JPH098987A - Facsimile receiving system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make loads on all of the terminal equipments uniform regardless of the number of installed terminal equipments by allowing a master facsimile server to manage concentratingly a recognition result file and an image file corresponding to the recognition result file. CONSTITUTION: Since a recognition result file 12 and an image file 11 are managed concentratingly by a master facsimile server 1, image information received and result of recognition recognized by a slave facsimile server 2 are all collected by the master facsimile server 1, in which they are unifiedly managed. Furthermore, even when a large number of terminal equipments 3 for confirmation correction are connected to the master facsimile server 1, the master facsimile server 1 makes service of confirmation correction without distinguishing the terminal equipments. Thus, so long as document data not confirmed yet are in existence in the recognition result data, the master server 1 makes confirmation correction processing of the document data not confirmed of any terminal equipment 3 among the plural terminal equipments 3. Thus, a problem of an unbalanced load on the operator depending on the terminal equipments 3 is eliminated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fax receiving system for receiving form data from a remote place via a facsimile, recognizing it by a computer and converting it into code information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Handwritten information or printed information written on a form is sent to a computer via a facsimile (fax), and the computer receives the information by a fax adapter, recognizes image information, and character code information. A fax reception system that converts the data into a fax and stores it in a storage device has been put into practical use. When the number of data items of the form transmitted via the fax is large, one computer has a restriction on the processing capacity, and therefore the plurality of computers perform the reception and the recognition process of the form data in parallel.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration when a plurality of fax servers 60 are operated in parallel. The fax adapter 61 of each fax server 60 is a hardware mechanism that receives the form data sent by fax via a communication line. The image file 62 is a file that stores information on a form in the form of image information. The recognition result file 63 is a file that stores form data in which characters and key lines are recognized and converted into character codes and control codes. The form data receiving unit 64 stores the form data received via the fax adapter 61 in the image file 62. The recognition processing unit 65 extracts the image information of each form from the image file 62, recognizes characters and key lines, and converts it into code information. The result storage unit 66 adds the form number to the code information of the recognized result and stores it in the recognition result file 63. The same form number is added to the image information in the image file 62 corresponding to the form. The correction processing unit 67 reads the image information in the image file 62 corresponding to the code information of the recognition result in the recognition result file 63 on a form-by-form basis, and when the recognition result is corrected, the recognition result file 63 is read according to the corrected recognition result. Update. Terminal device 70
Is a terminal device that is connected to the fax server 60 via the communication path 75 and corrects the recognition result. The correction processing unit 73 takes out the recognition result and the corresponding image information for each form via the correction processing unit 67 and displays it on the display device 71. When the recognition result is corrected via the input device 72, the correction processing unit 73 updates the recognition result on the recognition result file 63 via the correction processing unit 67. The fax server 60-2 and the terminal device 70-2 are the fax server 6
The above processing is performed independently from 0-1 and the terminal device 70-1.

[0004]

The conventional fax receiving system solves the problem of processing capacity related to fax reception by operating a plurality of fax servers 60 in parallel. However, the terminal device 70 for correcting the recognition result can only perform the correction process for the specific fax server 60. For example, in FIG. 6, the terminal device 70-1 can perform only the correction processing for the fax server 60-1 and cannot perform the correction processing for the fax server 60-2. Therefore, the fax server 60-1
If there is a difference in the number of received form data between the fax server 60-2 and the fax server 60-2, there is a problem in that there is a difference in the load on the operator who performs the correction process on the corresponding terminal devices 70-1 and 70-2. Further, when the correction processing is performed by one terminal device 70, the terminal device 70 is connected to the fax server 60-1 and the correction processing is performed, and then the terminal device 70 is connected to the fax server 60-2. Since the correction process for the fax server 60-2 must be performed, the operator's burden is heavy. Further, the correction process must be performed in the order in which the form data is received, that is, in the order of the form data stored in the recognition result file 63, and there is a problem that it is not possible to meet the demand for preferentially performing the correction process for certain types of form data. is there. Further, when it is desired to check the form data stored in the recognition result file 63 by an inquiry from a customer or the like, it is not easy to find out in which recognition result file 63 of the fax server the target form data is stored. There is also a problem that it is not possible to respond quickly to such inquiries.

It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems by centrally managing a recognition result file and a corresponding image file.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a parent fax server centrally manages a recognition result file and a corresponding image file, and a child fax server receives the form data via fax. A means for recognizing the generated form data and converting it into code information and a means for transmitting both the code information and the image information for the same form data to the parent fax server are provided, and the parent fax server recognizes the code information received from the child fax server. It is characterized by a fax reception system that stores image information in a recognition result file and an image file, respectively, without discrimination from the information received and recognized by itself via fax. In addition, the parent fax server searches the recognition result file according to the search condition received from the terminal device, transmits the form data matching the condition and the corresponding form data in the image file to the terminal device, and after receiving the correction from the terminal device. The fax receiving system is provided with means for updating the corresponding form data on the recognition result file according to the form data.

[0007]

Since the recognition result file and the image file are centrally managed by the parent fax server, all the image information received by the child fax server and the recognized recognition result are collectively managed by the parent fax server. In addition, since the parent fax server provides the confirmation and correction service regardless of how many terminal devices for confirmation and correction are connected to the parent fax server, all the problems of the prior art can be solved.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a fax receiving system according to this embodiment. The system comprises a parent fax server 1, a child fax server 2 connected to the parent fax server 1 via a communication path 75, and a terminal device 3 connected to the parent fax server 1 via a communication path 75.

The parent fax server 1 uses the image file 1
1, recognition result file 12, fax adapter 61,
Form data receiving unit 64, recognition processing unit 65, result storage unit 1
3, a result receiving unit 14 and a search correction processing unit 15. The fax adapter 61 is a hardware mechanism that receives the form data sent by fax via a communication line. The image file 11 is a file that stores information on a form in the form of image information. Recognition result file 1
Reference numeral 2 is a file that stores form data in which characters and key lines are recognized and converted into character codes and control codes. The form data receiving unit 64 stores the form data received via the fax adapter 61 in the image file 11. The recognition processing unit 65 extracts the image information of each form from the image file 11, recognizes characters and key lines, and converts the code information into code information. The recognition processing unit 65 also passes the storage address of the corresponding image information in the image file 11 and the relative address in the image information of each data item to the result storage unit 13. The result storage unit 13 adds the form number and the relative address in the image information of each data item to the code information of the result recognized by the recognition processing unit 65 and the code information of the recognition result received from the child fax server 2 to recognize the result file. Store in 12. The same form number is added to the image information on the image file 11 corresponding to the form. The result receiving unit 14 passes the form data which is the recognition result, the form data which is the image information, and the in-image relative address of each data item to the result storing unit 13 from the child fax server 2. When the search correction processing unit 15 receives a search request from the terminal device 3, the search correction processing unit 15 searches the recognition result file 12 according to the search condition, and obtains the obtained form data on the recognition result file 12 and the corresponding form data on the image file 11. It is transmitted to the terminal device 3. Further, the search correction processing unit 15 updates the recognition result file 12 with the corrected form data when receiving the correction request from the terminal device 3.

The child fax server 2 comprises a fax adapter 61, a form data receiving section 21, a recognition processing section 22 and a result transmitting section 23. Form data receiving unit 21
Temporarily stores the form data, which is image information received via the fax adapter 61, in a buffer on the storage device, and then passes this data to the recognition processing unit 22. Recognition processing unit 2
2 recognizes characters and key lines in this form data, converts it into code information, and passes it to the result transmission unit 23 together with the relative address in the image of each data item. The result sending unit 23 sends the image information corresponding to the form data as the recognition result to the result receiving unit 14 of the parent fax server 1 via the communication path 75. A plurality of child fax servers 2 may be connected to the parent fax server 1. The result receiving unit 14 assembles data received at the same time from a plurality of child fax servers 2 for each form and processes the data in a first-in first-out system.

The terminal device 3 includes a display device 71 and an input device 7.
2. A search unit 31 and a correction processing unit 32 are included. The display device 71 is a display device that displays a recognition result corresponding to the image information for each form. The input device 72 is an input device that inputs search conditions and performs a recognition result correction operation.
The search unit 31 is a processing unit that sends the search condition input from the input device 72 to the search correction processing unit 15 and displays the form data that is the search result received from the search correction processing unit 15 on the display device 71. When the correction result is corrected, the correction processing unit 32 retrieves the data and corrects the data.
Send to 5.

The parent fax server 1 stores the image information of each form received via the fax adapter 61 and the form data receiving unit 64 in the image file 11. The recognition processing unit 65 reads out the image information of each form from the image file 11, recognizes it, and converts it into code information. Result storage unit 1
The reference numeral 3 adds a form number to this code information and stores it in the recognition result file 12, and also adds the same form number to the corresponding image information. The form data receiving unit 21 of the child fax server 2 receives the image information of the form via the fax adapter 61, and the recognition processing unit 22 recognizes this image information and converts it into code information. The result sending unit 23 sends the image information corresponding to the code information as the recognition result to the result receiving unit 14. The result receiving unit 14 stores the image information of each form in the image file 11, and stores the code information in the recognition result file 12 via the result storage unit 13. When there is a search request from the search unit 31 of the terminal device 3, the search correction processing unit 15 searches the recognition result file 12 according to the search condition, and sends the image data corresponding to the corresponding form data to the search unit 31. When receiving the corrected form data from the correction processing unit 32, the search correction processing unit 15 updates the form data of the recognition result file 12 with the corrected form data.

The parent fax server 1, the child fax server 2 and the terminal device 3 are realized by an information processing device such as a computer, a workstation or a personal computer.
Form data receiving unit 64, recognition processing unit 65, result storage unit 1
3, the result reception unit 14, the search correction processing unit 15, the form data reception unit 21, the recognition processing unit 22, the result transmission unit 23, the search unit 31, and the correction processing unit 32 are programs stored in the storage devices of these information processing devices. It is realized by executing. Form data receiving unit 64, result receiving unit 14, search correction processing unit 15, form data receiving unit 21, result transmitting unit 2
3, the normal communication control hardware / software partially intervenes in the search unit 31 and the correction processing unit 32, but detailed description thereof will be omitted. The image file 11 and the recognition result file 12 are stored in the storage device of the information processing device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the data format of each form data stored in the recognition result file 12. Each form data constitutes one record of the recognition result file 12. The form number 121 is a serial number given to this form data. The limited express flag 122 indicates a form that is treated as an express when "1" and a form that is treated as normal when "0". Customer code 1
23, the product code 124, the quantity 125, and the amount 126 are fixed-length data items. The * after each data item indicates a relative address on the form data in the image format corresponding to the data item. The correction flag 127 is a flag indicating whether or not the confirmation correction process is performed, and is “1”.
If it is confirmed and corrected, if it is "0", it is not confirmed.

A form number having the same contents as the form number 121 is also added to the corresponding form data of the image format stored in the image file 11. Characters indicating whether they are treated as express or normal and customer code 123, product code 124, quantity 12
5 and the image information corresponding to the amount 126 is stored. There is no data item corresponding to the correction flag 127.

FIG. 3A shows a flow of processing of the result storage section 13 and the result receiving section 14 of the parent fax server 1.
FIG. 3B is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the child fax server 2. The result receiving unit 14 waits for a transmission request from the child fax server 2 (step 40). The form data receiving unit 21 receives the form data via the fax adapter 61 and temporarily stores it in the storage device (step 41). The recognition processing unit 22 recognizes this image information and converts it into code information (step 42). Next, the result transmitter 2
3 sends a transmission request message to the result receiving unit 14 (step 43). A message reception interrupt occurs in the result receiving unit 14 (step 44), the result transmitting unit 23 transmits the recognition result, the corresponding image information and the corresponding image address of each data item (step 45), and the result receiving unit 14 These pieces of information are received (step 46). Next, the result receiving unit 14 stores the image information in the image file 11 (step 47), and passes the storage address, the recognition result and the corresponding image address of each data item to the result storing unit 13. The result storage unit 13 adds the latest form number to the received information (step 48) and stores it in the recognition result file 12 (step 49). The result storage unit 13 accesses the image file 11 based on the storage address of the image information, adds the same form number to the corresponding image information, and then increments the held form number by 1 to obtain the latest form number.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the data format of the data displayed on the display screen of the display device 71. 34 and 35 are buttons for selecting whether to perform confirmation work on all the form data or on the form data that matches the search condition. The input area 36 is an area developed when the condition 35 is selected, and is an area for inputting search conditions. In the figure, the express flag 122 is "
It is instructed to search for "1". Input area 3
6, the other customer code 123 has a specific customer name,
Quantity 125 is 100 or more, amount 126 is 100,
Any search condition such as 000 or more and the amount of money having a minus sign is set. 37 is a button for instructing the end of the confirmation work. A display area 38 is set on the display screen for each data item for one form data. Image information is displayed in the upper part of the display area 38, and corresponding code information is displayed in the lower part. The illustration shows customer code 123, product code 1
The contents of each data item such as 24, quantity 125, and amount 126 are shown.

FIG. 5 (a) is a flow chart showing the processing flow of the search and correction processing unit 15 of the parent fax server 1, and FIG. 5 (b) is a flow chart showing the flow of processing of the terminal device 3. The search correction processing unit 15 waits for a request from the terminal device 3 to send a message to start confirmation correction (step 81). The search unit 31 receives all the cases 34 or the conditions 35 input by the operator and the details of the search conditions (step 82), and requests the search correction processing unit 15 to transmit the conditions as a message (step 83). When a message reception interrupt occurs in the search correction processing unit 15 (step 84) and the search correction processing unit 15 has no search condition (NO in step 85), the correction flag 127 on the recognition result file 12 has an unconfirmed form number 121. Accesses the youngest form data and acquires a predetermined number of unconfirmed form data starting from the form data (step 86). If there is a search condition (YES in step 85), the recognition result file 12 is searched according to the search condition, and unconfirmed form data matching the search condition is acquired (step 87). Search correction processing unit 15
Acquires the form data of the image information whose form number 121 matches the acquired form data from the image file 11, transmits both to the search unit 31 (step 88), and the search unit 31 receives these form data ( Step 89). Next, the correction processing unit 32 displays the first form data on the display device 71 in association with the image information and the code information for each data item (step 90), and accepts the confirmation correction processing (step 91). When the button on the next page 39 on the display screen is pressed, the correction processing unit 32 returns to step 90 if there is the next form data, and similarly displays the image information and the code information for each data item in the display device. 71 is displayed and the confirmation correction process is continued. With respect to the form data that has been confirmed and corrected, the correction processing unit 32 transmits the form number 121 and a flag indicating confirmation OK or the form number 121 and the corrected form data to the search and correction processing unit 15 (step 9).
2). The search correction processing unit 15 receives these data (step 93), searches the recognition result file 12 by the received form number 121, and sets the correction flag 127 of the corresponding form data to "1" or corrects it. The form data is updated by the subsequent form data and the correction flag 127 is set to "1" (step 94), and the process returns to step 81. When the button on the next page 39 on the display screen is pressed, if there is no next form data, the process returns to step 83, and the search unit 31 sends a message requesting the subsequent form data to the search correction processing unit 15. Search correction processing unit 1
If there is remaining searched form data 5 (step 85)
Then, the remaining form data is sent to the search unit 31 (step 88). If the subsequent form data is required, the process goes to step 86 to access the recognition result file 12. When the end 37 button on the display screen is pressed, step 83
After that, the end message is sent to the search and correction processing unit 15, and the process returns to step 82. Upon receiving the end message, the search correction processing unit 15 returns to step 81. However, if there is a form for which the confirmation correction result has not been transmitted when the end 37 button is pressed, the process of step 92 is completed for the form data. Even when a plurality of terminal devices 3 are connected to the parent fax server 1, the above processing is performed without any problem, and the confirmation processing is executed in parallel for the unconfirmed form data.

According to the above embodiment, the recognition result file 1
Multiple terminal devices 3 as long as 2 has unconfirmed form data
Since the confirmation correction process can be performed on the unconfirmed form data in any of the terminal devices 3 in the above, the problem of imbalance of the operator's load can be solved by the terminal devices. Of course, one terminal device 3 can also perform the confirmation correction process, and the operator's burden such as connection change of the terminal device 3 does not occur. Further, it is not necessary to perform the confirmation correction processing on the form data stored in the recognition result file 12 in the order of the form number 121, and the confirmation correction processing can be preferentially performed on the forms that match the search condition. In addition, by providing an option of all the form data that matches the search condition whether or not the confirmation is corrected, all the form data that matches the search condition can be displayed on the terminal device 3, and the customer or the like can display the data. Quickly respond to inquiries.

In the above embodiment, the parent fax server 1
The functions of the fax adapter 61, the form data receiving unit 64, and the recognition processing unit 65 are provided in the above. However, these functions are removed from the parent fax server 1, and all of these functions are performed by the child fax server 2, and the necessary fax machine is provided. It is obvious that the present invention can be carried out without trouble even if a plurality of child fax servers 2 are installed. In this case, it is appropriate to call the parent fax server 1 by the name of the form data management server 1 and the child fax server 2 simply by the name of the fax server 2 or the like.

[0022]

According to the present invention, the parent fax server centrally manages the recognition result file and the corresponding image file, and uniformly provides the search and correction service to all confirmation and correction terminal devices. , Regardless of the number of installed terminal devices, the load on all terminal devices becomes equal,
The problems of the prior art can be solved. Further, by providing the recognition result file search function, it is possible to preferentially confirm the form data that matches the search condition and quickly respond to the inquiry from the customer or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a fax receiving system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a data format of form data stored in a recognition result file 12 of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of a result storage unit 13, a result reception unit 14, and a child fax server 2 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a data format of data displayed on a display device 71.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the search and correction processing unit 15 of the parent fax server 1 and the terminal device 3.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a conventional fax receiving system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Parent fax server, 2 ... Child fax server, 3 ... Terminal device, 11 ... Image file, 1
2 ... Recognition result file, 13 ... Result storage unit, 1
4 ... Result receiving unit, 15 ... Search correction unit, 23 ...
・ Result sending unit, 31 ... Search unit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Nakadai 5030 Totsuka-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi Ltd. Software Development Division

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A fax receiving system comprising a parent fax server, a child fax server, and a terminal device, wherein the parent fax server receives means for receiving form data via fax and image information of the received form data. Image file to be stored, means for recognizing received form data and converting to code information, recognition result file to store form data converted to code information, image information and code information of form data received from the child fax server And means for storing in the image file and the recognition result file respectively, and the form data on the image file corresponding to the form data matching the condition by searching the recognition result file according to the search condition received from the terminal device. And the corrected form data received from the terminal device. And a means for updating the corresponding form data on the recognition result file by the data, the child fax server receiving the form data via fax, recognizing the received form data and converting it into code information. And a means for transmitting the form data converted into the code information and the form data of the corresponding image information to the parent fax server.