JP7172436B2 - IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD AND CONTROL PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, a control method and a control program.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 6-216831 (Patent Document 1) discloses a portable character communication speech synthesizer that receives radio waves from a transmitting station and converts them into character codes. When this portable character communication voice synthesizer receives a read-aloud prohibition command for prohibiting reading-out by voice synthesis of character codes, it prohibits notification of received contents by voice and notifies the user only by character display. This prevents leakage of confidential information.

JP-A-6-216831

A portable character communication speech synthesizer described in Patent Document 1 is carried by a user and displays a document to be output as speech when confidential information is included in the document. On the other hand, it is conceivable to use an image forming apparatus such as a multi-function peripheral shared by a plurality of users to output the target document by voice. Some of such image forming apparatuses have a large display panel. Therefore, when confidential information is included in a document to be output as a voice and the document is displayed on the display panel as in Patent Document 1, the confidential information is leaked to an unintended user.

The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to prevent the leakage of confidential information even if confidential information is included in the document that is the target of voice output. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, a control method, and a control program capable of suppressing them.

According to one aspect, an image forming apparatus includes an audio output section, a printing section, and a control section for controlling the audio output section and the printing section in response to an audio output request for a specified document. The control unit includes an extraction unit that extracts text data from a specified document, a determination unit that determines whether the text data contains confidential information, and an output processing unit. If the text data does not contain confidential information, the output processing unit converts the text data into voice data and causes the voice output unit to output voice indicated by the voice data. The output processing section causes the printing section to print at least one of the specified document and the text indicated by the text data without outputting the voice from the voice output section when the text data includes confidential information. .

According to one aspect, an image forming system includes an audio output section, a printing section, and a control section for controlling the audio output section and the printing section in response to an audio output request for a specified document. The control unit includes an extraction unit that extracts text data from a specified document, a determination unit that determines whether the text data contains confidential information, and an output processing unit. If the text data does not contain confidential information, the output processing unit converts the text data into voice data, outputs the voice indicated by the voice data from the voice output unit, and if the text data contains confidential information, and causing the printing section to print at least one of the specified document and the text indicated by the text data without outputting the voice from the voice output section.

According to one aspect, a control method for controlling an audio output section and a printing section includes the following first to fifth steps. The first step is to accept a voice output request for a designated document. The second step is to extract text data from the specified document. The third step is to determine whether or not the text data contains confidential information. The fourth step is a step of converting the text data into voice data and outputting voice indicated by the voice data from the voice output unit when the text data does not contain confidential information. A fifth step causes the printing unit to print at least one of the specified document and the text indicated by the text data without outputting the voice from the voice output unit when confidential information is included in the text data. It is a step to let

According to one aspect, a control program executed in a computer that controls the audio output section and the printing section causes the computer to execute the first to fifth steps.

According to the present disclosure, even when confidential information is included in a document to be output as voice, leakage of the confidential information can be suppressed.

1 is a diagram showing an outline of an image forming system according to an embodiment; FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the terminal device which concerns on embodiment. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment; FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a control unit according to the embodiment; FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the overall flow of voice output job processing in the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment; FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a subroutine of step S1 in FIG. 5; FIG. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a subroutine of step S2 of FIG. 5; FIG. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a subroutine of step S3 of FIG. 5; FIG. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a subroutine of step S4 in FIG. 5; FIG. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a subroutine of step S5 of FIG. 5. FIG. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a subroutine of step S6 in FIG. 5; FIG. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a subroutine of step S7 in FIG. 5. FIG. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a control unit according to modification 3; 14 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of step S5 according to Modification 3. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of step S7 according to Modification 3. FIG.

An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, identical parts and components are given identical reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description of these will not be repeated. Note that the embodiments and modifications described below may be selectively combined as appropriate.

[Configuration of Image Forming System]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an image forming system 100 according to this embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, image forming system 100 includes image forming apparatus 1 , server apparatus 2 , and terminal apparatus 3 . Image forming apparatus 1 , server apparatus 2 , and terminal apparatus 3 communicate with each other via network 4 . The network 4 may be, for example, a public network such as the Internet, a public line, or a public wireless LAN (Local Area Network), or may be a private network such as a LAN or VPN (Virtual Private Network).

The terminal device 3 includes, for example, a PC (personal computer), a smart phone, a tablet, and the like. The terminal device 3 creates document data using various application software such as document generation (word processor) software, spreadsheet software, and presentation software according to user's operations.

Further, the terminal device 3 performs mail transmission/reception via the network 4 . The user operates the terminal device 3 to check the mail sent to the mail address owned by the user, or to send the created mail to another mail address. The terminal device 3 may transmit and receive mail with document data attached.

The server device 2 is an information processing device that stores various data. The server device 2 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a storage device, and a communication device as main components. The CPU implements the overall processing of the server device 2 by reading and executing programs stored in the storage device. The server device 2 saves the document data created by the terminal device 3 or the document data read by the image forming device 1, and sends the saved document data to the external device in response to a request from the external device. Send.

The image forming apparatus 1 is, for example, a multifunction peripheral (MFP). The image forming apparatus 1 has a copy function, a scan function, a printer function, a facsimile function, an e-mail function, and a communication function. The image forming apparatus 1 reads a document image to be read as document data, and sends document data or an e-mail attached with the document data to another device such as a server device 2 or a terminal device 3 via a network 4. Send and receive documents, and print document data.

Document data may be information related to a document, and includes electronic data including text data and scanned image data obtained by reading a document image. Electronic data including text data is created using various types of application software exemplified by document generation (word processor) software, spreadsheet software and presentation software.

The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has an audio output function in addition to the functions described above. The voice output function is a function of outputting a document indicated by specified document data by voice in response to a request for a voice output job of the specified document data. A speech output job is requested by, for example, a visually impaired person or a person who is unfamiliar with reading Chinese characters.

If confidential information is included in the document data, the confidential information is likely to be leaked to a third party if voice output is performed. In particular, when the image forming apparatus 1 is installed in a place such as an office where there are multiple users, confidential information is leaked by unintended users listening to the voice. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 extracts text data from the designated document data and determines whether or not the extracted text data includes confidential information. If the text data does not contain confidential information, the image forming apparatus 1 converts the text data into voice data and outputs voice indicated by the voice data. If the text data contains confidential information, image forming apparatus 1 prints at least one of the document data and the text data without outputting audio.

[Hardware Configuration of Terminal Device]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the terminal device according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal device 3 has a control section 31, a RAM 32, a storage device 33, a display 34, a keyboard 35, and a communication interface .

The control unit 31 is, for example, a hardware processor composed of at least one integrated circuit. The integrated circuit is composed of, for example, at least one CPU, at least one ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), at least one FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof.

The control unit 31 executes various applications stored in the storage device 33 . The control unit 31 reads an application program from the storage device 33 to the RAM 32 based on reception of execution commands for various applications. The RAM 32 is a memory that provides a work area when the control section 31 operates based on the application program.

The storage device 33 is configured by a hard disk drive or the like, and stores various application programs and the like. The storage device 33 stores, for example, an e-mail application 331, a document creation application 332, and the like.

The display 34 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays various information. A keyboard 35 is used by the user to input information. A communication interface 36 communicates with an external device via the network 4 .

[Hardware Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. Referring to FIG. 3, image forming apparatus 1 includes audio output unit 11, operation unit 12, hard disk drive (HDD) 13, scanner 14, printing unit (printer) 15, ejection mechanism 16, and communication It includes a processing unit 17 , a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface 18 , a control unit 19 , a ROM (Read Only Memory) 20 and a RAM 21 .

The audio output unit 11 is composed of a speaker and outputs audio indicated by input audio data.

The operation unit 12 is a touch panel display that displays various information such as an operation screen and enables a touch operation by the user.

The HDD 13 stores various applications, scanned image data read by the scanner 14, document data acquired from an external device, and the like.

Furthermore, HDD 13 stores confidential information list 131 . The confidential information list 131 is a list of confidential words (for example, "profit", "cost", etc.). Confidential information list 131 is created in advance by an administrator and stored in HDD 13 .

HDD 13 stores a known translation application (translation application) 132 and a known dictionary database 133 . The translation application 132 is an application for translating input Japanese sentences into English sentences. The dictionary database 133 is a database that associates kanji characters with phonetic kanji characters.

The scanner 14 photoelectrically reads image information such as photographs, characters, and pictures from a document to obtain scanned image data. A known method can be adopted as a method for generating scan image data in the scanner 14 . The acquired scanned image data (density data) is converted into digital data by an image processing unit (not shown), and stored in the HDD 13 after undergoing various well-known image processing.

The printing unit 15 converts scanned image data read by the scanner 14, externally acquired document data, or document data stored in the HDD 13 into data for printing, for example, by an electrophotographic method. The printing unit 15 further prints the document image on paper based on the converted data. A known technique can be adopted for the image forming mode such as electrophotography.

The ejection mechanism 16 is a mechanism for ejecting the paper printed by the printing section 15 . The discharge mechanism 16 discharges the paper in a mode selected from the face-up discharge mode and the face-down discharge mode. The face-up ejection mode is a mode in which the paper is ejected with the printed surface facing upward (face up). The face-down ejection mode is a mode in which the paper is ejected with the print surface facing downward (face-down). The ejection mechanism 16 includes a face-up ejection path for ejecting the paper face-up, a face-down ejection path for ejecting the paper face-down, and a face-up ejection path and a face-down ejection path for conveying the paper. It includes a switching mechanism that switches to one of the paths, and a transport roller that transports the paper. A known technique can be adopted for the aspect of the ejection mechanism 16 .

The communication processing unit 17 transmits and receives data and e-mails to and from external devices (for example, the server device 2 and the terminal device 3) via the network 4. FIG. The communication processing unit 17 transmits data and e-mail received from the CPU 19 to the outside, and passes data and e-mail received from the outside to the CPU 19 .

A USB interface 18 is an interface for the USB memory 5 that is detachable from the image forming apparatus 1 . The USB memory 5 may store document data.

The control unit 19 is, for example, a hardware processor composed of at least one integrated circuit. An integrated circuit is composed of, for example, at least one CPU, at least one ASIC, at least one FPGA, or a combination thereof.

Control unit 19 controls the operation of image forming apparatus 1 by executing various programs such as control program 22 according to the present embodiment and various applications stored in HDD 13 . The control unit 19 reads out the control program 22 from the ROM 20 to the RAM 21 based on the reception of the instruction to execute the control program 22 . The ROM 20 is a memory that stores the control program 22 and the like. The RAM 21 is a memory that provides a work area when the CPU 19 operates based on the control program 22 .

[Functional Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]
Next, the main functional configuration of the control section 19 of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. Here, the functional configuration related to the voice output job will be described. A voice output job is a job for voice outputting a document indicated by specified document data.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a functional configuration of a control unit according to the embodiment; As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 19 of the image forming apparatus 1 includes a request reception unit 191, an extraction unit 192, a determination unit 193, an addition unit 194, a translation unit 195, and an output processing unit 196. include. The request reception unit 191, the extraction unit 192, the determination unit 193, the addition unit 194, the translation unit 195, and the output processing unit 196 are implemented by the control unit 19 executing the control program 22 and the like.

The request reception unit 191 receives a request from the user via the operation unit 12 or the communication processing unit 17 . Specifically, the request accepting unit 191 accepts a request for a voice output job for specified document data. At this time, the request receiving unit 191 acquires the folder name indicating the storage area in which the document data is stored and the file name of the document data as information for identifying the document data to be output as voice. The document data designated as the target of voice output are document data stored in the HDD 13, document data stored in the server device 2, document data attached to the e-mail received by the communication processing unit 17, and document data stored in the USB memory 5. It is either stored document data or scanned image data (document data) read by the scanner 14 . The request receiving unit 191 acquires document data designated as a target for voice output.

Further, the request receiving unit 191 can receive an instruction to add a Japanese translation to the English text in the text data extracted from the document data (hereinafter referred to as "translation addition instruction"). The request receiving unit 191 can receive an instruction to add furigana to kanji characters in the text data (hereinafter referred to as "furigana addition instruction") when the text data extracted from the document data contains confidential information. . Further, the request receiving unit 191 can receive an instruction to switch to the face-down ejection mode (hereinafter referred to as "face-down instruction") when confidential information is included in text data extracted from document data.

The extraction unit 192 extracts text data from document data designated as a target for voice output. If the document data is electronic data including text data, the extraction unit 192 extracts the text data. If the document data is scan image data, the extraction unit 192 extracts text data by executing character recognition processing on the scan image data. The extraction unit 192 may perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) processing as the character recognition processing. A known technique can be adopted for the OCR processing method.

The determination unit 193 determines whether or not the text data extracted by the extraction unit 192 contains confidential information. Specifically, when the text data includes a word registered in the confidential information list 131 stored in the HDD 13, the determination unit 193 determines that the text data includes confidential information.

The adding unit 194 adds furigana to the kanji characters in the text data extracted by the extracting unit 192 . The adding unit 194 uses the dictionary database 133 stored in the HDD 13 to add furigana to the kanji.

The translation unit 195 adds a Japanese translation to the English text in the text data extracted by the extraction unit 192 . Translation unit 195 generates a translation using translation application 132 stored in HDD 13 . Alternatively, the translation unit 195 may acquire the translation from a translation engine provided on a website.

The output processing unit 196 executes output processing of document data designated as a target of voice output. Specifically, when the extracted text data does not contain confidential information, the output processing unit 196 converts the text data into voice data. Processing for converting text data into speech data (speech synthesis processing) can use any conventionally used method such as formant speech synthesis. The output processing unit 196 outputs the audio data converted from the text data to the audio output unit 11 and causes the audio output unit 11 to output the audio indicated by the audio data.

Note that the output processing unit 196 may convert the text data to which the translation has been added by the translation unit 195 into voice data when the request receiving unit 191 has received an instruction to add the translation. This allows the user to hear the audio of the English sentence and the corresponding Japanese sentence.

When the text data contains confidential information, the output processing unit 196 sends the text data to the printing unit 15 without outputting the voice from the voice output unit 11, and prints the text indicated by the text data. is executed by the printing unit 15 .

Note that the output processing unit 196 sends the text indicated by the text data to which the translation has been added by the translation unit 195 to the printing unit 15 when the request receiving unit 191 has received the translation addition instruction. As a result, the translation is printed together with the text extracted from the document data.

Further, the output processing unit 196 sends the text data to which the furigana has been added by the adding unit 194 to the printing unit 15 when the request accepting unit 191 accepts the furigana addition instruction. As a result, the furigana is printed together with the text extracted from the document data.

If the document data designated as the target of voice output is scanned image data, the user already owns the document to be read by the scanner 14 . Therefore, it is meaningless to print the scanned image data as it is. Therefore, the output processing unit 196 prints the text data when the specified document data is scanned image data and the request receiving unit 191 has received neither the furigana addition instruction nor the translation addition instruction. Do not let the unit 15 execute. Output processing unit 196 stores at least one of the specified document data (scanned image data) and text data in a predetermined folder instead of printing. Alternatively, the output processing unit 196 creates an e-mail attached with at least one of the specified document data and text data, and transmits the e-mail to the user's e-mail address.

[Audio output job processing flow]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the overall flow of voice output job processing in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. First, the control unit 19 performs processing for accepting a request for a voice output job (step S1). In step S1, the control unit 19 receives designation of document data to be output by voice, and acquires the designated document data. At this time, if text data is included in the document data, the control unit 19 extracts the text data.

The control unit 19 may accept a request for a voice output job according to a user's operation on the operation unit 12 , or may accept a request for a voice output job from the terminal device 3 via the communication processing unit 17 . That is, the user may go to the image forming apparatus 1 and then operate the operation unit 12 to request the execution of the voice output job. The device 3 may be operated to request execution of the voice output job.

Next, the control unit 19 executes OCR (Optical Character Recognition) processing on the specified document data to extract text data (step S2).

Next, the control unit 19 executes a translation process of adding a Japanese translation to the English text in the text data (step S3).

Next, the control unit 19 executes a determination process as to whether confidential information is included in the text data (step S4). Next, the control unit 19 causes the voice output unit 11 to perform voice output processing of the text data (step S5).

Furthermore, the control unit 19 executes furigana addition processing for adding furigana to kanji characters in the text data (step S6). After that, the control unit 19 executes a process that replaces the voice output (hereinafter referred to as "alternative output process") (step S7). After step S7, the process returns to step S1.

[Voice output job reception process]
FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the subroutine of step S1 in FIG. First, the control unit 19 determines whether or not there is a job request (step S101). If there is no job request (NO in step S101), step S1 ends. If there is a job request (YES in step S101), the control unit 19 determines whether the requested job is a voice output job (step S102). If the requested job is not a voice output job (NO in step S102), step S1 ends.

If the requested job is a voice output job (YES in step S102), the control unit 19 prompts the user to specify document data to be voice output, and determines which document data is specified (step S103). . When designating document data that has already been created as a target for voice output, the user designates the folder name indicating the storage location of the document data and the file name of the document data. When the user designates scanned image data as a target for voice output, the user places a document to be scanned on the scanner 14 of the image forming apparatus 1 and inputs a scanning instruction.

When document data stored in the HDD 13 is specified, the control unit 19 acquires the specified document data from the HDD 13 and extracts text data from the acquired document data. The control unit 19 sets the extracted text data as text data to be output as voice (step S104).

When document data stored in the server device 2 is designated, the control unit 19 acquires the designated document data from the server device 2 via the communication processing unit 17, and extracts text data from the acquired document data. . The control unit 19 sets the extracted text data as text data to be output as voice (step S105).

When document data attached to the received e-mail is specified, the control unit 19 acquires the specified document data from the e-mail received by the communication processing unit 17, and extracts text data from the acquired document data. . The control unit 19 sets the extracted text data as text data to be output as voice (step S106).

When the document data stored in the USB memory 5 is specified, the controller 19 acquires the specified document data from the USB memory 5 via the USB interface 18 and extracts text data from the acquired document data. The control unit 19 sets the extracted text data as text data to be output as voice (step S107).

After steps S104 to S107, the control unit 19 substitutes 0 for the OCR flag (step S108).

When scan image data is specified, the control unit 19 substitutes 1 for the OCR flag (step S109).

Next, the control unit 19 determines whether or not there is an instruction to add a translated sentence (step S110). For example, when a translation check box included in an operation screen displayed on the operation unit 12 or the terminal device 3 is checked, the control unit 19 determines that there is an instruction to add a translation sentence.

If there is a translation sentence addition instruction (YES in step S110), the control unit 19 substitutes 1 for the translation flag (step S111). If there is no translation sentence addition instruction (NO in step S110), the control unit 19 substitutes 0 for the translation flag (step S112). After step S111 or step S112, step S1 ends.

[OCR processing]
FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the subroutine of step S2 in FIG. First, the control unit 19 determines whether or not a request for a voice output job has been received (step S201). If the request for the voice output job has not been received (NO in step S201), step S2 ends. If the request for the voice output job has been accepted (YES in step S201), the control unit 19 determines whether or not the OCR flag is 1 (step S202). If the OCR flag is not 1 (NO in step S202), step S2 ends.

When the OCR flag is 1 (YES in step S202), the control unit 19 causes the scanner 14 to perform scanning processing, and converts the scanned image data obtained by the scanning processing into document data to be output as voice. (step S203).

Next, the control unit 19 performs OCR processing on the document data (scanned image data), and sets the text data obtained by the OCR processing as text data to be output as voice (step S204). After step S204, step S2 ends.

[Translation processing]
FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the subroutine of step S3 in FIG. First, the control unit 19 determines whether or not a request for a voice output job has been received (step S301). If the request for the voice output job has not been received (NO in step S301), step S3 ends. If the request for the voice output job has been accepted (YES in step S301), the control unit 19 determines whether or not the translation flag is 1 (step S302). If the translation flag is not 1 (NO in step S302), step S3 ends.

If the translation flag is 1 (YES in step S302), the control unit 19 adds the Japanese translation to the English text in the text data to update the text data (step S303). After step S303, step S3 ends.

[Confidential information judgment processing]
FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the subroutine of step S4 in FIG. First, the control unit 19 determines whether or not a request for a voice output job has been received (step S401). If the request for the voice output job has not been received (NO in step S401), step S4 ends. If the voice output job request has been accepted (YES in step S401), the control unit 19 collates the character strings in the text data with the words registered in the confidential information list 131 (step S402). Then, the control unit 19 determines whether or not the text data includes confidential information based on the collation result (step S403). That is, the control unit 19 determines that the text data includes confidential information when the character string included in the text data matches the word registered in the confidential information list.

If the text data contains confidential information (YES in step S403), the control unit 19 substitutes 1 for the confidential information detection flag (step S404). If the text data does not contain confidential information (NO in step S403), the control unit 19 substitutes 0 for the confidential information detection flag (step S405). After step S404 or S405, step S4 ends.

[Audio output processing]
FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the subroutine of step S5 in FIG. First, the control unit 19 determines whether or not a request for a voice output job has been received (step S501). If the request for the voice output job has not been received (NO in step S501), step S5 ends. If the voice output job request has been accepted (YES in step S501), the control unit 19 determines whether or not the confidential information detection flag is 1 (step S502).

If the confidential information detection flag is 0 (NO in step S502), the control unit 19 converts the text data into voice data (step S503). The control unit 19 outputs the converted audio data to the audio output unit 11, and outputs audio from the audio output unit 11 (step S504). After step S504, step S5 ends.

It should be noted that when the instruction to add the translation is accepted in step S110 of FIG. 6, the Japanese translation is added to the English text in the text data in step S303 of FIG. In this case, the user can hear the Japanese voice in addition to the English voice.

If the confidential information detection flag is 1 (YES in step S502), the control unit 19 stops the voice output of the text data and notifies the user to that effect (step S505). The control unit 19 may display a screen for notifying that the audio output is stopped on the operation unit 12 or the terminal device 3, or may cause the audio output unit 11 to output a sound indicating the stop of the audio output.

Next, the control unit 19 determines whether or not there is an instruction to add furigana (step S506). For example, when a furigana addition check box included in the operation screen displayed on the operation unit 12 or the terminal device 3 is checked, the control unit 19 determines that there is an instruction to add furigana.

If there is a furigana addition instruction (YES in step S506), the control unit 19 substitutes 1 for the furigana flag (step S507). If there is no furigana addition instruction (NO in step S506), the control unit 19 substitutes 0 for the furigana flag (step S508).

Next, the control unit 19 determines whether or not there is a face-down instruction (step S509). For example, when a face-down check box included in an operation screen displayed on the operation unit 12 or the terminal device 3 is checked, the control unit 19 determines that there is a face-down instruction.

If there is a face-down instruction (YES in step S509), the control unit 19 substitutes 1 for the face-down flag (step S510). If there is no face-down instruction (NO in step S509), the control unit 19 substitutes 0 for the face-down flag (step S511). After step S510 or step S511, step S5 ends.

[Furigana addition processing]
FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the subroutine of step S6 in FIG. First, the control unit 19 determines whether or not a request for a voice output job has been accepted (step S601). If the request for the voice output job has not been received (NO in step S601), step S6 ends. If the request for the voice output job has been accepted (YES in step S601), the control unit 19 determines whether or not the furigana flag is 1 (step S602). If the furigana flag is 0 (NO in step S602), step S6 ends.

If the furigana flag is 1 (YES in step S602), the control unit 19 adds furigana to the kanji characters in the text data and updates the text data (step S603). After step S603, step S3 ends.

[Alternative output process]
FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the subroutine of step S7 in FIG. First, the control unit 19 determines whether or not a request for a voice output job has been received (step S701). If the request for the voice output job has not been received (NO in step S701), step S7 ends. If the voice output job request has been accepted (YES in step S701), the control unit 19 determines whether or not the confidential information detection flag is 1 (step S702). If the confidential information flag is 0 (NO in step S702), step S7 ends.

If the confidential information detection flag is 1 (YES in step S702), the control unit 19 determines whether the OCR flag is 1, the furigana flag is 0, and the translation flag is 0 ( step S703).

If YES in step S703, the control unit 19 creates an e-mail attached with at least one of the specified document data (scanned image data) and text data, and sends the e-mail to the e-mail address owned by the user who requested the voice output job. Send (step S704). Alternatively, control unit 19 may store at least one of the scanned image data and the text data in a predetermined folder in HDD 13 .

Note that the control unit 19 may store in advance a table in which users and mail addresses are associated with each other, and set the mail address of the destination of the electronic mail based on the table. Alternatively, the control unit 19 may set the e-mail address entered in the e-mail address input field displayed on the operation screen displayed on the operation unit 12 or the terminal device 3 as the destination of the e-mail.

In step S704, the control unit 19 may notify the user that mail transmission or data storage has been performed instead of voice output. The control unit 19 may display the notification screen on the operation unit 12 or the terminal device 3 or output the content of the notification from the audio output unit 11 . At this time, the control unit 19 may notify the user of the storage destination folder for at least one of the designated document data and text data. After step S704, step S7 ends.

If NO in step S703, the control unit 19 causes the printing unit 15 to print the text indicated by the text data (step S705). At this time, the control unit 19 may notify the user that the specified document data contains confidential information and that the printing process has been performed instead of the voice output. The control unit 19 may display the notification screen on the operation unit 12 or the terminal device 3 or output the content of the notification from the audio output unit 11 .

Next, the control unit 19 determines whether or not the face down flag is 1 (step S706). If the face-down flag is 1 (YES in step S706), the controller 19 ejects the printing paper from the ejection mechanism 16 in the face-down ejection mode (step S707). If the face-down flag is 0 (NO in step S706), the control unit 19 causes the print paper to be discharged from the discharge mechanism 16 in the currently set discharge mode (face-down discharge mode or face-up discharge mode) (step S708). After step S707 or S708, step S7 ends.

[Modification 1]
In the above description, printing of the text indicated by the text data is executed in step S705 of FIG. However, in step S705, the control unit 19 may cause the printing unit 15 to print the text indicated by the text data as well as the document indicated by the designated document data. Alternatively, if neither the translation addition instruction nor the furigana addition instruction is received, in step S705, the control unit 19 may cause the printing unit 15 to print only the document indicated by the designated document data.

[Modification 2]
In the above description, the control unit 19 causes the print paper to be discharged from the discharge mechanism 16 in the face-down discharge mode only when the face-down instruction is received. However, the control unit 19 may eject the printing paper from the ejection mechanism 16 in the face-down ejection mode whenever confidential information is included in the text data.

[Modification 3]
In the above description, when confidential information is included in document data specified as a target of voice output, at least one of the document data and text data extracted from the document data is printed. When the user uses the terminal device 3 to request a voice output job, while the user moves from the location of the terminal device 3 to the image forming device, the printed paper ejected from the image forming device is viewed by another user. may be touched. Therefore, when the user requests a voice output job using the terminal device 3, the image forming apparatus performs user authentication before printing at least one of the document data and the text data extracted from the document data. is preferred.

13 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a control unit according to Modification 3. FIG. As shown in FIG. 13, a control section 19A of the image forming apparatus according to Modification 3 is different from the control section 19 shown in FIG. 4 in that an authentication section 197 is further included.

When the request receiving unit 191 receives a request for a voice output job from the terminal device 3, the authentication unit 197 sets a password for the voice output job. The user inputs the password on the keyboard 35 of the terminal device 3 . The authentication unit 197 may set the password according to the input to the terminal device 3 . Authentication unit 197 prompts the input of a password to operation unit 12 when confidential information is included in the document data designated as the target of voice output. The authentication unit 197 allows the user who has entered the password to the operation unit 12 to perform voice output based on the first information, which is the password accepted by the operation unit 12, and the second information, which is the password set for the voice output job. Authenticate to match the user who requested the job. Specifically, the authentication unit 197 determines that the authentication is successful when the password (first information) accepted by the operation unit 12 matches the password (second information) set for the voice output job.

When the text data includes confidential information, the output processing unit 196 causes the printing unit 15 to print at least one of the designated document data and text data when the authenticating unit 197 determines that the authentication is successful.

The image forming apparatus according to Modification 3 processes the voice output job according to steps S1 to S7 shown in FIG. 5, similarly to image forming apparatus 1 according to the above-described embodiment. However, in step S5, the image forming apparatus sets a password for the voice output job. Further, in step S7, the image forming apparatus performs user authentication.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the subroutine of step S5 according to Modification 3. As shown in FIG. The flowchart shown in FIG. 14 differs from the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 in that step S512 is included. In step S512 after step S505, the control unit 19A sets a password for the voice output job based on the user's input to the terminal device 3. FIG. The control unit 19A stores the set password in association with the voice output job.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing the subroutine of step S7 according to Modification 3. As shown in FIG. The flowchart shown in FIG. 15 differs from the flowchart shown in FIG. 12 in that steps S709 and S710 are included.

In the case of NO in step S703, the control unit 19A accepts input of a password to the operation unit 12 (step S709). That is, the user moves from the location of the terminal device 3 to the image forming device and inputs the password to the operation section 12 . Next, the control unit 19A checks the accepted password against the password set in step S512 to determine whether or not the authentication has succeeded (step S710). If authentication fails (NO in step S710), step S7 ends. If authentication succeeds (YES in step S710), the process proceeds to step S705.

According to the modification 3, when the user uses the terminal device 3 to request a voice output job, the document data is processed only when the authentication is successful based on the password input to the operation unit 12 of the image forming apparatus. and at least one of text data is printed. Therefore, while the user moves from the location of the terminal device 3 to the image forming apparatus, it is possible to prevent the print paper from coming into contact with other users' eyes.

[Modification 4]
In the above description, the image forming apparatus includes the audio output unit 11, and the control units 19 and 19A of the image forming apparatus include the request receiving unit 191, the extracting unit 192, the determining unit 193, the adding unit 194, the translating unit 195, and the output processing unit. 196 shall be provided. However, even if the terminal device 3 includes the voice output unit 11 and the control unit 31 of the terminal device 3 includes the request reception unit 191, the extraction unit 192, the determination unit 193, the addition unit 194, the translation unit 195, and the output processing unit 196, good. In this case, the control section 31 of the terminal device 3 may execute the steps shown in FIGS. 5 to 12. FIG. However, in step S202 of FIG. 7, the control unit 31 outputs a scan instruction to the image forming apparatus 1 and causes the scanner 14 of the image forming apparatus 1 to perform scanning. In step S705 of FIG. 12, control unit 31 outputs to image forming apparatus 1 an instruction to print at least one of document data and text data. As a result, the printing paper for at least one of the document data and the text data is discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 .

[Modification 5]
In the above description, the translation unit 195 adds the Japanese translation to the English text in the text data. However, the translation unit 195 may add a Japanese translation to a text in a language other than English. Alternatively, the translation unit 195 may add translations in languages other than Japanese to the English text. Alternatively, the translation unit 195 may add a translated sentence in a language other than Japanese to the text in a language other than English.

[advantage]
As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 includes the voice output unit 11, the printing unit 15, and the control unit for controlling the voice output unit 11 and the printing unit 15 in response to a request for a voice output job of designated document data. It has control units 19 and 19A. The control units 19 and 19A include an extraction unit 192 that extracts text data from designated document data, a determination unit 193 that determines whether the text data contains confidential information, and an output processing unit 196 . If the text data does not contain confidential information, the output processing unit 196 converts the text data into voice data and causes the voice output unit 11 to output the voice indicated by the voice data. When the text data contains confidential information, the output processing unit 196 causes the printing unit 15 to print at least one of the specified document and the text indicated by the text data without outputting the voice from the voice output unit 11. to execute.

According to the above configuration, when confidential information is included in a document specified as a target of voice output, voice output is stopped and at least one of the document and text is printed instead. Therefore, even if the image forming apparatus 1 is installed in a place where a plurality of users are present, it is possible to prevent a document containing confidential information from being seen by unintended users. That is, leakage of confidential information can be suppressed.

The designated document data is document data stored in the HDD 13, which is a storage unit provided in the image forming apparatus 1, document data stored in the server apparatus 2 connected to the image forming apparatus 1 via the network 4, and document data stored in the image forming apparatus 1 via the network 4. Either the document data attached to the e-mail received by the apparatus 1 or the document data stored in the USB memory 5 which is a storage medium connected to the image forming apparatus 1 .

Alternatively, the designated document data may be scanned image data read by the scanner 14 provided in the image forming apparatus 1 . In this case, the extraction unit 192 extracts text data from the scanned image data by performing character recognition processing on the scanned image data.

The control units 19 and 19A may further include an adding unit 194 for adding furigana to kanji characters in the text data. When the text data includes confidential information, the output processing unit 196 causes the printing unit 15 to print the text indicated by the text data to which the furigana is added. As a result, even a person who is unfamiliar with kanji can recognize how to read kanji by checking the printed paper.

The control units 19 and 19A may further include a translation unit 195 for adding a second language translation to the first language text in the text data. When the text data contains confidential information, the output processing unit 196 causes the printing unit 15 to print the text indicated by the text data to which the translation is added. As a result, even a person unfamiliar with the first language can recognize the meaning of the text in the first language by checking the translation on the printed paper.

The image forming apparatus 1 further includes a discharge mechanism 16 that discharges the paper printed by the printing section 15 . When the text data contains confidential information, the output processing unit 196 ejects the paper from the ejection mechanism 16 so that the printed surface faces downward. As a result, it is possible to prevent a print sheet containing confidential information from being seen by an unintended user.

An output processing part 196 does not allow the printing part 15 to print the text indicated by the text data when confidential information is included in the text data and neither the furigana addition instruction nor the translation addition instruction is accepted. Instead, the output processing unit 196 sends an e-mail attached with at least one of the scanned image data and text data to a specified address, or sends at least one of the scanned image data and text data to a predetermined address. Execute the process of saving to a folder. As a result, leakage of confidential information can be suppressed.

The image forming apparatus 1 further includes an operation unit 12 for accepting input of a password, which is first information. Control unit 19A further includes authentication unit 197 . Authentication unit 197 is based on the password accepted by operation unit 12 and the password, which is the second information set for the request for the voice output job. Authenticate to match the user. If the text data contains confidential information, the output processing unit 196 causes the printing unit 15 to print at least one of the designated document and the text indicated by the text data when the authentication unit 197 succeeds in authentication. . As a result, printing paper containing confidential information can be prevented from being seen by unintended users.

It should be considered that the embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of the claims rather than the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the scope of the claims.

1 image forming device, 2 server device, 3 terminal device, 4 network, 5 USB memory, 11 audio output section, 12 operation section, 13 HDD, 14 scanner, 15 printing section, 16 ejection mechanism, 17 communication processing section, 18 USB Interface 19, 19A, 31 Control Unit, 20 ROM, 21, 32 RAM, 22 Control Program, 33 Storage Device, 34 Display, 35 Keyboard, 36 Communication Interface, 100 Image Forming System, 131 Confidential Information List, 132 Translation Application, 133 dictionary database, 191 request reception unit, 192 extraction unit, 193 determination unit, 194 addition unit, 195 translation unit, 196 output processing unit, 197 authentication unit, 331 e-mail application, and 332 document creation application.

Claims (14)

an audio output unit;
a printing unit;
a control unit for controlling the audio output unit and the printing unit in response to an audio output request for a specified document;
The control unit
an extraction unit for extracting text data from the specified document;
a determination unit that determines whether or not confidential information is included in the text data;
converting the text data into voice data if the text data does not contain confidential information, outputting voice indicated by the voice data from the voice output unit, and if confidential information is contained in the text data an output processing unit for causing the printing unit to print at least one of the specified document and the text indicated by the text data without outputting audio from the audio output unit ;
an addition unit for adding furigana to kanji characters in the text data,
The image forming apparatus , wherein the output processing unit causes the printing unit to print the text indicated by the text data to which the furigana is added when the text data includes confidential information . an audio output unit;
a printing unit;
a control unit for controlling the audio output unit and the printing unit in response to an audio output request for a specified document;
The control unit
an extraction unit for extracting text data from the specified document;
a determination unit that determines whether or not confidential information is included in the text data;
converting the text data into voice data if the text data does not contain confidential information, outputting voice indicated by the voice data from the voice output unit, and if confidential information is contained in the text data an output processing unit for causing the printing unit to print at least one of the specified document and the text indicated by the text data without outputting audio from the audio output unit;
a translation unit for adding a second language translation to the first language text in the text data;
The image forming apparatus, wherein the output processing unit causes the printing unit to print the text indicated by the text data to which the translation is added when the text data includes confidential information. an audio output unit;
a printing unit;
a control unit for controlling the audio output unit and the printing unit in response to an audio output request for a specified document;
A discharge mechanism for discharging the paper printed by the printing unit,
with
The control unit
an extraction unit for extracting text data from the specified document;
a determination unit that determines whether or not confidential information is included in the text data;
converting the text data into voice data if the text data does not contain confidential information, outputting voice indicated by the voice data from the voice output unit, and if confidential information is contained in the text data an output processing unit that causes the printing unit to print at least one of the specified document and the text indicated by the text data without outputting audio from the audio output unit;
The image forming apparatus, wherein the output processing unit discharges the paper from the discharge mechanism so that the printed surface faces downward when the text data includes confidential information. an audio output unit;
a printing unit;
a scanner for reading images;
a control unit for controlling the audio output unit and the printing unit in response to an audio output request for a specified document;
the specified document is a scanned image read by the scanner;
The control unit
an extraction unit for extracting text data from the specified document;
a determination unit that determines whether or not confidential information is included in the text data;
converting the text data into voice data if the text data does not contain confidential information, outputting voice indicated by the voice data from the voice output unit, and if confidential information is contained in the text data an output processing unit for causing the printing unit to print at least one of the specified document and the text indicated by the text data without outputting audio from the audio output unit;
an adding unit for adding furigana to the kanji when kanji is included in the text data and an instruction to add furigana is received;
When a first language text is included in the text data and a translation addition instruction to add a second language translation is received, the second language translation is added to the first language text. a translation part for adding,
The extracting unit extracts the text data from the scanned image by performing character recognition processing on the scanned image,
The output processing unit is
causing the printing unit to print the text indicated by the text data to which the furigana has been added, when the text data includes confidential information and the furigana addition instruction is received;
causing the printing unit to print the text indicated by the text data to which the translation is added, when the text data includes confidential information and the instruction to add the translation is received;
not causing the printing unit to print the text indicated by the text data when confidential information is included in the text data and neither the furigana addition instruction nor the translation addition instruction is accepted; sending an email with at least one of the scanned image and the text data attached to a specified address, or storing at least one of the scanned image and the text data in a predetermined folder ; image forming device. an audio output unit;
a printing unit;
an operation unit for accepting input of the first information ;
a control unit for controlling the audio output unit and the printing unit in response to an audio output request for a specified document;
The control unit
an extraction unit for extracting text data from the specified document;
a determination unit that determines whether or not confidential information is included in the text data;
converting the text data into voice data if the text data does not contain confidential information, outputting voice indicated by the voice data from the voice output unit, and if confidential information is contained in the text data an output processing unit for causing the printing unit to print at least one of the specified document and the text indicated by the text data without outputting audio from the audio output unit;
Based on the first information received by the operation unit and the second information set for the voice output request, the user who input the first information matches the user who made the voice output request. an authentication unit for authenticating that
When the text data includes confidential information, the output processing unit causes the printing unit to print at least one of the specified document and the text indicated by the text data when authentication by the authentication unit is successful. An image forming apparatus that causes the an audio output unit;
a printing unit;
a control unit for controlling the audio output unit and the printing unit in response to an audio output request for a specified document;
The control unit
an extraction unit for extracting text data from the specified document;
a determination unit that determines whether or not confidential information is included in the text data;
converting the text data into voice data if the text data does not contain confidential information, outputting voice indicated by the voice data from the voice output unit, and if confidential information is contained in the text data an output processing unit for causing the printing unit to print at least one of the specified document and the text indicated by the text data without outputting audio from the audio output unit ;
an addition unit for adding furigana to kanji characters in the text data,
The image forming system , wherein the output processing unit causes the printing unit to print the text indicated by the text data to which the furigana is added when the text data includes confidential information . an audio output unit;
a printing unit;
a control unit for controlling the audio output unit and the printing unit in response to an audio output request for a specified document;
The control unit
an extraction unit for extracting text data from the specified document;
a determination unit that determines whether or not confidential information is included in the text data;
converting the text data into voice data if the text data does not contain confidential information, outputting voice indicated by the voice data from the voice output unit, and if confidential information is contained in the text data an output processing unit for causing the printing unit to print at least one of the specified document and the text indicated by the text data without outputting audio from the audio output unit;
a translation unit for adding a second language translation to the first language text in the text data;
The image forming system, wherein the output processing unit causes the printing unit to print the text indicated by the text data to which the translation is added when the text data includes confidential information. an audio output unit;
a printing unit;
a control unit for controlling the audio output unit and the printing unit in response to an audio output request for a specified document;
A discharge mechanism for discharging the paper printed by the printing unit,
with
The control unit
an extraction unit for extracting text data from the specified document;
a determination unit that determines whether or not confidential information is included in the text data;
converting the text data into voice data if the text data does not contain confidential information, outputting voice indicated by the voice data from the voice output unit, and if confidential information is contained in the text data an output processing unit that causes the printing unit to print at least one of the specified document and the text indicated by the text data without outputting audio from the audio output unit;
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein, when the text data includes confidential information, the output processing unit discharges the paper from the discharge mechanism so that the printed surface faces downward. an audio output unit;
a printing unit;
an operation unit for accepting input of the first information;
a control unit for controlling the audio output unit and the printing unit in response to an audio output request for a specified document;
The control unit
an extraction unit for extracting text data from the specified document;
a determination unit that determines whether or not confidential information is included in the text data;
converting the text data into voice data if the text data does not contain confidential information, outputting voice indicated by the voice data from the voice output unit, and if confidential information is contained in the text data an output processing unit for causing the printing unit to print at least one of the specified document and the text indicated by the text data without outputting audio from the audio output unit;
Based on the first information received by the operation unit and the second information set for the voice output request, the user who input the first information matches the user who made the voice output request. an authentication unit for authenticating that
When the text data includes confidential information, the output processing unit causes the printing unit to print at least one of the specified document and the text indicated by the text data when authentication by the authentication unit is successful. image forming system. A control method for controlling an audio output unit and a printing unit,
accepting a request for speech output of the specified document;
extracting text data from the specified document;
determining whether or not the text data contains confidential information;
a step of converting the text data into voice data if the text data does not contain confidential information, and outputting voice indicated by the voice data from the voice output unit;
When the text data includes confidential information, the printing unit is caused to print at least one of the specified document and the text indicated by the text data without outputting the voice from the voice output unit. a step;
adding furigana to kanji characters in the text data;
A control method, wherein the executing step includes a step of causing the printing unit to print the text indicated by the text data to which the furigana is added when the text data includes confidential information . A control method for controlling an audio output unit and a printing unit,
accepting a request for speech output of the specified document;
extracting text data from the specified document;
determining whether or not the text data contains confidential information;
a step of converting the text data into voice data if the text data does not contain confidential information, and outputting voice indicated by the voice data from the voice output unit;
When the text data contains confidential information, the printing unit is caused to print at least one of the specified document and the text indicated by the text data without outputting the voice from the voice output unit. a step;
adding a second language translation to the first language text in the text data;
A control method, wherein the step of executing includes a step of causing the printing unit to print the text indicated by the text data to which the translation is added when the text data includes confidential information. A control method for controlling an audio output unit, a printing unit, and an ejection mechanism for ejecting paper printed by the printing unit,
accepting a request for speech output of the specified document;
extracting text data from the specified document;
determining whether or not the text data contains confidential information;
a step of converting the text data into voice data and causing the voice output unit to output voice indicated by the voice data when the text data does not contain confidential information;
When the text data includes confidential information, the printing unit is caused to print at least one of the specified document and the text indicated by the text data without outputting the voice from the voice output unit. comprising a step and
The control method, wherein the step of executing includes, when the text data includes confidential information, ejecting the paper from the ejecting mechanism so that the printed surface faces downward. A control method for controlling an audio output unit and a printing unit,
accepting a request for speech output of the specified document;
extracting text data from the specified document;
determining whether or not the text data contains confidential information;
a step of converting the text data into voice data if the text data does not contain confidential information, and outputting voice indicated by the voice data from the voice output unit;
When the text data includes confidential information, the printing unit is caused to print at least one of the specified document and the text indicated by the text data without outputting the voice from the voice output unit. a step;
Based on the first information received by the operation unit and the second information set for the voice output request, it is determined that the user who has input the first information matches the user who has made the voice output request. and authenticating;
In the step of executing, when the text data includes confidential information, at least one of the specified document and the text indicated by the text data is printed when authentication is successful in the step of authenticating. A control method, including the step of causing a part to execute. A control program that causes a computer to execute the control method according to any one of claims 10 to 13 .

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