Information processing device and information processing method

Abstract

To solve the problem that reading of a code image is failed.SOLUTION: An information processing device 100 comprises: a scan image acquisition section 101 for acquiring a scan image generated by scanning a first print medium using an image forming apparatus 400 including a scanner 420; a code reading section 102 for reading a first code image, which is printed in a predetermined size on the first print medium, from the scan image; a level setting section 105 for setting an error correction level of a second code image on the basis of whether the first code image is read successfully; a code image generation section 106 for generating the second code image having the error correction level; and a print control section 107 which adjusts the size of the generated second code image into the predetermined size and causes the image forming apparatus to execute printing on a second print medium, the printing regarding the second code image of which the size is adjusted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, code images such as QR codes (registered trademarks) have become widespread, and various technologies related to them have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for reading a two-dimensional code from an image obtained by scanning a sheet of paper on which a two-dimensional code is printed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, for example, when a sheet of paper cannot be scanned at a high resolution, a clear code image cannot be obtained from the image obtained by scanning the sheet of paper, so there is a risk of failure in reading the code image.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The information processing apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a scan image acquisition unit that acquires a scan image generated by scanning a first print medium by an image forming apparatus including a scanner, a code reading unit that reads a first code image printed on the first print medium in a predetermined size from the scan image, a level setting unit that sets an error correction level of a second code image based on whether the reading of the first code image is successful, a code image generation unit that generates the second code image having the error correction level, a print control unit that adjusts the size of the generated second code image to the predetermined size and causes the image forming apparatus to perform printing of the second code image with the adjusted size on a second print medium.

[0006] Further, in the information processing method according to the present disclosure, a scan image generated by scanning a first print medium by an image forming apparatus including a scanner is acquired, a first code image printed on the first print medium in a predetermined size is read from the scan image, an error correction level of a second code image is set based on whether the reading of the first code image is successful, the second code image having the error correction level is generated, the size of the generated second code image is adjusted to the predetermined size, and the image forming apparatus is caused to perform printing of the second code image with the adjusted size on a second print medium.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. For the sake of clarity of explanation, the following description and drawings are appropriately omitted and simplified. Also, in each drawing, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations are omitted as necessary.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information processing system 10 according to the embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system 10 includes an information processing apparatus 100, a terminal apparatus 200, a teaching material management apparatus 300, and an image forming apparatus 400. The information processing apparatus 100, the terminal apparatus 200, the teaching material management apparatus 300, and the image forming apparatus 400 are connected to a network N such as the Internet. In this embodiment, printing and scanning are performed on teaching materials such as test question papers or answer sheets, but the objects of printing and scanning do not necessarily have to be teaching materials, and printing and scanning of any document may be performed using the information processing system 10.

[0010] The terminal device 200 is a device operated by the user U1, such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, etc. The user U1 is an administrator who manages the distribution of teaching materials to the user U2 and the collection of answers filled in by the user U2 in the teaching materials. Specifically, for example, the user U1 is a teacher who educates the user U2. The user U1 uses the terminal device 200 to specify the teaching materials to be distributed and the distribution destination of the teaching materials. Since the teaching materials are distributed to the user U2 by being output from the image forming device 400, specifically, the image forming device 400 to which the teaching materials should be printed is specified as the distribution destination of the teaching materials. In the present embodiment, the user U1 notifies the teaching material management device 300 via the terminal device 200 of the teaching materials to be distributed and the image forming device 400 to which the teaching materials should be printed. In FIG. 1, one terminal device 200 and one user U1 are illustrated, but a plurality of users U1 can use the information processing system 10. Therefore, the information processing system 10 can include a plurality of terminal devices 200.

[0011] The teaching material management device 300 is a device that manages teaching materials. In the present embodiment, the teaching material management device 300 has a teaching material database DB1 that stores teaching material data. Further, the teaching material management device 300 has a response database DB2 that stores scan data of teaching materials for which responses have been entered by the user U2. Therefore, it can be said that the teaching material management device 300 is a device that manages the responses entered by the user U2 for teaching materials. The teaching material management device 300 may manage the progress of responses, such as which teaching materials the user U2 has already responded to. In the present embodiment, when the distribution target teaching material and the image forming device 400 to print the teaching material are specified from the terminal device 200, the teaching material management device 300 transmits a print instruction for the teaching material to the information processing device 100. This print instruction includes, for example, the data of the teaching material to be distributed (i.e., the data of the document to be printed), information identifying the image forming device 400 to perform printing, and additional information. Hereinafter, the information identifying the image forming device 400, that is, the information identifying the individual of the image forming device 400 is referred to as device identification information. The teaching material management device 300 acquires the data of the teaching material to be distributed from the teaching material database DB1 and transmits it to the information processing device 100 as a print instruction together with the device identification information and the additional information. Here, the additional information refers to the information added to the teaching material as a code image. That is, the additional information refers to the information to be included in the code image, in other words, the information to be encoded. The teaching material management device 300 includes, for example, as additional information, information identifying the teaching material to be distributed and information identifying the user U2 who receives the printed matter of the teaching material. Hereinafter, the information identifying the teaching material is referred to as teaching material identification information, and the information identifying the user U2 is referred to as user identification information. Note that the additional information may include only one of the teaching material identification information and the user identification information. Further, the teaching material management device 300 receives the scan data transmitted from the information processing device 100 and stores it in the response database DB2.

[0012] The image forming apparatus 400 is an apparatus having a printing function and a scanning function, and specifically, is a multifunction device including a printing unit 410 (printer) and a scanner 420. The image forming apparatus 400 is registered in the information processing apparatus 100 in advance as an image forming apparatus to be used for printing teaching materials. The image forming apparatus 400 is used by the user U2. The image forming apparatus 400 is provided, for example, at the home of the user U2. In FIG. 1, one image forming apparatus 400 is illustrated, but in the case where a plurality of users U2 use the information processing system 10, the information processing system 10 may include a plurality of image forming apparatuses 400. Therefore, a plurality of image forming apparatuses 400 may be registered in the information processing apparatus 100. For example, an image forming apparatus 400 may be registered in the information processing apparatus 100 for each user U2. When the information processing system 10 includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses 400, these plurality of image forming apparatuses 400 may be apparatuses of the same model or apparatuses of different models. Further, model information of each image forming apparatus 400 may be registered in the information processing apparatus 100. Here, the model information is information for specifying the model of the image forming apparatus 400.

[0013] As described above, the image forming apparatus 400 has a printing unit 410 and a scanner 420. The image forming apparatus 400 may have a conveyance mechanism for conveying a printing medium on which printing is performed by the printing unit 410 or a document scanned by the scanner 420. The printing unit 410 has a printing function for forming an image on a printing medium such as paper. For example, the printing unit 410 includes a printing engine. The printing engine is a mechanical configuration that executes printing of an image on a printing medium using a coloring material. The printing engine may have, for example, a mechanism that performs printing using ink by an inkjet method. Alternatively, the printing engine may have, for example, a mechanism that performs printing using toner by an electrophotographic method. The scanner 420 scans a document and generates image data. Hereinafter, an image generated by the scanner 420 scanning a document is referred to as a scanned image. For example, the scanner 420 optically reads a document by scanning the document in a predetermined direction, that is, the sub-scanning direction, using a light source and a sensor, and generates image data. The image forming apparatus 400 transmits the scanned image to the information processing apparatus 100 together with the apparatus identification information of the image forming apparatus 400.

[0014] In the present embodiment, the printing unit 410 is used to print a teaching material with a code image added thereto on a printing medium. As will be described later, in the present embodiment, the code image is an image of a two-dimensional code having an error correction level selected from a plurality of error correction levels, and is printed on a printing medium in a predetermined size. In the present embodiment, as an example, a QR code (registered trademark) is used as the code image, but any code image capable of generating a code image using an error correction level selected from a plurality of levels of error correction levels can be used. The user U2 uses the teaching material printed by the printing unit 410. In particular, the user U2 fills in answers to questions included in the teaching material. Specifically, the user U2 writes the answers by hand on the teaching material, that is, the printing medium on which printing is performed by the printing unit 410. Then, the scanner 420 is used to scan the printing medium on which the answers of the user U2 are written.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the teaching material 50 stored in the teaching material database DB1. As shown in FIG. 2, a problem 51 to be solved by the user U2 is described in the teaching material 50. Further, in the teaching material 50, a space 52 of a predetermined size for adding a code image is provided at a predetermined position. Note that, in the illustrated teaching material 50, the space 52 is surrounded by a frame line, but the teaching material 50 does not necessarily have to be provided with a frame line. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the teaching material 50 printed by the printing unit 410 of the image forming apparatus 400. As shown in FIG. 3, a code image 54 is added to the teaching material 50. More specifically, the teaching material 50 to which the code image 54 adjusted to a predetermined size is added is printed by the printing unit 410. The code image 54 is arranged in the space 52 of the teaching material 50. Specifically, the code image 54 is enlarged or reduced to the size of the space 52 and arranged in the space 52 of the teaching material 50. As described above, the code image 54 is generated using an error correction level selected from a plurality of error correction levels. That is, the printed code image 54 is a code image having the selected error correction level. The error correction level indicates the level of the ability to enable appropriate decoding even if a part of the code image is missing. As the error correction level is higher, the amount of correctable words increases, while the amount of error correction codes (for example, Reed - Solomon codes) that must be included in the code image also increases. That is, as the error correction level is higher, the amount of cells constituting the code image increases. Note that a cell refers to the smallest unit block constituting the code image. Therefore, when considering the size of the cells constituting the code image to be fixed, as the error correction level is higher, the size of the generated code image 54 becomes larger. Therefore, when scaling the size of the generated code image 54 to the size of the space 52 in order to arrange the code image 54 in the space 52 of a predetermined size, as the error correction level is higher, the size of the cells constituting the code image 54 becomes smaller. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the teaching material 50 in which an answer 55 by the user U2 is filled in. As shown in FIG. 4, the user U2 fills in the answer 55 with respect to the printed teaching material 50.The learning material 50 with the answer 55 filled in is scanned by the scanner 420, and the scanned image is transmitted to the information processing device 100. As described above, the higher the error correction level of the code image 54, the smaller the size of the cells constituting the code image 54. Therefore, the higher the error correction level of the scanned code image 54, the more a scanner 420 having higher resolution scanning performance is required. In other words, it can be expected that the lower the error correction level of the scanned code image 54, the more the code image 54 can be read even with lower performance of the scanner 420. In the present embodiment, by setting the error correction level according to the performance of the scanner 420, the occurrence of failures in reading the code image 54 is reduced.

[0016] Next, the configuration and processing of the information processing device 100 will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the information processing device 100. As shown in FIG. 5, the information processing device 100 includes a scanned image acquisition unit 101, a code reading unit 102, an information output unit 103, a print instruction acquisition unit 104, a level setting unit 105, a code image generation unit 106, a print control unit 107, and a storage unit 108.

[0017] The scanned image acquisition unit 101 acquires a scanned image generated by scanning a print medium by the image forming device 400. That is, the scanned image acquisition unit 101 acquires a scanned image of a print medium (learning material) on which an answer is written and that has been scanned by the scanner 420. In the present embodiment, a print medium (learning material) on which a code image is printed is scanned by the scanner 420. In other words, in the present embodiment, a print medium on which a learning material with a code image added is printed is scanned. Therefore, the scanned image acquisition unit 101 acquires a scanned image including the code image. Hereinafter, the code image included in the scanned image is referred to as a scanned code image. That is, a printed and scanned code image is referred to as a scanned code image.

[0018] The code reading unit 102 reads a code image (i.e., a scanned code image) from the scanned image acquired by the scan image acquisition unit 101. The code reading unit 102 searches for the scanned code image arranged at a predetermined position and detects the scanned code image. Then, the code reading unit 102 decodes the detected scanned code image and acquires the decoded data (decoded data). That is, additional information is acquired by decoding. This additional information includes, for example, the teaching material identification information and the user identification information as described above. In addition, the code reading unit 102 stores information indicating whether the reading of the scanned code image has been successful in the storage unit 108. Hereinafter, the information indicating whether the reading of the scanned code image has been successful is also referred to as reading result information. When the code reading unit 102 detects the scanned code image and succeeds in decoding, the code reading unit 102 stores, in the storage unit 108, the reading result information indicating that the reading of the code image has been successful, in association with the device identification information of the image forming apparatus 400 that transmitted this scan image. On the other hand, when the code reading unit 102 cannot detect the scanned code image or when decoding is impossible, the code reading unit 102 stores, in the storage unit 108, the reading result information indicating that the reading of the code image has failed, in association with the device identification information of the image forming apparatus 400 that transmitted this scan image.

[0019] The storage unit 108 stores information necessary for generating the code image. Specifically, the storage unit 108 stores the above-described reading result information. The storage unit 108 stores the reading result information in association with the device identification information of the image forming apparatus 400 that scanned the scan image from which this reading result information was obtained.

[0020] Further, the storage unit 108 may store the set value of the error correction level. When there are a plurality of image forming apparatuses 400, the storage unit 108 may store the set value of the error correction level for each image forming apparatus 400. Further, when the error correction level is updated based on the read result information, the storage unit 108 stores the updated error correction level. In particular, the storage unit 108 may store in association with each other the identification information of the image forming apparatus 400 that scanned the scan image and the error correction level set based on the read result of the scan code image from the scan image. Further, the storage unit 108 may store in association with each other the model information of the image forming apparatus 400 that scanned the scan image and the error correction level set based on the read result of the scan code image from the scan image.

[0021] Note that, when there is only one image forming apparatus 400 registered in the information processing apparatus 100, etc., the read result information and the error correction level may be stored in the storage unit 108 without being associated with the apparatus identification information or the model information.

[0022] The information output unit 103 outputs the scan image acquired by the scan image acquisition unit 101 and the decoded data of the scan code image read from this scan image to the teaching material management apparatus 300. Note that, when the code reading unit 102 fails to read the scan code image, the output of the decoded data is omitted. The teaching material management apparatus 300 stores these pieces of information acquired from the information processing apparatus 100, for example, in the answer database DB2. Note that one or both of the scan image and the decoded data may be referred to as scan data. In this way, since the scan data is transmitted to the teaching material management apparatus 300, the teaching material management apparatus 300 can appropriately manage the answers filled in the teaching materials.

[0023] The print instruction acquisition unit 104 acquires a print instruction regarding the printing of teaching materials. In the present embodiment, the print instruction acquisition unit 104 acquires a print instruction for teaching materials from the teaching material management device 300, but may also acquire a print instruction from the terminal device 200. As described above, in the present embodiment, the print instruction includes data of the teaching materials to be printed, information for identifying the image forming apparatus 400 that performs printing, and additional information.

[0024] The level setting unit 105 sets the error correction level of the print code image. Here, the print code image refers to a code image printed on a print medium according to the control of the print control unit 107 described later. In the present embodiment, specifically, the print code image refers to a code image printed on teaching materials. In the case of a QR code (registered trademark), four levels of error correction levels, namely level L, level M, level Q, and level H, are known. Here, level H is the highest level of error correction level, and level L is the lowest level of error correction level.

[0025] In particular, the level setting unit 105 sets the error correction level of the print code image based on whether the reading of the scan code image has been successful. For example, the level setting unit 105 sets the error correction level of the print code image for each image forming apparatus 400. In this case, the level setting unit 105 refers to the reading result information about the image forming apparatus 400 of interest, and sets the error correction level of the print code image when printing the print code image using the image forming apparatus 400. Specifically, the level setting unit 105 sets the error correction level of the print code image printed by the image forming apparatus 400 based on the reading result stored in association with the apparatus identification information of the image forming apparatus 400 that prints the print code image. Thereby, even when the information processing system 10 includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses 400, it is possible to set an error correction level suitable for each image forming apparatus 400. More specifically, when the printing of the print code image based on the print instruction acquired by the print instruction acquisition unit 104 is first performed in a certain image forming apparatus 400, the error correction level of the print code image printed using the image forming apparatus 400 is set to a predetermined error correction level. Hereinafter, this predetermined level is referred to as the default level. In other words, when the reading result information about a certain image forming apparatus 400 is not stored in the storage unit 108, the level setting unit 105 sets the error correction level of the print code image printed using the image forming apparatus 400 to the error correction level of the default level. The default level is, for example, the highest error correction level (specifically, level H). On the other hand, when the reading result information about a certain image forming apparatus 400 is stored in the storage unit 108, the level setting unit 105 sets the error correction level of the print code image printed by the image forming apparatus 400 based on this reading result information. For example, when the code reading unit 102 fails to read the scan code image from the scan image transmitted from a certain image forming apparatus 400, the error correction level of the print code image printed using this image forming apparatus 400 is lowered from the current set value.For example, the level setting unit 105 lowers the error correction level in one step. As a result, the size of the cells of the printed code image arranged in a space of a predetermined size in the teaching material can be increased. Note that the level setting unit 105 may lower the error correction level below the current set value when the occurrence rate of reading failure of the scan code image exceeds a predetermined threshold. For example, when the level setting unit 105 fails to read m or more of the most recent n scan code images in the image forming apparatus 400 of interest, the error correction level of the printed code image printed by the image forming apparatus 400 is set lower than the current set value. In the above description, n and m represent natural numbers. With such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the risk that an inappropriate error correction level is set due to a suddenly occurring reading failure.

[0026] The level setting unit 105 stores the set value of the error correction level in the storage unit 108. The level setting unit 105 stores the set value of the error correction level in the storage unit 108, for example, in association with the device identification information of the image forming apparatus 400. Note that the level setting unit 105 may store the set value of the error correction level in the storage unit 108 in association with the model information of the image forming apparatus 400.

[0027] The code image generation unit 106 encodes the additional information included in the print instruction at the error correction level set by the level setting unit 105 to generate a printed code image. That is, the code image generation unit 106 generates a printed code image having the error correction level set by the level setting unit 105. In the present embodiment, the printed code image includes the encoded data of the teaching material identification information and the user identification information of the user U2 who uses the printed teaching material, but it may include only the encoded data of either one, or may include the encoded data of information other than these. Specifically, the code image generation unit 106 identifies the error correction level associated with the identification information of the image forming apparatus 400 that prints the teaching material and the printed code image, and generates a printed code image having this error correction level. Note that when a certain image forming apparatus 400 (referred to as apparatus A) is used for printing, the code image generation unit 106 may generate a printed code image using the error correction level set based on the scan image provided by another image forming apparatus 400 (referred to as apparatus B) different from this image forming apparatus 400 (apparatus A). Here, apparatus A is, for example, an image forming apparatus 400 that has not yet provided a scan image for setting the error correction level. In this case, at the time of printing by apparatus A, the default level is set by the level setting unit 105 as the error correction level for printing by apparatus A. Therefore, apparatus A can also be described as an image forming apparatus 400 in which the default level is set. Further, apparatus B is an image forming apparatus 400 that provides a scan image for setting the error correction level, and is an apparatus of the same model as apparatus A. That is, apparatus A and apparatus B are equipped with scanners 420 having the same performance. Specifically, when apparatus A is used for printing, the code image generation unit 106 may generate a printed code image printed by apparatus A using the error correction level stored in the storage unit 108 in association with the same model information as the model information of apparatus A. That is, when apparatus A is used for printing, the code image generation unit 106 may generate a printed code image using the error correction level set for printing by apparatus B.In this way, even when a code image is printed on the image forming apparatus 400 where scanning has not been performed yet by diverting the error correction level among the same models, an appropriate error correction level can be used.

[0028] The print control unit 107 adjusts the size of the print code image generated by the code image generation unit 106 to a predetermined size. That is, the print control unit 107 scales the size of the generated print code image to the size of this space in order to place the print code image in a space of a predetermined size. Specifically, the print control unit 107 enlarges or reduces the generated print code image so that the size of the generated print code image matches the size of the space where the print code image is to be placed. The size of the generated print code image varies depending on the error correction level. Specifically, as described above, the higher the error correction level, the larger the size of the generated print code image. In other words, the lower the error correction level, the smaller the size of the generated print code image. Therefore, when the generated print code image is unified to a predetermined size, the lower the error correction level used for generating the print code image, the larger the size of the cells constituting the actually placed print code image can be made.

[0029] The printing control unit 107 causes the image forming apparatus 400 to execute printing on the printed code image whose size has been adjusted. Specifically, the printing control unit 107 places the printed code image whose size has been adjusted in a predetermined space of the document to be printed, and causes the image forming apparatus 400 to execute printing of the document in which the printed code image is placed. More specifically, the printing control unit 107 superimposes the printed code image on a predetermined position of the teaching material to be distributed acquired as a printing instruction. Then, the printing control unit 107 causes the image forming apparatus 400 specified by the printing instruction to execute printing of the teaching material on which the printed code image is superimposed. That is, the printing control unit 107 causes the image forming apparatus 400 to execute printing of the teaching material on which the printed code image whose size has been adjusted is superimposed. Thereby, the teaching material including the printed code image is printed on the printing medium by the image forming apparatus 400. That is, the teaching material with the printed code image added is printed on the printing medium. Note that the printing control unit 107 may cause the image forming apparatus 400 to execute printing via another apparatus (for example, a server) that manages or controls the printing of the image forming apparatus 400, instead of directly instructing the image forming apparatus 400 to print.

[0030] The teaching material with the printed code image printed by the image forming apparatus 400 is used by the user U2. Specifically, for example, as described above, the user U2 fills in the answers to the questions included in the teaching material in the printed teaching material with the printed code image. Then, the user U2 scans the teaching material in which the answers are filled in by the scanner 420 of the image forming apparatus 400. The scan image generated thereby is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 100. Then, the code reading unit 102 performs a reading process, and the reading result information of this reading process is used to update the error correction level. In this way, by repeating the printing of the printed code image and the reading of the scan code image, the set value of the error correction level is optimized.

[0031] Next, the operation flow of the information processing system 10 will be described. FIG. 6 is a sequence chart showing an example of the operation flow of the information processing system 10. Hereinafter, the operation flow of the information processing system 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

[0032] In step S100, the print instruction acquisition unit 104 of the information processing apparatus 100 acquires a print instruction from the teaching material management apparatus 300. As described above, the print instruction does not necessarily have to be acquired from the teaching material management apparatus 300, and it may be acquired from the terminal device 200 or the like. The acquired print instruction includes data of the teaching material to be printed, information for identifying the image forming apparatus 400 that performs printing, and additional information.

[0033] In step S101, the level setting unit 105 sets the error correction level of the print code image printed by the image forming apparatus 400 specified in the print instruction. Specifically, the level setting unit 105 sets the error correction level based on the reading result information about the image forming apparatus 400 specified in the print instruction. If there is no reading result information about the image forming apparatus 400 specified in the print instruction, a default level is set as the error correction level.

[0034] Next, in step S102, the code image generation unit 106 encodes the additional information included in the print instruction with the error correction level set in step S102 to generate a print code image. If the default level is set as the error correction level in step S101, the code image generation unit 106 may generate a print code image as follows. That is, the code image generation unit 106 may generate a print code image using the error correction level set based on the reading result information of the scan image provided by another image forming apparatus 400 of the same model as the image forming apparatus 400 specified in the print instruction.

[0035] Next, in step S103, the print control unit 107 adjusts the size of the print code image generated in step S102 to a predetermined size. Then, the print control unit 107 adds the print code image with the adjusted size to a predetermined space of the teaching material to be printed. Then, in step S104, the print control unit 107 performs a print control process for causing the image forming apparatus 400 to execute printing. That is, the print control unit 107 causes the image forming apparatus 400 designated by the print instruction to execute printing of the teaching material to which the print code image is added.

[0036] Next, in step S105, the image forming apparatus 400 prints the teaching material including the print code image on a print medium. Then, in step S106, the user U2 uses the printed teaching material. Specifically, the user U2 fills in the answers to the questions included in the teaching material in the teaching material.

[0037] Next, in step S107, the image forming apparatus 400 scans the teaching material in which the answers are filled in at step S106 and generates a scan image. Next, in step S108, the image forming apparatus 400 transmits the scan image generated in step S107 to the information processing apparatus 100, and the scan image acquisition unit 101 of the information processing apparatus 100 acquires the scan image.

[0038] Next, in step S109, the code reading unit 102 reads a code image from the scan image acquired in step S108. Next, in step S110, the code reading unit 102 stores, in the storage unit 108, the reading result information indicating whether or not the reading of the scan code image was successful, in association with the identification information of the image forming apparatus 400 that transmitted the scan image. Next, in step S111, the information output unit 103 transmits the scan image acquired in step S108 and the decoded data of the code image read from this scan image to the teaching material management apparatus 300. Note that when the code reading unit 102 fails to read the scan code image, the transmission of the decoded data is omitted.

[0039] The above describes the embodiments. In this embodiment, a printed code image having an error correction level set based on whether or not the scan code image has been successfully read is generated, and the size of the generated printed code image is adjusted to a predetermined size. Therefore, it is possible to realize printing of a printed code image suitable for reading. That is, it is possible to realize printing of an appropriate printed code image according to the performance of the scanner 420 of the image forming apparatus 400. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of failure in reading the code image included in the scanned image. In particular, according to this embodiment, since an appropriate error correction level is automatically set, it is possible to omit the operation of adjusting the set value of the error correction level by an administrator or the like.

[0040] Incidentally, the above-described functions (processes) of the information processing apparatus 100 may be realized by a computer 500 having, for example, the following configuration. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the computer 500. As shown in FIG. 7, the computer 500 includes a processor 510, a memory 520, and a network interface 530.

[0041] The network interface 530 is used for communication via the network N. The network interface 530 may include, for example, a network interface card (NIC).

[0042] The memory 520 is configured by, for example, a combination of a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory. The memory 520 is used to store programs executed by the processor 510 and the like. Further, the above-described storage unit 108 may be realized by a storage device such as the memory 520.

[0043] The processor 510 reads and executes a program from the memory 520. Thereby, the processor 510 realizes the functions of the scan image acquisition unit 101, code reading unit 102, information output unit 103, print instruction acquisition unit 104, level setting unit 105, code image generation unit 106, and print control unit 107 described above. The processor 510 may be, for example, a microprocessor, MPU (Micro Processor Unit), or CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor 510 may include a plurality of processors.

[0044] The program includes a set of instructions (or software code) for causing a computer to perform one or more functions described in the embodiments when loaded into the computer. The program may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium or a tangible storage medium. By way of example and not limitation, the computer-readable medium or tangible storage medium includes random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, solid-state drive (SSD), or other memory technologies, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc, or other optical disc storage, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, or other magnetic storage devices. The program may be transmitted on a transitory computer-readable medium or a communication medium. By way of example and not limitation, the transitory computer-readable medium or communication medium includes electrical, optical, acoustic, or other forms of propagated signals.

[0045] Note that the terminal device 200, teaching material management device 300, and image forming device 400 may have the configuration of the computer 500. That is, some or all of the above-described functions (processes) of the terminal device 200, teaching material management device 300, and image forming device 400 may be realized by the computer 500.

[0046] Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be appropriately modified without departing from the gist. For example, in the above-described embodiments, the document to be printed was a teaching material, but a document other than a teaching material may be designated as the printing target. That is, the document to which the code image is added is not limited to a teaching material.

[0047] Some or all of the above embodiments may be described as follows in the appended claims, but are not limited thereto. (Appended Claim 1) A scan image acquisition unit that acquires a scan image generated by scanning a first printing medium by an image forming apparatus including a scanner; A code reading unit that reads a first code image printed on the first printing medium in a predetermined size from the scan image; A level setting unit that sets an error correction level of a second code image based on whether or not the reading of the first code image is successful; A code image generation unit that generates the second code image having the error correction level; A print control unit that adjusts the size of the generated second code image to the predetermined size and causes the image forming apparatus to perform printing of the second code image with the adjusted size on a second printing medium An information processing apparatus having the same. (Appended Claim 2) When the reading of the first code image fails, the level setting unit lowers the error correction level below the current setting value The information processing apparatus according to Appended Claim 1. (Appended Claim 3) When the occurrence rate of the failure of reading the first code image exceeds a predetermined threshold, the level setting unit lowers the error correction level below the current setting value The information processing apparatus according to Appended Claim 1. (Appended Claim 4) A storage unit that stores the identification information of the image forming apparatus that scanned the scan image in association with the reading result of the first code image from the scan image. The level setting unit sets the error correction level based on the reading result stored in association with the identification information of the image forming apparatus that prints the second code image. The information processing apparatus according to any one of Appendices 1 to 3. (Appendix 5) A storage unit that stores the model information of the image forming apparatus that scanned the scan image in association with the error correction level set based on the reading result of the first code image from the scan image. When another image forming apparatus is used for printing, the code image generation unit generates the second code image having the error correction level stored in association with the same model information as the model information of the other image forming apparatus. The print control unit adjusts the size of the generated second code image to the predetermined size, and causes the other image forming apparatus to perform printing of the second code image whose size has been adjusted on a second printing medium. The information processing apparatus according to any one of Appendices 1 to 3. (Appendix 6) On the first printing medium, a teaching material with the first code image added is printed. On the second printing medium, a teaching material with the second code image added is printed. The information processing apparatus according to any one of Appendices 1 to 5. (Appendix 7) The first code image includes encoded data of at least one of the identification information of the teaching material and the identification information of the user who uses the printed teaching material. The information processing apparatus has an information output unit that outputs the scan image and the decoded data of the first code image read from the scan image to a teaching material management apparatus that manages answers filled in by the user for the teaching material. The information processing apparatus according to Appendix 6. (Appendix 8) Obtain a scanned image generated by scanning a first printing medium with an image forming apparatus equipped with a scanner, read a first code image printed on the first printing medium in a predetermined size from the scanned image, set an error correction level of a second code image based on whether the reading of the first code image was successful, generate the second code image having the error correction level, adjust the size of the generated second code image to the predetermined size, cause the image forming apparatus to perform printing on the second printing medium for the second code image whose size has been adjusted Information processing method.

Explanation of Signs

[0048] 10… Information processing system, 50… Teaching material, 51… Problem, 52… Space, 54… Code image, 55… Answer, 100… Information processing apparatus, 101… Scanned image acquisition unit, 102… Code reading unit, 103… Information output unit, 104… Printing instruction acquisition unit, 105… Level setting unit, 106… Code image generation unit, 107… Printing control unit, 108… Storage unit, 200… Terminal device, 300… Teaching material management apparatus, 400… Image forming apparatus, 410… Printing unit, 420… Scanner, 500… Computer, 510… Processor, 520… Memory, 530… Network interface, DB1… Teaching material database, DB2… Answer database, N… Network, U1… User, U2… User

Claims

1. A scan image acquisition unit that acquires a scan image generated by scanning a first print medium by an image forming apparatus including a scanner; A code reading unit that reads a first code image printed on the first print medium in a predetermined size from the scan image; A level setting unit that sets an error correction level of a second code image based on whether the reading of the first code image is successful; A code image generation unit that generates the second code image having the error correction level; A print control unit that adjusts the size of the generated second code image to the predetermined size and causes the image forming apparatus to perform printing on a second print medium for the second code image whose size has been adjusted; An information processing apparatus having the above.

2. When the level setting unit fails to read the first code image, the level setting unit lowers the error correction level below the current setting value. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. When the occurrence rate of failure in reading the first code image by the level setting unit exceeds a predetermined threshold, the level setting unit lowers the error correction level below the current setting value. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

4. It has a storage unit that stores in association the identification information of the image forming apparatus that scanned the scan image and the reading result of the first code image from the scan image. The level setting unit sets the error correction level based on the reading result stored in association with the identification information of the image forming apparatus that prints the second code image. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A storage unit that stores, in association with each other, the model information of the image forming apparatus that scanned the scan image and the error correction level set based on the reading result of the first code image from the scan image. When another image forming apparatus is used for printing, the code image generation unit generates the second code image having the error correction level stored in association with the same model information as the model information of the other image forming apparatus. The print control unit adjusts the size of the generated second code image to the predetermined size, and causes the other image forming apparatus to perform printing of the second code image with the adjusted size on a second printing medium. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. On the first printing medium, a teaching material with the first code image added is printed. On the second printing medium, a teaching material with the second code image added is printed. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

7. The first code image includes encoded data of at least one of the identification information of the teaching material and the identification information of the user who uses the printed teaching material. The information processing apparatus has an information output unit that outputs the scan image and the decoded data of the first code image read from the scan image to a teaching material management apparatus that manages answers filled in by the user for the teaching material. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6.

8. Obtain a scan image generated by scanning a first printing medium with an image forming apparatus equipped with a scanner. Read a first code image printed on the first printing medium in a predetermined size from the scan image. Based on whether the reading of the first code image was successful or not, set the error correction level of the second code image. Generate the second code image having the error correction level, Adjust the size of the generated second code image to the predetermined size, Execute printing of the second code image with the adjusted size on a second printing medium by the image forming apparatus, Information processing method.

Images