JP4795848B2 - Image processing system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing system in which an image processing apparatus and an external apparatus are connected through a network, and the image processing apparatus performs processing on image data using an application included in the external apparatus.

  The image processing apparatus is multifunctional and can perform processing such as copying, printing, scanning, and facsimile. An image processing system is constructed in which this image processing device and an external device such as a server or a personal computer are communicably connected via a network. In the image processing system, image data is output from an external device to the image processing device, and the image processing device processes the image data and outputs it by printing, facsimile communication, or the like. In addition, image data input to the image processing apparatus is output to the external apparatus, and the external apparatus manages the image data.

  As described above, in order to manage and share image data, external vendors have developed applications related to document management and business processes. In the image processing system, the application and the image processing apparatus are operated in cooperation.

When processing using an application is performed, a list of applications is displayed and an application is selected in the image processing apparatus as described in Patent Document 1. When the ID of the application is notified to the external apparatus, the external apparatus starts the selected application and executes the process instructed by the image processing apparatus.
JP 10-111793 A

  By the way, there are applications that are not used by users of the image processing apparatus. When all applications that can be used in the image processing apparatus are displayed, unnecessary applications are also displayed when the user operates. For this reason, it takes time for the user to select an application to be used. In addition, there is a high possibility of making an operation error when selecting an application.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system with improved user operability when performing processing using an application.

  The present invention is an image processing system in which an image processing apparatus that processes image data and an external apparatus having an application are connected via a network so that the image processing apparatus can access the application and operate according to the application. The image processing apparatus includes a selection unit that can access a plurality of applications and selects an application permitted to access from among the plurality of applications according to the user.

  The selection unit may be provided in either the image processing apparatus or an external apparatus. The selecting unit specifies a user and selects an application permitted to access from a plurality of applications. Therefore, only applications that are permitted to access are selected for the user, and applications that are not permitted to access are not selected. This prevents the user from specifying the application by mistake.

  The image processing apparatus includes display means for displaying a list of accessible applications, and the display means makes display of applications permitted to access differ from display of applications not permitted to access. At first glance, it is possible to distinguish between an application that is permitted to access and an application that is not permitted, thereby reducing user operation errors.

  The image processing apparatus includes display means for displaying a list of applications, and the display means displays only applications for which access is permitted. Applications that are not allowed to access are not displayed. Therefore, the user can specify only the applications for which access is permitted.

  The external device includes a restricting unit that restricts access to the application, and the image processing device includes a confirmation unit that confirms whether access to the selected application is restricted. Even if access is permitted, there are applications that are not suitable for use due to security problems or software bugs. For such an application, the access is restricted by the restricting means so that it cannot be used. In the image processing apparatus, when one application is designated from the selected applications, the confirmation unit confirms whether access to the application is restricted. As a result of confirmation, if the application is restricted in access, access to the application is prohibited. Since an application that is not suitable for use is not accessed, processing using this application is not performed.

  According to the present invention, by selecting an application that can be used according to the user, the user can definitely specify the application that the user wants to use. Therefore, a user's operation mistake can be prevented and operability can be improved.

  An image processing apparatus in the image processing system of this embodiment is shown in FIG. The image processing apparatus 1 is an MFP that executes a copy mode, a print mode, a scanner mode, and a facsimile mode, and includes a scanner unit 2 that reads a document and inputs image data, and an image data processing unit 3 that processes the image data. And an information processing unit 4 for processing input information such as authentication information.

  The image data processing unit 3 prints and outputs the image data, the image processing unit 5 that performs editing, storage, and output processing of the input image data, the network communication unit 7 that performs data communication via the network 6, and the like. The printing unit 8 includes a management unit 9 that stores control information and setting information for the entire apparatus, and a device control unit 10 that controls the entire apparatus. The image processing unit 5 includes a hard disk device for storing image data and a memory.

  The information processing unit 4 includes an operation unit 11 for input operation, a display unit 12 that displays an operation screen, an interface unit 13 that communicates with a mobile terminal device such as a USB device or an IC card, and input authentication information It has the authentication part 14 which performs authentication, the memory 15 which memorize | stores information, such as authentication information, and the control part 16 which processes the input operation information and authentication information. Communication by the interface unit 13 is not limited to wired communication but may be wireless.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 11 and the display unit 12 are provided on the operation panel 17. The operation unit 11 includes various operation keys 18. The display unit 12 includes a liquid crystal display and is a touch panel. Touch keys are formed in the operation screen displayed on the display unit 12, and these also function as the operation keys 18.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of image processing apparatuses 1 are connected to a network 6 such as a LAN or a WAN. The image processing apparatus 1 has a modem device (not shown) and can perform data communication with a facsimile apparatus through a telephone line.

  A plurality of external devices are connected to the network 6. The external devices are a personal computer 20 and a server 21. The server 21 is a management server that manages the entire system, an authentication server that authenticates a user, or the like. Furthermore, the network 6 is connected from the router to the Internet via a communication line such as a telephone line or an optical fiber. An image processing system is formed by the image processing apparatus 1 and the external apparatus.

  The image processing apparatus 1 can communicate with an external apparatus through a network 6 using a predetermined communication protocol. The image processing apparatuses 1 can also communicate with each other. The communication in the network 6 may be wired or wireless.

  The image data is transmitted from the external device to the image processing device 1 through the network 6. The network communication unit 7 of the image processing apparatus 1 receives and inputs image data. In the case of facsimile communication, the modem device inputs image data. Image data is also input from the scanner unit 2.

  When the image data is input, the device control unit 10 determines whether the print mode, the copy mode, the scanner mode, or the facsimile mode is based on input information from the operation unit 11 or processing conditions included in the header information of the input image data. Execute one of the processes. In the print mode and the copy mode, the image processing unit 5 performs image processing on the image data, and then the printing unit 8 prints an image on a recording sheet. In the scanner mode, the image data is stored in the hard disk device, and the image data is transmitted to the external device through the network communication unit 7 when called from the external device. In the facsimile mode, image data is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus through the modem apparatus. The processes in the copy mode, the scanner mode, and the facsimile mode are processes that can be executed by the apparatus alone, and these processes are processes unique to the apparatus.

  The external apparatus has various applications related to the image processing apparatus 1. The external device performs processing according to the application and operates the image processing device 1 according to the application. Therefore, in the image processing system, the application of the external device and the image processing apparatus 1 can be operated in cooperation. The image processing apparatus 1 can execute not only apparatus-specific processing but also various functions customized by an application.

  The application is developed by an external vendor, and one or a plurality of applications are installed in each external device. The processes executed by the application are related to image processing such as color conversion, resolution conversion, scaling, RET, specific image discrimination, transmission processing such as time designation transmission, broadcast processing, file management, OCR, translation, etc. There are things related to documents and operability such as setting and switching of functions of the image processing apparatus 1, job programming, and customization of operations.

  A system using such an application is referred to as OSA (Open Systems Architecture). In OSA, a Web service using SOAP is performed. Communication using HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, or TCP / IP is performed between the external apparatus and the image processing apparatus 1 using SOAP.

  This communication is performed by a control unit including a CPU in the external device, and is performed by the device control unit 10 in the image processing apparatus 1. The control unit and the device control unit 10 operate in accordance with a predetermined program, thereby executing communication using SOAP and transmitting and receiving messages. SOAP is a protocol for calling data and services based on XML, HTTP, and the like, and can give instructions for control.

  Here, the image processing apparatus 1 can perform processing using a plurality of applications. There are applications that users use and applications that do not use. The image processing apparatus 1 can access an application to be used. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the user A uses application 1, application 2, and application 4. User B uses application 1 and application 4. Users C and D use the application 1. The usage relationship between the user and the application is set in advance, and the set information is stored in the external device as a management table. The external device updates the management table whenever a user or application is added or deleted, or when the usage relationship is changed.

  The external device includes a selection unit that selects an application permitted to access from among a plurality of applications according to the user. This function is executed by the control unit. The management server in the external device has selection means. The management server manages the management table.

  The selecting means refers to the management table and selects an application that can be used by the user. The image processing apparatus 1 communicates by connecting to an external apparatus having an application designated from the selected applications. Then, the selected application is accessed and processing according to the application is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the user performs processing using an application, the image processing apparatus 1 authenticates the user. First, when the operation key 22 for using an application displayed on the operation screen shown in FIG. 6 is operated, the device control unit 10 causes the display unit 12 to display a screen for inputting ID and password authentication information.

  When the authentication information is input, the device control unit 10 verifies that the user is registered in advance and authenticates the user. Then, based on the registered user information, the device control unit 10 confirms whether the identified user can use the application by OSA. After the confirmation, an external device to be communicated is specified, and as shown in FIG. 7, the external device is connected and communication is started. The device control unit 10 transmits user information to the connected external device. If the user is not permitted to use the application by OSA, the user is warned by displaying that it cannot be used.

  In the external device, when user information is input, an application that can be used by the user is selected based on the management table. The external device transmits information about the selected application to the image processing device 1. In the image processing apparatus 1, when the application information is input, a list of selected applications is displayed on the display unit 12 as shown in FIG. 8. For example, when the user can use all the applications, all the applications are displayed on the operation screen. When there are many applications and they cannot be displayed on one screen, all the applications can be confirmed by scrolling the operation screen.

  On the other hand, in the case of a user who has an application that cannot be used, as shown in FIG. 9, all the applications are displayed on the operation screen. As a display of a different form, for example, the density is reduced or the color is changed.

  As another display form, as shown in FIG. 10, only applications that can be used on the operation screen are displayed. Applications that cannot be used are not displayed on the operation screen.

  In this way, by selectively displaying available applications, the user can specify a desired application without making a mistake. Therefore, operation mistakes of the access user can be reduced and operability is improved.

  When an available application is displayed, the user designates an application to be used and operates an operation key on the screen corresponding to the application. The device control unit 10 of the image processing apparatus 1 transmits operation information corresponding to the input operation key 18 to the external device using HTTP.

  When the operation key 18 on the screen corresponding to an unusable application is operated, when this operation information is transmitted from the image processing apparatus 1, the external apparatus determines that the application cannot be used. Then, screen data indicating that the image processing apparatus 1 cannot be used is transmitted. The image processing apparatus 1 displays on the display unit 12 that it cannot be used.

  When operation information is input from the image processing apparatus 1, the external apparatus transmits connection information necessary for accessing the application to the image processing apparatus 1. This connection information includes destination information such as the application ID and the MAC address or IP address of the external apparatus having the application. Each application is given a unique ID. The image processing apparatus 1 acquires connection information such as an application ID from an external apparatus.

  By the way, some applications provided by external vendors are not suitable for use because there are security problems, software bugs exist, and operations are not guaranteed. For such applications, use prohibition measures are taken by the administrator authority, and access from the image processing apparatus 1 is restricted. The external device registers restriction information regarding use prohibition or access permission of the application in the management table. Then, the external device transmits the connection information including the restriction information.

  When acquiring the connection information, the device control unit 10 of the image processing apparatus 1 checks whether the designated application is prohibited from use or permitted to be accessed based on the restriction information. If the application is prohibited and cannot be accessed, the device control unit 10 stops using the application and displays an initial screen. When access is permitted, the device control unit 10 connects to an external device having an application based on destination information of the external device to enable communication. Then, the application is accessed based on the application ID.

  In the external device, the accessed application is activated. Then, while transmitting and receiving data between the image processing apparatus 1 and the external apparatus, the external apparatus executes processing corresponding to the application, and the image processing apparatus 1 operates in cooperation with the application.

  In the above, the selection of the application according to the user is performed by the external device. This selection may be performed by the image processing apparatus 1. That is, the device control unit 10 of the image processing apparatus 1 includes a selection unit, acquires a management table from an external device, and selects an application according to a user.

  When an available application is selected by the selection unit, the device control unit 10 displays the accessible application as shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. When the user specifies an application that the user wants to use, the device control unit 10 connects to the external device having the application and accesses the application. At this time, the device control unit 10 checks whether access is permitted based on the restriction information in the management table. When access to the application is not permitted, the device control unit 10 displays an initial screen after displaying that access is not possible.

  As described above, by restricting access according to an application, use of an application that is not suitable for use can be prohibited. Therefore, data leakage through the application can be prevented, and the security of the entire system is improved.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, many corrections and changes can be added to the said embodiment within the scope of the present invention. The image processing apparatus may be a complex machine having a copy mode and a facsimile mode, or may be a dedicated machine having only a single mode such as a copier or a printer.

The figure which shows schematic structure of the image processing apparatus of this invention Diagram showing the operation panel Configuration diagram of image processing system The figure which shows the management table showing the access permission for every user with respect to an application Flow chart of operation procedure when using application Figure showing the operation screen when using the application Figure showing the operation screen when connected to an external device The figure which shows the operation screen which displays the list of application The figure which shows the operation screen which shows the application which can be used The figure which shows the operation screen of the other display form which displays the application which can be used

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing apparatus 2 Scanner part 3 Image data processing part 4 Information processing part 6 Network 10 Equipment control part 11 Operation part 12 Display part 20 Personal computer 21 Server

Claims (4)

An image processing system in which an image processing apparatus that processes image data and an external apparatus having an application are connected to be communicable via a network, and the image processing apparatus accesses the application and operates according to the application. The device can access multiple applications, and a selection means for selecting an application that can be used by the user from among the multiple applications, and access to the application specified by the user from the selected applications is restricted. The image processing apparatus has confirmed that access to the application is restricted because it is not suitable for use even if the specified application can be used . When the application An image processing system, characterized in that stop using ® down. The image processing apparatus includes a display means for displaying a list of applications, the display means, the image of claim 1, wherein the to differ from the display of the unavailable application display the user can use the application Processing system. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus includes display means for displaying a list of applications, and the display means displays only applications that can be used by a user . In order to restrict access to an application that is not suitable for use, the external device registers restriction information regarding use prohibition or access permission of the application, and when the application is accessed from the image processing device, the restriction information is transmitted to the image processing device The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the confirmation unit of the image processing apparatus confirms use prohibition or access permission of the designated application based on the restriction information. .

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