JPH10308868A - Digital MFP - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: In a digital multi-function peripheral, a document image with a document ID mark is obtained together with a document image registration process. A document ID is generated when document image data is stored in a storage unit. You. This document ID is the document ID
The document ID mark is obtained by encoding by the encoding means. The obtained document ID mark is input to the pattern synthesizing means, and is attached to a specific document image and output from an output means such as a laser printer at the same time as the above-mentioned accumulation processing. Using this document image with a document ID mark, a document can be retrieved and facsimile transmission can be performed. Further, by transmitting a document image with a document ID mark from a remote facsimile apparatus to the digital multifunction peripheral,
The document image corresponding to the document ID mark can be taken out from the facsimile machine.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital copying function, and more particularly, to a digital multifunction peripheral capable of storing and retrieving image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image data from a paper document or the like as a source is stored on an optical disk or the like.
An electronic filing system as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 9768 has been proposed.

FIG. 34 shows an example of the configuration of a conventional electronic filing system. Document information and image information are registered in the optical disk storage device 205 in advance, and the search device 204 allows the workstation 2 to be described below.
01 is selected from the optical disk storage device 205 and output,
Processing such as transfer can be performed. Note that the document information referred to here is so-called text information, and is not image document image information handled by the present invention. The workstation 201 can input search conditions for document / image information, display selected document image information, and issue various instructions such as editing and printing. As a process related to the present invention, the workstation converts a registered address value corresponding to a specific document or image or an ID specifying a document / image into image data such as a barcode, and synthesizes it with the document / image. , Using the printer 207. FIG. 35 shows an example of a printed document / image.

[0004] The user can copy the barcode portion in the document / image to which the barcode is added to the barcode reader 20.
In step 6, the workstation receiving the output of the barcode reader 206 decodes the barcode to obtain the address or ID of the corresponding document. Using the address or the ID, the electronic filing system 204 searches for a corresponding document image in the optical disk storage device.

Thus, the user can easily search for the target document image data. Also, the barcode can be used as follows. That is, a method of using a facsimile to retrieve a document image (which means an imaged document) stored in an image information processing apparatus from a remote location has also been proposed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-233082. ing.

That is, first, the document image with the barcode is read at a remote location using a reading means, and the barcode is decoded to obtain a document ID. Next, the document ID is facsimile-transferred to the image information processing apparatus storing the document image corresponding to the document ID. Then, the target document is returned from the image information processing apparatus to the facsimile apparatus which first transmitted the document ID.

[0007] Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-3280065 discloses that a so-called editing process of combining or deleting a plurality of image files stored in an image information processing apparatus with each other is performed. I have.

[0008]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention
When the configuration of the electronic filing apparatus described in Japanese Patent No. 9768 is applied to a digital multifunction peripheral having a filing function, a barcode corresponding to an address or ID for specifying a document is synthesized with a document image, and this barcode is converted into a barcode. The image data read by the code reader and filed is taken out.

Therefore, a bar code reader is separately required, which increases the cost. Further, when retrieving a large number of filed image data, the above-mentioned identification code (bar code) can be obtained with a par code reader by the number of documents to be retrieved.
Needs to be read by a barcode reader, which is a cumbersome operation. In addition, when storing images, the user needs to assign keywords for storage and the like, and in a multifunction peripheral such as a personal computer that cannot have a sufficient user interface, the operability is poor and cannot be used. .

In the electronic filing apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-219768, the printing position of the bar code is always printed at a fixed position regardless of the paper used. Even when the paper is changed, printing is not performed at a position in consideration of the paper size.

In the method of obtaining a target document image from a remote facsimile proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-233082, the data transmitted by the remote facsimile apparatus is a document ID. The remote system must be provided with a decoder to decode the barcode, and there is a drawback that the price of the apparatus is increased.

Further, the method of editing image data described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-3280065 is designed so that an image to be edited is read out to a display device for work, and when the size of the image data is large, There were aspects that made it difficult to work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and provides a digital multifunction peripheral capable of obtaining a sheet with a document ID mark (referred to as a cover original) at the same time as document image registration. It is intended for.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a digital multifunction peripheral capable of facsimile transmitting a target document image based on a document ID obtained by facsimile reception with a simpler apparatus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a digital multi-function peripheral capable of printing a document ID mark at a position corresponding to the size of a printing paper, thereby reducing decoding errors of the document ID mark.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a digital multi-function peripheral that can easily combine and delete documents. Another object of the present invention is to provide a digital multi-function peripheral capable of easily setting the number of copies of the cover document and other document images.

[0017]

The present invention employs the following means to achieve the above object. First, according to the present invention, document image data corresponding to a specific document input from at least one type of document image input means 1 is stored in at least one type of storage means 97, 100, and a document ID for specifying the document image data is stored. A digital composite which can store the attribute information including the document ID by the document management means 3 and output the document image specified based on the document ID by the output means 9 if necessary. Machine.

In the above digital multifunction peripheral, first,
Document ID encoding means 4 is provided to store document image data corresponding to the specific document in the storage means 97, 10
When the document ID is stored in the document ID, a document ID mark corresponding to the document ID is generated. Next, the document ID mark thus generated and the document image corresponding to the specific document are combined by the pattern combining means 8. This composite image is document I
The document image is printed and output as a document image with a D mark (cover document) together with the process of storing the document image.

The document image input means 1 includes an image reading means 13 such as a scanner, and a facsimile receiving means 1.
4. A print image receiving unit 15 from a computer can be considered.

The document image with the document ID mark (cover document) may be a specific page (for example, the first page) of the specific document, or a document corresponding to the attribute information of the specific document. It may be an image.

As the printing form of the output means 9 at the time of storing the document image, there can be considered a main mode such as a case where only the cover original is printed out or a case where all pages including the cover original are output. When a document image is stored at the time of facsimile transmission, only the cover original is printed.

In the present invention, the document ID mark provided on the cover original is converted into a corresponding document ID by decoding the document ID mark by a document ID decoding means.
Can be selected. This selection enables processing such as taking out a document image, facsimile transmission, combining a plurality of documents, and deleting a specific document image.

The document ID mark printed at a predetermined position on the paper can be easily decoded by the document ID decoding means, and decoding errors are reduced. Therefore, it is preferable that the document ID mark attached to the cover original is printed at a fixed position on the paper.

A series of related document images are stored in a storage unit 97,
When the data is stored in the storage unit 100, if it is found that the data is related to each other, the user can easily perform a work such as a take-out process. Therefore, in the storage process, when the document ID managed by the document management unit 3 and the document ID input later are the same, a symbol indicating that they are linked to each other is given as an attribute to both document images. To do. The document images linked to each other in this manner are displayed in a list and provided for a user's selection in, for example, a retrieval process.

Document I obtained from the above document ID mark
D or the work that can be performed using the document ID input using the interactive operation means 10 includes, in addition to the above document retrieval, copying and moving processing from a specific type of storage means to another specific type of storage means. Alternatively, a plurality of document images are combined with each other, and furthermore, a specific document image is deleted.

These processes are performed by displaying a list of target documents on a control panel constituting the interactive operation means 10. The corresponding document image can be returned to the facsimile apparatus by using the document ID mark obtained from the remote facsimile apparatus.

[0027]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a schematic structure of a digital multifunction peripheral to which the present invention is applied. In the image scanner unit A, a plurality of documents placed on an auto document feeder (hereinafter, referred to as ADF) 30 are placed one by one on a document table 31 by the ADF 30 and sequentially scanned. This scanning is performed by irradiating light from the exposure lamp 32, and the reflected light from the document is focused on the image sensor 33 via various mirrors and lenses.

In the laser printer section B, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 34 by the laser beam emitted from the laser scanner unit 41. A toner image is formed thereon.
The toner image is transferred to recording paper supplied from recording paper cassettes 35, 36, 37, and the like by an electric field generated by a charger 38, and the toner on the recording paper is fixed on the recording paper by a fixing device 39, and is sorted by a sorter. The paper is discharged to 40 or the like.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an image signal system of a digital multifunction peripheral to which the present invention is applied. The analog image signal D1 output from the image sensor 8 of the image scanner unit A shown in FIG.
Is converted into a digital image signal D2 and input to the input image processing circuit 74. The input image processing circuit 74 subjects the digital image signal D2 to multi-level image signal processing including tone correction and MTF correction and binarization processing including pseudo halftone processing to compress the binary image signal D4. Input to the circuit 77. The compression circuit 77 converts the binary image signal D4 into M
The document image data D3 compressed in real time by a system such as H, MR, MMR, JBIG or the like is input to the memory 79. Further, the compression circuit 77 outputs the binary image signal D4
Can be output as uncompressed (uncoded signal) document image data D3.

The memory 79 is also connected to the CPU bus 110 and stores the document image data and work data including the program of the CPU 91. Expansion circuit 81
Decodes the document image data D5 stored in the memory 79 and outputs it as binary image data D6. The multiplexer 76 selects one of the binary image signal D4 and the binary image data D6 and outputs a binary image signal D7. The output image processing circuit 84 performs gamma correction for converting the binary image signal D7 into a multilevel image signal and correcting output gradation characteristics, and inputs the multilevel image data D8 to the pattern synthesis circuit 103.

The pattern synthesizing circuit 103 converts the bitmap image data, such as a document ID mark, generated by the CPU 91 and stored in a bitmap memory provided in the pattern synthesizing circuit 103 into the multi-valued image. The image data is synthesized with the data D8 to output the synthesized image data D9. The pattern synthesizing circuit 103 can select, based on the setting from the CPU 91, whether to synthesize and output the image in the bitmap memory or to output without synthesizing. The PWM modulation circuit 87 performs pulse width modulation on the composite image data D9, which is a multi-valued image, and outputs a PWM modulation signal D10. Based on the PWM modulation signal D10, a laser driver 89 drives a semiconductor laser in the laser printer unit B. I do.

In the above configuration, the multiplexer 76 selects the binary image data D4, which is the output of the input image processing circuit, and performs the document reading process of the image scanner unit A and the image forming process of the laser printer unit in synchronization. Thus, the copying process of the original image can be performed in real time.

The control panel 92 connected to the CPU bus 110 includes an LCD display with a touch panel, a plurality of input keys, and a magnetic guard reader (not shown), and serves as an interface between the digital multifunction peripheral and a user.

A communication control unit (CCU) 93 connected to the CPU bus 110 controls a FAX modem 94 connected to a public line 95, and
Facsimile communication is performed under the control of U91. Also, CP
LAN controller 101 connected to U bus 110
Performs communication with a device such as a personal computer connected to the local area network (LAN) 102 via the LAN 102. The CPU bus 11
The IDE controller 96 connected to the HDD 0 controls a hard disk drive (HDD) 97, and performs data storage / access to the HDD 97 under the control of the CPU 91.
Further, the SCSI controller 98 connected to the CPU bus 110 controls the magneto-optical disk drive 99, and
Under the control of the PU 91, data is stored / accessed to the magneto-optical disk 100.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram mainly showing the functions of the CPU 91. The document image input unit 1 includes an image reading unit 13 including the image scanner A and its control mechanism, and a facsimile receiving unit 1 including a facsimile apparatus (CCU + FAX modem) and its control mechanism.
4. It is composed of the LAN controller 101 and the print image receiving means 15 comprising its control mechanism. Here, the above-mentioned control mechanisms are taken over by the CPU 91.

The CPU 91 further has the following functions. The registration / transfer unit X registers (accumulates) the document image data obtained from the document image input unit 1 in the HDD 97, and stores the document image data accumulated in the HDD 97 in a designated device (laser printer B, FAX modem 94). To the magneto-optical disk drive 99). The document ID encoding means 4 generates a document ID when a document image is input, and outputs the document ID.
The D decoding unit 5 obtains a document ID from a document ID mark described later, and the document management unit 3 generates and manages attribute data corresponding to each document image registered in the HDD 97. The CPU 91 also takes charge of the control mechanism of the pattern synthesis circuit 103 and the control mechanism of the laser printer unit B. Further, a display / input control unit 92a is provided.
The control panel 92 displays necessary items for operation and constitutes an interactive operation means 10 which allows the user to input necessary items.

[Copy Processing (First Copy)] Next, a case where filing (accumulation) of document image data is performed together with original copy processing in the digital multifunction peripheral having the above configuration will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part in the digital multifunction peripheral of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a copy process when one copy of a plurality of sets of originals placed on the ADF 30 is copied.

First, a control panel 92 serving as an interface between the user and the CPU 91 performs predetermined items using a plurality of keys 803 such as ten keys displayed on an LCD panel 802 as shown in FIG. The control panel 92 and the display input control unit 92a of the CPU 91 as described above.
Thus, the interactive operation means 10 is constituted.

Here, the user performs user authentication by inputting a previously registered user ID and password using the control panel 92 via the screen shown in FIG. In this user authentication, a magnetic card registered in advance is stored in the control panel 92.
This can also be performed by causing a magnetic card reader connected to the device to read. There are various specific methods for user authentication, including methods that are already known, and they are not the gist of the present invention.

When the user is authenticated, a mode selection screen shown in FIG. Here, the user selects the "copy" mode on the control panel 92, places the original to be copied on the ADF 30, and subsequently selects the number of copies and file registration necessity (whether to store in the HDD 97 or not) on the screen shown in FIG. No), after setting the access right of the document image data at the time of file registration, copy paper size, zoom ratio, etc., the start key K
Press s. The case where the "marked cover" or "document ID input" column in FIG. 9 is used will be described later. The image reading means 13 shown in FIG. 1 includes the ADF 30 and its control means (mechanical control part of the CPU 91).

The access right includes, for example, “OWNER” in which access to a registered document image file is permitted only to the user who has registered the document image file, “GROUP” in which a plurality of registered users are permitted, "FREE" permitted to the user can be selected.

When the start key Ks is depressed as described above, the image reading means 13 constituting the CPU 91 feeds one by one from the last page of the document placed on the ADF 30 onto the document table 31 (FIG. 11, step S3
0). When the start key Ks is pressed, necessary data such as the access right set by the interactive operation means 10 shown in FIG. 1 is notified to the document management means 3, and the document management table described below is read. Will be formed. Further, when the start key Ks is pressed, the number of output units is set in the output unit 9 (including the laser printer B and its control unit).

On the other hand, when one document is fed, the document management means 3 is started up, and an in-apparatus ID consisting of, for example, an eight-digit number and a six-digit number, for example, corresponding to the document image data to be filed. Device I consisting of
D is generated (step S3).
1). This document ID is notified to the document ID encoding means 4, where a document ID mark which is, for example, a two-dimensional image pattern is generated (step S32).

The document ID mark thus generated is
Pattern synthesis circuit 1 constituting pattern synthesis means 8 (pattern synthesis control section 103a + pattern synthesis circuit 103)
03 (see FIG. 2), and generates a document to which a document ID mark described later is added (step S33).

At the same time as the original reading process, the image scanner unit A forming the image reading unit 13 and the laser printer unit B forming the output unit 9 are processed in synchronization with each other.
By selecting the binary image data D4, which is the output of the original, the copy process of the original fed to the original platen 31 is performed. At the same time, the compression circuit 77 encodes the binary image data D4 in real time and stores it in the memory 79. .

As described above, once stored in the memory 79,
The coded document image data for the page is stored in the HDD 97 via the IDE controller 96 by the registration / transfer means X.
Are sequentially stored in the document storage area 7 (step S3).
6). Here, one page of document image data is stored in the HDD 97 and a memory 79 for the next encoded document image data is stored.
Can be processed in parallel.

The image reading means 13 includes the ADF
30 is sequentially instructed, and the process is repeated until the last document is read (FIG. 11, step S34: N, S3).
6, S37. S38). However, ADF30
The pattern combining circuit 103 combines the image stored in the bitmap memory, that is, the document ID mark, with the read image only at the time of copying of the last document fed by (FIG. 11, step S34: Y, step S3).
5).

As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the laser printer unit B outputs a document image in which a document ID mark corresponding to the document ID is added to the first page (cover) of the copied document image. (Step S36). In addition, A
Document image data corresponding to a document placed on the DF 30 is, for example, a multi-page TIFF (Tagged Image File For
The image is stored in the HDD 97 as a document image file in the mat) format. The file name at this time includes, for example, the document I
D can be used. If the document ID is 00000001, the file name of the document image file is 00000001.tif. The document with the document ID mark as described above is hereinafter referred to as a cover document.

When the copy processing is executed as described above,
The attribute data necessary for managing the document and including the document ID is generated, and the attribute data is registered in the attribute management table T10 of the HDD 97. The attribute management table T10 will be described later. In the above, the ADF 30 is used to feed from the last page.
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the document is fed from the first page. In any case, the document ID mark is added to the first page (cover).

[Copy Process of Second Copy and Later] In the above copy process, when a copy of a plurality of copies is instructed from the control panel 92, the copy process of the second copy and thereafter is performed in addition to the above process. Is processed as follows.
When copying the first copy, the output of the input image processing circuit 74 is directly output from the laser printer B via the multiplexer 76. For the second copy and thereafter, the document image data stored in the HDD 97 is copied to the laser printer B. B is output.

When the image reading means 13 finishes the printing process of the last page of the first copy (the last page in order, actually the first page) (that is, when it detects that there is no remaining original in the ADF 30), ), Registering and transferring means X
Notify. As a result, the registration / transfer means X reads out the document image data from the document image data stored in the HDD 97 in order from the last page and
(Step S41 → S42). Next, the decompression circuit 81 decodes the compressed image data for one page stored in the memory 79 in real time in synchronization with the recording process of the laser printer unit. The multiplexer 76 selects the binary image data D6, and the document image data stored in the memory 79 is printed by the output means 9 (step S45). Here, the print processing and H
The process of reading the document image data of the next page from the DD 97 and writing it to the memory 79 can be performed in parallel.

The above process is repeated a required number of times until the last page (step S46: N → S42), and further, the required number of copies is repeated (step S47: N → S4).
1). However, only when the last page (first page) of each copy is printed, the pattern synthesizing circuit 103 converts the image stored in the bitmap memory into the HDD 7 as described above.
9 (step S43 → S
44). Thus, the first page (cover) of each part of the copy document
, A document ID mark in which the document ID is encoded is added.

Through the above processing, the user can automatically file the document image together with the copy processing without specially performing an operation for filing the original image. The extraction of the filed document image data will be described later.

[Facsimile Transmission Processing] Next, a case where the document image data is stored together with the original facsimile transmission processing in the digital multifunction peripheral will be described with reference to the drawings.

The user performs user authentication in the same manner as in the above-described copy processing. When the user is authenticated, a mode selection screen shown in FIG. Here, the user selects the "FAX transmission" mode by using the control panel 92, places a document to be transmitted by facsimile on the ADF 30, and selects a destination telephone number, file registration necessity selection, and file registration from the screen of FIG. After setting the access rights for the document image file
Press the start key Ks.

The ADF 30 feeds the document from the last page of the placed document one by one onto the document table 31. Thereafter, the document ID is generated, the document is read, and the document image data is stored in the memory 79. The processing such as storage in the HDD 97 is the same as that in the copy processing.

However, printing is not performed except for the last fed document (the first page of the document), and a document ID mark in which the document ID is encoded is added to only the first page of the document and printed. I do. That is, the process is substantially the same as the process shown in FIG. 11, but the print process (FIG. 11, step S36) is executed only for the last page. That is, the solid arrow (a) in FIG. 11 becomes the dotted arrow (b) for facsimile transmission.

Next, the document image data is read out one page at a time from the document image data stored in the HDD 97, stored in the memory 79, and the document image data is transmitted by facsimile using the CCU 93. Facsimile transmission of the document image data stored in the memory 79 and storage of the next page of document image data from the document image file in the memory 79 can be performed in parallel. The above processing is repeated until the document image data of the last page is transmitted by facsimile.

The attribute information is formed by the document management means 3 in the filed document image data, as in the case of the copy processing, and registered in the attribute management table T10 of the HDD 97. Here, “FAXSEND” indicating facsimile transmission is used for “registration method” in the attribute information table, and HDD is used for “media ID”.
“0” corresponding to 97 is registered.

In the printing process of the first page, the multi-valued image data D4 obtained from the input image processing circuit 74 may be used as described above.
The image data once stored in the DD 97 may be used.
When the image data temporarily stored in the HDD 97 is used, after the reading process of all pages is completed and before facsimile transmission, only the last page (first page) is printed with a document ID mark, or After the facsimile transmission ends, only the last page is printed with a document ID mark.

As a result, the user can automatically perform the facsimile transmission process and automatically copy the facsimile transmission manuscript without any special operation.
Can be accumulated. Also, a cover document with a document ID mark for taking out the stored document image data can be obtained.

[Facsimile Reception Processing] Next, a case where filing of document image data is performed together with facsimile reception processing in the digital multifunction peripheral will be described with reference to the drawings.

The lower half of FIG. 13 (from step S121)
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of facsimile reception. However, since there is a procedure common to facsimile transmission based on a transmission request from a remote facsimile described later, both are shown as one flow diagram.

The facsimile-received document image data received by the facsimile modem 94 and the CCU 93 constituting the facsimile receiving means 14 via the public line 95 is temporarily stored in the memory 79 for each page. Here, document I
The search and decode processing of D (step S114) is performed. However, it is assumed that the normal facsimile reception does not perform decoding because a document without a document ID is transmitted.

Next, the document ID is generated by the document management means 3 in the same manner as the copy processing, and the document ID mark is downloaded to the pattern synthesizing circuit 103 by the pattern synthesizing means 8 by the document ID encoding means 5 (step). S121 → S122 → S123). At the same time, the registration / transfer means X transmits the document image data for each page stored in the memory 79 to the IDE controller 96.
Is stored in the document storage area 7 of the HDD 97 (step S124). Next, the document image data of the second and subsequent pages is sequentially stored in the HDD 97 (step S12).
5: Y → I12: N → Step S124). The above H
The accumulation of one page of document image data in the DD 97 and the storage of the next page of document image data in the memory 79 can be performed in parallel.

Next, after the communication of facsimile reception is completed, the document image data thus stored is printed on a recording sheet (step S126). This print processing is shown in FIG.
Since the process is substantially the same as that of the copy processing shown in FIG. 12, the detailed description is omitted, but here, only one copy is printed, so the copy number check process (FIG. 12, step S47) is unnecessary.

In the document image file created at the time of facsimile reception, the attribute information is stored in the attribute management table T10 of the HDD 97 by the document management means 3 as in the case of the copy processing. Here, the “registration method” includes “FAX RECEI” representing facsimile reception.
“VED” and “media ID” are set to “0” corresponding to the HDD 97, and “user ID” is set to “0” meaning that no user is specified. The “access right” is automatically set to an access right set in advance according to the use mode, for example, GROUP or the like.

Thus, the user can automatically perform filing with facsimile reception without specially performing an operation for filing a received facsimile image, and can obtain a document with an ID mark simultaneously with the filing. It becomes possible.

[Remote Print Processing] Next, filing of document image data in the digital multifunction peripheral is performed together with remote print processing of printing document image data transmitted from a personal computer (not shown) or the like connected to the LAN 102. The case of performing the operation will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The personal computer connected to the LAN 102 transmits a user ID,
The password and the access right information are transmitted to the digital MFP. The digital MFP performs user authentication based on the user ID and password received from the LAN controller 101 constituting the print image receiving unit 15 via the LAN 102. When the user authentication is performed, the user issues a print instruction, the document image data is transferred from the personal computer, and the subsequent processing is the same as in the case of the facsimile reception.

In the filed document image data, the attribute information is stored in the attribute management table T10 of the HDD 97 by the document management means 3 as in the case of the facsimile reception. Here, “PRINT” representing remote printing is set in the “registration method”, “0” corresponding to the HDD 97 is set in the “media ID”, and the ID of the user who operated the personal computer is set in the “user ID”. Is done. However, as described above, the setting of the access right is different from the facsimile reception in that it is possible before the document is transmitted.

As described above, the user of the personal computer that has issued the request for remote printing can automatically file with the remote printing process without specially performing an operation for filing the print image. Documents with document ID marks can be obtained at the same time.

[Attribute Management Table] The attribute data such as the document ID generated in the course of the document storage process as described above is
It is registered in the attribute management table T10 assigned to the attribute area 6 on the HDD 97. Here, the items to be registered are
As shown in FIG. 7, “document ID”, “number of pages”, “image size”, “registration method”, “registration date”,
In addition to “user ID”, “access right”, “media ID”, etc., “link destination” and “link source” described below
And so on.

The “image size” of the attribute data is
The size of the document image data corresponding to the standard paper (eg, A3, A4, etc.) at the time of filing is indicated.
Indicates any input mode (copy = COPY, facsimile transmission = FAXSEND, facsimile reception = FAX
RECEIVE, PC print function = PRIN
T) indicates whether a document image file has been generated, and the “user ID” indicates the user ID of the user who registered the file.

The “media ID” is an identifier for specifying the medium in which the document image data is stored. The media ID of the HDD 97 is “0”, and the media ID of the magneto-optical disk 100 described later is “ 1 ". The document image file stored in the HDD 97 is
The process of moving to the magneto-optical disk 100 and the assignment of the media ID to the magneto-optical disk 100 will be described later.

As will be described later, when a document that has been printed with a document ID mark is registered again as a document, the new document ID is encoded into a document ID mark and printed on the cover document. The "link destination" and "link source" fields are the documents I that specify the new document.
The relationship between D and a document ID that specifies the original document is shown. In FIG. 7, the document image data of the document ID 00000005 is
This indicates that the document image data of the document ID 00000004 has been re-registered (refiling), and the “registration method” includes “COPY” indicating copying and “Media I”.
In “D”, “0” corresponding to the HDD 97 is registered.

[Document Designation Processing] As described above, the HDD 9
7 to retrieve (print), send by facsimile, or edit (delete, combine) specific document image data, and specify the specific document image data. There is a need to.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the document image data designating process in this case.

As a method of designating the document image data, there are a method of reading the printed document ID mark and a method of directly inputting the document ID as a character string (or a numerical string) (FIG. 14, steps S131a and S131b). ). In any case, as shown in FIG. 20 (display of a control panel for document retrieval), the user is asked whether to read a cover original with a mark at the beginning of each processing mode or to input a document ID of a character string. Since there is an inquiry, the user indicates via the control panel 92 which case it is. Further, the user inputs necessary items corresponding to each processing mode and presses the start key Ks.

When reading the cover with the document ID mark, the cover document with the document ID mark placed on the ADF 30 is read by the image reading means 13 and the image data is temporarily stored in the memory 79 (FIG. 14, step S13).
2). The reading process of the document ID mark at this time will be described later in detail. Further, in this case, the image data read by the image reading means 13 is
Are stored in the memory 79 without being compressed.

The document ID decoding means 5 decodes the document ID mark stored in the memory 79 as described above to obtain a document ID (FIG. 14, step S133). Further, based on the document ID obtained as described above, the document management means 3 refers to the document management table T10 and
D, whether or not the document image data corresponding to D has been accessed by a user having access right, ie, “OWNE”.
R ", the user I on the attribute management table T10
D must match the entered user ID, and if "GROUP", the entered user ID
Must be in the same group as the user on the attribute management table T10, and if it is "FREE", anyone can use it (FIG. 14, step S13).
4).

As described below, since the image document data is stored in the HDD 97 and can be moved to a removable medium such as the magneto-optical disk 100, the document image data is specified by the document ID as described above. rear,
Whether the document image data is stored in the HDD 97,
It is determined whether the data is accumulated on the magneto-optical disk 100 (FIG. 14, step S140).

When the disk is registered in the magneto-optical disk 100, it is further determined whether or not the magneto-optical disk 100 having the normal disk ID is mounted on the disk drive, and the normal magneto-optical disk 100 is mounted. When there is no such message, a warning message shown in FIG. 23 is displayed so as to prompt the user to load the regular magneto-optical disk 100. At this time, the user loads the designated magneto-optical desk (FIG. 14, step S14).
1).

Further, as will be described later, there is a case where a specific document image data and another specific document image data are related in content. At this time, as described above,
Link information is registered in the attribute management table T10.
Therefore, when the document management means 3 obtains the document ID of the specific document image data as described above, or when the storage medium is specified, the document image data corresponding to the document ID and the document image linked thereto are obtained. The data is displayed on the control panel 92 to ask the user which document image data to select again (FIG. 14, step S142 → S143).

Here, when the user selects desired document image data, the selected document image data becomes document image data to be processed. If there is no link information, the document image data specified by the first document ID becomes the document image data to be processed (FIG. 14, step S142: N).

[Process of Retrieving Document Image Data from HDD] Next, the process of retrieving (printing) the document image data stored in the HDD 97 as described above will be described with reference to the drawings.

The user performs user authentication in the same manner as in the above embodiments. When the user is authenticated, a mode selection screen shown in FIG. Here, if the user selects the document retrieval mode using the control panel 92, the document retrieval screen shown in FIG. 20 is displayed. Therefore, the number of copies, the document ID input method (the document ID is input based on the document ID mark). Or a document ID is input as a character string), and whether or not to combine a document ID mark with the retrieved document, and press the start key Ks. As a result, the number of copies is set in the output means 9. When a document ID is input as a character string, the document ID is notified to the document management means 3, and
When a cover document with a document ID mark is used, the image reading means 13 is activated to read the cover document and determine the document ID in the above-described procedure (further, if necessary, media check, link information A check is made).

When the document image data is specified as described above, the flow shifts to the print processing shown in FIG. In other words, when it is not instructed to print the document ID mark on the output document, the process proceeds to the printing process without performing the following encoding process and document ID mark setting process (FIG. 15, step S151N → S160). Document ID
If you are instructed to print the mark,
Before the target document is read, the document ID obtained as described above is input to the document ID encoding means 4 via the document management means 3 and is encoded into a document ID mark here (see FIG. 15. Step S151Y → S
152). This document ID mark is downloaded to the pattern synthesizing means 8 (FIG. 15, step S153).

As shown in step S154 in FIG. 15, the print processing is executed in the same procedure as the print processing (print processing for the second copy and thereafter in the copy processing) described with reference to FIG.

When the page to be printed is the last page,
The document ID mark and the target document image data are combined and printed. If it is not instructed to print the document ID mark on the output document, the process of setting the document ID mark in the pattern synthesizing circuit 103 is not performed.
Is executed, the document ID mark is not printed.

Here, the multiplexer 76 naturally selects the binary image data D6, and
The image data for one page stored in the memory 79, which is inputted through the interface, is output in real time. Also,
Outputting one page of image data stored in the memory 79;
Writing from the HDD 97 to the memory 79 can be performed in parallel.

As described above, after one document image data has been taken out, if there is a document with a document ID mark on the ADF 30, the document table 3 is read by the ADF 30.
1 is fed with the next original. Subsequent processing is the same as the above processing.

As described above, by reading the cover document with the document ID mark by the image scanner unit A, all pages of the stored document image data can be easily taken out (printed). Further, even when there are a plurality of document image data to be taken out, the cover document with a plurality of document ID marks can be taken out by batch processing by placing it on the ADF 30.

[Facsimile Transmission Process of Filed Document Image Data] Next, a case where the document image data stored in the HDD 97 is transmitted by facsimile will be described with reference to the drawings.

The user performs user authentication in the same manner as in the copy processing. When the user is authenticated, a mode selection screen shown in FIG. Here, the user selects the “stored document FAX” mode using the control panel 92 and selects the destination FAX.
Specify the number and document ID input method.

In this case as well, the specification of the document can be used as it is in the above-described document specification procedure, and the description is omitted here. Further, after the access right is checked (the media check and the link information are checked if necessary), the facsimile transmission processing of the document image data is performed by reading the document image data of one page at a time into the memory 79. In this case, the image data is simply transmitted by facsimile, so a detailed description is omitted here.

As described above, the stored document image data can be easily transmitted by facsimile by reading the cover document with the document ID mark by the image scanner unit A or by directly specifying the document ID with the key. It is possible to Even when there are a plurality of document image data to be transmitted by facsimile, a plurality of stored document image data can be transmitted by batch processing by placing a plurality of document ID-marked documents on the ADF 30.

[Move / Copy Process of File Document to Removable Media] Next, the process for moving or copying the document image data stored in the HDD 97 to a removable medium such as the magneto-optical disk 100 will be described with reference to the following figures. It will be described based on the following.

The user performs user authentication in the same manner as in the copy processing. When the user is authenticated, a mode selection screen shown in FIG. Here, when the user selects the “stored document processing” mode, a stored document processing selection screen shown in FIG. 21 is displayed, and “file move” or “file copy” is selected. Next, when “Move file” is selected, FIG.
24. When the “file copy instruction screen” shown in FIG. 24 is selected, the “file copy instruction screen” shown in FIG. 24 is displayed. In the "file transfer instruction screen" or the "file copy instruction screen", a method of specifying a processed document and a destination or a copy destination are selected. Here, a removable medium (RMD) is designated as a transfer destination or a copy destination.

The method of inputting the document ID is the same as the method of extracting a document in the above-described process of extracting the document image data from the HDD. The user can input the document ID as a character string (or a numerical string) or can insert a cover with a document ID mark. After placing the original on the ADF 30, the start key K
Press s.

As a result, when a specific document ID is obtained, the document image data specified by the document ID is stored in the HDD 9.
7 is read from the document storage area 7 by the registration / transfer means X and moved to the magneto-optical disk 100. In the process of determining the document ID, the access right is checked in the same manner as in the process of extracting the document image data from the HDD 97.

At the time of moving the file, the registration / transfer means X executes the document image transfer only when the user ID at the time of user authentication matches the “user ID” of the attribute information of the document image file to be processed. The data is moved to the magneto-optical disk 100. That is, the data is moved to the HDD
Reference numeral 97 takes into account that the original document image data does not remain. On the other hand, at the time of file copying, if access to the document image data to be processed is permitted for the user ID at the time of user authentication, the registration / transfer means X transmits the document image data to the magneto-optical Copy to disk 100.

Next, both when moving the file and when copying the file, the document management means 3 accesses the HDD 97 based on the document ID of the document image file to be processed, and reads the attribute information from the attribute management table T10. The attribute information is read out and stored on the magneto-optical disk 100.

A media ID is stored in the magneto-optical disk 100 in advance as a file (hereinafter, referred to as a media ID file).
Reads the media ID from the magneto-optical disk 100 and writes the media ID in the "media ID" field of the attribute management table T10. In the example of the content of the attribute management table T10 shown in FIG.
The document image data “000004” indicates that the document image data has been moved to the magneto-optical disk 100 with the media ID = 0001.

If the media ID file does not exist on the magneto-optical disk 100, the document management means 3 sets the media ID file having the new media ID as the file content.
A file is created on the magneto-optical disk 100. Here, the document management means 3 manages the used media ID for each user ID, and generates a new media ID by incrementing the media ID that has already been generated last.

By performing the above processing, the HDD 97
Can be easily moved / copied to a magneto-optical disk, which is a removable medium, and multiple document image files can be moved / copied together by reading images with document ID marks using a scanner unit. Can be. Further, it is possible to manage the document image file moved to the removable medium.

[Process of Retrieving File Document from Removable Medium] Next, the case of retrieving (printing) document image data filed on a removable medium such as the magneto-optical disk 100 will be described with reference to the drawings.

The user performs user authentication in the same manner as in the above-described copy processing. When the user is authenticated, the mode selection screen shown in FIG.
Appear on top. Here, the user can control panel 92
Use to select the document retrieval mode,
The user specifies a document retrieval method and whether or not to combine a document ID mark with the retrieved document.
Into the magneto-optical disk drive 99.

In this case as well, there are cases where a document ID mark is used and a case where a document ID of a character string (or a numerical string) is used. Since the processing in each case is as described in FIG. Here, detailed description is omitted.

The difference from the document retrieval from the HDD 97 is that a procedure for confirming the access right, confirming the media ID, and loading a regular magneto-optical disk into the drive 99 is required.

After confirming the matching of the media IDs as described above, if a document with a document ID mark is desired as shown in FIG. 15, the corresponding document ID mark is downloaded to the image synthesizing circuit 103, and then the printing process is performed. Move to This printing process is the same as the printing process shown in FIG. 12 (the printing process for the second and subsequent copies from the HDD 97), and a description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, according to the present invention, the document image data stored in the removable medium (magneto-optical disk 100) can be easily taken out. Further, even if it is unknown which magneto-optical disk the document file is stored in, the media ID of the removable medium can be specified and notified to the user, so that the operability is improved.

[Copy Operation of Document with Document ID Mark]
Next, in the digital multi-function peripheral of the present invention, a document with a document ID mark may be registered (or registered simultaneously with copying). For example, once a document is HD
This is a case where after registration in D97, a document with a document ID mark is obtained, the document with the document ID mark is corrected and registered again. In this case, if a document registered first and a document registered later are given some relation in management, the user outputs a target document while confirming the relation between the two (plural) documents ( Facsimile transmission).

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a copy process for copying one copy. It is assumed that the input screen at this time uses FIG. 9 described above. The flow of image signals when a read document image is stored simultaneously with a copy operation of a document to which a document ID mark has already been added will be described with reference to the drawings.

The procedures such as user authentication and copy condition / access right setting are the same as those in the normal copy operation described above, and therefore, detailed description is omitted. FIG. 9 is used as an input screen. In a normal copy process, a document without a document ID mark is handled.
Since a document with a D mark (or a case where a document ID is input using a numeric string or a character string) is handled, a document ID input method is specified.

Further, generation, printing and storage processing of the document ID shown in FIG. 11 (FIG. 11, steps S29 to S36)
Are the same in FIG. 16, and therefore description thereof is omitted here (see FIG. 16, steps S49 to S56). Further, processing when there is a remaining original in the ADF 30 (FIG. 1)
1, step S37 → S38) is also the same as step S5 in FIG.
7 → S58, so the description is omitted here.

When the ADF 30 feeds the last page and reads the document image data, the document ID decoding means 5 searches for a document ID mark or not, and if so, the document ID mark is read. The mark is decoded and passed to the document management means 3. Thereby, the document management means 3
Writes the following in the document management table T10 shown in FIG. That is, the document ID newly registered in the “link destination field” corresponding to the currently read document ID
Is written, and the document ID of the original document (the currently read document) is written in the “link source field” corresponding to the newly registered document ID (FIG. 16, steps S57 to S60).

In the decoding process, when the document ID mark cannot be decoded (including the case where the document ID mark does not exist), the procedure is the same as the normal copying process described above. Therefore, for convenience of explanation, FIG. 11 shows the normal copy process alone, but more generally, both the normal copy process and the copy process of the document with the document ID mark are performed according to the procedure shown in FIG. Will be.

In the example of the contents of the document attribute table T10 shown in FIG. 7, a document (document I) registered with the copy operation again using the printed document of document ID = 00000004 as the original document
D = 00000005), “link source” information is added thereto, and “document ID = 00000004” is added with “link destination” information.

The above process completes one copy of the original. In the case of multiple copies, the description is omitted because it is the same as the second and subsequent copies of the above-mentioned [copy processing] (FIG. 12).
reference). Similarly, when a document (document having a document ID mark) that has already been stored is transmitted by facsimile, the document ID of the document to be newly filed is written in the “link destination” attribute of the original document file. The document ID of the already filed document is written in the “link source” attribute of the newly filed document.

With the above configuration, the digital multifunction peripheral of the present invention adds
When a document is re-filed by adding a memo or comment by hand, the change history can be stored as document attribute information, and version management of the filed document can be performed.

[Operation for Retrieving Document with Link Information]
The document image data having the link information registered as described above can be used as follows.

As described with reference to FIG. 14, a document ID mark is input from the image reading means 13 or a document ID is input as a character string from the control panel 92. This document ID is passed to the document management means 3, which accesses the document attribute table and extracts "access right", "link destination" and "link source" attribute information corresponding to the document ID. .

The document management means 3 determines, based on the above “link destination” and “link source” information, that there is a document related to the input document ID, and that the “access right” which can be retrieved by the user. Is displayed on the control panel 92 (FIG. 14, step S142: Y). FIG. 19 shows a list display state of the related documents on the control panel 92. If the user wants to take out the related document, he or she inputs the number with ten keys and presses the start key. When the user wants to retrieve the document of the inputted document ID, he inputs "0" with ten keys and presses the start key Ks (FIG. 14, S143).

When the document to be taken out is specified in this manner, the subsequent print processing and facsimile transmission processing are performed as shown in FIG.
As described with reference to FIG. 13, the description will be omitted. As described above, since the link information when the image with the document ID mark (the already-filed document) is re-registered (re-filed) is stored in the document attribute table T10, when the document is taken out, the link information is stored. By referring to the link information, a related document can be specified and extracted.

[Combining and Deleting Document Image Data] First, the attribute management table T10 shown in FIG. 7 records the connection state of each page constituting each document in more detail. FIG. 26 shows the extracted and displayed portion only. That is, in-document link symbol 54a indicating that pages 1 and 2 of the document with document ID 00000001 are linked,
In-document link symbols 54b and 54c indicating that pages 1, 2, and 3 of the document with document ID 00000003 are respectively linked.

In this state, first, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 17, of a process of combining image data in which two pieces of image data are linked to be handled as one piece of image data.
First, the user selects "stored document processing" from the mode selection screen shown in FIG. 8 of the control panel 92, and thereby selects "file combination" from the screen shown in FIG. 21 which appears on the control panel. This specifies that the image data is combined. After that, the first cover document and the second cover document of the already registered image data are placed on the ADF 30 and a two-dimensional bar code is read, and the document ID is decoded by the document ID decoding means 5 to obtain the document ID. obtain. The procedure up to the decoding is the same as the procedure described in FIG. 113, and thus the description is omitted (FIG. 17, steps S141 to S143).

When the document IDs corresponding to the two documents are obtained in this way, as shown in FIG.
A new intra-document link symbol 54d that links the last page of the first document of the document and the first page of the second document is generated (FIG. 17, step S144). Here, if the document ID of the first document is used as a new document ID common to the two documents, a document ID mark corresponding to the new document ID is generated by the document ID encoding means 4. Then, the pattern combining means 8 combines the document ID mark with the first page of the new document and prints the cover document (FIG. 17, steps S145 to S147).

At this time, in FIG. 27, since the information of the document ID3 of the second document stored in the document ID storage area remains, when the document ID00000003 is searched, one page of the second document is read. Are the same as before the combination processing is performed. However, when the document data is searched by the document ID 00000001, the first document (document ID 00000001) has the first page, the second page, and the second page. Of the document (document ID 00000003) of the first to third pages, that is, five pages in total.

With the above processing, the processing for combining the image data corresponding to the two documents is completed. Here, the description has been made assuming that the image data of the two documents is combined.
Image data of one or more documents can also be combined.

As another method of performing the image data combining process, there is a method shown in FIG. That is, the document management unit 3 copies the specified attribute data of the two documents into the free space of the HDD 79 in the specified order, and acquires a new document ID (here, document ID 00000004) common to the two documents. I do. At the same time, the first
Are generated so that each page of the document and each page of the second document are continuous.

In the above, in order to obtain a document ID for specifying a plurality of documents to be combined, the method of causing the image reading means 13 to read the cover original is used. 92 Direct Document I
It goes without saying that D may be input.

Next, a process of deleting image data using a cover original will be described. The processing flow at this time is shown in FIG.
Shown in First, the user selects “stored document processing” on the mode selection screen of FIG. 8 using the numeric keypad 803 of the control panel 92, and then selects “file deletion” on the screen of FIG. The procedure until the document image to be deleted is specified is the above-mentioned mode and the like, so the description is omitted. When the document management means 3 receives the document ID,
The document ID is passed to the registration / transfer means X, and the registration / transfer means X reads the target image data from the document image area 7 and displays the reduced image on the control panel 92.
Alternatively, the attribute data of the image data extracted by the document management means 3 is displayed on the control panel 92 (FIG. 18, steps S151 to S153). After confirming the reduced view or the attribute information displayed in this way, the user presses the OK key (not shown on the control panel 92 in FIG. 4, etc., but can substitute the start key Ks, for example). Thus, the deletion process is completed.

Here, when there are a plurality of image data to be deleted, the above processing is repeated a plurality of times. With the above processing,
All document IDs for which image data to be deleted has been confirmed
Of the image data corresponding to.

Although the document ID corresponding to the deleted image data is deleted from the attribute table T10, the same document ID cannot be reused because the cover document has already been printed. Therefore, it is guaranteed that there is only one image data corresponding to one identification code.

[Retrieving by Remote Facsimile] When a user needs document image data stored in his / her digital multifunction peripheral at a business trip, the user uses the facsimile at the business trip to use the document image data. By instructing the digital multi-function peripheral, desired document image data can be obtained.

At this time, in order to specify the document image data, the document ID mark attached to the cover document is used. In general, since the resolution by facsimile is low, if the document ID mark attached to the cover document is small, it is often impossible to decode. Therefore, when there is a possibility that a user may make a transmission request from a remote facsimile, it is necessary to have a cover document with a large document ID mark in advance.

Therefore, prior to a business trip or the like, the user selects “retrieve document” from the mode input screen shown in FIG. 8, and then displays a copy number designation screen as shown in FIG. 25 (FIG. 20 shows FIG. 25). Is a simplified diagram according to the description). Here, the user inputs an input method (whether to use a cover with a mark or a document ID of a character string) as in the above examples, and selects “Yes” in the column for adding a mark. When "Yes" is selected, "Large" is selected in the mark size field, and the desired number of copies is input in the number of cover originals field in the number of copies field.

Further, if necessary, for example, a password for restricting the access right, which will be described later, is input, and then the start key Ks is pressed. The subsequent print processing is shown in FIG.
This is exactly the same as the processing shown in FIG. 12 (including FIG. 12), but if the document image data relating to pages other than the last page is not read, only the cover document can be printed and the document ID encoding means 4 Large-size document ID in the encoding process (FIG. 15, step S152)
A mark will be generated.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a cover document with a large-size document ID mark created by the above procedure. In this example, a cover having both a small-size document ID mark and a large-size document ID mark is shown. Although a document is shown, a cover document with only a large document ID mark may be used.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart when image data with a document ID mark is received by using a facsimile and the corresponding image data is transmitted back (including a normal facsimile reception procedure). Except for the access right processing procedure, the document is specified in FIG. 14 (steps S131 to S131).
133), but it is necessary to distinguish between normal facsimile reception and return transmission according to this embodiment.

That is, in normal facsimile reception, since the document ID mark is not added to the first page, the document I
The document cannot be decoded in the document ID decoding process (step S114) by the D decoding means 5, and the process shifts to normal facsimile reception. If decoding is successful in the above document ID decoding process, registration and registration are performed based on the document ID.
The transfer means X reads the corresponding document image data and
Transfer to U93 for facsimile transmission. In addition, in the example shown in FIG. 13, taking into consideration that the document ID mark may be attached to every page,
(FIG. 13, S112).

According to the above-mentioned method, since no input is made by the user to be processed at the beginning of the copying process or the like, a person who does not have access right obtains the cover manuscript by some method and sends it from a remote facsimile. Even in the case of transmission, a specific document can be freely retrieved.
Therefore, the access right can be restricted as follows.

That is, a password is input on the screen shown in FIG. The password entered in this way is
The document is encoded into a document ID mark by the D encoding unit 4, and the document management unit 3 registers the document ID mark in the attribute management table T10. As a result, a document ID mark including the password is generated.

When the cover manuscript with the document ID mark generated in this way is transmitted from a remote facsimile, the document is specified as described with reference to FIG. 13 above. To allow access only to a person having a cover document with a document ID mark including the password (FIG. 13, step S
115).

The cover original with a password is effective not only for a request for removal from a remote facsimile as described above, but also for removal of a document without user authentication. For example, even when a magnetic card for inputting a user ID is not at hand, a document can be taken out.

In the above example, one document is used, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if the original is 3
In the case where the document ID is composed of three sheets, three images are stored in the storage device as one file as the image data, and only the first page is printed as the image with the document ID mark (the input screen in FIG. 25). To set the number of copies to 0, and set the required number of copies in the cover original copy number column). Alternatively, three images may be reduced and combined to form one image, which may be printed as an image with a document ID mark.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the image 401 with the large size ID mark is provided with the document ID mark 402 for normal document retrieval, but the document is retrieved by using a facsimile at a remote place. This is not necessary if you only want to do Further, the document ID mark 402 is not required even if the document ID decoding means 5 decodes the large-size document ID mark 403 in a normal document extraction.

In the above embodiment, the access right of the image data stored in the image data storage area 7 is managed and the access such as the retrieval of the image data is released only to a specific user to prevent the leakage of the image data. Only users who are permitted to access among the users who own the image with the document ID mark can easily retrieve the document.

Also, when a document is taken out by facsimile, only a user who is permitted to access among the users possessing the image with the document ID mark can easily take out the document.

[Position of Document ID Mark] As described above, the document ID mark is used to designate a target document when performing processing such as document retrieval. Therefore,
Since the position of the document ID mark on the cover document is known, the reading accuracy and speed of the document ID mark can be improved.

Hereinafter, an example of document reading in the document retrieval mode will be described. First, FIG.
As shown in (1), the relationship between the printing paper size, the orientation of the document contents (portrait or landscape), and the document ID mark printing position is registered in the mark position table T20.
29, the first half is the X (horizontal) direction, the second half is the Y (vertical) direction, and the unit is mm, as shown in FIGS. 30 (a) and (b). FIG. 30A shows a portrait document 601 and FIG. 30B shows a landscape document 602.

Further, when registering the original document (copy processing or simple registration processing), whether the orientation of the original is portrait or landscape is set on the screen shown in FIG. Next, when the image reading means 13 is operated, the document size detecting means 204 is simultaneously operated to detect the size of the document. Thus, as shown in FIG. 30, the document management unit 3 determines whether the document size and the direction of the document content [portrait or landscape (R is added after the size when landscape)]. Has been registered.

In this state, in the document retrieval mode (removing the entire document or only the cover document), the cover panel document with the ID mark or the control panel 9 is displayed.
2, the document ID is directly input as a character string (or a numerical string), and the size of the printing paper is changed as shown in FIG.
When the input is made from the screen of 5) and the start key Ks is pressed, the document retrieval processing starts.

At this time, the contents of the mark position table T20 and the paper size are set in the document ID encoding means 4, and the paper size is also set in the output means 9. In the encoding process in the document retrieval process, the document ID encoding means 4 generates a document ID mark and acquires an arrangement position corresponding to the sheet size from the mark position table T20. Then, the document ID
The encoding means 4 passes the document ID mark and the position information to the pattern synthesizing means 8. As a result, each page of the target document is printed, and at the time of printing the cover original, the document ID mark is printed at the position set in the mark position table T20 according to the size of the printing paper. become. Of course, from the screen shown in FIG. 25, it is also possible to designate only the number of cover originals (number of copies column 0) and output only the cover original.

An example in which the stored image size (the original size) is A4 size and the printing paper is A4 is as shown in FIG. 5, and the document ID mark is placed at the position designated in the mark position table T20. Printed. FIG.
Reference numeral 2 denotes a print example in which the size of the stored image 402 is A4 size and the printing paper 401 is B4, and also in this case, the document ID is located at the position designated in the mark position table T20.
The mark 403 is printed.

As described above, the cover document with the document ID mark printed according to the above procedure is used to designate a target document when performing processing such as document retrieval. At this time, since the position of the document ID mark has been specified, the image reading means 13 can scan the unnecessary portion with a mask and skip the mask portion, thereby significantly increasing the reading speed and the document specifying process. Will be able to do that.

It is conceivable that the original image is registered upside down, but in this case, the document ID mark is located at the upper right of the printing paper. Even in such a case, if the order of the decoding positions by the document ID decoding means 5 is changed from lower left to upper right, the document ID can be determined at a much faster speed than searching the entire read image.

In the above description, the direction (portrait, landscape) of the document content is recorded in the image information data held in the attribute management table T10.
It can be recorded together with the image data stored in the image data storage area 7.

Further, in the above description, the position of the identification code is at the lower left of the image, but is not limited to this. For example,
In the case of an image in which a margin is opened on the left side as a binding margin, the effect of reducing the probability of losing image information can be obtained by arranging the upper left document ID mark.

Furthermore, in the above description, the position of the document ID mark specified in the mark position table T20 is uniquely determined, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a plurality of identification code positions may be mapped in an image information processing apparatus having a function of setting the position of the identification code at the upper left or lower right depending on the type of the document.

In the above description, when the image data size is different from the print paper size, the image data is arranged on the basis of the upper left of the print paper. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an upper right reference or a center reference may be used.

In the above example, the control panel 92 is used to input the direction of the document (portrait, landscape). However, the input can be omitted by inputting as follows. .

That is, first, as shown in FIGS. 30 (c) and 30 (d), the direction in which the original is placed on the ADF 30 is made different by 90 ° between the portrait original and the landscape original. Next, the document content direction (portrait or landscape) is determined based on the horizontal and vertical sizes detected by the document size detection unit 204 when reading the document, and input to the document management unit 13. The document management means 13 registers the direction of the document content in the attribute management table T10 based on the document size and direction detected by the document size detection means 204.

According to the method described above, the user can change the orientation of the document only by changing the way of placing the paper on the document management table T10.
Therefore, it is possible to provide an image information processing apparatus having an effect of avoiding the complexity of inputting the document direction from the control panel 92 for operating the digital multi-function peripheral.

It should be noted that the method of inputting the direction of the document content from the control panel 92 and the method of changing the direction of the document placed on the ADF 30 according to the direction of the document content as described above are used together. You can also. In other words, if the paper size is such that it can be placed either vertically or horizontally on the ADF 30, the latter method is used if the paper size is large and the ADF 30 can be placed either vertically or horizontally. An original content direction is input from the control panel 92. This makes it possible to perform automatic recognition without troublesome panel operation when the document size is small, and to use the operation panel to securely input the document content direction when the document size is large, which is very convenient for the user. A high digital MFP can be provided.

[Setting of Cover Document Type, Number of Copies, etc.] In the above description, the cover document means a sheet in which the document ID mark is added to the first page of the document. However, as a form of the cover document, for example, as shown in FIG. 33, a sheet in which a document ID mark is added to a sheet displaying document attributes can be considered. In this case, for example, the step of determining the last page in the flowchart of FIG. 11 and the step of setting a document ID mark in the pattern synthesis circuit (step S3
4. Step S35) is omitted, and after confirming that no original is mounted on the ADF 30, the cover original is printed. That is, when the determination in step S37 of FIG. 11 is NO, the document management unit 3 sets the attribute management table T10
The attribute data is read out, a document ID mark is set in the pattern composition circuit 103, and a composite image of both is printed. Also in FIG. 12, steps S43, S43
44 is omitted, and the printing processing of the composite image is executed between steps S46 and S47.

Further, in the above description, only an example is shown in which, when M (M: natural number) is set in the main body copy number setting column in FIG. 20, M sets of a cover original and a set of document images other than the cover original are printed. . However, the present invention can consider the following aspects regarding the number of print copies.

For example, as shown in FIG. 25, the input screen of the control panel 92 is used to set a “body number” field for setting the number of copies of the main body (from the first page to the last page of the designated document), and to set the number of copies of the cover document. A column for “number of cover originals” is provided. Here, when the purpose is to take out the cover original, 0 is set as the “number of main body copies”, or 1 is set if the content is checked, and M is set as the “number of cover originals”.

At the time of document retrieval, after the document identification process is executed in the procedure of FIG. 14 as described above, the process proceeds to the retrieval process of FIG. Here, if the number of main body parts is other than 0, step S154 in FIG.
(Ie, the procedure of FIG. 12) is executed to print the required number of copies. When printing of the set number of “body copies” is completed, only one page or only the attribute data may be read out again, combined with the document ID mark, and a predetermined number of copies may be set. If the document ID mark is not to be printed on the first page of the main body, "NO" may be selected in the "MARK ADD" field of FIG.

As a result, the user can obtain the necessary number of copies of the document body and the cover manuscript. In the above description, the interactive operation means (control panel 92
The + input control means 92a) 10 is provided in the digital multifunction peripheral, but it is also possible to remotely control the microcomputer connected via a LAN with the function thereof.

[0171]

As described above, according to the present invention, a user can automatically file a copy image, a facsimile reception, a facsimile transmission and a remote print without specially performing an operation for filing a document image. And a document image with a document ID mark can be obtained. The position of this document ID mark on the paper is automatically determined.

The document I in which the document ID is encoded
By reading the document image with the D mark by the scanner unit, all the stored original document image data can be easily taken out. Further, even when there are a plurality of document images to be taken out, a plurality of manuscripts with document ID marks can be taken out by batch processing by placing them on the ADF.

Further, by reading the image with the document ID mark in which the document ID is encoded by the scanner unit, the stored original document image data can be easily converted to FA.
X can be transmitted, and even if there are a plurality of document images to be faxed,
By mounting on the DF, a plurality of stored images can be
FAX transmission can be performed by batch processing. Further, even when the document image with the document ID mark is transmitted from a remote facsimile, the document image data corresponding to the document ID can be transmitted back.

As described above, when a document image is registered or taken out, a document image with a document ID mark or
The number of copies of the other document images can be freely set.

In addition, the digital multifunction peripheral can easily move / copy data from the HDD to a magneto-optical disk which is a removable medium, and can move / copy a plurality of documents.
Copying can also be performed collectively by reading an image with a document ID mark with a scanner unit. Further, it is possible to manage the document image data moved to the removable medium.

Further, when retrieving document image data stored in a removable medium, even if it becomes unclear which medium the document file is stored in, it is necessary to specify the media ID of the removable medium and notify the user. Operability is improved.

In the digital multi-function peripheral of the present invention, when a memo or a comment is added by hand to a document manuscript already filed and the document is filed again, the change history is stored as link information. And version control of the filed document becomes possible.

When a document is taken out by using the version management function, a related document can be designated and taken out by referring to the link information. Also, document image data can be freely combined and deleted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of a digital multifunction peripheral according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an image signal system of the digital multi-function peripheral of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view showing a schematic structure of the digital multifunction peripheral of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a state diagram of a control panel at the time of user authentication.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a copy document image in which a document ID mark is combined.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a copy document image in which a large-size document ID mark is combined.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the contents of a document attribute table.

FIG. 8 is a state diagram of the control panel when a mode is selected.

FIG. 9 is a state diagram of the control panel during copying.

FIG. 10 is a state diagram of a control panel at the time of facsimile transmission.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a copy process at the time of printing one copy.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart when printing a plurality of copies.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart at the time of facsimile reception and facsimile return.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for determining a document ID.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart at the time of document retrieval.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a general copy process.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of document combination.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a document deletion procedure.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a document history when there is link information.

FIG. 20 is a state diagram of the control panel when a document is taken out.

FIG. 21 is a state diagram of the control panel when a mode of stored document processing is selected.

FIG. 22 is a state diagram of the control panel during a file transfer process.

FIG. 23 is a state diagram of a display of a warning message on a control panel.

FIG. 24 is a state diagram of the control panel during a file copy process.

FIG. 25 is a state diagram of a display of a control panel when a document is taken out.

FIG. 26 is a configuration diagram of link information in a document in an attribute management table.

FIG. 27 is a configuration diagram of link information in a document in an attribute management table.

FIG. 28 is a configuration diagram of intra-document link information in an attribute management table.

FIG. 29 is a conceptual diagram showing the contents of a mark position table.

FIG. 30 is a conceptual diagram showing a paper size and a document content direction.

FIG. 31 is a state diagram of a control panel for inputting a document content direction.

FIG. 32 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a document ID mark position.

FIG. 33 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a document image with a document ID mark.

FIG. 34 is a block diagram showing a conventional example.

FIG. 35 is a conceptual diagram showing a document with a barcode according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Document image data input means 2 Control means 3 Document management means 4 Document ID encoding means 5 Document ID decoding means 6 Attribute storage means 7 Storage means 8 Pattern synthesis means 9 Output means 10 Interactive operation means 11 Attribute display means 12 Search means 13 Image reading means 14 Facsimile receiving means 15 Print image receiving means 30 Auto document feeder (ADF) 91 CPU 92 Control panel 94 FAX modem 95 Public line 97 Hard disk drive (HDD) 99 Magneto-optical disk drive 100 Magneto-optical disk 102 LAN 103 Pattern synthesis Circuit A Image scanner B Laser printer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI G06F 17/30 H04N 1/04 106A H04N 1/00 1/21 G03G 21/00 382 1/04 106 G06F 15/20 570R 1 / 21 15/40 370B (31) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application No. 9-49993 (32) Priority date Hei 9 (1997) March 5 (33) Priority claim country Japan (JP) (31) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 9-51336 (32) Priority date Hei 9 (1997) March 6 (33) Priority claiming country Japan (JP) (72) Inventor Yuji Okada 1006 Ojidoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. In-company (72) Inventor Naoki Takahashi 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kenji Kutomi 1006 Okadoma Kazuma Kadoma, Osaka Pref.

Claims (34)

[Claims] At least one kind of document image data corresponding to a specific document input from at least one kind of document image input means is stored in at least one kind of storage means with a document ID for specifying the document image data. In addition, in the digital multi-function peripheral capable of managing attribute information including the document ID by a document management unit and outputting a document image specified based on the document ID from an output unit as necessary, Document ID encoding means for generating a document ID mark corresponding to the document ID when document image data corresponding to the document ID is stored in the storage means, and a document ID generated by the document ID encoding means
Pattern synthesizing means for synthesizing a mark and a document image corresponding to the specific document; and output means for printing and outputting a document image with a document ID mark generated by the pattern synthesizing means together with accumulation processing in the storage means. A digital multifunction peripheral comprising: 2. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein said document image input means is an image reading means. 3. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein said document image input means is a facsimile receiving means. 4. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein said document image input means is a print image receiving means from a computer. 5. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein the document image with the document ID mark is a document image corresponding to a specific page of the specific document. 6. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein the document image with the document ID mark is a document image corresponding to the attribute information of the specific document. 7. A document image with the ID mark,
7. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein all pages of the specific document are output. 8. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein only the document image with the ID mark is output. 9. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 8, wherein only the ID-marked document image is output at the time of facsimile transmission of the document image read by the image reading means. 10. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 2, wherein a document image corresponding to the specific document is directly input from the document image input unit to the pattern synthesizing unit, and then printed out from the output unit. 11. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 2, wherein a document image corresponding to the specific document is input from the storage unit to the pattern synthesizing unit, and then printed out from the output unit. 12. The document image of the first copy is generated based on the document image data obtained from the image input means, and the document images of the second copy and thereafter are generated based on the document image data stored in the storage means. The digital multifunction peripheral according to claim 2. 13. The document management means manages the size of a document and the direction of document content in association with the document ID, and when the document with the document ID mark is generated by the pattern synthesizing means, together with the document ID mark, 13. The document ID mark encoding means for inputting the position information to the pattern synthesizing means, and the pattern synthesizing means for determining the position of the document ID mark based on the position information.
A digital multifunction peripheral according to any one of the above. 14. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 13, wherein the document size and the direction of the document content managed by said document management means are inputted from a document size detecting means for detecting the size and direction of the document. 15. The document processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the document size managed by said document management means is inputted from a document size detection means for detecting the size of the document, and the direction of the document content is inputted from an interactive operation means. Digital MFP. 16. Further, a document ID is input from a document image input means.
16. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, further comprising a document ID decoding unit that reads a marked cover original to decode the document ID mark to obtain a document ID. 17. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising the document ID encoding means for adding a document ID mark different from the read document ID mark to a document image output from the output means.
7. The digital multifunction peripheral according to 6. 18. The document management device according to claim 16, wherein said document management means registers link information for associating a document image corresponding to a document ID obtained by said document ID decoding means with a document image corresponding to a new document ID. Digital multifunction peripheral as described. 19. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, further comprising an interactive operation unit capable of selecting whether to attach a document ID mark to the document image obtained from said output unit. 20. Document image data corresponding to a specific document input from at least one type of document image input means,
A document ID for specifying the document image data is added and stored in at least one type of storage means, and attribute information including the document ID is managed by the document management means, and specified based on the document ID as necessary. The obtained document image is converted to the document I
A digital multifunction peripheral capable of attaching a document ID mark corresponding to the document ID and outputting the document from an output unit; an image reading unit for reading an ID mark printed on the document image with the document ID mark; A document ID mark decoding means for decoding the ID mark into a document ID; and a document I obtained by the document ID mark decoding means.
D. a digital multi-function peripheral comprising: the document management means for designating a document image corresponding to a document ID input as a character string from a direct-operation-type operation means for a specific process. 21. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 20, wherein said specific process is a document retrieval process by an output unit. 22. A document I based on the document ID for a document image retrieved by the document retrieval process.
22. The document processing apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising: a document ID mark encoding unit configured to generate a D mark; and a pattern combining unit configured to combine the generated document ID mark and a target document image and transfer the combined image to an output unit. Digital MFP. 23. The size of a document and the direction of document content are managed by the document management means in association with the document ID, and when the document with the document ID mark is generated by the pattern synthesis means, 23. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 22, comprising: the document ID mark encoding means for inputting the position information to the pattern synthesizing means; and the pattern synthesizing means for determining the position of the document ID mark based on the position information. 24. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 20, wherein the specific process is a process of copying or moving target document image data from a specific type of storage unit to another specific type of storage unit. 25. When the document management means manages link information indicating that a specific document image and another document image are related in content, when a document ID corresponding to the specific document is obtained, Transferring the attribute information of a plurality of documents mutually linked to the specific document to an interactive display unit, displaying the attribute information obtained from the document management unit, and displaying the attribute information for user selection 21. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 20, further comprising the interactive operation means for allowing a user to select a desired document image. 26. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 20, wherein the specific process is a combining process for mutually combining a plurality of document image data by a document management unit. 27. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 26, wherein said document management means generates in-document link information for associating a plurality of pieces of document image data with each other and registers the link information in a document management table. 28. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 20, wherein the specific process is a deletion process for deleting target document image data by a document management unit. 29. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 20, wherein the deleted document ID is not reused. 30. A facsimile receiving means as said document image input means, and a facsimile transmitting means as output means, wherein said document ID decoding means is provided with a document ID mark attached to a document image received from the facsimile. And the document ID obtained as a result of the decryption
21. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 20, wherein the document management means outputs image data corresponding to the specific document to a remote facsimile via the facsimile transmission means based on the information. 31. A document ID assigned to a facsimile-received document image in accordance with a user's instruction from an interactive display means
A document ID encoding unit for generating a document ID mark having a size capable of reading the mark; and a pattern synthesizing unit for synthesizing the generated document ID mark with a target document image and transferring the document image to an output unit. 31. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 30, further comprising: 32. The digital composite according to claim 31, further comprising the document ID mark encoding means for generating a document ID mark corresponding to a document ID including a password input according to a user's instruction from the interactive display means. Machine. 33. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, further comprising interactive operation means for setting a document image with a document ID mark corresponding to a specific document image and / or the number of output copies of all pages of the document image. . 34. The interactive operation means according to claim 15, wherein said interactive operation means is mounted on a microcomputer connected to a LAN.
The digital multifunction peripheral according to any one of 9, 20, 25, 31, 32, and 33.