JP5206207B2 - Image processing system and image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing system and an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing system and an image processing apparatus including a server that stores a Web page and an image processing apparatus that can browse the Web page stored in the server.

  In recent years, MFPs (Multi Function Peripherals) having functions of a scanner device, a printer device, a copy device, and a facsimile device have a browsing function for downloading a Web page from a Web server and displaying it. . In order to realize this browsing function, a browsing program is installed in the MFP. The browsing program only executes a process of displaying a Web page. Among the functions of the MFP, for example, a Web page is printed. It can only be linked with limited functions.

  For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-149320 discloses an image processing apparatus that has image input means for inputting image data and can communicate with an external apparatus via a network, from the external apparatus via the network. A document acquisition means for acquiring a document in which an input format for requesting input and transmission of an image from a user is described, and instructing input and transmission of an image based on the input format described in the acquired document Image transmission button display means for displaying an image transmission button for user operation, and when the displayed image transmission button is operated by a user, image data is input by the image input means, And an image processing apparatus including control means for controlling the input image data to be transmitted.

However, the conventional image processing apparatus has a problem that the user of the MFP cannot set the input format for inputting the image data from the image input unit because it is described in the document acquired from the external apparatus. is there.
JP-A-2005-149320

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. One of the objects of the present invention is to store a general-purpose Web page in a server and to effectively use the functions of the image processing apparatus. It is possible to provide an image processing system capable of

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of storing a general-purpose Web page on a server.

To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an image processing system is an image processing system including a server and at least one image processing device, and the server is described in a markup language. An upload command that includes storage means for storing at least one page data, the at least one page data being predetermined with at least one image processing apparatus, and executing a process of transmitting image data obtained by reading a document And a specific page data in which a button for instructing execution of the upload command is embedded, each of the at least one image processing device receives browsing data from the server and displays the browsing means, and the specific page data is displayed. If the button is instructed while Includes a command executing means for executing processing corresponding to the upload command, a scan means for performing a scan process for outputting the image data by reading the document, the command execution means, the setting screen which is previously stored in the own device A setting receiving unit that receives a setting for the scanning unit to execute the scanning process; a scanning control unit that controls the scanning unit to execute the scanning process based on the setting received by the scanning setting receiving unit; Transmitting means for transmitting image data read by the scanning means and output to a transmission destination determined by specific page data .

According to this aspect, in the image processing apparatus, when a button embedded in the specific page data received from the server is instructed , the setting for executing the scanning process using the setting screen stored in advance in the own apparatus Is received, based on the received settings, the document is read, and image data to be read and output is transmitted to the transmission destination determined by the specific page data . For this reason, in the image processing apparatus, it is possible to make settings for executing processing using a setting screen stored in advance in the apparatus itself, so that the scanning function of the image processing apparatus can be used effectively. Further, the server only needs to store specific page data in which an upload command and a button for instructing execution of the upload command are embedded, so that it is not necessary to generate a customized Web page for each image processing apparatus. As a result, a general-purpose Web page can be stored in the server, and an image processing system that can effectively use the functions of the image processing apparatus can be provided.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an image processing apparatus receives page data described in a markup language from a server and displays the browsing means, and the page data is determined in advance between the server and a document. Including a specific page data in which an upload command for executing processing for transmitting image data read and a button for instructing execution of the upload command are embedded, and the specific page data is displayed. Then, a command execution unit that executes a command included in the specific page data, and a scan unit that executes a scan process of reading an original and outputting image data , the command execution unit is stored in advance in the device itself. setting a setting screen accepts the setting for the scanning means to perform a scanning process was And with means, by controlling the scanning means, based on the setting received by the scan settings reception unit, and a scan control unit which performs the scan process, by the specific page data image data scanning means outputs by reading an original Transmitting means for transmitting to a predetermined transmission destination .

  If this aspect is followed, the image processing apparatus which can memorize | store a general purpose web page in a server can be provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall outline of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, image processing system 1 includes multifunction peripherals (hereinafter referred to as “MFPs”) 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C connected to network 2 respectively. MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C are examples of image processing apparatuses, and include a plurality of functions such as a scanner function, a printer function, a copy function, and a facsimile function.

  The network 2 is a local area network (LAN), and the connection form may be wired or wireless. The network 2 is not limited to a LAN, and may be a wide area network (WAN), a public switched telephone network (PSTN), or the like. The network 2 is connected to the Internet 3 via a gateway, and the MFPs 100, 100 A, 100 B, and 100 C can communicate with Web servers 7 and 7 A connected to the Internet 3.

  MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C can execute a browsing program and have a browsing function. For example, when the URL of a Web (Web) page stored in the Web server 7 is specified by the user, the MFP 100 requests the Web server 7 to transmit the Web page specified by the URL, and the Web server 7 transmits the Web Receive and display the page. Hereinafter, processing in which the MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C download and display a Web page is referred to as browsing processing.

  In the present embodiment, MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C will be described as an example of an image forming apparatus. However, instead of MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C, any apparatus having a browsing function may be used. It may be a personal computer, a scanner, a printer, a facsimile, or the like. The functions of MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C are the same. Here, MFP 100 will be described as an example.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the MFP. Referring to FIG. 2, MFP 100 includes an automatic document feeder (ADF) 10, an image reading unit 20, an image forming unit 30, and a paper feeding unit 40.

  The ADF 10 automatically conveys a plurality of documents set on the document feed tray 11 one by one to a predetermined document reading position set on the platen glass of the image reading unit 20, and the image reading unit 20 The document on which the document image is read is discharged onto a document discharge tray. The image reading unit 20 includes a light source that irradiates light to a document conveyed to a document reading position and a photoelectric conversion element that receives light reflected by the document, and scans a document image corresponding to the size of the document. The photoelectric conversion element converts the received light into image data that is an electrical signal and outputs the image data to the image forming unit 30. The paper feed unit 40 conveys the paper stored in the paper feed tray to the image forming unit 30.

  The image forming unit 30 forms an image by a well-known electrophotographic method. The image forming unit 30 performs various data processing such as shading correction on the image data input from the image reading unit 20, and the image data after the data processing is processed. Based on this, an image is formed on the sheet conveyed by the sheet feeding unit 40.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a circuit configuration of the MFP. Referring to FIG. 3, MFP 100 includes a main circuit 101, a facsimile unit 122, and a communication control unit 123. The main circuit 101 includes a CPU 111, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 112 used as a work area of the CPU 111, a flash memory 113 for storing a program executed by the CPU 111, a display unit 114, an operation unit 115, And a hard disk drive (HDD) 116 as a mass storage device and a data communication control unit 117.

  The CPU 111 executes programs stored in the flash memory 113 and executes various processes. The flash memory 113 is an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory).

  The CPU 111 is connected to the display unit 114, the operation unit 115, the HDD 116, and the data communication control unit 117, and controls the entire main circuit 101. The CPU 111 is connected to the facsimile unit 122, the communication control unit 123, the ADF 10, the image reading unit 20, the image forming unit 30, and the paper feeding unit 40, and controls the entire MFP 100.

  The display unit 114 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic ELD (Electro Luminescence Display), and displays an instruction menu for the user, information about acquired image data, and the like. The operation unit 115 includes a plurality of keys, and accepts input of various instructions, data such as characters and numbers by user operations corresponding to the keys. The plurality of keys included in the operation unit 115 are hard keys including switches. The operation unit 115 includes a touch panel provided on the display unit 114. The method of the touch panel is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a resistive film method or a surface acoustic wave method. The touch panel detects a position designated by a finger or a stylus pen, and outputs the coordinates of the detected position to the CPU 111. Display unit 114 and operation unit 115 constitute operation panel 9 provided on the upper surface of MFP 100.

  The data communication control unit 117 includes a LAN terminal 118 that is an interface for communication using a communication protocol such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) or UDP (User Datagram Protocol), and a serial communication interface terminal 119 for serial communication. . The data communication control unit 117 transmits / receives data to / from an external device connected to the LAN terminal 118 or the serial communication interface terminal 119 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 111.

  When a LAN cable for connecting to the network 2 is connected to the LAN terminal 118, the data communication control unit 117 communicates with other MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C connected via the LAN terminal 118. Further, the data communication control unit 117 communicates with the Web servers 7 and 7A connected to the Internet 3.

  The CPU 111 can update the program by controlling the data communication control unit 117, downloading the program from a computer connected to the network 2 or the Internet 3, and storing the program in the flash memory 113.

  The serial communication interface terminal 119 can be connected to a memory card 119A incorporating a flash memory. The CPU 111 can update the program by controlling the data communication control unit 117 to read a program to be executed by the CPU 111 from the memory card 119 </ b> A and store it in the flash memory 113.

  A recording medium for storing a program to be executed by the CPU 111 is not limited to the memory card 119A, but a flexible disk, a cassette tape, an optical disk (CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory) / MO (Magnetic Optical Disc)). / MD (Mini Disc) / DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)), IC card (including memory card), optical card, mask ROM, EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), semiconductor memory such as EEPROM, and the like.

  Further, the CPU 111 downloads a program from a computer connected to the network 2 and stores the program in the flash memory 113, or the computer connected to the network 2 writes the program in the flash memory 113 so that the program is stored in the flash memory 113. The stored program may be loaded into the RAM 112 and executed by the CPU 111. The program here includes not only a program directly executable by the CPU 111 but also a source program, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

  The communication control unit 123 is a modem for connecting the CPU 111 to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) 7. The telephone number in PSTN 7 is assigned to MFP 100 in advance, and when a call is made from the facsimile apparatus connected to PSTN 7 to the telephone number assigned to MFP 100, communication control unit 123 detects the call. When the communication control unit 123 detects a call, the communication control unit 123 establishes a call and causes the facsimile unit 122 to communicate.

  The facsimile unit 122 is connected to the PSTN 7 and transmits facsimile data to the PSTN 7 or receives facsimile data from the PSTN 7.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of the operation panel. Referring to FIG. 4, operation panel 9 includes a display unit 114 and an operation unit 115. The operation unit 115 includes a numeric keypad 201, a browser key 202 for causing the MFP 100 to enter a browsing mode for executing a browsing function, and a fax key 203 for causing the MFP 100 to transition to a facsimile mode for executing processing for transmitting and receiving a facsimile. A scan key 204 for transitioning the MFP 100 to a scan mode for executing a scan process, a copy key 205 for transitioning the MFP 100 to a copy mode for executing a copy process, and resetting the settings to the MFP 100 Reset key 206 for setting to an initial state, interrupt key 207 for setting interrupt processing, pause key 208 for temporarily stopping processing, start key 209 for starting processing, and input contents The It includes a clear key 210 for cell, a.

  FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the CPU. Referring to FIG. 5, CPU 111 includes a browsing unit 51 that displays a Web page downloaded from Web servers 7 and 7A, and a command execution unit 53 that executes a command.

  The browsing unit 51 is formed in the CPU 111 when the CPU 111 operates the browser key 202 to execute a browsing program. If the user inputs the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the Web page stored in one of the Web servers 7 and 7A to the operation unit 115, the browsing unit 51 is specified by the URL input from the operation control unit 55. A download instruction for downloading a web page from either the web server 7 or 7A is output to the data communication control unit 117, and the web page received by the data communication control unit 117 is obtained from either the web server 7 or 7A. The image of the web page is displayed on the display unit 114. The Web servers 7 and 7A store at least one Web page in advance. The Web page is page data described in a markup language such as HTML (HyperText Markup Language) or XML (Extensible Markup Language).

  Web pages stored in the Web servers 7 and 7A are embedded with an upload command for executing processing for transmitting image data obtained by reading a document to a predetermined transmission destination and an upload button for instructing execution of the upload command. Included specific pages.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image of a specific page. Referring to FIG. 6, the image 231 of the specific page includes an upload button 233 in which upload characters are displayed. When the button 233 is instructed, execution of the upload command is instructed. The upload command includes an API (Application Program Interface) published in advance for the MFP 100, and is described in, for example, a JAVA (registered trademark) script. Specifically, the upload command accepts a setting for reading an original by the image reading unit 20 of the MFP 100, causes the original reading unit 20 to read the original based on the received setting, and outputs an image output by the original reading unit 20. A command for transmitting data to a predetermined transmission destination is described.

  Returning to FIG. 5, when the upload button 233 is instructed when the browsing unit 51 is displaying the specific page on the display unit 114, the browsing unit 51 executes the upload command included in the specific page.

  When the CPU 111 executes the upload command, the command execution unit 53 is formed in the CPU 111. The command execution unit 53 includes a setting unit 55, a reading control unit 57, and an upload unit 59. The setting unit 55 displays on the display unit 114 a scan setting screen that the MFP 100 originally has for inputting settings for the image reading unit 20 to read a document, and accepts settings input by the user to the operation unit 115. .

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a scan setting screen. Scan setting screen 241 is the same as the scan setting screen displayed by MFP 100 when scan key 204 of operation unit 115 is designated. Therefore, the original can be read and converted into image data by using the scan function of MFP 100 as it is. Therefore, only settings that allow the MFP 100 to read the original are input, settings that cannot read the original are not input, and settings that the scan function of the MFP originally has are used to the maximum. be able to.

  Returning to FIG. 5, the setting unit 55 outputs the setting accepted by the operation unit 115 to the reading control unit 57. The reading control unit 57 controls the image reading unit 20 to read the document according to the input setting. Since the image reading unit 20 outputs image data obtained by reading the document to the CPU 111, the upload unit 59 receives the image data.

  The upload unit 59 transmits the image data output from the image reading unit 20 to the transmission destination determined on the specific page via the data communication control unit 117. For example, transmission is performed using a FTP (File Transfer Protocol) communication protocol.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of browsing processing. The browsing process is a process executed by the CPU 111 when the CPU 111 executes a browsing program and a JAVA (registered trademark) script.

  Referring to FIG. 8, it is determined whether a URL has been accepted (step S01). The process waits until a URL is received (step S01). When a URL is received, the process proceeds to step S02. In step S02, the Web page specified by the URL accepted in step S01 is downloaded. Then, the downloaded web page is displayed on the display unit 114 (step S03). In the next step S04, it is determined whether or not an upload button has been instructed. If the upload button is instructed, the process proceeds to step S05; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S11. In step S05, an upload command corresponding to the upload button is executed. The upload command is described in the Web page downloaded in step S02.

  In the next step S06, a scan setting screen that the MFP originally has is called and displayed on the display unit 114. And the setting which a user inputs into the operation part 115 according to a scan setting screen is received (step S07). In the next step S08, it is determined whether a scan instruction has been accepted. When a start button 209 provided in the operation unit 115 is instructed, a scan instruction is accepted. If a scan instruction is accepted, the process proceeds to step S09; otherwise, the process returns to step S07. In step S09, the image reading unit 20 is caused to read the document according to the setting accepted in step S07. In the next step S10, the image data output from the image reading unit 20 is transmitted to the transmission destination described in the Web page downloaded in step S02 via the data communication control unit 117.

  In step S11, it is determined whether an end instruction has been accepted. It is determined whether an instruction to end execution of the browsing program has been received. If an end instruction is accepted, the process ends. If not, the process returns to step S03.

  As described above, in the image processing system according to the present embodiment, Web servers 7 and 7A store Web pages, and MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C receive Web pages from Web servers 7 and 7A, respectively. A command execution unit 53 that executes a process corresponding to the command when a predetermined command is input between the browsing unit 51 to be displayed and the Web servers 7 and 7A. 53 includes a setting unit 55 that receives a setting for executing processing corresponding to the upload command in response to an instruction to the upload button 233 embedded in the Web page 231 displayed by the browsing unit 51. Based on the accepted settings, uploads corresponding to the upload command To perform the loading process. For this reason, when the upload button 233 embedded in the Web page 231 received from the Web server 7 or 7A is instructed in the MFP 100, 100A, 100B, or 100C, the MFP for executing the process corresponding to the upload command is originally set. The setting of the screen that the user has is accepted, and processing corresponding to the upload command is executed based on the accepted setting. Therefore, since settings for executing processing can be performed in MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C, it is not necessary to store customized Web pages for each of MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C in Web servers 7 and 7A. . As a result, general-purpose web pages are stored in the web servers 7 and 7A, and the functions of the MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C can be used effectively.

  Each of MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C further includes an image reading unit 20 that executes a scanning process of reading a document and outputting image data, and the Web page stores image data output by image reading unit 20. The command execution unit 53 includes a web page 231 in which an upload command for executing processing to be transmitted to a predetermined transmission destination and an upload button for instructing execution of the upload command are embedded. When the upload button 233 is instructed at the stage where is displayed, the setting unit 55 that accepts settings for executing the scanning process, and the image reading unit 20 creates a document based on the accepted settings. Predetermined image data to be read and output It includes an upload unit 59 to be sent to the destination, the. Therefore, it is possible to effectively use the scan function that each of MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C has.

  In the above-described embodiment, the MFP 100 has been described as an example of an image processing apparatus. However, any apparatus having a function of reading a document and outputting image data may be a scanner apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, or the like. Good. In addition, it goes without saying that the invention can be understood as a browsing processing method for causing the MFP 100 to execute the processing shown in FIG. 8 or a browsing processing program for causing a computer to execute the browsing processing method.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

1 is a diagram showing an overall outline of an image processing system in an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an MFP. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a circuit configuration of an MFP. FIG. It is a top view which shows an example of an operation panel. It is a functional block diagram which shows an example of the function of CPU. It is a figure which shows an example of the image of a specific page. It is a figure which shows an example of a scan setting screen. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a browsing process.

Explanation of symbols

1 image processing system, 2 network, 3 Internet, 7, 7A Web server, 9 operation panel, 10 ADF, 20 image reading unit, 30 image forming unit, 40 paper feeding unit, 51 browsing unit, 53 command execution unit, 55 setting Unit, 57 reading control unit, 59 upload unit, 100, 100A, 100B, 100C MFP, 101 main circuit, 110 display unit, 111 CPU, 112 RAM, 113 flash memory, 114 display unit, 115 operation unit, 115A touch panel, 116 HDD, 117 data communication control unit, 119A memory card, 122 facsimile unit, 123 communication control unit, 117 data communication control unit, 119A memory card, 122 facsimile unit, 123 communication control unit, 201-210 key.

Claims (2)

An image processing system including a server and at least one image processing device,
The server includes storage means for storing at least one page data described in a markup language,
The at least one page data is predetermined with the at least one image processing apparatus, and includes an upload command for executing processing for transmitting image data obtained by reading a document and a button for instructing execution of the upload command. Including embedded specific page data,
Each of the at least one image processing device includes:
Browsing means for receiving and displaying the page data from the server;
Command execution means for executing the command included in the specific page data when the button is instructed while the specific page data is displayed;
Scanning means for executing a scanning process of reading an original and outputting image data;
With
The command execution means is a setting screen pre-stored in its own apparatus, and a setting reception means for receiving settings for the scanning means to execute the scanning process ;
Scan control means for controlling the scan means to execute the scan processing based on the setting accepted by the scan setting accepting means;
An image processing system comprising : a transmission unit configured to transmit image data output by the scanning unit after reading a document to a transmission destination determined by the specific page data . And browsing means for receiving the page data described in a markup language from servers, to display,
The page data includes specific page data that is predetermined with the server and embedded with an upload command for executing processing for transmitting image data obtained by reading a document and a button for instructing execution of the upload command. ,
Command execution means for executing the command included in the specific page data when the button is instructed while the specific page data is displayed;
Scanning means for executing a scanning process of reading an original and outputting image data ,
The command execution means is a setting screen pre-stored in its own apparatus, and a setting reception means for receiving settings for the scanning means to execute the scanning process ;
Scan control means for controlling the scan means to execute the scan processing based on the setting accepted by the scan setting accepting means;
An image processing apparatus including : a transmission unit configured to transmit image data output by the scanning unit reading a document to a transmission destination determined by the specific page data .

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