JP3070137B2 - Image data transfer device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image data transfer apparatus used for a facsimile or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in the information age, interest in image data transfer devices used for facsimile machines and the like has been increasing. Under such an environment, in a conventional image data transfer apparatus, a plurality of transmission originals set on a sheet feeder or the like are sent one by one to a scanner or the like to perform image data reading processing. Next, the read image data is sequentially transferred to a designated destination via a telephone line. Conventionally, image data transfer processing is performed by repeating this series of processing for the number of set transmission originals.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional configuration, it is not considered that a plurality of image data having different transmission destinations coexist in the same transmission original, and this type of transfer processing is desired. Even if the transfer data amount of each destination is less than the data amount of one transmission original,
A plurality of transmission originals are required, and the number of transmission originals and the transfer processing time are disadvantageously increased.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image data transfer device which can solve the above-mentioned conventional problems.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image data input section for inputting image data in which a destination number with a control mark is written, and an image data input section for inputting the image data from the image data input section. An image data storage unit that stores image data, a barcode extraction unit that determines a barcode based on information obtained from the image data storage unit,
A destination number area extracting unit for recognizing a control mark written in an image while referring to the image data storage unit / barcode extracting unit and extracting an image data area corresponding to a destination number, and the destination number area extracting unit. An extraction data storage unit for storing the obtained image data area; and an O character referring to the extraction data storage unit for character recognition of the stored image data.
A CR unit, a text data storage unit for storing information recognized by the OCR unit for character recognition, and making a call to a telephone exchange while referring to the text data storage unit or storing the information in the image data storage unit. A communication control unit for transmitting the information to the telephone line, and a system control unit for controlling the image data input unit, bar code extraction unit, destination number area extraction unit, OCR unit, and communication control unit. It is composed.

[0006]

With the above arrangement, when an operator prepares a transmission original, if the destination and the content of the image data are different, the operator detects the barcode provided immediately before the destination from the read image data. The image data can be transferred for each area partitioned by the barcode. That is, once (one sent document)
It is possible to perform a plurality of transfers in the reading process, and a plurality of image data having different destinations may be mixed in the same transmission original. Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the number of transmitted documents every time the destination and the image data are different as in the related art, and the paperless operation and the transfer time are shortened, so that more efficient transfer processing can be performed. Become.

[0007]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, image data is first read by an image data input unit 1, and the read data is stored in an image data storage unit 2. Next, the bar code D is obtained from the information obtained from the image data storage unit 2.
Is determined by the barcode extraction unit 11. Next, referring to the image data storage unit 2 and the barcode extraction unit 11, the destination number area extraction unit 3 recognizes the control mark C in the image, and the image data area corresponding to the destination number A is extracted. The image data B1, B2, etc. of the image data area obtained by the destination number area extraction unit 3 are stored in the extraction data storage unit 4 and correspond to the plurality of destination numbers A in the image.
Are recognized by the OCR unit 5. The information recognized by the OCR unit 5 is stored in the next text data storage unit 6. The communication control unit 7 makes a call to the telephone exchange while referring to the text data storage unit 6 and controls the information stored in the image data storage unit 2 to be transmitted to the telephone line 9. Further, the system control unit 8 controls the image data input unit 1, the barcode extraction unit 11, the destination number area extraction unit 3, the OCR unit 5, the communication control unit 7, and the like.
Read image data B, detect destination number data area,
Performs character recognition processing or communication processing. The data transfer device of the present invention is configured as described above.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a plurality of transmission documents a and b used in the image data transfer apparatus of the present invention and in which a bar code D and a destination number A are entered. In these transmission manuscripts a and b, a bar code D is provided and entered each time the destination and the content of the image data differ.
Further, when the destination number A is entered, the destination number A is created under the restriction that a control mark C is always added before and after the destination number A.

The operation of the image data transfer apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

First, in step ST3-1, image data B to be transferred, a bar code D provided for each of different destinations and contents of the image data, and a bar code D
Assuming that the operator sets a plurality of transmission originals 10 each having a destination number A with a control mark written in each area partitioned by a sheet feeder,
The system control unit 8 instructs the image data input unit 1 to convey one transmission document 10 from the sheet feeder and to read image data B from the transmission document 10.

Next, in step ST3-2, the image data input unit 1 which has received the instruction carries out processing for transporting one transmission document from the sheet feeder, and then in step ST3-3, transmits image data B from the transmission document 10 to the transmission document. Perform the reading process,
The information is stored in the image data storage unit 2. After the end of the image data storage, a signal indicating the end of the process is sent to the system control unit 8.

Next, in step ST3-4, when the system control unit 8 receives a signal indicating the end of the processing, the system control unit 8 executes the barcode extraction unit 1
1 is instructed to detect an image data area corresponding to a barcode area from the read image data B. The barcode extraction unit 11 that has received the instruction detects the image data area corresponding to the barcode D that is plurally entered in the image while referring to the image data storage unit 2, and counts the number of detections in step ST3-5. I will do it.

Next, in step ST3-6, the address of the barcode detected in step ST3-4 is stored in the internal memory of the barcode extraction unit 11, and the image data storage unit 2 stores the image corresponding to the barcode. Delete data. After the data is deleted, a signal indicating the end of the process is sent to the system control unit 8.

Next, in step ST3-7, the system control unit 8 which has received the signal indicating the end of the processing sends the destination number area extracting unit 3 the image data corresponding to the destination number area from the read image data B. Instruct to detect the area. Upon receiving the instruction, the destination number area extraction unit 3 refers to the image data storage unit 2 and the internal memory of the barcode extraction unit 11 and detects image data corresponding to the destination number A.

Next, in step ST3-8, the plurality of image data detected in step ST3-7 are stored in the extracted data storage unit 4, and the image data corresponding to the destination number is deleted from the image data storage unit 2. Do. After the data is deleted, a signal indicating the end of the process is sent to the system control unit 8.

Next, in step ST3-9, the system control unit 8 which has received the signal of the end of the processing determines whether or not the unprocessed transmission document 10 is present on the sheet feeder. Step ST3-2, Step ST3-3, Step ST3-4, Step ST3
-5, steps ST3-6, ST3-7, ST3-8, and step ST3-9 are repeated. If not present, it instructs the OCR unit 5 to perform character recognition on the image data of the detected destination number A.

Next, the OCR unit 5 having received the instruction in step ST3-10 refers to the number of detections stored in the extracted data storage unit 4 and the internal memory of the bar code extraction unit 11 and character-recognizes the destination number A. I do. After the end of the character recognition, the recognition result is stored in the text data storage unit 6, and a signal indicating the end of the process is sent to the system control unit 8.

Next, in step ST3-11, the system control unit 8 having received the signal indicating the end of the processing instructs the communication control unit 7 to transfer the image data. Upon receiving the instruction, the communication control unit 7 performs dialing with reference to the text data storage unit 6 and makes a call to the telephone exchange.

Next, in step ST3-12, it is determined whether or not the telephone line 9 has entered the talking state due to the call made in step ST3-11, and the steps ST3-11 and ST3-12 are performed until the telephone line 9 enters the talking state. Repeat the process. Then, when the communication state is established, the control proceeds to step ST3-13.

Next, in step ST3-13, the image data area to be transmitted is determined with reference to the address of the barcode stored in the internal memory of the barcode extraction unit 11 and the number of detections, and transferred through the telephone line 9. I do. After the transfer is completed, the number of detections stored in the barcode extraction unit 11 is counted down in step ST3-14. If the result of determination in step ST3-15 is that the number of detections is not yet 0, Step ST3-
10, step ST3-11, step ST3-12,
The processing of step ST3-13, step ST3-14, and step ST3-15 is sequentially repeated. Then, when it is determined that the number of detections has become 0, the control proceeds to step ST
Control is passed to 3-16.

Next, in step ST3-16, the telephone line 9 is disconnected. Next, in step ST3-17, the image data storage section 2 is cleared, and the processing of all steps is completed.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, an image data input section for inputting image data in which a destination number with a control mark is entered, and the image data input from the image data input section are stored. An image data storage unit, a barcode extraction unit that determines a barcode based on information obtained from the image data storage unit, and a control mark in an image with reference to the image data storage unit / barcode extraction unit. A destination number area extracting unit that recognizes and extracts an image data area corresponding to a destination number; and an extracted data storage unit that stores an image data area obtained by the destination number area extracting unit.
An OCR unit that refers to the extracted data storage unit and recognizes characters of the stored image data, a text data storage unit that stores information that is recognized by the OCR unit, and a text data storage unit that refers to the text data storage unit. A communication control unit for making a call to a telephone exchange and controlling information stored in the image data storage unit to be transmitted to a telephone line; and the image data input unit / barcode extraction unit / destination number Since the image data transfer apparatus is composed of the area extraction unit, the OCR unit, and the system control unit that controls the communication control unit, when the operator creates a transmission original, the destination and the contents of the image data are different. By detecting the barcode provided immediately before the barcode from the read image data, the image data is read for each area partitioned by the barcode. Transfer processing can be performed.
That is, a plurality of transfers can be performed in one reading process (one transmission document), and a plurality of image data having different destinations may be mixed in the same transmission document. Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the number of originals to be transmitted each time the destination and the image data are different as in the related art. Will be possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image data transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an example of a transmission original in which a barcode and a destination number used in the image data transfer apparatus according to the embodiment are entered.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the image data transfer apparatus according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image data input part 2 Image data storage part 3 Destination number area extraction part 4 Extracted data storage part 5 OCR part 6 Text data storage part 7 Communication control part 8 System control part 9 Telephone line 11 Barcode extraction part

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An image data input unit for inputting image data in which a destination number with a control mark is entered; an image data storage unit for storing image data input from the image data input unit; A barcode extraction unit that determines a barcode based on information obtained from the unit;
A destination number area extracting section for recognizing a control mark in an image while referring to the image data storage section / barcode extracting section and extracting an image data area corresponding to a destination number; and image data obtained by the destination number area extracting section. An extracted data storage unit for storing an area, an OCR unit for referring to the extracted data storage unit for character recognition of the stored image data, and a text data storage unit for storing information recognized by the OCR unit for character recognition. A communication control unit for making a call to a telephone exchange while referring to the text data storage unit, and controlling information stored in the image data storage unit to be transmitted to a telephone line; An image data transfer device comprising: an input unit, a barcode extraction unit, a destination number area extraction unit, an OCR unit, and a system control unit that controls a communication control unit.