JP2013042436A - Image processing apparatus, method for determining storage destination folder of file, and program for determining the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus, etc. capable of automatically determining an optimum folder to store a file of image data read by reading means, and storing the file in the folder.SOLUTION: Reading means 18 reads an original, character recognition means 14 extracts characters out of the image data, and folder information acquisition means 16 acquires folder information on the transmission destination of a user. On the basis of the acquired folder information, it is discriminated whether the characters extracted by the character recognition means 14 include the name of a folder, and a folder in the bottom of a hierarchy including the name is determined as the final storage destination folder.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having a function of transmitting a file of image data read by a scanner unit to a designated folder of an information processing device, a file storage destination folder determination method implemented by the apparatus, and a file storage destination folder Regarding decision programs.

  For example, MFP (Muiti Function Peripherals), which is a multi-function digital image forming device with multiple functions such as copying, printer, and facsimile functions, is equipped with a scanner that is an image reading device, and all paper media materials are stored. Many are configured to be electronic.

  Also, the digitized image data file can be transferred to a temporary folder set in the user information processing apparatus (for example, a personal computer: PC) by “Scan to Ftp” or “Scan to Smb”. There is also a configuration that can be transmitted and stored by a method such as "."

  In this case, the user generally moves the image data file stored in the temporary folder to a desired folder by manual operation according to the contents.

  Conventionally, there is a known technology that has a function to sort to a specified folder using mail receiving software, etc., and it is possible to set search keywords and conditions for each folder and save the corresponding data It can be done.

  Conventionally, when two types of information “a keyword table for each document” and “a document ID table for each keyword” are prepared in a database and a document and a related document of the document are stored, related keywords are stored. A technique is known in which relevance and visibility are improved by generating a folder and storing documents in a hierarchical manner (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-25940 A

  However, as in the past, if you manually send the image data file that has been read to the temporary folder and save it, and then manually move the saved file to the desired folder according to the contents, it is often the case. When troublesome work occurs, there is a problem that it is really troublesome.

  For example, in the case of a document for a regular meeting, after the meeting is over, the document is converted into image data by the MFP reader, the image data file is transmitted to a temporary folder in the user PC, and then the file in the temporary folder is copied. When the operation of moving to a folder for saving conference materials by an operation, a movement operation, etc. is performed manually, if there are many copy operations and movement operations, the operation becomes considerably troublesome.

  In addition, in a technique having a function of distributing to a specified folder using mail receiving software or the like, it is necessary to set search keywords and conditions for each folder, which is also troublesome.

  Further, as in the technique described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, in the case where keywords indicating the relations of a plurality of documents are generated as hierarchies and hierarchized, they can be distinguished by folders, but automatically according to a database prepared in advance. Therefore, there is a problem that the folder structure is not necessarily intended by the user.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an image processing apparatus capable of automatically determining and storing the most suitable folder in which a file of image data read by the reading unit should be stored, and the same It is an object of the present invention to provide a file storage destination folder determination method implemented by an apparatus, and to provide a file storage destination folder determination program for causing a computer of an image processing apparatus to execute the storage destination folder determination method.

The above problem is solved by the following means.
(1) a reading unit that reads a document, a transmission unit that transmits a file of image data of a document read by the reading unit to a transmission destination folder of an external device, and a hierarchical relationship of the file transmission destination folder Folder information acquisition means for acquiring folder information including a folder name, character recognition means for extracting characters from the image data, and character information extracted by the character recognition means based on the folder information acquired by the folder information acquisition means It is determined whether or not the name of the folder is included in the characters, and a storage destination folder determining means for determining a folder in the lowest hierarchy including the name as a final storage destination folder of the file, and the storage destination Control means for saving the file in the final saving destination folder determined by the folder determination means; The image processing apparatus characterized by there.
(2) After transmitting the file to the highest root folder of the transmission destination by the transmission unit, the storage destination folder determination unit determines whether the name of the folder is included in the characters extracted by the character recognition unit Are determined in order from a folder in the upper hierarchy to a folder in the lower hierarchy to determine the final save destination folder of the file, and the control means moves the file transmitted to the root folder to the final save destination folder. 2. The image processing apparatus according to item 1.
(3) The image processing apparatus according to (2), wherein a file shortcut is created in a folder whose name is included in characters extracted from the image data but is not the final storage destination.
(4) The image processing according to any one of the preceding items 1 to 3, further comprising display means for displaying a processing status of the apparatus until the file is stored in a final storage destination folder after the reading of the document image is started. apparatus.
(5) When a plurality of folder names in the same hierarchy are included in another page of the file, the storage destination folder determination unit divides the file with the corresponding page as a boundary, and corresponds to the divided file. 5. The image processing apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the folder is determined as a final storage destination folder of the file.
(6) The storage folder determination unit divides only the corresponding page into one file when a plurality of folder names in the same hierarchy are included in another page of the file, and supports the divided files. 5. The image processing apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein a folder to be determined is determined as a final storage destination folder of the file.
(7) a reading step of reading a document, a transmission step of transmitting a file of image data of the document read in the reading step to a transmission destination folder of an external device, a hierarchical relationship and folder names of the folder of the file transmission destination A folder information acquisition step for acquiring folder information including: a character recognition step for extracting characters from the image data; and a character extracted in the character recognition step based on the folder information acquired in the folder information acquisition step. A determination is made as to whether or not the name of the folder is included, a storage folder determination step for determining a folder in the lowest hierarchy including the name as the final storage folder of the file, and determination of the storage folder In the final destination folder determined in step, And and a control step for saving the serial file, destination folder determined how the file in the image processing apparatus.
(8) A reading step of reading a document, a transmission step of transmitting a file of image data of the document read in the reading step to a transmission destination folder of an external device, a hierarchical relationship and folder names of the folder of the file transmission destination A folder information acquisition step for acquiring folder information including: a character recognition step for extracting characters from the image data; and a character extracted in the character recognition step based on the folder information acquired in the folder information acquisition step. A determination is made as to whether or not the name of the folder is included, a storage folder determination step for determining a folder in the lowest hierarchy including the name as the final storage folder of the file, and determination of the storage folder In the final destination folder determined in step, A control step for saving the serial file, a file of the destination folder determination program for causing a computer to execute the image processing apparatus.

  According to the invention described in (1) above, the original is read by the reading means to become image data, the character is extracted from the image data by the character recognition means, and further transmitted by the user via the folder information acquisition means. The previous folder information is acquired. Based on the acquired folder information, it is determined whether or not the name of the folder is included in the character extracted by the character recognition means, and the folder in the lowest hierarchy including the name is the final of the file. Determined as the save destination folder.

  Therefore, by adopting a part of the characters included in the image data as the name of the folder in which the image data file is to be stored, the folder is automatically determined as the file storage destination. The user does not need to copy or move a file to a predetermined folder as in the prior art, and can automatically save the file in a folder most suitable for the file.

  According to the invention described in item (2) above, the file is stored in the final storage folder after being transmitted to the root folder.

  According to the invention described in item (3), the user can easily grasp the situation until the final save destination folder is determined.

  According to the invention described in item (4) above, it is possible to check the processing status of the apparatus until the file is saved in the final saving destination folder after the reading of the document image is started.

  According to the invention described in (5) above, when a plurality of folder names in the same hierarchy are included in another page of the file, the file is divided with the page as a boundary, and these divided files are Saved in the corresponding folder.

  According to the invention described in (6) above, when a plurality of folder names in the same hierarchy are included in another page of the file, only the corresponding page is divided into one file, and these divided files are Is saved in the corresponding folder.

  According to the invention described in (7) above, by adopting a part of the characters included in the image data as the name of the folder in which the image data file is to be stored, Since the folder is automatically determined, the user does not need to copy or move the file to a predetermined folder as in the past, and can automatically save the file in the folder most suitable for the file. .

  According to the invention described in item (8) above, it is possible to cause the computer of the image processing apparatus to execute processing for automatically saving a file in the most suitable folder.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a file transmission system using an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the image processing apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the transmission process of a file. It is explanatory drawing of the folder structure of the storage place of a file. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the save destination folder determination process (step S5) in the flowchart of FIG. It is a figure which shows the screen of the execution log | history displayed on the display means during execution of the transmission process of a file. It is a figure which shows the detail screen which changed from the screen of FIG. It is a folder block diagram after the final save destination of the transmitted file was determined. It is explanatory drawing of the process result of a page division | segmentation. It is explanatory drawing of another process result of a page division | segmentation.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a file transmission system using an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, this file transmission system includes an image processing apparatus 1 and, for example, a personal computer (PC) 2 which is a user terminal as an external information processing apparatus. Are connected via a network 3 such as a LAN.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image processing apparatus 1.

  In this embodiment, the above-mentioned MFP, which is a multifunction digital image forming apparatus, is used as the image processing apparatus 1. In the following description, the image processing apparatus is also referred to as MFP.

  In FIG. 2, the MFP 1 includes a communication unit 11, a display unit 12, an operation instruction unit 13, a character recognition unit 14, a storage unit 15, a folder information acquisition unit 16, a save destination folder route analysis unit 17, A reading unit 18 and a control unit 19 are provided.

  The communication means 11 has a transmission / reception function for exchanging data with the user PC 2.

  The display unit 12 includes, for example, a touch panel type liquid crystal display device and the like, and displays setting information such as a transmission destination set by the user, operation information by the user, a job (JOB) execution status, a job history, and the like. Is.

  The operation instructing means 13 is for the user to perform operations such as inputting JOB and various settings, and has hard keys such as a start key and a stop key. Configure.

  The character recognition unit 14 uses an optical character reader (OCR) to extract characters in image data (also referred to as input image data) of a document read by the reading unit 18 and convert the characters into text data. Is.

  The storage means 15 is for storing input image data obtained by the reading means 18, setting information input by the user, and a hard disk device (HDD), for example.

  The folder information acquisition unit 16 acquires folder information including the hierarchical relationship and folder names of folders in the PC 2 that is the transmission destination of the input image data via the communication unit 11.

  The storage destination folder route analysis means 17 determines which folder in the transmission destination folder of the user PC 2 to store the input image data file. Specifically, based on the folder information acquired by the folder information acquisition unit 16, whether or not the name of the destination folder is included in the characters in the input image data extracted by the character recognition unit 14, Judgment is made in order from the upper hierarchy folder to the lower hierarchy folder. Then, the lowest folder including the name is determined as the final saving destination folder of the file.

  The reading means 18 is a scanner that reads a document image and converts it into image data that is electronic data. The read input image data is transmitted to the outside as a file by “Scan to XXX”.

  The control unit 19 controls the overall operation of the MFP 1 and includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like (not shown).

  “Scan to XXX” is a function of transmitting the input image data as a file to an external information processing apparatus such as the PC 2 via the network 3. The protocol for transmission is not particularly limited as long as the destination folder hierarchy can be specified, such as “Ftp” and “Smb”.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a file transmission process of input image data by “Scan to XXX”. This process is executed by the CPU of the control unit 19 of the MFP 1 operating according to an operation program recorded on a recording medium such as a ROM.

  In FIG. 3, in step S1, an image of a paper medium (original) set on an automatic document feeder (ADF) or platen glass is read to obtain image data (input image data).

  In step S2, the destination folder information in the PC 2 designated by the user with “Scan to XXX” is acquired.

  FIG. 4 shows the structure of a folder in the PC 2 as a transmission destination. The root folder F is a folder set by the user as a destination folder, and is the highest folder. There is a “XX meeting” folder F1 in the lower hierarchy of the root folder F, and two folders, a “minutes” folder F11 and a “report” folder F12, exist in the lower hierarchy of the “XX meeting” folder F1. ing. In step S2, the information (folder name and hierarchical relationship of each folder) is acquired.

  In step S3, characters in the image data acquired in step S1 are extracted using OCR and converted into text information. Next, in step S4, the input image data file is transmitted to the root folder which is the transmission destination designated by the user. The reason for sending the file to the root folder is as follows. In other words, the MFP 1 automatically determines a folder distribution destination (final storage destination) after that, but allows the user to display, move, and copy the transmitted file without waiting for the determination. . Note that the file may be sent to the final storage destination after the determination of the final storage destination.

  Next, in step S5, a process for determining the final storage destination folder of the file is executed.

  In this embodiment, after the reading of the document image by the reading unit 18 is started, the processing status of the MFP 1 until the file is stored in the final storage destination folder is displayed on the display unit 12. For example, when reading of a document image is started in step S1, the status of the MFP 1 is changed, and a message “inputting” is displayed on the display unit 12. When the transmission of the file to the root folder is started in step S4, the status is changed, and “Sending root folder” is displayed on the display means 12.

  In this way, the processing status of the own device is displayed on the display unit 12 so that the user can confirm the processing status.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the save destination folder determination process in step S5 in the flowchart of FIG.

  When the storage destination folder determination process in FIG. 5 is started, the status of the MFP 1 is changed, and a message “A subfolder is being analyzed” is displayed on the display unit 12.

  In step S51, it is determined whether a folder exists in the same hierarchy based on the acquired folder information of the transmission destination. If a folder exists in the same hierarchy (YES in step S51), in step S52, character strings of all folder names in the same hierarchy are searched from the characters extracted from the input image data, and the process proceeds to step S53.

  In step S53, it is determined from the search result of the character string of the folder name whether or not the character string of the folder name is included in the characters in the input image data. If there is a character string (YES in step S53), in step S54, a transition is made to the same folder hierarchy. When the transition is performed, in step S55, an alias (shortcut) of the input image data (file) transmitted in step S3 in FIG. 3 is created in the transition source folder, and then the process returns to step S51.

  By creating this alias, the user can grasp the analysis status in real time. When the alias is created, the status of the MFP 1 is changed, and “displaying subfolder (storing folder path)” is displayed on the display unit 12.

  While the processes in steps S51 to S55 are repeated, if there is no folder in the lower layer (NO in step S51), or the character string of the folder name in the same layer no longer exists from the characters in the input image data. In other words, if there is a folder (the folder at the analysis end position) where the root folder cannot be found after going down to the lower hierarchy with the root folder as the analysis start position (NO at step S53), the folder at the lower hierarchy position, that is, the folder name The folder in the lowest hierarchy including the is determined as the final saving destination folder.

  In step S56, the PC 2 is caused to move the file to the folder determined as the final storage destination. In this state, the status of the MFP 1 is changed to “sending” and displayed on the display unit 12.

  When the movement of the file is completed, the status of the MFP 1 is changed to “completed” and displayed on the display unit 12.

  The file is moved with respect to the file transmitted in step S4 of FIG. With such an algorithm, an alias remains in the trajectory from the root folder to the distribution destination (final storage destination) folder. However, whether or not to delete the alias after the determination of the distribution destination is not particularly limited. .

  Here, a specific example will be described in which an input image data file including the character string “XX meeting minutes” shown in FIG. 4 is transmitted.

  In FIG. 4, transmission is performed to the root folder F when input is completed. Since the folder F1 with the folder name “XX conference” exists in the root folder F, the character string “XX conference” is searched from the extracted characters of the input image data, and the folder name is extracted as the extracted character of the input image data. It is determined whether or not the character string “XX conference” is included, and if it is included, the process proceeds to the “XX conference” folder F1 and an alias (shortcut) is created in the root folder F. Is called.

  Next, in the “XX meeting” folder F1, there are a folder 11 whose file name is “Miscellaneous” and a folder F12 whose file name is “Report” as lower layers, and therefore two folders F11 and F12. Is retrieved from the extracted characters of the input image data in the same manner as described above.

  For example, if the characters of the foil name “minutes” match the characters in the image data, the process proceeds to the “minutes” folder F11, and an alias (shortcut) is created in the “XX meeting” folder F1. Since there is no lower-level folder in the “minutes” folder F11, the “minutes” folder F11 is determined as a data distribution destination (final storage destination) folder. The file in the root folder F is moved to the determined distribution destination folder F11.

  As described above, in this embodiment, if a part of the characters included in the image data is adopted as the name of the folder in which the image data file is to be stored, the folder is automatically set as the storage destination of the file. Therefore, the user does not need to copy or move the file to a predetermined folder as in the conventional case, and can automatically save the file in the folder most suitable for the file.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the processing status (status) displayed on the display means 12 during the final saving destination folder determination processing.

  In FIG. 6, on the screen D1 of the display means 12, the JobID is “1234”, the JobType is “Scan transmission”, and the Status S is “Under analysis of XX meeting folder”, and in the lower right of the screen D1. Displays a “detail button” 100 for transitioning to the screen D2 of FIG.

  When this “detail button” 100 is pressed, a transition is made to a detail screen D2 as shown in FIG. 7, and the progress status of the folder analysis processing (folder hierarchy search history, alias information, etc.) can be confirmed from this screen D2. it can.

  In this example, the screen D2 in FIG. 7 indicates that the job ID “124” is being analyzed for the “XX conference” folder F1.

  FIG. 8 is a folder configuration diagram after the final storage destination is determined. After the final save destination folder F11 is determined by analyzing the folder distribution route, the file is moved from the funnel folder F to the determined final save destination folder F11. On the other hand, an alias (show) of the input image data (file) is included in a folder (for example, XX conference folder F1) whose name is determined to be included in the characters extracted from the input image data but is not the final storage destination. Tokat) has been created. An alias is also created in the root folder F. These aliases may be deleted or left after the processing is completed.

  Further, this alias is created at any time as soon as the transition to the next folder in step S54 in FIG. 5 is confirmed in order to make it easy to confirm the analysis status during the analysis of the folder route.

  Next, the processing in the case where a plurality of folder names in the same hierarchy are all included in different pages as a result of analysis by the storage destination folder route analyzing means 17 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 9, when a plurality of folder names in the same hierarchy are all included in different pages, the file is divided using the corresponding page as a boundary, and the divided files are stored separately in folders with the corresponding names.

  Specifically, if the extracted character string of the input image data includes the names of multiple folders in the same hierarchy on different pages, the file is divided by using the included pages as a delimiter. Save each file in the folder with the corresponding name.

  In the example of FIG. 9, there are characters “minutes” on one page of the file and characters “report” on the second page. For this reason, page 1 and page 2 and below are divided into two files, P1 file and P2-P3 file. The “minutes” folder F11 for P1 file and the “report” folder for P2-P3 file. F12 is determined and saved as the final save destination folder.

  In this embodiment, for example, when minutes and reports are acquired as one input image data, these minutes and reports are separated and stored in separate related folders. .

  In addition, when a plurality of folder names in the same layer are all included in another page, the file is not divided with the corresponding page as a boundary, but only the corresponding page is divided into one file, and the divided file is It may be stored separately in a folder with the corresponding name.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when there are “minutes” characters on one page of a file and “reports” characters on two pages, pages 1 and 2 of the file are respectively a P1 file and a P2 file. The P1 file is saved in the “Minutes” folder F11, the P2 file is saved in the “Reports” folder F12, and the three pages that do not contain the characters “Mission” and “Report” Are stored in the “XX conference” folder F1.

  In the example shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the processing when both characters of “minutes” and “report” are included in the same page is not particularly limited, but for example, only one of the folders What is necessary is just to make it the structure preserve | saved.

  In the above description, whether or not the name of the folder is included in the characters extracted from the input image data is determined by sequentially searching from the upper folder to the lower folder, but the search and determination order is limited to this. It will never be done.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing apparatus 2 Information processing apparatus 3 Network 11 Communication means 12 Display means 13 Operation instruction means 14 Character recognition means 15 Storage means 16 Folder information acquisition means 17 Storage destination folder route analysis means 18 Reading means 19 Control means

Claims (8)

Reading means for reading a document;
A transmission unit for transmitting the image data file of the document read by the reading unit to a transmission destination folder of the external device;
Folder information acquisition means for acquiring folder information including a hierarchical relationship and folder name of the file transmission destination folder;
Character recognition means for extracting characters from the image data;
Based on the folder information acquired by the folder information acquisition unit, it is determined whether or not the name of the folder is included in the character extracted by the character recognition unit, and the folder in the lowest hierarchy including the name , A destination folder determining means for determining the final destination folder of the file,
Control means for storing the file in a final storage destination folder determined by the storage folder determination means;
An image processing apparatus comprising: After transmitting the file to the highest-level root folder of the transmission destination by the transmission unit, the storage destination folder determination unit determines whether or not the name of the folder is included in the characters extracted by the character recognition unit. Judgment is made in order from the folder in the hierarchy to the folder in the lower hierarchy, and the final save destination folder of the file is determined,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit moves a file transmitted to the root folder to the final saving destination folder.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a file shortcut is created in a folder whose name is included in characters extracted from the image data but is not a final storage destination.   4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying a processing status of the apparatus until the file is stored in a final storage destination folder after the reading of the document image is started.   When a plurality of folder names in the same hierarchy are included in another page of the file, the storage folder determination unit divides the file with the corresponding page as a boundary, and sets a folder corresponding to the divided file to the folder. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus determines the final storage folder of the file.   When a plurality of folder names in the same hierarchy are included in another page of the file, the storage folder determining unit divides only the corresponding page into one file, and selects a folder corresponding to the divided file. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus determines the final saving destination folder of the file. A reading step for reading a document;
A transmission step of transmitting the image data file of the document read in the reading step to a destination folder of the external device;
A folder information acquisition step for acquiring folder information including a hierarchical relationship and a folder name of the file destination folder;
A character recognition step of extracting characters from the image data;
Based on the folder information acquired in the folder information acquisition step, it is determined whether or not the name of the folder is included in the characters extracted in the character recognition step, and the folder in the lowest hierarchy including the name A storage folder determination step for determining the final storage folder of the file,
A control step for storing the file in the final storage destination folder determined in the storage destination folder determination step;
A file storage folder determination method in an image processing apparatus. A reading step for reading a document;
A transmission step of transmitting the image data file of the document read in the reading step to a destination folder of the external device;
A folder information acquisition step for acquiring folder information including a hierarchical relationship and a folder name of the file destination folder;
A character recognition step of extracting characters from the image data;
Based on the folder information acquired in the folder information acquisition step, it is determined whether or not the name of the folder is included in the characters extracted in the character recognition step, and the folder in the lowest hierarchy including the name A storage folder determination step for determining the final storage folder of the file,
A control step for storing the file in the final storage destination folder determined in the storage destination folder determination step;
Is a file storage folder determination program for causing the computer of the image processing apparatus to execute the above.

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