JP4241688B2 - Information processing apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information management system capable of managing a plurality of pieces of information or data to be managed, an information processing apparatus included in the information management system, and a program related to the information processing apparatus.

  In recent years, personal computers (hereinafter referred to as “PCs” or “PCs”) have become widespread and widely used personally or for work. For example, a personal computer is connected to an external device that is an input source of information or an external device that executes a command based on a command from the personal computer in a communicable state. Specifically, a large amount of data is transmitted from these external devices to the personal computer, and this information is used and managed, while processing based on the managed information is performed on the external device. . In an environment where it is difficult to install a plurality of external devices corresponding to each process, a so-called multi-function machine having a plurality of means capable of executing a plurality of functions is connected and used.

  As described above, a large amount of information is transmitted and received between the personal computer and the external device in relation to the operation of the external device, and the large amount of information is managed by the personal computer (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

  Conventionally, a technique for associating data with each other has been proposed in order to improve work efficiency using data to be managed in a personal computer that must manage a large amount of data as described above.

  For example, when data is recorded, in order to associate data related to data to be recorded, an information management system capable of displaying a message asking for an instruction of an association condition and allowing the user to associate by instructing according to the display is displayed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).

JP 2004-32085 A JP 2000-315203 A

  However, data can be associated with each other only by applying a known information management system to a system constructed by connecting a conventional multifunction device and a personal computer, but when using a function provided by an external device, The data stored at the same time must be stored in the memory of the user using the external device.

  In other words, in the case of "work done a few days ago" in human activity, in other words, you may want to use the data you used at that time again with your own actions as a key. In this case, the conventional information management system cannot meet such a request.

  And, this means that if the user who uses this information management system is performing data input work by the same means continuously or continuously in the same period, the input data is one It is thought that the input was repeated in the work with the purpose. However, simply correlating data with each other has failed to correlate data with work having a single purpose as a key.

  The present invention includes an information management system capable of classifying and managing data that is related based on read processing performed continuously or continuously in the same period by an input unit of an external device, and the information management system includes It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus and a program capable of executing a predetermined operation on the information processing apparatus.

  The present invention, which has been made in view of the above conventional problems, is an information management system including an external device including one or more function execution units including an input unit, and an information processing device connected to be able to communicate with the external device. When another reading process different from the one reading process executed by the input unit is specified, one time point included in a period during which the one reading process is executed, and the other reading process The specific time specified by another time point included in the period corresponding to the execution of the reading process is compared with a predetermined condition time, and the specific time is shorter than the condition time, or the specification When the time is equal to or shorter than the condition time, the data by the one reading process and the data by the other reading process are associated with each other as being related to each other.

According to the invention of claim 1 of the present application, an information processing apparatus capable of classifying data that is related based on read processing performed continuously or continuously in the same period by a multi- function device is obtained. Can do.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to manage other data related to one data read by the executed reading process based on the degree of relevance in the work having one purpose.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus user is provided with information for identifying other data related to the one data read by the read process executed in the work having one purpose. In addition, it is possible to make the user recognize which data is more related to other data.

According to the invention of claim 4, it is possible to obtain an information management system capable of classifying data that has relevance based on read processing performed continuously or continuously in the same period by the multi-function device . .

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a program operable as the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect can be obtained.

  The first apparatus of the present invention is an information processing apparatus that is communicably connected to a multi-function peripheral capable of executing a plurality of processes including a plurality of types of reading processes, and shows a process executed by the multi-function peripheral Information and a process start time and a process end time indicating the period of the process executed by the multifunction device are stored in a storage unit in association with each other, and the process executed by the multifunction device is Storage control means for associating and storing in the storage means data identification information indicating read data that has been read if any of the read processes, wherein the status information is provided from the multi-function peripheral The process start time and the process end time are identified from information indicating the start and end of the process given from the multi-function device, and the storage control means and any of the plurality of types of read processes A time point within a first period specified from the process start time and the process end time of the first read process, and a second read process different from the first read process, wherein the plurality of types Between the processes for obtaining the inter-process time indicating the time between the time point within the second period specified from the process start time and the process end time of the second read process which is one of the read processes And a first read data read in the first read process and a second read data read in the second read process when the inter-process time is shorter than a predetermined time. And an association granting means for associating with each other.

Accordingly, it is possible to associate each read data with the read processing performed continuously or continuously in the same period with one purpose by the multi-function peripheral .

In the above apparatus, prior Symbol association applying means further in if 3 or more of the read data is associated, among the pre-Symbol 3 or more of the read data, the execution of the read write process of one data and time point in the period that corresponds to each of the remaining read data read write and each point in time that corresponds to each of the execution process, specific to Ru said processing time between from comparing the people, against the association before Symbol interprocess period become shorter accordingly read data mutually, may be given the association of high degree.

  As a result, the degree of relevance with one data can be given to each of the other data related to the one data read in the reading process executed with one purpose.

In the above apparatus, further comprising output means for outputting the data identification information indicating the read data that has been associated by the association applying means, when the output of the data identification information according to the output manual stage, the association application means and output control means for controlling so as to output the read data preferentially granted the association of high-not the degree I'm in,
It may be e Bei a.

  Thereby, it is possible to notify the user sequentially from information specifying other data having high relevance to the one data.

  The second apparatus of the present invention is an information processing apparatus that is communicably connected to a multi-function peripheral capable of executing a plurality of processes including a plurality of types of reading processes, and indicates a process executed by the multi-function peripheral Information and a process start time and a process end time indicating the period of the process executed by the multifunction device are stored in a storage unit in association with each other, and the process executed by the multifunction device is Storage control means for associating and storing in the storage means data identification information indicating read data that has been read if any of the read processes, wherein the status information is provided from the multi-function peripheral The process start time and the process end time are identified from information indicating the start and end of the process given from the multi-function device, and the storage control means and any of the plurality of types of read processes A time point within a first period specified from the process start time and the process end time of the first read process, and a second read process different from the first read process, wherein the plurality of types A process for obtaining an inter-process time indicating a time between the process start time and the process end time specified by the process end time of the second read process, which is one of the read processes. An inter-time determining means, a degree determining means for determining the degree according to the inter-processing time according to a relationship set so that the degree decreases as the time increases, and the determined degree is greater than a predetermined degree If there is a relationship between the first data read in the first read processing and the second data read in the second read processing, the association providing means is provided for associating the first data read in the first read processing with the second data read in the second read processing. To do.

Accordingly, it is possible to associate each read data with the read processing performed continuously or continuously in the same period with one purpose by the multi-function peripheral .

A computer program of the present invention is a computer program for causing a computer connected to be communicable with a multi-function peripheral capable of executing a plurality of processes including a plurality of types of reading processes to execute information processing. The status information indicating the executed process and the process start time and the process end time indicating the period of the process executed by the multifunction device are stored in the storage unit in association with each other and executed by the multifunction device. A storage control function for associating and storing in the storage means data identification information indicating read data that has been read if the process is one of the plurality of types of read processes; Is given from the multifunction device, and the process start time and the process end time are specified from information indicating the start and end of the process given from the multifunction device. A time point within a first period specified from the process start time and the process end time of the first read process that is one of the plurality of types of read processes, A second reading process different from the first reading process, the second reading process being specified from the process start time and the process end time of the second read process that is one of the plurality of types of read processes An inter-process time determining function for obtaining an inter-process time indicating a time between the time points in the period of time, and the first read by the first read process when the inter-process time is shorter than a predetermined time The computer is caused to realize an association providing function for associating the above data with the second data read in the second reading process.

As a result, when the reading process is executed by the multifunction peripheral continuously or continuously with the same purpose, it is possible to assign an association to each read data.

(Example 1)
Hereinafter, a specific information management system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the configurations described below, and it is needless to say that various configurations can be adopted in the same technical idea.

(Configuration of information management system)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information management system. As is apparent from the figure, this information management system 1 is a personal computer 10 as an information processing device having an information management function, a multifunction device 20 as an external device capable of realizing various functions, and a management target of the personal computer 10. A book sensor 30 as an external device for recognizing a book 32, 34, and a paper as an external device for recognizing paper files 42, 46, and printed materials 44, 48, which are stationery for filing paper that is also managed by the personal computer 10. A file reader 40 is connected via a network line 50.

  The personal computer 10 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (not shown), and controls each operation of the personal computer 10 (the entire personal computer 10) based on a program stored in the ROM, and a network line. 50, a communication unit 102 that controls the network line 50, an operation unit 104 that receives instructions from a user of the personal computer 10, a display unit 106 that displays various information, and a storage unit 108 that includes a hard disk and the like. It has.

  The storage unit 108 includes a status table 1081, a document table 1083, a file information table 1085, and a device designation table 1087. Details of each table will be described later.

  The multi-function device 20 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (not shown), a control unit 200 that controls each operation of the multi-function device 20 (the entire multi-function device 20), and a recording unit 202 as an image forming unit. A reading unit 204 as an image reading unit, a sound input unit 206 as a microphone, a sound output unit 208 as a speaker, and a media IF unit 210 to which a removable medium 2101 is attached. Also, a line communication unit 212 connected to the telephone line 60 and controlling the telephone line 60, a communication unit 214 connected to the network line 50 and controlling the network line 50, and an instruction from the user of the multifunction machine 10 Are provided, and an operation unit 216 for receiving the information and a display unit 218 for displaying various types of information.

  Note that the multifunction device 20 is assigned a device ID (multifunction device ID 1) as a device constituting the information management system 1.

  The book sensor 30 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (not shown), and is connected to a control unit 302 that controls each operation of the book sensor 30 (the whole book sensor 30) and a network line 50. A communication unit 304 that controls the line 50 and a wireless tag reading unit 306 for reading information of the wireless tags 322 and 324 attached to the books 32 and 34 are provided.

  The book sensor 30 functions as a device for storing when and what kind of book is placed at hand (reading or prepared to be read immediately). . That is, based on a program stored in the ROM of the control unit 302, when the RFID tag reading unit 306 functions and reads responses from the RFID tags 332 and 342 of the books 32 and 34, the RFID tag is stored in the RAM of the control unit 302. The identification information 332 and 342 and the current date and time (start date and time) are temporarily stored, and when there is no response from the wireless tag 332 or 342 that has read the response, the wireless information temporarily stored in the RAM of the control unit 302 is stored. The identification information, start date / time, and current date / time (end date / time) of the tag 332 or 342 are transmitted to the personal computer 10 via the communication unit 304. The personal computer 10 stores information in the status table 1081.

  The book sensor 30 is given a device ID (book sensor ID 2) as a device constituting the information management system 1.

The paper file reader 40 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (not shown), and is connected to a control unit 402 that controls each operation of the paper file reader 40 (the whole paper file reader 40) and a network line 50. A communication unit 404 for controlling the network line 50 and a barcode reading unit 406 for reading the barcodes 422, 442, 462, and 482 attached to the paper files 42 and 46 or the printed materials 44 and 48 are provided. . The paper file reader 40 functions as an input device for forming, in the file information table 1085, information that associates the paper files 42 and 46 with the printed materials 44 and 48 that are filed respectively. That is, based on the program stored in the ROM of the control unit 402, the barcode reading unit 406 first inputs the barcode of the paper file, and then inputs the barcode of the printed material, and temporarily enters the RAM of the control unit 402. Remember. Then, the temporarily stored input data is transmitted to the personal computer 10 via the communication unit 404. The personal computer 10 receives the information and adds a record to the status table 1081 and the file information table 1085.
The paper file reader 40 is assigned with a device ID (paper file reader ID 3) as a device constituting the information management system 1.

  Hereinafter, information stored in the state table 1081, the document table 1083, the file information table 1085, and the device designation table 1087 stored in the storage unit 108 included in the personal computer 10 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the status table 1081 includes a processing operation (state ID) realized by the execution unit included in the multifunction machine 20, and the start and end date and time of the processing operation. Information (hereinafter referred to as “target document address”) indicating the location of the document (hereinafter referred to as “target document”) that is the target of the processing operation, When the processing operation is performed for the other party, the partner address for identifying the other party and the amount of the target document to be processed are stored each time this processing operation is performed as one record. Has been. Each stored processing operation is given a unique ID for identifying it.

  First, the state ID stored by the state table 1081 is defined as shown in FIG. For example, in the case of printing from the personal computer 10 using the recording unit 202 of the multifunction device 20 (defined in FIG. 3 as a status “PC print”), the status ID is “PRN”, the partner address is “none”, and the target document address Is defined as “address of printed document” and the amount is defined as “number of copies”.

  Since the PC print process is performed between the personal computer 10 and the multifunction device 20, the partner address is defined as “none”. Further, the target document address is the address of the storage unit 108 where the target document is stored or the target if the document to be processed is stored in the storage unit 108 of the personal computer 10. If the document is a specific homepage (hereinafter referred to as “HP”), the address of the HP is stored. Furthermore, “number of copies” is defined as the amount. For example, when one copy of the target document is printed, the amount is “1 copy”.

  In the case of facsimile (hereinafter referred to as “fax”) transmission using the reading unit 204 and the line communication unit 212 of the multi-function device 20 (defined as “fax transmission” in FIG. 3), the state ID is “ "FXT", the other party address is defined as "destination FAX number", the target document address is defined as "address of transmission image (copied to personal computer)", and the amount is defined as "none".

  Since fax transmission is performed with a facsimile apparatus different from the multifunction machine 20 or the like, “destination FAX number” is defined as the destination address. Further, in this information management system 1, when a fax transmission is performed, a transmission image that is a target of the fax transmission is stored in the storage unit 108 of the personal computer 10, so that the transmission image is the “target document address”. The stored address in the storage unit 108 (the address of the transmission image (copied to the personal computer)) is defined (the process (state that is copied to the personal computer) at the target document address in FIG. 3) In the same manner as above, the address in the storage unit 108 where the image or sound to be processed is stored is defined as the target document address.

  Further, when the books 32 and 34 managed by the personal computer 10 are used (defined as the state “book” in FIG. 3), the state ID is “BKX” and the destination address is “Japanese book code (hereinafter“ ISBN ”)), the target document address is defined as“ (searched) book introduction HP address ”, and the amount is defined as“ hour (minute) ”.

  The ISBN used as the partner address is for identifying each of the books 32 and 34 and is stored in the wireless tags 322 and 342. In addition, the address stored as the target document address is defined as the address of the HP that introduced the books 32 and 34 in the HP used for general use. Further, the amount of time (minutes) in which the books 32 and 34 are used is defined as the amount.

  In addition to the above, “PC fax transmission (image data and the other party are transmitted from the personal computer 10 to the multifunction device 20 via the communication unit 102, and the image data received by the multifunction device 20 is transmitted via the line communication unit 212. Fax transmission.), “PC fax reception (image data received by the line communication unit 212 of the multifunction machine 20 is transmitted to the personal computer 10 via the communication unit 214, and the personal computer 10 stores the received image data. “Scan-to-PC (The image data scanned by the reading unit 204 of the multifunction machine 20 is transmitted to the personal computer 10 via the communication unit 214, and the image data received by the personal computer 10 is stored.)” , “Scan-to-media (image data scanned via the reading unit 204 is referred to as a media interface (hereinafter referred to as“ media IF ”). ) Stored in the removable media 2101 via the unit 210.) “Scan-to-mail (image data scanned via the reading unit 204 is sent via email via the communication unit 214)”, “fax. “Receive (print image data received by the line communication unit 212 via the recording unit 202)”, “copy (print image data read by the reading unit 204 via the recording unit 202). ”,“ Call ”,“ Call ”, and“ Media print (image data or document data stored in the removable medium 2101 is printed via the recording unit 202) ”are defined.

  The paper file ID used as the partner address is for identifying the paper files 42 and 46 or the printed materials 44 and 48, and is attached to the paper files 42 and 46 or the printed materials 44 and 48 as a barcode. Yes. In addition, the address stored as the target document address is defined as the address of the storage unit 108 that stores the documents filed in the paper files 42 and 46 or the document data constituting the printed matter 44 and 48.

  Note that “GID (group ID)” defined in FIG. 3 is an individual ID assigned to each group of the processing operations (states). Specifically, GID “2” is attached to the processing operation in which the partner address is stored, whereas “0” and “1” are processing operations in which the partner address is “none”. It is attached to. The GID “1” is attached to the processing operation using the target document data already stored in the storage unit 108 (only “PC print” in this embodiment). , “0” is an ID given to the processing operation in which the target document data is stored in the storage unit 108 for the first time by executing this processing operation.

  Next, the document table 1083 stores information indicating that any work or instruction has been performed on one document, and as shown in FIG. It may be determined as appropriate whether or not the work has been performed on the basis of the information, the information indicating the location of the document, the work performed on the document (event), the device (operation application ( Hereinafter, it is referred to as an “operation application”))) and the user who has performed this work are stored with an identification ID.

  Note that the target data in the document table 1083 is not only document data but also so-called image data and audio data.

  Here, “create”, “open”, “update”, “print”, “send”, and “close” are defined as operations (events) performed on one document. More specifically explaining these events, when one document is newly created, for example, when the document is created by operating the operation unit 104 of the personal computer 10, the reading unit 204 of the multifunction device 20 is used. When a document is scanned or copied via the line communication unit 212, when a fax or PC fax is received via the line communication unit 212, or when a call is made or received via the line communication unit 212, the call voice is stored. When this is done, “create” is stored as an event in the document table 1083.

  Further, when the document data, image data, or sound data stored in the storage unit 108 of the personal computer 10 is opened via the operation unit 104, and when the HP is opened by the operation of the operation unit 104, the document table 1083 is displayed. As an event, “open” is stored, while “close” is stored when the document data or the like is closed.

  Further, when the document data, image data, or audio data already stored in the storage unit 108 is updated by an editor stored in the personal computer 10, “update” is stored as an event of the document table 1083.

  In addition, when document data or image data already stored in the storage unit 108 is printed via an editor, “print” is stored as an event of the document table 1083.

  Further, the document data, image data, or sound data already stored in the storage unit 108 is stored in the personal computer 10 by an application for mail transmission / reception, or the document data or image data already stored in the storage unit 108. Is transmitted by PC fax transmission or fax transmission of the multifunction machine 20, “send” is stored as an event of the document table 1083.

  As with the status table 1081, the document table 1083 also stores the above items as one record each time any work is performed on one document.

  Here, the status table 1081 and the document table 1083 do not necessarily need to be two different tables, but can be combined into one table as long as each item constituting the record of each table can be specified. You may remember.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the file information table 1085 includes a unique ID for identifying a record, the date and time when the record was recorded, a paper file ID for identifying the paper files 42 and 46, and filing into the paper files 42 and 46. Document addresses that specify the printed materials 44 and 48 are stored as one record.

  The paper file ID is used to identify each of the paper files 42 and 46, and is recorded in the barcodes 442 and 462. The document address stored as the target document address is for associating each paper file 42, 46 with the printed material 44, 48 being filed, and is represented by the address of the electronic document that is the origin of the printed material 44, 48. . That is, if the electronic document that is the basis of the printed matter 44 or 48 is stored in the storage unit 108 of the personal computer 10, the address of the storage unit 108 in which the electronic document is stored or the electronic document is stored in the storage unit 108. If it is an HP, the address of that HP is stored. This information is recorded in the barcodes 442 and 448 recorded on the printed matter 44 and 46.

  Further, the device specification table 1087 indicates which MFP 20 or the like is the target of the information management system 1 when a plurality of MFPs 20, the book sensor 30 and the paper file reader are connected to the network line 50. Is a table that stores and stores them, and is configured as shown in FIG.

(Processing by information management system 1)
Next, the process (1) by the information management system 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 7 shows a flow of main processing performed by the personal computer 10. Note that the processing shown in this flow is performed by the control unit 100 of the personal computer 10, and more specifically, executed by the CPU constituting the control unit 10 according to a program stored in a ROM or the like.

  First, the control unit 100 receives the communication unit 102 from the operation unit 104 of the personal computer 10 or from the designated external device shown in FIG. 6, specifically, the multifunction device 20, the book sensor 30, and the paper file reader 40. The process waits until a command for executing any one of the processes is input via (step 701).

  Thereafter, when it is detected in step 701 that any instruction has been made, it is specified which process is the process. That is, when any command is input to the control unit 100, the control unit 100 first starts the printer driver that controls the recording unit 202 of the multifunction device 20 or reads the multifunction device 20. It is determined whether or not an external device operation preparation command is issued, such as activation of a multifunction machine utility for using the unit 204 (step 703).

  If the command input in step 703 is an external device operation preparation (step 703: YES), the control unit 100 of the personal computer 10 executes a pre-operation intelligent support process described later (step 705). When the process ends, the process waits until a command for executing any process is input (step 701).

  Note that the pre-operational intellectual support process is a process in which printing of specific document data is already performed within a predetermined period when a print command for specific document data is issued from the personal computer 10 to the recording unit 202 of the multifunction machine 20. This is a process for warning the user who has issued a print command of the fact in order to prevent duplicate printing, such as when it has been done. In the pre-operational intellectual support processing, when a fax transmission command is issued from the personal computer 10 to the line communication unit 212 of the multifunction machine 20 to a specific partner, this document data is already stored in the machine. In order to prevent duplicate fax transmissions, such as when the fax was transmitted to the other party, a process for warning the fact to the user who issued the fax transmission command is also performed.

  On the other hand, if the input command is not an external device operation preparation (step 703: NO), the command detected in step 701 is from the multifunction device 20, the book sensor 30 or the paper file reader 40 specified in FIG. It is determined whether the command is a command related to detection of the operation of the external device (step 707).

  If the determination result in step 707 is to detect the operation of the external device (step 707: YES), the control unit 100 receives information defined in FIG. The other party address, target document address, and quantity are received (step 709). The state ID or the like is stored and held in a RAM or the like that constitutes the control unit 100.

  Then, an in-operation intelligent support process, which will be described later, is executed (step 711), and when this process ends, the process waits until a command for executing any one of the processes is input (step 701).

  The operating intelligent support process is related to the current work of the user when the process with the same command as the command from the external device has been executed in the past. This is a process for providing information.

  Further, when the input command is not an external device operation preparation (step 707: NO), it is determined whether or not the command detected in step 701 is the operation end detection of the external device whose operation is detected in step 707. Judgment is made (step 713).

  If the determination result in step 707 is to detect the end of the operation of the external device (step 713: YES), the control unit 100 executes a state table registration process (step 715), which will be described later. When the process ends, the process waits until a command for executing any process is input (step 701).

  Further, when the input command is not an external device operation end (step 713: NO), it is determined whether or not the command detected in step 701 is a search function call (step 717).

  When the determination result in step 717 is a search function call (step 717: YES), the control unit 100 executes a manual intellectual assistance process, which will be described later (step 719), and this process is completed. At this time, the system waits until a command for executing any of the processes is input (step 701).

  The manual intellectual assistance process is a process for presenting information related to the user's current business under conditions arbitrarily designated by the user.

  If the input command is not manual intellectual assistance processing (step 717: NO), it is determined whether or not the command detected in step 701 is shutdown of the personal computer 10 (step 721). Is satisfied (step 721: YES), the personal computer 10 is turned off. On the other hand, if it is not a shutdown command (step 721: NO), processing according to this command is executed (step 723). Then, after executing this process, it waits again until a command for executing any one of the processes is input (step 701).

(Intellectual support processing before operation)
FIG. 8 shows the flow of the intelligent support process before operation.

  When the pre-operation intelligent support process is executed in step 705, it is first determined whether or not the command input as the external device operation preparation command is a print command for the recording unit 202 (step 801). If it is a print command (step 801: YES), the process proceeds to step 802. On the other hand, if it is not a print command (step 801: NO), it is determined whether or not the command input as the external device operation preparation command is a PC fax transmission command to the line communication unit 212 (step 803). If it is a transmission command (step 803: YES), the process proceeds to step 804, whereas if it is not a PC fax transmission command (step 803: NO), the pre-operational intellectual support process is terminated, the process returns to step 701, and It waits until a command for executing such processing is input (step 701).

  In step 802, whether or not there is document data identical to the document data to be printed from among the already printed documents, that is, in the document table of FIG. 4, the event is stored as “print”. As a search condition, the event “print” and the address of the print target document data are set, and the event document search process is performed based on the two search conditions (step 805).

  Further, in step 804, the document already transmitted, that is, in the document table of FIG. 4, the event is stored as “send”. In order to confirm whether or not there is a record that was transmitted to the same party, the event “send”, the destination address (fax number) of the PC fax, and the address of the document data to be transmitted are used as search conditions. Based on these two search conditions, event document search processing is performed (step 805).

  FIG. 9 shows a flow of event document search processing. First, when this process is started, the control unit 100 reads one record that has not been subjected to this process from the document database 1083 (step 901). Then, it is determined whether or not the event “print” (“send”) specified as the search condition in step 802 (or step 804) matches the event of one record that is the target of this processing (step 903). If the event of the record to be processed is not “print” (“send”) (step 903: NO), this record is excluded from the process target, and the process returns to step 901 again.

  On the other hand, if the event of the record to be processed is “print” (“send”) (step 903: YES), is the document address set as a search condition in step 802 (or step 804)? It is determined whether or not (step 905).

  In step 905, if a document address is set as a search condition in step 802 (or step S804) (step 905: YES), the document address of one record to be processed is It is determined whether the document address specified as the search condition matches (step 907). If it is determined that the document addresses match (step 907: YES), the process proceeds to step 909. If it is determined that the document addresses do not match (step 907: NO), the process proceeds to step 901.

  If the document address is not set as the search condition in the determination in step 905 (step 905: NO), the process proceeds to step 909 without performing the determination in step 907.

  If it is determined in step 909 that the partner address is set as a search condition in step 802 (or step 804) (that is, if the address is passed through step 804; step 909: YES), the target of this processing is 1 It is determined whether the counterpart addresses of the two records match the counterpart address designated as the search condition (step 911). If it is determined that the partner addresses match (step 911: YES), the process proceeds to step 913. If it is determined that they do not match (step 911: NO), the process proceeds to step 901.

  Also, in the determination in step 909, if the partner address is not set as the search condition (that is, if the address goes through step 802; step 909: NO), the determination in step 911 is not made and the process proceeds to step 913. To do.

  Then, when it is not determined whether the partner address matches in the process of step 911 (step 905: NO or step 907: YES and step 909: NO), or when the partner address matches in the process of step 911 ( Step 905: NO or Step 907: YES and Step 909: YES and Step 911: YES), the document data set as the search condition has already been printed, or the document data set as the search condition has already been A record to be processed is added to the search result assuming that it is transmitted to the same partner (step 913).

  Thereafter, in step 915, it is determined whether or not the event document search process has been completed for all records in the document table. If not (step 915: NO), the process returns to step 901 to continue the process. If completed (step 915: YES), the event document search process is terminated and step 807 is executed.

  In step 807, it is determined whether or not the same document exists by the event document search process in step 805. Here, if it is determined that the same document is “no” (step 807: NO), the document data to be processed is not duplicated or transmitted to the same partner, and therefore the subsequent processing Is not performed (printing or transmission processing is performed as it is), the process returns to step 701 and waits until the next input is made.

  On the other hand, in the case of the same document “exist” (step 807: YES), the ID and date / time related to the latest record (last printed or transmitted) are read from the records determined to be the same (step 809). ) It is determined whether or not the six months have passed since the date and time is calculated from the current date and time (step 811).

  If it is determined that 6 months have passed (step 811: YES), the document data to be processed is duplicated or sent to the same party, but it is equivalent to the last printing or sending Since the period has elapsed, the subsequent processing is not performed (the printing or transmission processing is performed as it is), and the process returns to step 701 and waits until the next input is made.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that six months have not elapsed (step 811: NO), the same document is printed last ("print" as an event) or transmitted (event) from the document table (see FIG. 4). It is checked whether or not it has been updated ("update" as an event) (step 813).

  If it is determined in step 815 that the data has been updated (step 815: YES), printing or transmission processing is performed as it is, and the process returns to step 701 and waits until the next input is made. On the other hand, if it is determined that it has not been updated (step 815: NO), the type of operation is determined. If the operation is print (step 816: YES), the already printed document has the paper file ID. At the same time, in order to determine whether or not the file information is managed in the file information table 1085 (see FIG. 5), the paper file ID with the matching document address is read out in the file information table 1085 (step 817).

  If there is a paper file ID that matches the file information table 1085 as a result of step 817, it is determined that the current printing is to duplicate an unupdated document with the paper file ID when printing. The user is notified in the manner shown in FIG. 10A (step 821).

  On the other hand, if there is no paper file ID that matches the file information table 1085, the user is notified in a manner shown in FIG. 10B that the unupdated document is to be printed redundantly (step 823). ).

  If the operation is PC fax transmission (step 816: NO), the user is notified that the same document is going to be transmitted to the same party in the manner shown in FIG. 10C (step 824).

(Intellectual support processing during operation)
FIG. 11 shows the flow of the intelligent support process during operation.

  In step 711, when the in-operation intelligent support process is executed, first, the control unit 100 of the personal computer 10 receives (detected) the state ID, partner address, and target document address received from the external device in step 709. Is read from the RAM (step 1101), and GID search condition setting processing is executed (step 1103).

  FIG. 12 shows a flow of GID search condition setting processing. First, a state ID (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is set as a search condition (step 1201). Next, in the document search process of step 1105, in order to specify the search condition for searching with the state ID specified in step 1201 and the so-called “AND condition”, search conditions specific to each operation process are extracted. Therefore, the type of GID is determined. That is, first, it is determined whether or not the GID of the state ID set in step 1201 is “1 (see FIG. 3)” (step 1203).

  If it is determined in step 1203 that the GID is “1” (step 1203: YES), the target document address is added as a search condition (step 1205), and step 1207 is executed. If it is determined in step 1203 that the GID is not “1”, step 1207 is executed without executing step 1205.

  In step 1207, it is determined whether or not the GID of the state ID set in step 1201 is “2 (see FIG. 3)” (step 1207).

  If it is determined in step 1207 that the GID is “2” (step 1207: YES), the partner address is added as a search condition (step 1209). Then, the GID search condition setting process is terminated, and then the document search process (step 1105) is executed using the search condition specified by the GID search condition setting process.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 1207 that the GID is not “2”, the GID search condition setting process is terminated as it is. Similarly, the document search process (step 1105) is executed using the search condition specified by the GID search condition setting process.

  In step 1203 and step 1207, both are determined to be “NO” when the GID corresponding to the state ID is “0”.

  FIG. 13 shows the flow of the document search process (step 1105). First, all the records in the status table 1081 and the document table 1083 are set as initial values of the search result record (step 1301).

  Next, in order to specify the target document related to the specific record from the state table 1081, a search is executed according to the search condition specified by the previously executed GID search condition setting process (step 1103).

  That is, first, in step 1303, it is determined whether or not a state ID is specified as a search condition (step 1303). In the operating intelligent support process (step 711), since the state ID is normally set as the search condition in step 1201, the determination in step 1303 is “YES”. A record matching the state ID set as is stored as a new search result record (step 1305), and step 1307 is executed.

  In step 1307, it is determined whether or not a partner address is specified as a search condition, that is, whether or not the determination in step 1207 is “YES” and a partner address is added as a search condition in step 1209. If the partner address is set as a result of this determination (step 1307: YES), a record that matches the partner address set as the search condition is newly searched from the search result record stored in step 1305. The result record is stored (step 1309), and then step 1311 is executed. In step 1307, if the partner address is not specified as the search condition (step 1307: NO), step 1311 is executed without executing step 1309.

  In step 1311, it is determined whether or not the target document address is specified as the search condition, that is, whether or not the determination in step 1203 is “YES” and the target document address is specified as the search condition in step 1205. . If the target document address is set as a result of this determination (step 1311: YES), a record that matches the target document address set as the search condition is newly selected from the search result record stored in step 1305. Is stored as a search result record (step 1313), and then step 1315 is executed. If the target document address is not specified as the search condition in step 1311 (step 1311: NO), step 1315 is executed without executing step 1313.

  In step 1309 and step 1313, only one GID corresponding to each state ID is set to store a new search result record corresponding to each search condition based on the search result record specified in step 1305. (See FIG. 3).

  In Step 1315, one unprocessed search result record is read from the search result records specified in Steps 1303 to 1313 in order to perform the processing from Step 1317 or Step 1318 (the entity is one record in the state table 1081). Step 1316 is executed.

  In step 1316, the state ID of the search result record read in step 1315 is a processing operation (event) related to reading and storing an image using the reading unit 204, specifically, scan-to-PC (state ID “SCN”). Or a scan-to-media (status ID is defined as “SCM”). As a result of this determination, when it is determined that the state ID described in the search result record read out in step 1315 is neither “SCN” nor “SCM” (step 1316: NO), then Step 1317 is executed.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the state ID described in the search result record read out in step 1315 is either “SCN” or “SCM” (step 1316: YES), next, step 1318 is executed. To do.

  In step 1317, in each record stored in the document table 1083 set as the initial value of the search result record in step 1301, the event is “create” from the date and time described in the record whose event is “create” or “open”. The period until the date and time described in the record whose event is “close” in which the same document address as the document address described in the record is described (that is, the document was “opened” or “ When the period during which it can be determined that it has been handled) overlaps the period from the start date to the end date described in the record of one status table 1081 read out in step 1315, the document table 1083 of the processing target The record is stored as a search result record (step 1317).

  That is, in this process (step 1317), a document that is determined to have been opened or handled at the same time as the state of the external device that matches the instructed search condition is extracted.

  In the information management system 1 according to the first embodiment, the document data having such a relationship are regarded as having high relevance. For this reason, as described above, the “dates and times” that have been processed overlap “create”. "Or" open "is stored as a search result record.

  Note that, from the date and time described in the record whose event is “create” or “open”, the same document address as the document address described in the record such as “create” is described, and the event is “close” In determining the period up to the date and time described in the record, the identity of the user (operator in FIG. 4) is considered.

  FIG. 26 shows the flow of the scanning search process.

  First, the control unit 100 reads a record (unprocessed) that is a target of the scan search process (step 1318) from the entire state table 1081 for the search result record read in step 1315 ( Step 2601) Next, Step 2603 is executed. Hereinafter, in the description of the scanning search process to be described, the search result record read in step 1315 is referred to as “record Ax”, and the unprocessed record is referred to as “record Bx”.

  In Step 2603, it is determined whether or not the state ID described in the record Bx is “SCN” or “SCM”. When this condition is satisfied (Step 2603: YES), Step 2605 is executed. . On the other hand, when it is determined that the state ID described in the record Bx is neither “SCN” nor “SCM”, step 2513 is executed.

  In step 2605, the specific time (Δt) specified by the execution of the data reading process (scan) for the record Ax and the data reading process (scan) for the record Bx in consideration of the relationship between the record Ax and the record Bx. ) Is calculated.

  Specifically, when the execution of the reading process of the document data related to the record Ax has been performed first with respect to the execution of the reading process of the document data related to the record Bx, the record Bx from the end date / time described in the record Ax The specific time (Δt) is calculated by subtracting the start date and time described in. In addition, when the execution of the reading process of the document data related to the record Ax is performed after the execution of the reading process of the data related to the record Bx, the start date / time described in the record Ax from the end date / time described in the record Bx. Is subtracted to calculate the specific time (Δt).

  Then, after step 2605, the relationship between the specific time (Δt) specified in step 2605 and the predetermined condition time (T) stored in the storage unit 108 is compared (step 2607).

  Here, if the user using this information management system 1 is performing data input work (execution of read processing) by the same means continuously or continuously in the same period, the input data is mutually Is considered to be an input operation repeatedly performed in a single-purpose operation. In other words, the conditional time (T) is a reference time for determining whether or not the document data specified by the target document addresses described in both records are read during the same operation. The reading operations at intervals exceeding this are used to determine that the reading operations are based on different operations.

  Therefore, when the specific time (Δt) is shorter than the condition time (T) (it is also possible to set “below” as the condition) (step 2607: YES), the specific time is specified by the target document address described in this record Bx. The document data to be read is stored during the same operation as the reading process related to the record Ax, and this record Bx is stored as a search result record (step 2608).

  On the other hand, when the specified time (Δt) is equal to or longer than the condition time (T) (it is possible to set “long” as the condition) (step 2607: NO), the specified time is specified by the target document address described in the record Bx. Assuming that the document data is taken in during a work different from the same work as the reading process related to the record Ax, the process proceeds to step 2513.

  In step 2509, a process for determining the degree of relevance of both records determined to be related is performed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 27A, the degree of relevance (weight) is determined in advance based on the time interval of the specific time, and the relationship between the time interval and the degree is obtained in step 2605. Based on the specific time (Δt), the degree of relevance between both records is determined and stored in the search result table 1089 (see FIG. 28) (step 2611).

  The degree of relevance is not given only by FIG. 27 (a), but a decreasing function f (t) as shown in FIG. 27 (b) is defined, and a specific time (Δt) is defined in this function. By substituting, the degree of relevance can also be obtained. In such a case, without executing step 2607, the degree of relevance calculated by the decreasing function f (t) is compared with a predetermined degree of relevance, and based on the comparison result, the same as step 2607 is performed. Judgment can be made (in the case of such processing, step 2607 is unnecessary, and after the step 2609, the above comparison and judgment are performed).

  After that, in step 2613, it is determined whether or not the above processing has been completed for all records Bx in the state table 1081, and when this condition is satisfied (step 2613: YES), this processing is terminated. While step 1319 is executed and this condition is not satisfied (step 2613: NO), the process returns to step 2601 and the above steps are executed repeatedly.

  In the scanning search process, the processing operation of step 1316 is limited to scan-to-PC and scan-to-media, but the application range is not limited to this, and the processing operation is not limited to this. It can be adopted depending on the contents of. For example, a telephone call (defined by the status ID “TLT”) and a telephone call (defined by the status ID “TLR”) in which data (voice) is input via the line communication unit 212 may be used. Further, scan-to-mail (status ID is defined as “SML”) and fax transmission (defined by status ID “FXT”) that only differ in the transmission path of the input data may be used.

  In addition, if there is no related processing operation, or it is determined that it is more appropriate to associate each processing operation instead of combining a plurality of processing operations, the processing operation alone is performed in step 1316. Judgment may be made.

  In step 1319, it is determined whether or not the processing in step 1317 has been completed for all records stored as search result records in the state table 1081, and if completed (step 1319: YES), the above processing is performed. Search result information is created from the search result record based on (Step 1321), and the document search processing (Step 1105) is terminated. If it is determined in step 1319 that all cases have not been completed (step 1319: NO), the process returns to step 1315 to continue the processing.

  In the information management system 1 according to the present embodiment, the record stored in the state table 1081 adopts a configuration in which when the processing operation is performed, the document table is simultaneously stored as one record ( (See “Document Table Update Processing” described later.) In step 1317, the records in both tables are stored in the search result record as satisfying the search condition.

  Therefore, in order to exclude the search result record stored based on the record stored by such the same processing, the start date / time or end date / time of the search result record specified from the state table 1081 and the date / time of the document table 1083 are determined. It is preferable that the search result records having the same target document address and the same document address are not stored in step 1317 even if the condition in step 1317 is satisfied.

  When the document search process (step 1105) is completed, the control unit 100 continues to execute a search result display process based on the document search process (step 1105) (step 1107).

  In step 1317 in the document search process, a determination is made based on the overlap between both periods. However, if the date / time described in the record whose event is “create”, “open”, or “close” is included in the period from the start date / time to the end date / time described in the record of the state table 1081, Event, which has the same document address as the document address described in the record such as “create” from the date and time described in the record where the event is “create” or “open” Except when the period from the start date to the end date and time described in the record of the status table 1081 is included in the period from the date and time described in the record with “close”, such a simple determination is performed. If it is adopted in combination with the determination in step 1317, it is preferable from the viewpoint of quick determination.

  Similarly, from the date and time described in the record where the event is “create” or “open”, the event having the same document address as the document address described in the record such as “create” is described as “close”. In the case where either the start date / time or the end date / time described in the record of the status table 1081 is included in the period up to the date / time described in the record “”, both will always overlap. Similarly, adopting such simple determination in combination with the determination in step 1317 is preferable from the viewpoint of quick determination.

  Furthermore, even if either the start date / time or the end date / time described in the record of the state table 1081 and the date / time described in the record whose event is “create”, “open”, or “close” are duplicated, As described above, it is preferable to use such a simple determination in combination with the determination in step 1317 from the viewpoint of quick determination.

  FIG. 14 shows the flow of the search result display process (step 1107). First, at the start of processing, the date and reference sort flag are turned OFF (step 1401).

  Next, whether each search result record specified as the search result information created in step 1325 is a search result record specified from the state table 1081 (specified by executing steps 1303 to 1313). The search result record specified from the record whose status ID is “SCN” or “SCM” in the status table 1081 (step 1318), or specified from the document table 1083 (steps 1315 to 1323). Are classified as a search result record (search result table 1089). That is, both search results are classified with the former two as the search results for the target document (whole) and the target document (scan) and the latter as the search results for the used document (step 1403).

  When the processing in step 1403 is completed, next, in step 1403, the displayed usage result is displayed when displaying the search result information divided into the used document, the target document (whole), or the target document (scan). Processing for determining in which order the document, the target document (entire) or the target document (scan) is displayed is executed.

  First, in step 1405, it is determined whether or not sorting by date and time is selected as the display order (step 1405).

  Now, when sorting by reference number is specified, in other words, when sorting by date and time is not specified (step 1405: NO), those having the same weight in the order of the weights set in the search processing for scanning in step 1318 Or, those with no weight (used document, target document (whole document)) are classified into the used document, the target document (whole document), or the target document (scan) in step 1403 in descending order of the number of references. For each search result, the search result records are sorted in descending order of weight and reference number (step 1407), and then the reference number sort flag is turned ON (step 1409). Then, Step 1415 is executed.

  On the other hand, when sorting by date and time has been specified (step 1405: YES), the control unit 100 has the same weight in the order of the weights set in the scan search process in step 1318 for each of the search results in step 1403. Those that are not weighted or are not weighted are sorted in order from the search result record with the newest date and time (step 1411), and then the date and time sort flag is turned ON (step 1413). Then, step 1415 is executed as described above.

  In the information management system 1 of the first embodiment, when displaying the search results, the records are sorted in the order of the weights of the records, and those having the same weight can be sorted by two items of date and reference number. For this reason, whether to sort by date or reference number is determined only by determining whether or not the item is sorted by one item, the user sorts in order of weight, and there are multiple items with the same weight. If it exists, it is possible to determine whether to sort by date or reference number (if the weight is the same, if sorting by date is not specified, sorting by reference number is specified. It is considered.)

  In addition, it is possible to specify whether to sort in the order of weights and whether to sort by date and time or reference number, for example, via the operation unit 104 after executing the process of step 1401 and before executing the process of step 1405. What is necessary is just to make it the structure which a user designates.

  In step 1415, based on the search result records sorted in accordance with the conditions specified in step 1407 or step 1411, a list for each used document, target document (entire) or target document (scan) is accessed. Generate as possible. In step 1417, these lists are displayed.

  As described above, in the information management system 1 according to the first embodiment, when the operation of the external device is detected in step 707, the operation-time intelligent support process (step 711) is executed in accordance with the detection. I am letting. Accordingly, in relation to the detected processing operation, the user can be notified of a document that has been opened or handled at the same time in the past. If necessary processing exists for a document, this processing can be performed simultaneously (simultaneously).

  For example, when a fax transmission is performed, it is possible to view a document that has been opened in the past fax transmission and determine whether or not this document should be transmitted.

  15 to 18 show the execution result of the in-operation intellectual support process displayed on the display unit 106 of the personal computer 100 by executing step 1417 related to the used document and the target document (whole) generated in step 1415. FIG.

  More specifically, FIG. 15 shows a case where a print processing command for arbitrary document data stored in the storage unit 108 is issued from the personal computer 10 to the recording unit 202 of the multifunction machine 20 (processing operation (state PC printing is executed as shown in FIG. 2 (b)), and the in-operation intelligent support process (step 711) is executed, and the search result relating to the target document specified thereby is displayed.

  That is, when PC printing is executed, the document search process (step 1105) is executed based on the status ID “PRN” and the target document address that is the object of the current PC print process. As a result, the date and time when the target document data to be printed this time was printed in the past is displayed in the form of FIG. 15 (in this case, the addresses and the number of references are all displayed in the same manner in FIG. 15). .)

  FIG. 16 shows the used documents that have been opened within the period during which printing of the target document data to be printed this time has been executed.

  For example, the current PC print has the ID “sid1” in FIG. 2A (in this record, the start date and time is “July 15, 2005 11:59:00” and the end date and time is “July 2005”. 15th, 12:02:00 ”), and the document address of the used document related to the target document of sid1 is“ file: // *** / *** / d2 ”,“ file: // *** ” / *** / d3 ”(In FIG. 4, the date and time described in the ID using the document address of this used document is“ id2 ”is“ July 15, 2005 11:50:00 ”and“ id6 ”is“ 2005. The above period when the PC print processing related to sid1 was executed, assuming that July 15th 12:00:00 and did8 is "15 July 2005 12:01:00") Inside, "file: // * * / *** / d2 "," file: // *** / *** / d3 "Documents pertaining to become that had been opened. Therefore, the predetermined items related to these two usage documents are displayed according to the mode of FIG.

  By executing step 1417 related to the target document (scan), the execution result of the in-operation intelligent support process displayed on the display unit 106 of the personal computer 100 is displayed in a manner similar to FIG.

  Specifically, when scanning the past “This document (displays information specifying the target document, etc.)”, the following documents were also read. ”And the target document specified by the scanning search process (step 1318) is displayed in the lower row in the order in which the document is sorted by the search result display process (step 1107).

  17 and 18, in step 707, a telephone call (event “TLT” in FIG. 2B) or a telephone call (in FIG. 2B) is made via the line communication unit 212 of the multi-function device 20. The display example in the case of the event “TLR”) is shown (the process up to the display is the same as the above description and is omitted).

  In FIG. 15, the PC print and GID is “1” (see FIG. 2B), and the document search process (step 1105) is executed by specifying the document address as a search condition. Although the reference numbers are all the same and only the date and time are displayed differently, in the case of a telephone call or a telephone call, the GID is “2” (see FIG. 2B), and the document address is specified as a search condition. However, since the document search process (step 1105) is executed, different addresses are displayed for the target document addresses shown in the “address” column shown in FIG.

  In the information management system 1 of the first embodiment, the addresses displayed in FIGS. 15 to 18 are displayed in a hyperlink format (step 1417). When this is selected via the operation unit 104, this address is displayed. Document data related to the address is read from the storage unit 108 and displayed on the display unit 106.

(Status table registration process)
FIG. 19 shows the flow of registration processing in the status table 1081 shown in FIG.

  In step 715, when the state table registration process is executed, the control unit 100 of the personal computer 10 first adds a record for registration to the state table 1081, and generates a unique ID. Then, this unique ID is registered as the ID of this new record (step 1901), and then step 1903 is executed.

  In step 1903, the date and time when the operation of the external device is detected in step 707 and the date and time when the operation end of the external device whose operation is detected in step 707 are detected in step 713 are set as the start date and time, respectively. In addition to registering in a new record in 1901, in step 709, prior to the operation-time intelligent support process (step 711), an input is received from an external device whose operation has been detected, and the RAM that constitutes the control unit 100 is stored and held. A process for registering the state ID, the destination address, the target document address, and the amount stored in the new record in the same step 1901 is executed.

(Manual intellectual assistance processing)
20 and 21 show the flow of manual intellectual assistance processing. FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a display mode of information displayed on the display unit 106 of the personal computer 10 when the manual intelligent new process is executed.

In step 719, when the manual intellectual assistance process is activated, this process starts. This process is configured to operate in parallel with the personal computer main process shown in FIG. In other words, the process of step 719 proceeds to the process of step 701 without waiting for the completion of the manual intellectual assistance process after starting this manual intellectual assistance process.
First, the control unit 100 of the personal computer 10 generates a set for each state ID from the records in the state table 1081, and executes a process of sorting the records collected for each state ID in order of start date and time (step 2001). The result obtained by the above is displayed on the display unit 106 of the personal computer 10 (step 2003).

  Here, the display in step 2003 is displayed so that only the names of the processing operations indicated by the state IDs are displayed so that the entire state 2305 is reduced and displayed (PC print in FIG. 23). (Refer to the display mode.)

  In step 2005, the radio of the top record (record sorted in the top in step 2001) in the state 2305 (PC print in FIG. 23) displayed at the top in the display mode displayed by the processing in step 2003. A button 2307 (see FIG. 23) is set to be ON as an initial setting (step 2305).

  After the manual intellectual assistance process is activated (step 719), the control unit 100 stands by until the user operates through the operation unit 104 with the procedure up to step 2005 being executed (step 2007).

  In this standby state (step 2007), when the user inputs a command via the operation unit 104, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the command is a press of a deployment icon 2301 (see FIG. 23). Is determined (step 2009).

  Here, when the input command is pressing of the expansion icon 2301 (step 2009: YES), the record information of the state 2305 corresponding to the pressed expansion icon 2301 is displayed in a list form according to the sorting of step 2001. At the same time (step 2011), the expanded icon 2301 in the expanded state 2305 is replaced with a reduced icon 2303 (step 2013).

  More specifically, the processing in step 2011 and step 2013 is based on FIG. 23. Before the expansion icon 2301 is pressed (step 2009), the state 2305 is also expanded in the PC fax transmission as in the case of PC printing. It is displayed with the icon 2301 (in other words, the list (record) is not displayed).

  In this state, when step 2009 is executed for the PC fax transmission expansion icon 2301 (step 2009: YES), a record in which the state ID is “FPT” in the state table 1081 is displayed in step 2001. 23 are displayed in the order shown in FIG. 23 (step 2011), and the expansion icon 2301 related to PC fax transmission is replaced with a reduction icon 2303 (step 2013: the display changes from “+” to “−”. Will be changed.) Note that when the step 2013 is finished for the first time, the step 2005 is valid, and any radio button 2307 is OFF in the record displayed in association with the PC fax.

  On the other hand, when the input command is not the pressing of the expansion icon 2301 (step 2009: NO) but the reduction icon 2303 (step 2015: YES) in the standby state in step 2007, the PC fax transmission in FIG. The one displayed in the mode is changed to the PC print mode. That is, the list display of the record in the corresponding state 2305 is deleted (step 2017), and the reduced icon 2303 is replaced with the expanded icon 2301 (step 2019).

  Further, in the standby state in step 2007, when the input command is not pressing the reduction icon 2303 (step 2015: NO) but pressing the radio button 2307 (step 2021: YES), a predetermined record (initial state) , The radio button 2307 that is turned on for the topmost state 2305 is turned off (step 2023), and the radio button 2307 corresponding to the user's operation is turned on (step 2025).

  When step 2013, step 2019, and step 2025 are executed, the process returns to step 2007 and waits until the user performs an operation again.

  Here, in the standby state in Step 2007, when the command input by the user's operation is not pressing any of the expansion icon 2301, the reduction icon 2303, and the radio button 2307 (Step 2009, Step 2015, and Step 2021: NO ), The process shown in FIG. 21 is performed.

  That is, the control unit 100 of the personal computer 10 determines whether or not the command input by the user's operation is the end of the manual intellectual assistance process, specifically, whether or not the close button 2317 is pressed. When the determination is made (step 2101) and this condition is satisfied (step 2101: YES), the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when the close button 2317 is not pressed (step 2101: NO), the list display button 2309, the memory save button 2311, the all display button 2313, or the all print button 2315 are displayed. In order to execute, the radio button ON record (state ID, GID, destination address, target document) is read (step 2103).

  Based on the read information, a GID search condition setting process (step 2105) and a document search process (step 2107) are executed, and then step 2109 is executed. It should be noted that both the processes executed in Step 2105 and Step 2107 are the GID search condition setting process (Step 1103) and the document search process (Step 1105) performed in the operation-time intelligent support process (Step 711). Since it is the same, the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In step 2109, it is determined whether or not the instruction via the operation unit 104 of the user that has caused step 2103 to be executed is a press of the list display button 2309.

  If the list display button 2309 is pressed (step 2109: YES), the document intellectual assistance process is started using the result of the document search process in step 2107 (step 2111). Details of the document intellectual assistance process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  On the other hand, if the list display button 2309 is not pressed (step 2109: NO), it is determined whether or not the memory save button 2311 is pressed (step 2113), and when this condition is satisfied (step 2113: YES). The control unit 100 instructs the multifunction device 20 to write the document data of the document address described in the record of the search result obtained by the document search process (step 2107) to the removable medium 2101 and also stores the storage unit. The corresponding document data is transmitted from 108 to the multi-function device 20 via the communication unit 102. On the other hand, in response to this instruction, the control unit 200 of the multifunction device 20 writes the corresponding document data received via the communication unit 214 in the removable media 2101 (step 2115).

  If the memory save button 2311 is not pressed (step 2113: NO), it is determined whether or not the display button 2313 is all pressed (step 2117). When this condition is satisfied (step 2117: YES), control is performed. The unit 100 opens the document data of the document address described in the search result record obtained by the document search process (step 2107), and sequentially displays the contents on the display unit 106 at a predetermined interval, for example, every 2 seconds. (Step 2119).

  If all the display buttons 2313 are not pressed (step 2117: NO), it is determined whether all the print buttons 2315 are pressed (step 2117). If this condition is satisfied (step 2117: YES), control is performed. The unit 100 transmits the document data of the document address described in the search result record obtained by the document search process (step 2107) to the multifunction device 20 via the communication unit 102, and the recording unit 202 of the multifunction device 20 transmits the document data. Printing is performed (step 2123).

  If all the print buttons 2315 are not pressed (step 2121: NO), another process associated with the press is executed, or it is determined that this press is an error, and the user performs the operation again. Wait (step 2007).

  In addition, when step 2111, step 2115, step 2119, and step 2123 have been executed, the process returns to step 2007 and waits until input from the user is made again.

  FIG. 22 shows a flow of the document intellectual assistance process activated in step 2111. FIG. 24 is a view showing a display mode of information displayed on the display unit 106 of the personal computer 10 in accordance with the execution of the document intellectual assistance process.

  First, in step 2201, the control unit 100 of the personal computer 10 uses the record having the same document address from the search result records obtained by the document search process (step 2107) to retrieve the document data having the same document address. The reference count (number of records whose event is open) and the last access date (date and time described in the latest record) are tabulated (step 2201), and step 2203 is executed.

  In step 2203, the total result is displayed on the display unit 106 in the manner shown in FIG. At that time, the radio button of the first record among the displayed records is turned ON (step 2205).

  Here, after the document intellectual assistance process is activated (step 2111), the control unit 100 waits until the user operates through the operation unit 104 in a state where the procedure up to step 2205 is executed (step 2111). 2207).

  In this standby state (step 2207), when the user inputs a command via the operation unit 104, the control unit 100 determines whether the command is a press of a radio button 2401 (see FIG. 24). Is determined (step 2209). When this condition is satisfied (step 2209: YES), step 2201 is executed.

  In step 2207, the radio button 2401 that is turned on for a predetermined record (the first record in the initial state) is turned off (step 2211), and the radio button 2401 corresponding to the user's operation is turned on (step 2211). Step 2213).

  On the other hand, if the determination in step 2209 is not pressing the radio button 2401, it is determined whether or not the display button 2403 is pressed (step 2215). If this condition is satisfied (step 2215: YES), step 2217 is executed. Execute.

  In step 2217, the document data of the document address whose radio button is ON is opened and displayed on the display unit 106.

  If the determination in step 2215 is not pressing the display button 2403, it is determined whether or not the print button 2405 is pressed (step 2219). If this condition is satisfied (step 2219: YES), step 2221 is executed. Execute.

  In step 2221, the control unit 100 reads out the document data of the document address of the radio button ON from the storage unit 108 and transmits the corresponding document data to the multi-function device 20 via the communication unit 102, and the recording unit of the multi-function device 20. 202 prints this.

  If the determination in step 2219 is not pressing the print button 2405, it is determined whether or not the related document button 2407 is pressed (step 2223). If this condition is satisfied (step 2223: YES), step 2225 is determined. Execute.

  In step 2225, all records in which the event is described as “open” are extracted from the document table 1081 during the period (between open and close) in which the document data of the document address whose radio button 2401 is ON is opened (between open and close) (step 2225). Step 2225).

  24 will be described in detail by way of example. In this extraction, the document data stored in the document address “file: // ## / #### / ## 2” has a reference count of r2. From there, there is a period that has been opened r2 times, and all these periods are performed.

  It should be noted that the same user (operator in FIG. 4) is taken into account when determining the period during which the document data of the document address whose radio button 2401 is ON is open.

  Then, the document intellectual assistance process is started again for the search result record obtained by the extraction in step 2225 (step 2227).

  That is, the user can continuously know documents related to a certain document by executing the document intellectual assistance process.

  Further, if the determination in step 2223 is not pressing of the related document button 2407, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the close button 2409 is pressed (step 2229), and when this condition is satisfied (step 2229: YES), the document intellectual assistance process (step 2111) is terminated, the process returns to step 2007, and waits until an operation from the user is performed.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the close button 2409 is not pressed (step 2229: NO), another process associated with this press is executed, or it is determined that this press is an error, and the user is operated again. (Step 2207).

  Note that when step 2213, step 2217, step 2221, and step 2227 have been executed, the process returns to step 2207 and waits until input from the user is made again.

(Processing by information management system 2)
Next, the process (2) by the information management system 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to the drawings. The process (2) is operated in parallel with the process (1).

  FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for updating the document table 1083 performed by the personal computer 10. The process (2) shown in this flow is performed by the control unit 100 of the personal computer 10, and more specifically, executed by the CPU constituting the control unit 10 according to a program stored in a ROM or the like. It is.

  First, the control unit 100 operates the document data stored in the storage unit 108 via the operation unit 104, or the operation of the multifunction device 20, specifically, “target document address” in FIG. ”, The target document data is transmitted from the multifunction device 20 to the personal computer 10 by the activation of the processing operation (state) described as“ (copied to the personal computer) ”, and this target document data is newly stored in the storage unit. 108, the wireless tags 322 and 324 of the books 32 and 34 are read by the wireless tag reading unit 306 of the book sensor 30, and the information is transmitted to the personal computer 10 via the communication unit 34. Whether or not a home page on the Internet 70 (hereinafter referred to as “HP”) introducing the book 32 or the like related to transmission from the book sensor 30 has been browsed (hereinafter referred to as “this”). La operation or process referred to as "file operation".) To determine (Step 2501).

  As a result of the determination in step 2501, when it is determined that a file operation has been performed (step 2501: YES), the control unit 100 newly adds a record to the document table 1083, and generates and registers a unique ID for this record. (Step 2503) and Step 2505 is executed.

  As a result of the determination in step 2501, when this condition is not satisfied (step 2501: NO), the process waits until a file operation is performed.

  In step 2505, the full date of the target file is registered in the new record added in step 2503, the full path name of the target file is registered in the document address, the application operated by the operation application, and the operator type is registered in the operator.

  Thereafter, a process for determining information to be registered in an “unregistered” event is performed (steps 2507 to 2533).

  First, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the file operation performed in step 2501 is storing a new document file in the recording unit 108 (hereinafter referred to as “file generation”) (step 2507). When the file is generated (step 2507: YES), “create” is registered as an event.

  On the other hand, if the file operation is not a file generation (step 2507: NO), it is next determined whether or not the document file stored in the storage unit 108 is opened (hereinafter referred to as “file open”) (step step). 2511), when this condition is satisfied (step 2511: YES), “open” is registered as an event (step 2513).

  If the condition is not satisfied in step 2511 (step 2511: NO), it is determined whether or not the document data stored in the storage unit 108 is updated (overwritten) (step 2515). When the condition is satisfied (step 2515: YES), “update” is registered as an event (step 2513).

  In step 2515, when the condition is not satisfied (step 2515: NO), it is determined whether or not the document data stored in the storage unit 108 is transmitted (including PC fax transmission) (step 2519). ) When this condition is satisfied (step 2519: YES), “send” is registered as an event (step 2521).

  In step 2519, when the condition is not satisfied (step 2519: NO), whether or not the document data stored in the storage unit 108 is printed (the state “PC fax transmission” in FIG. 3 corresponds). (Step 2519), and when this condition is satisfied (step 2521: YES), “send” is registered as an event (step 2521).

  In step 2515, when the condition is not satisfied (step 2515: NO), it is determined whether or not the document data stored in the storage unit 108 is printed (using the recording unit 202 of the multifunction device 20). Judgment is made (step 2523), and when this condition is satisfied (step 2523: YES), “print” is registered as an event (step 2525).

  In step 2523, when the condition is not satisfied (step 2523: NO), it is determined whether or not the user is browsing the HP (step 2527). When this condition is satisfied (step 2527: YES), the event "Open" is registered (step 2529).

  In step 2527, when the condition is not satisfied (step 2527: NO), it is determined whether the file or HP is closed corresponding to file open (step 2511) or HP browsing (step 2527). If this condition is satisfied (step 2531: YES), “close” is registered as an event (step 2529).

  In step 2531, when the condition is not satisfied (step 2531: NO), or after finishing step 2509, step 2513, step 2517, step 2521, step 2525, step 2529 or step 2533, the control unit 100 It waits again until the file operation is performed.

  As mentioned above, although the above description according to the first embodiment mainly uses “document data” as an example, the data that can be the target of the information management system 1 is not limited to “document data”. For example, “image data” Even if “voice data” or other data, or a mixture of these various data, the same content (processing) can be realized.

(Example 2)
Hereinafter, an information management system different from the first embodiment will be described in detail.

  Note that the second embodiment does not include the “GID” used in the first embodiment, that is, “GID” is not defined in FIG. This is different from the first embodiment only in that the “GID search condition setting process” is not performed in the manual intellectual assistance process. Therefore, in the following description, details of the same configuration and processing procedure will be omitted, and only the differences will be described (the processing procedure in the manual intellectual assistance processing is the same as the in-operation intellectual assistance processing). Therefore, in the second embodiment, the operation intelligent support process will be substantially described.)

(Intellectual support processing during operation)
FIG. 29 shows the flow of the in-operation intelligent support process.

  In step 711 of FIG. 7, when the operation-time intelligent support process is executed, first, the control unit 100 of the personal computer 10 receives (detected) the state ID, the partner address, the input from the external device in step 709. The target document address is read from the RAM. Then, those selected by the user via the operation unit 104 are set as search conditions (step 2901), and document search processing is executed (step 1103).

  FIG. 13 shows the flow of the document search process (step 2903). First, all the records in the status table 1081 and the document table 1083 are set as initial values of the search result record (step 1301).

  Next, in order to specify the target document related to the specific record from the status table 1081, a search is executed according to the search condition selected in step 2903 executed previously.

  That is, first, in step 1303, it is determined whether or not a state ID is specified as a search condition (step 1303). When this condition is satisfied (step 1303: YES), the search condition is retrieved from the state table 1081. A record that matches the state ID set as is stored as a search result record (step 1305), and step 1307 is executed. When the state ID is not set as the search condition (step 1303: NO), step 1307 is executed without executing step 1305.

  In step 1307, it is determined whether or not a partner address is added as a search condition. When this condition is satisfied (step 1307: YES), the search result record stored in step 1305 is set as a search condition. The record that matches the other party address is stored as a search result record (step 1309), and then step 1311 is executed. In step 1307, if the partner address is not added as a search condition (step 1307: NO), step 1311 is executed without executing step 1309.

  In step 1311, it is determined whether or not the target document address is added as a search condition. If the target document address is set as a result of this determination (step 1311: YES), a record that matches the target document address set as the search condition is retrieved from the search result record stored in step 1305 or the like. The search result record is stored (step 1313), and then step 1315 is executed. If the target document address is not added as a search condition in step 1311 (step 1311: NO), step 1315 is executed without executing step 1313.

  Here, the search result record obtained as a result of executing Steps 1303 to 1313 will be described in more detail.

  When all the determinations are “YES” in the determinations in step 1303, step 1307, and step 1311, the search result record has a record in the state table 1081 that is the same as that stored in step 1313.

  Also, if the determinations in step 1303 and step 1307 are “YES” and the determination in step 1311 is “NO”, the search result record is the last record in the same status table 1081 as that stored in step 1309. Have

  In addition, when the determinations of step 1303 and step 1311 are “YES” and the determination of step 1307 is “NO”, the search result record is the same as the record stored in step 1313, and the record of the same state table 1081. Have

  If the determination in step 1303 is “YES” and the determinations in step 1307 and step 1311 are “NO”, the search result record is the same as that stored in step 1305 in the final state table 1081. Have

  Also, if the determination in step 1303 is “NO” and the determinations in step 1307 and step 1311 are “YES”, the search result record is the same as the record stored in step 1313 in the final state table 1081. Have

  If the determinations in steps 1303 and 1311 are “NO” and the determination in step 1307 is “YES”, the search result record is the same as that stored in step 1309 in the final state table 1081. Have

  Also, if the determination in step 1303 and step 1307 is “NO” and the determination in step 1311 is “YES”, the search result record is the same as the record stored in step 1313, and the record in the same state table 1081. Have

  Furthermore, when all the determinations in the determinations in step 1303, step 1307, and step 1311 are “NO”, the search result record is a record of the state table 1081 that is the same as the state table 1081 set as the initial value in step 1301. Have.

  In step 1315, one unprocessed search result record is read from the search result records specified in steps 1303 to 1313 in order to perform the processing after step 1317, and step 1317 is executed.

  Since the processing after step 1317 is the same as that in the first embodiment including the search result display processing 2605, the details are omitted.

The figure which showed the structure of the information management system in the Example of this invention The figure which showed the state table in the Example of this invention The figure which showed the definition of each item memorize | stored in the state table in Example 1 of this invention The figure which showed the document table in the Example of this invention The figure which showed the file information table in the Example of this invention The figure which showed the device designation | designated table in the Example of this invention The figure which shows the flow of the main process performed by the personal computer in the Example of this invention. The figure which shows the flow of the intellectual assistance process before an operation | movement in the Example of this invention. The figure which shows the flow of the event document search process in the Example of this invention. (A), (b), (c) is a figure which shows the display mode accompanying execution of the intelligent support process before operation | movement of this invention. The figure which shows the flow of the operation time intellectual assistance process in Example 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the flow of the GID search condition setting process in Example 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the flow of the document search process in the Example of this invention. The figure which shows the flow of the search result display process in the Example of this invention. The figure which shows the display mode (state table (whole) related) of the search result in the operation time intellectual assistance process in the Example of this invention. The figure which shows the display mode (document table relation) of the search result in the operation time intellectual assistance process in the Example of this invention. The figure which shows the display mode (state table (whole) related) of the search result in the operation time intellectual assistance process in the Example of this invention. The figure which shows the display mode (document table relation) of the search result in the operation time intellectual assistance process in the Example of this invention. The figure which shows the flow of the state table registration process in the Example of this invention. The figure which shows the flow of the manual intellectual assistance process in the Example of this invention. The figure which shows the flow of the manual intellectual assistance process in the Example of this invention. The figure which shows the flow of the document intellectual assistance process in the Example of this invention. The figure which shows the display mode (state table relation) of the search result in the manual intellectual assistance process in the Example of this invention. The figure which shows the display mode (document table relation) of the search result in the manual intellectual assistance process in the Example of this invention. The figure which shows the flow of the document table update process in the Example of this invention. The figure which showed the flow of the search process for a scan in the Example of this invention (A), (b) The figure which showed the degree (weight) of the relevance in the Example of this invention The figure which showed the search result table in the Example of this invention The figure which shows the flow of the operation | movement intellectual assistance process in Example 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 PC (information processing equipment)
108 storage means 20 multifunction peripheral (external device)
50 network line

Claims (5)

An information processing apparatus communicably connected to a multi-function peripheral capable of executing a plurality of processes including a plurality of types of reading processes,
The state information indicating the process executed by the multifunction device and the process start time and the process end time indicating the period of the process executed by the multifunction device are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit. Storage control means for associating and storing in the storage means data identification information indicating read data that has been read if the process executed in step 1 is any of the plurality of types of read processes The storage control means, wherein the status information is given from the multifunction device, and the processing start time and the processing end time are specified from information indicating the start and end of processing given from the multifunction device;
The time point within the first period specified from the process start time and the process end time of the first read process which is one of the plurality of types of read processes is different from the first read process. A second reading process and a time point within a second period specified from the process start time and the process end time of the second read process that is one of the plurality of types of read processes. An inter-process time determining means for obtaining an inter-process time indicating an inter-time;
Association that associates the first read data read in the first read process and the second read data read in the second read process when the time between the processes is shorter than a predetermined time Granting means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The association giving means further includes:
When three or more read data are associated with each other, each of the three or more read data within a period corresponding to the execution of one data read process and each of the remaining read data read processes executed Comparing each of the inter-process times specified by each of the time points in the corresponding period, and assigning a high degree of association to the correlation between the read data in which the inter-process period is shortened An information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
Output means for outputting data identification information indicating the read data associated by the association granting means;
An output control means for controlling to preferentially output read data to which a high degree of association is given by the association giving means when outputting the data identification information by the output means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: An information processing apparatus communicably connected to a multi-function peripheral capable of executing a plurality of processes including a plurality of types of reading processes,
The state information indicating the process executed by the multifunction device and the process start time and the process end time indicating the period of the process executed by the multifunction device are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit. Storage control means for associating and storing in the storage means data identification information indicating read data that has been read if the process executed in step 1 is any of the plurality of types of read processes The storage control means, wherein the status information is given from the multifunction device, and the processing start time and the processing end time are specified from information indicating the start and end of processing given from the multifunction device;
The time point within the first period specified from the process start time and the process end time of the first read process which is one of the plurality of types of read processes is different from the first read process. A time point within a second period specified from the process start time and the process end time of the second read process which is a second read process and is one of the plurality of types of read processes; An inter-process time determining means for obtaining an inter-process time indicating a time between
Degree determination means for determining the degree according to the time between the processes according to a relationship set so that the degree decreases as time increases;
Association that associates the first data read in the first reading process and the second data read in the second reading process when the determined degree is higher than a predetermined degree Granting means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: A computer program for causing a computer that is communicably connected to a multi-function peripheral capable of executing a plurality of processes including a plurality of types of reading processes to execute information processing,
The state information indicating the process executed by the multifunction device and the process start time and the process end time indicating the period of the process executed by the multifunction device are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit. A storage control function that associates data identification information indicating the read data read and stores the data in the storage means when the processing executed in step 1 is any of the plurality of types of read processing; The storage control function, wherein the status information is given from the multifunction device, and the processing start time and the processing end time are specified from information indicating the start and end of processing given from the multifunction device;
The time point within the first period specified from the process start time and the process end time of the first read process which is one of the plurality of types of read processes is different from the first read process. A second reading process and a time point within a second period specified from the process start time and the process end time of the second read process that is one of the plurality of types of read processes. An inter-process time determination function for obtaining an inter-process time indicating the time between, and
An association providing function for associating the first data read in the first reading process with the second data read in the second reading process when the time between the processes is shorter than a predetermined time When,
The computer program that is characterized in that to realize the computer.

Images