JP2003101683A - Image processing apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow an image processing apparatus 5 to perform remote control off-line. SOLUTION: A command row is coded and is printed on paper. The image processing apparatus 1 reads the images on the paper where the command row is printed, decodes them, and then executes commands.

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 and method for performing image processing in a copying machine, a fax machine, a printer, an image scanner, an image file system and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, copying machines, fax machines, printers,
A device having an image processing function such as an image scanner and an image file system (generally referred to as an OA device) is not connected to a network and provides a closed function in a single device. In recent years, products have been provided in which these OA devices that have been used as stand-alone so far are connected to a network such as Ethernet (registered trademark) and can be shared by a plurality of computers as clients.

In order to use such an OA device from a client via a network, a conventional method has been taken on the premise that the connectivity via the network is always secured during processing. For example, when a program executed on a client workstation such as a personal computer or a personal digital assistant uses a service provided by an OA device, the OA
It sends a request or data necessary for processing to a server program executed on the device to control the operation of the target device, and further receives a response or data if necessary.
The client repeatedly determines the content of the response from the OA device and accordingly transmits a new instruction request to the OA device. As a result, they continued to interact interactively while the service was being processed.

Further, as a recent trend, as a result of various OA devices being connected to a network, a plurality of various OA devices are connected.
There is a demand for a device that combines the functions of the device A to realize a workflow-type service that automatically performs a series of processes that a user conventionally realized while moving between devices. For example, the secretary finds the desired image data in the image file according to the instructions given in the instructions,
Attaching the image data from the image file to the output of the PDL file created by the word processor, outputting 20 copies to the printer, further stapling, and at the same time faxing those image data to three destinations,
There is a demand for a service in which a plurality of devices connected to a network cooperate with each other to perform such a series of operations.
Conventionally, in order to solve this problem, one client sequentially connects to each of a plurality of devices, and by repeatedly performing control according to the above-described interactive processing protocol that assumes continuous connection, It realizes multiple functions by combining the devices.

On the other hand, in the field of distributed computing in a network consisting of purely computers, a remote procedure call for performing distributed computing by repeating dialogs according to protocols, which have been actively researched and implemented recently, etc. A technology called a mobile agent has been proposed, which is an evolution of the above technology and in which an executable processor object itself moves through a network to perform distributed computation. As an example of implementing a distributed computing system using a mobile agent, Telescri described in US Pat.
Pt, Odyssey also from General Magic, and Aglets from IBM Tokyo Research Laboratories are well known.

Further, the applicant of the present invention has a means for previously receiving a mobile agent, a means for interpreting and executing the received mobile agent, and a means for controlling a mechanism possessed by the device by an instruction described in the mobile agent in executing the mobile agent. It proposes an OA device and an image processing device having a built-in.

[0007]

However, the conventional control of the OA device via the network involves remote control of the service provided by the device and executed by the processor in the client host such as a personal computer or a workstation. The client process to do,
A server process that is executed by a processor in the device and controls a physical mechanism of the device in order to realize a service provided by the device operates in separate process execution environments. In other words, in a conventional networked device, the client process establishes a network connection with the server process of the device to sequentially and interactively control the service, so it is possible to realize a system application that combines multiple devices. Then, the client process must continue to interact with the server processes on each device throughout the series of operations. Therefore, there are the following problems.

In an OA device that treats paper as an input or output, a so-called online control path is cut off when information is input to or output from a paper medium, so that interactive control between a client and a server is not possible. It was impossible, and the limit of the combination as a system between a plurality of devices was produced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an offline information transmission path for reading information from a paper medium or outputting information to the paper medium in an image reading apparatus that handles paper. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that enables flexible remote control comparable to interactive processing in an online network even when it is used.

[0010]

In order to achieve such an object, the invention of claim 1 includes an image reading means for reading an image on a sheet surface and generating image data, and an image reading means included in the image data. And a decoding means for decoding the instruction sequence and the data relating to the execution of the instruction sequence, and an interpretation executing means for interpreting and executing the decrypted instruction sequence based on the decoded data. It is characterized by

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect further comprises a mechanism control means for controlling the mechanism of the apparatus in response to an instruction from the interpretation executing means. Characterize.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, interface means for transmitting and receiving data to and from the network, and an instruction sequence and data relating to execution of the instruction sequence are further provided. An encoding means for encoding and a transmitting means for transmitting the instruction sequence and the data encoded by the encoding means to another image processing apparatus through the interface are provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an encoding unit that encodes an instruction sequence and data related to execution of the instruction sequence into image data, and image data including the encoded instruction sequence and data is printed on a sheet. A printing means for printing on the surface is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, further, interface means for transmitting and receiving data to and from the network, and at least an instruction sequence and data relating to execution of the instruction sequence are provided. And a decoding unit that decodes a command sequence included in the information received by the receiving unit and data related to the execution of the command sequence. .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus according to the fifth aspect further comprises a mechanism control means for controlling the mechanism of the apparatus in response to an instruction from the interpretation executing means. Characterize.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the printing unit further prints out a command sequence and information relating to a destination of data relating to execution of the command sequence. Is printed on the paper surface in a form that can be recognized by the operator who handles the.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention, an image reading step of reading an image on a sheet surface and generating image data,
A decoding step of decoding an instruction sequence and data relating to the execution of the instruction sequence included in the image data, and an interpretation for interpreting and executing the decrypted instruction sequence based on the decrypted data And an execution step.

The invention according to claim 9 is the image processing method according to claim 8, further comprising a mechanism control step for controlling the mechanism of the image processing apparatus in response to an instruction from the interpretation execution step. It is characterized by

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the eighth aspect, an interface step for transmitting and receiving data to and from the network, an instruction sequence, and data relating to execution of the instruction sequence are further provided. An encoding step of encoding, and a transmission step of transmitting the instruction sequence and data encoded by the encoding step to another image processing apparatus by the interface step are characterized by being provided.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, an encoding step of encoding an instruction sequence and data relating to execution of the instruction sequence in image data, and image data including the encoded instruction sequence and data are printed on a paper. A printing step for printing on the surface.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the eleventh aspect, there is further provided interface means for transmitting and receiving data to and from the network,
Receiving means for receiving information including at least an instruction sequence and data relating to execution of the instruction sequence by the interface, and decoding the instruction sequence contained in the information received by the receiving step and data relating to execution of the instruction sequence. And a decoding step.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the image processing method according to the twelfth aspect further includes a mechanism control step for controlling the mechanism of the image processing apparatus in response to the instruction from the interpretation execution step. It is characterized by

The invention of claim 14 is the image processing method according to claim 11, wherein the printing step further comprises:
It is characterized in that the instruction sequence and the information relating to the destination of the data relating to the execution of the instruction sequence are printed on the paper surface in a form that can be recognized by an operator who handles the printed and output paper.

A fifteenth aspect of the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium that stores a program for controlling an image processing apparatus, wherein the program reads an image on a sheet surface and generates image data. Reading means, decoding means for decoding an instruction sequence and data relating to execution of the instruction sequence, which are included in the image data, and interpretation of the decoded instruction sequence based on the decrypted data, and It is characterized by causing a computer to execute an interpretation executing means for executing the execution.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for controlling an image processing apparatus, the image reading means for reading an image on a sheet surface to generate image data, and the image reading means. A computer is caused to execute a decoding means for decoding an instruction sequence and data related to execution of the instruction sequence, and an interpretation executing means for interpreting and executing the decrypted instruction sequence based on the decrypted data. Characterize.

[0026]

1 shows the configuration of an office system including an image processing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

In FIG. 1, 1 is an image processing apparatus,
It is a first multi-function peripheral including a printer and a scanner. Two
Is a local area network connected to the image processing apparatus, and realizes mutual communication between the apparatus and another apparatus or client. Reference numeral 3 denotes a client computer, which includes an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse for the user to input, and an output device such as a display for outputting information to the user, and is connected to the local area network 2.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a database server, which has a large-capacity storage device and is a database management system (DBMS).
Is a computer that runs. An image processing apparatus 5 is a second multifunction machine including a printer and a scanner. Reference numeral 6 denotes a first sheet, which is output from the image processing apparatus 1 and carried by some method such as postal mail or human hands and input to the image processing apparatus 5. A second sheet 7 is output from the image processing apparatus 5 and input to the image processing apparatus 1, like the first sheet.

FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the image processing apparatuses 1 to 5.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 is a network interface for transmitting and receiving data frames to and from the local area network 2. Reference numeral 12 is a processor (CPU, MPU) that performs various arithmetic processes. A work memory 13 stores a program executed by the processor and data related to the execution.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a non-volatile memory (ROM (not shown), Flash (flash) ROM, NVR (not shown)) for storing programs to be executed by the processor, initial values of data related to execution, and data that needs to be saved across power-off.
It is composed of one or more of AM, HDD, etc.). Reference numeral 15 is an engine control circuit for controlling an image processing engine that performs image processing by hardware.

Reference numeral 16 is an image memory for storing image data. A printer 17 is an image processing engine that forms an image corresponding to image data on a transfer sheet. An image scanner 18 is an image processing engine that reads an image from a document and creates image data.

An operation panel 21 is provided with a liquid crystal panel, a keyboard and the like to realize a man-machine interface with the user. A processor bus 19 includes a network interface 11, a processor 12, a work memory 13, a non-volatile memory 14, and an engine control circuit 1.
5, the image memory 16 and the operation panel 21 are connected to exchange data, control information, engine status, and the like. An image bus 20 connects the engine control circuit 15, the image memory 16, the printer 17, and the image scanner 18 to realize the exchange of image data.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the printer unit 17 and the image scanner unit 18 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 101 designates a document feeding device, which is a document table glass 1 for document sheets stacked on the document table one by one.
No. 02 is conveyed. When the document is conveyed, the lamp 103 of the image scanner unit is turned on and the scanner unit 104 moves to illuminate the document. The reflected light of the original is
The light passes through the lens 108 via the mirrors 105, 106 and 107, and then is input to the CCD image sensor 109.

The signal input to the printer 17 is converted into an optical signal by the exposure control unit 201 by the document control unit 201, and the photoconductor 202 is illuminated according to the image signal. The latent image formed on the photoconductor 202 by the irradiation light is a developing device 203.
Developed by. At the same time as the development, the transfer paper is conveyed from the transfer paper stacking section 204 or 205, and the developed image is transferred at the transfer section 206.

The transferred image is fixed on the transfer paper by the fixing unit 207 and then discharged from the paper output unit 208 to the outside of the apparatus. The transfer paper output from the paper discharge unit is discharged to each bin when the sort function is working in the sorter 220, or to the highest non-sort bin of the sorter when the sort function is not working.

FIG. 4 schematically shows the structure of software processed by the processor 12. Software has a data structure and program code.

The data structure and program code are stored in the work memory 13. Non-volatile memory 14
If is a ROM or the like, the program code may exist only in the non-volatile memory 14.

In FIG. 4, each layer has a relationship in which the upper layer uses the service provided by the lower layer.

The lowest layer is an operating system, which is a layer for managing the execution context of programs, memory management, and the like. In the operating system, four device drivers of a network interface driver, a printer control driver, an image scanner control driver, and an operation panel control driver are incorporated and function in cooperation. The network interface driver is software that controls the network interface 11. The printer control driver uses the engine control circuit 15 and the image memory 16 to send the printer 1
This is the software that controls 7. The image scanner control driver is software that controls the image scanner 18 via the engine control circuit 15 and the image memory 16. The operation panel control driver is software that controls the operation panel 21.

The second lowest layer is various libraries. The thread library is a library that provides a thread function to a program that uses it. A thread is a unit of parallel execution of software, and multiple threads in a single process have different execution contexts (program counter, stack, register value, etc.), but share memory space and the like. Since thread context switching requires less processing than process context switching, it is also called a lightweight thread.

The network interface library is a library that realizes data transmission and data reception via a network using a network interface driver. The printer control library uses the function of the printer control driver to execute the printer control API.
It is a library that provides (application programming interface). The image scanner control library is a library that provides an image scanner control API by utilizing the function of the image scanner control driver. The operation panel control library is a library that provides an operation panel control API by utilizing the function of the operation panel driver.

The third lowest layer is an interpreter. The interpreter provides an object execution environment for operating objects such as mobile agents. The object according to the present embodiment is a subset of the object in the widely known object-oriented paradigm. That is, it is a software structure in which data (a set of some attributes) and processing (a set of some operations) relating to a certain concept of a problem area are put together. Each object exists autonomously,
While communicating (message passing) with other objects, a series of processing is achieved as a whole of the object group in parallel.

Inside the interpreter, there is an object scheduler that intermittently gives the processing time of the processor to each object running on the interpreter. The object scheduler uses a thread library so that the processing of each object virtually proceeds in parallel.

Also inside the interpreter is an object decoder / encoder. The decoder can substantially restore the structure that originally existed in the memory to the bit string that can transfer the script (instruction string) and the data of the object expanded in the executable form in the memory to the network. Code in the form. The encoder decodes the bit string transferred via the network into an object expanded in an executable form on a memory.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a network packet in which an object is encoded. In the network packet that encodes the object, a portion (1) that encodes all data (set of attributes) related to the execution of the original object, and a script portion (2) of the original object
And are included.

In FIG. 4, the highest layer is a plurality of objects managed and executed on the interpreter.

The printer control object is a resident agent that provides a plurality of operations for controlling the printer via the printer control library and functions as a proxy object of the printer 17.

That is, in the instruction sequence of the object,
When a command for calling an operation of the printer control object (message passing) is executed, the control corresponding to the operation is implemented in the printer 17 in the implementation of the operation. Similarly, when the operation of extracting information from the printer control object is executed, the status information of the actual printer can be obtained.

The image scanner control object is a resident agent that provides a plurality of operations for controlling the image scanner through the image scanner control library and functions as a proxy object of the image scanner 18. That is, the operation of the image scanner control object is called in the instruction sequence of the object (message passing).
When the instruction is executed, the control corresponding to the operation is executed in the image scanner 18 in the implementation of the operation.

Similarly, when the operation for extracting information from the image scanner control object is executed, the actual image scanner status information and the like can be obtained. The operation panel control object is a resident agent that provides a plurality of operations for controlling the operation panel via the operation panel control library and functions as a proxy object of the operation panel 21.

The printer control object, the image scanner control object, and the operation panel control object are resident agents. That is, when the interpreter starts processing after the image processing apparatus is started up, a resident agent is automatically generated, initialized, and started as a part of the first processing. Then, the resident agent remains in this node throughout the operation of the device (which constitutes an infinite loop inside the implementation of the live operation described later).

In FIG. 4, two existing mobile agents are objects having a property of moving from an interpreter on a certain network node to an interpreter on another network node among objects having a role as an agent of a certain work. . The mobile agent includes an instruction for calling an operation (hereinafter, referred to as a go operation) meaning "move" in its script.

When the interpreter finds the go operation during the interpretation and execution of the instruction sequence of the mobile agent object, the object encoder restores the data structure and the instruction sequence of all executions contained in the object at that time. Encoding with possible encoding methods (marshalling, serialization)
Then, the encoded package is transferred as a network packet to the interpreter of the node specified in the argument of the go operation. The interpreter of the node which receives the transferred packet decodes (unmarshalls, deserializes) the packet into a memory space managed by the interpreter as an executable instruction and data by the object decoder, and further schedules the object scheduler. Participate in the target.

Since the data related to the execution of the transferred and decrypted object includes the data indicating the position of the instruction to be executed next to the object, the object is first transferred to the transfer destination node. The instruction to be executed is next to the last executed instruction at the transfer source node. Thus, the mobile agent performs the processing described in its own instruction sequence while moving between the network nodes including the execution environment (interpreter) of the mobile agent.

All the objects handled by the interpreter have an operation (hereinafter referred to as an initialize operation) that defines the processing required to initialize itself by the instruction sequence. When an interpreter creates an object, the interpreter first executes a sequence of instructions described as an implementation of this initialize operation.
In addition, the mobile agent and the resident agent have an operation (hereinafter referred to as a live operation) that defines a series of processes to be performed over the life of the mobile agent and the resident agent. When the object is initialized, the interpreter executes the instruction sequence described as the implementation of this live operation. When the execution of the instruction sequence described in the live operation ends, the interpreter deletes the object and releases all the memory area used only by the object.

Objects can interact with other objects by message passing. Since the memory space of the interpreter existing in each node is completely different for each node, the mobile agent needs to communicate with the other agent prior to the mobile agent in order to start a dialogue with another agent at a certain node. You must get a reference to the object. This operation calls a dialogue request operation (hereinafter referred to as a meet operation), which is an embedded operation provided by the interpreter, with the identification information for designating the object of the other party to interact with as an argument in the command sequence of the mobile agent. It can be realized. Here, the identification information for designating the partner object is information indicating a condition of the corresponding object such as a unique object identifier or an identifier of a class to which the object belongs. If the meet operation is successful, the mobile agent gets a reference to the other object and can use it to perform the operation of the other object. That is, it becomes possible to exchange messages.
In FIG. 4, when the mobile agent 1 or the mobile agent 2 moving from another node meets the printer control object or the image scanner object, which is a resident agent, it accesses the other party's published data and calls the published operation. Will be able to.

Further, the interpreter according to the embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the well-known encoding and decoding from the network packet of the mobile agent, further encoding and printing data on the transfer paper. It also decrypts the print data on the transfer paper. The mobile agent is encoded (marshalling, serialized) into a package as described above, image data representing the encoded data as a barcode is generated in the image memory 16, and is printed on the paper surface by the printer 17. Conversely, the bar-cond image printed on the paper surface is read into the image memory 16 by the image scanner 18, the read image data is recognized as a bar code, and the above-mentioned package data is restored. Marshalling, deserializing) to restore the mobile agent.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the representation on the paper surface of the mobile agent according to this embodiment. The mobile agent is encoded in the form of a barcode printed on paper.

In addition, when the mobile agent is encoded on paper, there is also an embodiment in which information such as the destination to which the mobile agent moves is also encoded and expressed as printing on the paper surface. Furthermore, since the movement of the mobile agent encoded on the paper is often carried out solely by the human hands, it is also effective to print the destination to be moved on the paper surface in a human-readable expression. Yes (Fig. 7).

6 and 7, a well-known representation method using a bar code is used to encode the mobile agent as the print on the paper surface, but this is limited to the bar code. It goes without saying that any method may be used as long as it is a method of encoding and decoding data as printing on the paper surface. In particular, the print representation of data by modulating the dot dot dot cycle in a system composed of a color printer and a color scanner, and various realization methods of {digital watermark} are used to process the print representation of the mobile agent. It is extremely effective to print by embedding it in the print expression of image data.

FIG. 8 shows a processing procedure of an instruction sequence for implementing the live operation of the mobile agent according to this embodiment.

The mobile agent activated by the client 3 moves to the interpreter on the image processing apparatus 1 by go operation destined for the image processing apparatus 1 in step 801. At this time, the interpreter on the client 3 marshalls all instruction sequences and all data (set of attributes) in the object as a data stream communicable via the network, and transmits the data stream to the image processing apparatus. When the movement of the agent is completed, the interpreter on the client 3 deletes the mobile agent object from the internal table and releases the resources such as the memory space used by the object.

The image processing apparatus 1 expands the received data stream, arranges the expanded data stream in the memory space managed by the interpreter inside the image processing apparatus 1, and registers it in the management table as an executable object. The interpreter in the image processing apparatus 1 uses the current program counter that is automatically stored in the data in the registered mobile agent object.
Resume execution of the ive operation.

In step 802, which is executed after the restart, a go operation with the image processing device 5 as the destination is performed to move to the interpreter on the image processing device 5. At this time, the interpreter on the image processing apparatus 1 marshalls all the instruction sequences and all the data (set of attributes) in the object as a data stream, and prints out as print data on the paper surface of the paper 6. When the movement of the agent is completed, the interpreter on the image processing apparatus 1 deletes the mobile agent object from the internal table and releases the resources such as the memory space used by the object. As a result, the sheet shown in FIG. 7 is ejected from the image processing apparatus 1.

The trained operator delivers the discharged paper 6 to the image processing apparatus 5 by a method such as hand carry, mail, or conventional fax,
Further, this sheet is placed on the scanner of the image processing apparatus 5.
The image processing apparatus 1 recognizes the print data represented in the read image data, restores the original data stream, unmarshalls the data stream,
The expanded instruction sequence and data are arranged in a memory space managed by an interpreter inside the image processing apparatus 5, and registered in the management table as an executable object. The interpreter inside the image processing device 5 restarts the execution of the live operation from the current program counter automatically stored in the data inside the registered mobile agent object.

In step 803, which is executed after restart, the interpreter is requested to interact with the printer control object resident in the interpreter of the image processing apparatus 5, and a reference for identifying the printer control object is obtained from the interpreter. The printer control object is programmed as an object that controls the printer engine of the image processing apparatus 5 and acquires the status, and is generated and registered in the interpreter in advance when the interpreter is initialized when the apparatus is started up.

In step 804, the printer control object consumable status inquiry operation is called. As a result, the sensor value for detecting the status of the consumable item in the printer is collected according to the implementation of the consumable item status inquiry operation of the printer control object,
The degree of replenishment of various consumables such as toner, fixing web, transfer paper, etc. is determined. When control is returned from the operation invocation, the agent gets a list of consumables that need to be replenished as the operation return value. If it is determined that the list is empty, that is, it is determined that replenishment of consumables is not necessary, the process proceeds to step 805, and if it is determined that it is necessary, the process proceeds to step 807 and continues.

In step 805, the operation panel control object is connected. In step 806, a message display operation implemented in the operation panel control object is called, and a message notifying the operator of "normal end" is displayed on the operation panel. Then, a series of processing is ended.

In step 807, a list of consumable supplies and supplements is stored in the attribute inside the agent. The data stored in the internal attributes becomes the target of marshalling as the agent moves, and moves with the agent.

At step 808, the image processing apparatus 1 is moved to the interpreter on the image processing apparatus 1 by a go operation destined for the image processing apparatus 1. At this time, the interpreter on the image processing device 5 marshalls all the command sequences and all the data (set of attributes) in the object as a data stream, and prints out as print data on the paper surface of the paper 7. When the movement of the agent is completed, the interpreter on the image processing apparatus 5 deletes the mobile agent object from the internal table and releases the resources such as the memory space used by the object.

As a result, the sheet as shown in FIG. 7 is discharged from the image processing apparatus 5. The trained operator delivers the discharged paper 7 to the image processing apparatus 5 by a method such as hand-carrying, mailing, or a conventional fax, and further applies the paper to the scanner of the image processing apparatus 1. The image processing apparatus 1 recognizes the print data represented in the read image data, restores the original data stream, unmarshalls the data stream, and expands the instruction sequence and data into an interpreter inside the image processing apparatus 5. It is placed in the memory space managed by and registered in the management table as an executable object. The interpreter inside the image processing apparatus 1 restarts execution of the live operation from the current program counter automatically stored in the data inside the registered mobile agent object.

In step 809 which is executed after the restart, the go operation with the database server 4 as the destination moves to the interpreter on the database server 4. At this time, the interpreter on the image processing apparatus 1 marshalls all the instruction sequences and all the data (set of attributes) in the object as a data stream communicable via the network, and sends it to the database server.
When the movement of the agent is completed, the interpreter on the image processing apparatus 1 deletes the mobile agent object from the internal table and releases the resources such as the memory space used by the object. The database server 4 expands the received data stream, arranges the expanded data stream in the memory space managed by the interpreter inside the database server 4, and registers it in the management table as an executable object. The interpreter inside the database server 4 uses the current program counter, which is automatically stored in the data inside the registered mobile agent object, to liv.
e Resume execution of operation.

At step 810 executed after resuming, the order management object resident in the database server 4 is connected. Further, at step 811, the order processing operation provided by the order management object is called with the supplement list stored in the attribute at step 807 as an argument to perform order processing. And it ends.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
It becomes possible to incorporate an image processing device that is in an offline state with respect to a network into a system application that organically and flexibly links devices by a mobile agent, like various OA devices connected to the network. Processing can be realized.

Although the centralized control center has been described as an example of the system application for controlling the replenishment of the consumables in the remote device in the present embodiment, the embodiment according to the present invention is not limited to this application. not to mention,
Rather, the live of the mobile agent as shown in FIG.
It is a feature of the present invention that system applications for various purposes can be flexibly realized depending on the programming of the operation.

For example, even in the same configuration as that of this embodiment, a service agent who carries out a diagnostic program that is optimally customized for each device at a remote place is brought in the form of paper 6 at the time of maintenance, and is semi-automatically. The embodiment for performing maintenance can be easily realized. Also, for example, a simple upgrade of the device's firmware may bring a mobile agent programmed to patch, with a serviceman. Also, for example, it is possible to easily realize a mobile agent that collects or updates various parameters set in the device.

Further, in the present embodiment, the remote device 5 is illustrated as a stand-alone structure. However, when the remote area LAN exists in the area independently of the LAN 2, the movement of the mobile agent by paper is as follows. It can also be used as a gateway that links independent networks with mobile agents.

Even when the present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (eg, host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.), a device composed of one device (eg, copying machine, facsimile). Device).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium having a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to supply a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
It is needless to say that it can be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

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

Moreover, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the program code read by the computer, but also the OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code. It is needless to say that this also includes a case where the above) performs a part or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that a case where the CPU or the like included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is also included.

[0085]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In an OA device that handles paper, it enables flexible remote control comparable to interactive processing in an online network, even when the information is input or output from a paper medium via an offline information transmission path. It is possible to provide an OA device capable of realizing a system application by freely and flexibly combining a plurality of OA devices (a device including an image processing device or a device having an image processing function).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a network system to which the present invention is applicable and a system in which paper transmission is linked as a medium.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configurations of the printer and scanner shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a hierarchical diagram showing a configuration of software processed by the processor of FIG.

5 (1) and (2) are explanatory views showing a structure in which the mobile agent of FIG. 4 is encoded for network transfer or representation on paper.

6 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a representation on a sheet encoded by the mobile agent of FIG. 4. FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a representation on a sheet encoded by the mobile agent in FIG. 4 and a representation in which a mobile destination of the mobile agent is printed in a human-readable format.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a main command sequence of the mobile agent according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 First image processing device 2 Local area network 3 client (computer) 4 database server 5 Second image processing device 11 Network interface card 12 processors 13 work memory 14 Non-volatile memory 15 Engine control circuit 16 image memory 17 Printer 18 image scanner 19 processor bus 20 image bus 21 Operation panel

Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP04 AQ06 HN15                       HX01                 5B021 AA30 BB04 EE02                 5B035 AA00 BB01 BC03                 5C062 AA02 AA05 AA17 AB07 AB17                       AE07 AE13 AF00 BA04

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. An image reading unit for reading an image on a paper surface to generate image data, and a decoding unit for decoding an instruction sequence and data relating to execution of the instruction sequence included in the image data. An image processing apparatus comprising: a means and an interpretation execution means for interpreting and executing a decoded instruction sequence based on the decoded data. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising mechanism control means for controlling the mechanism of the apparatus in response to an instruction from the interpretation executing means. apparatus. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an interface means for transmitting and receiving data to and from a network, and an encoding for encoding an instruction sequence and data related to execution of the instruction sequence. An image processing apparatus comprising: a means; and a transmitting means for transmitting the instruction sequence and data encoded by the encoding means to another image processing apparatus through the interface. 4. An encoding unit for encoding an instruction sequence and data relating to execution of the instruction sequence in image data, and image data including the encoded instruction sequence and data is printed on a paper surface. An image processing apparatus comprising: a printing unit. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: interface means for transmitting and receiving data to and from a network; and information including at least an instruction sequence and data related to execution of the instruction sequence. An image processing apparatus comprising: a receiving unit that receives by an interface; and a decoding unit that decodes a command sequence included in information received by the receiving unit and data related to execution of the command sequence. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising mechanism control means for controlling the mechanism of the apparatus in response to an instruction from the interpretation executing means. apparatus. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the printing unit further includes an operator handling a command sequence and information relating to a destination of data relating to execution of the command sequence. An image processing apparatus, which prints on a paper surface in a recognizable form. 8. An image reading step of reading an image on a sheet surface to generate image data, and a decoding step of decoding a command sequence and data relating to execution of the command sequence included in the image data. An image processing method comprising: a step; and an interpretation execution step of interpreting and executing a decoded instruction sequence based on the decoded data. 9. The image processing method according to claim 8, further comprising a mechanism control step for controlling the mechanism of the image processing apparatus in response to an instruction from the interpretation executing step. Image processing method. 10. The image processing method according to claim 8, further comprising an interface step for transmitting and receiving data to and from a network, and an encoding for encoding an instruction sequence and data related to execution of the instruction sequence. An image processing method comprising: a step; and a transmitting step of transmitting the instruction sequence and data encoded by the encoding step to another image processing apparatus by the interface step. 11. An encoding step of encoding an instruction sequence and data related to execution of the instruction sequence into image data, and printing image data including the encoded instruction sequence and data on a paper surface. An image processing method comprising: a printing step. 12. The image processing method according to claim 11, further comprising: interface means for transmitting and receiving data to and from a network; and information including at least an instruction sequence and data related to execution of the instruction sequence. An image processing method comprising: a receiving unit that receives by an interface; and a decoding step that decodes a command sequence included in the information received by the receiving step and data related to execution of the command sequence. 13. The image processing method according to claim 12, further comprising a mechanism control step for controlling the mechanism of the image processing apparatus in response to an instruction from the interpretation execution step. Image processing method. 14. The image processing method according to claim 11, wherein in the printing step, an operator who handles a printed sheet prints information related to an instruction sequence and destination of data related to execution of the instruction sequence. An image processing method characterized by printing on a paper surface in a recognizable form. 15. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for controlling an image processing apparatus is stored, the program comprising an image reading unit for reading an image on a sheet surface and generating image data, Decoding means for decoding the instruction sequence and the data relating to the execution of the instruction sequence, which are included in the image data, and the interpretation execution for interpreting and executing the decrypted instruction sequence based on the decrypted data. A recording medium characterized by causing a computer to execute the means. 16. A program for controlling an image processing apparatus, comprising: an image reading unit for reading an image on a sheet surface to generate image data; and an instruction sequence and an instruction sequence included in the image data. A control program for causing a computer to execute a decoding means for decoding data relating to the execution of the above, and an interpretation executing means for interpreting and executing the decoded instruction sequence based on the decoded data. .