JP5339657B2 - Document registration system, method, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem wherein a user must index document images by looking at the document images each time, and easily causes an input error when a plurality of input document images have different forms. SOLUTION: This invention discriminates the forms coincident with the respective document images even when inputting the document images having a plurality of different forms, and automatically indexes and registers the respective document images on the basis of an area set in the coincident forms.

Description

  The present invention relates to a document registration system, method, program, and storage medium for indexing a plurality of image data and registering them in a document management unit.

  In a conventional document registration system, an input image read from a scanner is once displayed on a screen, and a user manually adds an index while viewing the screen and registers the input image together with the input image in a document management unit. It was.

Problems to be solved by the invention

  However, as the number of input document images and types of forms increases, the user takes a lot of effort to determine which position in the document image should be taken out as an index. There was a problem that input errors also increased.

Means for solving the problem

[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a document registration system according to the present invention is a document registration system that is connected via a network to a document management unit that indexes and manages document images, each having an area. Form storage means for storing a plurality of different forms to be set, an index structure of the document management unit, and a worksheet having information and index items relating to the input document image based on the acquired index structure A template creation means for creating a template , and an input document image used for collectively registering a plurality of document images and index information from the template to the document management unit worksheet work to create a worksheet with the information and the index item on Means, for each of a plurality of different forms, to the said form area, and area setting means for setting an index item of the worksheet index information extracted from the area is input, a plurality of document images respectively inputted On the other hand, based on the form identifying means for identifying the matching form and the area set in the form matching each of the plurality of document images, the index information of each document image is extracted, Index information extracting means for inputting the index information of each document image to the index item of each document image in the worksheet based on the associated index item, and the input managed by the worksheet Multiple document images and the document images Les and the index information, and having a registration means for registering at once in the document management unit that is connected via the network.

  FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram in the present embodiment.

  Here, on a network, a user terminal (100, 101, 102), an MFP (multifunction peripheral) (110) having a fax / scanner / printer / copy function, a document registration system (120), a file server (130), A document management system (140) is connected.

  Each user terminal uses the file server 130 and the document management system 140 to share various documents. There are various types of documents such as a document created by a general document creation application, a document read by a scanner, and a document received by fax.

  In this embodiment, the MFP 110 having a plurality of functions is used as the document input device. However, a single-function device such as a scanner device or a facsimile device may be used instead of the MFP.

  The file server 130 manages mainly documents stored temporarily. For example, a document image read by the scanner unit of the MFP 110 can be temporarily stored, and the user terminal or the document registration system 120 can acquire the document image.

  The document management system 140 mainly manages documents that need to be stored for a long period of time. The document transmitted from the document registration system is stored together with an index, and a user terminal is requested to transmit a desired document. In this case, the document can be searched and transmitted based on an index or the like. In the document management system, a plurality of indexes can be attached to one document, and the plurality of indexes are classified and managed for each index item. In the present embodiment, the document management system 140 is configured by a single document management apparatus, but may be configured by a combination of a plurality of devices. A plurality of document management systems 140 may exist.

  The document registration system 120 automatically or manually specifies and acquires a document (fax received document image, scanner-read document image, etc.) generated by the MFP 110 or a user terminal, or a document stored in a file server. An index (attribute information / search information) of the document is automatically created based on information obtained when the document is acquired or information obtained by analyzing the document, and the document and the index are combined. It has a function of registering in the document management system 140 (desired directory). In addition, it has a function of adding various indexes manually entered by the user and registering the document in the document management system, a function of re-editing attribute information of the document already registered in the document management system, and the like. In the present embodiment, the document registration system 120 is configured by a single document registration apparatus, but may be configured by a combination of a plurality of devices. In addition, using multiple document registration devices and giving authority to perform processing for each device so that multiple users can perform indexing and confirmation operations, etc., coordinate processing with multiple document registration devices By doing so, the document registration system may be configured.

  In the present embodiment, the document registration apparatus stores a CPU that performs actual processing operations, a RAM that reads a program and uses it as a work area, a program for executing processing corresponding to a flowchart to be described later, and various data. Storage media (hard disk, ROM, removable disk (floppy disk, CD-ROM, etc.)), keyboard and pointing device for performing various operations, display for displaying documents to be processed, and network connection It is a computer configured with a network interface. The program to be executed by the CPU may be supplied from the storage medium or may be read from an external device via a network. In addition, although this embodiment shall be implement | achieved when a computer runs a program, you may make it comprise the one part or all by hardware.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the document registration system 120.

<Document input processing to the document registration system>
First, document input processing to the document registration system 120 (document acquisition processing by the document registration system) will be described.

  The device control unit 210 obtains document data from a device (MFP) 110 having a fax function, a scanner function, and the like, and inputs it to subsequent processing. Note that the device control unit 210 performs processing to download document data by periodically monitoring the device or to receive document data transmitted by the push method from the device side.

  Reference numeral 130 denotes a folder (storage device) in which a document in a file server or the like is stored, and the folder control unit 212 acquires document data in the folder of the file server. For example, the folder control unit 212 periodically monitors a predetermined folder on the file server, and performs processing for acquiring the document when there is a new document.

  Reference numeral 201 denotes an operation unit in this system, which can set and operate various systems. Further, when a user operating the document registration system designates a document, the user terminal or file server can be used. The document data can be imported (acquired), and input processing of the document data acquired by the manual designation can be performed via the file control unit 214.

  An input control unit 220 can control the input from the device control unit 210, the folder control unit 212, the file control unit 214, and the like.

<Internal processing of document registration system>
Next, processing in the document registration system will be described.
Reference numeral 221 denotes a job control unit that performs control related to a job to be described later.
A document data processing unit 222 performs an image format conversion process and the like.
Reference numeral 223 denotes an index processing unit that performs control related to index processing to be described later.
A data management unit 224 saves and manages data on templates, worksheets, jobs, and the like, which will be described later, in a data storage area 250.
Reference numeral 225 denotes an OCR control unit that performs character recognition using the dictionary data 251.
A form (form) analysis unit 226 can automatically identify various forms such as a form format using the registered form data 252.
Reference numeral 240 denotes a mail processing unit. When the automatic processing is performed when the document is automatically acquired and the registration processing is performed, the result is notified to a destination registered in advance. Used to do.

<Access processing to the document management system in the document registration system>
Next, an interface with the document management system in the document registration system will be described.

  Reference numeral 227 denotes a document management system control unit, which registers documents and indexes, and documents already registered in the document management system via the access control unit 230 provided according to the type of the document management system 140. Perform processing such as index change.

  A database 253 stores access data necessary for accessing the document management system. A data area 254 temporarily stores data to be registered in the document management system. This area is used as a buffer when document data processing is required.

<< Basic Flow of Document Registration System (Fig. 3) >>
FIG. 3 is a basic flowchart in the document registration system 120.

  First, a processing flow when a document (image) is manually acquired, an index (attribute information) is input, and the document and the index are registered in the document management system will be described.

  In step S100, the index structure of the database of the document management system is acquired, and a template (model) for creating a worksheet is created from the index structure. This template includes access information to the document management system and schema information (item information that can be used as an index) created from the index structure. Details of the template creation processing will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S101, a worksheet is created from the template. This creation process is described in detail in FIG. In this worksheet, fields (items) and the like for actually registering index information are set. In the present embodiment, management of acquired documents, index information added to the documents, and the like are performed and managed in a series of processes (as a management table) in units of the worksheets. In this example, a worksheet is created from the template created in step S100. However, step S100 is omitted, a template created and stored in advance is selected, and a worksheet is created from the selected template. You may do it.

  It is also possible to select a worksheet that has already been created / registered and input document information and index information to the worksheet. In this case, in step S110, the worksheet selected by the user is extracted from the worksheets stored in the data area 250, and the process proceeds to step S102.

  In step S102, the worksheet created in step S101 or the worksheet selected in step S110 is displayed on the display.

  In step S103, the document acquired from the device is input.

  In step S104, the document information is registered in the worksheet. Specifically, the input document name (document ID) is registered in the item (schema information) of the document name (document ID) of the worksheet, and the document registered in the worksheet can be identified.

  In step S105, necessary index (attribute) information is input and managed for each item of the worksheet. The index information may be input manually by the user, or information obtained by automatically performing OCR or the like on the document may be input. Details of the index information input will be described later with reference to FIG.

  If it is necessary to input another document in step S106, the process returns to step S103.

  In step S107, the data in the worksheet acquired / set by the above processing is released (registered) into the document management system. Details of the release process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Next, when a document input process is set in advance on an input activation button on a GUI (graphical user interface) (FIG. 8) and the input activation button is pressed, the process is executed. The process will be described.

  If it is detected in step S120 that the input activation button has been pressed, a process preset for the button is determined. In step S121, a document acquisition process corresponding to the set condition (for example, specified in advance) is determined. Process to acquire a document newly stored in the specified folder, or to acquire a document image by reading a document with a scanner specified in advance, and register it in a preset worksheet To do. The execution of the input activation button process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S122, an index is input to the worksheet. Details of the index input process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S123, the data in the worksheet acquired / set by the above processing is released (registered) into the document management system. Details of the release process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In addition, a document acquisition setting, index setting, and release setting are designated and created and saved as a job in advance, and the job selected by the user from the plurality of saved jobs (step S130) is executed (step S130). Step S131) can also be performed. Details of the job selection / execution process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Although details will be described later, it is also possible to automatically input an index using a form when inputting an index in steps S105 and S122. In step S140, processing for registering the form is performed, and in step S141, an area is set in the form. Details of the form registration process will be described later with reference to FIG. 6, and details of the area registration process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S150, various setting processes (job setting process (FIG. 12), input activation button setting process (FIG. 8), etc.) for executing the above processes are performed.

  The processing described above will be described in detail below.

<Template creation process (FIG. 4)>
The template creation process (step S100) will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  In step S200, a connection is first made to the document management system of the document registration destination.

  In step S201, an index structure of a database in the document management system (schema information (information that can be used as a search index) set in a folder in which a document is stored) is acquired.

  In step S202, a template that collectively manages connection information to the document management system and schema information is created, and identification information (template name) for identifying the created template is added and saved.

<Worksheet creation process (FIG. 5)>
The worksheet creation process (step S101) for creating a worksheet from a saved template will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  In step S300, first, the user is allowed to select a template corresponding to the document management system of the document registration destination. Note that this selection step may be omitted when a worksheet is created directly from the template created in FIG.

  In step S301, if the schema information of the document management system stored in the template does not need to be indexed, is editing such as selecting a field corresponding to the schema information as an input target? Judge whether the instruction was given.

  If it is determined that field editing is to be performed, the field editing operation is performed in step S302. Basically, this is an operation for selecting a necessary field from item areas (fields) of a template that can be used as schema information. In some cases, an extension of the area (field) can be instructed.

  In step S303, a predetermined setting such as field editing is confirmed, and a worksheet is created from the selected template.

  In step S304, identification information (worksheet name) for identifying the created worksheet is added and saved.

<Form registration process (Fig. 6)>
A form registration process (step S140) for registering a form for use in a process for identifying an input document and a process for extracting information from an image as an index will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  In step S400, image data used as a reference at the time of form analysis is acquired.

  In step S401, the previously obtained image data is registered in a form management sheet for managing various forms.

  In step S402, the image data is passed to the form analysis unit 226 that performs form analysis processing (analyzes position and size information about the frames and tables constituting the form, written character information, etc.) Data form analysis processing is performed, the form analysis result is registered in the form management sheet in association with the image data, and managed as registered form data 252.

  In step S403, the newly added registration form data is added with identification information (form registration name) and saved.

<Area registration processing (FIG. 7)>
The area registration process (step S141) for setting an area for performing character recognition, barcode recognition, etc. on the registration form will be described in detail with reference to FIG. This area is used for recognizing the document area corresponding to the area set in the registration form and registering the recognition result as an index in the worksheet when indexing the document. .

  In step S500, the user first selects a form for setting an area.

  In step S501, the user is allowed to specify an area to be a form analysis target area.

  In step S502, the analysis mode of the area is designated. Detailed conditions for improving the recognition rate are set as the analysis mode. For example, designation of alphanumeric character recognition, kana / kanji character recognition, analysis engine such as barcode recognition, and the like can be designated for each area. You can also set the correspondence between areas and template items (worksheet items) here. When analyzing and registering document images, the recognition results for each area are displayed in the corresponding worksheet. The item is entered as an index. The association between the area and the worksheet item (template item) may be changed when the index input process is performed.

  In step S503, it is determined whether another area setting instruction has been issued. If another area is set, the process returns to step S501. If the area setting is completed, the process proceeds to step S504.

  In step S504, the setting information regarding the set area is registered as additional information for the registration form data.

<Input activation button setting (FIG. 8)>
The input activation button setting process (step S150) will be described in detail with reference to FIG. When the input activation button is pressed, input processing from various data sources (folders, scanners, etc.) is performed at once.

  In step S600, the user is allowed to select a worksheet for registering a document acquired from the set data source when the input activation button is pressed.

  In step S601, the user is made to select a data source (folder, scanner, etc.) from which document data is acquired.

  In step S602, it is determined whether the scanner is designated as the data source. If the scanner is designated, the scanner reading mode (reading resolution, reading area, etc.) is set in step S603.

  In step S604, it is determined whether the folder is designated as a data source. If a folder is designated, folder access settings (access conditions such as access right settings) are performed in step S605.

  In step S610, the set condition is registered in association with the input activation button, and the input activation button is displayed as a GUI. Also, a plurality of input activation buttons can be registered and displayed by changing the button name and shape according to the setting conditions.

<Input activation button execution processing (FIG. 9)>
The execution process (step S121) when the input activation button is pressed will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  In step S700, the condition (setting mode) set for the pressed input activation button is read.

  In step S710, it is determined whether the scanner is designated. If the scanner is set, the process proceeds to step S711 to perform scanning according to the scanner reading condition set as the setting mode to obtain a document image. In step S712, the document is saved in the worksheet.

  In step S720, it is determined whether or not document acquisition from a folder is set. If acquisition from a folder is set, the process proceeds to step 721, and a condition for acquiring a document from the folder (for example, a newly input document) In step S722, the content of the folder is checked. In step S722, whether there is a document satisfying the condition is determined. In step S723, the document is acquired, and in step S724, the document is stored in the worksheet. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S722 that no document satisfies the condition, the process proceeds to step S725.

  Step S725 is a determination process used when a condition for acquiring a document by periodically checking (polling) the folder is set, and when the cancellation of the periodic folder check is instructed or originally. If the setting conditions for periodic folder confirmation have not been made, the process ends. If not, the process returns to step S721 again to periodically confirm the contents of the designated folder.

<Index input process (FIG. 10)>
The index input process (S105, S122, S1121, etc.) for inputting a document index to the worksheet will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  In step S800, it is determined whether or not automatic processing such as a job has been specified. If automatic processing is selected, the processing proceeds to step S815. If not, worksheets and forms are sequentially selected.

  If it is not automatic processing, in step S801, the user selects the worksheet by designating the worksheet.

  In step S802, it is determined whether the index is input manually by the user or the index is input using a registration form. When it is instructed by the user to manually input index information, manual index input is performed in step S803, and then it is determined in step S804 whether there are other documents to be processed, and there are other documents. Returns to step S800, and if not, the process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S802 that an instruction to input an index using the registered form has been given, the process proceeds to step S810 to determine whether to use the automatic form detection function. If it is determined that the use of the automatic form detection function has been instructed, in step S811, a form detection process for detecting a form that matches the input document from a plurality of registered forms is performed. If a matching form is detected by the form detection process, the process proceeds from step S812 to step S820. If a matching form is not detected, the process proceeds from step S812 to step S813. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S810 that use of the automatic form detection function is not instructed and manual form selection is instructed, the process proceeds to step S813. In step S813, a desired form is manually selected from a plurality of registered forms according to a user instruction.

  In step S820, an area set in the registration form selected automatically or manually is searched.

  In step S821, it is determined whether or not the indexing process using the information in the area corresponding to all areas set in the registration form has been completed in the document. If the indexing process has been completed, the process proceeds to step S804. On the other hand, if not completed, the process proceeds to step S822.

  In step S822, area analysis is performed according to the area analysis conditions set in the registration form. Here, it is also possible for the user to actively adjust the area range set as the area analysis condition. The adjustment of the area range is performed by displaying the area range set as the analysis condition of the set area in a state where the input document image is displayed, with a rectangle of a predetermined color superimposed. The area range can be adjusted by adjusting the rectangle. Further, the character image smoothing process (black pixel block edge smoothing process) is performed on the image data cut out in accordance with the region range. The character image here includes all of the meanings transmitted in the form of the bit arrangement of the bitmap such as barcode data and pictographs. The smoothing process of the character image is included in the OCR control unit 225 in the form of library software. By performing this smoothing process, jaggies (dot variations) that occur when image processing such as tilt correction, shift correction, and magnification correction is performed are reduced, and the recognition rate of the character recognition process can be improved.

  In step S823, it is determined whether the area analysis process has succeeded without any abnormality. If the process ends abnormally, the process proceeds to step S824, where it is determined whether the process is in the automatic process mode. If the process is not in the automatic process mode, the user manually inputs an index in step S825. Do. Here, the provisional process is, for example, a process of adding an NG mark indicating that the area analysis is unsuccessful, or outputting a value defined as another default as an index.

  In step S830, the result of area analysis processing is saved in the worksheet, and the process returns to step S820 to search for another unprocessed area.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S800 that automatic processing such as a job has been designated, in step S815, a worksheet associated with the automatic processing is selected, and preprocessing for automatic indexing processing is performed. Here, the automatic processing is premised on that a worksheet is set in advance. If the registration form is also designated in advance in the automatic processing, the process proceeds to step S820 assuming that the form is detected in step S816. If the setting is such that the registration form is automatically detected and selected in the automatic process, the form detection process similar to step S811 is performed in this pre-process, and a matching registration form is detected. If the form is detected in step S816, the process proceeds to step S820. On the other hand, if the registered form cannot be determined, the process proceeds to post-processing in step S817, and the document is displayed on the worksheet as a document that could not be processed. In step S804, it is determined whether to process the next document.

<Release (data registration) processing (FIG. 11)>
A process (S107, S123, S1131, etc.) for releasing (registering) data (document information and index information) managed in the worksheet in the document management system will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  In step S900, it is determined whether automatic release is designated. If it is determined that the release is automatic release, the process proceeds to step S901. If it is determined that the automatic release is not performed, the process proceeds to step S910.

  In the case of automatic release, in step S901, automatic release setting information (connection information to the registration destination document management system, registration destination folder information, etc.) is first acquired from the worksheet, and in step S902, the document management system A connection process to the storage folder is performed, and the process proceeds to step S920 to prepare data to be released.

  If it is not automatic release, in step S910, first, from the document managed in the worksheet, the selection of the document to be registered and the handling (deletion) of the document stored in the document registration system after registration in the document management system are performed. It can be set. To select a document to be registered, a plurality of registration target document IDs managed in the worksheet and an index corresponding to each document are displayed in a table format of the worksheet, and a registration process is performed from the list. A document can be selected. During the selection process, the document ID and index selected on the worksheet are highlighted so that the user can easily understand that the document is selected.

  In step S911, login processing is performed to the document management system as a registration destination, and a folder for storing the document is designated.

  In step S912, options can be set at the time of document registration, and an execution log related to document registration processing can be set, and conversion settings for the document format at the time of document registration can be set.

  In step S920, document information to be registered in the document management system is temporarily stored in the internal output data area 254 to prepare for registration.

  In step S930, it is determined whether a format conversion of the document image to be registered or a process for adding a result of OCR analysis of the document image is instructed. If it is determined that the instruction is instructed, in step S931, according to the instruction. Perform image processing.

  In step S940, the prepared document data and the like are registered in the folder of the registration destination document management system.

  In step S950, it is determined whether deletion of the document stored in the document registration system is instructed after registration of the document in the document management system. If deletion is instructed, deletion of the document is performed in step S951. The process is performed and the release process is terminated.

<Job creation processing (FIG. 12)>
With reference to FIG. 12, a process (S150) for defining each setting of the document acquisition process, the index process, and the release process and creating it as one job will be described in detail.

  In step S1000, it is determined whether automatic document acquisition job settings have been specified. If so, the process proceeds to step S1001 to set a worksheet to be used, specify a scanner or folder as a source device, and the like. Set for acquisition.

  In step S1010, it is determined whether setting of automatic processing for index input has been instructed. If setting is made, in step S1011, index processing such as setting of a worksheet to be used, specification of a registered form or automatic search of a registered form is performed. Set the items required to automatically process

  In step S1020, it is determined whether an automatic release (document registration) setting has been instructed, and if so, in step S1021, the worksheet to be processed, the document registration destination (document management system, folder), the post-registration Set information necessary for automatic release processing such as document handling.

  In step S1030, the setting information set in steps S1001, S1011, and S1021 is added with identification information (job name) and stored.

  It is possible to register and save a plurality of jobs combining various settings.

<Job execution processing (FIG. 13)>
The job execution process (S130, 131) will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  In step S1100, the user selects a desired job from a plurality of registered and stored jobs.

  In step S1101, the conditions set for the selected job are read and job execution processing is started.

  In step S1110, it is determined whether an automatic document acquisition job is set. If it is determined that a job is set, in step S1111, document acquisition processing is performed from the device according to the setting. In step S1112, the acquired document is converted into a worksheet. Manage and save with.

  In step S1120, it is determined whether or not automatic index input processing is set. If it is determined that index input is set, automatic index processing is executed in step S1121 according to the set conditions. In the automatic index processing, when automatic form detection is performed, image processing such as various zooming and misalignment correction is performed, and information described on the image is acquired according to area (region) settings. Further, by performing smoothing processing on the image information and performing character recognition (OCR) processing, index data based on text data can be automatically created.

  In step S1130, it is determined whether automatic release (document registration) processing is set. If it is determined that it is set, in step S1131, automatic release processing is performed to the document management system according to the set conditions.

  By setting a job from document acquisition to document registration as a job, a series of processing can be performed at once.

<Extended device control unit (FIG. 14)>
In the present embodiment, the device control shown in FIG. 2 is further performed, and the method for acquiring a document from the device can be extended to support a plurality of forms. The extended device control will be described with reference to FIG.

  The device control unit A (210) accesses the device side from the document registration system and acquires a document. Using this control unit A, it is possible to acquire document data from a plurality of devices (110, 111) compatible with an equivalent access acquisition method.

  The device control unit B (211) obtains a transmitted document by accessing from the device side, not from the document registration system. Also in this case, it is possible to acquire a document from a plurality of devices (112, 113) corresponding to the equivalent access method.

  In addition, the device control unit B is provided with a data folder 300 to support simultaneous document transfer processing from a plurality of devices. Furthermore, this data folder can be configured as a folder having a hierarchy, and document transfer processing by designating a folder path from the device side is also possible. By adopting a general-purpose file transfer protocol as an access protocol in this case, the device side can be easily handled and a document can be transferred from a general computer.

  Furthermore, when acquiring document data, in addition to the document image, additional (attribute) information related to the document data (for example, owner information of each document, transmission source information in the case of a fax reception document, information on a connected device, etc. ) And the data can be used in the system.

  The input control unit 220 can handle the document data acquired by each device control unit so as not to be confused.

<Extended Document Management System Control Unit (FIG. 15)>
In the present embodiment, it is possible to expand so that document data acquired from a device or the like and its index (additional information) can be registered in a plurality of document management systems that manage documents in various different formats. FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the correspondence when the document management system A and the document management system B that manage documents in different formats coexist on the network.

  Here, the access means and the file format of a document that can be handled are generally different depending on the type of the document management system. Therefore, for the document management system A (140), the access control unit A (230), An access control unit B (231) is provided for the document management system B (141). The document registration system 120 can cope with a case where a plurality of document management systems that manage documents in different formats coexist by changing the access control unit to be used according to the document management system of the registration destination.

  Information necessary for accessing each document management system is stored as management data 253, and is extracted and used as necessary.

<Supplement to Release Process in FIG. 11 (FIG. 16)>
A supplement regarding the release (registration) processing (step S940) to the document management system will be described with reference to FIG.

  Step S1200 is a setting process for starting the release process, and confirms whether or not an end notification is necessary, and obtains an end notification destination information acquisition process.

  Step S1210 is a process for confirming whether there is any remaining data to be registered in the document management system. If all the data to be registered has not been transmitted, the process proceeds to step S1211, and if there is no remaining data, the process proceeds to step S1220.

  In step S1211, registration processing is performed for transmitting and registering data to be registered in the document management system.

  In step S1212, it is determined whether or not the transmitted data is registered. If it is confirmed that the data has been registered, the process returns to step S1210. If the registration fails, the process proceeds to step S1213.

  Step S1213 is processing in the case where an error occurs in data registration in the document management system. Data relating to a document in which a registration error has occurred is registered as a registration error document data in a predetermined worksheet, and then manual re-registration processing is performed. Can be done.

  In step S1220, based on the setting in S1200, it is determined whether it is necessary to notify the user of registration completion. If not, the process ends.

  If it is determined that it is necessary to notify the end, in step S1221, it is determined whether there is an error in the result of the data registration process. If there is no error, in step S1222, a new document is sent to the pre-registered registration notification mail address. If it is determined that an error has occurred, an error information is sent to the pre-registered error notification e-mail address in step S1223. It has become.

<Automatic Document Registration Processing for Documents Sent from Device (FIG. 17)>
FIG. 17 describes a flow for automatically processing the document data sent from the device until the document registration. In FIG. 17, document registration automatic processing to the document management system and form registration automatic processing to the document registration system are described as registration forms.

  In step S1300, various items necessary for executing automatic document processing are set in advance, and the set automatic document processing is activated.

  The setting items here include settings related to document input processing, folders used for form registration processing, setting of attribute information to be used, setting of worksheets for processing corresponding to each attribute, automatic index input There is a setting of the form used for performing.

  Examples of attribute information include the following. The attribute information is used for automatic processing discrimination and index input.

-Device type-Folder path (file server 130, device controller data folder 300)
-Document owner information-Transmission source information in FAX received document-Area analysis result, etc. In step S1301, it is detected whether or not a document has been input, and if there is a document input, the process proceeds to step S1302. In the present embodiment, document data input from a device via a device control unit and document data input from a device via a folder control unit can be collectively handled. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a document transmitted by a push method from a device is input via a data folder of the device control unit. Whether or not a new document has been input to the folder is detected by periodically checking the folder in the same manner as in S721 to S725 in FIG.

  In step S1302, the route through which the input document has entered is confirmed.

  In step S1310, it is determined whether the document is input via the form registration folder. If it is determined that the document is input via the form registration folder, the form registration process is automatically performed in step S1311. The document entered is registered as a form.

  In step S1320, various attribute information is analyzed, and it is confirmed whether or not a process corresponding to the obtained attribute information is defined. For example, it is assumed that a document input via a predetermined folder A or a document input from a predetermined device is defined to perform automatic processing for registering in a folder X of a predetermined document management system.

  As attribute information, information on devices, folders, and the like obtained by the input control unit 220, and information obtained from a predetermined area targeted by form analysis by calling a process corresponding to automatic index processing at this stage and so on.

  In step S1321, it is determined whether or not automatic processing corresponding to the attribute information of the input document has been detected. If not, the process proceeds to step S1323 to temporarily store the input document. Can be handled manually.

  On the other hand, when the corresponding process is detected (for example, when the registration process to the folder X of the predetermined document management system is detected), the process proceeds to step S1324, and information necessary for the automatic index process and the automatic release process is read. In step S1330, automatic index input is performed using area information corresponding to the form as necessary, and in step S1340, automatic release processing for registering the document and index in the document management system is performed.

  In step S1350, it is determined whether a request to end automatic document processing has been made. If so, the processing is terminated. If not, the processing returns to step S1301, and the processing is continued.

<Registration using multiple registration forms (FIGS. 18 to 21)>
Furthermore, in this embodiment, a plurality of document images having different forms can be collectively analyzed, indexed to one worksheet, input and managed, and managed by the worksheet. Document images and indexes can be registered in the document management system. That is, in such a form, each area of a plurality of registration forms can be associated with each item of one worksheet.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing an input process to one worksheet 404 using a plurality of registration forms. The plurality of document images (400A, 400B) have different forms, are read together with a scanner or the like, and are input to the document registration system all at once. For each of these document images, a matching registration form is detected from a plurality of registration forms, and areas preset in the registration form (an area 401 used as a document name index, an area 402 used as a regional index) An example is shown in which character recognition processing is performed on an image in an area 403) used as a district index and is captured as an index of the worksheet 404. That is, matching registration forms differ depending on the document image, and the position of the area used for index input also differs. However, a matching registration form is identified in each document image, and an index is input based on the area of each registration form Therefore, it is possible to input a plurality of document images to one worksheet at a time. (In FIG. 18, the description of the area used as the date index is omitted to avoid complication.)
In such a document management system, first, form registration as shown in FIG. 6 is repeated to register a plurality of forms in the form management sheet.

  Further, it is also possible to save a form registration batch for narrowing down a registration form to be searched and inputting an index into one worksheet. FIG. 19 is a flowchart for registering a plurality of registration forms in the form registration batch. In step S1400, a form registration batch for registering a plurality of registration forms is designated. In step S1401, the user selects a registration form to be registered in the form registration batch, and in step S1402, the registration form is additionally registered in the batch. In step S1403, it is determined whether there is a registration form to be further added, and when additional registration is performed, the process returns to step S1401 to repeat the process. If all the registration forms to be registered in the form registration batch are registered, in step S1404, the form registration batch in which a plurality of registration forms are registered is saved, and the creation process ends. In this form registration batch, if a registered batch that has been stored in advance is specified when performing a form identification process for searching for a form that matches a document image, the registration form to be searched is designated as the specified registration batch. It can be limited to registered forms.

  FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a multiple area registration process for associating worksheet items with a plurality of form areas.

  In step S1500, a form for registering an area to be associated with a worksheet item (or template item) is designated.

  In step S1501, an area range on the designated form is designated, and in step S1502, the area range is registered. In step S1503, the analysis mode for the additionally registered area and the corresponding worksheet item are set. In step S1504, it is determined whether to add more areas. If so, the process returns to step S1501. If there is no addition, information regarding the area set in the form is stored in step S1505. In step S1506, it is determined whether there is another form to be associated with the worksheet. If there is another form, the process returns to step S1500, and if not, the process ends.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a process of automatically indexing a plurality of document images input from the device in a single worksheet. Here, it is assumed that a form registration batch is designated and a worksheet to be used for registration is determined before performing the processing of FIG.

  In step S1600, the input document image is first analyzed to extract features, and in step S1601, the features of a plurality of registered forms in the designated form registration batch are sequentially compared. In step S1602, it is determined whether or not the registration form matches with the comparison form in S1601, and if not, in step S1603, it is determined whether there is a next registration form to be compared next, and if there is, the process returns to step S1601 for comparison. If not, the process ends. In this way, while repeating steps S1601 to S1603, a matching form is searched in the form registration batch.

  On the other hand, when there is a matching form in step S1602, in step S1604, a region image of the document image corresponding to the first area set in the form is cut out, and in step S1605, the area recognition processing (character recognition processing) is performed. In step S1606, information extracted as a character string is stored as an index in a corresponding item in the worksheet. In step S1607, it is determined whether all areas registered in the matched form have been processed. If not, the process proceeds to step S1608 to extract the next area, and the process returns to step S1605. If it is determined in step S1607 that all areas have been processed, it is determined that index input for the document image has been completed, and the process advances to step S1608 to determine whether all document images have been processed, and other documents. If an image remains, the process returns to step S1600 to process the next document image.

  As described above, even a plurality of document images having different forms can be collectively registered and registered in the document management system via one worksheet.

  As described above, in the document management system, a registered form that matches the document image is detected, and when a form that matches the image exists, analysis such as character recognition in an area set in advance for the form is performed. And storing the results as index information, it is possible to automatically index a region that is adapted to each document image even when multiple document images are to be registered in the document management system using a single worksheet. Therefore, it is not necessary for the user to determine the form of the document image, the efficiency of index input work is greatly improved, and an error in index input can be prevented.

Effect of the invention

  As described above, according to this embodiment, even when a plurality of document images having different forms are input, the form is automatically identified, and the index is automatically assigned to the index item corresponding to the area of the form. Therefore, the index input work can be efficiently performed.

  In addition, since the registered forms that are subject to form identification can be narrowed down using form batches, the form identification rate can be increased.

  In addition, since a plurality of different forms can be used for index input into one worksheet, input document image forms can be mixed and processed together.

  System configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention   Block diagram showing the structure of the document registration system 120   Basic flow of document registration system   Template creation process   Worksheet creation process   Form registration process   Area registration process   Input start button setting   Input start button execution processing   Index input processing   Release (data registration) processing   Job creation process   Job execution processing   Extended device control   Extended document management system controller   Release processing supplement   Automatic document registration process for documents sent from the device   Example of registering a document with multiple different forms in a worksheet   Batch registration process diagram   Multiple form area registration   Batch registration of multiple documents

100 to 102 User terminal 110 MFP
120 Document Registration System 130 File Server 140 Document Management System

Claims (7)

A document registration system connected via a network to a document management unit that indexes and manages document images,
Form storage means for storing a plurality of different forms each having an area set;
A template creation means for creating a template for obtaining an index structure of the document management unit and creating a worksheet having information and index items related to the input document image based on the obtained index structure;
A worksheet for creating a worksheet having information about an input document image and index items to be used when registering a plurality of document images and index information in the document management unit from the template. Creating means;
For each of a plurality of different forms, an area setting means for setting an index item of the worksheet in which index information extracted from the area is input to the area of the form;
Form identification means for identifying a matching form for each of a plurality of input document images,
Based on the area that is set in the form that matches each of the plurality of document images, to extract the document image each index information, based on the index items associated with the area, it said in the worksheet Index information extraction means for inputting the index information of each document image to the index item of each document image;
Registration means for collectively registering the plurality of input document images managed in the worksheet and index information of each of the document images in the document management unit connected via the network ; A document registration system comprising:
Furthermore, it has a batch setting means for selecting a plurality of desired forms from a plurality of different forms stored in the form storage means, and setting a group as a form batch,
2. The document according to claim 1, wherein the form identifying unit identifies a matching form for each of the plurality of inputted document images from among the forms belonging to the designated form batch. Registration system.
3. The document registration system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the areas are set for one form, and different index items are associated with each area.
4. The index information extracted by the index information extraction unit is information obtained by performing character recognition processing on a region image corresponding to the area of the document image. Document registration system described.
5. The index information extracted by the index information extraction unit is information obtained by performing barcode recognition processing on a region image corresponding to the area of the document image. Document registration system described in 1.
A computer connected via a network to a document management unit that indexes and manages document images .
Form storage means for storing multiple different forms, each with an area set
A template creation means for creating a template for obtaining an index structure of the document management unit and creating a worksheet having information and index items related to an input document image based on the obtained index structure;
A worksheet for creating a worksheet having information about an input document image and index items to be used when registering a plurality of document images and index information in the document management unit from the template. Creation means,
For each of a plurality of different forms, an area setting means for setting an index item of the worksheet into which index information extracted from the area is input,
Form identification means for identifying a matching form for each of a plurality of input document images,
Based on the area set in the form matching each of the plurality of document images, the index information of each document image is extracted, and based on the index item associated with the area, Index information extraction means for inputting the index information of each document image to the index item of each document image;
A registration unit that collectively registers the plurality of input document images managed in the worksheet and index information of each of the document images in the document management unit connected via the network;
A computer-executable program that functions as a computer.
A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 6 .

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