JP2009188517A - Image forming apparatus and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to easily grasp the state of an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus allows the user to input a message capable of being optionally set by the user and the relation between the message capable of being optionally set by the user and state information, and also allows a storage section 11 to store the message capable of being optionally set by the user and the relation between the message and the state information. When a detecting section 23 detects the state of the image forming apparatus 1, the state information stored in the storage section 11 in advance, the message inputted by the user and stored in the storage section 11 and the relation between the message and the state information are referenced to select the message associated with the state information indicating the state of the image forming apparatus 1 detected by the detecting section 23 and to transmit the selected message to a client device 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that performs a predetermined process on a document image or document image data, such as a copying machine, a printing machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine having the functions of these machines. The present invention relates to a computer program for causing a computer to function as such an image forming apparatus.

  For example, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printing machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine having the functions of these machines is widely used in offices and homes.

  A small display is provided on the operation panel of such an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus displays status information indicating the status of the image forming apparatus, such as “printing”, “out of toner”, “paper jam”, on the display. The user can know the state of the image forming apparatus by viewing the state information displayed on the display.

In addition, many image forming apparatuses have a function of communicating with an external apparatus such as a personal computer to enable a user to remotely operate the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus having such a remote control function has a function of transmitting state information indicating the state of the image forming apparatus to an external device. The external apparatus displays the status information received from the image forming apparatus on the monitor. The user can know the state of the image forming apparatus by viewing the state information displayed on the monitor. Such functions of the image forming apparatus are described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-222318 (Patent Document 1) or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-74132 (Patent Document 2).
JP-A-10-222318 JP 10-74132 A

  By the way, an image forming apparatus includes various mechanisms and devices such as an image reading mechanism, a printing mechanism, a storage device, and a communication device, and makes full use of these mechanisms and devices to make a copying function, a printing function, a facsimile function, and a document. Some provide a user with various functions such as a management function. This is the case with multifunction devices, for example.

  In the case of such a multifunctional image forming apparatus, there are very many types of state information indicating the state of the image forming apparatus. For this reason, it is difficult for the user to completely grasp all types of state information, and as a result, the state of the image forming apparatus may not be sufficiently known.

  Conventionally, the status information indicating the status of the image forming apparatus directly indicates the status of individual hardware resources of the image forming apparatus, such as “out of toner”, “out of paper”, and “telephone line disconnection”. Many. For this reason, even if the user looks at the status information, it may not be able to clearly grasp whether or not the function desired by the user can be used among a plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus.

  In addition, when there is a function that the user does not need among the functions of the image forming apparatus, the user may not desire notification of state information indicating the state of the image forming apparatus regarding the function. Notification of unnecessary state information may make the user feel annoying.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, for example, and a first object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a computer program that allow a user to easily grasp the state of the image forming apparatus. There is.

  A second object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a computer program that allow a user to clearly grasp whether or not a function desired by the user can be used.

  A third object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a computer program that can eliminate notifications unnecessary for the user.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a first image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that performs predetermined processing on a document image or document image data, and state information indicating a state of the image forming device Is stored in advance, a message text that can be arbitrarily set by the user, and a user that can arbitrarily set the association between the message text and the state information stored in the memory section. Input means; storage control means for storing the message text and association input by the user via the input means in the storage section; detection means for detecting the state of the image forming apparatus; and the storage section The status of the image forming apparatus detected by the detection means is indicated by referring to the status information, the message text, and the association stored in Select the message text associated with a serial state information, and an output means for outputting the message text selected.

  According to a second image forming apparatus of the present invention, in the first image forming apparatus of the present invention described above, the input unit includes one message sentence that can be arbitrarily set by the user, and a plurality of states of the image forming apparatus. And the storage control means stores the association between the one message sentence and the plurality of state information in the storage unit.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a first computer program of the present invention is a computer program for causing an image forming apparatus that performs predetermined processing on a document image or document image data to execute a message text management method. The message sentence management method includes a message sentence that can be arbitrarily set by the user, and a message sentence that can be arbitrarily set by the user and state information indicating the state of the image forming apparatus stored in the storage unit in advance. An input step for allowing the user to input an association; a storage step for storing the message text and the association input by the user in the input step in the storage unit; and a detection step for detecting a state of the image forming apparatus. , Referring to the status information, the message text, and the association stored in the storage unit Ri, wherein selecting the message text associated with the status information indicating the status of the detected the image forming apparatus in the detection step, and an output step of outputting the message text selected.

  The second computer program of the present invention shows one message sentence that can be arbitrarily set by the user and a plurality of states of the image forming apparatus in the input step of the first computer program of the present invention described above. The user is caused to input associations with a plurality of state information, and in the storage step, associations between the one message sentence and the plurality of state information are stored in the storage unit.

  In the first image forming apparatus of the present invention described above, the user can input a message text that can be arbitrarily set by the user and an association between the message text and the status information that can be arbitrarily set by the user, and can be input by the user. The message text and the association between the message text and the status information are stored in the storage unit. When the state of the image forming apparatus is detected by the detection unit, the state information stored in advance in the storage unit, and the message text input by the user and stored in the storage unit and the association between the message text and the state information are associated. By referencing, the message text associated with the status information indicating the status of the image forming apparatus detected by the detection means is selected, and the selected message text is output. According to the first image forming apparatus of the present invention having such a configuration, it is possible for the user to arbitrarily set what message text is to be output when the image forming apparatus is in any state.

  That is, according to the first image forming apparatus of the present invention, the user can set a message text indicating the state of the image forming apparatus so that the user can easily understand. This makes it possible for the user to easily grasp the state of the image forming apparatus.

  Further, according to the first image forming apparatus of the present invention, the user is allowed to set a message text indicating whether or not each function of the image forming apparatus can be used, and this message text and appropriate status information indicating the status of the image forming apparatus, Can be set by the user. This makes it possible for the user to clearly understand whether or not the function that the user wants to use can be used.

  In addition, according to the first image forming apparatus of the present invention, for an unnecessary function among a plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus, the user is made to disassociate the state information indicating the state of the image forming apparatus and the message text. be able to. Thereby, the notification unnecessary for the user can be eliminated.

  In the second image forming apparatus of the present invention described above, the user is allowed to input associations between one message sentence that can be arbitrarily set by the user and a plurality of pieces of state information indicating a plurality of states of the image forming apparatus. The association between one input message sentence and a plurality of state information is stored in the storage unit. Thereby, the user can set a single message sentence for a plurality of states of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the types of message texts notified from the image forming apparatus can be reduced, and the user can easily grasp the state of the image forming apparatus.

  Further, according to the above-described first computer program of the present invention, similar to the above-described first image forming apparatus of the present invention, what message text is to be output to the user when the image forming apparatus is in any state. It can be set arbitrarily. This makes it possible for the user to easily grasp the state of the image forming apparatus. In addition, it is possible to make the user clearly grasp whether or not the function that the user wants to use can be used. Further, notifications unnecessary for the user can be eliminated.

  Further, according to the above-described second computer program of the present invention, the number of message texts notified from the image forming apparatus can be reduced as in the above-described second image forming apparatus of the present invention. It becomes possible for the user to easily grasp the state of the apparatus.

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

(Image forming system)
FIG. 1 shows an image forming system including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 100 includes an image forming apparatus 1, a client apparatus 2, and a computer network 3 that connects the image forming apparatus 1 and the client apparatus 2.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions such as a copying function, a printing function, a facsimile function, and a document management function. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 has a function of transmitting the message text to the client apparatus 2 so that the message text associated with the status information indicating the status of the image forming apparatus 1 is displayed on the monitor of the client apparatus 2. Yes. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 allows the user to arbitrarily set a message text indicating the state of the image forming apparatus 1 and arbitrarily sets an association between the message text and status information indicating the status of the image forming apparatus. It has a function to let you.

  The client device 2 is, for example, a personal computer. The client device 2 has a function of capturing or creating document data or image data. The client device 2 has a function of remotely operating the image forming apparatus 1. The user operates the client device 2 to transmit the captured or created document data or image data from the client device 2 to the image forming device 1, and cause the image forming device 1 to print the document data or image data. Alternatively, facsimile transmission can be performed. In addition, the client device 2 has a function of displaying a message text setting screen 30 (see FIG. 3) on the monitor for performing message text setting input and the like. In addition, the client device 2 functions as an input terminal device for the user to input and set a message text to the image forming apparatus 1. Further, the client device 2 has a function of receiving a message text indicating the state of the image forming apparatus 1 from the image forming apparatus 1 and displaying the message text on the monitor.

  The computer network 3 is a local area network (LAN), for example. The computer network 3 enables bidirectional communication between the image forming apparatus 1 and the client apparatus 2.

(Image forming device)
FIG. 2 shows an internal structure of the image forming apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a storage unit 11, a control unit 12, an operation panel unit 13, an image reading mechanism 14, a printing mechanism 15, and a communication unit 16. The control unit 12 includes an input control unit 21, a storage control unit 22, a detection unit 23, an output control unit 24, and a general control unit 25.

  The storage unit 11 is a storage device such as a hard disk drive or a flash memory. In the storage unit 11, predetermined state information indicating the state of the image forming apparatus 1 is stored in advance.

  The state of the image forming apparatus 1 includes, for example, an operating state, an operating state, a function execution state, a process progress state, a management state, a failure, a failure, a state where a warning should be issued, and the like. The state information is information indicating the state of such an image forming apparatus 1. The status information includes, for example, “out of toner”, “paper jam”, “document jam”, “paper out”, “sleeping”, “printing”, “document reading”, “telephone line disconnected”, “memory full” "and so on. The state information is event information indicating the state of the image forming apparatus 1, for example.

  The input control unit 21 of the control unit 12 is a specific example of an input unit, and a message sentence that can be arbitrarily set by the user, a message sentence that can be arbitrarily set by the user, and state information stored in the storage unit 11 Let the user enter the association. Specifically, the input control unit 21 displays a message sentence setting screen 30 (see FIG. 3) for allowing the user to perform setting input of a message sentence and setting input for associating the message sentence with state information. Information for forming the message text setting screen 30 (for example, HTML (HyperText Markup Language) data) is transmitted to the client apparatus 2. Also, the input control unit 21 operates the client device 2 while viewing the message text setting screen 30 displayed on the monitor of the client device 2, and associates the message text setting input and the message text with the status information. When setting input is performed, the message text that has been input by setting and the information that indicates the association between the message text and the status information that has been input by setting are received from the client device 2.

  The storage control unit 22 is a specific example of the storage control unit, and stores in the storage unit 11 a message sentence input by the user via the input control unit 21 and an association between the message sentence and the state information. Specifically, the storage control unit 22 receives state information stored in advance in the storage unit 11, a message text input by the user and transmitted from the client device 2, and input by the user and transmitted from the client device 2. The information indicating the association between the message text and the state information is arranged in a message text management table 40 (see FIG. 4) described later, and the message text management table 40 is stored in the storage unit 11.

  The detection unit 23 is a specific example of detection means, and detects the state of the image forming apparatus 1. Specifically, the detection unit 23 comprehensively detects a detection signal output from a sensor (for example, an optical sensor arranged in the middle of the sheet conveyance path) provided in each mechanism of the image forming apparatus 1 or the image forming apparatus 1. The state of the image forming apparatus 1 is detected on the basis of management information (for example, a count value of used paper and a flag indicating that printing is in progress) provided from a general control unit 25 that controls and manages automatically. Then, the detection unit 23 generates state information indicating the detected state of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The output control unit 24 is a specific example of the output unit, and refers to the state information, the message sentence, and the association between the message sentence and the state information stored in the storage unit 11, and the image detected by the detection unit 23. The message text associated with the status information indicating the status of the forming apparatus 1 is selected, and the selected message text is transmitted to the client apparatus 2 in order to display the selected message text on the monitor of the client apparatus 2.

  Specifically, the output control unit 24 first receives state information generated by the detection unit 23 from the detection unit 23. Next, the output control unit 24 reads the message text management table 40 (see FIG. 4) from the storage unit 11, and stores the status information, the message text, and the message text and status information arranged in the message text management table 40. By referring to the information indicating the association, the message text associated with the state information received from the detection unit 23 is selected. Next, the output control unit 24 controls the communication unit 16 and transmits the selected message sentence to the client device 2.

  The comprehensive control unit 25 comprehensively controls and manages the image forming apparatus 1. The overall control unit 25 also monitors the operation, operation, function execution, processing progress, and the like of the image forming apparatus 1, and the operation state, operation state, function execution state, processing progress state, etc. of the image forming apparatus 1. Is provided to the detection unit 23.

  The control unit 12, that is, the input control unit 21, the storage control unit 22, the detection unit 23, the output control unit 24, and the general control unit 25 are, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access). Memory). That is, the ROM stores a computer program for realizing the input control unit 21, the storage control unit 22, the detection unit 23, the output control unit 24, and the general control unit 25, and the CPU stores the computer program from the ROM. By reading, the input control unit 21, the storage control unit 22, the detection unit 23, the output control unit 24, and the general control unit 25 are embodied. The RAM is used as a working memory when the CPU executes a computer program.

  The operation panel unit 13 is disposed on the front part of the image forming apparatus 1. The operation panel unit 13 is provided with an operation button unit 13 </ b> A having an operation button for directly operating the image forming apparatus 1 and a display 13 </ b> B for displaying information related to the image forming apparatus 1.

  The image reading mechanism 14 is a mechanism for reading a document image. The image reading mechanism 14 includes a document feeding mechanism and a scanner.

  The printing mechanism 15 is a mechanism for printing document image data read by the image reading mechanism 14 or document image data transmitted from the client apparatus 2 on a sheet. The printing mechanism 15 includes a paper storage unit, a paper feeding mechanism, a toner container, a printing unit that performs development, transfer, and fixing.

  The communication unit 16 controls communication between the image forming apparatus 1 and the client apparatus 2 via the computer network 3. The communication unit 16 includes a communication circuit for a local area network, for example.

(Message text setting screen)
FIG. 3 shows a message text setting screen. A message text setting screen 30 in FIG. 3 is a screen for allowing the user to input a message text and an association between the message text and the status information. The message text setting screen 30 transmits information (for example, HTML data) for the input control unit 21 to form the message text setting screen 30 to the client device 2, and the client device 2 receives this information and receives predetermined data. By performing the processing, it is displayed on the monitor of the client device 2. For example, the message text setting screen 30 is a web page formed by HTML data, and is displayed on the monitor by the web browser of the client device 2.

  While viewing the message text setting screen 30 displayed on the monitor of the client device 2, the user can operate the client device 2 to input a message text setting and a setting input for associating the message text with state information. .

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, in the message sentence setting screen 30, a status information drop-down list 31, a message sentence drop-down list 32, a new message sentence creation button 33, a message sentence edit button 34, a message sentence A delete button 35, an association setting button 36, and an association deletion button 37 are formed.

  The status information drop-down list 31 displays a list of predetermined status information, and a drop-down list for allowing the user to select one or more desired status information from among a plurality of status information included in the list. It is.

  The message text drop-down list 32 displays a list of already registered message texts, and a drop-down list for allowing the user to select one or more desired message texts from a plurality of message texts included in the list. It is.

  The new message text creation button 33 is a button for causing the user to create a new message text and registering it in the list displayed by the message text drop-down list 32.

  The message sentence edit button 34 is a button for allowing the user to correct a message sentence already registered in the list displayed by the message sentence drop-down list 32.

  The message sentence deletion button 35 is a button for causing the user to delete a message sentence already registered in the list displayed by the message sentence drop-down list 32.

  The association setting button 36 includes one or more pieces of state information selected by the user from a plurality of pieces of state information included in the list displayed by the state information drop-down list 31, and a list displayed by the message sentence drop-down list 32. Is a button for allowing the user to set an association with one or more message sentences selected by the user from among a plurality of message sentences included in.

  The delete association button 37 allows the user to associate an association with a message sentence that has already been set in one or more pieces of state information selected by the user from among a plurality of pieces of state information included in the list displayed by the state information drop-down list 31. It is a button to make it delete.

(Message sentence management table)
FIG. 4 shows a message sentence management table. The message sentence management table 40 is stored in the storage unit 11. As shown in FIG. 4, the message sentence management table 40 includes state information, a message sentence, and information indicating the association between the message sentence and the state information. Has been.

  “◯” in the message text management table 40 in FIG. 4 indicates that the state information described in the row is associated with the message text described in the column. For example, status information: “out of toner”, “paper jam”, “out of paper”, and “printing” are respectively associated with message text: “cannot print”.

  The message text set and input by the user looking at the message text setting screen 30 and the information indicating the association between the message text and the status information are arranged in the message text management table 40 by the storage control unit 22 and stored in the storage unit 11. Is done. Further, the message control table 40 is updated by the storage control unit 22 as necessary every time the user inputs a message text and a setting input for associating the message text with status information.

  When the output control unit 24 selects a message text associated with the status information indicating the status of the image forming apparatus detected by the detection unit 23, the message text management table 40 is read from the storage unit 11, and the message The status information, message text, and information indicating the association between the message text and the status information are referred to in the sentence management table.

(Message sentence management process)
FIG. 5 shows message text management processing performed in the image forming apparatus 1. In the message text management process, the user inputs a message text setting indicating the state of the image forming apparatus 1 and a setting input for associating the message text with the status information, and the state of the image forming apparatus 1 is detected by the detection unit 23. When detected, this is a process of transmitting a message text associated with status information indicating the status of the image forming apparatus 1 to the client apparatus 2. Each step of the message text management process is a specific example of each process of the message text management method.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the user operates the client apparatus 2 to transmit an instruction to the image forming apparatus 1 to input setting of message text and setting input of association between message text and status information, The input control unit 21 of the forming apparatus 1 indicates a message sentence that can be arbitrarily set by the user and a state that indicates the message sentence that can be arbitrarily set by the user and the state of the image forming apparatus 1 stored in the storage unit 11 in advance. Information for forming the message text setting screen 30 for allowing the user to input the association with the information is transmitted to the client device 2 (step S1: input process). This information is received by the client device 2, whereby the message text setting screen 30 is displayed on the monitor of the client device 2.

  The user looks at the message text setting screen 30 displayed on the monitor of the client device 2 and inputs a message text setting and a setting input for associating the message text with status information. For example, the user first presses the new message sentence creation button 33 in the message sentence setting screen 30 shown in FIG. 3, inputs a new message sentence, and displays this new message sentence by the message sentence drop-down list 32. Register to the list. Subsequently, the user selects one or more desired state information from among a plurality of pieces of state information included in the list displayed by the state information drop-down list 31, and subsequently displayed by the message sentence drop-down list 32. A new message sentence just registered is selected from the plurality of message sentences included in the list, and the association setting button 36 is pressed. As a result, the newly registered message text and information indicating the association between the new message text and the status information are transmitted from the client apparatus 2 to the image forming apparatus 1. Thus, the message text setting input and the setting input for associating the message text with the state information are completed by the user (step S2: YES).

  Subsequently, the input control unit 21 receives the message text transmitted from the client device 2 and information indicating the association between the message text and the status information. Subsequently, the storage control unit 22 receives the received message text, Information indicating the association between the message text and the state information is stored in the storage unit 11. Specifically, the storage control unit 22 additionally arranges the received message text and information indicating the association between the message text and the status information in the message text management table 40, thereby causing the message text management table 40 to be displayed. Update (step S3: storage step).

  Subsequently, the detection unit 23 detects the state of the image forming apparatus 1 (step S4: detection step). The detection unit 23 generates state information indicating the state of the image forming apparatus 1 based on the detection result. In the present embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the process of detecting the state of the image forming apparatus 1 by the detection unit 23 follows the message text setting input by the user and the setting input for associating the message text with the status information. Although described as being performed, in practice, the process of detecting the state of the image forming apparatus 1 by the detection unit 23 is performed, for example, at regular intervals or in response to a request from the client apparatus 2.

  Subsequently, the output control unit 24 receives the state information generated by the detection unit 23 from the detection unit 23. The output control unit 24 refers to the status information, the message text, and the information indicating the association between the message text and the status information arranged in the message text management table 40 stored in the storage unit 11, thereby detecting the detection unit. 23 selects a message text associated with status information indicating the status of the image forming apparatus 1 detected by the status 23 (that is, status information received from the detection unit 23), and transmits the selected message text to the client device 2 (step S5). : Output process).

  The message text transmitted to the client device 2 is received by the client device 2. The received message text is displayed on the monitor of the client device 2.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the user can input the message text that can be arbitrarily set by the user and the association between the message text that can be arbitrarily set by the user and the state information, The storage unit 11 stores the message text input by the user and the association between the message text and the state information. When the state of the image forming apparatus 1 is detected by the detection unit 23, state information stored in advance in the storage unit 11, and a message sentence and a message sentence and state information input by the user and stored in the storage unit 11 By referring to the association, the message sentence associated with the state information indicating the state of the image forming apparatus 1 detected by the detection unit 23 is selected, and the information indicating the selected message sentence is transmitted to the client apparatus 2. . According to the image forming apparatus 1 having such a configuration, the user can arbitrarily set what message text is to be transmitted to the client apparatus 2 in what state the image forming apparatus 1 is.

  That is, according to the image forming apparatus 1, the message text indicating the state of the image forming apparatus 1 can be set by the user so as to be easily understood by the user. For example, it is possible to cause the user to set a message sentence that matches the user's environment (workplace environment where the image forming apparatus 1 is used, usage mode of the image forming apparatus 1, network configuration mode, etc.). Thereby, the user can easily grasp the state of the image forming apparatus 1.

  Further, according to the image forming apparatus 1, the user is allowed to set a message text indicating whether or not each function of the image forming apparatus 1 can be used, and the message text is associated with appropriate status information indicating the state of the image forming apparatus 1. Can be set by the user. This makes it possible for the user to clearly understand whether or not the function that the user wants to use can be used. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the message information “cannot print” and the message text “copy cannot be used” are associated with the “toner out” status information, for example, when toner out is detected. Then, a message text “Cannot print” and a message text “Cannot use copy” are displayed on the monitor of the client apparatus 2. A user who wants to use the print function or the copy function of the image forming apparatus 1 can clearly know that the print function or the copy function is not currently available by looking at these message texts.

  Further, according to the image forming apparatus 1, it is possible to allow the user to remove the association between the status information indicating the image forming apparatus 1 and the message text for unnecessary functions among the plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus 1. Thereby, the notification unnecessary for the user can be eliminated. For example, when the user does not use the facsimile function of the image forming apparatus 1, the user removes the association between the message text “cannot use facsimile” and the status information (or the setting of the message text “cannot use facsimile”). No input). As a result, for example, even if a failure that disables the use of the facsimile function in the image forming apparatus 1 is detected, the message “The facsimile cannot be used” is not transmitted to the client apparatus 2. As a result, it is possible to prevent an unnecessary message sentence “cannot use facsimile” from being displayed on the monitor of the client apparatus 2 for a user who does not use the facsimile function.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 1, it is possible to cause the user to input associations between one or more message texts that can be arbitrarily set by the user and a plurality of pieces of state information respectively indicating a plurality of states of the image forming apparatus 1. That is, the user can set a single message sentence for a plurality of states of the image forming apparatus 1. Therefore, the types of message texts notified from the image forming apparatus 1 can be reduced, and the user can easily grasp the state of the image forming apparatus 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to associate a single message sentence: “cannot print” with a plurality of status information: “toner out”, “paper jam”, “paper out”, “printing”. . As a result, regardless of whether the state of the image forming apparatus 1 is “out of toner”, “paper jam”, “out of paper”, or “printing”, a message text “cannot print” is transmitted to the client apparatus 2, This message text is displayed on the monitor of the client device 2. Therefore, the user does not need to indirectly know that printing is impossible due to various causes of printing failure such as “out of toner”, “paper jam”, “out of paper”, “printing”, and “cannot print”. It is possible to directly grasp that printing is not possible from the message sentence.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, a message sentence associated with the state information indicating the state of the image forming apparatus 1 detected by the detection unit 23 is transmitted to the client apparatus 2. Therefore, the client device 2 can easily make the user know the state of the image forming apparatus 1 simply by receiving the message text transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1 and displaying the message text on the monitor. That is, the client apparatus 2 does not need to convert the information received from the image forming apparatus 1 into other information for allowing the user to easily grasp the state of the image forming apparatus 1 or to re-edit the information. Therefore, processing performed by the client device 2 can be reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the input control unit 21 transmits information for forming the message text setting screen 30 to the client device 2 so that the message text setting screen 30 is displayed on the monitor of the client device 2, and the user When the client device 2 is operated while viewing the message text setting screen 30 displayed on the monitor of the client device 2 and the message text setting input and the setting input for associating the message text with the state information are performed, these Although the case where the information regarding the setting input is received from the client device 2 is described as an example, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the input control unit 21 displays a message text setting screen on the display 13B provided in the operation panel unit 13, and the user operates the operation button of the operation button unit 13A to input the message text and input the message text and status information. When the setting input is performed for the association with, information regarding these setting inputs may be received.

  In the above-described embodiment, the multifunction apparatus having a plurality of functions is exemplified as the image forming apparatus of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus with a narrowed function, such as a copying apparatus, a printing apparatus, and a facsimile apparatus. The computer network that connects the image forming apparatus and the client apparatus may be the Internet or a wide area network (WAN).

  Further, the present invention can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist or concept of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and an image forming apparatus and a computer program accompanying such a change are also included in the present invention. Included in technical thought.

1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an image forming system including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an internal structure of an image forming apparatus that is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows a message text setting screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows the message text management table which the image forming apparatus which is embodiment of this invention has. 6 is a flowchart illustrating message text management processing by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 11 Memory | storage part 21 Input control part (input means)
22 Storage control unit (storage control means)
23 Detection part (detection means)
24 Output control unit (output means)

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus that performs predetermined processing on a document image or document image data,
A storage unit in which state information indicating the state of the image forming apparatus is stored in advance;
A message sentence that can be arbitrarily set by the user, and an input means that allows the user to input an association between the message sentence that can be arbitrarily set by the user and the state information stored in the storage unit;
Storage control means for storing the message text and the association input by the user via the input means in the storage unit;
Detecting means for detecting the state of the image forming apparatus;
By referring to the status information, the message text, and the association stored in the storage unit, the message text associated with the status information indicating the status of the image forming apparatus detected by the detection unit is selected. And an output means for outputting the selected message text. The input means allows the user to input an association between one message sentence that can be arbitrarily set by the user and a plurality of state information indicating a plurality of states of the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage control unit stores an association between the one message sentence and the plurality of state information in the storage unit. A computer program for causing an image forming apparatus that performs predetermined processing on an original image or original image data to execute a message sentence management method, wherein the message sentence management method includes:
A message sentence that can be arbitrarily set by the user, and a message that can be arbitrarily set by the user and input of an association between the message sentence and state information indicating the state of the image forming apparatus stored in the storage unit in advance. Input process;
A storage step of storing the message sentence and the association input by the user in the input step in the storage unit;
A detection step of detecting a state of the image forming apparatus;
By referring to the status information, the message text and the association stored in the storage unit, the message text associated with the status information indicating the status of the image forming apparatus detected in the detection step is selected. And an output step of outputting the selected message sentence. In the input step, the user is allowed to input an association between one message sentence that can be arbitrarily set by the user and a plurality of pieces of state information indicating a plurality of states of the image forming apparatus,
The computer program according to claim 3, wherein in the storing step, the storage unit stores an association between the one message sentence and the plurality of state information.

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