JP2017094498A - Image formation apparatus, browser start method and browser start program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation apparatus which can make operations different between a case of being controlled by a device outputting page data and a case of being not controlled.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus includes: an image processing control part 59 which controls a hardware resource; a start part 51 which starts any of a first browsing part 51 started in a first mode where a control command is not output to the image processing control part 59 and a second browsing part 55 started in a second mode where the control command is output to the image processing control part 59; an intermediate control part 57 which receives an instruction for controlling the hardware resource from the device outputting the page data displayed by the first browsing part 51 and outputs the control command to the image processing control part 59 on the basis of the instruction; and an initialization part 65 which sets, in the image processing control part 59, a first initial value when started in the first mode and a second initial value when started in the second mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a browser activation method, and a browser activation program. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that executes a browsing program, a browser activation method and a browser activation program that are executed by the image forming apparatus.

  Some information processing apparatuses represented by multifunction peripherals (hereinafter referred to as “MFPs”) have installed a browsing program for displaying Web pages described in a description language. For this reason, a Web page received from a Web server connected to the Internet can be displayed. Also, a technique for controlling an MFP from a Web server using a command published for controlling the MFP such as an API (Application Programming Interface) is known. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2015-176308 has a display control unit that acquires display data via a network and displays a screen based on the display data. The display control unit is connected to the information processing apparatus. Among the installed programs, there is described an information processing apparatus that inputs data specified in the display data to a first program related to identification information specified by the display data.

  If the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-176308 is used, the processing is executed by the Web server and the MFP by operating the MFP. Therefore, the processing can be executed in cooperation with the Web server and the MFP. .

  On the other hand, there are cases where it is desired to make the operation different in the MFP depending on whether the processing is executed in cooperation with the Web server on the MFP side or not. For example, charging is performed on the one hand, but charging is not performed on the other, or the charging unit price is different between the two.

However, whether or not the Web server is a device that executes processing in cooperation with the MFP is determined by the Web page downloaded from the Web server. In addition, after the browsing program is started, the Web page to be downloaded can be freely changed. Further, since the browsing program is a general-purpose program, it is not suitable for changing to a dedicated program by adding a function for controlling the MFP. For this reason, there is a problem that it is difficult to make the operation of the MFP different depending on whether or not to cooperate with the Web server after the browsing program is started.
JP 2015-176308 A

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and one of the objects of the present invention is to output a page data when controlled by a device that outputs a page data by executing a browsing program. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can be operated differently when it is not controlled by the apparatus.

  Another object of the present invention is to make the operation of the image forming apparatus different depending on whether it is controlled by a device that outputs a page data by executing a browsing program or not controlled by a device that outputs page data. Is to provide a simple browser startup method.

  Still another object of the present invention is to make the operation of the image forming apparatus different depending on whether it is controlled by an apparatus that outputs a page data by executing a browsing program or not controlled by an apparatus that outputs page data. It is to provide a possible browser launch program.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes an operation receiving unit that receives an operation by a user, and a hardware resource that processes an image in response to input of a control command. The image processing control means for controlling the image data according to the control command, the browsing means for displaying the page data described in the description language, and the first that does not output the control command to the image processing control means based on the operation received by the operation receiving means. In either of the first mode and the second mode in which the control command is output to the image processing control unit based on the operation received by the operation receiving unit, the starting unit for starting the browsing unit and the browsing unit are the first ones. Instructions for controlling hardware resources are activated in the first mode when activated in the mode An intermediate control unit that receives the page data displayed by the browsing unit and outputs a control command to the image processing control unit based on the received instruction, and an image when the browsing unit is activated in the first mode. Initializing means for setting a first initial value in the processing control means and setting a second initial value different from the first initial value in the image processing control means when the browsing means is activated in the second mode; Is provided.

  According to this aspect, a first mode in which a control command is not output to the image processing control unit based on an operation by the user, and a second mode in which the control command is output to the image processing control unit based on an operation by the user. In any case, when the browsing means is activated and the browsing means is activated in the first mode, the browsing means activated in the first mode outputs an instruction for controlling the hardware resource, and outputs page data. A control command is received from the apparatus, a control command is output to the image processing control means based on the received instruction, and when the browsing means is activated in the first mode, a first initial value is set in the image processing control means, and the browsing means Is activated in the second mode, a second initial value is set in the image processing control means. For this reason, the initial value of the value for controlling the hardware resource for processing the image is different depending on whether it is controlled by a device that outputs page data or not controlled by a device that outputs page data. As a result, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of operating differently when controlled by a device that executes a browsing program and outputs page data and when not controlled by a device that outputs page data. it can.

  Preferably, when the browsing means is activated in the first mode, the browsing means displays an image including only the area for displaying the page data among the area for displaying the page data and the area for accepting an operation by the user. When activated in the mode, an image including an area for displaying the page data and an area for accepting an operation by the user is displayed regardless of the page data.

  According to this aspect, when starting in the first mode, an image including only an area for displaying the page data is displayed, and when starting in the second mode, the page data is displayed regardless of the page data. An image including a region to be operated and a region for receiving an operation by the user is displayed. For this reason, when starting in the first mode, an image including only the area for displaying the page data is displayed, so that the apparatus for outputting the page data can be controlled.

  Preferably, the apparatus further includes operation requesting means for requesting a predetermined operation from the user, and the activation means activates the browsing means in the second mode on condition that the predetermined operation for the request by the operation requesting means is detected. .

  According to this aspect, since the browsing means is activated in the second mode on condition that a predetermined operation by the user is detected, activation in the second mode can be restricted.

  Preferably, the intermediate control unit includes an external control unit that receives an instruction received from an external device that transmits page data displayed by the browsing unit that is activated in the first mode.

  According to this aspect, the operation can be made different depending on whether it is controlled by an external device or not.

  Preferably, the intermediate control means outputs the page data to the browsing means activated in the first mode, and the internal control means accepts an instruction to output in accordance with the page data outputted by the browsing means activated in the first mode. including.

  If this aspect is followed, the apparatus which outputs page data can be made into an own apparatus.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the browser activation method is a browser activation method executed by the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus receives an operation receiving means for receiving an operation by a user, and a control command is input. Accordingly, the image processing control means for controlling the hardware resources in accordance with the control command, and browsing in the first mode in which the control command is not output to the image processing control means based on the operation received by the operation receiving means A first activation step for activating a first task for executing the program, and a second mode for executing the browsing program in a second mode for outputting a control command to the image processing control unit based on an operation received by the operation reception unit. A second activation step for activating the task, and the hardware when the first task is activated. An instruction for controlling the resource is received from a device that outputs page data displayed by the first task activated in the first mode, and a control command is output to the image processing control means based on the received instruction. When the intermediate control step and the first task are activated, the first initial value is set in the image processing control means, and when the second task is activated, the first initial value is set in the image processing control means. And an initialization step for setting a second initial value different from the value.

  According to this aspect, a browser capable of differentiating the operation of the image forming apparatus depending on whether it is controlled by a device that outputs a page data by executing a browsing program or not controlled by a device that outputs page data An activation method can be provided.

  Preferably, the first task displays an image including only an area for displaying page data among an area for displaying page data and an area for accepting an operation by a user, and the second task displays page data. An image including a region to be operated and a region for receiving an operation by the user is displayed.

  Preferably, the method further includes an operation requesting step for requesting a predetermined operation from the user, and the second starting step starts the second task on condition that a predetermined operation corresponding to the request in the operation requesting step is detected. including.

  Preferably, the intermediate control step includes an external control step of accepting an instruction received from an external device from which the first task receives page data.

  Preferably, the intermediate control step includes an internal control step of outputting page data to the first task and receiving an instruction output by the first task according to the output page data.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, the browser activation program is a browser activation method executed by a computer that controls the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including an operation receiving unit that receives an operation by a user, and a control Image processing control means for controlling hardware resources according to the control command in response to the input of the command, and the control command is not output to the image processing control means based on the operation received by the operation receiving means. A first activation step for activating a first task for executing a browsing program in one mode, and a second mode for outputting a control command to the image processing control means based on an operation accepted by the operation accepting means A second activation step of activating a second task for executing When a task is activated, an instruction to control hardware resources is received from a device that outputs page data displayed by the first task activated in the first mode, and control is performed based on the received instruction. When an intermediate control step for outputting a command to the image processing control unit and the first task is activated, a first initial value is set in the image processing control unit, and when the second task is activated, Causing the computer to execute an initialization step of setting a second initial value different from the first initial value in the image processing control means;

  According to this aspect, a browser capable of differentiating the operation of the image forming apparatus depending on whether it is controlled by a device that outputs a page data by executing a browsing program or not controlled by a device that outputs page data An activation program can be provided.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall outline of an image forming system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an MFP according to one embodiment. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of a hardware configuration of an MFP according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of a CPU included in an MFP according to the present embodiment. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the image displayed in a 1st mode. It is a 1st figure which shows an example of the image displayed in a 2nd mode. It is a 2nd figure which shows an example of the image displayed in a 2nd mode. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the operation reception process in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the browser starting process in this Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of a CPU included in an MFP according to a modification. It is a 1st flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the browser starting process in a modification. It is a 2nd flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the browser starting process in a modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an overall outline of an image forming system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, an image forming system 1 includes servers 300 and 300A, a gateway (G / W) device 200, and MFPs (Multi Function Peripherals) 100, 100A, and 100B. Each of the servers 300 and 300A and the gateway device (G / W) 200 is connected to the Internet 5 and can communicate with each other via the Internet 5. Further, each of the servers 300 and 300 </ b> A and the gateway device 200 can communicate with other computers connected to the Internet 5.

  The gateway device 200 is further connected to a local area network (LAN) 3, and MFPs 100, 100 A, and 100 B are connected to the LAN 3. The gateway device 200 can communicate with MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B connected to the LAN 3. Furthermore, each of gateway apparatus 200 and MFPs 100, 100 </ b> A, and 100 </ b> B can communicate with other computers connected to LAN 3.

  The gateway device 200 connects the LAN 3 and the Internet 5. Therefore, servers 300 and 300A can communicate with any of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B.

  Since the hardware configurations and functions of gateway device 200 and servers 300 and 300A are well known, description thereof will not be repeated here. Servers 300 and 300A function as Web servers.

  The hardware configurations and functions of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B are basically the same. Therefore, in the following description, MFP 100 will be described as an example unless otherwise specified.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the MFP according to one embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of the hardware configuration of the MFP according to the present embodiment. 2 and 3, MFP 100 functioning as an image forming apparatus includes a main circuit 110, a document reading unit 130 for reading a document, and an automatic document transport device for transporting a document to document reading unit 130. 120, an image forming unit 140 for forming an image on a sheet or the like based on image data output by the document reading unit 130 reading the document, and a paper feeding unit 150 for supplying the image forming unit 140 with a sheet. And an operation panel 160 as a user interface. The MFP 100 is connected to a coin vendor 180.

  The automatic document feeder 120 automatically conveys a plurality of documents set on the document tray 125 one by one to a predetermined document reading position set on the platen glass of the document reading unit 130, and the document reading unit The document on which the image formed on the document is read by 130 is discharged onto the document discharge tray 127. The document reading unit 130 includes a light source that irradiates light to the document conveyed to the document reading position and a photoelectric conversion element that receives light reflected from the document, and scans a document image corresponding to the size of the document. The photoelectric conversion element converts the received light into image data that is an electrical signal and outputs the image data to the image forming unit 140. The paper feed unit 150 conveys the paper stored in the paper feed tray to the image forming unit 140.

  The image forming unit 140 forms an image by a well-known electrophotographic method, and the image data after data processing is obtained by performing various data processing such as shading correction on the image data input from the document reading unit 130. Alternatively, based on image data received from the outside, an image is formed on a sheet conveyed by the sheet feeding unit 150, and the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged to a sheet discharge tray 155.

  The main circuit 110 includes a CPU 111 that controls the entire MFP 100, a communication interface (I / F) unit 112, a ROM 113, a RAM 114, a hard disk drive (HDD) 115 as a mass storage device, a facsimile unit 116, An external storage device 117. CPU 111 is connected to automatic document feeder 120, document reading unit 130, image forming unit 140, sheet feeding unit 150, operation panel 160, and coin vendor 180, and controls the entire MFP 100.

  The facsimile unit 116 is connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and transmits facsimile data to the PSTN or receives facsimile data from the PSTN. The facsimile unit 116 stores the received facsimile data in the HDD 115, converts it into print data that can be printed by the image forming unit 140, and outputs the print data to the image forming unit 140. As a result, the image forming unit 140 forms an image on a sheet of facsimile data received by the facsimile unit 116. Further, the facsimile unit 116 converts the data stored in the HDD 115 into facsimile data, and transmits the facsimile data to a facsimile machine connected to the PSTN.

  Communication I / F unit 112 is an interface for connecting MFP 100 to LAN 3. The communication I / F unit 112 is a server via a communication protocol such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) or FTP (File Transfer Protocol), or another MFP 100A or 100B connected to the LAN 3 or the G / W device 200. Communicate with 300, 300A. The network to which the communication I / F unit 112 is connected is not limited to the LAN 3, but may be a wide area network (WAN), a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the Internet 5, or the like.

  The ROM 113 stores a program executed by the CPU 111 or data necessary for executing the program. The RAM 114 is used as a work area when the CPU 111 executes a program. The RAM 114 temporarily stores image data continuously sent from the document reading unit 130.

  Operation panel 160 is provided on the upper surface of MFP 100. Operation panel 160 includes a display unit 161 and an operation unit 163. The display unit 161 is, for example, a liquid crystal display device (LCD), and displays an instruction menu for a user, information about acquired image data, and the like. Instead of the LCD 165, for example, an organic EL (electroluminescence) display can be used as long as the device displays an image.

  The operation unit 163 includes a touch panel 165 and a hard key unit 167. The touch panel 165 is a capacitive type. Note that the touch panel 165 is not limited to the capacitance method, and other methods such as a resistance film method, a surface acoustic wave method, an infrared method, and an electromagnetic induction method can be used.

  The touch panel 165 is provided with its detection surface superimposed on the display unit 161 on the upper or lower surface of the display unit 161. Here, the size of the detection surface of the touch panel 165 and the size of the display surface of the display unit 161 are the same. For this reason, the coordinate system of the display surface and the coordinate system of the detection surface are the same. The touch panel 165 detects the position where the user points the display surface of the display unit 161 on the detection surface, and outputs the coordinates of the detected position to the CPU 111. Since the coordinate system of the display surface and the coordinate system of the detection surface are the same, the coordinates output from the touch panel 165 can be replaced with the coordinates of the display surface. Hereinafter, the coordinates that the touch panel 165 detects and outputs on the detection surface when the user instructs the display surface of the display unit 161 are also referred to as the coordinates of the display surface.

  Hard key portion 167 includes a plurality of hard keys. The hard key is, for example, a contact switch. When the user operates the MFP 100, the user often takes an upright posture. Therefore, the display surface of the display unit 161, the detection surface of the touch panel 165, and the hard key unit 167 are arranged facing upward. This is because the user can easily visually recognize the display surface of the display unit 161 and the user can easily instruct the operation unit 163 with a finger.

  The external storage device 117 is controlled by the CPU 111, and a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory) 118 or a semiconductor memory is mounted. In this embodiment, an example in which the CPU 111 executes a program stored in the ROM 113 will be described. However, the CPU 111 controls the external storage device 117 to read a program to be executed by the CPU 111 from the CD-ROM 118. The read program may be stored in the RAM 102 and executed.

  The recording medium for storing a program to be executed by the CPU 111 is not limited to the CD-ROM 118, but is a flexible disk, a cassette tape, an optical disk (MO (Magnetic Optical Disc) / MD (Mini Disc) / DVD (Digital Versatile Disc). )), A semiconductor memory medium such as an IC card, an optical card, a mask ROM, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), and an EEPROM (Electrically EPROM). Further, the CPU 111 downloads a program from a computer connected to the network and stores it in the HDD 115, or loads the program stored in the HDD 115 into the RAM 114 so that the computer connected to the network writes the program to the HDD 115. Then, it may be executed by the CPU 111. The program here includes not only a program directly executable by the CPU 111 but also a source program, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

  The coin vendor 180 includes a coin insertion slot 181, a return button 183, a display unit 185, and a coin return slot 187. The coin vendor 180 accepts coins inserted into the coin insertion slot 181, adds the amount determined by the inserted coins to the balance, and updates the balance. Further, when the coin vendor 180 is controlled by the MFP 100 and receives a fee collection instruction from the MFP 100, the coin vendor 180 subtracts the amount determined by the collection instruction from the balance and updates the balance. Coin vendor 180 displays the balance on display unit 185 and notifies MFP 100 of the balance. In addition, when the return button 183 is pressed while the balance is remaining, the coin vendor 180 discharges the number of coins corresponding to the balance to the coin return slot 187.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the CPU provided in the MFP according to the present embodiment. The functions shown in FIG. 4 are functions formed in CPU 111 when CPU 111 provided in MFP 100 executes a browser activation program and a browsing program stored in ROM 113, HDD 115, or CD-ROM 118. Referring to FIG. 4, CPU 111 provided in MFP 100 includes activation unit 51, first browsing unit 53, second browsing unit 55, intermediate control unit 57, image processing control unit 59, and advertisement display unit 71. , An operation requesting unit 73 and a charging unit 75.

  The image processing control unit 59 controls hardware resources for processing an image in response to input of a command. The hardware resources for processing the image include at least the document reading unit 130, the image forming unit 140, and the facsimile unit 116. Also, the hardware resources for processing the image are the automatic document feeder 120 that may be controlled together with the document reading unit 130 or the facsimile unit 116, and the paper feed that may be controlled together with the image forming unit 140 or the facsimile unit 116. Part 150.

  The first browsing unit 53 and the second browsing unit 55 are tasks for the CPU 111 to execute a browsing program. The first browsing part 53 and the second browsing part 55 do not exist at the same time, and either one exists. The first browsing unit 53 and the second browsing unit 55 may exist at the same time. In this case, one of the first browsing unit 53 and the second browsing unit 55 is displayed on the display unit 161. The current state is such that an image can be displayed on the screen and an operation by the user can be accepted.

  The activation unit 51 activates the browsing program in the first mode or the second mode in response to receiving an instruction from the user. When the display unit 161 displays a first button for instructing activation of the browsing program in the first mode, and the operation unit 163 receives an operation for instructing the first button by the user, the browsing program is displayed in the first mode. Start with. When the activation unit 51 activates the browsing program in the first mode, the CPU 111 loads the browsing program stored in the ROM 113, HDD 115, or CD-ROM 118 into the RAM 114 and executes it in the second mode. As a result, the first browsing unit 53 is formed in the CPU 111. In other words, the first browsing unit 53 is a task in which the CPU 111 executes the browsing program in the first mode.

  In addition, the activation unit 51 displays a second button for instructing activation of the browsing program in the second mode on the display unit 161, and when the operation unit 163 receives an operation for instructing the second button by the user, Start the browsing program in the second mode. When the activation unit 51 activates the browsing program in the second mode, the CPU 111 loads the browsing program stored in the ROM 113, HDD 115, or CD-ROM 118 into the RAM 114 and executes the browsing program in the second mode. Thereby, the second browsing unit 55 is formed in the CPU 111. In other words, the second browsing unit 55 is a task for the CPU 111 to execute the browsing program in the second mode.

  The first browsing unit 53 can be connected to a predetermined Web server. The web server to which the first browsing unit 53 is connectable is a server registered in advance in the MFP 100 by the administrator as a server that provides a service for executing a predetermined process. Here, a case where the Web server 300 is registered as a Web server to which the first browsing unit 53 can be connected will be described as an example. The service provided by the Web server 300 is not limited. For example, a service for executing character recognition processing for recognizing characters, a processing for sharpening an image, a service for executing image processing such as smoothing, Including a service for executing a process of translating.

  When the first browsing unit 53 is activated by the activation unit 51, the URL of the Web page stored in the Web server 300 to which the first browsing unit 53 is connected is passed. The URL may be received from the activation unit 51 as an argument, or the URL written by the activation unit 51 in a predetermined area of the RAM 114 or the HDD 115 may be read. When the URL associated with the first button is delivered from the activation unit 51, the first browsing unit 53 controls the communication I / F unit 112 to specify the URL to the Web server 300 specified by the URL. When a web page is requested and the communication I / F unit 112 receives a web page returned from the web server 300, the received web page is analyzed to generate an image, and the generated image is displayed on the display unit 161. To do. Further, when the first browsing unit 53 accepts an operation input by the user to the operation unit 163 in a state where the Web page is displayed on the display unit 161, the first browsing unit 53 communicates a command defined on the Web page corresponding to the operation. The data is transmitted to the Web server 300 via the / F unit 112.

  When the first browsing unit 53 is connected to the Web server 300, the Web page displayed on the display unit 161 is only the Web page acquired from the Web server 300 and is determined by the Web page displayed on the display unit 161. Only the Web server 300 outputs the command. In other words, when the first browsing unit 53 is connected to the Web server 300, the Web page displayed on the display unit 161 by the first browsing unit 53 is a Web page for controlling the Web server 300. The page includes a command output to the Web server 300. Here, when the Web page transmitted from the Web server 300 includes a link to the Web page of another Web server, the Web server 300 treats the other Web server as the same as the Web server 300.

  The first browsing unit 53 displays an image generated by analyzing the Web page acquired from the Web server 300 on the display unit 161, and does not display an image for accepting an operation related to the display of the Web page on the display unit 161. In other words, the image displayed on the display unit 161 by the first browsing unit 53 includes only a page portion including the image of the Web page received from the Web server 300, and is an image that can accept only operations on the Web server 300. . The operation related to the display of the Web page includes, for example, an operation of inputting a URL of another Web page, an operation of displaying a Web page displayed before or after the currently displayed Web page, and one or more pre-registered operations An operation for selecting a URL, an operation for selecting a URL of a Web page displayed in the past, an operation for printing a currently displayed Web page, an operation for displaying another Web page in a new tab or window, a Web page This includes operations such as changing the font size or font.

  Web server 300 may transmit an API command to MFP 100 in order to cause MFP 100 to perform image processing on data obtained as a result of executing processing based on a command received from MFP 100. The API command that the Web server 300 transmits to the MFP 100 is an API command that is public among API commands predetermined by the manufacturer that manufactures the MFP 100.

  The intermediate control unit 57 outputs an API command to the image processing control unit 59 and causes the image processing control unit 59 to control hardware resources for processing the image. The intermediate control unit 57 includes an external control unit 63. When the communication I / F unit 112 receives an API command from an external device such as the Web server 300, the external control unit 63 outputs the received API command to the image processing control unit 59.

  The second browsing unit 55 can be connected to an arbitrary Web server. When the second browsing unit 55 is activated by the activation unit 51, the second browsing unit 55 sends a command for requesting a Web page specified by the URL specified by the user to an external Web server specified by the URL. 112 to transmit. The second browsing unit 55 acquires a Web page that the communication I / F unit 112 receives from the Web server in response to a request for the Web page, analyzes the acquired Web page, generates an image, and generates the generated image Is displayed on the display unit 161. The Web server from which the second browsing unit 55 requests a Web page is specified by a URL specified by the user. Here, a case will be described as an example where the Web server 300A is specified by a URL specified by the user.

  Web server 300 </ b> A from which second browsing unit 55 requests a Web page does not transmit an API command to MFP 100. The second browsing unit 55 displays an image generated by analyzing the Web page acquired from the Web server 300A on the display unit 161, and displays an image for accepting an operation related to display of the displayed Web page. To display. In other words, the image displayed on the display unit 161 by the second browsing unit 55 includes a page part including a Web page image received from the Web server 300A, and an operation part including an image that receives an operation related to the display of the Web page. ,including. For this reason, the second browsing unit 55 is currently displayed on the image processing control unit 59 when receiving an operation for printing a currently displayed Web page at the operation part in the image displayed on the display unit 161. A command for instructing printing of the current Web page is output. This command is a command predetermined by the browsing program, and may be an API command.

  The activation unit 51 includes an initialization unit 61. The initialization unit 61 initializes the image processing control unit 59 with the first setting value when starting the browsing program in the first mode, and the image processing control unit 59 when starting the browsing program in the second mode. Is initialized with the second set value. The first set value is different from the second set value. For example, when the setting value of the print layout is initialized, the first setting value is “Nin1” (N is an even number of 2 or more) for forming an image of a plurality of pages on one sheet, and the second setting value “1 in 1” for forming an image of one page on one sheet of paper. Further, when initializing the setting value of the number of colors forming the image, the first setting value is a single color and the second setting value is a plurality of colors.

  The starting unit 51 outputs a request instruction to the operation requesting unit 73 at a stage before starting the browsing program in the second mode. Operation request unit 73 requests a user who operates MFP 100 to perform a predetermined operation in response to a request instruction input from activation unit 51. The predetermined operation is a predetermined operation corresponding to the case where the browsing program is activated in the second mode. Here, the second browsing unit 55 functions on the condition that billing or browsing of advertisements instead of billing is performed. For this reason, the operation request unit 73 requests the user to perform an operation of inputting a fee or an operation of browsing an advertisement. The operation request may be notified to the user by a message or may be notified by voice.

  The operation requesting unit 73 outputs a charging instruction to the charging unit 75 when the second browsing unit 55 is set to function on the condition of charging. The charging unit 75 controls the coin vendor 180 in response to the input of the charging instruction, acquires the balance, and outputs a permission signal to the activation unit 51 when the acquired balance is equal to or more than a predetermined amount. However, if the acquired balance is smaller than a predetermined amount, a non-permission signal is output to the activation unit 51. The activation unit 51 activates the browsing program in the second mode on the condition that a permission signal is input from the accounting unit 75 after outputting a request instruction to the operation requesting unit 73, and then the When the permission signal is input, an end instruction is output to the second browsing unit 55. After the second browsing unit 55 is activated by the activation unit 51, the second browsing unit 55 stops the function and terminates the display of the web page in response to an end instruction input from the activation unit.

  In addition, the operation request unit 73 displays the balance acquired from the coin vendor 180 on the display unit 161 when the second browsing unit 55 is set to function on the basis of billing. Thereby, it is possible to notify the user whether or not the balance is insufficient. In addition, the operation request unit 73 displays the remaining time for browsing the Web page with respect to the balance. Thereby, it is possible to notify the user of a viewable time. The user may insert coins into the coin vendor 180 as necessary. Further, when the charging unit 75 charges for the print processing, the operation requesting unit 73 calculates the number of printable sheets for the balance, and the calculated number is displayed on the display unit 161 as the printable number of sheets. indicate. Thereby, it is possible to notify the user of the number of printable Web pages.

  The operation request unit 73 outputs an advertisement display instruction to the advertisement display unit 71 when the second browsing unit 55 is set to function on the condition of browsing advertisements. The advertisement display unit 71 acquires an image for advertisement in response to the input of an advertisement display instruction, and displays the acquired image on the display unit 161. The image for advertisement may be an image stored in the HDD 115, an image downloaded from a computer connected to the Internet 5, or an image that is streamed. An image includes a still image in addition to a moving image. The advertisement display unit 71 outputs a permission signal to the activation unit 51 when the reproduction of the moving image ends or when the still image is displayed for a predetermined time. The activation unit 51 activates the browsing program in the second mode on condition that a permission signal is input from the advertisement display unit 71 after outputting a request instruction to the operation request unit 73.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed in the first mode. Referring to FIG. 5, an image 500 includes only a page portion 501 that is an image generated based on a web page received from the web server 300.

  FIG. 6 is a first diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed in the second mode. Referring to FIG. 6, an image 510 includes an operation part 511 including an image for accepting an operation related to display of a Web page, a page part 513 that is an image generated based on a Web page received from the Web server 300, including.

  FIG. 7 is a second diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed in the second mode. Referring to FIG. 7, an image 520 is an image displayed by superimposing an area 531 for displaying information on charges on the image 510 shown in FIG. 6. An area 531 includes a message composed of a character string of “remaining time 300 seconds (service printing monochrome 1 sheet) amount 50 yen (60 seconds / 10 yen)”. Accordingly, the balance is 50 yen, the unit price for browsing for 60 seconds is 10 yen, the time remaining for browsing is 300 seconds, and the number of sheets that can be printed in monochrome is one. Can be notified to the user.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the operation reception process in the present embodiment. The operation reception process is a process executed by CPU 111 when CPU 111 provided in MFP 100 executes an operation reception program stored in ROM 113, HDD 115, or CD-ROM 118. Referring to FIG. 8, CPU 111 provided in MFP 100 displays an operation screen on display unit 161 (step S01). The operation screen is a screen stored in advance in the HDD 115. As a result, the user can input an operation to the operation unit 163. In the next step S02, it is determined whether or not an operation has been accepted. The operation unit 163 is in a standby state until accepting an operation (NO in step S02). If the operation unit 163 accepts an operation, the process proceeds to step S03 (step S03). The user operation accepted here is an operation for instructing the operation screen. In step S03, it is determined whether or not the operation accepted in step S02 is an operation instructing the first button or the second button in the operation screen. If an operation to instruct the first button or the second button is accepted, the process proceeds to step S04. If not, the process proceeds to step S05. In step S04, a browser activation process is executed, and the process returns to step S01.

  In step S05, a process corresponding to the operation accepted in step S02 is executed, and the process returns to step S01. The operations accepted in step S02 are a setting operation for setting a setting value, a screen transition operation for switching the operation screen to another operation screen, and an execution instruction operation for instructing execution of the process. The operation by the user is not limited to these, and another operation may be accepted. When accepting a setting operation, a setting value is set, and the process returns to step S01. When accepting the screen transition operation, the operation screen specified by the screen transition operation is read from the HDD 115, and the process returns to step S01. When the execution instruction operation is accepted, the process specified by the execution instruction operation is executed according to the set value set at that time, and the process returns to step S01.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of browser activation processing in the present embodiment. The browser activation process is a process executed in step S04 in FIG. 8, and the process executed by the CPU 111 when the CPU 111 provided in the MFP 100 executes the browser activation program stored in the ROM 113, HDD 115, or CD-ROM 118. It is. Referring to FIG. 9, CPU 111 provided in MFP 100 determines whether or not the operation input by the user is an operation for instructing the first button (step S11). If it is an operation to instruct the first button, the process proceeds to step S12; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, it is determined whether or not the operation input by the user is an operation for instructing the second button. If it is an operation to instruct the second button, the process proceeds to step S17. If not, the process returns to the operation reception process.

  In step S12, the URL assigned to the first button is set as an argument to be passed to the browsing program, and the process proceeds to step S13. In step S13, the first set value is set, and the process proceeds to step S14. The first set value is a value predetermined for the first mode as a set value for executing image processing.

  In step S14, the browsing program is activated in the first mode, and the process proceeds to step S15. Specifically, the browsing program stored in the ROM 113, HDD 115, or CD-ROM 118 is executed in the first mode. When the CPU 111 executes the browsing program in the first mode, the image displayed on the display unit 161 is only the page portion including the image of the Web page received from the Web server specified by the URL set in Step S12. And does not include an operation part including an image for accepting an operation related to display of a Web page. For this reason, after the browsing program is executed in the first mode, an operation that the user inputs to the operation unit 163 is a Web server in which the task for the CPU 111 to execute the browsing program is specified by the URL set in step S12. Therefore, the CPU 111 treats an operation input by the user to the operation unit 163 as an operation for the Web server and does not accept it as an operation for the MFP 100.

  In the next step S15, it is determined whether or not the browsing program started in the first mode has ended. The CPU 111 monitors the state of the task that executes the browsing program, and determines that the browsing program started in the first mode has ended when the task ends. When the browsing program activated in the first mode is terminated, for example, when the communication I / F unit 112 terminates communication with the web server, or when the browsing program activated in the first mode is the web server. This is a case where a signal for termination is received from, and an API command is received from a Web server. The process waits until the browsing program activated in the first mode is completed (NO in step S15). If the browsing program activated in the first mode is completed (YES in step S15), the process is changed to an operation reception process. return.

  On the other hand, when accepting an operation to instruct the second button, the process proceeds to step S17. In step S17, a URL defined as a default is set as an argument to be passed to the browsing program, and the process proceeds to step S18.

  In step S18, it is determined whether or not billing is set. The billing setting is a setting for starting the browsing program in the second mode on condition that a predetermined fee is paid. If charging is set, the process proceeds to step S19; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S28. In step S19, the user is requested to perform an operation. Here, the user is requested to input a fee. For example, a message prompting the coin vendor 180 to input a charge is displayed on the display unit 161. In the next step S20, it is determined whether or not the balance of the coin vendor 180 is greater than or equal to a threshold value TH. If the balance of coin vendor 180 is equal to or greater than threshold value TH, the process proceeds to step S21; otherwise, the process returns to the operation acceptance process.

  In step S21, a second set value is set, and the process proceeds to step S22. The second set value is a value predetermined for the second mode as a set value for executing image processing. In step S22, the browsing program is activated in the second mode, and the process proceeds to step S23. Specifically, the browsing program stored in the ROM 113, HDD 115 or CD-ROM 118 is executed in the second mode. When the CPU 111 executes the browsing program in the second mode, the image displayed on the display unit 161 includes a page portion including an image of the Web page received from the Web server and an image that receives an operation related to the display of the Web page. Including an operation part. For this reason, the operation input to the operation unit 163 by the user includes an operation corresponding to the page portion and an operation corresponding to the operation portion.

  After the CPU 111 executes the browsing program in the second mode, if the CPU 111 accepts an operation corresponding to the page portion, the task for the CPU 111 to execute the browsing program is transmitted to the Web server that has transmitted the Web page. CPU 111 treats an operation that the user inputs to operation unit 163 as an operation for the Web server, and does not accept it as an operation for MFP 100.

  In addition, after executing the browsing program in the second mode, when the CPU 111 accepts an operation corresponding to the operation part, the task for the CPU 111 to execute the browsing program is accepted and accepted as an operation related to the display of the Web page. Execute the process according to the operation. For example, when an operation for inputting the URL of another Web page is received as an operation related to the display of the Web page, a Web page specified by the received URL is acquired, and an image is generated based on the Web page. The generated image is displayed on the display unit 161. Further, when accepting an operation for displaying a web page displayed before or after the currently displayed web page, the display unit 161 displays the web page displayed before or after the currently displayed web page. To display. When receiving an operation for selecting one or more URLs registered in advance or an operation for selecting a URL of a Web page displayed in the past, the Web page specified by the selected URL is acquired, and the Web page is acquired. An image is generated on the basis of, and the generated image is displayed on the display unit 161. When an operation for printing the currently displayed Web page is received, a print command for forming an image of the Web page is generated and output. As a result, the task for the CPU 111 to execute a program for controlling hardware resources executes processing for forming an image of a Web page in accordance with the print command. Furthermore, when accepting an operation for displaying another Web page in a new tab or window, a new tab or window is generated and displayed on the display unit 161. Further, when an operation for changing the display format such as the character size of the Web page is received, an image generated with a new character size based on the Web page is displayed on the display unit 161.

  In step S23, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed. Here, since charging is performed every predetermined time, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the browsing program was started in the second mode or after charging. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S24; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S26. In step S26, it is determined whether or not the task for executing the browsing program started in the second mode has ended. For example, when the user inputs an operation for ending browsing to the operation part, it is determined that the task for executing the browsing program started in the second mode has ended. If the task that executes the browsing program started in the second mode is completed, the process returns to the operation reception process. If not, the process returns to step S23.

  In step S24, a predetermined amount is charged for a predetermined time, and the process proceeds to step S25. As a result, the balance of the coin vendor 180 is updated to a value reduced by a predetermined amount. In the next step S25, it is determined whether or not the balance of the coin vendor 180 is equal to or greater than a threshold value TH. If the balance of coin vendor 180 is equal to or greater than threshold value TH, the process returns to step S23; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S27. In step S27, the task for executing the browsing program started in the second mode is terminated, and the process returns to the operation reception process.

  If the billing setting is not made in step S18, the advertising moving image stored in the HDD 115 is displayed on the display unit 161 (step S28), and the process proceeds to step S29. In step S29, it is determined whether or not the reproduction of the advertising moving image has been completed. The process waits until the process ends (NO in step S28). When the reproduction of the moving image for advertisement ends, the process proceeds to step S30. In step S30, as in step S21, the second set value is set, and the process proceeds to step S31. In step S31, similarly to step S22, the browsing program is activated in the second mode, and the process proceeds to step S32. In step S32, as in step S26, it is determined whether or not the task for executing the browsing program activated in the second mode has ended. If the task that executes the browsing program started in the second mode is finished (NO in step S32), and if the task that executes the browsing program started in the second mode ends (YES in step S32). ), The process is returned to the operation reception process.

  As described above, MFP 100 according to the present embodiment functions as an image forming apparatus and is based on the first mode in which a control command is not output to image processing control unit 59 based on an operation by the user and an operation by the user. The first browsing unit 53, which is a task for executing a browsing program in one of the second modes for outputting a control command to the image processing control unit 59 and executing the browsing program in the first mode, is a hardware resource. The first browsing unit 53 receives an instruction for controlling the web page from an external device that receives the web page, for example, the web server 300, and outputs a control command to the image processing control unit 59 based on the received instruction. When the browsing program is executed in the first mode, the image processing control unit 59 receives the first initial Set the value, sets a second initial value to the image processing control unit 59 when executing a browsing program in the second mode. For this reason, the initial value of the value for controlling the hardware resource for processing the image is made different between the case where it is controlled by the Web server 300 and the case where it is not controlled by the Web server 300. Therefore, the operation of the image processing control unit 59 can be made different between when the browsing program is executed and controlled by the Web server 300 and when not controlled by the Web server 300.

  Further, when the browsing program is executed in the first mode, an image including only the page portion, which is an area for displaying the Web page, is displayed, and when the browsing program is executed in the second mode, the Web page is related. Instead, an image including a page portion and an operation portion that is an area for receiving an operation by the user is displayed. For this reason, when the browsing program is executed in the first mode, an image including only the page portion is displayed, so that the Web server 300 can be controlled.

  Further, when the billing setting is made, the second mode is requested when the user is requested to input a fee, and the balance of the fee charged by the user to the coin vendor 180 in response to the request is equal to or greater than the threshold value TH. Since the browsing program is executed in step 1, the execution of the browsing program in the first mode can be restricted.

In addition, since it includes an external control unit 63 that receives an instruction received from the Web server 300 that transmits the Web page displayed by the first browsing unit 53, which is a task for executing the browsing program in the first mode, the Web server 300 The operation can be made different between the case of being controlled and the case of being not controlled by the Web server 300.

<Modification>
An image forming system 1 according to the modification is configured such that the MFP 100 has an IWS (Internal Web Server) function. Hereinafter, the image forming system 1 according to the modification will be described mainly with respect to differences from the image forming system described above.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of a CPU included in an MFP according to a modification. Referring to FIG. 10, the difference from the function shown in FIG. 4 is that intermediate control unit 57 is changed to intermediate control unit 57A. The intermediate control unit 57A includes an internal control unit 65 in addition to the external control unit 63. Further, the internal control unit 65 includes an activation unit 51.

  The internal control unit 65 is an IWS and functions as a Web server inside the MFP 100. Specifically, the internal control unit 65 has a function of outputting a Web page, a function of receiving a command corresponding to the output Web page, and a function of generating an API command based on the received command. The web page output by internal control unit 65 is a web page for displaying an operation screen for operating MFP 100. A plurality of Web pages respectively corresponding to a plurality of operation screens are stored in the HDD 115 in advance, and the internal control unit 65 reads one of the plurality of Web pages stored in the HDD 115 and outputs it. The internal control unit 65 receives a command that is accepted according to the Web page that it outputs, is embedded in the previously output Web page, and is related to a screen transition command that instructs switching to another operation screen, and image processing A setting command for instructing setting of a setting value, and an execution instruction command for instructing execution of image processing. When receiving the screen transition command, the internal control unit 65 reads the web page of the operation screen determined by the screen transition command from the HDD 115 and outputs the read web page. When receiving the setting command, the internal control unit 65 generates an API command for setting a setting value according to the setting command and outputs the API command to the image processing control unit 59. The image processing control unit 59 sets a setting value determined by an API command input from the internal control unit 65. Further, when receiving an execution instruction command, the internal control unit 65 generates an API command for executing image processing according to the execution instruction command and outputs the API command to the image processing control unit 59. The image processing control unit 59 executes image processing determined by an API command input from the internal control unit 65.

  The first browsing unit 53 receives the URL of the Web page stored in the HDD 115 for the internal control unit 65 from the activation unit 51. The first browsing unit 53 requests the internal control unit 65 for the Web page specified by the URL delivered from the activation unit 51, acquires the Web page output by the internal control unit 65, and analyzes the acquired Web page Then, an image is generated, and the generated image is displayed on the display unit 161. Furthermore, when the first browsing unit 53 accepts an operation input by the user to the operation unit 163 in a state where the Web page is displayed on the display unit 161, the first browsing unit 53 internally controls a command defined on the Web page corresponding to the operation. To the unit 65.

  The second button for instructing the activation of the browsing program in the second mode is included in the operation screen generated from the Web page acquired from the internal control unit 65 by the first browsing unit 53 activated in the first mode. It is. For example, the activation unit 51 activates the browsing program in the first mode when the MFP 100 is turned on, and outputs a web page of the operation screen including the second button to the first browsing unit 53. is there. The first browsing unit 53 outputs a command assigned to the second button to the internal control unit 65 when an operation for instructing the second button is accepted by the user. The activation unit 51 included in the internal control unit 65 activates the browsing program in the second mode in response to input of a command assigned to the second button from the first browsing unit 53.

  When the first browsing unit 53 is connected to the internal control unit 65, the Web page displayed on the display unit 161 is a Web page for controlling the internal control unit 65, and the Web page is sent to the internal control unit 65. Contains the output command. For this reason, when the first browsing unit 53 is connected to the internal control unit 65, the image displayed on the display unit 161 by the first browsing unit 53 is a page portion including the image of the Web page input from the internal control unit 65. Only, and does not include an operation part including an image for accepting an operation related to display of a Web page.

  FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are flowcharts showing an example of the flow of browser activation processing in the modification. The browser activation process in the modification is a process executed by the CPU 111 when the CPU 111 provided in the MFP 100 executes the browser activation program in the modification stored in the ROM 113, the HDD 115, or the CD-ROM 118. Referring to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the difference from the browser activation process shown in FIG. 9 is that steps S51 to S57 are added before step S11, steps S15, S26, S27 and steps. The point is that the process returns to step S51 without returning the process to the operation acceptance process in S32. Other processing is the same as the processing shown in FIG. 9, and therefore description thereof will not be repeated here.

  The CPU 111 sets the connection destination URL in the internal server. Specifically, the URL of the Web page corresponding to the operation screen preset in the operation screen displayed first among the Web pages stored in HDD 115 is set. This URL includes information that identifies internal control unit 65 that functions as IWS of MFP 100.

  In step S52, a first set value is set, and the process proceeds to step S53. The first set value is a value predetermined for the first mode as a set value for executing image processing.

  In step S53, the browsing program is activated in the first mode, and the process proceeds to step S54. Specifically, the browsing program stored in the ROM 113, HDD 115, or CD-ROM 118 is executed in the first mode. When the CPU 111 executes the browsing program in the first mode, the task that executes the browsing program requests the Web page specified by the URL set in step S51, so that the browsing is performed according to the request. The Web page specified by the URL set in step S51 is output to the task for executing the program. As a result, a task that executes the browsing program causes the display unit 161 to display an image that includes only the page portion including the image of the Web page and does not include the operation portion including the image that receives an operation related to the display of the Web page. For this reason, after the browsing program is executed in the first mode, an operation that the user inputs to the operation unit 163 is an internal control in which the task for the CPU 111 to execute the browsing program is specified by the URL set in step S51. Since the data is output to the unit 65, the CPU 111 treats an operation input by the user to the operation unit 163 as an operation for the internal control unit 65 and does not accept an operation for the image processing control unit 59.

  In step S55, it is determined whether a command has been received from a task that executes the browsing program. The internal control unit 65 is in a standby state until a command is received from the task that executes the browsing program (NO in step S55). If the command is received (YES in step S55), the process proceeds to step S56. The operation specified by the command includes an operation for instructing the first button or the second button, a screen transition operation for switching the operation screen to another operation screen, a setting operation for setting a setting value, and an execution for instructing execution of the process. Instruction operation.

  In the next step S56, whether the operation specified by the command is an operation instructing the first button or the second button in the operation screen corresponding to the Web page output to the task that executes the browsing program in step S54. Judge whether or not. If it is an operation to instruct the first button or the second button, the process proceeds to step S11. If not, the process proceeds to step S57.

  In step S57, it is determined whether the operation specified by the command is a screen transition operation. If a screen transition operation is specified, the process proceeds to step S58; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S59. In step S58, the Web page corresponding to the operation screen specified by the screen transition operation is read from HDD 115, output to the task that executes the browsing program, and the process returns to step S55.

  In step S59, an API command corresponding to the operation specified by the accepted command is generated and output to the image processing control unit 59, and the process returns to step S55. When the setting operation is specified by the command, an API command for setting the setting value is generated, and the API command is output to the image processing control unit 59. When the execution instruction operation is specified by the command, an API command for executing the image processing specified by the execution instruction operation is generated, and the API command is output to the image processing control unit 59.

  The MFP 100 according to the modified example outputs a web page to the first browsing unit 53 which is a task for executing the browsing program in the first mode, and receives an instruction for the first browsing unit 53 to output in accordance with the web page. 65, the image processing control unit 59 can be controlled when the browsing program is executed in the first mode.

  In the above-described embodiment, the MFP 100 has been described as an example of the image forming apparatus. However, the browser activation method that causes the MFP 100 to execute the browser activation process illustrated in FIG. 9 or FIG. 11 and FIG. It goes without saying that the invention can be understood as a browser activation program that causes the CPU 111 that controls the MFP 100 to execute the activation method.

  Further, although an example has been described in which charging is performed when the browsing program is started in the second mode and charging is not performed when the browsing program is started in the first mode, charging is performed when the browsing program is started in the second mode. Without charging, the user may be charged when starting in the first mode, or the unit price while charging when the browsing program is started in the second mode and when the browsing program is started in the first mode. You may make it differ.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

<Appendix>
(1) charging means for charging when the browsing means is activated in the second mode;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the activation unit detects the predetermined operation in response to completion of charging by the charging unit.

(2) A vendor that accepts money is further provided.
The image forming apparatus according to (1), wherein the charging unit determines completion of charging based on an amount of money input to the vendor.

  (3) The image forming apparatus according to (2), wherein the vendor includes a balance display unit that displays a balance of the inserted money.

(4) An advertisement display means for displaying an advertisement or advertisement image is further provided.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the activation unit detects the predetermined operation in response to completion of display of the image by the advertisement display unit.

(5) further includes a billing step of billing when the second task is activated;
The browser activation method according to claim 8, wherein the activation step includes a step of detecting the predetermined operation in response to completion of the accounting in the accounting step.

(6) The image forming apparatus further includes a vendor that accepts money,
The browser activation method according to (5), wherein the accounting step includes a step of determining completion of accounting based on an amount of money input to the vendor.

  (7) The image forming apparatus according to (6), wherein the vendor includes a balance display unit that displays a balance of the inserted money.

(8) further includes a display control step of displaying an advertisement or advertisement image;
The browser activation method according to claim 8, wherein the activation step includes a step of detecting the predetermined operation in response to completion of display of the image in the display control step.

1 Image forming system, 3 LAN, 100, 100A, 100B MFP, 200 gateway device, 300, 300A server, 5 Internet, 110 main circuit, 111 CPU, 112 communication I / F unit, 113 ROM, 114 RAM, 115 HDD, 116 facsimile unit, 117 external storage device, 118 CD-ROM, 120 automatic document feeder, 130 document reading unit, 140 image forming unit, 150 sheet feeding unit, 160 operation panel, 161 display unit, 163 operation unit, 165 touch panel, 167 Hard key section, 180 coin vendor, 181 coin insertion slot, 183 return button, 185 display section, 187 coin return slot, 51 activation section, 53 first browsing section, 55 second browsing section, 57, 57A intermediate control section, 59 Image processing control unit, 61 initialization unit, 63 external control unit, 65 internal control unit, 71 advertisement display unit, 73 operation request unit, 75 billing unit, 77 vendor control unit.

Claims (11)

An operation accepting means for accepting an operation by a user;
Image processing control means for controlling hardware resources for processing an image according to the control command in response to input of a control command;
Browsing means for displaying page data described in a description language;
A first mode in which the control command is not output to the image processing control unit based on an operation received by the operation receiving unit, and the control command is transmitted to the image processing control unit based on an operation received by the operation receiving unit. Activation means for activating the browsing means in any of the second modes output to the means;
When the browsing means is activated in the first mode, an instruction to control the hardware resource is received from a device that outputs page data displayed by the browsing means activated in the first mode. Intermediate control means for outputting the control command to the image processing control means based on the accepted instruction;
A first initial value is set in the image processing control means when the browsing means is activated in the first mode, and the image processing control means is set in the image processing control means when the browsing means is activated in the second mode. An image forming apparatus comprising: an initialization unit that sets a second initial value different from the first initial value.   When the browsing means is activated in the first mode, the browsing means displays an image including only an area for displaying page data among an area for displaying page data and an area for receiving an operation by a user, and the second mode The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the image forming apparatus is activated in the mode, an image including an area for displaying page data and an area for accepting an operation by a user is displayed regardless of page data. An operation requesting means for requesting a user to perform a predetermined operation;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the activation unit activates the browsing unit in the second mode on condition that the predetermined operation in response to the request by the operation request unit is detected.   The intermediate control unit includes an external control unit that receives an instruction received from an external device that transmits page data displayed by the browsing unit that is activated in the first mode. The image forming apparatus described.   The intermediate control means outputs page data to the browsing means activated in the first mode, and receives an instruction for the browsing means activated in the first mode to output in accordance with the output page data. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an internal control unit. A browser activation method executed by an image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes:
An operation accepting means for accepting an operation by a user;
Image processing control means for controlling hardware resources according to the control command in response to a control command being input,
A first activation step of activating a first task for executing a browsing program in a first mode in which the control command is not output to the image processing control unit based on an operation received by the operation reception unit;
A second activation step of activating a second task for executing a browsing program in a second mode for outputting the control command to the image processing control unit based on an operation received by the operation reception unit;
When the first task is activated, an instruction for controlling the hardware resource is received from a device that outputs page data displayed by the first task activated in the first mode, and An intermediate control step for outputting the control command to the image processing control means based on an accepted instruction;
When the first task is activated, a first initial value is set in the image processing control means, and when the second task is activated, the first initial value is set in the image processing control means. An initialization step of setting a second initial value different from the value.   The first task displays an image including only an area for displaying page data among an area for displaying page data and an area for accepting an operation by a user, and the second task displays page data. The browser activation method according to claim 6, wherein an image including an area and an area for receiving a user operation is displayed. An operation requesting step for requesting a predetermined operation from the user;
The browser activation method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the second activation step includes a step of activating the second task on condition that the predetermined operation with respect to the request in the operation request step is detected.   The browser activation method according to claim 6, wherein the intermediate control step includes an external control step of accepting an instruction received from an external device from which the first task receives page data.   The intermediate control step includes an internal control step of outputting page data to the first task and receiving an instruction to be output by the first task according to the output page data. The browser activation method described in any one. A browser activation method executed by a computer that controls the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes:
An operation accepting means for accepting an operation by a user;
Image processing control means for controlling hardware resources according to the control command in response to a control command being input,
A first activation step of activating a first task for executing a browsing program in a first mode in which the control command is not output to the image processing control unit based on an operation received by the operation reception unit;
A second activation step of activating a second task for executing a browsing program in a second mode for outputting the control command to the image processing control unit based on an operation received by the operation reception unit;
When the first task is activated, an instruction for controlling the hardware resource is received from a device that outputs page data displayed by the first task activated in the first mode, and An intermediate control step for outputting the control command to the image processing control means based on an accepted instruction;
When the first task is activated, a first initial value is set in the image processing control means, and when the second task is activated, the first initial value is set in the image processing control means. A browser activation program for causing the computer to execute an initialization step of setting a second initial value different from the value.

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