JP6083967B2 - Image forming apparatus, control method therefor, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method therefor, and a program, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus capable of processing a plurality of character codes, a control method therefor, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus, it is generally known that characters such as a job name and a user name set from an application on a PC side or a printer driver are held as attributes and displayed as a job list or job history display. In recent years, in order to easily cope with a multilingual mixed environment, Unicode, which is a character encoding method that does not depend on a specific language, may be employed as a character code.

  On the other hand, even when a character attribute is set by legacy encoding, which is a character encoding method that depends on a specific language, conversion into Unicode is realized and stored in the image forming apparatus (for example, Patent Document 1). reference). Specifically, it is determined whether or not the character specified in the data transmitted from the application is Unicode. If it is Unicode, a byte string indicating the character is stored as it is. On the other hand, a technique for converting to Unicode and storing it for legacy encoding is disclosed. Further, when the application acquires character attributes from the image forming apparatus, it is possible to acquire the byte string indicating the stored characters and the stored character code identification as they are.

JP 2004-227351 A

  In the above prior art, when the character attribute is stored by Unicode, it can be acquired by Unicode code that is the stored character code and character code identification indicating Unicode.

  However, in an application that only supports the acquisition of character attributes by conventional legacy encoding, the Unicode data and the character code identification indicating the Unicode cannot be interpreted. For this reason, an application that acquires characters from an image forming apparatus that stores characters in Unicode needs to support Unicode data. On the other hand, there is a problem that an acquired character cannot be processed correctly in an incompatible application.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique that can maintain compatibility regarding acquisition and setting of character attributes between an image forming apparatus and an application without changing a conventional application that can process only legacy encoding. To do.

To achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus of the present invention, the character code information indicating a character code, the character code information byte sequence indicating the characters according to the character code that indicates, and the character indicated by the byte sequence and receiving means for character attributes that will receive including setting command from the information processing apparatus, if the character code indicating the character code information contained in the received setting command is not a predetermined character code which does not depend on the particular language a first conversion unit that converts the byte sequence a Luba site columns included in the received setting command represented by said predetermined character codes, the first byte string that is the converted and stored and, if the character code indicating the included Rubun character code information in the received setting command is not the predetermined character codes, further character code information contained in the configuration command A save unit that exists, when receiving the acquisition command including information indicating the character attribute from the application of the information processing apparatus, or sends back the bytes over a first interface corresponding to the predetermined character codes, Alternatively, when it is determined that the byte string is returned via the second interface that does not correspond to the predetermined character code, and when it is determined that the byte string is returned via the first interface, the first bytes stored reply to the application, when a decision is made to return the bytes via said second interface is first based on the stored character code information, which is the storage the first byte string is converted into a second byte sequence expressed in different character codes and the predetermined character codes, the converted second bi Characterized in that it comprises a return means for returning the column to the application.

  According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus that stores character attributes by Unicode returns a character attribute acquisition result converted into legacy encoding in response to a character attribute acquisition command from an application that can process only conventional legacy encoding. Can do. As a result, compatibility regarding acquisition and setting of character attributes can be maintained between the image forming apparatus and the application without changing a conventional application that can process only legacy encoding.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an entire network system including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an MFP 101 and an MFP 102 in FIG. 1. 5A is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of a character attribute setting command received and processed by the MFP 101, and FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of transmission data of a character attribute setting command transmitted by the MFP 101. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of an attribute acquisition command received and processed by the MFP 101, and FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of reply data of the attribute acquisition command transmitted by the MFP 101. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of character attributes that the MFP 101 holds in a RAM 202 or a DISK 208. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of character attribute setting processing executed when the MFP 101 receives and executes a character attribute setting command 301 as shown in FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of character attribute acquisition processing executed when the MFP 101 receives and executes a character attribute acquisition command 401 as shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an entire network system including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The MFP 101 is an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, and is an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) having a scanner function and a printer function. The MFP 102 is an image forming apparatus having the same functions as the MFP 101.

  PC 103 and PC 104 are information processing apparatuses, and are connected to MFP 101 and MFP 102 via LAN 110. The PC 103 and the PC 104 can request the MFP 101 or the MFP 102 to perform print processing or the like, and can manage the status of the MFP 101 or the MFP 102 and job management such as scan, print, and copy during processing.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the MFP 101 in FIG. The MFP 102 also has a hardware configuration similar to that shown in the figure.

  In FIG. 2, the MFP 101 includes a CPU 201, a RAM 202, an LCD 203, an input device 204, a ROM 205, a scanner engine 206, and a printer engine 207. Further, the MFP 101 includes a DISK 208, a network I / F 209, and a card reader 210. These are connected to each other via a system bus 220 as shown in the figure.

  The CPU 201 controls the RAM 202, LCD 203, ROM 205, scanner engine 206, printer engine 207, DISK 208, and network I / F 209 via the system bus 220. The RAM 202 is a readable / writable memory that temporarily stores data necessary for processing executed by the CPU 201. The ROM 205 is a read-only memory that stores a control program executed by the CPU 201. A program for controlling the MFP 101 is stored in the ROM 205, read into the RAM 202 as necessary, and executed by the CPU 201.

  The LCD 203 is composed of a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays information necessary for processing executed by the CPU 201. The Input Device 204 is an input unit that receives an operation input from the user. The scanner engine 206 performs processing for reading an image while scanning a document and generating scan image data. The printer engine 207 performs processing for physically printing the image data on the printing paper. The DISK 208 is a hard disk drive and stores system software for various processes and input image data. In addition to the control program, the ROM 205 and the DISK 208 store attribute information indicating the function and status of a job processed by the MFP 101, job data to be output, job data received and accumulated, and the like.

  The CPU 201 communicates with the PC 103 and PC 104 on the LAN 110 via the network I / F 209. The network I / F 209 may be not only an Ethernet (registered trademark) interface but also a wireless communication network I / F such as USB, IEEE 1394, and Bluetooth. The network I / F 209 functions as a character attribute setting command receiving unit or a character attribute acquisition command receiving unit.

  Further, the CPU 201 displays a message for the user or receives an input from the user via the LCD 203 or the Input Device 204. Further, the CPU 201 reads input data from an IC card or a magnetic card via the card reader 210.

  Using the scanner engine 206, the MFP 101 can execute a scan job that reads a paper document and creates image data. Further, the MFP 101 can execute a print job for printing out data received from the outside using the printer engine 207. Further, the MFP 101 can execute a copy job for copying a paper document using the scanner engine 206 and the printer engine 207. In the present embodiment, processing such as printing, scanning, copying, FAX transmission, FAX reception, document storage, and document transmission executed by the MFP 101 is referred to as a job.

  Next, an example of a character attribute setting command transmitted / received between the MFP 101 and the PCs 103 and 104 via the LAN 110 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b).

  FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of transmission data of a character attribute setting command received and processed by the MFP 101.

  The character attribute setting command 301 (transmission data) indicates that the character string “Taro” is set in CodeSet “ShiftJIS” for the attribute “user name”.

  FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of reply data of a character attribute setting command transmitted from the MFP 101.

  The character attribute setting command 302 (reply data) indicates that the setting of the value indicating the character string “Taro” in CodeSet “ShiftJIS” is normally executed for the attribute “user name”.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the character attribute setting commands 301 and 302 are constituted by byte strings indicating attributes, character codes, and characters.

  Next, an attribute acquisition command transmitted / received between the MFP 101 and the PC 103 and PC 104 via the LAN 110 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b).

  FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of transmission data of a character attribute acquisition command received and processed by the MFP 101.

  A character attribute acquisition command 401 (transmission data) indicates an acquisition request for the attribute “user name”.

  FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of reply data of a character attribute acquisition command transmitted from the MFP 101.

  The character attribute acquisition command 402 (reply data) indicates that acquisition of a value indicating a character string “Taro” in CodeSet “ShiftJIS” for the attribute “user name” has been executed normally.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of character attributes that the MFP 101 holds in the RAM 202 or the DISK 208.

  Reference numeral 501 denotes an attribute name indicating a character attribute, which indicates that “user name” and “job name” are held as character attributes. The character attribute may be related to a job processed by the MFP 101 or may be related to the MFP 101 such as a device name.

  Reference numeral 502 denotes a “conversion character code for compatibility”, which is a value indicating to which legacy encoding a character stored in the UTF8 is converted when a character attribute is acquired. Reference numeral 503 denotes a byte string indicating stored characters, and the character code is unified to UTF8.

  In FIG. 5, a byte string indicating “Taro” in UTF8 is stored in the user name, and when the attribute is acquired by the character code of legacy encoding for compatibility, it is converted to “Shift JIS” and returned. Show. In the job name, a byte string indicating “print” is stored in UTF8, and when the character attribute is acquired by the character code of legacy encoding for compatibility, it is converted to “ASCII” and returned. .

  Since UTF8 is upward compatible with ASCII, it is not actually necessary to change the byte sequence stored in UTF8. However, as shown in FIG. 4B, the information that the predetermined character code is ASCII as the legacy encoding is necessary for the return data of the character attribute acquisition command, and ASCII is indicated in CodeSet in FIG. 4B. A value shall be stored.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of character attribute setting processing executed when the MFP 101 receives the character attribute setting command 301 as shown in FIG. This process is realized by the CPU 201 executing a program stored in the ROM 205.

  The character attribute setting process shown in FIG. 6 is transmitted by the character attribute setting command 301 shown in FIG. 3A from the PC side when an application on the PC side submits a job to the MFP 101 or sets user registration or a device name. And is executed when the MFP 101 receives it.

  In step S601, the CPU 201 refers to the CodeSet of the received character attribute setting command and determines whether or not the designated character code is UTF8. In the present embodiment, the UTF8 is adopted as the Unicode (first character code) that does not depend on a specific language. However, a character code that does not depend on another specific language such as UTF16 may be used. If the CodeSet of the character attribute command is UTF8, the process proceeds to step S602, and if it is other than UTF8, it is determined that the legacy encoding has been designated, and the process proceeds to step S611.

  In step S611, the CPU 201 refers to the string of the received character attribute setting command, obtains the designated byte string, converts the byte string from the character code indicated by the CodeSet referenced in step S601 to UTF8, and holds it. To do. Here, the CPU 201 functions as, for example, a first conversion unit.

  Next, in step S612, the CPU 201 reads the user mode setting from the ROM 205. Then, it is determined whether the mode adopts the character code specified when the character attribute is set as the compatible conversion character code or the mode adopts the character code corresponding to the display language setting of the MFP 101. Normally, the mode adopts the character code specified when the character attribute is set. However, if the correspondence between the character code specified by the application that instructs the character attribute setting, the printer driver, etc. and the specified byte string do not match, processing with priority on the display language setting is recommended when obtaining the character attribute. May improve the conventional compatibility.

  If the CPU 201 determines from the determination result in step S612 that the mode adopts the character code corresponding to the display language setting, the process proceeds to step S602. On the other hand, if it is determined that the character code specified at the time of setting the character attribute is in the mode, the process proceeds to step S613.

  In step S613, the CPU 201 stores the value indicating the character code specified in the character attribute setting command in the DISK 208 as the conversion character code 502 for compatibility shown in FIG. 5, and proceeds to step S604. In step S613, the CPU 201 functions as a character attribute storage unit.

  In step S602, the CPU 201 acquires the display language setting value from the ROM 205, and proceeds to the next step S603.

  In step S603, the CPU 201 stores the legacy encoding corresponding to the display language setting acquired in step S602 in the DISK 208 as the conversion character code 502 for compatibility shown in FIG. 5, and proceeds to step S604. For example, if the display language setting is the Japanese display setting, the corresponding ShiftJIS is stored, but the set of the legacy encoding corresponding to the display language setting is determined in advance. In step S603, the CPU 201 functions as a character attribute storage unit.

  In step S604, the CPU 201 stores the byte string converted into UTF8 in step S611 and stored in the DISK 208 as the byte string 503 shown in FIG. 5 as the byte string set in UTF8 by the character attribute setting command. When the series of character setting processes is completed, the CPU 201 transmits a character attribute setting command 302 shown in FIG. 3B to the PC 103 or PC 104 as reply data, and ends this process.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of character attribute acquisition processing executed when the MFP 101 receives the character attribute acquisition command 401 as shown in FIG. This process is realized by the CPU 201 of the MFP 101 executing the program stored in the ROM 205.

  The character attribute acquisition process in FIG. 7 is performed when the PC-side application acquires a job name in the MFP 101 or acquires a registered user name or device name from the PC side. This is executed when 401 is transmitted and received by the MFP 101.

  In step S701, the CPU 201 determines whether the acquisition is performed using an I / F that needs to be compatible in the past (an I / F that returns a character attribute in legacy encoding) or an I / F that returns a character attribute using Unicode. To do. In the case of an I / F that needs to be compatible with the conventional method, the process proceeds to step S702 in order to acquire characters after converting them to legacy encoding for conventional compatibility without acquiring characters as UTF8. On the other hand, when it is determined that the acquisition is performed by the I / F that returns the character attribute by Unicode, it is not necessary to consider the conventional compatibility, and the process proceeds to step S711.

  In step S702, the CPU 201 refers to the attribute designation of the received character attribute acquisition command, and acquires the conversion character code 502 (second character code) for compatibility shown in FIG. 5 for the target attribute. In step S702, the CPU 201 functions as a character code acquisition unit.

  In step S703, the CPU 201 reads the area of the byte string 503 indicating the characters shown in FIG. 5 for the target attribute, and acquires the byte string of the target attribute. The byte sequence acquired here is unified to UTF8.

  In step S704, the CPU 201 converts the UTF8 byte string acquired in step S703 with the compatible conversion character code 502 acquired in step S702, and replaces it with the legacy encoding byte string. In step S704, the CPU 201 functions as a second conversion unit.

  In step S705, the CPU 201 sets the byte string converted in step S704 as a string shown in FIG. Then, after setting the conversion character code for compatibility as CodeSet shown in FIG. 4B, the character attribute acquisition command 402 shown in FIG. 4B is sent back to the PC 103 or PC 104 as reply data.

  In step S711, the CPU 201 acquires a byte string 503 indicating the characters shown in FIG.

  Next, in step S712, the CPU 201 sets the UTF8, which is the character code stored in the byte string 503 indicating the character shown in FIG. 5, to the CodeSet shown in FIG. 4B and the byte string acquired in step S711 to the string. Set to each. Then, the character attribute acquisition command 402 is transmitted to the PC 103 or PC 104 as reply data to the character attribute acquisition command, and this process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the MFP 101 converts the byte string into UTF8 and stores it in response to the character attribute setting command designating the legacy encoding and is designated by the character attribute setting command. Character codes can be saved.

  Further, the MFP 101 can be configured to return a character code of legacy encoding as a character attribute acquisition result after converting a byte string indicating a character from UTF8 to legacy encoding in response to a character attribute acquisition command.

  The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

101,102 MFP
103,104 PC
110 LAN
201 CPU
301, 302 Character attribute setting command 401, 402 Character attribute acquisition command 501 Attribute name 502 Conversion character code 503 for compatibility Byte string indicating a character

Claims (6)

Character code information indicating a character code, the character code information byte sequence indicating the characters according to the character code indicated by, and receive character attributes of characters indicated by the byte sequence to including configuration commands from the information processing apparatus and receiving means you,
If the character code indicating the character code information contained in the received setting command is not a predetermined character code which does not depend on the particular language, the Luba site columns included in the received setting command by the predetermined character codes a conversion unit that converts the first byte sequence expressed,
Wherein the transformed first bytes stored, and if the character code indicated by the included Rubun character code information on the received setting command is not the predetermined character codes, characters included in the setting command and save means further stores the code information,
When an acquisition command including information indicating the character attribute is received from the application of the information processing apparatus, a byte string is returned via the first interface corresponding to the predetermined character code, or the predetermined character Determining means for determining whether to return a byte string via a second interface not corresponding to the code;
If it is determined that a byte string is returned via the first interface, the stored first byte string is returned to the application, and a byte string is determined to be returned via the second interface. If, based on the stored character code information, it converts the first byte sequence in which the stored in the second byte sequence expressed in different character codes and the predetermined character codes, is the conversion An image forming apparatus comprising: a reply unit that returns the second byte string to the application . Before Kiho exist means, before if Ki設 character code indicated by the Rubun character code information contained in the constant command is the predetermined character codes, a character code corresponding to the set display language to the image forming apparatus the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storing the character code information indicating. If that for converting the predetermined character codes preferentially to the character code corresponding to the set display language to the image forming apparatus is set, before Kiho exist means, included in the prior Ki設 constant command regardless Rubun character code information, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the character code information indicating a character code corresponding to the set display language, characterized in that the save. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined character code is Unicode . An image forming apparatus control method comprising:
Character code information indicating a character code, the character code information byte sequence indicating the characters according to the character code indicated by, and receive character attributes of characters indicated by the byte sequence to including configuration commands from the information processing apparatus and receiving process you,
If the character code indicating the character code information contained in the received setting command is not a predetermined character code which does not depend on the particular language, the Luba site columns included in the received setting command by the predetermined character codes a conversion step that converts the first byte sequence expressed,
Wherein the transformed first bytes stored, and if the character code indicated by the included Rubun character code information on the received setting command is not the predetermined character codes, characters included in the setting command a save step of further storing the code information,
When an acquisition command including information indicating the character attribute is received from the application of the information processing apparatus, a byte string is returned via the first interface corresponding to the predetermined character code, or the predetermined character A determination step of determining whether to return a byte string via a second interface that does not correspond to a code;
If it is determined that a byte string is returned via the first interface, the stored first byte string is returned to the application, and a byte string is determined to be returned via the second interface. If, based on the stored character code information, it converts the first byte sequence in which the stored in the second byte sequence expressed in different character codes and the predetermined character codes, is the conversion And a return step of returning the second byte string to the application . A program for causing a computer to execute a control method of an image forming apparatus,
The control method of the image forming apparatus is:
Character code information indicating a character code, the character code information byte sequence indicating the characters according to the character code indicated by, and receive character attributes of characters indicated by the byte sequence to including configuration commands from the information processing apparatus and receiving process you,
If the character code indicating the character code information contained in the received setting command is not a predetermined character code which does not depend on the particular language, the Luba site columns included in the received setting command by the predetermined character codes a conversion step that converts the first byte sequence expressed,
Wherein the transformed first bytes stored, and if the character code indicated by the included Rubun character code information on the received setting command is not the predetermined character codes, characters included in the setting command a save step of further storing the code information,
When an acquisition command including information indicating the character attribute is received from the application of the information processing apparatus, a byte string is returned via the first interface corresponding to the predetermined character code, or the predetermined character A determination step of determining whether to return a byte string via a second interface that does not correspond to a code;
If it is determined that a byte string is returned via the first interface, the stored first byte string is returned to the application, and a byte string is determined to be returned via the second interface. If, based on the stored character code information, it converts the first byte sequence in which the stored in the second byte sequence expressed in different character codes and the predetermined character codes, is the conversion And a return step of returning the second byte string to the application .

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