JP6583194B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of recording address information.

  There is known an image forming apparatus capable of reading address information such as a fax number printed on a business card and registering the address information in an address book (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-288090 A

  However, when the image forming apparatus is shared by a plurality of users and each user can register address information in a shared address book without restriction, the address book may not be properly managed.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of appropriately managing an address book.

  An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes an image reading unit, an address information detection unit, an authentication information detection unit, and a registration processing unit. The image reading unit reads an image of a document. The address information detection unit detects address information from the image of the document. The authentication information detection unit detects authentication information registered in advance from the image of the document. The registration processing unit registers the address information in an address book when the address information is detected by the address information detection unit and the authentication information is detected by the authentication information detection unit.

  According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus capable of appropriately managing an address book is provided.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of registered authentication information used in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the first example of the address registration process executed by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a document used in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a registration confirmation screen used in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the second example of the address registration process executed by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the deletion request reception process executed by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus 1]
As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an operation display unit 10, an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 11, an image reading unit 12, an image forming unit 13, a communication I / F 14, and a storage. Unit 15 and control unit 16. Specifically, the image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction machine having a printer function, a scanner function, a copy function, a facsimile function, and the like. The present invention is not limited to a multi-function machine, and can be applied to any image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, and a facsimile machine.

  The operation display unit 10 includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display that displays information, and an operation unit such as a touch panel and operation buttons that accept user operations.

  The ADF 11 is an automatic document conveyance device that includes a document setting unit, a conveyance roller, a document pressing unit, and a paper discharge unit, and conveys a document to be read by the image reading unit 12.

  The image reading unit 12 includes a document table, a light source, a mirror, an optical lens, and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and reads an image of the document (for example, the document image 30 shown in FIG. 4) and outputs it as image data. Is possible.

  The image forming unit 13 can execute a printing process based on image data by an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method, and forms an image on a sheet based on the image data. For example, when the image forming unit 13 is an electrophotographic image forming unit, the image forming unit 13 includes a photosensitive drum, a charger, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, and a fixing device.

  The communication I / F 14 executes communication processing according to a predetermined communication protocol with an information processing apparatus such as an external facsimile apparatus or a personal computer via a communication network such as a telephone line, the Internet, or a LAN. It is a communication interface that can.

  The storage unit 15 is a non-volatile storage unit such as a hard disk or an EEPROM (registered trademark). The storage unit 15 stores various control programs executed by the control unit 16, various data, and the like. The storage unit 15 stores, for example, an address book 21 and collation data 22 (see FIG. 2).

  In the address book 21, address information such as “e-mail address”, “fax number”, “address”, “phone number” of the destination is registered together with the “name” of the destination.

  By the way, it is conceivable to read address information such as a fax number described in a document and register the address information in the address book 21. However, when the image forming apparatus 1 is shared by a plurality of users and each user can register address information in the shared address book 21 without restriction, the address book 21 may not be appropriately managed. There is. On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the address book 21 can be appropriately managed by the configuration and operation described below.

  The collation data 22 is data collated with authentication information 31 detected from the document image 30 (see FIG. 4) in an address registration process (see FIG. 3) described later. The authentication information 31 is, for example, a signature of a user who has administrator authority for the image forming apparatus 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as an administrator). In this case, the collation data 22 is image data representing the signature of the manager (see FIG. 2). For example, the administrator can register image data representing his / her signature as the verification data 22 in the image forming apparatus 1 by performing a predetermined registration operation while logging in to the image forming apparatus 1. The registration operation may be, for example, an operation for causing the image reading unit 12 to read an image of a document signed by itself. Alternatively, the registration operation may be an operation of signing on the touch panel of the operation display unit 10. In this case, data indicating the shape of the locus detected by the touch panel is registered in the image forming apparatus 1 as the collation data 22.

  The authentication information 31 is not limited to the administrator's signature, but may be a character or a figure handwritten on the document by the administrator or the like. Alternatively, the authentication information 31 may be a seal imprinted on the document by the administrator or the like. Furthermore, the authentication information 31 may be a predetermined code (for example, a barcode, a two-dimensional code, etc.) or a password written on the document.

  The control unit 16 includes control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic processes. The ROM is a non-volatile storage unit in which information such as a control program for causing the CPU to execute various processes is stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile or nonvolatile storage unit used as a temporary storage memory (working area) for various processes executed by the CPU.

  Specifically, the control unit 16 includes an address information detection unit 161, an authentication information detection unit 162, and a registration processing unit 163. The control unit 16 functions as each of these processing units by executing various processes according to the control program. Moreover, the control part 16 may be provided with the electronic circuit which implement | achieves a part or some processing function of each of these process parts.

  The address information detection unit 161 detects the address information from the image of the original read by the image reading unit 12. For example, when the image of the document read by the image reading unit 12 is the document image 30 shown in FIG. 4, the address information detection unit 161 uses an e-mail address, a fax number, and an address as the address information. To detect. The address information detected by the address information detection unit 161 may be printed using word processing software or the like, or may be handwritten.

  Specifically, the address information detection unit 161 performs character recognition processing (OCR) on the document image 30 and extracts a character string included in the document image 30. Then, the address information detection unit 161 determines that the character string is registered in the address book 21 based on the characteristics of the extracted character string (for example, name, e-mail address, fax number, address, telephone number). Number or the like). For example, if the extracted character string includes any personal name registered in the personal name dictionary, the address information detection unit 161 determines that the character string indicates a name. In addition, if the extracted character string includes “@”, the address information detection unit 161 determines that the character string indicates an e-mail address. In addition, if the extracted character string is a number with a predetermined number of digits, the address information detection unit 161 determines that the character string indicates a fax number or a telephone number. If the extracted character string includes any place name registered in the place name dictionary, the address information detection unit 161 determines that the character string indicates an address.

  The authentication information detection unit 162 detects authentication information 31 registered in advance from the image of the document. Specifically, the authentication information detection unit 162 detects the authentication information 31 from the document image based on the collation data 22 stored in the storage unit 15. For example, when image data representing the administrator's signature is stored as the verification data 22, the authentication information detection unit 162 detects the authentication information 31 by performing a pattern matching process based on the verification data 22. .

  If the pattern matching process is performed on the entire document image, the processing time may be long. Therefore, the position where the authentication information 31 (such as the administrator's signature) can be entered in the document may be limited within a specific range so that the processing time of the pattern matching process is shortened. For example, the position where the authentication information 31 can be entered in the document may be limited to the lower right portion of the document as shown in FIG. As a result, only the lower right part of the image of the document needs to be the processing target of the pattern matching process, and the processing time is shortened.

  The registration processing unit 163 registers the address information in the address book 21 when the address information detection unit 161 detects the address information and the authentication information detection unit 162 detects the authentication information 31. For example, the registration processing unit 163 uses the name, e-mail address, fax number, and address information included in each line in the document image 30 shown in FIG. Register with.

  As described above, the registration processing unit 163 registers the address information in the address book 21 only when both the address information and the authentication information 31 are detected from the image of the document. Therefore, for example, when a user other than the administrator wants to register the address information described in the manuscript in the address book 21, the administrator signs the manuscript (that is, the manager approves the approval). Need to get). Therefore, since registration of the address information by a user other than the administrator is restricted, the address book 21 can be appropriately managed.

  In addition, the administrator writes his / her signature on the manuscript on which the address information is described, and then hands the manuscript to another user to have the other user perform the registration of the address information. be able to. Therefore, the administrator does not have to log in to the image forming apparatus 1 and register the address information by himself, which is convenient for the administrator.

[First Example of Address Registration Process]
Next, an example of the procedure of the first embodiment of the address registration process executed by the control unit 16 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, steps S1, S2,... Represent processing procedure (step) numbers executed by the control unit 16. The address registration process is started when, for example, a specific operation (for example, pressing of a soft key for starting the address registration process) on the operation display unit 10 is detected.

<Step S1>
First, in step S1, the control unit 16 causes the image reading unit 12 to read an image of a document.

<Step S2>
In step S2, the control unit 16 (address information detection unit 161) executes an address information detection process for detecting the address information from the document image read in step S1. Specifically, the control unit 16 performs character recognition processing (OCR) on the document image 30 to extract a character string included in the document image 30. And the control part 16 determines whether the said character string is the said address information based on the characteristic of the extracted character string.

<Step S3>
In step S3, the control unit 16 determines whether or not the address information is detected by the address information detection process executed in step S2. If it is determined that the address information has been detected (S3: Yes), the process proceeds to step S4. On the other hand, if it is determined that the address information has not been detected (S3: No), the address registration process ends. In this case, the control unit 16 may display a message on the operation display unit 10, for example, “Address registration processing is terminated because address information could not be detected from the document”.

<Step S4>
In step S4, the control unit 16 (authentication information detection unit 162) executes an authentication information detection process for detecting the authentication information 31 from the image of the document. Specifically, the control unit 16 detects the authentication information 31 by performing a pattern matching process based on the collation data 22 stored in the storage unit 15.

<Step S5>
In step S5, the control unit 16 determines whether or not the authentication information 31 has been detected by the authentication information detection process executed in step S4. If it is determined that the authentication information 31 has been detected (S5: Yes), the process proceeds to step S6. On the other hand, if it is determined that the authentication information 31 has not been detected (S5: No), the address registration process ends. In this case, for example, the control unit 16 may display a message on the operation display unit 10 “The address registration process is terminated because authentication information could not be detected from the document”.

<Step S6>
In step S6, the control unit 16 (registration processing unit 163) performs a test transmission process. Specifically, the control unit 16 uses each of the address information (for example, an e-mail address or a fax number) detected in the step S3, and uses a destination device (for example, a multifunction device, a facsimile machine) indicated by the address information. Test transmission such as e-mail or facsimile to a device, personal computer, or the like.

<Step S7>
In step S7, the control unit 16 (registration processing unit 163) determines whether or not the test transmission is successful. For example, the control unit 16 determines that the test transmission has failed when a non-delivery notification regarding the electronic mail transmitted to the destination device is received from the mail server. The control unit 16 determines that the test transmission has failed when communication with the facsimile apparatus of the destination apparatus has failed. If it is determined that the test transmission is successful (S7: Yes), the process proceeds to step S8. On the other hand, if it is determined that the test transmission has failed (S7: No), the address registration process ends.

  As one of the causes of the failure in the test transmission, it is conceivable that the address information is erroneously recognized in the address information detection process (the character recognition process) executed in step S2. Therefore, in another embodiment, when it is determined that the test transmission has failed (S7: No), the control unit 16 displays a registration confirmation screen 40 as shown in FIG. 5 on the operation display unit 10, for example. Then, the address information may be corrected by the user as necessary.

  Note that the processing of step S6 and step S7 may be omitted if unnecessary. In this case, if it is determined in step S5 that the authentication information 31 has been detected, the process proceeds to step S8.

<Step S8>
In step S <b> 8, the control unit 16 (registration processing unit 163) registers the address information that has succeeded in the test transmission in the address book 21 stored in the storage unit 15.

  When a plurality of the address information is detected in step S2, the processes in steps S6 to S8 are individually executed for each of the address information.

  In the present embodiment, the authentication information detection process is executed in step S4 after the address information detection process is executed in step S2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the address information detection process may be executed after the authentication information 31 is detected by the authentication information detection process. Alternatively, the address information detection process and the authentication information detection process may be executed in parallel.

  Note that when the administrator is logged in to the image forming apparatus 1, the processes in step S <b> 4 and step S <b> 5 may be omitted. In this case, if it is determined in step S3 that the address information has been detected, the process proceeds to step S6.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the address registration process, when the test transmission is performed using the address information detected from the original and the test transmission is successful, the address information is stored in the address book 21. Registered in Therefore, it is possible to prevent wrong address information from being registered in the address book 21.

[Second Example of Address Registration Process]
Next, an example of the procedure of the second embodiment of the address registration process executed by the control unit 16 will be described with reference to FIG. However, in FIG. 6, the same number is attached | subjected about the process procedure same as the process procedure (step) shown by FIG.

<Steps S1 to S5>
Since the processing in steps S1 to S5 is the same as that in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. If it is determined in step S5 that the authentication information 31 has been detected, the process proceeds to step S11.

<Step S11>
In step S11, the control unit 16 (registration processing unit 163) transmits a registration notification. Specifically, the control unit 16 uses each of the address information (for example, an e-mail address or a fax number) detected in the step S3, and uses a destination device (for example, a multifunction device, a facsimile machine) indicated by the address information. A registration notification (an example of a “predetermined notification” according to the present invention) is transmitted to an apparatus, a personal computer, or the like by e-mail or facsimile. In the registration notification, for example, “The address information of this device has been registered in the address book of the device that sent this notification. If you want to cancel the registration, send a deletion request to the sending device. Please send me a message ".

<Step S12>
In step S12, the control unit 16 (registration processing unit 163) determines whether or not the registration notification has been successfully transmitted. When it is determined that the registration notification has been successfully transmitted (S12: Yes), the process proceeds to step S13. On the other hand, if it is determined that transmission of the registration notification has failed (S12: No), the address registration process ends.

<Step S13>
In step S <b> 13, the control unit 16 (registration processing unit 163) registers the address information that has been successfully transmitted in the registration notification in the address book 21 stored in the storage unit 15.

<Step S14>
In step S14, the control unit 16 (registration processing unit 163) starts a deletion request receiving process. The deletion request reception process is a process for receiving a deletion request from a destination device that is a transmission destination of the registration notification transmitted in step S11. Details of the deletion request acceptance process will be described later.

  When the deletion request acceptance process is started in step S14, the address registration process ends.

  Next, an example of the procedure of the deletion request reception process executed by the control unit 16 will be described with reference to FIG.

<Step S21>
In step S21, the control unit 16 (registration processing unit 163) determines whether or not a deletion request has been received. If it is determined that the deletion request has been received (S21: Yes), the process proceeds to step S23. On the other hand, if it is determined that the deletion request has not been received (S21: No), the process proceeds to step S22.

  The deletion request is transmitted from the destination device that is the transmission destination of the registration notification transmitted in step S11 to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the operation of the user of the destination device. For example, when the registration notification is an email notification, the deletion request may be a reply email to the email. In this case, the user of the destination apparatus can transmit the deletion request to the image forming apparatus 1 only by performing a simple operation of transmitting a reply mail to the registration notification.

<Step S22>
In step S22, the control unit 16 (registration processing unit 163) determines whether or not a predetermined time (for example, 24 hours) has elapsed since the deletion request receiving process was started. Then, when it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed (S22: Yes), the deletion request reception process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed (S22: No), the process returns to step S21.

<Step S23>
In step S <b> 23, the control unit 16 (registration processing unit 163) determines that the address information of the destination device that is the transmission source of the deletion request should not be registered in the address book 21, and the address information is read from the address book 21. delete. As a result, the address information once registered in the address book 21 in the step S13 is deleted from the address book 21. Then, the deletion request acceptance process ends.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment of the address registration process, when the registration notification is transmitted using the address information detected from the document and the registration notification is successful, the address information is stored in the address book 21. Once registered. Thereafter, the address information is deleted from the address book 21 when a deletion request is received from the destination device that is the transmission destination of the registration notification. Therefore, the address information of the destination device is registered in the address book 21 only when the approval of the user of the destination device is obtained.

  In the present embodiment, after the address information of the destination device is once registered in the address book 21, the address information is deleted from the address book 21 when a deletion request is received from the destination device. Is not limited to this. In another embodiment, an inquiry notification (another example of “predetermined notification” of the present invention) may be transmitted to the destination device before the address information of the destination device is registered in the address book 21. . When there is a reply to the inquiry notification, the control unit 16 (registration processing unit 163) determines that the address information should be registered in the address book 21 and registers the address information in the address book 21. May be. Alternatively, the control unit 16 (registration processing unit 163) determines the address information according to the reply content to the inquiry notification (that is, depending on whether the content is permitted to be registered or rejected to be registered). It may be determined whether or not to be registered in the address book 21.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 12 Image reading part 15 Memory | storage part 16 Control part 21 Address book 22 Collation data 30 Original image 31 Authentication information 40 Confirmation screen 161 Address information detection part 162 Authentication information detection part 163 Registration process part

Claims (6)

An image reading unit for reading an image of a document;
An address information detection unit for detecting address information from the image of the document;
An authentication information detection unit for detecting authentication information registered in advance from an image of the document;
A registration processing unit capable of registering the address information in an address book when the address information is detected by the address information detection unit and the authentication information is detected by the authentication information detection unit;
Equipped with a,
The authentication information detection unit is configured to omit the authentication information detection process when a user having administrator authority is logged in.
The registration processing unit can register the address information in the address book even when the address information is detected by the address information detection unit and a user having the administrator authority is logged in.
The address information detection unit extracts a character string included in the original by character recognition processing on the original read by the image reading unit, and any one of the names registered in the personal name dictionary in the character string Is included, it is determined that the character string indicates a name. If the character string includes “@”, it is determined that the character string indicates an email address, and When the character string is a number with a predetermined number of digits, it is determined that the character string indicates a fax number or a telephone number, and any one of the place names registered in the place name dictionary is included in the character string. If it is determined that the character string indicates an address,
Image forming apparatus. The authentication information includes characters or figures handwritten on the document.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The authentication information includes a seal imprinted on the document;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The authentication information includes a code or password written on the manuscript;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The registration processing unit uses the address information detected by the address information detection unit to perform test transmission to the destination device indicated by the address information, and when the test transmission is successful, Register in the address book,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The registration processing unit transmits a predetermined notification to the destination device indicated by the address information using the address information detected by the address information detection unit, and a reply from the destination device to the notification Determining whether or not the address information should be registered in the address book based on the presence or absence of the reply or the reply content;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

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