JP2007300545A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To narrow down an object for request to a required setting item, to provide a mechanism capable of executing an operation corresponding to narrowing down and to respond to a request of a user who expects a quick operation in an image forming apparatus having a function corresponding to a reference/setting request of equipment setting by e-mail. <P>SOLUTION: An e-mail transmitting/receiving part 110 passes e-mail kinds such as the reference/setting request of the equipment setting to a setting part 120 after confirming establishment of user authentication of a received e-mail. The setting part 120 analyzes phrases described in a subject of a header and the text, requests each processing of reference/setting to a setting information management part 130 for the specified setting item and creates an article of a reply e-mail according to a processing result. In the reference request, current setting data of the specified item is acquired and replied by e-mail. In the setting request, setting data of the specified item is rewritten into data instructed by the received e-mail to reply completion by e-mail on completion of setting. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus (for example, an MFP, a facsimile machine, a printer, etc.) that can send and receive e-mails over a network and performs print output processing based on image data. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with a mechanism that makes it possible to make a reference request or change request for device setting information set for use in control / management via a network by mail.

Today, image forming apparatuses such as MFPs (Multi-Function Peripherals: so-called “multi-function machines” having a combination of functions such as copying, FAX, printers, and scanners), network printers, network facsimiles, and the like are capable of outputting images. As a device for performing processing to print out data on a recording medium (recording paper), which is input by scan reading or data input from a printer driver of an external device (for example, PC: Personal Computer) via a network, Widely used.
In these image forming apparatuses, the function and mode used by the user / administrator are selected from the various functions installed in the device, the control conditions are adjusted according to the processing target such as the document / image data or the recording medium, Management that restricts the use of devices from the viewpoint of security or the like is required, and for this purpose, device settings that match the usage status are performed as device conditions set for each device.
The device setting is performed from an operation panel of the device through an interface such as GUI (Graphical User Interface) or from a Web browser via a network.
In addition, a device setting method using e-mail has been proposed for an apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving data via e-mail via a network.

The following Patent Document 1 can be cited as a conventional example of device setting using electronic mail.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151561 discloses a method for setting an apparatus from a PC functioning as a transmitter or manager of Internet facsimile communication for an Internet facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving Internet facsimile by electronic mail. In this method, the device is set in the following steps (1) to (4). (1) The PC that is the transmission source transmits a device setting reference mail to the Internet facsimile machine. (2) The Internet facsimile machine receives the mail (1) and returns the current value of the setting data to the transmission source PC in a predetermined format. (3) The PC that receives the reference setting data by the reply mail creates update data by overwriting the received setting data in a predetermined format, and transmits this data to the Internet facsimile machine as an update mail again. (4) The Internet facsimile machine that receives this update mail updates the device settings according to the instruction of the update mail.
JP 2003-189047 A

However, with the conventional device setting method that is performed from the device's operation panel or a web browser via the network, it is necessary to open the setting screen and input the setting value each time when making the same setting for multiple devices. It takes a lot of time and troublesome input work.
Also, in the setting method using electronic mail as shown in Patent Document 1, the device setting information returned in response to an email requesting to refer to the setting is shown in a predetermined format and returned as reference data. The update data is created by overwriting the setting data in a predetermined format.
Therefore, since it is not possible to narrow down the items to be set, it is necessary for the user to check unnecessary data, and the setting data reference work and the setting input work when creating update data become complicated. The user's request for prompt work cannot be met.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems in the conventional technology in an image forming apparatus having a function capable of responding to a device setting reference / setting request performed using electronic mail. The problem is that the target is narrowed down to the necessary setting items so that the device setting reference / setting request can be made, and the reference / setting operation can be executed in response to the reference / setting request made in this way. By providing such a mechanism, it is possible to meet the demands of users who expect prompt work.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mail transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives electronic mail via a network, an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium based on image data, and a device that is set in each device configuration unit that includes the image forming unit. A setting information management unit that manages the setting information, and analyzes the received mail, and instructs the setting information management unit to operate the device setting information in accordance with the device setting information reference / setting request command obtained from the analysis result. In the image forming apparatus having a device setting unit that receives the result of the operation and processes an article for reply mail, the device setting unit sends a reference / setting request command instructed in units of setting items of the device setting information. Correspondingly, it is determined whether the request is a request for reference to the device setting information or a change request, and the setting item to be requested is determined. The apparatus, characterized in that the means for instructing the operation, is to solve the above problems.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the device setting unit responds to an instruction of a reference / setting request command for a setting item of device setting information arbitrarily specified. It is a means for instructing the management unit to perform a reference / setting operation, and the above-described problem is solved by doing so.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the setting information management unit manages the initial value of the device setting, the device setting unit initializes the setting of the device setting information. According to a setting request command, the setting information management unit instructs the setting information management unit to set an initial value in the device setting information. By doing so, the above-described problem is solved.
A fourth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects,
The device setting unit includes means for detecting an error in the instruction of the setting request command for the setting item of the device setting information, and creating a reply mail article indicating the error portion in response to the detection of the error. In this way, the above-described problems are solved.

According to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus having a function capable of responding to a device setting information reference / setting request using e-mail, the device setting information is referred to / set in units of setting items, so that it is a necessary target. Since it is now possible to perform narrowed reference / setting, it is not possible to narrow down the items to be set, so there is a problem with the prior art that complicates setting data reference work and setting input work when creating update data This makes it possible to meet the demands of users who expect prompt work (claim 1).
In addition, since the setting items of the device setting information to be referenced / set are items that are arbitrarily designated by the user, the reference / setting work efficiency can be further improved, and the device setting information can be managed efficiently. (Claim 2).
In addition, since the setting can be returned to the initial value by an instruction, it is possible to easily redo the setting from the beginning when an incorrect setting is made (Claim 3).
In addition, when there is an error in the setting, a mail indicating the error part is returned, so that it is possible to reduce the trouble of resetting (claim 4).

Hereinafter, as an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, an example in which an MFP is used as an implementation apparatus is shown.
The MFP of the present embodiment provides composite functions such as copy, fax, printer, and scanner, and based on image output data (scanned image, data generated by a printer driver, etc.) obtained by these functions. In addition, image output processing such as print output or data transfer to an external machine (FAX, PC, etc.) is performed.
In addition, the MFP uniquely handles job processing requested by the user using a function provided as a data input / output unit of a scanner or plotter provided in the device in accordance with an instruction from the operation panel of the main body, such as a copy function. In addition, it has a function of processing a job requested from an external device via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network).
The processing request from the external device includes processing requested by the user / administrator to manage the MFP in addition to the output processing performed using the FAX / printer function. The process performed in response to the reference / setting request corresponds to this process.

In addition, processing requests from an external device made through a LAN can use an electronic mail system that is widely used as a system for bidirectionally communicating information between devices.
An e-mail consists of a header, a mail body, and an attached file. In the header, the e-mail address, sender, subject (type of e-mail, etc.), etc. as the destination are described, and the e-mail body and attached file are the contents of the e-mail. Sent to the device with the specified address.
The MFP that receives the mail indicating the processing request from the external device determines the request content based on the data content such as the subject and the body of the header, and executes the processing according to the determination. For a mail requesting print output of a mail text or an attached file, the plotter is operated using data such as the mail text to perform print output. In addition, for a mail requesting acquisition of a file or the like stored in the storage, the requested file data is transmitted as a reply mail to the sender.
When using the e-mail method for device setting reference / setting, a PC functioning as a management machine (hereinafter referred to as “management PC”) or the like instructs a device setting reference / setting request in the subject or body of the header. Then, an email addressed to the MFP to be managed is sent. The MFP that receives the mail instructing the reference / setting request from the management PC determines the request content based on the data content such as the subject and the body of the header, and executes the reference / setting process according to the determination.
For a mail requesting reference, the storage location of information managed as a device setting value (data) is accessed, and the obtained device setting information is transmitted to the management PC as a reply mail for the acquisition request. In response to a mail requesting setting, the data storage location information managed as the device setting value (data) is changed to the requested value (data).

The present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 1 showing a configuration example of an image forming apparatus (MFP) having a function corresponding to a device setting reference / setting request by an electronic mail method.
The configuration of the image forming apparatus (MFP) shown in FIG. 1 shows a configuration of the main part related to the function corresponding to the device setting reference / setting request by the electronic mail method. Therefore, components included in the existing MFP that are not directly related to this function are omitted.
In FIG. 1, the MFP 100 includes a mail transmission / reception unit 110, a setting unit 120 for setting devices, and a setting information management unit 130 as components related to this function.
The mail transmission / reception unit 110 receives mail sent via a LAN interface (not shown) and performs processing for creating a mail to be sent.
The setting unit 120 analyzes the received mail passed from the mail transmitting / receiving unit 110, and instructs the setting information management unit 130 to operate the device setting information according to the device setting information reference / setting request command obtained from the analysis result. In response to the result of the operation, the reply mail article is processed.
The setting information management unit 130 operates the device setting information under management according to the instruction of the setting unit 120, that is, the operation of accessing the storage location of the setting information requested to be referenced and passing the extracted information to the setting unit 120. Alternatively, the storage location information of the setting information requested to be set is rewritten, and an operation for changing the setting is performed.
The above-described components that provide a function corresponding to a device setting reference / setting request by mail can be implemented by being installed as software in a main controller (not shown) of the MFP 100. The CPU of the MFP main controller controls a device setting information reference / setting request made via a network under the control of a bus-connected LAN interface (not shown) or a storage unit (not shown) for storing device setting information. Corresponding to Processing corresponding to this request is executed by driving software for realizing the above-described functions of the mail transmission / reception unit 110, the setting unit 120, and the setting information management unit 130 (see the processing flow in FIG. 2 below).

By the way, the problem of the present invention is that it is possible to narrow down the target of reference / setting in units of setting items when requesting reference / setting of device settings, and setting data that occurs by a conventional method that cannot narrow down the target items. This eliminates the complication of the setting input work when creating the reference work and the update data, and responds to the request of the user who expects a quick work.
In order to make it possible to narrow down and request a reference / setting target in units of setting items, it is necessary to instruct the target item to an email from the management PC. The target item is basically an item that is arbitrarily selected by the user (administrator) from all items that can be requested. For this reason, the management PC presents the setting items in such a way that necessary items can be selected from all items to be selected, recognizes the item selected by the user as a request item, and in this way Sending an email requesting reference / setting to the selected setting item.
However, in order to make the selection operation of the user efficient, it is desirable that the method for presenting the item to be selected is as follows. That is, a selection method such as selecting all items that can be requested, selecting in units of each setting item, or selecting a predetermined combination of setting items as a group of items that are frequently referred / requested can be adopted. The presentation method.
In addition, although the combination of the above-mentioned predetermined setting items can be determined according to general specifications, it is preferable that the setting can be made by the user so that the item can be selected in consideration of the convenience of each user.
The management PC presents a selection menu according to the presentation method as described above, and determines a setting item to be referenced / set by detecting a check operation performed on the item selected by the user, for example. , Do that instruction in the mail.

When requesting reference / setting to the MFP 100 by e-mail, the management PC uses a method in which a predetermined word or phrase is written in the subject or the body of the header as a method for instructing the request contents.
Therefore, in order to determine a setting item to be targeted and instruct a reference / setting request, a management is performed in which words / phrases corresponding to the setting item indicated by the user selection are specified in advance and the reference / setting request is instructed. It is necessary for the PC to write the setting items that are instructed to the mail as the request contents in terms of this rule.
The MFP 100 also understands the request content written in the e-mail with the words according to this rule, and performs reference / setting processing for the setting item instructed there. In MFP 100, setting unit 120 analyzes the word / phrase described in the mail and understands the request / reference setting content.
In the present embodiment, it is possible to narrow down target items in units of setting items. When selecting target items in units of setting items, it is necessary to define words corresponding to the setting items. However, when selecting all items that can be requested or selecting a combination of predetermined setting items as frequently requested / set-up item groups, a plurality of item groups can be defined with one word, Processing can be simplified rather than selecting items individually.
Further, as one of setting requests by e-mail, there is an initialization request for returning the setting to the initial value. In this request, if initialization is instructed, it is only necessary to specify a target setting item, and there is no need to indicate a setting value. In the normal setting, it is necessary to indicate a setting value. From this point, the initial setting request can be processed by a simple process different from the normal setting request. Therefore, for the mail requesting the initial setting, the initial setting is defined by a different phrase from the normal setting request, and is distinguished from the normal setting.

Next, the reference / setting process by the electronic mail method will be described with reference to the processing flow illustrated in FIG.
The processing flow shown in FIG. 2 shows a processing process performed by the function corresponding to the device setting reference / setting request of the MFP 100 having the configuration shown in FIG.
According to the processing flow shown in FIG. 2, when the mail transmission / reception unit 110 waits for a mail to be sent and receives the mail (step S101-YES), first, the mail that has been requested or requested for various processes should be accepted. The user authentication is performed as one condition (step S102). In the user authentication, a combination of an email address, a user ID, a password, and the like recorded in the subject of the email header is collated with the registered data of the MFP 100 to determine whether authentication as a user permitted to use is established or not established. Existing methods can be used.
When the user authentication is not established, the mail transmission / reception unit 110 creates a mail for notifying the mail transmission source (herein, PC 200 as a management machine, hereinafter referred to as “management PC” 200) and returns the mail. (Step S110). An article such as a message indicating what has caused the user authentication to fail may be attached to the reply mail.

When the user authentication is established (step S102-YES), the mail transmitting / receiving unit 110 checks the mail type as the next step. The type of mail can be determined by analyzing the word / phrase, since the word / phrase which can identify each is written in the subject of the mail header. Here, the mail is classified into three types, ie, a device setting request, a device setting reference request, and another normal processing request, and branches to a processing flow corresponding to each mail type (steps S103 and S111).
In the case of a mail requesting device setting (step S103-YES), the mail transmitting / receiving unit 110 passes the received mail to the setting unit 120. The setting unit 120 that receives this mail analyzes the mail and checks whether or not the setting request is an initialization request (step S104). If it is not initialization, a mail setting request is set for each setting item. A process for setting the setting value instructed in the item to be executed is executed (step S105).
This setting process is a process of rewriting data managed as a setting value by the setting information management unit 130 based on the setting value specified in the mail. When the setting unit 120 takes out the setting value specified from the subject or body of the header in the setting request mail and requests the setting information management unit 130 to rewrite the setting value of the setting item, the setting unit 120 receives the request and receives the setting information. The management unit 130 rewrites the data of the setting value storage location and performs an operation of changing the setting.

When performing this setting process, for example, if there is a deficiency in the data that requires setting, such as when the setting value exceeds the allowable range, it cannot be set, so check whether the setting was successful. (Step S106).
If the data for which setting is requested is incomplete and cannot be set (step S106-NO), an e-mail notifying that is created and returned (step S110). You should attach an article in the reply email that shows the error location, which data cannot be set. In order to perform this process, the setting unit 120 or the setting information management unit 130 has an error processing function that detects an error, creates an article with the error portion, and passes the created article to the mail transmission / reception unit 110. . In this example, the error notification reply mail is sent to the management PC 200 that is the transmission source of the device setting request mail, and then the processing flow ends.
One setting item is set according to the request, and if the setting is successful (step S106-YES), the process proceeds to the processing of the next setting item instructed in the mail. As a procedure, it is confirmed whether or not the setting of all items requested to be set has been completed (step S107). If incomplete and there are items to be processed, the process returns to step S105 to set the next setting. Move on to item setting processing.
When setting of all the items requested to be set is completed (step S107-YES), an e-mail notifying that is created and returned (step S108). In order to process this reply mail, the setting information management unit 130 notifies the mail transmission / reception unit 110 of the completion of the setting process via the setting unit 120. In this example, after sending a reply email of the setting completion notification to the management PC 200 that is the transmission source of the device setting request mail, the processing flow ends.

Even in the case of a mail requesting device setting, if the setting request is an initialization request (step S104-YES), processing for setting initial values in the items instructed in the mail setting request is executed (step S109).
This setting initialization process is a process of rewriting the data set as the current value by the initial value managed by the setting information management unit 130. The setting unit 120 understands that the designated setting item is instructed from the subject and body of the header in the setting request mail, and sets the current value of the setting item corresponding to the setting information management unit 130 to the initial value. In response to this request, upon receiving this request, the setting information management unit 130 rewrites the data in the storage location of the setting value and changes the setting.
After completing the initial setting of the requested item, an e-mail notifying that is created and sent back (step S108). In order to process this reply mail, the setting information management unit 130 notifies the mail transmission / reception unit 110 of the completion of the initial setting process via the setting unit 120. In this example, after a reply mail of the initial setting completion notification is sent to the management PC 200 that is the transmission source of the setting request mail, the processing flow ends.

When the mail transmission / reception unit 110 checks the type of mail (steps S103 and S111), and as a result, the mail transmission / reception unit 110 receives the request for reference to the device setting (step S111-YES), the mail transmission / reception unit 110 receives it. Pass mail. The setting unit 120 that receives this mail analyzes the mail and executes a process of referring to the device setting information in accordance with the instruction indicated in the reference request (step S112).
In the present plan, since it is possible to specify the device setting information that is the target of the reference request in units of setting items, reference processing is performed on the setting item instructed in the reference request. The instruction of the setting item to be referred to uses a method in which a predetermined word is written in the header subject or body.
Therefore, the setting unit 120 identifies the setting item indicated as the request content by interpreting the word / phrase described in the mail according to this rule, and performs a reference process for the obtained setting item.
For example, when the method of defining each setting item with one word is adopted, the setting data can be referred to in response to a request made in units of setting items by interpreting these words and phrases written in the mail. Can be processed. Further, for example, when a method of defining a combination of predetermined setting items as a single word / phrase as all items that can be requested or a group of items that are frequently referred to / required for setting is used, By interpreting one word / phrase, it is possible to refer to setting data in response to a request for a plurality of specified setting item groups. In the latter example in which a plurality of setting item groups are defined by a single phrase, a related table in which a phrase is associated with a plurality of setting item groups is prepared, and when the relevant phrase is described, the related table is used. This can be implemented by applying a method such as specifying a setting item for which reference is requested.

The setting unit 120 analyzes the setting item specified in the mail from the subject and body of the header in the setting request mail by the above-described method, specifies the setting item obtained as a result of the analysis as a reference target item, and sets Requests reference to the information management unit 130.
In response to the reference request, the setting information management unit 130 that receives the reference request accesses the storage location of the current setting data of the setting item specified as the target item and performs an operation of reading the stored setting data. The setting to be referred to is usually the current setting. However, in order to be able to respond to the reference request for the initial setting, it is possible to respond to the reference request by specifying the initial setting. You may do it.
After reading the setting data of the item requested for reference, the read setting data is returned to the management PC 200 that is the transmission source of the reference request mail (step S113).
In order to process this reply mail, the setting information management unit 130 passes the current setting data read from the storage location of the setting item specified in the reference request to the setting unit 120. The setting unit 120 that receives the current setting data creates a mail that is sent back to the sender of the reference request mail. The reply mail is configured with the setting data acquired in response to the reference request from the management PC 200 as the mail text or attached file. Note that the setting data to be sent as a reply mail in response to the reference request is preferably sent in a format that can be adapted to the use of the management PC 200. For example, not only the user checks the setting data on the GUI (Graphical User Interface) screen of the management PC 200 on which the reference result shown in the received reply mail is displayed, but also the setting data change required by the check result is the same. It is desirable to be able to handle such as adopting a format that can be operated and requested from the screen.
The reply mail created by the setting unit 120 is transmitted to the management PC 200 that is the transmission source of the reference request mail via the mail transmission / reception unit 110, and after the transmission, the processing flow ends.

The mail transmission / reception unit 110 checks the type of mail (steps S103 and 111), and as a result, when the mail is not a request for device setting and is not a request for device setting reference (step S111-NO), mail transmission / reception is performed. The unit 110 passes the mail to each application that executes the process according to the request content specified in the mail as the normal mail processing. Each application that receives the mail performs processing in accordance with the mail instruction (step S115).
For example, for an email requesting print output of an email text or attached file, the print application operates the plotter using data such as the email text or attached file delivered from the email transmission / reception unit 110, and print output I do. In addition, in response to a mail requesting acquisition of an image file or the like stored in the storage, the requested file data is transmitted as a reply mail to the sender.
As described above, after executing the process according to the request content instructed in the received mail, the process flow is terminated.

2 shows a configuration example of an image forming apparatus (MFP) having a function corresponding to a device setting reference / setting request by electronic mail. FIG. 6 shows a reference / setting process flow performed using a function corresponding to a device setting reference / setting request by e-mail. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

100... Image forming apparatus (MFP) 110... Mail transmission / reception unit 120... Setting unit 130... Setting information management unit 200 .. PC (personal computer), 300.

Claims (4)

A mail sending / receiving unit for sending and receiving e-mails over a network;
An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium based on the image data;
A setting information management unit for managing device setting information set in each device configuration unit including the image forming unit;
Analyzing the received mail, instructing the setting information management unit to operate the device setting information according to the device setting information reference / setting request command obtained from the analysis result, and receiving a result of the operation for reply mail An image forming apparatus having a device setting unit for processing
In response to the reference / setting request command instructed in units of setting items of the device setting information, the device setting unit determines whether the request is for requesting or changing the device setting information, and further determines the setting item to be requested And an image forming apparatus that instructs the setting information management unit to perform a management operation on the device setting information according to the determination. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The image is characterized in that the device setting unit is a means for instructing the setting information management unit to perform a reference / setting operation in response to an instruction of a reference / setting request command for a setting item of arbitrarily set device setting information. Forming equipment. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the setting information management unit manages initial values of device settings.
The image forming apparatus, wherein the device setting unit is a unit that instructs the setting information management unit to set an initial value for the device setting information in response to a setting request command for initializing the setting of the device setting information. apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The device setting unit includes means for detecting an error in the instruction of the setting request command for the setting item of the device setting information, and creating a reply mail article indicating the error portion in response to the detection of the error. An image forming apparatus.

Images