HK1108255A - Image scanning device with time authentication requesting function - Google Patents

Description

Image reading apparatus with time authentication request function

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus with a time authentication request function, such as a digital multifunction peripheral, which stores a document image scanned by a scanner with a time stamp.

Background

In recent years, in a digital multifunction peripheral having a copy function, a facsimile function, a print function, a scanner function, and the like, a document image scanned by a scanner is given a time stamp and is stored as an electronic document. That is, since digital data is easier to be falsified and the like than a paper document, a time stamp technique is used, which proves when the document starts to exist by a technique of proving a specific time of an electronic document, and which is not falsified by not only a third party but also a creator himself from that time.

In the case of adopting such a Time stamp technique, a hash value (hash value) of an electronic document is transmitted to a Time-of-day certification Authority (hereinafter, referred to as TSA), the hash value transmitted by the TSA is encrypted together with information of correct Time using an atomic clock and then sent back as a Time stamp, and the Time stamp is stored together with the electronic document.

In the case of verifying such an electronic document, the time stamp is decrypted, and confirmation of the time information of the time stamp and comparison of the hash value of the electronic document calculated separately with the hash value included in the time stamp are performed, whereby falsification detection can be performed. The hash value is a fixed-length value generated from a given original text by an irreversible one-way function (hash function (also called hash function)), and is also called a message digest or the like. Since it is difficult to obtain the original text from the hash value and to create a document having the same hash value, it is possible to confirm whether the original text is the same by comparing the hash values.

As described above, in the conventional digital multifunction peripheral, the scanned document can be stored as an electronic document together with the time stamp, but since the cost of requesting the time stamp occurs, there is a problem that the cost of electronically documenting all the documents is high. On the other hand, even if a paper document is discarded, electronic documentation is not necessary at this point of time, but it is not known whether electronic documentation is necessary at a later date, and as a result, the document cannot be discarded and a large number of documents must be stored.

[ patent document 1 ] Japanese laid-open patent application No. 2005-267083

[ patent document 2 ] Japanese unexamined patent application publication No. 2004-80611

[ patent document 3 ] Japanese patent application laid-open No. Hei 11-338780

[ patent document 4 ] Japanese laid-open patent application No. 2001-350405

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus with a time authentication request function, which can easily convert a document into an electronic document and can reduce the cost required for a time stamp by scanning a document that is not an electronic document object in the same format as the electronic document and storing data without giving a time stamp.

In order to achieve the above object, an image reading apparatus with a time authentication request function according to claim 1 includes: an image reading mechanism for reading a document and generating an image signal; and a control unit that gives a time stamp to the image signal generated by the image reading unit and stores the image signal in a storage unit, wherein the control unit has a temporary storage function of storing the image data in the storage unit without giving a time stamp.

In the image reading apparatus with a time authentication request function according to claim 2, in the image reading apparatus with a time authentication request function according to claim 1, the control means has a function of selecting image data which is not given a time stamp and stored in the storage means and giving a time stamp.

According to the image reading apparatus with the time authentication request function according to claim 1 or 2, since documents that are not targets of electronic documents can be scanned in the same format as the electronic documents and data can be stored without being given a time stamp, and when electronic documentation is necessary at a later date, it is not necessary to take out paper documents and scan again, it is possible to reduce documents to be stored, and since necessary documents are collected from among the electronic documents stored without being given a time stamp and a time stamp is appropriately given, it is possible to reduce the cost required for the time stamp.

Other features, elements, processes, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of the embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a network configuration of a system including a digital multifunction peripheral.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the digital multifunction peripheral.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the display/operation unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a file structure of a storage unit for storing an electronic document.

Fig. 5 shows an example of data stored in the management file.

Fig. 6 shows an example of a scan execution screen.

Fig. 7 is an example of an electronic document scanning execution screen.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation at the time of electronic document scanning execution.

Fig. 9 is an example of an electronic document scanning execution screen.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation at the time of executing the provisional scanning of the electronic document.

Fig. 11 shows an example of a temporary electronic document selection screen.

Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation when a time stamp is given.

Fig. 13 is an example of a display screen of an electronic document stored in the temporary folder for account book.

Fig. 14 shows an example of an editing screen for adding a time stamp to a document.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an example in which the image reading apparatus with the time authentication request function of the present invention is applied to a digital multifunction peripheral will be described. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a network configuration of a system including a digital multifunction peripheral, and fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the digital multifunction peripheral.

In the Network configuration shown in fig. 1, 1 is a digital multifunction peripheral, 2, 3, 4, and … … are personal computers, 5 is a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), 6 is a LAN (Local Area Network), 7 is the internet, and 8 is a TSA. The digital multifunction peripheral 1 has functions of a copy mode, a print mode, and a facsimile mode, and also has a mail transmission function, and is connected to the PSTN5 and the LAN6, and a plurality of personal computers 2, 3, 4, and … … are connected to the LAN6 as terminal devices. The LAN6 is also connected to the internet 7, and the digital multifunction peripheral 1 can transmit and receive mails via the internet 7. Note that the TSA8 is a time certification authority, and if the hash value of the scan data is received from the digital multifunction peripheral 1 via the internet 7, the TSA8 encrypts the received hash value together with information of the correct time using the atomic clock and returns the encrypted hash value as a time stamp.

As shown in fig. 2, the digital multifunction peripheral 1 includes a CPU11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a display/operation unit 14, a reading unit 15, an image Memory 16, a recording unit 17, a codec 18, a modem 19, a network control unit NCU20, a LAN interface (I/F)21, and an electronic document storage unit 22, which are connected via a bus 23.

The CPU11 controls each hardware unit of the digital multifunction peripheral 1 via the bus 23, and executes various programs in accordance with programs stored in the ROM12, and the ROM12 stores various programs, operation messages, and the like necessary for the operation of the digital multifunction peripheral in advance. The RAM13 is formed of an SRAM or the like, and stores temporary data generated when a program is executed.

The display/operation unit 14 includes a display unit for displaying an operation screen for displaying an operation state of the digital multifunction peripheral 1 or performing various functions, and a plurality of keys for operating the digital multifunction peripheral 1, and is configured by an LCD display unit 31 constituting the display unit and a plurality of operation keys, as shown in fig. 3. The LCD display unit 31 is provided with a touch panel switch, and by pressing down an item portion displayed on the LCD display unit 31, selection of a corresponding item and execution of a function can be performed. Further, as the operation keys, there are provided various keys such as a numeric key 32, a start key 33, a reset key 34, a stop key 35, a plurality of one-touch dial keys 36, a cross key 37, a return key 38, a set key 39, a FAX switch key 40, a copy switch key 41, and a scan switch key 42. In addition, a part or all of these operation keys may be replaced with the LCD display portion 31.

The reading section 15 includes a document platen for reading, such as an Auto Document Feeder (ADF) and a flatbed scanner (FBS), and outputs dot image data by reading a document with a scanner, such as a CCD. The image memory 16 is configured by a DRAM or the like, stores image data to be transmitted, received image data, or image data read by the reading unit 15, and the recording unit 17 is provided with a printing device of an electrophotographic system or the like, and prints out the received data, copied document data, or print data transmitted from an external personal computer 2, 3, 4 or the like.

The codec 18 encodes and decodes the image data according to a predetermined protocol, encodes the image data in an MH, MR, or MMR format to transmit the read image data of the document, decodes the image data received from the outside, and can also encode and decode the image data according to a TIFF format, which is an image format generally used as a file that can be added to an electronic mail.

The modem 19 is connected to the bus 23, and has a function as a facsimile modem capable of facsimile communication, and the modem 19 is connected to the NCU20 similarly connected to the bus 23. The NCU20 is hardware for performing operations of closing and opening analog lines, and connects the modem 19 to the PSTN5 as necessary. The LAN interface 21 is connected to the LAN6, receives signals from the internet 7, transmits signals and data to the LAN6, and performs interface processing such as signal conversion and protocol conversion.

The electronic document storage unit 22 is a storage unit that stores electronic documents according to the types of documents, and as shown in fig. 4, includes folders and temporary folders for each document such as management files of electronic documents, account books, quotations, meeting minutes, and orders, and stores a scanned document and a time stamp to which a file name is assigned by combining a character string capable of identifying the file name with a date and a sequence number; in the temporary document folder, a scanned document is stored with a file name obtained by combining a date and a number with a character string capable of identifying the file name. As shown in fig. 5, the management file stores a file name, a valid period of a time stamp, and a storage period of the data in the case of an electronic document, and stores only the file name in the case of a temporary electronic document.

The digital multifunction peripheral 1 has the configuration as described above, and at the time of facsimile transmission, image data of a document is read by the reading unit 15, compressed by the codec 18, and stored in the image memory 16. The compressed image data is read from the image memory 16, modulated by the modem 19, and transmitted from the NCU20 to the communication partner via the PSTN 5. In facsimile reception, received image data is demodulated by the modem 19, stored in the image memory 16, decoded by the codec 18, and printed by the recording unit 17.

On the other hand, the digital multifunction peripheral can scan a document as described above and store it as an electronic document or a temporary electronic document, and the operation when the electronic document is scanned will be described below. When the user presses the scan switching key 42 of the display/operation section 14, a scan execution screen shown in fig. 6 is displayed on the LCD display section 31 of the display/operation section 14. Since the selection screens for electronic document scanning, electronic document temporary scanning, normal scanning, and time stamping are displayed on this screen, any function can be executed by pressing the "execute" button after any function is pressed.

When the user selects electronic document scanning in the scanning execution screen shown in fig. 6 and presses the "execute" button, the electronic document scanning execution screen shown in fig. 7 is displayed on the LCD display section 31 of the display/operation section 14. On this screen, a selection screen of the type of document to be scanned is displayed, such as electronic document scan for account book, electronic document scan for quotation, electronic document scan for order, and the like, and after any one of the electronic document scans is pressed and selected, the digital multifunction peripheral 1 executes the electronic document scan by pressing the "execute" button.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CPU11 at the time of electronic document scanning execution, and when the "execute" button is pressed after electronic document scanning of any document type is selected, the CPU11 starts the electronic document scanning program shown in the flowchart of fig. 8, determines whether or not the user has instructed ledger electronic document scanning (step 101), and when it is determined that the user has instructed ledger electronic document scanning, reads image data of a document by the reading section 15, compresses the image data with the codec 18, and stores the compressed image data in the image memory 16 (step 102).

Next, the CPU11 calculates the hash value of the data stored in the image memory 16, and then transmits the hash value data to the TSA8 via the LAN interface 21, the LAN6, and the internet 7 (step 103). Next, after transmitting the hash value data to the TSA8, the CPU11 determines whether or not a time stamp has been received from the TSA8 (step 104), and when the time stamp has been received from the TSA8, creates a file name for the account book in accordance with "chobo" + "date" + "sequence number", stores the scan data and the time stamp in the folder for the account book in the electronic document storage unit 22 in accordance with the created file name, and stores the file name, the effective period of the time stamp, and the storage period of the electronic document in the management file (step 105). In addition, since the storage period of the document can be specified for each document type, for example, 10 years for the book, 5 years for the order form, or the like, the storage period can be automatically determined according to the date of creation of the electronic document and the storage period of the document of the type.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step 101 that the user has not instructed the electronic document scan of the account book, the CPU11 determines whether or not the user has instructed the quotation document scan (step 106), and when it is determined that the user has instructed the quotation document scan, the CPU11 scans and saves the image data of the document (step 107) as described above, calculates the hash value of the scanned data, and transmits the hash value to the TSA8 (step 108). Next, it is determined whether or not the time stamp is received from the TSA8 (step 109), and when the time stamp is received from the TSA8, a file name is created in accordance with "mitomori" + "date" + "serial", the scan data and the time stamp are stored in the file folder for the quotation in the electronic document storage unit 22 in accordance with the created file name, and the file name, the valid period of the time stamp, and the storage period of the electronic document are stored in the management file (step 110).

Further, when it is determined in step 106 that the user has not instructed the order document scan, the CPU11 determines whether or not the user has instructed the order document scan (step 111), and when it is determined that the user has instructed the order document scan, the CPU11 scans and stores image data of a document (step 112) as described above, calculates a hash value of the scanned data, and transmits the hash value to the TSA8 (step 113).

Next, it is judged whether or not the time stamp is received from the TSA8 (step 114), and if the time stamp is received from the TSA8, a file name is created in accordance with "chuumon" + "date" + "serial", the scan data and the time stamp are stored in the order folder of the electronic document storage unit 22 in accordance with the created file name, and the file name, the valid period of the time stamp, and the storage period of the electronic document are stored in the management file (step 115). Further, in the case where it is judged in step 111 that the user has not instructed the order sheet electronic document scanning, the CPU11 executes the electronic document scanning of the other kind of document (step 116).

Further, when the user selects electronic document provisional scanning in the scanning execution screen shown in fig. 6 and presses the "execute" button, the electronic document provisional scanning execution screen shown in fig. 9 is displayed on the LCD display section 31 of the display/operation section 14. On this screen, as described above, a selection screen for the type of document to be subjected to electronic document provisional scanning, such as an account book electronic document provisional scanning, a quotation electronic document provisional scanning, and an order form electronic document provisional scanning, is displayed, and after any one of the electronic document provisional scanning is pressed and selected, the digital multifunction peripheral 1 executes the electronic document provisional scanning by pressing the "execute" button.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CPU11 at the time of execution of electronic document provisional scanning, and if the "execute" button is pressed after the electronic document provisional scanning of any document type is selected, the CPU11 starts the electronic document provisional scanning program shown in the flowchart of fig. 10, and judges whether or not the user has instructed the ledger electronic document provisional scanning (step 201). When it is determined that the user has instructed temporary scanning of the electronic document for account, after the image data of the original is read by the reading section 15, compressed by the codec 18 and stored in the image memory 16 (step 202), the CPU11 creates a file name for account in accordance with "kchobo" + "date" + "sequence" and stores it in the temporary folder for account of the electronic document holding section 22 and stores it in the management file (step 203).

On the other hand, when it is determined in step 201 that the user has not instructed temporary scanning of the electronic document in the account book, the CPU11 determines whether or not temporary scanning of the quotation list electronic document is instructed by the user (step 204), and when it is determined that temporary scanning of the quotation list electronic document is instructed by the user, the image data of the document is scanned and stored (step 205) as described above, and then a file name is created in accordance with "kmituori" + "date" + "sequence", the scanned data is stored in the temporary folder for the quotation list of the electronic document storage unit 22 in accordance with the created file name, and the file name is stored in the management file (step 206).

Further, in the case where it is judged in step 204 that the user has not instructed temporary scanning of the electronic document for invoice, the CPU11 judges whether or not the user has instructed temporary scanning of the electronic document for order form (step 207), and in the case where it is judged that the user has instructed temporary scanning of the electronic document for order form, the CPU11 scans and saves the image data of the original (step 208) as described above, creates a file name in accordance with "kchouumon" + "date" + "order", saves the scanned data in the temporary folder for order form in accordance with the created file name, and stores the file name in the management file (step 209). Further, in the case where it is judged in step 207 that the user has not instructed the electronic document provisional scanning for the order sheet, the CPU11 executes the electronic document provisional scanning for the other kind of document (step 210).

Next, an operation when a desired document is selected from among the temporary electronic documents and a time stamp is given will be described. When the user selects the time stamp assignment and presses the "execute" button in the scan execution screen shown in fig. 6, a provisional electronic document selection screen shown in fig. 11 is displayed on the LCD display section 31 of the display/operation section 14. On this screen, a selection screen for the type of a temporary electronic document to which a time stamp is to be added, such as an account book temporary electronic document, a quotation temporary electronic document, or an order temporary electronic document, is displayed, and when any one of the temporary electronic documents is pressed and selected and an "execute" button is pressed, the CPU11 starts a time stamp adding program shown in the flowchart of fig. 12 and displays the temporary electronic document of the type selected by the user on the LCD display unit 31 of the display/operation unit 14 (step 301).

For example, in the case where the user presses the "execute" button after selecting the electronic book temporary document on the temporary electronic document selection screen shown in fig. 11, the user can give a time stamp to the selected temporary electronic document by pressing the "execute" button after selecting the temporary electronic document to which the time stamp is to be given, since the electronic book temporary document stored in the temporary folder for the book in the electronic document storage unit 22 is displayed on the LCD display unit 31 of the display/operation unit 14 as shown in fig. 13.

After the provisional electronic document of the selected document type is displayed, the CPU11 judges whether or not the "execute" button is pressed in the screen of FIG. 13 (step 302), and in the case where it is judged that the "execute" button is not pressed, judges whether or not the "cancel" button is pressed (step 303). In the case where it is determined that the "cancel" button has not been pressed, the CPU11 returns to step 302 to determine again whether the "execute" button has been pressed, and in the case where it is determined that the "cancel" button has been pressed, the routine is ended, and the provisional electronic document selection screen shown in fig. 11 is displayed again on the LCD display section 31 of the display/operation section 14.

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined in step 302 that the "execute" button is pressed, the CPU11 displays an editing screen in which a time stamp is given to the document shown in fig. 14 on the LCD display section 31 of the display/operation section 14 (step 304). In this editing screen, as shown in the figure, an input field of the name of the document to which the time stamp is given, an input field of the storage life of the document, and a selection field of the document type are displayed, so that it is possible to input an arbitrary document name and storage life of the document, and to change the document type.

After the edit screen is displayed, the CPU11 determines whether the "execute" button has been pressed in the screen of fig. 14 (step 305), and if it is determined that the "execute" button has not been pressed, determines whether the "cancel" button has been pressed (step 306). If it is determined that the "cancel" button has not been pressed, the CPU11 returns to step 305 to determine again whether the "execute" button has been pressed, and if it is determined that the "cancel" button has been pressed, the routine is terminated, and the provisional electronic document selection screen shown in fig. 11 is displayed again on the LCD display unit 31 of the display and operation unit 14, in the same manner as described above.

On the other hand, in the case where it is determined in step 305 that the "execute" button is pressed, the CPU11 calculates a hash value of all data of the transient electronic document selected in the transient electronic document selection screen of fig. 13 and transmits it to the TSA8 (step 307). Next, the CPU11 judges whether or not a time stamp has been received from the TSA8 (step 308), and if the time stamp has been received from the TSA8, stores all the data and the time stamp of the selected temporary electronic document in the electronic document folder of the type selected in the editing screen in accordance with the file name input in the editing screen of fig. 14, and stores the file name, the valid period of the time stamp, and the storage period of the electronic document in the management file (step 309).

As described above, by scanning a document that is not an electronic document object in the same format as an electronic document and storing the data without applying a time stamp, when electronic documentation is necessary later, it is not necessary to take out a paper document and scan again, so that it is possible to reduce the number of paper documents to be stored, and since a necessary document can be collected from among electronic documents stored without applying a time stamp and an appropriate time stamp can be applied, it is possible to reduce the cost required for a time stamp.

In the above-described embodiment, the name of the document, the term of storage of the document, and the document type can be appropriately specified by displaying the editing screen of the time stamp added document, but the editing screen may not be displayed, and as in the case of electronic document scanning, a file name may be created in accordance with the "selected document type", for example, "chuumon" + "date" + "order", and the created file name may be stored in the electronic document folder, and the term of storage may be automatically input.

In the above-described embodiment, the type of document is selected and the electronic document is provisionally scanned when the provisional scanning is performed, but it is also possible to store all types of documents as provisional electronic documents in the same temporary folder without distinction, and in this case, the document name may be automatically created according to the date and the order. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the file name is created in accordance with the character string, date, and number that can identify the file name at the time of scanning the electronic document, but the file name may be created in accordance with the character string, number, and number that can identify the file name, and the storage life may be determined from the storage period on the basis of the file creation date, instead of the scanning date.

The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments, but it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be variously modified and implemented by various methods other than the above description. Therefore, only the claims are to cover the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (2)

1. An image reading apparatus with a time authentication request function includes: an image reading mechanism for reading a document and generating an image signal; and a control unit that gives a time stamp to the image signal generated by the image reading unit and stores the image signal in a storage unit, wherein the control unit has a temporary storage function of storing the image data in the storage unit without giving a time stamp.

2. The image reading apparatus with the time authentication request function according to claim 1, wherein the control unit has a function of selecting image data which is not given a time stamp and stored in the storage unit and giving a time stamp.