JP2010124117A - Image information transmission device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image information transmission device which controls a repeating transmission of the same image information to a same transmitting destination. <P>SOLUTION: A FAX device 100 firstly detects setting of paper with RFID tag, and reads a FAX number stored in the RFID tag. Then, the fax device 100 determines a FAX number which becomes a transmission target based on the FAX number read, and registers the FAX number determined as a transmitting destination in a transmission destination number queue. The FAX device 100 deletes the FAX number determined as the transmitting destination from the RFID tag, and reads image information of a document. Then, the FAX device 100 extracts the FAX number registered in a top of the transmission destination number queue, and transmits the image information read to a FAX device specified by the FAX number. The FAX device 100 deletes the FAX number also from the transmission destination number queue after the FAX transmission has finished. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image information transmitting apparatus capable of accessing a storage medium such as an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tag. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image information transmitting apparatus that reads transmission destination information from a storage medium attached to a sheet (hereinafter referred to as “RFID tag” for convenience) and performs image information transmission processing using the transmission destination information. It is.

Conventionally, there is a sheet in which additional information such as a destination FAX number is stored in an RFID tag and the RFID tag is attached. The image information transmitting apparatus that performs image information transmission processing acquires the transmission destination information stored in the RFID tag together with the image information of the original when reading the original on the RFID-tagged paper. There has been proposed a FAX apparatus that transmits image information of a document by FAX. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a FAX apparatus in which a FAX number is stored in an RFID tag, and the FAX number is read and automatically transmitted by FAX. According to Patent Document 1, the FAX apparatus can eliminate the input operation of the transmission destination information.
JP 2007-174212 A

  However, the FAX apparatus as described in Patent Document 1 has the following problems. That is, in the conventional FAX apparatus, when the read process is performed again on the transmitted document, the image information having the same content is transmitted to the already transmitted FAX apparatus. Such overlapping transmission of image information is not limited to a FAX apparatus, and can occur even in an apparatus that transmits image information to another information processing terminal device connected to a network, for example.

  The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the conventional image information transmitting apparatus described above. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide an image information transmitting apparatus that suppresses repeatedly transmitting the same image information to the same destination.

  An image information transmitting apparatus for solving this problem includes a reading unit that reads image information of an original, an acquisition unit that acquires transmission destination identification information from a storage medium attached to a sheet, and a reading unit. The image information transmission process is triggered by the transmission unit that transmits the image information to the transmission destination terminal device specified by the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit, and at least a part of the image information transmission process is completed. It is characterized by comprising a restricting unit that restricts the use of the targeted identification information.

  The image information transmitting apparatus according to the present invention acquires identification information (for example, a FAX number or IP address) of a transmission destination from a storage medium (for example, an RFID tag) attached to a sheet as image information transmission processing, and the identification is performed. The image information is transmitted to the transmission destination terminal device specified by the information. Then, when at least part of the image information transmission processing is completed, use of the identification information that is the transmission target is restricted. The timing at which a part of the image information transmission process ends corresponds to, for example, immediately after the image information transmission is instructed or immediately after the image information reading ends in the image information transmission process. In addition, the usage restriction of the identification information includes deleting the transmitted identification information from the storage medium, and sending the information indicating that the transmission has been completed to the storage medium, the image information transmission apparatus main body, or a server connected to the apparatus. Writing and the like are applicable.

  That is, the image information transmitting apparatus of the present invention restricts the use of the identification information of the transmission destination that is considered to have transmitted the image information. As a result, even if the document that has undergone the transmission process is reset, the identification information that is the target of the transmission process is not used, and duplicate transmission to the destination terminal device specified by the identification information can be avoided.

  Also, in the image information transmitting apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of transmission destination identification information is stored in the storage medium, and the restriction unit identifies the identification information subjected to image information transmission processing from the plurality of identification information. It is better to only restrict use. In other words, there is a certain effect even if all the identification information is restricted, but only the identification information subject to the image information transmission processing is restricted, and the other identification information is not restricted next time. When transmitting image information, identification information that has not been subject to image information transmission processing can be used.

  The image information transmitting apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit that displays a transmission destination specified by the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit, and a transmission destination that is a target of image information transmission processing from the displayed transmission destinations. And an instruction unit for instructing transmission of image information to the transmission destination, and the restriction unit instructs the instruction unit to send image information to the transmission destination specified by the identification information whose use is restricted. Better to limit. In other words, by restricting the selection of identification information, it is possible to avoid a transmission instruction to restricted identification information. As a means for restricting the selection of identification information, it is possible to apply such as not displaying, displaying an error message when selected, or being displayed but grayed out and cannot be selected. The display of the transmission destination may display the identification information itself, or may display the address when the address is associated with the identification information.

  Further, the restriction unit of the image information transmitting apparatus of the present invention is better to restrict the use of the identification information by rewriting information stored in the storage medium. That is, as a means for restricting the use of identification information, it is possible to store the identification information subject to restriction in the image information transmitting apparatus body, but if the original is used in another image information transmitting apparatus, duplicate transmission is performed. Cannot be avoided. Therefore, it is more preferable to perform a restriction process on the storage medium in order to reliably avoid duplicate transmission.

  Further, it is better that the restriction unit rewrites information stored in the storage medium before the reading of the original by the reading unit is completed. In other words, by completing the restriction process before reading the document, it can be expected to avoid a situation in which the storage medium cannot be rewritten because the sheet is taken away.

  In addition, the image information transmitting apparatus includes a storage unit that stores the identification information of the transmission destination in which transmission failure has occurred and the identification information of the storage medium that stores the identification information of the transmission destination in association with each other, When the identification information of the storage medium to be acquired by the acquisition unit is stored in the storage unit, the restriction unit is identified by the transmission destination identification information stored in association with the identification information of the storage medium. It is better not to restrict the use of destinations. That is, if a transmission failure occurs after the storage medium is rewritten, the image information is not sent to the transmission destination of the identification information. Therefore, by storing the fact that there was a transmission failure in the storage unit, it is possible to transmit to the transmission destination that had a transmission failure during the next image information transmission processing. As a result, an inappropriate restriction state can be avoided.

  Further, the restriction unit of the image information transmitting apparatus of the present invention is better to restrict the use by deleting the identification information that is the object of the image information transmission process. In other words, it is possible to restrict the use of the identification information while leaving the recording information on the recording medium by a limiting means such as writing information indicating that the information has already been transmitted to the storage medium, but leaving the used information remaining. If this is done, there is a risk of leaking information when the document is lost. Therefore, by deleting the used information, the possibility of information leakage can be reduced.

  In the image information transmitting apparatus of the present invention, the identification information of the transmission destination acquired from the storage medium is a FAX number, and the transmission unit transmits the image information to the transmission destination FAX apparatus specified by the FAX number. The image information transmitting device is included.

  According to the present invention, an image information transmitting apparatus that suppresses repeated transmission of the same image information to the same destination is realized.

  Embodiments of the image information transmitting apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a FAX apparatus that reads image information of a document and performs transmission processing of the image information.

[Configuration of FAX machine]
As shown in FIG. 1, the FAX apparatus 100 according to this embodiment includes an image forming unit 10 that prints an image on a sheet, and an image reading unit 20 (an example of a reading unit) that reads an image of a document. The image forming method of the image forming unit 10 may be an electrophotographic method or an ink jet method. Further, even if a color image can be formed, it may be dedicated to a monochrome image.

  The image reading unit 20 includes an operation panel 40 provided with a display unit 41 including a liquid crystal display, a button group 42 including various buttons (for example, buttons of a start key, a stop key, and a numeric keypad) on the front side. Is provided. The display unit 41 and the button group 42 enable operation status display and user operation input.

[Configuration of Image Reading Unit]
As shown in FIG. 2, the image reading unit 20 includes a scanner unit 21 that reads an image of a document (for example, paper 90 in FIG. 2), and an ADF (Auto Document Feeder: automatic document feeder) that automatically transports the document. ) 22. The scanner unit 21 includes transparent platen glasses 23 and 24 located on the upper surface thereof, and an image sensor 25 located therein. When the document is automatically conveyed by the ADF 22, the scanner unit 21 is fixed under the platen glass 23 and reads an image of the document. When the document is placed on the platen glass 24, it moves in the sub-scanning direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2) and reads the image of the document.

  The ADF 22 includes a document tray 221 on which a document before reading is placed and a discharge tray 222 on which the document after reading is placed. The ADF 22 takes out the originals placed on the original tray 221 one by one and conveys the originals to a position facing the platen glass 23 via the conveyance path 223. Then, the image sensor 25 reads the image of the document line by line in the main scanning direction. Thereafter, the document is discharged onto the discharge tray 222.

  The ADF 22 is located near the document entrance, adjacent to the document sensor 28 for detecting the document existing at the entrance and a support (not shown) for rotating the ADF 22, and detects the open state of the ADF 22. An open / close sensor 29 is provided. The image reading unit 20 detects that a document is set on the ADF 22 based on an output signal from the document sensor 28.

  In addition, the ADF 22 includes an R / W device 50 (an example of an acquisition unit) that can detect an RFID tag that exists within a predetermined range and can read and write data to the RFID tag. The R / W device 50 is disposed in a range where the RFID tag can be accessed when a sheet with the RFID tag is placed on the document tray 221.

[Electrical configuration of FAX machine]
Next, the electrical configuration of the FAX apparatus 100 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the FAX apparatus 100 includes a control unit 30 including a CPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, an NVRAM 34, an ASIC 35, a network interface 36, and a FAX interface 37 (an example of a transmission unit). is doing.

  The CPU 31 executes arithmetic operations for realizing various functions such as an image reading function and an image forming function in the FAX apparatus 100, and serves as the center of control. The ROM 32 stores various control programs for controlling the FAX machine 100, various settings, initial values, and the like. The RAM 33 is used as a work area from which various control programs are read or as a storage area for temporarily storing image data. An NVRAM (Non Volatile RAM) 34 is a non-volatile storage means and is used as a storage area for storing various settings or image data.

  The CPU 31 stores each processing result in the RAM 33 or the NVRAM 34 in accordance with a control program read from the ROM 32 and signals sent from various sensors, and the components of the FAX apparatus 100 (for example, the exposure apparatus constituting the image forming unit 10). The lighting timing, the driving motors (not shown) of various rollers constituting the paper conveyance path, and the moving motor (not shown) of the image sensor unit constituting the image reading unit 20 are controlled via the ASIC 35.

  The network interface 36 is connected to a network such as the Internet, and enables connection with an information processing apparatus such as a PC. The FAX interface 37 is connected to a telephone line and enables connection with a destination FAX apparatus. Jobs can be exchanged via the network interface 36 or the FAX interface 37.

[FAX transmission processing of FAX machine]
[First embodiment]
Subsequently, a procedure of a FAX transmission process (an example of a reading unit, an acquisition unit, a transmission unit, a limiting unit, a display unit, an instruction unit, and an image information transmission process) when the FAX apparatus 100 performs reading of a document and FAX transmission. Will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This process is executed every time the image reading unit 20 detects a document. In the following description, a FAX transmission process when a document on the document tray 221 of the ADF 22 is detected will be described.

  First, the R / W device 50 accesses an RFID tag (an example of a storage medium), and reads information stored in the RFID tag (S101). In the present embodiment, at least the FAX number of the transmission destination is stored in the RFID tag. In this embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, there is one identification number (an example of storage medium identification information) for identifying individual RFID tags and a transmission destination FAX number (an example of transmission destination identification information). It is stored in the RFID tag 91. Note that the number of destination FAX numbers may be one or plural as shown in FIG. An address may be associated with the FAX number.

  Next, the read FAX numbers are displayed as a list on the display unit 41 as shown in FIG. 6, for example (S102). Then, the user is prompted to select a transmission destination. Thereafter, the transmission destination is selected by the user, and when the user presses the determination button in the button group 41, the selected FAX number is determined as the transmission destination of the image information (S103).

  Next, the FAX number determined as the transmission destination is registered in the transmission destination number queue of the FAX apparatus 100 (S104). That is, the FAX number is stored in the NVRAM 34. Thereafter, the FAX number determined as the transmission destination is deleted from the RFID tag (S105). Thereafter, automatic conveyance of the original is started, and the image information of the original is read by the scanner unit 21 (S106).

  Next, the FAX number registered at the head of the transmission destination number queue is extracted, and the read image information is transmitted to the partner FAX apparatus having the FAX number (S107). When the FAX transmission for the FAX number is completed, the FAX number is also deleted from the transmission destination number queue (S108). Then, it is determined whether or not there is a remaining transmission destination, that is, whether or not there is a FAX number in the transmission destination number queue (S109). If there is a transmission destination (S109: YES), the process returns to S107 to return to FAX. If the transmission is repeated and there is no transmission destination (S109: NO), this processing is terminated.

  That is, in the FAX transmission process of the first form, the information on the FAX number determined to be FAX-transmitted is deleted from the RFID tag. Therefore, when the FAX transmission is performed using the RFID tag, the transmitted FAX number is not acquired, and the FAX number cannot be selected. Thereby, it is possible to avoid duplicate image information having the same contents from being transmitted to the same transmission destination by FAX.

[Second form]
Next, a second form of FAX transmission processing will be described. In the second embodiment, when FAX transmission fails, an unsent management database 341 (an example of a storage unit) that stores a FAX number at the time of failure is provided. Then, in the next FAX transmission process, the untransmitted management database 341 is referred to, and the FAX number for which the FAX transmission has failed can be selected again. This is different from the first embodiment in which information on the FAX number does not remain when FAX transmission fails.

  Specifically, the FAX apparatus 100 has an untransmitted management database 341 as shown in FIG. That is, the unsent management database 341 stores the RFID tag identification number and the FAX number that failed to be transmitted as one record. In this embodiment, one record is assigned to one FAX number. However, one record is assigned to one identification number, and a plurality of FAX numbers are stored in one record. May be.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of registration of the RFID tag 91 and the untransmitted management database 341 in the second embodiment. First, in FIG. 8A, numbers 1, 2, and 3 are stored as FAX numbers in the RFID tag 91 of the paper 90 as an initial state. It is assumed that nothing is registered in the unsent management database 341.

  Assume that in this state, numbers 1, 2, and 3 are all selected as transmission destinations and FAX transmission is instructed. It is assumed that FAX transmission to numbers 1 and 2 has ended normally, but FAX transmission of number 3 has not ended normally. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8B, the information of the numbers 1, 2, and 3 is deleted from the RFID tag 91. On the other hand, in the unsent management database 341, information of the number 3 that failed in FAX transmission is stored. This number 3 is stored in association with the identification number of the RFID tag 91.

  When the same sheet 90 (that is, the RFID tag 91 having the same identification number) is set again, the number 3 can be selected when selecting the transmission destination. For example, as shown in FIG. 8C, when the RFID tag 91 having the same identification number as the identification number associated with the number 3 is reset with the numbers 4 and 5 registered as new FAX numbers. Makes it possible to select number 3 in addition to numbers 4 and 5 when selecting a destination.

  Hereinafter, FAX transmission processing for realizing the operation as shown in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that, similarly to the first embodiment, this embodiment is processing when a document on the document tray 221 of the ADF 22 is detected, and the same reference numerals are given to the same processing as the first embodiment.

  First, information stored in the RFID tag is read (S101). Then, the read RFID tag information and the information in the untransmitted management database 341 are collated, and a record having the same RFID tag identification number is extracted (S201). Then, it is determined whether or not a record has been extracted (S202). If there is a record (S202: YES), the FAX number stored in the record is acquired, and the record is deleted from the unsent management database 341 (S203).

  Next, the FAX number acquired in the process of S101 and the FAX number acquired in the process of S203 are displayed as a list on the display unit 41 (S102). After the user selects a destination FAX number, the selected FAX number is determined as the image information transmission destination (S103).

  Next, the FAX number determined as the transmission destination is registered in the transmission destination number queue (S104), and the selected FAX number is deleted from the RFID tag (S105). Thereafter, automatic conveyance of the original is started, and the image information of the original is read (S106).

  Next, the FAX number registered at the head of the transmission destination number queue is extracted, and the read image information is transmitted to the partner FAX apparatus having the FAX number (S107). Then, it is determined whether or not the FAX transmission for the FAX number is normally completed (S204). If not completed normally (S204: NO), the FAX number is registered in the untransmitted management database 341 together with the identification number of the RFID tag (S205). Then, the communication failure is notified (S206). Notification methods include, for example, message display on the display unit 41 and message printing using the image forming unit 10. On the other hand, if the process ends normally (S204: YES), the processes of S205 and S206 are bypassed.

  Thereafter, the FAX number is deleted from the transmission destination number queue (S108). Then, it is determined whether or not there is a remaining transmission destination (S109). If there is a transmission destination (S109: YES), the process returns to S107 to repeat FAX transmission, and if there is no transmission destination (S109: NO). This process is terminated.

  That is, in the FAX transmission processing of the second form, the FAX number for which FAX transmission has failed is stored in the unsent management database 341, and when the same sheet (that is, the same RFID tag) is set again, the FAX number of the failed FAX number is stored. Allows reselection. Therefore, it is possible to avoid an inappropriate state in which the FAX number is restricted even though the FAX transmission is not completed. Further, it is not necessary to input a FAX number to be retransmitted, which is highly convenient.

  In the second embodiment, if an RFID tag that has failed in FAX transmission is not reset, information on the untransmitted FAX number remains. Therefore, an automatic deletion function may be provided. For example, the registration date and time of each record may be recorded in the unsent management database 341, and the record may be deleted if it remains even after a predetermined period.

  As described above in detail, in the FAX apparatus 100 according to the embodiment, the FAX number considered to have transmitted image information by FAX is deleted from the RFID tag, and its use is restricted. As a result, even if the document subjected to the transmission process is reset, the FAX number that is the object of the transmission process is not displayed, and it is possible to avoid duplicate transmission to the transmission destination FAX apparatus specified by the FAX number.

  In the FAX apparatus 100 according to the embodiment, the FAX number that is the object of FAX transmission is deleted from the RFID tag. That is, the used information is erased. This can reduce the possibility of information leakage.

  Note that this embodiment is merely an example, and does not limit the present invention. Therefore, the present invention can naturally be improved and modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the present invention is not limited to a FAX-dedicated device, and can be applied to any device having an image reading function and an image transmission function, such as a multifunction machine.

  In the embodiment, the present invention is applied to a FAX transmission function that transmits image information via a public line by FAX communication as an image transmission function, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a scanner device having a function of reading an IP address, an e-mail address, and the like from an RFID tag and transmitting image information to a transmission destination via a network such as the Internet.

  In the embodiment, the FAX number in the RFID tag is deleted after the transmission destination is determined and before the document is read during the FAX transmission process. However, the timing of deletion is not limited to this. For example, it may be erased after reading the document, or may be erased after the end of communication. However, by erasing before reading the document, it is possible to avoid a situation where the document is taken away before the FAX number is deleted.

  In the embodiment, the FAX number is deleted from the RFID tag as means for restricting the use of the normally transmitted FAX number. However, the restricting means is not limited to this. For example, a flag indicating whether or not the RFID tag is restricted may be stored in association with each FAX number as information on the RFID tag, and the flag may be rewritten with respect to a FAX number transmitted normally by FAX. . Thus, by restricting the use of the transmitted FAX number while leaving it in the RFID tag, it is possible to restrict the use while notifying that the transmission has been completed, such as grayout display of the transmitted FAX number.

  In the case of the above configuration, for example, it can be realized by replacing the FAX transmission processing of the embodiment as follows. That is, the flag writing process to the RFID tag is performed in the process of S105 of the embodiment. As a result, the FAX number selected as the transmission destination enters a restricted state. In addition, the display of the transmission destination is limited by the state of the flag in the process of S102. For example, the FAX numbers in a restricted state are displayed in gray out.

  Further, as another limiting means, for example, the FAX number transmitted by FAX is stored in the FAX apparatus 100 together with the identification number of the RFID tag, and the same FAX number of the same RFID tag cannot be selected when selecting the other party. You may comprise. However, when the transmission information is stored in the FAX apparatus, transmission becomes possible if another FAX apparatus is used. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent duplicate transmission by providing a restriction on the RFID tag.

  In the embodiment, the RFID tag information is always erased before the FAX transmission. However, it may be possible to select whether or not to perform such restriction processing. That is, depending on the user and the environment, it may be preferable not to execute the restriction function. Therefore, it is more preferable that the restriction function can be selected.

  In addition to the manual setting by the user, the restriction function is selected by providing a flag for storing the validity / invalidity of the restriction function in the RFID tag and automatically switching the restriction function setting by reading the flag. May be.

  In the embodiment, the non-transmission management database 341 is held in the NVRAM 34 of the FAX apparatus 100, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the untransmitted management database 341 may be held in a server connected to the FAX apparatus 100.

1 is a diagram illustrating an external appearance of a FAX apparatus according to an embodiment. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image reading unit of a FAX apparatus. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a FAX apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the FAX transmission process in a 1st form. It is a figure which shows an example of the information memorize | stored in the RFID tag. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the display part at the time of transmission destination selection. It is a figure which shows an example of the information memorize | stored in the unsent management database. It is a figure which shows the concept of the FAX transmission process in a 2nd form. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the FAX transmission process in a 2nd form.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming part 20 Image reading part 30 Control part 41 Display part 50 R / W apparatus 90 Paper 91 RFID tag 100 FAX apparatus 341 Untransmission management database

Claims (8)

A reading unit for reading image information of a document;
An acquisition unit that acquires identification information of a transmission destination from a storage medium attached to the paper;
A transmission unit that transmits the image information read by the reading unit to a transmission destination terminal device identified by the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit;
An image information transmitting apparatus comprising: a restricting unit that restricts use of identification information subjected to image information transmission processing when at least part of the image information transmission processing is completed. In the image information transmitting device according to claim 1,
A storage medium stores a plurality of identification information of transmission destinations.
The restriction unit restricts the use of only identification information that is a target of image information transmission processing from among a plurality of pieces of identification information. In the image information transmitting device according to claim 1 or 2,
A display unit for displaying a transmission destination specified by the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit;
An instruction unit for selecting a transmission destination to be subjected to image information transmission processing from the displayed transmission destinations and instructing transmission of the image information to the transmission destination;
The restriction unit restricts an instruction to send image information to a transmission destination specified by identification information whose use is restricted by the instruction unit. In the image information transmitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The image information transmitting apparatus, wherein the restriction unit restricts the use of identification information by rewriting information stored in a storage medium. In the image information transmitting device according to claim 4,
The image information transmitting apparatus, wherein the restricting unit rewrites information stored in a storage medium until the reading of the original by the reading unit is completed. In the image information transmitting device according to claim 4 or 5,
A storage unit for storing the identification information of the transmission destination in which the transmission failure has occurred and the identification information of the storage medium storing the identification information of the transmission destination in association with each other;
The restriction unit identifies the transmission destination stored in association with the identification information of the storage medium when the identification information of the storage medium acquired by the acquisition unit is stored in the storage unit. An image information transmitting apparatus characterized in that use of a transmission destination specified by information is not restricted. In the image information transmitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An image information transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the restricting unit restricts the use of the identification information by deleting the identification information subjected to the image information transmitting process. In the image information transmitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The identification information of the transmission destination acquired from the storage medium is a FAX number,
The transmission unit transmits image information to a transmission destination FAX device specified by a FAX number.

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