JP2001069293A - Image reading system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the usability of an image reading system by reading an image after moving the generated links of a produced shared folder to a scanner and selecting at least one of those links to store the read image in this selected link. SOLUTION: A CPU 11 receives the input from a user for reading an image and displays a list of names of links existing in the directories following an image transfer destination directory at an interface part 17. When a selected transfer destination shows a link set to an ordinary file folder, the authorized information is acquired by referring to the link destination and it is checked whether a writing operation is authorized. Then the CPU 11 retrieves a conversion information file stored in a folder of the link destination to set the conversion processing according to the retrieved file, reads an image to convert and compress the image data into an image file of a prescribed form according to the set conversion processing and stores the image file in an auxiliary storage 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image reading system for optically reading an image and converting the image into digital data, and more particularly to improvement of operational convenience.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, network technology has been developed, and scanners shared by many users have been developed. Such a scanner transmits and outputs, for example, image data read via a network to each user's computer.

Specifically, a scanner shared via a network receives an input of a setting of a place where an image read from each user's computer is stored via the network, and receives a next read image from the computer. Store in place.

That is, a user first operates a computer used by the user to set a hard disk of the computer as a place for storing an image in a scanner. Then, the user moves to the installation location of the scanner and performs an operation of reading an image, and returns to the computer and continues working.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional scanner, the first user sets the storage location,
If another second user sets a new storage location while moving to the installation location of the scanner, the image read by the first user operating the scanner is read by the second user. Is stored in the set storage location, which is inconvenient.

Therefore, it is conceivable to perform an operation of locking the scanner in which the storage location has been set. In this case, unless the user unlocks the scanner, another user cannot use this scanner forever and the convenience is increased. Is low.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an image reading system that can improve convenience.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer system comprising: a computer;
In an image reading system including a scanner connected to the computer via a network, the computer generates a shared folder, generates a link of the shared folder, and sends the generated link to the scanner. Means for moving, wherein the scanner comprises means for reading an image, means for selecting at least one of the links, and means for storing the read image in the selected link. It is characterized by.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading system according to the first aspect, wherein the computer stores a setting file in a created shared folder. The scanner further comprises means for referring to the setting file via a selected link, and means for performing processing based on the setting file.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the scanner is read by the selected link. When storing the image in the link, the means for storing the image inquires a password, and if the password does not match, the storing is not performed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading system according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the shared folder is a spool folder of a printer. It is characterized by having.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for creating a shared folder, a unit for creating a link of the shared folder, and moving the created link. Means for reading an image, means for selecting at least one of the links, and means for linking the read image to the selected link. And means for storing the information in the storage device.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, an image reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of computers 21,
It is composed of a printer 22 and a scanner 23,
These units are connected via a network 24. The scanner 23, which is a feature of the present invention,
As shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 11, the memory 12, the communication device 13, the auxiliary storage device 14, the page memory 15
, An image input device 16, and an interface unit 17, and these units are mutually connected via a bus.

The computer 21 controls the scanner 23 via a network 24 in accordance with an instruction input from the user, and controls the scanner 23 via the network 24.
Receives the data of the read image. Printer 2
2 prints the contents of the file when the file is stored in a specific spool folder set in advance.

The CPU 11 of the scanner 23 performs a process according to an instruction stored in the memory 12. This CP
U11 is an operating system (OS) such as Windows CE (trademark).
ystem) is working. The specific contents of the processing of the CPU 11 will be described later. The memory 12 stores a program to be processed by the CPU 11, operates as a work memory of the CPU 11, and also serves as a buffer for temporarily storing data transmitted to and received from the network 24 via the communication device 13. Operate. Communication device 13
Is an Ethernet (registered trademark) transceiver or the like connected to the network 24. The auxiliary storage device 14 is a hard disk, an EEPROM, or the like, has a file system constructed therein, and stores programs and data, such as a printer driver, processed by the CPU 11 such as a printer driver. The page memory 15 holds data of an image read by the image input device 16. The image input device 16 optically reads a document and outputs it as image data. Interface unit 1
Reference numeral 7 denotes a display device with a touch panel.
Display is performed in accordance with an instruction input from the CPU, and the operation content of the user on the touch panel is transmitted to the CPU 11.

Here, the contents of the file system constructed in the auxiliary storage device 14 will be described. In the auxiliary storage device 14, a file system that can use the link information is constructed. As such a file system, specifically, ufs (UNIX File System), NT
FS (NT File System) and the like. Here, the link information is a proxy file indicating the storage location of the entity file, and is specifically a shortcut in the case of Windows (trademark) OS, and an alias in the case of MacOS (trademark). In a recent general OS, information such as whether to permit reading for each folder or file, whether to permit writing, and whether or not to protect with a password (hereinafter referred to as “permission information”) is provided. It is usually set.

The user performs an operation for generating this link in advance in the OS of the computer 21 used by the user. For example, when the computer 21 is operating on Windows (trademark), the user generates a directory (folder) for storing images read by the scanner 23 in the future, further creates a shortcut for this folder, and Move to the file system built in the auxiliary storage device 14. Here, the file system of the computer 21 and the file system of the scanner 23 do not necessarily have to be the same, and if different, programs for exchanging files with each other (for example, UNIX)
Exchange files between (Trademark) and Windows (Trademark)
amba (trademark)). That is, in the auxiliary storage device 14 of the scanner 23, for each moved shortcut, its name and type (whether it is a spool folder for a printer or a general file folder)
The OS type and the protocol type indicating how to access the shortcut and the reference information indicating the link destination are stored as a table as shown in FIG. As described above, since the link destination is merely a directory, another directory may be provided below the link destination to form a hierarchical structure. Here, a folder is created on the computer 21 and a link to the folder is stored in the scanner 23. Conversely, a directory for storing an image is generated in the file system of the scanner 23, and
1 may store a link to the directory.

Incidentally, the user may store a conversion information file for instructing the operation of the scanner of the present embodiment in a directory for storing the image generated in the computer 21 of the user. In this conversion information file, information such as which format of the read image is to be saved from among various formats such as JPEG and GIF is set. Further, the conversion information file may include a storage file name, an instruction as to whether or not to overwrite when there is a file with the same name, a compression format, and the like.

In this operation, what is characteristic of the scanner 23 in the present embodiment is that the scanner 23 from the computer 21 looks like a computer connected to a network. This is because the CPU 11 is operating the OS. Specifically, the scanner 2 after the shortcut is moved.
The status of the file system of No. 3 can be viewed from the computer 21 in the same display as when a general folder is opened in Windows (trademark) as shown in FIG. That is, the user sends an icon (FX-Scan) representing the scanner 23 from the computer 21 via the network.
Double-click to open the window, a window as shown in FIG. 4A is displayed on the screen. Here, a program for performing various settings of the scanner 23 is stored in the “Admintool”, and a destination for storing the read image is stored in the “image transfer destination” as shown in FIG. A shortcut to a folder is stored.

Here, the processing of the CPU 11 when the scanner 23 receives an instruction to read an image from the user will be described. Upon receiving an instruction to read an image from the user, the CPU 11 starts processing as shown in FIG. 5 and displays a list of names of links (shortcuts) under the “image transfer destination” directory on the interface unit 17. (S1). Then, the process waits until a link is selected by the user (S2). Referring to the table shown in FIG. 3, the selected link is a link to the spool folder of the printer or a link to a general file folder. Is checked (S3). Then, if the link is to the spool folder of the printer ("printer"), the image is read (S4), and the data of the read image is stored in the spool folder of the printer (S4).
5), end the processing.

On the other hand, in step S3, if the selected transfer destination is a link to a general file folder (if "file"), permission information is acquired by referring to the link destination (S6). Whether you have write permission,
Then, it is checked whether or not it is protected by a password (S7). In this process S7, if writing is not permitted (if No), the CPU 11 ends the process as it is. In step S7, if the link destination is protected by a password ("password"),
Prompt for the user's name and password (S8),
When the user name and the password are input, it is checked whether or not the password set as that of the user matches the input password (S9). If they do not match (No), the process is performed. Returning to S8, the processing is continued, and if they match, the processing moves to S10. Further, in the process S7, if writing to the link destination is unconditionally permitted (if Yes), the process proceeds to the process S10.

Then, the CPU 11 searches for a conversion information file stored in the link destination folder (S1).
0), when the conversion information file is searched (Yes), the conversion information file is obtained, and the conversion processing is set based on the obtained conversion information file (S1).
1), the process proceeds to S13. If the conversion information file is not searched in the process S10 (No), a default conversion process is set (S12).
Move to processing S13.

Then, the CPU 11 reads the image (S13), and performs processing such as converting or compressing the image data into an image file of a predetermined format in accordance with the setting in the processing S11 or S12 (S14). The image file is stored in the link stored in the auxiliary storage device 14 (S15), and the process ends. In this processing S15,
The CPU 11 stores the image file for the link. However, due to the function of the OS of the CPU 11, the image file is actually stored in the folder selected in the process S2 via the link. Will be.

In the above process S5, the CPU 11 preferably reads the settings of the printer 22, processes the read image in accordance with the settings, and stores the processed images in a spool folder for printing. More specifically, a setting file for the printer 22 may be searched and read, or the SNMP
The function of the printer 22 may be acquired using the MIB (Management Information Base) of the printer 22 by (Simple Network Management Protocol) or the like. Further, in this case, a screen for setting the obtained function of the printer 22 may be displayed on the interface unit 17 and an input of the setting may be received. Further, in the process S5, the printing status may be acquired from the printer 22, and the printing status may be displayed on the interface unit 17 as shown in FIG. By displaying the printing status in this way, when the read image is printed as it is, the error status such as a paper jam or no paper can be confirmed from the scanner 23 in addition to the processing status of the printer 22, and the convenience can be improved.

In the above processing S8, two pieces of information of the user name and the password are input.
By treating the name of the shortcut as a user name,
Only when a password is input, it is possible to confirm permission to write to the shortcut folder by the password, thereby improving operability. Here, the password may be a key password for extracting another password.

Further, the above-mentioned image conversion information file is
The program may be processed by the CPU 11. To facilitate rewriting, it is preferable to use a script language such as Perl or Python, which can describe the program itself in text. Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 7, a part of the read image is cut out using Python (A), the cut-out image is used as a key to query the database (B), and the image data is stored in a storage destination according to the result. Is stored (C). By using the image conversion information file as a program in this manner, frequently performed processing can be automated, and convenience can be improved.

The operation of each unit has been described above. Next, the operation of the image reading system according to the present embodiment will be described. In the following description, it is assumed that the link (shortcut) to the storage location of the read image data has already been set.

The interface unit 17 of the scanner 23 initially displays buttons as shown in FIG. Here, this corresponds to an instruction to store the image data read by the “remote copy” key in a predetermined link. When the user presses the “remote copy” key, a list of set links is displayed on the interface unit 17 as shown in FIG. 8B. If this list does not fit on the screen, it is scrolled. The user moves the cursor and selects a link. If the number of links is too large to view, it is also preferable to display each type, for example, by pressing the "*" key to display only the spool folder. If you select the link further, you will be asked for a password. Then, the user enters a password, and if the entered password is valid,
As shown in (c), the contents of the folder of the selected link are displayed, and the link can be further hierarchically selected. Here, the entered password is not displayed,
Preferably, only the number of characters is represented by a symbol such as “*”. It is preferable that the type of the link is displayed after the name of the link. Then, the user links (for example, “Fuji * imag
e)) and pressing the “Start” button, the CPU 11 of the scanner 23 causes the selected link destination “Fuji * ima”
With reference to “ge”, the setting file stored in the link destination is referred to, the document is read based on the setting, and the data of the read image is stored in the selected link destination.

As described above, according to the image reading system of the present embodiment, the scanner has a file system and shares a directory (folder) with a computer connected via a network. The destination can be easily set, and the storage destination can be selected immediately before the image is read by operating the scanner, so that the user who uses the storage destination does not overwrite the storage destination setting, thereby improving the convenience. .

Further, in the image reading system of the present embodiment, the scanner is not locked, so that the user does not forget to release the lock, thereby improving the convenience.

[0032]

According to the image reading system of the present invention, the scanner is provided with the file system and shares the directory with the computer connected via the network, so that the storage destination of the image can be easily set. Further, the storage destination can be selected immediately before the image is read by the operation with the scanner, and the setting of the storage destination is not overwritten by a user who uses later, so that the convenience can be improved.

According to the scanner of the present invention, the file system is provided, and the directory is shared with the computer connected via the network. Therefore, the storage destination of the image can be easily set. With this operation, the storage destination can be selected immediately before the image is read, and the user can use the storage destination without being overwritten with the setting of the storage destination, thereby improving the convenience.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of an image reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of a scanner 23 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a table storing types of links.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a screen display when the scanner 21 is accessed from the computer 21.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process performed by a CPU 11 of the scanner 23.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of display of a printing status in a scanner 23.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image conversion information file.

8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display on an interface unit 17 of the scanner 23. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 CPU, 12 memory, 13 communication device, 14
Auxiliary storage device, 15 page memory, 16 image input device, 17 interface unit, 21 computer, 2
2 printers, 23 scanners, 24 networks.

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] August 30, 1999 (1999.8.3)
0)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 5

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 5

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/32 H04N 1/32 Z (72) Inventor Masaki Uchida 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Eguchi 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Ebina Office F-term (reference) AB42 AC43 AE15 AF12 BA00 BC06 5C075 CA14 CA15 EE02 FF03 FF90

Claims (5)

[Claims] An image reading system including a computer and a scanner connected to the computer via a network, wherein the computer creates a shared folder,
Means for generating a link of the shared folder, means for moving the generated link to the scanner, wherein the scanner reads an image, means for selecting at least one of the links, Means for storing the read image in the selected link. 2. The image reading system according to claim 1, wherein the computer stores the setting file in a created shared folder, and the scanner further refers to the setting file via a selected link. An image reading system, comprising: means for performing processing based on the setting file. 3. The image reading system according to claim 1, wherein the scanner stores the image read in the selected link, and stores the image in the link when the image is stored in the link. An image reading system, wherein if the password does not match, the storage is not performed. 4. The image reading system according to claim 1, wherein the shared folder is a spool folder of a printer. 5. A computer which is connected via a network to a computer having means for creating a shared folder, means for generating a link of the shared folder, and means for moving the generated link, and means for reading an image. And a means for selecting at least one of the links, and a means for storing the read image in the selected link.