JPH09102856A - Scanner server device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain executing a pre-scanning and main scanning processing by means of a client by using the lock function of an image file. SOLUTION: A main scanning image transmitted from a scanner controller is transferred/registered in a raster image memory 760, registered in a position attribute table 770 corresponding to an image file ID which is previously set and controlled. A scanner server successively transfer the image file ID from the raster image memory 760 to an image data block with continuous packet IDs as the series of image data packets in order to execute transfer to a client computer. A main controller changes the corresponding pre-scanning image lock level of corresponding control data in a pre-scanning control table into the level capable of removing the pre-scanning image and main scanning image file at the time when all the main scannings are completed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a scanner server device that stores image data from a scanner that photoelectrically reads a document image and transfers the stored image data to a processing device via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a plurality of computers are connected to a network to share data and share printer resources. Among the functions, a print server where multiple users share one printer,
A function called a scanner server, in which a plurality of users share one scanner, has been emphasized.

As described above, the scanner server is a computer in which a plurality of computers on a network share one scanner, whereby it is not necessary to provide a dedicated scanner for each of the plurality of computers, and the system configuration is simplified. Can be converted.

[0004]

By the way, unlike a print server that captures and stores image data transferred from a network and prints out the image data at an arbitrary time, the scanner server sets a document to be read by the scanner. At this time, the real-time property of reading the original image and storing the image data is required.

Therefore, while reading and storing the original image set on the scanner according to the instruction of a certain computer, the request from another computer cannot be satisfied, and the image storing function of the scanner server is used. While a process that requires a long processing time, such as image editing, is being executed, requests from other computers are in a waiting state until the series of processes is completed.

For example, image data obtained by prescanning a document image is stored in a scanner server, the stored image data is transferred to a computer on a network for display, and various processing conditions are set for the displayed image. A series of processes is conceivable in which the document image is scanned again (main scan) and image processing is performed on the image data obtained thereby.

In such processing, if there is an empty time from the end of the prescan to the start of the main scan,
There is an inconvenience that the image data stored in the prescan is erased when the image data is newly input from the scanner, and the prescan must be executed again.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its object is to prevent inadvertent deletion of image data output from a scanner and stored. Storage means for storing image data output from a scanner that photoelectrically reads the image, transfer means for transferring the storage means and the stored image data to a processing device via a network, and an image stored in the storage means. A device having a prohibition unit that prohibits deletion of data is provided.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a scanner server system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system of the present embodiment has a digital color image reading section (hereinafter, referred to as a color scanner) 100 on an upper portion, and a color scanner 100 for an original.
Color reflection copying machine (hereinafter referred to as "feeder") 1200 which is set at the reading position of the image and a digital color image printing unit (hereinafter referred to as "color printer") 300 which prints out a digital color image (digital color copier) 1000, a scanner server 200 connected on the network 1, and a plurality of client user computers 400.

FIG. 2 has a scanner / printer function,
The structure of the color digital copying machine 1000 and the structure of the feeder are shown.

In the color scanner 100, the scanner controller 101 is the center of control and performs the following control.

The original on the original table is color-separated for each color of R, G and B by a contact type CCD line sensor in the exposure system controller 103 and converted into a dot-sequential analog image signal. This analog image signal is also converted into a digital image signal of 8 bits for each color by the A / D conversion unit in the exposure system controller 103, and each of the RGB colors of luminance is output as a line sequential signal. The image signal (digital) is converted by the image processing unit 102 from the brightness levels of R, G, B to the levels corresponding to the toner amounts of four colors of C, M, Y, and Bk, which are the densities. At the same time, the image processing unit 102 performs color correction calculation and various image processing such as composition, scaling, and movement is performed.

Further, an operation panel / touch sensor 107 including both an operation panel for displaying a message and a touch sensor function for instructing an operation to a user, and an operation panel controller 10 for controlling the operation panel / touch sensor 107.
There are six.

The feeder 1200 is set on the original table of the color scanner 100, and the color scanner 10
It is controlled by the feeder controller 105 within 0.

The stacking tray 201 on which a stack of originals is set is provided with a guide plate for restricting the widthwise direction of the originals so that the originals are not skewed at the time of feeding the originals and slides vertically in the original feeding direction. . The slide volume also operates in conjunction with this, and the size (length) of the document in the width direction can also be detected.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of the feeder 1200. First, for a single-sided original, the half-moon roller 203 and the separation roller 2
The originals are separated one by one from the lowermost part of the original stack placed on the stacking tray 201 by 04, and the separated originals are fed by the contact type paper width sensor 212 provided in the path I while passing the path I. The paper width in the paper direction is detected, and the transport roller 2
05 and the entire surface belt 206 pass through the path II and are conveyed / stopped to the exposure position of the platen glass 214.

After color separation scanning by the contact type CCD line sensor, the original on the platen glass 214 is again conveyed by the large conveying roller 207 and the paper discharging roller 208 (in the case of a small size original, the entire belt 206 and the paper discharging roller 211). The document is returned to the top of the stack of documents on the stacking tray 201.

At this time, the recycle lever 209 is placed on the upper part of the document stack at the start of document feeding, and when the documents are sequentially fed and the trailing edge of the final document leaves the recycle lever 209, the recycle lever 209 is placed on the stack tray 201 by its own weight. One drop of the document is detected by falling.

Next, in the case of a double-sided original, as described above, after the scanning of the first side is completed, the original is once passed through path III, and the switching flapper 213 capable of rotating operation is switched to guide the leading edge of the original to path IV. , Transport roller 205
Then, the original is set on the platen glass 214 by the entire surface belt 206 through the path II. That is, the reversal of the document is executed by the route of paths III-IV-II by the rotation of the large conveyance roller 207. After this, the scanning of the second surface is executed and then discharged as described above.

Further, the document bundles are passed one by one through passes I to II to I.
The paper width sensor 212 is conveyed through II-V-VI until one cycle is detected by the recycle lever 209.
It is also possible to count the number of documents by.

Returning to FIG. 2, in the color printer 300,
C, M, Y, B sent from the color scanner 100
Each digital image signal of k is the printer controller 301.
Is converted into a lighting signal of the semiconductor laser unit, the laser is controlled by the laser drive unit 310, and the lighting signal of the laser is output as a pulse width corresponding to the level of the digital image signal. The lighting level of the laser is 256 levels (corresponding to 8 bits). A laser corresponding to the digital image signal is a polygon scanner drive unit 311.
And a charging unit 313 that is scanned by a color image and is controlled by the surface potential control unit 312 for each color image of C, M, Y, and K.
The photosensitive drum 315 that has been charged at is sequentially exposed in a digital dot format. After being developed with each color toner in the developing unit 314, the paper is fed from the paper cassette 323 under the control of the paper feed control unit 318, and is transferred 316 to a plurality of papers mounted on the transfer drum 319. Then, after that, the sheet separated by the separating unit 320 is conveyed by the conveying unit 321 and finally fixed by the fixing unit 322, and the tray 32
It is discharged to 4. In this way, it is an electrophotographic laser beam printer.

The color scanner 100 and the feeder 12
00 and the color printer 300 are the color scanner 100.
Control of the feeder unit 1200 and the color printer 300 to control the digital color copying machine 100.
It is possible to function as 0.

When functioning as the digital color copying machine 1000, the platen glass 21 of the color scanner 100 is used.
The original image is set to 0, the copy start key displayed on the operation panel 107 is pressed, and the image is read from the color scanner 100, image processing, exposure, development, transfer by the color printer 300 are performed according to the above-described process. An image is formed through the fixing process and is output as a color copy.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the client computer 400 on the network.

The client computer 400 includes a network controller 420 for controlling a protocol on the network with the scanner server 200, and a CPU 40 for centrally controlling the client computer.
5, a memory ROM 406 storing a control program for the CPU 405, a hard disk 451 for temporarily storing image data and various data storage, a hard disk controller 450 for controlling the hard disk 451, a main memory 460 and means for inputting instructions from an operator. A mouse 431, a keyboard 441 and a keyboard / mouse controller 430 for controlling them, a color display 412 for layout / editing / menu display, a display memory 411, a display controller 410, and image layout / editing on the display memory 411. The image editing controller 413 is used.

FIG. 4 shows a scanner server 200 connecting the network and the digital color copying machine 100.

This apparatus has (1) the entire memory server 26 for the entire scanner server 200.
1. A main controller 210 controlled by a program stored in 1.

(2) A network controller 220 for controlling protocol processing on the network, and a network server controller 221 for controlling the server, such as analyzing the contents of buckets extracted by the protocol and separating image data.

(3) A raster image storage unit 700 which stores / manages color multi-valued raster image data and its position / attribute information and performs layout based on the separated image data / command data. It can be broadly divided into

As the interface, a color digital interface controller 790 for exchanging image data and commands by bidirectional communication with the digital color copying machine 1000, a mouse 244 and a keyboard 245 as instruction input means from the server administrator, It is composed of a color display 242 for layout / editing / menu display, a display memory 241, and a display controller 240.

A hard disk 231 and a hard disk controller 230 are also provided for storing image data and the like.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the raster image storage unit 700 in the scanner server 200.

The raster image storage unit 700 has a memory management controller 720 that efficiently arranges and manages color raster image data in a raster image memory 760, centering on an image main controller 710 that controls the entire raster image data. And its management table 77
Has zero.

An image editing controller 730 and a color printer for performing image conversion relating to color, and enlarging / reducing / deforming editing on already registered image data or image data registered in the memory from the color scanner 100. A layout controller 750, which performs layout editing in real time when outputting to 300, is mainly configured.

When outputting the image data on the memory,
Image data is transferred to the color printer 300 via the color digital interface controller 790,
A color print image can be obtained. Further, it is possible to input image data from the color scanner 100 and register the image data in the memory via the color digital interface controller 790.

Image data and commands between the raster image storage unit 700 and the main bus of the scanner server 200 are
It is based on a specific format, and is configured such that the image main controller 710 and the main controller 210 of the scanner server 200 communicate with each other via the bus controller 740.

The raster image storage unit 700 is capable of managing image data in two modes, a file management mode and a page mode.

In the printer output, the first file management mode is a function of storing / managing a plurality of image data, and the stored image data is stored in the scanner server 200.
In response to a command from the main controller 210, a plurality of registered image data are laid out and output to the color printer 300 via the color digital interface controller 790 to obtain a color print image.

At this time, the plurality of image data are managed as image files by dividing the raster image memory 760 into a plurality of parts, and the start address on the memory and the image data length, the attribute of the image data, the image, and the like. The position information of the layout output of the data is registered in the position / attribute information table 770, and the memory management controller 720 manages it. The position specified by the image editing controller 730 that performs image conversion regarding the color of the registered image data when actually output and the position specified by the layout controller 750 that performs enlargement / reduction / deformation editing when outputting the layout. The size of the color digital interface controller 79
It is output to the color printer 300 via 0. Therefore, since the original image data is always on the memory, it is possible to change the layout output.

In the scanner input, the file management mode can store and manage a plurality of scanner input image data similarly to the print output. At this time, the image data for print output and the image data for scanner input can be mixed.

The image input from the color scanner 100 is stored in the raster image memory 7 as in printing.
60 is divided into a plurality of parts and managed, and the start address on the memory, its image data length, the attribute of the image data, etc. are registered in the attribute information table 770, and the memory management controller 720 manages them. .

When actually inputting, the color scanner 1
The input size specified by the image editing controller 730 that performs image conversion related to the color of the scanner input image data input from 00 and the layout controller 750 that performs the enlargement / reduction / deformation editing at the time of input becomes the raster image memory. be registered.

In the page mode which is another memory management mode, the raster image memory 760 is treated as one sheet, the memory is managed by width (WIDTH) / height (HEIGHT), and a plurality of image data are When each is laid out on the memory, the image editing controller 730 performs enlargement / reduction / deformation and image conversion relating to the color of the image data, and fits the layout position on the designated image memory.

Thus, the layout controller 750
Becomes a position and size designated by the color digital interface controller 790, and is output to the color printer 300, or image data of a size designated by the color scanner 100 is registered in the image memory. To be done.

On the network to which the client computer 400 and the scanner server 200 are connected, one block is used for each data communication called a packet as shown in (1) of FIG. 9 for communication. Then, packets are exchanged with each other.

In the packet structure, the network address of the transmission destination is set at the beginning, and the network address of the transmission source is set at the beginning, the information on the frame size of the packet is followed by the actual packet data, and finally the reliability of the data transfer. In order to improve the quality, an error check such as CRC called a tailor is attached. FIG. 9B shows the contents of the packet data part. Although arbitrary data can be inserted into this packet data section 10002, in this embodiment, it is divided into a header section 10003 and a data block section 10100 as shown in the figure.

The packet data section 1000 is shown in FIG.
2 shows the contents of the header part. As shown in the figure, the header part 10003 first has a header code 10019 indicating that it is header information, then a function code part 10020 indicating what function this packet data has, and then a function code part 10020. As shown in FIG. 11, continuous NO when one packet is composed of a plurality of packets
, A total packet ID 10031 indicating the total number of packets, and a data length 10032 indicating the length of the data of the data block unit 10100 in which the actual data is stored.

FIG. 9 (4) shows the contents of the function code part. The function code part 10020 is a function ID 10 indicating the type of the scanner server.
021, a job type ID 10022 that indicates the type of job for the server, and a job ID 10023 that identifies the job to be executed.

Next, the contents of the data block portion 10100 of the packet data portion 10002 are shown in (3) of FIG. As shown in the figure, the data block section 1 is defined by the content of the unique job type ID 10022 of the function code section 10020 of the header section 10003.
0100 has a command block 10005, a status block 10006, and an image data block 1000.
7, image information block 10008.

FIG. 13 shows a general flow of the operation procedure of the user of this scanner server system.

The scan operation procedure of the scanner server system having the above configuration will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 14 to 19.

First, the operation of the scanner controller of the digital color copying machine in the scanner input application process will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14.

The user presses the <scanner input application> key displayed on the operation panel 107 of the digital color copying machine (step U1). Upon recognition of this key (step S1), a portion for inputting the user ID shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the operation panel 107 (step S2). The user uses this display to display his / her uniquely determined user ID in the operation panel 107.
Use the numeric keypad above to enter. Further, as the attribute of the document, one-sided document or two-sided document is designated by pressing the touch sensor of the operation panel 107 (step U2).
When the user presses the ID confirmation button (step U3), the user ID and the document attribute are recognized by the scanner controller 101 (steps S3, S).
4). The scanner controller 101 requests the main controller 210 of the scanner server 200 to issue a scan application ID (S5). This allows
The main controller 210 searches the pre-scan management table 262 and returns the unused scan application ID to the scanner controller 101. The scanner controller 101 is the operation panel controller 10
6, the application ID is displayed on the operation panel 107.

Next, the user sets the original bundle desired to be input by the scanner on the stack tray 201 on the feeder 1200 (step U4). At this time, by aligning the guide plate with the original, skewing of the original can be prevented and the width of the original in the width direction can be detected. The scanner controller 101 recognizes that the document stack is set on the stacking tray 201 (step S6).

After confirming the set state of the original, the user
The prescan execution button on the operation panel 107 is pressed (step U5). The scanner controller 101, which has confirmed the input from the operation panel controller 106, performs prescan processing (step S7). The details of the prescan processing are shown in FIG.

When it is recognized that the prescan execution button is turned on from the operation panel 107 (step S20), the user ID and the scanner application ID are sent to the main controller 210 of the scanner server 200 via the interface controller 104. Accordingly, the main controller 210 registers the user ID and the scanner application ID in the prescan management table 262 having the configuration shown in FIG. 12 (step S21).

The main controller 210 uses the prescan total management number 2 of the prescan management table 262.
62-1 is counted up, the empty prescan management table 262-10 is searched, and the user ID 262-11 and the scanner application ID 262 in the data are searched.
Set its ID value to -12.

Further, the main controller 210 confirms that it is operating in the above-mentioned file management mode, and uniquely determines the prescan image lock level 262-14 of the secured prescan management table data. The prescan image file is set to a numerical value indicating the level at which the prescan image file cannot be deleted (S88).

Prescan image lock level 262-14 of each management data in the prescan management table
However, if the prescan image file is set to a level that cannot be deleted, the main controller 210 causes the image file I of each prescan and main scan to be deleted.
It is searched whether D does not overlap with the image file ID in the registered prescan management table, and an image file ID that does not overlap is created (S22). Then, using the ID, the image controller 710 stores the pre-scanned image data in the raster image memory 76.
The image file ID when registering to the memory management controller 720 in order to register 0
To set up. For this reason, as long as the capacity of the raster image memory 760 allows, the prescan image file can be held, and control can be performed without overlapping with the settings of other users.

This ID is the prescan image file ID in the prescan management table 262-10 in FIG.
The number of originals is registered in 262-20 in order.

When the above processing is completed, the main controller 210 of the scanner server 200 first sends a set command of the recycle lever 209 to the scanner controller 101 of the digital color copying machine. When the set command is recognized, the feeder controller 105 sets the recycle lever 209 on the uppermost surface of the original stack on the stacking tray 201, and returns the set completion code to the main controller 210 of the scanner server 200 (step S23).

Next, the scanner controller 101 sends a command to set the lowermost one of the document stack at the exposure start position of the platen glass 131 (step S24). The feeder controller 105 drives the feeder 1200 to set an original on the platen glass 214 according to the above-mentioned process. At this time, the paper width sensor 2 provided in the path I
When the paper width in the paper feeding direction is detected by 12, (S2
5) The number of passing documents is counted (S26).

In this way, the original is set on the platen glass 214 by the feeder 1200 (S2
7). At this point of time, the main controller 210 has instructed the color digital interface controller 7 to execute the color scanner 100 of the color digital copying machine 1000.
Trigger scanner input via 90 (S2
8). As a result, the color scanner 100 performs color separation reading of the document at a lower resolution than the final output of the main scan, and the scanner server 200 obtains the document as RGB image data for prescan and stores it in the raster image memory 760. (S29). At that time, the layout controller 750 causes the low-resolution image size determined in advance as the prescan image attribute, and
The conversion based on the parameters of color balance / image data type (RGB) is performed in real time on the input image data, and then the raster image memory 76
Image file ID that was transferred to 0 and was previously determined
The fact that the image is stored is registered and managed in the position attribute table 770 corresponding to.

After registering the above data, the platen glass 2
The document on page 14 is passed through the feeder 1200 to pass III.
~ V ~ VI is returned to the top of the document (S80, S
83, S84). However, when the scanning of the first side of the double-sided document is completed, after passing through the path III, it is guided to the path IV by the switching flapper 213 and is set upside down again on the platen glass 214 (S8).
0, S87). Then, after scanning the image of the second side of the double-sided document by the color scanner 100 (S27, S
28, S29), the originals are turned upside down again by the above procedure and returned to the uppermost portion of the original bundle (S80, S81, S8).
2, S83, S84).

Pre-scanning of one document is executed by the above procedure, and the procedure of registering the pre-scanned image is automatically repeated until the final document set in the feeder 1200 (S85).

In the feeder 1200, the recycle lever 209 has fallen on the stacking tray 201 to determine whether all the originals have been pre-scanned. The scanner controller 101 transmits to the main controller 210. As a result, the total number of originals 262-13 in the prescan management table 262
Is updated (S86). With the above, the prescan processing (S7) is completed.

The user removes the document bundle on the feeder 1200 when the pre-scanning of all the documents is completed (U6). The scanner controller 101 recognizes that the original bundle has been removed (S8).

Since the original bundle can be removed at this point, other users can locally use the digital color copying machine as a copying machine (U
7).

Here, another client computer 4
Even if the user No. 00 executes the pre-scan procedure and the main scan procedure described below to execute the pre-scan and main scan, the pre-scan image lock of each management data in the pre-scan management table is performed. When the level 262-14 is set to a level in which the prescan image file cannot be deleted, the main controller 210 determines that the image file IDs of the prescan and main scan are the prescan management table registered above. It is possible to search for an image file ID that does not overlap, and set an image file ID that does not overlap.

As described above, the image data read by the prescan is stored in the raster image storage unit 700 of the scanner server 200. Then, after that, the process for the main scan image according to the monitor instruction of the prescan image and the editing instruction using the prescan image can be executed at an arbitrary time. The main scanning process will be described below. The user performs a main scan preprocessing operation while monitoring the client computer processing (U8) and the preview display of the prescan image (U9) (U10). FIG. 16 shows the details of the main scan preprocessing according to the above operation. On the client computer 400, scan input software (hereinafter referred to as scanner driver) is loaded from the hard disk 451 onto the main memory 460 (U8) and executed by the CPU 405 (S31).

The user selects the target scanner server for the scanner driver and sets the user ID and
First, the operation panel 107 of the color digital copying machine 1000
Scan application ID obtained above is the keyboard 441
Enter more. The scanner driver takes in these input information (S32).

Here, the scanner driver instructs the network controller 420 to execute the scanner server 2
00 to issue a communication command with the network controller 220 (S33).

Then, the prescan information request is transmitted (S34). That is, the network controller 420 sets the destination address of the packet base 10001, based on the network address of the scanner server registered in advance in the client computer,
The function ID 10021 of the header section 10003 is set with the ID of the color scanner that is uniquely determined as an ID for identifying the function, and it is clearly indicated that the execution mode is related to the color scanner. Job ID 100
In No. 23, since the job has not been decided yet, 0 is set, and the job type ID 10022 is uniquely determined to indicate that it is a command data block.
Set D.

At this time, the <pre-scan information request> command and its parameters user ID and scan application ID are set in the data block section 10100.

Then, the client computer 400
Transfers the packet data to the scanner server 200 via the network controller 420.

On the scanner server 200 side, the main controller 210 displays the contents of the packet in the header section 1
0003 and the data block unit 10100 are separated, the content of the data block unit 10100 is analyzed as a command, and processing according to the command is performed.

First, the main controller 210 uses the user I which is a parameter of the data block unit 10100.
The prescan registration table 262 is searched from D and the scan application ID, and the corresponding table data is referenced (S35). Based on the contents of the found table, user ID, scan application ID, total number of originals /
Data of status information including the file ID of the prescan image / paper size code of each prescan image / prescan image size (Width / Height) and error code is created (S36).

This status information data is set in the data block section 10100 of the packet data, and the job type ID 10022 in the header section 10003 is uniquely determined.
It is set to D and returned to the previous client computer 400 (S37).

On the other hand, if the target prescan registration table is not found, a uniquely determined error code is set (S51) and returned to the client computer 400 that issued the <prescan information request> command. (S52). The client computer 400 executes error processing according to the error code (S53).

The client computer 400 divides / analyzes the contents of the packet data returned from the scanner server 200 in the same manner as the scanner server 200 described above, and prescans image file IDs of a plurality of prescanned originals and the total number of originals. Etc. are obtained (S38).

As a result, the client computer 4
00 indicates a plurality of prescan image data in order from the scanner server 200 to the client computer 400.
Transfer to the top (S39). Therefore, first, the <image data GET> command is issued to the scanner server 200 based on the command issuing procedure described above. The prescan image file ID described above is set as the command parameter at that time.

With this command, the scanner server 2
00 transfers the pre-scanned image file data corresponding to the image file ID to the client computer 400. Therefore, the total number of packets of the image data block corresponding to the image data size is set to the header portion 10020.
Is set to the total packet ID 10031, and the image is sequentially transferred from the raster image memory 760 to the image data block as a series of image data packets with continuous packet IDs.

These image data packets are sequentially sent to the client side in the same manner as the packet transfer described above, and are transferred and stored in the hard disk 451 on the client side (S40).

The processes of S39 and S40 are sequentially performed for all the prescan image files in the prescan information table (S41), and the client computer 40
The image data for preview is acquired on the 0.

The client computer 400, which has obtained the preview image data, sequentially reads the prescan images from the hard disk 451 in order to display the preview images for the total number of originals described above, and the display memory 411 via the display controller 410. The image is expanded on the display 412 and displayed in a window (S42). The display content is configured as shown in FIG. 8A, and the scanner server ID (or alias) 801, the user ID 802, the scan application ID 803, the total number of originals 804, and a list of individual preview images 807 for the total originals are displayed on the window. Is displayed (U
9). As a result, the user can check the individual pre-scanned images of the document bundle.

The user next selects the input range, the resolution of the input image and the image type (RGB, Gray) for each prescan image displayed on the display 412.
In order to select (Scale, Bitmap, etc.), one prescan image is selected by the mouse 431 from the preview image list 807 (U10). CPU
405 recognizes these selection information (S43).

When one of the preview images is selected, a window for designating various settings before the main scan (scanning the actual image) as shown in FIG. 8B is displayed (S44). .

This window is composed of a pre-scanned whole image 853, a confirmation button 851 and a cancel button 852, a variator 855 for specifying the resolution at the time of main scanning, and a button 856 for specifying the image type. . Here, the user specifies the range by actually moving the mouse 431 in the entire image of the pre-scan with the mouse 431 (S45). At this time, a frame 854 indicating a scanning range is displayed / moved as the mouse 431 moves. The area coordinates at this time are the scan input coordinates SX, SY, and WID.
Each position information of TH and HEGHT is obtained.

After the user specifies this reading range, the user uses the same screen to set the resolution when reading the main scan, and the RGB, GrayScale, and Bitmap.
Select the desired image type from (S46, S4
7) Press the <OK> confirmation button 851. As a result, the preprocessing for the one original is determined.

This series of pre-processing is performed for all pre-scan images, and when it is completed, <Sca in FIG.
Press the n> button 805 (S48).

With the above, the main scan preprocessing is completed.
Then, a main scan request is made by operating the <Scan> button 805 (S10).

FIG. 18 shows the details of command issuance of the main scan request.

CPU of client computer 400
When the main scan execution button 805 is pressed (U11), the data block 405 includes a <main scan request> command, its user ID and scan application ID, which are its parameters, and the user this time, as described above. Sets the input area coordinates (SX, SY, WIDTH, HEGHT) set for each prescan image, the input resolution, and the image data type. Then, the client computer 400 transfers this packet data to the scanner server 200 via the network controller 420 (S61).

The scanner server 200 searches the prescan management table according to the transferred packet data (S62). If the target prescan management table is not found, or if the scanner server is being used by another user, a uniquely determined error code is set (S64, S
65) is returned to the client computer 400 that issued the <main scan request> command (S66). The client computer receiving this error code performs a predetermined error process (S67).

The search of the prescan management table by the scanner server (200) will be described in detail. That is, the <main scan request> command is received via the network controller 220, and the contents are analyzed as described above. Here, the main controller 210 searches the contents of the prescan registration table 262 with the user ID and the scan application ID. When it is confirmed that there is the corresponding table data, the input area coordinates (SX,
SY, WIDTH, HEGHT), input resolution, and image data type are the main scan image coordinates (SX, SY, WI) of the corresponding table in the prescan registration table 262.
DTH, HEGHT), 262-29, 30, 31, 3
2 and input resolution 262-27, image data type 262
Set it to -26.

Thereafter, the WAIT status is entered until the main scan request comes from the scanner controller 101 of the digital color copying machine 1000 (S64).

With the above, the main scan request process is completed.

After executing the main scan button 805 on the client computer 400, when the scanner driver confirms that no error is returned from the scanner server 200, the main scan can be reserved for the user. A message window indicating that is displayed.

Here, the user sets the original pre-scanned document bundle in the same order as it is in the feeder 1200 of the color digital copying machine during the pre-scanning (U12). The scanner controller 101 recognizes that the document stack is set on the stacking tray 201 (S11). Then, the <scan input execution> key is pressed on the operation panel 107 to input the user ID and the scan application ID (U12). Then, by pressing the <confirm> key (U14), the user selects the client computer 40
The main scan operation is started based on the parameter set at 0 (S12).

The main scan process will be described with reference to FIG.

When the scanner controller 101 confirms that the <confirmation> key has been pressed from the operation panel 107, the main controller 21 of the scanner server 200
0 for pre-scan registration table 2 corresponding to the user ID and scan application ID entered by the user
If there is a match, the main controller 210 registers the image for registration with the memory management controller 720 in order to register the main-scanned image data in the raster image memory 760. The file ID is set up to an arbitrary one, and similarly set to the main scan image file ID 262-28 of the prescan registration table 262.

Next, the scanner controller 110 and the feeder controller 15 of the digital color copying machine 1000.
0 against the recycle lever 20 of the feeder 1200
A set command of 9 is sent (S71). As a result, similarly to the above-described prescan processing, the feeder 1200 sets the document on the platen glass 214 (S72) and triggers the scanner input.

At that time, the layout controller 750
Is the input area coordinates (S) corresponding to the order of the originals previously set by the client from the prescan management table 262 corresponding to the user ID and the scanner application ID.
X, SY, WIDTH, HEGHT), input resolution, and image data type parameters. Then, conversion based on the parameters is performed in real time on the input image data, and the main scan image sent from the scanner controller is converted to the raster image memory 76.
0 is transferred / registered, and is registered and managed in the position attribute table 770 corresponding to the previously set image file ID (S
73).

Then, at the time when the image is registered, the main controller 210 of the scanner server 200 instructs the client computer 400 that issued the <main scan request> command to display the main scan image file in the status information data. The ID and the image size (WIDTH, HEIGHT) parameters are set, the packet data is returned, and the fact that the first original has been scanned is confirmed by the client computer 400.
(S74).

The client computer 400 issues the <image data GET> command to the scanner server based on the above-mentioned command issuing procedure (S75).
As the command parameter at that time, the main scan image file ID in the status information described above is set.

By this command, the scanner server 2
00 transfers the main scan image file data corresponding to the image file ID to the client computer, so that the image is transferred to the image data block from the raster image memory 760 as shown in FIG. Then, a continuous packet ID is sequentially added and transferred as a series of image data packets (S76).

The client computer 400 successively transfers and stores these image data packets to the hard disk 451 on the client side in the same manner as the packet transfer described above (S77). At that time, the scanner driver also performs conversion into a fixed image file format.

The above procedure is repeated for the total number of originals in the prescan management table 262, and the feeder 1
The main scan is automatically executed for the document stack on 200 (S78).

When all the main scans are completed, the main controller 210 sets the prescan image lock level 262-14 of the corresponding management data in the prescan management table to the level at which the prescan image / main scan image file can be deleted. (S79).

As described above, after setting the pre-scan image lock level to the unlocked state, the main controller 210 also assigns the corresponding IDs of the pre-scan image file / main scan image file already registered. Then, it is deleted from the position / attribute information table 770 of the raster image memory 760 (S90). This allows other users to use the portion of the image area.

Regarding the pre-scan management table corresponding to the above user of this pre-scan management table, whether the pre-scan image is saved after the main scan or after the main scan as described above.・
It is also possible to set in advance whether to delete or not.

The main scan image data registered in the hard disk 451 is the client computer 4
00, the user can freely process it.

[0115]

As described above, according to the present invention, by using the image file locking function, for example, the pre-scanning and the main-scanning process of a document over a plurality of completely separated pages can be performed between them. Other users can use it for local copying, or other clients on the network can perform prescan and main scan processing, and perform jobs that require real-time scanner input among multiple users. Is possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a network system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a digital color copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a client computer.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a scanner server.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a feeder.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a raster image storage unit.

FIG. 7: Scan application screen diagram.

FIG. 8 is a list of prescan images.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of the entire network packet / header portion.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a data block part of a network packet.

FIG. 11 is a diagram of a continuous network packet structure.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a prescan management table.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a server system.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a server system.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the server system.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the server system.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the server system.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the server system.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of the server system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 Color Scanner 200 Scanner Server 300 Color Printer 400 Client Computer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. Storage means for storing image data output from a scanner that photoelectrically reads a document image, transfer means for transferring the storage means and the stored image data to a processing device via a network, and the storage means. A scanner server device comprising: a prohibition unit that prohibits deletion of image data stored in the unit. 2. A table means for storing attributes of image data stored in the storage means, wherein the table means stores data indicating whether or not the image data can be deleted. The scanner server device according to 1. 3. The scanner server device according to claim 1, wherein when the processing relating to the image data stored in said storage means is completed, the prohibition state of the deletion of the image data by said prohibition means is released. . 4. A scanner server device for storing image data from a scanner which photoelectrically reads a document image and transferring the stored image data to a processing device via a network, in a prescan process for reading a document image at a low resolution. In the above, the deletion of the image data output from the scanner is prohibited until the end of the main scan in which the original image is read in high resolution according to the processing conditions set based on the image data stored by the prescan processing. Scanner server device to be used.