JP4449521B2 - Instruction information storage device and method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an instruction information storage apparatus and method, for example, an instruction information storage apparatus and method suitable for use in a service cooperation system that links a plurality of services that perform predetermined processing on document data on a network.

  2. Description of the Related Art A network cooperation device (see, for example, Patent Document 1) that automates various input / output functions or program processing operations performed by users on each device connected via a network is known. .

When the above-mentioned network cooperation device performs cooperation processing by combining input / output functions and programs that operate on each device connected to the network according to the usage method of each user, the cooperation processing data is linked to each other according to the processing order. It communicates between devices.
JP 2001-306534 A

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, a command (instruction information) for instructing cooperation processing is created in advance, and the instruction information may be executed when necessary.

  However, when creating instruction information on a certain device and registering the instruction information on another device, if the model of each device is different, there is a problem that the other device cannot execute the instruction information. .

  Such a problem also exists in a system in which a plurality of multi-function peripherals having a facsimile function are connected to a network. For example, a confidential box command provided in the multifunction peripheral is a command unique to the device. Therefore, this command cannot be created by an external device and registered in another device.

  The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-described problems, and provides an instruction information storage device and method capable of storing only instruction information corresponding to the own device in a system in which various devices are connected to the network. The purpose is to provide.

The instruction information storage device according to the present invention includes own device information storage means for storing own device information separately into essential items and optional items other than the essential items, job flow information for performing predetermined processing on document data, The target device information indicating the device to be registered is compared with the own device information stored in the own device information storage means, and if the essential items match, it is determined that registration is possible, and determining registration determination means and not be registered if the required field mismatch, when it is determined to be registered by the registration determination unit, when the optional items are coincident stores the instruction information Storage means for storing the instruction information describing temporary unavailable information if the arbitrary items do not match .

The instruction information storage method according to the present invention includes instruction information having job flow information for performing predetermined processing on document data, and target device information indicating a device to be registered, as essential items in the own device information storage unit and A registration determination step of collating with the self-device information stored separately in optional items other than the essential items , determining that registration is possible if the required items match, and determining that registration is impossible if the required items do not match When it is determined that registration is possible in the registration determination step, the instruction information is stored in the instruction information storage unit if the arbitrary item matches, and if the arbitrary item does not match , the instruction information is temporarily stored. A storage step of storing the instruction information describing the unusable information in the instruction information storage unit .

  The own device information stored in the own device information storage means is information for identifying the own device from other devices, and is determined according to the characteristics of the device such as model name and color / monochrome type information.

  The job flow information is information for performing predetermined processing on the document data. Here, the predetermined processing is not particularly limited as long as it is a function for performing predetermined processing on the document data, and includes, for example, copying, scanning, printing, OCR, format conversion, mail delivery, and the like. Moreover, these combination processes may be sufficient.

  The target device information is information representing devices that can be registered as instruction information. Note that the number of devices to be registered is not limited to one, and may be plural.

  The registration determining means checks whether the instruction information can be registered by checking the instruction information against the own device information. Here, the target device information of the instruction information may be collated with the own device information. The storage means stores the instruction information when the registration determination means determines that registration is possible. As a result, only the instruction information corresponding to the target device information and the own device information is stored.

  Therefore, according to the instruction information storage device and method of the present invention, the instruction information having job flow information for performing predetermined processing on document data and target device information indicating a device to be registered is collated with the own device information. Then, it is determined whether or not the instruction information can be registered. When it is determined that the instruction information can be registered, the instruction information is stored in the instruction information storage unit, thereby registering the instruction information that does not correspond to the own device. Can be prevented.

Here, the instruction information storage device includes at least device unique information as the target device information, the own device information storage means stores at least the device unique information as an essential item of the own device information , and the registration determination means May collate the device unique information included in the target device information with the device unique information stored in the own device information storage means.

Further, in the instruction information storage method, in the registration determination step, the device unique information included in the target device information is compared with the device unique information as the essential item stored in the own device information storage unit. May be.

  Therefore, according to the instruction information storage device and method, it is possible to prevent the registration of instruction information that does not correspond to the own device by storing the instruction sheet that matches the device specific information.

The instruction information storage device further includes at least one of color / monochrome type information and port information as the target device information, and the own device information storage means further includes color / monochrome type information as an essential item of the own device information. At least one of color / monochrome type information and port information included in the target device information, and color / color information stored in the own device information storage unit. By comparing at least one of the monochrome type information and the port information, it may be determined that the instruction information can be registered when all the information matches.

In the registration determination step, the instruction information storage method includes at least one of color / monochrome type information and port information further included in the target device information, and the essential items further stored in the own device information storage unit. It is also possible to collate at least one of the color / monochrome type information and the port information and determine that the instruction information can be registered when all the information matches.

  Therefore, according to the instruction information storage device and method, instruction information that does not correspond to its own device is registered by storing an instruction sheet in which at least one of color / monochrome type information and port information matches. Can be prevented.

  The instruction information storage device and method according to the present invention compares the instruction information having job flow information for performing predetermined processing on document data and target device information indicating a device to be registered with the own device information, By determining whether the information can be registered and storing the instruction information in the instruction information storage unit when it is determined that the information can be registered, it is possible to prevent the instruction information not corresponding to the own device from being registered. be able to.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a service cooperation system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The service cooperation system 1 is a system in which services that perform predetermined processes on documents are connected on a network, and various services related to documents are linked together and executed as a series of linkage processes. The document is data related to the document, but may include image data and text data, and is not particularly limited.

  Here, a file representing a job flow defined for automating / stylizing service cooperation processing is referred to as an “instruction document”. The service refers to a predetermined process (function) related to a document, and is not particularly limited to print, scan, copy, OCR, mail delivery, folder storage, and the like.

  The service cooperation system 1 includes multifunction peripherals 10, 20, and 30 that have a print function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function, and an instruction book editor 40 that creates an instruction book. These devices are connected to each other via a network. In addition to the above, for example, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile machine, and a computer installed with an application program may be connected to the network.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the multifunction machine 10. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the multifunction machines 20 and 30 are configured in the same manner.

  The multifunction device 10 scans an image recorded on a document, records an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor, develops the electrostatic latent image using monochrome toner or color toner, and records the developed image. A printer unit 12 that transfers and outputs a facsimile message and a facsimile (hereinafter referred to as “FAX”) unit 13 that transmits and receives a facsimile message are provided.

  The multi-function device 10 further includes a controller 14 that controls the whole, a memory 15 that stores image data read by the scanner unit 11, image data received via a network, data of a FAX reception message, and the like, and an icon. A display panel 16 that displays an operation screen and inputs operation information in response to contact with an icon, a storage device 17 that stores information on its own device and instructions, an input / output port 18 that inputs and outputs data, A communication control unit 19 for communicating with devices connected to the network is provided.

  The scanner unit 11, the printer unit 12, the FAX unit 13, the controller 14, the memory 15, the display panel 16, the storage device 17, and the input / output port 18 are connected to each other via a bus. The input / output port 18 is connected to the network via the communication control unit 19. The scanner unit 11 may be incorporated as a part of the FAX unit 13.

  The own device information stored in the storage device 17 includes, for example, the model name of the multifunction device 10, color type information at the time of printing, port information, and tray information. In the case of device-specific information, for example, an IP address may be used instead of the model name. The tray information is an optional item. The reason is that the tray information is information relating to the tray that is currently mounted on the multifunction machine 10 and changes according to the tray that is mounted. Information other than tray information is an indispensable item because it usually does not change.

  When there is an instruction registration request from the instruction editor 40, the controller 14 determines whether or not to register the instruction based on the description content of the instruction. When it is determined to register, an instruction is written in the storage device 17, and when it is determined not to register, the registration is rejected, and the instruction editor 40 is notified that registration is impossible.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the instruction book editor 40. The instruction editor 40 includes a CPU 41 that performs predetermined arithmetic processing, a ROM 42 that stores a control program for the CPU 41, a RAM 43 that is a data work area, and an input / output port 44 that transmits and receives information to and from the network. A hard disk drive 45 storing various information such as an application program for creating instructions, an operation panel 46 for creating instructions, and a monitor 47 for displaying the contents of the instructions, etc. Yes.

  When creating the instruction sheet, the user can input the component requirements of the instruction sheet by operating the operation panel 46. At this time, information on the instruction sheet being created is displayed on the monitor 46. Then, the CPU 41 can create an instruction based on the input information from the operation panel 46 and register this instruction in any of the multifunction peripherals 10, 20, and 30.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the instruction sheet created by the instruction sheet editor 40. The instruction sheet includes information representing a device to be registered (hereinafter referred to as “target device information”) and job template information for executing a job flow.

  The instruction form registration information includes model name “Machine Name”, color type information “Color”, port information “Port”, and tray information “Tray”.

  According to FIG. 3, the model name of the device to be registered may be any of “Machine A”, “Machine B”, and “Machine C”. The color type information of the device to be registered is “color” instead of black and white. The port information of the device to be registered may be FTP, SMB, or SMTP. Note that the model name, color type information, and port information are “true” representing an essential item. The tray information of the device to be registered is A4. However, the tray information is “false” indicating that it is not an essential item (optional item).

  The job template information represents document processing when the MFP receives a document from the outside. As the document processing, one copy is printed from 10:00 to 17:00 from Monday to Friday. Represents what to do. That is, when this instruction is executed, the multifunction device 10 prints one copy each time a document is received from 10:00 to 17:00 from Monday to Friday.

  In the service cooperation system 1 configured as described above, after creating the instruction sheet, the instruction sheet editor 40 registers the instruction sheet in a terminal (the multifunction machine 10 in the present embodiment) that executes the instruction sheet.

  On the other hand, even if the MFP 10 registers the instruction created by the instruction editor 40, which is an external device, in the own device, the MFP 10 may execute the instruction if the instruction does not correspond to the own device. Can not. Therefore, upon receiving the instruction sheet registration request from the instruction sheet editor 40, the multifunction machine 10 determines whether or not to register the instruction sheet in its own device as shown below.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for determining whether or not the instruction sheet can be registered by the controller 14 of the multifunction machine 10.

  First, the controller 14 of the multifunction machine 10 acquires the own device information from the storage device 17 (step S1). Then, the controller 14 collates the target device information described in the instruction requested to be registered with the own device information acquired from the storage device 17.

  Specifically, the controller 14 compares the own device information with the target device information, and the model name “Machine Name”, color type information “Color”, and port information “Port”, which are essential items, match each other. In order (step S2 to step S4). If the controller 14 determines that any one of them does not match, the controller 14 notifies the instruction editor 40 that the instruction book cannot be registered (step S5).

  On the other hand, when all the essential items match, the controller 14 determines whether the tray information that is an optional item matches (step S6).

  When the tray information does not match, the controller 14 describes information indicating that the tray information is temporarily unavailable (for example, a temporary unavailable tag indicating that the tray information is temporarily unavailable). Then, it is registered in the storage device 17 (step S7). At this time, the controller 14 may notify the instruction editor 40 that the instruction is temporarily unavailable.

  If the tray information matches, the controller 14 registers the instruction requested for registration from the instruction editor 40 as it is in the storage device 17 (step S8).

  As a result, only executable instructions corresponding to the characteristics of the own device are registered in the multifunction device 10. Also, the multifunction machine 10 displays each instruction on the display panel 16 by distinguishing between the instruction in which the temporary unavailable tag is described and the instruction in which it is not described in the registered instructions. can do. For example, when the tray mounting is changed and the instruction sheet can be executed, the multifunction machine 10 may delete the temporary unavailable tag from the instruction sheet.

  As described above, the service cooperation system 1 describes the instruction that cannot be executed by describing the target device information to be registered in the instruction and registering the instruction in the MFP 10 that matches the target device information. Registration in the multifunction machine 10 can be prevented. In other words, even if the multifunction device 10 is an instruction document created by an external device, the multifunction device 10 can always execute the instruction document as long as it is an instruction document registered in its own device.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that the present invention can also be applied to a design modified within the scope described in the claims.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another configuration of the service cooperation system 1. The instruction editor 40 is not limited to registering instructions in the multi-function device 10 as in the above-described embodiment after creating the instructions. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, an instruction management server that manages the instructions 50 may be registered. At this time, the own device information such as the MFPs 10, 20, and 30 may be registered in advance in the instruction sheet management server 50.

  Of course, the target device information and the own device information are not limited to the above-described embodiments as long as they are information for distinguishing the own device from other devices. The “essential items” in the target device information and the own device information represent items that must be matched in each information. Therefore, the essential item may be, for example, any one of device name, color type information, and port information, and may further include other information.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a multifunction peripheral has been described as an example of a device that executes a service. However, the device is not limited to this. For example, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a computer in which an application program is installed may be used.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the service cooperation system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multifunction machine. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an instruction book editor. It is a figure which shows the structure of the instruction book produced by the instruction book editor. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for determining whether or not an instruction sheet can be registered by a controller of a multifunction peripheral. It is a block diagram which shows the other structure of a service cooperation system.

Explanation of symbols

10, 20, 30 MFP 14 Controller 17 Storage device 40 Instruction editor

Claims (6)

Self-device information storage means for storing the self-device information separately into the required items and optional items other than the required items ;
A job flow information for performing predetermined processing for the document data, and the target device information indicating the device to be registered, the instruction information with collates the apparatus own information stored in the own device information storage unit, wherein A registration determination unit that determines that registration is possible if the required items match, and that registration is impossible if the required items do not match ;
When it is determined that registration is possible by the registration determination unit, the instruction information is stored if the arbitrary item is matched, and the temporary use disabling information is described if the optional item is not matched Storage means for storing instruction information ;
An instruction information storage device. Including at least device specific information as the target device information,
The own device information storage means stores at least device specific information as an essential item of the own device information,
The instruction information storage device according to claim 1, wherein the registration determination unit collates the device unique information included in the target device information with the device unique information stored in the own device information storage unit. The target device information further includes at least one of color / monochrome type information and port information,
The own device information storage means further stores at least one of color / monochrome type information and port information as an essential item of the own device information,
The registration determination unit includes at least one of color / monochrome type information and port information included in the target device information, and at least one of color / monochrome type information and port information stored in the own device information storage unit. The instruction information storage device according to claim 2, wherein the instruction information is determined to be registerable when all information matches by collation. Instruction information having job flow information for performing predetermined processing on document data and target device information indicating a device to be registered is divided into a required item and an optional item other than the required item in the own device information storage unit. A registration determination step of checking the stored device information and determining that registration is possible if the required items match, and determining that registration is not possible if the required items do not match ,
If it is determined to be registered in the registration determination step, the if any items are matched to store the instruction information to the instruction information storing unit, wherein any item is not available one o'clock if disagreement Storing the instruction information describing the information in the instruction information storage unit ;
An instruction information storage method comprising: 5. The instruction information storage according to claim 4, wherein in the registration determination step, the device unique information included in the target device information and the device unique information as the essential item stored in the own device information storage unit are collated. Method. In the registration determination step, at least one of color / monochrome type information and port information further included in the target device information, color / monochrome type information as the essential item further stored in the own device information storage unit, and The instruction information storage method according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the port information is collated and it is determined that the instruction information can be registered when all the information matches.

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