JP2005318545A - Document processing apparatus and document processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a document processing method, a document processing apparatus and a storage medium in which inputted common document data can be easily transmitted according to a plurality of different transmission protocols. <P>SOLUTION: There are included a document input section 305 for inputting document data; a document transmission section 309 for transmitting the inputted document data via a network according to a plurality of different network protocols; a destination list creating section 300 for creating a destination list whereon destinations and protocols are associated with one another; and a document transmission control section 302 for causing the document transmission section 309 to transmit the common document data inputted from the document input section 305 according to respective transmission protocols if both a transmission destination for transmission using a first protocol and a transmission destination for transmission using a second protocol are designated on the destination list. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a document processing apparatus and a document processing method thereof, and more particularly to a document processing apparatus and a document processing method for transmitting a document to a plurality of destinations having different transmission methods.

  From a document processing device connected to an email system, remote file system, remote database, remote printer, etc. via a network, or connected to another device through a facsimile line, email system, remote file system, remote database, remote When a single document is transmitted to a plurality of recipients using a plurality of transmission methods such as a printer and a plurality of recipients connected through a facsimile line, the specification according to the network protocol used for transmission or the document Because the format of the document to be sent differs depending on the regulations depending on the sending environment or the request, function, and performance of the receiving side, it is necessary for the user to send to each destination while appropriately converting the format of the document. Therefore, once It has not been possible to perform the transmission of the document in the Shin instructions.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a document processing method, a document processing apparatus, and a storage medium that can easily transmit input common document data according to a plurality of different transmission protocols.

  In order to achieve the above object, a document processing apparatus according to the present invention is a document processing apparatus connectable to a network, and has an input unit for inputting document data and a holding unit for storing document data input by the input unit. Means, first transmission means for transmitting the document data input by the input means in accordance with a first network protocol via the network, and document data input by the input means via the network Second transmission means for transmitting in accordance with a second network protocol different from the first network protocol, a transmission destination for transmission by the first transmission means, and a transmission destination for transmission by the second transmission means A designation means for designating, a transmission destination for transmission by the first transmission means by the designation means, and a transmission for transmission by the second transmission means If both signal destination is specified, reads a common document data input by said input means from said holding means, and having a control means for transmitting according to the transmission protocol of the respective transmission means.

  Storage means for storing a first data format for transmitting document data in accordance with the first network protocol and a second data format for transmitting document data in accordance with the second network protocol; Conversion means for converting the document data held in the holding means in accordance with the document format stored in the storage means, and the conversion means changes the document format according to the designation according to the designation by the designation means. The control means transmits the document data converted by the conversion means. The input means inputs document data by reading the document with a scanner. In addition, the control unit includes an instruction unit that inputs a manual instruction for starting transmission by the transmission unit, and the control unit receives document data from the scanner in accordance with the designation of the transmission destination by the designation unit and the instruction by the instruction unit. Following the input, transmission by the first transmission means and / or the second transmission means is executed. The first transmission protocol or the second transmission protocol includes an e-mail protocol. The first transmission protocol or the second transmission protocol includes a file transfer protocol (FTP). The document processing apparatus is further connected to a line capable of facsimile communication, and has third transmission means for transmitting document data according to the facsimile protocol via the line, and the designation means further includes the third transmission means. And the control means can designate a common document input by the input means when the designation means designates a transmission destination for transmission by the third transmission means. The data is transmitted by the first transmission unit and the second transmission unit and transmitted by the third transmission unit.

  The document processing method according to the present invention is a document processing method by a document processing apparatus connectable to a network, and includes an input step for inputting document data, and holding the document data input in the input step in a memory. A first transmission step of transmitting the document data input in the input step according to a first network protocol via the network, and the document data input in the input step via the network A second transmission step for transmitting in accordance with a second network protocol different from the first network protocol, a transmission destination for transmission in the first transmission step, and a transmission destination for transmission in the second transmission step A designation step for designating, a transmission destination for transmission in the first transmission step in the designation step, and a transmission in the second transmission step If both of the destination is specified, it reads a common document data input by the input step from said memory, and having a control step of transmitting according to the transmission protocol of the respective transmission step.

  Furthermore, a storage medium storing a program for executing the document processing method by a computer is provided.

  According to the present invention, input common document data can be easily transmitted according to a plurality of different transmission protocols.

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

<Configuration example of document processing apparatus according to this embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a basic environment in which the document processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is connected and operates.

  In FIG. 1, (101) is a document processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, and is connected to a network (107) and a facsimile line (106). Reference numeral (102) denotes an electronic mail server for delivering electronic mail, which is connected to a network and supports SMTP which is a standard electronic mail transfer protocol. (103) is a file server that operates a remote file system, and is connected to a network and supports FTP as a file transfer protocol. (104) is a database that is connected to the network and supports the Salutation protocol. (105) is a printer connected to the network and supports lpr which is a protocol for network printing.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the document processing measure of the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral (201) denotes a CPU, that is, a central processing unit, which controls the entire apparatus and performs arithmetic processing. Reference numeral (202) denotes a ROM, that is, a read-only memory, which is a storage area for system startup programs and fixed information. Reference numeral (203) denotes a RAM, that is, a random access memory, which is an unrestricted data storage area, and is an area where each program and data shown in the following flowchart is loaded and executed for each of various processes. . For example, the RAM (203) has an input document area (203a) for storing input documents input from the scanner (210), HD (205), FD (204), etc., and a destination list for storing the created destination list. Area (203b), a transmission document area (203c) for storing a transmission document created by converting the format from the input document according to the destination, and a program loading area for loading a program from the HD (205) or FD (204) 203d).

  Reference numeral (204) denotes a floppy disk (FD) drive, which stores and stores programs and data in the floppy disk (212), and loads them to the RAM (203) as needed during execution. Reference numeral (205) denotes a hard disk (HD) drive, from which a system or program to be processed is loaded onto the RAM (203) and started up. The started system or program is read by the hard disk drive (205) as necessary. The data and information stored in () are loaded onto the RAM (203). The hard disk is also used as a temporary storage for documents read from the scanner. For example, in the HD drive (205), an address book (301) and a format information base (304) are stored as data in addition to temporary storage of the input document, and a document transmission control program (OS) in addition to the OS is stored as a program. 205a), a destination list creation program (205b), a document input program (205c), a format conversion program (205d), and a document transmission program (205e). Here, the format information base (304) and the format conversion program (205d) include existing data and programs for various format conversions, and the document transmission program (205e) conforms to various existing transmission protocols. Contains data and programs. These data and program may be stored in the FD (212). Here, FD, HD, CD-ROM, MO, and the like are collectively referred to as an external storage device.

  (206) is a keyboard, which transmits information on the pressed key to the CPU (201). One key on the keyboard is used as a start key (206a) for instructing document transmission. Reference numeral (207) denotes a display device such as a CRT, which displays data. (208) is a network interface, and is connected to the network (107) via this interface. A fax modem (209) is connected to the facsimile line (106) through the fax modem. (210) is a scanner for reading a document. (211) is a system bus, which should serve as a data path between the above-mentioned components.

  This apparatus operates when the CPU (201) executes a basic I / O program, an OS, and a document transmission program module group. The basic I / O program is written in the ROM (202), and the OS is written in the HD drive (205). When this system is started, the OS is read from the HD drive (205) into the RAM (203) by the IPL (initial program loading) function in the basic I / O program, and the operation of the OS is started.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the document processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The functions of each functional unit in FIG. 3 are realized by loading the program on the HD drive (205) into the RAM (203) and executing the program while using the resources in the device by the CPU (201). Is done.

  The destination list creation unit (300) creates a list of destinations by copying a destination item designated from the address book (301). In the address book, as shown in FIG. 4, the document format designated for each destination is described together with the transmission method and the destination. The destination may be input from the keyboard (206) together with the transmission method.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the contents of the address book (301).

  The address book contains the destination address (401), transmission method (402), document format used for each document type (text format (403), monochrome format (404), and color format. Format (405)) is described for each destination and corresponds to one of the information bases. If the document format is not specified in the address book, the format determined by the transmission method according to the information in the default document format information base (304) is used. This address book is mounted as a file existing on the HD drive (205) and can be edited as appropriate.

  When the start key (206a) is pressed, the destination list is sent to the document transmission control unit (302). In the destination list created by picking up the destination specified from the address book (301), the destination, transmission method, and document format are described as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the contents of the destination list.

  The destination list contains the destination address (501), transmission method (502), document format used for each document type (format for text (503), format for black and white (504), color Format (505)) is described for each destination.

  The document transmission control unit (302) classifies the destination list for each document format actually used for transmission according to the document type data (303) indicating the document type. When the document format is not specified in the destination list, information from the default document format information base (304) that specifies the default document format for each transmission method is used.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the content structure of the default document format information base (304).

  The default document format information base includes the transmission method (601), the document format used for each type of document (text format (602), monochrome format (603), color format (604). )) Is described for each transmission method, and corresponds to one information base. The default document format information base is mounted as a file existing on the HD drive (205) and can be edited as appropriate according to the requirements of the system environment to be used.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the destination list when the default document format setting, the document format, and the classification by the communication method are completed in the case of the color format (705) as the document type.

  The destination address (701), transmission method (702), and document format (705) used for each document type are rearranged in the classification order.

  As a default document format, LIPS is inserted in the destination (imn.ikj.jp), JPEG is grouped by classification according to the document format, and e-mail is grouped by classification according to the communication method. Therefore, the document transmission control unit (302) instructs the format conversion unit (308) to perform format conversion for each destination having a common format according to the classification according to the document format, and the document transmission unit (309). In addition, according to the classification by the communication method, transmission is instructed collectively for each destination of the common communication method.

  The document transmission control unit (302) designates a document input destination (scanner (210) or hard disk (205)) in the document input unit (305), and instructs the document input. The input document is temporarily held in the input document area (203a) or the like by the document input unit (305). When the input of the document is completed, the document transmission control unit (302) gives the format of the document format to the format conversion unit (308) according to the classified destination list, and instructs conversion. The format conversion unit (308) converts the input document data into a designated document format.

  When the conversion of the document is completed, the document transmission control unit (302) transfers the document data from the format conversion unit (308) to the document transmission unit (309). The document transmission unit (309) is given a destination list that uses the converted document format. FIG. 8 shows an example of a destination list given to the document transmission unit (309) from the destination list classified as shown in FIG.

(A) of FIG. 8 is a destination list that instructs the document transmission unit (309) to send a document that has been JPEG-compliant format conversion by the format conversion unit (308) to two recipients by e-mail transmission. is there.
FIG. 8B is a destination list for instructing the document transmission unit (309) to transmit a file whose format has been converted in JPEG format by the format conversion unit (308) to one recipient.

  The document transmission unit (309) transmits the input document data to a designated destination by a designated transmission method. After document transmission to all destinations included in the destination list is completed, the document transmission control unit (302) temporarily stores the document data stored in the document input unit (305) and the format conversion unit (308). Instruct to delete

<Example of processing procedure of document processing apparatus of this embodiment>
(First processing procedure example)
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document transmission control unit after the start key (206a) is pressed and the destination list / document type is given to the document transmission control unit (302).

  In step S701, one input destination is read. In step S702, it is checked whether a document format corresponding to the designated document type is designated. For a destination for which no document format is specified, in step S703, the document format is specified from the information in the default document format information base (304) and the specified document type, and is added to the destination list. In step S704, the process returns to step S701, the next destination is read, and steps S701 to S704 are repeated for all destinations in the destination list.

  In step S705, the destinations are classified using the document format in the specified document type as a key (for example, Format1, Format2, etc.). Further, in step S706, a plurality of destinations using the same document format are classified using the transmission method as a key (in the example of FIG. 7, the JPEG document format is classified into email and file transfer protocol (ftp)). ..

  In step S707, the document input unit (305) is instructed to input a document, and in step S708, the input of the document is awaited. The input document is temporarily stored in the document input unit (input document area (203a)).

  In step S709, the input document is designated with the document format required by the first destination in the classified destination list, and the format conversion unit (308) is instructed to convert the format of the document data (FIG. 7). In the example, JPEG first, then TIFF-MMR, etc.). The converted document data is temporarily held in the format conversion unit (transmission document area (203c)). In step S710, it is checked whether or not the converted format is the last format classified in step S706. If it is the last, in step S711, deletion of the document data temporarily held in the document input unit is instructed. To do.

  Next, in step S712, a list of destinations using the first transmission method for transmitting the document format specified in step S709 is created from the destination list classified in step S706 ((a in FIG. 8). )reference). In step S713, the destination list created in step S712 is used as a parameter together with the transmission method, and the document transmission unit (309) is instructed to transmit the document held in the format conversion unit. In step S714, the process returns to step S712, and a list of destinations using the next transmission method for transmitting the document format specified in step S709 is created (see FIG. 8B), and steps S712 to S714 are performed. The process is repeated for all transmission methods for transmitting the document format specified in step S709.

  In step S715, the process returns to step S709, the next document format is designated, and steps S709 to S715 are repeated for all the document formats in the classified destination list.

  After the transmission for all the destinations is completed, in step S716, the deletion of the document data temporarily held by the format conversion unit is instructed, and the document transmission process is terminated.

(Second processing procedure example)
In the first processing procedure example, after the destination list is classified, the document is input and sequentially converted into the required document format and transmitted. However, the format conversion unit (308) and the document transmission unit (309) As long as resources such as RAM (203), hard disk (205), Network Interface (208), Fax Modem (209) necessary for operation can be used, more efficient document transmission is possible by performing parallel operation It is.

  A second processing procedure example will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document transmission control unit after the start key (206a) is pressed and the destination list / document type is given to the document transmission control unit (302).

  In step S801, the input destination is read. In step S802, it is checked whether a document format corresponding to the designated document type is designated. In step S803, for the destination for which the document format is not designated, the document format is specified from the information in the default document format information base (304) and the designated document type, and is added to the destination list. In step S804, the process returns to step S801, the next destination is read, and steps S801 to S804 are repeated for all destinations in the destination list.

  In step S805, the destinations are classified using the document format in the designated document type as a key. In step S806, a plurality of destinations using the same document format are classified using the transmission method as a key. In step S807, the document input unit (305) is instructed to input a document, and in step S808, the input of the document is awaited. The input document is temporarily stored in the document input unit.

  Thereafter, in step S809, two tasks, task A for managing format conversion and task B for managing transmission of converted document data, are generated, and these two tasks are operated in parallel. In step S810, the end of the operations of task A and task B is awaited. Task A and task B are given the destination list classified in step S806 as a parameter.

  In task A, first, in step S813, the format conversion unit (308) is instructed to convert the format of the document data for all document formats included in the destination list classified in step S806. The format conversion unit (308) performs as many document format conversions as possible in parallel by performing parallel operations as long as resources such as RAM (203) and hard disk (205) necessary for the operation can be used. In step S814, the document transmission control unit (302) waits for completion of format conversion from the format conversion unit (308), and the document transmission unit (309) needs the document format for the document data that has been converted in step S815. The transmission of the document is instructed with the destination and the transmission method as parameters.

  The document transmission unit (309) also performs as many parallel operations as possible so that resources such as RAM (203), hard disk (205), network interface (208), and fax modem (209) necessary for operation can be used. The document transmission of the transmission method is operated in parallel. In step S816, it is checked whether a format conversion completion notification has been received from the format conversion unit (308) for all document formats included in the given destination list. If all conversion notifications have been received, in step S817 The deletion of the document data held in the document input unit is instructed, and the processing of task A ends.

  On the other hand, task B waits for a document transmission completion notification from the document transmission unit (309) in step S820. The document transmission completion notification includes the document format and the transmission method. In step S821, it is checked whether there is a document format in the destination list that has been transmitted in all transmission methods. If there is a transmission completed for all transmission methods, in step S822, the deletion of the document data of the document format is instructed to the format conversion unit (308). In step S823, it is checked whether deletion of all document formats has been instructed. If deletion of all document formats has been instructed, the operation of task B ends.

  The above-described embodiment can also be realized by loading a program into a general computer from a storage medium in which the flowchart of FIG. 9 or FIG. 10 is encoded and stored.

  In this example, the document transmission program module group is a program code based on the flowchart of FIG. 9 or FIG. 10 based on the schematic block diagram of FIG. 3, and is recorded in the storage medium FD (212), for example. FIG. 12 shows the structure of the recorded contents.

  The document transmission program execution file 1203 and related data 1204 recorded in the storage medium FD (212) can be loaded into the computer system (1300) through the FD drive (204) as shown in FIG. When this storage medium FD is set in the FD drive (204), the document transmission program execution file (1203) and related data (1204) are stored under the control of the OS (1102) and the basic I / O program (1101). It is read from the storage medium FD (212), loaded into the RAM (203), and becomes operable.

  FIG. 11 shows a state in which the document transmission program is loaded into the RAM (203) and can be executed. As a configuration, a basic I / O program (1101), an OS (1102), a document transmission program module group (1103), related data (1104), and a work area (1105) are arranged as shown in the figure.

  In the above example, the document transmission program execution file (1203) and related data (1204) are directly loaded into the RAM (203) and executed from the storage medium FD (212), but in addition to this, the storage medium FD ( 212) from the HD (205) to the RAM (203) when the document transmission program execution file (1203) and related data (1204) are temporarily stored (installed) in the HD (205) and the document transmission program is operated. You may make it load to.

  In addition to the FD (212), the medium for recording the document transmission program may be a CD-ROM, an IC memory card, or the like. Further, the document transmission program module group may be recorded in the ROM (202), and may be configured to be a part of the memory map, and directly executed by the CPU (201).

It is a figure which shows the environment where the document processing apparatus of this Embodiment is connected. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a basic hardware structure of the document processing apparatus of this Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the function structural example of the document processing apparatus of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a content structure of the address book in the document processing apparatus of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a content structure of the destination list in the document processing apparatus of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a content structure of the default document format information base in the document processing apparatus of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a content structure of the classified destination list in the document processing apparatus of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a content structure of the destination list | wrist sent to the document transmission part in the document processing apparatus of this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the 1st process sequence of a document transmission control part. It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd process sequence example of a document transmission control part. It is a figure which shows the memory map example of RAM in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a program structure of the storage medium in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the mode of the program load in this Embodiment.

Claims (9)

A document processing apparatus connectable to a network,
An input means for inputting document data;
Holding means for holding document data input by the input means;
First transmission means for transmitting the document data input by the input means through the network according to a first network protocol;
Second transmission means for transmitting the document data input by the input means according to a second network protocol different from the first network protocol via the network;
Designating means for designating a transmission destination for transmission by the first transmission means and a transmission destination for transmission by the second transmission means;
The common document input by the input means when both the transmission destination for transmission by the first transmission means and the transmission destination for transmission by the second transmission means are designated by the designation means A document processing apparatus comprising: a control unit that reads data from the holding unit and transmits the data in accordance with a transmission protocol of each transmission unit. Storage means for storing a first data format for transmitting document data in accordance with the first network protocol and a second data format for transmitting document data in accordance with the second network protocol; and Conversion means for converting the document data held in the holding means according to the stored document format,
The conversion means performs conversion into a document format according to the designation according to the designation by the designation means,
The document processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit transmits the document data converted by the conversion unit.   The document processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit inputs document data by reading a document with a scanner. Instructing means for inputting a manual instruction for starting transmission by the transmitting means,
The control means transmits the first transmission means and / or the second transmission means following the input of the document data from the scanner in accordance with the designation of the transmission destination by the designation means and the instruction by the instruction means. The document processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document processing apparatus is executed.   5. The document processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission protocol or the second transmission protocol includes an electronic mail protocol.   The document processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission protocol or the second transmission protocol includes a file transfer protocol (FTP). The document processing apparatus is further connected to a line capable of facsimile communication, and has third transmission means for transmitting document data through the line according to a facsimile protocol,
The designation means can further designate a transmission destination for transmission by the third transmission means, and the control means designates a transmission destination for transmission by the third transmission means by the designation means 7. The common document data input by the input unit is transmitted by the first transmission unit and the second transmission unit and transmitted by the third transmission unit. Document processing apparatus according to the above. A document processing method by a document processing apparatus connectable to a network,
An input process for inputting document data;
A holding step for holding the document data input in the input step in a memory;
A first transmission step of transmitting the document data input in the input step according to a first network protocol via the network;
A second transmission step of transmitting the document data input in the input step according to a second network protocol different from the first network protocol via the network;
A designation step for designating a transmission destination for transmission in the first transmission step and a transmission destination for transmission in the second transmission step;
The common document input in the input step when both the transmission destination for transmission in the first transmission step and the transmission destination for transmission in the second transmission step are designated in the designation step A document processing method comprising: a control step of reading data from the memory and transmitting the data according to a transmission protocol of each transmission step.   A storage medium storing a program for executing the document processing method according to claim 8 by a computer.

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