JP2008042777A - Information processing apparatus, information processing method and information processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing apparatus, information processing method and information processing program in which operation efficiency can be improved. <P>SOLUTION: The information processing apparatus includes: a performance instruction acquiring means 102 for acquiring a performance instruction of processing onto target data; a provision request transmitting means 118 for transmitting a provision request message to equipment connected on a network, the message being described in accordance with a message exchange protocol and requesting provision of functions for performing the processing; an equipment information receiving means 118 for receiving an equipment information message from the equipment connected on the network, the message indicating functions that the relevant equipment includes; an equipment selecting means 118 for selecting predetermined equipment on the network based on the equipment information message; and an performance request transmitting means 118 for transmitting a performance request message to the equipment, the message requesting the execution of the processing onto the target data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus connected to a network, an information processing method, and an information processing program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, devices that can provide a Web service are known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a multifunction peripheral that can provide a Web service and has various image forming functions. This multifunction device performs processing in response to a request from a device connected via a network.

  In addition, a method for searching for an e-mail address using a directory service on a network is known (see, for example, “Patent Document 2”).

JP 2004-007346 A JP 2004-220551 A

  However, for example, when the user desires FAX transmission, but the MFP to be operated does not have a FAX function, the document must be transmitted by another device having the FAX transmission function. There was a problem that it took time and effort. Further, for example, when performing a transmission process, if a transmission destination address is not registered in the multifunction device to be operated, there is a problem that manual input is required and it takes time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing program capable of improving operation efficiency.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 is an information processing apparatus connected to a network, and holds target data to be subjected to predetermined processing. An execution instruction acquisition means for acquiring an instruction to execute the process for the target data, and a message described in accordance with a message exchange protocol for a device connected on the network, wherein the execution instruction acquisition means A provision request transmitting means for transmitting a provision request message that is a message for requesting provision of a function for executing the processing indicated by the acquired execution instruction; and a message described according to the message exchange protocol, A message indicating the function of the device from the device connected to the network A device information receiving unit that receives a device information message; a device selection unit that selects a predetermined device on the network based on the device information message received by the device information receiving unit; and the device selection unit selects Execution request transmitting means for transmitting an execution request message that is a message described in accordance with the message exchange protocol and that requests execution of the processing to the target data to the device. It is characterized by.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising function search means for searching for a function of the information processing apparatus, wherein the provision request transmission means is the function search When the means does not detect a function for executing the process indicated by the execution instruction acquired by the execution instruction acquisition means, the provision request message is transmitted.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the provision request transmitting means transmits the provision request message described in accordance with SOAP (Simple Object Access protocol). The device information receiving means receives the device information message described in accordance with the SOAP, and the execution request transmitting means transmits the execution request message described in accordance with the SOAP. .

  The invention according to claim 4 is the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the execution request transmission unit identifies the target data together with the execution request. It is characterized by transmitting information.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the execution request transmitting unit transmits the target data together with the execution request. And

  The invention according to claim 6 is the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the execution instruction acquisition unit acquires an execution instruction of a transmission job, and the device selection unit Selects a device capable of executing the transmission job on the network.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the provision request transmission unit does not include a transmission application for executing the processing indicated by the execution instruction. In this case, the provision request message is transmitted.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the device selection means selects a device on which the transmission application is mounted.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the device selecting means selects the device in accordance with an instruction from a user.

  The invention according to claim 10 is the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the network is a local network.

  An invention according to claim 11 is the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the message is written according to the message exchange protocol, and the transmission destination of the target data Address inquiry transmission means for transmitting an address inquiry message, which is a message for inquiring about the destination address of the network, to a device connected to the network, and a device that holds the destination address, and is described according to the message exchange protocol. A transmission destination address receiving unit that receives a transmission destination address message that is a message indicating the transmission destination address, and the execution request transmission unit receives the transmission received by the transmission destination address reception unit. The execution request message including the destination address is sent to the device selection unit. There and transmits to the selected device.

  The invention according to claim 12 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the address inquiry transmission unit transmits the address inquiry message described in accordance with the SOAP, and the transmission destination The address receiving means receives the destination address message described in accordance with the SOAP.

  The invention according to claim 13 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the address inquiry message is information for inquiring a transmission address in a predetermined transmission function to which the target data is to be transmitted. It is characterized by being.

  The invention according to claim 14 is the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising address holding means for holding an address of another device, wherein the address inquiry transmission is performed. The means transmits the address inquiry message when the destination address is not held in the address holding means.

  The invention according to claim 15 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the address holding means holds the destination address for each transmission function of another device.

  The invention according to claim 16 is the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the destination address received by the destination address receiving means is registered in the address holding means. Further, an address registration unit is provided.

  The invention according to claim 17 is the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the transmission destination address reception unit is transmitted after the execution request transmission unit transmits the execution request. Further comprising address deleting means for deleting the transmission destination address received by.

  The invention according to claim 18 is an information processing apparatus connected to a network, and is described in accordance with target data holding means for holding target data to be subjected to predetermined transmission processing, according to the message exchange protocol. An address inquiry transmission means for transmitting an address inquiry message, which is a message for inquiring a transmission destination address of the transmission destination of the target data, to a device connected to the network, and holds the transmission destination address Destination address receiving means for receiving a destination address message that is a message described according to the message exchange protocol from the device and indicating the destination address, and the destination address receiving means received by the destination address receiving means The target data is sent to the destination address. Characterized in that a target data transmission means for signals.

  An invention according to claim 19 is an information processing method in an information processing apparatus connected to a network, wherein the target data held by target data holding means for holding target data to be subjected to predetermined processing is stored in the information processing method. An execution instruction acquisition step for acquiring a process execution instruction, and a message described in accordance with a message exchange protocol for a device connected to the network, and indicated in the execution instruction acquired by the execution instruction acquisition means A provision request transmission step for transmitting a provision request message, which is a message requesting provision of a function for executing the processing, and a message described in accordance with the message exchange protocol, which is connected to the network A message indicating the function of the device from the device A device information reception step for receiving a device information message, a device selection step for selecting a predetermined device on the network based on the device information message received in the device information reception step, and a selection in the device selection step And an execution request transmission step of transmitting an execution request message, which is a message described according to the message exchange protocol and requesting the execution of the processing on the target data, to the device. And

  The invention according to claim 20 is an information processing method in an information processing apparatus connected to a network, which is a message described in accordance with the message exchange protocol and is subject data to be subjected to predetermined transmission processing. An address inquiry transmission step of transmitting an address inquiry message, which is a message for inquiring a transmission destination address of the transmission destination of the target data held by the target data holding means holding the message, to the device connected to the network; and A destination address receiving step for receiving a destination address message, which is a message written according to the message exchange protocol and indicating the destination address, from the device holding the destination address; and receiving the destination address Received in step Against serial transmission destination address, and having a target data transmission step of transmitting the object data.

  The invention according to claim 21 is an information processing program that causes a computer to execute the information processing method according to claim 19 or 20.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the target data holding means holds target data to be subjected to predetermined processing, the execution instruction acquisition means acquires a process execution instruction for the target data, and provides a provision request transmission means. Is a message written according to the message exchange protocol to a device connected to the network, and requests to provide a function for executing the process indicated by the execution instruction acquired by the execution instruction acquisition means The device information message is a message described by the device information receiving means according to the message exchange protocol and indicating the function of the device from the device connected to the network. And the device selecting means receives the device information message received by the device information receiving means. A predetermined device on the network is selected, and the execution request transmission means requests the device selected by the device selection means to execute processing on the target data, which is a message described according to the message exchange protocol. Since an execution request message that is a message to be transmitted is transmitted, even if the device itself does not have a predetermined function, it is possible to request execution from another device and to improve the operation efficiency. Play.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the function search means searches for the function of the information processing apparatus, and the provision request transmission means is indicated by the execution instruction acquired by the execution search acquisition means by the function search means. Since the provision request message is transmitted when the function for executing the process is not detected, even if it does not have the predetermined function, the execution can be requested to other devices, and the operation efficiency The effect that can be improved.

  According to the invention of claim 3, the provision request transmitting means transmits a provision request message described in accordance with SOAP (Simple Object Access protocol), and the equipment information receiving means is in the equipment described in accordance with SOAP. Since the information message is received and the execution request transmitting means transmits the execution request message described in accordance with SOAP, the operation efficiency can be improved.

  According to the invention of claim 4, since the execution request transmitting means transmits the target data identification information for identifying the target data together with the execution request, there is an effect that the target data can be specified.

  Further, according to the invention of claim 5, since the execution request transmitting means transmits the target data together with the execution request, there is an effect that the target data can be specified.

  According to the invention of claim 6, the execution instruction acquisition unit acquires a transmission job execution instruction, and the device selection unit selects a device that can execute the transmission job on the network. It is possible to request execution to an executable device, and the operation efficiency can be improved.

  According to the invention of claim 7, since the provision request transmitting means transmits the provision request message when the transmission application for executing the process indicated by the execution instruction is not installed, the provision request transmitting means transmits the provision request message. Even if it does not have this function, there is an effect that it is possible to request execution from another device and to improve the operation efficiency.

  According to the eighth aspect of the invention, since the device selection unit selects a device on which the transmission application is mounted, there is an effect that it is possible to request execution of the device on which the transmission application is mounted.

  According to the ninth aspect of the invention, since the device selection means selects a device in accordance with an instruction from the user, there is an effect that execution can be requested to the device desired by the user.

  According to the invention of claim 10, since the network is a local network, there is an effect that security can be improved.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the invention, the address inquiry message is a message described in accordance with the message exchange protocol, and is a message for inquiring the transmission destination address of the transmission destination of the target data. Is transmitted to a device connected to the network, and the transmission destination address receiving means transmits a message written in accordance with the message exchange protocol from the device holding the transmission destination address and indicating the transmission destination address. The destination address message is received, and the execution request transmission unit transmits the execution request message including the transmission destination address received by the transmission destination address reception unit to the device selected by the device selection unit, so the transmission destination address is not registered. Even if you can get the destination address An effect that it is possible to improve the operation efficiency.

  According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the address inquiry transmission means transmits an address inquiry message described according to SOAP, and the transmission destination address reception means transmits a transmission destination address message described according to SOAP. Is received, so that the operation efficiency can be improved.

  According to the invention of claim 13, since the address inquiry message is information for inquiring a transmission address in a predetermined transmission function to which the target data is to be transmitted, a desired transmission destination address is obtained for each transmission function. There is an effect that can be.

  According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the address holding means holds the address of another device, and the address inquiry transmission means performs the address inquiry when the transmission destination address is not held in the address holding means. Since the transmission message is transmitted, the transmission destination address can be acquired even when the transmission destination address is not registered, and the operation efficiency can be improved.

  According to the invention of claim 15, since the address holding means holds the transmission destination address for each transmission function of another device, there is an effect that the transmission destination address can be managed for each transmission function. .

  According to the sixteenth aspect of the invention, since the address registration unit registers the transmission destination address received by the transmission destination address reception unit in the address holding unit, there is an effect that the operation efficiency can be improved.

  According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the address deleting means can delete the transmission destination address received by the transmission destination address receiving means after the execution request transmission means transmits the execution request. The effect that can be improved.

  According to the invention of claim 18, the target data holding means holds the target data to be subjected to predetermined transmission processing, and the address inquiry transmission means is a message described according to the message exchange protocol. The address inquiry message, which is a message for inquiring the destination address of the destination of the target data, is sent to the device connected to the network, and the destination address receiving means exchanges messages from the device holding the destination address. A message described in accordance with a protocol, which is a message indicating a transmission destination address, receives a transmission destination address message, and the target data transmission unit receives the target data with respect to the transmission destination address received by the transmission destination address reception unit. If the destination address is not registered Also it can obtain the destination address, an effect that it is possible to improve the operation efficiency.

  According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the execution instruction acquisition step, a process execution instruction for the target data held by the target data holding unit holding the target data to be subjected to the predetermined process is acquired, and a provision request In the transmission step, a request is made to provide a function connected to a device connected on the network to execute a process described in the execution instruction acquired by the execution instruction acquisition unit, which is a message described according to the message exchange protocol. A device request message, which is a message described in accordance with the message exchange protocol in the device information reception step, and is a message indicating a function of the device from a device connected to the network, Receive the information message and enter the device selection step. Based on the device information message received in the device information reception step, a predetermined device on the network is selected, and in the execution request transmission step, the device selected in the device selection step is described according to the message exchange protocol. Since the execution request message, which is a message that requests execution of processing on the target data, is sent, even if the device itself does not have a predetermined function, request execution from another device And the operation efficiency can be improved.

  According to the invention of claim 20, in the address inquiry transmission step, the target data holding means for holding the target data that is a message described according to the message exchange protocol and that is the target of the predetermined transmission processing. An address inquiry message, which is a message for inquiring the destination address of the target data to be held, is sent to a device connected to the network, and the message is exchanged from the device holding the destination address in the destination address receiving step. A message described in accordance with the protocol, which is a message indicating the destination address, receives the destination address message, and in the target data transmission step, the target data for the destination address received in the destination address reception step Send In, also you can obtain the destination address even if the destination address is not registered, there is an effect that it is possible to improve the operation efficiency.

  According to the invention of claim 21, in the execution instruction acquisition step, a process execution instruction for the target data held by the target data holding means holding the target data to be subjected to the predetermined process is acquired, and a provision request In the transmission step, a request is made to provide a function connected to a device connected on the network to execute a process described in the execution instruction acquired by the execution instruction acquisition unit, which is a message described according to the message exchange protocol. A device request message, which is a message described in accordance with the message exchange protocol in the device information reception step, and is a message indicating a function of the device from a device connected to the network, Receive the information message and enter the device selection step. Based on the device information message received in the device information reception step, a predetermined device on the network is selected, and in the execution request transmission step, the device selected in the device selection step is described according to the message exchange protocol. Since the execution request message, which is a message that requests execution of processing on the target data, is sent, even if the device itself does not have a predetermined function, request execution from another device And the operation efficiency can be improved.

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

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an MFP (Multi-Function Printer) system 1 according to the first embodiment. The MFP system 1 includes a first multifunction device 100 and a second multifunction device 200. The first multifunction device 100 and the second multifunction device 200 are connected via the network 3. Both the first multifunction device 100 and the second multifunction device 200 have various functions such as a copy function, a scanner function, and a FAX function.

  The network 3 is a local network such as an in-house LAN. As another example, the Internet may be used.

  The first MFP 100 includes a network interface (I / F) 101, an operation panel 102, a document transmission application 104, a FAX transmission unit 110, an email transmission unit 112, and an FTP (File Transfer protocol) as functional configurations. A transmission unit 114, an SMB (Server Message Block) transmission unit 116, a transmission management unit 120, a document database (DB) 130, a document management unit 132, an address database (DB) 140, an address search module 142, An address search service 144 and an address management unit 146 are provided.

  The network I / F 101 transmits / receives information to / from the second multifunction device 200 via the network 3. The operation panel 102 presents various information to the user or accepts input from the user. The document transmission application 104 is an application for document transmission.

  The FAX transmission unit 110 performs processing related to FAX transmission. The Email transmission unit 112 performs processing related to Email transmission. The FTP transmission unit 114 performs processing related to transmission by FTP. The SMB transmission unit 116 performs processing related to transmission by SMB. That is, the FAX transmission unit 110, the Email transmission unit 112, the FTP transmission unit 114, and the SMB transmission unit 116 are transmission functions. Specifically, it is a transmission application that executes a transmission job. That is, the FAX transmission unit 110, the Email transmission unit 112, the FTP transmission unit 114, and the SMB transmission unit 116 function as a later-described document, that is, a target data transmission unit that transmits target data.

  The transmission management unit 120 controls the FAX transmission unit 110, the Email transmission unit 112, the FTP transmission unit 114, and the SMB transmission unit 116 in accordance with an instruction from the document transmission application 104.

  The document DB 130 holds various documents. Here, the document is data to be subjected to transmission processing by the transmission application. That is, the document corresponds to the target data. The document DB 130 functions as a target data holding unit. The document management unit 132 manages the document DB 130 in accordance with an instruction from the document transmission application 104.

  The address DB 140 holds transmission destinations of various documents. The address search module 142 refers to the address DB 140 and performs an address search. The address search service 144 performs an address search held by another device connected to the network 3 via the network I / F 101. Specifically, an address inquiry message that is a message described according to the message exchange protocol and that inquires about the address of the transmission destination to which the target data is transmitted is transmitted. The address inquiry message in the present embodiment is described in accordance with SOAP (Simple Object Access protocol).

  The address management unit 146 manages the address search module 142 and the address search service 144 in accordance with an instruction from the document transmission application 104.

  The second MFP 200 includes, as functional configurations, a network interface (I / F) 201, an FTP transmission unit 214, an SMB transmission unit 216, a transmission management unit 220, an address database (DB) 240, and an address search module. 242, an address search service 244, and an address management unit 246. The function of each part of the second multifunction device 200 is the same as the function of each part having the same name in the first multifunction device 100. In FIG. 1, for convenience of explanation, the functional configuration of the second multifunction device 200 is assumed to have a function necessary as a device to be searched, but as another example, the function of the second multifunction device 200 is used. The configuration may be the same as the functional configuration of the first multifunction device 100.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the data configuration of the address DB 140. As shown in FIG. The address DB 140 stores a management ID, a user name, a device name, a transmission type, and an address in association with each other.

  The management ID is identification information given to each address for management. The device name is information for identifying individual devices such as the first multifunction device 100 and the second multifunction device 200. In the present embodiment, the transmission type is information indicating whether FAX, Email, FTP, or SMB. That is, an address for each transmission type is registered. Thereby, an address corresponding to the transmission type of each user can be searched.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of processing in the MFP system 1. For example, it is assumed that the FAX transmission destination address is not registered in the first MFP 100. In this case, the first multifunction device 100 uses the Web service to inquire other devices connected to the network 3, that is, the second multifunction device 200, and obtains a desired address. To do. Then, the desired document is faxed to the acquired address.

  FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a FAX transmission process in the MFP system 1. First, when a user of the first multifunction device 100 inputs a FAX transmission instruction for a predetermined document via the operation panel 102, the first multifunction device 100 receives a transmission instruction from the user (step S100). Here, the FAX transmission instruction is an example and may be an instruction to execute a predetermined process. The operation panel 102 functions as an execution instruction acquisition unit.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an initial screen 400 displayed on the operation panel 102. On the guidance screen 400, copy, scanner, and document transmission are displayed as applications. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a guidance screen 402 displayed when document transmission is selected on the initial screen 400 shown in FIG. Thus, when the user selects document transmission, a guidance screen 402 for designating transmission conditions for document transmission is displayed. As shown in FIG. 4, when the user designates document designation on the guidance screen 402, the first multifunction peripheral 100 accepts document selection (step S102).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a guidance screen 404 displayed when document selection is accepted. On the guidance screen 404, all documents stored in the document DB 130 are displayed. Along with the document, the document ID for identifying the document, the size of the document, and the author name of the document are also displayed.

  In document selection, keyword search or the like can be performed. For example, when the user inputs the keyword “specifications”, only documents including “specifications” in the document name are displayed in a list.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a guidance screen 406 displayed when a desired document is selected by the user on the guidance screen 404 shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, the document name of the document selected by the user is displayed.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a guidance screen 408 displayed when address designation is selected on the guidance screen 406 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, when the user selects network search on the guidance screen 408, the address management unit 146 determines to search the network for the transmission destination (Yes in step S104). Note that the user selects network search when the destination address is not registered in the multifunction peripheral 100, for example.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a guidance screen 410 for inputting network search conditions. When the user selects network search on the guidance screen 408 shown in FIG. 9 (step S104, Yes), the guidance screen 410 is displayed.

  The user can specify a user name, management ID, or device name on the guidance screen 410, for example. Furthermore, an address type can be designated. It is also possible to input an address directly. As shown in FIG. 10, a part of the address can be designated.

  When the network search condition is selected on the guidance screen 410 shown in FIG. 10 and the OK button is selected, the address management unit 146 sends an address query corresponding to the network condition via the address search service 144 as shown in FIG. The combined message is transmitted to the second multifunction device 200 (step S106). That is, the address management unit 146 functions as an address inquiry transmission unit.

  When the second MFP 200 receives the address inquiry message via the network I / F 201, the address management unit 246 causes the address search module 242 to perform an address search that matches the search condition (step S108). Next, the address management unit 246 transmits the search result to the first MFP 100 via the network I / F 201 (step S110). Here, the search result is a message indicating a transmission destination address, and is a message described according to SOAP. That is, a destination address message.

  Then, when receiving the search result, the address management unit 146 displays the search result on the operation panel 102 (step S112). That is, the address management unit 146 functions as a transmission destination address receiving unit.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an address inquiry message 500. Specifically, an address inquiry message is transmitted as a SOAP message. As shown in FIG. 11, the address inquiry message 500 includes a search condition 502. This corresponds to the content input from the user on the guidance screen 410 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a search result for the address inquiry message 500, that is, an address search result 510. The address search result 510 is returned to the first MFP 100 as a SOAP message. The address search result 510 includes three search results 512, 514, and 516.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a guidance screen 412 displayed on the operation panel 102 in step S112. The guidance screen 412 displays an address list obtained as a search result. When a desired address is selected on the guidance screen 412 and the OK button is selected, as shown in FIG. 4, the first multifunction device 100 accepts address designation (step S114).

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a guidance screen 414 displayed on the operation panel 102 after an address is designated. Thus, the designated address is displayed on the guidance screen 414. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a guidance screen 416 displayed when device designation is selected on the guidance screen 414. When the transmission function is designated on the guidance screen 416, as shown in FIG. 4, the first multifunction device 100 accepts device selection (step S116).

  FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a guidance screen 418 displayed when a device is designated on the guidance screen 416 shown in FIG. When the send button is selected on the guide screen 418, the document is sent to the selected address as shown in FIG. 4 (step S118).

  Furthermore, when a registration instruction for registering the previously selected address in the document DB 130 is received from the user (Yes in step S120), the document management unit 132 registers the address in the document DB 130 (step S122). On the other hand, when there is no registration instruction (step S120, No), the document management unit 132 deletes the address (step S124). Thus, the FAX transmission process is completed. That is, the document management unit 132 functions as an address registration unit and an address deletion unit.

  If no network search is specified in step S104 (No in step S104), local processing is performed. Specifically, the address stored in the address DB 140 is searched by the address search module 142.

  As described above, even if the desired address is not registered in the first multifunction device 100, the address can be acquired from another device connected to the network 3. Therefore, the convenience of the multifunction device 100 can be improved.

  FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the first multifunction peripheral 100 according to the first embodiment. As shown in the figure, the multi-function device 1 has a configuration in which a controller 10 and an engine unit (Engine) 60 are connected by a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus. The controller 10 is a controller that controls the entire multifunction device 1 and controls drawing, communication, and input from an operation unit (not shown).

  The engine unit 60 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 60 includes an image processing part such as error diffusion and gamma conversion in addition to a so-called engine part such as a plotter.

  The controller 10 includes a CPU 11, a north bridge (NB) 13, a system memory (MEM-P) 12, a south bridge (SB) 14, a local memory (MEM-C) 17, and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). 16 and a hard disk drive (HDD) 18, and the north bridge (NB) 13 and the ASIC 16 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 15. The MEM-P 12 further includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12a and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12b.

  The CPU 11 performs overall control of the multifunction machine 1 and includes a chip set including the NB 13, the MEM-P 12, and the SB 14, and is connected to other devices via the chip set.

  The NB 13 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 11 to the MEM-P 12, SB 14, and the AGP bus 15, and includes a memory controller that controls reading / writing with respect to the MEM-P 12, a PCI master, and an AGP target.

  The MEM-P 12 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 12a and a RAM 12b. The ROM 12a is a read-only memory used as a program / data storage memory, and the RAM 12b is a writable / readable memory used as a program / data development memory, a printer drawing memory, or the like. An information processing program for executing each process in the first multifunction peripheral 100 described above is stored in the ROM 12a.

  The SB 14 is a bridge for connecting the NB 13 to a PCI device and peripheral devices. The SB 14 is connected to the NB 13 via a PCI bus, and a network interface (I / F) unit and the like are also connected to the PCI bus.

  The ASIC 16 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 bus 15, the PCI bus, the HDD 18, and the MEM-C 17. The ASIC 16 includes a PCI target and an AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that forms the core of the ASIC 16, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C 17, 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.

  An FCU (FAX Control Unit) 30, USB (Universal Serial Bus) 40, and IEEE 1394 (The Institute of Electrical Engineers 50) are connected to the ASIC 16 via a PCI bus.

  The MEM-C 17 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.

  The AGP bus 15 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card proposed for speeding up graphics processing. The AGP bus 15 speeds up the graphics accelerator card by directly accessing the MEM-P 12 with high throughput. It is.

  The information processing program in the first multifunction peripheral 100 described above is a file in an installable or executable format, and is a computer-readable recording such as a CD-ROM, floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD), or DVD. It may be provided by being recorded on a medium.

  In this case, the information processing program is loaded onto the main storage device by being read from the recording medium and executed by the first multifunction peripheral 100, and each unit described in the software configuration is generated on the main storage device. It is like that.

  Further, the information processing program of the present embodiment may be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network.

  As described above, the present invention has been described using the embodiment, but various changes or improvements can be added to the above embodiment.

  As an example of such a change, in this embodiment, a network search is performed when a network search is instructed by the user. As another example, the first MFP 100 searches for an address held by itself. When it is determined that the address desired by the user is not registered, a network search may be performed.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the MFP system 1 according to the second embodiment. The MFP system 1 includes a first multifunction device 100, a second multifunction device 200, and a third multifunction device 300 that are connected via a network 3. The third multifunction device 300 has various functions such as a copy function, a scanner function, and a FAX function.

  The first multifunction device 100 further includes a transmission service 118 in addition to the functional configuration of the first multifunction device 100 according to the first embodiment. When the target function to be executed does not exist in the first MFP 100, the transmission service 118 inquires whether each device connected to the network 3 has the target function and requests the provision of the target function. Send offer request message. Then, the device having the target function is instructed to execute the target function.

  The first multifunction device 100 does not include the FAX transmission unit 110 and the Email transmission unit 112. The second multifunction device 200 further includes a transmission service 218 in addition to the functional configuration of the second multifunction device 200 according to the first embodiment. The function of the transmission service 218 is the same as the function of the transmission service 118.

  The third MFP 300 includes a network interface (I / F) 301, a FAX transmission unit 310, an email transmission unit 312, a transmission service 318, a transmission management unit 320, an address database (DB) 340, and an address search. A module 342, an address search service 344, and an address management unit 346 are provided. The function of each part of the third multifunction device 300 is the same as the function of each part having the same name in the first multifunction device 100 or the second multifunction device 200.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an outline of processing in the MFP system 1. If the first multifunction peripheral 100 according to the second embodiment does not have a target function that is desired to be executed, the first multifunction peripheral 100 instructs a device having the target function to execute the target. That is, first, as in the MFP system 1 according to the first embodiment, a desired address is obtained from the second multifunction device 200. Next, the acquired address is passed to the third multifunction device 300 having the target function, and execution of the target function, for example, FAX is instructed.

  FIG. 20 is a sequence diagram illustrating processing in which the MFP system 1 causes other devices to perform FAX transmission. In the second embodiment, as a device other than the first multifunction device 100 connected to the network 3, there is a third multifunction device 300 in addition to the second multifunction device 200. Therefore, when searching for a destination address on the network (step S104, Yes), in addition to transmitting an address inquiry message to the second multifunction device 200 (step S106), the third multifunction device 300 is also informed. Also, an address inquiry message is transmitted (step S107).

  When the second multifunction device 200 and the third multifunction device 300 receive the address inquiry message, the second multifunction device 200 and the third multifunction device 300 perform the address search (steps S108 and S109). The address search result is transmitted to the machine 100 (step S110, step S111). The first MFP 100 displays the address search result based on the address search result received from the second MFP 200 and the address search result received from the third MFP 300. Accordingly, the guidance screen 412 shown in FIG. 13 displays an address list including the search results by the second multifunction device 200 and the search results by the third multifunction device 300.

  Next, when address designation is accepted (step S114), a guidance screen 414 shown in FIG. 14 is displayed. FIG. 21 is a guidance screen 430 displayed when the user selects device designation on the guidance screen 414 shown in FIG. Here, when the user selects a transmission function of another MFP, as illustrated in FIG. 20, the transmission service 118 performs a function search for another device (Yes in step S131). When the user selects the transmission function of the MFP (step S131, No), local processing for selecting the transmission function of the MFP is performed (step S150).

  In the function search of other devices, the transmission service 118 transmits a provision request message to the second multifunction device 200 and the third multifunction device 300 (steps S132 and S134). The provision request message includes a search for only a function related to transmission.

  As another example, more specifically, a provision request message including a search for the FAX function may be transmitted. As another example, a provision request message that does not specifically limit the function may be transmitted.

  When the second multifunction device 200 and the third multifunction device 300 receive the provision request message, the second multifunction device 200 and the third multifunction device 300 search for their own functions (steps S136 and S138). Each of the second multifunction device 200 and the third multifunction device 300 transmits a function search result to the first multifunction device 100 (steps S140 and S142). Here, the function search result is a message indicating a function of each device, and is a message described according to SOAP. That is, a device information message.

  When the transmission service 118 receives the device search result, the transmission service 118 displays the device search result on the operation panel 102 (step S144). That is, the transmission service 118 functions as a device information receiving unit.

  FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the provision request message 520. Specifically, the provision request message 520 is transmitted as a SOAP (Simple Object Access protocol) message. The provision request message 520 includes a function search request 522.

  FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a search result for the provision request message 520, that is, a function search result 330. The search result 530 is returned to the first MFP 100 as a SOAP (Simple Object Access protocol) message. The search result 530 includes four search results 532, 534, 536, and 538.

  FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a guidance screen 432 displayed on the operation panel 102 in step S144. The guidance screen 432 displays a list of functions obtained as a search result. Here, only the transmission function that was the search target is displayed.

  When a desired function is selected and an OK button is selected on the guidance screen 432 shown in FIG. 24, the first multifunction device 100 accepts function designation as shown in FIG. 4 (step S116). That is, the operation panel 102 functions as a function selection unit.

  FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a guide screen 434 displayed when the transmission function is selected on the guide screen 432 shown in FIG. On the guidance screen 434, the function selected by the user and the name of the device having the function are displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when a transmission button is selected on the guidance screen 434 shown in FIG. 25, transmission is executed (step S118). FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing detailed processing in the transmission processing (step S118). Here, a process when the FAX function of the third MFP 300 is selected in step S116 will be described.

  First, the transmission service 118 transmits a FAX transmission instruction including the document ID of the document to be transmitted and the transmission destination address to the third MFP 300 (step S200). When receiving the FAX transmission instruction, the second multifunction device 200 transmits a document request to the first multifunction device 100 based on the document ID (step S202). Next, the first multifunction device 100 transmits the document specified in the document request to the second multifunction device 200 (step S204).

  Next, the second MFP 200 transmits the received document by FAX to the transmission destination included in the FAX transmission instruction (step S206). Next, a FAX transmission completion notification is transmitted to the first MFP 100 (step S208). Thus, the transmission process (step S118) ends. As another example, a document may be transmitted together with a FAX transmission instruction.

  As described above, when the first MFP 100 does not have the function desired by the user, it is possible to instruct other devices connected to the network 3 and having the function to execute the function. , Can improve convenience.

  The remaining configuration and processing of the MFP system 1 according to the second embodiment are the same as the configuration and processing of the MFP system 1 according to the first embodiment.

  As a modified example of the second embodiment, in this embodiment, the target device is first presented to the user, and the device that performs processing according to the selection from the user is selected. The first multifunction device 100 may select an arbitrary device from the target devices and transmit a FAX transmission instruction to the device.

  As another example, when there is one target device, the first MFP 100 transmits a FAX transmission instruction to the device, and when there are a plurality of target devices, the user It is good also as selecting a desired apparatus by.

  As another example, the transmission service 118 may search whether or not the first multifunction device 100 has a target function. That is, the transmission service 118 functions as a function search unit. And it is good also as searching for the function of another apparatus, only when it does not have a target function.

1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an MFP system 1 according to a first embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically the data structure of address DB140. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of processing in the MFP system 1. FIG. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating a FAX transmission process in the MFP system 1. It is a figure which shows the initial screen 400 displayed on the operation panel. It is a figure which shows the guidance screen 402 displayed when document transmission is selected in the guidance screen 400 shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the guidance screen 404 displayed when document selection is received. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a guidance screen 406 displayed when a desired document is selected from a user on the guidance screen 404 shown in FIG. 7. It is a figure which shows the guidance screen 408 displayed when address designation is selected on the guidance screen 406 shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the guidance screen 410 for inputting a network search condition. It is a figure which shows the address inquiry message. It is a figure which shows the address search result 510. FIG. It is a figure which shows the guidance screen 412 displayed on the operation panel 102 in step S112. It is a figure which shows the guidance screen 414 displayed on the operation panel 102 after an address is designated. It is a figure which shows the guidance screen 416 displayed when apparatus designation | designated is selected in the guidance screen 414. FIG. It is a figure which shows the guidance screen 418 displayed when an apparatus is designated on the guidance screen 416 shown in FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the first multifunction peripheral 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the MFP system 1 concerning 2nd Embodiment. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of processing in the MFP system 1. FIG. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating processing in which the MFP system 1 causes another device to perform FAX transmission. 14 is a guidance screen 430 displayed when the user selects device designation on the guidance screen 414 shown in FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a provision request message 320. FIG. It is a figure which shows the function search result. It is a figure which shows the guidance screen 432 displayed on the operation panel 102 in step S144. FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a guide screen 434 displayed when a transmission function is selected on the guide screen 432 shown in FIG. 24. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed process in a transmission process (step S118).

Explanation of symbols

1 MFP system 3 Network 10 Controller 11 CPU
12 MEM-P
12a ROM
12b RAM
13 NB
14 SB
15 AGP bus 16 ASIC
17 MEM-C
18 HDD
30 FCU
40 USB
42 Display Screen 50 IEEE 1394 Interface 60 Engine Unit 100, 200, 300 Multifunction Device 101, 201, 301 Network I / F
102 Operation panel 104 Document transmission application 110, 310 FAX transmission unit 112, 312 Email transmission unit 114, 214 FTP transmission unit 116, 216 SMB transmission unit 118, 218, 318 Transmission service 120, 220, 320 Transmission management unit 130 Document DB
132 Document management unit 140, 240, 340 Address DB
142,242,342 Address Search Module 144,244,344 Address Search Service 146,246,346 Address Management Unit

Claims (21)

An information processing apparatus connected to a network,
Target data holding means for holding target data to be subjected to predetermined processing;
Execution instruction acquisition means for acquiring an instruction to execute the process on the target data;
Requesting a device connected to the network to provide a function that is a message described in accordance with a message exchange protocol and that executes the process indicated by the execution instruction acquired by the execution instruction acquisition unit. Providing request transmitting means for transmitting a providing request message that is a message to be transmitted;
A device information receiving means for receiving a device information message, which is a message described in accordance with the message exchange protocol and indicating a function of the device from a device connected to the network;
Device selection means for selecting a predetermined device on the network based on the device information message received by the device information receiving means;
An execution request transmission that transmits an execution request message that is a message described according to the message exchange protocol and that requests execution of the processing on the target data to the device selected by the device selection means. And an information processing apparatus. A function search means for searching for a function of the information processing apparatus;
The provision request transmission means transmits the provision request message when the function search means does not detect a function for executing the process indicated by the execution instruction acquired by the execution instruction acquisition means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The provision request transmitting means transmits the provision request message described in accordance with SOAP (Simple Object Access protocol),
The device information receiving means receives the device information message described in accordance with the SOAP;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the execution request transmission unit transmits the execution request message described in accordance with the SOAP.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the execution request transmission unit transmits target data identification information for identifying the target data together with the execution request.   The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the execution request transmission unit transmits the target data together with the execution request. The execution instruction acquisition means acquires a transmission job execution instruction,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the device selection unit selects a device capable of executing the transmission job on the network.   7. The information processing according to claim 6, wherein the provision request transmitting unit transmits the provision request message when a transmission application for executing the processing indicated by the execution instruction is not installed. apparatus.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the device selection unit selects a device on which the transmission application is installed.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the device selection unit selects the device according to an instruction from a user.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the network is a local network. Address inquiry transmission means for transmitting an address inquiry message, which is a message described according to the message exchange protocol and inquires about the transmission destination address of the target data, to a device connected to the network When,
Destination address receiving means for receiving a destination address message that is a message described according to the message exchange protocol from the device that holds the destination address and that indicates the destination address; and
11. The execution request transmitting unit transmits the execution request message including the transmission destination address received by the transmission destination address receiving unit to a device selected by the device selection unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The address inquiry transmission means transmits the address inquiry message described in accordance with the SOAP,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the transmission destination address receiving unit receives the transmission destination address message described in accordance with the SOAP.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the address inquiry message is information for inquiring a transmission address in a predetermined transmission function to which the target data is to be transmitted. It further comprises address holding means for holding the address of another device,
14. The address inquiry transmission unit transmits the address inquiry message when the transmission destination address is not held in the address holding unit. Information processing device.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the address holding unit holds the transmission destination address for each transmission function of another device.   16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an address registration unit that registers the transmission destination address received by the transmission destination address reception unit in the address holding unit.   16. The address deletion unit according to claim 11, further comprising an address deletion unit that deletes the transmission destination address received by the transmission destination address reception unit after the execution request transmission unit transmits the execution request. The information processing apparatus according to one item. An information processing apparatus connected to a network,
Target data holding means for holding target data to be subjected to predetermined transmission processing;
Address inquiry transmission means for transmitting an address inquiry message, which is a message described according to the message exchange protocol and inquires about the transmission destination address of the target data, to a device connected to the network When,
Destination address receiving means for receiving a destination address message that is a message written according to the message exchange protocol and indicating the destination address from a device that holds the destination address;
An information processing apparatus comprising: target data transmission means for transmitting the target data to the transmission destination address received by the transmission destination address reception means. An information processing method in an information processing apparatus connected to a network,
An execution instruction acquisition step of acquiring an instruction to execute the process on the target data held by the target data holding unit holding the target data to be subjected to a predetermined process;
Requesting a device connected to the network to provide a function that is a message described in accordance with a message exchange protocol and that executes the process indicated by the execution instruction acquired by the execution instruction acquisition unit. A provision request transmission step for transmitting a provision request message that is a message to be transmitted;
A device information receiving step for receiving a device information message, which is a message described in accordance with the message exchange protocol and is a message indicating a function of the device from a device connected to the network;
A device selection step of selecting a predetermined device on the network based on the device information message received in the device information reception step;
An execution request transmission that transmits an execution request message that is a message described according to the message exchange protocol and that requests execution of the processing on the target data to the device selected in the device selection step. And an information processing method. An information processing method in an information processing apparatus connected to a network,
An address that is a message described in accordance with the message exchange protocol and that inquires about a transmission destination address of the target data held by a target data holding unit that holds target data to be subjected to predetermined transmission processing An address inquiry transmission step of transmitting an inquiry message to a device connected to the network;
A destination address receiving step of receiving a destination address message, which is a message described according to the message exchange protocol and indicating the destination address, from a device holding the destination address;
And a target data transmission step of transmitting the target data to the transmission destination address received in the transmission destination address reception step.   An information processing program causing a computer to execute the information processing method according to claim 19 or 20.

Images