JP2013191949A - Image processing device, image processing system, image processing method, and image processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user of a server device to determine a processing method when the user looks at an image content after image data generated by an image processing device is transmitted to the server device to transmit an instruction to execute the determined processing method to the image processing device.SOLUTION: The image processing device includes: an image data generation part for generating new image data; a storage transmission part for transmitting to an external server device the image data and attribute information together with identification information while storing the newly generated image data in the device itself; a management part for managing the image data stored in the device itself with the identification information; and a processing execution part for executing processing in accordance with an image processing command on the image data corresponding to the identification information among the image data stored in the device itself, by the image processing command in which the identification information from the external server device is specified.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing system, an image processing method, and an image processing program that process newly generated image data.

  In a digital multi-function peripheral having a facsimile communication function and a scan function, when new image data is generated by facsimile transmission / reception or scanning, it is known to transfer image data and attribute information to a server device via a LAN. For example, in the case of facsimile reception, the attribute information includes a transmission source and a communication start time. After transferring the image data and attribute information to the server device, the digital multi-function peripheral deletes the image data and attribute information for which transfer has been completed from the storage unit inside the device.

  Since the digital multi-function peripheral deletes the image data and attribute information after the transfer, when the image data is transmitted by facsimile from the digital multi-function peripheral or printed by the digital multi-function peripheral after the transfer, the server device is a facsimile machine. It is necessary to transmit (write back) the image data to the digital multi-function peripheral together with a command for instructing transmission or printing.

  In this case, there are the following three problems. The first problem is a waste of time for performing the write-back process. The second problem is that in the process of transferring image data from the digital multifunction peripheral to the server device, data conversion is performed due to hardware limitations of the digital multifunction peripheral, or processing (display) is possible on the server device. The conversion to data results in degradation of image quality. For example, the data conversion process here is a resolution reduction process. A third problem is that in the process of transferring image data from the server device to the digital multifunction peripheral, the image quality is deteriorated by being converted into data that can be processed by the digital multifunction peripheral. In addition, the CPU power of the digital multi-function peripheral is wasted due to the conversion process.

  In relation to the above technique, for example, in Patent Document 1, when a facsimile apparatus receives a facsimile, the facsimile apparatus stores image data in its own apparatus without transmitting it, and transmits only attribute information to the server apparatus. It is described that when there is a transmission request from the server apparatus after transmission, the image data stored in the facsimile apparatus is transmitted to the server apparatus.

JP 2010-177958 A

In the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, since only attribute information is transmitted to the server apparatus in the first transmission (transmission from the facsimile apparatus to the server apparatus), is the user of the server apparatus making a transmission request to the facsimile apparatus? When deciding whether or not, it is necessary to judge only from attribute information. That is, it cannot be determined by looking at the image content.

  Therefore, the present invention suppresses the occurrence of the first to third problems as described above, and after the image data generated by the image processing apparatus is transmitted to the server apparatus, the user of the server apparatus It is an object to look at the contents, select a processing target image, determine a processing method, and transmit an instruction for executing the determined processing method to an image processing apparatus.

  Hereinafter, a plurality of modes will be described as means for solving the problems. These aspects can be arbitrarily combined as necessary. An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an image data generation unit, a storage transmission unit, a management unit, and a process execution unit. The image data generation unit newly generates image data. The save transmission unit saves the newly generated image data in the own device, and transmits the image data and attribute information together with the identification information to an external server device. The management unit manages the image data stored in the own apparatus based on the identification information. The process execution unit executes a process according to the command on the image data corresponding to the identification information among the image data stored in the apparatus by an image processing command specifying the identification information from the external server device. .

  As a result, when the user of the server device issues an image processing instruction to the image processing device while suppressing the occurrence of the first to third problems described above, the image data is not acquired from the image processing device. Images can be selected and the processing method can be determined by looking at the contents.

  Moreover, it is preferable to further include a reply unit and a new storage unit. The reply unit does not exist in the external server device that is the transmission source of the image processing command when the image data corresponding to the identification information specified by the image processing command from the external server device is not stored in the own device. Returns a response. When the image storing command is received together with the identification information and the image data from the external server device that is the transmission source of the image processing command, the new storage unit stores the received image data in association with the received identification information.

  Thereby, even when the image data specified by the image processing command from the server device does not exist in the image processing device, the image processing device can automatically acquire and store the image data from the server device. it can.

  The storage / transmission unit stores the attribute information in the own device together with the newly generated image data, and the management unit manages the image data and the attribute information stored in the own device based on the identification information. It is preferable.

  Accordingly, the management unit of the image processing apparatus can manage not only the image data but also the attribute information by the identification information.

  An image processing system according to the present invention includes an image processing device and a server device connected to be communicable with the image processing device.

  An image processing apparatus in an image processing system includes an image data generation unit, a storage transmission unit, a management unit, and a process execution unit. The image data generation unit newly generates image data. The save transmission unit saves the newly generated image data in the own device and transmits the image data and attribute information to the server device together with the identification information. The management unit manages the image data stored in the own apparatus based on the identification information. The process execution unit executes a process according to the image processing command on the image data corresponding to the identification information among the image data stored in the own apparatus by an image processing command specifying the identification information from the server apparatus. .

  A server device in an image processing system includes a storage unit, a display unit, a display control unit, a reception unit, and an image processing command transmission unit. When receiving the identification information, the image data, and the attribute information from the image processing apparatus, the storage unit stores the image data and the attribute information in association with the identification information. The display unit displays an image. The display control unit displays the stored image data on the display unit. The accepting unit accepts an image to be processed and an instruction (selection) of processing content for the image from the user. When receiving an instruction from the user by the receiving unit, the image processing command transmitting unit transmits an image processing command including identification information corresponding to the instructed image and requesting execution of the instructed processing content to the image processing apparatus. To do.

  The image processing apparatus preferably further includes a reply unit and a new storage unit, and the server apparatus preferably further includes an image storage command transmission unit. When the image data corresponding to the identification information specified by the image processing command from the server device is not stored in the own device, the reply unit returns a non-existence response to the server device that is the transmission source of the image processing command. When the image storage command is received together with the identification information and the image data from the server device that is the transmission source of the image processing command, the new storage unit stores the received image data in association with the received identification information. When the non-existence response is received from the image processing apparatus, the image storage command transmission unit transmits the image storage command together with the identification information and the image data to the image processing apparatus.

  The storage / transmission unit stores the attribute information in the own device together with the newly generated image data, and the management unit manages the image data and the attribute information stored in the own device based on the identification information. It is preferable.

  The image processing method according to the present invention includes an image data generation step, a storage / transmission step, a management step, and a process execution step. In the image data generation step, image data is newly generated. In the storing and transmitting step, the newly generated image data is stored in the own device, and the image data and attribute information are transmitted to the external server device together with the identification information. In the management step, the image data stored in the own apparatus is managed by the identification information. In the processing execution step, processing according to the image processing command is performed on the image data corresponding to the identification information among the image data stored in the own device by the image processing command specifying the identification information from the external server device. Run.

  An image processing method according to the present invention is an image processing method in an image processing system including an image processing device and a server device connected to be communicable with the image processing device. The image processing method includes an image data generation step, a storage transmission step, a management step, a storage step, a display step, a reception step, an image processing command transmission step, and a processing execution step. In the image data generation step, image data is newly generated in the image processing apparatus. In the storing and transmitting step, the newly generated image data is stored in the image processing apparatus, and the image data and attribute information are transmitted to the server apparatus together with the identification information. In the management step, the image data stored in the image processing apparatus is managed by the identification information. In the storage step, when the identification information, the image data, and the attribute information are received from the image processing apparatus in the server device, the image data and the attribute information are stored in association with the identification information. In the display step, the image data stored in the server device is displayed on the display unit. The accepting step accepts from the user an image to be processed in the server device and an instruction of processing content for the image. In the image processing command transmission step, when an instruction from the user is received by the receiving step in the server device, the image processing command including identification information corresponding to the instructed image and requesting execution of the instructed processing content is processed. Send to device. When the image processing command specifying the identification information from the server apparatus is received in the image processing apparatus, the process execution step performs an image processing command on the image data corresponding to the identification information among the image data stored in the own apparatus. The process according to is executed.

  The image processing method preferably further includes a reply step and a new storage step. The replying step returns a non-existence response to the server apparatus that is the transmission source of the image processing command when the image data corresponding to the identification information specified by the image processing command from the server apparatus is not stored in the own apparatus. In the new storage step, when the image storage command is received together with the identification information and the image data from the server device that is the transmission source of the image processing command, the received image data is stored in association with the received identification information.

  In the storing and transmitting step, the attribute information is stored in the own device together with the newly generated image data. In the managing step, the image data and attribute information stored in the own device is managed by the identification information. It is preferable.

  An image processing program according to the present invention has computer-readable program code for causing a computer to execute the image processing method.

  According to the present invention, after the image data generated by the image processing apparatus is transmitted to the server apparatus while suppressing the occurrence of the first to third problems as described above, the user of the server apparatus By looking at the contents, it is possible to select a processing target image, determine a processing method, and transmit an instruction for executing the determined processing method to the image processing apparatus.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows the function structure of an image processing system. It is a sequence chart which shows the image preservation | save process when image data is newly produced | generated. 10 is a sequence chart showing processing when printing is performed by designating an image ID, and when the designated image data is present in the storage of the digital multi-function peripheral. 10 is a sequence chart showing processing when printing is performed by designating an image ID, and when designated image data does not exist in the storage of the digital multi-function peripheral. It is a screen figure which shows the selection screen for a user to select the image data of image processing object, and image processing content.

  In the embodiments described below, an image processing system including an image processing device and a server device connected to be communicable with the image processing device will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing system includes a digital multi-function peripheral 1 (image processing apparatus) and a server apparatus (PC) 2. The digital multi-function peripheral 1 and the server apparatus 2 are connected to be communicable via a LAN 3. In addition, digital multifunction peripherals 5 and 6 are connected to the digital multifunction peripheral 1 via a PSTN (public telephone line) 4. The digital multi-function peripheral 1 can receive image data from the digital multi-function peripherals 5 and 6 via the PSTN 4 by facsimile. Further, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 can facsimile-transmit image data to the digital multi-function peripherals 5 and 6 via the PSTN 4.

FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 and the server apparatus 2. The digital multifunction peripheral 1 includes a control unit 10, an image reading unit 11, an image transmission unit 12, an image reception unit 13, an image storage unit 14, an image transfer unit 18, an image management unit 19, and an image printing unit 20. The image storage unit 14 includes a read image storage unit 15, a received image storage unit 16, and a transmission image storage unit 17.

The control unit 10 comprehensively controls each unit described below. In addition, when new image data is generated in association with the image reading process, the image receiving process, or the image transmission process, the control unit 10 newly sets an image ID (identification information) having distinctiveness with other document data. To generate. The image reading unit 11 is a scanner that optically reads an image of a set original and generates read image data. The image reading unit 11 may be either a sheet-through type that reads a document image while conveying a document, or a stationary document type that reads an image of a stationary document while moving a carriage on which a light source or the like is mounted. By using the image reading unit 11, it is possible to execute an image scan that reads a document image and outputs the read image data.

The image transmission unit 12 transmits the image data to another digital multifunction peripheral (for example, the digital multifunction peripheral 6). For example, the read image data generated by the image reading unit 11 is transmitted by facsimile from the image transmission unit 12 to the digital multifunction peripheral 6. The image receiving unit 13 receives image data from another digital multifunction peripheral (for example, the digital multifunction peripheral 5). For example, the image data received by the image receiving unit 13 is printed by the image printing unit 20 described later. Note that the communication method between the digital multifunction device 1 and the digital multifunction devices 5 and 6 is not limited to facsimile communication, and other communication methods such as e-mail communication may be used.

The image storage unit 14 stores (saves) image data generated along with the image reading process, the image receiving process, or the image transmission process. The storage control at this time is performed by the control unit 10. The image storage unit 14 includes a read image storage unit (reading box) 15, a received image storage unit (reception box) 16, and a transmission image storage unit (transmission box) 17, and includes read image data, received image data, and The transmission image data is stored separately. The read image storage unit 15 stores image data generated along with the image reading process. The received image storage unit 16 stores image data generated along with the image receiving process. The transmission image storage unit 17 stores image data generated along with the image transmission process.

When new image data is generated along with the image reading process, the image receiving process, or the image transmitting process, the image data is sent to the server device 2 together with an image ID and an image attribute to be described later by an image transfer unit 18 to be described later. In addition to being transferred, it is stored (saved) in the image storage unit 14 in association with the image ID and the image attribute. At this time, the image data is stored in one of the read image storage unit 15, the received image storage unit 16, or the transmission image storage unit 17. Note that when storing image data in the image storage unit 14, it is essential to associate and store an image ID, but it is not essential to associate an image attribute. Therefore, as a modification, the image attribute may not be stored, and only the image data may be stored in association with the image ID. For example, the image storage unit 14 is a non-volatile storage device.

The image transfer unit 18 sends the image ID, the image attribute, and the image data to the server apparatus 2 via the LAN 3 when new image data is generated along with the image reading process, the image receiving process, or the image transmitting process. Forward. That is, when image data is newly generated, the image transfer unit 18 assigns an image ID newly generated by the control unit 10 and transmits the image attribute and the image data to the server device 2. The communication method at this time is also not particularly limited, and a communication method capable of performing data communication via the LAN 3 can be employed. The image transfer unit 18 assigns an image ID for each generated document, that is, for each job of an image reading job, an image receiving job, or an image transmission job.

The image attribute is attribute information relating to generation of image data, and includes the type (cause of occurrence) of the image data. The type of image data is information indicating whether the image data is read image data, received image data, or transmitted image data.

For example, when image data is newly generated by the image reading process, the image attribute includes a user ID and reading start time information. This user ID indicates the user who instructed the image reading process, and can be identified from the information input at the time of login.

When new image data is generated by the image reception process, the image attribute can include transmission source information and communication start time information. Here, the transmission source information is included in a facsimile communication procedure signal received when an image is received. Furthermore, the image attribute can also include communication result information and page number information.

Further, when image data is newly generated by the image transmission process, the image attribute can include a user ID, transmission destination information, and communication start time information. Furthermore, the image attribute can also include communication result information and page number information. This user ID also indicates the user who has instructed the image transmission process, and can be identified from the information input at the time of login.

The image management unit 19 manages image data generated in association with image reading processing, image receiving processing, or image transmission processing. That is, the image management unit 19 stores the image attribute and the image data in the image storage unit 14 in association with the image ID generated by the control unit 10. Thereby, the image management part 19 can read the image data corresponding to the said image ID, when image ID is designated.

The image printing unit 20 is a printer that prints image data on recording paper. For example, the image printing unit 20 is an electrophotographic printer or an ink jet printer. By using the image printing unit 20, it is possible to execute image printing processing in which image data is printed on recording paper and printed recording paper is discharged from the apparatus.

The server device 2 includes a control unit 21, a display unit 22, a display control unit 23, an operation unit 24, and an image storage unit 25. The image storage unit 25 includes a read image storage unit (reading box) 26, a received image storage unit (reception box) 27, and a transmission image storage unit (transmission box) 28.

The control unit 21 comprehensively controls each unit described below. The display unit 22 is a display that displays various types of information. When a document list display instruction is input from the user to the operation unit 24 described later, a document list screen described later is displayed on the display unit 22. Further, when a preview display instruction is input from the user to the operation unit 24, a preview image is displayed on the display unit 22. The user can recognize the image content from the displayed preview image. For example, the display unit 22 is a liquid crystal display. The display control unit 23 performs control for causing the display unit 22 to display an image of the image data. The operation unit 24 is used by the user to input various instructions. For example, the operation unit 24 can be a touch panel, but is not limited thereto.

The image storage unit 25 stores (saves) the image ID, image attributes, and image data received from the digital multi-function peripheral 1. The storage control at this time is performed by the control unit 21. The image storage unit 25 includes a read image storage unit 26, a received image storage unit 27, and a transmission image storage unit 28, and stores read image data, reception image data, and transmission image data separately. The control unit 21 determines the type of image data based on the received image attribute, and corresponds to the type of image data among the read image storage unit 26, the received image storage unit 27, and the transmission image storage unit 28. Image data or the like is stored in the storage unit.

As will be described in detail later, the control unit 21 transmits an image processing instruction including an image ID and an image processing command to the digital multifunction peripheral 1 via the LAN 3 when an image is designated by the user and an image processing instruction is input. To do. As the communication method at this time, the same communication method as that used when transferring an image from the digital multi-function peripheral 1 to the server device 2 can be used.

Next, an image storage process when new image data is generated will be described with reference to FIG. First, in S1, image data to be saved is newly generated in the digital multi-function peripheral 1. In S <b> 1, the control unit 10 controls the image reading unit 11, the image transmission unit 12, or the image reception unit 13 to execute image scanning, image transmission, or image reception.

Next, in S2, a new image ID is generated in the digital multi-functional peripheral 1, and the newly generated image data and its image attribute are stored in the image storage unit 14 (storage) in association with the image ID. The In S <b> 2, the control unit 10 generates and assigns a new image ID, and controls the image storage unit 14 to store image data and image attributes in association with the image ID.

In step S <b> 3, the image ID, image data, and image attributes are transferred from the digital multi-function peripheral 1 to the server device 2. In S3, the image transfer unit 18 transfers the image ID, the image data, and the image attribute via the LAN 3.

Next, in S4, the server device 2 stores the image data and the image attribute in the image storage unit 25 (storage) in association with the received image ID. In S4, the control unit 21 determines the type of the image data based on the image attribute, and performs control so that the image data is stored in the storage unit corresponding to the type of the image data.

As shown in FIG. 3, when new image data is generated in the digital multifunction device 1, the image ID, image attribute, and image data are stored in the digital multifunction device 1 and transferred to the server device 2. Also in the server device 2, the image ID, the image attribute, and the image data are stored.

Next, referring to FIG. 4, the user selects desired image data (document) from a plurality of stored image data (documents) in the server device 2, and the selected image data is converted into the digital multifunction peripheral 1. The processing when printing out from will be described.

First, in S11, the server apparatus 2 performs image selection, confirmation, and print instruction by the user. When the user inputs a predetermined document list display instruction using the operation unit 24, a document list screen is displayed on the display unit 22. The document list display instruction includes designation of a document type, that is, a read image, a received image, or a transmission image. An example of a document list screen displayed when a received image is designated is shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an example of a screen that displays a list of documents (image data) stored in the inbox. The reception box corresponds to the received image storage unit 27. In the list display portion, destination information (transmission source information) 30, communication result information 31, page number information 32, and date information (communication start time information) 33 are displayed as image attributes. These image attributes are information received together with image data from the digital multi-function peripheral 1.

When a preview of any document is specified in the document list, the display control unit 21 reads the image data of the specified document from the received image storage unit 27 and causes the display unit 22 to display the image. Thereby, the user of the server apparatus 2 can confirm the image content of the designated document on the screen. Since the image data is received from the digital multi-function peripheral 1 and stored inside the server apparatus 2, when the preview display is performed on the server apparatus 2, it is not necessary to receive the image data from the digital multi-function peripheral 1, and the preview display can be performed quickly. it can. When the preview is designated, the destination information portion 34 of each document (each line) in the document list may be designated.

In the list screen of FIG. 6, stored total document number information (four) 35 and unread document number information (two) 36 are displayed in the lower left part. In the list display portion, the user can visually distinguish the unread document from the read document by changing the display color between the unread document and the read document.

The list screen of FIG. 6 further includes a check box 37 at the left end of the list display portion. This check box exists in each document (each line), and the document checked by the user is designated. Multiple documents can be specified at the same time. If you check the top level check box, all documents are specified at once. If all the documents are specified and the topmost check box is checked, the state is switched to a state in which all documents are unspecified. As described above, the user of the server device 2 can select a desired document from a plurality of documents in the list by using the check box 37.

The list screen of FIG. 6 includes image processing instruction keys 38, 39, and 40. Reference numeral 38 is a print instruction key, 39 is a transmission instruction key, and 40 is a deletion instruction key. The user of the server apparatus 2 selects a document using the check box 37, and then selects one of the image processing instruction keys, so that the corresponding document among the documents stored in the digital multi-function peripheral 1 is selected. Desired image processing (printing, transmission, or deletion) can be executed.

Returning to FIG. 4, in S11, as described above, the user can perform an image selection operation, an image content confirmation operation (image preview), and a print instruction operation on the document list screen. When the user selects a desired document and performs a print instruction operation using the print instruction key 38, a print instruction command including an image ID is transmitted from the server apparatus 2 to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 in S12. This image ID is an image ID corresponding to the document designated by the user in S11. This print instruction command is a command for causing the digital multi-function peripheral 1 to execute a process of reading a specified document from the received image storage unit 16 and printing it. Since image data is stored in the digital multi-function peripheral 1, there is no need to transmit image data from the server device 2 to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 when transmitting a print instruction command, thereby speeding up processing and reducing network load. realizable.

Next, in S <b> 13, it is confirmed whether or not the corresponding document (image data) exists in the image storage unit 14 in the digital multifunction peripheral 1. That is, the image management unit 19 determines whether or not a document corresponding to the image ID received as the print instruction command from the server device 2 exists in the image storage unit 14 (received image storage unit 16). In the example of FIG. 4, the case where it exists is shown, so in S <b> 14, a print instruction command reception response is returned from the digital multifunction peripheral 1 to the server device 2. This print instruction command reception response is for notifying the server apparatus 2 that the print instruction command from the server apparatus 2 has been normally received and printing is executed in accordance with the command contents.

Next, in S15, in the digital multi-function peripheral 1, the image data corresponding to the image ID specified by the print instruction command is read from the image storage unit 14 (received image storage unit 16) and printed. That is, the image management unit 19 reads a document corresponding to the image ID received as the print instruction command from the server device 2 from the image storage unit 14 (reception image storage unit 15), and the control unit 10 performs image processing on the read image data. Printing is executed by the printing unit 20. At this time, the image data read from the image storage unit 14 is printed instead of printing the image data received from the server device 2, so that printing can be executed quickly and reliably.

Next, with reference to FIG. 5, a processing flow when a document corresponding to the image ID specified by the print instruction command does not exist in the digital multi-function peripheral 1 will be described. First, in S21, the server device 2 performs image selection, confirmation, and printing instruction by the user. In step S <b> 22, a print instruction command is transmitted from the server device 2 to the digital multifunction peripheral 1. Since S21 and 22 are the same processes as S11 and 12 of FIG. 4, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

Next, in S <b> 23, it is confirmed in the digital multi-function peripheral 1 whether or not the corresponding document (image data) exists in the image storage unit 14. That is, the image management unit 19 determines whether or not a document corresponding to the image ID received as the print instruction command from the server device 2 exists in the image storage unit 14 (received image storage unit 16). In the example of FIG. 5, the case where it does not exist is shown. Therefore, a non-existence response is returned from the digital multi-function peripheral 1 to the server apparatus 2 in S24. This non-existence response has received a print instruction command from the server apparatus 2, but a document (image data) corresponding to the image ID included in the print instruction command is stored in the digital multi-function peripheral 1 (image storage unit 14). This is for notifying the server apparatus 2 that the information has not been received.

In step S <b> 25, the image storage command and the image data are transmitted from the server device 2 to the digital multifunction peripheral 1. That is, when the server apparatus 2 transmits a print instruction command to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 (S22) and receives a non-existence response from the digital multi-function peripheral 1 (S24), the image included in the print instruction command transmitted immediately before is received. An image storage command is transmitted to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 together with the image data corresponding to the ID (S25). The image save command includes an image ID and an image attribute. That is, the control unit 21 transmits an image save command including an image ID and an image attribute to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 together with the image data.

Next, in S26, in the digital multi-function peripheral 1, according to the image saving command received from the server device 2, the image data received simultaneously in association with the image ID received as the image saving command is saved in the image storage unit 14 (storage). The That is, the image management unit 19 determines the type of image data based on the received image attribute, and the type of image data in the read image storage unit 15, the received image storage unit 16, or the transmission image storage unit 17. The image data is stored (saved) in the storage unit corresponding to At this time, the image management unit 19 stores the image ID and the image data received at the same time in association with each other. As described above, whether or not to store image attributes in association with each other is arbitrary.

Next, in S <b> 27, a storage completion notification is transmitted from the digital multifunction peripheral 1 to the server device 2. This storage completion notification notifies the server apparatus 2 that the image data has been normally stored in the image storage unit 14 of the digital multifunction peripheral 1 in accordance with the image storage command transmitted from the server apparatus 2 to the digital multifunction peripheral 1. belongs to.

Next, in S <b> 28, a print instruction command including an image ID is transmitted from the server device 2 to the digital multifunction peripheral 1. This print instruction command is the same as the print instruction command transmitted in S22. As described above, when the server apparatus 2 transmits the image data together with the image storage command to the digital multifunction peripheral 1 (S25) and then receives a storage completion notification from the digital multifunction peripheral 1 (S27), the print instruction command transmitted immediately before is received. The same print instruction command is transmitted to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 again (S28).

In S29, it is confirmed in the digital multi-function peripheral 1 whether or not the corresponding document (image data) exists in the image storage unit 14. That is, the image management unit 19 determines whether or not a document corresponding to the image ID received as the print instruction command from the server device 2 exists in the image storage unit 14 (received image storage unit 16).

Since the image is stored in accordance with the image storage command in S26, the digital multifunction peripheral 1 returns a print instruction command acceptance response to the server apparatus 2 in S30. This print instruction command acceptance response is the same as S14 in FIG.

In step S31, the image data corresponding to the image ID specified by the print instruction command is read from the image storage unit 14 (received image storage unit 16) and printed in the digital multi-function peripheral 1. This printing process is the same as S15 in FIG.

As described above, in the example of FIG. 5, even if there is no document corresponding to the image ID of the print instruction command in the digital multifunction device 1 for some reason, the image is transmitted from the server device 2 using the image storage command. Since the processed image data can be automatically stored in the digital multi-function peripheral 1, the document selected by the user of the server device 2 on the document list screen can be printed reliably.

In the above example, the case where the print instruction key 38 is selected on the document list screen of FIG. 6 and the print instruction command is transmitted from the server apparatus 2 to the digital multifunction peripheral 1 has been described. However, the case where the transmission instruction key 39 is selected. A transmission instruction command is transmitted instead of the print instruction command. The transmission instruction command includes not only the image ID but also transmission destination information. After the transmission instruction key 39 is selected, a transmission destination input screen is displayed, and the transmission destination can be input using the transmission destination input screen. When receiving the transmission instruction command, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 reads the corresponding document from the image storage unit 14 and transmits the document by facsimile to the transmission destination specified by the transmission instruction command.

When the delete instruction key 40 is selected, a delete instruction command is transmitted instead of the print instruction command. The delete instruction command includes an image ID. When receiving a delete instruction command, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 deletes the corresponding document from the image storage unit 14.

Further, in the above example, the image ID, the image data, and the image attribute are transmitted from the digital multi-function peripheral 1 to the server device 2 (S3). Thereafter, the server device 2 performs image selection, confirmation, and print instruction by the user. After being made (S11), the example in which the print instruction command including the image ID is transmitted from the server apparatus 2 to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 (S12) has been described. That is, in the above example, the example in which both the transmission destination device in S3 and the transmission source device in S12 are the same device (server device 2) has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

As a modification, the transmission destination device in S3 is the first server device, and then the image ID, the image data, and the image attribute are transferred from the first server device to the second server device. It may be executed by the second server device. That is, the server device in FIG. 3 may be the first server device, and the server devices in FIGS. 4 and 5 may be the second server device. In this modification, the transmission destination device (first server device) in S3 and the transmission source device (second server device) in S12 are different devices.

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of invention. In particular, a plurality of embodiments and modifications described in this specification can be arbitrarily combined as necessary.

The present invention is applicable to an image processing apparatus, an image processing system, an image processing method, and an image processing program.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital multifunction device 2 Server apparatus 3 LAN4 PSTN5 Digital multifunction device 6 Digital multifunction device 10, 21 Control part 11 Image reading part 12 Image transmission part 13 Image receiving part 14, 25 Image storage part 15, 26 Read image storage part 16, 27 Reception image storage units 17, 28 Transmission image storage unit 18 Image transfer unit 19 Image management unit 20 Image printing unit 22 Display unit 23 Display control unit 24 Operation unit 30 Destination information (transmission source information)
31 Communication result information 32 Page number information 33 Date information (communication start time information)
34 Counterpart information part 35 Total document number information 36 Unread document number information 37 Check box 38 Print instruction key 39 Send instruction key 40 Delete instruction key

Claims (14)

An image data generation unit for newly generating image data;
A storage and transmission unit that stores newly generated image data in its own device, and transmits the image data and attribute information together with identification information to an external server device;
A management unit that manages the image data stored in its own device based on the identification information;
A process execution unit that executes processing according to the command for image data corresponding to the identification information among the image data stored in the apparatus by an image processing command specifying the identification information from an external server device; An image processing apparatus comprising: If the image data corresponding to the identification information specified by the image processing command from the external server device is not stored in its own device, a reply that returns a nonexistence response to the external server device that is the transmission source of the image processing command And
And a new storage unit that stores the received image data in association with the received identification information when the image storage command is received together with the identification information and the image data from the external server device that is the transmission source of the image processing command. Item 8. The image processing apparatus according to Item 1. The storage transmission unit stores the attribute information in the own device together with the newly generated image data,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the management unit manages image data and attribute information stored in the apparatus using identification information. An image processing system comprising an image processing device and a server device communicably connected to the image processing device,
The image processing device
An image data generation unit for newly generating image data;
A storage and transmission unit that stores newly generated image data in its own device, and transmits the image data and attribute information together with identification information to the server device;
A management unit that manages the image data stored in its own device based on the identification information;
A processing execution unit that executes processing according to the image processing command for image data corresponding to the identification information among the image data stored in the own device by an image processing command designating identification information from the server device; With
Server device
When receiving identification information, image data, and attribute information from the image processing apparatus, a storage unit that stores the image data and attribute information in association with the identification information;
A display for displaying an image;
A display control unit for displaying stored image data on the display unit;
An accepting unit that accepts an image to be processed and an instruction of processing content for the image from a user;
An image processing command transmitting unit for transmitting an image processing command including identification information corresponding to the instructed image and requesting execution of the instructed processing content to the image processing apparatus when an instruction from the user is received by the receiving unit; ,
An image processing system comprising: The image processing device
A reply unit that returns a non-existence response to the server device that is the transmission source of the image processing command when image data corresponding to the identification information specified by the image processing command from the server device is not stored in the own device;
A new storage unit that stores the received image data in association with the received identification information when the image storage command is received together with the identification information and the image data from the server device that is the transmission source of the image processing command;
Server device
When receiving a non-existence response from the image processing apparatus, an image storage command transmission unit that transmits an image storage command to the image processing apparatus together with identification information and image data;
An image processing system according to claim 4. The storage transmission unit stores the attribute information in the own device together with the newly generated image data,
The image processing system according to claim 4, wherein the management unit manages image data and attribute information stored in the own apparatus based on identification information. An image data generation step for newly generating image data;
Storing the newly generated image data in its own device, and transmitting the image data and attribute information together with identification information to an external server device; and
A management step for managing the image data stored in the device by identification information;
A process execution step for executing processing corresponding to the image processing command for image data corresponding to the identification information among the image data stored in the apparatus by an image processing command designating identification information from an external server device An image processing method comprising: If the image data corresponding to the identification information specified by the image processing command from the external server device is not stored in its own device, a reply that returns a nonexistence response to the external server device that is the transmission source of the image processing command Steps,
And a new storage step of storing the received image data in association with the received identification information when the image storage command is received together with the identification information and the image data from the external server device that is the transmission source of the image processing command. Item 8. The image processing method according to Item 7. In the storing and transmitting step, the attribute information is stored in the own device together with the newly generated image data,
The image processing method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein in the management step, image data and attribute information stored in the own apparatus are managed by identification information.   An image processing program having a computer-readable program code for causing a computer to execute the image processing method according to claim 7. An image processing method in an image processing system comprising an image processing device and a server device communicably connected to the image processing device,
An image data generation step for newly generating image data in the image processing apparatus;
Storing newly generated image data in the image processing apparatus, and storing and transmitting the image data and attribute information together with identification information to the server apparatus;
A management step of managing the image data stored in the image processing apparatus by identification information;
A storage step of storing the image data and the attribute information in association with the identification information when the server apparatus receives the identification information, the image data, and the attribute information from the image processing apparatus;
A display step of displaying image data stored in the server device on the display unit;
An accepting step of accepting from the user an image to be processed in the server device and an instruction of processing content for the image;
An image processing command that includes identification information corresponding to an instructed image and transmits an image processing command for requesting execution of the instructed processing content to the image processing device when the server device accepts an instruction from the user in the accepting step Sending step;
When the image processing device receives an image processing command specifying identification information from the server device, the image data corresponding to the identification information among the image data stored in the own device is processed according to the image processing command. An image processing method comprising: a process execution step to be executed. A reply step of returning a non-existence response to the server device that is the transmission source of the image processing command when the image data corresponding to the identification information specified by the image processing command from the server device is not stored in the own device;
And a new storage step of storing the received image data in association with the received identification information when the image storage command is received together with the identification information and the image data from the server device that is the transmission source of the image processing command. An image processing method described in 1. In the storing and transmitting step, the attribute information is stored in the image processing apparatus together with the newly generated image data,
The image processing method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein in the management step, image data and attribute information stored in the image processing apparatus are managed by identification information. An image processing program having a computer-readable program code for causing a computer to execute the image processing method according to claim 11.

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