JP4343674B2 - Network scanner device and multi-function machine equipped with the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a network scanner device connected to a network and transmitting scan data of a document to a transfer destination such as a terminal device, and a multifunction device including the network scanner device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a technique for improving the transfer rate of data from a scanner to a terminal device in a scanner data processing method for taking in data read by a scanner via a network on the terminal device side. For example, a scanner data processing method is known in which data read and compressed by a scanner is received and stored via a network, the stored data is decompressed, and the data is transferred to the application software side ( For example, see Patent Document 1.)

According to the scanner data processing method, it is not necessary to match the data transfer speed on the network with the reading speed of the application software in the receiving terminal device or the decompressing speed of the decompressing means. The transfer speed can be improved. Furthermore, it is possible to switch the scanner data once stored to either single page mode or multiple page mode, and when reading data consisting of multiple pages in single page mode, the user can select each page. By doing so, it is possible to easily select a desired page and transfer it to the application software side even for data of pages other than the first page.
JP 11-168609 A

  However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a multi-page document is read, the scanner data is not transferred to the network until the reading of all pages of the document is completed. The processing method is not always efficient.

  The present invention has been made based on such knowledge, and in the case of reading a multi-page document, the time from the start of reading the document to the completion of the transfer of the read image data is shortened to achieve high speed and efficiency. An object of the present invention is to provide a network scanner device capable of acquiring typical image data and a multi-function machine equipped with the network scanner device.

In order to achieve the above object, a network scanner device according to the present invention transfers a read image data to a client PC via a network in accordance with a TCP / IP communication protocol. A reading means (10) for sequentially reading document images of a plurality of pages, a storage means (12) for storing image data read by the reading means, and a predetermined number of pages stored in the storage means. Image processing means (14) for aggregating image data as image data for one page to generate aggregated image data, and aggregating at the predetermined number of pages without waiting for completion of reading operation of all pages of the original image each has been aggregated image data, or the last of the predetermined page control means for performing the transfer of the aggregate image data less than the number of the (18) The example was constructed. According to this, even when a document image of a large number of pages is read and transferred, image data of a predetermined number of pages is aggregated into one page of aggregated image data and then transferred to a transfer destination (another device on the network). Therefore, high-speed and efficient image data acquisition is possible. In particular, since the aggregated image data that has already been read is transferred to the transfer destination without waiting for the completion of all reading operations for the original image, it is possible to acquire image data at high speed and efficiently.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises an operation means (20) capable of designating a predetermined number of pages, and the control means aggregates the image data stored in the storage means according to the number of pages designated by the operation means. It can be configured. Thus, the operator can execute transfer of aggregated image data by designating a desired number of pages in the aggregation process.

Furthermore, as shown in claim 3 , a multifunction machine according to the present invention comprises the network scanner device according to any one of claims 1 and 2 , and in addition to the scanner function of the scanner device, a facsimile function, a printer function, and The copy function has at least one function.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of pages of image data are aggregated and transferred as one page of image data, so that the time from the start of reading a document to the completion of the transfer of the read image data can be shortened and the speed can be increased efficiently. Image data can be acquired.

  Also, by instructing the number of pages of image data to be aggregated, it is possible to perform image data aggregation processing according to the original image.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a network configuration including a network scanner device according to the present invention. The network scanner device 1 includes devices such as a client PC (Personal Computer) 3, a monochrome MFP (Multi Function Peripherals) 4, a color MFP 5, a monochrome printer 6, and a color printer 7 via a network 2 such as a LAN (Local Area Network). It is connected to the. The network scanner device 1 can communicate with each of the devices 3-7 connected to the network 2 according to a predetermined communication protocol (for example, TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol)), and the designated device. In contrast, image data obtained by reading a document image can be transferred together with an instruction of the processing contents.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the network scanner device and the client PC shown in FIG. The network scanner device 1 includes a reading unit (reading unit) 10, a storage unit (storage unit) 12, an image processing unit (image processing unit) 14, a network control unit 16, a device control unit (control unit) 18, and a panel operation unit ( Operation means) 20 are provided, and these main parts are connected to each other via a system bus 22.

  Here, the reading unit 10 optically reads the image data sequentially by recognizing the type (color / monochrome), size, number of pages, and the like of the document set on the document table. The storage unit 12 is composed of a memory device such as a flash memory or a hard disk, and temporarily stores the image data read by the reading unit 10 and stores the image data that has been subjected to pre-transfer processing (aggregation, compression, etc.). . The image processing unit 14 aggregates image data of a predetermined number of pages stored in the storage unit 12 as image data for one page, sequentially generates aggregated image data, and further compresses the aggregated image data. . In the aggregation processing, processing of reducing and combining images of a predetermined number of pages (for example, two pages) to fit on one page (for example, reducing images of two pages and arranging them in parallel) is performed. In some cases, it is also possible to generate combined image data for one page of an enlarged size by performing only composition without reducing the image. The network control unit 16 controls transmission / reception of image data, various commands, communication control signals, and the like with other devices connected via the network 2. The device control unit 18 is a central processing unit that performs overall control by controlling the operation of each unit. The panel operation unit 20 is for performing various commands and operation settings by an operator, and includes various operation keys (for example, a numeric keypad and a start button) and a display (for example, a liquid crystal display) for displaying various information. I have.

  The client PC 3 stores a document file system 24 that manages image data received from the network scanner device 1 and can execute various data processing and image display.

  Here, when the image data read by the network scanner device 1 having the above configuration is transferred to the client PC 3 as a transfer destination, first, the original image set on the original tray is read by the reading unit 10 and the image data (bits) is read. Unit) is generated, and the image data is sent to the storage unit 12 and stored therein. Next, the stored image data is aggregated for each predetermined number of pages by the image processing unit 14 to generate aggregated image data. The aggregated image data is compressed on a page-by-page basis (for example, a monochrome image is converted to JBIG). (Joint Bi-level Image experts Group) format, color image is converted to JPEG (Joint Photographic coding Experts Group) format image format). The apparatus control unit 18 transfers the compressed aggregated image data to the client PC 3 as the transfer destination by the network control unit 16 without waiting for the reading unit 10 to complete the reading operation of all pages of the document image.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the read / transfer timing of the network scanner device shown in FIG. Here, a case where a document image of the same size of three pages is read and transferred by the transfer method of (a) the present invention and (b) the conventional system is shown.

  In the figure, a reading processing block (in the figure, “one page reading” or the like) is a document image reading process, and shows the timing from the start of image reading to storage in the storage unit 12. A transfer processing block (“1 page transfer” in the figure) is a transfer process of the read image data, and shows the timing from the image data aggregation process and compression process to the transfer completion. Here, (a) the present invention is a case where image data for two pages is aggregated into one page of image data (so-called 2-in-1 aggregation). The horizontal axis represents the elapsed time, and the length of each processing block corresponds to each processing time.

  Each processing time does not strictly represent the actual elapsed time, but is simplified for convenience of explanation. For example, the reading time for one page of the original image and the transfer time of the image data for one page of the original image are all set to the same processing time t. However, in actuality, the reading time and the transfer time are usually different. Also, the reading time may vary from page to page depending on the color / monochrome of the document, and the transfer time may vary from page to page depending on the compressed image data capacity, network conditions, and the like. .

  (B) In the transfer method of the conventional system, after the original image is read one page at a time from the first page to the third page and all reading is completed, the transfer of the image data of the first page is started. The image data is sequentially transferred until the transfer is completed.

  On the other hand, (a) in the transfer method by the network device of the present invention, after the first page and the second page of the original image are read, the first page and the second page are aggregated in parallel with the reading operation of the third page. The processed aggregate image data is transferred, and then the third page of the aggregate image data is transferred.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation process of the network scanner device shown in FIG. First, the operator operates the operation keys of the panel operation unit 20 to specify the number of pages (N pages) for image data aggregation processing (ST101). Next, an original is set on the reading unit 10, and a transfer destination (here, the client PC 3) is selected by the panel operation unit 20 to give a transfer instruction (ST102). The apparatus control unit 18 receives the transfer instruction and causes the reading unit 10 to start reading (ST103). The image data read by the reading unit 10 is sent to the storage unit 12 and storage starts (ST104).

  Next, reading of one page of the document image is performed (ST105), and it is determined whether reading of all pages of the document image is completed (ST106), and reading of all pages of the document image is completed. If not, the reading operation up to the previously designated N pages is executed (ST107). When the reading operation up to N pages is completed, aggregated image data in which the image data of the N pages are aggregated as image data for one page is generated, and further, the aggregated image data is compressed. The compressed aggregated image data is stored in the storage unit 12 (ST108). On the other hand, if it is determined in ST106 that all pages of the original image have been read, the number of remaining pages is less than the previously designated N pages, so that the image data of the remaining pages is one page. Aggregated image data that is aggregated as image data is generated, the aggregated image data is compressed, and the compressed image data is stored in the storage unit 12 (ST108). The compressed aggregated image data is transferred by the network control unit 16 to the client PC 3 designated as the transfer destination (ST109).

  The operations of ST105 to ST109 are repeatedly executed until reading of all pages of the document is completed (ST110). Finally, when it is determined in ST110 that reading of all pages of the document has been completed, the operation process of the network scanner device 1 ends.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail based on examples, these examples are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to the examples. It goes without saying that those skilled in the art can make various modifications or changes without departing from the technical idea of the present invention defined by the claims. For example, the network scanner device according to the present invention can be connected to various networks, not limited to the LAN shown in FIG. 1, and various devices can be connected to the network, not limited to those shown in FIG. . The network scanner device according to the present invention is not limited to a single device, but can be realized as a partial function of a multifunction machine having a facsimile function, a printer function, a copy function, and the like.

  The network scanner device according to the present invention and a multi-function peripheral equipped with the network scanner enable high-speed and efficient acquisition of image data by reducing the time from the start of reading a document to the completion of transfer of the read image data. In addition, the present invention is useful as a network scanner device connected to a network and transmitting scan data of a document to a transfer destination such as a terminal device and a multi-function device including the network scanner device.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a network including a network scanner device of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a network scanner device and a client PC shown in FIG. Schematic diagram showing the read / transfer timing of the network scanner device shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing operation processing of the network scanner device shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Network scanner device 2 Network (LAN)
3 Client PC
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Reading part 12 Storage part 14 Image processing part 16 Network control part 18 Apparatus control part 20 Panel operation part 24 Document file system

Claims (3)

A network scanner device for transferring read image data to a client PC via a network according to a TCP / IP communication protocol, a reading unit for sequentially reading a plurality of pages of document images, and image data read by the reading unit. Storage means for storing, image processing means for generating aggregated image data by aggregating image data of a predetermined number of pages stored in the storage means as image data for one page, and reading all pages of the original image Control means for executing transfer of aggregated image data less than the predetermined number of pages for each aggregated image data aggregated with the predetermined number of pages without waiting for the end of the operation. A characteristic network scanner device. 2. The operation unit according to claim 1 , further comprising an operation unit capable of instructing the predetermined number of pages, wherein the control unit aggregates image data stored in the storage unit according to the number of pages instructed by the operation unit. The network scanner device described in 1. 3. A composite comprising the network scanner device according to claim 1 and having at least one of a facsimile function, a printer function, and a copy function in addition to a scanner function by the scanner device. Machine.

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