JPH04264978A - Electronic filing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform the retrieval of a large amount of document data with high efficiency and to obtain a retrieval result with low latency time when a printer is installed at a remote place or when processing is concentrated to the printer. CONSTITUTION:This device is equipped with a file server 105 provided with large capacity storage and to store document data, and a print server 100 which outputs print data to paper by a request from an electronic device 104 at the remote place connected to a network, and a means which attaches information to identify a request origin on output paper, a means which displays an output destination, and a means which changes an output mode at every retrieval are provided. Thereby, it is possible to shorten a time until the retrieval result is obtained. Also, an effect to easily take out the retrieval result of a user from the output paper can be obtained.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic file device for storing document data, and more particularly to an electronic file device having a printer function for outputting search results as document images.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, electronic file devices for storing document data have been used in Hitachi Review, Volume 36 (1987
), p. 213 (S. Ito et al., “H
ITFILE 650 Optical Dis
k Filing System,” Hitach
i Review 36, 213 (1987)), document images stored on an optical disk are searched using keywords, etc., and corresponding search result images are sequentially output from an electronic file printer. Also, Television Society Journal Volume 44, Number 10 (199
0) Pages 1425 to 1439 (Takeda et al. "Visual retrieval of image coded documents via LAN using rewritable optical disks"), for electronic file devices connected to a network, images of search results are output sequentially from the printer in the same way.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the prior art, a plurality of users each make a search request from a nearby terminal or an electronic file device, and the search results are searched for in an electronic file located at a remote location connected to a network. When outputting to a printer, it was necessary to go to a distant printer to pick up the output paper. Therefore, there is a problem in that it takes time to reach the printer in a remote location. In addition, in the conventional technology, since multiple users output search results to a printer located in a remote location, the output is concentrated on the printer, and the output paper is piled up at the exit of the printer, making it difficult for the user to search for the output paper. There was a problem that it took a lot of time. Furthermore, when outputting search results to a printer connected to a network, if the output printer is set in advance, the output will concentrate on the printer and the user will have to wait until the printer is free. There was a problem in that it took a long time to obtain the output paper.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to efficiently process a large amount of document data by omitting the trouble of going to the remote printer to retrieve output paper when a printer for electronic files connected to a network is located in a remote location. It's there where you can search.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to eliminate the trouble of searching for one's search results among the output papers when the output is concentrated on the printer connected to the network and the output paper piles up. It's about getting your own search results efficiently.

Another feature of the present invention is to prevent output requests from concentrating on the printer connected to the network, thereby shortening the output waiting time.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention adds user attribute information such as address, postal code, identification number, and first and last name to the surface of the paper on which the search results are output together with the search results. This attribute information allows the output paper to be sent to the user. Another feature of the present invention is that the output paper can be automatically sorted for each search request so that the output does not concentrate on the printer and the paper documents resulting from the search do not pile up. Furthermore, in order to avoid long wait times for printer output, it automatically searches for and outputs to printers that are vacant or have short wait times, and for this purpose, displays the location of the destination printer to the user. This is also another feature of the present invention.

[0008]

[Operation] The electronic file device of the present invention outputs search results on paper from a printer connected to the network at the request of the user of the electronic device from a remote location connected to the network. , operates to add attribute information such as first and last name to the output paper. By adding this attribute information, the output paper can be shipped to the user, so the user does not have to travel to the printer in the remote location and can efficiently obtain search results. Further, the printer connected to the network operates to change the paper output format or storage format for each search request unit. This allows users to easily obtain their own search results. moreover,
From among multiple printers connected to the network,
Since the printer searches for a printer with a short waiting time, outputs the output, and displays the location of the output destination printer, the user can obtain the search results in a short time.

[0009]

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be explained below with reference to FIG. This figure shows the overall structure of an electronic file that is equipped with a mass storage device and stores document data.
It consists of a number of electronic devices connected to 8. Among the electronic devices connected to the network 108, the file server 105 is equipped with a mass storage device such as an optical disk, and stores a large amount of document data. Explore and read. In addition, print servers 100, 10
7 sends the document data that is the search result to the file server 105.
and output it on paper. This electronic file has a plurality of users, and a plurality of search stations 104 and 106 are connected to the network 108. The network 108 also includes multiple print servers.
They are connected like 00, 107. This network 108 is a local area network or a wide area communication network, and the search station and print server are usually located in remote locations far apart. For this reason, the print servers 100 and 107 are provided with a destination adding section 103, which outputs user attribute information to the printer control section 102. The printer 101 is composed of a page printer or an image printer, and prints out a search result image by adding user attributes such as a destination, according to instructions from the printer control unit 102. As a result, the output paper of the search results will include the destination,
Since user attribute information such as name, postal code, identification number, etc. is added, the search results output to a print server in a remote location can be sent immediately by post. be. Moreover, a bar code, an identification mark, or a designated color can also be used as this attribute information.

FIG. 13 shows a print server 1 used in the present invention.
00 is a configuration diagram showing an example. processor 1300,
A control memory 1301 is connected to the bus 1310;
A program in the control memory 1301 adds user attributes such as destination. The search results are stored in image memory 1302, and the user's attributes are added to the image. A communication control unit 1309 is connected to the bus 1310 and performs communication with an external network.
In addition to receiving the search results read from 05, the searcher's attribute information is also received from the search station connected to the network. A display/keyboard control unit 1305 controls a display 1306 and a keyboard 1307 provided in the print server 100, and controls a display memory 1308 such as a bitmap to display it on the display. The input/output control unit 1303 controls the printer 1304 to output an image as a search result on paper, and also prints the user's attribute information together with the image.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a process for adding user attribute information. The print server 100 performs step 20
0 to receive the image that is the search result. Next, in step 201, the sender, who is the user, is identified, and attribute information such as the destination and first and last name is acquired. The attribute information can also be stored in advance in a table format in each print server. Alternatively, user attributes sent from a requesting search station connected to the network can be received for each search result. Next, in step 202, a destination is created so that the attribute information can be sent by mail, etc., and in step 203, the image that is the search result and the destination generated in the previous step are combined. In step 204, the search result image with the destination added is output as paper to a printer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a document with an address. Destination 3 is displayed on the first page of the document image 300 that is the search result.
An example in which 10 is added is shown. If the document image 300 that is the search result has multiple pages, the destination 310 can be assigned to all pages. Alternatively, the destination may be assigned only to the first page. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a document with a cover. It is also possible to automatically add a cover page 900 to the beginning of the document image 902 that is the search result, and print the destination on the cover page 900.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the electronic file device of the present invention, which is equipped with a network. A plurality of search stations 405, 408, etc. are connected to the network 410. In addition, print servers 400, 4
As shown in 09, a plurality of print servers are connected to a network 410. Furthermore, file server 4
04 is connected to the network 410, and a plurality of file servers storing a large amount of document data may also be connected. The print server 400 includes a priority determination unit 403 that receives search result output requests from a plurality of search stations, determines the output order according to a preset priority level, and sends the output requests to the printer control unit 401. Outputs the output order. As the priority level, there is a method of setting a priority level for each user. There is also a method in which the user sets a priority level for each search unit. Alternatively, the priority level may be determined based on the number of output pages of search results. In this way, by adding priority to the output of search results, it is possible to output prints according to the degree of urgency of the user, so that search results can be obtained efficiently.

On the other hand, the search station 405 is equipped with a display 406, which displays the location of the print server that outputs the user's search results among the plurality of print servers as map data 407 on the screen. to be presented. Multiple search stations are connected to the network 410, and when multiple users output search results from the same print server at the same time,
You will have to wait until the print server becomes available. For this reason,
To search for a print server that is vacant or has a short waiting time among print servers connected to a network, and output the search result to the print server. At this time,
It is necessary to show the user which of a plurality of print servers the search results should be output to, and for this reason, the location of the output destination print server is displayed as a map on the display of the search station.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation in which the search station determines the output destination print server. The search station 405 issues a search request to the file server 404, and the file server 404 reads the corresponding document data from a mass storage device such as an optical disk. At this point, the search station 405 receives an instruction to output an image as a search result from the file server in step 500. Then, in step 501, a vacant print server is searched for. If there are no free print servers,
Search for print servers with low latency. At this time, it is also possible to limit the range of print servers to be searched based on the distance from the search station, so that even if a print server in a remote location is vacant, output will not be made there. For this reason, it is possible to provide means for previously registering print servers that are allowed to output for each search station, and to search for print servers within the registered range. In step 502, a print server as an output destination is determined, and an output command is issued to the print server. Furthermore, in step 503, map data indicating the location of the print server is read. This map data is held in the print server, and when an output command is issued, the search station receives the map data from the print server and reads it out. Alternatively, the map data of the print server registered in advance in the search station may be held, and this map data may be read out when an output command is issued. In step 504, map data of the print server to be output is displayed on the screen of the search station.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the screen display of the output destination print server. An output destination map 601 is displayed on the display screen 600 of the search station. Also,
The address of the print server may also be displayed as a character string. Furthermore, information such as the length of waiting time may be displayed on the screen as well. For this reason, the search station 40
5 is provided with means for reading the status of the queue of the print server 400, means for calculating the waiting time, and means for displaying the waiting time on the screen as a character string or graphic. As a result, even if the output destination print server is not fixed and the output is output to an available print server at any time, the user can obtain the output paper from the search results without having to search for the output destination. effective.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a print server equipped with a sorting mechanism. The print server 700 connects search stations 705 and 70 via a network 709.
6 as well as a file server 707 and another print server 7
It is connected to 08 etc. A printer control unit 704 controls the operation of the printer 701 and outputs search result output information to an identification number determination unit 703. The information includes the number of the search request, the number of pages of the search results, etc. The identification number determining unit 703 determines storage positions for sorting output paper for each search request unit, and sends storage position information to the sorting machine 702 for each search unit.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the sorting machine 702. The printed paper sent out from the printer 701 is stored in a predetermined storage section among the output paper storage sections 806, 807, 808, and 809 by switching the paper feeding by the feeding direction switching mechanisms 803, 804, and 805. That will happen. At this time, the searcher identification control section 802 sets a storage section for each searcher, and the forwarding control section 801 controls switching of the forwarding direction. This has the advantage that output paper can be automatically supplied to a predetermined storage location, for example, a storage shelf, for each searcher or search supply.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of storage means for sorting. The destination of the paper sent out from the printer 1200 is switched by the output paper feeding mechanism 1201, and the paper is sent to the sending paths 1220, 1221, 1222, 1.
223 and is sent to the output paper storage section 1213. The output paper storage section 1213 has partition plates 1210 and 1.
211, 1212 are provided, which are movable plates. Partition drive parts 1205, 1206, 1207
The partition plate moves in the axial direction of the drive shaft 1208. The partition control unit 1209 controls the position of the partition plate according to the number of sheets of paper received by the output sheet number receiving unit 1204. Further, the unit of the search request is identified by the search request identification unit 1203, and the position of the shelf where the output paper is stored is input to the feed control unit 1202. In this way, the size of the shelf that stores the output search results can be made variable, so even if the number of output sheets of search results differs for each search request, the paper will not be removed from the shelf that stores the output paper. It has the effect of preventing overflow, and it also has the effect of efficiently storing search results for each search request.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the sending of a cover sheet for setting a cover sheet on the output sheet of search results. The printer 1000 has two parts that supply paper for printing, a document delivery part 1001 and a cover delivery part 10.
Consists of 02. The cover sending unit 1002 adds a cover to the search results, and can include, for example, paper of a different size or color from the search result paper as the cover paper. A search request unit identification unit 1003 identifies the beginning of each search result and the result document. The document sending unit 1001 sequentially sends out sheets for printing the contents of the search results. As a result, a separator sheet can be inserted into the output paper of the printer for each search request, and this separator sheet can be used as a clue to separate a large number of output sheets for each search request. be. Further, in the cover output unit 1002, the color of the paper can be set for each searcher, so that the user can easily retrieve his/her own search results from the output paper.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a method for rotating the orientation of paper for each search request. Paper is supplied to the printer 1100 from a landscape paper delivery unit 1101 and a portrait paper delivery unit 1102. Among these, the paper set to landscape is sent from the landscape paper sending unit 1101 to the printer 110.
Sent to 0. Further, a portrait paper feed unit 1102 sends paper set to be portrait long to the printer 1100 . When printing with a printer, the image is rotated and printed according to the orientation of the paper. A search request unit identification unit 1103 identifies the unit of the search request, and alternately issues paper sending commands to the landscape paper sending unit 1101 and the portrait paper sending unit 1102 for each search request. As a result, the orientation of the printed document can be rotated and output for each search result, making it easier for the user to retrieve his/her own search results from the output paper.

Note that the present invention is applicable not only to electronic files but also to systems having a paper output device in electronic devices connected to a network, such as printer devices of workstations connected to a network, word processors connected to a network, etc. The present invention is also effective for image transmission devices such as printer devices, facsimile devices connected to networks such as wide area communication networks and local area communication networks.

[0023]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, user attribute information can be added to output paper in an electronic device equipped with a network configuration. There is no need to go there, and the output paper can be easily shipped based on the attribute information. Furthermore, since the output sheets can be automatically sorted, the output sheets are not piled up in the printer, and the user can easily obtain his or her own output sheets. moreover,
Since the output destination of the printer can be switched and the output destination can be presented to the user on a screen display, the waiting time for printing can also be shortened.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an electronic file device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of user attribute assignment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a document with an address.

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of an electronic file device showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an operation for determining an output destination print server.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a screen display of an output destination printer.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a print server.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a sorting mechanism.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a document with a cover.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of sending out a cover sheet.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of paper rotation.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of search result storage means.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a print server.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Print server 103 Destination addition section 104 Search station 105 File server 108 Network 407 Map data display section on screen 702 Sorting machine

Claims (17)

[Claims] Claim 1: An electronic file device for storing document data, comprising means for outputting document data on paper in response to a request from a remote electronic device connected to a network, and identifying a request source on the output paper. 1. An electronic file device, comprising: means for adding information to the file. 2. The electronic file device according to claim 1, wherein a postal code or an identification number is printed on the output paper. 3. The electronic file device according to claim 1, wherein a bar code or an identification mark is printed on the output paper. 4. An electronic file device for storing and retrieving document data, comprising a first means for adding a cover page before the first page of the retrieved document, and a second means for printing an address on the cover page. An electronic file device comprising: means. 5. An electronic file device for storing document data, comprising a first means for supplying paper output from a printer to a sorting machine, and a second means for controlling the sorting machine according to an identification number of a searcher or a search request. and third means for storing output paper for each searcher or search request. 6. Means for outputting document data on paper in response to a request from a remote electronic device connected to a network;
means for receiving the output request and selecting a printer with a short output waiting time, means for storing the location of the output destination printer as map data, and displaying map data indicating the location on a screen of an electronic device connected to a network. 1. An electronic file device comprising: means for displaying. 7. An electronic file device for storing document data, comprising: means for giving priority to a searcher's identification number;
An electronic file device comprising: means for controlling printer output according to priority rights. 8. The electronic file device according to claim 4, wherein the first means includes means for setting the color of the cover page to be added to a color different from the color of the page of the search result document. 9. The electronic file device according to claim 4, wherein the first means includes means for setting the size of the cover page to be added to a size different from the size of the page of the search result document. 10. An electronic file device for storing document data, comprising: means for identifying a search request unit; and means for rotating the direction of paper output to the search request unit. File device. 11. The third means includes: means for varying the size of the storage section for storing the output document; means for identifying the number of sheets of paper to be output; and means for changing the size of the storage section for storing the output document; 6. The electronic file device according to claim 5, wherein the size of the electronic file is controlled. 12. An electronic device that is connected to a network and outputs an image on paper in response to a request from an electronic device at a remote location, the electronic device comprising: first means for measuring a waiting time for output; An electronic device connected to a network, comprising: second means for selecting an output destination electronic device based on the location of the device; and third means for displaying the location of the output destination electronic device. 13. The electronic file device according to claim 1, wherein a destination or a name is printed as information for identifying the request source. 14. An electronic file device for storing document data, comprising: means for identifying a search request unit; and means for changing a paper output format according to the search request unit. Device. 15. An electronic file device for storing document data, characterized by having means for identifying a search request unit, and means for changing the storage format of output paper according to the search request unit. Electronic filing device. 16. The second means is a means for registering and retaining electronic devices from which output destinations can be selected for each electronic device, and selecting one of the registered electronic devices with a short waiting time or one that is not occupied. 13. An electronic device connected to a network according to claim 12, further comprising means for searching for an electronic device. 17. Means for outputting document data on paper in response to a request from a remote electronic device connected to a network, means for receiving the output request and selecting a printer with a short output waiting time, and an output destination. An electronic file device comprising means for storing the location of the printer, means for displaying the location on the screen of an electronic device connected to a network, and means for simultaneously displaying the output waiting time on the screen. .