Abstract:
A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium stores a scoring rule application target specification program that causes a computer to execute a process including: receiving specification of one or more areas in an image; and storing the one or more areas in a storage in a manner associated with a question number in order of being received.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-096503, filed on May 11, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    The embodiments discussed herein are related to a scoring rule application target specification method and the like. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In related scoring (for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2010-101970, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 06-266278, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 03-164885, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2007-48217), a teacher collects question sheets on which students write answers and checks whether the students write correct answers for respective questions on the question sheets, thereby performing scoring for each of the students. In this method, an increase in the number of students or the number of questions increases a burden on the teacher. To address this, technologies for automatic scoring has been developed. To enable a teacher to smoothly perform scoring work, for example, widely used are scoring systems that read marks using optical answer sheets or the like instead of print answer sheets. 
         [0004]    The related technologies described above, however, fail to support creation of questions designed for electronic: terminals from a print medium, scoring of the questions, and management of scores. 
         [0005]    The scoring systems according to the related technologies using optical answer sheets fail to perform examination with a print medium used by a teacher or the like. Furthermore, the questions are limited to multiple-choice questions, whereby the scoring systems fail to perform examination that meets the teacher&#39;s demand. The use of the optical answer sheets, for example, leads students to certain answers to some extent, making it difficult to evaluate scholastic abilities of the students. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    According to an aspect of the embodiments, a non-tranistory computer-readable recording medium stores a scoring rule application target specification program that causes a computer to execute a process including: receiving specification of one or more areas in an image; and storing the one or more areas in a storage unit in a manner associated with a question number in order of being received. 
         [0007]    The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. 
         [0008]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a configuration of a scoring support device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an example diagram of a data structure of a correct answer table according to the first embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an example diagram of image data with no answer having been input thereto; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a diagram for explaining processing performed by a receiving unit according to the first embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an example diagram of image data with answers input thereto; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a diagram for explaining processing performed by a scoring unit according to the first embodiment 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart of a process of registration according to the first embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart of a process of scoring according to the first embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a functional block diagram of a configuration of the scoring support device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is an example diagram of a data structure of the correct answer table according to the second embodiment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is an example diagram of image data with no answer for multiple-choice questions having been input thereto; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a diagram for explaining processing performed by the receiving unit according to the second embodiment; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is an example diagram of image data with answers for the multiple-choice questions input thereto; 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a diagram for explaining processing performed by the scoring unit according to the second embodiment; 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a flowchart of a process of registration according to the second embodiment; 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is a flowchart of a process of scoring according to the second embodiment; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is an example diagram of a computer that executes an application target specification program or a correct/incorrect determination rule setting program. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    Preferred embodiments will be explained with reference to accompanying drawings. The embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention. 
       [a] First Embodiment 
       [0027]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a configuration of a scoring support device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a scoring support device  100  includes a scanner  110 , an input unit  120 , a display unit  130 , a communication unit  140 , a storage unit  150 , and a control unit  160 . The scoring support device  100  is an example of the application target specifying device. 
         [0028]    The scanner  110  is a device that reads a print medium on which questions are written, such as a question sheet, with an optical sensor or the like, thereby retrieving the surface of the print medium as image data. In the following description, image data retrieved from a print medium by the scanner  110  is appropriately simply referred to as image data.  
         [0029]    The input unit  120  is an input device used by auser to input various types of information to the scoring support device  100 . The input unit  120  corresponds to a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch panel, for example. 
         [0030]    The display unit  130  is a display device that displays information output from the control unit  160 . The display unit  130  corresponds to a display or a touch panel, for example. 
         [0031]    The communication unit  140  is a communication device that performs data communications with am external device via a network. The control unit  160 , which will be described later, transmits and receives data to and from the external device via the communication unit  140 . 
         [0032]    The storage unit  150  stores therein a correct answer table  151  and scoring rule information  152 . The storage unit  150 , for example, corresponds to a semiconductor memory device, such as a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and a flash memory, or a storage device, such as a hard disk drive (HDD). 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  is an example diagram of a data structure in the correct answer table according to the first embodiment. As illustrated, in  FIG. 2 , the correct answer table  151  stores therein a question number, a question area, answer areas, and correct answer contents in a manner associated with one another. The question number is information for uniquely identifying a question. The question area indicates an area on the image data in which a question corresponding to the question number is present. The question area is specified by coordinates of its upper left corner and coordinates of its lower right corner, for example. 
         [0034]    The answer area indicates an area in which the user inputs an answer for the question corresponding to the question number. The answer area is specified by coordinates of its upper left corner and coordinates of its lover right corner, for example. The correct answer contents indicate contents of a correct answer corresponding to the answer area. The correct answer contents corresponding to an answer area “(x3,y3), (x4,y4)” are a “comma”. If a “, (comma)” is input to the answer area “(x3,y3), (x4,y4)” of the electronic data, it is determined that the answer area receives a correct answer. 
         [0035]    The scoring rule information  152  defines conditions on which an answer for a question is determined to be correct. The scoring rule information  152 , for example, includes the information that, if all answer areas corresponding to a question number receive the correct answer contents, and an area other than the answer areas receives no input, the answer for the question corresponding to the question number is determined to be correct. The scoring rule information  152  also defines a score given when the answer corresponding to the question number is correct. 
         [0036]    The control unit  160  includes an image data acquiring unit  161 , a receiving unit  162 , and a scoring unit  163 . The control unit  160  corresponds to an integrated device, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The control unit  160 , for example, corresponds to an electronic circuit, such as a central processing unit (CPU) and a micro processing unit (MPU). 
         [0037]    The image data acquiring unit  161  is a processing unit that acquires image data from the scanner  110 . The image data acquiring unit  161  outputs the image data to the receiving unit  162  or the scoring unit  163 . If the image data acquiring unit  161  acquires image data of a question sheet with no answer having been input thereto, for example, the image data acquiring unit  161  outputs it to the receiving unit  162 . If the image data acquiring unit  161  acquires image data of a question sheet with answers input thereto, the image data acquiring unit  161  outputs it to the scoring unit  163 . The image data acquiring unit  161  may be notified of whether the image data is data with no answer having been input thereto or data with answers input thereto by the user operating the input unit  120 , 
         [0038]    The scoring support device  100  according to the first embodiment may read, with the scanner  110 , print media on which answers are writ Ion by students to perform scoring. Alternatively, the scoring support device  100  may display image data of a question sheet on terminal devices of the respective students and cause them to input the answers to perform scoring. 
         [0039]    The receiving unit  162  is a processing unit that receives specification of one or more answer areas in the image data and registers the one or more answer areas in the correct answer table  151  in a manner associated with a question number in order of being received. The receiving unit  162  also receives correct answer contents corresponding to the respective answer areas and registers them in the correct answer table  151 .  FIG. 3  is an example diagram of image data with no answer having been input thereto. 
         [0040]    The following describes an example of processing performed by the receiving unit  162 . The receiving unit  162 , for example, displays image data  10  illustrated in FIG.  3  including a message such as that “specify the question area, the answer area, and the correct answer contents” on the display unit  130 . The receiving unit  162  may also display a “question area specification button”, an “answer area specification button”, a “correct answer content button”, a “shift-to-next-question button”, and an “end button”, for example. 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  is a diagram for explaining processing performed by the receiving unit according to the first embodiment. The user, such as a teacher, operates the input unit  120  to specify a question area  20   a  and press a question area specification button  1   a , for example. The receiving unit  162  generates a unique question number and registers the coordinates of the question area  20   a  in the correct answer table  151  in a manner associated with the generated question number. 
         [0042]    After pressing the question area specification button  1   a , the user operates the input unit  120  to specify answer areas  10   a,    10   b,  and  10   c  and press an answer area specification button  1   b . The receiving unit  162  registers the coordinates of the answer areas  10   a  to  10   c  in the correct answer table  151  in a manner associated with the corresponding question number. Because the answer areas  10   a  to  10   c  are included in the question area  20   a,  for example, the receiving unit  162  registers the coordinates of the answer areas  10   a  to  10   c.  in the correct answer table  151  in a manner associated with the question number of the question area  20   a.    
         [0043]    After pressing the answer area specification button  1   b , the user operates the input unit  120  to input punctuation marks or the like serving as the correct answer contents to the answer areas  10   a  to  10   c  and presses a correct answer content button  1   c . The receiving unit  162  performs a character analysis on the answer areas  10   a  to  10   c,  thereby identifying the correct answer contents. The receiving unit  162  then registers the answer areas and the correct answer contents in the correct answer table  151  in a manner associated with each other. 
         [0044]    If a “, (comma)” is input to the answer area  10   a  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , for example, the receiving unit  162  registers the answer area  10   a  and the correct answer contents “coma” in the correct answer table  151  in a manner associated with each other. If a “, (comma)” is input to the answer area  10   b,  the receiving unit  162  registers the answer area  10   b  and the correct answer contents “comma” in the correct answer table  151  in a manner associated with each other. If a “. (period)” is input to the answer area  10   c,  the receiving unit  162  registers the answer area  10   c  and the correct answer contents “period” in the correct answer table  151  in a manner associated with each other. 
         [0045]    After completing specification of the question area, the answer areas, and the correct answer contents for a certain question, the user presses a shift-to-next-question button  1   d . The user thus starts specification of a question area, answer areas, and correct answer contents for the next question. 
         [0046]    Subsequently, the user specifies a question area  20   b  and presses the question area specification button  1   a . The receiving unit  162  generates a unique question number and registers the coordinates of the question area  20   b  in the correct answer table  151  in a manner associated with the generated question number. 
         [0047]    After pressing the question area specification button  1   a , the user operates the input unit  120  to specify answer areas  11   a  and  11   b  and press the answer area specification button  1   b . The receiving unit  162  registers the coordinates of the answer areas  11   a  and  11   b  in the correct answer table  151  in a manner associated with the corresponding question number. Because the answer areas  11   a  and  11   b  are included in the question area  20   b,  for example, the receiving unit  162  registers the coordinates of the answer areas  11   a  and  11   b  in the correct answer table  151  in a manner associated with the question number of the question area  20   b.    
         [0048]    After pressing the answer area specification button  1   b , the user operates the input unit  120  to input punctuation marks or the like serving as the correct answer contents to the answer areas  11   a  and  11   b  and presses the correct answer content button  1   c.  The receiving unit  162  performs a character analysis on the answer areas  11   a  and  11   b,  thereby identifying the correct answer contents. The receiving unit  162  then registers the answer areas and the correct answer contents in the correct answer table  151  in a manner associated with each other. 
         [0049]    After completing specification of the question area, the answer areas, and the correct answer contents for a certain question, the user presses the shift-to-next-question button  1   d . The user thus starts specification of a question area, answer areas, and correct answer contents for the next question. By contrast, if the processing described above is completed for all the questions in the image data  10 , the user presses an end button  1   e . When the end button  1   e  is pressed, the receiving unit  162  finishes the processing for registering information in the correct answer table  151 . 
         [0050]    If the receiving unit  162  receives the rule information  152  via the input unit  120  or the communication unit  140 , the receiving unit  162  registers the received rule information  152  in the storage unit  150 . The user may operate the input unit  120 , thereby appropriately updating the rule information  152 . 
         [0051]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the scoring unit  163  is a processing unit that performs scoring based on the correct answer table  151  and the rule information  152  when receiving image data with answers input thereto. The scoring unit  163 , for example, selects a question number in the correct answer table  151  and specifies answer areas corresponding to the selected question number. If the answer areas in the question area corresponding to the question number receive correct answer contents, and an area other than the answer areas receives no input, the scoring unit  163  gives a score for the corresponding question based on the rule information  152 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 5  is an example diagram of image data with answers input thereto. In the example illustrated in image data  50 , punctuation marks  50   a,    50   b,    50   c,    50   d,    50   e,  and  50   f  are input, for example. A student may input the punctuation marks  50   a  to  50   f  by writing them on a print medium and causing the scanner  110  to read them or by inputting them, with an input device, to a terminal device that displays the image data of the question sheet. 
         [0053]    The processing performed by the scoring unit  163  will be described.  FIG. 6  is a diagram for explaining the processing performed by the scoring unit according to the first embodiment. The following describes a case where the scoring unit  163  scores answers for a question of a question number “T101”. Let us assume a case where the answer areas specified by the correct answer table  151  are the answer areas  10   a  to  10   c.  The scoring unit  163  compares the answer areas  10   a  to  10   c  with the image data  50 . The scoring unit  163  performs a character analysis on characters included in the answer areas  10   a  to  10   c  in the image data  50 , thereby identifying input characters (punctuation marks). 
         [0054]    The scoring unit  163  determines whether the identified characters (punctuation marks) are identical with the respective correct answer contents corresponding to the answer areas  10   a  to  10   c  individually. Let us assume a case where the question number selected by the scoring unit  163  is “T101”, for example, and the coordinates of the answer areas  10   a  to  10   c  are “(x3,y3), (x4,y4)”, “(x5,y5), (x6,y6)”, and “(x7,y7), (x8,y8)”, respectively. Let us also assume a case where a “, (comma)” is input to the answer area  10   a  in the image data  50 , a “, (comma)” is input to the answer area  10   b , and a “. (period)” is input to the answer area  10   c.  In this case, the correct answer contents of the respective answer areas in the correct answer table  151  are identical with the punctuation marks input to the respective answer areas  10   a  to  10   c  in  FIG. 5 . The scoring unit  163  thus determines that the correct answer contents are input to the respective answer areas  10   a  to  10   c.    
         [0055]    After making a comparison of the answer areas  10   a  to  10   c,  the scoring unit  163  determines whether the other areas than the answer areas  10   a  to  10   c  in the question area  20   a  receive no input. The scoring unit  163 , for example, holds the image data  10  with no answer having been input thereto. The scoring unit  163  compares the image data  10  with the image data  50  with answers input thereto, thereby determining whether the other areas than the answer areas  10   a  to  10   c  in the question area  20   a  receive no input. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the other areas than the answer areas  10   a  to  10   c  in the question area  20   a  receive no input. 
         [0056]    The scoring unit  163  determines that the question area  20   a  corresponding to the question number satisfies the condition of the rule information  152  that the answer areas receive the respective correct answer contents and that the other areas than the answer areas receive no input. As a result, the scoring unit  163  gives a score for the question corresponding to the question number “T101”. The score for the question corresponding to the question number has been registered in the rule information  152 , for example. 
         [0057]    The following describes a case where the scoring unit  163  scores answers for a question of a question number “T102”. Let us assume a case where the answer areas specified by the correct answer table  151  are the answer areas  11   a  and  11   b . The scoring unit  163  compares the answer areas  11   a  and  11   b  with the image data  50 . The scoring unit  163  performs a character analysis on characters included in the answer areas  11   a  and  11   b  in the image data  50 , thereby identifying input characters (punctuation marks). 
         [0058]    The scoring unit  163  determines whether the identified characters (punctuation marks) are identical with the respective correct answer contents corresponding to the answer areas  11   a  and  11   b  individually. Let us assume a case where the question number selected by the scoring unit  163  is “T102”, for example, and the coordinates of the answer areas  11   a  and  11   b  are “(x9,y9), (x10,y10)” and “(x11, y11), (x12,y12)”, respectively. Let us also assume a case where a “, (comma)” is input to the answer area  11   a  in the image data  50 , and a “. (period)” is input to the answer area  11   b.  In this case, the correct answer contents of the respective answer areas in the correct answer table  151  are identical with the punctuation marks input to the respective answer areas  11   a  and  11   b  in  FIG. 5 . The scoring unit  163  thus determines that the correct answer contents are input to the respective answer areas  11   a  and  11   b.    
         [0059]    After making a comparison of the answer areas  11   a  and  11   b,  the scoring unit  163  determines whether the other areas than the answer areas  11   a  and  11   b  in the question area  20   b  receive no input. The scoring unit  163 , for example, holds the image data  10  with no answer having been input thereto. The scoring unit  163  compares the image data  10  with the image data  50  with answers input thereto, thereby determining whether the other areas than the answer areas  11   a  and  11   b  in the question area  20   b  receive no input. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 6 , an area other than the answer areas  11   a  and  11   b  in the question area  20   b  receives input of the punctuation mark  50   f.    
         [0060]    The scoring unit  163  determines that the question area  20   b  corresponding to the question number does not satisfy the condition of the rule information  152  that the answer areas receive the respective correct answer contents and that the other areas than the answer areas receive no input. As a result, the scoring unit  163  does not give a score for the question corresponding to the question number “T102”. 
         [0061]    The scoring unit  163  performs the processing described above on the questions, thereby determining whether to give scores for the respective questions. The scoring unit  163  adds up the given scores, thereby calculating a score for the image data  50 . The scoring unit  163  may display the calculated score on the display unit  130  or notify an external device of the score via the communication unit. 
         [0062]    In a case where an answer area receives no input or where an input character is not identical with the correct answer contents, which is not illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the scoring unit  163  determines that the condition of the rule information  152  is not satisfied. Also in this case, the scoring unit  163  does not give a score for the question. 
         [0063]    The following describes a process of registration for scanning a question sheet with no answer having been written thereon and registering various types of information in the correct answer table  151  performed by the scoring support device  100  according to the first embodiment.  FIG. 7  is a flowchart of the process of registration according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the image data acquiring unit  161  of the scoring support device  100  scans a question sheet with no answer having been written thereon to acquire image data (Step S 101 ). 
         [0064]    The receiving unit  162  of the scoring support device  100  displays the image data on the display unit  130  (Step S 102 ). The receiving unit  162  receives specification of a question area and answer areas (Step S 103 ) and receives punctuation marks of correct answers for the respective answer areas (Step S 104 ). 
         [0065]    If input of the answer areas and the correct answer contents for one question is not completed yet (No at Step S 105 ), the receiving unit  162  performs the processing at Step S 103  again. By contrast, if input of the answer areas and the correct answer contents for one question is completed (Yes at Step S 105 ), the receiving unit  162  performs processing at Step S 106 . 
         [0066]    The receiving unit  162  registers a question number, the question area, the answer areas, and the correct answer contents in the correct answer table  151  in a manner associated with one another (Step S 106 ). If the registration is not to be finished (No at Step S 107 ), the receiving unit  162  performs the processing at Step S 102  again. By contrast, if the registration is to be finished (Yes at Step S 107 ), the receiving unit  162  finishes the processing. 
         [0067]    The following describes a process of scoring for scanning and scoring a question sheet with answers written thereon performed by the scoring support device  100  according to the first embodiment.  FIG. 8  is a flowchart of a process of scoring according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the image data acquiring unit  161  of the scoring support device  100  scans a question sheet with answers written thereon to acquire image data with the answers written thereon (Step S 201 ). The scoring support device  100  may display image data with no answer written thereon on the display unit  130  to receive input of answers to the displayed image data. 
         [0068]    The scoring unit  163  of the scoring support device  100  refers to the correct answer table  151  to select one record corresponding to an unselected question number (Step S 202 ). The scoring unit  163  performs a character analysis on the answer areas, thereby determining whether punctuation marks are present (Step S 203 ). The scoring unit  163  performs a character analysis on the other areas than the answer areas in the question area, thereby determining whether punctuation marks are present (Step S 204 ). 
         [0069]    The scoring unit  163  performs scoring based on the result of determination at Steps S 203  and S 204  and the rule information  152  (Step S 205 ). If the question area satisfies the condition of the rule information  152  that all the answer areas receive the respective correct answer contents and that the other areas than the answer areas receive no input at Step S 205 , for example, the scoring unit  163  gives a score. 
         [0070]    If an unselected question number is present (Yes at Step S 206 ), the scoring unit  163  performs the processing at Step S 202  again. By contrast, if no unselected question number is present (No at Step S 206 ), the scoring unit  163  outputs a scoring result (Step S 207 ). 
         [0071]    The following describes advantages effects of the scoring support device  100  according to the first embodiment. The scoring support device  100  receives specification of one or more answer areas in image data and registers the one or more answer areas in the correct answer table  151  in a manner associated with a question number in order of being received. By using the information registered in the correct answer table  151 , for example, the scoring support device  100  can score the image data with answers input thereto. With this configuration, the scoring support device  100  can support creation of questions designed for electronic terminals from a print medium used by a teacher or the like, scoring of answers of students for the questions, and management of scores. 
         [0072]    The scoring support device  100  registers, in the correct answer table  151 , the contents of input to the specified one or more answer areas or the contents of input corresponding to display of a certain question number of the one or more areas as a correct answer for the certain question number. With this configuration, the scoring support device  100  can determine whether answers input to the respective answer areas are correct, thereby performing scoring. 
         [0073]    When receiving specification of the answer areas in the image data and specification of input of a plurality of correct answers, the scoring support device  100  stores the answer areas in the correct answer table  151  as an application target of the scoring rule that a score corresponding to the answer areas is given when all the specified input of correct answers is received and when no other input than the input of correct answers is received. With this configuration, if all the answer areas receive input of correct answers, but an area other than the answer areas receives input of a punctuation mark, the scoring support device  100  can determine that the answers are incorrect as a whole. 
         [0074]    The scoring support device  100  uses scanned image data, thereby facilitating its creation of questions designed for electronic terminals from a print medium used by a teacher or the like. 
       [b] Second Embodiment 
       [0075]      FIG. 9  is a functional block diagram of a configuration of a scoring support device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , a scoring support device  200  includes a scanner  210 , an input unit  220 , a display unit  230 , a communication unit  240 , a storage unit  250 , and a control unit  260 . The scoring support device  200  is an example of the correct/incorrect determination rule setting device. 
         [0076]    Description of the scanner  210 , the input unit  220 , the display unit  230 , and the communication unit  240  illustrated in  FIG. 9  is the same as that of the scanner  110 , the input unit  120 , the display unit  130 , and the communication unit  140  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0077]    The storage unit  250  stores therein a correct answer table  251  and scoring rule information  252 . The storage unit  250 , for example, corresponds to a semiconductor memory device, such as a RAM, a ROM, and a flash memory, or a storage device, such as an HDD. 
         [0078]      FIG. 10  is an example diagram of a data structure of the correct answer table according to the second embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the correct answer table  251  stores therein a question number, a question area, and a correct answer area in a manner associated with one another. The question number is information for uniquely identifying a question. The question area indicates an area on image data in which a question corresponding to the question number is present. The question area is specified by coordinates of its upper left corner and coordinates of its lower right corner, for example. 
         [0079]    The correct answer area indicates an area in which a line surrounding a correct answer is written in a multiple-choice question including a correct answer and incorrect answers. The correct answer area is specified by coordinates of its upper left corner and coordinates of its lower right corner, for example. 
         [0080]    The scoring rule information  252  defines conditions on which an answer for a question is determined to be correct. The scoring rule information  252 , for example, includes the information that, if the center or the center of gravity of the surrounding line input by the user is included in the correct answer area, the answer for the question corresponding to the question number is determined to be correct. The scoring rule information  252  also includes the information that, if the center or the center of gravity of the surrounding line input by the user in the question area is not included in the correct answer area, the answer for the question corresponding to the question number is determined to be incorrect. 
         [0081]    The control unit  260  includes an image data acquiring unit  261 , a receiving unit  262 , and a scoring unit  263 . The control unit  260  corresponds to an integrated device, such as an ASIC and an FPGA. The control unit  260 , for example, corresponds to an electronic circuit, such as a CPU and an MPU. 
         [0082]    The image data acquiring unit  261  is a processing unit that acquires image data from the scanner  210 . The image data acquiring unit  261  outputs the image data to the receiving unit  262  or the scoring unit  263 . If the image data acquiring unit  261  acquires image data of a question sheet with no answer having been input thereto, for example, the image data acquiring unit  261  outputs it to the receiving unit  262 . If the image data acquiring unit  261  acquires image data of a question sheet with answers input thereto, the image data acquiring unit  261  outputs it to the scoring unit  263 . The image data acquiring unit  261  may be notified of whether the image data is data with no answer having been input thereto or data with answers input thereto by the user operating the input unit  220 . 
         [0083]    The scoring support device  200  according to the second embodiment may read, with the scanner  210 , print media on which answers are written by students to perform scoring. Alternatively, the scoring support device  200  may display image data of a question sheet on terminal devices of the respective students and cause them to input the answers to perform scoring. 
         [0084]    The receiving unit  262  is a processing unit that receives and registers information on the question area and the correct answer area of each question in the correct answer table  251 . When receiving the rule information  252 , the receiving unit  262  registers the rule information  252  in the storage unit  250 .  FIG. 11  is an example diagram of image data with no answer for multiple-choice questions having been input thereto. 
         [0085]    The following describes an example of processing performed by the receiving unit  262 . The receiving unit  262 , for example, displays image data  60  illustrated in  FIG. 11  including a message such as that “specify the question area and the correct answer area” on the display unit  230 . The receiving unit  262  may also display a “question area specification button”, a “correct answer area specification button”, a “shift-to-next-question button”, and an “end button”, for example. 
         [0086]      FIG. 12  is a diagram for explaining processing performed by the receiving unit according to the second embodiment. The user, such as a teacher, operates the input unit  220  to specify a question area  80   a  and press a question area specification button  2   a,  for example. The receiving unit  262  generates a unique question number and registers the coordinates of the question area  80   a  in the correct answer table  251  in a manner associated with the generated question number. 
         [0087]    After pressing the question area specification button  2   a,  the user operates the input unit  220  to specify a correct answer area  70   a  and press a correct answer area specification button  2   b.  The receiving unit  262  registers the coordinates of the correct answer area  70   a  in the correct answer table  251  in a manner associated with the corresponding question number. 
         [0088]    After completing specification of the question area and the correct answer area for a certain question, the user presses a shift-to-next-question button  2   c.  The user thus starts specification of a question area and a correct answer area for the next question. 
         [0089]    Subsequently, the user specifies a question area  80   b  and presses the question area specification button  2   a . The receiving unit  262  generates a unique question number and registers the coordinates of the question area  80   b  in the correct answer table  251  in a manner associated with the generated question number. 
         [0090]    After pressing the question area specification button  2   a,  the user operates the input unit  220  to specify a correct answer area  70   b  and press the correct answer area specification button  2   b.  The receiving unit  262  registers the coordinates of the correct answer area  70   b  in the correct answer table  251  in a manner associated with the corresponding question number. 
         [0091]    After completing specification of the question area and the correct answer area for a certain question, the user presses the shift-to-next-question button  2   c.  The user thus starts specification of a question area and a correct answer area for the next question. By contrast, if the processing described above is completed for all the questions in the image data  60 , the user presses an end button  2   d.  When the end button  2   d  is pressed, the receiving unit  262  finishes the processing for registering information in the correct answer table  251 . 
         [0092]    Referring back to  FIG. 9 , the scoring unit  263  is a processing unit that performs scoring based on the correct answer table  251  and the rule information  252  when receiving image data with answers input thereto. The scoring unit  263 , for example, selects a question number in the correct answer table  251  and specifies a correct answer area corresponding to the selected question number. If the center or the center of gravity of the surrounding line input as an answer is positioned in the correct answer area, the scoring unit  263  gives a score for the corresponding question based on the rule information  252 . By contrast, if the center or the center of gravity of the surrounding line input as an answer is not positioned in the correct answer area, the scoring unit  263  does not give the score for the corresponding question based on the rule information  252 . 
         [0093]      FIG. 13  is an example diagram of image data with answers for the multiple-choice questions input thereto. In the example illustrated in image data  90 , surrounding lines  90   a  and  90   b  are input, for example. A student may input the surrounding lines by writing them on a print medium and causing the scanner  210  to read them or by inputting them, with the input device, to the terminal device that displays the image data of the question sheet. 
         [0094]    The processing performed by the scoring unit  263  will be described.  FIG. 14  is a diagram for explaining processing performed by the scoring unit according to the second embodiment. The following describes a case where the scoring unit  263  scores a question in the question area  80   a  of a question number “T201” in the correct answer table  251 . The scoring unit  263 , for example, compares the image data  60  with no answer having been input thereto with the image data  90  with answers input thereto. The scoring unit  263  thus extracts a surrounding line  90   a  included in the question area  80   a.    
         [0095]    The scoring unit  263  determines whether the center or the center of gravity of the surrounding line  90   a  is positioned in the correct answer area  70   a.  Because the center or the center of gravity of the surrounding line  90   a  in the example illustrated in  FIG. 14  is positioned in the correct answer area  70   a,  the scoring unit  263  determines that the surrounding line  90   a  satisfies the condition of the rule information  252 . In this case, the scoring unit  263  gives a score for the question corresponding to the question number “T201”. The score for the question corresponding to the question number has been registered in the rule information  252 , for example. 
         [0096]    The following describes a case where the scoring unit  263  scores an answer for a question in the question area  80   b  of a question number “T202”. The scoring unit  263 , for example, compares the image data  60  with no answer having been input thereto with the image data  90  with answers input thereto. The scoring unit  263  thus extracts a surrounding line  90   b  included in the question area  80   b.    
         [0097]    The scoring unit  263  determines whether the center or the center of gravity of the surrounding line  90   b  is positioned in the correct answer area  70   b.  Because the center or the center of gravity of the surrounding line  90   b  in the example illustrated in  FIG. 14  is not positioned in the correct answer area  70   b,  the scoring unit  263  determines that the surrounding line  90   b  does not satisfy the condition of the rule information  252 . In this case, the scoring unit  263  does not give a score for the question corresponding to the question number “T202”. 
         [0098]    The scoring unit  263  performs the processing described above on the questions, thereby determining whether to give scores for the respective questions. The scoring unit  263  adds up the given scores, thereby calculating a score for the image data  90 . The scoring unit  263  may display the calculated score on the display unit  230  or notify an external device of the score via the communication unit. 
         [0099]    In a case where no surrounding line is input to the question area or where a plurality of surrounding lines are present even though a single item is supposed to be selected, which is not illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the scoring unit  263  does not give the score for the question. 
         [0100]    The following describes a process of registration for scanning a question sheet with no answer having been written thereon and registering various types of information in the correct answer table  251  performed by the scoring support device  200  according to; the second embodiment.  FIG. 15  is a flowchart of a process of registration according to the second embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the image data acquiring unit  261  of the scoring support device  200  scans a question sheet with no answer having been written thereon to acquire image data (Step S 301 ). 
         [0101]    The receiving unit  262  of the scouring support device  200  displays the image data on the display unit  230  (Step S 302 ). The receiving unit  262  receives specification of a question area and a correct answer area (Step S 303 ). The receiving unit  262  registers a question number, the question area, and the correct answer area in the correct answer table  251  in a manner associated with one another (Step S 304 ). 
         [0102]    If the registration is not to be finished (Mo at Step S 305 ), the receiving unit  262  performs the processing at Step S 302  again. By contrast, if the registration is to be finished (Yes at Step S 305 ), the receiving unit  262  finishes the processing. 
         [0103]    The following describes a process of scoring for scanning and scoring a question sheet with answers written thereon performed by the scoring support device  200  according to the second embodiment.  FIG. 16  is a flowchart of a process of scoring according to the second embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 16 , the image data acquiring unit  261  of the scoring support device  200  scans a question sheet with answers written thereon to acquire image data with the answers input thereto (Step S 401 ). The scoring support device  200  may display image data with no answer written thereon on the display unit  230  to receive input of answers to the displayed image data. 
         [0104]    The scoring unit  263  of the scoring support device  200  refers to the correct answer table  251  to select one record corresponding to an unselected question number (Step S 402 ). The scoring unit  263  performs an image analysis on the question area, thereby extracting a surrounding line (Step S 403 ). The scoring unit  263  determines whether the center or the center of gravity of the surrounding line is included in the correct answer area (Step S 404 ). 
         [0105]    The scoring unit  263  performs scoring based on the determination result and the rule information  252  (Step S 405 ). If the center or the center of gravity of the input surrounding line is positioned in the correct answer area, for example, the scoring unit  263  gives a score for the question. 
         [0106]    If an unselected question number is present (Yes at Step S 406 ), the scoring unit  263  performs the processing at Step S 402  again. By contrast, if no unselected question number is present (No at Step S 406 ), the scoring unit  263  outputs a scoring result (Step S 407 ). 
         [0107]    The following describes advantages effects of the scoring support device  200  according to the second embodiment. When receiving specification of a correct answer area corresponding to a correct answer while displaying a question sentence instructing students to draw a line surrounding the correct answer, the scoring support device  200  stores, in the storage unit  250 , the rule information that the answer for the question sentence is determined to be correct if the center or the center of gravity of the input surrounding line is positioned in the correct answer area. By using the rule information, for example, the scoring support device  200  can score the image data with answers input thereto. With this configuration, the scoring support device  200  can support creation of questions designed for electronic: terminals from a print medium used by a teacher or the like, scoring of answers of students for the questions, and management of scores. 
         [0108]    The following describes an example of a computer that executes an application target specification program or a correct/incorrect determination rule setting program that provides functions similar to those of the scoring support devices  100  and  200  according to the embodiments above.  FIG. 17  is an example diagram of a computer that executes the application target specification program or the correct/incorrect determination rule setting program. 
         [0109]    As illustrated in  FIG. 17 , a computer  300  includes a CPU  301 , an input device  302 , and a display  303 . The CPU  301  performs various types of arithmetic processing. The input device  302  receives input of data from the user. The computer  300  also includes a reading device  304 , an interface device  305 , and a scanner  306 . The reading device  304  reads a computer program or the like from a storage medium. The interface device  305  transmits and receives data to and from another computer via a network. The computer  300  also includes a RAM  307  and a hard disk device  308 . The RAM  307  temporarily stores therein various types of information. The devices  301  to  308  are connected to a bus  309 . 
         [0110]    The hard disk device  308  reads and loads a reception program  308   a  and a scoring program  308   b  to the RAM  307 . The reception program  308   a  functions as a reception process  307   a.  The scoring program  308   b  functions as a scoring process  307   b.  The reception process  307   a,  for example, corresponds to the receiving units  162  and  262 . The scoring process  307   b  corresponds to the scoring units  163  and  263 . 
         [0111]    The reception program  308   a  and the scoring program  308   b  are not always stored in the hard disk device  308  in advance. The programs, for example, may be stored in a “portable physical medium”, such as a flexible disk (FD), a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a magneto-optical disc, and an integrated circuit (IC) card, inserted into the computer  300 . In this case, the computer  300  reads and executes the reception program  308   a  and the scoring program  308   b  from the medium. 
         [0112]    The present invention can support creation of questions designed for electronic terminals from those on a print medium, scoring of answers of students, and management of scores. 
         [0113]    All examples and conditional language provided herein are intended for pedagogical purposes of aiding the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventors to further the art, and are not to be construed as limitations to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although one or more embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.