Data file generation device, data file generation method, and program

Abstract

To provide a data file generation device that deletes unnecessary files transmitted at the time of reading or transmission cancellation.SOLUTION: A scanner device 2 includes a file generation unit that generates a data file, a file writing unit that writes the data file generated by the file generation unit into an external recording region, a deletion candidate writing unit that writes identification information of the data file written by the file writing unit into the recording region as deletion candidate information indicating a candidate for a file to be deleted, and a deletion candidate invalidation unit that invalidates the deletion candidate information written by the deletion candidate writing unit on the condition that a default data file has been successfully recorded in the recording region.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a data file generating device, a data file generating method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image reading device capable of communicating with an external device, the image reading device comprising: a reception means for receiving an instruction to transmit image data to the external device using a protocol selected from a plurality of transmission protocols; a reading means for generating image data by reading a plurality of documents when the reception means receives the instruction; a query means for querying a user each time a document is read by the reading means as to whether to read another document or to end reading; a sequential transmission means for transmitting the image data generated by the reading means to the external device each time a document is read by the reading means using the protocol selected when the reception means receives the instruction; and a sequential transmission means for transmitting the image data generated by the reading means to the external device each time a document is read by the reading means, until a response indicating that reading is to be ended is received as a response to the query by the query means, An image reading device is disclosed that has a storage type transmission means that stores image data generated from a document read by the reading means in a memory and transmits the stored image data to the external device using the selected protocol, and a control means that, if the selected protocol is a protocol in which a timeout exists for a session established between the image reading device and the external device, controls the image data read and generated by the reading means to be transmitted by the storage type transmission means, and, if the selected protocol is a protocol in which a timeout does not exist for a session established between the image reading device and the external device, controls the image data read and generated by the reading means to be transmitted by the sequential type transmission means.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses an image reading device comprising: a screen display means for displaying an operation screen for accepting user operations; a scan data generation means for reading a document and generating scan data when an instruction to scan a document is received on the operation screen; a save destination acceptance means for accepting a designation of a save destination for the scan data on the operation screen; a file name generation means for automatically generating a file name for the scan data when an instruction to automatically generate the file name is received on the operation screen; a scan data saving means for saving the scan data in the designated save destination with the automatically generated file name; and a display means for displaying on the operation screen to accept an instruction to delete the scan data when the scan data has been saved with the automatically generated file name.

[0004] Patent Document 3 also describes a device that includes a reading unit that reads an image from a document, a communication unit that communicates with a first external device and a second external device, a storage unit, and a control unit, and when the first external device and the second external device are specified as destinations for image data of the document, the control unit performs a generation process of controlling the reading unit to read the image of the document and generate image data, a storage process of storing the image data of the document generated by the generation process in the storage unit, a first transmission process of controlling the communication unit to transmit the image data stored in the storage unit by the storage process to the first external device, and a determination as to whether the transmission of the image data to the first external device by the first transmission process has been successful. The image reading device disclosed is characterized by executing a first judgment process for determining whether the image data stored in the memory unit has been successfully transmitted to the second external device by controlling the communication unit; a second transmission process for determining whether the transmission of the image data to the second external device has been successful by the second transmission process; and a deletion process for controlling the communication unit to send a deletion instruction to the first external device to delete the image data if the first judgment process determines that the transmission of the image data to the first external device has been successful and the second judgment process determines that the transmission of the image data to the second external device has not been successful.

[0005] Furthermore, Patent Document 4 discloses a transmitting device equipped with a scanner, the transmitting device having a first control means for controlling the reading of a document containing multiple pages using the scanner to generate image data, a second control means for performing a conversion process on the generated image data, and a third control means for controlling the transmission of the converted data to an external device via a network, the third control means starting a session while the document is being read in accordance with the control of the first control means, and transmitting data that has already been converted to the external device via the network, and the third control means disconnecting the started session if an error occurs in the scanner when reading the document, and reconnecting the session when the error is resolved, and transmitting the converted data to the external device via the network. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication 2012-142680 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2021-87110 [Patent Document 3] Patent Publication 2018-107604 [Patent Document 4] Patent Publication No. 2020-88683 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a data file generation device that deletes unnecessary files that have been transmitted when reading or transmission is canceled. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The data file generation device of the present invention comprises a file generation unit that generates a data file, a file writing unit that writes the data file generated by the file generation unit to an external recording area, a deletion candidate writing unit that writes identification information of the data file written by the file writing unit to the recording area as deletion candidate information indicating candidates for files to be deleted, and a deletion candidate invalidation unit that invalidates the deletion candidate information written by the deletion candidate writing unit, on condition that a default data file has been successfully recorded in the recording area.

[0009] Preferably, the device has a file writing unit which writes a data file to an external recording area, a deletion candidate writing unit which writes identification information of the data file written by the file writing unit to the recording area as deletion candidate information indicating candidates for files to be deleted, and a file deleting unit which searches for deletion candidate information from the external recording area, and when deletion candidate information is found, deletes the data file from this recording area based on the found deletion candidate information.

[0010] Preferably, the data storage device further comprises a file deleting section which deletes data files from the external recording area by referring to the deletion candidate information written in the external recording area by the deletion candidate writing section.

[0011] Preferably, when the file generation process by the file generation unit or the file writing process by the file writing unit is canceled, the file deletion unit deletes the data file from the external recording area by referring to the deletion candidate information written to the external recording area by the deletion candidate writing unit.

[0012] Preferably, when the file writing section continuously writes a plurality of data files to a recording area, the deletion candidate writing section adds the deletion candidate information in parallel with the writing process.

[0013] Preferably, the deletion candidate invalidation unit deletes the deletion candidate information relating to a plurality of data files generated consecutively by the file generation unit from the recording area, on condition that these data files have been normally recorded.

[0014] Preferably, the file generation process by the file generation section is a continuous scan process.

[0015] Preferably, the file deletion section searches for deletion candidate information in the recording area at a predetermined timing, and deletes data files from the recording area in accordance with the deletion candidate information found.

[0016] Preferably, the file deletion unit searches for deletion candidate information written to the recording area by another data file generation device, and when deletion candidate information is found, deletes the data file from this recording area based on the found deletion candidate information.

[0017] Preferably, the file deletion unit searches for deletion candidate information in the recording area at a predetermined timing, deletes data files from the recording area in accordance with the discovered deletion candidate information, and moves the data files to be deleted to another recording area.

[0018] The data file generation method of the present invention includes the steps of generating a data file, writing the data file generated by the data file generating step to an external recording area, writing identification information of the data file written by the step of writing the data file to the external recording area to the recording area as deletion candidate information indicating a candidate file to be deleted, and invalidating the deletion candidate information written by the step of writing the deletion candidate information to the recording area, on condition that a default data file has been successfully recorded in the recording area.

[0019] The program of the present invention causes a computer to execute the steps of generating a data file, writing the data file generated by the step of generating the data file to an external recording area, writing identification information of the data file written by the step of writing the data file to the external recording area to the recording area as deletion candidate information indicating candidates for files to be deleted, and invalidating the deletion candidate information written by the step of writing the deletion candidate information to the recording area, on condition that a default data file has been successfully recorded in the recording area.

[0020] A data file generating method according to the present invention includes the steps of: writing a data file to an external recording area; writing identification information of the data file written by the data file writing step to the recording area as deletion candidate information indicating candidates for files to be deleted; and searching for deletion candidate information in the external recording area, and, if deletion candidate information is found, deleting the data file from this recording area based on the found deletion candidate information.

[0021] The program of the present invention causes a computer to execute the steps of writing a data file to an external recording area, writing identification information of the data file written by the data file writing step to the recording area as deletion candidate information indicating candidates for files to be deleted, and searching for deletion candidate information from the external recording area, and when deletion candidate information is found, deleting the data file from this recording area based on the found deletion candidate information. Effect of the Invention

[0022] A data file generating device is provided that deletes unnecessary files transmitted when reading or transmission is canceled. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1]1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the contents of a shared folder in an external recording device in which a data file transmitted by a conventional reading device is saved. [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a data file generation system 1. [Diagram 3] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a scanner device 2. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a scanner device 2. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reading list. [Figure 6] 11 is a flowchart illustrating a data file deletion process (S10) performed by the scanner device 2. [Figure 7] 10A is an example of a touch panel that is displayed while a document is being read, and FIG. 10B is an example of a touch panel that is displayed when reading of the document is completed. [Figure 8] 11 is a flowchart for explaining a periodic deletion process (S20) of inconsistent data by the scanner device 2. [Figure 9] 13 is a flowchart for explaining a deletion process (S30) of inconsistent data generated by another scanner device 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] [background] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a shared folder in an external recording device in which a data file transmitted by a conventional reading device is stored. The background of the present invention will be described. Reading devices that can digitize paper documents can improve the efficiency of document management work. However, when transmitting scanned electronic data to an external storage device, if the reading or transmission is canceled, the data remains in the external storage device even though it is no longer needed, which can hinder document management work.

[0025] Specifically, a reading device that stores scanned electronic data in an external recording device connected to a network creates files from the scanned electronic data according to a specific naming rule and stores them in the external recording device. However, if multiple people use different reading devices to create and store files from scanned data in the same external recording device, files with the same name will not be created and overwritten because the naming rule is followed, but each file will be mixed together as shown in Figure 1. If you want to redo the scan, the saved file is no longer necessary and must be deleted. In that case, you must access the external recording device and check the file name, or open the file and check the contents to determine whether it is the one you sent, which is time-consuming and reduces work efficiency. The present invention aims to improve the efficiency of document management operations by preventing such unnecessary documents from remaining in the external recording device.

[0026] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of the data file generation system 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the data file generation system 1 includes a scanner device 2 (scanner device 2a and scanner device 2b are collectively referred to as scanner device 2) and a file server 3, which are connected to each other via a network 4. The scanner device 2 is a network scanner used by a user, which, for example, reads an image from a document in response to a user's operation and stores a data file of the read image data in the file server 3. The scanner device 2 is an example of a data file generating device according to the present invention. The scanner device 2 generates document reading information as a reading list and stores it in the file server 3. The scanner device 2 deletes unnecessary data files generated by the document reading process based on the reading list. The scanner device 2 and the file server 3 are connected via the FTP network protocol. The file server 3 is a computer terminal that is shared by multiple scanner devices 2 and stores data files generated by the scanner devices 2. The file server 3 is an example of an external recording area according to the present invention. The file server 3 saves the reading list generated by the scanner devices 2.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the scanner device 2. As shown in FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the scanner device 2 includes a CPU 200, a volatile memory 202, a non-volatile memory 204, a network interface 206 (network IF 206), and a touch panel 208, which are connected to each other via a bus 210. The CPU 200 is, for example, a central processing unit. The memory 202 is, for example, a volatile memory, and functions as a main storage device. The non-volatile memory 204 serves as a non-volatile storage device and stores, for example, computer programs (eg, the data file generating program 22 in FIG. 4) and other data files. The network IF 206 is an interface for wired or wireless communication. The touch panel 208 is an example of an operation screen, and is, for example, a liquid crystal touch panel.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of the scanner device 2. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, a data file generating program 22 is installed in the scanner device 2 of this embodiment. The data file generation program 22 is stored, for example, on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, and is downloaded from the network and installed on the scanner device 2 via this recording medium or stored on a program providing server on the Internet. The data file generation program 22 has a connection confirmation unit 220, a file generation unit 222, a file writing unit 224, a deletion candidate writing unit 226, a deletion candidate invalidation unit 228, a file deletion unit 230, a detection unit 232, a time management unit 234, an activity determination unit 236, and a status acquisition unit 238. Incidentally, a part or the whole of the data file generating program 22 may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC, or may be realized by borrowing some of the functions of an OS (Operating System).

[0029] In the data file generation program 22, the connection confirmation unit 220 confirms whether the scanner device 2 is connected to the network 4. The connection confirmation unit 220 also confirms the connection state between the scanner device 2 and the file server 3. The file generation unit 222 reads an original document and generates a data file of the read original document. Specifically, the file generation process by the file generation unit 222 is a continuous scanning process of the original document. The file generation unit 222 also assigns a file name to the generated data file in accordance with a naming rule. In this example, the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second when the data file was generated are used as the file name. The file writing unit 224 writes the data file generated by the file generation unit 222 to the file server 3. The file writing unit 224 writes a plurality of data files to the file server 3 successively.

[0030] The deletion candidate writing unit 226 writes the identification information of the data file written by the file writing unit 224 to the file server 3 as deletion candidate information indicating candidates for files to be deleted. Specifically, the deletion candidate information is a reading list of document information read by the file generating unit 222, and more specifically, a list of file names of the generated data files, as exemplified in FIG. 5. The deletion candidate writing unit 226 generates the reading list as a temporary file, and saves it in the file server 3 using a network protocol such as folder sharing or FTP. If the reading job fails due to a disconnection of the network 4, the reading list transmitted to the file server 3 is treated as inconsistent data. Furthermore, when the file writing unit 224 writes a plurality of data files continuously to the recording area, the deletion candidate writing unit 226 adds the read list in parallel with the writing process. The deletion candidate invalidation unit 228 invalidates the read list written by the deletion candidate writing unit 226, on condition that a given data file has been normally recorded in the file server 3. Furthermore, the deletion candidate invalidation unit 228 deletes the read lists relating to a plurality of data files successively generated by the file generating unit 222 from the file server 3, on condition that the file writing unit 224 has normally recorded these data files.

[0031] The file deletion unit 230 searches for the read list of the file server 3, and when the read list is found, based on the found read list, deletes the data file from the file server 3. Specifically, the file deletion unit 230 generates a delete command conforming to the OS, such as the rm command of Linux (registered trademark), based on the read list, and deletes the data file by sending it. In addition, when the file generation process by the file generation unit 222 or the data file writing process by the file writing unit 224 is canceled, the file deletion unit 230 refers to the read list written to the file server 3 and deletes the data file from the file server 3. Furthermore, the file deletion unit 230 searches for the read list of the file server 3 at a predetermined timing, and deletes the data file from the file server 3 according to the found read list. Specifically, when the file deletion unit 230 is notified by the time management unit 234 (described later) that the predetermined timing has arrived, the file deletion unit 230 searches for the read list of the file server 3, and deletes the data file from the file server 3 according to the found read list.

[0032] The file deletion unit 230 searches for a read list written to the file server 3 by another scanner device 2, and when a read list is found, deletes the data file from the file server 3 based on the found read list. Specifically, when the read list written by another scanner device 2 is determined to be in an active state by the activity determination unit 236 (described later), the file deletion unit 230 does not delete the data file based on the found read list. Also, the file deletion unit 230 may search for the read list of the file server 3 at a predetermined timing, delete the data file from the area in which the data file of the file server 3 is stored according to the found read list, and move the deleted data file to another recording area. Specifically, the file deletion unit 230 moves the data file from the folder in which the data file was stored to a trash folder, a temporary folder for deletion, or a default folder, like the move command of Linux (registered trademark). Therefore, the complete deletion of the data file can be left to the user, and the data file can also be restored.

[0033] The detection unit 232 detects an operation by a user on the touch panel 208 of the scanner device 2. Specifically, the detection unit 232 detects a user's pressing of a cancel button for stopping reading of a document, or a button for selecting whether or not to save a data file after reading of multiple documents is completed. The time management unit 234 determines whether a preset timing has arrived. Specifically, the time management unit 234 determines whether a set time (for example, a preset time on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis) has arrived. The activity determination unit 236 determines whether a reading list generated by another scanner device 2 present in the file server 3 is in an active state or in an inactive state. Specifically, the activity determination unit 236 determines that a reading list generated by another scanner device 2 is in an active state when the reading list is locked, the active state is indicated by the file name, or the reading list is monitored and updated for a certain period of time. The status acquisition unit 238 acquires the operating state of the scanner device 2. Specifically, the status acquisition unit 238 determines whether the scanner device 2 is in a standby state.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the data file deletion process (S10) performed by the scanner device 2. First, a case will be described in which the user cancels the reading of a plurality of documents during the reading of the documents using the data file deletion process (S10) in FIG. In step 100 (S100), the connection confirmation unit 220 confirms the connection with the file server 3. In step 105 (S105), the file deletion unit 230 judges whether or not inconsistent data remains in the file server 3. If the file deletion unit 230 judges that no inconsistent data remains, the process proceeds to S110 (S105: No), and if the file deletion unit 230 judges that inconsistent data remains, the process proceeds to S190 (S105: Yes). In step 110 (S110), the file generating section 222 of the scanner device 2 starts reading the document. In step 115 (S115), if the detection unit 232 detects that the user has pressed the cancel button illustrated in FIG. 7(a), the process proceeds to S120 (S115: Yes), and if not, the process proceeds to S135 (S115: No). In step 120 (S120), the scanner device 2 stops feeding. A reading list is generated for the documents read before the feeding is stopped, and if the reading list exists, the process proceeds to S125 (S120: Yes), and if the reading list does not exist, for example, if the reading of the first page of the document is canceled, the reading list has not been created and the process ends. In step 125 (S125), the file deletion unit 230 creates a deletion command based on the file name and the destination folder path in the reading list. In step 130 (S130), the file deletion unit 230 transmits the created command to the target data file, and the data file is deleted from the file server 3.

[0035] Next, a case will be described in which a plurality of documents are all read and the saving of the data file is cancelled after the reading is completed. In S115, if reading of the document continues without being canceled, in step 135 (S135), the file generating unit 222 generates a data file of the read document. In step 140 (S140), the file generation unit 222 determines a file name for the generated data file according to a naming rule and assigns it to the data file. In this example, the file generation unit 222 assigns a name based on the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second when the data file was created. In step 145 (S145), the file writing unit 224 searches whether the same file name exists in the destination folder path of the data file. If the same file name exists, the process proceeds to S150 (S145: Yes), and if the same file name does not exist, the process proceeds to S155 (S145: No). In step 150 (S150), the file generation unit 222 appends a sequential number to the end of the given file name to prevent data files with the same file name from being sent to the destination folder. In step 155 (S155), the file writing unit 224 stores the named data file generated by the file generating unit 222 in the file server 3. In step 160 (S160), the deletion candidate writing unit 226 adds the identification information of the data file saved by the file writing unit 224 to the read list. In step 165 (S165), the deletion candidate writing unit 226 saves the added read list in the file server 3 or updates it.

[0036] In step 170 (S170), if there is a next document to be read, the process proceeds to S110 (S170: Yes), and if all documents have been read, the process proceeds to S175 (S170: No). In step 175 (S175), in a window asking whether or not to save the read data, as illustrated in FIG. 7(b), the user selects “No”, and if the detection unit 232 detects this, the process proceeds to S125 (S175: No). Since the reading of the multiple documents is completed and the reading information of the documents is stored in the reading list by the deletion candidate writing unit 226, in S125 the file deleting unit 230 creates a deletion command based on the reading list, and in S130 the file deleting unit 230 deletes the file. As a result, even if the read data is not saved, no unnecessary files will remain in the file server 3. In step 175 (S175), if the user selects "Yes" and the detection unit 232 detects this, the process proceeds to S180 (S175: Yes). In step 180 (S180), the file writing unit 224 saves the data file generated by the file generation unit 222 in the file server 3. In step 185 (S185), the deletion candidate invalidation unit 228 deletes the read list written by the deletion candidate writing unit 226 from the file server 3.

[0037] Next, a case where the network is disconnected during reading of a plurality of documents will be described. Specifically, a case will be described in which the network 4 is disconnected during the operation of a reading job, and the reading list remains in the file server 3 as inconsistent data. In S100, the connection confirmation unit 220 confirms the connection with the file server 3, and in S105, the file deletion unit 230 confirms whether or not its own inconsistent data remains in the file server 3. Until the network 4 is disconnected, a data file of the scanned original is generated, a file name is assigned, and the data is transmitted to the file server 3. In addition, the reading list is saved and updated as a temporary file in the file server 3. If the network 4 is disconnected, the reading of the original fails, and the reading list saved in the file server 3 exists as inconsistent data. If the user executes a reading job again in this state, this corresponds to the case in which inconsistent data remains at the time of the network 4 disconnection (S105: Yes), and the process proceeds to S190. In step 190 (S190), the file deletion unit 230 creates a deletion command based on the file name and destination folder path of the reading list, which is the inconsistent data. In step 195 (S195), the file deletion unit 230 transmits the created command to each of the target files to delete the files. When the deletion is completed, the deletion candidate invalidation unit 228 deletes the inconsistent data.

[0038] FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the periodic deletion process (S20) of inconsistent data by the scanner device 2. Here, a case will be described where the inconsistent data remains without being deleted by the other scanner device 2. In step 200 (S200), the scanner device 2 is turned on by a user operation. In step 205 (S205), the connection confirmation unit 220 confirms whether or not the scanner device 2 is connected to the network 4. If it is connected, the process proceeds to S210 (S205: Yes), and if it is not connected, the process proceeds to S205 to check the connection again. In step 210 (S210), the time management unit 234 determines whether the designated time has arrived. If the time management unit 234 determines that the designated time has arrived, the process proceeds to S215 (S210: Yes), and if the time management unit 234 determines that the designated time has not arrived, the process proceeds to S205 (S210: No). In step 215 (S215), the file writing unit 224 checks whether there is a job to be sent to the file server 3. If there is a job to be sent, the process proceeds to S220 (S215: Yes), and if there is no job to be sent, the process proceeds to S205 (S215: No). In step 220 (S220), the status acquisition unit 238 judges whether the scanner device 2 is in a standby state. If the status acquisition unit 238 judges that the scanner device 2 is in a standby state, the process proceeds to S230 (S220: Yes), and if the status acquisition unit 238 judges that the scanner device 2 is not in a standby state, the process proceeds to S225 (S220: No).

[0039] In step 225 (S225), the user operation is executed, and the process proceeds to S205. In step 230 (S230), the file deletion unit 230 acquires file information of the file server 3 for each job. In step 235 (S235), the connection confirmation unit 220 confirms whether or not the scanner device 2 and the file server 3 are connected. If they are connected, the process proceeds to S240 (S235: Yes), and if they are not connected, the process proceeds to S205 (S235: No). In step 240 (S240), the file deletion unit 230 searches whether or not inconsistent data exists in the file information acquired in S230. If inconsistent data is found, the process proceeds to S245 (S240: Yes), and if inconsistent data is not found, the process proceeds to S205 (S240: No). In step 245 (S245), the file deletion unit 230 creates a deletion command based on the file name of the reading list, which is the inconsistent data, and the destination folder path. The file deletion unit 230 sends the created command to each of the target files to delete the files. When the deletion is completed, the deletion candidate invalidation unit 228 deletes the inconsistent data. By periodically searching for and deleting inconsistent data, unnecessary files are prevented from remaining in the file server 3.

[0040] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the process (S30) of deleting inconsistent data generated by another scanner device 2. Here, a case will be described in which another scanner device 2 performs a reading process in advance while another reading list is being read and another reading list exists in the file server 3. In step 300 (S300), the file generating unit 222 of the scanner device 2 reads a document. In step 305 (S305), the file generating unit 222 creates a data file of the read document. In step 310 (S310), the file generation unit 222 determines a file name for the generated data file in accordance with a naming rule and assigns it to the data file. In step 315 (S315), the file writing unit 224 stores the named data file generated by the file generating unit 222 in the file server 3. In step 320 (S320), the deletion candidate writing unit 226 adds the identification information of the data file saved by the file writing unit 224 to the read list. In step 325 (S325), the deletion candidate writing unit 226 saves the added read list in the file server 3 or updates it.

[0041] In step 330 (S330), in a window asking whether to save the read data, the user selects “Yes”, and the detection unit 232 detects the user's selection. The file writing unit 224 saves the data file in the file server 3. In step 335 (S335), the deletion candidate invalidation unit 228 deletes the reading list from the file server 3. In step 340 (S340), the file deletion unit 230 checks whether or not a reading list generated by another scanner device 2 exists in the file server 3. If another reading list exists, the process proceeds to S345 (S340: Yes), and if another reading list does not exist, the process ends (S340: No). In step 345 (S345), the activity determination unit 236 determines whether or not the reading list generated by the other scanner device 2 is in an active state. If the activity determination unit 236 determines that the reading list is in an inactive state, the process proceeds to S350 (S345: No), and if the reading list is determined to be in an active state, the process ends (S345: Yes). In step 350 (S350), the other read lists remaining in the file server 3 are regarded as inconsistent data, and the file deletion unit 230 creates a deletion command based on the file name and destination folder path of the read list that is the inconsistent data. The created command is sent to each of the target files to delete the files. In step 355 (S355), the deletion candidate invalidation unit 228 deletes the inconsistent data.

[0042] As described above, when the scanner device 2 cancels the reading process while reading an original or transmitting a data file, when the data file is not saved after reading is completed, or when an error such as a network disconnection occurs, it deletes unnecessary data files that have already been transmitted to the file server 3. This eliminates the need for the user to access the file server 3 from a terminal operated by the user, check the file name or open the file to check the contents, determine what to delete, and then perform the deletion process, thereby improving work efficiency.

[0043] [Variations] Next, a modification of the above embodiment will be described. In the above embodiment, the data file is image data generated by the scanner device 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the data file may be audio data or video data. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1. Data file generation system 2. Scanner device 3. File server 4. Network 22...Data file generation program 220…Connection confirmation section 222...File generation section 224...File writing section 226…Deletion candidate writing section 228…Deletion candidate invalidation section 230...File deletion section 232…Detection unit 234…Time management department 236…Activity determination unit 238…Status acquisition section

Claims

1. A file generation unit that generates a data file, A file writing unit that writes the data file generated by the file generation unit to an external recording area, An identification information writing unit that writes the identification information of the data file written by the file writing unit to the recording area, An invalidation unit that invalidates the identification information written by the identification information writing unit, and When a plurality of data files are continuously written to the recording area by the file writing unit, The identification information writing unit appends the identification information to the recording area in parallel with the writing process, The invalidation unit invalidates the identification information on the condition that the plurality of data files have been normally recorded, A data file generation device.

2. A file writing unit that writes a data file to an external recording area, An identification information writing unit that writes the identification information of the data file written by the file writing unit to the recording area. When a plurality of data files are continuously written to the recording area by the file writing unit, the identification information writing unit appends the identification information to the recording area in parallel with the writing process, A file deletion unit that searches for the identification information from an externally provided recording area and deletes a data file from this recording area based on the discovered identification information when the identification information is found A data file generation device having the above.

3. A file deletion unit that deletes a data file from this external recording area by referring to the identification information written to the external recording area by the identification information writing unit The data file generation device according to Claim 1, further comprising the above.

4. When the file generation process by the file generation unit or the file writing process by the file writing unit is canceled, the file deletion unit refers to the identification information written to the external recording area by the identification information writing unit and deletes a data file from this external recording area The data file generation device according to Claim 3.

5. The invalidation unit deletes the identification information regarding these data files from the recording area on the condition that a plurality of data files continuously generated by the file generation unit have been normally recorded The data file generation device according to Claim 1.

6. The file generation process by the file generation unit is a continuous scanning process The data file generation device according to claim 1.

7. The file deletion unit searches for the identification information in the recording area at a predetermined timing, and deletes the data file from the recording area according to the discovered identification information. The data file generation device according to claim 2 or 3.

8. The file deletion unit searches for the identification information written in the recording area by another data file generation device, and when the identification information is discovered, deletes the data file from this recording area based on the discovered identification information. The data file generation device according to claim 2 or 3.

9. The file deletion unit searches for the identification information in the recording area at a predetermined timing, deletes the data file from the recording area according to the discovered identification information, and moves the data file to be deleted to another recording area. The data file generation device according to claim 2 or 3.

10. A data file generation step of generating a data file; A file writing step of writing the data file generated by the data file generation step to an external recording area; An identification information writing step of writing the identification information of the data file written by the step of writing the data file to an external recording area to the recording area; An invalidation step of invalidating the identification information written in the identification information writing step, and When a plurality of data files are continuously written to the recording area by the file writing unit, In the identification information writing step, the identification information is appended to the recording area in parallel with the writing process, In the invalidation step, the identification information is invalidated on the condition that the plurality of data files are normally recorded. A data file generation method.

11. A data file generation step of generating a data file; A file writing step of writing the data file generated by the data file generation step to an external recording area; An identification information writing step of writing the identification information of the data file written by the step of writing the data file to an external recording area to the recording area; An invalidation step of invalidating the identification information written in the identification information writing step is executed by a computer, and When a plurality of data files are continuously written to the recording area by the file writing unit, In the identification information writing step, the identification information is additionally written to the recording area in parallel with the writing process. In the invalidation step, the identification information is invalidated on the condition that the plurality of data files have been normally recorded. Program.

12. A step of writing a data file to an external recording area, A step of writing identification information of the data file written in the step of writing the data file to the recording area, wherein when a plurality of data files are continuously written to the recording area in the file writing step, the identification information is additionally written to the recording area in parallel with the writing process; an identification information writing step, A step of searching for the identification information from an externally provided recording area, and when the identification information is found, deleting a data file from this recording area based on the found identification information A data file generation method having the above.

13. A step of writing a data file to an external recording area, A step of writing identification information of the data file written in the step of writing the data file to the recording area, wherein when a plurality of data files are continuously written to the recording area in the file writing step, the identification information is additionally written to the recording area in parallel with the writing process; an identification information writing step, A step of searching for the identification information from an externally provided recording area, and when the identification information is found, deleting a data file from this recording area based on the found identification information A program for causing a computer to execute the above.

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