JP2013120577A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide means for proceeding processing of generating data for a great number of pages without stopping.SOLUTION: An image processor which generates meta data for an object retrieval in a document image comprising a plurality of pages, and transmits to an external device is characterized in having: means for securing a memory for a maximum number of pages in a state where only minimum meta data is generated; means for generating an image to which the minimum meta data is added using the secured memory for the maximum number of pages after totally using an area which is an usable memory area having the memory for the maximum number of pages deducted.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing device and an image processing method for generating metadata for searching an object in a document image consisting of a plurality of pages and transmitting it to an external device.

  Conventionally, when a character string adjacent to an object (for example, a photograph, a drawing, a line drawing, or a table) excluding characters in a document image is a caption describing the object, the character string of the caption is converted to the object. It is related as data. In the following description, an object refers to an object such as a photograph, drawing, line drawing, or table excluding characters unless otherwise specified. By associating the metadata with the object in this way, when the document image is used on the application side, it is possible to search for the object using the metadata as a search keyword (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In general document images, a figure number (for example, “FIG. 1”, “FIG. 1”, etc.) is described in a caption area adjacent to an object such as a drawing, and the figure number is used in the text. Object descriptions are often given. In such a case, a link is automatically generated between the figure number and the same expression in the text, and converted into hypertext. For example, when the caption adjacent to the object is “FIG. 1” and the description “FIG. 1 is AAA” in the text, the caption “FIG. 1” and “FIG. 1” in the text are the same expression. Therefore, a link is generated (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  On the other hand, a system in which a scanner or MFP (multifunction machine) and a host computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) are connected via a network or the like, and a document image input by the scanner or MFP can be transmitted to the PC via the network has become widespread. ing. In such a system, a document image transmitted to a PC is generally subjected to arbitrary image processing and format conversion processing (for example, PDF, XPS, JPEG).

  Note that when the document image is transmitted to the PC in the system, multi-page data (for example, multi-page PDF) can be generated from the input document image of a plurality of pages.

  Here, the outline of OfficeOpenXML (OOXML), which is one of the image formats including metadata, will be described.

  OfficeOpenXML is an XML format for handling office documents approved by ECMA in 2006.

  The OfficeOpenXML format consists of multiple XML and media files called parts, which are linked by relaying relationship files.

  These multiple parts are Zip-compressed into one container. This is called a package.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-306197 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-228473

  There are OOXML formats that create relationships on a page basis and those that create relationships on a document basis.

  When creating data in a format for creating relationships in units of pages, it is sufficient to secure memory for the relationships of the parts in the page. However, in the case of a format in which a relationship is created in document units, memory for the relationship of the parts of the entire document is required. For this reason, when creating a large number of pieces of data, a large amount of memory is required. In some cases, the size exceeds the usable size, and there is a problem that the processing cannot be performed.

An image processing apparatus that generates metadata for object search in a document image consisting of a plurality of pages and transmits it to an external device,
A means of securing the maximum number of memories with minimal metadata creation,
When all the areas obtained by subtracting the maximum number of memories from the available memory area are used, thereafter, means for creating an image with minimum metadata added using the reserved maximum number of memories,
It is characterized by having.

  When creating data in a format for creating relationships in document units, it is possible to prevent processing from being stopped due to insufficient memory.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing system according to the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an MFP according to the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the data processing in 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic diagram showing the memory area used for the data processing in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the data processing in 2nd Embodiment. It is the schematic diagram showing the memory area used for the data processing in 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The configurations shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to the illustrated configurations.

<Example 1>
In the present embodiment, a method of generating a multi-page PDF by associating metadata, which is a character string for object search, with the object without saving memory and reducing transfer efficiency will be described. As described above, the object in the present embodiment indicates an object such as a photograph, a drawing, a line drawing, or a table excluding characters unless otherwise specified.

(1) System Configuration FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing system in this embodiment. In the figure, an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) 100, which is a multifunction machine that realizes a plurality of functions (copying function, printing function, transmission function, etc.), is connected to a LAN 102 constructed in the office. Further, a client PC 101 and a proxy server 103 that receive transmission data from the MFP 100 and use functions realized by the MFP 100 are connected to the LAN 102. In the client PC 101, for example, by transmitting print data to the MFP 100, a printed matter based on the print data can be printed by the MFP 100. The LAN 102 is connected to a network 104 that enables communication with outside the office via a proxy server 103.

  The configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 is merely an example, and a plurality of offices having the same components as the illustrated office may be connected on the network 104. The network 104 is a so-called communication network as long as it can transmit and receive data. Specifically, it is realized by any one of the Internet, LAN, WAN, telephone line, dedicated digital line, ATM, frame relay line, communication satellite line, cable TV line, data broadcasting wireless line, or a combination thereof. . Each of the various terminals of the client PC 101 and the proxy server 103 has standard components mounted on a general-purpose computer. Examples of the constituent elements include a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, an external storage device, a network interface, a display, a keyboard, and a mouse.

(2) MFP Configuration Next, a detailed configuration of the MFP 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

[overall structure]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 110 denotes an image reading unit including an auto document feeder (ADF). An image reading unit (scanner) 110 irradiates a document with a light source (not shown), forms a document reflection image on a solid-state image sensor with a lens, and outputs a raster-like image read signal from the solid-state image sensor at a predetermined density ( For example, it is obtained as image data of 600 DPI.

  The MFP 100 also has a copying function for printing an image corresponding to the image reading signal on a recording medium by the printing unit 112. When copying one original image, the image reading signal obtained from the image reading unit 110 is image-processed by the data processing unit 115 to generate a recording signal, which is printed on the recording medium by the printing unit 112. On the other hand, when copying a plurality of document images, the storage unit 111 temporarily stores a recording signal for one page and then outputs the recording signal to the printing unit 112. Print on top.

  MFP 100 has a transmission function for transmitting an image file via network I / F 114. At the time of transmission, the image signal obtained from the image reading unit 110 is converted into a compressed image file format such as TIFF or JPEG or an image file in a vector data file format such as PDF by the data processing unit 115, and from the network I / F 114. Output. The output image file is transmitted to the client PC 101 via the LAN 102, and further transferred to an external terminal (for example, another MFP or client PC) via the network 104.

  The MFP 100 also has a printing function by the printing unit 112, but image processing by the data processing unit 115 is performed during printing. For example, the data processing unit 115 receives print data output from the client PC 101 via the network I / F 114. Then, the data processing unit 115 converts the print data into raster data that can be printed by the printing unit 112, and then forms an image on the print medium using the printing unit 112.

  An operator's instruction to the MFP 100 is performed from an operation unit 113 and a display unit 116 including a key operation unit and a touch panel provided in the MFP 100, and a series of these operations is performed by a control unit (not shown) in the data processing unit 115. Be controlled. Further, the display of the operation input status and the image data being processed is performed on the display unit 116.

  The storage unit 111 includes a work memory (RAM) used when the image processing unit 115 processes the image data read by the image reading unit 110. The storage unit 111 may include a large-capacity hard disk, and may constitute a database that stores and manages image data transmitted from the client PC 101.

  Although the present embodiment will be described using the MFP 100, the present invention is not limited to the MFP, and may be realized by a scanner device.

  Next, characteristic processing in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing the image data scanned by the image reading unit 110 by the data processing unit 115, focusing on the memory.

  In FIG. 3, it is assumed that data in a format for creating a relationship in units of documents is processed. In the following, the DOCX format is exemplified as a format for creating relationships in document units, but other formats may be used. In addition, the maximum number of documents scanned is 999.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a memory area used when converting to the DOCX format.

  First, a memory 4003 capable of creating relationships for the maximum number of originals (999 sheets) is secured (S3001). The size of the remaining area (4002) is defined as “relationship creation size”.

  Subsequently, the image data read by the image reading unit 110 is processed page by page by the data processing unit 115 to create relationships of all parts (S3002).

  Each time each page is processed, it is checked whether the used memory exceeds the relationship creation size (S3003).

  When the used memory exceeds the relationship creation size, only one part is created for the subsequent pages using the memory 4003 that is initially secured. By doing so, the pages after the page exceeding the relationship creation size become a page to which only one image is pasted, but it is possible to process all the pages without stopping the processing.

<Example 2>
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing the image data scanned by the image reading unit 110 by the data processing unit 115, focusing on the memory.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a memory area used when converting to the DOCX format.

  In the second embodiment, the memory size initially secured in the first embodiment is not a memory capable of creating relationships for the maximum number of documents (999 sheets), but a relationship memory size 6003 for the number of scanned documents. Only the minutes are reserved (S5001). The size of the remaining area (6002) is set as “relationship creation possible size”.

  Subsequently, image data read by the image reading unit 110 is processed page by page by the data processing unit 115 to create relationships for all parts (S5002).

  Each time each page is processed, it is checked whether the used memory exceeds the relationship creation possible size (S5003).

  If the used memory exceeds the relationship creation size, only one part is created for the subsequent pages using the memory 6003 that is initially secured. By doing so, the pages after the page exceeding the relationship creation size become a page to which only one image is pasted, but it is possible to process all the pages without stopping the processing. Furthermore, since the memory size to be secured first can be smaller than the maximum number of 999 pages that can be scanned, it is possible to increase the number of pages for creating relationships of all parts.

100 Image forming apparatus 101 Client PC
104 network

Claims (2)

An image processing apparatus that generates metadata for object search in a document image consisting of a plurality of pages and transmits it to an external device,
A means of securing the maximum number of memories with minimal metadata creation,
When all the areas obtained by subtracting the maximum number of memories from the available memory area are used, thereafter, means for creating an image with minimum metadata added using the reserved maximum number of memories,
An image processing apparatus comprising: An image processing apparatus that generates metadata for object search in a document image consisting of a plurality of pages and transmits it to an external device,
A means of securing memory for the number of pages to be processed with minimal metadata creation,
When all the areas obtained by subtracting the maximum number of memories from the available memory area are used, thereafter, means for creating an image with minimum metadata added using the reserved maximum number of memories,
An image processing apparatus comprising: