JP2014204138A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of displaying a start error screen set corresponding to external application when the external application cannot be started.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 10 connected with a server device 20 through a network 30 can run a registered external application while cooperating with the server device. The image forming apparatus has: a screen setting section 16f which sets a start error screen displayed when the external application cannot be started, on the basis of displays of a plurality of error screen candidates, when the external application is registered; a storage section 15 which stores the start error screen set corresponding to the external application in the screen setting section; and a display control section 16g which displays the start error screen set corresponding to the external application referring to the storage section, when the external application cannot be started.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that is connected to a server apparatus via a network and executes a registered external application in cooperation with the server apparatus.

  In recent years, a mechanism has been developed in which an external application running on a server device and an image forming apparatus are directly linked via a network. If the external application and the function of the image forming apparatus are linked, the image forming apparatus can be operated as a part of the total application. For example, it is possible to scan a document with an image forming apparatus, operate a client device from an operation unit of the image forming apparatus via a server apparatus, and execute printing, thereby improving work efficiency.

  However, if the server apparatus is down or a failure occurs in the network, communication between the server apparatus and the image forming apparatus cannot be performed, so that the external application fails to start. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique capable of displaying a general-purpose default screen included in an image forming apparatus. The general-purpose default screen is a screen set in the image forming apparatus by default at the time of factory shipment or the like, and is stored in advance in the storage unit of the image forming apparatus. If activation of the external application fails, a default screen for activation error is called from the storage unit and displayed.

JP 2002-170098 A

  However, the invention described in Patent Document 1 displays a general-purpose default screen included in the image forming apparatus. This default screen has uniform contents and provides a specific recovery method to the user. There is a problem that it takes a long time to recover the error because it is not possible. In particular, in an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of external applications can be used, the recovery method is different for each external application, so it is difficult to cope with the default screen.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus capable of displaying a startup error screen set corresponding to an external application when the external application cannot be started. .

  In order to solve the above problems, a first technical means of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that is connected to a server apparatus via a network and can execute a registered external application in cooperation with the server apparatus, When registering the external application, based on the display of a plurality of error screen candidates, a screen setting unit for setting a startup error screen to be displayed when the external application cannot be started, and the screen setting unit supports the external application A storage unit for storing the startup error screen set as described above, and a display control unit for displaying the startup error screen set corresponding to the external application with reference to the storage unit when the external application cannot be started. It is characterized by comprising.

  According to a second technical means, in the first technical means, the plurality of error screen candidates are at least a startup error screen defined by the external application and transmitted from the server device, and a user via the screen setting unit. It includes the startup error screen defined in 1.

  When the third technical means is the first or second technical means, the startup error screen set corresponding to the external application is updated in the server device, and the external application can be started, It is characterized by being updated.

  According to a fourth technical means, in any one of the first to third technical means, the activation error screen set in correspondence with the external application is updated by the server device, and the image forming apparatus is activated. In this case, it is updated.

  According to a fifth technical means, in any one of the first to fourth technical means, the startup error screen set in correspondence with the external application is updated in the server device, and the operation of the image forming apparatus is performed. If the external application is polled, it is updated.

  According to the present invention, when the image forming apparatus stores a startup error screen set in correspondence with an external application and the server apparatus cannot start up the external application, the startup set up in accordance with the external application An error screen is displayed. As a result, even when the external application cannot be started, the user can easily cope with the operation without being confused, and the time required for error recovery can be shortened.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the list display of an external application. It is a figure explaining the registration screen of an external application. It is a figure explaining a starting error screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the server apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of image forming processing according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure of image forming processing according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a flowchart following FIG. 7. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence of the image formation process which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence of the image formation process which concerns on further another embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming system includes an image forming apparatus 10 and a server apparatus 20, and the image forming apparatus 10 and the server apparatus 20 are connected via a network 30. In the example of the image forming system in FIG. 1, one image forming apparatus 10 and one server apparatus 20 are shown, but a plurality of image forming apparatuses 10 and server apparatuses 20 may be provided. The image forming apparatus 10 and the server apparatus 20 communicate using, for example, an HTTP protocol (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol).

  The image forming apparatus 10 is an apparatus such as a printer or a multifunction machine that forms an image. A multifunction device is a device having at least two functions such as a scan function, a copy function, a print function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, and a communication function. Hereinafter, a case where the image forming apparatus 10 is a multifunction peripheral will be described.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 10 includes an operation unit 11, an image reading unit 12, an image forming unit 13, a communication processing unit 14, a storage unit 15, and a control unit 16.
The operation unit 11 is a user interface such as a touch panel. The operation unit 11 includes an input unit 11a and a display unit 11b. The input unit 11a is an input device such as an input key or a touch pad that receives input of various types of information from the user. The input unit 11a may be a mouse, a pen input device, a pointing device such as a handwriting pad or a gesture pad, an operation button, a voice input device, or the like. The display unit 11b is a display device such as a liquid crystal display that displays various types of information.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a list display of external applications. The image forming apparatus 10 is configured to be able to execute processing in cooperation with an external application executed on the server apparatus 20. For this reason, for example, a list of a plurality of external applications that can be used in the image forming apparatus 10 such as a scan application, an output application, and an authentication application is displayed on the display unit 11b. The user can select a desired external application from this list screen.

The image reading unit 12 is a scanning device that reads characters and images printed on a document with a predetermined resolution. The image reading unit 12 includes a scanner and a document transport unit that transports a document to the position of the scanner.
The image forming unit 13 is a processing unit that prints an image including characters, photographs, graphics, and the like on a recording sheet such as paper. The image forming unit 13 includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, a fixing device, and a paper tray.

For example, the image forming unit 13 performs a copy process of printing the image on a recording sheet using the image data read by the image reading unit 12, or performs a print process using the image data acquired from the external device. To do.
The communication processing unit 14 is a communication interface that performs communication with an external device such as the server device 20 via the network 30. For example, the communication processing unit 14 communicates with the server device 20 using the HTTP protocol.

Further, when the IP address of the image forming apparatus 10 is designated as the access destination, the communication processing unit 14 can also access a web server unit 16b of the image forming apparatus 10 described later.
The storage unit 15 is a storage device such as a memory or a hard disk device. The storage unit 15 stores default screen data 15a, customized screen data 15b, an update method 15c, an address / URL 15d, and the like.

  The default screen data 15a is general-purpose default screen data that the image forming apparatus 10 has, and is displayed when the server apparatus 20 is down or communication with the server apparatus 20 cannot be performed due to a network failure. The The default screen is an error screen such as “An error has occurred” as shown in the conventional technology. The startup error screen displayed at startup, the communication error screen displayed when server communication is disabled, etc. The default is set in the image forming apparatus 10.

The customization screen data 15b is, for example, data on a customization screen for activation errors. In the customization screen data 15b, application definition data 15b1 created according to the application setting contents and user definition data 15b2 created according to the user setting contents are stored in association with the external application.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an external application registration screen. This external application registration screen can be displayed on the display unit 11b, and this registration screen includes columns for application name and application address (URL of the server device, etc.). This application address is stored in the address / URL 15d for each external application.

  Here, regarding a startup error, an error screen acquisition method can be selected for each external application. Specifically, as shown in the registration screen of FIG. 4, the user selects, for example, “Follow application rules”, “Display an error screen of the MFP”, or “Register a user-defined screen”. You can choose. The screen setting unit 16f described later sets an error screen from this selection result. As shown in FIG. 4, when “Follow application rules” is selected, an external application developer or service provider can define a startup error customization screen. For example, the application definition data 15b1 that is defined according to the status of the external application and acquired from the server device 20 such as the one that cannot be used at present but can be used after waiting, the one that needs to be handled by a visit by a service person, etc. Is stored in the storage unit 15.

  On the other hand, when “Register user-defined screen” is selected, the user can manually define a customized screen according to the use environment of the image forming apparatus 10. For example, when the image forming apparatus 10 is managed by an administrator, the extension number of the administrator can be input in a text box, and the acquired user-defined data 15b2 is also stored in the storage unit 15. In addition, when the user depresses the reference button on the right side of the text box, the user can select a template related to the customization screen.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a startup error screen. In the registration screen of FIG. 4, when the user has selected “Follow application rules” and the server device 20 cannot start an external application, for example, “System maintenance is in progress. Please wait until 13:00” , “Customer is busy. Please wait for a while and try to reconnect”.

On the other hand, when the user selects “Register user-defined screen” on the registration screen of FIG. 4 and the server device 20 cannot start the external application, for example, “Call manager 11-2222” A customization screen set by the user such as “Please” is displayed.
As described above, regarding the startup error, the customization screen can be stored in the storage unit 15 for each external application. When the external application cannot be started on the server device 20, the startup error customization screen is displayed. Therefore, even if the external application cannot be started, the user can easily cope with the operation without being confused. It takes less time to recover. As shown in FIG. 5, each activation error screen is provided with a close button, which can be forcibly closed.

  Returning to the description of the storage unit 15, the update method 15 c is data that defines a method for updating the activation error customization screen data. For example, the update method 15 c is updated when the image forming apparatus 10 is started. As described above, an external application developer or service provider can define a method for updating the data on the customization screen for each external application.

The control unit 16 is a control device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a dedicated processor that controls each unit of the image forming apparatus 10. The control unit 16 includes a web browser unit 16a, a web server unit 16b, a control application unit 16c, a device control unit 16d, an Open I / F unit 16e, a screen setting unit 16f, and a display control unit 16g.
The control unit 16 executes an information processing program and a control program (not shown) stored in the storage unit 15, thereby causing the web browser unit 16a, the web server unit 16b, the control application unit 16c, the device control unit 16d, and the Open I. The functions of the / F unit 16e, the screen setting unit 16f, and the display control unit 16g are realized.

The web browser unit 16a is a processing unit that operates as a web browser. The web browser unit 16a communicates with the web server unit 25a of the server device 20 described with reference to FIG.
The web browser unit 16a also communicates with the web server unit 16b of the image forming apparatus 10 when various functions of the image forming apparatus 10 are used. For example, the web browser unit 16a obtains from the web server unit 16b data of a startup error customization screen changed by the screen setting unit 16f described later. The customization screen is displayed on the display unit 11b by the display control unit 16g described later when the external application by the server device 20 cannot be activated.

  The web server unit 16b is a processing unit that operates as a web server. A web server is a server device constituting a WWW (World Wide Web) which is an information system on the Internet. The web server unit 16b receives the HTTP request from the web browser unit 16a, causes the control application unit 16c described below to execute processing according to the HTTP request, and sends an HTTP response to the web browser unit 16a based on the result. Return it.

The control application unit 16c is a processing unit that functions as a web application that operates on a web server. The function of the control application unit 16c is exhibited by executing a web application program (not shown) stored in the storage unit 15.
When it is necessary to control various functions (for example, a scan function, a copy function, and an authentication function) of the image forming apparatus 10, the control application unit 16c transmits a control command for controlling the function to the device control unit 16d. To do.

  In addition, the control application unit 16c controls the web browser unit 16a to transmit an HTTP request including information unique to the image forming apparatus 10 to the web server unit 25a of the server device 20 described in FIG. Information necessary for controlling the image forming apparatus 10 is acquired from the server unit 25a. Thereby, the function of the image forming apparatus 10 can be controlled.

The device control unit 16d is a processing unit that controls the operation of each unit such as the operation unit 11, the image reading unit 12, the image forming unit 13, and the communication processing unit 14. For example, the device control unit 16d controls the image reading unit 12 to acquire scan image data. The device control unit 16d controls the image forming unit 13 to form an image corresponding to the image data on the recording sheet.
The device control unit 16d operates in a unique operation mode and a cooperative operation mode. The unique operation mode is an operation mode unique to the image forming apparatus 10.

Specifically, in the unique operation mode, the device control unit 16d causes the display unit 11b to display an information display screen stored in advance in the image forming apparatus 10. The device control unit 16d acquires information input by the user on the information display screen from the input unit 11a, and controls various functions of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the information.
For example, when the external application cannot be started on the server device 20, the customization error screen data related to the external application is called from the storage unit 15, and the device control unit 16d displays the customization screen via the display control unit 16g. It is displayed on the part 11b.

  The device control unit 16d also performs control such as appropriately combining images stored in advance in the storage unit 15 and displaying them on the display unit 11b in accordance with the current configuration and state of the image forming apparatus 10. For example, such an image includes an image of an optional device attached to the image forming apparatus 10. Note that the unique operation mode is a general mode used in a conventional multi-function peripheral, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  In the cooperative operation mode, the device control unit 16d causes the display unit 11b to display an information display screen that has received data from the server device 20. The device control unit 16d acquires information input by the user on the information display screen from the input unit 11a, and controls various functions of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the information. For example, when the external application can be activated on the server device 20, the device control unit 16d displays the screen of the external application received from the server device 20 on the display unit 11b.

In the cooperative operation mode, the device control unit 16d can also activate the web browser unit 16a and cause the server device 20 corresponding to the preset URL to make a transmission request for data on the customization screen.
The Open I / F unit 16e receives a control command independent of the model of the image forming apparatus 10 from the control application unit 16c, converts the received control command into a control command that can be recognized by the device control unit 16d, and the device control unit 16d. It is a processing part which outputs to. Control commands that do not depend on the model of the image forming apparatus 10 are generally disclosed.

The Open I / F unit 16e stores, in the storage unit 15, a conversion table (not shown) in which control commands that do not depend on the model of the image forming apparatus 10 are associated with control commands that can be recognized by the device control unit 16d. The control command is converted using this conversion table.
As described above, the Open I / F unit 16e can receive a control command that does not depend on the model of the image forming apparatus 10. Therefore, when there are a plurality of image forming apparatuses 10, the function of the control application unit 16c is exhibited. A common web application program can be used in each image forming apparatus 10 regardless of the model of the image forming apparatus 10.

  Further, when the control application unit 16c is caused to function using a new web application program, it is only necessary to install the same web application program for each image forming apparatus 10, and the web application program is changed for each image forming apparatus 10. There is no need. This facilitates the development of a web application program.

The screen setting unit 16f is a processing unit that sets the startup error screen to the content selected by the user on the registration screen of FIG. 4, and “follow application rules” or “register user-defined screen” is selected. In this case, the default screen of the startup error that the image forming apparatus 10 has is changed to the customization screen. The customization screen is stored in the storage unit 15.
When the external application cannot be activated, the display control unit 16g is a processing unit that causes the display unit 11b to display an activation error screen set in correspondence with the external application.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the server apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The server device 20 includes an input unit 21, a display unit 22, a communication processing unit 23, a storage unit 24, and a control unit 25.
The input unit 21 is an input device such as a keyboard that receives input of various types of information from the user. The display unit 22 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display. The communication processing unit 23 is a communication interface that performs communication with an external apparatus such as the image forming apparatus 10 via the network 30. For example, the communication processing unit 23 communicates with the image forming apparatus 10 using the HTTP protocol.

The storage unit 24 is a storage device such as a memory or a hard disk device. The storage unit 24 stores customized screen data 24a and the like. The customization screen data 24a is data of a customization screen as shown in FIG. 5, and is transmitted from the server device 20 to the image forming apparatus 10 and used when changing the default screen.
The control unit 25 is a control device such as a CPU or a dedicated processor that controls each unit of the server device 20. The control unit 25 includes a web server unit 25a and an external application unit 25b.

The control unit 25 implements the functions of the web server unit 25a and the external application unit 25b by executing an information processing program and a control program (not shown) stored in the storage unit 24.
The web server unit 25a is a processing unit that operates as a web server. The web server unit 25 a receives an HTTP request from the image forming apparatus 10 via the communication processing unit 23, and sends an HTTP response including image data, print data, control information, and the like corresponding to the HTTP request via the communication processing unit 23. To the image forming apparatus 10.

  The external application unit 25b is a processing unit that functions as a web application that runs on a web server. When the external application unit 25b receives a request for transmitting the customized screen data from the image forming apparatus 10, the external application unit 25b calls the corresponding data from the storage unit 24 and outputs the data to the web server unit 25a. The web server unit 25 a returns an HTTP response including the data to the image forming apparatus 10.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing procedure of the image forming process according to the embodiment of the present invention.
In this example, when the activation error customization screen data is selected according to the rules of the application on the registration screen of FIG. 4 and the image forming apparatus 10 acquires the customization screen data, the screen setting unit 16f Has changed the default screen for startup errors to this customization screen. In this example, it is assumed that the customization screen data is updated when the image forming apparatus 10 is activated. For this reason, the customization screen data according to the present example is already updated when the main power of the image forming apparatus 10 is turned on and the unupdated customization screen data exists in the server device 20. Therefore, the new customization screen of the start error is overwritten with the screen change by the screen setting unit 16f.

The communication processing unit 14 of the image forming apparatus 10 starts processing for establishing a connection with the server device 20 (step S101). Next, when the web browser unit 16a determines the establishment of the connection (YES in step S102), the device control unit 16d displays a list of external applications on the display unit 11b (step S103).
When the device control unit 16d determines that the user selects an external application (YES in step S104), the web browser unit 16a transmits a corresponding external application activation request to the server device 20 specified by the address / URL 15d. (Step S105).

  Here, when the server apparatus 20 transmits the screen of the corresponding external application to the image forming apparatus 10 and the web browser unit 16a receives the screen of the external application from the server apparatus 20 (YES in step S106), the server It is determined that the external application can be activated on the device 20. Therefore, the device control unit 16d displays the received external application screen on the display unit 11b (step S109).

  On the other hand, when the web browser unit 16a cannot receive the screen of the external application from the server device 20 (NO in step S106), the web browser unit 16a determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed (step S107). When determining that the predetermined time has elapsed (YES in step S107), the web browser unit 16a determines that the external application cannot be activated on the server device 20.

In this case, the display control unit 16g displays a startup error customization screen regarding the corresponding external application on the display unit 11b (step S108).
The storage unit 15 may store an alternative processing program at the time of a startup error for each external application. In this case, when the activation error customization screen is displayed in step S108, the alternative processing program corresponding to the external application is called from the storage unit 15 and activated. For example, when the scan application cannot be started on the server device 20, the image forming apparatus 10 displays a startup error customization screen related to the scan application and uses the scan data instead of the scan data saving process on the server device 20. It can be stored in the storage unit 15. Thereby, the disadvantage of the user at the time of a starting error can be reduced.
In this example, every time the image forming apparatus 10 is activated, the data on the activation error customization screen is updated, and can be updated even when the activation operation of the external application is not performed. Therefore, in a usage environment in which the image forming apparatus 10 is always started once or more a day, the content of the data can be reliably updated as compared with, for example, updating every time an external application is successfully started.

  Note that the customization screen data may be updated when the image forming apparatus 10 is in operation and the external application is polled. For example, if the data of the startup error customization screen is updated every time polling is performed, even when the image forming apparatus 10 is always operating, it can be updated at a regular timing. For this reason, for example, the content of the data can be updated more frequently than when updating every time the image forming apparatus 10 is activated.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing procedure of the image forming process according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a flowchart following FIG.
When it is determined that the external application can be started on the server device 20 (YES in step S106 in FIG. 7), and the screen of the external application is displayed on the display unit 11b (step S109 in FIG. 7), an operation input to the input unit 11a The presence or absence of is determined. When there is this operation input (YES in step S201), the web browser unit 16a transmits the operation input of the corresponding external application to the server device 20 (step S202).

  Here, when the server apparatus 20 transmits a process execution request for the corresponding external application to the image forming apparatus 10 and the web browser unit 16a receives the process execution request from the server apparatus 20 (YES in step S203), The control application unit 16c transmits a control command to the device control unit 16d, and the device control unit 16d executes a predetermined process according to the received control command (step S204). For example, in the case of a scan application, when an operation input of “scan start” is transmitted from the web browser unit 16a, the server device 20 transmits a process execution request of “scan execution”, and the device control unit 16d The scanning operation is executed by the unit 12.

Thereafter, the device control unit 16d determines whether or not an instruction to end the processing by the external application has been received from the user via the input unit 11a (step S205).
When an instruction to end the process by the external application is received from the user (YES in step S205), the web browser unit 16a transmits the process end to the server device 20 (step S206), and the external application is ended.
Note that the customization screen data described above may be updated, for example, when the external application is terminated, and the customization screen data may include the latest usage status of the external application. Specifically, when the image forming apparatus 10 transmits an external application processing end to the server apparatus 20 as in step S206, the server apparatus 20 records the information addition request. Information such as the total number of printed sheets and the user name used immediately before are added to the data on the customization screen and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 10. This added information is also stored in the storage unit 15 and can be displayed together with the customization screen. Since the server device 20 performs an authentication process by inputting a user name or password to the input unit 11a (step S201), the server device 20 can acquire the user name used immediately before. As a result, the image forming apparatus 10 can check the latest usage status of the external application. Note that the request to the server device 20 may be the timing at which some processing ends, such as when the job execution is completed, in addition to when the processing of the external application ends.

  On the other hand, if the device control unit 16d has not received an instruction to end the processing by the external application, the web browser unit 16a determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed (step S207). When the web browser unit 16a determines that a predetermined time has elapsed without receiving an operation input to the input unit 11a and receiving a processing execution request from the server device 20 (YES in step S207), for example, the server device 20, it is determined that an error indicating that communication is not possible has occurred. In this case, the device control unit 16d displays a default screen (eg, “an error has occurred on the server”) of an incommunicable error on the display unit 11b (step S208).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of image forming processing according to another embodiment of the present invention.
In this example, as in the above example, the data on the customization screen of the startup error is selected according to the rules of the application on the registration screen of FIG. 4, and the default screen of the startup error has already been changed to this customization screen. However, the data on the customization screen is updated when the external application is activated.

  Since steps S301 to S309 in FIG. 9 are the same as steps S101 to S109 in FIG. 5, if the detailed description is omitted, it is determined that the external application can be started on the server device 20 (YES in step S306). When the device control unit 16d displays the received external application screen on the display unit 11b (step S309), the web browser unit 16a requests the server device 20 to obtain a startup error customization screen related to the external application. (Step S310).

If unupdated customization screen data exists in the server apparatus 20, the customization screen data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 10. When the web browser unit 16a receives this data from the server device 20, the new customization screen for the start error is overwritten with the screen change by the screen setting unit 16f.
As described above, since the data on the customization screen for the activation error can be updated each time the external application is successfully activated, the contents of the data can be easily updated.
A startup error customization screen may be set according to the model of the image forming apparatus 10. Specifically, the server apparatus 20 stores a customization screen corresponding to the model information of the image forming apparatus 10, and the image forming apparatus 10 displays, for example, a startup error customization screen related to the corresponding external application in step S310. When transmitting the acquisition request to the server device 20, if the model information of the image forming apparatus 10 is also transmitted, the server apparatus 20 transmits a customization screen corresponding to the model information of the image forming apparatus 10. Since the customization screen is stored in the storage unit 15, even if the display screen size and resolution differ between the models of the image forming apparatus 10, a customized startup error customization screen suitable for each model is provided. Can do.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of image forming processing according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
In this example, as in the example of FIG. 9, for the customization screen of the startup error, “according to application rules” is selected on the registration screen of FIG. 4, and further, the customization screen data is the data of this external application. 10 are the same as steps S301 to S309 in FIG. 9 and are not described in detail. When the server device 20 starts an external application, device control is performed. The unit 16d displays the screen of the external application received from the server device 20 on the display unit 11b (step S409). The server device 20, for example, in addition to the startup error customization screen related to the corresponding external application, the image forming apparatus Launch on another external application that can be used in 10 For even color customization screen of, without waiting for the acquisition request from the web browser section 16a, it is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 10.

  Specifically, the image forming apparatus 10 can use a plurality of external applications. However, as described above, the method for updating the data related to the startup error is, for example, when the external application is started or when the image forming apparatus 10 is started. As described above, it is assumed that the external application is different. Therefore, the server device 20 also calls the customization screen data regarding the startup error of the external application that is not started this time from the storage unit 24 and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 10 with the startup of the current external application.

  When the web browser unit 16a receives each of these data from the server device 20, the new customization screen for the startup error is overwritten with the screen change by the screen setting unit 16f (step S410). As a result, when the developer of the external application or the service provider defines the data on the customization screen of the startup error, the contents are reflected more quickly.

  In the above-described example, as described in step S208 in FIG. 8, the default screen of the image forming apparatus 10 is displayed for errors that occur after activation of the external application. It may be displayed on the customization screen. For example, on the external application registration screen described in FIG. 4, a selection field that can be acquired from the server device or set by the user for an error after startup is provided, and the default screen for the error after startup is customized. You may change to a screen.

  Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is an image forming apparatus that is connected to a server device via a network and can execute a registered external application in cooperation with the server device, and registers the external application. A screen setting unit for setting a startup error screen to be displayed when the external application cannot be started based on the display of a plurality of error screen candidates, and the screen setting unit is set corresponding to the external application A storage unit that stores a startup error screen and a display control unit that displays a startup error screen set in correspondence with the external application with reference to the storage unit when the external application cannot be started may be provided. . If the image forming device stores the startup error screen set for the external application and the server device cannot start the external application, the startup error screen set for the external application is displayed. Yes. As a result, even when the external application cannot be started, the user can easily cope with the operation without being confused, and the time required for error recovery can be shortened.

  The plurality of error screen candidates may include at least a startup error screen defined by the external application and transmitted from the server device, and a startup error screen defined by the user via the screen setting unit. In this case, if a startup error screen is acquired from the server device, a screen having contents defined by the external application can be acquired quickly. On the other hand, the user of the image forming apparatus can define a startup error screen and can provide the user with a startup error screen according to the user's intention. In addition, if the startup error screen can be set manually, for example, the screen corresponding to the environment in which the image forming apparatus is used, such as the extension number of the administrator of the image forming apparatus, can be registered. It becomes possible to provide.

The activation error screen set in correspondence with the external application may be updated when the server device is updated and the external application can be activated. In this case, since the data of the startup error screen set corresponding to the external application can be updated every time the external application is successfully started, the contents of the data can be easily updated.
The activation error screen set in correspondence with the external application may be updated when the server apparatus is activated and the image forming apparatus is activated. In this case, each time the image forming apparatus is activated, the data of the activation error screen set corresponding to the external application is updated, and can be updated even when the external application is not activated. In a usage environment in which startup is always performed at least once a day, the contents of the data can be updated more reliably than when updating is performed each time an external application is successfully started.

  The startup error screen set in correspondence with the external application may be updated when the server apparatus is updated and when the image forming apparatus is in operation and polling the external application. . In this case, the data of the startup error screen set corresponding to the external application is updated every time the external application is polled at regular intervals, for example, while the image forming apparatus is in operation. In this case, the data can be updated at a regular timing, so that the contents of the data can be updated more frequently than when the image forming apparatus is updated each time the image forming apparatus is activated.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image forming apparatus, 11 ... Operation part, 11a ... Input part, 11b ... Display part, 12 ... Image reading part, 13 ... Image forming part, 14 ... Communication processing part, 15 ... Memory | storage part, 15a ... Default screen data, 15b ... Customized screen data, 15b1 ... Application definition data, 15b2 ... User definition data, 15c ... Update method, 15d ... Address / URL, 16 ... Control unit, 16a ... Web browser unit, 16b ... Web server unit, 16c ... Control application 16d ... Open I / F unit, 16f ... Screen setting unit, 16g ... Display control unit, 20 ... Server device, 21 ... Input unit, 22 ... Display unit, 23 ... Communication processing unit, 24 ... storage unit, 24a ... customized screen data, 25 ... control unit, 25a ... web server unit, 25b ... external application unit, 30 ... Network.

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus connected to a server apparatus via a network and capable of executing a registered external application in cooperation with the server apparatus,
When registering the external application, based on the display of a plurality of error screen candidates, a screen setting unit for setting a startup error screen to be displayed when the external application cannot be started,
A storage unit for storing a startup error screen set in correspondence with the external application in the screen setting unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a display control unit configured to display a startup error screen set corresponding to the external application with reference to the storage unit when the external application cannot be started. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The plurality of error screen candidates include at least a startup error screen defined by the external application and transmitted from the server device, and a startup error screen defined by a user via the screen setting unit. Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
An image forming apparatus, wherein a start error screen set in correspondence with the external application is updated when the server apparatus is started and the external application can be started. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the activation error screen set in correspondence with the external application is updated when the server apparatus is activated and when the image forming apparatus is activated. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
The startup error screen set in correspondence with the external application is updated in the server device, and is updated when the image forming apparatus is in operation and polls the external application. Image forming apparatus.

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