JP2008154203A - Print medium processing system, printing apparatus, information processing apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily associate a print medium with an application which inputs and processes image data obtained by reading the print medium. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 30 receives image data of a printing target sent from an application server 10 and input method information which is referred to when the image data are inputted to an application which processes the image data, generates an information ID for the input method information, adds the information ID to the image data to be printed, and prints the image data. The input method information is registered in a database server 50 correspondingly to the information ID. An image forming apparatus 40 reads a print form 4 on which something is written, acquires the input method information from the database server 50 on the basis of the information ID extracted from the read image data, and transfers the read image data to an application server 20 that is specified from the input method information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print medium processing system, a printing apparatus, an information processing apparatus, and a program.

  Currently, various tasks are performed using paper such as delivery service and questionnaire totalization processing. For example, in the questionnaire counting work, a questionnaire form of a predetermined form is distributed and collected to the user, and items entered in the collected questionnaire sheet are totaled. At this time, a computer system is used to process a huge amount of questionnaire sheets. The computer system scans a questionnaire sheet, recognizes a line drawing written on the paper, collects data, that is, a questionnaire result, and performs a totaling process of the collected data.

  By the way, in order to correctly execute the questionnaire counting process using the computer as in the above-described example, it is necessary to correctly input the scan data (questionnaire result) to the application that performs the counting process. For this purpose, it is necessary to clarify the aggregation application for inputting and processing scan data. However, conventionally, a method for manually specifying an application for processing scan data from a plurality of candidates has been adopted. Yes. However, every time a large amount of paper is scanned, specifying an application for processing the scan data is extremely expensive.

  Therefore, conventionally, IDs are assigned to sheets, processes, and documents, and IDs can be associated with each other so that flexible combinations are possible (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-122682 A

  However, in the past, since it is necessary to associate each ID of data and processing, the labor of performing the association manually is not changed. In recent years, with the diversification of business itself, the number of applications that execute business and the number of paper forms used are increasing. It is desired that information for inputting data to an application such as a protocol used for the printing can be easily associated with a print medium.

  It is an object of the present invention to easily associate a print medium with an application that inputs and processes read data of the print medium.

  In order to achieve the above object, the print medium processing system according to the present invention receives and accepts input method information to be referred to when inputting image data to an application that inputs and processes the image data. Identification information generating means for generating identification information for input method information, information storage means for storing the generated identification information in association with the input method information, and image data to be printed as input method Printing means for printing after adding the identification information of the information to the image data, reading means for reading the data printed on the print medium by the printing means, and identification information among the image data read by the reading means Extracting from the information storage means the extraction means for extracting the input method and the input method information specified by the identification information extracted by the extraction means And obtain means, the image data read by said reading means, and having a transmitting means for transmitting to the application specified from the obtained input method information by the acquisition unit.

  Further, the information storage means includes an update means for updating information stored in the information storage means.

  The image processing apparatus further includes additional information receiving means for receiving additional information that is input together with the image data to an application that inputs and processes the image data.

  Further, the input method information includes at least one of information relating to a protocol used when data is transmitted to the application and information relating to data transmission abnormality processing.

  A first image forming apparatus including the identification information generating unit and the printing unit; a second image forming apparatus including the reading unit, the extracting unit, the acquiring unit, and the transmitting unit; and the information storage unit. And a database server.

  The image forming apparatus includes the identification information generation unit, the printing unit, the reading unit, the extraction unit, the acquisition unit, and the transmission unit, and a database server including the information storage unit. .

  A first computer having the identification information generating means; a printing apparatus having the printing means; a scanner apparatus having the reading means; a second computer having the extracting means, the acquiring means, and the transmitting means. And a database server having the information storage means.

  The printing apparatus according to the present invention generates an input method information receiving unit that receives input method information to be referred to when an application that inputs and processes image data inputs the image data, and identification information that identifies the input method information In addition, the generated identification information is associated with the input method information and stored in the information storage unit, and the image data to be printed is added to the image data. And printing means for printing after that.

  The information processing apparatus according to the present invention inputs image data obtained by reading a print medium, and refers to the input of the image data to an application that inputs and processes the image data from the image data. The input method information specified by the extracted identification information is obtained from the extraction means for extracting the identification information given to the input method information and the information storage means for storing the identification information in association with the input method information. And acquiring means for transmitting the image data obtained by reading the print medium to an application specified from the acquired input method information.

  A program according to the present invention allows a computer installed in an image forming apparatus having a printing function to receive input method information referred to when inputting image data to an application that inputs and processes the image data. The identification information for identifying the information is generated, and the generated identification information is associated with the input method information and stored in the information storage unit. The image data to be printed is the identification information of the input method information. It is characterized in that it is printed after being added to.

  A program according to the present invention inputs image data obtained by reading a print medium into a computer mounted on an image forming apparatus having a reading function, and inputs the image data from the image data for processing. The identification information extracted from the information storage means for extracting the identification information given to the input method information to be referred to when inputting the image data to the application to be stored, and storing the identification information in association with the input method information The input method information specified by the method is acquired, and the image data obtained by reading the print medium is transmitted to the application specified from the acquired input method information.

  Further, the identification method is generated by specifying input method information according to a user operation from the input method information stored in the input method information storage means for storing the input method information defined in advance. Input method information setting means for setting input method information associated with identification information by the means.

  Each input method information stored in the input method information storage means is associated with an icon of the printing means, and the input method information setting means prints image data to be printed selected by the user. Input method information associated with the icon of the printing means to be set is set as input method information of the image data.

  Further, the input method information setting means includes a part of attribute information of the image data file to be printed selected by the user in the input method information set in the image data.

  In addition, when the input method information includes the storage destination of the image data read by the reading means, the input method information setting means is used to generate image data to be printed as the storage destination of the read image data. A file storage destination managed by application software is set.

  The input method information setting means takes out input method information corresponding to the image data to be printed from a tabular data file in which the identification information of the image data and the input method information are associated with each other. It is set as the input method information.

  In addition, the image data to be printed by the printing unit, the image data to which the identification information of the input method information is added, is received, and after the information indicating the test is added to the received image data, the reading unit Test execution means for transmitting to the extraction means instead of the read image data is provided.

  According to the present invention, the identification information is assigned to the input method information set in association with the image data to be printed, and the encoded identification information is printed on the print medium together with the image data. Can be specified from identification information included in image data obtained by reading a print medium. Thereby, even if the user does not know the destination of the image data of the print medium to be read, the image data can be automatically distributed to the correct application and reliably delivered.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a print medium processing system according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which application servers 10 and 20, image forming apparatuses 30 and 40, and a database server 50 are connected via a network 2. The application server 10 is a server computer on which an application for generating image data to be printed (hereinafter also referred to as “print data”) is mounted, and the image forming apparatus 30 transmits the print data and input method information. Instruct to print. The image forming apparatus 30 is an image forming apparatus having at least a printing function, and prints the sent print data. When new input method information is sent from the application server 10, the image forming apparatus 30 in the present embodiment generates an information ID for identifying the input method information, and adds the information ID to the print data. Then print. The database server 50 stores and manages the input method information sent from the image forming apparatus 30 and the information ID assigned to the input method information in association with each other. The image forming apparatus 40 is an image forming apparatus having at least a reading function. The printing paper 4 generated by the image forming apparatus 30 is written by the user, but the image forming apparatus 40 scans the written printing paper 4 and generates image data. The image forming apparatus 40 according to the present embodiment uses the input method corresponding to the information ID from the database server 50 with reference to the information ID included in the read image data (hereinafter also referred to as “read image data”). Information is acquired, and the read image data is transmitted to the application server 20 specified from the input method information. The application server 20 is a server computer on which an application that performs predetermined processing on input image data is installed.

  In FIG. 1, one application server 10 that instructs printing, one image forming apparatus 30 that executes printing, one image forming apparatus 30 that reads printing paper, and one application server 20 that processes image data are shown for convenience. A plurality of units may be connected to the network 2. In FIG. 1, the network 2 is illustrated as being formed by a LAN, but may be constructed by a WAN. Therefore, the database server 50 shared by the image forming apparatuses 30 and 40 may be arranged on the Internet.

  FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the application server 10 in the present embodiment. The application server 10 used in the present embodiment can be realized by a hardware configuration of a general-purpose server computer that has existed in the past. That is, the application server 10 is provided as a CPU 111, a ROM 112, a RAM 113, an HDD controller 115 connected to a hard disk drive (HDD) 114, a mouse 116 and a keyboard 117 provided as input means, and a display device as shown in FIG. An input / output controller 119 for connecting the displayed displays 118 and a network controller 120 provided as a communication means are connected to an internal bus 121.

  Although there may be a difference in performance, since the application server 20 is also the same server computer, the basic hardware configuration of the application server 20 can be illustrated as in FIG. Of course, if hardware (not shown) is required when the application is executed, the hardware needs to be installed. Further, since the database server 50 is also the same server computer, it can be illustrated as in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 30 according to the present embodiment. As described above, the image forming apparatus 30 has at least a printing function and is a device incorporating a computer. In FIG. 3, a CPU 311 controls the operation of various mechanisms such as a scanner 314 and a printer engine 316 installed in the apparatus according to a program stored in a ROM 319. The address data bus 312 is connected to various mechanisms to be controlled by the CPU 311 and performs data communication. The operation panel 313 receives instructions from the user and displays information. The scanner 314 reads a document set by a user and stores it as electronic data in an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 315 or the like. The HDD 315 stores image data read by the scanner 314 and the like. The printer engine 316 prints an image on output paper in accordance with an instruction from a control program executed by the CPU 311. A network interface (I / F) 317 is connected to the network 2 and is used for receiving print data sent to the apparatus, transmitting input method information, and an information ID. A random access memory (RAM) 318 is used as a work memory when executing a program and a buffer when transmitting / receiving print data. In the present embodiment, print data and input method information are stored. A read only memory (ROM) 319 stores various programs relating to control of the apparatus, encryption of electronic data, and transmission / reception of electronic data. Various processing functions are exhibited by executing various programs. An external media interface (I / F) 320 is an interface with an external memory device such as a USB memory or a flash memory.

  Although there may be differences in performance, the basic hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 40 can be illustrated in the same manner as in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a print medium processing system in the present embodiment. The application server 10 includes a print data generation unit 11, a print instruction unit 12, and an input method information setting unit 13. The print data generation unit 11 generates image data to be printed, and the print instruction unit 12 transmits the generated print data and instructs the image forming apparatus 30 to perform printing. The print data generation unit 11 and the print instruction unit 12 are realized by a part of processing functions of an application incorporated in the application server 10. The input method information setting unit 13 sets input method information for specifying an application to be processed by inputting the read image data of the printing paper generated by printing the print data, and transmits the input method information to the image forming apparatus 30. .

  The image forming apparatus 30 includes an information ID generation unit 31, an information ID embedding unit 32, and a print processing unit 33. The information ID generation unit 31 receives input method information sent from the application server 10, generates identification information (information ID) for the input method information, and generates the generated information ID and corresponding input method information. Are transmitted to the database server 50 for registration. The information ID embedding unit 32 encodes and embeds the information ID in the print data sent from the application server 10. The print processing unit 33 is a means for realizing the print function of the image forming apparatus 30 and prints print data. Since the information ID embedding unit 32 in this embodiment converts the information ID into a QR code, the QR code is printed at a predetermined position on the printing paper.

  The database server 50 includes an information management unit 51 and an information storage unit 52. The information storage unit 52 stores the information ID and the input method information, but the information management unit 51 associates the information ID sent from the image forming apparatus 30 with the input method information and registers them in the information storage unit 52. To do. Also, corresponding input method information is notified in response to the information acquisition request.

  The image forming apparatus 40 includes a reading unit 41, an input method information acquisition unit 42, and a transmission processing unit 43. The reading unit 41 is a unit that realizes the scanner function of the image forming apparatus 40, and generates image data by scanning a printing paper. When the reading unit 41 scans the printing paper generated by the image forming apparatus 30, since the read image data includes QR code data, the input method information acquisition unit 42 reads the read image data from the read image data. The QR code is detected, and an information acquisition request including the information ID indicated by the detected QR code is transmitted to the database server 50, whereby the input method information corresponding to the information ID is acquired. The transmission processing unit 43 transmits the read image data to the transmission destination of the read image data that can be specified from the acquired input method information.

  The application server 20 includes a data reception unit 21 and a data processing unit 22. The data receiving unit 21 receives image data transmitted from an external device such as read image data transmitted from the image forming apparatus 40. The data processing unit 22 executes predetermined processing using the received image data. The data processing unit 22 is generally realized by a part of processing functions of an application incorporated in the application server 20.

  The information storage unit 52 described above is realized by the HDD 114 that is a storage unit. The other components are operated by the respective computers 10, 20, 50 or image forming apparatuses 30, 40 mounted thereon, and the CPU 111 mounted on each computer 10, 20, 50 or the CPU 311 of the computer mounted on the image forming apparatuses 30, 40. This is realized by the cooperative operation with the program to be executed. Further, the program used in this embodiment can be provided not only by communication means but also by storing it in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data configuration of information set and registered in the information storage unit 52 according to the present embodiment and a data setting example. The information management unit 51 newly configures information sent from the image forming apparatus 30 every time an information ID is assigned to the input method information in the information storage unit 52 with the following configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the information storage unit 52, input method information including an input destination address, a protocol, and an error handling method is registered in association with the information ID. The information ID is information for identifying the input method information as described above. In order to make the information ID unique at the world level, there is a method using a 128-bit UUID (Universally Unique IDentifier) determined based on the MAC address and time of the computer executing the program. In addition, there is a method in which the serial number of a computer is used instead of a MAC address in order to make it unique within a computer system of a specific vendor. Further, in order to make it unique within one computer, there is a method of adopting an unused number from the management table. The information ID can be generated according to the above unique level.

  The input method information is information for designating a method for inputting the read image data of the image forming apparatus 40 to the application, and is designated by the application server 10 equipped with the application that generates the print data that is the original of the read image data. Information. In the item of input destination address included in the input method information, for example, information that can specify an application for inputting read image data such as an IP address and an input destination directory name is specified. In the item “protocol”, for example, a protocol or a command used when delivering image data to the application, such as FTP, HTTP, WebDAV, and SOAP, is specified. In the item of error handling method, for example, notification destination and notification means (e-mail, printing, etc.) when an error occurs, notification related to log recording, error log related to recording destination, etc., retry count, input One or more specific coping methods are specified such as canceling, canceling input, and erasing the image, and an alternative destination when an error occurs after m hours.

  Next, the operation in this embodiment will be described. Here, a case where delivery management is performed using a form in which a delivery note and a receipt are combined will be described as an example. First, processing up to printing a form will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. explain.

  First, in the application server 10 for form printing, the print data generation unit 11 constituting a part of a predetermined application writes necessary items such as a delivery destination in a form of a default form and generates form data as print data ( In step 101), the print instruction unit 12 transmits the form data to be printed to the image forming apparatus 30. Note that the print request destination image forming apparatus 30 may be preset in the application server 10 or may be designated by the form creator. The form creator then specifies item data necessary for generating the input method information. The form data is printed by the image forming apparatus 30 to form the form. The item data necessary for generating the input method information is an application for inputting the read image data of the completed form. Data that can be identified. Specifically, as described with reference to FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the input destination address, the protocol, and the various item information of the error handling method. Note that the item data designation method normally assumes input from a predetermined setting screen using the user interface of the application server 10, but other methods using files, parameters, and the like may be used. Further, item data may be input not by the form creator but by another user such as an administrator. Upon receiving item data input by the user, the input method information setting unit 13 generates input method information including the item data (step 102). Then, the generated input method information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 30.

  Since the application server 10 transmits print data and input method information associated with the print data to the image forming apparatus 30 that requests printing, the correspondence between the print data and the input method information is determined. Need to be clear. In this embodiment, the print data generation unit 11 and the print instruction unit 12 transmit print data and input method information in separate processes. However, the print data and input method information associated with the print data are transmitted as a set. By doing so, the correspondence may be clarified. If each data is transmitted separately as in the present embodiment, it is desirable that the input method information includes the identification information of the print data so that the association can be easily performed.

  In the image forming apparatus 30, when receiving the input method information sent from the application server 10, the information ID generating unit 31 generates an information ID for identifying the input method information (step 103). When receiving both the print data and the information ID of the input method information associated with the print data from the application server 10, the information ID embedding unit 32 first encodes the information ID into the image data of the QR code, and the QR code The image data is superimposed on the corresponding print data and synthesized (step 104). The print data in which the QR code is embedded by image composition is, for example, a PDL (Print Description Language) file, a PDF (Portable Document Format) / PS (Post Script) file, or a TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) / JPEG (Joint Photographic). Experts Group) image data file. As an information ID encoding method, barcode, PDF417, Code 49, QR code, Data Matrix, or the like can be used. In this embodiment, the QR code is used as described above. The print processing unit 33 generates a form by printing the print data generated by the information ID embedding unit 32 (step 105).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a form printed by the above processing. Since the information ID embedding unit 32 in the present embodiment embeds the QR code in the form data so that the form is printed at a position on the sheet on which the form is not printed, specifically, the upper right part, as illustrated in FIG. A QR code 6 indicating an information ID is printed on the upper right of the printing paper 4 of the form.

  The position on the paper on which the form data is not printed can be specified by analyzing the form data. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the form number used by the application is included in the QR code 7 and included in the center right side in the print data from the form application of the transportation business. However, the present embodiment is not involved in encoding and decoding of the form number used by this form application.

  A delivery person in charge of the transportation business delivers the article with the form shown in FIG. 7, and then takes the form with the receipt from the consignee. An example of a form to which the receipt stamp 8 is added is shown in FIG. Hereinafter, processing until the designated application inputs image data obtained by reading the form will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the image forming apparatus 40, the reading unit 41 reads the form to which the receipt stamp 8 is added by the scanner 314 (step 201). When the input method information acquisition unit 42 receives the image data read by the reading unit 41, the input method information acquisition unit 42 detects the QR code using the QR code embedding position / direction detection, distortion correction, and error correction code included in the image data. The information ID is extracted by decoding (step 202). The input method information acquisition unit 42 then sends an input method information acquisition request including the extracted information ID to the database server 50.

  In the database server 50, the information management unit 51 reads the input method information corresponding to the information ID included in the sent acquisition request from the information storage unit 52 and returns it to the image forming apparatus 40 that is the request transmission source.

  When the input method information acquisition unit 42 in the image forming apparatus 40 acquires the input method information from the database server 50 in this way (step 203), it passes the acquired input method information and image data to the transmission processing unit 43.

  The transmission processing unit 43 transmits the transmitted image data to the application server 20 specified by referring to the setting contents of the input method information transmitted together with the image data according to the specified protocol (step 204). ). If an error occurs during transmission, error processing is performed according to the error handling method included in the input method information.

  As described above, when the data receiving unit 21 in the application server 20 receives the image data sent from the image forming apparatus 40, the data processing unit 22 inputs the image data and performs a predetermined process. In this example, the data processing unit 22 is incorporated in an application for handling a form, and this application encodes the QR code on the center right side of the input image data to obtain a form number, Confirm that a receipt stamp is added to the “Signature” column. Then, the status of the delivery job corresponding to the form number of the delivery management system is updated to “delivered”, and the image data is stored in the folder corresponding to the form number.

  According to the present embodiment, as described above, the information ID is assigned to the input method information set in association with the print data, and the encoded information ID is printed on the printing paper together with the form data. . As a result, it is possible to identify an application that inputs form data from the information ID included in the read image data of the form and processes the form data. Even if you don't know it, you can automatically assign it to the application and make sure it is input. That is, the application for inputting image data and the input method to the application are managed by the delivery management system according to the present embodiment, so that the user who handles the form does not need to be aware of the application. Furthermore, since the device that reads the form (image forming apparatus 40) can identify the application to which the read form data is sent by making an inquiry to the database server 50 based on the information ID embedded in the form, the user can If the image forming apparatus 40 has a processing function, it is not necessary to select an apparatus to be used for reading a form from among the processing functions.

  In this embodiment, the QR code 6 indicating the information ID is added to the existing form and printed. For this reason, two or more QR codes are printed. Therefore, one QR code may be generated and printed by combining the data represented by the QR code 7 and the information ID.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an answer sheet with a questionnaire (hereinafter simply referred to as “questionnaire sheet”) processed in the present embodiment. In the above description, the case where the printing paper to be read is a form and the present invention is applied to the delivery management system has been described as an example. Here, a case where the present invention is applied to a questionnaire totalization processing system is illustrated as an application example.

  Here, the operation in the case of handling a questionnaire as print data will be described. However, the processing flow is the same as that in the case of a form, and the description is omitted. However, in the above example, the form identified by the QR code 7 is printed basically instead of the same contents, but the example illustrated here is that a questionnaire sheet having basically the same contents is printed. Different.

  As illustrated in FIG. 11, the questionnaire sheet includes the answer to the questionnaire item together with the answer. The read image data of each sheet is specified based on the QR code of the read image data as described above. Is input to the aggregation application. In addition, the application which totals the exercise answer in a school processes as follows. That is, when answer sheets written by students in the class are scanned in succession (continuously), image data obtained by the scans are sequentially input to the aggregation application. The tabulation application recognizes each area image of the student ID number, name, and attendance date with OCR (character recognition: Optical Code Reader) and converts it into data, and also recognizes the check points in the questionnaire column and converts it into data. Generate as calculation application data. This embodiment also assumes a total application that performs such processing.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to each system that performs delivery slip management and questionnaire totalization management is exemplified, but various other systems such as document management, business negotiation management, and video conference are also available. It is also applicable to.

  When processing forms that basically do not have the same object, when the scanned image data of the form is input to the application, the form is already processed, so the corresponding input method information and information ID are basically unnecessary. . Therefore, when the information management unit 51 receives a corresponding input method information acquisition request and normally returns it, preferably when the application server 20 can confirm the normal end of processing for the form, the information management unit 51 corresponds to the form. It is desirable to delete the input method information and the information ID from the information storage unit 52. On the other hand, when processing answer sheets and questionnaire sheets that have the same thing, the same input method information may be read out many times. It cannot be deleted from the information storage unit 52. Therefore, in this case, the information management unit 51 deletes the corresponding information in accordance with the deletion instruction from the user who confirmed that the collection of the questionnaire has been completed, for example.

  By the way, in the above description, the case where one read image data is input to one application is taken as an example. However, the case where it is input to a plurality of applications is also conceivable. For example, in a form, an application that processes character data obtained by OCR processing the data entered in a predetermined location, an application that stores image data of stamps and signatures on a form, a specific slip has been scanned The type and number of applications, such as applications that notify the administrator, depend on the business content.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a data configuration of information set and registered in the information storage unit 52 in the present embodiment. As is clear from comparison with FIG. 5, here, a plurality of input method information is associated with one information ID. In this way, by associating the information ID with the input method information, the image forming apparatus 40 that reads the print sheet can acquire a plurality of input method information for the information ID obtained from the read image data. One read image data can be input to a plurality of applications.

  In the present embodiment, the information management unit 51 is provided in the database server 50 so that the input method information registered in the information storage unit 52 can be changed, which is convenient in the following cases. . For example, when the storage destination of a form printed in the past is changed from a server in department A to a server in department B due to a change in organization, an input destination address corresponding to the information ID printed on the form before reading after creation is changed. By changing to the address of the application installed in the B department server, the read image data can be stored in the B department server thereafter. Or, if you want to select a good answer from the totaled answers and store it on the public server after sending and processing the scanned image data to an application that scans and summarizes the exercises at school, the answer sheet The input destination address corresponding to the information ID printed on is changed from the aggregation application to the public server. Then, if the totaled exercise answers are scanned again, the read image data can be stored in the public server this time.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when information desired to be added by a user to a print sheet generated according to an instruction from the application is to be input to a desired application, the application that is the input destination is given to the user. There is no need to specify each time. As a result, the user does not need to know the application for inputting the read image data in advance, and the user does not need to specify the application, so that the problem of erroneous delivery of the read image data does not occur. In the present embodiment, identification information such as a paper ID, an information ID, or a processing ID that has been given in the past is not required. In the present embodiment, identification information is added to image input method information for an application. That is, since the process after the image data is input to the application is not defined, an exception process different from the original process can be automatically selected, and the process for the image data can be easily changed.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the following embodiments, including this embodiment, modifications of the system configuration will be described. FIG. 13 is an overall configuration diagram of a print medium processing system according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 14 is a block configuration diagram illustrating the print medium processing system according to the present embodiment. In each figure, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. Further, although the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the system configuration and the arrangement of functional blocks, the system operation itself is the same, so the description of the operation is also omitted. The same applies to the following embodiments.

  In the first embodiment, each process of printing, data storage, reading, and data transmission is allocated to a plurality of apparatuses, and the system is constructed. However, in the present embodiment, the processes are concentrated on one image forming apparatus 300. did. That is, since the image forming apparatus has a built-in computer as described above and has a printing function, a storage function, a reading function, and a communication function, the processing function described above is realized even with one image forming apparatus 300. Is possible.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 15 is an overall configuration diagram of a print medium processing system according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 16 is a block configuration diagram illustrating the print medium processing system according to the present embodiment. In the second embodiment, the components for performing each process are integrated into the image forming apparatus. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 310 is configured to realize the printing function and the reading function with another apparatus. That is, as shown in FIG. 15, in this embodiment, a network printer 60 and a network scanner 70 that can be connected to the network 2 are connected. As illustrated in FIG. 16, the network printer 60 includes the print processing unit 33, and when printing data to which the QR code of the information ID is added is received from the image forming apparatus 310, printing on a sheet is executed. The network scanner 70 has a reading unit 41, reads a predetermined item entered by the user, and sends image data generated by the reading to the image forming apparatus 310.

  By configuring as in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to add any new functions to the network printer 60 and the network scanner 70, so that the existing network printer 60 and the network scanner 70 can be used as they are. .

Embodiment 4 FIG.
FIG. 17 is an overall configuration diagram of the print medium processing system according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 18 is a block configuration diagram illustrating the print medium processing system according to the present embodiment. In the first embodiment, the image forming apparatus that performs the printing function and the reading function is described as a separate apparatus. In this embodiment, a single image forming apparatus 340 has both the functions of printing on a sheet and reading of a sheet described using the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6 and 9 in the first embodiment. I tried to make it. If such an image forming apparatus 340 is connected to the network 2, the user can perform printing and reading from any image forming apparatus 340, so that it is not necessary to select an apparatus.

  In addition, an information ID generation unit 31 and an information ID embedding unit 32 are mounted on a client computer used by the user, and the client computer prints print data with a QR code on a printer connected to the local or network. May be. Further, instead of the image forming apparatus, a scanner that originally swings the scanning function may be configured to include the input method information acquisition unit 42 and the transmission processing unit 43.

Embodiment 5. FIG.
FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a print medium processing system in the present embodiment. The present embodiment is characterized in that the application server 10 can designate the embedding designation data separately from the print data. The embedding designation data is data that the application instructing printing of print data causes the image forming apparatus 30 to embed and print in the same manner as the information ID in order to pass the read image data to the application. For example, the negotiation number data used by the negotiation management system for managing individual negotiations is embedded in an estimate, invoice, contract, etc. created in relation to the negotiation. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the embedding designation data is printed as a QR code in the same manner as the information ID. Accordingly, since the negotiation number can be obtained by decoding the QR code of the negotiation number from the read image data after being stamped on the quotation, the application on the input side can input the quotation and the like by the negotiation number. It can be managed as a series of negotiation related documents.

  An active business negotiation management system or the like may not have a function for encoding and printing a business negotiation number into a QR code or the like. Changing such a business negotiation management system to QR code printing requires development time and cost. I don't want to stop the system at the time of introduction. In the present embodiment, even in such a case, the negotiation number sent from the application server 10 is received as the embedding designation data, printed as a QR code, and the image data obtained by scanning is negotiated together with the negotiation number. It becomes possible to input to the application in the management system.

  Returning to FIG. 19, the present embodiment has an information embedding unit 34 instead of the information ID embedding unit as compared with the first embodiment. This is because the embedding designation data is embedded in the print data in addition to the information ID. That is, the information embedding unit 32 has a function of an embedding designation data embedding unit for embedding embedding designation data in print data in addition to a function of an information ID embedding unit for embedding an information ID.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of an estimate printed by the image forming apparatus 30 in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 20, the QR code 61 of the embedding designation data is printed in the upper right of the estimate along with the QR code 6 of the information ID. The embedding designation data may be of any size and any number, but since the width of the margin for printing the encoded image varies depending on the print data, it is embedded within the range of the margin. FIG. 20 shows an example in which only one 128-bit fixed length embedding designation data is embedded.

  For example, in the negotiation management system, the image data of the quotation can be stored in the file server for each relevant negotiation number only by scanning the quotation illustrated in FIG. 20 before submitting it to the customer. Even if a quote is issued several times in one business negotiation, the management efficiency can be improved because each business negotiation can be managed. The same applies to the management of invoices. By simply scanning the invoice printed with the QR code of the negotiation number before submitting it to the customer, the image data of the invoice is stored in the file server for each corresponding negotiation number. Can be saved. By verifying the results of payments received at a later date using the same negotiation number, reliable payment collection management can be implemented.

  Note that what has been described above can be applied to all the various documents exchanged with customers as business negotiations progress, such as invoices, receipts, and contracts.

  According to the present embodiment, the data desired to be used by the application such as the negotiation number can be embedded and printed on the paper as the embedded specification data separately from the information ID for specifying the input method to the application. It is possible to respond flexibly to the delivery of data.

  In this embodiment, since the purpose of use is different, QR codes are generated separately for the information ID and the embedding designation data. However, both data may be combined into the same QR code.

Embodiment 6 FIG.
FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a print medium processing system in the present embodiment. The present embodiment is characterized in that the application server 10 can designate attribute data separately from the input method information. This attribute data refers to data that the application instructing printing wants to pass along with the image data to the input application. The attribute data is data that is additionally passed to the input-side application, similarly to the embedding designation data used in the fifth embodiment. However, the embedding designation data is data designated by the application that instructs printing, and is data that is encoded and added to the printing paper, whereas the attribute data is designated by the user in the same manner as the input method information. The data is held and managed in the information storage unit 52 together with the input method information.

  For example, a file with the file name “A” handled by the application is printed as print data, and the read image data generated by scanning is changed to a file name “A_image”, so that the original name “A” is used as the original name. In some cases, it is desired to associate print data with read image data. Also, print data from an application often has an attribute (sometimes referred to as metadata) for each application. For example, for security reasons, it is necessary to give a user name or group name that can access the data, or a history such as the print requester's user ID or printing time is added to the scanned image as an attribute. There is a case. Since the quantity of such attribute data may increase, it can be easily assumed that it is difficult to embed all the attribute data in the paper due to the relationship with the empty space on the print paper.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, an information setting unit 14 is provided instead of the input method information setting unit in the first embodiment. This is to pass attribute data to the image forming apparatus 30 in addition to the input method information. That is, the information setting unit 14 has a function of setting by sending attribute data in addition to the function of the input method information setting unit.

  When the input method information is sent from the application server 10, the information ID generation unit 31 in the image forming apparatus 30 generates identification information (information ID) for the input method information and together with the corresponding input method information. Although it transmits to the database server 50, in this Embodiment, attribute data is also transmitted together.

  FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a data configuration of information set and registered in the information storage unit 52 according to the present embodiment and an example of data setting. Upon receiving the information sent from the image forming apparatus 30, the information management unit 51 associates the input method information with the information ID and registers the information in the information storage unit 52. In the present embodiment, FIG. As shown, the attribute data is also registered in association with the information ID. The attribute data is arbitrary, but in this example, the file name of the scanned image file, the access right, the document security classification, the print date / time, the print requester, the search keyword, and the document creation manager. Of course, the attribute data need not necessarily be included in the data to be stored as in the third record in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the document management system will be briefly described as an example. The document management system includes access control of each document, history management such as when and who handled the document, indexing of the document, and its indexing. Performs security management such as search function management and safe storage of documents. The attribute data includes data used for such various types of management. Since the document management system performs various management as in this example, the attribute data is diverse and large. Here, the document is an application file, for example, a file created by Microsoft's Office (Word, PowerPoint, etc.), paper on which they are printed, or image data obtained by scanning paper.

  Documents printed for a meeting or the like are often scanned and saved as image data after the meeting ends and shared among members. Thus, in recent years, it has become commonplace to effectively utilize information by sharing information. However, there are times when we want to know the attribute information about the conference material, but since such information is not printed on paper, the application cannot obtain it.

  Therefore, when the image forming apparatus 40 according to the present embodiment obtains input method information based on the information ID specified from the read image data, if there is attribute data associated with the information ID, Get attribute data along with input method information. Since the image forming apparatus 40 can send the attribute data together with the read image data to the application server 20 with the application that can be specified from the input method information, the application side can be notified of the attribute information about the conference material.

  The application can perform desired data processing such as saving image data according to information included in the attribute data. For example, in the case of a document management system, the file name in the attribute data is saved as the file name of the input image data, the corresponding access management is performed based on the attribute data, and the attribute data is registered in the search index. To do. Thereby, image data can be managed and utilized appropriately. Alternatively, by displaying the attribute data, the attribute data can be utilized as necessary, such as allowing the user to recognize the attribute of the sheet.

  As another example, in a remote conference application as shown in FIG. 23, a document is displayed on a writable shared screen display, and the display and writing of the document are shared at a plurality of points. In such a teleconferencing application, any number of points can be connected according to the conference participants, but since the time when the conference is held and the place where the conference is attended change, the conference participants, conference materials, A method of avoiding confusion among a plurality of conferences can be taken by managing each conference room, the shared screen display and the image forming apparatus in the conference room in association with the conference body ID. Now, print the electronic material shared on the shared screen display during the meeting, write it on the print paper by hand, scan it, display it again on the shared screen display, share it with other meeting participants, and discuss I want to deepen. In such a case, the remote conference application uses the corresponding displayed page as print data, sets its remote conference application to the input destination address specified by the input method information, and sets the attribute data as the conference body ID. It passes to this system shown in FIG. Then, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 24, the sheet generated by adding the information ID to the print data is printed by the image forming apparatus A nearest to the conference room A. Here, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus A is not placed in the conference room because it is shared with normal office work. Further, as in the fifth record of the information shown in FIG. 25, it is assumed that the conference body ID: “857495786” is stored in the information storage unit 52 as attribute data corresponding to the information ID. Here, the conference participant writes necessary items on the sheet as illustrated in FIG. 26, and then scans with the nearest image forming apparatus A. The image forming apparatus A corresponding to the image forming apparatus 40 in the present embodiment is configured to remotely specify the scanned image data and the conference body ID specified from the information ID included in the read image from the corresponding input method information. Send to the conference application. As a result, the remote conference application displays the input image data on the shared screen display associated with the conference body.

  In this way, even if the image forming device is shared with other tasks and the remote conference application manages multiple conferences in parallel, discussions using print paper can be continued smoothly for each conference. Become.

  In addition, you may implement each embodiment mentioned above combining suitably. In this case, the information ID must be generated uniquely without duplication regardless of the system configuration of any embodiment, and the information storage unit 52 referred to in each system is logically single, that is, shared. It is necessary to make it. By configuring in this way, it becomes possible to combine the embodiments.

Embodiment 7 FIG.
In each of the above-described embodiments, as described in the first embodiment, item data necessary for setting input method information is manually input each time in the process of printing a form. Since the input method information is composed of a plurality of item data, the setting is troublesome and there is a possibility of being erroneously input. Accordingly, in the present embodiment and subsequent embodiments, a simple interface means is provided for setting various item data included in the input method information so as to facilitate the user's convenience. First, in the present embodiment, input method information can be easily set by effectively using a printer icon which is an example of an interface unit.

  FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing the print medium processing system in the present embodiment. This embodiment is configured by adding a definition information storage unit 15 to the configuration shown in the first embodiment. FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a data configuration of definition information of input method information set and registered in the definition information storage unit 15 in the present embodiment. As described above, the information on the input destination address, protocol, and error handling method shown in FIG. 28 is included in the input method information. In FIG. 28, the input destination address included in the input method information is shown to be clearly composed of a computer name and a shared folder name.

  FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a display example of printer icons prepared in advance for setting input method information in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the icons illustrated in FIG. 29 are generated before the use of the system is started, and the definition information of the input method information illustrated in FIG. 28 is associated with each icon. That is, as many printer icons as the number of input method information to be prepared in advance are prepared. Furthermore, a shared folder as a print data storage destination is also created in advance. FIG. 29 shows an example in which six icons are generated in advance, but FIG. 28 illustrates only definition information for three icons. It is assumed that the user of this system knows the setting contents of the input method information associated with each icon.

  The operation in the present embodiment performed after the above-described advance preparation will be described below. The operation of the present embodiment may be basically the same as that of the first embodiment, and will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In this embodiment, steps 101 and 102 in FIG. 6 are slightly different from those in the first embodiment.

  That is, in the first embodiment, when necessary items such as a delivery destination are written in a form of a default form and form data is generated as print data, the form data to be printed is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 30, and the user The input method information including the item data input by the above is generated and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 30. As described above, the transmission of the form data to the image forming apparatus 30 is performed by instructing printing from an application or the like operating on the application server 10.

  In contrast, in the present embodiment, when necessary items such as a delivery destination are written in a form of a default form and form data is generated as print data, the user selects the form data, and any of the examples shown in FIG. A print instruction is given to the printer specified by the icon. That is, the user specifies print data, a print instruction destination, and input method information at a time by a drag and drop operation.

  When the user performs a drag and drop operation, the input method information setting unit 13 displays a print detail screen on the screen and stores each item data of the input method information associated with the icon selected by the user as definition information. The data is read from the section 15 and displayed in the corresponding input / output field on the print details screen. A display example of the print details screen at this time is shown in FIG. When the user confirms the contents of the displayed input method information and then clicks the OK button, the application server 10 forms the input method information including the form data to be printed and each item data displayed on the screen. Transmit to device 30.

  Since the processing after receiving the print data and the input method information in the image forming apparatus 30 may be the same as that in each of the above embodiments, the description thereof is omitted. FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a data configuration of information set and registered in the information storage unit 52 in the present embodiment. As in the first embodiment, the information ID generated by the information ID generator 31 is added to the input method information sent from the application server 10 and registered in the information storage unit 52.

  According to the present embodiment, since the input method information is set in advance by an administrator or the like and associated with the icon, the user can select the icon associated with the input method information by simply selecting the icon to be printed. The input method information can be easily set for the form data. Further, since it is not necessary to input the input method information each time a print request is made, the possibility of an input error can be reduced. In addition, since the preset input method information can be changed at the time of a print request, the input method information can be set flexibly.

Embodiment 8 FIG.
The image forming apparatus 40 transmits the image data read by the scanner 314 to the application server 20 that can be specified from the input method information. At this time, the application server 20 may want to store the image data in a shared folder. The present embodiment is characterized in that the shared folder name can be automatically set from the file name which is one of the file attribute information.

  FIG. 32 is a conceptual diagram showing the features of this embodiment. FIG. 32 shows icons of files and printers displayed on the desktop, and shows three examples in which shared folder names are automatically set for two files, respectively.

  First, FIG. 32 (a) shows an example in which a character string that is commonly included in the names of two files to be shared is automatically extracted and the character string is automatically set as a shared folder name. Yes. That is, after selecting two files surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 32A and dragging and dropping them onto a printer icon for extracting a common character string, the input method information setting unit 13 reads the common character string, that is, “Estimate” is extracted and automatically set as a common folder name.

  Next, in FIG. 32B, in the names of the two files to be shared, a character string that is commonly included before the space (blank character) is automatically extracted, and the character string is shared. This is an example of automatic setting as a folder name. That is, after selecting two files surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 32B and dragging and dropping them onto the printer icon for extracting the character string before the space, the input method information setting unit 13 displays the character in front of the space. A column is extracted, and a character string that is commonly present therein, that is, “ABCD-like” is automatically set as a common folder name.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 32B, it is convenient to manage the read image data related to the same customer in the same folder. This embodiment is convenient for such a utilization method. The read image data refers to the image of the paper read by the image forming apparatus 40 after writing on the paper printed by the image forming apparatus 30 as already described in the first embodiment. Refers to data.

  FIG. 32C shows an example in which a character string consisting of the first six characters is automatically extracted from the names of two files to be shared, and the character string is automatically set as a shared folder name. That is, after selecting two files surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 32 (c) and dragging and dropping them on the printer icon for extracting the first six characters, the input method information setting unit 13 displays the characters from the first six characters. The column, that is, “070303” is automatically set as the common folder name.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 32C, when file management is performed by including the date and time in the file name, it is convenient because files with the same date and time can be managed in the same folder.

  In the present embodiment, each of the above extractions, in which one item data called a shared folder name included in the input method information is extracted and set from a character string forming a file name that is one of the attribute information of the file. Although an example of a configuration in which a rule is set and each extraction rule that is set is associated with a printer icon and selected by the user is shown, other common folder names such as “estimate” are fixed For example, a printer icon that is set to “1” or a printer icon that is set with the last six characters may be set as appropriate according to the use and operation of the system.

  In this embodiment, since it is assumed that the application server 10 that generates the form data and the application server 20 that processes the read image data are the same computer, the shared folder is an automatically set shared folder. It will be automatically generated on the desktop by name. Of course, the shared folder may be generated in a place other than the desktop by performing more detailed settings.

  In this embodiment, the automatic setting of the input method information related to the shared folder is taken as an example, but the present invention can also be applied to other input method information and automatic setting of the input method information of a plurality of items. The attribute information of the file is not limited to the file name, and it is possible to automatically set item data that can be input method information from other attribute information such as the creation date and the creator. Further, other input method information not automatically set may be manually input as in the first embodiment or may be used in combination with the seventh embodiment.

Embodiment 9 FIG.
In the eighth embodiment, a shared folder is generated as a storage destination of read image data processed by an application installed in the application server 20, and the folder name is automatically set with reference to the file name of the form data. . The shared folder is generated on the desktop. In the present embodiment, an example in which a place to be described later other than the desktop is set as the storage destination of the read image data is shown.

  FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a screen display example of one work folder prepared by Fuji Xerox Documents as an example of document handling software. Documents managed by this software can be stored and managed in the work folder in Fuji Xerox's Documents, and the desired document can be selected by selecting the print function from the pull-down menu displayed by clicking “File” on the menu bar. The file can be printed from the image forming apparatus 30.

  By the way, when form data to be printed is generated using document handling software, read image data corresponding to the form data is often imported into the same document handling software. Therefore, in this embodiment, a shared folder is not automatically generated as in the eighth embodiment, but one of the work folders managed by the software that generated the form data to be printed is shared, for example, the root folder. Added automatic setting as a folder. Thus, when the form data is processed by the same software that has generated the form data, it is convenient because image data read by the image forming apparatus 40 can be directly taken into a work folder prepared by the software.

  In the above description, Fuji Xerox's Docuworks is taken as an example, but the same can also be operated with the company's ArcSuite Office. Also, different document handling software can be operated in the same manner.

Embodiment 10 FIG.
For example, item data is often managed as a CSV (Comma Separated Value) file or a file that depends on a spreadsheet application such as Microsoft Excel. It is also conceivable that the input method information used in each of the above embodiments is managed in a table format using these files. Therefore, the present embodiment is characterized in that the input method information managed in a table format can be used effectively.

  FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a data configuration example of input method information managed in a tabular format in the present embodiment. In FIG. 34, each record is composed of print document information, input method information, and attribute information, and is set for each form to be printed. The print document information includes identification information of a document to be printed, and includes information related to the document. In the example illustrated in FIG. 34, a file name of the document and a folder name that specifies a storage location are included. The input method information is as described above. The attribute information is information added to the printed form with a QR code, and includes the embedded data described in the fifth embodiment and the attribute data described in the sixth embodiment. In the present embodiment, the file name assigned to the read image data of the written form, the storage location of customer information used as a search index, and embedded data are included.

  In the present embodiment, the form data to be generated in step 101 of FIG. 6 is stored at a location specified from the print document information. In this embodiment, the input method information for the form data is extracted from the table with reference to the identification information called the file name of the form data, and is set as the input method information for the form data. The application server 10 further extracts attribute information associated with the information from the table and transmits the attribute information to the image forming apparatus 40. As a result, the form data is printed and a form is generated. Since the subsequent processing has been described in the first, fourth, and sixth embodiments, the description thereof is omitted.

Embodiment 11 FIG.
In the print medium processing system described in each of the above embodiments, by printing a form and reading the written form, the printed form can be confirmed together with the written contents. Further, it can be confirmed that the input is correctly performed by the desired application server 20. However, there is a case where it is desired to confirm whether or not the above processing based on the input method information is correctly performed before distributing a large number of printed materials. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the test execution processing unit 35 is provided so that such a test can be executed. Since it is convenient to explain with one image forming apparatus 300 that performs both printing and reading, in this embodiment, the test execution processing unit 35 is provided in the system configuration of the second embodiment. did. Of course, the functional process of the test execution processing unit 35 is divided into a process of receiving image data to be printed and a process of transmitting test image data, and the image forming apparatus 30 shown in the first embodiment and The image forming apparatus 40 may be configured to be mounted on each.

  Next, the operation in the present embodiment will be described focusing on the characteristic parts of the present embodiment. As described above, the form data to be printed is printed after the information ID is added. It is transmitted to the print processing unit 33. In the present embodiment, it is also transmitted to the test execution processing unit 35 at the same time. Since it is not necessary to actually print at the time of the test, the print control is performed so that the form data is not sent to the print processing unit 33 by performing the switching control to the test mode when performing the test. May be performed.

  When the form data is sent, the test execution processing unit 35 adds data indicating that it is test data to the form data, and then transmits the data to the input method information acquisition unit 42. As data indicating that it is test data, it is only necessary to recognize that the read image data is for testing. For example, character data such as “test” in the entry field may be used.

  When the test image data sent from the test execution processing unit 35 is acquired instead of the read image data, the input method information acquisition unit 42 detects and decodes the QR code included in the image data to obtain the information ID. To extract. Since the subsequent processing is as described with reference to FIG. 9 in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, a test of whether the form data generated by the application server 10 is sent to the correct application server 20 according to the input method information and processed is performed before the processing based on the actual read image data is started. Can be executed.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing Embodiment 1 of a print medium processing system according to the present invention. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an application server according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing a print medium processing system in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of information set and registered in an information storage unit according to the first embodiment and a data setting example. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing until a form is printed in the first embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a form printed by the form printing process according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a form when a receipt stamp is pressed on the form shown in FIG. 7. 4 is a flowchart showing processing until a designated application inputs read image data of a form in the first embodiment. It is the figure which showed the example of the answer sheet with a questionnaire processed in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is the figure which showed the example of the paper when an answer and a questionnaire are described in the answer paper with a questionnaire shown in FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another data configuration example of information set and registered in the information storage unit in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating a print medium processing system according to a second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block configuration diagram illustrating a print medium processing system in a second embodiment. FIG. 9 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating a print medium processing system in a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block configuration diagram illustrating a print medium processing system according to a third embodiment. FIG. 6 is an overall configuration diagram showing a print medium processing system in a fourth embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block configuration diagram illustrating a print medium processing system in a fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block configuration diagram showing a print medium processing system in a fifth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an estimate printed by an image forming apparatus according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block configuration diagram showing a print medium processing system in a sixth embodiment. It is the figure which showed the data structure of the information set and registered into the information storage part in Embodiment 6, and showed the example of a data setting. FIG. 10 is an overall configuration diagram showing a remote conference system in a sixth embodiment. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a screen display example printed by an image forming apparatus according to a sixth embodiment. It is the figure which showed the data structure of the other information set and registered into the information storage part in Embodiment 6, and also showed the example of a data setting. It is the figure which showed having written in the printing paper shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a block configuration diagram illustrating a print medium processing system in a seventh embodiment. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a data configuration of definition information of input method information set and registered in a definition information storage unit in the seventh embodiment. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a printer icon prepared in advance for setting input method information in the seventh embodiment. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a print details screen in the seventh embodiment. It is the figure which showed the data structure of the information set and registered into the information storage part in Embodiment 7, and also showed the example of a data setting. FIG. 20 is a conceptual diagram used to explain a method for setting input method information in an eighth embodiment. FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a screen display example when the contents of a work folder included in document handling software in which read image data is stored in the ninth embodiment are displayed. FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example of input method information managed in a tabular format in the tenth embodiment. FIG. 20 is a block configuration diagram illustrating a print medium processing system in an eleventh embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  2 network, 4 printing paper, 10, 20 application server, 11 print data generation unit, 12 print instruction unit, 13 input method information setting unit, 14 information setting unit, 15 definition information storage unit, 21 data reception unit, 22 data processing 30, 40, 300, 310, 340 Image forming apparatus, 31 Information ID generation unit, 32 Information ID embedding unit, 33 Print processing unit, 34 Information embedding unit, 35 Test execution processing unit, 41 Reading unit, 42 Input method information acquisition unit, 43 transmission processing unit, 50 database server, 51 information management unit, 52 information storage unit, 60 network printer, 70 network scanner, 111, 311 CPU, 112, 319 ROM, 113, 318 RAM, 114, 315 Hard disk drive (HDD), 115 HDD controller Troller, 116 mouse, 117 keyboard, 118 display, 119 input / output controller, 120 network controller, 121 internal bus, 312 address data bus, 313 operation panel, 314 scanner, 316 printer engine, 317 network interface (I / F), 320 External media interface (I / F).

Claims (17)

Identification information generating means for receiving input method information to be referred to when inputting the image data to an application for inputting and processing the image data, and generating identification information for the received input method information;
Information storage means for storing the generated identification information in association with the input method information;
Printing means for printing image data to be printed after adding identification information of the input method information to the image data;
Reading means for reading data printed on a printing medium by the printing means;
Extraction means for extracting identification information from the image data read by the reading means;
An acquisition means for acquiring input method information specified by the identification information extracted by the extraction means from the information storage means;
Transmitting means for transmitting the image data read by the reading means to an application identified from the input method information acquired by the acquiring means;
A print medium processing system comprising: The print medium processing system according to claim 1,
A print medium processing system comprising update means for updating information stored in the information storage means. The print medium processing system according to claim 1,
A print medium processing system comprising: additional information receiving means for receiving additional information to be input together with the image data to an application for inputting and processing the image data. The print medium processing system according to claim 1,
The print medium processing system, wherein the input method information includes at least one of information relating to a protocol used when data is transmitted to the application and information relating to abnormal data transmission processing. Input method information receiving means for receiving input method information to be referred to when inputting the image data to an application that inputs and processes the image data;
Identification information generating means for generating identification information for identifying the input method information, and storing the generated identification information in the information storage means in association with the input method information;
Printing means for printing image data to be printed after adding identification information of the input method information to the image data;
A printing apparatus comprising: Identification given to input method information to be referred to when inputting image data obtained by reading a print medium and inputting the image data to an application that inputs and processes the image data. Extraction means for extracting information;
Obtaining means for obtaining input method information specified by the extracted identification information from information storage means for storing the identification information in association with the input method information;
Transmitting means for transmitting image data obtained by reading a print medium to an application identified from the acquired input method information;
An information processing apparatus comprising: In a computer mounted on an image forming apparatus having a printing function,
Let the application that inputs and processes the image data accept the input method information to be referred to when inputting the image data,
The identification information for identifying the input method information is generated, and the generated identification information is associated with the input method information and stored in the information storage unit.
Printing the image data to be printed after adding the identification information of the input method information to the image data;
A program characterized by that. In a computer mounted on an image forming apparatus having a reading function,
Identification given to input method information to be referred to when inputting image data obtained by reading a print medium and inputting the image data to an application that inputs and processes the image data. Let the information be extracted,
From the information storage means for storing the identification information in association with the input method information, the input method information specified by the extracted identification information is acquired,
Send the image data obtained by reading the print medium to the application specified from the acquired input method information,
A program characterized by that. The print medium processing system according to claim 1,
A first image forming apparatus having the identification information generating unit and the printing unit;
A second image forming apparatus having the reading unit, the extracting unit, the acquiring unit, and the transmitting unit;
A database server having the information storage means;
A print medium processing system comprising: The print medium processing system according to claim 1,
An image forming apparatus including the identification information generating unit, the printing unit, the reading unit, the extracting unit, the acquiring unit, and the transmitting unit;
A database server having the information storage means;
A print medium processing system comprising: The print medium processing system according to claim 1,
A first computer having the identification information generating means;
A printing apparatus having the printing means;
A scanner device having the reading means;
A second computer having the extraction means, the acquisition means and the transmission means;
A database server having the information storage means;
A print medium processing system comprising: The print medium processing system according to claim 1,
Input method information storage means for storing predefined input method information;
Input method information setting means for setting input method information associated with identification information by the identification information generating means by specifying input method information in accordance with a user operation from the input method information stored in the input method information storage means When,
A print medium processing system comprising: The print medium processing system according to claim 12.
Each input method information stored in the input method information storage means is associated with an icon of the printing means,
The input method information setting means sets input method information associated with an icon of the printing means for printing image data to be printed selected by a user as input method information for the image data. Print media processing system. The print medium processing system according to claim 12.
The input method information setting unit includes a part of attribute information of an image data file to be printed selected by a user in input method information set in the image data. The print medium processing system according to claim 12.
When the input method information setting unit includes the storage location of the image data read by the reading unit in the input method information, application software used for generating image data to be printed is used as the storage location of the read image data. A print medium processing system characterized by setting a file storage destination managed by. The print medium processing system according to claim 12.
The input method information setting means retrieves input method information corresponding to image data to be printed from a tabular data file in which identification information of image data and input method information are associated, and inputs the image data A print medium processing system, characterized in that it is set as method information. The print medium processing system according to claim 1,
The image data to be printed by the printing means and the image data to which the identification information of the input method information is added are received, and after the information indicating the test is added to the received image data, the image data is read by the reading means. A print medium processing system comprising test execution means for transmitting to the extraction means instead of the image data.