Information processing system and program

Abstract

To reduce the number of times a page is read again when one document image data is regenerated in response to a change in the page configuration of a document after a plurality of document image data with different formats are generated by reading a plurality of pages of the document, compared with a case where other document image data is not used.SOLUTION: A task A generates data A (storage data) in a first format from a document, and a task B generates data B (print data) in a second format from the same document in 2-up. When it becomes necessary to replace the fourth page, the data B includes a page data generation unit 21 that generates page data for the scanned replacement fourth page, a data conversion unit 22 that extracts and acquires page data for the third page from the data A and converts it from the first format to the second format, and a print data update unit 23 that combines the third page and the fourth page to generate print page data and regenerate the data B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] For example, it has been a common practice to convert a multi-page document into image data by scanning it using a scanner installed in a multifunction device. If the page structure of the document is changed, such as by replacing some of the pages, the image data of the document can be regenerated by scanning all of the pages that make up the revised document, but generating image data like this all over again takes time.

[0003] Therefore, conventionally, techniques have been proposed that enable page-by-page changes, such as page replacement, to be made to generated document image data (for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-078761 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-087043 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-043375 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When regenerating original image data in response to changes to the page structure of a multi-page document after generating the image data from the document, it may be necessary to re-generate the unchanged pages in addition to the changed pages. For example, in what is commonly referred to as N-up printing, multiple page data is included in the image data for one sheet of printing paper. In this case, the changed pages and the unchanged pages are combined to generate the image data for one sheet of printing paper. However, in the past, this required re-scanning the unchanged pages of the document.

[0006] Incidentally, there are cases where multiple original image data of different formats are generated from the same original. In such cases, if it is possible to reuse other original image data generated from the same original to regenerate one original image data, it is efficient to do so.

[0007] To reduce the number of times a page is re-read compared to when other document image data is not used when one document image data is regenerated in response to a change in the page configuration of the document after a plurality of pages of the document have been read and a plurality of document image data with different formats have been generated. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The information processing system of the present invention includes a processor, which acquires document image data in a first format generated from a document containing multiple pages and document image data in a second format different from the first format, and if the document image data in the first format contains image data of pages of the document that can be used to regenerate the document image data in the second format in accordance with a change in the page configuration of the document, extracts the image data of the reusable pages from the document image data in the first format, and regenerates the document image data in the second format using the image data of the extracted pages.

[0009] The processor is also characterized in that it regenerates the document image data in the second format by converting image data of a page extracted from the document image data in the first format into image data in the second format and including the image data in the document image data in the second format.

[0010] Furthermore, when the processor is unable to convert the image data of a page extracted from the document image data of the first format into image data of the second format, the processor reuses the image data of the extracted page as data for determining the validity of the document image data of the second format to be regenerated.

[0011] The invention is also characterized in that the page image data of one page contained in the document image data of the first format is generated corresponding to each page that constitutes the document, and the page image data of one page contained in the document image data of the second format is generated by allocating the image data of multiple pages that constitute the document.

[0012] The processor is also characterized in that, when the change in page configuration in the document is a page replacement, it obtains second-format page data of the replaced page as replacement page data, and when regenerating the second-format document image data, it extracts image data of the document page to be included in the same page image data as the replacement page data from the first-format document image data.

[0013] Furthermore, when the change in the page configuration of the document is the addition of a page to the document, the processor obtains second-format page data of the page to be added as added page data, and extracts from the first-format document image data image data of the document page that will be placed after the added page data in the regenerated second-format document image data as image data of the document page that can be reused when regenerating the second-format document image data.

[0014] Furthermore, when the change in the page configuration of the document is the deletion of a page included in the document, the processor extracts from the document image data of the first format the image data of the document page that will be positioned after the position of the image data of the page that will be deleted in the regenerated document image data of the second format as image data of the document page that can be reused when regenerating the document image data of the second format.

[0015] The program of the present invention enables a computer to perform the following functions: acquire manuscript image data in a first format generated from a manuscript with multiple pages and manuscript image data in a second format different from the first format; if the manuscript image data in the first format contains image data of pages of the manuscript that can be used to regenerate the manuscript image data in the second format in accordance with a change in the page configuration of the manuscript, extract image data of the reusable pages from the manuscript image data in the first format; and regenerate the manuscript image data in the second format using the image data of the extracted pages. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the invention described in claim 1, when a document containing multiple pages is read and multiple document image data of different formats is generated, and then one document image data is regenerated in response to a change in the page structure of the document, the number of times pages need to be re-read can be reduced compared to when other document image data is not reused.

[0017] According to the invention as set forth in claim 2, it is possible to regenerate document image data in the second format without re-reading the document pages required for regenerating document image data in the second format.

[0018] According to the invention of claim 3, even if the image data of the page extracted from the document image data in the first format cannot be included in the document image data in the second format, the image data of the page can be effectively used.

[0019] According to the invention as set forth in claim 4, the image data of a plurality of pages of a document can be applied to image data for so-called layout printing, in which image data of one page of the document image data is laid out.

[0020] According to the invention described in claim 5, the image data of existing pages of a manuscript that do not need to be replaced and that are included in the same page image data as the replacement page data can be obtained by extracting it from the manuscript image data of the first format without having to be read again.

[0021] According to the invention of claim 6, the image data of the existing pages of the document placed after the additional page data can be obtained by extracting it from the document image data in the first format without having to be read again.

[0022] According to the invention described in claim 7, the image data of the existing pages of the document to be placed after the position of the page to be deleted can be obtained by extracting it from the document image data of the first format without having to be read again.

[0023] According to the invention described in claim 8, when a document containing multiple pages is read and multiple document image data of different formats is generated, and then one document image data is regenerated in response to a change in the page structure of the document, the number of times pages need to be re-read can be reduced compared to when other document image data is not reused. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing multitasking processing executed in the present embodiment. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart showing the printing process executed by task B in this embodiment. [Figure 4]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a function realized by executing task B when replacing some pages of a document in this embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing another example of the printing process executed by task B when some pages of the document are replaced in this embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a function realized by executing task B when adding a page to a document in this embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a function realized by executing task B when deleting a page from a document in this embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a multifunction peripheral 10 according to the present embodiment. The multifunction peripheral 10 according to the present embodiment is a form of image forming device, equipped with various functions such as printing, copying, and scanning, and incorporating a computer. The multifunction peripheral 10 according to the present embodiment can be realized using the same hardware configuration as conventional devices. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction peripheral 10 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a hard disk drive (HDD) 14, an operation panel 15, a scanner 16, a printer 17, and a network interface (IF) 18. The ROM 12 stores various programs related to device control, electronic data encryption, and the transmission and reception of electronic data. The CPU 11 controls the operation of various mechanisms installed in the device, such as the scanner 16 and printer 17, in accordance with the programs stored in the ROM 12. The RAM 13 serves as a work memory during program execution and as a communication buffer during electronic data transmission and reception. The HDD 14 stores image data scanned using the scanner 16. The operation panel 15 is a user interface that accepts user instructions and displays information. The scanner 16 reads an original placed on the platen by the user and stores the image data in the HDD 14 or the like. The printer 17 prints an image on paper in accordance with instructions from a control program executed by the CPU 11. The network interface 18 connects to a network and is used to send and receive electronic data to and from external devices, and to access the device via a browser.

[0027] Furthermore, the multifunction device 10 in this embodiment includes an N-up function among its built-in printing functions. The "N-up function" is a function that allows multiple document pages to be printed on a single sheet of paper. Printing performed using the N-up function is called "N-up printing."

[0028] Furthermore, the multifunction peripheral 10 in this embodiment is capable of multitasking. In other words, it has the function of executing an application that performs processing in a multitasking manner. This function is realized by cooperative operation between a computer built into the multifunction peripheral 10 and a program running on the CPU 11 installed in the computer. Furthermore, the program used in this embodiment (a multitasking including task A and task B, which will be described later) can be provided not only by communication means, but also by being stored on a computer-readable recording medium such as a USB memory. The program provided from the communication means or recording medium is installed on the computer, and various processes are realized by the CPU 11 of the computer sequentially executing the program.

[0029] As described above, the multi-function device 10 of this embodiment executes multitasking processing, and an example of this multitasking processing will be described with reference to FIG.

[0030] In the multifunction device 10 of this embodiment, task A and task B included in the multitasking are executed simultaneously in parallel. Both task A and task B generate document image data in a predetermined format from scan data generated by using scanner 16 to read a document consisting of multiple pages set on the document platen of the multifunction device 10.

[0031] Task A generates data to be saved (hereinafter also referred to as "data A") as document image data in a first format from the scanned data. The document image data in the first format is, for example, TiFF data or PDF data. In this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, there is no need to particularly limit the first format. However, as shown in FIG. 2, one page of image data included in the document image data in the first format is generated corresponding to each page that makes up the document. This one page of image data that makes up the document image data is referred to as "page data."

[0032] Task B generates print data (hereinafter also referred to as "data B") from the scanned data as document image data in a second format different from the first format. The document image data in the second format is, for example, bitmap data. Task B in this embodiment generates the document image data in the second format as document image data for N-up printing, for example, as shown in FIG. 2. That is, the image data for one page of paper included in the document image data in the second format is generated by allocating multiple pages that make up the document. In this embodiment, 2-up printing is used as an example, but it is not necessarily limited to 2-up printing. In the case of task B, image data for one page of paper is generated to include two pages of document that make up the document image data. However, with respect to the image data for one page of document (i.e., page data), the image data for one page of paper including two page data will be referred to as "print page data."

[0033] 2 shows an example in which the manuscript is composed of 10 pages, but this number of pages is merely an example and need not be limited to this. Furthermore, task A does not necessarily need to generate manuscript image data for storage, and manuscript image data for other purposes may be generated. Similarly, task B may also generate manuscript image data for purposes other than printing.

[0034] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. Since this embodiment is characterized mainly by the processing content of task B, the description will focus on the print processing executed by task B and use the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0035] A user of multifunction device 10 places a document on the document platen and selects and executes multitasking processing from a menu displayed on operation panel 15. As a result, data A and data B are generated from the scan data of the document, as shown in Fig. 2. The user displays a preview image of the generated data B on operation panel 15 and checks the contents of data B (step S101).

[0036] If there is no problem with data B and no need to change the manuscript (N in step S102), a predetermined operation is performed to issue a print instruction for data B. Task B prints data B in accordance with the instruction from the user (step S114).

[0037] On the other hand, if the document needs to be changed (Y in step S102), an operation for making the change is performed.

[0038] By the way, when changing the page configuration of a manuscript, there are cases where pages constituting the manuscript are replaced, pages are added, or pages are deleted. Below, each of these cases of changing pages will be explained. First, when replacing pages constituting the manuscript, the case will be explained using Figure 4.

[0039] 4 is a diagram showing a block configuration of functions realized by executing task B when replacing some pages of a document in this embodiment. Task B has, as its functions, a page data generation unit 21, a data conversion unit 22, a print data update unit 23, and a user interface (UI) unit 24. Note that FIG. 4 shows only the components necessary for replacing pages.

[0040] The page data generation unit 21 generates image data in the second format from the scan data of the pages of the original document to be replaced. In this embodiment, as described below, if page data included in data A can be reused, it is reused. However, page data in the first format cannot be reused as is. Therefore, the data conversion unit 22 acquires data A and converts the page data in the first format extracted from the data A to be reused into page data in the second format. The print data update unit 23 acquires page data from the page data generation unit 21 and the data conversion unit 22 and generates print page data to be replaced, thereby regenerating, i.e., updating, the original image data. The user interface unit 24 accepts user operations input from the operation panel 15 and displays a preview image of the updated original image data on the operation panel 15.

[0041] Here, an example will be described in which the fourth page of the document is replaced.

[0042] Referring to the printing data shown in FIG. 4, page 4 of the document is to be combined with page 3. Therefore, to generate print page data for page 2 in printing data consisting of pages 3 and 4 of the document, page data for page 3 is required. Task B in this embodiment is characterized in that it acquires page data for page 3 by extracting it from task A rather than by rescanning page 3 of the document. In this way, if data A contains reusable page data (Y in step S104), task B extracts and acquires the reusable page data from data A (step S105). However, because the page data extracted from task A is in the first format, data conversion unit 22 converts the page data for page 3 acquired from task A into page data in the second format (step S106). If data A does not contain reusable page data (N in step S104), the only option is to rescan and obtain page 3 of the document, so task B, for example, displays a message on operation panel 15 to scan page 3 of the document, and then has the user scan and obtain page 3 of the document (step S107). In this way, task B obtains the page data of the document (i.e., the page data of the third page) required to update the print page data.

[0043] Furthermore, since the page to be replaced is the fourth page of the document, the user scans the page to be replaced (shown as "4'" in FIG. 4) by operating operation panel 15. After acquiring the scan data of the fourth page by scanning, page data generation unit 21 generates page data of the fourth page in the second format from the scan data (N in step S108, S109).

[0044] For ease of explanation, the flowchart shows the process flow for separately acquiring the third and fourth pages that make up the print page data (steps S107 and S109), but the process flow may also be one that assumes a case where the user scans the third and fourth pages of the document together.

[0045] In this way, when the page data for the fourth page to be replaced (hereinafter also referred to as "replacement page data") and the page data for the third page, which is page data to be included in the same print page data as the replacement page data and which has been extracted from data A and converted into the second format, are acquired, print data update unit 23 generates print page data for the second page in data B so that these page data are included. Furthermore, print data update unit 23 acquires data B and updates the print data (i.e., data B) by replacing page 2 of the acquired data B with the generated print page data (step S112).

[0046] The user interface unit 24 displays the regenerated data B on the operation panel 15, for example, to allow the user to confirm. The user confirms whether the orientation and order of the page data included in the print page data in the regenerated data B are correct. If the orientation and order of the page data in data B are incorrect (N in step S113), the user corrects the orientation and order by performing a predetermined user operation such as drag and drop on the operation panel 15. The print data update unit 23 updates data B in accordance with this user operation (step S112). Then, when the user confirms and performs a predetermined print instruction operation (Y in step S113), task B prints data B (step S114).

[0047] As described above, according to this embodiment, when image data of an unchanged document page is required to generate replacement print page data, the unchanged document does not need to be scanned again, and document image data of another format generated from the same document is reused, thereby reducing the number of times the document page needs to be re-read.

[0048] As described above, in this embodiment, data A in the first format is reused when regenerating data B in the second format. In order to reuse data A, it is a prerequisite that the first format of data A is a format that can be converted into the second format of data B.

[0049] Also, although the first and second formats are described as different formats, they do not necessarily have to be different data formats. In other words, "different formats" naturally refers to different image data formats, such as TIFF and bitmap, but also includes cases where the print page data constituting the print data includes page data for one page of the document, and page data for multiple pages of the document, such as N-up, even when the data formats are the same. Note that if the first and second formats are the same data format, data conversion by data conversion unit 22 is not required.

[0050] Furthermore, in this embodiment, task A and task B are included in the same multitasking, and are therefore linked to tasks that use scanned data of the same document, making them mutually reusable. However, as long as task A and task B can be linked in that they use data derived from the same document, they do not necessarily have to be in a relationship that forms a multitasking. For example, as long as attribute information that can identify the data from which the data was generated (scanned data of the document) is added to both data A and data B, data A and data B can be linked in that they were generated from scanned data of the same document, so task A and task B do not necessarily have to be in a relationship that forms a multitasking. In other words, multitasking can be said to be one means of linking task A and task B in that they generate data from the same document.

[0051] In the above explanation, the page data constituting data A is reused to regenerate data B. However, although it is possible to convert a first data format into a second data format, for example, if data A is a black and white image and data B is a color image, color information is missing from data A, so even if data A is converted, page data to be included in data B cannot be generated.

[0052] Like Fig. 4, Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a block configuration of functions realized by executing task B when replacing some pages of a document, but it is a configuration diagram assuming a case where, as mentioned above, page data to be included in data B cannot be generated even after data A is converted. Task B shown in Fig. 5 has a data collating unit 25 instead of data conversion unit 22. Note that the same components as those in Fig. 4 are given the same reference numerals, and their explanations will be omitted.

[0053] The flowchart shown in Fig. 3 can also be applied to cases where data A cannot be included in data B even after data conversion. In Fig. 3, if data A is a black and white image and data B is a color image, reusable page data is not included in data A (N in step S104), so task B will obtain the third page of the document that has been scanned again (step S107).

[0054] Thereafter, the process of regenerating data B by the print data update unit 23 and printing data B may be the same as described above (steps S108 to S114). For example, immediately after step S107, the data comparison unit 25 extracts and acquires page data for the third page of the document from data A. The data comparison unit 25 also converts the rescanned and acquired page three of the document into a black-and-white image. The data comparison unit 25 then compares the black-and-white image acquired from data A with the black-and-white image generated by conversion. This makes it possible to verify that the page of the document rescanned by the user is the third page. The data comparison unit 25 notifies the print data update unit 23 of the comparison result. The print data update unit 23 receives the notification from the data comparison unit 25. If it is determined that the third page is incorrect, the print data update unit 23 prompts the user to scan the correct third page again, for example by displaying a message on the operation panel 15.

[0055] In this way, task B can reuse the black and white image data of the third page extracted and obtained from data A as data to judge the validity of the data B to be regenerated, or more specifically, the validity of the page data of the third page of the manuscript.

[0056] In this embodiment, page data included in data A generated for storage is reused to regenerate data B generated for printing. In the page replacement process described with reference to Fig. 4, because data A and data B have different data formats, task B realizes reuse by converting the page data extracted and acquired from data A and then including it in data B. In Fig. 5, the page data of data A, which is a black and white image, cannot be converted to a color image, but since this use is not for storage but for the purpose of determining the legitimacy of the re-scanned document page being the third page, this case can also be considered as reuse in that it is used for a purpose other than the original purpose.

[0057] Note that, although the relationship between the data attributes of data A and data B has been explained using the color attributes of an image as an example, it is not limited to this. For example, even if the resolution of data A is lower than that of data B, data A cannot be included in data B simply by converting the format of the page data of data A, but it can be used to determine legitimacy in the same way as with the color attributes of an image.

[0058] Next, a case where a page is added to a document as an example of changing the page configuration of the document will be described with reference to FIG.

[0059] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a block configuration of functions realized by executing task B when adding a page to a document in this embodiment. The function of task B required when adding a page to a document may be the same as when replacing a page. Fig. 6 explains an example in which page 4' is added between pages 4 and 5 of the document.

[0060] 3 can also be applied when adding a page to a document, so the same processing as in the case of replacement will be omitted as appropriate. When adding a page immediately after page 4, data B requires page data for pages 5 to 10 due to the shift in the page data sets as shown in FIG. 6. Therefore, task B obtains page data corresponding to pages 5 to 10 from data A (step S105). Then, data conversion unit 22 converts the page data for pages 5 to 10 obtained from task A into page data in the second format (step S106). Furthermore, when page data generation unit 21 obtains the scan data of page 4' to be added, it generates page data of page 4' in the second format from the scan data (step S109).

[0061] In this way, when page data for pages 5 to 10 of the document to be placed after the additional page data is extracted and acquired from data A in addition to the page data for page 4' to be added (hereinafter also referred to as "additional page data"), print data update unit 23 generates print page data corresponding to pages 3 to 6 in data B using the page data after the additional page data. Then, print data update unit 23 acquires data B and updates the print data (i.e., data B) by replacing the print page data for pages 3 and after in the acquired data B with the generated print page data (step S112). The subsequent processing in task B has already been explained and will not be repeated here.

[0062] Conventionally, it would be necessary to scan the 5 to 10 pages of originals following the position where pages are to be added in data B together with the added pages, but in this embodiment, it is sufficient to scan only the pages to be added.

[0063] Finally, a case where a page is deleted from a document as an example of changing the page configuration of the document will be described with reference to FIG.

[0064] 7 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a function realized by executing task B when deleting a page from a document in this embodiment. When deleting a page from a document, there is no new document page to be read, so page data generation unit 21 is not required.

[0065] For example, the user designates page 4 of the document as the page to be deleted by operating operation panel 15. When user interface unit 24 receives this instruction (Y in step S102), task B acquires from data A page data corresponding to pages 5 to 10 that are to be placed after the position of page 4 to be deleted in data B to be regenerated (step S105). Then, data conversion unit 22 converts the page data of pages 5 to 10 acquired from task A into page data in the second format (step S106).

[0066] When deleting pages from the manuscript (Y in step S108), the print data update unit 23 deletes the unnecessary four pages of page data from the existing data B, then combines the page data of the third and fifth pages that were paired with the four pages to be deleted, and also rearranges the objects to be combined for the page data of pages 6 to 10, thereby updating data B as shown in FIG. 7 (step S112).

[0067] Conventionally, it would be necessary to scan the originals of pages 3, 5 to 10, which change the set to be combined by deleting page 4 in data B, but in this embodiment, it is not necessary to scan the pages of the originals.

[0068] As explained above, when changing the page configuration of a manuscript, examples of replacing pages that make up the manuscript, adding pages, and deleting pages have been given, and separate drawings have been prepared for each case. However, these configurations may also be combined as appropriate.

[0069] Also, although the location for replacement, deletion, or addition of pages is the single fourth page, it may be a different location or multiple pages.

[0070] Although the "information processing system" in the present embodiment has been described as being configured by a single multifunction peripheral 10 as an example, it may also be configured by a plurality of information processing devices. Furthermore, instead of the multifunction peripheral 10, which is one form of image forming device, the information processing system may be realized by an information processing device such as a PC connectable to a network. When realized by a PC, the PC may be configured to connect a scanner or acquire scan data via a network from the multifunction peripheral 10 equipped with a scanner.

[0071] In the above embodiments, the term "processor" refers to a processor in a broad sense, and includes 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.).

[0072] Furthermore, the processor operations in the above embodiments may not only be performed by a single processor, but may also be performed by multiple processors located at physically separate locations working together. Furthermore, the order of the processor operations is not limited to the order described in the above embodiments, and may be changed as appropriate.

[0073] (Addendum) (((1))) a processor; The processor: Obtaining document image data in a first format generated from a document containing multiple pages and document image data in a second format different from the first format; When the image data of the first format of the document includes image data of the document pages that can be reused to regenerate the document image data of the second format in accordance with a change in the page configuration of the document, the image data of the reused page is extracted from the document image data of the first format; regenerating the document image data in the second format using the image data of the extracted pages; An information processing system comprising: (((2))) The information processing system described in (((1))) is characterized in that the processor regenerates the document image data in the second format by converting image data of a page extracted from the document image data in the first format into image data in the second format and including the image data in the document image data in the second format. (((3))) The information processing system described in (((2))) is characterized in that, if the processor cannot convert the image data of a page extracted from the original image data of the first format into image data of the second format, the processor reuses the image data of the extracted page as data for determining the validity of the original image data of the second format to be regenerated. (((4))) The page image data for one page included in the document image data in the first format is generated corresponding to each page constituting the document, The page image data of one page included in the document image data in the second format is generated by allocating image data of a plurality of pages that constitute the document. 1. An information processing system according to any one of ((1))) to (((3))). (((5))) The processor: If the change in the page configuration of the manuscript is a page replacement, second-format page data of the replaced page is acquired as replacement page data; extracting, from the document image data in the first format, image data of the document pages to be included in the same page image data as the replacement page data when regenerating the document image data in the second format; The information processing system according to (((4))) is characterized in that: (((6))) The processor: If the change in the page configuration of the document is the addition of a page to the document, second format page data of the page to be added is acquired as added page data; extracting, from the document image data in the first format, image data of the document pages that will be arranged after the additional page data in the document image data in the second format after the regeneration, as image data of the document pages that can be reused when the document image data in the second format is regenerated; The information processing system according to (((4))) is characterized in that: (((7))) The information processing system described in (((4))) is characterized in that, when the change in the page configuration in the document is the deletion of a page included in the document, the processor extracts from the document image data in the first format image data the image data of the document page that will be positioned after the position of the image data of the page that will be deleted in the document image data in the second format after regeneration as image data of the document page that can be reused when regenerating the document image data in the second format. (((8))) On the computer, a function of acquiring document image data in a first format generated from a document containing multiple pages and document image data in a second format different from the first format; a function of extracting image data of pages of the document that can be reused to regenerate the document image data of the second format in accordance with a change in the page configuration of the document, when the image data of the document image of the first format includes image data of the pages of the document that can be reused; a function of regenerating the document image data in the second format using the image data of the extracted pages; A program to achieve this.

[0074] According to the invention described in (((1))), when a document containing multiple pages is read and multiple document image data of different formats is generated, and then one document image data is regenerated in response to a change in the page structure of the document, the number of times the pages need to be re-read can be reduced compared to when other document image data is not reused. According to the invention described in (((2))), it is possible to regenerate document image data in the second format without re-reading the document pages required for regenerating document image data in the second format. According to the invention described in (((3))), even if the image data of the page extracted from the document image data in the first format cannot be included in the document image data in the second format, the image data can be effectively used. According to the invention described in (((4))), it is possible to apply the image data for so-called layout printing, in which image data of a plurality of pages of a document is laid out in page image data for one page in the document image data. According to the invention described in (((5))), the image data of existing pages of a manuscript that do not need to be replaced and that are included in the same page image data as the replacement page data can be obtained by extracting them from the manuscript image data of the first format without having to read them again. According to the invention described in (((6))), the image data of the existing pages of the document to be placed after the additional page data can be obtained by extracting it from the document image data in the first format without having to read it again. According to the invention described in (((7))), the image data of the existing pages of the document to be placed after the position of the page to be deleted can be obtained by extracting it from the document image data of the first format without having to read it again. According to the invention described in (((8))), when a document is read on multiple pages and multiple document image data of different formats are generated, and then one document image data is regenerated in response to a change in the page structure of the document, the number of times the pages need to be re-read can be reduced compared to when other document image data is not reused. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 10 Multifunction device, 11 CPU, 12 ROM, 13 RAM, 14 HDD, 15 Operation panel, 16 Scanner, 17 Printer, 18 Network interface (IF), 21 Page data generation unit, 22 Data conversion unit, 23 Print data update unit, 24 User interface (UI) unit, 25 Data verification unit.

Claims

1. a processor; The processor: Obtaining document image data in a first format and document image data in a second format different from the first format, which are generated from a document containing a plurality of pages; When the image data of the first format of the document includes image data of the document pages that can be reused to regenerate the document image data of the second format in accordance with a change in the page configuration of the document, the image data of the reused page is extracted from the document image data of the first format; regenerating the document image data in the second format using the image data of the extracted pages; An information processing system comprising:

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the processor regenerates the document image data in the second format by converting image data of a page extracted from the document image data in the first format into image data in the second format and including the image data in the document image data in the second format.

3. The information processing system described in claim 2, characterized in that if the processor cannot convert the image data of a page extracted from the original image data of the first format into image data of the second format, the processor reuses the image data of the extracted page as data for determining the validity of the original image data of the second format to be regenerated.

4. The page image data for one page included in the document image data in the first format is generated corresponding to each page constituting the document, The page image data for one page included in the document image data in the second format is generated by allocating image data of a plurality of pages that constitute the document.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein:

5. The processor: If the change in the page configuration of the document is a page replacement, second-format page data of the replaced page is acquired as replacement page data; extracting, from the document image data in the first format, image data of the document page to be included in the same page image data as the replacement page data when regenerating the document image data in the second format; 5. The information processing system according to claim 4.

6. The processor: If the change in the page configuration of the document is the addition of a page to the document, page data in a second format of the page to be added is acquired as added page data; extracting, from the document image data of the first format, image data of the document pages to be arranged after the additional page data in the document image data of the second format after the regeneration, as image data of the document pages that can be reused when the document image data of the second format is regenerated; 5. The information processing system according to claim 4.

7. The information processing system described in claim 4, characterized in that when a change in the page configuration of the document is the deletion of a page included in the document, the processor extracts from the document image data of the first format the image data of the document page that will be positioned after the position of the image data of the page that will be deleted in the document image data of the second format after regeneration as image data of the document page that can be reused when regenerating the document image data of the second format.

8. On the computer, a function of acquiring document image data in a first format generated from a document containing multiple pages and document image data in a second format different from the first format; a function of extracting image data of a page of the document that can be reused to regenerate the document image data of the second format in accordance with a change in the page configuration of the document, when the image data of the document image of the first format includes the image data of the page of the document that can be reused; a function of regenerating the document image data in the second format using the image data of the extracted pages; A program to achieve this.

Images