JP5447919B2 - Image processing apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and a program.

Patent Document 1 discloses an image processing apparatus that reads a sheet medium image including designation information composed of code information including a two-dimensional image pattern and executes a job.
Patent Document 2 discloses a printing apparatus that reads a processing target document including an instruction printed as an invisible special barcode and executes each process.
Patent Document 3 discloses an image reading apparatus that reads an image from a plurality of setting sheets and performs an authentication process by determining whether there is an authentication code corresponding to a combination of the read images.
Patent Document 4 discloses a multi-function input / output device that reads a document including device control setting information recorded as a two-dimensional code, and executes authentication and operation.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-316053 JP 2005-262754 A JP 2006-261832 A JP 2007-221747 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of reducing the number of times of setting related to processing as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

[Image processing device]
The invention according to claim 1 is read by the reading unit with reference to the storage unit that stores the feature and processing of the document in association with each other, the reading unit that reads the feature of the document from the document, and the storage unit When the feature of the document is associated with the process, the image processing apparatus includes a control unit that controls to process the image in accordance with the process.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the features of the document are image information including a predetermined character string or figure, and position information indicating a position of the image information in the document. Device.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the storage unit stores a document characteristic, a process, and a total unit for totalizing the results of the process in association with each other, and based on the total unit associated with the process. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a counting unit that counts the results of the processing performed by the processing unit.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the storage means further stores an authentication unit that is permitted to execute a process and authentication information for permitting the execution of the process in association with each other. Depending on whether or not the authentication information thus obtained matches the authentication information associated with the feature of the document read by the reading means, and whether or not the subject who entered the authentication information matches the authentication unit 3. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is processed in accordance with an authentication unit associated with the feature of the document read by the reading unit and a process associated with the feature of the document read by the reading unit. The image processing apparatus described in the above.

[program]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a step of storing a document characteristic and a process in association with each other, a step of reading a document characteristic from the document, and a case where the read document characteristic is associated with the process. , A program for causing a computer to execute a step of controlling to process an image according to this.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus that can reduce the number of settings related to processing as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus that can apply image information and position information as features of a document.

  According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1 or 2, image processing that can reduce the number of times of setting the totaling unit as compared to the case without this configuration. An apparatus can be provided.

  According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1 or 2, an image processing apparatus is provided that reduces the number of times that the authentication unit is set as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided. can do.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5, compared with the case where it does not have this structure, the program which can reduce the frequency | count of the setting regarding a process can be provided.

1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a multifunction peripheral that is an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a first job execution program that operates in a multifunction peripheral. It is an example of a screen displayed on a touch panel. It is an example of a screen displayed on a touch panel. It is an example of a screen displayed on a touch panel. It is an example of a screen displayed on a touch panel. It is an example of a screen displayed on a touch panel. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation flow of a first job execution program that operates in the multifunction peripheral. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a second job execution program that operates in a multifunction peripheral. It is an example of a screen displayed on a touch panel. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation flow of a second job execution program that operates in the multifunction peripheral. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a third job execution program that operates in a multifunction peripheral. It is an example of a screen displayed on a touch panel. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation flow of a third job execution program that operates in the multifunction peripheral.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In addition, the following description is only an example in implementing this invention, and this invention is not necessarily limited to the matter demonstrated below, It can change suitably as needed. For example, the following description is limited to a so-called multi-function device having a plurality of functions such as copying, printing, facsimile transmission, mail transmission, and network transfer, but is applicable to a facsimile having only a facsimile transmission function. is there.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a multifunction machine 1 that is an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 1 includes a CPU 10, a memory 12, a storage device 14 such as a hard disk drive, a communication interface (IF) 16 that transmits and receives data to and from other computers, and a user interface (UI) device 18 such as a touch panel. The scanner 20 and the print unit 22 are configured. These components are communicably connected to each other via the control bus 24.
The memory 12 stores a first job execution program 26, a second job execution program 28, a third job execution program 30 (all of which will be described in detail later), image information read by the scanner 20, and the like.
The storage device 14 stores job registration information, total information, authentication information (all of which will be described later), and the like.
The CPU 10 executes predetermined processing based on the first job execution program 26, the second job execution program 28, the third job execution program 30, and the like stored in the memory 12, and operates the multifunction device 1. To control.
Information stored in the storage device 14 may be stored in the memory 12, and information stored in the memory 12 may be stored in the storage device 14.

The UI device 18 receives input of various information and displays various information.
The scanner 20 scans a document and reads image information.

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing the configuration of the first job execution program 26 that operates on the multifunction device 1 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B shows the configuration of the first job execution program 26 that operates on the multifunction device 1 of FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another configuration of one job execution program 26. FIG.
As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the first job execution program 26 includes a job control unit 260 and a determination unit 262. With such a configuration, the first job execution program 26 can execute a job based on image information read from a document.
When a document is set on the multifunction device 1 and a start button (not shown) of the UI device 18 in FIG. 1 is pressed, the job control unit 260 executes a pre-operation for executing a job (job activation). 1 is controlled. In addition, when the content of the job is output from the determination unit 262, the job control unit 260 controls each component of FIG. 1 so that the job is executed. On the other hand, when an error is output from the determination unit 262, the UI device 18 of FIG. 1 is controlled so that the error is displayed.

After the job is started by the job control unit 260, the determination unit 262 refers to the memory 12 and the storage device 14 in FIG. 1, and the image information read by the scanner 20 in FIG. 1 is set as job registration information. It is determined whether or not the document features are included.
When the determination unit 262 determines that the read image information includes the feature of the document set as the job registration information, the determination unit 262 outputs the content of the job associated with the document feature to the job control unit 260, and Otherwise, an error is output to the job control unit 260.

  In FIG. 2A, it has been described that the job is started before the determination, but the job may be started and executed after the determination. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, when a document is set in the multifunction device 1 and the start button is pressed, the determination unit 264 is read by the scanner 20 with reference to the memory 12 and the storage device 14. It is determined whether or not the image information includes the characteristics of the document set as job registration information, and the job execution unit 266 may control each component unit in FIG. The same in FIGS. 5 and 8).

FIG. 3 is an example of a screen displayed on a touch panel (not shown) which is the UI device 18 of FIG.
FIG. 3A is an example of a screen displayed on the touch panel when setting the type and position of an image included in the document as a feature of the document. As shown in FIG. 3A, the type and position of the image included in the document can be selected.
Hereinafter, the features of the document will be described as the type and position of an image included in the document, but the present invention is not limited to this.
Hereinafter, the job registration information may be set by the system administrator, or when the aggregation unit and the authentication unit are set as the job registration screen, the job registration information may be set by the user who is the aggregation unit and the authentication unit. Good.

  FIG. 3B is an example of a screen displayed on the touch panel when setting the job type after setting the document characteristics in the screen example of FIG. 3A. As shown in FIG. 3B, the job type can be selected. Here, copy is selected as the job type.

  FIG. 3C is an example of a screen displayed on the touch panel when setting a job-related parameter (job parameter) after setting the job type in the screen example of FIG. 3B. As shown in FIG. 3C, various parameters relating to copying can be set.

FIG. 3D is an example of a screen displayed on the touch panel when the features of the document are set in the screen example of FIG. 3A and the setting content is confirmed after a job is set in the screen examples of FIGS. 3B and 3C. As shown in FIG. 3D, the setting contents (document characteristics) in FIG. 3A and the setting contents (job type and job parameter) in FIGS. 3B and 3C are displayed, and these can be associated (registered).
Note that the document features, job types, and job parameters associated by pressing the registration button are stored in the storage device 14 of FIG. 1 as job registration information.

The setting contents different from the setting contents shown in the screen example of FIG. 3D may be stored as job registration information by the same method as described with reference to FIGS. In the screen example of FIG. 3B, when facsimile is selected as the job type, for example, the screen example shown in FIG. 3E is displayed on the touch panel.
Hereinafter, the combination shown in the screen example of FIG. 3D is described as “format 1”, and the combination shown in the screen example of FIG. 3E is described as “format 2”.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation flow (S10) of the first job execution program 26 operating on the multi function device 1 of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, in step 100 (S100), the job control unit 260 shown in FIG. 2 sets the document in FIG. 1 so that when a document is set on the multifunction machine 1 and the start button is pressed, the job is started. Control each component.

In step 102 (S102), the scanner 20 in FIG. 1 scans the original set in step 100 and reads image information. When there are two or more documents to be read at a time, all the documents are scanned.
If there is a document to be read next, the processes in steps 104 to 108 are repeated for the document to be read next. In addition, when the feature of the document included in the image information read next is different from the feature of the document included in the image information read first, it is determined by the user whether the job is executed based on the feature of the document. May be based on the selection received from.

In step 104 (S104), the determination unit 262 in FIG. 2 refers to the storage device 14 in FIG. 1 and determines how many features of the document set as job registration information are included in the image information read in step 102. To do.
If the determination unit 262 determines that the document feature is not included, the determination unit 262 ends the process. If the determination unit 262 determines that only one document feature is included, the determination unit 262 proceeds to the process of step 106 and includes two or more document features. If it is determined (including the case where the scanner 20 recognizes it in error), the process proceeds to step 108.
For example, when formats 1 and 2 are set as job registration information, the determination unit 262 ends the process when a format 3 document is read, and when the format 1 document is read, step 106. When the format 1 document and the format 2 document are read, the process proceeds to step 108.

In step 106 (S106), the determination unit 262 refers to the storage device 14, and outputs to the job control unit 260 the content of the job associated with the document feature determined to be included in the image information in step 104. . The job control unit 260 executes the job based on the job content output from the determination unit 262.
For example, when a format 1 document is read, the determination unit 262 outputs the job type and job parameters associated with the format 1 to the job control unit 260.

In step 108 (S108), the determination unit 262 refers to the storage device 14, and determines the job contents associated with any one of the document features determined to be included in the image information in step 104 as job control. Output to the unit 260. The job control unit 260 executes the job based on the job content output from the determination unit 262.
For example, when a format 1 document and a format 2 document are read, the determination unit 262 may execute a job associated with the format read first, or support a format 1 and a format 2 The contents of each attached job may be displayed on a touch panel and selected by the user.
When 100 copies of the format 1 document are scanned and 100 copies of the format 2 document are scanned, the determination unit 262 executes a job associated with the format 1 for the first 100 copies (1 to 100 copies). Then, a job associated with format 2 may be executed for the next 100 copies (101 to 200 copies), or a job associated with format 1 (or format 2) may be executed for all 200 copies. You may be made to do.

As described above, the number of settings related to a job is reduced by associating the characteristics of the document with the contents of the job in advance. In addition, it is difficult for a malicious third party or the like to execute a job with a content different from the content associated in advance or to execute a job with a content intentionally mistaken by a legitimate user. Furthermore, since users other than the system manager basically cannot know the contents associated in advance, information leakage is unlikely to occur.
Also, when embedding the job content itself as image information in the document, when the job content is changed, the image information including the image information needs to be changed compared to the job information when the job information is changed. Only the contents of the job need be changed, and it is not necessary to change the image information.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the second job execution program 28 that operates on the multifunction machine 1 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the second job execution program 28 includes a job control unit 280 and a determination unit 282. With such a configuration, the second job execution program 28 can count job execution results while executing jobs based on image information read from a document.
Similar to the job control unit 260 shown in FIG. 2, the job control unit 280 activates a job and controls each component shown in FIG. 1 when a document is set on the multifunction device 1 and the start button is pressed. At the same time, when the content of the job is output from the determination unit 282, each component in FIG. 1 is controlled so that the job is executed.
Further, the job control unit 280 associates the information related to the executed job (for example, the number of copies) with the aggregation unit and records it in the storage device 14 of FIG. 1 as the aggregation information.
Similar to the determination unit 262 in FIG. 2, the determination unit 282 refers to the memory 12 and the storage device 14 in FIG. 1 after the job is started by the job control unit 280 and sets the read image information as job registration information. If the original document feature is included, the content of the job associated with the original document feature is output to the job control unit 280. Otherwise, an error is output to the job control unit 280.

FIG. 6 shows a case in which the second job execution program 28 is executed. After the document characteristics are set in the screen example of FIG. 3A and the job is set in the screen examples of FIGS. 3B and 3C, the setting is performed. It is an example of a screen displayed on the touch panel when confirming the contents.
As shown in FIG. 6, in addition to the display contents in the screen example of FIG. 3D, a job totaling unit is displayed. When jobs are executed based on the job registration information shown in FIG.
Here, the aggregation unit is a group, but it may be a user. Further, the aggregation unit may be charged.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation flow (S20) of the second job execution program 28 operating on the multifunction machine 1 of FIG.
Steps 200 to 206 and 210 (S200 to 206, 210) in FIG. 7 are the same processes as steps 100 to 108 (S100 to 108) in FIG.
In step 208 (S208), the job control unit 280 in FIG. 5 refers to the storage device 14 in FIG. 1, and based on the contents of the job associated with the document features determined to be included in the image information in step 204. Update the aggregate information.
In step 212 (S212), the job control unit 280 refers to the storage device 14, and based on the contents of the job associated with any of the document features determined to be included in the image information in step 204. , Update the aggregate information.

The above description has been made assuming that authentication is not required for job execution. Hereinafter, a case where authentication is required for job execution will be described.
When authentication is required for job execution, for example, the user name and password permitted to execute the job are stored in advance in the storage device 14 of FIG. 1, and the user name is given to the user at the time of job execution. And prompting for a password.
When a user name and password stored in advance are input, it is assumed that the authentication is successful, and the user logs in as an authenticated user. On the other hand, in other cases, it is assumed that the authentication has failed, and the user logs in as an unauthenticated user. The login state (login or logout) is stored in the storage device 14 as authentication information in association with the user name and password. If authentication fails, an error may be displayed on the touch panel or the like, and login as an unauthenticated user may be prohibited.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of the third job execution program 30 that operates on the multifunction machine 1 of FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the third job execution program 30 includes a job control unit 300 and a determination unit 302. With this configuration, the third job execution program 30 can request authentication for job execution based on the image information read from the document.
Similar to the job control unit 280 shown in FIG. 5, the job control unit 300 activates a job when a document is set on the multifunction machine 1 and the start button is pressed, and controls each component in FIG. 1. When the contents of the job are output from the determination unit 302, the respective components shown in FIG. 1 are controlled so that the job is executed.
Furthermore, when the login user is a user different from the authentication unit or an unauthenticated user and the job is executed as a job of the authentication unit, the job control unit 300 updates the login state of the authentication information again.

Similar to the determination unit 282 illustrated in FIG. 5, the determination unit 302 refers to the memory 12 and the storage device 14 illustrated in FIG. 1 after the job is started by the job control unit 300, and the read image information is the job registration information. It is determined whether or not the document features set as is included.
Further, the determination unit 302 refers to the storage device 14, and the login user included in the authentication information is the same user as the authentication unit set as job registration information, a user different from the authentication unit set as job registration information, and It is determined whether the user is an unauthenticated user.
If the determination unit 302 determines that the login user is the same user as the authentication unit, the determination unit 302 outputs the job contents to the job control unit 300 so that the job is executed as the user's job. If it is determined that the login user is a user different from the authentication unit, the job content is output to the job control unit 300 so that the job is executed as a job of either the login user or the authentication unit. If it is determined that the logged-in user is an unauthenticated user, the job content is output to the job control unit 300 so that the job is executed as an authentication unit job.
If the login user is a user different from the authentication unit or an unauthenticated user, and the job is executed as a job of the authentication unit, the login state of the authentication information is updated.

FIG. 9 shows a case where the third job execution program 30 is executed. After the document characteristics are set in the screen example of FIG. 3A and the job is set in the screen examples of FIGS. 3B and 3C, the setting is performed. It is an example of a screen displayed on the touch panel when confirming the contents.
As shown in FIG. 9, in addition to the display contents in the screen example of FIG. 3D, authentication units that are permitted to execute jobs are displayed. When a job is executed based on the job registration information shown in FIG. 9, authentication is requested.
Here, the authentication unit is a user, but it may be a group. Further, the aggregation unit in the screen example of FIG. 6 may be further set, or the authentication unit and the aggregation unit may be set as the same user or group.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation flow (S30) of the third job execution program 30 that operates on the multifunction machine 1 of FIG.
Steps 300 to 304 (S300 to 304) in FIG. 10 are the same processes as steps 200 to 204 (S200 to 204) in FIG.
In step 306 (S306), the determination unit 302 in FIG. 8 refers to the storage device 14 in FIG. 1, and is associated with any of the document features determined to be included in the image information in step 304. Determine the unit. Which document feature is selected is based on, for example, a selection received from the user.

In step 308 (S308), the determination unit 302 refers to the storage device 14, and the login user included in the authentication information is associated with the authentication unit (or the feature of the selected document) set as the job registration information. It is determined whether the user is the same user as the (authentication unit), a different user, or an unauthenticated user.
If the login user is the same user as the authentication unit, the determination unit 302 proceeds to the process of step 310. If the login user is a user different from the authentication unit, the determination unit 302 proceeds to the process of step 312 and the login user is an unauthenticated user. If YES, go to step 318.
In step 310 (S310), the same processing as step 206 in FIG. 7 is performed.

In step 312 (S312), the job control unit 300 in FIG. 8 updates the authentication information according to whether the job is executed as a login user or an authentication unit.
When the job is executed as a job in the authentication unit, the job control unit 300 refers to the storage device 14 and updates the login state in the authentication information.
Specifically, the job control unit 300 changes the login state of the login user to logout, and changes the login state of the user set as the authentication unit to login (that is, temporarily changes the login user). .
For example, when the authentication unit is Fuji Taro and the login user is Fuji Jiro, the login status is temporarily changed so that Fuji Taro logs in and Fuji Jiro logs out. On the other hand, when the job is executed as the login user, the authentication information is not updated.
Whether the job is executed as a login user or an authentication unit may be based on, for example, a selection received from the user, or may be based on a predetermined setting.
In step 314 (S314), the same processing as step 206 in FIG. 7 is performed.

In step 316 (S316), when the authentication information is updated and the job is executed as a job of the authentication unit, the job control unit 300 updates the authentication information updated in step 312 again.
Specifically, for the user whose login status is changed to login in step 312, the login status is changed again to logout, and for the user whose login status is changed to logout in step 314, the login status is changed to login again. (That is, restore the temporarily changed login user.)
For example, when the authentication unit is Fuji Taro and the logged-in user is Fuji Jiro, the login status is changed again so that Fuji Taro who has logged in in Step 312 logs out and logs out.
Note that when the aggregation unit is set as the job registration information, the job control unit 300 updates the aggregation information in the same manner as in step 208 in FIG.

In steps 318 to 322 (S318 to 322), the job control unit 300 performs the same processing as in steps 312 to 316.
Note that if the authentication fails and the login itself as an unauthenticated user is prohibited, the job control unit 300 outputs an error without performing the processing of steps 318 to 322 and ends the processing.

1 MFP 10 CPU
12 Memory 14 Storage device 16 Communication IF
18 UI device 20 Scanner 22 Print unit 24 Control bus 26 First job execution program 260 Job control unit 262 Judgment unit 264 Judgment unit 266 Job execution unit 28 Second job execution program 280 Job control unit 282 Judgment unit 30 Third Job execution program 300 Job control unit 302 Determination unit

Claims (5)

Storage means for storing a document characteristic, a process, and an authentication unit permitted to execute the process in association with each other;
Reading means for reading the characteristics of the document from the document;
Control means for controlling to process an image in accordance with the processing when the feature of the document read by the reading means is associated with the processing with reference to the storage means;
In the control means, the login user indicated by the authentication information input before the execution of the process based on the characteristics of the document read by the reading means is associated with the characteristics of the document read by the reading means. If the authentication unit matches, the login user is executed as a process based on the login user indicated by the authentication information , and is indicated by the authentication information input before execution of the process based on the feature of the document read by the reading unit user but which does not match the authentication unit associated with the feature of the document read by said reading means, to logout login state of logged user indicated by the authentication information is set as the authentication unit Login state executes the process in terms of making changes of login state to login, the processing of After the line, the image processing apparatus which controls so as to return the login state to the state before the change. In the control means, the login user indicated by the authentication information input before the execution of the process based on the characteristics of the document read by the reading means is associated with the characteristics of the document read by the reading means. If it is not matched with the authentication unit and is selected to be executed as a process by the login user indicated by the authentication information, it is executed as a process based on the login user indicated by the authentication information, and is executed as a process by the authentication unit. when selected to is to logout the login status of the login user indicated by the authentication information, the process in terms of making changes login state to the login login state of the user is set as the authentication unit run, after execution of the processing, the control to return the login state to the state before the change The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 that. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feature of the document is image information including a predetermined character string or graphic, and position information indicating a position of the image information in the document. The storage means further stores an aggregation unit for aggregating the processing results in association with each other,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a totaling unit that totalizes a result of processing performed according to control by the control unit based on a totaling unit associated with processing. Storing a document characteristic, a process, and an authentication unit permitted to execute the process in association with each other;
Reading the features of the document from the document;
If the characteristics of the read document are associated with the process, the computer executes a step of controlling to process the image according to the process,
The controlling step is performed when the login user indicated by the authentication information input before the execution of the process based on the feature of the read document matches the authentication unit associated with the feature of the read document. Executed as a process based on the login user indicated by the authentication information , and the login user indicated by the authentication information input before execution of the process based on the characteristics of the read original is associated with the characteristics of the read original. if its dependent not match the authentication unit on, to log out login state of logged user indicated by the authentication information, making changes login state to the login login state of the user is set as the authentication unit in running process, after execution of the processing, programming the login state control to return to the state before the change Lamb.

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