JP2003008862A - Document storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] In a document storage device adopting an index image format, attention is paid to a generation process of a reduced index image, and sufficient image quality for selecting and specifying a desired document is maintained. Provided is a document storage device that generates an index image with a reduced data amount. SOLUTION: There is provided a blank area extracting means for reducing image data read by a scanner to a desired size, and extracting a blank area from the reduced image data, and a margin extracted by the blank area extracting means. When the image area b excluding the area a is stored and the index image is displayed, a desired document is generated by generating image data for reproducing the stored image area b and the deleted blank area a and combining the two. Is roughly restored from the reduced original image while maintaining sufficient image quality to select and specify.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document storage device capable of scanning a document to register, manage, browse, and output the electronic document. More specifically, the present invention relates to a document storage device capable of scanning and saving an electronic document. It relates to improvements in the generation of index images used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, offices of government offices, local governments, companies, etc., scan paper documents and digitize them so as to reduce the search time for recording documents using paper and ease of management and operation. Storage devices are increasingly used. If this device is used, the manuscript once scanned and digitized is stored in the hard disk inside the device, and can be viewed and printed out as many times as desired, which is extremely preferable.

In order to select and specify a stored electronic document, this type of device gives a name to each document and displays a list, or creates an index image in which the front page of the document is reduced, and the like. In each case, a means for selecting a desired document by mouse input, keyboard input, or the like is adopted, such as displaying a list of index images. In particular, this latter index image format uses a reduced index image so that 1
The feature is that multiple documents are displayed on the screen in a visually easy-to-understand manner and the user can easily select them.

Usually, a document has a plurality of pages,
As described above, the first page of the plurality of pages, that is, the front page is often the heading of the document. Therefore, the image of the front page is reduced to the designated size, and it is used as the index image as a representative of the document. As a selection method using such a reduced image, for example, there is a file system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-322241.

This file system has been proposed by the applicant of the present application, and the copying machine is connected to the network so that the terminal PC on the network issues a reprinting instruction. The reduced index image is displayed on the computer monitor and can be selected. By reducing the image in this way, the image file size is reduced, and there is an advantage that the drawing speed on the monitor and the transfer speed on the network are increased.

[0006]

By the way, it is general that the titles of documents are mainly described on the front pages of documents that are exchanged in offices and the like, and therefore, there are quite a lot of margins. However, the process of generating a reduced image in the conventional index image format is simply a reduction of the original image data, and when the accumulated document data becomes huge, the index image alone can generate a considerable amount of data. Becomes Since this index image only selects and specifies a desired document, it is desirable to reduce the data amount as much as possible and store a large amount of original document data.

Therefore, the present invention focuses on the process of generating a reduced index image in a document storage device adopting the index image format, while maintaining sufficient image quality for selecting and specifying a desired document. An object of the present invention is to provide a document storage device that generates an index image with a reduced amount of data.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 generates a reduced index image for document selection and enables electronic registration, management, browsing and output of documents. A document storage device, which is a document reading unit that optically reads a document and digitizes it, an image data storage unit that stores image data read by the document reading unit, and an image stored in the image data storage unit Printing means for printing data, image reducing means for reducing the image data saved in the image data saving means, and blank area extracting means for extracting a surrounding blank area in the image data reduced by the image reducing means And a reduced image saving means for saving the image area excluding the blank area extracted by the blank area extracting means.

According to the above invention, when the index image of the stored document is created in the document storage device, attention is paid to the fact that there is a large margin around the document image, and the margin is removed to reduce the amount of image data for the index image. To do.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the margin area extracting means changes from a substantially white area to a substantially non-white area for each pixel line from one end in the document width direction to the other end. The document storage device is characterized by detecting and extracting a density change at the time of transfer.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the margin area extracting means determines that pixels other than substantially white having a designated length or less are substantially white. It is in.

According to the above-mentioned invention, when noise in reading is included in the blank area of the original document, a cluster of pixels other than substantially white smaller than the designated size is regarded as substantially white pixels. It avoids the possibility that the blank area becomes narrow due to noise.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the one of the first to third aspects, the blank space deleted when the reduced index image is generated by the image area data excluding the blank area saved by the reduced image saving means. The document storage device is characterized in that image data for compensating an area is generated, and a reduced index image for document selection is generated by the generated image data and image area data excluding margin areas.

In the above invention, in order to maintain the layout immediately after the reduction, the margin portion is generated and placed around the image data created for the index to form the final index image.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the document storage device according to the fourth aspect, the image data for compensating for the deleted blank area is a density value of the blank area before deletion.

According to the above-mentioned invention, when the reduced index image for document selection is generated by the image data for compensating the blank area and the image area data excluding the blank area, the blank data before the deletion is added to the image data for compensating the blank area. The density value of the area is used to make the joints due to synthesis inconspicuous.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the accompanying drawings,
An embodiment of the present invention will be described. (First Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 1, a document storage device according to a first embodiment includes a document reading unit 1 configured by a scanner to read a document and digitize the document, and various image processing of image data read by the document reading unit 1. , Image processing unit 2 for encoding
A printing unit 3 for printing image data output by the image processing unit 2, an image data storage unit 4 for storing image data and document information output by the image processing unit 2, and an image stored in the image data storage unit 4. A document management unit 5 that manages a plurality of data as one document by adding document information.
And a network I / F section 6 for communicating with devices connected to the network, and a button 7 for specifying whether to electronically save a document or simply copy it. And an index image creating unit 8 for creating an index image according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the front page F of the document is composed of a margin area a and an information area b in which the title of the document is described, and a sufficient margin is formed for the document size. There is.

The outline of the operation of the document storage device configured as described above will be described. First, the button provided on the operation unit 7 is enabled to select the save mode. Then, when the document is placed on the contact glass forming the document reading unit 1 and the start button for copying is pressed, the document reading unit 1 starts scanning and the document is gradually read, and various processing is performed by the image processing unit 2. Image data is generated. Then, the printing unit 3 prints based on this electronic image data, and at the same time, reduced image data of the front page for the index image is generated, and the image data for printing and viewing and the reduced image for the index image are generated. The image data and the data are saved as a file on the internal hard disk.

This device can also be connected to a network via the network I / F unit 6, and the electronic document data in the device can be referred to from another terminal (personal computer) via the network, and further printing can be performed. You can give instructions. When selecting a desired document from multiple electronic documents from an external terminal, you can select it with the save date and time information added when saving, but in addition, display the index image on the front page and select from it You can also

This index image is displayed and output as a list when there is a document selection request from an external terminal or the device concerned. The main part of the present invention is the index image creating unit 8 which creates this index image. Therefore, the process of creating the index image by the image creating unit 8 will be described in detail below. In the conceptually illustrated data map of FIG. 3 (matched to the shape of the document), the upper left edge is the origin (x = 0, y = 0) of the pixel data, and the total length is
In the description below, the first pixel in the x direction is the 0th pixel and the first line in the y direction is the 0th line.

A document having a sufficient margin is first read by the document reading section 1 to generate original image data. Then, the image creating unit 8 reduces the original image data at a predetermined rate. For example, when reducing the original image data to 1/16, the original image data is divided into blocks in units of 16 pixels × 16 pixels. Then, if the average density of each block is obtained and the block is defined as one pixel with the average density, 1 /
Image data reduced to 16 is created. A blank area is detected in the reduced image data.

First, it is the lowest line of the upper margin area.
Detect mtop. In FIG. 4, the initial value of the variable y that determines the pixel line is set to 0 (step S101), and 0 is set first.
The image data for the 1st (top) line is read (step S102). Then, from the left side to the right side of this line, it is determined pixel by pixel whether there is any color signal data other than white, and the xstart pixel position, which is the pixel position in the x direction where the color signal data other than white was first identified, is detected. (Step S103). This xstart indicates, so to speak, the left margin end position. As shown in FIG. 5, in the information area b, the information area b starts from the left margin end position xstart and the information area b ends at the right margin start position xend. However, details of the position determination will be described later.

Next, Width (full width) and xstart (color signal data other than white in the line could be discriminated first)
It indicates the pixel position in the y direction, and if it cannot be detected, it goes to the pixel at the right end of the line and makes a comparison with xstart = Width) (step S104). At this time, Width and xstart
Are equal (for safety in the conditional expression, xstart
Is also considered) (Step S104: YE
In S), color signal data other than white cannot be discriminated in that line, so that it is recognized as a blank area a, and the variable y for determining the next pixel line is incremented by +1 (step S105).

Then, it is determined whether or not the determined line exceeds the total length length (step S106). Of course, since it has not yet exceeded (step S106: NO), the line one step below the uppermost line is selected (because y = 1), and the steps from step S102 are repeated until color signal data other than white is detected. The processing up to S106 is repeated. Then, in step S104, if color signal data other than white is detected on a certain line, the conditional expression xstart>
= Width cannot be satisfied (step S104: N
O), it is detected that the line at that time is mtop which is the lowest line of the upper margin area (step S10).
7). Further, when the variable y and the total length length are equal (step S106: YES), it is determined that the sheet is just a blank sheet.

Next, the position determination of the left margin end position xstart and the right margin start position xend will be described. First,
In the position determination of the left margin end position xstart, as shown in FIG. 6, the initial value of the variable x that determines the pixel position in the x direction of one line is set to 0 (step S108). Then, it is determined whether the image data of the 0th (leftmost) pixel in the x direction of the uppermost one line is larger than a preset threshold value thr (step S109). In general, this threshold value often does not become 0 when the background of the original document is not completely white, or even when the background is completely white. The judgment is given a certain amount of room, and even if it is not completely white, it is recognized as white if it is below a certain value.

If the image data of the 0th (leftmost) pixel in the x direction is smaller than the threshold value thr, it is determined to be white (step S109: NO), and then the pixel position in the x direction is determined. +1 is added to the variable x to be set to make the variable x = 1, and the next position to be determined is determined (step S11).
0). It is determined which position the determination position is (step S111). In this determination, the first pixel on the left in the x direction is the 0th (left end), so this variable x is the full width.
The value 1 less than width is the right edge of the pixel, and the conditional expression is x
> = Width −1. Since the 0th determination is still completed and the first determination position, which is the next determination position, has just been determined, the conditional expression x> = width -1 is not satisfied (step S111: N
O), and returns to step S109 to subsequently determine whether the information area b has been reached. Naturally, the upper part of the document is white over the entire x direction, so the determination is made up to the right edge, but at that time, since it reaches the right edge (step S111: YES).
The right end is determined as the left margin end position xstart (step S
112).

Then, the second line from the top of the document is also determined in the same manner, and step S10 is performed.
As a result of performing the determination on the x-th pixel on the n-th line in 9, if a value larger than the threshold value thr is detected, it is determined that the information area b of the line is reached (step S109: YES). Then, the pixel position x is determined as the left margin end position xstart (step S112). The position of xstart detected for each line is gradually recorded in the memory and is the leftmost end line of the left margin area described later.
This is provided when detecting mleft, but the details will be described later.

Next, in the position determination of the right margin start position xend, as shown in FIG. 7, the initial value of the variable x which determines the pixel position of one line in the x direction is smaller than the total width by 1 (in the x direction. The first pixel is set to 0th, and the right end is set as the first pixel (step S113). And
The image data of the first pixel from the right end to the left end in the x direction of the uppermost one line is the preset threshold thr.
It is determined whether the value is larger than that (step S114). If it is the blank area a, since it is a value smaller than the threshold value thr (step S114: NO), the next detection position is determined. This is because the second pixel from the right end to the left end in the x direction is the detection position, and the value obtained by subtracting 1 from the variable x is set as a new variable x to determine the next detection position (step S115).

It is determined whether the detected position x is smaller than the already detected left margin end position xstart (step S116). Since the right end of this uppermost line is xstart, the conditional expression x <xstart is satisfied (step S116: YES), and the value of x is set as the right margin start position xend (step S117). Then, make the same determination for the second line from the top of the document, and
If a value larger than the threshold value thr is detected as a result of the judgment on the x-th pixel of the n-th line in step S114, it is judged that the end portion of the information area b of the line has been reached (step S114: YES), and the pixel position x is determined as the right margin end position xend (step S117). The position of xend detected for each line is gradually recorded in the memory and is used for detecting mright which is the rightmost end line of the right margin area described later, but the details will be described later.

Next, mb which is the uppermost limit line of the lower margin area
Detect ottom. In FIG. 8, the initial value of the variable y that determines the pixel line is set to a value that is one less than the total length length (because the first pixel in the y direction is the 0th), and the first reading line is set to the bottom ( Step S11
8). The image data of one line at the bottom is read (step S119), xstart of the line is detected by the method described above (step S120), and the detected left margin end position xstart is compared with the total width (step S).
121). Since the bottom of the document is a blank area over the entire width,
The detected position of xstart is equal to the total width (for safety, the case where xstart is larger than the total width is also taken into consideration in the conditional expression) (step S121: YES), and the value is decremented by -1 from the variable y. A new variable y is set and the line immediately above the bottom is set as the next detection line (step S122).

The value of y is compared with the above-mentioned mtop (step S123), and if it is judged that the mtop has not been reached yet (step S123: NO), detection is performed similarly for the line immediately above the bottom. Hereinafter, the processes from step S119 to step S123 are repeated until the color signal data other than white is detected. And step S
In 121, when color signal data other than white is detected in a certain line, the conditional expression xstart> = Width cannot be satisfied (step S121: NO), and the line at that time is mbottom which is the uppermost limit line of the lower margin area. It is detected that there is (step S124). Also, variables y and mtop
When is equal to each other (step S123: YES),
It is determined that it is just a blank sheet.

Next, ml which is the leftmost line of the left margin area
Detect eft. As shown in FIG. 9, first, it is unknown
For the time being, set the width of mleft to Width (step S1).
25), and the initial value of the variable y is mtop that is already known (step S126). First, the mtop line is read (step S127), and xstart of the line is detected (step S128). The detected xstart and mleft are compared to determine whether xstart is smaller than mleft (whether xstart is closer to the left end than mleft) (step S12).
9). The first mleft value is Width, so mt
xstart on the line of op satisfies the conditional expression mleft> xstart (step S129: YES), and xsta at that time
The value of rt is overwritten on mleft to update the value of mleft (step S130). That is, the leftmost line up to that point, mleft, is sequentially overwritten and updated when there is xstart that is closer to the left than that. At this time, the conditional expression mleft>
When xstart is not satisfied (step S129: NO)
Does not need to be updated, skip step S130 and proceed to the next step.

In order to proceed to the next line, the variable y is incremented by 1 to become a new variable y (step S131), and it is determined whether or not the new variable y has reached a known mbottom (step S132). If not reached (step S
132: NO), step S127 to step S13
Repeat up to 2. And mbotto whose variable y is known
When it reaches m (step S132: YES), mleft at that time is determined to be the leftmost line mleft.

Next, mr which is the rightmost line of the right margin area
detect ight. As shown in FIG. 10, first, the unknown value of mright is set to 0 for the time being (step S13).
3), the initial value of the variable y is mtop that is already known (step S134). First, the mtop line is read (step S135), and the xend of that line is detected (step S136). Compare the detected xend and mright and mrig
It is determined whether xend is larger than ht (whether xend is closer to the right end than mright) (step S137). the first
Since the value of mright is 0, xe in the line of mtop
nd satisfies the conditional expression mright <xend (step S137:
YES), and overwrite the value of xend at that time to mright
The value of mright is updated (step S138). In other words, the rightmost line up to that point, mright, is overwritten and updated if there is an xend that is closer to the right than that.
At this time, if the conditional expression mright <xend is not satisfied (step S137: NO), there is no need to update, so step S138 is skipped and the process proceeds to the next step.

In order to proceed to the next line, the variable y is incremented by 1 to make it a new variable y (step S39), and it is determined whether the new variable y has reached a known mbottom (step S140). If not reached (step S
140: NO), step S135 to step S14
Repeat until 0. And mbotto whose variable y is known
When it reaches m (step S140: YES), the mright at that time is determined as the mright of the rightmost line.

In this way, mtop which is the lowermost line of the upper margin area and mbot which is the uppermost line of the lower margin area
If tom, the leftmost line of the left margin area, mleft, and the rightmost line of the right margin area, mright, can be determined, the information area b is set to the x-direction dot with the intersection of mleft and mtop as the start coordinates. The number is mright-mleft, and the number of dots in the y direction is mtop-mbottom (see FIG. 3).
On the other hand, the blank area a is an area excluding the information area b that can be determined for the image data, and the detection of the blank area a is completed.

As described above, when the detection of the blank area a in the reduced image data is completed, the unnecessary blank area a data is deleted and stored in the image data storage unit 4 together with the save date information and the original image data. By removing the margin in this way, the amount of image data for the index image is reduced. The image from which the margin has been removed may be compressed and stored by a known image compression technique. Then, when displaying the index image, it may be difficult to see only the information area b in which the margin data is cut off. Therefore, by generating and combining the margin image data in which the margin data is cut,
Keep the original layout and use it as the final index image.

Further, in this case, in order to make the joints when the images are combined inconspicuous, for example, the following processing is also performed during the index image creating process by the image creating unit 8. 1. Read the line with the line number mtop -1. 2. Acquire and record the density value of the pixel located at mleft-1 on that line. Then, when the index image is displayed, the blank space image data is generated with the density value, and is combined when the index image is displayed. The above-mentioned means uses the density of a certain pixel, but it is not limited to this, and for example, the average value of the density of the margin data before clipping may be obtained and the averaged density value may be used.

(Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 1, the position determination of the left margin end position xstart and the right margin start position xend is performed.
Although it was determined that pixels other than white above a certain threshold value entered the information area at the time of the first determination, if the pixels are isolated, it may be noise, and thus, the second embodiment. Now, a description will be given of margin determination with noise countermeasures, and since the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the description of the other configurations in common will be omitted.

Left margin end position xsta in the second embodiment
As shown in FIG. 11, the position determination of rt is performed by setting the initial value of the variable x that determines the pixel position in the x direction of one line to 0, and the variable that is the first flag when image data other than white is detected. The initial value of back is set to 0 (step S201). Further, the initial value of the variable this which is the second flag when the image data other than white is detected is set to "0" (step S2).
02). Then, the image data of the 0th (leftmost) pixel in the x direction of the uppermost one line is the threshold value th set in advance.
It is determined whether the value is larger than r (step S20).
3).

If the image data of the 0th (leftmost) pixel in the x direction is a value smaller than the threshold value thr, it is determined to be white (step S203: NO), and the variable this and the variable back are determined.
Is calculated (step S205). At this time, the value of both variables is "0", so that it is false, that is, step S20.
5: NO, and the variable this is assigned to the variable back (step S206). At this time, the value of the variable this is the initial value "
Since it remains 0 ”,“ 0 ”is entered in the variable back.

Next, a variable x for determining the pixel position in the x direction
Is added to +1 to set the variable x = 1 to determine the next position to be determined (step S207). It is determined which position the determination position is (step S208). In this determination, the first pixel on the left in the x direction is the 0th pixel (the left end). Therefore, the variable x has a value 1 smaller than the overall width as the right end of the pixel. Next to
Since the 0th determination has just been completed and the first determination position, which is the next determination position, has just been determined, the conditional expression x> = width -1 is not satisfied (step S208: NO), and the process returns to step S202 and the information area b continues. To determine if Naturally, the upper part of the document is white over the entire x direction, and therefore the determination is made up to the right end, but at that time, since it reaches the right end (step S208: YES), the right end is moved to the left margin end position.
It is determined to be xstart (step S209).

Next, the case where a pixel other than white is detected on a one-off basis, that is, the case where noise is included, will be described. In step S203, if a pixel has a value larger than the threshold value thr, it is determined to be white (step S203: YE
S) and substitute "1" for the variable this (step S20).
4). Then, the logical sum of the variable this and the variable back is calculated (step S205). At this time, since the variable this is "1" and the variable back is "0" which is the initial value, it becomes false (step S205: NO), and the variable this is substituted for the variable back (step S206). At this time, since the value of the variable this is "1", "1" is entered in the variable back. Then, similarly to the above, detection of the next pixel data is started.

In step S202, the variable this is set to "
It is initialized to 0 "and re-initialized, and then it is determined whether or not the next pixel data is a value larger than a preset threshold value thr (step S203). If it is smaller than the threshold value thr, it is a value. If it is determined to be white (step S203: NO),
Jump over step 204, and in step 205,
The logical sum of the variable this and the variable back is calculated (step S20).
5). At this time, the variable back is "1", and the variable this is re-initialized to "0" so that it becomes false (step S205: NO), and the variable this is substituted for the variable back (step S206). At this time, the value of the variable this is "0"
Therefore, "0" is entered in the variable back, the previous pixel is recognized as the noise that is entered one by one, and the detection of the next pixel (to the right) is started again. In this way, the pixel data is gradually detected.

When the information area b is entered, "1" is continuously entered in the variable this and the variable back, and step S2
If YES in 05, the pixel position x enters xstart (step 209).

Next, in the position determination of the right margin start position xend, as shown in FIG. 12, the initial value of the variable x which determines the pixel position in the x direction of one line is a value smaller than the overall width by 1 (in the x direction). (Because the first pixel is the 0th pixel), the right end is set as the first pixel. At the same time, the initial value of the variable back which is the first flag when the image data other than white is detected is set to "0" (step S210). Also, a variable that is the second flag when image data other than white is detected.
The initial value of this is set to 0 (step S211). Then, it is determined whether or not the image data of the first pixel at the right end in the x direction of the uppermost one line is larger than a preset threshold value thr (step S212).

If the image data of the first pixel at the right end in the x direction is a value smaller than the threshold value thr, it is judged to be white (step S212: NO), and step S213 is skipped and the variable this and the variable back are skipped. Is calculated (step S214). At this time, the value of both variables is "0", so false,
That is, step S214: NO, and the variable this is substituted for the variable back (step S215). At this time, the value of the variable this remains the initial value "0", so the variable ba
"0" is entered in ck.

Next, a variable x for determining the pixel position in the x direction
Is subtracted by -1 to determine the next position to be determined as the second pixel from the right end toward the left (step S21).
6). It is determined which position the determination position is (step S217). It is determined whether the detected position x is smaller than the already detected left margin end position xstart.
Since the right end of the top line of the document is xstart,
Conditional expression x <= xstart is satisfied (step S217: Y
ES) The value of x at that time is set as the right margin start position xend (step S218).

Next, the case where a pixel other than white is detected on a one-off basis, that is, the case where noise is included, will be described. In step S212, if a pixel has a value larger than the threshold value thr, it is determined to be white (step S212: YE
S) and substitute "1" for the variable this (step S21)
3). Then, the logical sum of the variable this and the variable back is calculated (step S214). At this time, since the variable this is "1" and the variable back is "0" which is the initial value, it becomes false (step S214: NO), and the variable this is substituted for the variable back (step S215). At this time, since the value of the variable this is "1", "1" is entered in the variable back. Then, similarly to the above, detection of the next pixel data is started.

In step S211, the variable this is set to "
The value is set to 0 ″ and re-initialized, and then it is determined whether or not the next pixel data has a value larger than a preset threshold value thr (step S212). If it is smaller than the threshold value thr, the value is obtained. If it is determined to be white (step S212: NO),
In step S214, skipping step S213, the logical sum of the variable this and the variable back is calculated (step S214).
214). At this time, the variable back is "1", and the variable this
Is false because it has been re-initialized to "0" (step S214: NO), and the variable this is substituted for the variable back (step S215). At this time, the value of the variable this is "
Since it is "0", "0" is entered in the variable back, the previous pixel is recognized as noise that has sporadically entered, and the detection of the next pixel (to the left) is started again. Detect data.

When the information area b is entered, "1" is continuously entered in the variable this and the variable back, and step S2
If YES in 14, the pixel position x enters xend (step 218).

As described above, in the second embodiment, if there is one pixel other than white in the continuous substantially white area, it is regarded as noise. However, in addition to one point, two consecutive points and three consecutive points are noise. If there is no problem even if it is taken as, it is possible to appropriately provide a flag and process in stages.

[0054]

As described above, the present invention has the following advantageous effects. According to the first aspect, since the margin portion is not included in the image data of the index image for a document having a large margin such as the front page, the index is performed while maintaining sufficient image quality for selecting and specifying a desired document. The image data size can be reduced.

According to the third aspect, it is possible to efficiently secure the margin portion by removing the data that are present as points when the reduced image is present and do not make sense visually.

According to the fifth aspect, when the reduced index image for document selection is generated by the image data for compensating the blank area and the image area data excluding the blank area, the image data for compensating for the blank area is not deleted. Since the density value of the blank area is used to make the joint by combining inconspicuous, it is possible to prevent the reduced index image from becoming difficult to see when selecting a document.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an electrical configuration diagram of a document storage device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an information area and a blank area in a document.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual data map according to the document shape.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure for determining an upper blank area of the document storage device according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a left margin end position and a right margin start position in a pixel line.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure for determining a left margin end position of the document storage device according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of right margin start position determination.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for determining a lower margin area.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for left margin area determination.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of right margin area determination.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for determining a left margin end position in the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for determining a right margin start position.

[Explanation of symbols]

F front page a margin area b Information area 1 Document reading section 2 Image processing unit 4 Image data storage 5 Document Management Department 8 Image creation department

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A document storage device capable of generating a reduced index image for document selection, and electronically registering, managing, viewing, and outputting documents, and reading the document optically to digitize the document. Means, image data saving means for saving the image data read by the document reading means, printing means for printing the image data saved in the image data saving means, and images saved in the image data saving means Image reducing means for reducing data, margin area extracting means for extracting a surrounding margin area in the image data reduced by the image reducing means, and image area excluding the margin area extracted by the margin area extracting means And a reduced image storage means for storing the document. 2. The blank area extraction means detects and extracts a density change when moving from a substantially white area to a substantially non-white area for each pixel line from one end to the other end in the document width direction. The document storage device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The document storage device according to claim 2, wherein the blank area extraction unit determines that pixels other than substantially white having a specified length or less are substantially white. 4. When the reduced index image is generated by the image area data excluding the blank area saved by the reduced image saving means, image data for compensating for the deleted blank area is generated, and the generated image data is generated. 4. The document storage device according to claim 1, wherein a reduced index image for selecting a document is generated with the image area data excluding the blank area. 5. The document storage device according to claim 4, wherein the image data that supplements the deleted blank area is a density value of the blank area before deletion.