JP5297910B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for directly operating commands such as PJL (Printer Job Language) in an image forming apparatus.

  In the image forming apparatus, input data (command) can be analyzed and a predetermined operation can be performed. As data (commands) for this operation instruction, a data description specification specific to each system or industry standard is formulated (for example, Printer Job Language). There are specifications for each manufacturer in this description specification, and each provides a user with all functions using a unique data (command) specification.

  However, when users use data (commands) that are not industry-standard descriptive specifications, users who are accustomed to using the data will have no problem. Command). In addition, the data (command) name is obtained and given by analogy with the function of the data, but actually, additional parameters corresponding to the data (command) are added according to the specifications and sent to the printing apparatus. It does not work properly. Therefore, unless the user fully understands the data (command) specification, it cannot be used easily in normal times.

  However, these data (command) specifications are enormous data, and it is difficult for the user to grasp all of them. In order for the user to operate the image forming apparatus using these data (commands) directly, a command manual is required. It took a lot of time and effort to write data while confirming.

  As a conventional technology, depending on the specifications of the print area of old and new PDL (Page Description Language), even if it is an area that can be printed as a print engine, PDL may not be able to print in that area. There is an image forming apparatus that can handle a wide drawing area by a new PDL using a mode in which drawing is performed from the origin of a specified offset value and two modes in which drawing is performed with the paper edge as the origin (see Patent Document 1). However, this method is only related to the offset setting of the drawing area, and the user cannot recognize the detailed specifications of various operation instruction commands.

JP 2004-142432 A

  The problem to be solved is to enable the user to recognize the specification of a command for operating the image forming apparatus without referring to a manual or the like in the image forming apparatus.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a command database unit that records command specifications for instructing operation of the apparatus, an input unit that receives a command input from a user, and an input from the user that is received by the input unit A command specification acquisition unit that identifies the command input and acquires the command specification from the command database unit using the command, a display unit that displays the command specification acquired by the command specification acquisition unit, A command execution unit that analyzes and executes the input command; and an authentication unit that performs authentication by dividing the user into levels at which the user can acquire the specification of the command. The command database unit includes the command The information that restricts the disclosure of the specifications of the command according to the user level is recorded in association with the specifications of the command, and the command Specifications acquisition unit acquires a command specifications published in accordance with the level of the user is permitted from the command database unit, the command executing unit, when the execution of the command to limit the public, the command The command is not executed unless a dedicated character string for executing the command is added .

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a command database unit that records command specifications for instructing operation of the apparatus, an input unit that receives a command input from a user, and an input from the user that is received by the input unit A command specification acquisition unit that identifies the command input and acquires the command specification from the command database unit using the command, a display unit that displays the command specification acquired by the command specification acquisition unit, A command execution unit that analyzes and executes the input command; and an authentication unit that performs authentication by dividing the user into levels at which the user can acquire the specification of the command. The command database unit includes the command The information that restricts the disclosure of the specifications of the command according to the user level is recorded in association with the specifications of the command, and the command Specifications acquisition unit acquires a command specifications published in accordance with the level of the user is permitted from the command database unit, the command executing unit, when the execution of the command to limit the public, the command The command is not executed unless a dedicated character string for executing the command is added .

  For this reason, it becomes possible to recognize the specification of a command for operating the image forming apparatus without referring to a manual or the like.

1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is an example of an interface screen of a display unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In the image forming apparatus, there is a problem in that it is inconvenient that the specification of a command for operating the image forming apparatus cannot be confirmed unless the user refers to a manual or the like. Then, the problem is solved by supporting the user's correct command generation by acquiring the specification of the command from the database based on the user's command input and displaying it on the operation panel.

  An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[Constitution]
An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a computer, a storage device, an operation panel, and a print engine.

  The computer is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, and is a device that executes a program to perform calculation and / or control. The computer implements a display unit 13, a command specification acquisition unit 15, a command database unit 17, an input unit 19, an authentication unit 21, a command execution unit 23, and a printing unit 25, which will be described later, by executing a program. In particular, the command specification acquisition unit 15, the authentication unit 21, and the command execution unit 23 are functional blocks configured in the CPU when the computer executes a program.

  The storage device is a device that stores a program and data, and functions as the command database unit 17 when the computer executes the program. As the storage device, a hard disk drive, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, or the like is used. In this embodiment, the storage device stores a program for operating the image forming apparatus and data such as a command database described later.

  The operation panel is an operation display device such as a liquid crystal panel or a touch panel, and functions as the display unit 13 and the input unit 19 when the computer executes a program. Specifically, a keyboard and cursor keys for inputting are provided around the liquid crystal panel. Alternatively, a touch screen provided with a touch panel superimposed on the liquid crystal panel may be used.

  The print engine includes an image processing control board for printing input image data on paper, an apparatus unit for each image forming process, and the like. The print engine functions as the printing unit 25 when the computer executes the program.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 11 includes a display unit 13, a command specification acquisition unit 15, a command database unit 17, an input unit 19, an authentication unit 21, a command execution unit 23, and a printing unit 25. Each functional block will be described below.

  In the description of this embodiment, functional units that are not related to the essence of the present invention, such as a document reading unit, a fax transmission / reception unit, and a communication interface unit that are provided in a general image forming apparatus, are omitted.

  Each functional unit will be described below.

  The display unit 13 displays the state of the apparatus for operating the image forming apparatus and accepts input for operation. Further, the command specification is displayed on the display unit 13 to assist the user in generating a correct command.

  The command specification acquisition unit 15 analyzes the input from the user received by the input unit, identifies the input command, and acquires the specification of the command from the command database unit using the command. Furthermore, the command specification permitted to be disclosed according to the user level is acquired from the command database unit. Details of the release of the command specification for each user level will be described later.

  The command database unit 17 records the specifications of commands for instructing operation of the apparatus. Furthermore, information that restricts the disclosure of the command specification according to the user level is also recorded in association with the command. For example, commands that have important functions in the system and that may cause the device to fail to start if used incorrectly will only be released to the administrator with the most restricted release, causing such important problems. Commands that are not to be disclosed to general users without any restrictions on disclosure. In addition, for a command that is difficult to use in the middle, it may be possible to take a method of restricting disclosure to a power user or more.

  The input unit 19 is a functional unit that receives input of commands from the user.

  The authentication unit 21 performs authentication by dividing the user into levels at which command specifications can be acquired. For example, the user is divided into three levels, the general user, the power user, and the administrator, and the level of the user is classified according to the input character string at the time of authentication.

  The command execution unit 23 is a functional unit that analyzes and executes a command input by the input unit. The execution command is, for example, PJL (Printer Job Language), a command obtained by extending it for each model, or the like. In addition, when executing a command that restricts disclosure, the command execution unit 23 does not execute the command unless a dedicated character string for executing the command is attached to the command. . Due to this execution limitation, it is possible to avoid a problem that a system that becomes inoperable due to a command that causes a serious problem in the system being erroneously executed by a user who does not have detailed knowledge of command execution such as a general user.

  The printing unit 25 is a functional unit that performs printing on paper.

[Example of interface screen for action execution]
In the image forming apparatus, character string data input to realize various supported functions is called a command. This command executes a function corresponding to the character string by inputting the character string from the operation panel or transmitting the character string from an external terminal device to the image forming apparatus. As a representative command, a status page representing the state of the image forming apparatus can be output.

  This command has optional parameter specifications related to the detailed processing of each command, and nothing will work unless it is accurately described. This command specification is becoming more complicated for the user because the data becomes larger and more complicated as the functions of the image forming apparatus become larger.

  In the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, the command format and the option parameter specification of the command are presented to the user, and the user can generate the command based on the presented command specification. You won't be able to run because it's wrong. The output information has all normal command specifications, and can be sent to the image forming apparatus as it is simply by specifying optional parameters for the command that the user wants to use.

  Although the specifications of commands may change with device version upgrades, etc., users will notice changes in specifications by looking at the command specifications displayed on the interface screen, and there was no thorough communication regarding changes in specifications. Even in this case, the confusion can be prevented.

  An example of a command setting screen (user interface screen) actually displayed on the display unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 11 is shown in FIG.

  The user can select the type of command to be set from the uppermost list box (candidates are listed by selecting the triangle mark at the right end). In the screen of FIG. 2, the system setting command is selected.

  A specific command can be selected from a plurality of system setting commands by the lower list box (listing with a triangle mark is the same as above). Here, status page printing is selected. The right text box indicates that the public level of this command is set for general users. Therefore, this command specification is open to all users.

  In the bottom row, the actual character string (STATUSPAGE_PRINT) of the status page print command is described, and it is indicated that the command is accompanied by two parameters. The first parameter is a parameter that specifies the number of copies. The second is a parameter that specifies the type of status page. Numerical values 1 to 4 are shown as first parameter candidates, and the user can set numerical values by touching the touch panel. The second parameter candidate is described with its numerical value and the meaning of the numerical value (type of status page). Similarly, the candidate can be selected using the touch panel.

  The command generation method described above allows the user to browse the command specification data obtained from the command database displayed on the display unit 13 even if the user does not remember the command accurately or does not know the command parameters accurately. It is possible to generate a command accurately.

[Disclosure limit for each user level of command]
Commands can be processed in any way, and commands corresponding to various functions are supported. Some of them affect the basic processing of the image forming apparatus main body, and such commands are strictly restricted for each user. Therefore, the command specification notation that may be output will change for each user who outputs, and if the command to output is restricted publicly, be sure to include it in the command to output it Accompany user information. It is assumed that command specifications that can be output are searched according to the category level of the user information, for example, general user, power user, administrator, etc., and only applicable ones are output. When command specifications can be output to the display unit 13, user information is input on the operation panel.

[Add character string for execution of restricted command]
In addition, when a command specification that is restricted to the public that only an administrator or a service person can know is output, the output product may be recognized by a general user. Therefore, for the execution of commands (commands that are restricted to the public) that only the administrator or service person can know, a character string for executing the dedicated command is required along with the command character string that is normally required. . An administrator or the like obtains a character string dedicated for executing this command in advance, and when executing the command, the command execution unit 23 determines whether to add the character string, and only when the character string is correct. Let it be executed.
[Effect of Example]
The image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention enables the following.

  When inputting a command for operating the image forming apparatus, based on the command specification recorded by the command database unit 17, an accurate command character string and command parameter are displayed on the display unit 13 when the user generates a command. Since it is displayed to assist the user, the user can correctly generate and execute these commands.

  Depending on the level of the user, a command that is difficult to operate or a command that causes a serious problem to the system if the operation method is incorrect will cause the general user to stop the system by mistake in order to limit the disclosure of the command. There will be no problems.

  Furthermore, for these commands, not only the command character string but also the command execution unit does not execute unless a dedicated character string for command execution is added, so the safety of the system is further enhanced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Image forming apparatus 13 Display part 15 Command specification acquisition part 17 Command database part 19 Input part 21 Authentication part 23 Command execution part

Claims (1)

A command database section for recording command specifications for operating instructions of the device;
An input unit for receiving a command input from a user;
A command specification acquisition unit that identifies an input command by analyzing an input from a user received by the input unit, and acquires a specification of the command from the command database unit using the command;
A display unit for displaying the command specification acquired by the command specification acquisition unit;
A command execution unit for analyzing and executing the input command;
An authentication unit that performs authentication by dividing the user into levels where the specification of the command can be acquired, and
The command database unit records information that restricts disclosure of the specification of the command according to the level of the user in association with the specification of the command,
The command specification acquisition unit acquires a command specification permitted to be disclosed according to the level of the user from the command database unit ,
The command execution unit does not execute the command unless a dedicated character string for executing the command is attached to the command when executing the command that restricts the disclosure .
An image forming apparatus.

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