JP2006201869A - Document processor and processing method, and document processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable acquisition of document data at an acquisition destination even if the acquisition destination is within or out of a network. <P>SOLUTION: When the acquisition destination is out of the network, auxiliary data is buried in an auxiliary data arrangement area 104 in a message part 102, and document data (inputted by a scanner 16) is buried in a document data information arrangement area 105 in the message part 102. When the acquisition destination is within the network, the auxiliary data is buried in the auxiliary data arrangement area 104, and an URL (address) for accessing the document data stored in a storage is buried in the document data information arrangement area 106 of the message part 102 instead of the data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a document processing apparatus and method, and a document processing program. More specifically, the present invention relates to a document processing apparatus and method for processing so that document data generated by reading a document can be acquired at an acquisition destination, and document processing. Regarding the program.

  Conventionally, as a document distribution apparatus, for example, there is a “network-based image scanning method and apparatus that starts processing by a scanner” (see Patent Document 1). In this apparatus, a scanner reads a document, acquires image data, transmits the image data to a data acquisition port of a data acquisition destination computer, and the data acquisition destination computer detects that image data exists in the data acquisition port. The image acquisition program is activated. As described above, in the conventional document distribution apparatus, the image data of the document is acquired by scanning the document with the scanner.

  However, in recent years, the idea of using a multifunction peripheral having a plurality of functions such as a scanner and a facsimile function as an image data acquisition means is spreading. As a result, the work flow of distributing image data from the scanner to the computer and inputting it to the document processing system as before is changed to a flow of work of directly distributing the image data from the multifunction peripheral to the document processing system. It is possible.

  For example, until now, an operator confirms image data obtained by scanning a document with a scanner on a computer, and if it is an “invoice,” information such as the image data on the cover of the invoice is attached to a request waiting folder I was performing an operation such as registering with. This kind of work flow is that the operator designates the document type such as “Invoice” and “Invoice” at the time of scanning in the multifunction device, and other parameters such as “Purchase” information (supplementary data) and image data. For example, to change the flow of work directly from the MFP to the document processing system.

  However, the image data is very large compared to the accompanying data. Therefore, the way of handling the incidental data and the document data is greatly different. For this reason, it may be impossible to handle incidental data and document data as a unit. For example, as described above, when performing processing such as taking out a cover and registering the image data, the necessary document data is sufficient for the image data of the top cover, and not all image data is necessary. Therefore, even if all the image data are transmitted, most of them are wasted.

  Also, with the componentization of the document processing system and the multi-function of the multifunction peripheral, part of the document processing can be executed on the multifunction peripheral. In other words, the document processing system has processed the image data distributed from the computer as before, but a part of the processing can be handled by the multifunction peripheral. As described above, since the MFP can handle a part of the processing, if the document processing system executes all the processing on the image data, processing may be wasted.

  For example, when accessing a service (processing unit in the document processing system) existing outside the multifunction device, the image data is once read from the hard disk of the multifunction device and converted into a predetermined transmission format, and the service (document Call the processing unit in the processing system. Similarly, consider the case of accessing a service (document processing unit) executed in the multifunction peripheral. Also in this case, image data is once read from the hard disk of the multifunction device and converted into a predetermined transmission format, and a service in the multifunction device is called. In the called service, the image data converted into the above transmission format is reconverted into the internal storage format, written to the hard disk, and the image data written to the hard disk is read and processed in the execution of the service. These steps are executed. In this way, conversion to an unnecessary transmission format is performed in spite of not transmitting image data, and processing waste occurs.

In order to solve such a problem, for the called service, if the address indicating where the image data to be processed is stored is taught, the called service is sent to the address given. Access and acquire and process image data.
However, if the service to be called exists in a network outside the network, even if the address is taught as described above, the service outside the network cannot access this address.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-115969

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described facts, and an object of the present invention is to provide a document processing apparatus and method, and a document processing program capable of acquiring document data at the acquisition destination even when the acquisition destination is outside the network. .

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a document processing apparatus connected to a network for processing so that document data generated by reading a document can be acquired at an acquisition destination, wherein the acquisition is performed. A determination unit that determines whether or not a destination is located in the network, and transmission data to be transmitted to the acquisition destination based on a determination result of the determination unit and a case where the acquisition destination is located in the network And creating means for creating different configuration contents depending on whether or not to do so.

  That is, the present invention is a document processing apparatus that performs processing so that document data generated by reading a document can be acquired at an acquisition destination. This document processing apparatus is connected to a network.

  The determination means determines whether the acquisition destination is located in the network.

  Here, the destination (information indicating the location of the acquisition destination) is specified for the transmission data. Therefore, as described in claim 2, the determination means may determine as follows using the destination specified for the transmission data. Specifically, first, a list of destinations of devices existing in the network is provided, and whether the acquisition destination is located in the network based on the destination list and the destination specified for the transmission data. Judge whether or not.

  Secondly, the destination outside the network may be in different information or format from the destination in the network, so the determination may be made based on the contents of the destination specified for the transmission data.

  Third, an attempt may be made as to whether or not communication is actually possible using the destination, and the above determination may be made based on the result.

  Fourthly, the existence position on the network of the device corresponding to the destination may be investigated, and the above determination may be made based on the result.

  The creation means creates transmission data to be transmitted to the acquisition destination based on the determination result of the determination means, with different configuration contents depending on whether the acquisition destination is located in the network or not.

  Specifically, as described in claim 3, the creation means creates the transmission data including the document data when it is determined that the acquisition destination is located outside the network. This is because if the acquisition destination is located outside the network, document data in the network may not be directly accessible from outside the network.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the creation unit determines that the acquisition destination is located in the network, the creation unit creates transmission data including information indicating a location where the document data is stored. This is because when the acquisition destination is located in the network, the document data in the network may be directly accessible, so that the acquisition destination may be accessed.

  In this case, when the storage means for storing the document data is provided as in claim 5, the information indicating the location where the document data is stored is the location where the document data is stored in the storage means. If the device other than the document processing device connected to the network has storage means for storing the document data as in claim 6, it indicates the location where the document data is stored. As information, it is good also as information which shows the place where document data is memorize | stored in the memory | storage means with which apparatuses other than a document processing apparatus were equipped.

  As described above, the transmission data to be transmitted so that the acquisition destination can acquire the document data is configured differently depending on whether the acquisition destination is located in the network or not. The document data can be acquired by the acquisition source even when the acquisition destination is outside the network.

  The document processing method according to claims 7 to 12 and the document processing program according to claims 13 to 18 exhibit the same operations and effects as the operations and effects of the document processing apparatus according to claims 1 to 6, respectively. Omitted.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the transmission contents to be transmitted so that the acquisition destination can acquire the document data are divided into the configuration contents depending on whether the acquisition destination is located in the network or not. Since they are different, there is an effect that the document data can be acquired by the acquisition destination even when the acquisition destination is within the network.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of network systems 10N1, network systems 10N2,... Each including a document distribution apparatus 12 according to the present embodiment are connected via the Internet. Since each of the plurality of network systems 10N1, network systems 10N2,... Has the same configuration, only the configuration of the network system 10N1 will be described below. As shown in FIG. 1, the network system 10N1 includes a document distribution device 12, a server (proxy server) 14N1 for communicating with devices in an external network, a server 14N2 for communicating with devices in the same network, and others. , User terminals and the like (not shown) are connected to each other via an intranet.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the document distribution apparatus 12 includes a scanner 16 for inputting document data from a medium such as a paper document, and a FAX receiving unit 18 for inputting document data received through a telephone line or a network. The scanner 16, the FAX receiving unit 18, a printing unit 20 that outputs document data input from a network or the like to a medium such as paper, and a control unit 22 that controls each of the above parts.

  Then, the structure of the control part 22 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 22 includes an operator input panel 24 that receives inputs from an operator and executes various operations, a storage device 26 that includes document data and a hard disk that stores instructions to be described later, The network interface 28, which communicates with the network, and the central processing unit 30 are configured.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the configuration of the part (hereinafter referred to as document distribution software) related to the document distribution process among the software executed by the central processing unit 30 of the document distribution apparatus is illustrated. This document distribution software includes an instruction document management unit 32, an instruction document processing unit 34, a device control unit 36, a message generation unit 38, and a communication control unit 40.

  Next, as an operation of the present embodiment, document distribution software (program) will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The document distribution software will be described using an example in which a medium such as a paper document is read by the scanner 16 and document image data is distributed to a service (distribution destination service) such as the document distribution apparatus 12.

  By the way, when data is transmitted to the delivery destination service, it is transmitted to the service outside the network via the Internet, while it is transmitted to the service within the network via the intranet. When transmitting via the Internet, it is possible to communicate with a predetermined protocol, for example, SOAP / http (first communication method). On the other hand, when communicating via an intranet, it can communicate by a predetermined protocol, for example, FTP, smb (second communication method).

  Here, the first communication method has good transparency. That is, access to an external device from a network isolated by a firewall or the like using a proxy service or the like is widely available. On the other hand, the second communication method has poor transparency. That is, for security and other reasons, it is often impossible to access external devices from within a network isolated by a firewall or the like. The first communication method has poor transmission efficiency (communication time), whereas the second communication method has good communication efficiency.

  As described above, in the second communication method, an external device may not be accessible from within a network isolated by a firewall or the like. In this embodiment, a message (transmission data) to be described later is sent to the distribution destination service. When transmitting to the network, communication is performed using SOAP / http (first communication method) regardless of whether it is inside or outside the network. Therefore, document data can be transmitted with high reliability to a delivery destination service outside the network.

  Here, even if the service is in a network, it is also conceivable to communicate a message including document data by the first communication method.

  However, the first communication method has poor transmission efficiency. In the second communication method, if the transmission efficiency is good and the service is in the network, the document data can be transmitted using the second communication method or acquired from the location where the document data is stored.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, although details will be described later, when transmitting a message to a service in the network, the address of the location where the document data is stored is transmitted instead of the document data itself. Is.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the configuration content of the message (transmission data) transmitted to the delivery destination service is made different between the delivery destination service and the outside of the network. This will be described in detail below.

  First, when a predetermined start button is turned on, the document distribution software starts, and a plurality of instructions are displayed on the operator input panel 24 at step 50. Since the user selects an instruction to be executed using the operator input panel 24, the selection signal is input from the operator input panel 24 in step 52. Input information from the operator input panel 24 is given to the instruction book management unit 32, and the instruction book management unit 32 takes out the specified one of the instructions stored in the storage device 26, and the instruction document processing unit 34. To pass.

  In step 56, the instruction processing unit 34 receives information input by the user from the operator input panel 24 via the device control unit 36 based on the contents described in the instruction.

  The information entered here is the document type required for the execution of the external service, such as “Invoice” and “Invoice”, and the final information delivery destination such as “Order” and “Accounting Department”. This information is temporarily stored as incidental data.

  Subsequently, in step 54, the instruction processing unit 34 reads a document from the scanner 16 through the apparatus control unit 36 according to the description of the instruction (document scanning). The document data (image data) obtained by reading in this way is stored in the storage device 26, and in step 58, scan information such as color / monochrome distinction, the number of pages, etc. is added together with previously input information. Created and stored as data.

  In the next steps 60 to 68, the instruction processing unit 34 prepares communication with the service of the delivery destination based on the description of the instruction.

  In step 60, it is determined whether the transmission destination of the document data is outside the network. This process will be described in detail. First, the message generator 38 recognizes the address (URL) information of the service of the delivery destination described in the instruction sheet. Subsequently, the message generation unit 38 notifies the communication control unit 40 of the address of the delivery destination service, and detects whether direct communication with the delivery destination service is possible, that is, whether the delivery destination is outside the network. Let

  Here, detection of whether or not direct communication is possible in the communication control unit 40 includes, for example, a proxy exclusion list that lists addresses of devices arranged in the same network, and a service address of a distribution destination. This is possible by comparison.

  The proxy exclusion list is compared with the address of the service of the delivery destination, and if it is listed in the proxy exclusion list, direct communication is possible, that is, the delivery destination is determined to be in the same network, and the process proceeds to step 66. In other cases, direct communication is impossible, that is, the distribution destination is determined to be outside the network, and the process proceeds to step 62.

  If the communication control unit 40 determines that direct communication is not possible, the message generation unit 38 generates a message as shown in FIG.

  That is, first, in step 62, the message generation unit 38 takes in the message unit 102 from the template described in the instruction form instruction unit 100, and in step 64, stores the stored auxiliary data in the auxiliary data arrangement area in the message unit 102. Embedded in 104. Further, the document data (input by the scanner 16) is read from the storage device 26 and embedded in the document data information arrangement area 106 in the message unit 102.

  With the above operation, the message generation unit 38 collects document data for a distribution destination service that cannot perform direct communication, such as a distribution destination service on the side accessing the outside via the server 14N1 (proxy server). Construct the message to be sent (communication data).

  On the other hand, when direct communication with the delivery destination service is possible, the message generator 38 generates a message as shown in FIG.

  That is, first, in step 66, the message generation unit 38 takes in the message unit 102 from the template described in the instruction form instruction unit 100 in the same manner as the message generation method described above. The auxiliary data is embedded in the arrangement area 104. Further, the message generation unit 38 generates a URL (address) for accessing the document data (read by the scanner 16) stored in the storage device 26, and the document data of the message unit 102 instead of the document data. It is embedded in the information arrangement area 106. The URL (address) may be an address at which the document data is stored in the storage device 26 in the document distribution device 12, but is not limited to this, for example, other than the document distribution device 12 in the same network. It may be the address of a storage device in another device.

  The message generated as described above is sent by SOAP / http from the communication control unit 40 regardless of whether the delivery destination service is outside the network.

  The delivery destination service outside the network that has received the message transmitted as described above can obtain the document data because the message including the document data itself has been sent.

  On the other hand, when the delivery destination service is in a network, document data is not received only by receiving a message. There are the following two methods for obtaining the document data by the delivery destination service located in the network. First, the document data is distributed directly from the distribution source to the distribution destination using (relatively) efficient communication methods such as FTP and smb (second communication method), and second, the document data is There is a method in which the distribution partner is able to acquire autonomously, and the distribution partner acquires it by an efficient method such as FTP or smb as needed.

  In the first method, efficient communication means is used to transmit document data with a large amount of data, whereas in the second method, the distribution destination service autonomously obtains the distribution source. As a result, when the entire document data is not required, partial data can be acquired, and the efficiency is further improved.

  The conditions for using such a transmission method are limited for the following reasons.

  The first reason is that the FTP and smb protocols may not be open for access outside the network. In many cases (including SOAP / http), access to servers outside the network is released by proxy servers, etc., but access to save data to an external server by FTP or data to an external server by smb There has been very little opening up access to save.

  The second reason is that access from an external network to a system in the network may not be permitted. Due to the shortage of IP addresses, “private addresses” that cannot be used outside the network are widely used. Since it is usually not possible to communicate directly from outside the network to a device with a private address, such a device can only issue requests to the outside. For this reason, even if the distribution source device can read the document data from the external device, the distribution destination device cannot read the document data placed in the distribution source device if the distribution destination service is outside the network.

  In the first method, prior to the generation of the message, the first mode in which the document data is sent to the partner service by an efficient transmission method such as FTP or smb, and after the message is sent, the document data is transferred to the FTP. And a second mode of sending to the other party service by smb.

  When an address of a storage device in a device other than the document distribution device 12 (including a distribution destination service) is designated, an efficient transmission method such as FTP or smb for document data prior to message generation. Can be sent to the other device.

  When the destination to which the document data is sent is different from the delivery destination service, the delivery destination service can acquire the document data by a method with good communication efficiency such as FTP or smb.

  As described above, in the document distribution apparatus according to this embodiment, the document distribution software compares and determines the address of the proxy exclusion list and the distribution destination service, so that the distribution destination service that can be reached directly on the network is FTP. Enables more efficient document delivery means such as smb and smb so that the destination service can retrieve documents when they are needed for processing, while the external destination service can only be reached through a proxy server. On the other hand, it is possible to secure the arrival of the document data to the delivery destination service by sending the document data as a SOAP / http message. In other words, the distribution method can be automatically (or manually) selected according to the state and characteristics of the distribution destination service, and efficient distribution to the distribution destination service becomes possible.

  In particular, it is possible to distribute to external services without the user being aware of inside and outside of firewalls and NAT routers. For example, ASP (Application Service Provider) provides services over the Internet and centralized over WAN. It is possible to seamlessly install the service and the service at the user site, which has a great effect in providing flexibility in the arrangement and use of the document processing service.

  In the document distribution software of this embodiment, the proxy exclusion list is used to select a distribution method. As another option, whether the external service exists on the same subnet can be resolved by the domain name service. It is possible to determine how to reach an external service, such as whether or not.

  For example, in a network using a firewall or a NAT (Network Address Transform) router, it is possible to determine whether or not the service can reach the document distribution apparatus based on the network address of the service. As another example, communication with a delivery destination service may be attempted, or the location of the apparatus on the network may be investigated, and the above determination may be made based on the result.

  In the embodiment described above, when direct communication with the delivery destination service is impossible, the document data is embedded in the document data information arrangement area 106 (see FIG. 6). However, the present invention is not limited to the following.

  That is, as a message configuration, in the first case, in addition to the incidental data arrangement area 104 and the document data information arrangement area 106, a document data arrangement area is provided, and direct communication with the delivery destination service is possible. As described above, the auxiliary data is embedded in the auxiliary data arrangement area 104 and the URL (address) for accessing the document data is embedded in the document data information arrangement area 106. On the other hand, in the second case where direct communication with the delivery destination service is impossible, the document data is arranged in the document data arrangement area in the message, the auxiliary data is embedded in the auxiliary data arrangement area 104, and the document An address may be embedded in the document data information arrangement area 106 for accessing data, and this address may be an address for accessing the document data arranged in the document data arrangement area in the message.

  In the above embodiment, when the message is transmitted, the destination service is transmitted by the first communication method regardless of whether the destination service is inside or outside the network. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When the message is transmitted, the message may be transmitted by the first communication method if the destination service is outside the network, and may be transmitted by the second communication method if the destination service is in the network. .

It is a block diagram which shows a mode that the some network was connected via the internet. It is a block diagram of a document delivery apparatus. It is a block diagram of the control part of a document delivery apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure of the software of a document delivery process. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the software of a document delivery process. It is a figure which shows the structure of the message in the case of transmitting outside a network. It is a figure which shows the structure of the message in the case of transmitting outside a network.

Explanation of symbols

10N1, 10N2 Network system 12 Document distribution device 14N1, 14N2 Server 16 Scanner 18 FAX receiving unit 20 Printing unit 22 Control unit 24 Operator input panel 26 Storage device 28 Network interface 30 Central processing unit 32 Instruction book management unit 34 Instruction document processing 36 Device Control 38 Message generation 40 Communication control 100 Instruction unit 102 Message unit 104 Attached data arrangement area 106 Document data information arrangement area

Claims (18)

A document processing apparatus connected to a network for processing so that document data generated by reading a document can be acquired at an acquisition destination,
Determining means for determining whether the acquisition source is located in the network;
Creating means for creating transmission data to be transmitted to the acquisition destination based on the determination result of the determination means, with different contents depending on whether the acquisition destination is located in the network or not,
A document processing apparatus.   The document processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit performs determination using a destination specified for the transmission data.   3. The document processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the creation unit creates the transmission data including the document data when it is determined that the acquisition destination is located outside the network. .   The creation unit creates the transmission data including information indicating a location where the document data is stored when it is determined that the acquisition destination is located in the network. Alternatively, the document processing apparatus according to claim 2. Storage means for storing document data;
The information indicating the location where the document data is stored indicates the location where the document data is stored in the storage means.
The document processing apparatus according to claim 4. A device other than the document processing device connected to the network includes storage means for storing document data,
Information indicating a location where the document data is stored indicates a location where the document data is stored in the storage unit provided in an apparatus other than the document processing apparatus.
The document processing apparatus according to claim 4. In a document processing apparatus connected to a network, a document processing method for processing so that document data generated by reading a document can be acquired at an acquisition destination,
Determining whether the acquisition source is located in the network;
Based on the determination result of the determination means, creating transmission data to be transmitted to the acquisition destination with different configuration contents depending on whether the acquisition destination is located in the network or not,
A document processing method comprising:   8. The document processing method according to claim 7, wherein in the determination step, determination is made using a destination designated for the transmission data.   9. The document processing according to claim 7, wherein, in the creating step, the transmission data including the document data is created when it is determined that the acquisition destination is located outside the network. Method.   The creation step includes creating the transmission data including information indicating a location where the document data is stored when it is determined that the acquisition destination is located in the network. The document processing method according to claim 7 or claim 8. The document processing apparatus includes storage means for storing document data,
The information indicating the location where the document data is stored indicates the location where the document data is stored in the storage means.
The document processing method according to claim 10. A device other than the document processing device connected to the network includes storage means for storing document data,
Information indicating a location where the document data is stored indicates a location where the document data is stored in the storage unit provided in an apparatus other than the document processing apparatus.
The document processing method according to claim 10. A document processing program for causing a document processing apparatus connected to a network to execute document processing for processing so that document data generated by reading a document can be acquired at an acquisition destination,
The document processing
Determining whether the acquisition source is located in the network;
Based on the determination result of the determination means, creating transmission data to be transmitted to the acquisition destination with different configuration contents depending on whether the acquisition destination is located in the network or not,
A document processing program.   14. The document processing program according to claim 13, wherein in the determination step, determination is made using a destination designated for the transmission data.   15. The document processing according to claim 13 or 14, wherein, in the creation step, the transmission data including the document data is created when it is determined that the acquisition destination is located outside the network. program.   The creation step includes creating the transmission data including information indicating a location where the document data is stored when it is determined that the acquisition destination is located in the network. The document processing program according to claim 13 or claim 14. The document processing apparatus includes storage means for storing document data,
The information indicating the location where the document data is stored indicates the location where the document data is stored in the storage means.
The document processing program according to claim 16, wherein: A device other than the document processing device connected to the network includes storage means for storing document data,
Information indicating a location where the document data is stored indicates a location where the document data is stored in the storage unit provided in an apparatus other than the document processing apparatus.
The document processing program according to claim 16, wherein:

Images