JP4278501B2 - Electronic blackboard and electronic blackboard system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to distribution of information written on an electronic blackboard, and more particularly to an electronic blackboard and an electronic blackboard system that can distribute and distribute the information via a copying machine.

Conventionally, as an electronic blackboard, the information written on the blackboard surface is digitized and then this data is used to record the information on a paper medium, which has been put to practical use and used for meetings and meetings held at companies and workplaces. ing.
The information written on the blackboard will be printed on paper so that it can be output on the spot after the meeting and meeting, so that the contents of the meeting and meeting will be known. It is an ordinary method. In such cases, the output is usually done on a single sheet, so a copy of the output on the electronic blackboard is created by the number of attendees using a copier to distribute to all attendees. There is a need to. According to such a distribution method that requires paper output, it is possible to avoid the waste of paper resources when considering the case where electronic minutes are distributed as an official document at a later date. Absent.
Also, when distributing electronic minutes, such as distribution to absentees of a meeting, by e-mail, etc., conventionally, the data attached to the e-mail is treated as data attached to the e-mail, and the paper output on the electronic blackboard is used as the manuscript. The scanner scans and uses the image data as attached data. In this case, the trouble of reading the image output on the paper by the scanner is generated, and the aspect of wasting paper resources also occurs here.

Therefore, in order to improve the distribution method using such paper output as a necessary condition, conventional examples shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2 below have been proposed.
In Patent Document 1, a distribution method of connecting an electronic blackboard to a network of a client / server system that enables communication of electronic mail, and sending the image data described on the electronic blackboard by mail to a client terminal managed by the mail server Is shown about. In this conventional example, it is necessary to perform an operation of selecting a distribution destination on the electronic blackboard side from a destination (client terminal) list managed by the mail server.
In Patent Document 2, character recognition processing is performed based on image data obtained by reading an image written on a writing sheet (corresponding to a blackboard surface), and keywords such as conference participants and minutes distribution destinations are recorded. An electronic blackboard system is described in which extraction and subsequent personal names are obtained as recognition results, and by referring to personal email address information by personal name, it is possible to distribute image data written on the electronic blackboard by email. .
JP-A-9-46370 JP 2000-184113 A

However, neither of Patent Documents 1 and 2 considers paper output at all. Therefore, when paper output is necessary, a printer is required, and an electronic blackboard attached to an e-mail received to the printer is used. An operation for making an output request for image data has to be performed, and it cannot be said that adaptation to the case where paper output is sometimes required is not sufficient.
Moreover, in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to independently construct a mail server that centrally manages a mail system for distributing electronic blackboard information. Further, in Patent Document 2, since automatic delivery is enabled by obtaining a destination (person name) as a recognition result of character recognition processing based on image data, means for newly performing character recognition processing However, while automatic blackboard distribution is convenient, it adds constraints and cannot fully cover the necessary distribution destinations.
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and the problem to be solved is an electronic blackboard and an electronic blackboard system that enable distribution of digitized information on the electronic blackboard. There is no need to build a new server to send electronic blackboard information by e-mail, or to perform character recognition processing that enables automatic distribution, and you can easily configure the device (system) and output paper. It is to be able to adapt to the necessary conditions.

The invention of claim 1 is an electronic blackboard, wherein the information written on the blackboard is read as image data, and the read image data can be handled by a destination copying machine having a storage and transfer function. and data processing means for processing the data format that can, means for inputting the destination information, the destination information inputted by processing by said data processing means is added to the image file created, that sends to copier and image file transmitting means, to copiers, the which the copier link information to a specific image file among the image files obtained by adding the transmission destination information stored, is added to the image file it is characterized in further comprising a means for requesting the signal to Rukoto sent to the destination of the transmission destination indicated by the destination information.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electronic blackboard described in the first aspect, the copier associated with the input destination information from the previously transmitted copier managed in association with the destination information is displayed as an image. means for retrieving as the destination of the file, is characterized in that it comprises a means for specifying the retrieved copy machine as the destination of the image file.
A third aspect of the present invention, in the electronic blackboard according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that means for inputting the destination information is a means for reading the destination information written on the recording medium is there.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic blackboard according to any one of the first to third aspects, a link information transmission request is made to the copying machine by means for requesting transmission of link information to the image file. it is characterized in further comprising means for instructing the setting of the password to those the image file to allow a reference to the image file to no destination.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is a copying machine that can be connected to the electronic blackboard according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, and is an image file transmitted from the electronic blackboard and transmission of link information to the image file. a request and means for receiving a password setting instruction to the image file, and means for processing the received image file, and means for storing the image file treated, according to a transmission request link information to stored image file, link information to a specific image file of the saved image file, and means for sending over the network a transmission destination indicated by the destination information added to the image file in the destination, the received image In response to the password setting instruction for the file, set a password for the image file and set it for the reference request for the image file. It is characterized in that it comprises means for permitting the reference confirmation conditions by password.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the copying machine according to the fifth aspect, the image file stored in the copying machine is automatically checked at a predetermined timing to determine that the predetermined time has elapsed since the storage. A means for deleting the confirmed image file is provided.

According to the first and fifth aspects of the invention, the image information on the electronic blackboard is stored in a copying machine connected to the network, and the stored information is used to output paper by the copying machine or to be referred to by a PC on the network. Or file acquisition, paper resources can be saved when paper output is not required, and appropriate response can be made when necessary, improving the performance of the electronic blackboard system. In addition, it is not necessary to construct a new server to send electronic blackboard information by e-mail or to perform character recognition processing to enable automatic distribution as in the prior art, so the device (system) can be configured easily. It becomes possible to do. Also, by sending a link to the image information stored in the copying machine, it is possible to reduce the capacity of the e-mail and to improve the efficiency of communication.
According to the second and fifth aspects of the present invention, it is only necessary to select a copy machine of the other party to which the image read from the electronic blackboard is to be transmitted, from the search result of the copier corresponding to the electronic blackboard system, such as a setting operation. It is possible to save time and effort.
According to the third and fifth aspects of the invention, the user information (name, e-mail address, etc.) recorded on a removable recording medium such as a memory card is read and stored in the copier together with the information on the electronic blackboard. Information transmission destination information can be easily obtained, information can be transferred, and distribution to conference members can be made more efficient.

According to the present invention 請 Motomeko 4, 5, when referenced by PC or the like on the image information stored in the copying machine network, by limiting the user, the party can refer to the important meetings content Can be prevented and confidentiality can be secured.
According to the invention of claim 6 , since the image information stored in the copying machine is automatically deleted by setting the deletion time, the limited capacity storage unit of the copying machine can be used effectively, In addition, it is not necessary for the user to manage the storage capacity required for storage.

An electronic blackboard and an electronic blackboard system according to the present invention will be described based on the following embodiments shown with the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of the electronic blackboard system of the present embodiment. The system shown in FIG. 1 includes an electronic blackboard and a copier connected to each other via a network such as a LAN as elements. In the illustrated example, the electronic blackboard (1) 1 ₁ , the electronic blackboard (2) 1 ₂ , the copying machine (1) 2 ₁ , and the copying machine (2) 2 ₂ are each configured with two units. If there are one or more of each, the system can be configured.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an electronic blackboard that constitutes the system of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic blackboard is a blackboard recording surface 11 for recording written characters and drawings, a drive unit 15 for moving the recording surface 11, and a scanner for reading information such as characters and drawings written on the recording surface 11. Unit 13, having a display for displaying information necessary for input operation, operation unit 17 for performing input by operating keys, card reading unit 16 for reading a memory card, IC card, etc., connected to a transmission destination via a network A network control unit 19 that performs processing and operation for the purpose.
In the electronic blackboard, when information on the recording surface 11 of the blackboard is read as image data, the operation is started by a key operation from the operation unit 17, and the recording surface 11 is moved by the driving unit 15. As the recording surface 11 moves, the scanner unit 13 scans the image information description surface and photoelectrically converts the image information on the recording surface to obtain an image signal as a reading result. Also, the read image signal is converted into data usable for image reproduction, and the converted image data is filed. In this case, the data is processed as data that can be handled by a copier that receives data via the network, and when printing is performed on the electronic blackboard side, the corresponding processing is performed. A circuit necessary for a series of processes for the image information of the electronic blackboard is provided in the scanner unit 13. Since the created image file is sent to the copying machine via the network, the network control unit 19 performs processing and operation for this purpose. The card reading unit 16 is an input unit for user information on the electronic blackboard, and is used to add user information (name, e-mail address, etc.) of meeting attendees to the created image file.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic blackboard control system.
In FIG. 3, the CPU 101 functions as a control unit that controls the entire electronic blackboard by executing the installed control program.
The CPU 101 functioning as a control unit is an element of the scanner unit 13, the drive unit 15, the operation unit 17, the card reading unit 16, the network control unit 19, and the data transmission unit 18 that constitutes the electronic blackboard of the present embodiment. On the other hand, commands and data necessary for performing operations such as reading of the recording surface 11, processing of the read image signal, image file formation, and transmission of the image file to the copying machine are given via the main bus. Also, the ROM 102 and the RAM 103 in FIG. 3 are memories that store programs used for the operation of the CPU 101 and various data necessary for processing by the CPU 101.
3 is a function for creating and sending transmission data such as instructions related to image data (file) and image data (file) to a copying machine as a transmission destination via a network. Take on. Therefore, here, processing for adding user information (name, e-mail address, etc.) read by the card reader 16 as destination information to the image data, a request to send image data or a link of the image data to the destination Data related to password setting instructions when referring to image data is processed.

The copiers that make up the system of FIG. 1 are elements that are commonly equipped with copiers to perform a series of processes for scanning a copy document and creating a copy image on copy paper based on the read image data. Is provided. Note that the copying machine in this embodiment is a digital copying machine, and is equipped with a file storage device using a non-volatile storage means having a large storage capacity and is input by a scanner or the like so that most of this model is equipped. The stored image data is filed and stored here. Files stored in the file storage device are stored and managed, and taken out as needed to be used.
Further, in addition to the elements generally provided in the digital copying machine, a network compatible function is provided. This function makes it possible to connect to an electronic blackboard over a network and receive image files, and to send an image file and a link to an image file to a transfer destination in response to a request from the electronic blackboard side. Process and operation. Further, the function of managing the image file from the electronic blackboard includes the function of restricting the reference of the image file to a specific user, thereby ensuring the confidentiality of the image file.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the control system of the copying machine.
In FIG. 4, a CPU 201 functions as a main control unit that controls the entire copying machine by executing an installed control program.
A CPU 201 functioning as a main control unit includes a system controller 205, a data transmission / reception unit 206, a user authentication unit 207, a mail transmission unit 208, an operation unit (display unit) 209, and a network control unit that constitute the copier of the present embodiment. In order to cause each element unit 210, scanner 211, and plotter 212 to perform a transfer operation of data related to an image file input from an electronic blackboard, which is a function added according to the present embodiment, in addition to a normal copying operation. Necessary commands and data are given via the main bus. 4 are memories for storing programs used for the operation of the CPU 201 and various data necessary for processing by the CPU 201, and the recording unit 204 is a non-volatile storage means (with a large storage capacity). For example, an HDD, an SD card, or the like) is used as an image file storage device.
The normal copying operation is based on the existing technology employed in the digital copying machine, and reads a copy original by the scanner 211, processing of a read image signal by the system controller 205, image file formation, and image file to the recording unit 204. Operations necessary for copy creation such as accumulation and image formation processing on paper using image data by the plotter 212 are performed.

Data transfer operations related to image files sent from the electronic blackboard include storage processing of image files (blackboard information) received from the electronic blackboard and email transmission processing related to the stored image files. Make necessary actions.
In the saving process of the image file (blackboard information), the data transmission / reception unit 206 extracts the image file from the data received from the electronic blackboard, and the image data and other management information attached thereto (here, the user information of the electronic blackboard) (Including name, e-mail address, etc.) are stored in the recording unit 204 and managed.
In the mail transmission processing related to the stored image file, the image file (blackboard information) stored in the recording unit 204 and a link to the image file are transferred to the transfer destination (in response to a request from the electronic blackboard received by the data transmitting / receiving unit 206. In order to send a mail to (added to the file), the mail sending unit 208 performs the process.
In addition, in order to ensure the confidentiality of the image file from the electronic blackboard, a function that restricts the file to specific users when the file is referred to, including e-mail transmission and copy output of the image file (blackboard information) Is provided. This function is implemented by a method of using a file link or a method of checking using a password (for example, using user information attached to an image file) at the time of reference.
Note that the network control unit 210 performs processing and operation in order to receive the image file from the electronic blackboard and the electronic mail from the copying machine via the network.

Next, the operation flow of the electronic blackboard system configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
When an electronic blackboard is used in a meeting and information recorded on the recording surface 11 of the blackboard is used as electronic data, the device is started by pressing a key of the operation unit 17. First, confirmation of attendees and attendees ( User) information is obtained (S101). For this purpose, the card reading unit 16 stores a card in which user information possessed by each person (information that can be identified by an individual, and in this case, a name and an e-mail address are preferable as information linked to an e-mail address). If it is possible to read the information and personal authentication can be performed with the pre-registered information, it is stored as attendee information (user information) of this conference. If new, it may be newly registered.
During this time, the recording surface 11 of the blackboard is read by the scanner unit 13, and information written on the blackboard surface is used as image data, and file processing is performed in a format that can be handled by a digital copying machine that receives this data (S102). ). As part of the file processing, the user information input from the card reader 16 is added to the image file.
Next, transmission data processing necessary for transmitting the created image file is performed and transmitted to the copying machine through the network control unit 19 (S103).
At the time of this transmission, the operator needs to specify the other party's copier by input from the operation unit 17. If this method is performed by inputting a machine ID that the copying machine has individually, it will be a laborious work. This is especially true when multiple copiers are available. Therefore, here, a copy machine that is connected to the electronic blackboard via a network and is compatible with the blackboard system is automatically searched, and the search result can be displayed as a list on the operation unit of the electronic blackboard. Then, a method of selecting a copy machine of the other party to which the image read from the electronic blackboard is transmitted is adopted. For example, a method of searching for a copier that can be connected to the user by managing the data of the other party sent so far in association with the user information is searched for the copier compatible with the blackboard system. Is possible.

In a copying machine that receives an image file transmitted via a network, the image file is stored in the recording unit 204 including a non-volatile storage unit having a large storage capacity, such as an HDD or an SD card of the copying machine (S104). . Since the image file is stored in the recording unit 204 of the copying machine, the stored image file is used to print out by the copying machine, or to be referred to by a PC or the like on the network as will be described later. It can be acquired, and it becomes possible to respond according to the purpose of use.
After the image file is stored in the recording unit 204, a processing operation is performed so that the user can refer to and acquire the stored file. In this system, the image file stored in the recording unit 204 can be referred to and acquired from a PC connected to the copying machine via a network. Also, here, as a condition for enabling the reference and acquisition of the image file from the PC, a file transmission request is made to the copying machine by an operation from the electronic blackboard, and the image stored in the copying machine according to the request. The method of sending the link of the file by e-mail is taken. The address to which the copying machine transmits by e-mail is input by card on the electronic blackboard side and uses the e-mail address of the user information added to the file. At this time, if the user information recorded on the card is a name, an electronic mail address corresponding to the name is retrieved from the address book held by the mail transmission unit of the copying machine. The attendee of the meeting to which the e-mail has been sent can refer to the image file stored in the copying machine from the link, and can acquire the image as a file.

By the way, the information written on the electronic blackboard often needs to ensure confidentiality. Therefore, only specific users such as conference attendees can refer to the image file stored in the recording unit 204 to ensure confidentiality.
As described above, when the method of sending an image file link to a person specified by the user information by email is adopted, the file can be obtained by setting a condition so that it can be referred only from the link destination. Confidentiality is ensured because it is limited to the specific person who received the transmission.
On the other hand, since it is not possible to secure confidentiality for files for which image file links have not been sent, it is possible to set passwords for such files, and file input on the condition that passwords are entered. It is possible to cope with it by the method of permitting reference.
It should be noted that the setting is performed by an operation from the electronic blackboard in both the method using the link for restricting the reference and the method using the password.

In the operation flow of FIG. 5, the above-described image file reference / acquisition operation is performed as follows.
That is, the copying machine checks whether or not the request from the electronic blackboard is an email transmission (S105), and if it is an email transmission request, acquires the email address of the transmission destination (S106). As for the mail address, the image file requested to be transmitted is searched from the image files stored in the recording unit 204, and the mail address added thereto is taken out.
Next, the link of the image file is sent by email to the destination email address (S107). Thereafter, if there is a request for reference / acquisition of the image file from the link transmitted by mail, the image file is transmitted in response to the request (S108).
On the other hand, when an electronic mail transmission is not requested from the electronic blackboard, that is, when a link is not transmitted, in this embodiment, a password is set unconditionally (S109) to ensure the confidentiality of the image file. Thereafter, for the image file in which the password is set, input of the password is a condition (S110), the input of the password is confirmed at the time of request for reference / acquisition, and reference / acquisition of the image file is permitted (S111).
In addition, an image file deletion process is performed in the operation flow (S112). The storage period of the image file is set to a predetermined period such as one week or one month, and the image file whose period has passed is deleted, so that the limited storage capacity of the copying machine can be used effectively. Since the time of normal storage is recorded in the management of the period, for example, the condition on the copier side such as when the copier is turned on, or the electronic blackboard when the electronic blackboard is activated and the image file is transmitted from the electronic blackboard The storage period of each image file is checked at a timing determined by an appropriate condition such as a condition on the blackboard side, and the file whose period has elapsed is deleted from the recording unit 204. The storage period can be set from the operation unit 17 of the electronic blackboard.

1 shows a basic configuration of an electronic blackboard system according to the present invention. The electronic blackboard which comprises the electronic blackboard system concerning this invention is shown. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the control system of the electronic blackboard shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control system for the copying machine shown in FIG. 1. The operation | movement flow of the electronic blackboard system shown in FIG. 1 is shown.

Explanation of symbols

1 ₁ , 1 ₂ ... electronic blackboard, 2 ₁ , 2 ₂ ... copier,
11 ... Recording surface, 13 ... Scanner section,
15 ... Drive unit, 16 ... Card reading unit,
17 ... operation part, 18 ... data transmission part,
19: Network control unit, 204 ... Recording unit,
205 ... System controller, 206 ... Data transmission / reception unit,
207 ... User authentication unit, 208 ... Mail transmission unit,
209 ... operation unit, 210 ... network control unit,
211... Scanner, 212.

Claims (6)

Means for reading information written on the blackboard surface as image data, data processing means for processing the read image data into a data format that can be handled by a destination copying machine having storage and transfer functions, and transmission means for inputting the target information, the destination information inputted by processing by said data processing means is added to the image file created, and image files transmission means that sends to the copier, to copiers, link information to a specific image file among the image files obtained by adding destination information to which the copy machine is saved, and the transmission destination indicated by the destination information added to the image file to the destination transmission and means for requesting the signal to Rukoto,
An electronic blackboard characterized by comprising 2. The electronic blackboard according to claim 1, wherein a copier associated with the input destination information is searched as a destination of an image file from copiers transmitted so far managed in association with the destination information . An electronic blackboard comprising: means; and means for designating a searched copy machine as a destination of the image file. The electronic blackboard as claimed in claim 1 or 2, the electronic blackboard, characterized in that means for inputting the destination information is a means for reading the destination information written on the recording medium. 4. The electronic blackboard according to claim 1, wherein the image file is sent to a destination that does not send a link information transmission request to the copying machine by means for requesting transmission of link information to the image file . electronic blackboard, characterized in that to allow a reference to those the image file comprising means for instructing to set a password. 5. A copier that is network-connectable to the electronic blackboard according to claim 1 , wherein the image file is transmitted from the electronic blackboard , a link information transmission request to the image file, and a password to the image file. It means for receiving the setting instruction, and means for processing the received image file, and means for storing the image file treated, according to a transmission request link information to stored image file, a particular one of the image files stored the link information to the image file, password setting instruction means for a destination in the destination to send over the network indicated by the destination information added to the image file, the received image file Depending on the password, set a password for the image file, and set the password for the reference request for the image file. Copier, characterized in that it comprises means for permitting the reference to the conditions to ensure that. 6. The copying machine according to claim 5, wherein the image file stored in the copying machine is automatically checked at a predetermined timing to determine that a predetermined time has elapsed since the storage, and the image file whose progress has been confirmed is deleted. A copying machine comprising means for performing

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