JPH0375113B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention is a facsimile machine (hereinafter referred to as FAX).
After inputting the image recorded on the received slip directly into the character recognition device and recognizing the required character area,
The present invention relates to an image processing device that inputs the results to a host computer and performs various processing.

(Prior Art) Image transfer systems using FAX are generally being put into practical use in the following systems. In other words, for example, there is a system that provides services by inputting various order information such as order entry and dispatch instructions via fax, and a system that inputs inquiry information such as real estate via fax, searches a database, and provides the necessary information by fax. It is applied to systems that send back documents, input accounting slips, etc. via fax, accumulates information over a certain period of time, and performs information processing services such as accounting.

However, as in the example shown above, FAX
In systems using , the accuracy of the transferred information becomes an issue. in general
When transmitting certain information by fax, the following problems arise. That is, if the characters on the input sheet are light or if the photoelectric conversion characteristics of the fax machine being used are poor, defects may occur in the transferred image information. In addition, there is a possibility of misrecognition or non-recognition due to operational errors on the sending side, such as input sheets overlapping, turned upside down, or input with some parts folded. . Furthermore, duplicate transmissions by operators,
There is also a possibility that the destination is incorrect. Further, even if the image is transmitted accurately, there may be cases where image restoration becomes impossible due to noise on the transmission path.

Various problems occur when forwarding by fax as described above, but with conventional fax systems, even if problems such as those mentioned above occur, the sender is unaware of the situation. Therefore, there was a risk that erroneous processing would occur.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As mentioned above, in the conventional image transfer system using fax, there is a possibility that accurate information transmission may not be carried out due to equipment failure, operator error, etc. When such a problem occurs, it is difficult for the transmitting side to immediately know about the situation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that allows a transmitting side to grasp the response result of data transferred.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In other words, the image processing device according to the present invention includes a network control device that controls connection to a telephone line, and a network connection device that controls reception by the network connection device. an image memory for storing image data, a character recognition means for cutting out and recognizing characters from the image memory, and a control processor for creating response information based on the character recognition results obtained by the character recognition means. The response information created by the control processor is transferred to the transmitting side by, for example, an image processor or a voice response device.

(Operation) In the image processing device configured as described above, the transmitted image data is stored in the image memory received by the network control device. and,
The data stored in this image memory is retrieved by the character recognition means, character recognition is performed in the necessary character area, and the result is supplied to the control processor, which creates response information based on the character recognition result. Processing takes place. Then, the response information is converted into a line signal or an audio signal by, for example, an image processor or an audio response device, and then transferred to the transmitting side.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of an image processing apparatus. This image processing device includes a network control device 12, a modulation/demodulation device 13, and a compression/expansion device 1, which are each controlled by a control processor 11.
4, an image memory 15, a character recognition device 16, an image processor 17, a table memory 18, and a voice response device 19. The network control device 12 performs data communication using a public communication network, that is, a telephone line, and has functions such as starting and restoring the exchange, sending a selection signal, and detecting a calling signal. , and are bidirectionally connected to the modem 13. The modulation/demodulation device 13 has a modulator and a demodulator, and is interposed between the network control device 12 and the compression/expansion device 14, and modulates or demodulates an input signal. Compression/expansion device 14
controls the redundancy of facsimile signals, and is bidirectionally connected to the image memory 15. The image memory 15 stores image signals, and is connected to a character recognition device 16 to perform character recognition of transmitted information. Character recognition device 16
performs processing based on mark images and character recognition processing, and sends the processing results to the control processor 11. image processor 1
7 converts the data stored in the table memory 18 into a character image via the control processor 11. Further, the voice response device 19 is connected to the control processor 11 and performs transmission by voice conversion.

In the image processing apparatus configured in this manner, when the transmitting side starts transmission, the network control device 12 establishes a line connection. Network control device 1
2 supplies information from the transmitting side and outputs the signal to the modulation/demodulation device 13 . The modulation/demodulation device 13 converts the signal from the network control device 12 into a digital signal and outputs it to the compression/expansion device 14. Here, since the facsimile signal is compressed by, for example, a modified Huffman encoding method or a mode run length encoding method for its redundancy, the compression/expansion device 14 performs decompression processing. In this way, the signal received by the network control device 12 is restored to the original image signal via the modulation/demodulation device 13 and the compression/expansion device 14, and is stored in the image memory 15. The image signal stored in the image memory 15 is subjected to character recognition by the character recognition device 16. In this case, the character recognition device 16 performs preprocessing such as expansion/contraction correction, position correction, noise cut, and image quality improvement based on the mark image, and then cuts out the characters and performs character recognition.

After character recognition is performed in this way, the results are output to the control processor 11 and processed. In the preprocessing process of the character recognition device 16, if the mark cannot be detected or the character cannot be read due to deterioration in image quality or character frequency, the status is sent to the control processor 11.

It should be noted that at the stage of decompressing the received data in the compression/decompression device 14, the received data is temporarily stored in an auxiliary storage device (not shown) such as a disk, and is sequentially read from the auxiliary storage device. It is also possible to perform processing, and when multiple lines are connected, processing can be parallelized and throughput can be improved.

In this way, when the result of character recognition is supplied to the control processor 11, the control processor 11 reads the table memory 1 based on the recognition result.
8 to edit and create a sheet reception (processing) result file for each transmission source column. The reception (processing) result file editing creation of this sheet is created based on the result of character recognition in a certain setting area by the character recognition device 16, and the result as to whether or not it can be read correctly. For example, it is created as shown in FIG. When the editing and creation of the sheet reception (processing) result file is completed, the result is sent to the transmitting side by the means described below.

That is, the character code of the reception (processing) result file stored in the control processor 11 is converted into a character image by the image processor 17, and the data is stored in the image memory 15. The data stored in the image memory 15 is compressed by the compression/decompression device 14, inputted to the network control device 12 via the modulation/demodulation device 13, and a reception (processing) result file as shown in FIG. 2 is transmitted. Sent to the side.

It is also possible to notify the reception (processing) result by using the voice response device 19, and when the sender makes a call, the control processor 11 connects to the voice response device 19 and stores the result in the control processor 11. The data is converted into an audio signal and sent back to the sending side.
That is, the voice response device 19 is set with questions such as destination name, date, seat number, etc. Based on the responses to these questions, the data stored in the control processor 11 is searched and the reception result is determined. The created results are converted into audio and sent out.

There is also a method of transferring the reception result by using a personal computer on the sending side. This is a method in which the control processor 11 sends the reception results to each sender, and creates a reception status file in the personal computer of each sender.The sender can use the Pernasol computer to check the reception status when necessary. can be checked.

In this way, the information sent from the sending side is character recognized by the character recognition device 16,
The character recognition results are stored in the control processor 11. Then, a reception (processing) result file is created based on this result and sent back to the sending side using various means. Therefore, the sending side can grasp the reception status of the transmitted information.

The image processing device configured as described above can be applied to a recognition service system for sheets input from a fax machine, and by adding additional information, it can be applied to a value-added communication network (VAN).

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, transferred information is recognized by a character recognition device, and an acceptance result is created based on the result and sent back to the sending side. As a result, the sending side can grasp the reception status of the transmitted information. Therefore, it is possible to reduce erroneous processing due to erroneous data input, etc., and increase the reliability of data transmitted by FAX.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a reception (processing) result file. 11...Control processor, 12...Network control device, 13...Modulation/demodulation device, 14...Compression/expansion device, 15...Image memory, 16...Character recognition device, 17...Image processor, 18... Table memory, 19...Voice response device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An image processing device that transmits and receives image data using a telephone line, comprising: a transfer control means for controlling connection with the telephone line; and an image received from a transmitting side by the transfer control means. An image memory for storing data, a character recognition means for performing character recognition processing on the image data stored in the image memory, and processing and creation of response information based on the character recognition results obtained by the character recognition means. 1. An image processing apparatus comprising: a response information control means for transmitting a message; and a response information transfer means for transferring response information created by the response information control means to a sending side via the transfer control means. 2. Image processing according to claim 1, wherein the response information transfer means converts the response information created by the response information control means into image data and transfers the image data to the sending side. Device. 3. The above-mentioned response information transfer means converts the response information created by the above-mentioned response information control means into an audio signal using a voice response means, and transfers the same to the transmitting side. The image processing device according to item 1.