JP4924294B2 - Image processing apparatus and image processing program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing program.

  In educational settings, there are many cases where test exercises are conducted in order to enhance the educational effect. When a test exercise is conducted, the teacher will generally return the graded answer, and then return it, but if the teacher returns not only the grade but also a comment, the educational effect will be further enhanced. .

  However, in universities, etc., there may be more than 500 students in one course. In such cases, it takes a lot of time and effort to write comments, so the return of answers tends to be delayed. End up.

  Therefore, conventionally, an answer to a question is predicted, a comment for the predicted answer is created in advance, and an ID is added and registered in advance. A technique has been proposed in which an answer sheet is scanned at the time of scoring, a comment ID suitable for the answer is selected, and a comment is added to each answer sheet by combining the scanned image and the comment image ( For example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-030188 JP 2004-310318 A JP-A-11-202749

  However, in the prior art, apart from the work required for the exercise itself such as question creation, it takes time and effort to prepare in advance such as creation of an expected answer. In other words, in the prior art, it is necessary to predict the answer in advance before referring to the actual answer, and to prepare a description for each predicted answer in advance, so the prediction of the answer and the explanation that is not adopted as a result As a result, the workload required for preparing the answer increases. For this reason, even if the workload required for commentary entry itself can be reduced, the increase in the workload required for preparations for commentary may result in the reduction of the expected workload. Come.

  An object of the present invention is to reduce the work load required for entering comments on a large number of sheets.

  An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a reading unit that reads a plurality of sheets; an identification unit that identifies a comment to be written on the sheet by analyzing a read image of the read sheet; A sheet on which a comment is written is specified according to a predetermined rule among a plurality of sheets, and an image of the written comment is extracted from each read image of the specified sheet, and the comment image and the identification An extraction unit that associates the identification information of the comment identified from the read image by the unit and registers it in the comment information storage unit, and the identification unit identified by the identification unit from the read image of the paper from which the comment image has not been extracted. The comment image associated with the comment identification information and stored in the comment information storage means, and the comment is identified. Synthesizing means for synthesizing the read image, and having a printing unit for printing a composite image for each sheet where the comment-image is not extracted, the.

  In addition, the identification means identifies a comment to be entered on the sheet by analyzing the contents of the entry in the entry column that can identify the type of comment provided on each sheet.

  Further, the extracting means extracts a color component image dedicated to a comment as a comment image.

  Further, the extracting means extracts an image in a predetermined area of the paper as a comment image.

  An image processing program according to the present invention includes a reading unit that reads a plurality of sheets of paper, an identification unit that identifies a comment to be written on the sheet by analyzing a read image of the read sheet, Identifying a sheet in which a comment is entered among a plurality of sheets according to a predetermined rule, extracting an image of the entered comment from each of the read images of the identified sheet, the comment image, An extraction unit that associates the identification information of the comment identified from the read image by the identification unit with the comment information storage unit and associates it with the identification information of the comment. A comment image associated with the identification information of the comment and stored in the comment information storage means, and Instrument is characterized in that to function as a printing means, for printing a combining means, each of the composite image sheet on which the comment-image is not extracted for synthesizing the read image identified.

  According to the present invention, an image of an actually entered comment is extracted, and for a paper on which a comment having the same content as the comment is to be entered, the image of the paper and the image of the corresponding comment are extracted. Was synthesized. As a result, a comment having the same content needs to be entered only once, so that the work load required for comment entry can be reduced. In addition, since comments are entered with reference to the information entered on the form, it is also necessary to anticipate the contents to be entered on the form and prepare comments on the contents to be entered on the form in advance. Therefore, it is possible to avoid an increase in workload due to the comment entry.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. The image processing apparatus 10 is assumed to be a multi-function machine having various functions such as a copy function and a scanner function, and a built-in computer. In this embodiment, at least a scanner function and a printing function are required. In FIG. 1, the CPU 11 controls the operation of various mechanisms mounted on the apparatus such as the scanner 14 and the printer engine 16 according to a program stored in the ROM 19. The address data bus 12 is connected to various mechanisms to be controlled by the CPU 11 and performs data communication. The operation panel 13 receives instructions from the user and displays information. The scanner 14 reads a document such as an answer sheet set by the user. An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 15 stores electronic data such as a read image of a document read by the scanner 14, electronic data accumulated in a confidential box, and the like. The printer engine 16 prints an image on output paper in accordance with an instruction from a control program executed by the CPU 11. A network interface (I / F) 17 is connected to the network 2 to transmit electronic data generated by the apparatus, to receive an electronic mail transmitted to the apparatus, and to access the apparatus via a browser. Used. The RAM 18 is used as a work memory during program execution and a communication buffer during electronic data transmission / reception. The ROM 19 stores various programs relating to control of the apparatus, encryption of electronic data, and transmission / reception of electronic data. By executing various programs, each component described later exhibits a predetermined processing function. An external media interface (I / F) 20 is an interface with an external memory device such as a USB memory or a flash memory.

  FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of the image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 shows only the components necessary for implementing this embodiment. The image processing apparatus 10 includes a reading unit 21, an image analysis processing unit 22, a combining unit 23, a printing unit 24, and a comment information storage unit 25. The reading unit 21 is a unit that reads a sheet. In the present embodiment, the reading unit 21 reads an answer sheet. The image analysis processing unit 22 analyzes the image read by the reading unit 21 and performs processing described later. When the writer enters a comment on the answer sheet, in this embodiment, the comment is entered according to a predetermined rule. However, the comment is entered on the answer sheet by analyzing the read image of the answer sheet. If it is determined that the comment image is present, the comment image extraction unit 26 included in the image analysis processing unit 22 extracts a comment image from the read image.

  The synthesizing unit 23 synthesizes each read image of the answer sheet and the extracted comment image. The printing unit 24 prints an image on the answer sheet. The comment information storage unit 25 stores information about comments such as comment images extracted by the comment image extraction unit 26.

  Each component 21 to 24 in the image processing apparatus 10 is a cooperative operation of hardware such as a computer and a scanner 14 installed in the image processing apparatus 10 and an image processing program operating on the CPU 11 installed in the computer. It is realized by. More specifically, the reading unit 21 and the printing unit 24 are realized in cooperation by operating the scanner 14 and the printer engine 16, respectively. The comment information storage unit 25 is realized by the HDD 15.

  In addition, the image processing program used in this embodiment can be provided not only by communication means but also by storing it in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. A program provided from a communication unit or a recording medium is installed in a computer mounted on the image processing apparatus 10, and various processes are realized by the CPU 11 of the computer sequentially executing the installation program.

  In the present embodiment, a case where a test exercise is performed for a student at an educational site and comments are written on each answer sheet collected by the exercise will be described as an example. 3 and 4 are diagrams showing examples of answer sheets used in the present embodiment. In FIGS. 3 and 4, answers with different contents are entered by different students, and answer sheets 5a in which comments of different contents have already been entered in an area 7 surrounded by a broken line by a teacher or the like. , 6a is shown.

  Hereinafter, the flow of work by the teacher and the operation of the present embodiment from when the answer sheet is collected until a comment is entered on each answer sheet by a commenter such as a teacher (hereinafter collectively referred to as “teacher”) explain.

  Assuming that the collected answer sheets are stacked in order of student ID number or randomly, the teacher starts writing comments on the answer sheets in order from the top. First, if the first sheet is the answer sheet 5a illustrated in FIG. 3, a comment having the contents illustrated in FIG. 3 is entered. Students usually write their answers with writing tools such as black pens and pencils, so teachers write comments using writing tools such as red pens that are different from black so that they can be distinguished from answers. When you enter a comment, turn the answer sheet over and place it on the desk where you are writing the comment. Next, the teacher writes a comment on the second answer sheet. If the content of the comment to be entered on the second answer sheet is different from the first answer sheet, for example, two sheets If the answer sheet for the eyes is the answer sheet 6a shown in FIG. 4, a comment having the contents illustrated in FIG. 4 is entered. When the comment is entered, the answer sheet 6a is turned over and placed on the desk where the comment is being entered. At this time, since the content of the comment entered on the answer sheet 6a is different from the answer sheet 5a, it is placed so as not to overlap the answer sheet 5a.

  Subsequently, the teacher will write a comment on the third answer sheet. If the content of the comment to be entered on the third answer sheet is the same as the first answer sheet, the answer sheet In this case, it is turned upside down without entering a comment, and then placed on the answer sheet 5a. Subsequently, the teacher will write a comment on the fourth answer sheet, but the contents of the comment to be entered on the fourth answer sheet are different from the first and second sheets. , Comment on the different content. When you enter a comment, turn the fourth answer sheet over and place it on the desk where you are writing the comment. At this time, the content of the comment entered on the answer sheet is different from that of the answer sheets 5a and 6a, so that it does not overlap the answer sheets 5a and 6a.

  The above process is performed on all answer sheets. As can be understood from the above explanation, if the teacher wants to enter a comment with the same content as the completed comment, the comment should be included in the answer sheet. Don't fill in, just keep it on the answer sheet with the comment. That is, a pile of answer sheets is built for each answer sheet to which the same comment is to be written. The comment is actually written only on the first answer sheet.

  When the above operation is completed for all the answer sheets, a plurality of answer sheets are bundled into one. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which the bundle of answer sheets in which comments illustrated in FIG. 3 are entered and the bundle of answer sheets in which comments illustrated in FIG. 4 are combined. Has been. The teacher places the bundle of answer sheets on the scanner reading tray of the multifunction peripheral (image processing apparatus 10) with the writing surface facing up. Then, a predetermined operation is performed from the operation panel 13, and the characteristic image processing of the present embodiment described below is executed.

  The teacher turned over the pile of answer sheets because the answer sheet with comments actually entered was the first of the bundles that should have the same comments. This is so that it can be read. The teacher knew in advance the specifications of the ADF (Auto Document Feeder) of the scanner 14, and placed the answer sheets on top of each other according to the specifications. Of course, it is not necessary to use the above method in order for the answer sheet in which the comment is actually entered to be read first in the bundle of answer sheets in which the same comment is to be entered. Can be dealt with.

  Next, characteristic image processing of the present embodiment will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The scanner 14 reads the answer sheet one by one in accordance with the above-described predetermined operation by the teacher. The reading unit 21 reads the answer sheet read by scanning the answer sheet as an image analysis processing unit 22. (Step 110). The image analysis processing unit 22 determines whether or not a comment is entered on the answer sheet by analyzing the sent read image. In the present embodiment, since the comment should be written in accordance with the rule of writing with a red writing instrument, the image analysis processing unit 22 detects the presence or absence of the comment by detecting the red component image from the read image. I can judge. More specifically, if a pixel whose pixel value represented by the red component is not 0 is included, it can be determined that there is a comment. However, even in theory, since the comment is written not by simple points but by characters, drawing, etc., the red component pixel should be detected by a certain amount of pixels, and the scanner 14 It is realistic to set a threshold value, a range, and the like that are used as a criterion for determining whether or not a comment has been entered in consideration of reading errors and the like.

  First, since the first first sheet should have a comment as illustrated in FIG. 5 (Y in step 120), the comment image extraction unit 26 extracts an image of the comment that has been input, and comment information Writing to the storage unit 25 (step 130). In the present embodiment, the comment image may be temporarily held until the next new comment image is extracted. Therefore, the comment information storage unit 25 is realized by the RAM 18 instead of the HDD 15. Also good. An example of the extracted comment image is shown in FIG. After extracting the comment image, the printing unit 24 prints the read image of the answer sheet as it is (step 140). That is, in the case of an answer sheet in which a comment is entered, the answer sheet is copied as it is, and a duplicate is generated. In the present embodiment, since the comment is written using red, it is desirable to print the same red. After the answer sheet is printed, the process proceeds to the next answer sheet (Y in step 150).

  When the read image of the second answer sheet obtained by the reading process by the reading unit 21 is sent to the image analysis processing unit 22 (step 110), the image analysis processing unit 22 analyzes the sent read image. This determines whether or not a comment on the answer sheet has been entered.

  If no comment is entered (N in step 120), the compositing unit 23 combines the temporarily held comment image with the read image of the answer sheet (step 160). Then, the printing unit 24 prints the image obtained by the synthesis (Step 140).

  In the present embodiment, a comment can be added to an answer sheet on which no comment has been written by combining the answer sheet image and the comment image.

  When the answer sheet is printed in a state where a comment is entered, the process proceeds to the next answer sheet (Y in step 150). However, for an answer sheet in which a comment with the same content is to be entered, A comment is added to each answer by the synthesis process with the comment image.

  The above processing is repeatedly performed for each answer sheet that is bundled. Here, it is assumed that the answer sheet 6 a is read by the reading unit 21. When the read image is sent to the image analysis processing unit 22 (step 110), the image analysis processing unit 22 analyzes the read image that has been sent to determine whether or not a comment has been entered on the answer sheet. Then, it is determined that a comment has been entered (Y in step 120). Then, the comment image extraction unit 26 extracts an image of the entered comment and writes it in the HDD 15 (step 130). In the present embodiment, the temporarily held comment image becomes unnecessary because a new comment image is extracted, and may be deleted. After registering the comment image, the printing unit 24 prints the extracted original read image as it is (step 140). That is, in the case of an answer sheet in which a comment is entered, the answer sheet is copied as it is, and a duplicate is generated. After the answer sheet is printed, the process proceeds to the next answer sheet (Y in step 150).

  In this embodiment, the comment is written on all the answer sheets to which the same comment is to be written in this way, and the process for the next bundle of answer sheets to which comments of different contents are to be written is performed. Start.

  In the subsequent processing, the processing in steps 110 to 160 described above is repeatedly performed until the processing for all answer sheets is completed, so that the description is omitted, but by repeating the above processing, all processing is performed. A handwritten comment by the teacher is entered as it is on the answer sheet (strictly speaking, not the collected answer sheet itself but the printed image of the read image). FIG. 8 shows an example of a part of answer sheets in which appropriate comments are entered for the above processing results.

  According to the present embodiment, as described above, a comment having the same content needs to be entered only once for one answer sheet, so that the work load required for comment entry can be reduced. More specifically, when a test exercise was conducted for 500 students, conventionally, all 500 students would write a comment or guess the contents of 500 students' answers. Comments had to be prepared in advance. Even if there were actually five types of comments, it was necessary to prepare more comments in advance. On the other hand, in this embodiment, since comments are entered by looking at actual answers, if there are five types of actual comments, only those five types of comments need be entered. The remaining 495 comments can be omitted.

  By the way, as the comment extracting method in step 130, various methods are conceivable. For example, using the upper left corner of the answer sheet as the origin of the coordinate system, a rectangular area including the entire written comment is obtained, and an image of the entire rectangular area is extracted as a comment image. In this case, for example, the upper left and lower right coordinate data of the comment image area are obtained and held, so that a comment can be written at the same position on each answer sheet. As another method, the pixel position where the red component is detected may be obtained, and the position coordinate data of each pixel may be extracted as a comment image. The former, which is handled as area data, has the advantage that the amount of information is small and processing is easy. However, since it is unknown where the answer entry by the student is located on the answer sheet, the answer may be overwritten with the background color of the comment image (the answer sheet color). In the latter case, which is handled as pixel data, the answer entered by such a student is not deleted by overwriting, but the amount of information increases. What kind of comment image extraction method is adopted may be determined in consideration of the performance of the image processing apparatus 10, the content and amount of comments, and the like.

  Further, in order to avoid the occurrence of comment extraction processing, overwriting of the answer, etc., a comment entry field 8 is provided on the answer sheet as illustrated in FIG. 9, and the teacher enters a comment in this field 8. In this way, it is possible to easily cope with the above-described determination of whether or not a comment has been entered, extraction of a comment, and avoiding overwriting the written answer.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a comment is written in accordance with a predetermined rule that a red writing instrument different from the black writing instrument normally used for answering is used. In addition to this, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, a comment may be entered according to a rule of filling in a comment entry column 8 provided on an answer sheet.

  Further, since the collected answer sheets reach several hundred sheets, it can be easily imagined that all of them cannot be placed on the ADF of the scanner 14. However, in this case, the collected answer sheets may be handled in units of bundles of answer sheets in which comments of the same content are entered so that it can be easily guessed.

  It should be noted that the above-described modification can be similarly applied to the embodiments described below.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a multi-function machine in which a scanner function and a printing function are mounted in advance has been described as an example of the image processing apparatus 10, but the system can also be realized using a general-purpose computer such as a personal computer (PC). be able to. FIG. 10 is a hardware configuration diagram of a computer according to the present embodiment. The computer in the present embodiment can be realized by a general-purpose hardware configuration that has existed in the past. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the computer includes a CPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, an HDD controller 35 connected to the HDD 34, a mouse 36 and a keyboard 37 provided as input means, a display 38 provided as a display device, and a scanner. 39, an input / output controller 41 for connecting the printer 40 and the printer 40, and a network controller 42 provided as a communication means are connected to an internal bus 43.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a block configuration diagram of the image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 11, the same components as those in FIG. 2 used in Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As is clear from FIG. 11, in the present embodiment, a comment identification unit 27 is newly provided in the image analysis processing unit 22. The comment identifying unit 27 identifies a comment to be written on the answer sheet by analyzing the read image of the read answer sheet. Since other components are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. Further, the hardware configuration in the present embodiment may be the same as that in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an answer sheet used in the present embodiment. Unlike the first embodiment, the answer sheet used in the present embodiment is provided with a teacher use column 9 in advance. In the example shown in FIG. 12, a teacher use column 9 is provided below the answer sheet, and ten check boxes are provided in the column 9.

  Next, the flow of work by the teacher and the operation of the present embodiment from when the answer sheet is collected until a comment is entered on each answer sheet by the teacher will be described.

  Assume that the collected answer sheets are stacked in order of student ID number or randomly. FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram showing the top five answer sheets 5a, 5b, 6a, 5c, and 6b, and FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining how to use the teacher use column 9 of each answer sheet. FIG. The teacher starts to write comments on the answer sheets in order from the top, but the teacher always writes comments on the first answer sheet. When entering a comment, the teacher puts a check in a check box provided in the teacher use column 9 together with the entry of the comment. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the teacher checks the leftmost check box. In addition, in order to make it possible to distinguish between the student's answer and the teacher's comment entered in the answer column, the comment is written in red, but the teacher use column 9 is a dedicated area used by the teacher, so fill in the check There is no need to provide such restrictions. When you enter a comment, turn the answer sheet over and place it on the desk where you are writing the comment. Note that the reverse placement depends on the ADF specification of the scanner 14 as described in the first embodiment.

  Next, the teacher enters a comment on the second answer sheet 5b. If the content of the comment to be entered on the second answer sheet 5b is the same as the first sheet, the teacher Does not write a comment on the answer sheet 5b, and puts a check in the same check box position as the first of the check boxes provided in the teacher use column 9, that is, the leftmost check box. Then, after turning over, it is placed over the answer sheet 5a.

  Subsequently, the teacher writes a comment on the third answer sheet 6a. If the content of the comment to be entered on the third answer sheet 6a is different from that of the first answer sheet, the teacher Check the check box provided in the teacher use column 9 together with the comment entry. At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the teacher checks the second check box from the left, which is different from the first and second sheets. Unlike the first embodiment, the answer sheet 6a is turned over and placed on the same pile of answer sheets as the first and second sheets.

  Subsequently, the teacher writes a comment on the fourth answer sheet 5c. If the content of the comment to be entered on the fourth answer sheet 5c is the same as that of the first sheet, the teacher Does not enter a comment on the answer sheet 5c, and puts a check in the same check box position as the first one among the check boxes provided in the teacher use column 9, that is, the leftmost check box. Then turn it over and place it on the same answer sheet.

  Subsequently, the teacher writes a comment on the fifth answer sheet 6b. If the content of the comment to be entered on the fifth answer sheet 6b is the same as the third answer sheet, the teacher Does not enter a comment on the answer sheet 6b, and checks the same check box position as the third one among the check boxes provided in the teacher use column 9, that is, the second check box from the left. Then turn it over and place it on the same answer sheet. That is, as is clear from the above description, in this embodiment, there is no need to sort according to the type of comment.

  The teacher fills in comments as necessary as described above, and checks any of the check boxes in the teacher use column 9 for all answer sheets, which can be understood from the above explanation. As described above, the present embodiment is characterized in that the type of comment to be written on each answer sheet is determined according to the check position of the check box.

  In this embodiment, 10 check boxes are prepared because it is assumed that a maximum of 10 types of comments are entered. Therefore, if more comments with different contents are to be entered, the number of check boxes may be increased. In this embodiment, the check boxes are used in order starting from the left check box for the convenience of use. However, the teacher determines which check box at which position is a comment and which correspondence. It is easy to understand that the check box at any position may be used as long as it is remembered. In this embodiment, since the type of comment is determined based on the check position of the check box, the check position can be used as comment identification information (comment ID).

  When the above operation is completed for all the answer sheets, the answer sheets are put together on the scanner reading tray of the multifunction machine. Then, a predetermined operation is performed from the operation panel 13, and the characteristic image processing of the present embodiment described below is executed. Hereinafter, characteristic image processing of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that the same step numbers are assigned to the same processes as those in FIG.

  The scanner 14 reads the answer sheet one by one in accordance with the above-described predetermined operation by the teacher. The reading unit 21 reads the answer sheet read by scanning the answer sheet as an image analysis processing unit 22. (Step 110). The image analysis processing unit 22 determines whether or not a comment has been entered in the answer sheet by analyzing the read image that has been sent, but since the comment should have been entered in the first answer sheet 5a (step 120), the comment image extraction unit 26 extracts an image of the entered comment (step 131). Then, the comment identifying unit 27 detects the position of the check box checked in the teacher use column 9, and specifies the type of comment, that is, the comment ID (step 210). Note that either step 131 or step 210 may be executed first. Then, the image analysis processing unit 22 associates the comment image extracted by the comment image extraction unit 26 with the comment ID specified by the comment identification unit 27 and registers them in the comment information storage unit 25 (step 220). Note that the comment information storage unit 25 can be realized by the RAM 18, but in the present embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, it is necessary to hold a plurality of comment images at the same time. As will be described later, it is preferable to implement this in the HDD 15 so that the comment image can be reused.

  Since the comment is actually entered in the first answer sheet 5a processed here, after extracting and registering the comment image, the printing unit 24 prints the read image as it is (step 140). After the answer sheet is printed, the process proceeds to the next answer sheet (Y in step 150).

  When the read image of the second answer sheet 5b obtained by the reading process by the reading unit 21 is sent to the image analysis processing unit 22 (step 110), the image analysis processing unit 22 analyzes the sent read image. By doing so, it is determined whether or not a comment is entered on the answer sheet.

  When no comment is written on the answer sheet as in the second answer sheet 5b in this example (N in Step 120), the comment identifying unit 27 positions the check box checked in the teacher use column 9 And the type of comment, that is, the comment ID is specified (step 230). Since the comment ID specifying process is executed regardless of whether or not a comment is entered, it may be performed immediately after paper scanning. When the comment ID is specified, the synthesis unit 23 acquires a comment image registered in association with the comment ID from the comment information storage unit 25 (step 240), and the acquired comment image and the processing target The read image on the answer sheet 5b is synthesized (step 160). Then, the printing unit 24 prints the image obtained by the synthesis (Step 140).

  In the present embodiment, a comment can be added to an answer sheet on which no comment has been written by combining the comment image that can be specified by the comment ID with the image of the answer sheet as described above.

  The process for the third answer sheet 6a is the same as the process for the first answer sheet 5a, so the description is omitted. However, the answer sheet 6a has a comment with a different content from the answer sheet 5a. Since it is filled in, the comment image is registered in the comment information storage unit 25 with a different comment ID.

  The subsequent processing will be repeated until the processing for all answer sheets is completed, so the description will be omitted. However, by repeating the above processing, the teacher for all answer sheets is repeated. The handwritten comment by will be entered as it is. FIG. 16 shows an example of a part of answer sheets in which appropriate comments are entered for each of the above processing results.

  According to the present embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, a comment having the same content needs to be written only once on one answer sheet, so that the workload required for comment entry can be reduced. . In particular, in this embodiment, a comment ID is assigned to each comment so as to be held and managed, so there is no need to sort the answer sheets for each comment type. Of course, it is the same as in the first embodiment in that it is an indispensable condition that the answer sheet in which comments are actually entered in each comment type is processed first.

  In the above explanation, it was explained that the answer sheets should be grouped together without sorting them. However, the comments are divided into the answer sheets that are actually filled in and the sheets that are not filled in, and the comments are actually filled in. You may make it read all the answered answer sheets first.

  In the present embodiment, the presence or absence of comment entry is determined by the image analysis processing in step 120. This makes it possible to reliably determine the presence or absence of a comment.For example, when a teacher writes a comment on an answer sheet, an entry indicating that fact, for example, a comment presence / absence check that is checked when a comment is entered If a check box is separately provided in the teacher use column 9, it is not necessary to perform image analysis processing on the answer column, so that the efficiency of image processing can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, a check box is provided in advance in the teacher use column 9 so that the comment can be identified only by allowing the teacher to check one of them. However, the method for causing the image processing apparatus 10 to determine the comment type is not limited to this. For example, the comment identification code (numbers and symbols) entered in the teacher use column 9 by the teacher is recognized by the character recognition process, and the recognized code is treated as a comment ID. What is necessary is just to be able to identify the kind of.

  In the present embodiment, the comment image and the comment ID are associated with each other and stored in the comment information storage unit 25. Therefore, for example, even if some students have submitted their answer sheets late, just check the specified check box in the teacher use column 9 on the answer sheet and actually comment on any answer sheet. This is convenient because it is possible to enter a comment on each answer sheet without having to fill in the form.

  By the way, the above description is based on the assumption that one question is associated with one answer sheet. However, there may be a case where answer columns for a plurality of sub-questions are provided on one answer sheet, but in this embodiment, it is possible to easily cope with such a case. That is, the teacher writes a comment for each question, but associates the comment of the question with a check box and checks a plurality of check boxes associated with each comment for each question. You can put it in. That is, the teacher only needs to check the number of sub-questions for one answer sheet.

  In each of the above embodiments, a comment is actually written on any of the collected answer sheets, and a comment image is extracted from the answer sheet. However, a comment to be entered on the answer sheet may be entered on an unused answer sheet instead of on the collected answer sheet, and a comment image may be extracted from the unused answer sheet. In the implementation method described above, only one student's answer sheet was directly filled in with writing instruments, but in this way, for all students, the composite image of the read image and the comment image The printed material can be returned.

  Note that the contents described in the above embodiments can be implemented in combination. For example, the comment entry field 8 used in the first embodiment and the teacher use field 9 used in the second embodiment can be used in combination on the answer sheet.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a test exercise in an education field is taken as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to other fields such as an answer to an inquiry from a consumer in a company.

It is a hardware block diagram which showed one Embodiment of the image processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is the figure which showed the example of entry of an answer and a comment on the answer sheet used in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is the figure which showed the example by which the answer and comment different from FIG. 3 were entered in the answer sheet used in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram in a state where a bundle of answer sheets in which comments illustrated in FIG. 3 are entered and a bundle of answer sheets in which comments illustrated in FIG. 4 are combined. 3 is a flowchart illustrating image processing according to the first embodiment. It is the figure which showed the example of the comment image extracted from the answer sheet used in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a part of answer sheets in which comments are entered in each of the results of the image processing of the first embodiment. It is the figure which showed the example of the answer sheet of the other format used in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a computer capable of implementing the first embodiment. 6 is a block configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an answer sheet used in Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of answer sheets processed in Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the utilization method of the teacher use column of each answer sheet shown in FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating image processing according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a part of answer sheets in which comments are entered in each of the results of image processing according to the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  2 network, 10 image processing device, 11, 31 CPU, 12 address data bus, 13 operation panel, 14, 39 scanner, 15, 34 hard disk drive (HDD), 16 printer engine, 17 network interface (I / F), 18 , 33 RAM, 19, 32 ROM, 20 External media interface (I / F), 21 Reading section, 22 Image analysis processing section, 23 Composition section, 24 Printing section, 25 Comment information storage section, 26 Comment image extraction section, 27 Comment identification unit, 35 HDD controller, 36 mouse, 37 keyboard, 38 display, 40 printer, 41 input / output controller, 42 network controller, 43 internal bus.

Claims (5)

Reading means for reading a plurality of sheets;
An identification means for identifying a comment to be written on the paper by analyzing a read image of the read paper;
A sheet on which a comment is written is specified according to a predetermined rule among a plurality of read sheets, and an image of the written comment is extracted from each read image of the specified sheet, and the comment image and Extracting means for associating and registering in the comment information storage means the identification information of the comment identified from the read image by the identifying means;
A comment image stored in the comment information storage unit in association with identification information of the comment identified by the identification unit from a read image of a sheet from which a comment image has not been extracted, and a read image in which the comment is identified A synthesis means for synthesizing
Printing means for printing a composite image of each sheet from which a comment image has not been extracted;
An image processing apparatus comprising: The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 .
An image processing apparatus characterized in that the identification means identifies a comment to be entered on the paper by analyzing the content of the entry in the entry field that can identify the type of comment provided on each paper. . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 .
The image processing apparatus, wherein the extraction unit extracts a color component image dedicated to a comment as a comment image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 .
The image processing apparatus is characterized in that the extracting means extracts an image in a predetermined area of a sheet as a comment image. Computer
Reading means for reading a plurality of sheets,
An identification means for identifying a comment to be written on the paper by analyzing a read image of the read paper;
A sheet on which a comment is written is specified according to a predetermined rule among a plurality of read sheets, and an image of the written comment is extracted from each read image of the specified sheet, and the comment image and Extracting means for associating the identification information of the comment identified from the read image by the identification means with the comment information storage means,
A comment image stored in the comment information storage unit in association with identification information of the comment identified by the identification unit from a read image of a sheet from which a comment image has not been extracted, and a read image in which the comment is identified A synthesis means for synthesizing
Printing means for printing a composite image of each sheet from which a comment image has not been extracted;
An image processing program that functions as an image processing program.

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