JP4910983B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus capable of registering telephone settings, fax settings such as transfer settings, scan settings and the like as device settings for each user.

  In an image processing apparatus such as a digital multi-function peripheral or a facsimile apparatus having a copy function, a facsimile function, a print function, a scanner function, etc., device settings for each user can be registered. That is, various device settings such as a fax setting such as a telephone directory and transfer settings, a scan image conversion format, a scan setting such as a storage destination, and a copy setting can be registered for each user.

  On the other hand, recently, in offices and the like, a network system is configured by connecting network multifunction peripherals and terminal devices, so-called client personal computers, etc. via a communication network such as LAN. In such a network system, the data received by the network MFP can be transferred to the client personal computer, or the data received from the client personal computer can be transmitted to a designated transfer destination. It is also possible to register user setting information such as a fax setting, a scan setting, or a copy setting from the client personal computer to the network multifunction peripheral via a communication network.

As described above, in the conventional image processing apparatus, user setting information such as fax setting, scan setting, or copy setting is registered in the image processing apparatus from the operation unit of the image processing apparatus or the client personal computer via the communication network. Can do.
However, in the image processing apparatus, information set individually by each user is stored for each user, and when the convenience of the setting of a certain user is good, when other users want to use it, The same setting must be made one by one.

  Also, if you want to use convenient settings individually from among the settings of multiple users, other users can enter one item, referring to the settings of multiple users individually Therefore, there is a problem that it is troublesome and burdensome for the user.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image processing apparatus capable of easily registering user setting information of another user as own user setting information.

  To achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus of the present invention includes a user setting information storage unit that stores user setting information of a plurality of users, and writing and reading of setting information of each user to the user setting information storage unit. And when the user setting information is instructed to be copied, the control unit extracts and displays the user information stored in the user setting information storage unit, and displays the displayed information. When an arbitrary user is selected from a plurality of users, the control unit extracts and displays setting information of the selected user, and arbitrary setting information is selected from the displayed setting information. Then, the control unit extracts the selected setting information from the user setting information storage unit and outputs it as copy information.

  Another image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a user setting information storage unit that stores user setting information of a plurality of users, and a control that controls writing and reading of the setting information of each user in the user setting information storage unit. When the user setting information is instructed to be copied, the control unit extracts and displays the setting item name stored in the user setting information storage unit, and displays the setting item name from the displayed setting item name. When an arbitrary setting item is selected, the control unit extracts and displays setting information of each user of the selected setting item, and arbitrary setting information is selected from the displayed setting information. And the control means extracts the selected information from the user setting information storage unit and outputs it as copy information.

Furthermore, another image processing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the image processing apparatuses described above, the setting information stored in the user setting information storage unit can be set to public or private.
According to still another image processing apparatus of the present invention, in any one of the above image processing apparatuses, the control unit stores the extracted copy information as user setting information in the user setting information storage unit, or , Export output.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, when copying of user setting information is instructed, arbitrary setting information is selected from the setting information of the selected user or the setting information of each user of the selected setting item. Can do. Accordingly, by storing or exporting the selected setting information in the user setting information storage unit, the device settings of other users can be easily copied and registered as own user setting information.

  Further, if the user setting information stored in the user setting information storage unit can be set to be public or private, the use of other users can be prevented and the user setting information can be protected.

  An embodiment in which the image processing apparatus of the present invention is applied to a network multifunction device will be described below. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration example of a system including a network multifunction device, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the network multifunction device.

  In the network configuration diagram shown in FIG. 1, 1 is a network multifunction device, 2, 3, 4... Are personal computers, 5 is a public switched telephone network (PSTN), 6 is a LAN (Local Area Network), and 7 is an Internet network. is there. The network multifunction device 1 has functions of a copy mode, a printer mode, and a fax mode, and also has a mail transmission function, and is connected to the PSTN 5 and the LAN 6, and a plurality of personal computers 2, 3, 4,.・ ・ Is connected. The LAN 6 is also connected to the Internet network 7, and the network MFP 1 can send and receive mail via the Internet network 7.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the network multifunction device 1. As shown in the figure, the network multifunction device 1 has a CPU 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, and a display. An operation unit 14, a reading unit 15, an image memory 16, a recording unit 17, a codec 18, a modem 19, a network control unit NCU 20 and a LAN interface (I / F) 21, and each unit is connected via a bus 22. Yes.

  The CPU 11 controls each part of the hardware of the network multifunction peripheral 1 via the bus 22 and executes various programs based on the programs stored in the ROM 12. The ROM 12 stores in advance various programs and operation messages necessary for the operation of the network multifunction peripheral. The RAM 13 is composed of an SRAM or the like, and stores temporary data generated when the program is executed, and user settings for storing user setting information for each user such as fax settings and scan settings such as a telephone directory and transfer settings. An information storage area 23 is provided.

  The display / operation unit 14 includes a display unit that displays an operation state of the network multifunction peripheral or displays an operation screen for various functions, and a plurality of keys for operating the network multifunction peripheral. The reading unit 15 includes a reading document placing table such as an auto document feeder (ADF) or a flatbed scanner (FBS), reads a document with a scanner using a CCD or the like, and outputs dot image data.

  The image memory 16 is configured using a DRAM or the like, and stores image data to be transmitted, received image data, or image data read by the reading unit 15. The recording unit 17 includes an electrophotographic printer or the like, and prints out received data, copy original data, or print data transmitted from an external personal computer.

  The codec 18 encodes and decodes corresponding to a predetermined protocol. In order to transmit the image data of the read original, the codec 18 is encoded by the MH, MR, or MMR method, and the image data received from the outside is decoded. The codec 18 also encodes and decodes in correspondence with the TIFF method, which is an image format generally used as a file that can be attached to an e-mail.

  The modem 19 is connected to the bus 22 and has a function as a fax modem capable of facsimile communication. The modem 19 is also connected to the NCU 20 connected to the bus 22. The NCU 20 is hardware that closes and opens an analog line, and connects the modem 19 to the PSTN 5 as necessary.

  The LAN interface 21 is connected to the LAN 6 and receives signals from the Internet network 7 and transmits signals and data to the LAN 6 and executes interface processing such as signal conversion or protocol conversion.

  The network multifunction device 1 has the above-described configuration. During facsimile transmission, document image data is read by the reading unit 15, compressed by the codec 18, and stored in the image memory 16. The compressed image data is read from the image memory 16, modulated by the modem 19, and transmitted from the NCU 20 to the communication partner through the PSTN 5. At the time of facsimile reception, the received image data is demodulated by the modem 19, stored in the image memory 16, decoded by the codec 18, and printed by the recording unit 17.

  On the other hand, in this network system, the user uses the setting information of other users from the personal computers 2, 3, 4, etc., to the user's MFP 1, the user setting information such as the phone book and transfer settings, fax settings, scan settings, etc. You can register.

  For example, when an operator of the personal computer 2 starts a WWW browser and accesses the WWW browser screen displayed on the personal computer 2 by specifying the IP address of the network multifunction peripheral 1, the monitor screen of the personal computer 2 is displayed. The function designation screen of the network multifunction device 1 is displayed.

When the operator selects and instructs to copy the user setting information on this function designation screen, this request is transferred to the network MFP 1 via the LAN 6.
The operation of the CPU 11 when receiving the user setting information copy request will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When receiving a copy request for user setting information from the personal computer 2, the CPU 11 starts the program shown in the flowchart of FIG. When this program is started, the CPU 11 first reads the user name in which the setting information is registered from the user setting information storage area 23 of the RAM 13 and transmits it to the personal computer 2 (step 101).
As a result, the user selection screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the monitor screen of the personal computer 2.

  As shown in the figure, the name of the user who has registered the user setting information, the “O.K” button, and the “Close” button are displayed on the user selection screen of FIG. Then, after checking the check box of the user name to be selected by the operator, clicking the “O.K.” button, the names of users who want to obtain the setting information are collectively transmitted to the network MFP 1. The browser window can be closed by clicking the “Close” button.

On the other hand, the CPU 11 transmits the user name in which the setting information is registered to the personal computer 2, and then determines whether the user name selected by the operator has been transmitted from the personal computer 2 at a time. It is determined whether there has been a selection notification (step 102).
If it is determined that there has been a user selection notification, for example, if the operator has selected the user 2 and the user 10, the CPU 11 stores the setting information of the user 2 and the user 10 in the user setting information storage area 23 of the RAM 13. Are read out and transmitted to the personal computer 2 (step 103).

  5 and 6 show an example of the user setting information registered in the user setting information storage area 23 of the RAM 13. As shown in FIG. 5, as the setting information of the user 2, the telephone book 2 and the transfer setting are registered as the fax setting, and the conversion format and saving destination (FTP shortcut) at the time of saving the scanned image are set as the scanner setting. Is registered. These setting items can be set to public or non-public at the time of registration, and information that can be disclosed is stored for each corresponding item in the user setting information storage area 23, but information that cannot be stored is stored for non-public items. Has been.

  Similarly, as illustrated in FIG. 6, as the setting information of the user 10, the telephone book 10 and the transfer setting are registered as the fax setting, and the conversion format and saving destination (FTP) when the scanned image is saved as the scanner setting. Shortcut) etc. are registered.

When the setting information of the user 2 and the user 10 is transmitted from the network multifunction peripheral 1 to the personal computer 2, a setting information selection screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the monitor screen of the personal computer 2.
As shown in the figure, the setting information selection screen displays setting information of the selected user, selection columns for “copy creation” and “export output”, an “OK” button, and a “close” button. In the setting information of the selected user, items that are not disclosed by the user are displayed as “not disclosed”, and a check column is displayed only for items that are disclosed.

  In addition, in the selection column of “copy creation” and “export output”, either or both can be selected by checking each check column. When the “Copy” check box is checked, the setting information selected by the operator is stored in the user setting information storage area 23 as the setting information of the operator. If the “Export output” check box is checked, the setting information selected by the operator is transmitted from the network multifunction peripheral 1 to the personal computer 2.

  The information selected by the operator on the setting information selection screen of FIG. 7, that is, the setting information of the user selected by the operator and the selection information of “copy creation” and “export output” can be obtained by clicking the “OK” button. It can be sent to the network multifunction device 1 at a time. The browser window can be closed by clicking the “Close” button.

  The CPU 11 transmits the setting information of the selected user to the personal computer 2 and then determines whether or not the information selected by the operator on the setting information selection screen of FIG. Then, it is determined whether or not a setting information selection notification has been received (step 104).

If it is determined that the setting information selection notification has been received, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the operator has selected “copy creation” on the setting information selection screen of FIG. 7 (step 105).
When it is determined that the operator has selected “copy creation”, the CPU 11 reads the setting information selected by the operator from the user setting information storage area 23 and stores it in the user setting information storage area 23 as the user setting information of the operator. Store (step 106).

  For example, when the operator has selected the setting information as shown in FIG. 7, the telephone book of the user 2, the transfer setting of the user 10, the conversion format, and the FTP shortcut are transferred to the network multifunction device 1. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the operator's setting information includes “Phonebook 2”, “Transfer setting: FAX 222-222”, “Conversion format: TIFF”, FTP shortcut: ftp: // YYY ”, etc. It is stored in the user setting information storage area 23.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 105 that the operator has not selected “copy creation”, or after the setting information is stored in step 106, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the operator has selected “export output”. Is determined (step 107). If it is determined that the operator has not selected “export output”, the CPU 11 ends the user setting information copy program.

If it is determined in step 107 that the operator has selected “export output”, the CPU 11 reads the setting information selected by the operator from the user setting information storage area 23 and transmits it to the personal computer 2 (step 108). ). When the setting information selected by the operator is sent, the personal computer 2 displays the “output destination” input screen for the setting information on the monitor screen, and saves the setting information transmitted to the designated folder. .
Thus, the user setting information can be easily registered by importing the exported setting information into another network multifunction peripheral or facsimile apparatus.

  As described above, by instructing to copy user setting information, setting information of a plurality of users can be selected and stored as own user setting information, or exported and output. Can be easily registered as its own settings.

  In the above embodiment, the setting information is copied by selecting the setting information of the user selected from a plurality of users. However, any setting information of each user of the setting item selected from the setting item name is selected. You can also select and copy the setting information.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in the case where arbitrary setting information is selected from the setting information of each user of the setting item selected from the setting item name will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
Note that the configuration of the network multifunction peripheral is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

When receiving a copy request for user setting information from the personal computer 2, the CPU 11 starts the program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, and first reads the setting item name registered from the user setting information storage area 23 of the RAM 13. (Step 201).
As a result, the setting item selection screen shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the monitor screen of the personal computer 2.

  As shown in FIG. 10, on the setting item selection screen, the name of the setting item registered as user setting information, an “O.K” button, and a “close” button are displayed. Then, after checking the setting item name check column that the operator wants to set, by clicking the “O.K.” button, the setting item name for which setting information is to be obtained is transmitted to the network MFP 1. The browser window can be closed by clicking the “Close” button.

On the other hand, the CPU 11 transmits the setting item name in which the setting information is registered to the personal computer 2 and then determines whether or not the setting item name selected by the operator has been transmitted from the personal computer 2. It is determined whether there has been a selection notification (step 202).
When it is determined that the setting item selection notification is received from the personal computer 2, the CPU 11 transmits the setting information of each user of the selected setting item to the personal computer 2 (step 203).

  For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when “phone book” and “FTP shortcut” are selected, the CPU 11 makes the setting information disclosed from the setting information of “phone book” and “FTP shortcut”. Is read from the user setting information storage area 23 of the RAM 13 and transmitted to the personal computer 2.

When the setting information of the “phone book” and “FTP shortcut” in the above example is transmitted from the network multifunction device 1 to the personal computer 2, the setting information selection screen shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the monitor screen of the personal computer 2.
As shown in the figure, on this setting information selection screen, the setting information of “Phonebook” and “FTP shortcut”, the selection fields of “Copy creation” and “Export output”, “OK” button, “Close” button Is displayed.

  As in the first embodiment, one or both of the “copy creation” and “export output” selection fields can be selected by checking the respective check fields. When the “Copy” check box is checked, the setting information selected by the operator is stored in the user setting information storage area 23 as the setting information of the operator. If the “Export output” check box is checked, the setting information selected by the operator is transmitted from the network multifunction peripheral 1 to the personal computer 2. Similarly, the information selected by the operator on the setting information selection screen of FIG. 11 can be sent to the network MFP 1 at a time by clicking the “OK” button, and the “Close” button is clicked. By doing so, you can close the browser window.

After transmitting the setting information of each selected item to the personal computer 2, the CPU 11 determines whether the setting information selected by the operator has been transmitted from the personal computer 2 to determine whether the setting information has been notified. Is determined (step 204).
If it is determined that the setting information selection has been notified, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the operator has selected “copy creation” on the setting information selection screen of FIG. 7 (step 205).

  When it is determined that the operator has selected “copy creation”, the CPU 11 reads the setting information selected by the operator from the user setting information storage area 23 and stores it in the user setting information storage area 23 as the user setting information of the operator. Store (step 206). Thus, for example, when the operator has selected the setting information as shown in FIG. 11, as shown in FIG. 12, “phone book 3” and “FTP shortcut: ftp: // ZZZ” are It is stored in the user setting information storage area 23 as user setting information.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 205 that the operator has not selected “copy creation”, or after the setting information is stored in step 206, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the operator has selected “export output”. Is determined (step 207). If it is determined that the operator has not selected “export output”, the CPU 11 ends the user setting information copy program.

When it is determined in step 207 that the operator has selected “export output”, the CPU 11 reads the setting information selected by the operator from the user setting information storage area 23 and transmits it to the personal computer 2 (step 208). ). When the setting information selected by the operator is sent, the personal computer 2 displays the “output destination” input screen for the setting information on the monitor screen, and saves the setting information transmitted to the designated folder. .
Thus, similarly, the user setting information can be easily registered by importing the exported setting information to another network multifunction peripheral or facsimile apparatus.

  As described above, when the user setting information is instructed to be copied, the user setting information can be obtained by selecting arbitrary setting information from the setting information of each user of the selected setting item. Similarly, the device settings of other users can be easily set to their own settings.

In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which user setting information is copied from a personal computer via a communication network to a network multifunction device. However, a user or setting information may be selected on the operation screen of the network multifunction device. Is possible.
In the above embodiment, the example in which the image processing apparatus of the present invention is applied to a network multifunction apparatus has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a normal facsimile apparatus having no network function.

It is a figure which shows the network structural example of the system provided with the network multifunction device. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of a network multifunction device. It is a flowchart which shows the effect | action of CPU when the copy request | requirement of user setting information is received. It is an example of a user selection screen. It is an example of the setting information of the user registered in the user setting information storage area. It is another example of the setting information of the user registered in the user setting information storage area. It is an example of a setting information selection screen. It is an example of the user setting information copied by the operator. It is a flowchart which shows the other effect | action of CPU at the time of receiving the copy request | requirement of user setting information. It is an example of a setting item selection screen. It is another example of a setting information selection screen. It is another example of the user setting information copied by the operator.

Explanation of symbols

1 Network MFP 2, 3, 4 PC 5 PSTN
6 LAN
7 Internet 11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Display / Operation Unit 15 Reading Unit 16 Image Memory 17 Recording Unit 18 Codec 19 Modem 20 NCU
21 LAN I / F
22 Bus 23 User setting information storage area

Claims (5)

A user setting information storage unit that stores user setting information of a plurality of users, and a control unit that controls writing and reading of the setting information of each user to and from the user setting information storage unit,
When copying of user setting information is instructed, the control unit extracts and displays user information stored in the user setting information storage unit, and selects any user from the displayed plurality of users. When is selected, the control unit extracts and displays the setting information of the selected user. When any setting information is selected from the displayed setting information, the control unit selects An image processing apparatus, wherein the set information extracted from the user setting information storage unit is output as copy information. A user setting information storage unit that stores user setting information of a plurality of users, and a control unit that controls writing and reading of the setting information of each user to and from the user setting information storage unit,
When copying of user setting information is instructed, the control unit extracts and displays the setting item name stored in the user setting information storage unit, and an arbitrary setting item is displayed from the displayed setting item name. When selected, the control unit extracts and displays the setting information of each user of the selected setting item, and when any setting information is selected from the displayed setting information, the control means The image processing apparatus, wherein the selected information is extracted from the user setting information storage unit and output as copy information. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
An image processing apparatus, wherein the setting information stored in the user setting information storage unit can be set to public or private. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
An image processing apparatus, wherein the control means stores the extracted copy information as user setting information in the user setting information storage unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
An image processing apparatus, wherein the control means exports the extracted copy information.

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