JP2015076698A - Image processor and image formation apparatus, and image reader and image formation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor and an image formation apparatus, and an image reader and an image formation system that can be used immediately in any environment and can shorten the character string of a URL while suppressing the costs on a user side.SOLUTION: An image processor and an image formation apparatus, and an image reader and an image formation system include: image data acquisition means of acquiring image data; character string recognition means of recognizing a character string in the image data acquired by the image data acquisition means; URL determination means of determining whether the character string recognized by the character string recognition means includes a URL specifying a resource on the Internet; URL extraction means of extracting the URL determined by the URL determination means from the character string; and shortened URL acquisition means of acquiring a shortened URL of the URL extracted by the URL extraction means.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus (in particular, an image processing apparatus applied to an image forming apparatus and an image reading apparatus such as a copying machine, a multifunction peripheral, and a printer), an image forming apparatus, an image reading apparatus, and an image forming system.

  In general, resources provided on the Internet are resources on the Internet with respect to an input unit of a terminal device in a web browser of a terminal device (for example, a computer terminal device such as a personal computer or a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone). It is specified by inputting a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for specifying. Here, the resource refers to information resources such as data and services on the Internet, and a typical example is a web page.

  Regarding such a URL, when a user inputs a URL (for example, a URL included in a printed matter) to the input unit of the terminal device, if the number of characters in the URL character string increases, the input to the input unit of the terminal device is complicated. As a result, the labor required for the input work increases accordingly. In recent years, a Twitter service, which is an information service that can post short sentences called “tweets”, has become widespread. In such a Twitter service, since the number of posted characters is limited, if the number of characters in the URL character string is large, the number of characters in the posted sentence is consumed. These are particularly noticeable when the URL directory hierarchy and / or domain hierarchy is deep.

  In this regard, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a URL is extracted, converted into a two-dimensional barcode such as a QR (Quick Response) code (registered trademark), and printed. The QR code (registered trademark) disclosed in Patent Document 1 can be read by a feature phone with a camera or a smartphone, and can include information other than URL information.

JP 2009-141772 A

  However, in the conventional configuration using a two-dimensional barcode such as the QR code (registered trademark) disclosed in Patent Document 1, dedicated application software is required to read the two-dimensional barcode. Not immediately available below. In general, low-priced terminal devices are often not provided with a reading device such as a camera, and a two-dimensional barcode cannot be used unless a reading device is provided. For this reason, if a reading device is attached to an expensive terminal device provided with a reading device or an inexpensive terminal device not provided with a reading device, the cost on the user side increases accordingly.

  Therefore, the present invention can be used immediately in any environment, and can reduce the URL character string while reducing the cost on the user side, an image processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and an image An object is to provide a reading device and an image forming system.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides the following image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, image reading apparatus, and image forming system.

(1) Image processing apparatus Image data acquisition means for acquiring image data, character string recognition means for recognizing a character string in the image data acquired by the image data acquisition means, and recognition by the character string recognition means URL discriminating means for discriminating whether or not a character string includes a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for identifying a resource on the Internet, and extracting the URL discriminated by the URL discriminating means from the character string. An image processing apparatus comprising: a URL extracting unit; and a shortened URL acquiring unit that acquires a shortened URL obtained by shortening the URL extracted by the URL extracting unit.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention further includes an image data generation unit that generates image data including the shortened URL by replacing the URL with the shortened URL in the image data acquired by the image data acquiring unit. It can be illustrated.

  In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, image data for generating image data including the URL and the shortened URL by arranging the shortened URL in the vicinity of the URL in the image data acquired by the image data acquiring unit. An aspect further comprising a generating means can be exemplified.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention may further include resource determination means for determining whether or not a resource corresponding to the URL on the Internet may be a harmful resource.

  In the aspect including the resource determination unit, the image data generation unit replaces the URL with the shortened URL and generates the image data including the shortened URL. The resource corresponding to the URL is the resource determination unit. If it is determined that there is a possibility that the resource is harmful, the information corresponding to the possibility that the resource corresponding to the URL may be a harmful resource is juxtaposed in the vicinity of the shortened URL, Or the aspect which deletes the said shortened URL can be illustrated.

  In the aspect including the resource determination unit, the image data generation unit may generate the image data including the URL and the shortened URL by arranging the shortened URL in the vicinity of the URL. If the resource determination unit determines that there is a possibility that the resource corresponding to is a harmful resource, the resource corresponding to the URL may be a harmful resource in the vicinity of the URL or the shortened URL The information which shows that there exists can be arranged in parallel, or the aspect which deletes the said URL and the said shortened URL can be illustrated.

  In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the image data generation means, when at least one of the shortened URL and the URL contains a predetermined character, determines at least one of the predetermined URL. A mode of replacing with the font can be illustrated.

  In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the image data generation means, when the top of the URL is in the middle of a line, breaks the URL at the top, or / and the end of the URL is a line. When the URL is in the middle of the URL, the URL may be broken at the end.

  In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the image data generating means can exemplify a mode of modifying the URL when the URL is in the middle of a sentence.

(2) Image forming apparatus The image processing apparatus according to the present invention, a communication unit that communicates with an external device, an image reading unit that reads the image data, and the image data captured by the communication unit, or An image forming unit that forms an image based on the image data read by the image reading unit, and the image data acquisition means is the image data acquired by the communication unit or the image reading unit. An image forming apparatus for acquiring the read image data, wherein the image forming unit forms an image in the image forming unit.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the shortened URL acquisition unit is an external URL shortening service which is an external (for example, external) service that converts the URL extracted by the URL extracting unit into the shortened URL. A mode in which the shortened URL converted by the external URL shortening service server is acquired from the external URL shortening service server can be exemplified.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, a shortened URL storage unit that stores the URL in association with the shortened URL, and registers the URL in the shortened URL storage unit in association with the shortened URL unique to the URL. A shortened URL registering means; and a shortened URL converting means for converting the URL into the shortened URL, wherein the shortened URL acquiring means transmits the URL extracted by the URL extracting means to the shortened URL converting means. An example of acquiring the shortened URL converted by the shortened URL converting means from the shortened URL converting means can be exemplified.

(3) Image reading device The image processing device according to the present invention, an image reading unit that reads the image data, and an image output unit that outputs an image based on the image data read by the image reading unit. The image data acquisition means is an image reading apparatus for acquiring the image data read by the image reading section, and the image output section generates the image data generated by the image data generation means as an external device. An image reading apparatus, wherein the image reading apparatus is stored in a file or stored as predetermined file data.

  In the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the shortened URL acquiring unit is an external URL shortening service which is an external (for example, external) service for converting the URL extracted by the URL extracting unit into the shortened URL. A mode in which the shortened URL converted by the external URL shortening service server is acquired from the external URL shortening service server can be exemplified.

  In the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, a shortened URL storage unit that stores the URL in association with the shortened URL, and registers the URL in the shortened URL storage unit in association with the shortened URL unique to the URL. A shortened URL registering means; and a shortened URL converting means for converting the URL into the shortened URL, wherein the shortened URL acquiring means transmits the URL extracted by the URL extracting means to the shortened URL converting means. An example of acquiring the shortened URL converted by the shortened URL converting means from the shortened URL converting means can be exemplified.

  (4) Image forming system.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention, a shortened URL storage unit that stores the URL in association with the shortened URL, and the URL is registered in the shortened URL storage unit in association with the shortened URL unique to the URL. A server for providing an internal URL shortening service, which is an internal (for example, in-house) service for converting the URL into the shortened URL, comprising a shortened URL registering means and a shortened URL converting means for converting the URL into the shortened URL; An internal URL shortening service server, and the shortened URL acquiring means transmits the URL extracted by the URL extracting means to the shortened URL converting means in the internal URL shortening service server and sends it to the shortened URL converting means. The shortened URL converted in this way is acquired from the shortened URL converting means. Forming system.

  In the image forming system according to the present invention, the internal URL shortening service server may be configured such that an expiration date of the shortened URL can be set when the shortened URL is registered.

  As described above, when the shortened URL is registered, the expiration date of the shortened URL can be set. When the URL is replaced with the shortened URL, the image data generating unit The shortened URL and the image data including the valid period may be generated near the URL, and when the shortened URL is aligned near the URL, the URL or The image data including the URL, the shortened URL, and the expiration date may be generated by arranging the expiration date in the vicinity of the shortened URL.

  According to the present invention, the URL can be used immediately under any environment, and the URL character string can be shortened while the cost on the user side is kept low.

It is a block diagram which shows roughly the system configuration which comprises 1st Embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a control configuration of an image processing apparatus in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a process of image data processed by the image processing apparatus in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the example of control of 1st Embodiment by an image processing apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows roughly the system configuration which comprises 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a process of image data processed by the image processing apparatus in the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 5. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the example of control of 2nd Embodiment by an image processing apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows roughly the system configuration which comprises 3rd Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the control structure of the control apparatus in the image forming apparatus and image reading apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a process of image data processed by the image processing apparatus in the image forming apparatus or the image reading apparatus illustrated in FIG. 8. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the example of control of 3rd Embodiment by an image processing apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows roughly the system configuration which comprises 4th Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the control structure of the internal URL shortening service server in the image forming system shown in FIG. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a process of image data processed by the image processing apparatus in the image forming apparatus or the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 12. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the control example of 4th Embodiment by an image processing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating an example of URL and shortened URL before and after a process of 5th Embodiment. In 1st Embodiment-5th Embodiment, it is a schematic block diagram which shows the control structure which comprises 6th Embodiment of the image processing apparatus in an image forming apparatus. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the example of a display of the message produced | generated by the image data production | generation means of 6th Embodiment. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a display example displayed by an image data generation unit having a control configuration constituting the seventh embodiment of the image processing apparatus in the image forming apparatus in the first to sixth embodiments. FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a display example displayed by an image data generation unit having a control configuration constituting an eighth embodiment of an image processing apparatus in an image forming apparatus in the fifth to seventh embodiments. FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a display example displayed by an image data generation unit having a control configuration that constitutes a ninth embodiment of an image processing apparatus in an image forming apparatus in the fifth to seventh embodiments. FIG. 20 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a control configuration constituting the tenth embodiment of an internal URL shortening service server in the image forming system in the fourth embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the example of a display of the message produced | generated by the image data production | generation means of 10th Embodiment.

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

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a system configuration constituting the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a control configuration of the image processing apparatus 112 in the image forming apparatus 110 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a process of image data processed by the image processing apparatus 112 in the image forming apparatus 110 shown in FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 110 communicates with a terminal device 150 (for example, a computer terminal device 150a such as a personal computer or a portable terminal device 150b such as a smartphone) and the external URL shortening service server 300 via the Internet 140. The terminal device 150 communicates with a plurality of resources R to R such as a web page via the Internet 140. In FIG. 1, one image forming apparatus 110, one computer terminal apparatus 150a, and one portable terminal apparatus 150b are shown. However, a plurality of image forming apparatuses 110, computer terminal apparatuses 150a, and portable terminal apparatuses 150b are provided. It is good. Further, the image forming apparatus 110 may be connected to the Internet 140 via an intranet 420 (see FIG. 12) as in a fourth embodiment to be described later.

  The image forming apparatus 110 includes an image processing apparatus 112 that processes image data, a communication unit 117 that communicates with an external device (for example, another image forming apparatus or the terminal device 150), an image reading unit 116 that reads image data, and an external device. An image forming unit 113 that forms an image based on image data captured by the communication unit 117 from the apparatus or image data read by the image reading unit 116 is provided.

  The image processing apparatus 112 includes a processing unit 112a (see FIG. 2) such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a nonvolatile memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a writable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, and a RAM (Random And a storage unit 112b (see FIG. 2) including a volatile memory such as an access memory. The storage unit 112b provides a work memory for the processing unit 112a.

  The processing unit 112a in the image processing apparatus 112 includes an image data acquisition unit P1 that acquires image data, a character string recognition unit P2 that recognizes a character string in the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit P1, and a character string recognition unit. The URL discriminating means P3 for discriminating whether or not the character string recognized in P2 includes the URL 10a for specifying the resource R on the Internet 140, and the URL 10a discriminated by the URL discriminating means P3 are extracted from the character string. URL extracting means P4 for performing the processing, and shortened URL acquiring means P5 for acquiring the shortened URL 10b obtained by shortening the URL 10a extracted by the URL extracting means P4.

  In the present embodiment, the image data acquisition unit P1 acquires image data captured by the communication unit 117 from an external device or image data read by the image reading unit 116.

  In the present embodiment, the shortened URL acquisition unit P5 provides an external URL shortening service that is an external (in this example, external) service that converts the URL 10a extracted by the URL extracting unit P4 into the shortened URL 10b. The shortened URL 10b that is transmitted to the external URL shortening service server 300 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) and converted by the external URL shortening service server 300 is acquired from the external URL shortening service server 300. .

  In the present embodiment, the processing unit 112a further includes an image data generation unit P6 that generates image data including the shortened URL 10b by replacing the URL 10a with the shortened URL 10b in the image data acquired by the image data acquiring unit P1. It is said that.

  The image forming apparatus 110 forms (prints) the image data generated by the image data generating unit P6 in the processing unit 112a of the image processing apparatus 112 in the image forming unit 113.

  Specifically, the image forming apparatus 110 further includes an operation unit 115 and a control device 118 (see FIG. 1).

  The operation unit 115 includes an input unit 111 and a display unit 114. The operation unit 115 is configured to receive various setting information of the entire apparatus and input information for operating each function at the input unit 111, and the input content and the operation status of the entire apparatus are displayed at the display unit 114. It is displayed.

  The control device 118 includes a processing unit 118a such as a CPU, and a storage unit 118b including a non-volatile memory such as a ROM, a writable non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, and a volatile memory such as a RAM.

  In the image forming apparatus 110, the processing unit 118 a of the control device 118 controls various components by loading a control program stored in advance in the ROM of the storage unit 118 b onto the RAM of the storage unit 118 b and executing it. It has become. The nonvolatile memory in the storage unit 118b stores various system information such as operation parameters and setting data of the image forming apparatus 110.

  Any image forming unit 113 may be used as long as it can print output information. Here, the image forming unit 113 is a laser printer unit that performs image formation by an electrophotographic method. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, the image forming unit 113 may be an ink jet printer unit or a sublimation type (thermal transfer type) printer unit.

  The image reading unit 116 reads an image of a document placed on a document table or an image of a document conveyed by an automatic document conveyance device and inputs image data. The image forming unit 113 performs print processing on the image data input from the image reading unit 116 or the image data input from an external device via the communication unit 117. The communication unit 117 communicates with the external URL shortening service server 300 and the terminal device 150 via the Internet 140. The control device 118 controls the image processing device 112, the image forming unit 113, the operation unit 115, the image reading unit 116, and the communication unit 117.

  The image forming apparatus 110 may be, for example, a digital multifunction machine that serves as a scanner, a copier, a facsimile machine, and a printer. The image forming apparatus 110 is not limited to a multifunction machine, and may be an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile machine.

  The terminal device 150 (for example, the computer terminal device 150a or the mobile terminal device 150b) includes a communication unit 151, a terminal control unit 152, an input unit 153, and a display unit 154. The communication unit 151 communicates with the image forming apparatus 110 and the resources R to R via the Internet 140. The terminal control unit 152 controls the communication unit 151, the input unit 153, and the display unit 154. The input unit 153 receives input information by a user input operation. The display unit 154 displays various display information.

  The external URL shortening service server 300 provides an external URL shortening service operated by a third party. As shown in FIG. 3, the URL 10a (in this example, “http://abcdefghijklmn.com/aabbccde/aIb0cl/ 1O.html ") is registered in association with the short URL 10b (" http: //XXX.YY/1WlOI0D "in this example) unique to the URL 10a. Also, the external URL shortening service server 300 is configured to convert the URL 10a associated with the shortened URL 10b into the shortened URL 10b. When the external URL shortening service server 300 receives the shortened URL 10b input from the terminal device 150 and sent from the terminal device 150, the external URL shortening service server 300 performs a service of redirecting (transferring) to the resource R of the URL 10a corresponding to the shortened URL 10b. It has become.

  Specifically, the external URL shortening service server 300 is configured to be accessible with a domain name that is as short as possible (for example, about 3 characters). A form describing the transfer destination URL 10a is created, and when the URL 10a is received, in order to register the URL 10a in association with the unique shortened URL 10b, an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) redirection function is used. Create a script that adds the line "Redirect permanent" to the file data. Then, when the external URL shortening service server 300 converts the URL 10a from the terminal device 150 into the shortened URL 10b and receives the shortened URL 10b from the terminal device 150, the access from the terminal device 150 is transferred to the resource R of the URL 10a corresponding to the shortened URL 10b. Redirect (forward). Here, the shortened URL 10b is converted randomly from the URL 10a, but an input of a desired shortened URL may be accepted.

  For example, the domain name of the external URL shortening service server 300 is “XXX.YY”, and the URL 10a of “http://abcdefghijklmn.com/aabbccde/aIb0cl/1O.html” is “http: //XXX.YY/1WlOI0D”. In the case of registration in association with the shortened URL 10b, when the HTTP redirect function receives the shortened URL 10b of “http: //XXX.YY/1WlOI0D”, “http://abcdefghijklmn.com/aabbccde/aIb0cl/1O.html” A command to redirect (transfer) to is described in the setting file data of the external URL shortening service server 300.

  Specifically, it is described as follows in the setting file data of “.htaccess”.

Redirect permanent / “short URL” “URL”
That is,
Redirect permanent / 1WlOI0D http://abcdefghijklmn.com/aabbccde/aIb0cl/1O.html
Next, a control example of the first embodiment controlled by the image processing apparatus 112 in the image forming apparatus 110 will be described below.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in the control example of the first embodiment by the image processing apparatus 112.

  In the control example of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4, first, the processing unit 112 a is image data read by the image reading unit 116 of the image forming apparatus 110 or image data captured from an external device via the communication unit 117. (Step S101), and the character string is recognized in the bitmap data in the image data acquired in step S101 (step S102). Here, the recognition of the character string can be performed by a conventionally known method, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  Next, the processing unit 112a determines whether or not a URL is included in the character string recognized in step S102 (step S103). If the processing unit 112a determines that a URL is included (step S103: Yes). , URL 10a ("http://abcdefghijklmn.com/aabbccde/aIb0cl/1O.html" in this example) is extracted from the character string recognized in step S102 (step S104). Here, the URL 10a is extracted by, for example, recognizing “http: //” at the beginning and “.htm”, “.html”, “/” or “characters other than alphanumeric characters” at the end. It can be done by recognizing.

  Next, the processing unit 112a accesses the website (in this example, “http: //XXX.YY”) of the external URL shortening service server 300, and the URL 10a extracted in step S104 (this URL) In this example, “http://abcdefghijklmn.com/aabbccde/aIb0cl/1O.html”) is transmitted (step S105).

  In the external URL shortening service server 300, the URL 10a (in this example, “http://abcdefghijklmn.com/aabbccde/aIb0cl/1O.html”) transmitted in step S105 is shortened to the shortened URL 10b (in this example, “http: // XXX. YY / 1WlOI0D ") (step S106), and the shortened URL 10b converted in step S106 is returned to the image forming apparatus 110.

  Next, in the image forming apparatus 110, the processing unit 112 a converts the shortened URL 10 b (“http: // in this example) sent from the external URL shortening service server 300 after being converted in step S 106 by the external URL shortening service server 300. XXX.YY / 1WlOI0D ") (step S107) and the shortened URL 10b (in this example" http://abcdefghijklmn.com/aabbccde/aIb0cl/1O.html ") received in step S107 (in this example) The image data including the shortened URL 10b (in this example, “http: //XXX.YY/1WlOI0D”) is generated in place of “http: //XXX.YY/1WlOI0D” (step S108).

  Next, the processing unit 112a prints the image data generated in step S108 on a recording sheet such as a recording sheet in the image forming unit 113 (step S109), and ends the processing operation.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S103 that the URL is not included (step S103: No), the image data acquired in step S101 is directly printed on the recording sheet by the image forming unit 113 (step S110). The processing operation is terminated.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing a system configuration constituting the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a process of image data processed by the image processing device 112 in the image reading device 120 shown in FIG.

  In the second embodiment, components that are substantially the same as the components of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and hereinafter, differences from the first embodiment are mainly described. .

  The image reading device 120 communicates with the terminal device 150 and the external URL shortening service server 300 via the Internet 140. In FIG. 5, the image reading device 120 and the terminal device 150 are each shown as a single unit, but the image reading device 120 and the terminal device 150 may each be a plurality of units. Further, the image reading apparatus 120 may be connected to the Internet 140 via the intranet 420 (see FIG. 12) as in the fourth embodiment.

  The image reading device 120 includes an image processing device 112, a communication unit 117, an image reading unit 116, and an image output unit 119 that outputs an image based on image data read by the image reading unit 116.

  The processing unit 112a in the image processing apparatus 112 has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the image data acquisition unit P1, the character string recognition unit P2, the URL determination unit P3, A URL extracting unit P4 and a shortened URL acquiring unit P5 are provided.

  In the present embodiment, the image data acquisition unit P1 acquires image data read by the image reading unit 116.

  In the present embodiment, the shortened URL obtaining unit P5 transmits the URL 10a extracted by the URL extracting unit P4 to the external URL shortening service server 300 (see FIGS. 5 and 6), and the external URL shortening service server 300. The abbreviated URL 10b converted in the above is acquired from the external URL abbreviated service server 300.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the processing unit 112a is configured to further include image data generation means P6 that generates the image data including the shortened URL 10b by replacing the URL 10a with the shortened URL 10b.

  Then, the image reading device 120 transfers the image data generated by the image data generation means P6 in the processing unit 112a of the image processing device 112 to the external device by the image output unit 119 or stores it as predetermined file data. It has become.

  Next, a control example of the second embodiment controlled by the image processing apparatus 112 in the image reading apparatus 120 will be described below.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the control example of the second embodiment by the image processing apparatus 112.

  In the control example of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7, steps S101 to S108 perform the same processing as steps S101 to S108 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  After the processing in step S108, the processing unit 112a transfers the image data generated in step S108 to an external device (for example, the image forming device or the terminal device 150) by the image output unit 119, or predetermined file data ( For example, it is stored in the storage unit 112b (see FIG. 2) as a PDF (registered trademark) file (step S209), and the processing operation is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S103 that the URL is not included (step S103: No), the image data acquired in step S101 is directly used by the image output unit 119 as an external device (for example, an image forming device or a terminal device). 150) or stored in the storage unit 112b as predetermined file data (for example, PDF (registered trademark) file) (step S210), and the processing operation is terminated.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically showing a system configuration constituting the third embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a control configuration of the control device 118 in the image forming apparatus 110 and the image reading apparatus 120 shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the process of image data processed by the image processing apparatus 112 in the image forming apparatus 110 or the image reading apparatus 120 shown in FIG.

  In the third embodiment, substantially the same components as those in the first embodiment and the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, the description thereof is omitted, and the first embodiment and the second embodiment are hereinafter described. The description will focus on the differences from the form.

  The image forming apparatus 110 and the image reading apparatus 120 communicate with the terminal device 150 via the Internet 140. In FIG. 8, the image forming apparatus 110, the image reading apparatus 120, and the terminal apparatus 150 are each shown as a single unit, but the image forming apparatus 110, the image reading apparatus 120, and the terminal apparatus 150 may each be a plurality of units. Good. Further, the image forming apparatus 110 and the image reading apparatus 120 may be in a stand-alone state, and are not necessarily connected to the Internet 140.

  The processing unit 112a in the image processing apparatus 112 has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment or the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the image data acquisition unit P1, the character string recognition unit P2, and the URL The determination unit P3, the URL extraction unit P4, and the shortened URL acquisition unit P5 are provided.

  In the present embodiment, in the case of the image forming apparatus 110, the image data acquisition unit P1 acquires image data captured by the communication unit 117 from an external device or image data read by the image reading unit 116. In the case of the image reading device 120, the image data read by the image reading unit 116 is acquired.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the shortened URL acquisition unit P5 transmits the URL 10a extracted by the URL extraction unit P4 to the control device 118 including the shortened URL conversion unit P12 (see FIG. 9) that converts the URL 10a into the shortened URL 10b. Thus, the shortened URL 10b converted by the shortened URL converting means P12 is acquired from the control device 118.

  The control device 118 registers the URL 10a in association with the URL 10a that is unique to the shortened URL 10b. In addition, the control device 118 converts the URL 10a associated with the shortened URL 10b into the shortened URL 10b.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the storage unit 118b in the control device 118 has a shortened URL storage unit M11 that stores the URL 10a in association with the shortened URL 10b.

  The processing unit 118a in the control device 118 associates the URL 10a with the shortened URL 10b unique to the URL 10a and registers it in the shortened URL storage unit M11, and the shortened URL conversion unit P12 converts the URL 10a into the shortened URL 10b. It is set as the structure provided with.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the shortened URL acquisition means P5 (see FIG. 2) uses the URL 118a extracted by the URL extraction means P4 (see FIG. 2) in the image forming apparatus 110 and the image reading apparatus 120 as shown in FIG. 9), the shortened URL conversion means P12 transmits the shortened URL 10b converted by the shortened URL conversion means P12.

  Note that the specific description of the HTTP redirect function of the control device 118 is the same as that of the external URL shortening service server 300 of the first and second embodiments, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  In the present embodiment, the processing unit 112a further includes image data generation means P6 (see FIG. 2) that generates the image data including the shortened URL 10b by replacing the URL 10a with the shortened URL 10b.

  The image forming apparatus 110 forms (prints) the image data generated by the image data generating unit P6 in the processing unit 112a of the image processing apparatus 112 in the image forming unit 113, and the image reading apparatus The image data 120 generated by the image data generation means P6 in the processing unit 112a of the image processing device 112 is transferred to an external device by the image output unit 119 or stored as predetermined file data.

  Next, a control example of the third embodiment controlled by the image processing apparatus 112 in the image forming apparatus 110 and the image reading apparatus 120 will be described below.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the control example of the third embodiment by the image processing apparatus 112.

  In the control example of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 11, steps S101 to S104 and steps S108 to S110 are the same as steps S101 to S104, steps S108 to S110 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Processing similar to steps S101 to S104, steps S108, and S209 to S210 of the embodiment is performed.

  After the process of step S104, the processing unit 112a sends the URL 10a extracted in step S104 to the control device 118 (in this example, “http://abcdefghijklmn.com/aabbccde/aIb0cl/1O.html”). Transmit (step S305).

  Next, in the control device 118, the processing unit 118a (see FIG. 9) converts the URL 10a transmitted in step S305 (in this example, “http://abcdefghijklmn.com/aabbccde/aIb0cl/1O.html”) into a shortened URL 10b ( In this example, it is converted to “http: //XXX.YY/1WlOI0D” (step S306), and the shortened URL 10b converted in step S306 is returned to the image processing apparatus 112.

  Next, the processing unit 112a (see FIG. 2) converts the shortened URL 10b (in this example, “http: //XXX.YY/1WlOI0D”) converted from the control device 118 in step S306 and sent from the control device 118. Is received (step S307).

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 12 is a block diagram schematically showing a system configuration constituting the fourth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a control configuration of the internal URL shortening service server 410 in the image forming system 100 shown in FIG. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a process of processing image data processed by the image processing apparatus 112 in the image forming apparatus 110 or the image reading apparatus 120 shown in FIG.

  In the fourth embodiment, substantially the same components as those in the first embodiment and the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, the description thereof is omitted, and the first embodiment and the second embodiment are hereinafter described. The description will focus on the differences from the form.

  An image forming system 100 shown in FIG. 12 includes an image forming apparatus 110 and an image reading apparatus 120, an internal URL shortening service server 410, and an intranet 420 such as a wireless or wired LAN (Local Area Network).

  The image forming apparatus 110 and the image reading apparatus 120 communicate with a terminal device 150 (for example, a computer terminal device 150a or a portable terminal device 150b) via an intranet 420 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) and the Internet 140. Yes. Further, the image forming apparatus 110 and the image reading apparatus 120 communicate with the internal URL shortening service server 410 via the intranet 420. In FIG. 12, the image forming apparatus 110, the image reading apparatus 120, and the terminal apparatus 150 are each shown as a single unit. However, the image forming apparatus 110, the image reading apparatus 120, and the terminal apparatus 150 may each be a plurality of units. Good. Further, the image forming apparatus 110, the image reading apparatus 120, the internal URL shortening service server 410, and the intranet 420 are provided in the company, in the department, or on the premises (in this example, the company 400). In addition, any network configuration may be used for the intranet. For example, a wired network configuration may be a bus network configuration or a ring network configuration. Further, the image forming apparatus 110 and the image reading apparatus 120 may be connected only to the intranet 420, and may not necessarily be connected to the Internet 140.

  The processing unit 112a in the image processing apparatus 112 has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment or the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the image data acquisition unit P1, the character string recognition unit P2, and the URL The determination unit P3, the URL extraction unit P4, and the shortened URL acquisition unit P5 are provided.

  In the present embodiment, in the case of the image forming apparatus 110, the image data acquisition unit P1 acquires image data captured by the communication unit 117 from an external device or image data read by the image reading unit 116. In the case of the image reading device 120, the image data read by the image reading unit 116 is acquired.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the shortened URL acquisition unit P5 performs an internal URL shortening service that is an internal (in-house 400 in this example) service for converting the URL 10a extracted by the URL extracting unit P4 into the shortened URL 10b. The shortened URL 10b transmitted to the internal URL shortening service server 410 (see FIGS. 12 and 14), which is a server to be provided, and converted by the internal URL shortening service server 410 is acquired from the internal URL shortening service server 410. Yes.

  The internal URL shortening service server 410 stores the URL 10a in association with the shortened URL 10b. The internal URL shortening service server 410 converts the URL 10a associated with the shortened URL 10b into the shortened URL 10b.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the internal URL shortening service server 410 includes a processing unit 410a such as a CPU, a non-volatile memory such as a ROM, a writable non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, and a volatile memory such as a RAM. Part 410b.

  In the internal URL shortening service server 410, the processing unit 410a controls various components by loading a control program stored in advance in the ROM of the storage unit 410b onto the RAM of the storage unit 410b and executing it. Yes. The nonvolatile memory in the storage unit 410b stores various system information such as operation parameters and setting data of the internal URL shortening service server 410.

  The storage unit 410b in the internal URL shortening service server 410 has a shortened URL storage unit M21 that stores the URL 10a in association with the shortened URL 10b.

  The processing unit 410a in the internal URL shortening service server 410 associates the URL 10a with the shortened URL 10b unique to the URL 10a and registers it in the shortened URL storage unit M21, and shortened URL conversion that converts the URL 10a into the shortened URL 10b. Means P22 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the shortened URL acquisition unit P5 (see FIG. 2) uses the processing unit 410a (see FIG. 2) in the image forming apparatus 110 and the image reading apparatus 120 to extract the URL 10a extracted by the URL extraction unit P4 (see FIG. 2). 13) is obtained from the shortened URL converting means P22. The shortened URL 10b is transmitted to the shortened URL converting means P22 and converted by the shortened URL converting means P22.

  The specific description of the HTTP redirect function of the internal URL shortening service server 410 is the same as that of the external URL shortening service server 300 of the first and second embodiments, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  In the present embodiment, the processing unit 112a further includes image data generation means P6 (see FIG. 2) that generates the image data including the shortened URL 10b by replacing the URL 10a with the shortened URL 10b.

  The image forming apparatus 110 forms (prints) the image data generated by the image data generating unit P6 in the processing unit 112a of the image processing apparatus 112 in the image forming unit 113, and the image reading apparatus The image data 120 generated by the image data generation means P6 in the processing unit 112a of the image processing device 112 is transferred to an external device by the image output unit 119 or stored as predetermined file data.

  Next, a control example of the fourth embodiment controlled by the image processing apparatus 112 in the image forming apparatus 110 and the image reading apparatus 120 will be described below.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the control example of the fourth embodiment by the image processing apparatus 112.

  In the control example of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 15, steps S101 to S104 and steps S108 to S110 are the same as steps S101 to S104, steps S108 to S110 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Processing similar to steps S101 to S104, steps S108, and S209 to S210 of the embodiment is performed.

  After the processing in step S104, the processing unit 112a sends the URL 10a extracted in step S104 to the internal URL shortening service server 410 (in this example, “http://abcdefghijklmn.com/aabbccde/aIb0cl/1O.html ]) Is transmitted (step S405).

  In the internal URL shortening service server 410, the processing unit 410a (see FIG. 13) converts the URL 10a transmitted in step S405 (in this example, “http://abcdefghijklmn.com/aabbccde/aIb0cl/1O.html”) to the shortened URL 10b ( In this example, it is converted to “http: //XXX.YY/1WlOI0D” (step S406), and the shortened URL 10b converted in step S406 is returned to the image forming apparatus 110 or the image reading apparatus 120.

  Next, in the image forming apparatus 110 or the image reading apparatus 120, the processing unit 112a (see FIG. 2) is converted by the internal URL shortening service server 410 in step S406 and sent from the internal URL shortening service server 410. The URL 10b ("http: //XXX.YY/1WlOI0D" in this example) is received (step S407).

(Fifth embodiment)
FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of the URL 10a and the shortened URL 10b before and after the process according to the fifth embodiment.

  In the fifth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, in the first to fourth embodiments, the image data generation unit P6 uses the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit P1 in the vicinity of the URL 10a, specifically. Generates image data including the URL 10a and the shortened URL 10b by arranging the shortened URL 10b side by side in the adjacent row (upper or lower row, in this example, the lower row).

(Sixth embodiment)
FIG. 17 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a control configuration constituting the sixth embodiment of the image processing apparatus 112 in the image forming apparatus 110 in the first to fifth embodiments. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a display example of the message ME1 generated by the image data generation unit P6 of the sixth embodiment. FIG. 18 shows a message display by the image data generation means P6 of the sixth embodiment in the fifth embodiment.

  The image processing apparatus 112 further includes resource determination means P7 for determining whether or not the resource R corresponding to the URL 10a on the Internet 140 may be a harmful resource (for example, a highly dangerous resource such as a phishing site). It is set as the structure provided (refer FIG. 17). Here, discrimination of resources that may be harmful can be performed by creating a database in which resources that may be harmful are registered in advance.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the image data generation unit P6 shortens the resource R corresponding to the URL 10a when the resource determination unit P7 determines that there is a possibility that the resource R is a harmful resource. Information indicating that the resource R corresponding to the URL 10a may be a harmful resource is juxtaposed in the vicinity of the URL 10b, specifically, the adjacent row (upper or lower row), or the shortened URL 10b. Is deleted. In the fifth embodiment, when the image data generation unit P6 determines that the resource R corresponding to the URL 10a may be a harmful resource in the resource determination unit P7, the vicinity of the URL 10a or the shortened URL 10b. Specifically, the resource R corresponding to the URL 10a may be a harmful resource in the adjacent row (upper or lower row, the lower row of the URL 10a in the example of FIG. 18, the upper row of the shortened URL 10b). Information indicating that it is present (message ME1 “This website may be a harmful site” in the example of FIG. 18) is arranged in parallel, or the URL 10a and the shortened URL 10b are deleted.

(Seventh embodiment)
FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining a display example displayed by the image data generation unit P6 having a control configuration constituting the seventh embodiment of the image processing apparatus 112 in the image forming apparatus 110 in the first to sixth embodiments. It is explanatory drawing of.

  By the way, the abbreviated URL 10b and the URL 10a can use English letters and numbers. In this case, in the abbreviated URL 10b and the URL 10a, the English letter “l” (lowercase letter L) and the number “1” (first), Characters that are misleading, such as the letter “I” (uppercase eye) and the number “1” (first), the letter “O” (uppercase O), and the number “0” (zero) It is easy to cause misrecognition by (Optical Character Reader) and input mistake by the user.

  Accordingly, the image data generation means P6 uses predetermined one or more characters (in the example of FIG. 19, “l” (lowercase letter L) and “1” (first character) in at least one of the shortened URL 10b and URL 10a. , “I” (uppercase eye) and “1” (first) and “O” (uppercase O) and “0” (zero)), at least one of them is determined in advance. (In the example of FIG. 19, “Consolas” font).

  That is, in the first to sixth embodiments, the image data generation unit P6 uses the shortened URL 10b in advance when at least one of predetermined one or a plurality of characters is included in the shortened URL 10b. Replace with a predetermined font. In the fifth embodiment and the sixth embodiment, the image data generation unit P6 determines the URL 10a in advance when at least one of predetermined one or more characters is included in the URL 10a. Replace with the specified font.

  Examples of the predetermined font include fonts such as “AR DESTINE” and “Chicago” in addition to the “Consolas” font. The predetermined font may be an existing font or a font created independently. For example, an italic form may be used, but the italic form is likely to reduce the recognition accuracy of the OCR. From the viewpoint of improving the recognition accuracy of the OCR, the italic form is converted into a three-dimensional form. be able to. Also, it can be bolded so that the line is hard to disappear, “0” (zero) can be overlapped with a slash, and the upper and lower horizontal bars of “I” (eye) can be exaggerated and thickened. .

(Eighth embodiment)
FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining a display example displayed by the image data generation unit P6 having a control configuration constituting the eighth embodiment of the image processing apparatus 112 in the image forming apparatus 110 in the fifth to seventh embodiments. It is explanatory drawing of. FIG. 20 shows a display state in the case of the fifth embodiment.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 20, when the head of the URL 10a is in the middle of the line, it is difficult for the user to know where the head of the URL 10a is. When the end of the URL 10a is in the middle of the line, it is difficult for the user to understand how far the end of the URL 10a is.

  Therefore, in the fifth to seventh embodiments, when the head of the URL 10a is in the middle of the line, the image data generating means P6 replaces the URL 10a with the head portion (the head of the URL 10a and the character preceding it ( If the URL 10a ends in the middle of the line, the URL 10a is replaced with the last part (the end of the URL 10a and the next character (this) In the example, a line break occurs between “No”)).

(Ninth embodiment)
FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining a display example displayed by the image data generation unit P6 having a control configuration constituting the ninth embodiment of the image processing apparatus 112 in the image forming apparatus 110 in the fifth to seventh embodiments. It is explanatory drawing of. FIG. 21 shows a display state in the case of the fifth embodiment.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 21, when the URL 10a is in the middle of a sentence, it is difficult for the user to understand from where to where the URL 10a is.

  Therefore, in the fifth to seventh embodiments, the image data generation unit P6 modifies the URL 10a when the URL 10a is in the middle of a sentence (in this example, under-in is drawn).

  Here, whether or not the URL 10a is in the middle of a sentence can be determined by recognizing the “space” at the beginning of the sentence and the punctuation mark “.” Between the end and the beginning of the preceding and following sentences. The URL 10a may be modified as long as the URL 10a can be distinguished from other characters, for example, “shaded” or “underline”, or before or after the URL 10a. Identification information such as a predetermined “symbol” or “space” may be provided.

(10th Embodiment)
FIG. 22 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a control configuration constituting the tenth embodiment of the internal URL shortening service server 410 in the image forming system 100 in the fourth embodiment. FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a display example of the message ME2 generated by the image data generation unit P6 of the tenth embodiment. FIG. 23 shows a message display by the image data generation means P6 of the tenth embodiment when the shortened URL 10b is arranged in the vicinity of the URL 10a.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the processing unit 410a in the internal URL shortening service server 410 is configured to further include an expiration date setting unit P23 that sets an expiration date of the shortened URL 10b when the shortened URL 10b is registered.

  In the fourth embodiment, when replacing the URL 10a with the shortened URL 10b, the image data generating means P6 is the vicinity of the shortened URL 10b, specifically, the adjacent row (upper or lower row, in the example of FIG. 23). Information indicating the abbreviated URL 10b and the expiry date 10c in parallel with the expiry URL 10b (in the line above the abbreviated URL 10b) (in the example of FIG. 23, the message “The expiry date of this abbreviated URL is 2014/3/31”). When the image data including ME2) is generated and the shortened URL 10b is arranged in the vicinity of the URL 10a (the lower line in the example of FIG. 23), the vicinity of the URL 10a or the shortened URL 10b, specifically, the adjacent line ( The expiration date 10c is juxtaposed in the upper or lower row (upper row of the shortened URL 10b in the example of FIG. 23), and the expiration dates 10c of the URL 10a, the shortened URL 10b, and the shortened URL 10b are set. (In the example of FIG. 23 message ME2 of the "expiration date of this shortened URL is 2014/3/31.") To the information to generate the image data including the.

(About this embodiment)
As described above, in the first to tenth embodiments, since the shortened URL 10b obtained by shortening the URL 10a is used instead of using the two-dimensional barcode as in the conventional configuration, dedicated application software is required. So it can be used immediately in any environment. In addition, since a reading device such as a camera is not provided, the cost on the user side can be reduced accordingly. In the first to tenth embodiments, the character string is recognized in the acquired image data, whether or not the recognized character string includes the URL 10a, and the determined URL 10a is extracted from the character string. Since the shortened URL 10b obtained by shortening the extracted URL 10a is acquired, the character string of the URL 10a can be shortened. This is particularly effective when the directory hierarchy and / or domain hierarchy of the URL 10a is deep.

  As described above, according to the first to tenth embodiments, the character string of the URL 10a can be shortened while being able to be used immediately in any environment and keeping the cost on the user side low. It becomes possible.

  Moreover, in the image forming apparatus 110 according to the first embodiment, the third embodiment to the tenth embodiment, the shortened URL 10b converted from the URL 10a is formed (printed) on the recording sheet based on the URL 10a included in the printed matter. In addition, in the image reading device 120 according to the second to tenth embodiments, the shortened URL 10b converted from the URL 10a based on the URL 10a included in the printed material is used as an external device (for example, the image forming device or the terminal device 150). Or stored as file data (for example, a PDF (registered trademark) file), whereby the user can input the shortened URL 10b included in the printed material to the input unit 153 of the terminal device 150, Therefore, the input to the input unit 153 can be simplified, and the input work can be performed accordingly. It can be reduced such effort. Further, the image forming system 100 according to the fourth embodiment is an internal (for example, in-house) service that converts the URL 10a to the shortened URL 10b in an intranet 420 (for example, an in-house intranet) with a limited user or range to be accessed. An internal URL shortening service can be provided.

  In the first to fourth embodiments and the sixth to tenth embodiments, the URL 10a is replaced with the shortened URL 10b, and the image data including the shortened URL 10b is generated, so that the space in which the URL 10a is provided is saved. , And can be used for a space where the shortened URL 10b is provided, thereby simplifying the control configuration for processing the shortened URL 10b.

  In the fifth to tenth embodiments, the URL 10a corresponding to the shortened URL 10b is generated by generating the image data including the URL 10a and the shortened URL 10b by arranging the shortened URL 10b in the vicinity of the URL 10a (see FIG. 16). The user can visually recognize the URL, and thus the user can confirm what URL the shortened URL 10b is.

  In the sixth embodiment, when the image data generation unit P6 generates image data including the shortened URL 10b by replacing the URL 10a with the shortened URL 10b, the resource R corresponding to the URL 10a is a harmful resource in the resource determination unit P7. If it is determined that there is a possibility that the resource R corresponds to the resource R corresponding to the URL 10a in the vicinity of the shortened URL 10b, or the shortened URL 10b is deleted. Thus, it is possible to effectively prevent the user from accessing the resource R corresponding to the URL 10a determined to be a resource that may be harmful.

  In the sixth embodiment, when the image data generating unit P6 generates the image data including the URL 10a and the shortened URL 10b by arranging the shortened URL 10b in the vicinity of the URL 10a, the resource R corresponding to the URL 10a is the resource determining unit. If it is determined in P7 that there is a possibility of being a harmful resource, information indicating that the resource R corresponding to the URL 10a may be a harmful resource is arranged in parallel in the vicinity of the URL 10a or the shortened URL 10b (See FIG. 18) Alternatively, by deleting the URL 10a and the shortened URL 10b, it is possible to effectively prevent the user from accessing the resource R corresponding to the URL 10a determined to be a potentially harmful resource.

  In the seventh embodiment, when at least one of the shortened URL 10b and the URL 10a includes a predetermined character, replace the at least one with a predetermined font (see FIG. 19). ), Characters that are easily misrecognized by OCR, and characters that are misleading can be reliably identified, and input errors can be suppressed.

  Further, in the eighth embodiment, when the head of the URL 10a is in the middle of the line, the URL 10a can be changed to the beginning of the line by cutting the URL 10a at the head (see FIG. 20). This makes it easy for the user to understand where the URL 10a starts from. When the end of the URL 10a is in the middle of the line, the URL 10a can be changed to the end of the line by making a line break at the end (see FIG. 20). It is possible to make it easy for the user to know whether it is the end of.

  In the ninth embodiment, when the URL 10a is in the middle of a sentence, the URL 10a can be distinguished from other characters by modifying the URL 10a (see FIG. 21). It becomes possible to make it easy for the user to understand whether or not.

  In the first and second embodiments, the extracted URL 10 a is transmitted to the external URL shortening service server 300 and converted by the external URL shortening service server 300 in the image forming apparatus 110 and the image reading apparatus 120. By acquiring the shortened URL 10b from the external URL shortening service server 300 (see FIGS. 1, 3, 5, and 6), it is possible to shorten the character string of the URL 10 a using the external URL shortening service. it can.

  In the third embodiment, in the image forming apparatus 110 and the image reading apparatus 120, the extracted URL 10a is transmitted to the shortened URL converting means P12, and the shortened URL 10b converted by the shortened URL converting means P12 is shortened to the shortened URL converting means P12. (See FIG. 8 to FIG. 10), the internal URL shortening service can be provided on its own machine without using the internal URL shortening service server 410 of the fourth embodiment as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. Can do.

  Further, in the tenth embodiment, since the expiration date 10c of the shortened URL 10b can be set when registering the shortened URL 10b (see FIG. 22), the number of registered shortened URLs 10b can be limited. In this case, when replacing the URL 10a with the shortened URL 10b, the image data generating means P6 generates image data including the shortened URL 10b and the expiration date 10c by arranging the expiration date 10c in the vicinity of the shortened URL 10b. When the shortened URL 10b is arranged in the vicinity of the URL 10a, the expiration date 10c is arranged in the vicinity of the URL 10a or the shortened URL 10b to generate image data including the URL, the shortened URL, and the expiration date. Thus (see FIG. 23), it is possible to clearly notify the user that the shortened URL 10b cannot be accessed after the expiration date 10c.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and can be implemented in various other forms. Therefore, such an embodiment is merely an example in all respects and should not be interpreted in a limited manner. The scope of the present invention is shown by the scope of claims, and is not restricted by the text of the specification. Further, all modifications and changes belonging to the equivalent scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention.

10a URL
10b Abbreviated URL
10c expiration date 100 image forming system 110 image forming apparatus 111 input unit 112 image processing apparatus 112a processing unit 113 image forming unit 114 display unit 115 operation unit 116 image reading unit 117 communication unit 118 control device 118a processing unit 118b storage unit 119 image output Unit 120 image reading device 140 internet 150 terminal device 150a computer terminal device 150b portable terminal device 151 communication unit 152 terminal control unit 153 input unit 154 display unit 300 external URL shortening service server 400 in-house 410 internal URL shortening service server 410a processing unit 410b storage Unit 420 Intranet M11 Abbreviated URL storage unit M21 Abbreviated URL storage unit ME1 Message ME2 Message P1 Image data acquisition means P2 Character string recognition means P3 URL discrimination means P4 RL extracting means P5 shortened URL acquisition unit P6 image data generating unit P7 resource determination unit P11 shortened URL registration unit P12 shortened URL converting means P21 shortened URL registration unit P22 shortened URL converting means P23 expiration setting means R Resources

Claims (17)

Image data acquisition means for acquiring image data;
Character string recognition means for recognizing a character string in the image data acquired by the image data acquisition means;
URL determination means for determining whether or not a character string recognized by the character string recognition means includes a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for identifying a resource on the Internet;
URL extracting means for extracting the URL determined by the URL determining means from the character string;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a shortened URL acquiring unit that acquires a shortened URL obtained by shortening the URL extracted by the URL extracting unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
An image processing apparatus, further comprising: image data generating means for generating image data including the shortened URL by replacing the URL with the shortened URL in the image data acquired by the image data acquiring means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The image data acquired by the image data acquisition means further comprises image data generation means for generating the image data including the URL and the shortened URL by arranging the shortened URL in the vicinity of the URL. An image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2,
Resource determining means for determining whether a resource corresponding to the URL on the Internet may be a harmful resource;
If the image data generation unit determines that the resource corresponding to the URL may be a harmful resource in the resource determination unit, the resource corresponding to the URL is harmful in the vicinity of the shortened URL. An image processing apparatus characterized by arranging information indicating that there is a possibility of being a resource, or deleting the abbreviated URL. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3,
Resource determining means for determining whether a resource corresponding to the URL on the Internet may be a harmful resource;
When the image data generation unit determines that the resource corresponding to the URL may be a harmful resource in the resource determination unit, the image data generation unit corresponds to the URL in the vicinity of the URL or the shortened URL. An image processing apparatus characterized in that information indicating that a resource may be a harmful resource is juxtaposed or the URL and the shortened URL are deleted. An image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, comprising:
The image processing apparatus, wherein the image data generation means replaces the shortened URL with a predetermined font when the shortened URL includes a predetermined character. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 or 5, wherein
The image data generating means replaces the URL with a predetermined font when the URL contains a predetermined character in the URL. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, claim 5, or claim 7,
The image data generation means, when the head of the URL is in the middle of a line, breaks the URL at the head part, and / or when the end of the URL is in the middle of the line, An image processing apparatus characterized in that a URL is broken at the end. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, claim 5, or claim 7,
The image processing apparatus is characterized in that the image data generation means modifies the URL when the URL is in the middle of a sentence. 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, a communication unit that communicates with an external device, an image reading unit that reads the image data, and the image captured by the communication unit. Data or an image forming unit that forms an image based on the image data read by the image reading unit, and the image data acquisition means is the image data captured by the communication unit, or An image forming apparatus that acquires the image data read by an image reading unit,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming unit forms an image in the image forming unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein
The shortened URL acquisition means transmits the URL extracted by the URL extraction means to an external URL shortening service server that is a server that provides an external URL shortening service that is an external service for converting the URL into the shortened URL. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the shortened URL converted by the external URL shortening service server is acquired from the external URL shortening service server. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein
A shortened URL storage unit for storing the URL in association with the shortened URL;
Short URL registration means for registering the URL in the short URL storage unit in association with the short URL unique to the URL;
Short URL conversion means for converting the URL to the short URL,
The abbreviated URL acquisition unit transmits the URL extracted by the URL extraction unit to the abbreviated URL conversion unit and acquires the abbreviated URL converted by the abbreviated URL conversion unit from the abbreviated URL conversion unit. An image forming apparatus. An image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 9, an image reading unit that reads the image data, and an image that outputs an image based on the image data read by the image reading unit. An output unit, and the image data acquisition means is an image reading device that acquires the image data read by the image reading unit,
An image reading apparatus, wherein the image data generated by the image data generation means is transferred to an external device by the image output unit or stored as predetermined file data. The image reading apparatus according to claim 13,
The shortened URL acquisition means transmits the URL extracted by the URL extraction means to an external URL shortening service server that is a server that provides an external URL shortening service that is an external service for converting the URL into the shortened URL. An image reading apparatus characterized in that the shortened URL converted by the external URL shortening service server is acquired from the external URL shortening service server. The image reading apparatus according to claim 13,
A shortened URL storage unit for storing the URL in association with the shortened URL;
Short URL registration means for registering the URL in the short URL storage unit in association with the short URL unique to the URL;
Short URL conversion means for converting the URL to the short URL,
The abbreviated URL acquisition unit transmits the URL extracted by the URL extraction unit to the abbreviated URL conversion unit and acquires the abbreviated URL converted by the abbreviated URL conversion unit from the abbreviated URL conversion unit. An image reading apparatus. An image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
A shortened URL storage unit that stores the URL in association with the shortened URL, a shortened URL registration unit that registers the URL in the shortened URL storage unit in association with the shortened URL unique to the URL, and the URL An internal URL shortening service server that is a server that provides shortened URL conversion means for converting to the shortened URL and provides an internal URL shortening service that is an internal service for converting the URL into the shortened URL;
The abbreviated URL acquisition means transmits the URL extracted by the URL extraction means to the abbreviated URL conversion means in the internal URL shortening service server and converts the abbreviated URL converted by the abbreviated URL conversion means to the abbreviated URL An image forming system that is obtained from a URL conversion unit. The image forming system according to claim 16, wherein
The internal URL shortening service server is configured to set an expiration date of the shortened URL when the shortened URL is registered.

Images