JP2013232085A - File distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow an image forming apparatus to configure a file distribution system and improve operability of the image forming apparatus, even if the image forming apparatus has no operation panel or a small-size operation panel.SOLUTION: A client 30 creates a meta information file 64 on the basis of input of a user 60, scans an image by using a scanner in response to a Web service request from the client 30 to an image forming apparatus 10 via a file distribution server 20, and transmits the meta information file 64 to the file distribution server 20 to request distribution of a scan image file. The client 30 includes storage means that stores a user interface information file group 281A for the image forming apparatus 10 and the file distribution server 20 that is defined for every type of information to be distributed; and the client 30 displays an input screen on a user interface on the basis of a selected user interface information file, receives the input, and determines input information for the image forming apparatus 10 and the file distribution server 20.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that provides a Web service for image scanning, a file management server in which a file distribution destination determination rule is stored in a storage unit, and a file distribution system in which a client is coupled via a network.

  A workflow on a network is a flow of information between nodes in an organization, and the basic design is to make it possible to smoothly perform who (what type of information) is sent to where. The source node “who” is determined by the user ID when logging in. By creating a format for each type of information, “what” can guarantee the formal quality of the information and flow information smoothly. The destination node “where” is usually determined by “who” and “what”. Therefore, in the information distribution server, a rule for associating the destination node with “who” and “what” is defined, By setting this as a default value, it is possible to save the user from selecting or inputting a transmission destination.

  In such an information flow system, when the information includes a paper medium, the information is read by a scanner of the image forming apparatus, converted into an electronic file, and transmitted to a file distribution server. In this case, since it is necessary for the user to place a paper medium on the auto sheet feeder of the image forming apparatus, conventionally, as disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 below, the user uses the operation panel of the image forming apparatus. The operation until sending to the file distribution server was performed.

JP 2011-1000026 A

  For this reason, the file distribution system cannot be configured with an image forming apparatus without an operation panel, and if the operation panel is small, the operability is not good for multi-functionality. This hinders the smooth flow of information.

  On the other hand, the number of smartphone users is increasing, and even those who are accustomed to the operation may be able to operate more easily than the operation panel of the image forming apparatus, even if it is small.

  Even if the above operation can be performed from a personal computer, a smartphone, or the like using a remote operation panel, improvement in operability is hindered if the operation is the same as or similar to the operation in the multifunctional image forming apparatus. .

  In view of these points, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to configure a file distribution system and improve operability even in an image forming apparatus having no operation panel or a small operation panel. An object of the present invention is to provide a file distribution system that can perform such a process.

In a first aspect of the file distribution system according to the present invention, an image forming apparatus that includes a scanner and provides a Web service for image scanning, a file management server in which a file distribution destination determination rule is stored in its storage means, and a client are connected to a network. In the file delivery system combined with
The storage unit of the client stores user interface information files for the image forming apparatus and the file distribution server, which are determined for each type of information to be distributed.
The client displays an input screen based on the contents of the user interface information file designated by the user, accepts the input, and responds to the instruction input by the user or accepts the input received regarding the image forming apparatus or the user interface Using the default value described in the information file as a parameter, the file management server is requested to set the scanner and scan the image.
In response to this request, the file management server makes a Web service request to the image forming apparatus for the scanner settings and the image scan,
In response to this request, the image forming apparatus sets the scanner based on the parameters, optically reads a document image, generates a scanned image file, and transmits it to the file management server as a Web service response. ,
The file management server receives the scanned image file, returns the scanned image file or a thumbnail image file thereof to the client,
The client receives the scanned image file or a thumbnail image file thereof, and receives meta-information including the input received with respect to the file distribution server or the default value described in the user interface information file and the user ID. , Sending a file delivery request with the scanned image file to the file management server,
In response to the file distribution request, the file management server determines a distribution destination corresponding to the content of the meta information based on the distribution destination determination rule, and transmits the scanned image file to the distribution destination.

In a second aspect of the file distribution system according to the present invention, in the first aspect, the user interface information file is an XML file including an element indicating the type of the user interface information file and a display character attribute in each element of the input item. Yes,
The client displays the input interface based on the display character attribute and the content of the element,
The meta-information deletes the optional element included in the parent element with the content of the optional element of the XML file selected by acceptance of the input or selected by default as the content of the parent element, and the user ID Contains the contents of the XML file generated by adding elements.

In the third aspect of the file distribution system according to the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the storage means of the file management server further stores a plurality of types of user interface information files and lists thereof,
The client requests the list from the file management server in response to a user instruction,
The file management server returns the list in response to the request for the list,
The client requests a selected user interface information file in the list in response to a selection by the user;
The file management server returns the requested user interface information file to the client.

In a fourth aspect of the file distribution system according to the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the client displays the contents of the scanned image file or a thumbnail image thereof after receiving the scanned image file. At the same time, the image processing type for the scanned image file is displayed and the user is allowed to select, and the selected type is included in the meta information.
The file management server performs image processing corresponding to the type information on the scanned image file before distribution of the scanned image file.

  In a fifth aspect of the file distribution system according to the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the client is a smartphone.

  According to the configuration of the first aspect, the meta information is generated on the client based on the user input, the image is scanned by the Web service request from the client to the image forming apparatus via the file distribution server, and the meta information is Is sent to the file management server to request delivery of the scanned image file, so that a file delivery system can be configured with an image forming apparatus without an operation panel, and even if the operation panel of the image forming apparatus is small Since it is only necessary to operate a familiar client, the operability is improved.

  In addition, user interface information files for the image forming apparatus and the file distribution server, which are determined for each type of information to be distributed, are stored in the storage unit of the client, and the client stores user interface information specified by the user. The input screen is displayed based on the contents of the file, the input is accepted, and the input information for the image forming apparatus and the file distribution server is determined, so that the configuration of the user interface is simplified and the operability is further improved. There is an effect.

  According to the configuration of the second aspect, since the display character attribute is included in each element of the input item for the XML file as the user interface information file, the display format of the input interface corresponds to the input item only by the XML file. This is advantageous in that the user interface can be easily defined. In addition, there is an effect that the meta information transmitted to the file delivery server can be configured by processing the contents of the user interface information file.

  According to the configuration of the third aspect, there is an effect that each user can selectively and easily use a plurality of types of user interface information files registered in the file management server.

  According to the configuration of the fourth aspect, there is an effect that the user can confirm the contents of the scanned image file or its thumbnail image and request the file management server for special image processing.

  According to the structure of the said 5th aspect, there exists an effect that the above effect can be enjoyed with the smart phone which was accustomed to use.

  Other objects, characteristic configurations and effects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in connection with the appended claims and the drawings.

It is a schematic network block diagram of the file delivery system of Example 1 of this invention. 2 is a schematic functional block diagram of a network system of an image forming apparatus 10, a file distribution server 20, and a client 30 in FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing one user interface information file 2810 included in the user interface information file group 281 in FIG. 2. Schematic diagram showing a sequence of operations of the client 30 by the user 60, processing in the client 30 based on the operation, communication between the client 30 and the file distribution server 30, and communication between the file distribution server 30 and the image forming apparatus 10. It is. 12 is a schematic flowchart for processing the contents of a user interface information file 2810 to generate an input screen. It is a block diagram of the scroll image 61 for input obtained by the process of FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of processing for generating a meta information file 62 based on the user interface information file 2810 of FIG. 3 and an input to the screen of FIG. 6. It is a block diagram of the meta information file 62 obtained by the process of FIG. It is a block diagram of the scroll image 63 for confirmation obtained by the process of step S19 of FIG. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a meta information file 64 obtained after the user selects image processing in the meta information file 64 of FIG. 9.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic network configuration diagram of the file distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In this system, the image forming apparatus 10, the file distribution server 20, and clients 30-1 to 30 n are coupled to a network 40, and a smartphone 30-0 as a mobile client is connected to the network 40 via an access point 50. Are combined. In FIG. 1, only one image forming apparatus 10 and one smartphone 30-0 are shown as representatives in order to avoid complicated description.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic functional block diagram of a system of the image forming apparatus 10, the file distribution server 20, and the client 30 coupled to the network 40. The client 30 represents an arbitrary one of the smartphone 30-0 and the clients 30-1 to 30-N in FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 10 has a function of providing a Web service for image scanning, and the control unit 11 responds to a Web service request from the communication unit 12 with the scanner setting and file format designation. If it is an image scan request, the image scanner 13 is set with the color type, resolution, etc. relating to the image reading of the scanner 13, and the image scanner 13 scans the image and converts it into image data. 14, after performing processing such as noise removal, a file of a specified format is generated and returned to the request source via the communication unit 12.

  Both the control unit 11 and the image processing unit 14 function when the processor operates according to a program stored in the storage unit. The communication unit 12 is an interface between a network interface, its driver software, software for processing a Web service protocol and its lower protocols, for example, a SOAP / TCP / IP protocol stack processing unit, and SOAP and an application. It consists of a functioning proxy. The image scanner 13 includes a scanner body and an auto sheet feeder.

  The file distribution server 20 mediates an image scan request from the client 30 to the image forming apparatus 10 and distributes the obtained scan image file in response to a distribution request accompanied by a meta information file from the client 30. Since the user needs to check the scanned image, complete automation is possible. Therefore, even if the file distribution server 20 has a set of a Web server and a Web application for the client 30, the image forming apparatus 10 may be provided with a Web service providing function.

  In the file distribution server 20, the control unit 21 sends this Web service request to the image forming apparatus 10 in response to the image scan request accompanying the scanner setting and file format designation received from the client 30 via the communication unit 22. The scanned image file, which is a response from the image forming apparatus 10, is stored in the reception folder 23, and the thumbnail image is generated and sent back to the client 30 to confirm the image.

  The control unit 21 receives the meta information file from the client 30 and stores it in the file reception folder 23. In response to the distribution request from the client, the control unit 21 causes the image processing unit 24 to process the scanned image file in accordance with the contents of the meta information file, and causes the file distribution destination determination unit 25 to determine the distribution destination. The file delivery destination determination unit 25 determines a delivery destination corresponding to the meta information based on the file delivery destination determination rule 26.

  As the meta information, only a part of the contents of the meta information file or / and the file name can be used. The file distribution destination is a distribution destination folder 27 in the file distribution server 20 or a folder in the client 30.

  For example, based on the file delivery destination determination rule 26, a delivery destination corresponding to a document type name (to be described later) and a user ID included in the meta information file or file name is determined.

  More specifically, for example, if the document type name is “material” and the delivery destination is not specified in the meta information file, the delivery folder 37 of the client corresponding to the user ID is determined as the delivery destination, and the delivery destination If the designation is “MySection”, for example, it is given priority and the shared folder of the part to which the user with the user ID belongs is determined as the distribution destination. If the document type name is “report” and the delivery destination is not specified in the meta information file, the shared folder corresponding to the section manager of the section to which the user with the user ID belongs in the delivery destination folder 27 is delivered. Decide first.

  The file delivery destination determination rule 26 includes the IP address of the client 30 for each user ID, the path of the delivery destination folder 37 in the client, the path of the folder for each user ID in the delivery destination folder 27, the affiliation of each user ID, Attached information such as titles for determining file distribution destinations is included.

  The file distribution server 20 also stores in the user download folder 28 file management client software (FMC) 280 installed in the client 30 and a user interface information file group 281 used in the client 30. FIG. 3 shows one user interface information file 2810 included in the user interface information file group 281. This user interface information file 2810 is described in XML. Document types corresponding to the user interface information file include names such as materials, reports, design proposals, proposals, and quotations that are usually used in an organization.

  The control unit 21, the image processing unit 24, and the file delivery destination determination unit 25 all function by the processor operating according to the program stored in the storage unit.

  The client 30 requests the image forming apparatus 10 via the file management server 30 for an image scanning Web service with scanner settings and file format designation, receives and confirms the thumbnail of the obtained scanned image file, The file distribution server 20 is requested to perform image processing such as tilt correction as needed by a Web service and to distribute a scanned image file. In the client 30, the control unit 31 displays a menu on the display device 33 via the UI unit 32, and the UI unit 32 accepts that the user has operated the input device 34 to select a menu item. The input device 34 is a keyboard, a pointing device, or a touch panel. The control unit 31 transfers control to the file management client unit 35 when a file distribution item is selected. In response to this, the file management client unit 35 causes the display device 33 to display a menu relating to file distribution via the UI unit 32. In response to the operation of the display device 33 by the user, the file management client unit 35 performs processing corresponding to this via the UI unit 32 and indirectly to the control unit 21 of the file distribution server 20 via the communication unit 36. Require an image scan or direct file delivery.

  The software of the file management client unit 35 is obtained by installing the FMC 280 in the file management server 20.

  In the client 30, a distribution destination folder 37 for distributing a file from the file distribution server 20 to the client 30 is created.

  The control unit 31, the UI unit 32, and the file management client unit 35 all function when the processor operates according to a program stored in the storage unit.

  File distribution from the file distribution server 20 to the distribution destination folder 37 of the client 30, file distribution from the client 30 to the file reception folder 23 of the file distribution server 20, browsing and acquisition of files in the distribution destination folder 27 from the client 30, and client In order to simplify the configuration for acquiring the files in the user download folder 30 from 30, these are performed using a file sharing service provided in the OS.

  That is, the file reception folder 23, the distribution destination folder 27, the user download folder 28, and the distribution destination folder 37 are all shared folders. Each of the communication units 22 and 36 and the communication unit 12 includes a processing unit for a file sharing protocol and lower protocols, for example, an SMB / TCP / IP protocol stack processing unit.

  FIG. 4 shows a sequence of communication between the client 30 and the file distribution server 30 and between the file distribution server 30 and the image forming apparatus 10 by the operation of the client 30 by the user 60, processing in the client 30 based on the operation. FIG. The operation of the configuration of FIG. 2 will be described below with reference to FIG.

  (S0) The user 60 operates the input device 34 to select a user interface information file list from the menu.

  (S1) In response to this, the file management client unit 35 requests the control unit 21 for a user interface information file list.

  (S2) In response to this, the control unit 21 returns a list of the user interface information file group 281 in the user download folder 28 to the file management client unit 35. The file management client unit 35 displays the contents on the display device 33.

  (S3) The user 60 selects one or more user interface information files in the list.

  (S4) In response, the file management client unit 35 requests the control unit 21 to acquire the selected user interface information file.

  (S5) In response to this, the control unit 21 returns the selected one of the user interface information file group 281 to the file management client unit 35. The file management client unit 35 adds the acquired user interface information file to the user interface information file group 281A, and causes the display device 33 to display the user interface information file existing in the user interface information file group 281A.

  The above steps S0 to S5 are omitted if the necessary user interface information file already exists in the client 30.

  (S6) The user operates the input device 34 to select one user interface information file 2810 in the user interface information file group 281A.

  (S7) In response, the file management client unit 35 displays the contents of the selected user interface information file 2810 on the display device 33.

  The user interface information file 2810 is described in XML, for example, as shown in FIG. The contents shown in FIG. 3 are displayed on the display device 33 of the client 30 as shown in FIG.

  The user interface information file is primarily a file for the image forming apparatus 10 and the file distribution server 20, and its contents for each type of information to be distributed in order to simplify and improve user operability. Is determined. The contents of the user interface information file include information related to scan image generation by the image forming apparatus 10, information related to the file distribution destination by the file distribution server 20, and additional information used by the distribution source or distribution destination user such as comments. And related things.

  (S8) The user 60 operates the input device 34 to select a radio button format option for each displayed item or input a value in a text box.

  In order to smooth the flow of information, the default value is normally selected so that the user 60 can press the “Execute Scan” button at the bottom of FIG. 6 without inputting or selecting anything. Further, the file name is automatically determined as “document_TaroYamada_2012-04-28-093456.pdf” using, for example, the document type name + user ID + “scan execution” button pressing date and time, and the distribution destination is determined by the file distribution server 30. It is automatically determined based on the document type name and the user ID.

  (S9) The user 60 places the original bundle on the auto seeder feeder of the image forming apparatus 10.

  (S10) The user 60 presses the “Scan” button. At this time, if the scan image file name by the user is not designated, the file name is determined as described above.

  (S11) The file management client unit 35 checks whether or not the required items have been input for the input scroll image 61 and whether or not the restrictions such as the number of input characters are satisfied. Go and prompt for input or correction. The user performs a process corresponding to this, and then presses the scan execution button again.

  (S12) If the above requirement is satisfied, the scanner setting parameter (the default option value or the value selected by the user) out of the settings in step S8 and the file name determined in step S8 or S10. As an argument, the control unit 21 of the file distribution server 20 is requested to mediate image scanning Web service.

  (S13) In response to this, the control unit 21 requests the control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 to specify the argument received in step S12 and perform web service mediation for image scanning.

  (S14) The control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 performs this setting for the image scanner 13. As the setting values other than the designated items, the initial default values of the image forming apparatus 10 or those changed by the administrator are used as the default values.

  (S15, S16) Next, the control unit 11 causes the image scanner 13 to execute scanning. The control unit 11 causes the image processing unit 14 to perform noise removal processing of the obtained image data and converts the image data into an image file having a format determined by the extension of the file name, and causes the file management client unit 35 to convert the image file. Let me reply.

  (S17, S18) The file management client unit 35 stores the received scanned image file in the file reception folder 23, generates a thumbnail image thereof, and returns it to the client.

  (S19) The file management client unit 35 performs meta information as shown in FIG. 8 by the processing of FIG. 7 described later based on the setting value in step S8 (FIG. 6) and the user interface information file 2810 of FIG. A file 62 is generated and its contents and thumbnails are displayed as shown as a confirmation scroll image 63 in FIG.

  Since the meta information file is created as described above, similar to the user interface information file, the contents thereof are related to generation of a scanned image by the image forming apparatus 10 and related to a file distribution destination by the file distribution server 20. And information related to additional information for use by a distribution source or distribution destination user such as a comment. In other words, the user interface information file is configured so that it can be secondarily used as a meta information file.

  (S20) Especially when the client 30 is the smartphone 30-0, the image processing capability thereof is relatively low. Therefore, the user 60 confirms the thumbnail image and performs the necessary image processing by the image processing unit 24 of the file distribution server 20. The selection is made at the bottom of the confirmation scroll image 63. Examples of this image processing include OCR, tilt correction, red-eye correction, and skin-beautification processing.

  (S21) The user 60 presses a “send to server” button shown at the bottom of FIG.

  (S22) In response to this, the file management client unit 35 adds the image processing element selected in step S18 to the meta information file 62 of FIG. 8, and generates a meta information file 64 as shown in FIG. Then, a distribution request accompanying this is made to the control unit 21 of the file distribution server 20. In order to easily associate the meta information file 64 with the scanned image file, the body name of the file is the same as that of the scanned image file.

  The file distribution server 20 uses a part of the content of the meta information file. In the distribution request, only this part may be extracted and transmitted, but the user can refer to it later. Also, this extraction is not performed to simplify the process.

  (S23) In response to the request, the control unit 21 stores the received meta information file 64 in the file reception folder 23, reads the content of the meta information file 64, and if this includes image processing, The processing unit 24 is caused to perform this processing by designating the image processing and the scanned image file. The control unit 21 also designates the meta information file 64 and causes the file distribution destination determination unit 25 to determine the file distribution destination. The file delivery destination determination unit 25 automatically determines the delivery destination as described above according to the contents of the element deliveryDestination in the meta information file 64.

  (S24) The control unit 21 distributes the scanned image file and the meta information file 64 to the determined distribution destination. If the distribution is successful, an e-mail notifying the distribution to the distribution destination is transmitted to the user corresponding to the distribution destination folder.

  (S25) The control unit 21 returns a success or failure of distribution to the file management client unit 35. The file management client unit 35 displays this result on the display device 33.

  In FIG. 1, for example, the client 30-1 and the smartphone 30-0 are connected by USB, and a part of the user interface information file group 281A in the client 30-1 is obtained by the file management client 35 in the smartphone 30-0. The process may be transferred to the smartphone 30-0 by the same process as in steps S0 to S5.

  Next, details of the processing in step S7 will be described with reference to FIG.

  (S30) The start tag of the next one element (in FIG. 5, for the sake of simplification, simply described as “element”) is read from the user interface information file 2810. In the case of FIG. 3, at first, <fileManagement caption = "document"> is read out. Skip the end tag.

  (S31) If an element is present in step S30, the process proceeds to step S32. If not, the process in step S7 is terminated.

  (S32, S33) If this element is a child element of the element read in the previous step S30, the indent variable is incremented by 1, and if it is a parent element, the indent variable is decremented by 1. The initial value of the indent variable is zero.

  (S34, S35) If the caption attribute is included in the start tag of this element, the value of the caption attribute (character string) is displayed by indenting only the value of the indent variable.

  For example, there is a caption attribute for each <scannerSetting caption = "scanner setting"> in the scanner settings and <color caption = "select color type"> in the color type, and the value of the indent variable for the color type element is Since it is larger by 1 than the value of the indent variable for the scanner setting element, the caption value “color type selection” is lowered by one indent from the caption value “scanner setting” and displayed as shown in FIG.

(S36 to S39) If this element contains text or numerical contents, if the element name is not option, this content (default value that cannot be changed) is displayed with the indent variable lowered, and if it is option Decrease the indent variable and display the radio button and its contents.

  For example, in FIG. 3, there is no default value that cannot be changed, and <option selected = 1> black and white binary </ option> displays a radio button and its content “black and white binary” as shown in FIG. . selected = 1 indicates that it is selected by default, and an option element that does not have selected is not selected (selected = 0 is omitted). The vertical and horizontal lines for making the display in FIG. 6 easy to see are determined using indent variables.

  (S40-S42) If the element does not contain text or numeric content, if the element name is option, the radio button and text box are displayed with the indent variable lowered, and if it is not option, the line breaks and the indent variable is lowered. To display a text box. For example, in FIG. 3, the element <name caption = "file name when desiring other than automatic addition"> </ name> and the element <option caption = "other"> </ option> correspond to these, as shown in FIG. Is displayed. In addition, the element <comment caption = "comment" size = "25x5"> </ comment> in Fig. 3 has no content, so a text box is displayed, but the size is distributed as a horizontal file by the attribute size = "25x5" It is determined to be 5 lines long by 25 characters for the first determination unit.

  The “above ...” and “scan execution” buttons at the bottom of FIG. 6 are added in common to all user interface information files 2810.

  Note that “Auto”, which is selected by default in the item “delivery destination input / selection” in FIG. 6, means that the file management server 20 automatically determines the delivery destination as described above. “MySection” is a shared folder assigned to a part to which a user with a user ID belongs in the folder 27, and “MySubection” is a user ID of the user ID in the folder 27. This is a shared folder assigned to the section to which the user belongs. In these cases, in step S22, a delivery notification e-mail is transmitted to each user belonging to the department or section.

  Next, details of the processing in step S19 in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG.

  (S50) The XML declaration in the first line of the user interface information file 2810 in FIG. 3 is taken out as it is and transferred to the meta information file 62 as shown in FIG.

  (S51) The start tag of the next one element is read from the user interface information file 2810. The end tag is directly transferred to the meta information file 62.

  (S52) If there is an element in the reading in step S51, the process proceeds to step S53, and if not, the process proceeds to step S66.

  (S53) If the start attribute of this element includes a caption attribute, the process proceeds to step S54, and if not, the process proceeds to step S57.

  (S54-56) If this element is a fileManagement element, the attribute name caption is changed to the attribute name documentClass, and if not, the caption is deleted. For example, if the element start tag is <fileManagement caption = "document"> in FIG. 3, this is changed to <fileManagement documentClass = "document">, and the element start tag is, for example, <color caption = "in FIG. If it is color type selection ">, change this to <color>.

  (S57 to S61) When there is no text or numerical content in this element, there is a text box corresponding to the scroll image 61 for input, and if there is the content, this is the content of this element, and this element is meta information. Post to file 62.

  For example, for the element <name caption = "file name when desiring other than automatic addition"> </ name>, the element <name> </ name> is set in step S56, and the element <name> TaroYamada </ name> is set in step S60. Is changed to>, and this is transferred to the meta information file 62 in step S61.

  (S62) If the element has contents, if the element name is option, the process proceeds to step S63. If not, that is, if it is a default value that cannot be changed, the process proceeds to step S61.

  (S63 to S65) If the value of the select attribute is 1, the content is added to the content of the parent element, the option element is deleted regardless of the value of the attribute value, and the process returns to step S51.

  (S66) A user ID element (<userId> TaroYamada </ userId> in FIG. 8) is added to the meta information file 62, and the process of step S17 ends. For example, the user ID used by the OS when the user 60 logs in to the client 30 is used.

  The meta information file 62 shown in FIG. 8 is obtained by such processing, and by adding an imageProcessRequest element containing the image processing type selected by the user at the lower part of FIG. 9, the meta information shown in FIG. A file 64 is obtained.

  According to the first embodiment, the meta information file 64 is generated by the client 30 based on the input of the user 60 and the image is scanned by the Web service request from the client 30 to the image forming apparatus 10 via the file distribution server 20. Since the meta information file 64 is transmitted to the file management server 20 to request delivery of the scanned image file, the file delivery system can be configured with an image forming apparatus without an operation panel, and the operation panel of the image forming apparatus Even if it is small, since it is only necessary to operate a familiar client, the operability is improved.

  The storage unit of the client 30 stores a user interface information file group 281A for the image forming apparatus 10 and the file distribution server 20 determined for each type of information to be distributed. Based on the contents of the designated user interface information file, an input screen is displayed, the input is accepted, and the input information for the image forming apparatus 10 and the file distribution server 20 is determined. The operability is further improved.

  In addition, regarding the XML file 2810 as a user interface information file, each element of the input item includes a display character attribute caption, so that the display format of the input interface can be determined in association with the input item only by the XML file. The structure that defines the user interface is simplified.

  In addition, the meta information file 64 that processes the contents of the user interface information file 2810 and transmits it to the file distribution server 20 can be configured.

  Furthermore, there is an effect that each user can selectively and easily use a plurality of types of user interface information file groups 281 registered in the file management server 20.

  Further, there is an effect that the user can confirm the contents of the scanned image file or its thumbnail image and request the file management server 20 for special image processing.

  Furthermore, there is an effect that the above-described effects can be enjoyed with the smartphone 30-0 that is familiar to the user.

  In the above, preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention includes various modifications, and other configurations that realize the functions of the respective components described in the above embodiments are used. However, other configurations that would be conceived by those skilled in the art from these configurations or functions are also included in the present invention.

  For example, in FIG. 4, the request in step S13 for the image forming apparatus of the file distribution server may be divided into two, a scanner setting request and an image scan request.

  In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the setting information and the display information are included in one XML file has been described. However, a configuration in which both pieces of information are described separately and information for associating the two information may be added.

  Furthermore, it is a matter of course that the caption attribute may not be deleted in FIG. 7, or the thumbnail image created in the image forming apparatus 10 may be used as the thumbnail image in step S18 in FIG. Further, when the client is a personal computer, the configuration may be such that the image processing type can be selected more accurately by displaying the content of the scanned image file and confirming it without using the thumbnail image. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 11, 21, 31 Control part 12, 22, 36 Communication part 13 Image scanner 14, 24 Image processing part 20 File distribution server 23 File reception folder 25 File distribution destination determination part 26 File distribution destination determination rule 27, 37 Distribution folder 28 User download folder 280 FMC
281, 281A User interface information file group 2810 User interface information file 30-0 Smartphone 30, 30-1 to 30N Client 32 UI unit 33 Display device 34 Input device 35 File management client unit 40 Network 50 Access point 60 User 61 Scroll for input Image 62, 64 Meta information file 63 Scroll image for confirmation

Claims (5)

In a file distribution system in which an image forming apparatus that includes a scanner and provides a Web service for image scanning, a file management server in which a file distribution destination determination rule is stored in its storage unit, and a client are coupled via a network.
The storage unit of the client stores user interface information files for the image forming apparatus and the file distribution server, which are determined for each type of information to be distributed.
The client displays an input screen based on the contents of the user interface information file designated by the user, accepts the input, and responds to the instruction input by the user or accepts the input received regarding the image forming apparatus or the user interface Using the default value described in the information file as a parameter, the file management server is requested to set the scanner and scan the image.
In response to this request, the file management server makes a Web service request to the image forming apparatus for the scanner settings and the image scan,
In response to this request, the image forming apparatus sets the scanner based on the parameters, optically reads a document image, generates a scanned image file, and transmits it to the file management server as a Web service response. ,
The file management server receives the scanned image file, returns the scanned image file or a thumbnail image file thereof to the client,
The client receives the scanned image file or a thumbnail image file thereof, and receives meta-information including the input received with respect to the file distribution server or the default value described in the user interface information file and the user ID. , Sending a file delivery request with the scanned image file to the file management server,
In response to the file distribution request, the file management server determines a distribution destination corresponding to the content of the meta information based on the distribution destination determination rule, and transmits the scanned image file to the distribution destination.
A file distribution system characterized by that. The user interface information file is an XML file including an element indicating the type of the user interface information file and a display character attribute in each element of the input item.
The client displays the input interface based on the display character attribute and the content of the element,
The meta-information deletes the optional element included in the parent element with the content of the optional element of the XML file selected by acceptance of the input or selected by default as the content of the parent element, and the user ID Including the contents of the XML file generated by adding elements,
The file delivery system according to claim 1. The storage means of the file management server further stores a plurality of types of user interface information files and lists thereof,
The client requests the list from the file management server in response to a user instruction,
The file management server returns the list in response to the request for the list,
The client requests a selected user interface information file in the list in response to a selection by the user;
The file management server returns the requested user interface information file to the client;
The file delivery system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that After receiving the scanned image file, the client displays the contents of the scanned image file or a thumbnail image thereof, displays the type of image processing for the scanned image file, and allows the user to select the selected type. Is included in the meta information,
The file management server performs image processing corresponding to the type information on the scanned image file before distributing the scanned image file.
The file delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The file delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the client is a smartphone.

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