CODE INFORMATION PRINTING APPARATUS, PRINTING METHOD, RESTORATION APPARATUS, AND RESTORATION METHOD

Abstract

This invention facilitates an operation required to restore a desired file from code information. To accomplish this, a printing apparatus prints code information generated by encoding a file on a first sheet set, and prints identification information required to identify the sheet on which the code information corresponding to the file is printed. A restoration apparatus scans the first and second sheet sets. The restoration apparatus specifies, based on the identification information on the second sheet set, a sheet on which code information corresponding to a desired file is printed. Furthermore, the restoration apparatus restores the desired file by decoding the code information printed on the specified sheet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view for explaining the concept of print processing of a two-dimensional (2D) code according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal arrangement of a multi-function peripheral (MFP) according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows a print example of 2D codes according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows an example of an index sheet according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows an example of a data sheet according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the index sheet and data sheets according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a 2D code print method according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of index sheet generation processing according to the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of data sheet generation processing according to the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a view showing an overview of 2D code restoration processing according to the embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a file restoration method according to the embodiment;

FIG. 12 shows an example of a file management table according to the embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a restoration method of a 2D code printed on a data sheet according to the embodiment; and

FIG. 14 is a view for explaining processing for acquiring fill data from a data sheet required to restoration a desired file, and storing the acquired fill data in the file management table according to the embodiment.

Claims

1. A restoration apparatus for restoring an original file from code information, comprising: a scanning unit which scans a first sheet set on which code information of the file is printed, and a second sheet set on which identification information required to identify a sheet on which the code information corresponding to the file is printed;a designating unit which designates a file to be restored;a specifying unit which specifies, based on the identification information, a sheet on which the code information corresponding to the designated file is printed;a restoring unit which restores the designated file by decoding the code information printed on the specified sheet.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said restoring unit restores the identification information from the code information printed on the second sheet set.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said specifying unit specifies the sheet on which the code information corresponding to the designated file is printed, based on a file ID unique to each file, which is included in the identification information.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said designating unit comprises: a displaying unit which displays a symbolic representation image of each file printed on the second sheet set or the symbolic representation image restored from code information printed on the second sheet set.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said restoring unit restores the symbolic representation image from the code information printed on the second sheet set.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said scanning unit comprises: a determining unit which determines, based on the identification information, a sheet of a plurality of sheets, that is not required to restore the designated file; anda skip unit which skips scanning of the determined sheet.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a recognizing unit which recognizes a separation between the code information of a preceding file and the code information of a succeeding file based on a page feed, a blank page, or a marker indicating the separation.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when sheets included in the first sheet set are printed in a random order, said restoring unit re-arranges the order of code information scanned from the respective sheets to a correct order based on the identification information, and then restores the file.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a deleting unit which deletes stored information when said restoring unit cannot restore a file within a predetermined period of time.

10. A restoration method for restoring an original file from code information, comprising the steps of: scanning a first sheet set on which code information of the file is printed, and a second sheet set on which is printed identification information required containing the code information corresponding to each file;designating a file to be restored;specifying, based on the identification information, a sheet on which the code information corresponding to the designated file is printed; andrestoring the designated file by decoding the code information printed on the specified sheet.

11. A computer program stored in a storage medium, said program making a computer execute: a scanning step of scanning a first sheet set on which code information of the file is printed, and a second sheet set on which identification information required to identify a sheet on which the code information corresponding to the file is printed;a designating step of designating a file to be restored;a specifying step of specifying, based on the identification information, a sheet on which the code information corresponding to the designated file is printed;a restoring step of restoring the designated file by decoding the code information printed on the specified sheet.

12. A restoration apparatus comprising: a scanning unit which scans a sheet set on each of which code information including information that specifies a file, information that specifies a page number, and information that specifies the total number of pages is printed; anda restoring unit which restores a file by decoding the code information.