JP2009271727A - Web page access support method, image forming device and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to more easily access a setting Web page of an image forming device than before. <P>SOLUTION: In this Web page access support method, a shortcut showing a URL of the setting Web page distributed by the image forming device is generated based on an IP address of the image forming device (#13), the shortcut is transmitted to a terminal device, and its icon is made to be displayed (#16). When the icon is double-clicked in the terminal device, the shortcut is downloaded, and a Web browser is started. Based on the URL shown in the shortcut, the terminal device is made to access the setting Web page. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for accessing a Web page of an apparatus such as an image forming apparatus.

  In recent years, an image forming apparatus called an MFP (Multi Function Peripherals) or a multifunction peripheral has been provided with a so-called IP communication function as well as a copy function, a scanner function, and a fax function. Furthermore, functions such as network printing and a document server have been provided by applying IP communication functions.

  If the functions of the image forming apparatus increase, the setting items of the image forming apparatus increase, and the setting work becomes complicated. Therefore, the following method is realized so that the work can be easily performed.

A web page for setting is prepared in the image forming apparatus. A personal computer is connected to the image forming apparatus via a communication line, and the Web page is displayed on the personal computer. Then, the setting content input to the Web page is transmitted from the personal computer to the image forming apparatus, and the setting is performed in the image forming apparatus. A method similar to this method is also described in Patent Document 1.
JP 2003-140842 A

  By the way, the image forming apparatus is not normally used as a dedicated server (WWW server) for transmitting a Web page. Therefore, in most cases, the WWW server name is not given to the image forming apparatus. Even the domain name may not be given to the network to which the image forming apparatus belongs. Therefore, normally, when a user accesses a personal computer to a setting Web page, a URL including an IP address of an image forming apparatus is input instead of a URL including a WWW server name and a domain name.

  However, the user often does not know the IP address of the image forming apparatus. In addition, when the image forming apparatus is used in an environment where an IP address is lent from a DHCP server, the IP address may change. When an IP address of IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6) is used, it is very troublesome for the user to input the URL of the Web page for setting, particularly the IP address portion of the image forming apparatus.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that a user can access a setting Web page of an image forming apparatus more easily than in the past.

  A Web page access support method according to an aspect of the present invention provides a Web page access method distributed by a first device in a network including a first device and a second device receiving a service from the first device. URL data indicating a URL is generated based on identification information for identifying the first device, and an icon of the URL data is displayed on the second device.

  Preferably, when a predetermined operation is performed on the icon in the second device, the second device is made to access the Web page based on the URL data.

  More preferably, the URL data is a shortcut file, the identification information is an IP address given from a DHCP server, and the web page is a web page for setting the first device. The first apparatus is an image forming apparatus such as an MFP.

  1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of the image processing system 5, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 1, and FIG. 3 is an example of a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing system 5 is a network system including an image forming apparatus 1, a plurality of terminal apparatuses 2, and a plurality of routers 3.

  The image forming apparatus 1 and the terminal device 2 are connected to one of the routers 3 by a twisted pair cable. One segment is formed by the image forming apparatus 1 and the terminal apparatus 2 connected to the same router 3.

  The router 3 is connected to any other router 3 via a LAN line or the Internet. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 and the terminal apparatus 2 belonging to different segments can communicate with each other. Of course, the image forming apparatus 1 and the terminal apparatus 2 belonging to the same segment can also communicate with each other. As a communication protocol, TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol), SMB (Server Message Block), HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), or the like is used.

  Further, the router 3 has a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server function, and each of the image forming apparatus 1 and the terminal apparatus 2 connected to itself has an IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6) IP. Lend an address.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is a processing apparatus that integrates various functions such as copying, scanner, fax, network printing, and document server. Sometimes called a multi-function peripheral or MFP (Multi Function Peripherals).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a CPU 10a, a RAM 10b, a ROM 10c, a hard disk 10d, a control circuit 10e, an operation panel 10f, a scanner 10g, a printing device 10h, a LAN interface 10j, and a FAX modem 10k. The

  The control circuit 10e is a circuit for controlling the hard disk 10d, the operation panel 10f, the scanner 10g, the printing device 10h, the LAN interface 10j, the FAX modem 10k, and the like.

  The scanner 10g is a device that optically reads an image of a document such as a sentence, a mathematical formula, a symbol, a photograph, a chart, or an illustration drawn on a document and generates image data.

  The printing device 10h prints an image on a sheet based on image data obtained by the scanner 10g or image data transmitted from the terminal device 2 or the like.

  The LAN interface 10 j is a NIC (Network Interface Card) for communicating with the terminal device 2, and is connected to the router 3. The FAX modem 10k is a device that performs communication with a FAX terminal using a fax protocol.

  The operation panel 10f includes a touch panel type liquid crystal display and a numeric keypad. On the liquid crystal display, a screen for giving a message or an instruction to the user, a screen showing a result of processing executed by the CPU 10a, and the like are displayed.

  In addition, the language for messages and instructions to the user (such as Japanese or English), the default conditions for copying (resolution, print side (single or double sided), finishing (stapling or punched holes), number of copies, etc.), image A screen is displayed for the user to make settings related to the FAX number of the forming apparatus 1, the density of the display on the liquid crystal display, and various other items. The user can perform various settings regarding the image forming apparatus 1 by operating the operation panel 10f while viewing this screen.

  Further, as will be described later, an MFP setting program PR3, which is a program for receiving the contents of these settings from the terminal device 2, is installed in the image forming apparatus 1. According to the MFP setting program PR3, the user can operate the terminal device 2 to perform setting remotely.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an operating system (OS) PR1, a shortcut generation program PR2, an MFP setting program PR3, and the like are installed in the ROM 10c or the hard disk 10d.

  These programs are read into the RAM 10b as necessary, and the programs are executed by the CPU 10a. Part or all of the functions realized by these programs may be realized by a circuit such as the control circuit 10e.

  By executing the operating system PR1, the IP address acquisition unit 101, the IP address storage unit 102, the shared file management unit 103, the Web server processing unit 104, and the like are realized.

  Further, by executing the shortcut generation program PR2, the IP address calling unit 121, the shortcut data generation unit 122, and the like are realized.

  The MFP setting program PR3 is a program for receiving various settings of the image forming apparatus 1 itself from the terminal device 2 as described above. As the MFP setting program PR3, PSWC (PageScope Web Connection) manufactured by Konica Minolta, Inc. is used.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the terminal device 2 is a client of the image forming apparatus 1 and is used to use functions of the image forming apparatus 1 such as a scanner, a fax machine, a document server, and network printing. Also, it functions as a console for setting the image forming apparatus 1. As the terminal device 2, a personal computer, a workstation, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or the like is used.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a general configuration of a URL, FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a method of generating a URL of a setting Web page, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of displaying an icon GI.

  Next, the processing contents of each unit of the image forming apparatus 1 and the terminal device 2 shown in FIG. 3 will be described in detail.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 itself is connected to the router 3, the IP address acquisition unit 101 receives an IP address to be set from the router 3.

  That is, the IP address acquisition unit 101 requests an IP address when connected to the router 3. Then, the router 3 lends one of the free IP addresses to the image forming apparatus 1. At this time, the lending IP address is notified to the image forming apparatus 1. Thereafter, the image forming apparatus 1 performs various processes using the IP address as its own IP address.

  The IP address storage unit 102 stores the IP address acquired (loaned) by the IP address acquisition unit 101.

  The shared file management unit 103 manages files that are allowed to be accessed from other devices among files stored in the hard disk 10d, that is, files to be disclosed. Such a file is generally called a “shared file” or the like.

  That is, the shared file management unit 103 performs the following process on the shared file. When the user designates the storage location and file name (that is, a so-called network path) of a certain shared file by operating the terminal device 2, the terminal device 2 requests the shared file from the image forming apparatus 1. Then, the shared file management unit 103 calls the shared file from the hard disk 10d and transmits it to the terminal device 2 based on a protocol such as SMB.

  The Web server processing unit 104 performs the following processing in order for the image forming apparatus 1 to function as a Web server.

  When the user activates the Web browser on the terminal device 2 and inputs the URL of the Web page provided by the image forming device 1 including the IP address of the image forming device 1 with the keyboard, the terminal device 2 adds the URL to the URL. Based on this, it connects to the image forming apparatus 1 and requests a Web page.

  Then, the Web server processing unit 104 receives a request from the terminal device 2 and appropriately links data necessary for displaying the Web page (such as an HTML file and an image file) with a server application. It transmits to the terminal device 2. For example, when the user inputs the URL of a Web page for setting the image forming apparatus 1 (hereinafter referred to as “setting Web page”), the data necessary for displaying the setting Web page is displayed in the MFP setting program. The data is generated by PR3 and the data is transmitted to the terminal device 2. Then, the terminal device 2 displays a setting Web page.

  When the user inputs a setting value to the setting Web page, the Web server processing unit 104 receives the setting value from the terminal device 2. Then, the MFP setting program PR3 is executed using the set value as a parameter, and the image forming apparatus 1 is set.

  Note that the user can access the setting Web page only by double-clicking a shortcut file icon to be described later.

  Each time an IP address is newly stored in the IP address storage unit 102 or the IP address stored in the IP address storage unit 102 is changed, the IP address calling unit 121 changes the new IP address or the changed IP address. Call.

  The shortcut data generation unit 122 generates a shortcut SFL indicating a URL for accessing the setting Web page, using the IP address called by the IP address calling unit 121. When the icon of the shortcut SFL is double-clicked on the terminal device 2, the Web browser of the terminal device 2 accesses the setting Web page based on the URL indicated in the shortcut SFL. That is, the shortcut SFL corresponds to a “shortcut” in Windows (registered trademark) of Microsoft Corporation.

  By the way, in general, as shown in FIG. 4, the URL of a Web page includes a protocol (scheme) for exchanging the Web page, an identifier (for example, an IP address) of a server that provides the Web page, and The path of the Web page is shown. Of these three pieces of information, only the IP address of the server that is the provider can change the URL of the setting Web page. This is because the IP address lent by the router 3 is not always the same.

  Therefore, the shortcut data generation unit 122 obtains the URL of the setting Web page by a method as shown in FIG.

  A template TMP as shown in FIG. 5A is prepared in advance. When the IP address calling unit 121 calls the IP address, the shortcut data generating unit 122 substitutes the IP address for the template TMP as shown in FIG. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5C, the URL of the setting Web page is obtained.

  Then, the shortcut data generation unit 122 generates a shortcut SFL indicating this URL. The generated shortcut SFL is given a file name such as “MFP-01” and stored as a shared file on the hard disk 10d. If the old shortcut SFL is stored, it is deleted and the newly generated shortcut SFL is stored.

  The shortcut SFL stored in the hard disk 10d is used as follows. The user operates the terminal device 2 to connect to the image forming apparatus 1 and searches for an icon GI of the shortcut SFL as shown in FIG. The search engine may be searched for by specifying the file name of the shortcut SFL. Then, double-click the icon GI.

  Then, the shortcut SFL is downloaded to the terminal device 2. The terminal device 2 starts a Web browser and accesses the setting Web page of the image forming apparatus 1 based on the URL indicated by the shortcut SFL. The user can make various settings of the image forming apparatus 1 while viewing the setting Web page.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the overall processing flow of the image forming apparatus 1. Next, the flow of processing related to the shortcut SFL in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Each time an event occurs, the image forming apparatus 1 performs the following processing according to the event.

  When the IP address is given from the router 3 (Yes in # 11), the image forming apparatus 1 stores the IP address (# 12) and generates a shortcut SFL by applying the IP address to the template TMP ( # 13). Then, the shortcut SFL is stored as a shared file (# 14).

  Alternatively, when there is a request for access to the shortcut SFL from the terminal device 2 (Yes in # 15), the stored shortcut SFL is transmitted to the terminal device 2 (# 16).

  Alternatively, when the icon GI of the shortcut SFL is double-clicked on the terminal device 2, the terminal device 2 starts a Web browser and requests access to the setting Web page. Then (Yes in # 17), the image forming apparatus 1 transmits data for displaying the setting Web page to the terminal device 2 (# 18). Then, when the setting value is received from the terminal device 2 (Yes in # 19), its own setting process is performed based on that (# 20).

  According to the present embodiment, the user can more easily access the Web page for setting the image forming apparatus from his / her terminal device 2 than before.

  In this embodiment, the case where a shortcut for a setting Web page is provided to the terminal device 2 has been described as an example. However, the present invention can also be applied to a case where a shortcut for a Web page of another service is provided.

  In the present exemplary embodiment, the case where the image forming apparatus 1 is lent with an IP address from the router 3 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is also applied to the case where an IP address is fixedly set in the image forming apparatus 1. can do. The present invention can also be applied to an IPv4 IP address.

  A shortcut indicating the network path of the shortcut SFL stored in the hard disk 10d of the image forming apparatus 1 may be registered on the desktop of the terminal device 2 or the like. Then, even if the URL indicated by the shortcut SFL is changed, the user can access the setting Web page only by double-clicking the shortcut indicating the network path.

  The present invention can also be applied to the generation of shortcuts that indicate URLs of Web pages for setting devices other than the image forming apparatus 1 or various other Web pages.

  In addition, the entire configuration of the image processing system 5 and the image forming apparatus 1, the configuration of each unit, the processing content, the processing order, and the like can be appropriately changed according to the spirit of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows the example of the whole structure of an image processing system. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the general structure of URL. It is a figure for demonstrating the production | generation method of URL of a setting Web page. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of icon GI. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the overall processing flow of the image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image forming device (first device)
103 Shared file management unit (URL data distribution means)
122 Shortcut data generation unit (URL data generation means)
2 Terminal device (second device)
5 Image processing system (network)
SFL shortcut (URL data)

Claims (5)

In a network including a first device and a second device receiving service from the first device,
Generating URL data indicating a URL of a Web page distributed by the first device based on identification information for identifying the first device;
Displaying the URL data icon on the second device;
A Web page access support method characterized by the above. When a predetermined operation is performed on the icon in the second device, the second device is made to access the Web page based on the URL data.
The Web page access support method according to claim 2. The URL data is a shortcut file,
The identification information is an IP address given from a DHCP server,
The web page is a web page for setting the first device.
The Web page access support method according to claim 1 or 2. An image forming apparatus that provides a service to a terminal device via a communication line,
URL data generating means for generating URL data indicating the URL of the setting Web page of the image forming apparatus based on the IP address of the image forming apparatus;
URL data distribution means for distributing the URL data generated by the URL data generation means to the terminal device;
An image forming apparatus comprising: A computer program used in an image forming apparatus that provides a service to a terminal device via a communication line,
In the image forming apparatus,
A process for generating URL data indicating the URL of the Web page for setting the image forming apparatus based on the IP address of the image forming apparatus; a process for distributing the generated URL data to the terminal apparatus;
To execute,
A computer program characterized by the above.

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