JP2002082968A - Picture reading system and picture reading method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a picture reading system which can considerably reduce the input workload related with an attribute item by a user. SOLUTION: The picture reading system is constituted of a scanner 100 of a composite digital copying machine and a personal computer 500, and a user definition attribute item is set for the scanner 100 based on a DTD file, and an XML document in which a fixed attribute item preliminarily set for the read picture data and the set user definition attribute item are included, and the read picture data are integrated as an attached document, is prepared.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image reading system provided with reading means for reading a document image, an image reading method, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, there is a reading system capable of reading a document using a scanner or the like and storing the read document in a database or the like. In the case of this reading system, in order to facilitate a search operation of a document stored later, a hierarchical structure is often used so that search words and index information are included as attribute items of the document.

[0003] Here, the search word and the index information are for attribute items defined for each type of industry, for example, in order to make it possible to search for items common to each type of industry.
The user needs to define an attribute item corresponding to the type of business corresponding to each document to be read, and input this attribute item by key operation.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional technique, it is necessary to define an attribute item corresponding to the type of business corresponding to each document read by the user and input the attribute item by key operation. The amount of work becomes very large and it takes a lot of time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an image reading system, an image reading method, and a storage medium that can greatly reduce the amount of input work on attribute items by a user.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In an image reading system including a reading unit for reading a document image, a user-defined attribute item generating unit that generates a user-defined attribute item for a document image read by the reading unit based on a document definition file; Creates a structured document in which a predetermined fixed attribute item and the generated user-defined attribute item are included in the read image data, and a document image read by the reading unit is incorporated as an attached document. And structured document creation means for performing

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image reading system according to the first aspect, connection means for connecting to a communication network accommodating an external device holding the document definition file; And an acquisition unit for acquiring the document definition file via the PC.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image reading system according to the first aspect, the acquisition unit periodically imports the document definition file, and the user definition item generation unit imports the document definition file. It is characterized in that the user-defined items are updated as needed every time the user-defined items are updated.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading system according to the first aspect, there is provided image processing means for processing the original image read by the reading means, and the original image processed by the image processing means is processed by the image processing means. It is characterized by being incorporated into the structured document.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading system according to the fourth aspect, the processing by the image processing means is processing for cutting out a part of the read document image, and the processing is performed by the cutting processing. A part of the original document image is incorporated.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading system according to the first aspect, the fixed attribute items include a document attribute item, a device attribute item of the reading means, and a user attribute item.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image reading system according to the first aspect, the document definition file is a file obtained by selecting from a plurality of files provided in advance for each of a plurality of fields. It is characterized by being.

The invention according to claim 8 is an image reading method for reading a document image using a reading means, wherein a step of generating a user-defined attribute item for the document image read by the reading means based on a document definition file; The image data read by the reading means includes predetermined fixed attribute items and the generated user-defined attribute items, and the document image read by the reading means is incorporated as an attached document. Generating a structured document.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading method according to the eighth aspect, a step of connecting the external device holding the document definition file via a communication network, and a step of connecting the external device via the communication network. Acquiring the document definition file by using the above method.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading method of the eighth aspect, the acquisition of the document definition file is periodically performed, and the user definition file is acquired as needed each time the document definition file is acquired. The feature is that the item is updated.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image reading method according to the eighth aspect, further comprising a step of processing the original image read by the reading means, wherein the processed original image is attached to the structure as an attached document. It is characterized by being incorporated into a structured document.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading method according to the eleventh aspect, the processing on the read original image is a process of cutting out a part of the read original image. It is characterized in that a part of the document image is incorporated.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading method according to the eighth aspect, the fixed attribute items include a document attribute item, a device attribute item of the reading means, and a user attribute item.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading method according to the eighth aspect, the document definition file is a file obtained by selecting from a plurality of pre-classified files provided for each field. It is characterized by being.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer readable storage medium storing a program for constructing an image reading system for reading a document image using a reading means, wherein the program is based on a document definition file. A user-defined attribute item generation module for generating a user-defined attribute item for a document image read by the reading unit, a fixed attribute item predetermined for the image data read by the reading unit, and the generated user-defined attribute And a structured document generation module for generating a structured document in which the document image read by the reading unit is incorporated as an attached document.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the fifteenth aspect, the program is connected to an external device holding the document definition file via a communication network,
An acquisition module for acquiring the document definition file from the external device via the communication network is provided.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the fifteenth aspect, the acquisition module periodically acquires the document definition file from the external device via the communication network, and acquires the user-defined item. The generation module is
The user-defined items are updated as needed each time the document definition file is imported.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the fifteenth aspect, the program has an image processing module for processing a document image read by the reading means, and is processed by the image processing module. The original document image is incorporated in the structured document.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the eighteenth aspect, the processing by the image processing module is a process of cutting out a part of the read original image. It is characterized in that a part is incorporated.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the fifteenth aspect, the fixed attribute items include a document attribute item, a device attribute item of the reading means, and a user attribute item.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the fifteenth aspect, the document definition file is a file obtained by selecting from files provided for a plurality of fields classified in advance. There is a feature.

[0027]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of F200, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of operation panel 300 in FIG.

The image reading system, as shown in FIG.
A composite digital copier including a scanner 100 and a printer 150 and having a copy function, a scanner function, and a printer function, and a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a personal computer) 500.
0 is connected via a network 400 such as a LAN.

The scanner 100 of the composite digital copier is
ADF (Auto Document Feede) that automatically feeds documents
r) 200, an ADF controller 105 for driving and controlling the ADF 200, an exposure system controller 107 for driving and controlling an exposure system for reading an original fed from the ADF 200, an original feeding operation of the ADF 200, and A sequence controller 101 for giving an instruction such as an operation timing to the ADF controller 105 and the exposure system controller 107 so as to control a series of operations including a reading operation and a flow of image data associated therewith.
And a CPU 120.

A printer 150 is connected to the sequence controller 101, and the printer 150 prints out image data input via the sequence controller 101, and the printer output is controlled by the printer controller 151.

The CPU 120 performs image processing, control relating to network connection, and the like based on a program stored in the ROM 122. The RAM 121 is used as a work area of the CPU 120. The CPU 120 has R
Along with the OM 122 and the RAM 121, the sequence controller 101, the image processing unit 123, the network controller 124, the storage device 125, and the operation panel controller 106 are connected via a bus.

The image processing unit 123 performs various image processing such as shading correction and gamma correction on the read image data in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 120. The network controller 124 controls connection with the network 400 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 120. The storage device 125 includes a hard disk device, and stores read image data, image data input via the network 400, and the like. Operation panel controller 10
Reference numeral 6 denotes an interface with the operation panel 300, and outputs a signal corresponding to a key operation on the operation panel 300 to the CPU 1;
20 and outputs a signal from the CPU 120 to the operation panel 300. The operation panel 300 has a plurality of keys for performing various settings and a liquid crystal display for displaying setting information and the like. Details of the operation panel 300 will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ADF 200 has a stacking tray 201 for stacking originals.
At 01, the original is placed upward. This loading tray 2
When the original placed thereon is fed, the original is tilted toward the half moon roller 203 and the stacked original advances in the direction of the arrow in the figure such that the leading end thereof reaches the half moon roller 203. Next, the original document is separated one by one by the half-moon roller 203 and the separation roller 204, and is conveyed in the direction of the arrow in the drawing, and further conveyed in the direction of the arrow by being added to the conveyance roller 205 on the downstream side thereof. Then, the document is guided by the transport belt 206 in the direction of the arrow,
It stops at a predetermined position on the platen glass 102. A frictional force acts between the transport belt 206 and the document so that the transport belt 206 sucks and transports the entire surface, and the document can be accurately stopped at a predetermined position on the platen glass 102.

The original stopped at a predetermined position is
Scanning is performed by the exposure system 0, and the surface is read. After the completion of the reading scan, the transport belt 206 rotates in the reverse direction to guide the document in the direction of the arrow opposite to the arrow, whereby the document is transported in the direction of the arrow.
Then, the document is wound around the roller 207 by the rotational conveyance force of the large conveyance roller 207, conveyed in the direction of the arrow, and guided to the switching flapper 210. Here, the switching flapper 210 performs a transport direction switching operation for selecting whether to discharge the original or to reverse the original and read the original again. This drawing shows a state in which a switching operation in the transport direction for reversing the original by the switching flapper 210 and reading the original again is performed. When the original is inverted and read again, the original is sent in the direction of the arrow by the switching flapper 210 and is again held by the transport roller 205. Then, the original is turned over and the conveyance belt 206 is turned over.
And stopped at a predetermined position. This allows
Reading of the back side of the document is performed.

After the reading scan of the back side of the document is completed, the document is conveyed to the switching flap 210 via arrow →→. Here, the document conveyance direction is the switching flapper 210
The document is switched to the direction in which the document is discharged, and the document is transported in the direction of the arrow and returned to the stack tray 201 by the discharge roller 208.

Next, the next original is fed in the same manner, and after the scanning is completed, the original is returned to the stacking tray 201. Such feeding and discharging are repeated until the last original.

In the case of the flow reading, the original is conveyed toward the downstream side by the conveying belt 206 via the arrow →→, and is returned to the stack tray 201 by the discharge roller 211. Here, the reading of the document is performed while the document is being conveyed by the conveyance belt 206.

The sequence control for the operation of the ADF 200 from the feeding of the original document to the discharge thereof is performed by the ADF
This is performed by the controller 105. The sequence control relating to the reading scan is performed by the exposure system controller 107.

The operation panel 300 is, as shown in FIG.
It has a liquid crystal display panel with a touch panel attached,
In the liquid crystal display panel, for example, in the scanner mode, a scan button 301, various soft keys such as an on / off key 305 and a numeric keypad 307 for selecting duplex reading, a viewer screen 302, a resolution designation window 303, and a document size designation window Each window such as 304, an image quality selection window 306, a transmission destination window 308, and an image format selection window 309 is displayed.

Here, a login screen is displayed on the viewer screen 302, and the section code 6 is displayed on the login screen.
01 and the user name 602 are input. Further, on the resolution designation window 304, the resolution can be selected by a ▼ ▲ menu or a numerical value can be input by using a numeric keypad 307 or the like. In this example, 600 dpi is specified as the resolution. In the original size specification window 304, the size can be selected from the ▼ ▲ menu. In this example, the A4 size is specified. In the image quality selection window 306, the image quality can be selected using the ▼ ▲ menu. In this example, the document is designated as the image quality in order to treat the original to be read as a document original. In the case of a photograph or the like, gray scale is selected as the image quality.
In the transmission destination window 308, the transmission destination of the read image data is input. In this example, the personal computer 500 is input as the transmission destination. In the image format selection window 309, an image format such as TIFF, JPEG, or JBIG is specified. In this example, TIFF is specified. When the input of each attribute item (the item included in the fixed attribute item described later) is performed as described above, the start of the scanning operation is instructed by pressing the scan button 301.

The personal computer 500 can access the personal computer 801 on the Internet 802 via the network 400, and can download and acquire files and the like held by the personal computer 801. Here, when the personal computer 500 is specified as the transmission destination, the image data read by the scanner 100 is:
The data is sent to the personal computer 500 via the network 400. At this time, the fixed attribute items set on the scanner 100 side are also sent. The personal computer 500 sets user-defined attribute items for image data read by the scanner 100 based on the document definition file, and includes fixed attribute items of the read image data and set user-defined attribute items. Creates an XML (Extensible Markup Language) document in which the image data read by 100 is embedded as an attached document,
It is stored on a storage device such as a hard disk.

As the document definition file, for example, a plurality of DTD files (Document Type Def
init), and these DTD files are
Is held on. The personal computer 500 accesses the personal computer 801 via the Internet 802 and obtains the corresponding DTD file by downloading the corresponding DTD file.

Next, the fixed attribute item and the user-defined attribute item will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
FIG. 7A shows an example of fixed attribute items input on the scanner 100 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7B shows the personal computer 50 of FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a user-defined attribute item set based on a DTD file on an O.0.

There are two types of document attribute items.
One is a fixed attribute item for specifically instructing the scanner 100 to perform a scanning operation, and the other is an attribute item defined by a user. As shown in FIG. 7A, the fixed attribute items include a document attribute item 1 set for a document to be read, a device attribute item 2 relating to the scanner 100, and an operator attribute item 3. Document attribute item 1 includes resolution, image type, number of bits, one-sided / two-sided, document size, image format, image memory capacity,
Includes the number of documents. The device attribute item 2 includes a date and a scanner machine name, and the date is the date when the reading was executed, and is automatically entered. The scanner machine name is a name uniquely given to the scanner 100,
Filled out automatically. In this example, the General Affairs Division No. 2 is entered as the scanner machine name. Operator attribute item 3 is
Including the operator name, accounting affiliation code, and transmission destination. In this operator name, the name of the person who actually executed the scan can be entered, and a code number such as a personal name code can also be entered.

The user-defined attribute items, for example, the user-defined attribute item 4 defined based on the DTD file of the building construction report include a construction name title, a construction name subtitle, a negotiation date, a person in charge, as shown in FIG. , Property location, construction costs, contractor, contract date.

Next, login to the scanner 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for logging in to the scanner 100 of FIG.

When logging in to the scanner 100, as shown in FIG. 4, first, in step S11, a log-in screen (the screen 302 in FIG. 3) is displayed on the operation panel 300 in step S11.
Is displayed. Subsequently, in step S12, the section code input by the user on the login screen (601 in FIG. 3)
Then, in step S13, the user name input by the user on the login screen (602 in FIG. 3)
Take in.

Then, the process proceeds to a step S14, wherein the fetched section code and user name are written in the storage device 125, and this processing is terminated.

Next, the procedure of the scanning operation of the scanner 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the scanning operation of the scanner 100 of FIG.

In the scanner 100, as shown in FIG. 5, first, in step S101, the operation panel 30
An initial screen including a login screen is displayed on the screen 0, and input of information on each attribute item (fixed attribute item) input on the initial screen is performed. In step S102, the process waits for the input of the attribute item to be written. When the input is completed, the process proceeds to step S103 to write the value of each input attribute item (fixed attribute item) to the storage device 125.

Next, the process proceeds to step S104, and waits for pressing of the scan button 301. When the scan button 301 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S105 to execute a scanning process. The details of this scan processing will be described later. In step S106, it is determined whether the reading of the last document has been completed. If the reading of the last document has not been completed, the process returns to step S105 to continue the scanning process. On the other hand, when the reading of the last document is completed, the process proceeds to step S107.

In step S107, an attribute item of the total number of pages to be scanned is written, and then in step S108
To send the image data and fixed attribute items to the designated destination,
Then, the present process ends.

Next, the scan processing in step S105 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows FIG.
9 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the scanning process in step S105.

In the scanning process, as shown in FIG. 6, the document is fed by the ADF 200 in step S201, and the scanning operation is performed on the fed document in step S202. Then, step S203
Then, the image data read by the scanning operation is written to the storage device 125.

Next, the process proceeds to step S204, where it is determined whether or not the set reading mode is the two-sided document mode. If the set reading mode is not the two-sided document mode, the process is exited. If the set reading mode is the double-sided document mode, the process proceeds to step S205, and it is determined whether the reading of the back side of the fed document is completed.
When the reading of the back side is completed, the process exits from this processing.
On the other hand, if the reading of the back surface has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S206. In step S206,
The document whose front side has been read is inverted, and the process proceeds to step S2.
At 02, a scanning operation is performed on the back side of the document, and the read back side image data is written to the storage device 125.

Next, how the personal computer 500 captures a DTD file will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for importing a DTD file by the personal computer 500 in FIG.

Here, for example, it is assumed that a plurality of DTD files (Document Type Definitions) determined for each type of business are held on the personal computer 801 and the personal computer 500
Will be described in which a corresponding DTD file is acquired from a plurality of DTD files held in a personal computer 801 via the Internet 802.

In the personal computer 500, as shown in FIG.
First, in step S301, U of the desired DTD file
An RL address is designated, and a DTD file corresponding to the URL address is downloaded from the personal computer 801 via the Internet 802. Then, the process proceeds to step S302, where the contents of the downloaded DTD file are analyzed, and in step S303, necessary entry items are selected as user-defined attribute items based on the analysis result. In this selection, it is possible to select an item desired by the user together with the required entry items.
This required entry is automatically selected, and the selection of the item by the user is optional. For example, a screen for selecting the item is displayed on the display of the personal computer 500, and the user specifies the desired item on the selection screen. Can be used to select an item.

Next, the flow advances to step S304 to create a worksheet provided with entry fields for the fixed attribute items and the user-defined attribute items, and then proceeds to step S305.
Then, the created worksheet is stored in a storage device (not shown) such as a hard disk provided in the personal computer 500. Then, the present process ends.

Here, an example of a user-defined attribute item selected by the DTD file and an example of a worksheet including the user-defined attribute item will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a user-defined attribute item selected by the DTD file used in the image reading system of FIG. 1, and FIG.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a portion of a fixed attribute item column in an example of the worksheet created in 304. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a portion of a user-defined attribute item column following the worksheet of FIG.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 10, original 1 is attached to work sheet 1001 as attached image 1005.
The original 2 is attached as an attached image as 1006. A user-defined attribute item is set for each of the manuscript 1 and manuscript 2 using a DTD file called “construction report”.

From the DTD file of the “construction report”, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the construction name, the negotiation date, the person in charge, the location of the property, and the contract attached to the construction are defined as major classification items. Among the items, a title and a subtitle are defined as sub-categories for the construction name.
The construction cost is set as a sub-category item for the property location, and the contract and contract date are set as the sub-category for the contract attached to the construction.

When the user-defined attribute items are set as described above, a worksheet 1001 including the fixed attribute items and the defined user-defined attribute items is created as shown in FIGS. Worksheet 1001
Are divided into a fixed attribute item description portion 1001a (shown in FIG. 10) for each read document and a user-defined attribute item description portion 1001b (shown in FIG. 11).
The fixed attribute item description portion 1001a includes the document attribute item 1
, A device attribute item 2 and an operator attribute item 3. Each of these items has a value that automatically corresponds to a hierarchical structure when a read original is attached, as described later. Filled out. Also, a user-defined attribute item description part 1
001b includes the user-defined attribute item 1102 defined as described above, and a value corresponding to the user-defined attribute item 1102 will be entered by the user later. In this example, the user is in the process of inputting a value for each item of each document, and a portion 1103 indicates a portion where a numerical value is currently input by the user.

Next, a hierarchical structuring process for inputting a numerical value to a worksheet and attaching an image on the personal computer 500 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a hierarchical structuring process for inputting numerical values to a worksheet and attaching an image to the worksheet on the personal computer 500 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 13 is created using the worksheet in FIG. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of an image clipping process, and FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a structure of a structured document created by performing the image clipping process using the worksheet of FIG. 10. FIG.

Here, it is assumed that image data transmitted from the scanner 100 has already been stored in the personal computer 500, and the above-described hierarchical structuring process will be described.

In the personal computer 500, as shown in FIG. 12, first, in step S401, a worksheet corresponding to the read image data is selected from the worksheets already created, and then selected in step S402. Enter the fixed attribute item value of the image data corresponding to the fixed attribute item of the worksheet. Then, step S4
Proceeding to step 03, a process of writing a value input by the user into the user-defined attribute item of the selected worksheet is performed. Here, for example, the selected worksheet is displayed on the display of the personal computer 500, and a value corresponding to each item is input on the displayed worksheet by a user's key operation or the like (see FIGS. 10 and 11). ).

Then, the flow advances to step S404 to select and confirm image data to be attached to the worksheet in which the fixed attribute items and the user-defined attribute items have been entered. Here, for example, a list of thumbnail images is displayed, and a thumbnail image corresponding to the selected image data is selected from the list. Then, image data corresponding to the selected thumbnail image is displayed, and a confirmation button is pressed to make this image data image data to be attached. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S405, where it is determined whether or not cutting of the selected image data is instructed. When cutting of the selected image data is instructed, step S406 is performed.
Then, the selected image data is cut out.
Then, the process proceeds to step S407. On the other hand, when cutting of the selected image data is not instructed, the process skips step S406 and proceeds to step S407.

In step S407, it is determined whether or not the selection of the image data to be attached has been completed. If the selection of the image data to be attached has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S4.
Returning to step 04, the next image data is selected. On the other hand, when the selection of the image data to be attached is completed, the process proceeds to step S408, where the selected image data is attached to the worksheet in which the fixed attribute items and the user-defined attribute items have been written, and is saved in the storage device. Then, the present process ends.

As described above, if only a user's input operation (key operation) for entering a value corresponding to the user-defined attribute item set based on the DTD file is performed on the worksheet, each readout is performed. XML document to which the attached image data is attached can be created. Therefore, it is possible to greatly reduce the amount of work performed by the user for inputting the fixed attribute items and the user-defined attribute items for the read image data, and without adding a large burden to the user, the XML to which the read image data is attached. Can create documents. Also, since the user-defined attribute items included in the XML document are items defined from the DTD file, an appropriate search item can be given when searching later, and the search efficiency of the XML document desired by the user can be improved. Can be increased.

Here, when an XML document is created using the worksheet 1001 and without performing the cutting process on the attached image data (documents 1 and 2), FIG.
As shown in (a), an XML document to which the attribute item and the original 1 are attached is created as a document related to the roof construction. As shown in FIG. 13B, an XML document to which the attribute item and the document 2 of a plurality of pages are attached is created as a document relating to the exterior wall construction.

When the cutting process is performed on the attached image data (document 1) using the worksheet 1001, the image data of the document 1 is displayed as shown in FIG. Specifies the cut range. In this example, a horizontal X size and a vertical Y size portion is cut out, and the cut out portion is attached.
Then, as shown in FIG. 15A, an XML document to which the cut document 1 is attached is obtained. The XML document to which the document 2 is attached is the same document as shown in FIG. 13B, as shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment, the image reading system constituted by the scanner 100 of the multifunction copier and the personal computer 500 connected via the network 400 has been described. Even if connected, an image reading system having the same function can be constructed. In this case, the fixed attribute items are set on the personal computer, but the other processing is the same as the processing described above.

The functions of the above embodiment (FIGS. 4 and 8)
And a storage medium storing the program code of software for realizing the program (including the flowchart shown in FIG. 12) to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the program stored in the storage medium. It goes without saying that this can also be achieved by reading and executing the code.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM,
DVD or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) Performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0079]

As described above, according to the image reading system of the present invention, a user-defined attribute item generating means for generating a user-defined attribute item for a document image read by a reading means based on a document definition file; A structured document that includes a predetermined fixed attribute item and a generated user-defined attribute item with respect to image data read by the reading unit, and incorporates an original image read by the reading unit as an attached document. And a structured document creation unit for creating the attribute item, it is possible to greatly reduce the amount of input work on the attribute item by the user.

According to the image reading method of the present invention, a step of generating a user-defined attribute item for a document image read by a reading unit based on a document definition file, and a step of pre-determining an image data read by the reading unit And generating a structured document in which the original image read by the reading unit is incorporated as an attached document, while the fixed attribute item and the generated user-defined attribute item are included. The amount of input work related to can be greatly reduced.

According to the storage medium of the present invention, the program is read by the reading means and a user-defined attribute item generating module for generating a user-defined attribute item for the document image read by the reading means based on the document definition file. A structured document that includes a predetermined fixed attribute item and a generated user-defined attribute item for image data, and generates a structured document in which a document image read by a reading unit is incorporated as an attached document. With the generation module, it is possible to greatly reduce the amount of input work on attribute items by the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an ADF 200 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an operation panel 300 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for logging in to the scanner 100 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a scanning operation of the scanner 100 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a scan process in step S105 of FIG. 5;

7A is a diagram showing an example of fixed attribute items input on the scanner 100 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7B is a user-defined attribute defined and set on the personal computer 500 of FIG. 1 based on a DTD file. It is a figure showing an example of an item.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for importing a DTD file by the personal computer 500 of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a DT used in the image reading system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a user-defined attribute item selected by a D file.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a portion of a fixed attribute item column in an example of the worksheet created in step S304 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a portion of a user-defined attribute item column following the worksheet of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a hierarchical structuring process for performing numerical entry and image attachment to a worksheet on the personal computer 500 in FIG. 1;

13 is a diagram showing the structure of a structured document created using the worksheet of FIG. 10 and without performing image clipping processing.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image clipping process.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a structure of a structured document created by using the worksheet of FIG. 10 and performing image clipping processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Scanner 101 Sequence controller 105 ADF controller 106 Operation panel controller 107 Exposure system controller 120 CPU 121 RAM 122 ROM 123 Image processing part 124 Network controller 200 ADF 300 Operation panel 400 Network 500, 801 Personal computer 802 Internet

Claims (21)

[Claims] 1. An image reading system comprising a reading unit for reading a document image, a user-defined attribute item generating unit for generating a user-defined attribute item for a document image read by the reading unit based on a document definition file; The image data read by the reading means includes predetermined fixed attribute items and the generated user-defined attribute items, and the document image read by the reading means is incorporated as an attached document. An image reading system comprising: a structured document creating unit that creates a structured document. 2. A communication system comprising: a connection unit that connects to a communication network in which an external device that holds the document definition file is accommodated; and an acquisition unit that obtains the document definition file from the external device via the communication network. The image reading system according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the acquiring unit periodically acquires the document definition file,
2. The image reading system according to claim 1, wherein the user-defined item is updated as needed each time the document definition file is imported. 4. The structured document according to claim 1, further comprising image processing means for processing a document image read by said reading means, wherein the document image processed by said image processing means is incorporated in said structured document. Image reading system. 5. The processing by the image processing means is a process of cutting out a part of the read document image, and a part of the document image cut by the cutting process is incorporated. 4. The image reading system according to 4. 6. The image reading system according to claim 1, wherein the fixed attribute items include a document attribute item, a device attribute item of the reading unit, and a user attribute item. 7. The image reading system according to claim 1, wherein the document definition file is a file obtained by selecting from files provided for a plurality of fields classified in advance. 8. An image reading method for reading a document image using a reading means, wherein a step of generating a user-defined attribute item for the document image read by the reading means based on a document definition file; A structured document in which a predetermined fixed attribute item and the generated user-defined attribute item are included with respect to the read image data, and a document image read by the reading unit is incorporated as an attached document. And an image reading method. 9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: connecting to an external device holding the document definition file via a communication network; and acquiring the document definition file from the external device via the communication network. 9. The image reading method according to claim 8, wherein: 10. The image according to claim 8, wherein the acquisition of the document definition file is performed periodically, and each time the document definition file is acquired, the user definition item is updated as needed. Reading method. 11. The image according to claim 8, further comprising a step of processing a document image read by the reading unit, wherein the processed document image is incorporated into the structured document as an attached document. Reading method. 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the processing on the read document image is a process of cutting out a part of the read document image, and incorporating a part of the cut document image. The image reading method described in the above. 13. The fixed attribute item includes a document attribute item,
9. The image reading method according to claim 8, further comprising a device attribute item and a user attribute item of the reading unit. 14. The image reading method according to claim 8, wherein the document definition file is a file obtained by selecting from files provided for a plurality of fields classified in advance. 15. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for constructing an image reading system for reading an original image using a reading unit, wherein the program is read by the reading unit based on a document definition file. A user-defined attribute item generation module for generating a user-defined attribute item for the document image; a fixed attribute item predetermined for the image data read by the reading unit; and the generated user-defined attribute item And a structured document generation module for generating a structured document in which the document image read by the reading means is incorporated as an attached document. 16. The program, further comprising: an acquisition module connected to an external device holding the document definition file via a communication network, and acquiring the document definition file from the external device via the communication network. The storage medium according to claim 15, characterized in that: 17. The acquisition module periodically acquires the document definition file from the external device via the communication network, and the user definition item generation module needs to acquire the document definition file every time the document definition file is acquired. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user-defined item is updated in response to the request.
5. The storage medium according to 5. 18. The program according to claim 18, further comprising an image processing module that processes the document image read by the reading unit, wherein the document image processed by the image processing module is incorporated in the structured document. The storage medium according to claim 15, wherein 19. The processing according to claim 18, wherein the processing by the image processing module is a process of cutting out a part of the read document image, and a part of the cut document image is incorporated. Storage medium. 20. The fixed attribute item includes a document attribute item,
16. The storage medium according to claim 15, including a device attribute item and a user attribute item of the reading unit. 21. The storage medium according to claim 15, wherein said document definition file is a file obtained by selecting from files provided for a plurality of fields classified in advance.