JP3809384B2 - Image processing apparatus and image processing apparatus control method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus connectable to a network having a scanner apparatus and a method for controlling the apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) incorporating a storage device, and a control method related to the apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when an image processing apparatus capable of scanning original data via a network scans and inputs an original composed of a plurality of pages, all the documents are set in one image processing apparatus. If a plurality of image processing apparatuses are used, the document is divided into, for example, a plurality of pages, a document is read from each image processing apparatus, and the result is manually processed. Therefore, it was necessary to edit the original page order.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional example as described above, for example, when a document composed of a plurality of pages is input by one image processing apparatus, the other apparatuses are not used, and the operation time of the apparatus and effective utilization of hardware resources are performed. From the point of view, it was inefficient.
[0004]
In addition, when a single document is divided and input for processing by a plurality of image processing apparatuses, the user must perform an operation of rearranging the data in the page order after the input operation, which is a complicated operation. In addition, since this is an artificial work, an error may occur in the rearrangement order, and there is a problem in that time-consuming work is left inefficient.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional example, and provides an image processing apparatus that can efficiently input a manuscript composed of a plurality of pages by effectively using hardware resources, and a control method for the apparatus. It is intended to do.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus and a control method for the apparatus according to the present invention have the following configurations.
[0007]
That is, an image processing apparatus that is connected to a network and can send and receive data to and from another image processing apparatus via the network
Adding means for adding identification information for specifying the image data input by the image data reading means;
The identification information added by the adding means is distributed to another image processing apparatus connected to the network, and the other image processing apparatus For specifying image data A communication means for receiving the identification information;
The input image data based on the received identification information and the identification information added by the adding means. And image data in the other image processing apparatus A judgment means for judging the relevance of
With
The communication unit is configured to determine the image data by the determination unit. And image data in the other image processing apparatus When the relevance is recognized, the unique address information on the network is transmitted to and received from another image processing apparatus that has transmitted the identification information.
The determination means specifies another image processing apparatus that stores the relevant image data based on the address information.
[0008]
As a preferable aspect in the image processing apparatus, the identification information includes an ID number for specifying the image data, and a start page number and an end page number corresponding to the image data.
[0009]
As a preferred aspect of the image processing apparatus, the end page number is based on the start page number and the number of documents counted in the input of the image data.
Last page number = start page number + number of originals−1
Is calculated as
[0010]
As a preferred aspect of the above image processing apparatus, the determination means is configured to share the image data based on the ID number added by the addition means and the ID number in the other image processing apparatus received by the communication means. Judging sex.
[0011]
As a preferable aspect in the image processing apparatus, the determination unit includes the start page number and the end page number added by the addition unit, and the start page number and the end page in the other image processing apparatus received by the communication unit. The continuity of the image data is determined based on the number.
[0012]
As a preferred aspect of the above image processing apparatus, means for generating a thumbnail image for the input image data;
Storage means for selectively making the thumbnail image and the input image data available and storing them.
[0013]
As a preferred aspect of the above image processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus further includes a capacity adjustment unit that adjusts a free capacity that can be stored by the storage unit,
The capacity adjustment means determines any one of the other image processing devices associated by the determination means as a transfer destination when the free capacity is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, and free capacity in the storage means Adjust.
[0014]
As a preferable aspect in the above image processing device, the capacity adjustment unit obtains free capacity information of a storage device in the other image processing device associated with the associated unit via a communication unit,
Based on the free space information and the identification information of the other image processing apparatus, one of the other image processing apparatuses is determined as the transfer destination of the image data and the thumbnail image.
[0015]
As a preferred aspect of the image processing apparatus, the communication unit transmits the image data and the thumbnail image to the transfer destination determined by the capacity adjustment unit,
The adding means updates identification information for the image data exchanged via the communication means.
[0016]
In addition, a method for controlling an image processing apparatus that is connected to a network and can send and receive data to and from another image processing apparatus via the network is as follows:
An additional step of adding identification information for specifying the image data input by the image data reading means;
The identification information added by the adding step is distributed to another image processing apparatus connected to the network, and the other image processing apparatus For specifying image data A communication process for receiving the identification information;
The input image data based on the received identification information and the identification information added by the adding step. And image data in the other image processing apparatus A judgment process for judging the relevance of
With
In the communication step, the image data is determined by the determination step. And image data in the other image processing apparatus When the relevance is recognized, the unique address information on the network is transmitted to and received from another image processing apparatus that has transmitted the identification information.
In the determining step, another image processing device that stores the relevant image data is specified based on the address information.
[0017]
A computer program according to the present invention is characterized by specifying the function of the image processing apparatus as a function executed by a computer.
[0018]
A storage medium according to the present invention stores the above computer program.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
<First Embodiment>
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a device connected to a network in an embodiment according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a host computer (hereinafter referred to as “personal computer”) 100, a plurality of image processing apparatuses (200 to 400, 600, 700) having a scanner unit, and a file server 500 are coaxially connected to the network. They are connected via a common transmission path such as a cable or an optical cable.
[0020]
Each component forms a network by a LAN such as Ethernet (registered trademark), for example, and can exchange information with each other using a protocol such as TCP / IP. Each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses is equipped with an automatic paper feeding unit, and when a plurality of originals are stacked on the paper supply tray, the originals can be read one by one. Also, the personal computer can perform data communication with a plurality of image processing apparatuses, receive information on image data scanned by the scanner unit of the image processing apparatus, and can install and execute software capable of executing image processing It has become.
[0021]
Here, “information relating to image data” is not limited to the image data itself, but also includes information for controlling editing of the image data. For example, as information for controlling the editing, there are various IDs for the scanned image data such as an ID number for uniquely recognizing a document scanned by the image processing apparatus, a start page number and an end page number of the read original. Information.
[0022]
In addition, each of a plurality of image processing apparatuses having a scanner unit performs a function of scanning a document set on an automatic paper feeder and loading it into the image apparatus, and performs image processing such as density correction and gradation conversion. Software for storing the result in the image processing apparatus can be executed. Normally, in the image processing apparatus, when the power is turned on, the software is automatically started and enters an execution process waiting state. In FIG. 1, only one personal computer, one file server, and five image processing apparatuses are shown for simplicity of explanation, but the configuration of devices connected to the network 130 is not shown. In general, a plurality of personal computers (including a file server) and an image processing apparatus are connected.
[0023]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the personal computer 100 and the image processing apparatus 200. As shown in FIG. 3, the personal computer 100 includes a CPU 110, a ROM 120 that mainly stores programs, and a RAM 125 that is used as a work area when executing the programs. Also, a keyboard 138 for performing various instructions relating to data processing, data input, and the like is connected to a pointing device 135 such as a mouse for performing screen operations relating to the above-described data processing. Data input to the image processing apparatus and control instructions to the system are input.
[0024]
Further, a hard disk 140 for storing large-capacity data, a floppy disk drive 150 ("floppy" is a registered trademark) used for data backup, a CD-ROM drive 160 for reading information stored in a CD-ROM, a LAN A network interface card (NIC) 170 that performs data communication by connecting to is connected via the CPU bus 190.
[0025]
The personal computer 100 is connected to the network 130 via a network interface card (NIC) 170 and can perform data communication with the image processing apparatus 200 on the network. An operation screen on the personal computer is displayed on a display device (CRT) 180, and information received from the image processing device can be displayed on the display device.
[0026]
On the other hand, the image processing apparatus 200 controls an automatic sheet feeding unit 210 that automatically feeds a document, an optical reading unit (scanner unit) 220 that optically reads an image of the fed document, and the entire apparatus. And a CPU 230 for executing an image processing program to perform image original reading processing and various image processing, a ROM 240 for storing a control program, and a work area for executing the control program and the processing program A RAM 250 used as a connection is connected via a system bus 290.
[0027]
In addition, an operation panel 260 having an input key for inputting various operation instructions to the image processing apparatus, an LCD or an LED for displaying the system status, and the other network processing apparatus connected to the network 130. A network interface card (NIC) 275 that performs data communication with the personal computer 100 and a printing unit 280 that prints a scanned image are connected via the system bus 290 described above.
[0028]
Note that there may be multiple computers of the same type and multiple image processing devices of the same type connected on the network, so that each device can be uniquely identified on the network. It has a unique ID (identifier) number. Based on this unique ID (identifier) number, it is also possible to specify the second image processing device from the first image processing device connected on the network and exchange data between the image processing devices. .
[0029]
Furthermore, the personal computer 100 can identify, for example, an ID number for uniquely recognizing a read document among the information related to the image data described above with respect to the image processing apparatus specified based on a unique ID (identifier) number, The start page and end page numbers of the read document can be distributed as operation instructions, and image data can be received from the image processing apparatus based on the operation instructions.
[0030]
<Data exchange between computer and image processing device>
Next, network utility software that operates on the computer 100 will be described. A standardized database called MIB (Management Information Base) is built in the network interface part (NIC unit 275) in the image processing apparatus 200, and the network is connected via a network management protocol called SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol). It is possible to manage devices connected to the network, including communication between the above computers and communication between image processing apparatuses.
[0031]
On the other hand, a software program called a utility operates on the computer 100, and necessary information can be exchanged by using the above-described SNMP via a network using an MIB (Management Information Base).
[0032]
For example, by detecting the functional configuration of the image processing apparatus 200, identifying status information to detect whether printing is currently possible, or using the MIB, the user can use a group of image processing apparatuses connected to the network 130. This information can be confirmed on the computer 100.
[0033]
<Processing of distributed image data>
A process for editing, processing, printing, and the like on the read image data when the document scanning is distributed by a plurality of image processing apparatuses will be described below.
[0034]
A document 201 in FIG. 2 starts from the first page and ends with M pages. In order to distribute this document by the L image processing apparatuses 205 and 206 connected to the network 130 and perform reading processing, FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the document is divided into L originals 202, 203, and 204 and set in each apparatus. The number of pages of the divided document may not be equal to each other in the L section, and may be increased or decreased according to the performance of the image processing apparatus.
[0035]
If the first copy 202 is N separate volumes starting from the first page, its end page is N. If the second copy is N separate volumes starting from the (N + 1) th page, the end page is 2N.
[0036]
When setting the original data that has been separated into the image processing apparatus, if the reading start page and the number of sheets of each original are known, the end page of the separate volume is expressed by equation (1)
End page number = start page number + number of originals−1 (1)
It becomes.
[0037]
FIG. 5 is a diagram for specifically explaining the contents of FIG. As an example of a document to be processed, a case where a document with a total of 30 pages is processed in three parts will be described, but this condition is not intended to limit the contents of the present invention, and in particular, the number of sheets, etc. There is no limit, for example, the total number of pages is divided into 10 copies of 100 pages, and the same processing can be performed without being limited by the number of pages.
[0038]
Here, the total 30 pages of the document are divided into three parts, the first part being pages 1 to 10, the second part being pages 11 to 20, and the third part being pages 21 to 30. Are evenly divided. However, it is not always necessary to divide each part equally, so that the overall processing time can be leveled according to the reading speed of the scanner part (the processing time of one unit becomes longer, the waiting time of other systems) Is preferably optimized (so that it does not become long).
[0039]
The operator inputs the following identification information (1) to (3) from the operation panel 260 of the image processing apparatus when setting the original.
[0040]
(1) ID number common to all three parts
(2) Start page number (page 1 (image processing apparatus 501), page 11 (same 502), page 21 (same 503))
(3) End page number (page 10 (image processing apparatus 501), page 20 (same 502), page 30 (same 503)).
[0041]
A scanning instruction is input from the operation panel 260 to the document set in each image processing apparatus (it can also be input as an operation instruction from the personal computer 100 side). Save to HDD 270.
[0042]
As shown in FIG. 4, when the originals 401, 402, and 403 separated into L pieces are sorted for each equal number of pages, an equal number of sheets can be obtained without inputting the start page number and the end page number. If (N) is entered, each page number can be calculated according to the relationship of equation (1).
[0043]
The data stored in the HDD 270 in the image processing apparatus includes read image data, a common ID number corresponding to the identification information (1) to (3) described above, and information about the start page number and the end page number. included.
[0044]
Based on the identification information, according to the process shown in FIG. 6, the image processing apparatus that stores the read image data can identify the apparatus that stores the related image data on the network.
[0045]
First, in step S <b> 61, the image processing apparatus 200 broadcasts the ID number corresponding to the image data (scan data) stored in the HDD 270 and the reading start page and the reading end page of the image data on the network 130. To do. Communication is performed between the image processing apparatuses connected on the network via the network management protocol (SNMP) described above, and identification information including an ID number, a start page, and an end page is exchanged between the systems.
[0046]
The image processing apparatus connected to the network has the same ID number and the common image data, and the start page or the end page is located before or after the data held by the own device. When the condition that the continuity can be maintained is satisfied, the relationship between the two identification information is established. Then, the communication source (IP address or the like) of the own device on the network and the information of “start page and end page” stored in the own device are communicated to the broadcasting source.
[0047]
Similarly, when a response from the sender that broadcasts the communication is obtained (S62-YES), the address information (IP address, etc.) of the responding partner is stored in the storage device (HDD, MO, etc.). Save (S63). On the other hand, if there is no response to communication in the process of step S62 (S62-NO), the process waits in a response waiting state.
[0048]
With this processing, image processing apparatuses that store information on pages to be connected before and after each stored scan data can be mutually recognized between image processing apparatuses that have separately read originals on the network. It becomes.
[0049]
Further, as an error process in step S62, if there is no response for a certain period of time, an error process such as ending the process after determining that the image data is only stored in the own device is performed. Conceivable.
[0050]
FIG. 7 shows image data corresponding to a document placed in front of or behind the image data stored in the own machine by broadcasting by the process of FIG. 6, and the data and the image data stored in the own machine are combined. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an IP address for specifying on the network an image processing apparatus that stores image data that can ensure page continuity is set.
[0051]
In this figure, the ID number is common for both “0001”, and the “Before” part has the IP address of the image processing apparatus that holds the image data arranged before the image data stored in the own device. Is stored, and the “Next” portion stores the IP address of the image processing apparatus that holds the image data arranged behind.
[0052]
In the case of FIG. 7, in the image processing apparatus 502, data of the image processing apparatus 501 is stored in the IP address of the Before section, and data of the image processing apparatus 503 is stored in the IP address of the Next section.
[0053]
In addition, when the image data corresponds to the head in the configuration of the original document before separation, as in the data stored in the image processing apparatus 501, the data in the Before section is blank and is similarly stored in the image processing apparatus 503. If the last page of the document is included as in the data, the data in the Next portion is blank.
[0054]
Even when image data is distributed and stored in a plurality of image processing apparatuses, the data storage destination that can maintain the continuity of each image data from the common ID number and the start page and end page for the image data It becomes possible to specify. Efficient processing is possible by eliminating the manual editing work.
[0055]
Even when processing these image data on a personal computer, the user can handle the image data without worrying about which page is stored in which system. The user can access these data storage destinations and execute processing such as editing, processing, and printing of each data.
[0056]
Second Embodiment
<Use of HTTP server>
In the case of the above-described embodiment, the image processing device is identified and linked by the IP address in order to link the pages stored in the separate image processing devices. However, by incorporating the HTTP server in the image processing device, By connecting a link as shown in FIG. 8, it is possible to link an image processing apparatus that stores predetermined image data.
[0057]
<Use of thumbnail images>
Further, as shown in FIG. 9, it is possible to facilitate handling of image data on the personal computer side by selectively using the scan data generated by reading the original and its thumbnail (thumbnail). Although it is difficult to understand what an image data file is by just the file name, the image data can be edited according to a small sample image (thumbnail) so that an overview of the scanned image data can be seen at a glance.・ Even when organizing, work can be carried out efficiently.
[0058]
That is, if the image processing apparatus side has only scanned image data, it is necessary to always transfer the image data to the personal computer side when referring to the data from the personal computer 100, and it takes time to transfer the data. Although the efficiency of editing and the operability of work are not good, by having a thumbnail, normally only the thumbnail image 901 is exchanged between the personal computer 100 and the image processing apparatus 200, and the actual image data is taken into the personal computer side. The image data 902, 903, and 904 need only be transferred from the image processing apparatus 200 to the personal computer 100 only when processing such as processing is desired. This makes it possible to minimize the amount of data exchanged between the image processing apparatus and the personal computer, so that operability can be improved.
[0059]
<Equalization of free space in storage device>
Further, the free capacity of the storage device (HDD, MO, etc.) possessed by the image processing apparatus decreases according to the reading amount of the document. For example, in the three image processing devices 501, 502, and 503 shown in FIG. 10, the usage rate of the storage device 270-2 of the device 502 reaches 90%, and the usage rate of the other devices is 25%. As described above, when performing scanning of originals in a distributed manner, if the storage capacity of the storage device is limited in one device, smooth processing may be difficult, such as delaying the entire processing. . Therefore, if a certain amount of storage capacity of the storage device in the image processing apparatus is not ensured, the data is transferred to another device having a sufficient storage capacity to achieve leveling of the storage capacity. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing processing steps for adjusting and leveling the storage capacity of the storage device.
[0060]
In step S1210, it is determined whether the storage capacity of the storage device in the image processing apparatus is greater than or equal to a certain amount. If there is a certain amount or more (S1210-YES), the process proceeds to step S1220, and the image data read as usual is stored in the storage device of the own device.
[0061]
On the other hand, if a certain amount of storage capacity cannot be secured (S1210-NO), the process proceeds to step S1230, and the storage capacity and the like of the storage device of another apparatus that holds image data with a common ID number is confirmed (S1230). In the confirmation, the continuity of the document arrangement order (address information set as Before / Next data) is also confirmed.
[0062]
The criterion for determining whether or not the free space in the storage device is equal to or greater than a certain amount is a reference value that can be arbitrarily set by the user.
[0063]
In step S1240, the transfer destination of the image data is determined in consideration of the free capacity of the storage device of the other apparatus in step S1230 and the continuity of the document arrangement.
[0064]
In determining the transfer destination, the capacity of the image data stored in the own device is compared with the free space of the storage device of the other device, and after the data transfer, the free space of the storage device of the corresponding device group is as much as possible. The data transfer destination is determined so as to be uniform. At this time, the processing performance of the apparatus and the continuous relationship of the image data (whether data is moved to the page side arranged in front or data is moved to the page side arranged behind) are considered.
[0065]
The process proceeds to step S1250, the data is transferred to the transfer destination determined in the process of step S1240, and then the data regarding the document arrangement order and the address information set as the Before / Next data are updated (S1260). The process ends.
[0066]
A specific example of the data update in step S1260 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0067]
First, image data stored in the image processing apparatus 502 (in this case, page 11 to page 20) is moved to the image processing apparatus 501 (step (1)), and then set in the image processing apparatus 502. Address information or the like (ID number, address information) for specifying the storage location of the image data is deleted (step (2)).
[0068]
As the image data is transferred, the number of the end page in the image processing apparatus 501 is updated, and the search for the image processing apparatus that holds the data following the end page is executed again. Since this procedure has already been described with reference to FIG. Then, as the next data, an IP address for specifying the image processing apparatus 503 storing the data on and after the 21st page is newly set (this data is stored in the image processing that had the data before the data transfer). (It is the same as the data stored as the Next data of the device 502) (Step (3)).
[0069]
On the other hand, in the image processing apparatus 503, the IP address of the image processing apparatus holding the image data connected before the image data held by the own apparatus is updated to the address information of the image processing apparatus 501 (step (4)).
[0070]
Before the transfer of the image data, the data is linked in the order of the image processing apparatus 501 → the apparatus 502 → the apparatus 503, but after the transfer of the image data, the data is relinked in the order of the apparatus 501 → the apparatus 503.
[0071]
That is, an association based on stored image data is formed between the image processing apparatuses, and the association can be updated as the data is transferred.
[0072]
For this reason, the user does not need a load due to management of various data storage destinations and memory resources of the storage destinations in processing such as document scanning, editing, and printing. Further, in the management of data after the generation of the image data, it is possible to eliminate the artificial management work, so that the data can be processed efficiently.
[0073]
<Other embodiments>
Note that the present invention can be applied to a system (copier, printer, facsimile machine, etc.) consisting of a single device even if it is applied to a system consisting of a plurality of devices (eg, host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.). You may apply.
[0074]
Another object of the present invention is to read a program code stored in a storage medium by a computer (or CPU or MPU) of a system or apparatus, which stores a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments. It is also achieved by executing.
[0075]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0076]
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.
[0077]
Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) operating on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. A case where part or all of actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.
[0078]
Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage 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 board is based on the instruction of the program code. The CPU included in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0079]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the image processing apparatus and method of the present invention, the commonality and continuity of the respective image data are based on the identification information (the common ID number, the start page and the end page for the image data). It becomes possible to specify the storage destination of data that can be maintained. This specification is based on data exchange between devices connected to the network, and image data can be processed efficiently by eliminating artificial editing work.
[0080]
By selectively using scan data generated by reading a document and its thumbnail, data communication with a personal computer can be efficiently processed.
[0081]
Furthermore, it is possible to equalize the free storage capacity in the storage device by checking the data related to the free space of the storage device between the devices connected to the network and transferring the image data to other machines based on the confirmation. become.
[0082]
In addition, by updating the address information for specifying the storage location of the image data based on the transfer of the image data, human management work is eliminated even in the management of the data after the generation of the image data. Data can be processed efficiently.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a device connected to a network in an embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an embodiment, and is a diagram illustrating a state in which an original is distributed and read by an image processing apparatus connected to a network.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a personal computer and an image processing apparatus.
FIG. 4 is an image diagram for explaining an embodiment, and is a diagram for explaining reading of an original document divided into L pieces.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a document with a total number of 30 pages is divided into three parts and each is processed by the image processing apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process for an image processing apparatus that stores read image data to specify an apparatus that stores related image data on a network.
FIG. 7 shows a state in which an IP address for specifying on the network an image processing apparatus storing image data that can secure page continuity when combined with image data stored in the own device is set. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which an image processing apparatus incorporating an HTTP server links to a network and specifies another image processing apparatus that stores predetermined image data.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining exchange of image data using both scan data obtained by reading a document and its thumbnail (thumbnail).
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining leveling of the free capacity of the storage device.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a specific example in the process of leveling the free capacity of the storage device.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing processing steps for adjusting and leveling the storage capacity of the storage device.

Claims (19)

An image processing apparatus connected to a network and capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from another image processing apparatus via the network,
Adding means for adding identification information for specifying the image data input by the image data reading means;
Communication means for distributing the identification information added by the addition means to another image processing apparatus connected to the network and receiving identification information for specifying image data in the other image processing apparatus;
Determining means for determining the relevance between the input image data and the image data in the other image processing device based on the received identification information and the identification information added by the adding means;
With
The communication means, when the relevance between the image data and the image data in the other image processing apparatus is recognized by the determination means, with the other image processing apparatus that has transmitted the identification information, Send and receive unique address information on the network,
The determination means specifies another image processing apparatus that stores the relevant image data based on the address information.  The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification information includes an ID number for specifying the image data, and a start page number and an end page number corresponding to the image data. The end page number is based on the start page number and the number of documents counted in the input of the image data.
Last page number = start page number + number of originals−1
The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image processing apparatus is calculated as:  The determination means determines the commonality of the image data based on the ID number added by the addition means and the ID number in the other image processing apparatus received by the communication means. Item 4. The image processing device according to any one of Items 1 to 3.  The determination means is a sequence of the image data based on the start page number and end page number added by the addition means and the start page number and end page number in the other image processing apparatus received by the communication means. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image processing apparatus determines the sex. Means for generating a thumbnail image for the input image data;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that selectively makes the thumbnail image and the input image data available and stores the thumbnail image. Capacity adjustment means for adjusting the free capacity that can be stored by the storage means;
The capacity adjustment means determines any one of the other image processing apparatuses associated by the determination means as a transfer destination when the free capacity is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, and free capacity in the storage means The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is adjusted.  The capacity adjustment means acquires the free capacity information of the storage device in the associated other image processing apparatus via the communication means, and based on the free capacity information and the identification information of the other image processing apparatus, The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the image processing apparatuses is determined as a transfer destination of the image data and the thumbnail image. The communication means transmits the image data and the thumbnail image to the transfer destination determined by the capacity adjustment means,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adding unit updates identification information for image data exchanged via the communication unit. A method for controlling an image processing apparatus that is connected to a network and capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from another image processing apparatus via the network,
An additional step of adding identification information for specifying the image data input by the image data reading means;
A communication step of distributing the identification information added in the addition step to another image processing device connected to the network and receiving identification information for specifying image data in the other image processing device;
A determination step of determining relevance between the input image data and the image data in the other image processing device based on the received identification information and the identification information added by the addition step;
With
In the communication step, when the relevance between the image data and the image data in the other image processing device is recognized by the determination step, between the other image processing devices that have transmitted the identification information, Send and receive unique address information on the network,
The method of controlling an image processing device, wherein the determining step specifies another image processing device that stores the relevant image data based on the address information.   The control of the image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the identification information includes an ID number for specifying the image data, and a start page number and an end page number corresponding to the image data. Method.   The determining step determines the commonality of the image data based on the ID number added in the adding step and the ID number in the other image processing apparatus received in the communication step. Item 12. A method for controlling an image processing apparatus according to Item 10 or 11.   The determination step is a sequence of the image data based on the start page number and end page number added in the addition step, and the start page number and end page number in the other image processing apparatus received in the communication step. 12. The method of controlling an image processing apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the determination is performed. Generating a thumbnail image for the input image data;
The method according to claim 10, further comprising a step of selectively making the thumbnail image and the input image data available and storing the thumbnail image in a storage unit. A capacity adjustment step of adjusting the free capacity that can be stored by the storage means;
In the capacity adjustment step, when the free space becomes a predetermined amount or less, any one of the other image processing devices related by the determination step is determined as a transfer destination, and free space in the storage unit is determined. The method of controlling an image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:   The capacity adjustment step acquires the free space information of the storage device in the associated other image processing device by the processing of the communication step, and based on the free space information and the identification information of the other image processing device, 16. The method of controlling an image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein one of the image processing apparatuses is determined as a transfer destination of the image data and the thumbnail image. The communication step transmits the image data and the thumbnail image to the transfer destination determined by the processing of the capacity adjustment step,
17. The method of controlling an image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the adding step updates the identification information for the image data exchanged in the communication step.   A computer program that specifies the function of the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 as a function executed by a computer.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program according to claim 18.

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