JP2005286564A - Image reader, control program for controlling it and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader capable of easily setting reading conditions of an original document, a control program to be executed by it, and a control method. <P>SOLUTION: An MFP is provided with a scanner for an original document according to given reading conditions and outputting image data; a storage unit for storing the image data; an electronic mail transmitting/receiving unit for transmitting and receiving an electronic mail; and a control unit for controlling the scanner, the storage unit, and the electronic mail transmitting/receiving unit. The control unit is provided with a setting unit for setting the reading conditions and a transmission destination address (step S43, S42); a reading instructing unit for providing the reading conditions of the maximum performance of the scanner to the scanner to cause the scanner to output reference image data, and causing the storage unit to store the reference image data (step S44A); an image converting unit for applying image conversion to the reference image data outputted from the scanner according to the reading conditions set by the setting unit, and outputting the image data (step S44B); and an electronic mail generating means for generating an electronic mail in which the reading conditions set by the setting means are used as a main text (step S45), the image data are formed into an additional file (step S46), and the transmission destination address set by the setting unit is used as a transmission destination (step S47), and for transmitting the generated mail (S48). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, a control program and a control method for controlling the image reading apparatus, and more particularly to an image reading apparatus for reading a document and outputting image data, and a control program and a control method for controlling the image reading apparatus.

  A scanner that optically reads a document and outputs image data is known. This scanner can change reading conditions such as resolution, reading density, and reading size. Since this reading condition differs depending on the user or the original to be read, it must be set every time the original is read. Usually, before the user causes the scanner to read a document, the reading condition is set by operating an operation button of the scanner.

  However, when the user directly inputs the reading condition from the operation button of the scanner, the user occupies the scanner during that time. Since the reading operation cannot be executed while the reading condition is set, the operation rate of the scanner is lowered.

Moreover, although it is a printing system, the technique which sets printing conditions by remote control is described in Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 10-207670. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-207670 discloses an e-mail terminal having an e-mail transmission means for sending an e-mail via a network, and a print data receiving means having a print data receiving means for receiving print data via a network. In a printing system comprising a terminal, the e-mail terminal is provided with e-mail creating means for creating an e-mail describing commands that can be interpreted by the print data receiving terminal, and the print data receiving terminal is created by e-mail creating means. An e-mail receiving means for receiving the e-mail, a command interpreting means for interpreting a command in the e-mail received by the e-mail receiving means, and a control means for performing condition setting control for printing based on the command A printing system provided is described.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-207670

  However, since the image data read by the scanner is electronic data, the image quality cannot be determined visually. For this reason, it is impossible to determine whether the image data has a desired image quality unless it is printed by the printing apparatus or displayed on the display. If the scanner has a printing device, the image quality can be evaluated on the spot if printing is performed, but after printing, the user may forget the reading conditions previously set.

  Further, when it is desired to change the reading condition after viewing the image data obtained by reading the original, the original must be read again under the changed reading condition.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus capable of easily setting document reading conditions, a control program executed by the image reading apparatus, and a control method.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an image reading apparatus reads a document according to given reading conditions and outputs image data, storage means for storing image data, An electronic mail transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving an electronic mail, a control unit for controlling the reading unit, the storage unit, and the electronic mail transmission / reception unit. The control unit sets a reading condition and a destination address, and the reading unit The reading means outputs the reference image data in accordance with the reading condition set by the setting means and the reading instructing means for giving the reading means the reading means and outputting the reference image data to the reading means and storing the reference image data in the storage means. A conversion means for converting the reference image data thus processed and outputting the first image data; and a reading condition set by the setting means as the text, Data and attachments, and an e-mail generating means for generating and outputting an email to send the configured destination address by setting means to the electronic mail transmitting and receiving means.

  According to the present invention, when the reading condition and the transmission destination address are set, the document is read under the reading condition with the maximum capability of the reading means, and the reference image data is stored. Then, first image data obtained by converting the reference image data according to the set reading condition is output. Further, an e-mail is sent with the reading condition as the text, the first image data as the attached file, and the set destination address as the destination. Since the image data and the reading conditions are transmitted to an external apparatus by electronic mail, the user of the external apparatus can see the read image data and evaluate the reading conditions. As a result, it is possible to provide an image reading apparatus capable of easily setting reading conditions.

  Preferably, the control unit further includes an e-mail analysis unit that analyzes the received e-mail and extracts a reading condition, and the conversion unit receives a reply e-mail corresponding to the e-mail transmitted by the e-mail transmission / reception unit. In this case, the reference image data stored in the storage means is image-converted according to the reading conditions extracted from the reply mail by the email analysis means, and the second image data is output. The second e-mail is generated with the reading condition extracted from the reply mail by the mail analysis means as the text, the second image data as the attached file, and the destination address determined from the reply mail as the destination, and sent and received Output to the means.

  According to the present invention, when a reply mail corresponding to the transmitted electronic mail is received, a reading condition is extracted from the reply mail, and the second image data is converted by converting the reference image data according to the extracted reading condition. Is output. For this reason, the user does not need to read the same document again after changing the reading condition. Then, the second e-mail is transmitted with the reading condition extracted from the reply mail as the text, the second image data as the attached file, and the transmission destination as the transmission destination address determined from the reply mail. For this reason, it is possible to output image data that has been read under different reading conditions without reading the same document again. As a result, it is possible to easily set a reading condition for obtaining image data having a desired image quality.

  Preferably, the apparatus further comprises user interface means for accepting an instruction input by the user, and the setting means sets the reading condition and destination address input by the user interface means.

  Preferably, the control unit further includes an e-mail analyzing unit that analyzes the e-mail received by the e-mail transmitting / receiving unit and extracts a reading condition and a destination address, and the setting unit reads the reading condition extracted from the e-mail. And set the destination address.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a reading unit that reads a document and outputs image data according to a given reading condition, a storage unit that stores image data, and an e-mail transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives an e-mail are provided. The control program executed by the image reading apparatus includes a step of setting a reading condition and a destination address, a step of giving the reading means a reading condition of the maximum capability of the reading means, and causing the reading means to output reference image data. Storing the reference image data in the storage means, converting the reference image data output by the reading means according to the set reading conditions, and outputting the first image data, and the set reading conditions. Create a first e-mail with the body text, the first image data as an attached file, and the destination address set by the setting means. A step of, in an electronic mail transmitting and receiving means to execute the steps of transmitting the first email to the image reading apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a control program capable of easily setting document reading conditions.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, a reading unit that reads a document and outputs image data according to a given reading condition, a storage unit that stores image data, and an e-mail transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives an e-mail are provided. A control method executed by the provided image reading apparatus, the step of setting a reading condition and a destination address, and the reading means having the maximum capability of the reading means is given to the reading means and the reference image data is output to the reading means A step of storing the reference image data in the storage means, a step of converting the reference image data output by the reading means and outputting the first image data according to the set reading conditions, and a set A first electronic mail having the reading condition as a text, the first image data as an attached file, and the transmission destination address set by the setting means as the transmission destination. Generating a, the electronic mail transmitting and receiving means to execute the steps of transmitting the first email to the image reading apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a control method capable of easily setting document reading conditions.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall outline of an image reading system in one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, image reading system 10 includes a multifunction device 1 (hereinafter referred to as “MFP 1”), a mail server 2, and a user computer 4 each connected to a network 3. The user computer 4 is a general personal computer. In the figure, the MFP 1, the mail server 2, and the user computer 4 are each described as an example, but there may be a plurality of them.

  An MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) 1 includes a scanner for reading an original, an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium such as paper based on image data, a facsimile, an image reading function, a copying function, and facsimile transmission / reception. Function and print function to print data are provided. In addition, a detachable flash ROM 6 is attached to the MFP 1. The control program stored in the flash ROM 6 is executed by a central processing unit (CPU) provided in the MFP 1. The control program may be stored in an EEPROM (electrically erasable / programmable read only memory) instead of being read from the flash ROM 6. The MFP 1 executes a program stored in the EEPROM by the CPU. Further, since this EEPROM can rewrite or additionally write the stored contents, another computer connected to the network 3 can rewrite the image processing program stored in the EEPROM of the MFP 1 or can create a new image processing program. You may make it write by adding. Further, the MFP 1 may download a control program from another computer connected to the network 3 and store the control program in the EEPROM.

  The mail server 2 is a general personal computer. Since the hardware configuration is well known, description thereof will not be repeated here. The mail server 2 receives an e-mail from the user computer 4 or the MFP 1 and stores it. Further, when an electronic mail download request is received from the user computer 4 or the MFP 1, the corresponding electronic mail is transmitted to the user computer 4 or the MFP 1. A well-known mail server can be used.

  The network 3 is a local area network (LAN), the Internet, or a general public line, and may be wired or wireless. Although an example in which the MFP 1 and the mail server 2 are connected via the network 3 is shown here, the MFP 1, the mail server 2, and the user computer 4 may be connected using a serial line or a parallel line.

  Note that the control program executed by the MFP 1 is stored in the flash ROM 6 and distributed, but other recording media such as a flexible disk, a cassette tape, a CD-ROM, a hard disk, an optical disk (MO (Magnetic Optical Disc)) are shown. / MD (Mini Disc) / DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)), IC card (including memory card), optical card, mask ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash ROM, semiconductor memory, etc. But you can.

  The program here includes not only a program directly executable by the CPU but also a program in a source program format, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

  In the image reading system 10 according to the present embodiment, reading conditions for reading a document by the MFP 1 are set by remote operation from the user computer 4. An e-mail is used for this setting. The user computer 4 transmits an e-mail addressed to the MFP 1 including the reading conditions. The e-mail is received by the MFP 1 via the mail server. The MFP 1 extracts reading conditions from the received electronic mail. At this stage, the MFP 1 does not set the reading condition, but assigns the reading condition to the one-touch key. The user later moves to the installation location of the MFP 1 with the original, and when the user sets the original on the MFP 1 and presses the one-touch key, the reading condition previously assigned to the one-touch key is read.

  In the present embodiment, the MFP 1 will be described as an example, but it is sufficient to have at least a scanner that reads a document and outputs image data.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of MFP 1 in the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 2, MFP 1 controls control unit 101 for controlling MFP 1 as a whole, scanner 103 for optically reading a document and outputting image data, and reading conditions, image data, and the like. A storage unit 105, an operation panel 106 that accepts user operations, a communication unit 109 for connecting the control unit 101 to the network 3, and an image forming unit 111 for forming an image on a recording medium such as paper. .

  The scanner 103 includes a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), optically reads a document, and outputs electronic data as image data. Image data output from the scanner 103 is output to the storage unit 105.

  The operation panel 106 includes an input unit 108 for receiving an operation input by a user and a display unit 107 for displaying predetermined information.

  The storage unit 105 is a storage device such as a hard disk. The storage unit 105 may be a semiconductor memory such as a random access memory (RAM). The storage unit 105 stores image data read by the scanner 103, reading conditions set in the MFP 1, and user authentication data. The authentication data is information in which user identification information, a password, and an e-mail address of the user are associated with each other.

  A communication unit 109 is a communication interface for connecting the MFP 1 to the network 3. The communication unit 109 communicates with the mail server 2 to send and receive electronic mail. A predetermined mail address is assigned to the MFP 1. The communication unit 109 makes an inquiry to the mail server about the presence or absence of an e-mail addressed to the e-mail address assigned to the MFP 1 at predetermined time intervals, and if it exists, downloads it from the mail server 2. Further, the MFP 1 transmits an electronic mail to the mail server 2. Further, when the MFP 1 receives the e-mail, the MFP 1 transmits an e-mail (reply mail) whose destination is the sender of the e-mail.

  The image forming unit 111 visualizes image data read by the scanner 103 or image data received from another computer by the communication unit 109 on a sheet.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view of the operation panel 106. Referring to FIG. 3, operation panel 106 includes a liquid crystal touch panel 150, a numeric keypad 151, a clear key 152 for returning a set numerical value to an initial value, and an interrupt key 153 for executing an interrupt copy. A start key 154 for instructing the start of image reading is provided. The liquid crystal touch panel 150 is formed by loading a touch panel made of a transparent member on a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device corresponds to the display unit 107. The touch panel, ten key 151, clear key 152, interrupt key 153, and start key 154 correspond to the input unit 108. By displaying an instruction button on the liquid crystal display device and detecting the instruction of the button on the touch panel, various operations can be input. Operation panel 106 displays a screen including reading conditions set in MFP 1, a screen for setting reading conditions, and the like.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the control unit of the MFP according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 4, control unit 101 includes an e-mail analysis unit 123A that analyzes an e-mail received by communication unit 109, a reading condition storage unit 121 that stores reading conditions in storage unit 105, and a reading unit. A setting unit 125A for setting conditions and an e-mail transmission destination, a reading instruction unit 127A for outputting the reading conditions to the scanner 103, a user authentication unit 137 for authenticating the user, and associating the reading conditions with the one-touch key An association unit 129, an e-mail generation unit 131A for generating an e-mail, a one-touch information generation unit 133 for generating one-touch information for displaying reading conditions, and a display control unit for controlling the display unit 107 135 and an image conversion unit 139 that converts the image data stored in the storage unit 105 in accordance with the changed reading condition.

  The e-mail analysis unit 123A is connected to the communication unit 109 and receives an e-mail. The e-mail includes a header part and a body part. In the header portion, a transmission destination address, a transmission source address, a subject, and a message ID indicating a reply mail as necessary are described in a predetermined format. The body part includes the text of the e-mail. In the present embodiment, an e-mail for setting a reading condition is transmitted from the user computer 4. In the body text of the e-mail, identification information indicating that the e-mail is for setting a reading condition, a reading condition to be set, and a transmission destination address in some cases are described in a predetermined format. When the e-mail analysis unit 123A analyzes the e-mail and detects the identification information of the text, the e-mail analysis unit 123A extracts the transmission destination address and the reading condition from the text. The email analysis unit 123A outputs the extracted transmission destination address and reading condition to the setting unit 125A.

  In addition, when a reply mail is received for the electronic mail that has been transmitted once, the electronic mail analysis unit 123A analyzes the reply mail and extracts a transmission destination and a reading condition. Then, information indicating that the mail is a reply mail, a transmission destination, and a reading condition are output to the setting unit 125A.

  Setting unit 125A is connected to input unit 108 of operation panel 106. The setting unit 125 </ b> A receives the reading conditions input to the input unit 108 and the transmission destination address when the transmission destination address is input to the input unit 108. The setting unit 125 </ b> A also receives the reading condition from the e-mail analysis unit 123 and the transmission destination address when the transmission destination address is described in the body of the e-mail. That is, the reading condition and the transmission destination address in some cases are input to the setting unit 125A from either the operation panel 106 or the e-mail analysis unit 123. The setting unit 125A outputs the reading conditions to the e-mail generation unit 131A, the association unit 129, the reading condition storage unit 121, and the reading instruction unit 127A. In addition, when the transmission destination address is input, the setting unit 125A outputs the transmission destination address to the email generation unit 131A.

  When the setting unit 125A receives information indicating that it is a reply mail from the email analysis unit 123A, the setting unit 125A sends the reading conditions to the email generation unit 131A, the association unit 129, the reading condition storage unit 121, and the image conversion unit 139. Output. In this case, the reading condition is not output to the reading instruction unit 127A.

  The reading condition storage unit 121 receives a reading condition from the setting unit 125A. The reading condition input from the setting unit 125A is a reading condition input by the user from the input unit 108 or a reading condition extracted from an e-mail. The reading condition storage unit 121 is connected to the storage unit 105 and stores the input reading conditions in the storage unit 105. Further, when a transmission destination address is input from the setting unit 125A in addition to the reading condition, the reading condition storage unit 121 stores the input reading condition in association with the transmission destination address in the storage unit 105.

  The user authentication unit 137 is connected to the input unit 108 and the storage unit 105. The user authentication unit 137 compares the user identification information and password input from the input unit 108 by the user with the user identification information and password stored in advance in the storage unit 105. As a result of comparison, if the two match, it is determined as a true user, and if they do not match, it is not determined as a true user. The result of the user authentication is output to the association unit 129.

  The association unit 129 receives a reading condition from the setting unit 125 </ b> A and receives an authentication result from the user authentication unit 137. The association unit 129 associates the input reading condition with the one-touch key of the input unit 108. The button address of the one-touch key is determined in advance, and the association unit 129 stores the button address in association with the reading conditions already stored in the storage unit 105. The association between the button address and the reading condition includes associating the address where the reading condition is stored in the storage unit 105 with the button address of the one-touch key. Note that the association unit 129 may associate the input reading condition with the one-touch key of the input unit 108 on the condition that the authentication result is a true user.

  When the input unit 108 detects that the one-touch key is pressed, the one-touch information generation unit 133 receives the button address of the one-touch key. Then, the reading condition stored in association with the button address is read from the storage unit 105. Then, one-touch information for displaying the read reading condition is generated. The one-touch information generation unit 133 outputs the generated one-touch information to the display control unit 135. The display control unit 135 controls the display unit 107 and switches information displayed on the display unit 107. When the one-touch information is input from the one-touch information generation unit 133, the display control unit 135 controls the display unit 107 to display the one-touch information on the display unit 107.

  The reading instruction unit 127A receives the reading condition from the setting unit 125A, but does not output the reading condition to the scanner 103 as it is, but outputs the reading condition determined by the maximum capability of the scanner 103 to the scanner 103. For example, the maximum reading resolution and the maximum document size are the reading conditions. This reading condition is referred to as a reference reading condition. In response to an instruction from the input unit 108, the scanner 103 is activated. As a result, the scanner 103 reads the document and outputs image data in accordance with the reference reading conditions. The instruction from the input unit 108 is pressing the start key 154. The scanner 103 stores image data to be read and output in accordance with the reference reading conditions in the storage unit 105 as reference image data.

  The image conversion unit 139 receives a reading condition from the setting unit 125A. When the reading condition is input, the image conversion unit 139 reads the reference image data from the storage unit 105 and converts the reference image data according to the input reading condition. This image conversion process is, for example, a process for converting the resolution to a lower resolution, a process for converting the document size to a smaller size, or a process for converting the reading density to a coarse density (for example, a process for increasing the quantization width). Then, the image data subjected to the image conversion is output to the e-mail generation unit 131A. When the reading condition input from the setting unit 125A is the same as the reference reading condition, the image conversion unit 139 outputs the reference image data as it is to the e-mail generation unit without converting the image.

  When the input unit 108 detects that the one-touch key is pressed, the image conversion unit 139 receives the button address of the one-touch key. Then, the reading condition and the reference image data stored in association with the button address are read from the storage unit 105. Then, in accordance with an instruction from the input unit 108, the read reference image data is converted according to the read reading conditions, and the converted image data is output to the e-mail generating unit 131A.

  The email generation unit 131A is connected to the image conversion unit 139. The e-mail generation unit 131A receives the reading condition and the destination address from the setting unit 125A. When the image data is input from the image conversion unit 139, the e-mail generation unit 131A describes the transmission destination address already input from the setting unit 125A in the header portion, converts the reading condition into a predetermined format, and converts the body portion. The e-mail is generated with the image data as an attached file. Then, the generated electronic mail is output to the communication unit 109.

  The communication unit 109 transmits the email input from the email generation unit 131 </ b> A to the mail server 2.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the format of the body part text of an e-mail. The email received by the MFP 1 and the body text of the email sent by the MFP 1 are described in this format. Therefore, the e-mail analysis unit 123A extracts the transmission destination address and the reading condition from the text according to this format, and the e-mail generation unit 131A generates the text describing the reading condition according to the format.

  Referring to FIG. 5, the format of the reading condition describes an area for describing identification information indicating that the e-mail is for setting the reading condition, an area for describing the reading condition to be set, and a transmission destination address. Area to be included. Here, the identification information indicating that it is an e-mail for setting the reading condition is a character string << MFPScanMode >>. This identification information is provided so that the MFP 1 can detect that the MFP 1 is an e-mail used for setting a reading condition in preparation for a plurality of types of processes executed when the MFP 1 receives the e-mail. It is. This identification information may be described in the subject of the header part instead of being described in the body part of the e-mail.

  Next to the identification information, reading conditions are described. The reading condition is described as a combination of a predetermined character string and its set value for specifying one of a plurality of reading conditions. For the resolution reading condition, a character string “Resolution” and a value [600] are described. A character string “OriginalSize” and a value [A4] are described for the document size. For the density reading condition, the character string “ImageDensity” and the value “3” are described.

  Next to the reading condition, a transmission destination address is described. The transmission destination address includes a predetermined character string “Destination” and a value [user @ abc. co. jp] is described. The description of the transmission destination address is arbitrary.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the one-touch information. Referring to FIG. 6, one-touch information 200 is a display screen including one-touch key 201, status display area 202, reading condition display areas 203, 204, 205, and transmission destination display area 206. Further, in FIG. 6, a transition button 211 including a character string “address input” and a transition button 212 including a character string “manual setting” are included above the one-touch information 200. The transition button 211 is a transition button for switching to an address input screen for inputting an e-mail transmission destination address. The transition button 212 is a transition button for switching to a manual setting screen for manually setting a reading condition. When the address input screen or the manual setting screen is displayed on the display unit 107, a one-touch key 201 that is a part of the one-touch information 100 is displayed on the display unit 107. The one-touch key 201 in a state where the address input screen or the manual setting screen is displayed serves as a transition button for displaying the one-touch information 200 on the display unit 107.

  The reading condition display area 203 is an area for displaying a reading condition of resolution when the scanner 103 reads an original. The reading condition display area 204 is an area for displaying the size of the original when the scanner 103 reads the original. A reading condition display area 205 is an area for displaying a density reading condition when the scanner 103 reads a document.

  The transmission destination display area 206 is an area for displaying an electronic mail address of an electronic mail transmission destination. The transmission destination display area 206 can display a plurality of e-mail addresses, and the e-mail address set as the transmission destination address is displayed in a different form from the others. In FIG. 6, the set e-mail address is shown in reverse video. The MFP 1 stores an e-mail address in the storage unit 105 in advance. An e-mail address stored in the storage unit 105 is displayed in the transmission destination display area 206. When the one-touch information generation unit 133 reads the reading condition from the storage unit 105 and the transmission destination address is associated with the reading condition, the transmission destination address is displayed in a different form from the others.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of e-mail reception processing executed by the MFP in the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 7, it is first determined whether or not an electronic mail has been received (step S01). If an e-mail is received, the process proceeds to step S02. If no e-mail is received, a standby state is entered. That is, the e-mail receiving process is a process executed when an e-mail is received. The e-mail received in step S01 is not limited to an e-mail for setting a reading condition, but includes a reply e-mail and an e-mail for other purposes.

  In step S02, it is determined whether or not the received e-mail is for setting a reading condition. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the identification information << MFP ScanMode >> indicating that the body text of the received e-mail is an e-mail for setting a reading condition is included. If true, the process proceeds to step S03, and if false, the process proceeds to step S07. In step S07, other processing corresponding to the electronic mail is executed.

  In step S03, the received electronic mail is analyzed. The body text of the received e-mail is analyzed according to the format described above, and the reading conditions are extracted. If a transmission destination address is described, the transmission destination address is extracted.

  Then, the extracted reading condition is stored in the storage unit 105 (step S04). When the transmission destination address is extracted, the reading condition and the transmission destination address are stored in association with each other. Further, in the next step S05, one-touch information is generated. The one-touch information is a screen for displaying the reading condition shown in FIG. 6, for example. The generated one-touch information is stored in the storage unit 105.

  The extracted reading condition is associated with the one-touch key of the input unit 108. Specifically, a button address predetermined for the one-touch key is stored in the storage unit 105 in association with the reading condition stored in the storage unit 105 in step S04.

  Since the e-mail receiving process is executed every time an e-mail is received by the MFP 1, the reading condition is updated every time an e-mail for setting the reading condition is received. The MFP 1 may store the reading conditions every time an e-mail for setting the reading conditions is received. In this case, one-touch information is generated by the number of stored reading conditions. For this reason, as many one-touch keys as the number of stored reading conditions are required.

<Variation of email reception processing>
A modification of the e-mail reception process is a process for validating the reading condition for each user. FIG. 8 is a first flowchart showing a flow of a modified example of the modified e-mail receiving process. Referring to FIG. 8, the modification of the email receiving process is different from the email receiving process shown in FIG. 7 in that step S11 is added between step S05 and step S06. In step S11, it is determined whether or not the outgoing address of the email received in step S01 matches the email address of the user currently logged in to MFP1. If true, the process proceeds to step S06. If false, step S06 is skipped and the process ends. Here, the login of the user to the MFP 1 is an instruction to log out from the input unit 108 of the MFP 1 after the user identification information and password input by the user from the input unit 108 of the MFP 1 are authenticated by the user authentication unit 137. It means the state until it is input. In MFP 1 in the present embodiment, only one user can log in. Therefore, when the MFP 1 has only one one-touch key for associating the reading condition, the MFP 1 can associate only the reading condition set by the logged-in user with the one-touch key.

  When a user who is not logged in transmits an e-mail, the reading conditions extracted from the e-mail are stored in the storage unit 105 in step S04. However, it is not associated with the one-touch key. In this state, when the user logs in to the MFP 1 next time, processing for associating the reading conditions stored in the storage unit 105 with the one-touch key is executed.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed when the user logs in to the MFP. Referring to FIG. 9, user authentication is executed in step S21. If the user is authenticated, the user logs in to the MFP 1. Then, it is determined whether or not the reading condition of the logged-in user is stored in the storage unit 105 (step S22). If it is stored, the process proceeds to step S23. If not, step S23 is skipped and the process is terminated. In step S04 of FIG. 8, the reading conditions extracted from the e-mail are stored in association with the destination address. In step S23, the e-mail address of the login user is read from the authentication data stored in the storage unit 105, and the reading conditions stored in the storage unit 105 in association with the e-mail address are extracted. In step S22, when such a reading condition is extracted, the process proceeds to step S23, and when not extracted, the process ends.

  In step S23, the reading condition read in step S22 is associated with the one-touch key. This process is the same as step S06 in FIG.

  In the login process, even when the user is not logged in to the MFP 1, an e-mail for setting a reading condition is transmitted from the user computer 4 to the MFP 1, and then the document is moved to the installation location of the MFP 1. When the user logs in to the MFP 1, the reading condition is associated with the one-touch key. For this reason, the user can read a document under predetermined reading conditions only by instructing a one-touch key.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of reading processing executed by the MFP in the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 10, MFP 1 displays a manual setting screen on display unit 107 of operation panel 106 (step S31). The MFP 1 displays a manual setting screen on the display unit 107 immediately after the power is turned on. The manual setting screen is a screen for the user to specify reading conditions. The reading conditions include reading resolution, document size, and reading density. Immediately after the power is turned on to the MFP 1 or when the clear key 152 is pressed, a manual setting screen that displays a predetermined initial value as a reading condition is displayed on the display unit 107. A manual setting screen and a one-touch key 201 are displayed on the display unit 107.

  In the next step S32, it is determined whether or not the one-touch key 201 has been pressed. If the one-touch key is pressed, the process proceeds to step S33, and if not, the process proceeds to step S35. In step S35, the setting of the reading condition by the user is accepted. As described above, since the manual setting screen is displayed on the display unit 107, the user sets the reading condition by changing the initial value displayed on the manual setting screen.

  In step S33, the MFP 1 displays one-touch information. Here, a screen for displaying the reading condition associated with the one-touch key shown in FIG. Then, reading conditions corresponding to one-touch are set (step S34). The storage unit 105 stores a button address previously assigned to a one-touch key and a reading condition in association with each other. When the MFP 1 detects that the one-touch key 201 is pressed by the input unit 108, the MFP 1 reads the reading condition from the button address from the storage unit, and sets the read reading condition. When the reading condition is stored at a predetermined address in the storage unit 105, the MFP 1 reads and sets the reading condition stored at the address by detecting the pressing of the one-touch key.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the start key 154 of the operation panel 106 has been pressed (step S36). If it has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S37A, and if not, it enters a standby state. That is, until the start key 154 is pressed, the reading conditions can be set by the user in step S35. Also, the user who has seen the one-touch information may be able to change the reading conditions.

  In step S <b> 37 </ b> A, the document is read according to a reading condition determined by the maximum capability of the scanner 103. Specifically, the reading instruction unit 127 outputs a reading condition determined by the maximum capability of the scanner 103 to the scanner 103 and activates the scanner 103. Accordingly, the scanner 103 reads the document according to the reading condition determined by the maximum capability, and stores the reference image data in the storage unit 105. The reading condition determined by the maximum capability of the scanner 103 may be stored in advance in the storage unit 105 or the like.

  In the next step S38A, the reference image data stored in the storage unit 105 is subjected to image conversion in accordance with the reading conditions set in step S34 or step S35.

  In the reading process, a document is read to store reference image data, and image data that has undergone image conversion in accordance with reading conditions is acquired. For example, the image data may be output to the image forming unit 111 and printed, stored in the storage unit 105, or output to the communication unit 109 and transmitted to another apparatus. Here, a reading and transmitting process for transmitting image data to another apparatus will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of the reading and transmitting process executed by the MFP in the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 11, it is determined whether or not an electronic mail is received by communication unit 109 (step S41). If an e-mail has been received, the process proceeds to step S43, and if not, the process proceeds to step S42. In step S42, the reading process described with reference to FIG. 10 is executed, and after reading the document, the process proceeds to step S45.

  On the other hand, in step S43, the e-mail receiving process described with reference to FIG. 7 is executed (step S43). Then, the document is read according to the reading condition determined by the maximum capability of the scanner 103 (step S44A). As a result, the reference image data is stored in the storage unit 105. In the next step S44B, the reference image data is image-converted according to the reading conditions extracted from the e-mail.

  In step S45, the body of the e-mail is created. The creation of the text is to describe the reading conditions in the format shown in FIG. When an e-mail is received, the reading condition is extracted from the body of the e-mail in the e-mail receiving process executed in step S43. If the e-mail is not received, the reading condition set in the reading process executed in step S42, that is, the reading associated with the one-touch key when the user presses the one-touch key. This is a reading condition that is input to the manual setting screen when the one-touch key is not pressed.

  Then, the image data obtained by reading the document is set in the attached file of the e-mail (step S46). Further, a transmission destination address is set as the transmission destination in the header part of the e-mail (step S47). The transmission destination address is the transmission destination address extracted from the body of the electronic mail in the electronic mail reception process executed in step S43 when the electronic mail is received. If the e-mail is not received, the destination address set in the reading process executed in step S42, that is, if the user presses the one-touch key, it is associated with the one-touch key. This is the transmission destination address, and is the transmission destination address input on the manual setting screen when the one-touch key is not pressed.

  In the next step S48, the generated electronic mail is transmitted from the communication unit 109 to the mail server 2. If the destination address to be set is an e-mail address previously assigned to the user, the user can cause the user computer 4 to download the e-mail from the mail server 2. For this reason, the user can display the reading conditions and the image data on the display of the user computer 4. Therefore, it is possible to evaluate the reading conditions by looking at the read image data. If you want to improve the image quality of the image data, or if you want to reduce the image data quality and reduce the amount of data, on the contrary, return electronic data that describes the corresponding scanning conditions. If a mail (reply mail) is created and sent to the MFP 1, the image data read under the changed reading conditions can be received.

  In step S49, it is determined whether or not a reply mail corresponding to the electronic mail transmitted in step S48 has been received. If a reply mail is received, the process proceeds to step S50A, and if not, the process ends. The reply mail is determined from the message ID described in “in-Reply-to:” in the header part of the received electronic mail.

  In step S50A, the e-mail receiving process described with reference to FIG. 7 is executed. When a reply mail is received, reference image data corresponding to a document to be processed is stored in the storage unit 105. Therefore, in the next step S51A, the reference image data is read from the storage unit 105, and the image is converted in accordance with the reading conditions extracted from the received reply mail. Then, the process returns to step S45. In steps S45 to S48, an electronic mail corresponding to the reply mail is newly generated, and the electronic mail is transmitted. The transmission destination of the electronic mail may be a transmission destination address described in the body of the reply mail, or may be an electronic mail address of a transmission source of the reply mail.

  The user can display the changed reading conditions and image data on the display of the user computer 4. At this time, since the reference image data is stored in the storage unit 105 in the MFP 1, the user does not need to read the document into the MFP 1 again. Also, the user can evaluate the reading conditions again by looking at the read image data. If you want to improve the image quality of the image data, or if you want to reduce the image data quality and reduce the amount of data, on the contrary, return electronic data that describes the corresponding scanning conditions. If a mail (reply mail) is created again and sent to the MFP 1, the image data converted under the changed reading conditions can be received again.

  As described above, when the reading condition and the transmission destination are set, the MFP 1 according to the present embodiment reads the document under the reading condition with the maximum capability of the reading unit and stores the reference image data. Then, the reference image data is converted into an image according to the set reading condition, and transmitted by e-mail together with the reading condition. For this reason, the user who has received the e-mail can evaluate the reading conditions by looking at the image data, and therefore can easily determine the reading conditions of the document.

  In addition, when a reply mail corresponding to the transmitted email is received, the MFP 1 converts the reference image data according to the reading condition extracted from the reply mail, and transmits it by email. Therefore, the user does not need to cause the MFP 1 to read the document again.

  Although the MFP 1 has been described in the present embodiment, the invention can be understood as a control program executed by the MFP 1 or a control method executed by the MFP 1.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

1 is a diagram showing an overall outline of an image reading system in one embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an MFP according to the present embodiment. FIG. It is a top view of an operation panel. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a control unit of the MFP according to the present embodiment. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the format of the body part text of an email. It is a figure which shows an example of a one-touch information display screen. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of e-mail reception processing executed by the MFP in the present embodiment. It is a 1st flowchart which shows the flow of the modification of the modified | denatured email reception process. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed when a user logs in to an MFP. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of a reading process executed by the MFP in the present embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of reading and transmitting processing executed by the MFP in the present embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  1 MFP, 2 mail server, 3 network, 4 user computer, 10 image reading system, 101 control unit, 103 scanner, 105 storage unit, 106 operation panel, 107 display unit, 108 input unit, 109 communication unit, 111 image Forming unit, 121 reading condition storage unit, 123A e-mail analysis unit, 125A setting unit, 127 reading instruction unit A, 129 association unit, 131A e-mail generation unit, 133 one-touch information generation unit, 135 display control unit, 137 user authentication Part, 137 input part, 139 image conversion part, 154 start key, 200 one-touch information, 201 one-touch key.

Claims (6)

Reading means for reading a document and outputting image data in accordance with given reading conditions;
Storage means for storing image data;
E-mail sending and receiving means for sending and receiving e-mail;
Control means for controlling the reading means, the storage means and the e-mail transmission / reception means,
The control means includes a setting means for setting a reading condition and a destination address;
A reading instructing unit that gives the reading unit a reading condition of the maximum capability of the reading unit, causes the reading unit to output reference image data, and stores the reference image data in the storage unit;
Conversion means for converting the reference image data output by the reading means and outputting the first image data in accordance with the reading conditions set by the setting means;
The e-mail transmission / reception means by generating an e-mail having the reading condition set by the setting means as a text, the first image data as an attached file, and the transmission destination address set by the setting means as a transmission destination And an e-mail generating means for outputting to the image reading apparatus. The control means further includes an e-mail analysis means for analyzing the received e-mail and extracting a reading condition,
The conversion means is stored in the storage means in accordance with the reading condition extracted from the reply mail by the electronic mail analyzing means when a reply mail corresponding to the electronic mail transmitted by the electronic mail transmitting / receiving means is received. Convert the reference image data to output second image data,
The e-mail generation means further includes a reading condition extracted from the reply mail by the e-mail analysis means as a text, the second image data as an attached file, and a destination address determined from the reply mail as a destination The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second electronic mail is generated and output to the electronic mail transmitting / receiving means. A user interface means for receiving an instruction input by a user;
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets a reading condition and a transmission destination address input by the user interface unit. The control means further includes an e-mail analyzing means for analyzing the e-mail received by the e-mail transmitting / receiving means and extracting a reading condition and a destination address,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets a reading condition and a transmission destination address extracted from the electronic mail. A control program executed by an image reading apparatus including a reading unit that reads a document and outputs image data according to a given reading condition, a storage unit that stores image data, and an e-mail transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives e-mails Because
Setting the reading conditions and the destination address;
Providing the reading means with a reading condition of the maximum capability of the reading means and causing the reading means to output reference image data;
Storing the reference image data in the storage means;
Converting the reference image data output by the reading means according to the set reading conditions and outputting first image data;
Generating a first e-mail having the set reading condition as a text, the first image data as an attached file, and a destination address set by the setting unit as a destination;
A control program for causing an image reading apparatus to execute the step of causing the electronic mail transmitting / receiving means to transmit the first electronic mail. A control method executed by an image reading apparatus including a reading unit that reads a document and outputs image data according to a given reading condition, a storage unit that stores image data, and an e-mail transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives e-mails Because
Setting the reading conditions and the destination address;
Providing the reading means with a reading condition of the maximum capability of the reading means and causing the reading means to output reference image data;
Storing the reference image data in the storage means;
Converting the reference image data output by the reading means according to the set reading conditions and outputting first image data;
Generating a first e-mail having the set reading condition as a text, the first image data as an attached file, and a destination address set by the setting unit as a destination;
A control method for causing the image reading apparatus to execute the step of causing the electronic mail transmitting / receiving means to transmit the first electronic mail.

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