JPH11177743A - Image input-output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a device that prevents image data from being left unextracted by a user and that prevents stored data from being automatically eliminated by providing a storage notice time setting means, a data access monitor means and a means that notifies a designated user of the fact, when the data are not extracted within a designated prescribed time. SOLUTION: A digital copying machine 1 is provided with an entry means that starts scanner entry after the operator sets an original, a means compressing data received by a scanner, and a storage means that stores data to a folder managed by an auxiliary device for each user or the like. In the case that storage data are in existence in a user folder, a means that informs of storage information stored in a PC or a work station of a designated user connecting to a network after the end of storage is provided. The device is provided with a storage notice time setting means, a data access monitor means and a means that notifies the designated user of a fact, when the data are not extracted within a designated prescribed time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image input / output device,
More specifically, the present invention relates to a remote scanner device and a network-connected digital copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, networking of PCs and workstations has rapidly spread, and construction of a LAN within an office has been progressing. Digital copying machines have also been used as shared remote printers on networks of PCs and workstations.

On the other hand, digital copiers have a scanner function and are already used by being directly connected to a PC or the like. However, in the case of a remote scanner connected to a network, it is inevitably necessary to take time. Will accompany.
For example, when used as a remote scanner, an original is set on a digital copier, a scanner application is started on a remote PC, etc., and an instruction to read the original is issued. I need to go get it.

Conventionally, a digital copying machine is often used as a copying machine by a plurality of persons, and the document cannot be used by other persons while the scanner is in use. was there. In addition, there is a problem in that the cover is opened and the manuscript is removed without others knowing it.

[0005]

As a prior art for solving the above-mentioned problems, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-27153 is known.
An automatic image transfer method of a scanner system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-205 is known. However, in this method, the transfer destination is set to the scanner device in advance in the setting mode from the PC or the like, then goes to the remote scanner device, and then the scanner start button is pressed, the image is transferred, and the image is returned to the PC again to return to the PC. Since the method uses data, there is a problem that it takes time to perform the previous setting. Also, since all images are transferred,
In some cases, the transfer time may be longer, the storage may be interrupted by a storage error on the PC side during reception, and the document must be scanned and read again.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 6-133,094 discloses that data input by a scanner in an image input / output device is stored in an auxiliary storage device, and stored information is stored in an IC card. It describes a method for collecting desired data. After receiving the stored information, the user can access the image input / output device with the information and read the scanner data from the image input / output device at a necessary time after receiving the stored information. Alternatively, the image input / output device was not occupied until the image application processing was completed. However, since the image input / output device was still stored in the image input / output device, it might happen that the user forgets to take it in due to work or the like. Was.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a large-capacity auxiliary storage device such as a disk directly connected to an image input / output device (such as a digital copying machine) or a file server connected via a network. Designating means and scanner input setting means having a large-capacity auxiliary storage device and designating a user ID registered by an operator, input means for starting a scanner input after the operator sets a document,
Means for compressing the data inputted by the scanner, storage means for storing the data in the folder managed for each user in the auxiliary storage device, and, if the data stored in the user folder exists, after the storage operation is completed, the designated user connected to the network In a network-compatible image input / output device having a means for notifying stored information stored in a PC or a workstation (hereinafter abbreviated as PC), a storage notification time setting means and a data access monitoring means are provided for a specified fixed time. A means for notifying a designated user when there is no data, thereby preventing the user from forgetting to receive the image data, and preventing the automatic deletion when there is an automatic deletion due to the storage time limit of the stored data. It is like that.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided input means for enabling group access at the time of scanner input. In a network-compatible image input / output apparatus having means for notifying stored information stored in a PC or a workstation of a user of a designated group connected to a network, in a group unit, a storage notification time setting means and a data access monitoring means And a means for notifying the group user when there is no pick-up in the designated fixed time, thereby preventing forgetting to pick up the image data in the group and automatically deleting the stored data due to the storage expiration date. In some cases, automatic deletion is prevented.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or the second aspect of the present invention, the PC or the workstation has means for outputting the notification of the first or second aspect to a designated printer. This prevents the user from forgetting to receive the image data and, if there is an automatic deletion due to the storage period of the stored data, prevents the automatic deletion.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a digital copying apparatus as an example of an image input / output apparatus to which the present invention is applied. As shown, a digital copying apparatus 1 manages the entire apparatus. A main control unit 2, an operation unit 3, a scanner 4 for reading the document to be copied, a plotter 5 for recording the information of the read document on a recording sheet, and various control programs stored therein and for reading the information of the read document. A memory 6 for temporarily storing, a compression / decompression unit 7 for encoding and decoding read information, an external storage unit 8, a search unit 9, a file information storage unit 10, a LAN communication control unit 11, Storage device (correction storage device) 12. External storage unit 8
Is attached to the digital copying apparatus 1 by attaching a file number to the information of the document read by the scanner 4 and stored in an external storage device 12 composed of a large-capacity hard disk such as a readable / writable optical file or a file server of a workstation network. I do.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of an OA network showing a use form of the present invention. In the figure, 13 is a file server, 14 is a word processor, 15 is an optical filing device,
6 is a personal computer, 17 is a facsimile machine, 18 is a workstation, 19 is a personal computer, 1 is a digital copying machine. As shown, the digital copying machine 1 having a network interface device is a workstation (WS) 18 via a LAN. , A personal computer (PC) 19. Workstation 18 and personal computer 19
Has a CRT display device and a keyboard, and can selectively execute a plurality of software processes by an intelligent function. In addition, digital copier 1
Is capable of storing data obtained by scanning a document in an auxiliary storage device of a digital copying machine or an auxiliary storage device of a file server via a LAN.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which a notification is sent from the digital copying machine to the user PC after a specified time from the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example in which stored information of a user A is notified to a designated user PC when there is no pickup.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of notification to the group user PC after a specified time from the digital copying machine according to the second aspect. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example in which stored information of a user A is notified to a designated group PC when data is not received after a time.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of output from a digital copying machine to a designated printer after a designated time according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a user A sets a notification time after the completion of scanning of a scanner by group registration, and outputs stored information of the user A to a designated printer when data is not received after a designated time.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for setting a notification time when storing scanner data.
In order to scan the original from the digital copying machine and store the data, the operator brings the original to the digital copying machine and sets the original on the digital copying machine for scanner input (S10). The operation unit of the digital copier displays the user list on the operation panel according to the designation from the operator (S11). The operator selects a user from the user list and inputs a password. The operation unit collates the input user and password with data stored in the storage unit (S12). If the operator designates from the operation unit the menu to select whether input data can be accessed in a group (S13), a group access flag is recorded (S14), and the operation unit inputs the data to the operator. The user is prompted to select whether to store the data storage location manually or to automatically assign the data to the digital copying machine (S15).

Next, a notification time and a notification method (mail, printer) when there is no pickup for a fixed time according to the present invention.
Set. In the present invention, a notification flag for when there is no data collection is set (S16). If the designation is manual (S17), the operation unit displays a directory list on the operation panel, and prompts the operator to designate a storage location. The storage location name is stored in the file information storage unit (S18). If the designation is automatic (S17), the storage location is automatically assigned (S19). The original is input from the scanner of the digital copier by the scanner (S20), the input data is compressed by the compression / decompression unit (S21), and the data is stored in the designated storage location (S22). When inputting a plurality of pages (S23), the next original is input (S20). If the scanner input is completed (S23), each file information is recorded in the file information storage unit (S24).

FIG. 7 shows the scanned data on the user PC.
In the flowchart showing the flow of the access monitoring process when the data is received, the digital copying machine 1 checks whether there is the designated user data in the file information storage unit if the data is requested from the PC (S30). If there is data (S31), the data of the designated user is extracted from the information in the file information storage (S32). In order to transmit data to the request source, a data packet is created (S3
3) The packet is transmitted to the requesting PC (S34).
If the next data needs to be transmitted, the process is repeated (S35). When the data transfer is completed, the information that has been transferred is set in the file information storage unit, and the notification flag for when there is no data collection is cleared (S3).
6). If there is no data (S31), an error response packet is created (S37), and the packet is
C is transmitted (S38).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of notification and printout processing after a lapse of a predetermined time. The file information storage unit is periodically searched for data that has not been transferred, and the notification flag and the notification timeout are checked. (S40). If there is a timeout file (S
41), the notification designation method is taken out from the file information storage unit (S42), and the designation method is determined by the printer or the e-mail notification (S43). If it is a mail, the storage information is converted into mail data (S45). Next, it is determined whether the notified party is designated as a group (S46), and if designated as a mail, the mail is transferred to a PC in the designated group. If the printer is designated by the group, the data is transferred to the designated printer (S47). If the user specifies the mail, the mail is transferred to the PC of the specified user. If the user specifies the printer, the data is transferred to the specified printer (S48).

[0019]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a large-capacity auxiliary storage device such as a disk directly connected to an image input / output device (such as a digital copier) or a large-capacity auxiliary storage device of a file server connected via a network. A storage device, an operator has a registered user ID designation and scanner input setting means, and the operator has an input means for starting a scanner input after setting an original, and compresses data input by the scanner. Having storage means for storing in a folder managed for each user in the auxiliary storage device, and when the storage data is stored in the user folder, after the storage operation is completed,
A network-compatible image input / output device having a means for notifying stored information stored in a designated user's PC or workstation connected to a network, comprising a storage notification time setting means and a data access monitoring means,
Since there is a means for notifying the designated user when there is no pickup in the designated fixed time, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to accept the image data. Further, when there is automatic deletion due to the storage expiration date of stored data, automatic deletion can be prevented.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input means for enabling group access at the time of scanner input. A network-compatible image input / output device having a means for notifying stored information stored in a PC or a workstation of a user in a designated group connected to a network, comprising a storage notification time setting means and a data access monitoring means for each group. However, since there is a means for notifying the group user when there is no collection in the designated fixed time, it is possible to prevent forgetting to collect image data in the group. Further, when there is automatic deletion due to the storage expiration date of stored data, automatic deletion can be prevented. Furthermore, when work is performed by a plurality of persons, there is no need to copy the data to the shared file server, and only the data necessary for the group can be input by the scanner.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, since the PC or the work station has means for outputting the notification of the first or second aspect to the designated printer, the user can save the image data. It is possible to prevent forgetting to pick up. Further, when there is automatic deletion due to the storage expiration date of stored data, automatic deletion can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram operation flow diagram of an embodiment of an image input / output device (digital copying machine) according to the present apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an OA network system.

FIG. 3 shows a user PC after a specified time from a digital copying machine.
It is a figure which shows the Example of a notification.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a group user PC notification after a designated time from a digital copying machine.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of output from a digital copying machine to a designated printer after a designated time.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for setting a notification time when storing scanner data.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of an access monitoring process when the scanned data is picked up by a user PC.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of notification and printout processing after a predetermined time has elapsed.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Digital copying machine, 2 ... Main control part, 3 ... Operation part, 4
... Scanners 4, 5 Plotters 5, 6 Memory, 7 Compression / expansion unit, 8 External storage unit, 9 Search unit, 10 File information storage unit, 11 LAN communication control unit, 13 File server, 14 ... word processor, 15 ... optical filing device,
16 PC, 17 Facsimile machine, 18 Workstation, 19 PC.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A large-capacity auxiliary storage device directly connected to an image input / output device, means for compressing data input by a scanner, and a user folder managed for each user of the auxiliary storage device. Storage means for storing, and if the user folder has stored data, after the storing operation is completed, the P of the designated user connected to the network
C or a network-compatible image input / output device having a means for notifying stored information stored in a workstation, if a storage notification time setting means and a data access monitoring means are not picked up within a specified time, An image input / output device comprising means for notifying a designated user. 2. The image input / output apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: input means for enabling group access, wherein when the user folder has group access storage data, the image input / output apparatus is connected to a network after the storage operation is completed. A network-compatible image input / output device having a means for notifying stored information stored in a PC or a workstation of a user of a specified group, comprising a time setting means for storing notification and a data access monitoring means for each group, An image input / output apparatus comprising means for notifying a group user when there is no pick-up in a given fixed time. 3. The image input / output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said PC or workstation has means for outputting the notification according to claim 1 or 2 to a designated printer. Image input / output device.