JP2006197324A - Document management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent circulation of documents of old versions. <P>SOLUTION: In a system, original position information is written in a RFID within a print output paper when an original file in a file server is printed, and the print output is normally optically copied or the original file in the file server is printed (i-copy) from original position information in the RFID when the print output is copied. In this system, a copy permission flag in the RFID is rewritten in the case that the original file has been updated, and hereafter, optical copy and i-copy from the print output of the old version are inhibited. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention includes a printing paper in which a non-contact IC (hereinafter referred to as RFID) is embedded, a multifunction printer that reads / writes data from / to the RFID, and performs efficient document management by reading / writing data from / to the RFID. The present invention relates to a possible document management system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a document management server that stores document data by associating target document data with its version information in document data management (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Also, when printing the document data on the file server, the position information, version information, etc. of the original document data on the file server are added as additional information to the print output paper, and then the print output is performed. When copying as a manuscript, a function is also known in which the original document data is acquired from the file server and printed based on the position information and version information of the original document data added to the print output paper. (This function is hereinafter referred to as network copy, and a normal copy operation in which an original is optically read and a copy print is performed based on the read image data of the original is referred to herein as an optical copy for convenience.)

  According to this network copy, since the original is printed regardless of how many times the copy output is made, image deterioration with respect to the copy output document can be eliminated.

Furthermore, when the document data to be printed in the management server is updated, the latest version of the document data can be automatically printed at the time of copying.
JP 2002-269095 A

  However, in the above conventional technique, it is possible to make an optical copy of an old version of a document even if the print output of the old version of document data is used as a document and the version of the document of the print output is updated by network copy. You can also make a network copy from an old version of the original again. As a result, the old version of the document is not deceived, and various versions of the document are circulated, which is confusing to the user.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a document management system that does not distribute an old version of a document.

  The present invention has the following configuration as one means for solving the above-described problems.

  (1) Documents that can read and write data, and that manage and store paper data with non-contact ICs that come with non-contact ICs that transmit and receive the data by radio waves, and document data acquired via a computer network for each version. The management means and the document data connected to the network and stored in the document management means can be printed out, and the non-contact IC attached to the original and the printing paper is used as the original and the printing paper. It consists of a multi-function printer equipped with reader / writer means for reading / writing data from / to the IC, and the management information of the document data to be printed is written on the non-contact IC of the printing paper and read from the non-contact IC of the original Document data from the document management means via the network based on the document data management information that is the manuscript In a document management system that acquires and prints out, if the version of the management information read from the original and the latest version of the target document data stored in the document management means are different, the latest document data is retrieved from the document management means. Document data that is the original read from the non-contact IC of the original when the version updated output information is written to the non-contact IC of the original and the version updated information is read from the non-contact IC of the original. It is prohibited to obtain document data from the document management means via the network based on the management information and to perform print output, and to display that the version of the document has already been updated and output on the display section of the multifunction printer. Feature document management system.

  By restricting network copy and optical copy from a document that has been subjected to network copy output of version update once, it is possible to prevent an old version of the document from circulating.

  Embodiments of a document management system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Description of overall block diagram, FIG. 1]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a document management system using a contactless IC (RFID) according to the present invention.

  Reference numerals 100 and 101 denote printed papers, in which a non-contact IC (RFID) 102 is embedded in the paper (hereinafter, the paper in which the non-contact IC is embedded is referred to as ID paper). Reference numerals 103, 104, and 105 denote multi-function printers, and each multi-function printer includes a reader / writer 106 for transmitting and receiving data by wireless communication (to be described later) with a non-contact IC (RFID). Reference numeral 107 denotes a network such as a local area network (LAN) to which multifunction printers 103 and 104 are connected. The multi-function printer 105 is not connected to the LAN 107 and is limited to stand-alone use. A document management server 108 is connected to the LAN 107. Reference numeral 109 denotes a PC.

[Explanation of sectional view of MFP, FIG. 2]
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the multifunction printer in the document management system using the non-contact IC (RFID) of the present invention.

  2 is roughly divided into an image reader unit 201 that reads a document image and a printer unit 202 that reproduces image data read by the image reader unit 201.

  The image reader unit 201 is a part that reads a document with a resolution of 400 dpi (dots / inch) and performs digital signal processing.

  The printer unit 202 is a part that outputs an image corresponding to the original image read by the image reader unit 201 to a specified sheet at a resolution of 1200 dpi on a full color. In the image reader unit 201, a document 204 on a platen glass (hereinafter referred to as a platen) 203 is irradiated with a lamp 205, guided to mirrors 206, 207, and 208, and light collected by a lens 209 is converted into an electrical signal. An image is formed on a three-line sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 210 to be converted, and sent to the signal processing unit 211 as full color information red (R), green (G), and blue (B) components.

  The carriages 205 and 206 are fixed at a speed of v, and 207 and 208 are moved at a speed of 1/2 v in a direction perpendicular to the electrical scanning (main scanning) direction of the line sensor, thereby The entire surface is scanned (sub-scanning).

  The signal processing unit 211 electrically processes the read image signal, decomposes it into magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (Bk) components and sends them to the printer unit 202. . In addition, one component of M, C, Y, and Bk is sent to the printer unit 202 for one document scan in the image reader unit 201, and one printout is completed by a total of four document scans. .

  M, C, Y, and Bk image signals sent from the image reader unit 201 are sent to the laser driver 212. The laser driver 212 modulates and drives the semiconductor laser 213 in accordance with the transmitted image signal. The laser beam scans on the photosensitive drum 217 via the polygon mirror 214, the f-θ lens 215, and the mirror 216.

  Reference numeral 218 denotes a rotary developer, which includes a magenta developing unit 219, a cyan developing unit 220, a yellow developing unit 221, and a black developing unit 222. The four developing units are alternately in contact with the photosensitive drum 217 and formed on the photosensitive drum. The latent image development is developed with toner. A transfer drum 223 winds the paper supplied from the paper cassette 224 or 225 around the transfer drum 223, and transfers the image developed on the photosensitive drum onto the paper. In this way, after the four colors M, C, Y, and Bk are sequentially transferred, the sheet passes through the fixing unit 226 and is discharged after the toner is fixed on the sheet.

[Description of internal block diagram of MFP, FIG. 3]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing in detail the electrical configuration of the multifunction printer.

  Reference numeral 301 denotes a CPU for controlling each part of the MFP. Reference numeral 302 denotes a RAM for temporarily storing results calculated by the CPU, image data read by the scanner, image data handled by the printer, and the like. A ROM 303 stores a program for operating the CPU, font data for generating image data, and the like. Reference numeral 304 denotes a local bus to which the CPU, RAM, and ROM are connected. Reference numeral 305 denotes an I / O bus, which is an internal bus for function expansion. Reference numeral 306 denotes a bridge circuit for connecting the local bus and the I / O bus.

  A scanner unit 307 converts an optical signal read from a document placed on a document table (not shown) into electronic data using a CCD or the like, and transfers the electronic data. A scanner interface unit 308 is used to connect the scanner unit to the I / O bus. In accordance with an instruction from the CPU, electronic data obtained by reading a document transferred from the scanner is transferred to a RAM 302. It is possible.

  A printer unit 309 is a part for forming an image on a recording medium such as paper. There are various types of printer units such as an electrophotographic system and a bubble jet (registered trademark) system. A printer interface unit 310 connects the printer unit to the I / O bus, and transfers image data stored in the RAM 302 to the printer unit 309 in accordance with instructions from the CPU. Is possible. Reference numeral 311 denotes a hard disk drive for spooling image data and storing programs for the CPU 301 to perform various processes.

  A network interface controller 313 is used to connect to the local area network shown in FIG. Reference numeral 314 denotes an image processing unit (hereinafter referred to as IPU) for performing image processing such as resolution conversion. Reference numeral 315 denotes a raster image processor. The image data in the page description language transferred from the outside via the network interface circuit 313 is developed into a bitmap image according to the instruction of the CPU 301, and the bit developed in the RAM 302 Used to store map data.

  Reference numeral 316 denotes a video RAM into which display data displayed on an external CRT or LCD panel by the CPU is written. Reference numeral 317 denotes a video interface, which serves as an interface for displaying display data stored in the VRAM 316 on an external CRT or LCD panel.

  Reference numeral 318 denotes an extended I / O interface, which is an interface circuit for allowing the CPU of 301 to communicate with a portable device, for example. Communication forms include forms such as serial communication, wireless communication such as Bicentro interface or Bluetooth. Reference numeral 106 denotes a non-contact IC (RFID) reader / writer unit for reading / writing data from / to a non-contact IC (RFID) described later by wireless communication.

[Description of document management mechanism, FIGS. 4, 7, 8, and 9]
Document registration and acquisition in the document management system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 7, 8, and 9.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing in detail the document management server 108 in the document management system of the present invention.

  A document management server 108 includes an interface unit 401 that is an interface with the LAN 107. A command execution unit 402 executes a command sent from the PC 109 or the multifunction printer via the LAN 107, and a document search unit 404 reads and writes information in the document version list 405 according to an instruction from the command execution unit 402. is there. A document transmission / reception unit 403 transmits / receives a document to / from the PC 109 or the multifunction printer via the LAN 107, and 406 writes a document received by the document transmission / reception unit 403 in the document database 407 according to an instruction from the command execution unit 402. A database control unit that reads a document from the document database 407 and outputs it to the document transmission / reception unit 403 in accordance with an instruction from the command execution unit 402.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing in detail the document version list 405 in the document management server 108 in the document management system of the present invention.

  Reference numeral 701 denotes document name information, reference numeral 702 denotes version information of each document, reference numeral 703 denotes relative path information in which a document of each version of each document is stored, and reference numeral 704 denotes update date information of each version.

  As described above, the document version list 405 includes the document name information 701, the version information 702, the relative path information 703, and the update date / time information 704 in a tree structure.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation for registering a document in the document management server 108 in the document management system of the present invention.

<Register document>
An operation for registering document data created by the PC 109 and document data read by the multifunction printers 103 and 104 in the document database 407 will be described.

  Document data and commands to be registered are received from the PC 109 or the multifunction printers 103 and 104 (step 801). The command includes document name information and version information. Based on these information, the document search unit 404 searches the document version list 405. First, when the document name information is existing (step 802), the version information regarding the target document name is searched. If the version information is new (step 803), the tree below the version information of the tree structure related to the target document name in the document version list is updated (step 804), and the document data is based on the relative path information updated in the list. Is stored in the database (step 805).

  If the document name information is new in the search for the first document name information (step 802), a tree structure related to the target document name is newly added (step 807), and based on the relative path information added to the list. Document data is stored in the database (step 805).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a document acquisition operation from the document management server 108 in the document management system of the present invention.

<Acquisition of document>
An operation in which the PC 109 and the multifunction printers 103 and 104 acquire the document data registered in the document database 407 will be described.

  A command is received from the PC 109 or the multifunction printer 103, 104 (step 901). The command includes document name information and version information. Based on these information, the document search unit 404 searches the document version list 405. When the document name information is already existing (step 902), the relative path information of the target version is read (step 903), and the document data is read from the database based on the read relative path information (step 904). ).

[Detailed description of RFID, FIGS. 5 and 6]
A communication method using RFID between the ID paper and the MFP in the image management system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing in detail the non-contact IC part in the ID paper, and the non-contact IC part 102 will be described in detail with reference to this figure.

  The non-contact IC unit 102 includes a non-volatile memory 501, an antenna unit for transmitting and receiving 502 radio waves, a resonance capacitor unit 503, a power forming unit for rectifying and smoothing a power source 504, and a radio wave 505. Are composed of a post-modulation unit for performing modulation and demodulation, and a control unit 506.

  The antenna portion 502 is combined with the resonance capacitor portion 503 so that a resonance circuit can be configured. When a radio signal for supplying power is sent from the outside, it is received by the resonance circuit and supplied to the power forming unit shown in 504, and the power generation unit of 504 operates the non-contact IC unit 102 Therefore, it becomes possible to supply electric power. The power is supplied to a non-volatile memory 501 and a demodulation circuit 505. A control unit 506 is for controlling the non-contact IC unit 102.

  Data for reading from or writing to the non-contact IC unit is also transmitted and received together with radio waves for supplying power from the outside, and a signal sent to the non-contact IC unit 102 is a remodulation circuit 505. Are demodulated and stored in the non-volatile memory 501 via the control unit 506. The data read from the non-volatile memory 501 by the control unit 506 is modulated by the demodulation circuit 505 and can be transmitted as a radio signal from the antenna unit 502.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing in detail the reader / writer unit 106 in the MFP. With reference to this figure, a detailed description of the reader / writer unit 106 for reading or writing a non-contact IC attached to the ID paper is shown. I do.

  The reader / writer unit 106 includes a transmission antenna unit 601 for transmitting radio waves to the non-contact IC unit 102, a modulation circuit 602 for modulating radio waves transmitted from the transmission antenna, and a transmission from the non-contact IC unit 102. Demodulating circuit 604 for demodulating signals received from the receiving antenna units of receiving antenna units 603 and 603 for receiving incoming radio waves, a transmitting antenna unit of 601, a modulating circuit of 602, and a receiving antenna unit of 603 604, a control unit 605 for controlling the demodulation circuit, an I / F unit 606 connected to the local bus 305 for communication with a host device, and a transmission antenna unit 601, a non-contact IC The power supply 607 is configured to supply power to the unit 102.

  The control unit 605 modulates a radio wave for supplying power and data to be transmitted using a modulation circuit 602 according to an instruction from the outside, and transmits the radio wave from the transmission antenna unit 601 to the outside. In addition, a radio signal received from the outside can be received by the receiving antenna unit 603, demodulated by the demodulation circuit 604, and converted so that it can be handled as a data signal.

[Description of network copy (i-copy), FIG. 10]
Next, network copy control using a multifunction printer and ID paper will be described with reference to FIG.

  As described above, the multi-function printer can print out document data in the document management server.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the multifunction printer when the user designates document data to be printed and prints from the multifunction printer.

  When the user designates the document name and version of the document data to be printed, the multi-function printer transmits a command for document acquisition to the document management server (step 1001). The document management server transmits the target document data and management information according to the above-described procedure, and the multifunction printer receives it (step 1002). Next, the received management information is written in a non-contact IC (RFID) embedded in the ID paper (step 1003) and then printed (step 1004).

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the multifunction printer during network copying.

  First, data is read from a non-contact IC (RFID) embedded in a document placed on a document table (step 1101). Next, it is determined whether there is version updated information in the read information (step 1102). If there is no version-updated information, a command is created so as to obtain an updated image if the management information and version of the original document have been updated, and the command is transmitted to the document management server (step 1103). The document management server transmits the target document data and management information in the above-described procedure, and the multifunction printer receives it (step 1104).

  Next, if the version information of the received management information is different from that of the manuscript (step 1105), the version updated information is additionally written to the non-contact IC (RFID) embedded in the ID paper (step 1108), The received management information is written to the non-contact IC of the printing paper (step 1106) and printed (step 1107). If the version information of the received document data is the same as that of the original, the received management information is written on the non-contact IC of the printing paper (step 1106) and printed as it is.

  Further, when data is read from a non-contact IC (RFID) embedded in a document first placed on a document table (step 1101), if there is version updated information (step 1102), the display of the multifunction printer is performed. A warning that “printing is not possible” is displayed on the part (step 1109), and the operation is terminated.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the multifunction printer at the time of optical copying.

  First, data is read from a non-contact IC (RFID) embedded in a document placed on a document table (step 1201). Next, it is determined whether there is version updated information in the read information (step 1202). If there is no version updated information, the management information of the original document data is written to the non-contact IC of the printing paper (step 1203) and copied (step 1204).

  Further, when data is read from a non-contact IC (RFID) embedded in a document placed on the document table for the first time (step 1201), if there is version updated information (step 1202), the display of the multifunction printer is performed. A warning that “copying is not possible” is displayed on the screen (step 1205), and the operation is terminated.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a document management system according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the multifunction printers 103, 104, 105 in the document management system of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the multifunction printers 103, 104, 105 in the document management system of the present invention. Block diagram showing the configuration of a document management server in the document management system of the present invention The block diagram which expressed in detail the inside of non-contact IC (RFID) in the document management system of the present invention Block diagram showing in detail the reader / writer in the document management system of the present invention The figure which expressed in detail the document version list | wrist 405 in the document management server 108 in the document management system of this invention. The flowchart showing the registration operation of the document to the document management server 108 in the document management system of the present invention. A flowchart showing an operation of acquiring a document from the document management server 108 in the document management system of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for printing document data from a document management server of a multifunction printer in the document management system of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a network copy procedure of a multifunction printer in the document management system of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing the optical copy procedure of the multifunction printer in the document management system of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

100 printed paper 101 printed paper 102 non-contact IC unit 103 multi-function printer 104 multi-function printer 105 multi-function printer 106 reader / writer unit 107 LAN
108 Document management server 109 PC

Claims (3)

A paper with a non-contact IC that can read and write data, and that comes with a non-contact IC that transmits and receives the data by radio waves,
Document management means for managing and storing document data acquired via a computer network for each version;
Document data stored in the document management means connected to the network can be printed out, and non-contact IC-attached paper is used as a manuscript and print paper. A multi-function printer having a reader / writer means for reading and writing data;
Consisting of
Write management information of document data to be printed on the non-contact IC of printing paper,
Obtaining document data from the document management means via the network based on the management information of the document data that is the original read from the non-contact IC of the original, and performing printout;
In the document management system,
If the version of the management information read from the document is different from the latest version of the target document data stored in the document management means,
A document management system characterized in that the latest document data is acquired from a document management means, printed out, and version updated output information is written in a non-contact IC of a document. The document management system according to claim 1,
When the version-updated information is read from the non-contact IC of the original, the document data is acquired from the document management means via the network based on the management information of the document data that is the original read from the non-contact IC of the original and is printed out. And a document management system for displaying that the version of the document has already been updated and output on the display unit of the multifunction printer. The document management system according to claim 1,
Document management that prohibits copying of a document when a version-updated information is read from a non-contact IC of the document, and displays that the document has already been version-updated on the display unit of the multifunction printer system.

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