JP2004199517A - Electronic document filing device, electronic document filing system, electronic document filing method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To materialize an electronic filing device by which document management is easily done. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic document filing device comprises: an electronic document input section inputting an electronic document; and a filing procedure section, or a means applying filing procedure to the inputted electronic document as one file, which forms the filing procedure by adding to the file a related information recording region for recording program information on a file processing program related to the file or link information showing a relation to other file. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic document filing apparatus, an electronic document filing system, an electronic document filing method, and a program, and more particularly, to an electronic document filing apparatus, an electronic document filing system, an electronic document filing method, and a method for filing, storing, and utilizing an electronic document. About the program.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a document such as a document printed on paper is captured as image data by a scanner device, and is stored in an optical disk device as it is, and can be used as it is, or an OCR (optical character reading) device can read the document. An electronic filing system that converts characters into text data and stores and uses them as electronic data files, and furthermore, stores and uses, as electronic data, documents created by document creation software programs such as personal computers (hereinafter referred to as PCs). There is an electronic filing system that can do. These systems are also called optical filing systems, document filing systems, or digital filing systems.
[0003]
There are various purposes for electronic filing systems.For example, a large number of slips can be manually entered, and an electronic file of image data or text data created at that time can be used instead of a paper slip. The mainstream is to save a large amount of paper and save space by storing it as evidence, and many of them have been highly processed by dedicated machines.
[0004]
In addition, as PCs, scanners, and printers have become cheaper and more popular, it has become possible to configure equivalent functions without using dedicated machines. There is also an electronic filing system for the purpose of realizing a paperless office that has been reduced in space to save space.
[0005]
Further, a terminal device such as a PC connected to the network stores the file of the document data in a predetermined network storage device, accesses the network storage device from any terminal device when necessary, and obtains a desired file. There is also a network-compatible filing system that can obtain and utilize a file (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-101203 A (FIG. 1)
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, regardless of whether the electronic filing system is of a network type or not, in the conventional electronic filing system, the method of organizing the target electronic document file is left to the user. For this reason, organizing a general document that is not a document with an established organizing method such as a slip is troublesome.
[0008]
In particular, in the case of paper documents, various organizing supplies and storage supplies such as staplers, clips, binders, bags, vertical boxes, drawers, shelves, and the like have been developed. There has been no established method of associating documents with documents, and the only option is to store multiple electronic document files in a file cabinet or folder that mimics physical storage. For this reason, for example, in consideration of subsequent use of the document, a file name is given in consideration of a relationship with another document, or a plurality of related documents are put together in one folder.
[0009]
In the case of an electronic file, the contents of a digitized document are physically invisible without any operation, and thus tend to be more difficult to find than in the case of a paper file.
[0010]
Moreover, since electronic documents are supposed to be handled electronically, even if they are printed on paper, there is no association between the electronic document and the printed document, so the printed document must be digitized again to store it separately. Then, two files, an original electronic file and an electronic file newly read and generated, have been created.
[0011]
In addition, when the electronic document is created, and when the electronic document is printed and used, there is a time gap between the electronic document and the electronic document. If the user forgets the handling method, association with other documents, or the like over time, it takes time to confirm the purpose of use and the like, and there is a problem that the electronic document is difficult to use.
[0012]
Therefore, the present invention is intended to eliminate such inconvenience, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic filing apparatus which facilitates document management.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An electronic document filing apparatus according to the present invention includes electronic document input means for inputting an electronic document, and means for converting the input electronic document into a file as one file, wherein program information of a file processing program associated with the file is provided. Or, a file creation means for adding a related information recording area in which link information indicating a relationship with another file can be recorded to the file and creating a file.
[0014]
An electronic document filing apparatus according to the present invention includes electronic document input means for inputting an electronic document, and means for converting the input electronic document into a file as one file, wherein program information of a file processing program associated with the file is provided. Or file creation means for adding a related information recording area capable of recording link information indicating a relationship with another file to the file to create a file, and print processing means for printing the electronic document on a recording medium. Then, the print processing means prints the program information or the link information at a predetermined position on the recording medium.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
First, a configuration of a system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an electronic filing system according to the present embodiment.
[0017]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a PC to which a scanner device 2 is connected. The PC 1 is connected to a communication network 3. In addition to the PC 1, a plurality of PCs 4 and a printer 5 are connected to the communication network 3. In FIG. 1, the scanner device 2 is connected only to the PC 1, but may be connected to another PC 4.
[0018]
Further, the user can create various documents such as documents on each of the PCs 1 and 4 and issue a print instruction to the printer device 5 from each of the PCs 1 and 4 so that the created document can be printed on paper.
[0019]
Each of the PCs 1 and 4 is an electronic document filing device. Each of the PCs 1 and 4 has a user interface unit including a display device and an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. While viewing, the user can operate the input device to create a document, file, or the like.
[0020]
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between a file and an agent program (hereinafter, simply referred to as an agent) in the electronic document filing device. Specifically, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the file of the electronic document and the file management means, the agent system added to the file management means, and the agents processed on the agent system in the PC 1. .
[0021]
The electronic document is stored in the memory device 11 of the PC. In general, an electronic document is stored in a file representing data itself, and is managed by a file management unit (a file management software program; hereinafter, software program is abbreviated as software). In FIG. 2, various files stored in the memory device 11 of the PC are managed by the file management unit and arranged and displayed as a file list 12 on the screen of the display device of the PC, so that the user can easily handle each file. It has become.
[0022]
For example, in the Microsoft Windows (registered trademark) operating system, a document created by application software such as Word (product name) or Excel (product name) is converted into a word file or Excel file by using a drive or the like of Windows (registered trademark). It is stored with an identifier called a file name on a file management system constituted by a concept such as a folder. As shown in FIG. 2, the file group placed in each folder is displayed in a list format on the right side 13 of the file list 12.
[0023]
In addition to the file name, attributes such as creation date and time and user name are added to the file as properties. As shown in FIG. 2, when the user performs a property display in order for the user to view the content of the property of a certain file, a pop-up window 14 is displayed, and the content of the property is displayed therein. In the present embodiment, agent identification information (hereinafter, referred to as agent ID) managed by the agent system 15 having agent information is stored in a comment, which is a property item common to all files, so that an agent for an electronic document can be stored. Has been realized. The agent system 15 includes an agent management unit and an agent execution unit, which will be described later, manages each agent, and periodically executes each agent. The agent system 15 has a storage unit 16 for storing agent information. The storage unit 16 stores agent entity information as well as data such as an agent management table described later.
[0024]
The agent system 15 includes an agent management unit and an agent execution unit. The agent management unit and the agent execution unit will be described later. As the agent, an agent used in an agent system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-149287 or the like is used. As described further below, the agent includes program information and link information.
[0025]
The agent according to the present embodiment is a file processing program associated with a file. Here, the file processing program means a program that performs processing on a target called a file, for example, file management such as changing a file name, deleting a file, moving a file from one folder to another folder, and the like. This is a program that performs processing related to The link information refers to information indicating a relation with another file.
[0026]
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing various functions in the PC 1 as an electronic document filing device. The PC 4 has the same configuration as the PC 1 except that the PC 4 does not include the scanner device 2.
[0027]
Reference numeral 21 denotes a software group installed in the PC 1, and here, only a plurality of software according to the present embodiment is shown. Reference numeral 22 denotes a communication interface (hereinafter abbreviated as I / F) for connecting to the communication network 3 for performing communication by communication means (not shown). A memory device 11 stores various files. The software group 21 includes an agent management unit 23, an agent execution unit 24, a file management unit 25, a scanner processing unit 26, a document creation unit 27, an e-mail processing unit 28, and a print processing unit 29. . The agent system 15 includes an agent management unit 23 and an agent execution unit 24. The scanner processing unit 26, the document creation unit 27, and the e-mail processing unit 28 are electronic document input means.
[0028]
The agent management unit 23 is software that generates and manages an agent in response to an agent generation request. In addition, the agent management unit 23 includes an agent generation unit that generates an agent, and a unit that manages program information and link information of the agent. The storage unit 16 of the agent management unit 23 further stores the entity of each agent (that is, the agent program itself) and holds an agent management table (described later).
[0029]
The agent execution unit 24 is software as a file processing program execution unit that periodically executes an agent (including a file processing program) managed by the agent management unit 23.
[0030]
The file management unit 25 is software as a file processing program management unit that stores and manages document data created by the PC 1 as a file in a memory device such as a hard disk device connected to the PC 1, for example, as described above. Microsoft Explorer (trade name) software.
[0031]
The scanner processing unit 26 is software that drives and controls the scanner device 2 connected to the PC 1 and captures image data read by the scanner device 2. The scanner processing unit 26 can store the digitized document read by the scanner device 2 in the memory device 11 as a file managed by the file management unit 25.
[0032]
The document creation unit 27 is software for creating text data by inputting text data or the like in the PC 1, and is, for example, Microsoft word (product name) software. The document creation unit 27 can store the electronic document created using the user interface in the memory device 11 as a file managed by the file management unit 25.
[0033]
The e-mail processing unit 28 is software for exchanging e-mail with another PC or the like via the network 3 and is, for example, Microsoft Outlook (trade name) software. The e-mail processing unit 28 can store the file attached to the e-mail in the memory device 11 as a file managed by the file management unit 25.
[0034]
A scanner processing unit 26, a document creation unit 27, and an e-mail processing unit 28 serving as electronic document input units are capable of managing files captured by the scanner device 2, created using a user interface, or attached. It has a function of outputting as a file that can be managed by the unit 25.
The print processing unit 29 is software for instructing the printer device 5 to print a designated document, and transmits document data designated by the file management unit 25 or the document creation unit 27 to the printer device 5.
[0035]
The electronic document is directly created as text data or the like by using the document creation unit 27, or an electronic image obtained by reading a document or drawn drawing on paper by using the scanner processing unit 26 and digitizing by the scanner device 2. It is created as an electronic document of data, or is created as an electronic document such as text data by converting image data read by the scanner device 2 into text data using OCR software. You. Each document is filed and managed by the file management unit 25. The filing means that the document is made into one file. The user can print the contents of the file managed by the file management unit 25 on paper in the printer device 5 by giving a print instruction to the print processing unit 29.
[0036]
Further, the file of the electronic document created by each PC can exchange information with a plurality of other PCs connected to the communication network 3 via the communication I / F 22. Instead, it can communicate with a remote electronic document filing device such as a PC via a local network such as an in-house LAN or a wide area network such as the Internet to exchange and use an electronic document with an agent. .
[0037]
The agent added to the electronic document is read by the file management unit 25 as a file of the electronic document, that is, for example, a physical paper document is electronically converted into image data by a scanner device, or further as text data by OCR software. When the file is converted into a file, the agent ID is generated by the agent management unit 23 and is registered in the property item as agent identification information. Alternatively, when electronic data is obtained and captured as a file by a file transfer application such as an electronic mail or an FTP file transfer application, the agent is generated by the agent management unit 23, and the agent ID is registered in the property item. In the agent that has just been generated, the program and link information are empty, and no processing content is described by itself.
[0038]
Next, the filing process will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the filing process performed by the file management unit 16. The file management unit 25 has various file management functions, for example, a function of organizing various documents according to the purpose of use by putting a specified document in a specified folder, and displaying a file in chronological order. It has functions such as performing. FIG. 4 shows a document created by the document creation unit 27 and a document created by the scanner processing unit 26 as one of the functions. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow of a file management unit 25 when the file management unit 25 saves data in the memory device 11.
[0039]
For example, a name is given to an electronic document created by using the document creation unit 27 of the PC 1, and a user inputs a save command to save the electronic document in the memory device 11. When the save command is input, the file management unit 25 executes the processing in FIG. 4 when saving the specified file.
[0040]
Upon receiving the save command, the file management unit 25 requests the agent management unit 23 to generate an empty agent, that is, outputs an empty agent request command (step (hereinafter abbreviated as S) 1). In response to the empty agent request command, the agent management unit 23 creates an empty agent, and supplies the created empty agent ID data to the file management unit 25.
[0041]
The file management unit 25 receives the ID data of the empty agent (S2), writes the agent ID in the property of the file to be stored, and converts the document into a file (S3). That is, an agent ID is added as a file attribute value. File conversion is performed by adding a recording area (related information recording area) in which agent information can be recorded to a file when the electronic document is converted into one file. That is, the file is created by adding, to the file, a storage area where identification information for specifying an agent related to the electronic document to be filed can be recorded.
[0042]
Here, an information recording area (related information recording area) for recording a related agent ID as information related to a file is added to make a file. However, the information related to the file generated by the filing is added. A file may be generated by adding an information recording area (related information recording area) for recording the file processing program as information or the link information itself. When a file is created, only the agent ID is added. After the file is created, the contents of the agent are described in the storage unit 16 of the agent system 15.
[0043]
Then, the file management unit 25 stores the file in a folder or the like designated by the user (S4).
[0044]
As described above, when one document is stored as one file, the file management unit 25 adds the agent ID as partial data of the file. In the present embodiment, the agent ID is described in the comment area of the property of the file. However, the agent ID may be any information recording area that can be described as a part of information of the file.
[0045]
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the structure of the agent management table managed by the agent management unit 23.
[0046]
The agent management table 31 includes an agent ID section 32, an agent entity instruction section 33, and an instantiation mark section. The data of the agent ID section 32 indicates an agent ID. The data of the agent entity designating unit 33 is data indicating a position in the memory device 16 where the agent entity exists. The agent ID of the agent ID unit 32 corresponds to the agent entity designated by the agent entity designating unit 33. The agent entity designated by each agent entity designating section 33 is managed by the agent managing section 23 and stored in the storage section 16 in the memory device 11. For example, the agent ID “1” indicates that the file is indicated by “ABC.exe”. The materialized mark section 34 records materialized mark data when the corresponding electronic document is materialized, and deletes the materialized mark data when re-digitized. How to use the materialization mark will be described later.
[0047]
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the structure of the agent entity. The agent entity 41 includes a program unit 42 and a link unit 43.
[0048]
The program section 42 is an area where agent program information is recorded, and the link section 43 is an area where data such as link information is recorded. The above-mentioned empty agent is an agent in which nothing is recorded in the program unit 42 and the link unit 43. Therefore, when an empty agent is generated, an agent is generated, but only the ID as identification information is given to the agent, and no program information or link information is stored in the program unit 42 and the link unit 43. It is not recorded.
[0049]
In the agent management table 31, instead of the agent entity indicating unit 33 of FIG. 5, an agent entity unit that stores the text data of the entity of the agent corresponding to the agent ID may be configured. In that case, the text data converted by serializing the agent entity is stored in the agent entity part. When executing the agent program, the program of the program entity converts the program text data into binary data that can be executed by the central processing unit (CPU), and then is executed by the CPU.
[0050]
Although the agent ID is recorded in the related information recording area in the file, various file processes can be performed by writing the contents of the agent into the storage unit 16 of the agent system 15.
[0051]
Here, a method of utilizing the file to which the ID of the empty agent is added will be described with reference to an example.
(1) Use of program information
When a file of an electronic document is created or obtained, the user can assume how the document is to be used, and the user writes an instruction on how to use the agent as a program. For example, set an expiration date for agents whose files are rarely used in the future but need to be stored, and set a program to delete the file after the expiration date. There is a program that stores the data in a large-capacity optical disk device. This example is shown below.
[0052]
Program example 1 is a program having an instruction to store the file on the optical disc when there is no access for 120 minutes.
Example 1) move to OpticalDisk if no access for 120minutes
Program example 2 is a program with an instruction to delete the file when December 30, 2005.
[0053]
Example 2) delete at 2005/12/30
The program may be a one-line script as described above, or may be written in C language or Java (R) language. However, when the program is in a compiler language, the program is limited to a PC having a compiler that can execute the binary data. Therefore, the format of the program is described according to the PC to be executed.
[0054]
As another example, a file processing program that automatically executes a process on a file according to an operation method of an electronic document may be described in an agent. For example, the program is a script that, when detecting that a file has been opened, updates the file name when the file is closed. Program example 3 is a program having an instruction to change the file name of the file “20020823 patent specification” to the file name “20021230 patent specification”.
[0055]
Example 3) Rename 20020823 patent specification 20021230 patent specification
In Example 3, the number in the file name “20020823 Patent Specification” means the file creation date. In Example 3, the file was opened last time on “August 23, 2002”, but the file opened this time is closed on “December 30, 2002”, so the file name is “20021230”. A program with an instruction to change to "Patent Specification" is shown. A filer application (file management software) called Explorer provided with the Windows (registered trademark) operating system has a function of sorting files in name order. By automatically renaming the files in this way, the files can be arranged in the order of access time, so when a user handles the files using file management software such as Explorer, the files are displayed in the order of time closest to the present. The processing for the file is automatically executed so as to satisfy the request for the file.
[0056]
In addition, when using an electronic document across a network, for example, when the user wants to continuously create and edit a document being created in the office at home after returning home, he instructs the agent to move to the PC at home. I can put it.
[0057]
Example 4) move into file: //myhomepc.network.domain/folder/name/
The script of Example 4 is a file transfer program. The user may write the script of Example 4 in the program part of the agent, or the file moving program may be automatically generated. In particular, a PC that can be used by the user and its position information are set in advance, the position of the user is specified using a GPS (omnidirectional positioning system) attached to the user's mobile phone, and the specified position is specified. By automatically generating a script to move files to a nearby PC, users can use the file on nearby PCs that are available. In that case, the agent management unit 23 automatically generates program information according to a predetermined condition.
[0058]
The program described by the user in the agent or the program automatically set in the agent by the system is executed by the agent execution unit 24 at a predetermined fixed period. However, if the agent program is a script such as a file that has a restriction on the execution date and time, the execution unit that describes the processing content to be deleted only by evaluating the conditional statement that describes the execution date and time Is suspended.
[0059]
When executing a script involving movement, information is exchanged with the agent execution unit 24 in the destination PC via the communication I / F 22 with the outside, and the entity of the agent is sent to the destination PC together with the file. I do. The agent execution unit 24 of the destination PC stores the received agent entity in the storage unit 16 by the agent management unit 23, updates the agent ID added to the property of the file, and stores the file in the designated location. I do. Then, only the script to be executed on the PC after the movement is executed by the agent execution unit 24 of the PC after the movement.
[0060]
(2) Use of link information
Next, a method of utilizing the link portion of the agent will be described.
[0061]
Digitized documents are often related in some way to other digitized documents. Originally a paper document with documents etc. written on the back and front of a piece of paper, it may be a separate file on the front and back, or it may have been combined into one document with a stapler or clip There are cases where multiple paper documents that cannot be saved are in multiple files. Alternatively, a plurality of electronic documents may be related to the same project, or a plurality of electronic documents may be a weekly report or a monthly report that occurs at regular intervals. That is, a plurality of digitized documents may have a connection. In the present embodiment, these connections are held in the agent in the form of link information. As the link information described in the link section 43 of the agent, for example, a combination of an agent ID and a related name added to a file of a related document is used. Link information is
Example 5) reverseside (myofficepc10: A010298492011)
Example 6) projectX (myofficepc5: 1)
Example 7) Weekly report connection (myofficepc1: KKa029830411)
It is data like
[0062]
In Example 5, “reverseside” is a related name, and “myofficepc10: A010298492011” in parentheses is an agent ID for specifying a connected partner. Here, the agent ID is illustrated as a combination of the host name and the agent ID. Example 5 is that the document of the file whose host name is "myofficepc10" and whose agent ID is "A010298492011" is a document that is in a reverse relationship when it is printed on paper (recording medium). Indicates link information.
[0063]
Example 6 shows link information indicating that there is a connection with the file indicated by “myofficepc5: 1” in parentheses with a related name of “projectX”.
[0064]
Example 7 shows link information indicating that there is a connection with a file indicated by “myofficepc1: KKa029830411” in parentheses with a related name of “weekly report connection”.
[0065]
The links are bidirectional for ease of maintenance. Further, the link information held by the agent may be plural.
[0066]
The link information may be assigned by a method in which the user describes the link information or a method in which the agent management unit 23 automatically generates the link information according to a predetermined condition. Then, the link information is updated when the access status to the file changes. The updated link information is also classified into a method specified by the user and a method generated by the agent management unit 23 autonomously.
[0067]
In the automatic generation of the link information, in Example 5, when the relationship between the front and back is described in the link section 43 of the agent of one file of the two electronic documents, the link section 43 of the other file stores This is performed by automatically generating and describing link information indicating that one file has a front-to-back relationship.
[0068]
Further, automatic update of link information may be performed. For example, automatic update of link information occurs when an electronic document moves. Although the agent ID of the link information is illustrated as a combination of the host name and the agent ID, when the file moves, the agent also moves with the movement and the host name changes. Accordingly, the agent ID of the link information is updated to a combination of the new host name and the new agent ID, and the associated agent ID can be obtained using the link information held by each agent with the update. By notifying the related agent that the agent ID has been updated, the notified related agent can change the agent ID of the held link information to the latest one. .
[0069]
In addition, for example, when a file is automatically deleted by an agent program, similarly, the agent of the file to be deleted is notified to the related agent that the file is to be deleted, and the link information held by the related agent is deleted. The maintenance of the data of the unit 43 can be executed. Since the information of the link unit 43 of the agent is automatically updated by the agent, it is possible to avoid inconsistency of the link caused by the change of the agent at the link destination.
[0070]
Further, since the relevance of the document can be inferred from the access history of the user's file, the relevance of the document may be automatically generated. For example, when creating a weekly report, a weekly report connection can be automatically generated from access relevance based on the fact that it is often performed while referring to the previously created weekly report. Furthermore, although they are not directly related in content, they can be related in close chronological order. For example, if there are two tasks performed in parallel, the documents used in these tasks are often associated in the user's memory. Therefore, even if the memory is ambiguous over time, if the link information using the time data is used as a search key for searching for an electronic document interrupted during the work of the A project, "I cannot remember the keyword", etc. Relevance can be added automatically.
[0071]
By the way, one of the tasks that is complicated in file management is “identity determination” for two or more documents. For example, two documents have the same composition and similar text, but it may be difficult to determine whether a part has been modified. Therefore, a difference between electronic documents is obtained, link information is generated based on the difference, and file management is performed using the link information. Specifically, when one document having a plurality of versions is managed as a plurality of electronic documents, version management between the electronic documents is performed based on the difference. As an application example, version management is performed so that the latest version of the document is always presented to the user even if the user accesses an older version of the electronic document. This prevents the user from erroneously determining an old version of the document as the latest version and editing the document. The agent management unit 23 includes an identity determination unit that determines the identity and a difference extraction unit that calculates a difference.
[0072]
Recognition of a difference can be determined by, for example, a UNIX (R) diff program for texts, or by XOR image processing for image data. Conversely, for the same document with no difference, as an application example, a process of integrating link information and a program into one can be performed, and one data and agent can be deleted.
[0073]
Next, an example of a process flow of the agent execution unit 24 that executes the above-described agent will be described with reference to FIG.
[0074]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of processing of the agent execution unit 24 executed for each agent. Note that the agent execution unit 24 executes the agents managed by the agent management unit 23, for example, in order, but FIG. 7 shows the flow of processing for each agent to simplify the description.
[0075]
It is determined whether or not an agent has performed an operation on a document of a related file (S11). Whether or not an operation has been performed is determined based on whether or not data on the file update date and time has changed. If an operation has been performed, the answer is YES in S11, and the link information is updated (S12). In the case of NO in S11, or after the process of S12, the process proceeds to the determination process of S13, and it is determined whether the position of the user has changed (S13). Whether or not the position has changed is determined based on the position information of the mobile phone held by the user. If the position has changed, the result is YES in S13, and it is determined whether or not there is a file to be moved (S14). If there is a file to be moved, that is, if there is a file specified as a file to be moved, YES is determined in S14, and the file is moved (S15).
[0076]
If there is no file to be moved (NO in S14), and after the file has been moved, the process proceeds to S16. In S16, it is determined whether or not a predetermined cycle has been reached, that is, whether or not the execution cycle of the agent program has been reached. If the execution cycle has come, the contents of the agent program are executed (S17). In the case of S16 and after the processing of S17, it is determined whether or not the file itself has disappeared (S18). The case where the file disappears is, for example, the case where the program of Example 2 is executed. If the file disappears, there is no agent for that file, and the process ends. If the file exists, the process proceeds to S11.
[0077]
Next, print management of an electronic document, that is, print processing and re-electronic processing will be described.
[0078]
In this print management, once an electronic document is printed on paper, the paper document is treated as positive, the electronic document is treated as non-positive, and the paper document is read again by the scanner device. When a document is digitized, it is assumed that the newly digitized document is treated as positive.
[0079]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, when an electronic document is printed, the added agent ID is simultaneously printed in a bar code on a blank portion of a paper as a recording medium. It does not matter where to print, as long as it is in the margin. The margin portion is detected by margin position determination means for determining the margin position (specifically, software that calculates and calculates a portion that is not printed when an electronic document is printed on a recording medium). For the printed agent, the agent management unit 23 attaches a print date and time and a materialization mark (that is, a mark indicating that printing has been performed), and suspends the execution processing of the agent. An electronic document associated with an agent that has been materialized means that it is not a positive document. The agent ID may be a character that can be distinguished by a human if it can be recognized by the OCR device. However, when the agent ID is printed on paper, a magic key is added and printed so that the agent ID can be identified.
[0080]
When the paper document is read by the scanner device and digitized again, a barcode or a character string of an agent ID with a magic key is also read as electronic data, and the read agent ID is supplied to the agent management unit 23. You. Based on the read agent ID, if the agent is being materialized, the agent management unit 23 deletes the materialized mark of the agent and resumes the execution process of the agent.
[0081]
Further, the location of the barcode or the agent ID in the read electronic document is returned to blank, the electronic document is filed, and the agent ID is set in the property of the file.
[0082]
Also, the identity of the file of the original electronic document and the file of the read electronic document are checked, and if they are the same, the integration of the files is updated, and if there is a difference, the link information is updated to the latest one.
[0083]
When the re-electronicization of the document is completed, the electronic document is treated in the same manner as other electronic documents, and a script that cannot be executed during the materialization is executed in the next cycle.
[0084]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the above-described print processing.
[0085]
First, when a print command is instructed for an electronic document, the agent ID of the electronic document is serialized, that is, converted into a text (S21), and the document is printed (S22). In printing, the contents of the document and the agent ID are printed on paper. The agent management diagram 23 assigns a materialization mark to the agent related to the printed document (S23).
[0086]
Then, after giving the materialization mark, the agent management unit 23 moves the file related to the agent with the materialization mark to a predetermined folder, for example, a hidden folder, so as to move the file to the predetermined folder. Is instructed to move the file (S24). By doing so, the user of the PC 1 can edit the file and the like only for the positive document because the file of the printed document disappears from the original folder.
[0087]
Note that the agent management unit 23 writes the original folder information into the agent information when instructing to move the file. Thus, when the file is restored, the destination folder of the file can be determined and moved based on the original folder information written in the agent information. Alternatively, the agent management unit 23 may write a command to move to the original folder when a file is restored in the agent program when instructing to move a file.
[0088]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the re-digitization process when re-digitizing a document that has been materialized, that is, a document printed on paper.
[0089]
First, a scan is executed using the scanner device 2 to read a paper document and convert it into electronic data (S31). Not only is the content of the document read, but the printed agent ID is also read.
[0090]
The read agent ID is dealialized (S32), and the read agent ID data is supplied to the agent management unit 23. The agent management unit 23 executes a process of deleting a materialization mark for the agent ID (S33).
[0091]
In the re-digitization process described above, the document is re-digitized by using the scanner device 2 to read the document once printed on paper. However, if there is no change in the content of the document printed on paper, the original The contents of the electronic document may be continuously used as a positive document. Therefore, in the re-electronic processing, the user is caused to read a paper document with a scanner device or to convert the original electronic document into a positive one so that the original electronic document can be used as a positive document. The user may be allowed to make a selection as to whether the document should be revived.
[0092]
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display for selecting whether to use the scanner device or to restore the original electronic document. When an electronic document is once printed on paper and used, and then re-digitization is performed, for example, it is assumed that the user performs re-digitization processing on the PC 1. At this time, the screen 51 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the display device of the PC 1, and the user displays “scanner” when reading the paper document using the scanner device 2 and re-electronicizing the document. Click the selected button 52 to select it. When the button 52 is selected, the processing shown in FIG. 9 is executed.
[0093]
Further, after inputting the agent ID of the document to be re-digitized into the agent ID input unit 53 and clicking on the button 54 displaying “Resurrection of electronic data”, the agent management unit 23 A process for deleting the materialization mark on the agent management table 31 relating to the agent ID that has been performed is executed. This allows the electronic document to be treated as positive.
[0094]
In the printing process, the content of the link information may be determined, and the printing process may be performed based on the link information. For example, in the case of the link information as in Example 5 described above, when printing a document for which printing is instructed, a related document is printed on the back side of the paper on which the document is printed. Using a special printer device, the document to be printed on the back side may be overprinted with special ink that is invisible to humans. In this case, it is necessary to use a special scanner device.
[0095]
In S21, serialization may be performed not only on the agent ID but also on the entity of the agent. Then, the serialized data is printed on the margin of the paper, that is, an agent including the substance of the program or the link information is printed on the margin of the paper. In this case, by printing a key indicating the program information or the link information of the agent together with the entity of the agent, the position of the entity information of the agent can be recognized by the agent management unit 23.
[0096]
The agent may be materialized by using, for example, a technique called serialization of the Java (R) language. In this case, since the entity of the agent is also printed, the agent management unit 23 may delete the agent. By doing so, the paper document can be restored on a remote PC or the like.
[0097]
In the present embodiment, an agent (for example, an agent described in JP-A-10-149287) is added to an electronic document and moved to a predetermined storage device if left for a certain period of time, or disappears after a specific date. An electronic document filing device is configured so that the electronic document itself operates autonomously. Processing on the file is performed by a program held by the agent. This alleviates the burden of organizing electronic documents, which is conventionally left to the user. The program held by the agent can be configured to be explicitly given by the user via the user interface, the electronic document filing apparatus may provide a program assumed in advance, or some rules may be prepared. Alternatively, the program may be dynamically generated using a planning technique for generating a program according to the situation.
[0098]
Further, the above-described electronic document filing device manages the relation between electronic documents as link information held by an agent that has added the electronic document to the electronic document. As a result, when the relevance between electronic documents changes, the agent updates the link information autonomously, so that the user is free from the hassle of maintaining the relation between the documents.
[0099]
Further, in the above electronic document filing apparatus, when the electronic document to which the agent is added is materialized by printing or the like, the agent itself may be printed at the same time. When this document is read again by the scanner device, the agent is restored at the same time, and the identity of the agent with the agent added to the original electronic file is determined to unify the electronic document data.
[0100]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, by adding an agent to an electronic document, it is possible to make the electronic document autonomous, and it is possible to reduce the trouble of managing the electronic document. Become. Further, it is possible to associate the printed document with the original electronic document, and it is possible to promote the digitization of the document without sacrificing the usability of printing and handling the document on paper.
[0101]
Each “unit” in the present specification is a conceptual one corresponding to each function of the embodiment, and does not necessarily correspond one-to-one to a specific hardware or software routine. Therefore, in this specification, the embodiment has been described below assuming a virtual circuit block (unit) having each function of the embodiment. Also, the steps of each procedure in the present embodiment may be executed in a different order, and may be executed at the same time, or may be executed in a different order for each execution, as long as they do not violate the nature.
[0102]
The program for performing the above-described operations is recorded in whole or in part or in a portable medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk or a CD-ROM, or a storage device such as a hard disk. I have. The program is read by the computer, and all or a part of the operation is executed. Alternatively, the whole or a part of the program can be distributed or provided via a communication network. The user can easily realize the electronic filing system of the present invention by downloading the program via a communication network and installing the program on a computer, or installing the program on a computer from a recording medium.
[0103]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0104]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, an electronic filing apparatus that facilitates document management can be realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an electronic filing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between a file and an agent program in the electronic document filing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing various functions in the electronic document filing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of a file creation process of a file management unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a structure of an agent management table according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a structure of an agent entity according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow of an agent execution unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of a printing process according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the re-electronic processing according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 4: Electronic document filing device (PC), 2: Scanner device, 3: Communication network, 5: Printer device, 11: Memory device, 12: File list, 16 ... storage unit, 31 ... agent management table, 41 ... agent entity 41

Claims (47)

Electronic document input means for inputting an electronic document;
Means for converting the input electronic document into a file as one file, wherein a related information recording area in which program information of a file processing program associated with the file or link information indicating a relation with another file can be recorded is provided. File creation means for adding a file to a file,
An electronic document filing apparatus comprising: 2. The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the program information is recorded in the related information recording area, the program information is identification information of the file processing program. When the program information is recorded in the related information recording area, a file processing program execution unit that periodically executes the file processing program based on the program information recorded in the related information recording area. The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic document filing apparatus includes: 4. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a file processing program management unit that manages the file processing program when the program information is recorded in the related information recording area. 5. Document filing device. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface unit for inputting the file processing program managed by the file processing program management unit when the program information is recorded in the related information recording area. 3. The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 4. When the program information is recorded in the related information recording area, the file processing program management unit includes a file processing program generation unit that generates the file processing program according to a predetermined condition. The electronic document filing device according to claim 4. 7. The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the file processing program generated by the file processing program generation unit is a program for changing a storage folder of the file. The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the program is a program that changes the storage folder of the file based on position information of a user. 7. The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the file processing program generated by the file processing program generation unit is a program for deleting the file. 7. The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the file processing program generated by the file processing program generation unit is a program for changing a file name of the file. 11. The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the file processing program management unit includes an identity determination unit that determines the identity of the electronic document. 5. The file processing program management unit according to claim 4, further comprising a difference extracting unit configured to extract a difference between the plurality of electronic documents, and performing version management of the electronic document based on the information on the difference. An electronic document filing apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 13. 13. The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising link information management means for managing the link information. 14. The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a user interface unit for inputting the link information managed by the link information management unit. 14. The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the link information management unit includes a link information generation unit that generates the link information according to a predetermined condition. 16. The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the link information generated by the link information generation unit is information indicating a front-back relationship of a recording medium on which the electronic document is printed. 16. The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the link information generated by the link information generating unit is information indicating a relationship between the electronic document and another electronic document related to the electronic document. 18. The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the link information management unit includes an identity determination unit that determines the identity of the electronic document. 18. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the link information managing unit includes a difference extracting unit that extracts a difference between the plurality of electronic documents, and performs version management of the electronic document based on the difference information. Electronic document filing apparatus according to any one of the above. Electronic document input means for inputting an electronic document;
Means for converting the input electronic document into a file as one file, wherein a related information recording area in which program information of a file processing program associated with the file or link information indicating a relation with another file can be recorded is provided. File creation means for adding a file to a file,
Having a print processing unit for printing the electronic document on a recording medium,
The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print processing unit prints the program information or the link information at a predetermined position on the recording medium. Further, when the electronic document is printed, the electronic document has materialized mark data recording means for recording materialized mark data indicating that the electronic document has been printed in association with the program information or the link information. 21. The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein 22. The print processing unit according to claim 20, wherein a margin position on the recording medium on which the electronic document is printed is determined, and the program information or the link information is printed at the margin position. An electronic document filing device according to claim 1. Further, when the electronic document associated with the program information or the link information in which the materialized mark data is recorded is digitized again, the electronic document has materialized mark data deleting means for deleting the materialized mark data. The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 21 or claim 22, wherein: The electronic document filing apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 23, wherein the program information or the link information to be printed is printed as a barcode on the recording medium. 25. The method according to claim 20, wherein the program information or the link information to be printed is printed on the recording medium together with a key indicating the program information or the link information. An electronic document filing device according to any of the above. A system in which a plurality of electronic document filing devices are connected via a communication network,
Each of the electronic document filing devices,
Electronic document input means for inputting an electronic document;
Means for filing the input electronic document as one file, wherein the file includes a related information recording area in which program information of a file processing program associated with the file or link information indicating a relation with another file can be recorded. File creation means for adding a file to the file,
Having communication means for performing communication via the communication network,
An electronic document filing system, wherein the program information or the link information is exchanged between the plurality of electronic document filing devices. A system in which a plurality of electronic document filing devices are connected via a communication network,
Each of the electronic document filing devices,
Electronic document input means for inputting an electronic document;
Means for filing the input electronic document as one file, wherein the file includes a related information recording area in which program information of a file processing program associated with the file or link information indicating a relation with another file can be recorded. File creation means for adding a file to the file,
Print processing means for printing the electronic document on a recording medium,
Having communication means for performing communication via the communication network,
The print processing means prints the program information or the link information at a predetermined position on the recording medium, and exchanges the program information or the link information between the plurality of electronic document filing apparatuses. An electronic document filing system characterized by: Enter the electronic document,
A method of filing the input electronic document as one file,
When making the file, it is preferable to add a related information recording area in which program information of a file processing program associated with the file or link information indicating a relation with another file can be recorded to the file to make the file. Characterized electronic document filing method. 29. The electronic document filing method according to claim 28, wherein when the link information is recorded in the related information recording area, the program information is identification information of the file processing program. When the link information is recorded in the related information recording area, the file processing program is periodically executed based on the program information recorded in the related information recording area. 30. The electronic document filing method according to claim 28 or 29. 31. The electronic document filing method according to claim 28, wherein the file processing program or the link information is input by a user interface unit. 32. The electronic document filing method according to claim 28, wherein the file processing program or the link information is generated according to a predetermined condition. 33. The electronic document filing method according to claim 32, wherein when the program information is recorded in the related information recording area, the file processing program is a program that changes a folder where the file is stored. 34. The program according to claim 33, wherein when the program information is recorded in the related information recording area, the program is a program that changes the storage folder of the file based on position information of a user. Electronic document filing method. 33. The electronic document filing method according to claim 32, wherein when the program information is recorded in the related information recording area, the file processing program is a program for deleting the file. 33. The electronic document filing method according to claim 32, wherein when the program information is recorded in the related information recording area, the file processing program is a program for changing a file name of the file. 29. When the program information is recorded in the related information recording area, a difference between the plurality of electronic documents is extracted, and version management of the electronic document is performed based on the information of the difference. The electronic document filing method according to claim 36. 29. The electronic device according to claim 28, wherein when the link information is recorded in the related information recording area, the link information is information indicating a front-back relationship of a recording medium on which the electronic document is printed. Document filing method. 29. The electronic device according to claim 28, wherein when the link information is recorded in the related information recording area, the link information is information indicating a relationship between the electronic document and another electronic document. Document filing method. Enter the electronic document,
File the input electronic document as one file,
A method of printing the filed electronic document,
When making the file, a file is added to the file by adding a related information recording area in which program information of a file processing program associated with the file or link information indicating a relation with another file can be recorded,
An electronic document filing method, characterized in that when printing the filed electronic document on a recording medium, the program information or the link information is printed at a predetermined position on the recording medium. 41. The method according to claim 40, further comprising, when the electronic document is printed, materializing mark data indicating that the electronic document has been printed, in association with the program information or the link information. Electronic document filing method. 43. The electronic document filing according to claim 40, wherein a margin position on the recording medium on which the electronic document is printed is determined, and the program information or the link information is printed at the margin position. Method. 42. When the electronic document associated with the program information or the link information recorded with the instantiation mark data is re-digitized, the instantiation mark data is deleted. 43. The electronic document filing method according to claim 42. The electronic document filing method according to any one of claims 40 to 43, wherein the program information or the link information to be printed is printed as a barcode on the recording medium. 45. The method according to claim 40, wherein the program information or the link information to be printed is printed on the recording medium together with a key indicating the program information or the link information. Electronic document filing method according to any of the above. On the computer,
The ability to enter electronic documents,
A program for realizing a function of filing the input electronic document as one file,
The function of making a file is a function of adding a related information recording area in which program information of a file processing program associated with the file or link information indicating a relation with another file can be recorded to the file and making the file. A program characterized by the following. On the computer,
The ability to enter electronic documents,
A function to file the input electronic document as one file;
A program for realizing a function of printing the filed electronic document,
The file conversion function is a function of adding a file to a file by adding a related information recording area in which program information of a file processing program associated with the file or link information indicating a relation with another file can be recorded to the file. ,
The printing function is a function of, when printing the filed electronic document on a recording medium, printing the program information or the link information at a predetermined position on the recording medium. Features program.

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