JP5787715B2 - Image forming apparatus and application program for image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a Web browser that displays information on a display unit based on a markup document that is a document written in a markup language, and a Web server that transmits the markup document to the Web browser. About.

  Conventionally, an operation unit to which an operation is input, a display unit that displays information, a Web browser that displays information on the display unit based on a markup document that is a document written in a markup language, and a mark on the Web browser 2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus including a Web server that transmits an up-document, and an image forming apparatus that transmits information according to an operation input to an operation unit to the Web server is known (for example, a Web browser) (See Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-55075 A

  However, since the conventional image forming apparatus executes transmission / reception of information such as a markup document between the web browser and the web server every time the screen is switched by the web browser, the time required for transmission / reception of information is required. There is a problem that the screen changes slowly.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus capable of improving the screen switching speed of a Web browser as compared with the conventional one.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an operation unit to which an operation is input, a display unit that displays information, and a Web that displays information on the display unit based on a markup document that is a document described in a markup language. A web server that transmits the markup document to the web browser, and the web browser is an image forming apparatus that transmits information according to an operation input to the operation unit to the web server. A document generation unit configured to generate the markup document transmitted to the Web browser by the Web server; and an operation execution unit configured to execute an operation according to information transmitted from the Web browser to the Web server. And the document generation unit is configured to display a copy on the display unit by the Web browser. And information screens, and generating the mark-up document and an information link for switching the screen according to the input operation to the operation unit.

  With this configuration, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, information of a plurality of screens displayed on the display unit by the Web browser and the operation unit are input into one markup document transmitted from the Web server to the Web browser. Link information for switching the screen according to the operation, when the screen is switched by the Web browser, if the image before switching and the image after switching are included in the same markup document, There is no need to execute communication between the Web browser and the Web server. Therefore, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can improve the screen switching speed by the Web browser as compared with the conventional one.

  In the Web browser of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the size of the information display area in the display unit is fixed, and the document generation unit sets the screen size to be the same as the display area size. May be.

  With this configuration, when one screen in a markup document including a plurality of screens is displayed by a Web browser, the image forming apparatus of the present invention displays the other screens in the markup document as a user. Can be prevented from being recognized.

  Further, the web browser and the web server of the image forming apparatus of the present invention may be mounted on different substrates.

  In the case of this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is necessary for transmitting and receiving information between the web browser and the web server, as compared with the configuration in which the web browser and the web server are mounted on the same substrate. Therefore, it is significant to improve the screen switching speed by the web browser.

  An application program for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: an operation unit to which an operation is input; a display unit that displays information; and a markup document that is a document written in a markup language. An image forming apparatus comprising: a web browser to be displayed; and a web server that transmits the markup document to the web browser, wherein the web browser displays information according to an operation input to the operation unit. An image forming apparatus application program executed by the image forming apparatus to be transmitted to a Web server, the document generating step for generating the markup document to be transmitted to the Web browser by the Web server, and from the Web browser According to the information sent to the web server The image forming apparatus executes an operation execution step for executing an operation, and the document generation step corresponds to information on a plurality of screens displayed on the display unit by the Web browser and an operation input to the operation unit. And generating the markup document including link information for switching the screen.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus that executes the application program for the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of screens displayed on the display unit by the Web browser in one markup document transmitted from the Web server to the Web browser. Since the information and the link information for switching the screen according to the operation input to the operation unit are included, when the screen is switched by the Web browser, the image before switching and the image after switching are the same mark If it is included in the uploaded document, communication between the Web browser and the Web server may not be executed. Therefore, the image forming apparatus that executes the application program for the image forming apparatus of the present invention can improve the screen switching speed by the Web browser as compared with the conventional one.

  In the Web browser of the application program for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the size of the information display area in the display unit is fixed, and the document generation step sets the size of the screen to the size of the display area. It may be the same step.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus that executes the application program for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention can display the markup when one screen in the markup document including a plurality of screens is displayed by the Web browser. It is possible to prevent other screens in the document from being recognized by the user.

  Further, the Web browser and the Web server of the application program for image forming apparatus of the present invention may be mounted on different substrates.

  In the case of this configuration, the image forming apparatus that executes the application program for the image forming apparatus of the present invention has a Web browser and a Web server compared to a configuration in which the Web browser and the Web server are mounted on the same substrate. Since it takes a long time to transmit / receive information to / from, the significance of improving the screen switching speed by the Web browser is significant.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention can improve the screen switching speed by the Web browser as compared with the conventional one.

1 is a block diagram of an MFP according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the function of the panel control part and main control part which are shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the display by the web browser shown in FIG. It is a flowchart of operation | movement of the application shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the page expressed by the markup document produced | generated by the document production | generation means shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the Web browser shown in FIG. 2 based on a markup document. (A) It is a figure which shows an example of the screen displayed on the display part shown in FIG. (B) It is a figure displayed on the display part shown in FIG. 1, Comprising: It is a figure which shows an example of the screen different from the screen shown to Fig.7 (a). (C) It is a figure displayed on the display part shown in FIG. 1, Comprising: It is a figure which shows an example of a screen different from the screen shown to Fig.7 (a) and FIG.7 (b).

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

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 10 as an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 10 is a display device such as an operation unit 11 a that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations by a user and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information. A panel 11 having a display unit 11b, a storage unit 12 which is a storage device such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and HDD (Hard Disk Drive) storing programs and various data, and a sheet Via a printer 13 that is a printing device that executes printing, a scanner 14 that is a reading device that reads an image from a document, an external facsimile apparatus (not shown), and a communication line such as a public telephone line A fax communication unit 15 that is a fax device that performs fax communication and a network communication unit 16 that is a network communication device that communicates with an external device such as a PC (Personal Computer) via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet. And a panel substrate 20 having a panel control unit 21 for controlling the panel 11 and a main substrate 30 having a main control unit 31 for controlling the entire MFP 10.

  The storage unit 12 is a Web described later that displays information on the display unit 11b based on a later-described markup document 12d that is a document described in a markup language such as HTML (HyperText Markup Language) or XML (Extensible Markup Language). As a web browser program 12a which is a program of the browser 21a, a web server program 12b which is a program of a web server 31a which will be described later which transmits the markup document 12d to the web browser 21a, and an application program for the image forming apparatus which is executed by the MFP 10 The application program 12c is stored. The storage unit 12 can store a markup document 12d generated by the application program 12c.

  The application program 12c is, for example, a Java (registered trademark) application program. The application program 12c may be installed in the MFP 10 at the manufacturing stage of the MFP 10, or may be additionally installed in the MFP 10 from a storage medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or an SD memory card, or from the network. Alternatively, it may be generated based on an operation via the operation unit 11a.

  The panel control unit 21 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU. I have. The CPU is configured to execute programs stored in the ROM and the storage unit 12.

  The main control unit 31 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM that is used as a work area for the CPU. The CPU is configured to execute programs stored in the ROM and the storage unit 12.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of functions of the panel control unit 21 and the main control unit 31.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the panel control unit 21 functions as the Web browser 21 a by executing the Web browser program 12 a stored in the storage unit 12.

  The main control unit 31 functions as the Web server 31a by executing the Web server program 12b stored in the storage unit 12.

  The main control unit 31 functions as the application 31b by executing the application program 12c stored in the storage unit 12. The application 31b includes a document generation unit 31c that generates a markup document 12d transmitted from the Web server 31a to the Web browser 21a, and an operation execution unit that executes an operation according to information transmitted from the Web browser 21a to the Web server 31a. 31d.

  In the following, as an example of the application 31b, an application that transmits an image read from a document by the scanner 14 to an external apparatus by FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or e-mail will be described. However, the application 31b may be an application other than the application described below.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of display by the Web browser 21a.

  The Web browser 21a displays information in the display area 21b indicated by hatching in FIG. The size of the display area 21b is fixed.

  Next, the operation of the MFP 10 will be described.

  When an operation for instructing activation of the application 31b is input via the operation unit 11a, the Web browser 21a transmits a command for starting the application 31b to the Web server 31a as information corresponding to the input operation.

  When the Web server 31a receives a command for starting the application 31b from the Web browser 21a, the Web server 31a starts the application 31b according to the received command.

  When the application 31b is activated by the Web server 31a, the application 31b performs the operation shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the application 31b.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4, the document generation unit 31 c of the application 31 b includes a plurality of screen information to be displayed on the display unit 11 b by the Web browser 21 a and a link for switching the screen according to the operation input to the operation unit 11 a. Is generated on the storage unit 12 (S101).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a page 40 expressed by the markup document 12d generated by the document generation unit 31c.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the page 40 expressed by the markup document 12 d includes screens 41 to 43. The screens 41 to 43 are generated so that the size is the same as the size of the display area 21b on the display unit 11b by the Web browser 21a.

  The screen 41 includes an FTP button 41a, which is a button for causing the user to execute FTP settings, and an e-mail button 41b, which is a button for allowing the user to execute e-mail settings. In the screen 41, when the markup language describing the markup document 12d is HTML, for example, <a name="P1"> </a> is set as information to become a link destination.

  When the markup language describing the markup document 12d is HTML as link information for switching from the screen 41 to the screen 42, the FTP button 41a, for example, <a href="#P2"> </ a> is set.

  When the markup language describing the markup document 12d is HTML as link information for switching from the screen 41 to the screen 43, for example, <a href="#P3"> < / a> is set.

  The screen 42 includes an FTP address text box 42a which is a text box for inputting a destination FTP address, an ID text box 42b which is a text box for inputting an FTP ID, and an FTP password. Starts a password text box 42c, which is a text box for inputting an image, a return button 42d, which is a button for returning to the screen 41, and an operation for transmitting an image read from the document by the scanner 14 to an external device by FTP. And a start button 42e which is a button for causing In the screen 42, for example, <a name="P2"> </a> is set as information to be a link destination when the markup language describing the markup document 12d is HTML.

  When the markup language describing the markup document 12d is HTML as link information for switching from the screen 42 to the screen 41, for example, <a href="#P1"> </ a> is set.

  The screen 43 includes an e-mail address text box 43a that is a text box for inputting a destination e-mail address, a return button 43b that is a button for returning to the screen 41, and an image read from the document by the scanner 14. Including a start button 43c, which is a button for starting an operation of transmitting a message to an external device by e-mail. In the screen 43, when the markup language describing the markup document 12d is HTML, for example, <a name="P3"> </a> is set as information to be a link destination.

  In the return button 43b, when the markup language describing the markup document 12d is HTML as link information for switching from the screen 43 to the screen 41, for example, <a href="#P1"> </ a> is set.

  As shown in FIG. 4, after the process of S101, the application 31b instructs the Web server 31a to transmit the markup document 12d generated in S101 to the Web browser 21a (S102).

  When the web server 31a is instructed by the application 31b to transmit the markup document 12d to the web browser 21a in S102, the web server 31a transmits the markup document 12d to the web browser 21a.

  When the web browser 21a receives the markup document 12d from the web server 31a, the web browser 21a executes the processing shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the Web browser 21a based on the markup document 12d.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the Web browser 21a displays a screen 41 on the display unit 11b as shown in FIG. 7A based on the markup document 12d received from the Web server 31a (S121).

  Next, when either the FTP button 41a or the e-mail button 41b in the screen 41 is pressed via the operation unit 11a, the web browser 21a is pressed any of the FTP button 41a and the e-mail button 41b. (S122).

  When the Web browser 21a determines in S122 that the FTP button 41a has been pressed, the screen 42 is displayed on the display unit 11b as shown in FIG. 7B based on the link information set in the FTP button 41a (see FIG. 7B). S123).

  Next, when any of the return button 42d and the start button 42e in the screen 42 is pressed via the operation unit 11a, the Web browser 21a determines which of the return button 42d and the start button 42e has been pressed. Judgment is made (S124).

  If the Web browser 21a determines in S124 that the return button 42d has been pressed, it again displays the screen 41 on the display unit 11b as shown in FIG. 7A based on the link information set in the return button 42d. (S121).

  On the other hand, when the Web browser 21a determines in S124 that the start button 42e has been pressed, information (hereinafter referred to as a “SCAN to FTP command”) that instructs the start of an operation of transmitting an image read from the document by the scanner 14 to an external device by FTP. ) Is transmitted to the Web server 31a (S125). Here, the Web browser 21a displays the FTP address input in the FTP address text box 42a in the screen 42, the ID input in the ID text box 42b, and the password input in the password text box 42c. The SCANtoFTP command is transmitted to the Web server 31a.

  If the Web browser 21a determines in S122 that the e-mail button 41b has been pressed, the screen 43 is displayed on the display unit 11b as shown in FIG. 7C based on the link information set in the e-mail button 41b. (S126).

  Next, when any of the return button 43b and the start button 43c in the screen 43 is pressed via the operation unit 11a, the Web browser 21a determines which of the return button 43b and the start button 43c has been pressed. Judgment is made (S127).

  If the Web browser 21a determines in S127 that the return button 43b has been pressed, it displays the screen 41 on the display unit 11b again as shown in FIG. 7A based on the link information set in the return button 43b. (S121).

  On the other hand, when the Web browser 21a determines in S127 that the start button 43c has been pressed, information for instructing the start of an operation for transmitting an image read from the original by the scanner 14 to an external device (hereinafter, “SCAN to MAIL command”). Is transmitted to the Web server 31a (S128). Here, the Web browser 21a transmits the e-mail address input in the e-mail address text box 43a in the screen 43 to the Web server 31a together with the SCANtoMAIL command.

  The Web browser 21a ends the process shown in FIG. 6 after the process of S125 or S128.

  Upon receiving the SCANtoFTP command, FTP address, ID, and password transmitted from the web browser 21a in S125, the web server 31a transmits the received SCANtoFTP command, FTP address, ID, and password to the application 31b.

  Similarly, when the web server 31a receives the SCAN to MAIL command and the email address transmitted from the web browser 21a in S128, the web server 31a transmits the received SCAN to MAIL command and email address to the application 31b.

  As shown in FIG. 4, after the process of S102, the operation execution unit 31d of the application 31b determines that the information transmitted from the web browser 21a to the web server 31a is received from the web browser 21a to the web server 31a. It is determined whether or not the transmitted information has been received (S103).

  Here, when the operation execution means 31d receives the SCANtoFTP command, FTP address, ID, and password from the Web server 31a, or receives the SCANtoMAIL command and the email address from the Web server 31a, the operation execution unit 31d transmits the Web browser 31a to the Web server 31a. It is determined that the received information has been received.

  When the operation execution unit 31d determines in S103 that the information transmitted from the Web browser 21a to the Web server 31a has been received, the operation execution unit 31d executes an operation according to the received information (S104).

  For example, when the operation execution unit 31d receives a SCANtoFTP command, an FTP address, an ID, and a password from the Web server 31a, the operation execution unit 31d reads an image from an original by the scanner 14, and then reads the read image using an external FTP specified by the FTP address. Send to server using FTP with ID and password.

  Similarly, when the operation execution means 31d receives the SCANtoMAIL command and the e-mail address from the Web server 31a, the operation execution means 31d reads the image from the document by the scanner 14, and then reads the read image from the external e-mail specified by the e-mail address. Send by email to the server.

  The application 31b ends the process illustrated in FIG. 4 after the process of S104.

  As described above, the MFP 10 includes the information on the screens 41 to 43 displayed on the display unit by the Web browser 21a and the operation unit 11a in one markup document 12d transmitted from the Web server 31a to the Web browser 21a. Since the link information for switching the screen according to the operation input to is included, when the screen is switched by the Web browser 21a, the image before switching and the image after switching are included in the same markup document 12d. If included, it is not necessary to perform communication between the Web browser 21a and the Web server 31a. That is, when the screen is switched by the Web browser 21a, the MFP 10 can reduce the communication frequency between the Web browser 21a and the Web server 31a. Therefore, the MFP 10 can improve the switching speed of the screen by the Web browser 21a as compared with the related art.

  The MFP 10 includes the screens 41 to 43 because the size of the display area 21b by the Web browser 21a is fixed and the document generation unit 31c makes the screens 41 to 43 the same size as the display area 21b. When one screen in the markup document 12d, that is, any one of the screens 41 to 43 is displayed by the Web browser 21a, it is confirmed that the other screen in the markup document 12d is recognized by the user. Can be prevented.

  In the MFP 10, a web browser 21 a and a web server 31 a are mounted on separate substrates such as a panel substrate 20 and a main substrate 30. In the case of this configuration, the MFP 10 is necessary for transmitting and receiving information between the Web browser 21a and the Web server 31a, compared to a configuration in which the Web browser 21a and the Web server 31a are mounted on the same substrate. Since the time is long, it is significant to improve the screen switching speed by the Web browser 21a.

  In the MFP 10, the web browser 21a and the web server 31a may be mounted on the same board, or the web browser 21a and the web server 31a may be realized by the same CPU.

The operation execution means 31d of the application 31b includes an operation of transmitting an image read from the document by the scanner 14 to an external device by FTP as an operation according to information transmitted from the Web browser 21a to the Web server 31a, 14, an operation of transmitting an image read from a document to an external device by e-mail is performed. However, other operations may be performed according to the type of the application 31 b. For example, the operation execution unit 31d executes an operation of generating a new markup document transmitted to the Web browser 21a by the Web server 31a as an operation according to the information transmitted from the Web browser 21a to the Web server 31a. It may be. Similarly to the markup document 12d, this new markup document also includes information on a plurality of screens to be displayed on the display unit 11b by the Web browser 21a and a link for switching the screen according to the operation input to the operation unit 11a. Information may be included.

  The markup document 12d includes three screens in the present embodiment, but may include a plurality of screens other than three.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is the MFP 10 in the present embodiment, but may be an image forming apparatus other than the MFP, such as a printer dedicated machine, a fax dedicated machine, and a copy dedicated machine.

10 MFP (image forming apparatus)
11a Operation unit 11b Display unit 12c Application program (application program for image forming apparatus)
12d Markup document 20 Panel substrate (substrate)
21a Web browser 21b Display area 30 Main board (board)
31a Web server 31c Document generation means 31d Operation execution means 41-43 Screen

Claims (4)

An operation unit to which an operation is input, a display unit that displays information, a Web browser that displays information on the display unit based on a markup document that is a document written in a markup language, and the Web browser A Web server that transmits a markup document, wherein the Web browser is an image forming apparatus that transmits information corresponding to an operation input to the operation unit to the Web server.
A document generation unit configured to generate the markup document transmitted to the Web browser by the Web server; and an operation execution unit configured to execute an operation according to information transmitted from the Web browser to the Web server. ,
The document generation means includes information on a plurality of screens to be displayed on the display unit by the web browser, and information on a link specifying a place in a page in order to switch the screens according to an operation input to the operation unit. to generate the markup document containing the door in one page,
In the web browser, the size of the information display area in the display unit is fixed,
The document generation means makes the size of the screen the same as the size of the display area,
The moving image execution means can execute an operation of generating a new markup document transmitted to the web browser by the web server as an operation according to information transmitted from the web browser to the web server.
The new markup document specifies a location in a page to switch the screen according to information on the plurality of screens displayed on the display unit by the Web browser and an operation input to the operation unit. Link information is included in one page.
The image forming apparatus , wherein the size of the screen included in the new markup document is the same as the size of the display area .   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the web browser and the web server are mounted on different substrates.   An operation unit to which an operation is input, a display unit that displays information, a Web browser that displays information on the display unit based on a markup document that is a document written in a markup language, and the Web browser An image forming apparatus including a Web server that transmits a markup document, wherein the Web browser is executed by the image forming apparatus that transmits information according to an operation input to the operation unit to the Web server. An application program for an image forming apparatus,
  The image forming step of generating the markup document transmitted from the Web server to the Web browser, and the operation execution step of executing an operation according to information transmitted from the Web browser to the Web server. Let the device run,
  The document generation step includes information on a plurality of screens to be displayed on the display unit by the Web browser and information on a link specifying a place in a page in order to switch the screens according to an operation input to the operation unit. Generating the markup document including:
  In the web browser, the size of the information display area in the display unit is fixed,
  The document generation step is a step of making the size of the screen the same as the size of the display area,
  The moving image execution step is a step capable of executing an operation of generating a new markup document transmitted to the web browser by the web server as an operation according to information transmitted from the web browser to the web server. Yes,
  The new markup document specifies a location in a page to switch the screen according to information on the plurality of screens displayed on the display unit by the Web browser and an operation input to the operation unit. Link information is included in one page.
  An application program for an image forming apparatus, wherein the size of the screen included in the new markup document is the same as the size of the display area.   The application program for an image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the web browser and the web server are mounted on different substrates.

Images