JP2022060825A - Information processing device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To process a data file read from an external storage device in the same manner as image data read by an image reader in an information processing device provided with the image reader.SOLUTION: A processor 21 of an image processing device 2 reads a data file from a USB memory 1 if image reading is instructed, converts a data format of the read image data into a data format common to image data read by an image reader 27 to generate image data, converts the generated image data into a file format for outputting the image data read by the image reader 27 to generate a data file, and transmits the generated data file to a user terminal 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a program.

For example, in Patent Document 1, in a printer to which a USB memory can be connected, when the original is set and the USB memory is connected, the data file generated by reading the original is stored in the USB memory, and the original is stored. When the USB memory is not set and the USB memory is connected, a mechanism for printing out an image corresponding to the data file read from the USB memory is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-129646

An object of the present invention is to process a data file read from an external storage device in an information processing device provided with an image reading device in the same manner as image data read by the image reading device.

The information processing device according to claim 1 of the present invention has a processor connected to an image reading device, and the processor reads and reads a data file from an external storage device when an image reading is instructed. The data format of the data file is converted into a data format common to the image data read by the image reading device to generate image data, and the generated image data is used as image data read by the image reading device. This is an information processing device that converts data into a file format for outputting data, generates a data file, and sends the generated data file to a predetermined destination.

The information processing device according to claim 2 of the present invention has the configuration according to claim 1, wherein the external storage device is a storage device connected to the self-information processing device via an input / output interface, or self-information processing. A storage device connected to the device via a communication line.

The information processing device according to claim 3 of the present invention has the configuration according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the processor is instructed to read an image, and when there is no document to be read by the image reading device, the user. Inquires whether or not to read the data file from the external storage device.

The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 of the present invention has the configuration according to claim 2, wherein when the processor is instructed to read an image, the information processing apparatus has its own information processing apparatus and the storage device via the input / output interface. When is connected, the data file is read from the storage device.

The information processing device according to claim 5 of the present invention has the configuration according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the processor provides a communication line to the self-information processing device when an image reading is instructed. When the identification information for identifying the storage device connected via the device is input, the data file is read from the storage device.

The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 of the present invention has the configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the processor has a specific attribute among data files stored in the external storage device. Read the data file of.

The information processing apparatus according to claim 7 of the present invention has the configuration according to claim 6, wherein the attribute is the file format of the data file, the time stamp given to the data file, or the metadata of the data file. Including at least one of them.

The program according to claim 8 of the present invention includes a step of reading a data file from an external storage device when an image reading instruction is given to a computer connected to the image reading device, and a data format of the read data file. To generate image data by converting the data into a data format common to the image data read by the image reading device, and when outputting the generated image data to the image data read by the image reading device. It is a program to execute a step of converting to the file format of the above and generating a data file, and a step of sending the generated data file to a predetermined destination.

According to the inventions according to claims 1 and 8, in the information processing apparatus provided with the image reading device, the data file read from the external storage device is processed in the same manner as the image data read by the image reading device.
According to the invention of claim 2, a storage device connected to the self-information processing device via an input / output interface or a storage device connected to the self-information processing device via a communication line is used as an external storage device. It will be used.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, when there is no original document to be read by the image reading device when the image reading is instructed, it is possible to confirm with the user whether or not to read the data file from the external storage device. can.
According to the invention of claim 4, when the image reading is instructed, the data file is read from the storage device when the storage device is connected to the self-information processing device via the input / output interface.
According to the invention of claim 5, when the image reading is instructed and the identification information for identifying the storage device connected to the self-information processing device via the communication line is input, the storage device is used. The data file is read.
According to the invention of claim 6, among the data files stored in the external storage device, the data file having a specific attribute is read out.
According to the invention of claim 7, at least one of the file format of the data file, the time stamp given to the data file, and the metadata of the data file can be used as the attribute.

The figure which shows the example of the whole structure of an information processing system 9. The figure which shows the example of the hardware composition of the server apparatus 10. The figure which shows the example of the hardware composition of the image processing apparatus 2. The figure which shows the example of the management table. The figure which shows the example of the functional structure of the image processing apparatus 2. The flowchart which shows the operation example of the image processing apparatus 2. The figure which shows the example of the whole structure of the information processing system 9a which concerns on the modification. The flowchart which shows the operation example of the image processing apparatus 2 which concerns on the modification. The flowchart which shows the operation example of the image processing apparatus 2 which concerns on the modification.

<Embodiment>
<Information processing system configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of the information processing system 9. For example, when an employee of a company with multiple business establishments reads a document containing characters or figures with an image reader at another business establishment different from the one to which he / she belongs, communication connecting these business establishments is performed. A system is known in which the read document data is stored in the storage destination corresponding to the employee on the line. However, there may be cases where such a system cannot be used because such a system has not yet been constructed at the business establishment where the user has read the document, or the user has forgotten the IC card for authentication. In the above case, the information processing system 9 shown in FIG. 1 reads an image, temporarily stores the data in an external storage device carried by the user, and after returning to the office from outside. , The data in the external storage device can be used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system 9 includes a server device 10, a USB memory 1, an image processing device 2, a user terminal 3, and a communication line 4. The server device 10 is a device corresponding to an example of the data storage device of the present invention, and is a computer that stores document data. The data storage area of the server device 10 is divided into a plurality of areas corresponding to each user.

The USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory 1 is a device corresponding to an example of the external storage device of the present invention. The USB memory 1 can be connected to the image processing device 2 via the input / output interface. In the present embodiment, a USB-compliant device is used as the external storage device, but the standard for connecting the external storage device and the image processing device 2 is not limited to USB.

The image processing device 2 is an example of the information processing device of the present invention, and is a device having at least an image reading function. The image processing device 2 may be a so-called multifunction device in which an image reading device, an image forming device, a facsimile, a copying machine, and the like are integrated.

The user terminal 3 is an example of the communication terminal of the present invention, and is a computer for a user to view and edit document data stored in the server device 10. The user terminal 3 is, for example, a personal computer, a smartphone, a tablet, or the like.

The communication line 4 is a line that communicably connects the server device 10, the image processing device 2, and the user terminal 3. The communication line 4 may be, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), the Internet, or a combination thereof. Further, the communication line 4 may include a public switched telephone network (PSTN: Public Switched Telephone Networks), an integrated services digital network (ISDN), and the like.

The number of each of the server device 10, the USB memory 1, the image processing device 2, the user terminal 3, and the communication line 4 in the information processing system 9 is not limited to that shown in FIG. Further, for example, the server device 10 may be configured by a cluster system in which a plurality of devices share functions.

<Hardware configuration of server device 10>
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the server device 10. The server device 10 shown in FIG. 2 has a processor 11, a memory 12, and an interface 13. That is, the server device 10 is an example of an information processing device having a memory and a processor. These configurations are communicably connected to each other, for example by a bus.

The processor 11 controls each part of the server device 10 by reading and executing the program stored in the memory 12. The processor 11 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

The interface 13 is a communication circuit that connects the server device 10 to the image processing device 2 or the user terminal 3 so as to be communicable via the communication line 4 by wire or wirelessly.

The memory 12 is a storage means for storing an operating system, various programs, data, and the like to be read by the processor 11. The memory 12 has a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The memory 12 may have a solid state drive, a hard disk drive, or the like. The document data is generated by the user terminal 3 and registered in the server device 10 from the user terminal 3 via the communication line 4.

<Hardware configuration of image processing device 2>
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the image processing device 2. The image processing device 2 shown in FIG. 3 includes a processor 21, a memory 22, an input / output interface 23, an operation unit 24, a display unit 25, an image forming device 26, an image reading device 27, and a communication interface 28. These configurations are communicably connected to each other, for example by a bus.

The processor 21 controls each part of the image processing device 2 by reading and executing the program stored in the memory 22. The processor 21 is, for example, a CPU.

The memory 22 is a storage means for storing an operating system, various programs, data, and the like to be read by the processor 21. The memory 22 has a RAM and a ROM.

The input / output interface 23 is hardware (transmission / reception device) for communicating according to the USB standard, and performs data communication with the USB memory 1.

The operation unit 24 includes operation buttons such as an operation button, a keyboard, a touch panel, and a mouse for giving various instructions, receives an operation, and sends a signal according to the operation content to the processor 21.

The display unit 25 has a display screen such as a liquid crystal display, and displays an image under the control of the processor 21. The transparent touch panel of the operation unit 24 may be superposed on the display screen.

The image forming apparatus 26 is hardware for forming an image, and is a device for forming an image on a medium using, for example, an electrophotographic method.

The image reading device 27 is hardware for reading an image, for example, an image scanner.

The communication interface 28 is hardware (transmission / reception device) for communicably connecting the image processing device 2 to the server device 10 or other devices via the communication line 4 by wire or wirelessly. The communication interface 28 is also referred to as, for example, a network device, a network controller, a network card, a communication module, or the like.

The configuration of the user terminal 3 is the same as that of the image processing device 2, and includes a processor, a memory, an interface, an operation unit, and a display unit.

<Functional configuration of image processing device 2>
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the image processing device 2. The processor 21 of the image processing device 2 controls an image reading unit 201 and an input / output interface 23 for acquiring image data representing an image read by the image reading device 27 by executing a program stored in the memory 22. The image read by the data file acquisition unit 202 that acquires the data file from the USB memory 1, the image data extraction unit 203 that extracts the data representing the image from the data file acquired by the data file acquisition unit 202, and the image reading device 27. The format processing unit 204 that generates image data by converting it into a data format common to the data, converts the image data into a file format for outputting the image data read by the image reading device 27, and generates a data file. The file format conversion unit 205 and the transmission unit 206 that transmit the data file to a predetermined destination (here, the storage area of the server device 10) are realized.

The memory 22 of the image processing device 2 stores a management table for managing a file format when the file format conversion unit 205 performs file conversion and a destination when the transmission unit 206 transmits a data file. In this embodiment, these file formats and destinations are determined for each user. In the example of FIG. 4, when the user with the user ID “U001” is logged in to the image processing device 2, the file format when the file format conversion unit 205 performs file conversion is “f001”, and the transmission unit 206. Is "ad001" when transmitting a data file. The file format used here is, for example, a file format such as PDF (Portable Document Format) or JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), and the destination is, for example, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator).

<Operation>
Next, the operation of the image processing device 2 will be described with reference to FIG. First, a certain user is made to read an image of a certain document by using a scanner on the go, and a data file which is a reading result of the USB memory 1 carried by the user is stored. When the user returns to his / her office from outside, he / she logs in to the image processing device 2, connects the USB memory 1, and instructs the image processing device 2 to read the image in the same manner as when reading the image. Do the operation. When the processor 21 of the image processing device 2 is instructed to read the image in this way (step S1; YES), first, the input / output interface 23 is controlled and the USB memory 1 in which the data file is stored is connected. It is determined whether or not it has been performed (step S2).

When the USB memory 1 in which the data file is stored is connected (step S2; YES), the processor 21 controls the input / output interface 23 to read the data file from the USB memory 1 (step S3).

Next, the processor 21 extracts data representing an image from the read data file, and further, the data format of the extracted data is a data format common to the image data when the document is read by the image reading device 27. Image data is generated by converting to (step S4). The data format of the image data when the document is read by the image reading device 27 is, for example, Raw Image Format or the like.

Next, the processor 21 converts the image data generated by converting the data format into a file format for outputting the image data read by the image reading device 27, and generates a data file (step S5). At this time, the processor 21 refers to the management table illustrated in FIG. 4 and converts it into a file format corresponding to the logged-in user. At this time, the processor 21 uses the same rules as when outputting the image data read by the image reading device 27 as the rules for generating the file name, the metadata of the data file, and the like. As a result, image data such as Raw Image Format is converted into a data file such as PDF.

Then, the processor 21 transmits the generated data file to the destination corresponding to the logged-in user (step S6). At this time, the processor 21 refers to the management table illustrated in FIG. 4 to specify the destination corresponding to the logged-in user.

On the other hand, when the document is read by the image processing device 2 and stored in the server device 10, the operation is as follows. First, the user logs in to the image processing device 2, sets a document, and performs an operation instructing reading of the image. When the processor 21 of the image processing device 2 is instructed to read the image in this way (step S1; YES), first, the input / output interface 23 is controlled and the USB memory 1 in which the data file is stored is connected. It is determined whether or not it has been performed (step S2).

Here, since the USB memory 1 in which the data file is stored is not connected (step S2; NO), the processor 21 controls the image reading device 27 to read the image of the document (step S7).

Next, the processor 21 generates image data in a data format such as Raw Image Format based on the read result (step S8).

Next, the processor 21 converts the generated image data into a file format corresponding to the logged-in user with reference to the management table illustrated in FIG. 4 to generate a data file (step S5). As a result, image data such as Raw Image Format is converted into a data file such as PDF.

Then, the processor 21 transmits the generated data file to the destination corresponding to the user who logged in in the management table illustrated in FIG. 4 (step S6).

According to the above-described configuration, when the user temporarily stores the image of the document in the USB memory 1 and connects the image to the USB memory 1 in the image processing device 2, the data file in the USB memory 1 is stored in the image processing device 2. It is possible to perform a series of operations up to saving in the server device 10 as a process in the same manner as the data file read in.

<Modification example>
The above is the description of the embodiment, but the content of this embodiment can be modified as follows. In addition, the following modifications may be combined with each other.

<Modification 1>
In the above-described embodiment, the server device 10 has a processor 11 configured by a CPU, but the control means for controlling the server device 10 may have another configuration. For example, the server device 10 may have various processors or the like in addition to the CPU.

Here, the processor refers to a processor in a broad sense, and is a general-purpose processor (for example, the CPU described above) or a dedicated processor (for example, GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, etc. It includes programmable logic devices, etc.).

<Modification 2>
The operation of the processor in the above-described embodiment is not limited to one processor, but may be performed by a plurality of processors existing at physically separated positions in cooperation with each other. Further, the order of each operation of the processor is not limited to the order described in the above-described embodiment, and may be changed as appropriate.

<Modification 3>
In the above embodiment, the external storage device, which is external to the image processing device 2, exemplifies the USB memory 1, which is a storage device connected to the image processing device 2 via the input / output interface 23. Although it is external to the image processing device 2, the external storage device may be a storage device connected to the image processing device 2 via a communication line. For example, in the example of FIG. 7, the storage device 5 realized by a computer is an example of a storage device connected to the image processing device 2 via a communication line 4. In this case, when the user scans the document, the device that performed the scan is connected to the communication line 4, but the server device 10 is not accessed due to some access restriction or authentication failure, but the storage device 5 is used. Is supposed to be accessible. For example, when the server device 10 is located in the firewall of an organization such as a company, it is difficult to directly acquire and store data from the image processing device 2 existing outside the company. In such a case, since the storage device 5 which is a cloud server on the Internet can be accessed, the data is stored in the storage area of this cloud server.

In this modification, the operation is as shown in FIG. First, a certain user causes an image of a certain document to be read by a scanner on the go, and the data file which is the reading result is stored in the storage device 5 from the scanner via the communication line 4. .. When the user returns to his / her own business office from outside, he / she logs in to the image processing device 2 and performs an operation of instructing the image reading in the same manner as when the image processing device 2 performs image reading. When the image reading is instructed in this way, the processor 21 of the image processing device 2 first determines whether or not the identification information for identifying the storage device 5 has been input (step S22). ).

When the identification information for identifying the storage device 5 is input (step S22; YES), the processor 21 controls the communication interface 28 and reads the data file from the storage device 5 via the communication line 4 (step S23).

Next, the processor 21 extracts data representing an image from the read data file, and further, the data format of the extracted data is a data format common to the image data when the document is read by the image reading device 27. Image data is generated by converting to (step S4). Next, the processor 21 converts the image data generated by converting the data format into a file format for outputting the image data read by the image reading device 27, and generates a data file (step S5). Then, the processor 21 transmits the generated data file to the destination corresponding to the logged-in user (step S6).

On the other hand, when the document is read by the image processing device 2 and stored in the server device 10, the operation is as follows. First, the user logs in to the image processing device 2, sets a document, and performs an operation instructing reading of the image. When the image reading is instructed in this way (step S1; YES), the processor 21 of the image processing device 2 determines whether or not the identification information for identifying the storage device 5 has been input (step S22).

If the identification information that identifies the storage device 5 is not input (step S22; NO), the processor 21 reads the image of the document (step S7). That is, when the processor 21 is instructed to read an image and the information for identifying the storage device 5 which is an external storage device is input, the processor 21 reads the data file from the external storage device. Next, the processor 21 generates image data based on the read result (step S8). Next, the processor 21 converts the generated image data into a file format corresponding to the logged-in user to generate a data file (step S5). Then, the processor 21 transmits the generated data file to the destination corresponding to the user who logged in in the management table illustrated in FIG. 4 (step S6).

The processor 21 stores the identification information of the storage device 5 in advance, controls the communication interface 28 when the document is not set, and reads the data file from the storage device 5 via the communication line 4. May be good. The identification information of the storage device 5 may be stored in the management table in association with the user ID.

<Modification example 4>
Whether or not the processor 21 reads a data file from an external storage device such as the USB memory 1 or the storage device 5 for the user when there is no document to be read by the image reading device 27 when the image reading is instructed. You may inquire about.

In this modification, the operation is as shown in FIG. First, a certain user is made to read an image of a certain document by using a scanner on the go, and a data file which is a reading result of the USB memory 1 carried by the user is stored. When the user returns to his / her office from outside, he / she logs in to the image processing device 2, connects the USB memory 1, and instructs the image processing device 2 to read the image in the same manner as when reading the image. Do the operation. When the processor 21 of the image processing device 2 is instructed to read the image in this way (step S1; YES), first, the input / output interface 23 is controlled and the USB memory 1 in which the data file is stored is connected. It is determined whether or not it has been performed (step S2).

When the USB memory 1 in which the data file is stored is connected (step S2; YES), the processor 21 sends a message to the display unit 25 asking the user whether to read the data file from the USB memory 1. Display (step S30). When the user is instructed to read the data file from the USB memory 1 (step S30; USB memory), the processor 21 controls the input / output interface 23 to read the data file from the USB memory 1 (step S3).

Next, the processor 21 extracts data representing an image from the read data file, and further, the data format of the extracted data is a data format common to the image data when the document is read by the image reading device 27. Image data is generated by converting to (step S4). Next, the processor 21 converts the image data generated by converting the data format into a file format for outputting the image data read by the image reading device 27, and generates a data file (step S5). Then, the processor 21 transmits the generated data file to the destination corresponding to the logged-in user (step S6).

On the other hand, when the user is instructed to read the document in the image processing device 2 (step S30; image reading device), the processor 21 controls the image reading device 27 to read the image of the document (step S7). Next, the processor 21 generates image data in a data format such as Raw Image Format based on the read result (step S8). Next, the processor 21 converts the generated image data into a file format corresponding to the logged-in user with reference to the management table illustrated in FIG. 4 to generate a data file (step S5). Then, the processor 21 transmits the generated data file to the destination corresponding to the user who logged in in the management table illustrated in FIG. 4 (step S6).

<Modification 5>
The processor 21 may read out a data file having a specific attribute among the data files stored in an external storage device such as the USB memory 1 or the storage device 5. This attribute includes at least one of the file format of the data file, the time stamp given to the data file, or the metadata of the data file. The attribute of the data file to be read may be stored in the management table in association with the user ID. The processor 21 reads out the data file of the attribute corresponding to the logged-in user.

<Modification 6>
In the above-described embodiment, the program executed by the processor 21 of the image processing device 20 performs a step of reading a data file from an external storage device and a data format of the read data file when an image reading is instructed. , A step of converting to a data format common to the image data read by the image reading device to generate image data, and when outputting the generated image data to the image data read by the image reading device. This is an example of a program for executing a step of converting to a file format and generating a data file and a step of sending the generated data file to a predetermined destination. This program may be provided in a state of being stored in a recording medium readable by a computer device such as a magnetic recording medium such as a magnetic tape and a magnetic disk, an optical recording medium such as an optical disk, an optical magnetic recording medium, and a semiconductor memory. Further, this program may be downloaded via a communication line such as the Internet.

1 ... USB memory, 10 ... server device, 101 ... processor, 12 ... memory, 13 ... interface, 2 ... image processing device, 21 ... processor, 22 ... memory, 23 ... input / output interface, 24 ... operation unit, 25 ... display Unit, 26 ... Image forming device, 27 ... Image reading device, 28 ... Communication interface, 201 ... Image reading unit, 202 ... Data file acquisition unit, 203 ... Image data extraction unit, 204 ... Format processing unit, 205 ... File format conversion Unit, 206 ... Transmitter, 3 ... User terminal, 4 ... Communication line, 5 ... Storage device, 9,9a ... Information processing system

Claims (8)

Has a processor connected to an image reader and has
The processor
When the image reading is instructed, the data file is read from the external storage device,
The data format of the read data file is converted into a data format common to the image data read by the image reader to generate image data.
The generated image data is converted into a file format for outputting the image data read by the image reader to generate a data file.
An information processing device that sends the generated data file to a specified destination. The information processing according to claim 1, wherein the external storage device is a storage device connected to the self-information processing device via an input / output interface, or a storage device connected to the self-information processing device via a communication line. Device. The processor
When there is no document to be read by the image scanning device when image scanning is instructed.
The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2, inquiring the user whether or not to read the data file from the external storage device. The processor
The information processing device according to claim 2, wherein when the image reading is instructed and the storage device is connected to the self-information processing device via the input / output interface, the data file is read from the storage device. The processor
When the image reading is instructed and the identification information for identifying the storage device connected to the self-information processing device via the communication line is input, the data file is read from the storage device. The information processing apparatus according to any one of 4. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the processor reads a data file having a specific attribute from the data files stored in the external storage device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the attribute includes at least one of a file format of the data file, a time stamp given to the data file, and metadata of the data file. To the computer connected to the image reader
When the image reading is instructed, the step of reading the data file from the external storage device and
A step of converting the data format of the read data file into a data format common to the image data read by the image reader to generate image data.
A step of converting the generated image data into a file format for outputting the image data read by the image reader to generate a data file, and
A program to execute the steps of sending the generated data file to a fixed destination.

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