JPH0884206A - Image input output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To attain the designated operation and the processing with simple configuration acted in a prescribed operation and the processing based on the result of recognition of image information added to an original. CONSTITUTION: Image information obtained by scanning an original is stored in a memory circuit 3 and a characteristic of the information such as characters, numerals and symbols is extracted from the image information read from the memory circuit 3 and whose area is designated. The characteristic of the image information is referenced and compared with the characteristic of the image information registered in advance and then recognized. Then the result of recognition is fed to a system control circuit 9 via a recognition circuit 4, and an image processing circuit 7 processes various images corresponding to the result of recognition.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input / output device for performing designated operation or processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a composite copying machine having a facsimile function or the like as an image input / output device having various functions, for example, all pages of an original are copied and
Considering a complex operation such as when you want to change the enlargement / reduction ratio of only a specified page, or when you want to send only a specified page by facsimile after copying all pages, in general, each operation or process is different. The contents are manually specified from outside.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional copying machine, when performing complicated operations and processing, it is necessary to manually specify the contents, and when there are a large number of manuscripts, or when a large number of originals are specified, When there are many items to perform, troublesome operations must be repeated, and there is a problem in that operation efficiency is poor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image input / output device which performs a specified operation or process with a simple structure.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] and

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an image input / output device for visually outputting an image read from an original, and extracting image information from the original which is added to the original. Means, means for comparing the extracted image information with image information registered in advance, means for recognizing a predetermined operation and process corresponding to the image information based on the comparison result, Means for performing the recognized operation and process.

In the above-mentioned structure, it functions to perform a predetermined operation or processing based on the recognition result of the image information added to the document.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image input / output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a scanner circuit for capturing a predetermined image, 2
Is a memory control circuit, and 3 is a memory circuit. Further, 4 is a recognition circuit for recognizing, for example, characters, numbers, symbols, etc. according to the characteristics of the image, and 5 is a recognition memory for storing the recognition result of the recognition circuit 4.

Reference numeral 7 is an image processing circuit for performing image processing such as masking processing described later. An output circuit 8 includes a printer circuit 8 (a) and a facsimile circuit 8
(B), computer interface circuit 8 (c),
The display circuit 8 (d) and the like are used. Also, 9 is
A system control circuit for controlling the entire image input / output device, 1
Reference numeral 0 is a recognition area detection circuit for detecting a recognition area in the image, and reference numeral 11 is a recognition area designating circuit for designating the recognition area.

The operation of the image input / output apparatus according to this embodiment and the image processing in the image input / output apparatus will be described in detail below.

In the image input / output device shown in FIG. 1, a scanner circuit 1 scans an original document (not shown) to read image information, and the image information is passed through a memory control circuit 2 controlled by a system control circuit 9. It is stored in the memory circuit 3.

The image information read from the memory circuit 3 via the memory control circuit 2 is then supplied to the recognition circuit 4 where the characteristic extraction of characters, numbers, symbols and the like is performed. The recognition circuit 4 is also supplied with an output signal from the recognition area designating circuit 11, and the recognition area is designated by this signal.

On the other hand, in the recognition area designating circuit 11, if the area designation is predetermined, for example, in the upper right of the document, the address of the area is set by the system control circuit 9. Further, when the area designation is written in a closed loop or the like on the original by an identification marker or the like, the recognition area detection circuit 10 detects the area and sets the address or the like of this area in the recognition area designation circuit 11. .

The characteristic of the image information thus designated in the area is extracted by the recognition circuit 4 and referred to and compared with the characteristic of the image information registered in the dictionary memory 6 in advance.
Recognition is done. Then, the recognition result is stored in the recognition memory 5.

Next, the image information read from the memory circuit 3 is supplied to the image processing circuit 7 via the memory control circuit 2. The output signal of the recognition area designating circuit 11 is supplied to the image processing circuit 7, where image information such as masking processing is performed on the image information of the recognition area. Further, the image processing circuit 7 is also supplied with a control signal from the system control circuit 9, and the recognition result read from the recognition memory 5 is supplied to the system control circuit 9 via the recognition circuit 4 to generate an image. By supplying the processing content corresponding to the recognition result to the processing circuit 7, various image processings can be performed.

Next, the image information output from the image processing circuit 7 is supplied to the output circuit 8. Here, the operation content corresponding to the recognition result read from the recognition memory 5 is supplied from the system control circuit 9 to the printer circuit 8
In (a), the facsimile circuit 8 (b), the computer interface circuit 8 (c), and the display circuit 8 (d), complex operations such as print output of image information, facsimile transmission, output to a computer and display are performed.

Therefore, the above operation will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

2 to 5 are diagrams showing examples of images for explaining the operating principle of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 21
Is raw image information composed of characters and figures.
Reference numeral 2 is image information regarding a newly entered operation or process.

FIG. 2 shows a case where the upper right portion of the document is designated as a recognition area, and FIG. 3 shows a case where the recognition area is designated by a closed loop using an identification marker at an arbitrary position on the document. . In these recognition areas, letters, numbers, symbols, etc. indicating the operation or the processing content are written. For example, enlargement 115%, reduction 70%, enlargement A3,
The processing contents such as the reduction A4 and the contents of the operation such as the FAX transmission and the printout are entered, and as described above, the recognition circuit 4
By recognizing these, the image input / output device performs specified operation and processing.

As described above, by changing the operation and processing contents for each original, a complicated operation becomes possible and a large amount of originals can be processed at one time.

It should be noted that the recognition area is not limited to one content, and a plurality of contents may be written, and the content is not limited, for example, the total number of manuscripts is entered. Therefore, the counting operation at the time of double-sided copying may be omitted and the time may be shortened.

Further, the image information in the recognition area can be deleted by the masking process as described above, and the raw image information of the document is not damaged.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a case where overwriting is performed on a document in a designated color. For example, if "copy prohibited" is written in red letters, only the red letters will be recognized, all operations of the device will be stopped, and a message to that effect will be displayed to keep important documents confidential. Can be improved. However, if a time limit is specified in the recognition portion, and if it is recognized that the time limit has expired, normal operation is performed.

FIG. 5 is an example showing a case where not only the operation and the processing content but also the target range is specified. Here, processing such as deletion and inversion processing is performed only in the range designated by the identification marker, or different ranges are combined, and they are printed out on the same screen.

As described above, not only the processing on a page-by-page basis, but also the processing within a page and the processing across pages is possible.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
It is excellent with a simple configuration because the image information such as letters, numbers, and symbols corresponding to the desired operation or process is written on the document in advance and the predetermined operation or process is performed based on the recognition result. It is possible to provide a good operating environment.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention,
An image input / output device having a simple configuration and an excellent operating environment can be provided by adding image information designated in advance to a document and performing an operation or a process based on the recognition result.

[0029]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image input / output device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an image for explaining the operation principle of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an image for explaining the operation principle of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an image for explaining the operation principle of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an image for explaining the operation principle of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Scanner Circuit 2 Memory Control Circuit 3 Memory Circuit 4 Recognition Circuit 5 Recognition Memory 6 Dictionary Memory 7 Image Processing Circuit 8 Output Circuit 9 System Control Circuit 10 Recognition Area Detection Circuit 11 Recognition Area Designation Circuit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yuka Nagai 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Eiji Ohara 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Within the corporation

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image input / output device for visibly outputting an image read from a document, wherein the image information extracted from the document is image information added to the document, and the extracted image information. A means for comparing the image information registered in advance, a means for recognizing a predetermined operation and process corresponding to the image information based on the comparison result, and a means for executing the recognized operation and process An image input / output device comprising: 2. The image input according to claim 1, wherein the image information is information indicated by letters, numbers, symbols, or a combination thereof in a predesignated area of the original. Output device. 3. The image input / output device according to claim 1, wherein the image information is information indicated by letters, numbers, symbols, or a combination thereof at an arbitrary position on the document. . 4. The image input / output device according to claim 1, wherein the image information is masked after the recognition and is not visually output. 5. The image input / output device according to claim 3, wherein the image information is represented by a closed loop or a predetermined color by a predetermined identification marker. 6. The image input / output device according to claim 2, wherein the extraction unit extracts the characteristics of the letters, numbers, symbols, or a combination thereof. 7. The image input / output device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined operation and processing include image enlargement / reduction, facsimile transmission, and printout processing.