Apparatus for managing electronic data, program code and the recording medium thereof, and system for managing electronic data

In an electronic data managing system, predetermined attribute values of attribute values of the electronic data are assigned to attribute items different from attribute items to which the attribute values have been assigned at a copy-to apparatus. Then, the predetermined attribute values assigned to the different attribute items by the assigning part are transmitted to a copy-to apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to apparatuses for managing electronic data, methods for managing electronic data, program code and recording media thereof, and systems for managing electronic data, and more particularly to an apparatus for managing electronic data, program code and the recording medium thereof, and a system for managing electronic data, in which in a case in that attribute values of a document are differently defined among servers where the document is registered, even if the document is copied from one server to another server, those attribute values can be assigned to optimal respective attribute items.

2. Description of the Related Art

There is a conventional electronic document managing system having a function to periodically copy a document registered in a server to another server (replication). By utilizing this function, a copied document is further updated a certain period later after an original document is changed.

In the conventional document managing system, the same document can exist in a plurality of servers. Advantageously, when one document is referred to, the workload is distributed to a plurality of servers. Moreover, the document registered in a server located far away can be referred to at a nearby server in a network.

Moreover, in the conventional electronic document managing system, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 05-324438 discloses an electronic document managing system having a function in that a document can be registered by relating to attributes such as a document name, a registration date, and the like as shown inFIG. 1.

As shown inFIG. 2, when a document having attributes is copied, the attributes are copied without any change in the conventional electronic document managing system and are referred to by the same attributes at a server where the document is copied (hereinafter called a copy-to apparatus). That is,

1. Add “ORDER-” at the beginning of a value assigned to an attribute item “document number” at a server where the document is stored before being copied (hereinafter called a copy-from apparatus) [change the attribute value],

2. Assign a value assigned to an attribute item “registration date” at the copy-from apparatus to an attribute item “receipt date” [change the attribute item], and

3. Do not set values, which assigned attribute items “document name” and “security level” at the copy-from apparatus, at the copy-to apparatus [delete the attribute item],

the above operations are not conducted to meet requirements of the attributes at the copy-to apparatus in the conventional electronic document managing system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a general object of the present invention to provide apparatuses for managing electronic data in which the above-mentioned problems are eliminated.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for managing electronic data in which when attributes of electronic data are copied from a copy-from apparatus to a copy-to apparatus, the attributes of the electronic data can be registered in a form suitable for requirements at the copy-to apparatus.

The above objects of the present invention are achieved by an apparatus for managing electronic data as a copy-to apparatus receiving the electronic data to copy, including: an electronic data managing part managing electronic data; an assigning part assigning predetermined attribute values of attribute values of the electronic data received from a copy-from apparatus to different attribute items from attribute items to which the attribute values have been assigned at the copy-to apparatus, the copy-from apparatus managing and copying the electronic data to the copy-to apparatus; and a registering part registering the predetermined attribute values assigned to the different attribute items by the assigning part to the electronic data managing part.

In the apparatus as the copy-to apparatus, the attribute items of the electronic data of the copy-from apparatus are automatically assigned to different attribute items. Therefore, it is possible to register or display the attributes of the electronic data in a form suitable for requirements of the copy-to apparatus.

Moreover, the apparatus may include a value converting part converting the predetermined attribute values of the attribute values received from the copy-from apparatus to different attribute values from the predetermined attribute values, wherein the register part registers the different attribute values to the electronic data managing part.

In the apparatus, the attribute values of the electronic data of the copy-from apparatus are automatically converted. Therefore, it is possible to register or display the attribute values of the electronic data in the form suitable for the requirements of the copy-to apparatus.

Furthermore, the apparatus may include a registration suppressing part suppressing the registering part from registering the predetermined attribute values of the attribute values received from the copy-from apparatus.

In the apparatus, it is possible to suppress registering the attributes because some of the attributes of the electronic data of the copy-from apparatus are not suitable for the copy-to apparatus.

Also, the above objects of the present invention are achieved by an apparatus for managing electronic data as a copy-from apparatus sending the electronic data to copy, including: an assigning part assigning predetermined attribute values of attribute values of the electronic data, which are to be transmitted to a copy-to apparatus, to different attribute items from attribute items to which the attribute values have been assigned at the copy-from apparatus, the copy-to apparatus managing the electronic data copied from the copy-from apparatus; and a transmitting part transmitting the predetermined attribute values assigned to the different attribute items by the assigning part to the copy-to apparatus.

In the apparatus as the copy-from apparatus, the attribute items of the electronic data of the copy-from apparatus are automatically assigned to different attribute items and are transmitted to the copy-to apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to register or display the attributes of the electronic data of the copy-from apparatus in a form suitable for requirements of the copy-to apparatus.

Moreover, the apparatus may include a value converting part converting the predetermined attribute values of the attribute values, which are to be transmitted to the copy-to apparatus to different attribute values from the predetermined attribute values, wherein the transmitting part transmits the different attribute values to the copy-to apparatus.

In the apparatus, the attribute values of the electronic data of the copy-from apparatus are automatically converted to different attribute values and are transmitted to the copy-to apparatus. Therefore, it is possible for the copy-to apparatus to register or display the attribute values of the electronic data in the form suitable for the requirements of the copy-to apparatus.

Furthermore, the apparatus may include a transmission suppressing part suppressing the transmitting part from transmitting the predetermined attribute values of the attribute values to the copy-to apparatus.

In the apparatus, the predetermined attribute values of the attribute values of the electronic data of the copy-from apparatus are transmitted. Therefore, it is possible for the copy-to apparatus to suppress registering the attributes because some of the attributes of the electronic data of the copy-from apparatus are not suitable for the copy-to apparatus.

The above objects of the present invention can be achieved by-a method for managing electronic data in a copy-from apparatus transmitting the electronic data to copy, program code for causing a computer to manage electronic data in a copy-from apparatus transmitting the electronic data to copy, or a computer-readable recording medium recorded with the program code for causing a computer to manage electronic data in a copy-from apparatus transmitting the electronic data to copy.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.FIG. 3is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic document managing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an electronic document managing system1, an electronic document managing server100, an electronic document managing server200, a terminal300, and a like are connected through a network400such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The electronic document managing servers100and200are computers including databases managing documents, respectively. The terminal300is a computer such as a personal computer, and can operate the electronic document managing servers100and200through the network400.

In a hardware configuration, the electronic document managing server100as shown inFIG. 3includes an input part10, a display part20, a communication part30, a control part40, a storage part50, a driver60, and a like. The input part10is a part for receiving a request for registering or updating a document. The display part20is a part for displaying a document and attributes of the document. The storage part50is a part for storing the document and the attributes of the document. The control part40is a part for registering the document input from the input part10, reading the document to be copied to another server from the storage part50and sending the document to the communication part30, and registering the document to be copied to the storage part50. The communication part30is a part for sending or receiving the document to be copied between servers through the network400. The driver60is a device for reading information recorded on a recording medium70such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory) or a like.

The document copy program used by the electronic document managing server100is provided by the recording medium70. The recording medium70recording the document copy program is inserted in the driver60, and is installed into the storage part50through the driver60from the recording medium70.

The present invention can be applied to any system or any server if the server or the system includes the hardware configuration above-described. It should be noted that the electronic document managing server200also includes the same hardware configuration as the electronic document managing server100. However, in a case in which the electronic document managing server100and the electronic document managing server200are remotely controlled by the terminal300or the like, the input part10and the display part20are not always required for the electronic document managing server100and the electronic document managing server200.

Functional configurations of the electronic document managing servers100and200will be described.FIG. 4is a block diagram showing the functional configurations of electronic document managing servers according to the embodiment of the present invention. The electronic document managing server100inFIG. 4includes a document managing part110and a document copying part120.

The document managing part110is to provide a database function for managing documents and attributes of the documents, and includes a document table111, a document attribute table112, a document attribute value table113, and a document operating part114. The document table111, the document attribute table112, and the document attribute value table113(hereinafter, generally called the document tables111through113for these three tables) are tables for managing the documents and the attributes of the documents (described later in detail). The document operating part114is to provide an interface for the document tables111through113in respect to upper applications utilizing the document managing part110. For example, the document operating part114provides a function for searching for the document and the attributes of the document from the document table111through113and the like, a function for registering the document and the attributes of the documents to the document tables111through113.

It should be noted that the document tables111through113are not always required to be tables such as an RDB (Relational DataBase), and are not limited to a specific table form but can store information. For example, the document tables111through113can be implemented by CSV (Comma Separated Value) files or XML (extensible Markup Language) files. In this case, the document operating part114corresponds to an API (Application Program Interface) to operate the CSV files or the XML files.

The document copying part120can be realized by the control part40executing a document copying program according to the present invention. The document copying part120has a function for copying the document and the attributes of the document between the electronic document managing server100and the electronic document managing server200, and includes an attribute converting table121, and an attribute converting part122. The attribute converting table121is a table to manage a conversion rule of copying the attributes of the document that will be described later. That is, the document copying part120can conduct a predetermined conversion to the attributes then copy the attributes from the electronic document managing server100to the electronic documents managing server200or vice versa. And the attribute converting table121manages the conversion rule.

The attribute converting part122copies the document and the attributes of the documents from the electronic document managing server100to the electronic documents managing server200or vice versa, in accordance with the conversion rule stored in the attribute converting table121.

It should be noted that the attribute converting table121can also be implemented by the CSV files or the XML files, similar to the document table111.

The electronic document server200includes a document managing part210. The document managing part210includes similar configurations and functions of the document managing part110of the electronic document managing server100. That is, the document managing part210includes a document table211, a document attribute table212, a document attribute value table213, and the document operating part214. The document table211corresponds to the document table111, and the document attribute table212corresponds to the document attribute table112. Moreover, the document attribute value table213corresponds to the document attribute value table113, and the document operating part214corresponds to the document operating part114. However, the documents and the attributes of the documents, which are managed in the document table211, the document attribute table212, the document attribute value table213, and the like (hereinafter, generally called the document tables211to213for these three tables), are not always the same as the documents and the attributes of the documents managed in the document tables111through113.

Next, each of tables above-described will be further described in detail.FIG. 5is a diagram showing a data structure of the document table according to the present invention. InFIG. 5, the document table211of the electronic document managing server200is illustrated. The document table211maintains an ID uniquely identifying a document (hereinafter, called “DOCUMENT ID”, attribute items possessed by the document, and a like.

InFIG. 5, “POINTER TO CONTENTS IN STORAGE AREA” is a pointer to a recording area where the actual data of the document are stored. The control part40can obtain the actual data of the document by utilizing the pointer. “DOCUMENT ATTRIBUTE ID SEQUENCE” is written as a sequence of ID values (hereinafter, called document attribute ID) assigned to uniquely identify the attribute of the document in the electronic document managing system1.

Referring toFIG. 5, a document specified by the document ID “0001” includes the attribute items identified by document attribute IDs “0001”, “0002”, “0003”, “0004”, and “0005”, and actual data of the document are stored at a location indicated by “Addr1”. On the other hand, a document specified by the document ID “0002” includes the attribute items indicated by document attribute IDs “0001”, “0002”, “0003”, “0004”, and “0006”, and the actual data of the document are stored at a location indicated by “Addr2”. It should be noted that the document table111of the electronic document managing server100has the same data structure as the document table211.

FIG. 6is a diagram showing a data structure of the document attribute table according to the present invention. Each of the document attribute tables212and112includes data items including the document attribute ID, an attribute name identified by the document attribute ID, and available document attribute IDs and available attribute names are maintained as records in each of the electronic document managing servers200and100, respectively.

Referring toFIG. 6, the document attribute table212maintains (0001, DOCUMENT NAME), (0002, DOCUMENT NUMBER), (0003, REGISTRATION DATE), (0004, COMPANY NAME), (0005, ORIGINATOR), and (0006, SECURITY LEVEL) as the document attribute ID and the attribute name. The document attribute table111maintains (0001, DOCUMENT NAME), (0002, DOCUMENT NUMBER), (0003, REGISTRATION DATE), (0004, COMPANY NAME), (0005, ORIGINATOR), and (0007, RECEIPT DATE) as the document attribute IDs and the attribute names.

FIG. 7is a diagram showing a data structure of the document attribute value table according to the present invention. Referring toFIG. 7, the document attribute value table213of the electronic document managing server200is illustrated. The document attribute value table213is a table to store attribute values possessed by each document, and includes data items including document ID, document attribute ID, an attribute value, and a like. The document ID corresponds to the document ID of the document table211. The document attribute ID corresponds to the document attribute ID of the document attribute table212. The attribute value stores a value of each document attribute.

Referring toFIG. 7, the document specified by the document ID “0001” includes the attributes items identified by the document attribute IDs “0001”, “0002”, “0003”, “0004”, and “0005”, and their attribute values are “PROJECT A PLAN”, “0123”, “Aug. 15, 2000”, “RRR”, and “****”. The document specified by the document ID “0002” includes the attribute items identified by the document attribute Ids “0001”, “0002”, “0003”, “0004”, and “0006”, and their attribute values are “PRODUCT A ORDER REQUEST”, “0001”, “Mar. 31, 2001”, “RRR”, and “CONFIDENTIAL”. It should be noted that the document attribute value table113of the electronic document managing server100has the same data structure as the document attribute value table213.

FIG. 8is a diagram showing a data structure of the attribute converting table according to the present invention. The attribute converting table121is a table describing how the attributes of the document are converted when the document and the attributes of the document are copied, and includes data items including a copy-from document attribute ID, a prefix, a copy-to document attribute ID, and a like. The copy-from document attribute ID shows a document attribute ID in the electronic document managing server that is the copy-from apparatus for the document and the like. The prefix shows information of a character sequence and a like additionally provided before the attribute value at the copy-from apparatus. When other change conditions are needed, data items are added to maintain information of the change conditions. The copy-to document attribute ID shows the document attribute ID of the copy-to apparatus. <null> shows no value (no entry).

Accordingly, it is shown in the attribute converting table121that the attribute identified by the attribute ID “0001” is not reflected to the copy-to apparatus and the attribute identified by the attribute ID “0002” is registered as the attribute identified by the attribute ID “0002” after “ORDER-” is additionally provided before the attribute value in the attributes possessed by a copy-from document (a document to be copied to the copy-to apparatus)

Operations of the electronic document managing system1will be described.FIG. 9is a diagram showing a sequence for broadly explaining a process conducted by the electronic document managing system according to the present invention. InFIG. 9, the process in a case of copying the document from the electronic document managing server200to the electronic document managing server100will be described. That is, the electronic document managing server200is the copy-from apparatus and the electronic document managing server100is the copy-to apparatus.

In step S1, the attribute converting part122of the electronic document managing server100sends a request for obtaining the document and the attributes to the electronic document managing server200. The process goes to step S2after step S1, the document operating part214of the electronic document managing server200searches for the document and the-attributes of the document from the document table211, and sends those to the attribute converting part122.

In step S3after step S2, the attribute converting part122converts the attributes in accordance with a predetermined rule. And the attribute converting part122sends the document operating part114a request for registering the document and the attributes converted by the attribute converting part122(step S4). The document operating part114registers the attributes in the document tables111through113and sends a completion notice of the registration to the attribute converting part122(step S5).

Next, the operations of the electronic document managing system will be further described in detail.FIG. 10is a flowchart for explaining a first variation of the electronic document managing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the first variation, similar to the case inFIG. 9, it is assumed that the document is copied from the electronic document managing server200to the electronic document managing server100.

First, the document operation part214of the electronic document managing server200obtains the document to be copied and the attributes of the document from the document table211and the document attribute value table213based on a request from the attribute converting part122of the electronic document managing server100, and sends those to the electronic document managing server100through the network400(step S11).

The attribute converting part122of the electronic document managing server100obtains the document and the attributes of the document sent from the electronic document managing server200, and refers to the attribute converting table121, so as to convert the attributes, that is, so as to change the attribute items and the attribute values, to delete the attribute items, and the like (step S12).

Next, the attribute converting part122registers new attributes converted in step S12to the document attribute value table113and registers the document to, be copied to the document table111(step S13).

Moreover, on condition of the data structures described inFIG. 5throughFIG. 8, by referring toFIG. 11andFIG. 12, an operation example in a case of copying the document specified by the document ID “0002” managed in the electronic document managing server200to the electronic document managing server100will be described.FIG. 11is a diagram illustrating document data transmitted to the copy-to apparatus.FIG. 12is a diagram illustrating copied document data. First, inFIG. 11, the electronic document managing server200obtains a record related to the document specified by the document ID “0002” from the document table211shown inFIG. 5and the document attribute value table213shown inFIG. 7and sends those to the electronic document managing server100. In practice, the electronic document managing server200obtains the actual data of the document based on the pointer to contents in the storage area in the document table and sends the actual data to the electronic document managing server100together with the record.

In this case, the attributes of the document specified by the document ID “0002” are shown as follows:document name: PRODUCT A ORDER REQUESTdocument number: 0001registration date: Mar. 31, 2001company name: RRRsecurity level: CONFIDENTIAL

The attribute converting part122of the electronic document managing server100refers to the attribute converting table121shown inFIG. 8, and converts the attributes of the document received from the electronic document managing server200as follows:delete the document nameadd “ORDER-” at the beginning of the document number to be the document name (document attribute ID: 0002) at the copy-to apparatusretain a value of the registration date but set as the receipt date at the copy-to apparatusdo not change the attribute value and the attribute item for the company namedelete the security level

The originator identified by the document ID “0005” is not included in the attribute items of the document specified by the document ID “0002” at the copy-from apparatus. Accordingly, the originator is not registered for the document at the copy-to apparatus.

As a result of converting the attributes obtained from the document table211and the document attribute value table213shown inFIG. 5, data maintained in the document table111and the document attribute table113of the electronic document managing server100are shown inFIG. 12. The data are stored as copied document data to the document table111and the document attribute table113of the electronic document managing server100. However, in practice, the pointer “addr2” is stored when the actual data sent from the copy-from apparatus is stored, and is reflected in the document table111.

As a result, the attributes of a copied document are changed as follows:document number: ORDER-0001registration date: Mar. 31, 2001company name: RRR

As described above, in the first variation of the electronic document managing server100according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the attribute items of the document of the electronic document managing server200as the copy-from apparatus are automatically assigned to different attribute items. Therefore, it is possible to register or display the attributes of the document in a form suitable for requirements at the electronic document managing server100.

Moreover, the electronic document managing server100automatically converts the attribute values of the documents of the copy-from apparatus to different values. Therefore, it is possible to register or display the attributes of the document in the form suitable for the requirements at the electronic document managing server100.

Furthermore, in the electronic document managing server100, the attribute items of the document of the copy-from apparatus are not registered to the electronic document managing server100. Therefore, it is possible for the copy-to apparatus to delete the attribute when it is determined that the attribute does not meet the requirement of the copy-to apparatus.

As described above, the attributes are converted at the copy-to apparatus. Alternatively, the attributes may be converted at the copy-from apparatus at beforehand, and then converted attributes may be sent to the copy-to apparatus. In a second variation of the electronic document managing system, a process in a case of copying the document from the electronic document managing server100to the electronic document managing server200will be described. That is, it is assumed that the electronic document managing server200is the copy-to apparatus and the electronic document managing server100is the copy-from apparatus.FIG. 13is a flowchart for explaining the second variation of the electronic document managing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

First, the attribute converting part122of the electronic document managing server100obtains the document and the attributes of the document from the document table111and the document attribute value table113through the document operating part114. The attribute converting part122refers to the attribute converting table121, changes the attribute items and the attribute values, and deletes the attribute items (step S21). Moreover, the attribute converting part122sends the converted attributes to the document operating part214of the electronic document managing server200in order to request a registration (step S22).

Next, the document operating part214registers the document and the converted attributes received from the electronic document managing server100to the document table211and the document attribute value table213(step S23) As described above, in the second variation, the electronic document managing server100automatically assigns the attribute items of the document to different attribute items and then sends those to the electronic document managing server200as the copy-to apparatus. Therefore, the electronic document managing server200registers or displays the document attributes in a form suitable for requirements of the electronic document managing server200.

Moreover, the electronic document managing server100automatically-converts the attribute values of the document of the copy-from apparatus to different values and then sends those to the electronic document managing server200. Therefore, it is possible for the electronic document managing server200to register or display the document attribute values in the form suitable for the requirements of the electronic document managing server200.

Furthermore, the electronic document managing server100as the copy-from apparatus does not send a predetermined attribute value of the attribute values of the document. Therefore, the electronic document managing server200can suppress registering the attributes that are not suitable for the requirements of the electronic document managing server200.

Also, if the document copying part120is implemented to the electronic document managing server200or the terminal300, the electronic document managing server200or the terminal300can convert the attributes by the same process as described above.

Next, a tool for providing a GUI (Graphical User Interface) in that a user sets the conversion rule to the attribute converting table121will be described. Hereinafter, the tool is called the copy information setting tool. It should be noted that the copy information setting tool is implemented in the electronic document managing server100, the electronic document managing server200, and the terminal300.FIG. 14is a diagram for explaining an operation flow of the copy information setting tool.

In step S101, when an instruction for activating the copy information setting tool is issued, the copy information setting tool is displayed at a main screen.

FIG. 15is a diagram illustrating the main screen of the copy information setting tool. A main screen500shown inFIG. 15includes a copy information setting list510, an add button520, an edit button530, a delete button540, and an end button550. The copy information setting list510is a list of setting information that has already been set, and displays machine names of both the copy-from apparatus and the copy-to apparatus for each item of the setting information. When the add button520is clicked, the copy information setting screen described later is displayed, and new copy information can be set. When the edit button530is clicked, the copy information setting screen for displaying details of the setting information selected from the copy information setting list510, and then the setting information can be edited. When the delete button540is clicked, the setting information selected from the copy information setting list510can be deleted. When the end button550is clicked, the copy information setting tool is terminated.

The step S102is conducted when the add button520or the edit button530is clicked, and the copy information setting tool displays the copy information setting screen.

FIG. 16is a diagram illustrating another copy information setting screen of the copy information setting tool. A copy information setting screen600shown inFIG. 16includes a copy-from input area611, a copy-to input area612, a copy schedule setting area620, a document attribute conversion rule list630, a check button640, an add button650, an edit button660, a delete button670, a set button680, a cancel button690, and a like.

Information for specifying the copy-from apparatus and the copy-to apparatus of the document are input to the copy-from input area611and the copy-to input area612, respectively. InFIG. 16, the copy-from apparatus and the copy-to apparatus are indicated by a form of “machine name: DB name”. That is, the machine name and the DB name of the copy-from apparatus is “host C” and “CsrcDB”, and the machine name and the DB name of the copy-to apparatus is “host D” and “DsrcDB”.

The copy schedule setting area620includes a check button621for indicating a schedule at a time of a new registration, a check button622for indicating date and time, check buttons623for indicating a day of a week, a check button624for indicating a date, a date input area625, a start time input area626, and a like. When the check button621for indicating a schedule at a time of a new registration is checked, copying the document is conducted when the document is registered to the copy-from apparatus. When the check button622for indicating date and time is checked, the check buttons623for indicating a day of a week, the check button624for indicating a date, the date input area625, the start time input area626, and the like are allowed to be operated. Then, the user can set a day, a date, and time to copy the document.

The document attribute conversion rule list630is a list of the conversion rules that have been already set. Referring to the document attribute conversion rule list630, it is set at a first row that the document name at the copy-from apparatus is not registered to the copy-to apparatus. And it is set at a second row that the registration date at the copy-from apparatus is registered as the receipt date at the copy-to apparatus. When the check button640is checked, the attributes that are not displayed in the document attribute conversion rule list630are copied from the copy-from apparatus to the copy-to apparatus without any conversion. Accordingly, when the check button640is not checked, only the attributes displayed in the document attribute conversion rule list630are copied.

When the add button650is clicked, a document attribute conversion rule setting screen (described later) is displayed, and a new conversion rule can be set. When the edit button660is clicked, the document attribute conversion rule setting screen is displayed to show details of the conversion rule selected from the document attribute conversion rule list630, and then the conversion rule can be edited. When the delete button670is clicked, the conversion rule selected from the document attribute conversion rule list630can be deleted. When the set button680is clicked, the copy information setting screen600is closed and also the setting information is updated in the copy information setting list510of the main screen500. When the cancel button690is clicked, information set at the copy information setting screen600are canceled, and then the copy information setting screen600is closed. When the set button680or the cancel button690is clicked, the process goes back to the step S10and the operation is conducted at the main screen500.

When the add button650or the edit button660is clicked, the process goes to step S103, and the copy information setting tool displays the document attribute conversion rule setting screen.

FIG. 17is a diagram illustrating the document attribute conversion rule setting screen of the copy information setting tool. The document attribute conversion rule setting screen700shown inFIG. 17includes a combo box710for selecting the attributes of the copy-from apparatus, a combo box720for selecting the attributes of the copy-to apparatus, a prefix input area730, a set button740, a cancel button750, and a like.

The combo box710for selecting the attributes of the copy-from apparatus is a combo box to select the attributes of the document of the copy-from apparatus to be converted. That is, the document attribute ID of the attribute selected by the combo box710is registered to the copy-from document attribute ID of the attribute converting table121. The combo box720for selecting the attribute of the copy-to apparatus is a combo box to select the attribute of the copy-to apparatus to register the attribute indicated by the combo box710for selecting the attribute of the copy-from apparatus. That is, the document attribute ID of the attribute selected by the combo box720for selecting the attribute of the copy-to apparatus is registered to the copy-to document attribute ID of the attribute converting table121.

In addition to the attributes available at the copy-to apparatus, “do not register” and “add . . . ” can be selected from the combo box720for selecting the attribute of the copy-to apparatus. When “do not register” is selected, the attribute indicated by the combo box710for selecting the attribute of the copy-from apparatus will not be registered at the copy-to apparatus. That is, in the attribute converting table121, the copy-to document attribute ID is shown as <null>. When “add . . . ” is selected, a new attribute creating screen (not shown) is displayed, and the new attribute created at the new attribute creating screen can be indicated as the attribute of the copy-to apparatus.

When the set button740is clicked, the document attribute conversion rule setting screen700is closed. Then, the conversion rule set at the document attribute conversion rule setting screen700is reflected to the attribute converting table121, and also a conversion detail is displayed in the document attribute conversion rule list630of the copy information setting screen600. When the cancel button690is clicked, the conversion rule set at the document attribute conversion rule setting screen700is canceled, and then the document attribute conversion rule setting screen700is closed. When the set button740or the cancel button750is clicked, the process goes back to the step S102, and then the operation is conducted at the copy information setting screen600.

After copy information is set in accordance with the process above-described and the copy information setting tool is terminated, the copy information setting tool activates the attribute converting part122when a time set in the copy schedule setting area620in the copy information setting screen600comes. Alternatively, a function for managing a schedule is implemented to the attribute converting part122, the copy information setting tool sets the copy information to the attribute converting part122when the copy information is set at screens provided by the copy information setting tool. In this case, the attribute converting part122detects the time, which is scheduled, and starts copying the document.

By using the copy information setting tool according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible for a user to set the copy information of the document by a simple operation. Also, it is possible to automatically copy the document at a time that is scheduled.

As described above, according to the present invention, when the attributes of electronic data are copied from the copy-from apparatus to the copy-to apparatus, it is possible to register the attributes of the electronic data to the copy-to apparatus in a form suitable for requirements of the copy-to apparatus.

The present application is based on the Japanese priority applications No.2001-382240 filed on Dec. 14, 2001 and No.2002-341223 filed on Nov. 25, 2002, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.