JP5439432B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a display unit that displays information received from an external apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus including a display unit that displays information received from an external apparatus is known (see Patent Documents 1 to 3).

  The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is an image forming apparatus connected to a host device as an external device. This image forming apparatus stores a unique message such as an error message and a user-defined message such as an error message created by the user on the host device. When a message display request is received, the unique message and user-defined message are stored. Any one of the messages is displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus itself.

  The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2 is a multifunction peripheral connected to a host computer as an external apparatus. This multifunction device displays a message registered in the host computer on the screen of the multifunction device itself.

  The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 3 is an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine connected to a PC as an external apparatus. This image forming apparatus displays messages such as schedule information such as conference guidance, message information, and weather forecasts created by a user on a PC on the display of the image forming apparatus itself.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-249781 JP 2001-358877 A JP 2004-345161 A

  However, the conventional image forming apparatus has a problem that the information received from the external apparatus and displayed on the display unit is the same for all users.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus capable of displaying information addressed to a logged-in user received from an external apparatus on a display unit.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit for displaying information, an operation unit for inputting an operation by a user, a login receiving unit for receiving the user's login via the operation unit, and the display unit. Display information receiving means for receiving display information, which is information for display, from an external device, and display control means for controlling display by the display unit, wherein the display control means includes the display information The display information is displayed on the display unit when the display information received by the information receiving means is information addressed to the user whose login is accepted by the login accepting means. .

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention displays the display information on the display unit when the display information received from the external apparatus is information addressed to the logged-in user. The received information addressed to the logged-in user can be displayed on the display unit.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention may further include a user information transmitting unit that transmits user information, which is identification information of the user whose login is received by the login receiving unit, to the external device. good.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention transmits the user information of the logged-in user to the external apparatus, so that the display information addressed to the logged-in user is transmitted from the external apparatus to the image forming apparatus in real time. The possibility of being transmitted with can be improved.

  The program for an image forming apparatus of the present invention logs the user through the operation unit into an image forming apparatus including a display unit for displaying information and an operation unit to which an operation by a user is input. A login reception step for receiving, a display information reception step for receiving display information that is information for display on the display unit from an external device, and a display control step for controlling display by the display unit, In the display control step, when the display information received in the display information reception step is information addressed to the user whose login is accepted in the login acceptance step, the image forming apparatus displays the display This is a step of displaying the usage information on the display unit.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus that executes the image forming apparatus program of the present invention displays the display information on the display unit when the display information received from the external apparatus is information addressed to the logged-in user. Since it is displayed, the information addressed to the logged-in user received from the external device can be displayed on the display unit.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention can display information addressed to a logged-in user received from an external apparatus on a display unit.

1 is a block diagram of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram of PC shown in FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of the PC shown in FIG. 1 when requesting user information of a logged-in MFP user from the MFP. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 when new display information is received. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of new display information displayed on the display unit shown in FIG. 2 in S123 shown in FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 immediately after the MFP user logs into the MFP. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 when there is a need to display fixed display information. (A) is a figure which shows an example of the information for fixed display displayed on the display part shown in FIG. (B) is a figure which shows an example of the information for alternative displays displayed on the display part shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of the network system according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the network system 10 includes an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 20 that is an image forming apparatus, and a PC (Personal Computer) 30 that is an apparatus external to the MFP 20. The MFP 20 and the PC 30 are communicably connected to each other via a network 11 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the MFP 20 includes a control unit 21 that controls the entire MFP 20, a storage unit 22 that is a storage device such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) that stores various data, and a user. An operation unit 23 that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations according to, a display unit 24 that is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information, and a printer 25 that is a printing device that executes printing on paper. A scanner 26 that reads an image from a document, a fax communication unit 27 that is a fax device that performs fax communication with an external facsimile apparatus (not shown) via a communication line such as a public telephone line, and the network 11 Outside And a network communication unit 28 which is a network communication device that communicates with other devices.

  The control unit 21 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU. ing. The CPU is configured to execute a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 22. The ROM stores fixed display information for the MPF 20 such as an error message or a warning message as information to be displayed on the display unit 24.

  The storage unit 22 includes an image forming apparatus program 22a that is a program for the MFP 20, user information 22b that is identification information of the user of the MFP 20 (hereinafter referred to as “MFP user”), and a login for the MFP user. The password 22c is stored. The user information 22b and the password 22c are stored in the storage unit 22 for each MFP user. The storage unit 22 also includes new display information 22d, which is display information for new display on the display unit 24, and alternative display information for the fixed display information stored in the ROM of the control unit 21. The alternative display information 22e can be stored.

  The image forming apparatus program 22a may be installed in the MFP 20 at the manufacturing stage of the MFP 20, or may be installed from a storage medium such as a CD (Compact Disk) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or from the network 11 on the MFP 20. It may be additionally installed.

  The control unit 21 executes the image forming apparatus program 22 a stored in the storage unit 22, thereby receiving login information from the PC 30. The login receiving unit 21 a receives a login of the MFP user via the operation unit 23. Display information receiving means 21b for performing display, display control means 21c for controlling display by the display unit 24, and user information for transmitting user information 22b of the MFP user whose login is accepted by the login accepting means 21a to the PC 30 It functions as the transmission means 21d.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the PC 30.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the PC 30 includes a control unit 31 that controls the entire PC 30, a storage unit 32 that is a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores programs and various types of data, and a user An operation unit 33 that is an input device such as a mouse and a keyboard for inputting various operations, a display unit 34 that is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for displaying various information, and an external device via the network 11 And a network communication unit 35 that is a network communication device that communicates with the apparatus.

  The control unit 31 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM that is used as a work area of the CPU. The CPU is configured to execute a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 32.

  Next, the operation of the network system 10 will be described.

  In the following, the control unit 31 of the PC 30 can send and receive information to and from the MFP 20 via, for example, a web browser displayed on the display unit 34. Note that the control unit 31 may transmit / receive information to / from the MFP 20 by a method other than the web browser.

<MFP user login>
When the combination of the user information 22b and the password 22c registered in advance in the storage unit 22 is input via the operation unit 23, the login receiving unit 21a of the control unit 21 of the MFP 20 corresponds to the user information 22b. An MFP user login is accepted.

<Display of user information 22b of the logged-in MFP user>
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the PC 30 when requesting the MFP 20 for user information 22b of the logged-in MFP user.

  When the control unit 31 of the PC 30 is instructed via the operation unit 33 from the user of the PC 30 (hereinafter referred to as “PC user”) to request the MFP 20 for user information 22b of the logged-in MFP user. The process shown in FIG. 4 is executed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 31 requests the MFP 20 for user information 22b of the logged-in MFP user via the network communication unit 35 (S101).

  Here, when the user information transmitting unit 21d of the control unit 21 of the MFP 20 receives a request for the user information 22b of the logged-in MFP user from the PC 30 via the network communication unit 28, the user information transmitting unit 21d of the logged-in MFP user User information 22b, that is, user information 22b of the MFP user whose login is accepted by the login acceptance means 21a is transmitted to the PC 30 via the network communication unit 28.

  Next, the control unit 31 of the PC 30 receives the user information 22b of the logged-in MFP user transmitted from the MFP 20 via the network communication unit 35 (S102), and the received user of the logged-in MFP user The information 22b is displayed on the display unit 34 (S103), and the process shown in FIG.

  Therefore, the PC user can recognize the logged-in MFP user from the user information 22 b displayed on the display unit 34.

  Note that the PC user sends the setting information of the MFP 20 and the status information of the MFP 20 other than the user information 22b of the logged-in MFP user to the PC 20 in the same manner as the user information 22b of the logged-in MFP user. The setting information of the MFP 20 and the status information of the MFP 20 can be recognized. Here, the setting information is information set in the MFP 20 such as the paper size of the tray of the MFP 20. The status information is information indicating the status of the MFP 20 such as a status during printing.

<Display of new display information 22d in real time>
As described above, the PC user who has recognized the logged-in MFP user inputs the new display information 22d addressed to the logged-in MFP user via the operation unit 33, and the input new display information 22d is input to the MFP 20. Can be input to the PC 30 via the operation unit 33.

  When this instruction is input, the control unit 31 of the PC 30 associates the user information 22b of the logged-in MFP user with the new display information 22d, and then the new display information 22d associated with the user information 22b. Is transmitted to the MFP 20 via the network communication unit 35.

  The transmission of the new display information 22d from the PC 30 to the MFP 20 may be executed by an e-mail addressed to the MFP 20. When executed by an e-mail addressed to the MFP 20, a password for causing the MFP 20 to process the new display information 22d may be set in the subject field of the e-mail.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 20 when the new display information 22d is received.

  When the display information receiving unit 21b of the control unit 21 of the MFP 20 receives the new display information 22d via the network communication unit 28, the display information receiving unit 21b executes the process shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the display information receiving means 21b stores the received new display information 22d in the storage unit 22 (S121).

  Next, the display control unit 21c of the control unit 21 determines whether or not the new display information 22d stored in S121 is information addressed to the logged-in MFP user (S122). Here, the display control means 21c indicates that the user information 22b associated with the new display information 22d is the user information 22b of the logged-in MFP user, that is, the MFP whose login is accepted by the login acceptance means 21a. In the case of the user information 22b of the user, it is determined that the new display information 22d is information addressed to the logged-in MFP user. On the other hand, when the user information 22b associated with the new display information 22d is not the user information 22b of the logged-in MFP user, the display control unit 21d uses the MFP for which the new display information 22d is logged in. It is determined that the information is not addressed to the person.

  If the display control means 21c determines in S122 that the new display information 22d is addressed to the logged-in MFP user, the display control means 21c displays the new display information 22d stored in S121 on the display unit 24 (S123). The process shown in FIG.

  If the display control unit 21c determines in S122 that the new display information 22d is not information addressed to the logged-in MFP user, the process shown in FIG. 5 is terminated. In this way, the PC user always transmits new display information 22d addressed to any MFP user to the MFP 20 via the PC 30, and stores the new display information 22d in the MFP 20 as shown in FIG. Can be made.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of new display information 22d displayed on the display unit 24 in S123.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the new display information 22d may be displayed on the display unit 24 so as to overlap the already displayed screen. Further, the new display information 22d may be displayed in a translucent state, for example. The new display information 22d shown in FIG. 6 includes a close button 41 and a delete button 42.

  When the MFP user presses the close button 41 via the operation unit 23, the display control unit 21c ends the display of the new display information 22d on the display unit 24.

  When the MFP user presses the delete button 42 via the operation unit 23, the display control unit 21c ends the display of the new display information 22d on the display unit 24. The control unit 21 deletes the new display information 22d from the storage unit 22. When inputting the new display information 22d via the operation unit 33 of the PC 30, the PC user can specify whether or not to include the delete button 42 in the new display information 22d.

  The control unit 21 of the MFP 20 deletes the new display information 22d instructed to be deleted from the storage unit 22 when an instruction to delete the new display information 22d is received from the PC user via the PC 30. If the deletion timing is specified when the new display information 22d is received, the new display information 22d is deleted from the storage unit 22 at the specified timing. May be.

<Operation of MFP 20 Immediately After MFP User Logins>
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 20 immediately after the MFP user logs in to the MFP 20.

  When the MFP user logs in to the MFP 20, the login acceptance unit 21a of the MFP 20 executes the process shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the display control unit 21c of the MFP 20 determines whether or not the new display information 22d addressed to the logged-in MFP user is stored in the storage unit 22, that is, the new display information received in the past. It is determined whether 22d is information addressed to the logged-in MFP user (S141). Here, the display control means 21c is for new display associated with user information 22b of the logged-in MFP user, that is, user information 22b of the MFP user whose login is accepted by the login acceptance means 21a. When the information 22 d is stored in the storage unit 22, it is determined that the new display information 22 d addressed to the logged-in MFP user is stored in the storage unit 22. On the other hand, the display control unit 21c, when the new display information 22d associated with the user information 22b of the logged-in MFP user is not stored in the storage unit 22, is new to the logged-in MFP user. It is determined that the display information 22d is not stored in the storage unit 22.

  When the display control unit 21c determines in S141 that the new display information 22d addressed to the logged-in MFP user is stored in the storage unit 22, the display control unit 21c addresses the logged-in MFP user stored in the storage unit 22. The new display information 22d is displayed on the display unit 24 as shown in FIG. 6 (S142), and the process shown in FIG. 7 is terminated.

  If the display control unit 21c determines in S141 that the new display information 22d addressed to the logged-in MFP user is not stored in the storage unit 22, the display control unit 21c does not display the new display information 22d on the display unit 24. The process shown in FIG.

<Display of fixed display information>
The PC user inputs alternative display information 22e addressed to a specific MFP user via the operation unit 33, and inputs an instruction to transmit the input alternative display information 22e to the MFP 20 via the operation unit 33 to the PC 30. can do. The alternative display information 22e is associated with state identification information that is identification information of a specific state generated in the MFP 20 by the PC user.

  When this instruction is input, the control unit 31 of the PC 30 associates the user information 22b of the specific MFP user with the alternative display information 22e, and then displays the alternative display information 22e associated with the user information 22b. The data is transmitted to the MFP 20 via the network communication unit 35.

  When the display information receiving unit 21b of the control unit 21 of the MFP 20 receives the substitute display information 22e via the network communication unit 28, the display information receiving unit 21b stores the received substitute display information 22e in the storage unit 22.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 20 when it is necessary to display fixed display information.

  The control unit 21 of the MFP 20 executes the process shown in FIG. 8 when a state where it is necessary to display fixed display information occurs, such as when an error occurs.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the display control unit 21 c of the MFP 20 determines whether or not the alternative display information 22 e addressed to the logged-in MFP user associated with the generated state identification information is stored in the storage unit 22. That is, it is determined whether or not the alternative display information 22e received in the past in association with the state identification information in the generated state is information addressed to the logged-in MFP user (S161). Here, the display control means 21c is for the alternative display that is associated with the user information 22b of the logged-in MFP user, that is, the user information 22b of the MFP user whose login is accepted by the login acceptance means 21a. When the alternative display information 22e associated with the state identification information in the generated state is stored in the storage unit 22 as the information 22e, the logged-in MFP use associated with the state identification information in the generated state It is determined that the alternative display information 22e addressed to the person is stored in the storage unit 22. On the other hand, the display control unit 21c includes alternative display information 22e associated with the user information 22b of the logged-in MFP user, and the alternative display information 22e associated with the state identification information in the generated state. If it is not stored in the storage unit 22, it is determined that the alternative display information 22 e addressed to the logged-in MFP user associated with the state identification information in the generated state is not stored in the storage unit 22.

  If the display control unit 21c determines in S161 that the alternative display information 22e addressed to the logged-in MFP user associated with the generated state identification information is not stored in the storage unit 22, the state of the generated state is displayed. The fixed display information associated with the identification information and stored in the ROM of the control unit 21 is displayed on the display unit 24 (S162), and the process shown in FIG. 8 ends.

  When the display control unit 21c determines in S161 that the alternative display information 22e addressed to the logged-in MFP user associated with the generated state identification information is stored in the storage unit 22, the state of the generated state is displayed. The alternative display information 22e addressed to the logged-in MFP user and stored in the storage unit 22 in association with the identification information is displayed on the display unit 24 (S163), and the process shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating an example of fixed display information displayed on the display unit 24. FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating an example of the alternative display information 22e displayed on the display unit 24.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the alternative display information 22e is displayed on the display unit 24 as an alternative to the fixed display information associated with the same state identification information. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the alternative display information 22e is obtained by translating Japanese fixed display information into English. However, the alternative display information 22e is not limited to the translation of the fixed display information, and may be arbitrary content.

  The control unit 21 of the MFP 20 deletes the alternative display information 22e instructed to be deleted from the storage unit 22 when an instruction to delete the alternative display information 22e is received from the PC user via the PC 30. If the deletion timing is specified when the alternative display information 22e is received, the alternative display information 22e is deleted from the storage unit 22 at the specified timing. May be.

  As described above, the MFP 20 displays the display information received from the PC 30 on the display unit 24, so that it is possible for the PC user to convey the information to the MFP user from a remote location.

  In addition, since the display information is displayed on the display unit 24 when the display information received from the PC 30 is information for the logged-in MFP user, the MFP 20 displays the display information for the logged-in MFP user received from the PC 30. The information can be displayed on the display unit 24.

  Also, since the MFP 20 transmits the user information 22b of the logged-in MFP user to the PC 30, the possibility that display information addressed to the logged-in MFP user is transmitted from the PC 30 to the MFP 20 in real time is improved. Can do.

  In the above description, display information addressed to a specific MFP user is transmitted from the PC 30 to the MFP 20. However, display information addressed to all users of the MFP 20 is transmitted from the PC 30 to the MFP 20. This also applies to the case where Display information addressed to all users of the MFP 20 can be realized by not associating user information 22b of a specific MFP user.

  In the above description, a case has been described in which display information is manually transmitted from the PC 30 to the MFP 20 by the PC user. However, the PC 30 automatically transmits at least one of the setting information of the MFP 20 and the status information of the MFP 20. The PC 30 may automatically transmit display information to the MFP 20 such as automatically transmitting display information acquired from the MFP 20 and displaying information based on the acquired information to the MFP 20.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an MFP in the present embodiment, but may be an image forming apparatus other than the MFP, such as a printer dedicated machine.

  The external device of the present invention is a PC in the present embodiment, but may be a device other than a PC.

20 MFP (image forming apparatus)
21a Login accepting means 21b Display information receiving means 21c Display control means 21d User information transmitting means 22a Image forming apparatus program 22b User information 22d New display information (display information)
22e Alternative display information (display information)
23 Operation unit 24 Display unit 30 PC (external device)

Claims (4)

A display unit for displaying information, an operation unit for inputting an operation by a user, a storage unit for storing display information that is information to be displayed on the display unit, and the user via the operation unit An image forming apparatus comprising: a login receiving unit that receives the login; a display information receiving unit that receives the display information from an external device; and a display control unit that controls display by the display unit,
The display control means is an alternative display information in which the display information received by the display information receiving means and stored in the storage unit is the display information instead of the fixed display information. there are, Ri information der of the user addressed to login is accepted by the login accepting unit, when associated with the state identification information is identification information of a particular condition occurring on the image forming apparatus, When the specific state occurs in the image forming apparatus, the display unit displays the alternative display information associated with the state identification information addressed to the user whose login is received by the login reception unit. then,
The display control means is for the alternative display associated with the state identification information addressed to the user whose login is accepted by the login acceptance means when the specific state occurs in the image forming apparatus. When the information is not stored in the storage unit, the fixed display information associated with the state identification information is displayed on the display unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific state is an error.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the alternative display information is a translation of the fixed display information.   An image forming apparatus comprising: a display unit for displaying information; an operation unit for inputting an operation by a user; and a storage unit for storing display information that is information to be displayed on the display unit.
  A login acceptance step for accepting the user's login via the operation unit, a display information reception step for receiving the display information from an external device, and a display control step for controlling display by the display unit Let
  In the display control step, the display information received by the display information reception step and stored in the storage unit is substitute display information in which the display information is substituted for the fixed display information. When the login is accepted by the login reception step, the information is addressed to the user, and is associated with the state identification information that is identification information of a specific state generated in the image forming apparatus. When the specific state occurs in the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus displays the alternative display information associated with the state identification information addressed to the user whose login is received in the login receiving step. It is a step to display on the display unit,
  In the display control step, when the specific state occurs in the image forming apparatus, for the alternative display associated with the state identification information addressed to the user whose login is received by the login reception step. When the information is not stored in the storage unit, the image forming apparatus is a step of causing the display unit to display the fixed display information associated with the state identification information. Program.

Images