JP2006094178A - Image data processing system and method, image input unit, local information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide image data processing system and method capable of providing various services to a user by local information, and to provide an image input unit and a local information processor. <P>SOLUTION: A compound machine scans a document and transfers inputted scan data, attribute information for the scan data, and charging information to a compound machine controller. The compound machine controller adds local information to the scan data while including in the attribute information and transfers the scan data and charging information to a scan data management server. The scan data management server transfers the scan data and the local information to a local information processing server. The local information processing server processes the scan data by using the local information and the scan data management server stores the scan data processed by using the local information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image data processing system, an image data processing method thereof, an image input device, and a regional information processing device, and more particularly to an image data processing system for temporarily storing digital image data input by document scanning on a network and the image data thereof. The present invention relates to a processing method, an image input device, and a regional information processing device.

  In recent years, image processing apparatuses such as copying machines and printers equipped with many functions have been widely used, and such image processing apparatuses are installed in convenience stores, copy centers and other stores, and image processing apparatuses are installed for users. A system in which services such as a copy function, a FAX function, a print function, and a scan function are provided, and a user pays a fee according to the provided service to a store has become widespread.

  For example, there is a network system in which map information in the vicinity of a convenience store or the like, information on peripheral facilities, and the like can be obtained from a copying machine installed in the convenience store or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Further, for example, there is a network system in which a nearest copying apparatus is searched by a portable terminal having a position information confirmation function, and the searched copying apparatus is designated as a printing destination (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2000-78328 A JP 2002-140255 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the area information is used only for outputting map information and peripheral information, and in the technique described in Patent Document 2, the area information is used for searching for a copying apparatus. Only used.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image data processing system, an image data processing method, an image input device, and a regional information processing device that can provide users with various services based on regional information.

  In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is directed to an image data input device that reads a document and inputs image data, an image data management device that manages image data input by the image input device, and regional information. In an image data processing system connected to a processing device via a network, the image data input device reads an image of the original and inputs the image data; and image data input by the image data input unit Attribute information receiving means for receiving attribute information; attribute information received by the attribute information receiving means; information adding means for adding area information stored in advance to the image data; and attribute information by the information adding means And transfer means for transferring image data to which the regional information is added to an image data management device. A data management device comprising: attribute information determination means for determining processing for the image data from the attribute information added to the image data transferred from the image input device; and processing using the region information for the image data. A regional information processing requesting unit for requesting the regional information processing device, wherein the regional information processing device performs processing using the regional information on the image data requested by the image data management device. It is characterized by comprising.

  The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the area information processing means synthesizes a character string representing the area information with the image data.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the regional information processing means adds a character string representing the regional information to a file name or file attribute of the image data.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the image data management device stores image data that has undergone regional information processing that has been processed using the regional information in the regional information processing device, The image data subjected to the regional information processing is transferred to a terminal on the network or an image data output device.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the regional information processing device further includes price information necessary for processing using the regional information for the image data, and the image data management device includes: Providing the price information to the image data management device, further comprising a price table based on the price information provided from the regional information processing device, providing the price table to the image data input device, The image data input device provides billing information necessary for inputting the image data by the image data input unit based on the price table provided from the image data management device and the attribute information received by the attribute information receiving unit. It is characterized by creating.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image data management apparatus for managing image data, and an image data input apparatus connected to a regional information processing apparatus via a network for reading the document and inputting the image data. The image data includes: input means; attribute information accepting means for accepting attribute information for the image data input by the image data input means; attribute information accepted by the attribute information accepting means; and area information stored in advance. Information adding means for adding, and transfer means for transferring the image data to which the attribute information and the region information are added by the information adding means to an image data management apparatus, wherein the image data management apparatus comprises the image input From the attribute information added to the image data transferred from the apparatus, the process for the image data is determined, and the image data is The regional information processing device is requested to perform processing using the regional information, and the regional information processing device performs processing using the regional information on the image data requested by the image data management device. To do.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the price table based on the price information provided from the image data management device and necessary for processing using the regional information provided in the regional information processing device. And charging information necessary for the input of the image data by the image data input means is created based on the attribute information received by the attribute information receiving means.

  Further, the invention according to claim 8 is an image data input device for inputting image data by reading a document, and regional information connected to an image data management device for managing image data input by the image input device via a network. In the processing apparatus, there is provided an area information processing means for performing processing using the area information added to the image data for the image data input by the image data input apparatus requested by the image data management apparatus. It is characterized by that.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 8, wherein the area information processing unit synthesizes a character string representing the area information with the image data.

  The invention according to claim 10 is the invention according to claim 8, wherein the regional information processing means adds a character string representing the regional information to a file name or file attribute of the image data.

  The invention according to claim 11 is the invention according to claim 8, further comprising price information necessary for processing using the region information for the image data, and providing the price information to the image data management apparatus. The image data management apparatus provides a price table based on price information provided from the regional information processing apparatus to the image data input apparatus, and the image data input apparatus is provided from the image data management apparatus. Charging information necessary for inputting the image data is created based on a price table.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, an image data input device that reads an original and inputs image data, an image data management device that manages image data input by the image input device, a regional information processing device, and a network are provided. In the image data processing method of the image data processing system connected via the image data input device, the image data input device reads the document, inputs the image data by image data input means, and sets attribute information for the input image data as attribute information. Received by the accepting unit, the received attribute information and the prestored regional information are added to the image data by the information adding unit, and the image data with the attribute information and the regional information added is image data management apparatus The image data management device transfers the image data to the image data transferred from the image input device. A process using information is requested to the regional information processing apparatus by a regional information processing requesting unit, and the regional information processing apparatus performs a process using the regional information for the image data requested from the image data management apparatus. It is characterized by being performed by processing means.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the invention, in the twelfth aspect of the invention, the regional information processing unit synthesizes a character string representing the regional information with the image data.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the invention, in the twelfth aspect of the invention, the regional information processing means adds a character string representing the regional information to a file name or file attribute of the image data.

  The invention of claim 15 is the image data management device according to claim 12, wherein the image data management device stores image data that has been subjected to regional information processing that has been processed using the regional information in the regional information processing device, The image data subjected to the regional information processing is transferred to a terminal on the network or an image data output device.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the invention, in the twelfth aspect of the invention, the regional information processing device provides the image data management device with price information necessary for processing using the regional information for the image data. The image data management device provides a price table based on price information provided from the regional information processing device to the image data input device, and the image data input device provides a price provided from the image data management device. Billing information necessary for inputting the image data is created based on the table and the attribute information.

  According to the present invention, by adding regional information to a scanned image, it is possible to provide a user-friendly scanned image and provide various services based on regional information to the user. There is an effect.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a scan data processing system 1 to which the present invention is applied.

  A multifunction machine 3 having a plurality of functions such as copy, print, scan, and fax installed in a store 2 such as a convenience store and a copy center accepts a fee required to use a service provided by the multifunction machine 3 The same applies to the multifunction machine 3 installed in the other store 2 to which the charging apparatus 4 and the multifunction machine control apparatus 5 for performing the control process of the multifunction machine 3 are connected.

  The multi-function device control device 5 is connected to a first network 6 such as a LAN. The first network 6 is connected to a scan data management server 7 that manages scan data scanned and input by the multi-function device 3. A regional information processing server 8 that performs processing using regional information (for example, synthesis of a character string representing regional information in scan data, addition of a character string representing regional information to the file name or file attribute of the scanned data). Are connected, and a plurality of processing servers 9 that perform processing such as image processing on the scan data are connected.

  Here, the regional information is information indicating the location of the store 2 where the multifunction device 3 is installed (for example, the CDE store of the ABC convenience store), and the administrative region to which the store 2 where the multifunction device 3 is installed belongs. (For example, FGH city, IJK ward) or the like.

  The first network 6 is connected to a second network 10 such as the Internet, and a plurality of personal computers (PCs 11) and a plurality of portable terminals 12 such as a plurality of mobile phones are connected to the second network 10 regardless of wired or wireless. Has been.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining management of scan data in each device constituting the scan data processing system.

  The multifunction device 3 scans an original with the scanner 13, scan data 14 input by the scan, and attribute information 15 for the scan data 14 (for example, original size, number of sheets, color, storage period, processing, result notification destination, result Notification method, etc.), and billing information 16 necessary for scanning is transferred to the MFP controller 5.

  The multi-function device control apparatus 5 adds the attribute information 15 to the scan data 14, adds the area information 17 stored in advance to the scan data 14, and adds the attribute information 15 including the area information 17. The added scan data 14 and billing information 16 are transferred to the scan data management server 7. A configuration in which the multifunction device 3 includes the multifunction device control device 5 is also applicable. It is not necessary to use the area information 17 stored in advance in the multifunction device control device 5, and it is possible to select and use a plurality of information stored in the area information 17. You can also use what you have entered freely.

  The scan data management server 7 stores the scan data 14 and the accounting information 16 to which the attribute information 15 including the area information 17 is added.

  Further, the scan data management server 7 transfers the scan data 14 and the regional information 17 to the regional information processing server 8, and the processed scan data 18 using the regional information 17 transferred from the regional information processing server 8 is obtained. store. Further, the scan data management server 7 discriminates the processing process based on the attribute information 15 added to the scan data 14 and transfers the scan data 14 to the processing server 9 that executes the determined processing process. The processed scan data 18 transferred from 9 is stored. That is, the scan data management server 7 stores the scan data 14 before processing and the processed scan data 18.

  Further, the scan data management server 7 is necessary for processing using the service price 19 necessary for each processing managed by each processing server 9 and the regional information 17 managed by the regional information processing server 8. The update of the price table 20 is managed by sequentially collecting various service prices 19. The multifunction machine 3 creates the billing information 16 based on the price table 20.

  The processing performed by the processing server 9 includes changes in resolution, compression ratio, etc. according to storage destination, output destination or transfer destination, rotation, trimming, color profile change, combination (image, document), mobile phone wallpaper generation , OCR (Optical Character Reader), translation, etc. A configuration in which the processing server 9 that performs processing for generating mobile phone wallpaper notifies the mobile phone of the processed scan data URL (Uniform Resource Locator) after processing, and different resolutions for each mobile phone model The structure which processes to can also be applied.

  Next, in the scan data processing system, a processing procedure until the scan data scanned by the multifunction device is stored in the scan data management server will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The multifunction device accepts a scan instruction (step S301) and accepts attribute information for the scan data (step S302).

  The scan data management server provides the price table to the multifunction peripheral (step S303).

  The multi-function peripheral creates billing information based on the price table and attribute information (step S304), and displays the created billing information on the operation panel or the like (step S305).

  The billing apparatus accepts payment of the fee (step S306).

  The multifunction device executes scanning (step S307), and transfers the scan data, attribute information, and billing information input by scanning to the multifunction device control device (step S308).

  The multifunction device control apparatus adds the attribute information and the pre-stored storage information to the scan data (step S309), and sends the scan data to which the attribute information and the storage information are added, and the billing information to the scan data management server. Transfer (step S310).

  The scan data management server stores the scan data to which the attribute information and the region information are added, and billing information (step S311), determines the processing from the attribute information (step S312), and determines the scan data and the region information as the region. The information is transferred to the information processing server (step S313).

  The regional information processing server performs processing using the regional information on the scan data (step S314), and transfers the processed scan data to the scan data management server (step S315).

  The scan data management server transfers the scan data to the processing server that performs the determined processing (step S316).

  The processing server processes the scan data (step S317), and transfers the processed scan data to the scan data management server (step S318).

  The scan data management server stores the processed scan data (step S316).

  Here, when the scan data management server extracts the result notification destination and the result notification method from the attribute information after storing the processed scan data, the storage location (for example, URL) of the processed scan data is notified.

  Thereafter, the scan data is scanned from the scan data management server by a multi-function device installed in the store by the user (this multi-function device may be a multi-function device that has previously scanned a document or a multi-function device installed in another store). Download and output. Further, scan data is downloaded from the scan data management server by a PC or a portable terminal.

  Next, a specific method of using the scan data processing system to which the present invention is applied will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a specific method of using the scan data processing system to which the present invention is applied.

  A questionnaire including filling in color images is performed around A station, around B station, and around C station, and the questionnaire collected at each place is scanned with the MFP installed at the nearest store of each place. There is a utilization method in which scan data is processed using regional information by a regional information processing server, and total scan data is totaled in a totaling device connected to a network.

  By scanning the questionnaire collected around A station with a multifunction device installed in stores around A station, character strings representing the area around A station are combined with the scanned data and collected around B station. The scanned data is scanned with a multi-function device installed in a store around station B, and a character string representing the area around station B is combined with the scanned data. By scanning with a multifunction machine installed in a nearby store, a character string representing the periphery of station C is synthesized with the scanned data.

  Therefore, the collection location is printed on all questionnaires output by the counting device. Even if all questionnaires are mixed, the collection location printed on the questionnaire can be checked at any location. It is easy to judge whether it has been done, and it makes it easy to collect enormous questionnaires, and plays a big role in questionnaire analysis with the collection location as an element. In addition, high-precision color images can be collected by scanning with a multifunction machine.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a specific method of using the scan data processing system to which the present invention is applied.

  A customer who wishes to purchase a product creates a handwritten purchase order, scans the purchase order with a multifunction device installed at the customer's nearest store, and uses the scanned data for the regional information processing server to use the regional information. There is a utilization method of performing processing and transferring scan data to a product distribution center server connected to a network.

  In the case of such usage, it is more efficient to give priority to the delivery location, set a high priority to a place remote from the product delivery center or a place where delivery frequency is low, and process the purchase orders in order of priority. Will be better.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, after receiving scan data of an order form in which a character string representing A city, which is relatively close to the product distribution center, is received, B city which is remote from A city is selected. When the scan data of the purchase order in which the character string representing the character string is combined is received, it is more efficient to process the order document in which the character string representing the city B is combined. Further, when scan data of a purchase order in which a character string representing C city, which is a remote place, is received rather than B city, it is more efficient to process an order form in which a character string representing C city is synthesized. Is good.

  Further, by narrowing the range represented by the area information, for example, although the location D is closer to the product delivery center than the location E, the road conditions around the location D are always congested, so the location D is higher. Priorities can be set. This is difficult to achieve because the area code printed by the caller ID notification by FAX is too wide.

  When the user scans an order form at a store away from the merchandise delivery location, the problem can be avoided by manually inputting regional information.

It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the scan data processing system 1 to which this invention is applied. It is a figure explaining the management of the scan data in each apparatus which comprises a scan data processing system. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure until scan data scanned by a multifunction machine is stored in a scan data management server in a scan data processing system. It is a figure explaining the specific usage method of the scan data processing system to which this invention is applied. It is a figure explaining the specific usage method of the scan data processing system to which this invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Scan data processing system 2 Store 3 Multi-function device 4 Billing device 5 Multi-function device control device 6 1st network 7 Scan data management server 8 Area information processing server 9 Processing server 10 Second network 11 PC
12 Mobile terminal 13 Scanner 14 Billing device 15 Attribute information 16 Billing information 17 Regional information 18 Processed scan data 19 Service price 20 Price table

Claims (16)

In an image data input device that reads an original and inputs image data, an image data management device that manages image data input by the image input device, and an image data processing system that is connected to a regional information processing device via a network ,
The image data input device includes:
Image data input means for reading the original and inputting the image data;
Attribute information receiving means for receiving attribute information for the image data input by the image data input means;
Information adding means for adding the attribute information received by the attribute information receiving means and prestored regional information to the image data;
Transfer means for transferring image data to which the attribute information and the region information are added by the information addition means to an image data management device;
The image data management device includes:
Attribute information discriminating means for discriminating the processing for the image data from the attribute information added to the image data transferred from the image input device;
Regional information processing requesting means for requesting the regional information processing apparatus to perform processing using the regional information for the image data;
Comprising
The regional information processing apparatus
An image data processing system comprising: an area information processing unit that performs processing using the area information for image data requested by the image data management apparatus. The regional information processing means
The image data processing system according to claim 1, wherein a character string representing the area information is synthesized with the image data. The regional information processing means
The image data processing system according to claim 1, wherein a character string representing the region information is added to a file name or a file attribute of the image data. The image data management device includes:
Storing image data that has been subjected to regional information processing that has been processed using the regional information in the regional information processing device;
The image data processing system according to claim 1, wherein the image data that has undergone the regional information processing is transferred to a terminal on the network or an image data output device. The regional information processing apparatus
Further comprising price information necessary for processing using the regional information for the image data, providing the price information to the image data management device;
The image data management device includes:
Further comprising a price table based on price information provided from the regional information processing apparatus, and providing the price table to the image data input device;
The image data input device includes:
Based on the price table provided from the image data management device and the attribute information received by the attribute information receiving means, billing information necessary for inputting the image data by the image data input means is created. The image data processing system according to claim 1. In an image data management apparatus that manages image data, and an image data input apparatus that is connected to a local information processing apparatus via a network,
Image data input means for reading the document and inputting the image data;
Attribute information receiving means for receiving attribute information for the image data input by the image data input means;
Information adding means for adding the attribute information received by the attribute information receiving means and prestored regional information to the image data;
Transfer means for transferring image data to which the attribute information and the region information are added by the information addition means to an image data management device;
The image data management device includes:
From the attribute information added to the image data transferred from the image input device, the processing for the image data is determined, the processing using the region information for the image data is requested to the region information processing device,
The regional information processing apparatus
An image data input device that performs processing using the region information on image data requested by the image data management device. Based on the price table provided from the image data management device, based on price information necessary for processing using the regional information provided in the regional information processing device, and attribute information received by the attribute information receiving means, 6. The image data input device according to claim 5, wherein billing information necessary for inputting the image data by the image data input means is created. An image data input device that reads a document and inputs image data, and an image data management device that manages image data input by the image input device, and a regional information processing device that is connected via a network,
A regional information processing means for performing processing using the regional information added to the image data on the image data input by the image data input device requested by the image data management device; Regional information processing device. The regional information processing means
The area information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a character string representing the area information is synthesized with the image data. The regional information processing means
The area information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a character string representing the area information is added to a file name or a file attribute of the image data. Price information necessary for processing using the regional information for the image data is further provided,
Providing the price information to the image data management device;
The image data management device includes:
Providing the image data input device with a price table based on price information provided from the regional information processing device;
The image data input device includes:
The regional information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein billing information necessary for inputting the image data is created based on a price table provided from the image data management apparatus. An image data input device that reads a document and inputs image data, an image data management device that manages image data input by the image input device, and an image data processing system that is connected to a regional information processing device via a network In the image data processing method,
The image data input device includes:
Read the original and input the image data by image data input means;
Attribute information for the input image data is received by the attribute information receiving means,
The received attribute information and prestored regional information are added to the image data by an information adding means,
Transferring the image data with the attribute information and the region information added thereto to an image data management device;
The image data management device includes:
Requesting the regional information processing device to perform processing using the regional information on the image data transferred from the image input device by the regional information processing requesting unit;
The regional information processing apparatus
An image data processing method of an image data processing system, wherein a process using the region information for image data requested by the image data management device is performed by a region information processing unit. The regional information processing means
The image data processing method of the image data processing system according to claim 12, wherein a character string representing the area information is synthesized with the image data. The regional information processing means
The image data processing method of the image data processing system according to claim 12, wherein a character string representing the region information is added to a file name or file attribute of the image data. The image data management device includes:
Storing image data that has been subjected to regional information processing that has been processed using the regional information in the regional information processing device;
The image data processing method of the image data processing system according to claim 12, wherein the image data subjected to the regional information processing is transferred to a terminal on the network or an image data output device. The regional information processing apparatus
Providing the image data management device with price information necessary for processing using the region information for the image data;
The image data management device includes:
Providing the image data input device with a price table based on price information provided from the regional information processing device;
The image data input device includes:
13. The image data of the image data processing system according to claim 12, wherein billing information necessary for inputting the image data is created based on the price table provided from the image data management device and the attribute information. Processing method.

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