JP2005286695A - Multifunction machine, image data transfer system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multifunction machine exhibiting excellent operability, and an image data transfer system. <P>SOLUTION: The multifunction machine is arranged such that a computer available for storing image data generated by its own apparatus/image data received from other apparatus is searched automatically (step S101), and a user is made to select a computer for storing the image data among computers thus searched (step S102). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a multifunction device having a function of storing image data generated by itself, received image data, and the like in another device, and an image data transfer system including such a multifunction device.

  In recent years, some MFPs that are commercially available can store image data generated by themselves (scanners installed in the machine) and received facsimile data in a computer connected to a network. Things exist.

  As such a multifunction device, a shared folder (computer name and shared folder name) that may be used as a storage destination of image data is registered in advance on the multifunction device side, and image data can be transferred from the operation panel of the multifunction device. The type that selects the save destination and the type that retrieves the image data stored in the multifunction device from the computer connected to the network are known. When starting operation or adding a shared folder to be used as a storage location for image data, the device has the disadvantage of having to set the shared folder on the computer and register the shared folder in the multifunction peripheral. Yes. The latter type of multifunction device is a device having a drawback that the image data cannot be stored in the computer only by the user operating the multifunction device.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image data transfer system that does not have the above-described drawbacks (better operability) and an image data transfer system in which the multifunction devices constituting the system have good operability. There is to do.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the present invention, a computer on which a communication program for communicating a multifunction peripheral connected to a computer network with its own device is executed is referred to as the communication program. Search means for searching among computers included in the computer network by attempting communication, and based on the search result by the search means, the user can enter the communication program from the computer running in another device. User interface means for selecting a computer as a storage destination of image data to be stored, and for causing the computer communication program selected by the user by the user interface means to store the image data Image data to send image data It should be configured as an apparatus and a signal means.

  That is, the MFP of the present invention automatically uses a computer that can be used as a storage destination of image data (image data generated by itself or image data received from another device) to be stored in another device. It has a function of searching and presenting to a user, and transmitting image data to a computer designated by the user. Therefore, this multifunction device does not need to register the image data storage destination to the multifunction device, and functions as a device that completes the storage of image data in the computer simply by operating the multifunction device. Will do.

  When realizing the MFP of the present invention, in order to be able to select a folder as a storage destination of image data, it is managed as a search means by a communication program prepared in any searched computer. A means capable of searching for one or more image data storage folders is employed, and the user interface means is a computer in which a communication program is executed by a user based on a search result by the search means. As an image data transmission means, the image data transmission means adopts a means for selecting a computer as a storage destination of image data to be stored in another device and a folder for storing image data prepared in the computer. The user interface means let the user select the computer Computer selected by the user interface means to cause the trusted program to store the image data to be stored in another device in the image data storage folder selected by the user by the user interface means. On the other hand, it is possible to employ means for transmitting information indicating the image data storage folder selected by the user by the user interface means and the image data.

  Further, when realizing the MFP of the present invention, a means for allowing the user to select the format of the image data is adopted as the user interface means, and the user interface means is selected by the user from the image data as the image data transmitting means. Means for generating and transmitting image data in the format described above may be employed.

  The image data transfer system according to the present invention is an image data transfer system in which one or more computers on which a communication program is executed and a multi-function peripheral are connected to a network. A computer name return means for returning a computer name, which is identification information of the own computer, to a transmission source device of the computer name inquiry request when receiving a computer name inquiry request with a predetermined content broadcast above; A folder that, when receiving a folder name inquiry request, returns the image data storage folder name, which is identification information of each image data storage folder prepared in its own computer, to the transmission source device of the folder name inquiry request Name return means and a When an image data storage folder name and image data are transmitted, the image data storage folder identified by the image data storage folder name operates as a device having storage means for storing the image data A computer name collecting means for collecting a computer name from each computer on which the communication program is executed by broadcasting a computer name inquiry request, and a folder name for an arbitrary computer. Folder name collection means, computer name collection means, and folder name collection means capable of collecting the image data storage folder name of each image data storage folder prepared in the computer by sending an inquiry request Cooperation with The user interface means for allowing the user to specify the computer name and the image data storage folder name related to the image data folder prepared in the computer identified by the computer name, and the user interface means The computer identified by the computer name designated in the above comprises a folder name for saving image data designated by the user by the user interface means and an image data sending means for sending image data to be saved in another device. It is a system.

  In other words, the image data transfer system according to the present invention corresponds to the system of the multifunction device according to claim 2 of the present invention and a computer searched by the multifunction device. Therefore, it can be said that this image data transfer system is a system in which the multifunctional machine which is a component thereof has good operability.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, an outline of the multifunction machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-function device 10 according to this embodiment includes a computer network including a number of computers 50 in which a communication program 20 is installed, and a device used by being connected to a telephone line network. It is. The multifunction machine 10 is an apparatus that includes a document reading unit 11, a printing unit 12, an operation panel 13, and a control unit 14.

  The document reading unit 11 provided in the multifunction machine 10 is a unit (so-called scanner) that converts a document into image data. The printing unit 12 is a unit that performs printing on paper. The operation panel 13 is a unit including a plurality of push button switches, an LCD (liquid crystal display), and the like provided on the housing of the multifunction machine 10 as an interface means with the user. The control unit 14 is a unit that causes the multifunction device 10 to operate as a copier, a network printer, a facsimile device, or a document digitizing device by controlling each unit in the multifunction device 10 in an integrated manner. Here, the document digitizing device is a device that can store image data of a document set on the document reading unit 11 in a folder designated by the user in the computer 50 designated by the user. is there. The control unit 14 is also a unit that causes the multifunction machine 10 to operate as a facsimile machine that can store received facsimile data in a folder designated by the user in the computer 50 designated by the user. .

  The communication program 20 is a program used for communicating with the multifunction machine 10 (control unit 14). The communication program 20 is a so-called resident program that needs to designate at least one folder (hereinafter referred to as an image data storage folder) as a storage destination of image data at the time of installation. . Further, the communication program 20 is a program that can change or add an image data storage folder after installation is once completed.

  The communication program 20 is created so that the computer 50 in which it is installed (executed) operates as a device having the following functions.

  That is, when the computer 50 in which the communication program 20 is executed receives a broadcast request having a predetermined content (a request transmitted by the multifunction machine 10; details will be described later), the computer 50 (hereinafter referred to as a computer name) The information including the notation is sent back to the transmission source device (that is, the multifunction device 10) of the broadcast request. Further, when a folder inquiry request (a request transmitted by the multi-function peripheral 10; details will be described later) is transmitted, the computer 50 names each image data storage folder designated by the user (hereinafter referred to as image data). Information including the storage folder name) is returned to the transmission source device (multifunction device 10) of the folder inquiry request.

  Further, when an image data storage request (a request transmitted by the multifunction device 10; details will be described later) including the image data storage folder name is transmitted, the computer 50 transmits the image data storage request thereafter. The process of saving the image data in the image data storage folder identified by the image data storage folder name included in the image data storage request is started.

  Based on the above, the configuration and operation of the multifunction machine 10 according to the present embodiment will be described more specifically below.

  The control unit 14 of the multifunction machine 10 is instructed by the user to operate as a document digitizing apparatus, or instructed by the user to store the received facsimile data in the computer 50 (in other words, In the case where it is necessary for the user to specify the storage destination of the image data and the file format of the image data to be stored), the processing of the procedure shown in FIG. 2 is executed.

  In other words, the control unit 14 that has caused the user to designate the storage destination of the image data first transmits the broadcast request described above to the network, so that each computer 50 in which the communication program is executed is transmitted. Computer names are collected (step S101). In short, in step S <b> 101, the control unit 14 collects computer names related to each computer 50 by communicating with a communication program executed on each computer 50.

  Next, the control unit 14 displays a computer selection screen on the LCD of the operation panel 13 using the collected computer names, thereby allowing the user to select the computer name of the computer 50 that stores the image data (step S102). )I do. The computer selection screen is a screen having a configuration as shown in FIG.

  When the process of step S102 is completed (when the computer name is selected by the user), the control unit 14 sends the above-described folder inquiry request to the computer 50 identified by the computer name selected by the user. As a result, the names of the image data storage folders (image data storage folder names) prepared in the computer 50 are collected (step S103). That is, also in this step S <b> 103, the control unit 14 communicates with a communication program executed on each computer 50.

  Thereafter, the control unit 14 saves the image data to the user by displaying on the LCD a folder selection screen having a configuration as shown in FIG. 3B using the collected image data storage folder names. The name of the image data storage folder to be selected is selected (step S104).

  When the process of step S104 is completed (when the user selects an image data storage folder name), the control unit 14 displays a file format selection screen having a configuration as shown in FIG. By displaying on the LCD, the user is allowed to select the file format of the image data to be stored (step S105).

  When the user selects the file format of the image data to be stored, the control unit 14 ends the process shown in FIG. The control unit 14 transmits an image data storage request including the image data storage folder name selected by the user to the computer 50 identified by the computer name selected by the user. The image data generated by the document reading unit 11 or the received facsimile data is converted into image data of a file format selected by the user, and the converted image data is identified by the computer name selected by the user. The process of transmitting to the computer 50 is started.

  As described above, the MFP 10 according to the present embodiment automatically searches the computer 50 capable of storing image data and the image data storage folder and presents them to the user, and the computer 50 designated by the user. On the other hand, it has a function of transmitting an image data storage request including an image data storage folder name designated by the user and image data to be stored. When the communication program 50 receives an image data storage request including an image data storage folder name, the image data transmitted from the MFP 10 is included in the image data storage request thereafter. The program is stored in the image data storage folder identified by the image data storage folder name. Therefore, the multifunction machine 10 does not need to register the image data storage destination in the multifunction machine 10, and the image data is stored in the computer 50 only by operating the multifunction machine 10. In other words, it can be said that the device is a device (in other words, a device having better operability than a conventional multifunction device).

<Deformation>
The above-described multifunction device 10 can be variously modified. For example, the multifunction machine 10 may be modified so that only the computer 50 can be selected (so that the image data storage folder cannot be selected). Further, the multifunction machine 10 may be modified to one that does not have a function as a facsimile apparatus or one that does not have a function as a document digitizing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration and a usage pattern of a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart which showed the operation | movement procedure of the multifunctional device (control part) which concerns on embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the screen displayed on LCD (operation panel) of the multi-function device which concerns on embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 MFP, 11 Image reading unit, 12 Printing unit, 13 Operation panel,
14 Control unit

Claims (4)

A multi-function machine connected to a computer network and used
Search means for searching for a computer on which a communication program for communicating with its own device is executed from among computers included in the computer network by attempting communication with the communication program;
User interface means for allowing a user to select a computer as a storage destination of image data to be stored in another apparatus from among computers on which the communication program is executed, based on a search result by the search means; ,
Image data transmitting means for transmitting the image data to the computer so that the communication program of the computer selected by the user by the user interface means stores the image data. Multifunction machine. The search means
It is a means capable of searching one or more image data storage folders managed by the communication program, prepared in any searched computer,
The user interface means comprises:
Based on the search result by the search means, the user is allowed to select a computer as a storage destination of image data to be stored in another device from among computers on which the communication program is executed, and the computer It is a means to select the folder for image data storage prepared in,
The image data transmitting means is
In order to cause the communication program of the computer selected by the user interface means to store the image data in the image data storage folder selected by the user interface means, the user interface 2. The means for transmitting information indicating the image data storage folder selected by the user by the user interface means and the image data to the computer selected by the user by the means. Multifunction machine. The user interface means comprises:
It is a means to let the user select the image data format,
The image data transmitting means is
The multi-function apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the multi-function peripheral is a means for generating and transmitting image data in a format selected by a user from the image data. An image data transfer system in which one or more computers on which a communication program is executed and a multi-function peripheral are network-connected,
The communication program is a computer,
A computer name return means for returning a computer name, which is identification information of its own computer, to a transmission source device of the computer name inquiry request when receiving a computer name inquiry request of a predetermined content broadcast on the network;
When a folder name inquiry request with a predetermined content is received, the image data storage folder name that is identification information of each image data storage folder prepared in the local computer is sent to the transmission source device of the folder name inquiry request. Folder name return means to return,
When the image data storage folder name and the image data are transmitted, the image data storage folder identified by the image data storage folder name includes a storage unit that stores the image data. Is a program that runs,
The MFP is
A computer name collecting means for collecting a computer name from each computer on which the communication program is executed by broadcasting the computer name inquiry request;
Folder name collection means capable of collecting the image data storage folder name of each image data storage folder prepared in the computer by transmitting the folder name inquiry request to an arbitrary computer;
By operating in cooperation with the computer name collection means and the folder name collection means, the user is given a computer name and an image data storage folder name relating to an image data folder prepared in the computer identified by the computer name. User interface means for specifying
The user interface means transmits the image data storage folder name specified by the user and the image data to be stored in another device to the computer identified by the computer name specified by the user. An image data transmission system comprising: image data transmission means.

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