JP2007081688A - Document registration system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute a fax job by referring and editing documents in a Web storage server through HTML displayed on browser without installing an extra application in an MFP device under such an environment as the MFP device having browser function is connected with a Web storage server through an LAN/Internet. <P>SOLUTION: The document registration system comprises a means for displaying a browser in an MFP device 10, a means for notifying the information of a fax of the MFP device to a Web storage server 20, a means for forming a fax set screen depending on the information of a fax of the MFP device, a means for specifying a document stored in the Web storage server, a means used by a user for referring and editing a specified document, and a means for forming a fax job depending on a content set by a user and performing fax. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a document registration system, and more particularly to a document registration system that can directly fax a document stored in a Web storage server connected via a LAN / Internet from an MFP device.

  In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of opportunities for a service concept called a document management system (hereinafter referred to as DMS) to organize document information overflowing in the office, store it as a database, and facilitate search. ing.

  This is because information (documents) has been exchanged on paper media until now, but these documents are still accumulating, and when searching for necessary information, work to search from many documents Is very cumbersome and it is difficult to share the document among many people, so this service concept has come to be considered.

  Conventionally, as an example of such a DMS, various file servers, document management (database) servers, and the like have been proposed, and a computer application that considers cooperation and fusion with a scanner device or an MFP device is used for each client. It was installed on a PC (personal computer) and executed. As a result, it has become possible to directly send a fax from a client PC having a fax transmission function after editing a document stored in the DMS on the client PC.

  In addition, in order to reduce the trouble and complexity of preparing a client PC in the user environment, in recent years, the MFP device itself supports various protocols and can directly exchange data with the document management server. .

  Against this background, because of the limitations on the computer resources (CPU, storage capacity, etc.) of the MFP device, the MFP device computer is displayed by displaying the fax processing display screen created by the document management server on the browser UI of the MFP device. There has been a proposal for a system that performs fax transmission of a document registered in a fax and document management server while saving resources.

As another conventional example, Patent Document 1 can be cited.
JP 2001-034565

  However, in the conventional system, it is impossible to edit a document stored in the DMS and send a fax unless application software is installed on a client PC having a fax sending function. Also, on the MFP device, it was not possible to edit the document stored on the Web storage server and send it by fax.

  Furthermore, since the display screen displayed on the MFP device has a function for selecting and executing a fax function, there is a problem with the device load for processing to create a fax job from the selected fax function. Since the display screen is a fax function setting and execution screen, there is a problem in terms of operability.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and includes a cover page saved in a Web storage server via HTML displayed on a browser without installing a special application on the MFP device. An object is to send a fax by specifying, referring to, and editing a document, and setting the transmission of a fax machine. In addition, the HTML displayed in the browser also has the purpose of improving the operability for the user compared to the prior art.

  In an environment in which an MFP device 10 having a browser function, a Web storage server 20, and an optional service 30 capable of providing some service in cooperation with the Web storage server 20 are connected via a LAN / Internet, the MFP device Means for notifying the Web storage server that the fax transmission process is started, means for displaying a browser on the MFP device, and means for designating a cover page and a document stored in the Web storage server. The notification means includes means for designating a display mode of the fax transmission setting screen in the fax transmission setting mode. The browser of the MFP device includes means for displaying the designated cover page or document, means for editing the displayed cover page or document, and means for notifying the Web storage service of the contents edited by the user.

  Next, when the display mode is the fax transmission setting mode according to the means for notifying the information of the fax device of the MFP device to the Web storage server and the information of the fax device of the MFP device in the Web storage server, the fax transmission setting screen is displayed. In addition, the browser of the MFP device displays a fax transmission setting screen created by the web storage service on the browser. The content set by the user on the fax transmission setting screen displayed on the browser is notified to the web storage service together with the document editing content as the fax transmission setting content. The Web storage service creates a fax transmission document that reflects the contents of document editing as a fax job creation means, and a fax job (command set for executing the fax device of the MFP device can be processed by the MFP device) corresponding to the setting information Objects that are structured in various formats). Also provided is a means for submitting a fax job to a fax machine in the MFP device. In response to the fax job, the MFP device has means for performing fax transmission.

  According to the document registration system according to the present embodiment, it is possible to designate, refer to, and edit a document stored in the Web storage service on the MFP device and send it by fax without installing an application on the client PC. Further, since an operation is performed via a browser displayed on a display device existing in the MFP device, it is not necessary to install a special program on the device side. Even if there is any version upgrade, only the server side update is required. Further, since the user interface is provided using HTML, it can be provided to a user who creates a more flexible UI (HTML). In addition, since processing such as fax job creation performed in the device is processed on the Web storage service side, there is an effect of reducing the computer resource usage rate of the MFP device.

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

(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a fax transmission system according to the present embodiment, which can provide some service in cooperation with an MFP device 10 having a browser function, a Web storage server 20, and a Web storage server 20. Optional service 30 that can be connected via LAN. In the present embodiment, a case where each is connected via a LAN will be described, but it may be connected via the Internet. Also, a case where only one optional service 30 exists will be described, but a plurality of optional services 30 may exist.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the MFP device 10 for implementing the fax transmission system according to the present embodiment. A CPU 101 in the figure connects each function / apparatus to be described later via an internal bus 108 and controls the MFP device 10. The display device 102 is a device for displaying a browser such as a touch panel. The user performs an operation or the like for performing a user-desired operation via a browser displayed on the display device 102. The fax apparatus 103 is an apparatus for transmitting a document by fax, and the fax information management unit 104 manages / holds function / status information of the fax apparatus 103.

  Further, the memory 105 stores various commands (application programs) executed by the CPU 101 to control the MFP device 10, and a program such as a browser displayed on the display device 102 is stored in the mass storage device 106. save. The network interface 107 transmits and receives signals via the LAN according to the CPU 101.

  The outline of the processing flow in the fax transmission system according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing operation flow of the fax transmission system according to the present embodiment. A user saves a document stored in the Web storage server 20 via a browser displayed on the display device 102. This shows the flow of processing operations until the specified cover page or document that has been specified and referenced / edited is sent as a fax.

  First, in step S101, the user inputs the URL of the Web storage server 20 using a browser displayed on the display device 102 in the MFP device 10, and displays the top page of the Web storage server 20. . In step S101, a user input for starting a fax transmission process, which is a feature of the present invention, and a process start command are made from the top page. When starting the fax transmission process, a screen for selecting a display mode of the fax transmission setting screen is further presented to prompt the user to select a mode. There are three types of display modes for the fax transmission setting screen: a fax transmission setting mode, a document editing mode, and a fax job creation mode. By notifying the Web storage server of the selected mode, a fax transmission process that is a feature of the present invention is executed.

  Next, in step S102, the cover page or document stored in the Web storage server 20 is faxed from the top page displayed on the browser by the fax apparatus 103 in the MFP device 10. The user interface “Fax transmission page screen” is displayed.

  Next, in step S103, the folder information / document information is acquired from the general Web storage server 20, presented on the browser, and a cover page or document for fax transmission is selected.

  Next, when the document is edited in step S104, the process proceeds to step S1041, and the “document editing screen” created by the Web storage server 20 is acquired. In step S1042, the screen is displayed on the browser. In step S1041, the document editing mode is designated as the display mode.

  Next, in step S1043, the contents of the cover page and the document are referred to from the displayed screen, and editing on the edit item (for example, date, destination name, etc.) is performed.

  Next, in step S1044, a fax transmission setting is performed, and a fax job is acquired from the Web storage server 20. In this case, when the display mode is the fax transmission setting mode, the function is selected in the UI configured by the fax function setting control. Specific examples of functions include multi-line support and F code support. If the display mode is the fax job creation mode, a fax job is created.

  In step S105, the fax job acquired from the Web storage server 20 in S1044 is executed.

  Each process will be specifically described below with reference to FIGS.

[Get top page of Web storage server]
In step S <b> 101, the user activates the browser using the display device 102 in the MFP device 10 (hereinafter referred to as MFP device) that can display the browser. The browser application is stored in the large-capacity storage device 106, and the CPU 101 expands the application in the memory 105 so that the application can be executed, and displays the browser on the display device 102. In step S101, a user input for starting a fax transmission process, which is a feature of the present invention, and a process start instruction are made from the top page. As described above, when starting the fax transmission process, a screen for selecting a display mode of the fax transmission setting screen is further presented to prompt the user to select a mode.

  Next, when the user inputs the URL of the top page of the Web storage server 20 to the browser, the CPU 101 establishes a connection with the Web storage server 20 via the network interface 107 and sends an HTTP request (GET). Send. At this time, the user not only accesses the Web storage server 20 by entering the URL in the browser, but also creates a shortcut to the top page of the Web storage server 20 in advance and executes the shortcut. May access the Web storage server 20.

  Next, the web storage server 20 writes the top page (HTML) of the web storage server 20 in the body part in response to the HTTP request, and transmits an HTTP response to the network interface 107.

  Next, the body part (HTML) of the HTTP response developed in the memory 105 by the CPU 101 is extracted and displayed on the browser on the display device 102.

  Note that when the browser is activated, the home page stored in the approximate mass storage device 106 may be displayed. At this time, the home page may be provided with a button or the like associated with the URL to be the top page of the Web storage server 20 in advance. However, in this case, every time the host name of the Web storage server 20 is changed, it is necessary to reset the URL to be accessed when the button is pressed. When a fixed page is held in the MFP device 10, the home page of the MFP device 10 is rewritten when a function addition / change / deletion of the Web storage server 20 occurs (firmware It is better to acquire the home page from the Web storage server 20 because the system lacks flexibility such as the need for version upgrade).

[Obtain fax transmission setting page]
In step S102, the user presses a button to display a fax transmission setting screen page for designating a cover page or a document at the time of fax transmission from the home page displayed in the browser in step S101. Press. The CPU 101 establishes a connection with the Web storage server 20 via the network interface 107 and transmits an HTTP request (GET).

  Next, the Web storage server 20 writes a tree view (HTML) indicating the folder / document configuration of the Web storage server 20 in the body part in response to the HTTP request, and transmits an HTTP response to the network interface 107.

  Next, the body part (HTML) of the HTTP response developed in the memory 105 by the CPU 101 is extracted and displayed on the browser on the display device 102.

[Select cover page and document]
In step S103, the user designates a cover page and a document for fax transmission using the tree view showing the folder structure of the Web storage server 20 displayed on the browser in step S102. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing until the cover page or document of the Web storage server 20 is designated. This will be described below with reference to FIG. In the following, the specified flow will be described using a document as an example, but it goes without saying that the same flow is followed even if the document is a cover page. However, the cover page and the document are specified independently.

  First, in step S1101, the user selects a folder from the tree view of the folder structure of the Web storage server 20 displayed on the browser.

  Next, in step S1102, it is confirmed whether or not the user has pressed the expand button with the folder selected in S1101 (whether or not information below the selected folder is acquired).

  In step S1103, when the expand button is pressed in step S1102, the CPU 101 establishes a connection with the web storage server 20 via the network interface 107, and acquires information under the selected folder. The HTTP request (GET) is transmitted.

  Next, in step S1104, in response to the HTTP request transmitted in S1103, a tree view (HTML) indicating the folder / document configuration under the folder selected in S1101 of the Web storage server 20 is written in the body part. An HTTP response is transmitted to the network interface 107. Next, the body part (HTML) of the HTTP response developed in the memory 105 by the CPU 101 is extracted and displayed on the browser on the display device 102.

  Next, in step S1105, it is confirmed whether or not the user has pressed the selection button with the document selected in step S1102 (determining a document for fax transmission). When the selection button is pressed, the CPU 101 saves the specified document information (save destination path, document name, etc.) in the memory 105.

[Edit specified document]
When editing the specified document, the user presses a document edit button from the fax transmission setting screen page displayed on the browser. (The document edit button may be embedded in the document selection screen.) The MFP device 10 establishes a connection with the Web storage server 20 and transmits an HTTP request (GET). At this time, the document editing mode is designated as the display mode, and notification is made together with the document information.

  In step S1041, the web storage server 20 creates a screen for the user to edit the document based on the notified document information in response to the HTTP request, writes it in the body part, and sends an HTTP response to the HTTP request. Transmit to the network interface 107. Details will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S1211, the Web storage server 20 receives the HTTP request transmitted by the MFP device 10 in S1202, and displays the fax 103 information, the document path specified by the user, and the document editing content. get.

  Next, in step S1212, the Web storage server 20 searches for various Web services that can be used. In the present embodiment, an example in which the option service 30 in FIG. 1 discloses an OCR processing function for image data as a Web service is given. The Web service search method may be based on the assumption that the optional service 30 is registered in UDDI, which is a well-known technique, or the user uses the user interface (not shown) on the Web storage server 20 in advance. Information regarding the option service 30 may be registered. The configuration of the present invention is characterized in that an optional service can be incorporated into the system configuration and a mechanism for specifying the function can be easily configured on a display screen or the like.

  In step S1213, the display mode specified on the top page and notified to the Web storage server at the start of fax transmission processing is determined. If the display mode is the fax transmission setting screen mode, the process proceeds to step S12131. If the display mode is the document edit mode, the process proceeds to step S12133.

  In step S12131, the Web storage server 20 analyzes the fax 103 information acquired from S1211, the document path and document editing content specified by the user, and the information of available Web services acquired from S1212. To do. Next, in step S12132, display screen control for selecting a fax function is configured based on the analysis information, and HTML to be written in the body part as a response to the HTTP request in S1202 is created. From the information of the fax 103, the number of lines, the presence / absence of an F code, the presence / absence of a sibling transmission function, etc. are embedded in HTML as selectable controls. The character string of the location is embedded in the HTML (if the user wants to change the storage location, the control returns to the tree view showing the folder structure of the Web storage server 20 displayed on the browser of the MFP device in S103. From the document editing content, the editing content character string (may be an image of the document reflecting the editing content) is embedded in HTML for confirmation (if the user wants to change the document editing) , Even if the control for returning to the document editing screen displayed on the browser of the MFP device in S1042 is embedded Stomach), also from the information of the available Web services, it may be embedded in the HTML as a user-selectable control. At this time, a program (such as a Java (registered trademark) applet or a Java (registered trademark) Script) that is executed when the user selects using the control and then presses the fax execution button is similarly embedded in the HTML.

  If it is determined in step S1213 that the display mode is the document editing mode, the process advances to step S12133. When this mode is designated, it is assumed that at least the path of the document stored in the Web storage server 20 is notified in step 1211. In step 12133, the path of the document specified by the user is analyzed, and the document stored in the Web storage server 20 is acquired. Next, the acquired document is analyzed to determine the contents to be edited. For example, if the document has a format such as a cover page, the date and destination name are listed as edit items, and if the document has no particular format, such as a general fax body, 1 The editing item may be determined by analyzing only the page, or only a specific area may be determined as the editing item. Further, edit items may be determined using information acquired from the Web service. Next, in step 12134, a control for editing the edit item determined in S12133 is configured, and HTML to be written in the body part as a response to the HTTP request in S1041 is created. At this time, it may be embedded in the HTML as control that can be selected by the user from information on available Web services. In addition, a program (such as a Java (registered trademark) applet or a Java (registered trademark) Script) that is executed when the user presses a fax execution button after selecting using the control is similarly embedded in HTML.

  If it is determined in step S1213 that the display mode is the fax job creation mode, the process advances to step S12135. In step S12133, first, a fax transmission document reflecting the contents of document editing is created based on the document editing information acquired in step S1211, and temporarily stored in a storage area of the Web storage server. When a plurality of cover pages and documents are specified, one fax transmission document is formed. In addition, a fax job is created based on the fax information acquired in step S1211 and the fax transmission document reflecting the edited content, and temporarily stored in the storage area of the Web storage server. As an example of a fax job, a command set necessary for fax processing such as “transmission destination: 044123456 / F code: 9876” is formed as an object that can be input to the fax machine. The present invention can be implemented in any form (message, text, memory object) as long as the object that can be input to the fax machine is in a form in which the fax transmission process can receive the object and process the program. Needless to say.

  In step S1214, the HTML created in step S1213 is transmitted to the MFP device 10 as a response.

  Next, the body part (HTML) of the HTTP response developed in the memory 105 by the CPU 101 is extracted and displayed on the browser on the display device 102.

  Next, in step 106, the user edits the document from the screen displayed on the browser and presses the document edit execution button. If the selection button is pressed, the CPU 101 saves the edited content in the memory 105 in step 107.

[Perform fax transmission settings and acquire / execute fax jobs]
In step S1044, the user designates a selection item on the fax transmission setting screen in the fax apparatus 103 in the MFP device 10 and executes fax transmission. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing until the user designates settings and executes a fax. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for creating a fax transmission condition setting screen (HTML) in the Web storage server 20 in step S1203 in FIG. This will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 3, 5 and 6.

  First, in step S1201, when the user designates a document stored in the Web storage server 20 on the HTML displayed in the browser in S103, the CPU 101 stores the fax device stored in the fax information 104. 103 information (capability, whether multiple lines are supported, whether F codes are supported, etc.) is acquired and temporarily stored in the memory 105.

  Next, in step S1202, in order to acquire the fax transmission condition setting screen, the information on the fax 103 acquired in S1201, the path of the document stored in the Web storage server 20 acquired in S103, and the S1043 An HTTP request (POST) is transmitted to the Web storage server 20 for the acquired document editing information. The CPU 101 establishes a connection with the Web storage server 20 via the network interface 107, and transmits the HTTP request (POST).

  In step S1203, the MFP device 10 establishes a connection with the Web storage server 20 and transmits an HTTP request (GET). At this time, the fax transmission setting mode is designated as the display mode.

  Next, in step S 1204, the CPU 101 sends the HTTP response transmitted from the web storage server 20 from S 1203 to the memory 105 through the network interface 107 in the MFP device 10. HTML) is extracted and displayed on the browser on the display device 102 as a fax transmission setting screen.

  Next, in step S1205, using the fax transmission setting screen displayed on the browser on the display device 102 in step S1204, setting for user-desired fax transmission according to the screen is performed, and fax transmission is executed. Press the button. When the mount button is pressed, the contents set in step S1205 are notified to the web storage server 20 in step S1206. At this time, the fax job creation mode is designated as the display mode. In step S1207, the Web storage server 20 that has received the notification in step S1206 inputs a fax job to the MFP device.

  In step S109, the fax apparatus executes the input fax job.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the fax transmission system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an MFP device in a fax transmission system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing operations of a user operation unit in the fax transmission system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow until a user specifies a document stored in a Web storage server in the fax transmission system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing until a user designates a fax transmission condition and executes fax transmission in the fax transmission system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a diagram showing a flow until a fax setting screen (HTML) or a fax job is created in the Web storage server 20 in the fax transmission system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Claims (1)

In an environment in which an MFP device 10 having a browser function, a Web storage server 20, and an optional service 30 capable of providing some service in cooperation with the Web storage server 20 are connected via a LAN / Internet, the MFP device Means for notifying the Web storage server that the fax transmission process starts from, means for displaying a browser on the MFP device, means for designating a cover page and a document stored in the Web storage server, In addition, there is a means to specify the fax transmission setting screen display mode in the fax transmission setting mode, and the MFP device browser displays the specified cover page and document, and the user edits the displayed cover page and document. Web storage server and the contents edited by the user With means to notify the service,
Means for notifying the information of the fax device of the MFP device to the Web storage server, and means for forming a fax transmission setting screen when the display mode is the fax transmission setting mode according to the information of the fax device of the MFP device in the Web storage server In addition, the browser of the MFP device displays the fax transmission setting screen created by the web storage service on the browser, and the contents set by the user on the fax transmission setting screen displayed on the browser are the settings for fax transmission. The contents are notified to the Web storage service along with the document editing contents, and the Web storage service creates a fax transmission document reflecting the document editing contents as a fax job creation means, and a fax job corresponding to the setting information (fax device of the MFP device) Command set for running An object configured in a format that can be processed by the MFP device), and a means for sending a fax job to a fax machine in the MFP device. The MFP device performs fax transmission according to the fax job. Document registration system.

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