Image reading system

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to an image reading system that optically reads an image into digital data, and particularly relates to an improvement in operational convenience.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

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

【0003】

Specifically, the scanner shared via the network receives the input of the setting of the place to store the image read from each user's computer via the network, and stores the next read image in the instructed place. To do.

【0004】

That is, the user first operates the computer used by the user and sets the hard disk of the computer as a place for storing the image in the scanner. Then, the user moves to the place where the scanner is installed, performs an operation of reading the image, and returns to the computer to continue the work.

【0005】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional scanner, if the first user sets the storage location and another second user sets a new storage location while moving to the scanner installation location, the second user The image read by the first user by operating the scanner is stored in the storage location set by the second user, which causes a problem of low convenience.

【0006】

Therefore, it is conceivable to perform an operation of locking the scanner for which the storage location is set, but in this case, unless the user unlocks the scanner, another user cannot use the scanner forever, which is inconvenient.

【0007】

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

【0008】

[Means for solving problems]

The invention according to claim 1 for solving the problems of the above conventional example is an image reading system including a computer and a scanner connected to the computer via a network, in which the computer creates a shared folder. A means, a means for generating a link of the shared folder, and a means for moving the generated link to the scanner, the scanner means for reading an image and a means for selecting at least one of the links. And a means for storing the scanned image in the selected link.

【0009】

Further, in the invention according to claim 2 for solving the problem of the conventional example, in the image reading system according to claim 1, the computer stores a setting file in a created shared folder, and the scanner. Further, it is characterized in that it includes means for referencing the setting file via a selected link and means for performing processing based on the setting file.

【0010】

Further, the invention according to claim 3 for solving the problem of the conventional example is the image reading system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the scanner stores the read image in the selected link. When storing the image in the link, the means for inquiring the password is inquired, and if the passwords do not match, the image is not stored.

【0011】

Further, in the invention according to claim 4 for solving the problem of the above-mentioned conventional example, in the image reading system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the shared folder is a spool folder of a printer. It is a feature.

【0012】

Further, the invention according to claim 5 for solving the problem of the above-mentioned conventional example includes a means for creating a shared folder, a means for generating a link of the shared folder, and a means for moving the generated link. A scanner connected to a computer comprising, via a network, the means for reading an image, the means for selecting at least one of the links, and storing the read image in the selected link. It is characterized by having means.

【0013】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

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

【0014】

As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading system according to the embodiment of the present invention is composed of a plurality of computers 21, a printer 22, and a scanner 23, and each of these parts is connected via a network 24. Has been done. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the scanner 23, which is a feature of the present invention, includes a CPU 11, a memory 12, a communication device 13, an auxiliary storage device 14, a page memory 15, an image input device 16, and an interface. It is mainly composed of parts 17, and each of these parts is connected to each other via a bus.

【0015】

The computer 21 controls the scanner 23 via the network 24 according to an instruction input from the user, and also receives input of image data read by the scanner 23 via the network 24. When a file is stored in a specific spool folder set in advance, the printer 22 prints the contents of the file.

【0016】

Further, the CPU 11 of the scanner 23 performs processing according to the instruction stored in the memory 12. This CPU 11 is an OS (Operating) such as Windows CE (trademark). System) is running. The specific contents of the processing of CPU 11 will be described later. The memory 12 stores a program processed by the CPU 11, operates as a work memory of the CPU 11, and also serves as a buffer for temporarily holding data sent and received to and from the network 24 via the communication device 13. Operate. The 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, EEPROM, or the like, and a file system is constructed, and in addition to a spool folder for a printer, programs and data processed by a CPU 11 such as a printer driver are stored. The page memory 15 holds image data read by the image input device 16. The image input device 16 optically reads the original and outputs it as image data. The interface unit 17 is a display device with a touch panel, displays according to an instruction input from the CPU 11, and transmits the user's operation content on the touch panel to the CPU 11.

【0017】

Here, the contents of the file system constructed in the auxiliary storage device 14 will be described. A file system that can use link information is constructed in the auxiliary storage device 14. Specific examples of such a file system include ufs (UNIX File System) and NTFS (NT File System). Here, the link information is a proxy file that represents the storage location of the actual file, and is specifically a shortcut in the case of Windows (trademark) OS and an alias in the case of MacOS (trademark). In addition, in a general OS in recent years, information such as whether to allow reading, whether to allow writing, and whether to protect with a password (hereinafter referred to as "permission information") is provided for each folder or file. It is usually set.

【0018】

The user performs an operation to generate this link in advance in the OS of the computer 21 to be used by the user. For example, if the computer 21 is running Windows , the user will generate a directory (folder) to store the images scanned by the scanner 23 in the future, and create a shortcut for this folder to create a shortcut for the scanner 23. 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 they are different, programs for exchanging files with each other (for example, between UNIX and Windows ). You can use Samba (such as Samba) to exchange files. That is, in the auxiliary storage device 14 of the scanner 23, for each shortcut moved, the name, the type (whether it is a spool folder for a printer or a general file folder), and how to deal with the shortcut. The OS type and protocol type indicating whether to access the file and the reference information indicating the link destination are associated and stored as a table as shown in FIG. Since the link destination is just a directory in this way, another directory may be placed under the link destination to form a hierarchical structure. Also, here, a folder is created on the computer 21 and a link to the folder is stored in the scanner 23, but conversely, a directory in which the image is stored is generated in the file system of the scanner 23 and stored in the computer 21. You may store a link to that directory.

【0019】

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

【0020】

Further, in the operation here, the characteristic feature of the scanner 23 in the present embodiment is that the scanner 23 looks like a computer connected to the network from the computer 21. This is because CPU 11 is running the OS, and the state of the file system of the scanner 23 after moving the shortcut is general from computer 21 in Windows as shown in Fig. 4. You can see it as if you opened a new folder. That is, when the user double-clicks the icon (named FX-Scan) representing the scanner 23 from the computer 21 via the network to open it, a window as shown in FIG. 4 (a) is displayed on the screen. Will be done. Here, the "Admin tool" stores programs for making various settings of the scanner 23, and the "image transfer destination" stores the scanned image as shown in FIG. 4 (b). Contains shortcuts to a folder.

【0021】

Here, the processing of the CPU 11 when the scanner 23 receives an input of an instruction to read an image from the user will be described. The CPU 11 receives an instruction to read an image from the user, starts the process as shown in FIG. 5, and displays a list of link (shortcut) names under the "image transfer destination" directory on the interface unit 17. (S1). Then, wait until the link is selected by the user (S2), refer to the table shown in Fig. 3, and the selected link is a link to the spool folder of the printer or a link to a general file folder. Check (S3). Then, if it is a link to the spool folder of the printer (if it is a "printer"), the image is read (S4), the data of the read image is stored in the spool folder of the printer (S5), and the process ends. ..

【0022】

On the other hand, in process S3, if the selected transfer destination is a link to a general file folder (if it is a "file"), the permission information is obtained by referring to the link destination (S6), and write permission is granted. Check if there is any and if it is protected by a password (S7). In this process S7, if there is no write permission (if No), CPU 11 ends the process as it is. Also, in process S7, if the link destination is protected by a password (if it is a "password"), prompt the user to enter the name and password (S8), and when the user name and password are entered, that user Check if the password set as is and the entered password match (S9), and if they do not match (if no), go back to process S8 and continue processing, and if they match Move to process S10. Furthermore, in process S7, if writing to the link destination is unconditionally permitted (if Yes), the process proceeds to process S10.

【0023】

Then, CPU 11 searches for the conversion information file stored in the linked folder (S10), and when the conversion information file is searched (Yes), it acquires the conversion information file and performs the acquired conversion. Set the conversion process based on the information file (S11), and move to process S13. If the conversion information file is not searched in process S10 (if it is No), the default conversion process is set (S12) and the process proceeds to process S13.

【0024】

Then, the CPU 11 reads the image (S13), converts the image data into an image file of a predetermined format, compresses the image data, or the like according to the setting in the process S11 or the process S12 (S14), and performs the process such as compressing the image file. Is stored in the link stored in the auxiliary storage device 14 (S15), and the process is terminated. In this process S15, CPU11 stores the image file for the link, but due to the function of the OS of CPU11, in reality, this image file is the folder selected in process S2 via the link. It will be stored in.

【0025】

In the above process S5, it is preferable that the CPU 11 reads the setting of the printer 22, processes the image read according to the setting, and stores it in the spool folder for printing. Specifically, the setting file for the printer 22 may be searched and read, or the function of the printer 22 may be acquired by using the MIB (Management Information Base) of the printer 22 by SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) or the like. May be good. Further, in this case, the interface unit 17 may display the screen for setting the function of the obtained printer 22, and may receive the input of the setting. Further, in the process S5, the print status may be acquired from the printer 22 and the print status may be displayed on the interface unit 17 as shown in FIG. If the print status is displayed in this way, when the scanned image is printed as it is, the scanner 23 can check the processing status of the printer 22 as well as the error status such as a paper jam or no paper, which can improve convenience.

【0026】

In addition, in the above process S8, two pieces of information, the user name and the password, are input, but by treating the shortcut name as the user name, only the password is input and the password is used to enter the shortcut folder. You can check the write permission and improve the operability. Here, the password may be a key password for extracting another password.

【0027】

Further, the above image conversion information file may be a program processed by CPU 11. In order to facilitate rewriting, it is preferable to use a script language such as Perl or Python that can describe the program itself in text. Specifically, in the example shown in Fig. 7, Python is used to cut out a part of the read image (A), query the database using the cut out image as a key (B), and store the image data according to the result. (C) Processing is instructed. By setting the image conversion information file as a program in this way, it is possible to automate the processing that is often performed and improve the convenience.

【0028】

Since the operation of each part has been described above, the operation of the image reading system of the present embodiment will be described next. In the following explanation, it is assumed that the link (shortcut) to the storage destination of the read image data has already been set.

【0029】

Initially, a button as shown in FIG. 8A is displayed on the interface unit 17 of the scanner 23. Here, it corresponds to an instruction to store the image data read by the "remote copy" key in a predetermined link. When the user presses this "remote copy" key, the interface unit 17 displays a list of set links as shown in FIG. 8 (b). If this list does not fit on the screen, it will be scrolled. The user moves the cursor and selects a link. If the number of links is too large to be seen, it is preferable to display each type, for example, by pressing the "*" key, only the spool folder is displayed. If you select another link, you will be asked for a password. Then, when the user enters the password and the entered password is valid, the contents of the folder of the selected link are displayed as shown in Fig. 8 (c), and the link can be selected hierarchically. .. Here, it is preferable that the entered password is not displayed and only the number of characters is represented by a symbol such as "*". In addition, it is preferable to display the type of the link after the name of the link. Then, when the user selects a link (for example, "Fuji * image") and presses the "Start" button, the CPU 11 of the scanner 23 refers to the selected link destination "Fuji * image" and is stored in the link destination. The original is read based on the setting by referring to the setting file, and the data of the scanned image is stored in the selected link destination.

【0030】

As described above, according to the image reading system of the present embodiment, since the scanner has a file system and shares a directory (folder) with a computer connected via a network, it is easy to store the image. In addition, the storage destination can be selected immediately before scanning the image by the operation with the scanner, and the storage destination setting is not overwritten by the user who uses it later, and the convenience can be improved.

【0031】

Further, since the scanner is not locked in the image reading system of the present embodiment, it is possible to improve convenience without forgetting to unlock the scanner.

【0032】

[Effect of the invention]

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

【0033】

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

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

It is a block diagram of the structural block of the image reading system which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

[Figure 2]

It is a block diagram of the structure of the scanner 23 which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 3]

It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the table which stored the type of a link.

[Fig. 4]

It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the screen display when the scanner 23 is accessed from a computer 21.

[Fig. 5]

It is a flowchart which shows the process performed by the CPU 11 of the scanner 23.

[Fig. 6]

It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the display of the printing state in the scanner 23.

[Fig. 7]

It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the image conversion information file.

[Fig. 8]

It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the display of the interface part 17 of a scanner 23.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 CPU, 12 memory, 13 communication device, 14 auxiliary storage device, 15 page memory, 16 image input device, 17 interface section, 21 computer, 22 printer, 23 scanner, 24 network.