JP2006245960A - Data storage system and data processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data storage system and a data processing apparatus capable of urging a user to store data including prescribed contents. <P>SOLUTION: When document data are received (YES: S11), whether or not a prescribed character string or particular information such as a mark is detected from the document data is decided (S13). When the particular information is detected (YES: S13), the necessity of registration to a registration server 200 is confirmed for the user (S14), when the necessity of the registration is designated (YES: S15), the document data are transmitted to the registration server 200 (S16). Thereafter when a registration end notice is received from the registration server 200 (S21), additional information including information denoting it is generated (S22), the additional information is attached to the document data (S23), and output processing is executed (S24). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a data storage system and a data processing apparatus that can prompt a user to store data having a predetermined content.

  Digital multi-function peripherals that temporarily store and process electronic documents (document data) in the apparatus have been commercialized. The digital multi-function peripheral includes a scanner unit that reads an image of a document and a printer unit that forms an image on a sheet, and can perform copy processing, scanner processing, print processing, facsimile transmission processing, and the like. Such a digital multi-function peripheral proposes to the user to improve operational efficiency and processing capacity by positioning it on a communication network as a data processing apparatus that efficiently processes data input from a plurality of interfaces. For this reason, the digital multi-function peripheral is equipped with a storage device such as a hard disk so that various data to be processed can be received simultaneously, so that a plurality of received processing requests can be processed sequentially (for example, , See Patent Document 1).

As described above, the digital multi-function peripheral has an advantage that convenience can be improved because print processing can be performed by an electronic document and document data can be stored and managed in a storage unit such as a hard disk. .
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-178041 JP 2004-94563 A

  By the way, specific documents such as quotations, purchase orders, contracts, etc. are legally required to be stored for a long time, but in recent years, these documents are often created electronically, and the burden of work and storage is high. In consideration of cost reduction, storage in an electronic state is permitted. Therefore, it is required to prepare an environment for the purpose of long-term storage of document data. For example, in Patent Document 2, when document data is processed in a digital multifunction peripheral, the original document data is backed up. An image forming system has been proposed. In this image forming system, when document data is created, storage destination information is added, and when the document server extracts additional information during transmission to the digital multifunction peripheral, the storage destination specified by the additional information Document data is saved to

  However, in the above-described image forming system, when creating document data, the user himself / herself has to specify the save destination and the file name for saving, and if such information is forgotten to be attached There is a problem that saving of document data is not executed. That is, there is a problem in that the burden on the user's attention when creating document data increases and a convenient environment cannot be proposed. Also, since electronically created document data can be copied, altered, erased, etc. relatively easily, a copy is created during the data creation process if the user decides to store it. Since various versions of data may be created, it may be difficult to prove that the data is original data.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and determines whether or not data should be stored in the data processing apparatus, and if it is determined that the data should be stored, informs the data storage apparatus that information should be stored. Ensure that documents that are legally preserved, such as quotations, purchase orders, contracts, etc., and documents that the user recognizes the necessity of preservation, such as important documents, are ensured. It is an object of the present invention to provide a data storage system and a data processing apparatus capable of performing the above.

  A data storage system according to the present invention is a data storage system comprising a data processing device that receives data and performs processing based on the received data, and a data storage device that receives data and stores the received data. The data processing apparatus includes a determination unit that determines whether or not the received data should be stored, and a unit that notifies the information that the data storage device should store the data when it is determined that the data should be stored. It is characterized by that.

  In the present invention, it is determined whether or not the data should be stored in the data processing device, and when it is determined that the data should be stored, the data storage device is notified of information that should be stored. The data that needs to be notified is notified by the judgment of the apparatus side.

  In the data storage system according to the present invention, the data processing device includes means for receiving a storage request for the data, and means for transmitting the data to the data storage device when the storage request is received. And

  In the present invention, when a data storage request is received, the data is transmitted to the data storage device, so that the data is stored after the user confirms the request.

  In the data storage system according to the present invention, when the data storage is completed, the data storage device generates means for storing the data and means for transmitting the generated information to the data processing device. It is characterized by providing.

  In the present invention, when the data storage is completed, information indicating that the data has been stored is generated, and the generated information is transmitted to the data processing apparatus. Therefore, it is confirmed that the data storage is completed. It becomes possible.

  In the data storage system according to the present invention, the data processing device includes detection means for detecting whether or not the data is data having a predetermined content, and detects that the data is data having a predetermined content The received data is judged to be stored.

  In the present invention, whether or not the data is data having a predetermined content is detected, and when it is detected that the data has the predetermined content, it is determined that the data should be stored. Therefore, it is urged to save a document having a predetermined content such as an estimate, an order, or a contract.

  In the data storage system according to the present invention, the data processing device includes a detecting unit that detects whether the data is data including a predetermined character string or an image, and when the character string or the image is detected, The received data is judged to be stored.

  In the present invention, if it is detected whether the data is data including a predetermined character string or image, and if it is detected that the data includes these character string or image, the data should be stored. Since the determination is made, it is prompted to save a document having a predetermined content such as an estimate, an order, or a contract.

  In the data storage system according to the present invention, the data processing device includes means for receiving a character string or an image to be detected, and the detection means detects whether the data includes the received character string or image. It is characterized by being.

  In the present invention, since the character string or image to be detected is received and the received character string or image is detected, it is possible to arbitrarily set the document to be stored.

  In the data storage system according to the present invention, the data is image data, and the data processing device includes means for forming an image on a sheet based on the received image data.

  In the present invention, since image data is received as data to be stored and image formation is performed on a sheet based on the received image data, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer device, or a digital multifunction peripheral Application to is possible.

  The data storage system according to the present invention is characterized in that the data storage device includes means for encrypting data to be stored.

  In the present invention, since data to be stored is encrypted, information leakage, falsification, and the like are prevented, and it is possible to prove the identity between the original data and the stored data. Become.

  In the data processing apparatus according to the present invention, in a data processing apparatus that receives data and performs processing based on the received data, whether a connection unit that connects an external device and a device that stores data are connected to the connection unit Means for determining whether or not to store the received data, and when the device is connected to the connection means and the received data is determined to be stored, to the device Means for notifying information that data should be stored.

  In the present invention, when a device for storing data is connected, it is determined whether or not the data should be stored. When it is determined that the data should be stored, information indicating that the device should be stored is notified. Therefore, the data that needs to be saved is notified by the determination on the device side.

  The data processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises means for receiving a storage request for the data, and means for transmitting the data to the device when the storage request is received.

  In the present invention, when a data storage request is received, the data is transmitted to the device that stores the data, so that the data is stored after the user himself / herself also confirms.

  The data processing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the data is image data and includes means for forming an image on a sheet based on the received image data.

  In the present invention, since image data is received as data to be stored and image formation is performed on a sheet based on the received image data, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer device, or a digital multifunction peripheral Application to is possible.

  In the case of the present invention, it is determined whether or not data should be stored in the data processing apparatus, and when it is determined that the data should be stored, the data storage apparatus is notified of information to be stored. Therefore, data that needs to be stored is notified at the discretion of the device, and as a result, data that is legally required to be stored and data that the user himself / herself recognizes the need for storage are securely stored. be able to.

  According to the present invention, when a data storage request is accepted, the data is transmitted to the data storage device. Therefore, the data can be stored after the user confirms it.

  According to the present invention, when data storage is completed, information indicating that the data has been stored is generated, and the generated information is transmitted to the data processing apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to confirm that data storage has been completed.

  According to the present invention, it is detected whether or not the data is data having a predetermined content, and when it is detected that the data is data having a predetermined content, it is determined that the data should be stored. Therefore, it is possible to prompt storage of documents having predetermined contents such as an estimate, an order, and a contract.

  In the case of the present invention, it is determined whether the data is data including a predetermined character string or image, and if it is detected that the data includes these character string or image, it is determined that the data should be stored. Like to do. Therefore, it is possible to prompt storage of documents having predetermined contents such as an estimate, an order, and a contract.

  In the case of the present invention, the character string or image to be detected is received, and the received character string or image is detected. Therefore, the document to be stored can be arbitrarily set.

  According to the present invention, image data is received as data to be stored, and image formation is performed on a sheet based on the received image data. Therefore, the image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer device, or a digital multifunction peripheral is used. Can be applied.

  According to the present invention, since data to be stored is encrypted, information leakage, falsification, and the like are prevented, and it becomes possible to prove the identity between the original data and the stored data. .

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a data processing apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a digital multi-function peripheral will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system including a digital multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a digital multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment. The digital multifunction peripheral 100 reads an image from a document and forms an image on a sheet such as paper or an OHP film (hereinafter simply referred to as paper), receives a print job transmitted from the outside, and places it on the paper A printer function for image formation and an electronic filing function for holding image data input from the outside in the apparatus are provided.

  An information processing device PC such as a personal computer or workstation, PC,..., PC is connected to the digital multifunction peripheral 100 via a router device R. The information processing apparatus PC is preinstalled with a driver program (printer driver) for using the digital multi-function peripheral 100 through a communication line. The print job is generated by the printer driver, and the generated print job is transmitted to the digital multi-function peripheral 100. The output process is executed by sending to When the digital multifunction peripheral 100 receives a print job transmitted from the information processing apparatus PC, it generates image data for each page according to the print job, and executes image formation based on the generated image data.

  The digital multi-function peripheral 100 is connected to an external communication network N via a router device R and a gateway device G. The communication network N is connected to a registration server 200 that stores a digitized document (hereinafter referred to as document data) in a hashed state for a long time, and the digital multi-function peripheral 100 stores data to be processed internally as needed. The data can be transmitted to the registration server 200 and stored.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents of processing executed by the image forming system. This image forming system is characterized in that when the document handled by the digital multifunction peripheral 100 is a document of a predetermined type, the digital multifunction peripheral 100 prompts storage to the registration server 200. The document to be stored in the registration server 200 is a document that is legally stored, or a document that needs to be stored by the user himself. Specific examples include an estimate, an order form, and a contract. Documents, product manufacturing / sales records, business plans, approval documents, confidential documents, and important documents. Therefore, the digital multi-function peripheral 100 detects specific information for specifying the type of the document from the input document data, and if it can be determined that the document is the type of document described above, stores the document in the registration server 200. Encourage them to Specifically, it detects character strings such as “quote”, “order”, “contract”, etc., marks such as secrets, multiples, etc. as specific information, and registers documents containing these specific information. Is configured to prompt.

  When registration is instructed by the user as a result of prompting the registration of the document, the digital multi-function peripheral 100 transmits the input document data to the registration server 200 to execute the document data registration process. When the registration server 200 receives the document data, the registration server 200 stores a part or all of the document data after hashing and records information such as the registration date and time, the transmission source of the document data, and the registration process is completed. When the registration process of the document data is completed, the registration server 200 transmits a registration completion notification including information indicating that the registration date and time and the registration is completed to the digital multifunction peripheral 100. After receiving the registration completion notification, the digital multi-function peripheral 100 adds information indicating that the registration is completed as additional information, and executes output processing.

  Hereinafter, internal configurations of the digital multifunction peripheral 100 and the registration server 200 included in the image forming system will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the digital multifunction peripheral 100. The digital multi-function peripheral 100 includes a CPU 101. The CPU 101 loads various control programs stored in the ROM 103 into the RAM 104 and executes them, thereby controlling various hardware connected to the bus 102, and according to the present invention. Operate as a data processing device.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of various hardware connected to the bus 102 will be described. The operation panel 105 includes an operation unit 105a that receives an operation instruction from the user and a display unit 105b that displays information to be notified to the user. The operation unit 105a includes various hardware keys, and accepts setting of the number of output copies, setting of density at the time of image formation, and the like. The display unit 105b includes a liquid crystal display, an LED display, or the like, and displays an operation status of the digital multi-function peripheral 100, a setting value input through the operation unit 105a, and the like. In addition, a touch panel type software key is arranged on a part of the display unit 105b so as to accept a selection operation or the like by the user.

  The image reading unit 106 includes a glass document table on which a document to be read is placed, a light source that irradiates reading light to the placed document, a CCD line sensor that optically reads an image, and the CCD. An AD converter for converting an analog image signal output from the line sensor into a digital signal is provided. In the image reading unit 106, the reflected light from the original is imaged on the CCD line sensor, the analog image signal output from the CCD line sensor is converted into a digital signal, and the obtained digital signal is used as a light source at the time of reading the original. Digital image data is obtained by correcting light distribution characteristics, sensitivity variations of the CCD line sensor, and the like.

  The communication IF 107 includes an interface that conforms to a predetermined communication standard. The communication IF 107 receives a print job transmitted from the information processing apparatus PC and transmits information to be notified to the information processing apparatus PC. The document data to be stored is transmitted to the registration server 200 via the communication network N. The communication IF 107 controls transmission / reception of such various data.

  The image memory 108 is a page memory that stores output image data in units of pages, and can store image data of a predetermined number of pages. The image data stored in the image memory 108 is image data acquired by the image reading unit 106 or image data developed from a print job received by the communication IF 107. The stored image data is read from the image memory 108 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 101 and transferred to an image processing unit 109 described later.

  The image processing unit 109 detects whether or not specific information is included in the image data transferred from the image memory 108. When the registration completion notification transmitted from the registration server 200 is received, the registration is completed. Processing for adding additional information to the original image data is executed. The internal configuration of the image processing unit 109 will be described in detail later.

  The image forming unit 110 forms an image on a sheet based on the image data transferred from the image memory 108 or the image processing unit 109. Therefore, the image forming unit 110 is a charger that charges the photosensitive drum to a predetermined potential, and laser writing that generates an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum by emitting laser light in accordance with image data received from the outside. An apparatus, a developing device that supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum to make it visible, a transfer device that transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum onto paper (not shown), etc. The image desired by the user is recorded on a sheet by an electrophotographic method. In addition to the configuration in which image formation is performed by an electrophotographic method using a laser writing device, a configuration in which image formation is performed by an inkjet method, a thermal transfer method, a sublimation method, or the like may be used.

  The HDD 111 includes a disk-shaped magnetic recording medium, and a part of the storage area is used as a data storage area for storing image data input from the outside. When a request is received through the operation panel 105 or when a request from the information processing apparatus PC is received through the communication IF 107, the data stored in the data storage area is read out. Therefore, when it is necessary to execute the output process again due to an insufficient number of output copies, a failure in the output process, etc., it is possible to arbitrarily read out the image data stored in the data storage area and execute the output process. . This data storage area is divided into a work area 111a and a storage area 111b. The work area 111a is mainly used as an area for temporarily storing data during work. When the work area 111a has a small free space, the work area 111a is stored in the work area 111a after a predetermined time has elapsed. Is automatically stored in the storage area 111b. The storage area 111b is an area for storing data organized according to the file format of the data, for each folder created by the user, and the like. The storage area 111b is stored unless an operation instruction such as erasure is performed.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the image processing unit 109. The image processing unit 109 includes an input buffer 109a, an image composition unit 109b, an output buffer 109c, a specific information detection unit 109d, a specific information registration unit 109e, and an additional information generation unit 109f.

  The input buffer 109a receives image data in units of pages transferred from the image memory 108. The input buffer 109a temporarily holds the input image data and sends the image data to both the image composition unit 109b and the specific information detection unit 109d.

  The specific information detection unit 109d detects specific information from the input image data. In the case of detecting a character string such as “estimate”, “order”, “contract”, etc. as specific information, a known character recognition technique can be used. That is, pattern matching that registers a pattern of a character to be detected as a standard pattern in the specific information registration unit 109e, compares the standard pattern with a pattern included in input image data, and selects a pattern with the highest similarity. Can be used. Further, in the case of detecting a mark such as a secret or a double weight as specific information, the same pattern matching as described above can be used. That is, a mark to be detected is registered in the specific information registration unit 109e as a standard pattern, the standard pattern is compared with a pattern included in the input image data, and a pattern having the highest similarity is selected. Marks can be detected. The detection result by the specific information detection unit 109d is output to the CPU 101.

  It is desirable that a standard pattern created based on an arbitrary character string or mark can be added to the specific information registration unit 109e. For example, based on a character string input through the operation panel 105 or image data received through the communication IF 107. A standard pattern may be created and registered in the specific information registration unit 109e.

  The additional information generation unit 109f generates additional information based on the registration completion notification transmitted from the registration server 200. Since the registration completion notification includes the date and time of registration with the registration server 200 and information indicating that the registration has been completed, the additional information generation unit 109f generates an image including the information as a character string. The additional information generation unit 109f sends the generated image as additional information to the image composition unit 109b.

  The image composition unit 109b performs image composition of image data (document data) transmitted from the input buffer 109a and additional information transmitted from the additional information generation unit 109f. As a result, for the document data registered in the registration server 200, the output process is executed with the information to that effect added. The image data obtained by combining the document data and the additional information in the image combining unit 109b is sent to the output buffer 109c and temporarily held in the output buffer 109c. The image data held in the output buffer 109c is read according to an instruction from the CPU 101 and transferred to a transfer destination according to the purpose of the output process.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the registration server 200. The registration server 200 includes a CPU 201. When the CPU 201 loads a control program stored in the ROM 203 into the RAM 204 and executes the control program, the communication IF 205, the encryption processing unit 206, and the registered data management connected to the bus 202 are executed. Various hardware such as the unit 207 and the registered data storage unit 208 are controlled to operate as the data storage device of the present invention.

  The communication IF 205 includes an interface conforming to the communication standard of the communication network N, and receives document data transmitted from the digital multifunction peripheral 100. The encryption processing unit 206 has a function of hashing document data received by the communication IF 205, a register that temporarily stores data to be hashed, and an arithmetic circuit that calculates a hash value from the held data And a register for temporarily holding the calculated hash value. The hashed data is transferred to the registered data storage unit 208. Note that the encryption processing unit 206 may be configured to hash all of the document data received by the communication IF 205, or may be configured to extract and hash a part of the document data.

  The registration data management unit 207 manages data (registration data) stored in the registration data storage unit 208. Therefore, the registration data management unit 207 stores the registration date and time, the data creator name, the transmission source address, the storage destination address, and the like in association with each other. The registered data storage unit 208 is an HDD device, for example, and stores the document data received by the communication IF 205 in a hashed state.

  As described above, since the registration server 200 stores the document data in a hashed state, it is difficult to reproduce the original document data even when unauthorized access is received from the outside. Leakage is prevented. In addition to long-term storage of document data, document data original verification is also possible. That is, when document data that requires original certification is received by the communication IF 107, a hash value of the document data is calculated, and the calculated hash value and the hash value (registered data) stored in the registered data storage unit 208 are calculated. Compare When the two match, it can be determined that the received document data is the original, and when the two are different, it can be determined that the received document data is not the original.

  Hereinafter, an operation when registering document data in the registration server 200 using the image forming system will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure of processing executed by the digital multi-function peripheral 100 and the registration server 200 when registering document data. The CPU 101 of the digital multi-function peripheral 100 first determines whether document data has been input (step S11). Whether or not document data has been input is determined by determining whether or not image data has been input through the image reading unit 106 or whether or not a print job has been received from the information processing apparatus PC via the communication IF 107. Do. If it is determined that the document data has not been input (S11: NO), the process waits until the document data is input.

  When determining that the document data has been input (S11: YES), the CPU 101 transfers the image data based on the document data to the image processing unit 109 (step S12). That is, the image data acquired by the image reading unit 106 is transferred to the image processing unit 109 via the image memory 108 in units of pages, and the print job received through the communication IF 107 is expanded on the image memory 108. The image data is transferred to the image processing unit 109 in page units.

  Next, the CPU 101 determines whether specific information has been detected based on the detection result output from the image processing unit 109 (step S13). When determining that the specific information has been detected (S13: YES), the CPU 101 confirms whether or not registration with the registration server 200 is necessary for the user (step S14). If the input document data is data acquired by the image reading unit 106, a confirmation screen is displayed on the display unit 105b of the operation panel 105 to confirm whether registration is necessary. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a confirmation screen. The confirmation screen 10 displays a message that recommends registering the document data in the registration server 200, and a selection button composed of a software key for confirming the necessity of registration at the bottom of the screen. 11 and 12 are arranged. When the selection button 11 is pressed down, it is selected to register with the registration server 200, and when the selection button 12 is pressed down, it is selected not to register with the registration server 200. The same applies to the case where the input document data is data of a print job received through the communication IF 107, and the above-described message is transmitted to the print job transmission source, and a selection regarding whether or not registration is necessary is requested.

  Next, the CPU 101 determines whether registration of document data is necessary based on information input through the confirmation screen 10 as shown in FIG. 7 (step S15). If it is determined that registration of document data is necessary (S15: YES), the document data is transmitted to the registration server 200 (step S16). The document data is transmitted through the communication IF 107 and delivered to the registration server 200 via the router device R, the gateway device G, and the communication network N. The document data to be transmitted may be part or all of the input document data. Further, the document data to be transmitted may be transmitted after being encrypted by a predetermined method.

  When the registration server 200 receives document data transmitted from the digital multi-function peripheral 100 (step S17), the CPU 201 transfers the received document data to the encryption processing unit 206 and performs hashing of the document data (step S18). ). The hashing of the document data may be executed for all the received document data or may be executed for a part thereof. Next, the hashed document data is transferred to and stored in the registration data storage unit 208, and information relating to the document data is written in the registration data management unit 207, thereby completing the registration of the document data (step S19). Then, a notification (registration completion notification) including information indicating that the registration of the document data is completed and information on the registration completion date and time is transmitted to the digital multi-function peripheral 100 (step S20).

  When the digital multi-function peripheral 100 receives the registration completion notification transmitted from the registration server 200 (step S21), the CPU 101 generates additional information based on the registration completion notification (step S22), and the image processing unit 109 in step S12. Additional information is added to the document data transferred to (step S23). That is, based on the information included in the registration completion notification, image data including a message indicating that registration is complete, registration date and time as a character string, and the generated image data and image data based on the document data are generated. The composition is performed in the image composition unit 109b. Next, the CPU 101 takes out the image data to which the additional information is added from the output buffer 109c of the image processing unit 109, and executes an output process (step S24). This output process is one of a process of forming an image on a sheet by the image forming unit 110, a process of storing in the storage area 111b of the HDD 111, and a process of transmitting to the outside through the communication IF 107. The CPU 101 outputs the output buffer 109c. The image data extracted from the image data is transferred to a transfer destination according to the processing purpose.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S13 that specific information has not been detected (S13: NO), or if it is determined in step S15 that registration of document data is not necessary (S15: NO), document data registration processing is executed. Without doing so, the image data held in the image memory 108 is transferred to the image forming unit 110 to execute output processing (S24).

  In the present embodiment, the presence / absence of specific information is determined in units of pages, but may be determined in units of jobs. In this case, if specific information is included in one piece of image data of page data generated from one job, registration of all the image data generated from the job is encouraged. Good.

  In this image forming system, since the registration server 200 is connected via the communication network N, the registration server 200 is prompted to register. However, when a plurality of registration servers 200 are connected, registration is performed. The configuration may be such that the user selects the destination. At this time, the user can make an arbitrary selection in consideration of the registration fee, the security level at the storage destination, and the like. Further, when the registration server that can be used in the digital multifunction peripheral 100 is not connected, the display of the confirmation screen 10 described above may be omitted.

  In the present embodiment, when registration is performed with the registration server 200, the output process is not executed until the registration process is completed. However, when processing efficiency is taken into consideration, output is performed without adding additional information. It may be a configuration. Even in this case, it is desirable to leave information indicating that the registration process is completed as a history.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the first embodiment, the document data is transmitted to an external server (registration server 200), and the document data is stored in the server. However, recent digital multifunction peripherals are equipped with a large capacity HDD. Therefore, it may be stored in its own HDD.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment. The digital multifunction peripheral 300 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 301. The CPU 301 includes a ROM 303, a RAM 304, an operation panel 305 including an operation unit 305a and a display unit 305b, an image reading unit 306, a communication IF 307, an image memory 308, an image processing unit 309, an image forming unit 310, an encryption processing unit 311, Hardware such as an HDD 312 having a work area 312 a and a storage area 312 b and a registered data management unit 313 are connected via a bus 302. The CPU 301 loads the control program stored in advance in the ROM 303 into the RAM 304 and executes it, thereby controlling the hardware connected to the bus 302 and causing it to operate as the digital multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment.

  Of the hardware included in the digital multi-function peripheral 300, the operation panel 305, the image reading unit 306, the communication IF 307, the image memory 308, the image processing unit 309, the image forming unit 310, and the HDD 312 are the digital composite described in the first embodiment. The same as that mounted on the machine 100. The digital multifunction peripheral 300 includes an encryption processing unit 311 and a registered data management unit 313 in addition to the hardware described above. The encryption processing unit 311 has a function of hashing input document data, a register that temporarily stores data to be hashed, an arithmetic circuit that calculates a hash value from the held data, A register for temporarily holding the hash value is provided. The CPU 301 extracts the hashed data from the register and transfers it to the HDD 312. The transferred data is stored in a hashed state in the storage area 312b of the HDD 312. The registration data management unit 313 manages data (registration data) stored in the HDD 312. Therefore, the registration data management unit 313 stores the registration date and time, the data creator name, the storage destination address, and the like in association with each other.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure of processing executed by the digital multi-function peripheral 300 according to the present embodiment. The CPU 301 of the digital multi-function peripheral 300 first determines whether document data has been input (step S31). Whether or not document data has been input is determined by determining whether or not image data has been input through the image reading unit 306 or whether or not an external print job has been received by the communication IF 307. If it is determined that the document data is not input (S31: NO), the process waits until the document data is input.

  If it is determined that the document data has been input (S31: YES), the CPU 301 transfers image data based on the document data to the image processing unit 309 (step S32). That is, the image data acquired by the image reading unit 106 is transferred to the image processing unit 309 via the image memory 308 in units of pages, and the print job received through the communication IF 307 is expanded on the image memory 108. The image data is transferred to the image processing unit 309 page by page.

  Next, the CPU 301 determines whether specific information has been detected based on the detection result output from the image processing unit 309 (step S33). If it is determined that the specific information has been detected (S33: YES), the CPU 301 displays, for example, the confirmation screen 10 as shown in FIG. 7 on the display unit 105b, and confirms whether document data registration is necessary (step). S34). The CPU 301 determines whether document data needs to be registered based on information input through the confirmation screen 10 (step S35).

  When it is determined that registration is necessary (S35: YES), the CPU 301 executes hashing of the document data by transferring the image data held in the image memory 308 to the encryption processing unit 311 (step S36). . Then, the hashed document data is stored in the storage area 312b of the HDD 312 and information related to the document data is written in the registration data management unit 313 to complete the registration of the document data (step S37).

  Next, the CPU 301 generates additional information (step S38), and adds the additional information to the document data transferred to the image processing unit 309 (step S39). That is, image data including a message indicating that registration is complete, registration date and time as a character string is generated, and image synthesis is performed between the generated image data and image data based on document data. Next, the CPU 301 extracts the image data to which the additional information is added from the image processing unit 309, and executes output processing based on the extracted image data (step S40). This output process is one of a process of forming an image on a sheet by the image forming unit 310, a process of storing in the storage area 312b of the HDD 312 and a process of transmitting to the outside through the communication IF 307. The image data extracted from 309 is transferred to a transfer destination corresponding to the processing purpose.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S33 that specific information has not been detected (S33: NO), or if it is determined in step S35 that registration of document data is not necessary (S35: NO), document data registration processing is executed. Without the image data, the image data held in the image memory 308 is transferred to the image forming unit 310 and output processing is executed (S40).

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system including a digital multi-function peripheral according to the present embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining the content of the process performed by this image forming system. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the digital multifunction peripheral. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of an image process part. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a registration server. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing executed by the digital multifunction peripheral and a registration server when registering document data. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of a confirmation screen. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing executed by the digital multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

100 Digital MFP 101 CPU
103 ROM
104 RAM
105 Operation Panel 106 Image Reading Unit 107 Communication IF
108 Image memory 109 Image processing unit 110 Image forming unit 111 HDD
200 registration server 201 CPU
207 Registered data management unit 208 Registered data storage unit

Claims (11)

In a data storage system including a data processing device that receives data and performs processing based on the received data, and a data storage device that receives data and stores the received data,
The data processing device includes: a determination unit that determines whether or not the received data should be stored; and a unit that notifies the information that the data storage device should store the data when it is determined that the data should be stored. A data storage system comprising:   2. The data according to claim 1, wherein the data processing device includes means for receiving a storage request for the data, and means for transmitting the data to the data storage device when the storage request is received. Preservation system.   The data storage device comprises: means for generating information indicating that the data has been stored; and means for transmitting the generated information to the data processing device when the data storage is completed. Item 3. The data storage system according to Item 2.   The data processing device includes detection means for detecting whether or not the data is data having a predetermined content, and when detecting that the data has data having a predetermined content, the received data should be stored. 4. The data storage system according to claim 1, wherein the data storage system is determined.   The data processing device includes detection means for detecting whether the data is data including a predetermined character string or image, and when the character string or image is detected, the received data is determined to be stored. The data storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the data storage system is configured as described above.   The data processing apparatus includes means for receiving a character string or an image to be detected, and the detection means detects whether the data includes the received character string or image. Item 6. The data storage system according to Item 5.   7. The data according to claim 1, wherein the data is image data, and the data processing device includes means for forming an image on a sheet based on the received image data. Data storage system.   The data storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the data storage device includes means for encrypting data to be stored. In a data processing apparatus that accepts data and performs processing based on the accepted data,
Connecting means for connecting an external device; means for determining whether or not a device for storing data is connected to the connecting means; means for determining whether or not to accept the received data; and A data processing apparatus comprising: means for notifying the device that data should be stored when it is determined that the device is connected and the received data should be stored.   The data processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: a unit that receives a storage request for the data; and a unit that transmits the data to the device when the storage request is received.   11. The data processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for forming an image on a sheet based on the received image data.

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