JP2018176509A - Image forming apparatus, its control method, program, and system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus, its control method, a program, and a system, which can switch to a controllable display of an input job and can control the job when the job is input in the image forming apparatus in a state that a mask screen is displayed during remote control.SOLUTION: In an image forming apparatus 101, a remote control processing section 307 transmits information on a normal screen to be displayed on a display 213 constituted integrally with a touch panel 211 to a call center terminal 102 connected via the Internet and operates the image forming apparatus 101 on the basis of an operation instruction received from the call center terminal 102. When the operation is performed by the remote control processing section 307 and the normal screen is required to be invisible, the display 213 is controlled so as to display a job control screen.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using remote maintenance service, a control method thereof, a program, and a system.

  Voice and video communication for image forming apparatuses and remote maintenance services by remote control have been proposed. In the remote maintenance service, when an error occurs in an image forming apparatus, personnel for maintenance (hereinafter referred to as service personnel) do not go to the field, and a service engineer in the call center directly informs the user of an error solution method and solves the problem. It becomes possible. As a result, it is possible to shorten the time until the error resolution of the image forming apparatus used by the user (hereinafter referred to as the user side image forming apparatus). In such a remote maintenance service, a PC operated by a service person in a call center using communication means provided in a user-side image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a “call center-side PC”) without using a device such as a telephone or PC. It is effective to realize the connection of Generally, the connection from the Internet side is restricted to the information terminal interrupted by the firewall. On the other hand, the connection from the information terminal in the firewall to the Internet is permitted if the HTTP has high affinity with the firewall. Therefore, a session establishment between information terminals can be realized by connecting two information terminals interrupted by a firewall to a relay server that can be connected as an HTTP client from each information terminal side. That is, in an environment where the user side image forming apparatus and the call center side PC exist in the firewall and can be connected to the Internet, a session with the call center side PC may be established through the relay server. This allows the user to use the call center more extensively.

  In such remote maintenance service, depending on the contents of maintenance and the contents of trouble, there may be a case where settings such as initial setting are not normally displayed on the maintenance screen of the image forming apparatus on the user side. For example, the user side image forming apparatus may be out of order. The settings displayed on the maintenance screen are only disclosed to a limited user such as a service person so that settings that can not be guaranteed for operation are not intentionally set. Therefore, there is no problem when a serviceman visits the site, but when remote maintenance service is performed, a situation occurs in which any user who is close to the user-side image forming apparatus can visually recognize the settings on the maintenance screen. Resulting in. Furthermore, while the maintenance screen is displayed, the user-side image forming apparatus can be set uniquely, so that the user in front of the user-side image forming apparatus touches the maintenance screen at the time of remote operation by the serviceman. There is a risk that the settings will be changed accidentally.

  For this reason, there is known a method of masking the screen of the user-side image forming apparatus when setting using the maintenance screen of the user-side image forming apparatus during remote control (see, for example, Patent Document 1). As a result, the maintenance screen can not be viewed by the user near the user-side image forming apparatus or in front of the eyes, and an erroneous operation by the user is prevented.

JP, 2015-120273, A

  However, the method of Patent Document 1 has the following problems. For example, when the screen of the user-side image forming apparatus is masked, there may be a PC fax instruction or an image print instruction from an external terminal to the user-side image forming apparatus. Here, the PC fax instruction is an instruction to transmit an image and a fax destination from an external device such as a PC to the image forming apparatus, store the image in the image forming apparatus that has received the image, and fax it to the instructed destination. It is. In the same manner as a PC fax instruction, an image print instruction from an external device is an instruction to transmit an image from an external device such as a PC to the image forming apparatus and store and print the image in the image forming device that has received the image. is there. These fax transmission and print jobs are displayed as a job status list on the job control screen of the image forming apparatus, and it is possible to select a job from the job status list and perform job control such as cancellation of the job. However, when the screen is masked during remote operation, the job control screen is not displayed, and job control such as cancellation of the job can not be performed. For example, when the job is a fax transmission job in the PC fax instruction, even if a mistake in the fax destination is noticed on the way, if the screen is masked during remote operation, the job can not be controlled. For this reason, fax transmission can not be stopped, and even if it is known that erroneous transmission will occur, it can not be stopped, and as a result, fax transmission is performed to the wrong destination.

  In addition, one of the functions of an image forming apparatus is a fixed print. This is because, when there is a print instruction from an external device such as a PC, printing is not immediately performed by the image forming apparatus, but the job is temporarily retained in the image forming apparatus, and the user operates the image forming apparatus. This function is to select and print the submitted job. In the state where the screen of the user-side image forming apparatus is masked as in Patent Document 1, even if the reserved print job is input, the input job can not be selected on the screen, so that the printing itself can not be performed.

  In view of such problems, the present invention switches to a controllable display of the input job when the job is input to the image forming apparatus while the mask screen is displayed during remote control. The purpose is to enable control.

  An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a display unit for displaying an operation screen so as to be operable by a user and a connection unit for connecting to an external device via a network. Remote control means for operating the image forming apparatus on the basis of an operation instruction received from the external device; judgment means for judging whether or not the operation by the remote control means is performed; A determination unit that determines whether it is necessary to make at least a part of the content displayed on the operation screen invisible, when the unit determines that the operation by the remote operation unit is being performed; When it is determined by the means that at least a part of the content displayed on the operation screen needs to be invisible, the job control screen is displayed. Characterized in that it comprises a display control means for controlling the radical 113.

  According to the present invention, when a job is input to the image forming apparatus while the mask screen is displayed during remote control, switching to a controllable display of the input job enables control of the job. .

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network configuration of a remote maintenance system including an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a software configuration of the image forming apparatus. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of communication processing with the call center terminal of FIG. 1 executed by the image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the procedure of the screen display switching process of FIG.4 S406 which concerns on Example 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the screen display switching process which concerns on Example 1 performed in the UI process part of FIG. FIG. 7 is a view showing screen data generated in the RAM by the screen generation unit of FIG. 3 in step S602 of FIG. 6; FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the state of a virtual display area including the job control screen generated in step S608 when the job input event is a fax transmission instruction in step S605 in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 is a view showing a job control screen generated in step S608 when the job input event is a reservation print instruction in step S605 in FIG. 6. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the procedure of the screen display switching process which concerns on Example 2 performed in a UI process part.

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

Example 1
First, referring to FIG. 1, the network configuration of a remote maintenance system including the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The remote maintenance system according to this embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 101, a call center terminal (external device) 102, and a relay server 103. The call center terminal 102 has a function of remotely maintaining the image forming apparatus 101 by voice or video communication, remote control, or the like. The relay server 103 has a communication function as an HTTP server. Relay server 103 performs session management between image forming apparatus 101 and call center terminal 102. In the remote maintenance system of FIG. 1, an example in which the image forming apparatus remotely maintained by the call center terminal 102 is only one image forming apparatus 101 is shown. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a plurality of image forming apparatuses may be included in the remotely maintained image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus 101 and the call center terminal 102 have a communication function as an HTTP client. The image forming apparatus 101 makes an HTTP connection with the relay server 103 on the Internet 105 through a firewall 104 connected via a network cable. Similarly, the call center terminal 102 makes an HTTP connection with the relay server 103. The image forming apparatus 101 transmits and receives data to and from the call center terminal 102 via the relay server 103.

  The call center terminal 102 according to the present embodiment is a terminal operated by a maintenance operator of the call center for maintenance of the image forming apparatus 101. The call center terminal 102 operates to remotely maintain the image forming apparatus 101 by voice, video communication, and remote control. The call center terminal 102 has a function as a client for remotely controlling the image forming apparatus 101. Specifically, client (VNC client) software compatible with the RFB protocol is operating, and communicates with the remote control processing unit 307 (FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus 101 to operate the image forming apparatus 101. Is possible. The RFB protocol is the Remote FrameBuffer protocol, and the VNC is Virtual Network Computing. These are protocols for remotely controlling the screens of other computers connected via a network and their software. In this embodiment, packets of the RFB protocol are packaged by the HTTP protocol to communicate with the image forming apparatus 101. The call center terminal in FIG. 1 is connected to the Internet through a firewall (not shown), but may be connected to the Internet without the firewall.

  Although the HTTP protocol is used to connect the image forming apparatus 101 and the relay server 103 in this embodiment, another communication protocol having high affinity to the firewall 104 may be used. Further, in the present embodiment, the HTTP protocol is used for connection between the call center terminal 102 and the relay server 103, but another communication protocol may be used. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, data transmission / reception between the image forming apparatus 101 and the call center terminal 102 is through the relay server 103, but a communication path directly connected from the image forming apparatus 101 to the call center terminal 102 is separately established. You may implement.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming apparatus 101 includes a CPU 201, a RAM 202, a ROM 203, an HDD 204, a scanner I / F 206, a printer I / F 208, an operation input I / F 210, a display input I / F 212, a network I / F 214, and a fax communication I / F 216.

  The CPU 201 generally controls access to various devices connected to the system bus 205 based on a control program stored in the ROM 203 or a hard disk drive (hereinafter abbreviated as HDD) 204. The ROM 203 stores control programs and the like that can be executed by the CPU 201. The RAM 202 mainly functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 201, and is configured to be able to expand the memory capacity by an option RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The HDD 204 stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, and the like. Although the HDD 204 is used in this embodiment, in addition to the HDD 204, an SD card, a flash memory, or the like may be used as an external storage device.

  A scanner I / F 206 controls image input from the scanner 207. A printer I / F 208 controls image output to the printer 209.

  The operation input I / F 210 receives a user operation, generates a control signal according to the received user operation, and supplies the control signal to the CPU 201. The operation input I / F 210 is connected to the touch panel 211 and the hard key 215 as an input device for receiving a user operation. The touch panel 211 is an input device configured to output coordinate information according to a position touched on the planarly configured input unit. The hard key 215 is an input device that can be physically pressed, such as a numerical key, a start key, and a stop key. The CPU 201 controls each unit of the image forming apparatus 101 according to a program based on a control signal generated and supplied by the operation input I / F 210 according to a user operation performed on these input devices. Thus, the image forming apparatus 101 can be made to perform an operation according to the user operation.

  The display input I / F 212 outputs a display signal for displaying an image on the display 213. For example, a display control signal generated by the CPU 201 according to a program is supplied to the display input I / F 212. The display input I / F 212 generates a display signal based on the display control signal and outputs the display signal to the display 213. For example, based on the display control signal generated by the CPU 201, the display input I / F 212 causes the display 213 to display a GUI screen configuring a GUI (Graphical User Interface).

  The touch panel 211 is configured integrally with the display 213. For example, the touch panel 211 is configured such that the light transmittance does not interfere with the display of the display 213, and the touch panel 211 is attached to the upper layer of the display surface of the display 213. Then, the input coordinates on the touch panel 211 are associated with the display coordinates on the display 213. As a result, a GUI that can be operated by the user on the screen on the display 213 can be configured.

  A network I / F 214 is a connection unit that performs data communication with an external network (LAN) via a network cable (not shown).

  Reference numeral 216 denotes a fax communication I / F, which is connected to a telephone line 217 via a telephone line and performs facsimile communication.

  Next, the software configuration of the image forming apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Each software module shown here mainly operates in the CPU 201.

  A job control processing unit 301 generally controls each software module illustrated / not illustrated, and controls all jobs generated in the image forming apparatus 101 such as copying, printing, scanning, and UI processing.

  The UI processing unit 302 includes an operation input analysis unit 311, an event analysis unit 312, an event processing unit 313, a screen generation unit 314, and a screen display unit 315. The operation input analysis unit 311 analyzes the control signal supplied from the operation input I / F 210, and notifies the event processing unit 313 of an event corresponding to the user operation. The event analysis unit 312 receives and analyzes various events that occur in the image forming apparatus 101 in addition to the operation input, and notifies the event processing unit 313 of events corresponding to the events. The event processing unit 313 receives an event from the operation input analysis unit 311, the event analysis unit 312, and an operation information reception unit 321 described later, and controls each unit of the image forming apparatus 101 according to the event. The event processing unit 313 calls the screen generation unit 314 when it is necessary to change the screen displayed on the display 213. The screen generation unit 314 generates a screen data to be displayed on the display 213 on the RAM 202. The screen display unit 315 controls the display input I / F 212 to display the data generated by the screen generation unit 314 on the display 213.

  The network processing unit 303 is a module that mainly controls communication with the outside performed via the network I / F 212, and performs communication control with each device on the LAN. When receiving a control command or data from each device of the LAN, the network processing unit 303 notifies the job control processing unit 301 of the contents. Further, based on an instruction from the job control processing unit 301, control commands and data are transmitted to each device of the LAN.

  The scan processing unit 304 controls the scanner 207 and the scanner I / F 206 based on an instruction from the job control processing unit 301, and instructs reading of a document placed on the scanner 207.

  The print processing unit 305 controls the printer 209 and the printer I / F 208 based on an instruction from the job control processing unit 301 to print the designated image.

  The remote maintenance processing unit 306 acquires the URL of the relay server 103 according to the setting of the call center connection information stored in the HDD 204, and performs connection to the relay server 103 via the network processing unit 303. On the established session, data transmission / reception such as voice, video and remote control is performed via the network processing unit 303. If the received data is data for remote control, the remote maintenance processing unit 306 notifies the remote control processing unit 307 to request processing.

  The remote control processing unit 307 includes modules of a connection processing unit 320, an operation information receiving unit 321, and a screen transmission unit 322. The remote control processing unit 307 is a VNC server module that performs communication by the RFB protocol, and is a software module that communicates with a VNC client operating on the call center terminal 102 via a network. The connection processing unit 320 receives a connection request from the VNC client and performs connection processing. The operation information reception unit 321 receives operation information from the VNC client, and notifies the event processing unit 313 of an event corresponding to the operation. The event notified by the operation information receiving unit 321 is equivalent to the event notified by the operation input analyzing unit 311. The screen transmission unit 322 reads the screen data generated by the screen generation unit 314 from the RAM 202 and transmits the screen data to the VNC client.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of communication processing with the call center terminal 102 via the relay server 103 in the image forming apparatus 101. The processing described below is realized by reading a program stored in the HDD 204 into the RAM 202 and executing the program by the CPU 201.

  In step S401, when the remote maintenance processing unit 306 receives a call center calling instruction from the UI processing unit 302, the remote maintenance processing unit 306 reads the URL of the relay server 103 from the HDD 204 and makes HTTP connection to the relay server 103. Subsequently, in step S402, the remote maintenance processing unit 306 establishes a session (connection) with the call center terminal 102 via the relay server 103.

  In step S403, the remote maintenance processing unit 306 transmits / receives voice, video, and remote control data to / from the call center terminal 102 via the network processing unit 303 on the session established in step S402. Thus, remote maintenance processing by the maintenance operator on the call center terminal 102 side is started for the image forming apparatus 101. In step S404, the remote maintenance processing unit 306 determines whether the data received in step S403 is a remote control instruction. The remote control instruction indicates data for performing remote control other than voice and video. If it is the remote control instruction, the process proceeds to step S406, and if not, the process proceeds to step S405. In step S405, the remote maintenance processing unit 306 requests the UI processing unit 302 to perform data processing such as voice and moving image, and the process advances to step S407. Although the remote maintenance processing unit 306 directly requests the UI processing unit 302 via a route (not shown) in this embodiment, such a route is not provided, and the remote operation processing unit 307 requests the UI operation unit 302 via the remote operation processing unit 307. You may make a request.

  In step S406, the remote maintenance processing unit 306 requests the remote control processing unit 307 to perform processing for remote control. Details of the remote control process will be described later with reference to FIG. If the connection between the relay server 103 and the call center terminal 102 has ended in step S407, the remote maintenance processing unit 306 ends this processing. If not completed, the process returns to step S403, and data of the relay server 103 and the call center terminal 102 is received.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the details of the procedure of the remote control process of step S406 in FIG. The processing described below is realized by reading a program stored in the HDD 204 into the RAM 202 and executing the program by the CPU 201.

  In step S501, the remote control processing unit 307 waits for a connection request for remote control processing from the call center terminal 102, and proceeds to step S502 when a connection request is received. In step S502, the remote control processing unit 307 performs connection processing based on the request. Specifically, the connection request from the VNC client on the call center terminal 102 is received via the remote maintenance processing unit 306, and a session according to the RFB protocol is established. This process is performed by the connection processing unit 320 in the remote control processing unit 307. In step S 503, the remote control processing unit 307 receives a command from the VNC client on the call center terminal 102. In step S504, the remote control processing unit 307 determines whether the received command is a screen information acquisition request. If it judges that it is a screen information acquisition request, it will progress to step S505, and if it judges that it is not a screen information acquisition request, it will progress to step S506. In step S505, the remote control processing unit 307 reads the screen information and transmits it to the connected VNC client. The screen information to be transmitted here is generated by the screen generation unit 314 on the RAM 202. This process is performed by the screen transmission unit 322 in the remote control processing unit 307. When the screen information is transmitted, the process returns to step S503 to wait for the next command.

  In step S506, the remote control processing unit 307 determines whether the received command is an operation command. The operation command is sent to the remote control processing unit 307 via the remote maintenance processing unit 306 when the maintenance operator operates the screen displayed on the VNC client on the call center terminal 102. If it is determined that the command is an operation command, the process proceeds to step S507, and if it is determined that the command is not an operation command, the process proceeds to step S508. In step S507, the remote control processing unit 307 notifies of the operation information. Specifically, the operation information receiving unit 321 notifies the event processing unit 313 in the UI processing unit 302 of an operation event corresponding to the received operation command. The operation event to be notified is an event equivalent to the touch panel operation event or the hard key operation event notified by the operation input analysis unit 311. When an event is notified, the process returns to step S503 to wait for the next command.

  In step S508, the remote control processing unit 307 determines whether the received command is a disconnection request. If it is determined that it is not a disconnection request, the process proceeds to step S509, and if it is determined that it is a disconnection request, the process proceeds to step S510. In step S 509, the remote control processing unit 307 performs processing corresponding to the command, returns to step S 503, and waits for reception of the next command. In step S510, the remote control processing unit 307 performs a disconnection process, and returns to step S501. Specifically, the connection processing unit 320 discards the session according to the RFB protocol and disconnects the connection with the VNC client. At this time, the event analysis unit 312 is notified that the connection with the VNC client has been disconnected. The disconnection process in step S510 is performed similarly to the case where the notification with the VNC client is interrupted due to, for example, a problem in the network environment.

  By the remote control processing as described above, the operation screen of the image forming apparatus 101 is displayed on the call center terminal 102. Further, the remote control of the image forming apparatus 101 can be performed by the operation performed by the maintenance operator on the operation screen displayed on the call center terminal 102.

  Next, the details of the procedure of the screen display switching process by the UI processing unit 302 in the image forming apparatus 101 will be described according to the flowchart of FIG. The processing described below is realized by reading a program stored in the HDD 204 into the RAM 202 and executing the program by the CPU 201.

  In step S601, the event processing unit 313 receives an event from the operation input analysis unit 311, the event analysis unit 312, or the operation information reception unit 321. Then, processing is performed according to the received event (hereinafter referred to as a reception event), and the process proceeds to step S602. Specifically, each unit of the image forming apparatus 101 is controlled via the job control processing unit 301. In step S602, screen generation is performed. Specifically, the screen generation unit 314 generates a screen data to be displayed on the display 213 on the RAM 202.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of screen data generated by the screen generation unit 314 in the RAM 202 in step S602. The screen generation unit 314 sets a specific area in the RAM 202 as a virtual display area 701, and generates screen data in the virtual display area 701.

  The virtual display area 701 is composed of a normal display area 702 and an expanded display area 703 each having the same display size (for example, 1024 pixels in width and 600 pixels in height). Each display size is set to the same size as the display size of the display 213 (for example, the horizontal width is 1024 pixels and the height is 600 pixels). The display 213 displays, from the virtual display area 701, one of an image drawn (generated) in the normal display area 702 and an image drawn (generated) in the extended display area 703.

  In the normal display area 702, the screen generation unit 314 draws an image with the X coordinate “0” and the Y coordinate “0” of the start coordinate 704 as the start point. The image drawn in the normal display area 702 is a normal operation screen (hereinafter referred to as a “normal screen”). This normal screen is transmitted to the VNC client operating on the call center terminal 102 as needed during remote control. In the extended display area 703, the screen generation unit 314 draws an image with the X coordinate “1024” and the Y coordinate “0” of the start coordinate 705 as the start point. The image drawn in the extended display area 703 notifies the user that the remote control is currently being performed and prevents the user operation on the normal screen, so a screen for masking the normal screen from the display 213 (hereinafter referred to as “mask It is called "screen". Thus, when the maintenance screen is generated as the normal screen, the maintenance operator on the call center terminal 102 side can remotely set the image forming apparatus on the maintenance screen by transmitting the screen data to the VNC client.

  In the present embodiment, only the message "in remote operation" is displayed on the mask screen, but it is also possible that the job such as fax transmission instruction, print instruction, detention printing, etc. can be input during remote operation. It may be displayed together. Thus, it is possible to prevent the user from misunderstanding that a job can not be input to the image forming apparatus 101 while the mask screen is displayed on the display 213 for remote control.

  It returns to the explanation of FIG. In step S603, the screen display unit 315 determines whether remote control is in progress. Although there are a plurality of determination methods, in this embodiment, the screen display unit 315 determines whether the remote control is in progress by referring to the remote control connection information stored in the RAM 202. When the connection processing unit 320 of the remote operation processing unit 307 detects that the connection request from the VNC client is connected and that the connection with the VNC client is disconnected, the remote operation connection information is: It is assumed to be stored in the RAM 202. The determination in step S603 may be made by the screen display unit 315 by directly inquiring the connection processing unit 320 as to whether or not remote control connection is in progress. If it is determined that the remote control is in progress, the process proceeds to step S604, and if it is determined that the remote control is not in progress, the process proceeds to step S606. In step S606, the normal display area 702 (normal screen) of FIG. After the normal screen is displayed in step S606, the process waits for the next event to be received in step S601.

  In step S604, it is determined whether the screen display content of the normal screen is a screen that requires a mask (a screen that needs to be invisible). Specifically, it is determined whether the screen (normal screen) drawn in the normal display area 702 in FIG. 7 requires a mask (such as a maintenance screen). The screen requiring this mask is preset by the administrator or the like on the maintenance screen and held in the RAM 202 or the like.

  If it is determined in step S604 that the screen requires a mask, the process proceeds to step S605, and if it is determined that the screen does not require a mask, the process proceeds to step S606. In step S605, it is determined whether the received event received is a job input event. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the reception event received through the LAN is a job input event such as a fax transmission instruction, a print instruction, or a retention print.

  If it is determined in step S605 that the reception event is not a job input event, it is determined in step S607 whether the reception event is a job operation end event or a job end event. Here, the event of job end refers to, for example, the event analysis unit 312 when fax transmission during dialing to destination A shown in the job control screen (extended display area 703) in FIG. 8 is completed in the image forming apparatus 101. From the event processing unit 313 to the event processing unit 313. Also, with the event of job operation end, for example, when the cancel button is selected by the user when the job control screen of FIG. 8 is displayed on the display 213, the operation input analysis unit 311 sends an event processing unit 313 It is an event to be notified.

  If it is determined in step S607 that the reception event is neither a job operation end event nor a job end event, in step S609 the expanded display area 703 (mask screen) of FIG. 7 is displayed, and the process proceeds to step S601 to wait for the next event. Return. As a result, the normal screen is a screen that requires a mask that the user does not want to show to the user, such as a maintenance screen, and the mask screen is displayed on the display 213 before a job input event is detected.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S605 that the event is a job input event, a job control screen is generated in the expanded display area 703 of the virtual display area 701 in FIG. 7 in step S608. Thereafter, in step S609, the generated expanded display area 703 is displayed on the display 213, and the process returns to step S601. For example, if the job input event received in step S 605 is a fax transmission instruction, a fax job control screen is generated in the expanded display area 703 of the virtual display area 701 as shown in FIG.

  By doing this, when a job such as fax transmission or print instruction is input while the mask screen is displayed, a screen capable of controlling the job is displayed on the display 213. As a result, the user in front of the image forming apparatus 101 can perform an operation instruction such as execution or cancellation on the input job.

  When this step S608 is performed, a notification notifying that the job operation screen is displayed on the screen (display 213) of the image forming apparatus 101 through the network is issued / sent as an event to the maintenance operator performing remote control. May be When this event is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 101 to the call center terminal 102, this notification is displayed on the display (not shown) of the call center terminal 102. As a result, the maintenance operator performing remote control can know that the screen has been changed on the display 213 and that there is a possibility that the user may operate the job. Furthermore, maintenance operators performing remote control can take measures such as stopping operations that affect jobs.

  If it is determined in step S605 that the received event is not a job input event and if it is determined in step S607 that the received event is either a job end event or a job operation end event, the process advances to step S610. In step S610, a mask screen is generated in the expanded display area 703, the job control screen displayed on the display 213 is switched to the generated mask screen in step S609, and the process returns to step S601.

  The screen drawn in the expanded display area 703 in FIG. 8 is a job control screen, and the top row shows copy / print, transmission, reception, and storage as the type of the submitted job. In the figure, transmission (fax transmission) is selected.

  The second column has a "Job Status" tab that displays a list representing the real-time status of currently executing or pending jobs, and a "Job History" tab for displaying a list of past jobs. In the figure, the tab of "job status" is selected.

  In the next column, a list corresponding to the tab selected in the second column is displayed. In this example, it can be seen that transmission to company A is being dialed and transmission to company B is waiting. Select a job from this list and press the detailed information button below it to open a more detailed status screen. Also, if a job is selected from this list and the cancel button below it is pressed, the job is canceled.

  FIG. 9 shows a job control screen generated in step S608 when the job input event received in step S605 is a reservation print instruction. The job control screen of FIG. 9 is a screen generated in the expanded display area 703 of the virtual display area 701 of the RAM 202. In this screen, the document name waiting for printing, the number of pages, and the time when printing is instructed are displayed in a list, and the user in front of the image forming apparatus 101 selects a job to be printed from this list and prints The printing can be performed by pressing the start button. Similarly, the user can select a job from this list and press the cancel button to cancel printing.

  As described above, even if there are a plurality of types of job submission events, the present invention determines the job type when it is determined that the job submission event in step S605 of FIG. Decide what to put out. This makes it possible to control jobs submitted immediately.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when a screen (for example, a maintenance screen) that the user does not want to show to the user of the image forming apparatus 101 is generated on the normal screen, the mask screen is displayed when remote control is performed on this screen. Displayed at 213 is. This makes it possible to prevent the user from making an erroneous operation without showing a screen that the user does not want to show. Further, in the present embodiment, when a job is input while the mask screen is displayed on the display 213, the job control screen is displayed on the display 213. As a result, the user of the image forming apparatus 101 can control the input job even during remote control.

(Example 2)
As described above, in the first embodiment, the mask screen for masking the normal screen is generated in the expanded display area 703 of FIG. 7 and the mask screen is displayed on the display 213 instead of the normal screen when the job input event is detected during remote control. displayed. As a result, the user does not show the screen that he / she does not want to show to the user, and further, the user's erroneous operation is prevented, but the present invention is not limited to this form.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8, not the mask screen but the job control screen may be generated in the extended display area 703 from the beginning. As a result, during remote control, the job control screen is displayed on the display 213 instead of the normal screen regardless of whether or not a job input event is detected.

  The procedure of the screen display switching process according to the present embodiment, which is executed by the UI processing unit 302 in that case, will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Steps S1001 to S1004 and S1006 in FIG. 10 correspond to steps S601 to S604 and S606 in FIG.

  If it is determined in step S1004 that the screen display content of the normal screen is a screen requiring a mask, the job control screen drawn in advance in the extended display area 703 shown in FIG. 8 in step S1005 is selected and displayed. Then, the process returns to step S1001 to wait for event reception.

  In this embodiment, since it becomes difficult to recognize that the user is in remote control, there is a possibility that the user's unnecessary operation may be induced from the first embodiment. There is a merit that the screen control can be simplified.

(Other embodiments)
Although the embodiment has been described above in detail, the present invention can be embodied as, for example, a system, an apparatus, a method, a program, or a storage medium (recording medium). Specifically, the present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices, or may be applied to an apparatus comprising a single device.

  The present invention directly or remotely supplies a software program (in the embodiment, a program corresponding to the flowchart shown in the drawing) for realizing the function of the above-described embodiment to a system or an apparatus. And, the case is also achieved by the computer of the system or apparatus reading out and executing the supplied program code.

  Therefore, the program code itself installed in the computer to realize the functional processing of the present invention by the computer also implements the present invention. That is, the present invention also includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has a program function, it may be in the form of an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to an OS, or the like.

  Examples of recording media for supplying the program include the following. Floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R) .

  In addition, as a program supply method, the program can also be supplied by downloading from a home page on the Internet to a recording medium such as a hard disk using a browser of a client computer. That is, a home page is connected, and the computer program of the present invention itself or a compressed file containing an automatic installation function is downloaded from the home page. The present invention can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from different home pages. That is, the present invention also includes a WWW server which allows a plurality of users to download program files for realizing the functional processing of the present invention by a computer.

  Also, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, and distributed to users. Then, the user who has cleared the predetermined condition is made to download key information for decrypting encryption from the home page via the Internet. Then, it is possible to execute the program encrypted by using the key information and install it on a computer.

  Also, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the computer executing the read program. In addition, based on the instructions of the program, an OS or the like running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiment can be realized by the processing.

  Furthermore, even after the program read from the recording medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted in the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized. That is, the functions of the above-described embodiment can also be realized by performing part or all of the actual processing by a CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit based on the instructions of the program.

Reference Signs List 101 image forming apparatus 102 call center terminal 103 relay server 104 firewall 105 Internet 301 job control processing unit 302 UI processing unit 303 network processing unit 306 remote maintenance processing unit 307 remote operation processing unit

Claims (11)

In an image forming apparatus having a display unit for displaying an operation screen so as to be operable by a user and a connection unit for connecting to an external apparatus via a network,
Remote control means for sending information on the operation screen to the external device and operating the image forming apparatus based on the operation instruction received from the external device;
A determination unit that determines whether an operation is being performed by the remote control unit;
A determination unit that determines whether it is necessary to make at least a part of the content displayed on the operation screen invisible when the determination unit determines that an operation is being performed by the remote control unit;
Providing a display control unit that controls the display unit to display a job control screen when it is determined by the determination unit that it is necessary to make at least a part of the content displayed on the operation screen invisible. Image forming apparatus characterized by The apparatus further comprises first detection means for detecting that a job has been input,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit is executed when the detection by the first detection unit is performed.   The display control means controls the display unit to display a mask screen notifying that an operation by the remote control means is being performed before the detection by the first detection means is performed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein The information processing apparatus further comprises second detection means for detecting the end of either the end of the job or the end by the user operation of the job.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the display control means switches the job control screen to the mask screen when the detection by the second detection means is performed after the detection by the first detection means. Image forming device.   The display unit displays a screen generated in one of a display area in which the operation screen is generated and an expanded display area in which one of the mask screen and the job control screen is generated. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the mask screen displays that a job can be input to the image forming apparatus. It further comprises holding means for holding the screen that needs to be masked,
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the determination unit determines that the operation screen needs to be masked when the operation screen is the held screen. apparatus.   8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the screen that needs to be masked is a maintenance screen. In a control method of an image forming apparatus having a display unit for displaying an operation screen so as to be operable by a user and a connection unit for connecting to an external device through a network
A remote control step of sending information on the operation screen to the external device, and operating the image forming apparatus based on the operation instruction received from the external device;
A determination step of determining whether an operation is performed in the remote operation step;
A determination step of determining whether it is necessary to make at least a part of the content displayed on the operation screen invisible, if it is determined in the determination step that the operation by the remote operation step is being performed;
And a display control step of controlling the display unit to display a job control screen when it is determined in the determination step that at least a part of the content displayed on the operation screen needs to be invisible. Characteristic control method.   A program for executing the control method according to claim 9. A system comprising the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and the external device,
The image forming apparatus includes an issue / transmission unit that issues an event notifying that effect when the job control screen is displayed on the display unit, and transmits the event to the external device.
The system according to claim 1, wherein the external device displays an indication that the job operation screen is displayed on the display unit when the event is transmitted.

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