KR20060066513A - Apparatus and method for managing integrated files in image forming integrated system - Google Patents

Abstract

In the integrated electronic file management apparatus of the image forming complex system according to an aspect of the present invention, a search is made as to whether a user who accesses the system is a legitimate user who is allowed to access the system and a type of service permitted to the party user. A user information management module; An input / output information processing module configured to manage data input and output from a user who has completed a user authentication process through the user information management module; An integrated file generation module configured to generate and manage all the mergeable image files generated by the device working according to a user's command input through the input / output information processing module as a file in an integrated form for each user; And an integrated file transfer module for transmitting the integrated file generated by the integrated file generation module to another device connected to a network.

Description

Apparatus and Method for Managing Integrated Files in Image Forming Integrated System             

1 is a view showing an image data forming process in a general composite image forming system.

2 is a diagram illustrating a user authentication process of a general composite image forming system.

3 is a block diagram showing a logic block configuration of an image forming composite system according to the present invention;

4 is a diagram illustrating a function setting process of a user for generating an integrated electronic file according to the present invention.

5 is a diagram illustrating a process of generating an integrated electronic file of an image forming complex system according to the present invention;

6 is a view showing a process of viewing a user's integrated file created in accordance with the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

300: composite image forming system 310: user information management module

320: input and output information processing module 330: integrated file generation module                 

340: integrated file transfer module 350: user interface module

The present invention relates to an integrated electronic file management apparatus and method thereof of an image forming composite system, and more particularly, to integrate a number of image files generated from various tasks of multiple users using one image forming composite system for each user. An integrated electronic file management apparatus and a method for an image forming composite system to be managed.

Digital copiers are required to have high speed and multifunctionality, and so-called digital multifunction devices have emerged that add a facsimile function, an image reading function (scan), an image forming function (printing), and the like in addition to a copy function.

The functions of a general digital copier are as follows.

A digital copier scans a sheet of paper on which an image sensor is formed and converts the reflected light from the sheet into an electrical signal. The analog signal from the image sensor is converted into a digital picture signal in an A / D converter. The digital image signal after conversion is subjected to image processing and editing processing such as edge enhancement, trimming, halftone processing, and the like in the image processing circuit. The image signal output from the image processing circuit is output to the laser driver after being buffered in the buffer memory for speed adjustment. The laser driver drives a semiconductor laser, and an electrostatic latent image is formed by the laser beam output from the semiconductor laser.

In addition, the digital copier includes a CPU, a LAN controller, a page memory, a parallel interface, a communication control unit (CCU), and a compression extension circuit interconnected by a CPU bus.

The CPU has a RAM and a ROM and performs control of the entire digital copier. The page memory has a capacity for storing at least one page of image data and is connected to the buffer memory. The image data stored in the page memory is output to the laser driver through the buffer memory and recorded on the sheet.

The LAN controller is for communicating with an external device by a network. When using a digital copier as a remote printer, an external device such as a computer transmits a printer control command or image data to the digital copier via a LAN. The CPU expands the image data received via the LAN into the page memory based on the received printer control command.

You can also connect digital copiers and external devices one-to-one using a parallel interface. When using a digital copier as a printer of an external device, the external device transmits a printer control command or image data to the digital copier through the parallel interface of the digital copier. When the external device uses the image scanner function possessed by the digital copier, the external device transmits a document read control command to the digital copy machine through the parallel interface, and transmits the read image data from the digital copier to the external device.

The LIU or NCU communicates with an external facsimile apparatus via a public line using a modem. The facsimile-transmitted image data is decompressed by the compression extension circuit, transferred to the page memory, and output to the printer. In addition, the image data read for facsimile transmission is stored in the page memory, compressed in a compression extension circuit, and transmitted to the external facsimile apparatus via LIU or NCU and a modem.

On the other hand, the operation of the image reading apparatus goes through the same procedure as a digital copier until the image sensor reads an analog image signal, converts it into a digital signal, and stores it in a memory.

The multifunction device has various functions such as a facsimile function and an image forming function in addition to the above-described copying function and image reading function, and thus can generate various data. In addition, the all-in-one system has been added to the authentication function for users who want to use the multifunction device.

These common MFPs work by focusing on the use of data. In recent years, as HDDs are installed in multifunction devices, data storage on a job basis becomes possible. However, it is stored in individual units or in units of the same day.

1 shows a process of forming image data in a general composite image forming system.                         

The composite image forming system includes a scanner for reading an image, a modem for supporting a fax function, an image processor, a printing device for generating image data, a panel for a user interface, an e-mail receiving device, and the like. 1, three main functions of the complex image forming system of scanning, receiving a fax, and printing will be described.

The scanning operation is performed by the scanner apparatus scanning the paper on which an image has already been formed (S101), and converting an analog signal into a digital signal to generate image data (S102).

In the case of a fax reception job, a fax input from the outside is received through a modem device or the like mounted on the complex image forming system (S111), and the received fax data is decoded by the image processor (S112) to receive the image data. Is generated (S113).

In the print job, an interpreter translates printing data received through a data port such as a USB port, a parallel port, a network (S121) (S122), generates image data (S123), and generates image data from the interpreter. The printing apparatus provided is substantially subjected to the step of forming an image on the paper.

In addition, although not shown in FIG. 1, when the complex image forming system is connected to the Internet, a function of receiving an email and printing the received email may be added.

In order to implement the above functions, the composite image forming system provides a panel for a user interface, through which a user can form text data and the like. In general, the image data formed by the above-described method is usually finished in all steps such as output of printed matter, storage in the form of data, and represented on a panel for a user interface. Recently, the image data formed in each step is converted into an image format (S130), and may be transmitted to a personal computer, PDA, etc. through a communication device connected to the system (S131).

2 shows a user authentication process of a typical composite image forming system.

In order to provide a user authentication function in a complex image forming system, an input device and a user authentication unit for logging on / off of a user are required.

When the authentication function of the composite image forming system is set, all users who want to use the system can access the system and use a desired function only after undergoing a user authentication process. Users who are allowed to access the system will be given certain login information, and the system should have login information for all users allowed by the system. The system will also contain data about the functions that the user is allowed to access, among the various functions the system has (scanning, faxing, printing, etc.).

First, when a user inputs user logon information through the input device of the system (S201), the system may allow the connection by comparing the information about the user who has been authenticated with the data information about the party user he owns. It is determined whether it is a user. If the user is a party user who is allowed to access, the system will notify the user that the authentication is permitted (S202), and will display which service functions the user can use (S203). The user uses the composite image forming system only for the service allowed to him (S204).

When the user finishes the work for the desired service (S205) and logs off (S206), the composite image forming system waits for another user's work request in a waiting state again.

As described above, in the complex image forming system according to the related art, although the allowable service for each user can be classified, the job data according to the user is not classified.

In addition, the data generated from one function is terminated in use with the end of the function. For example, the data generated in the copying operation step is destroyed after image data is generated in the scanner and after printing, and it is impossible to reuse the data generated in one operation. That is, as a whole of the composite image forming system, there is a problem in that the efficiency of the work is lowered because the integration of data generated by different functions is not achieved.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an integrated image forming system that collects and uses various types of data generated in a multifunction device as an electronic file in an integrated form for each user, rather than as individual job units. An object of the present invention is to provide an integrated electronic file management apparatus and method thereof.

In the integrated electronic file management apparatus of the image forming complex system according to an aspect of the present invention, a search is made as to whether a user who accesses the system is a legitimate user who is allowed to access the system and a type of service permitted to the party user. A user information management module; An input / output information processing module configured to manage data input and output from a user who has completed a user authentication process through the user information management module; An integrated file generation module configured to generate and manage all the mergeable image files generated by the device working according to a user's command input through the input / output information processing module as a file in an integrated form for each user; And an integrated file transfer module for transmitting the integrated file generated by the integrated file generation module to another device connected to a network.

The integrated electronic file management apparatus may further include a user interface module for allowing a user to set and change a user-specific integrated file management function and to display a predetermined integrated file.

The user information management module is configured to construct a database of ID and password information for at least one user authorized to use the image forming complex system and a service type accessible to each user. .

The integrated file may include at least one of pdf, jpg, tiff, gif, and bmp image files.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an integrated electronic file management method of an image forming composite system includes information about whether a user is a legitimate user allowed to access a system for a system connection request from a user, and the types of services allowed to the party user. Searching; Integrating image files generated from at least one service providing device selected by a user who has been authenticated in the above step and adding them to an existing integrated file of a currently logged in user or generating a new integrated file for the current user; When the user who is using the system logs out, ending the integration of data for the integrated file and storing the file as a file belonging to the user; And listing the integrated files stored for each user according to a display request of the user.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

3 shows a logical block configuration of an image forming composite system according to the present invention.                     

The image forming composite system according to the present invention is based on the fact that the system can be used only by logging on for each authorized user.

To this end, the system includes a user information management module 310, input and output information processing module 320, integrated file generation module 330, integrated file transfer module 340, and further includes a user interface module 350. .

The user information management module 310 constructs a database of ID and password information for a plurality of users authorized to use the system and types of accessible services for each user. When a user who wants to use the system requests a logon, the user information management module 310 requests input of an ID and password of a user currently attempting to connect to the system, and compares the input information with user information in a database held by the user. Search for matching users.

If it is determined that there is data for the connection request user, it is notified that authentication for the user is permitted. At this time, the user information management module 310 also searches for the type of service allowed for the user and informs the user. In this way, the user can grasp the type of service available through the system and proceed with the desired service.

When the user who has authenticated the user through the user information management module 310 selects a desired service, the input / output information processing module 320 generates data input and output by the user for generating an integrated file for the user currently logged on. Manage it.

Users can use various services assigned to them, and the integrated file generation module 330 integrates data files generated by each service device (scan device, printing device, fax device, etc.) of the system into one image file. It plays a role. At this time, the image file may be selected and set by the user regardless of the type such as pdf, jpg, tiff, gif, or bmp.

In addition, the integrated file generated through the integrated file generation module 330 is managed to be transferred to another device in the network via the integrated file transfer module 340 through the system communication device.

Finally, the user interface module 350 provides a display and setting function for setting whether to control / manage the system by setting a user-specific integrated file management function. The system manager may register and set information such as an accessible user list and an access permission service for the system through the interface module 350. In addition, the user may check the integrated electronic file generated by his or her ID through the interface module 350, and the system administrator may check the integrated electronic file list for each user.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a function setting process of a user for generating an integrated electronic file according to the present invention.

A user who wants to generate an integrated electronic file must first go through the authentication process of the system. In other words, if the user requests a logon (S401), the system will check whether the user is a legitimate user and give authorization to authenticate. When the authorization is granted, the user selects to generate his / her own integrated electronic file from the work data made in the logged on state, and enters a setting process for this (S402).

The system then lists and displays devices capable of providing data in the integrated electronic file (S403). A user who has received data that can be included as an integrated electronic file selects a data providing device for generating an integrated file (S404), and when the support of various types of image files is possible, selects a desired image format among file formats. (S405). If the size of the integrated electronic file is too large, transmission to other devices connected to the network may be difficult, so it is also selected whether to perform additional compression on the integrated electronic file (S406).

Through the above-described process, the system is ready to generate an integrated electronic file from the various data generated as a result of the user's work. That is, the operation of the integrated electronic file generation function is started (S407). When the user logs off after the user's work, the system stops the generation of the integrated electronic file for the user (S408).

5 illustrates a process of generating an integrated electronic file of the image forming complex system according to the present invention.

The user who logs on through the process of FIG. 4 and finishes the setting process requests a desired service (S501). The system checks whether the integrated file generation function is set (S502), and when the integrated file generation function is set, the user may continue to use the existing integrated file even in the current working environment to integrate additional data. In this case, the user may select whether to integrate the current working data using a new integrated file different from the existing integrated file (S503). When the user creates a new integrated file, the user inputs a file name (S504).

If a file for integrating data is prepared, the system checks whether the operating device that performs the service desired by the user supports the integrated file function (S505), and acquires data in an image format from the currently operating device (S506). Add the acquired image pocket data to the selected existing integrated file or create the integrated file with a new name.

If the user continues to do other work without logging off, the data according to the work in progress can be merged into one or multiple integrated files. When the user logs off (S507), the data is no longer added to the integrated file or a new integrated file for the user is not generated.

6 shows a process of reading the integrated file of the user created according to the present invention.

In the embodiment of Figure 6 shows the flow when the user wants to view the integrated files generated through the process of Figures 4 and 5.

Even when the integrated file is to be viewed, the user must first go through a logon procedure on the system (S601). When the logged on user authenticates and requests to view the integrated file created by the user (S602), the system searches for the integrated file corresponding to the logged on user (S603) and displays the searched integrated file. (S604).

Through the various integrated files displayed, the user can check his / her work history and transmit a desired integrated file to another device connected to the network (PC, PDA, etc.).

The present invention enables to classify the usage rights of a large amount of data formed in one system by managing data in an integrated form for each user who uses the complex image forming system, thereby efficiently and efficiently storing data generated in the system. It has the advantage of allowing systematic management.

Claims (5)

In the file management apparatus of the image forming composite system, A user information management module for retrieving whether the user accessing the system is a legitimate user who is allowed to access the system and the type of service permitted to the party user; An input / output information processing module configured to manage data input and output from a user who has completed a user authentication process through the user information management module; An integrated file generation module configured to generate and manage all the mergeable image files generated by the device working according to a user's command input through the input / output information processing module as a file in an integrated form for each user; And And an integrated file transfer module configured to transfer the integrated file generated by the integrated file generation module to another device connected to a network. The method of claim 1, And a user interface module for allowing a user to set and change an integrated file management function for each user, and to display a predetermined integrated file. The method of claim 1, The user information management module, A database of ID and password information for at least one user authorized to use the image forming composite system, and a type of accessible service for each user; File management device. The method of claim 1, The form of the integrated file, An integrated electronic file management apparatus for an image forming complex system, comprising at least one of pdf, jpg, tiff, gif, and bmp image files. In the file management method of the image forming composite system, Searching for a system connection request from a user, whether the user is a legitimate user who is allowed to access the system, and a type of service permitted to the party user; Integrating image files generated from at least one service providing device selected by a user who has been authenticated in the above step and adding them to an existing integrated file of a currently logged in user or generating a new integrated file for the current user; When the user who is using the system logs out, ending the integration of data for the integrated file and storing the file as a file belonging to the user; And And enumerating the integrated files stored for each user according to a display request of a user.

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