JP7095273B2 - Information processing equipment, image formation method and image formation program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an image forming method and an image forming program, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus for causing the image forming apparatus to form an image, and an image forming method and an image forming program executed by the information processing apparatus.

Various data are stored in the server connected to the Internet. Some data may include a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of Web data arranged so as to be viewable on the Internet. For example, when data includes a certain term, a detailed explanation of the term is described on a Web page on the Internet. When handling data including such a URL as electronic data, by instructing the URL, the data specified by the URL can be acquired and displayed. On the other hand, if the data including the URL is printed on paper or the like, the user must input the URL to a computer or the like that can access the Internet from the keyboard or the like in order to know the content of the data specified by the URL. It doesn't become. If the URL is short, or if it is a simple word arrangement, the URL can be easily entered, but if not, it may take time to enter the URL. In addition, when manually inputting the URL, an erroneous operation may occur.

In order to solve this problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-141772 states that a manuscript is read to obtain first image data, a specific character string is extracted, and a character string is obtained from the read first image data. The portion is recognized, the address information is extracted from the recognized character string, the extracted address information is converted into two-dimensional bar code image data, added to the first image data, and generated by the conversion. Described is an image processing system that generates second image data to which two-dimensional bar code image data is added and prints the generated image data.

However, in the image processing system according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-141772, a reading device for reading a two-dimensional bar code is required. Furthermore, if the size of the two-dimensional bar code is small, the computer may not be able to read the two-dimensional bar code. For example, in the first image data, if a sufficient size cannot be secured as a space for adding the two-dimensional bar code, the two-dimensional bar code becomes small. Further, when the first image data is reduced and printed, the space for arranging the two-dimensional bar code becomes smaller.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-141772

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one of the purposes of the present invention is to simplify an input operation by a user for acquiring data located on a network. It is to provide an information processing device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming method capable of simplifying an input operation by a user for acquiring data located on a network.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming program capable of simplifying an input operation by a user for acquiring data located on a network.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to an aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus links using a search engine when the target data to be image-formed contains link information indicating the network address of the link data. Search word acquisition means for acquiring search words for searching data, data generation means for generating output data by adding the acquired search words in place of the link information included in the target data, and for output . An image forming control means for causing an image forming apparatus to form an image of data is provided.

According to this aspect, when the target data includes the link information, the search word for searching the link data is acquired by using the search engine, and the output data in which the search word is added to the target data is generated. Therefore, the user who sees the recording medium on which the image of the output data is formed can search the search engine and browse the link data by the operation of inputting the search word instead of the operation of inputting the link information. As a result, it is possible to provide an information processing device capable of simplifying an input operation by a user for acquiring data located on a network.

Preferably, the search word acquisition means acquires the search word when the link information has a predetermined number of characters or more.

According to this aspect, if the link information has a predetermined number of characters or more, it is easier to input the search word than to input the link information, so that the input operation by the user can be simplified.

Preferably, the search word acquisition means acquires the search word if the link information is not composed of predetermined words.

According to this aspect, if the link information is not composed of predetermined words, it is easier to input the search word than to input the link information, so that the input operation by the user can be simplified.

Preferably, the data acquisition means for acquiring the link data using the link information is further provided, and the search word acquisition means acquires the search word from the link data.

According to this aspect, since the search word is acquired from the link data, it is possible to acquire the search word in which the link data can be easily searched.

Preferably, the search word acquisition means acquires as a search word words arranged within a predetermined number of characters from the link information in the target data.

According to this aspect, since words related to the link data are often included within a predetermined number of characters from the link information in the target data, it is possible to acquire a search word in which the link data can be easily searched.

Preferably, the search word acquisition means searches using the candidate word by using a search engine, and acquires the candidate word whose link data is included in the search result at a predetermined rank or higher as the search word.

According to this aspect, it is possible to acquire a search word in which the link data hits the top in the search result.

Preferably, the data generation means generates output data when the number of characters is larger than that of the search word from which the link information is acquired.

According to this aspect, since the search word is added when the link information has more characters than the search word, the number of input operations by the user can be reduced.

Preferably, the data generation means generates output data when the link information is an array of numbers and / or symbols.

According to this aspect, the link information does not have more characters than the search word, and the search word is added in the case of an array of numerical values and / or symbols, so that the input operation by the user can be facilitated.

Preferably, the data generating means does not generate output data if the number of characters is not larger than the search word from which the link information is acquired and the numerical value and / or the symbol is not arranged.

According to this aspect, if the link information does not have more characters than the search word and the numbers and / or symbols are not arranged, the output data will not be generated, so the search word should not be added. An image of the target data can be formed without changing the target data.

Preferably, the target acquisition means for acquiring the target data is further provided.

Preferably, the recording medium is further provided with an image forming means for forming an image of the data, and the image forming control means causes the image forming means to form an image of the data for output .

According to this aspect, since the image of the output data is formed on the recording medium, the user who sees the recording medium on which the image of the output data is formed inputs a search word instead of the operation of inputting the link information. You can search the search engine and browse the link data by the operation.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the image forming method is a search for searching the link data using a search engine when the target data for which the image is formed contains the link information indicating the network address of the link data. A search word acquisition step for acquiring words, a data generation step for generating output data by adding a search word acquired in place of the link information included in the target data, and an image forming device for the image of the output data. The information processing apparatus is made to execute the image formation control step of forming the image.

According to this aspect, it is possible to provide an image forming method capable of simplifying an input operation by a user for acquiring data located on a network.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the image forming program is for searching the link data using a search engine when the target data for which the image is formed contains the link information indicating the network address of the link data. The search word acquisition step to acquire the search word, the data generation step to generate the output data by adding the acquired search word in place of the link information included in the target data, and the image formation of the output data image. Let the computer perform the image formation control step of causing the device to form an image.

According to this aspect, it is possible to provide an image forming program capable of simplifying an input operation by a user for acquiring data located on a network.

It is a figure which shows an example of the whole outline of the information processing system in one of the Embodiments of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the outline of the hardware composition of the PC in this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the appearance of the MFP in one of the embodiments of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the hardware composition of the MFP. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the function of the CPU provided in the PC. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of an image formation process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a search word acquisition process. It is a figure which shows an example of the target data. It is a figure which shows an example of the output data.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are the same. Therefore, detailed explanations about them will not be repeated.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an overall outline of an information processing system according to one of the embodiments of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 1, the information processing system 1 includes an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 100 which is a multifunction device, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) 300, and a server 200.

The MFP 100 is an example of an image forming apparatus, and has a document reading function for reading a document and outputting image data, an image processing function for image processing data to be processed, and an image on a recording medium such as paper based on the image data. It has at least the image forming function to form. The MFP 100 may have a facsimile transmission / reception function for transmitting / receiving facsimile data in addition to an image processing function and an image forming function. Image processing is, but is not limited to, processing for converting data into raster data capable of forming an image, sharpening processing for emphasizing edges in an image, smoothing processing for smoothing color changes in an image, and data processing. It includes scaling processing to change the size, coding processing to convert data into encoded coded data, decoding processing to decode the encoded data, and conversion processing to convert the format of the data.

The server 200 is a general computer. Therefore, since the hardware configuration and functions are well known, the description is not repeated here.

Each of the MFP 100 and the PC 300 is connected to the local area network (LAN) 3. Therefore, each of the MFP 100 and the PC 300 can send and receive data via the LAN 3. Since the LAN 3 is a closed environment in which the devices connected to the LAN 3 are limited, security is provided so that data transmitted / received between a plurality of devices connected to the LAN 3, here the MFP 100 and the PC 300, is not leaked to the outside. Is secured. The connection form of LAN3 may be wired or wireless. Further, instead of LAN3, a network using a public switched telephone network (Public Switched Telephone Networks) or a wide area network (WAN) may be used.

LAN 3 is connected to the Internet 5. The server 200 is connected to the Internet 5. Therefore, each of the MFP 100 and the PC 300 can communicate with the server 200 connected to the Internet 5 via the LAN 3. The MFP 100 and the PC 300 are devices arranged inside, while the server 200 is a device arranged outside the MFP 100 and the PC 300. The inside means an area where security is secured, and the outside means an area where security is not secured inside.

In the information processing system 1 of the present embodiment, the server 200 functions as a Web server and publishes the data stored in the server 200 to the Internet 5. In this case, the data stored in the server 200 is specified by the network address. Here, a URL is used as the network address. Further, the MFP 100 and the PC 300 function as a client of the server 200, and by requesting the data specified by the URL from the server 200, the data specified by the URL can be downloaded from the server 200.

Further, an image forming program is installed in the PC 300 as a driver program for controlling the MFP 100.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an outline of the hardware configuration of the PC according to the present embodiment. With reference to FIG. 2, the PC 300 has a central arithmetic unit (CPU) 301 for controlling the entire PC 300, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 302 for storing a program for the CPU 301 to execute, and a work area of the CPU 301. RAM (Random Access Memory) 303, a hard disk drive (HDD) 304 that stores data non-volatilely, a communication unit 305 that connects the CPU 301 to LAN3, a display unit 306 that displays information, and a user's It includes an operation unit 307 that receives an operation input and an external storage device 308.

The display unit 306 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device (LCD) or an organic ELD (Electro-Luminescence Display). The operation unit 307 is a hard key such as a keyboard. Further, the operation unit 307 may be a touch panel. The touch panel is provided on the upper surface or the lower surface of the display unit 306 so as to be superimposed on the display unit 306. The touch panel detects a position designated by the user on the display surface of the display unit 306.

The communication unit 305 is an interface for connecting the CPU 301 to the LAN 3. The communication unit 305 communicates with the MFP 100 connected to the LAN 3 by a communication protocol such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) or UDP (User Datagram Protocol). The protocol for communication is not particularly limited, and any protocol can be used. By registering the IP (Internet Protocol) address of the MFP 100 in the PC 300, the PC 300 can communicate with the MFP 100 and can send and receive data.

The HDD 304 stores a program executed by the CPU 301 or data necessary for executing the program. The CPU 301 loads the program recorded in the HDD 304 into the RAM 303 and executes it.

The external storage device 308 is equipped with a CD-ROM (Compact Disk ROM) 309 that stores the program. The CPU 301 can access the CD-ROM 309 via the external storage device 308. The CPU 301 loads the program recorded in the CD-ROM 309 mounted on the external storage device 308 into the RAM 303 and executes it. The medium for storing the program executed by the CPU 301 is not limited to the CD-ROM 309, but is limited to an optical disk (MO (Magnetic Optical Disc) / MD (Mini Disc) / DVD (Digital Versaille Disc)), an IC card, an optical card, and the like. It may be a semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM or an EPROM (Erasable Program ROM).

Further, the program executed by the CPU 301 is not limited to the program recorded in the CD-ROM 309, and the program stored in the HDD 304 may be loaded into the RAM 303 and executed. In this case, another computer connected to the LAN 3 may rewrite the program stored in the HDD 304, or may add a new program and write it. Further, the PC 300 may download the program from another computer connected to the LAN 3 or the Internet 5 and store the program in the HDD 304. The program referred to here includes not only a program that can be directly executed by the CPU 301, but also a source program, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the MFP in one of the embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an outline of the hardware configuration of the MFP. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the MFP 100 includes a main circuit 110, a document reading unit 130 for reading a document, an automatic document transporting device 120 for transporting a document to the document reading unit 130, and a document reading unit. An image was formed with an image forming unit 140 for forming an image on paper or the like based on image data output by 130 reading a document, and a feeding unit 150 for supplying paper to the image forming unit 140. It includes a post-processing unit 155 that processes paper and an operation panel 160 as a user interface.

The automatic document transfer device 120 automatically transports a plurality of documents set on the document tray one by one to a predetermined document reading position set on the platen glass of the document reader 130, and the document reader 130. The original from which the image formed on the original is read is ejected to the original output tray. The document reading unit 130 includes a light source that irradiates the document conveyed to the document reading position with light and a photoelectric conversion element that receives the light reflected by the document, and scans the document image according to the size of the document. The photoelectric conversion element converts the received light into image data which is an electric signal and stores it in the HDD 115.

The paper feed unit 150 conveys the paper stored in the paper feed tray to the image forming unit 140. The image forming unit 140 forms an image by a well-known electrophotographic method, and forms an image on the paper conveyed by the paper feeding unit 150 based on the image data stored in the HDD 115 to form an image. Discharge the finished paper to the output tray.

The post-processing unit 155 executes a sort process for rearranging and ejecting one or more sheets on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 140, a punch process for punching holes, and a staple process for driving staples.

The main circuit 110 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 111, a communication interface (I / F) unit 112, a ROM 113, a RAM 114, a hard disk drive (HDD) 115 as a large-capacity storage device, and a facsimile unit 116. Includes an external storage device 117 to which the CD-ROM 118 is mounted. The CPU 111 is connected to the automatic document transfer device 120, the document reading unit 130, the image forming unit 140, the paper feeding unit 150, the post-processing unit 155, and the operation panel 160, and controls the entire MFP 100.

The ROM 113 stores a program executed by the CPU 111 or data necessary for executing the program. The RAM 114 is used as a work area when the CPU 111 executes a program. Further, the RAM 114 temporarily stores the reading data (image data) continuously sent from the document reading unit 130.

The communication I / F unit 112 is an interface for connecting the MFP 100 to the network. The CPU 111 communicates with another computer connected to the network via the communication I / F unit 112, and transmits / receives data. The network is, but is not limited to, a local area network, for example. Further, when the network is connected to the Internet, the communication I / F unit 112 can communicate with a computer connected to the Internet via the network.

The facsimile unit 116 is connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and transmits facsimile data to or receives facsimile data from PSTN. The facsimile unit 116 stores the received facsimile data in the HDD 115 or outputs the received facsimile data to the image forming unit 140. The image forming unit 140 prints the facsimile data received by the facsimile unit 116 on paper. Further, the facsimile unit 116 converts the data stored in the HDD 115 into facsimile data and transmits the data to the facsimile apparatus connected to the PSTN.

The external storage device 117 is equipped with a CD-ROM 118. The CPU 111 can access the CD-ROM 118 via the external storage device 117. The CPU 111 loads the program recorded in the CD-ROM 118 mounted on the external storage device 117 into the RAM 114 and executes the program. The medium for storing the program executed by the CPU 111 is not limited to the CD-ROM 118, but may be a semiconductor memory such as an optical disk / MD / DVD, an IC card, an optical card, a mask ROM, or an EPROM.

Further, the program executed by the CPU 111 is not limited to the program recorded in the CD-ROM 118, and the program stored in the HDD 115 may be loaded into the RAM 114 and executed. In this case, another computer connected to the network may rewrite the program stored in the HDD 115 of the MFP 100, or add a new program and write it. Further, the MFP 100 may download a program from another computer connected to the network and store the program in the HDD 115. The program referred to here includes not only a program that can be directly executed by the CPU 111, but also a source program, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

The operation panel 160 is provided on the upper surface of the MFP 100 and includes a display unit 161 and an operation unit 163. The display unit 161 is, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic EL (electroluminescence) display, and displays an instruction menu for a user, information on acquired image data, and the like. The operation unit 163 includes a touch panel 165 and a hard key unit 167. The touch panel 165 is provided on the upper surface or the lower surface of the display unit 161 so as to be superimposed on the display unit 161. The hard key unit 167 includes a plurality of hard keys. The hard key is, for example, a contact switch. The touch panel 165 detects a position designated by the user on the display surface of the display unit 161. When the user operates the MFP 100, the posture is often upright, so that the display surface of the display unit 161, the operation surface of the touch panel 165, and the hard key unit 167 are arranged facing upward. This is so that the user can easily visually recognize the display surface of the display unit 161 and the user can easily instruct the operation unit 163 with a finger.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a CPU function included in the PC. The function shown in FIG. 5 is a function formed in the CPU 301 by the CPU 301 included in the PC 300 executing an image forming program stored in the ROM 302, the HDD 304, and the CD-ROM 309. With reference to FIG. 5, the CPU 301 includes a target acquisition unit 51 for acquiring target data to be image-formed, a link information extraction unit 53 for extracting link information from the target data, an additional determination unit 55, and target data. It includes a search word acquisition unit 57 for acquiring a search word for searching, a comparison determination unit 59, a data generation unit 61, and an image formation control unit 63 for controlling the MFP 100.

The target acquisition unit 51 acquires the target data and outputs the acquired target data to the link information extraction unit 53, the search word acquisition unit 57, and the data generation unit 61. When the user instructs the data stored in the HDD 304, the target acquisition unit 51 acquires the data instructed by the user as the target data. The format of the target data in this case is arbitrary. The data in any format is, for example, a mark such as HTML (HyperText Markup Language) when it is image data in bitmap format, when it is compressed data in a compressed format of image data, or when it is text data in text format. When the HTML data is in the format described in the up language, it may be the application data defined by the application program.

The link information extraction unit 53 extracts link information from the target data, and outputs the extracted link information to the additional determination unit 55, the search word acquisition unit 57, and the comparison determination unit 59. When the target data is HTML data, the link information extraction unit 53 extracts the link information described in HTML. When the target data is text data, the link information extraction unit 53 extracts the link information from the target data. For example, a character string including an alphanumerical character starting with "http" or "https" and a symbol of "/" is extracted as link information. When the format of the target data is image data, the link information extraction unit 53 converts the image data into text data by recognizing characters and extracts the link information. The image data includes facsimile data as well as bitmap data. Further, when the target data is compressed data, the link information extraction unit 53 converts the compressed data into image data and extracts the link information. When the target data is the application data, the link information extraction unit 53 executes the application program corresponding to the application data and extracts the link information from the target data by using the extraction function defined by the application program.

The additional determination unit 55 determines whether or not to acquire the search word based on the link information. The additional judgment unit 55 outputs an acquisition instruction to the search word acquisition unit 57 when it is determined to acquire the search word, but outputs an acquisition instruction to the search word acquisition unit 57 when it is determined not to acquire the search word. do not do.

The additional determination unit 55 includes a character length determination unit 65 and a reserved word determination unit 67. The character length determination unit 65 determines that the search word is acquired when the link information is the predetermined number of characters or more, but determines that the search word is not acquired when the link information is less than the predetermined characters. If the number of characters of the link information is more than a predetermined number, it is easier to input the search word than to input the link information, so that the input operation by the user can be simplified.

The reserved word determination unit 67 determines that the search word is acquired if the link information is not composed of only the reserved words, but determines that the search word is not acquired if the link information is composed of only the reserved words. .. Reserved words are predetermined words. If the link information is not composed of reserved words, it is easier to input the search word than to input the link information, so that the input operation by the user can be simplified. Reserved words may be registered in advance by the user.

The search word acquisition unit 57 acquires the search word for searching the link data specified by the link information by inputting the link information from the link information extraction unit 53 using the search engine. The search word acquisition unit 57 acquires the search word when the acquisition instruction is input from the additional determination unit 55, but does not acquire the search word when the acquisition instruction is not input from the additional determination unit 55. The search word acquisition unit 57 outputs the acquired search word to the comparison determination unit 59 and the data generation unit 61. When acquiring a plurality of search words, the search word acquisition unit 57 determines the arrangement order of the plurality of search words, and outputs the plurality of search words and the arrangement order to the comparison determination unit 59 and the data generation unit 61.

The search word acquisition unit 57 includes a data acquisition unit 71, a metadata extraction unit 73, a frequency standard extraction unit 75, a hit order search unit 77, an arrangement order determination unit 79, and a target extraction unit 81. The data acquisition unit 71 acquires the link data specified by the link information in response to the input of the link information. Here, a case where the link data specified by the link information is stored in the server 200 will be described as an example. In this case, the server 200 functions as a Web server, and the data acquisition unit 71 acquires link data by communicating with the server 200 according to the communication protocol of HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). The data acquisition unit 71 controls the communication I / F unit 112 to request link data from the server 200 connected to the Internet 5 according to HTTP. Since the server 200 transmits the link data when the link data is requested, the data acquisition unit 71 acquires the link data received by the communication I / F unit 112. The data acquisition unit 71 outputs the acquired link data to the metadata extraction unit 73 and the frequency reference extraction unit 75.

The metadata extraction unit 73 extracts metadata from the link data. If the link data is HTML data, the link data includes metadata. The metadata is the data described in the <TITLE> tag, the <meta description> tag, or the <meta keywords> tag. Some search engines search for metadata contained in HTML data, and when such a search engine is used, the probability that the link data will be extracted by the search is high. The metadata extraction unit 73 outputs the extracted metadata as a candidate word to the hit order search unit 77.

The frequency standard extraction unit 75 analyzes the link data and extracts as a candidate word a character string included in the link data and in which a predetermined number or more are arranged in the link data. The frequency standard extraction unit 75 outputs the extracted candidate words to the hit order search unit 77.

The target extraction unit 81 extracts words arranged within a predetermined number of characters from the link information in the target data as candidate words in response to the input of the target data from the target acquisition unit 51. Preferably, the target extraction unit 81 extracts as a candidate word a word arranged in front of the link information by a predetermined number of characters in the target data. In the target data, the front side is the upper side of the link information when the characters are arranged in the horizontal direction, and the front side is the right side of the link information when the characters are arranged in the vertical direction. The target extraction unit 81 outputs the extracted candidate words to the hit order search unit 77.

In the hit order search unit 77, candidate words are input from each of the metadata extraction unit 73, the frequency standard extraction unit 75, and the target extraction unit 81. When there are a plurality of candidate words, the hit ranking search unit 77 searches for the plurality of candidate words using a search engine, and when the link data indicates a predetermined rank or higher from the top in the search results, the hit rank search unit 77 of the plurality of candidate words. The set is output to the arrangement order determination unit 79.

When the arrangement order determination unit 79 searches using a search engine by differentiating the arrangement order of a plurality of candidate words input from the hit order search unit 77, and as a result of the search, the order of the link data becomes the highest. The order of arrangement is determined, and the order of arrangement is output to the hit order search unit 77.

The hit order search unit 77 deletes one by one from the candidate words having the latest arrangement order among the plurality of candidate words in response to the arrangement order being input from the arrangement order determination unit 79. If the latter one or more candidate words are searched using a search engine and the result of the search shows that the rank of the link data is higher than the predetermined rank, the one or more candidate words are determined as the search word and one or more. Determine the search word and sequence order of.

In the comparison determination unit 59, the link information is input from the link information extraction unit 53, and the search word is input from the search word acquisition unit 57. The comparison determination unit 59 compares the link information with the search word, determines whether or not to add the search word to the target data, and outputs the determination result to the data generation unit 61. The comparison determination unit 59 determines that the search word is added to the target data when the link information has more characters than the search word. When the search word includes Chinese characters, the comparison determination unit 59 converts the search word into hiragana and compares the number of characters in the converted hiragana with the number of characters in the link information. Further, the hiragana may be converted into romaji, and the number of characters in the converted romaji may be compared with the number of characters in the link information. Since the number of times the user operates the key can be reduced, the input operation becomes easy.

Further, the comparison determination unit 59 determines that the search word is added to the target data when only the numerical values and / or the symbols are arranged in the link information. Even if the link information does not have more characters than the search word, if only numerical values and / or symbols are arranged, it is determined that the search word is added to the target data. It facilitates input operations by users who are not accustomed to inputting numerical values or symbols.

Further, the comparison determination unit 59 determines that the search word is not added to the target data when the link information has not more characters than the search word and the numbers and / or symbols are not arranged. If it is easy for the user to enter the link information, it is possible to prevent the search word from being added and the target data to be unchanged.

In the data generation unit 61, the target data is input from the target acquisition unit 51, and the search word is input from the search word acquisition unit 57. When a plurality of search words are input from the search word acquisition unit 57, the plurality of search words and the arrangement order are input. In the data generation unit 61, the determination result input from the comparison determination unit 59 is input. When indicating that a search word is to be added, output data is generated by adding the search word to the target data. The data generation unit 61 adds a search word to an area where nothing exists in the vicinity where the link information is arranged in the target data. The data generation unit 61 may add a message such as "search word of the reference homepage" together with the search word as a character string for indicating that the search word is a search word. When there are a plurality of search words, the data generation unit 61 arranges the plurality of search words in the order of arrangement and arranges them in the target data. Further, the data generation unit 61 may delete the link information in the target data and add a search word at the position where the link information is arranged. The data generation unit 61 outputs output data to the image formation control unit 63.

When the determination result input from the comparison determination unit 59 indicates that the search word is not added, the data generation unit 61 outputs the target data as output data to the image formation control unit 63.

The image formation control unit 63 controls the MFP 100 to transmit the output data to the MFP 100, and causes the MFP 100 to form an image of the output data on paper.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the image forming process. The image forming process is a process executed by the CPU 301 by the CPU 301 included in the PC 300 executing the image forming program stored in the ROM 302, the HDD 304, and the CD-ROM 309. With reference to FIG. 6, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the image formation instruction has been accepted (step S01). When the user operates the operation unit 307 and inputs an image formation instruction, the image formation instruction is accepted. When the image formation instruction is received (NO in step S01) and the image formation instruction is received (YES in step S01), the process proceeds to step S02.

In step S02, the target data to be the target of image formation is acquired. When the user inputs an image forming instruction for forming an image of the data stored in the HDD 115 to the operation unit 163, the data instructed by the user is acquired as the target data.

In the next step S03, the link information is extracted from the target data, and the process proceeds to step S04. When the target data is HTML data, the link information described in HTML is extracted from the HTML data. If the format of the target data is text data, link information is extracted from the target data. For example, a character string including an alphanumerical character starting with "http" or "https" and a symbol of "/" is extracted as link information. When the format of the target data is image data, the image data is converted into text data by recognizing characters and the link information is extracted. If the target data is compressed data, the compressed data is converted into image data and the link information is extracted. When the target data is application data, the application program corresponding to the application data is executed, and the link information is extracted from the target data by using the extraction function defined by the application program. For example, when the application program is a document editing program, the document editing program is executed, and a character string including an alphanumeric character starting with "http" or "https" and a symbol of "/" is extracted as link information.

In step S04, it is determined whether or not the character length of the link information is equal to or greater than the threshold value T1. If the character length of the link information is equal to or greater than the threshold value T1, the process proceeds to step S06, but if not, the process proceeds to step S05. In step S05, it is determined whether or not the link information is composed of only reserved words. If the link information is composed of only reserved words, the process ends, but if not, the process proceeds to step S06. This is because when the link information is composed of only reserved words, it is easy for the user to input the link information.

In step S06, the search word acquisition process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S07. The details of the search word acquisition process will be described later, but it is a process of acquiring a search word for searching the link data specified by the link information using a search engine.

In step S07, the number of characters in the link information and the number of characters in the search word are compared. If the number of characters in the link information is equal to or greater than the number of characters in the search word, the process proceeds to step S09, but if not, the process proceeds to step S08. In step S08, it is determined whether or not the link information consists only of numbers and / or symbols. If the link information consists only of numbers and / or symbols, the process proceeds to step S09, otherwise the process proceeds to step S10. This is to facilitate input operations by users who are not accustomed to input operations of numerical values or symbols.

In step S09, a search word is added to the target data, and the process proceeds to step S10. In the target data, the link information is added near the position where the link information is placed. Further, the link information may be deleted and the search word may be added at the position where the link information is arranged. Further, in order to indicate that the search word is used, a message such as "search word for the reference homepage" may be added before the search word. Hereinafter, the target data to which the search word is added is referred to as output data.

In the next step S10, the MFP 100 is controlled to form an image of the target data or the output data, and the process is terminated. When the process proceeds from step S09, an image of the output data is formed, and when the process proceeds from step S05 or step S08, an image of the target data is formed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the search word acquisition process. The search word acquisition process is a process executed in step S06 of FIG. The link information and the target data are acquired before the search word acquisition process is executed. Further, a case where the link data specified by the link information is stored in the server 200 will be described as an example. With reference to FIG. 7, the CPU 301 acquires the link data specified by the link information (step S21), and proceeds to the process in step S22. The link data is requested from the server 200 connected to the Internet 5 according to the communication protocol of HTTP. Since the server 200 transmits the link data in response to the request from the PC 300, the communication unit 305 acquires the link data received from the server 200.

In step S22, metadata is extracted from the link data. If the link data is data described in HTML, the link data includes metadata. The metadata is the data described in the <TITLE> tag, the <meta description> tag, or the <meta keywords> tag. In the next step S23, the metadata is determined as a candidate word, and the process proceeds to step S24.

In step S24, one of a plurality of words included in the link data is selected as the processing target. When the link data includes image data, the word to be processed is selected with the character data obtained by character recognition of the image data part as the processing target. In the next step S25, the number of times the word selected as the processing target appears in the link data is set as the appearance frequency, and it is determined whether or not the appearance frequency is the threshold value T2 or more. If the frequency of appearance of the word selected as the processing target is the threshold value T2 or more, the processing proceeds to step S26, but if not, the processing proceeds to step S27. In step S26, the word selected as the processing target is determined as a candidate word, and the processing proceeds to step S27. This is because a word that frequently appears in the link data may be set as a search word for searching the link data by a search engine.

In step S27, it is determined whether or not there is a word that has not been selected as the processing target in the link data. If there is an unselected word, the process returns to step S24, but if it does not exist, the process proceeds to step S28.

In step S28, a word whose position is arranged in the target data is within a predetermined number of characters from the link information is extracted from the target data. In step S29, the extracted word is determined as a candidate word. Preferably, the word arranged before the link information and within a predetermined number of characters is extracted from the link information as a candidate word. There is a case where the description about the link data is written around the link information, and the words arranged around the link information are extracted as candidate words.

In the next step S30, one of the arrangement order of the plurality of candidate words is selected. Since the arrangement order is determined by the number of order rows of a plurality of candidate words, select one from the plurality of arrangement orders. In the next step S31, a search engine is used to search with the keys in which a plurality of candidate words are arranged in the selected arrangement order, and the search results are acquired. In the next step S32, the order of the link data in the search result is set as the hit order, and it is determined whether or not the hit order is the threshold value T3 or less. If the hit order is equal to or less than the threshold value T3, the process proceeds to step S33, otherwise the process proceeds to step S34. In step S33, the sequence order selected in step S30 is determined as a candidate, and the process proceeds to step S34. In step S34, it is determined whether or not there is an array order that is not selected as the processing target in step S30. If the unselected sequence order exists, the process returns to step S30, but if it does not exist, the process proceeds to step S35. In step S35, the sequence order having the highest hit order among the sequence orders determined as candidates in step S33 is determined, and the process proceeds to step S36.

When the process proceeds to step S36, a plurality of candidate words and an arrangement order are determined. In step S36, the candidate word having the last arrangement order is deleted from the plurality of candidate words, and the process proceeds to step S37. As a result, the number of candidate words is reduced to one or more. This is to reduce the number of candidate words as much as possible. In step S37, a search engine is used to search with the keys in which one or more candidate words are arranged in the order of arrangement, and the search results are acquired. In the next step S38, the order of the link data in the search result is set as the hit order, and it is determined whether or not the hit order is the threshold value T3 or less. If the hit order is equal to or less than the threshold value T3, the process proceeds to step S39, otherwise the process proceeds to step S41. In step S39, it is determined whether or not there is one candidate word. If there is one candidate word, the process proceeds to step S40, but if not, the process returns to step S36. When the process returns to step S36, a process of searching using a search engine with a key in which one or more candidate words after deleting the last candidate word in the array order from one or more candidate words is arranged in the array order. Is repeated. In step S40, one candidate word is determined as a search word, and the process returns to the image forming process.

In step S41, the deleted candidate word is restored, and the process proceeds to step S42. Finally, when step S36 is executed, the deleted candidate word is restored. In step S42, a plurality of candidate words are determined as search words, the search words and the arrangement order are determined, and the process is returned to the image forming process.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of target data. With reference to FIG. 8, the target data 400 includes the link information 401 between the area where the characters are represented and the area where the photograph is represented, and the area where the photograph is represented and the area where the graph is represented. Includes link information 403 in between. Further, in the upper part of the link information 401, the character string 402 of "Refer to the following page for AAA" is described. The character string 402 is arranged within 20 characters from the link information.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of output data. With reference to FIG. 9, the difference from FIG. 8 is that the link information 401 is replaced with the character string 401A of "reference homepage search word: ABC", and the link information 403 is replaced with "reference homepage search word: ABC". It is a point that includes the character string 403A of "Company B, driver".

In the character string 401A, "ABC" is a search word, and the remaining "search word of the reference homepage:" is a message indicating that it is a search word. Further, the search word "ABC" is a word included in the character string 402.

The user who sees the paper on which the image of the output data 400A is formed inputs the search word "ABC" into the PC 300 or the like that executes the browsing program, and the link data specified by the link information 401 is extracted by the search engine. Therefore, you can browse the link data. The operation of inputting the search word "ABC" is easy because the number of characters is smaller than the operation of inputting the link information 401 into the PC 300. Further, since the link information 401 is a character string in which alphanumeric characters are irregularly arranged, it is necessary to input while checking each character, which is a complicated task compared to the operation of inputting the search word "ABC". Become.

Further, in the character string 403A, "Company B" and "driver" are search words, and indicate the arrangement order in which "driver" is arranged after "company B". In the character string 403A, "Search word of reference homepage:" excluding "Company B" and "Driver" is a message indicating that it is a search word.

The user who sees the paper on which the image of the output data 400A is formed inputs the search word "Company B driver" into the PC300 or the like that executes the browsing program, and the link data specified by the link information 403 is searched by the search engine. Since it is extracted by, the link data specified by the link information 403 can be browsed. The operation of inputting the search word "Company B driver" is easy because the number of characters is smaller than the operation of inputting the link information 403 into the PC300. Further, since the link information 403 is a character string in which alphanumeric characters are irregularly arranged, it is necessary to input while checking each character, which is more complicated than the operation of inputting the search word "Company B driver". It will be work.

<Modification example>
In the above-described embodiment, the PC 300 has been described as an example of the information processing device, but the MFP 100 may be made to function as the information processing device. In this case, among the functions shown in FIG. 5, the same functions as the functions excluding the target acquisition unit 51 and the image formation control unit 63 are formed in the CPU 111 included in the MFP 100. In this case, the function shown in FIG. 5 is formed in the CPU 111 by the CPU 111 included in the MFP 100 executing the image forming program stored in the ROM 113, the HDD 115, and the CD-ROM 118.

When the user causes the document reading unit 130 to read the document, the target acquisition unit 51 formed in the CPU 111 included in the MFP 100 acquires the image data output by the document reading unit 130 as the target data. The target data in this case is image data in a format such as a bitmap format. When the user instructs the data stored in the HDD 115, the target acquisition unit 51 acquires the data instructed by the user as the target data. The format of the target data in this case is arbitrary. When the communication I / F unit 112 receives a print job from an external device, for example, the PC 300, the target acquisition unit 51 acquires the print data included in the print job received from the PC 300 as the target data, and the facsimile unit 116. When receiving facsimile data, acquires the facsimile data as target data. The format of the print data is arbitrary.

The image forming control unit 63 formed in the CPU 111 included in the MFP 100 controls the image forming unit 140 to form an image of output data on paper.

Further, the CPU 111 included in the MFP 100 executes the image forming process shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 by executing the image forming program. However, in step S02, when the image forming instruction received in step S01 causes the user to read the document by the document reading unit 130 and inputs the image forming instruction to form the image of the document to the operation unit 163, the CPU 111 is the document. The image data that the reading unit 130 reads the original and outputs is acquired as the target data. Further, when the user inputs an image forming instruction for forming an image of the data stored in the HDD 115 to the operation unit 163, the data instructed by the user is acquired as the target data. When the communication I / F unit 112 receives a print job from the PC 300, the print data included in the print job received from the PC 300 is acquired as the target data. When the facsimile unit 116 receives the facsimile data, the facsimile data is acquired as the target data.

Further, in step S10, the CPU 111 controls the image forming unit 140 to form an image of the target data or the output data, and ends the process. When the process proceeds from step S09, an image of the output data is formed, and when the process proceeds from step S05 or step S08, an image of the target data is formed.

As described above, each of the PC 300 or the MFP 100 in the present embodiment functions as an information processing device, and when the target data to be image-formed contains the link information, the link data is searched by using the search engine. The search word of is acquired, and the output data is generated by adding the search word to the target data. Therefore, the user who sees the paper on which the image of the output data is formed can search the search engine and browse the link data by the operation of inputting the search word instead of the operation of inputting the link information. As a result, it is possible to simplify the input operation by the user for acquiring the data located on the network.

Also, when the link information has a predetermined number of characters or more, the search word is acquired. If the number of characters of the link information is more than a predetermined number, it is easier to input the search word than to input the link information, so that the input operation by the user can be simplified.

Further, if the link information is not composed only of predetermined reservations, the search word is acquired. If the link information is not composed only of reserved words, it is easier to input the search word than to input the link information, so that the input operation by the user can be simplified.

Further, since the search word is acquired from the link data specified by the link information, it is possible to acquire the search word in which the link data is easily searched by the search engine.

In addition, words arranged within a predetermined number of characters from the link information in the target data are acquired as search words. Since words related to the link data are often included in the target data within a predetermined number of characters from the link information, it is possible to obtain a search word in which the link data can be easily searched by a search engine.

In addition, a search engine is used to search using candidate words, and candidate words that include link data above a predetermined rank in the search results are acquired as search words, so the search word that ranks higher in the link data is determined. Can be done.

Further, when the number of characters is larger than the search word for which the link information is acquired, the output data in which the search word is added to the target data is generated, so that the number of input operations by the user can be reduced.

In addition, the link information does not have more characters than the search word, and when the array of numbers and / or symbols is used, the output data is generated by adding the search word to the target data, which facilitates the input operation by the user. can.

Also, if the number of characters is not larger than the search word for which the link information was acquired and the numerical values and / or symbols are not arranged, the output data will not be generated, so do not add the search word to the target data. Therefore, the image of the target data can be formed without changing the target data.

In the above-described embodiment, the PC 300 or the MFP 100 has been described as an example of the information processing apparatus, but an apparatus having a function of forming an image of data, for example, a printer or a facsimile apparatus may be used. Further, the invention is captured as an image forming method for causing the PC 300 or the MFP 100 to execute the image forming process shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and an image forming program for causing the CPU 301 provided with the PC 300 or the CPU 111 provided with the MFP 100 to execute the image forming method. It goes without saying that you can do it.

It should be considered that the embodiments disclosed this time are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown by the scope of claims rather than the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

<Additional Notes>
(1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the search word acquisition means acquires metadata of link data as a search word. According to this aspect, since the metadata of the link data is used as the search word, it is possible to obtain a search word that is easily searched by a search engine that uses the metadata for the search.
(2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the search word acquisition means acquires words having a frequency of including a predetermined number or more in the link data as search words. According to this aspect, since words having a frequency of being included in the link data of a predetermined number or more are acquired as search words, it is possible to acquire a search word in which the link data can be easily searched.
(3) When there are a plurality of search words, the search word acquisition means searches using a search engine in a different order of the plurality of search words, and determines the order in which the order of the link data is the highest in the search results. , The image forming apparatus according to claim 5. According to this aspect, since the order in which the order of the link data has the highest rank in the search results searched by changing the order of the plurality of search words is determined, the search of the link data can be facilitated.
(4) The information processing device according to claim 9, further comprising a communication control means for communicating with an external device, wherein the target acquisition means acquires data received from the external device as target data.
(5) The information according to claim 9 or (4), further comprising a document reading means that reads a document and outputs image data, and the target acquisition means acquires image data output by the document reading means as target data. Processing equipment.
(6) The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, (4) or (5), further comprising a storage means for storing data, wherein the target acquisition means acquires the stored data as target data.

1 Information processing system, 5 Internet, 100 MFP, 200 server, 300 PC, 110 main circuit, 111 CPU, 112 communication I / F section, 113 ROM, 114 RAM, 115 HDD, 116 facsimile section, 117 external storage device, 120 Automatic document transfer device, 130 document reader, 140 image forming unit, 150 paper feed unit, 155 post-processing unit, 160 operation panel, 161 display unit, 163 operation unit, 165 touch panel, 167 hard key unit, 51 target acquisition unit, 53 Link information extraction unit, 55 Additional judgment unit, 57 Search word acquisition unit, 59 Comparison judgment unit, 61 Data generation unit, 63 Image formation control unit, 65 Character length judgment unit, 67 Reserved word judgment unit, 71 Data acquisition unit, 73 Metadata extraction unit, 75 Frequency standard extraction unit, 77 Hit order search unit, 79 Sequence order determination unit, 81 Target extraction unit.

Claims (13)

When the target data to be image-formed includes link information indicating the network address of the link data, a search word acquisition means for acquiring a search word for searching the link data using a search engine, and a search word acquisition means.
A data generation means for generating output data by adding the acquired search word in place of the link information included in the target data, and
An information processing apparatus including an image forming control means for causing an image forming apparatus to form an image of the output data. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the search word acquisition means acquires a search word when the link information has a predetermined number of characters or more. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the search word acquisition means acquires the search word if the link information is not composed of predetermined words. A data acquisition means for acquiring the link data using the link information is further provided.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the search word acquisition means acquires the search word from the link data. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the search word acquisition means acquires words arranged within a predetermined number of characters from the link information in the target data as search words. The search word acquisition means searches using the candidate word using the search engine, and acquires as the search word a candidate word containing the link data in a predetermined order or higher in the search result. The information processing device described in any of the above. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the data generation means generates the output data when the link information has a larger number of characters than the acquired search word. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the data generation means generates the output data when the link information is an array of numerical values and / or symbols. The data generation means does not generate the output data when the link information has a smaller number of characters than the acquired search word and the numerical values and / or symbols are not arranged. The information processing apparatus according to any one of 8. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a target acquisition means for acquiring the target data. Further equipped with an image forming means for forming an image of data on a recording medium,
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the image forming control means causes the image forming means to form an image of the output data. When the target data to be image-formed includes link information indicating the network address of the link data, a search word acquisition step of acquiring a search word for searching the link data using a search engine, and a search word acquisition step.
A data generation step of generating output data by adding the acquired search word in place of the link information included in the target data, and
An image forming method for causing an information processing apparatus to execute an image forming control step of causing an image forming apparatus to form an image of the output data. When the target data to be image-formed includes link information indicating the network address of the link data, a search word acquisition step of acquiring a search word for searching the link data using a search engine, and a search word acquisition step.
A data generation step of generating output data by adding the acquired search word in place of the link information included in the target data, and
An image forming program for causing a computer to execute an image forming control step of causing an image forming apparatus to form an image of the output data.

Images