JP2011186767A - Image forming apparatus, image processing apparatus, image processing system, image processing method, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inherit the layout information of a changed UI part when updating the layout information even if a UI can change the UI part. <P>SOLUTION: An image processing system includes a storage means which stores layout information which shows a layout of a display component contained in a plug-in UI screen and drawing data containing the layout information and the setting information of the display component, an inheritance means which obtains, from the storage means, the identification information of the existing layout information contained in the drawing data of the plug-in of a display object and the identification information of the latest layout information of the plug-in of the display object, compares them and determines whether the existing layout information is inherited based on the inheritance information when the comparison result differs, a layout processing means which creates the UI screen based on the inherited layout information when the existing layout information is inherited by the inheritance means, and a display means which displays the created UI screen. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that distributes image data, an image processing apparatus, an image processing system, an image processing method, a program, and a recording medium.

  In recent years, an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral (hereinafter, also referred to as MFP) can provide a plurality of functions such as a copying function, an image forming function, and a communication function. In addition, for image data, a series of tasks in which a plurality of functions provided by a multifunction peripheral and a remotely connected server are linked is possible. When a series of tasks are to be executed on an image, the user specifies a function to be executed by a device such as an MFP or a server, and then specifies a sequence of functions to be executed and sets a so-called workflow.

  Various techniques for executing a workflow have been known so far. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-97586 (Patent Document 1) prepares flow definition data and performs scan image data on the basis of the flow definition data. A technique for executing processing is disclosed. Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2008-176541 (Patent Document 2) discloses a technique for changing a preset layout of an electronic document using metadata added to the electronic document. Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-305004 (Patent Document 3) discloses an application execution method for executing software components in cooperation with each other.

  As described above, it has been relatively easy to execute specific operations sequentially on image data. Further, recent MFPs are equipped with a high-level language such as Java (registered trademark) or JavaScript (registered trademark), and provided with a user interface for executing various processes by executing a browser program. In addition, by installing a plug-in program on a device such as an MFP or a server, the processing function for image data can be added and modified relatively easily.

  Furthermore, processing functions may be added or modified as processing functions become more sophisticated or user needs diversify. When a specific information processing function is added or modified, a user interface (hereinafter also referred to as UI) displayed on a display device for providing an interface to the processing function is often modified.

  Under the execution environment described above, the user can freely change the layout of display parts (hereinafter also referred to as UI parts) displayed on the UI, and the screen design according to the user's preference is possible. . At this time, after the default layout is changed, the layout of the same UI is updated by upgrading the plug-in, etc., and when trying to display the updated UI, the existing layout changed by the user may be taken over. There was a problem that I could not.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and even when the UI part can be changed, the layout information of the changed UI part can be taken over when the layout information is updated. An object is to provide an image forming apparatus, an image processing apparatus, an image processing system, an image processing method, a program, and a recording medium.

  An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a storage unit that stores layout information indicating a layout of a display component included in a plug-in UI screen, and drawing data including the layout information and the setting information of the display component. The identification information of the existing layout information included in the drawing data of the plug-in to be displayed is compared with the identification information of the latest layout information of the plug-in to be displayed from the storage unit, and the comparison result is obtained. Are different, inheritance means for determining whether to inherit the existing layout information based on inheritance information defining whether to inherit the existing layout information, and the existing layout by the inheritance means If the information is inherited, layout processing means for creating a UI screen based on the inherited layout information, And display means for displaying the UI screen.

  An image processing apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention stores layout information indicating a layout of a display component included in a plug-in UI screen and drawing data including the layout information and the setting information of the display component. The storage means, the identification information of the existing layout information included in the drawing data of the plug-in to be displayed, and the identification information of the latest layout information of the plug-in to be displayed are acquired from the storage means and compared. If the comparison results are different, inheritance means for determining whether to inherit the existing layout information based on inheritance information defining whether to inherit the existing layout information, and the inheritance means Layout processing means for creating a UI screen based on the inherited layout information when existing layout information is inherited; That.

  An image processing system according to another aspect of the present invention is an image processing system including an image forming apparatus and an image processing apparatus connected via a network, and the image processing apparatus is displayed on a plug-in UI screen. Storage means for storing layout information indicating the layout of the display component included, drawing data including the layout information and setting information of the display component, and existing layout information included in the drawing data of the plug-in to be displayed The identification information of the latest layout information of the plug-in to be displayed is compared from the storage means, and if the comparison results are different, it is defined whether to inherit the existing layout information Inheritance means for determining whether or not to inherit the existing layout information based on inheritance information to be transmitted; Layout processing means for creating a UI screen based on the inherited layout information when the existing layout information is inherited, and the image forming apparatus displays the UI screen created by the layout processing means Means.

  An image processing method according to another aspect of the present invention stores layout information indicating a layout of a display component included in a plug-in UI screen, and drawing data including the layout information and the setting information of the display component. An image processing method in an image forming apparatus including a storage unit and having a function of distributing image data, the identification information of existing layout information included in the drawing data of a display target plug-in, and the display target plug The identification information of the latest layout information of the in-line is acquired from the storage means and compared, and if the comparison results are different, the existing layout information is defined based on inheritance information that defines whether to inherit the existing layout information. An inheritance step for determining whether to inherit layout information, and the existing layout information is inherited by the inheritance step. If you have a layout processing step of creating a UI screen on the basis of inherited layout information, and a display step of displaying the UI screen created.

  In addition, the image processing system, the image forming apparatus, the image processing apparatus, and the image processing method of the present invention can be realized by a program that can be executed by a computer, and by causing a computer to read a recording medium that records the program. It can also be realized.

  According to the present invention, even if the UI part can be changed, the layout information of the changed UI part can be taken over when the layout information is updated.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image processing system in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an MFP according to the first embodiment. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image processing server according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of an image processing system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a workflow used in the first embodiment. The figure which shows an example of UI parts in Plug-in. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of the drawing data used in order to form UI of Plug-in. The figure which shows an example of screen XML of Plug-in "EMAIL". The figure which shows an example of UI parts of the layout information contained in drawing data. The figure which shows an example of UI parts in the screen XML of Plug-in. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of condition setting data used in the first embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the pseudo code | symbol for functioning as an interface in Example 1 and providing the function of the data inheritance part containing a DOM function. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a plug-in screen display according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of an image processing system according to a second embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the automatic adjustment of the position of UI parts. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of an image processing system according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of an MFP according to a modification.

  Exemplary embodiments of an image processing system, an image forming apparatus, an image processing apparatus (or image processing server), an image processing method, a program, and a recording medium according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In the embodiments described below, an image input apparatus for inputting image data is described by taking a multifunction machine having a printer function, a scanner function, a copy function, and a facsimile function mounted in one housing as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to any of a scanner device, a facsimile device, a copy device, and the like as long as image data can be input.

[Example 1]
<System configuration and hardware configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image processing system according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, an image processing system 1 includes an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 10, an MFP 20, an image processing server 30, an image management server 40, an information processing terminal (for example, a PC (Personal Computer), a PDA) via a network. Personal Data Assistance) etc.) 50 is connected.

  The MFP 10 has a scan function, a copy function, a printer function, a facsimile function, and the like mounted in a single housing. The MFP 10 scans a paper medium or the like with the scan function to create image data, and transmits the created image data to the image processing server 30. Details of the MFP will be described later. The image data includes document image data.

  The image processing server 30 is a computer such as a workstation that receives image data scanned by each MFP and executes various processes and distribution processes according to a specified workflow. The workflow includes mail transmission, FAX transmission, folder distribution, and the like.

  The image processing server 30 is a server that executes a workflow based on input image data, and executes document accumulation or distribution processing according to the workflow constructed by the user. That is, from the viewpoint of processing an image, the image processing server 30 also functions as an image processing apparatus. Note that the image processing server 30 may be incorporated in the MFPs 10 and 20.

  The image management server 40 is a server that accumulates and manages image data distributed from the image processing server 30. The image management server 40 can also register an image type for the stored image data and perform a search.

  The information processing terminal 50 creates a workflow by starting a management tool related to data distribution by an administrator and sequentially selecting input, image conversion, and output plug-ins. Note that the number of MFPs, servers, and information processing terminals connected via a network may be any number.

  A hardware configuration of the MFP 10 and the image processing server 30 in the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the MFP 10 according to the first embodiment. The hardware of the MFP 20 is the same as that of the MFP 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the MFP 10 includes a control unit 11, a main storage unit 12, an auxiliary storage unit 13, an external storage device I / F unit 14, a network I / F unit 16, an operation unit 17, a display unit 18, and an engine unit. 19 is included.

  The control unit 11 is a CPU that controls each device, calculates data, and processes in a computer. The control unit 11 is an arithmetic device that executes a program stored in the main storage unit 12, receives data from the input device or the storage device, calculates and processes the data, and outputs the data to the output device or the storage device.

  The main storage unit 12 is a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), or the like, and a storage device that stores or temporarily stores programs and data such as an OS and application software that are basic software executed by the control unit 11. It is.

  The auxiliary storage unit 13 is an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or the like, and is a storage device that stores data related to application software or the like.

  The external storage device I / F unit 14 is an interface between the MFP 10 and a storage medium 15 (for example, a flash memory) connected via a data transmission path such as USB (Universal Serial Bus).

  A predetermined program is stored in the storage medium 15, the program stored in the storage medium 15 is installed in the MFP 10 via the external storage device I / F unit 14, and the installed predetermined program is executed by the MFP 10. It becomes possible.

  The network I / F unit 16 has a communication function connected via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network) constructed by a data transmission path such as a wired and / or wireless line. This is an interface between the device and the MFP 10.

  The operation unit 17 and the display unit 18 are composed of a key switch (hard key) and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) having a touch panel function (including GUI software key: Graphical User Interface), and use the functions of the MFP 10 It is a display and / or input device that functions as a UI (User Interface).

  The engine unit 19 is a mechanical part such as a plotter or a scanner that actually performs processing relating to image formation.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image processing server 30 according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the image processing server 30 includes a control unit 31, a main storage unit 32, an auxiliary storage unit 33, an external storage device I / F unit 34, and a network I / F unit 36.

  The control unit 31 is a CPU that controls each device, calculates data, and processes in a computer. The control unit 31 is an arithmetic device that executes a program stored in the main storage unit 32, receives data from the input device or the storage device, calculates and processes the data, and outputs the data to the output device or the storage device.

  The main storage unit 32 is a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), or the like, and a storage device that stores or temporarily stores programs and data such as an OS and application software that are basic software executed by the control unit 31. It is.

  The auxiliary storage unit 33 is an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or the like, and is a storage device that stores data related to application software and the like.

  The external storage device I / F unit 34 is an interface between the image processing server 30 and a storage medium 15 (for example, a flash memory) connected via a data transmission path such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus).

  Further, a predetermined program is stored in the storage medium 15, and the program stored in the storage medium 15 is installed in the image processing server 30 via the external storage device I / F unit 34, and the installed predetermined program is It can be executed by the image processing server 30.

  The network I / F unit 36 has a communication function connected via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network) constructed by a data transmission path such as a wired and / or wireless line. This is an interface between the device and the image processing server 30. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the image processing server 30 is not illustrated with an input unit such as a keyboard and a display unit including an LCD, but the image processing server 30 may be configured to include these.

<Function>
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the image processing system according to the first embodiment. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the MFP 10 and the image processing server 30 are separately configured, but the image processing server 30 may be incorporated in the MFP 10.

  The functional block in the control unit 31 shown in FIG. 4 is configured so that the control unit 31 reads the program of the first embodiment, expands an executable file in the RAM, and executes the executable program. It is provided as a functional means of the server 30.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the MFP 10 includes a UI display unit 101, and the image processing server 30 includes a layout processing unit 301, a drawing data acquisition unit 310, a storage device 307, a workflow management unit 308, and a process execution unit 309. . In the first embodiment, the UI display unit 101 is an operation panel, for example.

  The layout processing unit 301 is a functional unit that is realized on the image processing server 30 by executing a browser program. In more detail, the layout processing unit 301 includes a parser 302 and a display control unit 303. The parser 302 reads a structured document such as HTML, XHTML, or XML, and provides an interface for executing processing specified by the tag of the structured document. In a preferred embodiment, the parser 302 is a DOM (Document Object Model). ) Functions and SAX (Simple API for XML), and can be implemented as an XML parser that interprets tags using a namespace.

  In the first embodiment, the display control unit 303 provides a display control function that conforms to the structured document to be used. For example, the display control unit 303 provides a function such as CSS (Cascading Style Sheet) or XSLT (eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformation). .

  The drawing data acquisition unit 310 includes a UI structure definition acquisition unit 304, a data inheritance unit 305, and a layout inheritance unit 306.

  The UI structure definition acquisition unit 304 executes a process of receiving a UI structure definition distributed from a network or the like and storing it in the storage device 307 or the like. In another embodiment, the UI structure definition can be interactively created from the UI display screen for the UI structure definition displayed on the UI display unit 101. In any case, the obtained UI structure definition is stored in the storage device 307, and thereafter, a setting screen for controlling the plug-in program according to the UI structure definition is displayed on the UI display unit 101.

  The data inheritance unit 305 displays a UI display screen including a UI structure definition received as a structured document such as HTML, XHTML, and XML and condition setting data for controlling execution of the plug-in program on the UI display unit 101. Display control is performed to display. The data inheritance unit 305 according to the first embodiment determines whether the UI to be displayed is the same as the UI structure definition version used when the UI is displayed immediately before and the UI structure definition version to be currently displayed. In response to this determination, different read processing is executed for the condition setting data.

  The layout inheriting unit 306 determines whether to inherit the layout information based on the inheritance information stored in the storage device 307 when drawing the Plug-in UI screen. “Inherit” refers to inheriting layout information included in original drawing data when newly creating drawing data. The inheritance information will be described later.

  Specifically, the layout inheriting unit 306 acquires drawing data of the plug-in to be displayed from the storage device 307. Next, the layout inheritance unit 306 acquires the latest layout version of the plug-in to be displayed that is stored in the storage device 307. The layout version of the plug-in can be acquired from the plug-in screen data (for example, screen XML described later). When the layout version included in the drawing data is different from the plug-in layout version, the layout inheritance unit 306 determines which layout to use based on the inheritance information. At this time, the layout processing unit 301 newly creates drawing data based on the layout indicated by the determined layout version.

  The storage device 307 is a storage space of the image processing server 30 including a hard disk device, a RAM, a buffer memory, an EEPROM, and the like. The storage device 307 has a UI structure for forming a UI in addition to workflow control data. Stores definition and condition setting data for Plug-in to execute the process. The storage device 307 also inherits information that defines whether to prioritize default layout information (latest layout information) or existing layout information (layout information included in drawing data), UI parts (display components) ) Layout information including position information, drawing data including condition setting data, plug-in data including the latest layout information, and the like. Identification information (for example, version, ID, etc.) for identifying the layout is given to the layout information.

  The inheritance information is also information that defines whether or not to inherit the UI part position information. The inheritance information may define whether to inherit for each UI part, or may define whether to inherit for each plug-in. The inheritance information may be stored in advance in the storage device 307, may be acquired by the control unit 31 via a network, and the control unit 31 may store the acquired inheritance information in the storage device 307.

  When executing the workflow sequence, the control unit 31 calls the workflow setting conditions and the drawing data used by the plug-in program to be executed, sets the conditions via the layout processing unit 303, and also displays the UI display unit 101. UI screen is displayed.

  The workflow management unit 308 acquires the function definition described in the workflow control data and the condition setting data for controlling the function from an appropriate storage space such as the storage device 307, and acquires image data, format conversion, print output, The information processing function of the sequence defined in the workflow such as data transfer and file storage is called, and the processing execution unit 309 is notified to execute the processing.

  The process execution unit 309 calls the plug-in program for performing the notified information processing function, executes the process defined on the workflow, and continues with the workflow management unit 308 until there is no allocated process. Communication is performed, and the process to be executed by the image processing server 30 is completed. The process execution unit 309 sends out a process result via a bus or a network in order to execute the process set in the workflow control data after the process of the final sequence is completed among the processes allocated to itself. Finish the workflow process.

<Workflow>
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a workflow used in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, an example of a hierarchical structure and workflow control data defining the hierarchical structure is shown. The workflow shown in FIG. 5 is set interactively by the user from an appropriate device for defining the workflow, for example, the desktop screen of the PC 50 or the UI display device of the MFP 10. For a user interface for setting a workflow, refer to Patent Document 1.

  FIG. 5 also shows a binary tree structure 510 of the workflow hierarchical structure in parallel. In the workflow, the MFP 10 that executes image data creation processing can be expressed as a root node in a hierarchical structure. In the embodiment in which image data is already digitized and registered in a database or the like, in addition to the MFP 10, the PC 50 or the like can provide a function as a root node.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, for example, a plurality of workflow groups are set as root nodes each time the output function is common as a child node. For example, the workflow group Gr1 is registered as “Scan to Mail”, Gr2 is registered as “Scan to Folder”, Gr3 is registered as “Scan to Print”, and the like. Can be individually displayed on the UI display unit 101 as a UI button or the like.

  Further, the specific group includes projects Pj1, Pj2, Pj3,... Customized by each group as a plurality of grandchild nodes. Each project Pj1 to Pj3 is independently registered for each user, for each destination, and for each job having a common function setting, and each is accompanied by user-customized condition settings. Also, a specific project is accompanied by individual condition setting data such as, for example, image reading at Fn1 = 600 dpi (522) → Fn2 = PDF conversion (524) → Fn3 = mail transfer to a specific mail address (526) It is an individual job.

  The tree structure 510 is described as a structured document, more specifically, an XML document 520, and is used as workflow control data. The XML document 520 describes, for each workflow sequence, specification of a plug-in that is a program in charge of processing, setting conditions 530, 540, 550, and 560 used by the plug-in. In the XML document 520 of the first embodiment, the device that executes the function of the project that configures the workflow refers to the XML document related to the function to be processed, sets the plug-in, reads the setting condition, and processes it And pass processing to subsequent functions. As described above, the function can be completed by a single device, but may be completed by distributed processing among a plurality of devices.

  Also, the XML document 520 shown in FIG. 5 includes a filter function 522, a folder storage function 524, and a mail transmission function 526 that constitute a sequence for storing the acquired image data in the PDF format and then storing it in an e-mail and a folder. The data to be set is described. In addition to the case where the workflow is completed with a single device, the workflow may be distributed from the PC 50 that created the workflow for the purpose of performing distributed processing or the image processing server 30 to another crisis where the workflow can be processed.

<UI>
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of UI parts in Plug-in. In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, an example of the display image 611 and the XML 612 is illustrated. For example, for the EditBox 610, the position information and title name of the EditBox are described in the XML document 612, and the EditBox shown in the display image 611 is displayed on the display unit by the XML document 612.

  For example, for the ComboBox 620, the location information and label name of the ComboBox are described in the XML document 621, and the ComboBox shown in the display image 621 is displayed by the XML document 622.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of drawing data used to form a plug-in UI. In the first embodiment, a UI identification value for uniquely identifying the data structure is assigned to the data structure to be displayed on the UI display unit 101. The UI identification value has a structure including, for example, a function identification value that specifies functions such as mail, folder storage, and fax communication related to the UI, and a version identification value that specifies a version of the UI structure definition. This version identification value indicates the version of the layout. More specifically, a unique identification value such as “SCREEN_mail_01” is included in the UI identification value of version “01” for providing a UI for e-mail, and “SCREEN_mail_0N” is included in the UI identification value of version “0N”. Is assigned.

  In the first embodiment, the drawing data 710 is separated into a UI structure definition 720 and condition setting data 730 used by the UI structure definition. In the first embodiment, the UI structure definition 720 is a file describing UI part position information for displaying a UI. The condition setting data 730 means a data value that is set interactively through UI parts or should be set thereafter. For example, the drawing data 710 with ID = “SCREEN_mail — 01” is created from the UI structure definition 720 and the condition setting data 730 as shown in FIG.

  The UI structure definition 720 has a structure including XML including XML, HTML, XHTML, or HTML, and appropriately including CSS and XSLT. The condition setting data 730 is created by a structured document such as XML or XHTML, is configured as a data structure different from the UI structure definition 720, and is distributed to a device that should execute the plug-in program. . The UI structure definition and the condition setting data are associated with each other for each UI category to be displayed. For example, the UI structure definition ID (UI identification value) = “SCREEN_mail_01” is associated so as to refer to “mail_setting_information” that includes the reference identification value “mail” as the condition setting data.

(Layout inheritance)
Assume that the UI structure definition 720 of Plug-in data stored in the storage device 307 is modified to the UI structure definition 760 in response to a plug-in version upgrade or the like. The correction means addition of a new function or layout correction, and means that the arrangement or type of the corresponding UI part is corrected.

  At this time, if the UI part layout of the UI structure definition 760 is different from the layout of the UI structure definition 720, some users may want to prioritize the layout of the UI structure definition 720. Therefore, which layout is prioritized is defined in the inheritance information. Thereby, when the identification information (for example, version identification value) of the layout information is different, the layout inheritance unit 306 can determine which layout to use by referring to the inheritance information.

  The version identification value of the UI structure definition 760 is specified from the version identification value of the plug-in screen XML. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a plug-in “EMAIL” screen XML 800. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the version identification value is “1.0” according to the 810 part. 820 part shown in FIG. 8 shows UI parts, and the positional information on each UI part is included. 840 part shown in FIG. 8 is a figure which shows the screen image of screen XML800. When the screen XML 800 shown in FIG. 8 is drawn on the screen, an Address EditBox 842, an add button 844, an edit button 846, and a delete button 848 are displayed.

850 part shown in FIG. 8 is supplementary information about the screen XML. This 850 portion is not displayed on the screen. The following definition is made for the screen XML.
<Window>: Definition of the outline of the screen <Part>: There are various types of parts that define the screen, and type attributes in which the type of part is defined in the type attribute: Label, Button, EditBox FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of UI parts of layout information included in drawing data. For example, the version identification value included in the UI identification value “SCREEN_mail_1.0” of the drawing data shown in FIG. 9 is “1.0”. A screen 910 illustrated in FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a screen when the UI parts of the XML document 920 are displayed. Each UI part includes a UI part type “parttype”, position information “x, y, width, height”, and a UI part label “label”.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI part in the plug-in screen XML. For example, the plug-in “MAIL” shown in FIG. 10 is the latest plug-in data, and the version identification value of the screen XML is “2.0”. A screen 1010 shown in FIG. 10 shows an example of a screen when the UI parts of the XML document 1020 are displayed. Each UI part describes the UI part type, position information, and label, as in FIG.

  Here, the layout information of the drawing data shown in FIG. 9 is stored in the storage device 307, and the screen XML shown in FIG. 10 is stored in the storage device 307 as the latest data of the plug-in “MAIL”. At this time, it is assumed that the layout processing unit 301 receives an instruction to open the plug-in “MAIL” property from the UI display unit 101.

  The layout processing unit 301 instructs the layout inheriting unit 306 to confirm layout information. The layout inheritance unit 306 acquires the version identification value of the drawing data layout of the plug-in “MAIL” stored in the storage device 307, and obtains the latest version identification value of the screen XML corresponding to the plug-in “MAIL”. get. If the acquired version identification values are different, the layout inheritance unit 306 refers to the inheritance information stored in the storage device 307 and determines which layout has priority. Here, it is assumed that the inheritance information defines that priority is given to the existing layout. At this time, if the inheritance information is set for each UI part, it is determined for each UI part whether the position of the latest UI part or the position of the existing UI part is prioritized.

  The layout inheriting unit 306 outputs the determined layout (including UI part position information) to the layout processing unit 301. As a result, the layout processing unit 301 can create drawing data based on the screen XML in which the UI part position information is inherited. At this time, the layout processing unit 301 merges the condition setting data inherited by the data inheriting unit 305 described later. The layout processing unit 301 assigns the UI identification value “SCREEN_mail_2.0” to newly created drawing data and instructs the drawing data acquisition unit 310 to store the newly created drawing data in the storage device 307. The drawing data acquisition unit 310 stores the drawing data instructed from the layout processing unit 301 in the storage device 307.

  In addition, when the layout information included in the existing drawing data is different from the latest plug-in layout information, there are two possible cases: the layout is different due to the default setting, and the layout is different due to a user change. When instructing drawing data to the storage device 307, if the layout has been changed by the user, the layout processing unit 301 adds a flag or information indicating that fact. When the layout is changed by the user, a new value is set as the layout version identification value. As a result, if the layout information included in the existing drawing data differs from the latest plug-in layout information due to the user changing the layout, the inheritance information should be defined to give priority to the existing layout. Is also possible. In addition, if the layout information included in the existing drawing data differs from the latest plug-in layout information by default settings, it is possible to define to give priority to the latest layout.

(Condition setting data inheritance)
Returning to FIG. 7, for example, the vendor needs to distribute the upgraded UI structure definition 760 to the device and set the UI structure definition 760 to the device. On the other hand, in the device, condition setting data whose processing conditions are customized by the user is set for a plurality of individual projects. For this reason, even if the UI structure definition has been corrected, if there is data that can be used for the preset condition setting data, it should be used as much as possible. Most preferably, only data related to the additionally corrected function is used. It can be said that it is preferable to use a workflow only by setting input from the viewpoint of improving the effective use of the workflow and maintainability.

  For this reason, in the first embodiment, the UI structure definition and the condition setting data are separated from each other, and the existing condition setting data 780 is used by the UI structure definition 760 of the different drawing data 750 via an appropriate interface. It is used as data 770. The condition setting data 770 is compared with the condition setting data 730, and data is shared regardless of the description order in the condition setting data 780 as long as the UI items to be displayed are common.

  In order to enable data sharing, a data inheritance unit 305 is provided as an interface. The data inheritance unit 305 sets the sharable data included in the registered condition setting data 780 in the condition setting data 770 regardless of the description order in the structured document. The data inheritance unit 305 uses a DOM (Document Object Model) in terms of using a structured document, reads data from the condition setting data 780 using the DOM, and condition setting data 770 used by the drawing data 750. It is preferable to adopt a format for an interface to be set as in order to minimize the addition of software / hardware resources.

  For the above purpose, the data inheriting unit 305 can be described in a script language that can be interpreted and executed by the layout processing unit 301. Examples of script languages include JavaScript (registered trademark), VBSscript (registered trademark), Other scripts that can interpret and execute line-by-line and execute processing are not particularly limited. If there is a sufficient margin in software resources, an interface may be provided with Java (registered trademark) execution code.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the condition setting data 1100 used in the first embodiment. The XML version and encoding are specified from the first line, and the second line describes a file name including an identification value for identifying the UI function of the UI to be referred to. Thereafter, the setting data is defined by setting condition tags such as <smtp>, <server_name>, <port>, <user>, and <address>. Some of these data are preset on the vendor side, and other data are set to values unique to the device by user settings.

  The condition setting data shown in FIG. 11 is data for controlling e-mail transmission. In the first embodiment, the condition setting data is further structured to set conditions for various functions such as folder transmission, printing, and image reading. A document file can be implemented.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of pseudo code that functions as an interface and provides the function of the data inheritance unit 305 including the DOM function in the first embodiment. The pseudo code 1200 shown in FIG. 12 first compares the previous version identification value (prior_ver) of the drawing data read last time with the current version identification value (current_ver) of the UI structure definition (latest screen XML) to be currently displayed. If they match, the function “read_cache” that sequentially reads the condition setting data used last time is activated. Also, if the previous version identification value (prior_ver) and the current version identification value (current_ver) of the UI structure definition to be currently displayed do not match, a function for reading the condition setting data described in XML using DOM Call "inheritance ()" to read data. FIG. 12 also shows a read processing code of the function inheritance (). From the structured document describing the condition setting data shown in FIG. 11, buffering processing is performed on the data values to be set in the order of setting condition tags in the address area where the corresponding data is registered.

  The function “inheritance ()” of the pseudo code 1200 shown in FIG. 12 is defined by line numbers 15 to 38, calls the DSO (Data Source Object), and continues to the existing condition setting data until the while syntax ends. Reads the condition setting data defined in the specified line, and buffers the read value. Note that the variable to be set in the pseudo code, Document.DocumentElement.childnodes.length, is a value that specifies the number of types of condition setting data set by the tag described in the condition setting data. It can be acquired in advance. In another embodiment, when the number of condition setting data is defined in advance, it may be set for each function as a setting constant.

  The processing of the data inheritance unit 305 will be described more specifically with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. For example, in the 22nd line of the pseudo code, smtp_data = Document.DocumentElement.childnodes (i) Read the setting data value “SMTPS” and set as variable smtp.innerText = SMTPS. Thereafter, reading from server_name to the final setting condition data is executed sequentially. On the other hand, the UI structure definition is implemented using HTML, XML, XSLT, and CSS as appropriate. For example, <smtp id = “SMTPS”> can be used to pass the read value as the value of the node <smtp>. it can. Thereafter, condition setting data for use in a new UI definition structure can be set by the same coding. The set data is stored in an appropriate storage area managed by the control unit 31, and thereafter held for a period during which the control unit 31 creates a UI instance.

<Operation>
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a plug-in screen display according to the first embodiment. In step S <b> 1301, upon receiving a plug-in screen display instruction from the UI display unit 101, the layout processing unit 301 instructs the drawing data acquisition unit 310 to acquire the instructed plug-in drawing data. The drawing data acquisition unit 310 acquires drawing data from the storage device 307. At this time, the layout inheriting unit 306 acquires the identification information (version identification value) of the layout information included in the drawing data.

  In step S1302, the layout inheritance unit 306 acquires the version identification value included in the latest screen XML of the plug-in to be displayed. In step S1303, the layout inheriting unit 306 compares the version identification value included in the drawing data with the version identification value included in the screen XML. If the version identification values are different, the process proceeds to step S1304. If the version identification values are the same, the process proceeds to step S1307.

  In step S1304, the layout inheritance unit 306 refers to the inheritance information stored in the storage device 307 and determines which layout information or which position information is used for the UI part. The inheritance information may be defined for each plug-in or for each UI part. When inheritance information is set for each plug-in, the existing layout priority and the latest layout priority are defined for each plug-in. When the inheritance information is set for each UI part, the inheritance information defines the position information priority of the existing UI part and the position information priority of the latest UI part for each UI part. The layout inheriting unit 306 outputs the determined layout information or UI part position information to the layout processing unit 301. The layout processing unit 306 creates new drawing data based on the layout information acquired from the layout inheriting unit 306 or the UI part position information.

  In step S1305, the data inheritance unit 305 takes over the condition setting data set in the existing drawing data to the new drawing data and notifies the layout processing unit 301 as described with reference to FIGS.

  In step S1306, the layout processing unit 301 creates new drawing data based on the layout information determined by the layout inheriting unit 306 and the condition setting data inherited by the data inheriting unit 305.

  In step S1307, the layout processing unit 301 outputs the created new drawing data to the UI display unit 101. The UI display unit 101 displays the drawing data created by the layout processing unit 301 on the screen.

  Thereby, in Example 1, when updating the screen layout of Plug-in, it can prevent changing to the layout which a user does not expect. Further, in the first embodiment, by defining the inheritance information for each plug-in or for each UI part, the layout can be updated according to the user's needs.

  Note that the layout inheriting unit 306 determines the difference between the existing layout and the latest layout using the version identification value, but this determination may be performed using the following method. The layout inheritance unit 306 compares the UI part position information included in the drawing data with the UI part position information included in the plug-in data one by one for the same UI part. The existing layout may be determined to be different from the latest layout.

[Example 2]
Next, an image processing system according to the second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, when the inheritance information is defined for each UI part, the UI part with priority on the default position (latest position) may overlap with the UI part with priority on the existing position. Provide a function to automatically adjust so that they do not overlap.

<Function>
FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the image processing system 1400 according to the second embodiment. In the functions shown in FIG. 14, the same functions as those shown in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The layout processing unit 1410 illustrated in FIG. 14 includes an XML parser 302, a display control unit 303, and an adjustment unit 1412. The layout processing unit 1410 creates a plug-in layout by arranging UI parts at the UI part positions determined by the inheritance information. At this time, when the inheritance information is defined for each UI part, the UI part giving priority to the default position (latest position) may overlap with the UI part giving priority to the existing position.

  The adjustment unit 1412 detects whether the UI parts overlap when the layout of the Plug-in screen is created. Whether the UI overlaps or not overlaps can be determined by referring to the positional information of the UI parts. When detecting that the UI parts overlap, the adjustment unit 1412 automatically adjusts the position of the UI parts so that the UI parts do not overlap.

  Specifically, the adjustment unit 1412 refers to the position information of the UI parts around the overlapping UI parts, and arranges each UI part at a position where the overlapping UI parts do not overlap. At this time, the adjustment unit 1412 may move the positions of all the overlapping UI parts, or may move the position of at least one UI part among the overlapping UI parts.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of automatic adjustment of the position of the UI parts. FIG. 15A is a diagram illustrating an example of layout information included in existing drawing data. As shown in FIG. 15A, the layout is changed by the user, the “add” button is not displayed, and the “edit” button 1512 and the “delete” button 1514 are respectively changed to positions moved by −2 in the x direction. Suppose that

  At this time, for example, in the inheritance information, the UI part “add” button gives priority to the default position information, the UI part “edit” button gives priority to the existing position information, and the UI part “delete” button takes the default position information. Suppose that priority is defined for information.

  FIG. 15B is a diagram illustrating a screen example in which the UI part position is inherited by the layout inheriting unit 306 at the time of layout update. According to the inheritance information, only the UI part “edit” button gives priority to the existing position information, so the screen after the layout update is the screen shown in FIG. That is, the “add” button 1522 and the “edit” button 1524 overlap. The “delete” button 1526 is arranged at a default position.

  FIG. 15C is a diagram illustrating a screen example after the position of the UI part is automatically adjusted. When the adjustment unit 1412 detects the state of FIG. 15B, the adjustment unit 1412 automatically adjusts the position so that the “add” button and the “edit” button do not overlap in consideration of the position and size of each UI part. For example, the adjustment unit 1412 moves the “edit” button +2 in the x direction. The screen at this time is the screen shown in FIG.

  As illustrated in FIG. 15C, the adjustment unit 1412 automatically adjusts the position of the UI parts, so that the “add” button 1532, the “edit” button 1534, and the “delete” button 1536 are arranged at positions that do not overlap. . In the inheritance information, when the UI part “add” button is defined to prioritize the existing position information, the “add” button 1532 is not displayed, and therefore the position of the “edit” button 1534 is automatically adjusted. Absent.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, when inheritance information is defined for each UI part, it is possible to prevent the UI part with priority on the default position (latest position) and the UI part with priority on the existing position from overlapping. it can.

[Example 3]
Next, an image processing system according to the third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, a screen in which a layout is created based on inheritance information is presented to the user as a preview, and a function is provided that allows the inheritance information to be changed if the user does not like this screen.

<Function>
FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the image processing system 1600 according to the third embodiment. In the functions shown in FIG. 16, the same functions as those shown in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The layout processing unit 1610 illustrated in FIG. 16 includes an XML parser 302, a display control unit 303, a preview unit 1612, and a change unit 1614. The preview unit 1612 instructs the UI display unit 101 to display the layout information determined based on the inheritance information or the layout of the plug-in screen created based on the UI part position as a preview. The UI display unit 101 displays a preview screen. At this time, the preview unit 1612 displays a change button for changing the inheritance information on the preview screen.

  “Change inheritance information” means, for example, switching between giving priority to the existing layout or the latest layout, and switching inheritance information for each UI part to inheritance information for each plug-in. Say.

  When notified from the UI display unit 101 that the change button displayed on the preview screen has been pressed, the changing unit 1614 notifies the layout inheriting unit 1620 to that effect. The layout inheritance unit 1620 re-determines layout information or UI part position information based on the changed inheritance information, and notifies the layout processing unit 1610 of it.

  The layout processing unit 1610 can create a UI screen based on the layout information determined according to the changed inheritance information or the position information of UI parts.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, the screen on which the layout is created based on the inheritance information is presented to the user as a preview, and if the user does not like the screen, the inheritance information is changed to change the layout to the user's desired layout. can do.

[Modification]
Next, an image forming apparatus according to a modification will be described. In the fifth embodiment, the above-described image processing server is incorporated in the MFP. FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the MFP 1700 according to the modification. As shown in FIG. 17, each function of the MFP in which the image processing server is incorporated is basically the same as the function of the MFP 10 and the function of the image processing server 30 shown in FIG. Thus, according to the MFP 1700 according to the modification, the processing shown in each embodiment can be performed by the MFP alone.

  The program executed by the image processing server of each embodiment or the MFP of the modification is a file in an installable format or an executable format, and is a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). And the like recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

  Further, the program executed by the image processing server of each embodiment or the MFP of the modification may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. Good.

  Further, the program executed by the image processing server of each embodiment or the MFP of the modification may be provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like.

  The program executed by the image processing server of each embodiment and the MFP of the modified example has a module configuration including the above-described units, and as actual hardware, a CPU (processor) reads the program from the storage medium. By executing the above, each means is loaded on the main memory, and each means is created on the main memory.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example as it is, A component can be deform | transformed and embodied in the range which does not deviate from the summary in an implementation stage. Moreover, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiments. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

10, 20, 1700 MFP
30 Image processing server 40 Image management server 50 Information processing terminal 101 UI display unit 301, 1410, 1610 Layout processing unit 302 XML parser 303 Display control unit 304 UI structure definition acquisition unit 305 Data inheritance unit 306 Layout inheritance unit 307 Storage device 308 Workflow Management unit 309 Process execution unit 301, 1616 Drawing data acquisition unit 1412 Adjustment unit 1612 Preview unit 1614 Change unit

JP 2008-097586 A JP 2008-176541 A JP 2008-305004 A

Claims (14)

Storage means for storing layout information indicating a layout of a display component included in the UI screen of the plug-in, and drawing data including the layout information and the setting information of the display component;
The identification information of the existing layout information included in the drawing data of the plug-in to be displayed is compared with the identification information of the latest layout information of the plug-in to be displayed from the storage unit, and the comparison result is If different, inheritance means for determining whether to inherit the existing layout information, based on inheritance information defining whether to inherit the existing layout information;
When the existing layout information is inherited by the inheriting means, layout processing means for creating a UI screen based on the inherited layout information;
An image forming apparatus comprising: display means for displaying the created UI screen.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inheritance information defines, for each plug-in, whether to inherit the existing layout information.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inheritance information defines, for each display component included in the existing layout information, whether to inherit the existing layout information. The layout processing means includes
4. The display device according to claim 3, further comprising: an adjusting unit that changes a layout to a position where the inherited display component and the other display component do not overlap when the display component inherited from the existing position information overlaps with another display component. Image forming apparatus. The layout processing means includes
Preview means for causing the display means to display the UI screen created based on the layout information determined by the inheritance means;
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a changing unit configured to change the definition of the inheritance information after the preview is displayed. Storage means for storing layout information indicating a layout of a display component included in the UI screen of the plug-in, and drawing data including the layout information and the setting information of the display component;
The identification information of the existing layout information included in the drawing data of the plug-in to be displayed is compared with the identification information of the latest layout information of the plug-in to be displayed from the storage unit, and the comparison result is If different, inheritance means for determining whether to inherit the existing layout information, based on inheritance information defining whether to inherit the existing layout information;
When the existing layout information is inherited by the inheriting means, layout processing means for creating a UI screen based on the inherited layout information;
An image processing apparatus comprising:   The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the inheritance information defines, for each plug-in, whether to inherit the existing layout information.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the inheritance information defines, for each display component included in the existing layout information, whether to inherit the existing layout information. The layout processing means includes
9. The display device according to claim 8, further comprising: an adjusting unit that changes a layout to a position where the inherited display component and the other display component do not overlap when the display component inherited from the existing position information overlaps with another display component. Image processing device. The layout processing means includes
Preview means for causing the display means to display the UI screen created based on the layout information determined by the inheritance means;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a changing unit that enables the definition of the inheritance information to be changed after the preview is displayed. An image processing system comprising an image forming apparatus and an image processing apparatus connected via a network,
The image processing apparatus includes:
Storage means for storing layout information indicating a layout of a display component included in the UI screen of the plug-in, and drawing data including the layout information and the setting information of the display component;
The identification information of the existing layout information included in the drawing data of the plug-in to be displayed is compared with the identification information of the latest layout information of the plug-in to be displayed from the storage unit, and the comparison result is If different, inheritance means for determining whether to inherit the existing layout information, based on inheritance information defining whether to inherit the existing layout information;
Layout processing means for creating a UI screen based on the inherited layout information when the existing layout information is inherited by the inheriting means,
The image forming apparatus includes:
An image processing system comprising display means for displaying a UI screen created by the layout processing means. An image having a function of distributing image data, comprising storage means for storing layout information indicating a layout of a display component included in the UI screen of the plug-in, and drawing data including the layout information and setting information of the display component An image processing method in a forming apparatus,
The identification information of the existing layout information included in the drawing data of the plug-in to be displayed is compared with the identification information of the latest layout information of the plug-in to be displayed from the storage unit, and the comparison result is If different, an inheritance step for determining whether to inherit the existing layout information based on inheritance information defining whether to inherit the existing layout information;
A layout processing step of creating a UI screen based on the inherited layout information when the existing layout information is inherited by the inheriting step;
A display step for displaying the created UI screen. A program executed by a computer comprising storage means for storing layout information indicating a layout of a display component included in a UI screen of a plug-in, and drawing data including the layout information and the setting information of the display component,
The identification information of the existing layout information included in the drawing data of the plug-in to be displayed is compared with the identification information of the latest layout information of the plug-in to be displayed from the storage unit, and the comparison result is If different, an inheritance step for determining whether to inherit the existing layout information based on inheritance information defining whether to inherit the existing layout information;
A program having a layout processing step of creating a UI screen based on inherited layout information when the existing layout information is inherited by the inheriting means.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 13 is recorded.

Images