JP4329927B2 - Image forming apparatus, data output system, image forming method, data output method, program for executing these, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a data output system using the image forming apparatus, an image forming method, a data output method, a program for realizing these, and a recording medium, and more specifically, an image forming apparatus having a communication function. The present invention relates to a technology that can take out form data held in a customer's in-house LAN or the like from a remote location and can pass form data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
At present, it is very common to exchange various data such as billing, payment, orders, sales, etc. between companies. For example, there is a person in charge for each system of each company, each person performs reception processing and transmission processing with data on paper or electronic data, prints each form, and manually creates each file. It is stored.
[0003]
On the other hand, since the layout of the forms differs depending on the type, each form must be set on the printer and printed before printing. Therefore, a considerable amount of time is required not only for file management but also for outputting various slips, such as the closing time at the end of the month. Furthermore, at present, paper forms printed in large quantities in this way are sent by mail.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the method as in the prior art causes a lot of wasted time and paper resources.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and searches and browses form data online via a public network against a closed network such as an in-house LAN or WAN of a customer, and processes the data. And image forming apparatus, data output system, image forming method, data output method, and program for executing these, which can execute printing, transfer, document management, and provide high convenience to the user It is another object of the present invention to provide a recording medium.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided image forming means for forming an image based on image data on a medium and outputting the medium.When,Operation input means for receiving operation input;Internet connection means, and LAN / WAN connection means for connecting to a predetermined LAN / WAN server device via the Internet connected by the Internet connection meansAn electronic mail transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving an electronic mail via the Internet, an image reading unit for reading a document image, a facsimile transmission / reception unit capable of transmitting / receiving data by facsimile, and inputting digital data recorded on a recording medium An image forming apparatus having digital data input means,For the server device connected by LAN / WAN connection means,A data search means for instructing data search according to an operation input to the operation input means; and the server device responds to an instruction from the data search meansForm data stored in predetermined storage means in LAN / WANDisplay means for displaying the results retrieved from, and the form data retrieved by the data retrieval means for the server device after being displayed on the display meansA data output instruction means for instructing the output of theTo showDepending onThe storage meansForm data output fromOn the other hand, in accordance with the operation input to the operation input means, e-mail data input to the e-mail transmission / reception means, original image data read by the image reading means, digital image data input to the digital image input means, from the Internet By selecting one or more of the downloaded content data and the data output from the server device and combining the selected data with the form dataData processing means to process,in frontLayout information corresponding to the form data stored in the storage meansFor each customerMemorydidOutput form storage meansWhenThefurtherHaveThe image forming means includes the support.When the form data transmitted from the server device is received, the data processing means is in accordance with the operation input to the operation input means.The formProcess the data, orAboveAfter processing or after processing without processing through data processing meansThe formDataThe customer corresponding to the LAN / WAN that is the transmission source of the form data is read from the output form storage means.The output is based on the layout information.
[0007]
  The invention of claim 2 is the invention of claim 1,When the form data transmitted from the server device is received, the data processing means processes the form data according to the operation input to the operation input means, or the raw data that does not pass through the data processing means is processed. Document management that processes the later or unprocessed form data based on the layout information read from the output form storage unit for the customer corresponding to the LAN / WAN that is the transmission source of the form data, and stores it as an electronic document Have meansIt is characterized by that.
[0013]
  Claim3The invention of claim 1Or 2In this invention, the image forming apparatus includes a voice input unit and a voice recognition unit that recognizes a voice input to the voice input unit and generates voice data, and the operation input unit includes the voice recognition unit. Is processed as one of operation inputs.
[0014]
  Claim4The invention of claim 1 to claim 13In any one of the inventions, when the image forming apparatus inputs billing information to data acquired via the Internet, the image forming apparatus displays settlement information indicating that the billing amount of the billing information has been settled. It is characterized by having payment information output means for outputting to the apparatus.
[0017]
  Claim5The invention of claim 1 to claim 14And an image forming apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus via a communication line.AboveWith server equipmentData output systemThe server device includes: a connection permission determining unit that determines connection permission according to a connection request from the image forming device; and a data search request from the connected image forming device.AboveIn accordance with a search means for searching for request data stored in the storage means, a search result transmitting means for transmitting a result searched by the search means to the image forming apparatus, and a data output request from the image forming apparatus,AboveData output means for outputting the corresponding data stored in the storage means to the image forming apparatus is provided.
[0019]
  Claim6According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having an Internet connection function.An image forming method for forming an image.Connect to the server device of the predetermined LAN / WAN via the InternetAndFor the connected server device,A data search step for instructing data search in accordance with an operation input to the operation input means of the image forming apparatus, and the server device in response to an instruction from the data search stepForm data stored in predetermined storage means in LAN / WANA display step for displaying the result retrieved from the display unit on the display unit of the image forming apparatus, and the form data retrieved by the data retrieval step for the server apparatus after the display in the display step.A data output instruction step for instructing the output of theTo showDepending onThe storage meansForm data output fromIn response to the operation input to the operation input means, the input e-mail data, the original image data read by the image reading means, the input digital image data, the content data downloaded from the Internet, from the server device By selecting one or more of the output data and combining the selected data with the form dataData processing steps to process;In addition,in frontRecordWhen data sent from the server device is received,WritingAccording to the operation input to the operation input means,In the data processing stepSaidFormProcess the data or leave it unprocessed without data processing and after or after processingFormData stored in the image forming apparatus;About the customer corresponding to the LAN / WAN that is the transmission source of the form dataBased on the layout information, an image formation step for image formation output is performed.TheIt is characterized by having.
[0020]
  Claim7The invention of claim6In the invention ofWhen the data transmitted from the server device is received, the form data is processed in the data processing step according to the operation input to the operation input means, or the data is not processed and processed or not processed. A document management step of processing the processed form data based on the layout information about the customer corresponding to the LAN / WAN of the form data transmission source stored in the image forming apparatus and storing the processed form data as an electronic document; Further featuresIt is what.
The invention according to claim 8 is a data output method including the image forming method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the server apparatus determines connection permission according to a connection request from the image forming apparatus. A search step in which the server device searches for request data stored in the storage unit in accordance with a data search request from the connected image forming device, and a result of the server device searching in the search step A search result transmitting step for transmitting the image data to the image forming apparatus, and an output step for the server apparatus to output the corresponding data stored in the storage unit to the image forming apparatus in accordance with a data output request from the image forming apparatus. , It is characterized by having.
[0021]
  Claim9The invention of claim6 or 7Image formation described inFor causing a control computer in the image forming apparatus to execute the method.It is a program.
[0022]
  Claim10The invention of claim8Data output described inFor causing the server device to execute the connection permission determination step, the search step, the search result transmission step, and the output step in a method.It is a program.
[0023]
  Claim11The invention of claim9Or10Recorded the program described inComputer readableIt is a recording medium.
[0024]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that in all the drawings for explaining the embodiments, portions having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated description thereof is omitted.
[0025]
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a data output system using an image forming apparatus of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 can be connected to the Internet 2 by connecting to a public network. On the other hand, a server device 4 and a client terminal 5 constituting an in-house backbone system are connected to an in-house LAN 3 of a company that introduces the data output system. Here, the in-house LAN 3 may be a WAN. Furthermore, a server device 7 and a client terminal 8 are connected to an in-house LAN 6 of a company such as a customer or supplier of the company that introduces this data output system. Again, the customer's in-house LAN 6 may be a WAN.
[0026]
The image forming apparatus 1 is connected to the customer's in-house LAN 6 via the Internet. That is, the image forming apparatus is connected to the Internet by the Internet connection means of the image forming apparatus, and is connected to the server apparatus 7 of the in-house LAN 6 by transmitting a connection request signal having a communication protocol or authentication information that can pass through the firewall of the in-house LAN 6. As a technique for connecting to the server device 7 of the in-house LAN 6 from the outside, a known technique can be applied.
[0027]
When the image forming apparatus 1 requests the connected server apparatus 7 to search for predetermined form data stored in, for example, the server apparatus 7 or the client terminal 8, the server apparatus 7 responds to the request by retrieving form data as document data. Search and return the search result to the image forming apparatus 1. When the search data output request is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1 to the server apparatus 7, the server apparatus 7 extracts the corresponding data from the corresponding storage destination and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 1.
[0028]
With the functions as described above, a user who uses the image forming apparatus 1 can remotely retrieve form data held in a predetermined LAN (or WAN) terminal device via the Internet. For example, the image forming apparatus 1 is installed in a company that introduces this data output system, or is installed in a facility that exists nationwide such as a convenience store or a post office. The image forming apparatus 1 can be used as a satellite office by going to a place where the image forming apparatus 1 is familiar. In the latter case, if a system is constructed in which the image forming apparatus 1 is connected to the in-house LAN 3 via the Internet in the same manner as the connection to the in-house LAN 6 of the customer, It is also possible to store the form data obtained via the in-house LAN 6 in the server device 4 in the in-house LAN 3 or the like.
[0029]
  FIG. 2 shows an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.PartIt is a block diagram for demonstrating. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an Internet connection unit 11 that enables Internet connection, a LAN / WAN connection unit 12 that connects to a predetermined LAN or WAN via the Internet connected by the Internet connection unit 11, and a connected LAN or Data search means 16 for searching for data in the LAN or WAN to the WAN server apparatus 7 and data output instruction means for instructing to extract the searched data from the LAN or WAN and output it to the image forming apparatus 1 13, data processing means 14 for processing the data output from the LAN or WAN, and image forming means 18 for forming and outputting the data processed by the data processing means 14.
[0030]
Further, the data processing means 14 is provided with a very general cut and paste function and various editing functions, thereby facilitating the editing of the form data. At this time, a predetermined form stored in the output form storage unit 19 to be described later is used, digital data input from a medium or image reading unit, data received by facsimile or e-mail, You may make it synthesize | combine the content data acquired via the internet. Here, at the time of composition, in accordance with the instruction input input to the operation input means 15, the position on the output form to be output in the layout information stored in the output form storage means 19 described later and the size on the output form May be designated to generate data for synthesis.
[0031]
Further, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an operation input unit 15 for a user to instruct and input each process of the image forming apparatus 1 and a display unit 17 for displaying information related to the process of the apparatus, search information, a site page acquired from the Internet, and the like. According to the instruction information input to the operation input means 15, each means described above or described below operates.
[0032]
The Internet connection unit 11 is realized by software such as an OS and a browser, and hardware such as a CPU, a memory, and a communication interface. The LAN / WAN connection unit 12, the data output instruction unit 13, and the data search unit 16 are realized by programs and data. The data processing unit 14 is realized by a program that can perform various types of processing on transmitted data in accordance with an operation input. Software or a program for realizing each of the above means (including an output form storage means 19 described later) is stored in a storage means such as an HDD or a RAM, and is read and executed as needed by the CPU.
[0033]
The image forming unit 18 is a printing apparatus that performs printing on a medium based on transmitted data. The operation input means 15 can be applied with voice input means in addition to general input means such as a keyboard, a touch panel, and a mouse. As the display means 17, a liquid crystal panel can be suitably used. Specific examples of these hardware will be described later.
[0034]
For example, a user who wants to acquire form data stored in a personal computer in a customer's company from his / her company or a destination uses the image forming apparatus 1 installed in his / her company or the nearest store or public institution. Then, the operation input means 15 is operated, the Internet connection means 11 is connected to the Internet, and the LAN / WAN connection means 12 is connected to the server device 7 of the customer in-house LAN 6. The connection to the LAN / WAN is executed by, for example, transmitting it to an authentication information server device such as a predetermined password.
[0035]
Further, the operation input means 15 is further operated to instruct the data search means 16 to search for desired data for the server device 7 of the in-house LAN 6 of the connected customer, and the search result by the server apparatus 7 is confirmed by the display means 17. Then, the data output instruction unit 13 instructs to output data.
[0036]
The data transmitted from the customer's in-house LAN 6 may be printed on a medium such as paper by the image forming unit 18 as it is, but in the present invention, after processing using the data processing unit 14, Can be printed out. The data processing means 14 is capable of editing document data and image data, and synthesizing with other images and documents. Here, the data processing unit 14 may refer to an output form stored in an output form storage unit 19 described later and process the output form.
[0037]
Further, here, when the user selects a part of the data acquired via the Internet, the data processing unit 14 transfers the information in the selected range to the image forming unit 18 and is selected by the image forming unit 18. A range of information can be printed. Further, the document information of the acquired data can be edited and processed by the operation input means 15 and printed out.
[0038]
The image forming means 18 can specify the size of the medium (A3, A4, etc.), duplex / single-sided printing, the number of printed sheets, density, image quality, etc., so that the user can output the processed data in a desired format.
[0039]
Further, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an output form storage unit 19 that stores various output forms prepared in advance, which is a main feature of the present invention. The output form storage means 19 is a means for storing information including layout information corresponding to the form data stored in the storage means in the customer's in-house LAN 6. Here, as a customer, a system is constructed so that it can be connected to a plurality of customers, for example, LANs of customers and suppliers, and layout information corresponding to each customer is stored in the output form storage means 19. You just have to. Of course, the layout information stored here may be information for converting the layout of the form data of each customer into a layout unique to the company, and if the layout information to be stored is determined according to the form to which the present invention is applied. Good.
[0040]
When the form data transmitted from the LAN / WAN server device 7 is received, the data processing means 14 processes the received data in accordance with the operation input to the operation input means 15 or is not processed via the data processing means 14 As it is, the processed or unprocessed received data is output by the image forming unit 18 based on the layout information (predetermined output form information) stored in the output form storage unit 19, that is, in the layout information layout. To do. By providing such a form composition function, it is possible to generate and output (printing and output for management by a document management means described later) different form data for each customer.
[0041]
For example, a format form such as an invoice, payment confirmation, contract, estimate, purchase order, order confirmation, sales slip, etc. is prepared as an output form, and the data processing means 14 follows a predetermined instruction from the user. A form can be called and various data as described above can be arbitrarily combined with the form. Here, the output form only needs to store layout information for each form data. However, the data processing means 14 simply selects the form data type, or the acquired form data type is the image forming apparatus 1. By providing a means for automatically discriminating, it is possible to output various form data in a format suitable for the layout. The output form stored in the output form storage means 19 is preferably a form that satisfies a format defined for applying to or reporting to an electronic local government such as a tax office.
[0042]
  FIG. 3 shows an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.partIt is a block diagram for demonstrating. The configuration shown in FIG. 3 includes electronic mail transmission / reception means 20 that enables transmission / reception of electronic mail in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. The electronic mail transmission / reception means 20 is realized by hardware such as mail software, a CPU, a memory, and a communication interface. The user uses the e-mail transmission / reception means 20 to obtain the form data obtained from the customer via the Internet or the form data that has been edited and synthesized by using the data processing means 14 as described above. An e-mail can be transmitted to a transmission destination (for example, the client terminal 5 in its own LAN 3).
[0043]
By providing the form compositing function as described above, it is possible to output it separately for each form of the company's form. Further, the e-mail transmission / reception means 20 sends a report mail by e-mail to the person in charge corresponding to each type of data. It is also possible to transmit.
[0044]
  FIG. 4 shows an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.oneIt is a block diagram for demonstrating embodiment. The configuration of FIG. 4 includes, in addition to the configuration of FIG. 3, a digital data input unit 21 that can input various digital data, an image reading unit 22 by a scanner, and a facsimile transmission / reception unit 23 that enables facsimile transmission / reception. Is.
[0045]
The digital data input means 21 is realized by hardware that interfaces with a device such as a digital camera, a medium such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a memory card, and a program for capturing these digital data.
[0046]
The user reads the original image data read by the image reading means 22, the e-mail data input to the e-mail transmission / reception means 20, the digital data input to the digital data input means 21, and the facsimile data input to the facsimile transmission / reception means 23. It can be selectively combined with data transmitted from the LAN / WAN or data acquired from a public site on the Internet, and the combined image data can be printed out by the image forming means 18.
[0047]
  FIG. 5 shows an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.OtherIt is a block diagram for demonstrating this embodiment. The configuration of FIG. 5 includes a voice input unit 24 using a microphone and a voice recognition unit 25 that recognizes a voice input to the voice input unit 24 and generates voice data in addition to the configuration of FIG. The voice data recognized and output by the voice recognition unit 25 is processed as one of operation inputs to the operation input unit 15. As a result, the user can execute operation inputs for the various processes described above by voice.
[0048]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining still another embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. The configuration of FIG. 6 is a server device (not shown) that provides the Internet connection and the form data acquisition service for a fee, in addition to the configuration of FIG. 5, for example, in a facility such as a convenience store. On the other hand, it has the payment information output means 26 for transmitting the payment amount payment information. The settlement information output means 26 is realized by a program. When the billing information is input to the data downloaded via the Internet, the settlement information output means 26 indicates settlement information indicating that the billing amount of the billing information has been settled. The data is output to a predetermined server device.
[0049]
For example, when the user tries to download the form data and the billing amount is notified from the server side, the user settles the billing amount and returns the settlement information to the server. The settlement method can be arbitrarily determined. For example, the billing amount is paid to the clerk of the store where the image forming apparatus 1 is installed, and information indicating that the clerk has been settled together with the authentication information is input to the image forming apparatus 1. You may do it. Further, a money input device (not shown) may be provided in the image forming apparatus 1, and the payment information output unit 26 may output the payment information when the charged amount is input to the money input device. Alternatively, the user may perform electronic payment using a credit card or the like on the Internet, and the payment information may be returned to the server.
[0050]
When the server that has received the payment information permits the download, the user can download desired form data or other contents to the image forming apparatus 1.
[0051]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining still another embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. The configuration shown in FIG. 7 includes document management means (document management database (hereinafter referred to as document management DB)) 27 in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. The document management DB 27 is realized by a program and storage means. The document management DB 27 is a database for storing and managing the form data acquired from the customer or the processed form data, and is linked with the document management system in the company's LAN 3. It is preferable to maintain the consistency of the form data. Here, managing the form data as an electronic document means, for example, each form data or in-house output form in a cabinet format, each document management system unit, every month, every department, every product, etc. It is to be managed together with the document.
[0052]
By providing the document management means 27 in addition to the form composition function as described above, it is possible to generate different form data for each customer and manage the form data collectively as an electronic document. Can be output separately for each format, and further reports that the e-mail transmission / reception means 20 has updated the form data in the document management system in its own LAN 3 by e-mail to the person in charge corresponding to each type of data It is also possible to do.
[0053]
Further, the document management means 27 described above can also be provided in the customer server device 7. For example, the image forming apparatus can receive a payable information acquisition request from the customer as form data, and output the customer's payable information (information for confirmation) to the document management means of the customer's server device 7. Become.
[0054]
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment relating to the data output system of the present invention, and is a block diagram of the server device 7 that provides the form data to the image forming apparatus 1. The server device 7 is connected to a LAN or WAN, and can search for, extract, and transmit form data held in a client terminal or other server device in the LAN or WAN to the image forming apparatus 1.
[0055]
The server device 7 (or the server device 4) that requests data output from the image forming apparatus 1 is connected not only to such a server-client type LAN but also to other devices in a peer-to-peer type. It may be a server device or a single computer device connected to the Internet. Here, a server device connected to a LAN or WAN will be described.
[0056]
In FIG. 8, the server device 7 (or server device 4, the same applies hereinafter) includes a connection permission determination means 41 that determines connection permission according to a connection request from the image forming apparatus 1 via the Internet, and the connection permission determination means 41. In accordance with a data search request from the image forming apparatus 1 connected by permission of the search means 42 for searching the request data stored in the storage means in the LAN or WAN, and the search result by the search means 42 is the image forming apparatus 1. When the data output request from the image forming apparatus 1 is input by the search result transmitting means 43 to be transmitted to the user and the user viewing the search results, the corresponding data stored in the storage means in the LAN or WAN according to the data output request Is output to the image forming apparatus 1.
[0057]
The server device 7 includes hardware such as storage means such as an HDD, ROM, RAM, a control unit such as a CPU or MPU, a communication control unit, and a communication interface, and includes a connection permission determination means 41, a search means 42, and a search. The result transmission unit 43 and the data output unit 44 are realized by a program stored in the storage unit and read and executed by the control unit as needed.
[0058]
  FIG. 9 shows another example of the data output system of the present invention.Configuration exampleFIG. 6 is a block diagram of the server device 4 that provides data to the image forming apparatus. The server apparatus of the embodiment of FIG. 9 includes, in addition to the configuration of FIG. 8, an accounting information generating unit 45 that generates accounting information for data output to the image forming apparatus, and accounting information generated by the accounting information generating unit 45 as an image. And charging information transmitting means 46 for transmitting to the forming apparatus 1. The billing information generating unit 45 and the billing information transmitting unit 46 are also realized by a program stored in the storage unit as described above and read and executed by the control unit as needed.
[0059]
The charging information generating unit 45 generates charging information according to the data output request input from the image forming apparatus 1 or according to the data capacity output from the data output unit 44, and the charging information transmitting unit 46 generates the charging information as the image forming apparatus 1. Send to.
[0060]
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of a data output method and an image forming method according to the present invention. As in the above-described embodiments, the image forming apparatus 1 is connected to the server device 7 via the Internet, and causes the server device 7 to output form data. The server device 7 is assumed to be connected to a LAN or WAN, extracts data from the storage means of the client terminal 8 or other server device 7 in the network, and causes the image forming apparatus 1 to output the data.
[0061]
In FIG. 10, first, the image forming apparatus 1 transmits a connection request to the address of the server device 7 of a predetermined LAN / WAN via the Internet (step S1). At this time, for example, authentication information such as a password input by the user is transmitted together with the connection request. Then, the server apparatus determines whether or not to permit the connection in response to the connection request transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1 (step S2). If the connection is permitted, a connection confirmation is returned to the image forming apparatus 1 (step S3). ).
[0062]
When a search request for user-desired data is input to the image forming apparatus 1 (step S3), the search request is transmitted to the server apparatus 7, and data search according to the search request is performed (step S4). When the search result by the server device 7 is returned to the image forming apparatus 1 and a data output instruction is issued by the user (step S5), the output instruction is transmitted to the server apparatus 7. The server device 7 extracts the output-instructed data from the corresponding storage means, and transmits the data to the image forming device 1 (step S6).
[0063]
The image forming apparatus 1 performs desired data processing on the received form data (step S7) or prints it out by the image forming means 18 without performing data processing (step S8). Data processing can be performed in various processes as described in the above embodiment. In addition, when a configuration in which the server device 4 is connected via the Internet is employed, the same processing as the processing related to the server device 7 described above may be performed.
[0064]
Next, an image forming apparatus and a data output system configuration example that more specifically realize the embodiment as described above, and an example in which the above-described image forming apparatus is installed in a convenience store will be described.
[0065]
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a data output system according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which 100 is a network, 101 is an image forming apparatus (corresponding to the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1), and 102. , 104 are server devices for outputting data, and 103, 105 are storage means for storing data. In the present embodiment, the server apparatus 102 is accessible to the storage means 103, is connected to the image forming apparatus 101 via the network 100, and performs the first data output from the first LAN (A) (customer of FIG. 1). It corresponds to the in-house LAN 6). Similarly, the server device 104 can access the data storage unit 105, is connected to the image forming apparatus 101 via the network 100, and is connected to the second LAN (B) (corresponding to the company's in-house LAN 3 in FIG. 1). It is installed on the top.
[0066]
Further, one image forming apparatus 101 is installed in each of the convenience stores A, B, C,. Hereinafter, an example in which an MFP (digital color multifunction peripheral) having a composite function of a copy function, a facsimile function, a print function, a scanner function, a communication function, and the like is applied as the image forming apparatus 101 will be described as a representative example.
[0067]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the MFP, and any image forming apparatus that can be connected to a server apparatus, a client terminal, or the like via a network and has at least a print function may be used. For example, a digital monochrome multifunction peripheral, a monochrome printer device, a color printer device, or the like may be applied.
[0068]
The server apparatuses 102 and 104 support, for example, FTP and HTTP protocols, and realize a function as a Web server or DNS (domain name server). That is, when a server device or a client terminal is connected to the network 100, an environment is formed in which image processing functions such as a scanner function, a print function, and an image storage function of the image forming apparatus 101 can be shared on the network 100. You may be able to do that.
[0069]
As an embodiment of the present invention, the server apparatuses 102 and 104 may access the storage means 103 and 105 via a network or the like. The storage units 103 and 105 are set in resources such as a client terminal and other servers within each LAN. In addition, the storage units 103 and 105 may be physically separated as described above, or the storage units 103 and 105 may be physically included in the server apparatuses 102 and 104. .
[0070]
The server device on which the image forming apparatus 101 performs data search supports, for example, the FTP and HTTP protocols, and realizes a function as a Web server or DNS (domain name server). That is, when a server device or a client terminal is connected to the network 100, an environment is formed in which image processing functions such as a scanner function, a print function, and an image storage function of the image forming apparatus 101 can be shared on the network 100. be able to.
[0071]
As an embodiment of the present invention, the server apparatuses 102 and 104 may access the storage means 103 and 105 via a network or the like. In this case, the network is assumed to be a closed network such as a LAN, a WAN, or an intranet. In other words, the storage units 103 and 105 may be physically discrete, or the storage units 103 and 105 may be physically included in the server apparatuses 102 and 104.
[0072]
Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus 101 according to the present invention will be described in more detail.
FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view showing an external configuration example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining an example of data input and data output of the image forming apparatus. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the operation panel of the image forming apparatus 101 shown in FIG. 12, and FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a display example of the operation panel shown in FIG. FIG. 16 is a block diagram for explaining an internal configuration example of the image forming apparatus 101.
[0073]
As shown in FIG. 12, the image forming apparatus 101 includes an image reading device 128 that is an image reading unit that reads an image from a document on an upper part of a printing device 130 that is an image forming unit that forms an image on a medium such as transfer paper. It is set as the arrangement | positioning. Further, an operation panel 120 for performing various inputs such as display for an operator and function setting from the operator is provided on the upper side of the image forming apparatus 101. Further, an external medium input / output device that is a means for reading program codes, image data, and the like recorded on a recording medium, or writing program codes, image data, and the like on the recording medium, below the operation panel 120 Reference numeral 114 denotes an insertion slot (insertion slot) for inserting a recording medium facing the front surface of the image forming apparatus 101.
[0074]
As shown in FIG. 13, as a method of inputting data to the image forming apparatus 101, for example, a scanner that reads a paper document, a facsimile, an electronic mail, a digital camera, or the like, an optical disk (CD, DVD, etc.), a memory card, or the like. Data can be input from any recording medium. In addition, as a data output method, for example, electronic data is output by printing, facsimile, e-mail, output to a shared folder of a PC, transfer to a server device, or output to a recording medium such as an optical disk or a memory card. Can do. At the time of outputting this data, the electronic data acquired by the above input method is combined with a predetermined form stored in the HDD 101a and then output.
[0075]
14A is a front view illustrating a configuration example of the operation panel 120, FIG. 14B is a front view of the operation panel 120, and FIG. 14C is a side view of the operation panel 120. The operation panel 120 includes a display device 120a such as an LCD, a stylus pen 120b for pen input, a speaker 120c, a fingerprint sensor 120d, a microphone 120e, a function key group 120f, a voice guide key 120g, a volume 120h, an external medium input / output device 114, It consists of various I / Fs 115 such as USB terminals. The operation panel 120 includes an ultrasonic acoustic wave type touch panel laminated on the surface of the display device 120a and a plurality of function key groups 120f. The function key group 120f is provided with a start key for declaring the start of image reading, a numeric keypad for inputting numerical values, a reading condition setting key for setting the transmission destination of the read image data, a clear key, and the like. .
[0076]
15, the display device 120a of the operation panel 120 includes a general-purpose OS screen 120a that operates in the information processing unit A described later in FIG.₁Inside, a window 120a serving as an operation input screen in the image processing unit B₂Can be displayed. As a result, the operation panel 120 of the information processing unit A can be commonly used in the image processing unit B as well.
[0077]
In FIG. 16, the image forming apparatus 101 is roughly divided into an information processing unit A and an image processing unit B. A printing apparatus 130 and an image reading apparatus 128 belong to the image processing unit B, and an operation panel 120 and an external medium input / output. The device 114 belongs to the information processing unit A. That is, the information processing unit A includes a communication control unit 111, a main control unit 112, an input / output device control unit 113, an external medium input / output device 114, various I / Fs 115 such as a USB terminal, a control panel communication unit 116, and a display control unit. 117, an operation input control unit 118, a control panel I / F 119, an operation panel 120, a fingerprint sensor 120d, a storage device control unit 121, and a storage device 122. The image processing unit B includes a communication control unit 123, an image processing control unit. 124, HDD 125, FAX control unit 126, image reading control unit 127, image reading device 128, print control unit 129, printing device 130, operation input control unit 131, display control unit 132, and control panel I / F 133. . Reference numeral 135 denotes a recording medium used for a digital camera or a mobile phone with a digital camera, and 136 denotes a device such as a digital camera or a mobile phone with a digital camera.
[0078]
First, the image processing unit B will be described in detail.
The image processing unit B including the printing device 130 and the image reading device 128 includes an image processing control unit 124 that performs overall control of image processing in the image processing unit B. The image processing control unit 124 includes the printing device 130. A print control unit 129 that controls the image reading device 128 and an image reading control unit 127 that controls the image reading device 128 are connected.
[0079]
The print control unit 129 outputs a print instruction including image data to the printing apparatus 130 according to the control of the image processing control unit 124, and causes the printing apparatus 130 to form and output an image on a medium such as transfer paper. The printing apparatus 130 is capable of full-color printing, and there are various printing methods such as an inkjet method, a sublimation type thermal transfer method, a silver salt photography method, a direct thermal recording method, and a fusion type thermal transfer method. A scheme can be applied.
[0080]
The image reading control unit 127 drives the image reading device 128 under the control of the image processing control unit 124, and condenses the reflected light of the lamp irradiation on the surface of the document on a light receiving element (for example, CCD) by a mirror and a lens. It is read and A / D converted to generate RGB 8-bit digital image data.
[0081]
The image processing control unit 124 includes a CPU 124a that is a main processor, a ROM 124b that stores control programs and the like, and a memory device that temporarily stores image data read from the image reading device 128 for image formation by the printing device 130 ( For example, an SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) 124c and a NVRAM 124d capable of holding data even when the power is turned off to record system logs / system settings / log information, etc. Has been.
[0082]
The image processing control unit 124 also stores an image processing unit B via an HDD 125 serving as a storage device for storing a large amount of image data and a job history, and a HUB (not shown) as a concentrator provided inside the device. Are connected to a communication control unit 123 for connecting to a LAN or the like and a FAX control unit 126 for performing FAX control. The FAX control unit 126 is connected to a private branch exchange (PBX) that is connected to the public telephone network, and the image forming apparatus 101 can communicate with a remote facsimile apparatus.
[0083]
In addition, a display control unit 132 and an operation input control unit 131 are connected to the image processing control unit 124. The display control unit 132 outputs an image display control signal to the information processing unit A via the communication cable 134 connected to the control panel I / F 133 under the control of the image processing control unit 124, and operates the information processing unit A. Control of image display is performed on the panel 120. Further, the operation input control unit 131 is connected to the control panel I / F 133 by the control of the image processing control unit 124, according to the function setting and input operation by the operator from the operation panel 120 of the information processing unit A. Input via the communication cable 134. That is, the image processing unit B is configured to be able to directly monitor the operation panel 120 of the information processing unit A via the communication cable 134.
[0084]
Therefore, in the image processing unit B, the communication cable 134 is connected to the image processing unit provided in the conventional image forming apparatus, and the operation panel 120 of the information processing unit A is used. That is, the display control unit 132 and the operation input control unit 131 of the image processing unit B operate as if they are connected to the operation panel 120.
[0085]
With the above-described configuration, the image processing unit B analyzes the print data that is image information from the outside (server computer, client terminal, facsimile machine, etc.) and the command that instructs printing, and is ready to print the print data as output image data. Bitmap expansion is performed, and the print mode is analyzed from the command to determine the operation. The print data and command are received through the communication control unit 123 or the FAX control unit 126.
[0086]
Further, the image processing unit B externally outputs print data stored in the SDRAM 124c or the HDD 125, document read data, output image data obtained by processing these data for output, and compressed data obtained by compressing them (server computer, client terminal, facsimile). Etc.).
[0087]
Further, the image processing unit B transfers the read image data of the image reading device 128 to the image processing control unit 124, corrects the signal deterioration due to the quantization to the optical system and the digital signal, and writes the image data to the SDRAM 124c. . The image data stored in the SDRAM 124 c in this way is converted into output image data by the print control unit 129 and output to the printing apparatus 130.
[0088]
Next, the information processing unit A including the operation panel 120 will be described in detail.
The information processing unit A has a microcomputer configuration controlled by a general-purpose OS used in an information processing apparatus generally called a personal computer. The information processing unit A has a CPU 112a which is a main processor. The CPU 112a stores a RAM serving as a work area for the CPU 112a, a startup program, a program for executing processing according to the present invention, and the like. A memory unit 112b composed of a ROM, which is a dedicated memory, an OS, an application program, and data stored in the storage device 122 such as an HDD that stores data of various programs according to the present invention as described in the above embodiments. A storage device control unit 121 that controls input / output is connected via a bus.
[0089]
The CPU 112a is connected to a communication control unit 111 for connecting the information processing unit A to a LAN or the like via a HUB (not shown). The IP address that is the network address assigned to the communication control unit 111 may be set to be different from the IP address assigned to the communication control unit 123 of the image processing unit B described above. In this case, two IP addresses are assigned to the image forming apparatus 101 of the present embodiment. That is, the image processing unit B and the information processing unit A are connected to a LAN or the like, and the image processing unit B and the information processing unit A are configured to exchange data.
[0090]
Since the image forming apparatus 101 is connected to a LAN or the like via a built-in HUB (not shown), it appears that only one IP address is assigned. Therefore, the aesthetic appearance is not impaired, and handling such as connection can be facilitated.
[0091]
Further, a display control unit 117 and an operation input control unit 118 that control the operation panel 120 are connected to the CPU 112a. In addition, the control panel communication unit 116 connected to the control panel I / F 133 of the image processing unit B via the communication cable 134 is connected to the CPU 112a. The control panel communication unit 116 receives the image display control signal output from the image processing unit B, and transfers the input control signal according to the function setting and input operation by the operator from the operation panel 120 to the image processing unit B. To do.
[0092]
The image forming apparatus 101 of the present embodiment includes a recording medium 135 on which image data and the like are recorded, that is, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk (CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD + R, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, etc.), a magneto-optical disk (MO), a device that reads image data from a recording medium 135 such as a memory card, or writes image data to the recording medium 135 An external medium input / output device 114 such as a flexible disk drive device, an optical disk drive device, an MO drive device, or a media drive device is mounted. Such an external medium input / output device 114 is controlled by an input / output device control unit 113 connected to the CPU 112a by a bus. In addition, various I / Fs 115 such as USB, IEEE1394, SCSI and the like are also connected to the input / output device control unit 113, and various devices 136 such as a digital camera and a mobile phone with a digital camera are connected via the various I / Fs 115. Etc. can be connected.
[0093]
The present invention provides a data output system by using the image forming apparatus 101 described above.
[0094]
As the recording medium of the present invention, specifically, a CD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, a DVD-ROM, an FD, a flash memory, and various other ROMs and RAMs can be assumed. By recording and distributing a program or data for realizing the function, the function can be easily realized. Then, the recording medium as described above is mounted on an information processing apparatus such as a computer and the program or data is read by the information processing apparatus, or the program or data is stored in a storage medium provided in the information processing apparatus, By reading out accordingly, the function of the present invention can be realized.
[0095]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, form data is searched and browsed online via a public network with respect to a closed network such as a customer's in-house LAN or WAN, and the data is processed and processed. Printing, transferring, and document management can be executed, and high convenience can be given to the user.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a data output system using an image forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.PartIt is a block diagram for demonstrating.
FIG. 3 shows an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.partIt is a block diagram for demonstrating.
FIG. 4 illustrates an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.oneIt is a block diagram for demonstrating embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.OtherIt is a block diagram for demonstrating this embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining still another embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining still another embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the data output system of the present invention.
FIG. 9 shows another data output system according to the present invention.Configuration exampleIt is a figure for demonstrating.
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of a data output method and an image forming method according to the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a data output system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an external configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of data input and data output of the image forming apparatus.
14 is a diagram showing an example of an operation panel of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
15 is a diagram showing a display example of the operation panel shown in FIG.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram for explaining an internal configuration example of an image forming apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 2 ... Internet, 3 ... Internal LAN, 4 ... Server apparatus, 5 ... Client terminal, 6 ... Customer internal LAN, 7 ... Customer server apparatus, 8 ... Client client terminal, 11 ... Internet connection means, 12 ... LAN / WAN connection means, 13 ... data output instruction means, 14 ... data processing means, 15 ... operation input means, 16 ... data search means, 17 ... display means, 18 ... image forming means, 19 ... output form storage means, 20 ... e-mail transmission / reception means, 21 ... digital data input means, 22 ... image reading means, 23 ... facsimile transmission / reception means, 24 ... voice input means, 25 ... voice recognition means, 26 ... settlement information output means , 27 ... Document management means (document management database), 41 ... Connection permission judgment means, 42 ... Search means, 43 ... Search result transmission means, 44 ... Data output means, 45 ... billing information generation means, 46 ... billing information transmission means, 100 ... network, 101 ... image forming apparatus, 101a ... HDD, 102, 104 ... server apparatus, 103, 105 ... storage means, 111 ... communication control 112, main control unit, 112a, CPU, 112b, memory unit, 113, input / output device control unit, 114, external medium input / output device, 115, various I / Fs, 116, control panel communication unit, 117, display Control unit, 118 ... operation input control unit, 119 ... control panel I / F, 120 ... operation panel, 120a ... display device, 120a₁... General-purpose OS screen, 120a₂... Window, 120b ... Stylus pen, 120c ... Speaker, 120d ... Fingerprint sensor, 120e ... Microphone, 120f ... Function key group, 120g ... Voice guide key, 120h ... Volume, 121 ... Storage device control unit, 122 ... Storage device, 123 ... Communication control unit, 124 ... Image processing control unit, 124a ... CPU, 124b ... ROM, 124c ... SDRAM, 124d ... NVRAM, 125 ... HDD, 126 ... FAX control unit, 127 ... Image reading control unit, 128 ... Image reading device DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 129 ... Print control part, 130 ... Printing apparatus, 131 ... Operation input control part, 132 ... Display control part, 133 ... Control panel I / F, 134 ... Communication cable, 135 ... Recording medium, 136 ... Equipment.

Claims (11)

An image forming unit that forms and outputs an image based on image data on a medium, an operation input unit that receives an operation input, an Internet connection unit, and a predetermined LAN / WAN via the Internet connected by the Internet connection unit LAN / WAN connection means for connecting to the server apparatus, electronic mail transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving electronic mail via the Internet, image reading means for reading a document image, and facsimile transmission / reception means for enabling data transmission / reception by facsimile An image forming apparatus having digital data input means for inputting digital data recorded on a recording medium,
To the server device connected by the LAN / WAN connection means, a data retrieval means for instructing a data search in accordance with an operation input to the operation input means,
Display means for displaying the result of the server device searching from the form data stored in the predetermined storage means in the LAN / WAN in response to an instruction from the data search means ;
A data output instruction means for instructing the server device to output the form data retrieved by the data retrieval means after the display on the display means;
To form data output from said storage means in accordance with instructions by the data output instruction means, according to operation input to the operation input unit, e-mail data input to said electronic mail transmitting and receiving means, read by the image reading means Original image data, digital image data input to the digital image input means, content data downloaded from the Internet, or data output from the server device is selected, and the selected data is selected as the form data Data processing means for processing by combining with ,
An output form storage means for storing layout information for each customer corresponding to the stored form data before term memory unit,
Further comprising
Said image forming means, via the time of receiving the form data transmitted from the servers apparatus, in accordance with an operation input to the operation input means, said data processing means processing the form data, or the data processing means The processed or unprocessed form data is output based on the layout information read from the output form storage unit for the customer corresponding to the LAN / WAN that is the transmission source of the form data. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, when receiving the document data transmitted from said server apparatus, according to operation input to the operation input means, said data processing means processing the form data, or the data processing Based on the layout information read from the output form storage means for the customer corresponding to the LAN / WAN that is the transmission source of the form data , the processed form data that has not been processed and does not pass through the means. An image forming apparatus comprising document management means for processing and storing as an electronic document . 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a voice input unit and a voice recognition unit that recognizes a voice input to the voice input unit and generates voice data. The operation input unit processes the voice data output from the voice recognition unit as one of the operation inputs. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the image forming apparatus, to the data acquired via the Internet, when the charging information is entered, the charge amount of the billing information is settled An image forming apparatus, comprising: payment information output means for outputting payment information indicating the fact to the server device. And an image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a data output system for chromatic and a server device connected via a communication line to the image forming apparatus, the server apparatus, the a connection permission judgment means for determining whether to allow the connection according to the connection request from the image forming apparatus, according to the connection data retrieval request from the image forming apparatus, a search unit for searching the request data stored in the storage means, data for outputting a result of a search by the search means and search result transmitting means for transmitting to the image forming apparatus, according to the data output request from the image forming apparatus, the relevant data stored in said storage means to said image forming apparatus A data output system comprising output means. An image forming method for forming an image by an image forming apparatus having an Internet connection function,
A data search step of connecting to a server device of a predetermined LAN / WAN via the Internet, and instructing the connected server device to perform a data search according to an operation input to an operation input unit of the image forming apparatus;
A display step of displaying, on the display unit of the image forming apparatus, a result of the server device searching from the form data stored in the predetermined storage unit in the LAN / WAN in response to an instruction in the data search step ;
A data output instruction step for instructing the server device to output the form data retrieved by the data retrieval step after the display in the display step;
To form data output from said storage means in accordance with instructions by the data output instruction step, according to operation input to the operation input means, the input electronic mail data, original image data read by the image reading means Data processing for processing by selecting one or more of input digital image data, content data downloaded from the Internet, and data output from the server device, and combining the selected data with the form data Steps,
In addition,
Before upon receiving the transmitted data from the hexa over server device, according to an operation input for the previous Kimisao operation input means, wherein processing the form data in the data processing step, or remain raw no data processing Image formation for outputting the processed or unprocessed form data based on the layout information stored in the image forming apparatus for the customer corresponding to the LAN / WAN that is the transmission source of the form data image forming method characterized by having a step. 7. The image forming method according to claim 6, wherein when the data transmitted from the server device is received, the form data is processed in the data processing step or data processing is performed in accordance with an operation input to the operation input means. Processing the processed or unprocessed form data with no processing, based on the layout information stored in the image forming apparatus for the customer corresponding to the LAN / WAN of the form data transmission source. And an image forming method further comprising a document management step of storing the document as an electronic document. A data output method including the image forming method according to claim 6 or 7 , wherein the server device determines connection permission according to a connection request from the image forming device, and the server device the transmission according to the data retrieval request from the connected the image forming apparatus, a search step of retrieving the requested data stored in the storage means, said server device, a result of searching by the searching step to said image forming apparatus a search result transmission step of the server apparatus, according to the data output request from the image forming apparatus, and outputting the corresponding data stored in the storage unit to the image forming apparatus, and characterized in that it has a Data output method. A program for causing a control computer in the image forming apparatus to execute the image forming method according to claim 6 . The program for making the said server apparatus perform the said connection permission judgment step in the data output method of Claim 8 , the said search step, the said search result transmission step, and the said output step . A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 9 or 10 is recorded.

Images