JP4612759B2 - Information processing method and information processing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to information processing having a plurality of devices corresponding to a distributed object environment. Method The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that supports a distributed object environment and can communicate with other apparatuses.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, input devices such as image scanners, digital cameras, and facsimile receivers, and single-function devices such as printers and facsimile transmitters, etc., are connected to each other via a network, providing a composite function that combines the functions of these single-function devices. Research and development of distributed document processing systems is actively conducted.
[0003]
Similarly, in a so-called MFP (multifunction product) in which functions of a plurality of single function devices are integrated in a single casing, the single function inside the MFP is cut out and combined with the functions of other devices via a network. Accordingly, various composite functions are required to be realized as appropriate, and research and development of distributed document processing systems are actively conducted.
[0004]
RPC (remote procedure call) and distributed object technologies are widely known as programming models for facilitating provision of functions across information processing apparatuses distributed over a network. A distributed object is an extension of an object-oriented software model to a distributed system. It is equivalent to a procedure in which an object on one network node calls an operation on an object on the same node (transparently) on another network node. It is possible to call the operation of the object.
[0005]
In document processing including document input and document output, it is expected to achieve flexible linkage of a plurality of functions by applying the distributed object technology. Proposals for systems based on distributed objects with a view other than distributed processing of information processing such as pure computation, such as proposals as part of CORBA by Jini and OMG (Object Management Group), which are Java applications by Sun, etc. Can be seen inside.
[0006]
If various device groups for document processing connected to a network can be controlled by distributed objects, flexible client applications that easily combine various devices that provide objects based on a predetermined interface can be easily described. It becomes possible. In addition, it dynamically inquires about the interface for manipulating the object, or dynamically downloads a stub object (or proxy object) that hides communication with the server object that is in a remote place and actually provides the service. By doing so, it is possible to easily describe a client application that can cope with a change in the control interface accompanying expansion of the apparatus.
[0007]
Also, in order to improve the operability of a new MFP, it is becoming common to have a rich user interface panel with a relatively high resolution and a large display.
[0008]
On the other hand, PDA (personal digital assistance) represented by Apple's Newton and 3Com's Palm series has become widespread, and mobile phones have also become part of the functions of information terminals. Yes. In addition, research and development of wearable computers has been actively conducted. Mobile computing with small and light information terminals that can be easily carried by general users is a thin computer that does not have many unnecessary resources, and external resources are distributed by distributed applications based on basic technologies such as distributed objects. It is expected that development will be achieved by freely combining them via a network.
[0009]
For example, an MFP placed in a convenience store with a high-level network using a point-of-sale (POS) network and a PDA carried by the user are connected by a wireless LAN (local area network) in the store. It is easy to envisage a system in which the distributed application operating above dynamically links the distributed object service of the MFP and uses the resources of the printer and scanner.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even a distributed object environment compatible device such as an MFP that provides device functions such as printing and scanning to a distributed object environment has no mechanism for providing user interface resources of the device to other devices.
[0011]
Therefore, a user of a portable terminal such as a PDA can carry a rich user interface resource in front of an MFP installed in a convenience store, using a poor user interface resource of the portable terminal, with a rich user interface resource in front of him. There was a problem that a distributed application running on the terminal had to be operated.
[0012]
The object of the present invention is to solve such problems, to make it possible to divert the user interface resources of the apparatus to other apparatuses, and to impair the convenience of the user interface function for original apparatus control. An object is to provide an information processing method and apparatus and an information processing system.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Invention]
The invention according to claim 1 is an information processing method in an image input / output device communicating with a client computer. , Painting A communication step of communicating with a client computer in a method used for lending a user interface service for controlling a display unit of the image input / output device for operating a function of the image input / output device to the client computer for a certain period; User interface information, which is information necessary for device control for controlling the storage service of the client computer, transmitted from the client computer in response to a request for use of the user interface received from the client computer by communication in the communication step. Output step for displaying a menu including information display, download and deletion of files managed by the storage service to the user, and an acquisition step for acquiring input from the user operating the menu. And an instruction based on the input of the instruction input in the acquisition step, the information of the user interface that transfers the instruction including the information display, download, and deletion of the file managed by the storage service to the client computer. A transfer step, a second interface screen output by the output step using the user interface information, and an instruction based on an input from the acquisition step, the file information display managed by the storage service; Transition from the second interface screen for transferring instructions including download and deletion to the client computer in the user interface information transfer step to the first interface screen used for controlling the image input / output device Let client comp An event related to the screen transition step that instructs the end of use of the user interface service that was lent to the data and the processing that is instructed to be executed on the screen of the first interface, and occurred in the image input / output device And a step of displaying the event to notify the interruption on the display of the screen of the second user interface.
In the first aspect, the screen transition step can transition from the screen of the first interface to the screen of the second interface according to the screen transition operation in the acquisition step.
In the first aspect, the screen transition step can transition from the second interface screen to the first interface screen according to the screen transition operation in the acquisition step.
In the first aspect, the screen transition step can transition from the screen of the first interface to the screen of the second interface in response to a request from the client computer.
In the first aspect, the screen transition step can transition from the second interface screen to the first interface screen in response to a request from the client computer.
The first event notification according to claim 1, wherein when an event for displaying information necessary for device control to the user occurs on the screen of the second interface, information for alerting the user is output from the output step. A step can be further included.
2. The second event notification step according to claim 1, wherein when an event occurs in which the display unit should display information to the user on the screen of the first interface, a second event notification step of outputting information for alerting the user to the output step. Furthermore, it can be provided.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the output step includes a control step of displaying an image, and the first event notification step can display a message or an icon in a region for displaying the image to alert the user.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the output step includes a control step of displaying an image, and the second event notification step can display a message or icon in a region for displaying the image to alert the user.
In claim 8, the area for displaying an image is a status line.
The area for displaying an image is a dialog box.
In claim 1, in the acquisition step, a user instruction obtained via the touch panel can be acquired.
In claim 1, the obtaining step can obtain an instruction of the user obtained through the pointing device.
The invention of claim 14 is an information processing apparatus in an image input / output apparatus communicating with a client computer. , Painting A communication means for communicating with a client computer in a device used for lending a user interface service for controlling a display unit of the image input / output device for operating a function of the image input / output device to the client computer for a certain period; User interface information, which is information necessary for device control for controlling the storage service of the client computer, transmitted from the client computer in response to a request for use of the user interface received from the client computer by communication in the communication means. Output means for displaying a menu including file information display, download, and deletion managed by the storage service to the user, an acquisition means for acquiring an input from the user operating the menu, and an acquisition And a user interface information transfer means for transferring instructions including information display, download, and deletion of files managed by the storage service to the client computer. The second interface screen output by the output means using the information of the information, and is an instruction based on the input from the acquisition means, the information display of the file managed by the storage service, download, deletion, Is transferred from the second interface screen, which is transferred to the client computer by the user interface information transfer means, to the first interface screen used to control the image input / output device, and lent to the client computer. User interface An event related to a process that is instructed to be executed on the screen of the first interface and an instruction that is executed on the screen of the first interface. The screen is provided with means for displaying an interrupt notification.
In the fourteenth aspect, the screen transition means can transition from the screen of the first interface to the screen of the second interface according to the screen transition operation by the acquisition means.
In the fourteenth aspect, the screen transition means can transition from the second interface screen to the first interface screen in accordance with the screen transition operation by the acquisition means.
In the fourteenth aspect, the screen transition means can transition from the screen of the first interface to the screen of the second interface in response to a request from the client computer.
According to a fourteenth aspect, the screen transition means can transition from the second interface screen to the first interface screen in response to a request from the client computer.
15. The first event notification according to claim 14, wherein, when an event for displaying information necessary for device control to the user occurs on the screen of the second interface, information for alerting the user is output from the output means. Means may further be provided.
15. The second event notifying unit according to claim 14, wherein, when an event that causes the display unit to display information to the user occurs on the screen of the first interface, the second event notifying unit outputs information for alerting the user to the output unit. Furthermore, it can be provided.
According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the output means includes control means for displaying an image, and the first event notification means can display a message or an icon in a region for displaying the image to alert the user.
According to a twentieth aspect, the output means includes control means for displaying an image, and the second event notification means can display a message or an icon in a region for displaying the image to alert the user.
The area for displaying an image is a status line.
24. The area for displaying an image is a dialog box.
In Claim 14, the acquisition means can acquire a user instruction obtained via the touch panel.
In Claim 14, the acquisition means can acquire an instruction of the user obtained through the pointing device.
A twenty-seventh aspect of the invention is a storage medium having a computer-readable program mounted thereon, wherein the computer program for executing the information processing method according to the first aspect is stored.
[0041]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0042]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. Networks 1101 and 1102 are connected to each other via a WAN (wide area network).
[0043]
The network 1101 is, for example, an in-store LAN laid in a certain convenience store, and includes a distributed object environment compatible image input / output device (hereinafter referred to as an image input / output device) 1201, a lookup server computer 14, and a client computer 13. Always connected.
[0044]
The image input / output device 1201 supports a distributed object environment such as Java JINI or CORBA. The lookup server computer 14 registers a service proxy object necessary for remotely operating the image input / output device 1201 from the client computer 13 together with its attribute information. The client computer 13 is a PDA carried by a customer, and is temporarily connected to the network 1101 by a wireless LAN or the like. The client computer 13 can remotely control the image input / output device 1201 and the distributed object environment-compatible image input / output device (hereinafter referred to as image input / output device) 1202.
[0045]
The network 1102 is, for example, a LAN laid in the workplace of a customer visiting a convenience store, and an image input / output device 1202 is always connected.
[0046]
The image input / output device 1202 corresponds to a distributed object environment such as Java JINI or CORBA.
[0047]
As described above, since the networks 1101 and 1102 are connected to each other via a wide area network (WAN), the image input / output devices 1201 and 1202 can transfer the respective data via the network 11.
[0048]
FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the image input / output device 1201 of FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1101 denotes the same part as in FIG. An image input / output control unit 3 is connected to the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2, and includes a facsimile unit 4, a storage unit 5, a computer interface unit 7, a RIP (raster image processor) unit 8, and an operation. It has a part 9 and a core part 10.
[0049]
The reader unit 1 reads an image of a document and outputs image data corresponding to the document image to the image input / output control unit 3. The printer unit 2 records an image corresponding to the image data from the image input / output control unit 3 on a recording sheet. The facsimile unit 4 decompresses the compressed image data received via the telephone line, transfers the decompressed image data to the core unit 10, compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10, and compresses the compressed image data. Image data is transmitted via a telephone line. Image data to be transmitted and received can be temporarily stored in the hard disk 6 connected to the storage unit 5.
[0050]
The storage unit 5 compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10 and stores it in the hard disk 6 together with an ID number for retrieving the image data. Further, the storage unit 5 searches the compressed image data stored in the hard disk 6 based on the code data transferred via the core unit 10, reads out the decompressed compressed image data, decompresses the decompressed image, and Data is transferred to the core unit 10.
[0051]
The computer interface unit 7 is an interface between the network 1101 and the core unit 10, and exchanges data with the client computer 13 and the image input / output device 1202. The RIP unit 8 develops code data (PDL) representing an image transferred from the network 1101 into image data that can be recorded by the printer unit 2.
[0052]
FIG. 3 shows the structure of the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2. First, the reader unit 1 will be described. The document feeder 101 feeds the documents one by one to the platen glass 102 in order from the top, and discharges the documents on the platen glass 102 after the document reading operation is completed. When the original is conveyed onto the platen glass 102, the lamp 103 is turned on, and the movement of the scanner unit 104 is started to expose and scan the original. The reflected light from the original at this time is guided to the CCD image sensor 109 by the mirrors 105, 106, 107 and the lens 108. Thus, the scanned image of the document is read by the CCD image sensor 109. Image data output from the CCD image sensor 109 is transferred to the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3 after being subjected to predetermined processing.
[0053]
Next, the printer unit 2 will be described. The laser driver 221 drives the laser light emitting unit 201 and causes the laser light emitting unit 201 to emit laser light corresponding to the image data output from the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3. Laser light from the laser emitting unit 201 is scanned on the photosensitive drum 202, and a latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 202. A developer (toner) is attached to the latent image on the photosensitive drum 202 by the developing unit 203. Then, at a timing synchronized with the start of laser light irradiation, the recording paper is fed from either the cassette 204 or the cassette 205 and conveyed to the transfer unit 206, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 202 is transferred to the recording paper. . The recording paper onto which the toner image has been transferred is transferred to the fixing unit 207, and the toner image on the recording paper is fixed by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 207. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 207 is discharged by a discharge roller 208, and the finisher 220 bundles the discharged recording papers to sort the recording papers or stab the sorted recording papers.
[0054]
When double-sided recording is set, after the recording paper is conveyed to the discharge roller 208, the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed and guided to the refeed conveyance path 210 by the flapper 209. The recording paper guided to the refeed conveyance path 210 is fed to the transfer unit 206 at the timing described above.
[0055]
FIG. 4 shows the appearance of the operation unit 9 of FIG. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 2602 denotes a panel on which a liquid crystal display 2601 with a touch panel and a plurality of hard keys are arranged. Reference numeral 2603 denotes an LED (light emitting diode) display unit for displaying a state. Reference numeral 2604 denotes a screen contrast adjustment dial for adjusting the screen contrast.
[0056]
In addition, the operation unit 9 includes a buzzer (not shown). The button image displayed on the liquid crystal display 2601 functions as a software key in conjunction with the input coordinate calculation of the touch panel. An operation instruction to the image input / output device and operation setting are performed by a user interface.
[0057]
FIG. 5 shows a configuration of the core unit 10 of FIG. 5, reference numerals 1, 2, 4 to 9 denote the same parts as in FIG. The core unit 10 includes interfaces 120 and 122, a data processing unit 122, a CPU 123, and a memory 124.
[0058]
Image data from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 via the interface 122. The data processing unit 121 performs image processing such as image rotation processing and scaling processing, and compression and decompression of image data, and has a page memory that can store image data equivalent to A4 / Letter size for a plurality of pages. Have. The image data transferred from the reader unit 1 to the data processing unit 121 is temporarily stored in the page memory, and then compressed and transferred to the storage unit 5 via the interface 120.
[0059]
Code data (PDL) representing an image input via the computer interface unit 7 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 via the interface 120, and then transferred to the RIP unit 8 to be developed and obtained as image data. The transferred image data is transferred to the data processing unit 121, temporarily stored in the page memory, and then compressed and transferred to the storage unit 5.
[0060]
The image data from the facsimile unit 4 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, temporarily stored in the page memory, and then compressed and transferred to the storage unit 5. Image data from the storage unit 5 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, decompressed, temporarily stored in the page memory, and then transferred to the printer unit 2, facsimile unit 4, and computer interface unit 7. The storage unit 5 can input and output image data and non-image data via the computer interface unit 7 and can provide a data storage function to an external device.
[0061]
In addition, after inputting various image data to the data processing unit 121 described above and temporarily storing it in the page memory, before transferring the image data to the storage unit 5, the printer unit 2, the facsimile unit 4, and the computer interface unit 7. Can be transferred by switching the internal selector.
[0062]
The CPU 123 performs such control according to the control program stored in the memory 124 and the control command transferred from the operation unit 9. The memory 124 is also used as a work area for the CPU 123.
[0063]
As described above, functions such as reading of a document image, printing of an image, transmission / reception of an image, storage of an image, and input / output of data from a computer are mainly performed by the core unit 10 via the data processing unit 121 and the storage unit 5. Can be combined.
[0064]
Next, job control in the image input / output apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 6 which logically shows units of job control. The unit of job control is input and output processing for a group of image data including a plurality of pages. As a result, the jobs to be controlled are roughly divided into image input jobs and image output jobs.
[0065]
The image input job includes an image input job 411 for sequentially recording image data read by the reader unit 1 to the storage unit 5, an image input job 412 for sequentially recording image data developed by the RIP unit 8 to the storage unit 5, and a facsimile. The image input job 413 that sequentially records the image data received by the unit 4 to the storage unit 5 and the image input job 414 that sequentially records the image data input from the computer interface unit 7 to the storage unit 5 are further classified. .
[0066]
The distributed object environment-compliant image input / output apparatus according to the present embodiment provides a function of using the storage unit 5 for storing non-image data, and the image input job 411 and the image output job 414 handle non-image data. You can also.
[0067]
The image output job includes an image output job 401 that sequentially outputs image data read from the storage unit 5 to the printer unit, an image output job 403 that sequentially outputs image data read from the storage unit 5 to the facsimile unit, and the storage unit 5. The image data read out from the image data is classified into an image output job 404 for sequentially outputting to the computer interface unit 7.
[0068]
FIG. 7 shows an example of a unit combining a plurality of jobs (hereinafter referred to as a session). In FIG. 7, reference numeral 501 denotes a copy session, which controls an image input job 411 and an image output job 401 in combination as a session. Reference numeral 502 denotes a PDL print session, which controls the image input job 412 and the image output job 401 in combination as a session. Reference numeral 503 denotes a facsimile reception session which controls the image input job 413 and the image output job 401 in combination as a session. Reference numeral 504 denotes a printer session, which controls the image input job 414 and the image output job 401 in combination as a session.
[0069]
A facsimile transmission session 505 controls the image input job 411 and the image output job 403 in combination as a session. Reference numeral 506 denotes a scan session, which controls the image input job 411 and the image output job 404 in combination as a session. Reference numeral 507 denotes a FAX modem reception session, which controls the image input job 413 and the image output job 404 in combination as a session. Reference numeral 508 denotes a fax modem transmission session, which controls the image input job 414 and the image output job 403 in combination as a session.
[0070]
The session is a control unit including one or more jobs. For example, the image input job 412 is treated as one session, the image output job 401 is treated as a session, the image input job 412 and the image output job 401 are The image output job 403 may be combined and handled as one session.
[0071]
FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the client computer 13 of FIG. The client computer 13 is characterized by an algorithm of software that runs, and the behavior of the software will be described later. In FIG. 8, 2400 is a PDA, which connects a CPU 2401, RAM 2402, ROM 2403, network interface 2412, touch panel controller (TPC) 2405, LCDC 2406, and DKC 2407 to each other via a system bus 2413. is there.
[0072]
The CPU 2401 executes document processing in which graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets) and the like are mixed according to the document processing program stored in the program ROM of the ROM 2403, and each device connected to the system bus 2413. Is a comprehensive control. A control program for the CPU 2401 is stored in the program ROM of the ROM 2403. The RAM 2402 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 2401. A touch panel controller 2405 controls input from the touch panel 2409. An LCD (liquid crystal display) controller 2406 controls display on the LCD display 2410. The disk controller 2407 controls access to the external storage device 2411 as necessary. A network interface 2408 executes communication control processing with other host computers and input / output devices via a network.
[0073]
FIG. 9 shows the configuration of the lookup server computer 14 of FIG. The lookup server computer 14 may be a general-purpose computer configuration that is well known in terms of hardware, and the function that characterizes it is performed by an algorithm of software that runs. For example, it is possible to run this software on the hardware of the image input / output device 1202. In this case, the image input / output device 1202 also serves as the lookup server computer 14. The behavior of the software will be described later.
[0074]
In the lookup server computer 14, a CPU 2501, a RAM 2502, a ROM 2502, a network interface 2512, a keyboard controller 2505, a CRT (cathode ray tube) controller 2506, and a disk controller 2507 are connected to each other via a system bus 2510. It is.
[0075]
The CPU 2501 executes processing in accordance with a program stored in the program ROM of the ROM 2503 and controls the devices connected to the system bus 2513 as a whole. A RAM 2502 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 2501. A keyboard controller 2505 controls key input from a keyboard 2509 or a pointing device (not shown). A CRT controller 2506 controls display on the CRT display 2510. A disk controller 2507 controls access to an external storage device 2511 such as a hard disk or floppy disk that stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, and the like. A network interface 2508 executes communication control processing with other host computers and input / output devices via a network.
[0076]
Next, the distributed object system according to the present embodiment will be described. This distributed object system is similar to Java's Jini framework.
[0077]
The memory 124 (FIG. 5) of the core unit 10 stores a plurality of service objects, which are software units for using the device function realized by each session as a service. The service object is configured corresponding to each service provided by the apparatus such as PDL print, image print, image scan, fax transmission, fax reception, data storage, apparatus management, and job management.
[0078]
A service object is a kind of software structure called an object in a known object-oriented technology, and has an interface for providing a function to a client and an implementation for realizing the function requested by the interface by device control. In particular, the service object according to the present embodiment is a kind of object in the well-known distributed object technology, and includes not only client software arranged in a memory space local to the device but also an external device (remotely via a network) ( For example, the client software arranged in the memory space of the client computer 13) is also configured to call the above-described interface and use the service. An outline of a configuration in which a service object according to the present embodiment provides a service to a client will be described next.
[0079]
10 and 11 conceptually show the configuration of a data storage service object that is one of the service objects.
[0080]
FIG. 10 shows a general object-oriented system in which the client software uses an interface from the space of the memory 124 inside the apparatus. The data storage service object provides an interface for the client to use the storage unit 5 in the apparatus as a secondary storage device. In the interface, open for generating a file to be stored in the storage unit 5 or obtaining a descriptor for accessing the generated file, close for declaring completion of access to the file, and data from the file It has an interface defined by a set of operations provided by a known general file system, such as read to read, write to write data to a file, unlink to delete a file, and the like.
[0081]
When each operation defined by the interface is invoked, the control software that provides the implementation corresponding to the interface is activated. As a result, the CPU 123 controls the storage unit 5 to realize a predetermined function corresponding to each operation.
[0082]
The above shows the behavior of a general object-oriented system in which client software uses an interface from the space of the memory 124 inside the apparatus.
[0083]
As shown in FIG. 11, a service object which is a distributed object system is arranged in a service proxy object arranged in a memory space of another device (for example, client computer 13) in a remote place and a memory space inside the device. The service implementation object provides a service interface to the client software in the memory space of the remote device in cooperation with the service implementation object.
[0084]
The data storage service proxy object provides an interface for the client to use the storage unit 5 inside the apparatus as a secondary storage device. In the interface, open for generating a file to be stored in the storage unit 5 or obtaining a descriptor for accessing the generated file, close for declaring completion of access to the file, and data from the file It has the same interface as described above, such as read to read, write to write data to the file, unlink to delete the file, and the like.
[0085]
When each operation defined by the interface is called from the client in the memory space of the remote device, software for transferring the operation call request to the device via the network is activated. In accordance with this software, the CPU of the remote device encodes the identifier value for identifying the requested operation and the data structure passed as an argument to the call into a byte string that can be transmitted via the network. This encoding process is called marshalling or serialization (serialization), and several techniques are known. Then, the CPU of the remote device transmits the encoded byte string to the device via the network. Protocols such as OMG IIOP and Sun RMI are used for communication.
[0086]
In a memory space local to the device, software called an object request broker is constantly monitoring reception of request data from the network. When the object request broker receives the above-described byte string, it restores the call of the operation of the original object and the data structure passed as an argument even if it is decrypted, and calls the corresponding operation of the service implementation object. As a result, the control software that provides the implementation corresponding to the interface is activated. As a result, the CPU 123 controls the storage unit 5 to realize a predetermined function corresponding to each operation.
[0087]
However, the client software need not be programmed in consideration that the service implementation object that actually realizes the service of the device exists in another memory space via the network. In other words, the processing that encodes the operation call and the communication processing via the network are concealed inside by the service proxy object, so the client software is equivalent to the case where the service object is mounted in the same memory space as itself. Can use the service easily. Providing network transparency for client software programmers in this way is one of the important advantages of a distributed object environment.
[0088]
Note that the encoding and communication processing performed by the service proxy object in the above description is processing based on a predetermined encoding algorithm and a predetermined communication protocol. That is, these processes can be strictly defined independently of different interfaces for individual service objects.
[0089]
Therefore, a compiler provided in a distributed object environment (generally called an IDL compiler) reads a description that strictly defines a service interface as data and performs interpretation and conversion processing, thereby mechanically creating a service proxy object program. Can be generated. It is another important advantage of a distributed object environment that a programmer who builds a system can easily obtain a program of a service surrogate object using an IDL compiler as a tool.
[0090]
Next, FIG. 12 will be described. FIG. 12 shows the process from the peripheral device to the service server object 14 being loaded into the lookup server computer 14. At the moment when the image input / output device 1202 is connected to the network 1101, a broadcast packet indicating whether or not a lookup server computer exists on the network 1101 is thrown. The lookup server computer 14 that has received the thrown packet notifies the image input / output device 1202 of the presence of the lookup server computer 14. Thereafter, the image input / output device 1202 registers the driver 617 with the found lookup server computer 14.
[0091]
The image input / output devices 1201 and 1202 connected to the network register service proxy object groups in the lookup server computer 14 respectively. In the lookup server computer 14, as shown in FIG. 14, the registered service proxy object includes the registered date and time, the name of the service (peripheral device name), the specification of the service, and the attributes such as the location of the service. It is managed. As for the types of registered attributes, a standard schema by the Jini community is defined for each service category such as printer and storage. Also, unique information unique to the service can be registered as an attribute. The lookup server computer 14 is configured to respond to each attribute of the registered service in response to an inquiry from the client software.
[0092]
FIG. 13 will be described. FIG. 13 shows a process from downloading the service proxy object to the client computer 13 from the lookup server computer 14. When the client computer 13 uses the image input / output device 1202, first, the lookup server computer 14 is searched for a service proxy object corresponding to what service. Then, the client computer 13 downloads a desired service proxy object from the lookup server, and communicates with the image input / output device 1202 that provides the target service.
[0093]
When there is a request that the client computer 13 “want to receive a print service” or “want to receive a scan service”, the client computer 13 first looks at the management table (FIG. 14) of the lookup server computer 14 to determine what service is available. The registered service is confirmed, and a desired service is downloaded from the lookup server computer 14.
[0094]
In the distributed object system according to the present embodiment, the service employs a model in which the usage right is lent (leased) to the client for a certain period. That is, the image input / output device 1202 uses the service of the lookup server computer to register its presence in the lookup server, and an expiration date is also set for this registration. Once registration has been performed, it will eventually expire if registration is not repeated periodically. According to this mechanism, when various servers as clients of the lookup server lose their functions due to a system down or the like, the problem that invalid information is continuously registered in the lookup service is reduced.
[0095]
FIG. 15 schematically shows the configuration of the distributed application of the distributed object system according to the present embodiment. The client software running on the client computer 13 which is a PDA accesses the storage device inside the image input / output device 1202 located at a remote place in the same manner as described with reference to FIG. For example, when displaying a list of files, it is more convenient to display the file list on a relatively large screen than the small screen of the client computer 13.
[0096]
Therefore, the client software searches a higher-resolution user interface service by using the lookup server computer 14 connected to the same convenience store in-store LAN 1101, and obtains a user interface service object of the image input / output device 1201 connected to the in-store LAN 1101. The client software calls the operation of the downloaded user interface service proxy object, and draws the display of the graphical user interface required by the operation unit of the image input / output device 1201 to acquire the input from the touch panel.
[0097]
When the user executing the client software looks at the operation unit 9 of the image input / output device 1201 in the store, for example, there is a function for controlling functions unique to the device such as the copy control screen shown in FIG. Is displayed. Here, when the user presses a soft key labeled Special Features on the touch panel display, a screen (FIG. 16) for selecting a desired function from a list of special functions is displayed.
[0098]
Here, when the user presses a soft key labeled UI Service, the screen shown in FIG. 17 is displayed. FIG. 17 shows a screen drawn by the client software of the client computer 13 via the user interface service object provided by the image input / output device 1201. The screen displays a list of user files stored in the storage device inside the image input / output device 1202 acquired by the client software via the storage service object.
[0099]
When the user touches one of the rows in the list, an input event from the touch panel is transmitted to the client software via the user interface service object. The client software detects the event, and further displays a menu for selecting operations such as detailed information display of the file displayed in the line touched by the user, download, deletion, and application termination. .
[0100]
When the user interface processing required by the client software is completed, the client software calls a service use completion notification operation on the user interface service object. As a result, the screen in FIG. 17 is deleted, and the screen returns to the original screen as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 16, for example.
[0101]
In FIG. 17, the black band at the bottom of the screen is an area where the image input / output device 1201 displays not the client software but monitors events on the touch panel. A button labeled Back arranged on the right side of this area is a soft key for returning to the original operation screen of the image input / output device 1201. When the user touches this soft key, a screen as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 16, for example, is displayed at any time by the control program of the image input / output device 1201. If the user presses the UI Service soft key in FIG. 16 again, the user can return to the screen in FIG.
[0102]
In addition, the icon placed on the left side of this area and Pa p The message “er Jam!” is a status line display managed by the image input / output device 1201 to notify the user that a paper jam has occurred and call attention to the user.
[0103]
Whenever the user touches the soft key labeled Status, the device status details are displayed.
[0104]
In this embodiment, when an event that should alert the user occurs in the device, if the user interface service is active, the control program for the device displays an icon in the status line at the bottom of the screen. The example in which the message is displayed has been described. In addition to this, for example, as shown in FIG. 18, the external client is configured to display an overlapping dialog on the screen displayed by the user interface service. May be. Or you may comprise so that it may change to an original screen of an apparatus as shown in FIG. 4 compulsorily. Alternatively, it may be configured to use one of status line display, dialog display, and forced screen transition depending on the priority of the event. Moreover, you may comprise so that a user's attention may be called by LED2603, a buzzer, etc. FIG.
[0105]
In the present embodiment, the example in which the operation unit is controlled by the user interface service by touching the UI Service soft key in FIG. 16 has been described, but the UI Service is forcibly controlled by the user interface service. So that the transition from the screen of FIG. 4 or the like to the screen of FIG. 17 is automatically performed when the client software starts using the user interface service object or calls a forced activation operation. It may be configured.
[0106]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the client software can easily provide a user interface that is easy for the user to use by using the user interface service of a nearby device having richer user interface resources.
[0107]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since it is configured as described above, in the network system based on the distributed object, it is possible to divert the user interface resources of the device to other devices, and The convenience of the user interface function for device control can be kept intact.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a distributed object environment compliant image input / output device 1201 of FIG. 1. FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view showing structures of a reader unit 1 and a printer unit 2 in FIG.
4 is a diagram showing an external appearance of an operation unit 9 in FIG. 2;
5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a core unit 10 of FIG.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining job control in the distributed object environment-compliant image input / output device;
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a unit obtained by combining a plurality of jobs.
8 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the client computer 13 of FIG.
9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the lookup server computer 14 of FIG.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram conceptually showing the structure of a data storage service object that is one of service objects.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram conceptually showing the structure of a data storage service object that is one of service objects.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram for explaining a method in which a peripheral device registers a service proxy object in the lookup server computer 14;
FIG. 13 is a block diagram for explaining a method by which a client computer 13 acquires a service proxy object from a lookup server.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration of a management table of the lookup server computer 14;
FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram conceptually showing a software structure as a distributed application of client software.
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a device-specific control screen displayed on the operation unit of the distributed object environment-compatible image input / output device.
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the operation unit of the image input / output device including an area drawn by client software via a user interface service object.
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the operation unit of the image input / output device in which a device-specific dialog overlaps an area drawn by the client software via the user interface service object.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Reader section
2 Printer section
3 Image input / output controller
4 Facsimile Department
5 Storage department
7 Computer interface
8 RIP Department
9 Operation part
10 Core part
14 Lookup server computer
213 Client computer
1101,1102 network
1201,1202 Image input / output device for distributed object environment

Claims (27)

An information processing method in an image input-output device in communication with the client computer, before Symbol user interface services to control the display unit of the image input-output device for operating the functions of the image input-output device, a period of time, the In the method used to lend to client computers,
A communication step of communicating with the client computer;
A user interface which is information necessary for device control for controlling the storage service of the client computer transmitted from the client computer in response to a request for use of the user interface received from the client computer by communication in the communication step An output step for displaying a menu including information display of a file managed by the storage service, download, and deletion to the user,
An acquisition step of acquiring an input of an instruction from a user operating the menu;
Transfer of user interface information that is an instruction based on the input of the instruction input in the acquisition step and transfers an instruction including information display, download, and deletion of a file managed by the storage service to the client computer Steps,
A screen of a second interface output by the output step using the information of the user interface, and an instruction based on an input from the acquisition step, and an information display of a file managed by a storage service; The first interface screen used to control the image input / output device from the second interface screen that transfers instructions including download and deletion to the client computer in the user interface information transfer step. A transition step of the screen instructing the end of the use of the user interface service that has been lent to the client computer,
A step of displaying an event related to a process instructed to be executed on the screen of the first interface, which has occurred in the image input / output device, on the screen of the second user interface for interrupt notification An information processing method comprising:   2. The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein the screen transition step transitions from the screen of the first interface to the screen of the second interface according to an operation of screen transition in the acquisition step.   2. The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein the screen transition step transitions from the screen of the second interface to the screen of the first interface in accordance with an operation of screen transition in the acquisition step.   2. The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein the screen transition step transitions from the screen of the first interface to the screen of the second interface in response to a request from the client computer.   The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein the screen transition step transitions from the second interface screen to the first interface screen in response to a request from the client computer.   In Claim 1, when the event which should display the information required for the said apparatus control to a user occurs on the screen of the said 2nd interface, the information for alerting a user from the said output step is output. An information processing method further comprising a one-event notification step.   2. The second event according to claim 1, wherein on the screen of the first interface, when an event occurs in which the display unit should display information to the user, the second event outputs information for alerting the user to the output step. An information processing method further comprising a notification step. In claim 6,
The output step includes a control step of displaying an image, and the first event notification step displays a message or an icon in a region for displaying the image to alert the user. Method. In claim 7,
The output step includes a control step of displaying an image, and the second event notification step displays a message or an icon in a region for displaying the image to alert the user. Method.   9. The information processing method according to claim 8, wherein the area for displaying the image is a status line.   9. The information processing method according to claim 8, wherein the area for displaying the image is a dialog box.   2. The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring step acquires a user instruction obtained via a touch panel.   2. The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining step obtains a user instruction obtained via a pointing device. An information processing apparatus in an image input-output device in communication with the client computer, a user interface service to control the display unit of the image input-output device for operating the functions of the previous SL image input-output device, a period of time, the In a device used to lend to a client computer,
Communication means for communicating with the client computer;
A user interface which is information necessary for device control for controlling a storage service of the client computer transmitted from the client computer in response to a request for use of the user interface received from the client computer by communication in the communication means Output means for displaying a menu including information display, download and deletion of files managed by the storage service to the user,
Obtaining means for obtaining an input of an instruction from a user operating the menu;
Transfer of user interface information that is an instruction based on an instruction input by the acquisition means and that transfers an instruction including information display, download, and deletion of a file managed by the storage service to the client computer Means,
A second interface screen output by the output means using the information of the user interface, and an instruction based on an input from the acquisition means, and an information display of a file managed by a storage service; The first interface screen used for controlling the image input / output device from the second interface screen for transferring instructions including download and deletion to the client computer in the information transfer means of the user interface. Transition means for instructing the end of the use of the user interface service that has been lent to the client computer,
Means for displaying an event related to processing instructed to be executed on the screen of the first interface, which has occurred in the image input / output device, for notifying the display of the screen of the second user interface An information processing apparatus comprising:   15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the screen transition unit transitions from the screen of the first interface to the screen of the second interface according to a screen transition operation by the acquisition unit.   15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the screen transition means transitions from the screen of the second interface to the screen of the first interface in accordance with a screen transition operation by the acquisition means.   15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the screen transition means transitions from the screen of the first interface to the screen of the second interface in response to a request from the client computer.   15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the screen transition unit transitions from the screen of the second interface to the screen of the first interface in response to a request from the client computer.   15. The information according to claim 14, wherein information for alerting the user is output from the output means when an event for displaying information necessary for device control to the user occurs on the screen of the second interface. An information processing apparatus further comprising one event notification means.   15. The second event according to claim 14, wherein when the event that the display unit should display information to the user occurs on the screen of the first interface, the output means outputs information for calling the user's attention. An information processing apparatus further comprising notification means. In claim 19,
The output means includes a control means for displaying an image, and the first event notification means displays a message or an icon in a region for displaying an image to alert the user. apparatus. In claim 20,
The output means includes a control means for displaying an image, and the second event notifying means displays a message or an icon in a region for displaying the image to alert the user. apparatus.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the area for displaying the image is a status line.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the area for displaying the image is a dialog box.   15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the acquisition unit acquires a user instruction obtained via a touch panel.   15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the acquisition unit acquires a user instruction obtained through a pointing device.   A storage medium having a computer-readable program mounted thereon, wherein the computer program for executing the information processing method according to claim 1 is stored.

Images