JP2006287869A - Image data management apparatus, image forming apparatus, program, recording medium, and image data management method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image data management apparatus in which image data can be easily stored while also considering a subsequent use style thereof. <P>SOLUTION: The image data management apparatus comprises a data input means 11 for inputting image data to be stored, a storage destination designating means 12 for causing a user to designate a destination to store the image data inputted by the data input means 11, and a data storage means 13 for storing the image data inputted by the data input means 11 in the storage destination designated by the storage destination designating means on storage conditions corresponding to the storage destination. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image data management apparatus, an image forming apparatus, a program, a computer-readable recording medium storing the program, and an image data management method.

  In recent years, with the widespread use of digital multifunction peripherals, an electronic filing function using a scanner function provided in the multifunction peripheral is widely used. However, in the current electronic filing function, when reading an image, it is necessary to set the storage destination, file format, resolution, etc. of the image. Even when saving in the same format, the setting is required and the user ( (Operator) was forced to uselessly.

  Also, in recent years, multifunction devices that combine the copy function, facsimile function, and print function have diversified, and there is a function for transmitting transmitted print data, read image data, or data stored in a hard disk to an external device. In addition, it is possible to easily transmit data to the outside even in the multi-function peripheral. Functions such as “Scan to Email”, “Scan to FAX”, and “Scan to FTP (File Transfer Protocol)” are widely used as a transmission function to an external apparatus in the multifunction peripheral. These functions can also be realized when a scanner is connected to a PC directly or via a network.

  When transmitting image data to the outside using the one-touch image data transmission function as described above, the key is associated with the transmission destination to specify the operation unit, and the image data format (file format) and resolution are set in advance. Thus, it is possible to read an image by operating one key and transmit the image data in a predetermined format. An image processing system that stores an image read by an image scanner in an HTML format has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, an information communication method has been proposed that aims to transmit a sufficient amount of information required by the receiving terminal in the most convenient information format to the receiving terminal at that time (for example, Patent Document 2). See). In the information communication system described in Patent Document 2, the priority detection means for detecting the transmission priority of a plurality of attributes including at least the resolution capability of the receiving terminal using a communication protocol, and the priority detection means Transmitting means for transmitting information to the receiving side terminal with a priority attribute.
JP 2004-171178 A JP-A-8-79491

  However, the one-touch transmission function as described above only has a function of registering and transmitting a file format corresponding to each transmission destination and each transmission destination in one key, and considering the usability of the transmitted file. In addition, it does not consider user operability and file management. Further, even in the system described in Patent Document 1, the stored file browsing method is merely general-purpose, and consideration is given to the usability of the stored file, user operability, and file management. It is not a thing. Furthermore, even the method described in Patent Document 2 is merely for defining an information transmission protocol, and does not take into consideration the usability of transmitted files, user operability, and file management.

  As described above, the conventional technology does not take into consideration the later usage and utilization of image data, user operability, and file management. For example, the process of reading a document and saving it in a predetermined folder in a predetermined file format, print size, etc. is not easy for the user and cannot be executed unless a time-consuming procedure is taken. In addition, when trying to print the stored data, the print settings must be made at the time of printing, and the user must determine what print settings to make after confirming the target image data.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an image data management apparatus capable of easily storing image data in consideration of later use forms, and an image forming apparatus including the apparatus An object of the present invention is to provide an image data management program, a computer-readable recording medium storing the program, and an image data management method.

  The present invention is constituted by the following technical means in order to solve the above-described problems.

  The first technical means is an image data management apparatus for storing and managing image data, wherein a data input means for inputting image data to be stored, and a storage destination of the image data input by the data input means. A storage destination designating unit that is designated by the user, and a data storage unit that stores the image data input by the data input unit in the storage destination designated by the storage destination designation unit under a storage condition corresponding to the storage destination; It is characterized by having.

  The second technical means further includes condition setting means in the first technical means, which allows the user to input a storage condition corresponding to the storage destination, and stores the input storage condition and the storage destination in association with each other. The data storage unit stores image data based on the correspondence between the storage destination set by the condition setting unit and the storage condition.

  A third technical means is the first or second technical means, wherein the data input means has original reading means for optically reading the original, and the image data read by the original reading means is to be stored. It is characterized by that.

  According to a fourth technical means, in any one of the first to third technical means, the data input means has a file reading means for reading a document file as image data, and the image data read by the file reading means is read out. It is characterized by being a storage target.

  A fifth technical means is any one of the first to fourth technical means, wherein the storage conditions are black and white / color, paper size, paper orientation, file format, resolution, data capacity, single page / multi-page, This is a condition regarding any of data compression, enlargement / reduction, and division / aggregation.

  According to a sixth technical means, in any one of the first to fifth technical means, the data storage means stores the image data input by the data input means in the storage destination designated by the storage destination designation means. In the case where the image data does not conform to the storage conditions, the image data has a means for prohibiting the storage of the image data in the storage destination.

  According to a seventh technical means, in any one of the first to sixth technical means, the data input means moves image data already stored in a certain storage destination by the data storage means to another storage destination. A movement instruction means for receiving an instruction from a user, wherein the data storage means is image data that does not conform to the storage conditions of the storage destination as the movement destination when the image data to be moved instructed by the movement instruction means And a means for prohibiting movement of the image data to the storage destination.

  The eighth technical means further comprises user authentication means for authenticating a user in any one of the first to seventh technical means, wherein the data storage means can store a user authenticated by the user authentication means. It is characterized by having means for restricting the storage destination.

  The ninth technical means further comprises user authentication means for authenticating a user in the second technical means, wherein the condition setting means sets a storage condition corresponding to a storage destination based on authentication by the user authentication means. Only the set user or only the user and the administrator are allowed to change the storage condition corresponding to the storage destination.

  According to a tenth technical means, in the ninth technical means, when the storage condition corresponding to the storage destination is changed by the change, the data storage means includes the image data stored under the original storage condition and It has a means for distinguishing and storing.

  An eleventh technical means is an image forming apparatus including the image data management apparatus according to any one of the first to tenth technical means, and includes means for printing image data managed by the image data management apparatus. It is characterized by that.

  A twelfth technical means is a program for storing and managing image data in the storage device, which is incorporated in an image data management device having a storage device for storing image data and an arithmetic processing device, A data input step for inputting the image data, a storage destination specifying step for allowing a user to specify a storage destination of the image data input in the data input step as a storage area of the storage device, and the storage destination specification in the storage device A data storage step for storing the image data input in the data input step under a storage condition corresponding to the storage destination in the storage destination specified in the step is executed by the arithmetic processing unit. Is.

  The thirteenth technical means is a computer-readable recording medium recording the program according to the twelfth technical means.

  A fourteenth technical means is an image data management method for storing and managing image data in a storage device, the data input step for inputting image data to be stored, and the image input in the data input step The storage destination designation step that allows the user to designate the data storage destination and the storage destination specified in the storage destination specification step in the storage device are input in the data input step under the storage conditions corresponding to the storage destination And a data storage step for storing image data.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily store image data in consideration of later usage patterns.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a system including an image forming apparatus including an image data management apparatus and an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 includes the image data management apparatus. Image forming apparatus, 2 is an information processing apparatus, 3 is a local area network (LAN), 4 is a telephone network, 5 is the Internet, 6 is an external FAX, 7 is an Internet FAX (external FAX), 8 is an external PC, and 9 is 11 is a data input unit, 11a is a document reading unit, 11b is a file reading unit, 11c is a movement instruction unit, 12 is a storage destination designation unit, 13 is a data storage unit, 14 is a condition setting unit, and 15 is user authentication. Means.

  An image data management apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 by describing an image forming apparatus 1 provided with the image data management apparatus. The image data management apparatus according to the present invention includes a data input unit 11 for inputting image data to be stored as a data input function, and further includes a storage destination designation unit 12 and a data storage unit 13 as a filing function, and stores image data. Save to device and manage.

  The data input unit 11 includes a document reading unit 11a and / or a file reading unit 11b. The document reading means 11a is a means for optically reading a document. By providing this means, the image data read here can also be stored. The file reading means 11b is a means for reading a document file such as a character format or a table format as image data. By providing this means, the image data read here is also a storage target.

  The storage destination designating unit 12 is a unit that allows the user to designate the storage destination of the image data input by the data input unit 11. Further, the data storage unit 13 stores the image data input by the data input unit 11 in the storage destination specified by the storage destination specifying unit 12 under the storage conditions corresponding to the storage destination. The storage conditions will be described later with examples.

  As described above, according to the image data management device of the present invention, by specifying the storage destination of the image data, the image data is stored after being converted into the storage conditions set in advance according to the specified storage destination. This is possible with a simple operation. The present invention is particularly suitable for sorting and storing image data accompanying reading or reading of construction drawings and the like. Further, when storing image data, the image is stored under the storage conditions set according to the storage location, thereby enabling image data organization and file unification. For example, when saving an image read by a multifunction device to a storage device inside the device (Document Filing), by specifying the save destination, file formats such as black and white / color reading, paper size, and image format are unified. Can be remembered.

  As the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention, for example, a multi-function printer (multi-function printer) having a copying function, a facsimile function, a printing function, a scanner function, a file transmission function, a filing function, and the like corresponds to that. It is not necessary to provide all of these functions, and at least one function related to image formation (printing function), one function related to data input, and one function related to data storage (filing function) may be provided. That's fine. With this printing function, it is possible to print image data managed by the image data management apparatus. In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 is not connectable to an information processing apparatus such as a PC via a network, and can be applied to a stand-alone installation form. The reading means 11b corresponds only to a recording medium reading device provided in the own device 1 or the like.

  The information processing apparatus can be applied as long as it can be connected to the image forming apparatus 1 via a network and has at least one function related to data reception. For example, means for receiving data from an external FAX 6 via the telephone line network 4, means for receiving data from the Internet FAX 7, external PC 8, external server 9, etc. via the Internet 5 (such as e-mail receiving means or FTP) Based file transfer means) corresponds to this data receiving function. Of course, the image data stored by the filing function according to the present invention may be provided with means (e-mail transmission means or FTP-based file transfer means) for sending these data to these external devices via the network, and external output is also possible. preferable.

  The data input means 11 preferably has a movement instruction means 11c. The movement instructing unit 11c is a unit that receives an instruction from the user to move the image data already stored in a certain storage destination by the data storage unit 13 to another storage destination. In this form, if the image data to be moved instructed by the movement instructing unit 11c is image data that does not conform to the storage conditions of the storage destination that is the movement destination, the data storage unit 13 stores the image data of the image data. Means for prohibiting (restricting) movement to the storage destination is provided. That is, the data storage unit 13 can prohibit the movement or storage of data that does not conform to the storage conditions (storage conditions) specified as the storage destination by the movement instruction unit 11c.

  The image data management apparatus according to the present invention preferably includes condition setting means 14. The condition setting unit 14 is a unit that allows a user to input a storage condition corresponding to a storage destination, and stores the input storage condition and the storage destination in association with each other. Then, the data storage unit 13 stores the image data based on the correspondence between the storage destination set by the condition setting unit 14 and the storage condition. If the condition setting unit 14 is not provided, the data storage unit 13 stores image data based on the relationship between a preset storage destination and a storage condition.

  Further, if the image data input by the data input unit 11 is image data that does not conform to the storage conditions of the storage destination specified by the storage destination specifying unit 12, the data storage unit 13 stores the storage destination of the image data. It is preferable to have a means for prohibiting (restricting) storage in the storage. That is, storage of data that does not conform to the storage condition (storage condition) specified as the storage destination can be prohibited by the data storage unit 13.

  The image data management apparatus according to the present invention preferably further includes user authentication means 15 for authenticating a user. And in this form, it is preferable that the data storage means 13 has a means to restrict the storage destinations that can be stored by the user authenticated by the user authentication means 15. In other words, by configuring so that storage and storage in the storage destination are permitted by the authentication of the operator, it is possible to prevent image data from being stored in another user's folder without permission.

  In the form provided with the user authentication unit 15 and the condition setting unit 14, the condition setting unit 14 sets the storage condition corresponding to the storage destination in the condition setting unit 14 based on the authentication in the user authentication unit 15. Only the set user or only the user and the administrator may permit the change of the storage condition corresponding to the storage destination. That is, the storage condition set as the storage destination can be changed only by the user or administrator who sets (registers) the storage destination, thereby preventing any other user from changing the storage condition without permission.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the data storage unit 13 includes a unit that stores the image data separately from the image data stored under the original storage condition when the storage condition corresponding to the storage destination is changed due to the change. That is, when the storage condition of the storage destination is changed, it is configured to be stored separately from the data stored in the original storage condition (subfolder), so that the storage condition that changes with the change of the storage condition The image data converted / saved in (1) can be discriminated by visual recognition by the user.

  2 is a diagram showing an example of a table showing correspondences between storage destinations, storage conditions, and users set by the condition setting unit or set as defaults in the image data management apparatus of FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of image data management processing (filing processing) in the image data management apparatus of FIG. 1;

  As the storage condition, any one of monochrome / color, paper size, paper orientation, file format, resolution, data capacity, single page / multi-page, data compression, enlargement / reduction, division / aggregation (n in 1) or It is preferable that the conditions are related to a plurality. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the storage condition designation and user-designated folder such as black and white, reduction to A4, JPEG format, resolution 300, data capacity of 1 MB or less are allocated and used by user A. It is only necessary to provide aaa. Actually, when reading a document that meets such a storage condition, or when reading a file that meets such a storage condition, the user A may designate the folder aaa. Note that the designation of a user for one folder may be performed for a plurality of users, or may not be performed. In addition to the JPEG format, various file formats such as BMP format, TIFF format, PDF format, etc. can be applied as file formats, especially for folders in which the original input data is assumed to contain document files. Data conversion is facilitated by specifying the PDF format.

  By setting such storage conditions (reading and data conversion conditions), the image recording format can be set simply by specifying the storage destination when reading an image. Improve. Also, since images of the same system are stored in the storage destination (save destination), the data stored without worrying about the paper size or image format when browsing the stored image or utilizing the image Therefore, it is possible to improve user operability and reduce the burden on the user such as file management. For example, it is possible to easily store a photo of one theme in one folder, and when using the stored data, it can be used without being converted into another format.

  Next, an example of processing (filing processing) for storing and managing image data in a storage device will be described with reference to FIG. First, user authentication is performed (step S1). Then, the user specifies a document or file to be saved. The image data management apparatus inputs image data to be stored based on the designation (step S2).

  Then, it is determined whether or not a folder for which conditions have been set is designated (step S3). If NO in step S3, the user is allowed to specify a storage destination, and based on the specification, the storage destination is specified and storage conditions are set (step S4). Subsequent to step S4, data is stored (converted and stored in the image data) in the storage destination under the corresponding storage conditions (step S5). On the other hand, in the case of YES in step S3, the user is allowed to specify the storage destination, the storage destination is specified based on the specification (step S6), and it is determined whether the authenticated user can be stored in the storage destination. Perform (step S7). If NO in step S7, the process ends. If YES, the data is stored (converted and stored in the image data) in the storage destination under the corresponding storage conditions (step S5).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the system shown in FIG. 1. 1 is a digital multi-function peripheral as an example of an image forming apparatus, 3 is a network (such as a LAN), 4 is a telephone network, 5 is an Internet network, 6 Is an external FAX, 7 is an Internet FAX, 8 is an external PC, 9 is an external server, 2a and 2b are terminal PCs as an example of an information processing apparatus, 31 is an image reading unit, 32 is an operation unit, 33 is an image forming unit, Reference numeral 34 denotes a device control unit, 35 denotes a FAX modem, 36 denotes a communication unit, 37 denotes a hard disk (HD) as an example of a storage device, 38 denotes an erasing processing unit, 39 denotes a management unit, and 40 denotes a timer.

  For example, an external FAX 6 is connected to the digital multifunction peripheral 1 illustrated in FIG. 4 via a telephone line network 4, and a plurality of terminals PCs 2 a, 2 b, and 2 are connected via a network 3 such as a LAN or a WAN (Wide Area Network). . . . Further, it is connected to the Internet FAX 7, external PC 8, external server 9, etc. outside the network 3 via the Internet network 5. With these network configurations, various data can be transmitted and received.

  The digital multifunction device 1 includes an image reading unit 31, an operation unit 32, an image forming unit 33, a device control unit 34, a FAX modem 35, a communication unit 36, an HD 37, an erasing processing unit 38, a management unit 39, a timer 40, and the like. The The configuration of the digital multifunction peripheral 1 according to the present invention and the connection form with external devices are not limited to this example. It is not necessary for all the units to be configured by hardware, and a program for causing the digital multi-function peripheral 1 to function as those units is incorporated in a control unit such as the device control unit 34 (or all or one of the image data management programs). Can also be easily implemented by causing the arithmetic unit to execute it. In addition, the above-described program is often implemented as firmware in the device control unit 34, the management unit 39, or the like of the digital multi-function peripheral 1, for example.

  This program is incorporated in the digital multifunction peripheral 1 having a storage device such as the HD 37 for storing image data and an arithmetic processing device, and is executed by the arithmetic processing device (mainly the central processing unit) in the digital multifunction peripheral 1. It is. This program is a program for storing and managing image data in a storage device. The data input step for inputting image data to be stored, and the storage destination of the image data input in the data input step are HD37. In the data input step, the storage destination is designated by the user as the storage area of the storage device, such as the storage destination, and the storage destination specified in the storage destination specification step in the storage device, such as the HD 37, under the storage conditions corresponding to the storage destination. And a data storage step for storing the input image data. In addition, this program preferably includes a step for executing processing of the image data management apparatus according to each of the above-described embodiments.

  The operation unit 32 is a touch panel or the like including a display unit 32 (output unit) b that displays an operation screen and an input unit 32a that allows a user to input various settings and operation contents based on the display. The operation unit 32 allows the user to specify input data, specify a storage destination, input authentication data (such as an authentication code), and set storage conditions related to the filing process of the present invention. Based on the operation of the operation unit 32, the image reading unit 31 detects the presence or absence of a document by a document detection sensor 31b, reads the document by a CCD (charge coupled device) 31a, and outputs it as image data. The output destination is HD 37 via the image forming unit 33 or directly HD 37 when executing the filing process of the present invention, the image forming unit 33 when printing, and the communication unit 36 when transmitting data. It becomes. The FAX modem 35 is a modem for performing facsimile communication with the external FAX 6. The communication unit 36 controls communication with an external device of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 connected via the network 3.

  The image forming unit 33 temporarily stores the image data read by the image reading unit 31 and the received data (received file) received by the FAX modem 35 or the communication unit 36 in the memory 33b, and is equipped with a laser scanner unit (LSU). An image is formed on the medium such as paper from the printing unit 33a. In the image forming unit 33, it is possible to encrypt the data such as the image data stored in the memory 33b in the encryption processing unit 33c and store it in the HD 37, and conversely, the encrypted data stored in the HD 37. Can be decoded and output to an external device via the memory 33b via the network 3 or the like, or can be printed out as a medium by the printing unit 33a. The erasure processing unit 38 performs a process of erasing the data stored in the HD 37 in order to maintain security or secure storage capacity.

  The device control unit 34 is a main control unit connected to each of the above-described units. The device control unit 34 refers to the management data of the management unit 39 and the timer time from the timer 40, and starts exchanging data between the units of the digital multifunction peripheral 1. The overall operation of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 is controlled as follows. The management unit 39 manages, for example, folder information stored in the HD 37, storage condition information (for example, the correspondence table in FIG. 2), the IP address of the own device 1, and the like. The timer 40 measures the time of the digital multifunction device 1 in the standby state and notifies the device control unit 34 of this time. An example of the control in the device control unit 34 is as follows. The operation unit 32 notifies the device control unit 34 of a copy request or various recording conditions instructed by a user's operation input. The operating state of the multifunction device 1 is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 32b of the operation unit 32, and the image forming unit 33 is instructed to perform printing processing. Further, when executing the filing, the device control unit 34 uses the management unit 39 to store the folder information in the HD 37 and save the external transmission data transmitted from the PC 2a or the like or the data read by the image reading unit 31. Data conversion is performed by referring to the condition information, and the converted image data is stored in the designated folder of the HD 37.

  As described above, the digital multifunction device 1 is provided with the key input unit 32 a and the display unit 32 b in the operation unit 32, and can perform ID input in addition to the function instruction operation of the digital multifunction device 1. In addition to the ID input, the digital multifunction peripheral 1 may include an ID card reader that inputs an ID card and reads the information. As described above, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 is preferably provided with some user identification means, for example, such authentication means. Any authentication means may be used as long as it authenticates the user based on the user information and enables the user's own machine 1 to be used. The digital multifunction peripheral 1 first limits the user by this authentication means. Further, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 can perform bidirectional data communication with connected devices (terminal PCs 2a, 2b, etc.) by the communication unit 36.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the PC in FIG. 4. In the figure, 2 is a PC, 51 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), 52 is a display unit, 53 is a memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), 54 Is a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing an operation system and other control programs, 55 is a print management unit, 56 is a mail management unit, 57 is an operation unit, 58 is a modem unit, 59 is a communication unit, 60 is a management unit, Reference numeral 61 denotes a storage unit.

  The PC 2 illustrated in FIG. 5 includes an operation unit 57 such as a keyboard and a mouse for inputting various types of information, a storage unit 61 such as a hard disk and an external recording medium reader, and a network device for input from other devices. A communication unit 59, a modem unit 58 including a modem for performing facsimile communication via a telephone line, a display unit 52 such as a CRT or LCD for displaying notification information and other information, and printing connected to the PC 2 A print management unit 55 including a printer driver and a connector for controlling printing in the apparatus, a mail management unit 56 including a mailer for sending and receiving mail via the communication unit 59 and the modem unit 58, log management and transfer processing, etc. A management unit 60 composed of programs to be executed, a hard disk or ROM (a rewritable R 54), the CPU 51 for executing the control program stored therein and the program of each part, and the memory 53 as the execution area thereof as its main components, and these are connected by a bus Illustrated.

  These programs installed in the PC 2 are programs that are executed by the CPU 51, accepting an operation for transmitting data to the outside of the network 3 from the user, and converting the external transmission data to be transmitted into a digital composite. The CPU 51 is caused to execute a step of transferring to the machine 1 via the network 3. In the case where the filing function according to the present invention is incorporated in the PC 2 and filing processing is performed only on the PC 2, an image data management program similar to that incorporated in the digital multi-function peripheral 1 may be incorporated in this program. Further, these programs may be provided with a graphical user interface (GUI) for the display unit 52 so as to be easy for the device user to use. Information handled by these devices is temporarily accumulated in the memory 53 at the time of processing, and thereafter stored in various ROMs 54 and hard disks, and is read out, corrected, and written by the CPU 51 as necessary.

  As described above, the embodiments have been described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 focusing on the image data management apparatus, the image forming apparatus, and the program according to the present invention. As described above, a form as an image data management method can be adopted, and a form as a program or a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded as described above can also be adopted.

  An embodiment of a recording medium storing a program and data for realizing the image data management function according to the present invention will be described. Specifically, a CD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, a DVD-ROM, an FD, a flash memory, and various other ROMs and RAMs can be assumed as the recording medium, and the above-described program is recorded on these recording media. This function makes it easy to realize this function. Then, the program is stored in an image forming apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 4 or a recording medium provided in an information processing apparatus such as a computer as illustrated in FIG. 5 and is read out as necessary. Thus, the image data management function according to the present invention can be executed.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a system including an image forming apparatus including an image data management apparatus and an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table showing correspondences between storage destinations, storage conditions, and users set by a condition setting unit or set as defaults in the image data management apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an example of image data management processing (filing processing) in the image data management apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the example of 1 structure of the system of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of PC in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus (digital multifunction device) provided with image data management apparatus, 2, 2a, 2b ... Information processing apparatus (PC), 3 ... Network (LAN), 4 ... Telephone line network, 5 ... Internet network, 6 ... external FAX, 7 ... Internet FAX, 8 ... external PC, 9 ... external server, 11 ... data input means, 11a ... original reading means, 11b ... file reading means, 11c ... movement instruction means, 12 ... save destination designation means, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 ... Data storage means, 14 ... Condition setting means, 15 ... User authentication means, 31 ... Image reading part, 32 ... Operation part, 33 ... Image formation part, 34 ... Equipment control part, 35 ... FAX modem, 36 ... Communication part 37 ... Hard disk (HD), 38 ... Erase processing unit, 39 ... Management unit, 40 ... Timer, 51 ... CPU, 52 ... Display unit, 53 ... Memory, 54 ... ROM, 55 ... Printing tube Part, 56 ... mail management unit, 57 ... operation unit, 58 ... modem unit, 59 ... communication unit, 60 ... management unit, 61 ... storage unit.

Claims (14)

  An image data management apparatus for storing and managing image data, wherein a data input unit for inputting image data to be stored, and a storage destination specification for allowing a user to specify a storage destination of image data input by the data input unit And a data storage means for storing the image data input by the data input means under a storage condition corresponding to the storage destination at a storage destination specified by the storage destination specifying means. Image data management device.   The apparatus further includes a condition setting unit that allows a user to input a storage condition corresponding to the storage destination, and stores the input storage condition in association with the storage destination, and the data storage unit is set by the condition setting unit The image data management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data is stored based on a correspondence between a storage destination and a storage condition.   The image data management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data input unit includes a document reading unit that optically reads a document, and stores image data read by the document reading unit as a storage target. .   4. The data input unit according to claim 1, further comprising a file reading unit that reads a document file as image data, and the image data read by the file reading unit is a storage target. The image data management apparatus described.   The storage condition is a condition relating to any of black and white / color, paper size, paper orientation, file format, resolution, data capacity, single page / multi-page, data compression, enlargement / reduction, and division / aggregation. The image data management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   The data storage means, when the image data input by the data input means is image data that does not meet the storage conditions of the storage destination specified by the storage destination specification means, the image data to the storage destination 6. The image data management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for prohibiting storage.   The data input means further includes a movement instruction means for accepting an instruction to move image data already stored in a certain storage destination by the data storage means to another storage destination, and the data storage means includes the movement When the image data to be moved instructed by the instruction means is image data that does not conform to the storage conditions of the storage destination that is the movement destination, the image data includes means for prohibiting movement of the image data to the storage destination. The image data management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising user authentication means for authenticating a user, wherein the data storage means includes means for limiting storage destinations that can be stored by the user authenticated by the user authentication means. The image data management apparatus according to claim 1.   Further comprising user authentication means for authenticating a user, wherein the condition setting means is based on the authentication by the user authentication means, only the user who has set the storage conditions corresponding to the storage destination, or only the user and the administrator, The image data management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a change of a storage condition corresponding to a storage destination is permitted.   The said data storage means has a means to distinguish and preserve | save from the image data preserve | saved on the original preservation | save conditions, when the preservation | save conditions corresponding to a preservation | save destination are changed by the said change. 9. The image data management device according to 9.   11. An image forming apparatus comprising the image data management device according to claim 1, further comprising means for printing image data managed by the image data management device. Image forming apparatus.   A program for storing and managing image data in the storage device, which is incorporated in an image data management device having a storage device for storing image data and an arithmetic processing device, and for inputting image data to be saved An input step, a storage destination designating step for allowing a user to designate a storage destination of the image data input in the data input step as a storage area of the storage device, and a storage destination designated in the storage destination designation step in the storage device And a data storage step for storing the image data input in the data input step under a storage condition corresponding to the storage destination.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 12 is recorded.   An image data management method for storing and managing image data in a storage device, wherein a data input step for inputting image data to be stored and a storage destination of the image data input in the data input step to a user A data storage for storing the image data input in the data input step in a storage destination specified in the storage destination specification step in the storage device and a storage destination specified in the storage destination specification step in a storage condition corresponding to the storage destination An image data management method comprising: steps.

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