JPH0887564A - Word processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a word processor which can process the data on a document that includes the symbols such as the bar code data by providing a specific reading means, a specific image reproduction unit, etc. CONSTITUTION: A document 20 includes the print information 22a that can be read by the human beings and a machine readable symbol 22 that is coded to show the information 22a. Then the document 20 is processed by a word processor. The symbol 22 receives the information 22a which is scanned by a scanner/decoder 24 and included in the document 20. Then the symbol 22 is optically read and generates the symbol data which are converted into the document data by a computer 26. A printer 28 connected to the computer 26 prints out the document data and produces an editing document 30 which includes at least a part of the information 22a included in the original 20. Then the contents of the information 22a of the original 20 can the easily processed before they are electronically sent to another computer in facsimile 34 when they are inputted to the computer 26.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the processing of printed documents, and more particularly to a system and apparatus for creating, duplicating, distributing and recording the information content of documents in the form of images and encoded symbols.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, the distribution of information is becoming more and more important. Large amounts of data and information are distributed by electronic networks such as computer networks,
The entire information content of such communications does not leave a lasting impression on the recipient. Only printed information in hardcopy form that can be read, examined, and easily stored for future reference can actually leave a lasting impression.
Unfortunately, delivering printed materials is tedious, slower than electronic transfer of information and data, and once the information is in print form, it is difficult to return the information and data to electronic form. Indeed, printed material such as documents can be machine scanned or mapped and converted into electronic data that can be easily transferred. However, such conversions and transfers are time consuming, error prone, and often lose some of the original data content.

[0003]

One method commonly used to represent information in a very convenient machine-readable form is to use elements of different reflectivity, such as ubiquitous UPC bar code symbols. Encoding information into a pattern of symbols that it has. Bar code symbols, like UPC bar code symbols, have different optical reflectivities. The barcode symbol is optically scanned and the resulting signal is decoded into data representative of the symbol encoding. This data can then be easily input to and processed by the data processing system. UPC
A typical bar code symbol such as a symbol has a one-dimensional character, so that the amount of data that can be encoded is significantly limited.

US Application No. 07 of the aforementioned co-pending US application
/ 461,881 discloses a two-dimensional bar code symbol having a high information density function, a high capacity function, and an error detection and correction function. Known as the PDF417 symbol, this symbol can represent as many as 500 characters of ASCII data per square inch. Thus, a relatively small number of PDF417 symbols, and in some cases a single PDF417 symbol, has the capacity to encode alphanumeric text in which letter-sized documents are written.

An object of the present invention is to provide a document processing device capable of data processing of a document including symbols such as bar code data. An object of the present invention is to provide a document processing device capable of converting a symbol including document such as barcode data into document data. Another object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile system in which image deterioration of a document including symbols such as barcode data is reduced.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, a document processing apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus for processing a document including print information and a symbol including encoding of at least a part of print information content of the document. A reading means for optically reading a symbol to generate symbol data, a computer connected to the reading means for converting the symbol data into document data, and connected to the computer, It is characterized by comprising an image duplication unit for duplicating document data and producing a second document including at least a part of print information included in a document.

Further, the document processing apparatus is provided with an encoder for encoding the symbols so as to include the print information content of the document, or is connected to the encoder to input application data relating to the print information. However, it is characterized in that it comprises means for sending the application data to an encoder adapted to encode the application data of the symbol in association with the print information.

Further, in the document processing apparatus, the image duplication unit includes means for printing the coded symbols on the second document, and a facsimile machine for transmitting the second document to a remote place. There is also a feature in preparing.

[0009]

In the present invention, it is directed to the processing of a document containing human-readable print information and machine-readable symbols encoded to represent the print information. The symbols are scanned and the print information contained in the document is entered. The symbols are optically read to generate symbol data, which is converted by the computer into document data. A printer connected to the computer prints out the document data and creates a second document including at least a part of the print information included in the document.

By inputting into the computer, the content of the print information of the original document can be easily processed before electronic transmission by facsimile transmission or RF transmission to another computer. The print information may also be reformatted or edited on a computer and then printed out to provide a revised document with or without re-encoded symbols.

According to another feature of the invention, the information encoded in the printed symbol is an identifier of the application program, as well as a specific template used to generate and / or modify the printed information content. Can be included. When the symbol is scanned and decoded and enters the computer, the application program identifier and the template identifier are used by the computer to launch the appropriate application program and template in the computer to print the variable data of the printed information content. Fix further.

To create a printed document having encoded symbols, the text of the manuscript is machine read and encoded into a symbol code format, and the symbols are either on the manuscript or on a label attached to the manuscript. Printed on. The document can then be transmitted by the fax machine to another fax machine and printed out as a fax document. The symbols reproduced in the facsimile document are scanned and decoded into text data, which is printed out to produce a printed copy of the original document without image degradation that occurs during facsimile transmission.

According to another feature of the invention, rather than transmitting an original with encoded symbols by facsimile, only the symbols are transmitted to the facsimile receiver in a fairly short time and scanned at that receiver. The text data is decrypted and the data is printed out to produce a hardcopy copy of the original. When the number of pages of the manuscript is one or more, each page is encoded into a symbol, and the multi-symbol is printed out on the integrated sheet. The integrated sheet is then transmitted to a facsimile receiver where the text data decoded from the symbols in the facsimile transmission is printed out as a hardcopy copy of the original page. Each fax receiver
Image quality is maintained regardless of the number of facsimile transmissions if the integrated sheet symbols are decoded and re-encoded and the integrated sheet symbols received from the facsimile transmitter are duplicated while correcting for facsimile transmission degradation.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is intended to create a virtual document or dynamic document environment that avoids the problems of the prior art. In such an environment, the human readable data is machine readable decrypted by a machine such as a computer, edited, and transmitted to a remote location. By providing a machine-readable and human-readable document, the document can be easily recreated and distributed. FIG. 1 shows how a document containing encoded information can be used by a computer. In FIG. 1, the manuscript 20 is
It has coded symbols 22 and, although not necessarily, print information 22a in general. The symbol 22 is encoded with information regarding all of the print information 22a on the document 20 or information regarding at least a part of the print information 22a on the document 20. The coded information in the symbol 22 is, for example, print information.
It may include information such as the typeface of 22a, format information such as margins and tab settings for print information 22a, and at least a portion of print information 22a itself. Known to those skilled in the art, such as Rich Text Format (RTF)
There are many known exchange communication protocols that can be used to represent printed information 22a, such as.

A symbol having sufficient information density and capacity to encode at least a portion of the information content of print information 22a was disclosed in the above-referenced US application Ser. No. 07 / 461,881.
PDF417 Two-dimensional barcode symbol. An example of this symbol is shown in FIG. Throughout this US application, whenever a single symbol is shown, it can be seen that multiple symbols can be used if the capacity required to store print information 22a exceeds the capacity of the single symbol. For example, PDF417 has a macro mode in which it can be used to store multiple PDF417 symbols up to hundreds of thousands of bytes of information. This macro mode is described in the PDF417 specification published by Symbol Technologies Inc.

The symbols 22 are read by the scanner / decoder 24 and the information encoded in the symbols 22 is input to the computer 26. The scanner / decoder 24 is preferably co-assigned in the United States filed March 16, 1992, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Decoding Two-Dimensional Bar Codes Using a CCD / CMD Camera". United States application number 07 / 851,493
Laser beam scanning as disclosed in
CCD / CMD imaging type. A suitable laser beam scanner / decoder is a co-assigned U.S. Application No. 07/07, filed March 16, 1992, entitled "System for Encoding and Decoding Data in Machine-Readable Graphical Form". 851,505
Disclosed in the specification. The disclosures of these co-pending applications are specifically incorporated herein by reference. Thus, the scanner / decoder 24 comprises equipment for decoding the symbols 22 into a computer readable form. Scanning the machine-readable symbol 22 is preferable to scanning the printed information 22a. The data is, for example, OC
This is because it can be read by a computer more quickly and more accurately than an R (optical character reading device) page scanning device.
This is like if the symbol 22 is a PDF417 code,
This is because an error detection and correction function can be provided.

The computer 26 may be a pen-based computer that includes a keyboard 26a, a display 26b, and a scratchpad 26c that accepts handwriting input using a pen 26d. Keyboard 26a and / or pen 26
d is used to add, delete, reconstruct or edit the print information 20a of the document 20, which print information is stored in the computer storage after the symbols 22 have been scanned and / or decoded by the scanner / decoder 24. Stored in device 26f. Display 26b is used to display the information content of the document obtained by scanner / decoder 24 from symbol 22 for viewing and editing.

Many known computer programs include:
It can be used to view and edit the information content of documents in storage 26f of computer 26. In one illustrated embodiment, the symbol 22 is a rich text format (R
Encoded to store the entire representation of print information 22a in (TF). Then the computer 26, for example, WordPerf
Arranged to use a standard word processing program such as ect. Print information 22a encoded in the symbol 22
The Rich Text Format (RTF) representation of is obtained by the scanner / decoder 24, decoded and provided to the storage device 26f of the computer 26. As is apparent to those skilled in the art, the WordPerfect processing program prints information 22a
Rich Text Format (RTF) representation of WordPerfe
It can be incorporated into the ct processing environment, and various editing functions can be performed on the information content of the document 20. Then, the information content of the edited document is stored in the storage device of the computer 26.
Stored in 26f. Other than RTF, for example ASCII format, Adobe
There are many other known formats that can be used to represent print information 22a, such as Acrobat format.

Computer 26 may also be programmed to modify the encoding of symbols 22 to reflect the edits made to the information content of document 20. For example, after editing the document in the WordPerfect environment, the edited document can be stored in the rich text format (RTF) in the storage device 26f. Computer 26 then encodes the content of the Rich Text Format (RTF) representation of the edited document into new symbols and stores the symbols in storage 26f of computer 26. The encoding of PDF417 symbols is described in related US application Ser. No. 07 / 461,881 and need not be discussed further here. Instead, the encoding of the symbols can be changed in a real-time manner to reflect the edits made to the information content of the document. For example, each time a key on computer 26 is pressed during the editing process, the encoding routine is run to encode the data into a new symbol, which is then stored in memory 26f.

There are several ways to obtain edit information from the storage device 26f of the computer 26. When called, the edited document can be retrieved from the computer storage device 26f and printed as the edited document 30 with or without the encoded symbols 32.
It can be printed out by 28, where the encoded symbols 32 correspond to the new symbols previously stored in the storage device 26f and thus represent the information content of the document edited by the computer 26. Further, the edited document can be directly transmitted from the storage device 26f of the computer 26 by the facsimile machine 34 or a facsimile board (not shown) in the computer 26. Alternatively, a facsimile transmission can be generated from document 30 by facsimile machine 34. In addition, the computer 26 displays the edited document to the remote recipient.
An RF communication device 26e may also be provided to allow 30 simultaneous communications.

As can be clearly seen, here is the edited document 30
The symbol 32 of FIG. 1 can be scanned by the apparatus described with reference to FIG. 1 so that the information content of the document 30 can be subsequently edited. In this way, the effective exchange of information between the various devices described with reference to FIG. 1 can be carried out without loss of data content. Yet another embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 9, FIG.
Components that are the same as those previously described with reference to are similarly numbered and thus description thereof is omitted. In this embodiment, the computer 26 is, for example, a Mi
application programs like croSoft Access,
Or use a custom application program,
Variable data is entered and then this data is printed on the document 200. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, such application programs can utilize predetermined templates to control the entry of variable data. FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating this particular embodiment, showing the display on the display 26b of the computer 26 during each step in the flow chart.

Referring to the flowchart of FIG. 10, first, the computer program in the storage device 26f of the computer 26 is started (step 1). next,
In step 2, "Create New Document?", The computer 26 displays an instruction message 210 on the display 26b asking whether to create a new document or modify an existing document. If the user chooses to create a new document (eg, enter "1"), go to step 3.

In the step 3 "selection of application program", the computer 26 displays an instruction message 211 inquiring which application program to use on the display 26b. In this example, the required application program is
It is selected by inputting numbers from "1" to "5", each of which corresponds to various application programs. In this example, assuming that “1” is selected, for example, Microsoft Access (MicroSoft Acces
A database application program such as s) is selected. The rest of this example will describe database application programs, but as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, many other types of application programs such as spreadsheet programs, word processing programs and custom programs. Can be selected.

Next, in step 4 "select template", the computer 26 displays an instruction message 212 inquiring which template should be used on the display 26b. In this example, the required template is selected by entering the numbers "1" to "5", each of which corresponds to a different template. Various templates may exist for each application plate described in step 3, but at this point it will be appreciated that only the templates associated with the selected application program will be displayed and available for selection. In the case of this example, assuming that "1" is selected, the customer ID card template is selected.
The rest of this example will describe a customer ID card template, but as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a number of different templates can be configured for use by each application program.

In steps 5 and 6 of "Run Selection Application Program Using Selection Template" and "Add and / or Modify Variable Data Fields", the computer launches the Selection Application Program and uses the selection template. . The instruction message 213 shows the display 26b of the database application program using the customer ID card template as an example. In this example, the fixed template information 213a describes each function of the variable data field 213b. Variable data field 213b
Contains information that can be entered and modified from the keyboard 26a or pen 26d. In this example, the variable data field 213b includes information such as customer name, customer address and customer ID number.

In step 7, "Encoding and Printing Application Program Identifiers, Template Identifiers, and Variable Data Fields", computer 26
Executes an encoding routine such as the PDF417 encoding routine and encodes the following into symbols. That is (i)
An application program identifier that uniquely identifies the application program, (ii) a template identification number that uniquely identifies the template used, and
(iii) This is a variable data field. As an example, the application program identifier and the template identifier can each be an alphanumeric string. The encoded symbols are then printed by printer 28 as symbols 220 on document 200. Document 200 includes human-readable information 221 generated by computer 26, which human-readable information includes variable data fields and may also include information derived from templates and other information generated by application programs. It may or may not be included. After printing the document 200, the application program ends and proceeds to step 2.

Step 8 "Symbol Scan and Decode" is entered when the user selects to modify an existing document in step 2. Therefore, referring to FIG. 9, the document 200 generated in step 3 to step 7
Are provided to the scanner / decoder 24. Scanner / Decoder 24
Scans and decodes symbol 220. In step 9 “Extracting the application program identifier”, the application program identifier contained in the decoded symbol 220 is stored in the storage device and is subsequently used as the input in step 3.

In step 10 of "extraction of template identifier", the template identifier included in the decoded symbol 220 is stored in the storage device, and step 4
Continue to be used as input in. Step 11
In “Extracting variable data field” of, the variable data included in the decoded symbol 220 is stored in the storage device and is continuously used as the variable data field in steps 5 and 6.

The process then proceeds to steps 3-6, where each step operates as previously described.
However, (i) the selection of the application program in step 3 is automatically performed by the computer 26 based on the application program identifier stored in the storage device in step 9, and (ii) step 4
In step 10, the template selection is performed based on the template identifier stored in the storage device.
The variable data field automatically implemented by the computer 26 and (iii) initially added in step 6 is automatically set by the computer 26 based on the variable data field stored in the storage device in step 10. It

Therefore, as is apparent, the document 200
Has all the information in symbol 220, so computer 26, which stores the corresponding application program and template, can edit the variable data of the document and then print a new document 200 containing the edited information.
Although the above embodiment utilized the same computer 26 to initially create the document 200 and then scan / decode and modify the document, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. A second computer having substantially the same functionality as can be used to perform subsequent scanning / decoding and modification of document 200.

As will be appreciated, the apparatus of FIGS. 9 and 10 allows the creation of a very complex document 200 without the need for the symbol 220 to include static information printed on the document. The symbol 220 need only store variable data fields and identifiers of application programs and templates, and need not have any specific information about the fixed information printed on the document. Assuming document 220 is a tax return, such as where most of the information to be printed is fixed (eg, specified by IRS), the only variable data field is the tax return filer. Areas that need to be provided. All data related to fixed print information is stored in various application programs and templates stored in the computer 26.

FIG. 3 shows an apparatus for creating and then transmitting a document with coded symbols according to another embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 3, manuscript 4 including alphanumeric text 40a
The 0 is read by the page scanner 42. Encoder 44
Converts the alphanumeric text 40a into a highly compressed coded symbol 45. The format of symbol 45 is preferably PDF417 format. The functionality of scanner 42 and encoder 44 can be combined into a single scanner / encoder. A suitable scanner / encoder is described in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 07/851, above.
No. 505. Then coded symbol 45
Is printed on the document 50 by the printer 46. Several methods can be used to create the document 50. First, the printer 46
May print a coded symbol 45 on a label (not shown) which may then be glued to the margins of the original 40 so as not to obscure the text 40a. Instead, the original 40 is fed through the printer 46, as shown by the phantom line 41, and the coded symbols 45 are included in the original 40.
May be printed in one of the margins. Also document text 40a
Scanner output data may be provided to printer 46 via line 43. In this case, printer 46, in cooperation with coded symbol 45, reprints text 40a onto a clean document sheet. Document 50 thus represents an original 40 having coded symbols 45, or a reprint of an original having coded symbols 45.

In addition, the symbols 45 may also include application data encoded by the encoder 44 and generated by the data transmitter 64. This application data contains information that does not appear in the document text. Such application data can identify the particular software used to generate the original text, such as word processing software or thread sheet software. In addition, the symbol 45 can include a mathematical formula that is encoded and used to calculate the numerical information contained in the original text. Knowledge of such basic document information is very useful to the recipient of the document and is not available to the recipient unless it is encoded in symbol 45. Other examples of useful and basic textual information that can be included in the coded symbol 45 will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The encoded symbol 45 can also include data for controlling the distribution of all or part of the content of the original 40. For example, symbol 45 specifies a limited number of facsimile transmissions of document 50, a time limit for such transmissions, a list of persons authorized to receive such transmissions, or a limitation as to what portion of the manuscript can be transmitted. It may contain control data. A facsimile transmitter, such as machine 52, would then be equipped with a decoder to extract this control data from the scanned symbols and thus control it. In analog applications, a photocopier could also be provided to extract control data from the symbols copied along the document. This control data would then be used to control the number of copies allowed, set copier parameters, set time limits, and so on. Instead of producing a document 50 containing text and symbols 45, encoder 44 can produce image data for symbols 45 for direct feeding to facsimile transmitter 52, as shown by virtual line 51. This eliminates the need for printer 46 to print symbol 45 on document 50. instead of,
The original 40 may be fed through a facsimile transmitter 52.

To transmit the document 50 to a remote location, the document is fed through a facsimile transmitter 52 for transmission to a facsimile receiver 54, which receives the original document 50.
The facsimile document 56 of is printed. This document is manuscript 50
Human readable alphanumeric text 56a from Figure 5 and machine readable facsimile symbols 56b from symbol 45 of document 50.

To use the data in the facsimile document 56, the facsimile symbol 56b is read by the scanner 58. The symbol code is decoded into an alphanumeric code by the decoder 60 and input to the computer 62. Although the scanner 58 and decoder 60 are shown as separate hardware components, they can be integrated into a single scanner / decoder component, such as the scanner / decoder 24 of FIG.

Human readable text 56a can be read by an OCR (optical character reader) page scanner (not shown) and entered into computer 62, while entry of text through coded symbol 56b is accomplished by several methods. Brings significant benefits. For example, the fax text 56a is
It may be corrupted or deteriorated during transmission. It is still readable, but the text cannot be read accurately by the OCR page scanner. In such a case, the alphanumeric text is not the same as the original text 40a because it has an error. Coded symbol 45, facsimile image 56
The symbol reading error can be corrected before the computer input of the document text if the correction function for resolving the transmission deterioration in b is provided.

Facsimile receiver 54, if equipped with symbol decoding software, is programmed to send the symbol image facsimile data through line 63 for decoding by symbol decoder 60 or directly to computer 62. It can also be created. This eliminates the need for the scanner 58. Facsimile receiver 54 then sends a fax to fax 5 with or without symbol 56b.
6 can be printed out, or the entire facsimile transmission is stored in computer storage, so the facsimile may not be printed out.

The stored decoded facsimile symbol is
Recorded as a printout 68 by printer 66, whether received directly from facsimile receiver 54, from a facsimile machine through decoder 60, or from a facsimile machine printer through symbol scanner 58 and decoder 60. it can. The printout will be a copy of the original 40, with or without the symbol 45 (or 56b). In such a relationship, the symbol 45 is the original
It can be encoded with a command that changes the format that appears in 40 to the format in which the text appears in printout 68. For example, such instructions, introduced by the application data transmitter 64, may call a computer to annotate the printout 48 with standard text, graphics, or charts not included in the manuscript. Thus the text 40a of the manuscript 40
May be variable information, and symbol 45 may be transmitter 64.
The variable information is encoded together with the command input by. The computer 62 operates on these instructions to supplement the variable information with specific standard or fixed information,
A printout 68 is then generated containing the variable and standard information. As shown, the computer printout document 68 may be facsimile transmitted to a remote location by a facsimile machine 69, which may be part of the facsimile receiver 54.

Rather than alphanumeric encoding, the symbol 45 can be encoded as a bit-mapped image of the document 40, the method
It is a technique used by standard facsimile machines to transmit a wide range of documents, regardless of their contents, such as pictures, graphics and drawings. Thus, the coded symbols can be easily transmitted and stored in computer storage in this bit-mapped coding format, with or without a bit-mapped image of the document content.

FIG. 4 shows the transmission of several pages of a document to a remote location.
The other Example of this invention is shown. The device 82 has a plurality of manuscript pages 80
Scan a, 80b, 80c to 80n, convert the document text on these pages to alphanumeric code, convert the alphanumeric code to a symbol code such as PDF417 symbol code, and map this symbol to the corresponding Consecutive coded symbols 84a, 84
b, 84c to 84n, and printed on the integrated sheet 84. Each symbol includes an encoding of the text contained on each page of the original page. 80 using PDF417 two-dimensional barcode symbol
Individually, a significant number of such symbols can be printed on a single letter-sized integrated sheet 84. If you have too many symbols to print on one integrated sheet, you can use additional sheets.

The integrated sheet 84 is then transmitted by a standard facsimile transmitter 86 to a standard facsimile receiver 88. Facsimile receiver 88 has coded symbols 84
Facsimile integrated sheet including symbols 90a, 90b, 90c to 90n, which are facsimiles of a, 84b, 84c to 84n, respectively.
Print 90. The device 92 scans and decodes these symbols to produce facsimile printouts 94a, 94b, 94c-9 which are copies of each of the documents 80a, 80b, 80c-80n.
Print as 4n. The alphanumeric code output device 92 is a computer having resident word processing software that can be edited.
It can also output to 96. The document content is then easily modified and printed out by printer 92 to produce an edited facsimile document.

One advantage of the system of FIG. 4 is efficiency. Thanks to the data compression function of the coded symbols, the time required to transmit the integrated sheet 84 from the facsimile transmitter 86 to the facsimile receiver 88 is the original 80a, 80b,
Significantly shorter than the time required for normal 80c-80n facsimile transmission. Furthermore, because of this symbol error correction function, the facsimile documents 94a, 94b, 94c-94n are not subject to the image quality degradation and alteration commonly associated with facsimile transmission of document images.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention that enables efficient and reliable transmission of remote documents. FIG.
Similar to the embodiment of the present invention in FIG.
a, 80b, 80c-80n are scanned and encoded in symbol format. Without printing out the coded symbols on the integrated sheet, as in the embodiment of FIG.
Sends the encoded data directly to the facsimile transmitter 86. The fax machine 86 then sends the image of the symbol to the fax receiver so that it appears on the integrated sheet.
Send to 88. The device 98 directly converts the transmitted facsimile symbol image into alphanumeric text, and the originals 80a, 80
Facsimile printouts 94a, 94b, 94c-94n for copying b, 80c-80n respectively are printed. Similar to the embodiment of FIG. 4, the decoded output of device 98 can also be sent to word processing computer 96, where the document content can be edited and printed out by device 98.

Since the embodiment of FIG. 5 eliminates the need for a printer in device 82 and a symbol scanner in device 98, this embodiment can be implemented at a lower cost than the embodiment of FIG. Further, the facsimile receiver 88 is a device 98.
Since it is directly connected to, it is not necessary to print out a facsimile integrated sheet having consecutive symbols. The instrument 98, as shown in the example of FIG. 6 below,
An integrated sheet 90 can be generated for duplicate facsimile transmission.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, the document is scanned to convert its contents into code. However, documents can be created in electronic form on a general purpose computer, where various application programs such as word processing, databases and spreadsheets are used to create the document, which is then stored as an application file in computer storage. I understand that. The contents of these apply files are
It is encoded in a predetermined format for such application programs, or in many industry standard file formats available. For example, a typical word processing program stores a predetermined character string and sets the font style, font size,
Underlining, margins, page size can be indicated, and other information can be indicated, such as instructions for inserting pictures, figures and graphics.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a computer 100 for storing the text of a document, which computer sends the text to a device 82 which encodes its contents into two-dimensional bar code symbols. The symbol is then either printed by the facsimile transmitter 86 for standard facsimile transmission, as in the embodiment of FIG. 4, or sent directly to the facsimile transmitter 86 for transmission, as in the embodiment of FIG.

The symbols received by facsimile receiver 88 are decoded by device 98 to duplicate the applied file. Device 98 can also identify the type of application file, and based on such identification, properly format documents 94a-94n as facsimiles of symbol-encoded application files,
And print. Further, by sending the encoded apply file to the word processing computer 96, the apply file can be properly formatted for a particular application program.

FIG. 6 illustrates the use of the invention in the accurate transmission and retransmission of documents. The document pages 110a-110n are continuously sent to the facsimile encoder 112. The facsimile machine includes a page scanner and a symbol encoder, as device 82 of FIG. 5 does. The symbols encoded with the content of the document pages 110a-110n are transmitted to the facsimile duplicator 114 via a facsimile. This facsimile machine decodes the received symbols to create a facsimile page.
Printing 116a-116n as a hardcopy copy of document pages 110a-110n. Further, the facsimile duplicator 114 is an integrated sheet having a print image of the coded symbols transmitted by the facsimile encoder 112 as shown by 118a.
Print out 118.

The integrated sheet 118 is then sent to a second facsimile duplicator 122 through a standard facsimile machine 120 that transmits it, which facsimile machine, like the facsimile duplicator 114, prints facsimile pages 124a-124n.
The original pages 110a to 110n are printed out as duplicates. In addition, the facsimile duplicator 122 has an integrated sheet 1
Print out the received symbol on another integrated sheet 126 which is a duplicate of 18.

The integrated sheet 126 can then be transmitted through the standard facsimile machine 120 to the third facsimile duplicator 130, which facsimile duplicator 132a.
˜132n are printed out as a copy of the original pages 110a to 110n, and the integrated sheet 134 of the received symbols for copying the integrated sheet 118 again is printed out. The process of retransmitting an integrated sheet to a facsimile duplicator that produces a copy of the original and a new integrated sheet can continue indefinitely. Unlike conventional facsimile processing, the image quality of the copied page does not degrade as more transmissions are added.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the invention, in which the facsimile receiving system operates differently according to the information transmitted. The manuscript pages 140a-140n can be fed through a standard facsimile machine 142, and the image data in bit-mapped form of the contents of these manuscript pages is continuously transmitted to a standard facsimile receiver 144 provided in the facsimile reproduction system 146. . A discriminator (not shown) in the facsimile machine 146 determines from the bit map encoding that the facsimile transmission is the standard transmission of the document image, and the printer 148 makes a hard copy for copying the original pages 140a to 140n, respectively. Print facsimile pages 150a-150n. In addition, the document image data is encoded by the encoder 152 into a two-dimensional barcode symbol. The encoded symbols 156a-156n are then printed out on integrated sheet 154 by printer 152.

Facsimile reproduction system 146 also has the capability to handle the facsimile transmission of encoded bar code symbols. Thus, manuscript pages 140a-140n are shown in FIG.
If provided through a scanner / encoder, as in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the document content is encoded into a series of two-dimensional bar code symbols which are reproduced by standard facsimile machine 142 in facsimile reproduction system 146. To the standard facsimile 144 in the above. When the facsimile system 146 detects the receipt of encoded symbols, the printer 148 prints the symbols 160a-160n on the integrated page 160. In addition, the received encoded symbols are decoded into document image data and printed out as facsimile pages 150a-150n, which are respective copies of document pages 140a-140n.

Facsimile duplication system 14 in FIG.
The operation of 6 is also illustrated in the flow chart of FIG. In step 170, the facsimile copier detects if a facsimile transmission has been received. If so, a determination is made (step 172) whether the facsimile duplication system is set to coded symbol mode or not. If not set, the fax machine functions in the standard fax receive mode and the printer 148 is configured to print the fax pages 150a-1.
Print out 50n (step 174).

In step 172, if the facsimile machine is set to the coded symbol mode, then a determination is made whether the received fax transmission is of a document image or a coded symbol image. 17
Done in 6. If the received transmission is for a document image, encoder 152 (FIG. 7) encodes the document image in step 178 to produce encoded symbols. The printer 152 then prints the encoded bar code symbol in step 180 to print the bar code symbol 15
A composite sheet 154 having 6a to 156n printed on its surface is produced.
In addition, the printer 148 prints out the received document image as facsimile pages 150a to 150n (step 1).
74).

On the other hand, if the received facsimile transmissions were of encoded symbols generated by the scanner / coder 141 in FIG. 7, then those transmissions were decoded in step 182 of FIG. ˜160n, printed out on integrated sheet 160 by printer 148 (step 180). In addition, the barcode symbol data decoded by the decoder 148 includes manuscript pages 140a to 140n.
Is printed out on facsimile pages 150a-150n as a duplicate (step 174).

From the above description, the facsimile reproduction machine 146
Is operated in coded symbol mode, it produces a facsimile of the original document and a separate facsimile of the barcode symbol encoding of the original document. The printers 148 and 152 are incorporated in the facsimile machine 144.
It turns out that a single printer is also acceptable. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made in the device of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to realize a document processing device capable of data processing of a document including symbols such as barcode data.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus configured according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a representative two-dimensional barcode symbol that has utility in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus configured according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus configured according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus configured according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus configured according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus configured according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an apparatus constructed in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention.

10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 24 Scanner / Encoder 26 Computer 26a Keyboard 26b Display 26c Scratch Pad 26f Storage Device 28 Printer 34 Facsimile Machine 64 Applicable Data Transmitter 42 Scanner 41 Encoder 46 Printer 67 Computer 60 Symbol Decoder 58 Symbol Scanner 66 Printer 100 Computer 82 Scanner / Encoder / Printer 92 Scanner / Decoder / Printer 96 Computer 100 Computer 82 Scanner / Encoder 98 Decoder / Printer 96 Computer 112 Facsimile Encoder 114, 122, 130 Facsimile Reproducer 141 Scanner / Encoder 148 Decoder / Printer 152 Encoder / Printer

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. A device for processing a document containing print information, and a symbol containing an encoding of at least part of the print information content of the document, the reading for optically reading the symbol and generating symbol data. Means, a computer connected to the reading means for converting the symbol data into document data, a computer connected to the computer for duplicating the document data and including at least a part of print information included in an original 2. A document processing device comprising an image duplication unit for creating two documents. 2. The document processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an encoder for encoding the symbol so as to include the print information content of the document. 3. The encoder is connected to the encoder, inputs application data relating to the print information, and sends the application data to the encoder which is associated with the print information and encodes the application data of the symbol. The document processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means. 4. The printer uses a second encoded symbol as the second symbol.
2. The document processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for printing on the document. 5. The device comprises a facsimile machine for transmitting a second document to a remote location.
Alternatively, the document processing apparatus according to claim 4. 6. An apparatus for processing a document containing print information, comprising: a reading unit for reading the print information content of the document and generating document data; and a reading unit connected to the reading unit for converting the document data into symbol data. And a first printer connected to the encoder for printing out the symbol data as encoded symbols representing the information content of the document. . 7. The document processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a facsimile transmitter for transmitting a symbol facsimile to a remote place. 8. A facsimile receiver for receiving a facsimile in which a symbol is transmitted, a decoder coupled to the facsimile receiver for decoding the facsimile in which the symbol is transmitted, and duplicating document data, A second unit coupled to the decoder for printing out the document data to produce an accurate facsimile of the original document.
8. The document processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: 9. The facsimile receiver comprises a third printer for printing out a copy of the facsimile symbol, and means for optically scanning the facsimile symbol to generate symbol data. The document processing apparatus according to claim 8. 10. An apparatus for processing a manuscript, comprising: a document creating means for creating a manuscript having information content; an encoder coupled to the document creating means for encoding the information content as symbol data; A facsimile transmitter for transmitting the symbol data, a facsimile receiver for receiving the transmission of the symbol data, and a conversion unit coupled to the facsimile receiver for converting the symbol data into document data. And a printer for printing out a facsimile of a document from the document data, the printer being coupled to the converting means. 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the printing means also prints out symbols from a facsimile transmission of symbol data. 12. A first scanner for optically scanning a continuous original document to generate image data of an image produced by each original document; and a continuous original document coupled to the first scanner for each continuous original document. An encoder for encoding image data into corresponding consecutive encoded symbol data; a first printer coupled to the encoder for printing the consecutive encoded symbols on a composite sheet; A first facsimile machine for transmitting the composite sheet facsimile; a second facsimile machine for receiving the composite sheet facsimile transmission and generating a facsimile composite sheet having the consecutive encoded symbols; A second for scanning successive encoded symbols on the facsimile composite sheet to generate corresponding successive symbol data. A scanner, a decoder for decoding the continuous symbol data into corresponding continuous duplicate image data, and a printer connected to the decoder for printing the duplicate image data as a corresponding continuous facsimile sheet. A facsimile system comprising a second printer. 13. The facsimile system according to claim 11, further comprising word processing means connected to said decoder for processing duplicated image data. 14. A first scanner for optically scanning a continuous original document to generate image data of an image produced by each original document; and each of the continuous original documents coupled to the first scanner. An encoder for encoding image data into corresponding continuous encoded symbol data, a means for transmitting a facsimile of the continuous encoded symbol data, and a receiving means for receiving the facsimile transmission. A decoder coupled to the receiving means for decoding the continuous coded symbol data to generate corresponding continuous duplicate image data; and a decoder connected to the decoder for producing the continuous duplicate image data, A facsimile machine comprising a printer for printing as a continuous facsimile sheet corresponding to copying a continuous original document. Temu. 15. The printing means comprises means for printing the encoded symbol data as continuous encoded symbols on an integrated sheet.
Facsimile system described. 16. The facsimile system according to claim 14, further comprising word processing means connected to said decoder for processing reproduced image data. 17. A facsimile transmitter for generating a facsimile transmission of the integrated sheet, a facsimile receiver for receiving the facsimile transmission of the integrated sheet, and the integrated sheet provided at the location of the facsimile receiver. Second decoder for decoding successive encoded symbols contained in a facsimile transmission of a second printer and a second printer for printing a continuous second facsimile sheet for duplicating a continuous document with a facsimile integrated sheet 16. The facsimile system according to claim 15, further comprising: a copying unit for making a copy of the integrated sheet, the copying system including: 18. A facsimile transmitter for generating a facsimile transmission of an original document, a facsimile receiver for receiving the facsimile transmission, and an image of the original document received by the facsimile transmission for encoding as code symbols. And a facsimile copying machine including a printer for printing a facsimile of an original from the facsimile transmission. 19. The facsimile system of claim 18, wherein the printer also produces a printout of encoded symbols received from the encoder. 20. Connected to the facsimile transmitter,
Means for encoding the image of the document as encoded symbols, the facsimile transmitter producing a facsimile transmission of the encoded symbols, and the facsimile duplicator further comprising the encoded symbols received by the facsimile transmission. 19. A decoder for decoding a document image to reproduce a document image, wherein the printer prints out a facsimile of the document from the document image reproduced by the decoder. Facsimile system. 21. The facsimile system of claim 20, wherein the printer also produces a printout of encoded symbols received by facsimile transmission. 22. The facsimile system of claim 21, wherein the printer also produces a printout of encoded symbols received from the encoder.