JP5040572B2 - Data processing apparatus, data processing system, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus, a data processing system you and the program.

A technique for displaying a list of images to be processed is known. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique for displaying a list of thumbnail images obtained by reducing images captured using a digital camera in a form corresponding to the resolution of each image. Patent Document 2 adds print settings that cannot be realized by comparing the print settings previously added to each document with the print capability of the printing apparatus when displaying thumbnail images of each sentence as a list. A technique for displaying a masked thumbnail image of a document is disclosed.
JP 2001-036843 A JP 2006-031465 A

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus having a Web (World Wide Web) browser function is known. In this image forming apparatus, for example, a search engine on the Internet is requested to search for content corresponding to a search keyword, and a search result transmitted from the search engine is displayed accordingly. In this search result, a part of each content (for example, a title, etc.) and a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) storing each content are written together. The URL in which the contents are stored is selected and a printout is instructed. The image forming apparatus acquires content from the selected URL, forms an image representing the content on a sheet, and outputs it.

  However, in the above search results, when image formation is performed for each content, for example, how long it takes, whether a color image is formed or a black and white image is formed, or how many pages are printed It doesn't contain any information about what will happen. Therefore, the process expected by the user may not match the process actually performed. For example, if the user is in a hurry, select data that takes a long time to form an image, select color data when the remaining amount of color toner is low, or the remaining amount of paper is low For example, data having a large number of pages is selected. In such a case, processing that is inconvenient for the user will be performed, and some improvement has been desired in this regard.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and an object thereof is to assist a user in selecting content so that a process expected by a user and a process actually performed are matched as much as possible. .

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention acquires processing means for performing processing using content data, content specifying information for specifying each content data, and data attribute information representing an attribute of the content data Content-related information acquisition means, capability information indicating the processing performance of the processing means or the content of processing that can be performed by the processing means, status information indicating the status of processing in the processing means, or processing limitations in the processing means Is acquired by the processing related information acquisition unit, the data attribute information acquired by the content related information acquisition unit, and the processing related information acquisition unit. Additional information based on the processing related information, wherein the processing means Acquire additional information representing at least one of time, cost or resource amount, or the result of the processing when the processing is performed using the content data having the attribute represented by the content-related information acquisition unit. Display control means for displaying on the display unit in addition to the content specifying information obtained, and acquiring content data specified by the content specifying information selected by the user from the content specifying information displayed on the display unit Content data acquisition means, and the processing means performs processing using the content data acquired by the content data acquisition means.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the content-related information acquisition means acquires content specification information acquisition means for acquiring the content specification information for specifying one or a plurality of content data that are candidates for processing performed by the processing means; Data attribute information acquiring means for acquiring the data attribute information representing the attribute of the content data specified by each content specifying information acquired by the content specifying information acquiring means may be provided.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the processing related information acquisition unit acquires the state information including money that is preliminarily invested as an expense spent by the processing performed by the processing unit or a remaining amount of resources used by the processing. The display control means determines whether the processing means uses the content data having the attribute represented by the data attribute information to process the amount of money or resources consumed. If the amount is greater than the remaining amount, additional information indicating a shortage with respect to the amount of resources or the amount of resources spent when the processing is performed may be added to the content specifying information and displayed on the display unit.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the processing related information acquisition means acquires the restriction information including use restrictions of the processing means set in advance for a user who uses the device, and the display control means When processing using content data having an attribute represented by the data attribute information is restricted due to the use restriction, additional information indicating that the processing is restricted is added to the content specifying information, You may display on a display part.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the processing means may perform processing for forming an image using content data.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the processing related information acquisition unit further acquires processing attribute information representing an attribute of data that can be processed by the processing unit, and the display control unit is acquired by the content related information acquisition unit. If the attribute of the content data indicated by the data attribute information is included in the attribute of the data indicated by the processing attribute information acquired by the processing related information acquisition unit, the content specification for specifying the content data The attribute of the content data represented by the data attribute information acquired by the content-related information acquisition unit is displayed on the display unit with additional information for instructing the processing of the processing unit using the content data added to the information Is included in the attribute of the data represented by the process attribute information acquired by the process related information acquisition unit. If not, the content specifying information for specifying the content data is displayed on the display unit without adding additional information for instructing processing of the processing means using the content data. Alternatively, additional information indicating that the processing means cannot perform processing using the content data may be added and displayed on the display unit.

  In addition, the present invention includes a data transmission device and any one of the data processing devices described above, and the data transmission device is transmitted from a storage unit that stores a plurality of content data and the data processing device. Content specifying information transmitting means for transmitting content specifying information for specifying one or a plurality of pieces of content data having an attribute represented by the processing attribute information to the data processing device, and content requested to be transmitted from the data processing device Content data transmitting means for reading data from the storage means and transmitting the data to the data processing device, wherein the data processing device indicates the processing attribute information indicating the attribute of content data that can be processed by the processing means. Processing attribute information transmitting means for transmitting to the transmitting device, the content related information acquiring means The content specifying information transmitted from the content specifying information transmitting means of the data transmitting device is acquired, and the content data acquiring means is the content selected by the user from the content specifying information displayed on the display unit. Requesting the data transmission device to transmit content data specified by specific information, and acquiring the content data transmitted from the content data transmission means of the data transmission device in response to the request Provide a data processing system.

  The present invention also provides content-related information acquisition means for acquiring content specification information for specifying each content data and data attribute information representing the attribute of the content data, and data to be processed using the content data Among the capability information representing the processing performance of the processing device or the contents of the processing that can be performed by the data processing device, the state information representing the processing state in the data processing device, or the restriction information representing the processing restriction in the data processing device Processing-related information acquisition means for acquiring at least one of them as processing-related information; data attribute information acquired by the content-related information acquisition means; and processing-related information acquired by the processing-related information acquisition means. Additional information based on the data processing device, the data attribute information Additional information representing at least one of time, cost, resource amount, or result of the process is acquired by the content related information acquisition unit when processing is performed using content data of the attribute. Content control information to be displayed on the display unit added to the content specifying information, and content data specified by the content specifying information selected by the user among the content specifying information displayed on the display unit is acquired. There is provided a data transmission apparatus comprising: content data acquisition means; and transmission means for transmitting content data acquired by the content data acquisition means to the data processing apparatus.

  Also, the present invention provides a processing unit for performing processing using content data, content specifying information for specifying each content data, and data attribute information representing an attribute of the content data. Relevant information acquisition means, capability information indicating the processing performance of the processing means or the contents of processing that can be performed by the processing means, status information indicating the status of processing in the processing means, or processing limitations in the processing means Processing related information acquisition means for acquiring at least one of the restriction information as processing related information, data attribute information acquired by the content related information acquisition means, and processing acquired by the processing related information acquisition means Additional information based on related information, wherein the processing means includes the data attribute information Additional information representing at least one of time, cost, resource amount, or result of the processing is acquired by the content-related information acquisition unit when processing is performed using content data having an attribute to be expressed. Content control information to be displayed on the display unit added to the content specifying information, and content data specified by the content specifying information selected by the user among the content specifying information displayed on the display unit is acquired. Functioning as content data acquisition means, the processing means provides a program for performing processing using the content data acquired by the content data acquisition means.

  According to the present invention, a computer is processed using content-related information acquisition means for acquiring content specification information for specifying each content data and data attribute information representing an attribute of the content data, and the content data. Capability information indicating the processing performance of the data processing device performing the processing or the contents of the processing that can be performed by the data processing device, status information indicating the processing status in the data processing device, or a restriction indicating processing limitations in the data processing device Processing-related information acquisition means for acquiring at least one of the information as processing-related information, data attribute information acquired by the content-related information acquisition means, and processing-related information acquired by the processing-related information acquisition means Additional information based on the information, the data processing device Additional information representing at least one of time, cost or resource amount, or the result of the processing when processing is performed using the content data of the attribute represented by the data attribute information. In addition to the content specifying information acquired by the acquiring means, the display control means for displaying on the display unit, and the content specifying information selected by the user among the content specifying information displayed on the display unit There is provided a content data acquisition unit for acquiring content data and a program for causing the content data acquired by the content data acquisition unit to function as a transmission unit for transmitting to the data processing device.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to assist the content specifying information user in selecting content so that the processing expected by the user matches the processing actually performed as much as possible.

[Constitution]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 1 includes a plurality of Web server devices 10, a search server device 20, and an image forming device 30. These devices are connected via a network such as the Internet.

  The Web server device 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), a communication unit, and a storage unit. Various content data described in a language such as (HyperText Markup Language) is stored. That is, the storage unit is a storage unit that stores a plurality of content data. A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) indicating each storage location is assigned in advance to these content data. When content data is requested from the image forming apparatus 30, the Web server apparatus 10 reads the requested content data from the storage unit and transmits it to the requesting image forming apparatus 30.

  Similar to the Web server device 10 described above, the search server device 20 includes a CPU, a memory such as a ROM or a RAM, a communication unit, and a storage unit. The search server device 20 has a search engine function for acquiring the URL of the content data stored in each Web server device 10 and its index information. The index information includes the data format of the content data (for example, the PDF format, the HTML format, or the XML format) in addition to the information indicating the contents of each content data. The search engine function of the search server device 20 includes a so-called robot search function that periodically searches and collects various URLs and index information from the network. The storage unit stores a search database B in which URLs collected from the network by the robot search function and index information are associated with each other. The Web server device 10 and the search server device 20 described above function as a data transmission device in cooperation.

Here, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the search database B. As shown in FIG.
The index information of the search database B includes the “title” and “data format” of the content data. For ^example,: the ^{"http //www.a} ** ^.co.jp" that URL, representing a title of the content data that is stored in the URL "This site is ...", the data format " Index information including “PDF” is associated. The search server device 20 searches the search database B in accordance with the search condition transmitted from the image forming device 30 and transmits the search result to the image forming device 30.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus 30. As shown in the figure, the image forming apparatus 30 includes a CPU 31, a memory 32 such as a ROM or a RAM, a storage unit 33, a communication unit 34, a display operation unit 35, and an image forming unit 36. . The CPU 31 controls each unit of the image forming apparatus 30 by executing a control program stored in the memory 32. In addition, the CPU 31 realizes a browser function by executing browser software stored in the storage unit 33. The storage unit 33 is, for example, a hard disk, and stores software such as the browser software described above and various data. The communication unit 34 transmits / receives data to / from the search server device 20 or the Web server device 10 connected via a network. The display operation unit 35 is, for example, a touch panel display, displays an image according to the control of the CPU 31, and supplies operation information according to the user's operation to the CPU 31. The image forming unit 36 includes, for example, image forming engines for each color of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black), and a black and white or color image corresponding to data supplied by the control of the CPU 31. Is a processing means for performing the process of forming the image on the paper. The sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 36 is output as a printed matter. The image forming apparatus 30 functions as a data processing apparatus.

  In the memory 32 or the storage unit 33, processing attribute information indicating attributes of data that can be image-formed by the image forming unit 36, capability information indicating the capability of the image forming unit 36, and status information indicating the state of the image forming unit 36 Is stored. The processing attribute information represents an attribute that the image forming unit 36 can form an image, and here, the data format is “PDF”. The capability information is, for example, the image forming speed per page of the image forming unit 36, the image processing speed, the corresponding color, the number of colors that can be expressed, the resolution, and the like. The status information is, for example, the amount of jobs waiting for image formation. The capability information is basically information fixedly determined for the image forming apparatus 30. For example, regarding the corresponding color, color / monochrome is switched depending on the setting of the user. On the other hand, the state information is updated appropriately by the CPU 31 according to the state of the image forming apparatus 30.

[Operation]
Next, the operation of the image forming system 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the user operates the display operation unit 35 of the image forming apparatus 30 to instruct execution of browser software and display of a search page. In accordance with this instruction, the CPU 31 executes the browser software stored in the storage unit 33 and then accesses the search server device 20 to display the search page P as shown in FIG. S110).

  Next, the user operates the display operation unit 35 to input a desired search keyword in the text box T provided on the search page P. When the search keyword is input, the CPU 31 reads out the processing attribute information from the memory 32 or the storage unit 33, and generates a search condition including the input search keyword and the processing attribute information. For example, when a search keyword “C language” is input by a user, a search condition including a search keyword “C language” and processing attribute information representing a data format “PDF” is generated. Subsequently, the CPU 31 transmits the generated search condition to the search server device 20 through the communication unit 34, and requests the search server device 20 to perform a search according to the search condition (step S120). In this example, the search condition includes a search keyword “C language” and processing attribute information representing a data format “PDF”, and therefore, this search condition corresponds to “C language”, and The search server device 20 is requested to search for content data whose data format is “PDF”.

When a search is requested from the image forming apparatus 30, the CPU of the search server apparatus 20 searches the search database B according to the search condition transmitted from the image forming apparatus 30 (step S130). In the example described above, content data corresponding to the search keyword “C language” and having the data format “PDF” is searched, and a URL indicating the storage location of the content data and index information are extracted from the search database B. Is done. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a search result D obtained by this search. As shown in the figure, the search result D, ^{"http: //www.a} ** ^{.co.jp", "http: //www.b} ** ^.co.jp", "http: / /www.c ^** .co.jp "," ^http: and //www.d ** .co.jp "that URL, are included and the title, and the data format is included in the index information of each of the URL . As described above, in this example, content data whose data format is “PDF” is searched, and therefore, the data format of the content data of the URL included in the search result D is “PDF”. That is, according to the search result D, only content data that the image forming unit 36 can form an image is guided to the user. Then, the CPU of the search server device 20 converts the search result D into, for example, HTML format data and transmits it to the image forming device 30 through the communication unit (step S140). That is, the search server device 20 transmits the URL (content specifying information) of one or more content data having the attribute represented by the processing attribute information transmitted from the image forming device 30 to the image forming device 30. It functions as a transmission means.

  The CPU 31 of the image forming apparatus 30 receives the search result transmitted from the search server apparatus 20 through the communication unit 34 (step S150). Subsequently, the CPU 31 reads out capability information indicating the capability of the image forming unit 36 and status information indicating the status of the image forming unit 36 from the memory 32 or the storage unit 33 (step S160).

  Subsequently, the CPU 31 accesses the Web server device 10 indicated by each URL included in the search result received in step S150, and acquires data attribute information indicating the attribute of the content data stored in the URL destination. (Step S170). This data attribute information includes, for example, the color, the number of pages, the resolution, and the number of colors of content data. Specifically, the CPU 31 requests the Web server device 10 to transmit the content data stored in the URL destination, and extracts data attribute information representing the attribute from the content data transmitted in response to the request. To do. Further, the CPU 31 may request the Web server device 10 to extract data attribute information indicating the attribute of the content data stored at the URL destination. In this case, in response to a request from the image forming apparatus 30, the CPU of the Web server apparatus 10 extracts data attribute information representing the content data attribute, and transmits the extracted data attribute information to the image forming apparatus 30 through the communication unit. To do.

  Subsequently, the CPU 31 generates additional information based on the capability information and state information (processing related information) read out in step S160 and the data attribute information acquired in step S170, and the generated additional information is generated in step S150. It is added to the received search result and displayed on the display operation unit 35 (step S180). This additional information is information for supporting selection of content data used for image formation by the user. As a result, the display operation unit 35 displays a search result to which various kinds of additional information as shown in FIG.

Here, each additional information added to the search result will be described.
The additional information m1 to m4 is information representing image formation time spent when image formation is performed based on the content data stored in the corresponding URL. The image formation times included in the additional information m1 to m4 are the image formation speed and image processing speed per page included in the capability information acquired in step S160, and the amount of jobs waiting for image formation included in the status information. And the number of pages included in the data attribute information acquired in step S170. More specifically, the time required for image formation is obtained by multiplying the image formation speed per page by the number of pages, and adding the image processing speed and the waiting time corresponding to the amount of jobs waiting for image formation to the multiplication result. Calculated by adding. The user, by referring to the example additional information ^m1,: when image formation is performed based on the content data stored in the ^{"http //www.a} ** ^.co.jp", "about 20 It can be recognized that "second" takes time.

The additional information n1 to n4 is information representing the color and the number of pages of the printed matter that is output as a result of image formation based on the content data stored in the corresponding URL. The color of the printed material is determined based on the corresponding color included in the capability information acquired in step S160 and the color of the content data included in the data attribute information acquired in step S170. In this embodiment, as described above, the image forming unit 36 can form black and white and color images, so the corresponding colors of the image forming unit 36 are black and white and color. In this case, the color of the printed material is determined as the color of the content data included in the data attribute information. On the other hand, if the image forming unit 36 performs only monochrome image formation, the corresponding color of the image forming unit 36 is black and white. In this case, the color of the printed matter is determined to be black and white regardless of the color of the content data included in the data attribute information. The user, by referring to the example additional information ^n1,: when image formation is performed based on the content data stored in the ^{"http //www.a} ** ^.co.jp", that image formation As a result, it can be recognized that a printed matter of “12 pages” is output in “monochrome”.

The additional information p is information indicating that when an image is formed based on content data stored in a corresponding URL, the resolution of the image is lowered. This additional information p is the content data when the resolution of the content data included in the data attribute information acquired in step S170 is higher than the resolution of the image forming unit 36 included in the capability information acquired in step S160. It is added to the URL. The additional information p includes the resolution of the image forming unit 36 as the image resolution. The user refers to the additional information p, ^{"http: //www.b} ** ^.co.jp" based on the content data stored in the case of image formation, the resolution of the image It can be recognized that the value drops to “600 dpi”.

The additional information q is information indicating that the number of colors of the image decreases when image formation is performed based on the content data stored in the corresponding URL. In this additional information q, the number of colors of the content data included in the data attribute information acquired in step S170 is larger than the number of colors that can be expressed by the image forming unit 36 included in the capability information acquired in step S160. Is added to the URL of the content data. The additional information q includes the number of colors that can be expressed by the image forming unit 36 as the number of colors of the image. The user refers to the additional information q, ^{"http: //www.c} ** ^.co.jp" based on the content data stored in the case of image formation, the number of colors of the image Can be recognized as “16.7 million colors”.

The additional information r1 is information indicating that the image formation time required when image formation is performed based on the content data stored in the corresponding URL is the shortest. This additional information r1 is added to the URL of content data having the shortest image formation time among the image formation times of content data stored in the respective URLs included in the search result. The user, by referring to the example additional information ^r1,: fastest image formed when image formation is performed based on the content data stored in the ^{"http //www.d} ** ^.co.jp" Can be recognized.

  In addition, start buttons s1 to s4 for instructing image formation using the content data stored in the corresponding URL are added to the search result as additional information. Since this start button is displayed in association with the URL of content data that can be formed by the image forming unit 36, the search result includes the URL of content data that cannot be formed by the image forming unit 36. In this case, this start button is not displayed. However, in this embodiment, as described above, since only the URL of the content data that the image forming unit 36 can form an image is included in the search result, the start is performed for all URLs included in the search result. A button will be added.

The user refers to the search result, selects the URL of desired content data used for image formation, and presses the start button corresponding to the URL. For example, the user when in a hurry image formation, image formation is a URL of the fastest completed content ^data: Start of ^{"http //www.d} ** ^.co.jp" is selected, the corresponding The button s4 is pressed. In addition, the user, in case you want to image formation without reducing the resolution, the resolution is reduced to "600dpi", ^{"http: //www.b} ** ^.co.jp" other than the URL is selected The corresponding start button is pressed. In addition, the user, in case you want to image formation without reducing the number of colors, number of colors is reduced to "16.7 million colors", ^{"http: //www.c} ** ^.co.jp" other than The URL is selected and the corresponding start button is pressed.

When the user presses the start button, the CPU 31 accesses the Web server device 10 indicated by the URL corresponding to the start button, and acquires the content data stored in the URL by the communication unit 34 (step S190). ). For example, by the user, ^{"http: //www.a} ** ^.co.jp" is selected, the corresponding start button s1 is pressed, CPU 31 is a Web server apparatus 10 that it represents URL, the Requests transmission of content data stored in the URL. When content data is transmitted from the communication unit of the Web server apparatus 10 in response to this request, the CPU 31 receives the transmitted content data by the communication unit 34. When the content data is acquired from the Web server device 10 in this way, the CPU 31 supplies the acquired content data to the image forming unit 36. When the content data is supplied by the CPU 31, the image forming unit 36 forms an image on a sheet based on the supplied content data (step S200).

  According to the embodiment described above, by displaying the search result to which the additional information is added, the user's selection of content is supported so that the process expected by the user and the process actually performed are matched as much as possible. can do.

[Modification]
The above is the description of the embodiment, but the contents of this embodiment can be modified as follows. Further, the following modifications may be combined as appropriate.

(Modification 1)
In the above-described embodiment, the CPU 31 adds the additional information and the start button to the search result itself and displays it on the display unit. On the other hand, the CPU 31 may display additional information or a start button corresponding to the content data of each URL included in the search result in a pop-up. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing search results according to this modification. The pop-up screen ^U,: and is stored in the ^{"http //www.b} ** ^.co.jp" corresponding to the content data and additional information m2, n2, p, is displayed and the start button s2. The pop-up screen U, for example mouse or other pointing device that is connected to the display operation unit 35 is operated by the user, ^cursor: is moved on ^{"http //www.b} ** ^.co.jp" Sometimes it appears. Thereby, the process of adding additional information to the search result itself can be omitted, and the search result can be displayed simply and easily.

(Modification 2)
In the embodiment described above, the CPU 31 of the image forming apparatus 30 transmits the search condition including the search keyword and the processing attribute information to the search server apparatus 20. In contrast, the CPU 31 may transmit only the search keyword to the search server device 20 as a search condition. In this case, the CPU of the search server device 20 searches the URL of the content data corresponding to the search keyword, and transmits the search result to the image forming device 30 through the communication unit. Therefore, the search result transmitted from the search server device 20 includes a URL of content data that can be formed by the image forming unit 36 and a URL of content data that cannot be formed by the image forming unit 36. become. When the search result is received, the CPU 31 of the image forming unit 36 reads out the processing attribute information indicating the attribute of the content data that can be formed by the image forming unit 36 from the memory 32 or the storage unit 33, and obtains it in step S170 described above. If the attribute of the content data indicated by the data attribute information is not included in the attribute of the content data indicated by the processing attribute information, the start button corresponding to the URL of the content data is displayed in a form that cannot be selected. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing search results according to this modification. As shown in the figure, ^{"http: //www.e} ** ^.co.jp" data format of content data stored in is "TXT", the data format of the content data processing attribute information indicates When this “TXT” is not included, the corresponding start button s5 is displayed in a form that cannot be selected. Displaying a start button in an unselectable form means that the CPU 31 does not accept the selection operation even if the user selects the start button.

  In this case, the corresponding start button may not be displayed. Alternatively, a message indicating that image formation cannot be performed using content data stored in the URL may be added to the corresponding URL, and the message may be displayed as a pop-up. May be. When the content data attribute represented by the data attribute information is included in the content data attribute represented by the processing attribute information, the corresponding URL is displayed in a selectable form, and the content data represented by the data attribute information Is not included in the attribute of the content data represented by the processing attribute information, the corresponding URL may not be selected.

  That is, the CPU 31 uses the content data when the attribute of the content data stored in each URL included in the search result is not included in the attribute of the data that can be processed by the image forming unit 36. The image is displayed without adding a start button for instructing the formation of the received image, or is displayed with additional information indicating that image formation using the content data cannot be performed. Thereby, the user can browse the search result including the URL of the content data having the attribute that the image forming unit 36 cannot form an image, and the content data that the image forming unit 36 cannot form the image. The URL can be recognized.

(Modification 3)
The additional information added to the search result may be information related to the cost spent for image formation. For example, the image forming apparatus 30 includes a billing management device that collects expenses from money inserted by a user or a balance of a prepaid card (hereinafter simply referred to as money), and for the number of sheets corresponding to the collected expenses. It is assumed that only image formation is performed. In this case, the CPU 31 of the image forming apparatus 30 adds, to each URL included in the search result, additional information indicating the cost required for image formation based on the content data stored in the URL. , May be displayed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing search results according to this modification. The additional information v1 to v4 is information representing the image formation cost for performing image formation based on the content data stored in the corresponding URL. Here, it is assumed that the color or monochrome image formation cost per page is determined in advance, and the restriction information indicating the cost is stored in the memory 32 or the storage unit 33. In this case, in step S160, the restriction information is read from the memory 32 or the storage unit 33 by the CPU 31. The image formation cost included in each of the additional information v1 to v4 is the color or monochrome image formation cost per page included in the restriction information read by the CPU 31 in step S160, and the data attribute information acquired in step S170. Calculated by multiplying the number of pages of content data included. The user, by referring to the example additional information ^v1,: To perform image formation based on the content data stored in the ^{"http //www.a} ** ^.co.jp", "120 yen" It can be recognized that it will cost.

Further, the additional information r2 is information indicating that the image formation cost spent for image formation based on the content data stored in the corresponding URL is the lowest. This additional information r2 is added to the URL of the content data with the lowest image formation cost among the image formation costs of the content data stored in each URL included in the search result. The user, by referring to the example additional information ^r2,: when an image is formed based on the content data stored in the ^{"http //www.d} ** ^.co.jp" image forming cost is most You can recognize that it will be cheaper.

Further, the CPU 31 reduces the amount of the URL included in the search result with respect to the URL of the content data for which the image formation cost is insufficient when image formation is performed based on the content data stored in the URL. Additional information representing the cost of the above may be added and displayed. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing search results according to this modification. The additional information w is information that represents the shortage of the cost required when image formation is performed based on the content data stored in the corresponding URL. In this case, in step S160, status information representing money already put into the billing management apparatus by the user and restriction information representing the color or monochrome image forming cost per page are stored from the memory 32 or the storage unit 33. Read out. This additional information w multiplies the color or monochrome image formation cost per page included in the restriction information read out in step S160 by the number of pages of content data included in the data attribute information acquired in step S170. When the image formation cost calculated in this way is larger than the already inserted money included in the state information read in step S160, the image formation cost is added to the URL of the content data. The shortage cost included in the additional information w is calculated by subtracting the money already put in the status information from the image formation cost calculated as described above. The user, by referring to the example additional information ^w,: based on the content data stored in the ^{"http //www.a} ** ^.co.jp" when performing the image formation, after "60 It can be recognized that the cost of “yen” is required.

  Further, the CPU 31 sets a start button s11 corresponding to the URL of the content data whose image formation cost is insufficient when image formation is performed based on the content data stored in the URL among the URLs included in the search result. It may be displayed in a form that cannot be selected. In this case, when money corresponding to the shortage cost is thrown into the billing management apparatus by the user, the additional information w may be hidden and the start button s11 may be selected.

(Modification 4)
The additional information added to the search result may be information regarding the consumable item (resource) of the image forming unit 36. For example, the CPU 31 adds to each URL included in the search result additional information indicating the amount of consumables consumed when image formation is performed based on the content data stored in the URL, and displays the URL. You may let them. Here, an example will be described in which additional information representing the amount of toner consumed by image formation is added and displayed. In this example, in step S160, the average amount of toner consumed per page is read from the memory 32 or the storage unit 33 as capability information. The amount of toner included in this additional information is the number of pages included in the data attribute information acquired in step S170 by the CPU 31 in the average amount of toner included in the capability information read in step S160. It is calculated by multiplying. Accordingly, the user can recognize the amount of consumables consumed when performing image formation based on the content data stored in each URL included in the search result.

  In addition, the CPU 31 corresponds to the URL of content data in which the amount of consumables (resources) is insufficient when image formation is performed based on the content data stored in the URL among URLs included in the search result. The additional information indicating the amount of consumables for the shortage may be added and displayed. In this case, in step S160, the status information including the remaining amount of consumables detected by a sensor or the like provided in the image forming unit 36, for example, the remaining amount of toner and the remaining number of sheets, and the consumables consumed per page. Capability information including quantity is acquired. The remaining amount of consumables is obtained by multiplying the amount of consumables consumed per page included in the restriction information acquired in step S160 by the number of pages of content data included in the data attribute information acquired in step S170. It is calculated from the result by subtracting the remaining amount of consumables included in the state information read in step S160. By referring to this additional information, the user can recognize the amount of consumables to be replenished when performing image formation based on the content data stored in the corresponding URL.

  Further, the CPU 31 cannot select the start button corresponding to the URL of the content data for which consumables are insufficient when image formation is performed based on the content data stored in the URL among the URLs included in the search results. It may be displayed in a form. In this case, when a shortage of consumables is replenished by the user, the above-described additional information may be hidden and the start button may be selected.

(Modification 5)
The additional information added to the search result may relate to usage restrictions for each user that are set in advance in the image forming apparatus 30. For example, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus 30 includes an authentication device that authenticates a user and performs image formation in accordance with usage restrictions set in advance for each authenticated user. In this case, the CPU 31 of the image forming apparatus 30 indicates that the use is restricted with respect to the URL of the content data whose image formation is restricted by the use restriction of the authenticated user among the URLs included in the search result. For example, additional information indicating that only 10 black-and-white prints can be printed due to usage restrictions may be added and displayed. In this case, in step S160, the use restriction of the authenticated user is read from the memory 32 or the storage unit 33 as restriction information. This additional information is obtained when the image formation based on the content data of the color and the number of pages included in the data attribute information acquired in step S170 is restricted by the restriction information read in step S160. It is added to the URL of the content data. By referring to this additional information, the user can recognize the URL of the content data that cannot be image-formed due to his / her use restriction.

(Modification 6)
The additional information added to the search result may teach the user the appropriate image formation setting. For example, the CPU 31 determines that “the resolution is set to automatic” when the image resolution is low when the image is formed based on the content data stored in the URL among the URLs included in the search result. "Please add" additional information may be displayed. As a result, the user can recognize an appropriate image formation setting.

(Modification 7)
In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus 30 receives a search result from the search server apparatus 20, and displays the search result with additional information added thereto. On the other hand, the CPU 31 of the image forming apparatus 30 directly accesses the Web server apparatus 10 and requests the communication unit 34 to transmit a list of identification information of content data stored in the storage unit of the Web server apparatus 10. Also good. The content data identification information is, for example, the data name of the content data. In this case, in response to this request, the CPU 31 receives a list of content data identification information transmitted from the Web server device 10 and adds additional information to the content data identification information included in the list. And display it.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 30 itself may store a plurality of content data in the storage unit 33. In this case, the CPU 31 creates a list of identification information of the content data stored in the storage unit 33, adds the additional information to the identification information of each content data included in the list, and displays the list. Even in this configuration, the same effect as the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

(Modification 8)
In the embodiment described above, the image forming apparatus 30 performs a process of adding additional information to the search result and displaying it. On the other hand, a computer apparatus (data transmission apparatus) that transmits content data to the image forming apparatus 30 and instructs the formation of an image using the content data may perform this process. In this case, in step 160, the computer apparatus requests the image forming apparatus 30 to transmit capability information and status information, and the computer apparatus uses the capability information and status information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 30 in response to the request. Receive. When the computer apparatus acquires content data in step S190, the computer apparatus transmits the acquired content data to the image forming apparatus 30 and instructs the formation of an image using the content data. In accordance with this instruction, the image forming apparatus 30 forms an image using content data transmitted from the computer apparatus. Even in this configuration, the same effect as the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

(Modification 9)
In the embodiment described above, the content data is used for the image forming process. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any process may be used as long as the content data is used. For example, when the content data represents a moving image, it may be used for moving image reproduction. In this case, instead of the image forming apparatus 30, a computer apparatus having a moving image reproduction function is provided. Then, the CPU of this computer apparatus directly accesses the Web server apparatus 10 and requests the communication section to transmit a list of identification information of content data stored in the storage section of the Web server apparatus 10. In response to this request, the computer device receives a list of content data identification information transmitted from the Web server device 10 by the communication unit, and for example, with respect to the content data identification information included in the list, Additional information indicating whether the data format is reproducible is added and displayed. Thereby, the user can recognize the content data that can be reproduced by the computer device. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which content data that cannot be reproduced by the computer device is downloaded from the Web server device 10.

(Modification 10)
Programs such as software executed by the CPU 31 of the image forming apparatus 30 or the CPU of the computer apparatus described above are magnetic tape, magnetic disk, flexible disk, optical recording medium, magneto-optical recording medium, CD (Compact Disk), DVD (Digital Versatile). Disk) or a recording medium such as a RAM. It can also be downloaded to a computer via a network such as the Internet. That is, the present invention can be realized as a program.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the search database B. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus 30. FIG. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of the image forming system 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a search page P. It is a figure which shows the search result D by the search of the search server apparatus. It is a figure which shows the search result to which various additional information was added. It is a figure which shows the search result concerning a modification. It is a figure which shows the search result concerning a modification. It is a figure which shows the search result concerning a modification. It is a figure which shows the search result concerning a modification.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming system, 10 ... Web server apparatus, 20 ... Search server apparatus, 30 ... Image forming apparatus, 31 ... CPU, 32 ... Memory, 33 ... Memory | storage part, 34 ... Communication part, 35 ... Display operation part, 36 ... Image forming unit.

Claims (12)

Processing means for processing using content data;
Content-related information acquisition means for acquiring content specification information for specifying each content data and data attribute information representing an attribute of the content data;
Capability information indicating the processing performance of the processing means or the contents of processing that can be performed by the processing means, status information indicating the status of processing in the processing means, and preset for a user who uses the device. Processing related information acquisition means for acquiring, as processing related information, information including at least the restriction information among restriction information representing processing restrictions in the processing means including use restrictions of the processing means;
Additional information based on the data attribute information acquired by the content related information acquisition unit and the processing related information acquired by the processing related information acquisition unit, wherein the processing unit represents an attribute represented by the data attribute information Additional information representing at least one of the time spent when processing using the content data, the amount of cost or resources, and the result of the processing is acquired by the content related information acquisition means When processing using content data having an attribute represented by the data attribute information is restricted due to the use restriction, the processing is restricted. the additional information indicating in addition to the content identification information, and a display control means for displaying on the display unit,
Content data acquisition means for acquiring content data specified by the content specification information selected by the user among the content specification information displayed on the display unit;
The processing means, the processing characteristics and be Lud over data processing apparatus to carry out by using the content data acquired by the content data acquisition means. Processing means for processing using content data;
Content-related information acquisition means for acquiring content specification information for specifying each content data and data attribute information representing an attribute of the content data;
At least one of capability information representing processing performance of the processing unit or processing content that can be performed by the processing unit, state information representing a processing state in the processing unit, and restriction information representing processing restriction in the processing unit one or a processing-related information acquisition means for processing acquired as the related information, further wherein the processing means acquires the process attribute information representing an attribute of data to be processed,
Additional information based on the data attribute information acquired by the content related information acquisition unit and the processing related information acquired by the processing related information acquisition unit, wherein the processing unit represents an attribute represented by the data attribute information Additional information representing at least one of the time spent when processing using the content data, the amount of cost or resources, and the result of the processing is acquired by the content related information acquisition means The attribute of the content data represented by the data attribute information acquired by the content related information acquisition unit is displayed by the processing attribute information acquired by the processing related information acquisition unit. If it is included in the attribute of the data, the content data for specifying the content data The content identification information, content by adding additional information for instructing the processing of the processing means using the content data to be displayed on the display unit, the data attribute information obtained by the content-related information acquisition means represents When the data attribute is not included in the data attribute represented by the processing attribute information acquired by the processing related information acquisition unit, the content data is added to the content specifying information for specifying the content data. is displayed on the display unit without adding additional information for instructing the processing of the processing means using, or the additional information indicating that the processing means is unable to perform processing using the content data Display control means to be added and displayed on the display unit;
Content data acquisition means for acquiring content data specified by the content specification information selected by the user among the content specification information displayed on the display unit;
The processing means, the processing characteristics and be Lud over data processing apparatus to carry out by using the content data acquired by the content data acquisition means. The content related information acquisition means includes:
Content specifying information acquisition means for acquiring the content specifying information for specifying one or a plurality of pieces of content data that are candidates for processing performed by the processing means;
Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a data attribute information acquiring means for acquiring the data attribute information representing an attribute of the content data specified by the content specifying information of each acquired by the content identification information acquiring means The data processing apparatus described. The processing related information acquisition unit acquires the state information including money that has been preliminarily input as an expense spent by the processing performed by the processing unit, or the remaining amount of resources used by the processing,
The display control means is configured such that the amount of money or resources consumed when the processing means performs processing using content data having an attribute represented by the data attribute information is the amount of money input or the remaining amount of the resource. If there are more, the additional information indicating a shortage with respect to the amount of expenses or resources consumed when the processing is performed is added to the content specifying information and displayed on the display unit. The data processing apparatus according to 1 or 2 . The processing related information acquisition means acquires the restriction information including use restrictions of the processing means that are set in advance for a user who uses the device.
When the process using the content data having the attribute represented by the data attribute information is restricted due to the use restriction, the display control unit displays additional information indicating that the process is restricted as the content specifying information. The data processing device according to claim 2 , wherein the data processing device is displayed on a display unit. The processing means, the data processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the process for forming an image using the content data. Comprising a data transmitting apparatus and a data processing device,
The data transmission device includes:
Storage means for storing a plurality of content data;
Content specifying information transmitting means for transmitting content specifying information for specifying one or a plurality of content data having the attribute represented by the processing attribute information transmitted from the data processing device to the data processing device;
Content data requested to be transmitted from the data processing device is read from the storage means, and content data transmitting means for transmitting to the data processing device,
The data processing device includes:
Processing means for processing using content data;
Processing attribute information transmitting means for transmitting the processing attribute information representing attributes of content data that can be processed by the processing means to the data transmitting device ;
Before SL and the content the content identification information transmitted from a particular information transmission means of the data transmitting apparatus, a content-related information acquisition means for acquiring the data attribute information representing an attribute of the content data,
At least one of capability information representing processing performance of the processing unit or processing content that can be performed by the processing unit, state information representing a processing state in the processing unit, and restriction information representing processing restriction in the processing unit Process-related information acquisition means for acquiring one of them as process-related information;
Additional information based on the data attribute information acquired by the content related information acquisition unit and the processing related information acquired by the processing related information acquisition unit, wherein the processing unit represents an attribute represented by the data attribute information Additional information representing at least one of the time spent when processing using the content data, the amount of cost or resources, and the result of the processing is acquired by the content related information acquisition means Display control means for displaying on the display unit in addition to the content identification information;
Among the displayed content identification information before Symbol display unit requests the transmission of the content data specified by the content identification information selected by the user to the data transmitting apparatus, the data transmission device in response to the request Content data acquisition means for acquiring the content data transmitted from the content data transmission means ,
The data processing system , wherein the processing means performs processing using content data acquired by the content data acquisition means . The processing related information acquisition unit acquires the state information including money that has been preliminarily input as an expense spent by the processing performed by the processing unit, or the remaining amount of resources used by the processing,
The display control means is configured such that the amount of money or resources consumed when the processing means performs processing using content data having an attribute represented by the data attribute information is the amount of money input or the remaining amount of the resource. If there is more, the additional information indicating the shortage of the cost or the amount of resources spent when the processing is performed is added to the content specifying information and displayed on the display unit
The data processing system according to claim 7. The processing related information acquisition means acquires the restriction information including use restrictions of the processing means that are set in advance for a user who uses the device.
When the process using the content data having the attribute represented by the data attribute information is restricted due to the use restriction, the display control unit displays additional information indicating that the process is restricted as the content specifying information. To be displayed on the display
The data processing system according to claim 7. The processing means performs processing for forming an image using content data.
The data processing system according to claim 7. Computer
Processing means for processing using content data;
Content-related information acquisition means for acquiring content specification information for specifying each content data and data attribute information representing an attribute of the content data;
Capability information indicating the processing performance of the processing means or the contents of processing that can be performed by the processing means, status information indicating the status of processing in the processing means, and preset for a user who uses the device. Processing related information acquisition means for acquiring, as processing related information, information including at least the restriction information among restriction information representing processing restrictions in the processing means including use restrictions of the processing means;
Additional information based on the data attribute information acquired by the content related information acquisition unit and the processing related information acquired by the processing related information acquisition unit, wherein the processing unit represents an attribute represented by the data attribute information Additional information representing at least one of the time spent when processing using the content data, the amount of cost or resources, and the result of the processing is acquired by the content related information acquisition means When processing using content data having an attribute represented by the data attribute information is restricted due to the use restriction, the processing is restricted. Display control means for adding additional information to be displayed to the content specifying information and causing the display to display the additional information;
Among the content specifying information displayed on the display unit, the content specifying information selected by the user is made to function as content data acquiring means for acquiring content data,
The processing means performs processing using the content data acquired by the content data acquisition means
program. Computer
Processing means for processing using content data;
Content-related information acquisition means for acquiring content specification information for specifying each content data and data attribute information representing an attribute of the content data;
At least one of capability information representing processing performance of the processing unit or processing content that can be performed by the processing unit, state information representing a processing state in the processing unit, and restriction information representing processing restriction in the processing unit Process-related information acquisition means for acquiring process attribute information representing data attributes that can be processed by the processing means.
Additional information based on the data attribute information acquired by the content related information acquisition unit and the processing related information acquired by the processing related information acquisition unit, wherein the processing unit represents an attribute represented by the data attribute information Additional information representing at least one of the time spent when processing using the content data, the amount of cost or resources, and the result of the processing is acquired by the content related information acquisition means Data represented by the processing attribute information acquired by the processing related information acquisition unit, the attribute of the content data represented by the data attribute information acquired by the content related information acquisition unit added to the content identification information and displayed on the display unit If the attribute is included in the Content added by the content attribute information acquired by the content-related information acquisition unit by adding additional information for instructing the processing of the processing unit using the content data to the content specifying information to be displayed on the display unit When the data attribute is not included in the data attribute represented by the processing attribute information acquired by the processing related information acquisition unit, the content data is added to the content specifying information for specifying the content data. Additional information indicating that the processing unit cannot display the content data, or displays the additional information for instructing the processing of the processing unit used on the display unit. Display control means to be added and displayed on the display unit;
Among the content specifying information displayed on the display unit, the content specifying information selected by the user is made to function as content data acquiring means for acquiring content data,
The processing means performs processing using the content data acquired by the content data acquisition means
program.

Images