JP2722196B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus which is connected to a plurality of facsimile apparatuses and an optical image reading apparatus and functions as a composite terminal.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, there is an image processing apparatus which is connected to a facsimile apparatus via a communication network and functions as a composite terminal together with an optical image reading apparatus. In such an image processing apparatus, for example, when a document relating to a form is sent from a facsimile apparatus via a communication network, the image processing apparatus transfers image information in the order of the received document to an optical image reading apparatus (OCR apparatus). Therefore, the document received by the OCR apparatus is not distinguished for each form, and several types of forms are provided for each sheet. For this reason, a situation has arisen in which the OCR apparatus cannot run a business program for performing subsequent processing until the original received from the image processing apparatus is completely recognized. In addition, the OCR apparatus operator is required to perform a process of switching the business program based on the information recognized each time, and a loss such as a switching process and a loading time of the business program has occurred.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the conventional image processing apparatus, the originals are sent to the OCR apparatus in the order in which they are received. Therefore, there is a problem that the business program of the OCR apparatus must be switched. there were.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of efficiently running a business program with an OCR apparatus.

[Configuration of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in addition to being connected to an optical image reading device, the present invention is connected to a plurality of facsimile devices via a communication network and transmitted from the facsimile device. An image processing apparatus for transferring image data of a plurality of types of forms to the optical image reading apparatus; a type determining unit for determining a type of the form corresponding to the image data transmitted by the facsimile apparatus; Storage means for storing the image data for each type of the form based on the determination result by the means, and corresponding to the request among the image data stored in the storage means in response to a request from the optical image reading apparatus Selecting means for selecting image data of the selected type; and transferring the image data selected by the selecting means to the optical image reading apparatus. Characterized by comprising a transfer means.

(Operation) In the present invention, the form is distinguished for each form type and stored in the memory, and the form is transferred to the optical image reading apparatus for each form type requested by the optical image reading apparatus. The operator of the image reading apparatus can continuously run the started business program until processing of a series of data sent from the image processing apparatus is completed.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system using an image processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 3 is connected to a plurality of facsimile apparatuses 1a, 1b,. This image processing device 3 is connected to an optical image reading device (OCR device) 6. The image processing device 3 has a control unit 4 and a memory 5.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the memory 5, and as shown in the figure, the memory 5 has memory areas 5a, 5b,.

 Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

The worker who has completed the OCR form after the start of the day's work inputs the OCR form manuscript using the facsimile machine 1a. The input OCR document is sent to the image processing device 3 via the communication network 2.

The operator specifies a box number of the memory 5 to which a predetermined OCR form is to be input from the operation panel of the facsimile machine 1a.

The worker calls the image processing apparatus 3 by telephone. When detecting the incoming call (step 301), the control unit 4 of the image processing device 3 starts the facsimile pre-procedure process (step 302). The control unit 4 sets the signal indicating that the post-office box function is present in the non-standard function identification signal (NSF signal) in the pre-facsimile pre-procedure processing and the own telephone number as the called terminal identification signal (CSI signal). The NSF signal, the CSI signal, and the digital identification signal (DIS signal) are sent to the facsimile machine 1a as shown in FIG. 4 (step 40).
1). Upon receiving this signal, the facsimile machine 1a converts the box number input from the panel into a non-standard function setting signal (NSS signal).
Then, the own station telephone number is inserted into the transmitting terminal identification signal (TSI signal), and the NSS signal, TSI signal and digital command signal (DCS signal) are sent to the image processing apparatus (step 402), followed by the training signal (TCF). Signal) (step 403). When receiving the NSS signal, the TSI signal, and the DCS signal, the control unit 4 of the image processing device 3 determines whether or not there is a post-office box function from the NSS signal (step 303). If there is no PO Box function, set another box number (Step 30)
Five).

Then, when the image processing device 3 receives the TCF signal and determines that the line status check is good, it sends a reception preparation confirmation signal (CFR signal) to the facsimile device 1a and enters an image signal reception waiting state (step 404). ).

When the PIX signal is sent from the facsimile machine 1a (step 405), the control unit 4 receives this facsimile image signal (step 306), and the control unit 4 stores the image signal in the box of the corresponding number in the memory 5 (step 306). 307). When the reception of the facsimile image signal is completed (step 308), a procedure end signal (EOP signal) is sent from the facsimile device 1a (step 406), and the control unit 4 performs post-facsimile procedure processing (step 309), and a message confirmation signal (MCF signal) is sent to the facsimile machine 1a (step 407). When the disconnection command signal (DCN signal) is sent from the facsimile machine 1a (step 408), the control unit 4 sends the DCN signal to the facsimile machine 1a (step 409) and disconnects the line (step 310).

By repeating such an operation, the image data classified for each form is stored in the boxes 5a,.

Next, the operator of the OCR device 6 activates the OCR device 6 to start processing when data is accumulated in the memory 5.
First, a business processing program relating to a first type of form is run, and a document extraction request signal is sent to the control unit 4 of the image processing apparatus 3. When detecting the document take-out request signal (step 501), the control unit 4 starts the OCR connection procedure processing (step 502). When the box number is extracted in the OCR connection procedure processing (step 503), the control unit 4 reads the image data of the box of the corresponding number from the memory 5 and sends it to the OCR device 6 (step 504). When all the data transfer is completed (Step 505), the control unit 4 performs the OCR disconnection procedure processing (Step 506) and disconnects the connection with the OCR device 6.

By repeating such operations, for example, five types of forms can be processed by the operator of the OCR device 6 starting and running the business program five times.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, in the image processing apparatus, forms are separately stored for each type of form sent from the facsimile apparatus, and the form is transferred according to a signal indicating the type of form sent from the OCR apparatus. With such a configuration, useless work of loading and processing the business program by the OCR device for each received document can be omitted, and the operator of the OCR device can efficiently perform the business. .

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus capable of efficiently running a business program with an optical image reading apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system using an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a memory 5, and FIG.
FIG. 4, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 are a flowchart and a sequence diagram showing the operation of the present embodiment. 1a, 1b, ... 1n ... facsimile machine, 3 ... image processing device, 4
... Control part, 5 ... Memory, 6 ... OCR device.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An optical image reading apparatus connected to an optical image reading apparatus, connected to a plurality of facsimile apparatuses via a communication network, and transmitting image data of a plurality of types of forms sent from the facsimile apparatus to the optical image reading apparatus. A type determining means for determining the type of the form corresponding to the image data transmitted by the facsimile apparatus; and a method for converting the image data based on the type of the form based on the determination result by the type determining means. Storage means for storing, in response to a request from the optical image reading device, selection means for selecting, from the image data stored in the storage means, image data of a type corresponding to the request; and selection means Transferring means for transferring the image data selected by the above to the optical image reading device.