JP2008005514A - Electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To further improve user's operability by providing a system which applies a protocol HTTP for WWW to an application other than a printer. <P>SOLUTION: In the system comprising an electronic equipment provided with at least a network function and a FAX function and a network computer, the electronic equipment has a function for generating a transmitting log and a receiving log to which a link to a receiving image is stuck as an HTML file and can confirm a response to an inquiry of a FAX state from the network computer and the receiving image by the link stuck to the receiving log from the computer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control system, and more particularly to a remote control system using a new network-compatible HTML having a network copy unit, a scanner unit, a FAX unit, and a printer unit.

  Conventionally, a system is used in which an electronic device is connected to a personal computer, various setting menus are displayed on the CRT screen of the personal computer, and necessary data is transmitted to the electronic device after various buttons are set.

When such a system is used, an electronic device having means such as FAX must create a tool suitable for the setting tool on the personal computer (PC) side, or when the PC model is different Therefore, it is necessary to prepare and specify a tool that meets the specifications of the model, and if the model of the electronic device is different, it is further necessary to create the above-mentioned tool according to the model.

  In addition, with the spread of network printers, products that support HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) on the printer side and can set printer status and various printer modes in response to access from computers on the network have emerged. Yes.

  Also, standardization of an object called MIB (Management Information Base) has been promoted so that information on various devices connected to the network can be managed using the network connection device management protocol SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol). Yes.

  Furthermore, a system called “Internet printing” that can perform print output to a printer designated via the Internet is emerging.

  Thus, conventionally, an electronic device is connected to a personal computer (personal computer, hereinafter referred to as a personal computer), and various setting menus are displayed on the personal computer screen (CRT screen, liquid crystal screen, etc.). A system for transmitting data to an electronic device and operating the electronic device has been used.

  When using the above system, a setting tool must be created on the personal computer side, and if the personal computer model is different, a tool that conforms to the specifications of that model must be prepared and specified for each personal computer. Furthermore, if the electronic device is different, it is necessary to create the above-mentioned tool by adapting to each electronic device. As described above, there is a problem that a troublesome tool has to be created for each computer to be used and each electronic device to be used.

  Under such circumstances, for example, the frequency of FAX use is expected to decrease drastically with the spread of e-mail. However, FAX still plays an important role when exchanging information with a partner who does not have e-mail. It is widely used, and the importance of FAX means is expected to be high in the future, and FAX itself does not seem to disappear.

  However, in such electronic devices, it is inefficient to regularly check whether or not there is an incoming fax due to a decrease in the frequency of incoming calls as described above. A system is desired.

  Further, in the conventional FAX machine, the one using an electronic telephone book has become commonplace. However, in a FAX using such an electronic telephone book, since there is no kanji conversion means with excellent learning ability like a personal computer, it takes time from the operation section with poor operability to register / modify the electronic telephone book. It is necessary to input it.

  For users who have a large amount of data to be registered, a method for registering / correcting the FAX electronic telephone book as described above, in addition to providing a registration list to the manufacturer's service station and inputting or downloading the data on a dedicated system. There is no current situation. Even in the latter case, that is, when a user who has a large amount of data to be registered inputs, it is necessary to make corrections etc. once they have been registered, and if there are corrections or new additions. Since it has to be done through the department, a rather troublesome operation was necessary.

  Further, in a FAX machine, a printer unit, a copy unit, or a multifunction machine having two or more of these units, the usability (operability) of the operation unit is an important factor that affects the evaluation of the product. However, an operation unit suitable for the size of such a machine (multifunction machine) is naturally limited due to cost and the like. How to improve the operability under such many restrictions is a place for any manufacturer to consider.

  For example, when such an operation unit is created on a liquid crystal screen, a 400 × 256 dot LCD screen has improved operability compared to a four-line display LCD, and a color LCD has improved more than a monochrome LCD. The operability is improved. Also, when connected to a network, it can be used remotely, but when one person is using an electronic device and another person's job is executed, the settings of the electronic device that was used are reconfigured. There are problems such as necessity, and having to think about how to exclude other jobs while executing jobs.

  In view of the above-described problems, the present invention provides a system in which the HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) for WWW (World Wide Web) used on the Internet is applied to applications other than printers. The purpose is to further improve the user experience. Another object of the present invention is to make it possible for a user to easily register and edit a FAX telephone book from a personal computer on a network using HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) for displaying with a WWW browser.

  Another object of the present invention is to make it possible for a user to easily register and edit a FAX telephone directory from a personal computer on a network using HTML for displaying on a WWW browser.

  In addition, the present invention can be written to be compatible with the operation unit for each model using HTML, and the operation unit of the electronic device and the pseudo operation unit on the personal computer are set to the same display and operation, and The purpose is to provide a system that does not depend on the type.

  Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to register a unique operation unit screen or hard key for each machine on a network personal computer in a pseudo manner so that even a complicated operation mode can be registered.

  In order to achieve the above object, a remote control system using HTML according to the invention of claim 1 is a system comprising an electronic device having at least network means and FAX means, and a network computer, The electronic device has means for generating a reception log with a link to a transmission log and a reception image as an HTML file, and a response to a fax status inquiry from a network computer and a link to the reception log Can be confirmed from the computer.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote control system using HTML according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the electronic device has means for generating a FAX electronic telephone directory as an HTML file, The present invention is characterized in that changes and / or additions and / or deletions can be edited from a computer on a network using a WWW browser, and the edited contents can be reflected in a FAX electronic telephone book.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the remote control system using HTML according to the first or second aspect of the invention, wherein the electronic device forms a pseudo operation unit screen on a WWW browser by a network computer. By operating the pseudo operation unit screen on the network computer, the operation unit screen on the electronic device and the pseudo operation unit screen are connected by an HTML file, and the electronic device is displayed on the screen on the browser. It is characterized by being operable.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the remote control system using HTML according to the first to third aspects of the invention, the electronic device further includes means for holding the assigned job ID in combination with the job, and the job An operation unit of the electronic device when the job ID is input from the pseudo operation unit and / or the operation unit. It is characterized in that it is reflected in.

  In the present invention, even when another person is using the electronic device 11 (machine), the pseudo operation unit 402 is displayed remotely to enable registration of a complicated operation mode. For example, double-sided copy, 2in1 (consolidated printing: for example, printing two A4 size paper, which is half the size of A3 size paper), stapling, paper discharge tray setting, etc. If you try to do it from the machine's operation unit 401, the operation unit has a black and white screen on a general machine, and the size of this screen is often limited, and there are a wide range of setting items. For example, it is troublesome.

  These are done on the screen of a local personal computer (PC). When actually copying, go to the machine, call up the registered job, set the document, and operate the start switch. Fax etc. can be easily done without re-setting.

  In addition, after operating such a start switch, for example, information set on a local personal computer is input while the machine is in use, and as a result, another person's job is unexpectedly reflected on the machine. There must not be.

  Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to avoid it preferably by using a format in which the machine calls the input job.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to check the FAX reception status from the computer 12 on the network, and it is also possible to check the incoming file with the WWW browser 402 on the computer side. The transmission result can be confirmed remotely without requiring the actual device (electronic device 11) to send the transmission result.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the remote control system of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example in which an HTML file of a FAX communication log is displayed on a display unit of a personal computer on a network. For example, as shown in FIG. 1C when the link of the transmission log is pressed, and as shown in FIG. 1B when the link of the reception log is pressed, the screen is displayed on the display unit.

  FIG. 2 shows an embodiment according to the remote control system of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2A, an electronic device 11 and a network computer (personal computer 12) are connected via a network line 13. A simple block diagram and an event flow of an electronic device 11 (for example, a digital multi-function peripheral) equipped with network means and FAX means are shown.

  The operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. The remote control system according to claim 1 of the present application includes an electronic device 11 having at least network means 202 and FAX means 201, and a network computer 12.

  The electronic device 11 and the network computer 12 are connected to the Internet via the network line 13 and are set to acquire information from a WWW server as an external database.

  An httpd 2100 (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Daemon) written in the network application 202 (hereinafter, the application is also simply referred to as “application”) is a server for realizing WWW. Note that FIG. 2B shows a configuration of various applications provided in the electronic device 11. In this figure, the electronic device 11 also has a plotter unit 204 and a scanner unit 205.

  Next, an operation after the network computer 12 requests the electronic device 11 will be described with reference to the drawings. When the electronic device 11 is accessed from the network computer 12 via the personal computer 12 on the network, the reception log 101 and the transmission log 102 are requested to the FAX application 201 provided in the electronic device 11 (step S101). ). The FAX application 201 manages detailed information for each log (101, 102) and a received file in association with each other. The network application 202 receives these pieces of information from the FAX application 201 in the electronic device 11, creates an HTML file (step S 102), and returns it to the requested personal computer 12 (that is, accessed).

  On the personal computer 12 side, the WWW browser displays the HTML file (step S103). In the reception log 101, as shown in FIG. 1A, for example, information such as date 1011a, time 1011b, registered name 1011c on the transmission side, telephone number 1012d (RTI or CSI) is displayed in a list, and this is displayed. Even if there is no information on the presence or absence of an incoming call of the electronic device 11 or information indicating that the FAX has been sent in advance, the incoming fax call can be made on the screen of the computer 12 without going to the installation location of the electronic device 11 having the FAX means. I can confirm.

  In order to further confirm the details of the FAX information (information about the sender, number of faxes, etc.), the corresponding log (101, 102) to be confirmed on the Internet may be clicked via the computer 12. Thereby, for example, a file (not shown) with a link attached thereto can be requested to the httpd 2100 on the machine (electronic device 11) side (step S104).

  This request is notified to the FAX application 201 in the electronic device 11 (step S105), and the FAX means side in the electronic device 11 decompresses the compressed (MR, MMR, etc.) file via the FAX application 201, It is passed to the network application 202 in the electronic device 11. In the network application, the image is converted into an image compression mode (JPEG, GIF) that can be displayed by the WWW browser, and this information is passed to the network personal computer 12 via the network line 13, for example.

  For example, when a request for confirming that the detailed information related to the transmission log 102 is sent from the personal computer side, for example, the transmission destination to “Kanagawa Chuo”, when the transmission log in FIG. The request / response flow is the same as described above, and the FAX application 201 in the electronic device 11 that has received the request, as shown in FIGS. The information such as the transmission result 1031, the transmission date and time 1032, the number of transmissions 1033, the communication time 1034, the communication speed 1035, etc. is passed to the network application 202 via the application control unit 210 as TEXT information (step S 105). Thereafter, the TEXT information is converted into the HTML format in the network application 202 (step S106), and is returned to the network personal computer 12 or the like via the httpd 2100 in the network application 202 (step S107). The present invention is realized as described above.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The system configuration is the same as described above. A display screen by a WWW browser for realizing the present invention is shown in FIG. When an access is made from the personal computer 12 on the network to the electronic phone book provided in the FAX application 202 means in the electronic device 11, the application from the network application 202 is similar to the case shown in the first embodiment. A request for a telephone book is issued to the FAX application 201 in the electronic device 11 via the control unit 210 (step S201).

  Upon receiving this request, the FAX application 201 in the electronic device 11 picks up necessary data from the phone book data provided in the electronic device 11 with reference to the memory 206 with backup, for example, via the application control unit 210. Preferably, the data is automatically passed to the network application 202. Thereafter, the data is converted into an HTML file by the network application 202 in the electronic device 11 (step S202), and transmitted to, for example, the network personal computer 12 (step S203).

  Then, change and / or addition and / or deletion editing is performed as follows. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the [Unused] button of “No. 03” in FIG. 7 is selected and clicked, a screen as shown in FIG. 7B is displayed. For example, on the screen, for example, “Destination name” and “TEL number” are displayed on the computer 12 connected to the Internet. Then, as shown in FIG. Is pressed (step S205), the registration data is transferred to the httpd 2100 in the network application 202 on the electronic device 11 (digital multifunction peripheral) side (step S206). In step S207, the HTML file registered in the memory 206 is called on the network application 202 via the application control unit 210 and updated (step S207), and the updated HTML file is returned to the personal computer 12 again. Send (step S208). The updated file on the updated network application is stored in the memory 206 by the FAX application 201 via the application control unit 210, as will be described later.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 7A, for example, the registered “destination name” and “TEL number” are displayed on the pseudo operation unit such as the computer 12 via the Internet. This display can also be displayed on the operation unit 401 in the electronic device 11. In the above example, only the input is described. However, the present invention is not limited to the input of data such as the destination, and various data can be changed, added, and deleted in the same manner.

  In addition, regarding the exclusive processing, when a FAX phonebook called from a plurality of personal computers 12 on the network is accessed via the network application 202 and when the FAX 11 is accessed from the operation unit of the multifunction machine 11 via the network application 202 For example, when the book is accessed, the process is performed as shown in FIG.

  In the update work from the electronic device 11 (machine) operation unit 401 (step S301) and the update work in the browser on the Internet (step S301), it is explicitly shown that the update work is being performed. Therefore, when the correction work is started first, it is displayed on the browser 402 and immediately designed to notify that an event (correction or setting work) is being performed.

  As a result, a warning or the like is displayed on each browser 402 or the operation unit 401 of the multifunction peripheral 11 that is about to enter the second and subsequent correction work, and the correction work is displayed to be performed later (step S303). In this way, the operator who is trying to perform the correction work can avoid the update work without executing it.

  Even when update operations are started on a plurality of browsers 402 at the same time, a display such as “Warning” is displayed on the computer 12 operated by another operator until the first operator presses the “Register” button. Therefore, it is possible to avoid batting at the time of writing (for example, while an update job is currently being executed, an update job of another person is intruded and hindered). Further, while the earliest job is being executed, the execution is prohibited even if another operator thereafter presses a new “Register” button. The accessed network application 202 can display “Warning” or the like on the computer 12 of another operator who has pressed the “Register” button via the Internet, and can automatically prohibit job execution.

  While such exclusive processing is being performed, if the “Register” button is pressed on the pseudo operation unit screen 402 on the browser as shown in FIG. The updated telephone directory file is transferred to the FAX application 201 in the electronic device 11, and the FAX application 201 is actually written and registered in the memory 206 with backup. As described above, the present invention can be realized.

  In the third embodiment of the present invention, the operation unit 401 of the electronic device 11 (digital multifunction peripheral) is displayed in a pseudo manner by the WWW browser 402 on the network personal computer 12 and can be operated. Hereinafter, the process of changing the operation setting of the electronic device 11 using the pseudo operation screen will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, a call is made to the electronic device 11 on the personal computer 12, and in response to the call, the FAX application 201 is requested for screen information on the operation unit of the electronic device (step S401). In response to this request, the operation unit screen information is picked up, and the network application creates an HTML file (step S402). This file is transferred to the requested personal computer via the network line and displayed on the WWW browser as a pseudo operation unit (step S403). The operation mode is changed and set on the pseudo operation unit (step S404, step S403). S405). After setting is performed by a key operation on the computer (including a mouse, a touch panel, etc. as described above), registration and change are instructed by pressing a registration button 4023 as shown in FIG. 8B (step S405). . The instruction is passed to the network application in the electronic device 11 via the network line (step S406). The file is registered / updated in response to the passed information (step S407), the file is returned to the personal computer 12 via httpd, and the confirmation of the mode setting is confirmed on the WWW browser (step S408).

  FIG. 8 shows an example in which the actual operation unit 401 is displayed on the browser 402. There are two purposes for displaying the operation unit remotely. One is that a screen equivalent to the operation unit 401 of the digital multi-function peripheral is reproduced on the browser 402 from a remote location, and the transition of this screen is realized on the browser 402, so that the location where the actual machine 11 (machine) is located This means that you can operate this remotely without actually going to.

  According to such a method, it is not necessary to perform various initial settings to a place where the actual machine 11 is actually placed, and a similar operation environment can be realized remotely, and the electronic device 11 can be executed. Become.

  As a second purpose, when the operation unit 401 of the electronic device 11 (machine or the like) is small and difficult to operate, the display content (operation unit of the operation unit) is further improved on the browser 402 than the operation unit 401. In other words, a pseudo operation unit 402 is provided to enable operation by increasing the screen size and color). In either case, on the digital multifunction peripheral 11 side, an operation on the electronic device 11 is performed by pressing a button on the screen of the computer 12 by preparing or automatically creating an HTML file for displaying the operation unit 401 in the network application 202. Transition of the partial screen is realized, and a wide range of settings including display of an error message or the like is made possible by display on the browser 402 side.

  The fourth embodiment of the present invention is performed by operating in substantially the same manner as the third embodiment. However, even if the operation mode is set or the operation mode is changed by pressing a button, the setting of the digital multifunction peripheral 11 itself is performed. Is not reflected.

  In the fourth embodiment, the transition of the screen on the browser 402 is reflected on the virtual screen (network application, file on the memory) in the digital multi-function peripheral 11, and the virtual screen is converted into an HTML file. It is sent to the browser 402.

  As a result, even if the actual machine 11 is operating while being accessed from the personal computer 12 on the network, it is not necessary to directly reflect the setting of the operation unit displayed on the browser 402 screen on the network on the operation unit 401 of the machine. Therefore, even if a job is being executed on the machine, the job can be executed independently of this, and there is no possibility of interrupting other jobs.

  As described above, even when accessing the operation unit 401 from a plurality of personal computers 12 on the network at the same time, since the mode changes are independent of each other, a job being executed can be executed with peace of mind. Note that the setting operation in the pseudo operation unit 402 can be performed by the method of the third embodiment.

  In the present invention, an operation unit (pseudo operation unit 402) similar to the operation unit example 401 on the real machine shown in FIG. 8A is realized, and on this pseudo operation unit 402, 4022a corresponding to 401a is changed to 401b. A corresponding setting such as 4022b (hereinafter the same) is input on the www browser. After confirming the setting input, a “Register 4023” button as shown in FIG. 4B is preferably prepared.

  When this “registration 4023 (means with job ID)” button is pressed, the network application 202 of the digital multifunction peripheral (electronic device 11) is virtualized via the FAX application 201 in the same manner as described above via the network line 13. The screen is notified so that a series of operations up to that point is regarded as one job. In this way, the series of operations described above becomes one, and the result is transferred from the network application 202 in the digital multifunction peripheral to the personal computer 12 via the network line 13 as shown in FIG. The registration of “number” is confirmed by the display of “registered JOB number 4021”, and one job number is assigned.

  In this way, as shown in FIG. 8B, the assigned JOB is notified / displayed as “registered JOB number 4021 (means for returning job ID)” to the browser 402 on the network. Upon receiving this notification / display, the user goes to the actual machine 11 and presses a button, for example, “JOB call” on the operation unit 401 on the machine 11, so that the job setting content is changed to the machine (electronic device 11). The electronic device 11 can be operated according to the registered job setting contents. Note that a registered JOB can be called on the personal computer to reflect the contents of the registered JOB in the setting of the machine 11 as described above.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the FAX incoming status can be confirmed from the computer 12 on the network, and the incoming file can also be confirmed by the WWW browser 402 on the computer side. The transmission result can be confirmed remotely without requiring the actual device (electronic device 11) to send the transmission result.

  Since it is realized in the HTML format of the standard language on the Internet, it is not affected by the personal computer or OS that is displayed. This effect is the same for all other claims.

  According to the second embodiment of the present invention, a highly functional “kana-han” of a personal computer can be used for destination input, and new registration and editing can be performed efficiently. These operations need not be performed on the actual machine (electronic device 11), and can be performed from the personal computer 12 on the network.

  According to the third embodiment of the present invention, the actual machine operation unit 401 can be displayed in a pseudo manner on the browser 402 on the personal computer on the network, the same operability can be provided, and the remote operation unit can be realized. become. Even when the operability is lowered on the operation screen using the LCD of about several lines, the present invention can be provided as a remote operation unit with a large screen colorized on the browser.

  Furthermore, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, even when the real machine (electronic device 11) is in use, a setting operation is performed on a virtual operation unit on the network, and a registration job given to the setting operation is performed. When the number 4021 is used later and the registered JOB number is input to the actual machine, the operation content can be reflected. In particular, once complicated setting, registration, etc. are performed, it is effective when setting again thereafter.

  As mentioned above, although Embodiment 1-4 of this invention was demonstrated, it is not limited to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary.

It is a figure which shows the example which displayed the FAX log in the WWW browser. 1 is a block diagram of a remote control system according to the present invention and a flow of events, (a) is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a remote control system, and (b) is a configuration example in an electronic device. It is a figure which shows the flow of events. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an exclusion process. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the display screen in a WWW browser, (a) is a figure which shows the example, (b) is No. of (a). FIG. 4 is a diagram showing that the “unused” field is displayed by pressing the button 3. It is the figure which showed the operation part 401 of the electronic device 11, and the pseudo operation part 402 on a browser, (a) is a figure which shows the operation part 401 on an electronic device, (b) is the pseudo | simulation on a WWW browser. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation unit screen 402. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

11 Digital MFP (electronic equipment, image processing device)
12 PC (network computer)
13 Network line

Claims (4)

  A system comprising at least an electronic device having network means and FAX means, and a network computer, wherein the electronic device has means for generating a reception log with a link to a transmission log and a reception image as an HTML file. A remote control system using HTML, characterized in that a received image can be confirmed from the computer by a response to a fax status inquiry from a network computer and a link attached to a reception log.   The electronic device has means for generating a FAX electronic telephone directory as an HTML file, and can be changed and / or added and / or deleted and edited using a WWW browser from a computer on the network. The remote control system using HTML according to claim 1, wherein the remote control system can be reflected in a FAX electronic telephone directory.   The electronic device is an electronic device further comprising a scanner unit and a copy unit, and the electronic device configures a pseudo operation unit screen on a WWW browser by a network computer, and the pseudo operation unit screen is By operating on a network computer, the operation unit screen on the electronic device and the pseudo operation unit screen are connected by an HTML file so that the electronic device can be operated on the screen on the browser. A remote control system using HTML according to claim 1 or 2.   The electronic apparatus further includes means for holding the assigned job ID in combination with the job, and means for returning the job ID, and the mode and parameters set by the pseudo operation unit are changed to the job ID. 4. The HTML according to claim 1, wherein when the input is input from the pseudo operation unit and / or the operation unit of the electronic device, the operation unit of the electronic device is reflected. Remote control system.

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