JP2003092658A - Image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] A processing load can be reduced and distributed, and
Provided is an image processing system with higher function expandability. A digital copying machine, a controller for controlling the digital copying machine, and an external server connected to the controller via a network and operating independently of the digital copying machine and the controller. A temporary memory 21 for temporarily storing image data scanned and read by the digital copying machine 1 in the controller 2
And a temporary memory 41 having the same file structure as the temporary memory 21 of the controller 2 in the external server 4.
And the image duplication agent 23 in the controller 2
The image data in the temporary memory 21 is stored in the external server 4
Is transferred to the temporary memory 41 via the network 3 for copying, and when the copying is successful, the corresponding image data in the temporary memory 21 of the controller 2 is deleted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention registers scan image data such as a document image scanned and read by a digital copying machine or a network compatible scanner in a server connected via a network or in the server. The present invention relates to an image processing system that searches for retrieved image data via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a digital copying machine has been widely used. By using this digital copying machine, a document image recorded on a paper document can be easily digitized and used for various processes. You can do it.

Generally, many functions are provided in a digital copying machine. In addition to the basic functions as a copying machine such as enlargement, reduction, and double-sided copying function, a fax (FA
X) Functions such as transmission / reception and printing (printing) of transmitting / receiving digitized image data via a communication line are provided.

By the way, recently, such a multifunctional digital copying machine is used as an image data input device,
It is considered to be used in cooperation with a server connected via a network.

The following are conventional image processing systems designed for such a purpose. That is, for example, a digital copier and a controller for controlling the digital copier are controlled by a SCSI (Small Computer System Interf
ACE) and the controller is connected to the network so that the scanned image data such as the document image scanned and read by the digital copying machine is utilized in the network.

In that case, a temporary storage unit for temporarily storing the scan image data sent from the digital copying machine is provided in a file memory (hard disk) provided inside the controller, and this is monitored at regular intervals. The character recognition process is automatically performed on the scanned image data, and the recognition result and the corresponding scanned image data in the temporary storage unit are stored in the file memory.

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional image processing system, not only the processing load becomes very heavy because all the processing such as image data processing, control and management is concentrated in the controller. There is a problem that the speed is lowered and the expandability of the image data processing function in the network is poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an image processing system that can reduce the processing load in a distributed manner and that can achieve higher functional expandability.

[0009]

An image processing system according to the present invention controls a first device having at least an image reading device for reading image data such as a document image, and at least the image reading device of the first device. A second device having a control means for operating the server, a server device connected to at least the second device via a network, and operating independently of the first and second devices; A first file means for temporarily storing the image data read by the first device, and a second file provided in the server device and having the same structure as the first file means. Means and the second file by transferring the image data provided in the second device and temporarily stored in the first file means to the server device via the network. It is provided with an image duplicating means for duplicating Le means.

Further, the image processing system of the present invention controls a plurality of first devices having at least image reading means for reading image data such as a document image, and at least the image reading means of the plurality of first devices. A plurality of second devices each having a control means for operating the at least a plurality of second devices via a network, and a single device that operates independently of the plurality of first and second devices. A server device, a first file unit provided in each of the plurality of second devices and temporarily storing image data read by the corresponding first device, and provided in the server device. , A second file means having the same structure as the first file means, and a plurality of second devices respectively in a second file means of the server device for copying a new file for image data duplication. Da of the creation, and folder flag creation means for creating a duplicate processing flag which can identify a state during the replication process, provided in said plurality of second devices,
The image data temporarily stored in the first file means is transferred to the server device via the network only when a new folder for copying image data and a copy processing flag are created by the folder / flag creating means. And an image duplication unit that duplicates the new folder created in the second file unit by transferring.

The image processing system of the present invention further comprises a first device having an image reading means for reading at least image data such as a document image, and a control means for controlling at least the image reading means of the first device. A second device having a server device that is connected to at least the second device via a network and operates independently of the first and second devices; and a server device provided in the second device, A first file means for temporarily storing image data read by the first device; and a first file means provided in the server device,
Second file means having the same structure as the first file means, and image data provided in the second device and temporarily stored in the first file means to the server device via the network. By transferring the second
Image copying means for copying to the file means, and file deleting means provided in the server device for deleting all the image data in the second file means as needed.

Further, the image processing system of the present invention includes a first device having an image reading means for reading at least image data such as a document image, and a control means for controlling at least the image reading means of the first device. A second device having a server device that is connected to at least the second device via a network and operates independently of the first and second devices; and a server device provided in the second device, First file means for temporarily storing the image data read by the first device; second file means provided in the server device and having the same structure as the first file means; The second file means is provided in the second device and transfers the image data temporarily stored in the first file means to the server device via the network. The image duplicating means for duplicating and the consistency of all the image data in the second file means provided in the server device are checked, and only the image data in a perfect state is stored, and the incomplete state is stored. And a consistency check means for deleting the image data in (1).

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This image processing system includes a digital copying machine 1 as a first device, a controller 2 as a second device, an external server 4 as a server device connected to the controller 2 via a network 3, and a network 3. It is composed of a client personal computer (hereinafter simply referred to as a personal computer) 5 as a connected terminal device.

The digital copying machine 1 is for copying a document image (hereinafter also referred to as image data) based on a user's operation or optically scanning and reading the document image to digitize it. An image input unit 11 as an image reading unit that electronically scans and reads, and a document image read by the image input unit 11 or a document image digitized and input from the outside is transmitted to the outside via a telephone line. Or a document image read by the FAX transmission / reception unit 12, a document image read by the image input unit 11, or a document image received by the FAX transmission / reception unit 12, or A printer unit 1 for printing out a document image or the like which is digitized and input from the outside
3, and a copy function control unit 1 that mainly controls the copy function
It is composed of 4.

The controller 2 controls the entire digital copying machine 1 and is electrically and mechanically connected to the digital copying machine 1 (may be built in the digital copying machine 1). A temporary memory 21 as a first file means for temporarily storing the digitized scan image data (document image or the like) transferred from
It is composed of a control unit 22 as a control means.

As the temporary memory 21, for example, a hard disk device is used, and the folder for storing the scanned image data has a tree structure as shown in FIG. That is, there is an application name 51, and a unique document number 52 given to each document is provided under the application name 51. Under the document number 52, a status flag 53, which will be described in detail later, a parameter file 54 that stores parameters such as resolution and magnification when reading a document image, and scan image data are stored page by page. An image data file 55 is provided. The image data file 55 may store scan image data for a plurality of pages.

The status flag 53 is for identifying the status of the image data file 55 in the temporary memory 21 corresponding to the document number 52 to which it belongs. For example, as shown in FIG. It shows three states of “completed” and “in process”. Here, "in preparation"
Is turned on while receiving the scan image data from the digital copying machine 1 to indicate that the scan image data is being input. “Completed” is turned on when the input of the scan image data from the digital copying machine 1 is completed, and indicates the completion of the scan image data input. “In process”, which will be described in detail later, is turned on while the scan image data in the temporary memory 21 is being copied to the external server 4, and indicates that the scan image data is being copied.

The control unit 22 performs various controls,
It includes a folder monitoring agent 23 and an image duplication agent 24. The folder monitoring agent 23 is a program that monitors the folder in the temporary memory 21 in which the scanned image data is stored at regular intervals, and the details of the processing will be described later. The image duplication agent 24 is a program that duplicates the scanned image data in the temporary memory 21 to the external server 4, and the details of the processing will be described later.

The external server 4 operates independently of the digital copying machine 1 and the controller 2, and the temporary memory 4 as the second file means for temporarily storing the scanned image data transferred and duplicated from the controller 2.
1. A file memory 42 as a third file means for storing the scanned image data in the temporary memory 41 and the result of performing character recognition processing on the image data,
It is composed of a control unit 43 as a control means, an image filing application 44, and a management application 45.

The temporary memory 41 uses, for example, a hard disk device, and the folder for storing the duplicated scanned image data has a tree structure as shown in FIG. That is, although basically the same as the folder structure of FIG. 2, the contents of the state indicated by the state flag 53 are changed, the all deletion flag 56 under the application name 51, and the consistency check flag 5
7 is added, and other points are the same as in FIG.

The status flag 53 is for identifying the status of the image data file 55 corresponding to the document number 52 to which it belongs in the temporary memory 41. For example, as shown in FIG. It shows three states of “completed” and “in process”. Here, "in preparation"
Is turned on while the scan image data is being copied from the controller 2, and indicates that the copying process is in progress. "Done" means
When the copy of the scan image data from the controller 2 is completed, it is turned on to indicate the completion of the copy process. "processing"
Is turned on when the scan image data in the temporary memory 41 is registered in the file memory 42, for example, to indicate that the registration process is in progress.

The all deletion flag 56 is turned on by a management application 45, which will be described later, based on a user's instruction when deleting all the scanned image data in the temporary memory 41, and by the image deletion agent 48, which will be described later, when the deletion is completed. Turned off.

The consistency check flag 57 is turned on by an image deletion agent 48, which will be described later, as an initial process at the time of starting the system, and when the consistency check on the scanned image data in the temporary memory 41 is completed, the image deletion described later will be performed. Turned off by agent 48.

The file memory 42 uses, for example, a hard disk device, and the scanned image data in the temporary memory 41 and the result of character recognition processing on the image data, or image data input from the outside, etc. Is stored (registered), and is performed by the image registration agent 47 or the image filing application 44 described later.

The control unit 43 performs various controls,
It includes a folder monitoring agent 46, an image registration agent 47, and an image deletion agent 48.

The folder monitoring agent 46 is a program for monitoring the folder in the temporary memory 41 in which the scanned image data is stored at regular intervals, and the details of the processing will be described later.

The image registration agent 47 is a program for registering the scanned image data in the temporary memory 21 and the result of character recognition processing on the image data, or image data input from the outside in the file memory 42. Is.

The image deletion agent 48 is a program that deletes the scan image data in the temporary memory 41 and checks the consistency of the scan image data in the temporary memory 41. The details of the processing will be described later. .

Image filing application 44
Has an input function such as a keyboard and a display function such as a display, and registers image data input based on a user's operation in the file memory 42, or performs character recognition on the scanned image data in the temporary memory 41. It is something that is processed.

The management application 45 is, for example,
The all delete flag 56 is turned on based on the user's instruction.

The client personal computer 5 is the external server 4
The file memory 42 therein is searched for scan image data and new image data is registered, and a single or a plurality of units are provided.

Next, various processing operations in such a configuration will be described.

First, the processing operation of the folder monitoring agent 23 of the controller 2 will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. The scan image data (document image) input from the digital copying machine 1 is
Each document is temporarily stored in the temporary memory 21 in the folder structure shown in FIG.

Now, the folder monitoring agent 23 is
The folder in the temporary memory 21 is monitored at regular intervals (step S1), and it is checked whether or not the scan image data exists in the folder (step S2). If the scan image data exists, the copy target image data is detected. A list (document number list of document images to be copied) is created (step S3).

Next, the image duplication agent 24 is called for each document image data (one document number), and the image data is delivered (step S4). Next, it is checked whether or not the delivery processing for the created list has been completed (step S5), and if it has been completed, the procedure returns to step S1 and the same operation as described above is repeated.

If there is no scan image data in step S2, the process returns to step S1 and the same operation as above is repeated.

Next, the processing operation of the image duplication agent 24 of the controller 2 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. First, the folder path name (document number) of the image data to be copied is received from the folder monitoring agent 23 (step S11).

Next, the copy source folder (temporary memory 21)
Status flag 53, and also delete all deletion flag 56 and consistency check flag 57 of the copy destination folder (temporary memory 41) (step S1).
2). As a result of this check, the all deletion flag 56 is off,
If the consistency check flag 57 is off and the status flag 53 is "complete" (step S13), a folder for image data storage is newly created in the copy destination (temporary memory 41) in the exclusive mode designation. (Step S14).

Next, the status flag 53 is created in the newly created destination folder and set to "preparing" (step S15). Next, the copy target image data is copied by transferring it from the copy source folder (temporary memory 21) to the copy destination folder (temporary memory 41) (step S1).
6).

Next, when the duplication processing ends, the status flag 53 of the duplication destination folder (temporary memory 41) is changed and set to "complete" (step S17). Next, the image data in the copy source folder (temporary memory 21) is deleted (step S18). This completes the duplication process of one document image data (one document number), and the duplication process of the next duplication target image data is performed.

In step S13, if "all deletion flag 56 is off, consistency check flag 57 is off, and status flag 52 is not" complete "",
The duplication process ends, and the duplication process of the next image data to be duplicated is performed.

Thus, the temporary memory 4 of the external server 4
1, a status flag 53 that can identify the status of the copying process.
And the controller 2 attempts to create a new folder in the temporary memory 41 of the external server 4 and the creation of the in-copying flag, and succeeds in saving the image data in the temporary memory 21 of the controller 2 to the outside. By transferring the data to the temporary memory 41 of the server 4 via the network 3 for copying, in particular, as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of digital copying machines 1a, 1b, ... And controllers 2a, 2b ,.
Is connected to the network 3, a plurality of digital copying machines 1a, 1b, ... Can scan and read the image data at any time, and the read image data can be securely controlled from the plurality of controllers 2 to the external server 4. It can be transferred and duplicated on the basis of.

Next, the processing operation of the folder monitoring agent 46 of the external server 4 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. The folder monitoring agent 46 monitors the folder in the temporary memory 41 at regular time intervals (step S21), checks whether or not the scan image data exists in the folder (step S22), and confirms that the scan image data exists. For example, a list of image data to be processed (document number list of document images to be processed) is created (step S23).

Next, the image registration agent 47 is called for each document image data to deliver the image data (step S24). Next, it is checked whether or not the delivery processing for the created list has been completed (step S
25) When completed, the process returns to step S21 and the same operation as described above is repeated.

If there is no scan image data in step S22, the process returns to step S21 and the same operation as above is repeated.

Next, the processing operation of the image deletion agent 48 of the external server 4 will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS.

When the image processing system is installed by the user, a folder (see FIG. 4) for temporarily storing the scan image data is created in the temporary memory 41 of the external server 4 using the installer, and the matching is performed. The sex check flag 57 is initialized to ON.

When the entire image processing system is activated, the image deletion agent 48 turns on the consistency check flag 57 in the temporary memory 41 as an initial process (step S31). Next, a cleanup process is performed (step S32).

That is, the cleanup process is as follows.
If the all deletion flag 56 in the temporary memory 41 is turned on, all the image data in the temporary memory 41 are deleted, and then the all deletion flag 56 is set to the off state. Next, the consistency check flag 5 in the temporary memory 41
7, if it is in the ON state, the matching process of the state flag 52 is performed. That is, the status flag 52 is set because the duplication process is stopped midway due to a system error or the like.
If there is document image data in the temporary memory 41 for which “is preparing” remains, the image data is deleted, and then the consistency check flag 57 is set to the off state.

Next, after waiting for a certain time (step S3
3), it is checked whether or not the all deletion flag 56 is on (step S34), and if it is on, the consistency check flag 57 is set on (step S3).
5). Next, a cleanup process similar to step S32 is performed (step S36). Next, the consistency check flag 57 is set to OFF (step S37), and then the process returns to step S33 and the same operation as above is repeated.

In step S34, the all deletion flag 5
If 6 is not in the ON state, it is checked whether or not there is a power shutdown request (step S38), and if there is a power shutdown request, the consistency check flag 57 is set to ON (step S39). Next, the process is ended (step S40), and thereafter, the entire process is ended.

If it is determined in step S38 that there is no request to shut down the power source, the process returns to step S33 and the same operation as above is repeated.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the scan image data in the controller 2 which is scanned and read by the digital copying machine 1 and temporarily stored is transferred to the external server 4 to be duplicated. As a result, the control processing of the controller 2 and the image processing of the external server 4 can be distributed, so that the load can be distributed and the processing load can be reduced. Further, the hardware of the external server 4 can be expanded independently of the controller 2. Further, the software of the external server 4 can be expanded independently of the controller 2. Further, the effect that the controller 2 and the external server 4 can be independently developed for both hardware and software can be expected.

Further, a plurality of digital copying machines 1 can scan and read the image data at any time, and the read image data can be transferred from the plurality of controllers 2 to the external server 4 under the reliable exclusive control for duplication.

Further, even when an abnormality occurs in the image processing system, the situation in which incomplete image data is continuously accumulated and the temporary memories 21 and 41 are pressed does not occur.

Furthermore, the process of transferring the image data read by the digital copying machine 1 from the controller 2 to the external server 4 for duplication and the process of completely deleting the image data or checking the consistency in the external server 4 conflict with each other. However, the safe and complete state of the image data is maintained.

In the above embodiment, the case where the digital copying machine is used as the first device has been described.
The present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. 11, a network compatible scanner 6 may be used, and even in this case, the same effect as the above-described embodiment can be expected. The network-compatible scanner 6
From an image input unit 61 as an image reading unit that optically scans and digitizes a document image (image data) based on a user's operation, and a reading control unit 62 that controls the image input unit 61. It is configured.

Further, the case where the image data in the temporary memory 41 is registered in the file memory 42 in the external server 4 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Character recognition processing is performed on the data, and the recognition result is registered in the file memory 42 together with the corresponding image data.
Alternatively, the same can be applied to a case where the image data in the temporary memory 41 is attached to an electronic mail and transmitted to an external device.

[0060]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image processing system which can reduce the processing load in a distributed manner and can obtain higher expandability of functions.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a configuration of an image data storage folder in a temporary memory of a controller.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a status flag.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a configuration of an image data storage folder in a temporary memory of an external server.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining various processing operations.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of a folder monitoring agent in the controller.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of an image duplication agent in the controller.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an image processing system when a plurality of digital copying machines and controllers are installed.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of a folder monitoring agent in an external server.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of an image deletion agent in an external server.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an image processing system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Digital copying machine (first device), 2 ... Controller (second device), 3 ... Network, 4 ... External server (server device), 5 ... Client personal computer, 6 ... Network compatible scanner (first device) Device), 11, 61 ...
Image input unit (image reading means), 21 ... Temporary memory (first
File means), 22 ... control unit (control means), 23 ...
Folder monitoring agent, 24 ... Image duplication agent, 41 ... Temporary memory (second file means), 42 ...
File memory (third file means) 43 ... Control unit (control means) 44 ... Image filing application 45 ... Management application 46 ... Folder monitoring agent 47 ... Image registration agent 48 ... Image deletion agent 53 ... Status flag, 55 ... Image data file, 56 ... All erasure flag, 57 ... Consistency check flag.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A first device having an image reading means for reading at least image data such as a document image; a second device having a control means for controlling at least the image reading means of the first device; A server device connected to the second device via a network and operating independently of the first and second devices; and a server device provided in the second device and read by the first device. A first file means for temporarily storing the image data, a second file means provided in the server device and having the same structure as the first file means, and a second file device provided in the second device. Image copying means for copying the image data temporarily stored in the first file means to the second file means by transferring the image data to the server device via the network. An image processing system characterized by the above. 2. A plurality of first devices having image reading means for reading at least image data such as a document image, and a plurality of first devices having control means for controlling at least the image reading means of the plurality of first devices. Two devices, a single server device that is respectively connected to at least the plurality of second devices via a network, and operates independently of the plurality of first and second devices, and the plurality of first server devices. First file means provided in each of the two devices and temporarily storing the image data read by the corresponding first device; and a first file means provided in the server device. Second file means having the same structure, and the plurality of second devices are respectively second servers of the server device.
Folder flag creating means for creating a new folder for image data duplication in the file means, and for creating a duplication processing flag capable of identifying the status during duplication processing, and provided in the plurality of second devices. Only when a new folder for image data duplication and a duplication processing flag are created by the folder / flag creating means, the image data temporarily stored in the first file means is transferred to the server device via the network. An image duplicating means for duplicating to a new folder created in the second file means by transferring to an image processing system. 3. An image deleting unit, which is provided in the plurality of second devices, and which deletes the image data in the first file unit when the image data is successfully copied by the image copying unit. The image processing system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: 4. A first device having an image reading means for reading at least image data such as a document image, and a second device having a control means for controlling at least the image reading means of the first device, A server device connected to the second device via a network and operating independently of the first and second devices; and a server device provided in the second device and read by the first device. A first file means for temporarily storing the image data, a second file means provided in the server device and having the same structure as the first file means, and a second file device provided in the second device. An image duplicating means for duplicating the image data temporarily stored in the first file means to the second file means by transferring the image data to the server device via the network; An image processing system, comprising: a file deleting unit provided in the server device and deleting all the image data in the second file unit as necessary. 5. During the operation of the file deleting means, an in-process flag which can identify the state is set to the second of the server device.
5. The image according to claim 4, wherein the image duplicating means controls the duplication processing not to be performed during a period when the in-process flag exists in the second file means. Processing system. 6. A first device having an image reading means for reading at least image data such as a document image, and a second device having a control means for controlling at least the image reading means of the first device, A server device connected to the second device via a network and operating independently of the first and second devices; and a server device provided in the second device and read by the first device. A first file means for temporarily storing the image data, a second file means provided in the server device and having the same structure as the first file means, and a second file device provided in the second device. An image duplicating means for duplicating the image data temporarily stored in the first file means to the second file means by transferring the image data to the server device via the network; Provided in the server device, checks the consistency of all the image data in the second file means, stores only the image data in the complete state, and deletes the image data in the incomplete state. An image processing system comprising: a consistency check unit. 7. During the operation of the consistency check means, a processing flag capable of identifying the state is created in the second file means of the server device, and the image duplication means is in the second file means. 7. The image processing system according to claim 6, wherein the copying process is controlled not to be performed during the period when the in-process flag exists. 8. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first device is a multifunctional digital copying machine. 9. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first device is a network-compatible scanner that optically reads a document image or the like. .