JP2000196799A - Remote control system using html - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve user operability still more by providing a system applying a protocol HTTP for WWW to an application other than a printer. SOLUTION: This system consists of electronic equipment 11 provided at least with a network function and a FAX function and a network computer 12, the electronic equipment 11 has a function which generates a transmission log and a reception log to which a link to a received image is stuck as an THML file, and the network 12 can confirm the answer to an inquiry about a FAX situation from the computer 12 and the received image according to the link stuck to the reception log.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control system, and more particularly, to a remote control system using a new network-compatible HTML having network copy means, scanner means, facsimile means, and printer means. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been used a system in which an electronic device is connected to a personal computer, various setting menus are displayed on a CRT screen of the personal computer, and necessary data is transmitted to the electronic device after setting various buttons.

When such a system is used, FA
For an electronic device having a means such as X, it is necessary to create a tool suitable for a setting tool on a personal computer (PC) side. In addition, if the type of the electronic device is different, it is further necessary to create the above-mentioned tool in accordance with the type.

[0004] With the spread of network printers, the printer side has been using HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol).
col), and a product that can set the status of the printer and various modes of the printer in response to access from a computer on a network has appeared.

[0005] In addition, SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) for managing a network connection device.
Management Information Format (MIB) that can manage the information of various devices connected to the network using
Standardization of objects called "on Base" is underway.

[0006] Further, a system capable of performing print output to a designated printer via the Internet, which is called Internet printing, is also emerging.

[0007]

As described above, conventionally, an electronic device is connected to a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a personal computer) or the like, and various setting menus are displayed on a screen (CRT screen or liquid crystal screen, etc.) of the personal computer. A system for operating the electronic device by displaying necessary data and transmitting necessary data to the electronic device after setting various buttons has been used.

When the above system is used, it is necessary to create a setting tool on the personal computer side. If the personal computer model is different, a tool conforming to the specification of the model must be prepared and designated for each personal computer. In addition, if the electronic devices are different, it is necessary to create the above-described tool by adapting each electronic device. Thus, there is a problem that a troublesome tool must be created for each computer to be used and for each electronic device to be used.

In such a situation, for example, the use frequency of FAX is expected to decrease drastically with the spread of e-mail. However, FAX still plays an important role when exchanging information with a partner who does not have e-mail. Therefore, the importance of FAX means is expected to be high in the future, and it seems that FAX itself will not be lost.

However, in such an electronic device, it is inefficient to periodically check the presence or absence of a facsimile call due to the decrease in the frequency of incoming calls as described above. A system that can do this is desired.

[0011] Further, in the conventional FAX, the use of an electronic telephone directory has become commonplace. However, FA using such an electronic telephone directory
In X, there is no Kana-Kanji conversion means that has excellent learning ability like a personal computer.
For correction, it is necessary to input from an operation unit having poor operability over time.

For a user who has a large amount of data to be registered, a registration list is sent to a service station of the manufacturer and input or downloaded by a dedicated system. There is currently no way to do this. In the latter case, i.e., for a user who has a large amount of data to be registered, it is necessary to make corrections once registration has been made or new additions have been made. The operation had to be performed through the unit, which required a rather troublesome operation.

In a facsimile device, a printer device, a copying device, or a multifunction machine having two or more of these devices, the usability (operability) of the operation unit is an important factor that affects the evaluation of the product. Becomes However, the operation unit adapted to the size of such a machine (multifunction peripheral) naturally has a limit due to cost and the like. How to improve the operability among such many constraints,
This is something to consider for any manufacturer.

For example, when such an operation unit is formed on a liquid crystal screen, a four-line display LCD is 400 × 25.
The operability is improved with a 6-dot LCD screen, and the operability is improved with a color LCD than with a monochrome LCD. Also, when connected to a network, it can be used remotely, but if one person is using the electronic device and another person's job is executed, the setting itself of the electronic device used long ago is set again There are problems such as the necessity of the job and the need to consider how to exclude other jobs while the job is being executed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has been developed in consideration of the above-mentioned problems.
b) HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Pro)
It is intended to further improve user operability by providing a system in which tocol) is applied to applications other than the printer. The present invention further provides HTML (Hyper) for displaying on a WWW browser.
Using Text Markup Language), a user can easily register a FAX phone book from a PC on the network.
It is intended to be editable.

Another object of the present invention is to enable a user to easily register and edit a facsimile telephone directory from a personal computer on a network by using HTML for displaying on a WWW browser.

Further, according to the present invention, the operation unit of each electronic device can be written so as to be compatible with each operation unit using HTML, and the operation unit of the electronic device and the pseudo operation unit of the personal computer are set to the same display and operation. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system that is not affected by the type of personal computer.

Still another object of the present invention is to display a unique operation unit screen and hard keys for each machine on a personal computer on a network in a simulated manner, and to enable registration even in a complicated operation mode.

[0019]

In order to achieve the above object,
A remote control system using HTML according to the first aspect of the present invention is a system including at least an electronic device including a network unit and a facsimile unit, and a network computer, wherein the electronic device includes a transmission log and It has a means to generate a reception log with a link to the received image as an HTML file, and it is possible to confirm the received image from the computer by responding to the inquiry of the fax status from the network computer and linking to the received log. It is characterized by the following.

An HTM according to the second aspect of the present invention.
2. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device stores the facsimile electronic telephone directory in HT.
A means for generating an ML file, enabling a computer on the network to edit, change, and / or add and / or delete the information using a WWW browser, and to enable the edited contents to be reflected in the electronic telephone directory of the facsimile. Features.

An HTM according to the third aspect of the present invention.
3. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device forms a pseudo operation unit screen on a WWW browser by a network computer, and displays the pseudo operation unit screen on the network computer. By operating the electronic device, the operation unit screen on the electronic device and the pseudo operation unit screen are linked by an HTML file, and the electronic device can be operated on the screen on the browser.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the remote control system using HTML, in the first to third aspects of the present invention, the electronic device further comprises means for holding the job ID assigned thereto in combination with the job. Means for sending back the job ID, wherein the mode and parameters set by the simulated operation unit are changed when the job ID is input from the simulated operation unit and / or the operation unit. Is reflected on the operation unit.

According to the present invention, even if another person is using the electronic device 11 (machine), the pseudo operation unit 402 can be remotely displayed to register a complicated operation mode. For example, both sides of copy, 2 in 1 (integrated printing: for example, A
When two A4 size sheets, which are half the size of this sheet, are printed on three size sheets), stapling, setting of a discharge tray, and the like are performed from the operation unit 401 of the machine. In the machine, the above operation unit is black and white 2
It is a color screen, and the size of this screen is often limited, and the setting items exist in a wide range, which is troublesome.

These operations are performed on a screen on a local personal computer (personal computer). When actually copying, the user goes to the machine, calls up the registered job, sets a document, and operates the start switch. Faxing and the like can be easily performed without performing such complicated settings again.

After operating such a start switch, for example, information set on a local personal computer is input during use of the machine, and as a result, the input information causes a job of another person to be unexpectedly reflected on the machine. There must be no such thing.

Therefore, in the present invention, it is preferable that the input job is called by a machine so that it can be avoided.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the remote control system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example in which an HTML file of a facsimile communication log is displayed on a display unit of a personal computer on a network. For example, the screen is displayed on the display unit as shown in FIG. 1C when the link of the transmission log is pressed, and as shown in FIG. 1B when the link of the reception log is pressed.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment according to the remote control system of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2A, an electronic device 11 and a network computer (personal computer 12) are connected via a network line 13. Electronic device 11 equipped with network means and facsimile means
1 shows a simple block diagram of a multifunction peripheral (for example, a digital multifunction peripheral) and a flow of events.

The operation of the first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. The remote control system according to claim 1 of the present application comprises at least network means 202.
And a facsimile unit 201 and a network computer 12.

The electronic device 11 and the network computer 12 are connected to the Internet via a network line 13 and have a WW as an external database.
It is set to acquire information from the W server.

Then, the network application 202 (hereinafter, referred to as a network application 202)
Similarly, an application may be simply referred to as an “app”. Httpd2100 (Hyper
TextTransfer Protocol Daemon) is a server for implementing WWW. Note that FIG. 2B shows the configuration of various applications provided in the electronic device 11. In this figure, an electronic device 11 includes a plotter 2
04 and scanner means 205.

Next, from the network computer 12,
The operation after a request is made to the electronic device 11 will be described with reference to the drawings. When an electronic device 11 is accessed from a network computer 12 via a personal computer 12 on a network, a fax provided in the electronic device 11
For the application 201, a reception log 101 and a transmission log 102
Is requested (step S101). FAX application 20
1 manages detailed information for each log (101, 102) in association with a received file. In the network application 202, the FAX application 20 in the electronic device 11
In response to the above information, an HTML file is created (step S102), and the HTML file is returned to the personal computer 12 that has made the request (that is, accessed).

On the personal computer 12, the WWW browser displays the HTML file (step S103). As shown in FIG. 1A, for example, a date 1011a, a time 1011b, and a registration name 1
011c, telephone number 1012d (RTI or CSI)
Is displayed as a list, so that the electronic device 11 having the facsimile means can be received even if the electronic device 11 has not received the information indicating that the electronic device 11 has received an incoming call or the fact that the facsimile has been sent in advance.
FAX incoming can be confirmed on the screen of the computer 12 without going to the installation location of the FAX.

To further confirm the details of the FAX information (information on the sender and the number of faxes, etc.), the computer 1
Log (1) that you want to check on the Internet via
01, 102). Thereby, a file (not shown) with a link, for example, can be requested from the httpd 2100 on the machine (electronic device 11) side (step S104).

This request is notified to the FAX application 201 in the electronic device 11 (step S105).
1 via the FAX application 201 on the FAX unit side.
The compressed (MR, MMR, etc.) file is decompressed and passed to the network application 202 in the electronic device 11. In the network application, the image is converted into a compression mode (JPEG, GIF) of the image that can be displayed by the WWW browser, and this information is passed to the network personal computer 12 via the network line 13, for example.

For example, when a request for confirming that the transmission destination has been sent to "Kanagawa Chuo" from the personal computer side, for example, the detailed information on the transmission log 102 is accessed, the transmission log shown in FIG. Request when pressing
The flow of the response is the same as described above, and the FAX application 201 in the electronic device 11 that has received the request designates the destination as "Kanagawa Chuo" as shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (c). Information such as the transmission result 1031, the transmission date and time 1032, the number of transmissions 1033, the communication time 1034, the communication speed 1035, and the like is passed to the network application 202 via the application control unit 210 as TEXT information (step S 1).
05). After that, the TEXT information is converted into the HTML format in the network application 202 (step S106), and the http
A reply is sent to the network personal computer 12 or the like via d2100 (step S107). The present invention is implemented as described above.

Next, the invention according to claim 2 will be described. The configuration of the system is the same as described above. FIG. 6 shows a display screen by a WWW browser for realizing the present invention. From the personal computer 12 on the network to the electronic device 11
When there is access to the electronic telephone directory provided in the FAX application 202 means, the network application 202 sends the request to the application control unit 21 in the same manner as in claim 1.
0, a request for a telephone directory is issued to the FAX application 201 in the electronic device 11 (step S201).

In response to this request, the FAX application 201 in the electronic device 11 picks up necessary data from the telephone directory data provided in the electronic device 11 with reference to, for example, the memory 206 with backup, and Preferably, the data is automatically passed to the network application 202 via 210. After that, the data
HTML in the network application 202 in the electronic device 11
The file is converted into a file (step S202) and transmitted to, for example, the network personal computer 12 (step S2).
03).

Next, change and / or addition and / or deletion editing is performed as follows. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the [No.] button of “No. 03” in FIG. 7 is selected and clicked, a screen as shown in FIG. 7B is displayed. On this screen, for example, input the parts displayed as "destination name" and "TEL number" on the screen of the computer 12 connected to the Internet, and then, as shown in FIG. Is pressed (step S20).
5) These registration data are stored in the http in the network application 202 on the electronic device 11 (digital multifunction peripheral) side.
d2100 (step S206), and first, the HTTPD 2100 in the network application 202
The TML file calls the HTML file registered in the memory 206 via the application control unit 210 on the network application 202 and updates it (step S207), and sends the updated HTML file to the personal computer 12 again (step S207). Step S208). The updated file on the updated network application is transmitted to the application control unit 2 by the FAX application 201 as described later.
10 and is stored in the memory 206.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 7A, for example, the registered "destination name" and "TEL number" are displayed on the pseudo operation unit such as the computer 12 via the Internet. This display can be displayed on the operation unit 401 in the electronic device 11. In the above example, only the input is described. However, the present invention is not limited to the input of the data such as the destination, and various data can be changed, added, and deleted in the same manner.

Regarding the exclusion processing, the FAX telephone directory called from a plurality of personal computers 12 on the network via the network application 202 is being accessed, and the operation unit of the MFP 11 is accessed via the network application 202. When the electronic telephone directory is directly accessed, for example, the process is performed as shown in FIG.

Also in the update operation from the electronic device 11 (machine) operation unit 401 (step S301), the update operation using a browser on the Internet (step S301).
Also, in order to explicitly indicate that an update operation is being performed, if a correction operation is performed first, this is displayed on the browser 402 and an event (correction or setting operation) is immediately performed. It is designed to notify you.

As a result, the second and subsequent browsers 402 and the operation unit 401 of the multifunction peripheral 11 that are going to enter the correction work
Then, a message such as "Warning" is displayed, and a message is displayed so that the correction operation is performed later (step S303). By doing so, the operator who is going to perform the correction work can avoid the update work without executing it.

Even when the updating operation is started on a plurality of browsers 402 at the same time, the display such as "Warning" is displayed on the computer 12 operated by another operator until the first operator presses the "register" button. Therefore, it is possible to avoid batting during writing (for example, while an update job is being executed, another user's update job is intruded and disturbed). In addition, while the earliest job is being executed, execution is prohibited even if another operator presses a new “register” button. In the accessed network application 202, “Wa” is sent to the computer 12 of another operator who has pressed the “register” button via the Internet.
In addition, a display such as "ringing" can be displayed, and the execution of the job can be automatically prohibited.

While such exclusive processing is being performed,
As shown in FIG. 4, when the “register” button is pressed on the pseudo operation unit screen 402 on the browser as shown in FIG. 4, the telephone directory file updated via the network line 13 is stored in the electronic device 11. Hand it over to the fax application 201,
Memory 20 with backup for fax application 201
6 is actually written and registered. As described above, the present invention can be realized.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the electronic device
The operation unit 401 of the (digital multifunction peripheral) is displayed in a pseudo manner by a WWW browser 402 on the network personal computer 12 so as to be operable. Hereinafter, the process of changing the operation settings of the electronic device 11 using the pseudo operation screen will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, a call is made to the electronic device 11 on the personal computer 12, and in response to the call, a request is made to the FAX application 201 for operation unit screen information of the electronic device (step S40).
1). The operation unit screen information is picked up in response to this request, and the network application creates an HTML file (step S402). This file is transferred to the requested personal computer via the network line and displayed on the WWW browser as a pseudo operation unit (step S40).
3) The operation mode is changed and set on this pseudo operation unit (Step S404, Step S405). After the setting is performed by key operation on the computer (including a mouse, a touch panel, and the like as described above), a registration button 4023 as shown in FIG. 8B is pressed to instruct registration and change (step S405). . The instruction is passed to the network application in the electronic device 11 via the network line (Step S406). The file is registered and updated in response to the passed information (step S407), and h
A reply is sent to the personal computer 12 via ttpd, and the confirmation of the mode setting is confirmed on the WWW browser (step S40).
8).

FIG. 8 shows that the actual operation unit 401 is
02 shows an example displayed. There are two purposes for displaying the operation unit remotely. One is that a screen equivalent to the operation unit 401 of the digital multifunction peripheral is displayed from a remote place by the browser 40.
By reproducing the screen on the browser 2 and realizing the transition of the screen on the browser 402, it is possible to remotely operate the screen without actually going to a place where the actual machine 11 (machine) is located.

According to such a method, it is not necessary to perform various initial settings to a place where the actual device 11 is actually located, and to perform an operation. It becomes executable.

The second purpose is as follows.
If the operation unit 401 of the machine (such as a machine) is small and it is difficult to operate, pseudo operation is performed on the browser 402 to display contents (larger screen and colorization of the operation unit) with further improved operability than the operation unit 401. A part 402 is provided so as to be operable. In either case, the digital multifunction peripheral 11 prepares or automatically creates an HTML file for displaying the operation unit 401 in the network application 202 by pressing a button on the computer 12 screen.
The transition of the operation unit screen on the electronic device 11 is realized, and a wide range of settings including display of an error message and the like are performed by the browser 40.
This is enabled by the display on the two sides.

The invention described in claim 4 is performed in substantially the same manner as in claim 3, however, even if the operation mode is set or the operation mode is changed by pressing a button, the digital multifunction peripheral 1
1 is not reflected in the setting itself.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the browser 40
The transition of the screen on 2 is reflected on the virtual screen (network application, file on the memory) in the digital multi-function peripheral 11, and the virtual screen is converted into an HTML file and sent to the browser 402 on the network.

Thus, even when the real machine 11 is operating while being accessed from the personal computer 12 on the network, the setting of the operation unit displayed on the browser 402 screen on the network is directly reflected on the operation unit 401 of the machine. Therefore, even if a job is being executed on the machine, the job can be executed independently, and there is no risk of interrupting another job.

As described above, even when the operation unit 401 is accessed from a plurality of personal computers 12 on the network at the same time, since the mode changes are independent of each other, the job being executed can be executed with confidence. Become. The setting operation in the pseudo operation unit 402 can be performed by the method described in the third aspect of the present invention.

In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 8B, an operation unit (pseudo operation unit 402) similar to the operation unit example 401 on the actual machine shown in FIG. ) Is realized, and on the pseudo operation unit 402,
The settings of 4022a corresponding to 401a, 4022b corresponding to 401b (hereinafter the same), etc. are input on a www browser. After confirming the setting input, a “register 4023” button is preferably prepared as shown in FIG.

When the “register 4023 (means with job ID)” button is pressed, the facsimile application 201 is transmitted from the network application 202 of the digital multifunction peripheral (electronic device 11) via the network line 13 in the same manner as described above. Is notified to the virtual screen through this, and a series of operations up to that time is regarded as one job. In this way, the series of operations described above becomes one, and the result is transmitted from the network application 202 in the digital multi-function peripheral to the personal computer 12 via the network line 13 as shown in FIG. The registration of the “number” is confirmed by the display of the “registered job number 4021”, and one job number is assigned.

In this way, as shown in FIG. 8B, the assigned JOB is notified / displayed to the browser 402 on the network as “registered JOB number 4021 (means for returning a job ID)”. . In response to the notification / display, the user goes to the real machine 11 and operates the operation unit 401 on the machine 11, for example, “JOB call”.
Is pressed, the contents of the job setting are reflected on the machine (electronic device 11), and the electronic device 11 can be operated according to the registered contents of the job setting. It is also possible to call up the registered job on the personal computer and reflect the setting of the machine 11 on the contents of the registered job in the same manner as described above.

[0058]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to confirm the incoming fax status from the computer 12 on the network, and also to confirm the incoming file with the WWW browser 402 on the computer side. . The transmission result can be confirmed remotely without having to send the transmission result to the actual device (electronic device 11).

Since the present invention is realized in a standard language HTML format on the Internet, it is not affected by the personal computer, OS, etc. to be displayed. This effect is the same for all the other claims.

According to the second aspect of the invention, it is possible to use the high-performance "Kanahan" of the personal computer for inputting the destination, and it is possible to efficiently perform new registration and editing. Actual machine (electronic equipment 11)
There is no need to perform these operations on the personal computer 12 on the network.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the real machine operation unit 401 is connected to the browser 40 on a personal computer on the network.
2 makes it possible to simulate the display, provide the same operability, and realize a remote operation unit. L of about several lines
Even when the operability is deteriorated on the operation screen using the CD, the present invention can provide a large screen and color on a browser and provide it as a remote operation unit by the present invention.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the setting operation is performed on the virtual operation unit on the network even when the actual device (electronic device 11) is in use, and the setting operation is given. With the registered JOB number 4021, the user can go to the actual machine later and input the registered JOB number, so that the operation content can be reflected. It is particularly effective to perform complicated setting, registration, etc. once, and to set again thereafter.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an example of displaying a FAX log in a WWW browser.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a remote control system and a flow of events according to the present invention, wherein (a) is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the remote control system, and (b)
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example and a flow of an event in an electronic device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart according to the invention described in claim 2;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an exclusion process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart according to the invention described in claim 3;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing a display screen in a WWW browser, FIG. 7A is a diagram showing an example thereof, and FIG.
No. of (a). It is a figure showing that the button of No. 3 was pressed and the column of "unused" was displayed.

8A and 8B are diagrams illustrating an operation unit 401 of the electronic device 11 and a pseudo operation unit 402 on a browser, FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating the operation unit 401 on the electronic device, and FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pseudo operation unit screen 402 on a W browser.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Digital MFP 12 PC 13 Network line

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A system comprising an electronic device having at least a network unit and a facsimile unit, and a network computer, wherein the electronic device stores a transmission log and a reception log with a link to a reception image in an HTML file. Remote control using HTML, in which a response to a fax status inquiry from a network computer and a received image can be confirmed from the computer by a link attached to a reception log. system. 2. The electronic device has means for generating a facsimile electronic telephone directory as an HTML file, and enables a computer on the network to change, and / or add and / or delete and edit using a WWW browser. 2. The remote control system using HTML according to claim 1, wherein the edited contents can be reflected in a facsimile electronic telephone directory. 3. The electronic device further comprises a scanner unit and a copying unit, wherein the electronic device forms a pseudo operation unit screen on a WWW browser by a network computer, By operating the operation unit screen on the network computer, the operation unit screen on the electronic device and the pseudo operation unit screen are displayed by HT.
The HTML-based remote control system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electronic device is operable on a screen on a browser by linking with an ML file. 4. The electronic device further comprises: means for holding the job ID assigned thereto in combination with a job;
D means for sending back a mode and parameters set by the pseudo operation unit when the job ID is input from the pseudo operation unit and / or the operation unit of the electronic device. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is adapted to reflect the change.
Remote control system using TML.