JP2006279654A - Data management device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily manage a digitized original by using a scanning function. <P>SOLUTION: A network composite machine 100 comprises: an original reading part 104 for reading the original and generating image data; an image data acquiring part 112 for controlling the reading of the original by the original reading part 104; a processing request receiving part 108 for receiving a processing request to the image data which is generated by the original reading part 104; and a processing request data registering part 114 for associating the image data acquired by the image data acquiring part 112 with the processing request received by the processing request receiving part 108, so as to perform registration in a processing request data storage part 126. When the processing request receiving part 108 receives an instruction to change the processing request during reading the original, the image data acquiring part 112 interrupts the reading of the original. When the processing request receiving part 108 receives the input of the change of the processing request, the reading of the original is restarted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data management apparatus, and more particularly to a data management apparatus having a scan function.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a document is read by a multifunction machine having a scanning function, and is converted into electronic data for management. Patent Document 1 discloses a document processing system that reads a document with a multifunction device having a scanning function, generates electronic data, converts the data into a standard format, creates a standard file, and stores the file in a filing server. Yes.
JP 2001-350774 A

  As described above, one of the purposes of converting a document to electronic data using the scan function is to designate a person in charge for the document and make a processing request. In recent years, with the widespread use of networks, the environment of in-house networks has also improved, and employees can browse and acquire various documents by accessing a server that stores data shared within the company from their own terminals. It is like that. Therefore, if the manuscript that needs to be processed is converted to electronic data, and the person in charge of the request for processing, the contents of the request, the processing deadline, etc. are stored in correspondence with the electronic data, the person in charge can send it via the network. The electronic data can be confirmed, and the electronic data can be transmitted to the person in charge via the network, so that processing can be performed efficiently.

  The present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for facilitating management of a document that has been converted into data using a scan function.

  According to the present invention, a document reading unit that reads a document and generates image data, an image data acquisition unit that controls reading of the document by the document reading unit, and a process for image data generated by the document reading unit A processing request receiving unit that receives a request; an image data acquired by the image data acquiring unit; and a processing request data registering unit that registers the processing request received by the processing request receiving unit in a storage unit in association with each other. The image data acquisition unit interrupts reading of the original by the original reading unit when the processing request receiving unit receives an instruction to change the processing request while the original reading unit reads the original. A data management apparatus, wherein when a request receiving unit receives an input of a change in the processing request, the document reading unit resumes reading the document. It is provided.

  Here, the data management device is, for example, a multifunction device having a plurality of functions such as a facsimile function, a printer function, a copy function, and a scan function in a single device, or a facsimile device or a scanner having these scan functions. It can be.

  By doing so, it is possible to accept a change instruction for a processing request while reading a document, and it is possible to read a plurality of documents having different contents of the processing request at a time. For example, when the user wants to change the content of the processing request halfway after starting the reading of the document, the processing request can be changed without resetting the document again.

  In the data management device of the present invention, the processing request can receive a designation of a person in charge of the request for the processing request, and the data management device can receive the processing request based on the processing request registered in the storage unit. A processing request notification processing unit for notifying the person in charge of the processing request of the processing request can be further included.

  As a result, it is possible to notify the designated person in charge that there has been a processing request, and it is possible to easily manage the document that has been converted into data.

  In the data management apparatus of the present invention, the processing request receiving unit can determine whether or not a processing request change instruction has been issued during reading each time the original reading unit reads one page of the original.

  Thereby, the content of the processing request can be changed for each page.

  In the data management apparatus of the present invention, the processing request receiving unit can receive an instruction from the user as to whether or not there is a change in the processing request every time the original reading unit reads one page of the original.

  Thereby, the content of the processing request can be changed for each page.

  The data management apparatus of the present invention may further include the storage unit that stores the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit and the processing request received by the processing request reception unit in association with each other.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and a conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to facilitate management of a document that has been converted into data using a scan function.

  In the present embodiment, the data management device is a network multifunction device that integrates a facsimile, a printer, a copy, a scan function, and the like. The network multifunction peripheral in the present embodiment can be, for example, a network facsimile machine or an MFP (Multi Functional Peripheral). Here, the network MFP can be connected to a network such as the Internet or a LAN, or a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). The network multifunction device communicates with a G3 facsimile machine or the like through the PSTN.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment.
The network multifunction peripheral 100 reads an original and generates an image data, an original reading unit 104, an image data acquisition unit 112 that controls reading of the original by the original reading unit 104, and an image data generated by the original reading unit 104. Processing request data that is registered in the processing request data storage unit 126 in association with the processing request reception unit 108 that receives the processing request, the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit 112, and the processing request received by the processing request reception unit 108 A registration unit 114. When the processing request receiving unit 108 receives a processing request change instruction during reading of a document by the document reading unit 104, the image data acquisition unit 112 interrupts reading of the document by the document reading unit 104, and the processing request receiving unit 108 When an input for changing the processing request is received, the original reading unit 104 resumes reading the original. The network multifunction peripheral 100 further includes an instruction receiving unit 106, a display processing unit 110, a processing request notification processing unit 116, a communication control unit 118, an access receiving unit 120, a data read / write processing unit 122, a person-in-charge information storage unit 124, And a processing request data storage unit 126. The network MFP 100 transmits and receives data to and from the user terminal 200 via the network 150.

  In FIG. 1, the configuration of parts not related to the essence of the present invention is omitted, and for example, a print processing unit that is a configuration of a general network multifunction peripheral is not illustrated.

  In the figure, each constituent element enclosed by 102 indicates a functional unit block, not a hardware unit configuration.

  The communication control unit 118 transmits and receives data to and from other terminals such as the user terminal 200 via the network 150. In the present embodiment, the network 150 is a private network such as a LAN. Although not shown here, the communication control unit 118 can also be connected to a public network such as the Internet.

  The document reading unit 104 reads a document and generates image data. The instruction receiving unit 106 receives various instructions from the user. For example, the instruction receiving unit 106 receives an instruction to start reading a document from the user. The instruction receiving unit 106 receives a processing request for image data generated by the document reading unit 104. When receiving the processing request, the instruction receiving unit 106 notifies the processing request receiving unit 108 to that effect. The processing request reception unit 108 receives a processing request for image data via the instruction reception unit 106.

  The display processing unit 110 performs processing for displaying various information. When the processing request reception unit 108 receives a processing request instruction via the instruction reception unit 106, the processing request reception unit 108 displays a screen for allowing the display processing unit 110 to input the processing request. When the user inputs the contents of the processing request according to the display screen, the information is acquired. Here, the processing request includes designation of a person in charge of requesting the processing request, contents of the request such as a subject and a comment, a processing time limit, and the like. Here, the person in charge can be designated by an ID such as an employee number for identifying the person in charge.

  The image data acquisition unit 112 controls reading of a document by the document reading unit 104 and acquires image data generated by the document reading unit 104.

  The processing request data registration unit 114 registers the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit 112 in the processing request data storage unit 126 in association with the processing request received by the processing request reception unit 108. The process request data registration unit 114 includes, for example, a folder identified by the ID of the person in charge for each person who is set in advance, and designates the person in charge of the process request accepted by the process request accepting part 108. Based on this, the image data and the processing request can be registered in the folder of the corresponding person in charge.

  In the present embodiment, the processing request accepting unit 108 can accept a change in the processing request while reading a document even after the document reading unit 104 starts reading the document. Here, the change of the processing request is a change of a person in charge who makes the processing request, a processing time limit, a comment or the like. When the process request accepting unit 108 accepts an instruction to change a process request while the original reading unit 104 is reading a document, the process request accepting unit 108 notifies the image data acquisition unit 112 of interruption. The image data acquisition unit 112 interrupts reading of a document by the document reading unit 104 based on an instruction from the processing request receiving unit 108. Next, as described above, the processing request reception unit 108 causes the display processing unit 110 to display a screen for inputting a processing request.

  By doing so, for example, a plurality of originals with different processing requests and different processing deadlines can be set on the original setting unit of the original reading unit 104 at once, and a plurality of different processing requests can be made.

  In addition, when the processing request receiving unit 108 receives a processing request change instruction while the document reading unit 104 is reading a document, the processing request receiving unit 108 notifies the processing request data registration unit 114 to that effect. The processing request data registration unit 114 registers the image data already acquired by the image data acquisition unit 112 in the processing request data storage unit 126 in association with the processing request acquired by the processing request reception unit 108 at that time. . At this stage, the processing request data registration unit 114 temporarily stores the image data and the processing request in another storage unit instead of the processing request data storage unit 126, and the document reading unit 104 reads the document. It is also possible to register all the data together in the processing request data storage unit 126 after completing the reading process.

  The person-in-charge information storage unit 124 stores, for example, an ID such as an employee number for identifying a person in charge and an address of the terminal of the person in charge in association with each other. The person-in-charge information storage unit 124 may be an address book, for example. The processing request reception unit 108 reads out the person-in-charge information from the person-in-charge information storage unit 124 based on an instruction from the user via the instruction reception unit 106 when the instruction reception unit 106 receives an input of a processing request, and performs display processing. It can also be displayed on the section 110.

  When the processing request data registration unit 114 registers the image data and the processing request in the processing request data storage unit 126, the processing request data registration unit 114 notifies the processing request notification processing unit 116 to that effect. The processing request notification processing unit 116 reads the processing request associated with the image data from the processing request data storage unit 126 and, based on the designation of the person in charge included in the processing request, from the person in charge information storage unit 124 Get terminal address information. The processing request notification processing unit 116 notifies the terminal of the person in charge that there has been a processing request via the communication control unit 118.

  The processing request notification processing unit 116 can also read out the image data from the processing request data storage unit 126 and transmit the image data to the terminal of the person in charge. In this case, the person in charge can perform processing at the terminal of the person in charge. As a result, the image data for which the processing request notification has been completed can be deleted from the processing request data storage unit 126, and smooth processing can be performed without increasing the capacity of the processing request data storage unit 126. it can.

  In another example, the processing request data registration unit 114 does not notify the processing request notification processing unit 116 when image data and a processing request are registered in the processing request data storage unit 126, and the processing request notification processing unit 116 may periodically refer to the processing request data storage unit 126 to notify the person in charge of the processing request when there is a newly registered processing request.

  The access reception unit 120 receives access via the network 150 and the communication control unit 118 from the person in charge who has received the notification of the processing request. The access reception unit 120 can authenticate a user by receiving transmission of an ID and a password from the accessing user, and can permit access when the user is authenticated. The user ID and password can be stored in the person-in-charge information storage unit 124, for example, and the access reception unit 120 can authenticate the user with reference to the person-in-charge information storage unit 124.

  The data read / write processing unit 122 reads out the corresponding image data and the processing request associated with it from the processing request data storage unit 126 based on the instruction from the user received by the access receiving unit 120, or the processing from the user And the processed content can be stored in association with the image data.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure when receiving a processing request in the network multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment.

  When there is an original reading instruction (YES in S100) and the processing request instruction is received, the instruction receiving unit 106 notifies the processing request receiving unit 108 to that effect. When a processing request instruction is received from the instruction receiving unit 106 (YES in S102), the processing request receiving unit 108 causes the display processing unit 110 to display a screen for inputting a processing request. The display processing unit 110 displays a processing request input screen on a display unit (not shown) of the network MFP 100 (S104).

  Subsequently, when the user inputs the content of the processing request, the processing request reception unit 108 receives the input via the instruction reception unit 106 (YES in S106), and the processing request reception unit 108 sends the document to the image data acquisition unit 112. A reading instruction is given. The image data acquisition unit 112 controls the document reading unit 104 based on an instruction from the processing request receiving unit 108 and performs a process of reading the document page by page (S108). The image data acquisition unit 112 notifies the processing request reception unit 108 every time the document reading unit 104 reads one page of document.

  During this time, the instruction receiving unit 106 causes the display processing unit 110 to display a screen for receiving a processing request change instruction. For example, the display processing unit 110 can display a message such as “Press this button to change the processing content”. Further, the display processing unit 110 can display a message indicating the reading state of the document reading unit 104 such as “reading the first page”. When the reading of one page of the document is completed (YES in S110), the processing request receiving unit 108 determines whether or not there is an instruction to change the processing request during the reading (S112). When there is an instruction to change the processing request (YES in S112), the processing request receiving unit 108 causes the display processing unit 110 to display a message asking whether or not to really change the processing request. As a result, it is possible to prevent the contents of the processing request from being input again if the user accidentally presses the button for changing the processing request. When the user confirms the change of the processing request (YES in S121), the processing request reception unit 108 notifies the processing request data registration unit 114, and the processing request data registration unit 114 has received the image data acquisition unit until then. The image data acquired by 112 and the content of the processing request received by the processing request receiving unit 108 at that time are stored in association with each other (S120). Here, the processing request data registration unit 114 may register the image data and the content of the processing request in the processing request data storage unit 126, or may temporarily store them in another storage unit.

  Thereafter, returning to step S104, the processing request receiving unit 108 causes the display processing unit 110 to display a screen for inputting the content of the processing request (S104).

  If there is no instruction to change the request content in step S112 (NO in S112), or if the instruction to change the processing request is denied in step S121 (NO in S121), the processing request reception unit 108 is the image data acquisition unit 112. Then, it is determined whether or not reading of all the originals set on the network multifunction peripheral 100 is completed (S114). When the reading is completed (YES in S114), the processing request data registration unit 114 displays the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit 112 so far and the processing request received by the processing request reception unit 108 at that time. The contents are associated with each other and registered in the processing request data storage unit 126 (S116). If the image data and the contents of the processing request are temporarily stored in another storage unit in step S120, the processing request data registration unit 114 also registers these data in the processing request data storage unit 126. .

  Subsequently, the processing request data registration unit 114 requests the processing request notification processing unit 116 for notification processing. The processing request notification processing unit 116 refers to the person-in-charge information storage unit 124, reads the contents of the processing request newly registered in the processing request data storage unit 126, and based on the person-in-charge ID included therein, the person in charge Is notified that there has been a processing request (S118).

  If reading is not completed in step S114 (NO in S114), the process returns to step S108 and the same processing is performed. In step S102, if it is not a processing request instruction (NO in S102), normal processing is performed. The normal processing is, for example, scanning or facsimile transmission.

  According to the network MFP 100 according to the present embodiment, for example, a plurality of originals having different processing requests and processing deadlines are set at a time on the original setting unit of the original reading unit 104, and a plurality of different processing requests are made. It can be carried out. As a result, it is possible to easily manage the document that has been converted into data using the scan function.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. The embodiments are exemplifications, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to combinations of the respective constituent elements and processing processes, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. .

  The processing request reception unit 108 can cause the display processing unit 110 to display a message asking the user whether or not to instruct the correction of the processing request every time the document reading unit 104 reads one page of the document. . That is, a process for displaying an inquiry screen is added after step S110 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, and it is also possible to determine whether or not the user has instructed to change the request content in step S112. it can. Thereby, when the user wants to give an instruction to change the processing request on the way, it is possible to reliably accept the instruction to change the correction request.

  In the above embodiment, the network MFP 100 has the processing request data storage unit 126. However, the network MFP 100 does not have the processing request data storage unit 126, and The processing request data storage unit 126 may be provided in another device connected by the network 150 or other methods.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the network multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

100 Network MFP 104 Document Reading Unit 106 Instruction Accepting Unit 108 Processing Request Accepting Unit 110 Display Processing Unit 112 Image Data Acquisition Unit 114 Processing Request Data Registration Unit 116 Processing Request Notification Processing Unit 118 Communication Control Unit 120 Access Accepting Unit 122 Data Reading Form Included processing unit 124 person-in-charge information storage unit 126 processing request data storage unit 150 network 200 user terminal

Claims (5)

An original reading unit that reads an original and generates image data;
An image data acquisition unit that controls reading of the document by the document reading unit;
A processing request receiving unit that receives a processing request for image data generated by the document reading unit;
A processing request data registration unit that registers the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit and the processing request received by the processing request reception unit in a storage unit in association with each other;
Including
The image data acquisition unit interrupts reading of the original by the original reading unit when the processing request reception unit receives an instruction to change the processing request while the original is being read by the original reading unit, and the processing request The data management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the accepting unit accepts an input for changing the processing request, the document reading unit resumes reading the document. The data management device according to claim 1,
The processing request includes designation of a person in charge of the processing request.
The data management device further includes a processing request notification processing unit that notifies the person in charge of the processing request based on the processing request registered in the storage unit. . In the data management device according to claim 1 or 2,
The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing request receiving unit determines whether or not a processing request change instruction has been issued during reading each time the original reading unit reads one page of the original. The data management device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing request receiving unit receives from the user an instruction as to whether or not there is a change in the processing request every time the original reading unit reads one page of the original. The data management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The data management apparatus further comprising: the storage unit that stores the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit and the processing request received by the processing request reception unit in association with each other.

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