INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM
20220197445 · 2022-06-23
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
G06F3/04842
PHYSICS
G06F3/0484
PHYSICS
G06F18/40
PHYSICS
International classification
Abstract
An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to display data in forms to be processed, switchably in one of a first mode, in which the data in the forms are displayed for each type of the forms, and a second mode, in which the data in the forms are displayed for each processing unit by which the data in the forms are to be processed.
Claims
1. An information processing apparatus comprising: a processor configured to: display data in forms to be processed, switchably in one of a first mode, in which the data in the forms are displayed for each type of the forms, and a second mode, in which the data in the forms are displayed for each processing unit by which the data in the forms are to be processed.
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to display a list in which a plurality of the data in the forms are arranged switchably in accordance with a selected one of the first mode and the second mode.
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to display, in a case where the first mode is selected, the data in the forms, which are arranged for each type of the forms in the list, in correlation with the processing unit to which the data in the forms belong.
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to display, in a case where the second mode is selected, the data in the forms, which are arranged for each processing unit in the list, in correlation with the type of the forms which is indicated by the data in the forms.
5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to display, in a case where the second mode is selected, the data in the forms, which are arranged for each processing unit in the list, in correlation with the type of the forms which is indicated by the data in the forms.
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to display in the list, in a case where the second mode is selected, a group of data in a single or a plurality of forms to be processed in one processing unit in such a manner as to be distinguishable from a group of data in a single or a plurality of forms to be processed in a different processing unit.
7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to display in the list, in a case where the second mode is selected, a group of data in a single or a plurality of forms to be processed in one processing unit in such a manner as to be distinguishable from a group of data in a single or a plurality of forms to be processed in a different processing unit.
8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to display in the list, in a case where the second mode is selected, a group of data in a single or a plurality of forms to be processed in one processing unit in such a manner as to be distinguishable from a group of data in a single or a plurality of forms to be processed in a different processing unit.
9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to display in the list, in a case where the second mode is selected, a group of data in a single or a plurality of forms to be processed in one processing unit in such a manner as to be distinguishable from a group of data in a single or a plurality of forms to be processed in a different processing unit.
10. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing an information processing program causing a computer to execute a process comprising: displaying data in forms to be processed, switchably in one of a first mode, in which the data in the forms are displayed for each type of the forms, and a second mode, in which the data in the forms are displayed for each processing unit by which the data in the forms are to be processed.
11. An information processing apparatus comprising: means for displaying data in forms to be processed, switchably in one of a first mode, in which the data in the forms are displayed for each type of the forms, and a second mode, in which the data in the forms are displayed for each processing unit by which the data in the forms are to be processed.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
[0012]
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
[0024]
[0025] As illustrated in
[0026] The information processing apparatus 20 performs an optical character recognition (OCR) process on image data on a plurality of documents including forms input through the input device 60, and manages the flow of a sequence of processes for outputting the result of the OCR process to an output destination determined in advance. The specific configuration and function of the information processing apparatus 20 will be discussed later.
[0027] The client terminal 40 transmits various instructions related to the OCR process to the information processing apparatus 20. The various instructions include an instruction to start reading of information in the image data, an instruction to display the result of reading of information in the image data, etc., by way of example. In addition, the client terminal 40 displays various types of information such as the result of the OCR process performed by the information processing apparatus 20, notifications related to the OCR process, etc., in accordance with the received various instructions. The client terminal 40 may be a general-purpose computer device such as a server computer and a personal computer (PC), by way of example. In
[0028] The input device 60 inputs image data to be subjected to the OCR process to the information processing apparatus 20. The input device 60 may be a general-purpose computer device such as a server computer and a PC, or an image forming apparatus that has a scan function, a printer function, a facsimile function, etc., by way of example. Not only the input device 60 but also the client terminal 40 may be able to input image data to the information processing apparatus 20.
[0029] Next, an overview of the form system 10 will be described.
[0030] In the form system 10, the information processing apparatus 20 performs an OCR process on image data input through the input device 60, and outputs the result of the OCR process to an output destination determined in advance.
[0031] In the OCR process, the information processing apparatus 20 manages various processes including (1) work design and operation verification, (2) data input, (3) data reading, (4) form discrimination confirmation and correction, (5) reading result confirmation and correction, (6) work check, (7) data output, and (8) return. In the present exemplary embodiment, the OCR process includes not only simple processes of reading characters, symbols, etc. from image data, but also post-processing such as correction of the characters.
[0032] In an example of management of the various processes, processes including (1) work design and operation verification, (2) data input, (3) data reading, (6) work check, and (7) data output are automatically executed by the information processing apparatus 20. In an example of management of the various processes, processes including (4) form discrimination confirmation and correction and (5) reading result confirmation and correction are input by the user through the client terminal 40 to be received. In an example of management of the various processes, the process of (8) return is occasionally automatically executed by the information processing apparatus 20, and occasionally input by a user through the client terminal 40 to be received.
[0033] In the process of (1) work design and operation verification, job rules including reading definition setting, output setting, and work check setting are prepared. In the reading definition setting, by way of example, a reading range in which information in image data is read in the process of “(3) data reading” is set. More specifically, by way of example, definition such as reading an item value as a value from around the right side of an item extracted as a key may be set. In the output setting, by way of example, the file format and the output destination of output data to be output in the process of “(7) data output” are set. In the work check setting, by way of example, the item required to be input to the form to be detected, the format such as the number of characters that may be input, etc. in the process of “(6) work check” are set.
[0034] In the process of (2) data input, input of image data from the input device 60 is received. The image data, input of which has been received, are registered as a job which is the unit of execution of the process of “(3) data reading”.
[0035] In the process of (3) data reading, information in image data in a job to be executed is read using a job rule for the job selected by the user from among the job rules prepared in the process of “(1) work design and operation verification”. In this process, by way of example, discrimination (hereinafter referred to as “form discrimination”) of a form included in the image data in the job and reading of characters and symbols within the reading range are performed. It is not necessary that a single job rule is selected by the user for one job. In the case where a plurality of job rules are selected for one job, the image data are processed using a set including the plurality of job rules, that is, a job rule set. In this case, a job rule for the determined type, among the plurality of job rules, is applied to each form indicated in the image data in accordance with the result of a type discrimination. Hereinafter, processes defined by job rules in the case where processing is performed using a job rule set will be referred to as “sub jobs”. The job rules, the job rule set, and the sub jobs will be discussed in detail later with reference to
[0036] In the process of (4) form discrimination confirmation and correction, image data in a job are divided into records that indicate a form included in the job on the basis of the result of the form discrimination performed in the process of “(3) data reading”. After that, in this process, the records that result from the dividing are displayed, and a confirmation and a correction of the form discrimination by the user are received.
[0037] In the process of (5) reading result confirmation and correction, the result of the reading of characters and symbols within the reading range performed in the process of “(3) data reading” is displayed, and a confirmation and a correction of the result of reading by the user are received.
In the process of (6) work check, an error in the foregoing processes is detected using work check setting included in the job rule for the job selected by the user from among the job rules prepared in the process of “(1) work design and operation verification”. The detection result may be presented to the user.
[0038] In the process of (7) data output, output data are prepared using output setting included in the job rule for the job selected by the user from among the job rules prepared in the process of “(1) work design and operation verification”, and the prepared output data are output to an output destination determined in advance.
[0039] In the process of (8) return, the process is returned from a process executed in the OCR process to a process one or a plurality of stages earlier. An instruction to return is provided by the user from the client terminal 40 during execution of various processes such as “(4) form discrimination confirmation and correction” and “(5) reading result confirmation and correction”, by way of example. Alternatively, an instruction to return is provided from the client terminal 40 of a manager in accordance with the result of a check performed by the manager between the processes of “(6) work check” and “(7) data output”, by way of example.
[0040] In the OCR process described above, the process of “(1) work design and operation verification” is executed before the process of “(3) data reading” and the subsequent processes are performed, that is, before operation of the form system 10. Further, the process of “(1) work design and operation verification” may be executed during operation of the form system 10 while the process of “(3) data reading” and the subsequent processes are being performed. By way of example, the job rule prepared in the process of “(1) work design and operation verification” before operation of the form system 10 may be corrected, as appropriate, in accordance with the result of the process of “(5) reading result confirmation and correction” during operation of the form system 10.
[0041] Next, the job rules, the job rule set, and the sub jobs will be described with reference to
[0042] The job rules are definitions for discriminating and identifying the type of target forms, rules related to correction of data as the discrimination result and detection of an error at the time when such an error occurs, definitions of output setting, etc., for example. The rules related to detection of an error refer to confirmation of the consistency in the amount of money etc. The definitions of output setting refer to setting of the output format and setting of the output destination. The job rule in the example illustrated in
[0043] The job rule set is a bundle of a plurality of job rules. The job rule set is used in the case where data in forms of a plurality of types are to be processed in a job. The information processing apparatus 20 discriminates what job rule the type of forms identified in a pre-process of the OCR process is suited to, and processes forms of each type on the basis of the discriminated job rule. The job rule set in the example illustrated in
[0044] The job rules and the job rule set are set in the process of (1) work design and operation verification in the OCR process of the form system 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment. The job rules and the job rule set may be determined in advance, or may be set as desired by the user. A plurality of job rules may be set, and a plurality of job rule sets may be set.
[0045] Next, output display of the form system 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described. The output display described below may be output to the client terminal 40 etc. in the processes of (3) data reading, (4) form discrimination confirmation and correction, (5) reading result confirmation and correction, (6) work check, and (7) data output discussed above.
[0046]
[0047] In the form system 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the “form” is a general term for standard documents that are used enter and print information that is necessary for work or transactions such as ledgers, slips, and application blanks. The type of the forms indicates the type of the documents such as a ledger, a slip, and an application blank. On the select display screen 110 in
[0048] The select display screen 110 in
[0049] In the example of the form display list 140 in
[0050] Next, the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 20 according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described.
[0051] As illustrated in
[0052] The CPU 50 is a central processing unit, and executes various programs and controls various components. That is, the CPU 50 reads programs from the storage section 52, and executes the programs using the memory 51 as a work area. The CPU 50 controls the various components and performs various computation processes in accordance with the programs stored in the storage section 52.
[0053] The memory 51 is constituted from a random access memory (RAM), and serves as a work area to temporarily store programs and data. The storage section 52 is constituted as a ROM, an HDD, a solid state drive (SSD), etc., and stores various programs including an operating system and various data.
[0054] The communication interface 53 is an interface for communication with a difference device, and uses a standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark), fiber-optic data distribution interface (FDDI), and Wi-Fi (registered trademark), for example.
[0055] The input/output interface 54 is an interface that connects between the information processing apparatus 20 and an external device. In the present exemplary embodiment, the information processing apparatus 20 is connected to the input device 60 etc., which is external, via the input/output interface 54.
[0056] The input section 55 is a component for various types of input such as a keyboard or a mouse, for example. The output section 56 is a component that outputs the form display list 140 to the client terminal 40 etc., for example.
[0057] The storage medium reading device 57 reads data stored in various types of storage media such as a compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk read only memory (DVD-ROM), a Blu-ray disc, and a universal serial bus (USB) memory, writes data into the storage media, etc.
[0058] Next, the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 20 according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described.
[0059] As illustrated in
[0060] The setting section 21 performs the process of (1) work design and operation verification in the OCR process discussed above, and sets job rules including reading definition setting, output setting, and work check setting. The setting section 21 further sets a job rule set which is a bundle of a plurality of job rules.
[0061] The reception section 22 performs the processes of (2) data input and (3) data reading in the OCR process discussed above. Specifically, the reception section 22 receives input of image data from the input device 60, and reads information in image data in a job to be executed using a job rule for the job selected by the user from among the job rules.
[0062] The verification section 23 performs the processes of (4) form discrimination confirmation and correction and (5) reading result confirmation and correction in the OCR process discussed above. The result of form discrimination and the result of reading of characters and symbols within the reading range are displayed, and a confirmation and a correction of the form discrimination by the user and a confirmation and a correction of the reading result are received.
[0063] The detection section 24 performs the process of (6) work check in the OCR process discussed above. An error in the foregoing processes is detected using work check setting included in a job rule for the job selected by the user from among the job rules.
[0064] The output section 25 performs the process of (7) data output in the OCR process discussed above. Output data are prepared using output setting included in a job rule for the job selected by the user from among the job rules, and the prepared output data are output to an output destination determined in advance such as the client terminal 40.
[0065] The output section 25 displays data in forms to be processed switchably in one of the first mode, in which the data in the forms are displayed for each type of the forms, and the second mode, in which the data in the forms are displayed for each processing unit.
[0066] The output section 25 displays a list in which a plurality of data in forms are arranged switchably in accordance with selection of one of the first mode and the second mode.
[0067] In the case where the first mode is selected, the output section 25 displays data in forms, which are arranged for each type of the forms in a list, in correlation with the processing unit to which the data in the forms belong.
[0068] In the case where the second mode is selected, the output section 25 displays data in forms, which are arranged for each processing unit in a list, in correlation with the type of the forms which is indicated by the data in the forms.
[0069] In the case where the second mode is selected, the output section 25 displays, in a list, a group of data in a single or a plurality of forms to be processed by one processing unit in such a manner as to be distinguishable from a group of data in a single or a plurality of forms to be processed by a different processing unit.
[0070]
[0071] A select display screen 110 in
[0072] An execution button 130 in
[0073] The form display list 140 in
[0074] In the case of
[0075] The “details” as a display item in the form display list 140 indicates whether the data in the forms are processed using a single job rule or a job rule set. In the example in
[0076] The content displayed in the “details” will be discussed later in the description of
[0077]
[0078] In the case where data in forms to be processed using a job rule set as the processing unit are displayed in a list, a plurality of data in forms with the same process name are displayed in the form display list 140. Jobs including job rule sets have a job rule set for each type of the forms to be processed. Therefore, data in forms to be processed are also displayed as arranged separately in accordance with the type of the forms. In this manner, some jobs including data in forms separated in accordance with the type of the forms and a job rule for data in the corresponding form from a job rule set are referred to as “sub jobs”. For example, in the form display list in
[0079]
[0080] In the case where the second mode in which data are displayed for each processing unit is selected on the select display screen 110, the form display list 140 may display data in forms grouped by the processing unit in such a manner as to be distinguishable from other data in forms. For example, in order to clearly indicate the range of a group of sub jobs with a process name “20191017_270”, the color of lines in which data in forms are displayed may be different from the color of lines in which data in forms for a different processing unit as illustrated in
[0081]
[0082] Next, the function of the information processing apparatus 20 according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described.
[0083] In step S100, the CPU 40 as the setting section 21 sets a job rule and a job rule set in advance. The CPU 40 performs the process of (1) work design and operation verification in the OCR process discussed above. The CPU 40 may receive setting of a job rule and a job rule set made by the user.
[0084] In step S102, the CPU 40 as the reception section 22 receives image data etc. to be processed via the input device 14, and performs the processes of (2) data input and (3) data reading in the OCR process discussed above.
[0085] In step S104, the CPU 40 as the verification section 23 performs verification processes, such as (4) form discrimination confirmation and correction and (5) reading result confirmation and correction in the OCR process discussed above, on the image data received by the reception section 22 in step S102.
[0086] In step S106, the CPU 40 as the detection section 24 performs the process of (6) work check in the OCR process discussed above. Specifically, a process error for a form in the foregoing processes is detected in accordance with a job rule or a job rule set for a job and selected as desired by the user, from among all the job rules and the job rule sets set by the setting section 21 in step S100.
[0087] In step S108, the CPU 40 as the output section 25 determines whether or not selection for outputting a display screen in the first mode is received. In the case where the user selects the first mode, that is, “select from form type”, on the select display screen 110, the process proceeds to step S116. In the case where the user does not select “select from form type”, on the other hand, the process proceeds to step S110.
[0088] In step S110, the CPU 40 as the output section 25 determines whether or not selection for outputting a display screen in the second mode is received. In the case where the user selects the second mode, that is, “select from processing unit”, on the select display screen 110, the process proceeds to step S112. In the case where the user does not select “select from processing unit”, on the other hand, the process returns to step S108, and receives selection of display by the user again on the select display screen 110.
[0089] In step S112, the CPU 40 as the output section 25 receives selection as to which of a job rule and a job rule set the display screen is to be output on the basis of, and determines whether or not a job rule is selected. In the case where the user selects “select from job rule” on the select display screen 110, the process proceeds to step S120. In the case where the user does not select “select from job rule”, on the other hand, the process proceeds to step S114.
[0090] In step S114, the CPU 40 as the output section 25 receives selection as to which of a job rule and a job rule set the display screen is to be output on the basis of, and determines whether or not a job rule set is selected. In the case where the user selects “select from job rule set” on the select display screen 110, the process proceeds to step S120. In the case where the user does not select “select from job rule set”, on the other hand, the process returns to step S108, and receives selection of display by the user again on the select display screen 110.
[0091] In step S116, the CPU 40 as the output section 25 selects only data in forms narrowed for each type of the forms specified by the user from among all the recorded jobs.
[0092] In step S118, the CPU 40 as the output section 25 outputs a display screen in which the job selected in step S116 is displayed in the first mode.
[0093] In step S120, the CPU 40 as the output section 25 selects only data in forms narrowed using a filter for a job rule or a job rule set specified by the user from among all the recorded jobs.
[0094] In step S122, the CPU 40 as the output section 25 outputs a display screen in which the job selected in step S120 is displayed in the second mode.
[0095] In the present exemplary embodiment, the information processing program is installed in the storage section 42. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The information processing program according to the present exemplary embodiment may be provided as stored in a computer-readable storage medium. For example, the information processing program according to the present exemplary embodiment may be provided as stored in an optical disk such as a CD-ROM and a DVD-ROM, or as stored in a semiconductor memory such as a USB memory and a memory card. Alternatively, the information processing program according to the present exemplary embodiment may be acquired from an external device via a communication line connected to the communication interface 43.
[0096] In the embodiments above, the term “processor” refers to hardware in a broad sense. Examples of the processor include general processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, and programmable logic device).
[0097] In the embodiments above, the term “processor” is broad enough to encompass one processor or plural processors in collaboration which are located physically apart from each other but may work cooperatively. The order of operations of the processor is not limited to one described in the embodiments above, and may be changed.
[0098] The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the disclosure be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.