JP2006148817A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remarkably reduce the labor of a user when retrieving data from a database. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming system comprises: a document reader 20 for reading a document to acquire a document image; a template document table 42 storing a plurality of template documents to be outputted while being attached to the document image; a user authentication unit 81 for acquiring user information for specifying the user to authenticate whether the user is authorized to use an image forming apparatus 1; an operation display unit 50 for displaying a FAX operation menu G1 or a scanner operation menu G2 to designate a predetermined template document, for the user authenticated by the user authentication unit 81, among the template documents stored in the template document table 42; and a communication control unit 70 for transmitting the document image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system such as a copying machine or a digital multifunction peripheral, and more particularly to an image forming system having a database function.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital multifunction peripherals that store a document image read by a document reading unit in a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk as a database are becoming widespread. In view of this, there has been proposed a usage form in which a large number of fixed originals such as FAX invoices are stored in this database, and one of the fixed originals is selected by the user at the time of FAX transmission, and transmitted together with the transmission target original.

In addition, a large number of decoration images for decorating the transmission target document are stored in this database, and one of the decoration images is selected by the user during FAX transmission, and the transmission target document is decorated with the selected decoration image. Has been proposed. In addition, the database stores a large number of e-mail addresses of personal computers connected via LAN and Internet lines, and FAX numbers of FAX machines connected via public telephone lines and Internet lines. A usage form that allows the user to select an address or the like has also been proposed. In these cases, the user selects a standard original or the like by searching for a desired standard original or the like from a list of standard originals or the like displayed in a list on the operation display unit of the image forming apparatus. Note that Patent Document 1 exists as a technique related to the present invention.
JP 2004-78843 A

  However, when the amount of the standard originals stored in the database becomes enormous, the user has to search for desired data out of enormous data, which is very troublesome. In particular, the operation display unit of the image forming apparatus is very small as compared with a display device such as a normal personal computer, and the amount of data displayed at one time is limited. Therefore, such an operation is very troublesome.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system that can greatly reduce the user's trouble in retrieving desired data from a database.

  An image forming system according to the present invention includes a document reading unit that reads a document and obtains a document image, a regular document storage unit that stores a plurality of regular documents output attached to the document image, and a user for identifying a user User authentication means for acquiring information and authenticating whether or not the user has the authority to use the image forming system, and the user authentication means from among a plurality of fixed originals stored in the fixed original storage means Operation display means for displaying an operation menu for designating one or a plurality of predetermined standard originals for an authenticated user, and a standard original designated by the user via the operation menu on the original image And output means for attaching and outputting.

  In the above configuration, the image processing apparatus further includes first decoration image storage means for storing a plurality of first decoration images for decorating the document image, and the operation display means is stored in the first decoration image storage means. An operation menu for designating a predetermined one or a plurality of first decoration images for a user authenticated by the user authentication means from among the plurality of first decoration images displayed, and the output Preferably, the means outputs an image obtained by combining the first decoration image designated by the user via the operation menu and the document image.

  In the above configuration, the image processing apparatus further includes second decoration image storage means for storing a plurality of second decoration images for decorating the standard document, and the operation display means is stored in the second decoration image storage means. An operation menu for designating one or a plurality of second decoration images predetermined for the user authenticated by the user authentication means from among the plurality of second decoration images displayed, The output means preferably outputs an image obtained by synthesizing the second decorative image designated by the user via the operation menu and the standard document image.

  In the above configuration, the apparatus further includes a transmission destination storage unit that stores a plurality of transmission destinations of the document image, and the operation display unit includes the user information from a plurality of transmission destinations stored in the transmission destination storage unit. An operation menu for designating one or more predetermined transmission destinations for the user authenticated by the authentication means is displayed, and the output means displays the original at the transmission destination designated via the operation menu. It is preferable to transmit the image.

  In the above configuration, it is preferable that the operation menu designates the standard document, the first decorative image, and the second decorative image.

  Further, in the above configuration, the apparatus further includes mode setting means for setting the image forming system to any one of a FAX mode and a scanner mode, and the operation display means is configured to perform the user authentication when the FAX mode is set. When an operation menu displaying a list of predetermined destinations is displayed for the user authenticated by the means and the scanner mode is set, the device owned by the user is displayed as the default destination. It is preferable to display an operation display menu.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation menu for authenticating the user based on the user information and designating a predetermined standard document for the authenticated user from among the plurality of standard documents. A standard document specified by the user via the operation menu is displayed and attached to the document image. Therefore, when the user designates a desired standard document, the user does not designate the desired standard document from all the standard documents stored in the standard document storage means, but the predetermined standard for the authenticated user. It becomes possible to specify a desired standard document from among the documents. Therefore, as a result of the narrowing of the search range, the user can quickly and easily perform the task of specifying a standard document, and the operation burden on the user can be greatly reduced.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first predetermined for the authenticated user from among the plurality of first decoration images for decorating the document image stored in the first document image storage means. An operation menu for designating one decoration image is displayed on the operation display means, and the user can designate a desired first decoration image from this operation menu. The operational burden on the user can be greatly reduced.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the second decoration image predetermined for the authenticated user is designated from the second decoration images stored in the second decoration image storage means. An operation menu is displayed on the operation display means, and the user can designate a desired second decoration image from the operation menu, so that the operation burden on the user when designating the second decoration image is greatly reduced. be able to.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, an operation menu for designating a predetermined transmission destination for the authenticated user from among the transmission destinations stored in the transmission destination storage means is displayed. Since a desired transmission destination can be specified from the operation menu, the operation burden on the user when specifying the transmission destination of the document image can be greatly reduced.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the user can specify the standard original, the first decorative image, and the second decorative image in one operation menu.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, when the FAX mode is set, a list of predetermined transmission destinations for the user is displayed, and when the scanner mode is set, the user owns the list. Since the transmission destination of the device to be displayed is displayed as the default transmission destination on the operation menu, the desired transmission destination can be quickly searched in the FAX mode, and the trouble of specifying the transmission destination is saved in the scanner mode. be able to.

  Hereinafter, the case where the image forming system of the present invention is applied to the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a network configuration diagram of a communication network to which the image forming apparatus 1 is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 is connected to the FAX apparatus 3b and the terminal apparatus 2b through a public line, and is connected to the terminal apparatus 2a and the FAX apparatus 3a through a LAN (local area network). ing.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is a digital multifunction peripheral having a FAX function, a printer function, and a scanner function. Public lines include Internet lines, analog lines, ISDN lines, dedicated lines, and the like. The FAX apparatuses 3a and 3b are ordinary FAX apparatuses conforming to a communication standard such as G3 or G4. The terminal devices 2a and 2b are ordinary personal computers having a communication function.

  FIG. 2 shows an internal configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a main body unit 200, a sheet post-processing unit 300 disposed on the left side of the main body unit 200, an operation unit 400 for a user to input various operation commands and the like, and an upper part of the main body unit 200. The document reading unit 500 disposed in the document reading unit and the document feeding unit 600 disposed above the document reading unit 500 are provided.

  The operation unit 400 includes a touch panel 401, a start key 402, a numeric keypad 403, and the like. The touch panel 401 displays various operation screens and various operation buttons for the user to input various operation commands. The start key 402 is used for the user to input a print execution command and the like, and the ten key 403 is used for inputting the number of copies to be printed.

  The document feeding unit 600 includes a document placement unit 601, a document discharge unit 602, a paper feed roller 603, a document transport unit 604, and the like, and the document reading unit 500 includes a scanner 501 and the like. The paper feed roller 603 feeds out the original set on the original placement unit 601, and the original transport unit 604 transports the fed originals one by one on the scanner 501. The scanner 501 sequentially reads the conveyed document, and the read document is discharged to the document discharge unit 602.

  The main body 200 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes 201, a plurality of paper feed rollers 202, a transfer roller 203, an intermediate transfer body roller 204, a photosensitive drum 205, an exposure device 206, and development for each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. Devices 207Y, 207M, 207C, and 207K, a fixing roller 208, a discharge port 209, a discharge tray 210, and the like are provided.

  The photosensitive drum 205 is uniformly charged by a charging device (not shown) while rotating in the direction of the arrow. The exposure device 206 converts the modulation signal generated based on the print data of the original read by the original reading section 500 into a laser beam and outputs it, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 205 for each color. The developing devices 207Y, 207M, 207C, and 207K supply each color developer to the photosensitive drum 205 to form a toner image for each color.

  The intermediate transfer roller 204 transfers the color toner images from the photosensitive drum 205, and forms a color toner image on the intermediate transfer roller 204.

  On the other hand, the paper feeding roller 202 pulls out the recording paper from the paper feeding cassette 201 in which the recording paper is stored, and feeds the recording paper to the transfer roller 203. The transfer roller 203 transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer body roller 204 onto the conveyed recording paper, and the fixing roller 208 heats and fixes the transferred toner image on the recording paper. Thereafter, the recording paper is carried into the paper post-processing unit 300 from the discharge port 209 of the main body unit 200. The recording paper is also discharged to the discharge tray 210 as necessary.

  The paper post-processing unit 300 includes a carry-in port 301, a recording paper transport unit 302, a carry-out port 303, a stack tray 304, and the like. The recording paper transport unit 302 sequentially transports the recording paper carried into the carry-in port 301 from the discharge port 209 and finally ejects the recording paper from the carry-out port 303 to the stack tray 304. The stack tray 304 is configured to move up and down in the direction of the arrow in accordance with the number of recording sheets stacked from the carry-out port 303.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an IC card reader 10, a document reading unit 20, a printing unit 30, a database storage unit 40, an operation display unit 50, an image processing unit 60, a communication control unit 70, a control unit 80, and an operation menu storage unit 84. It has. The IC card reader 10 includes a non-contact type IC card reader that reads and writes data from and to an IC card by wireless communication.

  The user information includes a user name and a user ID uniquely given to each user. The user ID corresponds to a symbol string such as an employee number when the image forming apparatus 1 is installed in a company, and a symbol string such as a student ID number when the image forming apparatus 1 is installed at a school.

  When a USB token is used instead of the IC card, a USB token reader may be adopted instead of the IC card reader 10. Moreover, what is necessary is just to install both reader | leaders in parallel, when using an IC card and a USB token together. Furthermore, when a contact type IC card is employed as the IC card, a contact type IC card reader may be employed.

  The document reading unit 20 corresponds to the document reading unit 500 shown in FIG. The printing unit 30 corresponds to the intermediate transfer member roller 204, the photosensitive drum 205, the exposure device 206, the developing devices 207Y to 207K, and the like shown in FIG. The database storage unit 40 is composed of a hard disk and stores a database 40a. The database 40a is a relational database and includes a table (not shown) for storing a document image acquired by the document reading unit 20 and a document image transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1, and a transmission destination table 41, a fixed form. A document table 42, a first decorative image table 43, and a second decorative image table 44 are provided. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing an example of the data structure of the database 40a, where FIG. 4A shows the transmission destination table 41, FIG. 4B shows the standard document table 42, and FIG. 4C shows the first decorative image table. 43, (d) shows the second decoration image table 44.

  The transmission destination table 41 shown in (a) includes fields for company, department, FAX-NO, and Email. Data indicating the company name is stored in the company field, data indicating the department name is stored in the department field, data indicating the FAX number is stored in the FAX-NO column, and electronic data is stored in the Email column. Data indicating the mail address is stored.

  The standard document table 42 shown in (b) has fields for form name and category. Data indicating the name of the standard document is stored in the form name field. Here, the standard document indicates a document that is output attached to a document image such as a fax cover sheet or an order form. In the category field, data indicating the type of the standard document is stored. Order forms A and B, company information, and company map are stored in the standard document table 42 shown in FIG.

  The first decorative image table 43 shown in (c) includes image name, category, and comment fields. Here, the first decoration image indicates an image for decorating the document image. The image name field stores a first decoration image that decorates the original image. In the example shown in (c), first decoration images F1 to F3 are stored as the first decoration image. Data indicating the type of the first decorative image is stored in the category field. In the comment field, data indicating a sentence that briefly explains the first decorative image is stored.

  The second decoration image table 43 shown in (d) stores the second decoration images DB1 to DB40. Here, the second decoration image refers to an image for decorating a standard document such as a company logo mark or a standard text written on a FAX cover sheet.

  The operation display unit 50 shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the touch panel 401 shown in FIG. The image processing unit 60 combines the document image and the first decoration image designated by the user. Further, the image processing unit 60 synthesizes the standard document specified by the user and the second decorative image specified by the user.

  The communication control unit 70 includes a LAN board, a modem, and the like, and performs communication control of data that the image forming apparatus 1 transmits / receives to / from a public line or LAN. In the present embodiment, in particular, transmission data including a document image read by the document reading unit 20 is generated, and the generated transmission data is transmitted to a transmission destination designated by the user.

  The control unit 80 includes a CPU and the like, and controls the entire image forming apparatus 1, and includes functions of a user authentication unit 81, an operation menu acquisition unit 82, and a data extraction unit 83. The user authentication unit 81 to the data extraction unit 83 are realized by the control unit 80 executing a control program stored in a ROM (not shown).

  The user authentication unit 81 authenticates whether or not the user having the user information acquired by the IC card reader 10 has the authority to use the image forming apparatus 1. Specifically, the user information acquired by the IC card reader 10 is present in the user information storage unit with reference to a user information storage unit (not shown) that stores user information having authority to use the image forming apparatus 1. The user determines that the user has the authority to use the image forming apparatus 1. If the user does not exist, the user determines that the user does not have the authority to use the image forming apparatus 1.

  The operation menu acquisition unit 82 reads a predetermined operation menu for the user authenticated by the user authentication unit 81 from the operation menu storage unit 84 and displays it on the operation display unit 50.

  The operation menu storage unit 84 is composed of a hard disk or the like, and stores an operation menu predetermined for each user. The operation menu includes two types of operation menus: an operation menu for FAX mode (hereinafter referred to as “FAX operation menu”) and an operation menu for scanner mode (hereinafter referred to as “scanner operation menu”). . In the FAX operation menu, operation buttons and the like for designating data highly likely to be used by the user in the FAX mode are displayed. In the operation menu for the scanner mode, a button for designating data that is highly likely to be used by the user in the scanner mode is displayed.

  The data extraction unit 83 extracts data designated by the user from the database 40a via the FAX operation menu or the scanner operation menu displayed on the operation display unit 50.

  In addition, the control unit 80 sets the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 1 to the FAX mode or the scanner mode according to an operation command input by the user via the operation display unit 50.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. First, in step S1, when a user holds an IC card over the IC card reader 10, the IC card reader 10 acquires user information stored in the held IC card.

  In step S <b> 2, the user authentication unit 81 authenticates whether or not the user who holds the IC card has the authority to use the image forming apparatus 1. If the user authentication unit 81 determines that the user has authority to use (YES in S2), the process proceeds to step S3. If the user authentication unit 81 determines that the user does not have authority to use (NO in S2), the process proceeds to step S3. Returned to S1. Hereinafter, the user who is determined to have usage authority in step S2 is represented as user A.

  In step S <b> 3, the operation display unit 50 receives an operation command for designating the image forming apparatus 1 in one of the FAX mode and the scanner mode from the user, and when the FAX mode is designated by the user A (in S <b> 3). FAX), the process proceeds to step S4, and when the scanner mode is designated by the user A (scanner in S3), the process proceeds to step S5.

  In step S <b> 4, the operation menu acquisition unit 82 reads out a FAX operation menu for the user A from the operation menu storage unit 84. On the other hand, in step S <b> 5, the operation menu acquisition unit 82 reads a scanner operation menu for the user A from the operation menu storage unit 84. In step S6, the operation menu acquisition unit 82 displays the FAX operation menu read in step S4 or the scanner operation menu read in step S5 on the operation display unit 50.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the operation menu displayed on the operation display unit 50 in step S6, where (a) shows the FAX operation menu G1, and (b) shows the scanner operation menu G2. .

  In the center of the FAX operation menu G1 shown in FIG. 7, a transmission destination list L1 for the user A to specify a transmission destination is displayed. Among the transmission destinations stored in the transmission destination table 41 shown in FIG. 4A, the B company sales department, the D company sales department, and the F company sales department are designated as transmission destinations for the user A, so the transmission destination list L1 The destinations of the B company sales department, the D company sales department, and the F company sales department are displayed.

  On the right side of the FAX operation menu G1, buttons B11 to B14 described as “Form1”, “F2”, “DB2”, and “DB6” are displayed. Buttons B <b> 11 and B <b> 12 are buttons for designating the standard document Form <b> 1 stored in the standard document table 42 and the first decorative image F <b> 2 stored in the first decorative image table 43. In the FAX mode, among the fixed form documents Form1 to Form4 stored in the fixed form document table 42, the fixed form Form1 is designated as the fixed form document for the user A, and therefore the button “Form1” is described in the FAX operation menu G1. B11 is displayed. Moreover, since the 1st decoration image F2 is designated as a 1st decoration image with respect to the user A among the 1st decoration images F1-F3 memorize | stored in the 1st decoration image table 43, FAX operation menu G1. Is displayed with a button B12 labeled "F2".

  The buttons B13 and B14 are buttons for designating the second decoration images DB2 and DB6 stored in the second decoration image table 44. Of the second decoration images DB1 to DB40 stored in the second decoration image table 44, since the second decoration images DB2 and DB6 are designated as the second decoration image for the user A, the FAX operation menu G1. The buttons B13 and B14 described as “DB2” and “DB6” are displayed. The button B15 is a button for causing the data extraction unit 83 to execute processing for searching for an image desired by the user.

  On the left side of the scanner operation menu G2 shown in (b), the word “USER A PC” indicating the name of the computer owned by the user A is displayed. In the center of the scanner operation menu G2, the word “300 dpi” indicating the resolution of the original image is displayed. A word “PDF” is displayed below “300 dpi” to indicate that the document image is stored in the PDF data format. Below “PDF”, a word indicating “file name” given to a file composed of document images is displayed.

  Here, in principle, the control unit 80 manages one original as one file, but a plurality of originals are placed on the original placement unit 601, and the original reading unit 20 continues the plurality of originals. Is read, the control unit 80 manages the plurality of documents as one file. The user can change the resolution, the file name, and the data format of the document image by operating the operation display unit 50.

  On the right side of the scanner operation menu G2, buttons B21 to B24 described as “Form1,” “F2,” “DB2,” and “DB4” are displayed. Buttons B <b> 21 and B <b> 22 are buttons for designating a standard document Form <b> 1 stored in the standard document table 42 and a first decoration image F <b> 2 stored in the first decoration image table 43. In the scanner mode, out of the standard documents Form1 to Form4 stored in the standard document table 42, the standard document Form1 is designated as the standard document for the user A, and therefore “Form1” is described in the scanner operation menu G2. Button B21 is displayed.

  Since the first decoration image F2 is designated as the first decoration image for the user A among the first decoration images F1 to F4 stored in the first decoration image table 43, the scanner operation menu G2 is used. The button B22 described as “F2” is displayed.

  Buttons B23 and B24 are buttons for designating the second decoration images DB2 and DB4 stored in the decoration image table 44. In the scanner mode, among the second decoration images DB1 to DB40 stored in the second decoration image table 44, the second decoration images DB2 and DB6 are designated as the second decoration image for the user A. In the scanner operation menu G2, buttons B23 and B24 described as “DB2” and “DB4” are displayed. The button B25 displayed on the lower side of the button B24 is a button for causing the data extraction unit 83 to execute a process in which the user A searches for a desired decoration image from the decoration image table 43.

  In step S7 shown in FIG. 5, when the operation display unit 50 receives an operation command for designating the transmission destination of the document image from the user A via the FAX operation menu G1 or the scanner operation menu G2 (YES in S7). The data extraction unit 83 extracts the designated transmission destination from the transmission destination table 41 (S8). On the other hand, when the operation command for designating the transmission destination is not accepted (NO in S7), the process proceeds to step S9. In the scanner mode, when the user A does not specify a transmission destination, the computer of the user A is the transmission destination.

  In step S9, when the operation display unit 50 receives an operation command for designating a standard document from the user A via the FAX operation menu G1 or the scanner operation menu G2 (YES in S9), the data extraction unit 83 is designated. The standard original is extracted from the standard original table 42 (S10). On the other hand, when an operation command for designating a standard document is not received (NO in S9), the process proceeds to step S11.

  In step S11, when the operation display unit 50 receives an operation command for designating the first decoration image from the user A via the FAX operation menu G1 or the scanner operation menu G2 (YES in S11), the data extraction unit 83. Extracts the designated first decoration image from the first decoration image table 43 (S12). On the other hand, when the operation command for designating the first decoration image is not accepted (NO in S11), the process proceeds to step S13.

  In step S13, when the operation display unit 50 receives an operation command for designating the second decoration image from the user A via the FAX operation menu G1 or the scanner operation menu G2 (YES in S13), the data extraction unit 83. Extracts the designated second decoration image from the second decoration image table 44 (S14). On the other hand, when the operation command for designating the second decoration image is not accepted (NO in S13), the process proceeds to step S15.

  In step S15, the document reading unit 20 optically reads the document placed on the document placing unit 601 and obtains a document image.

  FIG. 8A is a diagram for explaining the operation of the user A with respect to the FAX operation menu G1, and FIG. 8B is a diagram showing an image generated as a result of the operation. As shown in FIG. 8A, the first line of the transmission destination list L1 is displayed with black and white reversed with respect to the other lines. This is because the user A designates Company B described in the first line of the transmission destination list L1 as the transmission destination. In addition, the button B11 is displayed with black and white reversed with respect to the other buttons B12 to B15. This is because user A designates Form1 as a standard document.

  In this embodiment, an order form as shown in FIG. 8A is set as Form1. This order form is transmitted to the B company together with the original image SG as the last page of the original image SG read by the original reading unit 20.

  FIG. 9A is a diagram for explaining the operation of the user A with respect to the scanner operation menu G2, and FIG. 9B is a diagram showing an image generated as a result of the operation. As shown in FIG. 9A, the buttons B22 and B24 are displayed with the other buttons B21, B23 and B25 determined to be black and white. This is because the user A designates the standard original Form1 as the standard original and designates the second decoration image DB4 as the decoration image of the first decoration image F2.

  Then, the image processing unit 60 generates an image as shown in (b) by synthesizing the first decoration image F2 and the document image SG. The second decoration image DB4 is synthesized in the “DATA Link” field of the first decoration image F2.

  If image processing is necessary in step S16 (YES in S16), the image processing unit 60 performs image processing on the document image (S17). Specifically, when at least one of the first and second decorative images is designated by the user, the image processing unit 60 synthesizes the first decorative image with the document image, and forms the standard document. Is combined with the second decoration image.

  Here, when there are a plurality of document images, the image processing unit 60 synthesizes the first decoration image for each page, or the first decoration only for a part of the pages such as the first page. Combine the images. The page of the original image to be combined with the first decorative image is defined in advance for each first decorative image, and the image processing unit 60 combines the original image and the first decorative image in accordance with this specification. . In addition, when the standard document and the second decorative image are specified, the image processing unit 60 combines the specified standard document and the second decorative image.

  On the other hand, if image processing is not necessary (NO in S16), the image processing unit 60 does not perform image processing on the document image, and the process proceeds to step S18. Specifically, the image processing unit 60 performs the image processing when neither the first decorative image nor the second decorative image is specified, that is, when only one or both of the standard document and the transmission destination are specified. The unit 60 does not perform image processing on the document image. In step S18, the communication control unit 70 transmits the document image to the transmission destination designated by the user.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 1, the button for designating a standard document preliminarily designated for the user A in the standard document table 42 is displayed on the FAX operation menu G 1 and the scanner operation menu G 2. Since the user can specify a standard document image via the FAX operation menu G1 or the scanner operation menu G2, the search range is narrowed, and as a result, the operation of specifying a standard document can be performed quickly and easily. The operation burden on the user can be greatly reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, a mode in which a document image is transmitted has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the document image may be printed on recording paper. In this case, the printing unit 30 prints the document image on the recording paper.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the image forming system is applied to the image forming apparatus 1 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. It may be distributed and provided in a plurality of devices connected via the network.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the image forming system includes a receiving device 1S, a standard document storage device 2S, a document reading device 3S, a first decoration image storage device 4S, a second decoration image storage device 5S, and an output device 6S. I have. The image forming apparatus 1S to the output apparatus 6S are connected via a LAN so as to be able to transmit and receive each other.

  The accepting device 1S is composed of a printer or a personal computer to which an IC card reader is connected. The user authentication unit 81, operation menu acquisition unit 82, data extraction unit 83, operation menu storage unit 84, and transmission destination table 41 shown in FIG. It has.

  The regular document storage device 2S is composed of a scanner, a printer, or a personal computer, and stores a regular document table 42 shown in FIG. The document reading device 3S is composed of a printer or a personal computer, and includes a document reading unit 20 shown in FIG.

  The first decorative image storage device 4S is composed of a scanner, a printer, or a personal computer, and stores a first decorative image table 43 shown in FIG. The second decoration image storage device 5S is composed of a printer or a personal computer, and stores a second decoration image table 44 shown in FIG. The output device 6S is composed of a printer.

  In the image forming system shown in FIG. 10, the accepting device 1S reads user information from the IC card held over the IC card reader, and authenticates whether or not the user holding the IC card has authority to use the image forming system. I do. When it is determined that the user holding the IC card has the authority to use the image forming system, a predetermined operation menu is displayed for the user on the operation display unit provided in the receiving apparatus 1S. Then, an operation command from the user for designating one of the first decoration image, the second decoration image, the standard document, and the transmission destination of the document image is accepted via this operation menu.

  On the other hand, the output device 6S receives the first decorative image, the second decorative image, and the standard document specified by the operation command from the user, respectively, as the first decorative image storage device 4S, the second decorative image storage device 5S, and It is read out and acquired from the fixed form document storage device 2S. The output device 6S acquires the document image read by the document reading device 3S. Then, the output device 6S combines the first decorative image and the original image to decorate the original image, combines the second decorative image and the standard original, decorates the fixed original, and creates the decorated original image. A decorated standard document is attached and transmitted to the transmission destination of the document image designated by the user or printed on a recording sheet.

  In the image forming system shown in FIG. 10, when the second decorative image is not designated, the second decorative image is not combined with the standard document. When the first decoration image is not designated, the first decoration image is not combined with the document image. Further, when the standard document is not designated, the standard document is not attached to the document image. In the system shown in FIG. 10, the standard document storage device 2S, the first decorative image storage device 4S, and the second decorative image storage device 5S may be configured by one server device.

1 shows a network configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus when the image forming system according to the present embodiment is applied to the image forming apparatus. FIG. 1 shows an internal configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus. 1 shows a block diagram of an image forming apparatus. It is drawing which showed an example of the data structure of the database 40a, (a) shows the transmission destination table 41, (b) shows the fixed form original table 42, (c) shows the 1st decoration image table 43, (D) has shown the 2nd decoration image table. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus. It is drawing which showed an example of the operation menu displayed on the operation display part, (a) shows the FAX operation menu G1, (b) shows the scanner operation menu G2. (A) is a figure for demonstrating operation of the user A with respect to FAX operation menu G1, (b) is drawing which showed the image produced | generated as a result of operation. (A) is a figure for demonstrating the operation of the user A with respect to the scanner operation menu G2, (b) is a figure which showed the image produced | generated as a result of operation. It is a block diagram which shows the other form of the image forming system by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 10 Card reader 20 Original reading part 30 Printing part 40 Database storage part 41 Transmission destination table 42 Standard original table 43 First decoration image table 44 Second decoration image table 50 Operation display part 60 Image processing part 70 Communication Control unit 80 Control unit 81 User authentication unit 82 Operation menu acquisition unit 82 Operation menu acquisition unit 83 Data extraction unit 84 Operation menu storage unit

Claims (6)

A document reading means for reading a document and acquiring a document image;
A standard document storage means for storing a plurality of standard documents output attached to the document image;
User authentication means for acquiring user information for identifying a user and authenticating whether or not the user has authority to use the image forming system;
An operation for displaying an operation menu for designating one or more predetermined standard originals for a user authenticated by the user authentication means from among a plurality of standard originals stored in the standard original storage means. Display means;
An image forming system, comprising: an output unit that outputs the document image with a fixed document specified by a user via the operation menu. A first decoration image storage means for storing a plurality of first decoration images for decorating the original image;
The operation display means includes one or more first predetermined ones for a user authenticated by the user authentication means from among a plurality of first decoration images stored in the first decoration image storage means. Displays the operation menu for specifying the decoration image of
2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the output unit outputs an image obtained by synthesizing the first decorative image designated by the user via the operation menu and the document image. A second decoration image storage means for storing a plurality of second decoration images for decorating the standard document;
The operation display means includes one or more first predetermined ones for a user authenticated by the user authentication means from among a plurality of second decoration images stored in the second decoration image storage means. Display the operation menu to specify the decoration image of 2,
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the output unit outputs an image obtained by synthesizing the second decoration image designated by the user via the operation menu and the fixed original image. A transmission destination storing unit for storing a plurality of transmission destinations of the document image;
The operation display means designates one or more predetermined transmission destinations for a user authenticated by the user information authentication means from among a plurality of transmission destinations stored in the transmission destination storage means. Display the operation menu of
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the output unit transmits the document image to a transmission destination designated via the operation menu.   4. The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein the operation menu is for designating the standard document, the first decorative image, and the second decorative image. A mode setting means for setting the image forming system to any one of a FAX mode and a scanner mode;
When the FAX mode is set, the operation display means displays an operation menu displaying a list of predetermined transmission destinations for the user authenticated by the user authentication means, and the scanner mode is set. 6. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein an operation display menu is displayed in which the device owned by the user is displayed as a default transmission destination.

Images