JP2009211520A - Information processor and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide technology for operating other devices connected to a network by using a UI device installed in an image forming apparatus or the like. <P>SOLUTION: In an environment where image forming apparatuses 103 and 104 are connected to a network 100, a display device 103a configuring the UI device of the image forming apparatus 103 displays an operation screen of the image forming apparatus 104 created by a server 101, and the operation of the image forming apparatus 104 using the UI device installed in the image forming apparatus 103 is enabled. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a program.

  Network connection of various office equipments in offices and the like has become common, but along with this, the number of devices of the same type connected to the network is increasing. For example, a plurality of image forming apparatuses may be connected to a network such as a LAN in an office. At this time, if the image forming apparatus is a different model, the operation is different for each apparatus, and a unified operation cannot be performed. In addition, operation using a personal computer connected to the network also requires that the control driver software for each model be individually installed on the personal computer, and that operation must also be performed by starting the control driver software individually. Must not. As techniques for dealing with this type of problem, techniques described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have been proposed.

JP-A-8-329005 (Abstract) JP-A-10-150521 (abstract)

  By the way, in an environment in which a plurality of devices are connected to a network, for example, the first image forming device and the second image forming device may be placed at a remote location. In such a case, it may be convenient to operate the second image forming apparatus by operating the UI apparatus (user interface apparatus) provided in the first image forming apparatus. For example, if the user wants to use a function that the first image forming apparatus does not have while operating the first image forming apparatus, the second image forming apparatus is used by using the UI device provided in the first image forming apparatus. It is convenient if the image forming apparatus can be operated to form an image in the second image forming apparatus.

  However, in the prior art, another device cannot be operated using the UI device provided in the device. This applies not only to the image forming apparatus but also to other apparatuses such as a FAX apparatus. SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a technique capable of operating another device connected to a network using a UI device provided in an image forming apparatus or the like.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a data creation unit that creates data for displaying an operation screen for operating the second device on a display device provided in the first device; and A communication unit that transmits data to the first device and receives data based on the operation content of the operation screen performed by the first device, and an operation of the second device based on the data based on the operation content And an apparatus control unit that controls the information processing apparatus.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the operation screen displays a function that the first device does not have and a function that the second device has. It is characterized by.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the data creation unit includes: a standard of the first display device included in the first device; and a second display device included in the second device. When the standard is the same, data serving as a basis for a common screen used in common by the first display device and the second display device is created.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the first and second devices are image forming devices.

  The invention according to claim 5 is a program that is read and executed by a computer, and is data for displaying an operation screen for operating the second device on a display device provided in the first device. A data creation step for creating the data, a transmission / reception step for transmitting the data to the first device and receiving data based on the operation content of the operation screen performed by the first device, and the operation content. And a control step for controlling the operation of the second device based on the data based thereon.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the second device can be operated using the operation screen of the first device.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to display a function that the second device has, although the first device does not have, on the operation screen of the first device.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, when the operation screen standards of a plurality of devices are the same, an operation screen having the same display format is prepared in each of the plurality of devices. For this reason, the same operability can be obtained even if the apparatuses are of different manufacturers and models as long as the operation screen standard is the same.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, a program capable of obtaining the same advantage as that of the invention described in claim 1 is provided.

(Overall configuration)
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of a network using the present invention. A network 100 is shown in FIG. The network 100 has a configuration in which a server 101, a personal computer 102, an image forming apparatus 103, and an image forming apparatus 104 are connected to a line 105.

  The server 101 has a function as a printer server that executes processing shown in FIG. 3 to be described later and controls image forming processing in the image forming apparatuses 103 and 104. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the server 101 from the viewpoint of functions. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the server 101 includes a screen data creation unit 201, a communication unit 202, a device control unit 203, a storage unit 204, and a server control unit 205.

  A screen data creation unit 201 creates data for an operation screen displayed on the UI display unit of the image forming apparatuses 103 and 104. In this example, the screen data creation unit 201 creates data that is a function that the image forming apparatus 103 does not have, and can be used to select an operation screen that can select the function that the image forming apparatus 104 has. In addition, the screen data creation unit 201 creates data that is a function that the image forming apparatus 104 does not have and that can be used to select an operation screen that can select a function that the image forming apparatus 103 has. The screen data creation unit 201 creates data that is the basis of an operation screen that is used in common in the image forming apparatuses 103 and 104.

  The communication unit 202 takes in data output from another device to the server 101 via the line 105, and sends data from the server 101 to another device via the line 105. Specifically, the communication unit 202 has a function of transmitting basic data of an operation screen used in the image forming apparatus 103 to the image forming apparatus 103 via the line 105. The communication unit 202 has a function of transmitting basic data of an operation screen used in the image forming apparatus 104 to the image forming apparatus 104 via the line 105. In addition, the communication unit 202 captures data related to the contents operated by the image forming apparatus 103 into the server 101 via the line 105. Similarly, the communication unit 202 captures data related to the contents operated by the image forming apparatus 104 into the server 101 via the line 105.

  The apparatus control unit 203 has a function of controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 104 based on the contents of the operation when the image forming apparatus 103 is operated for the purpose of operating the image forming apparatus 104. The apparatus control unit 203 has a function of controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 103 based on the content of the operation when the image forming apparatus 104 is operated for the purpose of operating the image forming apparatus 103. .

  The storage unit 204 stores programs and data necessary for the operation of the server 101. The storage unit 204 functions as a working area in the operation of the screen data creation unit 201 and the device control unit 203. The server control unit 205 controls the overall operation of each functional unit described above in the server 101. That is, the server control unit 205 controls the operations of the screen data creation unit 201, the communication unit 202, and the device control unit 203 based on the operation program stored in the storage unit 204, and performs the process shown in FIG. Execute.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the personal computer 102 is connected to the line 105, and various application software such as document creation software is installed. The line 105 is a network line using an existing network standard such as a LAN.

  The image forming apparatus 103 (MC1) performs printing based on the print data acquired via the line 105 or an appropriate storage medium. The image forming apparatus 103 includes, as a UI (user interface) device, an operation unit 103b that allows a user to go to the image forming apparatus 103 and directly perform an operation, and a display device 103a that displays information necessary for the operation. ing. The operation means 103b includes a numeric keypad and various input buttons for the user to perform various operations. The display device 103a is a VGA standard liquid crystal display, and displays necessary information during various operations using the operation means 103b.

  The image output unit of the image forming apparatus 103 has a function of performing monochrome printing (color printing cannot be performed). Further, only A4 size paper can be used in the image forming apparatus 103. The image forming apparatus 103 has a stapler function as an output processing function. The stapler function is a function for mechanically binding printed paper with a stapler. Note that the image forming apparatus 103 does not have the N-up function included in the image forming apparatus 104.

  The image forming apparatus 104 (MC2) performs printing based on the print data acquired via the line 105 or an appropriate storage medium. The image forming apparatus 104 includes, as a UI (user interface) device, an operation unit 104b that allows a user to go to the image forming apparatus 104 and directly perform an operation, and a display device 104a that displays information necessary for the operation. ing. The operation unit 104b includes a numeric keypad and various input buttons for the user to perform various operations. The display device 104a is a VGA wide standard liquid crystal display, and displays necessary information during various operations using the operation means 104b.

  The image output unit of the image forming apparatus 104 has a function of performing color printing (of course, monochrome printing can also be performed). The image forming apparatus 104 can use A3 size printing paper in addition to A4 size printing paper. The image forming apparatus 104 has an N-up function as an output processing function. The N-up function is a function for printing by reducing the content of several pages on one printing sheet. Note that the image forming apparatus 104 does not have a stapler function.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, an example in which the operation unit and the operation screen display unit are separately configured as the UI device in the image forming apparatus has been described. However, by using a touch panel display, the configuration is obtained by integrating the two. Also good.

(Differential UI mode)
The differential UI mode is a mode in which the UI display unit of the focused device displays a function that is not provided by the device but provided by another device connected to the network. In the case of this example, in the UI difference mode, the image forming apparatus 103 is not included in the display apparatus 103a that is the UI display unit of the image forming apparatus 103 of interest, and the image is an apparatus connected to another network. Functions provided in the forming apparatus 104 are displayed. Further, in the UI difference mode of this example, the image forming apparatus 104 that is not provided in the display apparatus 104a that is the UI display unit of the focused image forming apparatus 104 and is another apparatus connected to the network. The functions provided by are displayed.

(Common UI mode)
The common UI mode is a mode in which a screen is created on the server side according to the standard of the UI display unit of each device, and the screen is sent to each device and displayed on the UI display unit of each device. In the common UI mode, an operation screen having a design as common as possible between the devices is created on the server side and downloaded to each device. By using the common UI mode, the same operation screen can be displayed on the UI display unit of each device if the UI display unit standard is the same even if the model or manufacturer is different. The same operability can be obtained.

(Example of operation using differential UI mode)
Hereinafter, an example of the operation of the system shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation. The processing described below is executed by the server control unit 205 based on a program stored in the storage unit 204 of FIG. In FIG. 3, the personal computer 102 is not shown.

  When the image forming apparatus 103 (MC1) is connected to the network 100 in FIG. 1 (step S301), the server control unit 101 detects it. In response to this detection, the server 101 requests MC information (machine information) from the image forming apparatus 103 and acquires it (step S302). This MC information is information relating to each function and specification of the image forming apparatus 103. In the MC information of the image forming apparatus 103 acquired by the server 101 in step S302, the display unit standard of the image forming apparatus 103 (the standard of the display apparatus 103a) is the VGA standard, and the image output unit is dedicated for monochrome output. This includes a point that usable paper is only A4 size and a stapler function as an output processing function. The machine information acquired in step S302 is stored in a database in the storage unit 204 (step S303).

  After the data related to MC1 is updated, the screen data creation unit 201 of the server 101 creates initial screen data to be displayed on the display device 103a of the image forming apparatus 103, and the data is transferred from the server 101 to the image forming apparatus 103. Sent (step S304). At this timing, an operation program necessary for the operation of the image forming apparatus 103 is downloaded from the server 101 to the image forming apparatus 103 (MC1) in subsequent processing.

  Next, when the image forming apparatus 104 (MC2) is connected to the network 100 (step S305), the server 101 detects it. In response to this detection, the server 101 requests MC information (machine information) from the image forming apparatus 104 and acquires it (step S306). The MC information is information regarding each function and specification of the image forming apparatus 104. In the MC information of the image forming apparatus 104 acquired by the server 101 in step S306, the display unit standard (standard of the display unit 104a) of the image forming apparatus 104 is the VGA wide size standard, and the image output unit is color and monochrome. This includes a point that is output, a usable paper size is A3 or A4, and a point that an N-up function is provided as an output processing function. The machine information acquired in step S306 is stored in the database in the storage unit 204 (step S307).

  After the data related to MC2 is updated, the screen data creation unit 201 of the server 101 creates an initial screen to be displayed on the display device 104a of the image forming apparatus 104, and sends it to the image forming apparatus 104 from the server 101. (Step S308). At this timing, an operation program necessary for the operation of the image forming apparatus 104 is downloaded from the server 101 to the image forming apparatus 104 (MC2) in the subsequent processing.

  Hereinafter, an example in which the user performs a printing operation by operating the image forming apparatus 103 (MC1) will be described. First, when the user touches the operation unit 103b of the image forming apparatus 103, a screen display shown in FIG. 4A is displayed on the display apparatus 103a. The screen display shown in FIG. 4A is obtained by incorporating a “network MF” button on a UI screen provided in advance in the image forming apparatus 103. This screen is based on the screen data sent from the server 101 to the image forming apparatus 103 in step S304.

  The screen display shown in FIG. 4A is an operation screen that the image forming apparatus 103 originally has, except for the “network MF” button. Here, if the user performs printing using the image forming apparatus 103, the operation unit 103b is operated using the screen display shown in FIG. Printing using is performed.

  On the other hand, when the user who has viewed the operation screen of FIG. 4A desires printing using a function that the image forming apparatus 103 does not have (or when the user wants to shift to the common UI mode), the user sees FIG. Select the “Network MF” button displayed in the operation screen of A). When the “network MF” button is selected, an instruction to operate another apparatus (in this case, the image forming apparatus 104) is given (step S309), and the image forming apparatus 103 instructs the server 101 to operate. Requests connection information of another device to the network 100 (step S310). In response to this request, the server 101 creates screen data as a basis of the connection status confirmation screen shown in FIG. 4B in the screen data creation unit 201 and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 103 (step S311). .

  Based on the screen data transmitted in step S311, the image forming apparatus 103 displays the screen shown in FIG. 4B on the display device 103a (step S312). The screen display shown in FIG. 4B indicates that the image forming apparatus 103 (MC1) and the image forming apparatus 104 (MC2) are connected to the network 100 as image forming apparatuses.

  Here, when “MC2” and “Differential UI mode” are selected and execution is further selected (step S313), the function difference between MC1 and MC2 is displayed on the server 101 from the image forming apparatus 103 MC1. A request for screen data in the differential UI mode is made (step S314).

  Upon receiving the request in step S314, the server 101 creates screen data of the differential UI mode screen for the MC1 in the screen data creation unit, and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 103 (step S315). The image forming apparatus 103 that has received the screen data displays the screen shown in FIG. 4C on the display device 103a based on the screen data.

  FIG. 4C is an example of a differential UI mode screen displayed on the UI display screen of the image forming apparatus 103. In this case, a list of functions not in the image forming apparatus 103 (MC1) but in the image forming apparatus 104 (MC2) is displayed (step S316). In other words, the screen display shown in FIG. 4C, which is a list of functions related to image formation that cannot be performed by the image forming apparatus 103 (MC1) but can be performed by the image forming apparatus 104 (MC2), is displayed on the UI of the image forming apparatus 103. Displayed on the display.

  Using the screen display shown in FIG. 4C, the user can operate the image forming apparatus 104. When the user performs an operation using the screen display shown in FIG. 4C (step S317), the operation content is sent from the image forming apparatus 103 to the server 101 (step S318). In response to this, the server 101 generates control data in the apparatus control unit 203 based on the operation performed in step S317, and sends it to the image forming apparatus 104 (step S319). Receiving this control data, the image forming apparatus 104 performs an image forming process (step S320).

(Superiority)
According to the configuration described above, the operation of the image forming apparatus 104 is performed using the UI device of the image forming apparatus 103. That is, another device connected to the network can be operated using the UI device provided in the predetermined device.

  Further, according to this configuration, even when an image forming apparatus having a new function is connected to the network 100, the function is acquired by the server 101, and the image forming apparatus can be the target of the above-described operation. That is, it is possible to operate the apparatus using the UI apparatus of the apparatus already connected to the network without performing the installation work on the terminal of the driver software of the newly connected image forming apparatus. .

(Modification 1)
In the above example, the example in which the operation of the image forming apparatus 104 is performed using the UI apparatus of the image forming apparatus 103 has been described. However, the image forming apparatus 104 is processed by performing the processing from step S309 onward. It is also possible to operate the image forming apparatus 103 using the UI device. Further, here, the case where two image forming apparatuses are connected to the network has been described, but the same function can be obtained even when there are three or more image forming apparatuses connected to the network.

  In the above example, the case of an image forming apparatus is described as an apparatus. However, a similar mechanism can be applied to a FAX apparatus or a composite apparatus (an apparatus having a plurality of functions such as a FAX apparatus and a copying apparatus). .

(Example of operation using common UI mode)
Next, an example of operation when the common UI mode is used will be described. Here, a case where the common UI mode is used in the operation of the image forming apparatus 103 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation.

  First, the processing until the connection state confirmation screen is displayed on the display device 103a is the same as steps S301 to S312 in FIG. In FIG. 5, when step S312 is executed, the screen shown in FIG. 4B is displayed on the display device 103a. At this stage, if the user selects the common UI mode of MC1 (image forming apparatus 103), the items “MC1” and “common UI mode” in FIG. "Is selected (step S321).

  When this operation is performed, screen data in the common UI mode is requested from the image forming apparatus 103 to the server 101 (step S322). In response to this request, the server 101 creates screen data in the common UI mode for the image forming apparatus 103 in the screen data creation unit 201, and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 103 (step S323). Upon receiving the common UI mode screen data from the server 101, the image forming apparatus 103 displays the common UI mode display screen illustrated in FIG. 6 on the display device 103a based on the screen data (step S324).

  The display screen of the common UI mode shown in FIG. 6 is created by the screen data creation unit 201 of the server 101 so as to have the same design and operation method as possible in each apparatus. In this example, the display device 103a is a VGA standard, and the display device 104a is a VGA wide size obtained by expanding the VGA standard. Therefore, in this example, a display screen in the VGA standard that can be displayed in common by both is adopted as the display screen of the common UI mode.

  In the display screen shown in FIG. 6, the “function” item displays a function related to “output processing function item” in FIG. 1. In the “paper” item, information on the standard of the printing paper that can be used is displayed. Information relating to the image output unit in FIG. 1 is displayed in the “print mode” item.

  In this case, when the “function” item in FIG. 6 is selected, the N-up function is displayed as a selectable target, and when the “paper” item is selected, the A4 size is displayed as a selectable target. When the “Mode” item is selected, monochrome output is displayed as a selectable target.

  When the screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display device 103a, the user selects a desired condition and performs an operation related to an image forming process using the image forming device 103 using the operation unit 103b (step S325). ). Data regarding this operation content is sent to the server 101 (step S326). The server 101 that has received the data relating to the operation content executes control of the image forming apparatus 103 based on the operation content performed in step S325 by the function of the device control unit 203 (step S327). By the control performed from the server 101, the image forming apparatus 103 performs an image forming process based on the operation content performed in step S325 (step S328).

(Modification 2)
In the above example, the example of the operation of the image forming apparatus 103 using the common UI mode by operating the UI apparatus of the image forming apparatus 103 has been described, but the common UI is operated by operating the UI apparatus of the image forming apparatus 103. It is also possible to operate the image forming apparatus 104 using the mode. This example will be described below.

  In this case, the user selects “MC2” and “common UI mode” on the display screen of FIG. 4B displayed in step S312 of FIG. Then, the image forming apparatus 103 requests the server 101 for screen data in the common UI mode for operating the image forming apparatus 104. In response to this request, the server 101 creates data as a basis for the screen display shown in FIG. 7 in the screen data creation unit 201 and sends it to the image forming apparatus 103. In response to this, the image forming apparatus 103 displays the screen shown in FIG. 7 on the display device 103a (see FIG. 1).

  In this case, when the “function” item in FIG. 7 is selected, the stapler function is displayed as a selectable target, and when the “paper” item is selected, the A3 and A4 sizes are displayed as selectable targets. When the “Mode” item is selected, monochrome output and color output are displayed as selectable targets.

  The user can operate the image forming apparatus 104 using the display displayed on the UI screen of the image forming apparatus 103 shown in FIG. This operation is performed via the device control unit 203 of the server 101.

(Modification 3)
When the display devices 103a and 104a have the same standard, the screen data creation unit 201 of the server 101 creates data so that a common operation screen is displayed on both display devices, and sends it to each image forming device. . Therefore, even if the image forming apparatuses 103 and 104 are different manufacturers or different models, the same operability can be obtained in the operation using the provided UI device.

(Modification 4)
In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the function of the server 101 can be performed by the personal computer 102. Further, the function of the server 101 can be performed by the image forming apparatus 103 or the image forming apparatus 104.

  The present invention can be used in a network system in which a plurality of devices that perform various kinds of paperwork are connected.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the network of embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the server caught from the viewpoint of the function. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the process in embodiment. It is a screen figure which shows an example of the display of the operation screen in embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the process in embodiment. It is a screen figure which shows an example of the display of the operation screen in embodiment. It is a screen figure which shows an example of the display of the operation screen in embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Network with which the apparatus which performs paperwork was connected, 101 ... Server, 102 ... Personal computer, 103 ... 1st image forming apparatus (MC1), 103a ... Display apparatus, 103b ... Operation means, 104 ... 2nd image Forming device (MC2), 104a ... display device, 104b ... operating means, 105 ... line.

Claims (5)

A data creation unit for creating data for displaying an operation screen for operating the second device on the display device provided in the first device;
A communication unit that transmits the data to the first device and receives data based on the operation content of the operation screen performed in the first device;
An information processing apparatus comprising: an apparatus control unit configured to control an operation of the second apparatus based on data based on the operation content.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation screen displays functions that the first apparatus does not have and functions that the second apparatus includes. The data creation unit
When the standard of the first display device included in the first device and the standard of the second display device included in the second device are the same, the first display device and the second display device The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein data serving as a basis for a common screen used in common is created.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second apparatuses are image forming apparatuses. A program that is read and executed by a computer,
A data creation step of creating data for displaying an operation screen for operating the second device on the display device provided in the first device;
A transmission / reception step of transmitting the data to the first device and receiving data based on the operation content of the operation screen performed in the first device;
And a control step for controlling the operation of the second device based on the data based on the operation content.

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