JP2012238096A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader capable of reducing time and effort for character input of an email when a user utilizes a scan & mail function.SOLUTION: An MFP1 includes: a scanner 11 that reads a manuscript to generate image data; a storage part 22 that stores the template of an email; an operation part 16 that receives an operation from a user; a mail preparation part 23 that prepares an email using a template selected by a user; and a network I/F 18 that transmits an email to which image data is attached. The storage part 22 stores a template including a fixed character area and a substitute character area in a text part including the title and text of an email, the fixed character area where characters to be inserted are pre-set and the substitute character area where characters to be inserted are set when the email is prepared.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus having a function of transmitting image data generated by reading a document by attaching it to an e-mail.

  Conventionally, an image reading apparatus having a function called “scan & mail” (or “scan to mail”) or the like is known. The scan & mail function is a function that scans a document, generates image data, and transmits the image data attached to an e-mail. For example, Patent Document 1 below describes a communication device that transmits a message and attached image data to an e-mail after a message or other communication content is input by a user in the text portion of the e-mail.

JP 2001-344174 A

  In general, an operation panel mounted on an image reading apparatus has small keys and limited types. Therefore, it takes time and effort to input e-mail characters using the operation panel. For this reason, it takes time and effort to input a subject and body text into an e-mail attached with an image and transmit it from the image reading apparatus to the personal computer.

  In recent years, various net storage services have been provided. The net storage service is a service for accumulating data files uploaded by users on a server. Some net storage services can be uploaded using e-mail, and can search data files stored in a server using a character string input in the subject and body of the e-mail as keywords. However, when the data file is uploaded using the scan & mail function of the image reading apparatus, as described above, it takes time to input the subject and text.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an image reading apparatus that can reduce the time and effort required for inputting characters in an e-mail when a user uses the scan & mail function. The purpose is to provide.

  An image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a reading unit that reads a document and generates image data, an operation unit that receives an operation from a user, a storage unit that stores an e-mail template, and a template stored by the storage unit. Among them, a template that is selected by the user via the operation unit is used to create an email, and a transmission unit that is created by the creator and sends an email with image data attached thereto. The storage unit includes a fixed character area in which characters to be inserted are set in advance in a text portion including the subject and body of an e-mail, and a replacement character area in which the inserted characters are set when an e-mail is created. Is stored.

  According to the image reading apparatus of the present invention, the template including the fixed character area and the replacement character area is stored in the text portion including the subject and body of the e-mail. At the time of creating an e-mail, a template selected by the user among stored templates is used. The created e-mail is sent with image data attached. Here, when an e-mail is created, the character set at the time of creation is inserted into the replacement character area, and the preset character is inserted into the fixed character area. For this reason, in the fixed character area, it is possible to save the user from inputting characters. Therefore, when the user uses the scan & mail function, it is possible to reduce the time and effort required for inputting an e-mail character.

  In the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the storage unit stores a template including a replacement character area in which a list of character strings is set in advance, and the creation unit receives an operation unit from the list set in the replacement character area by the user. It is preferable to insert the character string designated via the replacement character area.

  According to this configuration, when a list is preset in the replacement character area and an e-mail is created, if the user specifies a character string from the list, the specified character string is inserted into the replacement character area. For this reason, at the time of creating an e-mail, it is possible to save the user from having to input characters one by one for the replacement character area. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the time and effort required for inputting characters in electronic mail.

  In the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the creation unit edits the character string inserted into the replacement character region in accordance with an operation received by the operation unit.

  According to this configuration, after the character string is input to the replacement character area, the character string is edited in accordance with an operation received from the user. For this reason, for example, when the user wants to input a character string that is partially different from a preset character string, the user can edit the character string automatically input. Accordingly, it is possible to further reduce the time and effort required for character input.

  In the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the creation unit inserts a character designated by the user via the operation unit into the replacement character region.

  According to this configuration, the character specified by the user via the operation unit is inserted into the replacement character area. For this reason, the user can input an arbitrary character in the replacement character area.

  In the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the creation unit inputs the generation time of the image data generated by the reading unit into the replacement character area.

  According to this configuration, the generation time of the attached image data is automatically input to the replacement character area. For this reason, it is possible to save the user from inputting the generation time of the image data.

  In the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the storage unit stores a template in which a destination mail address is set.

  According to this configuration, by creating an e-mail using a template, a destination e-mail address is automatically set in the e-mail. This saves the user from having to input the destination mail address. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the time and effort required for inputting characters in electronic mail.

  According to the image reading apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to reduce time and effort required for inputting characters in an electronic mail when the user uses the scan & mail function.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an MFP according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a template. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure at the time of performing a scan & mail process.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration of an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 1 equipped with an image reading apparatus according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the MFP 1.

  The MFP 1 is a multifunction machine having a plurality of image processing functions including a print function and a FAX (facsimile function) in addition to a scan function. The MFP 1 is connected to the Internet 90 and can send and receive electronic mail. Further, the MFP 1 has a scan & mail function. The scan & mail function is a function of reading an original, generating image data, and sending an e-mail attached with the image data. The MFP 1 can transmit an electronic mail attached with image data to a personal computer (PC) 40 and a server 41 by a scan & mail function.

  Next, each component provided for the MFP 1 to exhibit the image processing function and the scan & mail function will be described. The MFP 1 includes a printer 10, a scanner 11, an NCU (Network Control Unit) 12, a modem 13, a codec 14, and an image storage unit 15 in order to perform image processing.

  The printer 10 of this embodiment is a printer that performs printing by an electrophotographic method. The scanner 11 is constituted by a CCD or the like, and optically reads a document to generate image data. The scanner 11 functions as a reading unit described in the claims. The NCU 12 is connected to the modem 13 and controls the connection between the modem 13 and the public telephone line (PSTN) 91. FAX transmission / reception is performed by the NCU 12 and the modem 13.

  The codec 14 encodes and compresses the image data generated by the scanner 11. Further, the codec 14 decodes the image data that has been encoded and compressed. The image storage unit 15 stores image data generated by the scanner 11, FAX data received by FAX, data printed by the printer 10, and the like.

  Further, the MFP 1 includes an operation unit 16 and a display unit 17 in order to receive an operation from the user. The operation unit 16 includes various keys and accepts various operations from the user. The display unit 17 includes a liquid crystal display, for example, and displays various types of information.

  The MFP 1 includes a network I / F 18 for transmitting and receiving information via the Internet 90. The network I / F 18 transmits and receives electronic mail via the Internet 90. The network I / F 18 functions as a transmission unit described in the claims. The network I / F 18 is connected to the Internet 90 via a LAN (Local Area Network). The user can also operate the MFP 1 via a PC belonging to this LAN.

  Further, the MFP 1 includes a control unit 20 for comprehensively controlling the own apparatus. The control unit 20 physically includes a CPU, flash ROM, SDRAM, SRAM connected to a battery, and the like. Various programs are stored in the flash ROM. The SDRAM is used as a main memory. The SRAM connected to the battery stores speed dials, error information, various settings, and the like.

  Functionally, the control unit 20 includes a template creation unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a mail creation unit 23. The template creation unit 21 creates an e-mail template in accordance with a user operation. The user may create a template using the operation unit 16. Alternatively, a template may be created on the PC using a web page provided from the MFP 1 to the PC. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a template.

  The template includes a fixed character area and a replacement character area in the text portion of the e-mail. The text part is a part including the subject and body of the electronic mail, and is a part where the user inputs characters. The fixed character area is an area in which characters to be inserted in advance are set. The replacement character area is an area in which the inserted character is set when an e-mail is created. Further, the destination mail address may be set in the template.

  In the example of the template shown in FIG. 2, fixed character areas 31 to 33 and replacement character areas 34 to 36 are set in the subject of the e-mail. This example is a template for meeting minutes. In the fixed character area 31, the character “[” is set. In the next fixed character area 32, the character “]” is set. A replacement character area 34 is set between the two fixed character areas 31 and 32.

  This replacement character area 34 is an area in which the user designates “project name” when creating an e-mail. When creating an e-mail, first, “project name” is displayed in the replacement character area 34, and the user inputs a specific project name. There are three methods for setting a character to be inserted into the replacement character area 34 by the user: “list selection”, “list selection + edit”, and “free”.

  “List selection” is a method of inserting characters using a list of character strings set in the replacement character area. In “list selection”, if the user designates a character string from the list via the operation unit 16, the designated character string is inserted into the replacement character area. When creating a template, a list of character strings is set in the replacement character area by a user operation. In the example of FIG. 2, the character strings of “Project A”, “Project B”, and “Project C” are set as the list of the replacement character area 34.

  “List selection + editing” is a method of accepting editing from the user after inserting a character string designated from the list by the user into the replacement character area. For example, after the user selects “Project A” from the list, the portion “A” can be edited and changed to “D”. “Free” is a method in which the user uses the operation unit 16 to input characters one by one.

  The replacement character area 35 is an area in which the user designates “conference name” when creating an e-mail in the same manner as the replacement character area 34. The replacement character area 36 is an area in which the generation time of attached image data is inserted.

  When the fixed character area is designated by the user, the template creation unit 21 sets the fixed character area in the text part, and sets the character designated by the user in the fixed character area. Further, the template creation unit sets a replacement character area when the replacement character area is designated by the user. Then, the template creation unit sets a list of character strings in the replacement character area in accordance with a user operation. The template creation unit 21 stores the created template in the storage unit 22.

  The storage unit 22 stores one or more templates created by the template creation unit 21. The template stored by the storage unit 22 may include a template other than the template created by the template creation unit 21. For example, the storage unit 22 may store a template stored at the time of factory shipment, a template downloaded via a network, and the like.

  The mail creating unit 23 creates an e-mail using the template stored in the storage unit 22. The mail creation unit 23 functions as a creation unit described in the claims. First, the mail creation unit 23 causes the display unit 17 to display a template designated by the user from among the templates stored in the storage unit 22. The mail creation unit 23 uses the selected template and creates a text portion of the email according to the user's operation.

  The mail creation unit 23 inserts a preset character in an area corresponding to the fixed character area of the template in a new electronic mail. The mail creation unit 23 inserts characters in the replacement character areas 34 and 35 according to the user's operation. When “list selection” is designated by the user, the mail creating unit 23 inserts the character string designated by the user from the list set in the replacement character area into the replacement character area.

  When “list selection + edit” is designated by the user, the mail creating unit 23 inserts the character string designated from the list by the user into the replacement character area. Thereafter, the mail creation unit 23 edits the inserted character string. That is, the mail creation unit 23 edits the character string inserted in the replacement character area in accordance with the operation received by the operation unit 16. When “free” is designated by the user, the mail creating unit 23 accepts character input character by character and inserts the accepted character into the replacement character area. That is, the mail creation unit 23 inserts a character designated by the user via the operation unit 16 into the replacement character area.

  The mail creation unit 23 inserts the generation time of the image data generated by the scanner 11 for the replacement character area 36. The generation time is, for example, the time when the scanning process by the scanner 11 is completed. The generation time may be the start time of the scan process.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2, if there are few characters input in the replacement character area 34 sandwiched between the fixed character areas 31 and 32, the mail creation unit 23 sets the fixed character area 32 according to the number of characters in the replacement character area 34. Shift to the left. If there are many characters to be input to the replacement character area 34, the mail creating unit 23 shifts the fixed character area 32 to the right. The mail creation unit 23 may insert characters before and after the fixed character area and the replacement character area in accordance with a user operation. If a mail address is set in the template, the mail creating unit 23 sets the mail address as a destination.

  Subsequently, the operation of the MFP 1 will be described. First, with reference to FIG. 3, a procedure for executing the scan & mail process will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure when the scan & mail process is executed. An e-mail template is stored in the storage unit 22 in advance.

  First, in step S101, designation of a template is accepted from the user via the operation unit 16. As a result, the set characters are input to the fixed character areas 31 to 33 by the mail generation unit 23. If a mail address is set, the mail address is set as a transmission destination.

  In step S102, the character designated by the user is inserted into the replacement character areas 34 and 35. Here, when “list selection” is designated by the user, the character string designated by the user from the set list is inserted into the replacement character areas 34 and 35. When “list selection + edit” is designated by the user, after the character string designated from the list by the user is inserted into the replacement character areas 34 and 35, the character editing is accepted. When “free” is designated by the user, character input is accepted character by character, and the accepted characters are inserted into the replacement character areas 34 and 35. In addition, a text portion in which characters are inserted in the fixed character regions 31 to 33 and the replacement character regions 34 and 35 is displayed on the display unit 17.

  In step S103, the document set on the MFP 1 is read by the scanner 11, and image data is generated. That is, a scan process is performed. Here, when the replacement character area 36 in which “time” is specified is included in the template, the generation time of the image data is inserted into the replacement character area 36. Then, the text part in which the generation time of the image data is inserted into the replacement character area 36 is displayed on the display unit 17. Subsequently, in step S104, the image data generated in step S103 is attached to the e-mail by the mail creating unit 23. In step S <b> 105, an e-mail transmission instruction from the user is accepted by the operation unit 16, and then the e-mail attached with the image data is transmitted by the network I / F 18.

  According to the MFP 1 according to the present embodiment described above, a template is used when an e-mail is created, and a preset character is inserted into the fixed character area of the text portion. For this reason, it is possible to save the trouble of inputting characters in the fixed character area when creating an e-mail. Therefore, when the user uses the scan & mail function, it is possible to reduce the time and effort required for inputting an e-mail character.

  In addition, in the MFP 1, for the replacement character area for which “list selection” is specified when an e-mail is created, if the user specifies a character string from the list, the specified character string is inserted into the replacement character area. The For this reason, it is possible to save the trouble of inputting characters one by one for the replacement character area when creating an e-mail. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the time and effort required for inputting characters in electronic mail.

  For the replacement character area for which “list selection + edit” is specified when the e-mail is created, after the character string is input to the replacement character area, the character string is further changed according to the operation accepted from the user. Is edited. For this reason, for example, when the user wants to input a character string that is partially different from a preset character string, the user can edit the character string automatically input. Accordingly, it is possible to further reduce the time and effort required for character input.

  For the replacement character area for which “free” is specified when the e-mail is created, the character specified by the user via the operation unit 16 is inserted into the replacement character area. For this reason, the user can input an arbitrary character into the replacement character area when creating an e-mail.

  For the replacement character area for which “time” is designated in the template, the generation time of the attached image data is automatically input to the replacement character area when the e-mail is created. For this reason, it is possible to save the user from inputting the generation time of the image data.

  Further, the MFP 1 automatically inputs a destination mail address by creating an electronic mail using a template in which the destination mail address is set. This saves the user from having to input the destination mail address. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the time and effort required for inputting characters in electronic mail.

  In the conventional MFP, since it takes time to input characters, there are users who use the scan & mail function without inputting characters in the subject and body of the e-mail. In this case, the user transmits an e-mail attached with image data from the MFP to the user's PC by the scan & mail function without inputting characters. Then, the user inputs characters in the subject and body of the e-mail on the PC, and transmits image data from the PC to the target destination by e-mail.

  On the other hand, according to the MFP 1 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to save time and effort for character input. Therefore, the user can input the subject and body more easily by using the scan & mail function of the MFP 1 and directly send the e-mail with image data to the target destination (PC 40). Further, when the user uses the net storage service, the image data can be uploaded to the server 41 more easily using the scan & mail function.

  The net storage service is a service for accumulating data files uploaded by users on a server. Some net storage services can be uploaded using e-mail, and can search data files stored in a server using a character string input in the subject and body of the e-mail as keywords.

  The user can easily use this net storage service by using the scan & mail function of the MFP 1. That is, the user can easily upload the image data using the scan & mail function. In addition, the user can easily search the uploaded image data using the character string input in the fixed character area or the character string included in the list set in the replacement character area as a keyword.

  Some net storage services can set tags. For example, there is a service that sets a character string sandwiched between “#” in a subject or body of an email as a tag. When using such a service, enter “#” in the two fixed character areas and set the area between the two fixed character areas as the replacement character area. can do. That is, the user can set the tag without specifying the “#” indicating the tag by simply designating the character to be input in the replacement character area when creating the mail.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the above embodiment, a case has been described in which a fixed character area and a replacement character area are set in the subject of an e-mail. Good. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the operation part 16 was comprised with various keys, you may comprise with a touch panel.

  Further, the MFP 1 may be configured so that the data format (file format) of the image data can be set in the template. Examples of data formats that can be set include a bitmap format. When the data format is set in the template, the scanner 11 converts the image data generated by reading the document into the data format set in the template during the scan and mail process. Then, the image data in the set data format is attached to the electronic mail and transmitted. In this case, it is possible to save the trouble of setting the data format of the image data when using the scan & mail function.

1 MFP
10 Printer 11 Scanner 12 NCU
13 Modem 14 Codec 15 Image Storage Unit 16 Operation Unit 17 Display Unit 18 Network I / F
20 control unit 21 template creation unit 22 storage unit 23 mail creation unit

Claims (6)

A reading unit that reads a document and generates image data;
An operation unit for receiving an operation from a user;
A storage unit for storing e-mail templates;
Of the templates stored in the storage unit, using a template selected by the user through the operation unit, a creation unit that creates an email;
A transmission unit that transmits an email created by the creation unit and attached with the image data;
With
The storage unit includes a fixed character area in which characters to be inserted are set in advance in a text portion including a subject and body of an e-mail, and a replacement character area in which the characters to be inserted are set when an e-mail is created. An image reading apparatus that stores the template. The storage unit stores the template including the replacement character region in which a list of character strings is preset,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the creation unit inserts a character string designated by a user via the operation unit from the list set in the replacement character region into the replacement character region. .   The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the creation unit edits a character string inserted into the replacement character area in accordance with an operation received by the operation unit.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the creation unit inserts a character designated by the user through the operation unit into the replacement character region.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the creation unit inserts the generation time of the image data generated by the reading unit into the replacement character area. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores the template in which a destination mail address is set.

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