JPH11215331A - Image input/output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the job of the user at a transfer destination when a device is used for a remote scanner at the transfer destination. SOLUTION: An original is read by a scanner 4, and read original image data are stored in an external storage device 21. The storage area of the original image data stored in the external storage device 21 is informed of a transfer destination received via an operation section 3, and the original image data stored in the external storage device 21 upon the receipt of a transfer request from the transfer destination are transferred to the transfer destination. Furthermore, plural transfer destinations for common original image data are entered as a group, and the storage address of the common original image data stored in the external storage device 21 is notified of the plural transfer destinations in the group.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image input / output device connected to a network and operating as a remote scanner, and more particularly to an image input / output device suitable for a digital copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, personal computers (PCs)
Networking of computers and workstations is progressing, and construction of a LAN (local area network) in an office is progressing. In this network, the digital copier has a printer function, so that it is used as a remote printer shared by clients such as PCs and workstations, and also has a scanner function, so that it is used as a remote scanner shared by clients.

When using a remote scanner, a user sets a document on a digital copying machine, activates a scanner application of the digital copying machine by a PC remote from the digital copying machine, and instructs reading of the document. Then, when the reading is completed, the operation returns to the digital copying machine to retrieve the original. In addition, a digital copying machine is usually used by a plurality of users for copying, and when a document is set while a remote scanner is being used, other users cannot use the digital copying machine. However, there is a case where the cover is opened without knowing and the original is removed.

Therefore, as a conventional example for solving such a problem, for example, (1) after a user sets a transfer mode from a PC to a digital copying machine as shown in JP-A-7-271535, There has been proposed a method of transferring read data to a PC by setting a document and reading it by going to the installation position of a digital copying machine. Further, as another conventional example, for example, (2)
As disclosed in JP-A-1333094, a method has been proposed in which a digital copying machine temporarily stores read data in an auxiliary storage device, transfers the stored data to an IC card, and a PC receives the read data from the IC card.

[0005]

However, the prior art (1) has a problem that the user has to set a transfer mode from the PC to the digital copier in advance, which is troublesome. In addition, since all the read image data is transferred to the PC, the transfer time is longer by that amount, and if a storage error occurs during reception on the PC side,
The original must be read again. Further, in the above-mentioned conventional example (2), there is a problem that the user needs to bring the IC card from the digital copying machine to the PC, which is troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to provide an image input / output device which can simplify the work of a user when used as a remote scanner at a transfer destination.

[0007]

A first means for achieving the above object is a document reading means for reading a document,
Image storage means for storing document image data read by the document reading means; input means for inputting a transfer destination of the document image data read by the document reading means; and a transfer destination inputted via the input means Notification means for notifying the storage location of the document image data stored in the image storage means, and transferring the document image data stored in the image storage means when a transfer request is received from the transfer destination. Transfer means for transferring to a transfer destination.

The second means is such that in the first means, the input means can input a plurality of transfer destinations of the common document image data as a group, and the notifying means is provided in the group input through the input means. The storage location of the common document image data stored in the image storage means is notified to the plurality of transfer destinations.

The third means is characterized by further comprising a resolution converting means for converting the resolution of the transfer image to the specified resolution when the resolution of the transfer image is specified from the transfer destination in the first and second means.

[0010] A fourth means is provided in the case where the transfer means fails to notify the storage location in the first to third means.
The storage location is notified to the mail server.

The fifth means transfers the image in the range of the transfer image from the transfer destination, the resolution and the compression format when the resolution and the compression format are specified in the first to fourth means. It is characterized by the following.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a digital copying machine as an embodiment of an image input / output device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a network to which the digital copying machine shown in FIG. 1 is connected, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a remote scanner process of the copying machine. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a transfer process to a designated user in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a transfer process to a designated group in FIG. 3, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the resolution conversion and transfer processing of the digital copying machine of FIG. 1, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the resolution conversion and transfer processing by the processing shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a mail server of the digital copying machine of FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the mail transfer process by the process shown in FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a diagram for resolving the designated image of the digital copying machine in FIG. Conversion,
FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the compression and transfer processing, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the processing shown in FIG.

A copying machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a main control section 2 for controlling the entire apparatus, an operation section 3, a scanner 4 for reading a copy document, and a plotter for recording an image read by the scanner 4 on a recording sheet. 5, a memory 6 for storing various programs and work data of the main control unit 2, a compression / expansion unit 7 for compressing an image read by the scanner 4, and expanding the compressed data, External storage unit 8 connected to auxiliary storage device 21 such as a hard disk
And a LAN communication control unit 12 for performing LAN communication between a client such as a PC and a workstation.

The external storage unit 8 assigns a file number to the image data file read by the scanner 4 and stores it in the auxiliary storage device 21. At this time, the file information storage unit 10 stores this file number. Is done. The search unit 9 searches for and reads an image data file stored in the auxiliary storage device 21 based on the file number stored in the file information storage unit 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the LAN communication control unit 12 communicates with the file server 31, word processor 32, optical filing device 36, personal computers (PCs) 33 and 71, facsimile machine 34, workstation 35, mail server 11 and the like via the LAN. Connected.

Next, referring to FIG.
Will be described. First, when the operator sets a document on the copying machine 1 (step S100) and issues a user list display instruction via the operation unit 3 (step S101), the main control unit 2 displays this user on the operation panel of the operation unit 3. A list is displayed (step S102). Next, when the operator selects a user from this user list via the operation unit 3 and inputs a password, the main control unit 2 collates the input user and the password (step S103). Next, it is determined whether or not the operator has set the read image data to be accessible within the group via the operation unit 3 (step S104), and if so, the group access flag is recorded (step S105).

Next, the operator is caused to select whether to manually set the location where the read image data is to be stored in the external storage device 21 or to perform automatic assignment (step S106). When the manual setting is selected, a directory list is displayed to allow the operator to specify a storage location (step S107). When the automatic allocation is selected, the storage location is secured by the automatic allocation method. (Step S108). Then scanner 4
Scans and reads the first document (step S109), then compresses the read image data by the compression / decompression unit 7 (step S110), and then stores the compressed data in a designated location of the external storage device 21 (step S110). Step S111). Then, in the subsequent step S112, if there is a next document, the process returns to step S109; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S113 and subsequent steps.

In step S113 and subsequent steps, first, the file information of the image data stored in the external storage device 21 is stored in the file information storage unit 10 (step S113), and then the group access flag is checked (step S114). In the case of group designation, user information is extracted from the user list of the designated group, and as shown in FIG.
3, 71) of the storage location (step S115),
On the other hand, when the group is not designated (in the case of user designation), as shown in FIG.
The storage location is notified to C33) (step S116).

FIG. 6 shows a process performed when a user data list request and a reduced document request with a designated resolution are issued from the PC 33 as shown in FIG. First, the resolution requested by the PC 33 is stored in the memory 6 (step S12).
0), then, it is determined whether or not the required resolution is appropriate (step S121).
2 or less, on the other hand, if not appropriate, step S1
Proceed to 26. In step S126, an error response packet is created, and the flow advances to step S127 to transmit the packet to the requesting PC 33.

On the other hand, in step S122 and subsequent steps, first, a storage list of designated user data is created from the file information storage unit 10 (step S122), and the specified user data of the storage list is extracted from the file information storage unit 10 (step S122). After the designated user data is expanded to the specified resolution by the compression / expansion unit 7 (step S124), a response packet is created (step S125), and the packet is transmitted to the requesting PC 32 (step S127). In the following step S128, it is determined whether or not there is a next transmission list (step S1).
28) If there is, return to step S123;
If not, the process ends.

FIG. 8 shows a process for switching to mail transfer to the mail server 11 when the notification of the storage location has failed as shown in FIG. First, it is determined whether or not the notification of the storage location in steps S115 and S116 shown in FIG. 3 has failed (steps S130 and S13).
1) If unsuccessful, proceed to step S132 and subsequent steps;
If successful, this process ends. Step S13
For 2 or less, first, the mail address of the designated user is extracted from the user data (step S132), and then the mail data having the storage location is created (step S13).
3), the mail data is transmitted to the mail server 11 (step S134).

According to such processing, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, when the notification of the user A to the PC 33 succeeds, but the notification of the user B to the PC 71 fails (shown), the storage location is changed. Mail data having the mail data
The user B later accesses the mail server 11 to retrieve mail data addressed to the user (illustrated), and accesses the copying machine 1 based on the storage location in the mail data. You can receive your own image.

FIG. 10 shows that, as shown in FIG.
C33 shows a file transfer process when an image range, a resolution, and a compression format are designated. Here, the PC 33 side performs steps S115 and S1 shown in FIG.
After receiving the notification of the storage location in FIG.
After receiving the pre-scan data of the image with the designated resolution as shown in (1), the range of the desired image, the resolution, and the compression format can be further designated. Note that JPEG, GIF, TIFF, and the like can be specified as the compression format.

First, when the image range, the resolution and the compression format are designated by the PC 33, it is determined whether or not the request command is appropriate (steps S140 and S1).
41) If it is appropriate, proceed to step S142 and subsequent steps,
If it is not valid, this process ends. Step S1
42 and below, the designated image is first stored in the external storage device 21.
And expands it on the memory (step S14).
2) Then, a specified range is extracted from the developed image (step S143), and the developed image in the specified range is converted into a specified resolution (step S144), and then the image is converted into a specified compression format (step S145). The file is transmitted to the requesting PC 33 (step S14).
6).

[0024]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the storage location of the document image data is notified to the transfer destination input via the input means, and the transfer request is received from the transfer destination. In this case, the original image data is transferred to the transfer destination, so that when used as a remote scanner at the transfer destination, the user can access the transfer destination at a desired time and take in the original image data. Work can be simplified.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the storage location of the common document image data is notified to a plurality of transfer destinations in the group, so that a plurality of users use the common document image data. In this case, it is not necessary for each user to perform the work of reading the original or the work of inputting the transfer destination, so that the work of the user can be simplified.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when the resolution of the transfer image is designated from the transfer destination, the resolution is converted to the designated resolution, so that it is easy to see according to the resolution of the transfer destination. Therefore, the work of the user can be simplified.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, when the notification of the storage location fails, the storage location is notified to the mail server. Therefore, the notification of the storage location fails, for example, when the power of the transfer destination is turned off. However, there is no need to re-transfer, and the user does not need to worry about preparation for receiving.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the image is transferred in the range, resolution and compression format specified by the transfer destination from the transfer destination, the image received by the transfer destination user becomes the desired image, Therefore, the work of the user can be simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a network to which the digital copying machine of FIG. 1 is connected.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a remote scanner process of the digital copying machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a transfer process to a designated user in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a transfer process to a designated group in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining resolution conversion and transfer processing of the digital copying machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing resolution conversion and transfer processing by the processing shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a transfer process of the digital copier of FIG. 1 to a mail server.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a mail transfer process by the process shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining resolution conversion, compression, and transfer processing of a designated image of the digital copying machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the processing shown in FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Main control unit 3 Operation unit 4 Scanner 6 Memory 7 Compression / expansion unit 8 External storage unit 9 Search unit 11 Mail server 12 LAN communication control unit 21 External storage device 33, 71 Personal computer 35 Workstation

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An original reading means for reading an original, an image storage means for storing original image data read by the original reading means, and an input for inputting a transfer destination of the original image data read by the original reading means Means, a notifying means for notifying a transfer destination input via the input means of a storage location of the document image data stored in the image storage means, and a transfer request when the transfer request is received from the transfer destination. An image input / output device comprising: transfer means for transferring document image data stored in the image storage means to the transfer destination. 2. The input means is capable of inputting a plurality of transfer destinations of common document image data as a group, and the notifying means is configured to send a plurality of transfer destinations within the group input via the input means. 2. The image input / output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage location of the common document image data stored in the image storage means is notified. 3. The image input / output apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a resolution conversion unit that converts a resolution of the transfer image to the specified resolution when the resolution of the transfer image is specified by the transfer destination. 4. The image input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer unit notifies the mail server of the storage location when the notification of the storage location fails. Output device. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a range of a transfer image from a transfer destination, a resolution and a compression format are specified, the image is transferred in the specified range, resolution and compression format. 2. The image input / output device according to claim 1.