Image processing system and program

Abstract

To store a read image without the need for a user to designate a storage destination.SOLUTION: A QR code including storage destination information is added to an original. A copy machine 10 comprises: an imaging unit 11 which performs pre-scanning by imaging the original on an original platen using a calligraphic camera when the original is placed on the original platen; a storage destination information extraction section 121 which extracts the storage destination information from the QR code added to the original by analyzing the image picked up by the calligraphic camera; a read image generation section 122 which generates a read image of the original from a picked-up image of the original obtained by main scanning using the calligraphic camera when connected to a file system 40 which is a storage destination identified from the storage destination information; and a storage processing unit 14 which stores the read image of the original in the storage destination identified from the storage destination information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image processing system and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Nowadays, instead of a document reading device generally called a scanner, it is possible to use, for example, a camera of a mobile terminal to capture an image. For example, it is possible to print an image captured by the camera of a mobile terminal by sending the image to a printer.

[0003] The same is true for multifunction copiers, where a method is being considered of equipping a photographing means such as a document camera and using the photographed image as the scanned image. When a document camera is installed in a multifunction copier, the user places the document on the document table with the printed side facing up. The document camera reads the document by photographing it from above on the document table. When a document camera is used, there is no need to open and close the platen cover when setting the document on the document table, as with conventional multifunction copiers. It is also convenient for reading the pages of three-dimensional objects such as books.

[0004] One of the functions that a multifunction device provides to a user is to transmit a scanned image of a document to a predetermined storage location via a network and store the image. In this case, in the past, the user was required to specify the storage location of the scanned image of the document. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-176422 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] It is troublesome for the user to specify the storage destination for the scanned image of the document each time. If candidates for storage destinations are set in advance and the user is allowed to select from them, it may be unnecessary to input the storage destination each time. However, even in this case, the user must display a list of candidates for storage destinations on the screen and select a storage destination from the list. In addition, the task of registering the storage destination in advance is required.

[0007] The present invention makes it possible to store a scanned image without requiring a user to specify a storage destination. The purpose of this document is to: [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The image processing system of the present invention comprises an imaging means and a processor, and the processor extracts storage destination information from the original by analyzing a photographed image of the original on a platen photographed by the imaging means, and stores a scanned image of the original obtained by photographing with the imaging means in response to a reading instruction from a user in a storage destination identified from the storage destination information.

[0009] The processor is further characterized in that, when storing the scanned image by connecting to the storage destination and then transmitting the scanned image, the processor displays a screen transmitted from the storage destination before transmitting the scanned image in response to connecting to the storage destination.

[0010] The processor is also characterized in that, when the screen is a setting screen for setting the reading attributes of the document, the processor allows a user to set the reading attributes of the document from the setting screen, and generates a read image of the document in accordance with the set reading attributes of the document.

[0011] The screen is also characterized in that it displays information indicating a folder that is to be the storage destination.

[0012] The program of the present invention enables a computer to perform the following functions: extracting storage destination information from a document by analyzing an image of the document placed on a document plate photographed by a photographing means; and storing a scanned image of the document obtained by photographing the document using the photographing means in response to a reading instruction from a user in a storage destination identified from the storage destination information. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the invention as recited in claim 1, it is possible to store the scanned image without requiring the user to specify a storage destination.

[0014] According to the invention as recited in claim 2, information provided from the storage destination can be presented to the user.

[0015] According to the invention as recited in claim 3, it is possible to generate a scanned image of a document to be stored in accordance with a scanning attribute other than the initial setting.

[0016] According to the invention as recited in claim 4, the storage location can be presented to the user in advance.

[0017] According to the invention as recited in claim 5, the scanned image can be stored without the user having to specify a storage destination. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an example of an overall configuration of an embodiment of an image processing system according to the present invention and a block configuration of a multifunction peripheral; [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing a scan process according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a basic setting screen according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a detailed setting screen according to the present embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a folder in which a scanned image of a document is to be stored in the embodiment; FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0020] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an embodiment of an image processing system according to the present invention, and a block configuration of a multifunction device 10. Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the multifunction device 10 in this embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the multifunction device 10 in this embodiment.

[0021] The multifunction device 10 in this embodiment is characterized in that, as part of its device configuration, it is equipped with a document camera 21 as shown in Fig. 2. The multifunction device 10 has a document table 23 provided on the top surface of a device main body 22, and is provided with a document camera 21 that can capture the entire document table 23. The document camera 21 is supported by a support rod 24. Also, on the top surface of the device main body 22, there is provided an operation panel 25 that functions as an input means operated by the user and as a display means for displaying information.

[0022] The multifunction device 10 in this embodiment is a form of an image forming device equipped with various functions such as a printing function, a copying function, a scanning function, etc., and is a device with a built-in computer. That is, as shown in Fig. 3, the multifunction device 10 includes a CPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 34 as a storage means, the operation panel 25 as a user interface, the document camera 21 as an image capturing means, a printer 35 that provides a printing function, and a network interface (IF) 36 as a communication means. An address data bus 37 connects the various mechanisms 31 to 36, 21, and 25 that are controlled by the CPU 31, and communicates data.

[0023] Incidentally, conventional multifunction machines are generally equipped with a scanner that optically reads the document 2 on the document table 23 to realize a scanning function. The multifunction machine 10 in this embodiment is equipped with a document camera 21 instead of a scanner. Therefore, the read image of the document 2 is generated from a captured image obtained by capturing an image with the document camera 21, or by analyzing the captured image. The document camera 21 generates a captured image of the document 2 by capturing an image of the document 2 on the document table 23, but since it can also be said that the document 2 is read by capturing an image, in this embodiment, the terms "capturing" and "reading" are used synonymously without being strictly distinguished from each other. Therefore, by replacing "capturing" by the document camera 21 with "reading", "capturing" by the document camera 21 may also be called "reading" or "scanning".

[0024] As shown in Fig. 1, the image processing system in this embodiment has a configuration in which a multifunction device 10 and a cloud 4 are connected via a network 6 including the Internet. Note that the multifunction device 10 that uses the functions provided in this embodiment has the same functional blocks as those shown in Fig. 1, so for the sake of convenience, only one device is shown in Fig. 1. The cloud 4 has a file system that stores and manages files transmitted from the multifunction device 10, i.e., scanned images of a document 2.

[0025] 1, the multifunction device 10 includes an image capturing unit 11, an image processing unit 12, a connection processing unit 13, a storage processing unit 14, a user interface (UI) unit 15, and a control unit 16. Note that components that are not used in the description of this embodiment are omitted from the figure.

[0026] The photographing unit 11 is realized by the document camera 21, and photographs at least the entire upper surface of the manuscript table 23 as a photographing range. The image processing unit 12 executes image processing on the photographed image by the document camera 21 as a processing target. The image processing unit 12 includes a storage destination information extraction unit 121 and a read image generation unit 122. Although details will be described later, in this embodiment, a data code including storage destination information specifying a storage destination of the read image of the manuscript 2, for example, a QR code (registered trademark), is set by printing on the manuscript 2. Instead of printing, the QR code may be added to the manuscript 2 by, for example, attaching a sticker. When the storage destination information extraction unit 121 detects a QR code by analyzing the photographed image of the manuscript 2, it extracts storage destination information from the QR code. The read image generation unit 122 generates a read image of the manuscript 2 from the photographed image according to the set reading attribute of the manuscript 2.

[0027] The connection processing unit 13 connects to a connection destination specified from the storage destination information in response to a read instruction from a user. In this embodiment, the file system 40 is assumed to be the storage destination specified from the storage destination information, so in order to store the scanned image of the document 2 (hereinafter also referred to as a "file") in the file system 40, the multifunction device 10 must be previously connected to the file system 40 via a network. That is, in this embodiment, the file is stored after connecting to the file system 40, so for convenience of explanation, the "connection destination" and the "storage destination" are the same and are used synonymously. Strictly speaking, the connection destination is the file system 40, and the storage destination is any folder in the file system 40 that is the connection destination. This folder is specified by, for example, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator).

[0028] The storage processing unit 14 stores the scanned image in a storage destination specified by the storage destination information of the scanned image of the document 2. The user interface unit 15 is realized by the operation panel 25, and displays various menu screens in the multifunction device 10 and screens and the like transmitted from the file system 40. The user interface unit 15 also accepts user operations on the displayed screen. The control unit 16 controls the operations of the above components 11 to 15.

[0029] Each of the components 11 to 16 in the multifunction device 10 is realized by the cooperative operation of a computer installed in the multifunction device 10 and a program that runs on a CPU 31 installed in the computer.

[0030] Furthermore, the programs used in the present embodiment can be provided by communication means, and can also be provided by storing them in a computer-readable recording medium such as a USB memory. The programs provided from the communication means or recording medium are installed in a computer, and various processes are realized by the CPU 31 of the computer sequentially executing the programs.

[0031] Furthermore, although the devices constituting the image processing system, such as the multifunction device 10, and the file system 40 are illustrated as single devices, they may be realized by combining a plurality of computers or devices.

[0032] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

[0033] First, in this embodiment, as a premise, it is necessary that storage destination information for specifying the storage destination is added to the document 2 to be stored by data coding such as a QR code. In this embodiment, the description will be given assuming that the storage destination is specified by a URL.

[0034] In this embodiment, a case where a QR code is used as a method for setting storage destination information in the document 2 will be described as an example, but the storage destination information may be set in another format as long as it can be extracted by analyzing the image captured by the document camera 21. For example, as long as no security issues arise, the storage destination information may be set as character information and the storage destination information may be extracted from the captured image using OCR.

[0035] Hereinafter, the process of scanning the original 2 using the document camera 21 in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

[0036] When a user wishes to store the document 2 scanned using the scan function in a specified storage location, the user selects the scan and send button from the home screen (also called the "main menu screen") displayed on the operation panel 25 of the multifunction device 10. When the scan and send button is selected, the document camera 21 starts capturing images at regular intervals. Note that the start of operation of the document camera 21 is not limited to the selection of the scan and send button, and may be triggered by other operations, such as a user logging in to the multifunction device 10.

[0037] The user places the document 2 on the document table 23 before or after selecting the scan and send button. At this time, the user places the document 2 so that the side to be read, on which the QR code is added, faces up.

[0038] When the document 2 is placed on the document table 23, the photographing unit 11 prescans the document 2 using the document camera 21 (step S101). The "prescan" will be described later. The fact that the document 2 has been placed on the document table 23 is detected, for example, from a change in the image captured by the document camera 21 at regular intervals.

[0039] Next, the storage destination information extraction unit 121 attempts to detect a QR code by analyzing the captured image of the original 2 obtained by pre-scanning. If the QR code cannot be detected (N in step S102), or if the QR code is detected but the storage destination information cannot be extracted from the QR code, the multifunction device 10 assumes that the QR code cannot be detected and performs the same scan process as before (step S108). The conventional scan process refers to a process in which the user specifies the storage destination of the scanned image of the original 2, and does not mean that a scanner is used as a means for reading the original 2.

[0040] On the other hand, if the QR code can be detected (Y in step S102), storage location information extraction unit 121 extracts storage location information from the QR code (step S103).

[0041] Next, the connection processing unit 13 connects the file system 40 that can be specified by referring to the storage destination information as the connection destination (step S104).

[0042] As is clear from the above process, "prescan" is a scanning process of the original 2 for obtaining storage destination information specifying the storage destination of the scanned image of the original 2, in other words, the connection destination of the multifunction device 10, and is performed before a scanning process for obtaining the scanned image of the original 2 to be stored (hereinafter also referred to as "main scan"). In this embodiment, prescan is performed by capturing an image with the document camera 21 as described above. In prescan, it is sufficient to extract storage destination information from the original 2, so there is no need to particularly specify reading attributes such as resolution.

[0043] Incidentally, when the multifunction device 10 connects to the file system 40, the content returned as a response to the connection process may be a web page written in HTML (HyperText Markup Language) including an input tag. In this case (Y in step S105), the user interface unit 15 displays a screen created from the web page on the operation panel 25 before the document camera 21 captures the document 2 again, that is, before the main scan is performed.

[0044] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a basic setting screen created from a web page written in HTML including an input tag. The basic setting screen includes input fields for main parameters among the read attributes (hereinafter also referred to as "parameters") that can be set when generating a read image of the original 2, parameters for which the user is likely to specify a desired parameter value, in other words, parameters for which the default value may not be selected, and the like. The basic setting screen shown in FIG. 5 allows the user to set various parameter values ​​for the file name, color mode, document set orientation designation, output file format, and double-sided document feed when saving the read image of the original 2. Since default values ​​are set for each parameter, the user does not need to input them if the default values ​​are acceptable. The file name may be automatically extracted from the original 2, or may be automatically created according to a predetermined creation rule, and displayed as the default value. The parameters that can be set on the basic setting screen shown in FIG. 5 are only an example, and are not limited to the example shown in FIG. 5.

[0045] Meanwhile, a detailed setting button 51 and a scan start button 52 are set on the basic setting screen exemplified in Fig. 5. When the user determines that there is no need to change any parameters other than those displayed on the basic setting screen, the user selects the scan start button 52 as an instruction to read the document 2, i.e., an instruction to execute a main scan. This causes the image processing unit 12 to acquire the parameter values ​​set on the basic setting screen and the parameter values ​​that are initially set for the other parameters (step S106). Then, the above-mentioned main scan is started according to the acquired parameter values ​​(step S107). On the other hand, when the user wishes to set more detailed reading attributes, the user selects the detailed setting button 51.

[0046] 6 is a diagram showing an example of a detailed setting screen that the user interface unit 15 displays on the operation panel 25 when the detailed setting button 51 is selected. The detailed setting screen may be acquired together with the basic setting screen, or may be acquired from the file system 40 in response to the selection of the detailed setting button 51. The detailed setting screen includes an input field for reading attributes other than those set on the basic setting screen, among the reading attributes that can be set when generating a scanned image of the document 2. Note that the reading attributes that can be set on the detailed setting screen illustrated in FIG. 6 are just an example, and need not be limited to the example shown in FIG. 6.

[0047] When the user selects the decision button 53 after setting the desired parameter values ​​on the detailed setting screen, the user interface unit 15 returns the display of the operation panel 25 to the basic setting screen shown in Fig. 5. If the user wishes to invalidate the parameter values ​​set on the detailed setting screen and return to the basic setting screen, the user may select the cancel button 54.

[0048] As described above, after the parameter values ​​required for generating a scanned image are set on the basic setting screen and, if necessary, on the detailed setting screen, when the user selects the scan start button 52, the image processing unit 12 acquires the parameter values ​​(step S106).Then, the photographing unit 11 starts a main scan of the document 2 using the document camera 21 (step S107).

[0049] Incidentally, the document camera 21 may capture the document 2 in the same way during prescanning and main scanning. However, while it is sufficient to extract storage destination information from the document 2 from the captured image obtained by prescanning, it is necessary to generate a scanned image of the document 2 from the captured image obtained by main scanning according to the parameter values ​​set on each setting screen. Incidentally, there are two possible processes for generating the scanned image of the document 2.

[0050] First, the photographing unit 11 sets parameters to be used for photographing by referring to the set reading attributes, and generates a photographed image. In this case, the read image generating unit 122 can use the read image of the document 2 included in the photographed image as it is as the read image of the document 2. Of course, since the document camera 21 photographs the entire top of the document table 23, the read image generating unit 122 needs to generate a read image of the document 2 by cutting out the photographed area of ​​the document 2 from the photographed image.

[0051] The other is that the photographing unit 11 always photographs with high accuracy, that is, according to the maximum or optimal parameter values. Then, the read image generating unit 122 generates a read image of the document 2 from the generated photographed image according to the reading attributes set by the user.

[0052] For example, suppose that the user sets the attribute value (the above-mentioned "parameter value") of the resolution, which is one of the reading attributes, to 200 dpi. In the former case, the document camera 21 captures an image so that the resolution is 200 dpi according to the user's setting. In the latter case, the document camera 21 captures an image at the highest resolution, for example, 600 dpi. Then, the read image generating unit 122 processes the captured image with a resolution of 600 dpi to generate a read image with a resolution of 200 dpi. Note that since image processing to increase the resolution (for example, from 100 dpi to 200 dpi) is difficult, the captured image is generated with the maximum parameter value.

[0053] Incidentally, in the latter case, if the document 2 is photographed according to the maximum parameter value during prescanning, the photographed image obtained during prescanning can be used, making it unnecessary to perform a separate main scan. However, compared to the former case, generating the photographed image during prescanning places a greater load on the system.

[0054] Incidentally, if the content returned as a response when the multifunction device 10 connects to the file system 40 is not HTML including an input tag (N in step S105), the photographing unit 11 automatically starts a main scan of the document 2 using the document camera 21 (step S107). Next, the scanned image generating unit 122 generates a scanned image of the document 2 from the captured image obtained by the main scan in accordance with the initial values ​​of the read attributes. If the content sent as a response from the file system 40 is HTML including no input tag, an example of a display screen created from this HTML is shown in FIG.

[0055] 7 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a folder that is a storage destination of a scanned image of the document 2, i.e., a file. In step S104, the connection processing unit 13 connects to the file system 40 based on a URL as storage destination information. In response to this connection process, the file system 40 returns a web page as information indicating a folder corresponding to the specified URL. As a result, the display screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the operation panel 25 by the user interface unit 15.

[0056] The user can check the storage destination in advance by referring to the folder displayed on the operation panel 25. When the user then selects the upload button 55, the operation panel 25 displays the basic setting screen shown in FIG.

[0057] The storage processing unit 14 transmits the scanned image of the document 2 generated as described above to the file system 40 that is to be the storage destination, thereby causing the image to be stored in the storage destination specified by the URL.

[0058] As described above, according to this embodiment, the QR code, which is attached to the original 2 and has storage destination information set therein, is pre-scanned by the document camera 21, so that the scanned image of the original 2 can be stored without the user having to specify a storage destination for the scanned image.

[0059] In this embodiment, by effectively using a document camera 21 instead of a conventional optical scanner, it is possible to store the read image of the original 2 in a desired storage location.

[0060] In this embodiment, instead of a conventional scanner, document camera 21 is mounted on multifunction device 10 as a means for reading document 2. However, by mounting a conventional scanner on multifunction device 10, it is possible to use document camera 21 and the scanner together as a means for reading document 2. As described above, document camera 21 in this embodiment performs two types of scans, "pre-scan" and "main scan", but if multifunction device 10 is equipped with a conventional scanner, "main scan" may be performed by the scanner.

[0061] In addition, in this embodiment, a file system 40 in the cloud 4 is used as a storage destination for a file corresponding to the scanned image of the original 2, but this is not limited to this, and the file may also be stored in, for example, a storage means inside the multifunction device 10 or in an on-premise environment.

[0062] In the above embodiments, the term "processor" refers to a processor in a broad sense, including general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

[0063] In addition, the operations of the processor in the above embodiments may be performed not only by one processor, but also by multiple processors located at physically separate locations working together. The order of the operations of the processor is not limited to the order described in the above embodiments, and may be changed as appropriate.

[0064] (Additional Note) (((1))) A photographing means and a processor are provided, The processor, extracting storage destination information from the document by analyzing a photographed image of the document on the document platen photographed by the photographing means; storing a read image of the document obtained by photographing the document with the photographing means in response to a reading instruction from a user in a storage destination specified by the storage destination information; 1. An image processing system comprising: (((2))) The image processing system described in (((1))) is characterized in that, when the processor connects to the storage destination and then stores the scanned image by transmitting it, in response to connecting to the storage destination, it displays a screen transmitted from the storage destination before transmitting the scanned image. (((3))) The processor, When the screen is a setting screen for setting reading attributes of the document, the user is prompted to set reading attributes of the document from the setting screen; generating a read image of the document in accordance with the set reading attributes of the document; The image processing system according to (((2))) is characterized in that (((4))) The image processing system according to (((2))) is characterized in that the screen displays information indicating a folder that is to be the storage destination. (((5))) On the computer, A function of extracting storage destination information from a document by analyzing a photographed image of the document on the document platen photographed by a photographing means; a function of storing a scanned image of the document obtained by photographing the document with the photographing means in response to a reading instruction from a user in a storage destination specified by the storage destination information; A program to achieve this.

[0065] According to the invention described in (((1))), it is possible to store a scanned image without requiring a user to specify a storage destination. According to the invention described in (((2))), information provided from the storage destination can be presented to the user. According to the invention described in (((3))), a scanned image of a document to be stored can be generated in accordance with a scanning attribute other than the initial setting. According to the invention described in (((4))), the storage location can be presented to the user in advance. According to the invention described in (((5))), it is possible to store the scanned image without requiring the user to specify a storage destination. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 4 cloud, 6 network, 10 multifunction device, 11 imaging unit, 12 image processing unit, 13 connection processing unit, 14 storage processing unit, 15 user interface (UI) unit, 16 control unit, 21 document camera, 22 device body, 23 manuscript table, 24 support rod, 25 operation panel, 31 CPU, 32 ROM, 33 RAM, 34 hard disk drive (HDD), 35 printer, 36 network interface (IF), 37 address data bus, 40 file system, 121 storage destination information extraction unit, 122 read image generation unit.

Claims

1. A photographing means and a processor are provided, The processor, extracting storage destination information from the document by analyzing a photographed image of the document on the document platen photographed by the photographing means; storing a read image of the document obtained by photographing the document with the photographing means in response to a reading instruction from a user in a storage destination specified by the storage destination information; 1. An image processing system comprising:

2. The image processing system according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the processor connects to the storage destination and then stores the scanned image by transmitting it, the processor displays a screen transmitted from the storage destination before transmitting the scanned image in response to connecting to the storage destination.

3. The processor, When the screen is a setting screen for setting reading attributes of the document, the user is prompted to set reading attributes of the document from the setting screen; generating a read image of the document in accordance with the set reading attributes of the document; 3. The image processing system according to claim 2.

4. 3. The image processing system according to claim 2, wherein the screen displays information indicating a folder that is to be the storage destination.

5. On the computer, A function of extracting storage destination information from a document by analyzing a photographed image of the document on the document platen photographed by a photographing means; a function of storing a scanned image of the document obtained by photographing the document with the photographing means in response to a reading instruction from a user in a storage destination specified by the storage destination information; A program to achieve this.

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