JP6874606B2 - Control programs, information processing equipment, and scanning systems - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a control program or the like that processes scan data read from a document.

The following patent documents describe an image processing system having a scanner device that reads a document and creates scan data, and an image processing server that acquires scan data from the scanner device and performs predetermined image processing. .. The image processing server detects the barcode data included in the scan data. The image processing server performs gradation conversion based on parameters for black enhancement and white enhancement before detecting barcode data.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-96095

According to the technique described in the above patent document, it is possible to improve the detection accuracy of the barcode data by performing the gradation conversion before the detection of the barcode data. However, there are various types of processes that can be executed for scan data, and some processes should be executed before the barcode data detection process, and conversely, some processes should not be executed before the detection process. Therefore, it is an object to appropriately execute the barcode data detection process by setting the execution timing of various processes.

In order to solve the above problems, the control program disclosed in the embodiment is a control program that can be read by a computer of an information processing apparatus provided with a user interface, and the computer is first operated via the user interface. Based on the first receiving means that accepts the input and the first operation input received by the first receiving means, the first specific means for specifying the target image processing and the scan data are acquired from the plurality of image processes. The first acquisition means and the scan data acquired by the first acquisition means are made to function as the first execution means for executing the first image processing, and the first image processing is performed among the plurality of image processes. , The first group of image processing determined in advance, and the computer is used to obtain bar code data, which is image data indicating a bar code, from the scan data in which the first image processing is executed by the first executing means. Based on the detection means to be detected and the scan data acquired by the first acquisition means, it functions as a second execution means for executing the second image processing, and the second image processing is performed by the first specific means. The image processing included in the specified target image processing, the bar code data detected by the detection means and the scan data in which the second image processing is executed by the second execution means on the computer. It is characterized in that it functions as an output means for outputting.

According to the control program disclosed in the embodiment, the preset first group of image processing among the plurality of image processing is executed before the barcode data detection processing. Therefore, as the image processing of the first group, it is possible to execute in advance processing useful for the detection processing, such as a processing for improving the detection accuracy of the barcode data.

It is a block diagram of the scan system 1. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation state of image reading. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation state of image reading. It is a figure which shows the flow of the process of reading an image. It is a figure which shows the setting screen 81 for setting the bar code detection. It is a figure which shows the selection screen 91 which selects image processing. It is a flowchart which shows the image processing by the driver image processing module 28E when "fast" is set as a detection accuracy. It is a flowchart which shows the image processing by the driver image processing module 28E when "high accuracy" is set as a detection accuracy. It is a flowchart which shows the image processing by the driver image processing module 28E when "normal" is set as a detection accuracy.

<Scan system configuration>
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a scan system 1 exemplified as an embodiment according to the present application. The scan system 1 includes a PC (an example of the information processing device of the present invention) 10, a scanner (an example of the information processing device of the present invention) 50, and a router 56.

The PC 10 mainly includes a CPU (an example of a computer and a controller of the present invention) 12, a memory 14, an LCD (an example of the user interface of the present invention) 16, an input interface (an example of the user interface of the present invention) 18, and a network interface 20. I have. These components are made communicable with each other via the bus 22. The "interface" may be described as "I / F".

The CPU 12 executes processing according to the application program 26 in the memory 14, the scanner driver (an example of the control program of the present invention) 28, and the operating system (hereinafter abbreviated as “OS”) 32. The application program 26 is, for example, a program for executing character recognition processing used in a known OCR technique on the scan data D1 scanned by the scanner 50. Specifically, the application program 26 is a registered trademark of Adobe Photoshop. ) And other image editing software.

Further, the scanner driver 28 is a device driver of the scanner 50 and controls the operation of the scanner 50. The scanner driver 28 includes a DSM 28A, a driver main processing module 28B, a driver UI module 28D, and a driver image processing module 28E. The DSM 28A is a data source manager, and is a program that functions as an interface for inputting / outputting data to / from the application program 26 in the scanner driver 28 that performs communication conforming to the TWAIN standard. The configuration of the scanner driver 28 described above is an example, and is appropriately changed according to the type of the scanner driver 28 and the like. For example, when the scanner driver 28 is a driver other than the TWAIN standard (for example, the WIA standard), the scanner driver 28 does not have to include the DSM 28A. In this case, the processing performed by the DSM 28A, which will be described later, may be executed by the OS 32 instead.

The driver main processing module 28B, the driver UI module 28D, and the driver image processing module 28E are processing modules included in the scanner driver 28, and execute various processes. The driver main processing module 28B transmits / receives data to / from the scanner 50 and executes instructions to the scanner 50. The driver UI module 28D displays a setting screen and the like. The driver image processing module 28E executes image processing on the scan data D1.

The OS 32 is a program that provides basic functions used by the application program 26 and the scanner driver 28. In the following description, the CPU 12 that executes the application program 26 and the like may be simply described by the program name. For example, the description "application program 26" may mean "the CPU 12 that executes the application program 26".

Further, the memory 14 includes a data storage area 34. The data storage area 34 is an area for storing data and the like necessary for executing the application program 26 and the like. The memory 14 is configured by combining a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, an abbreviation for HDD), a buffer included in the CPU 12, and the like.

The memory 14 may be a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium is a non-transitory medium. In addition to the above examples, the non-transitory medium also includes a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM. The non-transitory medium is also a tangible medium. On the other hand, the electric signal that carries a program downloaded from a server on the Internet is a computer-readable signal medium, which is a kind of computer-readable medium, but is a storage that can be read by a non-transitory computer. Not included in the medium. The same applies to the memory 54 of the scanner 50, which will be described later.

The LCD 16 displays various functions of the PC 10. The input I / F18 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and is an interface for inputting user operations. The network I / F 20 is connected to the network interface 51 of the scanner 50 via the router 56. As a result, the PC 10 transmits / receives information to / from the scanner 50.

The scanner 50 is a device that reads an image printed on a document and generates scan data D1. In addition to the network I / F51 described above, the scanner 50 includes a CPU 52, a memory 54, a reading interface 55, an input interface 57, an LCD 58, and the like. I have. These components are made communicable with each other via the bus 59.

The CPU 52 executes the process according to the program 61 in the memory 54. The memory 54 is configured by combining RAM, ROM, and the like. Further, the memory 54 includes a data storage area 54A. The data storage area 54A is an area for storing data and the like necessary for executing the program 61.

The program 61 is a program that controls the scanner 50 in an integrated manner, and includes a device main processing module 65 and a device image processing module 66. The scanner 50 is controlled by the PC 10 and transmits the read scan data D1 to the PC 10. The CPU 52 executes the generation processing of the scan data D1 and the image processing on the scan data D1 according to the device main processing module 65 and the device image processing module 66. Details of the device main processing module 65 and the device image processing module 66 will be described later. The reading I / F55 is, for example, a device that reads an image such as a CCD or CIS. The input I / F 57 includes a liquid crystal display, various switches, and the like, and is an interface for inputting user operations. The LCD 58 displays various functions of the scanner 50.

<Image reading operation sequence>
Next, the operation sequence of the scanning system 1 when the user operates the PC 10 to read the image by the scanner 50 will be described. 2 and 3 show an example of an operation sequence of image reading.

The sequence chart of the present specification basically shows the processing of the CPUs 12 and 52 according to the instructions described in the program. That is, the processes such as "judgment", "extraction", "selection", "calculation", "decision", "specification", "acquisition", "acceptance", "control", and "setting" in the following description are performed by the CPU12. , 52 represents the process. The processing by the CPU 12 also includes hardware control via the OS 32. Note that "acquisition" is used in a concept that does not require a request. That is, the process of receiving the data without the CPU 12 requesting is also included in the concept of "the CPU 12 acquires the data". Further, the "data" in the present specification is represented by a bit string that can be read by a computer. Then, data having the same substantial meaning and contents but different formats are treated as the same data. The same applies to "information" in the present specification. Further, processing such as "command", "response", and "request" is performed by communicating information indicating "command", "response", "request", and the like. In addition, words such as "command", "response", and "request" may be described in the sense of information itself indicating "command", "response", "request", and the like.

First, the application program 26 is started according to the operation input via the input interface 18 of the PC 10 (S101). The application program 26 instructs the driver main processing module 28B to connect to the scanner 50 via the DSM 28A of the scanner driver 28 (S103, S105). The driver main processing module 28B transmits a connection request to the scanner 50 via the router 56 (S107).

When the device main processing module 65 of the scanner 50 receives the connection request from the driver main processing module 28B of the PC 10, it responds to establish the connection (S109). As a result, communication between the PC 10 and the scanner 50 is established. When the communication with the device main processing module 65 is established, the driver main processing module 28B transmits a request for the device capacity value to the device main processing module 65 (S111).

The device capacity value referred to here is a value indicating each of a plurality of processes that can be executed by the scanner 50, and is, for example, a capacity value related to the document size. The information on the original size is a process of automatically detecting the size of the original without specifying the information on the original size that can be read by the scanner 50 and the size of the original to be read by the user operation (hereinafter, "original detection process"). It is information indicating whether or not it is feasible.

Also, for example, the device ability score may include an ability score relating to the color scale of the scan data that the scanner can create. The color scale is, for example, a value indicating the number of colors that can be set for one pixel in the bitmap image data, and is a color scale of 24 bits (166777216 colors), a gray scale of 8 bits (256 colors), and 1 bit (2 colors). : White and black) monochrome scale, etc. The color scale is also called color depth. The ability value related to the color scale is information indicating a value that can be set as a parameter indicating the color scale of the scan data created by the scanner, and a process in which the scanner automatically detects the number of colors contained in the scanned document (hereinafter,). , Described as "scale detection process") (an example of the characteristic information acquisition process of the present invention), and a process for automatically determining a color scale suitable for the number of detected colors. May contain information indicating whether is feasible.

Further, for example, the device ability value may include the ability value related to the detection process of the white document. When the original is read, a blank original, that is, a white original may be read. The ability value related to the white document detection process is a process of detecting whether or not the scan data created by scanning the document contains the scan data of the white document (hereinafter, referred to as "blank page detection process") (the present invention). Information indicating whether or not the characteristic information acquisition process) can be executed may be included. The scanner 50 can execute any of the document detection process, the scale detection process, and the blank page detection process.

When the device main processing module 65 receives the request for the device capacity value from the driver main processing module 28B, the device main processing module 65 transmits a value indicating its own device capacity value (S113). When the driver main processing module 28B receives the device capability value from the device main processing module 65, the driver main processing module 28B instructs the driver UI module 28D of the scanner driver 28 to display the setting screen (S115). This setting screen is displayed based on the device capability value received from the device main processing module 65, and accepts settings for processing that can be executed by the scanner 50 in reading an image.

Specifically, a setting operation for instructing whether or not to execute the document detection process and a setting screen for accepting parameters according to the setting operation for instructing the document size are displayed based on the ability value related to the document size. .. In addition, a setting operation for instructing whether or not to execute the scale detection process and a setting screen for accepting parameters according to the setting operation for instructing the color scale are displayed based on the ability value related to the color scale. In addition, a setting screen for accepting parameters according to a setting operation for instructing whether or not to execute the blank page detection process is displayed based on the ability value related to the white document detection process.

The driver UI module 28D displays a setting screen on the LCD 16 of the PC 10 in response to a command from the driver main processing module 28B (S117). When the "OK" button on the displayed setting screen is operated, the driver UI module 28D reads an image according to a setting operation by the user via the input interface 18 until the "OK" button is operated. The set value (hereinafter, may be referred to as “scan parameter”) (an example of the setting parameter of the present invention) is stored in the memory 14 (an example of the receiving means of the present invention). The fact that the CPU 12 stores the parameters in the memory 14 according to the setting operation may be described as "accepting the parameters" or "setting the parameters". The operation of pressing the button on the setting screen displayed on the LCD 16 is an example of the setting operation. The scan parameter may be a parameter directly instructed by the setting operation. For example, the parameter of the resolution "600 dpi" may be stored in the memory 14 according to the setting operation for instructing the resolution "600 dpi". The scan parameter may be a parameter indirectly instructed by the setting operation. For example, a parameter having a resolution of "600 dpi" may be stored in the memory 14 according to a setting operation instructing "high quality". Further, as will be described later, the method of accepting scan parameters is not limited to the method using the setting screen displayed on the LCD 16, and for example, a method of reading a setting file in which scan parameters are described may be used.

The scan parameters include, as parameters related to the document size, a parameter indicating whether or not the document detection process is executed, and a parameter indicating the document size set when the document size is set by the user operation. Further, the scan parameters include, as parameters related to the color scale, a parameter indicating whether or not the scale detection process is executed, and a parameter indicating the color scale set when the color scale is set by the user operation. Further, the scan parameter includes a parameter indicating whether or not the blank page detection process is executed as a parameter related to the white document detection process. Further, the scan parameters include, as parameters related to the barcode printed on the original, a parameter indicating whether or not the barcode is detected from the scan data D1, a parameter indicating the type of image processing desired to be executed by the user, and the like. ..

Then, when the driver UI module 28D finishes accepting the parameters, the driver UI module 28D outputs the received scan parameters to the driver main processing module 28B, and instructs the driver main processing module 28B to store the scan parameters (S121). The driver main processing module 28B stores the scan parameters received from the driver UI module 28D in, for example, the data storage area 34 of the memory 14.

Next, the driver UI module 28D receives a scan start command from the user (S123). For example, when the driver UI module 28D receives an operation indicating that the scan is to be started from the user on the setting screen displayed in S117 described above, the driver UI module 28D outputs a scan start command to the driver main processing module 28B (S125). ..

When the driver main processing module 28B receives the scan start command from the driver UI module 28D, the driver main processing module 28B first transmits the scan parameters stored in S121 described above, that is, the scan parameters received on the setting screen to the device main processing module 65 ( S127). At this time, the driver main processing module 28B transmits, for example, the scan parameters related to the processing executed on the scanner 50 side among the scan parameters received from the user to the device main processing module 65.

Next, the driver main processing module 28B transmits a scan start command to the device main processing module 65 (S129). When the device main processing module 65 receives the scan start command from the driver main processing module 28B in S129, the device main processing module 65 drives the reading I / F 55 to execute a process of reading the image of the original (S131).

The device main processing module 65 instructs the device image processing module 66 to perform image processing on the scan data D1 created based on the data output by the scanning I / F reading the original (S133). The device main processing module 65 outputs the read scan data D1 and the scan parameters received in S127 to the device image processing module 66 (S133). The device image processing module 66 executes image processing on the scan data D1 based on the received scan parameters (S134). The device image processing module 66 outputs the scan data D1 after image processing to the device main processing module 65 (S135).

The device main processing module 65 transmits the scan data D1 whose image processing has been completed by the device image processing module 66 to the driver main processing module 28B (S137). When the device main processing module 65 receives the scan data D1 for one line from the device image processing module 66, for example, the device main processing module 65 transmits the received scan data D1 to the driver main processing module 28B. That is, the device main processing module 65 transmits scan data D1 every time one line of image processing is completed. The device main processing module 65 is not limited to a configuration in which scan data D1 is transmitted for each line. For example, the device main processing module 65 may transmit scan data D1 every time the image processing of one original is completed. Alternatively, the device main processing module 65 may collectively transmit the scan data D1 after reading the images of all the originals.

Further, the device main processing module 65 may compress the scan data D1 to be transmitted to the driver main processing module 28B to reduce the amount of data. In this case, for example, the driver main processing module 28B decompresses the compressed scan data D1 received from the device main processing module 65, and the decompressed scan data D1 is used for the subsequent processing.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the driver main processing module 28B instructs the driver image processing module 28E, which is a module of the scanner driver 28, to process the image of the scan data D1 (S139). The driver main processing module 28B outputs the scan data D1 received from the device main processing module 65 in S137 of FIG. 2 to the driver image processing module 28E (S139). Further, the driver main processing module 28B outputs the scan parameters stored in S121 of FIG. 2 to the driver image processing module 28E (S139). At this time, the driver main processing module 28B outputs the scan parameters related to the image processing on the PC10 side to the driver image processing module 28E among the scan parameters received on the setting screen.

The driver image processing module 28E image-processes the scan data D1 based on the scan parameters received from the driver main processing module 28B (S141), and outputs the processed scan data D1 to the driver main processing module 28B (S143). Further, the driver image processing module 28E executes the barcode detection process in the image processing of the scan data D1 when a parameter indicating that the barcode is detected is set as the scan parameter. The driver image processing module 28E outputs the barcode information related to the detected barcode to the driver main processing module 28B. The barcode information referred to here is, for example, information on characters indicated by the detected barcode, the number of characters, the number of barcodes included in the scan data D1, and the type of barcode. Further, the barcode information is, for example, an angle indicating the direction in which the barcode is printed in the original document. More specifically, in the case of a one-dimensional barcode, for example, it is an angle (0 degree, 90 degree, etc.) formed by the direction in which the bars are lined up and the main scanning direction in which the image is read. When the driver image processing module 28E cannot detect the barcode from the scan data D1, for example, the driver image processing module 28E outputs the barcode information set with a value indicating that the barcode could not be detected to the driver main processing module 28B (S143). ).

On the other hand, the application program 26 executes a periodic inquiry of the scan data D1 to the driver main processing module 28B (S145). For example, in S125 of FIG. 2, the application program 26 periodically inquires of the driver main processing module 28B for scan data D1 after the driver UI module 28D outputs a scan start command to the driver main processing module 28B (. S145). The application program 26 periodically inquires the driver main processing module 28B whether or not the transfer preparation of the scan data D1 received from the scanner 50 is completed in S145. The application program 26 may be configured to wait until the scan data D1 is output from the driver main processing module 28B without executing a periodic inquiry to the driver main processing module 28B.

When the application program 26 receives the response corresponding to the inquiry in S145 from the driver main processing module 28B (S147), the application program 26 instructs the driver main processing module 28B to output the scan data D1 (S149). When the driver main processing module 28B receives the output command of the scan data D1 from the application program 26, the driver main processing module 28B outputs the scan data D1 to the application program 26 (S151).

Next, when the application program 26 receives the scan data D1 from the driver UI module 28D, the application program 26 inquires the driver image processing module 28E about the barcode information related to the scan data D1 (S153). Therefore, the application program 26 of the present embodiment inquires the driver image processing module 28E for the barcode information regardless of whether or not the original contains the barcode. The application program 26 may be configured to process the barcode information only when the driver main processing module 28B does not inquire about the barcode information and receives the barcode information from the driver main processing module 28B.

When the driver main processing module 28B receives an inquiry for barcode information from the application program 26, the driver main processing module 28B outputs the barcode information to the application program 26 (S155). When the driver image processing module 28E can detect the barcode, the driver main processing module 28B outputs the number of characters of the barcode and the like as barcode information to the application program 26. Further, when the driver image processing module 28E cannot detect the barcode, the driver main processing module 28B outputs the barcode information in which the value indicating that is set to the application program 26.

The application program 26 executes a predetermined process using the scan data D1 and the barcode information received from the driver main processing module 28B (S157). The predetermined process referred to here is, for example, a process requested by the user and is a process for printing the scan data D1. Alternatively, the application program 26 has a process of storing the scan data D1 in the PC 10 (memory 14), a process of displaying the scan data D1 on the LCD 16, an image process of the scan data D1, and a process of transferring the scan data D1 to another application program. , The process of transferring the scan data D1 to the server may be executed. Further, the application program 26 may execute display of character information of the barcode, access to the storage destination (folder path or URL) of the data indicated by the barcode, display of the storage destination data, and the like.

When the processing of S157 is completed, the application program 26 outputs a disconnection instruction to the driver main processing module 28B via the DSM 28A (S159, S161). The application program 26 instructs the driver main processing module 28B via the DSM 28A to disconnect the communication with the device main processing module 65 (scanner 50) (S159, S161). The driver main processing module 28B disconnects communication with the device main processing module 65 in response to an instruction from the application program 26 (S163). In this way, the scanning system 1 ends the image reading process by the scanner 50 based on the control of the application program 26 of the PC 10.

<About image reading process>
Next, an example of the image reading process in the above-mentioned operation sequence will be described. The scanning system 1 of the present embodiment can read images of documents of various sizes. When the scan parameter 1 indicates that the document size is automatically detected, the scan system 1 executes the document size detection process on the PC10 side. The scanning system 1 generates an image larger than the size of the document as scan data D1 by the scanner 50 for documents having different sizes, and performs a process of cutting out the image of the document from the scan data D1 on the PC 10.

More specifically, FIG. 4 shows an example of an image reading process. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the scan parameter is set to a parameter indicating that the original size is automatically detected and the original image is automatically extracted. Further, in the scan parameter, a parameter indicating that the color of the scanned document is automatically detected is set. In addition, a parameter indicating that blank page detection is executed is set in the scan parameter. Further, in the following description, a case where the maximum size of the document size that can be read by the scanner 50 is A4 size and the size of the document that is actually read is a postcard size will be described. In this case, the scanner 50 scans an image of a postcard size document smaller than the A4 size as an A4 size document which is the maximum size that can be read.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, the scanner 50 reads the document scan data 71 of the postcard-sized document as the A4 size scan data D1. The scanner 50 generates scan data D1 in which the outer scan data 73 is added to the outside of the outer edge of the original scan data 71. The outer scan data 73 corresponds to a portion that is insufficient as A4 size, and is, for example, an image obtained by scanning a document cover that holds the document from the back side on a scanning table that reads the document of the scanner 50. For example, the inside of the document cover (on the document side) is painted gray. In this case, the scanner 50 reads the gray color, which is the background color of the document, as the outer scan data 73 around the document scan data 71, and adds the gray color to the outer periphery of the document scan data 71.

The scanner 50 transmits the scan data D1 in which the outer scan data 73 is added to the document scan data 71 to the PC 10. This transmission process corresponds to S137 shown in FIG. On the PC10 side, the driver image processing module 28E performs image processing on the scan data D1 as described above (S141 in FIG. 3). When the scanner 50 of the present embodiment detects the document size on the PC10 side, that is, when the scan data D1 in which the outer scan data 73 is added to the document scan data 71 is transmitted to the PC10, the 24-bit color having the largest color scale is used. Scan data D1 is transmitted to PC10. As a result, in the document detection process (S201) for detecting the document on the PC10 side, the outer scan data 73 can be easily detected by color identification. Further, in the scale conversion process (S207) described later, the number of color elements can be appropriately reduced and optimized. In other words, in the scan system 1 of the present embodiment, even if monochrome is set as the color scale setting of the scan parameter, if the setting is to automatically detect the document size, the scanner 50 is set from the PC 10. The 24-bit color scan data D1 is requested. The scan data D1 transmitted from the scanner 50 to the PC 10 is not limited to the 24-bit color scan data D1. For example, if the outer scan data 73 can be detected based on the 8-bit grayscale scan data D1 on the PC10 side, the grayscale scan data D1 may be transmitted from the scanner 50 to the PC10.

First, the driver image processing module 28E executes a document detection process for detecting the document scan data 71 from the scan data D1 as the image process of S141 in FIG. 3 (S201 shown in FIG. 4). The driver image processing module 28E processes the image of the scan data D1 based on the color (for example, gray color) of the outer scan data 73, and detects the outer scan data 73 included in the scan data D1. The color of the outer scan data 73 is transmitted from the device main processing module 65 to the driver main processing module 28B in, for example, the acquisition processing (S111, S113) of the device capability value of the scanner 50 in FIG. 2 described above. The driver image processing module 28E detects, for example, an image corresponding to the color of the outer scan data 73 obtained in this acquisition process and arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the scan data D1 as an image of the outer scan data 73. The driver image processing module 28E performs image processing for extracting the portion of the scan data D1 excluding the detected outer scan data 73 as the original scan data 71. The image processing for extracting image data is also referred to as image processing for cutting out image data.

Next, the driver image processing module 28E executes a blank page detection process for determining whether or not the document scan data 71 extracted in S201, that is, the document whose image has been read, is scan data based on a blank document. (S203). For example, when the extracted document scan data 71 is all white, the driver image processing module 28E detects that the document is a blank document. When the driver image processing module 28E detects a blank page in S203, the driver image processing module 28E may notify the user via the driver main processing module 28B or the application program 26 that the blank page has been detected. Alternatively, when the driver image processing module 28E detects a blank sheet in S203, the driver image processing module 28E removes only the original scan data 71 corresponding to the blank sheet from the scan data D1 and processes the original scan data 71 other than the blank sheet, and then scan data D1. May be output to the driver main processing module 28B.

Next, the driver image processing module 28E detects the number of color elements included in the document scan data 71 extracted in S201, that is, the color scale (S205). As a color scale detection method, a known image processing method can be used. In the driver image processing module 28E, for example, based on the number of color elements included in the document scan data 71, the document scan data 71 has a scale of any color of a 24-bit color image, an 8-bit grayscale image, or a monochrome image. Judge whether it is an image of.

Next, the driver image processing module 28E executes a scale conversion process for converting the color scale of the document scan data 71 based on the color scale detected in S205 (S207). For example, when the driver image processing module 28E detects in S205 that the color scale of the document scan data 71 is monochrome, that is, the document scan data 71 contains only white and black, the driver image processing module 28E detects in S207 that the color document contains only white and black. The scan data 71 is converted into monochrome document scan data 71A. As a result, the amount of data of the document scan data 71 can be reduced by converting the color document scan data 71 received from the scanner 50 to the optimum color scale and reducing the number of color elements. The driver image processing module 28E outputs the document scan data 71A having the color scale converted. This output process corresponds to the process of S143 in FIG. 3 described above. Therefore, the driver image processing module 28E outputs the original scan data 71A having the color scale converted to the driver image processing module 28E as the scan data D1 after the image processing (S143).

Here, a case where the document size is detected on the scanner 50 side will be described. The scanner 50 detects, for example, the length of the document in the main scanning direction based on the image data of the scanning I / F 55. Further, the scanner 50 detects, for example, the length of the document in the sub-scanning direction by a physical paper sensor. The length of the original in the main scanning direction is also called the width of the original. The length of the original in the main scanning direction is also called the height of the original. The physical paper sensor referred to here is, for example, a roller type sensor, which moves while rotating on the document in the sub-scanning direction when reading an image, and is based on a step at the edge of the document. It detects the height. In the detection of the document size by such a paper sensor, an error of about several millimeters may occur depending on the detection accuracy of the sensor. On the other hand, in the scan system 1 of the present embodiment, the document size is detected by image processing on the PC10 side and the document scan data 71 is extracted, so that the document scan data 71 can be extracted with high accuracy.

Further, when the outer scan data 73 is added to the original scan data 71 of the original, if the blank page detection process (S203) or the scale detection process (S205) is executed on the scan data D1 to which the outer scan data 73 is added, the accuracy is high. There is a risk that blank page detection etc. cannot be executed. For example, when a gray color is added as the outer scan data 73, even if the original scan data 71 is blank, the scan data D1 has the original scan data 71) showing white and the outer side showing gray color. Two colors of the scan data 73 will be included. As a result, in the blank paper detection process, the scan data D1 contains a gray color, so that it may not be possible to accurately detect the blank paper. Further, in the scale detection process, if the data indicating the gray color is included in the document scan data 71, it may be detected, and the scale of the color of the document may not be detected accurately. On the other hand, in the scan system 1 of the present embodiment, the blank page detection process (S203) and the scale detection process (S205) are executed using the document scan data 71 from which the outer scan data 73 has been removed by the document detection process (S201). To do. This makes it possible to improve the detection accuracy of blank paper detection and color scale detection.

In the example shown in FIG. 4 above, the document size is detected and the document scan data 71 is extracted on the PC10 side. For example, when the document size is set as a scan parameter, the document is detected on the PC10 side. There is no need to execute processing. In this case, the blank page detection process (S203) or the scale detection process (S205) may be executed on the scanner 50 side. As a result, the image processing is executed based on the document size specified by the user in the scan parameter, and the unnecessary document detection process on the PC10 side is not executed, so that the scanning process can be speeded up.

<Barcode data detection processing>
Next, in the above-mentioned operation sequence, the operation when the document on which the barcode is printed is scanned will be described. The scanner driver 28 of the present embodiment detects, for example, a barcode printed on a manuscript or a character string related to the barcode from the scan data D1 in response to a request from the application program 26, and applies the detected barcode or the like. Output to program 26. Further, the scanner driver 28 of the present embodiment changes the image processing (an example of the first image processing of the present invention) to be executed before the detection of the barcode according to the detection accuracy set by the user. This pre-detection image processing is a useful process for barcode detection processing (an example of the image processing of the first group of the present invention). The bar code in the present application is a concept including not only a one-dimensional code composed of bars but also a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark).

More specifically, the driver UI module 28D of the scanner driver 28 displays a setting screen for confirming the presence / absence of barcode detection in S117 of FIG. FIG. 5 shows an example of the setting screen. The driver UI module 28D causes the LCD 16 to display the setting screen 81 shown in FIG. 5 as one of the screens to be displayed in order to receive the scan parameters in S117.

As shown in FIG. 5, a check box 83 for setting whether or not to execute barcode reading is displayed at the top of the setting screen 81. The user sets the execution of barcode reading by, for example, operating the mouse of the input I / F18 and checking the check box 83. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the check box 83 is checked.

Further, below the check box 83, a check box 84 for specifying the type of barcode is displayed. In the check box 84, check boxes are displayed for each type of barcode such as UPC-A. The user can set the type of barcode to be detected by checking the check box 84.

Below the check box 84, an input box 85 for setting a range for detecting a barcode is displayed. By setting the input box 85, the user can set whether to detect the barcode from the entire range of the scan data D1 or to detect the barcode from the specified range of the scan data D1. In the designated range column, the distance (XY coordinates) from the upper end or the left end of the scan data D1 to the starting point, the width and height from the starting point can be specified numerically. In addition, centimeters and inches can be specified in the unit field as the unit of the entered numerical value. This makes it possible to specify a specific area in the scan data D1.

Further, below the input box 85, a setting field 86 for setting the bar code detection accuracy is displayed. In the setting field 86, a selection arrow 87 for selecting the detection accuracy is displayed. By moving the selection arrow 87, the user sets, for example, one of "fast", "normal", and "high accuracy" as the detection accuracy. In the state shown in FIG. 5, the selection arrow 87 is displayed under “fast”, and “fast” is selected as the detection accuracy. Note that the detection accuracy of "fast" is a setting in which the bar code detection accuracy is lowered as compared with the case of high accuracy, and the result of image processing is output earlier.

Further, a decision button 88 is displayed below the setting field 86. Further, below the check box 84, an image processing selection screen button 89 is displayed on the right side of the input box 85. When the image processing selection screen button 89 is selected by the user, the driver UI module 28D causes the LCD 16 to display the selection screen 91 shown in FIG. The setting screen 81 shown in FIG. 5 is an example, and is appropriately changed according to the scan parameters that can be set. For example, the detection accuracy is not limited to three types, and may be two types or four or more types.

As shown in FIG. 6, the selection screen 91 displays an executable image processing 97 (an example of a plurality of image processings of the present invention) including the first group image processing 95 and the second group image processing 96. There is. The executable image processing 97 is an image processing that can be executed by the driver image processing module 28E. A check box 93 is displayed on the left side of each image process of the executable image process 97. The user can set the image processing to be executed by checking one of the check boxes 93.

The first group image processing 95 includes punch hole removal processing and monochrome level adjustment processing. The first group image processing 95 is a process useful for the bar code detection process, and is a predetermined image process as a process capable of improving the bar code detection accuracy. The punch hole removal process is a process of removing an image corresponding to a punch hole from the scan data D1 among the images included in the scan data D1. As a result, an image of punch holes unnecessary for detecting the barcode can be removed, so that the accuracy of detecting the barcode can be improved.

The ground color removal process is, for example, a process of converting a color (ground color) of a document to be scanned into white when the color (ground color) of the document to be scanned is a color. As a result, when the hue of the barcode is close to the ground color, the area around the barcode is converted to white, so that the detection accuracy of the barcode can be improved. Further, the set-off color removing process is, for example, a process of removing the set-off color when an image printed on the back side of a document moves to the front side and is recognized as an image. As a result, when the set-off color and the barcode overlap, the barcode detection accuracy can be improved by removing the set-off color.

The color tone adjustment process is a process for adjusting the hue, brightness, and contrast of the scan data D1. As a result, the barcode detection accuracy can be improved by unifying the hue and the like of the scan data D1.

The color dropout process is, for example, a process of erasing a desired figure or the like that is printed on a document to be scanned but is not desired to be read as scan data D1. For example, if you want to erase a desired border when reading an image, draw the border in a specific color (eg, red). Then, by removing this specific color by the color dropout process, the border (desired figure or the like) can be removed. As a result, the scan data D1 in a state in which the desired figure or the like, that is, the figure or the like unnecessary for detecting the barcode is erased, can be generated, and the detection accuracy of the barcode can be improved.

The edge enhancement process is a process of detecting an edge such as a character or a line and clarifying the outline of the character or the like. As a result, the contours of characters and lines become clear, so that the bar code detection accuracy can be improved.

The monochrome level adjustment process is a process for adjusting the hue and brightness of white and black. In the monochrome conversion level adjustment process, for example, when a color image is scanned as monochrome, whether the color of each part of the scan data D1 should be recognized as white or black based on a preset threshold value. To judge. Then, based on the determination result, the hue and the like of each part of the scan data D1 are adjusted. Also in this case, the barcode detection accuracy can be improved by unifying the hue and the like of the scan data D1.

The first group image processing 95 described above may not be executed or may not be executed depending on the color scale of the scan data D1. Therefore, the driver UI module 28D changes the valid check box 93, that is, the check box 93 that can be checked by the user, based on the color scale set as the scan parameter. When the color scale is set as a scan parameter, the driver UI module 28D has check boxes 93 for, for example, punch hole removal processing, background color / set-off color removal processing, color tone adjustment processing, color dropout processing, and edge enhancement processing. To enable. Further, when the gray scale is set as the scan parameter, the driver UI module 28D enables, for example, the check box 93 of the color tone adjustment process and the edge enhancement process. Further, when the monochrome scale is set as the scan parameter, the driver UI module 28D enables, for example, the check box 93 of the edge enhancement process and the monochrome level adjustment process. As a result, the user can select a desired image processing from the feasible image processing without considering the image processing that can be performed according to the color scale.

The type of the first group image processing 95 described above is an example, and other image processing may be used. For example, when the error diffusion gray scale is included as the color scale, the first group image processing 95 may include processing that is useful for detecting a barcode on the error diffusion gray image. The error diffusion gray referred to here is, for example, a 1-bit pseudo gray in which gray is pseudo-expressed using white and black by the error diffusion method. In this case, for example, as the shading adjustment process of the error diffusion gray, it is possible to adjust the hue, brightness, and the like with respect to the scan data D1 of the 1-bit pseudo-gray. Then, by unifying the hue of the scan data D1 of the error diffusion gray, it is possible to improve the detection accuracy of the barcode.

Further, the second group image processing 96 includes from character correction processing to ruled line removal processing. The second group image processing 96 is a process that is unlikely to be useful for the bar code detection process, does not affect the bar code detection process, or is disadvantageous to the bar code detection process. The character correction process is, for example, a process of correcting to thicken the characters included in the scan data D1 or to darken the color of the faint characters. The noise removal process is a process for removing noise other than the original original image among the images included in the scan data D1. The ruled line removing process is a process of removing unnecessary ruled lines by the OCR process. These second group image processing 96 may change, delete, or the like the barcode data included in the scan data D1. Therefore, as will be described later, it is preferable to execute the barcode after the barcode detection process.

Further, a decision button 98 is displayed at the lower part of FIG. When the enter button 98 is selected by the user, the driver UI module 28D eliminates the display of the selection screen 91 and displays the setting screen 81 shown in FIG. Then, when the user selects the decision button 88 on the setting screen 81, the driver UI module 28D sets the scan parameters set on the setting screen 81 in FIG. 5 and the selection screen 91 in FIG. 6 as a driver in S121 in FIG. Output to the main processing module 28B (an example of the first receiving means and the first specific means of the present invention). As a result, in S141 of FIG. 3, the driver image processing module 28E receives scan parameters from the driver UI module 28D via the driver main processing module 28B, that is, scan parameters set by the user on the setting screen 81 and the selection screen 91. The barcode detection process is executed based on.

<When "fast" is set as the detection accuracy>
Next, the flow of image processing when "fast" is set as the detection accuracy of the setting field 86 shown in FIG. 5 will be described. FIG. 7 shows an example of image processing by the driver image processing module 28E. The processing of FIG. 7 corresponds to the image processing of S141 of FIG. In the following description, as an example, a case where image processing is performed on the color scan data D1 will be described. The driver image processing module 28E, for example, when the scan data D1 contains data of a plurality of originals, executes the process shown in FIG. 7 for each data of one original.

When "fast" is set as the detection accuracy, the driver image processing module 28E is among the executable image processing 97 (an example of the target image processing of the present invention) selected by the user in the check box 93 (see FIG. 6). , What is included in the first group image processing 95, which is useful for bar code detection, is executed as the first image processing before the bar code detection processing (S219) (S215). Further, the driver image processing module 28E executes the executable image processing 97 selected by the user, which is included in the second group image processing 96, as the second image processing after the barcode detection processing (S219). (S229).

More specifically, first, in S211 of FIG. 7, the driver image processing module 28E executes the document detection process in the same manner as in S201 of FIG. 4, and detects the document scan data 71 from the scan data D1. Next, the driver image processing module 28E executes the blank page detection process and the scale detection process in the same manner as in S203 and S205 of FIG. 4 (S213). If the original scan data 71 is blank original data in the blank paper detection process of S213, the driver image processing module 28E discards the original scan data 71 during image processing and the original scan data on the next page. The process from S211 is executed for 71.

Next, the driver image processing module 28E executes the first image processing on the document scan data 71 that has executed the image processing of S213 in S215. As described above, in S215, the driver image processing module 28E executes the executable image processing 97 selected by the user, which is included in the first group image processing 95 useful for detecting the barcode. As a result, the detection accuracy of the barcode detection process in S219, which will be described later, can be improved. Further, the user does not need to consider the influence of the selected image processing on the barcode detection processing and the timing at which the selected image processing should be executed, and can arbitrarily select the desired feasible image processing 97.

Next, the driver image processing module 28E stores the document scan data 71 that has executed the first image processing in the memory 14 (see FIG. 1) (S216). This is to change the scale of the document scan data 71 in the next binarization process.

Next, the driver image processing module 28E reads the document scan data 71 stored in S216 from the memory 14 and executes the binarization process (S217). The driver image processing module 28E binarizes the color document scan data 71 into two colors, white and black. As a result, the barcode detection accuracy can be improved by converting the color image into a monochrome image.

Next, the driver image processing module 28E executes a process of detecting a barcode from the document scan data 71 binarized in S217 (S219). The driver image processing module 28E detects, for example, bar code data which is image data indicating a bar code from the document scan data 71, and detects the above-mentioned bar code information (bar code character information, etc.) from the bar code data. .. The barcode data detection method uses, for example, a pattern matching technique or the like to determine whether or not a set (arrangement) of bars conforming to a predetermined standard of barcode and a start character are included in the document scan data 71. It may be a method of judgment. Further, the method for detecting the bar code data of the two-dimensional code may be, for example, a method of determining whether or not a predetermined finder pattern is included in the document scan data 71 by using a pattern matching technique or the like. Further, when the barcode type is selected in the check box 84 shown in FIG. 5 described above, the driver image processing module 28E executes a process of detecting only the selected type of barcode. Further, for example, when the check box 83 of FIG. 5 is checked and the check box 84 is not checked, the driver image processing module 28E attempts to detect all types of barcodes.

Next, the driver image processing module 28E determines whether or not the barcode can be normally detected in S219 (S221). For example, the driver image processing module 28E determines that the barcode can be detected normally when the image matching the desired pattern can be detected in the pattern matching process described above. The driver image processing module 28E stores the detected barcode information in the memory 14 according to the fact that the barcode can be detected normally (S221: YES) (S227).

Next, the driver image processing module 28E reads the document scan data 71 stored in S216, that is, the document scan data 71 before monochrome conversion by the binarization process (S217) from the memory 14, and executes the second image process. (S229). As described above, in S229, the driver image processing module 28E executes the executable image processing 97 selected by the user, which is included in the second group image processing 96. As a result, even if an image process (character correction process, etc.) that affects the barcode detection process is selected by the user, the selected image process is executed after the barcode detection process. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in detection accuracy. For example, even if the user selects character correction processing or noise removal processing in order to improve the accuracy of the OCR processing of the application program 26, those processings are executed after the barcode detection processing. As a result, the user does not need to consider the influence of the selected image processing on the barcode detection processing, and can arbitrarily select the desired executable image processing 97.

Next, the driver image processing module 28E performs scale conversion processing on the original scan data 71 after the second image processing based on the color scale detected in S213 described above, similarly to the scale conversion processing shown in FIG. Is executed (S231). Next, the driver image processing module 28E executes other processing on the document scan data 71 that has been subjected to the scale conversion processing (S233). The other processing referred to here is a processing that is useful to be executed on the document scan data 71, and is, for example, a processing that is forcibly executed without accepting the selection by the user. Other processes include, for example, document rear edge automatic detection process, document edge correction process, and orientation automatic determination process. For example, in the document rear edge automatic detection process, when a document smaller than A4 size is read even though A4 size is specified as a scan parameter, the document scan data 71 is set to A4 size. This is a process of adding a white image to the missing part at the rear end of the document. The document edge correction process is a process of filling the outer periphery of the document (page) included in the document scan data 71 with a predetermined color (white or black). The orientation automatic determination process is a process for detecting the orientation of the document in the document scan data 71.

When the driver image processing module 28E executes S233 and ends the processing of FIG. 7, the driver image processing module 28E outputs the document scan data 71 for which other image processing has been completed and the barcode information detected in S219 to the driver main processing module 28B. .. This process corresponds to the process of S143 in FIG. As described above, when the driver main processing module 28B receives the inquiry of the barcode information from the application program 26, the driver main processing module 28B outputs the barcode information to the application program 26 (S155 in FIG. 3). Then, the application program 26 executes a predetermined process using the scan data D1 and the barcode information received from the driver main processing module 28B (S157). As a result, the application program 26 can acquire the bar code information detected with high detection accuracy, and can accurately execute a predetermined process (access to the storage destination of the data indicated by the bar code, etc.).

On the other hand, when the bar code cannot be detected normally in S221 of FIG. 7 (S221: NO), the driver image processing module 28E determines whether or not the loop L1 is executed three times in succession (S223). ). The loop L1 referred to here is a process of repeatedly executing S217, S219, S221, S223, and S225, as shown by a broken line in FIG. 7. The details of the loop L1 will be described later.

When it is determined that the loop L1 is not executed three times in a row (S223: NO), the driver image processing module 28E adjusts a parameter (hereinafter referred to as a binarization parameter) used in the binarization process of S217 (hereinafter referred to as a binarization parameter). S225). The driver image processing module 28E changes, for example, a binarization parameter (such as a color bit value) that serves as a reference for determining whether the product is white or black in the binarization process of S217 (S225). The driver image processing module 28E adjusts the binarization parameter in S225, and then performs the binarization process in S217 based on the adjusted binarization parameter for the document scan data 71 read from the memory 14 again. Execute. As a result, improvement in barcode detection accuracy can be expected. The driver image processing module 28E re-executes the processes of S217 and S219, and executes the determination process of S221. That is, the process of determining the loop L1 of S223 is repeatedly executed until the bar code detection process fails three times in a row.

When the driver image processing module 28E determines that the loop L1 is executed three times in a row, that is, the bar code detection process has failed three times (S223: YES), the driver image processing module 28E executes the processes after S227. In this case, the driver image processing module 28E sets the bar code information to indicate that it could not be detected (S227).

The contents and order of the processes shown in FIG. 7 are examples and can be changed as appropriate. For example, the driver image processing module 28E does not have to execute the binarization process of S217 and the related processes of S223 and S225. In this case, the driver image processing module 28E executes the determination of barcode detection (S221) only once.

Further, in the example shown in FIG. 7, it was determined whether or not the executable image processing 97 individually selected by the user on the selection screen 91 of FIG. 6 should be executed before the barcode detection processing. However, for example, the driver image processing module 28E may determine whether or not the image processing included in the processing selected by the user should be executed before the barcode detection processing. For example, when the user selects the accuracy of OCR processing in the application program 26 and the image processing to be executed is automatically determined according to the selection result, the driver image processing module 28E uses the automatically determined image. For the image processing included in the processing group, it may be determined whether or not the image processing should be executed before the barcode detection processing.

Further, in the above example, the case where the image processing is performed on the color document scan data 71 has been described, but when the image processing is performed on the document scan data 71 of another color scale, the first image processing is performed. The content of (S215) may be changed as appropriate. For example, in the case of monochrome scale document scan data 71, edge enhancement processing and monochrome level adjustment processing may be executed as the first image processing.

Further, when the monochrome scale is set as the scan parameter, the user wants to output the monochrome scale document scan data 71. In this case, the document scan data 71 after the binarization process (after monochrome conversion) can be used as it is for the processing after S229 and can be used as output data. As a result, it is not necessary to read the original scan data 71 before the binarization process (S217) stored in S216 from the memory 14 before starting the second image processing, and the binarization process (S217) and the barcode detection The second image processing can be started quickly by using the document scan data 71 after the processing (S221) is executed.

<When "high accuracy" is set as the detection accuracy>
Next, the flow of image processing when "high accuracy" is set as the detection accuracy of the setting field 86 shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, the same contents as those in FIG. 7 will be designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

When "high accuracy" is set as the detection accuracy, the driver image processing module 28E uses all of the first group image processing 95 useful for detecting barcodes (however, depending on the color scale) regardless of the user's selection. Is executed as the first image processing before the barcode detection processing (S219) (S243 in FIG. 8). Further, the driver image processing module 28E executes all of the executable image processing 97 selected by the user as the second image processing after the barcode detection processing (S219) (S245).

More specifically, first, the driver image processing module 28E executes the document detection process of S211 in FIG. 8 and the blank page detection process / scale detection process of S213. Next, the driver image processing module 28E stores the document scan data 71 that has executed the image processing of S213 in the memory 14 (S241).

Next, in S243, the driver image processing module 28E reads out the document scan data 71 after the scale detection process stored in the memory 14, and executes the first image processing on the read document scan data 71. As described above, the driver image processing module 28E executes all of the first group image processing 95 in S243. For example, when a 24-bit color scale is set as a scan parameter, the driver image processing module 28E performs punch hole removal processing, background color / set-off color removal processing, color tone adjustment processing, and color drop as the first image processing. Executes all out processing and edge enhancement processing. As a result, when high accuracy is selected by the user, the barcode detection accuracy can be more reliably improved in response to the request.

Next, the driver image processing module 28E executes binarization processing on the original scan data 71 that has executed the first image processing of S243 (S217), and detects a barcode from the binarized original scan data 71. (S219). The driver image processing module 28E determines whether or not the barcode can be normally detected in S219 (S221). The driver image processing module 28E stores the barcode information related to the detected barcode in the memory 14 according to the fact that the barcode can be detected normally (S221: YES) (S227).

Next, the driver image processing module 28E reads the document scan data 71 stored in S241, that is, before the first image processing (S217) from the memory 14, and executes the second image processing (S245). As described above, the driver image processing module 28E executes all of the executable image processing 97 selected by the user (S245). As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in detection accuracy by executing image processing that affects the barcode detection process after the barcode detection process. Therefore, regardless of the user's selection, all of the first group image processing 95 that can be executed in the first image processing of S243 described above is executed. On the other hand, the output document scan data 71 is subjected to the executable image processing 97 selected by the user in the second image processing of S245. Then, the driver image processing module 28E executes the scale conversion process (S231) on the document scan data 71 after the second image processing, and executes other processing on the document scan data 71 on which the scale conversion process has been executed. (S233).

On the other hand, when the driver image processing module 28E cannot normally detect the barcode in S221 (S221: NO), the driver image processing module 28E determines whether or not the loop L1 has been executed five times in succession (S223). The loop L1 referred to here is a process of repeatedly executing S217, S219, S221, S223, and S225 shown in FIG. When it is determined that the loop L1 is not executed five times in a row (S223: YES), the driver image processing module 28E adjusts the binarization parameter (S225) and executes the processing after S217. Therefore, in the case of high accuracy, the driver image processing module 28E repeatedly executes the barcode detection process five times in a row until it fails. As a result, the number of times of the binarization parameter adjustment process is increased as compared with the case where “fast” is set as shown in FIG. As a result, it is more likely that the barcode will be detected by adjusting the binarization parameters.

Further, when the driver image processing module 28E determines that the loop L1 has been executed five times in a row (S223: NO), the driver image processing module 28E determines whether or not the loop L2 has been executed three times (S247). The loop L2 referred to here is a process of repeatedly executing S243, S217, S219, S221, S223, S247, and S249 shown in FIG. When the driver image processing module 28E determines that the loop L2 has not been executed three times (S247: YES), the driver image processing module 28E adjusts the parameters of the color tone adjustment processing executed in S243 (hereinafter referred to as tone adjustment parameters) (S249). .. The driver image processing module 28E executes the processing after S243 (first image processing) after adjusting the tone adjustment parameter in S249. In S243, the driver image processing module 28E executes color tone adjustment processing based on the adjusted tone adjustment parameters for the document scan data 71 read from the memory 14 again. Further, the driver image processing module 28E executes other image processing (punching hole removing processing, etc.) included in the first group image processing 95.

The driver image processing module 28E of the present embodiment executes the parameter adjustment in S249 up to three times. The driver image processing module 28E sets, for example, a tone adjustment parameter for increasing the contrast as the first processing of S249. As a result, in the color tone adjustment process of S243, the barcode can be made to stand out as compared with other images, and the detection accuracy of the barcode can be improved. Further, the driver image processing module 28E sets a tone adjustment parameter for reducing the contrast, for example, as the second processing of S249. As a result, in the color tone adjustment process of S243, unnecessary characters other than the barcode can be blurred to improve the detection accuracy of the barcode. Further, the driver image processing module 28E sets a tone adjustment parameter for reducing the highlight as, for example, the third processing of S249. As a result, in the color tone adjustment process of S243, unnecessary characters other than the barcode are overexposed, and the detection accuracy of the barcode can be improved. The adjustment of the tone adjustment parameter of S249 is not limited to the above contents. Further, the number of times the loop L1 is executed and the number of times the loop L2 is executed are examples, and can be changed as appropriate.

Further, when the driver image processing module 28E determines in S247 that the loop L2 has been executed three times (S249: NO), the driver image processing module 28E executes the processing after S227. Therefore, the driver image processing module 28E can detect the barcode as the barcode information when the barcode cannot be detected even if the process (loop L2) to be executed again from S243 is executed three times (when S219 is executed 15 times in total). Make a setting indicating that there was no such thing (S227).

<When "normal" is selected as the detection accuracy>
Next, the flow of image processing when "normal" is set as the detection accuracy of the setting field 86 shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, the same contents as those in FIG. 8 described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 9, when “normal” is set as the detection accuracy, the driver image processing module 28E does not execute S247 and S249 in FIG. More specifically, when the driver image processing module 28E determines in S223 that the loop L1 has been executed five times in a row (S223: NO), the driver image processing module 28E executes the processing after S227. That is, when "normal" is set as the detection accuracy, the driver image processing module 28E adjusts the binarization parameter five times, but does not adjust the tone adjustment parameter. As a result, improvement in barcode detection accuracy can be expected as compared with the case where the detection accuracy shown in FIG. 7 is “fast”. Further, when the barcode cannot be detected, the process can be completed more quickly than the "high accuracy" shown in FIG.

As described above, in the driver image processing module 28E of the present embodiment, among the executable image processing 97 (an example of a plurality of image processing), the preset first group image processing 95 (first group image processing). Is executed before the bar code detection process (S219). Therefore, as the first group image processing 95, processing useful for the detection processing, such as a processing for improving the detection accuracy of the barcode data, can be executed in advance. As a result, the barcode data detection process can be appropriately executed by setting the execution timing of various processes.

Incidentally, the LCD 16 and the input I / F 18 are examples of the user interface. The PC 10 is an example of an information processing device. The scanner driver 28 is an example of a control program. The driver main processing module 28B is an example of the first acquisition means and the output means. The driver UI module 28D is an example of the first receiving means, the first specifying means, and the second specifying means. The driver image processing module 28E is an example of a first execution means, a detection means, a second execution means, and an output means.

<Effect of Examples>
According to the above-described embodiment, the following effects are obtained.

The first executing means executes the processing included in the target image processing and included in the image processing of the first group as the first image processing, and the second executing means performs the second image processing. As a result, processing that is included in the target image processing and is different from the image processing of the first group is executed. Thereby, the processing included in the target image processing specified based on the first operation input and useful for the barcode data detection processing can be executed in advance as the first image processing.

The second execution means executes the second image processing on the scan data in which the first image processing is executed by the first execution means. As a result, the second executing means can improve the efficiency and speed of the processing by utilizing the processing result of the first executing means.

The first executing means executes all of the feasible processing among the image processing of the first group as the first image processing, and the second executing means performs the target image as the second image processing. Perform all processing. As a result, regardless of the content of the first operation input, all the processing useful for the barcode data detection processing is executed as the first image processing, thereby surely improving the barcode detection accuracy and the like. Can be done.

The second execution means executes the second image processing on the scan data acquired by the first acquisition means. As a result, the second execution means uses the scan data before the first image processing is executed by the first execution means. Therefore, the second execution means can execute the second image processing without being affected by the first image processing by the first execution means.

The first image processing is a processing for improving the accuracy of the processing for detecting the barcode data by the detecting means. As a result, the barcode detection accuracy can be improved by executing the first image processing before the barcode detection processing.

The first execution means, as the first image processing, includes punch hole removal processing, background color / set-off color removal processing, color tone adjustment processing, color dropout processing, edge enhancement processing, monochrome level adjustment processing, and error diffusion. At least one of the gray shading adjustment processes is executed, and the second execution means executes at least one of the character correction process, the noise removal process, and the ruled line removal process as the second image process. To do. Thereby, the processing useful for the barcode detection processing can be appropriately set as the first image processing, and the processing that may affect the barcode detection processing can be appropriately set as the second image processing.

The control program receives an instruction to process the scan data by the application program, and the output means executes the bar code data detected by the detection means and the second image processing by the second execution means. The scan data is output to the application program. As a result, the barcode can be detected and output with high accuracy for the application program that requires the barcode data.

The computer is made to function as a second specific means for specifying the detection accuracy required for detecting the barcode data by the detection means, and the first execution means has the detection accuracy specified by the second specific means. Depending on the higher value, the scan data acquired by the first acquisition means is subjected to all of the feasible processing of the image processing of the first group, and the detection accuracy acquired by the second specific means. The scan data acquired by the first acquisition means is included in the target image processing and is included in the image processing of the first group according to the low value. As a result, when the required detection accuracy is high, all the processes useful for the barcode detection process can be executed and the detection accuracy can be improved. Further, when the required detection accuracy is low, only the processing included in the target image processing can be executed, and the processing result can be output quickly. Therefore, appropriate processing can be executed according to the required detection accuracy.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various embodiments with various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.
Specifically, for example, in the above embodiment, the scanner driver 28 of the PC 10 executes the first image processing and the like, but the program 61 of the scanner 50 may execute the first image processing and the like. In this case, the scanner 50 is an example of the information processing device of the present application. The program 61 is an example of the control program of the present application.
Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which the processing on the PC 10 side is executed by the CPU 12 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The PC 10 may execute the first image processing shown in FIG. 7 not only by the CPU 12 but also by an ASIC or another logical integrated circuit, or may execute the first image processing or the like in cooperation with the CPU or the like, the ASIC, or another logical integrated circuit. You may.
Further, the controller of the present application is not limited to the CPU 12 of the PC 10, but may be the CPU 52 of the scanner 50, or may be configured to process the CPU 12 and the CPU 52 in cooperation with each other.

1 Scan system, 10 PC, 16 LCD, 18 input I / F, 28 scanner driver, 28B driver main processing module, 28D driver UI module, 28E driver image processing module

Claims (12)

A computer-readable control program for an information processing device equipped with a user interface.
The computer
A first receiving means for receiving a first operation input via the user interface,
Based on the first operation input received by the first receiving means, the first specifying means for specifying the target image processing from the plurality of image processing and the first specifying means.
The first acquisition method for acquiring scan data and
The scan data acquired by the first acquisition means is made to function as a first execution means for executing the first image processing, and the first image processing is a predetermined first of the plurality of image processes. Image processing of groups,
The computer
A detection means for detecting bar code data, which is image data indicating a bar code, from the scan data in which the first image processing is executed by the first execution means.
Based on the scan data acquired by the first acquisition means, the second image processing is made to function as a second execution means for executing the second image processing, and the second image processing is the target image processing specified by the first specific means. Image processing included in
The computer
An output means for outputting the barcode data detected by the detection means and the scan data for which the second image processing has been executed by the second execution means.
And it is made to function,
The second executing means is
Wherein the scan data to which the first image processing is executed by the first execution means, a control program which is characterized that you execute the second image processing. A computer-readable control program for an information processing device equipped with a user interface.
The computer
A first receiving means for receiving a first operation input via the user interface,
Based on the first operation input received by the first receiving means, the first specifying means for specifying the target image processing from the plurality of image processing and the first specifying means.
The first acquisition method for acquiring scan data and
The scan data acquired by the first acquisition means is made to function as a first execution means for executing the first image processing, and the first image processing is a predetermined first of the plurality of image processes. Image processing of groups,
The computer
A detection means for detecting bar code data, which is image data indicating a bar code, from the scan data in which the first image processing is executed by the first execution means.
Based on the scan data acquired by the first acquisition means, the second image processing is made to function as a second execution means for executing the second image processing, and the second image processing is the target image processing specified by the first specific means. Image processing included in
The computer
An output means for outputting the barcode data detected by the detection means and the scan data for which the second image processing has been executed by the second execution means.
To make it work
The first executing means is
Among the first image processing, punch hole removal processing, background color / set-off color removal processing, color tone adjustment processing, color dropout processing, edge enhancement processing, monochrome level adjustment processing, and error diffusion gray shading adjustment processing. Perform at least one process
The second executing means is
A control program characterized in that at least one of character correction processing, noise removal processing, and ruled line removal processing is executed as the second image processing. A computer-readable control program for an information processing device equipped with a user interface.
The computer
A first receiving means for receiving a first operation input via the user interface,
Based on the first operation input received by the first receiving means, the first specifying means for specifying the target image processing from the plurality of image processing and the first specifying means.
The first acquisition method for acquiring scan data and
The scan data acquired by the first acquisition means is made to function as a first execution means for executing the first image processing, and the first image processing is a predetermined first of the plurality of image processes. Image processing of groups,
The computer
A detection means for detecting bar code data, which is image data indicating a bar code, from the scan data in which the first image processing is executed by the first execution means.
Based on the scan data acquired by the first acquisition means, the second image processing is made to function as a second execution means for executing the second image processing, and the second image processing is the target image processing specified by the first specific means. Image processing included in
The computer
An output means for outputting the barcode data detected by the detection means and the scan data for which the second image processing has been executed by the second execution means.
To make it work
The control program receives an instruction to process the scan data by the application program, and receives the instruction to process the scan data.
The output means is characterized in that the bar code data detected by the detection means and the scan data in which the second image processing is executed by the second execution means are output to the application program. Control program. A computer-readable control program for an information processing device equipped with a user interface.
The computer
A first receiving means for receiving a first operation input via the user interface,
Based on the first operation input received by the first receiving means, the first specifying means for specifying the target image processing from the plurality of image processing and the first specifying means.
The first acquisition method for acquiring scan data and
The scan data acquired by the first acquisition means is made to function as a first execution means for executing the first image processing, and the first image processing is a predetermined first of the plurality of image processes. Image processing of groups,
The computer
A detection means for detecting bar code data, which is image data indicating a bar code, from the scan data in which the first image processing is executed by the first execution means.
Based on the scan data acquired by the first acquisition means, the second image processing is made to function as a second execution means for executing the second image processing, and the second image processing is the target image processing specified by the first specific means. Image processing included in
The computer
An output means for outputting the barcode data detected by the detection means and the scan data for which the second image processing has been executed by the second execution means.
It functions as a second specific means for specifying the detection accuracy required for detecting the barcode data by the detection means.
The first executing means is
According to the high detection accuracy specified by the second specific means, all the feasible processing among the image processing of the first group is executed on the scan data acquired by the first acquisition means. ,
The scan data acquired by the first acquisition means is included in the target image processing and is included in the image processing of the first group according to the low detection accuracy acquired by the second specific means. A control program characterized by executing the processing that is performed. User interface and
With the controller
It is an information processing device equipped with
The controller
A first receiving means for receiving a first operation input via the user interface,
Based on the first operation input received by the first receiving means, the first specifying means for specifying the target image processing from the plurality of image processing and the first specifying means.
The first acquisition method for acquiring scan data and
The scan data acquired by the first acquisition means includes a first execution means for executing the first image processing, and the first image processing is predetermined among the plurality of image processes. This is the first group of image processing.
The controller
A detection means for detecting bar code data, which is image data indicating a bar code, from the scan data in which the first image processing is executed by the first execution means.
It has a second execution means for executing a second image processing based on the scan data acquired by the first acquisition means, and the second image processing is the target specified by the first specific means. Image processing included in image processing
The controller
An output means for outputting the bar code data detected by the detection means and the scan data in which the second image processing is executed by the second execution means.
Have
The second executing means is
An information processing apparatus characterized in that the second image processing is executed on the scan data on which the first image processing is executed by the first execution means. User interface and
With the controller
It is an information processing device equipped with
The controller
A first receiving means for receiving a first operation input via the user interface,
Based on the first operation input received by the first receiving means, the first specifying means for specifying the target image processing from the plurality of image processing and the first specifying means.
The first acquisition method for acquiring scan data and
The scan data acquired by the first acquisition means includes a first execution means for executing the first image processing, and the first image processing is predetermined among the plurality of image processes. This is the first group of image processing.
The controller
A detection means for detecting bar code data, which is image data indicating a bar code, from the scan data in which the first image processing is executed by the first execution means.
It has a second execution means for executing a second image processing based on the scan data acquired by the first acquisition means, and the second image processing is the target specified by the first specific means. Image processing included in image processing
The controller
An output means for outputting the bar code data detected by the detection means and the scan data in which the second image processing is executed by the second execution means.
Have
The first executing means is
Among the first image processing, punch hole removal processing, background color / set-off color removal processing, color tone adjustment processing, color dropout processing, edge enhancement processing, monochrome level adjustment processing, and error diffusion gray shading adjustment processing. Perform at least one process
The second executing means is
An information processing apparatus characterized in that at least one of character correction processing, noise removal processing, and ruled line removal processing is executed as the second image processing. User interface and
With the controller
It is an information processing device equipped with
The controller
A first receiving means for receiving a first operation input via the user interface,
Based on the first operation input received by the first receiving means, the first specifying means for specifying the target image processing from the plurality of image processing and the first specifying means.
The first acquisition method for acquiring scan data and
The scan data acquired by the first acquisition means includes a first execution means for executing the first image processing, and the first image processing is predetermined among the plurality of image processes. This is the first group of image processing.
The controller
A detection means for detecting bar code data, which is image data indicating a bar code, from the scan data in which the first image processing is executed by the first execution means.
It has a second execution means for executing a second image processing based on the scan data acquired by the first acquisition means, and the second image processing is the target specified by the first specific means. Image processing included in image processing
The controller
An output means for outputting the bar code data detected by the detection means and the scan data in which the second image processing is executed by the second execution means.
Have
The information processing device receives an instruction to process the scan data by an application program, and receives an instruction to process the scan data.
The output means is characterized in that the bar code data detected by the detection means and the scan data in which the second image processing is executed by the second execution means are output to the application program. Information processing device. User interface and
With the controller
It is an information processing device equipped with
The controller
A first receiving means for receiving a first operation input via the user interface,
Based on the first operation input received by the first receiving means, the first specifying means for specifying the target image processing from the plurality of image processing and the first specifying means.
The first acquisition method for acquiring scan data and
The scan data acquired by the first acquisition means includes a first execution means for executing the first image processing, and the first image processing is predetermined among the plurality of image processes. This is the first group of image processing.
The controller
A detection means for detecting bar code data, which is image data indicating a bar code, from the scan data in which the first image processing is executed by the first execution means.
It has a second execution means for executing a second image processing based on the scan data acquired by the first acquisition means, and the second image processing is the target specified by the first specific means. Image processing included in image processing
The controller
An output means for outputting the barcode data detected by the detection means and the scan data for which the second image processing has been executed by the second execution means.
A second specific means for specifying the detection accuracy required for detecting the barcode data by the detection means, and
Have,
The first executing means is
According to the high detection accuracy specified by the second specific means, all the feasible processing among the image processing of the first group is executed on the scan data acquired by the first acquisition means. ,
The scan data acquired by the first acquisition means is included in the target image processing and is included in the image processing of the first group according to the low detection accuracy acquired by the second specific means. An information processing device characterized by executing a process to be processed. With a scanner
Information processing device and
It is a scanning system equipped with
The controller included in the scanning system is
A first reception means that accepts the first operation input via the user interface,
Based on the first operation input received by the first receiving means, the first specifying means for specifying the target image processing from the plurality of image processing and the first specifying means.
The first acquisition method for acquiring scan data and
The scan data acquired by the first acquisition means includes a first execution means for executing the first image processing, and the first image processing is predetermined among the plurality of image processes. This is the first group of image processing.
The controller
A detection means for detecting bar code data, which is image data indicating a bar code, from the scan data in which the first image processing is executed by the first execution means.
It has a second execution means for executing a second image processing based on the scan data acquired by the first acquisition means, and the second image processing is the target specified by the first specific means. Image processing included in image processing
The controller
An output means for outputting the bar code data detected by the detection means and the scan data in which the second image processing is executed by the second execution means.
Have
The second executing means is
A scanning system characterized in that the second image processing is executed on the scan data on which the first image processing is executed by the first executing means. With a scanner
Information processing device and
It is a scanning system equipped with
The controller included in the scanning system is
A first reception means that accepts the first operation input via the user interface,
Based on the first operation input received by the first receiving means, the first specifying means for specifying the target image processing from the plurality of image processing and the first specifying means.
The first acquisition method for acquiring scan data and
The scan data acquired by the first acquisition means includes a first execution means for executing the first image processing, and the first image processing is predetermined among the plurality of image processes. This is the first group of image processing.
The controller
A detection means for detecting bar code data, which is image data indicating a bar code, from the scan data in which the first image processing is executed by the first execution means.
It has a second execution means for executing a second image processing based on the scan data acquired by the first acquisition means, and the second image processing is the target specified by the first specific means. Image processing included in image processing
The controller
An output means for outputting the bar code data detected by the detection means and the scan data in which the second image processing is executed by the second execution means.
Have
The first executing means is
Among the first image processing, punch hole removal processing, background color / set-off color removal processing, color tone adjustment processing, color dropout processing, edge enhancement processing, monochrome level adjustment processing, and error diffusion gray shading adjustment processing. Perform at least one process
The second executing means is
A scanning system characterized in that at least one of character correction processing, noise removal processing, and ruled line removal processing is executed as the second image processing. With a scanner
Information processing device and
It is a scanning system equipped with
The controller included in the scanning system is
A first reception means that accepts the first operation input via the user interface,
Based on the first operation input received by the first receiving means, the first specifying means for specifying the target image processing from the plurality of image processing and the first specifying means.
The first acquisition method for acquiring scan data and
The scan data acquired by the first acquisition means includes a first execution means for executing the first image processing, and the first image processing is predetermined among the plurality of image processes. This is the first group of image processing.
The controller
A detection means for detecting bar code data, which is image data indicating a bar code, from the scan data in which the first image processing is executed by the first execution means.
It has a second execution means for executing a second image processing based on the scan data acquired by the first acquisition means, and the second image processing is the target specified by the first specific means. Image processing included in image processing
The controller
An output means for outputting the bar code data detected by the detection means and the scan data in which the second image processing is executed by the second execution means.
Have
The controller receives an instruction to process the scan data by an application program and receives an instruction to process the scan data.
The output means is characterized in that the bar code data detected by the detection means and the scan data in which the second image processing is executed by the second execution means are output to the application program. Scan system. With a scanner
Information processing device and
It is a scanning system equipped with
The controller included in the scanning system is
A first reception means that accepts the first operation input via the user interface,
Based on the first operation input received by the first receiving means, the first specifying means for specifying the target image processing from the plurality of image processing and the first specifying means.
The first acquisition method for acquiring scan data and
The scan data acquired by the first acquisition means includes a first execution means for executing the first image processing, and the first image processing is predetermined among the plurality of image processes. This is the first group of image processing.
The controller
A detection means for detecting bar code data, which is image data indicating a bar code, from the scan data in which the first image processing is executed by the first execution means.
It has a second execution means for executing a second image processing based on the scan data acquired by the first acquisition means, and the second image processing is the target specified by the first specific means. Image processing included in image processing
The controller
An output means for outputting the barcode data detected by the detection means and the scan data for which the second image processing has been executed by the second execution means.
A second specific means for specifying the detection accuracy required for detecting the barcode data by the detection means, and
Have,
The first executing means is
According to the high detection accuracy specified by the second specific means, all the feasible processing among the image processing of the first group is executed on the scan data acquired by the first acquisition means. ,
The scan data acquired by the first acquisition means is included in the target image processing and is included in the image processing of the first group according to the low detection accuracy acquired by the second specific means. A scanning system characterized by performing the processing that is performed.

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