JP2006331222A - Image reader and information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader and an information processor, in which when a document is optically read by a scanner or the like, attribute information of the document, such as what is the original document, where the document is stored, or the like, can be reported to a user. <P>SOLUTION: The composite machine (MFP 20) comprises a reading part 2 reading the document and converting it to document data; an IC tag detection part 3 detecting the presence of an IC tag attached to the document and acquiring identification information of the document stored in the IC tag; a storage part 9 storing the document data in association with the identification information; and an operation part 6 accepting input of a keyword. A control part 1 retrieves document data containing the keyword, and extracts identification information associated with the document data in reference to a correspondence table 9a. Based on the extracted identification information, the attribute information of the document is acquired from a document information database 31a and displayed on a display part 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus that reads and digitizes a document attached with an IC tag in which identification information for identifying the document is stored, and an information processing apparatus connected to the image reading apparatus. Relates to an image reading apparatus and an information processing apparatus capable of notifying a user of document attribute information such as what the document is and where the document is stored.

In recent years, IC tags storing identification information for identifying the articles are attached to various articles. Goods can be managed easily and reliably by using IC tags. Even in a document such as a book, it is possible to easily manage the document by attaching an IC tag for identifying the document (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-310293 A

  By the way, when a document is optically read by a reading device such as a scanner, the content of the document (of course, it may be a part of the content) is digitized, but what is the original document and where is the document? Information such as whether it is stored is not digitized. Therefore, regardless of the person who read it, those who are interested in seeing the digitized data (fals) are what the original document is, and where the document is stored. It was difficult to know.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when a document is optically read by a reading device such as a scanner, what is the original document and where is the document stored? An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus and an information processing apparatus that can notify a user of document attribute information such as the above.

  An image reading apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is an image reading apparatus that reads and digitizes a document attached with an IC tag storing identification information for identifying the document, and reads the document into document data. Means for converting, means for detecting the presence of the IC tag, obtaining identification information stored in the IC tag, and means for storing the document data and the identification information in association with each other. Features.

  In the first invention, the document is read, digitized and converted into document data, and the presence of an IC tag attached to the document and storing identification information for identifying the document is detected. Get identification information. Then, the document data and the identification information are stored in association with each other. As a result, the document data and the identification information can be managed in association with each other, so that the document that is the source of the document data can be identified from the identification information corresponding to the document data.

  An image reading apparatus according to a second invention corresponds to the first invention, corresponding to means for receiving a keyword related to a document, means for searching for document data including the received keyword, and document data including the keyword. It is characterized by comprising means for extracting the attached identification information, acquisition means for acquiring attribute information of the document based on the extracted identification information, and means for outputting the acquired attribute information.

  In the second invention, a keyword related to a document is received, and document data including the keyword is searched. Then, identification information associated with the document data including the keyword is extracted, and attribute information of the document is acquired and output based on the extracted identification information. The document attribute information includes, for example, document name, ISBN (International Standard Book Number), storage location, administrator, and the like. The document attribute information is displayed, printed on recording paper, or from a speaker. Output as audio. This makes it possible to search the document including the keyword and notify the user of meaningful information such as what the document is and where the document is stored.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus according to the second aspect, further comprising means for connecting to a database in which the attribute information and the identification information are associated with each other. It is characterized in that information is acquired.

  In the third invention, the database is connected to the database in which the attribute information of the document and the identification information are associated, and the attribute information is acquired from the database based on the identification information. Thus, since it is sufficient to store information for identifying a document in the IC tag, the storage capacity of the IC tag can be reduced, and implementation at a low cost is possible. In addition, since the attribute information only needs to be stored on the database side, the configuration of the image reading apparatus can be simplified. Furthermore, when the attribute information of a document is changed, such as when the document storage location is changed, it is only necessary to change the database as appropriate instead of changing the information of the IC tag. It becomes.

An information processing apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the invention comprises a connection means for connecting to the image reading apparatus of any one of the first to third aspects of the invention,
Means for accepting input of a keyword relating to a document; means for accessing the image reading device to search for document data containing the accepted keyword; and identification associated with the document data containing the keyword It comprises a means for extracting information, an acquisition means for acquiring attribute information of a document based on the extracted identification information, and a means for outputting the acquired attribute information.

  In the fourth aspect of the invention, a keyword related to the document is received, and the document data including the keyword is searched by connecting to the image reading apparatus described above. Then, identification information associated with the document data including the keyword is extracted, and attribute information of the document is acquired and output based on the extracted identification information. For example, document attribute information is displayed, printed on recording paper, or output as sound from a speaker. Thus, the user can be notified of meaningful attribute information such as what the document is and where the document is stored by searching for the document including the keyword. In addition, since it can be connected to the image reading apparatus via a communication network such as a LAN, the user can grasp the attribute information of the document from a personal information processing apparatus or the like.

  In the information processing apparatus according to a fifth aspect based on the fourth aspect, the connection means is connectable to a database in which attribute information and the identification information are associated, and the acquisition means is based on the identification information. The attribute information is obtained from the database.

  In the fifth invention, the information processing apparatus connects to the database in which the attribute information of the document and the identification information are associated, and acquires the attribute information from the database based on the identification information. Thus, since it is sufficient to store information for identifying a document in the IC tag, the storage capacity of the IC tag can be reduced, and implementation at a low cost is possible. In addition, since the attribute information only needs to be stored on the database side, the configuration of the image reading apparatus can be simplified. Furthermore, when the attribute information of a document is changed, such as when the document storage location is changed, it is only necessary to change the database as appropriate instead of changing the information of the IC tag. It becomes.

  According to the present invention, a document is read, digitized and converted into document data, and the presence of an IC tag attached to the document and storing identification information for identifying the document is detected. Since the identification information is acquired and the document data and the identification information are stored in association with each other, it is possible to identify the document that is the source of the document data from the identification information corresponding to the document data.

  According to the present invention, a keyword related to a document is received, and document data including the keyword is searched. Since the identification information associated with the document data including the keyword is extracted, and attribute information of the document is acquired and output based on the extracted identification information, for example, the document name, ISBN ( If information such as international standard book number), storage location, administrator, etc. is used as attribute information of a document, the document containing the keyword is searched to find out what the document is and where the document is stored. The user can be notified of meaningful information such as whether or not.

  According to the present invention, the document is connected to the database in which the attribute information of the document and the identification information are associated, and the attribute information of the document is acquired from the database based on the identification information. Therefore, it is sufficient to store the information for this purpose, so that the storage capacity of the IC tag can be reduced, and implementation at a low cost is possible. In addition, since the attribute information only needs to be stored on the database side, the configuration of the image reading apparatus can be simplified. Further, when the document attribute information is changed, such as when the document storage location is changed, the information can be easily changed because the database may be changed as appropriate instead of changing the IC tag information. is there.

  According to the present invention, a keyword related to a document is received, connected to the image reading apparatus described above, searched for document data including the keyword, and identification information associated with the document data including the keyword is obtained. Since it is configured to extract and output the attribute information of the document based on the extracted identification information, search for the document containing the keyword, what the document is, and where the document is stored It is possible to notify the user of meaningful attribute information such as whether or not In addition, since it can be connected to the image reading device via a communication network such as a LAN, the user can obtain excellent effects such as being able to grasp document attribute information from a personal information processing device or the like. Play.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a communication network configuration in which a multi-function device (hereinafter, MFP: Multi Functional Processor) functioning as an image reading apparatus according to the present invention is connected. Connected to a LAN (local area network) 50 are an MFP 20 according to the present invention, a database server 30, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) 40 that functions as an information processing apparatus according to the present invention, and the like. Needless to say, the MFP 20 can also be used as a conventional facsimile function using a public switched telephone network (PSTN), so that it can be connected to other facsimile apparatuses via the PSTN in the figure. The aspect of is omitted. Hereinafter, a case where the image reading apparatus is applied to an MFP will be described. However, a scanner to which a printing function is not added may be used.

  The MFP 20 includes a control unit 1, a reading unit 2, an IC tag detection unit 3, a recording unit 4, a display unit 5, an operation unit 6, a ROM 7, a RAM 8, a storage unit 9, a codec unit 10, a modem 11, and an NCU (Network Control Unit). 12, a LAN interface unit (hereinafter referred to as LANIF) 13 and the like. Specifically, the control unit 1 is constituted by a CPU, and is connected to the above-described hardware units of the MFP 20 to control them, and in accordance with various control programs stored in the ROM 7. Perform the function.

  The reading unit 2 functions as means for optically reading a document using, for example, a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor and converting the document into electronic data (document data). More specifically, the optical unit irradiates and scans the document placed on the platen glass, and the reflected light from the document is taken into the CCD image sensor via a mirror, a lens, etc., and shading processing is performed. Do.

  The IC tag detection unit 3 detects the presence of an IC tag within a predetermined detection range. In this example, when a document is scanned, the IC tag detection unit 3 detects the presence of an IC tag attached to the document. When a tag is detected, it functions as a means for acquiring document identification information stored in the IC tag.

  Then, the control unit 1 stores the document data and the identification information in the storage unit 9 in association with each other. In this example, as shown in FIG. 2, a correspondence table 9 a for document data and identification information is stored in the storage unit 9. The document data and the identification information may be stored in the storage unit 9 as one electronic file.

  The recording unit 4 is an electrophotographic printer, and prints an image corresponding to image data for printing converted (rasterized) by the control unit 1 on a recording sheet. The print target includes not only the above-described document data but also image data received by facsimile communication, image data received and acquired from the PC 40, and the corresponding image is printed on a recording sheet.

  The display unit 5 is a display device such as an LCD display or a CRT display. The display unit 5 displays the operation state of the MFP 20, displays a screen that prompts the user to input an operation, reads image data of a document read for transmission, and the like. The image data acquired from the facsimile machine or the image data received and acquired from the PC 40 is displayed. Although details will be described later, it is configured to display information about the document.

  The operation unit 6 includes character keys, numeric keys, speed dial keys, one-touch dial keys, various function keys, and the like necessary for operating the MFP 20. In addition, it is also possible to substitute a part or all of the various keys of the operation unit 6 by using the display unit 5 as a touch panel system. In the present invention, it functions as a means for receiving a keyword input related to a document by a user, and the control unit 1 searches for document data including the keyword received by the operation unit 6. Specifically, the character data (text data) constituting the document data is extracted that includes the keyword. If the document data is image data, an OCR (Optical character recognition) function is used. The image data is converted into text data, and the converted text data is searched. In addition, when the document data including the keyword is found, the control unit 1 refers to the correspondence table 9a and extracts identification information associated with the document data.

  The ROM 7 stores in advance various software programs necessary for the operation of the MFP 20. The RAM 8 is configured by SRAM, flash memory, or the like, and stores temporary data generated when software is executed. The storage unit 9 stores document data of a document read by the reading unit 2, image data acquired from another facsimile apparatus, image data received and acquired from the PC 40, and the like. The codec unit 10 accesses various types of data such as document data stored in the storage unit 9, and when the data is encoded, the codec unit 10 decodes the encoded data and prints the data. The image data is converted (rasterized) and output to the recording unit 4.

  The modem 11 is composed of a facsimile modem capable of facsimile communication, and is directly connected to the NCU 12. The NCU 12 is hardware that performs operations of closing and releasing a line with the PSTN, and connects the modem 11 to the PSTN as necessary. The MFP 20 is connected to another facsimile apparatus by the PSTN so that normal facsimile communication can be performed.

  The LANIF 13 is connected to the external database server 30 and the PC 40 via the LAN 50, and exchanges data with the database server 30 and the PC 40.

  The database server 30 includes a storage unit 31 and a LANIF 32. The storage unit 31 stores a document information database 31a in which identification information and document attribute information are associated with each other. The document attribute information is information such as a document name, ISBN (International Standard Book Number), storage location, administrator, etc., as shown in FIG. 3, for example. The document information database 31a is appropriately updated by the user when the document storage location is changed. Of course, the attribute information is not limited to these, and information such as a document table of contents, summary, and imprint may be added to the document information database 31a as appropriate.

  Therefore, the control unit 1 cooperates with the LANIF 13 and acquires document attribute information from the document information database 31a based on the identification information associated with the document data including the keyword. Then, the acquired attribute information is displayed on the display unit 5 to notify the user of what the document is based on the document data hit with the keyword and where the document is stored.

  The PC 40 includes a control unit 41, a display unit 42, an operation unit 43, a ROM 44, a RAM 45, a LANIF 46, and the like. Specifically, the control unit 41 is configured by a CPU, and is connected to the hardware units as described above of the PC 40. The control unit 41 controls them, and in accordance with various control programs stored in the ROM 44. Perform the function.

  The operation unit 43 is an input device such as a keyboard and a pointing device. In the present invention, the operation unit 43 functions as a means for receiving an input of a keyword related to a document by a user. The LANIF 46 is connected to the external MFP 20 and the database server 30 via the LAN 50, and exchanges data between the MFP 20 and the database server 30. The control unit 41 accesses the MFP 20 and searches for document data that includes the keyword received by the operation unit 43. When document data including a keyword is found, the control unit 41 refers to the correspondence table 9a and extracts identification information associated with the document data.

  The display unit 42 is a display device such as an LCD display or a CRT display, and displays the operating state of the PC 40 or displays a screen that prompts the user to input an operation. In the present invention, when document data including a keyword is found as described above, the fact is displayed or identification information corresponding to the document data is displayed to notify the user.

  Further, the control unit 41 cooperates with the LANIF 46, accesses the database server 30, and acquires document attribute information from the document information database 31a based on the extracted identification information. Then, the acquired attribute information is displayed on the display unit 42 to notify the user of what the original document is and where the document is stored.

  Next, operations performed by the MFP 20 according to the present invention will be described with reference to flowcharts. In the MFP 20 according to the present invention, when scanning and copying a document, the presence of an IC tag attached to the document is detected, the document data obtained by scanning the content of the document, and the document stored in the IC tag A first process for associating and storing identification information for identifying the document, and a second process for receiving a keyword input by the user and outputting attribute information of the document that is the source of the document data hit by the keyword Can be processed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a first processing procedure performed by the MFP according to the present invention.
First, the user sets a document to be copied on the document table, and receives an instruction for scanning processing at the operation unit 6 (step S1).

  The control unit 1 instructs the reading unit 2 to read the document by a signal from the operation unit 6 that has received the scan processing instruction, and the reading unit 2 reads the document, that is, performs document reading processing (step S2). Electronic data (hereinafter, document data) is created by the document reading process, and the document data is stored in the storage unit 9.

  In addition, the control unit 1 instructs the IC tag detection unit 3 to detect the IC tag, and the IC tag detection unit 3 detects whether or not the IC tag is attached to the document, that is, performs an IC tag detection process (step S1). S3). If the IC tag is not detected (S3: NO), the process is terminated. If the IC tag is detected (S3: YES), the control unit 1 identifies the document stored in the IC tag. Identification information is acquired (step S4).

  Then, the document data and the identification information are stored in the storage unit 9 (step S5), and the correspondence table 9a between the document data and the identification information is updated (step S6). In the case of printing processing, the document data is converted (rasterized) into image data for printing, and the rasterized image data is output to the recording unit 4 to be printed on the recording paper by the recording unit 4. Of course, the print processing may be performed after the document data and the identification information are combined and the combined data is converted into image data for printing.

  As described above, in the MFP 20 of the present invention, the document data obtained by scanning the content of the document is associated with the identification information for identifying the document stored in the IC tag, and then the storage unit 9. To remember.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a second processing procedure performed by the MFP according to the present invention.
First, the operation unit 6 accepts an instruction as to whether or not to perform a document search process by the user (step S11). When an instruction is accepted when the document search process is performed, the operation unit 6 accepts an input of a keyword related to the document by the user (step S12).

  The control unit 1 searches the document data stored in the storage unit 9 (step S13), and determines whether there is document data including the accepted keyword (step S14).

  When it is determined that there is no document data including the keyword (S14: NO), that effect is displayed on the display unit 5 and the process is terminated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the document data including the keyword exists (S14: YES), the control unit 1 refers to the correspondence table 9a and identifies corresponding to the document data, that is, the keyword. Information is extracted (step S15).

  Then, the control unit 1 cooperates with the LANIF 13 and accesses the database server 30 based on the identification information, and acquires document attribute information from the document information database 31a based on the identification information (step S16). Then, the acquired attribute information is displayed on the display unit 5 (step S17).

  As described above, in the MFP 20 of the present invention, an input of a keyword is accepted by the user, and the attribute information of the document that is the source of the document data that hits the keyword is output to the display unit 5 to obtain the original. The user can be notified of what the document is, and where the document is stored.

  Therefore, not only the person who instructed the document scanning process, but also those who are interested in seeing the digitized data (fals) and those who do not know the existence of the data at all are referred to as keyword input. By the operation, it is possible to know the document data search and the attribute information of the document that is the basis of the hit document data. In this way, the document data can be provided to a larger number of users, and the utilization of the document data can be promoted.

  Next, operations performed by the PC 40 according to the present invention will be described with reference to flowcharts. In the present invention, not only the MFP 20 but also the PC 40 connected to the LAN 50 can accept the input of a keyword and output the attribute information of the document that is the basis of the document data hit with the keyword.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure performed by the PC according to the present invention.
First, the operation unit 43 accepts an instruction as to whether or not to perform a document search process by the user (step S21). Then, when an instruction is accepted when the document search process is performed, an input of a keyword related to the document by the user is accepted at the operation unit 43 (step S22).

  The control unit 41 collaborates with the LANIF 46, accesses the MFP 20, searches the document data stored in the storage unit 9 (step S23), and determines whether there is document data including the accepted keyword. (Step S24).

  If it is determined that there is no document data including the keyword (S24: NO), that effect is displayed on the display unit 42 and the process is terminated. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is document data including the keyword (S24: YES), the control unit 41 accesses the MFP 20 and refers to the correspondence table 9a to correspond to the document data. Identification information corresponding to the keyword is extracted (step S25).

  Then, the control unit 41 cooperates with the LANIF 46, accesses the database server 30 based on the identification information, and acquires document attribute information from the document information database 31a based on the identification information (step S26). Then, the acquired attribute information is displayed on the display unit 42 (step S27).

  As described above, in the PC 40 of the present invention, an input of a keyword is accepted by the user, and the attribute information of the document that is the source of the document data that hits the keyword is output to the display unit 42, thereby becoming the original. The user can be notified of what the document is, and where the document is stored. Further, since the MFP 20 and the database server 30 can be connected via the LAN 50, the user can grasp the document attribute information from the personal PC.

  In the present embodiment, the IC tag describes only the identification information for identifying the document (in this example, “0001”, “0002”,...), But the identification information and the document The attribute information may be stored in the IC tag. In other words, the document attribute information can be said to be document identification information. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 7, the identification information includes document attribute information (document name, ISBN (International Standard Book Number), storage location, 5), the database server 30 becomes unnecessary, and the processing of S16 in FIG. 5 and S26 in FIG. 6 need not be performed.

  Further, as in the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, in the first process, identification information for identifying the document stored in the IC tag is acquired (step S <b> 4), and the control unit 1 accesses the database server 30. Then, document attribute information is acquired from the document information database 31a based on the identification information (step S31), and the acquired document attribute information (which may include identification information) and the document data are stored in association with each other. (Step S32). In this way, as described above, the identification information extracted in S15 of FIG. 5 and S25 of FIG. 6 includes the attribute information of the document, so the processing of S16 of FIG. 5 and S26 of FIG. The database server 30 is not necessary. In FIG. 8, the same steps as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same step numbers and the description thereof is omitted.

  Further, the attribute information of the document is displayed on the display unit 5 (42). However, the document attribute information may be printed on a recording sheet by the recording unit or output as a sound from a speaker (not shown). The means for notifying is not limited as long as the attribute information of the document can be notified.

1 is a block diagram showing a communication network configuration of a mode in which a multifunction device functioning as an image reading apparatus according to the present invention is connected. FIG. It is a table figure which shows an example of the correspondence table of document data and identification information. It is a table figure which shows an example of the database with which the attribute information and identification information of the document were linked | related. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first processing procedure performed by the MFP according to the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second processing procedure performed by the MFP according to the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence which PC which concerns on this invention performs. It is a table figure which shows another example of the correspondence table of document data and identification information. 6 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the first processing procedure performed by the MFP according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control part 2 Reading part 3 IC tag detection part 4 Recording part 5 Display part 6 Operation part 9 Memory | storage part 10 Codec part 13 LAN interface part (LANIF)
20 MFP (MFP)
30 Database Server 31 Storage Unit 31a Document Information Database 32 LAN Interface Unit (LANIF)
40 PC
41 Control Unit 42 Display Unit 43 Operation Unit 46 LAN Interface Unit (LANIF)
50 LAN

Claims (5)

An image reading apparatus that reads and digitizes a document attached with an IC tag storing identification information for identifying the document,
Means for reading a document and converting it into document data;
Means for detecting the presence of the IC tag and obtaining identification information stored in the IC tag;
An image reading apparatus comprising: means for storing the document data and the identification information in association with each other. Means for accepting keywords related to the document;
Means for searching for document data containing the accepted keyword;
Means for extracting identification information associated with document data including a keyword;
Obtaining means for obtaining attribute information of the document based on the extracted identification information;
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for outputting the acquired attribute information. Means for connecting to a database in which the attribute information and the identification information are associated;
The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the acquisition unit acquires attribute information from the database based on the identification information. Connection means for connecting to the image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Means for accepting input of keywords related to the document;
Means for accessing the image reading device and searching for document data including the accepted keyword;
Means for extracting identification information associated with document data including a keyword;
Obtaining means for obtaining attribute information of the document based on the extracted identification information;
An information processing apparatus comprising: means for outputting the acquired attribute information. The connection means is connectable to a database in which attribute information and the identification information are associated,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the acquisition unit acquires attribute information from the database based on the identification information.

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