Original reading device

Abstract

To assign a file name suitable for the contents of a document image even when the document image is mainly a photograph or a picture.SOLUTION: An image forming device 1 is provided with an information acquisition unit 101 that uses an original image as a search condition to acquire information highly related to the original image by means of a search engine, a phrase extraction unit 102 that extracts, based on character information included in the information acquired by the information acquisition unit 101, a candidate phrase for a file name from a group of characters indicated by the character information, and a control unit 100 that uses the phrase extracted by the phrase extraction unit 102 as the file name.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an original reading device that reads an image of an original. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, as offices and other places have become more paperless, images of paper documents (originals) are sometimes read with a scanner and the image data is saved as a file. To save a file, a file name must be given, but it is time-consuming for users to generate a file name that is appropriate for the file. Furthermore, if it takes time to generate a file name, the time required to save the file also increases. The following Patent Documents 1 to 3 describe generating a file name based on text within the file. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 6,885,481 [Patent Document 2] US Patent Application Publication No. 2014-0122479 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Patent No. 9,471,581 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, if the document image does not contain any characters and is mostly made up of photographs or pictures, it is difficult to generate a file name using the techniques described in the above Patent Documents 1 to 3.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a file name that is appropriate to the content of an original image even if the image is mostly made up of photographs or pictures. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A document reading device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a display unit, an operation unit that accepts operation input from a user, a document reading unit that reads an image of a document, a control unit that assigns a file name to a file of image data obtained by reading by the document reading unit and stores it in a memory unit, an information acquisition unit that acquires information highly relevant to the document image by a search engine using the document image indicated by the image data as a search condition, and a word extraction unit that extracts words that are candidates for a file name from a group of characters indicated by character information based on character information contained in the information acquired by the information acquisition unit, and further, the control unit displays the words extracted by the word extraction unit on the display unit as candidates for a file name for the file, and sets the words selected in response to instructions from the user received by the operation unit as the file name. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, information highly related to the original image is obtained using the original image, not characters, as a search condition, and a word or phrase based on the character information contained in the information is used as the file name. Therefore, even if the original image is mostly made up of photographs or pictures, it is possible to give the file of the original image a file name that is appropriate to the contents of the original image. As a result, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the effort required by the user to give a file name to the original image and shorten the time required to save the file. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an image forming apparatus including a document reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an example of an original image, and FIGS. 1B and 1C are diagrams showing examples of information highly relevant to the original image. [Figure 4]FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an example of an original image, and FIGS. 1B and 1C are diagrams showing examples of information highly relevant to the original image. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an example of an original image, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of information highly relevant to the original image. [Figure 6] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an example of an original image, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of information highly relevant to the original image. [Figure 7] 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a file name assignment process performed by the image forming apparatus. [Figure 8] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an example of an original image, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of information highly relevant to the original image. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic main internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an original image in which a plurality of images are laid out. [Figure 11] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing an example of information highly relevant to each of a plurality of images. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An original reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of an image forming apparatus including an original reading device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] The image forming device 1 is a multifunction device that combines multiple functions, such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function, and is configured to include a document feeding unit 6, a document reading unit 5, an image forming unit 12, a paper feeding unit 14, and an operation unit 47.

[0011] The document feeder 6 is configured to be openable and closable by a hinge or the like (not shown) on the upper surface of the document reading unit 5, and functions as a document pressing cover when reading a document placed on a platen glass (not shown). The document feeder 6 is also called an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), and includes a document placement tray 61 on which documents are placed, and a document discharge tray 62 provided below the document placement tray 61. The document feeder 6 supplies documents placed on the document placement tray 61 to the document reading unit 5 one by one, and discharges the documents to the document discharge tray 62.

[0012] A description will be given of a case where a document reading operation is performed by the image forming apparatus 1. The document reading unit 5 optically reads an image of a document supplied to the document reading unit 5 by the document feeding unit 6 or a document placed on the platen glass, and generates image data. The image data generated by the document reading unit 5 is stored in an image memory or the like (not shown).

[0013] A description will be given of an image forming operation performed by the image forming apparatus 1. Based on image data generated by a document reading operation or image data received from a computer serving as an external device (e.g., a personal computer) connected via a network, the image forming unit 12 forms a toner image on a recording paper serving as a recording medium fed from a paper feed unit 14.

[0014] The recording paper on which the toner image has been formed by the image forming unit 12 is subjected to a fixing process in a fixing unit 13 (FIG. 2) described later, and the recording paper after the fixing process is discharged onto a discharge tray 151. The paper supply unit 14 includes a plurality of paper supply cassettes 141.

[0015] The operation unit 47 receives instructions, such as an instruction to execute an image forming operation, from an operator regarding various operations and processes that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1. The operation unit 47 includes a display unit 473 that displays operation guides and the like for the operator. The operation unit 47 also receives input of instructions from the user via a touch panel included in the display unit 473, based on the user's operation (touch operation) on an operation screen displayed on the display unit 473 or the user's operation on physical keys.

[0016] The display unit 473 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like. The display unit 473 is equipped with a touch panel. When the operator touches a button or key displayed on the screen, the touch panel receives an instruction associated with the touched position.

[0017] 2 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a document feeder 6, a document reader 5, an image forming unit 12, a fixing unit 13, a paper feeder 14, an operation unit 47, a network interface unit 91, and a storage unit 8.

[0018] The fixing unit 13 heats and pressurizes the recording paper on which the toner image has been formed by the image forming unit 12, thereby fixing the toner image to the recording paper. The recording paper that has undergone the fixing process is discharged onto the discharge tray 151 (Figure 1).

[0019] The network interface unit 91 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving various data to and from an external device (eg, a server) within a local area or on the Internet.

[0020] The storage unit 8 is a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), and stores various control programs and the like.

[0021] The control unit 10 includes a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a dedicated hardware circuit. The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The control unit 10 includes a control unit 100, an information acquisition unit 101, and a phrase extraction unit 102.

[0022] The control unit 10 functions as a control unit 100, an information acquisition unit 101, and a phrase extraction unit 102 by the operation of the processor in accordance with a control program stored in the storage unit 8. However, the control unit 100 and the like can also be configured by hardware circuits, without relying on the operation of the control unit 10 in accordance with a control program. The same applies to each embodiment below unless otherwise stated.

[0023] The control unit 100 is responsible for controlling the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 100 is connected to the document feeding unit 6, the document reading unit 5, the image forming unit 12, the fixing unit 13, the paper feeding unit 14, the operation unit 47, the network interface unit 91, and the storage unit 8, and performs drive control of each of these units.

[0024] For example, the control unit 100 executes various processes necessary for image formation by the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 100 also assigns a file name to the file of image data obtained by reading by the document reading unit 5 and stores the file in the storage unit 8. The control unit 100 may transmit the file to an external device such as a personal computer via the network interface unit 91, and store the file in a storage unit in the external device.

[0025] The information acquisition unit 101 acquires information highly relevant to the document image by a search engine using the document image indicated by the image data obtained by reading by the document reading unit 5 as a search condition. For example, the information acquisition unit 101 acquires information highly relevant to the document image from the Internet by a known search engine (e.g., Google, Bing, etc.) via the network interface unit 91 using the document image as a search condition. An example in which the information acquisition unit 101 acquires information highly relevant to the document image by a known search engine using the document image as a search condition will be described below. Note that in Figs. 3 to 6, 8, 10, and 11, each image used as a search result is purposely blurred.

[0026] Using an original image G1 (3.5-inch hard disk manufactured by ABCD, SATA connection standard, product name "FISH") as shown in Fig. 3(A) as a search criterion, a search is made on the Internet using a search engine to search for similar images, and images as shown in Fig. 3(B) and (C) are hit and obtained as information highly relevant to the original image G1. The search engine uses known technology to distinguish between images that are identical to the search target image and images that are similar, and presents the results as search results. The company names and product names mentioned above are fictitious, and the same applies hereinafter.

[0027] FIG. 3B shows that the search results obtained by the search engine are images G11 to G13 that are identical in content to original image G1, and text information T11 indicating the content of images G11 to G13, "ABCD FISH 3.5" SATA HDD." In this case, since images G11 to G13 are identical to original image G1, text information T11 is text information indicating the content of original image G1 itself.

[0028] FIG. 3C shows that similar images G14 to G17 similar to document image G1 and text information T14 to T17 indicating the contents of the similar images G14 to G17 similar to document image G1 are obtained as search results by the search engine.

[0029] As shown in the examples of Figures 3(B) and (C), the information acquisition unit 101 acquires, as information other than images that is highly relevant to the original image G1, character information T11 indicating the content of the original image G1 itself and character information T14 to T17 indicating the content of similar images G14 to G17 that resemble the original image G1.

[0030] Using an original image G2 (a multifunction printer manufactured by KKKKKK Co., Ltd., product name "STAR 181") as an example shown in Figure 4(A) as a search criterion, a search engine is used to search for similar images on the Internet, and images as shown in examples in Figures 4(B) and (C) are found, which are obtained as information highly relevant to the original image G2.

[0031] Fig. 4(B) shows similar images G21 to G23 that have the same content as the original image G2, and character information T21 "KKKKKK STAR 181" that indicates the content. In other words, the character information T21 is character information that indicates the content of the original image G2 itself. Fig. 4(C) shows similar images G24 to G26 that resemble the original image G2, and character information T24 to T26 that indicates the respective contents.

[0032] Using a manuscript image G3 (wooden toy truck) such as the example shown in Figure 5(A) as a search criterion, a search engine retrieves information from the Internet that is highly relevant to the manuscript image G3, such as the example shown in Figure 5(B).

[0033] 5B shows similar images G31 to G36 similar to the original image G3 and character information T31 to T36 indicating their contents. When the original image G3 is used as a search condition, unlike when the original images G1 and G2 are used as search conditions, it is assumed that no similar images recognized to have the same contents as the original image G3 are obtained. That is, in this case, the information acquisition unit 101 acquires character information T31 to T36 indicating the contents of similar images G31 to G36 similar to the original image G3 as information highly related to the original image G3, but does not acquire character information indicating the contents of the original image G3 itself.

[0034] Using a manuscript image G4 (a passage from the Bible, "Romans 6:23") as shown in FIG. 6(A) as a search criterion, a search engine retrieves information from the Internet that is highly relevant to the manuscript image G4, as shown in FIG. 6(B).

[0035] 6B shows similar images G41 to G48 that resemble original image G4 and character information T41 to T48 that indicates their respective contents. When original image G4 is used as a search criterion, similar images that are recognized to have the same contents as original image G4 are not obtained, as in the case where original image G3 is used as a search criterion.

[0036] The phrase extraction unit 102 extracts words and phrases that are candidates for the file name from the character group indicated by the character information based on the character information included in the information acquired by the information acquisition unit 101. For example, when the information acquisition unit 101 acquires character information indicating the contents of the original image itself as information highly related to the original image, the phrase extraction unit 102 extracts words and phrases that are candidates for the file name from the character group indicated by the character information indicating the contents of the original image itself, even if a similar image and its character information are presented as a search result. The phrase extraction unit 102 may randomly select one of the character information indicating the contents of the original image itself and extract it as a word and phrase that are candidates for the file name, or may extract a character string that appears commonly in the character group indicated by each piece of character information and extract it as a word and phrase that are candidates for the file name.

[0037] When the information acquisition unit 101 acquires character information T11 “ABCD FISH 3.5” SATA HDD” indicating the contents of the original image G1 itself, as shown in FIG. 3(B), the word extraction unit 102 extracts words that are candidates for a file name from the group of characters indicated by the character information T11.

[0038] In addition, when the information acquisition unit 101 acquires character information T21 "KKKKKK STAR 181" indicating the content of the original image G2 itself, as shown in Figure 4 (B), the word extraction unit 102 extracts words that are candidates for a file name from the group of characters indicated by the character information T21.

[0039] As a method of extracting words and phrases, the word and phrase extraction unit 102 may further adopt a method of extracting all of "ABCD FISH 3.5" SATA HDD" or a predetermined appropriate number of characters, as shown in FIG. 3B. For example, if the appropriate number of characters is set to 16, the word and phrase extraction unit 102 extracts the 16 characters of the word "ABCD FISH 3.5" SATA" from the group of characters indicated by the character information T11 as a word and phrase to be a candidate for the file name, and excludes "HDD."

[0040] On the other hand, when the information acquisition unit 101 does not acquire character information indicating the content of the original image itself as information highly relevant to the original image, but acquires character information indicating the content of a similar image that resembles the original image, the word extraction unit 102 extracts frequently occurring words and phrases from the group of characters indicated by the character information indicating the content of the similar image as candidate words and phrases for file names.

[0041] For example, based on character information T31 to T36 (or character information T41 to T48) indicating the contents of similar images similar to original image G3 (or original image G4) as shown in Fig. 5 (or Fig. 6), the term extraction unit 102 extracts frequently occurring terms from the character group indicated by each piece of character information. A "frequent term" refers to, for example, a term that appears in two or more pieces of character information among the pieces of character information presented as search results.

[0042] Among the group of characters indicated by the character information T31 to T36, the most frequently occurring words are "wooden," "toy," "truck," "wooden toy," and "wooden toy truck." Methods of extracting words include (a) extracting the most frequently occurring word "wooden," or (b) extracting a word close to a predetermined optimum number of characters. For example, when the optimum number of characters is set to 16, the word extraction unit 102 extracts the word "wooden toy truck." Alternatively, the word extraction unit 102 extracts, for example, the most frequently occurring word "Romans 6:23" from the group of characters indicated by the character information T41 to T48.

[0043] The control unit 100 further displays the words extracted by the word extraction unit 102 on the display unit 473 as candidates for the file name of the file of the image data obtained by reading by the document reading unit 5, and presents them to the user, and in accordance with an instruction from the user to select a file name received by the operation unit 47, sets the word selected from the candidates as the file name.

[0044] Next, an example of a file name assignment process performed by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0045] When the operation unit 47 receives a scan instruction from the user, the control unit 100 controls the operation of the document feeding unit 6 and the document reading unit 5, reads the image of the document placed on the document loading tray 61 or the document placed on the platen glass, and obtains image data of the document (S1).

[0046] The information acquisition unit 101 acquires information highly related to the document image by a search engine using the document image indicated by the image data acquired by the control unit 100 as a search condition (S2). The control unit 100 determines whether the information acquisition unit 101 has acquired the above information (S3).

[0047] When the control unit 100 determines that the information acquisition unit 101 has acquired the above information (YES in S3), the word extraction unit 102 extracts words and phrases that are candidates for the file name from the group of characters indicated by the character information based on the character information included in the above information acquired by the information acquisition unit 101 (S4). When the original image captured in response to a scan instruction from the user is, for example, original image G3 as shown in Fig. 3(A), the word extraction unit 102 extracts the words "ABCD FISH 3.5" SATA" as candidates for the file name from the above character information accompanying each image presented as a search result that is the same image as the image to be searched.

[0048] The control unit 100 displays the words extracted by the word extraction unit 102 on the display unit 473 as candidates for the file name of the file of the image data (S5), and determines whether an consent instruction to use the candidates as the file name has been received from the user via the operation unit 47 (S6).

[0049] When the control unit 100 determines that the consent instruction has been received by the operation unit 47 (YES in S6), it sets the candidate word or phrase as the file name of the file consisting of the document image (S7), and stores the file in the storage unit 8 with the determined file name (S8). After this, the process ends.

[0050] On the other hand, when control unit 100 determines that a non-approval instruction not to approve the use of the candidate as the file name has been received by operation unit 47 (NO in S6), control unit 100 controls the display of display unit 473 to display a file name input screen that prompts the user to input a phrase to be used as the file name (S9). Then, control unit 100 sets the phrase received by operation unit 47 through a user's operation as the file name (S10), and stores the file in storage unit 8 with the determined file name (S8). After this, the process ends.

[0051] In addition, when the above-mentioned non-acceptance is accepted by operation unit 47, control unit 100 may display a setting screen on display unit 473 to present the current date and time, etc. to the user as a file name and accept an instruction to accept the file name, and when an instruction to accept the file name is accepted by operation unit 47, the file name may be set as the file name of a file consisting of the above-mentioned original image, and the file may be saved in memory unit 8.

[0052] In addition, in S3, if the control unit 100 determines that the information acquisition unit 101 has not acquired the above information (NO in S3), the process proceeds to S9.

[0053] In addition, in the above process, the process of S6 may be omitted, and the control unit 100 may immediately perform the processes of S7 and S8 after the process of S5 without waiting for an approval instruction from the user.

[0054] According to the above embodiment, when a file name is assigned to image data showing an original image, information highly related to the original image is obtained as a search result from a search engine using the original image as a search condition, and words based on character information contained in the information are set as file name candidates, and the candidates are set as file names or presented to the user as file name candidates. Therefore, even if the majority of the original image is a photograph or picture, a file name suitable for the content of the image data of the original image can be set for the file or presented to the user as file name candidates, reducing the user's effort and shortening the time required for saving the file.

[0055] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Some manuscript images are composed only of characters and backgrounds, without any photographs or pictures. As shown in the example of Fig. 6(A), if the content of the text is well-known, even if the manuscript image showing the characters and background is used as the search target, the information acquisition unit 101 can acquire a lot of information highly related to the manuscript image with many similarities, and the phrase extraction unit 102 can extract a phrase suitable for a file name ("Romans 6:23" when the manuscript image shown in Fig. 6(A) is used as the search target).

[0056] However, if the text is not well-known (for example, if it is simply a personal letter), even if an image search is performed using the original image of the text as the search target, there may be few commonalities between the original image and the information highly relevant to it acquired by the information acquisition unit 101, making it difficult for the word extraction unit 102 to extract words suitable for a file name.

[0057] For example, we will explain the case where a manuscript image G5, which does not contain any famous sentences and is composed only of text and background, as shown in Figure 8(A), is used as a search criterion to obtain information highly relevant to the manuscript image G5 from the Internet, and information such as the example shown in Figure 8(B) is obtained.

[0058] 8B shows similar images G51 to G56 that look similar to the original image G5 and character information T51 to T56 that indicate their contents. Note that an example is given of a case where a similar image that is recognized to have the same content as the original image G5 is not obtained as a search result. In addition, since the search target is an image showing an unfamous sentence, it is unlikely that the similar images G51 to G56 are similar to each other, and it is highly likely that the character groups shown by the character information T51 to T56 do not have common words, so it is difficult to extract words suitable for a file name.

[0059] 9, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment, the control unit 10 functions as a character recognition unit 103 in addition to the control unit 100, the information acquisition unit 101, and the phrase extraction unit 102, by the operation of the above-mentioned processor in accordance with the control program stored in the storage unit 8. The character recognition unit 103 recognizes characters included in the document image by using an existing OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology.

[0060] In the second embodiment, the information acquisition unit 101 causes the search engine to perform a character search using a group of characters recognized from the document image by the character recognition unit 103 as a search condition, and acquires information highly related to the document image as a search result through this search. For example, when the information acquisition unit 101 obtains a search result in which the document image is the search target, if the word extraction unit 102 cannot extract a word that satisfies a predetermined word extraction condition based on this search result, the information acquisition unit 101 causes the search engine to perform a character search using a group of characters recognized from the document image by the character recognition unit 103 as a search condition, and acquires information highly related to the document image as a search result through this search. The word extraction unit 102 extracts a word as a file name based on the information acquired by the information acquisition unit 101 using the group of characters as a search condition for the character search. The predetermined word extraction condition is, for example, a condition that a word common to more than half of the character information T51 to T56 exists in the character group indicated by the character information T51 to T56.

[0061] Further, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. There are cases where an original image is a single image in which a plurality of images showing different contents are allocated, as shown in an example in Fig. 10. Original image G6 shown in Fig. 10 has images GA to GD as a plurality of images showing different contents. Image GA shows a right hand with the index finger and middle finger extended apart. Image GB shows a flying dove. Image GC shows a folded paper crane. Image GD shows a figure with three lines drawn inside a circle.

[0062] When the information acquisition unit 101 performs an image search using a search engine with a manuscript image G6 having multiple images as a search criterion to acquire information highly relevant to the manuscript image G6, the images and their text information presented as search results may not have common content because the manuscript image G6 contains multiple images with different content. Even if the word extraction unit 102 extracts file name candidates by treating this as information highly relevant to the manuscript image G6, it may not be possible to extract appropriate file name candidates.

[0063] Therefore, in the third embodiment, the control unit 100 divides an original image in which multiple images are arranged into individual images, and the information acquisition unit 101 causes a search engine to perform image searches separately for each of the divided multiple images as a search condition, and acquires highly relevant information as search results for each of the multiple images. For example, the control unit 100 detects the boundary line with the images GA to GD using an existing line detection algorithm or edge detection, and divides the original image G6 into each of the multiple images GA to GD based on the detected boundary line.

[0064] When the information acquisition unit 101 causes a search engine to perform an image search using image GA (a right hand with the index finger and middle finger extended apart) as a search criterion, images GA1 to GA6 as shown in FIG. 11(A) are obtained as search results that are highly relevant to image GA. In addition, although not shown, text information indicating the content of each of images GA1 to GA6, such as "scissors," "peace," "peace symbol," and "victory," is also obtained.

[0065] Furthermore, when the information acquisition unit 101 causes a search engine to perform an image search using image GB (flying pigeon) as a search criterion, images GB1 to GB5 as shown in FIG. 11(B) are obtained as search results that are highly relevant to image GB, and also text information indicating the content of each of images GB1 to GB5, for example, "pigeon," "peace," and "peace symbol," which are not specifically shown, are obtained.

[0066] Although not shown, when information acquisition unit 101 acquires information highly related to image GC from the Internet using image GC (folded crane) as a search criterion, for example, text information indicating contents such as "origami," "crane," "paper crane," "peace," and "peace symbol" is obtained in addition to a plurality of images as search results. Also, when information acquisition unit 101 acquires information highly related to image GD from the Internet using image GD (a shape with three lines drawn through a circle) as a search criterion, for example, text information indicating contents such as "peace," "peace symbol," and "anti-war" is obtained in addition to a plurality of images as search results.

[0067] When the information acquisition unit 101 acquires the above character information as the search result for each of the images GA1 to GA6 as described above, the word extraction unit 102 targets all the character information presented as the search result for each of the images GA1 to GA6 and extracts file name candidates from the group of characters indicated by this character information.

[0068] As a result, even if the document image contains multiple images with different contents, the word extraction unit 102 can extract appropriate file name candidates based on highly related information common to the multiple images.

[0069] In addition, in the above first to third embodiments, the case has been described where the word extraction unit 102 extracts one word that is a candidate for the file name, but the word extraction unit 102 may be configured to extract one or more words that are candidates for the file name, and if two or more words are extracted, the control unit 100 may display a list of the file name candidates on the display unit 473, and the file name candidate selected by a selection instruction input to the operation unit 47 by the user may be set as the file name.

[0070] The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. In addition, in the above embodiment, the configuration and processing shown in the above embodiment using Figures 1 to 11 are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the configuration and processing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1. Image forming device 5 Document reading section 47 Operation section 100 Control section 101 Information Acquisition Department 102 Phrase Extraction Unit 103 Character recognition section 473 Display section

Claims

1. A display unit; a document reading unit that reads an image of a document; a control unit that stores in a storage unit, a file of image data obtained by the document reading unit, with a file name; an information acquisition unit that acquires information highly related to the document image by a search engine using the document image indicated by the image data as a search condition; a word extraction unit that extracts words and phrases that are candidates for a file name from a group of characters indicated by character information based on character information included in the information acquired by the information acquisition unit, The control unit sets the words or phrases extracted by the word or phrase extraction unit as file names of the files made up of the image data.

2. Further comprising an operation unit for receiving an operation input from a user, 2. The document reading device according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit extracts a word or phrase extracted by the word extraction unit, the control unit displays the extracted word or phrase on the display unit as a candidate for a file name of the file, and sets the word or phrase selected by instructions from a user received by the operation unit as the file name.

3. the information acquisition unit acquires, as information highly related to the document image, an identical image of the document image and character information associated with the identical image, and an image similar to the document image and character information associated with the similar image, using the search engine; The document reading device according to claim 1 , wherein the word extraction unit extracts words that are candidates for file names based on character information accompanying the identical image or character information accompanying the similar image.

4. The document reading device of claim 3, wherein the word extraction unit extracts words and phrases that are candidates for a file name from a group of characters indicated by character information accompanying the identical image, among character information accompanying the identical image or character information accompanying the similar image acquired by the information acquisition unit, based on the character information accompanying the identical image.

5. When the information acquisition unit acquires only the similar image and character information associated with the similar image as a search result, The document reading device according to claim 3 , wherein the word extraction unit extracts, based on character information accompanying the similar image, a word that appears frequently among a group of characters indicated by the character information as a candidate for the file name.

6. The control unit divides the document image in which a plurality of images are arranged into the plurality of images, the information acquisition unit causes a search engine to separately search for each of the divided images using a search condition, and acquires information highly related to each of the divided images; The document reading device according to claim 1 , wherein the word extraction unit extracts words and phrases that are candidates for file names from a group of characters indicated by character information based on character information contained in information that is highly relevant to each of the multiple images.

7. A character recognition unit that recognizes characters included in the document image, The document reading device according to claim 1 , wherein the information acquisition unit acquires information highly relevant to the document image by a search engine using the group of characters recognized by the character recognition unit as a search condition.

8. When the phrase extraction unit cannot extract a phrase that satisfies a predetermined phrase extraction condition from the highly related information obtained by the information acquisition unit using the document image indicated by the image data as a search condition, The document reading device according to claim 7 , wherein the information acquisition section acquires information highly relevant to the document image by using a group of characters recognized by the character recognition section as a search condition.

Images