JP4548229B2 - Image processing apparatus and output management program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an output management program, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus and an output management program capable of appropriately presenting stored information.

  In recent years, information processing apparatuses such as MFPs (Multi Function Peripherals) are placed in a network environment and are used by a plurality of users.

  The storage capacity of such information processing devices tends to increase, and more information is being stored. Therefore, an information processing apparatus having a box function for storing settings and information for each user has been proposed.

  For example, an image processing apparatus as disclosed in the following Non-Patent Document 1 has been proposed. Specifically, when storing scanned electronic documents on the built-in hard disk, image processing with a box function that makes it easy to search by specifying a virtual box and classifying the target document. A device has been proposed.

Patent Document 1 below proposes an information processing apparatus that makes a shared document search efficient by creating hierarchical shared folders in a new shared folder on the network.
JP 2000-242535 A Canon Inc., “Canon Homepage”, [online], product information, MFP / copy / fax, iRC3220, [March 1, 2005 search], Internet <URL: http://cweb.canon.jp/ color-ir / lineup / irc3220 / index.html>

  However, in the conventional image processing apparatus as described above, since boxes are displayed in a row, there is a problem that it is not easy to search for target information based on an actual use environment.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a specific example of a screen for displaying a box in a conventional image processing apparatus.

  Referring to FIG. 11, on the screen in the conventional image processing apparatus, a list of boxes is displayed on the left side, and files stored in the box are displayed on the right side. As shown in FIG. 11, in the display of boxes arranged in a row, since the boxes are not configured to match the actual usage environment of the user, the user may feel inconvenience when searching for a desired file.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and in an image processing apparatus having a box function, an image processing apparatus that presents information that enables efficient retrieval of target information while enhancing security. And an output management program.

To achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus, an area for storing information put associated with the user, respectively, and the box storage means for storing a plurality of boxes in the storage area, and the box management means for managing the hierarchical relationship among a plurality of boxes, based on the hierarchical relationship, and the box display means for tree displays a plurality of boxes, from among a plurality of box displayed in box display means, A presentation that presents the designation means for accepting the designation of the box, the information stored in the designated box, and the shared information among the information stored in the boxes at a higher level than the designated box Means.

It is preferable that the box management means manages the hierarchical relationship of these boxes by storing information of boxes in the hierarchy adjacent to the box for each box as the hierarchical relationship. More specifically, it is preferable to manage a hierarchical relationship (“parent” relationship) in which the first box is directly above the second box, or a hierarchical relationship (“child” relationship) immediately below.

Preferably, presenting means, displays the information stored in the specified box, and a shared information among the information stored in the box to the upper layer than the specified box, on the same screen To do .
Preferably, the presenting unit presents shared information of information stored in a box at a higher level than the designated box together with information representing the stored box.

  Further, the box management means manages access to the box, and the image processing apparatus includes an authentication means for performing user authentication when a box managed by the box management means is stored in the box storage means. The box display means preferably displays the boxes whose access is managed by the box management means as a tree when the user authentication is successful.

  Alternatively, the box management unit manages access to the box, and the image processing apparatus includes an authentication unit that performs user authentication when the designation unit designates a box whose access is managed by the box management unit. The box display means preferably displays the specified box as a tree when the user authentication is successful.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the output management program, a program for managing the output of the image processing apparatus including a box management means for managing the hierarchical relationship with a plurality of boxes is a predetermined area of the respective storage areas in the computer a is, based on a hierarchical relationship, a first step of building a tree structure of a plurality of box display, from among a plurality of box displayed, a second step of accepting designation of boxes, and the information stored in the designated box, to execute a third step of presenting the shared information of the information stored in the box to the upper layer than the specified box.

  Furthermore, the output management program executes a step of performing user authentication when the storage area includes a box whose access is managed by the box management means, and in the third step, when the user authentication is successful. It is preferable to display a tree of the boxes whose access is managed by the box management means.

  Alternatively, the output management program executes a step of performing user authentication when a box whose access is managed by the box management means is designated in the second step, and in the third step, the user authentication is performed. If successful, the specified box is preferably displayed in a tree view.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts and components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  In the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention is realized by a scanner device. However, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention is limited to a MFP (Multi Function Peripherals) that is a copier, a printer, or a multifunction peripheral. Alternatively, it can be realized by a scanner device or the like.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the hardware configuration of the scanner apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a scanner apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment is connected to a network 102 that is realized by using an interface such as 10 / 100Base-T or 1000Base-T constructed by a company or the like.

  The scanner device 101 according to the present embodiment includes a scan unit 101a, a printer unit 101b, an operation panel unit 101c, a storage unit 101d, a network communication unit 101e, and an arithmetic processing unit 101f. 101b, the operation panel unit 101c, the storage unit 101d, and the network communication unit 101e are connected to the arithmetic processing unit 101f, and are controlled by the arithmetic processing unit 101f reading and executing a program stored in the storage unit 101d.

  The scanning unit 101a includes a light source, a prism, a CCD, and the like, reads a document original with a predetermined resolution, performs predetermined image processing, and converts it into electronic data.

  The printer unit 101b has a function of outputting electronic data such as a print job onto a sheet, and is realized by an electrophotographic mechanism, an inkjet, and a thermal transfer mechanism.

  The operation panel unit 101c is configured by a pressure-sensitive touch panel or the like, and receives user instruction input and displays information to the user.

  The storage unit 101d is configured with a hard disk, a nonvolatile memory, or the like, and stores data and programs.

  The network communication unit 101e is configured by a network interface card (NIC) or the like, is connected to a local area network or the like, and communicates with other devices connected to the network.

  The arithmetic processing unit 101f is configured by a combination of a microprocessor (CPU) and a random access memory (RAM), and reads a program stored in the storage unit 101d to execute control processing in the entire apparatus.

  The scanner apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment acquires image data (hereinafter also referred to as a document) acquired by being scanned or received via a network for each user (or a group to which an individual user belongs). , A box function which is a function of storing in a predetermined area (box) of the storage unit 101d is provided. The information stored in this box is output not only for the above-described image data, but also for whether or not the image data is a shared document, shared scanning conditions (setting values such as resolution), and copy jobs. The conditions (density, magnification, set values for both sides / single side, etc.) are also stored in association with the image data. Also, a box management table for managing the attributes of each box is stored in a predetermined area of the storage unit 101d. The scanner device 101 according to the present embodiment uses the box management table to configure boxes in a tree-like configuration. to manage. Information such as an account and a password is stored as user information. The user information such as the account and the password may be set by an administrator, or set by a user who uses the scanner device 101 (or accesses the scanner device 101) or a document creator. It may be a thing.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the concept of a box provided in the storage unit 101d.
Assume a hierarchical organization in which there are sales section 1 and sales section 2 under the entire organization, and Matsuda and Okamoto belong to sales section 2. At this time, the box “TOP” shared by the entire organization, the box “Sales 1 Section” shared by Sales 1 Section, the box “Sales 2 Section” shared by Sales 2 Section, and the personal box between Mr. Matsuda and Mr. Okamoto When “Matsuda” and “Okamoto” are set, the usage environment of these boxes is hierarchized in the order of the organization as shown in FIG. 2A, but the storage unit 101d has FIG. ), The boxes are stored in a predetermined area in the same row.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the box management table stored in the storage unit 101d.
Referring to FIG. 3, the box attributes are an ID that is identification information for identifying a box and a character string that represents a logical name associated with the box, and is associated with the user when the user is authenticated. The name (NAME), which is a written character string, information indicating the position of the box on the tree (PARENT), and information indicating that security is set for the box (SECURITY) as information for restricting access to the box ) And

  The information indicating the position of the box on the tree (PARENT) is a box in the hierarchy immediately above the box (here, this relationship is referred to as “parent”) and holds the ID of the “parent”. It is information expressed by. In the specific example shown in FIG. 3, ID: 2 is held as “parent” in the position information of the box with NAME “Okamoto” (ID: 4), so NAME “Okamoto” (ID: 4) It is shown that the parent of a box is a box whose name is “Sales Section 2” (ID: 2). The information indicating the position of the box on the tree (PARENT) may be information indicating a box in a hierarchy immediately below the box (here, this relationship is referred to as “child”).

  By storing the box management table in the storage unit 101d, in the scanner device 101 according to the present embodiment, the arithmetic processing unit 101f has information (PARENT) indicating the position of the box in the box management table on the tree for each box. ) Can be constructed, and a tree structure can be constructed, and a box group can be displayed in a tree on the operation panel unit 101c.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a first presentation process for presenting a document such as scan data which is information stored in a box in the scanner apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is a process that is started when the user selects a desired box when display in the box mode is performed on the operation panel unit 101c. Is realized by reading and executing a program stored in the storage unit 101d.

  Referring to FIG. 4, when operation panel unit 101c accepts an operation for designating a box for displaying a stored document from the above-described tree-displayed box group, operation processing unit 101f is designated. A document such as scan data stored in the box is read out and presented in a selectable manner on the operation panel unit 101c (step S101). Further, the designated box is referenced with reference to the box management table shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not has a parent (step S102). If there is no parent in the designated box (NO in step S102), the subsequent processing is skipped and the presentation processing is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the designated box has a parent (YES in step S102), the document stored in the box corresponding to the parent is read and presented as a shared document to the operation panel unit 101c so as to be selectable (step S103). ). Then, the parent box is reset to the designated box (step S104), and the processes in steps S102 and S103 are repeated. When the designated box has no parent, that is, the top parent box. If the document stored in the file is presented (NO in step S102), the presentation process is terminated. In step S104, every time the designated box is re-designated as the parent box, or for all designated parent boxes, the operation panel unit is identified so that the parent box is designated. A different display from other boxes, such as placing a pointer in 101c, may be used.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a display screen on the operation panel unit 101c.
Referring to FIG. 5, in scanner device 101 according to the present embodiment, boxes provided in storage unit 101d are displayed in a tree form on the display screen. When the box group according to the above specific example is displayed, a tree display according to the actual use environment, which is hierarchized in the above-described organization order as shown in FIG. 2, is executed.

  When a desired box is designated from the group of boxes displayed in the tree, the first presentation process is executed, and the document stored in the box and the parent box higher than that are displayed on the display screen. Documents stored in the menu are presented to be selectable. In the specific example shown in FIG. 5, when a box with NAME “Okamoto” is specified, documents “040826-0.JPG” and “040826-1.JPG” in the box are presented, and together with those documents , The document “Notice.PDF” in the box of NAME “Sales 2 Section”, the parent of the box of NAME “Okamoto”, and the name “TOP”, the parent of the box of NAME “Sales 2 Section” The document “operation procedure manual. TIF” is presented as a shared document so that it can be selected so that it is a document stored in each parent box.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a second presentation process for presenting a document which is information stored in a box in the scanner apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment, and is a specific example of the box management table of FIG. As shown, it is a flowchart showing a presentation process when a box with security is included. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is a process executed when the user selects the box mode as the display mode on the operation panel unit 101c, and the arithmetic processing unit 101f reads a program stored in the storage unit 101d. It is realized by executing.

  Referring to FIG. 6, when operation panel unit 101c accepts an operation for designating a box mode as a display mode, operation processing unit 101f refers to the box management table shown in FIG. 3 to set security. It is determined whether or not a box is included (step S201). If the security-set box is not included and the security setting is invalid (NO in step S201), the arithmetic processing unit 101f builds a tree structure with reference to the box management table (step S207), and sets the box group. Are displayed as a tree, for example, a document stored in a predetermined box such as a top box is presented as a shared document, and a user's selection operation is accepted (step S208).

  If a security-set box is included and the security setting is valid (YES in step S201), a display screen showing a specific example in FIG. 7 is displayed on the operation panel unit 101c, and the account and password are displayed by the user. The input is accepted (step S202). If cancel is selected on the display screen (YES in step S203), the arithmetic processing unit 101f ends the box mode and ends the presentation process.

  In a range where a box with security is included and the security setting is valid (YES in step S201), and the user does not set security as a guest on the display screen shown in FIG. When the operation to be used is accepted (YES in step S204), or when the correct account and password are input from the user on the display screen shown in FIG. 7 with reference to the user information stored in the storage unit 101d. If it is determined (YES in step S205), the position management information (PARENT) on the tree set for each box and information indicating that security is set are referred to the box management table shown in FIG. Based on (SECURITY), a tree shape is constructed (step S20). ) Presents a document by tree view box group are stored in a predetermined box as a shared document, it accepts the user's selection operation (step S208). That is, when use in the guest is selected in step S202, in step S209, the arithmetic processing unit 101f refers to the box management table to extract a box for which security is not set, and In accordance with the information (PARENT) indicating the position on the tree, a box for which security is not set is displayed as a tree in the screen display for guest use, a specific example of which is shown in FIG. If the correct account and password are received from the user in step S202, in step S209, the arithmetic processing unit 101f refers to the box management table and refers to the position information (PARENT) on the tree for all boxes. ), A screen as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed so that a document stored in a security-set box and a document stored in a parent box higher than the box can be selected. Present.

  If it is determined in step S202 that the correct account and / or password has not been input by the user with reference to the user information stored in the storage unit 101d (NO in step S205), the operation panel unit An error is displayed on 101c (step S206), the process returns to step S202, a display screen whose specific example is shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the operation panel unit 101c again, and an account and password input from the user is awaited. To do.

  As a modification, when a desired box is selected in the tree display on the display screen, the arithmetic processing unit 101f executes the above-described presentation processing in steps S103 and S104, and stores the document and the box. In addition to presenting the documents stored in the upper parent box, it is possible to extract the child box of the box by referring to the box management table, build a tree structure including the child box, and display the tree. Good.

  FIG. 9 is a specific example of the display screen displayed on the operation panel unit 101c. In the above-described specific example, when the NAME “Sales Section 2” box is specified, the NAME corresponding to the child of the box. This is a specific example of a screen display in which boxes of “Matsuda” and “Okamoto” are displayed in a tree.

  Further, as a modified example, when a child box as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed in a tree view, an operation for selecting a child box from the user is accepted, and security is set for the child box. The second presentation process may be executed when

  In this case, the arithmetic processing unit 101f determines whether or not security is set for the box selected with reference to the box management table in step S201, and if it is determined that security is set. In step S202, when the display screen shown in FIG. 7 is presented, an account and a password are received from the user, and when they are authenticated with reference to the user information, the document in the selected box and the box are displayed. It is preferable to present a document in a parent box higher than that in a selectable manner.

  In addition, when an operation to be used as a guest is accepted, or when it is determined that the correct account and / or password has not been entered by the user, the display screen is not changed and security is not set. It is preferable to present the document.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, in the box management table, one or more passwords for each box are managed, so that the arithmetic processing unit 101f determines that the password permitted in step S205 has been input. Only in this case, the document in the box with the corresponding security set may be presented. Similarly to the password included in the user information, the password for each box may be set by the administrator, or the user who uses the scanner device 101 (or accesses the scanner device 101) or the document It may be set by a creator or the like.

  As described above, in the scanner device 101 according to the present embodiment, the box management table as shown in FIG. 3 manages the information (PARENT) indicating the position of the box on the tree. It can be displayed, and a box display suitable for the use environment of the user can be performed. Therefore, it becomes easy to search for a desired box. In addition, since the box management in the above-described tree structure is realized by designating the tree structure using information (ID) for specifying the box in the box management table, in the image processing apparatus having the conventional box function Can also be realized by performing display processing based on the box management table and the box management table.

  Furthermore, by executing the first presentation process described above, the document stored in the parent box is sequentially traced with the parent stored in a higher rank than the box together with the document stored in the desired box. Is displayed, the shared document is efficiently presented and it becomes easy to search for the desired document.

  Furthermore, box management with high security is executed by executing the second presentation process described above.

  Note that a box display method and a document presentation method stored in the box, which are executed by the image processing apparatus that is the scanner apparatus 101 described above, can be provided as an output management program. Such a program is stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk attached to the computer, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a memory card. And can be provided as a program product. Alternatively, the program can be provided by being recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk built in the computer. A program can also be provided by downloading via a network. It can also be provided as a plug-in to an information presentation program installed in a computer.

  The provided program product is installed in a program storage unit such as a hard disk and executed. The program product includes the program itself and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

2 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a hardware configuration of a scanner device 101. FIG. It is a figure explaining the concept of the box provided in the memory | storage part 101d. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a box management table. It is a flowchart which shows a 1st presentation process. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the display screen in the operation panel part 101c. It is a flowchart which shows a 2nd presentation process. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the display screen in the operation panel part 101c. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the display screen in the operation panel part 101c. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the display screen in the operation panel part 101c. It is a figure which shows the other specific example of a box management table. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the screen which displays a box in the conventional image processing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  101 scanner device, 101a scanning unit, 101b printer unit, 101c operation panel unit, 101d storage unit, 101e network communication unit, 101f arithmetic processing unit, 102 network.

Claims (9)

Is an area which stores information put associated with the user, respectively, and the box storage means for storing a plurality of boxes in the storage area,
And the box management means for managing the hierarchical relationship of the plurality of boxes,
Based on prior Machinery layer relationship, and the box display means for tree displays the plurality of boxes,
From among the plurality of box displayed in the box display unit, a designation unit that receives designation of the box,
Wherein comprising the information stored in the specified box, and presenting means for presenting the shared information of the information stored in the box to the hierarchy than the designated box, image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the box management unit manages the hierarchical relationship between the boxes by storing information of boxes in a hierarchy adjacent to the box for each box as the hierarchical relationship. It said presenting means, displays the information stored in the designated box, and a shared information among the information stored in the box to the hierarchy than the designated box, on the same screen The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image processing apparatus is an image processing apparatus. The presenting means presents shared information of information stored in a box at a higher level than the designated box together with information representing the stored box. An image processing apparatus according to any one of the above. The box management means manages access to the box,
The box storage means further comprises authentication means for performing user authentication when a box whose access is managed by the box management means is stored.
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the box display unit displays a tree of boxes whose access is managed by the box management unit when the user authentication is successful. The box management means manages access to the box,
The designation means further comprises an authentication means for performing user authentication when a box whose access is managed by the box management means is designated,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the box display unit displays the designated box as a tree when the user authentication is successful. A program for managing an output of the image processing apparatus including a box management means for managing the hierarchical relationship with a plurality of boxes is a predetermined region of each storage area in the computer,
Based on the hierarchical relationship, a first step of displaying builds a tree structure of the plurality of boxes,
From among the plurality of box displayed, a second step of accepting designation of boxes,
And the information stored in the designated box, to execute a third step of presenting the shared information of the information stored in the box to the upper layer than the designated box , Output management program When the storage area includes a box whose access is managed by the box management means, the user authentication is further performed,
8. The output management program according to claim 7, wherein, in the third step, when the user authentication is successful, a box in which access is managed by the box management means is displayed in a tree form. In the second step, when a box whose access is managed by the box management means is specified, a step of performing user authentication is further executed.
The output management program according to claim 7, wherein, in the third step, when the user authentication is successful, the designated box is displayed as a tree.

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