JPH01144164A - Electronic filing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an electronic filing device for registering, searching, or communicating image information, for example.

(Prior art) In recent years, scanners (
Image information filing devices have been put into practical use that read image information using a two-dimensional scanning device, store the read image information on an optical disk, and search and read out any stored image information.

Recently, with the advancement of networking and systemization,
Connect multiple image information filing devices via LAN etc.
They register and search while communicating with each other.

On the other hand, the size of documents handled is not only A3 size, A4 size, B4 size, etc. in general offices, but also A3 size, A4 size, B4 size, etc.
Larger sizes such as L size and A2 size are now available, and the amount of image information is increasing enormously.

When these large-sized images are searched using a stand-alone electronic filing device, the huge amount of information increases the search time, making the system impractical in terms of operation.

Furthermore, when searching for the above-mentioned large-sized images via a communication system such as a LAN, the search time increases due to the huge amount of information, which is not only impractical in terms of system operation, but also economical. There was a downside to it being bad.

For example, A4 size, 200ppi (8 pieces/m
The amount of data for a document image (m to per) is approximately 500 KB, and when compressed using the MR method or the like, the amount of data becomes approximately 50 KB, although it varies depending on the image. On the other hand, Al size, 40
The amount of data for a document image of 0 pp i (equivalent to 16 lines/mm) is about 16 MB, and even if compressed by the MR method or the like, it is still about 1.6 MB, which is about 30 times the amount of data.

Therefore, when searching for an A4/200ppi image on a stand-alone electronic filing device, it takes approximately 0.5 seconds, and it takes A1/400ppi.
When searching for the image of i, it takes about 15 seconds.

If this is transferred via a communication line such as a LAN, it will take even longer to transfer, and compared to about 10 seconds for an A4/200ppi image, it will take A1/a400p.
It takes about 300 seconds for a p i image.

These processing speeds naturally slow down as the amount of data increases due to the larger image size, so even if improvements are made to the C0DEC circuit, communication methods, etc., it will not be easy to solve the problem, and it will be difficult to solve the problem in terms of operation. It had very difficult points.

In particular, many of the drawings and the like are large-sized images such as A1 size and A2 size, and even if an attempt was made to turn over these images piecemeal using a LAN system, it was difficult to construct a practical system.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As mentioned above, there is a drawback that the search speed becomes extremely slow when handling large-sized images. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic filing device that can increase search speed when handling large-sized images.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The electronic filing device of the present invention includes a supply means for supplying image information, a storage means for storing the image information from the supply means, and a supply means supplied by the supply means. a first processing means for creating an abstract image from image information, and when storing the image information in the storage means, the abstract image created by the first processing means is stored in the storage means together with this image information; It is composed of a second processing means.

(Function) In this invention, when registering a large-sized image such as Al size or A2 size, an abstract image of the image is registered together with the image, and when searching, the abstract image is first searched. , after checking, the original image is searched.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the LAN system configuration of the present invention. In the figure, 1aslbs... is a terminal device, 3 is a center, and each terminal device 1aslbs... and center 3 are connected by a communication line 2. There is.

As shown in FIG. 3, the center 3 includes a control module 11, a memory module 10, and an image processing module 30.
, communication control module 31, scanner 20, optical disk device 22, keyboard 23, CRT display device 2
4, printer 25, magnetic disk device 27, mouse 29
, a system bus 41, and an image bus 42.

The control module 11 includes a CPU 12 as a central processing unit that performs various controls, and an interface circuit 17 for connecting the optical disk device 22 and magnetic disk device 27 to the CPU 12 and the like. The keyboard 23 and mouse 29 are connected to the CPU 12.

The CPU 12 performs an online search according to the makeshift search code supplied from the communication control module 31, and when desired image information is found in this online search, an image presence signal and the image information are sent to the CPU 12. If there is no image information, the corresponding image heating signal is transmitted via the communication control module 31 and the communication line 2 to the terminal device lax . . . that made the inquiry.

Further, the CPU 12 stores image information in accordance with the image information and search code output from the communication control module 31.

The memory module 10 includes a main memory 13, an A4
It consists of a page memory 14 as an image memory having a storage capacity corresponding to image data for several pages of a manuscript, a display memory 15 as a display interface, a display control section 16, and the like.

A part of the page memory 14 includes a buffer memory 14
A is provided. Writing and reading from this buffer memory 14a are controlled by a counter (not shown).

The image processing module 30 includes a scaling circuit 34 that scales up and down the image data, a vertical/horizontal conversion circuit 35 that rotates the image data by changing the vertical/horizontal direction, and compresses (reduces redundancy) and expands (reduces redundancy) the image data. A compression/expansion circuit (CODEC) that restores the reduced redundancy
36. Scanner interface 37 for scanner 20
, a printer interface 38 for the printer 25, an internal bus 39 connecting the enlargement/reduction circuit 34, the vertical/horizontal conversion circuit 35, the compression/expansion circuit 36, the scanner interface 37, and the printer interface 38.

The communication control module 31 is, for example, a BCP connected to a LAN (Local Area Network).
(bus communication processor) or the like. Also,
The communication control module 31 includes an FCP (facsimile connection mechanism).

Interface with external equipment such as a PC (R5-23
It may be provided with a UCP (Universal Communication Processor) connected via 2CSGP IB, SC5I).

The communication control module 31 is connected to other terminal devices such as
Communication control module (not shown) and communication line 2
is connected to the page memory 14, and transmits the image information corresponding to the makeshift search code, supplies the sent makeshift search code to the main memory 13, supplies the image information to be stored to the page memory 14, and sends the search code to the page memory 14. is supplied to the main memory 13.

The system bus 41 is a bus for control signals, and connects the control module 11, the memory module 10, the image processing module 30, and the communication control module 31. It looks like this. Further, the image bus 42 is a bus for image data, and is adapted to connect the memory module 10 and the image processing module 30.

The display memory 15 stores image data actually displayed in the window of the CRT display device 24, that is, an image obtained by enlarging, reducing, rotating, inserting, or inverting the image data in the page memory 14. The data is now stored.

The scanner 20 is, for example, a two-dimensional scanning device, and is a document (
By scanning the document (document) two-dimensionally with a laser beam, an electrical signal corresponding to the image data on the document is obtained. The optical disk device 22 includes the scanner 20
The image information read by the optical disc (storage medium) 1
9 are stored sequentially.

The keyboard 23 is used to input a unique search code corresponding to the image information stored on the optical disc 19 and various operation commands. The CRT display device 24 is an output device, such as a cathode ray tube display device, which is a display device, and displays image information read by the scanner 20 or image information read from the optical disk device 22. The CRT display device 24 is capable of simultaneously displaying four documents using a maximum of four windows.

For example, four pieces of document data are displayed vertically. Editing such as enlargement, reduction, rotation, scrolling, etc. of the document data can be performed independently for each window.

The printer 25 stores image information read by the scanner 20, image information read from the optical disk device 22, CR
The image information displayed on the T-display device 24 is output as a printout, that is, a hard copy.

The magnetic disk device 27 is a hard disk device, and a magnetic disk 27a installed in the magnetic disk device 27 stores various control programs. Search data (image management information) consisting of the storage address, image size, etc. on the optical disk 19 where the corresponding image information is stored is stored.

The storage address is a logical address, from which a physical track address and a physical sector address are calculated at the time of access.

A search code consisting of multiple search keys for the above search data (
As shown in Figure 4, the image number, @class number,
A piece of document management data consisting of a page number, document size (image size), compression method, resolution, block length, and a logical address on the optical disk 19 of the image information is assigned, and a document management table is configured by a group of these document management data. ing.

Further, when the page number is A, it indicates that the corresponding image is an abstract image. In the case of FIG. 4, an abstract image corresponding to page 11' (representative of the document) of each document is provided, but it may be provided on a page-by-page basis.

The mouse 29 is a pointing device, and the cursor on the CRT display device 24 can be positioned by arbitrarily moving the cursor "1" downward, left or right, and giving an instruction at a desired position. Display content(
For example, various modes, editor options, cut and paste ranges, icons, etc.) are selected.

1. The terminal device 1aslbs... is used to input a search request or input image information to be stored, and is configured as shown in FIG.

That is, the terminal devices 1a11bs . . . include a control module 51, a memory module 50, an image processing module 70, a communication control module 71, a scanner 60, a keyboard 63, a CRT display device 64, a printer 65, a magnetic disk device 67, and a mouse 69. , a system bus 71, and an image bus 72.

The scanner 60 and printer 65 are optionally connected to the terminal devices 1a, lb, . . . .

The control module 51 includes a CPtJ 52 as a central processing unit that performs various controls, and an interface circuit 57 for connecting the magnetic disk device 67 and the bipedal CPU 52. The CPU 52 includes the keyboard 63.
and a mouse 69 are connected.

” During a search, when a search code is entered manually from the keyboard 63, the CPU 52 compares the search code with the search code stored in the magnetic disk 67a, and selects the matching search code and image request signal. It is transmitted to the center 3 via the communication control module 71 and the communication line 2.

Further, the CPU 52 transmits the search code and image information to the center 3 via the communication control module 71 and the communication line 2 at the time of registration.

The memory module 50 includes a main memory 53, an A4
It is comprised of a page memory 54 as an image memory with a storage capacity corresponding to image data for several pages of original size, a display memory 55 as a display interface, a display control section 56, and the like.

A part of the page memory 54 includes a buffer memory 54.
A is provided. Writing and reading from this buffer memory 54a are controlled by a counter (not shown).

The image processing module 70 includes an enlargement/reduction circuit 74 that enlarges and reduces image data, an aspect conversion circuit 75 that rotates image data by changing its aspect, and compression (reducing redundancy) and expansion (reducing redundancy) of image data. A compression/expansion circuit (CODEC) that restores the reduced redundancy
76, scanner interface 77 for scanner 60
, a printer interface 78 for the printer 65, and an internal bus 79 connecting the enlargement/reduction circuit 74, the vertical/horizontal conversion circuit 75, the compression/expansion circuit 76, the scanner interface 77, and the printer interface 78.

The communication control module 71 includes a communication interface 81 such as a BCP (bus communication processor) connected to a LAN (local area network).

The communication control module 71 is connected to a communication control module (not shown) of the center 3 via the communication line 2, and transmits a makeshift search code, image information to be stored, and image information corresponding to the search code. The image information for the makeshift search code that has been sent is stored in the page memory 54.
It is intended to be supplied to

The system bus 81 is a bus for control signals, and connects the control module 51, the memory module 50, the image processing module 70, and the communication control module 71. Further, the image bus 82 is a bus for image data, and is adapted to connect the memory module 50 and the image processing module 70.

The display memory 55 stores image data actually displayed in the window of the CRT display device 64, that is, an image obtained by enlarging, reducing, rotating, inserting, or inverting the image data in the page memory 54. The data is now stored.

The scanner 60 is, for example, a two-dimensional scanning device, and is a document (
By scanning the document (document) two-dimensionally with a laser beam, an electrical signal corresponding to the image data on the document is obtained.

1. The keyboard 63 is used to input search codes for hard nails corresponding to image information, various operation commands, and the like. The above CRT display device i! Reference numeral 264 denotes an output device, such as a cathode ray tube display device which is a display device, and displays image information read by the scanner 60 or image information read out from the optical disk device 62. The CRT display device 64 is capable of simultaneously displaying four documents using a maximum of four windows. For example, four pieces of document data are displayed vertically. ” - Enlarge, reduce, and enlarge document data independently for each reporter window.
Editing such as rotation and scrolling is now possible.

The printer 65 outputs image information and the like supplied from the communication control module 71 as a printout, that is, a hard copy.

The magnetic disk device 67 is a hard disk device, and the magnetic disk 67a installed in the magnetic disk device 67 stores various control programs, and also uses the search code inputted from the keyboard 23 and the scanner 60. The read image information is stored,
Further, image management information stored in the magnetic disk 27a of the center 3 is stored. However, no logical address is assigned.

The mouse 69 is a pointing device, for example, by moving the cursor on the CRT display device 64 arbitrarily in the vertical and horizontal directions and giving an instruction at a desired position, the display content at which the cursor is located can be displayed. (for example, various modes, editing images, cut and paste ranges, icons, etc.).

Next, how image information is managed in a unified manner will be explained from the viewpoint of document management.

In other words, the document management system in this embodiment has four parts: cabinet, binder, document, and page, as shown in Figure 6.
It has a hierarchy, and each cabinet is associated with one side of the optical disc 19. A maximum of 8 binders can be defined in a cabinet, and a maximum of 30,000 binders can be defined within a binder.
You can register up to 100 documents. Each document has a title, and its structure is defined for each binder. The above document is the basic unit of a file, and in addition to the title, annotations (explanation of the document) can be added.

Further, a document is composed of up to 4095 pages.

Next, the operation in such a configuration will be explained.

First, registration (storage) of image information in the center 3 will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. For example, the user selects and sets the registration mode using the keyboard 23 and enters a search code for image information to be registered. As a result, the CPU 12 checks the validity of the input data based on the number of digits, character types, etc. according to the predefined search code format, and also checks the already registered search codes to prevent duplicate registration. If the search code is overwhelming as a result of these checks, it is stored in the main memory 13.

Then, the original 21 is set on the scanner 20, and the CPU 1
2 operates the optical disk device 22 and scanner 20. Then, the scanner 20 two-dimensionally scans the image information of the set document or the like and photoelectrically converts it. This photoelectrically converted line information is sequentially stored in the page buffer 14. When one page of image information is stored in the page memory 14, the image information is stored in the display memory 15 and displayed on the CRT display device 24.

By the way, the skinny, density, resolution, etc. of the image displayed on the CRT display device 24 are checked, and if the image is satisfactory, a storage key (not shown) is pressed. Then, the CPU 12 performs band compression on one unit of image information stored in the page memory 14 for each line information using the well-known MH (Modify-Hoffman) conversion or MR conversion using the CODEC 36, and converts the compressed line information into The data is supplied to the optical disk device 22.

Thereby, the optical disk device 22 stores the supplied image information on the optical disk 19.

When the storage of this image information is completed, the CPU 12 uses a search code to search for the physical track address where the image information is stored, the logical address determined from the physical sector address, the image length expressed in block length, resolution, compression method, document size, etc. The information is stored in the main memory 13 in correspondence with the . Next, the CPU 12 supplies the search data stored in the main memory 13 to the magnetic disk device 127. This results in
The magnetic disk device 27 stores the supplied search data in the magnetic disk 28 .

Note that the image information to be registered above is the first page of one document, and the image size is A2 size or more, that is, Al size, A
In the case of a large size such as 2 size, before registering the original image information, image information (abstract image) obtained by reducing the image information is registered on the optical disc 19.

That is, the CPU 12 reduces the image information for one unit stored in the page memory 14 by the enlarging/reducing circuit 34 for each line information (AI, reducing A2 size to A4 size), and then uses the CODEC 36 to reduce the image information by the well-known MH ( The band is compressed by Modifyte-Hoffman) conversion, and the compressed line information is supplied to the optical disk device 22. This results in
The optical disk device 22 stores the supplied image information on the optical disk 19.

When the storage of this image information is completed, the CPU 12 uses a search code to search for the physical track address where the image information is stored, the logical address determined from the physical sector address, the image length expressed in block length, resolution, compression method, document size, etc. The information is stored in the main memory 13 in correspondence with the . Next, the CPU 12 supplies the search data stored in the main memory 13 to the magnetic disk device 27. Thereby, the magnetic disk device 27 stores the supplied search data in the magnetic disk 28.

Therefore, as shown in Figure 4, document number r0000
If the first page of 01J is an Al size drawing, reduce the image size of the image information (A4/200ppi) to A4/200ppL, compress the band with C0DEC36, and write the optical disc corresponding to the above logical address r100000J. The abstract image (A4/200ppi) as the reduced image is stored in the physical address No. 19. In this case, "A" is assigned as the page number.

Next, the original image information of the above Al/400ppi is converted to C0DE.
C36 directly compresses the bandwidth and uses the above logical address r1.
The above image information is stored in the physical address of the optical disc 19 corresponding to 00010J.

Therefore, with respect to the original image as shown in FIG. 8(a), a reduced image as an abstract image as shown in FIG. 8(b) is stored.

Next, registration (storage) of image information by the terminal devices 1a, . . . will be explained. For example, the user selects and sets the registration mode using the keyboard 63 and inputs a search code for image information to be registered. As a result, the CPU 52 formats the predefined search code, but p
The validity of the input data is checked by the number of digits, character type, etc., and the search codes that have already been registered are checked to ensure that there are no duplicate registrations. If so, it is stored in the main memory 53. Then, the original is sent to the scanner 60.
, and the CPU 52 operates the scanner 60.

Then, the scanner 60 two-dimensionally scans the image information of the set document or the like and photoelectrically converts it. This photoelectrically converted line information is sequentially stored in the page memory 54. When one page of image information is stored in the page memory 54, the image information is stored in the display memory 55 and displayed on the CRT display device 64. By the way, check the skew, density, resolution, etc. of the image displayed on the CRT display device 64, and if the image is satisfactory, press the memory key (not shown).
Insert. Then, the CPU 52 performs band compression on one unit of image information stored in the page memory 54 using the well-known MH (Modifier-Hoffman) conversion for each line of line information using the C0DEC 76, and transfers the compressed line information to the magnetic disk device. 67. The CPU 52 also supplies the search code stored in the main memory 53 to the magnetic disk device 67.

Thereby, the magnetic disk device 67 stores the supplied image information and search code on the magnetic disk 67a.

When the storage of the image information is completed, the CPU 52 transmits the image information and search code stored in the magnetic disk 67a to the center 3 via the communication control module 71 and the communication line 2. As a result, in the center 3, the image information supplied via the communication control module 31 is transferred to the page memory 1.
4, and the search code is stored in the main memory 13. Next, the CPU 12 supplies one unit of image information stored in the page memory 14 to the optical disk device 22 for each line of information. Thereby, the optical disk device 22 stores the supplied image information on the optical disk 19.

When storage of this image information is completed, the physical track address where the image information is stored, the logical address determined from the physical sector address, the image length expressed in block length,
The resolution, compression method, document size, etc. are stored in the main memory 13 in correspondence with the search code. Next, CPU1
2 supplies the search data stored in the main memory 13 to the magnetic disk device 27. As a result, the magnetic disk device N27 transfers the supplied search data to the magnetic disk 27.
a1 ko1; 800 million.

In this case as well, the image information to be registered is the first page of one document, and the image size is A2 size or larger, that is, A2 size or larger.
In the case of large sizes such as 1 size and A2 size, before sending the above original image information to the center 3 and registering it, the image information (abstract image) that is a reduced version of the image information is sent to the center 3. and register it on the optical disc 19.

On the other hand, the search at the center 3 for the image information registered as described above will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the search mode is set using the keyboard 23 and a search code is entered.

Then, the CPU 12 transfers the search code to the magnetic disk 2.
The search code stored in 7a is sequentially compared and checked to see if the search code matches the input search code. For matching search codes,
The presence or absence of an abstract image (page number "A") is checked for a plurality of images in the document number corresponding to the search code. If an abstract image is found as a result of this check, the logical address r100000J corresponding to the abstract image is read out. Then, the CPU 12 calculates a physical track address and a physical sector address corresponding to the logical address, and causes the optical disc device 22 to reproduce the track on the optical disc 19 based on these addresses. Then,
The CPU 12 supplies image information (compressed information) for each scanning line supplied from the optical disk device 22 to the CODEC 36, performs band expansion by MH inverse conversion, and sequentially supplies the original image information to the page memory 14. In this way, when all the image information for one reproduced page is stored in the page memory 14, the CPU 12 displays the image information (A4 size reduced image; see FIG. 8(b)) on the CRT using the display memory 15. It is displayed on the display device 24.

Next, when the abstract image is confirmed and an instruction (request for original image information) indicating that the image is a required image is issued using the keyboard 23, the CPU 12 downloads the information from the magnetic disk 27a.
A logical address rloo010J corresponding to the image information of the first page of the abstract image is read from inside. And C.P.
U12 calculates a physical track address and a physical sector address corresponding to the logical address, and causes the optical disk device 22 to reproduce the track on the optical disk 19 based on these addresses. Then, the CPU 2 supplies the image information (compressed information) for each scanning line supplied from the optical disk device 22 to the C0DEC 36, performs band expansion by inverse MW conversion, and stores the original image information in the page memory 1.
4 sequentially. In this way, when all 100 worth of reproduced image information is stored in the page memory 14, the CPU 12
is its image information (original image information of Al size; Fig. 8 (a)
) is displayed on the CRT display device 24 using the display memory 15.

As mentioned above, for images such as drawings that are large in size such as Al size and A2 size, a reduced image (reduced to A4 size) as an abstract image is created, and it is stored on an optical disc along with the original image. 19, and when a search instruction is given using the keyboard 23, the abstract image is first displayed on the CRT display device 24.

Then, until the necessary drawing (image) is found, the abstract images are displayed one after another in accordance with the search instructions, as if turning over a book, and when the necessary drawing (image) is found, the original image is make a request. Due to the request for this original image,
The original image corresponding to the above-mentioned abstract image is read from the optical disk 19, displayed on the CRT display device 24, and after performing necessary processing such as image editing, is printed out on the printer 25 to complete the drawing work. It has become.

Therefore, an abstract image with small image size (reduced image)
Since the large-sized original image, which takes time to transfer, is processed in the final stage, the large-sized image can be searched at high speed.

Next, a search for image information by the terminal device 1as will be described. For example, now, the search mode is set using the keyboard 63 and a search code is entered. Then, the CPU 52 transfers the search code to the magnetic disk 67.
The search code stored in a is sequentially compared and checked to see if the search code matches the input search code. The matching search code is stored in the main memory 53.

When the search for the search code is completed, the CPU 52 transmits the search code stored in the main memory 53 to the center 3 via the communication control module 71 and the communication line 2.

Thereby, the search code supplied via the communication control module 31 is stored in the main memory 13. Then, the CPU 12 sequentially compares and collates the search code with the search codes stored on the magnetic disk 27a, and sequentially checks whether the search code matches the input search code. For a matching search code, the presence or absence of an abstract image (page number "A") is checked for a long number of images in the document number corresponding to the search code. If an abstract image is found as a result of this check, the logical address r100000J corresponding to the abstract image is read out. Then, the CPU 12 calculates a physical track address and a physical sector address corresponding to the logical address,
These addresses cause the optical disc device 22 to reproduce the tracks on the optical disc 19. Then, the CPU
12 supplies image information (compressed information) for each scanning line supplied from the optical disk device 22 to the CODEC 36, performs band expansion by MH inverse conversion, and sequentially supplies the original image information to the page memory 14. In this way, when all the image information for one reproduced page is stored in the page memory 14, the CPU 12 stores the image information (A4 size reduced image -
(see FIG. 8(b)) is connected to the terminal device 1a (lb) via the communication control module 31 and the communication line 2.

...). As a result, in the terminal device 1a,
Image information supplied via the communication control module 71 is displayed on the CRT display device 24 using the display memory 15.

Next, when the abstract image is confirmed and an instruction indicating that the image is the required image (a request for original image information) is made using the keyboard 63, the CPU 52 transmits the instruction via the communication control module 71 and the communication line 2. Send to center 3.

As a result, in response to an instruction to output the original image supplied via the communication control module 31, the CPU 12 selects the logical address r 1.00010 J corresponding to the image information of the first page of the abstract image from within the magnetic disk 27a. Read out. Then, the CPU 12 calculates a physical track address and a physical sector address corresponding to the logical address,
These addresses cause the optical disc device 22 to reproduce the tracks on the optical disc 19. Then, the CPU
12 supplies image information (compressed information) for each scanning line supplied from the optical disk device 22 to the CODEC 36, performs band expansion by MH inverse conversion, and sequentially supplies the original image information to the page memory 14. In this way, when all the image information for one reproduced page is stored in the page memory 14, the CPU 12 transfers the image information (original image information of Al size; see FIG. 8(,a)) to the communication control module 31, The terminal device 1a (lb) is connected via the line 2.

...). As a result, in the terminal device 1a,
Image information supplied via the communication control module 71 is displayed on the CRT display device 24 using the display memory 15.

As mentioned above, for images such as drawings that are large in size such as Al size and A2 size, a reduced image (reduced to A4 size) as an abstract image is created, and it is stored on an optical disc along with the original image. 19, and when a search request is made from the terminal device 1a to the center 3, the abstract image is first transferred to the terminal device 1a side.

Then, on the terminal device la side, the search request is repeatedly sent until the necessary drawing (image) is found. As a result, abstract images are displayed one after another as if a book is being turned over, and when a necessary drawing (image) is found, a request is made for the original image. In response to this request for the original image, the center 3 reads the original image corresponding to the abstract image from the optical disk 19 and transmits it to the terminal device 1a. As a result, the terminal bag R
After receiving the original image, the 1a side performs necessary processing such as image editing, and then prints it out using the printer 65.
The drawing work is now complete.

Therefore, an abstract image with small image size (reduced image)
As the final step is to send large-sized original images that take time to transfer, it is possible to search for large-sized images at high speed even via LAN, and to quickly search for the necessary images. In addition to being able to search by time, it also reduces the amount of time dedicated to terminal equipment and communication lines, and has economic advantages.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the case where an abstract image is created when the original image is A1 or A2 size or larger has been explained, but the invention is not limited to this, and an abstract image can also be created when the original image is of other sizes. good. Alternatively, an abstract image may be created only for a specified predetermined image.

Furthermore, in addition to using a communication system such as a stand array or LAN that is processed at a center, the search can also be performed remotely using a low-speed communication device such as a FAX. In this case, the abstract image is sent by fax,
When the desired image is found, the original image may be sent by FAX. In this case, the time required for exclusive use of the telephone line is reduced, making it economically superior.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic filing device that can increase search speed when handling large-sized images.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a flowchart for explaining the registration operation, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the registration operation.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the system, FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of storing a document management table, and FIG. 5 is a terminal device 6 is a diagram for explaining the document management system, FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the search operation, and FIG. 8 is for explaining the original image and abstract image. This is a diagram for 1 a% ~...terminal device, 2...communication line, 3.
...Center, 12.52...CPU, 13.53...
・Main memory, 14.54...Page memory, 19
... optical disk (storage medium), 20.60 ... scanner, 22 ... optical disk device, 23.63 ... keyboard, 24.64 ... CRT display device,
27.67...Magnetic disk device, 27a, 67a.
... Magnetic disk 25.65 ... Printer, 34.7
4...Enlargement/reduction circuit, 36.76...COD'E
C. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 7a Figure 4 Figure 6

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) a supply means for supplying image information; a storage means for storing the image information from the supply means; a first processing means for creating an abstract image from the image information supplied by the supply means; An electronic filing device comprising: second processing means for storing an abstract image created by the first processing means in the storage means together with the image information when storing the image information in the storage means. . (2) The electronic filing device according to claim 1, wherein the first processing means creates the abstract image only when the size of image information is arbitrary. (3) The electronic filing device according to claim 1, wherein the storage means adds search information when storing the both-image information. (4) The electronic filing device according to claim 1, wherein the supply means is constituted by a scanner. (5) The electronic filing device according to claim 1, wherein the storage means is constituted by an optical disk.