JP2006211473A - Document registration system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To designate a storage place of a scan document and to transmit the document to a Web storage server by setting a scanner unit for reading via an HTML displayed on a browser without installing any special application in an MFP device including a browser function in an environment where the MFP device and the Web storage server are connected via a LAN/the Internet. <P>SOLUTION: The document registration system comprises a means for displaying a browser on an MFP device including a browser function, in the environment where the MFP device and a Web storage server are connected via the LAN/Internet, a means for designating a place to store a scan document in the Web storage server, a means for registering information on a scanner unit of the MFP device in the Web storage server beforehand and forming a scan setting screen in accordance with the information about the scanner unit, and a means for performing a scan and transmitting a result of the scan to the Web storage server in accordance with contents set by a user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a document registration system, and more particularly to a document registration system capable of directly storing a document read by an MFP device in a Web storage server connected via a LAN / Internet.

  In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of opportunities for a service concept called a document management system (hereinafter referred to as DMS) to organize document information overflowing in the office, store it as a database, and facilitate search. ing.

  This is because information (documents) has been exchanged on paper media until now, but these documents are still accumulating, and when searching for necessary information, work to search from many documents Is very cumbersome and it is difficult to share the document among many people, so this service concept has come to be considered.

  Conventionally, various file servers, document management (database) servers, and the like have been proposed as an example of such a DMS, and a computer application that considers cooperation and fusion with a scanner device is assigned to each client PC (personal computer). Installed and running on the computer. In addition, in order to reduce the trouble and complexity of preparing a client PC in the user environment, in recent years, the MFP device itself supports various protocols and can directly exchange data with the document management server. . However, in such MFP devices, most of the user interfaces provided to the user have a fixed screen. If there is a change in the function or capability on the document management server side, a program (firmware) that exists in the device is used. ) May not be supported unless it is updated.

  In the user setting sharing system and the image processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-177212, the user interface displayed on the device for the user to operate is shared regardless of whether the device is the same type or different type, thereby improving the operability of the device. It is stated to improve.

As another conventional example, Patent Document 2 can be cited.
JP 2002-177212 A JP 2004-5533 A

  However, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-177212, a button for storing in the server A is provided as an example of a scan function in customization according to the user setting. However, a means for creating the setting is realized. However, it is necessary to have a UI for saving in at least one of the folders of the server A on the device and to allow the user to operate. In addition, when there are many servers in the user environment and various configurations are possible, the user interface that is fixed in the device is not necessarily general-purpose.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. The scanner device is set to read via HTML displayed on a browser without installing a special application on the MFP device, and a scanned document can be scanned. The purpose is to specify a storage location and send it to a Web storage server.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, an MFP device having a browser function, a Web storage server 20, and an optional service capable of providing some service in cooperation with the Web storage server are connected via a LAN / Internet. In such an environment, a means for displaying a browser on the MFP device, a means for designating a location for storing the scanned document in the Web storage server, and information on the scanner device of the MFP device are registered in the Web storage server. It has means for forming a scan setting screen according to the information and means for scanning according to the content set by the user and transmitting it to the Web storage server.

  According to the document registration system according to the present embodiment, since the operation is performed via the browser displayed on the display device existing in the MFP device, it is not necessary to install a special program on the device side, and the Web storage server can be easily installed. A screen for registering a scanned document can be created. Furthermore, in order to create a screen for registering a scanned document in the Web storage server, a user who creates a more flexible UI (HTML) that combines other screens that provide a function such as specifying a storage location is used. Can be provided.

  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 system configuration diagram of a document registration system according to the present embodiment, and can provide some service in cooperation with an MFP device 10 having a browser function, a Web storage server 20, and a Web storage server 20. A possible option service 30 is connected via a LAN. In the present embodiment, a case where each is connected via a LAN will be described, but it may be connected via the Internet. Further, a case where only one optional service 30 exists will be described, but a plurality of optional services 30 may exist.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the MFP device 10 for implementing the document registration system according to the present embodiment. A CPU 101 in the figure connects each function / device described later via an internal bus 108 and controls the MFP device 10. The display device 102 is a device for displaying a browser such as a touch panel. The user performs an operation or the like for performing a user-desired operation via a browser displayed on the display device 102. The scanner device 103 is a device for reading a document having a function such as an auto document feeder function, and the scanner information management unit 104 manages / holds information on functions / states of the scanner device 103.

  Further, the memory 105 stores various commands (application programs) executed by the CPU 101 to control the MFP device 10, and a program such as a browser displayed on the display device 102 is stored in the mass storage device 106. The image read by the scanner device 103 is stored. The network interface 107 transmits and receives signals via the LAN according to the CPU 101.

  The outline of the processing flow of the document registration system according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of device information registration processing in the document registration system according to this embodiment. This process only needs to be performed once when the MFP device 10 is installed in the user environment.

  First, in step S101, the user inputs the URL of the Web storage server 20 using a browser displayed on the display device 102 in the MFP device 10, and displays the top page of the Web storage server 20. .

  Next, in step S102, from the top page displayed on the browser, the user interface “not shown” for registering the functions and capabilities of the scanner device 103 in the MFP device 10 in the Web storage server 20 is registered. “Scanner Information Registration Page” is displayed.

  Next, in step S103, a scanner information registration page (not shown) displayed on the browser is operated to transmit the functions and capabilities of the scanner device 103 in the MFP device 10 to the Web storage server 20.

  In step S104, the Web storage server 20 stores the functions and capabilities of the scanner device 103.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of image document registration processing in the document registration system according to the present embodiment. A user scans a document via a browser displayed on the display device 102. The flow of processing operations until the image document obtained in this way is transmitted / registered to the Web storage server 20 is shown.

First, in step S111, the user inputs the URL of the Web storage server 20 using a browser displayed on the display device 102 in the MFP device 10, and displays the top page of the Web storage server 20. .
Next, in step S 112, the user interface “scan” for registering the image document read by the scanner device 103 in the MFP device 10 in the Web storage server 20 from the top page displayed on the browser. “Document Registration Page” is displayed.

  Next, in step S113, folder information is acquired from the Web storage server 20, presented on the browser, and a location for registering the scanned document is selected.

  Next, in step S114, a desired setting is selected from the scan settings displayed on the browser, and the document original placed on the scanner device 103 is read.

  Next, in step S115, the scanned document read in S114 is transmitted to the Web storage server 20, and the Web storage server 20 stores it in the folder designated in S113.

  Hereinafter, each process will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

  First, the device information registration process will be described in detail.

[Get top page of Web storage server]
In step S <b> 101, the user activates a browser using the display device 102 in the MFP device 10 (hereinafter referred to as MFP device) that can display the browser. The browser application is stored in the large-capacity storage device 106, and the CPU 101 expands the application in the memory 105 so that the application can be executed, and displays the browser on the display device 102.

  Next, when the user inputs the URL of the top page of the Web storage server 20 to the browser, the CPU 101 establishes a connection with the Web storage server 20 via the network interface 107 and sends an HTTP request (GET). Send. At this time, the user not only accesses the Web storage server 20 by entering a URL in the browser, but also creates a shortcut to the top page of the Web storage server 20 in advance and executes the shortcut. May access the Web storage server 20.

  Next, the Web storage server 20 writes the top page (HTML) of the Web storage server 20 in the body part in response to the HTTP request, and transmits an HTTP response to the network interface 107.

  Next, the body part (HTML) of the HTTP response developed in the memory 105 by the CPU 101 is extracted and displayed on the browser on the display device 102.

  When the browser is activated, the home page stored in the mass storage device 106 may be displayed. At this time, the home page may be provided with a button or the like associated with the URL to be the top page of the Web storage server 20 in advance. However, in this case, every time the host name of the Web storage server 20 is changed, it is necessary to reset the URL to be accessed when the button is pressed. When a fixed page is held in the MFP device 10, the home page of the MFP device 10 is rewritten when a function addition / change / deletion of the Web storage server 20 occurs (firmware It is better to acquire the home page from the Web storage server 20 because the system lacks flexibility, such as need for version upgrade).

[Get Scanner Information Registration Page]
In step S102, the user presses a button for displaying a page for registering scanner information from the home page displayed in the browser in step S101. The CPU 101 establishes a connection with the Web storage server 20 via the network interface 107 and transmits an HTTP request (GET).

  Next, the Web storage server 20 writes a UI (HTML) for registering scanner information in the Web storage server 20 in response to the HTTP request, and transmits an HTTP response to the network interface 107.

  Next, the body part (HTML) of the HTTP response developed in the memory 105 by the CPU 101 is extracted and displayed on the browser on the display device 102.

[Send Scanner Information List]
In step S103, the user presses a scanner information registration button (not shown) from the page for registering the scanner information displayed on the browser in step S102. Here, a program such as a script language is embedded in the page for registering the scanner information. When the scanner information registration button is pressed, the program operates as follows.

  First, a program is developed on the CPU 101 in the MFP device 10 to acquire information (capability, selectable reading conditions, etc.) of the scanner device 103 stored in the scanner information 104 and temporarily stored in the memory 105. To do.

  Next, an HTTP request (POST) is transmitted to the Web storage server 20 for the acquired information of the scanner 103. The CPU 101 establishes a connection with the Web storage server 20 via the network interface 107, and transmits the HTTP request (POST).

  At this time, when transmitting the scanner information list, a unique ID indicating the MFP device 10 is added and transmitted.

  Here, an example of the scanner information list is a function name, a capability for the function name, and a control for displaying the function on a UI (HTML created by the Web storage) as shown in FIG. Etc. are expressed as a pair. In this embodiment, when the scanner information registration button on the page for registering the scanner information is pressed, the scanner information list is automatically read from the scanner information management unit 104 in the MFP device 10. The HTTP request is generated, but the user may designate a file in which the scanner information list is stored from the page for registering the scanner information.

[Register scanner information in Web storage server]
In step S104, the Web storage server 20 extracts the scanner information list and the ID indicating the MFP device 10 from the HTTP request in step S103, and stores the scanner information in the storage device (not shown) in the Web storage server 20. A list of the scanner information is stored in association with the ID indicating the MFP device 10. At this time, not only the scanner information list is saved, but also a scan setting screen UI (HTML) is created and saved in accordance with the function name, capability, and control for displaying individual items specified in the scanner information list. To do. More specifically, FIG. 8 shows an example of the scanner information list of the MFP device 10 described above. The scan setting screen UI can select the reading resolution, monochrome / color, reading mode, and the like. Control is embedded. At this time, a program (such as a Java (registered trademark) applet or a Java (registered trademark) Script) that is executed when the user selects a control using a UI control and then presses the scan execution button is similarly embedded in HTML. .

  The ID indicating the MFP device 10 may be unique for each device or may be unique for each type of device. If the device type is unique, it is not necessary to store the scanner information of the same device type in the Web storage server 20. Therefore, the capacity required for a storage device (not shown) in the Web storage server 20 is reduced. Can be suppressed.

  Next, an image document registration process will be specifically described.

[Get top page of Web storage server]
Details of the processing in step S111 are the same as in step S101, and are omitted.

[Get Scan Document Registration Page]
In step S112, the user obtains a scanned document registration page by pressing a button for displaying a page for registering a scanned document from the home page displayed in the browser in step S111. To do. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in which the user acquires the scanned document registration page. Hereinafter, it demonstrates in detail using FIG.

  In step S1401, the user presses a button for displaying a page for registering a scanned document from the home page displayed on the browser in step S111. The CPU 101 establishes a connection with the Web storage server 20 via the network interface 107 and transmits an HTTP request. At this time, the HTTP request is transmitted with the unique ID indicating the MFP device 10 transmitted to the Web storage server 20 in step S103. The method of adding to the HTTP request may be added to the header part of the HTTP request as Authorization (GET), or may be added to the body part of the HTTP request (POST).

  In step S1402, the Web storage server 20 extracts an ID indicating the MFP device 10 based on the HTTP request obtained in step S1401. Based on the extracted ID indicating the MFP device 10, the scan setting created in accordance with the control for displaying the function name, capability, and unit specified in the scanner information list of the MFP device 10 in the Web storage server 20 in S 104. A screen UI (HTML) is acquired. This eliminates the need to send the scanner information of the MFP device 10 to the Web storage server 20 each time in the process for registering the scanned document, and it is only necessary to acquire the scan setting screen UI that has already been created. The UI can be provided to the user in a short time.

  Next, in step S1403, the Web storage server 20 searches for various Web services that can be used. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the option service 30 in FIG. 1 discloses an OCR processing function for image data as a Web service. The Web service search method may be based on the assumption that the optional service 30 is registered in UDDI, which is a well-known technique, or the user uses the user interface (not shown) on the Web storage server 20 in advance. Information regarding the option service 30 may be registered.

  Next, in step S1404, the Web storage server 20 creates a tree view (HTML) indicating the folder structure of the Web storage server 20, and uses the scan setting screen UI obtained in S1401 and the use obtained in S1402. A possible Web service setting UI is combined and written in the body portion, and an HTTP response is transmitted to the network interface 107 of the MFP device 10.

  In step S1405, the CPU 101 of the MFP device 10 extracts the body part (HTML) of the HTTP response developed in the memory 105 and displays it on the browser on the display device 102. FIG. 9 is an example of a scanned document registration page created by the Web storage server 20 in S1404, and has a function of selecting scan settings, a registered location of a scanned document, and a Web service to be used.

[Select storage location]
In step S113, the user registers the scanned document obtained by scanning the document using a tree view showing the folder structure of the Web storage server 20 existing on the scanned document registration page displayed on the browser in step S112. Specify the storage location. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing flow until the storage location of the Web storage server 20 is designated. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S1101, the user selects a folder from the tree view of the folder structure of the Web storage server 20 displayed on the browser.

  Next, in step S1102, it is confirmed whether or not the user has pressed the expand button with the folder selected in S1101 (whether or not information below the selected folder is acquired).

  In step S1103, when the expand button is pressed in step S1102, the CPU 101 establishes a connection with the web storage server 20 via the network interface 107, and acquires information under the selected folder. The HTTP request (GET) is transmitted.

  Next, in step S1104, in response to the HTTP request transmitted in S1103, a tree view (HTML) indicating the folder structure under the folder selected in S1101 of the Web storage server 20 is written in the body part, and an HTTP response is sent. Is transmitted to the network interface 107. Next, the body part (HTML) of the HTTP response developed in the memory 105 by the CPU 101 is extracted and displayed on the browser on the display device 102.

  Next, in step S1105, it is confirmed whether or not the user has pressed the selection button with the folder selected in step S1102 (determining where to store the scanned document). When the selection button is pressed, the CPU 101 saves the designated storage location in the memory S115.

[Select scan settings and execute]
In step S <b> 114, the user designates a document reading condition with the scanner device 103 in the MFP device 10 and executes scanning.

  The user uses the scan setting screen UI in the MFP device 10 present on the scan document registration page displayed on the browser in step S112, and the user designates a desired document reading condition, and the scanner A document is set on the apparatus 103 and a scan execution button is pressed.

[Send and store scanned documents]
In step S 115, the scanner device 103 in the MFP device 10 reads the original and stores the scanned document in the Web storage server 20. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing from reading an original by the scanner device 103 to storing a scanned document in the Web storage server 20. Hereinafter, this will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S1301, the program embedded in the scan execution screen is executed in S1213 in accordance with the reading conditions specified by the user using the scan execution screen displayed on the browser on the MFP device in S114. The The CPU 101 operates the scanner device 103 in accordance with a program developed in the memory 105. At this time, the read scanned document may be temporarily stored only in the memory 105 or may be stored in the mass storage device 106.

  Next, in step S1302, the CPU 101 establishes a connection with the Web storage server 20 via the network interface 107, and stores the scan document obtained in S1301 and the scan document designated by the user. Write and send to the body part of the HTTP request (POST). At this time, if the user has set to use the function of the optional service 30 on the scan execution screen, the same is written in the body part of the HTTP request as the scan document storage location designated by the user.

  Next, in step S1303, the Web storage server 20 analyzes the body part of the HTTP request obtained in S1302, and uses the function of the optional service 30 according to the storage location specified by the user. If so, the scanned document is saved according to the designation.

  In this embodiment, a program for executing scan is embedded in the scan execution screen (HTML). However, in step S1302, only the information set by the user on the scan execution screen is transmitted, and the actual The scan execution may be performed via a network scanner driver (not shown) existing in the Web storage server 20.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the document registration system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an MFP device in a document registration system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the processing operation which registers the scanner information in a Web storage server in the document registration system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing until a user designates a document reading condition and executes scanning in the document registration system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of operation | movement of the acquisition process of the scanned document registration page in the document registration system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow until the user designates the storage location of a Web storage server in the document registration system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing from reading an original with a scanner and storing a scanned document in a Web storage server in the document registration system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a table | surface which shows an example of the list | wrist of the scanner information in the document registration system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the scan document registration page in the document registration system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

Claims (1)

  A browser is displayed on the MFP device in an environment in which an MFP device having a browser function, a Web storage server, and an optional service capable of providing some service in cooperation with the Web storage server are connected via a LAN / Internet. Means for designating a location for storing the scanned document in the Web storage server, means for registering information of the scanner device of the MFP device in the Web storage server, and forming a scan setting screen according to the information of the scanner device And a document registration system that performs scanning according to the content set by the user and transmits the scanned data to the Web storage server.

Images