute processing for realizing the above. A document editing method for combining document content information and template information,
An image information acquisition step of acquiring image information of the first document and image information of the second document;
A template information extraction step for extracting the template information from the image information of the first document acquired by the image information acquisition step;
A content information extraction step of extracting the content information from the image information of the second document acquired by the image information acquisition step;
A document synthesizing step for generating a synthesized document in which the content information extracted by the content information extracting step is laid out based on the template information extracted by the template information extracting step;
A synthetic document output step of outputting the synthetic document generated by the document synthesis step;
A document editing method characterized by comprising:

Images