JP2012213021A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device for simplifying input of file names when executing ScanToEmail.SOLUTION: In a composite device 1, a scanner part 10 reads a document in which a pattern representing digital information including document information is embedded to generate image data, and a pattern analysis part 25 extracts the pattern from the image data and analyzes the digital information represented by the pattern in order to acquire the document information. The device 1 allows a file name setting part 22 to create a file name of the image data based on the document information to set the file name, and stores the file name with the image data in a volatile memory 21. Next, the device 1 transmits the image data stored in the volatile memory 21 to a destination designated by an e-mail job control part 23. As a result, it eliminates the need for a user to input a file name through an operation panel 11, thus, enhancing the convenience.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that processes image data, and more particularly to a technique for assigning and transmitting an image name to a read image.

  A conventional image processing apparatus is, for example, an electrophotographic multifunction printer (hereinafter referred to as “multifunction machine”) or the like, which reads a document with a scanner and designates the read image data as an e-mail attachment. It has a function to send to a destination (hereinafter referred to as “ScanToEmail”). When executing this ScanToEmail, after reading an original with a scanner, the user inputs an address, an image name of the read image data, and the like.

  In Patent Document 1 below, an invalid request for receiving a normal reception command indicating that an e-mail transmitted to a mail server has been received normally and invalidating the e-mail transmitted to the mail server is received in the image processing apparatus. Send the command to the mail server. When the mail server receives the invalid request command, it deletes the electronic mail stored in the mailbox. For this reason, the technology of the image processing apparatus is described in which the administrator of the mail server is not involved in deleting the email transmitted to the mail server, and the labor and time required for deleting the email are eliminated. Has been.

JP 2009-135896 A

  However, the conventional image processing apparatus has a problem that the operation is complicated because the user must input the image name every time ScanToEmail is executed.

  An image processing apparatus according to the present invention reads a document in which a background pattern representing digital information including document information is embedded, generates an image data, and extracts the background pattern from the image data. A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern analysis unit that analyzes the digital information to obtain document information of the document, an image name setting unit that generates and sets an image name of the image data based on the document information, and the image name setting A storage unit for storing the image name and the image data set in the unit.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the document name is extracted from the background pattern embedded in the document by the background pattern analysis unit, and the image name setting unit generates and sets the image name of the image data. There is no need to input an image name, and the convenience is improved. Furthermore, since the image name is generated based on the document name set by the user, the user can easily associate the image name with the image data.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a main control unit in FIG. 2 in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the image processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of the scanner unit in FIG. FIG. 4 is an external view showing the operation panel in FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a source information table generated by the tint block analysis unit in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a ScanToEmail execution screen displayed on the operation panel in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a document name selection screen displayed on the operation panel in FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the multifunction machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of a main control unit in the multifunction machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing a document name recording table stored in the nonvolatile memory in FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the multifunction machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  Modes for carrying out the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in light of the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are only for explanation and do not limit the scope of the present invention.

(Configuration of Example 1)
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of the image processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The image processing system according to the first embodiment includes an image processing apparatus (for example, a multifunction device) 1, a client personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “client PC”) 2 that performs electronic mail communication with the multifunction device 1, and the multifunction device 1. And a network 3 connecting the client PC 2.

  The multifunction device 1 includes a reading unit (for example, a scanner unit) 10 that reads a document on a document set on a flat bed or an automatic reading device (hereinafter referred to as “ADF”), and functions such as copying, printing, and ScanToEmail. And a main control unit 20 that performs control.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of the scanner unit 10 in FIG.
The scanner unit 10 is set on an operation panel 11 for performing various settings such as an instruction to start execution of each function such as ScanToEmail, display of various menus at the time of execution of ScanToEmail, and device settings for the multifunction device 1, and a flat bed or ADF. A scanner control unit 12 that reads the document on the original document and converts it into image data; and an operation panel control unit that generates screen data to be displayed on the operation panel 11 and receives and controls user input from the operation panel 11. 13 and an interface unit 14 that transmits and receives commands to and from the main control unit 20. Further, the operation panel control unit 13 includes a selection unit 13a that allows the user to select one of a plurality of document names.

  A background pattern is embedded in the document read by the scanner unit 10. Here, the background pattern is a fine dot pattern printed at a resolution of 600 dpi in a range of about 0.5 mm square as a basic unit representing digital information. Arbitrary digital information up to 75 bytes can be embedded in a paper document by printing this collection of dot patterns on the text. The embedded digital information can be extracted by performing certain processing on the image data obtained by reading the paper document with a scanner. In this way, digital information can be transmitted using paper documents as a medium, and security functions such as verification of the presence or absence of falsification of written contents, and the presence or absence of check marks added to paper documents and recognition of the presence or absence of description can be recognized. It is possible to introduce a function or the like to a paper document.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the main control unit 20 in FIG. 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The main control unit 20 includes a storage unit (for example, volatile memory) 21 such as a read-only memory (hereinafter referred to as “RAM”) and an image name setting unit (for example, a file name) for setting image data (for example, a file name). For example, a file name setting unit) 22, an image transmission unit (for example, an e-mail job control unit) 23 that transmits image data to the client PC 2 by e-mail, and a scan job control unit that stores image data in the volatile memory 21. 24, a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern analysis unit 25 that extracts a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern from image data, analyzes digital information represented by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern, and obtains document information of the document; is doing. The volatile memory 21 stores a source information table 51 generated by the tint block analysis unit 25.

FIG. 4 is an external view showing the operation panel 11 in FIG.
The operation panel 11 scans a copy key 31 for calling a screen to be displayed when executing copying, a fax key 32 for calling a screen to be displayed when executing fax transmission, and a screen to be displayed when executing ScanToEmail. A key 33 and a printer key 34 for calling a screen to be displayed when checking the printing status are provided.

  Further, the operation panel 11 has a liquid crystal display unit 35 with a touch panel. Various guidance messages for the user are displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 35, and various inputs can be performed by the user operating with a finger or the like.

  The operation panel 11 includes a reset key 36 for returning menu settings to initial values, a numeric keypad 37 for inputting numbers, a monochrome start key 38 used for monochrome scanning, and a color start key used for color scanning. 39 and a stop key 40 used when canceling a job.

  FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a source information table 51 generated by the tint block analysis unit 25 in FIG.

  The source information table 51 can be obtained by the background pattern analysis unit 25 analyzing the background pattern embedded in the image data. The print date and time when the document read by the scanner unit 10 was printed and the print on which the document was printed. It has the name of the person, the document name of this document, and the name of the computer that sent the print data when the document was printed to the multifunction device 1. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the printing date is “2010/5/19 14:53:10”, the printer name is “Okitaro”, the document name is “file A.doc”, and the sender Indicates that the computer name is "pc1234".

(Operation of Example 1)
FIG. 6 is a view showing a ScanToEmail execution screen 52 displayed on the operation panel 11 in FIG.

  When the user presses the scan key 33 on the operation panel 11 shown in FIG. 4, the ScanToEmail execution screen 52 shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 35 of the operation panel 11.

  In the upper part of the ScanToEmail execution screen 52, a message “Please specify a mail transmission destination” is displayed, prompting the user to input a ScanToEmail destination. On the left side of the screen, function keys of “applied function”, “address designation”, “image quality text / photo”, “density 0”, “resolution 200 dpi”, and “read size” are displayed graphically. Near the center of the screen is a destination designation section 52a for inputting the transmission destination of image data, and two e-mail addresses “foo@bar.com” and “aaa@bbb.com” are displayed.

  The e-mail address is input as follows. When the user touches the address designation unit 52a with a finger or the like, an alphanumeric keyboard (not shown) is displayed, and an e-mail address is input using this keyboard.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a document name selection screen 53 displayed on the operation panel 11 in FIG.

  In the upper part of the document name selection screen 53, a message “Select one of the document names can be selected” is displayed, prompting the user to select a document name. In the approximate center of the screen is a document name display section 53b, which displays a plurality of document names “file A.doc”, “file B.doc”, and “file C.doc” extracted from the read document. Yes. Near the upper right of the screen, a determination button 53a is displayed graphically.

  When a plurality of document names exist in the source information table 51, the selection unit 13a in the operation panel control unit 13 displays a document name selection screen 53 on the liquid crystal display unit 35 of the operation panel 11. When the user selects one of the choices on the screen and presses the enter button 53, the document name is selected.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the multifunction machine 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 8 illustrates the operation of ScanToEmail processing in the multifunction machine 1 according to the first embodiment.

  In step S <b> 1, the user sets a document on which a background pattern is printed on the flat bed or the ADF of the scanner unit 10. Subsequently, when the scan key 33 shown in FIG. 4 is pressed, a screen (not shown) for selecting a scan function is displayed. Here, when Email is selected from a plurality of scan functions, a ScanToEmail execution screen 52 shown in FIG. 6 is displayed.

  When the user selects each menu on the left side of the screen, a setting screen for each menu is displayed. For example, in FIG. 6, “designate destination” is pressed to input an e-mail address. In addition, the image quality, density, resolution, etc. at the time of image data transmission are input as necessary. For example, when the e-mail address is set, for example, when the destination designation section 52a in FIG. 6 is touched with a finger or the like, an alphanumeric keyboard (not shown) is displayed, and the e-mail address is input using this keyboard.

  In the example of FIG. 6, two e-mail addresses are set in the destination designation unit 52a, which means that image data is transmitted to these two locations. Subsequently, the monochrome start key 38 or the color start key 39 shown in FIG. 4 is pressed to start ScanToEmail.

  In step S2, the operation panel control unit 13 notifies the scanner control unit 12 of the scanner unit 10, the scan job control unit 24 of the main control unit 20, and the e-mail job control unit 23 that ScanToEmail has been executed. . At this time, the e-mail address of the transmission destination is notified to the e-mail job control unit. The scanner control unit 12 of the scanner unit 10 scans a document set on the flatbed or ADF of the scanner unit 10 and generates image data.

  In step S <b> 3, the scanner control unit 12 passes the generated image data to the scan job control unit 24 of the main control unit 20 via the interface unit 14. The scan job control unit 24 passes the received image data to the tint block analysis unit 25. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern analysis unit 25 analyzes the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern of the received image data, creates a source information table 51, stores it in the volatile memory 21, and passes it to the scan job control unit 24. The scan job control unit 24 passes the source information table 51 to the file name setting unit 22.

  In step S4, the file name setting unit 22 refers to the origin information table 51 stored in the volatile memory 21. If the document name does not exist (NO), the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6, the document name Create document name from source information other than. For example, using the printing date and time of FIG. 5, 2010/5/19 14:53:10, the name of the printer who printed the document, Taro Oki, and the name of the destination computer that sent the print data, pc1234. , “20100519_145310 Okitaro_pc1234” is used as the document name, and the process proceeds to step S9. Here, the case where the document name does not exist in the origin information table 51 is, for example, a case where the user does not set the document name when creating the document.

  If the document name exists in step S4 (YES), the process proceeds to step S5, and in step S5, the file name setting unit 22 checks whether there are a plurality of document names. The case where a plurality of document names exist is a case where a plurality of documents are read at once by the scanner unit 10. If there is only one document name in step S5 (NO), the process proceeds to step S9. If there are a plurality of document names in step S5 (YES), the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S7, the file name setting unit 22 notifies the scan job control unit 24 that there are a plurality of document names, and the scan job control unit 24 controls the operation panel of the scanner unit 10 that there are a plurality of document names. Notification to the unit 13. The selection unit 13a in the panel control unit 13 displays a document name selection screen 53 shown in FIG.

  In step S8, when the user selects, for example, “file A.doc” from the choices on the screen shown in FIG. 7 and presses the enter button 53a, the selection unit 13a selects the document name selected by the user. The scan job control unit 24 passes the received document name to the file name setting unit 22, and the process proceeds to step S9.

  In step S9, the file name setting unit 22 sets the file name of the image data from the document name. For example, if the document name in the source information table 51 is “file A.doc” and the image data is in PDF (Portable Document Format) format, the file name is “file A.doc.pdf”. If the document name is “20100519_145310 Okitaro_pc1234” and the image data is in PDF format, the file name is “20100519_145310 Okitaro_pc1234.pdf”.

  In step S <b> 10, the file name setting unit 22 passes the created file name to the scan job control unit 24. The scan job control unit 24 sets the passed file name as the file name of the image data, and stores the image data in the volatile memory 21.

  In step S11, the scan job control unit 24 instructs the Email job control unit 23 to send an email. The email job control unit 23 transmits the image data stored in the volatile memory 21 to a designated destination.

(Effect of Example 1)
According to the multifunction machine 1 of the first embodiment, the document name is extracted from the background pattern embedded in the document by the background pattern analysis unit 25, and the file name setting unit 22 generates and sets the file name of the image data. This eliminates the need for the user to input a file name from the operation panel 11 and improves the convenience. Furthermore, since the file name is generated based on the document name set by the user, it is easy for the user to associate the file name with the image data.

(Configuration of Example 2)
FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of the main control unit 20A in the multifunction machine 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Elements common to the elements in FIG. 1 illustrating the first embodiment are denoted by common reference numerals. ing.

  The configuration of the main controller 20A in the second embodiment of the present invention is substantially the same as that in the first embodiment. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that a nonvolatile memory 26 and a document name recording unit 27 are added to the configuration of the first embodiment, and the file name setting unit 22 of the first embodiment is functional. A different file name setting unit 22A is replaced.

  FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing the document name recording table 54 stored in the nonvolatile memory 26 in FIG.

  The document name recording table 54 is read from the non-volatile memory 26 by the document name recording unit 27 when the MFP 1 is started up, stored in the volatile memory 21, and stored by the document name recording unit 27 when the MFP 1 is terminated. It is stored in the non-volatile memory 26. In the document name recording table 54, a transmitted document name 54a for transmitting image data to an external device such as the client PC 2 and a transmitted destination 54b are recorded in association with each other.

  The example of FIG. 10 indicates that image data whose document name 54a is the file A.doc is transmitted to the destination foo@bar.com. Similarly, image data whose document name 54a is the file B.doc is transmitted to the destination aaa@bbb.com, and image data whose document name is the file C.doc is transmitted to the destination 123@sample.com. Yes.

(Operation of Example 2)
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the multifunction machine 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 11 illustrates the operation of ScanToEmail processing in the multifunction machine 1 according to the second embodiment. The operation of the multifunction machine 1 of the second embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is that steps S21, S22, and S23 are newly added.

  Steps S1 to S8 similar to those in the first embodiment are executed, and a transmission scheduled document name of image data to be transmitted, for example, “20100519_145310 Okitaro_pc1234” is created in step S6 or “file A.doc”. Is selected in step S8.

  In the newly added step S21, the file name setting unit 22A determines whether or not the transmission scheduled document name to be transmitted has been transmitted to the designated destination in the past. 27 to determine. Upon receiving the request, the document name recording unit 27 searches the document name recording table 54, and the transmission scheduled document name matches one of the plurality of transmitted document names 54a recorded by the document name recording unit 27, and Then, it is confirmed whether or not the designated destination matches the transmitted destination 54b recorded in association with the transmitted document name 54a, and the result is notified to the file name setting unit 22A.

  The scheduled transmission document name matches one of the plurality of transmitted document names 54a recorded in the document name recording unit 27, and the designated destination is recorded in association with the transmitted document name 54a. If it matches the destination 54b, the process proceeds to the newly added step S22. If they do not match, the process proceeds to step S9 as in the first embodiment.

  In the newly added step S22, the file name recording unit 27 adds the scan time to the scheduled transmission document name. For example, if the scheduled transmission document name is “file A.doc” and the scan time is 11:10:15 on May 24, 2010, “20100524_111015” is added to “file A.doc” which is the scheduled transmission document name. In addition, “file A.doc.20100524 — 111015” is set as a new document name, and the process proceeds to step S9.

  In steps S9 to S11 similar to those of the first embodiment, a file name of image data, for example, “file A.doc.pdf” or “file A.doc.20100524_111015.pdf” is generated from the document name to be transmitted, and is volatile. It is set in the memory 21. The email job control unit 23 is instructed by the scan job control unit 24 to transmit the image data by email. The email job control unit 23 transmits the image data to the designated destination.

  In newly added step S23, the transmitted document name 54a and the transmitted destination 54b of the transmitted image data are recorded in the document name recording table 54 by the document name recording unit 27 and stored in the nonvolatile memory 26. The

(Effect of Example 2)
According to the second embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, when the same document name is transmitted to the same destination, the document transmitted earlier is rewritten by the document transmitted later. Since the file name is set by adding the scan time to the name, there is an effect that the file name can be transmitted without duplication for the same destination.

(Modification)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various usage forms and modifications are possible. For example, the following forms (a) to (d) are used as the usage form and the modified examples.

  (A) In the first and second embodiments, the multifunction machine 1 is described as an example of the image processing apparatus.

  (B) In the first and second embodiments, ScanToEmail has been described as an example of the scan function. However, ScanToUSBMemory that transmits scanned image data to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, and the PC on the network that specifies the scanned image data. It can also be applied to functions such as ScanToNetworkPC for transmission.

  (C) In the first and second embodiments, PDF is used as the image data storage format. However, the present invention can also be applied to formats such as TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) and JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group).

  (D) In the second embodiment, the time when the document was scanned by the scanner was described as an example of the additional information of the file name. However, the time when the image data was transmitted, the number that was ordered, and the like may be used as the additional information.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Composite apparatus 10 Scanner part 11 Operation panel 13 Operation panel control part 13a Selection part 20 Main control part 21 Volatile memory 22 File setting part 23 E-mail job control part 24 Scan job control part 25 Background pattern analysis part 51 Origin information table

Claims (7)

A reading unit that reads a document in which a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern representing digital information including document information is embedded, and generates image data;
A tint block analysis unit that extracts the tint block from the image data and analyzes the digital information represented by the tint block to obtain document information of the document;
An image name setting unit that generates and sets an image name of the image data based on the document information;
A storage unit for storing the image name and the image data set by the image name setting unit;
An image processing apparatus comprising: The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 further includes:
An image processing apparatus comprising: an image transmission unit that transmits the image data stored in the storage unit to a specified destination. The image name setting unit
The image processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the image name is generated and set from a document name included in the document information. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:
When the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern analysis unit acquires a plurality of document names included in the document information, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern analysis unit includes a selection unit that allows a user to select one of the acquired document names,
The image name setting unit
An image processing apparatus, wherein the image name is generated and set from the document name selected by the selection unit. The image name setting unit
When the document information does not include a document name, the document name of the image data is created from other information included in the document information, and the image name is generated from the document name and set. An image processing apparatus according to the first or second embodiment, which is characterized in that: The image processing apparatus further includes:
A document name recording unit that records and records the transmitted document name and the transmitted destination in the one or more transmitted image data transmitted by the image transmission unit;
The image name setting unit
Based on the document information, a transmission planned document name of the image data scheduled to be transmitted is generated, the transmission planned document name matches the transmitted document name recorded in the document name recording unit, and When the designated destination matches the transmitted destination recorded in association with the transmitted document name, a predetermined additional information is added to the generated scheduled transmission document name to form a new document name, The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image name is generated and set from a document name. The reading unit
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is a scanner unit that optically reads a document.

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