JP2014103562A - Operation terminal, information processing system using operation terminal, information processing method, program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To run the total capability in conjunction, without mounting a function for indicating the total capability of the other image processing apparatus performing image processing on one image processing apparatus side, in an operation terminal connected with a plurality of image processing apparatus over a network.SOLUTION: An operation terminal includes image processing apparatus capability inquiry means 122 for inquiring the capability of an image processing apparatus, image processing apparatus selection means 125 for selecting an image processing apparatus having the capability required for image processing, and image processing apparatus capability indication means 124 for indicating the capability inquired on an operation panel along with an image processing apparatus thus selected. Operation of the image processing is instructed to the image processing apparatus thus selected, in response to user's operation.

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation terminal, an information processing system using the operation terminal, an information processing method using the operation terminal, and a program.

A technique for operating a plurality of image forming apparatuses linked to a mobile terminal using the mobile terminal is known. On the other hand, image data is transmitted from the image forming apparatus without modem to the image forming apparatus with modem to perform FAX (facsimile) transmission, or a FAX received document is transmitted from the image forming apparatus with modem to the image forming apparatus without modem. A FAX processing system for transferring is also known.
However, in the conventional FAX processing system, not all the FAX functions can be expressed by the panel of the image forming apparatus without a modem that reads a document. Therefore, only a part of functions can be set in the image forming apparatus without a modem. In addition, the modem-less image forming apparatus that has received the image data needs to be equipped with a function of selecting a print tray in order to perform printing according to the size of the received image data. For this reason, it is necessary to mount the function conventionally performed by the image forming apparatus with a modem in the image forming apparatus without a modem that has been linked again.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133826 detects a fax device on a network when an MFP (multifunction peripheral) is activated, reads a document with a scanner, and issues a transmission request to the detected fax device together with an input destination (fax number). Thus, a facsimile function alternative system is described in which fax transmission is performed to a designated destination.

  In Patent Document 2, a terminal device such as a connected mobile phone is used as a second operation unit, and communication with an external device is performed using the connected mobile phone, and the device functions as a printer or a facsimile device. An image forming apparatus is described. For example, the image forming apparatus can print out image data obtained from the Internet network, transmit a facsimile to a transmission / reception destination FAX, or receive a facsimile from the transmission / reception destination FAX.

  These inventions are similar to the present invention in that FAX transmission is performed from a FAX apparatus on a network. However, with these FAX linking functions, the panel of the image forming apparatus without a modem that reads an original cannot express all of the FAX functions, and therefore only a part of the functions can be set. The received image forming apparatus without a modem needs to be equipped with a function of selecting a print tray according to the received size, and the above problem has not been solved.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an operation terminal connected to a plurality of image processing apparatuses via a network and perform processing in cooperation with each other. Thus, even if a function for displaying the full capability of the other image processing apparatus is not installed, the full capability can be linked and executed between the image processing apparatuses.

  The present invention is an operation terminal that is connected to a plurality of image processing apparatuses via a network, and that performs image processing by transmitting image data acquired by one image processing apparatus to the other image processing apparatus. An image processing device list holding unit for holding an image processing device list of the device, an image processing device capability inquiry unit for inquiring about the capability of the image processing device to the image processing device held in the image processing device list holding unit, Based on the capability of the image processing apparatus inquired by the image processing apparatus capability inquiry means, an image processing apparatus having the capability necessary for the information processing is selected from the image processing apparatuses held in the image processing apparatus list holding. The image processing device selection means and the image processing device capability inquiry means acquired by the image processing device capability inquiry means are selected. And an image processing device capability display means for displaying on the display screen together with the image processing device, and instructing the information processing operation to the selected image processing device according to a user operation. is there.

  According to the present invention, in an operation terminal connected to a plurality of image processing apparatuses via a network, the capability of the image processing apparatus that is a link destination can be displayed on the operation terminal. Even if the function of displaying the full capability of the other image processing apparatus that performs processing in cooperation between the processing devices is not installed, the full capability can be executed in a coordinated manner.

1 is a schematic diagram of a FAX processing system that is an embodiment of an information processing system of the present invention. FIG. It is a hardware block diagram of the mobile terminal in the FAX processing system shown in FIG. It is a hardware block diagram of the image processing apparatus with a modem linked with a mobile terminal. It is a functional block diagram which showed the flow of the data of the image processing apparatus linked with a mobile terminal. It is a functional block diagram which showed the flow of the data of the mobile terminal linked with an image processing apparatus. It is an example of a display in the operation panel of a mobile terminal. It is an example of a display of the initial screen inquiry item setting in the operation panel of a mobile terminal. It is a display example of the user information setting screen on the operation panel of the mobile terminal. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a series of processing procedures for displaying the capabilities of an image processing apparatus on an operation panel, receiving a transmission instruction from a user, instructing the image processing apparatus, and transmitting data on a mobile terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence for a user to select and determine the initial screen displayed on an operation panel. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which a mobile terminal detects reception and performs reception operation | movement. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a display process of the initial screen when a user authenticates with an operation panel and logs in.

  First, the features of the present invention will be schematically described. The screen displayed by the operation terminal device (simply called the operation terminal) and the linked image processing device on the main body operation unit is displayed on the operation terminal side. The operation terminal receives (receives) information of the image processing apparatus and performs an operation. This is to realize the full capability of the image processing apparatus as the link destination on the operation terminal. In addition, the operation terminal transmits and receives image data using the image data transmission and reception mechanism of a conventional image processing apparatus.

Next, as an embodiment of the information processing system of the present invention, the FAX processing system will be described with reference to the drawings, taking information processing as an example of FAX processing.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a FAX processing system that is an embodiment of an information processing system of the present invention.
The FAX processing system includes an operation terminal connected via a network such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or a wireless LAN, in this case, a mobile terminal 10, a plurality of image processing devices (an image processing device 21 without a modem and an image processing device 22 with a modem). ). Here, the “image processing apparatus” refers to a device capable of processing image data, such as a printer, a multifunction peripheral, and a PC (personal computer) regardless of the presence or absence of a modem.

  The user performs FAX transmission using the display screen of the mobile terminal 10, here, the operation panel 12. On the operation panel 12, settings relating to reading of the image processing apparatus 21 without modem are displayed in order to use the reading function of the image processing apparatus 21 without modem. Further, in order to use the FAX transmission function of the image processing apparatus 22 with modem, the FAX function of the image processing apparatus 22 with modem is displayed.

  The user makes settings related to reading of the image processing apparatus 21 without modem from the operation panel 12, and instructs the start of reading and transmission. That is, the mobile terminal 10 acquires a transmission image from the image processing apparatus 21 without a modem, and is configured to perform a FAX process by transmitting the acquired transmission image to the image processing apparatus 22 with a modem. To send a FAX. On the contrary, at the time of FAX reception, the mobile terminal 10 receives image data from the image processing apparatus with modem 22 and transmits FAX image data to the image processing apparatus without modem 21 to thereby transmit the image data without modem. In 21, a FAX is received.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the mobile terminal 10 in the FAX processing system shown in FIG.
The mobile terminal 10 is a CPU 101 that performs control calculations for the mobile terminal 10 as a whole, a RAM 102 that is a storage means used as a temporary storage area, a storage means that stores programs, fonts, and other static data. ROM 103, NVRAM 104 as storage means for storing non-volatile data, panel control unit 105 and operation panel 12 constituting interface means with a user, storage location for a large amount of image data and storage location for database Disk driver 107 and storage medium 108 which are storage means, external I / F (interface) 109 which is an I / F such as Centronics connected to an external device, Ethernet (registered trademark), wireless LAN (local area network), etc. Connected to the network, external A communication control unit 110 that enables communication with the image processing apparatus. Each component of the mobile terminal 10 exchanges information with each other via the data bus 114.

FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the image processing apparatus 22 with a modem linked to the mobile terminal 10. Since the configuration excluding the modem is the same as that of the image processing apparatus 21 without modem, the description of the image processing apparatus 21 without modem is omitted.
In other words, the image processing apparatus 22 stores a CPU 201 that performs control calculation of the entire image processing apparatus 22, a RAM 202 that is a storage unit used as a temporary storage area, a program, a font, and other static data. ROM 203 as storage means, NVRAM 204 as storage means for storing non-volatile data, panel control unit 205 and operation panel 206 constituting I / F means with the user, and paper as an image data input / output unit An engine control unit 207 and a scan and print engine 208 for reading a document and printing on a transfer paper, a disk driver 209 and a storage medium 210 which are storage means used as a storage location of a large amount of image data and a storage location of a database With I / F such as Centronics to connect with external equipment Rugaibu I / F 211, an Ethernet connected to a network, such as (trademark), wireless LAN, and a communication control unit 213 to enable communication with the external image processing apparatus. The above configuration is common to the image processing apparatus 21 without a modem, but the image processing apparatus with modem 22 further includes a modem 212 that is connected to a public telephone line and enables communication with an external device. Each of the above components exchange information with each other via the data bus 214.

FIG. 4 is a functional configuration diagram illustrating a data flow of the image processing apparatuses 21 and 22 linked to the mobile terminal 10.
In the image processing apparatuses 21 and 22, the job reception unit 222 receives a job start operation from the user or reception from the mobile terminal 10, and executes a transmission job and a reception job. The data transmission / reception unit 223 transmits the image data read from the engine control unit 207 to the mobile terminal 10. In addition, image data is received from the mobile terminal 10. The capability inquiry reception unit 224 receives a capability inquiry from the mobile terminal 10 and notifies the mobile terminal 10 of the capabilities of the image processing apparatuses 21 and 22.

FIG. 5 is a functional configuration diagram showing a data flow of the mobile terminal 10 linked to the image processing apparatuses 21 and 22.
The image processing device list holding unit 121 holds information on the image processing devices 21 and 22 connected to the mobile terminal 10 via the network. The image processing apparatus capability inquiry means 122 inquires the image processing apparatuses 21 and 22 held in the image processing apparatus list holding means 121 about their capabilities (functions and capabilities; hereinafter collectively referred to as capabilities) and acquires each of the acquired capabilities. The capabilities of the image processing devices 21 and 22 are stored in the capability storage unit 123. The image processing device capability display unit 124 receives from the inquiry item determination unit 126 the capability necessary for the user to use the image processing device, selects the capability from the capability storage unit 123, and displays it on the operation panel 12.

The image processing device selection unit 125 receives a start operation from the user on the operation panel 12, selects the image processing device 22, and issues an information processing instruction for FAX transmission, for example.
The inquiry item determination unit 126 determines capability items (for example, capability types such as FAX transmission / reception capability, copy capability, and scanner capability) to be inquired to the image processing apparatuses 21 and 22 in accordance with an instruction from the user. The reception detection unit 127 detects a signal (a signal indicating that the image processing apparatus has received a FAX) from the image processing apparatus 22 with a modem. The data transmission / reception unit 128 receives an instruction from the image processing device selection unit 125 and transmits the instruction and data to the selected image processing devices 21 and 22. The mobile terminal 10 receives the reception detection from the reception detection unit 127, receives the FAX, and transmits the FAX data to the image processing apparatus 21 without modem.

  The user authentication unit 129 accepts user authentication and transmits login user information to the user information storage unit 130. The user information storage unit 130 holds (or saves) the ability (called use ability) used by the logged-in user. The user information storage unit 130 informs the image processing device selection unit 125 of the user's usage capability, and the image processing device selection unit 125 selects the image processing device having the usage capability from the capability storage unit 123. In this way, only the image processing apparatus related to the user and its capabilities are displayed on the operation panel 12.

  Here, when the image processing devices 21 and 22 selected by the image processing device selection unit 125 are unusable, there are other image processing devices that can realize the use capability for the temporary image processing device selection unit 131. If there is, it is instructed to select the image processing apparatus as a temporary image processing apparatus. Each of the above means is realized as a function realizing means by causing a computer including the CPU 101, the RAM 102, and the ROM 103 of the mobile terminal 10 to read a program.

FIG. 6 is a display example on the operation panel 12 of the mobile terminal 10.
The operation panel 12 of the mobile terminal 10 has the capability of the image processing device 22 on the network (here, the reading function in the image processing device 21 (Z) without modem, the extended transmission function in the image processing device 22 (X) with modem, Size, density, resolution, time designation transmission, sender name printing, destination name of image processing apparatus X), and the user makes settings on the screen by touching operation panel 12 or the like, and selects the selected image processing apparatus The user is instructed to set the process, that is, the user presses the start key. As a result, the image processing apparatus executes a job.

FIG. 7 is a display example of initial screen inquiry item settings on the operation panel 12 of the mobile terminal 10.
The user sets a screen necessary for display on the operation panel 12 of the mobile terminal 10 and a model used for the screen. In this case, as shown in the figure, the screen used for the reading screen and the destination screen is an image processing device 21 (Z) without a modem, and the image processing device with modem 22 (Y) is used as a usage model for the extended transmission function screen. A set example is shown. Based on this setting, the initial screen display content of the operation panel 12 can be switched.

FIG. 8 is a display example of a user information setting screen on the operation panel 12 of the mobile terminal 10.
On the user information setting screen, a capability (usage function) necessary for displaying on the operation panel 12 of the mobile terminal 10 and a use model thereof are set for each user. Here, as a capability (use function), the user name A is an image processing device without modem 21 (Z) for copying, an image processing device with modem 22 (X) for fax, and an image processing device without modem 21 (Z). The user name B shows a state in which the image processing apparatus without modem 21 (Z) is set for copying and the image processing apparatus with modem 22 (Y) is set for the scanner. Based on this setting, the initial screen display content of the operation panel 12 can be switched.

FIG. 9 shows the capabilities of the image processing devices 21 and 22 on the operation panel 12 on the mobile terminal 10, receives a transmission instruction from the user, instructs the image processing devices 21 and 22, and transmits data. It is a flowchart which shows a series of processing procedures.
That is, the image processing device capability inquiry unit 122 of the mobile terminal 10 acquires the image processing device information from the image processing device list holding unit 121 (S101). Next, the image processing apparatus capability inquiry means 122 inquires of the image processing apparatuses 21 and 22 about their capabilities (S102). The image processing device capability inquiry unit 122 stores the acquired capabilities of the image processing devices 21 and 22 in the capability storage unit 123 (S103).

  The image processing device capability display unit 124 receives from the inquiry item determination unit 126 the capability necessary for the user to use the image processing device, selects the capability from the capability storage unit 123, and displays it on the operation panel 12. Similarly, the image processing apparatus selection unit 125 also acquires the inquiry item from the inquiry item determination unit 126, and the capability item (for example, FAX) related to the inquiry item necessary for the user to use the image processing device from the capability storage unit 123. (Send / Receive capability) is received, and an image processing device (for example, the image processing device with modem 22) having the capability, that is, capable of using the capability is selected (S104).

  The image processing device capability display means 124 displays the capabilities of the selected image processing devices 21 and 22 on the operation panel 12 (S105). Here, when the user instructs transmission (S106), the image processing apparatus selection unit 125 issues an instruction to execute the target process to the selected image processing apparatuses 21 and 22 (S107), and also sends data to the data transmission / reception unit 128. A transmission instruction is issued (S108), and this process ends.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for the user to select and determine an initial screen to be displayed on the operation panel 12.
That is, the inquiry item determination unit 126 displays the inquiry item on the operation panel 12 (S201), and the user selects the inquiry item (S202). The inquiry item determination unit 126 instructs the image processing apparatus capability display unit 124 to display the capability related to the inquiry item (S203). The image processing device capability display means 124 displays the capability on the operation panel 12 (S204), and ends this processing.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure in which the mobile terminal 10 detects reception and performs a reception operation.
That is, when the reception detection unit 127 receives data (here, a signal indicating that a FAX has been received) from the image processing device 22 (S301), the reception detection unit 127 stores data (FAX) in the image processing device list holding unit 121. (Data) reception is instructed (S302). The image processing apparatus list holding unit 121 instructs the data transmission / reception unit 128 to receive data based on the instruction from the reception detection unit 127 (S303). Based on this instruction, the data transmission / reception means 128 receives the data (S304) and ends this processing.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an initial screen display process when the user authenticates with the operation panel 12 and logs in.
That is, when the user inputs a user name and password from the operation panel 12 (S401), the user authentication unit 129 performs authentication based on the user name and password (S402). Here, when the authentication is OK (S403, YES), the user information storage unit 130 selects the use capability corresponding to the user information of the user (S404), and the image processing apparatus selection unit 125 Communicate user usage capabilities. The image processing device selection unit 125 selects an image processing device from the capability storage unit 123 based on the usage capability, and acquires the priority order of the capability to be displayed from the user information storage unit 130 for the usage capability (S405). .

Next, the image processing device capability display means 124 displays the capability (function) together with the selected image processing device on the operation panel 12 with priority ranking (S406). If the ability is available (S407, YES), the user gives an instruction to use the ability displayed from the operation panel 12, and uses the ability (S408). The used capability is stored in the user information storage unit 130 (S409), and this process is terminated.
If the authentication is not OK in step S403 (S403, NO), the process returns to the beginning and the authentication is performed again.

  In step S407, when the selected image processing apparatus (the model to be used in FIG. 8) is not available due to a failure or the like (S407, NO), the temporary image processing apparatus selection unit 131 determines that the temporary image processing apparatus selection means 131 Then, it is searched whether there is another image processing device that can be used (S410). If the capability is available in another image processing device (S411, YES), the process proceeds to the above-described step S408, and the subsequent processing ( Steps S408 and S409) are executed. If the capability is not available in another image processing apparatus in step S411 (S411, NO), the image processing apparatus capability display means 124 displays the unavailable status on the operation panel 12 (S412) and ends the processing. .

  In this embodiment, when displaying the ability frequently used by the user according to the user information, if the image processing apparatus having the ability cannot be used due to a failure or the like, Select an image processing device. If the capability is available in the selected image processing apparatus, a screen is displayed. If the capability is not available, the unavailable status is displayed on the operation panel 12. For this reason, even if the linked image processing devices 21 and 22 are out of order, it is possible that a desired capability can be realized by another image processing device having the required capability. Can be reduced.

  When the user uses the capabilities of the image processing devices 21 and 22, the capabilities used in the user information storage unit 130 are stored, and used for processing such as displaying them in order from the capability with the highest usage frequency of the user. To do.

According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. That is,
(I) A screen displayed on the main body operation unit by the image processing apparatus is displayed on the mobile terminal for operation. Further, the mobile terminal collects information on the image processing apparatus that is the link destination, and the function is realized on the mobile terminal. In addition, since the mobile terminal performs transmission and reception (reception) of image data using the image data transmission and reception mechanism of the conventional image processing apparatus, the entire capability to be executed is installed in the linked image processing apparatus. The target information processing can be executed without any problem.
(Ii) Since the ability items to be displayed can be selected by the user, it is possible to hide unnecessary information depending on how the image processing apparatus is used, or to display only necessary information, thereby improving the efficiency of user operations. can do.
(Iii) Since data transmission / reception is performed from the image processing apparatus to the mobile terminal and vice versa, a conventional data transmission / reception mechanism can be used without being conscious of the format of the mobile terminal linked to the image processing apparatus. Therefore, it is not necessary to install a new function in the image processing apparatus, and development efficiency can be improved.
(Iv) Since only the image processing apparatus related to the user and its ability are displayed, the ability frequently used by the user can be definitely used.
(V) Even when the image processing apparatus normally used by the user cannot be used, other image processing apparatuses can be used, so that it is possible to avoid a state in which the capability cannot be used in the event of a failure.
(Vi) Since the frequently used ability is preferentially displayed on the operation panel, for example, displayed higher, the functions can be used efficiently.
(Vii) Since the mobile terminal includes the reception detection unit, the mobile terminal can detect that the image processing apparatus has received a FAX, and therefore can automatically perform a FAX reception operation.

  In the above description, the case where a mobile terminal is used as the operation terminal has been described. However, the operation terminal is not limited to this and may be a fixed terminal, and the display screen is not limited to the operation panel. User operations may be performed by means other than the panel.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Mobile terminal (operation terminal), 12 ... Operation panel (display screen), 21 ... Image processing apparatus without a modem, 22 ... Image processing apparatus with a modem, 101, 201 ... CPU, 102, 202 ... RAM, 103, 203 ... ROM, 104, 204 ... NVRAM, 105, 205 ... Panel control unit, 206 ... Operation panel, 107, 209 ... Disk driver, 108, 210 ... Storage medium, 109, 211 ... External I / F, 110, 213 ... Communication control unit, 121 ... Image processing apparatus list holding means, 122 ... Image processing apparatus capability inquiry means, 123... Capability storage means 124... Image processing device capability display means 125... Image processing device selection means 126. Receive detection means 128, 223 Data transmission / reception means 129 User authentication means 130 User information storage means 131 Temporary image processing device selection means 207 Engine control unit 208, scan / print engine, 212, modem, 222, job accepting means, 224, ability inquiry accepting means.

JP 2003-179718 A JP 2003-274107 A

Claims (10)

An operation terminal that is connected to a plurality of image processing devices via a network and performs image processing by transmitting image data acquired by one image processing device to the other image processing device,
Image processing apparatus list holding means for holding an image processing apparatus list of the image processing apparatus;
Image processing apparatus capability inquiry means for inquiring about the capability of the image processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus held in the image processing apparatus list holding means;
Based on the capability of the image processing apparatus inquired by the image processing apparatus capability inquiry means, an image processing apparatus having the capability necessary for the information processing is selected from the image processing apparatuses held in the image processing apparatus list holding means. Image processing device selection means for
Image processing device capability display means for displaying the capability of the image processing device acquired by the image processing device capability inquiry means on a display screen together with the selected image processing device;
An operation terminal that instructs the selected image processing apparatus to perform the information processing operation in response to a user operation. The operation terminal according to claim 1,
An inquiry item determining means for determining an ability item to be inquired to the image processing apparatus by the image processing apparatus ability inquiry means based on a user instruction;
The image processing apparatus capability display means displays the capability items determined by the inquiry item determination means on the display screen. The operation terminal according to claim 1,
An operation terminal comprising data transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving data to / from the image processing apparatus. The operation terminal according to claim 1,
An operation terminal comprising: a user authentication unit; and a user information storage unit that stores the image processing apparatus used by the user determined by the user authentication unit and the capability thereof. The operation terminal according to claim 1,
When the image processing apparatus selected by the image processing apparatus selection unit is unavailable, the image processing apparatus selection unit includes a temporary image processing apparatus selection unit that selects another image processing apparatus having the same capability as the image processing apparatus. Operation terminal. In the operation terminal according to claim 4,
The user information storage means stores information related to a user including at least a user name and a use ability,
When the image processing device capability display unit displays the capability of the image processing device on the display screen, the usage capability information stored frequently in the user information storage unit is preferentially displayed. Operation terminal. The operation terminal according to claim 1,
The capability is a capability related to FAX transmission / reception,
An operation terminal comprising reception detection means for detecting that the image processing apparatus held in the image processing apparatus list holding means has received a fax.   An information processing system comprising the operation terminal according to claim 1 and a plurality of image processing apparatuses connected via a network. An information processing method in an operation terminal connected to a plurality of image processing devices via a network and transmitting image data acquired by one image processing device to the other image processing device to perform information processing,
Holding an image processing device list of the image processing device in an image processing device list holding unit;
An image processing apparatus capability inquiry step for inquiring about the capability of the image processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus held in the image processing apparatus list holding means;
Based on the capability of the image processing apparatus inquired in the image processing apparatus capability inquiry step, an image processing apparatus having the capability necessary for the information processing is selected from the image processing apparatuses held in the image processing apparatus list holding means. An image processing device selection step to perform,
An image processing device capability display step for displaying the capability of the image processing device acquired in the image processing device capability inquiry step on a display screen together with the selected image processing device;
An information processing method characterized by instructing the selected image processing apparatus to perform the information processing operation in response to a user operation.   A program for causing a computer to execute each step of the information processing method in the operation terminal according to claim 9.

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