JP2022039657A - Image processing apparatus and method for controlling the same, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus and a method for controlling the same, and a program that can detect and delete, with a low load, overlapping pieces of registered data in a web service server generated through a plurality of times of reading the same document performed by a reading unit.SOLUTION: When a scan start button 403 in Figure 4 is depressed, a reading unit 118 reads a plurality of business forms on a document installation base at a time to generate read image data, and a control unit 110 transmits the read image data to a server 102. When the control unit 110 receives accounting data of the plurality of business forms from the server 102 as a response to the transmission, it determines whether there is accounting data 704 that is the same as accounting data in a storage 114, and when there is one, displays a registration confirmation screen 5 in Figure 5. When the control unit 110 receives an instruction to delete the accounting data 704 on the registration confirmation screen 5, it transmits an instruction command to delete the accounting data 704 to the server 102.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof, and a program thereof. In particular, an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof for scanning a plurality of original documents, transmitting the image data to a Web service server, and registering the data of each original document. And about the program.

Conventionally, image data obtained by scanning or shooting receipts and receipts is uploaded to the Web service server, and accounting data such as expense items and amounts of forms extracted from the image data is registered in the database for accounting operations. There is an accounting Web service server that performs the above. Hereinafter, receipts and receipts are collectively referred to as forms.

Some such accounting Web service servers receive image data and expense data from an external device such as an image forming device and publish a Web API for registering accounting data.

Further, there is also known a technique of converting a plurality of original documents into image data at a time by using an image forming apparatus provided with a reading unit. For example, in Patent Document 1, image data read from a plurality of business cards is separated, and business card management data is generated from the business card information acquired by processing the image data. Further, in Patent Document 2, image data read from a plurality of cards is divided and each card image is generated.

By transmitting image data from such an image forming apparatus to the accounting Web service server using the above-mentioned published Web API, it is possible to reduce the trouble of registering accounting data from a large number of receipts and receipts. Is possible.

Patent Document 2 further discloses a technique for notifying a user of an error when a newly generated card image contains a card image having a high identity with a previously generated card image. By using such technology, the registration of accounting data from a large number of receipts and receipts will be further streamlined.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-49906 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-98617

However, when a plurality of forms are converted into image data at one time by using an image forming apparatus provided with a reading unit, the size of each form is often different, so that it is difficult to read using the document transporting apparatus. Therefore, when reading a plurality of forms at once by the reading unit, it is common to use the document setting table for reading. In this method, it is necessary to replace the form on the original table every time it is read, and if the read form is forgotten to be removed, the same form will be read twice. In addition, if a plurality of people place the form on the original table and remove it after reading, the form that has been read and the form that has not been read may be mixed. In this case as well, the same form will be read twice. In the conventional accounting Web service server, when the same form is read a plurality of times in this way, there is a problem that the actual accounting and the accounting data on the accounting Web service server are inconsistent.

Patent Document 1 discloses a method of deleting duplicated images when it is determined that business cards having the same content are read in duplicate as a result of comparing the acquired business card information with each other. However, this method is based on the premise that multiple manuscripts that are converted into image data at one time are manuscripts of the same size such as business cards, and is considered for cases of manuscripts of various sizes such as forms. Not.

In Patent Document 2, a newly generated card image and a previously generated card image are compared to detect a card image having high identity. However, this method needs to store all the card images generated in the past, and requires a lot of storage capacity. In addition, the load of processing for determining the identity of such images is large.

Therefore, the present invention comprises an image forming apparatus capable of detecting and deleting duplicate registration data in a Web service server generated by reading the same document a plurality of times by a reading unit with a low load, and a control method thereof. The purpose is to provide a program.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention reads a manuscript with a reading unit to generate image data, extracts the generated image data from the image data, and registers the registered data of the manuscript in a database. When the reading unit reads a plurality of documents at once in response to a user instruction in the image forming apparatus to be transmitted to the Web service server, image data of each of the plurality of documents is generated and transmitted to the Web service server. As a response to the transmission by the image data transmitting means and the image data transmitting means, a receiving means for receiving registration data of each of the plurality of manuscripts from the Web service server, and registration data received from the Web service server in the past. The storage means for storing the data, the first registration data which is one of the registration data stored by the storage means, and the second registration data which is one of the registration data received by the reception means are the same. When the determination means for determining the presence or absence and the determination means determine that the first registration data and the second registration data are the same, the second registration data is duplicated in the database. Notifying the user that there is a possibility that the data has been registered, the notification / operation means for receiving the deletion instruction from the user, and the Web service server when the deletion instruction is received from the user. It is characterized by comprising a deletion instruction transmitting means for transmitting an instruction to delete the second registered data from the database.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention reads the manuscript with a reading unit to generate image data, extracts the registration data of the manuscript from the image data, and registers the image data in a web service server. When the reading unit reads a plurality of documents at once in response to a user instruction, image data including images of the plurality of documents is generated and transmitted to the Web service server. A means, a receiving means for receiving a list of registered data of each of the plurality of manuscripts as a response to the transmission by the image data transmitting means, and a storage means for storing registered data previously received from the Web service server. , It is determined whether or not the first registered data, which is one of the registered data stored by the storage means, and the second registered data included in the list received by the receiving means are the same. When the determination means and the determination means determine that the first registration data and the second registration data are the same, there is a possibility that the second registration data is duplicately registered in the database. The notification / operation means for notifying the user that there is a deletion instruction and receiving the deletion instruction from the user, and the second registration data to the Web service server when the deletion instruction is received from the user. It is characterized by comprising a deletion instruction transmission means for transmitting an instruction to delete from the database.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention reads the original by the reading unit to generate image data, extracts the registered data of the original from the image data, and registers the image data in the database in the Web service server. When the reading unit reads a plurality of documents at once in response to a user instruction, the image data transmitting means for generating image data of each of the plurality of documents and transmitting the image data to the Web service server. And, as a response to the transmission by the image data transmission means, the first registration data which is one of the existing registration data in the database and the second registration data which is one of the registration data of each of the plurality of manuscripts. The receiving means for receiving the result of the determination of whether or not the registered data of the above is the same from the Web service server, and the receiving means said that the first registered data and the second registered data are the same. When the result of the determination is received, the user is notified that the second registration data may have been duplicated in the database, and the notification / operation means for receiving the deletion instruction from the user, and the above. It is characterized by comprising a deletion instruction transmitting means for transmitting an instruction to delete the second registration data from the database to the Web service server when the deletion instruction is received from the user.

According to the present invention, it is possible to detect and delete duplicate registration data in the Web service server generated by reading the same document a plurality of times by the reading unit with a low load.

It is a figure which shows the network system which includes the image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an image forming apparatus. This is the home screen displayed on the operation unit immediately after the image forming apparatus is started. This is the pre-reading screen of the accounting service linkage application. This is the registration confirmation screen of the accounting service linkage application. This is the command result confirmation screen of the accounting service linkage application. It is a figure which shows the communication performed between an image forming apparatus and an accounting Web service server for displaying a registration confirmation screen. It is a flowchart of the accounting data registration process of the accounting service cooperation application executed in the image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart of the 1st modification of the accounting data registration process of the accounting service cooperation application executed in the image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart of the 2nd modification of the accounting data registration process of the accounting service cooperation application executed in the image forming apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the means for solving the invention.

For example, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment registers the accounting data of each form by scanning a plurality of forms and transmitting the image data to the accounting Web service server when the accounting service cooperation application is executed. , Not limited to this. That is, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be an apparatus that scans a plurality of original documents, transmits the image data to the Web service server, and registers the data of each original document as registration data.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network system 1 including an image forming apparatus 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the network system 1 includes a network 100, an image forming apparatus 101, an accounting Web service server 102 (hereinafter, simply referred to as “server 102”), and an Internet 103.

The image forming apparatus 101 is connected to the network 100, and the network 100 is connected to the Internet 103.

The server 102 is connected to the Internet 103 and can communicate with the image forming apparatus 101. Further, the server 102 publishes a Web API for registering accounting data.

The image forming apparatus 101 transmits the image data obtained by reading the original and data operation commands such as a deletion instruction command described later to the server 102 using the Web API.

The server 102 can receive image data and commands transmitted from the image forming apparatus 101 using the Web API. The server 102 also transmits a message of the registration result of the accounting data extracted from the received image data to the database and the execution result of the received command to the image forming apparatus 101.

The image data in this embodiment is electronic data. Specifically, among the image formats such as TIFF and JPEG, the image data is in a format defined to be receivable by the server 102.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus 101.

In FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 101 includes a control unit 110, an operation unit 116, a reading unit 118, and a printing unit 120.

The control unit 110 includes a CPU 111, a ROM 112, a RAM 113, a storage 114, an operation unit I / F 115, a reading unit I / F 117, a printing unit I / F 119, an external storage I / F 121, and a communication unit 123, and the entire image forming apparatus 101. Controls the behavior of.

The CPU 111 reads a control program stored in the ROM 112 or the storage 114, and performs various controls such as reading control of the reading unit 118 and printing control of the printing unit 120.

The ROM 112 stores a control program that can be executed by the CPU 111. The ROM 112 also stores a boot program, font data, and the like.

The RAM 113 is the main storage memory of the CPU 111, and is used as a work area as well as a temporary storage area for expanding various control programs stored in the ROM 112 and the storage 114.

The storage 114 stores image data, print data, an address book, various programs, and various setting information. In the present embodiment, a flash memory is assumed as the storage 114, but an auxiliary storage device such as an SSD, HDD, or eMMC may be used.

In the image forming apparatus 101, one CPU 111 uses one memory (RAM 113) to execute the processes shown in each flowchart described later, but other modes may be used. For example, a plurality of CPUs, RAMs, ROMs, and storages may be provided inside the control unit 110 so as to cooperate with each other to execute the processes shown in the flowcharts described later. Further, a hardware circuit such as an ASIC or FPGA may be provided inside the control unit 110, and the hardware circuit may be used to execute a part of the processing shown in each flowchart described later.

The operation unit I / F 115 connects the operation unit 116 and the control unit 110. The operation unit 116 includes a touch panel screen for displaying information to the user and detecting input from the user.

The reading unit I / F 117 connects the reading unit 118 and the control unit 110. The reading unit 118 reads an image of a document on a document mounting table (not shown) and generates image data such as binary data from the image.

The printing unit I / F 119 connects the printing unit 120 and the control unit 110. When the image data generated by the reading unit 118 is image data to be printed (image data to be printed), the CPU 111 transfers the image data to the printing unit 120 via the printing unit I / F 119. The printing unit 120 prints the image data on the recording paper supplied from the paper feed cassette (not shown).

The external storage I / F 121 connects the external storage device 122 and the control unit 110. The CPU 111 stores the image data generated by the reading unit 118 in the external storage device 122 via the external storage I / F 121. In the present embodiment, a USB interface is assumed as the external storage I / F 121, and a USB memory is assumed as the external storage device 122, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an SD card interface may be used as the external storage I / F 121, and an SD card may be used as the external storage device 122.

The communication unit 123 connects the network 100 and the control unit 110. The communication unit 123 transmits the image data generated by the reading unit 118 to an external device such as the server 102 (FIG. 1) via the network 100. Further, the communication unit 123 receives print data from an external device via the network 100.

FIG. 3 is a home screen 3 displayed on the operation unit 116 immediately after the image forming apparatus 101 is started.

The home screen 3 of FIG. 3 is a screen instructing the execution of each function of the image forming apparatus 101, and is displayed on the touch panel screen of the operation unit 116. On the home screen 3, function buttons for executing each function included in the image forming apparatus 101, such as a frequently used function, for example, a copy function, a scan function, a menu display function, and an address book display function, are displayed.

The screen name 301 is an area for displaying the name of the screen currently displayed on the operation unit 116, and in FIG. 3, the name "home" is displayed on the screen name 301.

The copy button 302 is a function button that executes a copy function, which is one of the functions of the image forming apparatus 101, when the user presses the copy button 302.

The accounting service linkage button 303 is a function for reading an image of a form such as a receipt or a receipt by the reading unit 118 and registering registration data including a date, a payee, an amount, etc. described in the form on the server 102. It's a button.

The page forward buttons 304 and 305 are buttons for switching the function button page currently displayed on the home screen 3 to another function button page. Each of the function button pages is arranged with a part of a plurality of function buttons included in the image forming apparatus 101.

The page display 306 shows the page number of the function button page currently displayed on the home screen 3. The user can switch the function button page currently displayed on the home screen 3 to another function button page by pressing the page display 306.

The status display 307 is an area for displaying the current operating state of the image forming apparatus 101. For example, when printing is being executed by the printing unit 120, the message "printing" is displayed on the status display 307 as shown in FIG. Further, when an abnormality has occurred in the image forming apparatus 101, a warning message is displayed on the status display 307.

The status confirmation button 308 is a button for displaying a screen on the operation unit 116 in which the details of the status of the image forming apparatus 101 are described when the user presses the button.

Next, using FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, it is displayed on the operation unit 116 when the accounting service linkage application, which is executed by the image forming apparatus 101 when the user presses the accounting service linkage button 303, is executed. The screen will be described. In the accounting service cooperation application, the reading unit 118 reads the image of the form on the manuscript setting table with a predetermined setting, generates image data from the image, and transmits the image data to the server 102.

FIG. 4 is a pre-reading screen 4 of the accounting service cooperation application. The pre-reading screen 4 is displayed on the operation unit 116 when the accounting service linkage button 303 is pressed by the user.

The application name 401 is an area for displaying the application name, and in FIG. 4, the name “accounting service linkage” is displayed.

The placement instruction 402 is an area for displaying a method of placing a plurality of forms on a document setting table when the image of a form such as a plurality of receipts or receipts is read by the reading unit 118 at a time.

The scan start button 403 is a button for starting to read images of a plurality of forms on the document setting table of the reading unit 118, and when pressed by the user, the images of the plurality of forms are read and image data is generated. , The image data is transmitted to the server 102.

The stop button 404 is a button for stopping the execution of the accounting service linkage application, and when the user presses the button, the pre-reading screen 4 of FIG. 4 returns to the home screen 3 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a registration confirmation screen 5 of the accounting service cooperation application. The registration confirmation screen 5 is displayed on the operation unit 116 when the newly registered accounting data is transmitted from the server 102 as a result of the current document scanning after the scan start button 403 of the pre-scanning screen 4 is pressed. Will be done. That is, when the registration confirmation screen 5 is displayed, both the existing accounting data and the newly registered accounting data are registered on the server 102.

The message 501 is an area in which the registration result by the server 102 is displayed. For example, if the newly registered accounting data may be duplicated with the existing accounting data as a result of reading the manuscript this time, message 501 will indicate "There is an item that may be duplicated. Is displayed. In this embodiment, when the newly registered accounting data and the existing accounting data match any of the date, payee, and amount, the newly registered accounting data overlaps with the existing accounting data. It is judged that there is a possibility of doing so.

Table 502 is a list of accounting data newly registered in the database transmitted from the server 102. In the present embodiment, newly registered accounting data, that is, information on the ID, date, payee, and amount of each form of the manuscript read this time is displayed in Table 502.

The duplicate message 503 is a message for indicating which of the existing accounting data is the accounting data that may be registered in the database in duplicate with the newly registered accounting data. In the present embodiment, the registration date and time of the existing accounting data that may be registered in duplicate in the database and the login user information (for example, the name of the login user) at the registration date and time are displayed together. .. This makes it easier to determine whether or not the same form is actually read multiple times by the reading unit 118 and the accounting data is duplicately registered in the database. The server 102 also registers information other than the above accounting data to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 101, for example, a proviso, a form of deposit (cash, check, bill, offset, etc.), image data of each form, and the like in the database. You may do so. As a result, the user can also obtain this information from the server 102 as needed, and the same form is actually read multiple times by the reading unit 118, and it is determined whether or not the accounting data is duplicately registered in the database. Will be easier to do.

The check box 504 is a box indicating whether or not any of the accounting data listed in Table 502 is selected as the accounting data to be deleted, and each time the user presses the check box 504, the selected state and the unselected state are switched. .. In FIG. 5, only the check box 504 of the accounting data with the duplicate message 503 and the ID 104 is selected.

The number of deletions 505 indicates the number of accounting data in which the check box 504 is selected.

When the button 506 to be deleted is pressed by the user, the ID of the accounting data in which the check box 504 is selected is transmitted from the operation unit 116 to the control unit 110. The control unit 110 transmits a deletion instruction command from the image forming apparatus 101 to the server 102 for the accounting data of the ID transmitted from the operation unit 116. The command result confirmation screen 6 of FIG. 6 is displayed on the operation unit 116 when the deletion success is received from the server 102 as the execution result of receiving the deletion instruction command.

When the end button 507 is pressed by the user, the accounting data registered in the server 102 is stored in the storage 114, the execution of the accounting service cooperation application is terminated, and the screen transitions to the home screen of FIG.

The accounting data whose IDs are 101 to 104 displayed on the registration confirmation screen 5 are not deleted from the storage 114 regardless of whether the check box 504 is in the selected state or the unselected state. Further, the storage destination of the accounting data may not be the storage 114, but may be an external storage device 122 capable of communicating with the image forming device 101 via the network 100.

FIG. 6 is a command result confirmation screen 6 of the accounting service linkage application.

Table 601 is a list of accounting data finally registered in the server 102 by this reading. When the deletion button 506 is pressed by the user and the deletion instruction command is transmitted to the server 102 in the state of the registration confirmation screen 5 of FIG. 5, among the accounting data displayed in Table 502, the accounting data with ID 104 is used. The excluded accounting data is displayed.

The deletion result 602 indicates the number of accounting data deleted by the deletion instruction command. When the deletion result 602 is pressed by the user, the screen may transition to the screen displaying the deleted accounting data.

When the end button 603 is pressed by the user, the accounting data finally registered in the server 102 is stored in the storage 114, the execution of the accounting service cooperation application is terminated, and the screen transitions to the home screen of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing communication performed between the image forming apparatus 101 and the server 102 in order to display the registration confirmation screen 5 of FIG.

The scanned image data 701 is generated by reading a document (forms such as a plurality of receipts) by the scanning unit 118 by pressing the scan start button 403 of the screen 4 before scanning, and is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 101 to the server 102. To.

The accounting data ID 702 is an ID of the accounting data extracted from the image data 701 read by the server 102 and newly registered in the database. When the server 102 receives the read image data 701, the server 102 returns the accounting data ID 702 to the image forming apparatus 101 as a response.

The accounting data request command 703 is a command for acquiring the accounting data of the designated ID from the server 102, and is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 101 to the server 102. In the accounting data request command 703 of the present embodiment, the accounting data ID 702 is set as the designated ID.

The accounting data 704 is accounting data returned from the server 102 to the image forming apparatus 101 as a response to the accounting data request command 703. In the present embodiment, the accounting data 704 is accounting data (date, payee, amount) associated with the accounting data ID.

When the read image data 701 is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 101 to the server 102 as in the accounting data registration process of FIG. 8 described later, the accounting data 704 is directly returned from the server 102 to the image forming apparatus 101. You may do it.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the accounting data registration process of the accounting service cooperation application executed by the image forming apparatus 101.

This process starts when the accounting service linkage button 303 of FIG. 3 is pressed by the user and the accounting service linkage application is started.

In step S801, the control unit 110 displays the pre-reading screen 4 shown in FIG. 4 on the operation unit 116.

In step S802, when the operation unit 116 detects that the user has pressed the scan start button 403, the operation unit 116 transmits a scan start instruction to the reading unit 118 via the control unit 110.

In step S803, when the reading unit 118 receives the scanning start instruction from the operating unit 116, the image of the document (forms such as a plurality of receipts and receipts) placed on the document setting table (not shown) of the reading unit 118. Read.

In step S804, the reading unit 118 generates the scanned image data 701 from the image of the original image read in step S803 and transmits it to the control unit 110. At this time, the scanned image data 701 is generated according to the specifications of the accounting service cooperation application. In this process, a plurality of receipts and a plurality of image data for each receipt are generated as the scanned image data 701.

In step S805, the control unit 110 (image data transmission means) transmits to the server 102 a plurality of image data generated as the scanned image data 701 from the reading unit 118 in step S804 in the order in which they are generated. At this time, when the user is logged in to the image forming apparatus 101, the information of the image forming apparatus 101 and the logged-in user information are also transmitted to the server 102.

In step S806, the control unit 110 receives the accounting data of each of the plurality of receipts and receipts read in step S803 registered in the database from the server 102 as a response to the transmission in step S805. The accounting data in the database is associated with the registration date and time in the database and the login user information at the registration date and time.

In step S807, the control unit 110 determines whether or not the storage 114 has accounting data that is the same as the accounting data received in step S806. In the present embodiment, it is the same when there is accounting data in the storage 114 in which the date, amount, and payee of one of the accounting data received in step S806 (here, accounting data 704) match. Judge that there is accounting data. However, other information, for example, a serial number to which a predetermined numbering rule is applied may be described in each form, and the serial number may be used to perform the determination in step S807. If it is determined that there is the same accounting data, the process proceeds to step S808. In other cases, the process proceeds to step S812. If the accounting data does not exist in the storage 114 at the time of the determination in step S807, the process directly proceeds from step S807 to step S812.

When proceeding to step S808, the control unit 110 acquires the login user information associated with the accounting data determined to be the same as the accounting data 704 in the storage 114 and the registration date in the database from the server 102. .. As a result, the duplicate message 503 can be displayed on the registration confirmation screen 5.

In step S808, the control unit 110 (notification / operation means) displays the registration confirmation screen 5 of FIG. 5 on the operation unit 116.

In step S809, the operation unit 116 determines whether or not there is a deletion instruction by the user, and transmits the determination result to the control unit 110. Specifically, when the operation unit 116 detects that the user presses the delete button 506 after switching any of the check boxes 504 to the selected state, the operation unit 116 determines that there is a deletion instruction, the control unit 110. To, and the process proceeds to step S810. On the other hand, when the operation unit 116 detects that the user has pressed the end button 507, the operation unit 116 transmits a determination result that there is no deletion instruction to the control unit 110, and proceeds to step S812.

In step S810, the control unit 110 (deletion instruction transmission means) transmits a deletion instruction command to the server 102 for the accounting data in which the check box 504 is selected on the registration confirmation screen 5 via the communication unit 123. do.

In step S811, the control unit 110 displays the command result confirmation screen 6 of FIG. 6 on the operation unit 116, and proceeds to step S812 when the operation unit 116 detects that the end button 603 has been pressed.

In step S812, among the accounting data received in step S806, the accounting data for which the deletion instruction command was not transmitted in step S810 is stored in the storage 114 as accounting data received from the server 102 in the past. This process ends.

According to this process, when the read image data of the same form is transmitted to the server 102 a plurality of times and the server 102 registers duplicate accounting data in the database, the image forming apparatus 101 loads the accounting data with a low load. Can be detected with. Further, when the image forming apparatus 101 detects the detection, the registration confirmation screen 5 of FIG. 5 is displayed, and the detected accounting data may be duplicately registered in the database for the user. Notify that it is, and accept the deletion instruction. As a result, it is possible to delete duplicately registered accounting data from the database based on the user instruction.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a first modification of the accounting data registration process of the accounting service cooperation application executed by the image forming apparatus 101.

This process starts when the accounting service linkage button 303 of FIG. 3 is pressed by the user and the accounting service linkage application is started.

In step S901, the control unit 110 displays the pre-reading screen 4 shown in FIG. 4 on the operation unit 116.

In step S902, when the operation unit 116 detects that the user has pressed the scan start button 403, the operation unit 116 transmits a scan start instruction to the reading unit 118 via the control unit 110.

In step S903, when the reading unit 118 receives the scanning start instruction from the operating unit 116, the reading unit 118 places the original material (a plurality of forms such as receipts and receipts) placed on the document setting table (not shown) of the reading unit 118. Read the image of.

In step S904, the scanning unit 118 generates scanned image data 701 from the image of the original image scanned in step S903 and transmits it to the control unit 110. At this time, the scanned image data 701 is generated according to the specifications of the accounting service cooperation application. In this process, as the scanned image data 701, one image data including images of a plurality of forms such as receipts and receipts is generated.

In step S905, the control unit 110 transmits the scanned image data 701 received from the reading unit 118 in step S904 to the server 102. At this time, when the user is logged in to the image forming apparatus 101, the information of the image forming apparatus 101 and the information of the logged-in user are also transmitted to the server 102.

In step S906, the control unit 110 responds to the transmission in step S905, and as a result of registration from the server 102 to the database, a plurality of accounting data IDs corresponding to each of the plurality of receipts and receipts included in the read image data 701. To receive. The accounting data in the database is associated with the registration date and time in the database and the login user information at the registration date and time.

In step S907, the control unit 110 transmits to the server 102 a command for acquiring a list of accounting data registered in the database, which is associated with the plurality of accounting data IDs received in step S906.

In step S908, the control unit 110 receives a list of registered accounting data from the server 102 as a response to the command transmitted in step S907.

In step S909, the control unit 110 determines whether or not the storage 114 has accounting data that is the same as the accounting data included in the list received in step S908. In the present embodiment, accounting data that matches the date, amount, and payee of one of the accounting data included in the list (here, accounting data 704) is the same when the storage 114 has accounting data. Determine that there is data. However, other information, for example, a serial number to which a predetermined numbering rule is applied may be described in each form, and the serial number may be used to perform the determination in step S909. If it is determined that there is the same accounting data, the process proceeds to step S910. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S914. If the accounting data does not exist in the storage 114 at the time of the determination in step S909, the process directly proceeds from step S909 to step S914.

Further, when proceeding to step S910, the control unit 110 acquires the login user information associated with the accounting data determined to be the same as the accounting data 704 in the storage 114 and the registration date in the database from the server 102. .. As a result, the duplicate message 503 can be displayed on the registration confirmation screen 5.

In step S910, the control unit 110 displays the registration confirmation screen 5 of FIG. 5 on the operation unit 116.

In step S911, the operation unit 116 determines whether or not there is a deletion instruction by the user, and transmits the determination result to the control unit 110. Specifically, when the operation unit 116 detects that the user presses the delete button 506 after switching any of the check boxes 504 to the selected state, the operation unit 116 determines that there is a deletion instruction, the control unit 110. To, and the process proceeds to step S912. On the other hand, when the operation unit 116 detects that the user has pressed the end button 507, the operation unit 116 transmits a determination result that there is no deletion instruction to the control unit 110, and proceeds to step S914.

In step S912, the control unit 110 transmits a deletion instruction command to the server 102 for the accounting data in which the check box 504 is selected on the registration confirmation screen 5 via the communication unit 123.

In step S913, the control unit 110 displays the command result confirmation screen 6 of FIG. 6 on the operation unit 116, and proceeds to step S914 when the operation unit 116 detects that the end button 603 is pressed.

In step S914, among the accounting data in the list received in step S908, the accounting data for which the deletion instruction command was not transmitted in step S912 is stored in the storage 114 as accounting data received from the server 102 in the past. save. After that, this process ends.

According to this process, when the scanned image data including the image of the same form is transmitted to the server 102 a plurality of times and the server 102 registers the duplicate accounting data in the database, the image forming apparatus 101 registers the accounting data. Can be detected with a low load. Further, when the image forming apparatus 101 detects the detection, the registration confirmation screen 5 of FIG. 5 is displayed, and the detected accounting data may be duplicately registered in the database for the user. Notify that it is, and accept the deletion instruction. As a result, it is possible to delete duplicately registered accounting data from the database based on the user instruction.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a second modification of the accounting data registration process of the accounting service cooperation application executed by the image forming apparatus 101.

This process starts when the accounting service linkage button 303 of FIG. 3 is pressed by the user and the accounting service linkage application is started.

In step S1001, the control unit 110 displays the pre-reading screen 4 shown in FIG. 4 on the operation unit 116.

In step S1002, when the operation unit 116 detects that the user has pressed the scan start button 403, the operation unit 116 transmits a scan start instruction to the reading unit 118 via the control unit 110.

In step S1003, when the reading unit 118 receives a scanning start instruction from the operating unit 116, the reading unit 118 places the original material (a plurality of forms such as receipts and receipts) placed on the document setting table (not shown) of the reading unit 118. Read the image of.

In step S1004, the reading unit 118 generates the scanned image data 701 from the image of the original image read in step S1003 and transmits it to the control unit 110. At this time, the scanned image data 701 is generated according to the specifications of the accounting service cooperation application. In this process, a plurality of receipts and a plurality of image data for each receipt are generated as the scanned image data 701.

In step S1005, the control unit 110 transmits to the server 102 a plurality of image data generated as the scanned image data 701 from the reading unit 118 in step S1004 in the order in which they are generated. At this time, when the user is logged in to the image forming apparatus 101, the information of the image forming apparatus 101 and the logged-in user information are also transmitted to the server 102.

Each time the server 102 receives the image data generated as the scanned image data 701, the server 102 extracts the accounting data from the image of the form included in the image data, attaches a flag indicating that the registration is new, and sets the server 102. Register in the database in. The accounting data in the database is associated with the registration date and time in the database and the login user information at the registration date and time.

After that, the server 102 determines in the database whether or not there is existing unflagged accounting data that is the same as the flagged accounting data, and transmits the determination result to the image forming apparatus 101. In the present embodiment, when there is existing accounting data in the database of the server 102 in which the date, amount, and payee of one of the newly registered accounting data (here, accounting data 704) match. Determine that there is accounting data that is the same. However, other information, for example, a serial number to which a predetermined numbering rule is applied may be described in each form, and the serial number may be used to make such a determination. If the accounting data registered in the database does not exist at the time when the server 102 makes this determination, it is determined that there is the same accounting data. Further, in the image forming apparatus 101, when the operation unit 116 gives a scan start instruction again and the scanned image data 701 is newly transmitted, the server 102 cancels all the above flags.

In step S1006, the control unit 110 receives a determination result indicating the presence or absence of the same accounting data from the server 102 as a response to each transmission of the plurality of image data generated as the read image data 701 in step S1005. If the received determination result has the same accounting data, the control unit 110 proceeds to step S1007, and in other cases, displays a notification screen stating "Registration completed normally". After that, this process ends as it is.

When proceeding to step S1007, the control unit 110 acquires the login user information associated with the accounting data determined to be the same as the accounting data 704 in the storage 114 and the registration date in the database from the server 102. .. As a result, the duplicate message 503 can be displayed on the registration confirmation screen 5.

In step S1007, the control unit 110 displays the registration confirmation screen 5 of FIG. 5 on the operation unit 116.

In step S1008, the operation unit 116 determines whether or not there is a deletion instruction by the user, and transmits the determination result to the control unit 110. Specifically, when the operation unit 116 detects that the user presses the delete button 506 after switching any of the check boxes 504 to the selected state, the operation unit 116 determines that there is a deletion instruction, the control unit 110. To, and the process proceeds to step S1009. On the other hand, when the operation unit 116 detects that the user has pressed the end button 507, the operation unit 116 transmits a determination result that there is no deletion instruction to the control unit 110, and ends the process as it is.

In step S1009, the control unit 110 transmits a deletion instruction command to the server 102 for the accounting data in which the check box 504 is selected on the registration confirmation screen 5 via the communication unit 123.

In step S1010, the control unit 110 displays the command result confirmation screen 6 of FIG. 6 on the operation unit 116, and ends this process as it is when the operation unit 116 detects that the end button 603 is pressed.

According to this process, when the server 102 registers duplicate accounting data in the database as a result of transmitting the read image data of the same form to the server 102 multiple times, the server 102 detects and detects the accounting data. As a result, it is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 101. Further, when the image forming apparatus 101 receives the detection result, the registration confirmation screen 5 of FIG. 5 is displayed, and there is a possibility that the detected accounting data is duplicately registered in the database for the user. Notify that it is accounting data and accept the deletion instruction. As a result, it is possible to delete duplicately registered accounting data from the database based on the user instruction.

In the process of FIG. 10, similarly to the process of FIG. 8, it is assumed that a plurality of image data of each of a plurality of receipts and receipts is generated as the scanned image data 701, but the process is not limited to this. For example, as in the process of FIG. 9, one image data including a plurality of images of forms such as receipts and receipts may be generated as the scanned image data 701.

The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or a device via a network or a storage medium, and a process in which a computer of the system or the device reads and executes the program. be.

A computer may have one or more processors or circuits and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors or circuits for reading and executing computer-executable instructions.

The processor or circuit may include a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessing unit (MPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gateway (FPGA). Also, the processor or circuit may include a digital signal processor (DSP), a data flow processor (DFP), or a neural processing unit (NPU).

1 Network system 100 Network 101 Image forming device 102 Server 103 Internet 110 Control unit 111 CPU
112 ROM
113 RAM
114 Storage 115 Operation unit I / F
116 Operation unit 117 Reading unit I / F
118 Reading unit 119 Printing unit I / F
120 Printing unit 121 External storage I / F
123 Communication Department

Claims (10)

In an image forming apparatus that reads a document with a reading unit to generate image data, and transmits the generated image data to a Web service server that extracts registration data of the document from the image data and registers it in a database.
When the reading unit reads a plurality of documents at once according to a user instruction, an image data transmitting means that generates image data of each of the plurality of documents and transmits the image data to the Web service server.
As a response to the transmission by the image data transmission means, a receiving means for receiving registration data of each of the plurality of manuscripts from the Web service server, and
A storage means for storing registration data received from the Web service server in the past,
It is determined whether or not the first registered data, which is one of the registered data stored by the storage means, and the second registered data, which is one of the registered data received by the receiving means, are the same. Judgment means and
When it is determined by the determination means that the first registration data and the second registration data are the same, it is possible that the second registration data is duplicately registered in the database. Notification / operation means for notifying the user and receiving a deletion instruction from the user,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a deletion instruction transmitting means for transmitting an instruction to delete the second registration data from the database to the Web service server when the deletion instruction is received from the user. .. In an image forming apparatus that reads a document with a reading unit to generate image data, extracts the registration data of the document from the image data, and transmits the image data to a Web service server to be registered in a database.
When the reading unit reads a plurality of documents at once according to a user instruction, an image data transmitting means that generates image data including images of the plurality of documents and transmits the image data to the Web service server.
As a response to the transmission by the image data transmission means, a receiving means for receiving a list of registered data of each of the plurality of manuscripts, and a receiving means.
A storage means for storing registration data received from the Web service server in the past,
Determination of determining whether the first registered data, which is one of the registered data stored by the storage means, and the second registered data included in the list received by the receiving means are the same. Means and
When it is determined by the determination means that the first registration data and the second registration data are the same, it is possible that the second registration data is duplicately registered in the database. Notification / operation means for notifying the user and receiving a deletion instruction from the user,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a deletion instruction transmitting means for transmitting an instruction to delete the second registration data from the database to the Web service server when the deletion instruction is received from the user. .. In an image forming apparatus that reads a document with a reading unit to generate image data, extracts the registration data of the document from the image data, and transmits the image data to a Web service server to be registered in a database.
When the reading unit reads a plurality of documents at once according to a user instruction, an image data transmitting means that generates image data of each of the plurality of documents and transmits the image data to the Web service server.
As a response to the transmission by the image data transmission means, the first registration data which is one of the existing registration data in the database and the second registration which is one of the registration data of each of the plurality of manuscripts. A receiving means for receiving the result of determination of whether or not the data is the same from the Web service server, and
When the receiving means receives the result of the determination that the first registration data and the second registration data are the same, it is possible that the second registration data is duplicately registered in the database. Notification / operation means for notifying the user that there is a data and accepting a deletion instruction from the user,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a deletion instruction transmitting means for transmitting an instruction to delete the second registration data from the database to the Web service server when the deletion instruction is received from the user. .. When the date, payee, and amount information contained in the first registration data and the second registration data match, the first registration data and the second registration data are the same. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image forming apparatus is determined. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the image data transmitting means further transmits the logged-in user information to the Web service server when the user is logged in to the image forming apparatus. Image forming device. The registration data in the database is associated with the registration date and time in the database and the login user information at the registration date and time.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the notification / operation means acquires the registration date / time and the login user information of the first registration data from the Web service server and notifies the user. A control method for an image forming apparatus that reads a document with a scanning unit to generate image data, extracts the registered data of the document from the image data, and transmits the generated image data to a Web service server that registers the original in a database. In
When the reading unit reads a plurality of documents at once in response to a user instruction, an image data transmission step of generating image data for each of the plurality of documents and transmitting the image data to the Web service server.
As a response to the transmission in the image data transmission step, a reception step of receiving registration data of each of the plurality of manuscripts from the Web service server, and a reception step.
A storage step for storing registration data received from the Web service server in the past, a first registration data which is one of the registration data stored in the storage step, and one of the registration data received in the reception step. The determination step for determining whether or not the second registered data is the same,
When it is determined in the determination step that the first registration data and the second registration data are the same, it is possible that the second registration data is duplicately registered in the database. A notification / operation step that notifies the user and accepts a deletion instruction from the user,
A control method comprising: a deletion instruction transmission step of transmitting an instruction to delete the second registration data from the database to the Web service server when the deletion instruction is received from the user. In a control method of an image forming apparatus that reads a document with a reading unit to generate image data, extracts the registration data of the document from the image data, and transmits the image data to a Web service server to be registered in a database.
When the reading unit reads a plurality of documents at once according to a user instruction, an image data transmission step of generating image data including images of the plurality of documents and transmitting the image data to the Web service server.
As a response to the transmission in the image data transmission step, a reception step of receiving a list of registered data of each of the plurality of manuscripts, and a reception step.
A storage step for storing registration data received from the Web service server in the past,
Determination of determining whether the first registration data, which is one of the registration data stored in the storage step, and the second registration data included in the list received in the reception step are the same. Steps and
When it is determined in the determination step that the first registration data and the second registration data are the same, it is possible that the second registration data is duplicately registered in the database. A notification / operation step that notifies the user and accepts a deletion instruction from the user,
A control method comprising: a deletion instruction transmission step of transmitting an instruction to delete the second registration data from the database to the Web service server when the deletion instruction is received from the user. In a control method of an image forming apparatus that reads a document with a reading unit to generate image data, extracts the registration data of the document from the image data, and transmits the image data to a Web service server to be registered in a database.
When the reading unit reads a plurality of documents at once in response to a user instruction, an image data transmission step of generating image data for each of the plurality of documents and transmitting the image data to the Web service server.
As a response to the transmission in the image data transmission step, a first registration data which is one of the existing registration data in the database and a second registration which is one of the registration data of each of the plurality of manuscripts. A reception step for receiving the result of determination of whether or not the data is the same from the Web service server, and
When the result of the determination that the first registration data and the second registration data are the same is received in the reception step, it is possible that the second registration data is duplicately registered in the database. A notification / operation step for notifying the user that there is a data and accepting a deletion instruction from the user, and
A control method comprising: a deletion instruction transmission step of transmitting an instruction to delete the second registration data from the database to the Web service server when the deletion instruction is received from the user. A program according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the control method is executed by a computer.

Images