JP2000122853A - Combined device and controlling method in the device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the functions of a combined device and to perform function addition and so on by installing a program received through a network and executing processing following the program. SOLUTION: This digital combined device has an image forming part 101, an image reading part 102, a fax part 104, a network interface part 107, etc., receives information including a universal network programming language by a network interface part 107 and analyzes and executes the programming language under the control of a virtual machine 108. Thus, it is possible to execute a function indicated in the programming language based on the universal network programming language received from a network server.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multifunction device such as a digital multifunction device having a plurality of functions such as a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile, and a control method for the device. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A digital multifunction peripheral having an image reading unit such as a scanner and an image forming unit such as a printer and handling image information from the image reading unit as digital information is known. In addition to the basic document copying function, it is provided with a network connection function, a print processing function for print data received via the network, and a function for transmitting image information read by the image reading unit via the network (network ·scan),
Further, it has a plurality of functions such as a function of performing facsimile communication by connecting to a public telephone line.

Various network protocols for connecting to a network are mounted on the network connection section of these digital multifunction peripherals, so that various types of computers, OS, NOS, etc. existing on the network can be supported. Has become.

In use, for example, when printing data from a network, a print job from a client computer is transmitted to the digital multi-function peripheral through a network wiring according to a predetermined protocol (communication procedure). This allows the digital MFP to
It operates to process the received print job and print it by the image forming unit. Similarly, the network scan function and the network facsimile transmission / reception function are the same in that they operate according to instructions from the client computer.

There is also a technology that connects a host computer and a digital multi-function peripheral via a public telephone line, and that can monitor the usage status and defect information of the digital multi-function peripheral by remote control from the host computer.

[0006]

However, in the conventional digital multifunction peripheral, even if the functions incorporated in the digital multifunction peripheral can be used from a client computer on the connected LAN,
There has been a problem that it is not possible to add further functions to the digital multi-function peripheral or to improve or improve the functions at any time.

Further, when updating the software of the digital multi-function peripheral via a public line, it is necessary to access the host computer from the digital multi-function peripheral, and there is a problem that the host cannot cope with the situation flexibly. Was. Further, in the conventional digital multifunction peripheral, it is considered that the digital multifunction peripheral is mainly used from a client computer of a connected LAN. Therefore, the digital multifunction peripheral can be obtained from a network such as the Internet. Standard information was not directly available.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and provides a multifunction device capable of installing a program received via a network and executing processing in accordance with the program, and a control method in the device. Aim.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multifunction device and a multifunction device capable of receiving and executing a program or data expressed in a programming language sent from the server in response to a request from a server connected to the network. The present invention is to provide a control method in the above.

Another object of the present invention is to have a virtual program layer interposed between hardware and a program of a multifunction peripheral, and control the multifunction peripheral itself via the program layer by a general-purpose program language. It is an object of the present invention to provide a composite device and a control method in the device.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a multifunction device according to the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, a composite device having at least an image forming unit and a network connection unit, wherein the reception unit receives information including a general-purpose network programming language via the connection unit, and the network received by the reception unit. Storage means for storing information including a programming language; analysis means for analyzing the information including the network programming language stored in the storage means; and the network analyzed by the analysis means.
Control means for executing a programming language.

In order to achieve the above object, a control method in a multifunction peripheral according to the present invention includes the following steps. That is, a control method in a multifunction peripheral having at least an image forming unit and a network connection unit, wherein the reception step includes receiving information including a general-purpose network programming language via the connection unit; Storing the information including the network programming language in a memory; analyzing the information including the network programming language stored in the memory; and analyzing the network programming analyzed in the analyzing step. And a control step of executing a language.

[0013]

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a diagram hierarchically showing a configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an image forming unit which executes a series of image forming processes such as paper handling and image transfer / fixing to form an image on a recording medium such as recording paper. The image forming unit 101 includes, for example, an inkjet printer or an electrophotographic image forming unit. An image reading unit 102 includes a scanner and the like.
The original image is optically read and converted into digital image information, and the digital image information is output to the image forming unit 101 to form an image, or is passed to the fax unit 104, the network interface unit 107, etc. Can also be transmitted via.

A digital multifunction peripheral control unit 103 controls the operations of the image forming unit 101 and the image reading unit 102, and controls, for example, the image forming unit 101 to copy the document information read by the image reading unit 102. I do. The digital multi-function peripheral control unit 103 is connected to a network
It has an interface unit 107, a print processing unit 106, a facsimile unit 104, and an operation unit control unit 105, and also controls the exchange of information between these units. The facsimile unit 104 transmits and receives facsimile images, that is, transmits digital image information read by the image reading unit 102, and conversely decodes the received facsimile signal and records it in the image forming unit 101. Can be performed. The operation unit control unit 105 generates a signal according to a user operation using the operation panel of the operation unit,
Also, control is performed such that various data and messages are displayed on the display unit and the like on the operation unit. The print processing unit 106
For example, control is performed such that print data input via the network interface unit 107 is processed and output to the image forming unit 101 for printing. The network interface unit 107 controls data transmission / reception with another communication terminal via a communication line.

A virtual machine (Virtual Machine) 108
The virtual machine 108 is located above the digital multi-function peripheral control unit 103 and can control the digital multi-function peripheral control unit 103.

Further, the network interface unit 1
07 denotes the digital multifunction peripheral control unit 103 and the virtual machine 1
08 is directly available from both sides, and is configured to be able to access the external network independently of each other.

Further, above the virtual machine 108,
API (Application Prog) provided by the virtual machine 108
There are applications A to D described in a programming language corresponding to a ramming interface. These applications can indirectly act on the digital multi-function peripheral control unit 103 via the virtual machine 108, and the image forming unit 101 and the image reading unit 102
Can be operated.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a network environment including the digital multifunction peripheral 200 according to the first embodiment.

Referring to FIG.
Are connected to the server machine 201 and the client computers 202 to 204 under the environment of the LAN 210.

In such a configuration, the client
From each of the computers 202 to 204, printing can be performed by the digital multifunction peripheral 200 as if printing was performed using an ordinary network printer. In this case, the print job data sent from each client computer is
0 is sent to the print processing unit 106 through the network interface unit 107. The print processing unit 106 analyzes the print job data, develops (raster develops) the image job data into image data, and sends the image data to the image forming unit 101, so that the image forming unit 101 performs printing.

In the first embodiment, the setting of the virtual machine 108 of the digital multi-function peripheral 200 further causes the application program to execute the virtual machine 108 through the network interface 107 of the digital multi-function peripheral 200 in accordance with the transmission request from the server 201 on the network. 108 to be installed.

Further, the server 201 can obtain information such as the update date of the application program installed in the digital multi-function peripheral 200 at an arbitrary time interval. The software having the same contents is already in the virtual machine 10 of the digital multifunction peripheral 200.
8, the application program can be prevented from being transmitted from the server 201 to the digital multi-function peripheral 200.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing in the digital multifunction peripheral of the first embodiment.

First, in step S1, when a transmission request from the server 201 is received, the process proceeds to step S2, and it is determined whether reception is currently possible. If reception is possible, step S
Proceed to 3 and transmit an ACK (acknowledge) to the server 201. As a result, the application 201
Transmission of the program is started, and the transmitted application program is received in step S4. Steps S4 and S5 are executed until an "EOF" code indicating the end of the program code is received. When the final code of the application program is received, the process proceeds to step S6. Is installed and the process ends.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the function of the digital multifunction peripheral 200 can be improved, a defect can be corrected, and furthermore, a special operation on the digital multifunction peripheral 200 is not required from the administrator (server) side. Can add a new function.

Further, even when a plurality of types of digital multi-function peripherals having different image forming speeds in the image forming unit 101 or having different device configurations are connected to a network, each of the digital multi-function peripherals has A virtual machine 108 having an API that is common when viewed from each application is installed. As a result, the same application program can be used in each digital multifunction peripheral, and the development efficiency of these multifunction peripherals can be increased.

<Embodiment 2> FIG. 4 shows a server 201 as a supply source for manufacturing, selling, and maintaining a digital multifunction peripheral.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an operation when an application is executed to monitor the usage status of the digital multifunction peripheral 200 at the user.

In the second embodiment, the most common communication protocol, TCP / IP, is used for LAN communication.
It communicates with internal and external networks, and the digital multifunction peripheral of the user and the server machine for maintenance of the supply source can directly exchange information via the Internet.

Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIGS.

First, whether or not an application program for retrieving the usage status of the digital multifunction peripheral 200 from the server 201 has already been installed on the digital multifunction peripheral 200 is determined by the virtual machine 108 of the digital multifunction peripheral 200. Inquire. The virtual machine 108 returns a response as to whether the inquired application program exists (is installed). If it is installed, it checks whether the version information of the application program is the same as the version of the application program that the server 201 is trying to transmit.

As a result, when the desired application program is not installed in the digital multi-function peripheral, the server 201 sends the application program.
The program is transmitted and fully installed. On the other hand, when different versions of the application program exist, only the difference due to the difference between the versions is sent from the server 201 to the digital multi-function peripheral 200, and the application program is updated. If the versions match, the process proceeds to the next step.

After this operation, a signal indicating that the preparation has been completed is returned from the virtual machine 108 of the digital multifunction peripheral 200 to the server 201. Thereby, the server 201 that has received the signal transmits an execution instruction of the application program to the digital MFP 200.

As a result, the application that has received the execution instruction is started on the virtual machine 108, acquires the information of the operation history database of the digital multifunction peripheral 200 through the virtual machine 108, and sorts and sorts the data. After performing the processing, the result is transmitted to the server 201.

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a communication procedure between the server 201 and the digital multifunction peripheral 200 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a flowchart for explaining the specific communication contents. is there.

First, as shown at 400 (step S10), the server 210 determines whether or not the application program to be transmitted by the server 201 is already installed in the digital MFP 200. Inquire. On the other hand, if there is a reply “No” from the digital MFP 200 at 401 (step S11), the process proceeds to step S12, and the server 201 sends the application program to the digital MFP 200 as indicated by 404. Is sent. Thereby, the digital MFP 2
00, the application program is installed in step S13.
From 0, a preparation completion signal is sent to the server 201 (405). Accordingly, the server 201 transmits the execution instruction of the transmitted application program to the digital MFP 200 in step S14 (406). As a result, in step S15, the application program runs on the virtual machine 108, and acquires information such as the operation history and database of the digital multifunction peripheral 200 from the digital multifunction peripheral control unit 103. Then, the process proceeds to step S16, and the obtained result is transmitted to the server 201 via the virtual machine 108.

On the other hand, if there is a reply "Yes" in step S17 to the inquiry in step S10, step S17 is executed.
Then, the process proceeds to step S18, and an inquiry is made as to whether the version of the installed application program is the same as the version of the application program to be transmitted by the server 201 (402). When "No" is replied in step S19 (403), step S19 is executed.
Then, the server 201 transmits only the update information based on the difference between the versions to the digital MFP 200 (404). Thus, the process proceeds to step S13,
As described above, the digital MFP 200 sends the server 2
01 is sent (405). Thereafter, in steps S14 to S16, the above-described processing is executed and the server 201 is provided with the digital MFP 2
Various control information at 00 is transmitted.

In response to the inquiry in step S18, a reply "Yes" is returned in step S20, and at the same time, when a "preparation complete signal" similar to step S13 is transmitted, the process proceeds to step S14, and as described above. Then, an execution instruction of the application is sent from the server 201 to the digital MFP 200, and the same processing as described above is executed.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, according to the application program transmitted on the server side, only the desired information out of the usage status of the digital multifunction peripheral 200 as the user's destination is appropriately used when necessary. And it can be obtained from a remote place.

<Embodiment 3> FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of a network connection according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Portions common to those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. This figure shows a digital MFP 20 installed in a LAN environment.
Numeral 0 indicates a state in which connection to the Internet is made via a gateway 205 in the LAN.

As shown in FIG.
There are a number of information providing servers on the Internet, some of which transmit ever-changing market information and news to individual client computers registered in the form of a network programming language. A push technology that has a function of performing the function is implemented.

In the third embodiment, the digital multifunction peripheral 200 in which the virtual machine 108 is mounted is handled in the same manner as one client computer. That is, the address of the digital MFP 200 on the network is registered in advance in the information providing server in which the push technology is implemented. As a result, information such as news and market information that constantly changes from the information providing server is transmitted to the digital multi-function peripheral 200 as data described in a general-purpose network programming language.

The digital multifunction peripheral 200 according to the third embodiment can also be configured so that the information received from the information providing server is interpreted by the virtual machine 108 and printed at regular time intervals.

In this case, if it is news information, the news information is normally transmitted to the client computer and displayed on the monitor screen so that the news flows. Machine 20
No. 0 is characterized in that the text of the news received and interpreted is automatically processed into an appropriate layout, and then printed as a hard copy with improved listability.

Further, the print layout in the digital multi-function peripheral 200 can be changed according to the information from the information providing server on the transmitting side. Thus, in the case of ever-changing, for example, currency exchange information or stock price information, a function of creating and outputting a graph from numerical information is provided.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a data receiving process in the digital multifunction peripheral 200 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

First, in step S31, the Internet 5
When data from any one of the information providing servers connected to 00 is received, the process proceeds to step S32, and the received data is analyzed. Here, for example, it is checked whether the data is document information that emphasizes the contents of documents such as reports to clients or news, or information that emphasizes numerical information such as stock prices and exchange rates. If it is document information, the flow advances to step S34 to perform layout processing and editing processing of the information, and the result is printed from the image forming unit 101 in step S36.

If the information is numerical information in step S33, the process proceeds to step S35, where a graph or the like is created based on the numerical information, and the created graph is printed by the image forming unit 101.

The print output process in step S36 may be performed at predetermined time intervals, for example, when a timer provided in the digital multifunction peripheral 200 measures time, or when such data is received. Of course, it may be performed at the timing.

According to the third embodiment, the content on the push side, which is transmitted so as to flow on the conventional client computer screen, is automatically processed and printed by the digital multifunction peripheral 200 to obtain a hard copy. To improve the visibility and storage of received information,
More efficient operation can be achieved.

The present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), but can be applied to a single device (for example, a copier, a facsimile). Device).

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
Or MPU) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code. ) Performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, The case where the CPU of the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a general-purpose network
By providing functions for interpreting and executing a programming language, it is possible to develop software in a general development environment to improve the functions of the digital multi-function peripheral and to correct bugs. This has the effect of realizing higher efficiency.

A function of receiving information including a network programming language from a server at an arbitrary timing regardless of a request from the digital multifunction peripheral and interpreting and executing the information at the digital multifunction peripheral connected to the network. User side (client)
There is an effect that software update such as improvement of functions, addition of functions, correction of defects, etc. can be performed at an arbitrary timing according to the convenience of the server from a server which is a product supplier without an operation from the server.

Further, a programming layer called a virtual machine (virtual machine) is provided between the hardware of the digital multi-function peripheral and the network programming language, which does not require direct control of the hardware from the network programming language. Thus, there is an effect that it is possible to provide an environment in which a general-purpose network programming language can operate on a digital multifunction peripheral.

Such a virtual machine is mounted so that the components of the digital multi-function peripheral can be controlled. If means for controlling this virtual machine is provided, the components of the digital multi-function peripheral are indirectly controlled. Thus, there is an effect that a desired function can be achieved.

Further, by enabling a program in the network programming language to operate on a virtual machine and indirectly control the components of the digital multi-function peripheral, a program for directly controlling the digital multi-function peripheral is described. In addition, the multifunction peripheral can be controlled by a general-purpose program, and damage to the multifunction peripheral itself due to incorrect programming can be prevented by using the virtual machine as a cushion.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that a program received via a network can be installed and processing according to the program can be executed.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to receive and execute a program or data expressed in a programming language sent from the server in response to a request from a server connected to the network.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to have a virtual program layer interposed between the hardware of the multifunction device and the program, and to control the multifunction device itself via the program layer by a general-purpose program language. effective.

[0065]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram hierarchically illustrating a configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a network environment including the digital multifunction peripheral of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a digital multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment.
It is a flowchart which shows the data reception process from a server.

4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating an operation when an application for monitoring the use status of the digital multi-function peripheral according to the second embodiment is executed. FIG. 4A illustrates the exchange of signals between a server and the digital multi-function peripheral. FIG. 7B is a flowchart showing the flow of the processing.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which a digital multifunction peripheral according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention is connected to the Internet via a gateway in a LAN.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of receiving data from an information providing server in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the third embodiment.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/00 H04N 1/00 C 107 107Z F-term (Reference) 5B021 AA05 BB01 BB02 EE01 PP04 PP06 5B076 AA02 AB07 AC01 BB06 5B089 GA11 GA16 GA21 GB03 GB07 HA01 HA10 JA34 JB07 JB10 KA04 KB04 KB09 5C062 AA05 AA13 AA35 AB17 AB22 AB38 AB42 AE16 AF00 BA04

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A multifunction device having at least an image forming unit and a network connection unit, a reception unit receiving information including a general-purpose network programming language via the connection unit, and a reception unit receiving the information. Storage means for storing the information including the network programming language, and analysis means for analyzing the information including the network programming language stored in the storage means; and the network programming language analyzed by the analysis means. And a control unit for performing the following. 2. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit receives information including a general-purpose network programming language transmitted at an arbitrary timing from a server connected to the network. . 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the analysis unit and the control unit are realized by a programming layer interposed between hardware of the multifunction peripheral and the network programming language. Composite device. 4. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the multifunction apparatus further includes an image input unit that reads and inputs a document image. 5. The image forming unit according to claim 5, wherein the control unit forms an image corresponding to the network programming language in accordance with the information of the network programming language analyzed by the analyzing unit. 2. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image forming format is changed according to an analysis result of said analysis means. 6. A multifunction device having at least an image forming unit and a communication unit via a network, a receiving unit for receiving information including a general-purpose network programming language via the communication unit, and the receiving unit Storage means for storing information including the network programming language received by the computer; analyzing means for analyzing the information including the network programming language stored in the storage means; and the network analyzed by the analysis means. An image information generating unit that generates image information based on a programming language, and a control unit that controls the image information generated by the image information generating unit to be output to the image forming unit so as to form an image. A composite device comprising: 7. A control method in a multifunction peripheral having at least an image forming unit and a network connection unit, wherein: a reception step of receiving information including a general-purpose network programming language via the connection unit; A storage step of storing the information including the network programming language received in the step in a memory; an analyzing step of analyzing the information including the network programming language stored in the memory; and the analyzing step in the analyzing step. A control step of executing a network programming language. 8. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, in the receiving step, information including a general-purpose network programming language transmitted from a server connected to the network at an arbitrary timing is received. Control method. 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the analyzing step and the controlling step are realized by a programming layer interposed between hardware of the multifunction peripheral and the network programming language. A control method in a multifunction device. 10. The control method according to claim 7, further comprising an image input step of reading and inputting a document image. 11. In the control step, an image corresponding to the network programming language is formed by the image forming unit according to the information of the network programming language analyzed in the analysis step, The control method according to claim 7, wherein an image formation format is changed according to an analysis result in the analysis step.