JP4049101B2 - Information processing system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing system in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses and a management apparatus are network-connected.

  As is well known, general digital MFPs used in offices, etc., register processing conditions (copy conditions, etc.) and perform simple operations (usually under the registered processing conditions). The device can be executed by an operation of pressing about 1 to 3 buttons).

  This function (hereinafter referred to as a processing condition registration function) is convenient, but an existing digital multi-function peripheral is a device that must intentionally register a processing condition. For this reason (because it is troublesome to register processing conditions), there are also users who do not use the processing condition registration function at all.

  Also, in offices, etc., multiple digital MFPs are usually installed, but even for users who are willing to register for processing conditions, registration of processing conditions for all digital MFPs in the office Never done. And since the user does not always remember the contents of the registered processing conditions (the contents of the processing conditions that need to be set in order to obtain a desired result), use it when working in an office or the like. Since the digital multi-function machine described above has no registered processing conditions, it may be difficult to obtain a desired result.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is information including a plurality of information processing devices (devices including information processing execution means capable of executing information processing of contents specified by processing condition specifying information) such as digital multifunction peripherals. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system that can easily perform an operation equivalent to registration of processing conditions in each information processing apparatus.

In order to solve the above-described problem, in the present invention, an information processing system in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses and a management apparatus are network-connected is used as a management apparatus. Providing a plurality of information storage means that can be stored in correspondence with either identification information or a plurality of information processing devices, and a Web page capable of specifying the contents of processing condition specifying information and the information processing devices Registration of processing condition designation information having a function and a function of storing processing condition designation information of contents designated on the Web page in an information storage unit in a form associated with the information processing apparatus designated on the Web page A processing condition designation information storage means for storing processing condition designation information composed of a plurality of element information as each information processing apparatus, and a user , A user interface unit to function after the input identification information of itself, the processing condition designation information stored in the management device associated with the identification information of the user input, and the own information processing apparatus The processing condition designation information stored in the processing condition designation information storage means is configured to allow the user to select one processing condition designation information from the processing condition designation information stored in the management apparatus in association with User interface means capable of changing each element information to contents information instructed by the user, and certain processing condition designation information stored in the management apparatus by the user using the user interface means When selected, the processing condition designation information stored in the processing condition designation information storage means is rewritten with the processing condition designation information selected by the user. After the user inputs his / her identification information using the user interface means, which can execute information processing specified by the rewrite means and the processing condition designation information stored in the processing condition designation information storage means. Functioning information processing execution means, which stores processing condition designation information stored in the processing condition designation information in association with user identification information input at that time, in the management device It is assumed that an apparatus including information processing execution means stored in the means is used.

  In the information processing system of the present invention having such a configuration, the processing condition designation information need not be intentionally registered in the management apparatus.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system according to the present embodiment includes one or more (two in the figure) digital multifunction peripheral 10 (corresponding to an information processing apparatus) and a scan agent computer 50 (corresponding to a management apparatus). ) And a network-connected system. The information processing system is a system connected to a network including the Internet router 200, several file servers 210, several (one in the figure) computers 220, and the like.

  The Internet router 200 on the network to which the information processing system is connected is a device for connecting each computer 220 and the like to the Internet. The file server 210 is a computer in which a shared folder is set. The computer 220 is a computer (a computer installed with a Web browser) used by an administrator or general user of the information processing system.

  The scan agent computer 50 that is an element of the information processing system is a computer in which the scan agent program 40 developed for the information processing system is installed. The function of the scan agent program 40 will be described later. The scan agent program 40 is a program that requires setting of an administrator name and password, setting of a working folder and a mail server at the time of installation (setup). It has become.

  The digital multifunction machine 10 is an apparatus having the appearance and hardware configuration shown in FIGS. That is, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 is a device that combines the control unit 11, the scanner 12, and the printer 13 so as to have the same appearance as a general digital multi-function peripheral / copier (see FIG. 2).

  The printer 13 used in the digital multifunction peripheral 10 is an expansion board (for connecting the control unit 11 and the printer 13) to configure the digital multifunction peripheral 10 to a printer that can be used as a peripheral device of a computer. It is a device equipped with. The scanner 12 is a device in which an expansion board (for connecting the control unit 11 and the scanner 12) for configuring the digital multi-function peripheral 10 is mounted on a scanner that can be used as a peripheral device of a computer.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 11 includes a CPU 21, ROM 22, RAM 23, EEPROM 24, communication control circuit 25, image processing circuit 26, LCD control circuit 27, input interface circuit (input I / F) 28, network interface. The unit includes a circuit (NW-I / F) 29, a touch screen 31, a switch unit 32, and the like.

  The touch screen 31 used in the control unit 11 is an element in which a transparent contact position sensor 36 is superimposed on a liquid crystal display (LCD) 35. The touch screen 31 is provided on the housing of the control unit 11 as shown in FIGS. The switch unit 32 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) includes various push button switches such as a job memory button 32m, a start button 32s, and a numeric keypad provided on the casing of the control unit 11, and their control circuits. Unit.

  The CPU 21 (FIG. 3) is a control circuit that integrally controls each part of the digital multifunction peripheral 10 (each part in the control unit 11, the scanner 12, and the printer 13). The ROM 22 is a read-only memory in which a program for defining the operation procedure of the CPU 21 and data used by the CPU 21 (program) are recorded. The RAM 23 is a memory from which a program recorded in the ROM 22 is read, and a memory used as a work area for the CPU 21 (program). The communication control circuit 25 is a circuit used by the CPU 21 for exchanging information (command transmission, image data reception, print data transmission) with the scanner 12 or the printer 13.

  The LCD control circuit 27 is a circuit for displaying an image (screen) having contents designated by the CPU 21 on the touch screen 31 (LCD 35). The input interface circuit 28 is a circuit that notifies the CPU 21 of the operation performed by the user (operator of the digital multifunction peripheral 10) on the numeric keypad 32 or the touch screen 31 (contact position sensor 36). The network interface circuit 29 is a circuit for connecting the control unit 11 to the network.

  The EEPROM 24 is a nonvolatile memory mounted in the control unit 11 in order to store various information (device IP address, agent IP address, etc., which will be described later) that need to be retained even when the power is turned off. This is a rewritable memory.

  Next, an operation procedure (apparent operation of the control unit 11) of the information processing system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The control unit 11 performs a scan data transmission process on a system including an operation mode (hereinafter referred to as a copy mode) for causing the digital multifunction peripheral 10 to operate as a copy machine, and the digital multifunction peripheral 10 and the scan agent computer 50. And an operation mode (hereinafter referred to as a scan mode) for operating as a system capable of executing (information processing system that actually functions).

  Here, the scan data transmission process is a process in which one or both of the scan-to-mail process and the scan-to-file process are performed. In the scan-to-mail process, as schematically shown in FIG. 5, scan data (image data of a document generated by the scanner 12) is transmitted from the digital multifunction peripheral 10 to the scan agent computer 50, and the scan data The scan agent computer 50 that has received the e-mail sends the e-mail attached with the scan data file to several destinations designated by the user. In the scan-to-file processing, the scan data is transmitted from the digital multi-function peripheral 10 to the scan agent computer 50, and the scan agent computer 50 that has received the scan data causes the scan data file to have several locations designated by the user. It is a process stored in (a shared folder in any file server 210).

  In the scan data transmission process in which both the scan-to-mail process and the scan-to-file process are performed, both processes are performed based on the same scan data. This scan data transmission process is a process that is started when the start button 32s (FIG. 4) on the control unit 11 is pressed.

  When operating in the copy mode, the control unit 11 normally displays the copy basic screen 100 shown in FIG. 6 on the touch screen 31.

  When the control unit 11 is to start operation in the scan mode (when the information processing system is to execute the scan data transmission process), the user presses the mode switching button 101 on the copy basic screen 100. When this operation is performed, the control unit 11 starts the operation in the scan mode. Then, a user selection screen 105 as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the touch screen 31.

  The user presses a user name button 106 on which the user's name (name registered in the information processing system; “WATSON” or the like) is displayed on the user selection screen 105. If the user name button 106 relating to the user does not exist on the displayed user selection screen 105, the user presses the button 107n. When the user presses the button 107n, the user name button 106, the valid button 107b, and the invalid button (displayed in gray out and nothing is performed even when the button is pressed) related to other registered users are displayed on the touch screen 31. Since the user selection screen 105 including 107n is displayed, the user presses the user name button 106 related to the user on the user selection screen 105.

  When the user presses the user name button 106 related to himself / herself, if the user has not set a password (the pressed user name button 106 relates to the user whose password is registered (set). When there is a case; details will be described later, the scan basic screen 110 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the touch screen 31. on the other hand. If the user is a person who has set a password, a password entry screen is displayed on the touch screen 31, and a password (four-digit number) that matches the registered one is entered by the user. At that time, the scan basic screen 110 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed.

  The scan basic screen 110 includes default processing content definition information (a set of setting values that specify contents other than the transmission destination of scan data transmission processing) stored in a RAM (corresponding to processing condition designation information storage means); This is a screen showing the content of the condition designation information.

  The mode switching button 111 on the scan basic screen 110 is a button for the control unit 11 to start an operation in the copy mode when pressed.

  The scan destination button 116 is a button for displaying the scan destination selection screen 120 shown in FIG. 9 on the touch screen 31 when pressed.

  In the list area 121 provided in the scan destination selection screen 120, the names of the transmission destination specifying information ("FOLDER_1", "USER_1", etc .: hereinafter referred to as transmission destination specifying information names) registered in advance by the user are stored. This is the area shown. Although the method for setting the destination specification information will be described later, this information processing system uses the destination specification information for scan-to-file processing (including the folder path; hereinafter, the destination for storage) as the destination specification information. Multiple destinations for scan-to-mail processing, destination specification information including one email address (hereinafter referred to as email destination specification information), and multiple emails for scan-to-mail processing It is configured as a system capable of registering destination definition information including an address (hereinafter referred to as group destination definition information). As is clear from FIG. 9, the list area 121 provided in the scan destination selection screen 120 shows a figure 128 and its name (“FOLDER_1”) for each destination information for storage, and for each mail. Only the name (such as “USER_1”) is shown for the destination specification information, and the transmission destination specification information for each group is an area where the graphic 129 and its name (“GROUP_1” etc.) are shown. .

  This scan destination selection screen 120 is a screen on which an arbitrary number of destination specification information can be selected by the following operation.

  That is, when the user wants to select certain destination specification information, the selection frame 126 is displayed in the portion where the destination specification information name to be selected is displayed by operating the button 122u and the button 122d. Form a state. Then, the user presses the “Add to scan destination” button 123.

  When the user presses the “add to scan destination” button 123, the control unit 11 stores that the transmission destination definition information identified by the transmission destination definition information name surrounded by the selection frame 126 has been selected. Further, the control unit 11 increments the numerical value in the selection number display column 124 by “1” and deletes the transmission destination specifying information name surrounded by the selection frame 126 from the list area 121.

  When selecting a plurality of destination definition information, the user presses the “OK” button 125 after performing the above operation on each destination definition information. Note that the scan destination button 127 on the scan destination selection screen 120 is a button for displaying the scan destination confirmation / deletion screen shown in FIG. 10 on the touch screen 31 when the button is pressed. If you want to check the destination specification information that you are using, display this scan destination confirmation / deletion screen, and then click the “OK” button on the scan destination confirmation / deletion screen (or on the scan destination selection screen 120) The “OK” button 125) is pressed.

  When the user presses the “decision” button 125 (or “decision” button on the scan destination confirmation / deletion screen), information on the destination specification information selected by the user is displayed in the scan destination button 116 on the touch screen 31. The basic scan screen 110 shown in FIG.

  Returning to FIG. 8, the description of the scan basic screen 110 is continued.

  A setting value area 112 provided in the scan basic screen 110 is an area in which setting values relating to the document size, resolution, color type, and file format at the present time are indicated. The “original size” button, “resolution” button, “color type” button, and “file format” button 113 are buttons for changing setting values relating to the original size, resolution, color type, and file format, respectively.

  The “original type” button 114 is a button for designating the type of original (whether the original is a printed matter, a photograph, or an original mainly composed of characters). The “document type” button 114 is a button in which a set value (characters in the figure) at that time is indicated. The single-side / double-side switching button 115 is a button for designating whether to read both sides of a document or one side. This single-side / double-side switching button 115 is also a button in which the set value at that time (single-sided in the figure) is shown.

  Each of these buttons is a button for displaying another screen on the touch screen 31 when pressed. For example, when the file format button 113 is pressed, a file format selection screen as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the touch screen 31, and the “document type” button 114 is pressed. The document type selection screen shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the touch screen 31.

  On the other hand, a “light” button and a “light” button, which are buttons for adjusting scan density, are buttons that do not display another screen when pressed (buttons that move the display position of the density cursor 117 when pressed). Yes.

  In short, this information processing system is a system that can start the scan data transmission process when the user presses the start button 32s after making various settings using the scan basic screen 110. .

  Also, in the case where the information processing system performs a scan data transmission process in which the scan data transmission process performed in the past and the file generation conditions (conditions other than the scan destination) are the same, the user can It is a system that does not require operations such as the “paper size” button.

  Specifically, in this case, after displaying the scan basic screen 110, the user presses the job memory button 32m (FIG. 4).

  When the user presses the job memory button 32m, a job memory selection screen 130 as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 is displayed on the touch screen 31. FIG.

  On the job memory selection screens 130 shown in these figures, each button 131 having a date and time therein is information indicating the contents of scan data transmission processing that the user has executed in the information processing system in the past ( A button (hereinafter referred to as history button 131) associated with a set of information that can be set by pressing each button other than the scan destination button 116 on the scan basic screen 110; Notation). In addition, each button 131 on the job memory selection screen 130, in which “Memory 1” or the like is shown, is a button associated with the processing content definition information set by the administrator (hereinafter, the setting memory button 131). It is also expressed).

  Then, when a certain button 131 (history button 131 or setting memory button 131) on the job memory selection screen 130 is pressed, the information processing system stores the processing content definition information associated with the button 131. The scan basic screen 110 reflecting the content is a system that is displayed on the touch screen 31.

  Based on the above, the operation of the information processing system will be described more specifically below.

  In this information processing system, the above-described processing content definition information and destination specification information are stored in the HDD (corresponding to the information storage means) of the scan agent computer 50 in the form schematically shown in FIGS. It has become a system.

  That is, in the information processing system, MFP management information, or MFP management information and some processing content defining information are stored in the HDD of the scan agent computer 50 for each digital MFP 10, and for each user. The system operates in a state where user management information, transmission destination definition information, and processing content definition information are stored.

  The MFP management information stored for each digital MFP 10 (in the figure, MFPs A and B) in the scan agent computer 50 includes the IP address, MAC address, management name, etc. of the corresponding digital MFP 10. It is the information which consists of. The registration of the MFP management information to the scan agent computer 50 is automatically performed when the initial setting for the digital MFP 10 is performed.

  Specifically, the control unit 11 assigns an IP address (hereinafter referred to as a device IP address) at the time of installation (when incorporated in the network), and an IP address assigned to the agent computer 50. (Hereinafter, referred to as an agent IP address) is a unit that must perform an operation for storing. The control unit 11 stores the device IP address and the agent IP address set by these operations on the EEPROM 24 so that those operations can be performed by operating the numeric keys and the touch screen 31 on the control unit 11. The unit is configured to be stored.

  The control unit 11 stores the data in the EEPROM 24 when the power is turned on while the device IP address and the agent IP address are stored in the EEPROM 24 and when the device IP address or the agent IP address is changed. The device IP address, the MAC address of the own unit (network interface circuit 29), the model name of the own unit, and the model name of the scanner 12 for the device specified by the agent IP address (ie, agent computer 50) In addition, an IP address registration / confirmation request including information indicating the mounting status of the optional device (ADF) of the scanner 12 is transmitted.

  On the other hand, the scan agent program 40 is a program that causes the scan agent computer 50 that has received this IP address registration / confirmation request to execute the IP address registration / confirmation processing of the procedure shown in FIG.

  In other words, the scan agent computer 50 that has received the IP address registration / confirmation request stores the MFP management information corresponding to the IP address registration / confirmation request in its own computer (in a predetermined folder in the HDD of the own computer). It is determined whether it is stored (step S101). The MFP management information corresponding to the received IP address registration / confirmation request is MFP management information including the same MAC address as the MAC address included in the received IP address registration / confirmation request.

  If the MFP management information corresponding to the received IP address registration / confirmation request is not stored in the computer (step S101; NO), the scan agent computer 50 registers and confirms the IP address. A management name is generated by combining the model name of the control unit 11 included in the request and a part of the MAC address (step S102). Next, the scan agent computer 50 generates MFP management information including the generated management name and each piece of information included in the received IP address registration / confirmation request, and stores it in the own computer (step). S103). In addition, the process actually performed in step S102 is a process which produces | generates the character string which continued the last 4 characters of the MAC address for the model name of the control unit 11 as a management name. The processing actually performed in step S103 is to create a folder having the same folder name as the MAC address under a predetermined folder created on the HDD, and create a multifunction device management information file in the created folder. It is processing to do.

  The scan agent computer 50 that has finished generating and storing the MFP management information (step S103) receives information indicating that the IP address registration / confirmation request has been processed normally, and transmits the information indicating that the IP address registration / confirmation request has been transmitted ( It is returned to the digital multi-function peripheral 10 / control unit 11) (step S106). Then, the scan agent computer 50 ends this IP address registration / confirmation process.

  On the other hand, when the MFP management information corresponding to the received IP address registration / confirmation request is stored in the own computer (step S101; YES), the scan agent computer 50 is included in the MFP management information. It is determined whether or not the device IP address matches the device IP address included in the received IP address registration / confirmation request (step S104). Then, when both IP addresses match (step S104; YES), the scan agent computer 50 executes the processing after step S106. If the IP addresses do not match (step S104; NO), the scan agent computer 50 matches the received IP address registration / confirmation request with the MAC address, but does not match the device IP address. The device IP address in the MFP management information that has not been changed is changed to the device IP address included in the IP address registration / confirmation request (step S105), and then the processing from step S106 is executed.

  Returning to FIGS. 15 and 16, the description of the information stored in the scan agent computer 50 will be continued.

  User management information stored for each user in the scan agent computer 50 is information (user name, e-mail address, password) set by the scan agent computer 50 using the scan user setting page 65 shown in FIG. Information). The scan user setting page 65 is a Web page that can be displayed after logging in using the administrator name and password. That is, the user management information is information set by the administrator.

  The processing content definition information stored for each digital multifunction peripheral 10 in the scan agent computer 50 is information set by using the job memory setting page 70 shown in FIG. 19 provided by the scan agent computer 50. The job memory setting page 70 is also a Web page that can be displayed after logging in using the administrator name and password.

  The destination definition information stored for each user in the scan agent computer 50 is the folder setting page 75 shown in FIGS. 20 to 22 by the user for whom user management information has been set (user registration has been completed). , Information set using the destination setting page 80 and the destination group setting page 85. These setting pages are Web pages that can be displayed after logging in using a user name and password (or user name), and the information entered for each setting page logs in This information is stored in the HDD of the scan agent computer 50 as user information (save / mail / group destination specification information).

  The processing content definition information stored for each user in the scan agent computer 50 is information used for displaying the job memory selection screen 130 (FIGS. 13 and 14) already performed.

  In the information processing system, when an operation for starting a scan data transmission process is performed on a certain digital multi-function peripheral 10 (control unit 11), various types of information stored in the scan agent computer 50 are stored. The system is used as follows.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 23, when the mode switching button 101 (FIG. 6) is pressed, the control unit 11 sends a user name list request to the scan agent computer 50 (the agent IP address stored in the EEPROM 24). (S101). The information processing system is a system in which communication between the control unit 11 and the agent computer 50 is performed by HTTP (HTTP request body and response body, and various types of information are transmitted and received between the control unit 11 and the agent computer 50. System).

  Upon receiving this user name list request, the scan agent computer 50 creates a user name list from the user management information group stored in its own computer and returns it to the digital multifunction peripheral 10 (S301). Here, the user name list is information including, for each user, a user name of the user and information indicating whether or not the user has set a password.

  Upon receiving this user name list, the control unit 11 displays on the touch screen 31 a user name selection screen 105 (FIG. 7) having a user name button 106 indicating each user name included in the user name list. It is displayed (S202).

  When a certain user name button 106 on the user name selection screen 105 is pressed, the control unit 11 sends a login request including a user name corresponding to the pressed user name button 106 to the scan agent computer 50. It transmits to (S203). If the pressed user name button 106 relates to a user who has set a password, the control unit 11 displays a password input screen on the touch screen 31 to allow the user to input the password. . Then, the control unit 11 transmits a login request including the password and user name input by the user to the scan agent computer 50.

  Upon receiving the login request, the scan agent computer 50 confirms that user management information including the same information (user name or user name and password) included in the login request exists, and then transmits the login request. The processing (session management in the figure) is started to handle the request from the control unit 11 as a request from the user identified by the user name included in the login request (hereinafter referred to as the current user) (S302). ). In addition, the scan agent computer 50 returns information (OK in the figure) indicating that the login request has been accepted to the digital multi-function peripheral 10.

  Receiving this information, the control unit 11 displays the scan basic screen 110 (FIG. 8) on the touch screen 31 (S204). When the scan destination button 116 on the scan basic screen 110 is pressed, the control unit 11 transmits a scan destination list request to the scan agent computer 50 (S205).

  The agent computer 50 that has received this scan destination list request, for each destination definition information stored in its own computer in a form associated with the current user, its name (destination definition information name) and its transmission A scan destination list including information indicating whether the destination prescription information is storage destination prescription information, mail destination prescription information, or group destination prescription information is created and returned to the control unit 11 (S303). ).

  Upon receiving this scan destination list, the control unit 11 displays a scan destination selection screen 120 (FIG. 9) on which the transmission destination specifying information name and the like in the scan destination list are displayed on the touch screen 31 (S206). When the operation for selecting (destination) is completed (for example, when the “OK” button 125 is pressed), the scan basic screen 110 is displayed on the touch screen 31 (S207).

  Then, when the start button 32s is pressed in a state where the scan destination is set, the control unit 11 displays the processing content definition information (on the scan basic screen 110 on the scan basic screen 110) as shown in FIG. A processing start request including the processing content defining information whose contents are displayed is transmitted to the scan agent computer 50 (S211).

  Upon receiving this processing start request, the scan agent computer 50 stores (adds) the processing content definition information included in the HDD as processing content specification information having a name generated from the current date and time regarding the current user (S311). At this time, the scan agent computer 50 determines that the current processing content information related to the current user is the same as the current processing content information (only the name is different). Is stored in place of the processing content definition information (the name of the existing processing content designation information is changed). Also, the existing processing content definition information regarding the current user is not the same as the current processing content information (only the name is different), and the number of existing processing content specification information regarding the current user is predetermined. If it is a number, the oldest processing content definition information (the processing content specification information whose date and time represented by the name is the oldest) is deleted, and the current processing content information is stored.

  Thereafter, the scan agent computer 50 creates scanner control information based on the received processing content definition information and returns it to the control unit 11 (step S312). Here, the scanner control information is information obtained by converting each information in the processing content defining information into information (command) for controlling the scanner 12.

  The control unit 11 that has received the scanner control information performs control processing of the content specified by the scanner control information on the scanner 12 (S212). In short, the control unit 11 starts the operation of the scanner 12.

  Then, the control unit 11 enters a state in which the scan data transmitted from the scanner 12 is transferred to the scan agent computer 50.

  On the other hand, the scan agent computer 50 that has returned the scanner control information to the control unit 11 has started the process of receiving the scan data transmitted from the control unit 11 and storing it in the HDD (S313). When the information indicating that transmission of all the scan data is completed (scan end in the figure) is transmitted from the control unit 11, the scan agent computer 50 uses the scan data that has been received. Then, the processing specified by the current processing content specification information (processing content specification information included in the processing start request) is performed (S314). In other words, the scan agent computer 50 creates a file of a designated file format from the scan data, and sends the created file to a designated transmission destination (shared folder, mailbox of the file server 210). Do.

  Note that this S314 process creates an MMR (G4) compressed TIFF file when the specified file format and color type are “TIFF” and “monochrome”, respectively, and the specified file. If the format and color type are “TIFF”, “Color” or “Grayscale”, respectively, and the scan destination (file storage location) is a shared folder, an uncompressed TIFF file is created, If the specified file format and color type are "TIFF", "Color", or "Grayscale", respectively, and the scan destination (file storage location) is a mailbox, JPEG compressed TIFF The file is created.

  When the job memory button 32m is pressed while the scan basic screen 110 is displayed, the control unit 11 operates as shown in FIG.

That is, the control unit 11 transmits a processing content definition information list request to the scan agent computer 50 (S251).
The scan agent computer 50 that has received this processing content definition information list request creates a processing content specification information list for the current user and returns it to the control unit 11 (S351). Here, the processing content definition information list relating to the current user is each processing content specification information (administrator) stored in its own computer in a form associated with the digital multifunction peripheral 10 that has transmitted the processing content specification information list request. Is registered) and the name of each processing content definition information stored in the computer in a form associated with the current user.

  The control unit 11 that has received this processing content definition information list displays the job memory selection screen 130 (FIGS. 13 and 14) showing the processing content specification information name in the received processing content specification information list on the touch screen 31. It is displayed (S252). Note that the processing content definition information list transmitted by the scan agent computer 50 is stored in the form associated with the current user behind the processing content definition information name group (arranged in name order) registered by the administrator. Each processing content defining information name stored therein is information in a form in which the date and time indicated by the name is arranged in order from the newest. The processing executed by the control unit 11 in S252 displays the job memory selection screen 130 by using the processing content definition information names obtained from the scan agent computer 50 in the order in the processing content specification information list. It is processing to do. That is, when the processing content definition information is not registered by the administrator (see FIG. 15), the job memory selection screen 130 as shown in FIG. 13 is displayed by the processing of S252. If the processing content definition information is registered by the administrator (see FIG. 16), the job memory selection screen 130 as shown in FIG. 14 is displayed by the processing of S252.

  When any one of the setting memory buttons 131 / history buttons 131 on the job memory selection screen 130 is pressed, the control unit 11 performs processing content definition information including the selected processing content definition information name (pressed button name). The request is transmitted to the scan agent computer 50 (S253).

  The scan agent computer 50 that has received this processing content definition information request sends the processing content specification information specified by the processing content specification information name included therein (processing content specification information set by the administrator / the current user sends scan data). The processing content definition information stored in the HDD as a result of the processing is read from the HDD and returned to the control unit 11 (S352).

  Then, the control unit 11 that has received the processing content definition information displays the scan basic screen 110 having the content corresponding to the received processing content specification information on the touch screen 31 (S254).

  As described above, in the information processing system according to the present embodiment, the processing content defining information indicating the processing conditions of the scan data transmission processing executed by each user in the information processing system is automatically stored in the scan agent computer 50. The processing content defining information stored in the scan agent computer 50 can be easily operated from each digital multi-function peripheral 10 constituting the system (after pressing the job memory button 32c). This is a system that can be used in the operation of pressing the button 131. Therefore, this information processing system does not perform the work of registering the processing content definition information at all in the conventional digital multifunction peripheral in a work environment that cannot be realized unless the same processing conditions are registered for each digital multifunction peripheral. It can be said that the system can be realized.

<Deformation>
The information processing system according to the embodiment can perform various modifications. For example, the information processing system described above is a system for performing scan data transmission processing. However, each digital multifunction peripheral 10 is a simple copier, and the scan agent computer 50 is copied from each copier. And a device that provides the stored copy condition information to a copier that has transmitted a predetermined request.

  Further, the information processing system may be modified so that the processing content condition information is not stored for each user. Furthermore, the information processing system may be modified so that the administrator can register processing content defining information that can be commonly used in each digital multi-function peripheral 10.

Explanatory drawing of the structure and usage pattern of the information processing system which concern on one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is an external view of a digital multifunction peripheral included in an information processing system according to an embodiment. 1 is a configuration diagram of a digital multi-function peripheral. 1 is an external view of a control unit included in a digital multi-function peripheral. Explanatory drawing of the scan data transmission process which an information processing system performs. Explanatory drawing of the copy basic screen which a control unit displays. Explanatory drawing of the user selection screen which a control unit displays. Explanatory drawing of the scan basic screen which a control unit displays. Explanatory drawing of the scanning destination selection screen which a control unit displays. Explanatory drawing of the scanning destination confirmation and deletion screen which a control unit displays. Explanatory drawing of the file format selection screen which a control unit displays. Explanatory drawing of the document type selection screen which a control unit displays. Explanatory drawing of the job memory selection screen which a control unit displays. Explanatory drawing of the job memory selection screen which a control unit displays. Explanatory drawing of the information memorize | stored in the scan agent computer contained in an information processing system. Explanatory drawing of the information memorize | stored in a scan agent computer. 6 is a flowchart of IP address registration / confirmation processing executed by a scan agent computer. Explanatory drawing of the scan user setting page which a scan agent computer provides. Explanatory drawing of the job memory setting page provided by the scan agent computer. Explanatory drawing of the folder setting page which a scan agent computer provides. Explanatory drawing of the destination setting page which a scan agent computer provides. Explanatory drawing of the destination group setting page provided by the scan agent computer. The sequence diagram which showed the operation | movement procedure of information processing system. The sequence diagram which showed the operation | movement procedure of information processing system. The sequence diagram which showed the operation | movement procedure of information processing system.

Explanation of symbols

10 Digital MFP, 11 Control Unit, 12 Scanner, 13 Printer 40 Scan Agent Program, 50 Scan Agent Computer

Claims (4)

An information processing system in which a plurality of information processing devices and a management device are network-connected,
The management device is
A plurality of information storage means capable of storing a plurality of pieces of processing condition designation information composed of element information in association with either user identification information or the plurality of information processing devices;
A function for providing a Web page capable of specifying the contents of the processing condition specifying information and the information processing apparatus, and the processing condition specifying information of the contents specified on the Web page to the information processing apparatus specified on the Web page A processing condition designation information registration unit having a function of storing the information in the information storage unit in association with each other,
Each of the plurality of information processing devices
Processing condition designation information storage means for storing the processing condition designation information comprising the plurality of element information;
User interface means that functions after the user inputs his / her identification information, and processing condition designation information stored in the management device in association with the input user identification information, and from the processing condition designation information stored in the management device associated with the information processing apparatus, and thereby selecting one of the processing condition designating information to a user, the stored in the processing condition designating information storage means User interface means capable of changing each element information constituting the processing condition specifying information to element information of contents designated by the user;
When the user selects certain processing condition designation information stored in the management device using the user interface means, the processing condition designation information stored in the processing condition designation information storage means is selected by the user. Rewriting means for rewriting the selected processing condition designation information;
Function capable of executing information processing of contents designated by the processing condition designation information stored in the processing condition designation information storage means, after the user inputs his / her identification information using the user interface means an information processing execution means for, the processing condition designating information stored in the processing condition designating information storage means, the said management apparatus in a form associated with the identification information of the user inputted at that time An information processing system comprising: an information processing execution unit that stores information in the information storage unit. The user interface means comprises:
A means having a touch screen and a button for selecting the processing condition designation information for each processing condition designation information stored in the management apparatus when the user selects the processing condition designation information. Each button relating to the processing condition designation information stored in the management device in association with the user identification information is a selection screen, and the storage date and time of the corresponding processing condition designation information in the information storage means is internally stored. has become that shown, each button on the processing condition specification information stored in the management device associated with the own information processing apparatus has become a certain character information is shown inside The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the information processing system is a means for displaying a selection screen on the touch screen. The management device is
For each user's identification information, further comprising processing condition designation information number control means for controlling the number of processing condition designation information associated with the identification information and stored in the information storage means to a predetermined number or less. The information processing system according to claim 1 or 2. An information processing execution unit included in each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses includes, as the information processing, information processing for generating a copy of a document, and sending an e-mail attached with an image data file generated from the document. The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the information processing system is a means capable of executing information processing and information processing for storing an image data file generated from a document in another computer.

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