JP2009017592A - Image forming apparatus and document management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an image forming apparatus providing Web services for unitarily managing the documents received from a plurality of ports, having different communication protocols and sending the documents, in response to a polling, which is sent from an information processing apparatus connected via a network, for obtaining the documents. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of communication ports for sending and receiving data, according to different communication protocols; a data management part for storing and unitarily managing the data received from among the plurality of communication ports as a data file in a storage part; and a data-distributing part for distributing the data file to a device, in response to a polling relating to obtaining of the data file from the device connected via a network. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention centrally manages documents received from a plurality of ports having different communication procedures, and stores the documents in response to polling for acquiring the documents from an information processing apparatus connected via a network. An image forming apparatus that provides a Web service to be transmitted is provided.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 1, a push type that receives image data received by FAX from an image forming apparatus 901 having a FAX reception function and a network function via a network and distributes it to a predetermined user PC (Personal Computer) There is a reception distribution server 902 for distributing image data.

  Since the image forming apparatus 901 knows the timing of receiving the FAX, the image data received by FAX can be transmitted to the reception delivery server 902 immediately after reception. The reception distribution server 902 temporarily stores the image data transmitted from the image forming apparatus 901 in a data storage HD (Hard Disk) 903 and distributes the image data to the user PC 904 to be distributed.

  As described above, by providing the reception delivery server 902 capable of controlling delivery to the user PC 904 and constructing the network configuration, it is possible to receive a FAX even when the user PC 904 does not have a FAX function.

  However, in the conventional PUSH type network configuration, it is necessary to provide the reception delivery server 902. Therefore, in a small office, there is a problem that it is not necessary to place a high-function server, and it becomes a burden to manage a new server on the network.

  In such a small office, the image data (document) received by the FAX function of the image forming apparatus 901 is temporarily stored in the memory, but the image data (document) is used as electronic data. In other words, it was necessary to always manage the sheets formed and output.

  Furthermore, in recent years, with the widespread use of office equipment, various image formations such as image data (documents) not only by FAX but also by copying, sending by e-mail via a network, etc. have been made. These image data (documents) have been acquired by various communication procedures. Since these image data are managed for each function in which images are formed, when the user receives similar image data (documents) by both FAX and e-mail, a time lag occurs depending on the timing received by the user. As a result, there is a problem that causes confusion in determining which image data is the latest.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to centrally manage documents received from a plurality of ports having different communication procedures, and to respond to polling for acquiring the documents from an information processing apparatus connected via a network. An image forming apparatus that provides a Web service for transmitting the document is provided.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a plurality of communication ports for transmitting and receiving data using different communication protocols, and means for storing data received from the plurality of communication ports as a data file. Data management means for storing data in a centralized manner and data delivery means for delivering the data file to the device in response to polling related to acquisition of the data file from a device connected via a network. Configured to have.

  In such an image forming apparatus, a specified document (image) is sent in response to polling in which the image forming apparatus inquires about the state of the image forming apparatus from a device without installing a reception / delivery server on the network other than the image forming apparatus. Data) can be provided to the device. Further, since the image forming apparatus centrally manages the image data received from a plurality of ports, it is not necessary to mount various communication means. Also, image data desired by the user can be taken into the device from the centrally managed image data.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plurality of image forming means for forming an image, wherein the data management means stores data relating to the image generated by the plurality of image forming means. It can be configured to be stored in the storage means as a file and to manage data centrally.

  In such an image forming apparatus, for example, image data generated by a FAX, a plotter, a scanner, or the like can be centrally managed as a data file. Therefore, it is not necessary to connect various image forming apparatuses to the device side and manage individually generated image data.

  Further, according to the present invention, as described in claim 3, when the data distribution unit receives the system information acquisition request indicating whether the polling is possible, the system information provision unit provides the system information to the device. And a file providing means for providing the data file corresponding to the file identification information specified by the acquisition request to the device when the data file acquisition request is received from the device. .

  Such an image forming apparatus can provide system information and a data file in response to a request transmitted as polling from the device.

  In addition, according to the present invention, when a data file extraction request is received from the device, the extraction condition for extracting the data file from the storage means specified in the extraction request and the post-extraction It is possible to configure to have an extraction result providing means for executing processing according to the sorting method and providing the sorted extraction result to the device. Further, according to the present invention, as described in claim 5, the extraction result providing means can be configured to extract data related information relating to data of the data file from the storage means according to the extraction condition. . In the present invention, the extraction result providing means extracts the item to be extracted specified in the extraction request according to the extraction condition, and the value of the item is used as the extraction result. It can comprise so that it may provide to the said apparatus.

  In such an image forming apparatus, it is possible to extract only the designated items of the bibliographic information of the data file according to the extraction condition designated by the device, and provide the sorted items according to the bibliographic information items according to the designated sorting method. it can.

  Further, according to the present invention, the file providing means includes a first means for confirming validity of the file identification information, and an access to the data file identified by the file identification information. A second means for confirming the right and a third means for writing out the data file identified by the file identification information for transmission to the network can be provided.

  In such an image forming apparatus, since the data file is not provided to the device unconditionally, the safety of the data file is guaranteed.

  Further, according to the present invention, as described in claim 8, when the file providing unit receives the data file deletion request from the device, the file providing unit is identified by the file identification information specified in the deletion request. The data file can be configured to have a deletion unit that deletes the data file from the storage unit.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, communication control means for performing communication control according to a predetermined Web communication protocol and the polling can be received according to the predetermined Web communication protocol. Further, according to the present invention, as described in claim 10, the distribution providing means interprets the content of the request according to a predetermined description format, and creates a processing result corresponding to the request according to the predetermined description format. It can comprise so that it may have a description format processing means. Further, according to the present invention, the delivery providing means processes the request according to a predetermined message exchange protocol received by the communication control means and notifies the description format processing means. In addition, the communication control unit can be configured to have a message exchange processing unit that transmits a response created from the processing result created by the description forming formula processing unit according to the message exchange protocol to the device.

  In such an image forming apparatus, communication with a device can be performed according to, for example, HTTP. Therefore, polling can be received by an HTTP request and image data specified by an HTTP response can be provided. Furthermore, it can be a message described in XML according to SOAP in the body part of the HTTP request and HTTP response. The image forming apparatus can provide information according to polling from a device as a Web service.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the image forming apparatus responds to polling for inquiring about the state of the image forming apparatus from the user terminal without installing a reception delivery server on the network other than the image forming apparatus. The designated document (image data) can be provided to the user terminal. Further, since the image forming apparatus centrally manages the image data received from a plurality of ports, it is not necessary to mount various communication means. In addition, image data desired by the user can be taken into the user terminal from the centrally managed image data.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration for distributing PULL type image data according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “multifunction machine”) 1200 that combines various image forming functions according to the present invention has at least a FAX reception function and a network function, and includes a plurality of user PCs 10 and a network 15. Connected through. Details of the functional configuration of the MFP 1200 will be described later. The multi-function apparatus 1200 can store documents received by a FAX reception function in an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 1303 and manage the documents.

  The MFP 1200 and each user PC 10 can communicate with each other using HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), and the user PC 10 receives a request regarding document data received by the MFP 1200 and managed (document ID list or acquisition of document data). The HTTP request indicating the request (etc.) is transmitted, and the processing result executed by the MFP 1200 in response to the HTTP request is returned as an HTTP response.

  As described above, the MFP 1200 executes a process or transmits information by transmitting an HTTP response in response to an HTTP request received from the user PC 10 and provides a Web service.

  An image forming apparatus that fuses various image forming functions according to an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as a fusion machine) has a functional configuration as shown in FIG. 3, for example. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a multi-function apparatus that fuses various image forming functions according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 3, the MFP 1200 includes a plotter 1201, a scanner 1202, an FCU (Fax Control Unit) 1320, other hardware resources 1203, and the like, and a software group 1210 including a platform 1220 and an application 1230. And a multi-function apparatus starting unit 1240.

  The MFP starter 1240 is first executed when the MFP 1200 is turned on to start the platform 1220 and the application 1230.

  The platform 1220 interprets a processing request from the application 1230, generates a hardware resource acquisition request, and manages one or a plurality of hardware resources, and acquires from the control service 1250. It has a system resource manager (SRM (System Resource Manager) 1223) that arbitrates requests, and an OS (Operating System) 1221.

  The control service 1250 is formed by a plurality of service modules. Specifically, an SCS (System Control Service) 1222, an ECS (Engine Control Service) 1224, an MCS (Memory Control Service) 1225, and an OCS (Operation panel control service) 1226, FCS (FAX Control Service) 1227, NCS (Network Control Service) 1228, and IMH (Imaging Memory Handler) 1229. Note that the platform 1220 has a function defined in advance. It has an application program interface that can receive a processing request from an application.

  The OS 1221 is an operating system such as UNIX (registered trademark), and executes the software of the platform 1220 and the application 1230 in parallel as processes. By using open source UNIX (registered trademark), the safety of the program can be secured, the network can be supported, and the source code can be easily obtained. Furthermore, OS and TCP / IP royalties are unnecessary, and outsourcing is easy.

  The SRM 1223 controls the system and manages resources together with the SCS 1222, and includes engine units such as a plotter 1201 and a scanner 1202, a memory, an HDD file, a host I / O (centronics I / F, network I / F, IEEE 1394 I / (F, RS232CI / F, etc.) arbitration is performed according to a request from an upper layer using hardware resources, and execution control is performed.

  Specifically, the SRM 1223 determines whether the requested hardware resource is available (whether it is not used by another request). If it is available, the requested hardware resource is Tell the upper layer that it is available. Also, hardware resource usage scheduling may be performed in response to a request from an upper layer, and the requested contents (for example, paper conveyance and image forming operation by the printer engine, memory allocation, file generation, etc.) may be directly executed. .

  The SCS 1222 includes application management (function 1), operation unit control (function 2), system screen display (job list screen, counter display screen, etc.) (function 3), LED display (function 4), resource management (function 5), A plurality of functions such as interrupt application control (function 6) are performed. Specifically, in application management (function 1), application registration and processing for notifying other applications of the information are performed. In the operation unit control (function 2), exclusive control of the operation unit use right of the application is performed. In the system screen display (function 3), a warning screen corresponding to the state of the engine unit is displayed according to the request content from the application having the operation unit usage right. In LED display (function 4), display control of system LEDs such as warning LEDs and application keys is performed. Resource management (function 5) provides services for exclusive control of engine resources (scanners, staples, etc.) that must be excluded when an application (ECS) executes a job. In the interrupt application control (function 6), control and service for preferential operation of a specific application are performed.

  The ECS 1224 controls engine units such as the FCU 1320, the plotter 1201, the scanner 1202, and other hardware resources 1203, and performs image reading and printing operations, status notification, jam recovery, and the like.

  The MCS 1225 performs memory control. Specifically, the MCS 1225 acquires and releases an image memory, uses a hard disk device (HDD), compresses and decompresses image data, and the like.

  The OCS 1226 is a module that controls an operation panel serving as information transmission means between the operator and the main body control, and provides a process for notifying the main body control of an operator's key operation event and a library function for each application to construct a GUI. Processing, processing for managing the constructed GUI information for each application, display reflection processing on the operation panel, and the like are performed.

  The FCS 1227 performs facsimile transmission / reception using PSTN / ISDN network from each application layer of the system controller, registration / quotation of various facsimile data managed by BKM (backup SRAM), facsimile reading, facsimile reception printing, and fusion transmission / reception. API (Application Program Interface).

  The NCS 1228 is a module group for providing a service that can be commonly used for applications that require network I / O. The NCS 1228 distributes data received by each protocol from the network side to each application, and distributes data from the application. Mediates when sending to the network side.

  In the present embodiment, the NCS 1228 controls data communication with a network device connected via the Internet by HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Daemon) 2 among a plurality of protocols by using an HTTP request header. A plurality of Web services necessary for the processing specified in (1) are activated by function calls, and processing results of the plurality of Web services are notified to the network device by HTTP responses. For example, the Web service performs processing according to a message described in XML (eXtensible Markup Language).

  The IMH 1229 maps image data from a virtual memory area (user virtual space) to a physical memory. In response to process activation, a system call is performed to map a process virtual memory area, or to release the mapped virtual memory area at the end of the process.

  The application 1230 includes a printer application 1211 that is a printer application having a page description language (PDL), PCL, and postscript (PS), a copy application 1212 that is a copy application, and a fax application 1213 that is a facsimile application. A scanner application 1214 that is a scanner application, a Web service processing application 1215 that is a Web service application, and a distribution application 1217 that is a distribution application.

  Since each application 1211 to 1217 can execute an operation by using each process on the platform 1220, a screen display control program for performing screen control, key operation control, job generation, and the like is the main component. Note that a new application can also be installed via the network via the network connected by the NCS 1228. Each application can be added or deleted for each application.

  The web service processing application 1215 performs predetermined processing using a message processing unit 80 that exchanges messages according to SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) or a predetermined description format, and a control service 1250 via an API (Application Program Interface), It has at least one Web service function (WSF) 1400 that provides the processing result as a Web service via a WS-API (Web Service Application Program Interface).

  As described above, the MFP 1200 centrally processes the processing that is commonly required for each application by the platform 1220.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the MFP 1200 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the multi-function apparatus shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the MFP 1200 includes an operation unit 1310, an engine unit 1350 including an FCU (fax control unit) 1320, a plotter 1201, a scanner 1202, and other hardware 1203, and an ASIC 1301 of the controller 1300. Are connected by a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus or the like. The FCU 1320 includes a nonvolatile memory (SAF) 1321 for storing received fax data and an RTC (Real Time Clock) 1322 for measuring time in the FCU 1320. Send and receive. The FCU 1320 may further include G3 standard and G4 standard as options.

  The controller 1300 connects the ASIC 1301 to the MEM-C 1302, HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 1303, and the like, and connects the ASIC 1301 and the CPU 1304 via the NB 1305 of the CPU chipset. Thus, the reason for connecting via the NB 1305 is that the interface of the CPU 1304 itself is not disclosed.

  Here, the ASIC 1301 and the NB 1305 are not connected via the PCI, but are connected via the AGP 1308. The reason for the connection via the AGP 1308 is that the MFP 1200 executes and controls a plurality of processes forming the platform 1220 and the application 1230. This is because of a decrease.

  The CPU 1304 performs overall control of the MFP 1200. Specifically, the SCS 1222, SRM 1223, ECS 1224, MCS 1225, OCS 1226, FCS 1227, and NCS 1228 that form the platform 1220 on the OS 1221 are started and executed as processes. At the same time, the printer application 1211, the copy application 1212, the fax application 1213, the scanner application 1214, the Web service processing application 1215, and the distribution application 1217 that form the application 1230 are activated and executed.

  The NB 1305 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 1304 to the MEM-P 1306, SB 1307, and ASIC 1301. The MEM-P 1306 is a system memory used as a drawing memory of the MFP, and the MEM-C 1302 is a copy image buffer. The ASIC 1301 is an image processing application IC having hardware elements for image processing.

  In addition to connecting to the SB 1307 via the PCI bus, the NB 1305 includes a NIC (Network Interface Controller) 1311 that controls network communication, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) target 1312 that can capture data by being handled as a USB disk, IEEE 1394 1313, Centronics 1314 that can be connected by a parallel cable, serial 1315 that can be connected by a serial cable, and a USB host 1316 that can send and receive large-capacity image data by connecting to another USB target (for example, a personal computer). And connect.

  The SB 1307 is a bridge for connecting the NB 1305 to the ROM, PCI device, and peripheral device. The SB 1307 has an RTC (Real Time Clock) 1323 that measures the time in the controller 1300. The SB 1307 has a USB host inside, and can capture image data by connecting a USB-connected camera, for example, and can also receive data from other USB targets.

  In the MFP 1200, data transmitted / received to / from the HDD 1303 via a plurality of standard G3, G3 option, and G4 option ports of the SB 1307, the NIC 1311, the USB target 1312, the IEEE1394, the Centronics 1314, the serial 1315, the USB host 1316, and the FCU 1320. Accumulated and managed centrally.

  The HDD 1310 is a storage for accumulating image data, accumulating programs, accumulating font data, and accumulating forms. The operation panel 1310 accepts input operations from an operator and displays them for the operator. It is an operation unit.

  Therefore, the ASIC 1301 is provided with a RAM interface for connecting the MEM-C 1302 and a hard disk interface for connecting the HDD 1310. When inputting / outputting image data to / from these storage units, an input / output is performed. The destination is switched to the RAM interface or the hard disk interface.

  The AGP 1308 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card that has been proposed to speed up graphics processing, and makes the graphics accelerator card faster by directly accessing the system memory with high throughput.

  Hereinafter, a functional configuration example for providing the Web service by the MFP 1200 having the above-described functional configuration illustrated in FIG. 3 and the hardware configuration illustrated in FIG. 4 will be described. Here, the Web service means that the MFP 1200 performs a predetermined process in response to a service request by an HTTP request from a network device and provides the processing result to the network device as an HTTP response. The body part of the HTTP request and HTTP response is described in XML.

  Hereinafter, a functional configuration of the MFP 1200 that enables provision of a Web service will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a first functional configuration example of a multi-function peripheral that provides a Web service. 5, only the main functional configuration is illustrated in the functional configuration of the MFP 1200 illustrated in FIG. 3, and other functional configurations are omitted. The multi-function apparatus 1200 is connected via a network 15 to a user PC 10 that is provided with a Web service.

  In FIG. 5, the MFP 1200 processes httpd2 that performs communication control according to HTTP, a distributor 30 that distributes processing to the Web service providing processing unit corresponding to the HTTP request, and analyzes and generates XML to process messages. Message processing unit 80, file management Web service provision processing unit 40, system information acquisition web service provision processing unit 41 and other web service provision processing unit 49 as a plurality of web service provision processing units, SCS 1222, MCU 225, and FCS 1227 An FCU 1320, a plotter 1201, a scanner 1202, an HDD 1303, an operation panel 1310, and the like.

  The message processing unit 80 includes an XML processing unit 50 shared by the plurality of Web service providing processing units 40, 41, and 49, and a Web message based on a processing message indicating the processing content of the Web service analyzed by the XML processing unit 50. And a dispatcher 60 that distributes to any of the service provision processing units 40, 41, and 49. Note that the MFP 1200 can be configured to have more Web service provision processing units.

  The image management Web service provision processing unit 40 analyzes the HTTP request message related to the image, causes the image management execution unit 400 to perform processing according to the message, and the processing result of the image management execution unit 400 set in the HTTP response. Is generated as a message. The image management execution unit 400 executes the processing specified by the HTTP request distributed by the dispatcher 60 by accessing the HDD 1303 in which the document (image data) is stored, and returns a processing result Web service function (WSF) 1400.

  Here, the HDD 1303 is an auxiliary storage device for storing a document, but can store various image data generated by the FCU 1320, the plotter 1201, and the scanner 1202 as a document. A document (image data) stored in the HDD 1303 can be accessed from the hard disk provided in the user PC 10 by using the Web service provided by the multi-functional apparatus 1200. Data) can be extracted from the HDD 1303.

  The system information acquisition Web service provision processing unit 40 analyzes an HTTP request message related to the MFP 1200, causes the system information acquisition execution unit 401 to perform processing according to the message, and executes system information acquisition execution set in the HTTP response. The processing result by the unit 401 is generated as a message. The system information acquisition execution unit 401 is a Web service function (WSF) 1400 that executes the process specified by the HTTP request distributed by the dispatcher 61 and returns the processing result.

  The user PC 10 connected to the MFP 1200 via the network 15 controls input data from an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse and also controls output data to be displayed on the monitor 9. An XML processing unit 13 for processing the processing contents of the Web service for the MFP 1200 and the processing result of the Web service from the MFP 1200 by XML, and a request / response processing unit for analyzing a request generation and a response according to HTTP 14.

  Here, the HTTP request indicates that a Web service is requested by data communication in accordance with HTTP, and the HTTP response indicates a response that notifies the processing result of the Web service. Further, in this first functional configuration example, the body part of the HTTP request and the HTTP response is described in XML.

  A user using such a user PC 10 requests the MFP 1200 from a screen for requesting the MFP 1200 for a desired Web service displayed on the monitor 9 (step S1). In response to the web service request from the user, the input / output control unit 11 notifies the request / response processing unit 14 of the request data (step S2). The request / response processing unit 14 generates an HTTP request based on the request data from the input / output control unit 11 (step S3). When the XML processing unit 13 describes the processing content in the body of the HTTP request by XML, the request / response processing unit 14 The request is transmitted to the MFP 1200 via the network 15 (step S4).

  When the MFP 1200 receives the HTTP request by httpd2, the distributor 30 distributes the received HTTP request to one of the Web service providing processing units 40, 41, and 49 specified by the header part of the HTTP request (step S5). For example, when the image management Web service provision processing unit 40 is specified in the header part of the HTTP request, the image management Web service provision processing unit 40 is function-called by the distributor 30.

  In the image management Web service provision processing unit 40, the XML processing unit 50 acquires the processing content from the body part described in XML of the HTTP request (step S6), and notifies the dispatcher 60 of the acquired processing content (step S7). . The dispatcher 60 distributes the processing by the Web service to the image management Web service execution unit 400 according to the notified processing content (Step S8). The image management Web service execution unit 400 executes processing on the HDD 1303 according to the processing content, and acquires the processing result (step S9). For example, processing such as acquisition of a document ID specified in the processing content and acquisition of a document (image data) is executed.

  The image management Web service execution unit 400 notifies the processing result to the XML processing unit 50 (step S10). The XML processing unit 50 generates a body part of an HTTP response in which the notified processing result is described in XML (step S11). Then, the XML processing unit 50 that receives the notification from the image management Web service providing processing unit 40 transmits an HTTP response having the processing result described in XML as a body part to the user PC 10 via httpd2.

  When the HTTP response is received by the user PC 10, the XML processing unit 13 analyzes the body part of the HTTP response and obtains a processing result (step S13), and the request / response processing unit 14 obtains the obtained processing result. Is output to the input / output control unit 11 as output data to be displayed on the monitor 9 (step S14). Then, the input / output control unit 11 performs control so that the received output data is displayed on the monitor 9 (step S15).

  In the above, by scheduling the user PC 10 to automatically inquire the MFP 1200, steps S1 and S15 can be omitted. When the received output data includes image data, the image data may be stored in a predetermined storage area, and the image data may be displayed on the monitor 9 as required by the user.

  Even when the user PC 10 is provided with a Web service from the system information acquisition Web service provision processing unit 41 of the MFP 1200, the same processing flow as described above is performed. When receiving the HTTP request, the system information acquisition Web service provision processing unit 41 acquires system information of the MFP 1200 from the SCS 1222 by the system information acquisition execution unit 401 and provides the result to the user PC 10 as an HTTP response.

  Further, the image management Web service provision processing unit 40 can also perform the internal processing of the MFP 1200. For example, when receiving the FAX reception notification from the MCS 1225, the image management Web service provision processing unit 40 can cause the image management execution unit 400 to perform processing so as to manage the bibliographic information of the image data received by FAX.

  In the first functional configuration example, the user PC 10 describes the processing contents in the body part of the HTTP request in accordance with the XML description format decided in advance, so that the FCU 1320, the plotter 1201, and the The document ID of the image data generated by the scanner 1202 can be acquired, or desired image data can be acquired using the acquired document ID.

  Further, the MFP 1200 describes the processing result in the body part of the HTTP response in accordance with the XML description format determined in advance, thereby giving the user PC 10 the document ID of the image data or the image data desired by the user. It can be provided as a Web service. In this way, the multi-function apparatus 1200 can also provide a web service related to image data to a plurality of user PCs 10 via the network 15.

  Next, a functional configuration example of the MFP 1200 that can provide a Web service according to SOAP will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a second functional configuration example of a multi-function peripheral that provides a Web service. In FIG. 6, the same components as those in FIG. Since the processing flow is the same, the description thereof is omitted.

  In the second functional configuration example shown in FIG. 6, the MFP 1200 includes a SOAP processing unit 70 that controls message exchange according to the SOAP shared by the plurality of Web service providing processing units 40, 41, and 49 in the message processing unit 80. And the XML processing unit 50 and the dispatcher 60 are different from the first functional configuration example in that the SOAP processing unit 70 includes the XML processing unit 50 and the dispatcher 60. In addition, the user PC 10 has a SOAP processing unit 12 for exchanging messages with the MFP 1200 according to SOAP, and the XML processing unit 13 for processing a message described in XML is included in the SOAP processing unit 12. The configuration is different from the first functional configuration example.

  In such a multi-function apparatus 1200, the SOAP processing unit 70 analyzes the header part of the HTTP request, distributes the process by the dispatcher 60, and the XML processing unit 50 processes the processing content from the message described in XML of the body part of the HTTP request. To get. For example, the dispatcher 60 distributes the processing by the Web service to either the image management execution unit 400 or the system information acquisition execution unit 401. After that, the SOAP processing unit 70 that has received the processing result from the file management execution unit 400 that executed the processing describes the processing result in XML in the body part of the HTTP request by the XML processing unit 50, and the HTTP request in accordance with SOAP. Is transmitted to the user PC 10.

  In the second functional configuration example, the dispatcher 60 may be included in the XML processing unit 50.

  The processing flow in which the image data accumulated by the user PC 10 is provided as a Web service from the MFP 1200 has been described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. Next, after the FCU 1320 receives the FAX, it is stored in the HDD 1303 for image management. Processing until bibliographic information is managed by the execution unit 400 will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the FAX reception process. In FIG. 7, when the FCU 1320 receives a fax in a fax reception standby state (step S111), the FCU 1320 starts receiving the fax and receives image data (step S112). On the other hand, when there is no FAX reception, the FAX reception standby state is entered as it is. The FCU 1320 accumulates the received image data in the nonvolatile memory (SAF) 1321 (step S113).

  The FCS 1227 receives a notification from the FCS 1320, and uses the MCS 1225 to copy the image data to the HDD 1303 (step S114). By copying to the HDD 1303, it is possible to provide a function as mirroring in case of failure.

  Upon receiving the FAX reception notification from the MCS 1225, the image management execution unit 400 creates the bibliographic information received by FAX (Step S115). The image management execution unit 400 manages the bibliography (step S116), returns to step S111, and waits for FAX reception.

  As described above, in step S114, by copying the image data received by FAX to the HDD 1303, it is possible to provide a function as mirroring provided in the event of a failure. Since the SAF 1321 of the FCU 1320 is a FAX reception memory, it has a relatively small capacity and cannot be configured to manage received image data as a document. Accordingly, by copying the image data received by FAX to the HDD 1303, the image data can be managed in the same way as other documents. Similarly, by copying the image data generated by the plotter 1201 and the scanner 1202 to the HDD 1303, the image data generated by various means can be centrally managed by the HDD 1303.

  Information relating to image data that is centrally managed in this way is processed by the image management execution unit 400 so that it can be easily used from the network 15. For example, processing such as adding an index for easy retrieval, processing as image data read by an OCR (Optical Character Reader), or converting an image according to various uses is performed.

  The configuration of the bibliographic information of the image data managed by the procedure described with reference to FIG. 7 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of bibliographic information. In FIG. 8, bibliographic information managed by each processing unit is shown side by side. FIG. 8A shows bibliographic information for FAX reception.

  In FIG. 8A, the SAF 1321, the MCS 1225, and the image management execution unit 400 of the FCU 1320 manage the bibliographic information for FAX reception. Bibliographic information managed by the SAF 1321 includes image data (raw data at the time of FAX reception), date and time received by the RTC 1322 of the FCU 1320, sender information (for example, the telephone number of the sender), and the image data in the SAF 1321. Items such as a SAF document ID and port information regarding a port that the FCU 1320 can use.

  Bibliographic information managed by the MCS 1225 includes items such as received image data, FAX specific information including information managed by the SAF 1321, accumulation time by the RTC 1323 of the SB 1307 accumulated in the MCS 1225, thumbnails to be displayed on the operation panel 1310, and the like. Have Bibliographic information managed by the MCS 1225 is referred to when necessary information is displayed on the operation panel 1310. The area for storing FAX specific information is an area for storing printer specific information or copy specific information when image data is generated by the plotter 1201 or the scanner 1202.

  The bibliographic information managed by the image management execution unit 400 includes a document ID for specifying a document (image data), a reception date and time received by FAX, sender information, a SAF document ID, port information, and the bibliographic information by the image management execution unit 400. The SB 1307 stores the date and time of storage by the RTC 1323, the thumbnail ID for specifying the thumbnail, the search index, and the like. The reception date and time, sender information, SAF document ID, and port information are information extracted from the FAX specific information of the MCS 1225. By using the document ID as a pointer indicating the position of the image data managed by the MCS 1225, it is not necessary to manage the image data itself redundantly, and the storage area can be used effectively. Similarly, the thumbnail ID can also be a pointer indicating the position of the thumbnail managed by the MCS 1225. Bibliographic information managed by the image management execution unit 400 is referred to in order to provide a Web service via the network 15.

  As described above, at the time of FAX reception, the bibliographic information is managed by the SAF 1321, the MCS 1225, and the image management execution unit 400.

  FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a configuration of bibliographic information for copy storage. In FIG. 8B, the MCS 1225 and the image management execution unit 400 manage bibliographic information for copy storage.

  Bibliographic information managed by the MCS 1225 includes image data generated by the scanner 1202, copy specific information notified by the scanner 1202, accumulation time by the RTC 1323 of the SB 1307 accumulated in the MCS 1225, thumbnails to be displayed on the operation panel 1310, and the like. Have items. Bibliographic information managed by the MCS 1225 is referred to when necessary information is displayed on the operation panel 1310.

  The bibliographic information managed by the image management execution unit 400 includes the document ID for specifying the document (image data), the number of copies, finisher information, image processing information, and the storage by the RTC 1323 of the SB 1307 in which the image management execution unit 400 stores the bibliographic information. It has items such as date and time and thumbnail ID for specifying the thumbnail. The number of copies, finisher information, and image processing information are information extracted from the copy specific information of the MCS 1225. The document ID is a pointer indicating the position of image data managed by the MCS 1225. Similarly, the thumbnail ID is also a pointer indicating the position of the thumbnail managed by the MCS 1225. Bibliographic information managed by the image management execution unit 400 is referred to in order to provide a Web service via the network 15.

  Thus, bibliographic information is managed by the MCS 1225 and the image management execution unit 400 during copying.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a polling process from the user PC to the multi-function peripheral. In FIG. 9, the user PC 10 determines whether or not to continuously poll the MFP 1200 (step S121). If the polling is not continued, the polling process is terminated. On the other hand, if polling is to be continued, a designated time is waited (step S122).

  After the specified time elapses, it is checked whether or not the device can be polled (step S123). That is, the user PC 10 transmits an HTTP request to the system information acquisition execution unit 401 of the MFP 1200. The user PC 10 determines whether or not the MFP 1200 is in a pollable state based on an HTTP response from the MFP 1200. If the MFP 1200 is not in a pollable state, the polling process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the MFP 1200 is in a pollable state, the number of newly received documents is confirmed with the device (step S124). That is, the user PC 10 transmits an HTTP request to the image management execution unit 400 of the MFP 1200. The user PC 10 acquires the number of newly received documents by the HTTP response from the multi-function apparatus 1200. If this HTTP response indicates that there is no new document, the process returns to step S121.

  On the other hand, if it indicates that there is a document, the received document is taken from the device (step S125). That is, an HTTP request for requesting a received document is transmitted to the image management execution unit 400 of the MFP 1200, and the received document is received by an HTTP response from the MFP 1200. The user PC 10 requests deletion of the received document received from the device (step S126). That is, the user PC 10 transmits an HTTP request for deleting the received document to the image management execution unit 400 of the MFP 1200 and receives the deletion completion by the HTTP response from the MFP 1200.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 9, the received document is deleted. However, the image may be continuously managed by the image management execution unit 400 of the MFP 1200 without being deleted.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an outline of Web service providing processing by the multi-function peripheral. In FIG. 10, the multi-function apparatus 1200 determines whether an HTTP request transmitted from the user PC 10 and other devices (devices other than the PC) connected via the network 15 has been received (step S131). If an HTTP request has not been received, the process returns to step S131 to wait for an HTTP request. On the other hand, when an HTTP request is received, a message set in the HTTP request is interpreted (step S132).

  Processing corresponding to the message set in the HTTP request is executed (step S133). The multi-function device 1200 creates an HTTP response based on the processing result obtained by executing the processing (step S134). Then, the MFP 1200 transmits the created HTTP response to the transmission source of the HTTP request.

  The processing performed in the MFP 1200 when the user PC 10 receives the HTTP response indicating the request for acquiring the system information transmitted to the system information acquisition execution unit 401 of the MFP 1200 in Step S123 of FIG. explain.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining system information providing processing by the multi-function peripheral. In FIG. 11, in the MFP 1200, the system information acquisition executing unit 401 collects system setting information with the SCS 1222 (step S141). At this time, the system information acquisition execution unit 401 acquires from the SCS 1222 whether or not the MFP 1200 supports polling. Then, the MFP 1200 sets the system setting information including the presence / absence of polling support in the HTTP response and transmits it to the user PC 10, and ends the system information providing process.

  In step S123 of FIG. 9, when the user PC 10 checks the number of documents newly received from the MFP 1200, conditions are set in the HTTP request. The setting of the conditions will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the first process when the sorting method is the reception date and time. In FIG. 12, the multi-function device 1200 extracts conditions from the HTTP request (step S151). For example, in the HTTP request, the document type is a FAX reception document after the previous reception date and time, and the reception date and time is set as the sorting method. Here, a FAX G3 port may be designated as the target port.

  The image management execution unit 400 of the multi-function apparatus 1200 creates a list of document IDs filtered and sorted under this condition (step S152). As a result, the document ID list is set in the HTTP response (step S153).

  In the case of this first process, the user PC 10 does not need to manage all the information of the captured image data. Considering the case where a plurality of ports receive simultaneously, it is desirable to sort the reception date and time by msec.

  Further, since the user PC 10 can collect image data for each port (each image input path), the user PC 10 can collect image data by narrowing down necessary information. The ports indicate the NIC 1311, the USB target 1312, the IEEE1394 1313, the Centronics 1314, the serial 1315, the USB host 1316, and the FCU 1320 (for each of the G3, G3 option, and G4 option) illustrated in FIG. Further, since the user PC 10 can collect image data for each image forming unit, the user PC 10 can collect image data by narrowing down necessary information. The image forming means indicates an FCU 1320 (for each of G3, G3 option, and G4 option), a plotter 1201, a scanner 1202, and other hardware resources 1203.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining the second process when the sorting method is the accumulation date and time accumulated in the HDD. In FIG. 13, the multi-functional apparatus 1200 extracts conditions from the HTTP request (step S161). For example, after the previous HDD storage date and time, the document type is a FAX received document, and the storage date and time stored in the HDD is set as the sorting method in the HTTP request.

  The image management execution unit 400 of the MFP 1200 creates a list of document IDs filtered and sorted under this condition (step S162). As a result, the document ID list is set in the HTTP response. As a result, the document ID list is set in the HTTP response (step S163).

  In the case of this second processing, since the image data is centrally managed as a document in the HDD 1303 under the management of the MSC 1225, the accumulation date / time is based on the RTC 1323 of the SB 1307 of the controller 1300, so the RTC 1322 of the FCU 1320 managed in minutes. Unlike msec, it can be managed in msec. Therefore, even when the signals are received at the same time, it is possible to determine the order before and after the reception. Sorting after the specified accumulation date and time can be performed accurately. In addition, when taking out at the last update date and time msec, it is not doubled.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the third process when the sorting method is the document ID. In FIG. 14, the multi-function device 1200 extracts conditions from the HTTP request (step S171). For example, in the HTTP request, the document type is a FAX received document after the last acquired document ID, and the document ID is set as the sorting method.

  The image management execution unit 400 of the multi-function apparatus 1200 creates a list of document IDs filtered and sorted under this condition (step S172). As a result, the document ID list is set in the HTTP response. As a result, the document ID list is set in the HTTP response (step S173).

  In the case of this third process, it is not necessary to perform time management in units of msec, so that a management memory area can be saved. In addition, since sorting is performed with document IDs that monotonously increase in time series, it is possible to cope with cases where the RTC 1323 of the device is reset for some reason. Since the document ID increases monotonously, it can be distinguished by the document ID even if the time is returned. In this case, the document ID is managed in a nonvolatile memory.

  Document writing processing when an HTTP request indicating a document writing request is received from the user PC 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining the document writing process in the multifunction peripheral. In FIG. 15, the image management execution unit 400 of the MFP 1200 confirms the validity of the requested document ID (step S181). After confirming the validity, the right to access the document is confirmed (step S182). The document is written out and provided to the user PC 10 by an HTTP response (step S183).

  A document deletion process when an HTTP request indicating a document deletion request is received from the user PC 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining the document deletion process in the multifunction peripheral. In FIG. 16, the image management execution unit 400 of the MFP 1200 confirms the validity of the requested document ID (step S191). After confirming the validity, the right to access the document is confirmed (step S192). The document is deleted, and the processing result is provided to the user PC 10 by the HTTP response (step S193).

  Next, an HTTP request specifying an extraction condition and a sorting method transmitted from the user PC 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18. FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 are diagrams illustrating an example of an HTTP request specifying an extraction condition and a sorting method transmitted from the user PC.

  In FIG. 17, selection of items to be extracted is specified by a description 510 (<select> tag) described in the SOAP body part. For example, five items are specified by the <item> tag, and fileID, createdData, senderID, receivedData, and subject are specified. Further, the condition to be extracted is specified by the description 520 (<whereAnd>). In particular, according to the description of <propName> receivedDate </ propName> and <propVal> 2003-01-20T01: 11: 11zl </ propVal>, the reception date and time is “01: 11: 11: 11 on January 20, 2003 ”Specifies that the extraction conditions follow.

  The sort method is designated by the description 530 (<orderBy>). For example, the description of <property> createdDate </ property> and <descendingRequested> true </ descendingRequested> specifies a method of sorting the creation date and time in descending order.

  The image management execution unit 400 of the MFP 1200 executes processing in response to the HTTP request shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, and transmits the processing result as an HTTP response. FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 are diagrams illustrating examples of HTTP responses indicating sorting results transmitted by the multi-function peripheral.

  19 and 20, the description 545 (<numberOfResults> 2 </ numberOfResults>) indicates that two cases correspond to the extraction condition. A description 560 indicates the first bibliographic information. The bibliographic information indicates the value of the item specified in the HTTP request description 510 shown in FIG. For example, it indicates that fileID is 4090, cretedDate is 2003-01-20T06: 51: 18Z, senderID is foo, receivedDate is 2003-01-20T06: 51: 18Z, and subject is news.

  The description 580 indicates the second bibliographic information. For example, it indicates that fileID is 4083, cretedDate is 2003-01-20T06: 03: 19Z, senderID is bar, receivedDate is 2003-01-20T06: 03: 19Z, and subject is hogehoge.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically capture the state of the MFP 1200 from the user PC 10 without installing a receiving / delivery server on the network 15. It becomes possible with less. At this time, it is possible to determine whether there is a new received document and to realize a configuration in which there is no leftover.

  Accordingly, the image data received from the plurality of ports and the image data formed by the plurality of image forming means are stored in the HDD 1303 in a centralized manner. The delivery timing can be determined. Therefore, the network burden can be reduced as compared with the case of transmission to the reception delivery server in the push type every time storage is performed.

  In the MFP 1200, image data transmitted / received via a plurality of standard G3, G3 option, and G4 option ports of the SB 1307, the NIC 1311, the USB target 1312, the IEEE1394 1313, the Centronics 1314, the serial 1315, the USB host 1316, and the FCU 1320. Are stored in the HDD 1303 and centrally managed, the user PC 10 can capture image data received by the multi-functional apparatus 1200 from the outside through various communication procedures simply by specifying a port. There is no need for the user PC 10 to manage such a plurality of ports. The same effect can be obtained with a plurality of image forming units such as the plotter 1201, the scanner 1202, and other hardware resources 1203.

It is a figure which shows the network structure for delivering the image data by the conventional PUSH type | mold. It is a figure which shows the network structure for delivering the image data by the PULL type which concerns on one Example of this invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a multi-function apparatus that fuses various image forming functions according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the compound machine shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of 1st function structure of the compound machine which provides Web service. It is a figure which shows the 2nd function structural example of the compound machine which provides Web service. It is a flowchart figure explaining a FAX reception process. It is a figure which shows the structure of bibliographic information. In FIG. 8, bibliographic information managed by each processing unit is shown side by side. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a polling process from a user PC to a multi-function peripheral. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the outline | summary of the provision process of the web service by a multi-functional apparatus. It is a flowchart figure explaining the system information provision process by a multi-functional apparatus. It is a flowchart figure explaining the 1st process in case a sorting method is a reception date. It is a flowchart explaining the 2nd processing in case the sort method is the accumulation date and time accumulated in the HDD. It is a flowchart figure explaining the 3rd process in case a sort method is document ID. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating document writing processing in the multi-function peripheral. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining document deletion processing in the multi-function peripheral. It is a figure which shows the example of the HTTP request which designated the extraction conditions and the sort method which are transmitted from user PC. It is a figure which shows the example of the HTTP request which designated the extraction conditions and the sort method which are transmitted from user PC. It is a figure which shows the example of the HTTP response which shows the sort result which a multi-function device transmits. It is a figure which shows the example of the HTTP response which shows the sort result which a multi-function device transmits. It is a figure which shows the example of the HTTP response which shows the sort result which a multi-function device transmits. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of user PC.

Explanation of symbols

2 httpd (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Daemon)
30 Distributor 40-49 Web service provision processing unit 50 XML processing unit 60, 61 Dispatcher 70 SOAP processing unit 80 Message processing unit 1200
1201 Plotter 1202 Scanner 1210 Software group 1230 Application, 1220 Platform 1221 OS, 1222 SCS
1223 SRM, 1224 ECS
1225 MCS, 1226 OCS
1227 FCS, 1228 NCS
1229 IMH, 1240 Fusion machine starter 1300 Controller, 1301 ASIC
1302 MEM-C, 1303 HDD
1304 CPU, 1305 NB
1306 MEM-P, 1307 SB
1308 AGP, 1310 Operation Panel 1311 NIC, 1312 USB
1313 IEEE 1394 1314 Centronics 1320 FAX Control Unit 1330 USB, 1340 IEEE 1394
1350 Engine part, 1500 Network I / F part

Claims (15)

Multiple communication ports that send and receive data with different communication protocols;
Data management means for storing data received from the plurality of communication ports in a storage means as a data file and managing data centrally;
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a data distribution unit that distributes the data file to the device in response to polling related to acquisition of the data file from a device connected via a network. A plurality of image forming means for forming an image;
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data management unit stores data related to the images generated by the plurality of image forming units as a data file in the storage unit and manages the data centrally. The data distribution means is
Upon receiving a system information acquisition request indicating whether polling is possible, system information providing means for providing the system information to the device;
The file providing means for providing the data file corresponding to the file identification information specified by the acquisition request to the device when receiving the data file acquisition request from the device. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 2.   When a data file extraction request is received from the device, processing is executed according to the extraction condition for extracting the data file from the storage means specified in the extraction request and the sorting method after extraction, and the extraction result after sorting is The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an extraction result providing unit that provides the device.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the extraction result providing unit extracts data related information relating to data of the data file from the storage unit according to the extraction condition.   6. The extraction result providing means extracts an item to be extracted specified in the extraction request according to an extraction condition, and provides the value of the item to the device as the extraction result. Image forming apparatus. The file providing means is
A first means for confirming the validity of the file identification information;
A second means for confirming the access right to the data file identified by the file identification information;
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising third means for writing out the data file identified by the file identification information for transmission to the network. The file providing means is
8. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a deletion unit that deletes the data file identified by the file identification information specified in the deletion request from the storage unit when receiving the data file deletion request from the device. The image forming apparatus described. Communication control means for performing communication control according to a predetermined Web communication protocol;
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the polling is received according to the predetermined Web communication protocol. The delivery providing means is:
10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising description format processing means for interpreting the contents of the request according to a predetermined description format and creating a processing result according to the request according to the predetermined description format. The delivery providing means is:
The request is processed according to a predetermined message exchange protocol received by the communication control means and notified to the description format processing means, and the processing result created by the description formation processing means is created according to the message exchange protocol. An image forming apparatus comprising message exchange processing means for transmitting a response to the device by the communication control means. Polling availability acquisition means for acquiring information indicating whether or not polling of the image forming apparatus can be acquired from an image forming apparatus capable of storing data files connected via a network;
New number acquisition means for acquiring the number of data files newly stored in the image forming apparatus based on the polling permission acquired from the image forming apparatus by the polling permission acquisition means;
And receiving means for requesting the image forming apparatus to collect all or part of a new data file based on the number of cases acquired from the image forming apparatus by the new number of cases acquiring means. Information processing device.   13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a deletion request unit that requests the image forming apparatus to delete the new data file taken by the taking unit.   14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the polling availability acquisition unit is automatically executed for the image forming apparatus every predetermined time.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a communication control unit configured to perform communication control with the image forming apparatus according to a predetermined Web communication protocol.

Images