JP2015145063A - Setting change from remote place - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that if the setting change of a device is inhibited when the user performs the execution of a job or the setting of a device on the device side, the operation cannot be instantly processed when the setting is to be promptly changed, and if, on the other hand, the setting change from the external device is unconditionally reflected even while the user is operating on the device side, the job may be executed at the setting which is not intended by the user operating on the device side.SOLUTION: Only in the case where a setting change influences the processing being operated by an operation part on the equipment side in the case of the instruction of the setting change of the device from the outside, there is displayed a message that the setting is changed in the operation part on the equipment side.

Description

  The present invention relates to a case where a setting change of an image forming apparatus is performed from an information processing apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, in order to notify the user who is operating on the image forming apparatus side of the change It is about control.

  For devices that are shared and used by multiple people or devices that are remotely located, a means is provided for changing the device settings from an external device connected to the device via a network. . In such a configuration, when changing the setting of the device from the outside, the user may execute a job or set the device on the device side.

  Regarding the processing at the time of setting change from the external device, considering that the setting change of the related item is subsequently performed from the external device when the device setting is changed from the external device as in Patent Document 1, A technique for prohibiting execution of processing using related items for a certain period of time is known.

  Also, when the user is executing jobs or changing device settings on the device side, setting changes from the external device are prohibited, and when changing device settings from the external device, the device side changes settings. There is also known a method for preventing simultaneous setting from both by prohibiting.

JP 2010-86250 A

  If the user wants to change the settings urgently, such as security-related items, if the device settings are prohibited from an external device while the user is executing a job or setting the device on the device side But it can't be done immediately.

  Further, if a setting change from an external device is reflected unconditionally while the user is operating on the device side, there is a possibility that the job is executed with a setting not intended by the user operating on the device side.

The configuration of the present invention is as follows:
Setting means (501) for setting the device from the operation unit (0112) of the device body;
Remote setting means (502) for issuing an instruction to change the setting of the device from the information processing apparatus (102) connected to the device via the network;
Setting presence / absence determining means (S0602) for determining whether or not there has been a setting change instruction from an information processing apparatus connected via the network;
When the setting presence / absence determining means determines that there is a setting change, an influence determining means for determining whether the setting change instructed by the remote setting means affects the process being operated on the device side (S0606). ,
Setting reflecting means (S0608, S0612) for reflecting the setting change instructed by the remote setting means;
The image forming apparatus is characterized by including message display means (S0610, 0704) for displaying a message indicating that the setting has been changed on the operation unit only when the influence determining means determines that it is affected.

  According to the present invention, when a setting of an apparatus is changed from an external device while the user is operating on the apparatus side, a notification is made only when a setting item related to an operation performed by the user on the apparatus side is changed. Therefore, only necessary setting change information can be notified without unnecessarily hindering user operations.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus. It is a schematic diagram of an operation part. It is a figure which shows an example of the touchscreen part. It is a figure explaining the software configuration of the whole system in an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a setting change screen of the apparatus in embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flow at the time of displaying a message on an operation panel when there is a setting change instruction from the outside. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display in the flow of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a means to judge whether the setting which had the change instruction | indication from the outside affects the operating screen. It is a figure which shows the flow at the time of displaying a message and the transition button to a setting screen on an operation panel when there exists a setting change instruction | indication from the outside. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display in the flow of FIG. It is a figure which shows the flow at the time of displaying the message and the button which returns a setting change to an operation panel when there exists a setting change instruction | indication from the outside. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display in the flow of FIG. It is a figure which shows the flow when not performing a setting change until a related screen is closed when there exists a setting change instruction | indication from the outside. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display in the flow of FIG.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus 205 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, an image forming apparatus 205 having a copy function, a print function, and a facsimile function will be described as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 205 is connected to a scanner 0170 that is an image input device and a printer 0195 that is an image output device, to which a LAN 0111 and a public line (WAN) 0151 are connected, and a copy function, LAN 0111 And a multifunction device having a communication function including a printer function for printing out data supplied from the outside via a public telephone and a facsimile function via a public line (WAN) 0151. The multifunction device controls the entire device. And a controller unit 0100 for performing control related to input / output of image information and device information.

  The controller unit 0100 starts the system based on the boot program stored in the ROM 0103, reads various control programs stored in the HDD (Hard Disk Device) 0104 on this system, and performs predetermined processing using the RAM 0102 as a work area. It has a CPU 0101 for executing. The HDD 0104 stores the various programs as well as image data.

  In addition to the RAM 0102, ROM 0103, and HDD 0104, the CPU 0101 includes an operation unit I / F (operation unit interface) 0106, a LAN I / F (LAN interface) 0110, a modem 0150, and an image bus I / F (image bus interface) 0105. Connected through.

  The operation unit I / F 0106 is an interface with the operation unit 0112. The operation unit I / F 0106 transfers image data displayed on the operation unit 0112 to the operation unit 0112, transfers a signal generated by an operation input in the operation unit 0112 to the CPU 0101, and the like. Do. The operation unit 0112 includes a current setting state for each function related to image formation, a display unit for displaying an information input screen for inputting setting information related to each function, a key for inputting setting information for each function, and the like. It has an input part.

  The LAN I / F 0110 is connected to the LAN 0111 and inputs / outputs information via the LAN 0111. A modem 0150 is connected to a public line (WAN) 0151 and inputs / outputs information via the public line 0151. The image bus I / F 0105 includes a bus bridge that connects the image bus 0108 and the system bus 0107 and converts the data structure. The image bus 0108 includes a PCI bus that can transfer image data at high speed or a bus that conforms to the IEEE 1394 standard.

  An RIP (raster image processor) 0160, a device I / F (device interface) 0120, a scanner image processing unit 0180, a printer image processing unit 0190, an image rotation unit 0130, and an image compression unit 0140 are connected to the image bus 0108. .

  RIP0160 expands the PDL code into a bitmap image. The device I / F 0120 connects the scanner 0170 or printer 0195, which is an image input / output device, to the controller unit 0100, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. A scanner image processing unit 0180 corrects, processes, and edits input image data. A printer image processing unit 0190 performs printer correction, resolution conversion, and the like on print output image data. The image rotation unit 0130 performs rotation processing of image data. The image compression unit 0140 performs compression / decompression processing of JPEG for multi-valued image data and JBIG, MMR, and MH for binary image data.

  As described above, the CPU 0101 of the controller unit 0100 comprehensively controls access to various devices connected to the system bus 0107 based on each control program, and reads image information from the scanner 0170 via the device I / F 0120. Then, after a predetermined process is performed on the read image information, the image information is output to the printer 0195 via the device I / F 0120.

  Next, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation unit 0112 of the image forming apparatus 205, which includes a key input unit 202 and a touch panel unit 201. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing details of the touch panel unit 201. Details will be described below.

  FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the screen 301 displayed on the touch panel unit 201. The touch panel unit 201 has a touch panel display including an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) display and a transparent electrode attached thereon. Then, when a transparent electrode corresponding to a key displayed on the LCD is touched with a finger, it is programmed in advance so as to detect the touch and display another operation screen.

  In FIG. 3, a copy icon 302 is an icon for transitioning to a copy operation operation screen. A transmission icon 303 is an icon for transitioning to an operation screen for instructing a transmission operation such as fax or E-mail transmission. The save icon 304 is an icon for transitioning to an operation screen for inputting / outputting a job to / from a storage unit that stores the job. By selecting any of the icons 302 to 304, the screen can be changed to a screen of each operation mode.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the software configuration of the entire system. Each functional unit illustrated in FIG. 4 is realized by a CPU provided in each of the image forming apparatus 205 / information processing apparatus 102 executing a control program.

  The image forming apparatus 205 includes an internal web server 410. The in-device web server 410 includes an HTTP response unit 411. The HTTP response unit 411 returns a response in response to a request based on the HTTP protocol from the information processing apparatus browser 104 operating on the information processing apparatus 102 on the LAN 0111.

  The information processing device browser 104 on the information processing device 102 includes a communication unit 421, an analysis unit 422, and a screen display unit 423. The communication unit 421 communicates with the in-device Web server 410 according to the HTTP protocol. Specifically, the communication unit 421 requests and receives the content of the operation screen displayed on the information processing device browser 104 on the information processing device 102 from the in-device Web server 410.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a setting screen 501 displayed on the touch panel unit 201 of the image forming apparatus 205 and an image forming apparatus 205 setting screen displayed on the information processing apparatus 102 connected via the network of the image forming apparatus 205. This is an example of 502.

    On the setting screen 502 displayed on the information processing apparatus 102, it is possible to change settings for items equivalent to the items that can be set on the setting screen 501 displayed on the touch panel unit 201 of the image forming apparatus 205. is there.

Example 1
FIG. 6 shows that when a setting change instruction related to the screen displayed on the touch panel unit 201 of the operation unit 0112 of the image forming apparatus 205 is received from the information processing apparatus 102, the setting is changed on the touch panel unit 201. It is a figure which shows the flow at the time of displaying this message.

  First, the CPU 0101 of the controller unit 0100 in the image forming apparatus 205 determines whether a setting change instruction has been issued to the image forming apparatus 205 from the information processing apparatus 102 connected to the image forming apparatus 205 via the network ( S0602). When the CPU 0101 determines that there is no setting change instruction, the CPU 0101 repeats the process of S0602.

  When the CPU 0101 determines that there is a setting change instruction in S0602, the CPU 0101 determines whether or not the operation unit 0112 is being operated (S0604). If the CPU 0101 determines in S0604 that the operation unit 0112 is not being operated, the CPU 0101 reflects the setting change and ends the process (S0612). When the CPU 0101 determines in S0604 that the operation unit 0112 is being operated, the CPU 0101 determines whether or not the setting change affects the operation currently being performed in the operation unit 0112 (S0606). When the CPU 0101 determines in S0606 that there is no influence on the operation currently being performed on the operation unit 0112, the CPU 0101 reflects the setting change and ends the process (S0612). When it is determined in S0606 that the CPU has an effect on the operation currently being performed on the operation unit 0112, the CPU 0101 first reflects the setting change (S0608).

  Next, the CPU 0101 displays a message indicating that the setting has been changed from the outside on the touch panel unit 201 of the operation unit 0112, and ends the process (S0610).

  7 illustrates an example of a screen on the information processing apparatus 102 side and an example of a screen on the image forming apparatus 205 side when a message is displayed on the touch panel unit 201 when a setting change instruction for the image forming apparatus 205 is issued from the information processing apparatus 102. FIG.

  Reference numeral 0701 denotes a device name setting change screen of the image forming apparatus 205 displayed on the information processing apparatus 102 side. Here, when a device name setting change instruction is given to the image forming apparatus 205 on the information processing apparatus side screen 0701, a transmission screen 0702 for performing FAX or E-mail transmission is opened on the touch panel unit 201. Think about the case.

  First, in accordance with a device name setting change instruction from the information processing apparatus 102, the CPU 0101 changes the device name setting of the image forming apparatus 205. At this time, the CPU 0101 confirms the screen displayed on the touch panel unit 201 of the image forming apparatus 205 and determines whether the setting change affects the operation of the screen. Since the device name setting change does not affect the transmission screen 0702, the CPU 0101 does not notify the touch panel unit 201.

  Next, a case is considered in which a setting (transmission result report setting) change instruction related to transmission of the image forming apparatus 205 is issued on the information processing apparatus side screen 0703 while the transmission screen 0702 is opened on the touch panel unit 201. .

  First, in accordance with a setting change instruction from the information processing apparatus 102, the CPU 0101 changes the setting of the image forming apparatus 205. At this time, the CPU 0101 confirms the screen displayed on the touch panel unit 201 of the image forming apparatus 205 and determines whether the setting change affects the operation of the screen. Since the setting change affects the operation of the transmission screen 0702, the CPU 0101 displays a message indicating that the setting has been changed from the outside on the touch panel unit 201 (0704).

  Here, the setting change that affects the operation of the screen displayed on the touch panel unit 201 is a change in which the operation result at the time of executing the process by the screen operation changes before and after the setting change. For example, when the screen for performing transmission is opened on the touch panel unit 201, the limit setting of the transmission destination and the setting of the transmission result report are changed. As another example, there is a case where the setting of the paper discharge tray or the setting related to printing is changed while the screen for performing copying is opened on the touch panel unit 201.

    As a method for determining whether or not to affect the screen operation, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, a method of preparing in advance a table 0801 that associates a setting item 0803 with a screen 0804 affected by a setting change of the setting item is prepared. is there. The determination may be made by referring to this table 0801 when a setting change instruction is issued from the information processing apparatus 102. As another method, as shown by 0802 in FIG. 8, a check with a related screen may be performed in the process of changing the setting of each item.

(Example 2)
FIG. 9 illustrates a transition to a message and a setting change screen on the touch panel unit 201 when there is a setting change instruction related to the screen being displayed on the touch panel unit 201 of the operation unit 0112 of the image forming apparatus 205 from the information processing apparatus 102. It is a figure which shows the flow at the time of displaying the button of. Here, since S0902-S0912 are the same as S0602-S0612 of FIG. 6, description is abbreviate | omitted here.

    After displaying a confirmation message on the touch panel unit 201 of the operation unit 0112 in S0910, the CPU 0101 of the controller unit 0100 in the image forming apparatus 205 determines whether or not the transition button to the setting screen has been pressed (S0914). When the CPU 0101 determines that the transition button is not pressed, the CPU 0101 ends the process as it is. When the CPU 0101 determines in S0914 that the transition button has been pressed, the CPU 0101 determines whether there has been a setting change instruction on the setting screen (S0916). If the CPU 0101 determines that there is no setting change instruction, the CPU 0101 ends the process as it is, and if it is determined that there is a setting change instruction, the CPU 0101 reflects the setting change and ends the process (S0918).

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a screen example when a confirmation message indicating that the setting has been changed from the information processing apparatus 102 and a transition button to the setting change screen are displayed on the touch panel unit 201 of the operation unit 0112.

  When a setting change regarding transmission is performed from the information processing apparatus 102 while the transmission screen 1001 is opened on the touch panel unit 201, the CPU 0101 displays a transition button 1004 to the setting screen together with a confirmation message 1003 regarding the setting change. To do. When the instruction to press the transition button 1004 to the setting screen is received from the touch panel unit 201, the CPU 0101 displays the setting screen 1002.

(Example 3)
FIG. 11 shows a button for displaying a message on the touch panel unit 201 and returning the setting to the original when the information processing apparatus 102 issues a setting change instruction related to the screen displayed on the touch panel unit 201 of the image forming apparatus 205. It is a figure which shows the flow at the time of displaying.

  Here, S1102 to S1112 are the same as S0602 to S0612 in FIG.

  After displaying a confirmation message on the touch panel unit 201 of the operation unit 0112 in S1110, the CPU 0101 of the controller unit 0100 in the image forming apparatus 205 determines whether or not the reset button 1204 for returning the setting is pressed. (S1114). When the CPU 0101 determines that the reset button 1204 has not been pressed, the processing ends. When the CPU 0101 determines that the reset button 1204 has been pressed, the CPU 0101 restores the setting changed from the information processing apparatus 102 and ends the processing (S1116).

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a screen example when a confirmation message indicating that the setting has been changed from the information processing apparatus 102 and a reset button for returning the changed setting are displayed on the touch panel unit 201 of the operation unit 0112. .

  When a setting change related to transmission is performed from the information processing apparatus 102 when the transmission screen 1001 is opened on the touch panel unit 201, the CPU 0101 resets the setting change with a confirmation message 1203 related to the setting change 1204. Is displayed. Upon receiving an instruction to press the reset button 1204 from the touch panel unit 201, the CPU 0101 returns the setting value changed from the information processing apparatus 102 to the original setting.

Example 4
FIG. 13 shows a flow when the setting change is reflected after the screen is closed when the information processing apparatus 102 issues a setting change instruction related to the screen displayed on the touch panel unit 201 of the image forming apparatus 205. FIG.

  First, the CPU 0101 of the controller unit 0100 in the image forming apparatus 205 determines whether a setting change instruction has been issued to the image forming apparatus 205 from the information processing apparatus 102 connected to the image forming apparatus 205 via the network ( S1302). When the CPU 0101 determines that there is no setting change instruction, the processing of S1302 is repeated.

When the CPU 0101 determines in step S1302 that a setting change instruction has been issued, the CPU 0101 determines whether the operation unit 0112 is being operated (S1304). If the CPU 0101 determines in S1304 that the operation unit 0112 is not being operated, the CPU 0101 reflects the setting change and ends the process (S1314). When the CPU 0101 determines in S1304 that the operation unit 0112 is being operated, the CPU 0101 determines whether or not the setting change affects the operation currently being performed in the operation unit 0112 (S1306). If the CPU 0101 determines in S1306 that there is no effect on the operation currently being performed on the operation unit 0112, the CPU 0101 reflects the setting change and ends the process (S1314). If it is determined in S1306 that the CPU has an effect on the operation currently being performed on the operation unit 0112, the CPU 0101 temporarily stores the setting change contents in a storage area in the image forming apparatus 205 (S1308).
Next, the CPU 0101 determines whether or not the operation on the corresponding screen is completed on the touch panel unit 201 (S1310). When the CPU 0101 determines in S1310 that the screen operation has not ended, the CPU 0101 repeats the determination of whether or not the screen operation in S1310 has ended. When the CPU 0101 determines that the screen operation is completed in S1310, the CPU 0101 calls the setting change content from the storage area in the image forming apparatus 205 (S1312).

  Next, the CPU 0101 reflects the setting change called in S1312 on the image forming apparatus 205 and ends the processing (S1314).

  FIG. 14 shows a screen example on the information processing apparatus 102 side when the setting change is reflected from the touch panel unit 201 when a setting change instruction is issued from the information processing apparatus 102 to the image forming apparatus 205. 2 is a diagram illustrating a screen example on the image forming apparatus 205 side.

  Reference numeral 1402 denotes a setting (transmission result report setting) change screen related to transmission of the image forming apparatus 205 displayed on the information processing apparatus 102 side. When there is a setting change instruction related to transmission on the information processing apparatus side screen 1402, the CPU 0101 of the controller unit 0100 in the image forming apparatus 205 confirms the screen displayed on the touch panel unit 201 of the image forming apparatus 205. . Next, the CPU 0101 determines whether the setting change affects the operation of the screen. If the screen displayed on the touch panel unit 201 of the image forming apparatus 205 is a transmission screen 1401, the CPU 0101 changes the setting in the storage area in the image forming apparatus 205 without reflecting the setting change from the information processing apparatus 102. The contents are temporarily saved (1403). At the timing when the transmission screen 1403 is closed on the touch panel unit 201 of the image forming apparatus 205 and a screen 1404 other than transmission is displayed, the CPU 0101 calls the setting change content and reflects the setting change.

205 Image forming apparatus 0170 Scanner 0195 Printer 0111 LAN
0151 Public line (WAN)
0100 Controller unit

Claims (4)

Setting means (501) for setting the device from the operation unit (0112) of the device body;
Remote setting means (502) for issuing an instruction to change the setting of the device from the information processing apparatus (102) connected to the device via the network;
Setting presence / absence determining means (S0602) for determining whether or not there has been a setting change instruction from an information processing apparatus connected via the network;
When the setting presence / absence determining means determines that there is a setting change, an influence determining means for determining whether the setting change instructed by the remote setting means affects the process being operated on the device side (S0606). ,
Setting reflecting means (S0608, S0612) for reflecting the setting change instructed by the remote setting means;
An image forming apparatus comprising message display means (S0610, 0704) for displaying a message to the effect that the setting has been changed on the operation unit only when the influence determination means determines that the influence is present. A message indicating that the setting has been changed is displayed on the operation unit (S0910, 1003), and setting screen transition means (S0914, 1004) for displaying a transition button for transitioning to the setting screen for changing the setting is provided. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. A message indicating that the setting has been changed is displayed on the operation unit (S1110, 1203), and setting reset means (S1114, 1204) for displaying a button for returning the setting change to the original setting value is provided. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: Setting means (501) for setting the device from the operation unit (0112) of the device body;
Remote setting means (502) for issuing an instruction to change the setting of the device from the information processing apparatus (102) connected to the device via the network;
A setting presence / absence judging means (S1302) for judging whether or not there has been a setting change instruction from the information processing apparatus connected via the network;
When the setting presence / absence determining means determines that there is a setting change, an influence determining means for determining whether the setting change instructed by the remote setting means affects the process being operated on the device side (S1306). ,
A setting change storage unit (S1308) for storing the setting change contents instructed by the remote setting unit in a storage area inside the device when the influence determining unit determines that the influence is exerted;
An image forming apparatus (205), comprising: a setting reflection unit (S1314) for reflecting the setting changes accumulated by the setting change storage unit to the device when the operation on the device side is completed.