JP2008037031A - Image processing device and image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device generating a Web page with a thumbnail image of a job to make the high-speed and easy job searching possible by indexing. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing device includes an input means 110 setting the job including the image data and the condition for forming images, a store means 103 storing the job, a thumbnail image forming means 104 making the thumbnail image from the image data contained in the stored job and storing the thumbnail image in the storing means 103, an HTML file making means 105 making a file which becomes the index of the job based on the information of the job, the storing place of the job and the storing place of the thumbnail image, and a Web server 115 for publishing the file. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing system having a function of re-reading an image from a storage device and forming an image.

  In recent years, image forming apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals have a storage device such as a built-in hard disk, and a set of compressed image data and image forming condition setting data (for example, the number of copies, double-sided printing, stapling, etc.). Are widely used that can store image forming jobs (hereinafter referred to as “jobs”) for management as management. These image forming apparatuses can re-read the stored job from the operation unit of the image forming apparatus and output it. There is also an image forming apparatus that can access these image forming apparatuses using a Web browser or the like, and re-read and output a stored job.

  In such a conventional image forming apparatus, in order to re-read the job, it is necessary to accurately select all or some of the user name, job name, and file name at the time of saving. It has been necessary to repeat the above selection from the displayed job list to the location where the desired job is stored. However, storage of previously formed image formation tends to be ambiguous, and the above selection needs to be repeated many times to find one job, making it difficult to find a desired job.

  In addition, some image forming apparatuses perform character recognition processing from image data captured by a multifunction machine or a data file such as a FAX document, create a keyword, convert the keyword into HTML, and perform a web search. There is a technique for accessing and selecting job data via a Web server included in the machine (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, this search is based on a keyword, and does not directly search the contents of the job, and the hierarchy selection procedure is the same as the conventional one. Therefore, it is difficult to visually check an image included in a job and easily select a necessary job.

In this regard, a normal search service includes a search engine that performs high-speed data search in a computer. These functions circulate data published on the Web and generate index data for accessing the data. This index data is called index data. As a search procedure, first, a user inputs a keyword from a search box displayed on a browser and transmits a search request to a search server. Upon receiving the search request, the search server performs matching between the index data and the keyword by the search program in the server, and ranks and returns the results. In general, the algorithms used by these search programs for matching with keywords are not disclosed, and are also the secret part of companies that provide search services. Such search services are not only used on the publicly available Internet, but are also sold as search server products for searching various data stored in the company. In addition, application programs for searching for data in a PC using a search program algorithm are generally known.
JP 2005-149061 A

  Employees working in the office now want to manage electronic data documents efficiently. In this regard, job data stored in an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral is one of the documents, but searching for a specific job is complicated as described above and cannot be said to be efficient. In addition, the job data of the image forming apparatus is compressed on the image or the format is not compatible with these search engines, so it is the same as a document created with word processing software or spreadsheet software. It is difficult to search for job data stored in the image forming apparatus. Furthermore, if anyone can easily search for a job using a search engine, there is a risk that security will be reduced. Another problem is that a large amount of data cannot be stored because the storable area in the image forming apparatus is small.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and by automatically generating a file serving as an index of a job stored in a storage unit, it is possible to perform indexing by a search device, and easily execute a job at high speed. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of simple search. Furthermore, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus that secures a storable area and improves security by deleting files that become unnecessary indexes or by enabling or disabling indexing. It is an object.

  Therefore, when job data is stored in a storage unit such as a hard disk of an image processing apparatus in order to achieve the above object, the storage location of the job data in the network, the storage location in the storage unit, the content of the image data, the storage date, the print Based on the setting, name, and thumbnail image, a file serving as a job index is created. The file created in this way is preferably HTML data, and more preferably, an important keyword in the summary data is stored in a part called metadata of HTML data. Here, the metadata is a part of HTML data, but is not displayed using a normal browser. In the case of a browser program or a search server, the metadata is a part that is interpreted by a traveling program (crawler). It is data. Then, in order to cause the search server's patrol program to acquire the file, the file created in this way is made public on the network via a Web server or the like built in the image processing apparatus. In addition, when a document that is not desired to be published is stored in the storage unit, it is possible to select whether or not to create the file.

  Specifically, the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a setting unit that sets a job including image data and image forming conditions, a storage unit that stores the job, and a job that is stored. A thumbnail image is created from the image data included, and the thumbnail image creating means for saving the thumbnail image in the saving means, and the job, the job saving location, and the thumbnail image saving location information, It is characterized by comprising file creation means for creating a file serving as an index for the job and a Web server for publishing the file.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, it is determined whether or not the job information includes a notification that permits creation of a file that is an index of the job. An indexing determination unit, and when the indexing determination unit permits the creation of the file, the thumbnail image creation unit creates the thumbnail image from the image data, and the file creation unit includes: The file serving as an index of the job is created.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the file is deleted from the storage unit when a handling environment of the stored file satisfies a predetermined condition. It is further characterized by further comprising a deleting means.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the third aspect, the deletion unit deletes the file when the file is set as an index of the job.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the third aspect, the deletion unit deletes the file when a predetermined period has elapsed after the file is created.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the image processing apparatus further includes operation means for setting whether to permit the creation of the file, and the setting for permitting the file creation by the operation means. In such a case, the thumbnail image forming unit creates the thumbnail image from the image data, and the file creating unit creates the file serving as an index of the job.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the image processing apparatus further includes operation means for setting whether to permit the file to be an index of a job, and the index is permitted by the operation means. The file created by the file creating unit is set as an index of the job when the setting is to be performed, and the index is not permitted by the operating unit. The file is not set as an index of the job.

  An image processing system according to an eighth aspect of the present invention includes job information transmission means for transmitting a job execution request including image data and image creation conditions, and search information transmission means for transmitting a search request for searching for the job. An image forming means for receiving the search request from the client terminal and searching for the job, and forming an image upon receiving the job execution request from the client terminal; A storage unit that stores the job; a thumbnail image generation unit that generates a thumbnail image from the image data included in the stored job; and the thumbnail image generation unit that stores the thumbnail image in the storage unit; Based on the storage location and the storage location of the thumbnail image, the file serving as the index of the job is And an image processing device having a file creation unit for storing in the storage unit and a Web server for publishing the file, wherein the search device indexes the files stored in the storage unit It is characterized by having.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing system according to the eighth aspect, when the search device searches for the file, the file is set as a job index file.

  An image processing method according to a tenth aspect of the present invention includes a step of setting a job including image data and image forming conditions, a step of storing the job, and the image data included in the stored job. Creating a thumbnail image and causing the saving means to save the thumbnail image, and creating a file serving as an index of the job based on the job, the job saving location, and the thumbnail image saving location information And a step of publishing the file by a Web server.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the tenth aspect, it is determined whether or not the job information includes a notification permitting creation of a file serving as an index of the job. The method further includes the step of creating the thumbnail image from the image data and creating the file serving as an index of the job when it is determined that the creation of the file is permitted.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing methods according to the tenth and eleventh aspects, the file is deleted from the storage means when a handling environment of the stored file satisfies a predetermined condition. The method further includes the step of:

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the twelfth aspect, the method includes a step of deleting when the file is set as an index of the job.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the twelfth aspect, the method includes a step of deleting the file when a predetermined period has elapsed after the file is created.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the tenth aspect, the method further includes a step of setting whether to permit the creation of the file, and when the setting to permit the file creation is made And creating the thumbnail image from the image data, and creating the file to be an index of the job.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the image processing method according to the tenth aspect further includes a step of setting whether to permit the file to be used as a job index, and the index is set to be permitted. And setting the created file as an index for the job, and not setting the created file as an index for the job when the index is not allowed to be set. It is characterized by.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the first form, the image processing systems of the eighth and ninth forms, and the image processing method of the tenth form, a file serving as a job index is automatically created from job information, By publishing on the network via the Web server, the search server's patrol program can acquire the summary data, and by referring to the created file, the contents of the image can be confirmed by the thumbnail image. Thus, it is possible to easily and quickly search for jobs that the image processing apparatus has.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the second form and the image processing method of the 11th form, a file that becomes an index is created only for jobs that are permitted to be indexed, so that confidential images, private images, etc. are disclosed. An image that does not want to be stored can be kept private, the security of the image processing apparatus can be increased, and a storable area of the storage unit can be secured.

  According to the image processing apparatuses of the third, fourth, and fifth forms and the image processing methods of the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth forms, when the saved index file satisfies a predetermined condition In addition, since the file is automatically deleted from the storage unit, a storable area of the storage unit can be secured.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the sixth aspect and the image processing method of the fifteenth aspect, it is possible to permit creation of a file serving as an index based on a job for each image processing apparatus. Security can be further enhanced, and further, a storable area of the storage means can be secured.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the seventh aspect and the image processing method of the sixteenth aspect, since the created file cannot be used as the job index without the setting for permitting the index, the security can be improved. At the same time, since there is already an index file, it becomes easy to add the corresponding job to the search target later.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an image processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image processing system according to the present embodiment.

  The image processing system according to this embodiment is configured by connecting an image processing apparatus 1 including a storage unit 103, a client terminal 2, and a search apparatus 3 via a network. Further, the image processing apparatus 1 stores, in the storage unit 103 (for example, HDD), a job 500 in which information necessary for image processing is managed, a parent file 131 disclosed by the Web server 115, and the parent file 131. It has a linked HTML file 132. Here, the HTML file 132 is an HTML file that is the basis of the search image page with thumbnail image 133. This HTML file 132 corresponds to a file for an index in the present invention.

  Next, FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of the image processing measure 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image processing apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing apparatus 1 is connected to one or more client terminals via a network, and a stored job determination unit 101, an indexing determination unit 102, a storage unit 103, and a thumbnail image creation unit 104. HTML file creation means 105, control means 106 for controlling them, operation means 107 for permitting creation of HTML files, display means 108, display control means 109, input means 110, image data reading means 112, image formation means 113 and a Web server 115. The stored job determination unit 101, the indexing determination unit 102, the thumbnail image generation unit 104, the HTML file generation unit 105, the control unit 106, the display control unit 109, the image data reading unit 112, and the image formation unit 113 are configured by a CPU. Has been. The display unit 108, the display control unit 109, and the input unit 110 are a user interface 111. The control device 114 includes a stored job determination unit 101, an indexing determination unit 102, a thumbnail image creation unit 104, an HTML file creation unit 105, and a control unit 106, and each unit may be a program process. . Further, the image data reading unit 112 is an image reading unit in, for example, a copy function or a FAX function. Here, the user interface 111 corresponds to setting means in the present invention, and the HTML file creation means 105 corresponds to file creation means in the present invention.

  In this image processing apparatus 1, when processing is performed between each means, each processing is actually performed through the control means 106, but in the following description, the processing is described as being performed directly between each means. .

  In this image processing system, the image processing device 1 and the search device 3 may be integrated. Further, a plurality of client terminals 2 may be connected to the network. The client terminal 2 includes a computer including an arithmetic processing unit (CPU), a main storage unit (RAM), an external storage unit (HDD), and a communication unit (NIC), a monitor, and an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. This is an external terminal viewed from the image processing apparatus 1.

  In the image processing system of the present invention, the image processing apparatus 1 receives image data and setting data for image forming conditions such as duplex printing and stapling from the input unit 110 and the image data reading unit 112 or from the client terminal 2 (this setting). The data includes various kinds of permission information.), The image forming unit 113 forms an image, creates a job based on the information, and stores the job in the storage unit 103 if necessary. Further, the job stored in the storage unit 103 of the image processing apparatus 1 is searched from the client terminal 2 using the search apparatus 3, and upon receiving the job execution request, the image processing apparatus 1 receives the designated job. The image formation based on is performed. Hereinafter, the operation of the image processing system of the present invention will be described in detail.

<Job management>
As described above, the image processing apparatus 1 receives input of image data and image formation condition setting data from the input unit 110 and the image data reading unit 112, or from the client terminal 2, and sets them as one job. to manage.

  When inputting from the input unit 110 and the image data reading unit 112 or from the client terminal 2, the operator uses the screen as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B to form image data for image formation. Also, setting data for image forming conditions is input to the image processing apparatus 1. Here, in the case of input using the user interface 111, FIG. 3 (A) or (B) is displayed on the display means 108, and the operator performs input using the input means 110 while referring to the display. The image processing apparatus 1 manages received image data and setting data of image forming conditions as one job.

  Here, FIGS. 3A and 3B are a part of a driver setting screen for controlling input of image data and setting data of image forming conditions to the image processing apparatus 1. The save job setting unit 601 sets whether to save the input job. Further, the indexing permission unit 602 sets whether or not to allow the input job to be converted into HTML and allowed to be indexed by the search device 3. Further, FIG. 3A is a screen in a state where both job storage and indexing are selected, and FIG. 3B opens the drop-down list of the stored job setting unit 601 to display the job This is a screen for selecting a management method. Further, although not shown in the driver setting screen shown in FIG. 3, the driver setting screen can set image forming conditions such as the number of image forming copies, double-sided forming, stapling, or punching. .

  Here, the job is managed in a format as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a state in which one job is managed. Such a job 500 includes a job ticket 501 in which setting data for image forming conditions such as the number of image forming copies, double-sided forming, stapling, or punching is described in a format that the image processing apparatus 1 can read, and compressed image data 502 is comprised. Further, the job ticket 501 includes information on whether or not the job is a job to be saved set in the saved job setting unit 601 on the setting screens of FIGS. 3A and 3B, and FIGS. 3A and 3B. The indexing permission information set by the indexing permission unit 602 on the setting screen is also included.

<Create Web page for search with thumbnail image>
After the job is input, if there is a notification of permission to create an HTML file from the operation unit 107, the image processing apparatus 1 automatically displays the search image page with thumbnail image 133 shown in FIG. 1 based on the job. To create. If there is a notification from the operating means 107 that HTML file creation is not permitted, the image processing apparatus 1 does not create the search image page with thumbnail image 133. Here, the permission or non-permission of HTML file creation in the operation unit 107 is set in advance by the operator, and the operation unit 107 allows the creation of the HTML file before the operator creates an image. Alternatively, the non-permission notification is made to the control means 106.

  Next, the creation of the search image page with thumbnail image 133 based on the job 500 shown in FIG. 4 by the image processing apparatus 1 will be described in detail.

  As described above, the image processing apparatus 1 receives job data 1 from the input unit 110 and the image data reading unit 112 or the input data from the client terminal 2, and receives job data 1. Are managed as one job.

  The stored job determination unit 101 refers to information on whether or not the job 500 included in the job ticket 501 is a stored job, and stores the job 500 in the storage unit 103 in the case of a stored job. If the job is not a job to be saved, the job 500 is not saved in the saving unit 103, and the control unit 106 finishes creating the search image page with thumbnail image 133.

  Here, if the control unit 106 is notified that the creation of the HTML file is not permitted from the operation unit 107, the control unit 106 ends the creation of the search image page with thumbnail image 133. Therefore, hereinafter, a case will be described in which the control unit 106 is notified of permission to create an HTML file from the operation unit 107.

  Whether the indexing determination unit 102 may refer to the indexing permission information of the job 500 included in the job ticket 501 and create the HTML file 132 (see FIG. 1) based on the information of the job 500 for indexing. Determine if. If indexing is not permitted, the HTML file 132 is not created based on the job 500 information, and the control unit 106 finishes creating the thumbnail image-added search Web page 133. If it is determined that the HTML file 132 of the job 500 can be created, the indexing determination unit 102 sends a notification to the thumbnail creation unit 104 and the HTML file creation unit 105.

  The thumbnail image creation unit 104 receives a notice of permission of indexing of the job 500 from the indexing determination unit 102, refers to the image data 502 included in the job 500 in the storage unit 103, and based on the image data 502 Create a thumbnail image of the first image. Here, since the contents of the image data 502 of the job 500 can normally be grasped from the top image, in this embodiment, the thumbnail image creating means 104 thumbnails the top image. In addition, since the storage unit 103 of the image processing apparatus 1 is usually small in capacity of about 40 GB, the thumbnail image of only the first image is created in the present embodiment. A thumbnail image of an image may be created, or thumbnail images of all images may be created.

  Next, the thumbnail image creation unit 104 stores the thumbnail image of the created image data 502 in the storage unit 103.

  The HTML file creation unit 105 receives a notice of permission of indexing of the job 500 from the indexing determination unit 102, and the image formation conditions and job included in the job ticket 501 included in the job 500 stored in the storage unit 103 The figure corresponding to the job 500 based on the information of the job 500 such as the name, the information on the storage location of the job 500 in the storage unit 103, and the information on the storage location in the storage unit 103 of the thumbnail image created by the thumbnail image creation unit 104. An HTML file 132 is created as a basis of the search image page with thumbnail image 133 as shown in FIG. The storage location of the job 500 is used as a link to the job 500 as indicated by 134 in FIG. Further, the information on the storage location of the thumbnail image is used as a link to the thumbnail image in the HTML file 132 in order to display the thumbnail image on the Web page 133 with the thumbnail image. Here, the information to be placed on the search image page with thumbnail image 133 is not particularly limited as long as the information can identify the job 500. Specifically, job name, save date / time, user name, number of pages, image formation settings (double-sided copy, punch, staple, etc.), job ID, printer name, image formation instruction time, image formation completion time, save Such as a link to a job or a thumbnail image.

  Next, the HTML file creation unit 105 stores the created HTML file 132 in the storage unit 103. Further, the image processing apparatus 1 does not update the contents of the stored HTML file 132.

  The image processing apparatus 1 adds a link to the created HTML file 132 to the parent file 131 disclosed on the built-in Web server 115. Here, the parent file 131 is an HTML file having links to the HTML file 132 that is the basis of all the Web pages for search with thumbnail images 133 stored in the storage unit 103.

  Next, the procedure for creating the thumbnail image-added search Web page 133 by the image processing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for creating a search Web page 133 with thumbnail images.

  Step S001: Based on an input from the input unit 110 or the client terminal 2, the stored job determination unit 101 determines whether the job is a job to be stored. If it is determined that the job is not to be saved, the process ends there.

  Step S002: When it is determined in step S001 that the job is to be stored, the stored job determination unit 101 stores the job in the storage unit 103 (HDD).

  Step S003: If the operation unit 107 has notified that the HTML file creation is not permitted, the process ends here. If notification of permission to create an HTML file has been issued from the operation means 107, the process proceeds to step S004.

  Step S004: The indexing determination unit 102 determines whether or not the stored job is permitted to be indexed. If it is determined that indexing is not permitted, the process ends there.

  Step S005: If it is determined in step S004 that indexing is permitted, the thumbnail image creation unit 104 creates a thumbnail image with reference to the job in the storage unit 103 (HDD).

  Step S006: As a thumbnail image creation process, the created thumbnail image is saved in the storage means 103 (HDD).

  Step S007: As an HTML file creation process, information on the storage location of the job is acquired from the stored job ticket.

  Step S008: As HTML file creation processing, information on the job such as setting data for image forming conditions is acquired from the stored job ticket.

  Step S009: As the HTML file creation process, information on the storage location of the thumbnail image is acquired.

  Step S010: As an HTML file creation process, based on the job information, the job storage location information, and the thumbnail image storage location information, the HTML file 132 of the thumbnail image Web page 133 corresponding to the job is created. create.

  Step S011: As the HTML file creation processing, the created HTML file 132 is saved in the storage means 103 (HDD).

<Job search and print>
Next, a description will be given of a job search using the thumbnail image search Web page 133 after the thumbnail image search Web page 133 is created and an operation in printing using the searched job.

  The search device 3 periodically refers to a web page on the network. As shown in FIG. 1, this is performed by causing the search device 3 to run on the network a crawler 4 that is a robot program that collects data of linked web pages one after another while following links on the web page. ing.

  Then, the crawler 4 goes to collect data of the parent file 131 having a link to the HTML file 132 of each Web page 133 with thumbnail images shown in FIG. Here, the parent file 131 is disclosed on the network by the Web server 115 included in the image processing apparatus 1 of the present invention. Therefore, the crawler 4 can refer to the parent file 131. Then, the crawler 4 referring to the parent file 131 follows the link stretched on the parent file 131 and collects data of all the linked HTML files 132. The crawler 4 takes the collected data back to the search device 3. The search device 3 indexes each HTML file 132 based on the information.

  Next, an operation when an image is formed using a job stored in the image processing apparatus 1 will be described.

  When an operator intends to form an image from the client terminal 2 using a job stored in the image processing apparatus 1, it is necessary to designate a job for the image formation. Therefore, when the operator cannot specify without knowing the storage location of the job, the operator searches for the storage unit 103 of the image processing apparatus 1 where the job to be used is stored. The client terminal 2 sends a search request to the search device 3. The search device 3 refers to the created index, searches for the job, and displays a link to the Web page corresponding to the job that seems to be applicable on the client terminal 2. The operator follows the link displayed from the client terminal 2, refers to the search Web page with thumbnail image 133 corresponding to the job that seems to be applicable, and confirms the content by the thumbnail image, and the thumbnail corresponding to the job. Search for the image-added search Web page 133. When the operator finds the search image page with thumbnail image 133 corresponding to the job used for image formation, the image formation based on the job is performed using the link 134 to the actual job displayed on the page. An execution request for performing is sent to the image processing apparatus 1. The image processing apparatus 1 forms an image based on the sent execution request.

  Here, a job search and an image forming procedure using the job will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of job search and image formation by the job.

  Step S101: The client terminal 2 requests the search device 3 to search for a job used for image formation.

  Step S102: The search device 3 that has received the job search request uses the index of the search device 3 to search for a Web page that seems to be a Web page 133 with thumbnail images corresponding to the job used for image formation, A link to the Web page is displayed on the client terminal 2.

  Step S103: The operator follows the displayed link from the client terminal 2 and refers to the Web page 133 with thumbnail images that seems to correspond to the job used for image formation. Then, the operator uses the thumbnail image displayed on the search Web page with thumbnail image 133 and the setting data of the conditions at the time of image formation, and the Web with the thumbnail image corresponding to the job used for image formation. Look for page 133.

  Step S104: By receiving a job execution request from the client terminal 2 using the link 134 to the actual job included in the Web page 133 with thumbnail images corresponding to the job used for image formation, the image processing apparatus 1 Performs image formation for the job.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, for the purpose of improving security, whether or not HTML file creation is not permitted is notified from the operation unit 107 and whether or not the stored job is permitted to be indexed. By determining, it is determined whether to create a file for the index. In this regard, operation means for setting permission to use the HTML file 132 as an index of the job 500 is provided so that the non-public HTML file 132 can be disclosed when it becomes publicly available later. If not, the HTML file 132 may be created but not used as the job 500 index. Also, in order to ensure convenience while improving security, in the driver settings, the user selects whether to specify the Web server area where the HTML file 132 is created but the storage location of the HTML file 132 requires authentication. The HTML file 132 may be created and released, but a password is required when accessing the data of the job 500 that is the basis of the HTML file 132. It may be configured. If the password is set in this way, the location of the data of the job 500 can be instantly specified. However, when actually reusing the password, the password is required, and convenience can be secured while maintaining security.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment of FIG. 3, the image processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an HTML file 132 deletion unit 120 as indicated by a dotted line in FIG. In this embodiment, the deletion unit 120 in FIG. 2 refers to the HTML file 132 (see FIG. 1) periodically stored in the storage unit 103, and the handling environment of the HTML file 132 satisfies a predetermined condition. If so, the HTML file 132 is deleted. Here, the handling environment includes the indexing of the HTML file 132, the elapsed time since the creation, and the existence of the underlying job itself. In other words, the deleting unit 120 can execute the HTML file 132 that has been indexed, the HTML file 132 that has passed a certain period since the HTML file 132 itself was created, or the job itself that is the source of the HTML file 132. The deleted HTML file 132 or the like is deleted from the storage unit 103.

  The deletion unit 120 is also controlled by the control unit 106, and the actual processing is performed through the control unit 106. In the following description, it is assumed that the deletion unit 120 is directly processing.

  Here, the operation of the deleting unit 120 in the present embodiment will be described. The deletion unit 120 periodically refers to the HTML file 132 stored in the storage unit 103 that is the basis of the search image page with thumbnail image 133.

  Next, the deletion unit 120 determines whether the HTML file 132 that is the basis of the HTML file 132 has been deleted from each HTML file 132 that has been referenced, or the HTML file 132 that is already the basis of the search image page with thumbnail image 133 is the search device. 3 is determined, or it is determined whether a preset period has passed since the HTML file 132 was created. The file 132 is deleted. Here, the period from the creation of the HTML file 132 is generally set to a period of 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, etc. for deleting a stored job in an image processing apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral. Therefore, it may be within the period designated for deleting the job that is the source of the HTML file 132. Further, when the HTML file 132 is stored, a time stamp is added to the file, and by calculating the time from the time stamp to the current time of the image processing apparatus 1, the deleting unit 120 starts from the creation of the HTML file 132. You can know the elapsed time to date. Further, the Web server 115 included in the image processing apparatus 1 can detect what browser has come to access, and the crawler 4 of the search apparatus 3 is also a kind of browser. It can detect whether has come to access. As a result, the image processing apparatus 1 can determine whether or not the HTML file 132 has already been indexed.

  The above procedure is performed for all HTML files 132 stored in the storage unit 103, which is the basis of all Web pages 133 with thumbnail images.

  Here, the deletion procedure of the HTML file 132 that is the basis of the Web page 133 with thumbnail images will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for deleting the HTML file 132 that is the basis of the Web page 133 with thumbnail images.

  Step S201: The deletion unit 120 selects the HTML file 132 stored in the storage unit 103.

  Step S202: The deletion unit 120 determines whether a job corresponding to the selected HTML file 132 has already been deleted. If it has been deleted, the process proceeds to step S205.

  Step S203: If it is determined in step S202 that the HTML file 132 has not been deleted, the deletion unit 120 determines whether indexing of the HTML file 132 has already been completed. If indexing has been completed, the process proceeds to step S205.

  Step S204: If it is determined in step S203 that the indexing has not ended, the deletion unit 120 determines whether a preset period has elapsed since the HTML file 132 was created. If the preset period has not elapsed since the job was created, the process proceeds to step S206. If the period has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S205.

  Step S205: The deletion unit 120 deletes the HTML file 132.

  Step S206: If the process from step S201 to step S205 has not been completed for all the HTML files 132 stored in the storage unit 103, the process from step S201 to step S205 is repeated. When the process from step S201 to step S205 is completed for all the HTML files 132, the deletion procedure is terminated.

Configuration diagram of an image processing system according to the present embodiment Block diagram of an image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment Driver setting screen of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment Diagram explaining the management status of one job Flowchart for creating a search Web page with thumbnail images according to the present embodiment A flowchart showing a search procedure according to the present embodiment 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for deleting an HTML file of a search Web page with thumbnail images according to the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing apparatus 101 Stored job determination means 102 Indexing determination means 103 Storage means 104 Thumbnail image creation means 105 HTML file creation means 106 Control means 107 Operation means 108 Display means 109 Display control means 110 Input means 111 User interface 112 Image data reading Means 113 Image forming means 114 Control device 115 Web server 120 Deletion means 131 Parent file 132 HTML file 133 Search Web page with thumbnail image 134 Link to actual job 2 Client terminal 3 Search device 4 Crawler 500 Job 501 Job ticket 502 Image data

Claims (16)

Setting means for setting a job including image data and image forming conditions;
Storage means for storing the job;
A thumbnail image creating means for creating a thumbnail image from the image data included in the saved job and causing the saving means to save the thumbnail image;
File creation means for creating a file serving as an index of the job based on the job, the storage location of the job, and the storage location of the thumbnail image;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a Web server for publishing the file. The job information further comprises indexing determination means for determining whether or not a notification for permitting creation of a file serving as an index for the job is included in the job information,
When the indexing determination unit is allowed to create the file,
The thumbnail image creating means creates and stores the thumbnail image from the image data,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the file creation unit creates the file serving as an index of the job.   3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a deletion unit that deletes the file from the storage unit when a handling environment of the stored file satisfies a predetermined condition. 4. .   The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the deletion unit deletes the file when the file is set as an index of the job.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the deletion unit deletes the file when a predetermined period has elapsed after the file is created. An operation means for setting whether or not to permit creation of the file;
When the setting to allow the file creation is made by the operation means,
The thumbnail image forming means creates and stores the thumbnail image from the image data,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the file creation unit creates the file serving as an index of the job. An operation unit for setting whether to permit the file to be used as a job index;
When the setting is made to allow the index by the operation means,
Setting the file created by the file creation means as an index of the job;
If the operation means is set not to allow an index,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the file created by the file creating unit is not set as an index of the job. Job information transmitting means for transmitting a job execution request including image data and image creation conditions;
A client terminal having search information transmitting means for transmitting a search request for searching for the job,
A search device for receiving the search request from the client terminal and searching for the job;
Image forming means for receiving an execution request for the job from the client terminal and forming an image;
Storage means for storing the job;
A thumbnail image creating means for creating a thumbnail image from the image data included in the saved job and saving the thumbnail image in the saving means;
Based on the job, the storage location of the job, and the storage location of the thumbnail image, a file serving as an index for the job is created and stored in the storage device;
An image processing apparatus having a web server for publishing the file,
The image processing system, wherein the search device has a function of indexing files stored in the storage unit.   9. The image processing system according to claim 8, wherein when the file is searched by the search device, the file is set as a job index file. Setting a job including image data and image forming conditions;
Storing the job;
Creating a thumbnail image from the image data included in the stored job and causing the storage means to store the thumbnail image;
Creating a job index file based on the job, the job storage location, and the thumbnail image storage location information;
An image processing method comprising: exposing the file to a Web server. Determining whether or not the job information includes a notification permitting creation of a file serving as an index of the job;
If it is determined that the creation of the file is permitted,
The image processing method according to claim 10, wherein the thumbnail image is created and stored from the image data, and the file serving as an index of the job is created.   The image processing method according to claim 10, further comprising a step of deleting the file from the storage unit when a handling environment of the stored file satisfies a predetermined condition.   The image processing method according to claim 12, further comprising a step of deleting when the file is set as an index of the job.   13. The image processing method according to claim 12, further comprising a step of deleting the file when a predetermined period has elapsed after the file is created. Further comprising setting whether to allow creation of the file;
When the setting to allow the file creation is made,
Creating and saving the thumbnail image from the image data;
The image processing method according to claim 10, further comprising: creating the file to be an index of the job. Further comprising setting whether to allow the file to be a job index;
Setting the created file as an index of the job when the index is set to be permitted; and
The image processing method according to claim 10, further comprising a step of not setting the created file as an index of the job when the setting for not permitting the index is performed.