JP2008282311A - Network device and data updating method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display states of equipment and jobs in real time without requiring an operation of a user and without updating an overall page of a browser. <P>SOLUTION: A Web server part 9 generates Web pages on the basis of display information and outputs the Web pages in response to display requests. An XML management part 15 acquires XML data, which include creation-time information, from a state information management part 13 which generates and manages display information which varies on the basis of an operation state of electronic equipment. The XML management part 15 acquires and manages the XML data for each Web page, which is variable display information and includes the creation-time information, among the plural kinds of display information displayed on the Web pages. A communication part 11 receives the display requests and updating requests (Ajax) through a network 3, transmits the requested Web pages, and then transmits the updated XML data on the basis of the updating requests. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a network device and a data update method, and more particularly to an improvement of a network device and a data update method suitable for use in a multi-function peripheral (MFP) connected to a network.

  In recent years, a configuration has been provided in which a multifunction device or a copier is connected to a network, and a computer connected to the network can view and check the printing operation status, remaining amount of printing paper, the number of printed sheets, etc. at a remote location. It has come to be.

  As this type of configuration, for example, there is an image forming apparatus disclosed in JP-A-2002-7095 (Patent Document 1).

  The configuration of Patent Document 1 is such that an image processing apparatus having a scanner, a printer, an e-mail transmission / reception function, and a facsimile function has a Web server function, and various job situations and image data stored in a storage device. A list of information on the web page is generated on a web page, and the web page can be viewed and operated using a web browser of a computer connected via a LAN. It is designed to be understood at the place.

  An information management system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-287929 (Patent Document 2) has also been proposed.

  This patent document 2 describes an event recording device for recording an input operation procedure by an operator on a first Web page as a script file in a Web page operation system that performs Web page browsing processing via an IP network by computer processing. And a first event reproduction means for reproducing and executing the operator's input operation procedure on the first web page based on the script file, the contents of the first web page, and the first web page are updated and displayed. Reproducing and executing the input operation procedure on the second Web page based on the difference extracting means for comparing the contents of the second Web page and extracting the difference, and the difference extracted by the difference extracting means and the script file Second event playback means for enabling the Web page to be reproduced so that the operation procedure accompanying the update change of the Web page can be reproduced. In which improved operability of the update change shape.

  Further, there is a document export restriction system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-259354 (Patent Document 3).

This patent document 3 is provided in a Web server, and first and second servlets that manage Web page information corresponding to each user, and update the Web page collectively for the servlet information. Provided with a web page confirmation server to be confirmed, manages information on the user in charge of the servlet, notifies the web page confirmation server of the Internet address information, and the web page confirmation server collects information based on setting information from the servlet When the confirmation process is executed and the update is confirmed, the corresponding servlet is notified, and when multiple users register the update of the same Web page, all users are only required to access the Internet once. By making an update notification, it is possible to check information updates on the Internet.
JP 2002-7095 A JP 2004-287929 A JP 11-259354 A

  However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1 described above, once the status of the device or job is displayed, even if the status of the device or job is changed thereafter, until the entire page is updated by pressing the browser update button, There is a difficulty that the user cannot perceive the change.

  Further, in the configuration of Patent Document 2, the Web page update display operability is improved through the reproduction of the operation procedure accompanying the update change of the Web page. There is room for further improvement in order to improve the operability of the Web page whose display needs to be changed.

  Furthermore, Patent Document 3 merely discloses a technique for confirming the update of a Web page and notifying the user, and for real-time status monitoring using a Web browser, an update button of the Web browser is used. The operability is not good with the act of clicking frequently.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and a network device and a data updating method capable of updating display in real time without requiring the user's operation and updating the entire web page of the browser The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve such a problem, the network device according to the present invention creates a Web page based on display information and outputs the Web page in response to a display request, and a display displayed on the Web page XML data that is display information that changes and includes creation time information is acquired and managed for each Web page, the XML data is updated when the information content is changed, and an update request is issued for the updated XML data. The XML management unit that outputs based on the request and the outside receives the display request and the update request request via the network, transmits the Web page for which the display request has been made to the request source, and based on the update request request And a communication unit that transmits the update XML data.

  The data updating method according to the present invention is a data updating method for creating a web page based on display information and updating only the changed display information in the web page. The web updating method for creating a web page based on the display information A page creation process, a web page request process for requesting display of the web page via a network, a web page output process for outputting a web page to a display request destination based on a display request received via the network, and XML management processing that acquires and manages, for each Web page, XML data that changes among display information displayed on the Web page and includes creation time information, and updates the XML data when the information content changes And update XML data related to the Web page via the network An update request process for requesting an update request, an XML data output process for outputting the updated XML data to the display request destination based on the update request request received via the network, and a Web page received via the network And a display process for updating and displaying only the corresponding XML data with the update XML data received via the network based on the update request, and updating and displaying the Web page.

  In the present invention, the update request request is preferably Ajax.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the XML management unit and the XML process are formed so as to acquire the XML data from a state information management unit that generates and manages display information that changes according to the operation state of the electronic device or the state information management process. Configuration is also possible.

  In such a network device according to the present invention, display information that creates a Web page based on display information, outputs the Web page to a display request destination based on a display request received via the network, and displays the Web page on the display request destination. Display request information that changes and is updated with the XML data when the information content changes, and is received via the network. Since the update XML data is output to the display request destination based on the update request request for the update XML data from the device, the status of the device or job can be updated and displayed in real time without updating the entire Web page, and the operation by the user The property is also good.

  The configuration in which the update request request is Ajax can be realized without requiring a new special program.

  In the configuration in which the XML management unit and the XML process are formed so as to acquire the XML data from the state information management process that generates and manages display information that changes according to the operation of the electronic apparatus, the operation state of the electronic apparatus is real-time. Update display is possible.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The data update method according to the present invention will be described in the course of describing the network device according to the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a network device according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a network device 1 according to the present invention is connected to a computer 5 as a client via a publicly known network 3 such as a LAN. Hereinafter, the computer 5 will be described for convenience.

  The computer 5 is equipped with a known browser which is software for browsing a Web page, and is based on a display request operation input to a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) from input means such as a keyboard (not shown) via the network 3. Based on the HTTP (HyperText Markup Language) communication protocol, an IP address or the like is designated and a web page display request is sent to the corresponding network device 1, and web page frame information related to the web page transmitted from the network device 1 and In addition to having the function of receiving display information to be inserted and displayed, and displaying a Web page on the display unit 7 such as a liquid crystal display, it has a conventionally known configuration as a personal computer, for example.

  While receiving the Web page, the computer 5 sends an update request request for update XML (Extensible Markup Language) data to be described later to the network device 1 based on the HTTP communication protocol via the network 3 at a predetermined timing. It has a function of outputting, and also has a display function of updating only the corresponding XML data with the updated XML data received via the network based on the update request, and updating and displaying the Web page.

  An update request request for requesting an update of a Web page from the computer 5 to the network device 1 is a so-called “Ajax” composed of “Asynchronous JavaScript + XML” (“Java” is a registered trademark).

  In particular, in the present invention, it is important to use “JavaScript” which is a function for acquiring change information as XML data while the computer 5 accesses the network device 1 via the network 3 and displays a Web page.

  Next, the network device 1 according to the present invention will be described.

  The network device 1 includes a communication unit 11, a status information management unit 13, an XML management unit 15, a printing unit 17, and an operation panel unit 19 that are connected to the Web server unit 9. Is configured.

  The Web server unit 9 has a function of creating a Web page based on the display information, details of which will be described later.

  The communication unit 11 has an interface function for transmitting / receiving data to / from the computer 5 via the network 3 based on the HTTP communication protocol, and “Ajax” is a Web page display request or an update request request from the computer 5. ”And output them to the Web server unit 9 as well as transmitting Web pages and update XML data.

  The status information management unit 13 manages the setting status of the network device 1 that is an electronic device and outputs the device status management unit 13a, manages the paper feed information in the printing unit 17, and manages the remaining amount of toner. And a function for outputting display information as XML data including creation time information to the Web server unit 9. ing.

  As the setting status managed and output by the device status management unit 13a, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the names and identification codes of “IP address”, “host name”, “MAC address”, “firmware” as general information Display information such as “paper feed stage” managed and output by the paper feed management unit 13b as paper feed information, and “paper feed paper size” and “paper remaining amount” corresponding thereto. FIG. 2 shows a display state on the display unit 7 on the client side.

  In particular, the display information output from the paper supply management unit 13b and the toner remaining amount management unit 13c changes in content and value according to the operation of the apparatus, and the state information management unit 13 changes the display information. As a function of outputting as XML data including creation time information (date etc.).

  The XML management unit 15 acquires, for each Web page, the XML data that changes among the display information displayed on the Web page and includes the creation time information, and when the information content of the XML data changes, the XML data It has a function to update and manage data, and has a function to output updated XML data based on an update request.

  The printing unit 17 is a monochrome or color printing engine that prints image data on printing paper. However, since the printing unit 17 is not a main part of the present invention, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The operation panel unit 19 is, for example, a liquid crystal display panel / touch switch input unit disposed in a main body case (not shown) of the network device 1, and displays the operation state of the device and accepts various settings to receive a Web server. The function of outputting to the unit 9 is provided.

  The Web server 9 stores a CPU, an operation program for the CPU, a ROM, and an interface unit, and controls the communication unit 11, the status information management unit 13, the XML management unit 15, the printing unit 17, and the operation panel unit 19. In addition, it has the following functions in addition to the functions that bear some of them.

  That is, the Web server unit 9 creates a Web page based on the display information, and when receiving a Web page display request from the computer 5 via the communication unit 11, controls transmission of the Web page from the communication unit 11 to the computer 5. To do.

  When the Web server unit 9 receives “Ajax”, which is an update request request, for the transmitted Web page, the update XML data as the display information constituting the Web page and variable display information is sent to the XML management unit 15. It has a function of determining whether or not there is update XML data and controlling transmission from the communication unit 11 to the computer 5 if there is update XML data.

  Next, the operation of the network device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  First, when the operation of the apparatus is started, it is determined whether or not there is change information in step S1, and if there is no change information and step S1 is NO, step S1 is repeatedly executed and change information is generated. If step S1 is YES, the process moves to step S2, the XML data is updated and managed by the change information of the corresponding Web page, and the process returns to step S1.

  On the other hand, when execution of browser processing is started in the client-side computer 5, a web page display request is output via the network 3 based on an input request from the user in step S10, and based on the display request. A Web page is acquired and displayed, and it is determined whether or not it is an update timing in subsequent step S11.

  If step S11 is NO instead of the update timing, step S11 is repeatedly executed. When the update timing comes and step S11 becomes YES, the update of the XML data in which the Web page change information is described in step S12 The date and time is acquired, and it is determined whether or not there is newer display information that is currently displayed in step S13.

  If there is no new information and step S13 is NO, the process returns to step S11 and repeats steps S11 to S13. If new information is present and step S13 is YES, update XML data is acquired in step S14. In the subsequent step S15, the Web page is updated and displayed using only the updated XML data, and the process returns to step S11. Thereafter, these are repeatedly executed.

  The reason for determining whether or not the update timing has arrived in step S11 is that the update timing varies depending on the type of display information that changes.

  These processing procedures are also the data update method according to the present invention.

  Such a network device of the present invention generates and manages a Web server unit 9 that generates a Web page based on display information and outputs a Web page in response to a display request, and display information that changes based on the operating state of the device 1. XML data including the creation time information from the state information management 13 is acquired, and XML data including the creation time information that is changing display information among the display information displayed on the Web page is acquired for each Web page. The XML management unit 15 that outputs the request based on the update request (Ajax) and the outside receives the display request and the update request (Ajax) via the network 3 and receives the display request. A communication unit that transmits the Web page and transmits update XML data based on the update request. It is equipped with a 1 and.

  Therefore, it is possible to display the status of the apparatus 1 and the job executed by the apparatus 1 in real time without requiring the user's operation and updating the entire page of the browser, and can be performed using the conventional Ajax. Therefore, a new special program is not required, and the cost increase can be suppressed.

  That is, normally, if there is a request from the client (browser), the Web server unit 9 inside the device creates a Web page and returns a response. Status, job status, number of prints, etc.) and information that does not change (page layout, model name, version, memory capacity, device configuration, etc.), variable information is saved separately in XML data for each page, and changes can be made Update every time.

  From the client (browser), it is possible to access the Web server unit 9 using “XMLHttpRequests” of “JavaScript” for the XML data, and if there is an update, the XML data can be acquired and the Web page can be rewritten and updated. It is.

  In the network device of the present invention, the information that changes is not limited to the remaining amount of paper, the device status, the job status, the number of prints, etc., but is display information whose status and value change according to the operation of the device (electronic device) 1. The state information management unit 13 is formed in accordance with this.

  In the data update method according to the present invention, the same effect as that obtained by the network device and the client computer 5 described above can be obtained.

  Note that the method of transmitting data through the network 3 is not limited to the above-described HTTP protocol, but may be an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) protocol.

It is a block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the network device which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the display state on the client side. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the network apparatus based on this invention. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the network apparatus based on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Network devices (multifunction devices, electronic devices)
3 Network 5 Computer (client)
7 Display unit 9 Web server unit 11 Communication unit 13 Status information management unit 13a Device status management unit 13b Paper feed management unit 13c Remaining toner management unit 15 XML management unit 17 Printing unit 19 Operation panel unit

Claims (6)

Creating a web page based on the display information and outputting the web page in response to a display request;
Obtain and manage XML data that is display information that changes among the display information displayed on the Web page and includes creation time information for each Web page, and update the XML data when the information content changes, An XML management unit that outputs the update XML data based on the update request,
The display request and the update request request are received from the outside via the network, the Web page for which the display request has been made is transmitted to the request source, and the update XML data is transmitted based on the update request request A communication unit
A network apparatus comprising: The network apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the update request request is Ajax. The network device according to claim 1, wherein the XML management unit acquires the XML data from a state information management unit that generates and manages the display information that changes according to an operation of an electronic device. A data update method for creating a Web page based on display information and updating only the changed display information in the Web page.
Web page creation processing for creating the web page based on the display information;
Web page request processing for requesting display of the Web page via a network;
Web page output processing for outputting the Web page to the display request destination based on the display request received via the network;
XML data that is display information that changes among the display information displayed on the Web page and includes creation-time information is acquired and managed for each Web page, and is updated with the XML data when the information content is changed Management process,
An update request process for making an update request request for update XML data related to the Web page via the network;
XML data output processing for outputting the updated XML data to the display request destination based on the update request received via the network;
Display processing for displaying the Web page received via the network and updating only the corresponding XML data with the updated XML data received via the network based on the update request request to update and display the Web page When,
The data update method characterized by comprising. The data update method according to claim 4, wherein the update request request is Ajax. The data update method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the XML management process acquires the XML data from a state information management process that generates and manages the display information that changes according to an operation of an electronic device.

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