JP2008003923A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus for easily specifying a file name during automatically giving the file name. <P>SOLUTION: A reading part reads an original (SP2), the font sizes of sentence data are discriminated from the read image data (SP3), and whether there is a character string of the largest font size is discriminated among the discriminated font sizes (SP4). If there is the character string of the largest font size, a file name of the image data is prepared by the character string of the font size (SP5), and the prepared file name is stored as a file name of the image data in an image memory (SP8). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus that stores a file name given to input image data.

Image forming apparatuses such as digital multi-function peripherals, printers, and facsimile machines are configured so that copied data and print data can be stored in an HDD (Hard Disk). As an example of such an apparatus, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-56315 (Patent Document 1) discloses a method of performing character recognition on a preset area of an image, and the size of a character or character string obtained by the character recognition It describes that the color is judged and the character of a predetermined size or color is used as the image file name.
JP 2005-56315 A (summary, FIG. 5)

  Since the device described in Patent Document 1 performs character recognition in a preset area, when many users use the same file name, it is difficult to distinguish it as a file name, and the purpose is when searching. There is a problem that it is inconvenient to search for and print an image.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can easily specify a file name when automatically assigning a file name.

  The present invention relates to a determination means for performing character recognition processing from input image data to determine the font size of the character string, and a character string having the largest font size among the font sizes determined by the determination means. File name creating means for creating the file name.

  Specifically, it includes storage means and control means for storing the file name created by the file name creation means in the storage means as the file name of the input image data.

  In addition, a file name storage unit that stores file names in advance is stored, and the file name creation unit is stored in the file name storage unit according to the fact that the font sizes determined by the determination unit are all the same size. Read the file name and use it as the file name of the input image data.

  Preferably, the file name creation means includes an input means for inputting image data, and the file name creation means determines the file name input from the input means in response to the fact that the font sizes determined by the determination means are all the same size. The file name of the input image data is used.

  Preferably, the file name creation means includes display means for displaying the file name created by the file name creation means, and instruction means for the user to confirm and indicate the file name displayed on the display means. In response to the confirmation instruction from the instruction means, the displayed file name is used as the file name of the image data.

  According to this invention, the character recognition process is performed from the input image data to determine the font size of the character string, and the file name of the image data is determined with the character string having the largest font size among the determined font sizes. Since the file name is created, it is easy to specify the file name when automatically assigning the file name.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital multifunction machine 1 as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a digital multifunction peripheral 1 includes a control unit 2 that operates as a control unit, a reading unit 3, an operation unit 4 that operates as an instruction unit and an input unit, a display unit 5 that operates as a display unit, An apparatus 6, a DRAM 7, a printing unit 8, an image processing unit 9 that operates as a determination unit and a file name creation unit, an image memory 10 that operates as a file name storage unit and a storage unit, a FAX communication unit 11, a network IF section 12 is included.

  The control unit 2 controls the entire digital multi-function peripheral 1, and the reading unit 3 reads an image from a document sent by the document feeding device 6 in response to a command from the control unit 2 and outputs image data to the DRAM 7. To do. The operation unit 4 is operated by the user to set the number of copies and the paper size. The display unit 5 displays the number of copies and the file name. The DRAM 7 writes and reads the image data read by the reading unit 3.

  The image processing unit 9 performs character recognition processing from the image data read by the reading unit 3 and stored in the DRAM 7. The image memory 10 stores the image data printed by the printing unit 8 with the created file name, and is configured by, for example, an HDD. The image memory 10 also stores file names in advance. The printing unit 8 prints an image based on the taken image data. The FAX communication unit 11 is an interface with an external public telephone line, and the network IF unit 12 is an interface with a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) line.

  The digital multi-function peripheral 1 operates as a copying machine by printing image data read by the reading unit 3 by the printing unit 8 via the DRAM 7. In addition, when image data is transmitted from the network IF unit 12 via a network from a personal computer (not shown), the digital multi-function peripheral 1 provides the image data to the printing unit 8 via the DRAM 7 to print an image. Works as a printer. Further, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 operates as a facsimile receiving apparatus by printing image data transmitted from the public telephone line via the FAX communication unit 11 with the printing unit 8 via the DRAM 7. Further, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 operates as a facsimile transmission device by transmitting image data of a document read by the reading unit 3 to the public telephone line via the FAX communication unit 11.

  In FIG. 1, thick arrows indicate the flow of image data, and thin arrows indicate the flow of control signals or control data.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of image data read by the reading unit 3 shown in FIG.

  In the following description, it is assumed that the digital multifunction device 1 is operated as a copying machine. The control unit 2 determines whether or not a document is set on the document feeder 6 at a step (abbreviated as SP in the drawing) SP1 shown in FIG. 2, and when the user sets the document on the document feeder 6, In step SP2, the document is sent to the reading unit 3 by the document feeder 6 and read. The image data of the image read from the document is written in the DRAM 7, and the written image data is read from the DRAM 7 and given to the image processing unit 9.

  In step SP3, the image processing unit 9 performs character recognition processing from the image data, recognizes the character string, and determines the font size. The character recognition process here can use a technique generally used in an OCR (Optical Character Reader) technique. In step SP4, it is determined whether or not there is a character string having the largest font size among the recognized character strings.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, if a document 21 such as a technical manual includes a character string 22 having a large font size and a character string 23 having a small font size, the image processing unit 9 The character string 22 having the largest font size is determined. In step SP5, a file name is created with the character string 22 of the determined font size. In step SP6, the created file name is displayed on the display unit 5.

  The user looks at the display to confirm the file name, and operates the confirmation key included in the operation unit 4. When the control unit 2 determines in step SP7 that the confirmation key has been operated, in step SP8, the control unit 2 uses the confirmed character string of the file name as the file name of the image data of the document read by the reading unit 3 in the image memory. 10. Before storing the image data in the image memory 10, the printing unit 8 prints an image based on the image data.

  However, as shown in FIG. 3B, if only the character string 23 having the same font size is included in the document 21, it is determined in step SP4 that there is a character string having the largest font size. Can not. In this case, in step SP9, it is determined whether or not the file name is registered in the image memory 10. This file name may be registered in the image memory 10 in advance at the time of shipment from the factory, or may be registered in the image memory 10 by operating the operation unit 4 by the user. If it is determined that the file name is registered, the registered file name is displayed on the display unit 5 in step SP10.

  If a plurality of file names are registered, the user may be able to select by operating a file name selection key included in the operation unit 4. When the user stores the file name as the file name of the image data, the user operates the confirmation key. If it is determined in step SP7 that the user has operated the confirmation key, the registered file name is stored in the image memory 10 as the file name of the image data in step SP8.

  If it is determined in step SP9 that the file name is not registered in the image memory 10, the display unit 5 displays that the file name should be input. When the user inputs a file name, it is determined in step SP11 that the file name has been input, and in step SP12, the input file name is displayed on the display unit 5. When the user performs a key operation for confirming the file name, it is determined in step SP7 that the file name has been confirmed. In step SP8, the input file name is stored in the image memory 10 as the file name of the image data. Store.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the font size of the text data is determined from the image data read from the document 21 shown in FIG. 3A, and the character string 22 having the largest font size is included. For example, the file name is created with the character string of the font size and stored in the image memory 10 as the file name of the image data, so that the file name can be easily specified. In addition, since file names are created with various font sizes depending on the manuscript, the number of similar file names can be reduced. As a result, when searching for the image data stored in the image memory 10, the search for the file name is facilitated by searching the file name according to the font size.

  Furthermore, since the user can confirm the created file name, the user can input an arbitrary file name from the operation unit 4 instead of the created file name when the user determines that the file name is inappropriate. By doing so, the file name can be set according to the user's preference.

  If the text data of the image data includes only the character string 23 having the same font size as the original 21 shown in FIG. 3B, the file name registered in advance or the input file name is used. Since it can be stored in the image memory 10 as a file name of image data, an arbitrary file name that can be easily recognized even if there are a plurality of files can be used as the file name of the image data.

  In the above description, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 is operated as a copying machine, but even if it is operated as a facsimile transmission apparatus, a character string having a font size of text data is determined from image data read by the reading unit 3. To create a file name.

  When the digital multi-function peripheral 1 is operated as a printer or a facsimile receiving device, the character size of the text data is recognized based on electronic data such as image data input from a personal computer, a facsimile transmitting device, etc. The file name may be created by determining the character string.

  Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 and can be applied to a single device such as a factory, a copier, or a printer.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with reference to drawings, this invention is not limited to the thing of embodiment shown in figure. Various modifications and variations can be made to the illustrated embodiment within the same range or equivalent range as the present invention.

1 is a block diagram of a digital multifunction machine as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the image data read by the reading part shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital multifunction device, 2 Control part, 3 Reading part, 4 Operation part, 5 Display part, 6 Document feeder, 7 DRAM, 8 Printing part, 9 Image processing part, 10 Image memory, 11 FAX communication part, 12 Network IF Copies, 21 manuscripts, 22, 23 character strings.

Claims (5)

A discriminating means for discriminating the font size of the character string by performing character recognition processing from the input image data;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a file name creating unit configured to create a file name of image data of a character string having the largest font size among the font sizes determined by the determining unit. Storage means;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit that stores the file name created by the file name creation unit in the storage unit as a file name of the input image data. Including file name storage means for storing the file name in advance,
The file name creation means reads the file name stored in the file name storage means in response to all the font sizes determined by the determination means being the same size, and The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a file name is used. Including an input means for entering a file name,
The file name creation means uses the file name input from the input means as the file name of the input image data in response to all the font sizes determined by the determination means being the same size. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. Display means for displaying the file name created by the file name creating means;
An instruction means for the user to confirm and instruct the file name displayed on the display means,
5. The image according to claim 1, wherein the file name creation unit uses the displayed file name as the file name of the image data in response to a confirmation instruction from the instruction unit. 6. Forming equipment.

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