JP2006100925A - Image forming apparatus and image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the matter of an image forming apparatus that since the read resolution is high, the volume of data of that image becomes large and thereby a very long time is required for contracting an image scanned by a poor CPU in the image forming apparatus, and OCR processing is difficult to be carried out on the image forming apparatus because it requires many kinds of processing. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus comprises a scanner for scanning and reading a document, a means for transmitting image data read out by means of the scanner to a server connected with a network, a means transmitting a request for processing the image data transmitted by the image data transmitting means, and a means for receiving a response to the request transmitted to the processing request transmitting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image processing system having a preview function, an OCR function, and a transmission function for read image data.

  In recent years, an image forming apparatus capable of transmitting a read image to the outside has been provided. Such an image forming apparatus sends a scanned image to a destination designated by e-mail, sends it to a designated host using a FTP, SMB, or other protocol, or sends it by fax. (See Patent Document 1).

  However, since the conventional image forming apparatus cannot check the captured image at the time of transmission, the sender can know even if the document is sent in the wrong direction or sent with the document protruding from the image. There was a problem that I could not.

For such a problem, a method has been proposed in which a reduced image of a scanned image is displayed on an operation unit to allow the user to confirm. In addition, since the scanned image data has a large file size, it is considered that when sending Email, instead of sending it as it is, text data is generated from the image data by OCR, and the text data is sent.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-326815

  However, since the reading resolution of the image forming apparatus is generally high, the amount of data of the image is large, and it takes a very long time to generate a reduced image of the scanned image by a poor CPU of the image forming apparatus. In addition, since many processes are required to perform the OCR process, it is difficult to perform the process on the image forming apparatus. Therefore, special hardware for image processing is required to display a preview image and perform OCR processing at a speed that can withstand practical use.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus and an image processing system that can provide a preview function and an OCR function without adding special image processing hardware even in an image forming apparatus with a poor CPU, and can perform image transmission efficiently. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a scanner device that scans and reads a document, and an image data transmission unit that transmits image data read by the scanner device to a server device connected to a network. And a processing request transmitting unit that transmits a processing request to the image data transmitted by the image data transmitting unit, and a response receiving unit that receives a response to the request transmitted to the processing request transmitting unit. To do.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing requested by the image processing request transmitting unit includes image processing such as rotation / magnification, network connection, etc. Including at least one of transmission of image data to the device, deletion of image data from the server device, format conversion processing of the image data, and OCR processing.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing system comprising: an image data receiving unit that receives image data transmitted from an image forming apparatus; and an image processing request receiving unit that receives an image processing request transmitted from the image forming apparatus. Image data storage means for storing the image data received by the image data receiving means; processing means for processing the image stored in the image data storage means in accordance with the image processing request received by the image processing reception means; 3. A server apparatus comprising: an image processing result transmitting unit configured to transmit a result processed by the image processing unit to the image forming apparatus; and the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 connected to a network. It is characterized by being.

  The image processing system according to claim 4 is the image processing system according to claim 3, wherein the server device stores the image data in the image data storage unit according to the image processing request received by the image processing reception unit. It has a transmission means for transmitting image data by a predetermined protocol.

  An image processing system according to a fifth aspect is the image processing system according to the third or fourth aspect, wherein at least one of the image forming apparatuses also serves as the server apparatus.

  According to the present invention, by entrusting image processing to an external high-performance server device, it is possible to provide a preview function and an OCR function even in a poor CPU image forming apparatus without adding special image processing hardware. . Further, image data can be efficiently transmitted by storing image data in the server device and directly transferring the image data from the server device to the outside.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the entire system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a multifunction device 100 is a multifunction device integrated with a scanner, a printer, a copy, and a fax function, and is connected to a network server 12 and a host computer 11 via a network. Furthermore, the multifunction device 100 is connected to other communication devices via a public line network. The multifunction peripheral 100 is not limited to the illustrated example, and may be a digital copying machine, a printer with a copy function, or the like, and the number of peripheral devices connected to the network is not limited to the illustrated example.

  The multi-function device 100 mainly includes a reader unit 1, a printer unit 2, and an image input / output control unit 3. The reader unit 1 is connected to the printer unit 2 and the image input / output control unit 3, reads an image of a document, and outputs the read image data to the printer unit 2 or the image input / output control unit 3. The printer unit 2 prints the image data output from the reader unit 1 and the image input / output control unit 3 on a recording sheet. The image input / output control unit 3 is connected to an external network or a public network, inputs / outputs image data, accumulates the usage status when the user uses the multifunction device 100, and further connects to the network. Analyzing and controlling a job (printing command or the like) from the host computer 11 that has been executed.

  The image input / output control unit 3 includes a facsimile unit 4, a file unit 5, a network interface unit 7, a PDL formatter unit 8, and a core unit 10. The facsimile unit 4 is connected to the core unit 10 and the public line network, decompresses the compressed image data received from the public line network, and transmits the decompressed image data to the core unit 10. Also, the image data transmitted from the core unit 10 is compressed, and the compressed image data is transmitted to the public line network via the public line. The file unit 5 is connected to the core unit 10 and the external storage device 6, compresses the image data transmitted from the core unit 10, and stores the compressed image data in the external storage device 6 together with a keyword for searching the compressed image data. Further, the file unit 5 searches the compressed image data stored in the external storage device 6 based on the keyword transmitted from the core unit 10, reads the compressed image data, decompresses it, and sends it to the core unit 10. Send.

  The network interface unit 7 is an interface between the host computer 11 and the network server 12 and the core unit 10 connected via an external network. Reception of job control data from the host computer 11 and transmission of image data and the like to the host computer 11 are performed via the network interface unit 7. The job control data includes a job control command that is transmitted together with the PDL data. For example, the job control data is developed after the PDL data is expanded and printed as image data, and then stapled and discharged. The network interface unit 7 has a database called MIB (Management Information Base) built therein, and can communicate with the host computer 11 on the network via SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) to manage the printer unit 2. It has become. Further, since the network interface unit 7 receives an installation request / uninstallation request / start request / stop request for an application that implements various functions on the image forming apparatus, other devices connected to the network are included in the MFP 100. It is possible to control the application.

  The formatter unit 8 is connected to the core unit 10 and develops PDL data transmitted from the host computer 11 into image data that can be printed by the printer unit 2.

  The image memory unit 9 is for temporarily storing information from the reader unit 1 and information sent from the host computer 11 or the like via the network interface unit.

  The core unit 10 analyzes job control data as well as the data flowing between the reader unit 1, the facsimile unit 4, the file unit 5, the network interface unit 7, and the PDL formatter unit 8 described above, and is used by the user. Information such as status, number of copies, number of copies printed, number of scans, etc. is accumulated.

  The host computer 11 is a personal computer or a workstation (PC / WS), and the network server 12 is a server that controls the entire network. The image processing server 13 is a server device that performs image processing in accordance with a request from the multifunction peripheral 100.

  On the multi-function device 100, it is possible to control the reader unit and the printer unit by executing a command group instructing job processing. FIG. 2 is an example of a command group for instructing job processing. A command group for instructing job processing includes a job submission start command 201, a job attribute setting command 202, a job data transmission command 203, and a job submission completion command 204. The job submission start command 201 is a command for notifying the controller of the start of job submission, and includes a mode 211 and additional information 212 corresponding to the mode as parameters. Upon receipt of the job submission start command 201, the controller starts preparation for performing job processing. The job attribute setting command 202 is a command for setting an attribute representing a job function or status. The attributes include information such as job name, job type, data format, paper selection, and the like. With this command, a plurality of attributes can be set continuously. A job data transmission command 203 is a command for transmitting data to be subjected to job processing such as image data. However, depending on the contents of the job, the data to be processed may not be required. In this case, this command may be omitted. The job submission completion command 204 is a command for indicating that all command groups instructing job processing have been sent. A series of commands from the job submission start command 201 to the job submission completion command 204 is interpreted as one job processing instruction. For example, in a scan job for reading an original image with a scanner, a scan job is executed by issuing a series of commands including a job submission start command, a job attribute setting command for setting a scan attribute, and a job submission completion command.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart of internal processing when the image transmission function of the multifunction peripheral 100 is used. First, in step S301, a document is read according to an instruction from the operation unit. In step S302, the image data of the document read in step S301 is transmitted to a server device set in advance on the operation unit. Next, in step S303, it is determined whether or not the transmission processing in step S302 has ended normally. If it is determined in step S303 that an error has occurred in step S302, the process proceeds to step S309. If it is determined that the image data transmission process in step S302 has been normally performed, the process proceeds to step S304. In step S304, in order to display the reduced image of the document read in step S301 on the operation unit, the image reduction processing request transmitted in step S302 is transmitted to the server apparatus. In step S305, a response to the request in S304 is received. In step S306, it is determined whether the reduction process has been performed correctly. If it is determined that the request in S304 has not been processed normally or a response has not been received and timed out, the process proceeds to step S309. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S306 that image processing has been performed as requested in step S304 and a reduced image has been received, the process proceeds to step S307 and a preview screen is displayed on the operation unit. In step S308, an input on the operation unit is detected.

  FIG. 4 is a preview screen in the present embodiment. Reference numeral 401 denotes an area where an image of the read original is displayed. A button 402 is a button for displaying an image of the previous page. A button 403 is a button for displaying an image of the next page. A button 404 is a button for shifting to the next transmission setting screen. A button 405 is a button for rescanning the document. A button 406 is a button for canceling the image transmission process. Reference numeral 407 denotes the page number of the entire currently displayed image.

  If it is determined in step S308 that the button 405 has been pressed, the process returns to step S401. If it is determined in step S308 that the button 406 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S312. If it is determined in step S308 that the button 404 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S309. In step S309, a transmission setting screen is displayed.

  FIG. 5 is a transmission setting screen in the present embodiment. Reference numeral 501 denotes an area in which a currently set destination list is displayed. A button 502 is a destination setting button for transmitting the image data to the shared directory of the PC. When this button is pressed, the screen changes to a detailed setting screen (not shown). When the detailed setting is completed, the screen returns to the transmission setting screen. A destination is added to 501. Buttons 503, 504, 505, and 506 can set FTP, FAX, MAIL, and printer destinations, respectively, and the screen transition is the same as that of the button 502. A button 507 is a button for deleting a selected item from the list of destinations displayed on the screen 501. A button 508 is a button for transitioning to an address book screen (not shown) for selecting a transmission destination from pre-registered address books. A button 509 is a transmission button, and is a button for actually starting transmission based on the setting. This button 509 can be pressed only when one or more destinations are set. A button 510 is a button for canceling image transmission.

  If it is determined in step S310 that the button 509 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S311 to transmit an image conversion request and an image transmission request to the server apparatus, and the process proceeds to step S312. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S310 that the button 510 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S312. In step S312, it is determined whether the image data transmission process in step S302 has been performed normally. If it is determined that the process has been performed correctly, the process proceeds to step S313, and if not, the process ends. In step S313, the image data deletion request transmitted in step S302 and, if the reduced image requested in step S304 is obtained, the reduced image deletion request is transmitted to the server device, and the process ends.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of internal processing when the OCR transmission function of the multi-function device 100 is used. First, in step S601, a document is read according to an instruction from the operation unit. In step S602, the image data of the document read in step S601 is transmitted to the server apparatus. In step S603, it is determined whether the transmission process in step S602 has been normally completed. If it is determined in step S603 that an error has occurred in step S602, the process proceeds to step S609. If it is determined that the image data transmission process in step S602 has been performed normally, the process proceeds to step S604. In step S604, in order to display the OCR result of the document read in step S601 on the operation unit, the image OCR processing request transmitted in step S602 is transmitted to the server apparatus. In step S605, a response to the request in S604 is received. Next, in step S606, it is determined whether the OCR process has been performed correctly. If it is determined that the request in S604 has not been processed normally or a response has not been received and a timeout has occurred, the process proceeds to step S609. On the other hand, in step S606, the process is performed as requested in step S604. If it is determined in step S605 that the OCR result can be received, the process proceeds to step S607, and the OCR result display screen is displayed on the operation unit. In step S608, an input on the operation unit is detected.

  FIG. 7 is an OCR result display screen in the present embodiment. An area 701 displays the result of OCR processing of the read original. If the OCR result does not fit in this area, the button 702 can be used to scroll. A button 703 is a button for shifting to the next transmission setting screen. A button 704 is a button for canceling the image transmission process.

  If it is determined in step S608 that the button 704 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S612. If it is determined that the button 703 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S609. In step S609, a transmission setting screen (FIG. 5) is displayed. In step S610, the UI input is determined. If it is determined in step S610 that the button 509 has been pressed, the process advances to step S611 to transmit an image conversion request and an image transmission request to the server apparatus, and the process advances to step S612. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S610 that the button 510 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S612. In step S612, it is determined whether the image data transmission process in step S602 has been performed normally. If it is determined that the process has been performed correctly, the process proceeds to step S613, and if not, the process ends. In step S613, the image data deletion request transmitted in step S602 is transmitted to the server apparatus, and the process ends.

  Next, the flow of processing when the server apparatus receives image data from the image forming apparatus will be described using the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S801, image data is received. In step S802, it is determined whether the image can be stored in the server apparatus. Of course, if the storage device has insufficient free space, it cannot be stored, but this criterion is determined by the setting of the server device. It is also possible to reject the request. If it is determined in step S802 that the image data can be stored, the process advances to step S803 to perform image data storage processing, and in step S804, the stored image data identifier is notified to the image forming apparatus that is the image data transmission source. Exit. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S802 that the image cannot be stored, the process advances to step S805 to issue a notification indicating that the image could not be stored in the image forming apparatus that is the image data transmission source, and the process ends.

  Next, the flow of processing when the server apparatus receives an image data processing request from the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S901, a processing request from the image forming apparatus is received. Next, in step S902, the type of request received in S901 is determined. If it is an image data transmission request, the process proceeds to step S903, image data transmission processing is performed, and the process proceeds to step S909. If the request is for deleting image data, the process proceeds to step S904, where the image data is deleted, and the process proceeds to step S909. If the image data processing request is received, the process proceeds to step S905, where the image data is processed, and the process proceeds to step S908. If the image data conversion request is received, the process proceeds to step S906, the image data conversion process is performed, and the process proceeds to step S908. If the request is an OCR process request, the OCR process is performed in step S907, and the process proceeds to step S908. In step S908, the data generated as a result of the processing is stored, and the process proceeds to step S909. In step S909, the request source is notified of the success or failure of the process. When new data is generated as a result of the processing, the identifier of the data is also notified at the same time. Note that the data itself generated as a result of the request processing can be transmitted simultaneously with the result notification. If the client wants to receive data at the same time as the result notification, it should be specified in the processing request.

  As described above, in this embodiment, a reduced image creation, OCR processing, and format conversion of a document image are not performed in the image forming apparatus, but are performed in an external server device. Therefore, it is possible to provide a preview function and an OCR function without adding an image processing apparatus. Further, the processing load image is stored in the server, and the transmission processing to the outside is directly performed from the server, so that the network load can be suppressed. In addition, since the processing load on the image forming apparatus is reduced, it is possible to provide a user-friendly operability and to efficiently perform image transmission.

  The above-described embodiments are merely examples of implementation in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereto. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the main features.

It is a schematic diagram of the image processing system in a present Example. 3 is an example of a command group that instructs job processing of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. 4 is a flowchart when an image is transmitted to an external host in the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the preview screen in a present Example. It is a figure which shows the transmission setting screen in a present Example. 10 is a flowchart when transmitting an original image obtained by OCR processing. It is a figure which shows the OCR result display screen in a present Example. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process at the time of receiving image data in a server apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process at the time of receiving the process request of image data in a server apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 MFP 1 Reader part 2 Printer part 3 Image input / output control part 4 Fax part 5 File part 6 External storage device 7 Network interface part 8 Formatter part 9 Image memory part 10 Core part

Claims (5)

  A scanner device that scans and reads an original, an image data transmission unit that transmits image data read by the scanner device to a server device connected to a network, and a process for the image data transmitted by the image data transmission unit An image forming apparatus comprising: a processing request transmitting unit that transmits a request; and a response receiving unit that receives a response to the request transmitted to the processing request transmitting unit.   The processing requested by the image processing request transmission means includes image processing such as rotation / magnification, transmission of image data to other devices connected to the network, image data deletion from the server device, image data format conversion processing, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of OCR processing. Image data receiving means for receiving image data transmitted from the image forming apparatus, image processing request receiving means for receiving an image processing request transmitted from the image forming apparatus, and storing image data received by the image data receiving means Image data storage means for processing, processing means for processing an image stored in the image data storage means in accordance with an image processing request received by the image processing reception means, and a result processed by the image processing means for the image forming apparatus An image processing result transmitting means for transmitting to the server apparatus,
An image processing system, wherein the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 is connected to a network.   4. The server apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a transmission unit configured to transmit the image data stored in the image data storage unit according to a predetermined protocol in accordance with the image processing request received by the image processing reception unit. The image processing system described.   The image processing system according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the image forming apparatuses also serves as the server apparatus.