JP2013050757A - Image forming apparatus, document management system, document management method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus, a document management system and method, and a program which manage an update history of an electronic document in the image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 120 is connected to a network 102 and comprises an image reading device which reads a manuscript. The image forming apparatus 120 stores, with respect to distribution data formed by reading the manuscript, an update history added via the network 102, and monitors a file server 110 which stores the distribution data via the network 102. The image forming apparatus 120 provides, in response to a request from a client device 114, a structured document including the update history to the client device 114 as the structured document, and thereby presents to the client device 114 the update history of the distribution data formed by the image forming apparatus 120 associated with contents of the update.

Description

  The present invention relates to a document management technique, and more particularly, to an electronic document update history management in an image forming apparatus.

  A technology that scans a paper document using an image forming device and stores the electronic document in a shared folder or file server in the user's computer and effectively uses and uses the document data on the groupware is considered. Many techniques have been proposed for these techniques.

  For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-324918 (Patent Document 1), when an image processing apparatus operates a stored document in the image processing apparatus for the purpose of notifying a user of a change in state in a timely manner, Disclosed is a configuration that can display the latest update information, so that the latest information such as catalogs stored in the device can be made known and can be operated like a bulletin board, and in addition, it is possible to avoid duplicate storage of the same document Has been. In the image forming apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-228867, the user can be efficiently responded to the state change of the image forming apparatus by notifying the user of the state change of the image forming apparatus. The user did not know whether this occurred, and its usability was limited.

  Conventionally known systems for managing electronic documents using image forming apparatuses take time to set, maintain, and change the policy for managing documents and document cost problems when introducing groupware. This can be said to have lowered security management in the image forming apparatus. In addition, even when delivering to a shared folder, management can only be done in directory units, so management becomes complicated as the number of documents increases, and grasping changes, deletions, updates, etc. of delivered electronic document documents, There is a problem that it becomes difficult in a nonlinear manner as the number of accumulated electronic documents increases.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-described problems of the prior art, an image forming apparatus, a document management system, and a document management method capable of easily and efficiently managing an electronic document scanned and distributed from an image forming apparatus. And to provide a program.

In the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes an image reading apparatus that is connected to a network and reads an original, and the image forming apparatus includes:
Information holding means for storing an update history added via the network to the distribution data created by the image reading device reading the document;
Monitoring means for monitoring a file server storing the distribution data via the network;
A determination unit for determining a difference between the file server and the same distribution data stored in the image forming apparatus obtained by the monitoring unit;
Synchronization means for updating and synchronizing a distribution data table in which meta information of distribution data managed by the image forming apparatus is registered with a value managed by the file server;
Data creation means for providing a structured document including the update history to the client device as a structured document in response to a request from the client device connected to the network, and the image forming apparatus includes: In response to a request, an image forming apparatus is provided that presents the update history of the distribution data created by the image forming apparatus to the client apparatus as the structured document in association with the content of the update.

  The meta information of the present invention includes a distribution data identification value (distribution data ID), a distribution destination IP address, a distribution destination folder, a document name, a transmission format, a file size, a user name, a password, deletion / movement history information, and rename history information. Update history information can be used. The monitoring unit can determine the difference between the distribution destination IP address, the distribution destination folder, the user name, the password, and the update date and time.

  The monitoring means of the present invention can be called to the file server periodically or at the timing when user authentication is successful for an access request from the client device.

  Furthermore, the present invention provides a document management system, a document management method, and a program that use the image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention, an electronic document scanned and distributed from an image forming apparatus can be managed easily and efficiently by functioning the image forming apparatus as a Web server and functioning as a relay server with the file server. An image forming apparatus, a document management system, a document management method, and a program can be provided.

1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming system 100 of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of an image reading apparatus 200 used in the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a functional block 300 of the image forming apparatus 120 of the present embodiment. The figure which shows embodiment of the structure of the delivery data table 400 produced | generated in the delivery destination setting part 316, and a parameter. The figure which shows the example of the record of the delivery data table actually produced. 5 is a flowchart of a data distribution method according to the present embodiment that is executed by the image forming apparatus 120; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a functional block 700 of another embodiment of the image forming apparatus 120 of the present embodiment. 8 is a flowchart of data synchronization processing executed by the image forming apparatus 120 having the functional configuration of FIG. The figure which shows embodiment of the synchronous management table 900 demonstrated in FIG. FIG. 9 is a detailed flowchart of processing from steps S808 to S810 in the synchronization check described in FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing of the management module of the image forming apparatus 120 that enables the client apparatus 114 to check the status of the distribution file in association with the processes of the file server 110 and the client apparatus 114. Embodiment of the login screen which the image forming apparatus 120 displays in step S1102 in this embodiment. 3 is a diagram showing a data structure used for login authentication processing of the image forming apparatus 120. FIG. 12 is an embodiment of a main screen 1400 displayed when the image forming apparatus 120 succeeds in user authentication in the process of FIG.

  Hereinafter, although this invention is demonstrated with embodiment, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned later. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming system 100 of the present embodiment. The image forming system 100 includes a file server 110 connected to a network 102 such as the Internet or a LAN, an image forming apparatus 120 that transmits image data acquired by an image reading apparatus such as a scanner to the file server 110, and a network 102. And a client apparatus 114 that accesses the image forming apparatus 120 and the file server 110 via the image processing apparatus and processes image data.

  The file server 110 can be implemented as a server device controlled by an operating system (OS) such as Windows (registered trademark) series, UNIX (registered trademark), or LINUX (registered trademark). Image data is provided to the client device 114 as a distribution file. The image forming apparatus 120 may be a so-called multifunction-integrated MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) having a copy function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, a network access function, and the like. In another embodiment, the image forming apparatus and an image reading apparatus such as a scanner can be configured separately.

  The client device 114 can be a personal computer or a workstation, and is controlled by an OS such as Windows (registered trademark) series or Mac OS (registered trademark), and is based on an interface 116 such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a display device. A user input is received, the image forming apparatus 120 and the file server 110 are accessed, image data is acquired as a distribution file, and distribution data can be processed by various applications. Note that the number of the image forming apparatuses 120 and the client apparatuses 114 is not limited to the number illustrated in FIG. 1 and can be appropriately changed according to a specific purpose.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image reading apparatus 200 used in the present embodiment. The image reading apparatus 200 can be mounted as one module of the image forming apparatus 120, or for example, can be mounted as a flatbed type scanner apparatus having a network connection function. Note that the image reading apparatus 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 is a functional block when mounted as a module of the image forming apparatus 120 as an example.

  The image reading apparatus 200 includes an image reading unit 210 configured by a CCD array, a CMOS array, and the like, a control unit 214, and a main storage unit 216. When the control unit 214 receives a user command from the operation panel (operation panel) I / F 212, the image reading unit 210 scans an image sent from an auto-feeder or the like or an image on a platen to create electronic data. The electronic data is stored in the main storage unit 216 or the like. The image reading apparatus 200 further includes an auxiliary storage unit 218, an external storage device I / F unit 220, and a network I / F unit 222.

  The auxiliary storage unit 218 buffers the line-shaped image data acquired by the image reading unit 210, and passes the buffered data to the control unit 214 in response to electronic data creation processing by the control unit 214. The external storage device I / F unit 220 has an I / F function for an external storage device such as a hard disk device, a CD-ROM, or a USB memory used for storing image data acquired by the image forming device 120 locally. For example, ATA, SATA, SATAII, SCSI, USB interface and the like can be implemented.

  The network I / F unit 222 provides an interface for accessing the network 102 such as the Internet or a LAN, and can be implemented including a network interface card (NIC), etc., and network access using a MAC address or an IP address Is possible.

  FIG. 3 shows a functional block 300 of the image forming apparatus 120 of the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 120 is a functional unit that is realized on the image forming apparatus 120 when a CPU (central processing unit) that includes the functional block 300 in the image forming apparatus 120 executes an application program. The image forming apparatus 120 includes a distribution information creation unit 310, a distribution information holding unit 312, a distribution destination holding unit 314, and a distribution destination setting unit 316.

  The distribution information creation unit 310 creates a data record for writing a distribution log as history information in a database (not shown) managed by the distribution information holding unit 312. The distribution information holding unit 312 manages a storage device that manages electronic data information and data distribution destination history, and has a database function. The distribution destination holding unit 314 manages address information such as the IP address and terminal name of the client device 114 for distributing electronic data, and enables distribution of electronic data. As the delivery destination data, other names such as a generic name of the delivery destination data, a host name, an authentication user name, an authentication password, a local / domain type, and the like can be given. The distribution destination setting unit 316 has a function of extracting address information for distributing electronic data from the distribution destination holding unit 314 and managing it until distribution of the electronic data is completed.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 120 includes a reading condition setting unit 320, a reading execution unit 322, and a data creation unit 324 as functional blocks. The reading condition setting unit 320 executes the image forming apparatus 120 by acquiring the reading conditions acquired by the operation receiving unit 318 from the operation panel I / F unit 212 or the reading conditions stored in advance in the reading condition holding unit 332 by the user. Set as hour data. The reading execution unit 322 executes reading of a document in response to a command from the operation reception unit 318 and stores the original in an appropriate storage device managed by the image forming apparatus 120. The data creation unit 324 processes the created electronic data as delivery data in a format to be sent to the delivery destination, and temporarily stores it in the data holding unit 326.

  The image forming apparatus 120 also includes a data transmission / reception unit 328 and a data display unit 330. The data transmission / reception unit 328 provides distribution destination data, a distribution protocol, and other information for the distribution data stored in the data holding unit 326. Is added to create a transmission packet, and the distribution data is sent to the distribution destination via the network 102. The data display unit 330 provides a function of displaying various data in order to enable a user operation via the operation reception unit 318, and corresponds to the display function unit of the operation panel I / F unit 212.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 120 provides a function of sending acquired electronic data to a delivery destination in an appropriate format and delivery method in response to user settings. The delivery format may be data delivery using HTTP, FTP, etc., facsimile delivery, or mail delivery.

  FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the configuration and parameters of the distribution data table 400 generated by the distribution destination setting unit 316. More specifically, the distribution data includes a distribution data identification value (ID) 410 that sets a unique value for the distribution data itself, a distribution destination IP address 412 that is a destination for distributing the distribution data, and a folder name of the distribution destination. A certain distribution destination folder 414, a distribution data name 416 attached to distribution data at the time of distribution, a file format 418 which is a file format of distribution data, a file size 420 indicating the size of distribution data, and used for authentication to a file server User name 422 and password 424, delete / move flag 426 that sets a value when deleted or moved, rename flag 428 that sets a value when renamed, value when updated in distribution data The data such as the update flag 430 for updating the data is generated as one record, and the distribution information holding unit 312 And stored in the signal data table.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a record of the distribution data table actually created. The distribution data table 500 shown in FIG. 5 shows the values shown in FIG. 4 more specifically, and in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, 192.168.10.120.30 is set as the distribution destination IP address. It is set that the file format is JPEG, the file size is 321 KB, and it is sent from the user = abc to the destination folder name = FOLDERNAME. In addition, regarding the delete / move flag 526, the rename flag 528, and the update flag 530, the flag setting state can be set as false = 0 or true = 1. The setting of each flag will be described in detail later.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the data distribution method according to the present embodiment executed by the image forming apparatus 120. The process starts from step S600. In step S601, a setting screen is displayed to set data for distribution. In step S602, the setting input by the user from the operation panel or the like is received, and the setting is stored in a buffer memory or the like. In step S603, a distribution destination setting screen for setting the distribution destination is generated. In step S604, the user can set the distribution destination. In step S605, the setting of the distribution destination from the user is received, and the buffer is set. Store in memory. In step S606, a document reading condition is set. In step S607, electronic data is created from the document and stored in the auxiliary storage unit 218 or the like.

  Distribution data for distribution according to the distribution condition setting set in step S608 is created, distribution information is acquired in step S609, distribution information is set in step S610, and distribution information is stored in the distribution database in step S611. To register in the update history. Thereafter, in step S612, the distribution destination is acquired from the distribution information and set in the distribution packet, and other information is added as header information or the like to create a distribution packet. Thereafter, in step S613, the distribution packet is sent to the network 102, and the image forming apparatus 120 returns to the setting screen display state in step S601 and waits for a user command.

  With the data distribution method of FIG. 6, the image forming apparatus 120 sends the electronic data acquired by the image reading apparatus 200 to the client apparatus 114 or the file server 110 according to an appropriate transfer method such as HTTP, FTP, e-mail, or facsimile. be able to. Also, the distribution history of the image forming apparatus 120 can be managed by the image forming apparatus 120 as an update history.

  FIG. 7 shows a functional block 700 of another embodiment of the image forming apparatus 120 of this embodiment. In addition to the functional block 300 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 120 in FIG. 7 accesses an access detection unit 716 that enables access from the client apparatus 114 and the file server 110. An information acquisition unit 718 that acquires information to be managed, and an information comparison processing unit 720 that compares the acquired information with records in a distribution data table for electronic data held by the device itself. Since the other functions have the same functions and configurations as described in FIG. 3, the access detection unit 716, the information acquisition unit 718, and the information comparison unit 720 will be described in detail below.

  The embodiment of FIG. 7 is used to synchronize the status data of the electronic data held by the image forming apparatus 120 and the status data of the same electronic data stored in the file server 110 at the set timing. . Note that the set timing may be periodic polling as described with reference to FIG. 7, or a distribution data history access access request is received from the client apparatus 114 to the image forming apparatus 120, and authentication is performed. It can also be set when successful.

  FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of data synchronization processing executed by the image forming apparatus 120 having the functional configuration of FIG. The process in FIG. 8 starts from step S800, and information of the synchronization management table is acquired in step S800. The synchronization management table is a table that stores information regarding the difference between the data referred to by the same distribution data ID between the image forming apparatus 120 and the file server 110, and details thereof will be described later.

  In step S801, the image forming apparatus 120 issues an update date acquisition request to the file server 110. In step S802, the image forming apparatus 120 acquires the update date of distribution data specified by the distribution data ID from the file server. In step S803, it is determined whether or not the update date and time are the same. If the update date and time are the same (yes), it is determined in step S804 that it is the latest state, and the next polling timing is awaited. In step S805, the arrival of the polling timing is determined, and the process waits in step S805 until the timing arrives (no). If the next polling timing comes (yes), the process returns to step S800 to perform the process. Is repeated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S803 that the update date and time are not the same (no), the process branches to step S806, and the content of the distribution data referred to by the same distribution data ID is requested. In step S807, distribution data information is acquired. In step S808, the distribution data download information is compared with the distribution data information held by the image forming apparatus 120. Distribution data information can use parameters that can be registered as metadata of distribution data, such as the file name, file size, and file format of distribution data.

  In step S809, it is determined whether or not there is a changed portion. If there is no changed portion (no), the process branches to step S805, and the polling timing is waited. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a changed part (yes), information determined to be different is rewritten in the record information of the synchronization management table in S810, and the synchronization management table of the image forming apparatus 120 is synchronized.

  Through the above processing, the image forming apparatus 120 can identify a change in distribution data on the file server 110.

  FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the synchronization management table 900 described in FIG. The synchronization management table 900 is a table associated with the distribution data ID, and can be managed as a database by the image forming apparatus 120. In the synchronization management table 900, information 910 necessary for synchronization determination is registered as a record. As information, a distribution destination IP address, a distribution destination folder, a user name, a password, an update date and time, and the like can be registered.

  The image forming apparatus 120 branches to the processing of step S806 to step S801 when the update date / time determination in the synchronization management table 900 in the processing of step S803 in FIG.

  FIG. 10 shows a detailed flowchart of the processing from steps S808 to S810 in the synchronization check described in FIG. The processing in FIG. 10 starts from step S1000. In step S1001, it is checked whether all items in the synchronization management table 900 are inconsistent. If all items in the synchronization management table 900 are inconsistent (yes), In step S1002, a deletion / movement flag is set (true) on the assumption that the distribution data to be deleted does not exist in the file server 110 due to deletion or movement, and then the process branches to step S1007. In step S1007, the update content is acquired, and in step S1008, the distribution data table 500 of the database is updated. In this case, this corresponds to deletion of the database record.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1001 that all items of the synchronization management items are not inconsistent (no), the process branches to step S1003, and in step S1003, whether or not either the file format or the file size is inconsistent. Judging. If the determination in step S1003 returns a negative result (no), the process branches to step S1005. If the determination in step S1003 returns a positive result (yes), in step S1004, the update flag of the distribution data table 400 is updated with the update flag updated (true) regarding the mismatch between the file format and the file size.

  In step S1005, it is determined whether the file names do not match. If the file names do not match (yes), the rename flag of the distribution data table is updated and registered in step S1006. On the other hand, if the file names do not match at step S1005 (no), the process branches to step S1007.

  In step S1007, the item determined to be inconsistent is downloaded from the file server 110, and in step S1008, the downloaded value is reflected in the database record together with the update date and time, and the process ends in step S1009. Through the above processing, the contents of the file server 110 and the contents of the image forming apparatus 120 can be synchronized periodically. 8 and 9 are processes that do not require user operation, for example, it is possible to execute the polling process by designating a period during which the idle period of the image forming apparatus 120 is considered to be long, such as at night or on holidays. An adverse effect on normal processing can be eliminated.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing of the management module of the image forming apparatus 120 that enables the client apparatus 114 to check the status of the distribution file in association with the processes of the file server 110 and the client apparatus 114. . The processing shown in FIG. 11 starts from sending a management site access request from the client device 114 to the image forming device 120 in step S1112. In order to execute the processing shown in FIG. 12, the image forming apparatus 120 can implement a server program such as Apache and process an HTTP request, and is created by a program such as PHP or Perl. A CGI (Common Gateway Interface) program is implemented and has a function as a Web server.

  The image forming apparatus 120 receives the management site access from the client apparatus 114 in step S1100, and generates a login screen for performing user access control in step S1101. In step S1102, the generated login screen is output to the client device 114 as HTML. In step S1113, the client apparatus 114 receives the output of the image forming apparatus 120 as HTML, and displays a login screen. In step S1114, the client apparatus 114 accepts input of login information, and sends the login information to the image forming apparatus 120 in step S1115. As the login information, information using a pair of a user ID and a password known so far can be used.

  In step S1103, the image forming apparatus 120 receives the login information, compares the received login information with the user database, and determines whether login is possible in step S1104. If it is determined in step S1104 that login is not possible, a dialog indicating that login is not possible is generated in step S1110, the dialog is output to the client device 114 in step S1111, and login cannot be performed on the display terminal of the client device 114 in step S1116. Display a dialog.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1104 that login is possible (yes), the file server 110 is accessed in step S1105, and the meta information corresponding to the contents shown in FIGS. Request acquisition. In step S1106, the image forming apparatus 120 acquires the requested content from the file server 110, and updates the file server information in step S1107.

  In step S1108, the image forming apparatus 120 generates HTML or the like for displaying the acquired information from the file server 110, and writes the HTML generated in step S1109 as a standard output, so that the main screen is displayed in step S1117. Browser software such as Internet Explorer (registered trademark), Mozilla (registered trademark), Opera (registered trademark), FireFox (registered trademark), Chrome (registered trademark), Netscape Navigator (registered trademark) on the desktop screen of the device 114 Is displayed.

  Through the above processing, the client device 114 can monitor the status of the distribution data by causing the image forming device 120 to function as a web server without directly accessing the file server 110.

  FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of a login screen displayed in step S1102 by the image forming apparatus 120 in the present embodiment. For example, the image forming apparatus 120 uses a CGI program described in a script language such as Perl to 12 is displayed by the browser software of the client apparatus 114 on the login screen shown in FIG. In this case, the login screen 1200 functions as a form, and sends the values input in the input fields 1202 and 1204 to the image forming apparatus 120 in response to a click on the display button 1206 as variables u_name and pass, for example. Authentication in the forming apparatus 120 is performed. If the user wants to cancel the process, the user can stop the entire process by clicking a cancel button 1208.

  FIG. 13 shows a data structure used for login authentication processing of the image forming apparatus 120. The image forming apparatus 120 manages a user database 1300 in which a user ID and a password are associated with each other in order to perform user authentication. Specifically, a user ID is stored in a field of column name = username of the user database. A registered password associated with the user ID is registered in the column name = password field. The image forming apparatus 120 acquires u_name and pass variables from the form shown in FIG. 12, searches the user database 1310 shown in FIG. 13, and the user ID input in the user name that is the input field of FIG. 13. And verify the integrity of the password entered in the password field. As a result, if verified, the main screen display shown in FIG. 14 is given through the processing of steps S1105 to S1109.

  On the other hand, if the verification fails, the dialog generated in step S1110 is displayed on the display screen of the client device 114 as the dialog 1330. The dialog 1330 is created in advance using, for example, various tags and CSS in a structured document such as HTML, and when authentication fails, the HTML is sent to the client device 114 to the client device 114 by CGI. Can be displayed on the client device 114.

  FIG. 14 is an embodiment of a main screen 1400 displayed when the image forming apparatus 120 succeeds in user authentication in the process of FIG. In FIG. 14, for example, the URL assigned to the image forming apparatus 120 is displayed in the field 1410. Further, in the history designation button 1450, the “renamed document” is selected, and the image forming apparatus 120 is associated with the user ID acquired by the synchronization processing with the file server 110. The distribution data in which the corresponding flag of the distribution data table 400 is set to true is read, the document name is in the box 1420, the file format is in the box 1430, the file size is in the box 1440, and the meta information is in the box 1420. ˜1440 is displayed as a list.

  For example, the document name shown in FIG. 14 is attached with, for example, a link tag, and the user only clicks, for example, the document name = “ABCD” on the desktop screen to indicate the specified distribution data 1460. In this way, the client can be configured to download.

  In the initial display screen, a document that has been distributed by the logged-in user is displayed in the display view. When data is distributed to a plurality of file servers, the data is also displayed on the same page. In addition, when login processing is performed with a preset administrator's user ID, it is possible to provide an administrator mode in which documents distributed by all users can be viewed.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, a document management system, a document management method, and a program capable of easily and efficiently managing an electronic document scanned and distributed from an image forming apparatus. Can be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming system 102 Network 110 File server 114 Client device 116 Interface 120 Image forming apparatus 200 Image reading device 210 Image reading unit 212 Operation panel I / F unit 214 Control unit 216 Main storage unit 218 Auxiliary storage unit 220 External storage device I / F Unit 222 Network I / F Unit 300 Function Block 310 Distribution Information Creation Unit 312 Distribution Information Holding Unit 314 Distribution Destination Holding Unit 316 Distribution Destination Setting Unit 318 Operation Accepting Unit 320 Reading Condition Setting Unit 322 Reading Execution Unit 324 Data Creation Unit 326 Data Holding Unit 328 Data transmission / reception unit 330 Data display unit 332 Reading condition holding unit 400 Distribution data table 410 Distribution data identification value 412 Distribution destination IP address 414 Distribution destination folder 416 Distribution data name 418 File format 420 File size 422 User name 424 Password 426 Delete / move flag 428 Rename flag 430 Update flag 500 Distribution data table 526 Delete / move flag 528 Rename flag 530 Update flag

JP 2006-324918 A

Claims (9)

An image forming apparatus connected to a network and provided with an image reading apparatus for reading a document, wherein the image forming apparatus includes:
Information holding means for storing an update history added via the network to the distribution data created by the image reading device reading the document;
Monitoring means for monitoring a file server storing the distribution data via the network;
A determination unit for determining a difference between the file server and the same distribution data stored in the image forming apparatus obtained by the monitoring unit;
Synchronization means for updating and synchronizing a distribution data table in which meta information of distribution data managed by the image forming apparatus is registered with a value managed by the file server;
Data creation means for providing a structured document including the update history to the client device as a structured document in response to a request from the client device connected to the network, and the image forming apparatus includes: In response to a request, the image forming apparatus presents the update history of the distribution data created by the image forming apparatus to the client apparatus as the structured document in association with the content of the update. A document management system including an image forming apparatus provided with an image reading apparatus that is connected to a network and reads an original,
A file server connected to the network and storing electronic data generated by the image forming apparatus as distribution data;
A client device connected to the network and inquiring of the update history of the distribution data via the network to the image forming device;
The image forming apparatus includes:
Information holding means for storing the update history added via the network to the distribution data created by the image reading device reading the document;
Monitoring means for monitoring a file server storing the distribution data via the network;
A determination unit for determining a difference between the file server and the same distribution data stored in the image forming apparatus obtained by the monitoring unit;
Synchronization means for updating and synchronizing a distribution data table in which meta information of distribution data managed by the image forming apparatus is registered with a value managed by the file server;
Data creation means for providing a structured document including the update history to the client device as a structured document in response to a request from the client device connected to the network, and the image forming apparatus includes: A document management system that presents the update history of the distribution data created by the image forming apparatus to the client apparatus as the structured document in association with the contents of the update in response to a request.   The meta information is a distribution data ID, a distribution destination IP address, a distribution destination folder, a document name, a transmission format, a file size, a user name, a password, deletion / movement history information, rename history information, and update history information. 2. The document management system according to 2.   The document management system according to claim 2, wherein the monitoring unit determines the difference between a distribution destination IP address, a distribution destination folder, a user name, a password, and an update date. A document management method executed by an image forming apparatus that is connected to a network and includes an image reading apparatus that reads an original,
Storing electronic data generated by the image forming apparatus connected to the network as distribution data in a file server;
Monitoring a file server storing the delivery data via the network;
Determining the difference between meta information related to the same delivery data stored in the file server and the image forming apparatus obtained by the monitoring;
Updating an update history including a history added via the network for the delivery data in response to the difference in the meta information to a value managed by the file server, and synchronizing,
Providing a structured document including the update history to the client device as a structured document in response to a request from a client device connected to the network;
The document management method, wherein, in response to a request from the client device, the image forming device presents the update history of the distribution data created by the image forming device to the client device in association with update contents. A device-executable program for a document management method executed by a device connected to a network, the program comprising:
Information holding means for storing an update history added to the distribution data created from the manuscript via the network;
Monitoring means for monitoring a file server that stores the distribution data via the network;
Determining means for determining the difference between the file server and the same distribution data stored in the device, obtained by the monitoring means;
Synchronizing means for updating and synchronizing a distribution data table in which meta information of distribution data managed by the device is registered with a value managed by the file server,
In response to a request from a client device connected to the network, the structured document including the update history is provided as a structured document to the client device as a structured document, and the program responds to a request from the client device. In response, a program for presenting the update history of the distribution data to the client device as the structured document in association with the content of the update.   The meta information is a distribution data ID, a distribution destination IP address, a distribution destination folder, a document name, a transmission format, a file size, a user name, a password, deletion / movement history information, rename history information, and update history information. 6. The program according to 6.   The program according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the monitoring unit determines the difference between a distribution destination IP address, a distribution destination folder, a user name, a password, and an update date and time.   The program according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the monitoring unit is called to the file server periodically or at a timing when user authentication succeeds for an access request from the client device.