JP2002326428A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multifunction printer supplying an updated driver. SOLUTION: A multifunction printer 100 comprises a scanner 105 for reading out image data on a document, a plotter 106 for outputting image data thus read out onto a recording sheet, an NCU 101 for transmitting/receiving data to/from a host computer 120 through a connector, an HDD 109 for storing image data obtained from the scanner 105 or the NCU 101 such that it can be read out or written in. Driver, manual and utility programs are stored in the HDD 109, connection of a new external unit is detected based on data received by the NCU 101 and a driver suitable for the host computer 120 is delivered by controlling the NCU 101 and the HDD 109.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus that sends out a driver, a manual, and a utility.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-205155 discloses an image forming apparatus which handles a SCSI device as a file system. Also, JP-A-08-1
Japanese Patent No. 61250 discloses a system for installing a driver stored in a peripheral device into a computer host.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-101803 discloses an example in which an HDD is provided in a digital copying machine, a device driver is stored, and a device driver of the digital copying machine is installed in a host.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-296469, a device driver and a utility are stored in a storage device of a peripheral device, and the storage device of the peripheral device is made accessible from a host as a file system, so that a driver of the host can be accessed. Install.

[0005]

However, the prior art has the following problems. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
In the invention according to Japanese Patent No. 161250, the storage medium in which the driver is stored is a ROM, which is readable only, and uses a storage medium for storing image data, that is, a storage medium capable of reading and writing. Absent.

Therefore, there is a problem that it is not possible to cope with a driver update. For example,
An image processing apparatus that stores image data, even if it can store data, becomes expensive if a ROM for a driver is separately prepared. There has also been a request that information to be recorded on a ROM or a readable and writable recording medium should include information that enhances the convenience of the apparatus.

In the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-101803, an image read by a scanner can be stored in an HDD, but this image cannot be accessed by a host.

In other words, the conventional technique has a problem that even if the driver of each functional unit is upgraded, the updated driver cannot be supplied to the PC side mainly by the printer. There has also been a request that information to be recorded on a ROM or a readable and writable recording medium should include information that enhances the convenience of the apparatus.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has as its object to provide an image forming apparatus for supplying an updated driver. It is another object of the present invention to provide not only a driver but also an image forming apparatus that enhances the convenience of the apparatus.

[0010]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: image reading means for reading image data of a document; and image data read by the image reading means. Image forming means for outputting and forming the image data on recording paper, communication means for transmitting and receiving data to and from an external device, and storage means for storing the image data obtained by the image reading means or the communication means in a readable and writable manner. Wherein the storage unit stores a driver, a manual and a utility program of the image forming apparatus, and detects a connection of a new external device based on data received by the communication unit. External device detecting means, and the communication means and the storage when a new external device is detected by the external device detecting means. And controls the stage, characterized in that anda driver sending control means for sending the appropriate driver for the external device from the storage means.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a PC
If there is no printer driver on the PC side, a printer driver is provided, and if the version of the printer driver on the PC side is old, an updated printer driver is provided.

[0012] The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 is
Image reading means for reading image data of an original, image forming means for outputting and forming image data read by the image reading means on recording paper, communication means for transmitting and receiving data to and from an external device, Storage means for reading and writing the image data obtained by the reading means or the communication means, and a storage means for reading and writing, wherein the storage means includes a driver for the image forming apparatus,
When a manual display request or a utility program download request is received from the external device via the communication unit, the communication unit and the storage unit are controlled to store the manual and the utility program. And a manual program transmission control means for transmitting a corresponding manual or utility program from the external device to the external device.

That is, in the invention according to the second aspect, the manual of the image forming apparatus can be referred to from the external device.

The image forming apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention provides
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether the data received by the communication unit is an updated driver, manual, or utility program, and the determination unit updates the data. When it is determined that the driver, the manual or the utility program is used, the storage means is controlled to replace the already stored driver, manual or utility program with an updated driver, manual or utility program. Means.

That is, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the latest driver and the like can be always stored in the printer side, and the driver and the like updated in all the connected PCs by one update. Is provided.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 is
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3,
The image reading unit, the image forming unit, the communication unit, or
A common service process required for realizing a user service is provided between a hardware resource configured by a storage unit and a plurality of applications for performing a process for a user service realized by each of the units. It is equipped with a platform to perform.

That is, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, by constructing the platform, it is possible to efficiently manage the information stored in the storage unit.

Further, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that:
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a display unit that displays information about the device, wherein the display unit displays a manual stored in the storage unit. .

That is, the invention according to claim 5 eliminates the need to separately provide an information providing medium other than the display means.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Embodiment 1 FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a block configuration of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus is appropriately referred to as an MFP. In the figure, MFP 100 and a host computer (Host) are connected via a network.
(Computer) 120 is shown. In the figure, the host computer 120 is connected to only one unit, but may be connected to a plurality of host computers.

The MPF 100 is a network controller unit (Network Control) connected to an external peripheral device, a computer or a network.
ler Unit: NCU) 101 and CPU 102
A RAM 103 which is a work area of the CPU 102;
A ROM 104 in which operation contents or control contents of the PU 102 are stored in advance, and a scanner (S
(Cutter) 105, a plotter (Plotter) 106 for printing image data on recording paper, and a facsimile controller unit (Fax Controller).
Unit: FCU 107 and an operation unit (DISPLA)
Y & OPERATION Controller) 10
8 and a hard disk drive (HD
D) 109. These units are connected to a system bus (System Bus) 110.

The NCU 101 can be connected to the outside through an interface such as a parallel interface SCSI, a serial interface USB, or IEEE1394. The following description will be made using the NCU 101 for network connection, but it is of course possible to use the above-mentioned interface.

The MFP 100 is configured such that the CPU 102
The control program stored in M104 is read and R
While using the AM 103 as a temporary storage area (work area) for image data and sensor signals, various processes as a data processing device are performed by integrally controlling each unit of the device, and further, a process according to the present invention is executed. .

In the MFP 100, a CPU 102, a ROM 104, a RAM 103, and an NCU 101 are interconnected via a system bus 110, and a scanner 105, a plotter 106, an FCU 107, and an operation unit 108
And the HDD 109 are connected. The CPU 102
These components of the device are controlled overall. And MFP1
00 has a transmission function (transmission function, reception function) for transmitting image data read by the scanner 105 by facsimile communication, and a copy function for recording and outputting the read image data. The printer can be used as a printer having a recording function of recording print image data in the HDD 109.

The system bus 110 is, for example, a general-purpose P
CI or the like can be used. The operation unit 108 includes a key port (Key Port) 111 and a display port (Display Port) 112 prepared in an operation port provided on an upper part of the front of the apparatus main body. Device status,
A display operation LCD (Liq) with a touch panel for displaying various information such as input conditions and performing input operations such as selection input and setting input such as function selection by a user.
Uid Crystal Display). The display port 112 can also display an operation manual of the device.

Next, the copying operation will be described. For example, the scanner 105 transfers a sheet-shaped document set on a document table to an automatic document feeder (Auto Docu).
The sheets are separated and fed one by one by a center feeder (ADF) and positioned on a contact glass (reading position). Subsequently, the scanner 105 irradiates the original (a document composed of images, characters, etc.) with light from an exposure lamp by a known reading method, and photoelectrically converts the light reflected from the image surface via the CCD. The image data thus read is transferred to the system bus 110.

The plotter 106 optically writes the image data transferred on the system bus 110 onto a charged photosensitive member while being driven to rotate by, for example, a known electrophotographic recording method. Subsequently, the plotter 106 causes toner to adhere to the obtained electrostatic latent image, transfers and fixes the image to a sheet conveyed from a sheet cassette, and discharges the image outside the apparatus. Although the electrophotographic method has been described here, an image may be recorded by an inkjet method, which is another method. The image data on the system bus 110 during the copying operation may be recorded in the data storage device 109.

Next, transmission operation and reception operation of MFP 100 will be described. The FCU 107 modulates and demodulates image data and various procedural signals, and executes line control with a PSTN (public line) to perform line connection or disconnection, thereby enabling F-mode communication with a partner FAX terminal.
FAX communication for transmitting and receiving AX data is performed. The transmission operation will be described. The image data on the system bus 110 is used as the transmission image data at the time of fax transmission. The image data is the image data read from the scanner 105 or the image data from the network.
It may be obtained from 1. The image data on the system bus 110 during the transmission operation can be stored in the data storage device 109.

Next, the receiving operation will be described. The received data at the time of reception is transferred onto the system bus 110,
Further, the image is recorded by the plotter 106. The image data on the system bus 110 during the receiving operation can be stored in the data storage device 109.

Next, transfer of image reading via a network, that is, a network scanner function will be described. The image data read by the scanner 105 is output to the system bus 110. System bus 110
The above read image data can be transferred to a device on the network via the NCU 101. That is, the MFP 100
Has become a network scanner. The image data on the system bus 110 during the reading operation can be stored in the data storage device 109.

Next, printout processing via a network, that is, a network print function will be described. NCU 101 from a device on the network
(For example, PCL, PS, RPDL or IPDLC which is a print description language)
) Are developed into image data that can be printed by the plotter 106 in the CPU 102. The developed image data is transferred to the plotter 106 via the system bus 110 and is recorded on a recording sheet. System bus 1 during recording operation
The image data on 10 can be stored in the data storage device 109.

The MFP 100 may include an image processing unit that encodes and compresses image data and decodes and expands the image data when reproducing the image data. -Image processing for reduction may be performed. In the present embodiment, encoding and compression can be performed by the CPU 102, and the encoded and compressed image data can be stored in the data storage device 109. As the encoding and compression means, for example, dither processing, error diffusion processing, or the like can be used.

The CPU 102 of the MFP 100 converts the read image data read by the scanner 105 into a plotter 106
To print on paper, or FCU 107 to
In parallel with the X transmission, processing date and time information for specifying the read image data, copy number information, or specific information including the destination telephone number is added to the read image data and stored in the data storage device 109. On the other hand, the image data in the data storage device in the MFP 100 can be retrieved and read out from a computer (PC) connected to the MFP 100 and displayed / recorded and output to be reused. It should be noted that the image data in units of documents may be sequentially displayed and output on a display, and the image data which has been digitized may be reusable, for example, processed by a PC.

The specific information is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-27901.
The method proposed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 9 can be adopted. Although the data storage device 109 is assumed to be an HDD in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and CD-R / RW, DVD-R
It may be a rewritable removable medium such as / RW, DVD-RAM and the like. The data storage device 109 is C
The file system is managed by the PU 102, and the image data is also managed as a file. Normal file operations such as addition / update / deletion can be performed on files on the file system. Also,
The data storage device 109 can store files other than image data.

Further, the data storage device 109 is an NCU 10
1 and can also be accessed from the host computer 120 as an external storage device. Also, the data storage device 10
9 can store various information of the MFP 100. MFP10
The various types of information are device drivers, utilities,
Information necessary for the operation of MFP 100, such as a manual. That is, the various information of the MFP 100 refers to necessary information including a device driver closer to the machine and a manual closer to the human. Since various information of the MFP 100 can also be accessed from the host computer 120, it can be updated to the latest information such as driver updates and manual revisions.

The device driver of the MFP 100 is the MFP
Since the data is stored in the file system in the data storage device 109, the host computer 120
Access is possible via the CU 101. Therefore, when the device driver of MFP 100 is installed in host computer 120, the location where the device driver of MFP 100 is stored may be specified from host computer 120. Similarly, the MFP 10
The utility in the data storage device 109 can also be installed on the host computer 120.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of various information of the MFP 100 stored in the data storage device 109. In correspondence with a situation where the OS of the host computer 120 is not always limited to a specific OS, as shown in FIG.
Various information of the MFP 100 is stored in a hierarchical manner for each.
In this way, since various information can correspond to various OSs, an installation disk or the like becomes unnecessary. Further, since various information of MFP 100 is stored in data storage device 109, data storage device 109 can be used efficiently.

That is, since the data storage device 109 stores the image data read by the scanner 105 and also stores various information, it is not necessary to separately provide a driver or the like with a floppy (registered trademark) disk or the like. In addition, since the manual does not need to be provided on a paper medium, the user can electronically extract only necessary information when necessary, which contributes to the demand in the age of cost reduction and resource saving.

Embodiment 2 Next, a configuration example of an image forming apparatus different from the image forming apparatus (MFP 100) of the first embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus includes resources (hardware resources) separated into functional units such as image reading, printing, and storage, an application that enables services such as a printer, a copy, and a facsimile, and resources. It consists of a platform that intervenes with the application and performs common processing required when executing each service. Hereinafter, regarding the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment,
A detailed description will be given focusing on a portion different from the configuration of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, and is a configuration diagram showing a specific software configuration. The image forming apparatus 300 has various functions such as a scanner function, a facsimile function, a copy function, and a file storage function, and realizes a function as an OA multifunction peripheral. Specifically, the image forming apparatus 300
It has a black and white line printer (B & W LP) 301, a color line printer (Color LP) 302, other hardware resources 303, and the like, and has a software group 310.
It consists of a platform 320 and an application 340. Other hardware resources 303 include FIG.
The NCU 101 communicates with an external device connected to the image forming apparatus 300. Also, the HDD 109 shown in FIG.
00, an operation manual and a utility program are stored.

The platform 320 is a general-purpose OS 321
, Common system service 330, and application service 3
29. The general-purpose OS 321 is a general-purpose operating system such as UNIX (registered trademark).
Each software of the platform 320 and the application 340 is executed in parallel as a process. By using the open source UNIX, the security of the program can be ensured, the network can be supported, and the source code can be easily obtained. Furthermore, royalties for OS and TCP / IP are not required, and outsourcing is also facilitated.

The common system service 330 provides a basic common service to the application 340, and is provided by an SCS (System Control).
SRM (Service) 322
m Resource Manager) 323 and E
CS (Engine Control Service)
e) 324 and MCS (Memory Control)
Service) 325 and OCS (Operati)
on panel Control Service)
326 and FCS (FAX Control Server)
ice) 327 and NCS (Network Cont)
(Roll Service) 328.

The SRM 323 controls the system and manages resources together with the SCS 322. The SRM 323 includes an engine such as a scanner unit and a printer unit, a memory, and the like.
HDD file, host I / O (Centro I / F, network I / F, IEEE1394 I / F, RS232
Arbitration is performed according to a request from an upper layer using hardware resources such as CI / F, and execution control is performed.

More specifically, the SRM 323 determines whether the requested hardware resource is available (whether it is not used by another request) or not, and if available, the requested hardware resource is determined. The upper layer is notified that the wear resource is available. In addition, hardware resource utilization scheduling may be performed in response to a request from an upper layer, and the content of the request (for example, paper conveyance and image forming operation by a printer engine, memory reservation, file generation, etc.) may be directly implemented. .

The SCS 322 includes (1) application management,
(2) Operation unit control, (3) system screen display (job list screen, counter display screen, etc.), (4) LED display, (5) resource management, and (6) interrupt application control. Specifically, in (1) application management, a process of registering an application and notifying the information to another application is performed. For the registered application, the engine status is notified according to the system setting or the request setting from the application. In addition, the registered application is inquired about the transition to the power mode, the inquiry about the possibility of the transition of the system state such as the interruption mode, and the like.

In (2) operation section control, exclusive control of the right to use the operation section of the application is performed. Then, the key information from the operation unit driver (OCS) is exclusively notified to the application having the right to use the operation unit. This key information performs mask control for temporarily stopping notification according to a state transition of the system such as during application switching.

In the (3) system screen display, a warning screen corresponding to the engine state is displayed according to the request content from the application having the operating unit use right. Some of them turn on / off the warning display depending on the state of the application such as a user restriction screen. Other than the engine status, display control is performed on a job list screen for displaying a job reservation / execution status, a counter screen for displaying total counters, and a screen indicating that a CSS is being reported. Regarding these system screen displays, the application is not requested to release the right to use the operation unit, but is drawn as a system screen covering the application screen.

(4) In the LED display, the warning LE
D, display control of system LEDs such as application keys. The application-specific LED is directly controlled by the application using a display driver.

In (5) resource management, when an application (ECS) executes a job, a service for exclusive control of engine resources (scanner, staple, etc.) which must be mutually exclusive is provided.
In the interrupt application control, control and service for giving priority to a specific application are performed.

The ECS 324 is a monochrome line printer (B
& W LP) 301, color line printer (Colo)
r LP) 302, other hardware resources 303
It controls an engine such as an image reader and performs image reading and printing operation, status notification, jam recovery, and the like.

More specifically, a series of copy / scan / print operations are realized by sequentially issuing print requests to the SRM 323 in accordance with the specification of the job mode received from the application 340. It is assumed that a job to be handled by the ECS 324 specifies a scanner (SCANNER) as an image input device or a plotter (PLOTTER) as an image output device.

For example, in the case of a copy operation, "SCA
NNER → PLOTTER ”is specified, and in the case of file storage,“ SCANNER → MEMORY ”
And in the case of facsimile transmission, "SCANN
ER → FAX_IN ”. In the case of printing stored files or printing from the printer application 311, “MEMORY → PLOTTER” is designated, and in the case of facsimile reception, “FAX_OUT →
"PLOTTER".

Although the definition of a job differs depending on the application, a processing operation for one set of images handled by the user is defined as one job. For example, a copy of ADF (Automatic Docum)
In the case of the (ent Feeder) mode, the operation of reading one set of originals placed on the original platen becomes one job,
In the pressure plate mode, the reading operation until the final document is determined is one job. In the case of the copy application 312, the operation of copying one bundle of documents is one job. In the case of the fax application 313, the operation of transmitting one document or the operation of receiving one document is one job. In this case, the printing operation of one document is one job.

The MCS 325 performs a memory control, and specifically, acquires and releases an image memory,
It controls a secondary storage device such as a hard disk device (HDD). It also performs compression and expansion of image data. In addition, as an example of the secondary storage device,
Removable and removable media such as CD-R / RW, DVD-R / RW, and DVD-RAM can also be used.

These storage devices are managed as a file system, and image data is also managed as a file. Files on the file system can be added, updated, deleted, and so on. The image forming apparatus 300 stores a file of various information of the apparatus even if it is not image data. Here, the various information means a device manual, a device driver, a utility, and the like. Since the relationship between the various information is managed in a hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. 2, it is easy to access various information of the image forming apparatus 300 from an external device, for example, a PC.

If various information of the image forming apparatus 300 is stored for each OS type as shown in FIG.
S can be supported, and storage management can be performed for each version of the driver or utility. By adopting such a configuration, there is an advantage that not only an installation disk and a CD-ROM are not required, but also a storage place for the installation disk and the CD-ROM is not required. Further, since various information of the device is stored in the storage device, the data storage device can be used efficiently.

The functions required to manage information required as image data files stored in the hard disk device include (1) a file access (generation / deletion / open / close) function (including exclusive processing) ,
(2) File name / ID management (file / user) /
Management of various file attributes such as password management / storage time management / number of pages / data format (compression method, etc.) / Access restriction / creation application / print condition management (management of physical page-based image data as files)
(3) Combining / inserting / file / page units
Disconnection function, (4) file sort function (accumulation time order / user ID order, etc.), (5) notification of all file information (for display / search), (6) recovery function (file / page discard of damaged file), (7) There is an automatic file deletion function.

The functions for holding and accessing image data in a memory such as a RAM include (1) a function for obtaining file and page / band attribute information from the application 340, and (2) an application 34.
Secure, release, and read image data area from 0
d) and a write function.

The OCS 326 is a module for controlling an operation panel serving as information transmission means between the operator and the main body control. The OCS 326 is a module for notifying the main body control of key operation events of the operator, and a library function for each application to construct a GUI. , A process of managing the constructed GUI information for each application, a process of reflecting the display on the operation panel, and the like.

The OCS 326 includes (1) a library providing function for constructing a GUI, (2) a hardware resource management function for an operation unit, and (3) a VRAM drawing / LCD display function (hardware display, display application switching, and display). Language switching,
Window dark display, message / icon blink display, message link display), (4) hard key input detection function, (5) touch panel key input detection function, (6)
It has an LED output function and (7) a buzzer output function.

The FCS 327 transmits / receives facsimile data from each application layer of the system controller using a PSTN / ISDN network, registers / quotes various facsimile data managed by a BKM (backup SRAM), reads facsimile data, prints facsimile data, and transmits / receives data. API for performing the following.

More specifically, the FCS 327 is (1)
The document requested to be sent from the application layer is sent to PSTN /
A transmission function for transmitting to a facsimile receiver using the ISDN network, (2) a facsimile reception screen received from the PSTN / ISDN network, a reception function for transferring and printing various reports to each application layer, and (3) a fax board Phonebook quotation / registration function for quoting and registering facsimile management items such as phonebooks and group information stored in (4) BK mounted on fax board
Fax log notification function for notifying applications that need transmission / reception result history information and the like stored in M
(5) FC when the status of the fax board changes
It has an event notification function for notifying the application registered in S of an event that has changed.

The NCS 328 is a group of modules for providing services that can be used in common to applications that require network I / O. The NCS 328 distributes data received from the network according to each protocol to each application, Mediates when sending data from the to the network side. Specifically, ftpd, httpd, lpd, sn
It has server daemons such as mpd, telnetd, and smtpd, and a client function of the same protocol.

The application service 329 is one of the common services forming the platform 320. The ECS 324, M
CS325, OCS326, FCS327, NCS32
8, unlike the SRM 323 and the SCS 322, it provides services on the application 340 side.

In other words, this application service 329
Is the application 340 and the common system service 3
30 and plays a role in bridging between them.

Specifically, the application service 329
, The copy application 312, the fax application 313, the scanner application 314, and the like collectively perform the job generation and data communication functions that should be performed. For this reason, the copy application 312, the fax application 313, the scanner application 314, and the like only need to operate the screen and the key operation, so that the application development efficiency is improved.

The application 340 includes page description language (PDL), PCL, and postscript (PS).
Printer application 311 as a printer application, a copy application 312 as a copy application, a facsimile application 313 as a facsimile application, a scanner application 314 as a scanner application, and a network application as a net file application. File application 315
And a process inspection application 316 which is a process inspection application.

Next, processing at the time of starting three applications of a copy application 312, a printer application 311, and a scanner application 314, processing of generating and displaying each application screen, and processing when an application screen selection key is pressed. Will be described.

Application Start-Up Process; At power-on or system reset, the application is started after at least SCS 322 and OCS 326 are started. The copy application 312, the printer application 311 and the scanner application 314 register that they have been started with the application registration management module of the SCS 322.

Screen Generation Process The OCS 326 has a drawing management function that allows a plurality of applications to each have a plurality of virtual screen memories. For this reason,
The copy application 312, the printer application 311 and the scanner application 314 can each execute screen generation using the window control library module.

Display processing: One of a plurality of screen memories is drawn on the display panel. Further, a screen obtained by combining the contents of a plurality of screen memories may be displayed.
For example, when a fax is received during a copy operation, a message indicating that a fax is being received can be displayed in a screen area common to the applications.

Screen switching process: The screen memory drawn on the display panel is switched by the system screen display control module of the SCS322. For example, when the application selection key on the operation panel is pressed, the selected application screen is drawn. Also, the SCS 322 includes
Since there is a device status management module that holds status information of the internal hardware of the device and the engine, it is possible to switch the display screen at the time of an error such as a paper jam or a paper error or an abnormality.

Next, the image forming apparatus 300 shown in FIG.
Will be described. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 300 illustrated in FIG. The image forming apparatus 300 has, as hardware configurations, a controller board 400 in which a CPU 402, an SDRAM 403, a flash memory 404, an HD 405, and the like are connected to an ASIC 401, an operation panel 410, and a fax control unit (F
CU) 420, USB 430, and IEEE 1394
(Reference numeral 440) and a plotter (output device) 450.

The operation panel 410 displays A
Directly connected to SIC401, FCU420, USB4
30, IEEE 1394 (440) and plotter 45
0 is connected to the ASIC 401 via the PCI bus.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of ASIC 401 shown in FIG. ASIC 401 is C
PU interface (CPU I / F), SDRAM
Interface (SDRAM I / F), local bus interface (Local BUS I / F),
PCI interface (PCI I / F), 128
4. MAC (Media Access Control)
lor), I / O, OPE interface (OPE)
I / F), HD interface (HD I / F),
Comp / de-comp, formed by Rotate.

By adopting such a hardware configuration, low-cost design by sharing devices becomes possible, and integration between applications becomes easy. Also, the architecture is scalable from low-speed machines to high-speed machines, and the hardware / software used for each application is shared,
Development efficiency can be improved. Also, it is easy to deal with new functions.

As described above, in the present embodiment,
Application service 329 for common parts of each application
And the common system service 330, and the application service 329 and the common system service 330.
Since the platform 320 is formed by the general-purpose OS 321 and the printer application 311, the copy application 312, and the like are mounted on the platform 320, the development effort of each application can be reduced and the application can be slimmer.

Further, the image forming apparatus 300 uses the net file application 315 and the NCS 328 to control external devices,
For example, a necessary driver (printer driver) or an operation manual can be provided to a PC connected to the image forming apparatus 300 so that an operation manual can be displayed, so that information management can be performed efficiently. Become.

That is, various information of the image forming apparatus 300 can be accessed from an external computer via the network file application 315. Also, as described in the first embodiment, it is possible to update to the latest information.

[0080]

As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention (claim 1) has an image reading means for reading image data of a document, and outputs the image data read by the image reading means to recording paper. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit to be formed; a communication unit that transmits and receives data to and from an external device; and a storage unit that stores the image data obtained by the image reading unit or the communication unit in a readable and writable manner. An external device detecting unit configured to store a driver, a manual, and a utility program of the image forming apparatus in the storage unit, and detect a connection of a new external device based on data received by the communication unit. And, when a new external device is detected by the external device detection means, controlling the communication means and the storage means, And a driver sending control means for sending a driver suitable for the external device from the storage means. If the PC does not have a printer driver, the printer driver is provided. Is older, an image forming apparatus that provides an updated printer driver can be obtained.

Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention (Claim 2)
Image reading means for reading the image data of the document, image forming means for outputting and forming the image data read by the image reading means on a recording paper, communication means for transmitting and receiving data between the external device, Storage means for readable and writable storage of image data obtained by the image reading means or the communication means, wherein the storage means has a driver, a manual and a utility program for the image forming apparatus. Is stored, and when there is a manual display request or a utility program download request from the external device via the communication unit, the communication unit and the storage unit are controlled, and the external unit is controlled by the storage unit. Manual or a manual that sends the utility program And Le program delivery control means,
Is provided, the user can refer to the manual of the image forming apparatus from the external device, thereby obtaining a highly convenient image forming apparatus.

Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention (claim 3)
Is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
A determination unit that determines whether the data received by the communication unit is an updated driver, manual or utility program; and if the determination unit determines that the data is an updated driver, manual or utility program. Controlling the storage means to update the driver, manual or utility program already stored, with the updated driver,
And a storage means control means for replacing a manual or a utility program, so that the latest driver can always be stored on the printer side, and
It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can provide an updated driver to all connected PCs by one update.

Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention (Claim 4)
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading unit, the image forming unit, the communication unit, or the storage unit includes a hardware resource, and a user realized by each of the units. A platform that intervenes between multiple applications that perform processing for services and that performs common service processing required to realize user services is provided.By constructing the platform, information stored in the storage unit is stored. Can be efficiently performed, and a highly convenient image forming apparatus can be provided.

Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention (claim 5)
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: display means for displaying information about the apparatus, wherein the display means displays a manual stored in the storage means. It is not necessary to separately provide an information providing medium other than the means, and it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus with low cost overall.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a block configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a data structure of various information of an MFP stored in a data storage device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment, and is a configuration diagram particularly illustrating a specific software configuration;

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the ASIC shown in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 image forming apparatus 101 network control unit 105 scanner 106 plotter 108 operation unit 109 data storage device (HDD) 112 display port 120 host computer 300 image forming apparatus 303 other hardware resources 310 software group 311 printer application 312 copy application 313 fax application 314 Scanner application 315 Net file application 316 Process inspection application 320 Platform 329 Application service 330 Common system service 340 Application 400 Controller board 404 Flash memory 410 Operation panel 450 Plotter

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/23 H04N 1/23 Z F term (Reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP04 AP07 AQ06 CQ34 HN05 HN15 HQ06 2C087 AA03 AA09 AB01 AB05 AB06 AC08 BA03 BB10 BC07 CB16 5B021 AA01 AA02 AA05 AA19 BB04 CC05 DD20 5C074 AA20 BB02 DD16 EE14 HH02

Claims (5)

[Claims] An image reading unit that reads image data of a document; an image forming unit that outputs image data read by the image reading unit on recording paper; and a communication that transmits and receives data to and from an external device. Means for storing image data obtained by the image reading means or the communication means in a readable and writable manner, wherein the storage means includes a driver for the image forming apparatus, a manual, And an external device detection unit that detects a connection of a new external device based on data received by the communication unit, and a new external device is detected by the external device detection unit. The communication unit and the storage unit are controlled, and a driver suitable for the external device is transmitted from the storage unit. An image forming apparatus characterized by including and a driver sending control means. 2. An image reading means for reading image data of a document, an image forming means for outputting and forming image data read by the image reading means on recording paper, and a communication for transmitting and receiving data to and from an external device Means for storing image data obtained by the image reading means or the communication means in a readable and writable manner, wherein the storage means includes a driver for the image forming apparatus, a manual, And a utility program are stored.When there is a manual display request or a utility program download request from the external device via the communication unit, the communication unit and the storage unit are controlled, and Send the relevant manual or utility program to the external device. An image forming apparatus comprising: 3. A determining means for determining whether the data received by the communication means is an updated driver, manual or utility program, and the determining means is an updated driver, manual or utility program. When the determination is made, the storage means controls the storage means, and replaces the driver, manual, or utility program already stored with the updated driver, manual, or utility program. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 4. A hardware resource constituted by the image reading means, the image forming means, the communication means, or the storage means, and a plurality of applications for processing a user service realized by the respective means. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a platform that intervenes and performs a common service process required when realizing a user service. 5. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising: display means for displaying information on the apparatus, wherein the display means displays a manual stored in the storage means. Image forming device.