JP2004213210A - Image forming system and writing method for its displaying data - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To visualize a type selection screen of displaying data, and to improve security of the displaying data, in an image forming system acquiring the displaying data of an image forming apparatus from a center via a network. <P>SOLUTION: In the center 60 a plurality of kinds of the displaying data are embedded into respective image files showing types thereof, and the files are transmitted to a server 20. The server 20 receives the image files from the center 60, selectively extracts the displaying data from the received image files, and transmits the displaying data to the image forming apparatus 10. The image forming apparatus 10 receives the displaying data from the server 20, and writes the received displaying data into a storage part 16a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming system including an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, a facsimile, a scanner, and a digital multi-function peripheral, and a center for providing display data thereof, and a display data writing method thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, an image forming apparatus is provided with a display unit for performing status display, setting display, operation guide, and the like. In this type of image forming apparatus, a storage area for display data is secured in the storage section, and the display section is operated based on the display data written therein.
[0003]
In recent years, it has been proposed that the storage unit of the image forming apparatus is configured by a rewritable flash memory or the like (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the display language and display level of the display unit can be changed only by rewriting the display data in the storage unit without exchanging the ROM.
[0004]
Further, the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a function of displaying a language selection screen and acquiring display data corresponding to the language selected here from a host computer via a network. I have. Therefore, it is possible to rewrite the display data without using a storage medium such as a memory card.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-10-32669 (page 4, FIG. 5)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the language selection screen of the image forming apparatus is configured to list the language type of the display data with a character string of a specific language (for example, English) and to select a desired language from the list. Therefore, there is a problem that the operability of the language selection screen is different between the specific language zone and another language zone.
In recent years, it has been proposed to visualize the user interface of the display unit. However, since the conventional language selection screen employs a character-based user interface as described above, the user can intuitively understand the type of language. There is a problem that cannot be identified.
[0007]
Further, when display data is acquired via a network, as in the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, sufficient consideration must be given to security. For example, when the display data is transmitted and received in a text format or a general compression format, the display data can be easily modified, and the display content of the display unit may be changed by malicious intent. .
[0008]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and in a case where display data of an image forming apparatus is obtained from a center via a network, display data is embedded in an image file indicating its type. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system capable of simultaneously achieving visualization of a type selection screen and improvement of security of display data by transmitting and receiving the data, and a display data writing method thereof.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, an image forming system according to the present invention includes an image forming apparatus that operates a display unit based on display data written in a storage unit, a server that manages one or a plurality of image forming apparatuses, An image forming system comprising a center connected to a server via a network, wherein the center embeds a plurality of types of display data in image files indicating the types, and the server And the display data is selectively extracted from the received image file, and the image forming apparatus receives the display data from the server and writes the received display data to the storage unit. .
[0010]
With this configuration of the image forming system, when the server that manages the image forming apparatus obtains the display data of the image forming apparatus from the center via the network, the display data includes an image file indicating the type of the image data. It will be transmitted and received in a state embedded in.
[0011]
Accordingly, the display data type selection screen in the server can be easily visualized using the image file, and the type of the display data can be intuitively recognized by the visualization. Further, the inconvenience that the operability of the type selection screen is different between the specific language area and another language area as in the related art in which the type selection screen is configured by the character strings of the specific language can be solved.
[0012]
Also, since the display data is subjected to a kind of encryption of embedding in the image file, it is more difficult to modify the display data compared to the case of sending and receiving in text format or general compression format. Data security can be enhanced.
[0013]
Moreover, by transmitting and receiving the display data via the server, the display data can be written to the image forming apparatus having no connection function to the center, and the image data can be written to a plurality of image forming apparatuses. Thus, an efficient writing operation can be performed.
[0014]
Further, the image forming system of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus that operates the display unit based on the display data written in the storage unit, and a center connected to the image forming apparatus via a network. In the image forming system, the center embeds a plurality of types of display data in image files indicating the types, and the image forming apparatus receives the image files from the center and selectively receives the image files from the received image files. The display data is extracted and written into the storage unit.
[0015]
With this configuration of the image forming system, when the image forming apparatus acquires the display data from the center via the network, the image data is transmitted and received in a state where the display data is embedded in the image file indicating the type. Will be done.
As a result, the display data type selection screen in the image forming apparatus can be easily visualized using the image file, and the security of the display data can be enhanced by a kind of encryption of embedding in the image file. Can be enhanced.
[0016]
Further, the image forming system of the present invention is configured such that the image file is an image file of a symbol specifying a country or a language, and display data corresponding to the country or the language is embedded.
With this configuration of the image forming system, it is possible to intuitively recognize the language type on the language selection screen of the server or the image forming apparatus.
[0017]
Further, in the image forming system of the present invention, the symbols are composed of national flags, maps, stylized country names, or stylized language names.
With this configuration of the image forming system, the language type can be more easily recognized on the language selection screen of the server or the image forming apparatus.
[0018]
Further, the image forming system of the present invention is configured such that display data is embedded in an image file together with a printer control command.
With this configuration of the image forming system, the display data writing operation can be completed only by executing the printer control command after extracting the display data and the printer control command from the image file.
[0019]
Further, the image forming system of the present invention has a configuration in which embedded data of an image file is encrypted.
With this configuration of the image forming system, since the display data and the printer control command are double-encrypted by encryption and embedding in the image file, the security can be further enhanced.
[0020]
Further, the image forming system according to the present invention is configured such that the image file includes a plurality of encrypted embedded data, and the encryption algorithm of each embedded data is different.
With this configuration of the image forming system, the embedded data of the image file can be highly encrypted, and the security can be further enhanced.
[0021]
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display data writing method for an image forming system, comprising: an image forming apparatus configured to operate a display unit based on display data written in a storage unit; A display data writing method for an image forming system including a server that manages a forming apparatus and a center connected to the server via a network, wherein the center indicates a plurality of types of display data and indicates the type. Each of the image files is embedded in the image file, and the image file is transmitted to the server. The server receives the image file from the center, selectively extracts display data from the received image file, and transmits the display data to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus receives the display data from the server and stores the received display data in the storage unit. There as a way to burn them.
[0022]
If the display data writing method of the image forming system is set to such a method, when the server managing the image forming apparatus acquires the display data of the image forming apparatus from the center via the network, the display data is Are transmitted and received while being embedded in the image file indicating the type.
As a result, the display data type selection screen in the server can be easily visualized using an image file, and the security of the display data can be enhanced by a type of encryption of embedding in the image file. Can be.
[0023]
Further, the display data writing method of the image forming system according to the present invention is configured such that the display data writing method is connected to the image forming apparatus via the network and the image forming apparatus via the network based on the display data written in the storage unit. A display data writing method for an image forming system, comprising: a center for embedding a plurality of types of display data in image files indicating the types, and transmitting the image files to the image forming apparatus; Then, the image forming apparatus receives the image file from the center, selectively extracts display data from the received image file, and writes the display data into the storage unit.
[0024]
If the display data writing method of the image forming system is set to such a method, when the image forming apparatus acquires the display data from the center via the network, the display data is an image file indicating its type. It will be transmitted and received in a state embedded in.
As a result, the display data type selection screen in the image forming apparatus can be easily visualized using the image file, and the security of the display data can be enhanced by a kind of encryption of embedding in the image file. Can be enhanced.
[0025]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First embodiment]
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming system according to the first embodiment.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses 10, a server 20 that manages the plurality of image forming apparatuses 10, a terminal 30 that uses the image forming apparatuses 10, a LAN that connects these, and the like. And an upper network 50 such as the Internet that connects the plurality of lower networks 40, and a center 60 that provides display data of the image forming apparatus 10 to the server 20 via the upper network 50. Have been.
[0027]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus 10 includes a printer, a copier, a facsimile, a scanner, a digital multifunction peripheral, and the like. The image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 2 is a digital multifunction peripheral having a copy function, a printer function, and a scanner function, and includes a scanner unit 11, a print unit 12, an operation unit 13, a display unit 14, an interface unit 15, and a control unit 16. And so on.
[0028]
The scanner unit 11 is a unit that reads a document set on a document table at a predetermined resolution. The print unit 12 is a unit that prints image data read by the scanner unit 11 and print data from the terminal 30 on a predetermined sheet. The operation unit 13 is a unit for performing various operations of the image forming apparatus 10. Operations such as function selection, paper selection, sheet number setting, magnification setting, density setting, and operation start are performed by a plurality of key operations. The display unit 14 is a unit that performs status display, setting display, operation guide, and the like of the image forming apparatus 10, and is configured using a liquid crystal panel or the like. The interface unit 15 connects the control unit 16 to the lower network 40.
[0029]
The control unit 16 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and controls each unit of the image forming apparatus 10. When the power of the image forming apparatus 10 is turned on, the default environment storage area of the RAM is initialized based on the information in the default environment storage area configured in the ROM. The control of the image forming apparatus 10 is performed while referring to the information.
[0030]
The control unit 16 further includes a storage unit 16a for storing display data, and the operation of the display unit 14 is performed based on the display data written therein. The storage unit 16a is a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, and the display language and display level of the display unit 14 can be changed by rewriting the display data in the storage unit 16a.
[0031]
The rewriting of the display data is executed using, for example, a printer control command described in a predetermined printer control language. When a printer control command instructing rewriting of display data and display data to be newly written are input to the control unit 16, the display data is written to the storage unit 16a, and thereafter, based on the display data. Thus, the display operation of the display unit 14 is performed.
[0032]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the center in the first embodiment, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an image file creation procedure of the center in the first embodiment, and FIG. 5 is data of an image file in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration.
The center 60 is, for example, a computer having a Web server function, and includes an interface unit 61 for connecting to the network 50, a storage unit 62 such as a hard disk, a processing unit 63 for performing various processes, and the like.
[0033]
The storage unit 62 stores a history data file, display data, a printer control command, an image file, an encryption program, an embedding program, a management table, a web page generation program, and the like.
The history data file is a file for storing an access history with the server 20, and stores, for example, an access date and time, an IP address of an access source, an acquired image file name, identification information, and the like.
[0034]
The display data is created for each model, for each language (for each country), and for each display level, and is stored in the storage unit 62. For example, the display data corresponding to the model A includes display data Aa, Ab, and Ac for each language (for example, Japanese a, Korean b, and English c). Further, among the display data Aa, There are display data Aa1, Aa2, and Aa3 for each display level (for example, simple display 1, standard display 2, and detailed display 3).
The printer control command is described so as to instruct the image forming apparatus 10 to rewrite the display data, and is stored in the storage unit 62.
[0035]
The image file is a file in which image data that visually indicates the type of display data is stored in a general image file format such as JPEG or GIF (a format that can be displayed by a web browser). For example, an image file indicating a language type includes symbol image data (icon) that can specify a country or a language. As a symbol indicating a country or a language, a national flag, a map, a stylized country name, a stylized language name, or the like can be used.
[0036]
The encryption program is for encrypting display data and printer control commands, and includes a plurality of types of encryption algorithms having different security levels (encryption levels). For example, a first encryption algorithm (high security level) for performing encryption using a public key, such as PKI (public key infrastructure) encryption, and the ID of the image forming apparatus 10 or the server 20 are used as keys. A second encryption algorithm (medium security level) for performing encryption.
[0037]
The embedding program performs a process of embedding the display data and the printer control command into an image file indicating the type. The embedding method includes a method of adding display data and a printer control command to an empty area of an image file, and a method of adding display data and a printer control command to an image data portion of an image file by using a digital watermarking technique. There is a way to embed.
[0038]
As shown in FIG. 5, the image file includes a start portion indicating the start of a data stream, an image data portion in which image data is stored, an annotation data portion in which annotation data described later is stored, display data and a printer. It has a plurality of embedded data sections in which control commands are stored, an end section indicating the end of the data stream, and a plurality of blank sections separating each data section. The permutation of each data part is not limited to that shown in FIG. 5 and can be arbitrarily changed.
[0039]
In the plurality of embedded data portions, for example, display data having different display levels can be stored, or display data and printer control commands can be stored separately. It may be divided and stored. The embedded data stored in the plurality of embedded data sections is encrypted in advance by an encryption program using different encryption algorithms (first encryption algorithm, second encryption algorithm, or no encryption). Then, the image file after the embedding process is stored in the management table and managed here.
[0040]
The web page generation program is a program that generates an image file list page of a specified model in response to a request from the server 20. This list page is described in, for example, HTML and is browsed by a web browser. The WEB browser displays a list of image files without recognizing the embedded data of the image files. That is, in the window of the WEB browser, images such as flags indicating the language type of the display data are displayed in a list.
[0041]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the server according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a screen of the server according to the first embodiment.
The server 20 includes an interface unit 21 for connecting to a network 40, a display unit 22 such as a liquid crystal display, a storage unit 23 such as a hard disk, an input unit 24 such as a mouse and a keyboard, and a processing unit that performs various processes. 25, and the storage unit 23 stores a web browser and a printer management program.
[0042]
The printer management program has a center access function, an image file import function, a menu display function, a data extraction function, a data decryption function, and a display data transmission function.
The center access function is a function of accessing the center 60 via a web browser, and at the time of access, identification information of the server 20 or the image forming apparatus 10 is sent to the center 60. After performing authentication of the server 20, the center 60 generates an image file list page of the designated model and transmits it to the server 20. As a result, a list of image files such as national flags indicating the language type is displayed in the browser window 22a of the display unit 22.
[0043]
The image file capturing function is a function of capturing an image file selected in the browser window 22a into the printer management window 22b. The capture of the image file is performed by, for example, a drag and drop operation of a mouse.
The menu display function is a function for displaying the annotation data included in the image file as a menu when the image file is right-clicked. In this menu, for example, the display levels 1 to 3 of the display data can be designated, or the extraction of the display data can be instructed.
[0044]
The data extraction function is a function of extracting embedded data (display data and printer control commands) from an image file in response to a menu selection operation or the like. Then, the extracted embedded data is automatically decoded by the data decoding function.
The display data transmission function is a function of transmitting the decoded display data and the printer control command to the image forming apparatus 10. When the image forming apparatus 10 receives the display data and the printer control command, the display data is written into the storage unit 16a of the image forming apparatus 10 based on the printer control command.
[0045]
Next, an overall flow of the display data writing process according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display data writing method of the image forming system according to the first embodiment.
[0046]
As shown in this figure, the center 60 encrypts display data and printer control commands for each language, and stores them by embedding them in an image file indicating the language type (S101).
When the server 20 accesses the center 60 via the WEB browser (S102), the center 60 authenticates the server 20 (S103), and transmits list page data including a plurality of types of image files to the server 20. (S104).
[0047]
The server 20 displays a plurality of types of image files on the browser window 22a based on the received list page data (S105). Here, the administrator selects an image file from the browser window 22a and takes it into the printer management window 22b (S106). Thereafter, when the administrator gives an instruction to extract display data from the right-click menu of the image file (S107), the server 20 extracts embedded data (display data and a printer control command) from the image file (S108). Then, the extracted embedded data is decrypted (S109).
[0048]
Thereafter, when the administrator instructs transmission of the display data (S110), the display data and the printer control command are transmitted to the image forming apparatus 10 (S111). Then, when the image forming apparatus 10 receives the display data and the printer control command (S112), the display data is written into the storage unit 16a of the image forming apparatus 10 based on the printer control command (S113), and a series of operations is performed. The writing process ends.
[0049]
According to the image forming system of the first embodiment configured as described above, the server 20 that manages the image forming apparatus 10 acquires display data of the image forming apparatus 10 from the center 60 via the network 50. At this time, the display data is transmitted and received in a state where it is embedded in the image file indicating the type.
[0050]
Thus, the display data type selection screen (browser window 22a) in the server 20 can be easily visualized using the image file, and the type of the display data is intuitively recognized by the visualization. It becomes possible.
[0051]
Also, since the display data is subjected to a kind of encryption of embedding in the image file, it is more difficult to modify the display data compared to the case of sending and receiving in text format or general compression format. Data security can be enhanced.
[0052]
Moreover, by transmitting and receiving the display data via the server 20, the display data can be written to the image forming apparatus 10 having no function of connecting to the center 60, and a plurality of image forming apparatuses can be written. It is possible to perform an efficient writing operation on the target 10.
[0053]
The image file is an image file of a symbol (a national flag, a map, a designed country name, a designed language name, etc.) for specifying a country or language, and display data corresponding to the country or language is embedded. Therefore, the language type can be intuitively recognized on the language selection screen of the server 20.
[0054]
Also, since the display data is embedded in the image file together with the printer control command, after the display data and the printer control command are extracted from the image file, the printer control command is executed and the display data writing operation is completed. Can be done.
[0055]
Further, since the embedded data of the image file is encrypted, the display data and the printer control command can be double-encrypted by this encryption and embedding in the image file.
[0056]
In addition, since the image file contains a plurality of encrypted embedded data and the encryption algorithm of each embedded data is different, the embedded data of the image file can be highly encrypted to further enhance its security. it can.
[0057]
[Second embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The image forming system according to the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the image forming apparatus 10 directly obtains display data from the center 60 without going through the server 20.
More specifically, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment includes a server 20 (printer management program) having a center access function, an image file import function, a menu display function, a data extraction function, and a data decryption function. Function. Hereinafter, an overall flow of the display data writing process in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0058]
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display data writing method of the image forming system according to the second embodiment.
As shown in this figure, the center 60 encrypts display data and printer control commands for each language, and stores them by embedding them in an image file indicating the language type (S201).
When the image forming apparatus 10 accesses the center 60 (S202), the center 60 authenticates the image forming apparatus 10 (S203), and transmits list page data including a plurality of types of image files to the image forming apparatus 10. (S204).
[0059]
The image forming apparatus 10 displays a plurality of types of image files on the display unit 14 based on the received list page data (S205). Here, the administrator selects an image file on the display unit 14 by a key operation on the operation unit 13 (S206). Thereafter, when the administrator instructs extraction of display data by key operation of the operation unit 13 (S207), the image forming apparatus 10 extracts embedded data (display data and a printer control command) from the image file (S207). (S208), the extracted embedded data is decrypted (S209). Thereafter, when the administrator instructs the execution of the printer control command (S210), the display data is written into the storage unit 16a (S211), and a series of writing processing ends.
[0060]
According to the image forming system of the second embodiment configured as described above, when the image forming apparatus 10 acquires the display data from the center 60 via the network 50, the display data Is transmitted and received in a state embedded in the image file indicating.
As a result, the display data type selection screen in the image forming apparatus 10 can be easily visualized using the image file, and the display data security can be enhanced by a kind of encryption of embedding in the image file. Can be increased.
[0061]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the server or the image forming apparatus acquires the display data of the image forming apparatus from the center via the network, the display data is embedded in the image file indicating its type. By transmitting and receiving in a state where the data is transmitted, not only can the type selection screen of the display data in the server or the image forming apparatus be easily visualized using the image file, but also a type of encryption in which the image is embedded in the image file. Thereby, the security of the display data can be enhanced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a center according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an image file creation procedure of a center in the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a data configuration of an image file according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a server according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a screen of a server according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display data writing method of the image forming system according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display data writing method of the image forming system according to the second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Image forming apparatus
14 Display
16 control unit
16a storage unit
20 servers
22 Display
22a Browser window
22b Printer management window
30 terminals
40 Lower network
50 Top Network
60 center

Claims (9)

An image forming apparatus that operates a display unit based on display data written in a storage unit, a server that manages one or more image forming apparatuses, and a center that is connected to the server via a network. An image forming system comprising:
The center embeds a plurality of types of display data in image files indicating the types,
The server receives the image file from the center, and selectively extracts the display data from the received image file,
The image forming system, wherein the image forming apparatus receives the display data from the server and writes the received display data into the storage unit. An image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus that operates a display unit based on display data written to a storage unit; and a center connected to the image forming apparatus via a network,
The center embeds a plurality of types of display data in image files indicating the types,
The image forming apparatus receives the image file from the center, selectively extracts the display data from the received image file, and writes the display data into the storage unit. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image file is an image file of a symbol specifying a country or a language, and the display data corresponding to the country or the language is embedded in the image file. The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein the symbol is a national flag, a map, a stylized country name, or a stylized language name. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the display data is embedded in the image file together with a printer control command. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein embedded data of the image file is encrypted. 7. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the image file includes a plurality of encrypted embedded data, and each of the embedded data has a different encryption algorithm. An image forming apparatus that operates a display unit based on display data written in a storage unit, a server that manages one or more image forming apparatuses, and a center that is connected to the server via a network. A display data writing method for an image forming system comprising:
The center embeds a plurality of types of display data in image files indicating the types, and transmits these image files to the server.
The server receives the image file from the center, selectively extracts the display data from the received image file, and transmits the display data to the image forming apparatus;
A display data writing method for an image forming system, wherein the image forming apparatus receives the display data from the server and writes the received display data to the storage unit. A display data writing method for an image forming system including an image forming apparatus that operates a display unit based on display data written to a storage unit and a center connected to the image forming apparatus via a network. So,
The center embeds a plurality of types of the display data in image files indicating the types, and transmits these image files to the image forming apparatus;
Wherein the image forming apparatus receives the image file from the center, selectively extracts the display data from the received image file, and writes the display data into the storage unit. Data writing method.

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