JP2009064330A - External processor, external processing method, program, computer-readable recording medium, and system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance a function of an electronic device with connection to the electronic device, to enhance usability. <P>SOLUTION: A software library equivalent to a software library necessary for an application held in the electronic device is stored in a ROM 14 of an external processor 1, and a CPU 16 conducts processing of simulating a control command on the electronic device, based on the software library stored in the ROM 14, controls the function operable on the electronic device by transceiving data with respect to the electronic device, through communication by a LAN-1/F11, and conducts processing not supported by the electronic device, in place of the electronic device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an external processing apparatus, an external processing method, a program, a computer-readable recording medium, and a system that are used by being connected to an electronic apparatus including a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, and a multifunction machine thereof.

Conventionally, outline data corresponding to a character code is stored, connected to an image forming apparatus, outline data corresponding to a character code received from the image forming apparatus is read out, developed into bit image data, and provided to the image forming apparatus There was an external processing device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 04-033869

However, the above-described conventional external processing apparatus performs a limited process of providing bit image data to the image forming apparatus and performs processing in response to an instruction from the image forming apparatus, and cannot be used in various ways. There was a problem.
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to improve the usability by connecting to an electronic device and enhancing the function of the electronic device.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following external processing apparatus, external processing method, program, computer-readable recording medium, and system.
(1) Based on communication means for communicating with an electronic device, storage means for storing a software library equivalent to a software library necessary for operation of an application held by the electronic device, and a software library stored in the storage means An external processing apparatus comprising control means for controlling functions operable on the electronic device by communication by the communication means.
(2) In the external processing apparatus as described above, there is provided means for performing a process of simulating a control command on the electronic apparatus and enabling data exchange with the electronic apparatus through communication by the communication means. External processing equipment.
(3) An external processing apparatus provided with means for performing processing that is not supported by the electronic apparatus in place of the electronic apparatus.

(4) In the external processing apparatus as described above, an external processing apparatus provided with display means and means for causing the display means to display content equivalent to the content of a display screen displayed by an application operating on the electronic device.
(5) In the external processing device as described above, when the size of the screen of the display means is different from the size of the display screen displayed by the application operating on the electronic device, the application operating on the electronic device is displayed. An external processing apparatus provided with means for enlarging or reducing the content of the display screen and displaying it with the screen size of the display means.
(6) An external processing apparatus as described above, wherein an input means equivalent to an input means using hardware keys of the electronic device is provided.
(7) The external processing apparatus as described above, wherein means for realizing an input function equivalent to an input means using a hardware key of the electronic device is realized by a touch panel type software key.

(8) In the external processing apparatus as described above, an external processing apparatus provided with connection means for connecting an apparatus that is not connected to the external processing apparatus as a standard.
(9) An external processing apparatus as described above, wherein an acquisition means for acquiring information related to the electronic device from the electronic device through communication by the communication means is provided.
(10) Based on the communication step of communicating with the electronic device, the storage step of storing a software library equivalent to the software library necessary for the operation of the application held by the electronic device, and the software library stored by the storage step An external processing method comprising a control step of controlling a function operable on the electronic device by communication in the communication step.

(11) A communication procedure for communicating with an electronic device in a computer, a storage procedure for storing a software library equivalent to a software library necessary for the operation of an application held by the electronic device, and a software library stored by the storage procedure A program for executing a control procedure for controlling a function operable on the electronic device by communication based on the communication procedure.
(12) A computer-readable recording medium on which the above program is recorded.
(13) A system in which an electronic device and an external processing device are communicably connected, and the external processing device stores a software library equivalent to a software library necessary for operation of an application held by the electronic device. And a control means for controlling a function operable on the electronic device by communication with the electronic device based on a software library stored in the storage device.

The external processing device, the external processing method, and the system according to the present invention can be connected to an electronic device and improve the usability by enhancing the function of the electronic device.
In addition, the program according to the present invention can cause a computer to realize a function for enhancing the function of the electronic device and improving the usability in an external processing device connected to the electronic device.
Furthermore, the computer-readable recording medium of the present invention can easily introduce the program into a computer.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
〔Example〕
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
This system includes an external processing device 1 and an electronic device (also referred to as “electronic device”) 2 including a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, and a multifunction peripheral (MFP) thereof. Are connected so as to be directly communicable with each other via USB, and are communicably connected via a hub (HUB) 3 via a local area network (LAN).
The external processing apparatus 1 is, for example, an external operation panel attached to the side of the MFP, and performs an operation operation on the MFP efficiently without modifying application software that operates on the MFP. It is a device.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the external processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
The external processing apparatus 1 includes a USB interface (USB I / F) 10, a LAN interface (LAN I / F) 11, an operation display unit 12, an input output (I / O) controller 13, a ROM 14, a RAM 15, and a CPU 16. Consists of.
The USB I / F 10 controls communication with the electronic device 2 by USB.
The LAN / I / F 11 controls communication with the electronic apparatus 2 via the LAN.
The operation display unit 12 is an input unit using a hardware key including a display unit, or an input unit using a touch panel type software key including a display unit.

The I / O controller 13 controls data exchange between the units in the external processing apparatus 1.
The ROM 14 stores various programs including a software library equivalent to a software library necessary for operation of an application held by the electronic device 2 and various data including data necessary for starting an operating system (OS). It is memory.
The RAM 15 is a memory that stores a work area and various data used when the CPU 16 executes a program stored in the ROM 14.
The CPU 16 uses the data stored in the ROM 14 to execute the program stored in the ROM 14, thereby controlling the operation of the external processing device, realizing various functions according to the present invention, and implementing the electronic device. 2 is a central processing unit for controlling 2.

The external processing device 1 includes a USB / I / F 10 and a LAN / I / F 11 that function as communication means for communicating with the electronic device 2, and a software library required for the operation of the application held by the electronic device 2 in the ROM 14. A software library equivalent to the above is stored, and processing for simulating a control command on the electronic device 2 is performed via the LAN / I / F 11 under the control of the CPU 16 and the I / O controller 13, and communication with the electronic device 2 is performed. Allows the CPU 16 to exchange data with the electronic device 2, and the CPU 16 controls functions operable on the electronic device 2 by the communication based on the software library stored in the ROM 14. Processing that is not performed is performed instead of the electronic device 2.
Therefore, it is possible to operate the application that can operate on the electronic apparatus 2 without changing the application.

That is, the USB • I / F 10 and the LAN • I / F 11 function as communication means for communicating with the electronic device.
Further, the ROM 14 functions as a storage means for storing a software library equivalent to a software library necessary for operation of an application held by the electronic device.
Further, the CPU 16 functions as a control unit that controls a function operable on the electronic device by communication by the communication unit based on the software library stored in the storage unit.
Further, the CPU 16 performs a process of simulating a control command on the electronic device, and also functions as a means for enabling data exchange with the electronic device through communication by the communication means.
Further, the CPU 16 also functions as means for performing processing not supported by the electronic device instead of the electronic device.

Next, processing in this system will be described.
First, a process in which the external processing device 1 simulates a control command of the electronic device 2 and performs an image conversion process that is not supported by the electronic device 2 will be described.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a process in which the external processing device 1 simulates a control command of the electronic device 2 and performs an image conversion process that is not supported by the electronic device 2.
In this process, the electronic apparatus 2 does not have a function of converting an image read from a document from a TIFF image to a JPEG image, and the external processing apparatus 1 performs the conversion process.
In step (indicated by “S” in the figure) 1, the CPU 16 of the external processing device 1 is based on a software library that is stored in the ROM and is equivalent to a software library necessary for the operation of the application held by the electronic device 2. An image reading scan instruction for the electronic apparatus 2 is output to the I / O controller 13. In step 2, the I / O controller 13 sends a scan instruction to the LAN / I / F 11. In step 3, the LAN / I / F 11 sends a scan instruction to the electronic device 2 via the LAN.

When the control unit 22 receives a scan instruction from the external processing apparatus 1, the electronic apparatus 2 instructs the scanner 20 to open in step 4 and instruct scan start in step 5. The control unit 22 is realized by a microcomputer.
Upon receiving a scan start from the control unit 22, the scanner 20 reads an image of a document and outputs the read image as TIFF image data (hereinafter referred to as “TIFF image data”) in step 6.
When receiving the TIFF image data from the scanner 20, the control unit 22 instructs the scanner 20 to close in step 7, and sends the TIFF image data to the image processing apparatus 1 via the LAN in step 8.

When the external processing apparatus 1 receives TIFF image data from the electronic apparatus 2, the LAN I / F 11 sends the TIFF image data to the I / O controller 13 in step 9, and the I / O controller 13 performs step 10. The TIFF image data is stored in the RAM 15.
When the TIFF image data is stored in the RAM 15, the CPU 16 outputs an instruction to convert the TIFF image data into JPEG format image data (hereinafter referred to as “JPEG image data”) via the I / O controller 13 in step 11. In step 12, the TIFF image data on the RAM 15 is converted into JPEG image data. In this manner, the CPU 16 realizes a converter function for converting TIFF image data into JPEG image data on the RAM 15.

After the image conversion, the CPU 16 sends an instruction to output the image data after the conversion of the RAM 15 to the electronic device 2 to the I / O controller 13. In step 13, the I / O controller 13 receives the JPEG image data from the RAM 15. In step 14, the data is read and sent to the LAN / I / F 11. The LAN / I / F 11 outputs JPEG image data to the electronic apparatus 2 via the LAN in step 15.
When the control unit 22 receives the JPEG image data from the external processing device 1, the electronic device 2 stores the JPEG image data in the HDD 21 in step 16.
As described above, the processing to be stored in the HDD 21 is executed as the same command when it is performed by the electronic device 2 and when it is performed by the external processing device 1.

In this way, since the electronic device 2 has a library equivalent to the library held by the electronic device 2, the application running on the electronic device 2 can be operated without modification, and the processing that can be performed by the external processing device 1 itself is external processing. Processing that is performed by the device 1 and can only be performed by the electronic device 2 is requested by communication.
Further, even when there is a command that cannot be originally used in the communication interface, the electronic device 2 is controlled by simulating the control command.
Then, by performing processing that is not supported by the electronic device 2 in the external processing device 1, the same behavior as when the application supports the function is performed.

Therefore, even when the electronic device 2 does not have a mechanism for moving an application on the electronic device 2, it is possible to move the application by adding the external processing device 1.
Furthermore, even when the electronic device 2 has a mechanism for moving an application, the processing speed can be improved by adding the external processing device 1 that is faster than the processing speed of the electronic device 2.

Next, processing for displaying an operation screen of an application operating on the electronic device 2 on the operation display unit 12 of the external processing device 1 will be described.
In this case, the operation display unit 12 serves as a display unit, and the CPU 16 causes the display unit to display content equivalent to the content of the display screen displayed by the application operating on the electronic device, and the display unit. If the size of the screen is different from the size of the display screen displayed by the application operating on the electronic device, the content of the display screen displayed by the application operating on the electronic device is enlarged or reduced to the screen size of the display means. Means for displaying that function.
In this process, the CPU 16 displays on the display screen of the operation display unit 12 the application operating on the electronic device 2 based on a software library equivalent to the software library necessary for the operation of the application held by the electronic device. Display the contents of the screen enlarged or reduced.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of processing for reducing the content of the operation screen displayed by the application operating on the electronic device and displaying the reduced size on the screen of the operation display unit.
FIG. 4A is an example of an operation screen having a size of horizontal 800 pixels × vertical 600 pixels displayed by an application operating on the electronic device 2. For example, the operation screen is displayed on the electronic device 2. In the case where a screen to be displayed is not provided, the CPU 16 reduces the size of the operation screen by reducing the font and the frame so that the size of the display screen of the operation display unit of the external processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. Is reduced to a size of horizontal 640 pixels × vertical 480 pixels, and the reduced content is displayed on the display screen of the operation display unit 10 of the external processing device 1.

In this way, by having the screen of the electronic device in the external processing device, it is possible to display the screen when the electronic device does not have a screen.
In addition, since enlargement and reduction are performed in accordance with the resolution of the screen, even when the resolution expected by the application is different, the characters can be displayed uniformly without protruding or being biased.

Further, as an input means equivalent to the hardware key input means of the electronic device 2, for example, if a keyboard is connected to the USB I / F 10, it has the same hardware key as the electronic device 2. The application using the hardware key on the electronic device 2 from the external processing device 1 can be operated in the same manner as on the electronic device 2.
Further, if the input function equivalent to the hardware key input means of the electronic device 2 is realized on the operation display unit 12 by a touch panel type software key under the control of the CPU 16, the external processing device 1. By using the software key, an application using the hardware key on the electronic device 2 can be operated in the same manner as on the electronic device 2.

If various devices that are not normally connected to the external processing device 1 are connected to the USB / I / F 10, various functions can be added later according to the user's request. .
Further, if the CPU 16 and the I / O controller 13 control the information related to the electronic device 2 such as the model information of the electronic device 2 from the electronic device 2 via the LAN / I / F 11, the model information is obtained. Software libraries can be switched based on
Since various data can be acquired from the network, the cost of the external processing device 1 can be reduced by eliminating the ROM in the external processing device 1. In addition, there is no restriction on the ROM size, and it is possible to store a large amount of data.

  In the system of this embodiment, the external processing device can process a general-purpose application that operates on the electronic device. In addition, the external processing device can not only perform processing in response to an instruction from the electronic device, but also request processing from the electronic device.

  The external processing apparatus, the external processing method, and the system according to the present invention can be used by being connected to various electronic devices including a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, and a complex machine thereof. The program and the computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention can be applied to all devices connected to various electronic devices including a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, and their combined machines.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the external processing device shown in FIG. 2. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the system which is one Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the process which the image processing which the external processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 simulates the control command of an electronic device, and is not supported by the electronic device. It is explanatory drawing of the process which reduces and displays the content of the operation screen which the application which operate | moves on the electronic device shown in FIG. 1 displays by the size of the screen of an operation display part.

Explanation of symbols

1: External processing device 2: Electronic device 3: Hub 10: USB I / F 11: LAN I / F 12: Operation display unit 13: I / O controller 14: ROM 15: RAM 16: CPU 20: Scanner 21 : HDD 22: Control unit

Claims (13)

Communication means for communicating with an electronic device, storage means for storing a software library equivalent to a software library necessary for operation of an application held by the electronic device, and the communication means based on the software library stored in the storage means An external processing device comprising: control means for controlling a function operable on the electronic device by communication according to the above. 2. The external processing device according to claim 1, further comprising means for performing a process of simulating a control command on the electronic device and enabling data exchange with the electronic device through communication by the communication means. An external processing device. 3. The external processing device according to claim 1, further comprising means for performing processing not supported by the electronic device in place of the electronic device. 4. The external processing device according to claim 1, wherein display means and means for causing the display means to display content equivalent to the content of a display screen displayed by an application operating on the electronic device; An external processing device characterized by comprising: 5. The external processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the screen size of the display means is different from the display screen size displayed by the application operating on the electronic device, the display screen displayed by the application operating on the electronic device is displayed. An external processing apparatus comprising means for enlarging or reducing the contents of the display and displaying the same with the screen size of the display means. 6. The external processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit equivalent to an input unit using a hardware key of the electronic device. 7. The external processing device according to claim 1, further comprising means for pseudo-implementing an input function equivalent to a hardware key input means of the electronic device using a touch panel type software key. An external processing device. 7. The external processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a connection unit that connects an apparatus that is not connected to the external processing apparatus as a standard. 9. The external processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an acquisition unit configured to acquire information related to the electronic device from the electronic device through communication by the communication unit. A communication step for communicating with an electronic device; a storage step for storing a software library equivalent to a software library necessary for operation of an application held by the electronic device; and the communication step based on the software library stored by the storage step And a control step of controlling a function operable on the electronic device by communication according to the above. Based on a communication procedure for communicating with an electronic device in a computer, a storage procedure for storing a software library equivalent to a software library necessary for operation of an application held by the electronic device, and the software library stored by the storage procedure A program for executing a control procedure for controlling a function operable on the electronic device by communication according to the communication procedure. The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program of Claim 11. A storage unit that communicably connects an electronic device and an external processing device, and storing in the external processing device a software library equivalent to a software library necessary for operation of an application held by the electronic device; And a control unit configured to control a function operable on the electronic device through communication with the electronic device based on a software library stored in the storage unit.

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