JP2003330641A - Image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing system for enabling all users to recognize the setting place of an image forming apparatus by informing the users of a message from the image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: This image processing system is configured of an image outputting means for printing image data to an output sheet, a first storing means for storing image data, a communicating means for transmitting and receiving the image data and control data, a controller for controlling those three means, a user interface for transmitting an operation instruction from the user to the controller, and a second storage means for storing input information from the user interface. In this case, the input information indicate a mail address and the setting place of the image forming apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing system of an image forming apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving an image using a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed a system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are monitored on a host such as a personal computer and the user confirms the state of the apparatus.

[0003]

When one image forming apparatus is connected to a network and used by a plurality of users, the image forming apparatus may be installed in a part of the image forming apparatus depending on the size of the office. In some cases, it is installed in a place that is not visible to other users.

When the installation location of such an image forming apparatus is moved due to a change in office layout, some users cannot recognize the location of the image forming apparatus, and after image processing such as printing is performed, The trouble of finding an image forming apparatus occurs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to notify all users of the installation location of the image forming apparatus by notifying the user of a message from the image forming apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system capable of performing the above.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image output means for printing image data on an output sheet, a first storage means for storing the image data, the image data and The image processing includes a communication means for transmitting and receiving control data, a controller for controlling the above three means, a user interface for transmitting an operation instruction from a user to the controller, and a second storage means for storing input information from the user interface. The feature is that the system is configured.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a multifunction peripheral device (MFP: Multi-Functi) as an example of an image processing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.
on Peripheral).

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a controller for controlling the multi-functional peripheral device, which has the hardware configuration shown in FIG. A scanner engine 102 is controlled by the controller 101. 1
A laser beam printer engine 03 is controlled by the controller 101.

The laser beam printer engine 1 of 103 is connected to a finisher 104, and a plurality of recording media output from the printer engine (for example,
It is possible to perform staple (stapling) processing for all papers. The finisher 104 is also controlled by the controller 101. A network (Ethernet) interface 105 provides the controller 101 with bidirectional communication through the interface. Reference numeral 106 denotes a user interface, which includes an LCD display and a keyboard, displays information from the controller 101, and transmits instructions from the user to the controller 101. A fax controller 107 receives a fax from a telephone line.

Further, all the functions can be used from any interface of Network (Ethernet, TCP / IP).

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the system configuration of the present embodiment.

In FIG. 2, 201 and 202 are multifunction peripherals (MFP) shown in FIG. 203 is a host computer. The MFP 201 is connected to the MFP 202 and the host 203 by a network interface cable 204. The MFPs 201 and 202 and the host 203 connected to the network cable 204 specify the IP address and the port number to connect and output the IP packet data. 205 is a telephone line for inputting fax data to the MFP 201.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the controller 101 of the present embodiment shown in FIG.

Inside the controller 101, the CPU 3
01 via the bus 309, the memory 302, the operation unit 106
Liquid crystal display 303 and keyboard 30 constituting the
4, ROM 310, and DISK 311 are connected.
Various programs and data are stored in a DISK 311 (storage medium) such as a hard disk or a floppy (registered trademark) disk, and the memory 302 is sequentially stored as needed.
Read out and executed by the CPU 301. This DIS
The K311 can be attached to and detached from the MFP 201
It may be one built in. Further, the program may be downloaded from another MFP via the network cable 204 and stored in the DISK 311.

Liquid crystal display 303, keyboard 30
Reference numeral 4 denotes the operation unit 106 shown in FIG.
The PU 301 performs display by writing data on the display 303, and the CPU 301 displays the keyboard 304.
An instruction from the user is input by reading the data from.

A network interface 305 is connected to the bus 309, which corresponds to the network interface 105 shown in FIG. 1 and is connected to the network cable 204 shown in FIG. CPU301
Communicates using the interface by reading or writing data from the interface.

Further, the bus 309 has a printer 306,
A finisher 307 and a scanner 308 are connected, and these correspond to the printer 103, finisher 104, and scanner 102 shown in FIG.
The U301 reads / writes data from / to these engines to perform engine operations such as print / scan and various status acquisitions. The printer 306,
The finisher 307 and the scanner 308 are the MFP 201.
It may exist as a single peripheral device on the network instead of inside, and the controller 101 of the MFP 201 may control it.

An overview of the MFP is shown in FIG.

Scanner unit 401 which is an image input device
Illuminates an image on a paper as an original and scans a CCD line sensor (not shown) to convert it into an electric signal as raster image data.

A printer unit 402 which is an image output device
Is a part that converts the raster image data into an image on paper. The printing operation is started or stopped by an instruction from the controller CPU 301. Operation part 4
The configuration of No. 03 is shown in FIG. The liquid crystal display unit 501 has a touch panel sheet pasted on the liquid crystal, displays a system operation screen and soft keys, and when the displayed key is pressed, the position information thereof is displayed by the controller CPU 3
Tell 01. The start key 502 is used when starting the reading operation of the original image. Start key 502
There is a two-color LED 503 of green and red in the central part of, and the color indicates whether or not the start key 502 can be used. The stop key 504 functions to stop the operation in progress.

FIG. 6 shows the address book displayed on the operation unit.

Data such as a mail address can be stored in the DISK in the controller and has the following configuration. Table 601 shows names. The table 602 shows the mail address corresponding to the name of 601. The table 603 is a flag indicating whether or not the installation location notification has been issued. A table 604 is a flag indicating whether or not to notify the installation location change. It shows whether a change notification is required when the location of the image forming apparatus is changed. Any information can be input, edited, and deleted from the operation unit 403. By using this address, an electronic mail can be transmitted from the image processing apparatus, and an image captured from the scanner unit 401, job end notification data, and the like can be transmitted.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation flow in the case of notifying the installation location change.

In step 701, the installation place is set.
Displayed as 801 on the operation unit 401, the text of the installation location can be input. After setting the installation location,
In step 702, it is selected whether to notify the installation location. If the notification is not made, the button 803 is pressed to end the flow. When the notification is given, the button 802 is pressed, and at step 703, the installation location notification is set.

When 802 is pressed, a setting screen 804 is displayed. It is also possible to change the document to be sent,
To change, press 805 to edit. After the change is completed, or when the change is not necessary, the button 806 is pressed and the distribution method is selected in step 704. A screen such as 808 is displayed on the screen, and the delivery method is selected by the radio button 811. It is determined by pressing 809 after selecting. If "manually set notification destination" is selected, the destination is set in step 706. An arbitrary address may be selected from the table 602, or a new mail address may be set.

When "Send to all addresses for which notification is requested" is selected, the destination is set in step 705. With reference to the table 604, all the mail addresses that are “sent” are listed. In step 707, the document is notified to the mail address determined in step 705 or step 706. In this way
Notify the user of the installation location of the image forming apparatus.

[0028]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when the location of the image forming apparatus is moved, it is possible to notify the user of the installation location of the image forming apparatus. The user who is using the device can surely recognize the location of the image forming apparatus. It becomes possible to avoid that the place becomes unknown when the place where the image forming apparatus is installed is moved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an image forming system.

FIG. 3 is a controller configuration diagram.

FIG. 4 is an external view of an input / output device of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display.

FIG. 6 is an address book.

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart.

FIG. 8 is an operation screen of the copying machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 controller 102 scanner engine 103 Laser beam printer engine 104 finisher 105 network interface 106 User Interface 107 Fax controller 201,202 Multi-function peripherals (MFP) 203 host computer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image output unit that prints image data on an output sheet, a first storage unit that stores the image data, a communication unit that transmits and receives the image data and control data, and controls the three units. An image processing system comprising: a controller, a user interface for transmitting an operation instruction from a user to the controller, and a second storage unit for storing input information from the user interface. 2. The input information is a mail address and an installation location of the image processing apparatus.
The image processing system described. 3. The installation location of the image processing apparatus is transmitted to the mail address.
The image processing system described. 4. The input information is a mail address, an installation location of the image processing apparatus, and a flag indicating whether mail transmission is possible or not, and the controller is operable when the installation location of the image processing apparatus is input from the user interface. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the mail is transmitted to the mail address by referring to a flag indicating whether or not the mail can be transmitted.