JP2004334427A - Communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information transmission technique of high real time performance, a technique for instructing an operation to information equipment, using a simple means, and a technique for constructing a user interface for the information equipment for a client on a network. <P>SOLUTION: An IM server 20 provides instant message service to a document controller 100 and a terminal 14. The document controller 100 provides a content to the terminal 14. The document controller 100 transmits event information to the user terminal 14 using the instant message, when the event information is generated. The document controller 100 transmits thereby the event information quickly to a user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication technique for a device having a communication function, and more particularly to a technique for transmitting and receiving an instruction to a device having a communication function via a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
With the development of network technology, information devices such as computers, printers, and fax machines have been connected to networks. Networking is not limited to a limited area local area network (hereinafter simply referred to as “LAN”), for example, in a company or in a building, but is a global-wide network, a so-called wide area network (hereinafter simply referred to as “WAN”). Has expanded to As the development of such an infrastructure has progressed, e-mail, FTP (File Transfer Protocol), web pages, and the like have been widely used in the business scene, for example.
[0003]
In order to operate such an information device according to a user, it is necessary to set various information. For example, the user registers in advance the facsimile number of the destination of the facsimile document in the speed dial of the facsimile apparatus. There is a method of performing such a setting operation using an electronic mail (Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-359715
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
For example, an information device that provides a workflow system may not only receive an instruction from a user, but the device itself may notify the user, for example, as an instruction to view a circulation document. As described above, the notification from the information device to the user has been performed using the electronic mail or the web page.
[0006]
However, since it is necessary for the user to inquire information on an electronic mail or a web page, it is difficult to notify the user when information to be notified occurs.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a technology for transmitting information with high real-time properties, a technique for giving an operation instruction to an information device using simple means, It is to provide a technology for constructing a user interface.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
One embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus having a communication function. This device includes a management unit for performing a predetermined process, a unit for logging in to a server that provides an instant message service, a unit for receiving an instant message from a client that is logged in to the server, and a predetermined command added to the instant message. There is provided means for extracting and means for instructing the management means to execute a predetermined process based on the command. Thus, the communication device can perform a predetermined process according to the command added to the instant message. Also, since the instant message arrives from the client in real time, the apparatus can immediately start processing according to the command at the time pointed by the user. That is, the instant message client can be used as an interface for receiving an instruction from the user. This communication device may be, for example, a document management device having a communication function, a workflow system, a file server, or the like.
[0009]
The apparatus further includes means for generating information to be notified to the client as event information, and means for transmitting the event information to the client using an instant message without receiving a request from the client. Thus, the device can notify the client when the event information occurs.
[0010]
Another embodiment of the present invention relates to an apparatus having a communication function. The apparatus includes a managing unit for performing a predetermined process, a unit for generating information to be notified to a user using the managing unit as event information, a unit for logging in to a server providing an instant message service as a client, Means for transmitting event information using an instant message when logged in to the server. Thus, when the event information is generated, the device can notify the user of the event information using an instant message.
[0011]
It is to be noted that any combination of the above-described components and any conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program, and the like are also effective as embodiments of the present invention.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a document management system 10 according to the embodiment. The instant message server 20 (hereinafter simply referred to as “IM server 20”) is a server for providing an instant message service (hereinafter simply referred to as “IM service”). The IM service includes, for example, a service (hereinafter, simply referred to as “presence service”) that provides information on whether or not a user of the IM service (hereinafter, simply referred to as “IM user”) can transmit and receive a message. , And a service for transmitting messages between IM users (hereinafter simply referred to as “message service”). “Instant message” may be a generic term for the presence service and the message service, or may indicate one of the presence service and the message service. In short, the instant message is information transmitted and received in the IM service. The instant message may be simply referred to as “message” below. An IM user can use an IM service by using an instant message client (hereinafter, simply referred to as an “IM client”). Hereinafter, a state in which the IM user is logged in to the IM server 20, that is, a state in which messages can be transmitted and received, is referred to as an “active state”.
[0013]
In the IM service, messages are transmitted and received when the IM user is in an active state. Therefore, the IM server 20 explicitly expresses the message as a mail server used in Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) or Post Office Protocol (POP). There is no mechanism to temporarily store messages temporarily. For this reason, the message is immediately notified to the IM client of the IM user who is the transmission destination, and push-type notification is possible. The IM server 20 may be a server that provides an existing IM service, or may be newly provided. Further, a document management device 100 described later may include the IM server 20. In this figure, the IM server 20 is connected to a local area network 16 (hereinafter simply referred to as “LAN 16”), but in another example, it is connected to a wide area network 12 (hereinafter simply referred to as “WAN 12”). You may.
[0014]
The document management apparatus 100 has a communication function, and transmits a predetermined circulation route to a plurality of terminals (hereinafter, simply referred to as “terminals 14”) such as a first terminal 14 a and a second terminal 14 b connected via the LAN 16. Provide a document file based on. The terminal 14 is a browsing device for the provided document file, and displays the document file so that the user can browse the document file. The “document file” is digital data including, for example, character strings, images, sounds, and the like. In the present embodiment, the document management apparatus 100 is, for example, an apparatus having a FAX function, a scanner function, a printer function, a printer server function, a FAX server function, a copy function, or an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) having a plurality of functions. Or a single device. The document management apparatus 100 acquires a document file via, for example, the WAN 12 or the LAN 16 using these functions, or directly acquires a document file using the scanner function. The document management apparatus 100 may acquire the document file using some function.
[0015]
The first terminal 14a and the second terminal 14b have a first IM client 18a and a second IM client 18b, respectively (hereinafter, simply referred to as "IM client 18"). Although not shown, the document management device 100 also has a function as an IM client. Thus, the document management device 100 and the terminal 14 can connect to the IM server 20 and use the instant message service.
[0016]
The document management device 100 uses the instant message as an interface with the user, and when information to be notified to the user such as an instruction to view a document file or the expiration of a viewing deadline (hereinafter simply referred to as “event information”) occurs, Notify the user of the event information using an instant message. Thus, if the user is in the active state, the document management apparatus 100 can promptly notify the user when the event information is generated. Further, by transmitting an instant message to which a predetermined command is added to the document management apparatus 100, the user can cause the document management apparatus 100 to execute a process associated with the command. For example, the command includes a process of searching for a predetermined document, a process of copying or deleting, a process of transferring a document using an IM, a process of transmitting a document file to a predetermined e-mail address, and a process of storing a document file. There are a command for instructing the document management apparatus 100 to execute a predetermined process such as a process (hereinafter, simply referred to as “execution command”), and a command for requesting transmission of event information (hereinafter, simply referred to as “request command”).
[0017]
FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of the document management apparatus 100 of FIG. The components of the document management apparatus 100 are centered on a CPU of an arbitrary computer, a memory, a program for realizing the components of the drawing loaded in the memory, a storage unit such as a hard disk for storing the program, and a network connection interface. It is understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is realized by an arbitrary combination of hardware and software, but there are various modifications in the method and apparatus for realizing the same. Each drawing described below shows a block of a functional unit, not a configuration of a hardware unit.
[0018]
The login unit 810 connects to the IM server 20 of FIG. 1 to perform an IM service login process, and activates the document management apparatus 100. For this login process, the login unit 810 holds, for example, identification information (hereinafter simply referred to as “login ID”) for using the IM service and a password. Such information required for login is hereinafter referred to as “login information”. The login unit 810 may hold login information in advance, or may receive settings from an administrator of the document management apparatus 100 or the like. In the case where a plurality of IM services are supported, the login unit 810 holds login information for each IM service. By supporting a plurality of IM services, the degree of freedom of the IM client used by the user is increased.
[0019]
The user information database 806 holds information on the user of the document management apparatus 100, information indicating whether the user has logged in to the IM server 20, that is, whether the user is in an active state, and the like. After the login unit 810 completes the login, the detection unit 808 inquires the IM server 20 about whether the user held in the user information database 806 is in the active state.
[0020]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure in the user information database 806 of FIG. The user ID column 850 holds information for identifying a user (hereinafter, simply referred to as “user ID”). The user ID may be information for specifying a user in the document management device 100, for example. The login ID column 852 holds information (hereinafter, simply referred to as “IM identification information”) that can identify the user in the IM service, such as the login ID of the user. That is, the user information database 806 holds, for each user, the user ID in the document management apparatus 100 and the IM identification information in the IM service in association with each other.
[0021]
The detection unit 808 of FIG. 2 detects whether or not the user specified by the IM identification information is in the login state, that is, is in the active state, using the presence service. The status column 854 holds the login status detected by the detection unit 808 for each user. The IM address column 856 holds information (hereinafter, simply referred to as “IM address”) for specifying a destination of a message in the IM service. For example, when the IM address and the IM identification information match, the IM address information 856 may hold the IM identification information.
[0022]
Returning to FIG. 2, the event generation unit 802 generates an event for each user, such as a delivery notification or a process expiration. The event generating unit 802 outputs, for example, a user ID and a code specifying an event for the user (hereinafter, simply referred to as “event code”) to the determining unit 804. The determination unit 804 determines whether the user specified by the user ID is in an active state with reference to the user information database 806. In the active state, the determination unit 804 instructs the message generation unit 822 to generate an instant message for notifying the content of the event and the like.
[0023]
The message generator 822 adds event information to the body of the instant message. In the present embodiment, message generation section 822 holds a table (not shown) in which event codes are associated with event information. Then, the message generating unit 822 refers to the table, specifies event information corresponding to the event code, and adds the event information to the body of the instant message. Message generating section 822 outputs the generated instant message to address setting section 824.
[0024]
The address setting unit 824 refers to the user information database 418 and sets the IM address corresponding to the user ID supplied from the event generation unit 802 as the destination of the instant message. Then, address setting section 824 outputs the instant message with the destination set to IM transmitting section 820. IM transmitting section 820 transmits the instant message to the designated destination. Thus, the user can be notified of the contents of the event when the event information occurs, using the instant message client as an output interface.
[0025]
If the user is not in the active state, the determination unit 804 outputs the event code and the user ID to the address conversion unit 826. The address conversion unit 826 converts the user ID into a login ID in the IM server 20 with reference to the user information database 806. Then, the address conversion unit 826 stores the login ID and the event code in the event information storage unit 812 in association with each other.
[0026]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure in the event information storage unit 812 in FIG. The transmission destination column 860 holds a login ID. In another example, the destination field 860 may hold a user ID. In short, the transmission destination column 860 may hold information for specifying the transmission destination of the event information. The event code column 862 holds an event code. In the figure, the event code “M12” indicates that there is a document to be viewed. The event code “M25” indicates that there is an expired document. The storage date and time column 864 holds the date and time when the event code was stored in the event information storage unit 812. This date and time is almost the same as the date and time when the event generating unit 802 receives the event code. The notification flag column 866 holds information specifying whether or not event information has been notified. In this figure, “1” indicates that the notification has already been made, and “0” indicates that the notification has not been made yet.
[0027]
Returning to FIG. 2, the IM receiving unit 818 receives the instant message with the command added from the IM client 18 and outputs the received instant message to the extracting unit 816. The extracting unit 816 extracts a command added to the instant message. If the extracted command is an execution command, the extraction unit 816 requests the processing unit 250 to execute the process specified by the command. In response to a command from the extracting unit 816, the processing unit 250 performs, for example, a process of searching for a predetermined document, a process of copying or deleting, a process of transferring a document using IM, and a process of transferring a document file to a predetermined electronic file. It executes processing for sending to an e-mail address and processing for saving a document file. The document file storage unit 110 stores a document file. The providing unit 400 reads and provides a document file from the document file storage unit 110 in response to a request from the terminal 14.
[0028]
When the extraction command is a request command, the extraction unit 816 instructs the selection unit 814 to transmit event information. The selecting unit 814 selects, from the event information storage unit 812, an event code that is associated with the login ID of the sender of the instant message and has not been notified yet. Then, the selection unit 814 outputs the selected event code to the message generation unit 822. Thereby, the message generator 822 generates an instant message as described above. Then, the address setting unit 824 sets the destination of the instant message, and the IM transmission unit 820 transmits the instant message. Thus, the document management device 100 can use the instant message as a user interface. The introduction is easy by using the existing IM client. Further, the device maker does not need to create a new IM client for the user. This makes it possible to construct a user interface that can be used via a network at a very low cost.
[0029]
The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments are exemplifications, and that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component and each processing process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. . As such a modification, the configuration excluding the document file storage unit 110 and the providing unit 400 of the document management apparatus 100 in FIG. 2 may be mounted on a facsimile apparatus, a home server, a video server, an electric appliance having a network communication function, or the like. . This allows the user to operate the appliance using the instant message as an interface.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, event information is promptly notified to a user. In addition, the user interface of the network device can be constructed using instant messages.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a document management system according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of the document management device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure in the user information database of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure in an event information storage unit in FIG. 2;
[Explanation of symbols]
10 document management system, 18 IM client, 20 IM server, 400 providing unit, 802 event generating unit, 804 determining unit, 806 user information database, 808 detecting unit, 810 login unit, 812 event information storing unit, 814 selecting unit, 816 extraction unit, 818 IM reception unit, 820 IM transmission unit, 822 message generation unit, 824 address setting unit, 826 address conversion unit.

Claims (3)

Management means for performing predetermined processing;
Means for logging in to a server providing an instant message service;
Means for receiving an instant message from a client logged in to the server;
Means for extracting a predetermined command added to the instant message;
Means for instructing the management means to execute a predetermined process based on the command,
A communication device comprising: Means for generating information to be notified to the client as event information;
Means for transmitting the event information to the client using an instant message without receiving a request from the client;
The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising: Management means for performing predetermined processing;
Means for generating information to be notified to a user using the management means as event information,
Means for logging in as a client to a server providing an instant message service;
Means for transmitting the event information using an instant message when the user is logged in to the server;
A communication device comprising:

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