JP5910254B2 - Image forming apparatus, image forming apparatus control method, and image forming apparatus control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus control method, and an image forming apparatus control program, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a function of transferring a scan image, an image forming apparatus control method, and an image forming apparatus control. Regarding the program.

  Some image forming apparatuses such as printers, scanners, and MFPs (Multi-Functional Peripherals) that are multifunctional devices thereof have a function of storing a scan image in a storage device connected to the image forming apparatus. The storage device may be, for example, a storage device included in another device connected to the image forming apparatus such as a server, or a storage area called a box that is set in association with the user. . As a function for transmitting to other users, there is a function having a so-called scan-to-email function for transmitting a scan image attached to a mail.

  In recent years, a service has been provided in which various types of data are stored in an external storage device via the Internet, so that the data stored in any terminal can be used by accessing the storage device via the Internet. Several storage devices are provided as the storage device.

  Since the image forming apparatus as described above also has a function of connecting to the Internet, there is an increasing need to store a scanned image in an external storage device via the Internet.

JP 2010-251973 A JP 2006-197634 A

  When storing scanned images in an external storage device via the Internet with the current image forming device, start the browser for browsing the website and access the storage device in order from the website displayed on the browser Work is required. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes time and effort compared to the case where image data is stored in a storage device connected to the image forming apparatus or sent to another user as an email attachment.

  As a method for storing without starting up the browser, the access information (address) of the external storage device is registered as the destination in the same manner as the destination when the image data is stored in the storage device connected to the image forming apparatus. However, there is a problem that access information (address) to an allocated storage area in an external storage device via the Internet is complicated or has a large amount of information, making it difficult to register a destination. is there.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an image forming apparatus capable of easily storing a scanned image in an external storage device via the Internet, a method for controlling the image forming apparatus, and image formation The object is to provide a control program for the apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes: a communication unit for communicating with an external storage device via the Internet; and a browser for starting a website and displaying a website. A browser execution unit, a registration unit for registering a destination as a transmission destination of a scanned image, and a control code for instructing the storage device to store data in association with an external storage device Storage means. The registration unit, when receiving an instruction from the browser execution unit as an external storage device for storing the scanned image, an acquisition unit for acquiring access information of the external storage device instructed by the browser execution unit, and access information It analyzes, analyzing means for identifying the information required for access, and a control code associated with an external storage device shown fingers, on the basis of information and required to access identified by the analysis, an instruction Generating means for generating a program for storing the scanned image in the external storage device, and registers a destination associated with execution of the generated program as a destination.

  Preferably, the analysis unit specifies a storage area in an external storage device as information necessary for access.

  Preferably, the access information is formed by a character string, and the analyzing means stores in advance a rule of the character string that forms the access information in association with an external storage device, and analyzes based on the rule.

  More preferably, the control code is formed of a character string, and the generation unit generates a program by replacing a character string representing information necessary for access with a corresponding character string in the character string of the control code.

  Preferably, the acquisition unit further acquires a scan image to be stored in an external storage device and a scan setting of the designated scan image, and the generation unit further includes an external storage device instructed based on the scan setting. In addition, a program for storing a scan image obtained by scanning with the scan setting is generated.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling an image forming apparatus is a method for controlling an image forming apparatus that can communicate with an external storage device via the Internet. a step of receiving an instruction of an external storage device as a storage destination, acquiring access information external storage device which is instructed by the browser, the steps of analyzing the access information to identify the information required to access the finger Reading a control code associated with the indicated external storage device from the storage device and a scan image to the indicated external storage device based on the control code and the information required for access identified by the analysis. The step of generating the program to be stored and the destination of the scanned image as the destination of the scanned image And a step of registering a destination associated with the row.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus control program registers an external storage device as a destination of a scan image transmission destination in an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with an external storage device via the Internet. A program for executing processing, wherein when a browser is started and an instruction from an external storage device is received as a scan image storage destination for the browser, access information of the external storage device designated by the browser is acquired. When analyzes the access information, identifying the information required for access, reading out control code associated with an external storage device shown finger from the storage device, the access identified by the analysis and control codes Program that stores the scanned image in the designated external storage device based on the information required for Generating a beam, as the destination of the destination of the scanned image, and a step of registering associated with the execution of the generated program destination image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention, a scan image can be easily stored in an external storage device via the Internet.

1 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a hardware configuration of an MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral) as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a specific example of a control configuration for the MFP to control a scanning operation, a printing operation, and a communication operation via the Internet. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an outline of an operation when a MFP stores (uploads) a scanned image in an external storage device via the Internet. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a specific example of a functional configuration of an MFP. FIG. It is a figure showing the specific example of API (Application Program Interface) which is a control code. It is a figure showing the specific example of the script. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation flow for registering an external storage device connected via the Internet as a storage location of a scanned image in the MFP. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a display screen. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a display screen.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts and components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same.

<Device configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a specific example of the hardware configuration of an MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral) 100 as an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  The image forming apparatus is not limited to the MFP, and may be another image forming apparatus as long as it has a function of connecting to the Internet.

  Referring to FIG. 1, MFP 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10 that is an arithmetic device for overall control, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11 for storing a program executed by CPU 10, and the like. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 12 for functioning as a work area when the CPU 10 executes the program, a scanner 13 for optically reading a document placed on a document table (not shown), and obtaining image data; A printer 14 for fixing image data on printing paper, an operation panel 15 including a touch panel for displaying information and receiving operation inputs to the MFP 100, and a memory 16 for storing image data and the like. An external I / F (interface) 17 for connecting to the Internet, and a FAX (facsimile And a millimeter transceiver) 18.

  The operation panel 15 includes a touch panel (not shown) and an operation key group. The touch panel is configured by overlapping a display device such as a liquid crystal display device and a position indicating device such as an optical touch panel or a capacitive touch panel, and displays an operation screen to specify an indicated position on the operation screen. CPU10 displays an operation screen on a touchscreen based on the data for displaying the screen memorize | stored beforehand.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific example of a control configuration for causing MFP 100 to control a scanning operation, a printing operation, and a communication operation via the Internet. Each function shown in FIG. 2 is mainly formed on the CPU 10 by the CPU 10 reading out a program stored in the ROM 11 and executing it on the RAM 12, but at least a part of the functions shown in FIG. 1 may be realized by the hardware configuration shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the CPU 10 includes a print image creation unit 21 for creating a print image based on a scan image from the scanner 13 and the like, and a print image storage unit 22 for storing the print image in the memory 16. , A FAX processing unit 23 for controlling the FAX 18 to perform facsimile transmission / reception, a print processing unit 24 for passing a print image to the printer and executing a printing process, and for controlling paper supply in the printer 14 A paper supply processing unit 25, a paper discharge processing unit 26 for controlling paper discharge by the printer 14, and a network control unit 27 for controlling Internet communication via the external I / F 17 are included.

<Overview of operation>
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of operation when MFP 100 stores (uploads) a scanned image in an external storage device via the Internet.

  With reference to FIG. 3, first, when an instruction to execute uploading of a scanned image is received from a user (step S1), a browser for browsing a website is activated (step S2). Upon receiving the designation of the storage device to be stored on the website displayed by the browser execution (step S3), the MFP 100 accesses the storage device and stores the designated scan image in the storage device (step S4). .

  The operation # 1 from step S1 to step S4 is the same as the operation for normal upload.

  When the operation # 1 for upload is performed, the MFP 100 acquires URL (Uniform Resource Locators) as access information of an external storage device designated by the executing browser (step S5).

  The MFP 100 stores in advance a control code (group) called an API (Application Program Interface) corresponding to the storage device for instructing the storage device to store data for each external storage device. Then, the storage device is identified by analyzing the URL acquired from the browser, and the API corresponding to the storage device is read (step S6). Then, by incorporating necessary information into the API, a simple program called a script for accessing the storage device is generated (step S7). The generated script is registered as a destination in the function of transmitting the scanned image (step S8).

  The operation # 2 from step S5 to step S8 is performed so that the destination can be transmitted to an external storage device in the function of transmitting the scan image based on the access information input in the operation # 1 for uploading. This is an operation for registration.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a specific example of a functional configuration of MFP 100 for performing the operation shown in FIG.

  Each function shown in FIG. 4 is mainly formed on the CPU 10 by the CPU 10 reading out a program stored in the ROM 11 and executing it on the RAM 12, but at least a part of the functions are shown in FIG. 1 may be realized by the hardware configuration shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 4, a scan image is transmitted to memory 16 for each storage device, and a control code storage unit 161 that is a storage area for storing an API that is a control code group corresponding to the storage device. A destination storage unit 162 that is a storage area for storing destinations registered in the function is provided.

  Further, referring to FIG. 4, CPU 10 is executed by browser execution unit 101 for performing processing such as starting a browser in accordance with an instruction input from operation panel 15 to access a website and displaying a web page. URL input unit 102 for acquiring URL as access information from the browser being accessed, analysis unit 103 for analyzing the acquired URL and the like, and control code reading for reading out the API corresponding to the accessed external storage device The unit 104, the scan setting when a scan image is obtained by performing a scan operation, the setting input unit 105 for acquiring the setting when the scan image to be transmitted is transformed, and the generation of a script As a destination in the script generation unit 106 and the function of transmitting the scanned image And an external storage device which is accessed, and a destination registration unit 107 for performing the destination register to scripts whose destination is generated when selected are performed.

  For example, when performing a scanning operation to obtain a scanned image and storing it in an external storage device, the URL input unit 102 acquires a URL accessed (displayed) by the browser when the scanning operation is executed.

  The analysis unit 103 analyzes the input URL to obtain a service provider that provides a service for storing data in an external storage device and a folder that is a storage location. Also, the account information for the service is acquired by analyzing the cache data.

  The analysis unit 103 stores URL rules for each service in advance, and acquires an authentication type, a folder name, and the like according to the rules.

  For example, it is assumed that a certain service “XXX” stores the URL rule “http://docs.XXX.com/?<authentication type> # folders / <folder name>”. . The URL input unit 102 acquires “http://docs.XXX.com/?auther=0#folders/08sdocMpeRKnYjlyZjAyYMmtYWl1Yi00NTYwLWExMjgtNMmyZWl4MxAx”. Identify that you have accessed a service that you provide. Then, based on the URL rule of the service “XXX”, it is specified that the folder name is “08sdocMpeRKnYjlyZjAyYmmtYWl1Yi00NTYwLWEExMjgtNMmyZWl4MTMxMzA1”.

  Further, the analysis unit 103 analyzes the cache data for access at this time, and acquires an account, a password, and the like as account information. As an example, assume that “gAccount@aaa.jp” is acquired as an account and “12345678” is acquired as a password.

  The control code reading unit 104 reads the API corresponding to the service specified by the analysis unit 103 (service “XXX” in the above example) from the control code storage unit 161. The script generation unit 106 generates a script by incorporating an analysis result or the like into the API read by the control code reading unit 104.

  Assume that the API corresponding to the service “XXX” is, for example, as shown in FIG. At this time, the script generation unit 106 uses the above analysis result to set “$ AccountID” in the API of FIG. 5 to the account “gAccount@aaa.jp”, “$ AccountPass” to the password “12345678”, and “$$ The folder shown in FIG. 6 is generated by replacing “folder” with the folder name “08sdocMpeRKnYjlyZjAyYMmtYWl1Yi00NTYwLWExMjgtNMmyZWl4MTMxMzA1”.

  The script may further incorporate scan settings. Since the scan settings are incorporated in the script in advance, for example, when storing the scan image in the storage device, the scan setting is performed every time the scan operation is performed with the same scan setting to obtain the scan image. A suitable setting is made only by selecting a destination without performing.

  When the scan setting is an aggregate setting for collecting and printing two pages of originals on one sheet, duplex scanning setting, and color scanning setting, the setting input unit 105 displays “2 in 1” representing the aggregate setting, “Duplex” representing double-sided reading and “color” representing color reading are acquired. Then, the script generation unit 106 generates the script shown in FIG. 6 by replacing “$ scanSetting” in the API of FIG. 5 with these scan settings “2in1, Duplex, color”.

  If the API corresponding to the service providing the accessed storage device is not stored in the control code storage unit 161, the corresponding API may be acquired. As further shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 10 has a control code acquisition unit 108 for acquiring a necessary API, and a control code registration unit 109 for registering the acquired control code in the control code storage unit 161. And further including.

  The control code acquisition unit 108 may store a server that provides an API in advance, and acquire a required API by requesting the API from the server. Alternatively, a necessary API may be acquired by searching for a service specified by analysis as a keyword and specifying a server and then requesting the API from the server.

<Operation flow>
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of operations in MFP 100 for registering an external storage device connected via the Internet as a scan image storage destination. The operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 corresponds to the operation # 2 of FIG. 3, and the CPU 10 reads out the program stored in the ROM 11 and executes it on the RAM 12, and executes each function of FIG. Realized by making it work.

  Referring to FIG. 7, when the operation for upload represented by operation # 1 in FIG. 3 is completed, CPU 10 requests URL information from the browser (step S101). When the URL is obtained from the browser (YES in step S103), the CPU 10 analyzes the information and specifies the service providing the accessed external storage device (step S105). In step S105, the folder that is the storage destination is also specified. Furthermore, the cache data is analyzed, and an account and a password are specified as account information.

  If the API corresponding to the service is stored (YES in step S107), the CPU 10 reads the corresponding API and incorporates the information obtained in the analysis in step S105 to generate a script (step S109). Further, when a scanning operation is performed, the setting may be incorporated into the API. Here, as shown in FIG. 8, a screen for selecting necessity of registration may be displayed, and a script may be generated according to the selection.

  Then, it is registered as the destination of the function for transmitting the scanned image (step S111). As a specific example of this registration, it is possible to display, as a destination, choices associated with each other so that the script is executed when selected. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the service name (service “XXX”) is displayed as a destination in the same manner as a storage device such as a box, and the service is selected as the destination, so that step S109 is performed. The script generated in the above is executed, and the external storage device accessed earlier is automatically accessed to register the scanned image.

  When the CPU 10 further includes a function (control code acquisition unit 108) for acquiring an API from a server or the like, when an API corresponding to the service specified by analyzing the URL is not stored (step It is also possible to request and acquire the necessary API from the server or the like, and perform the subsequent operations using the API.

<Effect of Embodiment>
By performing the above operation in MFP 100, when accessing an external storage device to store a scanned image, conventionally, a browser is started to display websites, and the websites are sequentially accessed from the website. Then, the operation that has been accessing the storage device can be the only operation that is subsequently selected as the destination based on the URL obtained by performing the operation once.

  That is, MFP 100 generates a program (script) for accessing the storage device indicated by the URL and registering a scanned image based on the URL once obtained, and is shown in FIG. An option for executing the program as one of the destinations is presented on the operation screen of the function for transmitting a normal scan image.

  Therefore, when storing a scanned image in an external storage device, the user does not need to display a website and follow the website in order, or enter a complicated URL. Can access an external storage device and store a scanned image.

  Further, since it is not necessary to display the website when storing the scanned image in the external storage device, the time for displaying the website can be shortened. In particular, in a small display device such as a display device mounted on the operation panel 15 of the MFP 100, it may take time to display a website rich in content. Since MFP 100 does not need to display a website once, the display time can be shortened, and a scan image can be quickly stored in an external storage device.

<Other examples>
Further, a program for causing the CPU 10 of the MFP 100 to execute an operation for registering an external storage device connected via the Internet as a scan image storage destination corresponding to the operation # 2 of FIG. it can. Such a program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk attached to the computer, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory), a ROM, a RAM, and a memory card, and provided as a program product. You can also Alternatively, the program can be provided by being recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk built in the computer. A program can also be provided by downloading via a network.

  The program according to the present invention is a program module that is provided as a part of a computer operating system (OS) and calls necessary modules in a predetermined arrangement at a predetermined timing to execute processing. Also good. In that case, the program itself does not include the module, and the process is executed in cooperation with the OS. A program that does not include such a module can also be included in the program according to the present invention.

  The program according to the present invention may be provided by being incorporated in a part of another program. Even in this case, the program itself does not include the module included in the other program, and the process is executed in cooperation with the other program. Such a program incorporated in another program can also be included in the program according to the present invention.

  The provided program product is installed in a program storage unit such as a hard disk and executed. The program product includes the program itself and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  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.

  10 CPU, 11 ROM, 12 RAM, 13 Scanner, 14 Printer, 15 Operation panel, 16 Memory, 17 External I / F, 18 FAX, 21 Print image creation unit, 22 Print image storage unit, 23 FAX processing unit, 24 Printing Processing unit, 25 paper supply processing unit, 26 paper discharge processing unit, 27 network control unit, 101 browser execution unit, 102 URL input unit, 103 analysis unit, 104 control code reading unit, 105 setting input unit, 106 script generation unit, 107 Destination registration unit, 108 Control code acquisition unit, 109 Control code registration unit, 161 Control code storage unit, 162 Destination storage unit

Claims (7)

A communication means for communicating with an external storage device via the Internet;
A browser execution means for launching a browser and displaying a website;
A registration means for registering a destination as a transmission destination of the scanned image;
Storage means for storing a control code for instructing the storage device to store data in association with the external storage device;
The registration means includes
An acquisition unit for acquiring access information of the instructed external storage device from the browser execution unit when an instruction is received by the browser execution unit as an external storage device for storing a scanned image;
Analyzing means for analyzing the access information and identifying information necessary for access;
A control code associated with the previous SL designated external storage device, based on the information necessary for the access identified by the analysis, the program for storing the scanned image in the designated external storage device Generating means for generating,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the registration unit registers a destination associated with execution of the program as the destination.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the analysis unit specifies a storage area in the external storage device as information necessary for the access. The access information is formed by a character string,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the analysis unit stores in advance a rule of a character string that forms the access information in association with the external storage device, and analyzes based on the rule. . The control code is formed by a character string,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the generation unit generates the program by replacing a character string representing information necessary for the access with a corresponding character string in the character string of the control code. The acquisition unit further acquires a scan setting of a scan image to be stored in the external storage device and a designated scan image,
5. The generation unit according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit further generates a program for storing a scan image obtained by scanning with the scan setting in the instructed external storage device based on the scan setting. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above. An image forming apparatus control method capable of communicating with an external storage device via the Internet,
Starting a browser and receiving an instruction of an external storage device as a storage location of a scanned image to the browser;
Obtaining access information of the designated external storage device from the browser;
Analyzing the access information and identifying information necessary for access;
A step of reading the control code associated with the previous SL designated external storage device from the storage device,
Generating a program for storing a scan image in the instructed external storage device based on the control code and the information necessary for the access specified by the analysis ;
A method of controlling an image forming apparatus, comprising: registering a destination associated with execution of the program as a destination of a scan image transmission destination. A program for causing an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with an external storage device via the Internet to execute a process of registering the external storage device as a destination of a scan image transmission destination,
Starting a browser and receiving an instruction of an external storage device as a storage location of a scanned image for the browser; obtaining access information of the instructed external storage device from the browser;
Analyzing the access information and identifying information necessary for access;
A step of reading the control code associated with the previous SL designated external storage device from the storage device,
Generating a program for storing a scan image in the instructed external storage device based on the control code and the information necessary for the access specified by the analysis ;
A control program for an image forming apparatus, which causes the image forming apparatus to execute a step of registering a destination associated with execution of the program as a destination of a scan image transmission destination.

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