JP2007300334A - Image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manage an image processor by acquiring operation information on copying or transmission of an image which does not depend upon an external device when the image is copied or transmitted. <P>SOLUTION: When the image processor is actuated, a request to acquire an operation picture is sent to a management server. The management server forms an initial operation picture and transmits picture data on it. The image processor displays the initial operation picture. When an input operation is performed, the image processor transmits the operation information. The management server transmits picture data on a next operation picture according to the operation information. The management server once receiving operation information on an operation of a start key for scanning transmits an indication for performance. The scanning is performed and read image data are transmitted to the management server. The management server receives operation information on each operation from the image processor and saves the operation information to manage a history of operations. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing system in which an image processing apparatus and an external apparatus are connected through a network, and the image processing apparatus performs processing on image data using an application included in the external apparatus.

  The image processing apparatus is multifunctional and can perform processing such as copying, printing, scanning, and facsimile. An image processing system is constructed in which this image processing device and an external device such as a server or a personal computer are communicably connected via a network. In the image processing system, image data is output from an external device to the image processing device, and the image processing device processes the image data and outputs it by printing, facsimile communication, or the like. In addition, image data input to the image processing apparatus is output to the external apparatus, and the external apparatus manages the image data.

  As described above, in order to manage and share image data, external vendors have developed applications related to document management and business processes. In the image processing system, the application and the image processing apparatus are operated in cooperation.

When the image processing apparatus is operated according to the application of the external apparatus, the image processing apparatus performs various processes according to instructions from the external apparatus. At this time, an operation screen corresponding to the application is displayed on the image processing apparatus. In order to make the operation screen easy to use, for example, in Patent Document 1, the operation screen can be easily changed by sending image data for screen design from an external device to the image processing apparatus. In Patent Document 2, the operation screens of both apparatuses are made common by sending operation screen data from the image processing apparatus to an external apparatus.
JP 2002-86847 A JP 2001-322340 A

  The operation screen as described above facilitates the operation when the image processing apparatus is operated in cooperation with an application. By the way, the image processing apparatus performs a process specific to the apparatus such as reading a document, copying it, or performing facsimile communication as a process independent of the application. The process unique to the apparatus is a process that can be executed by the apparatus alone.

  When the device-specific processing is performed, the external device does not grasp the operation content. When the external device is a management server that manages the image processing device, the external device cannot manage what operation is performed in the image processing device. In addition, when a trouble occurs in the image processing apparatus, the situation cannot be immediately grasped and cannot be quickly dealt with.

  Therefore, in view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system capable of grasping the operation content and managing the image processing apparatus even when apparatus-specific processing is performed in the image processing apparatus.

  The present invention is an image processing system in which an image processing apparatus that processes image data and an external apparatus are communicably connected via a network, and the image processing apparatus operates according to an application that the external apparatus has. The image forming apparatus includes a screen forming unit that forms an operation screen of the image processing apparatus, and the image processing apparatus displays an operation screen input from an external apparatus when executing a process unique to the apparatus.

  Processing unique to the apparatus such as copying and facsimile communication is executed without depending on the external apparatus. Therefore, the external device forms an operation screen and provides the operation screen to the image processing apparatus, so that the operation screen changes each time the operation is performed according to the operation screen. That is, the external device provides an operation screen corresponding to the operation content of the image processing apparatus. Therefore, the external device can grasp the operation content in the image processing device even if the processing is unique to the device. The external apparatus can recognize the operation status of the image processing apparatus, and can manage security and maintenance.

  The image processing apparatus has a standard operation screen when executing processing unique to the apparatus, and the screen forming means of the external apparatus forms the same screen as the standard operation screen. As a result, the provided operation screen does not change from the standard screen at all, so that the user can operate without feeling uncomfortable without recognizing that the operation screen is provided from an external device.

  The image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires an operation screen to be displayed from an external device at the time of activation. The acquisition unit requests to send an operation screen to the external device when the acquisition unit is activated by power-on or reset. Therefore, the operation screen can be automatically acquired from the external device, and the user's operation for displaying the operation screen can be made unnecessary.

  The external device has management means for acquiring operation information when the operation screen of the image processing apparatus is operated by the user and managing the operation history of the user. The image processing apparatus outputs operation information at the time of scanning to an external device. The external device forms the next operation screen based on the input operation information and outputs it to the image processing device. At this time, the management means stores the input operation information. Thereby, an operation history in the image processing apparatus can be managed. Then, by authenticating the operated user when obtaining the operation information, the operation information can be collected for each user, and the operation history of each user can be managed.

  The functions that can be operated according to the user are limited, and the image forming means of the external device forms an operation screen according to the user. As a result, the user cannot operate the restricted function, and unauthorized use by the user can be prevented.

  According to the present invention, when the image processing device performs device-specific processing that does not depend on the external device, the external device provides an operation screen according to the operation content of the image processing device, so that the external device operates in the image processing device. Information can be obtained. Thereby, the external apparatus can manage the operation history in the image processing apparatus. Therefore, the external device can manage the entire system, such as easily identifying the cause of trouble, monitoring unauthorized use, and performing maintenance such as replenishment of consumables.

  An image processing apparatus in the image processing system of this embodiment is shown in FIG. The image processing apparatus 1 is an MFP that executes a copy mode, a print mode, a scanner mode, and a facsimile mode, and includes a scanner unit 2 that reads a document and inputs image data, and an image data processing unit 3 that processes the image data. And an information processing unit 4 for processing input information such as authentication information.

  The image data processing unit 3 prints and outputs the image data, the image processing unit 5 that performs editing, storage, and output processing of the input image data, the network communication unit 7 that performs data communication via the network 6, and the like. The printing unit 8 includes a management unit 9 that stores control information and setting information for the entire apparatus, and a device control unit 10 that controls the entire apparatus. The image processing unit 5 includes a hard disk device for storing image data and a memory.

  The information processing unit 4 includes an operation unit 11 for input operation, a display unit 12 that displays an operation screen, an interface unit 13 that communicates with a mobile terminal device such as a USB device or an IC card, and input authentication information It has the authentication part 14 which performs authentication, the memory 15 which memorize | stores information, such as authentication information, and the control part 16 which processes the input operation information and authentication information. Communication by the interface unit 13 is not limited to wired communication but may be wireless.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 11 and the display unit 12 are provided on the operation panel 17. The operation unit 11 includes various operation keys 18. The display unit 12 includes a liquid crystal display and is a touch panel. Touch keys are formed in the operation screen displayed on the display unit 12, and these also function as the operation keys 18.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of image processing apparatuses 1 are connected to a network 6 such as a LAN or a WAN. The image processing apparatus 1 has a modem device (not shown) and can perform data communication with a facsimile apparatus through a telephone line.

  A plurality of external devices are connected to the network 6. The external devices are a personal computer 20 and a server 21. Furthermore, the network 6 is connected from the router to the Internet via a communication line such as a telephone line or an optical fiber. An image processing system is formed by the image processing apparatus 1 and the external apparatus.

  The image processing apparatus 1 can communicate with an external apparatus through a network 6 using a predetermined communication protocol. The image processing apparatuses 1 can also communicate with each other. The communication in the network 6 may be wired or wireless.

  The image data is transmitted from the external device to the image processing device 1 through the network 6. The network communication unit 7 of the image processing apparatus 1 receives and inputs image data. In the case of facsimile communication, the modem device inputs image data. Image data is also input from the scanner unit 2.

  When the image data is input, the device control unit 10 determines whether the print mode, the copy mode, the scanner mode, or the facsimile mode is based on input information from the operation unit 11 or processing conditions included in the header information of the input image data. Execute one of the processes. In the print mode and the copy mode, the image processing unit 5 performs image processing on the image data, and then the printing unit 8 prints an image on a recording sheet. In the scanner mode, the image data is stored in the hard disk device, and the image data is transmitted to the external device through the network communication unit 7 when called from the external device. In the facsimile mode, image data is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus through the modem apparatus. The processes in the copy mode, the scanner mode, and the facsimile mode are processes that can be executed by the apparatus alone, and these processes are processes unique to the apparatus.

  The external apparatus has various applications related to the image processing apparatus 1. The external device performs processing according to the application and operates the image processing device 1 according to the application. Therefore, in the image processing system, the application of the external device and the image processing apparatus 1 can be operated in cooperation. The image processing apparatus 1 can execute not only apparatus-specific processing but also various functions customized by an application.

  The application is developed by an external vendor, and one or a plurality of applications are installed in each external device. The processes executed by the application are related to image processing such as color conversion, resolution conversion, scaling, RET, specific image discrimination, transmission processing such as time designation transmission, broadcast processing, file management, OCR, translation, etc. There are things related to documents and operability such as setting and switching of functions of the image processing apparatus 1, job programming, and customization of operations.

  A system using such an application is referred to as OSA (Open Systems Architecture). In OSA, a Web service using SOAP is performed. Communication using HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, or TCP / IP is performed between the external apparatus and the image processing apparatus 1 using SOAP.

  This communication is performed by a control unit including a CPU in the external device, and is performed by the device control unit 10 in the image processing apparatus 1. The control unit and the device control unit 10 operate in accordance with a predetermined program, thereby executing communication using SOAP and transmitting and receiving messages. SOAP is a protocol for calling data and services based on XML, HTTP, and the like, and can give instructions for control.

  As one of the applications, there is an application that acquires the operation content of the image processing apparatus 1 and manages the image processing apparatus 1. In order to realize this, the external device includes a screen forming unit that forms an operation screen of the image processing device 1, a screen output unit that transmits screen data of the formed operation screen to the image processing device 1, and the image processing device 1. An operation information input unit that receives operation information when the operation screen is operated and a management unit that manages an operation history are provided.

  On the other hand, the image processing apparatus 1 includes a display unit that displays an operation screen based on screen data of the operation screen input from the external device, and an operation information output that transmits operation information when the operation screen is operated to the external device. Means.

  Each means is a function realized by software such as a Web browser installed in each control unit. When the screen forming unit of the external apparatus receives a screen request from the image processing apparatus 1, it forms an operation screen. The operation screen is formed according to the requested content. The screen output means transmits the screen data of the operation screen using HTTP.

  The display unit of the image processing apparatus 1 displays an operation screen on the display unit 12 based on the input image data. When the user operates the operation key 18 of the operation unit 11 or the display unit 12, the operation information output unit transmits operation information corresponding to the input operation key 18 using HTTP.

  The operation information input means of the external device receives the input operation information and stores the operation information in a storage unit such as a hard disk device. The image forming unit forms an operation screen according to the input operation information. The screen data of this operation screen is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 1, and the next operation screen is displayed. In addition to the input operation information, the management unit collects logs regarding executed jobs, errors, and the like from the image processing apparatus 1, manages the usage status of each user and the usage status of the image processing apparatus 1, The image processing apparatus 1 is controlled. Based on the collected logs, the management means elucidates the cause of the abnormality, determines the presence or absence of unauthorized use, aggregates usage results, replaces or replenishes consumables, determines the necessity of maintenance, and the like.

  Here, the image processing apparatus 1 performs processing by the OSA using an application included in the external device, and also performs processing unique to the device. In the former case, the external apparatus can collect logs from the image processing apparatus 1. In the latter case, processing is executed regardless of the external device, such as copying, facsimile transmission, facsimile reception, and scanning.

  Therefore, the device control unit 10 of the image processing apparatus 1 includes an acquisition unit that makes an acquisition request so as to acquire an operation screen from an external device when activated by turning on or resetting the power. The screen forming means of the external device outputs screen data of the operation screen to the image processing device 1 when an acquisition request is input. The display means displays an operation screen based on the input screen data.

  Each time the image processing apparatus 1 is operated, the operation information output unit transmits the operation information to the external apparatus. The screen forming unit of the external apparatus forms an operation screen according to the input operation information, and the screen output unit outputs screen data of the operation screen to the image processing apparatus 1. The operation information input means stores operation information. Thus, when the image processing apparatus 1 performs device-specific processing that does not depend on an external device, an operation screen is provided from the external device.

  The operation screen formed by the application of the external device is the same screen as the standard operation screen when executing processing unique to the device. That is, the image forming unit forms the same screen as the standard operation screen. The external device stores screen data of an operation screen for each image processing device 1 and can correspond to different types of image processing devices 1. Note that the standard operation screen is, for example, a screen displayed on the operation panel 17 of FIG. Since the displayed operation screen is exactly the same as the standard operation screen, the user can perform an operation without feeling uncomfortable without recognizing that the operation screen is formed by an application.

  Next, the operation when the image processing apparatus 1 performs apparatus-specific processing will be specifically described with reference to FIG. The image processing apparatus 1 is managed by a management server that is an external apparatus. First, when the image processing apparatus (MFP) 1 is powered on, the device control unit 10 automatically creates transmission data for an operation screen acquisition request, and transmits this transmission data to the management server. In the image processing apparatus 1, destination information such as a MAC address or an IP address of a management server that communicates at startup is registered.

  The control unit of the management server specifies the transmission source image processing apparatus 1 from the input transmission data, and forms an initial operation screen for the image processing apparatus 1. Then, the control unit transmits screen data of the initial operation screen to the image processing apparatus 1.

  The device control unit 10 of the image processing apparatus 1 displays an initial operation screen on the display unit 12 based on the input screen data. When the user operates the operation key 18, the device control unit 10 transmits the input operation information to the external device. Here, it is assumed that the scanner mode is selected.

  The control unit of the management server forms the next operation screen based on the input operation information, and transmits the screen data to the external device. The device control unit 10 of the image processing apparatus 1 displays the next operation screen based on the input screen data.

  The user continues the operation of setting the input conditions in the scan mode according to the operation screen. The operation information input from the operation key at this time is transmitted to the management server. The control unit of the management server stores the input operation information in the storage unit.

  When the user operates the start key when the scan execution screen is displayed, the device control unit 10 transmits this operation information to the management server. The control unit of the management server transmits a scan execution request instruction using SOAP as a response to the input operation information.

  When receiving the instruction, the device control unit 10 of the image processing apparatus 1 executes a job for scanning a document. The image of the original is read and the image data is stored in the hard disk device. The device control unit 10 transmits the image data to the management server using FTP.

  Note that the transmission destination of the image data is not limited to the management server, and may be another external device. In this case, the image processing apparatus 1 transmits information that transmitted the image data to another external apparatus to the management server.

  When the image data transmission completion information is input, the control unit of the management server transmits a reading end instruction and transmits screen data of the initial operation screen. The device control unit 10 of the image processing apparatus 1 displays an initial operation screen.

  Thus, when the image processing apparatus 1 performs apparatus-specific processing, an external apparatus such as a management server can obtain operation information in this process.

  When an operation screen acquisition request is received from the image processing apparatus 1, the external apparatus forms a user authentication screen and transmits the screen data. The image processing apparatus displays an authentication screen. When the user inputs the ID and password, the image processing apparatus 1 transmits the authentication information to the external device. When the external device confirms that the user is registered in advance, the external device transmits an initial operation screen. As a result, the external device can obtain the operation information for each user and manage the operation history of each user even if the device-specific processing is performed.

  Further, the external device can limit the functions that can be operated according to the user. That is, the external device registers the user authority that sets the function that can be operated for each user and the function that restricts the operation. The function here is an operation for executing an application, or an operation for performing processing related to security such as storage, reading, and output of image data.

  When the external device recognizes the user who is going to operate based on the operation information from the image processing apparatus 1, the external device determines the user authority and forms an operation screen. For example, an operation screen is formed so that functions for which operations are restricted are not displayed on the operation screen. Therefore, the image processing apparatus 1 displays an operation screen on which functions that can be operated are displayed according to the user.

  Alternatively, the external device forms a standard operation screen as the operation screen, and the image processing device 1 displays the standard operation screen. When the user operates an operation key for a function whose operation is restricted, the external device receives this operation information and determines whether or not the operation is possible. When the operation information is for a function whose operation is restricted, the external apparatus forms an operation screen for displaying a message indicating that the function cannot be used. The image processing apparatus 1 displays this operation screen and cancels the input operation.

  Therefore, by displaying an operation screen corresponding to the user authority, it is possible to limit an illegal operation. Thereby, unauthorized use of the image processing apparatus 1 can be prevented, and the security of the entire system is improved.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, many corrections and changes can be added to the said embodiment within the scope of the present invention. The image processing apparatus may be a complex machine having a copy mode and a facsimile mode, or may be a dedicated machine having only a single mode such as a copier or a printer.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image processing apparatus automatically acquires the operation screen from the external device at the time of startup. However, the image processing apparatus may be selectable between automatic acquisition and manual acquisition so that it can be acquired by a user operation. Good.

The figure which shows schematic structure of the image processing apparatus of this invention Diagram showing the operation panel Configuration diagram of image processing system Flow chart of operation procedure during scanning

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing apparatus 2 Scanner part 3 Image data processing part 4 Information processing part 6 Network 10 Equipment control part 11 Operation part 12 Display part 20 Personal computer 21 Server

Claims (5)

An image processing system that processes image data and an external device are communicably connected via a network, and the image processing device operates according to an application of the external device. An image processing system comprising screen forming means for forming an operation screen, wherein the image processing device displays an operation screen input from an external device when executing device-specific processing. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus has a standard operation screen for executing processing unique to the apparatus, and the screen forming unit of the external apparatus forms the same screen as the standard operation screen. Image processing system. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire an operation screen to be displayed from an external device at the time of activation. The external device includes management means for obtaining operation information when an operation screen of the image processing apparatus is operated by a user and managing an operation history of the user. An image processing system according to claim 1. 4. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein functions operable according to a user are limited, and an image forming unit of the external apparatus forms an operation screen according to the user. .

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