JP2007025973A - Image forming apparatus, information processing method and program for executing information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the convenience for a user in image data transfer in a direct connection environment with a digital camera. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming apparatus is composed of a data management means for managing image data or relevant data with user identification information by preparing user-categorized folders, an access limiting means for performing access limitation by a predetermined authentication means by using the user identification information to the user-categorized folders to be managed by the data managing means, a communication means for communicating with an image pickup device, a data receiving means for receiving the image data and the accessory data stored in the image pickup device, a user identification information generation means for generating information which is available for the identification of the user from a portion of the received accessory data, a retrieval means for retrieving the folder having matched user identification information by using the user identification information for the authentication means and a data storage means for storing the image data and the accessory data received by the image pickup means in the retrieved folder. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention executes an image forming apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing method for executing image data storage processing in an internal storage device using voice memo data associated with image data captured by a digital camera. It is about the program.

  Conventionally, there has been a direct printing technique as a technique for printing an image taken with a digital camera without using a PC. In the direct print technology, a digital camera is connected to an image forming apparatus by a communication means such as a USB cable, and the digital camera transmits image data to the image forming apparatus and receives it from the digital camera in accordance with an instruction from the user of the digital camera. The image forming apparatus prints out according to the image data (see, for example, Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2).

  Further, there has been an image storage technique as a technique for improving the printing efficiency by repeatedly using image data as a printing document. In the image storage technique, image data to be a document is stored in a storage device in the image forming apparatus and can be used many times during subsequent printing (see, for example, Patent Document 3 or Patent Document 4).

  The technology that uses image storage is to store and manage received image data together with password information specified by the user, and when the image is output, it is the user who stored the image data by requesting the user to enter the password. The output is permitted only when is specified (see, for example, Patent Document 5).

  On the other hand, there is a voiceprint authentication technique as one of personal authentication methods. Voiceprint authentication technology uses a voiceprint as a physical feature for identifying a person, and identifies the person by analyzing voice data obtained by converting a human voice into a digital signal (for example, a patent) Reference 6).

An example of technology using voiceprint authentication is a nuisance call prevention system. In this system, voice print authentication is performed from the voice information of the caller of the telephone, the transfer destination converted into text is searched by voice recognition of the content of the call, and whether or not to transfer to the call partner of the transfer destination based on the voice print authentication result is determined. It had the characteristic to judge. (For example, see Patent Document 7)
JP 2004-120416 A JP 2004-129218 A JP 2001-169062 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-83263 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-54656 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-22385 JP 2003-264857 A

  However, for example, in an environment in which a digital camera and an image forming apparatus are directly connected, an image captured by the digital camera is transferred to the image forming apparatus, and the image data transferred by the image forming apparatus is stored and then output any number of times thereafter. For this purpose, for example, image data is received by a communication method using direct print technology, and a transfer image is stored in a storage device in the image forming apparatus by image storage technology. There is no specific report on the processing method.

  When image data from a digital camera is transferred to a PC, the logical storage destination of the image data is a folder prepared for transfer in advance or a folder designated by the user, and a folder with a user-specified name, In general, a new folder is created according to the date of the image data and stored in that folder.

  When transferring from a digital camera to a storage device in the image forming device, it is possible to transfer image data to a folder prepared for transfer or a folder specified by the user in the same way. When the image is transferred according to the above, setting is required for each of the UI on the camera side and the UI on the image forming apparatus side, which causes confusion for the user.

  In addition, when it is desired to transfer the image data to an existing folder, it is necessary to search for a desired folder in the UI on the image forming apparatus side. In an environment where there are many folders, it takes time and effort to find the folder. End up.

  Furthermore, access to existing folders is often restricted by a password or the like so that only specific users can access them. When image data is transferred to such a folder, it is naturally necessary to input identification information for authentication, which is the same as when transferring from a digital camera, which is troublesome.

  On the other hand, there is a nuisance call prevention system as a technology using voiceprint authentication in the prior art, but when considering applying this technology to image data transfer from a digital camera to an image forming device, a transfer destination folder at the time of transfer Speaking the name may be inconvenient for the user depending on the installation location of the image forming apparatus. Also, even if it is possible to specify an individual by voiceprint authentication, recognizing the folder name by converting the voice information uttered to specify the transfer destination folder name from the viewpoint of text conversion accuracy. very difficult.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus to which an imaging apparatus can be connected, and includes data holding means for holding image data and related data, and data held by the data holding means for a user. Data management means for creating another folder and managing it together with user identification information, and restricting access to a folder for each user managed by the data management means by a predetermined authentication means using the user identification information Access restriction means, communication means for communicating with the imaging device, data receiving means for receiving image data and attached data stored in the imaging device by the communication means, and for the attached data received by the receiving means User identification information generating means for generating information that can be used for user identification from a part and received by the receiving means. If the attached data includes data capable of generating user identification information by the user identification information generation means, the user identification information generated by the user identification information generation means is used for the authentication means in the access restriction means. Search means for searching for a folder having user identification information that matches the user identification information, and a folder having user identification information that matches user identification information generated from the attached data received from the imaging means by the search means. And a first data storage unit that stores the image data and the attached data received from the imaging unit in the folder, if present.

  Furthermore, the image forming apparatus creates a new folder when there is no folder having user identification information that matches the user identification information generated from the attached data received from the imaging unit by the search unit, and the imaging unit There is provided a second data storage means for storing the image data and the attached data received from the means in the new folder.

  The authentication means is based on voiceprint authentication, and the data management means creates a folder for each user and manages the data held by the data holding means together with user voiceprint information, and generates the user identification information The means generates voice print information of the user from voice data composed of a voice memo input by the user in the imaging device to the attached data received by the reception means, and the search means has a predetermined value according to a collation result by the voice print authentication means. It is characterized by searching a folder.

  According to the present invention, when image data captured by a digital camera is transferred to an existing data storage folder managed for each user in the image forming apparatus, setting by UI operation on both the digital camera side and the image forming apparatus side is performed. This eliminates the need to perform the search and saves the trouble of searching for the user's folder, thereby improving the user convenience in image data transfer in a direct connection environment with a digital camera.

  Further, since the user's folder is specified by voiceprint authentication, the trouble of inputting a password can be saved, and at the same time, safe and reliable image data transfer can be performed.

Example 1
An image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Explanation of FIG. 1]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, reference numeral 101 denotes a multi-function peripheral having a copy function, a print function, a scan function, a FAX function, etc., and a network (hereinafter referred to as “LAN”) together with a plurality of personal computers (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) 103 and 104. 110. For example, between the PC 103 and the multifunction peripheral 101, print data is transmitted from the PC 103 to the multifunction peripheral 101 in order to print a document created on the PC 103, or the multifunction peripheral 101 to the PC 103 in order to notify the device status of the multifunction peripheral 101. Notification of device information is performed.

  On the other hand, a digital camera 102 is directly connected to the multifunction machine 101. For example, between the digital camera 102 and the multifunction peripheral 101, image data is transferred from the digital camera 102 to the multifunction peripheral 101, or image data transfer completion notification is performed from the multifunction peripheral 101 to the digital camera 102.

[Explanation of FIG. 2]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the image forming apparatus.

  In the figure, a CPU 201 is a microprocessor that controls the entire image forming apparatus, and is operated by a real-time OS.

  The memory 202 is a work memory for the operation of the CPU 201 and can be accessed from the CPU 201 at high speed.

  The HDD 203 is a large-capacity hard disk that stores a plurality of application programs used for the operation of the CPU 201 and is under the management of the CPU 201 described above.

  The high-speed CPU bus 204 is a bus that connects between the CPU 201, the memory 203, the HDD 202, and each functional unit described later. Data processed by the CPU 201 is transferred to each functional unit, and data is transferred between the functional units at high speed. Or (DMA transfer). Generally, a VL bus or a PCI bus is used. However, this standard is not particularly limited, and any high-speed bus can be used.

  The RIP 205 is a functional unit that receives an image forming command input from an external interface connected to a computer, which will be described later, and converts it into a bitmap image according to the contents of the received image forming command. The image formation command is input from the high-speed CPU bus 204 and outputs an image to a high-speed image bus 209 described later. Examples of the RIP include Postscript, PCL, LIPS, and CaPSL.

  The image processing unit 206 is a functional unit that performs filtering processing on an image image such as smoothing processing or edge processing on an image image input from the high-speed image bus 209 in accordance with a processing command instructed by the CPU 201. In addition, the image processing unit 206 has a character recognition (OCR) function for an image input from the high-speed image bus 209 and an image separation function for separating the character part and the image part.

  The compression / decompression unit 207 compresses the image image input from the high-speed image bus 209 by an image compression method such as MH, MR, MMR, or JPEG, and applies the high-speed CPU bus 204 or the high-speed image bus 209 again. The compressed data is sent out, or vice versa, the compressed data input from these two buses is decompressed according to the method compressed by this functional unit, and sent to the high-speed image bus 209. It is.

  The bus bridge 208 is a bus bridge controller having an interface function between the high-speed CPU bus 204 and a low-speed CPU bus 210 described later, and absorbs a difference in processing speed between the buses. Through this bus bridge 208, the CPU 201 operating at high speed can access a functional unit operating at low speed connected to the low-speed CPU bus 210.

  The low-speed CPU bus 210 has a bus configuration with a slower transfer speed than the high-speed CPU bus 204, and is a bus to which a functional unit having a relatively slow processing capability is connected. In general, an ISA bus or the like is used.

  The modem 217 is a functional unit that interposes the public line 218 and the low-speed CPU bus 210. The modem 217 receives digital data sent from the low-speed CPU bus 210 and modulates it into a data format that can be output to the public line. It has a function of converting modulated data sent from the line into digital data that can be processed in the image forming apparatus.

  The LAN interface 219 is a functional unit for connecting to the LAN 220 and is used for receiving a control command from the computer via the LAN 220 and returning the status of the image forming apparatus to the computer.

  The USB interface 221 is a functional unit for connecting the image forming apparatus and the host computer 222 and is used for receiving a control command from the host computer 222 and returning the status of the image forming apparatus to the host computer 222. Is done.

  The USB host interface 223 is a functional unit for connecting the image forming apparatus and the digital camera 102 to receive a control command from the digital camera 102 or to return the status of the image forming apparatus to the digital camera 102. used.

  The panel interface 215 exchanges various control signals with the operation unit 216 in the image forming apparatus. The panel interface 215 transmits a signal of an input switch such as a key arranged in the operation unit 216 to the CPU 201, or the RIP 205, the image processing unit 206, This is a unit that performs resolution conversion for displaying the image data created by the compression / decompression unit 207 on the liquid crystal display unit in the operation unit 216.

  The high-speed image bus 209 is a bus for connecting an image input / output bus in various image generation units (RIP 205, image processing 206, compression / decompression unit 207) with a scanner interface 211 and a printer interface 213 described later. This bus control is not under the control of the CPU 201 but is controlled by a bus controller (not shown), and performs data transfer under the control of the bus controller.

  The scanner unit 212 is a visible image reading device provided with an automatic document feeder, and reads a set document image with an RGB three-line CCD color sensor or a one-line monochrome CCD line sensor. The document image data read by the scanner unit 212 is transferred to the high-speed image bus 209 by the scanner interface unit 211.

  In the scanner interface unit 211, the image data read by the scanner unit 212 is binarized optimally according to the processing contents in the subsequent process, and serial-parallel conversion in accordance with the data width of the high-speed image bus 209 is performed. It has a function of performing or converting the read RGB color data (luminance color data) into CMYBk data (density color data).

  The printer unit 214 prints image data received from a printer interface unit 213 described later as visible image data on a recording sheet. The printer unit 214 includes a bubble jet (registered trademark) printer that prints on a recording sheet using a bubble jet (registered trademark) system, and forms an image on a photosensitive drum using a laser beam, and images the recording sheet. There is a laser beam printer using the electrophotographic technology to be formed. The laser beam printer includes a single color printer and a color laser beam printer using CMYBk.

  The printer interface unit 213 transfers image data sent from the high-speed image bus 209 to the printer unit 214, and converts the bus width of the high-speed image bus 209 into a bus width that matches the gradation of the printer to be output. A bus width converting function, and a function for absorbing the difference between the printing speed of the printer and the transfer speed of the image data on the high-speed image bus 209.

  The operation unit 216 includes a liquid crystal display unit, a touch panel input device disposed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display unit, and a plurality of hard keys. An input signal corresponding to a touch panel input device or hard key input is transmitted to the CPU 201 via the panel interface 215, and the liquid crystal display unit displays image data sent from the panel interface 215. The liquid crystal display unit displays function display, image data, and the like in the operation of the image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of FIG. 3]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a folder structure in the digital camera 102.

  In the figure, in the hierarchy immediately below the root 301, a folder “DCIM” 301 of image related information and a folder MISC 303 created when DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) is set exist. Further, a folder “XXXCOM” 304 in which image data is stored and a folder “XXXMSC” 305 in which files for managing the image data folder are stored exist in a hierarchy below “DCIM” 301. . Files saved in the “XXXCOM” 304 folder include JPEG format image files with extensions “JPG” such as 307, 309, and 311 and audio files with extensions “WAV” such as 308, 310, and 312. is there. On the other hand, “XXXMSC” 305 stores files 313 and 314 as files for managing image folders. Reference numeral 306 denotes a file related to DPOF.

  For example, when shooting is performed by operating the digital camera 102, an image file 307 is created, and when a voice memo is input to the image, an audio file 308 is created.

  When the digital camera 102 is connected to the multi-function peripheral 101 and an image data transfer instruction is issued, files 307 to 312 stored in the folder 304 are transferred.

[Explanation of FIG. 4]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a part of the folder structure in the HDD 203 constituting the image forming apparatus 101.

  In the figure, a folder in the HDD 203 includes a user folder 401 to which a dedicated folder can be added for each user. In the hierarchy below the user folder 401, there is a folder dedicated to each user for which an access right can be set for each user.

  “User A” 402 is registered as a dedicated folder for user A, “user B” 403 is registered as a dedicated folder for user B, and “user C” is registered as a dedicated folder for user C.

  Further, for example, under “user A” 402, in addition to the file “voice print information A” 405 in which the voice print information of user A is stored, image files 410, 412, 414, audio files 411, 413, 415, etc. A folder “20040401” 406 composed of files and a folder “20040402” 407 composed of files such as image files 416 and 417 are stored with folder names based on the date.

[Explanation of FIG. 5]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the image forming apparatus 101 when the digital camera 102 is connected to the image forming apparatus 101 and image data and image-related information are transferred directly from the digital camera 102 to the image forming apparatus. .

  In the figure, when direct transfer from the digital camera starts, first, in step S101, image data (for example, 307, 309, 311 in FIG. 3) and image related information (for example, 308, 310 in FIG. 3) are received from the digital camera 102. 312).

  For the detailed processing in step S101, for example, image transfer processing may be performed by communication means as shown in FIG. In Patent Document 2, the purpose is printing, but here, since the purpose is to transfer image data, it may be interpreted as completion of transfer instead of completion of printing.

  Next, in step S102, it is determined whether or not an audio file in which a voice memo is recorded is included in the image-related information transferred in step S101. If the voice memo file is included, the process proceeds to step S103, and if not, the process proceeds to step 107.

  In step S107, a new folder is automatically created, the image data transferred from the digital camera 102 and the image related information are stored in the new folder, and the direct transfer process ends.

  In step S103, voice print information for performing voice print authentication, which will be described later, is extracted from a voice file in which a voice memo included in the transferred image-related information is recorded.

  As detailed processing in step S103, for example, as in Patent Document 7, voice memo data transferred from a digital camera is wavelet transformed, and the result of series expansion is used as voiceprint data. The voice memo input to the digital camera is, for example, recorded when the user utters his / her first and last name, and the voiceprint information registered in the image forming apparatus also includes the voice of the user's first and last name Voiceprint data extracted from

  In step S104, voiceprint information (for example, 405, 408, and 409 in FIG. 4) registered in a folder dedicated to each user (for example, 402, 403, and 404 in FIG. 4) in the image forming apparatus 101 is read. Collation with the voiceprint information extracted in step S103 is performed. Here, it is determined whether or not there is a folder that matches the voiceprint information (step S105). If it exists, the process proceeds to step 106, and if it does not exist, the process proceeds to step S108.

  In step S106, the image data received in step S101 and the image related information are stored in the folder determined to match in step S105. When storing image data and image-related information, as described with reference to FIG. 4, a folder based on the date is created for each shooting date, and stored in the corresponding folder for each shooting date. When the image data and the image related information are stored, the direct transfer process ends.

  In step 108, a new folder is automatically created, and the voiceprint information extracted in step S103, the image data transferred from the digital camera 102, and the image related information are stored in the new folder, and a direct transfer process is performed. Exit.

[Explanation of FIG. 6]
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the relationship between the digital camera 102 and the image forming apparatus 101 when image data and image-related information are directly transferred from the digital camera 102 to the image forming apparatus 101 described in FIG.

  In the figure, the voiceprint 1 extracted from the voice memo 1 transferred from the digital camera 102 is compared with the voiceprint information of each user such as the voiceprint A and voiceprint B registered in the user dedicated folder existing in the image forming apparatus 101. When the voiceprint 1 matches the voiceprint B as a result of the authentication, the images 1 to 3 and the voice memo 1 are stored in the folder of the user B where the voiceprint B is registered.

(Example 2)
In steps S107 and S108 in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment, a new folder is automatically created. However, the user selects a designated folder immediately before direct transfer, and image data and image related information are stored there. The structure which stores may be sufficient and the structure stored in the existing folder set beforehand may be sufficient.

(Example 3)
In the first embodiment, the image data and the image related information transferred from the digital camera are stored in a predetermined folder in the HDD of the image forming apparatus. However, the image data is not a folder in the HDD of the image forming apparatus. Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which data is stored in a predetermined folder existing in a storage device of another device managed by the server via the LAN or the Internet.

Example 4
In the first embodiment, the image data and the image-related information are transferred from the digital camera to the image forming apparatus. However, the transfer source may be a removable medium that can be attached to the image forming apparatus instead of the digital camera. . In the case of removable media, the image forming apparatus actively reads out the image data and the image related information and stores them in a predetermined folder by the same authentication means as in the first embodiment.

(Example 5)
In the first embodiment, the voice print information extracted from the voice information is used as the authentication means. However, the authentication means may be based on other biometric authentication instead of voice print authentication. If the digital camera has a protection function that performs fingerprint authentication or vein authentication such as pupils or palms, the authentication information is transferred to the image forming device together with the image data, and the image forming device also has the same authentication means as the digital camera. In this case, the storage location may be determined by the authentication means, or the storage location may be determined according to the authentication result from the authentication server by making an inquiry together with the authentication server authentication information.

It is a figure showing an example of the whole system composition concerning one embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a folder structure in a digital camera 102. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a part of a folder structure in an HDD 203 constituting the image forming apparatus 101. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the image forming apparatus 101 when the digital camera 102 is connected to the image forming apparatus 101 and image data and image related information are directly transferred from the digital camera 102 to the image forming apparatus. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a relationship between the digital camera and the image forming apparatus 101 when image data and image related information are directly transferred from the digital camera 102 to the image forming apparatus 101. FIG.

Claims (3)

An image forming apparatus to which an imaging device can be connected,
Data holding means for holding image data and related data;
Data management means for creating a folder for each user and managing the data held by the data holding means together with user identification information;
Access restriction means for restricting access by a predetermined authentication means using the user identification information for a folder for each user managed by the data management means;
Communication means for communicating with the imaging device;
Data receiving means for receiving image data and attached data stored in the imaging device by the communication means;
User identification information generating means for generating information usable for user identification from a part of the attached data received by the receiving means;
If the attached data received by the receiving means includes data capable of generating user identification information by the user identification information generating means, the user identification information generated by the user identification information generating means is transferred to the access restriction means. Search means for searching for a folder having user identification information that matches the user identification information by using authentication means;
When there is a folder having user identification information that matches the user identification information generated from the attached data received from the imaging means by the search means, the image data and the attached data received from the imaging means are stored in the folder. An image forming apparatus comprising: a first data storage unit.   The image forming apparatus creates a new folder when there is no folder having user identification information that matches the user identification information generated from the attached data received from the imaging unit by the search unit, and from the imaging unit 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second data storage unit that stores the received image data and attached data in the new folder. The authentication means is based on voiceprint authentication,
The data management means manages the data held by the data holding means together with user voiceprint information by creating a folder for each user,
The user identification information generating unit generates voice print information of the user from voice data composed of a voice memo input by the user in the imaging device to the attached data received by the receiving unit,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the search unit searches for a predetermined folder according to a collation result by the voiceprint authentication unit.

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