JP5732883B2 - Image forming apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a program, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus and a program for displaying a web page.

  Some recent image forming apparatuses are equipped with a browser function for displaying a Web page such as HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) data acquired from a network or from inside the device as a screen of the device. Some of these browser functions not only display a screen, but also can execute device control by interpreting a script extended for device control. According to such a browser function, a browser-based API such as a script can be provided for customization (for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, the browser function (MFP browser) described in Patent Document 1 is implemented as one application. Therefore, when it is desired to implement a function using the browser function for other applications (for example, a copy application, a printer application, a scanner application, a facsimile application, etc.), the developer needs to implement a browser function for each application. .

  In such a situation, there is a problem that the browser function is duplicated and the development efficiency is lowered. In addition, when it is desired to improve the browser function, there is a problem that the implementation contents distributed to a plurality of applications must be updated.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus and a program that can improve the development efficiency of an application that uses a Web page.

  Accordingly, in order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having a plurality of applications, including a web page processing unit shared by the plurality of applications, and the web page processing unit includes: A request receiving unit that receives a display request for a Web page, an acquisition unit that acquires a Web page specified by the identification information specified in the display request, and a Web that displays the Web page acquired by the acquisition unit on an operation panel Page display control means.

  In such an image forming apparatus, it is possible to improve the development efficiency of an application that uses a Web page.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the development efficiency of an application that uses a Web page.

It is a figure which shows the system configuration example in embodiment of this invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the function structural example of BCS. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating an example of the process sequence which a browser application makes BCS perform. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a browser screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the web page image on a browser screen. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating an example of the process sequence performed according to selection of a hyperlink. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the 1st example of the process sequence at the time of the printing of a web page. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a print setting screen. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the 2nd example of the process sequence at the time of the printing of a web page. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating an example of the process sequence which a copy application makes a BCS perform. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a copy screen. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating an example of the process sequence performed according to the reference request of the electronic manual of a copy application. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the electronic manual screen of a copy application. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a processing procedure of a printing process of an electronic manual screen of a copy application. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating an example of the process sequence of the display process of the web page of a supply online shopping site.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration in the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 and the Web server 20 are communicably connected via a network 30 (regardless of wired or wireless) such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet.

  The image forming apparatus 10 is a multifunction machine that realizes any two or more functions of printing, scanning, copying, FAX transmission / reception, and the like by a single casing. However, a device having any one function alone may be used as the image forming apparatus 10.

  The Web server 20 is a computer that returns a Web page corresponding to Web page identification information (for example, URL (Uniform Resource Locator)) specified in the acquisition request in response to the Web page acquisition request. The web page returned by the web server 20 may be stored in advance in the web server 20 or a storage device outside the web server 20, or the web server 20 or a computer capable of communicating with the web server 20 is dynamically It may be generated. In the present embodiment, a Web page refers to display data acquired from inside or outside (Web server 20 or the like) of the image forming apparatus 10 by HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) communication. HTML (HyperText Markup Language) etc. are mentioned as an alternative data format of a Web page.

  In FIG. 1, one image forming apparatus 10 and one Web server 20 are shown, but the relationship between the two is not limited to one to one. The relationship between the two may be one-to-many, many-to-one, or many-to-many.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes hardware such as a controller 11, a scanner 12, a printer 13, a modem 14, an operation panel 15, a network interface 16, and an SD card slot 17.

  The controller 11 includes a CPU 111, a RAM 112, a ROM 113, an HDD 114, an NVRAM 115, and the like. The ROM 113 stores various programs and data used by the programs. The RAM 112 is used as a storage area for loading a program, a work area for the loaded program, and the like. The CPU 111 realizes various functions by processing a program loaded in the RAM 112. The HDD 114 records programs and various data used by the programs. In the NVRAM 115, various setting information and the like are recorded.

  The scanner 12 is hardware (image reading means) for reading image data from a document. The printer 13 is hardware (printing means) for printing print data on printing paper. The modem 14 is hardware for connecting to a telephone line, and is used to execute transmission / reception of image data by FAX communication. The operation panel 15 is hardware including input means such as buttons for accepting input from the user, display means such as a liquid crystal panel, and the like. The liquid crystal panel may have a touch panel function. In this case, the liquid crystal panel also functions as an input unit. The network interface 16 is hardware for connecting to a network such as a LAN (whether wired or wireless). The SD card slot 17 is used for reading a program recorded on the SD card 80. That is, in the image forming apparatus 10, not only the program recorded in the ROM 113 but also the program recorded in the SD card 80 can be loaded into the RAM 112 and executed. The SD card 80 may be replaced by another recording medium (for example, a CD-ROM or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory). That is, the type of recording medium corresponding to the positioning of the SD card 80 is not limited to a predetermined one. In this case, the SD card slot 17 may be replaced by hardware corresponding to the type of recording medium.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration example of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an application 131, a platform 132, and the like. These programs are executed in parallel on a process basis on an OS (Operating System) 112 such as UNIX (registered trademark).

  In the figure, as the application 131, a copy application 141, a printer application 142, a scanner application 143, a facsimile application 144, a browser application 145, and the like are illustrated. The copy application 141 causes the image forming apparatus 10 to execute a copy job. The printer application 142 causes the image forming apparatus 10 to execute a print job. The scanner application 143 causes the image forming apparatus 10 to execute a scan job. The facsimile application 144 causes the image forming apparatus 10 to execute a FAX transmission / reception job. The browser application 145 displays a GUI (Graphical User Interface) that provides a feeling of operation of the Web browser on the operation panel 15. In other words, the user of the image forming apparatus 10 can access an arbitrary web page by using the browser application 145 by the same operation as that of the web browser.

The platform 132 includes a control service 151, a system resource manager (SRM) 152, and the like. The control service 151 includes a network control service (NCS) 161, a facsimile control service (FCS) 162, a delivery control service (DCS) 163, an engine control service (ECS) 164, a memory control service (MCS) 165, and an operation panel 15 control. There are a service (OCS) 166, a certification control service (CCS) 167, a user directory control service (UCS) 168, a system control service (SCS) 169, a browser control service (BCS) 170, etc. Mediates communication. The process of the FCS 162 performs control related to facsimile. The process of the DCS 163 performs control related to the distribution processing of the stored document. The ECS 164 process controls the printer 12 and the printer 13. The process of the MCS 165 controls the memory and hard disk drive. The process of the OCS 166 performs display control related to the operation panel 15 and the like. The process of the CCS 167 performs control related to authentication processing and billing processing. The process of the UCS 168 performs control related to management of user information. The process of the SCS 169 performs control related to system management. The process of the BCS 170 performs processing control related to the Web page. For example, the BCS 170 has an API for accepting a processing request regarding a Web page from the application 131. The BCS 170 performs, for example, Web page acquisition (download), Web page display control, and the like in response to a request input via the API.

  The SRM 151 manages hardware resources of the image forming apparatus 10 and arbitrates hardware resource acquisition requests (use requests or occupancy requests) from the control service 151.

  The image forming apparatus 10 also has a virtual application service (VAS) 135. The VAS 135 is software that mediates between the application 131 and the platform 132. The VAS 135 operates as a server process using the application 131 as a client, and also operates as a client process using the platform 132 as a server. The VAS 135 has a wrapping function that hides the platform 132 when viewed from the application 131, and plays a role of absorbing version differences associated with version upgrades of the platform 132.

  The BCS 170 will be described in more detail. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the BCS. In the figure, a BCS 170 includes a request reception unit 171, a Web page acquisition unit 172, a rendering unit 173, a display control unit 174, a pressed point detection unit 175, a script execution unit 176, a print image data generation unit 177, and a print execution control. Part 178 and the like.

  The request reception unit 171 receives an execution request for a function included in the BCS 170 through an API included in the BCS 170. The functions of the BCS 170 include, for example, display of a Web page, generation of print image data for a Web page, and printing of a Web page.

  When the request reception unit 171 receives a Web page display request, the Web page acquisition unit 172 is external to the image forming apparatus 10 (for example, the Web server 20) or inside the image forming apparatus 10 (for example, the HDD 114). Thus, a Web page designated as a display target is acquired.

  The rendering unit 173 parses the Web page acquired by the Web page acquisition unit 172, and generates image information (image data) in a format that can be interpreted by the OCS 166 regarding the Web page based on the parsing result.

  The display control unit 174 executes processing for causing the operation panel 15 to display the image information generated by the rendering unit 173 via the OCS 166.

  When the screen displayed on the operation panel 15 is operated based on the display image data, the pressed point detection unit 175 is based on the definition in the Web page corresponding to the operated location (pressed position). The process to be executed is determined.

  The print image data generation unit 177 converts the image information generated by the rendering unit 173 into print image data.

  The print execution control unit 178 controls execution of print processing related to the print image data generated by the print image data generation unit 177.

  Hereinafter, a processing procedure of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described. In the following, various examples will be mainly described regarding how the BCS 170 is used by the application 131 and how the BCS 170 executes processing in response to a request from the application 131.

  First, an example used by the browser application 145 will be described. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a processing procedure that the browser application causes the BCS to execute.

  When the browser application 145 is selected as an operation target via the operation panel 15, the browser application 145 transfers image information on the browser screen to the OCS 166 and requests display of the image information (S101). The image information is in a format that can be interpreted by the OCS 166. Note that the image information of the browser screen is incorporated as logic in the browser application 145, for example.

  The OCS 166 displays the transferred image information on the operation panel 15 (the liquid crystal panel).

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the browser screen. In the figure, a browser screen 700 has an edit box 701, a move button 702, an image display area 703, a print button 704, and the like.

  An edit box 701 is a display component for receiving an input of a URL. The move button 702 is a button for accepting a move request or a transition request to a URL input in the edit box 701 (that is, a display request for a Web page specified by the URL). An image display area 703 is a display area of a Web page. A print button 704 is a button for accepting a print request for a Web page. The browser screen 700 may include a user interface included in a Web browser used in a PC or the like, such as a bookmark.

  The user inputs a desired URL in the edit box 701 on the browser screen 700. More specifically, the user focuses on the edit box 701 and inputs a URL using a keyboard or the like in that state. The keyboard may be a USB keyboard connected to the image forming apparatus 10 or a software keyboard displayed on the operation panel 15.

  After the URL is input, when the move button 702 is selected (for example, touched) and a web page browsing request is input, the browser application 145 displays the URL input in the edit box 701 and the display area of the image display area 703. Information (for example, the coordinate value of each vertex or the coordinate value of one vertex and the width and height, etc.) is designated, and a web page display request is input to the BCS 170 (S103). The input of the request is input via an API of the BCS 170. As will be described later, various requests input to the BCS 170 are similarly input via an API of the BCS 170.

  When receiving a Web page display request, the request receiving unit 171 of the BCS 170 requests the Web page acquisition unit 172 to acquire the Web page by specifying the URL specified in the display request (S104). The Web page acquisition unit 172 transmits a Web page acquisition request (HTTP request) to the designated URL (S105). For example, when the URL indicates a Web page in the Web server 20, the acquisition request is received by the Web server 20. The Web server 20 returns a Web page corresponding to the URL specified in the received acquisition request to the Web page acquisition unit 172 (S106). The web page acquisition unit 172 outputs the received web page to the request reception unit 171 (S107).

  Subsequently, the request reception unit 171 inputs a drawing request for the Web page to the rendering unit 173 (S108). The rendering unit 173 parses the definition content of the Web page, and generates image information that can be interpreted by the OCS 166 based on the parse result (S109). The rendering unit 173 outputs the generated image information to the request reception unit 171 (S110). The request receiving unit 171 records (holds) the image information in the RAM 112, for example.

  Subsequently, the request receiving unit 171 specifies the image information and the display region information of the image display region 703, and requests the display control unit 174 to display the image indicated by the image information in the image display region 703. (S111). The display control unit 174 transfers the image information and the display area information of the image display area 703 to the OCS 166 (S112). The OCS 166 stores the transferred image information and display area information using the RAM 112, for example. Subsequently, the display control unit 174 transmits a drawing request for the transferred image information to the OCS 166 (S113). In response to receiving the drawing request, the OCS 166 draws the image information stored in step S112 in the area indicated by the display area information received together with the image information in the video memory of the liquid crystal touch panel of the operation panel 15. As a result, an image (Web page image) indicated by the Web page related to the URL desired by the user is displayed in the image display area 703.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a Web page image on the browser screen. The figure shows an example in which a web page image w1 is displayed. The web page image w1 includes a hyperlink L1.

  When the hyperlink L1 is selected (touched), for example, a processing procedure as shown in FIG. 8 is executed.

  FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed in response to selection of a hyperlink.

  The touch of the hyperlink L1 is detected by the OCS 166 (S121). The OCS 166 notifies the coordinate information of the touched location to the SCS 169 (S122). The SCS 169 notifies the coordinate information to the browser application 145 (S123). The browser application 145 notifies the coordinate information to the BCS 170 (S124). When receiving the notification of the coordinate information, the request reception unit 171 of the BCS 170 inputs the coordinate information to the pressed point detection unit 175 (S125). Based on the coordinate information, the pressed point detection unit 175 specifies that the operation target (touched) is the hyperlink L1, and outputs the URL indicated by the hyperlink to the request reception unit 171. (S126). In steps S127 to S136, the same processing procedure as that in steps S104 to S113 in FIG. 5 is executed for the URL.

  As a result, an image (Web page image) indicated by the Web page related to the URL indicated by the hyperlink L1 is displayed in the image display area 703.

  Next, a processing procedure at the time of printing a Web page displayed on the browser screen 700 will be described. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram for explaining a first example of a processing procedure when printing a Web page.

  For example, when the print button 704 is selected (touched) while the web page image w1 is displayed on the browser screen 700, the SCS 169 detects that fact. When the SCS 169 detects selection of the print button 704, the SCS 169 notifies the browser application 145 to that effect. In response to the selection notification of the print button 704, the browser application 145 displays the image information of the print setting screen and the attribute information (position and size, component information to be arranged, etc.) of the pop-up window for displaying the screen indicated by the image information. The data is transferred to the OCS 166, and the OCS 166 is requested to display the screen indicated by the image information in a pop-up window (S152). In the example of FIG. 9, the image information of the print setting screen and the attribute information of the popup window are incorporated as logic in the browser application 145. The OCS 166 generates a pop-up window based on the designated attribute information, and draws an image indicated by the designated image information in the display area of the pop-up window. As a result, the print setting screen is superimposed on the browser screen 700 and displayed on the operation panel 15.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the print setting screen. In the figure, as an example of setting items constituting the print setting information, a display example of a print setting screen 510 for setting a color mode, a paper size, a print surface, and the like is shown.

  When the value of each setting item is set on the print setting screen 510 and the print execution button 511 is selected (touched), this is detected by the SCS 169. The SCS 169 notifies the browser application 145 of the selection of the print execution button 511 (S153).

  In response to the selection notification of the print execution button 511, the browser application 145 inputs a print request for the displayed Web page image w1 to the BCS 170 (S154). In the print request, print setting information (value for each setting item) set on the print setting screen 510 is specified. In response to the print request, the request receiving unit 171 of the BCS 170 requests the MCS 165 to secure a work area (working memory area) (S155). The MCS 165 secures a work area in the RAM 112, for example, in response to the request.

  Subsequently, the request reception unit 171 requests the print image data generation unit 177 to generate print image data for the currently displayed Web page image w1 (S156). The print image data generation unit 177 converts the image information generated by the rendering unit 173 when the web page image w1 is displayed into image data in a predetermined data format (for example, BITMAP) (hereinafter, “print BMP data”). The conversion result (print BMP data) is recorded in the work area (S157). Subsequently, the print image data generation unit 177 converts the print BMP data in the work area into print image data in a format that can be interpreted by the printer application 142 using, for example, an image conversion library (S158, S159). ).

  Note that the image information generated by the rendering unit 173 may be directly converted into print image data (that is, without going through the BITMAP format). In the above, since the image conversion library accepts the BITMAP format as input, conversion to the BITMAP format is performed.

  Subsequently, the request reception unit 171 inputs a print request to the print execution control unit 178 (S160). The print execution control unit 178 transmits a print request including the print image data recorded in the work area and the print setting information to the printer application 142 (S161). The printer application 142 causes the printer 13 to execute a print job related to the print image data according to the print setting information (S162). As a result, the web page image w1 is printed.

  Note that the processing procedure of FIG. 9 may be modified as shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram for explaining a second example of a processing procedure when printing a Web page. In FIG. 11, the same steps as those in FIG. 9 are denoted by the same step numbers, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate. FIG. 11 illustrates an example in which the browser application 145 controls the processing procedure controlled by the request reception unit 171 of the BCS 170 in FIG. 9.

  In response to the selection notification of the print execution button 511 (S153), the browser application 145 requests the MCS 165 to secure a work area (S171). The MCS 165 secures a work area in the RAM 112, for example, in response to the request.

  Subsequently, the browser application 145 inputs a print BMP data generation request for the currently displayed Web page image w1 to the BCS 170 (S172). The request reception unit 171 requests the print image data generation unit 177 to generate print BMP data for the currently displayed web page image w1 (S173). The print image data generation unit 177 converts the image information generated by the rendering unit 173 when the Web page image w1 is displayed into print BMP data, and records the print BMP data in the work area.

  Subsequently, the browser application 145 converts the print BMP data recorded in the work area into print image data in a format interpretable by the printer application 142 using the image conversion library (S174, S175). ).

  Subsequently, the browser application 145 transmits a print request including the print image data and print setting information to the printer application 142 (S176). The printer application 142 causes the printer 13 to execute a print job related to the print image data in accordance with the print setting information (S177). As a result, the web page image w1 is printed. The printer application 142 notifies the browser application 145 of the result of the print job (S178).

  Next, an example of using the BCU 170 by the copy application 141 will be described. In this usage example, an operation screen (copy screen) of the copy application 141 is not incorporated in the copy application 141 as logic, but is created by a Web page.

  FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a processing procedure that the copy application causes the BCS to execute.

  When the copy application 141 is selected as an operation target via the operation panel 15, the URL for the copy screen and the display area information of the copy screen (for example, the coordinate value of each vertex, or the coordinate value and width of one vertex, The web page display request relating to the copy screen is input to the BCS 170 (S201). When receiving a Web page display request, the request receiving unit 171 of the BCS 170 specifies the URL specified in the display request and requests the Web page acquiring unit 172 to acquire the Web page (S202). The Web page acquisition unit 172 acquires a Web page specified by the specified URL (S203). In the example shown in the figure, a Web page stored in the HDD 114 of the image forming apparatus 10 is acquired.

  Subsequently, in steps S204 to S209, the same processing procedure as that in steps S108 to S133 in FIG. 5 is executed for the Web page. As a result, an image (that is, a copy screen) indicated by the Web page is displayed on the operation panel 15.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a copy screen. In the figure, as an example of setting items constituting the copy setting information, a display example of a copy setting screen 520 for setting a color mode, a paper size, a copy surface, and the like is shown.

  If any button in the color mode setting area 522, the paper size setting area 523, or the copy surface setting area 524 is selected (touched) by the user on the copy screen 520, this is detected by the OCS 166 (S210). ). The OCS 166 notifies the coordinate information of the touched location (button) to the SCS 169 (S211). The SCS 169 notifies the coordinate information to the browser application 145 (S212). The browser application 145 notifies the coordinate information to the BCS 170 (S213).

  When receiving the notification of the coordinate information, the request reception unit 171 of the BCS 170 inputs the coordinate information to the pressed point detection unit 175 (S214). Based on the coordinate information, the pressed point detection unit 175 specifies that the script is associated with the button that has been operated (touched), and requests the script execution unit 176 to execute the script. (S215).

  Note that the script execution unit 176 is not only a so-called standard script (for example, a standard Java (registered trademark) script) that can be interpreted by a general-purpose Web browser, but also a script (for example, a script extended for the image forming apparatus 10). Hereinafter, it can also be interpreted as “extended script”). Here, the copy application 142 is requested to execute an extension script indicating a setting command for the color mode, paper size, or copy surface. The setting command for the color mode, the paper size, or the copy surface depends on which button of the color mode setting region 522, the paper size setting region 523, and the copy surface setting region 524 is the operation target. .

  Subsequently, the script execution unit 176 executes processing corresponding to the script (extended script) requested to be executed (S216). Here, the script execution unit 176 transmits a setting value setting request relating to the color mode, paper size, or copy surface to the copy application 141 (S216). The copy application 141 executes the requested process (S217). That is, the copy application 141 stores the setting value related to the setting request as a value set for the corresponding setting item (color mode, paper size, or copy surface).

  After that, when the start key, which is one of the hard keys on the operation panel 15, is pressed, the copy application 141 causes the image forming apparatus 10 to execute a copy job based on the copy setting information stored therein.

  Next, a description will be given of a processing procedure executed when reference to the electronic manual of the copy application 141 is requested via the copy screen 520. FIG. FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed in response to a reference request for the electronic manual of the copy application.

  When the user desires to refer to the electronic manual of the copy application 141, the user selects (touches) the electronic manual reference button 525 on the copy screen 520. Here, it is assumed that an extended script related to an instruction to execute an electronic manual display request for the copy application 141 is associated with the electronic manual reference button 525 in the Web page related to the copy screen 520. Therefore, in response to the touch of the electronic manual reference button 525, the same processing procedure as steps S211 to S216 in FIG. As a result, the script execution unit 176 transmits an electronic manual display request to the copy application 141. In step S231 in FIG. 14, the copy application 141 receives the display request.

  When the copy screen 520 is displayed based on image information incorporated as logic of the copy application 141 instead of based on the Web page, the touch of the electronic manual reference button 525 is detected by the SCS 169. The copy application 141 is notified. In this case, step S231 in FIG. 14 corresponds to reception of the notification.

  Subsequently, the copy application 141 designates the attribute information of the pop-up window for displaying the electronic manual screen, and requests the OCS 166 to display the pop-up window (S232). The OCS 166 displays a pop-up window based on the specified attribute information superimposed on the copy screen 520.

  Subsequently, the copy application 141 displays the URL of the electronic manual stored by itself (the copy application 141) using, for example, the HDD 114 or the NVRAM 115, and the electronic manual screen in a pop-up window for displaying the electronic manual. The area information is designated and a Web page display request is input to the BCS 170 (S233). In steps S234 to S243, the same processing procedure as in steps S104 to S113 in FIG. 5 is executed for the URL. As a result, the image (electronic manual screen) indicated by the Web page related to the URL of the electronic manual of the copy application 141 is displayed in a pop-up window displayed superimposed on the copy screen 520.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the electronic manual screen of the copy application. In the figure, an electronic manual screen 530 is displayed in a display area 541 of a pop-up window 540. When a character string associated with a hyperlink among the character strings displayed in the electronic manual screen 530 is touched, the same processing procedure as that in FIG. 8 is executed, and the Web page screen related to the hyperlink (For example, a page of an electronic manual on which a detailed description regarding the touched character string is described) is displayed in the display area 541.

  Pop-up window 540 includes a print button 542. By selecting (touching) the print button 542, the user can cause the image forming apparatus 10 to print the electronic manual screen (electronic manual page) currently displayed in the pop-up window 540. A processing procedure executed at this time will be described.

  FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of the processing procedure of the printing process of the electronic manual screen of the copy application.

  The processing procedure of FIG. 16 may be obtained by replacing the browser application 145 with the copy application 141 in steps S153 to S162 of FIG. Therefore, the processing procedure of FIG. 16 is more obvious than the processing procedure of FIG.

  Next, a processing procedure for displaying the Web page of the online shopping site related to the consumable in the image forming apparatus 10 according to the consumption of the consumable such as toner will be described.

  FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of the processing procedure of the display process of the Web page of the online shopping site of the supply.

  In step S301, the SCS 169 detects the near end of the supply (for example, toner) (S301). The near end means that, for example, the remaining amount of consumables is equal to or less than a threshold value. Subsequently, when inquiring the user whether or not the supply order is necessary, the SCS 169 displays a screen for making the inquiry on the operation panel 15 via the OCS 166 (S302). Whether or not to inquire the user about the necessity of ordering the supply may be determined based on setting information, for example.

  When the user inputs a notice that attention is required or when an order is automatically placed, the SCS 169 specifies the URL of the online shopping site recorded (set) in the HDD 114 or the NVRAM 115. Then, a Web page display request is input to the BCS 170 (S303). Note that the URL of the online shopping site may be common to all the supplies, or may be recorded in the HDD 114 or the NVRAM 115 for each type of supply. In the latter case, the SCS 169 specifies a URL corresponding to the type of supply for which near end has been detected to the BCS 170.

  In steps S304 to S313, the same processing procedure as in steps S104 to S113 in FIG. 5 is executed for the URL. As a result, the web page image of the online shopping site is displayed on the operation panel 15. The user can place an order for supplies via the Web page image.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the browser function is aggregated or unified in the BCS 170 in the control service 151 shared by the plurality of applications 131. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform mounting corresponding to the BCS 170 for each application 131. That is, the development efficiency can be improved for each application 131 that uses a Web page. Further, the memory consumption of each application 131 can be reduced as compared with the case where the browser function is implemented for each application 131.

  Further, the BCS 170 has a low degree of involvement with respect to GUI (Graphical User Interface). That is, the BCS 170 itself does not have a screen for displaying a Web page, and displays the Web page in a display area requested by the application 131 or the like. Therefore, the application 131 can realize a highly flexible display form for the Web page.

  In addition, the BCS 170 does not perform display control on the operation panel 15 using a unique display mechanism, but uses the OCS 166 shared by a plurality of applications 131 to display a Web page on the operation panel 15. Run. As a result, the program size of the BCS 170 itself can be reduced. In addition, consistency with a screen other than the screen based on the Web page can be easily achieved.

  In the present embodiment, the BCS 170 is an example of a web page processing unit. The request receiving unit 171 is an example of a request receiving unit. The web page acquisition unit 172 is an example of an acquisition unit. The display control unit 174 is an example of a web page display control unit. The OCS 166 is an example of a panel display control unit. The rendering unit 173 is an example of an image generation unit.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to such specific embodiment, In the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim, various deformation | transformation・ Change is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Controller 12 Scanner 13 Printer 14 Modem 15 Operation panel 16 Network interface 17 SD card slot 20 Web server 30 Network 80 SD card 111 CPU
112 RAM
113 ROM
114 HDD
115 NVRAM
131 Application 132 Platform 133 Application Program Interface 134 Engine Interface 135 Virtual Application Service 141 Copy Application 142 Printer Application 143 Scanner Application 144 Facsimile Application 145 Browser Application 151 Control Service 152 System Resource Manager (SRM)
161 Network Control Service (NCS)
162 Facsimile control service (FCS)
163 Delivery Control Service (DCS)
164 Engine Control Service (ECS)
165 Memory Control Service (MCS)
166 Operation Panel Control Service (OCS)
167 Certification Control Service (CCS)
168 User Directory Control Service (USC)
169 System Control Service (SCS)
170 Browser Control Service (BCS)
171 Request reception unit 172 Web page acquisition unit 173 Rendering unit 174 Display control unit 175 Pressed point detection unit 176 Script execution unit 177 Print image data generation unit 178 Print execution control unit

JP 2006-352845 A JP 2002-084383 A

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus having a plurality of applications,
Web page processing means shared by the plurality of applications
The web page processing means
A request receiving means for receiving the application by Riyo required,
An acquisition unit that acquires a Web page specified by identification information specified in the display request when the request reception unit receives a Web page display request ;
Web page display control means for displaying the Web page acquired by the acquisition means on the operation panel ;
A print image generation unit configured to generate image data for printing with respect to the Web page displayed by the Web page display control unit when the request reception unit receives a print request;
A print execution control unit that causes the image forming apparatus to execute a print process related to the image data generated by the print image generation unit;
An image forming apparatus. The request accepting means accepts information indicating a display area of the web page regarding the display request,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the web page display control unit displays the web page in the display area. The image forming apparatus includes:
Panel display control means for receiving image information in a predetermined format from a plurality of applications and displaying the image indicated by the image information on the operation panel;
The web page processing means
Image generation means for generating image information of the predetermined format based on the Web page acquired by the acquisition means;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the web page display control unit causes the panel display control unit to display an image based on the image information generated by the image generation unit. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of applications
Function as a Web page processing means shared by the plurality of applications,
The web page processing means
A request receiving means for receiving the application by Riyo required,
An acquisition unit that acquires a Web page specified by identification information specified in the display request when the request reception unit receives a Web page display request ;
Web page display control means for displaying the Web page acquired by the acquisition means on the operation panel ;
A print image generation unit configured to generate image data for printing with respect to the Web page displayed by the Web page display control unit when the request reception unit receives a print request;
A print execution control unit that causes the image forming apparatus to execute a print process related to the image data generated by the print image generation unit;
A program with The request accepting means accepts information indicating a display area of the web page regarding the display request,
The program according to claim 4, wherein the web page display control means displays the web page in the display area. The image forming apparatus includes:
Panel display control means for receiving image information in a predetermined format from a plurality of applications and displaying the image indicated by the image information on the operation panel;
The web page processing means
Image generation means for generating image information of the predetermined format based on the Web page acquired by the acquisition means;
6. The program according to claim 4, wherein the Web page display control unit causes the panel display control unit to display an image based on the image information generated by the image generation unit.

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