Dispersed input and output system

Abstract

There is disclosed a dispersed input and output system adapted to instruct the execution of a dispersed divided input operation at a document input and output device, perform control to cause a plurality of document input and output devices other than the document input and output device to cooperatively carry out dispersed divided input operations, and register the operations as one job in a document handling function at the end.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for inputting and outputting a document by dividing the document into a plurality of portions, and converting the document into data, comprising: 
 a plurality of document input and output devices connected through a network;    a first instruction device for instructing a first document input and output device among the plurality of document input and output devices to divide one document into a plurality of bundles and then enter the bundles;    a second instruction device for instructing a second document input and output device different from the first document input and output device to enter, among the plurality of divided portions of the document, a document bundle which has not been entered to the first document input and output device; and    a controller for causing the first and second document input and output devices to cooperatively carry out document input operations, and integrating data respectively entered from the first and second document input and output devices into one data.    
     
     
         2 . The dispersed input and output system according to  claim 1 , wherein after one document is instructed to be divided into a plurality of bundles and entered at the first document input and output device, an input reservation state is set through a device control function of a plurality of document input and output devices other than the first document input and output device instructed by the first document input and output device to cooperatively operate, and a registration operation is continued without performing any other operations on the plurality of document input and output devices other than the first document input and output device.  
     
     
         3 . The dispersed input and output system according to  claim 1 , further comprising, for performing a divided input operation with a time difference by using the plurality of document input and output devices; 
 means for instructing the execution of a time difference divided input operation at the first document input and output device; and    means for preparing templates to continue a job registration operation, for the plurality of document input and output devices other than the first document input and output device instructed by the first document input and output device to cooperatively operate.    
     
     
         4 . The dispersed input and output system according to  claim 1 , wherein job templates are prepared for the plurality of document input and output devices other than the first document input and output device, and when job registration operations are continuously carried out at the plurality of document input and output devices other than the first document input and output device, and then completed, 
 the unnecessary templates prepared for the plurality of document input and output devices other than the first document input and output device are automatically deleted.    
     
     
         5 . The dispersed input and output system according to  claim 1 , further comprising, for performing a divided input operation with a time difference by using the plurality of document input and output devices; 
 means for recording a state where registration is incomplete and still continuously possible, when a job is entered at the first document input and output device, and a standby state of the job for continued registration is indicated;    means for obtaining information regarding jobs of incomplete registration state for the plurality of document input and output devices other than the first document input and output device; and    means for carrying out a registration operation continuously for the jobs.    
     
     
         6 . The dispersed input and output system according to  claim 1 , wherein when the input operation is impossible any more at the first document input and output device, entered jobs are registered as one job by a controller capable of continuously performing an operation of dividing one document for the plurality of document input and output devices other than the first document input and output device into a plurality of bundles, and then entering the bundles.  
     
     
         7 . The dispersed input and output system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for instructing the controller capable of continuously performing the input operation by dividing one document into a plurality of bundles to simultaneously execute a dispersed divided input operation from the first document input and output device; and    means for setting an input reservation state through the device control functions of the plurality of document input and output devices other than the first document input and output device instructed by the first document input and output device to cooperatively operate, and continuing a registration operation without performing any other operations on the plurality of document input and output devices other than the first document input and output device.    
     
     
         8 . The dispersed input and output system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for instructing execution of a dispersed divided input operation with a time difference at the first document input and output device, when the input operation is impossible any more at the first document input and output device; and    means for preparing templates to continue job registration operations for the plurality of document input and output devices other than the first document input and output device instructed by the first document input and output device to cooperatively operate.    
     
     
         9 . The dispersed input and output system according to  claim 1 , wherein when templates are prepared for the plurality of document input and output devices other than the first document input and output device, job registration operations are continuously carried out at the plurality of document input and output devices other than the first document input and output device and, when jobs are completed, the unnecessary templates prepared for the plurality of document input and output devices other than the first document input and output device are automatically deleted.  
     
     
         10 . The dispersed input and output system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for indicating that a job being executed by the first document input and output device is on standby for continued registration, when the input operation is impossible any more at the first document input and output device;    means for recording a state where registration is incomplete and still continuously possible; and    means for obtaining information regarding jobs of an incomplete registration state for the plurality of document input and output devices other than the first document input and output device, and performing continued job registration for the jobs.    
     
     
         11 . The dispersed input and output system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for also managing information regarding a document input and output device used at time of input when the jobs divided and entered from the plurality of document input and output devices are managed; and    means for determining and outputting an output device matching a device characteristic of the input time based on information of the document input and output device used at the time of input, when the jobs are outputted.    
     
     
         12 . The dispersed input and output system according to  claim 1 , wherein when the jobs are divided and entered from the plurality of document input and output devices, the jobs are edited by a bundle unit before the jobs are lastly registered.  
     
     
         13 . A method for performing an input/output operation by dividing a document into a plurality of portions, and converting the document into data, comprising: 
 a plurality of document inputting/outputting steps connected through a network;    a first instruction step of instructing a first document inputting/outputting step among the plurality of document inputting/outputting steps to enter one document by dividing the document into a plurality of bundles;    a second instruction step of instructing a second document inputting/outputting step different from the first document inputting/outputting step to enter, among the plurality of bundles of the document, a document bundle non-entered in the first document inputting/outputting step; and    a step of instructing the first and second document inputting/outputting steps to cooperatively execute the document input operations, and integrating data respectively entered from the first and second document inputting/outputting steps into one data.