JP2007259413A - Image processor, image processing method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a capability of implementing the image processing function of an image processor without loading its driver software in an information processor which issues an application registration request. <P>SOLUTION: This image processor (complex machine) 100 has at least a scanner and provides a capability of processing the image captured via the scanner. After network connection and application installation, it is provided with an information processing application destination database 140 where the specific IDs of PC-A160 and PC-B161 for issuing application registration requests to the image processor (complex machine) are correlated to the display names of installed applications, namely the application display names. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program for processing an image scanned by a scanning unit, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program capable of transmitting a scanned image to an information processing apparatus connected to a network. .

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image processing apparatuses such as a scanner that can scan a document with a scanner unit and transmit a scanned image to an information processing apparatus connected to a network, a multifunction peripheral including a scanner function, and the like are generally known. . In such an image processing apparatus, the scanned image is transmitted from the image processing apparatus to the information processing apparatus by file transfer using a protocol such as e-mail or FTP (File Transfer Protocol) (for example, see Patent Document 1). .

  In such an image processing apparatus, a local user who manages user information dedicated to the image processing apparatus normally managed by the image processing apparatus is used as a database for managing destinations such as e-mail addresses and IP addresses for transmitting scanned images. Database, user information as a destination managed by a distribution server on the network, a distribution user database temporarily acquired and stored on the image processing apparatus side, and stored in an LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) server on the network An LDAP user database or the like that temporarily acquires and stores user information as a destination is provided.

  Then, the information processing apparatus that receives the scanned image converts the scanned image into a data format corresponding to an application for displaying, editing, or printing a document or image, and displays, edits, or prints the converted data by the application. It is supposed to be.

JP 2005-244411 A

  Incidentally, in recent years, there has been proposed an OS (Operating System) that allows an application to use arbitrary data for an external device even if driver software is not installed. In an information processing apparatus such as a PC (Personal Computer) in which such an OS is installed, it is possible to use an image processing apparatus on a network without installing driver software for the image processing apparatus such as a scanner apparatus. Is provided in the OS.

  In such an OS, a registration request for an application executed on the information processing apparatus side in which the OS is installed is transmitted to the image processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus receives the data corresponding to the application registered in the image processing apparatus from the image processing apparatus, so that the application can execute the data without installing the driver software of the image processing apparatus.

  When applied to image processing, the information processing apparatus installed with such an OS does not install the driver software of the image processing apparatus, and the image information processing apparatus does not install the driver software for the OS. It is desired to implement a function capable of managing a destination in an image processing apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an image processing function of an image processing apparatus can be realized without installing driver software of the image processing apparatus on the information processing apparatus side that requests registration of an application. An object is to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 is an image processing apparatus that includes at least a scanning unit and processes an image scanned by the scanning unit, and is connected to a network. In order to receive the data generated by the image processing apparatus by causing the image processing apparatus to execute without installing an information processing application that is software related to information processing and driver software of the image processing apparatus. A first destination storing application destination information that holds an application display name that is a display name of the destination of the information processing app of the information processing apparatus that can be executed by an operating system having a function of requesting registration of the information processing app. An image processing apparatus comprising a destination storage unit.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, a receiving unit that receives the registration request including the application display name from the information processing apparatus, and the application display name is extracted from the registration request received by the receiving unit, Destination management means for registering the extracted application display name in the application destination information stored in the first destination storage means.

  Further, the invention according to claim 3 is registered in the operation display means capable of displaying various screens and allowing an input operation from a user, and the application destination information stored in the first destination storage means. And a display control unit that reads the application display name and displays the application screen on which the application display name can be input on the operation display unit.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the display control unit receives the registration request by the receiving unit while displaying the application screen on the operation display unit, the display control unit displays the displayed application screen. The application display name registered in the application destination information updated by the registration request is read, and the application screen is updated and displayed on the operation display means.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the receiving unit includes, from each of the plurality of information processing devices, application identification information unique to the application, the application display name, and device identification information unique to the information processing device. The address management means extracts and extracts the application identification information, the application display name, and the device identification information from each of the received registration requests of the plurality of information processing apparatuses. Further, the application identification information and the application display name are associated with each other and stored as the application destination information in the first destination storage means, and the display control means is stored in the first destination storage means. The plurality of device identification information registered in the application destination information and the application display name can be read, and the application display name can be input for each device identification information. And displaying on the operation display means application screen drawn in.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the display control means reads out the plurality of device identification information and the application display name registered in the application destination information, and processes the information processing device corresponding to the device identification information A first application screen for performing a selection instruction is displayed on the operation display means, and the application display name corresponding to the apparatus identification information of the information processing apparatus that has received the selection instruction from the first application screen is input. A second application screen that can be drawn is displayed on the operation display means.

  Further, the invention according to claim 7 is the delivery destination information related to the information processing apparatus which has been generated based on the application destination information and is unique to the information processing application, the application display name, and the registration request. Second storage means for storing display application destination information in association with each other, receiving means for receiving the registration request including the application display name and the distribution destination information from the information processing apparatus, and the receiving means The application display name and the delivery destination information are extracted from the registration request received by the step, and the extracted application display name and the delivery destination information are registered in the application destination information stored in the first storage unit. Network management means, and based on the application destination information stored in the first storage means, the application identification information, the application display name, and the delivery destination information. Destination management means for registering in the display application destination information stored in the second storage means, operation display means capable of displaying various screens and allowing input operations from the user, and the second Display control means for reading the application display name registered in the display application destination information stored in the storage means and displaying the application screen on which the read application display name is inputable on the operation display means And further comprising.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the display application destination information includes a master table capable of sequentially writing records in which the application identification information, the application display name, and the distribution destination information are associated with each other, and the master table. Including a heading table in which the position information in the master table of the record written in is classified and registered by a heading based on the application display name, and the display control means includes the heading and the heading of the heading. Read the application display name registered in the master table from the position information registered in the heading table, and display the application screen on which the heading and the read application display name can be input as the operation display means. It is characterized by displaying.

  In the invention according to claim 9, the network management means further transmits whether or not the application destination information has been updated to the destination management means, and the destination management means further transmits the application from the network management means. When receiving that the destination information has been updated, the application display name and the distribution destination information are acquired from the application destination information stored in the first storage unit, and the acquired application display name And a record in which the acquired distribution destination information and the application identification information are associated with each other in the master table, and the position information of the application display name is stored in the header table based on the acquired character string of the application display name. The display application destination information is updated by registering.

  In the invention according to claim 10, when the destination management means further receives from the network management means that the application destination information has not been updated, there is no change to the display control means. The display control unit does not change the display of the application screen displayed on the operation display unit when the destination management unit notifies that there is no change.

  In the invention according to claim 11, the display control unit issues an update request to the destination management unit when the operation display unit receives an instruction to update the display application destination information from the user. The destination management unit updates the display application destination information when receiving the update request from the display control unit.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing application related storage means for storing information processing application related information and timer time, which is information related to the information processing application of the information processing apparatus, and a network setting which is a setting content regarding a network Network setting storage means for storing information, authentication information storage means for storing user authentication information, change of the information processing application related information, switching of applications executed in the image processing apparatus, normal mode and energy saving mode System management means for controlling the above and timer management means for determining whether the timer time has elapsed, the network management means further changes the network setting information, and the destination management means uses Based on the authentication information when there is a login input by the user. Authentication of the user who performed the login input, and when any of the change of the information processing application related information, the change of the network setting information, or the switching of the application executed in the image processing apparatus is executed, or The display application destination information is updated when user authentication is successful, when the normal mode is restored from the energy saving mode, or when the elapse of the timer time is determined.

  In the invention according to claim 13, the destination management means receives the request for updating the display application destination information while updating the display application destination information, even if the request is received. The display application destination information based on the request is not updated.

  The invention according to claim 14 is such that the destination management means updates the display application destination information while the display control means reads the application display name from the display application destination information. Even when a request is received, the display application destination information based on the received request is not updated.

  The invention according to claim 15 is the display application stored in the second storage unit when the operation display unit receives a search instruction for the destination of the information processing application together with a search condition from a user. Search means for searching for the application display name corresponding to the destination of the information processing that satisfies the search condition from destination information is further provided, wherein the display control means displays the application display name searched by the search means as the operation display means. It is characterized by displaying.

  The invention according to claim 16 further includes search result storage means for storing a search result table capable of registering position information in the master table of a record including the application display name, wherein the search means is searched. The position information in the master table of the record including the application display name is registered in the search result table, and the display control unit is registered in the master table from the position information registered in the search result table. An application display name is read out, and the read application display name is displayed on the operation display means.

  Further, in the invention according to claim 17, the network management unit further includes the registration request received even when the registration request is received from the information processing apparatus while the application destination information is being updated. The application destination information based on the update is not performed.

  According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, the information processing application corresponding to the destination of the application display name that has received the designation by the user from the operation display unit by the display control unit for the image scanned by the scanning unit. Image processing means for performing image processing in a data format that can be handled by the image processing means, and the distribution destination information corresponding to the application display name for the scan data image-processed by the image processing means in a data format that can be handled by the information processing application Transmission means for transmitting to the information processing apparatus.

  The invention according to claim 19 is an image processing method executed by an image processing apparatus that includes at least a scanning unit and processes an image scanned by the scanning unit, and the image processing apparatus is connected to a network. The image processing apparatus receives the data generated by the image processing apparatus by executing the image processing apparatus without installing the information processing application that is software related to information processing and the driver software of the image processing apparatus. First, it stores application destination information that holds an application display name that is a display name of the destination of the information processing app of the information processing apparatus that can be executed by an operating system having a function of requesting registration of the information processing app. Destination storage means and the application destination information are generated based on the information processing application. Second storage means for storing display application destination information in which unique application identification information, the application display name, and the distribution destination information related to the information processing apparatus that has made the registration request are associated, and various screens can be displayed And an operation display means capable of an input operation from a user, receiving the registration request including the application display name and the delivery destination information from the information processing apparatus, and the received registration Extracting the application display name and the delivery destination information from the request, and registering the extracted application display name and the delivery destination information in the application destination information stored in the first storage unit; Based on the application destination information stored in the first storage means, the application identification information, the application display name, and the distribution destination information are converted into the display address stored in the second storage means. A step of registering in the pre-destination information; and the application display name registered in the display application destination information stored in the second storage means is read, and the read-out application display name is rendered to be inputable And displaying an application screen on the operation display means.

  The invention according to claim 20 is a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 19.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus is generated by being executed by the image processing apparatus connected to the network without installing the information processing application that is software related to information processing and the driver software of the image processing apparatus. Holds an application display name which is a display name of a destination of an information processing application of an information processing apparatus that can be executed by an operating system having a function of requesting registration of the information processing application to the image processing apparatus to receive data By providing the first destination storage means for storing the application destination information, it is possible to easily transmit the image-processed data to the information processing apparatus that requests registration of the application, and the information processing apparatus side The image processing function of the image processing apparatus can be realized without installing the driver software of the processing apparatus. It has the effect of being able to.

  According to the invention of claim 2, by extracting the application display name from the received registration request and registering the extracted application display name in the application destination information stored in the first destination storage means, The image processing data can be easily transmitted to the information processing device that requests application registration, and the image processing function of the image processing device can be realized without installing the image processing device driver software on the information processing device side. There is an effect that can be done.

  According to the invention of claim 3, the application display name registered in the application destination information stored in the first destination storage means is read, and the application screen on which the application display name is drawn can be operated. By displaying on the display means, the image processing function of the image processing apparatus can be realized without transferring the image processing data to the application of the desired information processing apparatus and installing the driver software of the image processing apparatus on the information processing apparatus side. There is an effect that can be done.

  According to the invention of claim 4, when the registration request is received by the receiving means while the application screen is displayed on the operation display means, the displayed application screen is updated to the application destination updated by the registration request. By reading the application display name registered in the information, updating the application screen and displaying it on the operation display means, the user can grasp the update of the application destination information at an accurate timing, and the information processing apparatus The image processing function of the image processing apparatus can be realized more accurately without installing the driver software of the image processing apparatus on the side.

  According to the invention of claim 5, a registration request including application identification information unique to an application, an application display name, and device identification information unique to the information processing apparatus is received from each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses. The application identification information, the application display name, and the device identification information are extracted from each received registration request of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, and the extracted application identification information and the application display name apparatus identification information are associated with each other. Information is stored in the first destination storage means, and a plurality of device identification information and application display names registered in the application destination information stored in the first destination storage means are read out, and an application display is displayed for each device identification information. By displaying the application screen on which the name can be input on the operation display means, the application is selected in consideration of the information processing apparatus, and the application of the desired information processing apparatus The image processed data to Shon Te pass, there is an effect that it is possible to realize the image processing functions of the image processing apparatus without installing the driver software for the image processing apparatus in the information processing apparatus.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the plurality of device identification information and the application display name registered in the application destination information are read, and a first instruction for selecting an information processing device corresponding to the device identification information is issued. The application screen is displayed on the operation display unit, and the second application screen on which the application display name corresponding to the device identification information of the information processing apparatus that has received the selection instruction from the first application screen is input is displayed. The first application screen for each information processing device, the second application screen for each application, and the application screen are displayed step by step, and an application is selected in consideration of the information processing device. The image processing data is transferred to the application of the information processing apparatus, and the image processing process is performed without installing the image processing apparatus driver software on the information processing apparatus side. An effect that it is possible to realize the image processing functions of the device.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the application identification information generated based on the application destination information and unique to the information processing application, the application display name, and the distribution destination information related to the information processing apparatus that has made the registration request are associated with each other. Second storage means for storing attached display application destination information, receiving means for receiving a registration request including a pre-display name and distribution destination information from the information processing apparatus, and application display from the registration request received by the receiving means Network management means for extracting the name and delivery destination information, and registering the extracted application display name and delivery destination information in the application destination information stored in the first storage means, and stored in the first storage means A destination management means for registering application identification information, application display name, and delivery destination information in the display application destination information stored in the second storage means based on the application destination information, and various screens are displayed. The application display name registered in the display application destination information stored in the second display and the operation display means that can be displayed and can be input from the user is read and the read application display name Display control means for displaying on the operation display means an application screen that is drawn so as to be inputable, so that a registration request is received from the information processing apparatus while the application screen is displayed on the operation table means by executing the application. Even when registering in the application destination information, the application screen is displayed based on the display application destination information, so that the image processing data can be easily processed by the information processing apparatus that requests registration of the application without adversely affecting the application screen. Image processing apparatus without installing the image processing apparatus driver software on the information processing apparatus side. An effect that can be achieved management functions.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the display application destination information is written in the master table capable of sequentially writing records in which the application identification information, the application display name, and the distribution destination information are associated, and the master table. The display table includes a heading table that can be registered by classifying the position information in the master table of the record by the heading based on the application display name, and the display control means performs mastering from the heading and the position information registered in the heading heading table. By reading the application display name registered in the table and displaying the application screen on which the heading and the read application display name can be input on the operation display means, the memory capacity for display processing and search processing can be reduced. There is an effect that it can be reduced.

  According to the invention of claim 9, the network management means further transmits the presence / absence of update of the application destination information to the destination management means, and the destination management means further updates the application destination information from the network management means. When receiving the notification, the application display name and the distribution destination information are acquired from the application destination information stored in the first storage unit, and the acquired application display name, the acquired distribution destination information, and the application identification information are acquired. Is registered in the master table, and by registering the position information of the application display name in the header table based on the acquired character string of the application display name, by updating the display application destination information, There is an effect that the display application destination information can be held in the latest state.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, when it is received from the network management means that the application destination information has not been updated, the display control means is notified that there is no change, and the display control means When there is no change notification from the address management means, the display of the application screen displayed on the operation display means is not changed. When the application destination information has not been updated, it is specified on the application screen. There exists an effect that a state can be maintained.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the invention, when an instruction to update the display application destination information is received from the user by the operation display means, an update request is transmitted to the destination management means, and the display control means When the update request is received, by updating the display application destination information, the display application destination information can be updated at a desired timing and can be maintained in the latest state.

  According to the invention of claim 12, when there is a login input by the user, the user who has performed the login input is authenticated based on the authentication information, the information processing application related information is changed, and the network setting When any of information change, application switching executed by the image processing apparatus is executed, when user authentication is successful, or when returning from the energy saving mode to the normal mode, or when the timer time elapses If the display application destination information is updated, the display application destination information can be automatically updated when there is any change in the state of the image processing apparatus. The display application destination information can be kept up-to-date without any effect.

  According to the invention of claim 13, while the display application destination information is being updated, even when a request for updating the display application destination information is received, the display application based on the received request is displayed. By not updating the application destination information, the display application destination information can be updated without adversely affecting the application being executed.

  According to the invention of claim 14, while the application display name is read from the display application destination information by the display control means, even when a request to update the display application destination information is received, By not updating the display application destination information based on the request, it is possible to update the display application destination information without adversely affecting the running application.

  According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the display application destination information stored in the second storage unit when the operation display unit receives a search instruction for the destination of the information processing application together with the search condition from the user. The application display name corresponding to the information processing destination satisfying the search condition is searched from, and the searched application display name is displayed on the operation display means, whereby the information processing application destination can be easily searched. Play.

  According to the sixteenth aspect of the invention, there is further provided search result storage means for storing a search result table capable of registering position information in the master table of a record including the application display name, and includes the searched application display name. The position information in the master table of the record is registered in the search result table, the application display name registered in the master table is read out from the position information registered in the search result table, and the read application display name is used as the operation display means. By displaying, it is possible to reduce the memory capacity during the search process.

  According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, even when a registration request from the information processing apparatus is received while updating the application destination information, the application destination information is not updated based on the received registration request. As a result, it is possible to avoid adversely affecting the update process of the application destination information.

  According to the invention of claim 18, the image scanned by the scanning unit can be handled by the information processing application corresponding to the destination of the application display name that has been designated by the user from the operation display means by the display control means. An image processing unit that performs image processing in an appropriate data format, and scan data that has been subjected to image processing in a data format that can be handled by the information processing application by the image processing unit, is transmitted to the information processing apparatus of the destination information corresponding to the application display name Further comprising the transmission means has an effect that the image processing function of the image processing apparatus can be realized without installing the driver software of the image processing apparatus on the information processing apparatus side.

  According to the invention of claim 19, there is provided an image processing method executed by an image processing apparatus that includes at least a scanning unit and processes an image scanned by the scanning unit, and the image processing apparatus is connected to a network. Information to the image processing apparatus to receive the data generated by the image processing apparatus by executing the image processing apparatus without installing the information processing application that is software related to information processing and the driver software of the image processing apparatus. First destination storage means for storing application destination information that holds an application display name that is a display name of a destination of an information processing application of an information processing apparatus that can be executed by an operating system having a function of performing a processing application registration request And application identification information and application table generated based on the application destination information and unique to the information processing application Second storage means for storing display application destination information that associates the display name with the distribution destination information regarding the information processing apparatus that has made the registration request, various screens can be displayed, and an input operation from the user An operation display means capable of receiving a registration request including an application display name and distribution destination information from the information processing apparatus, and extracting and extracting the application display name and distribution destination information from the received registration request Registering the displayed application display name and distribution destination information in the application destination information stored in the first storage means, and the application identification information and the application display name based on the application destination information stored in the first storage means And the distribution destination information in the display application destination information stored in the second storage means, and the application display name registered in the display application destination information stored in the second storage means reading And displaying the application screen on which the read application display name is drawn to be inputable on the operation display means, so that the information processing apparatus displays the application screen on the operation table means by executing the application. Even when a registration request is received and registered in the application destination information, the application screen is displayed based on the display application destination information, so that the image processing is performed on the information processing apparatus that issues the application registration request without adversely affecting the application screen. Thus, the image processing function of the image processing apparatus can be realized without installing the driver software of the image processing apparatus on the information processing apparatus side.

  The invention according to claim 20 has the effect of allowing a computer to execute the method according to claim 19.

  Exemplary embodiments of an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program according to the present invention are explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the network configuration of the image processing system according to the first embodiment and the main configuration of the multifunction peripheral. The image processing system according to the first embodiment includes a multifunction peripheral 100 serving as an image processing apparatus in which functions related to image processing such as copying, scanners, facsimiles, and printers are contained in a single housing, and a plurality of information processing apparatuses. The PC-A 160 and the PC-B 161 are connected to a network 150 such as the Internet or a LAN (Local Area Network).

  The PC-A 160 and PC-B 161 include a control device such as a CPU, a storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), an external storage device such as an HDD and a CD drive device, and a display device. The display device and an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse are provided, and a hardware configuration using a normal computer is employed.

  The PC-A 160 and the PC-B 161 are installed with an operating system (OS: Operating System) and various information processing applications (hereinafter referred to as “information processing application”) such as a document application and a spreadsheet application operating on the OS. Has been.

  This OS issues a request for registration of an information processing application, which will be described later, to the multifunction device 100 in order to execute the multifunction device 100 without receiving the driver software of the multifunction device 100 and receive data generated by the multifunction device 100. (Hereinafter, this OS is referred to as “image processing control OS”). For this reason, the driver software for the multifunction peripheral 100 is not installed in the PC-A 160 and the PC-B 161. Then, the PC-A 160 and the PC-B 161 make a registration request for the installed information processing application to the multifunction peripheral 100 on the network by the function of the image processing control OS.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of a registration request. The registration request includes a plurality of combinations of an application ID unique to an information processing application operating on the PC-A 160 or the PC-B 161 and an application display name that is a display name of the information processing application, and a device unique to the PC-A 160 and PC-B 161 The MFP 100 is requested to register the information processing application that holds the ID and operates on each of the PC-A 160 and PC-B 161. In practice, the registration request shown in FIG. 2 is composed of data in XML (eXtended Markup Language) format, and the application ID, application display name, device ID, etc. are represented in a notation structured by tags. It is described in.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the MFP 100 includes a scanner application 114 that performs scanner processing, another application 141, a UCS (User Control Service) 129, an NCS (Network Control Service) 128, an information processing application destination database 140, and the like. The operation panel 170 is mainly provided. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the multifunction peripheral 100 receives a registration request from the PC-A 160 and the PC-B 161, performs registration processing of information processing application destination information (record), which will be described later, and then receives the registration request. A response is transmitted to the PC-A 160 and PC-B 161.

  The information processing application destination database 140 is a database in which information related to information processing applications installed in each of the PC-A 160 and the PC-B 161 as destinations to which images scanned by the scanner application 114 are transmitted is registered.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of the information processing application destination database 140. In the information processing application destination database 140, as shown in FIG. 3, the application ID and application display name included in the registration request received from the PC-A 160 and PC-B 161, the device ID of the PC-A 160 and PC-B 161, and the valid ID are displayed. A plurality of information processing application destination information associated with a time limit is registered.

  Here, the expiration date is a collection time limit that allows the information processing application destination information to be used effectively as a destination. When this expiration date has passed, the information processing application destination information is converted to the destination of the scanned image. Can not be used as.

  An NCS (network control service) 128 receives a registration request transmitted from the PC-A 160 and PC-B 161 as a receiving unit, and sends a response to the registration request and scan data to the PC-A 160 and PC-B 161 as a transmitting unit. Operates as a process that performs processing to send.

  This is a process for providing a service that can be used in common to applications such as the scanner application 114 and other applications 141 on the multifunction peripheral 100 that require network I / O, and is received by each protocol from the network side. The data is distributed to each application, and mediation is performed when data is transmitted from the application to the network side.

  UCS (User Control Service) 129 registers or updates information processing application destination information in the information processing application destination database 140 as a destination management unit, and sends an update start notification and an update completion notification to the scanner application 114 and the like through inter-process communication. It operates as a process for performing processing to be transmitted to an application operating on the multifunction peripheral 100.

  In addition, the UCS 129 manages user information for using the multifunction peripheral 100 by a user database (not shown) or the like, and determines a storage device that stores user information according to a request, and determines the determined storage. Processing for obtaining user information from the apparatus and supplying it to each application is also performed.

  The operation panel 170 includes a liquid crystal display unit that displays various screens so that touch input is possible, and an operation unit that allows input of operations from the user, and allows the user to display and operate various screens. It is.

  Next, the overall configuration of the multifunction machine 100 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the MFP 100 includes a monochrome line printer (B & W LP) 101, a color line printer (Color LP) 102, a hard disk device (HDD) 103, a scanner, a facsimile, a memory, a network interface, and the like. The hardware resource 104 and the software group 110 are configured. The software group 110 is configured to include a platform 120 and an application 130.

  The platform 120 interprets a processing request from the application 130 and generates a hardware resource acquisition request, and a system resource that manages one or more hardware resources and arbitrates the acquisition request from the control service A manager (hereinafter referred to as SRM) 123 and an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) 121 are configured.

  The control service includes a system control service (hereinafter referred to as SCS) 122, an engine control service (hereinafter referred to as ECS) 124, a memory control service (hereinafter referred to as MCS) 125, an operation panel control service (hereinafter referred to as OCS) 126, a fax. It is configured to have one or more service modules such as a control service (hereinafter referred to as FCS) 127, an NCS (network control service) 128, and a UCS (user information management service) 129.

  The platform 120 is configured to have an application program interface (hereinafter referred to as API) that can receive a processing request from the application 130 by a predefined function.

  The OS 121 is a general-purpose operating system such as UNIX (registered trademark), and executes the software of the platform 120 and the application 130 in parallel as processes.

  The process of the SRM 123 performs system control and resource management together with the SCS 122. For example, the process of the SRM 123 uses hardware resources of an engine such as a scanner unit and a printer unit, a memory, a hard disk device (HDD) file, and a host I / O (centro interface, network interface, IEEE 1394 interface, RS232C interface, etc.). Arbitration is performed according to the request from the upper layer, and execution control is performed.

  Specifically, the SRM 123 determines whether the requested hardware resource is available (whether it is not used by another request), and if it is available, the requested hardware resource can be used. Tell the upper layer to the effect. Further, the SRM 123 performs use scheduling of hardware resources in response to a request from an upper layer, and directly executes requested contents such as paper conveyance and image forming operation, memory allocation, file generation, etc. by a printer engine, for example.

  The process of the SCS 122 performs application management, operation unit control, system screen display, LED display, resource management, interrupt application control, and the like. Note that specific processing performed by the SCS 122 in the present embodiment will be described later.

  The process of the ECS 124 controls an engine of a hardware resource 104 including a monochrome line printer (B & W LP) 101, a color line printer (Color LP) 102, an HDD 103 scanner, a facsimile, and the like.

  The MCS 125 process acquires and releases an image memory, uses a hard disk device (HDD), compresses and decompresses image data, and the like. The process of the OCS 126 controls an operation panel serving as information transmission means between the operator and the main body control.

  The process of FCS127 includes facsimile transmission / reception using PSTN or ISDN network from each application layer of system controller, registration / quotation of various facsimile data managed by BKM (backup SRAM), facsimile reading, facsimile reception printing, and fusion transmission / reception. Provide an application to do.

  The OCS 126 controls an operation panel (operation panel) 170 serving as information transmission means between the operator (user) and the main body control. The OCS 126 obtains a key press (or touch operation) from the operation panel as a key event, and operates according to a request from the application 130 or the control service and a part of the OCS process that transmits a key event function corresponding to the obtained key to the SCS 122. A drawing function for drawing and outputting various screens on the panel, a function for controlling the operation panel, and the like are composed of pre-registered OCS library portions. The OCS library is mounted by being linked to each module of the application 130 and the control service. The OCS 126 may be configured to operate as a process, or the OCS 126 may be configured as an OCS library. Note that the UCS 129 and the NCS 128 are as described in FIG.

  The application 130 includes a printer application 111 that is a printer application having a page description language (PDL), PCL, and postscript (PS), a copy application 112 that is a copy application, and a fax application that is a facsimile application. 113, a scanner application 114 as a scanner application, a network file application 115 as a network file application, and a process inspection application 116 as a process inspection application.

  Each process of the application 130 and each process of the control service realize user services related to image forming processing such as copying, printers, scanners, and facsimiles while performing inter-process communication by calling functions, sending return values thereof, and sending and receiving messages. is doing.

  As described above, the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment includes a plurality of applications 130 and a plurality of control services, all of which operate as processes. In each of these processes, one or more threads are generated and parallel execution is performed in units of threads. The control service provides a common service to the application 130. For this reason, a large number of these processes perform a parallel operation and a parallel operation of threads to perform inter-process communication with each other. User services related to image forming processing such as copying, printers, scanners, and facsimiles are provided.

  Next, destination information registration display processing by the image processing system according to the first embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating an entire flow of destination information registration display processing by the image processing system according to the first embodiment.

  Here, it is assumed that a plurality of information processing application destination information for PC-A 160 and PC-B 161 as shown in FIG. 3 are registered in the information processing application destination database 140. In FIG. 5, PC-A 160 and PC-B 161 are simply indicated as PCs.

  When the application 130 on the multifunction peripheral 100 such as the scanner application 114 transmits the scanned image to the destination of the information processing application of the PC-A 160 or the PC-B 161, first, in order to designate the destination, The information processing application destination information acquisition request is transmitted (step S501). Upon receiving the acquisition request, the UCS 129 accesses the information processing application destination database 140 to read the information processing application destination information, and transmits the read information processing application destination information to the application 130 (step S502).

  In the application 130 that has received the information processing application destination information, an application display name, an application ID, and the like of the received information processing application destination information are extracted to generate an application screen, and the application screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display of the operation panel 160 via the OCS 126. (Step S503). Details of the application screen will be described later.

  Here, consider a case where the PC on the network is turned on while the application screen is displayed. When the PC is turned on (step S504), a registration request for registering the information processing application on the PC in the multifunction device 100 is transmitted to the multifunction device 100 by the function of the image processing control OS (step S505).

  In the MFP 100, the registration request from the PC is received by the NCS 128, and the received registration request is transferred to the UCS 129 (step S506). The UCS 129 that has received the registration request from the NCS 128 needs to update the information processing application destination database 140, which may cause the application screen currently displayed on the operation panel 160 to become unusable as a result of the update. The update start notification is transmitted to the application 130 (step S507). Then, the UCS 129 updates the information processing application destination information registered in the information processing application destination database 140 based on the received registration request (step S508).

  The application 130 that has received the update start notification displays a pop-up screen for updating the information processing application destination via the OCS 126 in order to disable input from the user to the currently displayed application screen (step S509). ).

  When the update of the information processing application destination database by the UCS 129 is completed, the UCS 129 transmits an update completion notification to the application 130 (step S510). In order to display the application screen again using the information processing application destination information of the updated information processing application destination database 140, the application 130 that has received the update completion notification requests the UCS 129 to acquire the information processing application destination information. Is transmitted (step S511). Upon receiving the acquisition request, the UCS 129 accesses the updated information processing application destination database 140 to read the information processing application destination information, and transmits the read information processing application destination information to the application 130 (step S512).

  In the application 130 that has received the information processing application destination information, an application display name, an application ID, and the like of the received information processing application destination information are extracted to generate an application screen, and the application screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display of the operation panel 160 via the OCS 126. The application screen is updated by displaying on the screen (step S513).

  Through the processing as described above, the application screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the operation panel 160, and the user can select the information processing application on the PC that is the destination of the scanned image on the application screen.

  Next, update processing of the information processing application destination database 140 by the UCS 129, that is, processing for registering information processing application destination information will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of registration processing of information processing application destination information by the UCS 129 of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the first embodiment.

  The UCS 129 receives the registration request received from the PC-A 160 and PC-B 161 from the NCS 128 (step S601), and transmits an update start notification of the information processing application destination database 140 to the application 130 (step S602). Then, the UCS 129 extracts the application ID, the application display name, and the device ID from the received registration request (step S603). Next, the UCS 129 associates the extracted application ID, application display name, and device ID with each other and registers them in the information processing application destination database 140 as information processing application destination information (step S604). Thereby, the information processing application destination database 140 is updated. Then, the UCS 129 transmits an update completion notification of the information processing application destination database to the application 130 (step S605). By such processing of the UCS 129, new information processing application destination information is registered, and the information processing application destination database 140 is updated.

  Next, processing for extracting information processing application destination information from the information processing application destination database 140 by the UCS 129 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process of extracting information processing application destination information from the information processing application destination database 140 by the UCS 129 of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the first embodiment.

  In the UCS 129, the information processing application destination information acquisition request from the application 130 is normally in a reception waiting state (step S701). When an information processing application destination information acquisition request is received from the application 130 (step S701: Yes), an application ID, an application display name, a device ID, and an expiration date are associated from the information processing application destination database 140. All the information processing application destination information (each record in FIG. 3) is extracted (step S702), and all the extracted information processing application destination information is transmitted to the application 130 (step S703).

  Here, when the expiration date of the extracted information processing application destination information has passed the current date and time, the information processing application destination information is not transmitted to the application 130. Through the processing as described above, all information processing application destination information registered in the information processing application destination database 140 is extracted and transmitted to the application 130.

  Next, application screen display processing and destination designation processing by the application 130 such as the scanner application 114 will be described. FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are flowcharts illustrating a procedure of application screen display processing and destination designation processing by the application 130 of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the first embodiment. Here, the scanner application 114 will be described as an example of the application 130, but the same applies to other applications 130.

  The scanner application 114 first transmits an information processing application destination information acquisition request to the UCS 129 (step S801), and waits for reception of information processing application destination information (step S802). When the scanner application 114 receives the information processing application destination information from the UCS 129 (step S802: Yes), the application ID, the application display name, and the device ID are extracted from all the received information processing application destination information (step S802). S803).

  Then, the scanner application 114 generates an application-specific entry from all the extracted application IDs, application display names, and device IDs (step S804). The entry for each application is an application ID for each application display name and a display name correspondence list of PC-A 160 or PC-B 161 indicated by the device ID as follows. Here, the correspondence between the device ID and the PC-A 160 or PC-B 161 may be stored in advance in a storage medium such as an HDD.

Document software: PC-A: WP001
Spreadsheet software: PC-A: EX001
Document software: PC-B: WP001
Then, the scanner application 114 generates an application selection button for each application from the generated application-specific entry (step S805), and displays an application screen on which the generated application selection button is drawn so as to allow touch input. Is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit (step S806). Here, the generation of the application selection button and the display of the application screen are performed by issuing a function or the like provided by the OCS 126.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the contents of the application screen according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, an application selection button including an application display name and a display name of the PC-A 160, 161 is displayed for each application on the application screen.

  When the application screen is displayed, the scanner application 114 waits for input of an application selection button by the user from the application screen (step S807). When the input of the application selection button is received from the application screen (step S807: Yes), the scanner application 114 executes a scanning process using the scanner engine (step S811), and specifies the scanned image by the application selection button. The information is converted into the data format of the information processing application on the PC (step S812). For example, when a document viewer such as Acrobat Reader (R) is selected, the scanned image is converted into a PDF format that is a data format handled by the document viewer.

  Next, the scanner application 114 transmits scan data, which is data obtained by converting the scanned image into the application data format, to the application designated via the NCS 128 (step S813). Here, address information such as the IP address of the PC-A 160, PC-B 161 on which the application is installed and the user's mail address on the PC-A 160, PC-B 161 is stored in advance in an address database or the like in association with the device ID. In addition, the address information is acquired from the device ID of the designated application, and the scan data is transmitted to the application by using the acquired address information as a destination, thereby transmitting the scan data to the application.

  As described above, since the scan image is converted into a data format handled by the designated application and transmitted to the PC-A 160 and PC-B 161, the received scan data is displayed as it is on the PC-A 160 and PC-B 161 side. Therefore, it is not necessary to install the driver software of the multifunction peripheral 100 on the PC-A 160 and PC-B 161 side.

  Here, in step S807, when the application screen is displayed and the application selection button is not input (step S807: No), the PC-A 160 and PC-B 161 are turned on. think of.

  In such a case, since the update start notification of the information processing application destination database 140 is received from the UCS 129 (step S808: Yes), the application selection button on the currently displayed application screen exists due to the update of the information processing application destination database 140 There is a possibility that the button corresponds to the application that does not. For this reason, the scanner application 114 superimposes and displays a pop-up screen during information processing application destination information update as shown in FIG. 11 on the application screen (step S809). Thereby, the input by the application selection button is limited.

  Then, the scanner application 114 waits for reception of an update completion notification from the UCS 129 (step S810). When an update completion notification is received (step S810: Yes), the processing from steps S801 to S806 is performed again. Then, an application screen in which an application selection button is drawn from the updated information processing application destination database 140 is displayed.

  FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the application screen updated from FIG. 10. As shown in FIG. 12, in the updated application screen, it can be seen that the document viewer of PC-A 160 is added from the application screen shown in FIG. Thereby, even when the information processing application destination database 140 is updated, the user can always select the application selection button of the latest application.

  As described above, the image processing system according to the first embodiment includes the information processing application destination database 140 that associates the application ID, the application display name, and the device ID of the information processing application on the PC-A 160 and PC-B 161 with each other. Therefore, the scan image can be easily transmitted to the PC-A 160 and PC-B 161 for requesting the registration of the information processing application on the PC, and the driver software for the MFP 100 is installed on the PC-A 160 and PC-B 161 side. The scan processing function of the multi-function device 100 can be realized without doing so.

  In the image processing system according to the first embodiment, the registration request including the application ID and the application display name is received from the PC-A 160 and the PC-B 161, and the application ID, the application display name, and the device are received from the received registration request. Since the ID is associated and registered in the information processing application destination database 140, the scan data can be easily transmitted to the PC-A 160 and PC-B 161 that request registration of the information processing application, and the PC-A 160, PC The scan processing function of the multifunction device 100 can be realized without installing the driver software of the multifunction device 100 on the B161 side.

(Embodiment 2)
In the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment, the application selection button displayed on the application screen is displayed for each application. However, in the MFP according to the second embodiment, the application selection button is displayed for each PC. .

  The network configuration of the image processing system according to the second embodiment and the configuration of the multifunction peripheral 100 are the same as the configurations of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. Further, the contents of the registration request transmitted from the PC-A 160 and PC-B 161 are the same as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and the data structure of the information processing application destination database 140 is also the embodiment shown in FIG. Same as 1.

  Next, application screen display processing and destination designation processing by the application 130 such as the scanner application 114 of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are flowcharts illustrating a procedure of application screen display processing and destination designation processing by the application 130 of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the second embodiment. Here, the scanner application 114 will be described as an example of the application 130, but the same applies to other applications 130.

  The processing (steps S1301 to S1303) from the transmission processing of the information processing application destination information acquisition request to the UCS 129 until the application ID, the application display name, and the device ID are extracted from all the received information processing application destination information. This is performed in the same manner as the scanner application processing (steps S801 to S803) in the first embodiment.

  Next, the scanner application 114 generates an entry for each PC from all the extracted application IDs, application display names, and device IDs (step S1304). The entry for each PC is a correspondence list of application display names and application IDs for each display name of the PC as follows. Here, as in the first embodiment, the correspondence between the device ID and the PC-A 160 or PC-B 161 may be stored in advance in a storage medium such as an HDD.

PC-A: Document software: PC-A: WP001
PC-A: Spreadsheet software: EX001
PC-B: Document software: WP001
Then, the scanner application 114 generates a PC selection button for each PC from the generated entry for each PC (step S1305). Further, the scanner application 114 generates an application selection button for each application from the generated entry for each PC (step S1306). Next, the scanner application 114 displays on the liquid crystal display unit of the operation panel 160 the first application screen on which the generated PC selection button is drawn so as to allow touch input (step S1307). Here, the generation of the PC selection button and the application selection button and the display of the first application screen are performed by issuing a function or the like provided by the OCS 126.

  FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the content of a first application screen on which a PC selection button is displayed in the multifunction peripheral according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 15, a button for selecting the PC-A 160 and a button for selecting the PC-B 161 are displayed on the first application screen.

  When the first application screen is displayed, the scanner application 114 waits for input of a PC selection button by the user from the first application screen (step S1308). When the input of the PC selection button is received from the first application screen (step S1308: Yes), the scanner application 114 sets the application selection button of the information processing application corresponding to the PC of the selected PC selection button to the first. The second application screen drawn on the application screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the operation panel 160.

  Here, the information processing application corresponding to the PC of the PC selection button is determined with reference to the entry for each PC described above. Then, the second application screen may be displayed by selecting the application selection button of the determined information processing application from the application selection buttons generated in step S1306 and drawing it on the first application screen.

  FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the content of a first two pre-screen on which an application selection button is displayed in the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 16 shows a state where the PC selection button of the PC-A 160 is selected. As shown in FIG. 16, only the application selection button corresponding to the information processing application installed in the selected PC-A is displayed on the second application screen.

  When the second application screen is displayed, the scanner application 114 waits for an input of an application selection button by the user from the application screen (step S1313). When the input of the application selection button is received from the second application screen (step S1313: Yes), the scanner application 114 executes a scanning process using the scanner engine as in the first embodiment (step S1315). ), And converts the scanned image into the data format of the information processing application on the PC designated by the application selection button (step S1316).

  In the second embodiment, when the scanner application 114 receives an update start notification of the information processing application destination database 140 from the UCS 129 while the first application screen is displayed (steps S1309, S1310, S1311). ) Regarding the second application screen update process (steps S1314, S1310, S1311) when the scanner application 114 receives the update start notification of the information processing application destination database 140 from the UCS 129 while the second application screen is displayed. This is performed in the same manner as the application screen update processing (steps S808, S809, and S810) in the first embodiment.

  As described above, in the MFP 100 according to the second embodiment, the plurality of device IDs and application display names registered in the information processing application destination database 140 are read, and the PC is instructed to select the PC corresponding to the device ID. 1 application screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the operation panel 160. And the 2nd application screen on which the application display name of the information processing application corresponding to apparatus ID of PC which received the selection instruction | indication from the 1st application screen was inputable is displayed. For this reason, an application screen can be displayed stepwise like the 1st application screen for every PC, and the 2nd application screen for every information processing application, and an information processing application can be selected conscious of PC. Further, the image processing function of the image processing apparatus can be realized without transferring the image processing data to the information processing application of the desired PC and installing the driver software of the multifunction peripheral on the PC side.

  In the MFP 100 according to the first and second embodiments, the address information and display name of the PC-A 160 and PC-B 161 are stored in a database different from the information processing application destination database. The information processing application destination information in the application destination database may be stored in association with the device ID.

(Embodiment 3)
In the MFP 100 according to the first and second embodiments, a single information processing application destination database is provided. However, the MFP according to the third embodiment is displayed on the information processing application destination database and the operation panel. Display information processing application destination database.

  FIG. 17 is a block diagram of the network configuration of the image processing system according to the third embodiment and the main configuration of the multifunction peripheral. As in the first and second embodiments, the image processing system according to the third embodiment includes a multifunction peripheral 1700 and a plurality of PC-A 160, PC-B 161, and PC-C 162 serving as information processing apparatuses connected to the Internet, LAN ( It is configured to be connected to a network 150 such as a local area network.

  The PC-A 160, PC-B 161, and PC-C 162 have a hardware configuration using a normal computer, as in the first and second embodiments.

  Similarly to the first and second embodiments, the PC-A 160, the PC-B 161, and the PC-C 162 are generated by the MFP 100 by executing the MFP 1700 without installing the driver software of the MFP 100. An image processing control OS having a function of requesting registration of an information processing application to the multifunction peripheral 1700 in order to receive the received data, and an information processing application such as a document application or a spreadsheet application operating on the image processing control OS. Installed. For this reason, the driver software for the MFP 1700 is not installed in the PC-A 160, PC-B 161, and PC-C 162, and the PC-A 160, PC-B 161, and PC-C 162 depend on the functions of the image processing control OS. A registration request for the installed information processing application is made to the MFP 1700 on the network. The data structure of the registration request is the same as the registration request in the first and second embodiments.

  The multifunction device 1700 includes a scanner application 114 that performs scanner processing, a setting application 1717, other applications 141, a UCS 1729, an NCS 1728, a timer management unit 1771, an authentication management unit 1772, and an information processing application destination database 1740. The information processing application destination database for display 1750, the network setting management database 1741, the information processing application related information management database 1742, the authentication database 1760, and the operation panel 170 are mainly provided. As illustrated in FIG. 17, the MFP 1700 receives a registration request from the PC-A 160, PC-B 161, and PC-B 161, performs registration processing of information processing application destination information, and then receives the registration request. A response is transmitted to PC-A 160, PC-B 161, and PC-C 162.

  The overall configuration of the MFP 1700 is the same as the overall configuration of the MFP 100 according to the first and second embodiments shown in FIG. 4 and includes the hardware resource 104, the platform 120, and the application 130. Yes. Each of the hardware resource 104 and the platform 120 has the same functions as those in the first and second embodiments except for the NCS 1728 and the UCS 1728.

  The information processing application destination database 1740 is a database in which information related to information processing applications installed in each of the PC-A 160, PC-B 161, and PC-C 162 as destinations to which images scanned by the scanner application 114 are transmitted is registered.

  The information processing application destination database for display 1750 registers information related to information processing applications installed in each of the PC-A 160, PC-B 161, and PC-C 162 as destinations to which images scanned by the scanner application 114 are transmitted. This is a database for displaying application selection buttons and the like on the panel 170. The display information processing application destination database 1750 is generated from the contents of the information processing application destination database 1740.

  Details of the information processing application destination database 1740, the display information processing application destination database 1750, and the display information processing application destination database 1750 will be described later.

  The network setting management database 1741 is a database for managing settings for connecting the multifunction peripheral 1700 to the network. This network setting management database 1741 has a flag indicating whether or not to change the IP address, a flag indicating whether or not to change the DNS setting, and whether or not to change the gateway address as information connected to the network. It is a database in which information such as a flag indicating the information is registered.

  The information processing application related information management database 1742 is a database for managing information related to the information processing application. For example, the information processing application related information management database 1742 registers a flag indicating whether or not the information processing application destination is used, the number of information processing application destinations that can be registered, and the like. ing.

  The authentication database 1760 is a database in which user IDs and passwords of users who can use the multifunction device 1700 are registered.

  Here, the information processing application destination database 1740, the display information processing application destination database 1750, the network setting management database 1741, the information processing application related information management database 1742, and the authentication database 1760 are stored in a storage medium such as an HDD.

  Next, the information processing application destination database 1740 will be described in detail. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a data structure of the information processing application destination database 1740 according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 18, each record of the information processing application destination database 1740 includes an application display name, PC-A160, PC-B161, and PC included in the registration request received from the PC-A160, PC-B161, and PC-C162. A plurality of information processing application destination information in association with URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) which is a delivery destination of C162 is registered. The record length of the delivery destination (URI) is 128 bytes. Thus, in the information processing application destination database 1740 according to the third embodiment, the distribution destination is held as described above. Therefore, unlike the first and second embodiments, a unique database in which the distribution destination is registered is unnecessary. Become. In addition, each record includes an application ID, a device ID, and an expiration date (not shown) as in the first and second embodiments.

  Next, the information processing application destination database for display 1750 will be described in detail. FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a data structure of the display information processing application destination database 1750 according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 19, the display information processing application destination database 1750 includes a master table 1751 and a plurality of heading tables 1752.

  The master table 1751 is a table in which records in which application IDs, application display names, and distribution destinations (URIs) are associated can be sequentially written. In this master table, a maximum of 50 records can be written, and the oldest records are in order from the first record. Here, the application ID and the application display name are the same as those in the first and second embodiments.

  The heading table 1752 is a table in which application display names are classified by the initial letters of the application display names of the records registered in the master table 1751 and headings are given. In each heading table 1752, an offset from the first record of the master table 1751 is registered as position information in the master table 1751 of the record having the classified application display name.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the heading table 1752 includes a heading table (heading: ABC) in which the offsets of records whose initial characters of application display names are “A” to “C” are registered. There are a plurality of tables such as a heading table (heading: DEF) in which offsets of records of “D” to “F” are registered.

  As described above, the structure of the display information processing application destination database 1750 is configured by the master table 1751 and the heading table 1752, so that the memory capacity of the search processing and display processing of the application selection button (application destination) of the information processing application is reduced. Reduction can be achieved.

  Returning to FIG. 17, the NCS 1728 is a process for providing a service that can be commonly used to applications such as the scanner application 114 and other applications 141 on the multifunction peripheral 100 that require network I / O.

  The NCS 1728 according to the third embodiment receives, as receiving means, registration requests transmitted from the PC-A 160, PC-B 161, and PC-C 162, and sends responses to the registration request and scan data to the PC-A 160, PC-B 161, It operates as a process for performing processing for transmission to the PC-C 162.

  Also, the NCS 1728 extracts the application display name and the delivery destination (URI) from the received registration request as a network management unit, and processes the information processing application destination database 1740 as a record in which the extracted application display name and the delivery destination are associated with each other. The registration information is updated, the information processing application destination database 1740 is checked to see if it has been updated, and the UCS 1729 is notified of the presence or absence of the update. Further, even when the NCS 1728 receives a registration request from the PC-A 160, PC-B 161, and PC-C 162 while the information processing application destination database 1740 is being updated, the information processing application destination database based on the received registration request. Exclusive control is performed so that the update of 1740 is not performed.

  Further, as in the first and second embodiments, the NCS 1728 distributes data received from the network side according to each protocol to each application, and mediates when data is transmitted from the application to the network side.

  The UCS 129 displays a record in which an application ID, an application display name, and a delivery destination are associated with each other from the display information processing application destination information (record) registered in the information processing application destination database 1740 as a destination management unit. It operates as a process for performing processing to update registration in the application destination database 1750, and to send an update start notification and update completion notification to the application 130 operating on the multifunction peripheral 100 such as the scanner application 114 by inter-process communication.

  Specifically, the UCS 1729 receives a notification of whether or not the information processing application destination database 1740 has been updated from the NCS 1728, and when receiving the notification that the information processing application destination database 1740 has been updated, the application display name and the distribution destination are received from the information processing application destination database 1740. And records a record in which the acquired application display name and distribution destination are associated with the application ID in the master table 1751. Then, the information processing application destination database 1750 is updated by registering the offset from the first record of the master table 1751 of the application display name in the heading table 1752 of the corresponding heading by the initial letter of the acquired application display name. On the other hand, when the UCS 1729 receives a notification from the NCS 1728 that the information processing application destination database 1750 has not been updated, the UCS 1729 performs a process of notifying the application 130 that there is no change.

  Further, the update timing of the display information processing application destination database 1740 by the UCS 1729 includes a case where the update is performed by a request from the user (manual update) and a case where the update is performed automatically at a predetermined timing (automatic update).

  In the case of manual update, the user presses the update button from the application screen displayed on the operation panel 170 by the application 130 such as the scanner application 114, thereby displaying the display information processing in the application 130 display information processing application destination database 1740. An update request for the application destination database 1740 is transmitted. When receiving the update request, the UCS 1729 updates the display information processing application destination database 1740 as described above.

  In the case of automatic update, when at least one of the change of the information processing application related information management database 1742, the switching of the application 130 to be executed, and the elapse of a predetermined timer time is performed, the UCS 1729 In this way, the display information processing application destination database 1740 is updated.

  Further, the UCS 1729 updates the display information processing application destination database 1740 and reads the application display name from the display information processing application destination database 1740 by the application 130 while displaying the information processing application destination database 1740 for display. Even when the update request is received, the exclusive control is performed such that the display information processing application destination database 1740 for display is not updated based on the received update request.

  Further, the UCS 1729 corresponds to the destination of the information processing application satisfying the search condition from the display information processing application destination database 1740 when the operation panel 170 receives a search instruction of the destination of the information processing application from the user together with the search condition. A process for searching for a record having an application display name is performed. The UCS 1729 generates, as a search result, a search result table capable of registering position information in the master table of the record including the application display name in a storage medium such as a RAM, and from the first record of the master table 1751 of the searched record. Is registered in the search result table.

  The UCS 1729 performs a process for performing an authentication process for a user who has logged into the multi-function peripheral 1700 using the authentication information (user ID, password) in the authentication database 1760. The UCS 1729 also determines a storage device in which user information corresponding to the request is stored, acquires user information from the determined storage device, and performs processing for supplying the user information to each application.

  The SCS 122 has the same functions as those in the first and second embodiments. Further, the SCS 122 changes the information processing application related information management database 1742, switches the application 130 executed by the multifunction device 1700, and controls the normal mode and the energy saving mode. Operates as a process that executes processing.

  The timer management unit 1771 is a processing unit that determines whether the timer time stored in the information processing application related information management database 1742 has elapsed.

  The authentication management unit 1772 is a processing unit that receives a user authentication result from the UCS 1729 and transmits a login notification message to the application 130, the UCS 1729, and the NCS 1728 by inter-process communication when the authentication result is successful.

  The timer management unit 1771 and the authentication management unit 1772 may be configured as an application 130 or a control service.

  The setting application 1717 provides information related to the information processing application to the information processing application related information management database 1742, for example, a flag indicating whether the information processing application destination is used or the number of information processing application destinations that can be registered. And the like.

  As in the first and second embodiments, the application 130 executed on the multifunction device 1700 such as the scanner application 114 is dynamically linked with the OCS 126 as a display control unit. Therefore, the application 130 performs the following processing in addition to the processing unique to each application as the display control means.

  The application 130 performs a process of reading the application display name of the record registered in the display information processing application destination database 1750 and displaying the application screen on which the read application display name is drawn on the operation panel 170. Specifically, the application 130 reads the headline and the application display name registered in the master table 1751 from the offset registered in the headline table 1752 of the information processing application destination database 1750 for displaying the headline, and reads out the headline. The application screen on which the displayed application display name can be input is displayed on the operation panel 170.

  When the application 130 receives an instruction to update the display information processing application destination database 1750 from the user via the OCS 126 by pressing the update button on the application screen displayed on the operation display unit 170, An update request is transmitted to the NCS 1728.

  In addition, when the application 130 is notified from the UCS 1729 that the display information processing application destination database 1750 is not updated, the application 130 does not change the display of the application screen displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the operation panel 170. Keep the app screen displayed. Thus, even when an update request is made while the application selection button is pressed, if the display information processing application destination database 1750 is not updated, the selection state of the application selection button is maintained.

  Next, each operation of the MFP 1700 configured as described above will be described. First, an update notification process when an information processing application registration / deletion request is received from the PC-A 160, PC-B 161, or PC-C 162 will be described. FIG. 20 is a sequence diagram illustrating the procedure of update notification processing when a request for registration / deletion of an information processing application is received. In the subsequent drawings, the PC-A 160, PC-B 161, and PC-C 162 are indicated as “PC”, and the application 130 such as the scanner application 114 is indicated as “application”.

  First, in the MFP 1700, an application display screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the operation panel 170 by the application 130 currently being executed (step S2001). FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the application screen. As shown in FIG. 21, a list of headings such as “abc” and “def” is displayed on the application screen, and the application display name of the record registered in the heading table 1752 of the designated heading “def” is displayed in the application screen. It is displayed as a selection button. FIG. 21 shows a state where the application selection button of “PC-B DEF Viewer” is selected.

  When a registration / deletion request message is transmitted from the PC-A 160, PC-B 161, or PC-C 162 while the application screen is displayed on the liquid crystal of the operation panel 170, the NCS 1728 receives the registration / deletion request message. (Step S2002). Upon receiving the registration / deletion request message, the NCS 1728 performs an update process for the information processing application destination database 1740 (step S2003). Details of the update processing of the information processing application destination database 1740 will be described later.

  When the update processing of the information processing application destination database 1740 is completed, the contents of the information processing application destination database 1740 and the information processing application destination database 1750 for display do not match, so the NCS 1728 notifies the UCS 1729 of the update by inter-process communication. Is sent (step S2004).

  The UCS 1729 that has received the update notification message transmits the update notification message to the currently executing application 130 (step S2005).

  The application 130 that has received the update notification message displays an update notification screen on the liquid crystal display unit of the operation panel 170 (step S2006). FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the update notification screen. As shown in FIG. 23, the update notification screen indicates that the information processing application destination database 1750 for display and the information processing application destination database 1740 do not match as a result of receiving the update notification message. The message “The table is out of date” is displayed.

  Next, update processing of the information processing application destination database 1740 in step S2003 will be described. FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the update process of the information processing application destination database 1740.

  First, the NCS 1728 checks the request contents of the registration / deletion request message received from the PC-A 160, PC-B 161, and PC-C 162 (step S2201). If the request content is a registration request, the information processing application destination database 1740 is searched for the application display name included in the received registration request registration / deletion advanced message (step S2202). Then, it is determined whether or not the record including the application display name included in the received message has been registered (step S2203).

  As a result, if registered (step S2203: Yes), the registered record is updated with a record including the application display name, distribution destination, etc. of the registration request message (step S2204).

  On the other hand, if it is not registered in step S2203 (step S2203: No), a record including the application display name and the distribution destination of the registration request message is added to the final record of the information processing application destination database 1740 (step S2205). ).

  Returning to step S2201, when the request content of the registration request message is a deletion request, the information processing application destination database 1740 is searched for the application display name included in the deletion request registration / deletion request message (step S2206). In other words, it is determined whether or not the record including the application display name included in the received message has been registered (step S2207).

  As a result, if it has been registered (step S2207: Yes), the registered record is deleted (step S2208). On the other hand, if it is not registered in step S2207 (step S2207: No), an error response is returned to PC-A160, PC-B161, PC-C162, which is the transmission source of the registration / deletion request message (step S2207). S2209).

  As described above, when the information processing application registration / deletion request message is received from the PC-A 160, PC-B 161, or PC-C 162, the information processing application destination database 1740 is updated by the NCS 1728.

  Next, the process of manually updating the display information processing application destination database 1750 will be described. FIG. 24 is a sequence diagram illustrating a procedure for manual update processing of the information processing application destination database 1750 for display.

  First, in the MFP 1700, the application screen shown in FIG. 27 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the operation panel 170 by the application 130 currently being executed (step S2401).

  Since the application 130 receives the update notification of the information processing application destination database 1740 from the UCS 1729 and displays a message as shown in FIG. 23 on the application screen, the user can update the information processing application destination database 1740, It can be understood that the display information processing application destination database 1750 is not up-to-date.

  Therefore, in order to update the display information processing application destination database 1750 to the latest state, the user touches and inputs the update button 701 on the application display screen shown in FIG. This update button touch input is received by the application 130 via the OCS 126, and the application 130 transmits an update request message to the UCS 1729 (step S2402).

  Upon receiving the update request message, the UCS 1729 executes an update process for the display information processing application destination database 1750 (step S2403). FIG. 25 is a sequence diagram illustrating a procedure for updating the display information processing application destination database 1750.

  When the UCS 1729 receives the update request message, the UCS 1729 transmits an acquisition start message to the effect that the acquisition of the contents of the information processing application destination database 1750 is started to the NCS 2728 (step S2501). The NCS 1728 that has received the acquisition start message checks whether or not the information processing application destination database 1740 has been changed (step S2502). Specifically, it is checked whether a registration / deletion request message has been received from the PC-A 160, PC-B 161, and PC-C 162 since the notification of whether or not there has been a change was previously transmitted to the UCS 1729.

  Then, the NCS 1728 transmits a change presence / absence notification message of the information processing application destination database 1740 to the UCS 1728 (step S2503).

  Upon receiving the change presence / absence notification message, the UCS 1728 checks whether or not the information processing application destination database 1740 has been changed based on the content of the received message (step S2504). When there is no change (step S2504: No), a notification message indicating no change is transmitted to the application 130 (step S2511).

  On the other hand, if there is a change in the information processing application destination database 1740 in step S2504 (step S2504: Yes), a change notification message is transmitted to the application 130 (step S2505). Then, an update start notification message of the information processing application destination database 1740 is transmitted to the application 130 (step S2506).

  When receiving the update start notification message, the application 130 displays the updating screen shown in FIG. 28 on the liquid crystal display unit of the operation panel 170 (step S2507).

  On the other hand, the UCS 1729 that transmitted the update start notification message transmits a record acquisition request message of the information processing application destination database 1740 to the NCS 1728 (step S2508), and the NCS 1728 reads one record from the information processing application destination database 1740 in response thereto. The read record is transmitted to the UCS 1729 (step S2509). The record acquisition request message and record transmission process are repeated for all records in the information processing application destination database 1740. The UCS 1729 that has received the record registers the received record in the display information processing application destination database 1750.

  A record registration process in the display information processing application destination database 1750 is performed as follows. FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the procedure of record registration processing in the display information processing application destination database 1750. The UCS 1729 first deletes the existing master table 1751 and all heading tables 1752 from the storage medium such as the HDD (step S2601), and generates an empty master table 1751 on the storage medium such as the HDD (step S2602).

  Next, the UCS 1729 acquires a record (information processing application destination information) of the information processing application destination database 1740 from the NCS 1728 through steps S2508 and S2509 (step S2603). Then, the acquired record is added to the master table 1751 (step S2604).

  Then, the UCS 1729 acquires all the records in the information processing application destination database 1740 from the NCS 1728 for the process of acquiring such a record (step S2603) and additionally registering the acquired record in the master table 1751 (step S2604). (Step S2605).

  When the acquisition of all the records is completed (step S2605: Yes), the UCS 1729 generates the empty headline table 1752 in the storage medium such as the HDD by the number of headlines to be classified (step S2606).

  Then, the UCS 1729 reads a record (information processing application destination information) registered in the master table 1751 (step S2607). Next, the UCS 1729 determines the initial letter of the application display name included in the read record (step S2608). Then, the UVS 1729 adds the offset from the first record of the master table 1751 of the record as a record to the heading table 1752 of the heading corresponding to the initial letter (step S2609).

  Such processes from step S2607 to S2609 are executed for all records registered in the master table 1751 (step S2610). As described above, the record registration process is performed in the display information processing application destination database 1750, and the update of the display information processing application destination database 1750 is completed.

  Returning to FIG. 25, when all the records are transmitted, the UCS 1728 transmits an update completion notification message indicating that the update of the display information processing application destination database 1750 is completed to the application 130 (step S2510). As described above, the update processing of the display information processing application destination database 1750 is completed.

  Returning to FIG. 24, the update processing of the display information processing application destination database 1750 is completed, and the application 130 that has received the update completion notification message from the UCS 1729 receives the application display name of the record registered in the display information processing application destination database 1750 Is displayed on the operation panel 170.

  The display process on the operation panel is performed as follows. A read start request message for the display information processing application destination database 1750 is transmitted from the application 130 to the UCS 1729 (step S2404), and a read OK response is transmitted from the UCS 1729 to the application 130 (step S2405). Then, the application 130 transmits a request to obtain a list of records (display information processing application destination information) in the display information processing application destination database 1740 to the UCS 1729 (step S2406), and the UCS 1729 displays the information processing application for display. The destination database 1740 is read, and a list of display information processing application destination information is transmitted to the application 130 (step S2407). When receiving the list of the information processing application destination information for display, the application 130 can display the application selection button. Therefore, the reading completion message is transmitted to the UCS 1729 (step S2408). In contrast, the UCS 1729 sends an OK message to the application. It transmits to 130 (step S2409).

  Then, the application 130 updates the application screen displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the operation panel 170 (step S2410). FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the updated application screen. In the updated application screen, as shown in FIG. 29, the message 2901 “Destination has been added” and the information processing application app of the record added to the updated display information processing application destination database 1750 are displayed. An application selection button 2902 on which a display name is drawn is added and displayed.

  Next, exclusive control of the UCS 1729 will be described. FIG. 30 is a state transition diagram showing state transitions that the UCS 1729 can take. As shown in FIG. 30, the UCS 1729 can take three states of waiting, reading, and updating. Between the waiting state and the reading state, between the waiting state and the updating state. Each transitions with.

  The state being updated is a state in which the UCS 1729 is updating the display information processing application destination information 1750, and the state can be changed to a standby state, but cannot be changed to a state of being read out. In FIG. 24, when the process of step S2403 is being executed, the state is being updated.

  The state being read is a state in which the display information processing application destination information 1750 is being read by the application 130 and can transition during standby, but cannot transition during updating. In FIG. 24, when the processing from step S2404 to S2409 is being executed, the reading state is entered.

  The standby state is a state in which the display information processing application destination information 1750 has not been read or updated, and can be changed during reading or updating. In FIG. 24, when a process other than the process of step S2403 and a process other than the processes of steps S2404 to S2409 are being executed, a standby state is entered.

  When the UCS 1729 is in an updating state or a reading state, even when an update request is received from the application 130, the UCS 1729 ignores the update request and performs an update process on the display information processing application destination database 1750. There is no exclusive control.

  Also, the NCS 1728 transitions to a state similar to the state shown in FIG. 30, and the NCS 1728 is updating the information processing application destination database 1740 (in the updating state, that is, during the execution of the process in step S2003 in FIG. 20). PC-A 160 when the information processing application destination database 1740 is being read by the UCS 1729 (when reading is in progress, that is, when the processes of steps S2508 and S2509 in FIG. 25 are being repeatedly executed). Even when the registration / deletion request message is received from PC-B 161 and PC-C 162, this message is ignored and the information processing application destination database 1740 is not updated.

  Next, automatic updating of the display information processing application destination database 1750 will be described. First, various setting contents stored in the information processing application related information management database 1742 will be described.

  When an initial setting key is touch-inputted from a menu screen (not shown) displayed on the operation panel 170, an initial setting menu is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit, and in such a menu, a paper size to be stored is set. be able to. Further, it is possible to move from the initial setting menu to a setting menu for using the function of the image processing control OS of the PC-A 160, PC-B 161, or PC-C 162.

  FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an initial setting menu screen for using the functions of the image processing control OS installed in the PC-A 160, PC-B 161, and PC-C 162 that are network connection destinations. This initial setting menu screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the operation panel 170 by the setting application 1717 via the OCS 126.

  In the example of the screen shown in (1) of FIG. 31, in “use of distribution from connected PC”, the image processing control OS installed in the PC (for example, PC-A 160, PC-B 161, or PC-C 162). Set whether to use the function. In the “automatic update of the distribution destination of the connection destination PC”, the display information processing application destination database 1750 is set in accordance with the information processing application registration / deletion request transmitted from the PC-A 160, PC-B 161, or PC-C 162. Set whether to update automatically. In addition, the maximum number of saved items specifies the maximum number of records that can be held in the display information processing application destination database 1750, and can be set to a maximum of 50 items. These setting contents are stored in the information processing application related information management database 1742 by the SCS 122 in response to a request including the setting contents of the setting application 1717. In the process described later, the description will be made assuming that these settings are valid.

  In addition, in the screen example shown in (1) of FIG. 31, when the setting application 1717 accepts a touch input of a change button for setting the automatic update timing, the screen example shown in (2) of FIG. 31 is displayed. .

  In the screen example shown in (2) of FIG. 31, the timing for updating the display information processing application destination database 1750 is set. In the screen example shown in (2) of FIG. 31, for “information application related setting change”, “network related setting change”, “application switching”, “personal login”, and “power recovery”, You can set whether to update automatically.

In the “timer time” item, it is possible to set a timer time when automatic updating is performed by timer setting or not to perform automatic updating by timer setting.

  In other words, the information processing application destination database 1750 for display of the information processing application may be displayed or hidden depending on the state of the network. In addition, frequent updating in this manner increases the load on the memory and the network. In this case, there may be a user who needs to update only when a transmission error occurs, rather than always displaying an accurate destination. Therefore, by performing the setting described above, it is possible to set the update timing according to the user's request. As a result, the load on the memory and the network can be reduced, and an environment according to the user's request can be constructed.

  Further, the initial setting menu screen is not limited to the screen example shown in FIG. 31, and other screens may be used.

  Next, the timing at which the display information processing application destination database 1750 is automatically updated will be described. When at least one of the change of the setting contents of the information processing application related information database 1742, the change of the setting contents of the network setting management database 1741, and the switching of the application 130 executed by the multifunction machine 1700 is executed, or the user logs in Then, when the authentication is successful, or when the energy saving mode is returned to the normal mode, or the timer time interval set on the screen (1) in FIG. 31 is automatically updated.

  First, automatic updating of the display information processing application destination database 1750 when the setting contents of the information processing application related information database 1742 are changed will be described. FIG. 32 is a sequence diagram illustrating a procedure of automatic update processing of the display information processing application destination database 1750 when the setting contents of the information processing application related information database 1742 are changed.

  First, when the setting application 171 performs setting related to the network connection destination PC from the initial setting menu screen of (1) in FIG. 31 described above, the setting application 1717 accepts such setting input and sends setting information to the SCS 122. Transfer (step S3201).

  In addition to the screen of FIG. 31, a setting information change screen shown in FIG. 33 may be displayed to accept the setting contents. This change screen is used to set whether to display the information processing application destination (application selection button displaying the application display name) for each application, and the setting content is stored in the information processing application related information management database 1742. Is retained.

  The setting shown in FIG. 33 indicates whether or not the application uses the display information processing application destination database 1750, and even if the application originally uses the display information processing application destination database 1750, the information processing application destination Settings that do not display are also included.

  Then, the SCS 122 performs a setting process with the received setting information (step S3202), and stores the setting information in the information processing application related information database 1742 (step S3203). Then, the SCS 122 transmits a setting change notification message of the information processing application related information to the UCS 1729, the NCS 1728, and the setting application 1717 (steps S3204, S3205, and S3206).

  Then, the setting application 1717 displays the setting result on the operation panel 170 (step S3207).

  Then, the UCS 1729 executes the update processing of the display information processing application destination database 1750 similar to the processing described with reference to FIGS. 25 and 26 to update the display information processing application destination database 1750 (step S3208). Next, similarly to the processing from step S2404 to S2410 in FIG. 24, the display processing of the application screen from the updated display information processing application destination database 1750 to the operation panel is performed (step S3209), and the application screen is updated. Then, an application screen to which an application selection button corresponding to a new information processing application is added is displayed.

  Next, automatic update of the display information processing application destination database 1750 when the network setting information in the network setting management database 1741 is changed will be described. FIG. 34 is a sequence diagram showing a procedure of automatic update processing of the display information processing application destination database 1750 when the network setting information in the network setting management database 1741 is changed.

  First, the setting application 171 displays a network setting screen on the liquid crystal display unit of the operation panel 170. FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a network setting screen. On the network setting screen, as shown in FIG. 35, a change button is displayed for each item so that the IP address, DNS, and gateway address of the multifunction machine 100 can be changed.

  When any of the change buttons is touch-inputted among these items, the setting application 1717 receives the touch input and transfers, for example, setting information for changing the IP address to the NCS 1728 (step S3401). ).

  Then, the NCS 1728 performs setting processing with the received setting information (step S3402) and stores the setting information in the network setting management database 1741 (step S3403). Then, the NCS 1728 transmits a setting change notification message of the setting information in the network setting management database 1741 to the UCS 1729, the SCS 122, and the setting application 1717 (steps S3404, S3405, and S3406).

  Then, the setting application 1717 displays the setting result of the network setting management database 1741 on the operation panel 170 (step S3407).

  Then, the UCS 1729 executes the update processing of the display information processing application destination database 1750 similar to the processing described with reference to FIGS. 25 and 26 to update the display information processing application destination database 1750 (step S3408). Next, similarly to the processing from step S2404 to S2410 in FIG. 24, the display processing of the application screen from the updated display information processing application destination database 1750 to the operation panel is performed (step S3409), and the application screen is updated. Then, an application screen to which an application selection button corresponding to a new information processing application is added is displayed.

  Next, automatic updating of the display information processing application destination database 1750 when the application 130 being executed is switched will be described. FIG. 36 is a sequence diagram illustrating a procedure of automatic update processing of the display information processing application destination database 1750 when the application 130 being executed is switched.

  First, when the user selects the application 130 from the operation panel 170, the operation panel 170 transmits an application change notification message indicating the selection of the application to the SCS 122 (step S3601).

  The SCS 122 that has received the application change notification message transmits an application change notification message to the UCS 1729 and the NCS 1728 (steps S3602 and S3603). Next, the SCS 122 transmits an application change notification message to the switching destination application 130 specified by the change notification (step S3604), and starts the specified application 130. As a result, the application selected by the user is being executed.

  Next, the SCS 122 determines whether the change destination application 130 is the application 130 using the information processing application destination (step S3605). If it is determined that the application 130 uses the information processing application destination (step S3605: Yes), the same information processing application for display as the processing described with reference to FIGS. The updating process of the destination database 1750 is executed to update the display information processing application destination database 1750 (step S3606).

  Next, the UCS 1729 performs display processing of the application screen from the updated display information processing application destination database 1750 to the operation panel in the same manner as the processing from steps S2404 to S2410 in FIG. 24 (step S3607). Is updated to display an application screen to which an application selection button corresponding to a new information processing application is added.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3605 that the change destination application 130 is not the application 130 that uses the information processing application destination (step S3605: No), the process ends without performing automatic update.

  Here, the determination as to whether or not the change destination application 130 in step S3605 is the application 130 using the information processing application destination will be described. FIG. 37 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an application screen of the scanner application 114 displayed when a scanner key provided on the operation unit of the operation panel 170 is pressed. As shown in FIG. 37, in the application screen example of the scanner application 114, the information processing applications “PC-A Apl1”, “PC-A Apl2”, “PC-A Apl2”, “ PC-B Apl1 "," PC-B Apl2 ") can be selected.

  FIG. 38 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the application screen of the fax application 113 displayed when the FAX key on the operation panel 170 is pressed. As shown in FIG. 38, in the screen example of the fax application 113, an information processing application cannot be selected.

  As the information processing application selected in this way, the information processing application in the PC-A 160, PC-B 161, and PC-C 162 such as the scanner application 114 can be used and the information processing application destination 130 is used, that is, the information processing for display. If the application 130 uses the application destination database 1750, automatic updating is performed.

  On the other hand, an information processing application in the PC-A 160, PC-B 161, PC-C 162 such as the fax application 113 cannot be used, or an application that does not use the information processing application destination even if it can be used, that is, a display information processing application destination database. If the application 130 does not use 1750, the process ends without performing automatic update.

  Whether or not the information processing application is an application 130 that can be used is set in advance on the setting screen shown in FIG. 33, the setting information is stored in the information processing application related information management database 1742, and the process of step S3605 is performed. The determination is made with reference to the setting information.

  Next, automatic updating of the display information processing application destination database 1750 when the user logs in and succeeds in authentication will be described. FIG. 39 is a sequence diagram illustrating a procedure of automatic update processing of the display information processing application destination database 1750 when the user logs in and succeeds in authentication.

  First, when the user performs an operation of logging in from the operation panel 170, the operation panel 170 transmits authentication information indicating the login request to the authentication management unit 1772 (step S3901). The authentication information includes the user ID and password of the user who performed the login operation.

  FIG. 40 is an explanatory diagram showing the transition of the login screen displayed on the operation panel 170. As shown in FIG. 40, a login request is made when a user inputs a user ID and a password and then touches an authentication button on the login screen.

  Returning to FIG. 39, the authentication management unit 1772 having received the authentication information transmits an account information inquiry request message to the UCS 1729 (step S3902). This account information inquiry request message includes the user ID and password of the user. Upon receiving the inquiry request, the UCS 1729 searches the authentication database 1760 using the user ID and password included in the account inquiry request message as keys, and performs user authentication processing (step S3903). After the authentication process is completed, the UCS 1729 transmits an authentication result to the authentication management unit 1772 (step S3904). Then, the authentication management unit 1772 determines whether or not the user authentication is successful based on the received authentication result (step S3905).

  If the authentication management unit 1772 determines that the user authentication is successful (step S3905: No), the authentication management unit 1772 ends the process without updating the display information processing application destination database 1750.

  On the other hand, if the authentication management unit 1772 determines in step S3905 that the user has been successfully authenticated (step S3905: Yes), it indicates that the user has logged in to the UCS 1729, the NCS 1728, and the currently executing application 130. A login notification message is transmitted (steps S1903, S3907, and S3910).

  Then, the UCS 1729 updates the display information processing application destination database 1750 by executing the update processing of the display information processing application destination database 1750 similar to the processing described with reference to FIGS. 25 and 26 (step S3909). Next, similarly to the processing from step S2404 to S2410 in FIG. 24, the display processing of the application screen from the updated display information processing application destination database 1750 to the operation panel is performed (step S3910), and the application screen is updated. Then, an application screen to which an application selection button corresponding to a new information processing application is added is displayed.

  In this embodiment, the display information processing application destination database 1750 is updated when the user logs in. However, when the logged-in user logs off, the display information processing application destination database 1750 is updated. You may comprise so that it may perform.

  Next, automatic update of the display information processing application destination database 1750 when the power is turned on and the normal mode is restored from the energy saving mode will be described. FIG. 41 is a sequence diagram illustrating a procedure of automatic update processing of the display information processing application destination database 1750 when the energy saving mode returns to the normal mode.

  First, the user presses the power key provided in the multifunction device 1700 (step S4101). In that case, the SCS 122 performs a process of returning from the energy saving mode to the normal mode when the power key is pressed (step S4102).

  Next, the SCS 122 sends an energy saving return notification message indicating that the energy saving mode has returned to the normal mode to the UCS 1729, the NCS 1728, and the setting application 1717 (steps S4103, S4104, and S4105).

  Then, the UCS 1729 executes the update processing of the display information processing application destination database 1750 similar to the processing described with reference to FIGS. 25 and 26 to update the display information processing application destination database 1750 (step S4106). Next, similarly to the processing from step S2404 to S2410 of FIG. 24, the display processing of the application screen from the updated display information processing application destination database 1750 to the operation panel is performed (step S4107), and the application screen is updated. Then, an application screen to which an application selection button corresponding to a new information processing application is added is displayed.

  Next, automatic updating of the display information processing application destination database 1750 when the timer time has elapsed will be described. FIG. 42 is a sequence diagram illustrating a procedure for automatic update processing of the display information processing application destination database 1750 when the timer time has elapsed.

  First, the UCS 1729 sets the timer time to the timer management unit 1771 by transmitting the timer time set in the information processing application related information management database 1742 to the timer management unit 1771 via the setting application 1717. (Step S4201).

  Then, the timer management unit 1771 detects the set timer time, and when the timer time has elapsed, transmits a timer notification message indicating that the timer time has elapsed to the UCS 1729.

  Then, the UCS 1729 executes the update processing of the display information processing application destination database 1750 similar to the processing described with reference to FIGS. 25 and 26 to update the display information processing application destination database 1750 (step S4106). Next, similarly to the processing from step S2404 to S2410 of FIG. 24, the display processing of the application screen from the updated display information processing application destination database 1750 to the operation panel is performed (step S4107), and the application screen is updated. Then, an application screen to which an application selection button corresponding to a new information processing application is added is displayed.

  As described above, when the setting content of the information processing application related information database 1742 is changed, the setting content of the network setting management database 1741 is changed, or the application 130 executed by the multifunction device 1700 is switched, the user When logging in and authentication is successful, or when returning from the energy saving mode to the normal mode, the display information processing application destination database 1750 is automatically updated at intervals of the timer time set on the screen of (1) in FIG. Therefore, the display information processing application destination database 1750 is updated to the latest state at an appropriate timing without affecting the currently-operating application screen displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the operation panel 170 by the currently executing application 130. Can be maintained.

  Next, information processing application destination search processing from the display information processing application destination database 1750 by the application 130 and the UCS 1729 will be described. FIG. 43 is a sequence diagram showing the overall flow of the information processing application destination search process from the display information processing application destination database 1750.

  First, when the user touches the search button 4401 on the application screen shown in FIG. 44 displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the operation panel 170, the application 130 receives the touch input and displays the search screen. (Step S4301). FIG. 45 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a search screen. As shown in FIG. 45, the search screen includes a field 4501 for inputting the application display name of the information processing application to be searched, a change button 4502 for changing the input application display name, and forward match and backward match. A condition designation button 4503 for designating a condition is displayed.

  The user starts the search by inputting the application display name of the information processing application to be searched from the search screen, selecting any one of the condition buttons 4503, and touch-inputting the setting button.

  Accordingly, the application 130 receives the input and selection, and transmits a search request message including the input application display name and the specified condition as a search condition to the UCS 1729 (step S4302).

  Upon receiving the search request message, the UCS 1729 extracts the application display name and condition from the search request message and executes search processing (step S4303).

  FIG. 46 is a flowchart showing the procedure of search processing by UCS 1729. The UICS 1729 reads all the records (display information processing application destination information) registered in the master table 1751 of the display information processing application destination database 1750 (step S4601).

  Then, it is checked whether or not a record exists (step S4602). If a record exists (step S4602: YES), it is determined whether or not the record matches the search condition for each record (step S4603). Specifically, it is checked whether or not the record satisfies a specified condition such as forward matching, using the application display name included in the search request message as a key. If the record does not match the search condition, it is determined that the record is not a search target record, and the process returns to step S4602 to check whether the next record exists.

  On the other hand, if the record matches the search condition in step S4603 (step S4603: YES), it is determined that the record is a search target record, and the record is added to the search result table (step S4604). . Then, the process returns to step S4602, and it is checked whether or not the next record exists (step S4602). If it exists (step S4602: Yes), the processes of steps S4603 and S4604 are repeated. If the next record no longer exists in step S4602 (step S4602: No), that is, if the processing of steps S4603 and S4604 is completed for all the records registered in the master table 51, the search process ends. To do.

  Here, the search result table will be described. FIG. 47 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the search result table and the relationship between the master table 1751 and the search result table.

  As shown in FIG. 47, the search result table 4710 is a table in which the head record offset of the master table 1751 of the record that matches the search condition is registered, similarly to the header table 1752. By using such a search result table, it is possible to reduce the memory capacity in the search process.

  Therefore, in step S4604, specifically, an offset from the first record of the master table 1751 of the record that matches the search condition is added to the search result table. If it is first determined that the record matches the search condition, the search result table is generated in a storage medium such as a memory, and the offset of the record is added to the search result table. The search process is performed as described above, and the record that matches the search condition, that is, the offset of the display information processing application destination information is registered in the search result table.

  Returning to FIG. 43, when the search process is completed, the UCS 1729 transmits a search result completion notification message to the application 130 (step S4304). The application 130 that has received the search result completion notification message transmits a search result acquisition request message to the UCS 1729 in order to acquire the search result (step S4305).

  Upon receiving the search result acquisition request message, the UCS 1729 transmits the search result to the application 130 (step S4306). Specifically, when there is a record that matches the search condition, that is, when a search result table has been generated, the UCS 1729 transmits the generated search result table to the application 130. On the other hand, if there is no record that matches the search condition and the search result table has not been generated, the fact that the display information processing application destination information of the information processing application to be searched does not exist is transmitted to the application 130 as the search result. .

  The application 130 that has received the search result displays a search result display screen from the search result (step S4307). Specifically, when a search result table is transmitted as a search result, all records (information processing application destination information for display) corresponding to the offset registered in the search result table are read from the master table 1751. Then, a search result display screen displaying the application display name and the delivery destination (URI) is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the operation panel 170.

  FIG. 48 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a search result display screen. As shown in FIG. 48, an application display name and a delivery destination of the searched information processing application are displayed on the search result display screen.

  On the other hand, when the application 130 receives that the information processing application destination information for display of the information processing application to be searched does not exist as a search result, the information processing application to be searched is replaced with the search screen of FIG. A message indicating that it does not exist is displayed as a search result screen.

  As described above, the information processing application is searched from the display information processing application destination database 1750 using the application display name as a search key.

  Next, the flow of scan processing by the multifunction peripheral 1700 using the display information processing application destination database 1750 as described above will be described. FIG. 49 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of scan processing according to the third embodiment.

  First, the scanner application 114 displays an application screen on which an application destination (application selection button) is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the operation panel 170 (step S4801). In order to specify an application destination of an information processing application as a transmission destination on the application screen, the user touches and inputs an application selection button of the desired information processing application to specify the transmission destination (step S4802). Then, the user makes a scan and transmission request by setting a document and pressing the start button from the operation unit of the operation panel 170 (step S4803). The scanner application 114 receives a touch input of an application selection button, a scan, and a transmission request, and executes a document scan (step S4804).

  Then, in order to acquire the distribution destination by transmitting the scan image to the PC, the scanner 114 transmits a read request message for the display information processing application destination database 1750 to the UCS 1729 (step S4805). Then, the scanner application 114 transmits a display information processing application destination information acquisition request message including the application display name of the information processing application corresponding to the selected application selection button to the UCS 1729 (step S4806).

  The UCS 1729 extracts the application display name from the received acquisition request message, searches the display information processing application destination database 1750 by the search process described above using the extracted application display name as a key, Information processing application information for display, which is a record including the delivery destination, is transmitted to the scanner application 114 (step S4807).

  Upon receiving the display information processing application destination information, the scanner application 114 transmits a read completion notification message to the UCS 1729 (step S4808). Next, the scanner application 114 converts the scanned image into data in the data format of the information processing application with the application display name (step S4809).

  Next, the scanner application 114 extracts a distribution destination of the information processing application from the received information processing application destination information for display, and transmits a request message including the extracted distribution destination and the image-converted data to the NCS 1728 (step S4810). ).

  Receiving the transmission request message, the NCS 1728 extracts the information processing application distribution destination and the image-converted data from the transmission request message, and transmits the image-converted data to the URI specified by the distribution destination (step S4811).

  As a result, the data is received on the distribution destination PC side, and the data is converted into a data format that can be handled by the information processing application executed on the PC in step S4809. Even without installing the software, it is possible to display or edit the data of the scanned image by the multifunction peripheral 1700.

  As described above, in the MFP 1700 according to the third embodiment, in order to receive the data generated by the MFP 1700 by executing the MFP 1700 without installing the information processing application and the driver software of the MFP 1700. Information processing application destination that holds the application display name of the information processing application of PC-A 160, PC-B 161, PC-C 162 that can be executed by the operating system having a function of requesting registration of the information processing application to the MFP 1700 Information processing application destination database for display that associates the database 1740 with application IDs, application display names, and distribution destinations related to PC-A 160, PC-B 161, and PC-C 162 that have made registration requests. 1750 and PC-A160, PC-B1 1, receives a registration request including an application display name and a distribution destination from the PC-C 162, extracts the application display name and the distribution destination from the received registration request, and determines the extracted application display name and the distribution destination as an information processing application. Registered in the destination database 1740, and based on this information processing application destination database 1740, the application ID, application display name, and distribution destination are registered in the display information processing application destination database 1750, and this display information processing application destination database 1750 is registered. The application display name registered in the application screen is read out, and the application screen on which the read application display name is drawn is displayed, so that the application screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display of the operation panel 170 by executing the application 130. Registered from PC-A160, PC-B161, PC-C162 Even when a request is made and registered in the information processing application destination database 1740, the application screen is displayed based on the display information processing application destination database 1750. Therefore, the PC that requests registration of the application 130 without adversely affecting the application screen. -The image-processed data can be easily transmitted to the A160, PC-B161, and PC-C162, and the driver software for the MFP 1700 is not installed on the PC-A160, PC-B161, PC-C162 side. The image processing function of the multifunction machine 1700 can be realized.

  FIG. 50 is a block diagram of a hardware configuration of the MFPs 100 and 1700 according to the first to third embodiments. As shown in FIG. 50, the MFPs 100 and 1700 have a configuration in which a controller 4910 and an engine unit (Engine) 4960 are connected by a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus. The controller 4910 is a controller that controls the entire MFPs 100 and 1700 and controls drawing, communication, and input from an operation unit (not shown). The engine unit 4960 is a printer engine that can be connected to a PCI bus, and is, for example, a monochrome plotter, a one-drum color plotter, a four-drum color plotter, a scanner, or a fax unit. The engine unit 4960 includes an image processing unit such as error diffusion and gamma conversion in addition to a so-called engine unit such as a plotter.

  The controller 4910 includes a CPU 4911, a north bridge (NB) 4913, a system memory (MEM-P) 4912, a south bridge (SB) 4914, a local memory (MEM-C) 4917, and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). 4916 and a hard disk drive (HDD) 4918, and the North Bridge (NB) 4913 and the ASIC 4916 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 15. The MEM-P 4912 further includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 4912a and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 4912b.

  The CPU 4911 performs overall control of the multifunction peripherals 100 and 1700, has a chip set including the NB 4913, the MEM-P 4912, and the SB 4914, and is connected to other devices via the chip set.

  The NB 4913 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 4911 to the MEM-P 4912, SB 4914, and AGP 4915, and includes a memory controller that controls reading and writing to the MEM-P 4912, a PCI master, and an AGP target.

  The MEM-P 4912 is a system memory used as a memory for storing programs and data, a memory for developing programs and data, a memory for drawing a printer, and the like, and includes a ROM 4912a and a RAM 4912b. The ROM 4912a is a read-only memory used as a program / data storage memory, and the RAM 4912b is a writable / readable memory used as a program / data development memory, a printer drawing memory, or the like.

  The SB 4914 is a bridge for connecting the NB 4913, a PCI device, and a peripheral device. The SB 4914 is connected to the NB 4913 via a PCI bus, and a network interface (I / F) unit and the like are also connected to the PCI bus.

  The ASIC 4916 is an IC (Integrated Circuit) for image processing having hardware elements for image processing, and has a role of a bridge for connecting the AGP 4915, the PCI bus, the HDD 4918, and the MEM-C 4917. The ASIC 4916 includes a PCI target and an AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that forms the core of the ASIC 4916, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C 4917, and a plurality of DMACs (Direct Memory) that rotate image data using hardware logic. Access Controller) and a PCI unit that performs data transfer between the engine unit 60 via the PCI bus. The ASIC 4916 is connected to an FCU (Fax Control Unit) 4930, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) 4940, and an IEEE 1394 (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394) interface 50 via a PCI bus.

  A MEM-C 4917 is a local memory used as a copy image buffer and a code buffer, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 18 is a storage for storing image data, programs, font data, and forms. It is.

  AGP4915 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card proposed for speeding up graphics processing. The AGP4915 speeds up the graphics accelerator card by directly accessing the MEM-P4912 with high throughput. .

  Note that the image processing program executed by the MFP according to the first to third embodiments is provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like.

  The image processing program executed by the MFPs 100 and 1700 according to the first to third embodiments is a file in an installable format or an executable format, and is a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, DVD ( It may be configured to be recorded and provided on a computer-readable recording medium such as Digital Versatile Disk).

  Further, the image processing program executed by the MFPs 100 and 1700 according to the first to third embodiments is stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and is provided by being downloaded via the network. You may do it. Further, the image processing program executed by the MFPs 100 and 1700 according to the first to third embodiments may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  The image processing program executed by the MFPs 100 and 1700 according to the first to third embodiments has a module configuration including the above-described units (UCS, NCS, scanner application, etc.), and the actual hardware is a CPU. When the (processor) reads out and executes the image processing program from the ROM, the respective units are loaded onto the main storage device, and the respective units are generated on the main storage device.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a network configuration of an image processing system according to a first embodiment and a main configuration of a multifunction peripheral. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure of a registration request. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the content of the information processing application destination database. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a multifunction machine according to a first embodiment; FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an overall flow of destination information registration display processing by the image processing system according to the first exemplary embodiment; 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of registration processing of information processing application destination information by UCS of the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment; 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing for extracting information processing application destination information from the information processing application destination database 140 by the UCS of the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment; 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an application screen display process and a destination designation process performed by an application of the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an application screen display process and a destination designation process performed by an application of the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of contents of an application screen according to the first embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the pop-up screen during information processing application destination information update. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the application screen updated from FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of application screen display processing and destination designation processing by an application of a multifunction peripheral according to a second embodiment; 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of application screen display processing and destination designation processing by an application of a multifunction peripheral according to a second embodiment; FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the content of a first application screen on which a PC selection button is displayed in the multifunction peripheral according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the content of a first two pre-screen on which an application selection button is displayed in the multifunction peripheral according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a network configuration of an image processing system according to a third embodiment and a main configuration of a multifunction peripheral. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of an information processing application destination database 1740 according to the third embodiment; FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a display information processing application destination database 1750 according to a third embodiment; It is a sequence diagram which shows the procedure of the update notification process at the time of receiving the registration / deletion request | requirement of information processing application. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of an application screen. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of update processing of the information processing application destination database 1740. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the application screen on which the message of the update notification was displayed. It is a sequence diagram showing a procedure of manual update processing of the information processing application destination database 1750 for display. It is a sequence diagram showing a procedure of update processing of the display information processing application destination database 1750. 18 is a flowchart showing a procedure for registering a record in a display information processing application destination database 1750. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of an application screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the screen during update. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the updated application screen. It is a state transition diagram which shows the transition of the state which UCS1729 can take. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the initial setting menu screen for utilizing the function of image processing control OS installed in PC-A160 of a network connection destination, PC-B161, PC-C162. It is a sequence diagram showing a procedure of automatic update processing of the information processing application destination database for display 1750 when the setting content of the information processing application related information database 1742 is changed. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the change screen of setting information. FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram illustrating a procedure for automatic update processing of a display information processing application destination database 1750 when network setting information in a network setting management database 1741 is changed. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a network setting screen. FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram illustrating a procedure for automatic update processing of a display information processing application destination database 1750 when an application 130 being executed is switched. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an application screen of a scanner application 114 displayed when a scanner key provided on an operation unit of the operation panel 170 is pressed. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an application screen of a fax application 113 displayed when a FAX key on the operation panel 170 is pressed. FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram showing a procedure for automatic update processing of a display information processing application destination database 1750 when a user logs in and succeeds in authentication. It is explanatory drawing which shows the transition of the login screen displayed on the operation panel. It is a sequence diagram which shows the procedure of the automatic update process of the information processing application destination database for display 1750 at the time of returning from energy saving mode to normal mode. It is a sequence diagram showing a procedure of automatic update processing of the display information processing application destination database 1750 when the timer time has elapsed. FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram showing the overall flow of information processing application destination search processing from the display information processing application destination database 1750; It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of an application screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a search screen. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of search processing by UCS 1729. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a search result table, and the relationship between the master table 1751 and a search result table. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a search result display screen. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of scan processing according to the third embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a multifunction machine according to first to third embodiments.

Explanation of symbols

100,1700 MFP 101 Monochrome line printer (B & W LP)
102 Color line printer (Color LP)
103 HDD
104 Other hardware resources 110 Software group 111 Printer application 112 Copy application 113 Fax application 114 Scanner application 115 Net file application 116 Process inspection application 117 External application 120 Platform 128 NCS
129 UCS
130 Application 140 Information processing application destination database 150 Network 160 PC-A
161 PC-B
170 Operation Panel 1740 Display Information Processing Application Destination Database 1740 Display Information Processing Application Destination Database 1742 Information Processing Application Related Information Management Database 1750 Display Information Processing Application Destination Database 1751 Master Table 1752 Each Heading Table 1772 Authentication Management Unit 4910 Controller 4911 CPU
4912 MEM-P
4912a ROM
4912b RAM
4915 AGP Bus 4916 ASIC
4917 MEM-C
4918 HDD
4930 FCU
4940 USB
4950 IEEE1394 interface 4960 Engine part

Claims (20)

An image processing apparatus that includes at least a scanning unit and processes an image scanned by the scanning unit,
In order to receive data generated by the image processing apparatus by executing the image processing apparatus without installing an information processing application that is software related to information processing and driver software of the image processing apparatus connected to a network Application destination information that holds an application display name that is a display name of the destination of the information processing application of the information processing apparatus that can be executed by an operating system having a function of requesting registration of the information processing application to the image processing apparatus. First destination storage means for storing,
An image processing apparatus comprising: Receiving means for receiving the registration request including the application display name from the information processing apparatus;
Destination management means for extracting the application display name from the registration request received by the receiving means, and registering the extracted application display name in the application destination information stored in the first destination storage means;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: An operation display means that can display various screens and can be input by a user;
Display control for reading the application display name registered in the application destination information stored in the first destination storage unit and displaying the application screen on which the application display name can be input on the operation display unit Means,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   The display control means, when the registration request is received by the receiving means while the application screen is displayed on the operation display means, the application screen being displayed is updated by the registration request. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the application display name registered in the destination information is read, and the application screen is updated and displayed on the operation display unit. The receiving unit receives the registration request including application identification information unique to the application, the application display name, and device identification information unique to the information processing device, from each of the plurality of information processing devices,
The destination management means extracts the application identification information, the application display name, and the device identification information from each received registration request of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, and extracts the extracted application identification information and the application display. Name associated with the device identification information and stored in the first destination storage means as the application destination information,
The display control unit reads a plurality of the device identification information and the application display name registered in the application destination information stored in the first destination storage unit, and displays the application display for each device identification information. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an application screen on which a name can be input is displayed on the operation display unit.   The display control means reads a plurality of the device identification information and the application display name registered in the application destination information, and performs a selection instruction of an information processing device corresponding to the device identification information A second application screen on which the screen is displayed on the operation display means and the application display name corresponding to the device identification information of the information processing device that has received a selection instruction from the first application screen is inputable The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image processing apparatus displays the operation display unit. Display application destination information that is generated based on the application destination information and associates application identification information unique to the information processing application, the application display name, and distribution destination information about the information processing apparatus that has made the registration request. Second storage means for storing
Receiving means for receiving the registration request including the application display name and the delivery destination information from the information processing apparatus;
The application display name and the delivery destination information are extracted from the registration request received by the receiving unit, and the extracted application display name and the delivery destination information are stored in the first storage unit. Network management means for registering information;
Based on the application destination information stored in the first storage means, the application identification information, the application display name, and the distribution destination information are displayed, and the display application destination information stored in the second storage means Address management means to be registered in
An operation display means that can display various screens and can be input by a user;
The application display name registered in the display application destination information stored in the second storage means is read out, and the application screen on which the read application display name is drawn is displayed on the operation display means. Display control means for
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The display application destination information includes a master table capable of sequentially writing records in which the application identification information, the application display name, and the distribution destination information are associated with each other, and the master table of the records written in the master table Including a heading table that can be registered by classifying the positional information in the heading based on the application display name,
The display control means reads the heading and the application display name registered in the master table from the position information registered in the heading table of the heading, and the heading and the read application display name. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein an application screen that is drawn so as to be input is displayed on the operation display unit. The network management means further transmits presence / absence of update of the application destination information to the destination management means,
The destination management unit further receives the application display name and the distribution from the application destination information stored in the first storage unit when receiving an update of the application destination information from the network management unit. The destination information is acquired, a record in which the acquired application display name is associated with the acquired distribution destination information and the application identification information is registered in the master table, and the acquired character string of the application display name The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the display application destination information is updated by registering the position information of the application display name in the heading table based on the information. When the destination management means receives from the network management means that the application destination information has not been updated, the destination management means notifies the display control means that there is no change,
10. The display control unit according to claim 9, wherein the display control unit does not change the display of the application screen displayed on the operation display unit when the destination management unit notifies that there is no change. Image processing apparatus. The display control unit transmits an update request to the destination management unit when receiving an instruction to update the display application destination information from the user by the operation display unit,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the destination management unit updates the display application destination information when the update request is received from the display control unit. . Information processing application related storage means for storing information processing application related information and timer time that are information related to the information processing application of the information processing device;
Network setting storage means for storing network setting information which is a setting content related to the network;
Authentication information storage means for storing user authentication information;
A system management unit for controlling the information processing application related information, switching an application executed on the image processing apparatus, and controlling a normal mode and an energy saving mode;
Timer management means for determining the elapse of the timer time, and
The network management means further changes the network setting information,
The destination management means authenticates a user who has made a login input based on the authentication information when there is a login input by a user, changes the information processing application related information, and changes the network setting information , When any of application switching executed in the image processing apparatus is executed, when user authentication is successful, when returning from the energy saving mode to the normal mode, or when the timer time elapses The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the display application destination information is updated when it is determined.   Even when the destination management means receives a request to update the display application destination information while updating the display application destination information, the display application destination based on the received request is received. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the information is not updated.   The destination management means receives the request for updating the display application destination information while the application control name is being read from the display application destination information by the display control means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the display application destination information based on the request is not updated. The information processing that satisfies a search condition from the display application destination information stored in the second storage unit when a search instruction for the destination of the information processing application is received from a user by the operation display unit together with a search condition A search means for searching for the application display name corresponding to the destination of
The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the display control unit displays the application display name searched by the search unit on the operation display unit. A search result storing means for storing a search result table capable of registering position information in the master table of a record including the application display name;
The search means registers the position information in the master table of the record including the searched application display name in the search result table,
The display control means reads the application display name registered in the master table from the position information registered in the search result table, and displays the read application display name on the operation display means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that:   The network management unit further updates the application destination information based on the received registration request even when the registration request is received from the information processing apparatus while the application destination information is being updated. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein there is no image processing apparatus. The image scanned by the scanning unit is image-processed by the display control unit into a data format that can be handled by the information processing application corresponding to the destination of the application display name received from the operation display unit by the user. Image processing means;
Transmitting means for transmitting scan data image-processed in a data format that can be handled by the information processing application by the image processing means to the information processing apparatus of the distribution destination information corresponding to the application display name;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: An image processing method executed by an image processing apparatus that includes at least a scanning unit and processes an image scanned by the scanning unit,
The image processing apparatus includes:
In order to receive data generated by the image processing apparatus by executing the image processing apparatus without installing an information processing application that is software related to information processing and driver software of the image processing apparatus connected to a network Application destination information that holds an application display name that is a display name of the destination of the information processing application of the information processing apparatus that can be executed by an operating system having a function of requesting registration of the information processing application to the image processing apparatus. First destination storage means for storing;
Display application destination information that is generated based on the application destination information and associates application identification information unique to the information processing application, the application display name, and distribution destination information about the information processing apparatus that has made the registration request. Second storage means for storing
An operation display means capable of displaying various screens and allowing an input operation from a user,
Receiving the registration request including the application display name and the distribution destination information from the information processing apparatus;
The application display name and the distribution destination information are extracted from the received registration request, and the extracted application display name and the distribution destination information are registered in the application destination information stored in the first storage unit. Steps,
Based on the application destination information stored in the first storage means, the application identification information, the application display name, and the distribution destination information are displayed, and the display application destination information stored in the second storage means Registering with
The application display name registered in the display application destination information stored in the second storage means is read out, and the application screen on which the read application display name is drawn is displayed on the operation display means. And steps to
An image processing method comprising:   A program causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 19.

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