JP2004005475A - Image forming apparatus and method for acquiring thumbnail of stored document - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus and a method for acquiring the thumbnails of a stored document, which can share authentication function for the thumbnail of the stored document, can distribute the load on a document management DB and can supply an external networking devices with the thumbnails of the stored document, without wasting resources. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 1, which supplies the thumbnails of the stored document, solves above task, by including: Web page service which acquires certification information, according to a thumbnail acquisition request from the networking device 100, acquires thumbnail storage location information on a thumbnail for display which has been replicated from the thumbnail of the stored document, and supplies the networking device with the information; and document management service which generates the certification information, transmits it to the Web page service 122, while the thumbnail storage location information on the thumbnail for display is read, according to the certification information and transmits the read information to the Web page service. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a method for obtaining thumbnails of stored documents, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus and a method for obtaining thumbnails of stored documents for supplying thumbnails of stored documents to an external network device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image forming apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a multifunction peripheral) in which functions of respective apparatuses such as a printer, a copier, a facsimile, and a scanner are housed in one housing has become known. This multifunction machine includes a display unit, a printing unit, an imaging unit, and the like in one housing, and four types of software corresponding to a printer, a copier, a facsimile, and a scanner, respectively. It operates as a copy, facsimile and scanner. Patent Literature 1 describes an example of the above-described fusion machine.
[0003]
Such a multifunction machine stores, for example, a document file as a stored document in a document management database (hereinafter, referred to as a document management DB). Further, the multifunction peripheral stores a thumbnail (Thumbnail) in the document management DB as an image sample of the stored document. Thumbnails facilitate selection of a stored document, for example, by displaying a small image sample of the stored document.
[0004]
The multi-function device is connected to a network device or another multi-function device via a network, and distributes, for example, stored documents and thumbnails stored in the document management DB using a distribution function. In addition, in order to cope with security problems, the multifunction peripheral often sets a password for the stored document and the thumbnail stored in the document management DB.
[0005]
For example, when downloading a stored document or thumbnail from the multifunction peripheral, the network device transmits a document ID for identifying the desired stored document or thumbnail and a password proving the right to use the stored document or thumbnail to the multifunction peripheral.
[0006]
After performing password authentication, the multifunction peripheral reads the stored document or thumbnail corresponding to the document ID from the document management DB, and supplies the read stored document or thumbnail to the network device. For example, a network device has downloaded a stored document or a thumbnail from a multifunction device using a browser.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-84383
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional multifunction peripheral receives various processing requests for stored documents and thumbnails from network devices and other multifunction peripherals in addition to transfer requests for stored documents and thumbnails. For this reason, the multifunction peripheral is provided with a user service process that responds to various processing requests for stored documents and thumbnails. Therefore, when a password is set for a stored document or a thumbnail, it is necessary to provide a password authentication function for each user service process according to various processing requests related to the stored document or the thumbnail, and the function is duplicated. there were.
[0009]
When the multifunction device handles the stored document or thumbnail read from the document management DB by a plurality of user service processes, the multifunction device transfers the read stored document or thumbnail as it is. Therefore, there is a problem that resources of the multifunction machine are wasted.
[0010]
Further, when a request for transferring a stored document or a thumbnail is issued from many network devices at once, there is a problem that the load on the document management DB storing the stored document and the thumbnail increases.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and can share an authentication function for thumbnails of stored documents, can distribute the load on a document management DB, and can externally store thumbnails of stored documents without wasting resources. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus and a method for acquiring thumbnails of stored documents that can be supplied to a network device.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that supplies a thumbnail of a stored document stored in a document storage unit in response to a request from a user. While receiving the acquisition request and acquiring the proof information corresponding to the thumbnail acquisition request, the thumbnail storage location information of the display thumbnail obtained by duplicating the thumbnail of the stored document is acquired using the proof information, and the thumbnail storage location is acquired. A web page service that supplies information to the external network device; and certifying information corresponding to a certifying information acquisition request from the web page service that has received the thumbnail acquiring request, and transmits the certifying information to the web page service. Read the thumbnail storage location information of the display thumbnail corresponding to the And having a document management service to be sent to the-bis.
[0013]
The present invention also relates to a thumbnail acquisition method for an image forming apparatus that supplies a thumbnail of a stored document stored in a document storage unit in response to a request from a user. Receiving a thumbnail acquisition request from the document management service and receiving certification information corresponding to the thumbnail acquisition request from the document management service; and storing the thumbnail of the display thumbnail in which the Web page service duplicates the thumbnail of the stored document. Obtaining information using the certification information and supplying the thumbnail storage location information to the external network device.
[0014]
According to the present invention, authentication is performed on a thumbnail of a stored document, and then authentication information corresponding to the thumbnail acquisition request is generated, and the authentication information is transmitted to the Web page service, thereby sharing the authentication function for the display thumbnail. it can. Here, the display thumbnail is a display thumbnail obtained by duplicating a thumbnail created in response to a thumbnail acquisition request from an external network device.
[0015]
Further, according to the present invention, the load on the document management DB can be distributed by supplying the thumbnail storage location information of the display thumbnail obtained by copying the thumbnail of the stored document to an external network device.
[0016]
Further, according to the present invention, the certification information corresponding to the thumbnail acquisition request is transferred between the web page service and the document management service, so that the display thumbnail itself does not need to be transferred wastefully, and resources are wasted. Supply of display thumbnails is possible.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a multifunction peripheral according to the present invention. The multifunction device 1 is configured to include a software group 2, a multifunction device activation unit 3, and hardware resources 4.
[0019]
The multifunction peripheral starting unit 3 is first executed when the power of the multifunction peripheral 1 is turned on, and activates the application layer 5 and the platform 6. For example, the multifunction peripheral starting unit 3 reads the programs of the application layer 5 and the platform 6 from a hard disk device (hereinafter referred to as HDD) or the like, and transfers each read program to a memory area to start. The hardware resources 4 include a black-and-white laser printer (B & W LP) 11, a color laser printer (Color LP) 12, and hardware resources 13 such as a scanner and a facsimile.
[0020]
Further, the software group 2 includes an application layer 5 and a platform 6 activated on an operating system (hereinafter referred to as an OS) such as UNIX (registered trademark). The application layer 5 includes programs for performing processes specific to user services related to image formation such as a printer, a copy, a facsimile, and a scanner.
[0021]
The application layer 5 includes a printer application 21 which is a printer application, a copy application 22 which is a copy application, a fax application 23 which is a fax application, a scanner application 24 which is a scanner application, and a web page application. A web application 25, a SOAP communication application 26 as a simple object access protocol (hereinafter, referred to as SOAP) communication application, and one or more shared functions (hereinafter, referred to as SF) 28. 7 and a wrapping layer 8 including a WEB service function (hereinafter referred to as WSF) 27 provided between the WEB page application 25 and the SOAP communication application 26 and the SF 28. Including.
[0022]
The WSF 27 has an application program interface (hereinafter, referred to as an API) 51 that can receive processing requests from the WEB page application 25 and the SOAP communication application 26 by using a predefined function. The SF 28 has an API 52 that can receive a processing request from the WSF 27 by a function defined in advance.
[0023]
When the WSF 27 receives a processing request from the web page application 25 and the SOAP communication application 26 via the API 51, the WSF 27 selects the SF 28 according to the processing request. The WSF 27 transmits the processing request received via the API 51 to the SF 28 selected according to the processing request via the API 52. When the SF 28 receives a processing request via the API 52, the SF 28 performs processing according to the processing request.
[0024]
For example, although the MFP 1 of FIG. 1 includes two SFs 28, one SF 28 performs processing of a document management service 143 described later, and the other SF 28 performs processing of a document output service 144 described later.
[0025]
Further, the platform 6 interprets the processing request from the application layer 5 and generates a request for acquiring the hardware resource 4, and manages one or more hardware resources 4 to control the control service layer 9. And a handler layer 10 for managing the hardware resources 4 in response to the acquisition request from the SRM 39.
[0026]
The control service layer 9 includes a network control service (hereinafter, referred to as NCS) 31, a delivery control service (hereinafter, referred to as DCS) 32, an operation panel control service (hereinafter, referred to as OCS) 33, and a fax control service (hereinafter, referred to as FCS) 34. , An engine control service (hereinafter referred to as ECS) 35, a memory control service (hereinafter referred to as MCS) 36, a user information control service (hereinafter referred to as UCS) 37, a system control service (hereinafter referred to as SCS) 38, and the like. It is configured to include a service module.
[0027]
In addition, the platform 6 is configured to have an API 53 that can receive a processing request from the application layer 5 by a function defined in advance. The OS executes each software of the application layer 5 and the platform 6 as a process in parallel.
[0028]
The process of the NCS 31 provides a service that can be used in common to applications that require network I / O, and distributes data received from the network by each protocol to each application, or distributes data from each application. Mediation when sending to the network side.
[0029]
For example, the NCS 31 controls data communication with a network device connected via a network by HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol Daemon) by HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol).
[0030]
The process of the DCS 32 controls the distribution of stored documents and the like. The process of the OCS 33 controls an operation panel serving as information transmission means between the operator and the main body control. The FCS 34 process provides an API from the application layer 5 for performing facsimile transmission / reception using the PSTN or ISDN network, registration / quotation of various facsimile data managed in a backup memory, facsimile reading, facsimile reception printing, and the like. I do.
[0031]
The process of the ECS 35 controls engine units such as the black and white laser printer 11, the color laser printer 12, and the hardware resources 13. The process of the MCS 36 performs memory control such as acquisition and release of a memory, use of an HDD, and compression and decompression of image data. The UCS 37 manages user information.
[0032]
The process of the SCS 38 performs processes such as application management, operation unit control, system screen display, LED display, hardware resource management, and interrupt application control.
[0033]
The process of the SRM 39 controls the system and manages the hardware resources 4 together with the SCS 38. For example, the process of the SRM 39 performs arbitration in accordance with an acquisition request from an upper layer using the hardware resources 4 such as the monochrome laser printer 11 and the color laser printer 12, and controls execution.
[0034]
Specifically, the process of the SRM 39 determines whether the requested hardware resource 4 is available (whether the hardware resource 4 is not used by another acquisition request). The upper layer is notified that the resource 4 is available. The process of the SRM 39 performs scheduling for using the hardware resource 4 in response to an acquisition request from the upper layer, and the content of the request (for example, paper conveyance and image forming operation by the printer engine, memory reservation, file generation, etc.). Is implemented directly.
[0035]
The handler layer 10 also includes a fax control unit handler (hereinafter, referred to as FCUH) 40 that manages a fax control unit (hereinafter, referred to as FCU) described below, and an image that manages the memory allocated to the process and the memory allocated to the process. A memory handler (hereinafter referred to as IMH) 41. The SRM 39 and the FCUH 40 make a processing request to the hardware resource 4 using the engine I / F 54 that can transmit a processing request to the hardware resource 4 by a function defined in advance.
[0036]
The multifunction device 1 can perform processing required in common by each application on the platform 6 in a unified manner. Next, the hardware configuration of the MFP 1 will be described.
[0037]
FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration diagram of an embodiment of the multifunction peripheral according to the present invention. The MFP 1 includes a controller 60, an operation panel 80, an FCU 81, an engine unit 82, and a plotter 83.
[0038]
The controller 60 includes a CPU 61, a system memory 62, a north bridge (hereinafter, referred to as NB) 63, a south bridge (hereinafter, referred to as SB) 64, an ASIC 66, a local memory 67, an HDD 68, a network interface controller, and the like. (Hereinafter referred to as NIC) 69, USB device 70, IEEE1394 device 71, and Centronics 72.
[0039]
The operation panel 80 is connected to the ASIC 66 of the controller 60. The FCU 81, the engine unit 82, and the plotter 83 are connected to the ASIC 66 of the controller 60 via a PCI bus 84.
[0040]
In the controller 60, the local memory 67, the HDD 68, and the like are connected to the ASIC 66, and the CPU 61 and the ASIC 66 are connected via the NB 63 of the CPU chip set. In this way, if the CPU 61 and the ASIC 66 are connected via the NB 63, it is possible to cope with a case where the interface of the CPU 61 is not disclosed.
[0041]
The ASIC 66 and the NB 63 are not connected via the PCI bus, but are connected via an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) 65. As described above, in order to control the execution of one or more processes forming the application layer 5 and the platform 6 of FIG. 1, the ASIC 66 and the NB 63 are connected not through the low-speed PCI bus but through the AGP 65, thereby preventing the performance from deteriorating. In.
[0042]
The CPU 61 performs overall control of the multifunction peripheral 1. The CPU 61 activates and executes the NCS 31, DCS 32, OCS 33, FCS 34, ECS 35, MCS 36, UCS 37, SCS 38, SRM 39, FCU H 40, and IMH 41 as processes on the OS, and executes the printer application 21 and the copy application which form the application layer 5 22, the fax application 23, the scanner application 24, the web page application 25, the SOAP communication application 26, the WSF 27 and the SF 28 are activated and executed.
[0043]
The NB 63 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 61, the system memory 62, the SB 64, the ASIC 66, the NIC 69, the USB device 70, the IEEE 1394 device 71, and the Centronics 72. The SB 64, the NIC 69, the USB device 70, the IEEE 1394 device 71, and the Centronics 72 are connected to the NB 63 via the PCI bus 73. The SB 64 is a bridge for connecting the NB 63 to a ROM, a PCI bus, and peripheral devices.
[0044]
The system memory 62 is a memory used as a drawing memory or the like of the multifunction peripheral 1. The local memory 67 is a memory used as a copy image buffer and a code buffer.
[0045]
The ASIC 66 is an IC for image processing having hardware components for image processing. The HDD 68 is a storage for storing image data, storing document data, storing programs, storing font data, storing forms, and the like. The operation panel 80 is an operation unit that receives an input operation from the operator and performs display for the operator.
[0046]
The NIC 69 is an interface device for connecting the MFP 1 to a network. The USB device 70, the IEEE 1394 device 71, and the Centronics 72 are interfaces conforming to respective standards. The FCU 81 has a memory. The memory of the FCU 81 is used, for example, to temporarily store facsimile data received when the power of the MFP 1 is OFF.
[0047]
Hereinafter, a method of acquiring thumbnails of stored documents realized by the multifunction peripheral 1 will be sequentially described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the multifunction peripheral for explaining a thumbnail acquisition method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Note that the functional configuration diagram of FIG. 3 omits functional configurations that are not necessary for description.
[0048]
As shown in FIG. 3, according to the thumbnail acquisition method of the present invention, a network device 100 connected to the multifunction device 1 via a network 200 such as the Internet uses a document file stored in the multifunction device 1 (hereinafter referred to as a stored file). Document).
[0049]
First, it is assumed that the browser 120 of the network device 100 has obtained a list of stored documents and a document ID stored in the MFP 1 from the MFP 1 using, for example, an HTTP request and an HTTP response. A user operating the network device 100 inputs a password if a password is required to obtain a thumbnail of a stored document, and clicks a button provided on the screen of the browser 120 for obtaining a thumbnail with a mouse or the like. I do. The user may select all or a part of the stored documents from the list of stored documents displayed on the screen of the browser 120 and obtain a thumbnail of the selected stored document.
[0050]
In step S1, the browser 120 of the network device 100 creates an HTTP request including the document ID and the password of the stored document, and transmits the HTTP request to the MFP 1 via the network 200 such as the Internet. The HTTP request transmitted from the network device 100 is supplied to the Web page service 122 via the httpd 121 of the NCS 31.
[0051]
Proceeding to step S2 following step S1, the Web page service 122 transmits the document ID and password of the stored document to the document management service 123, and makes a request to acquire a ticket 124 described later. The ticket acquisition request is performed using, for example, a ticket acquisition function “base64Binary getDocTicket (unsigned int [] docId, string [] password)” using the document ID and password of the stored document as arguments.
[0052]
The document management service 123 is included in the document management application 38. Proceeding to step S3 following step S2, the document management service 123 sends the document ID and password of the received stored document to the MCS 36, and requests authentication of the password. The password authentication request is performed using, for example, a password authentication request function “int mcsCheckPassword (unsignedInt DocId, string password)” using the document ID and password of the stored document as arguments for each document.
[0053]
The MCS 36 performs password authentication of the password received from the document management service 123. In step S4, the MCS 36 transmits the result of the password authentication to the document management service 123. The result of the password authentication is transmitted from the MCS 36 to the document management service 123 as a return value of the password authentication request function, for example.
[0054]
When the password is authenticated, the document management service 123 generates a ticket as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a ticket. FIG. 4A shows a structure of a ticket 124 transferred between the Web page service 122 and the document management service 123. The ticket 124 stores a ticket ID and a data size of the ticket.
[0055]
FIG. 4B is a table 126 for collating the ticket 124. The table 126 is held by the document management service 123. Table 126 includes ticket content information and ticket management information. The ticket content information includes, as information, a ticket ID, an expiration date of the ticket, the number of files, an array of a structure in which a file ID as a document ID and a password are paired. The ticket management information has a current ticket number and the number of issued tickets as information. Note that the ticket 124 and the table 126 are associated by a ticket ID.
[0056]
In step S5, the document management service 123 sends the generated ticket 124 to the web page service 122. The ticket 124 is transmitted from the document management service 123 to the web page service 122, for example, as a return value of the ticket acquisition function.
[0057]
Proceeding to step S6 following step S5, the Web page service 122 transmits the ticket 124 received in step S5 to the document management service 123, and makes a request to generate a display thumbnail for display on the browser 120 of the network device 100. . The display thumbnail generation request is made using, for example, a display thumbnail generation function “anyURL createThumbnail (base64Binary ticket)” using the ticket 124 as an argument.
[0058]
Proceeding to step S7 following step S6, the document management service 123 checks the validity of the received ticket 124 by using the table 126, and if the ticket 124 is valid, transmits the document ID included in the ticket 124 to the MCS 36. Then, a request is made to open the thumbnail file of the stored document corresponding to the document ID. A request to open a thumbnail file is made using, for example, a thumbnail open function “boolean mcsOpenPage (unsignIntDocId)” using a document ID as an argument.
[0059]
After the thumbnail file is opened, the document management service 123 generates a display thumbnail by duplicating the thumbnail of the stored document corresponding to the document ID. The display thumbnail is stored in, for example, the system memory 62, the local memory 67, the HDD 68, or the like. When the display thumbnails are stored in a place other than the document management DB, the load on the document management DB is reduced.
[0060]
Then, the document management service 123 creates a URL indicating a storage location of the display thumbnail (hereinafter, referred to as a thumbnail URL). The thumbnail URL is represented as "http: // [apparatus IP address] / [document file name]? [Ticket data]".
[0061]
Proceeding to step S8 following step S7, the document management service 123 transmits the created thumbnail URL to the web page service 122. For example, the thumbnail URL is transmitted from the document management service 123 to the web page service 122 as a return value of the display thumbnail generation function.
[0062]
Proceeding to step S9 following step S8, the web page service 122 transmits the thumbnail URL received in step S8 to the network device 100 via the httpd 121 of the NCS 31.
[0063]
Proceeding to step S10 following step S9, the browser 120 of the network device 100 creates an HTTP request including the thumbnail URL, and transmits the HTTP request to the MFP 1 via the network 200.
[0064]
Note that the HTTP request including the thumbnail URL is a request to the thumbnail URL using the HTTP GET method. The HTTP request transmitted from the network device 100 is supplied to the Web page service 122 via the httpd 121 of the NCS 31.
[0065]
Proceeding to step S11 following step S10, the Web page service 122 transmits the thumbnail URL to the document management service 123, and issues a thumbnail acquisition request. The thumbnail acquisition request is performed using, for example, a thumbnail acquisition function “void getThumbnail (anyURL docID)” with the thumbnail URL as an argument.
[0066]
Proceeding to step S12 following step S11, the document management service 123 transmits the thumbnail ID of the display thumbnail corresponding to the thumbnail URL to the MCS 36, and requests opening of the thumbnail file. The request to open the thumbnail file is made by using, for example, a thumbnail open function “boolean mcsOpenThumbnail (unsignedIntthumbnailID)” using the thumbnail ID as an argument.
[0067]
Proceeding to step S13 following step S12, the MCS 36 reads a display thumbnail corresponding to the thumbnail ID from the system memory 62, the local memory 67, the HDD 68, or the like using the thumbnail ID received from the document management service 123, and displays the display thumbnail. Is transmitted to the document management service 123. The display thumbnail corresponding to the thumbnail ID is transmitted from the MCS 36 to the document management service 123, for example, as a return value of the thumbnail open function.
[0068]
Proceeding to step S14 following step S13, the document management service 123 transmits the display thumbnail received from the MCS 36 to the web page service 122. The display thumbnail is transmitted from the document management service 123 to the Web page service 122, for example, as a return value of a thumbnail acquisition function.
[0069]
Proceeding to step S15 following step S14, the Web page service 122 transmits the display thumbnail received from the document management service 123 to the network device 100 via the httpd 121 of the NCS 31.
[0070]
Then, the network device 100 displays the display thumbnail acquired from the MFP 1 on the screen of the browser 120. Note that the document management service 123 deletes the generated display thumbnail after the expiration date of the ticket 124 has expired. The display thumbnail is deleted using, for example, a display thumbnail deletion function "void mcsDeleteThumbnail (unsignedIntthumbnailId)" using the thumbnail ID as an argument.
[0071]
Therefore, by operating the browser 120 of the network device 100, the user can easily acquire the display thumbnail of the stored document stored in the MFP 1. By using the ticket 124 in the multi-function peripheral 1, the display thumbnail data itself is not transferred unnecessarily, and waste of resources can be prevented.
[0072]
FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a multifunction peripheral for explaining a thumbnail acquisition method according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that the functional configuration diagram of FIG. 5 omits functional configurations that are not necessary for description. The processing in steps S1 to S13 in FIG. 5 is the same as the processing in steps S1 to S13 in FIG.
[0073]
Proceeding to step S16 following step S13, the document management service 123 transmits the display thumbnail received from the MCS 36 in the processing of step S13 to the network device 100 via the httpd 121 of the NCS 31.
[0074]
Then, the network device 100 displays the display thumbnail acquired from the MFP 1 on the screen of the browser 120. Note that the document management service 123 deletes the generated display thumbnail after the expiration date of the ticket 124 has expired.
[0075]
Therefore, by operating the browser 120 of the network device 100, the user can easily acquire the display thumbnail of the stored document stored in the MFP 1. By using the ticket 124 in the multi-function peripheral 1, the display thumbnail data itself is not transferred unnecessarily, and waste of resources can be prevented.
[0076]
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a multifunction peripheral for explaining a thumbnail obtaining method according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The functional configuration diagram of FIG. 6 omits functional configurations that are not necessary for explanation. In addition, the processing in steps S1 to S12 in FIG. 6 is the same as the processing in steps S1 to S12 in FIG.
[0077]
Proceeding to step S17 following step S12, the MCS 36 reads a display thumbnail corresponding to the thumbnail ID from the HDD 68 or the like using the thumbnail ID received from the document management service 123 and transmits the display thumbnail to the network via the httpd 121 of the NCS 31. Transmit to the device 100.
[0078]
Then, the network device 100 displays the display thumbnail acquired from the MFP 1 on the screen of the browser 120. Note that the document management service 123 deletes the generated display thumbnail after the expiration date of the ticket 124 has expired.
[0079]
Therefore, by operating the browser 120 of the network device 100, the user can easily acquire the display thumbnail of the stored document stored in the MFP 1. By using the ticket 124 in the multi-function peripheral 1, the display thumbnail data itself is not transferred unnecessarily, and waste of resources can be prevented.
[0080]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the present invention.
[0081]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, after authentication is performed on a thumbnail of a stored document, certification information corresponding to the thumbnail acquisition request is generated, and the certification information is transmitted to the Web page service. Can share authentication functions.
[0082]
Further, according to the present invention, the load on the document management DB can be distributed by supplying the thumbnail storage location information of the display thumbnail obtained by copying the thumbnail of the stored document to an external network device.
[0083]
Further, according to the present invention, the certification information corresponding to the thumbnail acquisition request is transferred between the Web page service and the document management service, so that the display thumbnail itself does not need to be transferred wastefully, and resources are wasted. Supply of display thumbnails is possible.
[0084]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a multifunction peripheral according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an embodiment of the multifunction peripheral according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a functional configuration diagram of the multifunction peripheral for explaining a thumbnail acquisition method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a ticket.
FIG. 5 is a functional configuration diagram of a multifunction peripheral for explaining a thumbnail acquisition method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a functional configuration diagram of a multifunction peripheral for describing a thumbnail acquisition method according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Multifunction machine 2 Software group 3 Multifunction machine start-up unit 4 Hardware resources 5 Application layer 6 Platform 7 Shared function layer 8 Wrapping layer 9 Control service layer 10 Handler layer 31 Network control service (NCS)
36 Memory control service 60 Controller 80 Operation panel 81 Fax control unit (FCU)
82 Engine unit 83 Plotter 100 Network device 120 Browser 121 httpd (HyperText Transfer Protocol Daemon)
122 Web page service 123 Document management service 124 Ticket 126 Table

Claims (23)

An image forming apparatus that supplies a thumbnail of a stored document stored in a document storage unit in response to a request from a user,
A thumbnail acquisition request for a stored document is received from an external network device, and certification information corresponding to the thumbnail acquisition request is acquired, while the certification information is used as the thumbnail storage location information of the display thumbnail obtained by duplicating the thumbnail of the stored document. Web page service for obtaining the thumbnail storage location information to the external network device,
While generating certification information in response to a certification information acquisition request from the Web page service that has received the thumbnail acquisition request and transmitting the certification information to the Web page service, thumbnail storage location information of a display thumbnail corresponding to the certification information is read and read. An image forming apparatus comprising: a document management service for transmitting to a web page service. The Web page service transmits a certification information acquisition request corresponding to the thumbnail acquisition request to the document management service to acquire the certification information transmitted from the document management service,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document management service generates certification information in response to the certification information acquisition request and transmits the certification information to the Web page service. The Web page service receives thumbnail storage location information from the external network device, acquires a display thumbnail corresponding to the thumbnail storage location information from the document management service, and supplies the display thumbnail to the external network device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The document management service receives thumbnail storage location information from the web page service, reads a display thumbnail corresponding to the thumbnail storage location information from the document storage unit, and transmits the display thumbnail to the web page service. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The document management service receives thumbnail storage location information from the web page service, reads a display thumbnail corresponding to the thumbnail storage location information from the document storage unit, and supplies the thumbnail to the external network device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The document management service may receive thumbnail storage location information from the web page service, read a display thumbnail corresponding to the thumbnail storage location information from the document storage unit, and supply the thumbnail to the external network device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thumbnail storage location information is a URL (Uniform @ ResourceLocator). The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thumbnail acquisition request includes at least identification information for identifying a stored document and password information for proving the right to use the stored document. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thumbnail acquisition request includes at least identification information for identifying a thumbnail of the stored document and password information for proving right to use the thumbnail. The document management service generates contents and identification information of the certification information in response to a certification information acquisition request from the Web page service that has received the thumbnail acquisition request, and transmits the identification information to the Web page service as certification information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content of the certification information is held. The document management service specifies the contents of the held certification information corresponding to the identification information of the certification information, and transmits thumbnail storage location information corresponding to the contents of the certification information to the Web page service. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document management service deletes the display thumbnail when the expiration date of the certification information ends. A thumbnail acquisition method of an image forming apparatus that supplies a thumbnail of a stored document stored in a document storage unit in response to a request from a user,
A web page service receiving a thumbnail acquisition request for a stored document from an external network device, and acquiring certification information corresponding to the thumbnail acquisition request from the document management service;
The Web page service acquires thumbnail storage location information of a display thumbnail obtained by duplicating a thumbnail of a stored document by using certification information, and supplies the thumbnail storage location information to the external network device. Providing a thumbnail. Thumbnail supply in which the Web page service receives thumbnail storage location information from the external network device, acquires a display thumbnail corresponding to the thumbnail storage location information from the document management means, and transmits the thumbnail to the external network device 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step. In the thumbnail supply step, the document management service receives thumbnail storage location information from the web page service, reads a display thumbnail corresponding to the thumbnail storage location information from the document storage unit, and transmits the thumbnail to the web page service. The method for acquiring a thumbnail according to claim 14, wherein the thumbnail is obtained. The Web page service receives thumbnail storage location information from the external network device, and the document management unit acquires a display thumbnail corresponding to the thumbnail storage location information from the document management unit, and acquires the thumbnail from the document management unit. 14. The thumbnail acquisition method according to claim 13, further comprising a thumbnail supply step of transmitting the thumbnail to the server. The Web page service receives thumbnail storage location information from the external network device, and causes the document management unit to read a thumbnail for display corresponding to the thumbnail storage location information from the document management unit, and to display the thumbnail on the external network device. 14. The thumbnail acquisition method according to claim 13, further comprising a thumbnail supplying step of supplying the thumbnail to the device. 18. The thumbnail acquisition method according to claim 13, wherein the thumbnail storage location information is a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). 19. The thumbnail acquisition method according to claim 13, wherein the thumbnail acquisition request includes at least identification information for identifying a stored document and password information for proving the right to use the stored document. 19. The thumbnail acquisition method according to claim 13, wherein the thumbnail acquisition request includes at least identification information for identifying a thumbnail of the stored document and password information for proving right to use the thumbnail. The document management service generates contents and identification information of the certification information in response to a certification information acquisition request from the Web page service that has received the thumbnail acquisition request, and transmits the identification information to the Web page service as certification information. 21. The thumbnail acquiring method according to claim 13, wherein the content of the certification information is held. The document management service specifies the content of the held certification information corresponding to the identification information of the certification information, and transmits thumbnail storage location information according to the content of the certification information to the Web page service. 22. The thumbnail acquisition method according to claim 21, wherein: 23. The thumbnail acquisition method according to claim 13, wherein the document management service deletes the display thumbnail when the expiration date of the certification information expires.

Images