JP2009124208A - Image editing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image editing apparatus that allows a user to easily perform filtering on image data. <P>SOLUTION: A filter setting unit 112 creates filter setting data by referring to index data. In the index data, attribution data extracted from document image data and area information indicating an index area where the attribute data is displayed are associated. In the filter setting data, the presence of the filtering to each index area is set. A user operates a PC 2 to set the presence of the filtering to each index area. The filter setting unit 112 updates the filter setting data on the basis of an operation by the user. An image editing unit 113 edits the document image data on the basis of the filter setting data and creates output data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image editing apparatus that performs a filtering process on a predetermined area in image data.

  In recent years, the use of document management systems for managing in-house documents or external documents is increasing in companies and the like. In addition to electronic data such as e-mail and web pages, image data created by reading a paper document with a scanner is also a management target of the document management system. Further, the data managed by the document management system includes a lot of confidential information such as personal information, technical information, or money amount information.

  When image data including confidential information is output as it is by printing or FAX transmission, the confidential information may flow out to the outside. For the purpose of preventing leakage of confidential information to the outside, a filter process is performed on an area where the confidential information is displayed in the image data before outputting the image data. The filtering process refers to a process of hiding the secret information in the image data by, for example, painting the area where the secret information is displayed in black.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image editing apparatus that performs filter processing on image data.

  The image editing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 creates a mask position designation object that designates the position or size of a region to be filtered in image data in accordance with a user operation. With the mask position designation object overlaid on the image data, a fill color is set for each mask position designation object. After setting the mask position designation object, the image editing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 newly creates image data that has been subjected to filter processing.

JP 2005-309829 A

  As described above, when the filter processing is performed using the conventional image editing apparatus, the user needs to specify the position and size of the region on which the filter processing is performed. The conventional image editing apparatus stores the created mask position designation object as mask position pattern data. For this reason, when performing filter processing on a plurality of image data using the same format, the same mask position pattern data can be applied to each image data. Thereby, the user can save the trouble of designating the area to be filtered.

  However, in the case of filter processing using a conventional image editing device, the user can display a mask suitable for the filter processing by displaying the image data to be filtered and the stored mask position pattern data in an overlapping manner. It is necessary to search for position pattern data. In addition, when performing filter processing on image data created in another format, the user needs to create a mask position designation object by designating an area to be filtered.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an image editing apparatus that allows a user to easily perform a filtering process on image data.

  In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1 is an index in which a character string extracted from the image data and area information indicating an area including the character string are recorded in association with each other as an index of image data. Based on the storage unit that stores data together with the image data, the filter setting unit that sets filter setting information indicating whether or not the area is filled, the region information and the filter setting information, the image data And an image editing unit for editing.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the image editing apparatus according to the first aspect further includes a preview creating unit that creates a preview for confirming the image data edited based on the filter setting information. It is characterized by.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image editing apparatus according to the second aspect, in the image data displayed in the preview, a boundary line indicating a region that can be a fill process is based on the region information. It is displayed.

  The image editing apparatus according to the present invention designates an area including a character string extracted as an index of image data as an area to be filtered in the image data. The image editing apparatus according to the present invention sets the presence / absence of filter processing in each region based on a user operation. This eliminates the need for the user to designate a region for performing the filtering process when performing the filtering process on the image data. Therefore, the image editing apparatus according to the present invention can simplify the user's work in the image data filtering process.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, a network complex machine will be described as an example of the image editing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a document management system including a configuration of a network multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment.

  The document management system shown in FIG. 1 has a configuration in which a network multifunction device 1, a personal computer (PC) 2, and a file management server 3 are connected to a local area network (LAN) 4. The LAN 4 is provided with a router (not shown) for connecting to the Internet or another LAN.

  The network multifunction device 1 is a multi-function device having a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, a FAX function, and a mail function. The user can directly operate the network multifunction peripheral 1 to output the document image data managed by the file management server 3 in various forms such as printing, FAX transmission, or mail transmission. The user can output document image data from the network multifunction device 1 by operating the PC 2 connected to the LAN 4.

  First, document image data and index data output from the network multifunction peripheral 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

  The document image data is electronic data created by reading a paper document with a scanner or the like. The index data is data created for each document image data, and an index for searching each document image data is recorded. The index data is described using XML (extensible Markup Language) or the like. The document image data and the index data are associated with each other by, for example, matching character strings other than the file name extension, and are managed by the file management server 3.

  The index data is created as follows, for example. First, text data is created from document image data by optical character recognition processing or the like. A character string extracted from the text data is set as attribute data based on a keyword of attribute data set in advance and a character string extraction condition corresponding to each keyword. For the keyword, a character string included in the attribute data is set. Further, an area including the character string extracted as attribute data is designated as an index area. Then, the index data is created by associating the attribute data with the area information indicating the index area.

  Note that the user may designate an area from which a character string is extracted from the document image data. In this case, the area designated by the user becomes the index area, and the character string extracted from the area designated by the user becomes the attribute data.

  A specific example of the index data will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of document image data. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing index data created based on the document image data shown in FIG. 2 in the form of a table.

  In the document image data 5 shown in FIG. 2, areas surrounded by broken lines are index areas 51 to 56. The index areas 51 to 56 are areas in which character strings extracted as attribute data among character strings extracted from the document image data 5 are displayed. Character strings included in the index areas 51 to 56 are registered in the index data as attribute data.

  The index data 6 shown in FIG. 3 includes an ID, an attribute name, attribute data, position information, and size information. The ID is a number uniquely assigned to each character string extracted as attribute data from the document image data 5. The attribute name is an item such as “name” or “address”. The attribute data is data corresponding to the attribute name, and is a character string included in the index areas 51 to 56 as described above. Specifically, the attribute data with IDs 1 to 6 correspond to character strings included in the index areas 51 to 56, respectively.

  The position information and the size information are area information for designating an index area in the document image data. The position information is information indicating the position of the upper left vertex of the index area. As shown in FIG. 2, when the upper left vertex of the document image data 5 is the origin, the right direction is the X axis direction, and the lower direction is the Y axis direction, the position information can be expressed in the XY coordinate system. The size information is information indicating the length of the index area in the X-axis direction and the length in the Y-axis direction. In addition, a pixel etc. are used as a unit of XY coordinate system. In FIG. 2, the index areas 51 to 56 are indicated by rectangles, but may be circular or elliptical.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the character string extracted as attribute data from the document image data 5 is often confidential information such as personal name, company name, and money amount information. That is, the index data 6 includes secret information and information indicating an area where the secret information is displayed. The network MFP 1 uses the index data having the above-described properties to specify an area for performing filter processing in the document image data. As a result, the user can execute the filtering process for hiding the secret information without designating the area for the filtering process.

  Next, the configuration of the network multifunction device 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The network multifunction device 1 includes a control unit 11, an operation unit 12, a touch panel display 13, a scanner unit 14, a printer unit 15, a FAX unit 16, and a communication unit 17.

  The control unit 11 includes a main memory 111, a filter setting unit 112, an image editing unit 113, a screen data creation unit 114, and a microprocessor (not shown). The microprocessor and main memory 111 perform overall control of the network multifunction peripheral 1. Details of the main memory 111, the filter setting unit 112, the image editing unit 113, and the screen data creation unit 114 will be described later.

  The operation unit 12 includes a hardware key for inputting various instructions to the network MFP 1. The touch panel display 13 displays information related to the network multifunction peripheral 1 and various operation menus. A user can perform various operations of the network multifunction peripheral 1 using the operation unit 12 and the touch panel display 13.

  The scanner unit 14 reads a paper document placed on an auto document feeder (not shown) and outputs it as document image data. The document image data output from the scanner unit 14 is managed by the file management server 3 after the corresponding index data is created.

  The printer unit 15 prints data transmitted from the PC 2 on a recording sheet according to various setting conditions. The copy function of the network multifunction device 1 is realized by the cooperation of the control unit 11, the scanner unit 14, and the printer unit 15.

  The FAX unit 16 performs facsimile communication via a public line network (not shown). The communication unit 17 transmits / receives data to / from each computer connected to the LAN 4 or the Internet using a protocol such as TCP / IP.

  Next, each functional unit included in the control unit 11 will be described. The main memory 111 includes a random access memory and stores document image data and index data transmitted from the file management server 3 or the PC 2.

  The filter setting unit 112 creates filter setting data using the index data. In the filter setting data, area information indicating the index area in the document image data and information indicating whether or not to perform the filtering process on each index area are recorded.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the filter setting data. The filter setting data 7 shown in FIG. 4 is created based on the index data 6 (see FIG. 3). In the filter setting data 7, the ID corresponds to the ID of the index data 6. The position information and size information are the same as the position information and size information of the index data 6. The filter setting is information indicating the presence / absence of filter processing in the index area corresponding to each ID.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the filter setting is “ON” for ID2 and ID6. In this case, the filtering process is performed in the index area 52 and the index area 56 (see FIG. 2) corresponding to ID2 and ID6. On the other hand, the filter setting is “OFF” for ID1 and ID3 to ID5. In this case, filter processing is not performed in the index area 51 and the index areas 53 to 55 corresponding to ID1 and ID3 to ID5.

  The image editing unit 113 performs filter processing on the document image data based on the filter setting data, and creates output data.

  The screen data creation unit 114 creates screen data for displaying on the monitor 21 of the PC 2 a user interface for setting the output of document image data (hereinafter referred to as “setting interface”). The screen data is created based on the document image data 5, the index data 6, and the filter setting data 7.

  Next, the file management server 3 will be described. The file management server 3 includes a file management unit 31 and a file storage unit 32. The file management unit 31 performs transmission of document image data and index data, search for document image data, and the like in response to a request from each computer connected to the LAN 4. The file storage unit 32 is composed of a hard disk device or the like, and stores document image data and index data.

  The operation when the network multifunction peripheral 1 having the above-described configuration outputs document image data will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation when the network MFP 1 transmits the document image data by FAX.

  First, the user operates the PC 2 to instruct the network MFP 1 to send document image data by FAX. Along with the FAX transmission instruction, the file name of the document image data to be FAX-transmitted and the file name of the index data are transmitted from the PC 2 to the network MFP 1.

  When receiving an instruction for FAX transmission (Yes in step S1), the network MFP 1 accesses the file management server 3 and, based on the received file name, the document image data and index data to be FAX-transmitted. To get. The network multifunction device 1 stores the acquired document image data and index data in the main memory 111 (step S2). Further, the network multifunction device 1 determines that the filter setting for the document image data is necessary by designating the file name of the index data at the time of FAX transmission.

  Next, the filter setting unit 112 creates filter setting data with reference to the index data (step S3). When the filter setting data is created, the filter settings for each ID are all “OFF”.

  Next, the screen data creation unit 114 creates screen data using the document image data, index data, and filter setting data, and transmits the created screen data to the PC 2 (step S4). The PC 2 receives the screen data and displays a setting interface on the monitor 21. The user performs output setting of the document image data using the setting interface.

  Here, the setting interface displayed on the PC 2 will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an initial state of the setting interface when the document image data 5 is output. In FIG. 6, a document preview portion 81 displays a preview for the user to confirm the document image data 5 when the filter process is applied. Areas 811 to 816 surrounded by solid lines indicate areas in the document image data 5 that can be filtered. The areas 811 to 816 correspond to the index areas 51 to 56 shown in FIG.

  The filter setting display section 82 displays the attribute name and attribute data recorded in the index data 6. A filter valid button 821 and a filter invalid button 822 are arranged for each attribute data to be displayed. Since the filtering process is not always performed on all attribute data, the presence or absence of the filtering process can be set for each attribute data.

  The filter valid button 821 is a button for setting the filter processing to be valid, and the filter invalid button 822 is a button for setting the filter processing to be invalid. If the filter process is valid, the filter valid button 821 is displayed in black, and if the filter process is invalid, the filter invalid button 822 is displayed in black. In FIG. 6, shaded display is used instead of black display. Since the setting interface shown in FIG. 6 is in the initial state, all the filter invalid buttons 822 are displayed in black. This is because the screen data is created in a state where the filter settings of each ID are all “OFF” in the filter setting data.

  The FAX setting unit 83 displays a FAX transmission destination telephone number, a transmission start button 831 and the like. The FAX setting unit 83 may display buttons used for setting whether or not a cover letter is present or whether or not reception confirmation is performed.

  Hereinafter, the description returns to FIG. The user confirms the document preview unit 81 and determines an area (attribute data) for performing the filter process. Then, the user presses the filter valid button 821 or the filter invalid button 822 corresponding to the area (attribute data) to be filtered. In response to the above-described user operation, the PC 2 transmits filter setting on / off information corresponding to the attribute data to the network MFP 1 as an instruction to change the filter setting.

  When receiving an instruction to change the filter setting (Yes in step S5), the filter setting unit 112 updates the filter setting data based on the on / off information of the filter setting corresponding to the received attribute data (step S6). . The screen data creation unit 114 creates screen data reflecting the updated filter setting data, and transmits it to the PC 2 (step S4). The network multifunction device 1 repeats the above-described processing until there is an instruction to start FAX transmission (Yes in step S7).

  For example, consider the case where the filter effective buttons 821 corresponding to the attribute data “Taro Yamada” and “¥ 13,800” are pressed in FIG. In this case, in the filter setting data, the filter settings of ID2 and ID6 are switched to “ON” from the state in which the filter settings of each ID are all “OFF” as in the filter setting data 7 shown in FIG. Therefore, the setting interface is updated based on the filter setting data 7. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting interface after the filter setting is changed. As shown in FIG. 7, it can be seen that the filter effective button 821 corresponding to the attribute data “Taro Yamada” and “¥ 13,800” is displayed in black, and the regions 812 and 816 are filled in black. In FIG. 7 as well, shaded display is used instead of black display.

  At this time, the screen data creation unit 114 creates preview image data without directly editing the document image data 5. For example, the screen data creation unit 114 can create document image data for preview by overlaying a rectangular graphic object with a black display color on the document image data 5.

  The user presses the transmission start button 831 after confirming the updated setting interface. The PC 2 instructs the network multifunction device 1 to start FAX transmission. In response to the instruction to start FAX transmission (Yes in step S7), the image editing unit 113 creates output data based on the filter setting data (step S8). Then, the FAX unit 16 transmits the created output data by FAX to the designated transmission destination (step S9). Thereby, the FAX transmission process of the document image data ends.

  As described above, the network multifunction peripheral 1 according to the present embodiment uses the index data in which the attribute data and the area information indicating the index area including the attribute data are used to filter the document image data. Set the area to be processed. The user only needs to set the presence / absence of the fill process in the set area as the filter process operation for the document image data. Therefore, the network multifunction peripheral 1 can simplify the user's work in the document image data filtering process.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the network multifunction peripheral 1 transmits the document image data by FAX has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the above-described processing can be applied when printing document image data or when sending mail. In this case, the display of the FAX setting unit 83 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 may be replaced with an interface for printing or mail transmission.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the user operates the PC 2 to output document image data has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The user may directly operate the network multifunction peripheral 1 to perform document image data filtering. In this case, the setting interface shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is displayed on the touch panel display 13.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the network multifunction peripheral 1 acquires document image data and index data to be FAX-transmitted from the file management server 3 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the PC 2 may store document image data and index data. In this case, when the user operates the PC 2 to instruct the network multifunction device 1 to perform FAX transmission, the document image data and the index data are transmitted from the PC 2 to the network multifunction device 1.

1 is a configuration diagram of a document management system including a configuration of a network multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of document image data. It is a figure which shows the index data produced based on the document image data shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of filter setting data. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the network multifunction peripheral 1. It is a figure which shows the initial state of the interface for a setting. It is a figure which shows the interface for a setting after filter setting change.

Explanation of symbols

1 Network MFP 2 PC
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Control part 12 Operation part 13 Touch panel type display 14 Scanner part 15 Printer part 16 FAX part 21 Monitor 111 Main memory 112 Filter setting part 113 Image editing part 114 Screen data creation part

Claims (3)

A storage unit for storing, together with the image data, index data in which character strings extracted from the image data and area information indicating areas including the character strings are recorded in association with each other as image data indexes;
A filter setting unit for setting filter setting information indicating the presence or absence of a filling process for the area;
An image editing unit for editing the image data based on the region information and the filter setting information;
An image editing apparatus comprising: The image editing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
A preview creation unit for creating a preview for confirming the image data edited based on the filter setting information;
An image editing apparatus comprising: The image editing apparatus according to claim 2,
An image editing apparatus, wherein a boundary line indicating a region that can be a target of a filling process is displayed on the image data displayed in the preview based on the region information.

Images