JP2012065284A - Network scanner, information processor, and network scanning system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten a processing time when image processing to be performed on image data read by a networked document reader is decentrally performed using a plurality of networked information processors.SOLUTION: A method to shorten a processing time when the image processing to be performed on the image data read from a document by a network scanner is decentrally performed using the networked information processors is determined on the basis of image processing capabilities of the network scanner and the information processors, time taken for communication between the network scanner and the information processors, and restriction in processing orders of the image processing.

Description

  The present invention relates to a network scanner, an information processing apparatus, and a control method and an information processing method thereof. For example, a plurality of image processing functions of a network scanner or an information processing apparatus connected to a computer network are used. The present invention relates to a network scanner, an information processing apparatus, and a network scanning system that enable load distribution of image processing by the apparatus.

  As a method to reduce the time required for document scanning using a network scanner and improve productivity, all image processing that was previously performed in a network scanner is distributed to network devices such as PCs connected via a network. There has been proposed a processing method.

For example, the technique of Patent Document 1 manages the performance information and operation status of individual network devices, and speeds up image processing by substituting other network devices for processing that cannot be processed by the device itself. The technique of Patent Document 2 manages the state and capability of a network device, analyzes the calculation load and ease of distribution of each image processing, and determines that the distributed processing of image processing is easy based on the analysis result In this method, image processing is speeded up by selecting computer equipment to be distributed and performing distributed processing.

JP 2002-135508 A Japanese Patent No. 4208769

However, the above method of selecting a network device for distributed processing for each image processing based on the state and capability of the network device, the calculation load of each image processing, and the ease of distribution improves the efficiency even when distributed. There may be cases where you do not. For example, if a distributed processing method in which image processing is shared between the image reading apparatus and the network device is selected as a result of executing the above selection method, the network between the document reading apparatus connected to the network and the network device is selected. If the communication is slow, the time required for the communication becomes long, and the efficiency may be lowered in some cases. Thus, an efficient distributed processing method could not be selected regardless of the communication speed.

In order to solve the above problems, a network scanner according to the present invention is configured to allow a user operation to set a document reading unit that reads a document and generates image data, and image processing to be performed on the image data generated by the document reading unit. A communication means for communicating with an information processing apparatus connected via a network, at least an image processing capability of the information processing apparatus, and a communication speed with the information processing apparatus. Recognition means for recognizing and holding, and determination means for determining whether or not the information processing apparatus performs image processing to be performed on the image data based on information held by the ability recognition means. When the determination unit determines that the information processing apparatus performs image processing, the image data is transmitted to the information processing apparatus by the communication unit. Transmitted by executing the image processing, characterized by receiving the image processing data from the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus of the present invention is an information processing apparatus having control means and connected to a network scanner via a network, wherein the control means receives image data and an image processing order from the network scanner. Control for receiving data, control for performing image processing on the received image data based on the image processing order data, and control for returning the image processed image data to the network scanner, . The network scanning system of the present invention is a network scanning system including a network scanner and an information processing apparatus connected to the network scanner via a network, and at least the image processing capability of the information processing apparatus. , The ability recognition means for recognizing and holding the speed of communication with the information processing apparatus using the communication means, and the image processing applied to the image data based on the information held by the ability recognition means, A determination unit configured to determine whether or not to perform the information processing in the information processing device, and when the determination unit determines that the information processing device performs image processing, the network scanner transmits the communication unit to the information processing device. The image data and the image processing order data are transmitted by the information processing apparatus Performs image processing on the image data received based on the image processing order data, characterized in that it returns the image processed data to the network scanner.

  The image processing required for the original reading operation can be distributed and processed efficiently between the original reading apparatus and the network device, and the time required for the original reading operation is reduced.

It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of an image processing system. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of a network scanner. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of information processing apparatus. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a network scanner. It is the figure which illustrated the format of the data which an information processing apparatus transmits to a network scanner. It is the figure which illustrated the format of the data which described the network scanner and the processing capability of each information processing apparatus. It is the flowchart which illustrated the creation procedure of image processing order data. It is the figure which illustrated the format of image processing order data. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of an image processing module of a network scanner. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of an image processing module on the information processing apparatus side.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, two terms “image processing order” and “image processing allocation method” are defined. “Image processing order” is information that defines the order in which processing is performed when there are a plurality of image processings. The “image processing allocation method” is information defining which information processing apparatus is assigned to an image processing. For example, distributed processing of image processing is performed between a network scanner and an information processing apparatus. If possible, this indicates whether the image processing for skew correction, for example, image processing read and generated by the network scanner is performed by the network scanner main body or the information processing apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a distributed processing system according to the present invention. This system includes a network scanner 1 capable of executing both document reading and image processing, and two information processing apparatuses 2 and 3 capable of taking over image processing by distributed processing, and a network 4 such as a LAN or the Internet. This is an example of a network scanning system. In addition, although the description will be given in a form in which two information processing apparatus network scanners are connected, the number of information processing apparatuses may be one or three or more. The network communication used in this example is performed using HTTP or HTTPS, but is not limited to this.

A schematic configuration of the network scanner 1 is illustrated in FIG. The following various devices are connected to the system bus 11 for transmitting information. The ADF scanner unit 18 is an example of a document reading unit having an ADF (Auto Document Feeder). The CPU 12 is an example of a control unit that executes control for instructing the ADF scanner unit to perform a scanning operation. The flash memory 13
Setting information when instructing the scanning operation to the ADF scanner unit 18, restriction information on the order of image processing such that a certain image processing must be performed after another image processing (hereinafter referred to as processing order restriction), etc. This is an example of a non-volatile storage device that stores various data and firmware. The RAM 14 temporarily stores read image data, various data, programs, and the like. The touch panel 15 performs image processing and image processing when various setting information is set by a program (an example of a setting unit that enables image processing to be set by a user operation) executed by the overall control unit configured as described above. It is an example of the input device for inputting the setting information regarding reading, etc. by user operation. The LCD 16 is an example of an output device for displaying a program user interface screen and a generated image. The external communication interface 17 is an example of a communication unit for transmitting the read image data to an information processing apparatus or the like, and the communication method here may be any method such as wired, wireless, and light. It should be noted that the processing order restriction information of the image processing is recorded in advance in the flash memory 13, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the information processing apparatuses 2 and 3 of the present embodiment have a configuration in which the following various devices are connected to a system bus 21 that transmits information. The CPU 22 is an example of a control unit that performs processing related to image processing and network communication. Various data such as a processing program for image processing can be stored in the non-volatile storage medium 23 such as a hard disk. Various data, programs, and the like can be temporarily stored in the RAM 24. The external communication interface 25 is an example of communication means for transmitting / receiving image data and transmitting the image processing capability of the own device. It is assumed that firmware, a program for performing image processing and communication with the network scanner 1, and the like are recorded in advance in the nonvolatile storage medium 23 of the information processing apparatuses 2 and 3. Further, it is assumed that the information processing apparatuses 2 and 3 are executing these programs in advance or are waiting in an executable state and can execute communication and image processing in response to a request from the outside.

  FIG. 4 shows a processing flow of a control program related to image reading and image processing in the network scanner 1 of the present embodiment. When the network scanner 1 transmits a job request to the information processing apparatuses 2 and 3 connected to the network (step S101), the network scanner 1 automatically receives the request from the information processing apparatuses 2 and 3 that have received the job request. The IP address of the machine, the types of image processing that can be processed, and the processing time required for each processing are collectively returned as data exemplified as XML format data in FIG. However, the data format of the reply may be different from that shown in FIG. 5 as long as it includes a description of the types of image processing and a description of their processing capabilities.

The network scanner 1 collects replies from the information processing apparatuses 2 and 3 and adds data of the types of image processing that can be processed by the network scanner 1 and processing time required for each processing. Data that is exemplified as data (hereinafter referred to as device processing capability information) is collected and recorded in its own RAM 14 (step S101). However, the storage device to be stored may be the flash memory 13 or a hard disk (not shown). The format of data to be recorded may be different from that shown in FIG. 6. For each of the network scanner and each information processing device, the types of image processing that can be processed, the processing capability of each image processing, and each information processing device As long as the IP address is included.

In this embodiment, description will be made assuming that the result shown in FIG. 6 is obtained in step S101. That is, the time required for each processing of the network scanner 1 for gamma correction, binarization, image rotation (before binarization), image rotation (after binarization), and skew correction is 10 ms, 1 ms, 20 ms, 10 ms, and 3 ms, respectively. Suppose that In addition, the time required for each process of the information processing apparatus 2 is 1 ms, 10 ms, 20 ms, 10 ms, and 1 ms, respectively. On the other hand, the information processing device 3 requires 15 ms, 10 ms, 5 ms, and 5 ms for each process of gamma correction, image rotation (before binarization), image rotation (after binarization), and skew correction, and binarization. It does not have a processing function.

The CPU 12 calculates the time required for communication between the network scanner 1 and each information processing device from the time required for the current communication with the information processing devices 2 and 3 and stores it in the RAM 14 as communication time information. That is, the CPU 12 is an example of capability recognition means that recognizes and holds the communication speed. It may be obtained from the time required for the current communication and the time required for the past communication. The CPU 12 records an image processing request (hereinafter referred to as an image processing request) input by the user using the touch panel 15 or the like in the RAM 14 (step S102). However, the recording destination may be the flash memory 13. In this embodiment, it is assumed that gamma correction, binarization, and image rotation are required.

FIG. 7 illustrates a procedure for determining “image processing order” and “image processing allocation method” executed in step S103 to minimize the processing time. The CPU 12 reads out the image processing request recorded in the RAM 14 and the processing order restriction recorded in the flash memory 13, and sets all candidates that do not violate the processing order restriction for the “image processing order” when performing the requested image processing. These are enumerated and stored in the RAM 14 as a list (step S201). That is, the CPU 12 is an example of a selection unit that selects an image processing method from the order of image processing that satisfies the restriction when the order of image processing is restricted.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that there are three requests: gamma correction, binarization, and image rotation, and that there is a processing order restriction that binarization must be performed immediately after gamma correction. Therefore, there are two candidates for “image processing order”: “gamma correction → binarization → image rotation” and “image rotation → gamma correction → binarization”.

The CPU 12 reads a plurality of candidates of device processing capability information, communication time information, and “image processing order” from the RAM 14, and determines which “image processing order” the “image processing allocation method” that can complete the image processing in the shortest time. Calculation is performed by a search method or the like (step S202). That is, the CPU 12 is an example of a priority determination unit that determines priorities in ascending order of the total time required for communication and time required for image processing. The “image processing allocation method” may be an allocation method close to the shortest time, and may be the second shortest allocation method, for example. In addition, when it takes a long time to determine whether or not it is the shortest time, or when there are many "image processing orders" and it is difficult to find the "image processing order" that is the shortest time among them, If an “image processing order” determined to be a required time equal to or less than a predetermined threshold is found, “image processing allocation method” may be determined and the search may be terminated.

The “image processing allocation method” is found by the method as described above, and the result is compiled into XML format data (hereinafter referred to as image processing order data) in FIG. 8 and recorded in the RAM 14 (step S203). Here, the “next processing number” in the image processing order data is set to 1 unlike FIG. However, the format of the data to be recorded does not have to be the same as that shown in FIG. 8, and any format may be used as long as it includes information about the order in which image processing is performed and which device performs each image processing.

In this embodiment, for example, when it is assumed that the communication time between the network scanner 1 and the information processing apparatus 2 is 10 ms and the communication time between the network scanner 1 and the information processing apparatus 3 is 10 ms, The method of performing all image processing by the network scanner 1 is the shortest time.

On the other hand, when the communication time between the network scanner 1 and the information processing device 2 is measured as 10 ms and the communication time between the network scanner 1 and the information processing device 3 is measured as 1 ms, gamma correction and binarization are performed. A method in which the network scanner 1 performs image rotation by the information processing apparatus 3 is the shortest time. Accordingly, since the image processing allocation method that realizes the shortest time changes in accordance with the communication speed at that time, the image processing order data is recorded in the RAM 14 in step S203. Returning to the processing flow of FIG. 4, in response to an image processing request, the ADF scanner unit 18 reads a document and generates image data (step S104). Next, image processing is performed on the read image data while sharing with the information processing apparatus according to the stored image processing order data (step S105).

9A and 9B show image processing procedures performed by the network scanner 1 and the information processing apparatuses 2 and 3, respectively. Whether the CPU 12 of the network scanner 1 browses the image processing order data stored in the RAM 14, and whether there is an image processing having the “processing order” of the same number as the number described as the “next processing number” Search for. If there is no image processing having the same number “processing order” in the image processing order data (NO in step S301), the image processing is completed, and thus this processing ends. If an image process having the “process order” having the same number as the “process number to be performed next” exists in the image process order data, the CPU 12 selects the network scanner 1, based on the image process order data. It is checked which of the information processing apparatuses 2 and 3 performs the processing (step S302).

If the image processing apparatus is the network scanner 1 (YES in step S302), image processing is performed by the CPU 12 or an image processing circuit (not shown) in the network scanner 1, and the image processing order data includes The number described in “Next processing number” is incremented by 1 (step S303). If the device that performs the image processing is not the network scanner 1, the IP address of the device that performs the processing is searched from the information related to the network in the RAM 14 (step S304), and the image data and the image processing order data are stored in the IP address. Is transferred (step S305). When the network scanner 1 performs the image processing, the next image processing is performed by referring to the processing content described in the image processing order data based on the “next processing number” incremented by 1 in step S303. Is present (YES in step S304), the process returns to step S302 to determine whether or not the network scanner 1 performs the next image processing.

On the other hand, if there is no description of the next image processing in the image processing order data (NO in step S304), this processing ends because the image processing has ended. If it is determined in step S302 that the device that performs image processing corresponding to the number described in “Next processing number” is not the network scanner 1 but the information processing apparatus 2 or 3 (step S302). In the same manner as described above, the IP address is detected in step S305, and the image data and the image processing order data are transferred to the IP address in step S306. Waiting for the return of image data from the processing device 3.

The CPU 22 of the information processing device 2 and the CPU 22 of the information processing device 3 execute the image processing program illustrated in FIG. 9B and monitor whether there is a data collection request from the network scanner 1 or the like ( Step S311). The information processing apparatus 2 or 3 that has received the data transfer from the network scanner 1 in step S312 refers to the “next processing number” in the image processing order data included in the received data, and in step S313. While performing the image processing described in the number, the number of “next processing number” is increased by one.

Thereafter, the information processing device 2 or 3 determines whether or not itself is designated as the device that performs the image processing of the number described in “Next processing number” using the received image processing order data. (Step S314) If it has been designated, the process returns to Step S313, the image processing described in correspondence with the number is performed, and the number of “next processing number” is increased by one. If the device designated to perform the image processing of “next processing number” is not itself or the description of the image processing of that number does not exist in the image processing order data, processed image data and A transfer process is executed to return the image processing order data to the network scanner 1 (step S315), and the process returns to step S311 to resume monitoring.

Returning to the description of FIG. 9A, the network scanner 1 waits for the return of image processed image data from the information processing apparatus 2 or the information processing apparatus 3 in step S307. In step S308, the image data that is the return data to the network scanner 1 and the image processing order data are transferred, and then the CPU 12 browses the image processing order data received and stored in the RAM 14, and the “next processing number to be processed” is displayed. It is searched whether there is an image process having the “order of processing” having the same number as that described in “” (step S301). If there is no image processing having the same number “processing order” in the image processing order data, all the image data has been processed, and thus this processing ends.

If there is an image process having the “process order” having the same number as the number described in “next process number”, the CPU 12 determines in step S302 that the network scanner 1, the information processing apparatus 2, It is determined which of the three performs the processing, and each device again shares the image processing. Such a flow process is repeated until there is no image data to be image-processed.

When an error occurs in the network scanner 1 or the information processing devices 2 and 3 due to some cause, the image processing sequence data remaining in the device in which the error has occurred is used to determine which image processing caused the error to the user. You can know the error information. Since the image processing order data is written in the XML format, it can be browsed over the network using a browser. The image processing order data may be in the HTML format, and the same effect can be obtained.

Even if the time required for communication between the network scanner and each information processing device varies depending on the time zone, or when there is a restriction on the order of processing regarding image processing to be performed, the processing time can be reduced by distributed processing. It is possible to realize efficient image processing that can shorten the time. When data communication used for distributed processing is performed by transmission / reception of HTML format or XML format data using HTTP or HTTPS, it is possible to obtain an effect that SOA and SaaS can be used for image processing. In addition, when the port number used for this communication is the HTTP or HTTPS standard, communication using the port number on the communication path is used except when using a special network that blocks communication using the standard port number of HTTP or HTTPS. You won't be blocked. Note that the functions of the network scanner of the present invention may be realized by a host computer such as a PC and a peripheral device having an image reading function connected thereto. In that case, a system including a host computer and peripheral devices connected thereto corresponds to the network scanner of the present invention. Further, part or all of the functions of the computer program of the present invention may be realized by hardware.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network scanner 2 Information processing apparatus 3 Information processing apparatus 4 Network 11 System bus 12 CPU
13 Flash memory 14 RAM
15 Touch panel 16 LCD
17 External interface 18 ADF scanner 21 System bus 22 CPU
23 Nonvolatile storage medium 24 RAM
25 External interface

Claims (7)

An original reading means for reading the original and generating image data;
Setting means for enabling image processing performed on the image data generated by the document reading means to be set by a user operation;
A communication means for communicating with an information processing apparatus connected via a network;
Capability recognition means for recognizing and holding at least the image processing capability of the information processing device and the speed of communication with the information processing device using the communication means;
Determination means for determining whether the image processing to be performed on the image data based on the information held by the capability recognition means is performed by the information processing apparatus;
When it is determined by the determination means that the information processing apparatus performs image processing, the information processing apparatus transmits the image data by the communication means to execute image processing, and the information processing apparatus performs image processing. A network scanner characterized by receiving data. The network scanner according to claim 1, wherein the capability recognition unit calculates a speed of communication with the information processing apparatus based on a time required for communication with the information processing apparatus. 3. The determination unit according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit that selects an image processing method from an image processing order that satisfies the restriction when the order of image processing is restricted. Network scanner. The network scanner is connected to a plurality of the information processing devices via a network,
The determination unit includes a priority determination unit that determines a priority for each of the plurality of information processing devices in order of increasing total time required for communication and time required for image processing. 4. The network scanner according to any one of items 1 to 3. An information processing apparatus having a control means and connected to a network scanner via a network,
The control means includes control for receiving image data and image processing order data from the network scanner, control for performing image processing on the received image data based on the image processing order data, and image processing on the network scanner. An information processing apparatus that executes control for returning image data. A control program for an information processing apparatus having a control means and connected to a network scanner via a network,
Control for receiving image data and image processing order data from the network scanner, control for performing image processing on the received image data based on the image processing order data, and returning image processed image data to the network scanner A control program for causing the control means to execute control. A network scanning system including a network scanner and an information processing apparatus connected to the network scanner via a network,
Capability recognition means for recognizing and holding at least the image processing capability of the information processing device and the speed of communication with the information processing device using the communication means;
Determination means for determining whether the image processing to be performed on the image data based on the information held by the capability recognition means is performed by the information processing apparatus;
When it is determined by the determination means that the information processing apparatus performs image processing, the network scanner transmits the image data and image processing order data to the information processing apparatus by the communication means, and the information processing apparatus A network scanning system, wherein the received image data is subjected to image processing based on the received image processing order data, and the image processed data is returned to the network scanner.

Images