JP2006086778A - Multifunction device and method of managing document thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that a user must be conscious of which multifunction machine a desired document is registered in addition to the image deterioration of outputted document being large as opposed to a registration document with high image quality and remarkable full coloring in a configuration for taking out the registration document from remote by facsimile transmitting and receiving. <P>SOLUTION: The multifunction device includes a document managing unit 28 having functions of forming a document ID for identifying the registration document, based on the electronic data of the registration document by each of digital multifunction machines which can communicate mutually through a network 16 and connecting and managing the document ID and the registration document; and a network document retrieving unit 30 having functions of retrieving the registration document based on the document ID, transmitting the retrieving request to known other digital multifunction machine in the network 16, receiving the retrieving request from other digital multifunction machine, retrieving the registration document corresponding to the document ID, and relaying the retrieving request to the known other digital multifunction machine in the network 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a multifunction device such as a digital multifunction device having a document management function and a document management method for the multifunction device, and more particularly, to a document registered in a certain multifunction device connected to each other via a computer network. The present invention relates to a composite apparatus that can output from the composite apparatus and a document management method for the composite apparatus.

  In recent years, copying machines have not only a simple copying function, but also a facsimile function that connects to a public telephone line and transmits / receives a document by facsimile using the scanning function and printing function of the copying machine, and information from a computer using a printing function. Various functions such as a network print function that prints based on the document, and a confidential box function that temporarily stores image information of a document read using the scan function as electronic information and acquires it from a computer via the network It has a function and is a complex device called MFP (multi-function printer).

  Conventionally, a large-capacity memory is mounted on the digital multi-function peripheral so as to have a document management function (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the document management function of the digital multifunction peripheral according to this conventional example, when registering a document, the document to be registered is first read and registered, and then the management information of the registered document and the registered document are specified. A document code is generated, an identification mark is generated based on the document code, and then a management document in which the identification mark is combined with a part of the registered document is generated and output. When searching for a document, first, the management document is read by the reading unit, an identification mark is extracted from the management document, a document code is analyzed from the identification mark, and a registered document corresponding to the document code is searched. And take it out.

JP-A-10-308868

  Here, a document management system that enables a plurality of digital multi-function peripherals having a document management function to communicate with each other via a network and retrieves a document registered in one digital multi-function peripheral from another digital multi-function peripheral. Think about when building.

  Since the digital multifunction peripheral according to the above-described conventional example is configured to take out a registered document remotely by facsimile transmission / reception, the image quality of the output document is greatly deteriorated with respect to a registered document whose image quality and full color are remarkable. In addition, there is a problem that the user must be aware of which digital multifunction peripheral the desired document is registered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a composite apparatus having a document management function suitable for a network environment in which a plurality of composite apparatuses are distributed and installed on a network. Another object of the present invention is to provide a document management method for the composite apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in a composite apparatus connectable to another composite apparatus via a network, a document ID for identifying a registered document is generated based on the electronic data of the registered document, and the document The ID and the registered document are managed in association with each other, the registered document is searched based on the document ID, and a search request is transmitted to another known composite device on the network, while the other composite device The search request is received, the registered document corresponding to the document ID is searched, and the search request is relayed to other known composite devices on the network.

  That is, in a network system in which a plurality of compound devices having document management functions are connected to each other via a network, each of the plurality of compound devices associates a registered document with a document ID for identifying the registered document. A registered document based on a document ID, a function for transmitting a search request to another known complex device, and a search request from another complex device, By searching the corresponding registered document and relaying the search request to other known multifunction devices, the document registered in any multifunction device can be registered in which multifunction device. It is possible to output from another arbitrary composite device without making the user aware of whether or not.

  According to the present invention, in a network environment in which a plurality of composite devices are distributed on a network, a user can freely obtain a desired registered document from any composite device without being aware of the location of the registered document. It can be taken out. In addition, since the registered document is stored in each compound device, and the document ID is generated independently in each compound device based on the electronic data of the registered document, the document ID is unified in the entire system. Management is not necessary. Therefore, even if the multifunction device is replaced, if the registered document has been moved to the new multifunction device, the registered document can be searched.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a network system to which the present invention is applied. In the network system according to this application example, a plurality of multifunction devices, for example, four digital multifunction devices 11 to 14 and a computer 15 are connected to the computer network 16 and can communicate with each other via the computer network 16. It has become a structure.

<Digital MFPs 11-14>
The digital multifunction peripherals 11 to 14 are apparatuses that can provide various functions such as a network printing function and a document management function as services while being based on a copying machine. The present invention is characterized by a specific configuration of the digital multifunction peripherals 11 to 14, and details thereof will be described later.

  The digital multifunction peripherals 11 to 14 are uniquely identified on the network 16 by host addresses such as IP (Internet Protocol) addresses and domain names. The services provided by each of the digital multifunction peripherals 11 to 14 include a host address of the digital multifunction peripheral, a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) / UDP (User Datagram Protocol) port number determined by each service, and a service. It is uniquely identified on the network 16 in combination with identification information unique to the service (for example, a queue name in the print service). Hereinafter, these may be collectively referred to as address information.

<Computer 15>
The computer 15 includes a display device such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, an arithmetic device such as a CPU, and a storage device such as a memory and a hard disk drive, and is generally called a personal computer or the like. It is a device.

  A software module called a dedicated print driver is incorporated in the computer 15 in order to print the stored electronic document with the digital multifunction peripherals 11 to 14 connected to the computer network 16.

<Computer network 16>
The computer network 16 is a packet switching network also called a LAN (Local Area Network), and provides a communication path based on the TCP / IP protocol.

<Document management function>
Next, an outline of a document management function provided as a service by the digital multifunction peripherals 11 to 14 will be described by taking as an example a case where a document is registered in the digital copying machine 14 and the document is output by the digital copying machine 11.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of document registration in the digital multi-function peripheral 14. Document registration includes a method (A) of registering by scanning a paper document with the digital copying machine 14 and a method (B) of printing and registering an electronic document from the computer 15.

  Here, in order to specify electronic data, a fixed-length hash value generated by applying a hash function (one-way summary function) used for authentication, digital signature, or the like to the electronic data is used.

  First, a method (A) for scanning and registering a paper document with the digital multi-function peripheral 14 will be described. The user sets a document on the platen or ADF (Auto Document Feeder) of the digital copying machine 14, and operates the operation panel to instruct registration of the document. When a document registration instruction is given, the digital copying machine 14 scans the document, calculates a hash value h1 from the electronic image data, and stores it as a document ID in association with the electronic image data. And print it out.

  Next, a method (B) of printing and registering an electronic document from the computer 15 will be described. The user operates the computer 15 to instruct printing of a document stored in the computer 15 via a dedicated print driver. When a document print instruction is given, the print driver converts the document into a PDL (page description language) format such as Post Script, and transmits the converted document to the digital copying machine 14 via the network 16. The digital copying machine 14 calculates a hash value h2 from the received PDL format document, stores it as a document ID in association with the PDL format document, generates a management document, and prints it out.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a management document in the digital multi-function peripheral 14. As shown in FIG. 3, in the management document, the reduced image of the first page of the registered document, attribute information such as the paper size and the number of pages of the document, and the document ID are embedded as invisible information 2 A dimension barcode is combined as an identification mark.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of registered document output in the network system configured as described above. The user sets the management document printed out when the original is registered by the digital copying machine 14 on the platen or ADF of the digital copying machine 11, and operates the operation panel to instruct the output of the registered document. .

  When an instruction to output a registered document is given, the digital copying machine 11 scans the management document, analyzes the electronic image data, cuts out the two-dimensional barcode, decodes the two-dimensional barcode, and decodes the document ID (hash value h1). ). The digital copying machine 11 searches the registered document h1 from the digital copying machine 14 connected to the network 16, acquires the registered document h1, and prints it out.

  Next, a specific configuration of the digital multifunction peripheral (digital multifunction peripherals 11 to 14) according to an embodiment of the present invention having the document management function described above will be described in detail.

[Embodiment]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment of the present invention. The digital multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment includes an operation panel unit 21, a scanner unit 22, a printer unit 23, a print server unit 24, a document registration unit 25, a registered document output unit 26, and an image forming unit 27. The document management unit 28, the identity determination unit 29, the network document search unit 30, and the network interface unit 31.

(Operation panel unit 21)
The operation panel unit 21 includes a liquid crystal touch panel for information display and function selection, and various operation buttons including a start button, and provides a user interface for a user to operate the digital multi-function peripheral.

  The user can operate the operation panel unit 21 to instruct the document registration of the original set on the platen or ADF. Similarly, the user can instruct printing of a registered document by scanning a management document set on the platen or ADF. As described above, by operating the operation panel unit 21, the user can operate the document management function with a simple operation similar to the normal copy function.

(Scanner unit 22)
The scanner unit 22 is controlled by the operation panel unit 21 to scan a management document set on the platen or ADF, and the scanned electronic image data is copied to the printer unit 23 when copying, and a document registration unit 25 when registering a document. In addition, when the registered document is output, the document is output to the registered document output unit 26.

(Printer unit 23)
The printer unit 23 marks the input electronic image data on paper using xerographic technology and outputs it. However, the marking method on the paper is not limited to the xerographic technique, and may be a method using an inkjet technique or the like.

(Print server unit 24)
The print server unit 24 provides the network 15 with the network print function and document management function (document registration operation) of the digital multi-function peripheral as a network service to the computer 15 connected to the computer network 16.

  The print server unit 24 has two types of queues for receiving print jobs from the computer 15 and temporarily storing them. One of them is a queue for the network print function, and an electronic document of the received print job is output to the image forming unit 27 and printed.

  The other is a queue for a document management function (document registration operation), and an electronic document of a received print job is output to the document registration unit 25 and stored. The user uses the network print function and the document management function (document registration operation) by specifying which queue to send to by the queue name.

(Document Registration Unit 25)
The function of the document registration unit 25 will be described with reference to the operation flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart for scan registration, and FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart for print registration.

  In the case of scan registration, as shown in FIG. 6, scan image data is input from the scanner unit 22 (step S11), then a management document is generated from the scan image data (step S12), and then registered from the scan image data. A reduced image is generated (step S13), and a registration request including the scanned image data and the reduced image data for registration is output to the document management unit 28 (step S14). Next, a registration response including a document ID is input from the document management unit 28 (step S15). Then, an identification mark is generated from the document ID (step S16), and management document data and identification mark data not including the identification mark are output to the image forming unit 27 (step S17).

  In the case of print registration, as shown in FIG. 7, received document data (PDL format) is input from the print server unit 24 (step S21), then a management document is generated from the received document data (step S22). An image of the received document data is generated (step S23), then a registration reduced image is generated from the image data of the received document (step S24), and then registration including the received document data and the registration reduced image data is performed in the document management unit 28. A request is output (step S25). Next, a registration response including a document ID is input from the document management unit 28 (step S26). Then, an identification mark is generated from the document ID (step S27), and management document data and identification mark data not including the identification mark are output to the image forming unit 27 (step S28).

(Registered document output unit 26)
The function of the registered document output unit 26 will be described with reference to the operation flowchart of FIG.

  First, scan image data is input from the scanner unit 22 (step S31), then the scan image data is analyzed (step S32), and it is determined whether an identification mark has been detected (step S33). If an identification mark has been detected, the identification mark is extracted from the scanned image data (step S34), then the document ID is decoded from the identification mark (step S35), and it is determined whether or not the identification mark has been decoded (step S36).

  If the document ID can be decoded, a reduced image of the registered document is generated from the scanned image data (step S37), and then an acquisition request including the document ID and the reduced image data is output to the document management unit 28 (step S38). . Next, an acquisition response including a registered document is input from the document management unit 28 (step S39).

  Then, it is determined whether or not a registered document is found (step S40). If found, the registered document is output to the image forming unit 27 (step S41). If it is determined in step S33 that the identification mark cannot be detected, if it is determined in step S36 that the document ID cannot be decoded, or if it is determined in step S40 that no registered document is found, an error notification is output to the operation panel unit 21. (Step S42).

(Image forming unit 27)
The function of the image forming unit 27 will be described with reference to the operation flowcharts of FIGS. 9, 10, and 11. FIG. 9 is an operation flowchart for the print service, FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart for the registered document output, and FIG. 11 is an operation flowchart for the document registration.

  In the case of a print service, as shown in FIG. 9, received document data (PDL format) is input from the print server unit 24 (step S51), and then an image of the received document data is formed (step S52). Data is output to the printer unit 23 (step S53).

  In the case of registered document output, as shown in FIG. 10, the output document is input from the registered document output unit 26 (step S54), and then an image of the output document data is formed (step S55). The data is output to the unit 23 (step S56).

  In the case of document registration, as shown in FIG. 11, management document data and identification mark data not including an identification mark are input from the document registration unit 25 (step S57), and each of the management document data and the identification mark data is input. An image is formed (step S58), and then the identification mark image is synthesized at a predetermined position of the management document image not including the identification mark (step S59), and finally the image data is output to the printer unit 23 (step S59). S60).

(Document Management Unit 28)
FIG. 12 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a document database of the document management unit 28. The document ID of the registered document is a 128-bit hash value calculated by applying a hash function MD5 (Message Digest 5) to the electronic image data. However, the hash function is not limited to MD5, and another hash function such as SHA-1 (Secure Hash Algorithm 1) may be used.

  The function of the document management unit 28 will be described with reference to the operation flowcharts of FIGS. 13 is an operation flow diagram in the case of document registration, FIG. 14 is an operation flow diagram in the case of document acquisition, FIG. 15 is an operation flow diagram in the case of a remote search request, and FIG. 16 is a remote operation. It is an operation | movement flowchart in the case of the acquisition request of.

  In the case of document registration, as shown in FIG. 13, a registration request including document data and reduced image data is input from the document registration unit 25 (step S61), and then a hash function is applied to the input document data to obtain a hash value. Calculate (step S62), then create a new entry in the document database, register the hash value, document data, and reduced image data (step S67), and finally output the registration result including the document ID to the document registration unit 25. (Step S64).

  In the case of document acquisition, as shown in FIG. 14, an acquisition request including a document ID and reduced image data is input from the registered document output unit 26 (step S71), and then a registered document that matches the input document ID is input from the document database. A search is performed (step S72), and it is determined whether there is a matching registered document (step S73).

  If there is a registered document that matches the input document ID, the registered document that matches the input document ID and its reduced image data are acquired (step S74), and then the input reduced image data and the acquired image data are output to the identity determination unit 29. Next, a determination result is input from the identity determination unit 29 (step S76), and it is determined whether or not the determination is the same (step S77). If the determinations are the same, an acquisition response including the registered document is output to the registered document output unit 26 (step S78).

  If it is determined in step S73 that there is no registered document that matches the input document ID, or if it is determined that the same determination is not made in step S77, a search request including the document ID is output to the network document search unit 30 (step S79). . Next, a search response is input from the network document search unit 30 (step S80). The search response includes zero or more sets of address information and reduced image data of the remote digital multifunction peripheral.

  Next, it is determined whether or not there is one or more groups (step S81). If the number is one or more, input reduced image data and a search response are output to the identity determination unit 29 (step S82), and then the same A list of determination results is input from the sex determination unit 29 (step S83), and then it is determined whether the same determination is included (step S84).

  If the same determination is included, an acquisition request is output to the network document search unit 30 (step S85). The acquisition request includes address information of a remote digital multi-function peripheral determined to be the same. Next, an acquisition response including the registered document acquired from the network document search unit 30 is input (step S86), and the process proceeds to step S78.

  If it is determined in step S81 that the set of address information and reduced image data of the remote digital multi-function peripheral is zero, or if it is determined in step S84 that the same determination is included, an acquisition response including NULL in the registered document output unit 26 Is output (step S87).

  In the case of a remote search request, as shown in FIG. 15, a search request including a document ID is input from the network document search unit 30 (step S91), and then a registered document matching the input document ID is searched from the document database. (Step S92), it is determined whether there is a matching registered document (Step S93).

  If there is a registered document that matches the input document ID, the reduced image data of the registered document that matches the input document ID is acquired (step S94), and then a search response including the reduced image data is output to the network document search unit 30 (step S94). S95). If there is no registered document matching the input document ID, a search response including NULL is output to the network document search unit 30 (step S96).

  In the case of a remote acquisition request, as shown in FIG. 16, an acquisition request including a document ID is input from the network document search unit 30 (step S101), and then a registered document matching the input document ID is searched from the document database. (Step S102), it is determined whether there is a matching registered document (Step S103).

  If there is a registered document that matches the input document ID, the registered document that matches the input document ID is acquired (step S104), and then an acquisition response including the registered document is output to the network document search unit 30 (step S105). If there is no registered document matching the input document ID, an acquisition response including NULL is output to the network document search unit 30 (step S106).

  Note that a registered document acquired from a remote digital multifunction peripheral in the process of outputting a registered document may be registered in the document management unit 28. According to this configuration, when output of the same registered document is requested next time, it can be output in a short time because it is already held in the own station and the network document search can be omitted.

(Identity determination unit 29)
The identity determination unit 29 includes an input reduced image extracted from the management document, a registered reduced image of one or more registered documents obtained as a result of the search, and address information of the digital multifunction peripheral in which the registered reduced image is registered. Is given from the document management unit 28, the input reduced image is subjected to pattern matching with each registered reduced image, and the similarity is calculated. If the degree of similarity is equal to or greater than a predetermined determination threshold, it is determined to be the same, and the address information of the digital multifunction peripheral in which the registered reduced image is registered is output to the document management unit 28.

  Note that a feature amount (for example, a histogram in the vertical and horizontal directions of an image) is extracted from each reduced image, and the degree of similarity may be calculated by comparing them.

(Network document search unit 30)
The network document retrieval unit 30 retrieves a registered document based on the document ID, and transmits document retrieval means for transmitting a retrieval request to another known digital multifunction peripheral on the network 16; It has a function of a document search relay means for receiving a search request, searching for a registered document corresponding to the document ID, and relaying the search request to another known digital multi-function peripheral on the network 16.

  Specific functions of the network document search unit 30 will be described with reference to operation flowcharts of FIGS. 17 is an operation flow diagram in the case of a search request, FIG. 18 is an operation flow diagram in the case of an acquisition request, FIGS. 19 and 20 are operation flow diagrams in the case of receiving a search request message, and FIG. It is an operation | movement flowchart in the case of acquisition request message reception.

  In the case of a search request, as shown in FIG. 17, a search request including a document ID is input from the document management unit 28 (step S111), and then it is determined whether there is a known digital multifunction peripheral (step S112). If there is a known digital multifunction peripheral, a search request message is generated (step S113). The search request message includes a message number, address information of the requesting digital multi-function peripheral (that is, its own station), and a document ID.

  Next, a search request message is transmitted to all (or a part) of known digital multi-function peripherals (step S114), and a search response message from a remote digital multi-function peripheral is sent for a predetermined time (for example, about 10 seconds). Waiting for reception (step S115), it is determined whether a search response message has been received (step S116).

  If a search response message has been received, the search response is output to the document management unit 28 (step S117). The search response includes one or more sets of address information and reduced image data of the remote digital multifunction peripheral. If it is determined in step S112 that there is no known digital multi-function peripheral, or if it is determined in step S116 that the search response message has not been received after waiting for a predetermined time, a search response including NULL is output to the document management unit 28. (Step S118).

  In the case of an acquisition request, as shown in FIG. 18, an acquisition request including the address information and document ID of the remote digital multifunction peripheral is input from the document management unit 28 (step S121), and then an acquisition request message including the document ID is received. Generate (step S122). Next, an acquisition request message is transmitted to the remote digital multi-function peripheral designated by the acquisition request (step S123), and then an acquisition response message from the remote digital multi-function peripheral is received (step S124).

  Next, it is determined whether or not a document is included in the acquisition response message (step S125). If a document is included in the acquisition response message, an acquisition response including a registered document is output to the document management unit 28 (step S125). Step S126). If no document is included in the acquisition response message, an acquisition response including NULL is output to the document management unit 28 (step S127).

  In the case of receiving a search request message, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, first, a search request message is received from a remote digital multi-function peripheral (step S131). The search request message includes a message number, address information of the requesting digital multi-function peripheral, and a document ID. Next, it is determined whether or not it is a duplicate message (step S132), and if it is a duplicate message, a series of processing is terminated.

  If it is not a duplicate message, the search request message is stored in association with the message number document ID and the address information of the requesting digital multi-function peripheral (step S133), and it is determined whether or not it is a known digital multi-function peripheral (step S134). ). If it is a known digital multi-function peripheral, a search request message including the received search request message and address information of the own station (ie, relayed digital multi-function peripheral) is generated (step S135). If it is not a known digital multifunction peripheral, the process of step S135 is skipped.

  Next, from all known digital MFPs, all (or a part) of the digital MFPs except the requesting digital MFP and the relayed digital MFP indicated in the received search request message were received. A search request message is transmitted (step S136), a registered document matching the received document ID is searched from the document database (step S137), and it is determined whether there is a registered document matching the received document ID (step S138). ).

  If there is a registered document that matches the received document ID, the reduced image data of the registered document that matches the received document ID is acquired (step S139), and then a search response message including the message number of the search request message and the reduced image data document is generated. Then, a search response message is transmitted to the requesting digital multi-function peripheral (step S141). If there is no registered document that matches the received document ID, the processes in steps S139 to S141 are skipped, and the series of processes is terminated.

  In the case of receiving an acquisition request message, as shown in FIG. 21, an acquisition request message including a document ID is received from a remote digital multifunction peripheral (step S151), and then a registered document matching the input document ID is searched from the document database. Then, it is determined whether there is a registered document that matches the input document ID (step S153).

  If there is a registered document that matches the input document ID, the registered document is acquired from the document database (step S154), then an acquisition response message including the registered document is generated (step S155), and then the acquisition request message is received. An acquisition response message is transmitted to the remote digital multi-function peripheral (step S156). If there is no registered document that matches the input document ID, an acquisition response message including NULL is generated (step S157), and then the process proceeds to step S157.

  FIG. 22 shows an operation sequence for outputting a registered document in the network system according to this application example including the digital multifunction peripherals 11 to 14 described above.

  In this example, a registered document of the digital multi-function peripheral 14 is output by the digital multi-function peripheral 11, and the contents of the device tables of each digital multi-function peripheral 11 to 14 (known digital multi-function peripherals) are as follows. It is assumed that In other words, the digital multifunction peripheral 11 includes the digital multifunction peripherals 12 and 13, the digital multifunction peripheral 12 includes the digital multifunction peripherals 11 and 13, the digital multifunction peripheral 13 includes the digital multifunction peripherals 11, 12, and 14, and the digital multifunction peripheral 14 includes the digital multifunction peripheral 13. It is a known digital multifunction device.

  As described above, in the network system in which, for example, four digital multifunction peripherals 11 to 14 having a document management function are connected to each other via the network 16, each of the digital multifunction peripherals 11 to 14 is registered. A document ID for identifying a document is generated based on the electronic data of the registered document, a function for managing the document ID and the registered document in association with each other, a registered document is searched based on the document ID, and the network 16 A function for transmitting a search request to another known digital multi-function peripheral, a search request from another digital multi-function peripheral is received, a registered document corresponding to the document ID is searched, and By having the function of relaying search requests to other digital multifunction devices, it is possible to select which digital multifunction device has a document registered in any digital multifunction device. Without being aware whether registered in the machine to the user, it can also be to retrieve freely desired registration document from which the digital MFP.

  In addition, the registered document is stored in each of the digital multifunction peripherals 11 to 14, and the document ID is generated based on the electronic data of the registered document independently in each digital multifunction peripheral 11 to 14. There is no need to centrally manage the document IDs throughout the system. Therefore, even if the digital multifunction peripheral is replaced, if the registered document is moved to the new digital multifunction peripheral, the registered document can be searched.

  In particular, in the digital multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment, a hash function (one-way summary function) used for authentication, digital signature, and the like is generated as a document ID for identifying a registered document by applying it to the electronic data of the registered document. By using a fixed-length hash value, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to centrally generate and manage document IDs.

  However, even if a hash value is used as the document ID, there is no possibility that the hash values collide (the same hash value exists), and the uniqueness of the document ID cannot be guaranteed in principle. . If the uniqueness of the document ID is not guaranteed, there may be a plurality of registered documents having the same document ID, and the original convenience of outputting the document requested by the user by a simple method equivalent to the copy operation There is a concern that it will be damaged.

  Therefore, in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the present embodiment, when a registered document corresponding to the document ID extracted from the management document is searched, the registered document extracted from the management document in the identity determination unit 29 is reduced. Based on the comparison result between the image or the feature amount thereof and the reduced image of the searched registered document or the feature amount thereof, it is determined whether or not the searched registered document is a desired registered document. Even when the same document ID is assigned and the document ID is duplicated, the user can take out a desired document with a simple operation.

  As described above, a desired document can be output even when the document IDs collide, so that a hash function having a relatively short bit length of the generated hash value can be employed. Further, by comparing the above-described configuration, that is, the reduced image of the registered document extracted from the management document or the feature amount thereof with the reduced image of the registered document searched or the feature amount thereof, the searched registered document is The configuration for determining whether a document is a desired document can be applied to document IDs other than hash values as long as the collision probability is relatively small.

  As a modified example of the above embodiment, the reduced image is not accumulated in the document management function, the reduced image is generated after obtaining the registered document of the search result, and the reduced image and the input reduced image extracted from the management document are It is also possible to adopt a configuration for comparison.

  As a modification of the above-described embodiment, when the document management unit 28 generates a document ID at the time of document registration and then searches for a registered document using the document ID. If a search is performed (when a registered document exists) It is also possible to generate a different document ID again. Thereby, the collision probability of the document ID can be reduced.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a network system to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of document registration in a digital multi-function peripheral. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a management document in a digital multifunction peripheral. It is explanatory drawing of the registration document output in the network system which concerns on this application example. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart in the case of the scan registration of a document registration part. It is an operation | movement flowchart in the case of print registration of a document registration part. It is an operation | movement flowchart in the case of a registration document output part. It is an operation | movement flowchart of the print service of an image formation part. It is an operation | movement flowchart in the case of the registration document output of an image formation part. It is an operation | movement flowchart in the case of the document registration of an image formation part. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the document database of a document management part. It is an operation | movement flowchart in the case of the document registration of a document management part. It is an operation | movement flowchart in the case of the document acquisition of a document management part. It is an operation | movement flowchart in the case of the search request from the remote of a document management part. It is an operation | movement flowchart in the case of the acquisition request from the remote of a document management part. It is an operation | movement flowchart in the case of the search request | requirement of a network document search part. It is an operation | movement flowchart in the case of the acquisition request of a network document search part. FIG. 10 is an operation flow diagram when a search request message is received by a network document search unit (part 1). FIG. 11 is an operation flow diagram when a search request message is received by the network document search unit (part 2). It is an operation | movement flowchart in the case of the acquisition request message reception of a network document search part. It is an operation | movement sequence diagram of the registration document output in the network system which concerns on this application example.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11-14 ... Digital compound machine, 15 ... Computer, 16 ... Computer network, 21 ... Operation panel part, 22 ... Scanner part, 23 ... Printer part, 24 ... Print server part, 25 ... Document registration part, 26 ... Registered document Output unit 27 ... Image forming unit 28 ... Document management unit 29 ... Identity determination unit 30 ... Network document search unit 31 ... Network interface unit

Claims (8)

A compound device that can be connected to another compound device via a network,
A document management means for generating a document ID for identifying a registered document based on the electronic data of the registered document, and managing the document ID in association with the registered document;
Document search means for searching for a registered document based on the document ID and transmitting a search request to another known composite device on the network;
Document search relay means for receiving a search request from another composite device, searching for a registered document corresponding to the document ID, and relaying the search request to another known composite device on the network. A composite device characterized by The composite apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document management unit uses a hash value generated by applying a hash function to electronic data of a registered document as the document ID. When the registered document corresponding to the document ID extracted from the management document is searched, the document search means is a reduced image of the registered document extracted from the management document or its feature amount, and the searched registered document The composite apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not the retrieved registered document is a desired registered document by comparing the reduced image or the feature amount thereof. The compound management means according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the document management means searches the document ID after generating the document ID, and regenerates a different document ID when a registered document exists. apparatus. A document management method for a composite device that can be connected to another composite device via a network,
Generating a document ID for identifying a registered document based on electronic data of the registered document, and managing the document ID and the registered document in association with each other;
A second step of searching for a registered document based on the document ID and transmitting a search request to another known composite device on the network;
Receiving a search request from another composite device, searching for a registered document corresponding to the document ID, and relaying the search request to another known composite device on the network. A document management method for a composite apparatus. 6. The document management method for a composite apparatus according to claim 5, wherein in the first step, a hash value generated by applying a hash function to electronic data of a registered document is used as the document ID. In the first step, when a registered document corresponding to the document ID extracted from the management document is searched, a reduced image of the registered document extracted from the management document or its feature amount, and the registered document searched 7. The document management method for a multi-function device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein it is determined whether or not the retrieved registered document is a desired registered document by comparing the reduced image or the feature amount thereof. 8. The composite according to claim 5, wherein in the first step, the document ID is searched after the document ID is generated, and if a registered document exists, a different document ID is generated again. Device document management method.

Images