JP2009070246A - Information processing system, information processing device, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce processing loads in creating a write form, such as a business form. <P>SOLUTION: A Web server 100 extracts each attribute information (content) from a written content of an order form of Web. Also, each attribute information is converted into characters, coordinates of an area to which the attributes can be written are set to determine a location of an item, is converted into a form of electronic data capable of expressing a layout of a paper order form, and then the electronic data are imaged when necessary. Then, a business form dictionary to be data necessary for business form processing are generated from the imaged electronic data. The imaged electronic data are transmitted to the printer 120 and printed as well. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention realizes an information processing system, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a function necessary for a computer that controls the information processing (functions related to the present invention) using an input form created on an electronic area. And a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of a web form processing system (hereinafter also simply referred to as “Web system”), mail order using the Internet from a remote location called online shopping has been actively performed. On the other hand, there is also a demand for a conventional paper-based form processing system (hereinafter also referred to simply as “paper-based system”) that fills out the necessary items for ordering into a standard form and places an order using FAX. It is desirable to build a system that supports both.
Examples of the invention associating the Web with a paper-based form processing system include the following.

For example, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, the result of the form OCR is received by a Web server, and correction is performed on the spot via the Web.
In addition, the invention described in Patent Document 2 sends a standard form image from the user's terminal to the center, so that the center identifies the form type, creates a corresponding Web form, and sends it to the user's terminal. A Web form in which necessary items are entered by the user is transmitted from the terminal to the center.
JP 2005-267129 A JP 2004-126910 A

However, in the form processing system as described above, if the system is started up individually, a Web system and a paper base system are required, and the man-hours are doubled. Since both systems have overlapping elements, the number of man-hours is not necessarily doubled, but there is not much ingenuity to reduce the man-hours by actively coordinating the two.
In particular, the invention described in Patent Document 1 is a linkage between the Web and the form, but requires a Web system and a paper-based system at the same time, and deviates from the goal of acquiring a wide range of customers. The invention described in Patent Document 2 is not a system that operates on a paper base alone or on a Web alone, and does not lead to wide customer acquisition.

Here, the Web and paper-based form processing system will be described in a little more detail.
First, consider a Web system (form processing system using Web) as shown in FIG.
The orderer's Web server 500 has two types of order forms prepared as html documents.

  The orderer (user) displays the order form corresponding to the product, for example, the order form shown in FIG. 14 (a) or (b) on the screen of the display unit 511 using his / her PC 510, and fills in the necessary items. Then, the order data including the entry information is transmitted to the Web server 500 on the contractor side. The content of the order data to be transmitted includes information input by the orderer and an identification number (form identification number) indicating the type of the order form. The order form corresponds to an input form created on the electronic area.

The Web server 500 on the side of the orderer receives the order data transmitted from the orderer's PC 510, and records the order contents in a DB (database) defined for each form based on the form identification number in the order data. This recorded content is taken over and used for other tasks such as shipping and accounting.
However, an orderer who cannot use the Web system needs to place an order by another means. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a paper-based system (paper-based form processing system) is used in which order information is written on a paper form and the image information transmitted by FAX is input to a DB. FIG. 15 shows an example.

In this paper-based system, the orderer obtains, for example, a paper standard form as shown in FIG. 15A, fills in necessary items by hand, and uses the facsimile machine (FAX) 600 to input it. The image data is transmitted to the paper base system server 610 on the side of the contractor.
The paper-based system server 610 on the contractor side performs form identification based on the received image data. This is a process of identifying which order form when there are a plurality of order forms. An explanation regarding this processing is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-025215.

  If the order form can be identified, the corresponding form data is acquired. This form data is defined in advance, and is composed of the position of the entry frame and the attributes (name, product type code, etc.) of the entry frame. That is, the image position of the character recognition target and what meaning the recognition result has is stored. The form data is created using a method described in Japanese Patent No. 3614253, for example. The character recognition result is manually corrected as necessary and stored in the DB. The DB to be stored is determined according to the form type obtained by form identification.

In this way, it is possible to receive orders from a wide range of customers by co-locating the paper-based system in parallel with the Web system.
However, this system is difficult to design a form. Every time the order form increases, it is necessary to redesign the form (form) with the Web system and the paper-based system. Since both must be handled, it is difficult to maintain an environment where orders can be made using the same form.

FIG. 16 shows a form design method. The goal is to convert the order form on the Web system into the form data of the paper-based system.
Attribute information is extracted by looking at the application form (order form) on the Web, and designed manually so that the same contents can be reproduced on paper. This is printed, read by a scanner, and imaged. Acquires the position coordinates (entry position) of the entry frame on the image, and at the same time, sets what attribute the frame has together with the attribute value and stores it in the DB as form data (form processing dictionary). . The entry position is generally displayed on a display (display unit) and given manually (using an input device such as a mouse).

Thus, the form design takes a lot of manpower and labor. In particular, the specification of the entry position and the setting of the attribute value take a lot of man-hours as the number increases, and if this can be automated, the man-hours can be greatly reduced.
Conventionally, as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-12610, automation has been attempted. However, since this uses an image recognition technology, errors cannot be avoided, and eventually manual correction is not possible. It is essential. Also, this method can only obtain the entry position, and the attribute must be given manually.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and can reduce the processing burden at the time of creating entry sheets such as forms by diverting the contents of the input form created on an electronic area such as the Web. The purpose is to do so.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an information processing system, an information processing apparatus, a program executed by a computer that controls the information processing apparatus, and a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  An information processing system according to the invention of claim 1 is an information processing system using an input form created on an electronic area, and content creation means for creating content of entry form information based on the description content of the input form; Based on the content of the entry form information created by the content creation means, a dictionary creation means for creating a dictionary having the content as an item, and printing the entry form information of the content created by the content creation means on a sheet The entry sheet output means for outputting as an entry sheet, the information reading means for reading the added entry sheet information from the added entry sheet, and the dictionary for the added entry sheet information read by the information reading means. And a recognition processing means for performing a recognition process.

An information processing system according to a second aspect of the present invention is the information processing system according to the first aspect, wherein items of the dictionary are position information of contents in the entry form information.
An information processing system according to a third aspect of the present invention is the information processing system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the items of the dictionary are created for each of the plurality of entry sheets.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing system according to the third aspect of the present invention, wherein the information processing system according to the third aspect further comprises a type discriminating unit for discriminating the type of the input paper from which the additional entry paper information is read by the information reading unit. However, the recognition process is also performed using an item of identification information corresponding to the type determined by the type determining means.

  An information processing apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is an information processing apparatus using an input form created on an electronic area, and content creating means for creating content of entry form information based on the contents described in the input form; Based on the content of the entry form information created by the content creation means, a dictionary creation means for creating a dictionary having the contents as items, and the entry form information of the content created by the content creation means are printed on the form And an entry form output means for outputting as an entry form.

An information processing apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the information processing apparatus according to the fifth aspect, wherein items of the dictionary are used as position information of contents in the entry form information.
An information processing apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the information processing apparatus according to the fifth or sixth aspect, wherein the items of the dictionary are created for each of the plurality of entry sheets.

  An information processing method according to the invention of claim 8 is an information processing method using an input form created on an electronic area, a content creation step of creating content of entry form information based on the contents described in the input form, A dictionary creation step for creating a dictionary having the content as an item based on the content of the paper information created by the content creation step, and printing the entry paper information of the content created by the content creation step on the paper And an entry form output process for outputting as an entry form.

An information processing method according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the information processing method according to the eighth aspect, wherein items of the dictionary are used as position information of contents in the entry form information.
An information processing method according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the information processing method according to the eighth or ninth aspect, wherein items of the dictionary are created for each of the plurality of entry sheets.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for creating a content of entry form information on a computer that controls an information processing apparatus that uses an input form created on an electronic area, based on the contents described in the input form. A dictionary creation function for creating a dictionary having the content as an item based on the content of the entry form information created by the content creation function, and entry form information of the content created by the content creation function on a sheet It is a program for realizing an entry form output function for printing and outputting as an entry form.
A recording medium according to a twelfth aspect of the invention is a computer-readable recording medium on which the program of the eleventh aspect is recorded.

  According to the present invention, the information processing system creates contents of entry form information based on the contents of the input form, and creates a dictionary having the contents as items based on the contents of the created entry form information. The entry sheet information of the created content is printed on a sheet and output as an entry sheet. Further, by reading the rewritten entry form information from the rewritten entry form and performing recognition processing on the rewritten entry form information using the dictionary, the contents of the rewritten entry form information can be recognized. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the processing burden when creating the entry form.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Here, it is assumed that there is an order form on the Web and it can be used.
However, since there are no paper orders, there are cases where we want to respond. In that case, the paper form must be redesigned. Any additional forms must be dealt with each time.

Therefore, the content of the entry form information is created based on the description content of the Web order form, and a dictionary having the contents as items is created based on the content of the entry form information. That is, necessary information (content) is extracted from the description content of the Web order form, and based on the information, paper form electronic data (form dictionary) is created. As a result, the processing burden on the contractor side can be reduced.
In operation, OCR processing (recognition processing) is performed using a dictionary associated with the Web order form, and data is input (corresponding is easy because it is extracted from the Web form). This facilitates the parallel operation of the paper flow and the electronic flow.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of a form processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2 and 3 are block diagrams showing hardware configuration examples of the Web server 100 and the paper base system server 110, respectively. It is.
As shown in FIG. 1, this form processing system includes an information processing system on the side of an orderer including a Web server 100, a paper base system server 110, and a printer 120, a PC 130 on the orderer A side, and an orderer B side. A facsimile machine 140, and the Web server 100 and the paper base system server 110 are connected to the Web server 100 and the orderer A side via a network 30 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) such as a LAN (local area network). The PC 130 can be communicably connected via the network 30 such as the Internet. Further, the paper base system server 110 and the orderer B side facsimile apparatus 140 can be communicably connected via a public line (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2, the Web server (hereinafter also referred to as “device”) 100 includes a CPU 11, a display interface (hereinafter referred to as “I / F”) 12, a RAM 13, chip sets 14 and 15, and a hard disk. A device (hereinafter referred to as “HDD”) 16, a network I / F 17, a mouse 18, and a keyboard 19 are provided.
The CPU 11 is a central processing unit that controls the entire device according to a program in the HDD 16. The CPU 11 operates in accordance with a program in the HDD 16 and can function as content creation means and dictionary creation means by controlling devices.

The display I / F 12 outputs a signal for displaying information such as the state of the device to the user using a monitor (display) connected to the outside.
The RAM 13 is a readable / writable memory used as a work memory for the CPU 11 to execute programs and an image memory for developing and storing image data.
The chip set 14 connects the CPU 11, the display I / F 12, and the RAM 13 with a high-speed internal bus, and also exchanges data with the external general-purpose bus 20.

The HDD 16 is a memory device connected to the general-purpose bus 20 and stores an OS (Operating System), a program (DB) for data and the like for realizing processing related to the present invention, and the like.
The network I / F 17 is an interface for exchanging data with external devices such as the paper base system server 110 and the PC 130 on the orderer A side via the network 30.

The chip set 14, HDD 16, and network I / F 17 are connected by a general-purpose bus 20 that is slower than the internal bus.
The chip set 15 exchanges data with the chip set 14, the HDD 16, and the network I / F 17 and a lower-speed bus 21 and port.
In the mouse port and the keyboard port, an input by a user operation is received by a mouse 18 and a keyboard 19 which are input devices connected to the outside.

As shown in FIG. 3, the paper base system server 110 includes a CPU 51, a display I / F 52, a RAM 53, chip sets 54 and 55, an HDD 56, a network I / F 57, a mouse 58, a keyboard 59, and a modem 60.
The CPU 51 is a central processing unit that comprehensively controls the entire device in accordance with a program in the HDD 56. The CPU 51 operates in accordance with a program in the HDD 56, and can function as a recognition processing unit and a type determination unit by controlling devices. Moreover, the function as an information reading means can be fulfilled with the facsimile apparatus 140 on the orderer B side.

The network I / F 57 is an interface for exchanging data with an external device such as the Web server 100 via the network 30.
In the modem port, FAX communication or the like is possible with an external device such as the facsimile apparatus 140 on the orderer B side through a public line (telephone line) connected to the external modem 60.
The display I / F 52, RAM 53, chip sets 54 and 55, HDD 56, network I / F 57, mouse 58, and keyboard 59 are the same as those provided in the Web server 100 shown in FIG. .

  The printer 120 is an image forming unit having only a print function, such as a laser printer, an LED printer, or an ink jet printer. The printer 120 receives print information sent from the Web server 100 and prints the print information on paper (image formation). ) And output. When the print information received from the Web server 100 is entry sheet information, the printer 120 functions as an entry sheet output unit because the entry sheet information is printed on the sheet and output as the entry sheet.

  The PC 130 on the orderer A side corresponds to a desktop or notebook personal computer, or a portable terminal such as a mobile phone, which is an information processing apparatus used by the orderer, and is a Web order form (on the electronic domain). The input form created in step 1 is displayed on the monitor, and the order data including necessary items entered by the orderer's operation (actually the input device's operation by the orderer) is transmitted to the Web server 100. be able to. Since the hardware configuration of the PC 130 on the orderer A side is substantially the same as that of the Web server 100, illustration and description are omitted.

The facsimile machine 140 on the orderer B side reads an image of a document such as a paper form and transmits the image data to an external device such as the paper base system server 110 via a public line.
In place of the printer 120, an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine, a digital multifunction peripheral, or a facsimile machine having other functions such as a copy function in addition to the print function may be used. Alternatively, an image reading device such as a scanner may be added to the information processing system on the side of the contractor. As a result, only the information processing system on the contractor side can have a function as an information reading means.
In addition, the Web server 100 and the paper base system server 110 constituting the information processing system on the side of the contractor can be combined into one server.

[Order form creation process]
Next, an order form creation process (part corresponding to advance preparation in FIG. 1) by the Web server 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an order form creation processing procedure by the Web server 100.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of a part (content creation means) that performs processing for creating the order form.

(1) Assume that electronic data of an input form (order form) for receiving an order is prepared on the Web form storage unit 201 of the Web server 100 (actually, the Web form storage area of the HDD 16 in FIG. 2).
(2) The attribute information extraction unit 202 extracts attribute information (content) from the description content of the Web order form. This attribute information corresponds to those items because the order data received from the PC 130 on the orderer A side includes the product name, address, product code, and the like.

(3) The layout determination unit 203 converts each attribute information from the attribute information extraction unit 202 into characters, sets the coordinates of the area where these attributes can be written uniquely, determines the arrangement of items, and determines the layout of the paper order form. Is converted into an electronic data format that can be expressed (the layout is determined). There are no particular restrictions on the coordinate values as long as they fit on the page and can be entered by humans, and can be set by a method such as evenly arranging them from the number of attributes and the width and height of the image. As the electronic data format, raster image data, those described in various printer languages, PDF (Portable Document Format, a registered trademark of Adobe), etc. can be used. Here, the PDF format is used. Since the electronic data format used here can represent a layout, the coordinate value is also uniquely determined.

(4) The electronic data converting unit 204 converts the electronic data from the layout determining unit 203 into an image using the imaging unit 205. Note that this is not necessary when raster image data is selected as electronic data in (3).
(5) The form dictionary generation unit 206 is for performing form processing on the scanned image, and generates data necessary for form processing from the electronic data from the electronic data conversion unit 204 or the imaging unit 205. . This data is called a “form dictionary”. For example, when using the form processing method described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-007958, image data, area data for entering characters, attributes of each entry area, and character type to be entered are required. These can be automatically extracted from a Web order form, electronic data, and an imaged scan image. This is registered (stored) in the form dictionary storage unit 207 (actually, the form dictionary storage area of the HDD 16 in FIG. 2) as a form dictionary for performing paper form processing.

(6) The data transmission unit 208 transmits the electronic data (raster image data) from the electronic data conversion unit 204 or the imaging unit 205 or the imaged electronic data to the printer 120. As a result, the printer 120 prints the order form indicated by the electronic data from the data transmission unit 208 as a visible image on a sheet, and outputs a paper form as an entry sheet. Even if the paper form is distributed to the orderer B, the order is awaited. Alternatively, the order form indicated by the electronic data from the electronic data conversion unit 204 or the imaging unit 205 may be disclosed on the Web and printed on the orderer B side.

  The orderer B manually fills in (adds) the necessary items for ordering on the order form of the obtained paper form (entry form), sets the paper form after the entry into the facsimile apparatus 140, and displays the image. The image data (added form paper information) is read and transmitted to the paper base system server 110 on the contractor side.

[Order processing]
Next, order processing by the paper base system server 110 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of an order processing procedure by the paper base system server 110.

(1) The paper-based system server 110 on the ordering party side receives the image data when the image data is sent from the facsimile machine 140 on the orderer B side, and identifies the form type for the image data. To determine which order form it is. Then, a character part is extracted from the received image data based on the identification (discrimination) result, and a plurality of form dictionaries registered in the form dictionary storage unit 207 are selectively used to perform OCR (character recognition) processing. The result (OCR result) is displayed on the monitor.

(2) The OCR result is corrected as necessary by the operator's operation.
(3) The order data, which is OCR result data modified as necessary, is transmitted to the Web server 100, and the order processing is completed.
The Web server 100 receives the order data, sorts the order data so that it can be stored in the Web order form DB associated with the form definition, and stores it in the DB.

  Through these processes, electronic data and paper data can be operated in parallel, and since they are linked to each other, order data can be acquired smoothly. Furthermore, since data can be centrally managed, processing can be simplified. In addition, since it takes less time to create a paper form (the specification of the entry position and the setting of attribute information is automated), it is possible to suppress an increase in maintenance cost that increases due to parallel operation.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the second embodiment, information necessary for form processing is artificially embedded in a form image.
When there are multiple order forms, it is necessary to know which order form the order is for. This is the form identification described in the first embodiment, but when a similar form is automatically laid out, there is a possibility that a similar form may be created.

Therefore, in the form processing system of the second embodiment, errors can be reduced by performing the following processing.
Note that the hardware configuration of the Web server and paper base system server constituting this form processing system is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore, FIGS. 1 to 3 will be referred to again.

[Order form creation process]
First, order form creation processing by the Web server 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a Web order form in which form type information is embedded.
When generating electronic data of the Web order form, an identification number (form type information) A corresponding to the form ID (form type) of the Web system is embedded so as to appear on the page. This may be a human-readable number or a barcode (one-dimensional or two-dimensional). Here, as shown in FIG. 7, form type information based on a one-dimensional barcode is embedded.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another example of the order form creation processing procedure by the Web server 100.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the part that performs the processing for creating the order form.
In the order form creation processing by the Web server 100 in the second embodiment, the difference from the first embodiment is that the form type information generating unit 209 generates form type information by a one-dimensional barcode, and the layout determining unit 203 Embedded in the electronic data.

[Order processing]
Next, the order receiving process by the paper base system server 110 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing another example of the order receiving procedure performed by the paper base system server 110.

  The paper-based system server 110 on the orderer side receives the image data from the facsimile machine 140 on the orderer B side, and when identifying the form type for the image data, the one-dimensional barcode is obtained from the image data. Search and extract (form type information), decode the barcode and read the contents. The read information and the ID are associated with each other, and the order data which is the data of the OCR result (character recognition result) obtained in the subsequent processing step (same as FIG. 6) is transmitted to the Web server 100, and the order processing is completed. .

  As described above, by performing the embedding process when creating the order form, it is possible to reduce errors in form type identification and to improve the efficiency of business. In addition to the form type information for identification, if the information (position information) necessary for alignment is embedded in the electronic data (image data) of the order form, the alignment necessary for extracting the characters Improves accuracy, leading to improved character recognition accuracy. Information necessary for alignment may be a timing mark M as shown in FIG. 7, or if a form processing method described in JP-A-2002-007958 is used, appropriate characters are embedded. Also good.

  If a barcode is used for form type identification, the identification accuracy is improved and various forms can be handled. Using this characteristic, electronic data having a different layout may be generated for each orderer. For example, it is assumed that there is a company “(share) △△△” as an orderer, and the order is the same every time. In this case, as shown in FIG. 11 (b), what is ordered every time is printed on a form in advance, it is not necessary to enter the same product type code every time, and only a mark is required. Since the company name and contact information are also known, it is not necessary to fill in this. A separate entry box should be prepared in case you want to place an additional order. A general form is shown in FIG.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
In the third embodiment, electronic data capable of printing order contents on paper is positively used. In other words, there are cases where the order details are printed and a history is left at hand, but if this is stored as electronic data, printing becomes unnecessary. Note that entry data indicating the order contents may be written on the server side and sent back. Confirmation of order.

  When receiving an order on the Web, there is a case where it is desired to prompt the orderer to print the contents of the Web screen in order to keep a record of the order. However, since the orderer (user) does not always have a printer at hand, there is a case where the orderer (user) wants to save as electronic data using the function of the Web browser. However, the order form screen and the entered content may be managed separately. In this case, even if the order form is stored carelessly, only the order form may be stored and the content may not be stored. Of course, there is a method of capturing the screen, but another software must be introduced, and it is difficult to ask the orderer to that extent.

Therefore, in the form processing system according to the third embodiment, the order status of the orderer can be confirmed without prompting printing by using electronic data capable of expressing the layout of the order contents.
Note that the hardware configurations of the Web server and paper base system server that constitute this form processing system are the same as those in the first embodiment. The process in the form processing system of the third embodiment is obtained by adding the following process to the process in the form processing system of the first embodiment or the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of a form processing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. However, in order to describe an example of placing an order in the Web system, unnecessary portions are omitted.
(1) When the Web server 100 receives order data from the PC 130 on the orderer A side on the Web system, the Web server 100 calls electronic data and attribute information corresponding to the form ID (form identification number) and places an order on the electronic data. Write data.
(2) The electronic data in which the order data is written is returned to the PC 130 on the orderer A side.

(3) When receiving the electronic data from the Web server 100, the PC 130 on the orderer A side displays the contents on the monitor.
Thereby, the orderer A can view the contents of the electronic data sent from the Web server 100 and confirm the order contents.
As described above, by combining the order data with the electronic data that can be expressed in the layout, data for storing and confirming the orderer can be easily generated. The client can check the contents and store them electronically without being forced to print.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next explained is the fourth embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of a form processing system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Note that the hardware configurations of the Web server and paper-based system server that constitute the form processing system of the fourth embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  In the fourth embodiment, when the paper base system server 110 receives image data from the facsimile machine 140 on the orderer B side, the received image data is processed as in the first embodiment or the second embodiment. Orders that are the result data by sequentially identifying form types, extracting character parts, OCR processing using multiple form dictionaries (however, form dictionaries of existing paper form systems), and correcting OCR results Data is transmitted to the Web server 100 to complete the order process.

Also, attribute information is extracted from the form dictionary, electronic data of the Web order form is generated based on the attribute information (the form definition data is converted into data for the Web system), and is transmitted to the Web server 100. .
This facilitates the construction of the Web system. That is, it is possible to reduce time and labor when adding a Web system to the previous paper base system.

[Reference Example of the Invention]
Next, reference examples of the present invention will be described.
In this reference example, electronic data capable of printing an order form on paper is actively used. Ask the customer to fill out the order form indicated by the electronic data.
Electronic exchange of information can be executed by a Web system, but can also be executed by using electronic data that can print an order form on paper without using the Web system.

Note that the hardware configuration of the server on the order receiver side (which may be another information processing apparatus) constituting the form processing system of this reference example is the same as that of the Web server 100 of the first embodiment. However, there is no Web environment.
(1) Electronic data that can represent the layout of the order form (electronic data that can be printed on paper) is prepared in the server on the side of the contractor.
(2) The server on the contractor side electronically transmits the electronic data to the PC on the orderer side.

(3) The orderer operates the PC and fills in the necessary items such as name for the electronic data using an application that can edit the electronic data received from the contractor. Certain order data is stored in a memory such as an HDD in the same file format as before entry.
(4) The orderer electronically transmits the order data to the server on the contractor side.
(5) Upon receiving the order data from the orderer's PC, the orderer's server decodes the order data and reads the entry information (order details).

The advantage of this form processing system is that it can be used for exchanging information when there is no Web environment (for example, only FTP), and if it is judged that there is a security problem in electronic transmission, The order data, which is data, is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM and mailed.
Further, the system may be operated in parallel with the Web system and the paper-based system described with reference to FIG. 1, and in this case, the ordering method can be expanded, so that there is an advantage that it is possible to deal with more orderers.

[Program in this embodiment]
This program functions as a content creation unit and a dictionary creation unit in a computer (CPU) that controls a Web server, and serves as an information reading unit, a recognition processing unit, and a type determination unit in a computer that controls a paper-based system server. This function is a program for causing the computer that controls the printer to realize the function as the entry form output means. By causing the computer to execute such a program, the above-described effects can be obtained.

Such a program may be stored in a storage means such as a ROM or HDD (hard disk device) from the beginning, but is a CD-ROM or flexible disk as a recording medium, MO, CD-R, CD-RW, It can also be provided by being recorded on a non-volatile recording medium (memory) such as DVD + R, DVD + RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, EEPROM, memory card or the like. The program recorded on the non-volatile recording medium is installed on a Web server, a paper-based system server, and a printer and is executed by the CPU, or the CPU is caused to read and execute the program from the non-volatile recording medium. Thus, each procedure described above can be executed.
Furthermore, it is also possible to download and execute an external device that is connected to a network and includes a recording medium that records the program, or an external device that stores the program in the storage unit.

  As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the processing burden at the time of creating the entry form. Therefore, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus and an information processing system that can efficiently create an entry form.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structural example of the form processing system which is 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of the Web server 100 of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of the paper base system server 110 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the production | generation procedure of the order form by the Web server 100 shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example of the part which performs the preparation process of the order form.

It is a flowchart which shows an example of the order reception process procedure by the paper base system server 110 of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the order form of Web with which form type information was embedded. 6 is a flowchart showing another example of an order form creation processing procedure by the Web server 100 shown in FIG. 2. It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example of the part which performs the preparation process of the order form. 6 is a flowchart showing another example of an order receiving process procedure by the paper-based system server 110 in FIG. 1.

It is a figure which shows an example of the forms for general use and a specific orderer. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structural example of the form processing system which is 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structural example of the form processing system which is 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the conventional web system. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the conventional paper base system. It is a flowchart which shows the method of the conventional form design.

Explanation of symbols

11, 51: CPU 12, 52: Display I / F 13, 53: RAM
14, 15, 54, 55: chip set 16, 56: HDD
17, 57: Network I / F 18, 58: Mouse 19, 59: Keyboard 30: Network 60: Modem 100: Web server 110: Paper-based system server 120: Printer 130: PC on orderer A side
140: FAX on orderer B side 201: Web form storage unit 202: Attribute information extraction unit 203: Layout determination unit 204: Electronic data conversion unit 205: Imaging unit 206: Form dictionary generation unit 207: Form dictionary storage unit 208: Data transmission unit 209: Form type information generation unit

Claims (12)

In an information processing system using an input form created on the electronic domain,
Content creation means for creating content of entry form information based on the description content of the input form;
A dictionary creation means for creating a dictionary having the content as an item based on the content of the entry form information created by the content creation means;
An entry form output means for printing the entry form information of the content created by the content creation means on the form and outputting it as an entry form;
Information reading means for reading the rewritten entry form information from the rewritten entry form;
An information processing system comprising: a recognition processing unit that performs a recognition process using the dictionary on the handwritten entry sheet information read by the information reading unit. The information processing system according to claim 1,
The item of the dictionary is position information of content in the entry form information. The information processing system according to claim 1 or 2,
An item of the dictionary is created for each of the plurality of entry sheets. The information processing system according to claim 3.
Providing a type discriminating means for discriminating the type of the entry paper from which the additional entry paper information is read by the information reading means;
The information processing system, wherein the recognition processing means performs the recognition processing using an item of identification information corresponding to the type determined by the type determination means. In an information processing apparatus using an input form created on an electronic domain,
Content creation means for creating the content of the entry form information based on the content described in the input form;
A dictionary creation means for creating a dictionary having the content as an item based on the content of the entry form information created by the content creation means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: an entry form output means for printing the entry form information of the content created by the content creation means on a form and outputting it as an entry form. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5,
An information processing apparatus characterized in that an item of the dictionary is content position information in the entry form information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5 or 6,
An item of the dictionary is created for each of the plurality of entry sheets. In an information processing method using an input form created on an electronic domain,
A content creation process for creating the content of the entry form information based on the contents described in the input form;
A dictionary creation step of creating a dictionary having the content as an item based on the content of the paper information created by the content creation step;
An information processing method comprising: an entry form output step of printing the entry form information of the content created by the content creation step on the form and outputting it as an entry form. The information processing method according to claim 8.
The item of the dictionary is position information of content in the entry form information. The information processing method according to claim 8 or 9,
An information processing method characterized in that an item of the dictionary is created for each of the plurality of entry sheets. In a computer that controls an information processing device that uses an input form created on an electronic domain,
A content creation function that creates the content of entry form information based on the description on the input form,
A dictionary creation function for creating a dictionary having the content as an item based on the content of the entry form information created by the content creation function;
A program for realizing an entry form output function for printing entry form information of content created by the content creation function on a form and outputting it as an entry form.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program of Claim 11.