JP5339200B2 - Image forming apparatus, control program, and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus for easily and reliably selecting functions which require the input of destination information. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus having a scanner for reading the image of an original includes a control part for allowing a display part to display a function list screen with functions requiring the input of the destination information when the inclusion of the destination information is determined after determining whether the destination information is included in the image of the original or not by analyzing the read image of the original (function of transmitting the image data of the original by facsimile to the designation specified by the destination information, function of attaching the image data of the original to the destination specified by the destination information and transmit it by E-mail, and function of registering/updating the destination information in an address book, etc.). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control program, and control method, particularly to an image forming apparatus and a control program and a control method a function that requires input of destination information.

  In recent years, printing apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as image forming apparatuses) having a scanning function, a facsimile function, an E-mail transmission function, and the like have become widespread. In this image forming apparatus, an image of a document can be read using a scanner function, and the read image can be transmitted by FAX to an address input by a display operation unit, or can be transmitted by E-mail.

  Here, since it is troublesome to input a destination at the time of FAX transmission or E-mail transmission, a technique for simplifying the input operation has been proposed.

  For example, in Patent Document 1 below, an image reading device that can read a fax transmission manuscript and a fax number and a phone number printed on a business card, and the read fax number and phone number are recognized and each number data is output. A character recognition device, a document detection unit that detects whether or not a fax transmission document is set on the device, and if a fax transmission document is set on the device, automatically sends it based on the read fax number and transmits the fax There is disclosed a facsimile telephone apparatus including a dial transmission unit that automatically transmits a document based on a read telephone number when a document is not set on the apparatus.

  In Patent Document 2 below, when a business card is set in the image reading means, the reading mode of the image reading means is set to the business card mode, the image of the business card is read, and the business card image data obtained thereby is optically read. Character code data corresponding to the graphic character string described on the business card after being recognized by a graphic character reading means, and corresponding to the predetermined character string specifying the mail address in the input character code data If it is included, the information indicating the mail address is extracted from the character code data, it is determined whether it is a business card to be input as mail address information, and if it is a business card, the mail address is read, set to the address and sent A network facsimile apparatus is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-244979 JP-A-11-27313

  In the facsimile apparatus described in the above publication, when a business card is set in the image reading means, destination information such as a FAX number or an e-mail address is read from the business card. It is possible to send a fax or automatically register a mail address in Patent Document 2.

  Here, functions that require input of destination information (functions unique to business cards) include address information registration / update of destination information, FAX transmission to a FAX number, E-mail transmission to a mail address, etc. If a business card is provided with a plurality of functions unique to these business cards, even if a business card is placed on the original glass, whether the destination information read from the business card is registered in the address book, or faxed to a fax number, e-mail address I do not know whether to send E-mail.

  Therefore, in such an image forming apparatus, first, the operator selects a desired function from a plurality of functions unique to the business card, and then reads the business card. Since it is not always possible to know the functions that can be used in the device, it is necessary to find out what functions are available, or select the functions that cannot be used (for example, E-mail transmission to a FAX number) May be selected).

  In order to avoid such inconvenience, a method of providing a mode (so-called business card mode) in which functions that require input of destination information are combined is conceivable. However, in the image forming apparatus, generally, switching of the operation mode often uses a hard key, and it is difficult to add a hard key for the business card mode.

  In addition, functions available in the business card mode differ depending on the image forming apparatus, and new functions may be added, and it is difficult to select individual functions in the business card mode with hard keys. Also lacks versatility. In addition, in the method of selecting a desired function using a function transition button after selecting the business card mode with a hard key, the operation becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a main object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily and reliably selecting a function that requires input of destination information.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus including a scanner unit that reads an image of a document, the scanned image of the document is analyzed to determine whether destination information is included in the document image. When the destination information is included, a control unit is provided that causes the display unit to display a function list screen that summarizes only the functions that require input of the destination information.

  In the present invention, the control unit attaches the image data of the document to the destination specified by the destination information on the function list screen, and a function of transmitting the image data of the document to the destination specified by the destination information. Then, two or more functions selected from the function of transmitting E-mail and the function of registering / updating the destination information in the address book can be displayed in a selectable manner.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to easily and reliably select a function that requires input of destination information.

  The reason for this is that even if you don't have a hard key or function transition button to switch the operation mode, when you read a business card, it switches to a business card mode that summarizes the functions that require input of destination information (functions unique to business cards). This is because the function list menu screen in which functions can be selected is displayed on the display unit, and the operator can select a desired function simply by operating the displayed function list menu screen. .

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the determination method of a transmission destination (destination). FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen (function list menu screen) displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in the background art, a technology for reading a business card and extracting a destination by OCR (Optical Character Reader) character recognition is known. By using this technology for an image forming apparatus, destination information read from a business card is obtained. Various functions that require input of destination information, such as a function for registering / updating in the address book, a function for FAX transmission to a FAX number read from a business card, and a function for E-mail transmission to a read mail address can be realized. .

  However, in the image forming apparatus, when a business card is placed on the original glass, it is not known which function should be executed among functions that require input of destination information (function unique to the business card). The recipient information is read from the business card after selecting the function, but if the operator of the image forming device does not know the functions that can be executed by the device, the selection of the function becomes difficult and inappropriate. Inconvenience such as selecting an appropriate function occurs.

  In order to avoid such inconvenience, a business card mode in which functions requiring input of destination information can be provided. However, it is difficult to add a hard key for switching the operation mode to the business card mode. Even if a hard key for the business card mode is provided, a function transition button or the like must be operated in order to select a desired function, resulting in a complicated operation.

  Therefore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the destination information is not read from the business card after the user selects a function, but the destination information is read from the business card and then the desired function is used from the functions that use the destination information. Let the function be selected. In addition, in order to select a desired function, instead of providing a hard key, a function transition button, etc., a function list menu screen on which a function using the destination information can be selected is displayed on the display unit. A desired function can be selected by operation.

  This facilitates selection of a function that requires input of destination information (function unique to a business card), and can prevent inconvenience of selecting an inappropriate function. Further, it is not necessary to provide a hard key for the business card mode, and versatility can be improved.

  In order to describe the above-described embodiment of the present invention in more detail, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of the image forming system according to the present exemplary embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the image forming apparatus. is there. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a destination determination method, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system according to the present embodiment includes an image having a function (function unique to a business card) that requires input of destination information such as an address book registration / update function, a FAX transmission function, and an E-mail transmission function. The image forming apparatus 10, the facsimile apparatus 20 that receives FAX transmission from the image forming apparatus 10, and the computer apparatus 30 that receives E-mail transmission from the image forming apparatus 10. Are connected via a public line or the like, and the image forming apparatus 10 and the computer apparatus 30 are connected via a communication network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, an external interface unit 14, an HDD ( Hard Disk Drive) 15, a scanner unit 16, a printer unit 17, a display operation unit 18, and the like.

  The ROM 12 stores various programs and the like. The RAM 13 stores data necessary for control by the CPU 11 and data that needs to be temporarily stored during the control operation. The CPU 11 functions as a control unit that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 in cooperation with the ROM 12 and the RAM 13.

  Specifically, the CPU 11 scans the scanner unit 16 to read the original image, analyzes the read original image to extract a specific character string, and causes the printer unit 17 to read the original image. A print function for printing a document, a FAX transmission process for transmitting a document image to the facsimile apparatus 20 using a public line, an E-mail transmission process for transmitting a document image to the computer apparatus 30 via a communication network, and a display operation A display operation unit process for displaying a function list menu screen or the like to be described later on the unit 18 or executing a process according to an operation of the display operation unit 18; and an address book for registering / updating destination information read from the business card in the address book Execute registration / update processing.

  The external interface unit 14 includes a NIC (Network Interface Card), a modem, and the like, and communicates with the facsimile apparatus 20 and the computer apparatus 30 via a communication network.

  The HDD 15 stores an image of a document read by the scanner unit 16, an address book in which destination information read from a business card is converted into a database, and the like.

  The scanner unit 16 is a device that reads an image of a document (business card or transmission document). The scanner unit 16 sequentially feeds the document to an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), a document glass on which the document is placed, and a document glass. A light source that scans a placed document or a document conveyed by an ADF, an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices) that converts light reflected from the document into an electrical signal, and A / D-converts the electrical signal. It is composed of an A / D converter or the like.

  The printer unit 17 includes elements necessary for image formation using an image forming process such as an electrophotographic system or an electrostatic recording system, that is, a charging device, a photosensitive drum, an exposure device, a transfer roller, a transfer belt, and a fixing device. Etc. Specifically, the photosensitive drum charged by the charging device is irradiated with light according to the bitmap data from the exposure device to form an electrostatic latent image, and charged with the developing device is attached and developed, The toner image is transferred to a paper medium via a primary transfer roller and a secondary transfer belt and fixed by a fixing device.

  The display operation unit 18 is provided with a pressure-sensitive operation unit (touch panel) in which transparent electrodes are arranged in a grid on a display unit such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and is pressed with a finger or a touch pen. The XY coordinates of the applied force point are detected by a voltage value, and the detected position signal is output to the control unit 11 as an operation signal. In the present embodiment, a function list menu screen or the like that summarizes functions that require input of destination information (functions unique to business cards) is displayed, and operations such as function selection can be performed on the screen.

  The configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment can be changed as appropriate as long as the image forming apparatus 10 includes a function that requires input of destination information (a function unique to a business card).

  Further, the facsimile apparatus 20 only needs to have a function of receiving and printing or displaying document data transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10, and may be a dedicated FAX apparatus or a copy function or a printer function. Alternatively, a composite device may be used.

  Further, the computer apparatus 30 only needs to have a function of receiving the E-mail transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 and displaying the document data.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, when the operator presses a start key provided on the display operation unit 18, the control unit (CPU 11) reads a document using the scanner unit 16 (S101), and whether the read document is a business card size. Is determined (S102).

  If the read original is not the size of a business card, it is considered that the destination information is not included in the original, so normal processing of copying, scanning, and faxing is executed (S110), and the processing ends.

  On the other hand, when the read original is a business card size, the control unit (CPU 11) analyzes the read original using a known OCR character recognition technique (S103), and the read original is given a FAX number or an E-mail address. It is determined whether or not destination information such as is included (S104).

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, if there is a list of 10-digit numbers following a character string such as “FAX”, “Fax”, “fax”, “facsimile”, etc. in the document, the 10 digits Is determined as a FAX number. In addition, when there is an alphanumeric list following the character string such as “E-mail”, “Mail”, etc., and “@” which is a character specific to the mail address is included in the alphanumeric list, The character string is determined as an E-mail address.

  If the destination information is not included in the document as a result of the determination, normal processing of copying, scanning, and faxing is executed (S110), and the processing ends.

  On the other hand, if the address information is included in the manuscript, it operates as a business card mode, but at that time, since the operator does not know what functions as the business card mode, it is difficult to select the function. In some cases, inappropriate functions are selected. Therefore, in this embodiment, the control unit (CPU 11) displays a function list menu screen 40 as shown in FIG. 5 on the display (liquid crystal) panel of the display operation unit 18 provided with hard keys for switching the operation mode. Is displayed (S105). Each function of the business card mode is displayed on the function list menu screen 40 so as to be selectable. The operator operates the display operation unit 18 (touches the function list menu screen 40) and is displayed on the function list menu screen 40. A desired function is selected from the selected functions (S106).

  In FIG. 5, the address book registration / update function, the FAX transmission function, and the E-mail transmission function are displayed as an example of the case where the destination information read from the business card is a FAX number and an E-mail address. The configuration of the menu screen 40 can be changed as appropriate.

  For example, when the destination information read from the business card is a FAX number, only the address book registration / update function and the FAX transmission function can be displayed, or the E-mail transmission function can be displayed so that it cannot be selected. If the destination information read from the business card is an E-mail address, only the address book registration / update function and the E-mail transmission function can be displayed, or the FAX transmission function cannot be selected.

  In addition, when a plurality of FAX numbers or a plurality of E-mail addresses are read from a business card, the FAX transmission function is divided and displayed for each FAX number, or the E-mail transmission function is divided for each E-mail address. If a FAX transmission function or an E-mail transmission function is selected, a screen for selecting a FAX number or an E-mail address may be displayed.

  In FIG. 5, only the function of the business card mode is displayed on the function list menu screen 40, but the function of another operation mode may be added and displayed on the screen.

  And a control part (CPU11) performs the process according to the function selected on the function list menu screen 40. FIG.

  For example, when the selected function is address book registration / update, the read destination information is registered / updated in the address book (S107). At this time, if the name, company name, address, etc. described on the business card can be analyzed using the OCR character recognition technology in step S103, these information and the destination information are associated and registered / updated in the address book. be able to. Further, the destination information registered in the address book may be displayed on the display operation unit 18 so that the read destination information can be associated with (registered with) the registered destination information and registered.

  If the selected function is FAX transmission, the read destination information is set to the FAX number, and then the original data is acquired from the HDD 15 or the like, or the original is read using the scanner unit 16 and the original data is read. Is transmitted to the facsimile machine 20 having the FAX number set (S108).

  If the selected function is E-mail transmission, the read destination information is set as an E-mail address, and then the original data is acquired from the HDD 15 or the like, or the original is read using the scanner unit 16. The E-mail attached with the document data is transmitted to the computer device 30 having the set E-mail address (S109).

  In this way, when destination information such as a FAX number or an E-mail address is read from a business card size document, a function list menu screen 40 is displayed that summarizes functions that require input of the destination information (functions unique to business cards). By doing so, the operator can easily and reliably select a desired function from among the functions unique to the business card. Moreover, since it is not necessary to provide a hard key for the business card mode, versatility can be improved.

  In the above-described embodiment, the address book registration / update function, the FAX transmission function, and the E-mail transmission function have been described as examples of functions that require input of destination information (functions unique to business cards). The present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and may include at least one arbitrary function that uses the destination information read from the business card.

  The present invention is applicable to an image forming apparatus having a function of using destination information read from a business card.

10 Image forming apparatus 11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 External interface 15 HDD
16 Scanner Unit 17 Printer Unit 18 Display Operation Unit 20 Facsimile Device 30 Computer Device 40 Function List Menu Screen

Claims (9)

In an image forming apparatus including a scanner unit that reads an image of a document,
A function that analyzes the image of the read document to determine whether the destination information is included in the image of the document, and summarizes only the functions that require input of the destination information when the destination information is included. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that displays a list screen on a display unit.   The control unit displays the function list screen on the display unit when the read document is a business card size and the destination information is included in an image of the document. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The control unit has a function of faxing image data of a document to a destination specified by the destination information on the function list screen, and attaches image data of the document to a destination specified by the destination information. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein two or more functions selected from a function to transmit and a function to register / update the destination information in an address book are displayed in a selectable manner. .   A control program that operates in an image forming apparatus including a scanner unit that reads an image of a document,
  The image forming apparatus;
  A function that analyzes the image of the read document to determine whether the destination information is included in the image of the document, and summarizes only the functions that require the input of the destination information when the destination information is included. A control program that functions as a control unit that displays a list screen on a display unit. The control unit displays the function list screen on the display unit when the read document is a business card size and the destination information is included in an image of the document. The control program according to claim 4 . The control unit has a function of faxing image data of a document to a destination specified by the destination information on the function list screen, and attaches image data of the document to a destination specified by the destination information. 6. The control program according to claim 4, wherein two or more functions selected from a function to transmit and a function to register / update the destination information in an address book are displayed in a selectable manner .   A control method in an image forming apparatus including a scanner unit that reads an image of a document,
  The image forming apparatus analyzes an image of the read document to determine whether the destination information is included in the image of the document. When the destination information is included, the image forming apparatus needs to input the destination information. The control method characterized by performing the process which displays the function list screen which summarized only the function on a display part.   The function list screen is displayed on the display unit when the read document has a business card size and the destination information is included in an image of the document. Item 8. The control method according to Item 7. In the processing, the function list screen has a function of faxing the image data of the document to the destination specified by the destination information, and the E-mail transmission with the image data of the document attached to the destination specified by the destination information. The control method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein two or more functions selected from a function to perform and a function to register / update the destination information in an address book are displayed in a selectable manner .

Images