JP2011221674A - Device controller, device control method and device control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the efficiency of the processing of the entire system by continuously acquiring an user information of a plurality of users, performing authentication/registration, and executing a common service to the registered users.SOLUTION: Either one of a first mode and a second mode for acquiring the user information and performing registration processing is set, one piece of the user information is acquired when the first mode is set, and the user information is continuously acquired when the second mode is set. Then, the authentication processing of the acquired one, two or more pieces of the user information is performed, the user information for which the authentication processing is a success is registered, and the execution processing of a specified service is controlled on the basis of the registered one, two or more pieces of the user information.

Description

The present invention relates to a device control apparatus, a device control method, and a device control system that allow a device to execute a service after registering a plurality of user information.

In recent years, authentication is performed using information such as a card ID and user ID recorded on an IC card (hereinafter referred to as user information), and services such as printing and scanning are performed using a device for a user who has succeeded in authentication. The system that permits this has become widespread.

For example, several technologies related to a so-called “secure printing” (security printing) function that authenticates a user when a print job is input or when a printing result is output have been proposed. A system has been proposed in which a print job of a user successfully used for user authentication is received and printed by a printer (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-318141 A

In the system of Patent Document 1, a service such as printing is executed on a device only when a user authentication process is successful, and an authentication process or service execution of another user is not accepted while a service is being executed by a certain user. Thus, confidentiality (security) at the time of service execution can be maintained and improved.

However, on the other hand, the document scanned by the scanner is distributed to multiple destinations via the network, and the proceedings memo recorded on the whiteboard at the meeting is distributed to the attendees via the network. As described above, there has been an increasing need to make service execution processing common to a plurality of users. In order to meet such needs, there is a problem of how to easily and surely set and register a plurality of users as service providing destinations.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a continuous registration mode capable of continuously acquiring and registering user information of a plurality of users, succeeding in user authentication in the continuous registration mode, and for a plurality of registered users. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device control apparatus, a device control method, and a device control system that can improve the efficiency of processing of the entire system by executing a common service.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the device control apparatus according to claim 1 performs a registration process by acquiring user information by user information input means for acquiring user information and the user information input means. Mode setting means for setting one of the first mode and the second mode, and when the first mode is set by the mode setting means, one piece of user information is acquired, and the second When the mode is set, user information acquisition control means for controlling the user information input means so as to continuously acquire user information, and authentication processing of one or a plurality of user information acquired by the user information input means User information authenticating means for performing registration, user information registering means for registering user information successfully authenticated by the user information authenticating means, and registered by the user information registering means Or based on a plurality of user information, characterized in that it comprises a service control means for controlling the execution of the specified service, the.

In order to solve the above problem, the device control method according to claim 4 is the first mode or the second mode for acquiring the user information by the user information input means and performing the registration process. A mode setting step for setting a mode; and the user information input means is controlled according to the mode set in the mode setting step. When the first mode is set, one piece of user information is acquired; A user information acquisition step of continuously acquiring user information when the mode of 2 is set, a user information authentication step of performing authentication processing of one or a plurality of user information acquired in the user information acquisition step, User information registration step for registering user information that has been successfully authenticated in the user information authentication step, and registration in the user information registration step. Based on one or more of user information, characterized by comprising a service control step of controlling the execution of the specified service, the.

In order to solve the above problem, a device control system according to claim 7 includes a device, a control unit locally connected to the device, and a device control apparatus that controls the device via the control unit. In the device control system, the control unit includes user information input means for acquiring user information, and a first mode or a second mode for acquiring user information by the user information input means and performing registration processing. Mode setting means for setting any one of the mode, and when the first mode is set by the mode setting means, one piece of user information is acquired, and when the second mode is set, user information is acquired. The user information acquisition control means for controlling the user information input means so as to continuously acquire the one or the one acquired by the user information input means. User information storage means for storing a plurality of user information; and user information transmission means for transmitting user information stored in the user information storage means and identification information for specifying the control unit itself, the device control apparatus User information receiving means for receiving the user information and the identification information from the control unit, user information authentication means for performing authentication processing of one or more user information received by the user information receiving means, and the user information The user information registration means for registering user information that has been successfully authenticated by the authentication means, and the corresponding control unit is identified by the identification information received by the user information reception means, and registered in the user information registration means 1 or Service execution processing by a device connected to the identified control unit based on a plurality of user information Characterized in that it comprises a service control means for controlling, the.

In order to solve the above problem, a device control system according to claim 12 includes a device, a control unit locally connected to the device, and an information processing apparatus that controls the device via the control unit. In the device control system, the control unit includes user information input means for acquiring user information, and a first mode or a second mode for acquiring user information by the user information input means and performing registration processing. Mode setting means for setting any one of the mode, and when the first mode is set by the mode setting means, one piece of user information is acquired, and when the second mode is set, user information is acquired. User information acquisition control means for controlling the user information input means so as to continuously acquire the information, and 1 or obtained by the user information input means User information authenticating means for authenticating a number of user information, user information registering means for registering user information successfully authenticated by the user information authenticating means, and an information processing apparatus capable of making a service execution request for the device A service execution determination unit that determines whether or not the service execution determination unit can request execution of the service, and one or a plurality of user information registered by the user information registration unit, and Identification information for specifying the control unit itself and user information transmission means for transmitting a control request for the service, and the information processing apparatus controls the user information, the identification information, and the service from the control unit. User information receiving means for receiving the request, and one or more previous information acquired by the user information receiving means The corresponding control unit is specified by the user information storage means for storing user information and the identification information received by the user information receiving means, and connected to the specified control unit in response to the control request for the service. Service control means for making an execution request for the service to the device and controlling execution processing of the service based on one or a plurality of user information stored in the user information storage means.

According to the present invention, the service execution process performed for a plurality of users registered in the continuous registration mode is made common, so that the process of the entire system can be made efficient.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a device control system according to a first embodiment. It is a block diagram which illustrates the internal structure of the server 200 shown in FIG. It is an example of the user information list memorize | stored in the user information storage part 209 of the server 200 shown in FIG. 10 is a flowchart for describing user information registration processing and scan execution processing in the server 200 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process when performing a scan according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a device control system according to a second embodiment. It is a block diagram which illustrates the internal structure of the control unit 800 shown in FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating user information acquisition and transmission processing in a control unit according to a second embodiment. 12 is a flowchart illustrating user information registration processing and scan execution processing in the server 200 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process when executing a scan according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a device control system according to a third embodiment. FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the client PC 100 illustrated in FIG. 11. FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a control unit 850 shown in FIG. 11. 10 is a flowchart for describing user information registration processing and scan request transmission processing in a control unit 850 according to Embodiment 3; 10 is a flowchart illustrating scan execution processing in a client PC 100 according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process when performing a scan according to a third embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

An embodiment according to Example 1 will be described.

<1. Device control system configuration>
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration of a device control system for realizing the present invention, which includes a client PC 100 (100A, 100B), a server 200, a scanner 300, a card reader 400 (400A, 400X, 400Y), and a storage 500. The

In this device control system, the server 200, the scanner 300, and the card reader 400 are connected by a connection cable 600 that conforms to an interface such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) or IEEE1394. Similarly, the client PC 100 and the card reader 400 are connected by a connection cable 600. The client PC 100, the server 200, and the storage 500 are connected by a wired or wireless network 700.

Next, each device constituting the device control system of FIG. 1 will be described in order.

The client PC 100 is, for example, a device such as a personal computer, and is configured to be connected to the network 700, communicate with the server 200 and the storage 500, transmit / receive image data, and store image data. .

The server 200 is a device such as a personal computer, for example, and is configured to be connected to the network 700 and to communicate with the client PC 100 and the storage 500. The scanner 300 is controlled in order to acquire and authenticate user information read by the card reader 400 and distribute an image scanned by the scanner 300 to a user who has successfully authenticated the user information.

In general, the server 200 is desirably a high-performance device as compared with the client PC 100. When the client PC 100 has sufficient processing performance, one of the client PCs 100 may also serve as the server 200.

The scanner 300 is an image input device compliant with the TWAIN standard. For example, the scanner 300 is not limited to a single function peripheral device (SFP) having only a scan function, but also a multifunction peripheral device (MFP: Multi) having a scan function. A function peripheral, a digital camera, or an electronic blackboard (whiteboard) corresponds to this.

The card reader 400 is connected to the client PC 100 and the server 200 via the connection cable 600 and has a function of acquiring user information such as a card ID and a user ID recorded on the card. The card reader 400 may be configured to be built in the client PC 100, the server 200, and the scanner 300.

In the present embodiment, description will be made using the technology of a non-contact IC card that communicates between the cards when the card is brought close to (over the card reader 400). For example, there is FeliCa (registered trademark) as this non-contact IC card technology. It is not limited to this technology, and other non-contact types such as a close contact type (ISO / IEC10536; communication distance of 2 mm or less) and a proximity type (ISO / IEC14443; communication distance of 10 cm or less) established as an international standard. A technique using a method or a contact method (such as ISO / IEC7816) may be used. Instead of using the card reader 400, the card and the server 200 may be directly connected to exchange information.

The storage 500 is connected to the network 700, communicates with the client PC 100 and the server 200, and is configured to be able to transmit and receive image data and share image data. As long as image data can be shared and transmitted / received, any of NAS (Network Attached Storage), a mail server, or an FTP server may be used.

Details of the server 200 will be described below.
<2. Configuration of Server 200>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration and software configuration of the server 200.

The server 200 includes a CPU 201, an input unit 202, a display unit 203, a memory 204, a communication unit 205, a local I / F 206, an external storage unit 207, and the like, which are connected by an internal bus 219.

The CPU 201 is a central processing control unit, and controls the server 200 as a whole by executing a predetermined program stored in the memory 204 or the external storage unit 207.

The input unit 202 is an operation unit for performing various inputs and instruction operations, and includes a keyboard, a mouse, a button, a switch, a touch panel, and the like.

The display unit 203 is a display that displays various screens, and is built in or externally connected to the server 200.

The memory 204 is a storage area composed of a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and stores predetermined programs and data.

The communication unit 205 is an interface for performing transmission / reception and communication control using network packets corresponding to a network such as a wired network such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or a wireless network such as IEEE802.11a or IEEE802.11g. Data transmission / reception with the client PC 100 and the storage 500 becomes possible.

The local I / F 206 is a transmission / reception interface compliant with, for example, the USB (Universal Serial Bus) specification, and is used for connection with the scanner 300 and the card reader 400.

The external storage unit 207 operates as a functional unit such as an authentication function unit 208, a mode switching control unit 211, an information storage unit 212, an image input control unit 213, and a card reader control unit 216 in addition to an operating system (not shown). Stores various software programs and various data.

These software programs stored in the external storage unit 207 are read onto the memory 204 and executed under the control of the CPU 201.

Now, details of the authentication function unit 208, the mode switching control unit 211, the information storage unit 212, the image input control unit 213, and the card reader control unit 216, which are software function units unique to the present invention, will be described in order.

The authentication function unit 208 is a functional unit including a user information storage unit 209 and a user authentication determination unit 210.

The user information storage unit 209 is a storage unit that stores information about the user. User information that is user-specific information such as a card ID and user ID recorded on the IC card described above, a user name associated with the user information, group information to which the user belongs, etc. are stored in a user authentication table (not shown). Has been.

The user authentication determination unit 210 performs user authentication by comparing user information (for example, card ID) acquired from the card reader 400 with user information stored in the user authentication table in the user information storage unit 209. Part.

The mode switching control unit 211 is a functional unit that controls the mode of user information acquisition / registration of the server 200. When there is a registration mode setting request via the input unit 202, the continuous registration mode or the normal registration mode is set. The continuous registration mode is a mode for continuously acquiring / registering user information, and the normal registration mode is a mode for acquiring / registering one user information.

The information storage unit 212 is a functional unit that stores a user information list and image data acquired from the scanner 300. The image data after the file format is converted by the scanner driver 214 described later is also stored here.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the user information list includes a user name and image data distribution destination information (image data distribution method, image data distribution destination, etc.) associated with the user name. In addition, setting information such as scan parameters (reading resolution, document size, color setting, etc.) for each user may be stored. The user information list may be fixed or may be rewritten from the client PC 100 or the like.

The image input control unit 213 is a functional unit including a scanner driver 214 and an image data distribution control unit 215.

The scanner driver 214 is a TWAIN compatible driver that provides a common interface or protocol for controlling a peripheral device for image input, such as the scanner 300, and generates a command (control command or the like) for the scanner 300.

Note that image data (scan data) read by the scanner 300 can be acquired and converted into a file format adapted to an image input application program (not shown) included in the client PC 100.

The image data distribution control unit 215 is a functional unit that controls the distribution of image data based on the distribution destination information stored in the user information list of the information storage unit 212. For example, processing such as distributing (copying) image data to the client PC 100 or the storage 500 is performed.

The card reader control unit 216 is a functional unit including a card reader driver 217 and a card reader monitoring control unit 218.

The card reader driver 217 is a functional unit that generates a command or request to be transmitted to the card reader 400 through the local I / F 206.

The card reader monitoring control unit 218 is a functional unit that monitors (polls) the card reader 400 connected via the local I / F 206 at regular intervals and detects reading of user information.

<3. Execution of Scan in Device Control System According to Embodiment 1>
Next, a specific example when executing a scan in the above-described device control system will be described.

There are pull scan and push scan as usage forms in which the scanning function of the scanner 300 is shared over the network. In this pull scan, after an original is once set on the scanner 300, the image input control unit 213 of the server 200 is activated in response to a scan start instruction operation on the client PC 100, and scan data (image data) is received from the scanner 300. This is a receiving method. On the other hand, the push scan is a method in which the image input control unit 213 of the server 200 is activated in response to a scan start instruction operation on the scanner 300 or the server 200 and receives scan data (image data) from the designated scanner 300. .

From here, user information registration processing and scan execution processing in the server 200 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The device control system according to the first embodiment can be applied to both the scan method of pull scan and push scan, but here, in order to simplify the description, the case of the push scan method will be described.

<3-1. Setting the registration mode>
The user sets the registration mode of the server 200 before executing the scan (step S401).

Specifically, the user moves to a place where the scanner 300 to be scanned is located, and operates the input unit 202 of the server 200 connected to the scanner 300 to change the registration mode to the normal registration mode or the continuous registration mode. Set. The initial setting mode of the registration mode is the normal registration mode. When the continuous registration mode is set, the mode is temporarily switched to the continuous registration mode, and the normal registration mode is restored after the continuous registration mode ends.

The mode switching control unit 211 determines the server registration mode (normal registration mode or continuous registration mode) (step S402).

Next, after the user sets a document on the document table of the scanner 300 so that the user can perform scanning with the scanner 300, each card owned by the card reader a 400 </ b> A connected to the same server 200 as the scanner 300 is stored. The server 200 acquires the user information of the card held over the card reader a400A and performs registration processing.

The registration process may be performed by holding the card before setting the document on the document table of the scanner 300.

<3-2. Registration of user information in continuous registration mode>
First, processing when the continuous registration mode is set will be described. When the mode set in step S401 is the continuous registration mode (Yes in step S402), the card reader monitoring control unit 218 monitors (polls) at regular intervals whether the user information has been read by the card reader a400A (step). S403).

When the user information is read by the card reader a400A, the card reader driver 217 acquires the user information from the card reader a400A (Yes in step S403), and the user authentication determination unit 210 stores the user information in the user information storage unit 209. Referring to the user authentication table, the acquired user information is authenticated (step S404).

When the acquired user information is successfully authenticated (Yes in step S404), the user authentication determining unit 210 temporarily stores the user information in the memory 204, thereby registering the user information that has been successfully authenticated (step S405). ).

On the other hand, if the user information cannot be acquired (No in step S403), or if the authentication of the user information acquired in step S403 has failed (No in step S404), the process proceeds to step S406.

In step S406, the mode switching control unit 211 determines whether the end condition of the continuous registration mode is satisfied. If the end condition of the continuous registration mode is satisfied (No in step S406), the process proceeds to step S407.

On the other hand, if the end condition of the continuous registration mode is not satisfied (No in step S406), the process returns to the process of step S403 again to return to a state where user information can be acquired.

Here, the case where the end condition of the continuous registration mode is satisfied is when any of the following conditions is satisfied. (1) A case where the user performs an end operation of the continuous registration mode. (2) When scanning is performed by the user operating the input unit on the scanner side (eg, pressing a button). (3) When a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the continuous registration mode. (4) When a predetermined number of user information has been registered since the start of the continuous registration mode.

If the end condition of the continuous registration mode is satisfied, it is next determined in step S407 whether user information has been registered (temporarily stored) in the memory 204 during execution of the continuous registration mode. If no user information is registered (temporarily stored) in the memory 204 (No in step S407), the process returns to step S401 again and the process is continued.

<3-3. Run a scan>
From here, scanning execution processing and image data distribution will be described. If it is determined in step S407 that one or more pieces of user information are registered in the memory 204 (Yes in step S407), the server 200 activates the scanner driver 214 to execute scanning (step S408).

Next, the scanner driver 214 sets scan parameters necessary for executing the scan process (step S409), generates a scan execution command based on the set scan parameters, and transmits the scan execution command to the scanner 300 (step S409). S410). Thereafter, the scanner driver 214 acquires the image data read by the scanner 300 and temporarily stores it in the information storage unit 212 (step S411).

The scan parameter here refers to information such as reading resolution, document size, and color setting at the time of scanning, and scan parameters corresponding to the user information registered in step S405 from the information stored in the user information list. Is set. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a scan parameter may be set via the input unit 202 every time scanning is performed.

<3-4. Distribution of image data>
Next, the image data distribution control unit 215 distributes the acquired image data based on the user information registered (temporarily stored) in the memory 204 and the distribution destination information in the user information list stored in the information storage unit 212. The destination is determined and distributed (step S412). In the case of the continuous registration mode, if a plurality of pieces of user information are registered in the memory 204, the same image data is distributed to a plurality of distribution destinations corresponding to the user information.

When the image data distribution control unit 215 finishes distributing the image data, the server 200 returns to the process of step S401 again.

<3-5. Acquisition and authentication of user information in normal registration mode>
Next, processing when the normal registration mode is set will be described. When the mode set in step S401 in FIG. 4 is the normal registration mode (No in step S402), the card reader monitoring control unit 218 monitors (polling) at regular intervals whether the user information has been read by the card reader a400A. (Step S413).

When the user information is read by the card reader a400A, the card reader driver 217 acquires the user information from the card reader a400A (Yes in step S413).

If the user information acquired in step S413 is authenticated and the authentication is successful (Yes in step S414), the user information that is successfully authenticated is registered (temporarily stored) in the memory 204 (step S415), and the process of step S408 is performed. Proceed to

The subsequent processing is the same as step S408 (scanner driver activation) to step S412 (image data distribution) described in the continuous registration mode processing, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

On the other hand, when the card is not held over the card reader a400A by the user (no user information is acquired) in step S413 (No in step S413), or when authentication of the user information fails in step S414 (No in step S414). Then, the process returns to step S401 again.

<4. Sequence at the time of execution of scan according to embodiment 1>
FIG. 5 shows a scan execution process in the device control system described so far as a sequence diagram.

Here, a case will be described in which the push registration is performed by the scanner 300 after the continuous registration mode is set in the server 200 and the user information of the user A and the user B is registered.

The server 200 performs polling with the card reader a400A after the power is turned on, and monitors reading of user information (timing T501).

In the server 200, the continuous registration mode is set according to the operation of the input unit 202 by the user (user A or user B) (timing T502), and the document is set on the document table of the scanner 300.

When the card is held over the card reader a400A by the user A, the user information of the user A is read from the card (timing T503).

When the user information of the user A is acquired from the card reader a400A by the card reader control unit 216 of the server 200 (timing T504), the user authentication determination unit 210 refers to the user authentication table of the user information storage unit 209 and stores the user information. Authentication processing is performed (timing T505), and when the user information is successfully authenticated, the user information of the user A is temporarily stored in the memory 204 (timing T506). Thereby, registration of user information of user A is completed.

Subsequently, the user B holds the card over the card reader a400A. The processing from the time when the user B holds the card over the card reader a400A until the user information of the user B is registered at the server 200 (timing T507 to timing T510) is the above-described reading of the user information of the user A (timing T503) to the user. Since this is the same as the information registration (timing T506), the description is omitted.

The server 200 determines whether or not the end condition of the continuous registration mode is satisfied, that is, whether or not the acquisition of user information has ended. If it is determined that the end condition is satisfied, the server 200 ends the continuous registration mode (timing T511). For example, the user may operate the input unit 202 to instruct the end of the continuous registration mode.

The server 200 sets scan parameters and transmits a scan execution command (service start request) to the scanner 300 (timing T512).

Upon receiving the scan execution command from the server 200, the scanner 300 scans the document set on the document table (timing T513), and transmits the read image data to the server 200 (timing T514).

The server 200 sequentially receives and stores the image data transmitted from the scanner 300, and when the reception of the image data is completed (timing T515), the distribution information of the user A and the user B in which the user information is registered is used. The image data is distributed to the client PCa 100A that is the designated distribution destination and the storage 500 (timing T516). After the distribution of the image data, the image input control unit 213 instructs to delete the user information used for executing the scan and the image data that has been distributed. In response to the deletion instruction, the image data stored in the information storage unit 212 and the user information stored in the memory 204 are deleted. This completes the scan execution in the continuous registration mode.

In the continuous registration mode, the server 200 has been described as performing authentication processing of user information every time user information is acquired and registering user information that has been successfully authenticated. However, during execution of the continuous registration mode, the user information May be acquired, and at the end of the continuous registration mode, the acquired user information may be collectively authenticated, and the user information that has been successfully authenticated may be registered (temporarily stored) in the memory 204.

Further, the server 200 may store the image data in the information storage unit 212 after obtaining the image data from the scanner 300 and then distribute the image data.

In this case, the user operates the image input application program of the client PC 100 to instruct the acquisition of the image data and distributes the image data, or the user holds the card over the card reader 400 connected to the client PC 100. The client PC 100 transmits user information acquired from the card and its own identification information (eg, IP address) to the server 200, and the server 200 stores information based on the user information and identification information received from the client PC 100. Acquisition of image data can be realized by a method of distributing image data stored in the unit 212.

As described above, in the device control system according to the first embodiment, by providing the continuous registration mode, the scan process and the distribution process are executed as a common process for one or more registered users (collectively executed once. )can do.

An embodiment according to Example 2 will be described.

<5. Configuration of Device Control System According to Second Embodiment>
In the second embodiment, an embodiment in which the server 200 controls a plurality of whiteboards connected to a network via a control unit will be described.

Since the configuration of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 3 can be similarly applied to the second embodiment, detailed description will be omitted and only differences will be described.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic configuration of the device control system according to the second embodiment. The client PC 100 (100A, 100B), the server 200, the whiteboard 310 (310A, 310B, 310C), the card reader 400 (400A, 400B, 400C, 400X, 400Y), a storage 500, and a control unit 800 (800A, 800B, 800C). More specifically, a set consisting of a whiteboard 310, a card reader 400, and a control unit 800 is arranged in each of the conference rooms A to C, and the server 200, the client PC 100, and the storage 500 that centrally manage them are conferences in the office. It is an image placed in a space other than the room.

In the device control system according to the second embodiment, the control unit 800, the scanner 300, and the card reader 400 are connected by a connection cable 600 that conforms to an interface such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) or IEEE1394. Similarly, the client PC 100 and the card reader 400 are connected by a connection cable 600. In addition, the client PC 100, the server 200, the storage 500, and the control unit 800 can communicate via a wired or wireless network 700.

Next, each device constituting the device control system of FIG. 6 will be described sequentially. Here, the client PC 100, the card reader 400, and the storage 500 have the same configuration as in the first embodiment. In addition, since the whiteboard 310 in the present embodiment is an image input device corresponding to the TWAIN standard, the configuration is the same as that of the scanner 300 in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

Furthermore, the configuration of the server 200 described in the first embodiment with reference to FIG. 2 can be applied to the configuration of the server 200 in the present embodiment. However, in this embodiment, it is necessary to connect the card reader 400 to the server 200. The card reader controller 216 does not function. In addition, in order to control a plurality of whiteboards 310 connected to the system, the information storage unit 212 stores a device information list (not shown) including device names, model names, device identification information, and the like.

Here, the device identification information is information for identifying each of a plurality of combinations of the control unit 800, the whiteboard 310, and the card reader 400 on the device control system.

For example, the IP address, MAC address, and serial number (manufacturing number) of the control unit 800 may be used, but the serial number (manufacturing number) of the whiteboard 310 and the card reader 400 may be used.

<6. Configuration of Control Unit 800 According to Second Embodiment>
Next, the hardware configuration and software configuration of the control unit 800 will be described with reference to FIG.

The control unit 800 includes a CPU 801, an input unit 802, a display unit 803, a memory 804, a communication unit 805, a local I / F 806, an external storage unit 807, and the like, which are connected by an internal bus 808.

The CPU 801, the input unit 802, the display unit 803, the memory 804, the communication unit 805, the local I / F 806, and the internal bus 808 are the CPU 201, the input unit 202, the display unit 203, and the memory of the server 200 described in the first embodiment. 204, the communication unit 205, the local I / F 206, and the internal bus 219, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

In addition to an operating system (not shown), the external storage unit 807 stores various software programs and various data that operate as functional units such as a card reader control unit 809, a device control unit 813, and a mode switching control unit 814.

These software programs and data stored in the external storage unit 807 are read out and executed on the memory 804 under the control of the CPU 801.

Now, details of the card reader control unit 809, the device control unit 813, and the mode switching control unit 814, which are software function units unique to the present invention, will be described in order.

The card reader control unit 809 includes a card reader driver 810, a card reader monitoring control unit 811, and a user information transmission unit 812, which are software function units unique to the present invention. Here, since the card reader driver 810 and the card reader monitoring control unit 811 are the same as the card reader driver 217 and the card reader monitoring control unit 218 of the server 200 described in the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The user information transmission unit 812 is a functional unit that transmits user information read from the card reader 400 by the card reader driver 810 to the server 200 via the communication unit 805.

The device control unit 813 is a functional unit that controls the whiteboard 310 via the local I / F 806. Based on the control command received from the server 200 or the client PC 100, the whiteboard 310 for executing the service is specified, and the whiteboard 310 is controlled.

The mode switching control unit 814 is a functional unit that controls a mode at the time of user information acquisition / registration. The software function unit unique to the present invention is the same as the mode switching control unit 211 of the server 200 described in the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the first embodiment, the server 200 includes the mode switching control unit 211 having the same configuration as this. However, in this embodiment, the control unit 800 includes a mode switching control unit 814 instead of the server 200. .

Next, a specific example of executing a scan with the whiteboard 310 connected to the control unit 800 in the device control system of the present embodiment will be described.

User information acquisition and transmission processing in the control unit 800 will be described with reference to FIG.

The control unit 800 sets the registration mode to the normal registration mode or the continuous registration mode according to the operation of the input unit 802 by the user (step S801).

The card reader monitoring controller 811 monitors (polls) the user information by the card reader 400 at regular intervals.

When the user information is read by the card reader 400, the card reader driver 810 acquires the user information from the card reader 400 (Yes in step S802) and saves (temporarily stores) it in the memory 804 (step S803). .

On the other hand, if the user information cannot be acquired without the card being held over by the user (No in step S802), the process proceeds to step S804.

The mode switching control unit 814 determines whether or not the end condition of the registration mode (continuous registration mode or normal registration mode) set in step S801 is satisfied, that is, whether or not the acquisition of user information in that mode has ended ( Step S804).

In step S804, the case where the end condition of the continuous registration mode in the control unit 800 is satisfied is the same as the end conditions (1) to (4) of the server 200 described in the first embodiment.

Further, the case where the end condition of the normal registration mode is satisfied is when any of the following conditions is satisfied. (1) When user information of one user is acquired from the card reader 400. (2) When a certain time has elapsed after mode start (transition). (3) When the user performs switching (setting) operation to the continuous registration mode.

In step S804, if the registration mode end condition set in step S801 is not satisfied (No in step S804), the process returns to step S802.

On the other hand, if the registration mode end condition set in step S801 is satisfied (Yes in step S804), the process proceeds to step S805.

If one or more pieces of user information are stored (temporarily stored) in the memory 804 in step S805, all user information stored in the memory 804 (temporarily stored) in step S803 and the device identification information of the control unit 800 are stored in the server. 200 (step S806). When the process so far is completed, the process returns to step S801 again. Here, the number of user information transmitted by the control unit 800 is 1 in the normal registration mode and n (n ≧ 1) in the continuous registration mode.

The device identification information described in step S806 is information for identifying (specifying) the control unit 800. For example, an IP address, a MAC address, a serial number (manufacturing number) and the like are not limited thereto. Furthermore, it may be a combination of these pieces of information.

User information and device identification information are transmitted from the control unit 800 to the server 200 in accordance with the control flow of FIG. 8 described above.

Thereafter, the control unit 800 receives a scan execution command from the server 200 and controls the scanning of the board surface in the whiteboard 310, which will be described in the description of the control flow of the server 200. Is omitted.

<7. Control Flow of Server 200 According to Second Embodiment>
Subsequently, a control flow of the server 200 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the server 200 receives the user information and the device identification information from the control unit 800 (step S901), the server 200 refers to the user authentication table of the user information storage unit 209 and performs an authentication process on the acquired user information (step S902). Here, the number of user information received from the control unit 800 is 1 in the normal registration mode and n (n ≧ 1) in the continuous registration mode.

If the user information has been successfully authenticated (Yes in step S902), the user information that has been successfully authenticated is registered (temporarily stored) in the memory 204 (step S906).

On the other hand, if the user information authentication has failed (No in step S902), the user information is not registered (temporarily stored), and the process proceeds to step S904.

If the authentication process for all user information received in step S901 has not been completed (No in step S904), the process returns to step S902 to continue the user information authentication process.

When the authentication process for all received user information has been completed (Yes in step S904), it is determined whether the user information that has been successfully authenticated is registered (temporarily stored) in the memory 204 (step S905).

If the user information that has been successfully authenticated is not registered (temporarily stored) in the memory 204, that is, if the authentication of all user information has failed (No in step S905), the scan execution processing from step S906 onward is not performed. Again, the process returns to step S901.

On the other hand, when the user information is registered (temporarily stored) in the memory 204 (Yes in step S905), the scanner driver 214 is activated (step S906).

Next, the scanner driver 214 sets scan parameters necessary for executing the scan process (step S907), generates a scan execution command based on the set scan parameters, and uses the device identification information received in step S901. It transmits with respect to the whiteboard 310 via the specified control unit 800 (step S908).

The scanner driver 214 acquires the image data read by the whiteboard 310 via the control unit 800 and stores it in the information storage unit 212 (step S909). The image data distribution control unit 215 determines the distribution destination of the acquired image data based on the user information registered (temporarily stored) in the memory 204 and the distribution destination information in the user information list stored in the information storage unit 212. And distributed (step S910).

When the image data distribution control unit 215 finishes distributing the image data, the server 200 returns to the process of step S901 again.

<8. Sequence at Scan Execution According to Second Embodiment>
FIG. 10 shows a scan execution process as a sequence diagram in the device control system according to the second embodiment described so far.

Here, the continuous registration mode is set in the control unit a800A, the user information of the user A and the user B is acquired / transmitted, and after the authentication / registration of the user information by the server 200, the push scan is executed by the whiteboard a310A. The case will be described.

After the power is turned on, the control unit 800 performs polling with the card reader 400 connected to each by the connection cable 600 and monitors the reading of user information (timing T1001).

In the control unit a800A, the continuous registration mode is set according to the operation of the input unit 802 by the user (user A or user B) (timing T1002).

When the user A holds the card over the card reader a400A, the user information of the user A is read from the card (timing T1003).

When the card reader control unit 809 of the control unit a800A acquires the user information of the user A from the card reader a400A (timing T1004), the user information of the user A is stored (temporarily stored) in the memory 804 (timing T1005).

Next, the user B holds the card over the card reader a400A. The processing from the time when the user B holds the card over the card reader a400A until the control unit a800A stores the user information of the user B (timing T1006 to timing T1008) is the above-described reading of the user information of the user A (timing T1003) to Since it is the same as the storage of user information (timing T1005), the description is omitted.

If the control unit a800A determines that the end condition of the continuous registration mode is satisfied (for example, the user has performed an end operation of the continuous registration mode via the input unit 802), the control unit a800A ends the continuous registration mode (timing T1009). All the user information stored in the memory 804 (temporary storage) and its own device identification information are transmitted to the server 200 (timing T1010).

When server 200 receives user information and device identification information from control unit a800A, server 200 performs an authentication process on the received user information.

The user authentication determination unit 210 refers to the user authentication table of the user information storage unit 209 and performs the authentication process of the user information of the user A (timing T1011). If the authentication is successful, the user information of the user A is stored in the memory 204. Is temporarily stored (timing T1012), the registration of the user information of the user A is completed.

Next, the user B's user information authentication process and registration process are performed. The user B user information authentication process and registration process (timing T1013 to timing T1014) are the above-described user A user information authentication process and registration process. Since this is the same as the processing (timing T1011 to timing T1012), the description thereof is omitted.

When the server 200 completes the authentication process for all user information received from the control unit a800A, the server 200 identifies the control unit a800A based on the received device identification information, and issues a scan execution command (service start) to the control unit a800A. Request) is transmitted (timing T1015).

The control unit a800A transmits the scan execution command received from the server 200 to the whiteboard a310A (timing T1016).

When the whiteboard a 310A receives a scan execution command from the server 200 via the control unit a 800A, the white board a 310A scans the board surface (timing T1017) and transmits the read image data to the control unit a 800A (timing T1018).

The control unit a800A receives the image data from the whiteboard a310A and transmits the image data to the server 200 (timing T1019). After transmitting the image data, the device control unit 813 instructs the deletion of the image data and user information temporarily stored in the memory 804. In response to the deletion instruction, the image data and the user information are deleted.

The server 200 sequentially receives and stores the image data transmitted from the whiteboard 310 via the control unit 800, and when reception of the image data is completed (timing T1020), the user A and the user who have registered the user information The image data is distributed to the client PCa 100A and the client PCb 100B which are the distribution destinations specified by the distribution destination information of B (timing T1021). After the distribution of the image data, the image input control unit 213 instructs to delete the user information used for executing the scan and the image data that has been distributed. In response to the deletion instruction, the image data stored in the information storage unit 212 and the user information stored in the memory 204 are deleted. This completes the scan execution in the continuous registration mode.

In the above description, the control unit 800 stores all user information stored (temporarily stored) in the memory 204 during execution of the continuous registration mode (1 in the normal registration mode, n in the continuous registration mode (n ≧ n 1)), and the server 200 performs authentication and registration of user information received from the control unit 800 in a lump. However, the user information acquired by the control unit 800 is sequentially transmitted to the server 200, and the server 200 200 may sequentially authenticate and register user information received from the control unit 800.

In this case, since it is necessary for the server 200 to identify which registration mode is set, the control unit 800 sets the registered registration at the start of the registration mode (continuous registration mode or normal registration mode). It is only necessary to notify the server 200 of the mode type and notify the end of the registration mode at the end.

As described above, in the device control system according to the second embodiment, even when there are a plurality of whiteboards 310 on the system, each whiteboard 310 is controlled from one server 200 via the low-function and inexpensive control unit 800. As a result, it is not necessary to provide as many high-function and expensive servers 200 as the number of devices on the system, so that the cost of the entire system can be reduced.

An embodiment according to Example 3 will be described.

<9. Configuration of Device Control System According to Embodiment 3>
In the third embodiment, an embodiment in a serverless system in which no server is placed on the system will be described. In this embodiment, the control unit 850 controls the execution of the service in the device from the plurality of client PCs 100 existing on the network without placing a specific server, and the image data or the like that is the execution result of the service. It is characterized in that the client PC 100 that controls distribution is selected according to the situation.

The configuration of the user information list in the first embodiment can be similarly applied to the third embodiment with reference to FIG. 3, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted and only the differences will be described.

FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic configuration of a device control system according to the third embodiment. The client PC 100 (100A, 100B), the scanner 300 (300A, 300B), the card reader 400 (400A, 400B, 400X, 400Y), the storage 500, The control unit 850 (850A, 850B) is configured.

In the device control system according to the third embodiment, the control unit 850, the scanner 300, and the card reader 400 are connected by a connection cable 600 that conforms to an interface such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) or IEEE1394. Similarly, the client PC 100 and the card reader 400 are connected by a connection cable 600. In addition, the client PC 100, the storage 500, and the control unit 850 can communicate via a wired or wireless network 700.

Next, each device constituting the device control system of FIG. 11 will be described in order. Since the scanner 300, the card reader 400, and the storage 500 have the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

<10. Configuration of Client PC 100 according to Embodiment 3>
First, the hardware configuration and software configuration of the client PC 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

The client PC 100 includes a CPU 101, an input unit 102, a display unit 103, a memory 104, a communication unit 105, a local I / F 106, an external storage unit 107, and the like, which are connected via an internal bus 117.

Regarding the CPU 101, the input unit 102, the display unit 103, the memory 104, the communication unit 105, the local I / F 106, and the internal bus 117, the CPU 201, the input unit 202, the display unit 203, and the memory of the server 200 described in the first embodiment. 204, the communication unit 205, the local I / F 206, and the internal bus 219 have the same configuration, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

In addition to an operating system (not shown), the external storage unit 107 includes various software programs and various data that operate as functional units such as the image input application program 108, the card reader control unit 109, the information storage unit 113, and the image input control unit 114. Remember.

These software programs and data stored in the external storage unit 107 are read out and executed on the memory 104 under the control of the CPU 801.

Now, details of the image input application program 108, the card reader control unit 109, the information storage unit 113, and the image input control unit 114, which are software function units unique to the present invention, will be described in order.

The image input application program 108 is an application program corresponding to the TWAIN standard, and operates on the operating system. The user can set the selection information of the scanner 300 and the setting information at the time of execution of scanning acquired by the user via the input unit 102, and controls the scanning process by the scanner 300 in conjunction with the image input control unit 114 described later. A program that can edit the acquired image data.

The card reader control unit 109 includes a card reader driver 110, a card reader monitoring control unit 111, and a user information transmission unit 112. One feature of the present embodiment is that the client PC 100 includes a card reader driver 110, a card reader monitoring control unit 111, and a user information transmission unit 112. The configuration of the client PC 100 is the same as that of the control unit 800 described in the second embodiment. Since it is the same as the card reader driver 810, the card reader monitoring control unit 811, and the user information transmission unit 812, detailed description thereof is omitted.

The client PC 100 also includes the information storage unit 113 and the image input control unit 114, which is a feature of the present embodiment. The configuration is the same as the information storage unit 212 and the image input control unit 213 of the server 200. Therefore, detailed description of these will be omitted.

<11. Configuration of Control Unit 850 According to Embodiment 3>
FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the control unit 850 according to the third embodiment. The CPU 851, the input unit 852, the display unit 853, the memory 854, the communication unit 855, the local I / F 856, the external storage unit 857, In addition to the internal bus 858, the card reader control unit 859, the device control unit 863, and the mode switching control unit 864, the external storage unit 857 includes an authentication function unit 865 and a client control unit 868. Except for the authentication function unit 865 and the client control unit 868, the CPU 801, the input unit 802, the display unit 803, the memory 804, the communication unit 805, the local I / F 806 of the control unit 800 described in the second embodiment with reference to FIG. Since it is the same as the bus 808, the card reader control unit 809, the device control unit 813, and the mode switching control unit 814, detailed description is omitted. Further, since the authentication function unit 865 is the same as the authentication function unit 208 of the server 200, detailed description thereof is omitted.

The client control unit 868 is a functional unit that includes an execution request generation unit 869 and an execution determination unit 870. By providing these, when the scanner 300 performs a scan, the client PC 100 that controls the scanner 300 can be selected according to the situation.

The execution request generation unit 869 is a functional unit that transmits an inquiry (hereinafter referred to as a confirmation request) as to whether or not scanning can be executed to the client PC 100.

The execution determination unit 870 is a functional unit that selects the client PC 100 that transmits a scan execution command to the scanner 300 based on the response information received from the client PC 100 in response to the confirmation request transmitted by the execution request generation unit 869. It is.

<12. Control Flow of Control Unit 850 according to Embodiment 3>
Next, a specific example of executing a scan for the device control system of the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for describing user information registration processing and transmission processing in the control unit 850.

The user sets the registration mode of the control unit 850 before executing the scan (step S1401).

Next, in step S1402, it is determined whether the registration mode set in step S1401 is the continuous registration mode or the normal registration mode, and processing corresponding to each is executed. Regarding the processing in steps S1403 to S1407 in the continuous registration mode. Are the same as steps S403 (determination of user information acquisition) to step S407 (determination of presence / absence of registration of user information) of the server 200 described in the first embodiment with reference to FIG. The processing in S1417 is the same as steps S413 (user information acquisition determination) to S415 (user information registration) of the server 200 described in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted, and description is started from step S1408. .

When one or more pieces of user information are registered (temporarily stored) in the memory 854 (Yes in step S1407), the control unit 850 refers to a device information list (not shown) and requests confirmation from all client PCs 100 on the list. Is transmitted (step S1408).

When receiving the response information from the client PC 100 in response to the transmission of the confirmation request (Yes in step S1409), the control unit 850 stores the response information in the memory 854 (step S1410).

The control unit 850 determines whether a confirmation request has been transmitted to all the client PCs 100 stored in the device information list (step S1411).

If a confirmation request has not been transmitted to all client PCs 100 stored in the device information list (No in step S1411), the process returns to step S1408, and steps S1408 (transmission of confirmation request to client PC 100) to step S1410 (response) The information storage process is repeated.

On the other hand, when a confirmation request is transmitted to all the client PCs 100 stored in the device information list (Yes in step S1411), it is determined whether response information from the client PC 100 is stored in the memory 854 (step S1412).

When the response information from the client PC 100 is stored in the memory 804 (Yes in step S1412), the execution determination unit 870 uses a priority list used when transmitting a scan control request to the client PC 100 based on the response information. Generate (step S1413).

The priority list is ranked for each client PC 100 based on the order in which the response information is received, the processing capability of the client PC 100, and the like.

The execution determination unit 870 refers to the priority list generated in step S1413, selects the client PC 100 that transmits the scan control request generated by the device control unit 863, and registers (temporarily stores) the client PC 100 in the memory 854. The scan control request including all the user information and the device identification information is transmitted (step S1414). Here, the number of user information transmitted by the control unit 850 is 1 in the normal registration mode and n (n ≧ 1) in the continuous registration mode.

When the transmission of the scan control request to the selected client PC 100 via the communication unit 855 is completed, the control unit 850 returns to the process of step S1401 again.

As described above, according to the control flow of FIG. 14 described above, an appropriate client PC 100 is selected from the control unit 850 according to the situation, and a scan control request is transmitted to the client PC 100.

Note that, although the control unit 850 has been described as generating a priority list based on response information from the client PC 100, the control unit 850 may hold (store) a list in which priorities are set in advance.

After that, the control unit 850 receives the scan execution command from the client PC 100 and controls the scanner 300. Since this part will be described in the description of the control flow of the client PC 100, description thereof will be omitted.

<13. Control Flow of Client PC 100 according to Embodiment 3>
Next, the control flow of the client PC 100 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The client PC 100 waits in a state where a confirmation request can be received from the control unit 850 via the network 700 and the communication unit 105 (step S1501).

If a confirmation request has been received (Yes in step S1501), response information is transmitted to the control unit 850 that has transmitted the confirmation request (step S1502).

After the response information is transmitted to the control unit 850, it waits in a state where a scan control request can be received from the control unit 850 (step S1503).

If a scan control request is not received from the control unit 850 within a certain time (No in step S1503), the process returns to step S1501 again to return to a state where a confirmation request can be received.

On the other hand, when a scan control request including user information and device identification information of the control unit 850 is received from the control unit 850 (Yes in step S1503), the scanner driver 115 is activated (step S1504). Here, the number of user information received from the control unit 850 is 1 in the normal registration mode and n (n ≧ 1) in the continuous registration mode.

Next, the scanner driver 115 sets scan parameters necessary for executing the scan process (step S1505), generates a scan execution command based on the set scan parameters, and is specified by the device identification information received in step S1503. To the scanner 300 via the control unit 850 (step S1506).

The scan parameter here refers to information such as reading resolution at the time of scanning, document size, and color setting, and is registered in step S1405 from the information stored in the user information list held in the information storage unit 113. Scan parameters corresponding to user information are set. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a scan parameter may be set via the input unit 102 each time scanning is performed.

The scanner driver 115 acquires the image data read by the scanner 300 via the control unit 850 and stores it in the information storage unit 113 (step S1507). The image data distribution control unit 116 determines and distributes the distribution destination of the acquired image data based on the user information registered in the memory 104 and the distribution destination information in the user information list stored in the information storage unit 113. (Step S1508).

The user information list may be acquired from the control unit 850 when the client PC 100 does not always store the user information list in the information storage unit 113 but receives a scan control request. In this case, the control unit 850 transmits a user information list stored in advance in the control unit 850 to the client PC 100. Alternatively, each time a scan is executed, a user information list may be generated and transmitted from the card information read via the card reader 400 or the scan parameters input / set by the user via the input unit 852. .

When the image data distribution control unit 116 finishes distributing the image data, the client PC 100 returns to the process of step S1501 again.

<14. Sequence at the time of executing scan according to the third embodiment>
FIG. 16 illustrates a scan execution process in the device control system according to the third embodiment described so far as a sequence diagram.

Here, a case where the continuous registration mode is set in the control unit A 850a and the user information of the user A and the user B is registered, then the scan execution command is transmitted from the client PC a 100A and the push scan is executed by the scanner a 300A will be described. To do.

The processing contents from timing T1601 (polling for user information acquisition) to timing T1611 (end of continuous registration mode) are the same as those in the first embodiment by replacing the processing of the server 200 in the first embodiment with the processing of the control unit 850. Since the described timing T501 to timing T511 are applicable, the description is omitted and the description starts from the timing T1612.

After the end of the continuous registration mode, the control unit a850A transmits a confirmation request to each client PC 100 (client PCa 100A, client PCb 100B) stored in the device information list (timing T1612). Note that the control unit 850 may broadcast a confirmation request to the client PC 100 connected to the network.

The client PC 100 (client PCa 100A, client PCb 100B) transmits response information to the control unit a 850A in response to the confirmation request (timing T1613).

The control unit a850A generates a priority list based on the response information received from the client PC 100, and refers to the priority list to select the client PCa 100A that is the transmission destination of the scan control request (timing T1614).

The control unit a850A includes user information (user information of user A and user B) registered in the memory 854 (user information of user A and user B) and its own device identification information for the client PCa 100A selected as the transmission destination of the scan control request. A scan control request is transmitted (timing T1615).

Upon receiving the scan control request from the control unit a850A, the client PC a100A sets a scan parameter, identifies the control unit a850A based on the device identification information received at timing T1615, and sends a scan execution command (service start) to the control unit a850A. Request) is transmitted (timing T1616).

The control unit a850A transmits the scan execution command received from the client PC a100A to the scanner a300A (timing T1617).

Upon receiving the scan execution command from the control unit a850A, the scanner a300A scans the document set on the document table (timing T1618), and transmits the read image data to the control unit a850A (timing T1619).

The control unit a850A receives the image data read by the scanner a300A,
The image data is transmitted to the client PCa 100A (timing T1620). After the transmission of the image data, the device control unit 863 instructs the deletion of the image data and user information temporarily stored in the memory 854. In response to the deletion instruction, the image data and the user information are deleted.

The client PC a 100A sequentially receives and stores the image data transmitted from the scanner a 300A via the control unit a 850A, and when the reception of the image data is completed (timing T1621), the user information list stored in the information storage unit 113 The image data is distributed to the distribution destination specified by the distribution destination information of each user (timing T1622). In this sequence diagram, client PCa 100A is designated as the delivery destination of user A, client PCb 100B is designated as the delivery destination of user B, and the same client PC as the client PC that performed the scan is designated as the delivery destination. In this case, the distribution process for the client PC (in this case, the client PCa 100A) is omitted. When the storage 500 is designated as the user's distribution destination, the image data is transmitted (distributed) to the storage 500.

After the distribution of the image data, the image input control unit 114 instructs the user information used for executing the scan and the deletion of the image data that has been distributed. In response to the deletion instruction, the image data stored in the information storage unit 113 and the user information stored in the memory 104 are deleted. This completes the scan execution in the continuous registration mode.

As described above, in the device control system according to the third embodiment, the client PC 100 selected by the control unit 850 controls the scanning process in the scanner 300 and the distribution process of the scanned image data. As a result, even in a serverless system, the scan process and the distribution process can be executed as a common process (collectively executed once) for one or more registered users.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed as shown below, for example, within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention.

The service executed on the device is not limited to scanning, but can be applied to other services (printing, faxing, copying, etc.).

The image input device (scanner 300, whiteboard 310) is not limited to TWAIN, and may be a device compatible with ISIS (Image and Scanner Interface Specification).

The user authentication is not limited to the user information stored in the card, and authentication may be performed by using a password, biometric information (fingerprint, iris, voiceprint, handwriting, etc.) as user information, or a plurality of these users Authentication may be performed by combining information.

It is not limited to a system configuration that operates by switching between the normal registration mode and the continuous registration mode, but is effective even in a system configuration that includes only the continuous registration mode.

The server 200 or the control unit (800, 850), the image input device (scanner 300, the whiteboard 310), and the card reader 400 are not limited to being configured as separate devices. 850) may be integrated so as to fit within the casing of the image input device (scanner 300, whiteboard 310), and the card reader 400 may be connected to the image input device (scanner 300, whiteboard 310). . Further, the server 200 or the control unit (800, 850) incorporating the card reader 400 may be connected to the image input device (scanner 300, white board 310). Further, the server 200 or the control units (800, 850) and the card reader 400 may be built in the image input device (scanner 300, white board 310).

The image input device (scanner 300, whiteboard 310) does not necessarily have to be connected to the server 200 or the control unit (800, 850) by the connection cable 600, but is connected to the image input device (scanner 300, whiteboard 310). If the correspondence relationship between the server 200 and the control unit (800, 850) is held in the device information list or the like, the image input device (scanner 300, white board 310) and the server 200 or the control unit (800, 850) respectively. It may be configured to be connected to the network 700.

The distribution control of image data in the client PC 100 and the server 200 may be performed not only for individual users but also for user groups to which a plurality of users belong. For example, when a scan execution request is made by a certain user, the image data acquired from the scanner 300 can be distributed not only to the user but also to all users or some users belonging to the same group. .

The image input application program 108 may be provided in the server 200 or the control unit (800, 850) instead of the client PC 100, or may be provided in all or a part of the client PC 100, the server 200, and the control unit (800, 850). You may have. When the server 200 includes the image input application program, for example, the user can use the image input application program of the server 200 as a Web application by using the browser function of the client PC 100 or the control unit (800, 850). You can do it.

The image data and user information temporarily stored in the client PC 100, the server 200, or the control unit (800, 850) are not limited to the method of deleting all at once after the distribution of the image data is finished, but the distribution of the image data and the user information It may be deleted immediately after the transmission of, or may be deleted after a certain period of time.

An object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium that records a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium. This can also be achieved by reading out the program code stored in and executing the process.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and a computer-readable storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. .

Further, an OS (operating system) or the like running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on an instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. You may do it.

Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory of the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. In some cases, the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit executes part or all of the actual processing, and the above-described embodiment is realized according to the processing.

In order to supply the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, an optical disk represented by CD or DVD, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like is used. Can do. Alternatively, the program code may be downloaded via a network.

100: Client PC
101: CPU
102: Input unit 103: Display unit 104: Memory 105: Communication unit 106: Local I / F
107: External storage unit 108: Image input application program 109: Card reader control unit 110: Card reader driver 111: Card reader monitoring control unit 112: User information transmission unit 113: Information storage unit 114: Image input control unit 115: Scanner driver 116: Image data distribution control unit 117: Internal bus 200: Server 201: CPU
202: Input unit 203: Display unit 204: Memory 205: Communication unit 206: Local I / F
207: External storage unit 208: Authentication function unit 209: User information storage unit 210: User authentication determination unit 211: Mode switching control unit 212: Information storage unit 213: Image input control unit 214: Scanner driver 215: Image data distribution control unit 216: Card reader controller 217: Card reader driver 218: Card reader monitoring controller 219: Internal bus 300: Scanner 310: Whiteboard 400: Card reader 500: Storage 600: Connection cable 700: Network 800, 850: Control unit 801 , 851: CPU
802, 852: Input unit 803, 853: Display unit 804, 854: Memory 805, 855: Communication unit 806, 856: Local I / F
807, 857: External storage unit 808, 858: Internal bus 809, 859: Card reader control unit 810, 860: Card reader driver
811, 861: Card reader monitoring control unit 812, 862: User information transmission unit 813, 863: Device control unit 814, 864: Mode switching control unit 865: Authentication function unit 866: User information storage unit 867: User authentication determination unit 868 : Client control unit 869: Execution request generation unit 870: Execution determination unit

Claims (16)

User information input means for acquiring user information;
Mode setting means for setting a mode of either the first mode or the second mode for acquiring user information by the user information input means and performing registration processing;
The user information input means acquires one user information when the first mode is set by the mode setting means, and continuously acquires user information when the second mode is set. User information acquisition control means for controlling
User information authentication means for performing authentication processing of one or more pieces of user information acquired by the user information input means;
User information registration means for registering user information that has been successfully authenticated by the user information authentication means;
Service control means for controlling execution processing of a specified service based on one or a plurality of user information registered by the user information registration means;
A device control apparatus comprising: When the acquisition of user information by the user information input unit is completed, the user information acquisition control unit ends the control of the user information input unit by the first mode or the second mode set by the mode setting unit. The device control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A registered information deleting means for instructing deletion of user information registered in the user information registering means in response to the end of control of the service by the service control means. The device control apparatus described. A mode setting step for setting any one of the first mode and the second mode for acquiring user information by the user information input means and performing the registration process;
When the user information input means is controlled according to the mode set in the mode setting step, one user information is acquired when the first mode is set, and when the second mode is set Is a user information acquisition step for continuously acquiring user information;
A user information authentication step for performing authentication processing of one or a plurality of user information acquired in the user information acquisition step;
A user information registration step of registering user information that has been successfully authenticated in the user information authentication step;
A service control step for controlling execution processing of a specified service based on one or a plurality of user information registered in the user information registration step;
A device control method comprising: In the user information acquisition step, when the acquisition of user information by the user information input means is completed, the control of the user information input means in the first mode or the second mode set in the mode setting step is terminated. The device control method according to claim 4. 6. The device according to claim 4, further comprising a registration information deletion step of deleting the user information registered in the user information registration step when the control of the service is completed in the service control step. Control method. A device control system comprising a device, a control unit locally connected to the device, and a device control apparatus that controls the device via the control unit,
The control unit is
User information input means for acquiring user information;
Mode setting means for setting a mode of either the first mode or the second mode for acquiring user information by the user information input means and performing registration processing;
The user information input means acquires one user information when the first mode is set by the mode setting means, and continuously acquires user information when the second mode is set. User information acquisition control means for controlling
User information storage means for storing one or more user information acquired by the user information input means;
User information stored in the user information storage means and user information transmission means for transmitting identification information for specifying the control unit itself,
The device controller is
User information receiving means for receiving the user information and the identification information from the control unit;
User information authenticating means for authenticating one or more user information received by the user information receiving means;
User information registration means for registering user information that has been successfully authenticated by the user information authentication means;
A service provided by a device connected to the specified control unit based on one or a plurality of user information registered in the user information registration unit by specifying the corresponding control unit by the identification information received by the user information receiving unit. Service control means for controlling the execution process of
A device control system comprising: In the control unit, whenever the user information is acquired by the user information input means, the user information is transmitted to the device control apparatus by the user information transmission means,
8. The device control system according to claim 7, wherein the device control apparatus executes an authentication process by the user information authentication unit every time the user information is received by the user information reception unit. When the acquisition of user information by the user information input unit is completed, the user information acquisition control unit ends the control of the user information input unit by the first mode or the second mode set by the mode setting unit. The device control system according to claim 7, wherein the device control system is a device control system. When the control of the user information input means in the first mode or the second mode ends, the user information transmission means stores one or more user information stored in the user information storage means until the end. The device control system according to claim 9, wherein batch transmission is performed. The control unit further includes user information deletion means for instructing deletion of user information stored in the user information storage means in response to completion of transmission of the user information by the user information transmission means,
The device control apparatus further comprises registration information deletion means for instructing deletion of user information registered in the user information registration means in response to termination of control of the service by the service control means. The device control system according to claim 7. A device control system comprising a device, a control unit locally connected to the device, and an information processing apparatus that controls the device via the control unit,
The control unit is
User information input means for acquiring user information;
Mode setting means for setting a mode of either the first mode or the second mode for acquiring user information by the user information input means and performing registration processing;
The user information input means acquires one user information when the first mode is set by the mode setting means, and continuously acquires user information when the second mode is set. User information acquisition control means for controlling
User information authentication means for performing authentication processing of one or more pieces of user information acquired by the user information input means;
User information registration means for registering user information that has been successfully authenticated by the user information authentication means;
Service execution determination means for determining an information processing apparatus capable of executing a service execution request for the device;
Identification for identifying one or a plurality of user information registered by the user information registration unit and the control unit itself for an information processing apparatus that has been determined by the service execution determination unit to be able to request execution of the service User information transmission means for transmitting information and a control request for the service,
The information processing apparatus includes:
User information receiving means for receiving the user information and the identification information and the service control request from the control unit;
User information storage means for storing one or a plurality of the user information acquired by the user information receiving means;
The corresponding control unit is specified by the identification information received by the user information receiving means, and in response to the control request for the service, a request for executing the service is made to a device connected to the specified control unit, Service control means for controlling execution processing of the service based on one or a plurality of user information stored in the user information storage means;
A device control system comprising: When there are a plurality of information processing apparatuses capable of executing the service, the service execution determination unit generates a priority list for the information processing apparatus and performs determination based on the generated priority list The device control system according to claim 12. When the acquisition of user information by the user information input unit is completed, the user information acquisition control unit ends the control of the user information input unit by the first mode or the second mode set by the mode setting unit. The device control system according to claim 12, wherein the device control system is a device control system. When the control of the user information input means in the first mode or the second mode ends, the user information authentication means starts authentication processing of one or a plurality of user information acquired until the end, The device control system according to claim 14, wherein the user information registration unit performs registration of user information that has succeeded in the authentication process after the authentication process of the one or more pieces of user information is completed. The control unit further comprises registration information deleting means for deleting user information registered in the user information registering means in response to completion of transmission of the user information by the user information transmitting means,
13. The information processing apparatus further comprises user information deletion means for deleting user information stored in the user information storage means in response to termination of control of the service by the service control means. Item 16. The device control system according to Item 15.

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