JP6756319B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a box function.

Conventionally, some image forming devices such as copiers, printers, and multifunction devices (MFPs) have a box function. The box function is a function that sets a box area for storing image data in an internal storage device such as a hard disk and enables output by image formation when necessary.

In general, the box can be set by the user as appropriate. The management of the image data saved in the box is left to the user. Therefore, the amount of saved image data tends to increase, and the box area may run out of free space, making it impossible to save new image data.

Therefore, after outputting the image data saved in the box area, the box area is filled by selecting whether to retain or delete the image data and erasing the image data that has not been output for a predetermined period. A technique for preventing the above has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Further, when there is no free space in the internal storage device, a technique has been proposed in which image data is saved in a shared database on the network to prevent the situation where the image data cannot be saved due to insufficient capacity (for example, Patent Document 2). reference).

JP-A-11-196245 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-186823

However, Patent Document 1 has a problem that the image data that the user wants to keep is lost without the user's knowledge, and if there is image data that the user wants to keep permanently, it cannot be dealt with. there were. Further, in Patent Document 2, since the deletion of the image data is left to the user, there is a problem that the capacity of the database on the network will eventually become insufficient and a fundamental solution cannot be obtained.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to secure free space without losing the required image data even when there is no free space in the box area. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of storing various image data.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a box function of storing image data output by image forming in a box set in a box area, and is a box in which the box is associated with a contact. If there is no free space when the storage unit that stores the management information and the new image data are saved as new save data in the box area, the save date and time in the image data saved in the box area is set. From the oldest one, until the free space for saving the newly saved data is secured by the deletion, the deletion target identification part specified as the deletion target data in order, and the contact in the box in which the deletion target data is saved. The deletion notification unit that sends a notification notifying that the deletion target data has been deleted together with the deletion target data, and the deletion target data are deleted from the box area and newly saved in the designated box in the box area. A box management unit for storing data is provided, and the deletion notification unit generates a deletion notification mail to which the deletion target data is attached and sends the deletion notification mail to the contact, and the box management unit is the contact. When the re-save mail to which the deletion target data is attached is received from, the deletion target data attached to the received re-save mail is re-saved in the box.
The deletion notification email generated by the deletion notification unit is characterized in that a check box for accepting a data amount reduction measure for reducing the data size of the deletion target data is arranged .
Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a box function of storing image data output by image forming in a box set in a box area, and associates the box with a contact. If there is no free space when the box management information is stored and the new image data is saved as new save data in the box area, the storage in the image data saved in the box area is saved. From the oldest date and time, until the free space for saving the newly saved data is secured by deletion, the deletion target identification part to be specified as the deletion target data in order, and the box in which the deletion target data was saved. A deletion notification unit that sends a notification to the contact that the deletion target data has been deleted together with the deletion target data, and the deletion target data is deleted from the box area, and the deletion target data is deleted in the designated box in the box area. A box management unit for storing newly saved data is provided, and the deletion notification unit generates a deletion notification mail to which the deletion target data is attached and sends the deletion notification mail to the contact, and the box management unit is described. When a re-save mail with the deletion target data attached is received from the contact, the deletion target data attached to the received re-save mail is re-saved in the box, and the deletion target data is saved. A plurality of the contacts are set in the box, and the image data re-saved after sending the deletion notification mail to each of the plurality of contacts includes the contact only to the contact who has returned the re-saved mail. It is characterized in that a contact-limited attribute is set to limit .
Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a box function of storing image data output by image forming in a box set in a box area, and associates the box with a contact. If there is no free space when the box management information is stored and the new image data is saved as new save data in the box area, the storage in the image data saved in the box area is saved. From the oldest date and time, until the free space for saving the newly saved data is secured by deletion, the deletion target identification part to be specified as the deletion target data in order, and the box in which the deletion target data was saved. A deletion notification unit that sends a notification to the contact that the deletion target data has been deleted together with the deletion target data, and the deletion target data is deleted from the box area, and the deletion target data is deleted in the designated box in the box area. A box management unit for storing newly saved data is provided, and the deletion notification unit generates a deletion notification mail to which the deletion target data is attached and sends the deletion notification mail to the contact, and the box management unit is described. When a re-save mail with the deletion target data attached is received from the contact, the deletion target data attached to the received re-save mail is re-saved in the box, and the deletion target data is saved. After the plurality of the contacts are set in the box and the deletion notification mail is sent to each of the plurality of contacts, the image data re-saved with only one re-saved mail returns the re-saved mail. It is characterized by moving to the box of the contact .

According to the present invention, even when there is no free space in the box area, it is possible to secure free space and store new image data without losing the required image data.

It is a block diagram which shows the schematic structure of the embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the box management information example shown in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the image data saving operation by the control unit shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the deletion notification mail generated by the deletion notification part shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the re-saved mail from the user terminal shown in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the image data re-save operation by the control unit shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
The image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is a multifunction device having a copying function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, and the like. With reference to FIG. 1, the control unit 2, the operation unit 3, and the document reading unit 4 A storage unit 5, an image processing unit 6, a printing unit 7, and a communication unit 8 are provided.

The control unit 2 is an information processing unit such as a microcomputer equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. A control program for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 is stored in the ROM. The control unit 2 reads the control program stored in the ROM and expands the control program in the RAM to control the entire device according to the instruction information. Further, the control unit 2 functions as a box management unit 21, a deletion target identification unit 22, a deletion notification unit 23, and a re-save processing unit 24. The operations of the box management unit 21, the deletion target identification unit 22, the deletion notification unit 23, and the re-save processing unit 24 will be described later.

The operation unit 3 is a user interface provided with a touch panel provided with a transparent pressure-sensitive sensor on the surface of the liquid crystal display panel and various operation keys.

The document scanning unit 4 irradiates light on a document fed by a document feeding device (not shown) or a document placed on a platen glass by a user, and receives the reflected light or the like to receive a document image. It is a scanning scanner.

The storage unit 5 is a storage means for a semiconductor memory, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or the like, and is a storage means for storing image data read by the document reading unit 4 and image data received by the communication unit 8.

Further, the storage unit 5 is provided with a box area 51 as a storage area having a predetermined capacity reserved for storing image data. The user sets a box that functions as a folder for saving image data in the box area 51, and saves the image data in the set box.

The data format of the image data stored in the box area 51 is not particularly limited, and for example, a print format by a page description language (PDL), various image formats, a document format by various applications, and the like are targeted.

Further, the storage unit 5 stores the box management information 52 that manages the box set by the user and the image data stored in the box. As shown in FIG. 2, the box management information 52 stores "box name", "responsible person", and "contact" in association with each other as information for managing the box, and also as information for managing image data. The "data name", "save date and time", and "data size" are stored in association with each other. The "box name", "responsible person", and "contact" are registered as box management information 52 when the user sets the box. Further, the "data name", "save date and time", and "data size" are registered as box management information 52 when the image data is saved in the box area 51.

The "box name" is information that identifies the set box. The "responsible person name" is information that identifies the person in charge who is entrusted with the decision to delete or continue saving the image data stored in the box.

"Contact information" is information indicating the communication destination to the person in charge via the network. Communication by "contact information" is not particularly limited as long as it is a communication network capable of transmitting image data, and in the present embodiment, the e-mail address of an e-mail that can be transmitted with image data attached is " It is remembered as "contact information".

In the example shown in FIG. 2, "boxes 001 to 003" are set as personal boxes for users A to C, respectively. In the "box 001", the user A as the "responsible person" and the e-mail address of the user A as the "contact" are stored in association with each other. In the "box 002", the user B as the "responsible person" and the e-mail address of the user B as the "contact information" are stored in association with each other. In the "box 003", the user C as the "responsible person" and the e-mail address of the user C as the "contact information" are stored in association with each other. Further, "Box 004" is set as a box for sharing by users A to C. In the "box 004", the e-mail addresses of the users A to C as the "responsible person" and the e-mail addresses of the users A to C as the "contact information" are stored in association with each other.

The "data name" is information that identifies the image data. The "save date and time" is information indicating the date and time when the image data was saved. The "data size" is the data size of the image data.

The image processing unit 6 is an arithmetic processing circuit of a microcomputer or the like equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, and is, for example, enlargement / reduction processing, density adjustment processing, and the like. Execute various jobs related to image processing such as gradation adjustment processing.

The printing unit 7 is a printing means for printing a document image based on the image data read by the document reading unit 4, the image data stored in the storage unit 5, and the image data received by the communication unit 8.

The communication unit 8 has a function of transmitting and receiving various data to and from a user terminal 10 such as a personal computer via a network 9 such as a LAN. In the example shown in FIG. 1, three user terminals 10 managed by users A to C are connected to each other via a network 9.

Next, the image data saving operation for saving the image data in the box area 51 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
When the control unit 2 receives an instruction to save the image data from the operation unit 3 or the user terminal 10 to the box area 51 (step S101), the control unit 2 functions as the box management unit 21. Hereinafter, the image data to be saved in the box area 51 will be referred to as newly saved data.

First, the box management unit 21 calculates the total capacity of the image data (hereinafter, referred to as saved image data) stored in the box area 51 with reference to the box management information 52. Then, the box management unit 21 calculates the free space of the box area 51 by subtracting the total capacity of the saved image data from the total capacity of the box area 51 (step S102).

Next, the box management unit 21 determines whether or not the image data instructed to be saved can be saved, that is, whether or not the free space of the box area 51 is equal to or larger than the data size of the image data (step S103).

If the data can be saved in step S103, the box management unit 21 saves the newly saved data in the designated box (step S104), and ends the image data saving operation.

If the data cannot be saved in step S103, the control unit 2 functions as the deletion target identification unit 22, from the oldest saved image data to the time when the free space for saving the newly saved data is secured by the deletion. , In order to specify the data to be deleted (step S105). For example, when the free space is insufficient by 3 MB, in the box management information 52 shown in FIG. 2, "X001" in the box 001 and "Y004" in the box 004 are specified as data to be deleted. It should be noted that the avoidance attribute that can avoid being specified as the data to be deleted may be set in the image data itself. In this case, by setting the avoidance attribute to the image data to be permanently saved, it is prevented from being specified as the data to be deleted.

Next, the control unit 2 functions as a deletion notification unit 23, and generates a deletion notification mail 100 notifying that the data to be deleted is deleted from the box area 51 (step S106). The deletion notification unit 23 sends the contact information of the person in charge of the box in which the deletion target data is stored as the destination, and generates the deletion notification mail 100 to which the deletion target data is attached. The deletion notification mail 100 notifies the person in charge of the box to delete the data to be deleted in the box. Therefore, when a plurality of responsible persons (contacts) are set as in "Box 004", the deletion notification mail 100 is generated and transmitted to each of the plurality of responsible persons (contacts).

Next, the deletion notification unit 23 transmits the created deletion notification mail 100 (step S107).

When the transmission of the deletion notification mail 100 is completed, the control unit 2 functions as the box management unit 21 and deletes the data to be deleted from the box area 51 (step S108). As a result, a free area larger than the data size of the newly saved data is secured in the box area 51.

Next, the box management unit 21 reaches step S104 to save the newly saved data in the designated box (step S104), and ends the image data saving operation. Although the data to be deleted is deleted from the box area 51, it is not lost without the user's knowledge because it is attached to the deletion notification mail 100 and sent to the user terminal 10.

The deletion notification mail 100 is generated as, for example, an HTML mail, and as shown in FIG. 4, a re-save instruction column 110 for receiving an instruction for re-save of the attached deletion target data is provided for each attached deletion target data. .. In the re-save instruction field 110, information display fields 111 such as "data name", "box name", and "save date and time" of the data to be deleted, a preview image 112 of the data to be deleted, and data amount reduction measures (monochrome conversion) , Compression) is accepted, and a re-save instruction button 114 that accepts an instruction to re-save the data to be re-deleted is arranged. Note that FIG. 4 shows a deletion notification mail 100 that notifies the user A that "X001" in box 001 and "Y004" in box 004 have been deleted as data to be deleted.

By referring to the information display field 111 and the preview image 112, the user determines whether to allow the deletion of the deletion target data or to re-save the deletion target data in the box area 51.

When the deletion of the deletion target data is permitted, the user leaves the deletion notification mail 100 as it is because the deletion target data has already been deleted from the box area 51.

When the data to be deleted is re-saved, the user operates the re-save instruction button 114 to generate the re-save mail 200 and returns the data to the image forming apparatus 1.

In the deletion notification mail 100, the re-save instruction button 114 is associated with the function of generating the re-save mail 200. By operating the re-save instruction button 114, as shown in FIG. 5, a re-save mail 200 to which the data to be deleted is attached is generated. In the re-save mail 200, the "box name" in which the data to be deleted is saved and the data reduction measures checked in the check box 113 are specified. FIG. 5 shows the re-save mail 200 generated by the operation of the re-save instruction button 114 in the state where the monochrome conversion possible check box 113 is checked in the re-save instruction field 110 of the data to be deleted “Y004”. Has been done.

Next, the image data re-save operation when the re-save mail 200 in the image forming apparatus 1 is received will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Regarding the processing operation similar to the image data re-save operation shown in FIG. 3, the same step number is assigned and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

Upon receiving the re-save mail 200 (step S201), the control unit 2 functions as the re-save processing unit 24. First, the re-save processing unit 24 determines whether or not the data to be deleted attached to the re-save mail 200 has already been re-saved (step S202), and if it has been saved, the image data re-save operation. To finish.

If it has not been saved in step S202, the re-save processing unit 24 determines whether or not there is a data amount reduction measure specified in the re-save mail 200 (step S203), and if there is a data amount reduction measure, specifies it. The measures for reducing the amount of data (monochrome conversion, compression processing) are executed (step S204).

Next, the control unit 2 functions as the box management unit 21 and calculates the free space of the box area 51 (step S102). Then, the box management unit 21 determines whether or not the data to be deleted (or the data to be deleted for which the data amount reduction measure is executed) can be saved, that is, whether or not the free space of the box area 51 is equal to or larger than the data size of the data to be deleted. Determine (step S103).

If the data can be saved in step S103, the box management unit 21 re-saves the data to be deleted as new save data in the original box specified in the re-save mail 200 (step S205), and ends the image data re-save operation. Let me. As a result, the save date and time are updated, and the same image data is not immediately repeated and specified as the data to be deleted.

If the data cannot be saved in step S103, the free space is secured by executing the processes of steps S105 to S108, and then the data to be deleted is saved as new save data in the box specified in the re-save mail 200 in step S205. ..

In step S205, the avoidance attribute that can avoid being specified as the data to be deleted may be set in the image data to be re-saved. In this case, it is possible to prevent the image data that has been re-saved after being specified as the deletion target data from being specified as the deletion target data again.

In addition, a plurality of responsible persons (contacts) are set in the box in which the data to be deleted is saved, and the image data re-saved after sending the deletion notification mail 100 to each of the plurality of responsible persons (contacts) is included in the image data. The contact limitation attribute that limits the person in charge (contact information) only to the person in charge (contact information) who has returned the re-saved mail 200 may be set in the image data itself. In this case, when the image data for which the contact-limited attribute is set is specified as the deletion target data again, the deletion notification is sent to the person in charge (contact) based on the contact-limited attribute instead of the person in charge of the box (contact). Send mail 100. As a result, it is possible to prevent the deletion notification mail 100 notifying the deletion of the same image data from being sent to the person in charge (contact information) who has accepted the deletion.

In addition, a plurality of responsible persons (contacts) are set in the box in which the data to be deleted is saved, and after sending the deletion notification mail 100 to each of the plurality of responsible persons (contacts), one re-saved mail 200 The image data re-saved only may be moved to the box of the person in charge (contact) who replied the re-saved mail 200. The number of received re-saved mail 200 can be determined when the reception deadline for the re-saved mail 200 has passed by setting the reception deadline. As a result, it is possible to prevent the deletion notification mail 100 notifying the deletion of the same image data from being sent to the person in charge (contact information) who has accepted the deletion.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 having a box function for storing the image data output by the image forming in the box set in the box area 51 is the box. If there is no free space when the storage unit 5 that stores the box management information 52 associated with the contact and the new image data are saved in the box area 51 as new save data, the image saved in the box area 51. From the oldest save date and time in the data, the deletion target identification unit 22 to be specified as the deletion target data and the deletion target data were saved in order until the free space for saving the newly saved data was secured by the deletion. The deletion notification unit 23 that sends a notification that the deletion target data has been deleted to the contacts in the box together with the deletion target data, deletes the deletion target data from the box area 51, and saves the data in the specified box in the box area 51. It is provided with a box management unit 21 for storing data.
With this configuration, even if there is no free space in the box area, it is possible to secure free space and save new image data without losing the image data required by the user. That is, the free space is secured by specifying the data to be deleted and deleting it from the box area 51, but the specified data to be deleted is not lost because it is transmitted to the contact.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the box management unit 21 receives the data to be deleted from the contact, the box management unit 21 re-saves the received data to be deleted in the stored box.
With this configuration, the data to be deleted deleted from the box area 51 can be easily re-saved.

Further, in the present embodiment, the deletion notification unit 23 generates a deletion notification mail 100 to which the deletion target data is attached and sends it to the contact, and the box management unit 21 attaches the deletion target data from the contact. When the re-saved mail 200 is received, the data to be deleted attached to the received re-saved mail is re-saved.
With this configuration, it is possible to execute the image data re-save operation by using the function of the existing mailer.

Further, in the present embodiment, the deletion notification mail 100 generated by the deletion notification unit 23 is provided with a re-save instruction button 114 that receives an instruction to re-save the data to be deleted, and the re-save instruction button 114 is provided with a re-save instruction button 114. The generation function of the re-saved mail 200 is linked.
With this configuration, the user notified of the deletion of the data to be deleted by the deletion notification mail 100 can easily generate the re-save mail 200 simply by operating the re-save instruction button 114.

Further, in the present embodiment, the deletion notification mail 100 generated by the deletion notification unit 23 is provided with a check box for accepting a data amount reduction measure for reducing the data size of the data to be deleted.
With this configuration, when resaving the data to be deleted, the data size can be reduced and the box area 51 can be efficiently used.

Further, in the present embodiment, a plurality of the contacts are set in the box in which the deletion target data is stored, and the image data re-saved after the deletion notification mail 100 is sent to each of the plurality of responsible persons , A contact-only attribute that limits contacts to only the contacts that have returned the re-saved mail 200 is set.
With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the deletion notification mail 100 notifying the deletion of the same image data from being sent to the person in charge (contact information) who has accepted the deletion.

Further, in the present embodiment, a plurality of contacts are set in the box in which the data to be deleted is stored, and after the deletion notification email 100 is sent to each of the plurality of contacts, only one re-saved email 200 is used. The re-saved image data is moved to the box of the contact who replied the re-saved mail 200.
With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the deletion notification mail 100 notifying the deletion of the same image data from being sent to the person in charge (contact information) who has accepted the deletion.

It is clear that the present invention is not limited to each of the above embodiments, and each embodiment can be appropriately modified within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. Further, the number, position, shape and the like of the constituent members are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the number, position, shape and the like suitable for carrying out the present invention can be used. In each figure, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals.

1 Image forming device 2 Control unit 3 Operation unit 4 Document reading unit 5 Storage unit 6 Image processing unit 7 Printing unit 8 Communication unit 9 Network 10 User terminal 21 Box management unit 22 Deletion target identification unit 23 Deletion notification unit 24 Resave processing unit 51 Box area 52 Box management information 100 Deletion notification mail 110 Resave instruction field 111 Information display field 112 Preview image 113 Check box 114 Resave instruction button 200 Resave mail

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus having a box function for storing image data output by image forming in a box set in a box area.
A storage unit that stores box management information associated with the box and contacts,
When there is no free space when saving the new image data as new save data in the box area, the new save is performed by deleting the oldest save date and time in the image data saved in the box area. Until the free space to save the data is secured, the deletion target identification part to be specified as the deletion target data in order,
A deletion notification unit that transmits a notification that the deletion target data has been deleted to the contact in the box in which the deletion target data has been saved together with the deletion target data.
A box management unit that deletes the data to be deleted from the box area and saves the newly saved data in the designated box in the box area is provided .
The deletion notification unit generates a deletion notification email to which the deletion target data is attached and sends it to the contact.
When the box management unit receives the re-save mail to which the deletion target data is attached from the contact, the box management unit re-saves the deletion target data attached to the received re-save mail to the box.
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the deletion notification mail generated by the deletion notification unit is provided with a check box for accepting a data amount reduction measure for reducing the data size of the data to be deleted . An image forming apparatus having a box function for storing image data output by image forming in a box set in a box area.
A storage unit that stores box management information associated with the box and contacts,
When there is no free space when saving the new image data as new save data in the box area, the new save is performed by deleting the oldest save date and time in the image data saved in the box area. Until the free space to save the data is secured, the deletion target identification part to be specified as the deletion target data in order,
A deletion notification unit that transmits a notification that the deletion target data has been deleted to the contact in the box in which the deletion target data has been saved together with the deletion target data.
A box management unit that deletes the data to be deleted from the box area and saves the newly saved data in the designated box in the box area is provided .
The deletion notification unit generates a deletion notification email to which the deletion target data is attached and sends it to the contact.
When the box management unit receives the re-save mail to which the deletion target data is attached from the contact, the box management unit re-saves the deletion target data attached to the received re-save mail to the box.
A plurality of the contacts are set in the box in which the data to be deleted is saved, and the re-saved mail is returned to the image data re-saved after sending the deletion notification mail to each of the plurality of contacts. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that a contact limiting attribute that limits the contact is set only to the contact that has been sent. An image forming apparatus having a box function for storing image data output by image forming in a box set in a box area.
A storage unit that stores box management information associated with the box and contacts,
When there is no free space when saving the new image data as new save data in the box area, the new save is performed by deleting the oldest save date and time in the image data saved in the box area. Until the free space to save the data is secured, the deletion target identification part to be specified as the deletion target data in order,
A deletion notification unit that transmits a notification that the deletion target data has been deleted to the contact in the box in which the deletion target data has been saved together with the deletion target data.
A box management unit that deletes the data to be deleted from the box area and saves the newly saved data in the designated box in the box area is provided .
The deletion notification unit generates a deletion notification email to which the deletion target data is attached and sends it to the contact.
When the box management unit receives the re-save mail to which the deletion target data is attached from the contact, the box management unit re-saves the deletion target data attached to the received re-save mail to the box.
An image in which a plurality of the contacts are set in the box in which the data to be deleted is stored, the deletion notification mail is sent to each of the plurality of contacts, and then the image is re-saved with only one re-save mail. An image forming apparatus characterized in that data is moved to the box of the contact who has returned the re-saved mail . Wherein the said deletion notification mail generated by the deletion notification unit, re-save instruction button to accept instructions for re-storage of the deleted data is arranged,
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the re-save instruction button is associated with the function of generating the re-save mail.

Images