JPH11203463A - Image original reader and picture data distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image original reader capable of directly transmitting read picture data to a client PC through a network. SOLUTION: When an operator inputs the identification(ID) number and the group code of a client PC 3 from an input part 10, a transmission destination address matching the ID number out of transmission destination addresses registered in a register memory area of a recording part 13 is entered. When original reading operation is executed, an image reading apt 11 reads out the original and outputs picture data to a transmitting image buffer 14. A control part 16 applies an extracted transmission destination address to a communication control part 12. The control part 12 executes connection preparation based on a communication protocol, connects a specified client PC 3 to the buffer 14 and transmits picture data stored in the buffer 14 to the specified client PC 3 through a network 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a LAN (Local Area).
The present invention relates to an image document reading apparatus and an image data distribution system for transmitting image data to a client PC via a network such as a network or a public communication line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an image data distribution system for transmitting image data via a network such as a LAN, the Internet, or a commercial personal computer communication network, a client PC relays image data on a server side.
And a method in which image data is stored on the server side and each client PC accesses and transmits image data.

[0003]

However, in the above-described method, since image data is indirectly sent from the image document reading device to the client PC, the transmission timing is delayed or the image data transmitted to the client PC is delayed. Cannot be directly sent to the image document reading apparatus, which is the sender.

[0004] In the above method, it is determined whether image data addressed to the client PC is stored in a database or the like of the server, and what kind of image data is stored until the client PC accesses the database. There was an inconvenience of not being able to know.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned inconvenience, and provides an image original reading apparatus and an image data distribution system capable of directly transmitting read image data to a client PC via a network. With the goal.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an image document reading apparatus according to the present invention is connected via a network to an image reading section for obtaining image data by photoelectrically converting an image on the document. Address storage means for registering destination addresses of the plurality of image data processing apparatuses, transmission image storage means for storing read image data, and read image data via a network based on the registered destination addresses Image data transmitting means for transmitting the image data to the image data processing apparatus.

In each of the above image document reading apparatuses,
Transmission request information registration means for registering image data transmission request information sent from the image data processing device in the address storage means, and transmission of image data in which determination of transmission of read image data to the image data processing device is registered. Transmission determination means for performing based on the request information.

In addition, when each of the image document reading devices receives image data transmission request information from the image data processing device, the image document reading device displays at least an identification number of the image data processing device that has transmitted the transmission request information. It is desirable to have a part.

[0009] Further, a mail transmitting means for transmitting the image data read by the communication control unit to the image data processing apparatus via a network may be provided.

Further, the transmission image storage means is constituted as a buffer for a plurality of images, and the image data transmission means sequentially stores the read image data in an empty one of the transmission image buffers during transmission of the image data. In addition, transmission management means for transmitting the image data stored in the transmission image buffer in an order based on the transmission request information may be provided.

An image data distribution system according to a second aspect of the present invention is an image data reading apparatus, and an image data processing apparatus connected to the image data reading apparatus via a network. It is characterized by comprising an image data processing device whose address is registered in the storage means.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a network system comprising an image document reading device and an image data processing device according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, an image document reading apparatus 1 is a LAN
Data processing devices 3-1 as a plurality of client PCs via a network 2 such as a network and a public communication line.
., 3-n.

The image document reading apparatus 1 includes an image reading section 11 as shown in FIG.
.., 3-n in which the transmission destination address is registered. In this case, the image document reading device 1 converts the read image data into an image data processing device based on the image data transmission request information (FIG. 4) sent from the image data processing devices 3-1,. 3-1
・ Send to all or some of 3-n.

The image data processing devices 3-1,..., 3-
n can notify the client when there is a request to receive image data from the image document reading apparatus 1 (FIG. 3).

FIGS. 2, (a) and (b) are block diagrams showing a configuration example of the image document reading apparatus 1 of the present invention.

The image document reading apparatus 1 includes an input unit 10
, An image reading unit 11, a communication control unit 12, a client registration memory 13, a transmission image buffer 14, a display unit 15, a control unit 16, a data compression unit 17, a transmission management unit 18, a transmission request unit An information registration unit 19, a transmission determination unit 20, and a communication interface 21 are provided.

Data compression means 17, transmission management means 18,
The transmission request information registration unit 19 and the transmission determination unit 20 constitute an image data transmission unit. The display unit 15,
The data compression means 17 and the transmission management means 18 have an additional configuration and are not essential in the present invention. Further, the image document reading device 1 may be provided with a sound output device or a display lamp.

The input unit 10 is provided with a power input button, a scan start instruction button, a transmission instruction button, various setting buttons such as paper size setting, density designation, color designation, and ten keys. The operator can operate these buttons and the like to give an instruction to the image document reading apparatus 1 and specify an ID code (identification number) and a group code.

The image reading section 11 includes an image pickup device such as a CCD, scans a document, optically reads characters and images on the document, converts them into electric signals, and outputs image data (image data). I do. As the image reading unit 11, one having the same configuration as a commercially available scanner device can be used.

The communication control unit 12 communicates with a communication terminal device (image data processing device 3-1,...) Connected to the network 2 by a communication protocol under the control of a communication control program.
.., 3-n) and control of data exchange with a connected terminal device.

Then, it receives the transmission destination address from the control unit 16 and transmits the image data stored in the transmission image buffer 14 to the communication terminal device (image data processing device) specified by the transmission destination address via the network 2. I do. The transmission image buffer 14 is composed of a plurality of buffers so as to be able to store a plurality of image data, or if the transmission image buffer 14 can be divided into a plurality of buffers, the image data is stored in a buffer designated by a buffer number. The transmitted image data is transmitted to the communication terminal device specified by the transmission destination address via the communication network 2.

As a communication protocol of the communication control unit 12, a commercially available communication protocol used between devices connected to the Internet (for example, SMTP which is a kind of electronic mail transfer protocol) can be used. Note that S
When a mail transmission means such as MTP is incorporated, image data is transmitted as an e-mail addressed to the client PC (that is, all or a part of the image data processing devices 3-1,..., 3-n). be able to.

The recording unit 13 comprises a data recording / reading device such as a magnetic disk device for recording / reading data on a recording medium such as a magnetic disk.

On the recording medium, a client registration memory area in which client PC specific information (FIG. 4) such as destination addresses of a plurality of image data processing devices is registered, and transmission request information from the client PC (FIG. 5) ) Is registered in the transmission request information table area. Also,
All or part of the image data transmitting means can be registered in the recording medium.

The transmission image buffer 14 includes the image reading unit 11
Is temporarily stored for one document. When the image reading unit 11 has an image buffer for one document, it may be used as the transmission image buffer 14.

Further, a large-capacity transmission image buffer 14 may be provided so that images for a plurality of originals can be stored.
It is desirable that the image data stored in the transmission image buffer 14 be compressed by the data compression unit 17.

The display section 15 is composed of a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and has an image data processing device 3-1,.
When the image data transmission request information is received from any one of n, it is displayed on the screen. The information to be displayed on the display unit 15 includes information specifying the image such as the identification number and client name of the client PC and the title or classification code of the image to be received (or a description of the content of the desired image), the desired date and time of distribution, and the number of copies. Etc.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the control unit 16
It has a CPU 161, a RAM 162, a ROM 163, and a timer 164. The CPU 161 controls the operation of the entire image document reading apparatus 1 based on the control program. The control unit 16 also controls execution of the data compression unit 17, the transmission management unit 18, the transmission request information registration unit 19, and the image data determination unit 20.

The RAM 162 is used for temporarily storing various set values and display information and for executing the control programs and the units 17 to 20. Further, the ROM 163 can store a control program and each initial value.

The data compression means 17 JPEG-compresses the image data output from the image reading section 11 and stores it in the transmission image buffer 14. Note that a commercially available compression program may be used as the data compression unit 17.

The transmission management means 18 includes the transmission image buffer 1
4 is provided when it has a buffer area for a plurality of images. During transmission of the image data, the read image data is sequentially stored in the empty buffer. The storage order in each buffer and the transmission order of the image data to the network 2 are determined so that the image data stored in the transmission image buffer is transmitted in the order stored in the transmission request information table 50 in FIG. .

The transmission request information registration unit 19 includes a transmission request information registration table secured in the recording unit 13 and stores image data transmission request information (client data) transmitted from the image data processing devices 3-1,. The identification number of the PC, information for specifying an image to be received, desired distribution date and time, number of requested copies, etc.) are registered in the transmission request information table 50.

When the original is read by the image reading section 11, the transmission determining section 20 sends a request to the client PC corresponding to the desired delivery date based on the client registration memory area of the recording section 13 and the transmission request information table 50. A transmission destination address is provided to the communication control unit 12 to transmit the requested number of image data. In this case, based on the identification number of the client PC in the transmission request information table 50, the transmission destination address and the distribution date and time of the client registration memory area are checked to determine whether distribution is possible.

The communication interface 21 functions as an interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from the network 2.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the workstation 3 as one embodiment of the image data processing device.

The workstation 3 includes a control unit 31 and
A communication interface 32, an input unit 33, a data recording unit 34, a display unit 35, a printer 36, a communication control unit 37, a notification unit 38, and an image processing application program 39 are provided.

The communication interface 32 functions as a data transmission / reception interface with the communication network 2.

The recording unit 34 is composed of a data recording / reading device such as a magnetic disk device for recording / reading data on a recording medium such as a magnetic disk. An image processing application program 39 and the like are stored.

The display unit 35 is composed of a display device such as a liquid crystal display. When receiving a data reception request signal from the image document reading device 1, the display unit 35 displays a notification message edited by the notification unit 38 on a screen.

The printer 36 prints the processing results and the like by a printing program (included in the application program 39) executed as needed.

The communication control means 37 controls preparation for connection with the image document reading apparatus 1 and transmission / reception of data after connection by the communication protocol.

The notifying means 38 includes the image document reading device 1
When a data reception request signal is received from the display unit 35, a message is displayed on the screen of the display unit 35 to that effect. When the image reading apparatus 1 is provided with an audio output device or a display lamp, the notifying unit 38 outputs a warning sound or a warning sound when a data reception request signal from the image reading apparatus 1 is received. The notification may be made by a lamp display.

The application program 39 includes a data decompression program, an image processing program, a printing program, and a group of programs for performing various processes performed by the workstation 3. Also,
Commercially available programs can also be used as these programs.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a format of an embodiment of registration data recorded in the client registration memory area.

In FIG. 4, the registration data 40 is an ID number column 41
, A transmission destination address column 42 and a client name column 43
And a client information column 44.

An ID number for identifying a client PC is registered in an ID number column 41, and an address (for example, an image data processing device necessary for distributing image data from the image document reading device 1) in a destination address column 42. , Telephone number) as a destination address.

The client name is registered in the client name column 43. In the client information column 44, client information for registering other necessary client information (for example, unique information of the client PC such as an address and a representative name) is registered.

Further, the registration data 40 can be provided with a group code column 45 and a priority order column 46. In the group column 45, when the client PC has a plurality of workstations 3 and distributes image data to all or some of them, a group code is registered. A plurality of group codes can be set. Thus, the same image can be transmitted to destinations having the same group code. The priority level of the distribution is registered in the priority order column 46. The priority indicates the priority of transmission of image data between the client PCs. For example, when the designated transmission time is the same, the image data is transmitted in order from the client PC having the higher priority level.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the transmission request information table 50.

In FIG. 5, the transmission request information table 50 includes a transmission destination address column 51, a request date and time column 52, a request content column 53,
It has a transmission request record including a designated date and time column 54, a number of sheets column 55, a priority order column 56, a transmission date and time column 57, and a buffer number column 58.

The transmission destination address is recorded in the transmission destination address column 51, and the date and time when the transmission request information is received from the client PC is recorded in the request date and time column 52. In the request content column 53, the content of a request from the client PC is recorded. The request content includes the type of image data to be transmitted (image code or image name), a comment, and the like.

The designated date and time column 54 records the date and time when the client PC has designated the transmission date and time, and stores the date and time according to the priority order (for example, current + 1 hour, current + 6 hours, etc.) when not designated. Is done.

The number field 55 stores the value when the client PC specifies the number, and sets “1” when the number is not specified.

The priority registered in the priority column 46 of the registered data 40 is automatically recorded in the priority column 56.

The transmission date and time column 57 records the date and time of transmission. In the case of no transmission, '0' is set.

When the image document reading apparatus 1 has a plurality of buffers as transmission image buffers, the buffer number column 58 stores the number (or address) of the buffer in which the image data of the transmission destination is stored. Is done. If no image data is stored, “0” is set.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of the image document reading operation by the image document reading device 1. In the operation of the image document reading device 1, image data is transferred to a plurality of workstations (image data processing devices). This is an example of distribution to all or a part.

First, on the image document reading apparatus 1 side, the operator inputs the identification number of the client PC from the input unit 10.
Alternatively, the distribution destination is set by inputting the identification number of the client PC and the group code (S1).

Next, when a document reading instruction operation is performed, the image reading section 11 reads the document on the document table and outputs image data to the transmission image buffer 14 (S2).

The registration data 40 in the registration memory area of the recording unit 13 is searched (S3), the identification number 41 is matched with the group code 45 (S4), and the transmission destination address of the registration data 40 is sent to the communication control unit 12. (S5).

The communication control unit 12 performs a connection preparation operation according to the communication protocol, and when connected to the designated workstation, transmits the image data in the transmission image buffer 14 to that workstation via the network 2 (S6). The operations of S6 to S7 are repeated until all the registered data 40 in the registered memory have been checked (S7).

When a request for data reception is made from the image document reading device 1 to the workstation in step S2 or S7, the display unit 35 is displayed on the workstation.
In addition, a message indicating that image data is to be sent from now on can be displayed, or a warning sound or a voice message can be issued to notify that image data is to be sent.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing another embodiment of the image document reading operation by the image document reading device 1. The image data is transmitted from the image document reading device 1 to the workstation based on the operation of the workstation of the client PC. This is an example of distributing to

First, when an operator issues an instruction to connect to the image document reading device 1 from the input unit 33 at the workstation of the client PC, connection preparation is performed by a communication protocol.

Transmission request information (ID number of client PC, workstation code (= destination address), image code or contents of image to be transmitted, etc., transmission specified date, number of sheets, etc.) along with the transmission request command.
Is input (T1).

When the transmission is started, a transmission request command and transmission request information are sent to the image document reading device 1 via the network 2 (T2).

When receiving the transmission request command and the transmission request information from the workstation (T3), the image document reading device 1 checks the registration data 40 in the registration memory area (T4).

At step T4, if the ID number and the workstation code (= destination address) do not match, the inconsistency information is given to the communication control unit 12, and the inconsistency information is transmitted via the network 2 when the transmission request is received. The processing is terminated by transmitting the data to the workstation (T5).

If the ID number and the workstation code (= destination address) match at step T4, the received transmission request information is edited and
5 (T6), and the content of the transmission request information is stored in the corresponding column of the transmission request information table 50. Also,
The priority is extracted from the corresponding registration data 40 based on the ID number and the transmission destination address and stored in the priority column 56 of the transmission request information table 50 (T7).

The operator of the image document reading apparatus 1
A document is selected based on the displayed transmission request information, and when the transmission destination address of the client PC requesting the selected document is pointed on the display device, a distribution destination is set (T8). Pointing on the screen can be performed by pointing with a cursor or a mouse.

Next, the control unit 16 checks the buffer number column 58 of the transmission request information table 50 to display the presence or absence of a free buffer on the display unit 15, and if there is no free buffer, the process proceeds to T11. (T9).

When there is an empty buffer, when the operator performs an original reading operation, the image reading section 11 reads the original on the original platen, outputs the image data to the empty buffer, and shifts to T16. (T10).

The control unit 16 checks the transmission request information table 50 (T11), and for a transmission request record in which the buffer number is not recorded in the buffer number column 58, a predetermined time (for example, one hour before) or a fixed time before the designated date and time. The contents of each column of the transmission request record are edited and displayed on the display unit 15 every time (T12).

The operator of the image document reading apparatus 1
A document is selected based on the transmission request information displayed in step T9, and when the transmission destination address of the client PC requesting the selected document is pointed on the display device, a distribution destination is set (T13).

Next, the control unit 16 checks the transmission request information table 50 and displays on the display unit 15 whether or not there is an empty buffer. If there is no empty buffer, a standby display is performed until the buffer is empty (T14).

If there is an empty buffer or if the buffer is empty, the image reading section 11 reads the original on the original platen and outputs the image data to the empty transmission image buffer 14 (T15).

The control unit 16 checks the designated date and time column 54 of the transmission request information table 50 (T16), reads out the transmission destination address and the buffer number of the transmission request record whose designated time has arrived, and gives it to the communication control unit 12 (T1).
7).

The communication control unit 12 performs a connection preparation operation according to the communication protocol, and
Then, the image data stored in the corresponding buffer number of the transmission image buffer 14 is transmitted to the workstation 3 via the network 2 (T1
8).

When transmission to the workstation 3 is completed,
The transmission date and time are written in the transmission date and time column 57 of the transmission request record, and the buffer number column 58 is cleared (T19).

The work station 3 checks the data received from the image document reading device 1 (T20). If the data is mismatch information, a message is displayed on the display unit 35 to indicate the mismatch, and the process returns to T1. Then, a message to that effect is displayed on the display unit 35 to start receiving data (T21).

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made.

[0083]

As described above, according to the image document reading apparatus and the image data distribution system of the present invention, the read image can be transmitted based on the registered transmission address, so that the client PC can be connected to a plurality of terminal devices. , The image data can be distributed to all or a part of it by one operation.

Further, a display unit is provided in the image document reading apparatus, and when the image data transmission request information is received from the terminal device side, the content thereof can be displayed. By displaying the data transmission request information, a document can be prepared in advance, or the image document reading device can be operated to read / transmit at an appropriate time.

Further, if the communication control unit is provided with a mail transmitting means, the read image data can be transmitted to the terminal device via the communication network by a mail, and the client PC can read the mail and read the image data at appropriate times. .

When a buffer for a plurality of images is provided in the transmission image buffer, the read image data can be sequentially stored in an empty buffer among the transmission image buffers. You can also distribute data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a network connecting an image document reading apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image document reading apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image data processing device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a format of an embodiment of registration data recorded in a registration memory.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a transmission request information table.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an image data distribution operation performed by the image document reading apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of an image data distribution operation by the image document reading apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 image original reading device 2 network 3 workstation (image data processing device) 11 image reading unit 12 communication control unit 13 recording unit (registered memory) 14 transmission image buffer 15 display unit 16 control unit 17 data compression unit (image data transmission unit) 18 transmission management means (image data transmission means) 19 transmission request information registration means (image data transmission means) 20 transmission determination means (image data transmission means) 40 registration data 50 transmission request information table

Claims (6)

[Claims] An image reading unit that photoelectrically converts an image on a document to obtain image data; an address storage unit that registers addresses of a plurality of image data processing devices connected via a network; An image characterized by comprising: transmission image storage means for storing; and image data transmission means for transmitting read image data to the image data processing device via the network based on the registered address. Document reading device. 2. The image document reading device according to claim 1, wherein the image data transmitting unit reads the image data transmission request information sent from the image data processing device into an address storage unit. An image document reading apparatus, comprising: transmission determination means for determining transmission of image data to the image data processing apparatus based on the registered image data transmission request information. 3. The image document reading device according to claim 1, further comprising, when receiving the image data transmission request information from the image data processing device, identifying at least the image data processing device that transmitted the transmission request information. An image document reading device comprising a display unit for displaying a number. 4. The image document reading device according to claim 1, wherein the communication control unit has a mail transmitting unit that transmits the read image data to a destination of the image data processing device via a network. Image original reading device. 5. The image document reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission image storage means includes a buffer for a plurality of images, and the image data transmission means transmits the read image data during transmission of the image data. An image document reading apparatus comprising: a transmission management unit for sequentially storing image data in an empty buffer among image buffers and transmitting image data stored in a transmission image buffer in an order based on registered transmission request information. . 6. An image document reading device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of image data processing devices connected to the image document reading device via a network. An image data distribution system comprising an image data processing device whose address is registered in an address storage means of the present invention.