JP4291854B2 - Image forming apparatus having Web service function - Google Patents

Description

  In the present invention, it is only necessary to install standard Web service compatible software on a computer terminal used by a user without installing a plurality of driver software in order to use a plurality of image forming functions. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can provide a Web service without depending on the model or operating system of the computer terminal and can uniformly process processing requests from other devices.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image forming apparatus in which functions of devices such as a printer, a copy, a facsimile, and a scanner are housed in a single casing is generally known. Such a composite-type image forming apparatus is provided with a display unit, a printing unit, an imaging unit, and the like in one casing, and three types of applications corresponding to a printer, a copy unit, and a facsimile device, respectively. The apparatus is operated as a printer, a copy, a scanner, or a facsimile apparatus.

  However, in the conventional composite image forming apparatus, when functions such as a printer, a copy, a facsimile, and a scanner are used from a plurality of PCs (personal computers) connected via a network, each image forming function is assigned to each PC. It was necessary to install software such as drivers according to The software installed in the PC must be compatible with the model and operating system of the PC. In addition, similar requests may be requested between devices such as servers. However, since the required processing protocol and processing unit are different, it is necessary to satisfy both requirements at the time of mounting. Furthermore, in the conventional usage mode, there is a restriction that only processing determined by the driver can be performed.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to install a plurality of driver software for using a plurality of image forming functions in a computer terminal used by a user and without depending on a model or operating system of the computer terminal. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can be used as a programmable application component in which the functions of the image forming apparatus can be accessed using various Internet standard Web protocols via a network. Also provided is an image forming apparatus that realizes a distributed environment in which a Web service interacts with another Web service within the image forming apparatus or between the image forming apparatus and another apparatus.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is an image forming apparatus that forms an image using one or more of a plurality of hardware resources including a scanner, a plotter, and a storage device, and is connected via a network. Network communication control means for controlling communication of processing requests from devices and processing responses to the devices, and specific information for specifying Web services included in messages described in the processing requests according to a predetermined message exchange protocol The one of the hardware resources is controlled by the processing content included in the message by calling the Web service function to generate the processing response according to the predetermined message exchange protocol indicating the processing result of the Web service function a means for, so as to correspond to each of the above-mentioned hardware resources Performs a plurality of Web service providing process means, and executes at least one or more processing units constituting the plurality of Web service providing processing means in response to the processing request, other processing having a plurality of processing units Shared by the composite web service provision processing means, the plurality of web service provision processing means and the composite web service provision processing means, analyzes the header part of the processing request according to the predetermined message exchange protocol, and A header part is created and shared by the protocol processing means for controlling the exchange of the message, the plurality of Web service providing processing means, and the composite Web service providing processing means, and is described in the body part of the processing request. Get the processing contents from the above message and Converted into a data structure relating to processing for controlling the image forming apparatus, also has a message processing unit described in a predetermined description format the results of the processing to the body of the response for each of the plurality of hardware resources The Web service providing means is provided, and is configured to enable a combination of control for the plurality of hardware resources by a plurality of processing requests designating different Web services.

In such an image forming apparatus, since the device can process internal information related to the image forming device using a predetermined message exchange protocol , a plurality of driver softwares are installed in the device in order to use a plurality of image forming functions. It is only necessary to install standard Web service compatible software without installation. The device can cause the image forming apparatus to execute the image forming process without depending on the model or operating system. Further, since the composite Web service providing processing means is controlled by combining a plurality of processing units of the Web service providing processing means necessary for providing the Web service, the device is aware of the function of each Web service. Instead, only a final processing result by a plurality of Web services can be acquired by one processing request. Therefore, the number of communications between the image forming apparatuses and the control processing can be greatly reduced.

  The predetermined message exchange protocol is, for example, SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol).

  The present invention may also be an image forming method for performing processing in the image processing apparatus.

  As described above, according to the present invention, without installing software such as a driver in order to use a plurality of image forming functions in a computer terminal used by a user, the model of the computer terminal or Without depending on the operating system, it is possible not only to make processing requests from users to a multi-function peripheral having multiple image forming functions, but also to uniformly process processing requests from other devices. . Further, the composite web service controls a combination of a plurality of web services configured in fine units, so that services can be provided in various variations. In addition, the same Web service can be reused between different services.

  In FIG. 1, the MFP 1200 includes a plotter 1201, a scanner 1202, a hardware resource 1203 such as a facsimile, and the like, a software group 1210 including a platform 1220 and an application 1230, and a MFP starter 1240. It has.

  The MFP starter 1240 is first executed when the MFP 1200 is turned on to start the platform 1220 and the application 1230.

  The platform 1220 interprets a processing request from the application 1230, generates a hardware resource acquisition request, and manages one or a plurality of hardware resources, and acquires from the control service 1250. It has a system resource manager (SRM (System Resource Manager) 1223) that arbitrates requests, and an OS 1221.

  The control service 1250 is formed by a plurality of service modules. Specifically, the system control service (SCS) 1222, the ECS (engine control service) 1224, the MCS (memory control service) 1225, and the OCS (oper) are used. There are a panel control service (panel control) (1226), a fax control service (FCS) 1227, a network control service (NCS) 1228, and an imaging memory handler (IMH) 1229, which is defined in advance by the platform 1220. Processing requests from applications Having an application program interface that allows signal.

  The OS 1221 is an operating system such as UNIX (registered trademark), and executes the software of the platform 1220 and the application 1230 in parallel as processes. By using open source UNIX (registered trademark), the safety of the program can be secured, the network can be supported, and the source code can be easily obtained. Furthermore, OS and TCP / IP royalties are unnecessary, and outsourcing is easy.

  The SRM 1223, together with the SCS 1222, controls the system and manages resources, such as the engine unit such as the scanner 1202 and the plotter 1201, memory, HDD file, host I / O (centro I / F, network I / F, IEEE 1394 I / (F, RS232CI / F, etc.) arbitration is performed according to a request from an upper layer using hardware resources, and execution control is performed.

  Specifically, the SRM 1223 determines whether the requested hardware resource is available (whether it is not used by another request). If it is available, the requested hardware resource is Tell the upper layer that it is available. Also, hardware resource usage scheduling may be performed in response to a request from an upper layer, and the requested contents (for example, paper conveyance and image forming operation by the printer engine, memory allocation, file generation, etc.) may be directly executed. .

  The SCS 1222 includes application management (function 1), operation unit control (function 2), system screen display (job list screen, counter display screen, etc.) (function 3), LED display (function 4), resource management (function 5), A plurality of functions such as interrupt application control (function 6) are performed. Specifically, in application management (function 1), application registration and processing for notifying other applications of the information are performed. In the operation unit control (function 2), exclusive control of the operation unit use right of the application is performed. In the system screen display (function 3), a warning screen corresponding to the state of the engine unit is displayed according to the request content from the application having the operation unit usage right. In LED display (function 4), display control of system LEDs such as warning LEDs and application keys is performed. Resource management (function 5) provides services for exclusive control of engine resources (scanners, staples, etc.) that must be excluded when an application (ECS) executes a job. In the interrupt application control (function 6), control and service for preferential operation of a specific application are performed.

  The ECS 1224 controls engine units such as the plotter 1201, the scanner 1202, and other hardware resources 1203, and performs image reading and printing operations, status notification, jam recovery, and the like.

  The MCS 1225 performs memory control. Specifically, the MCS 1225 acquires and releases an image memory, uses a hard disk device (HDD), compresses and decompresses image data, and the like.

  The OCS 1226 is a module that controls an operation panel serving as information transmission means between the operator and the main body control, and provides a process for notifying the main body control of an operator's key operation event and a library function for each application to construct a GUI. Processing, processing for managing the constructed GUI information for each application, display reflection processing on the operation panel, and the like are performed.

  The FCS 1227 performs facsimile transmission / reception using PSTN / ISDN network from each application layer of the system controller, registration / quotation of various facsimile data managed by BKM (backup SRAM), facsimile reading, facsimile reception printing, and fusion transmission / reception. API (Application Program Interface).

  The NCS 1228 is a module group for providing a service that can be commonly used for applications that require network I / O. The NCS 1228 distributes data received by each protocol from the network side to each application, and distributes data from the application. Mediates when sending to the network side.

  In this embodiment, for example, the NCS 1228 controls data communication with a network device connected via the Internet by HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Daemon) out of a plurality of protocols using HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), and an HTTP request. A processing unit corresponding to the Web service specified by the header may be activated by a function call, and the processing result by the Web service may be notified to the network device by an HTTP response. The Web service is provided according to a message described by, for example, XML (extensible Markup Language).

  The IMH 1229 maps image data from a virtual memory area (user virtual space) to a physical memory. In response to the process activation, a system call is performed to map a virtual memory area for the process, or to release the mapped virtual memory area when the process ends.

  The application 1230 includes a printer application 1211 that is a printer application having a page description language (PDL), PCL, and postscript (PS), a copy application 1212 that is a copy application, and a fax application 1213 that is a facsimile application. , A scanner application 1214 that is a scanner application, a Web service processing application 1215 that is a net file application, and a process inspection application 1216 that is a process inspection application. Each of the applications 1211 to 1216 can execute an operation by using each process on the platform 1220. Therefore, a screen display control program that performs screen control, key operation control, job generation, and the like is the main component. Note that a new application can also be installed via the network via the network connected by the NCS 1228. Each application can be added or deleted for each application.

  The web service processing application 1215 performs predetermined processing using the SOAP processing unit 70 that exchanges messages according to SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) and the control service 1250 via API (Application Program Interface), and the processing result is obtained. And a Web service function (WSF) 1400 provided as a Web service via a WS-API (Web Service Application Program Interface).

  As described above, the MFP 1200 centrally processes the processing that is commonly required for each application by the platform 1220.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the MFP 1200 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the MFP 1200 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the MFP 1200 includes an operation panel 1310, a FAX control unit 1530, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) 1330, an IEEE 1394 1340, an engine unit 1350 (a printer 1201, a scanner 1202, etc. are connected) and a controller 1300. The ASIC 1301 is connected via a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus or the like.

  The controller 1300 connects a MEM-C 1302, HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 1303, and the like to the ASIC 1301, and connects the ASIC 1301 and the CPU 1304 via the NB 1305 of the CPU chip set. Thus, the reason for connecting via the NB 1305 is that the interface of the CPU 1304 itself is not disclosed.

  Here, the ASIC 1301 and the NB 1305 are not connected via the PCI, but are connected via the AGP 1308. The reason for connecting through the AGP 1308 in this way is that the MFP 1200 executes and controls a plurality of processes forming the platform 1220 and the application 1230 shown in FIG. This is because performance decreases.

  The CPU 1304 performs overall control of the MFP 1200. Specifically, the SCS 1222, SRM 1223, ECS 1224, MCS 1225, OCS 1226, FCS 1227, and NCS 1228 that form the platform 1220 on the OS 1221 are started and executed as processes. At the same time, the printer application 1211, the copy application 1212, the fax application 1213, the scanner application 1214, the Web service processing application 1215, and the process inspection application 1216 that form the application 1230 are activated and executed.

  The NB 1305 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 1304 to the MEM-P 1306, SB 1307, and ASIC 1301, and the MEM-P 1306 is a system memory used as a drawing memory for the MFP, and the SB 1307 is an NB 1305, ROM, and PCI device. This is a bridge for connecting peripheral devices. The MEM-C 1302 is a local memory used as an image buffer for copying and a code buffer, and the ASIC 1301 is an IC for image processing applications having hardware elements for image processing.

  The HDD 1303 is a storage for accumulating image data, accumulating programs, accumulating font data, and accumulating forms. The operation panel 1310 accepts input operations from the operator and displays them for the operator. It is an operation unit.

  Accordingly, the ASIC 1301 is provided with a RAM interface for connecting the MEM-C 1302 and a hard disk interface for connecting the HDD 1303. When inputting / outputting image data to / from these storage units, the input / output The destination is switched to the RAM interface or the hard disk interface.

  The AGP 1308 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card that has been proposed to speed up graphics processing, and makes the graphics accelerator card faster by directly accessing the system memory with high throughput.

  Hereinafter, a functional configuration example for providing the Web service by the MFP 1200 having the above-described functional configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 and the hardware configuration illustrated in FIG. 2 will be described. Here, the Web service means that the MFP 1200 performs a predetermined process in response to a service request by an HTTP request from a network device and provides the processing result to the network device as an HTTP response. The body part of the HTTP request and HTTP response is described in XML.

  A description will be given of the MFP 1200 having a composite Web service provision processing unit that executes a plurality of methods of one Web service provision processing unit in combination. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a first functional configuration example for explaining an example of a multi-function peripheral having a composite Web service. In FIG. 3, the MFP 1200 mainly includes httpd 2 that performs communication control according to HTTP, a distributor 30 that distributes processing to a Web service providing processing unit corresponding to an HTTP request, and a plurality of Web services. Described in XML shared by the file management web service provision processing unit 40, the other web service provision processing unit 49, the composite web service provision processing unit 90, and the plurality of web service provision processing units 40, 49 and 90 as the provision processing unit Is controlled by the XML processing unit 50 that processes the received message and the plurality of Web service providing processing units 40, 49, and 90, and controls message exchange according to SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) with the network device 10. Having an OAP processing unit 70, a scanner 1202, a HDD 1303, a plotter 1201, an operation panel 1310, and a FAX control unit 1530 and the like.

  The file management Web service provision processing unit 40 includes a document ID list acquisition method 401 for acquiring a list of document IDs for specifying documents stored in the HDD 1303, and bibliographic information about the documents stored in the HDD 1303 corresponding to the document IDs. And a bibliographic information acquisition method 402 for acquiring. The method indicates a unit of Web service processing in the file management Web service provision processing unit 40. The file management Web service provision processing unit 40 configures the Web service function 1400 shown in FIG. Web services are provided in response to requests from 10. In the first functional configuration example shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of methods are not limited to the document ID list acquisition method 40 and the bibliographic information acquisition method 402, and a plurality of methods other than these methods are configured. Is also possible.

  The document list creation composite method 800 of the composite Web service provision processing unit 90 uses a document ID list acquisition unit 801 that acquires a list of document IDs using a document ID list acquisition method 401 and a bibliographic information acquisition method 402. A bibliographic information acquisition unit 802 that acquires bibliographic information corresponding to the document ID, and a document list generation unit 803 that generates a document list based on the acquired bibliographic information. The document list creation composite method 800 uses the document ID list acquisition method 401 and the bibliographic information acquisition method 402, and thus does not include the entity of these methods. Accordingly, the only part developed to realize the document list creation composite method 800 is mainly the document list plan western part 803. Therefore, development efficiency can be greatly reduced. Further, the composite Web service provision processing unit 90 configures an aggregate having a plurality of processing units by a method having processing units and method entities such as the document list creation composite method 800 as the Web service function 1400 shown in FIG. .

  The SOAP processing unit 70 further includes dispatchers (Dispatchers) 60 and 68 that distribute processing to each Web service providing processing unit. For example, the SOAP processing unit 70 performs processing on each method 401 or 402 of the file management Web service providing processing unit 40. It has a dispatcher 60 that distributes and a dispatcher 68 that distributes processing to the document list creation composite method 800 of the composite Web service provision processing unit 90. In the MFP 1200, for convenience of explanation, only the file management web service provision processing unit 40 and the other web service provision processing unit 49 are shown as a plurality of web service provision processing units, but more web service provision processing units are shown. It can also be set as the structure which has these. The XML processing unit 50 and the SOAP processing unit 70 are shared by the plurality of Web service providing processing units.

  The network device 10 connected to the MFP 1200 via the network 15 controls input data from an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, and also controls output data to be displayed on the monitor 9. 11, a SOAP processing unit 12 that controls message exchange according to SOAP, and a request / response processing unit 14 that analyzes request generation and response according to HTTP. The SOAP processing unit 12 includes an XML processing unit 13 that processes the processing content of the Web service for the MFP 1200 and the processing result of the Web service from the MFP 1200 using XML. Further, here, the HTTP request indicates that a Web service is requested by data communication according to HTTP, and the HTTP response indicates a response that notifies the processing result of the Web service.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a user using such a network device 10 requests the MFP 1200 from a screen for requesting the MFP 1200 for a desired Web service (step S1). For example, it is assumed that the user requests a Web service that provides a list of documents stored in the HDD 1303 of the MFP 1200 from the screen of the monitor 9. In response to the web service request from the user, the input / output control unit 11 notifies the request / response processing unit 14 of the request data (step S2). The request / response processing unit 14 generates a request based on the request data from the input / output control unit 11 (step S3), and notifies the generated request to the SOAP processing unit 12 (step S4). The SOAP processing unit 12 describes the processing content of the Web service desired by the user of the XML processing unit 13 in XML by describing the body part of the HTTP request, and generates an HTTP request according to SOAP. Then, the HTTP request is transmitted to the MFP 1200 via the network 15 (step S4).

  When httpd2 of the MFP 1200 receives the HTTP request, the distributor 30 distributes the received HTTP request to the Web service provision processing unit specified by the header part of the HTTP request (step S5). For example, when the composite Web service provision processing unit 90 is specified in the header part of the HTTP request, the composite Web service provision processing unit 90 is executed by the distributor 30.

  The complex Web service provision processing unit 90 notifies the received HTTP request to the SOAP processing unit 70 in order to process the HTTP request according to SOAP (step S6). The SOAP processing unit 70 processes the HTTP request in accordance with SOAP, and the dispatcher 68 distributes the processing to the document list creation composite method 800 specified in the header part of the HTTP request, and causes the XML processing unit 50 to change according to the HTTP method. Execute (Step S7). The XML processing unit 50 converts the message indicating the processing contents in the body part of the HTTP request described in XML into a description that can be interpreted by the document list creation composite method 800, and notifies the document list creation composite method 800 (step). S8).

  In the document list creation composite method 800, first, the document ID list acquisition unit 801 makes a function call to the document ID list acquisition method 401 of the file management Web service provision processing unit 40 (step S9). A document ID list acquisition method 401 acquires a document ID for identifying a document managed by the HDD 1303 and creates a document ID list. In this case, if the document ID list acquisition method 401 (listID (docIDList)) acquires the document IDs “101”, “102”, and “103”, the document ID list (docIDList) is set to docIDList = {101, 102, 103, 0} ("0 (zero)" indicates end), and notifies the document ID list acquisition unit 801 (step S10).

  In the document list creation composite method 800, the bibliographic information acquisition unit 802 subsequently makes a function call to the bibliographic information acquisition method 402 of the file management Web service provision processing unit 40 (step S11). The bibliographic information acquisition method 402 inquires bibliographic information for the document managed by the HDD 1303 with the document ID notified from the bibliographic information acquisition unit 802 and creates bibliographic information. For example, when bibliographic information is acquired for the document ID “101”, the bibliographic information acquisition unit 802 calls the bibliographic information acquisition method 402 (getProps (docID, props)) as getProps (101, props).

  The called bibliographic information acquisition method 402 inquires the bibliographic information with the specified document ID to the HDD 1303 and notifies the bibliographic information acquisition unit 802 of the bibliographic information (step S12). That is, the bibliographic information acquisition method 402 acquires bibliographic information from the HDD 1303 with the document ID “101” notified from the bibliographic information acquisition unit 802. Then, the bibliographic information acquisition method 402 creates bibliographic information for notification to the bibliographic information acquisition unit 802. For example, bibliographic information is created as prop = {document ID, document name, number of pages, owner, 0} ("0 (zero)" indicates the end of bibliographic information). In this case, prop = {101, It is set for the document ID “101” as “accumulated document 1”, 3, “user 1”, 0}. The bibliographic information acquisition method 402 notifies the bibliographic information acquisition unit 802 of the document list generation composite method 800 of the bibliographic information generation result for the specified document ID.

  The bibliographic information acquisition unit 802 of the document list creation composite method 800 repeats the same processing for other document IDs “102” and “103” to acquire all document information.

  Further, the document list creation composite method 800 creates a document list by the document list creation unit 803 and notifies the XML processing unit 50 to describe the document list in XML (step S13). That is, the document list creation unit 803 converts the document list into, for example, docList = {{101, “accumulated document 1”, 3, “user 1”, 0}, {102, “accumulated document 2”, 10, “user” 2 ", 0}, {103," stored document 3 ", 1," user 1 ", 0}, 0}. The created document list (docList) is notified to the XML processing unit 50. When receiving the document list (docList), the XML processing unit 50 describes the document in XML and notifies the SOAP processing unit 70 (step S14). When the SOAP processing unit 70 receives the document list described in XML, the SOAP processing unit 70 sets the received document list described in XML in the body part of the HTTP response and generates an HTTP response according to SOAP (step S15).

  In such a first functional configuration example, the composite Web service provision processing unit 90 uses the document list creation composite method 800 to combine a plurality of methods without providing the entity of the document ID list acquisition method 401 and the bibliographic information acquisition method 402. A series of Web service processing can be performed. Therefore, the network device 10 can receive a series of Web services by a single HTTP request without being aware of the units of Web services that the MFP 1200 can provide.

  The XML processing unit 50 illustrated in FIG. 3 describes the document list (docList) in, for example, XML as illustrated in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a document list described in XML by the XML processing unit. 4, description 53 shows bibliographic information with document ID “101”, description 54 shows bibliographic information with document ID “102”, and description 55 shows bibliographic information with document ID “103”. For example, in the description 53, the bibliographic information of the document ID “101” indicates that the document name is “accumulated document 1”, the number of pages is “3” pages, and the owner is “user 1”.

  Further, the HTTP request created by the SOAP processing unit 12 of the network device 10 and transmitted to the multi-function apparatus 1200 is described as shown in FIG. 5, for example. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an HTTP request by SOAP. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an HTTP request by SOAP. In the HTTP header portion 73 of the HTTP request shown in FIG. 5, the URI 74 indicates a URI to which the HTTP request is transmitted by the POST method, and is “netdoc”, for example. Further, a SOAPAction 75 indicates a URI indicating the purpose of the request, and for example, “document list” is specified by “http://foo.bar.com/netdoc/documentList”. The httpd2 of the multi-function apparatus 1200 receives the HTTP request, and the SOAP processing unit 70 analyzes the HTTP header unit 75. The SOAP processing unit 70 analyzes </ SOAP-ENV: Envelope> from <SOAP-ENV: Envelope>, and indicates a processing content described in XML from <ns: documentList> to </ ns: documentList>. To get. In the XML message, for example, when “1” set in <listtype> indicates that a list is created for all documents, the document list creation composite method 800 is based on an instruction of the message. The document ID list acquisition unit 801, the bibliographic information acquisition unit 802, and the document list creation unit 803 acquire a list of all documents managed by the multi-function peripheral 1200.

  The document list is described in XML by the XML processing unit 50, and then an HTTP response is created by the SOAP processing unit 70. For example, an HTTP response as shown in FIG. 6 is generated. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an HTTP response by SOAP. In the example of the HTTP response shown in FIG. 6, the SOAP processing unit 70 creates an HTTP header part 78 and further creates an HTTP body part 79. As the HTTP body part 79, </ SOAP-ENV: Envelope> is created from <SOAP-ENV: Envelope>. A message 91 shown from <ns: documentListResponse> to </ ns: documentListResponse> is a message describing the document list from the document list creation composite method 800 in XML by the XML processing unit 50.

  Such an HTTP response is notified to the network device 10, and the SOAP processing unit 12 extracts the message 91 from <SOAP-ENV: Body> to </ SOAP-ENV: Body>, and the extracted message 91 is converted into an XML process. The document list information to be displayed on the monitor 9 is extracted by the unit 13 and notified to the request / response processing unit 14. Further, the document list information is processed as screen data by the request / response processing unit 14 and displayed on the monitor 9 by the input / output control unit 11 as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the network device side. In FIG. 7, a screen 92 displays a list of information such as the document name, the number of pages, and the owner for each document.

  Furthermore, in FIG. 3, it is also possible to provide a web service by the file management web service provision processing unit 40 itself. That is, when httpd2 receives an HTTP request from the network device 10 (step S4), the distributor 30 performs file management Web service provision processing in response to a request for a Web service for obtaining bibliographic information specified in the header part of the HTTP request. The received HTTP request is distributed to the bibliographic information acquisition method 402 of the unit 40 (step S5-3).

  The file management Web service provision processing unit 40 notifies the received HTTP request to the SOAP processing unit 70 in order to process the HTTP request according to SOAP (step S6-3). The SOAP processing unit 70 processes the HTTP request in accordance with SOAP, and the dispatcher 60 distributes the processing to the bibliographic information acquisition method 402 specified in the header part of the HTTP request, and executes the XML processing unit 50 according to the HTTP method. (Step S7-3). The XML processing unit 50 converts the message indicating the processing content in the body part of the HTTP request described in XML into a description interpretable by the bibliographic information acquisition method 402 and notifies the bibliographic information acquisition method 402 (step S8-). 3).

  The bibliographic information acquisition method 402 inquires bibliographic information for the document managed by the HDD 1303 with the document ID specified by the message processed by the XML processing unit 50, and describes the bibliographic information in XML. The XML processing unit 50 is notified (step S13-3). Further, in the SOAP processing unit 70, bibliographic information described in XML is set in the body part of the HTTP response, and an HTTP response is generated according to SOAP (step S15-3) and transmitted from the httpd2 to the network device 10 (step S15-3). S16-3 and S17).

  As described above, the MFP 1200 can execute the bibliographic information acquisition method 402 having an entity in response to an HTTP request for requesting provision of bibliographic information from the network device 10. Similarly, the document ID list acquisition method 401 itself can be executed.

  Therefore, the multi-function apparatus 1200 can provide a wide range of Web services by combining a plurality of methods for forming an image and performing processing for actually providing the Web service, and combinations thereof.

  In the first functional configuration example, the functional configuration and processing flow of the MFP 1200 having the composite Web service providing processing unit that executes a combination of a plurality of methods of one Web service providing processing unit have been described. A case will be described in which the composite Web service providing processor executes a combination of a plurality of methods of one Web service providing processor and another Web providing processor.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a second functional configuration example of a multifunction peripheral that provides a composite Web service. In FIG. 8, the same components as those shown in FIG. 3 and the steps similar to the steps shown in FIG. 8, the MFP 1200 further includes an operation unit Web service provision processing unit 48 that provides information displayed on the operation panel 1310 to the network device 10 in addition to the components in the first functional configuration example illustrated in FIG. 3. .

  In the second functional configuration example, a case where a document list is displayed on the operation panel 1310 in response to a request from the operation panel 1310 will be described. In response to a request from the operation panel 1310, the composite Web service provision processing unit 90 executes the document list creation composite method 800 in response to an event that requests an internally generated document list (step S1-5). As described above, the document list creation composite method 800 acquires the document ID list from the document ID list acquisition method 401 by the document ID list acquisition unit 801 (steps S9 and S10), and the bibliographic information acquisition unit 802 acquires the bibliographic information acquisition method. Bibliographic information corresponding to each document ID is acquired from 402 (steps S11 and S12). Then, the document list created by the document list creation unit 803 is notified to the operation unit control Web service provision processing unit 48 (step S12-5). Then, the operation unit control Web service provision processing unit 48 notifies the operation panel 1310 of a document list as display information. A document list is displayed on the operation panel 1310.

  Next, a case where a document list currently displayed on the operation panel 1310 is displayed on the monitor 9 in response to a request from the network device 10 will be described. When the notification of the processing content changed to a description that can be interpreted by the document list creation composite method 800 is received from the XML processing unit 50, the document list creation composite method 800 receives the operation panel from the operation unit control Web service provision processing unit 48. The current display information 1310 is acquired (step S8-7). Based on the display information, the document ID list acquisition unit 801 acquires the document ID list from the document ID list acquisition method 401 as described above (step S8-7) (step S8-7). In steps S9 and S10, the bibliographic information acquisition unit 802 acquires bibliographic information corresponding to each document ID from the bibliographic information acquisition method 402 (steps S11 and S12).

  Then, the document list created by the document list creation unit 803 is notified to the XML processing unit 50 (step S13). The document list described in XML is, for example, a description as shown in FIG. 4, and the description in XML is notified to the SOAP processing unit 70 (step S14). Further, the document list described in XML by the SOAP processing unit 70 is configured in the HTTP response format as shown in FIG. 6 (step S15), and is transmitted from httpd2 to the network device 10 (steps S16 and S17). ).

  In the network device 10, a screen 92 as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the monitor 9 by this HTTP response. This screen 92 can be displayed with the same configuration as the operation panel 1310.

  In such a second functional configuration example, the XML processing unit 50 and the SOAP processing unit 70 may be configured to be included in the composite Web service provision processing unit 90.

  In the first and second functional configuration examples described above, the configuration in which the MFP 1200 having the composite Web service provision processing unit 90 provides Web services to one network device 10 has been described. In the case of connection via a network, it is possible to provide a desired Web service to each network device 10.

  Further, the processing content to the MFP 1200 can be described in XML, and the message exchange procedure is set to SOAP, so that the network device 10 can be connected to the Web without depending on the model or operating system of the network device 10. It is possible to receive service provision.

  Furthermore, by providing the composite web service provision processing unit 90 of the MFP 1200 with the document list creation composite method 800, it is possible to provide a web service that combines a plurality of methods in one web service provision processing unit, and a plurality of methods. It is possible to provide a Web service that is a combination of Web service providing processing units. Therefore, the network device 10 does not need to generate a plurality of HTTP requests for requesting the MFP 1200 in response to a request from the user. Therefore, it is only necessary to process one HTTP response for one HTTP request, and it is not necessary to perform special processing according to the user's request on the network device 10.

  Further, the user can use various Internet standard web protocols via the network without installing a plurality of driver software for using a plurality of image forming functions in a computer terminal to be used. It can be used as a programmable application component that can be accessed and used.

  Further, it is possible to realize a distributed environment in which a Web service communicates with another Web service in the MFP 1200 or between the MFP 1200 and another device.

  According to the above embodiment, the MFP 1200 that forms an image processes various internal information related to image processing, such as operation panel control, print processing, file management, scanner control, and the like, and provides the processing result to the request source. Service can be realized. The internal information here refers to various types of image processing and information related to the MFP 1200, such as image information, status information about the image information, and information such as control parameters for changing settings of the device main body or changing the network IP. Various types of information are shown, and it is possible to perform predetermined processing on the internal information and provide the processing result as a Web service according to the above embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, httpd2 corresponds to the network communication control unit, and the file management Web service provision processing unit 40 corresponds to the Web service provision processing unit, and each of the document ID list acquisition method 401 and the bibliographic information acquisition method 402. Corresponds to a processing unit. The composite web service provision processing unit 90 corresponds to composite web service provision processing means, and the document list creation composite method 800 corresponds to composite processing execution means. The operation unit control Web service provision processing unit 48 corresponds to an internal Web service provision processing unit. Further, the SOAP processing unit 70 corresponds to a protocol processing unit, and the XML processing unit 50 corresponds to a message processing unit.

1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a multi-functional apparatus that fuses various image forming functions according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the MFP 1200 illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure outline for demonstrating the example of the compound machine which has a composite web service. It is a figure which shows the example of the document list described by XML in the XML process part. It is a figure which shows the example of the HTTP request by SOAP. It is a figure which shows the example of the HTTP response by SOAP. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on the network device side. It is a figure which shows the 2nd function structural example of the compound machine which provides a composite web service.

Explanation of symbols

2 httpd (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Daemon)
30 Distributors 40 to 49 Web service provision processing unit 50 XML processing unit 60, 68 Dispatcher 70 SOAP processing unit 800 Document list creation composite method 90 Composite web service provision processing unit 1200 MFP,
1201 Plotter 1202 Scanner 1210 Software group 1230 Application, 1220 Platform 1221 OS, 1222 SCS
1223 SRM, 1224 ECS
1225 MCS, 1226 OCS
1227 FCS, 1228 NCS
1229 IMH, 1240 Fusion machine starter 1300 Controller, 1301 ASIC
1302 MEM-C, 1303 HDD
1304 CPU, 1305 NB
1306 MEM-P, 1307 SB
1308 AGP, 1310 Operation Panel 1330 USB, 1340 IEEE 1394
1350 Engine part, 1500 Network I / F part 1530 FAX control unit

Claims (11)

An image forming apparatus that forms an image using one or more of a plurality of hardware resources including a scanner, a plotter, and a storage device,
Network communication control means for performing communication control of processing requests from devices connected via a network and processing responses to the devices;
One of the hardware resources with the processing content included in the message by calling the Web service function corresponding to the specific information specifying the Web service included in the message described according to the predetermined message exchange protocol in the processing request Is a means for generating the processing response according to the predetermined message exchange protocol indicating the processing result of the Web service function, and having a plurality of processing units corresponding to each of the hardware resources . Web service provision processing means;
A composite Web service provision processing means for executing at least one processing unit constituting the plurality of Web service provision processing means in response to the processing request and performing other processes ;
Shared by the plurality of Web service providing processing means and the composite Web service providing processing means, analyzing a header part of the processing request according to the predetermined message exchange protocol, and creating a header part of the processing response, Protocol processing means for controlling the exchange of messages;
A process for controlling the image forming apparatus by acquiring processing contents from the message described in the body part of the processing request shared by the plurality of Web service providing processing means and the composite Web service providing processing means Message processing means for converting the data into a data structure and describing the result of the processing in a predetermined description format in the body part of the response ,
An image forming apparatus comprising the Web service providing unit for each of the plurality of hardware resources, and enabling a combination of control over the plurality of hardware resources by a plurality of processing requests designating different Web services. . An image forming apparatus that forms an image using one or more of a plurality of hardware resources including a scanner, a plotter, and a storage device,
Network communication control means for performing communication control of processing requests from devices connected via a network and processing responses to the devices;
One of the hardware resources with the processing content included in the message by calling the Web service function corresponding to the specific information specifying the Web service included in the message described according to the predetermined message exchange protocol in the processing request And at least one Web service providing processing means for generating the processing response according to the predetermined message exchange protocol indicating the processing result of the Web service function;
A composite Web service provision processing means for executing two or more processing units constituting the plurality of Web service provision processing means in response to the processing request ;
Shared by the Web service providing processing means and the composite Web service providing processing means, analyzes the header part of the processing request according to the predetermined message exchange protocol, creates the header part of the processing response, and Protocol processing means for controlling the exchange;
Data relating to processing for controlling the image forming apparatus by acquiring processing contents from the message described in the body part of the processing request and shared by the Web service providing processing unit and the composite Web service providing processing unit Message processing means for converting into a configuration and describing the result of the processing in a predetermined description format in the body part of the response ,
An image forming apparatus comprising the Web service providing unit for each of the plurality of hardware resources, and enabling a combination of control over the plurality of hardware resources by a plurality of processing requests designating different Web services. .   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an internal Web service providing processor that executes the composite Web service providing processor in response to an internal event that has occurred in the image forming apparatus.   The composite Web service providing processing unit acquires the internal event from the internal Web service providing processing unit, and executes the processing by combining the processing units of the Web service providing processing unit based on the internal event. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processing response corresponding to the request is generated.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the composite Web service providing processing unit executes the processing by combining a plurality of processing units of the plurality of Web service providing processing units. The request type of the processing request received by the network communication control unit is analyzed according to the predetermined message exchange protocol, and the processing is performed on the composite Web service providing processing unit or the composite Web service providing processing unit based on the analysis result. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising distribution means for distributing the request. The specific information for identifying the Web service in the processing request is analyzed in accordance with the predetermined message exchange protocol, and the composite Web service providing processing means for executing the Web service characterized by the specific information is processed based on the analysis result 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising a distribution unit that distributes the images. An image forming method for forming an image using one or more of a plurality of hardware resources including a scanner, a plotter, and a storage device,
A network communication control procedure for performing communication control of a processing request from a device connected via a network and a processing response to the device;
One of the hardware resources with the processing content included in the message by calling the Web service function corresponding to the specific information specifying the Web service included in the message described according to the predetermined message exchange protocol in the processing request A plurality of Web service providing processing procedures having at least one processing unit for controlling the processing and generating the processing response according to the predetermined message exchange protocol indicating the processing result of the Web service function;
A composite web service provision processing procedure for executing at least one processing unit constituting the web service provision processing means in response to the processing request and performing other processing ;
Shared by the plurality of Web service providing processing procedures and the composite Web service providing processing procedure, analyzing a header part of the processing request according to the predetermined message exchange protocol, and creating a header part of the processing response, A protocol processing procedure that controls the exchange of messages;
A process for controlling the image forming apparatus by acquiring processing contents from the message described in the body part of the processing request that is shared by the plurality of Web service providing processing procedures and the composite Web service providing processing procedure And a message processing procedure for converting the result of the processing into a predetermined description format in the body part of the response ,
An image forming method comprising the Web service provision procedure for each of the plurality of hardware resources, and enabling a combination of control over the plurality of hardware resources by a plurality of processing requests designating different Web services. . The composite Web service provision processing procedure includes a processing unit of the composite Web service provision processing means, and includes at least one composite processing execution procedure executed by combining the processing units of the Web service provision processing means. 9. The image forming method according to claim 8, wherein: A plurality of Web service providing processing procedures;
10. The image forming method according to claim 9 , wherein the composite processing execution procedure processes the internal information by combining the plurality of Web service providing processing procedures. A computer-executable program for causing a computer to function as the image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

Images