JP2010074316A - Distribution management system, distribution management device, image input device, distribution management method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable to directly distribute an electronic file to be distributed by selecting the file to be distributed without printing out the file in executing distribution processing of the electronic file existing on a network. <P>SOLUTION: A composite machine 10 acquires a list of distribution flows from a database 26 of a distribution management server 20, and causes an operation panel 11 to display a distribution flow selecting screen, and a user selects a distribution flow. A display control section 13 requests a file accessor 22 to collect target resource information on the network, displays a distribution file selecting screen used to select the acquirable image data which have been acquired and selects a file. Upon start of a scanner, set information inputted by the user is transmitted to the distribution management server 20, a flow executing section 23 requests the file accessor 22 to acquire the file of set information and acquires the file to be distributed from the network. The flow executing section 23 executes various kinds of processing to the acquired file, and distributes the file to the outside. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a distribution management system, and more particularly to a distribution management system, a distribution management apparatus, an image input apparatus, a distribution management method, and a program for realizing a network scanner function for efficiently distributing digitized data to an external device.

  In recent years, image input / output devices that read images of paper documents and convert them into electronic data, as well as MFPs (Multi Function Peripherals) that have many functions based on copiers, as well as scanners, Even such a single function device has a function of transmitting data via a network to an external device such as a PC (Personal Computer) or a printer using image data input by scanning.

  Currently, this type of image input / output device plays a major role as one of the solution means for improving business efficiency. For example, in a system that uses scan data from image input / output devices via a network, the scanner is shared by multiple external devices, so the input data is managed by the distribution server in order to improve overall system efficiency. The method to do is adopted.

  In this way, a system that distributes scan data via a network can add a character string that is set in advance or arbitrarily entered as an e-mail attached with image data of a paper document as an e-mail title, text, or comment. There is an e-mail system for transmission (see Patent Document 1). In this electronic mail system, an electronic mail having an image file obtained by reading a paper document by an electronic data creation function unit of a scanner is created by a mail delivery function unit of a server. A character string corresponding to the destination designated as the transmission destination of the image data is read from a character string storage function unit that stores a character string such as a mail title, a body text, and a comment together with a use designation for each transmission destination of the electronic mail. An e-mail having a mail title, a body, a comment, etc. is created in accordance with the use designation of the character string, and the e-mail is transmitted to the designated destination.

  In addition, there is a network scanner device that processes security protection when image data is transmitted via a network and security protection of the image data in a state of good usability (see Patent Document 2). This network scanner device stores, for each destination, destination information including a user name, a password, distribution destination information, and other referenceable destination IDs usable by the user of the destination as a destination management table in a storage unit. User authentication is performed based on a combination of a user name and a password, and use is permitted only for a user who has been successfully authenticated. The reference destination is displayed on the display unit, and the image data of the document read by the image reading unit is stored in the storage unit. At that time, a document management table is created in which a destination appropriately selected from the referenceable destinations displayed on the display unit is set as a referenceable destination of the image data, and is stored in the storage unit to protect the confidentiality of the destination and the document.

  Furthermore, there is a document distribution processing device that can automatically perform necessary image processing when a document is read and distributed (see Patent Document 3). This document distribution processing apparatus arranges an OCR form sheet on the first page of an input document. From the document data obtained by reading the document with the scanner, the code data corresponding to the image processing menu entered in the OCR form sheet and the image processing position data designating the image processing range are recognized and extracted. Image processing corresponding to the extracted code data is performed for the range determined by the image processing position data. After the designated image processing is performed, the image is distributed to a predetermined distribution destination.

JP 2003-032425 A JP 2004-171199 A JP 2005-208934 A

  However, a conventional distribution system that digitizes and distributes paper documents is configured with an image input device (scanner) and a distribution server. The delivery flow of is registered. The user uses the scanner's operation panel (operation unit) to select a distribution flow suitable for the job and distribute the scanned data obtained by scanning the paper document. Even when an electronic file stored on a server is distributed, it is necessary to print the electronic file once and output it to paper. The output paper document needs to be read again by a scanner, which is troublesome and expensive. There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and even when a user distributes an electronic file stored in his / her PC or a shared file server, the electronic file is not printed out. It is an object of the present invention to provide a distribution management system, a distribution management device, an image input device, a distribution management method, and a program capable of selecting a distribution target file and directly distributing it to a desired distribution destination.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a distribution management system according to the present invention is a distribution management system in which an image input apparatus and a distribution management apparatus that manages distribution processing of image data are connected via a network. The distribution management device collects and collects storage means for storing a list of distribution flows that define a flow of distribution processing for the image data, and information on acquirable image data existing on the network. Based on data access means for acquiring target image data selected from the selected image data information, distribution target image data selected by the image input device, and a distribution flow for distributing the image data A flow execution control means for executing distribution processing of target image data, and transmission / reception of image data and various data via the network A first communication means for controlling, the image input device is connected to an operation display means capable of operation display and input, an image input means for inputting image data, and the distribution management device, and Acquiring a list of the distribution flows from the storage means, requesting the data access means to collect information of image data that can be acquired, acquiring the collected information, and allowing the user to list the distribution flows Display control means for displaying on the operation display means so that the information of the obtainable image data can be selected, and second communication means for controlling transmission / reception of image data and various data via the network. It is characterized by that.

  In addition, the distribution management device of the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a list of distribution flows that define a flow of distribution processing of image data that can be provided to an image input device that is connected to a network and inputs image data. Data access means for collecting information on image data that can be acquired on a network and acquiring target image data selected from the collected image data information; and a distribution target selected by the image input device Based on the image data and a distribution flow for distributing the image data, a flow execution control means for executing the distribution processing of the target image data, and a first for controlling transmission / reception of the image data and various data via the network And a communication means.

  The image input apparatus of the present invention is connected via an operation display means capable of displaying and inputting operations, an image input means for inputting image data, and a distribution management apparatus for managing image data distribution processing. Acquire a list of distribution flows that define the flow of distribution processing for image data, request information collection of acquirable image data, acquire the collected information, and obtain the list of distribution flows and the acquisition Display control means for displaying on the operation display means so that information on various image data can be selected, and second communication means for controlling transmission / reception of image data and various data via the network. Features.

  The distribution management method of the present invention is a distribution management method executed by a distribution management device connected to an image input device via a network, wherein the distribution management device defines a flow of distribution processing for the image data. A storage unit for storing a list of distribution flows, wherein the display control unit of the image input device acquires the list of distribution flows from the storage unit; and the display control unit includes data access of the distribution management device. Requesting the means to collect information on the image data that can be acquired on the network, and the display control means acquires the information on the image data collected by the data access means, and A step of displaying on the operation display means of the image input device so that a list and information of the obtainable image data can be selected; A display means for transmitting a distribution flow selected by a user of the image input device and information of image data that can be acquired to a flow execution control means of the distribution management device; and A step of requesting acquisition of image data based on the selected information to the data access means, and a step of executing the distribution processing of the acquired image data based on the selected distribution flow. , Including.

  Moreover, this invention is a program for making a computer perform the said delivery management method.

  According to the present invention, when a user distributes an electronic file stored in his / her PC or a shared file server, the user selects a distribution target file without printing out the electronic file, and performs desired distribution. There is an effect that it can be delivered directly to the destination.

  Exemplary embodiments of a distribution management system, a distribution management apparatus, an image input apparatus, a distribution management method, and a program according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiment described below, the distribution management system, the distribution management device, the image input device, the distribution management method, and the program of the present invention are scanned by a multifunction peripheral, or electronic data stored in a distribution management server. An example will be described in which the present invention is applied to a multifunction peripheral capable of performing data distribution processing according to a distribution flow and a distribution management server. However, the distribution management system, the distribution management apparatus, the image input apparatus, the distribution management method, and the program of the present invention are not limited to this, as long as they control to perform distribution processing on image data. The present invention can be applied to any apparatus and system.

  Further, in the following embodiments, an image input apparatus for inputting image data is described by taking a multi-function machine in which a printer function, a scanner function, a copy function, and a facsimile function are mounted in one housing as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any image input device capable of inputting image data can be applied to any of a scanner device, a facsimile device, a copy device, and the like.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a network configuration of the distribution management system according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the distribution management system according to the first embodiment includes a distribution management server 20 connected to the Internet 50, a file server 31 connected to the Internet 50, an EDMS (Enterprise Document Management System) 32, and , An SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) server 33. The distribution management server 20 is further connected to the multifunction machine 10 via a network 40 such as a LAN or the Internet.

  The multifunction machine 10 has a scan function, a copy function, a printer function, a facsimile function, and the like mounted in a single housing. The multifunction machine 10 scans a paper medium or the like with a scanner function to generate image data, and transmits the generated image data to the distribution management server 20. Details of the multifunction machine 10 and the distribution management server 20 will be described later.

  The distribution management server 20 is a computer such as a workstation that receives image data scanned by the multifunction machine 10 and executes various processes and distribution processes according to a distribution flow described later.

  The file server 31 is a computer that stores and manages files shared on the network 40, the EDMS 302 is a so-called document management system, and the SMTP server 303 transmits e-mail that conforms to SMTP, which is a mail transmission protocol. It is a server to do. All of the file server 31, EDMS 32, and SMTP 33 are accessed by distribution processing by the distribution management server 20.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the multifunction peripheral and the distribution management server that constitute the distribution management system. First, details of the multifunction machine 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the multifunction machine 10 includes an operation panel 11 as an operation display unit, a remote communication unit 12 as a second communication unit, a display control unit 13 as a display control unit, a server information storage unit 14, and A scanner main body 15 as image input means is mainly provided.

  The operation panel 11 is hardware that allows the user of the multifunction machine 10 to perform various screens and operation inputs. The operation panel 11 is equipped with a touch panel on the surface of the display unit on which various operation screens can be displayed. In addition to the start button, stop button, copy button, and scan button displayed on the display unit, a file selection button, a flow selection button, An operation unit is provided that can perform file selection and operation input by directly touching a scroll button or the like. Of course, instead of the touch panel, an operation unit such as a keyboard provided with various operation buttons may be provided separately from the display unit.

  The remote communication unit 12 performs transmission / reception control for exchanging various data with the distribution management server 20. Specifically, the remote communication unit 12 requests the distribution flow selection screen, requests the flow ID of the selected flow, or the distribution server 20 with the IP address registered in the server information storage unit 14 for the scanned image data. Or send to.

  The display control unit 13 controls the display unit of the operation panel 11 to display various screens, software keyboard screens, and the like so as to allow touch input. The display control unit 13 also serves as an input control unit here, and performs input control by receiving touch input, software key input, operation input from the operation unit, and the like from the display unit of the operation panel 11. Specifically, the touch input or button press is detected by touch input to the display unit or event input by pressing various buttons of the operation unit. Such detection is notified to the scanner application.

  The server information storage unit 14 is a database in which the IP address and the like of the distribution management server 20 are registered, and is configured by a storage medium such as an HDD or a memory.

  The scanner body 15 is hardware that executes a scanning operation. In this embodiment, only the scanner main body 15 is shown for the invention related to the scanner function, but since it is the multi-function device 10, a printer main body for executing print processing is actually provided. When a control unit (not shown) that controls the entire MFP 10 receives a request from an application such as a scanner application, a printer application, a copy application, or a fax application, the HDD 15 By controlling, image reading, image writing, image copying, image data distribution processing, and the like are executed.

  The above scanner application is an application that executes setting of scan conditions and scan processing according to an instruction from the operation unit (scan button or the like) of the operation panel 11 by the user. Specifically, the scanner application issues a scan request to the control unit, operates the scanner main body 15, and scans the document. Then, the scanner application inputs image data of the scanned document. In addition, the scanner application requests a flow selection screen to select a distribution flow when the scanning process starts, that is, when the input control unit in the display control unit 13 detects that the user has pressed the scan button. The remote communication unit 12 is instructed.

  Next, details of the distribution server 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the distribution server 20 includes a remote communication unit 21 as a first communication unit, a file accessor 22 as a data access unit, a flow execution unit 23 as a flow execution control unit, a flow processing component unit 24, It mainly includes a data access unit 25, a database 26 as storage means, and a remote communication unit 27 as first communication means. The file accessor 22 is divided into SMB 221, HTTP 222, and FTP 223 according to the type of protocol used as the file access means.

  The remote communication unit 21 performs transmission / reception control for exchanging various data with the file server 31, the EDMS 32, the SMTP server 33, and the like via the Internet 50. Specifically, the file accessor 22 of the distribution server 20 described later acquires a list of accessible resources from the file server 31, EDMS 32, SMTP server 33, etc. existing on the Internet 50, and the user of the multifunction machine 10. The file accessor 22 acquires the distribution target file designated based on the list from the Internet 50, or the flow execution unit 23 performs various processes defined in the distribution flow and distributes the acquired distribution target file to the outside. Transmission / reception control is performed.

  The file accessor 22 acquires a list of accessible resources existing on the network and acquires a designated distribution target file. The protocol used when accessing the file from the network by the file accessor 22 can be used according to the application by individually or combining the SMB protocol, the HTTP protocol, and the FTP protocol. The SMB protocol is a protocol for file sharing and printer sharing that is standard on Windows. The HTTP protocol is a protocol for transmitting and receiving content such as an HTML document between a web server and a client. The FTP protocol is a protocol for performing file transfer.

  The flow execution unit 23 executes processing based on the selected distribution flow. Specifically, the flow execution unit 23 requests the file accessor 22 to acquire the distribution target file specified on the multifunction machine 10 side, or is defined in the distribution flow for the file acquired by the file accessor 22. Various types of processing are performed.

  The flow processing component unit 24 includes component parts for the flow execution unit 23 to perform various processes defined in the distribution flow. Specific examples of the various processes include an image conversion process, an OCR extraction process, an SMTP distribution process, a folder distribution process, and an archive process.

  The data access unit 25 accesses the database 26 and acquires various data stored in the database 26 or newly registers data. Specifically, a list of distribution flows stored in the database 26 is acquired by requesting the data access unit 25.

  The database 26 stores a plurality of distribution flows registered in advance for various tasks and uses, detailed data of the distribution flows, history information, and the like.

  The remote communication unit 27 performs transmission / reception control for exchanging various data with the multifunction machine 10 via the network 40. Specifically, when there is a request for a distribution flow list from the multifunction device 10, the distribution flow list is acquired from the database 26 and sent to the multifunction device 10, or the distribution flow from the database 26 is selected based on the distribution flow selected by the multifunction device 10. Obtain detailed data and send it to the multifunction device 10, request the file accessor 22 from the multifunction device 10 to obtain a list of accessible resources existing on the Internet 50, or list the target resources obtained by the file accessor 22 Is transmitted to the multifunction device 10 and transmission / reception control is performed such that the distribution management server 20 receives information input by the user of the multifunction device 10.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a delivery flow selection screen displayed on the operation panel of the multifunction peripheral, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a file selection screen that has been transitioned by pressing the delivery file selection button of FIG. is there. As shown in FIG. 3, six types of selection buttons from flow 1 (111) to flow 6 (116) are displayed in the center of the display section of the operation panel 11. In this case, the display control unit 13 of the multifunction device 10 accesses the distribution management server 20 to acquire and display the distribution flow list data stored in the database 26.

  In addition, a distribution file selection button 117 is displayed on the upper part of the distribution flow selection screen shown in FIG. 3, and when the distribution file selection button 117 is pressed, a transition is made to the file selection screen shown in FIG.

  The file selection screen in FIG. 4 displays a list of folders and files that can be browsed on the local / network, and the user of the MFP 10 can search for and select an arbitrary file from among them as a distribution target. it can. For example, an up button 121 in FIG. 4 is a button for moving the displayed folder screen up one level, a top button 122 is a button for returning to the top screen, and + The / − button 123 is a button for moving the displayed folder one level down. The file selection button list 124 is a list of buttons that allow selection of all computers, folders, and files on the network. When the file button is pressed, the selected file 126 field immediately above the file selection button list 124 is entered. The file selection button list 124 can be newly selected by scrolling the file selection buttons hidden up and down by the scroll bar 125.

  As described above, the operation of selecting an arbitrary file to be distributed using the file selection screen of FIG. 4 is an alternative operation when scanning the paper document by the scanner main body 15 of the multifunction machine 10 of FIG.

  The operation after designating the distribution target file on the screen of FIG. 4 and selecting the distribution flow on the distribution flow selection screen of FIG. 3 is the same as when performing a distribution process by scanning a normal paper document. That is, according to the selected delivery flow setting, the user of the multifunction machine 10 inputs necessary parameters (for example, delivery destination) from the operation panel 11 and presses a start button (not shown) to operate the MFP 10. Information set on the panel 11 is transmitted to the distribution management server 20. At this time, the difference from the case of scanning a paper document is that the document data itself to be distributed is not transmitted.

  When the distribution management server 20 receives the setting information set in the MFP 10, the flow execution unit 23 analyzes the contents of the setting information, and sends the file accessor 22 to the file accessor 22 according to the setting (file, access right, etc.). Request to get the specified file for distribution.

  For the distribution target file acquired by the file accessor 22, the flow execution unit 23 performs various processes defined in the distribution flow using the components of the flow processing component unit 24, as in the case of scanning a paper document. As described above, the file data subjected to the processing defined in the distribution flow is distributed to a desired distribution destination by the flow execution unit 23 via the remote communication unit 21.

  Next, the operation of the image data distribution process by the distribution management system according to the first embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIGS. 7A and 7B are flowcharts of the image data distribution process according to the first embodiment.

  First, when the user of the multifunction device 10 turns on the power and activates the multifunction device 10, the user uses the operation panel 11 to refer to the server information in the server information storage unit 14, so that an appropriate distribution management server is obtained. 20 (step S100).

  The display control unit 13 of the multifunction machine 10 accesses the database 26 from the data access unit 25 via the remote communication units 12 and 13, acquires the distribution flow list in the database 26, and as shown in FIG. A distribution flow selection screen is displayed on the operation panel 11 (step S101). At this time, a delivery file selection button 117 is also displayed on the screen.

  Since the display control unit 13 also serves as an input control unit here, the display control unit 13 monitors whether or not the distribution file selection button 117 on the operation panel 11 has been pressed (step S102). When the distribution file selection button 117 is pressed, a distribution file selection screen as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the operation panel 11 (step S103).

  In displaying the distribution file selection screen of FIG. 4, the display control unit 13 requests the file accessor 22 of the distribution management server 20 to collect information on target resources (files, folders, etc.) on the network. The file accessor 22 acquires information about image data that can be acquired on the network and transmits the information to the display control unit 13. The display control unit 13 displays a distribution file selection screen as shown in FIG. 4 based on the received image data information that can be acquired.

  The user of the multifunction machine 10 selects a file to be distributed from the distribution file selection screen of FIG. 4 (step S104). The display control unit 13 records the information of the selected file as setting information (step S105), and returns to the distribution flow selection screen of FIG. 3 (step S106). The user of the multifunction machine 10 selects a distribution flow to be used using the distribution flow selection screen of FIG. 3 (step S107).

  The display control unit 13 accesses the data access unit 25 of the distribution management server 20 and acquires the detailed information on the distribution flow selected on the distribution flow selection screen from the database 26. Examples of detailed information of this distribution flow include bibliographic information setting screens, presence / absence of OCR extraction, presence / absence of image rotation, input screen information such as a destination and document name. The display control unit 13 displays a parameter input screen on the operation panel 11 according to the acquired screen information of the distribution flow (step S108).

  The user of the MFP 10 uses the parameter input screen displayed on the operation panel 11 to input information (parameters) necessary for distribution such as bibliographic information (step S109).

  In the flowchart of FIG. 7-2 following FIG. 7-1, it is determined whether or not the distribution target file selection processing (step S102 to step S105) is being performed (step S110). The start button of the scanner on the operation panel 11 not shown is pressed (step S111). In step S110, when a paper document is scanned without selecting a distribution target file, the process proceeds to step S118, and the user sets the paper document in the scanner body 15, and then presses the start button of the scanner. (Step S111).

  In the subsequent step S112, it is determined whether or not there is a paper document. When the distribution target file is selected and there is no paper document, the process proceeds to step S113, and the display control unit 13 of the multifunction machine 10 transmits the setting information input by the user to the distribution management server 20. If a paper document is set in step S112, the paper document is scanned (step S119), and the scan data and setting information input by the user are transmitted to the distribution management server 20 (step S120). .

  The distribution management server 20 receives the setting information input by the user from the multifunction device 10 and the scanner data if there is a paper document (step S114). When the distribution target file is specified, since the image data has not been acquired yet, the flow execution unit 23 requests the file accessor 22 to acquire the file described in the setting information. The file accessor 22 acquires the distribution target file from the network (step S116).

  The flow execution unit 23 performs various processes defined in the distribution flow on the acquired file (step S117). For example, image conversion processing, OCR extraction processing, SMTP distribution, folder distribution, and the like are performed. Then, the flow execution unit 23 distributes the file data subjected to the processing defined in the distribution flow from the remote communication unit 21 to the outside via the Internet 50.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the scan data obtained by scanning a paper document is distributed from the multi-function device 10 including the scanner main body 15 and the obtainable electronic file existing on the network is distributed. Can be realized with the same operability using the same operation screen. For this reason, it has become possible to greatly reduce the conventional labor and cost of printing out electronic files to be distributed to form paper documents and scanning them again.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, when the delivery file selection button 117 on the delivery flow selection screen shown in FIG. 3 is pressed to change to the file selection screen shown in FIG. A list of files is displayed, and the user of the multifunction machine 10 searches for and selects an arbitrary file from among these as a distribution target. At this time, all files accessible on the local / network may be selected, but from a security aspect, a certain range is restricted so that only files existing under the folder specified by the system administrator can be selected. The feature of the second embodiment is to provide this.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a management tool setting screen for restricting the range of folders and files that can be browsed on the network according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a setting of the management tool of FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of an operation panel corresponding to FIG. In the second embodiment, a folder designated by the system administrator (a folder whose range that can be browsed on the network is limited) is referred to as a “root folder” here.

  As shown in the management tool setting screen 17 of FIG. 5, a root folder is set for each user or each device. The user selects (moves) a root path containing a file to be distributed by pressing the + button from the list of root folders displayed on the operation panel of the device. Then, since a list of files existing in the root path is displayed, it is possible to specify a file to be actually distributed. In addition, a correct user ID and password are required to access a folder or file. For this reason, a person without viewing authority cannot select and distribute files existing under the root folder, and security is ensured.

  In the setting window 16 of FIG. 5, for example, for each root folder, a check column 161 for setting whether to move to a subfolder is provided. Furthermore, an access right setting method and the like can be arbitrarily designated depending on whether or not a user ID, password, domain, and the like can be set.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when setting the root folder management tool using the operation panel 11 of the multifunction machine 10, a plurality of root folders designated in advance by the system administrator are displayed in the root folder selection button list 131. If a folder in this folder is selected, a transition is made to a list screen of files and subfolders existing in that folder. Here, when the user selects a file, the file enters the column of the selected file 132 as a distribution target file.

  To select another selection branch that is not displayed in the root folder selection button list 131 of FIG. 6, the folder screen displayed by pressing the up button 121 in FIG. 6 is moved up one level. (Only when the subfolder is displayed. This operation cannot be performed while the root folder list is displayed.) The top (Top) button 122 is pressed to return to the top screen (root folder list), or the +/− button 123. Press to move the folder displayed one level down (this operation is possible only with the + button. The-button indicates that there are no subfolders or files below), scroll bar Use 125 to scroll the file selection buttons hidden at the top and bottom of the root folder selection button list 131 to display other selections and select them. To.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the display control unit 13 of the multifunction peripheral 10 acquires information about folders and files that can be viewed on the network from the file accessor 22 of the distribution management server 20. When requesting, a root folder is used that limits the search range so that only file information existing under the folder specified by the system administrator is acquired. For this reason, the file search time can be shortened on the distribution management server 20 side, and the selection time can be shortened on the multi-function peripheral 10 side by reducing the number of selections. Also, file owners existing on the network can be protected in terms of security by preventing files from being distributed to others without permission.

  Also, by changing the root path to be displayed for each scanner, the first department scanner displays the first department file server, and the second department scanner displays the second department file server. It can be displayed.

  Further, by changing the route path to be displayed for each distribution flow, for example, a distribution path for accounting processing and a distribution flow for Mr. A are used to designate a route path in accordance with the use of the distribution flow from the management tool. In this case, the distribution target file on the operation panel 11 is selected after the distribution flow is selected.

  In the first and second embodiments, the case where only one of the paper document and the electronic file existing on the network is distributed has been described. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. For example, if there are multiple files to be distributed, and you want to distribute both the scan data that scans a paper document and the electronic data that exists on the network in one job, the scan data of the paper document and the electronic file are It is possible to perform distribution processing with one job by mixing them into one folder.

  Specifically, the MFP 10 performs a procedure for setting a paper document in the scanner body 15 and acquiring scan data, and the display control unit 13 uses the file accessor 22 of the distribution management server 20 in parallel with this. Thus, resource information on the network is acquired, a desired electronic file is selected, and a distribution flow is selected. Then, the scan data of the paper document, the setting information of the electronic file, and the setting information of the distribution flow are transmitted from the multi-function peripheral 10 to the distribution management server 20, and the scan data of the paper document is stored in the temporary database 26. The flow execution unit 23 acquires an electronic file from the network using the file accessor 22 and creates a folder together with the scan data of the paper document temporarily stored in the database 26. Then, the flow execution unit 23 performs the distribution process in a single job according to the distribution flow of the folder in which the plurality of files are mixed. Thereby, the paper document and the electronic data on the network can be distributed in one job.

  The programs executed by the multifunction machine 10 and the distribution management server 20 according to the first and second embodiments include the above-described units (operation panel, remote communication unit, display control unit, scanner main unit, remote communication unit, file accessor, The module configuration includes a flow execution unit and a database. As actual hardware, a storage management program (not shown) such as a CPU (processor), ROM, or RAM is used to read a distribution management program and execute it to load the above units onto the main storage device. In addition, an operation panel, a remote communication unit, a display control unit, a scanner main body, a remote communication unit, a file accessor, a flow execution unit, a database, and the like are generated on the main storage device.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing a network configuration of a distribution management system according to a first exemplary embodiment; It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the multifunctional machine and distribution management server which comprise a distribution management system. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a delivery flow selection screen displayed on the operation panel of the multifunction peripheral. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the file selection screen which pushed and changed the delivery file selection button of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a setting screen of the management tool which restrict | limits the range of the folder and file which can be browsed on the network concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen of the operation panel corresponding to the setting of the management tool of FIG. 3 is a flowchart of image data distribution processing according to the first embodiment; 3 is a flowchart of image data distribution processing according to the first embodiment;

Explanation of symbols

10 MFP 11 Operation Panel 12 Remote Communication Unit 13 Display Control Unit 14 Server Information Storage Unit 15 Scanner Main Body 20 Distribution Management Server 21 Remote Communication Unit 22 File Accessor 221 SMB
222 HTTP
223 FTP
23 Flow execution unit 24 Flow processing component unit 25 Data access unit 26 Database 27 Remote communication unit 31 File server 32 EDMS
33 SMTP server 40 Network 50 Internet 117 Distribution file selection button

Claims (11)

A distribution management system in which an image input device and a distribution management device that manages distribution processing of image data are connected via a network,
The distribution management device includes:
Storage means for storing a list of distribution flows defining a flow of distribution processing for the image data;
Data access means for collecting information on image data that can be acquired on the network and acquiring target image data selected from the collected image data information;
Flow execution control means for executing distribution processing of target image data based on the distribution target image data selected by the image input device and distribution flow for distributing the image data;
First communication means for controlling transmission and reception of image data and various data via the network,
The image input device includes:
Operation display means capable of operation display and input;
Image input means for inputting image data;
Connected to the distribution management device, acquires a list of the distribution flows from the storage unit, requests the data access unit to collect information of image data that can be acquired, and acquires the collected information Display control means for displaying on the operation display means so that a user can select the list of distribution flows and information of the obtainable image data;
And a second communication means for controlling transmission / reception of image data and various data via the network. The data access means includes
At least one of the SMB protocol, the HTTP protocol, and the FTP protocol is acquired when collecting information on the image data that can be acquired on the network and acquiring target image data selected from the collected image data information. The delivery management system according to claim 1, wherein one is used.   The distribution management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the data access means predefines a range of information collection of image data that can be acquired on the network by a system administrator.   3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the data access unit predefines an information collection range of image data that can be acquired on the network for each image input device. The delivery management system described.   3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the data access unit predefines a range of information collection of image data that can be acquired on the network for each distribution flow. 4. Delivery management system.   6. The data access unit can limit a range of information collection of image data that can be acquired on the network based on an authority of a user of the image input device. The delivery management system according to any one of the above.   The flow execution control unit is configured to scan image data acquired by the user of the image input apparatus by requesting the data access unit of the distribution management apparatus using the operation display unit, and a paper document scanned by the image input unit. The distribution management system according to claim 1, wherein the data is combined with the target image data to execute distribution processing as one job. Storage means for storing a list of distribution flows defining a flow of distribution processing of image data, which can be provided to an image input device connected to a network and inputting image data;
Data access means for collecting information on image data that can be acquired on the network and acquiring target image data selected from the collected image data information;
Flow execution control means for executing distribution processing of the target image data based on the distribution target image data selected by the image input device and a distribution flow for distributing the image data;
And a first communication unit that controls transmission / reception of image data and various types of data via the network. Operation display means capable of operation display and input;
Image input means for inputting image data;
Connected to a distribution management device that manages image data distribution processing via a network, obtains a list of distribution flows that define the flow of distribution processing for image data, and requests collection of information about the image data that can be acquired Display control means for acquiring the collected information and causing the operation display means to display so that the list of distribution flows and the information of the obtainable image data can be selected;
An image input apparatus comprising: second communication means for controlling transmission / reception of image data and various data via the network. A distribution management method executed by a distribution management device connected to an image input device via a network,
The distribution management device includes storage means for storing a list of distribution flows defining a flow of distribution processing for the image data,
The display control means of the image input device obtaining a list of the distribution flows from the storage means;
The display control means requesting the data access means of the distribution management device to collect information on image data that can be acquired on the network;
Operation display of the image input device so that the display control means can acquire the information of the image data collected by the data access means and select the list of distribution flows and the information of the obtainable image data. Displaying on the means;
The operation display means transmits the distribution flow selected by the user of the image input device and information on the image data that can be acquired to the flow execution control means of the distribution management device;
The flow execution control means requesting acquisition of image data based on the selected information to the data access means;
The flow execution control means includes a step of executing distribution processing on the acquired image data based on a selected distribution flow.   A program for causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 10.

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