JP4752578B2 - COMMUNICATION CONTROL DEVICE, COMMUNICATION CONTROL METHOD, AND COMMUNICATION CONTROL PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to data processing for managing an order sheet using a storage of a communication control device and transmitting information created using the order sheet.

In facsimile transmission in which a transmitting terminal transmits an image to a receiving terminal, the image acquired by the transmitting terminal is converted into an audio signal and transmitted to the receiving terminal using an audio communication line. Yes. As this voice communication line, in addition to the usual telephone network that has been used conventionally,
In recent years, a telephone network (IP telephone network) using the Internet has been used. There has been proposed a facsimile transmission apparatus that performs facsimile transmission via a network using transmission of an audio signal by an IP telephone network (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-309701 A

Some of the above-described facsimile apparatuses are equipped with a communication control device and control communication by the attached communication control device. The communication control device attached here is used as a hardware key. However, it is also conceivable that a memory is provided in the communication control apparatus and data is processed via the memory. Further, an order sheet may be stored in the memory, and data transmission processing may be performed using the order sheet.

However, when attempting to transmit data using this communication control device, there has been a request to input a number, but when a numeric input key is prepared, the communication control device is made small and connected to the information processing device. Assuming the configuration, when this input key is adopted, there is a problem that the cost of communication control is also increased, and the size of the communication control device has to be increased. Even when a numeric input key is prepared in the communication control device, the image data is transmitted from the facsimile device provided by, for example, a multi-function peripheral. Therefore, an operation of inputting a destination at the communication control device is not performed. There was a problem of becoming bothersome.

Therefore, it has been desired to specify numbers on the order sheet. However, when an image is transmitted, a large number of files including the order sheet may be transferred. Therefore, when this order sheet is read on the communication control device, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to know where the order sheet is included.

An object of the present invention is to provide a communication control apparatus capable of executing an order by searching an order sheet and extracting the information in order to solve the above-described problems caused by the prior art.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a communication control device according to the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of image data including an image obtained by reading an order sheet, and a predetermined condition among the image data acquired by the acquisition unit. Searching means for searching image data of the order sheet from image data satisfying the requirements, and extraction means for extracting information entered in the order sheet from the image data searched by the searching means .

In this case, since the information on the order sheet is searched from the image data, the data can be extracted from the order sheet and transmitted without inputting the order information separately. At this time, since the search is executed only for the image data that satisfies the conditions of the order sheet, the extraction of the order sheet can be executed without executing an unnecessary process.

Further, the search means may determine whether the image is an image created by a predetermined device, and search for information on the order sheet from an image scanned by the predetermined device.

In this case, since the order sheet is entered and read in a pre-printed one, the search target can be limited by extracting the one scanned by the information processing apparatus. As a result, the order sheet can be extracted without executing processing more than necessary.

Further, the search means determines whether the image data is within a predetermined size range,
Information on the order sheet may be retrieved from an image included in a predetermined size range.

In this case, since the order sheet has a small amount of data, the search target can be limited by limiting the order sheet to a predetermined size range. As a result, the order sheet can be extracted without executing processing more than necessary.

The search means may search the image data by analyzing images in order from the newest.

Further, the acquisition unit acquires the image data after connecting the communication relationship with the information processing device, and disconnects the communication relationship with the information processing device when executing the search process by the search unit. May be.

In this case, after the image data is acquired, exchange with the information processing apparatus is not necessary, so that the information processing apparatus can be released by cutting. Thereby, communication processing can be executed separately from the information processing apparatus.

Further, the image data of the order sheet may be deleted when the communication relationship with the information processing apparatus after being extracted by the extracting means is disconnected.

Further, the communication control method according to the present invention includes an acquisition step of acquiring a plurality of image data including an image read from an order sheet, and the image data satisfying a predetermined condition among the image data acquired by the acquisition step. A search step for searching for image data of the order sheet; and an extraction step for extracting information entered in the order sheet from the image data searched in the search step.

In this case, since the information on the order sheet is searched from the image data, the data can be extracted from the order sheet and transmitted without inputting the order information separately. At this time, since the search is executed only for the image data that satisfies the conditions of the order sheet, the extraction of the order sheet can be executed without executing an unnecessary process.

The communication control program according to the present invention includes an acquisition step of acquiring a plurality of image data including an image read from an order sheet, and the image data satisfying a predetermined condition among the image data acquired by the acquisition step. The computer is caused to execute a search step for searching image data of the order sheet and an extraction step for extracting information entered in the order sheet from the image data searched by the search step.

In this case, since the information on the order sheet is searched from the image data, the data can be extracted from the order sheet and transmitted without inputting the order information separately. At this time, since the search is executed only for the image data that satisfies the conditions of the order sheet, the extraction of the order sheet can be executed without executing an unnecessary process.

Exemplary embodiments of a communication control device, a communication control method, and a communication control program according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system that constitutes a network. Although FIG. 1 illustrates the information processing system on the transmission side, the configuration of the information processing system on the reception side is the same as that of the information processing system on the transmission side.

This information processing system is configured by connecting the MFP 100 to the Internet 182 via a communication control device (dongle) 180. The transmission side transmits data via the Internet 182 in this way, and the reception side similarly configured receives data from the Internet 182 via the communication control device 180 by the multi-function device 100.

The multifunction machine 100 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 102, a RAM 104, a ROM 106, a print engine 110, a scan engine 120, and a USB device control unit 130.
A USB host control unit 170, a memory card interface 140, an operation panel control unit 150, and a viewer control unit 160. The ROM 106 includes the multifunction device 1
00 control software is stored. The central processing unit 102 implements various functions of the multi-function device 100 by executing control software stored in the ROM 106.

The USB device control unit 130 of the multifunction device 100 is connected to the USB connector 132. A personal computer (PC) 190 is connected to the USB connector 132. In addition to the personal computer 190, an arbitrary USB host can be connected to the USB connector 132. The USB host control unit 170 has a root hub 172, and a USB connector 174 is connected to the root hub 172. The USB connector 174 can be connected to a USB device such as a digital camera or a hard disk drive (HDD).

The memory card interface 140 has a memory card slot 14 for a memory card.
2 is connected. The operation panel control unit 150 includes an operation panel 152 as input means.
Is connected. A viewer 162 as image display means is connected to the viewer control unit 160. The user can input various instructions using the operation panel 152 while observing images and menus displayed on the viewer 162.

The print engine 110 is a printing mechanism that executes printing in accordance with given print data. The print data supplied to the print engine 110 is received by the central processing unit 102 from the US
It is generated by interpreting received data supplied from an external personal computer 190 connected via the B connector 132 and executing color conversion and halftone processing. Print data supplied to the print engine 110 is generated from image data stored in a memory card inserted into the memory card slot 142 or image data supplied from a digital still camera connected via the USB connector 174. It is also possible. Also,
Instead of the central processing unit 102, the print engine 110 may be configured to have color conversion and halftone processing functions. In this specification, executing printing with print data generated from image data is also referred to as “printing image data”.

The scan engine 120 is a mechanism that scans an image and generates scan data representing the image. The scan data generated by the scan engine 120 is stored in the central processing unit 10.
2 is converted into image data (scanned image data) in a predetermined format (for example, JPEG format). The scanned image data is transferred to the personal computer 190. The scanned image data can be stored in a memory card inserted into the memory card slot 142 or a device connected via the USB connector 174. Note that the scan engine 120 may be configured to have a function of generating image data from scan data instead of the central processing unit 102.

The communication control device 180 is connected to the multi-function device 100 via the USB connector 174. Then, fax data is transmitted from one of them via the Internet 182. Here, the multi-function device 100 and the communication control device 180 are described separately, but both may be integrated.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating each operation unit and connection unit of the communication control device. The communication control device 180 includes a connection terminal 210 and a connection terminal 220, and further includes a lamp 230 and operation units 240 to 270. The connection terminal 210 is connected to the multifunction peripheral 100 shown in FIG.
It is a terminal to connect to. The connection terminal 220 is a terminal for connecting to the Internet 182 shown in FIG. The lamp 230 is a lamp that is lit to prompt a copy operation when a connected file is copied to a memory card.

The operation unit 240 (A button) is an instruction button for instructing preparation for transmission. By pressing the A button, the communication control device 180 starts a process for preparing data transmission. Operation unit 2
50 (B button) is an instruction button for instructing the start of transmission. By pressing the B button, the communication control device 180 starts a data transmission start process. The operation unit 260 (C button) is an instruction button for instructing order sheet printing. By pressing the C button, the communication control device 180 starts order sheet printing processing. The operation unit 270 is
Power button. By pressing this power button, the power is turned on or off.

The dial button 280 is a button for inputting numbers. For example, when inputting the telephone number of the other party by facsimile transmission, it is accepted by inputting a numeric button on the dial button 280. The liquid crystal screen 290 is a screen display unit using liquid crystal. Using this liquid crystal screen 290, for example, a facsimile transmission / reception destination is displayed, or thumbnail images of images to be transmitted / received are displayed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the communication control apparatus. The communication control device 180
An input / output unit 300, a USB controller 310, and a storage 320 are included. The communication control device 180 is connected to the outside through a USB interface, but is not limited to this, and other interfaces may be used.

The input / output unit 300 includes a USB interface circuit and controls data transfer. That is, the input / output unit 300 receives data sent from the multi-function device 100 via the USB connector 174, sends the data to the USB controller 310, and performs control to send this data.

The USB controller 310 is composed of, for example, a CPU, and executes processing for storing data in the storage 320, processing for reading data from the storage 320, encryption and decryption of dongle data, and the like. The storage 320 is, for example, EEPRO
It consists of M and stores data.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the outline of the order sheet. The order sheet shown in FIG. 4 includes an identification unit 405, a destination input unit 410, and a sending comment unit 430. The contents corresponding to each unit are printed, and can be filled in by filling each with a mark sheet. ing.

The identification unit 405 is a column in which alignment marks and identification marks are written. The alignment mark and the identification mark are not printed so as to be visually recognized. In other words, information for determining which position is black and which is checked after scanning and information for determining which order sheet is printed when a plurality of order sheets are printed and scanned with different contents are written. It is a column.

The destination input unit 410 is a field for inputting a destination. As the destination, Mr. A, Mr. B, C
The case where Mr. is registered is given as an example.
3 can be specified. It is also possible to enter a number that has not been registered in advance, and in that case, a number can be entered on the mark sheet in the “others” column prepared under the address.

The sending comment section 430 is a column for selecting and specifying a sending comment. A sent comment can be marked by specifying a corresponding one from a plurality of comments prepared in advance. Specifically, "Please print with L version""Please print with A4""Please print with photo paper""Please print with plain paper""Please print neatly""Promise It is possible to specify from the comment "It is my name". In this “(your name)” (your name), the name of the user registered there is entered. A free comment can also be selected. In this case, a message can be transmitted by inputting a character into the handwriting input area and sending the character.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process for printing an order sheet. When the button C shown in FIG. 2 is input, the process is started. First, create an order sheet (
Step S501). Next, the camera is connected to the multifunction device 100 as a camera (step S5).
02). Then, order sheet printing is executed in the multifunction peripheral 100 (step S50).
3). After executing the order sheet printing, the communication relationship between the communication control device 180 and the multifunction peripheral 100 is disconnected (step S504). Then, the data is erased (step S505), and a series of processing is terminated.

Although the image data of the created order sheet is erased, it shows the data about the mark such as alignment for use after scanning, which corresponds to the information of the identification unit 405, and what the check contents mean. Control data is not erased. The same applies to the erasing process. Since the order sheet can be read out and printed as described above, the order can be executed by filling in the printed order sheet and transmitting it.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining order sheet transmission processing. A shown in FIG.
When a button is input, the process starts. First, a storage connection is established with the multifunction peripheral 100 (step S601). Next, a printer name is acquired from the multifunction device 100 (step S).
602). Then, data is received (step S603).

Thereafter, it waits for the B button shown in FIG. 2 to be input (step S604). If it is not input (step S604: No), it waits until it is input, and if it is input (step S604: Yes), the communication relationship between the communication control device 180 and the multifunction peripheral 100 is disconnected (step S605). Then, the order sheet search process shown in FIG. 7 is executed (step S).
606). That is, the order sheet information is searched from the storage 320 and extracted.

Then, order sheet analysis is executed (step S607). Here, what is marked in the entry column of the order sheet is analyzed, and the marked information is extracted. Then, other than the order sheet is transmitted (step S608). That is, substantial information such as the marked information extracted here and necessary image data is transmitted. Then, a series of processing ends.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining order sheet search processing. The order sheet search process executed in step S606 of FIG. 6 will be further described with reference to FIG. First, the search target is limited to those created by the scanner of the connected printer (step S7).
01). That is, the attribute information of the data stored in the storage 320 is confirmed, and only the data scanned by the connected multifunction device 100 is extracted.

Next, it is determined how many the objects are (step S702). When the number of objects is 0 (step S702: 0), an error is notified (step S703), and a series of processes is terminated. When there is one target (step S702: one), the image data becomes the target order sheet, and therefore the specification of the order sheet is completed, and the series of processing ends.

When there are two or more objects (step S702: two or more), the data size is limited to a predetermined range (step S704). That is, the size of the data listed as a target is confirmed, and only data having a size smaller than a certain size is extracted. Moreover, it can also be set as the conditions more than fixed, and the thing which is not too large and is not too small can also be selected. In addition, when the physical size of the image is stored, it can be set as a condition within the range of the size.

Next, ordering is performed in order from the lowest resolution to the newest (step S705). Then, the contents are sequentially viewed and the order sheet is searched (step S706). By performing the search in this way, the specification of the order sheet is completed, and the series of processing ends.

In the above description, the example in which the communication control apparatus 180 is connected as a storage or a camera has been described. However, the connection format to be applied is not limited to these. Any storage that can save data from the multifunction peripheral 100 is not limited to storage. Also, the multifunction machine 100
If an image can be printed on the camera, it is not necessarily a camera. Also connect as a camera,
This is because the connection may be based on USB Direct (registered trademark) or Pictbridge (registered trademark) standards. In addition, when the internal data can be managed by the printer, it is conceivable to connect in a manageable format.

As described above, the order sheet information is searched from the image data, so that the data can be extracted from the order sheet and transmitted without inputting the order information separately. That is, the order sheet is prepared as a mark sheet, and the data input on the mark sheet can be transmitted as an order. At this time, since the search is executed only for the image data that satisfies the conditions of the order sheet, the extraction of the order sheet can be executed without executing an unnecessary process.

For example, by narrowing the search target to images scanned on the connected information processing device or images with a small amount of data, the order sheet can be identified by searching only the header part without searching the actual image contents. can do. As a result, the processing burden on the dongle can be reduced. There may be a large amount of data to be actually transmitted, and when all of the data is searched, there may be a case where a processing load is applied. In particular, when considering cost reduction of the dongle, it is possible to minimize the processing capability. In this case, the performance of the dongle as a whole can be improved by reducing the processing burden on the dongle as described above.

The communication control method described in this embodiment can be realized by executing a program prepared in advance on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation. This program is hard disk, flexible disk, CD-ROM
It is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as MO, DVD, etc., and is executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. The program may be a transmission medium that can be distributed through a network such as the Internet.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the information processing system which comprises a network. Explanatory drawing explaining each operation part and connection part of a communication control apparatus. The block diagram which shows the functional structure of a communication control apparatus. Explanatory drawing explaining the outline | summary of an order sheet. The flowchart explaining the printing process which prints an order sheet | seat. The flowchart explaining the transmission process of an order sheet. The flowchart explaining the search process of an order sheet.

Explanation of symbols

100 MFP, 102 CPU, 104 RAM, 106 ROM, 180 Communication Control Device, 210 Connection Terminal, 220 Connection Terminal, 300 Input / Output Unit, 310 USB Controller, 320 Storage

Claims (8)

Communication control means for controlling a communication relationship with the information processing apparatus;
An acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of image data including an image read from an order sheet from the information processing device when the communication control unit connects the communication relationship ;
Search means for searching image data of the order sheet from image data satisfying a predetermined condition among the image data acquired by the acquisition means after the communication control means disconnects the communication relationship ;
Extraction means for extracting information entered in the order sheet from the image data searched by the search means in a state where the communication control means is disconnected from the communication relationship ;
Transmitting means for transmitting the image data based on information entered in the order sheet in a state where the communication control means is disconnected from the communication relationship;
A communication control apparatus comprising: Claim wherein the retrieval means, to determine whether the image created by the information processing apparatus, characterized in that retrieving the image data of the order sheet from the image data created by the information processing apparatus The communication control apparatus according to 1. The search means determines whether or not the image data is in a predetermined size range, and searches for image data of the order sheet from image data included in the predetermined size range. Item 3. The communication control device according to Item 1 or 2.   The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the retrieval unit retrieves the image data by analyzing an image in order from a new one. It said communication control hand stage, the communication control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that to connect to the information processing apparatus a communication control unit for storage. Even after that was extracted by the extracting means, when the communication control means is cutting the communication relationships, claim 1-5, characterized in that deletes the image data of the order sheet- the communication control apparatus according to One. An acquisition step of acquiring, from the information processing device , a plurality of image data including an image read from an order sheet when the communication relationship with the information processing device is connected ;
A search step of searching for image data of the order sheet from image data satisfying a predetermined condition among the image data acquired by the acquisition step after disconnecting the communication relationship ;
An extraction step of extracting information entered in the order sheet from the image data searched by the search step with the communication relationship disconnected ,
A transmission step of transmitting the image data based on information entered in the order sheet in a state where the communication relationship is disconnected;
The communication control method characterized by including. When connecting the communication relationship between the information processing apparatus, an obtaining step of obtaining a plurality of image data from the information processing apparatus comprising an image read the order sheet,
A search step of searching image data of the order sheet from image data satisfying a predetermined condition among the image data acquired by the acquisition step after cutting the communication relationship ;
An extraction step of extracting information entered in the order sheet from the image data searched by the search step in a state where the communication relationship is disconnected ,
A transmission step of transmitting the image data based on information entered in the order sheet in a state where the communication relationship is disconnected;
A communication control program for causing a computer to execute.

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