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Image processing apparatus and method

a technology of image processing and image, applied in the direction of digital output to print units, visual presentation using printers, instruments, etc., can solve the problems of increasing the amount of data, degrading the image, and poor image quality

Inactive Publication Date: 2012-05-31
CANON KK
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an image processing apparatus and method that can selectively output image data or its original data based on the output purpose of a document. The apparatus includes first input means for inputting first data created by predetermined application software, second input means for inputting second data converted into image data of a predetermined format on the basis of the first data, registration means for registering the first and second data in a database in correspondence with a specific index, output means for outputting either of the first and second data which are registered in the database, designation means for designating an output method by the output means, index input means for inputting information representing the index, and control means for so controlling as to select either of the first and second data on the basis of the output method designated by the designation means and the information which is input by the index input means, and cause the output means to output the selected data in accordance with the output method. The method allows for efficient processing of image data and easy selection of output methods based on the index.

Problems solved by technology

Repetitive copying degrades the image quality accordingly, resulting in a poor image.
When a color original is distributed, it is often copied in monochrome because a color copying apparatus is expensive and does not so prevail, greatly degrading the image.
Processing of data as an image greatly increases the data amount, and makes it difficult to correct part of the data.
Extraction of character data by OCR also suffers problems such that an error occurs and character data cannot be correctly recognized, even if character data is correctly recognized, the font style and size cannot be reproduced, or the layout is lost.
If, however, data is not stored in the file server or database by the user himself, the location and name of the data and its search parameter cannot be obtained, and the data is hardly acquired.

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

first embodiment

[0048]FIG. 1 is a view showing the configuration of a network system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0049]Reference numeral 101 denotes a personal computer (PC) in which application software (to be also simply referred to as an “application” hereinafter) such as wordprocessor software, spreadsheet software, or electronic mail software runs. The PC 101 is connected to a large-capacity disk 102, and the large-capacity disk 102 stores application data 120 created by an operating system, printer driver, application program, and application. The large-capacity disk 102 also stores a distribution material creation program for causing a multifunction copying apparatus 105 (to be described later) to print a distribution material.

[0050]The PC 101 is connected to a LAN 100, and can print data created by an operating system, application, and printer driver by a network printer.

[0051]The multifunction copying apparatus 105 has a copying function, facsimile (FAX) func...

second embodiment

[0104]In the first embodiment described above, a document database is created in the large-capacity disk 106 of the multifunction copying apparatus 105. The second embodiment performs management of creating a document database in a large-capacity disk 104 connected to a document management server 103.

[0105]Compared to the document management server of the large-capacity disk 106 in the multifunction copying apparatus 105, the large-capacity disk 104 can easily increase its storage capacity. Also, a backup medium used to back up data can be easily exchanged.

[0106]FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing processing of creating a distribution material by a multifunction copying apparatus 105 on the basis of image data transmitted from a PC 101 according to the second embodiment. This processing is executed as distribution material creation 5 (step S600).

[0107]Image data transmitted from the PC 101 in step S302 (FIG. 3) is received (step S351), and application data transmitted in step S303 is re...

third embodiment

[0136]In the first and second embodiments described above, a QR code serving as a two-dimensional barcode is recorded as index information in an image. The form of the index information is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, a character string 700 can be used as index information to perform processing corresponding to the character string.

[0137]In the example of FIG. 17, a character string “PC_COPY.abc.co.jp / DB / 001” is recorded as the index information 700. “PC_COPY.abc.co.jp” is the address of a multifunction copying apparatus, and “ / DB / 001” represents the directory name. That is, image data and application data of this distribution material are stored in the directory “ / DB / 001” in the multifunction copying apparatus at the address “PC_COPY.abc.co.jp”.

[0138]In iCOPY (see FIG. 9 or 15), OCR processing is executed in index data extraction processing of step S502. Index data of the recoded character string is extracted, and image data is searched from the database a...

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PUM

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Abstract

The present invention is related to an image processing apparatus and method for efficiently managing a document. First data created by predetermined application software and second data converted into image data of a predetermined format (ex. PDF format) based on the first data are received. The first and second data are registered in a database in correspondence with a specific index. Then, either the first data or the second data is selected based on an output method designation and received information representing the index, and the selected data in accordance with the output method is output.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method for efficiently managing a document.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Recently, along with the spread of computers, materials for use at an office are often created by an application program such as wordprocessor software or spreadsheet software installed in a computer. It also becomes popular to print, by a printer, application data created by an application program, copy the printed material by a necessary number of copies, and distribute them at a meeting or the like.[0003]The distributed material is bounded by a binder or the like and saved, or managed by an electronic filing device.[0004]In some cases, application data is managed by a common file server or database software so as to share information.[0005]A distributed printed material is often prepared by copying an originally printed material. The distributed material is further copied and redistributed.[0006]Repetitive copyi...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G06K15/02G06F3/12G06T1/00G06F15/00G06F17/30H04N1/00H04N1/21H04N1/387
CPCG06F17/30011G06F16/93
Inventor TONEGAWA, NOBUYUKI
Owner CANON KK