JP2005229592A - Image processing system, its image processing device, process number processing method, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a relation between a plural kinds of image processing functions and a storing destination of the number of each process in storing means (an area for counting) to be many-to-one, and to make the storing destination of the number of each process to be managed all together. <P>SOLUTION: In an image forming device, the number of each process (a counter value) in every plural kinds of image processes (a copy operation, print operation, scan operation, and fax operation) is to be stored into the storing destination after making a reference and response to a configured file 1011 via a uniform counter library, and to make the respective counter value to be stored into the respective storage destination on a uniform counter area 1001 of a NVRAM 204 after counting (+1) each counter value in every plural kinds of the image processes. Each of modules such as NRS 316 makes the reference to the configured file 1011 via the uniform counter library when being requested acquisition of the counter value from external, and acquires the related counter value after reading from the uniform counter area 1001. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as an image forming apparatus (multi-function peripheral), an image processing system including the image processing apparatus and an external device, a method of processing the number of processes in the image processing apparatus, and a computer functioning as the image processing apparatus. The present invention relates to a program to be executed and a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  Some image processing apparatuses such as printers, facsimile machines (FAX), digital copiers (copiers), scanners, digital multi-function machines, etc. have a processing frequency counting function that counts the number of times of copying, etc. . The count value (counter value) is useful for early resolution of problems and charge calculation when it is referred to when a malfunction or other malfunction has occurred in the image processing apparatus or when charging for a maintenance contract for the image processing apparatus. It is.

An image forming apparatus (image processing apparatus) such as a digital copying machine, which is an image processing apparatus having such a processing number counting function, is installed together with an intermediary apparatus (line adapter) in a customer's office or the like. 2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus remote management system (monitoring system) is known that enables communication between a forming apparatus and a management apparatus (monitoring terminal apparatus) in a service center through a public line and an intermediary apparatus, and manages the image forming apparatus by the management apparatus. (See Patent Document 1).
JP-A-6-237330

  In such an image forming apparatus remote management system (image processing system), the number of processing is counted (counted) for each of a plurality of types of image processing (copying operation, etc.), and the value (counter value) is stored in a nonvolatile memory such as NVRAM. The counter value in the non-volatile memory is directly transmitted to the management device at a predetermined timing or is transmitted to the management device by the mediation device.

Here, first, the software configuration of the image forming apparatus having the processing count function will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus (multifunction machine) having a processing frequency counting function.
The software configuration of the image forming apparatus includes an application module layer, a service module layer, and a general-purpose OS layer. The programs constituting these software are stored in a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, read by the CPU as needed, and expanded in a DRAM. Then, the CPU can implement various functions by executing these programs as necessary and controlling the apparatus.

The software of the application module layer is configured by a program for causing the CPU to function as a plurality of application control units that operate hardware resources to realize predetermined functions, and the software of the service module layer includes the CPU Service control means that intervenes between resources and each application control means, and that accepts operation requests for hardware resources from a plurality of application control means, arbitrates the operation requests, and controls execution of operations based on the operation requests. It is comprised by the program for functioning as.
Note that the processing by each program is actually executed by the CPU operating in accordance with those programs. However, for the convenience of explanation, these programs execute processing.

  The service module layer includes an operation control service (OCS) 300, an engine control service (ECS) 301, a memory control service (MCS) 302, a network control service (NCS) 303, a fax control service (FCS) 305, a system control service ( An SCS) 306, a system resource manager (SRM) 307, an image memory handler (IMH) 308, a delivery control service (DCS) 309, and a user control service (UCS) 310 are implemented. The application module layer includes a copy application 311, a fax application 312, a printer application 313, a scanner application 314, an SDK application 315 (hereinafter simply referred to as “SDK”), a CSS application (hereinafter also simply referred to as “CSS”) 317, A MIB application (hereinafter simply referred to as “MIB”) 318, a net file application 319, and a web application 320 are mounted. Furthermore, a general-purpose OS 330 is mounted on the general-purpose OS layer.

The SCS 306 is a module that performs startup management and termination management of each application program in the application module layer according to the contents of the command, and secures and manages each counter area of the NVRAM 204.
The copy application 311 is an application program for realizing a copy service (function as image processing means). In the copy service, a scanner engine (image reading unit) that is a hardware resource reads an image of an original, and the image data is output to a plotter engine (image forming unit) that is a hardware resource to form an image. It is to control the copy operation.

  The fax application 312 is an application program for realizing a fax service (function as an image processing unit). A fax service is a fax transmission operation that causes a scanner engine to scan an image of an original and transmits the image data as fax data to the outside (fax device or an image processing device having a fax function), or receives fax data from the outside. The fax data is output to the plotter engine as image data to control the fax reception operation for image formation.

  The printer application 313 is an application program for realizing a printer service (a function as an image processing unit). A printer service receives print data from an external device (a host device such as a personal computer) and outputs the print data as image data to a plotter engine (if the print data is character code data or drawing data, Is a process of converting image data into image data for image formation).

  The scanner application 314 is an application program for realizing a scanner service (function as an image processing unit). The scanner service is to control a scanning operation in which a scanner engine (image reading unit) reads an image of an original and stores the image data in a memory (storage unit) such as a RAM or an HDD (hard disk device).

SDK (Software Development Kit) 315 is a module (application program) that collects libraries, documents, development tools, sample code, etc. necessary for software development, and is made by a third party such as an OS or package application. Software having an extension interface that can be called by software (hereinafter, “interface” is referred to as “I / F”) is prepared to support development of software based on the interface.
The CSS 317 is a module (application program) that summarizes functions related to communication with an external device.
An MIB (Management Information Base) 318 is a module that manages management information (MIB) of an image forming apparatus (device).

  Most programs in the application module layer and the service module layer include an NVRAM library (NVRAM LIB), and each NVRAM library makes a function call (library function call) to the NVRAM 204, whereby arbitrary data in the NVRAM 204 is obtained. Can be obtained. For example, the copy application 311, the printer application 313, the fax application 312, the scanner application 314, and the SCS 306 have a counter area (copy counter area, printer counter) that is a storage destination of the number of processing times (counter value) reserved in the NVRAM 204 in advance. By making a function call to a counter area, a fax counter area, a scanner counter area, and a total counter area, the counter value stored in the counter area can be acquired.

  The NVRAM library of the copy application 311 shows the copy counter value on the copy counter area every time a copy operation is performed, and the NVRAM library of the printer application 313 shows the printer counter value on the printer counter area every time a print operation is performed. The NVRAM library of the fax application 312 displays the fax counter value in the fax counter area each time a fax operation (fax transmission operation or fax reception operation) is performed, and the NVRAM library of the scanner application 314 scans the scanner counter area each time a scan operation is performed. The upper scanner counter value is counted (+1). Further, the NVRAM library of the SCS 306 counts (+1) the total counter value in the total counter area every time any of the copy operation, print operation, fax operation, and scan operation is performed. That is, the total counter value (total number of times) is counted in synchronization with the counting operation of the copy counter value, printer counter value, fax counter value, and scanner counter value. Each operation described above can be further classified into a plurality of operations depending on conditions such as whether or not an ADF or a duplex unit is used.

Next, a counter value reading operation and the like in this image forming apparatus will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the details of the counter value reading operation in the image forming apparatus.
Although the illustration is simplified in FIG. 22, the SCS 306, the copy application 311, the printer application 313, the fax application 312, the scanner application 314, the SDK 315, the CSS 317, and the MIB 318 each include an NVRAM library as described with reference to FIG. Yes.

When the CSS 317 requests (instructs), for example, acquisition of a counter value such as a total counter value or a copy counter value from an external device, the CSS 317 sends (notifies) the acquisition request to the SCS 306 via an inter-application (process) interface.
The SCS 306 has a specification (total counter specification) for managing the total counter area 2001 on the NVRAM 204. Upon receiving a total counter value acquisition request from the CSS 317, the NVRAM library refers to the total counter specification. Based on this, a function call is made to the total counter area 2001 to read out and acquire the total counter value stored in the total counter area 2001, and return (send) it to the CSS 317.

Upon receiving the copy counter value acquisition request from the CSS 317, the SCS 306 sends the acquisition request to the copy application 311 that manages the copy counter value using the inter-application I / F.
The copy application 311 has a specification (copy counter specification) for managing the copy counter (copy mode counter) area 2002 on the NVRAM 204. Upon receiving a copy counter value acquisition request from the SCS 306, the NVRAM library By referring to the copy counter specification and making a function call to the copy counter area 2002 based on the copy counter specification, the copy counter value stored in the copy counter area 2002 is read out and acquired, and the inter-application I / O is obtained. Reply to SCS 306 using F.

When the SCS 306 acquires the copy counter value from the copy application 311, it returns (transmits) it to the CSS 317 using the inter-application I / F.
Note that the SCS 306 performs almost the same processing as when a copy counter value acquisition request is received, even if another counter value acquisition request is received from the CSS 317, except for the type of counter value.

  Although not shown, the printer application 313 has specifications (printer counter specifications) for managing the printer counter (printer mode counter) area 2003 on the NVRAM 204, and receives a printer counter value acquisition request from the SCS 306. The NVRAM library reads and acquires the printer counter value stored in the printer counter area 2003 by referring to the printer counter specification and making a function call to the printer counter area 2003 based on the NVRAM library. This is returned to the SCS 306 using the inter-application I / F.

  Although not shown, the fax application 312 has a specification (fax counter specification) for managing a fax counter (fax mode counter) area 2004 on the NVRAM 204, and receives a fax counter value acquisition request from the SCS 306. The NVRAM library reads and acquires the fax counter value stored in the fax counter area 2004 by referring to the fax counter specification and making a function call to the fax counter area 2004 based on the fax counter specification. This is returned to the SCS 306 using the inter-application I / F.

Although not shown, the scanner application 314 has specifications (scanner counter specifications) for managing the scanner counter (scanner mode counter) area 2005 on the NVRAM 204, and receives a scanner counter value acquisition request from the SCS 306. The NVRAM library reads and acquires the scanner counter value stored in the scanner counter area 2005 by referring to the scanner counter specification and making a function call to the scanner counter area 2005 based on the scanner counter specification. This is returned to the SCS 306 using the inter-application I / F.
Other modules having an NVRAM library such as the MIB 318 can also acquire each counter value by sending an acquisition request for each counter value to the SCS 306 by the inter-application I / F, as with the CSS 317.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the copy counter area 2002 on the NVRAM 204 shown in FIG.
The copy counter value stored in the copy counter area 2002 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 23, a duplex mode counter value indicating the number of copies in the duplex mode in which an image is formed (copied) on both the front and back sides of a sheet. ADF counter value indicating the number of copies when using the automatic document feeder), a reading surface number counter value by mode indicating the number of reading surfaces by mode, a print job number counter value indicating the number of print jobs, and the like. Yes.
It should be noted that other counter values such as the printer counter value stored in the printer counter area 2003 are actually composed of a plurality of counter values in the same manner as the copy counter value.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table provided in the CSS 317.
This table includes a counter code indicating the type of counter value included in the counter acquisition request command that requests acquisition of each counter value required by the CSS 317, a counter ID that is identification information of each counter value, and each of the counter IDs. It describes the correspondence between the management module that manages the counter area in which the counter value is stored and the counter item that indicates the type of each counter value. In this example, the counter code “13070010100” requesting acquisition of the copy counter value, the counter ID “700101”, the management module “copy application”, and the counter item “reading number counter value by mode” correspond to each other. Yes. Also, a counter code “13070010200” requesting acquisition of an ADF counter value that is a counter value when a copy operation, a fax transmission operation, or a scan operation is performed using ADF, a counter ID “700102”, and a management module “ The “CSS application” corresponds to the counter item “ADF counter value”.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed example of a counter value reading operation using the CSS 317 in the image forming apparatus.
In this image forming apparatus, when the CSS 317 receives a counter acquisition request command (information code) requesting acquisition of any counter value from the external apparatus in step S11, the CSS 317 sets the counter code in the counter acquisition request command in step S12. The corresponding record is read from the table (FIG. 24), and a counter value acquisition request is sent to the management module managing the counter value indicated by the counter item in the record using the inter-application I / F in step S13 (notification) To do).
Upon receipt of the request, the management module performs a function call to the counter area managed by itself in step S14, thereby reading and obtaining the counter value from the total counter area. It returns to CSS317 as a counter acquisition response.

  Here, when the counter item in the record read from the table indicates the total counter value, the management module that manages the total counter area is the SCS 306, and therefore when a total counter value acquisition request is sent to the SCS 306. Upon receiving the acquisition request, the SCS 306 refers to the total counter specification and makes a function call to the total counter area managed by itself based on the total counter specification, thereby obtaining the total counter value from the total counter area. Read and acquire, and return it to the CSS 317 as a counter acquisition response.

  When the counter item in the record read from the table indicates a copy counter value, the management module that manages the copy counter area is the copy application 311, so the copy counter value is acquired to the copy application 311 via the SCS 306. The copy application 311 that sends the request and receives the acquisition request refers to the copy counter specification, and makes a function call to the copy counter area managed by itself based on the copy counter specification. The copy counter value is read out and acquired from, and is returned to the CSS 317 via the SCS 306 as a counter acquisition response.

  When the counter item in the record read from the table indicates a printer counter value, the management module that manages the printer counter area is the printer application 313, so the printer application 313 acquires the printer counter value via the SCS 306. The printer application 313 that has sent the request and received the acquisition request refers to the printer counter specification and makes a function call to the printer counter area managed by itself based on the printer counter specification. The printer counter value is read out from the printer and acquired, and it is returned to the CSS 317 via the SCS 306 as a counter acquisition response.

  When the counter item in the record read from the table indicates the fax counter value, the management module that manages the fax counter area is the fax application 312, and the fax counter 312 acquires the fax counter value via the SCS 306. The fax application 312 that sends the request and receives the acquisition request refers to the fax counter specification, and performs a function call to the fax counter area managed by itself based on the fax counter specification, thereby the fax counter area. The fax counter value is read out and acquired from, and returned to the CSS 317 via the SCS 306 as a counter acquisition response.

  When the counter item in the record read from the table indicates the scanner counter value, the management module that manages the scanner counter area is the scanner application 314, and therefore the scanner counter value is acquired to the scanner application 314 via the SCS 306. The scanner application 314 that sends the request and receives the acquisition request refers to the scanner counter specification, and makes a function call to the scanner counter area managed by itself based on the scanner counter specification. The scanner counter value is read out and acquired from this, and it is returned to the CSS 317 via the SCS 306 as a counter acquisition response.

  Returning to FIG. 25, upon receiving the counter acquisition response, the CSS 317 checks whether there is still a counter value to be acquired in step 15 (this is a case where a plurality of counter codes are included in the received counter acquisition request command). If it is determined that it is still present (when another counter code is included in the received counter acquisition request command), the process returns to step S12, and the other counter codes are the same as described above. When it is determined that there is no more counter value to be acquired, the counter acquisition response is waited in step S16, and whether or not all counter acquisition responses corresponding to the counter value requested for acquisition in step S17 have been received. If all of them are received, the process proceeds to step S18, and based on the received counter acquisition responses. Generates a containing counter acquisition response command (information code) thereof Te, and returns it to the source of the counter acquisition request command.

Among software included in an image processing apparatus such as an image forming apparatus, each application (application program) has a one-to-one relationship with a counter area for the reasons described in (1) to (3) below. It was.
(1) It was common to develop each app in a separate department in terms of development efficiency.
(2) There is no need to acquire the counter value from an application other than the corresponding application or another module.
(3) The number of applications installed in one image processing apparatus was small.

  However, in recent years, the number of applications installed in one image processing apparatus has increased, and there has been a case where the counter value is acquired from an application other than the corresponding application or another module (CSS 317 or the like). When the counter is acquired, it is necessary to use an inter-application I / F (inter-process communication) as described above. When the inter-application I / F is used, every time one counter value is acquired, for example, it is necessary to perform a call process for another module and wait for a response to the process, which makes the process complicated. .

In addition to the increase in applications, there may be cases where the total value of the counter value for each application is required. In this case, a counter area for the total value must be prepared separately, so a non-volatile memory such as NVRAM The use of a large amount of storage area leads to an increase in memory cost. If a counter area for counter value summation is not prepared, it is necessary to obtain counter values from each module in order to obtain the sum of counter values, and the processing becomes more complicated.
Furthermore, due to demands such as a reduction in TCO (total cost for operation and management of computer systems), the types of counter values for each application are increasing, and management of specifications and implementation is complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and a plurality of types of image processing functions that are functions of image processing means installed in the image processing apparatus and storage destinations (counters) of each processing count of the memory. It is an object of the present invention to reduce costs by making a many-to-one relationship with a storage area and collectively managing storage destinations for each processing count.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image processing apparatus such as an image forming apparatus, an image processing system including the image processing apparatus and an external device communicating with the image processing apparatus, and processing count (counter value) processing in the image processing apparatus. A method, a program executed by a computer functioning as the image processing apparatus, and a computer-readable recording medium storing the program are provided.

An image processing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is an image processing apparatus comprising: an image processing unit that executes a plurality of types of image processing; and a memory that stores the number of processing times of the plurality of types of image processing. A storage unit that stores the number of times and the storage destination in the memory in association with each other, and a memory that stores the number of processing times for each of the plurality of types of image processing and that is stored in the association storage unit of the memory. And counting means for storing in advance.
An image processing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the number of processing times of a plurality of types of image processing stored in the storage destination stored in the association storage unit of the memory is There is provided a total number calculation means for reading out and summing the number of processing times of two or more image processes, and using the summed value as a total number.

An image processing apparatus according to a third aspect of the invention is the image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the number of processing times of a plurality of types of image processing is read from the storage destination stored in the association storage means of the memory, Output means for outputting the read processing count is provided.
An image processing apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to the third aspect, further comprising an instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction, and the output unit is configured to associate the memory with the instruction received by the instruction receiving unit. The number of times of image processing corresponding to the instruction is read from the storage destination stored in the storage means, and the read number of times of processing is output.

An image processing apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, wherein the instruction receiving means is a means for receiving an instruction from the operating means.
An image processing apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, wherein the instruction receiving means is a means for receiving an instruction via a network.
An image processing apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to any one of the third to sixth aspects, wherein the output means outputs the read processing count via a network.

An image processing apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to the seventh aspect, wherein the output means outputs the read processing count to a management apparatus that manages the image processing apparatus via a network.
An image processing apparatus according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to the seventh or eighth aspect, wherein the output means includes means for converting information to be output via the network into a structured language format.
An image processing apparatus according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, wherein the output means displays and outputs the read processing count to the display means.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, the output means records and outputs the read processing count to a recording medium such as paper.
An image processing apparatus according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, wherein the image processing means executes at least one of a copy operation, a print operation, a scan operation, and a fax operation. It is a means to do.

  An image processing system according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention is an image processing system including an external device and an image processing device that performs image processing by communicating with the external device via a network. Image processing means for executing the image processing, a memory for storing the processing counts of the plurality of types of image processing, association storage means for storing the processing count and the storage destination thereof in association with each other, Counting means for counting the number of processing times for each of the plurality of types of image processing and storing it in a storage destination stored in the association storage means of the memory, and stored in the association storage means of the memory Output means for reading out the number of processing times of a plurality of types of image processing from a storage destination and outputting the read processing times to the external device via a network; Those digits.

  An image processing system according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention is the image processing system according to the thirteenth aspect, out of the number of processing times of a plurality of types of image processing stored in the storage destination stored in the association storage unit of the memory. The total number of times of two or more image processes is read out and added, and a total number calculation means is provided to set the total value as the total number. The total number of times is output to the output means to the external device via the network. Means are provided.

An image processing system according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention is the image processing system according to the thirteenth or fourteenth aspect, wherein an instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction from the external device via a network is provided, and the output unit receives the instruction by the instruction receiving unit In response to an instruction, the image processing apparatus includes means for reading out the number of times of image processing corresponding to the instruction from a storage destination stored in the association storage unit of the memory and outputting the read processing number of times to the external apparatus via a network. It is a thing.
An image processing system according to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention is the image processing system according to the fourteenth aspect, wherein an instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction from the external device via a network is provided, and the output unit receives an instruction received by the instruction receiving unit. And a means for outputting the total number of times to the external device via a network.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a processing count processing method in an image processing apparatus having an image processing means for executing a plurality of types of image processing and a memory for storing the processing counts of the plurality of types of image processing. The number of processing times and the storage destination in the memory are stored in association with each other, and the number of processing times is counted for each of the plurality of types of image processing and stored in the storage destination stored in the memory. Is.
According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a processing number processing method according to the seventeenth aspect, wherein two of the processing numbers of the plurality of types of image processing stored in the storage destination of the memory are two. The above image processing times are read and summed, and the summed value is used as the total number of times.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a processing number processing method according to the seventeenth or eighteenth aspect, wherein the number of processing times of a plurality of types of image processing is read from the storage destination of the memory and the read processing is performed. The number of times is output.
A processing number processing method according to a twentieth aspect of the present invention is the processing number processing method of the eighteenth aspect, wherein the total number of times is output.

  According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program stored in a computer functioning as an image processing apparatus having image processing means for executing a plurality of types of image processing and a memory for storing the number of processing times of the plurality of types of image processing. The association storage function for storing the number of times and the storage destination in the memory in association with each other, and the memory stored by the association storage function of the memory by counting the number of processing times for each of the plurality of types of image processing This is a program for realizing the counting function to be stored first.

A program according to a twenty-second aspect of the invention is the program according to the twenty-first aspect, wherein the computer includes a plurality of types of image processing times stored in the storage destination stored by the association storage function of the memory. This is a program for realizing a total number calculation function that reads out and sums the number of processing times of two or more image processes, and uses the summed value as a total number.
According to a twenty-third aspect of the invention, in the program according to the twenty-first or twenty-second aspect, the computer reads out the number of processing times of a plurality of types of image processing from the storage destination stored by the association storage function of the memory, This is a program for realizing an output function for outputting the number of processes.

A program according to a twenty-fourth aspect of the invention is the program according to the twenty-second aspect, wherein the computer also realizes an output function for outputting the total number of times.
A recording medium according to a twenty-fifth aspect of the invention is a computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to any of the twenty-first to twenty-third aspects is recorded.

  According to the present invention, the relationship between each image processing function of the image processing means installed in the image processing device and the storage destination of each processing count of the memory is made many-to-one, and the storage destination of each processing count is collectively managed. Therefore, low cost can be realized.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
First, the physical configuration of an image processing apparatus embodying the present invention will be specifically described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the image processing apparatus.
This image processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine, a digital multifunction peripheral, a printer, or a facsimile machine having a communication function, and includes a CPU 201, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 202, an SDRAM 203, an NVRAM 204, and an NRS memory 205. PHY (physical media interface) 206, operation unit 207, HDD (hard disk drive) 208, modem 211, PI (personal interface) 212, FCU (fax control unit) 213, USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface 214, IEEE 1394 interface 215 , A plotter / scanner engine 216, and a peripheral device 217. Each of these units is a hardware resource in the image forming apparatus. Each plotter / scanner engine 216, which is an engine unit, includes a sensor for detecting an event such as an abnormality.

The CPU 201 is arithmetic processing means that performs data processing (control of each function) via the ASIC 202.
The ASIC 202 is a multi-function device board including a CPU interface, an SDRAM interface, a local bus interface, a PCI interface, a MAC (Media Access Controller), an HDD interface, and the like. From the aspect, it helps to increase the efficiency of development of applications (application software).
The SDRAM 203 is a program memory that stores various programs including an OS (operating system), a main memory that is used as a work memory used when the CPU 201 performs data processing, and the like. In place of the SDRAM 203, a DRAM or SRAM may be used.

  The NVRAM 204 includes a boot loader (boot program) for starting the image processing apparatus (image forming apparatus), a fixed program memory for storing an OS image, an application memory for storing each application, a service memory for storing each service (service software), Firmware memory for storing firmware, data for storing address (network address), model number, and counter information (billing counter data), which are identification information of devices (image processing devices) whose operation status is monitored and managed A nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM or a flash memory used as a memory, a memory (collective management information storage means) for storing a configuration file (setting file), which will be described later, and retains the stored contents even when the power is turned off. It has become. Instead of the NVRAM 204, a nonvolatile RAM in which a RAM and a backup circuit using a battery are integrated may be used. Further, a ROM that stores a boot loader and a configuration file may be provided.

The NRS memory 205 is a non-volatile memory that stores an NRS described later, and an NRS function can be added as an option. Of course, the NRS may be stored in the NVRAM 204 without including the NRS memory 205.
The PHY 206 is an interface for communicating with an external device via a network such as a LAN. The PHY 206 is an IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 802.11b standard (compatible with a wireless LAN), an IEEE 1394 standard, an IEEE 802.3 standard (Ethernet). (Registered trademark) compatible interface (communication means) can be used.

The operation unit 207 has various operation keys (also referred to as operation switches or operation buttons) for inputting information (data) such as operation commands (commands) for each engine unit, and operation means having an LCD or CRT character display. It is.
The HDD 208 is a non-volatile storage means (recording medium) that stores and saves data regardless of whether the power is on or off. The HDD 208 can store the above-described program in the NVRAM 204 and other data. The HDD 208 can also be used as the above-described service memory or firmware memory.

The modem 211 is modulation / demodulation means. When data is transmitted to an external device via a public line, the modem 211 modulates the data to flow through the public line. In addition, when modulated data sent from an external device is received, the data is demodulated.
The PI 212 includes an interface conforming to the RS485 standard, and can be connected to a public line via a line adapter described later. Note that it is also possible to connect this image processing apparatus and an intermediary apparatus to be described later using this PI 212.
The FCU 213 is a public line (not shown) that communicates with an image processing apparatus such as a digital copying machine or a digital multifunction peripheral having a FAX (fax) apparatus or a modem function (FAX communication function), and an external apparatus such as a personal computer or a management apparatus described later. Control via.

The USB interface 214 is a low-speed or medium-speed serial interface, and the IEEE 1394 interface 215 is a high-speed serial interface.
The plotter / scanner engine 216 forms an image on a recording medium such as paper based on a scanner engine (image reading means) that reads an image of a document and image data read by the scanner engine or data received from an external device. It comprises a plotter engine (image forming means) for performing.
The peripheral unit 217 includes an automatic document feeder (ADF) that automatically feeds a document to an image reading position of a scanner engine, and a post-processing device that performs post-processing such as sorting sheets on which images have been formed by a plotter engine (for example, Equivalent to finisher).

  Here, when the power is turned on (power is turned on), the CPU 201 activates the boot loader in the NVRAM 204 via the ASIC 202, reads the OS image in the NVRAM 204 according to the boot loader, loads it into the SDRAM 203, and develops it into a usable OS. To do. When the OS deployment is completed, the OS is started. Thereafter, a program such as an application or service in the NVRAM 204 or an NRS in the NRS memory 205 is read out as necessary, and these are loaded into the SDRAM 203 or the NRS memory 205 to be expanded and activated. The boot loader may not be stored in the NVRAM 204, and a ROM storing the boot loader may be provided.

  Next, the software configuration of the image processing apparatus will be specifically described with reference to FIG. Note that the processing by each program including the SCS 306 and NRS 316 described below is actually executed by the CPU 201 operating in accordance with those programs, but for the sake of explanation, these programs execute processing. Thereafter, the same applies to the case where the program is described as performing some processing.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the software configuration of the image processing apparatus, and parts corresponding to those in FIG.
The software configuration of the image processing apparatus includes an application module layer, a service module layer, and a general-purpose OS layer. The programs constituting these software are stored in the NVRAM 204 and the NRS memory 205, read by the CPU 201 as necessary, and expanded in the SDRAM 203. Then, the CPU 201 executes these programs as necessary, and controls the apparatus, whereby each image processing means, association storage means, counting means, total number calculating means, output means, and A function as an instruction receiving unit can be realized.

The software in the application module layer is configured by a program for causing the CPU 201 to function as a plurality of application control units that operate hardware resources to realize predetermined functions. The software in the service module layer includes the CPU 201 in the hardware Service control means that intervenes between resources and each application control means, and that accepts operation requests for hardware resources from a plurality of application control means, arbitrates the operation requests, and controls execution of operations based on the operation requests. It is comprised by the program for functioning as.
The image forming apparatus 100 includes an abnormality detection unit (abnormality detection unit) including a sensor or the like in an engine unit including a scanner engine and a plotter engine, which are hardware resources.

  The service module layer includes an operation control service (OCS) 300, an engine control service (ECS) 301, a memory control service (MCS) 302, a network control service (NCS) 303, a fax control service (FCS) 305, a system control service ( An SCS) 306, a system resource manager (SRM) 307, an image memory handler (IMH) 308, a delivery control service (DCS) 309, and a user control service (UCS) 310 are implemented. The application module layer includes a copy application 311, a fax application 312, a printer application 313, a scanner application 314, an SDK application 315, an NRS application (hereinafter also simply referred to as “NRS”) 316, a CSS application 317, an MIB application 318, a network A file application 319 and a web application 320 are installed. Furthermore, a general-purpose OS 330 is mounted on the general-purpose OS layer.

These will be described in further detail.
The OCS 300 is a module that controls the operation unit 207.
The ECS 301 is a module that controls engine units such as hardware resources.
The MCS 302 is a module that performs memory control. For example, the MCS 302 acquires and releases an image memory, uses the HDD 208, and the like.
The NCS 303 is a module that performs mediation between the network and each application program in the application module layer.
The FCS 305 is a module that performs facsimile transmission / reception, facsimile reading, facsimile reception printing, and the like.

The SCS 306 is a module that performs start management and termination management of each application program in the application module layer according to the contents of the command, and manages the unified counter area of the NVRAM 204.
The SRM 307 is a module that controls the system and manages resources.
The IMH 308 is a module that manages a memory for temporarily storing image data.
The DCS 309 is a module that transmits and receives image files and the like stored in the HDD 208, SDRAM 203, and NVRAM 204 using SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and FTP (File Transfer Protocol).
The UCS 310 is a module that manages user information such as destination information and address information registered by a user (device user).

Each of the NRS 316 and the CSS 317 is a module in which functions related to communication with an external apparatus using different methods (functions related to remote management in the case where the external apparatus is a management apparatus described later) are combined. In other words, NRS 316 is a module that summarizes functions related to communication with an external device using a new communication method using the Internet, and CSS 317 is a module that combines functions related to communication with an external device using a conventional communication method using a public line. .
The copy application 311 is an application program for realizing a copy service (function as an image processing unit) as described in the background art section.
The fax application 312 is an application program for realizing a fax service (function as an image processing unit).
The printer application 313 is an application program for realizing a printer service (a function as an image processing unit).

The scanner application 314 is an application program for realizing a scanner service (function as an image processing unit). The scanner service is to control a scanning operation for causing a scanner engine to read an image of a document and storing the image data in a memory (SDRAM 203, NVRAM 204, or HDD 208).
SDK315 is a module (application program) that bundles libraries, documents, development tools, sample code, etc. necessary for software development, and can be called by third-party software such as OS and packaged applications. Software having a general I / F is prepared to support development of software based on it.
The MIB 318 is a module that manages the management information of the image processing apparatus.

The net file application 319 is an application program for realizing a net file service.
The web application 320 is an application program for realizing a web service.
The general-purpose OS 330 can use an operating system such as UNIX (registered trademark), Linux (registered trademark), or Windows (registered trademark). The operating system manages the processing for executing the service module layer and application module layer programs. Here, if UNIX or Linux is used, the safety due to open source is ensured, and there are advantages such as easy source code acquisition.

  Most of the programs in the application module layer and service module layer have a unified counter library (unified LIB) and an NVRAM library (NVRAM LIB), and each unified counter library calls a function to the NVRAM 204 (library function call). As a result, arbitrary data can be acquired from the NVRAM 204. For example, the NRS 316, the CSS 317, and the SCS 306 can obtain an arbitrary counter value (the number of times of arbitrary image processing) from the unified counter area by calling a function to the unified counter area in the NVRAM 204. it can.

  The unified counter library of the copy application 311 displays the copy counter value in the unified counter area of the NVRAM 204 every time a copy operation is performed, and the unified counter library of the fax application 312 performs a fax operation (fax transmission operation or fax reception operation). The unified counter library of the printer application 313 obtains the fax counter value in the unified counter area each time printing is performed, and the unified counter library of the scanner application 314 obtains the printer counter value in the unified counter area each time a printing (printing) operation is performed. Each time the library for scanning counts (+1) the scanner counter value in the unified counter area each time a scanning operation is performed. Each operation described above can be further classified into a plurality of operations depending on conditions such as whether or not an ADF or a duplex unit is used.

Next, the internal configuration of the NRS 316 included in the software configuration of the image processing apparatus described above will be further described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the NRS 316. As shown in the figure, the NRS 316 performs processing between the SCS 306 and the NCS 303. The web server function unit 500 performs response processing related to a request received from the outside. The request here may be a SOAP request by SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) described in XML (Extensible Markup Language) format which is a structured language, for example. The web client function unit 501 performs processing for issuing an external request. The libsoap 502 is a library that processes SOAP, and the libxml 503 is a library that processes data described in the XML format. Also, libwwww 504 is a library that processes HTTP, and libgw_ncs 505 is a library that performs processing with the NCS 303.

Hereinafter, the operation which is a feature of the present invention in the above-described image processing apparatus will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.
As described above, this image processing apparatus is provided with both communication means corresponding to the public line and communication means corresponding to the Internet communication.
This image processing apparatus employs a CSS system that communicates with an external device via a line adapter and a public line (network) (not shown), or an NRS system that communicates with an external device via an intermediary device and the Internet (network) (not shown). You can choose. The image processing apparatus may have a function of a line adapter or a function of an intermediary device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the details of the counter value reading operation in the image processing apparatus.
Although the illustration is simplified in FIG. 4, the SCS 306, the copy application 311, the fax application 312, the printer application 313, the scanner application 314, the SDK 315, the CSS 317, the NRS 316, and the MIB 318 are respectively for the unified counter as described with reference to FIG. Library and NVRAM library.
Each unified counter library can perform processing described later by referring to the config file 1011 in the NVRAM 204.
The configuration file 1011 describes a unified counter specification which is collective management information for securing a unified counter area 1001 on the NVRAM 204 and collectively managing a plurality of counter values.

  When the CSS 317 requests acquisition of the counter value from the line adapter by an acquisition request (by an information code) of a counter value other than the total counter value such as a copy counter value from an external device, the CSS 317 configures the unified counter library. By referring to the file 1011 and making a function call to the unified counter area 1001 on the NVRAM 204 based on the file 1011, the requested counter value is read out from the unified counter area 1001 and obtained, and it is obtained as an information code. Reply to the line adapter.

  Alternatively, when the acquisition of the total counter value is requested from the line adapter by the acquisition request of the total counter value from the external device, the unified counter library refers to the configuration file 1011 and based on that, for the unified counter on the NVRAM 204 By making a function call to the area 1001, all counter values are sequentially read out and acquired from the unified counter area 1001, and then the counter values are added together to obtain a total counter value, which is expressed by an information code. Reply to the line adapter.

  When the acquisition of the counter value from the intermediary device is requested by the SOAP method in response to a request for acquiring a counter value other than the total counter value such as the copy counter value from the external device (by the HTTP method), the NRS 316 However, by referring to the configuration file 1011 and making a function call to the unified counter area 1001 on the NVRAM 204 based on it, the requested counter value is read out from the unified counter area 1001 and obtained. A reply is sent to the mediation apparatus by the SOAP method.

  Alternatively, when the acquisition of the total counter value from the intermediary device is requested by the SOAP method by the acquisition request of the total counter value from the external device, the unified counter library refers to the configuration file 1011 and based on it, the NVRAM 204 By performing a function call to the unified counter area 1001, all the counter values are sequentially read out and obtained from the unified counter area 1001, and then the counter values are added together to obtain a total counter value. A reply is sent to the mediation apparatus by the SOAP method.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the unified counter area 1001 on the NVRAM 204 shown in FIG.
In the unified counter area 1001 on the NVRAM 204, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, counter values such as a duplex mode counter value, an ADF counter value, a mode-specific reading surface count counter value, and a print job count counter value are sequentially stored. It has a simple structure so that each counter value can be managed collectively. “0”, “4”, “8”, “12”, and “16” indicate position information (difference from an address value serving as a base point) for obtaining a storage destination of each counter value.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration file. For the convenience of illustration, the contents of the counter ID are omitted.
As described above, the configuration file is management information for securing a unified counter area 1001 on the NVRAM 204 and managing a plurality of counter values. The counter item indicates the type of each counter value and each counter. A counter ID, which is value identification information, and mapping information (position information) for specifying the storage position of each counter value are described in association with each other. This configuration file is incorporated (stored) in the NVRAM 204 as a text file.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table provided in the NRS 316. This table is hereinafter referred to as “first table” in order to distinguish it from the table shown in FIG. The table shown in FIG. 24 is hereinafter referred to as “second table”. However, in this embodiment, the management module of the second table is unnecessary and is deleted.
The first table includes a counter acquisition method name that is a SOAP method name of a counter acquisition request command that requests acquisition of each counter value required by the NRS 316, a counter ID that is identification information of each counter value, and The correspondence relationship with the counter item indicating the type of each counter value is described. In this example, the counter acquisition method name “get Count Scan” of the scanner counter acquisition request command for requesting acquisition of the scanner counter value, the counter ID “700101”, and the counter item “reading number counter value by mode” correspond to each other. doing. Also, a counter acquisition method name “get Count ADF” of an ADF counter acquisition request command that requests acquisition of an ADF counter value that is a counter value when a copy operation, a fax transmission operation, or a scan operation is performed using ADF, The counter ID “700102” corresponds to the counter item “ADF counter value”.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a detailed example of the counter value reading operation using the NRS 316 in this image processing apparatus.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a format example of a counter acquisition request command. This example shows an ADF counter acquisition request command by the SOAP method.
In this image processing apparatus, the NRS 316 receives a counter acquisition request command (for example, by a SOAP method as shown in FIG. 9) requesting acquisition of any counter value from the mediation apparatus in step S1 (counter acquisition instruction). And the record corresponding to the counter acquisition method name in the counter acquisition request command is read out from the first table (FIG. 7) in step S2, and the counter ID in the record is designated in step S3 to specify the unified counter library. Is read.

In step S4, the unified counter library refers to the configuration file, and based on this, the counter value indicated by the counter item in the record (for example, the counter value of the type requested from the external device) is stored. By making a function call to the storage area (storage destination) in the area 1001 (NVRAM 204), the counter value is read from the storage area and obtained. At this time, by referring to the configuration file 1011, the storage destination of the counter value can be obtained from the position information corresponding to the counter value indicated by the counter item in the record. The acquired counter value is returned to the NRS 316 as a counter acquisition response.
In response to the counter acquisition response from the unified counter library, the NRS 316 acquires the counter acquisition response in step S5 and checks whether there is still a counter value to be acquired in step S6 (this is included in the received counter acquisition command). (Required when multiple counter acquisition method names are included).

If it is determined that there is still a counter value to be acquired (when another counter acquisition method name is included in the received counter acquisition command), the process returns to step S2, and other counter acquisition method names are obtained. The above processing is repeated, but if it is determined that there are no more counter values to be acquired, the process proceeds to step S7, and a counter acquisition response command (using the SOAP method) including them is received based on each received counter acquisition response. It is generated and returned to the mediation apparatus that is the transmission source of the counter acquisition request command.
When a total counter acquisition request command (using the SOAP method) for requesting acquisition of the total counter value is received from the intermediary device, all counter values (counter acquisition responses) are sequentially acquired from the unified counter area 1001. Thereafter, the counter values are added together to obtain a total counter value, and a counter acquisition response command (using the SOAP method) including the total counter value is generated based on the total counter value.

The counter value reading operation described above is an example when the SOAP method is used, but a counter value reading operation using an information code can also be realized. This operation is only slightly different from that described with reference to FIG. 8, and will be described with reference to FIG. 8 again.
When the CSS 317 receives a counter acquisition request command (by information code) that requests acquisition of any counter value from the line adapter, the CSS 317 reads a record corresponding to the counter code in the counter acquisition request command from the table (FIG. 24). Then, the counter ID in the record is specified and the unified counter library is read.
The unified counter library refers to the configuration file, and based on the configuration file, calls the function to the storage area in the unified counter area 1001 in which the counter value indicated by the counter item in the record is stored. A counter value is read out and acquired from the storage area, and it is returned to the CSS 317 as a counter acquisition response.
The CSS 317 acquires the counter acquisition response by returning a counter acquisition response from the unified counter library, and checks whether there is still a counter value to be acquired (this is because multiple counter codes are included in the received counter acquisition request command). Required if included).

When it is determined that there is still a counter value to be acquired (when another counter code is included in the received counter acquisition command), the same processing as described above is repeated for the other counter code. If it is determined that there are no more counter values to be acquired, a counter acquisition response command (with information code) including them is generated based on each received counter acquisition response, and this is sent to the transmission source of the counter acquisition request command. Reply to a line adapter.
When a total counter acquisition request command for requesting acquisition of the total counter value is received from the line adapter, all counter values (counter acquisition responses) are sequentially acquired from the unified counter area 1001, and then each counter is acquired. The total counter value is obtained by adding the values, and a counter acquisition response command including the total counter value is generated based on the total counter value.

  On the other hand, when the external device acquires a desired counter value from any of the intermediary devices via the Internet, by receiving polling information (HTTP message including the SOAP message of the polling information) from the intermediary device, A counter acquisition request command (HTTP message including a SOAP message of the counter acquisition request command) by an HTTP method that requests acquisition of a desired counter value is generated, and the corresponding intermediary device (received counter acquisition request command received via the Internet) is generated. As a response to polling. At this time, the corresponding intermediary device is recognized based on the identifier added to the received counter acquisition request command (actually, the SOAP message in the HTTP message).

For example, the intermediary device periodically polls an external device via the Internet. That is, a polling information SOAP message (polling information by a SOAP method) to which an identifier that is self-identification information is added is generated (polling information is converted into an XML format that is a structured language format), and based on the SOAP message. An HTTP message including it (polling information by the HTTP method) is generated and transmitted to an external device via the Internet.
When the HTTP message including the SOAP message of the counter acquisition request command is received from the external apparatus in response to the transmission, the following processing is performed.

  That is, a SOAP message (counter acquisition request command by a SOAP method) of a counter acquisition request command on the packet is generated based on the HTTP message, and the generated SOAP message is sent to the NRS 316 of the image forming apparatus connected to itself via the network. When a SOAP message of a counter acquisition response command (counter acquisition response request command by SOAP method) is received from the NRS 316 in response thereto, an HTTP message (counter by HTTP method) of a counter acquisition response command including the SOAP message is received based on the SOAP message. Acquisition response request command) is generated and transmitted to the external device via the Internet.

Alternatively, when the external device acquires a desired counter value from any of the line adapters via the public line, it generates a counter acquisition request command (using an information code) that requests acquisition of the counter value, and sends it to the public line To the corresponding line adapter.
When the line adapter receives the counter acquisition request command from the external device, the line adapter transmits the counter acquisition request command to the CSS 317 of the image forming apparatus connected to the line adapter via the network, and from the CSS 317 receives a counter acquisition response command ( If the information acquisition code is received, the counter acquisition response command is transmitted to the external device via the public line.

  The line adapter requests a counter acquisition request command (SOAP method) to request acquisition of an arbitrary counter value to the image forming apparatus connected to itself at a predetermined timing (for example, periodically) regardless of a request from an external apparatus. Alternatively, the counter value can also be obtained by transmitting to the NRS 316 or CSS 317. In this case, when transmitting the acquired counter value to the external device, an identifier which is identification information of itself is added to the counter value.

  When the external device acquires the counter value from the mediation device or the line adapter via the Internet or the public line, the external device displays and outputs the counter value on a screen of a display device (not shown). An output example (screen display example) is shown in FIG. In this example, each mode counter value, that is, full color copy counter value, monochrome copy counter value, single color copy counter value, two color copy counter value, color printer (print) counter value, monochrome printer counter value, fax counter value, The total counter value obtained by adding them, the AD / DTL counter value, the double-sided counter value, and the staple counter value are displayed.

  It should be noted that the counter value corresponding to the instruction is acquired in the same manner as described above according to the counter acquisition instruction received from the operation unit 207, and is acquired to the external apparatus via the mediation apparatus and the Internet, or via the line adapter and the public line. It can be transmitted and displayed on the screen of the display device. In this case, the counter value corresponding to the instruction can be acquired by the counter acquisition instruction received from the operation unit 207 by the OCS 300.

Alternatively, the counter value acquired in the same manner as described above can be sent to the operation unit 207 by the OCS 300 and displayed on the character display. An example of the output is shown in FIG. The contents of the counter value in this example are the same as in FIG.
Alternatively, the counter value acquired in the same manner as described above can be sent to the plotter engine by the printer application 313 for printing (image formation) output. An output example (example of image formation output) is shown in FIG. The contents of the counter value in this example are the same as in FIG.
Note that even if the image processing apparatus is an image reading apparatus such as a scanner apparatus, it is possible to perform various controls similar to those described above (except for the control of print output).

  As described above, in the image processing apparatus embodying the present invention, the configuration file is referred to via the unified counter library, so that the number of processes can be increased for each of a plurality of types of image processing (copy operation, print operation, scan operation, fax operation). As shown in FIG. 13A of the NVRAM 204 (which may be the HDD 208), the storage locations of corresponding counter values are managed in association with each other, and the counter values are counted (+1) for each of a plurality of types of image processing. Since each of the storage destinations in the unified counter area (a storage area in which counter values corresponding to each image processing are stored) is stored, a plurality of counter areas as shown in FIG. It is not necessary to prepare, and the cost can be reduced. In addition, the batch management of a plurality of counter values simplifies the counter value counting process (integration process) by each application (module), and the processing efficiency is increased.

  In addition, when an application such as NRS 316 or CSS 317 or each module such as SCS (actually, a unified counter library provided for it) receives a request for obtaining any counter value from an external device, it is configured via the unified counter library. Refers to the file, and based on it, the corresponding counter value is directly read out from the unified counter area of the NVRAM 204 and obtained and output to the external device, operation unit 207, or plotter engine, so the inter-application I / F is used. There is no need to do it. Therefore, the counter value acquisition processing and transmission processing can be performed without relying on other modules, and the processing efficiency is further increased.

Further, when an application such as NRS 316 or CSS 317 or a module such as SCS requests acquisition of a total counter value from an external device or the operation unit 207, the configuration file is referred to, and based on the configuration file, all from the unified counter area Since the counter value is directly read and acquired, and the counter values are added together to obtain the total counter value, it is not necessary to secure an area for storing the total counter value in the NVRAM 204. Since a plurality of counter values on the NVRAM 204 can be managed, it is easy to read and acquire the counter values directly from the areas for the counters and add the counter values.
As for the development process, the implementation and specifications become one-to-one, and the specifications themselves can be managed in a batch, so there is a merit in managing the specifications.
Of all the counter values, two or more counter values can be read and added, and the added value can be sent as a total counter value (total number of times) to the external device, the operation unit 207, or the plotter engine. .

Next, as an image processing system capable of implementing the present invention, that is, an image processing system including the above-described image processing apparatus and an external apparatus, the image processing apparatus is set as a managed apparatus, and the management apparatus is an external apparatus. A remote management system managed by the above will be described.
FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the configuration of the remote management system. Here, for convenience of explanation, an image processing apparatus having a communication function and managed by a management apparatus is referred to as a “managed apparatus”.

  This remote management system is a management system in which the above-described image processing apparatus is a managed apparatus 10 (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f). As an external device connected to the managed device 10 (as viewed from the managed device side), an intermediary device that is a remote management mediation device connected to the managed device 10 via a network such as a LAN (local area network). 101 (101a, 101b, 101c), and a management device 102 that functions as a server device connected to the mediation device 101 via the Internet 103 (may be another network or a public line). Each managed device 10 can be centrally managed remotely via the device 101. The managed device 10 and the intermediary device 101 are installed in an office on the device user (user) side, and the management device 102 is installed in a service center (management center).

  Here, in order to realize a service (hereinafter referred to as “NRS”) that the management apparatus 102 remotely manages using a new method, software corresponding to NRS is installed in a network such as a LAN on the device user side. The implemented mediation apparatus 101 and the managed apparatus 10 are connected. The intermediary device 101 and the managed device 10 are also provided with software corresponding to CSS in order to realize a service (hereinafter referred to as “CSS”) that is managed remotely by the management device 102 using a conventional method. ing. In order to realize the NRS, the mediation device 101 and the managed device 10 may be initially installed as in the case of realizing the CSS.

The public line (or dedicated line) includes an analog line, an ADSL line, a digital line (ISDN line), a fixed telephone line such as a fiber optic line, and a mobile telephone line such as a mobile phone line and a PHS line.
The connection between the mediation apparatus 101 and the managed apparatus 10 is not limited to the network, but is performed by serial connection conforming to the RS-485 standard, parallel connection conforming to the SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) standard, or the like. Also good. For example, in the case of the RS-485 standard, up to five managed devices 10 can be connected to the intermediary device 101 in series.

The intermediary device 101 and the managed device 10 have various hierarchical structures depending on the usage environment.
For example, in the installation environment A shown in FIG. 14, the intermediary device 101a capable of establishing a direct connection with the management device 102 using HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) has a simple hierarchical structure in which the managed devices 10a and 10b follow. However, since the four managed devices 10 are installed in the installation environment B shown in the figure, the load increases only by installing one intermediary device 101. Therefore, the intermediary device 101b that can establish a direct connection with the management device 102 by HTTP follows not only the managed devices 10c and 10d but also another intermediary device 101c, and the intermediary device 101c uses the managed devices 10e and 10f. Furthermore, a hierarchical structure is formed in which it can be followed. In this case, the information issued from the management device 102 for remotely managing the managed devices 10e and 10f is managed by the managed device 10e or 10f via the mediation device 101b and the mediation device 101c which is a lower node. Will be reached.

Further, as in the installation environment C, managed devices with mediation functions (hereinafter also simply referred to as “managed devices”) 11 a and 11 b in which the managed device 10 has the functions of the mediation device 101 are separately provided as mediation devices 101. You may make it connect to the management apparatus 102 by the internet 103 without going through.
Although not shown, the managed device 10 can be further connected to the subordinate of the managed device 11 with a mediation function.
In each of the installation environments A, B, and C, a firewall 104 (104a, 104b, 104c) is installed in consideration of security. The firewall 104 is configured by a proxy server.
Further, a terminal device such as a personal computer or other electronic device (external device) can be connected to each managed device 10 or 11 via a network.

In such a remote management system, the intermediary device 101 has an application program for control management of the managed device 10 connected thereto.
The management apparatus 102 is mounted with an application program for performing control management of each intermediary apparatus 101 and further performing control management of the managed apparatus 10 via the intermediary apparatus 101. Then, each of these nodes in this remote management system including the managed device 10 transmits a “request” which is a request for processing for a method of the application program to be implemented by RPC (remote procedure call). The “response” that is the result of the processed processing can be acquired.

That is, the intermediary device 101 or the managed device 10 connected thereto can generate a request to the management device 102 and pass it to the management device 102 to obtain a response to this request, while the management device 102 A request to the mediating apparatus 101 is generated and delivered to the mediating apparatus 101, and a response to the request can be acquired. This request includes causing the mediation device 101 to transmit various requests to the managed device 10 and obtaining a response from the managed device 10 via the mediation device 101.
In order to realize RPC, known protocols (communication standards) such as SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol), HTTP, FTP (File Transfer Protocol), COM (Component Object Model), CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture), etc. , Technology, specifications, etc. can be used.

The transmission / reception data transmission / reception model is shown in the conceptual diagram of FIG.
(A) is a case where a request (instruction) to the management apparatus 102 has occurred in the managed apparatus 10. In this case, the managed device 10 generates a managed device-side request “a”, and the management device 102 that has received this request via the mediation device 101 returns a response “a” to this request. A case where there are a plurality of mediation apparatuses 101 shown in the figure can be assumed (installation environment B shown in FIG. 14). Note that (A) shows a case in which not only the response a but also a response delay notification a ′ is returned. When the management apparatus 102 receives a managed apparatus side request via the intermediary apparatus 101 and determines that the response to the request cannot be returned immediately, it notifies the response delay notification and temporarily disconnects the connection state. This is because the response to the request is delivered again at the time of the next connection.

  (B) is a case where a request for the managed device 10 has occurred in the management device 102. In this case, the management apparatus 102 generates a management apparatus-side request b, and the managed apparatus 10 that has received the request via the mediation apparatus 101 returns a response b to the request. Even in the case of (B), the response delay notification b 'is returned when the response cannot be returned immediately, as in the case of (A).

Next, the physical configuration of the management device 102 shown in FIG. 14 will be briefly described. The management device 102 includes a control device including a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like, a file server (database), a modem, and a proxy. It is configured by a server or the like. The configuration will be described later in detail.
Furthermore, the physical configuration of the intermediary device 101 shown in FIG. 14 will be briefly described. The intermediary device 101 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a nonvolatile memory (nonvolatile storage means), a PHY (physical media interface), and the like. Has been.

  In addition, for the managed device 11 with an intermediary function, these units may be simply added to the managed device 10 in order to realize the function of the intermediary device 101, but the CPU, ROM, and RAM provided in the managed device 10 The functions of the intermediary device 101 can be realized by causing the CPU to execute appropriate applications and program modules using hardware resources such as the above.

Hereinafter, as a more specific example of the remote management system shown in FIG. 14, an image forming apparatus remote management system which is a remote management system in which the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is a managed apparatus will be described.
FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the configuration of the image forming apparatus remote management system. The managed apparatus 10 is the image forming apparatus 100, the managed function-equipped managed apparatus 11 is the image forming apparatus with a mediating function (hereinafter referred to as the image forming apparatus 100). The only difference from FIG. 14 is that the configuration is changed to 110 (also simply referred to as “image forming apparatus”), and thus the description of the overall system configuration is omitted.
The image forming apparatus 100 is a digital multi-function peripheral having functions such as a copy, a printer, a facsimile, and a scanner, and a function for communicating with an external device, and an application program for providing a service related to these functions is installed. It is what. The image forming apparatus with a mediation function 110 is obtained by adding the functions of the mediation apparatus 101 to the image forming apparatus 100.

Next, the physical configuration of the management apparatus 102 will be specifically described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a physical configuration example of the management apparatus 102.
The management device 102 includes a modem 601, a communication terminal 602, a proxy server 603, an operator terminal 604, a file server 605, a control device 606, and the like.
The modem 601 manages communication with the mediation apparatus 101 or the image forming apparatus 110 on the device user side (for example, a user destination using the image forming apparatus) via a public line, and modulates and demodulates data to be transmitted and received. . The modem 601 and a communication terminal 602, which will be described later, serve as communication means.
The communication terminal 602 controls communication by the modem 601.

The proxy server 603 performs communication (data transmission / reception) and security management with the mediation apparatus 101 on the user (device user) side via the Internet 103. The proxy server 603 also functions as a communication unit.
The operator terminal 604 is a terminal device (personal computer or the like) operated by a center operator who is a service center administrator, and inputs various data on an input unit such as a keyboard or a pointing device (mouse or the like) by the center operator. Information to be received by operation or information to be notified to the center operator is displayed on a display unit such as an LCD or CRT. As input data, for example, in addition to customer information such as an IP address and a call destination telephone number used when communicating with the mediation device 101 or the image forming device 110 on each user side, the mediation device on each user side 101 or parameters (retry time, retry interval, communication time limit, etc.) and commands to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 110.

The file server 605 includes a storage device such as an HDD (hard disk device). The storage device stores various data including IP addresses and telephone numbers of the mediation device 101 and the image forming device 110 on each user side, data (information) received from those devices, and data input from the operator terminal 604. DB (database) is stored (set).
The control device 606 includes a microcomputer including a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like (not shown), and controls the entire management device 102 in an integrated manner. The CPU operates in accordance with the above program (executes the above program as necessary) and uses the modem 601, the communication terminal 602, the proxy server 603, the operator terminal 604, or the file server 605 to provide various functions. Can be realized.

Based on the above-described configuration, an example of a communication sequence at the time of data transmission / reception performed by the image forming apparatus remote management system of FIG. 16 will be described.
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication sequence for data transmission / reception performed between the management apparatus 102, the intermediary apparatus 101, and the image forming apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG.

  In this example, first, the mediation apparatus 101 polls the management apparatus 102 via the Internet 103 (inquiry whether there is a transmission request) (S601). In other words, it generates a polling information SOAP message with an identifier that is its own identification information (converts the polling information to the XML format that is a structured language format), and generates an HTTP message including it based on the SOAP message Then, it is transmitted to the management apparatus 102 via the Internet 103. As shown in FIG. 16, since the firewall 104 is provided between the mediation device 101 and the management device 102, a communication session cannot be established from the management device 102 to the mediation device 101. Even if it is desired to send a request from the mediating apparatus 101 (or the image forming apparatus 100 via the mediating apparatus 101), it is necessary to wait for polling from the mediating apparatus 101 in this way. If there is no firewall 104, polling is not necessary.

  When the management apparatus 102 receives the HTTP message (HTTP request) from the mediation apparatus 101, the management apparatus 102 receives an HTTP message (HTTP) including a SOAP message of a charging counter acquisition request command for requesting acquisition of a charging counter (for example, corresponding to a total counter value). Response) is generated and transmitted as a response to polling to the corresponding mediation apparatus 101 (source of the received SOAP message) via the Internet 103 (S602). At this time, the corresponding intermediary device 101 is recognized based on the identifier added to the SOAP message in the received HTTP message. In this way, if it is a response (HTTP response) to communication (HTTP request) from the inside of the firewall 104, data can be transmitted from the outside of the firewall 104 to the inside.

When the mediation device 101 receives the HTTP message from the management device 102, the mediation device 101 generates a SOAP message of a charging counter acquisition request command on the packet based on the HTTP message, and the image connected to itself via the network The data is transmitted to the NRS 316 of the forming apparatus 100 (S603).
The NRS 316 notifies the SCS 306 of a charging counter acquisition request described in the SOAP message received from the mediation apparatus 101 (S604).
When the SCS 306 receives the charge counter acquisition request from the NRS 316, the SCS 306 reads the charge counter data (total counter value) stored in the unified counter area of the NVRAM 204 (or the HDD 208) (S605). Then, the read billing counter data is transferred to the NRS 316 as a billing counter acquisition response (S606).

Upon receiving (acquiring) a charging counter acquisition response from the SCS 306, the NRS 316 generates a SOAP message of a charging counter acquisition response command including the charging counter acquisition response based on the charging counter acquisition response (the charging counter acquisition response command is converted into a structured language). The data is converted into an XML format, which is a format, and is transmitted to the mediation apparatus 101 via the network (S607).
When the mediation apparatus 101 receives the SOAP message of the charging counter acquisition response command from the NRS 316, it generates an HTTP message of the charging counter acquisition response command including the SOAP message based on the SOAP message, and sends it to the management apparatus 102 via the Internet 103. Transmit (S608).
Thus, data transmission / reception is performed by the communication sequence.

Next, unlike FIG. 18 described above, an example of a communication sequence when data is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 100 to the management apparatus 102 via the mediation apparatus 101 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication sequence when data is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 100 to the management apparatus 102.
In this example, the OCS 300 first notifies the SCS 306 that a user call key (not shown) on the operation unit 207 has been pressed (S701).
Upon receiving notification from the OCS 300 that the user call key has been pressed, the SCS 306 notifies the NRS 316 of a user call request command (S702).

Upon receiving the user call request command from the SCS 306, the NRS 316 generates a SOAP message of user call information notifying the user call, and transmits it to the mediation apparatus 101 via the network (S703).
When the mediation device 101 receives the SOAP message of the user call information from the NRS 316, the mediation device 101 adds an identifier, which is its own identification information, to the SOAP message, and further generates an HTTP message including it based on the SOAP message. A user call is made to the management apparatus 102 via That is, an HTTP message including a SOAP message of user call information with its own identifier added is reported to the management apparatus 102 via the Internet 103 (S704). In this case, since the transmission is from the inside to the outside of the firewall 104, the mediation apparatus 101 can transmit data by creating a session toward the management apparatus 102 itself.
Here, the pattern after the process of step S704 will be described separately in the following (A) to (C).

First, in (A), the management apparatus 102 receives an HTTP message including a SOAP message of user call information from the user's mediation apparatus 101, and if the reception ends normally, that fact (user call is If the call result indicating success) does not end normally (abnormally ends), an HTTP message including a SOAP message with information indicating the call result indicating that the user call has failed is generated. Then, it is transmitted as a response to the reporting intermediary apparatus 101 via the Internet 103 (S705).
When the intermediary device 101 receives an HTTP message including a SOAP message of information indicating the call result from the management device 102, the mediation device 101 generates a SOAP message of information indicating the call result on the packet based on the HTTP message, and transmits it to the network. The user call key is transmitted to the NRS 316 of the image forming apparatus 100 where the user call key is pressed (S706).

When the NRS 316 receives a SOAP message of information indicating the call result from the mediation apparatus 101, the NRS 316 interprets (determines) the call result indicated by the SOAP message and notifies the SCS 306 of it (S707).
When the SCS 306 receives the call result, it delivers it to the OCS 300.
When the OCS 300 receives the call result from the SCS 306, the OCS 300 displays the content, that is, a message indicating whether the user call is successful or unsuccessful on the character display on the operation unit 207 (S708).

Next, in (B), when the intermediary device 101 determines that there is no response from the management device 102 after a predetermined time (a predetermined time set in advance), a call result indicating that the user call has failed is displayed. A SOAP message with the indicated information is generated and transmitted to the NRS 316 (S709).
When the NRS 316 receives a SOAP message indicating information indicating a call result indicating failure, the NRS 316 interprets the call result indicating failure described in the SOAP message and notifies the SCS 306 of the result (S710).
When the SCS 306 receives the call result from the NRS 316, the SCS 306 delivers it to the OCS 300.

When the OCS 300 receives the call result from the SCS 306, the OCS 300 displays the content, that is, a message indicating that the user call has failed on the character display on the operation unit 207 (S711).
Next, in (C), when the NRS 316 determines that there is no response from the mediation apparatus 101 even after the specified time has elapsed, it notifies the SCS 306 of the call result indicating that the user call has failed (S712).
When the SCS 306 receives the call result from the NRS 316, the SCS 306 delivers it to the OCS 300.
When the OCS 300 receives the call result from the SCS 306, the OCS 300 displays the content, that is, a message indicating that the user call has failed on the character display on the operation unit 207 (S713).

  Here, in order to transmit data from the management apparatus 102 to the mediation apparatus 101 (or the image forming apparatus 100 via the mediation apparatus 101) over the firewall 104, the data is transmitted in the form of a response to the HTTP request from the mediation apparatus 101. However, the means for going beyond the firewall 104 is not limited to this. For example, using the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), an e-mail describing or attaching data to be transmitted is sent from the management apparatus 102. Transmission to the mediation apparatus 101 is also conceivable. However, HTTP is superior in terms of reliability.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus having the communication function (mediation function) and the image forming apparatus connected to the mediation apparatus performing the communication function have been described as examples of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to these. , Network home appliances, vending machines, medical equipment, power supplies that can perform multiple types of processing (not limited to image processing) that have communication functions or that connect mediation devices that perform communication functions, and can count the number of each processing. The present invention can be applied to various image processing devices having a communication function, including devices, air conditioning systems, measuring systems such as gas, water, and electricity, AV equipment, game machines, and computers that can be connected to a network.

  In addition, an image information system including these information processing apparatuses and external apparatuses can be operated in the same manner as described above. For example, when each information processing apparatus is a managed apparatus, the remote management system can be operated in the same manner as described above. Further, with regard to the remote management system of the image processing apparatus, the configuration of the image processing apparatus, the mediation apparatus, and the management apparatus and their connection formats are not limited to the above embodiments. Communication between the image processing apparatus and an external apparatus such as a management apparatus can also be performed using various communication lines (communication paths) capable of constructing a network regardless of wired or wireless.

  For example, in the remote management system shown in FIG. 14, it is conceivable that the above-described various image processing apparatuses are managed devices and a remote management system as shown in FIG. 20 is configured. In FIG. 20, network appliances such as a television receiver 12a and a refrigerator 12b, a medical device 12c, a vending machine 12d, a weighing system 12e, and an air conditioning system 12f are given as examples of managed devices separately provided with the mediation device 101. ing. As an example of a managed device that also has the function of the intermediary device 101, an automobile 13a and an aircraft 13b are cited. In addition, it is preferable that an apparatus that moves over a wide range, such as an automobile 13a or an aircraft 13b, also has a firewall (FW) 104 function.

In addition, the program according to the present invention provides a computer functioning as the above-described image processing apparatus with various functions according to the present invention (each image processing means, association storage means, counting means, total number calculating means, output means, and instruction receiving means). The above-described effects can be obtained by causing a computer to execute such a program.
Such a program may be stored in a storage means such as a ROM or HDD provided in the computer from the beginning, but a non-volatile recording such as a CD-ROM or flexible disk, SRAM, EEPROM, memory card or the like as a recording medium. It can also be recorded on a medium (memory) and provided. Each procedure described above can be executed by installing a program recorded in the memory in a computer and causing the CPU to execute the program, or causing the CPU to read and execute the program from the memory.
Furthermore, it is also possible to download and execute an external device that is connected to a network and includes a recording medium that records the program, or an external device that stores the program in the storage unit.

  As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the relationship between each image processing function of the image processing means installed in the image processing apparatus and the storage destination of each processing count of the memory is many-to-one, Since the storage destination of each processing count can be collectively managed, low cost can be realized. Therefore, by using this invention, it is possible to provide an inexpensive image processing apparatus, a computer functioning as an image processing apparatus, and an image processing system including the image processing apparatus and an external apparatus.

It is a block diagram which shows the physical structural example of the image processing apparatus which implements this invention. It is a block diagram showing a software configuration example of the image processing apparatus. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an NRS 316 in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining details of a counter value reading operation in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the area | region for unified counters on NVRAM204 of FIG.

It is a figure which shows an example of a configuration file. It is a figure which shows an example of the table with which NRS316 of FIG. 6 is equipped. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a detailed example of a counter value reading operation using NRS in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the example of a format of a counter acquisition request command. It is a figure which shows the example of an output of the counter value acquired by the counter value read-out operation in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.

It is a figure which shows the other output example of the counter value acquired by the counter value read-out operation similarly. It is a figure which shows the further another output example of the counter value acquired by the counter value read-out operation similarly. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect by this invention in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 compared with the conventional image forming apparatus. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of a structure of the remote management system which implements this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the data transmission / reception model in the remote management system.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus remote management system that is an example of a remote management system that implements the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a physical configuration example of the management apparatus 102 in FIG. 16. It is a figure which shows an example of the communication sequence for demonstrating the data transmission / reception performed within the image forming apparatus remote management system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the other communication sequence. It is a figure which shows another structural example of the remote management system shown in FIG.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the software structure of the conventional image forming apparatus. It is an explanatory diagram for explaining details of a counter value reading operation in the image forming apparatus. FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of contents of a copy counter area on the NVRAM 204 of FIG. 22. It is a figure which shows an example of the table with which CSS317 of FIG. 22 is equipped. FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a detailed example of a counter value reading operation using CSS 317 in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 21.

Explanation of symbols

10: Managed device 11: Managed device with mediation function 100: Image forming device 101: Mediation device 102: Management device 103: Internet 104: Firewall 201: CPU 202: ASIC
203: SDRAM 204: NVRAM 205: NRS memory 206: PHY 207: Operation unit 208: HDD 211: Modem 212: PI 213: FCU 214: USB interface 215: IEEE1394 interface 216: Plotter / scanner engine 217: Peripheral device 300: OCS 301: ECS 302: MCS
303: NCS 305: FCS 306: SCS 307: SRM
308: IMH 309: DCS 310: UCS 311: Copy application 312: Fax application 313: Printer application 314: Scanner application 315: SDK 316: NRS 317: CSS 318: MIB
319: Net file application 320: Web application 330: General-purpose OS
601: Modem 602: Communication terminal 603: Proxy server 604: Operator terminal 605: File server 606: Control device 1001: Unified counter area 1011: Configuration file

Claims (25)

Image processing means for executing a plurality of types of image processing;
An image processing apparatus having a memory for storing the number of processing times of the plurality of types of image processing,
Association storage means for associating and storing the number of processing times and the storage destination in the memory;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a counting unit that counts the number of times of processing for each of the plurality of types of image processing and stores it in a storage destination stored in the association storage unit of the memory. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
A value obtained by reading out and adding two or more image processing times out of a plurality of types of image processing times stored in the storage destination stored in the association storage unit of the memory, and adding the values An image processing apparatus comprising a total number calculation means for calculating the total number of times. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
An image processing apparatus, comprising: an output unit that reads out the number of processing times of a plurality of types of image processing from a storage destination stored in the association storage unit of the memory and outputs the read number of processing times. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3.
Instruction receiving means for receiving instructions is provided,
The output means reads out the number of times of image processing corresponding to the instruction from the storage destination stored in the association storage means of the memory in accordance with the instruction received by the instruction reception means, An image processing apparatus characterized in that it is a means for outputting. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4.
The image processing apparatus, wherein the instruction receiving unit is a unit that receives an instruction from an operation unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4.
The image processing apparatus, wherein the instruction receiving means is means for receiving an instruction via a network. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 6,
The image processing apparatus, wherein the output means outputs the read processing count via a network. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7.
The output means outputs the read processing count to a management apparatus that manages the image processing apparatus via a network. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7 or 8,
An image processing apparatus, wherein the output means includes means for converting information output via a network into a structured language format. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5,
The image processing apparatus, wherein the output unit displays and outputs the read processing count to a display unit. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5,
The image processing apparatus, wherein the output means records and outputs the read processing count to a recording medium such as paper. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
The image processing apparatus, wherein the image processing means is means for executing at least one of a copy operation, a print operation, a scan operation, and a fax operation. An image processing system comprising an external device and an image processing device that performs image processing by communicating with the external device via a network,
In the image processing apparatus, image processing means for executing a plurality of types of image processing, a memory for storing the number of processing times of the plurality of types of image processing, and the number of processing times and the storage destination in the memory are associated with each other. Corresponding storage means for storing, counting means for counting the number of times of processing for each of the plurality of types of image processing, and storing them in a storage destination stored in the correspondence storage means of the memory, and the correspondence of the memory Image processing, comprising: output means for reading out the number of processing times of a plurality of types of image processing from a storage destination stored in the attached storage means, and outputting the read processing times to the external device via a network system. The image processing system according to claim 13.
A value obtained by reading out and adding two or more image processing times out of a plurality of types of image processing times stored in the storage destination stored in the association storage unit of the memory, and adding the values Is provided with a total number calculation means,
The image processing system, wherein the output means includes means for outputting the total number of times to the external device via a network. The image processing system according to claim 13 or 14,
Providing an instruction receiving means for receiving an instruction from the external device via a network;
The output means reads the number of times of image processing corresponding to the instruction from the storage destination stored in the association storage means of the memory in accordance with the instruction received by the instruction receiving means, A remote management system comprising means for outputting to the external device via a network. The image processing system according to claim 14.
Providing an instruction receiving means for receiving an instruction from the external device via a network;
The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the output means includes means for outputting the total number of times to the external device via a network in accordance with an instruction received by the instruction receiving means. A processing number processing method in an image processing apparatus, comprising: an image processing unit that executes a plurality of types of image processing; and a memory that stores the number of processing times of the plurality of types of image processing.
The number of times of processing and the storage destination in the memory are stored in association with each other, the number of processing times is counted for each of the plurality of types of image processing, and stored in the storage destination stored in the memory. Processing number processing method to be performed. The processing number processing method according to claim 17,
Out of a plurality of types of image processing times stored in the storage destination of the memory, two or more image processing times are read and summed, and the sum is set as the total number of times. A processing number processing method characterized by the above. The processing number processing method according to claim 17 or 18,
A processing number processing method, comprising: reading out the number of processing times of a plurality of types of image processing from the storage destination stored in the memory, and outputting the read processing number of times. The processing number processing method according to claim 18,
A processing number processing method characterized by outputting the total number of times. In a computer functioning as an image processing apparatus having image processing means for executing a plurality of types of image processing and a memory for storing the number of processing times of the plurality of types of image processing,
An association storage function for associating and storing the processing count and the storage destination in the memory;
A counting function for counting the number of times of processing for each of the plurality of types of image processing and storing it in a storage destination stored by the association storage function of the memory. The program according to claim 21, wherein
In the computer, out of the multiple types of image processing times stored in the storage location stored by the association storage function of the memory, the number of image processing times of two or more is read and summed, A program that also realizes a total number calculation function that uses the combined value as the total number. The program according to claim 21 or 22,
A program for causing the computer to realize an output function of reading the number of processing times of a plurality of types of image processing from the storage destination stored by the association storage function of the memory and outputting the number of processing times. The program according to claim 22, wherein
A program for causing the computer to realize an output function for outputting the total number of times.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to any one of claims 21 to 23 is recorded.

Images