JP2016103734A - Image forming system, image forming apparatus, and information update program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system that can suppress time and effort necessary for reflecting the same information on a large number of image forming apparatuses, an image forming apparatus, and an information update program.SOLUTION: An image forming system includes a master unit that transmits update instruction data instructing execution of update processing of a specific type of information, and slave units that execute the update processing according to the update instruction data. When a change occurs to the specific type of information in the master unit (YES in S102), the master unit transmits update instruction data instructing execution of update processing to make the state of the specific type of information in the slave units the same as the state of the specific type of information in the master unit (S103 and S105), and when a change does not occur to the specific type of information in the master unit (NO in S102), the master unit transmits update instruction data instructing not to execute update of the information in the update processing (S104 and S105).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses.

  Conventionally, a method of reflecting information read by a scanner on an image forming apparatus is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-272933 A

  However, in the conventional method, it is necessary to use a scanner to change the information of the image forming apparatus. For example, when a large number of image forming apparatuses are newly introduced or when a large number of image forming apparatuses are replaced. In addition, when the same information is reflected in a large number of new image forming apparatuses, it is necessary to use a scanner in each of the large number of new image forming apparatuses, which requires a large amount of time and labor for work. There's a problem.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming system, an image forming apparatus, and an information update program that can reduce the time and effort required to reflect the same information on a large number of image forming apparatuses.

  The image forming system of the present invention includes a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus, and the first image forming apparatus performs a process of updating specific types of information in the second image forming apparatus. Instruction data transmitting means for transmitting instruction data for instructing execution to the second image forming apparatus is provided, and the second image forming apparatus receives the instruction data transmitted by the instruction data transmitting means in accordance with the instruction data. An update process execution unit configured to execute an update process, wherein the instruction data transmission unit changes the information of the specific type in the first image forming apparatus from the previous transmission of the instruction data. And executing the update process to make the state of the specific type of information in the second image forming apparatus the same as the state of the specific type of information in the first image forming apparatus. The instruction data transmission means transmits the update data when the specific type of information in the first image forming apparatus has not changed since the previous transmission of the instruction data. The instruction data instructing not to update the information in the process is transmitted.

  With this configuration, the image forming system according to the present invention changes the state of the specific type of information in the second image forming apparatus to the first when the specific type of information in the first image forming apparatus has changed. Therefore, the time and labor required for reflecting the same information on a large number of image forming apparatuses can be reduced. The image forming system of the present invention also sends instruction data from the first image forming apparatus to the second image forming apparatus even when the first image forming apparatus does not cause the second image forming apparatus to update information. Therefore, for example, it is possible to analyze whether or not the reason why the information is not updated in the second image forming apparatus is due to the failure of the instruction data to the second image forming apparatus.

  In the image forming system of the present invention, the first image forming apparatus may include an information type receiving unit that receives the specific type.

  With this configuration, the image forming system of the present invention executes information update in the second image forming apparatus when a change occurs in what kind of information in the information in the first image forming apparatus. Can be selected by the user, and convenience can be improved.

  In the image forming system of the present invention, the first image forming apparatus includes an apparatus identification information receiving unit that receives identification information of the second image forming apparatus, and the instruction data transmitting unit includes the apparatus identification information. The instruction data may be transmitted to the second image forming apparatus specified by the identification information received by the receiving unit.

  With this configuration, the image forming system of the present invention allows the user to select the second image forming apparatus that executes the information update when a specific type of information in the first image forming apparatus has changed. Therefore, convenience can be improved.

  In the image forming system of the present invention, the first image forming apparatus includes a timing receiving unit that receives a timing of transmitting the instruction data, and the instruction data transmitting unit receives the timing received by the timing receiving unit. The instruction data may be transmitted by

  With this configuration, the image forming system of the present invention allows the user to update the information in the second image forming apparatus when a specific type of information in the first image forming apparatus has changed. Since it can be selected, convenience can be improved.

  In the image forming system of the present invention, the instruction data transmission unit may transmit the instruction data by a protocol for transmitting information after encryption.

  With this configuration, the image forming system of the present invention can be configured to make the state of the specific type of information in the second image forming apparatus the same as the state of the specific type of information in the first image forming apparatus. The state of a specific type of information in the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus can be prevented from leaking from the instruction data to a third party.

  An image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus provided with instruction data transmitting means for transmitting instruction data for instructing execution of update processing of a specific type of information in another image forming apparatus to the other image forming apparatus. The instruction data transmission unit may change the specific type of information in the other image forming apparatus when the specific type of information in the image forming apparatus has changed since the previous transmission of the instruction data. The instruction data for instructing execution of the update process to make the state of information the same as the state of the specific type of information in the image forming apparatus is transmitted, and the instruction data transmission unit is configured to transmit the instruction data in the image forming apparatus. Instructs not to update information in the update process when a specific type of information has not changed since the previous transmission of the instruction data. And transmits the serial instruction data.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can change the state of a specific type of information in another image forming apparatus in the image forming apparatus itself when there is a change in the specific type of information in the image forming apparatus itself. Since it is the same as the state of a specific type of information, the time and labor required to reflect the same information on a large number of image forming apparatuses can be reduced. Also, the image forming apparatus of the present invention transmits instruction data from the image forming apparatus itself to the other image forming apparatus even when the other image forming apparatus does not update the information. For example, the other image forming apparatus In this case, it is possible to analyze whether or not the reason why the information is not updated is due to non-delivery of instruction data to another image forming apparatus.

  An information update program according to the present invention is an information update program executed by an image forming apparatus, wherein instruction data for instructing execution of update processing of a specific type of information in another image forming apparatus is transmitted to the other image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus functions as instruction data transmitting means for transmitting to the image forming apparatus, wherein the instruction data transmitting means has changed in the specific type of information in the image forming apparatus from the previous transmission time of the instruction data. In addition, the instruction data for instructing execution of the update process to make the state of the specific type of information in the other image forming apparatus the same as the state of the specific type of information in the image forming apparatus is transmitted. The instruction data transmission means has changed the specific type of information in the image forming apparatus from the previous transmission of the instruction data. If it has, and transmits the instruction data instructing not to perform an update of information in the update process.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus that executes the information update program of the present invention can change the state of a specific type of information in another image forming apparatus when a change occurs in the specific type of information in the image forming apparatus itself. Is made the same as the state of a specific type of information in the image forming apparatus itself, so that the time and labor required to reflect the same information in many image forming apparatuses can be reduced. Further, the image forming apparatus that executes the information update program of the present invention transmits instruction data from the image forming apparatus itself to the other image forming apparatus even when the other image forming apparatus does not update the information. Thus, it is possible to analyze whether or not the reason why the information is not updated in the other image forming apparatus is due to the failure of the instruction data to the other image forming apparatus.

  The image forming system, the image forming apparatus, and the information update program according to the present invention can reduce the time and labor required to reflect the same information on a large number of image forming apparatuses.

1 is a block diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an MFP as a master unit among the MFPs shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an MFP as a slave unit among the MFPs shown in FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 2 when transmitting update instruction data. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 3 when executing an update process.

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

  First, the configuration of the image forming system according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 10 includes a plurality of MFPs including MFPs (Multifunction Peripherals) 20, 30 and 40 as image forming apparatuses. A plurality of MFPs are communicably connected to each other via a network 11 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet.

  The MFP 20 functions as a master unit for other MFPs such as the MFPs 30 and 40. MFPs other than the MFP 20 such as the MFPs 30 and 40 function as slave units of the MFP 20.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP 20.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the MFP 20 includes an operation unit 21 that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations, and a display unit 22 that is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information. A scanner 23 that reads an image from a document, a printer 24 that prints on a recording medium such as paper, and an external facsimile apparatus (not shown) and a communication line such as a public telephone line And a communication device 25 that performs communication with an external device such as the MFPs 30 and 40 (see FIG. 1) via the network 11 (see FIG. 1), and a fax communication unit 25 that is a fax device that performs fax communication. Unit 26 and an EEPROM (Electrica) storing various data A storage unit 27, which is a storage device such as a fully erasable programmable read only memory (HDD), a hard disk drive (HDD), and a control unit 28 that controls the entire MFP 20.

  The storage unit 27 serves as setting information for the MFP 20 that can be set by the user of the MFP 20 such as an address book used for fax transmission using the fax communication unit 25 and e-mail transmission using the communication unit 26. The normal setting information 27a can be stored.

  The storage unit 27 can store specific setting information 27b as setting information of the MFP 20 that can be set only by a specific user among the users of the MFP 20, such as information related to maintenance of the MFP 20.

  The storage unit 27 can store various files 27c, such as text and images, to be printed by the printer 24, to be faxed by the fax communication unit 25, or to be sent by the communication unit 26.

  The storage unit 27 stores a parent device information update program 27d as an information update program for updating information in the MFP. The master information update program 27d may be installed in the MFP 20 at the manufacturing stage of the MFP 20, or may be additionally installed in the MFP 20 from a storage medium such as an SD card or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. It may be additionally installed on the MFP 20 from the network 11.

  The storage unit 27 can store update target information type specifying information 27e indicating a specific type to be subjected to update processing among the types of information in the MFP. For example, the type specified by the update target information type specifying information 27e may be a part of the type of information in the MFP such as the address book of the normal setting information 27a. The types specified by the update target information type specifying information 27e may be all types of information in the MFP.

  The storage unit 27 can store the update target MFP specifying information 27f indicating the identification information of the MFP to be updated.

  The storage unit 27 can store update timing specifying information 27g indicating the transmission timing of update instruction data as instruction data for instructing execution of information update processing in the MFP (hereinafter referred to as “update timing”). . For example, the update timing may be any time designated in advance, such as midnight every day. Further, the update timing may be a point in time when a specific button (not shown) of the operation unit 21 is pressed to update information in the MFP.

  The control unit 28 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and various data, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a main storage device used as a work area of the CPU. ). The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 27.

  The control unit 28 executes the master unit information update program 27d stored in the storage unit 27, thereby transmitting update instruction data 28a for transmitting update instruction data to the slave units such as the MFPs 30 and 40. Information type accepting means 28b for accepting a specific type to be updated among the types, apparatus identification information accepting means 28c for accepting identification information of the MFP to be updated, and timing accepting means 28d for accepting update timing Function.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the MFP 30.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the MFP 30 is similar to the MFP 20 (see FIG. 2). The operation unit 31, the display unit 32, the scanner 33, the printer 34, the fax communication unit 35, the communication unit 36, the storage unit 37, and the control unit. 38.

  Similar to the storage unit 27 (see FIG. 2), the storage unit 37 can store normal setting information 37a, specific setting information 37b, and various files 37c.

  The storage unit 37 stores a slave unit information update program 37d for updating information in the MFP. The slave unit information update program 37d may be installed in the MFP 30 at the manufacturing stage of the MFP 30, or may be additionally installed in the MFP 30 from a storage medium such as an SD card or a USB memory, or the network 11 (FIG. 1). (Refer to the above.) It may be additionally installed in the MFP 30 from above.

  The control unit 38 executes an update process for updating the information in the MFP 30 in accordance with the update instruction data transmitted by the MFP 20 by executing the slave unit information update program 37d stored in the storage unit 37. It functions as the process execution means 38a.

  Of the MFPs included in the image forming system 10, the slave units other than the MFP 30, such as the MFP 40, are the same as those of the MFP 30, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the operation of the image forming system 10 will be described.

  First, the operation of the MFP 20 when the update target information type specifying information 27e is stored in the storage unit 27 will be described.

  When the information type accepting unit 28b of the MFP 20 accepts a specific type to be subjected to update processing among the types of information in the MFP via the operation unit 21 or the communication unit 26, the update type information type specifying information indicating the received type. 27e is stored in the storage unit 27.

  Next, the operation of the MFP 20 when the update target MFP specifying information 27f is stored in the storage unit 27 will be described.

  When the identification information of the MFP to be updated is received via the operation unit 21 or the communication unit 26, the device identification information receiving unit 28c of the MFP 20 stores the update target MFP specifying information 27f indicating the received identification information. Remember me.

  Next, the operation of the MFP 20 when the update timing specifying information 27g is stored in the storage unit 27 will be described.

  When the timing reception unit 28d of the MFP 20 receives the update timing via the operation unit 21 or the communication unit 26, the timing reception unit 28d stores the update timing specifying information 27g indicating the received update timing in the storage unit 27. Here, the timing receiving unit 28d can receive the update timing by selecting the update timing from the options, for example.

  Next, an operation of the MFP 20 when information in the MFP 20 is changed will be described.

  When the control unit 28 of the MFP 20 is instructed to change any of the information in the MFP 20, that is, the normal setting information 27a, the specific setting information 27b, and the various files 27c, via the operation unit 21 or the communication unit 26, the control unit 28 Accordingly, the information in the MFP 20 is changed.

  In the above, the operation of the MFP 20 when the information in the MFP 20 is changed has been described, but the same applies to MFPs other than the MFP 20 such as the MFPs 30 and 40.

  Next, the operation of the image forming system 10 when the information update process is executed will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 20 when transmitting update instruction data.

  The instruction data transmission unit 28a of the MFP 20 constantly repeats the operation shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the instruction data transmitting unit 28a determines whether or not the current time is the update timing indicated by the update timing specifying information 27g (S101).

  If the instruction data transmission unit 28a determines in S101 that it is not the update timing, the operation shown in FIG. 4 is terminated.

  When the instruction data transmission unit 28a determines in S101 that it is the update timing, the information of the type specified by the update target information type specification information 27e in the information in the MFP 20 has changed since the previous update instruction data was transmitted. It is determined whether or not there is (S102).

  When the instruction data transmitting unit 28a determines in S102 that a change has occurred, the status of the type of information specified by the update target information type specifying information 27e among the information in the MFP specified by the update target MFP specifying information 27f Is generated to be the same as the state in the MFP 20 (S103).

  When the instruction data transmission unit 28a determines in S102 that no change has occurred, the instruction data transmission unit 28a generates non-update data as update instruction data instructing not to update information in the update process (S104).

  After the process of S103 or S104, the instruction data transmission unit 28a transmits the update instruction data generated in S103 or S104 to the MFP specified by the update target MFP specifying information 27f via the communication unit 26 (S105). . Here, the instruction data transmission unit 28a transmits update instruction data by a protocol that encrypts and transmits information, such as IPPs (Internet Printing Protocol) as IPP (Information Printing Protocol) in which information is encrypted by SSL (Secure Sockets Layer).

  The instruction data transmission unit 28a ends the operation shown in FIG. 4 after the process of S105.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 30 when executing the update process.

  When the update processing execution unit 38a of the MFP 30 receives the update instruction data from the MFP 20 via the communication unit 36, the update processing execution unit 38a executes the operation shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the update processing execution unit 38a determines whether or not the update instruction data transmitted from the MFP 20 and received via the communication unit 36 is non-update data (S131).

  If the update process execution unit 38a determines that the data is not non-update data in S131, the update process execution unit 38a acquires the state of the information indicated in the update instruction data (S132).

  Next, the update process execution unit 38a determines to update the information in the update process (S133).

  If the update process execution unit 38a determines in S131 that the data is non-update data, the update process execution unit 38a determines not to update the information in the update process (S134).

  The update process execution unit 38a executes an update process of information in the MFP 30 after the process of S133 or S134 (S135). Here, when it is determined in S133 that the update process execution unit 38a executes the update of the information in the update process, the status of the type of information specified in the update instruction data among the information in the MFP 30 is determined in S132. Change to the acquired state. The update process execution unit 38a does not update the information in the MFP 30 when it is determined in S133 that the information update is not performed in the update process.

  The update process execution unit 38a ends the operation shown in FIG. 5 after the process of S135.

  In the above, execution of update processing by the MFP 30 has been described, but the same applies to other slave units such as the MFP 40.

  As described above, when there is a change in the specific type of information in the MFP 20 (YES in S102), the image forming system 10 indicates the state of the specific type of information in the MFP as a slave unit in the MFP 20. Since it is the same as the state of a specific type of information (S132, S133, and S135), the time and labor required to reflect the same information on a large number of MFPs can be reduced.

  The image forming system 10 makes the state of the specific type of information in the slave unit the same as the state of the specific type of information in the MFP 20 (S132, S133, and S135). Even if the state is different from that of the MFP 20, the state is the same as that of the MFP 20 at the update timing.

  Since the image forming system 10 transmits update instruction data from the MFP 20 to the slave unit even when the MFP 20 does not cause the slave unit to update information (NO in S102), the information is not updated in the slave unit, for example. It is possible to analyze whether or not the cause is due to failure of update instruction data to the slave unit.

  The image forming system 10 can allow the user to select what kind of information in the information in the MFP 20 is to be updated when the information is changed in the slave unit. can do.

  The image forming system 10 can improve the convenience because the user can select a slave unit to update the information when a specific type of information in the MFP 20 has changed.

  The image forming system 10 can improve the convenience because the user can select the timing for executing the update of information in the slave unit when a specific type of information in the MFP 20 has changed. .

  The MFP 20 transmits the update instruction data using a protocol for transmitting the information after encrypting the information. With this configuration, the image forming system 10 allows the specific type of information in the MFP 20 and the slave unit even when the state of the specific type of information in the slave unit is the same as the state of the specific type of information in the MFP 20. Can be prevented from leaking from the update instruction data to a third party.

  The “first image forming apparatus” of the present invention is an MFP in the present embodiment, but may be an image forming apparatus other than the MFP, such as a dedicated printer.

  Similarly, the “second image forming apparatus” of the present invention is an MFP in the present embodiment, but may be an image forming apparatus other than the MFP, such as a dedicated printer.

10 image forming system 20 MFP (first image forming apparatus, image forming apparatus)
27a Normal setting information (information in the first image forming apparatus)
27b Specific setting information (information in the first image forming apparatus)
27c file (information in the first image forming apparatus)
27d Information update program for parent device (information update program)
28a Instruction data transmission means 28b Information type acceptance means 28c Device identification information acceptance means 28d Timing acceptance means 30 MFP (second image forming apparatus, other image forming apparatus)
37a Normal setting information (information in the second image forming apparatus)
37b Specific setting information (information in the second image forming apparatus)
37c file (information in the second image forming apparatus)
38a Update processing execution means 40 MFP (second image forming apparatus, other image forming apparatus)

Claims (7)

A first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus;
The first image forming apparatus includes instruction data transmitting means for transmitting instruction data for instructing execution of update processing of a specific type of information in the second image forming apparatus to the second image forming apparatus,
The second image forming apparatus includes an update process execution unit that executes the update process according to the instruction data transmitted by the instruction data transmission unit,
The instruction data transmitting unit is configured to change the specific type of information in the first image forming apparatus when the specific type of information in the first image forming apparatus has changed since the previous transmission of the instruction data. Transmitting the instruction data instructing execution of the update processing to make the state of the type of information the same as the state of the specific type of information in the first image forming apparatus;
The instruction data transmitting unit does not update the information in the update process when the specific type of information in the first image forming apparatus has not changed since the previous transmission of the instruction data. An image forming system for transmitting the instruction data for instructing the user.   The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the first image forming apparatus includes an information type receiving unit that receives the specific type. The first image forming apparatus includes an apparatus identification information receiving unit that receives identification information of the second image forming apparatus.
3. The instruction data transmitting unit transmits the instruction data to the second image forming apparatus specified by the identification information received by the apparatus identification information receiving unit. The image forming system described. The first image forming apparatus includes a timing receiving unit that receives a timing of transmission of the instruction data.
4. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the instruction data transmitting unit transmits the instruction data at a timing received by the timing receiving unit.   5. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the instruction data transmission unit transmits the instruction data according to a protocol for encrypting and transmitting information. An image forming apparatus comprising instruction data transmitting means for transmitting instruction data for instructing execution of an update process of a specific type of information in another image forming apparatus to the other image forming apparatus,
The instruction data transmission unit is configured to update the specific type of information in the other image forming apparatus when the specific type of information in the image forming apparatus has changed since the previous transmission of the instruction data. Transmitting the instruction data instructing execution of the update process to make the state the same as the state of the specific type of information in the image forming apparatus;
The instruction data transmission unit instructs not to update the information in the update process when the specific type of information in the image forming apparatus has not changed since the previous transmission of the instruction data. An image forming apparatus that transmits the instruction data. An information update program executed by the image forming apparatus,
Causing the image forming apparatus to function as instruction data transmitting means for transmitting instruction data for instructing execution of update processing of a specific type of information in another image forming apparatus to the other image forming apparatus;
The instruction data transmission unit is configured to update the specific type of information in the other image forming apparatus when the specific type of information in the image forming apparatus has changed since the previous transmission of the instruction data. Transmitting the instruction data instructing execution of the update process to make the state the same as the state of the specific type of information in the image forming apparatus;
The instruction data transmission unit instructs not to update the information in the update process when the specific type of information in the image forming apparatus has not changed since the previous transmission of the instruction data. An information update program for transmitting the instruction data.

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