JP2012253579A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problems that contents of an original leak to a third party when data is tapped and extracted when the entire image data is transmitted when transferring read image data to a processing server, the image data not needed in the processing server is also present in the original, and useless network communication is generated for the amount of the unneeded image data.SOLUTION: An image reader comprises: means for determining a recognition processing external server for performing processing to image data; means for determining a kind of a network with the external server; means for determining a data division degree from reliability of the external server; means for dividing the image data from the kind of the network and the data division degree; means for transmitting divided rectangular image data to the external server and receiving a processing result; and means for generating a document of a specified file form and storing it in a specified document management server.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus that cooperates with a processing server.

  Currently, there are image readers that connect scanners, facsimile machines, copiers, or multifunction devices that combine these, personal computers, servers, etc. to each other via a network, and link each service and function to generate images. is doing. And the method of operating this image generation process efficiently is proposed.

  For example, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 provides a method for improving network transfer efficiency by transmitting only a rectangular image of a colored portion included in an image when transmitting an image generated by an image reading apparatus to a server. ing.

JP-A-6-303434

  In the above prior art, rectangular images of all colored portions of the read image are transmitted. Therefore, there is a security problem that all rectangular images are stored in the server and the data is intercepted and extracted. In addition, since the server also transmits a rectangular image that is not actually required for processing, there is a problem that extra network traffic occurs.

The present invention solves the above problems,
A reading means (117) for reading a document, a means for setting a file format for storing image data read by the reading means (FIG. 11), and a means for determining a recognition processing external server for processing the image data (FIG. 12). ) And means for determining the type of network between the external server (S102), means for determining the degree of data division from the reliability of the external server (S103), and dividing the image data from the type of network and the degree of data division Means (S404), the divided rectangular image data are transmitted to the external server, the processing result is received (S412), the image data read by the reading means and the processing result of the external server are designated. Means (S105) for generating a file format document and the specified file format Image reading apparatus having a means (S106) for transmitting the stored file to the document management server 40 to the specified document (118).

  By switching the image data transfer method using the network type and reliability of the external server, it becomes difficult to identify the contents of the image data even when data is intercepted or extracted. Therefore, it is possible to perform processing safely in terms of security. Further, since only the image of the character area portion is transmitted, the amount of communication necessary for processing one document is reduced, and the processing can be performed efficiently.

System Configuration Image reader-hardware configuration diagram External server-hardware configuration diagram Image reading apparatus-image processing main flowchart Image reading apparatus-external server network type determination flowchart Image reading apparatus-image data division degree determination flowchart Image reading apparatus-data transmission flowchart External server-data processing flowchart Image reading device-external server specification list Example of divided images Image reading device-Scan transmission screen example Image reading device-external server specification list screen example

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[System configuration]
FIG. 1 shows an example of a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. The scanner 10, the form recognition processing server 20, and the document management server 40 are connected via a network (intranet). The OCR processing server 30 is connected via a network (Internet). The scanner 10 of the present embodiment may be a multifunction machine. Further, the form processing server 20 and the OCR processing server 30 are examples of processing servers acting as partial functions of the scanner 10, and the processing functions are not limited thereto. In this embodiment, two processing servers are used, but there may be a plurality of processing servers.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the controller unit of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The controller unit 118 inputs image data and device information by connecting to a scanner 117 that functions as an image reading device.

  A CPU 101 is a processor that controls the entire image reading apparatus.

  The NVMEM 100 is a system work memory for the CPU 101 to operate, and is also a program memory for recording a program and an image memory for temporarily recording image data. The NVMEM 100 is a non-volatile memory and records setting information and the like.

  The flash ROM 102 is a rewritable non-volatile memory in which various control programs for controlling the system are recorded.

  The operation unit I / F 104 is an interface unit with the operation unit 105 and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 105. Also, it plays a role of transmitting information input by the user from the operation unit 105 to the CPU 101.

  The USB port 110 enables connection with the USB device 111.

  The above devices are arranged on the system bus 106.

  The image bus IMAGE BUSI / F 108 is a bus bridge that connects the system bus 106 and an image bus 112 that transfers image data at high speed and converts the data structure. The image bus 112 is configured by a PCI bus or IEEE1394.

  The following devices are arranged on the image bus 112.

  The raster image processor RIP 113 expands vector data such as a PDL code into a bitmap image.

  A scanner I / F 115 connects the scanner 117 and the controller unit 118 and converts image data.

  The image processing unit 116 corrects, processes, and edits input image data, and performs scanner correction, resolution conversion, and the like on scanner input image data. In addition to this, rotation of image data and compression / decompression processing such as JBIG, MMR, and MH are performed for multi-valued image data and JPEG and binary image data. Further, a rectangular image to be transmitted to the form processing server 20 or the OCR processing server 30 is generated. Further, a document file to be transmitted to the document management server 40 is generated.

  The scanner 117 is a part that reads a document and converts it into image data. There are lasers and the like, but any method can be used.

  The operation unit 105 has an LCD display unit, and a touch panel sheet is pasted on the LCD. It also has operation keys. The system operation screen is displayed, and the position information is transmitted to the CPU 101 when the displayed key is pressed.

  The LAN interface 107 is a functional unit for connecting to a LAN, and is used for transmitting an image file to a PC or a server or acquiring information of other devices via the LAN.

  FIG. 3 is an example of a hardware configuration diagram of the form recognition processing server 20, the OCR processing server 30, or the document management server 40 of this embodiment. A CPU 21 that controls the present invention, a RAM 22 that provides a work area for the CPU 21, a storage device 23, a network device 24 that communicates with other devices via a network, and a main bus 25 are included.

[Image reading main flow]
FIG. 4 is a main flowchart of image processing in the scanner 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In step S101, the operation unit 105 uses the screen as shown in FIG. 10 to instruct scanning and storing of the document file in the document management server 40. At this time, processing to be performed by the image processing unit 116 is determined according to a document file format stored in the document management server 40. In response to this instruction, the scanner 117 reads a document from the document table and the document feeder, and temporarily stores the image data. In this embodiment, “searchable PDF file” is selected.

  In step S102, the network connection type of the external server capable of image processing is determined based on the image processing instructed in step S101. Details will be described later. In this embodiment, the network type of the server having the OCR function is extracted from the external server designation list FIG. Further, it is determined that the connection is made via the Internet using automatic discrimination. The external server specification list FIG. 9 is set in advance on the setting screen as shown in FIG.

  In step S103, the degree of division of image data to be transmitted to an external server that performs image processing is determined. Details will be described later. In this embodiment, the server reliability is extracted from the external server designation list FIG. Furthermore, the data division degree is set finely from the reliability.

  In step S104, the image is divided based on the information determined in steps S102 and S103, and transmitted to the external processing server. In addition, the processing result of the external server is received. In this embodiment, the image is divided into minimum rectangular images that can be subjected to OCR processing, OCR processing is requested for each rectangular image, and a recognition result character string is received.

  In step S105, the processing result in step S104 and the image data in step S101 are combined to generate a document file (searchable PDF).

  In step S106, the document file generated in step S104 is transmitted to the document management server 40 instructed in step S101, and this flow ends.

[External server network type judgment flow]
FIG. 5 is an external server network type determination flowchart in the scanner 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which detailed step S102 of FIG.

  In step S201, an external server that can be processed is searched based on the image processing setting designated in step S101 from the external server designation list FIG. In this embodiment, an OCR process setting is instructed and an OCR server is searched. The network type of the searched OCR server is acquired, and the process proceeds to the next step. If the network type is not set or is automatic, the process proceeds to step S202. If the network type is set, the process proceeds to step S206.

  In step S202, the address of the external server searched in step S201 is acquired, name resolution is performed using a name resolution server such as DNS, and an IP address is acquired.

  In step S203, the own IP address is acquired and the IP addresses of the external servers are compared. If the IP address of the external server is not in the same subnet, it is determined that the external server is on the Internet, and the process proceeds to step S205. If the IP address of the external server is in the same subnet, it is determined that the external server is in the intranet, and the process proceeds to step S206.

  In step S204, the network type setting of the external server searched in step S201 is acquired. If the network type setting is the Internet, the process proceeds to step S205. If the network type setting is intranet, the process proceeds to step S206.

  In step S205, the network type setting of the external server searched in step S201 is set to intranet, and this flow ends.

  In step S206, the network type setting of the external server searched in step S201 is set to the Internet, and this flow ends.

[Image data division degree judgment flow]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for determining the degree of division of image data in the scanner 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In step S301, an external server that can be processed is searched based on the image processing setting designated in step S101 from the external server designation list FIG. In this embodiment, an OCR process setting is instructed and an OCR server is searched. Acquire the server reliability setting of the searched OCR server and proceed to the next step.

  In step S302, if the server reliability acquired in step S301 is high, the process proceeds to step S303. If the server reliability is medium, the process proceeds to step S304. If the server reliability is low, the process proceeds to step S305.

  In step S303, the data division setting to be transmitted to the external server searched in step S301 is set to “rough”, and this flow ends.

  In step S304, the data division setting to be transmitted to the external server searched in step S301 is set to “normal”, and this flow ends.

  In step S305, the data division setting to be transmitted to the external server searched in step S301 is set to “fine”, and this flow ends.

[Data transmission flow]
FIG. 7 is a data transmission flowchart in the scanner 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In step S401, an external server that can be processed is searched based on the image processing setting designated in step S101 from the external server designation list FIG. In this embodiment, an OCR process setting is instructed and an OCR server is searched. Acquire information of the searched OCR server.

  In step S402, the network type determined in the external server network type determination flow is acquired. Here, when the type of network is an intranet, the reliability of the external server is high, and the possibility of data interception or data extraction from the external server is low. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S410. When the network type is the Internet, there is a possibility of data interception or data extraction from an external server, so the entire image data read in step S101 should not be transmitted. Accordingly, the process proceeds to step S403.

  In step S403, the data division degree determined in the image data division degree determination flow is acquired. If the reliability of the external server that transmits the image data is low and the possibility of data interception or data extraction is high, the process proceeds to step S404 for finely dividing the image data. If the reliability of the external server is medium, the process proceeds to step S405 where the image data is collected into a rectangular image grouped to some extent. Even in the Internet, when the reliability of the external server is high, the process proceeds to step S407 where the image data is collected into a rectangular image.

  In step S404, a rectangular image in units of characters is generated from the character region using image region separation technology. When the image data as shown in FIG. 10 is read, it is divided like a character rectangle division 31. When each rectangular image is transmitted to the external server one by one in step S411 described later, the external server can recognize it by OCR. Further, a rectangular image in units of characters is temporarily stored in an external server. With a single rectangular image, it is difficult to guess a sentence, so that even if the reliability of the external server is low, processing can be performed safely.

  In step S405, the process is the same as in step S404. In this step, the process further proceeds to step S406.

  In step S406, the rectangular images adjacent in the horizontal direction in character units generated in step S405 are joined to generate a rectangular image 32 in line units.

  In step S407, the process is the same as in step S404. In this step, the process further proceeds to step S408.

  In step S408, the process is the same as in step S406. In this step, the process further proceeds to step S409.

  In step S409, the rectangular images adjacent in the vertical direction in units of rows generated in step S408 are joined to generate a rectangular image 33 in units of blocks. Even if the external server is connected via the Internet, it is possible to reduce the number of image transmissions to be described later if the reliability is high in terms of the provider, management, operation, and contract.

  In step S410, the entire image data is generated as one rectangular image.

  In step S411, the rectangular image generated in steps S404 to S410 is transmitted to the external server. When there are a plurality of external servers that can be processed, each rectangular image may be transmitted to a different external server. By distributing the external servers, it is difficult to determine the contents described in the original document even if data is extracted from one of the external servers.

  In step S412, the processing result of the external server is received.

  In step S413, it is confirmed whether all rectangular images generated in steps S404 to S410 have been processed. If not, the process returns to step S411 to process the next rectangular image. When all rectangular images have been processed, this flow ends.

[External server processing flow]
FIG. 8 is a data processing flowchart in the external servers 20 and 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In step S501, the rectangular image transmitted in step S411 is received.

  In step S502, recognition processing is performed on the rectangular image received in step S501.

  In step S503, the recognition result in step S503 is transmitted, and this flow ends.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, it is difficult to identify the contents of image data even when data interception or data extraction is performed by switching the image data transfer method using the network type or reliability of the external server. Become. Therefore, it is possible to perform processing safely in terms of security. Further, since only the image of the character area portion is transmitted, the amount of communication necessary for processing one document is reduced, and the processing can be performed efficiently.

10 Scanner 20 Form recognition processing server 30 OCR processing server

Claims (1)

A reading means (117) for reading a document, a means for setting a file format for storing image data read by the reading means (FIG. 11), and a means for determining a recognition processing external server for processing the image data (FIG. 12). ) And means for determining the type of network between the external server (S102), means for determining the degree of data division from the reliability of the external server (S103), and dividing the image data from the type of network and the degree of data division Means (S404), the divided rectangular image data are transmitted to the external server, the processing result is received (S412), the image data read by the reading means and the processing result of the external server are designated. Means (S105) for generating a file format document and the specified file format Image reading apparatus having a means (S106) for transmitting the stored file to the document management server 40 to the specified document (118).

Images