JP2001358877A - Image processor, information processor, image processing system, message display control method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor, an information processor, an image processing system, a message display control method and a storage medium, which enable display of a transmitted message of a part or the whole of the operation screen of the image processor, and enable reduction in the loads for a manager and reduction in cost, etc. SOLUTION: A host computer 200 is provided with a Web client 220, capable of accessing this image processor via a network 300 during the sleep mode of the image processor, transmitting the message corresponding to the image processor to the image processor, and controlling the display of the image processor. The image processor 100 is provided with a Web server means 120 for receiving the message transmitted from the host computer 200 via the network 300, during the sleep mode and a display controller for displaying the message at an operation part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an information processing apparatus, an image processing system, a message display control method, and a storage medium, and more particularly, to an operation screen for displaying a message transmitted to a digital MFP connected to a network. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an information processing apparatus, an image processing system, a message display control method, and a storage medium that are suitable for, for example, partially or wholly displaying an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions such as a copy function / print function / facsimile function. There is a system in which this type of image forming apparatus is connected to a host computer, a Web client, and the like via a network. . A technology has been proposed in which an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions as described above is transmitted from an external device such as a host computer on a network, and a message corresponding to each of the functions is displayed.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. That is, when the image forming apparatus is in the sleep mode, there is a problem that a Web client on the network cannot access the image forming apparatus. Also, in order to control the display image of the image forming apparatus from the host computer,
If there is a network failure after the display, the image cannot be hidden and the image forming apparatus cannot be operated.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and enables a transmitted message to be displayed on a part or the whole of an operation screen of an image processing apparatus, thereby reducing a load on an administrator and reducing costs. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus, an information processing apparatus, an image processing system, a message display control method, and a storage medium that enable the user to achieve the purpose.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 has a plurality of functions including an image reading function and an image forming function, and communicates with an external device via a network. An image processing apparatus capable of data communication and capable of shifting to a sleep mode, wherein during the sleep mode, communication control for receiving a message transmitted from the external device via the network in response to an access from the external device. And display control means for displaying the message on a display means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading means for reading an image from a document, an image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium, a connecting means for connecting to the network, An operation screen to be displayed on the display means and an interface means for controlling an operation input are provided.

In order to achieve the above object, a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that access permission / non-access from the external device can be set by an operation of the image processing apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that a message transmitted from the external device can be hidden on the image processing device side.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a message transmitted from the external device can be displayed at an arbitrary timing on a part or the whole of an operation screen of the display means. Features.

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the message is a message such as a message inviting toner saving to be used for image formation, a message notifying a maintenance time, or the like. I do.

[0011] In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 7 has a plurality of functions including an image reading function and an image forming function and is capable of shifting to a sleep mode via an image processing apparatus via a network. An information processing device capable of data communication, wherein the image processing device accesses the image processing device via the network during the sleep mode of the image processing device, and transmits a message corresponding to the image processing device to the image processing device. And a communication control unit capable of controlling display of the image processing apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the image processing apparatus is connected to the image reading means for reading an image from a document, an image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium, and the network. Connection means, and an interface means for controlling operation screens and operation inputs displayed on the display means.

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that whether or not access from the information processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus is possible can be set by operating the image processing apparatus. And

[0014] To achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 10 is that the message transmitted from the information processing device to the image processing device can be hidden on the image processing device side. Features.

[0015] In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 11 is a method for transmitting a message transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus to a part or the whole of an operation screen of the display means of the image processing apparatus. It can be displayed at any timing.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the message informs the user of saving the toner used for image formation in the image processing apparatus and the maintenance time of the image processing apparatus. It is a message such as a message.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 13 is an image processing apparatus having a plurality of functions including an image reading function and an image forming function and capable of shifting to a sleep mode. An image processing system comprising: an information processing apparatus capable of performing data communication between the image processing apparatus and the image processing apparatus, wherein the information processing apparatus performs the image processing via the network during the sleep mode of the image processing apparatus. Accessing a processing device, having a first communication control means capable of transmitting a message corresponding to the image processing device to the image processing device and capable of display control of the image processing device, the image processing device, During the sleep mode of the image processing apparatus, transmitted from the information processing apparatus via the network with access from the information processing apparatus. A second communication control means for receiving a message, and having a display control means for displaying the message on the display means.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus includes an image reading unit that reads an image from a document, an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, and a connection to the network. Connection means, and an interface means for controlling operation screens and operation inputs displayed on the display means.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 15 is characterized in that whether or not access to the image processing apparatus from the information processing apparatus is possible or not can be set by operating the image processing apparatus. And

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 16 is that the message transmitted from the information processing device to the image processing device can be hidden on the image processing device side. Features.

[0021] In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 17 is a method for transmitting a message transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus to a part or the whole of an operation screen of the display means of the image processing apparatus. It can be displayed at any timing.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 18 is that the message informs the user of saving the toner used for image formation in the image processing apparatus and the time of maintenance of the image processing apparatus. It is a message such as a message.

In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to the nineteenth aspect has an image processing apparatus having a plurality of functions including an image reading function and an image forming function and capable of shifting to a sleep mode. A message display control method applied to an image processing system comprising an information processing device capable of performing data communication between the image processing device and the image processing device, wherein the information processing device is configured to execute the image processing device during the sleep mode. Having a first communication control step of accessing the image processing apparatus via the network, transmitting a message corresponding to the image processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus, and controlling display of the image processing apparatus. ,
The image processing device, during the sleep mode of the image processing device, a second communication control step of receiving a message transmitted from the information processing device via the network with access from the information processing device, And a display control step of displaying the message on a display means.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus includes an image reading step of reading an image from a document, an image forming step of forming an image on a recording medium, and a connection to the network. And an interface step of controlling an operation screen and an operation input to be displayed on the display means.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 21 is characterized in that whether or not access to the image processing apparatus from the information processing apparatus is possible or not can be set by operating the image processing apparatus. And

[0026] To achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 22 is that the message transmitted from the information processing device to the image processing device can be hidden on the image processing device side. Features.

[0027] In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 23 is that the message transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus is partially or entirely displayed on the operation screen of the display means of the image processing apparatus. It can be displayed at any timing.

In order to achieve the above object, in the invention according to claim 24, the message informs the user of saving the toner used for image formation in the image processing apparatus and the time of maintenance of the image processing apparatus. It is a message such as a message.

To achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 25 is an image processing apparatus having a plurality of functions including an image reading function and an image forming function and capable of shifting to a sleep mode. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a message display control method applied to an image processing system including an information processing apparatus capable of performing data communication between the devices via a network, wherein the message In the display control method, during the sleep mode of the image processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus accesses the image processing apparatus via the network, and transmits a message corresponding to the image processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus. A first communication control step capable of controlling the display of the image processing device together with,
During the sleep mode of the image processing apparatus, a second communication control step of receiving a message transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus via the network with access from the information processing apparatus, A display control step of displaying the message on display means of the image processing apparatus.

According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus connected to a network,
A display unit for performing various displays; a control unit for setting and canceling a sleep mode for reducing power consumption of each unit including the display unit; and a message for displaying on the display unit received from the network. Receiving means for receiving the message, canceling a sleep mode of the display unit, and displaying the message on the display unit.

[0031]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a network connection unit 110, a Web server unit 120, and a data holding unit 1.
30, controller means 140, user interface means 150, printing means 160, scanning means 17
The host computer 200 including, for example, a PC (personal computer) having the image processing apparatus 100 (equivalent to the multifunction peripheral in FIG. 2), the network connection unit 210, the Web client 220, and the address book editing unit 230 via the network 300. It has a connected configuration.

The above configuration will be described in detail.
At 0, the network connection means 110 is connected to the network 300 and transmits and receives data to and from the network 300. The Web server means 120 is an HT
A server capable of communication by TP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), which operates according to the contents of HTTP.
The Web client 2 of the host computer 200
Whether access from the image processing apparatus 20 is possible or not can be set by operating the image processing apparatus. Host computer 2
The message transmitted from the Web client 220 is displayed on a display controller (not shown) on the image processing apparatus side.
Can be hidden.

The data holding means 130 is a database including destinations of the image data to be transferred from the controller means 140, and the destination can be selected by the user interface 150. The controller 140 receives an image from the scanning unit 170,
Or output image data to Further, the controller unit 140 may transfer and output the image data obtained with another image output device as a destination via the network connection unit 110, or may transfer the image data with a server as a destination and store the image data in a database of the server. it can. The user interface unit 150 is used for various selections and instructions. The printing means 160 prints the image data on recording paper. The scanning unit 170 reads image data from a document.

In the host computer 200, the network connection means 210 is connected to the network 300 and transmits and receives data to and from the network 300. The Web client 220 is used for the image processing apparatus 100
Management when receiving print service and scan service. The address book editing means 230 edits an address book (data destination, communication destination, etc.).

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the overall configuration of the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. An image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a multifunction peripheral (apparatus of the present invention, corresponding to the image processing apparatus 100 of FIG. 1) 1001,
1023, database servers 1002, 1021, database client 1003, e-mail server 1
006, 1023, email client 1005,
WWW servers 1006, 1022, DNS (Domain Nam
e Server) a server 1007, a router 1011, a facsimile device 1031, and a printer 1040.

The above configuration will be described in detail.
Is an apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and is configured by a scanner and a printer described later, and stores an image read from the scanner in a local area network (hereinafter, LAN) 1010.
Or print out the image received from the LAN by the printer. Further, an image read from the scanner is transmitted to a PSTN (Publ
ic Switched Telephone Network) or ISDN (Inte
Images received from grated Service Digital Network) can be printed out by a printer.

The database client 1003 is a client of the database server 1002, and can browse / search image data stored in the database server 1002. Email server 1
004 can receive the image read by the multifunction peripheral 1001 as an attachment to an e-mail. The e-mail client 1005 can receive and view the e-mail received by the e-mail server 1004, and can transmit the e-mail. WWW server 10
Reference numeral 06 denotes a server that provides an HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) document to the LAN 1010.
01 provided by the WWW server 1006
Documents can be printed out.

The router 1011 connects the LAN 1010 with the Internet / intranet 1012. On the Internet / intranet 1012, devices similar to the above-described database server 1002, WWW server 1006, e-mail server 1004, and multifunction peripheral 1001 are respectively 1020, 1021, 1022, and 1023.
It is linked as.

On the other hand, the multifunction peripheral 1001 can transmit to and receive from the FAX device 1031 via the PSTN or ISDN 1030. A printer 1040 is also connected to the LAN 1010 so that an image read by the multifunction peripheral 1001 can be printed out.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of the multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1501
A user interface (UI) is a module that mediates with the MFP when an operator performs various operations and settings of the MFP. This module transfers input information to various modules, which will be described later, and requests processing or sets data according to the operation of the operator.

Reference numeral 1502 denotes an address-book, that is, a database module for managing data transmission destinations, communication destinations, and the like. The content of Address-Book is U
Data addition, deletion, and acquisition are performed by the operation from I1501, and are used as information on the destination and communication destination of data to each module described later by the operation of the operator.

Reference numeral 1503 denotes a Web-Server module, which is used for notifying management information of the MFP in response to a request from a Web client (not shown).
The management information is a Control-API 1518 described later.
Is read via HTTP 1512, TCP
/ IP1516, Network-Driver151
7 is notified to the Web client.

1504 is Universal-Sen
d, a module that manages data distribution,
The data designated by the operator 501 is distributed to the communication output destination designated in the same manner. If the operator gives an instruction to generate distribution data by using the scanner function of the multifunction peripheral, the control function described below is used.
The MFP is operated via the 11-API 1518 to generate data.

1505 is Universal-Send
This module is executed when a printer is specified as an output destination in 1504.

1506 is Universal-Send
This module is executed when an E-mail address is designated as a communication destination in 1504.

1507 is Universal-Send
This module is executed when a database is specified as an output destination in 1504.

1508 is Universal-Send
This module is executed when a multifunction peripheral similar to the present multifunction peripheral is designated as an output destination in the area 1504.

1509 is Remote-Copy-Sc
an MFP that uses the scanner function of this multifunction peripheral, performs output processing to another multifunction peripheral connected via a network or the like, and performs processing equivalent to the Copy function realized by the multifunction peripheral alone. .

Reference numeral 1510 denotes Remote-Copy-Pr
The int module is a module that uses the printer function of the multifunction peripheral, performs processing equivalent to the Copy function realized by the multifunction peripheral alone, with another multifunction peripheral connected via a network or the like as an input destination. .

Reference numeral 1511 denotes Web-Pull-Prin
t, a module for reading and printing information of various homepages on the Internet or an intranet.

Reference numeral 1512 denotes a module used when the multifunction peripheral communicates by HTTP.
Web-Serv described above by IP1516 module
er1503, Web-Pull-Print1511
Provides communication to the module.

Reference numeral 1513 denotes an lpr module, which uses the above-described Uni by a TCP / IP 1516 module described later.
It provides communication to the printer module 1505 in the “versal-Send” 1504.

Reference numeral 1514 denotes SMTP (Simple Mail Transf
er Protocol) module.
The above-mentioned Universal-
E-mail module 1506 in Send 1504
To provide communication.

Reference numeral 1515 denotes an SLM, that is, Salutatio.
This is an n-Manager module.
The above-mentioned Universalsa by IP1516 module
Database module 15 in l-Send 1504
07, DP module 1508, and Remote-C
opy-Scan1509 module, Remote-
It provides communication to the Copy-Print 1510 module.

Reference numeral 1516 denotes a TCP / IP communication module.
The driver 1517 provides network communication.

Reference numeral 1517 denotes a network driver.
It controls the part physically connected to the network.

Reference numeral 1518 denotes a Control-API, which is used for an upstream module such as the Universal-Send 1504 or the like and a Job-Manager 151 described later.
9 to provide an interface with downstream modules, such as 9 and so on, to reduce the dependency between the upstream and downstream modules and increase the versatility of each.

Reference numeral 1519 denotes a Job-Manager, which is a Control-AP from the various modules described above.
It interprets the processing instructed via I1518 and gives an instruction to each module described later. Further, this module centrally manages hardware processing executed in the MFP.

Reference numeral 1520 denotes a CODEC-Manager, which manages and controls various types of data compression / decompression in the processing specified by the Job-Manager 1519.

Reference numeral 1521 denotes an FBE-Encoder, which includes Job-Manager 1519 and Scan-Ma.
The data read by the scan processing executed by the namer 1524 is compressed in the FBE format.

Reference numeral 1522 denotes JPEG-CODEC,
Job-Manager 1519, Scan-Mana
scan processing executed by ger 1524, and P
In print processing executed by the print-manager 1526, JPEG (Join
t Photographic Expert Group).

Reference numeral 1523 denotes an MMR-CODEC.
ob-Manager 1519, Scan-Manag
scan processing executed by the er1524 and Pr
In print processing executed by the int-Manager 1526, the MMR (Modified
Modified READ) performs compression and MMR decompression processing of print data.

Reference numeral 1524 denotes a Scan-Manager, which manages and controls the scanning process specified by the Job-Manager 1519.

Reference numeral 1525 denotes SCSI (Small Computer Sys
tem Interface) driver, Scan-Mana
The ger 1524 communicates with the scanner unit internally connected to the multifunction peripheral.

Reference numeral 1526 denotes a print manager, which manages and controls the printing process specified by the job manager 1519.

An engine-I / F driver 1527 provides an interface (I / F) between the print manager 1526 and a printing unit.

Reference numeral 1528 denotes a parallel port driver, which provides an I / F when the Web-Pull-Print 1511 outputs data to an output device (not shown) via the parallel port.

Next, the above-mentioned UserInterface
Address-Book1 in application
502 will be described. This Address-Boo
k1502 is stored in a non-volatile storage device (non-volatile memory, hard disk, or the like) in the apparatus (multifunction peripheral) of the present invention, in which characteristics of other devices connected to the network are described. ing. For example, those listed below are included.

Formal name or alias name of the device Network address of the device Network protocol that the device can process Document format that the device can process Compression type that the device can process Image resolution that the device can process Paper size, paper feed stage information Folder name that can store documents in the case of server (computer) device Each application described below is in the above-mentioned Address
The characteristics of the distribution destination can be determined based on the information described in the ss-Book 1502.

The remote copy application sends the resolution information that can be processed by the device designated as the distribution destination to the Ad
The binary image read by the scanner is determined according to a known MM according to the
Compress using R-compression and convert it to the well-known TITF (Tagged
Image File Format), and transmits it to the printer device on the network through the SLM 1515. SLM151
5 is a publicly known Salutat, which is not described in detail.
ion Manager (or SmartLink)
Manager is a type of network protocol including device control information and the like.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the operation unit of the multifunction peripheral. L
The CD display unit 3001 has a touch panel sheet affixed on the LCD, displays an operation screen of the system, and transmits the position information to the controller CPU when a displayed key is pressed. A start key 3002 is used to start a reading operation of a document image. There is a green and red two-color LED in the center of the start key 3002,
The color indicates whether the start key 3002 is ready for use. A stop key 3003 functions to stop an operation in operation. An ID key 3004 is in a user mode, and is used when a user changes basic settings of the system. A reset key 3005 is used to initialize settings from the operation unit.

Next, each operation screen of the operation section of the multifunction machine (the apparatus of the present invention) will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The functions provided by the MFP are Copy / Send / Retri
eve / Tasks / Management / Confi
and six major categories, which are displayed at the top of the operation screen 3010.
One main tab (COPY3011 / SEND3012)
/ RETRIEVE3013 / TASKS3014 / M
GMT3015 / CONFIG3016). By pressing these main tabs, switching to a screen of each category is performed. On the other hand, when switching to the category is not permitted, the display color of the main tab changes, and there is no response even if the main tab is pressed.

Copy has a function of performing normal document copying using a scanner and a printer of its own device,
Includes a function (remote copy) for copying documents using a printer connected to the scanner of the own device via a network. Send is a function for transferring a document placed on a scanner of the own device to an e-mail, a remote printer, a facsimile, a file transfer (FTP), and a database, and can designate a plurality of destinations. Retrieve is a function of acquiring an external document and printing the acquired document on a printer of the own device. As a means for acquiring a document, WWW, electronic mail, file transfer, and fax can be used.

Tasks automatically processes documents sent from outside such as a facsimile and an Internet printer, and periodically generates and manages a task for performing Retrieve. Management is a job
Manages address books, bookmarks, documents, account information, etc. In the configuration, settings relating to the own device (network, clock, etc.) are performed. The status display unit 3017 is an area for displaying the status of the apparatus (paper out, toner out, etc. of the printer) and the status of functions provided by the apparatus (copying, transmitting, receiving operation, etc.).

Next, a screen displayed on the Web client 220 of the host computer 200 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 6 shows a system management setting screen of the Web client 200. User mode 310 on the left
When the user selects the selection button 1 and the system management 3102, the currently registered bulletin board 3103, support link 3104, and system management information 3105 are displayed. For new registration / modification of registration contents, an edit button 310
By selecting 5, the system management settings can be edited.

FIG. 7 shows an edit screen of the system management settings of the Web client 200. OK 3201 and cancel 3203 are buttons for registering and canceling edit contents. The ID and password registration button 3203 is
This is an input selection button for D and a password, and provides editing user restriction by registering an ID and a password. Reference numeral 3204 denotes an area for registering a message using the status display unit 3017 as a bulletin board. 32
Reference numeral 05 denotes an area for registering a message to be used as a bulletin board in the whole screen display (pop-up window) format on the operation display unit. The bulletin board of the whole screen display format is a display method selection button 3206. Reference numeral 3207 denotes a selection button for displaying / not displaying the setting contents of the bulletin board on the top page of the Web client.

FIG. 8 shows a top page screen of the Web client. A display unit 3301 displays the status of a printer, a scanner, and a fax. The administrator message 3302 is a message displayed on the device as a bulletin board. The other display contents are not described in this proposal, and thus the description is omitted.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a conceptual example in which a program and related data according to the embodiment of the present invention are supplied from a storage medium to an apparatus. The program and related data are stored in a storage medium 19 such as a floppy disk or CD-ROM.
1 to the storage medium drive insertion port 1 provided in the device 192
Supplied at 93. After that, the program and the related data can be executed by temporarily installing the program and the related data from the storage medium 191 to the hard disk and loading the program from the hard disk to the RAM, or by directly loading the program and the related data into the RAM without installing the program on the hard disk. Become.

In this case, when the program is executed in the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the program and the related information are stored in the image processing apparatus 100 and the host computer 200 of the system according to the procedure shown in FIG. The program can be executed by supplying data or storing the program and related data in the image processing apparatus 100 and the host computer 200 of the present system in advance.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the storage contents of a storage medium storing a program and related data according to the embodiment of the present invention. The storage medium includes, for example, volume information 181, directory information 182, a program execution file 183, and a program-related data file 18.
4 and the like. The program is program-coded based on the flowchart of FIG. 9 described later.

The correspondence between the claims of the present invention and the embodiments of the present invention is as follows. The communication control means (Claim 1), the first communication control means corresponds to the Web server means 120 of the image processing apparatus, the display control means corresponds to a display controller (not shown) of the image processing apparatus, and the image reading means. The image forming unit corresponds to the scanning unit 170 of the image processing apparatus, and the printing unit 160 of the image processing apparatus.
The connection means corresponds to the network connection means 110 of the image processing apparatus, the interface means corresponds to the user interface means 150 of the image processing apparatus, the communication control means (Claim 7), and the second communication control means It corresponds to the Web client 220 of the host computer 200.

Next, in the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, the Web client 220 of the host computer 200 communicates with the Web server means 120 of the image processing apparatus 100 (multifunction peripheral), The bulletin board display message data is transferred to the image processing apparatus 100
The mechanism from the transmission to the image processing apparatus to the display on the image processing apparatus 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 9 shows the image processing apparatus 10 shown in FIG.
11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the "0". Before the processing of this flowchart is performed, it is assumed that the image processing apparatus 100 is in the sleep mode state. During the sleep mode, the network connection unit 1 in the image processing apparatus 100 shown in FIG.
Power is supplied to the printer 10 and the controller 140 by a power supply (not shown).
No power is supplied to the scanning unit 170, the scanning unit 170, the user interface unit 150, and the like.

In this case, during the sleep mode, the Web server means 120 is not operating, and power is supplied to the network connection means 110 and the controller means 140.
It is in a state of waiting for various events for releasing the sleep mode. Also, when the network connection unit 110 receives data from the Web client 220 during the sleep mode, the controller unit 140 supplies power to other blocks and activates the Web server unit 120. The activated Web server means 120 receives the received data from the Web client 220,
Thereafter, communication with the Web client 220 based on HTTP is executed.

First, the Web of the host computer 200
The client 220 communicates with the Web server means 120 of the image processing apparatus 100, and transmits bulletin board display message data into the image processing apparatus 100 (step S1). Upon receiving data from the Web client 220 of the host computer 200, the sleep mode is released, that is, power is supplied to all of the controller means 140 and the like in the image processing apparatus 100, and the received message is stored in the data holding means 130 (for example, a hard disk). (Step S2).

Here, in the data set and received on the system management setting edit screen of the Web client 220, it is determined whether or not the message is the entire screen display (step S3). If the entire screen is not displayed, the status display unit 3017 displays the status of the image processing apparatus 100 (eg, no paper or toner in the printer) and the status of the functions provided by the image processing apparatus 100 (copy, transmission, reception operation, etc.). ) Is determined (step S4).

If it is determined that the message is displayed, the process waits until the message can be displayed (step S5).
If display is possible, the received message is displayed as shown in FIG. 10 ("Draft printing is in toner saving mode") (step S6). This message is
An erasure command is received, or the state of the image processing apparatus 100 having a higher priority (eg, no paper or toner in the printer)
The display is continued until a message indicating the status of the function provided by the image processing apparatus 100 (copying, transmitting, receiving operation, etc.) is displayed. Since the message is stored in the hard disk as described above, the message is stored even when the power is turned off, and is displayed again when the power is turned on next time.

If the display is the whole display in step S3, it is determined whether or not the message is a message to be displayed immediately (step S7). If the message is not displayed immediately, a timer is set (step S
8) Wait for display for the specified time. In the present embodiment, a description will be given by using a timer included in the image processing apparatus 100 such as a generally known auto clear (a function of resetting an operation screen when no operation is performed for a predetermined time).

After the above timer is set, a message as shown in FIG. 11 (“The copy maintenance is performed as follows. July 7, 1998, 9:00 to 12:00)
No copies can be used during this period. Please understand. )) Is displayed on the copy screen (step S9). This message is always displayed on the copy screen in FIG. 11 until the user specifies deletion (presses the OK key). If the deletion is designated, the designated time will elapse again after the designated time has elapsed.
Display a message as indicated by 1. This flow is repeated until a message deletion instruction is sent from the host computer 200 to the image processing apparatus 100. Since the message is stored in the hard disk as described above, the message is stored even when the power is turned off, and is displayed again the next time the power is turned on.

FIG. 12 shows the image processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
This is a screen displayed on the liquid crystal display operation unit 3001 when a user mode key 3004 of 00 (multifunction peripheral) is pressed. Reference numeral 801 denotes a common specification setting key, which is pressed when setting is desired. Reference numeral 802 denotes a copy specification setting key.
Press when you want to make settings. Reference numeral 803 denotes a timer setting key, which is pressed when setting is desired. Reference numeral 804 denotes a transmission / reception specification setting key, which is pressed to make settings for transmission / reception. Reference numeral 805 denotes an adjustment / cleaning key which is pressed when setting is desired.

Reference numeral 806 denotes a box specification setting key, which is pressed to make settings for utilizing a box. 8
A report specification setting key 07 is pressed to print various reports and lists. Reference numeral 808 denotes a printer specification setting key, which is pressed to make settings relating to the PDL function. A system management setting key 809 is pressed when various management settings are made. 810
Is a destination table setting key, which is pressed when various destinations are registered in the destination table.

FIG. 13 shows a screen displayed on the liquid crystal display operation unit 3001 when the timer setting is pressed on the user mode selection screen shown in FIG. The date / time setting 901 sets the current date / time. The set date and time are the reference values for the time setting function. In the auto sleep time 902, a time until the auto sleep time is set can be selected. Auto sleep is a function for automatically turning off the operation power switch to save power when no operation is performed for a certain period of time after the operation (copy, transmission, print, etc.) or the key operation is completed. .

In the auto-clear time 903, the time until auto-clearing can be selected. Auto clear means that the operation panel display is automatically copied, sent, and sent when no operation has been performed for a certain period of time after the operation (copy, send, print, etc.) or key operation is completed.
It is a function to return to the initial screen such as a box. As the transition time 904 to the silent mode, a time until the transition to the silent mode can be selected. The transition to the silent mode is a function for stopping the device sound inside the main body when no operation is performed for a certain period of time after the end of the operation (copy, transmission, print, etc.) or after the end of the key operation.

FIG. 14 shows a screen displayed on the liquid crystal display operation unit 3001 shown in FIG. 3 when the auto sleep time is set. The time until the automatic sleep (auto sleep time) can be selected from 30 minutes or 1 hour to 24 hours (every hour).

FIG. 15 shows a screen displayed on the liquid crystal display operation unit 3001 when the system management setting is pressed on the user mode selection screen shown in FIG.

FIG. 16 shows a screen displayed on the liquid crystal display operation unit 3001 when the ON / OFF key of the remote UI is pressed. Whether the setting from the remote UI is enabled or disabled can be set.

FIG. 17 shows a screen displayed on the liquid crystal display operation unit 3001 when the erase key is pressed on the bulletin board. When a message written by the bulletin board function (a function of displaying an arbitrary message on the touch panel by the network administrator) from the remote UI is displayed, the display can be erased.

As described above, according to the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the image processing apparatus 100 having a plurality of functions such as copy / facsimile / printer is provided.
In the (multifunction peripheral), the Web server unit 120 is embedded in the image processing apparatus, and has a function of accessing a control function in the image processing apparatus via a network even when the image processing apparatus 100 is in a sleep mode. A plurality of messages transmitted from the Web client 220 of the host computer 200 can be displayed on a part or the whole of the operation screen of the image processing apparatus 100,
The administrator can display any message at any time in the operation screen area corresponding to each function, reducing the load on the administrator and raising the cost by calling attention to cost reduction by the message. There is an effect that reduction can be realized.

In addition, since the host computer 200 controls the display image of the image processing apparatus 100, if the network failure occurs after the display, the image cannot be hidden and the operation of the image processing apparatus cannot be performed. It is possible to solve the problem by providing a non-display process in the inside.

[Other Embodiments] In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, an image processing system having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 has been described as an example. Without limitation, MFPs, database servers, database clients, e-mail servers, e-mail clients, WWW servers, DNS servers,
The number of FAX devices and printers that can be connected can be set arbitrarily, and other devices can be connected in addition to these devices.

The present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices or to an apparatus constituted by a single device. A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is stored in a medium such as a storage medium. It goes without saying that this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code.

In this case, the program code itself read from a medium such as a storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the medium such as a storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Will be. Examples of a medium such as a storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, and a download. Can be used.

The functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented when the computer executes the readout program code, and the OS or the like running on the computer is actually executed based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that a part or all of the above-described processing is performed, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read out from a medium such as a 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, the instruction of the program code is given. It is needless to say that a CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the above, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

[0106]

As described above, according to the image processing apparatus of the first to sixth aspects, in an image processing apparatus having a plurality of functions such as an image reading function and an image forming function, communication is performed within the image processing apparatus. A control unit is provided for processing a plurality of messages transmitted from an information processing apparatus having a function of accessing a control function in the image processing apparatus via a network even when the image processing apparatus is in a sleep mode. It is possible to display a part or the whole of the operation screen of the display means of the device, and the administrator can display an arbitrary message at an arbitrary timing in an area of the operation screen corresponding to each function. In addition to the above, the effect of reducing costs is realized by reducing the load on the system and calling attention to the cost reduction by a message.

In addition, since the display image of the image processing apparatus is controlled by the information processing apparatus, if there is a network failure after display, the image cannot be hidden and the operation of the image processing apparatus cannot be performed. This has the effect of being able to solve the problem by providing the non-display processing to the.

According to the information processing apparatus of the seventh to twelfth aspects, by transmitting a message from the information processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus, the load on the administrator can be reduced and the message can be transmitted in the same manner as described above. By calling attention to cost reduction, cost reduction can be realized, and if there is a network failure after display, it will not be possible to hide the display, so that it is possible to solve the problem that operation on the image processing device side will not be possible. To play.

According to the image processing system of the present invention, the image processing system is composed of the image processing apparatus and the information processing apparatus. By calling attention to cost reduction, cost reduction can be realized, and if there is a network failure after display, it will not be possible to hide the display, so that it is possible to solve the problem that operation on the image processing device side will not be possible. To play.

According to the message display control method according to the nineteenth to twenty-fourth aspects, by executing the message display control method in the image processing system, the load on the administrator can be reduced and the cost can be reduced by the message as described above. It is possible to reduce the cost by calling attention to, and to solve the problem that the operation on the image processing apparatus side cannot be performed because the display cannot be hidden if there is a network failure after the display. .

According to the storage medium of the twenty-fifth aspect, the message display control method is read from the storage medium and executed by the image processing system. There is an effect that cost reduction can be realized by calling attention to the reduction.

According to the twenty-sixth aspect, the sleep state of the display unit is released in response to the reception of the display message from the network, and the message is displayed on the display unit. And reducing the power consumption of the device can be achieved in a well-balanced manner.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an overall configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a software configuration of the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of an operation unit of the digital multifunction peripheral of the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation screen on an operation unit of the digital multifunction peripheral of the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a system management setting screen in a Web client of the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an edit screen of a system management setting in a Web client of the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a top page screen of a Web client of the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image processing apparatus of the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen on which a message is displayed in a part of the operation unit of the digital multi-function peripheral of the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen on which a message is displayed in a part of the operation unit of the digital multifunction peripheral of the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a user mode basic screen on the operation unit of the digital multifunction peripheral of the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a timer setting screen in the operation unit of the digital multi-function peripheral of the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an auto sleep time selection screen on the operation unit of the digital multi-function peripheral of the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a system setting management screen in the operation unit of the digital multi-function peripheral of the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a remote UI in an operation unit of the digital multi-function peripheral of the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention;
It is an explanatory view showing a / OFF selection screen.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a bulletin board deletion screen on the operation unit of the digital multifunction peripheral of the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of storage contents of a storage medium storing a program and related data according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a conceptual example in which a program and related data according to an embodiment of the present invention are supplied from a storage medium to an apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image processing apparatus 110 Network connection means 120 Web server means 150 User interface means 160 Printing means 170 Scanning means 200 Host computer 220 Web client 300 Network

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 5B021 AA01 AA19 EE04 PP04 QQ04 5B089 GA16 GA21 GB02 HA06 HA10 JA35 KA13 LB14 LB22 5C062 AA02 AA05 AA13 AA30 AA34 AB17 AB22 AB23 AB38 AB42 AB49 AC02 AC04 AC05 AC22 AC38 AC501 AC35 BA05 CA04 EA40 FA13 FA41

Claims (26)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus having a plurality of functions including an image reading function and an image forming function, capable of data communication with an external device via a network, and capable of shifting to a sleep mode, In sleep mode, communication control means for receiving a message transmitted from the external device via the network with access from the external device, and display control means for displaying the message on a display means. Characteristic image processing device. 2. An image reading means for reading an image from a document, an image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium, a connection means for connecting to the network, and an operation screen or operation input displayed on the display means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an interface unit. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein whether or not access from the external device is permitted can be set by operating the image processing apparatus. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the message transmitted from the external device can be hidden on the image processing apparatus side. 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the message transmitted from the external device can be displayed at an arbitrary timing on a part or the whole of an operation screen of the display means.
The image processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 6. The message according to claim 1, wherein the message is a message for inviting a saving of toner used for image formation, a message for notifying a maintenance time, or the like. Image processing device. 7. An information processing apparatus having a plurality of functions including an image reading function and an image forming function and capable of performing data communication with an image processing apparatus capable of shifting to a sleep mode via a network, comprising: A communication device that accesses the image processing device via the network during the sleep mode of the processing device, transmits a message corresponding to the image processing device to the image processing device, and controls display of the image processing device. An information processing apparatus comprising a control unit. 8. An image processing apparatus comprising: an image reading unit that reads an image from a document; an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; a connection unit that connects to the network;
8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an interface for controlling an operation screen and an operation input to be displayed on the display. 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein whether or not access to the image processing apparatus from the information processing apparatus can be set can be set by an operation of the image processing apparatus. 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a message transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus can be hidden on the image processing apparatus side. 11. A message transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus can be displayed at an arbitrary timing on a part or the whole of an operation screen of the display unit of the image processing apparatus. The information processing device according to claim 7. 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the message is a message such as a message inviting a saving of toner used for image formation in the image processing apparatus, a message notifying a maintenance time of the image processing apparatus, and the like. The information processing apparatus according to any one of 7, 10, and 11. 13. An image processing apparatus having a plurality of functions including an image reading function and an image forming function and capable of shifting to a sleep mode, and an information processing apparatus capable of performing data communication with the image processing apparatus via a network. An image processing system comprising: the information processing apparatus accesses the image processing apparatus via the network during the sleep mode of the image processing apparatus, and corresponds to the image processing apparatus. A first communication control unit configured to transmit a message to the image processing apparatus and control display of the image processing apparatus; wherein the image processing apparatus performs the information processing during the sleep mode of the image processing apparatus. A second communication control means for receiving a message transmitted from the information processing device via the network with access from the device, The image processing system characterized by having a display control means for displaying a serial message on the display unit. 14. The image processing apparatus, comprising: an image reading unit that reads an image from a document; an image forming unit that forms the image on a recording medium; a connection unit that connects to the network; and an operation screen displayed on the display unit 14. The image processing system according to claim 13, further comprising an interface unit for controlling an operation input. 15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein whether or not the information processing apparatus can access the image processing apparatus can be set by operating the image processing apparatus.
3. The image processing system according to 3. 16. The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a message transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus can be hidden on the image processing apparatus side.
The image processing system described in the above. 17. A message transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus can be displayed at an arbitrary timing on a part or the whole of an operation screen of the display unit of the image processing apparatus. The image processing system according to claim 13. 18. The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the message is a message for inviting a saving of toner used for image formation in the image processing apparatus, or a message for notifying a maintenance time of the image processing apparatus. The image processing system according to any one of 13, 16, and 17. 19. An image processing apparatus having a plurality of functions including an image reading function and an image forming function and capable of shifting to a sleep mode, and an information processing apparatus capable of performing data communication with the image processing apparatus via a network. A message display control method applied to an image processing system comprising: wherein the information processing apparatus accesses the image processing apparatus via the network during the sleep mode of the image processing apparatus. Having a first communication control step of transmitting a message corresponding to the image processing device to the image processing device and enabling display control of the image processing device, wherein the image processing device includes During the sleep mode, a message transmitted from the information processing device via the network in response to access from the information processing device. A second communication control step of receiving, message display control method characterized by comprising a display control step of displaying the message on the display means. 20. The image processing apparatus, comprising: an image reading step of reading an image from a document; an image forming step of forming the image on a recording medium; a connection step of connecting to the network; and an operation screen displayed on the display unit. 20. The message display control method according to claim 19, further comprising: an interface step of controlling an operation input. 21. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein whether or not access from said information processing apparatus to said image processing apparatus is allowed / disabled can be set by operating said image processing apparatus.
9. The message display control method according to item 9. 22. The image processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the message transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus can be hidden on the image processing apparatus side.
Message display control method described. 23. A message transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus can be displayed at an arbitrary timing on a part or the whole of an operation screen of the display unit of the image processing apparatus. The message display control method according to claim 19. 24. The image processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the message is a message such as a message inviting a saving of toner used for image formation in the image processing apparatus, a message notifying a maintenance time of the image processing apparatus, or the like. A message display control method according to any one of claims 19, 22, and 23. 25. An image processing apparatus having a plurality of functions including an image reading function and an image forming function and capable of shifting to a sleep mode, and an information processing apparatus capable of performing data communication with the image processing apparatus via a network. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program that executes a message display control method applied to an image processing system comprising: the message display control method includes a sleep mode of the image processing apparatus. In the first, the image processing apparatus is accessed from the information processing apparatus via the network, a message corresponding to the image processing apparatus is transmitted to the image processing apparatus, and a display control of the image processing apparatus can be performed. Communication control step, and during the sleep mode of the image processing apparatus, A second communication control step of receiving a message transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus via the network in response to the access, and a display control step of displaying the message on display means of the image processing apparatus And a storage medium comprising: 26. An image processing apparatus connected to a network, comprising: a display unit for performing various displays; and control for setting and canceling a sleep mode for reducing power consumption of each unit including the display unit. Means, and receiving means for receiving a message to be displayed on the display unit from the network, in response to the reception of the message, releasing the sleep mode of the display unit and displaying the message on the display unit An image processing apparatus comprising: