JP2006092067A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To grasp the attribute of document data only by referring to a key document, in an information processor for creating the key document when the document data is registered and reading the documents data with this key document. <P>SOLUTION: The information processor comprises an accumulation device 13 for storing electronic data correspondingly to identification information, a key document creating device 24 for creating the key document having code information including identification information, and an output device 14 for printing out the key document created by the key document creating device 24. The key document creating device 24 creates the key document by adding information according to the attribute of the electronic data stored in the accumulation device 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  According to the present invention, electronic data is stored in association with identification information and a key document is generated, and when reading, the corresponding electronic data is extracted from the storage means and output using the key document corresponding to the electronic data. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus.

  Some information processing apparatuses such as image filing apparatuses and copying machines have various functions. In particular, a copying machine (repository copy) having a function of accumulating image data in advance and reading and outputting the image data in accordance with a user instruction has been known.

  Also, since there is a short storage space for paper documents in offices, etc., paper documents are also digitized and stored using an image filing device or the like. Furthermore, there are copiers that incorporate such a filing function.

  Here, as a method for extracting the stored data, for example, in Patent Document 1, a search key for searching for stored data is described on paper, and the search key is read from the scan data by reading (scanning) the paper. Extracting. Then, based on the search key, desired data is extracted from the storage device and is obtained by printing or the like.

  In this method, for example, if a report consisting of a plurality of pages is accumulated and information (search key) for searching is added to the cover of the report, the entire report can be read only by reading one cover. It becomes possible to print.

  Such an operation is similar to the operation of the copying machine because paper is input to the apparatus and a printed matter is output. The difference is that the input paper (original) is copied and printed out in the copying machine, but the output from such an apparatus is based on the “information for searching” in the input paper. The point is that data is extracted from (repository) and output. Such an operation of the apparatus is referred to as “repository copy” in the present specification.

  In the repository copy, it is necessary to register a document in the storage unit in advance and to create a key document provided with “information for searching”. As a method for registering a document and creating a key document, for example, there is a method disclosed in Patent Document 2.

  In Patent Document 2, scanned image data is stored in a storage unit in association with an identifier, printed with information encoded as an identifier (key document), and the key document is read by a scanner such as a multifunction machine. A technique is disclosed in which image data associated with an identifier is read from a storage unit and printed. Further, in such a repository copy using a key document, even if the electronic data stored in the storage unit is a color image, the key document is printed in black and white, and the key document is scanned and electronically stored from the storage unit. A technique for printing in color when data is read and printed is also disclosed.

Japanese Patent No. 3175364 JP 2003-259042 A

  However, in the conventional technique as described above, the key document is always printed in black and white, so it cannot be determined by the user who has the key document whether the document registered in the storage unit is color or black and white. In addition, information about attributes such as how many pages the registered document has and the print size is unknown. Therefore, the user can perform repository copy using the key document, and can determine whether the document registered for the first time is color or monochrome, the number of pages, and the size by looking at the output document. In general, color output is more expensive than monochrome output, and color output time is longer than monochrome output. For this reason, careless color output causes inconvenience to the user.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems. That is, the present invention relates to a storage means for storing electronic data in association with identification information, a key document creation means for generating a key document having code information including the identification information, and a key document created by the key document creation means. The key document creation unit adds information according to the attribute of the electronic data stored in the storage unit and generates a key document.

  In the present invention, information corresponding to the attribute of the electronic data is added to the key document generated when the electronic data is stored in the storage means. Attributes such as color information, page information, and size information can be grasped.

  The present invention is also an information processing apparatus that reads a key document, selects electronic data corresponding to the key document from the storage means, and outputs the electronic data. When the key document is read, the electronic data corresponding to the key document The display means for displaying the attributes of is provided.

  In the present invention, since the key document generated when the electronic data is stored in the storage means is read, information corresponding to the attribute of the electronic data is displayed on the display means, so the electronic data is output. Even without this, attributes such as color information, page information, and size information of the electronic data can be referred to.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, the user can grasp attribute information such as whether or not the electronic data corresponding to the key document is color data, how many pages there are, and how large the size is simply by referring to the key document. It is possible to recognize the output image without outputting electronic data. Thereby, it is possible to eliminate waste when printing out electronic data using a key document, and it is possible to eliminate inconvenience for the user.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, repository copying will be described with reference to FIG. In this description, the document ID indicates identification number information for uniquely identifying an accumulated document, and the key document is a document ID for extracting a document in a repository copy. A given document (including a document ID assigned as code information) is shown.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining an outline of repository copying. In the key document 1, document ID information is written by information description means (code information) such as a barcode or digital watermark. This key document 1 is read by an input device 10 such as a scanner. The read image data is sent to the analysis device 11. The analysis device 11 specifies an area of code information from the image data by some means, and extracts information such as a document ID included in the code information from the area. The search device 12 searches the document data stored in the storage device 13 based on the document ID extracted by the analysis device 11. When document data corresponding to the document ID is found, the document data is sent to an output device 14 such as a printer or a display, and is sent via a network or printed on paper.

  The components (in the broken line in the figure) that perform the repository copy operation are very similar to the components of the digital copying machine. Therefore, it is possible to implement a repository copy function in a digital copying machine. By implementing the repository copy function in the digital copying machine, it is possible to extract the stored document data as if making a copy.

  In addition, repository copy does not output the image data read by the platen of the copier as it is, but outputs (prints) the stored original document again. Not receive. In addition, there is an advantage that image quality deterioration due to repetitive copying does not occur because there is no noise at the time of reading from the platen or deterioration of the edge of the character in the conversion from paper document to image data.

  Next, a procedure for registering document data in the storage device in advance when performing repository copying will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the description will focus on the case of registering a paper document.

  First, the user inputs a paper document to be registered to the input device 10 such as a scanner. The input device 10 reads an image of a paper document and outputs it as raster data to the subsequent stage. The color space determination device 21 at the subsequent stage receives the raster data and determines the color space of the raster data. The color space conversion device 22 receives the result of the color space determination device 21, and performs a process of converting the input raster data into black and white when the color space is determined to be black and white.

  The ID calculation device 23 receives the raster data after the color space conversion and calculates the document ID value. The document ID values need not be duplicated. As a document ID calculation method, for example, a hash value of raster data may be used. Alternatively, a document ID value that is not used in the storage device 13 may be used.

  The storage device 13 stores the calculated document ID value and raster data in association with each other, and extracts and outputs raster data based on the document ID value as necessary. The key document creation device 24 creates the key document 1 based on the raster data after the color space conversion, the document ID value, and the color space determination result.

  The output device 14 prints out the key document 1 on a paper document. In addition to the output of the key document 1 printed on paper, the output device 14 may output a key document (electronic key document) composed of electronic data that maintains the appearance of the key document 1.

  In the output key document 1, code information obtained by encoding a document ID corresponding to the registered document data and other information (for example, file attributes) is embedded. As an embedding method, visible information such as a one-dimensional barcode or two-dimensional barcode is embedded, or invisible information such as a digital watermark is embedded.

  The place (position) in which the code information is embedded may be fixed at a predetermined place in the key document 1 or may be free. If the embedding location is free, a means for specifying or estimating the embedding location is required.

  Here, a method for determining the color space from the raster data of the document will be described. As a determination method, a histogram is created for each of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) data, and the determination is made based on the distribution state of the histogram. If the distribution of each histogram of RGB is distributed at both ends, there is no halftone value, and each of the RGB histogram shapes is the same, it can be determined that the input raster data is monochrome. On the other hand, when the histogram shapes of RGB are different and there are many halftone values, the raster data can be determined to be color.

Next, a color space conversion method will be described. First, raster data can be converted into a monochrome image by converting the RGB color space to a luminance color difference color space such as L ^* a ^* b ^* or YCbCr and binarizing the luminance component.

  In the information processing apparatus that performs such repository copying, the present embodiment is characterized in that information indicating whether the output document is color or monochrome (including a single color) is added to the key document. There is. That is, information indicating whether the registered document data is color or monochrome is embedded in the key document that is output when the user registers the document data. An example of embedding this information is shown below.

(1) Color information is added to the document ID, embedded in the key document, and displayed on the display (UI screen: user interface screen) of the information processing apparatus when the key document is read.
(2) The pattern of the mark in which the identification code is embedded is changed according to the color information. That is, if the registered document is color, a mark indicating color is used, and if it is black and white, a mark indicating black and white is used. In this case, it is essential to embed invisible information such as a digital watermark in the mark.
(3) If the registered document is color, the key document is output in color; if the registered document is monochrome, the key document is output in black and white.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display example on the user interface screen shown in (1) above. When the key document 1 output when the document data is registered is scanned by the input device 10 (see FIG. 1), the code information is analyzed by the procedure described above, and the document data registered from the code information is in color. Get information about whether it is black or white. If it is black and white, a message such as “This document is black and white” is displayed on the user interface screen of the information processing apparatus as shown in FIG. As shown in b), a message such as “This document is in color” is displayed. As a result, the user can determine whether the registered document data corresponding to the key document 1 is color or monochrome only by scanning the key document 1.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of changing the design of the mark shown in (2) above. The key document creation device 24 (see FIG. 2) of the information processing device generates a key document 1 when the user registers document data. The key document 1 is added with code information including a document ID. . When this code information is embedded in a predetermined picture as, for example, a digital watermark, the picture is changed depending on whether the document data is color or monochrome. For example, when the document data is black and white, the code information is embedded using a picture as shown in FIG. 4A, and when the document data is color, the code information is used using a picture as shown in FIG. 4B. Embed. Thus, the user can determine whether the document data corresponding to the key document 1 is color or black and white according to the pattern shown in the key document 1.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of changing the print color of the key document shown in (3) above. In this example, when the key document creation device 24 (see FIG. 2) of the information processing apparatus generates the key document 1, the key document 1 is output in black and white when the corresponding document data is black and white, and in the case of color. Is output in color. That is, when the document data is black and white, the entire key document 1 is output in black and white as shown in FIG. 5A, and when the document data is in color, the key document 1 is output as shown in FIG. 5B. Output in color. As a result, the user can determine whether the document data corresponding to the key document 1 is color or monochrome depending on whether the key document 1 itself is color or monochrome.

  In any case, when the user scans the key document 1 and outputs the corresponding document data, it is determined whether the document data is color or black and white at the stage of the key document 1 without actually outputting the document data. And subsequent processing conditions can be instructed without waste.

  Here, an example of outputting document data registered in color in black and white will be described. Even if it is found from the key document that the registered document is in color in the above example, the user may want to output the document in black and white instead of color printing. In this case, the user can operate the user interface to designate and output monochrome printing.

  Also, as in the key document 1 shown in FIG. 6, a check box or the like is set in the key document, and a check is made in the check box and scanning is performed, so that the printing condition is analyzed by the analysis device 11 (see FIG. 1). Is detected in black and white, and when making a positive copy, even if the registered document is in color, it is converted into black and white so that it can be output.

  Next, an example of performing attribute display using a key document will be described. In the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the document data is stored in the storage device in association with the document ID, but attribute information related to the document data may be stored in association with the document data. Further, a key document in which a document ID and attribute information are embedded in code information may be added.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an information processing apparatus that stores attribute information. That is, the information processing apparatus includes an input device 10, a document attribute determination device 31, an ID calculation device 23, a storage device 13, a key document creation device 24, and an output device 14.

  When registering paper document data, the information processing apparatus inputs the document as raster data from the input device 10 such as a scanner. When the document data is an electronic document, the input device 10 serves as an interface for receiving the electronic document from the outside such as a network. The ID calculation device 23 receives raster data and calculates a document ID. The document ID values need not be duplicated. For example, a hash value of raster data may be used. Alternatively, a document ID value that is not used in the storage device 13 may be used.

  The document attribute determination device 31 performs processing for determining a document attribute from raster data. The key document creation device 24 generates the key document 1 from the document ID, document attribute, and raster data. The output device 14 prints the key document 1 on paper with a printer or the like. The output device 14 may output an electronic key document that maintains the appearance of the key document 1.

  FIG. 8 is an internal block diagram of the document attribute determination apparatus. The document attribute determination device 31 includes a color space determination unit 311, a size / direction determination unit 312, a character / photo determination unit 313, a page number determination unit 314, and a date / time determination unit 315.

  When registering data of a paper document, the color space determination unit 311 creates a histogram for each RGB, and determines based on the distribution state of the histogram. If the distribution of each histogram of RGB is distributed at both ends, there is no halftone value, and each of the RGB histogram shapes is the same, it can be determined that the input raster data is monochrome. Further, when the histogram shapes of RGB are different and there are many halftone values, the raster data can be determined to be color.

  The size / direction determination unit 312 determines the paper size from the vertical and horizontal sizes and resolution of the input raster data. Whether the document is portrait or landscape is determined from the ratio of the portrait and landscape sizes.

  The character photograph determination unit 313 creates a histogram of luminance components of the read data. When the histogram distribution is discrete, it is determined as a character image, and when the distribution is continuous, it is determined as a photographic image. If neither can be determined, it is determined that the character photograph is mixed. The determination may be made by other existing methods.

  The page number determination unit 314 performs processing for determining the page number from the number of input raster data. The date / time determination unit 315 sets the date / time scanned by the input device as the creation date / time.

  If the document data to be registered is an electronic document, the attribute information added to the electronic document is analyzed to determine whether it is monochrome or color, size and direction, character / photo, and page count Determine the date and time. In the case of an electronic document, the attribute may be determined after conversion to a page description language or the like. Alternatively, after conversion to a raster image, determination may be made by the same procedure as the attribute determination of the paper document.

  After obtaining the attribute information of the document data with such a configuration, the attribute information, the document ID, and the document data are associated with each other and stored in the storage device 13 (see FIG. 7). Further, when creating the key document 1, this attribute information is reflected in the key document 1. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example in which attribute information is reflected in a key document. In the example shown in FIG. 9A, the attribute information is embedded as code information together with the document ID, and when the key document 1 is scanned, the document attribute information is displayed on the user interface screen.

  The example shown in FIG. 9B is an example in which attribute information is described in the blank area of the key document 1. The example shown in FIG. 9C is an example in which, for example, the first page of the document data registered in the key document 1 is reduced and a margin is provided, and attribute information is described in the margin.

  In any example, even if the user does not access the registered document data from the key document 1, the user can obtain various attributes related to the registered document data only by scanning or referring to the key document 1. Specification can be performed without waste. Here, the attribute information is described as a character string, but may be indicated as a pictograph or an icon.

  In addition, when outputting with an attribute different from the registered document attribute, the user can operate the user interface to instruct the user, or, as shown in FIG. It may be provided that an output with a different attribute may be instructed by checking this check box. For example, when it is specified in the key document 1 that the registered document data is in color, if the user wants to output the document in black and white instead of color printing, the user operates the user interface to perform black and white. When printing is specified or the repository copy is made by checking the check box of the key document 1 shown in FIG. 6, even if the registered document data is in color, it is converted into black and white and output. The same applies to other attribute changes.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an information processing apparatus that performs color conversion of a key document. In this information processing apparatus, when document data is registered in the storage device 13 and a key document is created, a paper key document is created by the paper key document creation apparatus 24b, and at the same time, an electronic key document is created by the electronic key document. It is created by the creation device 24a. At this time, the paper key document is printed in black and white, and the electronic key document is created in color.

  First, the user inputs a paper document to be registered to the input device 10 such as a scanner. The input device 10 outputs the paper document data as raster data to the storage device 10 and the color space conversion device 22. The color space conversion device 22 converts the input raster data into black and white.

  The ID calculation device 23 receives the raster data after the color space conversion and calculates the document ID value. The document ID values need not be duplicated. For example, a hash value of raster data may be used. Alternatively, a document ID value that is not used in the storage device 13 may be used.

  The storage device 13 stores the calculated document ID value and the raster data output from the input device 10 in association with each other, and extracts and outputs the raster data based on the document ID value as necessary. Can do.

  The paper key document creation device 24b creates the key document 1 based on the raster data after color space conversion, the document ID value, and the color space determination result. That is, the data of the key document 1b output from the paper key document creation device 24b is monochrome data using raster data after color space conversion.

  On the other hand, the electronic key document creation device 24a creates an electronic key document based on the input raster data and the document ID value. That is, the data of the key document 1a output from the electronic key document creation device 24a is color data using raster data input from the input device 10.

  The output device 14 prints out the key document 1b as a paper document. The output device 14 may output the document as an electronic document that maintains the appearance of the key document without printing on paper.

  If the document input to the input device 10 is electronic document data, electronic document data is used instead of the raster data.

  With such an information processing apparatus, the paper key document 1b is output in black and white, and the electronic key document 1a is output in color, so that the printing cost for the user can be reduced. Even when the paper key document 1b is printed in black and white, if the attribute information described above is specified, attributes such as whether the document data corresponding to the key document 1b is color or monochrome are obtained. be able to.

It is a figure explaining a repository copy. It is a figure explaining the registration procedure of document data. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a display on a user interface screen. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example which changes the pattern of a mark. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example which changes the printing color of a key document. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of the key document provided with the check box. It is a block diagram explaining the example of the information processing apparatus which memorize | stores attribute information. It is an internal block diagram of a document attribute determination apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example which reflects attribute information in a key document. It is a block diagram explaining the information processing apparatus which performs color conversion of a key document.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Key document, 10 ... Input device, 11 ... Analysis device, 12 ... Search device, 13 ... Storage device, 14 ... Output device, 21 ... Color space determination device, 22 ... Color space conversion device, 23 ... ID calculation device, 24. Key document creation device

Claims (8)

Storage means for storing electronic data in correspondence with identification information;
Key document creating means for generating a key document having code information including the identification information;
In an information processing apparatus comprising output means for printing out the key document created by the key document creation means,
The information processing apparatus, wherein the key document creating unit generates a key document to which information corresponding to an attribute of electronic data stored in the storage unit is added. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the key document creating unit generates a key document to which a different mark is added according to an attribute of the electronic data. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute of the electronic data is information indicating whether the attribute is color data or single color data. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute of the electronic data is information on the number of pages. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute of the electronic data is information on a printing paper size. The key document of the electronic data generated by the key document creating means is color data,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the key document printed out from the output unit is a single color. Storage means for storing electronic data in correspondence with identification information;
Key document creating means for generating a key document having code information including the identification information;
In an information processing apparatus comprising output means for printing out the key document created by the key document creation means,
The key document creating means generates a key document composed of color data when the electronic data is color data, and creates a key document composed of single color data when the electronic data is single color data. A characteristic information processing apparatus. In an information processing apparatus that reads a key document and selects and outputs electronic data corresponding to the key document from the storage means.
An information processing apparatus comprising: display means for displaying attributes of electronic data corresponding to the key document when the key document is read.

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