JP3581701B2 - Image reading system and information processing terminal control method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image reading system including an image reading device that reads an image of a document and outputs image data, and an information processing terminal that inputs image data output from the image reading device, and a control method of the information processing terminal. is there.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, there is an image reading system including an information processing terminal and an image reading device. The instruction to start image reading by this type of image reading apparatus is performed by an operation from the information processing terminal, but the image reading apparatus is connected to the LAN, and the image reading apparatus is shared by a plurality of information processing terminals. When such a configuration is considered, it is generally assumed that the image reading device and the information processing terminal are installed at physically separated positions. For this reason, it is considered that means for directly issuing an instruction to start image reading from the image reading apparatus is useful.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, if an instruction to start image reading is received from both the image reading device and the information processing terminal as in the above conventional case, the image reading process is performed based on the reading instruction from the operation unit of the image reading device. There is a problem that the image reading sequence differs between the case where the image reading process is performed and the case where the image reading process is performed without an instruction from the operation unit of the image reading device.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to eliminate the above-described problems. An object of the present invention is to standardize an image reading sequence when performing a reading process.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image reading system that includes an image reading device that reads an image of a document and outputs image data and an information processing terminal that inputs image data output from the image reading device. The information processing terminal instructs the image reading apparatus to start reading an image and performs an image reading process according to an image reading sequence in which the image reading apparatus receives an image data read and output by the image reading apparatus based on the instruction. A control method, comprising: a confirmation step of confirming whether or not an image reading instruction has been issued from an operation unit of the image reading apparatus; and if the confirmation step confirms that the reading instruction has been issued , the image reading apparatus first image reading performing image reading processing by the image reading sequence by instructing to start reading the image with respect to A process and, the second image reading step of performing image reading processing by the image reading sequence by instructing to start reading the image with respect to the image reading apparatus without reading instruction of an image from the operating unit It is characterized by the following.
[0006]
The present invention also provides an image reading system having an image reading device that reads an image of a document and outputs image data and an information processing terminal that inputs image data output from the image reading device, wherein the information processing terminal is instructed to start reading the image the image reading apparatus performs image reading processing by the image reading sequence by the image reading apparatus based on the instruction to receive the image data obtained by reading output image in the information processing terminal the A control method of an image reading system, comprising: an instruction inputting step of inputting a reading instruction by an operator from an operation unit of the image reading device; and confirming a reading instruction input in the inputting step by an instruction from the information processing terminal. a confirmation step of, when confirming the reading instruction from the operation unit of the image reading apparatus in the confirmation step, said information processing A first image reading step of executing the image reading sequence by instructing to start reading the image with respect to the image reading apparatus from the terminal, from said information processing terminal without input instruction read by said input step A second image reading step of executing the image reading sequence by instructing the image reading apparatus to start reading an image.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0008]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an image reading apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a scanner) 101 is an image reading apparatus having a connection interface with an information processing terminal 102. The image reading apparatus 101 optically reads a sheet-shaped or book-shaped original, and electrically reads the original. The data is converted into image data and output to the information processing terminal 102. The scanner 101 starts reading a document in response to an instruction from the connected information processing terminal 102. In addition, a user instruction is received from an operation unit described later.
[0009]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the scanner 101. In the figure, a CPU 201 is a system control unit, and controls the entire scanner 101 via a system bus 211. The ROM 202 stores a control program of the CPU 201, an operating system (OS) program, and the like. The RAM 203 is configured by, for example, an SRAM or the like, and stores program control variables and the like. That is, the RAM 203 stores setting values registered by the operator, management data of the system, and the like, and also functions as various work buffers.
[0010]
The image memory 204 includes, for example, a DRAM or the like, and stores input image data. In the present embodiment, each control program stored in the ROM 202 performs software control such as scheduling and a task switch under the management of the OS stored in the ROM 202.
[0011]
The operation unit 205 includes various keys, an LED, an LCD, and the like, and performs various input operations by the operating system and displays an operation status of the image reading system.
[0012]
The reading control unit 206 includes, for example, a CS image sensor, a document conveying mechanism, and the like. The reading control unit 206 optically reads an image on a document using a CS image sensor, and converts the image into electrical image data. Various image processing such as binarization processing and halftone processing is performed on the converted image data by the image processing control unit 207, and as a result, high-definition image data is output. Then, the converted image data is encoded according to a predetermined encoding method via the reading decoding control unit 208, and is stored in the image memory 204.
[0013]
The I / F control unit 210 performs interface control with the information processing terminal 102 connected to the outside of the scanner 101. Note that the present embodiment corresponds to a parallel interface such as a bidirectional Centronics interface. Also, when transferring the image data to the external information processing terminal 102 via the interface, the I / F code decoding processing unit 209 determines if necessary, depending on the type of the image stored in the image memory 204. Here, necessary decoding / encoding processing is performed, and the image data is sent to the information processing terminal 102 side.
[0014]
The information processing terminal 102 is a general-purpose personal computer, and includes an MPU, a hard disk, a keyboard, a display, and the like. Further, the information processing terminal 212 can be connected to a LAN in addition to the scanner 101. Through the information processing terminal 102, a plurality of client terminals on the LAN can receive image data input from the scanner 101. Can be.
[0015]
The remote operation from the information processing terminal 102 to the scanner 101 is performed by transmitting predetermined command, parameter, data, and the like to the scanner 101 via the I / F control unit 210.
[0016]
In the present embodiment, the information processing terminal 102 and the scanner 101 exchange information using a protocol conforming to IEEE1284.
[0017]
In addition, since no special channel is provided according to the standard specification of this protocol, the information processing terminal 102 takes the initiative in communication with the scanner 101 in principle. Except for the defined notification (alert), the scanner 101 does not send a response to the information processing terminal 212 by itself. When the scanner 101 returns a response to the information processing terminal 212, a response request flag (reply required flag) needs to be set in a message from the information processing terminal 102. The information processing terminal 102 can recognize the state of the scanner 101 (for example, the operation content of the operation unit 205) based on the state of this flag.
[0018]
In the present embodiment, application software and driver software for controlling the above-described remote operation and remote operation request are installed on the hard disk of the information processing terminal 102.
[0019]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the operation unit 205 of the scanner 101. In the figure, a key 301 is a key for instructing the start of document reading, a key 302 is a key for reserving the start of document reading, and an LED 303 is an LED for indicating the state of booked start of document reading. A key 304 is a key for designating the density when reading a document.
[0020]
LEDs 305, 306, and 307 are LEDs that indicate the density at the time of reading the original specified by the key 304. Here, every time the key 304 is pressed, the LED is turned on in the order of LED 305 → LED 306 → LED 307 → LED 305 →.
[0021]
A key 308 is a key for designating a resolution at the time of reading a document, and LEDs 309, 310, and 311 are LEDs indicating the resolution at the time of reading the document specified by the key 308. That is, every time the key 308 is pressed, the LED is turned on in the order of LED309 → LED310 → LED311 → LED309 →.
[0022]
When the operation of the keys 301 and 302 is performed, the operation is notified to the information processing terminal 212. Turning on and off the LED 303 can be controlled from the information processing terminal 102. Each key is operated by a manual operation by an operator.
[0023]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure when the information processing terminal 102 according to the present embodiment controls the scanner 101.
[0024]
This flowchart shows a flow of control executed by the MPU based on an application program installed on a hard disk under the management of the MPU of the information processing terminal 102.
[0025]
In step S401 in FIG. 4, it is checked whether the scanner 101 is currently reading a document. If the document is being read, the operation in step S401 is repeated, and if not, the process proceeds to step S402. In step S402, it is checked whether the press of the key 302 (key for reserving the start of document reading) is notified. If it is determined that the key 302 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S403. If the key 302 has not been pressed, the process proceeds to step S409.
[0026]
In step S403, the fact that the image reading has been reserved is stored from the operation unit 205 of the scanner 101, and the scanner 101 is instructed to turn on the LED 303 in response to the reservation. At this time, a reading instruction from the keyboard of the information processing terminal 102 is not accepted. In step S404, it is checked whether there is a notification that the key 301 (key for instructing the start of document reading) has been pressed. If the key 301 has been notified, the process proceeds to step S405. If the key 301 has not been pressed, the process of step S404 is repeated.
[0027]
In step S405, it is checked whether a document to be read is set on the scanner 101. If a document has been set, the process proceeds to step S406, and if it has not been set, the process proceeds to step S408. That is, in step S406, an image reading module is called, and the scanner 101 is instructed to start reading an image on a document. Then, the image data obtained by reading the image of the original by the scanner 101 is read out from the image memory 204, and the information processing terminal 102 receives the image data via the I / F control unit 210 and stores it in a predetermined area of the hard disk.
[0028]
In step S407, the scanner 101 is instructed to cancel the image reading reservation stored in step S403 and turn off the LED 303. On the other hand, in step S408, the fact that the document to be read is not set on the scanner 101 is displayed on the display of the information processing terminal 102, and the user of the information processing terminal is notified.
[0029]
If it is determined in step S402 that the key 302 has not been pressed, it is checked in step S409 whether the key 301 has been pressed. If the key 301 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S405. If the key 301 has not been pressed, the process proceeds to step S410.
[0030]
In step S410, it is checked whether an instruction to start image reading has been received from the information processing terminal 102. If an image reading start instruction has been received, the process proceeds to step S405 to determine whether there is a document. If the image reading start instruction has not been received, the process returns to the first process, that is, step S401.
[0031]
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a data flow between the scanner 101 and the information processing terminal 102.
[0032]
In the present embodiment, the scanner 101 and the information processing terminal 102 transmit and receive information based on IEEE1284. Therefore, transmission and reception of all information are performed in a procedure in which the scanner 101 returns a response to a command issued by the information processing terminal 102.
[0033]
The information processing terminal 102 transmits a command for inquiring about the operation status of the scanner 101 at predetermined time intervals (501). The scanner 101 transmits an operation status (for example, the information of S401) to the information processing terminal 102 according to an instruction from the information processing terminal 102 (502).
[0034]
In this operation state, the scanner 101 writes information in a predetermined area of the image memory 204, and the information processing terminal 102 checks this information.
[0035]
After confirming the presence of the notification data by the response (502) from the scanner 101, the information processing terminal 102 prepares to acquire further information from the scanner 101 by the notification data acquisition command (503).
[0036]
Operations on the keys 301 and 302 are notified to the information processing terminal 102 by a response (504). When an operation is performed on the keys 301 and 302, the scanner 101 stores predetermined data in the image memory 204 to notify the information processing terminal 102 of the key operation. Since the information processing terminal 102 can know that data is stored in the image memory 204 by transmitting a command for inquiring about the operation status of the scanner 101, the information processing terminal 102 receives data again with the notification data acquisition command (503). Command is issued to know that a key operation has been performed. Although omitted here, it is assumed that confirmation of S405 and the like are also performed by a command and a response.
[0037]
When the operator confirms the content of the operation on the operation unit 205, the information processing terminal 102 calls the image reading module, and starts reading the document according to the content set on the operation unit 205 of the scanner 101. Is started by
[0038]
When the normal response (506) from the scanner 101 is confirmed, a command (507) is issued to receive the image data obtained by reading the original, and the upload of the image data is started by the normal response (508) from the scanner 101. I do. This image data is stored in an area (prepared for each user) specified by the operator from the operation unit 205 in the hard disk of the information processing terminal 102.
[0039]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, both the scanner 101 and the information processing terminal 102 can instruct an image reading operation by the scanner 101, and all these instructions can be sent to the information processing terminal 102. By managing the scanner 101, a plurality of users can share the scanner 101, and it is possible to prevent a reading start instruction from a plurality of terminals or the like from being multiplexed.
[0040]
Further, an operation for reading an image may be performed only by an operation from the operation unit 205. In other words, since it is necessary to bring the document to the scanner 101, the operation unit 205 is operated at that time, so that complication does not occur. Therefore, the activation of the document reading can be instructed only from the operation unit 205, and the actual activation is started based on the command from the information processing terminal 102, thereby preventing the collision of the activation instruction, and further simplifying the processing on the information processing terminal side. Can be
[0041]
In the present embodiment, the operation content from the operation unit 205 of the scanner 101 is stored in a predetermined area of the image memory 205, and the information processing terminal checks the content. Therefore, the status of the scanner 101 can be notified to the information processing terminal without providing a special channel.
[0042]
Further, in the present embodiment, a single scanner has been described as an example, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this, and a facsimile apparatus, a copying machine, or the like may be used.
[0043]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and does not deviate from the gist of the present invention even if modified as follows.
[0044]
That is, in the above-described embodiment, when processing for canceling the image reading reservation is performed, if it is notified that the key 302 has been pressed in step S404 shown in FIG. 4, control is made to proceed to step S407. Thus, the reservation of the scanner can be canceled.
[0045]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the time is counted in step S404 shown in FIG. 4, and control is performed so that the process proceeds to step S407 when a predetermined time elapses. When the start is not instructed, the scan reservation can be automatically canceled.
[0046]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the scanner 101 monitors the elapsed time since the key 302 was pressed, and notifies the information processing terminal 102 of the elapsed time. On the other hand, in step S404 shown in FIG. 4, the time notified from the scanner 101 is monitored, and when a predetermined time has elapsed, the image reading reservation is also made by controlling to shift the processing to step S407. If no instruction to start image reading has been given forever, the scan reservation can be automatically canceled.
[0047]
Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, and the like), the present invention is applied to an apparatus (for example, a copier, a facsimile device, and the like) including one device. May be applied.
[0048]
Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a recording medium in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the recording medium in the recording medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code thus read.
[0049]
In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0050]
As a recording medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like is used. be able to.
[0051]
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where some or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.
[0052]
Further, after the program code read from the recording medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, an instruction to read an image to be transferred to an information processing terminal can be given by operating the image reading device, and the information at that time can be managed by the information processing terminal. The reading system can be operated efficiently.
[0054]
Further, in the information processing terminal, and when to perform an image reading process on the basis of the read instruction from the operation unit of the image reading apparatus, and when to perform an image reading process without an instruction from the operation unit of the image reading apparatus, an image By using a common reading sequence, there is no need to provide separate programs for image reading sequences for each image reading process, and the image reading device actively sends image data to the information processing terminal. Therefore, the configuration of the system can be simplified, and the system can be operated efficiently.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a scanner 101 according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an operation unit 205 of the scanner 101 according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure when the information processing terminal 102 controls the scanner 101.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a data flow between the scanner 101 and the information processing terminal 102.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 image reading device 102 information processing terminal 201 CPU
202 ROM
203 RAM
204 Image memory 205 Operation unit 206 Reading control unit 207 Image processing control unit 208 Reading code decoding processing unit 209 I / F code decoding processing unit 210 I / F control unit 211 System bus

Claims (8)

In an image reading system having an image reading device that reads an image of a document and outputs image data and an information processing terminal that inputs image data output from the image reading device, the image reading device starts reading an image. instructs said on the basis of the instruction image reading apparatus is a control method of the information processing terminal to perform the image reading process by the image reading sequence for receiving image data obtained by reading output image,
A confirmation step of confirming whether or not an image reading instruction has been issued from the operation unit of the image reading apparatus;
A first image reading step of performing an image reading process according to the image reading sequence by instructing the image reading apparatus to start reading an image when it is confirmed that the reading instruction has been issued in the checking step; ,
A second image reading step of performing an image reading process according to the image reading sequence by instructing the image reading apparatus to start reading an image without an image reading instruction from the operation unit. Control method of the information processing terminal. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of calling an image reading module, wherein the image reading sequence is controlled by the image reading module. 3. The image reading module according to claim 2, wherein the image reading module is called when it is confirmed that an image reading instruction has been issued in the confirmation step, and an image reading process is performed in the first image reading step. 4. Control method of an information processing terminal. In an image reading system having an image reading device that reads an image of a document and outputs image data and an information processing terminal that inputs image data output from the image reading device, the information processing terminal transmits an image to the image reading device. the method of the image reading system of instructed to start reading, performs an image reading process by the image reading sequence by the image reading apparatus based on the instruction to receive the image data obtained by reading output image by the information processing terminal And
An instruction inputting step of inputting a reading instruction by an operator from an operation unit of the image reading apparatus;
A confirmation step of confirming a reading instruction input in the input step by an instruction from the information processing terminal;
When the reading instruction from the operation unit of the image reading device is confirmed in the confirmation step, the image reading sequence is executed by instructing the image reading device to start reading the image from the information processing terminal. A first image reading step;
A second image reading step of executing the image reading sequence by instructing the image reading apparatus to start reading an image from the information processing terminal without inputting a reading instruction in the input step. A method for controlling an image reading system, which is characterized by the following. The method according to claim 4, further comprising a step of calling an image reading module in the information processing terminal, wherein the image reading sequence is controlled by the image reading module. 6. The image reading module according to claim 5, wherein the image reading module is called when it is confirmed that an image reading instruction has been issued in the confirmation step, and an image reading process is performed in the first image reading step. A method for controlling an image reading system. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, when transferring the information to the information processing terminal, the image reading device transfers the information as a response to a command from the information processing terminal. How to control the system. In an image reading system having an image reading device that reads an image of a document and outputs image data and an information processing terminal that inputs image data output from the image reading device, the image reading device starts reading an image. indicated, the image reading apparatus is a computer-readable recording a program for controlling the information processing terminal to perform the image reading process by the image reading sequence for receiving image data obtained by reading output image recording on the basis of the instructed A medium,
A confirmation procedure for confirming whether or not an image reading instruction has been issued from the operation unit of the image reading apparatus,
A first image reading procedure for performing an image reading process according to the image reading sequence by instructing the image reading apparatus to start reading an image when it is confirmed that the reading instruction has been issued by the confirmation procedure; ,
A second image reading procedure of performing an image reading process by the image reading sequence by instructing the image reading apparatus to start image reading without an image reading instruction from the operation unit is performed by the computer . Computer-readable recording medium on which a program for recording is recorded.

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