JP2014059877A - Information processing apparatus, control method of information processing apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mechanism for restricting execution of processing on the basis of request from a server if an operation screen is transited when executing the processing on the basis of the request from the server.SOLUTION: A service provider requested with execution of processing from a Web application determines whether an operation screen presently displayed on the foremost face is a Web browser. The service provider controls so that when the operation screen displayed on the foremost face is the Web browser, the processing requested from the Web application is executed, and when the operation screen displayed on the foremost face is not the Web browser, the processing requested from the Web application is not executed.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus including a display unit connected to a server and capable of displaying an operation screen provided by the server, a control method for the information processing apparatus, and a program.

  It is known that an information processing apparatus such as a PC is connected to a server on a network, and an operation screen provided by the server is displayed on a display unit included in the information processing apparatus. A typical example is a system in which a web browser provided in the information processing apparatus displays an operation screen acquired from a web server on a network.

  In this case, first, the Web browser of the information processing apparatus requests (requests) an operation screen from the Web server. Then, in response to a request from the information processing apparatus, the Web application on the Web server responds to the information processing apparatus with an HTML file for displaying an operation screen on the Web browser. The Web browser of the information processing apparatus analyzes the received HTML file and displays an operation screen based on the description of the HTML file.

  Further, when the user inputs an instruction via the operation screen displayed on the Web browser, the Web browser notifies the input instruction to the Web server. The Web application on the Web server that has received this notification executes processing in accordance with the input instruction.

  Incidentally, recently, some MFPs (Multi Function Peripherals) equipped with a scanner and a printer are also equipped with the above-described Web browser. Then, the MFP displays an operation screen provided by the Web server using the above-described procedure on the Web browser of the MFP, and accepts various instructions from the user.

  Furthermore, a technique such as Patent Document 1 is also considered. According to the description in Patent Literature 1, the Web server provides an operation screen for inputting an instruction for using each function provided in the MFP. That is, the user of the MFP inputs an instruction for the MFP via the operation screen displayed on the Web browser. The input instruction is notified to the Web server by the Web browser of the MFP.

  Upon receiving this notification, the Web server requests the MFP to execute various processes according to the content of the instruction input from the user. Upon receiving this request, the MFP executes the requested process. As a result, it is not necessary to store all operation screen information for operating the MFP in the MFP, and the contents of the operation screen can be easily changed on the Web server.

JP 2006-127503 A

  When the information input via the operation screen displayed on the display unit of the information processing apparatus is once notified to the server and the information processing apparatus executes various processes according to the request returned from the server, as in Patent Document 1, The following problems can occur.

  That is, the operation screen displayed on the display unit by the user operating the information processing apparatus after the server is notified of the instruction input via the operation screen and before the server requests execution of the process. May be transferred to another operation screen. For example, when an instruction input via an operation screen displayed on a web browser is notified to the web server, the web browser is closed and the screen is shifted to another operation screen provided by an application in the information processing apparatus. Or, it is a case where another operation screen provided by the application in the information processing apparatus is newly displayed in front of the Web browser while the Web browser itself is activated.

  In such a case, assuming that the process requested from the server requires a user operation after the process, even if the process is executed, the operation after the process is not performed and the process itself is useless. There is a possibility of becoming. For example, when the process requested from the server is a document reading process and the user needs to confirm the preview of the image data obtained by the process, the preview confirmation is made that the Web browser has been closed. There is no. Therefore, the process after the preview confirmation is not executed, and the executed reading process is wasted.

  Also, for example, when executing a process requested from the server, based on the screen information held by the information processing apparatus, when configured to display a screen indicating "processing is in progress" There are also the following problems. In other words, when the user is operating the operation screen after the transition, the processing requested from the server is started at the same time, and at the same time, the screen is switched to a screen indicating that “processing is being executed” (or If it is overwritten on the front), it will disturb the user operation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when executing a process based on a request from the server, if the operation screen is changed, execution of the process based on the request from the server is limited. The purpose is to provide a mechanism to do this.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus of the present invention is an information processing apparatus that includes a display unit that is connected to a server and can display an operation screen provided by the server, and is provided by the server. A notification means for notifying the server of the instruction content from the user via the operation screen displayed on the display unit, and when execution of processing is requested from the server based on the instruction content notified by the notification means A processing unit for executing the requested processing; a determination unit for determining an operation screen displayed on the display unit after the notification unit notifies the server; and a determination by the determination unit If the operation screen provided by the server is displayed on the display unit, the processing means requested by the server is executed and the server provides the operation screen. Been if instead of the operation screen other operation screen is displayed on the display unit, characterized in that it comprises a control means for controlling not to perform the execution of processing requested from the server.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when the operation screen is changed when performing the process based on the request | requirement from a server, the mechanism which restrict | limits the execution of the process based on the request | requirement from a server can be provided.

1 is an overall view of an information processing system in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an MFP 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the Web server 102 in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the software structure of the information processing system in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the service provider 430 in embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the operation screen displayed on the operation part 219 in embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation in which a web browser 420, a web application 410, and a service provider 430 execute a series of processes.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the scope of claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the invention.

  FIG. 1 is an overall view of an information processing system in the present embodiment. An MFP 101 and a Web server 102 are connected to the LAN 110 so that they can communicate with each other.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the MFP 101. A control unit 210 including a CPU 211 controls the overall operation of the MFP 101. The CPU 211 reads out a control program stored in the ROM 212 and performs various controls such as reading control and transmission control. Accordingly, the MFP 101 can provide various services such as copy / scan (transmission) / print. The RAM 213 is used as a temporary storage area such as a main memory or work area for the CPU 211.

  The HDD 214 stores image data, various programs, or various information tables. The operation unit I / F 215 connects the operation unit 219 and the control unit 210. The operation unit 219 includes a liquid crystal display unit having a touch panel function, a keyboard, and the like. Further, the MFP 101 has a Web browser function described later. The Web browser of the MFP 101 analyzes the HTML file received from the Web server 102 and displays an operation screen based on the description of the received HTML file on the liquid crystal display of the operation unit 219. To display. In addition, the liquid crystal display unit can display not only the operation screen provided by the Web server 102 but also the operation screen provided by the application in the MFP 101.

  A printer I / F 216 connects the printer 220 and the control unit 210. Image data to be printed by the printer 220 is transferred from the control unit 210 via the printer I / F 216 and printed on a recording medium by the printer 220.

  The scanner I / F 217 connects the scanner 221 and the control unit 210. The scanner 221 reads an image on a document to generate image data, and inputs the image data to the control unit 210 via the scanner I / F 217.

  The network I / F 218 connects the control unit 210 (MFP 101) to the LAN 110. The network I / F 218 transmits image data and information to an external device (for example, the Web server 102) on the LAN 110, and receives various types of information from the external device on the LAN 110.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the Web server 102. A control unit 310 including a CPU 311 controls the operation of the entire Web server 102. The CPU 311 reads out the control program stored in the ROM 312 and executes various control processes. The RAM 313 is used as a temporary storage area such as a main memory or work area of the CPU 311. The HDD 314 stores image data, various programs, or various information tables described later.

  The network I / F 315 connects the control unit 310 (Web server 102) to the LAN 110. The network I / F 315 transmits and receives various information to and from other devices on the LAN 110. Further, the Web server 102 has a function of transmitting an e-mail attached with image data via a mail server on the LAN 110 (not shown).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the software configuration of the entire information processing system. Each function unit illustrated in FIG. 4 is realized by a CPU provided in each of the MFP 101 and the Web server 102 executing a control program.

  The MFP 101 includes a web browser 420 and a service provider 430. The web browser 420 includes a communication unit 421, an analysis unit 422, and a screen display unit 423. The communication unit 421 communicates with the presentation unit 411 of the Web application 410 according to the HTTP protocol. More specifically, the communication unit 421 requests an operation screen to be displayed on the web browser from the web application 410, or receives an instruction from the user input via the operation screen displayed on the web browser. Or notify.

  The analysis unit 422 analyzes the HTML file received from the Web application 410. This HTML file includes a description indicating the contents of the operation screen to be displayed on the Web browser. The screen display unit 423 creates and updates an operation screen based on the result of analysis by the analysis unit 422.

  The web server 102 includes a web application 410 including a presentation unit 411 and a logic unit 412.

  The presentation unit 411 communicates with the communication unit 421, and transmits an operation screen to be displayed on the Web browser of the MFP 101 to the MFP 101 in response to a request from the MFP 101. Further, the user receives from the MFP 101 the content of an instruction from the user input via the operation screen displayed on the Web browser of the MFP 101.

  Receiving the instruction from the user, the Web application 410 executes various processes according to the contents of the instruction and requests the MFP 101 to execute the processes as necessary. Specifically, it requests execution of printing processing by the printer 220 of the MFP 101, execution of reading processing by the scanner 221, or execution of transmission processing via the network I / F 218.

  In this way, when requesting the MFP 101 to execute processing, the logic unit 412 communicates with the communication unit 431 in the service provider 430 provided in the MFP 101. Communication between the logic unit 412 and the communication unit 431 is performed according to a SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) / HTTP protocol.

  The service provider 430 includes a communication unit 431, a job generation unit 432, and a screen display unit 433. The communication unit 431 receives a processing request from the logic unit 412 in the Web application 410. When execution of processing is requested from the Web application 410, the job generation unit 432 generates and executes a job for executing the requested processing. The screen display unit 433 creates and updates the in-execution screen based on the job execution status by the job generation unit 432. The service provider 430 instructs the screen control unit 450 to display the execution screen when displaying the execution screen on the operation unit 219.

  As described above, the MFP 101 includes the service provider 430, and can provide services such as copying, scanning, and printing in response to a request from the Web server 102 (Web application 410).

  The screen control unit 450 controls display of which operation screen is preferentially displayed when an operation screen display is instructed from the Web browser 420, the service provider 430, or another module. Displaying a certain operation screen with priority means, for example, displaying the operation screen in the foreground.

  In the example of FIG. 4, either the operation screen displayed by the screen display unit 423 or the operation screen displayed by the screen display unit 433 is displayed as the operation unit in accordance with an instruction from the user operation unit 219 and an instruction from the service provider 430. Controls whether to display in priority to 219.

  The reading processing unit 470 performs a reading process of reading an image on a document using the scanner 221 and generating image data. Also, the print processing unit 480 executes print processing for printing an image based on the image data on a recording medium using the printer 220. A main control unit 460 controls each functional unit of the MFP 101.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for describing a series of processing performed when the service provider 430 of the MFP 101 receives a processing execution request from the Web application 410. Each operation (step) shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is realized by the CPU 211 of the MFP 101 executing a control program stored in the HDD 214.

  In step S <b> 501, the communication unit 431 of the service provider 430 receives a process execution request from the Web application 410.

  In step S502, the service provider 430 determines the content of the process requested by the process execution request received in step S501. Here, an example will be described in which “Print” and “ScanToMail” exist as the contents of processing that can be requested by the service provider 430. “Print” is processing for printing image data transmitted from the Web application 410 by the printer 220.

  “ScanToMail” is a process in which the Web application 410 receives image data generated by reading an image on a document with the scanner 221, attaches it to an e-mail, and transmits it to a desired destination from the Web server 102. In “ScanToMail”, the user confirms the preview of the image data before transmitting the image data generated by the scanner 221 by e-mail. As a specific method for preview confirmation, the Web application 410 transmits the image data transmitted from the service provider 430 to the Web application 410 to the Web browser 420 of the MFP 101 for display. Then, when the user confirms the contents of the image data and operates the web browser 420 to instruct transmission execution, the instruction is notified to the web application 410 and transmission of an e-mail by the web application 410 is executed. On the other hand, in the case of “Print”, the processing is completed by printing the image data transmitted from the Web application 410 with the printer 220, and therefore no user operation after the processing is necessary.

  In “ScanToMail”, a screen indicating “processing in progress” is displayed as shown in FIG. 6 to be described later while the document reading process by the scanner 221 is being executed. The screen shown in FIG. 6 is provided with a “read execution” button 604 used when continuously reading a plurality of originals. The user sets the original on the scanner 221 and then executes the “read execution” button 604. The document is read by pressing. In the case of “Print”, the above-described screen indicating “processing is being executed” is not displayed.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 5, if it is determined in step S503 that the processing content is “ScanToMail”, the process proceeds to step S503, and if it is determined that the processing content is “Print”, the process proceeds to step S505.

  In step S <b> 503, the service provider 430 makes an inquiry to the screen control unit 450 to determine whether the screen currently displayed in the foreground on the operation unit 219 of the MFP 101 is a Web browser. If it is determined that the screen currently displayed in the forefront is not a web browser (an operation screen other than the operation screen displayed by the web browser is displayed), the process proceeds to step S508, and the web application 410 has an error. Respond. In this case, the processing requested from the Web application 410 is not executed (execution is restricted).

  Although an example in which a multi-window function for displaying a plurality of operation screens in an overlapping manner has been described here, a configuration without a multi-window function (when one operation screen is displayed, it is displayed up to that point). The operation screen that has been closed may be closed). In this case, in step S503, “whether or not the currently displayed screen is a Web browser” is determined.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the screen currently displayed in the foreground is a Web browser, the process advances to step S504 to instruct the screen control unit 450 to display the screen shown in FIG. As a result, the screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the forefront of the operation unit 219 (that is, on the front side of the Web browser).

  In step S505, the communication unit 431 sends a normal response to the Web application 410, thereby notifying the Web application 410 that the requested process has been received normally.

  In step S506, the job generation unit 432 generates and executes a job for executing the requested processing. Specifically, when the processing content is “ScanToMail”, a document reading process using the scanner 211 is executed. If the processing content is “Print”, a process of printing image data transmitted from the Web application 410 using the printer 220 is executed. Depending on the execution status of the job, the in-execution screen displayed by the screen display unit 433 in step S504 may be updated at any time if necessary. When the requested process ends, the process proceeds to step S507.

  In step S507, the service provider 430 instructs the screen control unit 450 to close the screen (FIG. 6), and the process ends. Upon receiving the instruction, the screen control unit 450 displays the operation screen displayed before step S504 (that is, the operation screen displayed by the web browser 420) on the forefront of the operation unit 219. If the process content is “Print”, the process of step S504 is not performed, and thus the process of step S507 is omitted.

  FIG. 6 is an example of a running screen displayed in step S504. Reference numeral 601 denotes an area for displaying the processing contents and processing status currently being executed. In the example of FIG. 6, the user can determine that the processing content is “ScanToMail” and the current situation is that the reading processing is being executed. 601 may be updated at any time according to the execution status of the process. Reference numeral 602 denotes an area for displaying details of setting contents and the current situation. In the example of FIG. 6, the user can determine that the color setting is grayscale, the magnification is 100%, and the document size is A4. In addition, it can be determined that the second page has been read. Similar to 601, the display content of 602 (for example, display of the number of pages) may be updated in a timely manner. A button 603 is a button for canceling the process being executed. A button 604 is a button for the user to instruct execution of reading after setting a document on the scanner 211.

  FIG. 7 shows an overall sequence diagram including the MFP 101 and the Web server 102 when the content of processing requested from the Web application 410 is “ScanToMail”.

  In step S701, the web browser 420 accesses the web server 102 (web application 410) and requests an operation screen based on a URL registered in advance in the web browser 420 or a URL arbitrarily designated by the user. In step S702, the Web application 410 that has received this request responds to the MFP 101 (Web browser 420) with an HTML file that is screen data for displaying an operation screen.

  The web browser 420 that has received the HTML file displays an operation screen in step S703 and accepts a user operation. When the user instructs execution of “ScanToMail”, this instruction is notified to the Web application 410 (step S704).

  In step S <b> 705, the Web application 410 requests the service provider 430 to execute “ScanToMail”. In step S706, the service provider 430 that has received this request confirms that the screen currently displayed in the forefront on the operation unit 219 of the MFP 101 is a Web browser (corresponding to the processing in step S503 in FIG. 5). To do). If the screen currently displayed in the forefront on the operation unit 219 of the MFP 101 is not a Web browser, an error response is sent to the Web application 410.

  In step S707, the service provider 430 instructs the screen control unit 450 to display the screen shown in FIG. 6 on the operation unit 219 (corresponding to the process in step S504 in FIG. 5). In the subsequent step S708, the service provider 430 makes a normal response to the Web application 410 (corresponding to the process in step S505 in FIG. 5).

  In step S709, the service provider 430 executes the requested process (corresponding to the process in step S506 in FIG. 5). In a succeeding step S710, the image data obtained by the reading process is transmitted to the Web application 410. In step S <b> 711, the web application 410 transmits the image data transmitted from the service provider 430 to the web browser 420.

  In step S712, the web browser 420 displays a preview of the image data transmitted from the web application 410, and allows the user to confirm the content of the image data. When the user who has confirmed the content of the image data instructs execution of transmission of image data via the operation screen displayed by the web browser 420, the instruction is notified to the web application 410 in step S713. In step S714, the Web application 410 transmits the image data attached to the e-mail. It is assumed that the e-mail destination is designated by the user via the operation screen displayed in step S703.

  As described above, the service provider 430 according to the present embodiment determines whether or not to execute the process on the condition that the Web browser is currently displayed in the foreground according to the content of the process requested from the Web application 410. Switch. That is, when the content of the requested process is “ScanToMail”, the process is executed on the condition that the Web browser is currently displayed in the foreground. As a result, if the display has already been switched to another operation screen (for example, the Web browser is closed), execution of the process is restricted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a screen indicating that “processing is being executed” from being displayed on the operation screen after the transition, so that the user operation is not disturbed. Further, the process (for example, the reading process) is executed even though there is a high possibility that the user operation after the process (for example, preview confirmation) is not performed due to the transition to another operation screen. Can be prevented. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the image data generated by the execution of the reading process from being confirmed indefinitely and remaining in the Web server 102.

  On the other hand, when the content of the requested process is “Print”, the process is executed regardless of whether the Web browser is currently displayed in the foreground. This is because “Print” is a process that does not require a user operation after the process, and therefore, the process that is executed is less likely to be wasted even if it has been changed to another operation screen. In addition, when “Print” is executed, a screen indicating that “processing is being executed” is not displayed, and therefore, the user operation via the operation screen after the transition is not disturbed.

  In the present embodiment, “processing that requires user operation after processing” or “processing that displays a screen indicating that processing is being performed” (first type processing) is “ “ScanToMail” was taken as an example. In addition, “Print” is given as an example of a process (second type of process) that does not correspond to these. However, the contents of processing classified according to various types are not limited to “ScanToMail” or “Print”.

  In addition, for each processing content or type, whether or not it is “processing that requires user operation after processing” or “processing that displays a screen indicating that“ processing is in progress ”” Such information may be managed in advance in the service provider 430. Alternatively, when the Web application 410 requests processing execution, the requested processing is “processing that requires user operation after processing”. Information indicating whether or not it is “a process for displaying a screen indicating that“ processing is being executed ”” may be notified.

  The object of the present invention can also be achieved by executing the following processing. That is, a storage medium that records a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus is stored in the storage medium. This is the process of reading the code.

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

The information processing apparatus of the present invention to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus including a display unit capable of displaying a steering drawing surface, a reading means for generating image data by reading an image on an original, Provided by a server on the network and notifying means for notifying the server of the instruction content from the user via the operation screen displayed on the display unit, and reading from the server based on the instruction content notified by the notification means Processing means for causing the reading means to execute reading processing when execution of processing is requested, and the processing means is provided by the server after the notification means notifies the server. and when the operation screen is displayed on the display unit, the to execute the reading processing requested from a server, the other operation screen in place of the operation screen provided by the server before If displayed on the display unit is characterized in that not run the by the read processing request from the server. The information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus including a display unit capable of displaying an operation screen, the reading unit configured to read an image on a document and generate image data, and the display unit using a Web browser function. Notification means for notifying the server on the network of the instruction content from the user via the operation screen displayed on the screen, and when the server requests execution of the reading process based on the instruction content notified by the notification means And a processing unit that causes the reading unit to execute a reading process, and the processing unit displays a web browser function on the operation screen displayed on the display unit after the notification unit notifies the server. If the operation screen is displayed by the above, the reading process requested by the server is executed, and the operation screen displayed on the display unit is displayed by the Web browser function. If not, the operation screen displayed, characterized in that it does not run the by the read processing request from the server.

Claims (1)

An information processing apparatus including a display unit connected to a server and capable of displaying an operation screen provided by the server,
Notification means for notifying the server of the instruction content from the user via the operation screen provided by the server and displayed on the display unit;
Processing means for executing the requested processing when the server requests execution of processing based on the instruction content notified by the notification means;
A determination unit that determines an operation screen displayed on the display unit after the notification unit notifies the server;
When the operation screen provided by the server is displayed on the display unit based on the determination by the determination unit, the processing unit requests the server to execute the processing requested by the server, and the operation provided by the server. When another operation screen is displayed on the display unit instead of the screen, control means for controlling not to execute the processing requested by the server;
An information processing apparatus comprising:

Images