JP2006074596A - Device for transmitting image - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reading device for deviding image data by a desired piece of image data, editing and transmitting them after reading the pieces of image data from an original. <P>SOLUTION: When division transmission of multiple kinds of read image data is instructed by operating a division transmission key 33, images based on the image data is thumbnail-displayed on a display part 4, when an image to be divided by every kind is touched, the corresponding image data are extracted from a memory 6, stored in another area, edited by every kind, the image data after editing are converted into a format which can be transmitted by a format conversion part 7 and transmitted to a network line via a communication part 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image transmission apparatus, and more particularly to an image transmission apparatus that converts an image read by a reading unit such as a scanner apparatus into a file and transmits the file as an attached file of an electronic mail to a network line.

  With the spread of computer networks such as the Internet, a technique for connecting a scanner device or a facsimile device to a network line and transmitting the read image data using the network line has already been developed. When transmitting image data, it is necessary to convert the read image data into data in a format that can be transmitted by attaching to an e-mail. Such an image transmitting apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-108496 (Patent Document 1). )It is described in.

That is, this Patent Document 1 reads a plurality of pages of a document to be transmitted, divides the plurality of pages of the document data into a plurality of files composed of one page or a plurality of pages of document data. The plurality of files are transmitted through the network by one transmission operation.
JP 2003-108496 A (0044-0046, FIG. 2)

  In the image transmitting apparatus described in Patent Document 1, for example, different types of originals such as documents, drawings, and photographs are mixed, and these originals are organized and transmitted by document, drawing, and photograph. In this case, it is necessary to arrange and read the originals by type before reading the original, and after the original is read, it cannot be edited and transmitted by type. For this reason, the image data includes a plurality of different types of image data such as documents, drawings, and photographs. If the image data is transmitted as it is, the receiving side needs to reorganize the data. .

  As described above, when transmitting data of different types of originals, it is necessary to classify the originals in advance and set the transmission address for each reading of the originals, which is extremely inconvenient. There is a problem.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus that can read image data from a document, then divide the image data for each desired image data, edit it, and send it.

  The present invention relates to an image transmitting apparatus that transmits image data via a network line, a reading unit that reads an image of a document, and a display unit that collectively displays images based on the image data read by the reading unit. , A division designation unit for designating the image displayed on the display unit in a batch, and an image based on the read image data are collectively displayed on the display unit, and the image designated by the division designation unit is displayed. The image processing apparatus includes a control unit that divides the image data based on the image data, converts the image data into a transmittable format, and sequentially transmits the converted data to a network line.

  Preferably, the control means includes an instruction means for instructing whether to transmit a plurality of types of read image data in a batch or to transmit in a divided manner, and the control means is given an instruction to transmit in a divided manner by the indicating means. In response to this, images based on the read plural types of image data are collectively displayed on the display means, and when the batch transmission is instructed by the instruction means, the read plural types of image data are displayed. The data is sent to the conversion network line in a format that can be sent without being displayed.

  Preferably, it includes identification information input means for inputting identification information attached to the divided image data, and the control means attaches the identification information input from the identification information input means to each divided image data, and Send to network line.

  According to the present invention, images based on a plurality of types of read image data are collectively displayed, the image instructed to be divided is converted into a format that can be transmitted, and transmitted to a network line. Even if originals such as documents, drawings, and photos are confused and read, it is possible to send image data for each document, drawing, and photo from a series of image data. This eliminates the need to organize and improves usability for users.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display unit and an operation unit.

  In FIG. 1, an image reading apparatus 10 includes a control unit 1 as a control unit, a reading unit 2 as an image reading unit, an operation unit 3, a display unit 4 as a display unit, a communication unit 5, and a memory 6. And a format conversion unit 7. The reading unit 2 is configured by a scanner that can read image data from a plurality of types of documents at once.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 3 and the display unit 4 are configured by arranging a touch panel on a liquid crystal display panel. A display area 41 is provided in the center of the display unit 4, and an image of the document read by the reading unit 2 is displayed as a thumbnail, for example. The operation unit 3 includes a reading instruction key 31, a batch transmission key 32, a divided transmission key 33, a setting key 34, a file name input key 35, a transmission destination input key 36, and a transmission key 37. The collective transmission key 32 and the divided transmission key 33 constitute instruction means. Note that the touch panel constitutes selection means for selecting an image to be divided.

  The reading key 31 gives a reading command to the control unit 1, the batch transmission key 32 gives a command for batch transmission of image data read by the reading unit 2, and the divided transmission key 33 is set by the reading unit 2. A command is given to divide the read image data into a plurality of pieces for transmission. The setting key 34 gives a setting command for dividing an image displayed in the display area 41 when the image is touched with a finger for division.

  The file name input key 35 gives a command for inputting a file name, and the transmission destination input key 36 gives a command for inputting a transmission destination number or the like. The transmission key 37 is for giving a transmission command to the control unit 1 by operating the transmission key 37 after giving a command from the batch transmission key 32 or the divided transmission key 33.

  Each key of the operation unit 3 is not limited to the touch panel, and may be provided as a single key separately from the display unit 4.

  The communication unit 5 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to a network line, and transmits image data to be transmitted to the network line. The memory 6 stores the image data read by the reading unit 2, and the format conversion unit 7 converts the image data stored in the memory 6 into a transmittable format such as a PDF file.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image transmission apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a thumbnail image displayed in the display area, and FIG. 5 shows a numeric keypad image displayed in the display area. Show.

  Next, the operation of one embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, the user sets a plurality of types of documents in the reading unit 2 as necessary, and operates the reading key 31 of the operation unit 3. In step SP1 (abbreviated as SP in the drawing), the control unit 1 causes the reading unit 2 to read image data from a plurality of types of originals in response to a command from the reading key 31, and the read image data is stored in the memory 6. Remember me.

  The user determines whether the read image data should be transmitted collectively or dividedly transmitted. For example, if all of a plurality of types of originals are document data, there is no problem even if batch transmission is performed, and the batch transmission key 32 is operated. However, when a plurality of types of manuscripts are mixed, such as documents, drawings, and photographs, and the user wants to classify and transmit the documents, drawings, and photos, the split transmission key 33 is operated.

  The controller 1 determines whether or not the split transmission key 33 is operated in step SP2, and if it is determined that the split transmission key 33 is operated, it determines that the data is divided, and in step SP3 the memory 6 is displayed as a thumbnail image in the display area 41 of the display unit 4 as shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the read images a to i are reduced and sequentially displayed in the display area 41. If there is a lot of read image data, it may be displayed in multiple times.

  The user looks at the thumbnail images displayed in the display area 41 and edits them by document, drawing, or photo. For example, it is assumed that images c, e, and i shown in FIG. 4 are images read from a drawing, images b and g are images read from a photograph, and other images are displayed as images read from a document. . The user looks at the display in the display area 41, and among the images a to i, the images a, d, f, and h read from the document are set as one image data, and then the images c, e, and i read from the drawing are displayed. Is one image data, and the images b and g read from the photograph at the end are edited and transmitted as one data. For this purpose, the user touches the image a displayed in the display area 41 with a finger.

  Since the display area 41 is composed of a touch panel, the operation unit 3 gives a signal indicating the operated image to the control unit 1. The control unit 1 determines whether or not a divided image is instructed in step SP4. When a signal indicating the divided image is input from the operation unit 3, the control unit 1 is instructed among the image data displayed in the display area 41. The image a is reversed in black and white or a marker is displayed to inform the user that the image is to be divided. The user confirms the image to be divided by viewing the display, and operates the setting key 34 when the divided image is confirmed.

  In step SP5, the control unit 1 sets image data based on the designated image a among the read image data as image data to be divided in response to a key input signal from the setting key 34. Specifically, the control unit 1 extracts image data based on the image a from the image data stored in the memory 6 and stores it in another area.

  When the division operation is performed, the control unit 1 displays, for example, the characters “Do you want to finish the division? YES / NO” on the thumbnail image in the display area 41, and sees whether the user should further divide the display. If division is necessary, the user touches the display of NO in the display area 41, designates the image d in the display area 41 in the same manner as described above, and designates an image to be further divided.

  When the control unit 1 determines in step SP6 that the next image d to be divided is instructed and continues without dividing, the control unit 1 returns to step SP4 and divides the instructed image d. The user sequentially designates the images f, h, c, e, b, and g in the display area 41 to instruct division. The order of designation is arbitrary. The control unit 1 extracts image data based on the images f, h, c, e, b, and g instructed to be divided from a predetermined area of the memory 6 and reads the images a, d, f, and h read from the document. One image data, images c, e and i read from the drawing are set as one image data, and images b and g read from the photograph are stored as one data in another area of the memory 6. As a result, the image data for each document, each drawing, and each photograph are divided and collected.

  Thereafter, when the user touches YES on the above display to end the division, the control unit 1 determines that the division is completed in step SP6, and formats each divided image data in step SP7. The data is supplied to the conversion unit 7 and converted into a format that can be sequentially transmitted.

  When determining that the batch transmission key 32 is operated without operating the split transmission key 33 in step SP2, the control unit 1 performs format conversion on the read image data in batch in step SP7. As shown in FIG. 5, for example, an image of a numeric keypad is displayed in the display area, and the user is prompted to input a file name and a transmission destination. The display area 41 is not limited to the numeric keypad, and katakana, hiragana, and alphabetic characters may be displayed. The user sees this display, inputs the attributes such as the file name, document name, creator name, and keyword for each piece of image data to be divided and sent together, or the destination number. Enter. In the above example, file names such as document files, drawing files, and photo files are input.

  In step SP9, the control unit 1 attaches the file name and attribute input by the user to the corresponding image data, and sets the transmission destination based on the number input by the user. Further, the control unit 1 determines whether or not the transmission key 37 has been operated in step SP9. When the user operates the transmission key 37, the control unit 1 determines that, and in step SP10, the format-converted image is determined. Data is given to the communication unit 5 and transmitted to the network line.

  As described above, in this embodiment, even when the image data read by the reading unit 2 includes a plurality of types of data such as a document, a drawing, and a photo, An image read from a document, drawing, photo, or the like is displayed as a thumbnail image in 41, and can be transmitted after being divided and grouped by document image, drawing image, or photo image. In addition, since a file name or the like can be added to each divided image data, the receiving side can easily organize the received image data, and the usability is improved.

  In the above description, the image data of a plurality of types of documents such as documents, drawings, and photographs are divided. For example, even image data of only a document is divided and re-edited according to the contents. You may make it transmit.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with reference to drawings, this invention is not limited to the thing of embodiment shown in figure. Various modifications and variations can be made to the illustrated embodiment within the same range or equivalent range as the present invention.

1 is a schematic block diagram of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows a display part and an operation part. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the image transmission apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the thumbnail image displayed on a display area. It is a figure which shows the numeric keypad image displayed on a display area.

Explanation of symbols

  1 control unit, 2 reading unit, 3 operation unit, 4 display unit, 5 communication unit, 6 memory, 7 format conversion unit, 31 reading key, 32 batch transmission key, 33 divided transmission key, 34 setting key, 35 file name input Key, 36 transmission destination input key, 37 transmission key.

Claims (3)

An image transmission device that transmits image data via a network line,
Reading means for reading an image of a document;
Display means for collectively displaying images based on the image data read by the reading means;
Selection means for selecting whether to divide the images displayed on the display means collectively;
The images based on the read image data are collectively displayed on the display unit, the image data based on the image selected by the selection unit is divided and converted into a transmittable format, and sequentially transmitted to the network line. An image transmission device comprising a control means. Furthermore, it includes an instruction unit for instructing whether to transmit the plurality of types of read image data in a batch or to transmit in a divided manner,
The control means collectively displays images based on the read image data on the display means in response to an instruction to transmit the divided data by the instruction means, and transmits the images collectively by the instruction means. 2. The image transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the read image data is converted into the transmittable format without being displayed on the display unit and transmitted to the network line in response to an instruction to do so. . Furthermore, it includes identification information input means for inputting identification information attached to the divided image data,
The image transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit transmits the identification information input from the identification information input unit to the network line by attaching the identification information to the divided image data.

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