JP2006080939A - Multifunction machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multifunction machine for handling two-dimensional code information that easily manages documents. <P>SOLUTION: The network multifunction machine 100 includes: an image data acquisition section 108 for acquiring image data; a detection section 110 for detecting two-dimensional code information of a prescribed form; a two-dimensional code information decode section 112 for converting the two-dimensional code information of the prescribed form detected by the detection section 110 into character information; and a data storage section 120 for storing the character information converted from the two-dimensional code information by the two-dimensional code information decode section 112 in cross-reference with at least part of the image data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a multifunction machine, and more particularly to a multifunction machine that handles two-dimensional code information.

  In recent years, two-dimensional code information having information in the two-dimensional direction of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction has become widespread. Since the two-dimensional code can handle a larger amount of information than the one-dimensional code, the code itself can have various information.

Patent Document 1 includes information for identifying print data and information for identifying the print state at the upper end and the lower end of the paper when the printer device prints print data requested from the terminal device, respectively. A system is disclosed that prints a printed barcode together with print data, identifies the printing state by reading the barcode at a paper discharge port, and manages it as a printing history. Here, a barcode reader is provided at the paper discharge port, and by reading the barcode at the paper discharge port, it is possible to identify the printing state and notify the user that the paper discharge is completed. ing.
JP 2004-90235 A

  By the way, for example, in a multifunction device having a plurality of functions such as a facsimile function, a printer function, a copy function, and a scan function in one apparatus, or in a facsimile apparatus or a scanner having any of these functions, for example, scanning is performed. It is possible to read two-dimensional code information printed on a paper medium or the like using the function. It is also possible to print two-dimensional code information on a paper medium using a printer function. Therefore, in such a multi-function machine, it is easy to handle two-dimensional code information without adding a special device.

  The present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object thereof is to provide a technique for facilitating document management.

  According to the present invention, the acquisition means for acquiring the image data, the detection means for detecting the two-dimensional code information in a predetermined format from the image data, and the two-dimensional code information in the predetermined format detected by the detection means are converted into the character information. There is provided a multi-function machine comprising: conversion means for converting the image data; and storage means for storing the character information converted by the conversion means in association with at least a part of the image data.

  The two-dimensional code information in a predetermined format can be a QR code, for example.

  Here, the storage means can also store all the image data acquired by the acquisition means in association with the character information obtained by converting the two-dimensional code information, and can also store the two-dimensional code information from the image data acquired by the acquisition means. It is also possible to store the image data from which the character is removed and the character information obtained by converting the two-dimensional code information in association with each other.

  The multifunction peripheral can include an image reading unit such as a scanner, and the acquisition unit can acquire image data generated based on a document read by the image reading unit. In addition, the multi-function peripheral can include a communication control unit that performs transmission and reception with other terminals via a network, and the acquisition unit acquires image data received by the communication control unit from other terminals via the network. You can also.

  When 2D code information is used, a large amount of information can be included in a small area. Therefore, when managing a document using paper media or image data, information that is to be converted to data later is printed as 2D code information. Can be saved and saved. According to the MFP of the present invention, for example, when such a document is acquired as image data, the two-dimensional code information portion is decoded and converted into character information, and is associated with at least a part of the image data. Documents can be easily managed.

  The multifunction peripheral of the present invention can further include a document reading unit that reads a document and generates image data, and the acquisition unit can acquire the image data generated by the document reading unit.

  Here, the multi-function device is, for example, a multi-function device having a plurality of functions such as a facsimile function, a printer function, a copy function, and a scan function in one device, or a facsimile device or a scanner having any of these functions. Etc. Since such an apparatus has a function of scanning an original, it reads an original on which two-dimensional code information is printed without separately providing a barcode reader or the like to read the two-dimensional code information. It can be acquired as an image. According to the multifunction device of the present invention, the two-dimensional code information acquired by the image acquisition means is decoded and converted into character information and associated with at least a part of the image data, so that the document can be easily managed. it can.

  The MFP of the present invention further includes image data generating means for generating new image data by removing the two-dimensional code information from the image data when the image data includes two-dimensional code information in a predetermined format. The storage means can store the image data generated by the image data generation means in association with the character information.

  In the multifunction peripheral of the present invention, the image data generating means can generate new image data by removing two-dimensional code information in a predetermined format from one page of image data.

  Since the two-dimensional code information fits in a small area, it can be included in the margin of the document. Therefore, for example, two-dimensional code information indicating the processing content can be included in the margin of the document to be processed. According to the MFP of the present invention, when such a document is acquired as image data, only the document to be processed becomes new image data, and the processing contents and the like are associated with the image data. Can be easily performed.

  The multifunction peripheral of the present invention may further include an execution processing unit that executes processing on the image data stored in association with the character information based on the character information stored in the storage unit.

  The execution processing means analyzes whether or not the command information is included in the character information. If the command information is included, the execution processing means performs a command on the image data obtained by removing the two-dimensional code information portion from the image data acquired by the acquisition means. Processing based on information can be executed. Here, the command information is, for example, image data transmission, circulation, processing request, and the like.

  According to the present invention, an instruction receiving unit that receives a processing instruction for a document, a conversion unit that converts character information indicating the instruction received by the instruction receiving unit into two-dimensional code information in a predetermined format, and a conversion unit that converts And a printing unit that prints the two-dimensional code information included in a part of the document.

  In this way, by printing a part of the document including a processing instruction for the document, the two-dimensional code information is read and decoded later so that the processing instruction for the document is in the form of character information. Can be acquired. Thereby, it is possible to easily manage the documents.

  In the multifunction peripheral of the present invention, the printing unit can print the two-dimensional code information on the margin of the document.

  In this way, it is possible to print a processing instruction for a document without preparing a new sheet. Since the two-dimensional code information can include a large amount of information in a relatively small area, document management can be facilitated without wasting paper.

  When the processing content of a document is acquired with character information printed on image data or paper media, the character information is obtained by OCR (Optical Character Recognition: optical character recognition) in order to acquire the character information in a data format. Recognition). Therefore, advanced OCR technology has been required. However, when the processing content or the like for the document is acquired as two-dimensional code information, the two-dimensional code information can be decoded with higher accuracy than the OCR technique.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and a conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, document management can be facilitated.

  In the following embodiments, the multifunction machine is a network multifunction machine that integrates a facsimile, a printer, a copy, a scanner function, and the like. The network multifunction peripheral in the present embodiment is, for example, a network facsimile machine or an MFP (Multi Functional Peripheral). Here, the network multifunction peripheral can be connected to a network such as the Internet or a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). The network multifunction device communicates with a G3 facsimile machine or the like through the PSTN. In addition, the network MFP transmits and receives data to and from other network facsimile apparatuses and e-mail terminals via the Internet or the like.

(First embodiment)
The network multifunction peripheral in the present embodiment has a function of coding two-dimensional code information in a predetermined format and converting it into character information. Here, various information generally known as two-dimensional code information can be used as the two-dimensional code information. For example, a QR code can be used.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment.
The network multifunction peripheral 100 includes an instruction receiving unit 102, a document reading unit 104, a communication control unit 106, an image data acquisition unit 108, a detection unit 110, a two-dimensional code information decoding unit 112, an image data generation unit 114, an analysis processing unit 116, An image data recording unit 118, a data storage unit 120, a control unit 122, and a display processing unit 124 are included.

  In FIG. 1, the configuration of parts not related to the essence of the present invention is omitted, and for example, a print processing unit that is a configuration of a general network multifunction peripheral is not illustrated.

  The instruction receiving unit 102 receives various instructions from the user. The instruction receiving unit 102 receives a job designation or processing instruction for a document or image data from a user. Here, the job is, for example, copying, FAX transmission, mail transmission, scanning, or the like. For example, the instruction receiving unit 102 receives a document reading instruction from the user. In the present embodiment, as will be described later, the network multifunction peripheral 100 can accept such job designation and processing instructions from the two-dimensional code information.

  The communication control unit 106 transmits / receives image data to / from other facsimile apparatuses and terminals via the network 150. The network 150 is, for example, a public network such as PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), the Internet, or a private network such as a LAN. Here, these are collectively shown as a network 150.

  The document reading unit 104 reads a document and generates image data. The image data acquisition unit 108 acquires image data generated by the document reading unit 104 and image data transmitted from another terminal via the communication control unit 106. The detection unit 110 detects whether or not the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit 108 includes two-dimensional code information. If the image data includes two-dimensional code information, the detection unit 110 extracts the two-dimensional code information. .

  The two-dimensional code information decoding unit 112 decodes the two-dimensional code information extracted by the detection unit 110 and converts it into character information.

  When the detection unit 110 detects that the two-dimensional code is included in the image data, the image data generation unit 114 removes the two-dimensional code information from the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit 108 and creates new image data. Is generated.

  The image data recording unit 118 stores the character information converted by the two-dimensional code information decoding unit 112 in the data storage unit 120 in association with the new image data generated by the image data generation unit 114.

  The analysis processing unit 116 analyzes whether or not the character information decoded by the two-dimensional code information decoding unit 112 includes command information.

  When the character information decoded by the two-dimensional code information decoding unit 112 includes command information, the control unit 122 controls processing for a new image generated by the image data recording unit 118 based on the command information. Specifically, the control unit 122 instructs, for example, a print processing unit (not shown) on the number of printed image data. In addition, the control unit 122 instructs the communication control unit 106 to transmit image data, for example.

  The display processing unit 124 displays the image data stored in the data storage unit 120 together with character information associated with the image data.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the network multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment.

  When the image data acquisition unit 108 acquires image data (YES in S100), the detection unit 110 detects whether or not the two-dimensional code information is included in the image data (S102). When the image data includes two-dimensional code information (YES in S102), the image data generation unit 114 generates new image data based on the remaining image obtained by removing the two-dimensional code information from the image data (S104). The two-dimensional code information decoding unit 112 decodes the two-dimensional code information extracted from the original image data by the detection unit 110 and converts it into character information (S106).

  Subsequently, the image data recording unit 118 associates the new image data generated by the image data generation unit 114 with the character information decoded by the two-dimensional code information decoding unit 112 and stores them in the data storage unit 120 (S108).

  Further, the analysis processing unit 116 determines whether or not the command information is included in the character information converted by the two-dimensional code information decoding unit 112 (S110). When the command information is included in the character information (YES in S110), the analysis processing unit 116 analyzes the character information and acquires command information, parameters, and the like (S112). Here, for example, the command information includes a facsimile transmission instruction, a transmission destination address, a transmission timing, and the like. The parameter includes the number of retries for facsimile transmission. In this case, the character information is expressed as, for example, “transmission document / transmission destination: OO− ×××× − ××× / transmission time: immediate transmission / retry frequency: 10 times / minute”.

  Based on the command information and parameters analyzed by the analysis processing unit 116, the control unit 122 controls each function of the network multifunction peripheral 100 and starts processing for new image data (S114).

  When the process ends (YES in S116), the series of procedures is ended, and the process waits for the next instruction.

  On the other hand, if the image data does not include two-dimensional code information in step S102 (NO in S102), and if the command information is not included in the character information converted by the two-dimensional code information decoding unit 112 in step S110 (S110). NO), the control unit 122 determines whether the instruction receiving unit 102 has received an instruction for image data. If the instruction receiving unit 102 has received an instruction for image data (YES in S118), the process proceeds to step S114. The control unit 122 controls each function of the network multifunction peripheral 100 based on the instruction received by the instruction receiving unit 102, and starts processing the document or image data to be processed (S114).

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating processing when the image data acquisition unit 108 acquires image data including two-dimensional code information in the network multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment.

  When the image data acquisition unit 108 acquires the image data 300 including the two-dimensional code information 302 together with the document data in one page (1), the detection unit 110 detects the two-dimensional code information 302 from the image data 300 (2). . The detection unit 110 extracts the two-dimensional code information 302 from the image data 300 (3), and the two-dimensional code information decoding unit 112 decodes the two-dimensional code information 302 and converts it into character information 304 (4). Here, the character information 304 includes information such as “Issuer: A / circulator: B, C, D, E / circulation deadline: 2004/8/30 / circulation status: end”. On the other hand, the image data generation unit 114 removes the two-dimensional code information 302 from the image data 300 and generates new image data 306 (5). The image data recording unit 118 associates the character information 304 with the new image data 306 and stores them in the data storage unit 120 (6).

  In the present embodiment, when the network multifunction peripheral 100 acquires image data including document data and two-dimensional code information, the network multifunction peripheral 100 decodes the two-dimensional code information portion to convert it into character information, and at least one of the image data. Documents can be easily managed because they are associated with each other.

(Second embodiment)
The network multifunction peripheral in the present embodiment has a function of converting character information and generating two-dimensional code information in a predetermined format. Here, various information generally known as two-dimensional code information can be used as the two-dimensional code information. For example, a QR code can be used. When the network multifunction peripheral receives a processing instruction for the document to be processed, it converts character information indicating the instruction into predetermined two-dimensional code information, and prints it out as a part of the document to be processed. As a result, in a device such as a network multi-function peripheral having a decoding function of the two-dimensional code information, it is possible to input a processing instruction for the document to be processed by reading the two-dimensional code information.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the network multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment.
The network multifunction device 200 includes an instruction receiving unit 102, a document reading unit 104, a communication control unit 106, an image data acquisition unit 108, an image data generation unit 114, a control unit 122, a two-dimensional code information generation unit 126, and a print processing unit 128. including. In FIG. 4, the configuration of parts not related to the essence of the present invention is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the same components as those of the network multifunction peripheral 100 described with reference to FIG. 1 in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  The instruction receiving unit 102 receives an instruction for processing the image data acquired by the image data acquiring unit 108 from the user. The instruction receiving unit 102 can receive an instruction input via an operation unit such as a keyboard, a numeric keypad, and a touch panel (not shown), and can receive a user instruction from another terminal connected via the network 150. You can also.

  For example, based on a user instruction, the control unit 122 determines whether to convert character information indicating the instruction received by the instruction receiving unit 102 into two-dimensional code information. The two-dimensional code information generation unit 126 converts character information indicating an instruction received by the instruction receiving unit 102 into two-dimensional code information based on an instruction from the control unit 122.

  The image data generation unit 114 includes the two-dimensional code information generated by the two-dimensional code information generation unit 126 in a part of the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit 108 to generate new image data. The image data generation unit 114 can insert the two-dimensional code information generated by the two-dimensional code information generation unit 126 into the margin of the original image data. The print processing unit 128 prints new image data generated by the image data generation unit 114 on a paper medium or the like.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the network MFP 200 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIG.

  When the image data acquisition unit 108 acquires image data (YES in S130) and the instruction receiving unit 102 receives an instruction (YES in S132), the control unit 122 displays character information indicating the instruction received by the instruction receiving unit 102. It is determined whether or not to convert to two-dimensional code information for printing (S134). Based on the user's instruction, the control unit 122 can determine whether to convert the character information indicating the instruction into two-dimensional code information and print it. Here, when the character information indicating the instruction is converted into the two-dimensional code information and is not printed (NO in S134), the control unit 122 processes the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit 108 based on the user's instruction ( Normal processing).

  In step S134, when the control unit 122 determines to print the character information indicating the instruction into two-dimensional code information (YES in S134), the two-dimensional code information generation unit 126 has received the instruction reception unit 102. The character information indicating the instruction is converted to generate two-dimensional code information in a predetermined format (S136). Next, the image data generation unit 114 generates new image data by including the two-dimensional code information generated by the two-dimensional code information generation unit 126 in the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit 108 (S138). The print processing unit 128 prints new image data generated by the image data generation unit 114 on a paper medium or the like (S140). Thus, the process ends.

  In the present embodiment, network multifunction peripheral 100 prints a part of a document including a processing instruction for the document, so that the processing of the document can be performed by reading and decoding the two-dimensional code information later. The instruction can be acquired in the form of character information. Thereby, it is possible to easily manage the documents.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. The embodiments are exemplifications, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to combinations of the respective constituent elements and processing processes, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. .

  Each component of the network multifunction device 100 and the network multifunction device 200 includes a CPU, a memory, a program that realizes the components of the drawing loaded in the memory, a storage unit such as a hard disk that stores the program, and a network. It is realized by any combination of hardware and software, centering on the connection interface. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that there are various modifications to the implementation method and apparatus. Each of the drawings described in the embodiments shows a functional unit block, not a hardware unit configuration.

  In the above embodiment, as an example of the image data management apparatus, the network multifunction peripheral 100 having the function of decoding the two-dimensional code information in the first embodiment is shown, and the two-dimensional code in the second embodiment. Although the network multifunction peripheral 200 having a function of generating information has been described, the image data management apparatus can include both a function of decoding two-dimensional code information and a function of generating two-dimensional code information.

  In the above embodiment, the processing on the image data generated based on the original read from the original reading unit 104 has been described. However, the image data acquisition unit 108 acquires the image data via the network 150. You can also.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the network multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating processing when an image data acquisition unit acquires image data including two-dimensional code information in the network multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the network multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

100 Network MFP 102 Instruction Accepting Unit 104 Document Reading Unit 106 Communication Control Unit 108 Image Data Acquisition Unit 110 Detection Unit 112 Two-dimensional Code Information Decoding Unit 114 Image Data Generation Unit 116 Analysis Processing Unit 118 Image Data Recording Unit 120 Data Storage Unit 122 Control unit 124 Display processing unit 126 Two-dimensional code information generation unit 128 Print processing unit 150 Network 200 Network MFP

Claims (7)

Acquisition means for acquiring image data;
Detecting means for detecting two-dimensional code information in a predetermined format from the image data;
Conversion means for converting the two-dimensional code information of the predetermined format detected by the detection means into character information;
Storage means for storing the character information converted by the conversion means in association with at least a part of the image data;
A multi-function machine characterized by including The multifunction device according to claim 1,
It further includes document reading means for reading a document and generating image data,
The multifunction device according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit acquires the image data generated by the document reading unit. In the multifunction device according to claim 1 or 2,
When the image data includes two-dimensional code information in the predetermined format, the image data further includes image data generation means for generating the new image data by removing the two-dimensional code information from the image data,
The multifunction device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores image data generated by the image data generation unit in association with the character information. The multifunction device according to claim 3,
The multifunction device is characterized in that the image data generating means generates the new image data by removing the two-dimensional code information of the predetermined format from one page of image data. The multifunction device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An MFP, further comprising execution processing means for executing processing on image data stored in association with the character information based on the character information stored in the storage means. An instruction accepting means for accepting an instruction for processing the manuscript;
Conversion means for converting character information indicating the instruction received by the instruction receiving means into two-dimensional code information in a predetermined format;
Printing means for printing the two-dimensional code information converted by the conversion means in a part of the document;
A multi-function machine characterized by including The multifunction device according to claim 6,
The multifunction device according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit prints the two-dimensional code information in a margin of the document.

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