JP2009171494A - Network scanner apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network scanner apparatus capable of effectively utilizing a network-connected printer while suppressing costs. <P>SOLUTION: The network scanner apparatus registers and stores therein printer information including a printing function, that a printer connected via a network 210 includes, in response to an operation input from a user, and image data of a document read by a reader are converted into print data using the stored printer information and transmitted to the network-connected printer. When meeting a predetermined printer information acquisition condition, the printer information of the printer is acquired via the network. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a network scanner device that provides a copy function by transmitting a read image as print data to an output device such as a printer connected to a network.

  Many systems have been realized in which input devices such as scanners and digital cameras and output devices such as printers and faxes are connected to each other via a network to constitute a multi-function device system.

  Copy function using a network scanner device and a network printer, that is, a document is read by the network scanner device, image data of the read document is converted into print data, output to the network printer, and the print data is printed by the network printer When realizing the function, printer information is registered and used. However, in an environment such as an office, it is necessary to register again when the printer is replaced. The copy function that can be provided is determined by the function of the printer designated as the target of copy output, but if the copy operation screen is the same regardless of the function of the designated printer, the user cannot actually use it. There is also a problem that the function can be set and the operation is confused.

  Therefore, a multi-function system has been devised that enhances user convenience by providing means for previously registering devices that can be components of the multi-function system (see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, a printer or scanner that does not have a network compatible function can be connected to the network, and image data can be transmitted at high speed from the scanner to the printer or from the scanner to each user's personal computer or other network printer. A peripheral device management apparatus has been devised (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2002-229878 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-271263

  In the configuration of Patent Document 1, each device information on the network is registered using a server. However, a server or the like is required, resulting in an expensive system, and a SOHO (Small Office, Home Office: small-scale office). In a small network environment such as), there is a problem that it cannot be introduced due to cost.

  In the configuration of Patent Document 2, a dedicated device (peripheral device management device) for connecting the scanner and the printer is necessary, and it is inevitable that the cost is increased.

  Against the background of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a network scanner device that can effectively use a printer connected to a network while suppressing costs.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

  In order to solve the above problems, a network scanner device includes: a reading unit that performs a document reading process; an operation input unit that allows a user to perform an operation input; and a printer that is connected via a network according to the user's operation input. Printer information registration means for registering printer information including a printing function, printer information storage means for storing the registered printer information, and image data of a document read by the reading unit is stored in the printer information storage means Print data conversion / transmission means for converting to print data using printer information and transmitting to the printer, and printer information for acquiring printer information of the printer via a network when a predetermined printer information acquisition condition is satisfied Obtaining means.

  With the above configuration, when a predetermined printer information acquisition condition is satisfied, the latest printer information can be always registered by updating the printer information of each printer registered and stored in advance, so that the user (or administrator) When a network scanner device is installed, it only needs to be registered once. After that, the printer information is automatically updated. Therefore, when a function is added to the printer, no new registration work is performed. It has the effect that it may be.

  Further, the network scanner device of the present invention is configured so that the printer information acquisition condition is that the user performs a predetermined operation input on the operation input means.

  With the above configuration, it is possible to automatically update the printer information of the printer with a user operation input as a trigger.

  The operation input in the network scanner device of the present invention is an operation input for the user to select a printer for printing the print data, and the printer information acquisition means is selected by the printer for printing the print data. The printer information of the printer is obtained via the network.

  With the above configuration, when a document is scanned and the document is printed (a copy function is performed), the latest printer information can be automatically acquired by selecting a printer. Therefore, the user can always use the latest printer function. In addition, since re-acquisition of printer information is performed only for the printer designated as the transmission destination by the user, when a plurality of printers are registered, it is not necessary to perform information acquisition of all printers every time the copy function is performed. The time required for acquiring printer information can be shortened, and the user is not awaited without waiting.

  The printer information storage means in the network scanner device of the present invention is configured to store the printer information of the printer acquired by the printer information acquisition means by replacing it with the printer information of the printer already stored.

  With the above configuration, the printer information is automatically updated without the user's registration operation, the latest printer information is always maintained, and the user can always use the latest function.

  The print data conversion / transmission means in the network scanner device of the present invention converts the image data into print data based on the printer information of the printer for printing the print data acquired by the printer information acquisition means. Composed.

  With the above configuration, the user can select and implement only the copy function that can be performed on the selected printer based on the result of re-acquisition of the printer information from the printer selected by the user. Therefore, in order to make it impossible to select a function that does not exist in the printer selected by the user, troubles such as double-sided copying, stapling, and color copying that occur when the actual copying function is performed are not possible. This can prevent the waste of paper.

  The network scanner device of the present invention is configured to change the reading resolution of the reading unit based on the printer information acquired by the printer information acquisition unit.

  With the above configuration, by changing the scanning resolution of the scanner at the time of executing the copy function (scan → print) based on the result of re-acquisition of the printer information, the image can be read according to the resolution of the printer selected as the output destination for the copy function. It is possible to copy with more detailed or clear image quality.

  The network scanner device of the present invention further comprises printer detection means for detecting whether or not a printer for printing the print data selected by the user exists on the network, and the printer selected by the user is connected to the network. When it does not exist above, it is configured to include notification means for notifying that effect.

  With the above configuration, the user can grasp whether or not the printer exists by operating the network scanner device without going to the printer installation location and confirming the location.

  The printer information acquisition means in the network scanner device of the present invention selects another printer stored in the printer information storage means when the printer selected by the user does not exist on the network. Is configured to obtain printer information of the printer.

  If you cannot connect to the printer specified by the user to acquire printer information or cannot acquire printer information from the printer specified by the user, the above configuration automatically switches to another registered printer and uses the other printer. it can. The user can effectively use other printers connected to the network, and the problem that the copy function using the network scanner device cannot be used because one printer designated by the user on the network cannot be used is solved. The convenience of the user can be ensured.

  Further, the printer information acquisition means in the network scanner device of the present invention is the printer information of other printers stored in the printer information storage means when the printer selected by the user does not exist on the network. Are selected in descending order of similarity to the printer information of the printer selected by the user, and the printer information of the printer is acquired.

  If it is not possible to connect to the printer specified by the user for acquiring printer information or acquire printer information from the printer specified by the user, the printer information of the printer specified by the user among other registered printers Can be preferentially selected from those having the printer information most similar to the contents of. For example, functions that the user wants to use, such as double-sided copying, stapling, and color copying, can be minimized because they cannot be used because they cannot connect to the printer designated by the user.

  The network scanner device according to the present invention includes a printer information comparison unit that compares the printer information stored in the printer information storage unit with the printer information of the printer acquired by the printer information acquisition unit, and the comparison result 2 And a comparison result output means for outputting that information when two pieces of printer information are different.

  With the above-described configuration, it is possible to grasp that a function has been added to the designated printer, and that the contents of the printer information of the acquired printer have been garbled due to noise during communication.

  Further, the comparison result output means in the network scanner device of the present invention is configured to transmit the comparison result by e-mail.

  With the above configuration, information regarding the comparison result can be promptly transmitted to a user other than the operator of the network scanner device or an administrator located away from the installation location of the network scanner device. In addition, when an error or the like occurs during a user operation, the administrator can be promptly notified. Then, the administrator can grasp the use state of the printer and whether or not the printer has been inadvertently replaced.

  Embodiments of a network scanner device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of a network scanner device and a printer according to the present invention. For example, a network scanner device 200 and a plurality of printers (1 to n) are connected on a network 210 such as a LAN (Local Area Network).

  FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the network scanner device 200. The network scanner device 200 includes a scanner engine 201, a network I / F 202, an operation panel 203, a CPU 204, a RAM 205, a ROM 206, and a printer information storage unit 207.

  The scanner engine 201 is for generating image data by reading a document. The scanner engine 201 generates image data based on a well-known document reading table, an image sensor for reading a document, and a sensor signal from the image sensor. It is configured including a circuit. The scanner engine 201 corresponds to the reading unit and the print data conversion / transmission means of the present invention.

  The network I / F 202 is an interface circuit such as a LAN card for connecting to a network (denoted as Network in FIG. 2) 210. The network I / F 202 corresponds to the print data conversion / transmission means, printer information acquisition means, and printer detection means of the present invention.

  The operation panel 203 is for a user to operate the network scanner device 200, and includes a display unit including a well-known LCD panel, an operation unit such as a touch panel or a mechanical switch, an indicator such as an LED, an operation button, and the like. The The operation panel 203 corresponds to an operation input unit and a comparison result output unit of the present invention.

  The printer information storage unit 207 is a printer used as a copy image output destination when executing a copy function described below, and printer information of the printer (printer name, presence / absence of functions such as double-sided copying, stapling, color copying or the like) Details) is registered and stored. The printer information storage unit 207 is configured by a non-volatile storage medium such as a known flash memory, for example. The printer information storage unit 207 corresponds to the printer information storage unit of the present invention.

  The network scanner device 200 realizes the function of the network scanner device by the CPU 204 executing a scanner control program (not shown) stored in the ROM 206. In accordance with the execution of the scanner control program, necessary data such as image data of a document read by the scanner engine 201 is temporarily stored in the RAM 205. In response to a user operation, the image data is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel or sent to a device such as a printer connected to the network 210. The CPU 204 corresponds to the printer information registration unit and the printer information comparison unit of the present invention.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the printer (1 to n). The printer includes a printer engine 301 that uses a known printing technology such as electrophotography and ink jet, a CPU 302 that controls the overall operation, image data to be printed on the printer engine 301, and storage information for work. To provide a RAM 303 to be stored, a ROM 304 in which a printer control program executed by the CPU 302 is stored, a network I / F 305 that is a network interface for connecting to the network 210, a printer information storage unit 306, and a user interface And an operation panel 308 including a display device such as an LCD and an LED and a touch panel or a plurality of operation buttons.

  With the above configuration, when the user uses the copy function, the operation is performed as follows. First, the network scanner device 200 reads an image of a document. Reading parameters such as reading resolution and reading size at the time of image reading are set in the scanner engine 201 by the CPU 204, and read image data from the scanner engine 201 is stored in an image data area of the RAM 205. The accumulated image data is transferred to a printer (1 to n), a server, a personal computer (not shown), or the like connected via a network I / F 202.

  The transfer destination is different depending on the selected function. When the [ScanToEmail] button is pressed on the function selection menu screen displayed on the operation panel (touch panel) 203 as shown in FIG. 5, the stored image data is attached as an image file to the Email document and transferred to the mail server. Is done. When the [ScanToSMB] button is pressed, the stored image data is transferred as an image file to a shared folder on the personal computer. When the [Scan To FTP] button is pressed, the stored image data is transferred as an image file to the FTP server using the FTP protocol. When the [Copy] button is pressed, the accumulated image data (copy image) is transferred as print data (copy image) to the printer (1 to n) designated by the user.

  Next, the operation of the network scanner device 200 during the copy function will be described. First, printer information display processing will be described with reference to FIG. This process is included in a scanner control program (not shown) stored in the ROM 206, and is repeatedly executed together with other processes of the scanner control program. When the [Copy] button is pressed on the function selection menu screen of the network scanner device 200 displayed on the display screen of the operation panel 203 as shown in FIG. 5 (S301), the printer ( 1 to n), a printer information acquisition request is sent. In the printer information storage unit 207, printers that can be selected for output during the copy function are registered in advance by the user's operation on the operation panel 203.

  When the printer receives the printer information acquisition request, the printer sends necessary contents out of the contents stored in the printer information storage unit 306 to the network scanner device 200. Then, the network scanner device 200 stores the received printer information in the printer information storage unit 207 (S302, S303).

  When printer information is acquired from all printers registered in the printer information storage unit 207 (S304: Yes), the model or name of the printer from which the printer information has been acquired is displayed on the operation panel 203 as a printer selection screen (S305). ). FIG. 6 shows an example of the display.

  In the above example, when printer information from a printer not registered in the printer information storage unit 207 is acquired, the printer information is registered in the printer information storage unit 207 and displayed on the operation panel 203. Good.

  Another example of the printer information display process will be described with reference to FIG. When the [Copy] button is pressed on the function selection menu screen of the network scanner device 200 as shown in FIG. 5 (S401), the printers of all printers registered in the printer information storage unit 207 as shown in FIG. Information is displayed on the display screen of the operation panel 203 (S402).

  When a user selects a printer on the printer selection screen of the operation panel 203, a printer information acquisition request is sent to the printer (S403). If the acquisition of the printer information has failed (S404: No), a warning screen as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display screen of the operation panel 203, that is, the acquisition of information from the printer selected by the user has failed. Tell them you can't use the printer. At the same time, the administrator of the network printer is notified by E-Mail that information cannot be acquired from the printer selected by the user (S408). The E-Mail communication text is stored in advance in the ROM 205, for example. The delivery destination of E-Mail is registered in advance by operating the operation panel 203.

  If the printer information cannot be received from the printer even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the printer information acquisition request is sent, it is determined that the acquisition of the printer information has failed. Also, when a communication error such as a frame error or checksum error occurs, a printer information retransmission request is sent to the printer, and when the communication error occurs a predetermined number of times, acquisition of the printer information has failed. Is determined.

  Next, the printer information of all the printers registered in the printer information storage unit 207 is referred to search for a printer whose printer function is similar to the printer that the user has selected and the printer information could not be acquired. The selected printer is selected in a substitute form (S409), and the process proceeds to step S407 (described later). At this time, an alternative printer such as “A printer N having the same function as the selected printer has been selected” is selected on the display screen of the operation panel 203 together with a warning message as shown in FIG. A message to that effect may be displayed.

  On the other hand, when the printer information is successfully acquired (S404: Yes), the printer information of the corresponding printer registered in the printer information storage unit 207 is updated (S405). Then, it is determined whether or not the updated registration information is the same as the pre-registered information of the selected printer. If both are the same (S406: Yes), the process proceeds to step S407 (described later).

  On the other hand, if the updated registration information is different from the pre-registered information of the selected printer (S406: No), a warning screen as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display screen of the operation panel 203 and registered. The user is warned that the printer information is different. At the same time, it notifies the administrator of the network printer by E-Mail. By this notification, the administrator can know that a user other than the administrator has replaced the printer or added a function. Next, the process proceeds to step S407 (described later).

  In step S407, the printer function is determined from the acquired printer information, and only the functions that can be provided as the copy function are displayed on the operation panel as shown in FIG. 10 (referred to as printer 1) or FIG. 11 (referred to as printer 2). It is displayed on the display screen 203. Of course, although the operation buttons of the network scanner device 200 are also displayed on the display screen of the operation panel 203, they are omitted in FIGS.

  On the display screen, copy mode (color / monochrome), magnification (%), number of copies (1 in the examples of FIGS. 10 and 11), image quality (characters, characters / photos, photographs, etc.), color density ( Buttons such as light and dark), additional functions (both sides, staple, etc.), numeric keys (1 to 0, *, #), operation keys (start, stop), etc. are displayed. Thus, by determining the printer function from the acquired printer information and displaying only the copy function that can be provided to the user, the user can select only the function that can be used, and can select the function that cannot be used. The problem can be solved.

  In the example of FIG. 10, both color and monochrome copy functions are displayed, but in the example of FIG. 11, only the monochrome copy function is provided. This indicates that the printer information acquired from the printer 2 indicates that the printer 2 is a monochrome printer and the color copy function is not provided. In the example of FIG. 11, the double-sided and stapling functions are not displayed. This is because the printer information acquired from the printer 2 does not include the double-sided printing function and the stapling function as in the color copy function. .

  When the user selects the printer 1 and the printer 1 is not connected to the network 210, the printer whose copy mode, magnification, image quality, color density, and additional functions are most similar to the printer 1 Is selected, and a copy function that can be provided to the user is displayed based on the printer information of the printer.

  Also, by changing the reading resolution of the network scanner device 200 when the copy function is performed in accordance with the acquired printer information, it is possible to read an image that matches the printing resolution of the printer selected as the output destination. Can be copied with image quality. In this case, the printer information may include the resolution at the time of printing by the printer, and the resolution may be displayed on the display screen of the operation panel 203.

  In the above example, the resolution information of the printer included in the acquired printer information is set in the scanner engine 201 by the CPU 204. As described above, since the user does not need to change the resolution at the time of reading the document, the user's operation load is not increased. Further, a resolution setting button may be displayed on the display screen of the operation panel 203 so that the user can change the resolution.

  For example, even if a 600 dpi read image is converted to print data and output to a printer with a resolution of 400 dpi, the performance of the printer is exceeded, so resolution conversion processing may be required on the printer side. The problem arises that the copy (scanning) processing time becomes long, or the input / output resolutions do not match, so that high-quality copy image quality cannot be obtained. However, the above-mentioned problem can be solved by setting the resolution according to the printer in advance.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and the knowledge of those skilled in the art can be used without departing from the spirit of the claims. Various modifications based on this are possible.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a connection configuration of a network scanner device and a printer according to the present invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of a network scanner apparatus. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining printer information display processing. The figure which shows the example of a display screen at the time of scanner function selection. The figure which shows the example of a display screen at the time of printer selection. The flowchart explaining another example of a printer information display process. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen when printer information acquisition fails. The figure which shows the example of a display screen when the acquired printer information differs from the registration content. The figure which shows the example of the function display based on the acquired printer information. The figure which shows another example of the function display based on the acquired printer information.

Explanation of symbols

1 to n Printer 200 Network scanner device 201 Scanner engine (reading unit, print data conversion / transmission means)
202 Network I / F (print data conversion / transmission means, printer information acquisition means, printer detection means)
203 Operation panel (operation input means, comparison result output means)
204 CPU (printer information registration means, printer information comparison means)
207 Printer information storage unit (printer information storage means)
306 Printer information storage unit

Claims (11)

A reading unit for reading a document;
Operation input means for the user to perform operation input;
Printer information registration means for registering printer information including a printing function of a printer connected via a network by the user's operation input;
Printer information storage means for storing the registered printer information;
Print data conversion and transmission means for converting the image data of the original read by the reading section into print data using printer information stored in the printer information storage means, and transmitting the print data to the printer;
Printer information acquisition means for acquiring printer information of the printer via the network when a predetermined printer information acquisition condition is satisfied;
A network scanner device comprising:   The network scanner apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printer information acquisition condition is that a user performs a predetermined operation input on the operation input unit. The operation input is an operation input for the user to select a printer for printing the print data,
The network scanner device according to claim 2, wherein the printer information acquisition unit acquires printer information of the printer via the network when a printer for printing the print data is selected.   4. The printer information storage unit according to claim 1, wherein the printer information of the printer acquired by the printer information acquisition unit is stored by replacing the printer information of the printer that has already been stored. The network scanner device described.   5. The print data conversion / transmission unit converts the image data into the print data based on printer information of a printer for printing the print data acquired by the printer information acquisition unit. The network scanner device according to any one of the above.   The network scanner device according to claim 1, wherein the reading resolution of the reading unit is changed based on printer information acquired by the printer information acquisition unit. Printer detection means for detecting whether or not a printer for printing the print data selected by the user exists on the network;
The network scanner device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a notifying unit for notifying the printer selected by the user when the printer does not exist on the network.   If the printer selected by the user does not exist on the network, the printer information acquisition unit selects another printer stored in the printer information storage unit, and the printer information of the other printer The network scanner device according to claim 7, which acquires   If the printer selected by the user does not exist on the network, the printer information acquisition means stores the printer information of the other printers stored in the printer information storage means by the user. The network scanner device according to claim 7, wherein the network scanner device selects the printer information of the selected printer in descending order of similarity to the printer information and acquires the printer information of the printer. Printer information comparison means for comparing the printer information stored in the printer information storage means with the printer information of the printer acquired by the printer information acquisition means;
If the two pieces of printer information are different as a result of the comparison, a comparison result output means for outputting that fact;
The network scanner device according to claim 1, further comprising:   The network scanner device according to claim 10, wherein the comparison result output unit transmits the comparison result by electronic mail.

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