JP2009017482A - Communication apparatus, communication method, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save labor hour such as image filing etc. by an operator by providing a communication apparatus, a communication method, and a computer program, for storing image data into a predetermined storage destination based on embedded information to be included in the received image data. <P>SOLUTION: The communication apparatus includes embedded information acquiring means for acquiring embedded information to be included in the received image data, storage destination deciding means for deciding the storage destination of the image data based on the embedded information, and data storing means for storing the image data into the storage destination. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device, a communication method, and a computer program. More specifically, the present invention relates to a communication device, a communication method, and a computer program that acquire embedded information in image data and perform data transmission according to the embedded information. About.

  In recent years, a communication device such as an image reading device with a communication function or a facsimile device reads a document on which embedded information such as a barcode has been printed in advance, recognizes the barcode in the read image data, and is included in the barcode. There is a technique such as a fax communication method for performing data transmission based on destination information.

  For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-78739 (Patent Document 1), when a transmission sheet in which a barcode including a transmission destination number and information about a transmission destination is read at a predetermined position, the bar is read. A technique of a facsimile apparatus that transmits / receives data to / from another apparatus based on information on a transmission destination number and a transmission destination included in a code is disclosed.

According to the facsimile apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to omit the input of the transmission destination number by the operator, so that it is possible to avoid an error in the number input.
JP 2003-78739 A

  However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 does not consider processing for storing image data when a facsimile is received.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a communication apparatus, a communication method, and a computer program for storing image data in a predetermined storage location based on embedded information included in received image data The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the communication device of the present invention provides information related to a storage destination held by the communication device from embedded information included in transmission data, reception data, or transfer data that is target data. It is adopted that the path name to the storage folder is determined by comparing with the above.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the communication apparatus according to the present invention includes an embedded information acquisition unit that acquires embedded information included in received image data, and stores the image data based on the embedded information. A storage destination determination unit that determines a destination and a data storage unit that stores the image data in the storage destination may be employed.

  Accordingly, it is possible to provide a communication device that stores image data in a predetermined storage location based on embedded information included in received image data.

  In order to achieve the above object, the communication apparatus of the present invention further includes storage destination information holding means for holding information relating to the transmission source of image data and the identification information of the storage destination in association with each other. The embedded information acquisition means acquires information related to the transmission source of the image data from the embedded information, and the storage destination determination means is held in the information related to the transmission source and the storage destination information holding means. The storage location can be determined based on the stored information.

  In order to achieve the above object, the communication device of the present invention further includes: the storage destination determining means when the storage destination is a folder provided in an accumulation means connected via a network; File name determination means for determining a file name when the image data is stored in the folder based on embedded information, and the data storage means stores the image data and the file name with respect to the storage means. Can be configured to be transmitted and stored.

  In order to achieve the above object, the communication apparatus according to the present invention further includes: when the folder is not yet provided in the storage unit, the data storage unit provides the folder in the storage unit. Can be configured.

  In order to achieve the above object, the communication device of the present invention is further configured such that the storage location information holding unit holds identification information of a predetermined storage location corresponding to a case where the embedded information cannot be acquired. Can be configured.

  In order to achieve the above object, the communication apparatus according to the present invention further includes a case where the embedded information acquisition unit includes predetermined message information for the destination of the received image data in the embedded information. , Having message information obtaining means for obtaining the message information from the embedded information, and having a mail sending means for sending a mail in a predetermined format to a mail address corresponding to the destination based on the message information It can be configured.

  In order to achieve the above object, the communication apparatus of the present invention further includes a case where the image of the image data is composed of a plurality of pages, and the embedded information includes storage destination information corresponding to each page. , Page data generating means for generating page data for each page from the image data, the storage destination determining means determining a storage destination corresponding to the page data, and the data storage means The page data can be stored in a storage location corresponding to each data.

  In order to achieve the above object, the communication device according to the present invention further includes an attribute of the area when the embedding information includes information on the attribute of the area for each area of the image of the image data. And a region processing unit that extracts a predetermined image region from the image data or deletes the predetermined image region from the image data, and the data storage unit performs processing by the region processing unit. Configured to store the processed image data.

  In order to achieve the above object, the communication apparatus of the present invention further includes a form image based on a predetermined format, and the embedded information relates to an attribute for each entry area of the form image. An input screen generating means for generating an input screen for prompting input to the entry area when information is included, and an input for combining the information input based on the input screen at a position corresponding to the entry area of the form image Combining means, and the data storage means can be configured to store image data of a form image synthesized by the input composition means.

  In order to achieve the above object, the communication apparatus of the present invention may further include a reply unit that returns the image data to the transmission source.

  In order to achieve the above object, the communication device of the present invention further forms an image of image data returned by the reply unit on a medium, or generates a preview screen of the image. It can be configured to have means.

In order to achieve the above object, the communication method of the present invention includes an embedding information acquisition step of acquiring embedding information included in received image data, and storing the image data based on the embedding information. A storage destination determining step for determining a destination and a data storage step for storing the image data in the storage destination can be employed.
It can be constituted as follows.

  In order to achieve the above object, the communication method of the present invention further includes a storage location information holding step for holding information related to the transmission source of image data and the identification information of the storage location in association with each other. In the embedding information acquisition step, information relating to the transmission source of the image data is acquired from the embedding information, and in the storage destination determination step, the information relating to the transmission source and the storage destination information holding means are held. The storage location can be determined based on the stored information.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the communication method of the present invention, in the storage destination determination step, the storage destination is a folder provided in a storage unit connected via a network. A file name determining step for determining a file name when the image data is stored in the folder based on embedding information, and in the data storing step, the image data and the file name are stored in the storage means; And can be configured to be transmitted and stored.

  In order to achieve the above object, the computer program of the present invention can be configured as a computer program that causes a computer to execute the communication method of the present invention.

  According to the communication device, the communication method, and the computer program of the present invention, the communication device, the communication method, and the computer program that store the image data in a predetermined storage location based on the embedded information included in the received image data. It becomes possible to provide.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First embodiment]
(Outline of one embodiment of the present invention)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication system including a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a multifunction device 1 having a facsimile function, a facsimile device 2, and a storage device 3 are included.

  The multifunction device 1 receives a facsimile from the facsimile device 2. The multifunction device 1 further acquires embedded information having a barcode format from the image data received by facsimile, and collates the information with the address book information held by the multifunction device 1. When the sender information included in the embedded information is checked against the address book information, the path name of the storage location associated with the sender information in the address book is acquired, and The received image data is stored in the storage location.

  In the example of FIG. 1, the storage location is provided as a folder corresponding to each transmission source in the storage device 3 connected to the multifunction device 1.

  With this configuration, it is possible to save labor for the operator to classify and file the paper on which the image data received by facsimile is formed, for example, for each transmission source.

(Example of functional configuration of communication device according to one embodiment of the present invention)
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the communication apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The communication apparatus 100 in FIG. 2 acquires embedded information included in the received image data, and performs processing such as transmission of image data based on the embedded information.

  The communication device 100 includes, for example, an embedded information acquisition unit 110, a storage destination determination unit 120, and a data storage unit 131. The communication apparatus 100 may further include a mail transmission unit 132, a reply unit 133, a reception unit 134, a storage location information holding unit 140, an image processing unit 150, and a screen generation unit 160.

  The embedding information acquisition means 110 is means for acquiring embedding information included in the received image data. The embedded information has, for example, a code form such as a barcode. The embedding information acquisition unit 110 acquires the embedding information by acquiring a barcode or the like from a predetermined position in the image data and decoding it. The embedding information acquisition unit 110 also detects the position of the bar code by detecting a predetermined mark included in the bar code or the like, and acquires the embedding information from the image of the bar code.

  The embedded information acquired by the embedded information acquiring unit 110 is, for example, information relating to the transmission source of the received image data, message information for the recipient of the image data, or the like.

  The embedded information acquisition unit 110 may include a message information acquisition unit 111. The message information acquisition unit 111 is a unit that acquires message information when the embedded information includes message information for the transmission destination of the image data. The message information is, for example, information such as “Urgent” and “Reply required”.

  The storage destination determination unit 120 determines the storage destination of the received image data based on the embedded information acquired by the embedded information acquisition unit 110. For example, the storage destination determination unit 120 sets a folder provided in the storage unit corresponding to each sender of image data as the storage destination of the image data. Thereby, image data can be stored in a folder corresponding to each sender. The storage destination determining unit 120 may acquire the storage destination identification information corresponding to the embedded information from the storage destination information holding unit 140 described later.

  For example, when the embedded information is not acquired or when the storage destination corresponding to the embedded information is not determined, the storage destination determining unit 120 sets a predetermined error storage destination as It may be a storage location for image data. The storage destination determined by the storage destination determination unit 120 may have, for example, a mail address form. In that case, image data is attached to the mail and transmitted.

  For example, the storage destination determination unit 120 may include a file name determination unit 121. When the storage destination is a folder provided in the storage unit, the file name determination unit 121 determines a file name when image data is stored in the folder. The file name determination unit 121 may generate a file name including information relating to the sender, receiver, or reception date and time of the image data, and may use the file name of the image data.

  The data storage unit 130 stores the received image data in the storage destination determined by the storage destination determination unit 120. The data storage unit 130 may also transmit the image data processed by the image processing unit 150, for example. The data storage unit 130 transmits image data using a communication protocol such as FTP or HTTP.

  For example, the mail transmission unit 132 transmits the received image data as a mail to a predetermined mail address. In the case of sending as e-mail, the image data may be sent as an attached file, or after the image data is converted into text data, the text data may be sent as the mail body.

  For example, when the message information is acquired by the message information acquisition unit 111, the mail transmission unit 132 transmits a mail in a predetermined format to the mail address of the “recipient” that is the destination of the image data. Also good. Thereby, for example, when message information such as “urgent” or “reply required” is acquired from the embedded information, the message information can be suitably notified to the recipient who is the destination of the image data. The mail address corresponding to the destination may be included in the embedded information, for example, or may be held together with the storage destination information in the storage destination information holding unit 140, for example.

  The reply unit 133 is a unit that transmits the reply image data to the transmission source of the received image data. The reply image data is, for example, image data processed and generated by the image processing unit 150.

  The receiving unit 134 is a unit that receives image data from a transmission source. The other means included in the communication apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention realizes each function based on the image data received by the receiving means 134, for example.

  The data storage unit 131, the mail transmission unit 132, the reply unit 133, and the reception unit 134 may be configured as one communication unit.

  The storage destination information holding unit 140 is a unit that holds information relating to the transmission source of the image data and identification information of the storage destination of the image data in association with each other. The information related to the transmission source is, for example, the name of the sender, the facsimile number of the facsimile that is the transmission source of the image data, or the identification information of the personal computer that is the transmission source of the image data. The storage destination identification information is, for example, a path name to a folder provided in the storage means in which the image data is to be stored, a destination mail address, or a destination facsimile number.

  The image processing unit 150 performs image processing on the received image data. For example, when the embedded information includes information related to image processing, the image processing unit 150 may perform image processing based on the information. The image data processing unit 150 includes, for example, an area processing unit 151, an input composition unit 152, and a page data generation unit 153.

  The area processing unit 151 deletes a predetermined area of the image data or extracts a predetermined area of the image data based on the embedding information. The area processing unit 151 generates image data that does not include an image unnecessary for a person viewing the image, for example, by deleting an area of the barcode including the embedded information. For example, the area processing unit 151 may extract new image data by extracting image data corresponding to the area of the image necessary for the viewer from the image.

  When the received image data is image data of a form image and the embedded information includes information related to the entry area of the form, the input composition unit 152 performs input corresponding to the entry area. Synthesize the images of the information. The input corresponding to the entry area is, for example, that information is inputted by the operator based on a screen that prompts input to the entry area generated by the input screen generation unit 161 described later. . The information input by the operator may be, for example, information related to designation by the operator such as “approval” or “seal” in addition to information by characters. Based on the information relating to this designation, the input composition unit 152 synthesizes an image such as a seal stamp in the entry area.

  The information related to the entry area is, for example, information related to the attribute of the entry area, such as the positional information in the image of the entry area and the information to be entered in the entry area. The type of information or the like.

  The page data generating unit 153 generates page data that is image data for each page when the received image data is composed of images of a plurality of pages.

  The screen generation unit 160 generates a screen to be displayed on, for example, a display unit (not shown) included in the communication device 100 or a display unit controlled by another device connected to the communication device 100 via a network or the like. The screen generation unit 160 includes, for example, an input screen generation unit 161 and a confirmation screen generation unit 162.

  The input screen generation unit 161 generates various screens that prompt the operator to input. For example, when the image data of a form image is received and the information related to the entry area of the form image is included in the embedded information, the input screen generation unit 161 generates a screen that prompts input to the entry area. .

  The confirmation screen generation unit 162 is a unit that generates a screen for confirming an image of the image data processed by the image processing unit 150. The confirmation screen generation unit 162 may also generate a screen for confirming the image of the received image data. The screen for confirming the image is displayed on, for example, a display unit (not shown) controlled by the communication device 100 or the like. The screen for confirming the image may also be formed on the medium by image forming means controlled by the communication device 100 or the like.

  The confirmation screen generation unit 162 may also generate a preview screen of the image after being processed by the image processing unit 150, for example. Thereby, after the operator confirms the preview screen, the image data can be processed by the image processing unit 150, an image intended by the operator can be generated, and errors in image processing can be reduced. Can do.

(Example of communication device configured as a facsimile device)
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of the device configuration when the communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention is realized as a facsimile device. The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to a facsimile apparatus, but may be any communication apparatus that stores image data in a predetermined storage location after receiving the image data. However, generally received image data is formed on a paper surface like a facsimile apparatus. Thus, in the communication device stored, the function of efficiently storing in the storage device is realized instead of forming on the paper surface.

  3 includes an image reading unit 12, an image processing unit 14, a transmission buffer memory 16, an encoding / decoding unit 18, a modem 20, a network control unit 22, a telephone 24, an operation / control unit. A display unit 26, a system control unit (SCU) 28, a transmission-related information storage unit 30, a character generator 32, a reception buffer memory 34, a recording control unit 36, and an image recording unit 38 And an application unit 40 and a NIC (Network Interface Card) 42. The white arrows shown in FIG. 3 indicate the data flow of image data.

  The operation / display unit 26 includes an input key for receiving an instruction from the operator and a display device that displays input information, a message, an operation menu screen, and the like by the input key, and provides the user with the functions of the facsimile apparatus 10. is doing. In the present embodiment, as an input key, in addition to a numeric keypad for inputting facsimile transmission destination information and a “start key” for accepting a fax transmission start instruction from an operator, an “OK key”, “NG key”, “cancel” A “key” or a software keyboard for inputting characters may be included.

  The image reading unit 12 is configured, for example, as an image input unit such as a scanner that optically reads an image on the transmission original P. For example, when the “start key” of the operation / display unit 26 is pressed, fax transmission from the operator is performed. In response to the start instruction, the image reading process is started. The image signal read and acquired from the document by the image reading unit 12 is subjected to image processing such as correction by the image processing unit 14 and converted into image data. The image data converted by the image processing unit 14 may be monochrome binary image data. The image data subjected to the image processing is temporarily stored in a transmission buffer memory 16 composed of a memory of one line or a plurality of lines.

  The encoding / decoding unit 18 uses MH (Modified Huffman), MR (Modified READ: Relative Element Address Designate), MMR (Modified Modified READ) JBIG (Joint Bi-level Image experts Group), etc. An encoding process to encoded data for facsimile communication or a decoding process for decoding the encoded data subjected to the encoding process is executed. The encoding / decoding unit 18 executes encoding processing, that is, compression processing, to read image data for transmission from the transmission buffer memory 16 and transmit it to an external device, and decodes encoded data received from the external device. Processing is performed, and monochrome binary image data is temporarily stored in the reception buffer memory 34.

  The modem 20 modulates / demodulates the encoded data compressed for transmission into a transmission signal by a predetermined method or demodulates the received transmission signal. The network control unit 22 executes public line control processing such as connection control with a telephone line, and controls communication with the other communication apparatus via the telephone line according to a predetermined facsimile transmission procedure using the telephone 24. To do.

  The telephone 24 communicates with a communication apparatus of the other party as a voice signal through a telephone line. Note that the modulation method, facsimile transmission procedure, and type of line used for the modem 20 are, for example, those specified in facsimile communication standards such as G3 standard and G4 standard defined in the ITU-T recommendation. It's okay.

  The recording control unit 36 reads the image data written in the reception buffer memory 34 and controls the image recording unit 38 to record the received image data as a visible image on a recording sheet. The image recording unit 38 is configured as an image recording unit such as a plotter, for example. The reception buffer memory 34 and the transmission buffer memory 16 may be configured as a single memory, and the reception buffer memory 34 and the transmission buffer memory 16 are different memories, and the configuration thereof is different. It may be the same.

  The application unit 40 is a function realization means for realizing a facsimile transmission / reception function and a transfer function. The facsimile transmission / reception function is a facsimile transmission in which image data for transmission obtained by causing the image reading unit 12 to read the transmission original P is transmitted to an external facsimile apparatus by the encoding / decoding unit 18, the modem 20, or the like. And a function including facsimile reception in which information transmitted from an external facsimile apparatus is received by the modem 20 or the like, and the acquired received image data is recorded on a recording sheet by the recording control unit 36. The facsimile reception function may further include a function of receiving information transmitted from an external facsimile apparatus by the modem 20 or the like and storing the acquired received image data in a predetermined recording unit.

  The transfer is a function of transmitting image data received by the image reading unit 12 or image data read and acquired by the image reading unit 12 to an external storage device such as a computer or a server (not shown). The NIC 42 is connected to a network such as a local area network (LAN) and executes communication with a storage device (server). At the time of transfer, image data (electronic file) is transmitted using a predetermined communication protocol such as HTTP or FTP.

  The transmission-related information storage unit 30 includes transmission source information, transmission source transfer folder registration information, information for recognizing the barcode printed on the reception original P, parameter settings used during transmission or reception, and the like. Is configured as a non-volatile memory for storing. Note that at least one piece of transmission source information is registered in the transmission source transfer folder registration information, and the transmission source information includes a path name of a transmission source transfer folder associated with a FAX number, a customer number, a FAX number, or the like. That is, the path name of the folder on the external storage device is included.

  The information for recognizing the barcode is, for example, when the image data received by facsimile is composed of a plurality of pages of image, the barcode recognition processing is performed on the page data which is the image data of the image of the first page. Based on the acquired source information, determine the path name of the source transfer folder for each page, or determine the path name of one source transfer folder for the page data of all pages Or attribute information such as whether to determine the path name of the transmission folder for transmission based on the embedded information obtained by performing barcode recognition processing for each page.

  The transmission-related information storage unit 30 is also an administrator for sending an e-mail for notifying the administrator that the message is urgent when the bar code includes message information such as “urgent”. May be stored. The transmission related information storage unit 30 may also hold setting information as to whether or not to process only a necessary part of an image.

  In addition, characters input by the operator via the operation / display unit 26 may be embedded in the corresponding portion of the image data by the image processing unit 14. Furthermore, when an electronic seal stamp is necessary, the image processing unit 14 may perform the “stamping” process by adding a seal stamp image to a corresponding portion of the image data.

  A system control unit (hereinafter referred to as “SCU”) 28 includes a CPU (not shown) that executes various operations, a ROM (not shown) that stores various control programs, and a RAM (not shown) that provides a work memory area for the CPU. It is configured and controls the entire system of the facsimile apparatus 10. Under the control of the CPU, a computer program (not shown) stored in the ROM or the like is expanded in the memory area of the RAM, and the encoding / decoding unit 18, modem 20, network control unit 22, operation / display unit 26, transmission-related information storage unit 30 and the like are controlled, and the functions such as fax transmission / reception, transfer, barcode recognition, and unnecessary image area erasure processing described above are realized.

  As the CPU used by the facsimile apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, for example, PENTIUM (registered trademark) to PENTIUM (registered trademark) IV, PENTIUM (registered trademark) compatible CPU, POWER PC (registered trademark), MIPS. Or other appropriate CPU may be employed.

  In this embodiment, the facsimile communication using black and white binary image data has been described as an example. However, in other embodiments, JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), JBIG, MRC (Mixed Raster Content), etc. A configuration may be adopted in which a color image is transmitted / received by using an encoding method corresponding to the color facsimile communication.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, barcode formats include JAN (Japan Article Number), UPC (Universal Product Code), EAN (European Article Number), ITF (Interleaved Two of Five), CODE39, QR code, and the like. Various formats may be adopted, and a barcode format is set according to the application, and the barcode indicates only numbers or alphabets, numbers, and symbols depending on the format. Further, instead of reading the barcode, OMR processing for reading a predetermined mark may be performed.

  For example, for a FAX number expressed by a numeric string, a barcode capable of expressing only numbers is used, and for a “customer number” including alphabets and symbols, a barcode capable of expressing alphabets, numbers and symbols is used. . Furthermore, by setting the barcode format, it is possible to suitably reduce erroneous transmission of “customer number” being erroneously recognized as “reply FAX number”.

(Flow of an example of processing by the facsimile machine 10 of this embodiment)
4 to 10 are flowcharts and the like of an example of processing executed by the facsimile apparatus 10 or the communication apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment to recognize a barcode and distribute and transfer the barcode to a folder corresponding to each transmission source. is there.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example of facsimile reception processing executed by the communication apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example of processing a facsimile image transmitted from a business partner, for example, and a barcode image is distributed to the business partner in advance. The distribution of the barcode image may be realized, for example, by distributing a form such as a purchase order for a barcode-added document.

  In step S101 in FIG. 4, image data of an image of a barcode-added document such as an order form in which necessary items are filled in by a sender such as a business partner is transmitted by FAX. Progressing to step S102 following step S101, the image data is received by the facsimile function of the communication apparatus 100, and the embedded information acquisition unit 110 performs barcode detection processing.

  Progressing to step S103 following step S102, the process proceeds to step S104 if a bar code is detected from the image data by the embedding information acquisition means 110, and to step S107 if not detected. In step S104 subsequent to step S103, the embedding information acquisition unit 110 determines whether or not there is embedding information included in the barcode. If the embedding information is acquired, the process proceeds to step S105, where the embedding information is acquired. If the embedded information is not acquired, the process proceeds to step S107.

  In step S105 following step S104, the storage destination determination unit 120 collates the address book information held in the storage destination information holding unit 140 with the source information acquired from the embedded information. In the address book, for example, information related to business partners is registered. The information relating to the supplier includes, for example, the supplier name, the FAX number of the supplier, the customer number, and the transfer destination path name of the received image data.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of information stored in the address book. In FIG. 5, the supplier identification information, the supplier name, and the supplier facsimile number are associated with the path name of the folder storing the received image data.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the process proceeds to step S <b> 106 following step S <b> 105, and it is determined in step S <b> 105 whether the collation process with the address book is successful. If the collation process is successful, the process proceeds to step S108. If the collation process fails, the process proceeds to step S107.

  In step S108 following step S106, the storage destination determination unit 120 acquires a transfer destination path name based on the information in the address book checked in step S105. More specifically, the storage destination determination unit 120 searches the address book for a match from the FAX number or customer number acquired as the embedded information, and acquires the transfer destination path name in the matched record.

  Progressing to step S109 following step S108, the file name determination means 121 determines the file name of the image data. For example, the file name determination unit 121 determines the file name based on the date and time when the image data is received and the information registered in the address book.

The file name is determined by the following procedures (1) to (6), for example.
(1) The image data is received on April 23, 2007 at 10:00:00.
(2) The embedding information acquisition unit 110 detects the barcode from the received image data and acquires the embedding information. Here, the transmission source facsimile number “03XXXXXXX” is acquired.
(3) The storage location determination unit 120 searches for a record that matches “03XXXXXXX” from the facsimile number information included in the address book held by the storage location information holding unit 140.
(4) The storage location determination unit 120 acquires name information of a record having the facsimile number “03XXXXXXX” in the address book. Here, for example, “Company A” is acquired.
(5) The storage destination determination unit 120 acquires “path name” information of a record having the facsimile number “03XXXXXXX” in the address book. Here, for example, “Order Form / Company A” is acquired.
(6) The file name determination unit 121 sets the file name of the image data to “Company A_20070423100000.pdf” based on the name information acquired in (4) and the reception time in (1), and the storage destination The determination unit 120 sets the image data storage destination as the “order form / Company A” folder on a predetermined storage device.

  On the other hand, in step S107 following step S104 or step S106, the storage destination determination unit 120 determines a path name when a barcode is not detected or when barcode recognition fails. In the address book, as information corresponding to the case where no barcode is detected, transfer destination path name such as “Other” folder, or transfer such as “BarCode Error” folder as information when barcode recognition fails. The destination path name is registered. As a result, when a barcode is not detected or when barcode recognition fails, a transfer destination path name to which the image data is transferred can be determined.

  The storage destination determination means 120 also, for example, if there is no FAX number or customer number corresponding to the embedded information and the address book collation fails, for example, the path name of the “Address Error” folder is changed to the transfer destination path. Set as name.

  In step S111 following step S107, the file name determination unit 121 determines a file name when the address book verification fails. For example, the file name determination unit 121 may determine the file name based on the reception date and time and the error status. For example, a file name including an error state and a date and time may be used, such as “Verification error — 200701291200.pdf”.

  In step S110 subsequent to step S109 or step S111, the data storage unit 131 converts the received image data based on the path name determined by step S109 or step S111 and the file name using the path name and the like. Send to the storage location identified and store.

(Processing when message information is included in the barcode)
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example of processing based on message information when the barcode includes message information. In step S201 of FIG. 6, a barcode is detected from the received image data, and embedding information included in the barcode is acquired. This process may be the same as the process from step S101 to step S104 in FIG. 4, for example.

  Progressing to step S202 following step S201, the embedding information acquisition unit 110 determines whether or not message information is included in the embedding information acquired in step S201. Note that “state” in the figure means “state represented by message information”, for example, “urgent”, “reply required”, and the like. If message information is included, the process proceeds to step S203. If message information is not included, the process proceeds to step S204.

  In step S203 following step S202, the mail transmission unit 132 generates and transmits a mail to be transmitted based on, for example, a mail format held in the storage location information holding unit 140. The mail transmission destination is a mail address corresponding to an “administrator” registered in advance in a storage unit (not shown) or a “person in charge” who is a facsimile transmission destination. These mail addresses may be set and held in advance, or may be included in embedded information. The mail format may be stored in advance in a storage unit (not shown), or may have a different format corresponding to each type of message information.

  In step S204 following step S202 or step S203, processing is performed to store the image data received by facsimile in a predetermined storage location. Note that the processing in step S204 is the same as the processing from step S105 to step S110 in FIG.

(Example of processing image data having a barcode for each page)
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an example of processing image data including a plurality of pages and having a barcode for each page. In step S301 in FIG. 7, a barcode is detected from the first page of the received image data, and embedding information included in the barcode is acquired. This process may be the same as the process from step S101 to step S104 in FIG. 4, for example.

  Following step S301, the process proceeds to step S302, where the embedding information acquisition unit 110 analyzes the acquired embedding information to determine whether information indicating that a bar code is included for each page is included. Determine whether. If a barcode is included for each page, the process proceeds to step S303, and if not, the process proceeds to step S304.

  In step S303 following step S302, the embedding information acquisition unit 110 acquires a bar code for each page included in the image data, and acquires embedding information.

  In step S304 following step S302 or step S303, processing for storing the image data in the storage destination is performed based on the acquired embedded information. If the embedding information is acquired from the barcode for each page in step S303, and the storage destination is different for each page according to the embedding information, the page data generating unit 153 corresponds to each page from the image data. The page data is generated, and the data storage means 131 stores the page data in a storage destination corresponding to each page data.

(Example of processing based on the barcode on the first page)
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an example in which image data composed of a plurality of pages is processed based on barcode embedding information included in the first page. In step S401 of FIG. 8, the embedding information acquisition unit 110 acquires the embedding information by acquiring the bar code of the first page, and further sets the setting information relating to the processing of the bar code set and held in advance. Based on this, it is determined whether to process the image data based on the barcode of the first page or to process the image data based on the barcode for each page.

  Note that the barcode processing setting is performed, for example, based on the barcode of the first page or the processing based on the barcode for each page. Processing may be performed based on a code, or processing may be performed by detecting a page including a barcode.

  If image data processing is to be performed based on the barcode of the first page, the process proceeds to step S403. If image data processing is to be performed based on the bar code for the next page and thereafter, the process proceeds to step S402. In step S402, the embedding information acquisition unit 110 detects the barcode from the next page of the image data and acquires the embedding information.

  In step S403 following step S401 or step S402, the storage destination is determined based on the acquired embedding information, and the image data is stored. If a barcode is detected for each page, a predetermined number of pages, or a page including a barcode in step S402, the storage location is determined based on the embedding information acquired from the barcode. Is determined and image data is stored.

(Example of processing for extracting a predetermined area from image data)
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example in which processing for deleting an image of an area that is unnecessary for the operator from received image data is performed. In step S501 of FIG. 9, the embedding information acquisition unit 110 detects the barcode of the first page and acquires the embedding information from the barcode. Progressing to step S502 following step S501, whether or not the embedding information acquisition means 110 is designated to extract a predetermined area from among the areas included in the image in the acquired embedding information. to decide. If it is designated to cut out a predetermined area, the process proceeds to step S503, and if not designated, the process proceeds to step S507.

  In step S503 subsequent to step S502, the region processing unit 151 generates a new image data by cutting out a predetermined region from the image data based on the information related to the region included in the embedding information. This new image data is referred to as “region data”.

  In step S504 following step S503, the area processing unit 151 determines whether the area of the area data cut out in step S503 is a necessary area. This determination may be based on information related to the region. If it is a necessary area, the process proceeds to step S506, and if it is not a necessary area, the process proceeds to step S505.

  In step S505 following step S504, the area processing unit 151 deletes the image of the area by converting the area data of the area acquired in step S503 into, for example, area data composed entirely of white pixels. .

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining processing for cutting out area data. FIG. 10 shows information relating to the area included in the embedded information. The image in FIG. 10 is image data obtained by reading a transfer slip.

  As for the information related to the area, the rectangular area from the coordinates (0,0) to the coordinates (100,100) is “payment handling slip”, and the rectangular area from the coordinates (100,0) to the coordinates (140,100) is “customer”. The “position” of the area indicating “reserved” and the “content” of the area, and the “attribute” indicating whether the area is “necessary” or “unnecessary” are included.

  In FIG. 10, for example, information indicating that “payment handling slip” is a “necessary” area and “customer copy” is an “unnecessary” area is included. Therefore, the area processing unit 151 acquires area data of the “payment handling slip” area from the image data of FIG.

  Returning to FIG. 9, in step S506 following step S502, step S504, or step S505, the image data is stored in the storage destination. Note that the processing in step S506 is the same as the processing in step S204 in FIG.

  Note that, instead of the processing from step S503 to step S505 in FIG. 9, the region processing unit 151 extracts region data of a region whose attribute is “necessary” based on the information related to the region included in the embedding information. Thus, image data including the region data and not including the region data of the region having the attribute “unnecessary” may be generated.

(Example of reply processing)
FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an example of performing reply processing by FAX. In FIG. 11, the received image data is image data of a form image. After image processing such as character embedding processing, electronic seal processing, or image cutout processing is performed on the form area, the form image is displayed. Is sent back by facsimile.

  In step S601 of FIG. 11, the embedding information acquisition unit 110 detects a barcode included in the received image data and acquires embedding information from the barcode. Progressing to step S602 following step S601, the embedding information acquisition unit 110 determines whether or not “message information” is included in the embedding information acquired in step S601. If message information is included, the process proceeds to step S603, and if not included, the process proceeds to step S605.

  In step S603 following step S602, the mail transmission unit 132 transmits a mail to the mail address of the person in charge in the mail format corresponding to the message information. The person in charge is, for example, a person who is the destination of the received facsimile information. “Mail data” including the mail format and the mail address of the person in charge may be held by the storage location information holding means 140, for example.

  In step S604 following step S603, the communication apparatus 100 receives a facsimile based on the person in charge inputting a “facsimile reception” instruction from a panel (not shown). The panel corresponds to, for example, the operation / display unit 26 included in the communication device 10 of FIG.

  In step S605 following step S602 or step S604, the embedded information acquisition unit 110 determines whether the embedded information acquired in step S601 includes message information that prompts a reply by facsimile such as “Reply Required”. Judging. If message information that prompts a reply is included, the process proceeds to step S606. If not included, the process proceeds to step S612.

  In step S606 following step S605, the image processing unit 150 determines whether image processing is necessary. The image processing includes, for example, processing for extracting an image of a necessary area, processing for adding a seal image indicating that a stamp has been made, processing for combining information input to an entry area, and the like. If image processing is necessary, the process proceeds to step S607, and if image processing is not necessary, the process proceeds to step S609.

  In step S607 following step S606, the input screen generation unit 161 generates, for example, a screen for prompting input to the entry area and displays it on a display unit (not shown). The screen generated in step S607 may be a screen that prompts the user to input an area to be extracted in the received image data, or may be a screen that prompts the user to input a seal processing instruction. Which of these screens is to be generated may be based on the embedded information. Further, data such as images used for the screen may be held in advance as panel display data D607.

  Progressing to step S608 following step S607, the image processing unit 150 performs image processing based on an instruction input by the operator by displaying the screen generated in step S607. The processing performed by the image processing unit 150 is, for example, extraction of region data of a necessary region by the region processing unit 151 or synthesis processing of characters or seals on the entry region by the input synthesis unit 152.

  In step S609 following step S608 or step S606, the confirmation screen generation unit 162 generates a screen that prompts the user to confirm whether the image data processed in step S608 is to be confirmed before returning by facsimile. By displaying this screen, it is determined whether there is a confirmation instruction input by the operator. If it is selected by the operator to confirm, the process proceeds to step S610. If not confirmed, the process proceeds to step S612.

  In step S610 following step S609, the confirmation screen generation unit 162 generates a confirmation screen for the reply image generated by performing the image processing in step S608. The confirmation screen may be displayed on a display unit (not shown) included in the communication device 100 as a preview screen, for example. For example, the confirmation screen generation unit 162 may allow the operator to confirm the printed reply image by forming a reply image on the medium.

  Proceeding to step S611 following step S610, the reply unit 133 transmits the image data of the reply image to the transmission source of the received image data by facsimile. By these processes, it is possible to perform reply by facsimile without forming image data received by facsimile on the medium.

  The reply destination facsimile number may be a facsimile number acquired from embedded information, may be a facsimile number input by an operator, or may be a facsimile number previously stored in an address book or the like.

  In step S612 following step S611 and the like, a process is performed in which the received image data is transmitted to the storage destination and stored. The image data stored here may be image data after being processed by the image processing unit 150, for example. Further, when image data for storage different from the image data for reply is generated by the image processing means 150, the image data for storage may be used.

(Computer configuration)
FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a computer that realizes the communication apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the computer of FIG. 12, a main processing unit 400, an input device 410, a display device 420, a printer 430, a scanner 440, a communication unit 450, and an HDD 490 are connected via a bus or the like. The main processing unit 400 is a main part that realizes the functions of a computer, and includes a CPU 401, a ROM 408, and a RAM 409. The CPU 401 executes the computer program according to the embodiment of the present invention by reading the computer program from the ROM 408 or the like and developing it in the RAM 409. A ROM 408 is a non-volatile memory, and holds a program executed by the CPU 401 such as a computer program, parameters necessary for controlling the communication device, and the like. A RAM 409 is a work memory when the CPU 401 performs processing.

  The input device 410 is a keyboard or the like, for example, and is used when an operator inputs an instruction. The display device 420 displays the status of the computer. The printer 430 is an apparatus that forms and outputs an image on a medium, and the scanner 440 is an apparatus that optically reads an image formed on the medium. The communication unit 450 performs facsimile communication or communication with other devices via a network. The HDD 490 stores a large amount of data such as image data.

  In addition to being stored in the HDD 490 or the ROM 408, the computer program according to the embodiment of the present invention may be stored in a recording medium that can be inserted into a drive device (not shown).

As described above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
-Documents are automatically sorted and stored in folders according to FAX transmission sources, so that digitization and storage of documents can be made more efficient.
・ It is possible to improve the efficiency of search operations by digitizing FAX received documents.
・ Because the extracted barcode information can be saved as a file name, the work of naming and inputting the file name can be saved.
-When there is message information such as "Urgent" in the barcode, an email to that effect is sent to the administrator PC, so that the administrator can quickly respond.
By specifying a storage destination for each page of a multi-page FAX document, it is not necessary to manually distribute a multi-page FAX to each person in charge. Since the transmission side only needs one FAX transmission, the communication cost can be reduced.
-The memory capacity on the external device side can be saved by performing image cutout processing and deleting unnecessary data areas. Further, since the data is reduced, it is possible to save communication time and communication cost when transmitting the image data. Furthermore, it is not necessary to look at unnecessary parts when checking images.
・ Easy to write characters or press stamps by performing “image cutout”, “character embedding”, and “electronic seal stamp” processing when replying to a fax. Furthermore, by displaying on the preview screen or printing, the operator can confirm, and it is possible to prevent an error in the content of the document when replying by FAX.
-Since it is possible to send a FAX reply without printing a FAX received document, it is possible to save paper and toner costs for printing the FAX.
・ Returns only necessary parts by FAX, so communication costs can be saved.

  In the above-described embodiment, the barcode information or the two-dimensional code, for example, the QR code is described as an example of the embedded information recognized from the transmission original P. However, the form of the embedded information is limited to these. It is not a thing. In another embodiment, a visible image expressed by a multi-dimensional code such as a three-dimensional code including color information or information embedded by digital watermark technology may be adopted as the embedded information form.

  In the above-described embodiment, the facsimile apparatus is described as an example of the communication apparatus. However, the communication apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the facsimile apparatus. In another embodiment, the image forming apparatus may be configured as an image reading apparatus (scanner) with a transmission function or an image forming apparatus (copying machine, multifunction machine, printer).

  The above function can be realized by a device executable program described in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark), an object-oriented programming language, or the like. It can be stored in a device-readable recording medium such as EPROM, flash memory, flexible disk, CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD, SD memory, MO, and distributed.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described so far, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and other embodiments, additions, changes, deletions, and the like may occur to those skilled in the art. It can be changed within the range that can be done, and any embodiment is included in the scope of the present invention as long as the effects of the present invention are exhibited.

The figure explaining the example of the communication system containing the communication apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. The figure of the example of a function structure of the communication apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an apparatus configuration when a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is realized as a facsimile apparatus. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of facsimile reception processing executed by the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment. The figure explaining the example of the information stored in the address book. The flowchart of the example of the process based on message information. The flowchart of the example which processes the image data which has a barcode for every page. The flowchart of the example which processes the image data which consists of several pages based on the embedding information of the barcode contained in the first page. The flowchart of the example which performs the process which deletes the image of a predetermined area | region from the received image data. The figure explaining the process which cuts out area | region data. The flowchart of the example which performs the reply process by FAX. The block diagram of the computer which implement | achieves the communication apparatus of this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Facsimile apparatus 12 Image reading part 14 Image processing part 16 Transmission buffer memory 18 Encoding / decoding part 20 Modem 22 Network control part 24 Telephone 26 Operation / display part 28 System control part 30 Transmission related information storage part 32 Character generator 34 Reception Buffer memory 36 Recording control unit 38 Image recording unit 40 Application unit 42 NIC
P: Document 110 for transmission Embedding information acquisition unit 111 Message information acquisition unit 120 Storage destination determination unit 121 File name determination unit 130 Communication unit 131 Data storage unit 132 Mail transmission unit 133 Reply unit 134 Reception unit 140 Storage destination information holding unit 150 Image processing means 151 Area processing means 152 Input composition means 153 Page data generation means 160 Screen generation means 161 Input screen generation means 162 Confirmation screen generation means 400 Main processing section 401 of the computer CPU
408 ROM
409 RAM
410 Input device 420 Display device 430 Printer 440 Scanner 450 Communication unit 490 HDD

Claims (15)

Embedded information acquisition means for acquiring embedded information included in received image data;
A storage location determination means for determining a storage location of the image data based on the embedded information;
Data storage means for storing the image data in the storage destination;
A communication device. Storage destination information holding means for holding information relating to the transmission source of image data and the identification information of the storage destination in association with each other;
The embedded information acquisition means acquires information relating to the transmission source of the image data from the embedded information,
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage destination determination unit determines the storage destination based on information relating to the transmission source and information held in the storage destination information holding unit. In the case where the storage destination is a folder provided in storage means connected via a network,
The storage location determination means
Based on the embedded information, having a file name determining means for determining a file name when the image data is stored in the folder;
The communication apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the data storage means transmits the image data and the file name to the storage means for storage.   4. The communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the folder is not yet provided in the storage unit, the data storage unit provides the folder in the storage unit.   The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the storage location information holding unit holds identification information of a predetermined storage location corresponding to a case where the embedded information cannot be acquired. The embedded information acquisition means includes
Message information acquisition means for acquiring the message information from the embedded information when the embedded information includes predetermined message information for the destination of the received image data;
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a mail transmission unit that transmits a mail in a predetermined format to a mail address corresponding to the destination based on the message information. When the image of the image data is composed of a plurality of pages, and the embedding information includes storage destination information corresponding to each page,
Page data generating means for generating page data for each page from the image data;
The storage location determination means determines a storage location corresponding to each page data,
The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the data storage unit stores the page data in a storage destination corresponding to each page data. When the embedding information includes information related to the attribute of each area of the image of the image data,
Based on information relating to the attribute of the region, it has a region processing means for extracting a predetermined image region from the image data or deleting the predetermined image region from the image data,
The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the data storage unit stores image data processed by the region processing unit. When the image is a form image based on a predetermined format, and the embedding information includes information relating to an attribute for each entry area of the form image,
Input screen generating means for generating an input screen for prompting input to the entry area;
Input synthesis means for synthesizing information input based on the input screen at a position corresponding to the entry area of the form image;
Have
The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the data storage unit stores image data of a form image synthesized by the input synthesis unit.   The communication apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a reply unit configured to reply the image data to the transmission source.   The communication apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a confirmation image generating unit that forms an image of image data returned by the reply unit on a medium or generates a preview screen of the image. An embedded information acquisition step of acquiring embedded information included in the received image data;
A storage location determination step for determining a storage location of the image data based on the embedded information;
A data storage step of storing the image data in the storage destination;
A communication method. A storage location information holding step for holding information relating to the transmission source of image data and the identification information of the storage location in association with each other;
In the embedding information acquisition step, obtain information related to the transmission source of the image data from the embedding information,
13. The communication method according to claim 12, wherein in the storage destination determination step, the storage destination is determined based on information relating to the transmission source and information held in the storage destination information holding means. In the case where the storage destination is a folder provided in storage means connected via a network,
In the storage location determination step,
A file name determining step for determining a file name when the image data is stored in the folder based on the embedded information;
The communication method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein, in the data storing step, the image data and the file name are transmitted to and stored in the storage means.   A computer program for causing a computer to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 12 to 14.

Images