Claims
[1] A scan unit for registering non-electronic documents of an electronic document system comprising: a scan unit (SU) which is used as an independent unit for registering the nonelectronic documents of the electronic document system, and is seated in a unit case (H); a scan server (SS) seated in the unit case (H) via a door (D); a scanner (SC) arranged on an upper working surface (F) of the unit case (H); and a touchscreen (TS) arranged on an upper part of the working surface (F), and used as a monitor of the scan server (SS), wherein the scan unit (SU) and the scan server (SS) are connected to a plurality of clients (Cl, C2, C, ..., CN) equal to several personal computers over a network (N).
[2] The scan unit according to claim 1, wherein the scan server (SS) of the scan unit
(SU) includes a scan-server control program (SP) for controlling driving and executing operations, in which the scan-server control program (SP) includes a specific logic which forms a directory and folder storing scanned documents when a user logs in the scan server (SS) using the touchscreen (TS), in which the specific logic automatically forms a classification folder based on a variety of information, i.e., user information pre-allocated to an ID and password entered by the log-in user, a use time, and a use section, etc., so that the directory and folder for storing the scanned documents are formed.
[3] A system for registering non-electronic documents of an electronic document system comprising: a scan unit (SU) which is used as an independent unit for registering the nonelectronic documents of the electronic document system; and a scan server (SS) which is contained in the scan unit (SU), and is connected to a plurality of clients (Cl, C2, C, ..., CN) indicating several personal computers over a network (N), in which the scan server (SS) of the scan unit (SU) includes a scan-server control program (SP), and the clients (Cl, C2, C, ..., CN) includes a client control program (CP) interacting with the scan-server control program (SP), so that the client control program (CP) is used as a program for controlling driving and executing operations.
[4] The system according to claim 3, wherein the client control program (CP) of the client (Cl, C2, C, ..., CN) automatically moves to and accesses a directory and folder automatically formed in the scan server (SS) using an ID and password used for a log-in process, selects a digital image stored in the automatically- formed folder, and enables a user to adjust the selected image.
[5] The system according to claim 4, wherein the client control program (CP) of the client (Cl, C2, C, ..., CN) establishes a virtual network (Z drive) for transmission in a personal computer of the client, transmits images stored in the client's folder of the scan server (SS) storing scanned images if it is determined that the virtual network has been normally established, and opens the folder, so that a user can view, correct, and store the scanned images using the client control program (CP). |
Description
REGISTERING UNIT FOR SCANNED DOCUMENTS AND ITS
SYSTEM
Technical Field
[1] The present invention relates to a scan unit for registering non-electronic documents for use in an electronic document system and a registration system, and more particularly to a scan unit for easily registering/attaching non-electronic documents required for an electronic document system, and resulting in greater convenience of use and high-quality registration documents, and a registration system for the scan unit. Background Art
[2] The present invention aims to complete an electronic document system introduced to the government, public institutions, and national enterprises. The present invention provides a scan unit for effectively registering non-electronic documents and a registration system for use in the scan unit. The non-electronic documents must be converted into electronic document files while being automatically classified according to usage categories.
[3] The electronic government has been organized in the Republic of Korea to provide the efficiency of public and national services of public institutions and strengthen international competitiveness in November 2002. As the electronic government has been successfully completed, people, who desire to receive a variety of civil-affair services from the government or public institutions, gain access to a governmental Web-site for processing civil affairs at any place (e.g., house and office), so that the people can easily receive the public services from the government and public institutions without visiting the governmental offices.
[4] In the meantime, the productivity and reliability of common administrative services
(e.g., personnel and financial management) have been greatly increased due to the implementation of electronic government. The new electronic document system has been constructed by the Korean government on January 1 2004, so that the above-mentioned new electronic document system has been widely used by all the governmental organs and local self-governing bodies of the Republic of Korea.
[5] The most serious problem in implementing the above-mentioned electronic government and associated electronic document system has occurred by a large amount of non-electronic documents.
[6] However, in fact, numerous non-electronic documents instead of electronic documents are being received in the individual governmental organs and local self- governing bodies every day, for example, approval/permission documents, building-
completion documents, receipt documents, and field pictures, etc. So, most officials have difficulty in classifying and managing the documents.
[7] Presently, although some administrative organs and some local self-governing bodies have used additional systems to construct the non-electronic documents in the form of electronic files, most officials complain about inconvenience of use, so that most non-electronic documents have been piled up at random in offices.
[8] The above-mentioned non-electronic documents are not associated with the electronic documents, and are managed separately from the electronic documents, huge efforts of the officials are consumed to check or attach necessary items, so that administrative power is wasted unnecessarily. And, the keeping or discarding of the nonelectronic documents during the obligatory term, and the managing of the same after the lapse of the obligatory term encounter serious problems.
[9] In addition to the above-mentioned problem in keeping the documents, the electronic documents are not matched with associated non-electronic documents, resulting in the inaccuracy of the administrative ability. In the case of using the above- mentioned conventional method, much manpower is required to manage the nonelectronic documents. Specifically, the approval/permission documents are composed of a large number of pages, so that the official has difficulty in manually scanning, checking, and attaching the individual pages one by one. Disclosure of Invention
Technical Problem
[10] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a scan unit for registering nonelectronic documents for use in an electronic document system and a registration system. The scan unit and the registration system implements a plus-file task. The plus -file task enables the user to easily convert all the non-electronic documents received in the government and local self-governing bodies into electronic files, and enables the user to register the electronic files including the non-electronic documents, so that a large amount of documents can be easily distributed and managed by the officials, resulting in the implementation of electronic government. And, the user's convenience and efficiency are maximized, so that the administrative ability and reliability are improved.
[11] Conventionally, the user has manually converted non-electronic documents into image-type electronic documents using a scanner, so that the scanned images are registered in the folder of a personal computer for driving the scanner.
[12] Conventionally, the user has accessed the computer connected to the scanner using his or her computer, has searched for a desired document in the folder, and has copied
the retrieved document. However, the above-mentioned conventional method has the following problems 1), 2), 3), and 4).
[13] 1) Due to a variety of problems (e.g., twisted scanned images, blurred images) encountered during the scanning operation, the conventional art has difficulty in improving the quality of documents. Indeed, a variety of scanners different in model, manufacturing company, and management state have been used by individual administrative organs and offices, the qualities of the attached non-electronic documents are generally irregular.
[14] 2) After scanning the documents, the user must select the scan-image documents from among the folder. So, the user must concentrate on the searching process, and feels fatigue. According to concentration and dexterity of individual users, different working times and different qualities are encountered, so that the conventional art has difficulty in standardizing the above-mentioned operations.
[15] 3) Most officials who work for administrative organs manage the scanned images using only one folder, so that they may attach wrong documents to a necessary part due to the complexity and confusion in management. Generally, it is difficult to verify the aforementioned errors caused by the officials, resulting in the occurrence of unnecessary civil affairs and complaints.
[16] 4) Many officials of the administrative organs share the folder, so that it is difficult to guarantee the security of confidential documents. Specifically, in the case of nonelectronic documents associated with a closed bid or approval/permission matters, unexpected absurdities and fraudulent actions may occur. As a result, the convenience art has not been widely used by governmental offices.
[17] As described above, the above-mentioned conventional system is very unstable because it is greatly affected by variables of users, so that it is difficult to have the reliability.
[18] In conclusion, there is needed a fool-proof system, which allows most general users with average intelligence in office machines (e.g., a facsimile and a duplicating machine) to acquire the same working effect without receiving additional instruction information associated with specialized operations. Also, due to the fool-proof system, the acquired objects have uniform qualities and can be easily adjusted. Technical Solution
[19] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a scan unit for registering non-electronic documents of an electronic document system comprising: a scan unit (SU) which is used as an independent unit for registering the non-electronic documents of the electronic document system, and is seated in a unit case (H); a scan server (SS) seated
in the unit case (H) via a door (D); a scanner (SC) arranged on an upper working surface (F) of the unit case (H); and a touchscreen (TS) arranged on an upper part of the working surface (F), and used as a monitor of the scan server (SS), wherein the scan unit (SU) and the scan server (SS) are connected to a plurality of clients (Cl, C2, C, ..., CN) equal to several personal computers over a network (N).
[20] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for registering non-electronic documents of an electronic document system comprising: a scan unit (SU) which is used as an independent unit for registering the non-electronic documents of the electronic document system; and a scan server (SS) which is contained in the scan unit (SU), and is connected to a plurality of clients (Cl, C2, C, ..., CN) indicating several personal computers over a network (N), in which the scan server (SS) of the scan unit (SU) includes a scan-server control program (SP), and the clients (Cl, C2, C, ..., CN) includes a client control program (CP) interacting with the scan-server control program (SP), so that the client control program (CP) is used as a program for controlling driving and executing operations.
Advantageous Effects
[21] The scan unit and the registration system according to the present invention easily convert non-electronic documents received in governmental offices into electronic documents, so that they can greatly contribute to the user convenience and the implementation of electronic government.
[22] In order to convert non-electronic documents into electronic documents, the conventional system has a disadvantage in that the users or officials must receive instruction information associated with the system usages before they use the conventional system. However, most officials feel greater inconvenience of use, so that they don't like to use the conventional system.
[23] Differently from the above-mentioned conventional art, the present invention allows such users to easily perform necessary tasks in the same manner as in the office machines (e.g., a facsimile and a duplicating machine), so that the efficiency, productivity, and convenience of use of the present invention are superior to those of the conventional art.
[24] Therefore, the present invention increases user's convenience, enables the user to easily use the system without receiving any instruction information from any information provider of the system, guarantees the independence of document management tasks, prevents the user who manages the documents from confusing documents, and satisfies legal-, office management-, digital-, and encoding- instructions for managing numerous documents received in the public organs, resulting in the implementation of electronic government.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[25] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [26] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of a scan unit for registering non-electronic documents of an electronic document system, and specifically shows an enlarged perspective view of a switch unit of a scanner contained in the scan unit according to the present invention; [27] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a used state of a scan unit for registering non-electronic documents of an electronic document system according to the present invention; [28] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a scan unit for registering non-electronic documents of an electronic document system and a registration system according to the present invention; [29] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a scan registration process for use in the scan unit and the registration system according to the present invention; [30] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a usage of a scan server program for use in the scan unit and the registration system according to the present invention; [31] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating operations of a scanning station for use in the scan unit and the registration system according to the present invention; [32] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating operations of a user client program for use in the scan unit and the registration system according to the present invention; and [33] FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating operations of a client tool for use in the scan unit and the registration system according to the present invention.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [34] Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals even though they are depicted in different drawings. In the following description, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. [35] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of a scan unit for registering non-electronic documents of an electronic document system, and specifically shows an enlarged perspective view of a switch unit of a scanner contained in the scan unit according to the present invention. [36] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a used state of a scan unit for registering non-electronic documents of an electronic document system according to the present
invention.
[37] The present invention basically provides an independent scan unit (SU) such as a general office machine, so that it standardizes a scanning work and increases efficiency of the scanning work.
[38] The above-mentioned scan unit (SU) can be manufactured in various designs, shapes, and materials, and can be used as an independent device (e.g., a duplicating machine or a facsimile). The scan unit (SU) constructs a unit case (H) similar to the shape of the general office machine, as shown in FIG. 1.
[39] The unit case (H) includes a scan server (SS) used as a personal computer. The scan server (SS) is seated in the unit case H via an opening/closing door (D), so that it can be easily repaired and maintained by a user or manager.
[40] A general flatbed-type scanner (SC) is mounted on an upper working surface F of the unit case (H), so that a user interface is formed on the working surface F. The scan server (SS) is dedicated for the scanning/registering operations of non-electronic documents, is driven by a specific program to be explained later, and is connected to a network via a LAN of a unit- administrative organ.
[41] Preferably, the scanner (SC) may be configured in the form of an auto-feeder capable of sequentially scanning a large amount of documents, and includes a document tray located at a lateral side of the working surface (F). Documents to be scanned are loaded on the document tray. If the document tray is not in use, it is designed to slide into the scanner (SC).
[42] A touchscreen (TS) used as a monitor of the scan server (SS) is arranged on an upper part of the working surface (F), and a user or manager can access or manipulate the touchscreen (TS), so that a single scan unit (SU) is configured.
[43] If the working process is standardized, a general screen instead of the touchscreen
(TS) may also be used without any problem. However, from the viewpoint of user convenience, it is preferable that the present invention prefers the touchscreen (TS) to the general screen, because the touchscreen (TS) is used as an optimum user interface so that it prevents the user from making the mistake of wrongly clicking a mouse or keyboard. Mode for the Invention
[44] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a scan unit for registering non-electronic documents of an electronic document system and a registration system according to the present invention. In more detail, FIG. 3 is a structural diagram illustrating a network including a scan unit for registering non-electronic documents of an electronic document system according to the present invention.
[45] Referring to FIG. 3, the scan server (SS) of the scan unit (SU) includes the scanner
(SC), and is connected to a plurality of clients (Cl, C2, C, ...,CN) over a network (N), so that an overall system is configured. For example, the clients (Cl, C2, C, ...,CN) indicate a plurality of users of a unit-administrative organ, and are generally implemented with personal computers.
[46] Each client (Cl, C2, C, ...,CN) includes a scan client control program (CP) interacting with the scan server (SS). The scan server (SS) includes a scan-server control program (SP) for driving the following operations.
[47] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a scan registration process for use in the scan unit and the registration system according to the present invention. In more detail, FIG. 4 shows the log-in process which enables a user to conduct the scanning work using the scan unit (SU) contained in the registration system for registering non-electronic documents of the electronic document system.
[48] Referring to FIG. 4, the user touches a log-in icon of the touchscreen (TS) to access the scan server (SS) at step 10, and enters a log-in password during a log-in process at step 11, so that the user can gain access to the scan server (SS) via the log-in process 11. As a result, the user can conduct the scanning work 12 using the scanner (SC), so that the scanned result is stored as an image in the scan server (SS) at step 13.
[49] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a usage of a scan server program for use in the scan unit and the registration system according to the present invention. In more detail, FIG. 5 shows a user interface basically supplied from the scan server (SS) when any client gains access to the scan server (SS). Detailed usages of additional effects of the scan-server control program (SP) are depicted in FIG. 5, differently from FIG. 4 showing only simple operations.
[50] The user gains access to the scan server (SS) at step 20, logs in as a member of the scan server (SS) at step 21, and selects the scan process via the scanner (SC) at step 22. If the user desires to establish another environment instead of the basically-established scan environment during the scanning process, the setup routine 23 is conducted. During the setup routine 23, the user selects a variety of optional values (for example, resolution, paper size, density setup, paper-feeding setup, and mono/color selection).
[51] If the setup routine 23 is terminated, a storage path is automatically created, the scanned non-electronic documents are stored in the automatically-created folder (F) at step 24. The example of the automatically-created folder (F) is shown in the square of FIG. 5.
[52] The creation of the automatically-created folder for each user is decided on the basis of an ID and password assigned to each user by the dedicated scan-server control program (SP) contained in the scan server (SS), so that various information allocated to the above-mentioned ID and password is automatically created (e.g., a section name, a user name, the number of log-in times of the day, and user-entry file names).
[53] For example, a worker of the Ward Office desires to scan a variety of qualification certificates of a written application for a waste-disposal private contract, and then enters his or her ID and password. In this case, if the ID and password entered by the worker indicate the general affairs and a specific person (e.g., Mr. Kim) working in the general affairs, the folder denoted by "[General Affairs/ Mr.Kim/ 20061010/001]" is automatically formed as soon as the worker enters the ID and password. If the same worker logs in the scan server (SS) three times on the same day, the other folder denoted by "[General Affairs/ Mr.Kim/ 20061010/003]" may be automatically formed.
[54] After performing the above-mentioned log-in process, if the user enters a specific word "Waste Disposal" using a touch-keyboard, a folder denoted by "[General Affairs/ Mr.Kim/ 20061010/001 /Waste Disposal]" is automatically formed, so that the user can accurately discriminate between individual folders and contents stored in the scan server (SS) by referring to the above-mentioned folders.
[55] Detailed steps of the above-mentioned operations are shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating operations of a scanning process (also called a scanning station) for use in the scan unit and the registration system according to the present invention.
[56] Referring to FIG. 6, if the user desires to start scanning using the touchscreen (TS) of the scan unit (SU) at step 30, the scan-server control program (SP) of the scan server (SS) is driven at step 31, so that it determines the presence or absence of the scanner (SC) at step 31-1.
[57] If the user enters his or her ID and password at step 32, and logs in as a member of the scan server (SS) contained in the scan unit (SU) at step 33, the scan-server control program (SP) determines whether the user is a pre-registered member or not at step 31-2.
[58] If the scan-server control program (SP) normally determines that the user is the pre- registered member, the user presses the operation button (B) of the scanner (SC) to start color-scanning a target image (stored as a JPEG image) at step 34, so that the scanning process is conducted at step 35. The scanned resultant image is coupled to data pre-registered on the basis of the above-mentioned ID and password, is stored as image-type digital data in the automatically-formed folder (F) of each user at step 36, and logs out of the scan server (SS) at step 37. As a result the scanning process of a corresponding document is terminated.
[59] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating operations of a user client program for use in the scan unit and the registration system according to the present invention. In more detail, FIG. 7 shows operations of the client control program (CP) executed by the individual clients (Cl, C2, C, ..., CN) indicating users.
[60] Referring to FIG. 7, according to the client-control program (CP), if each client (Cl,
C2, C, ..., CN) desires to start registering the non-electronic documents at step 40, and
the user of the client enters his or her ID and password to log in the scan server (SS) at step 41, the automatically-formed folder (stored in the scan server) of the aforementioned log-in user is open on the basis of the entered ID and password at step 42, so that the user can automatically access his or her folder pre-stored in the scan server.
[61] If the user selects a digital image stored in the automatically-formed folder at step
43, the scanned non-electronic documents are activated, so that the user can perform the image adjusting process 44 (e.g., angle resetting, intermediate arranging, and sequence moving) using his or her client (Cl, C2, C, ..., CN).
[62] FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating operations of a client tool for use in the scan unit and the registration system according to the present invention. In more detail, FIG. 8 shows detailed operations of the client program of FIG. 7.
[63] Referring to FIG. 8, if a user of the client (Cl, C2, C, ..., CN) desires to start registering the non-electronic documents at step 50, the user's client (Cl, C2, C, ..., CN) establishes a virtual network (Z drive) for transmitting data in his or her computer at step 51, checks a status of the network, and determines the presence or absence of an error in the network at step 51-1.
[64] If the virtual network is normally established, the user's folder stored in the scan server (SS) is open, so that the user can view the scanned image at step 52.
[65] The user views the image scattered on a display buffer of the client (Cl, C2, C, ...,
CN) at step 53, and selects a desired color at step 54. If required, the user may change a current color to another color at step 55. If a current image must be changed to a black-and-white image at step BKl, the image is changed to the black-and-white image at step 54-1. In this case, the client program may edit the resultant image to acquire a correct electronic document. And, if required, the client program may perform the image adjusting process at step 57.
[66] In the case of the color (CL) mode, the client program adjusts the target image as a multi-TIF image at step 57-1, so that a JPEG-format color image is formed at step 57-2, and is then stored at step 58. In the case of the black-and-white (BK) mode, the client program converts the target image into a single-TIF-formatted image at step 58 and stores the single-TIF-formatted image at step 59. As a result, all the processes are finished so that a new electronic document is formed.
[67] By the above-mentioned steps, the non-electronic documents are configured in the form of image-type electronic files, so that the user can easily manage and distribute the above-mentioned documents configured in the form of the electronic files.
[68] Also, the scan unit according to the present invention assigns different IDs and passwords to individual users, so that a corresponding user can easily manufacture electronic documents of his or her documents. For example, if the user who desires to have electronic documents of non-electronic documents presses or clicks a specific
button of the scanner in the same manner as in the duplicating machine, all the nonelectronic documents can be manufactured in the form of electronic documents. Industrial Applicability
[69] As apparent from the above description, the present invention allows a user to easily convert his or her non-electronic documents into image-type electronic files without any problem by clicking or pressing a button of a touchscreen, so that the user can easily manage and distribute the image-type electronic files including the nonelectronic documents.
[70] The governmental administrative organs and local self-governing bodies can easily convert a large amount of non-electronic documents into electronic documents, so that they can effectively and easily manage the documents, resulting in the implementation of electronic government. And, convenience, productivity, and efficiency of individual users can greatly increase.
[71] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.
Next Patent: TOOTH PROFILE OF INTERNAL GEAR