JP2011217027A - Multi function peripheral, and method and program for automatically displaying web data of the same, - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multi function peripheral for automatically displaying WEB data required for a user at a location where the multi function peripheral is installed.SOLUTION: The multi function peripheral includes: a storage medium for storing a list of URLs of WEB data to be connected; a network I/F unit connected to the WEB data; a WEB display unit for displaying the WEB data thereon; a control unit for reading a different URL included in the list of the URLs at regular time intervals to cause the network I/F unit to be connected the URL, and automatically displaying the WEB data of a connection destination on the WEB display unit; and a printer unit for printing the WEB data displayed on the WEB display unit.

Description

  The present invention relates to a multifunction machine having a copy function, a print function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, and the like.

  There is known a technique in which a WEB browser function is installed in a multi-function peripheral and WEB data information is displayed on a display panel of the multi-function peripheral.

  Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2008-229933 (Patent Document 1) is a technique related to an image forming apparatus capable of displaying WEB data. In this image forming apparatus, the user operates the WEB browser of the image forming apparatus to display the WEB data. The image forming apparatus also includes a communication unit that makes a financial association with information and content on the WEB server and communicates with a print management server that manages the amount and location of the information and content printed. The configuration of the present invention requires a print management server as an external server in addition to the image forming apparatus.

JP 2008-229933 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a multifunction device capable of automatically acquiring and displaying WEB data on the Internet and printing it if necessary.

  The MFP of the present invention includes a storage medium that stores a list of URLs of web data to be connected, a network I / F unit that is connected to the web data, a web display unit that displays the web data, and a fixed time interval. Read another URL included in the list of URLs, connect to the network I / F unit to the URL, and automatically display the WEB data of the connection destination on the WEB display unit, and the WEB display unit A printer unit for printing the displayed WEB data is provided.

  The WEB data automatic display method of the present invention is a WEB data automatic display method implemented by a multifunction peripheral. The WEB data automatic display method includes a URL list reference step for referring to a URL list of WEB data, a URL connection step for connecting to the URL of the WEB data, and a WEB data display step for displaying the WEB data for a certain period of time. , After a certain time, the URL list referring step, the URL connecting step, and the WEB data display step are repeated for another URL included in the URL list of the WEB data.

  The WEB data automatic display program according to the present invention includes a URL list reference step for referring to a URL list of WEB data, a URL connection step for connecting to the URL of the WEB data, and a WEB data display for displaying the WEB data for a predetermined time. And a step of causing the multi-function device to repeat the URL list reference step, the URL connection step, and the WEB data display step for another URL included in the URL list of the WEB data after a predetermined time. It is a program to make it. Note that the WEB data automatic display program of the present invention is stored in a storage medium of a multifunction peripheral.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a multifunction device capable of automatically acquiring and displaying WEB data on the Internet and printing it if necessary. By registering only the URL of the WEB data that the user needs at the location where the multifunction device is located in the multifunction device of the present invention and automatically displaying it, the user does not search for himself / herself. Information necessary for the user can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the WEB display unit of the multifunction machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an automatic reception control program for automatically receiving WEB data from the Internet and displaying the WEB data in the multi-function peripheral according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for printing WEB data during automatic reception of WEB data in the multifunction machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a display screen in the WEB data print mode displayed on the touch panel of the multifunction machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  With reference to the attached drawings, a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[Description of configuration]
First, the internal configuration of the multifunction machine according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 10 is a control circuit for the multifunction machine. The RAM 20 is a memory. The ROM 30 is a storage medium that stores a control program for the multifunction machine. The facsimile unit 40 is a modem circuit that modulates data into an analog signal and demodulates data into a digital signal. The network I / F unit 50 is a LAN circuit that performs Internet communication. The printer unit 60 is a printer circuit that prints image data or the like on a recording sheet. The scanner unit 70 is a circuit that reads a document. The operation panel unit 80 is a circuit of an operation unit including an operation signal circuit including a touch panel, an operation switch, and the like, and a liquid crystal monitor that displays operation contents. The system bus 90 is a main bus circuit that connects the control unit 10 and other functional circuits. The WEB display unit 100 is a circuit that controls a liquid crystal monitor with a touch panel. The external output unit 105 is an I / F control circuit that connects a liquid crystal monitor with a touch panel as an external monitor.

  Next, the configuration of the WEB display unit 100 of the multifunction machine according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the WEB display unit 100 of the multifunction machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. The WEB display unit 100 includes an I / F control unit 110, a display control unit 120 for a liquid crystal monitor, an input sensor control unit 130 for a touch panel, and a liquid crystal panel 200 with a touch panel function. The I / F control unit 110 is a circuit that controls connection between the system bus 90 and the WEB display unit 100. As an application example of the I / F control unit 110, a general-purpose I / F control circuit such as a USB or Bluetooth used in a personal computer or the like can be used. The display control unit 120 is a circuit that demodulates the data received by the I / F control unit 110 and displays it on the liquid crystal panel 200 with a touch panel function. The input sensor control unit 130 is a circuit that controls a touch panel input signal from the liquid crystal panel 200 with a touch panel function.

[Description of operation method]
Next, a web data automatic reception control program for automatically receiving WEB data from the Internet and displaying the WEB data on the liquid crystal panel 200 with a touch panel function in the multi-function peripheral according to the present embodiment will be described. In general, since the control unit of the multifunction device is not used for functions other than the function of the multifunction device such as copying, there is a free time of the control unit that executes another program. For this reason, even if the control unit of the multifunction device is assigned to the execution of a program for automatically acquiring information on the Internet, a large load is not applied to the multifunction device. In general, multifunction devices are not subject to attacks by computer viruses and the like, and thus have security safety. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a WEB data automatic reception control program for automatically receiving WEB data from the Internet and displaying the WEB data in the multi-function peripheral according to the embodiment of the present invention.

(Step S100)
From the list of URLs of the WEB data to be displayed, the URL of the WEB data to be displayed next on the liquid crystal panel 200 with a touch panel function is selected and set as an address. A list of URLs of WEB data to be displayed is stored in the ROM 30. The URL of the WEB data to be displayed can be set and updated by the administrator of the multifunction device from a software keyboard or the like displayed on the touch panel.

(Step S110)
When the user requests another process such as paper printing from the touch panel or the like, the WEB data automatic reception control program operating in the control unit 10 receives a WEB data automatic reception stop command.

  If the WEB data automatic reception stop command has not been received, the process proceeds to step S120. If the WEB data automatic reception stop command has been received, the WEB data automatic reception program is terminated.

(Step S120)
Connect to the address set in step S100 and receive WEB data.

(Step S130)
The WEB data received in step S120 is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 200 with a touch panel function.

(Step S140)
During the designated display time, the contents of the data received in step S100 are continuously displayed.

(Step S150)
In step S120, the number of times of connection to the same URL is compared with the number of times of designated connection that is the number of times of reconnection to the same URL. If the number of connections in step S120 is within the specified number of connections, the process proceeds to step S110. In this way, when the data is changed on the WEB server side, the WEB data display of the multifunction peripheral can be immediately updated. If the number of connections to the same URL exceeds the specified number of connections in step S120, the process proceeds to step S160.

(Step S160)
When the user requests another process such as paper printing from the touch panel or the like, the WEB data automatic reception control program operating in the control unit 10 receives a WEB data automatic reception stop command.

  If the WEB data automatic reception stop command has not been received, the process proceeds to step S100, and the URL of the WEB data to be displayed next on the liquid crystal panel 200 with a touch panel function is selected from the list of WEB data URLs to be displayed. Set to. Next, the URL of the WEB data to be set as the address is set in order from the top of the URL list. After reading the last URL, the URL is returned to the top and displayed, or the URL is randomly selected from the URL list. The method etc. which select can be considered. If the WEB data automatic reception stop command has been received, the WEB data automatic reception program is terminated.

  Next, in the multi-function peripheral according to the present embodiment, a description will be given of printing the WEB data displayed by the user during the operation of the WEB data automatic reception control program. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for printing WEB data during automatic reception of WEB data in the multifunction machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

(Step S200)
When the user wants to print the displayed WEB data, the user operates the touch panel of the WEB display unit 100 to select the displayed WEB data.

(Step S210)
By the operation by the user in step S200, the control unit 10 stops the execution of the WEB data automatic reception program and stops the WEB data automatic reception mode. The control unit 10 displays a display screen for the user to print WEB data on the liquid crystal panel 200 with a touch panel function. FIG. 5 is a display screen in the WEB data print mode displayed on the touch panel of the multifunction machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. The screen 300 is a screen that displays the WEB data selected by the user. The return button 310 is a button for transitioning to the previous display screen. The print button 320 is a button for printing the displayed WEB data. The end button 330 is a button for ending the WEB data printing mode.

(Step S220)
If the user operates the print button 320, the process proceeds to step S230. If the user does not operate the print button 320, the process proceeds to step S270.

(Step S230)
If the MFP has a charging system for printing WEB data, the process proceeds to step S240. If the MFP does not have a charging system for printing WEB data, the process proceeds to step S250.

(Step S240)
The multifunction device activates the billing system, and prompts the user to input the print amount set in the multifunction device in the liquid crystal panel 200 with a touch panel function. When the predetermined amount is inserted, the process proceeds to step S250.

(Step S250)
The multifunction device transfers the WEB data displayed on the liquid crystal panel 200 with a touch panel function to the printer unit 60 and starts a printing operation.

(Step S260)
The multifunction device prints WEB data displayed on the liquid crystal panel 200 with a touch panel function.

(Step S270)
When the user operates the end button 330, the process proceeds to step S280, and when the user does not operate the end button 330, the process proceeds to step S200. By returning to step S200, the user can continuously print the WEB data.

(Step S280)
Since the printing by the user is completed, the multi-function peripheral executes the WEB data automatic reception control program and shifts to the WEB data automatic reception mode.

  FIG. 4 in the present embodiment is a flowchart for printing WEB data during automatic reception of WEB data. When the user selects a copy function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, or the like on the touch panel, the WEB data is automatically received. By causing the program to receive a WEB data automatic reception stop command, the function of the multifunction device can be operated even during automatic WEB data reception.

  In this embodiment, WEB data acquired from the Internet is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 200 with a touch panel function. However, by switching the output to an external monitor connected to the external output unit 105, it is installed at a place away from the MFP main body. The WEB data information acquired from the network by the MFP can be displayed on the monitor.

  For example, an advertisement can be considered as the content of the WEB data to be displayed on the multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment. Conventionally, commercial information provided by sponsors has been distributed through advertisements inserted into newspapers, free paper, and the like. If you can get commercial information about the area when you are away from home, you can easily find famous places and famous shops in the area, discover local events, and more. However, advertisements are not inserted in newspapers sold at stations and convenience stores, and free papers are inconvenient in terms of availability of information sources, such as being available only by knowing where they are distributed. On the other hand, commercial information distributed on the Internet can be obtained if the user has an information terminal such as a personal computer or a mobile phone. However, in the case of a personal computer or a mobile phone, in order to obtain information on the go, the user needs to search, etc., and prior knowledge of the go, such as keywords for the search, is necessary, and there is no prior knowledge. If there is not, there will be inconvenience in operation such as taking time for searching.

  Furthermore, there are the following inconveniences in terms of usage. In the case of a personal computer, it is necessary to consider the battery driving time in order to display the stored information. Compared to mobile phones, it is heavy and inconvenient to carry. It cannot be used unless the infrastructure environment for mobile connection is in place. In the case of a mobile phone, it is necessary to consider the battery driving time in order to display the stored information. There is inconvenience that communication speed is slow. There is inconvenience that the amount of information that can be acquired is small. The amount of information that can be displayed at one time is inconvenient.

  On the other hand, many multifunction peripherals are installed in convenience stores as copying machines. If the multifunction device in this embodiment is used, the administrator of the multifunction device sets information on famous places and famous stores unique to the area as a list of URLs in advance, and the WEB data automatic reception program allows the touch panel function. It can be displayed on the attached liquid crystal panel 200 or an external monitor. Also, when the user wants to print and carry an advertisement of the referenced WEB data, the advertisement information as a paper medium can be easily obtained by the printing function of the multi-function peripheral in the present embodiment.

  The functions of the multifunction machine according to the present embodiment can be realized by combining a personal computer and the multifunction machine. However, in this method, it is necessary to newly install a personal computer, which is costly and requires an installation area for the personal computer. In addition, when a personal computer is installed in a place that can be used by an unspecified number of people, there is still concern about security protection. Therefore, there is an advantage realized by the function of the multifunction machine according to the present embodiment.

  The URL set in the MFP according to the present embodiment is not necessarily the URL of the external network on the Internet, but may be the URL of the WEB server of the terminal of the local network. By preparing a WEB server for store advertisements with a terminal of its own local network network, information such as time sales, original coupon tickets, etc. can be sent only to customers by the multifunction machine according to this embodiment installed in the store. Providing services for customers is possible.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

10 Control unit 20 RAM
30 ROM
40 facsimile unit 50 network I / F unit 60 printer unit 70 scanner unit 80 operation panel unit 90 system bus 100 WEB display unit 105 external output unit 110 I / F control unit 120 display control unit 130 input sensor control unit 200 liquid crystal with touch panel function Panel 300 Screen 310 Return button 320 Print button 330 Exit button

Claims (7)

A storage medium for storing a list of URLs of WEB data;
A network I / F unit connected to the WEB data;
A WEB display for displaying the WEB data;
A control unit that reads another URL included in the URL list at regular intervals, causes the network I / F unit to connect to the URL, and automatically displays the WEB data of the connection destination on the WEB display unit When,
And a printer unit that prints the WEB data displayed on the WEB display unit. The multifunction device according to claim 1,
A multifunction device comprising an external output unit for displaying the WEB data of the connection destination on an external monitor. The multifunction device according to claim 1,
The printer unit, scanner unit, and facsimile unit of the multifunction machine can be operated from the state where the WEB data of the connection destination is displayed. After the operation of the printer unit, the scanner unit, and the facsimile unit is completed, And a control unit that displays the WEB data of the connection destination. A method of automatically displaying WEB data to be executed by a multifunction machine,
A URL list reference step for referring to a list of URLs of WEB data;
A URL connection step for connecting to the URL of the WEB data;
A WEB data display step for displaying the WEB data for a certain period of time;
Automatic display of WEB data of a multi-function peripheral having a step of repeating the URL list reference step, the URL connection step and the WEB data display step with respect to another URL included in the URL list of the WEB data after a certain time Method. A method of automatically displaying WEB data to be executed by a multifunction machine,
Receiving the operations of the printer unit, the scanner unit, and the facsimile unit of the multi-function device during the WEB data automatic display method of the multi-function device according to claim 4;
A step of waiting for the operation of the printer unit, the scanner unit, and the facsimile unit of the multifunction device;
A method for automatically displaying WEB data of a multifunction device, comprising: performing the method for automatically displaying WEB data of a multifunction device according to claim 4 after the operations of the printer unit, the scanner unit, and the facsimile unit of the multifunction device are completed. A URL list reference step for referring to a list of URLs of WEB data;
A URL connection step for connecting to the URL of the WEB data;
A WEB data display step for displaying the WEB data for a certain period of time;
For causing the multi-function peripheral to execute the URL list reference step, the URL connection step, and the WEB data display step for another URL included in the URL list of the WEB data after a certain time. WEB data automatic display program. Receiving the operations of the printer unit, the scanner unit, and the facsimile unit of the multi-function device during implementation of the WEB data automatic display method of the multi-function device according to claim 4;
Awaiting the end of operation of the printer unit, the scanner unit and the facsimile unit of the multi-function peripheral;
5. A WEB data automatic display program for causing a multi-function peripheral to execute the WEB data auto-display method of the multi-function peripheral after the operations of the printer section, the scanner section, and the facsimile section of the multi-function peripheral are completed. .

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