JP6536186B2 - Image forming apparatus, image forming remote control system and image forming remote control method - Google Patents

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming remote control system, and an image forming remote control method which enable remote control of an operation screen displayed on a main body operation unit of the image forming apparatus by a terminal operation unit of a terminal device. It is.

In recent years, in the field of forming an image on a sheet based on image data, one or more image forming apparatuses are connected to a terminal apparatus such as a PC via a network to manage the image forming apparatus by the terminal apparatus or A remote control system has been proposed to operate and operate.
The outline of this remote control system is shown in FIG. It is assumed that an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral and a remote terminal device such as a PC terminal are connected via a network, and the PC terminal remotely controls the multifunction peripheral via the network. Here, the remote control is a system capable of displaying a screen displayed on the operation panel of the multi-functional peripheral on a PC terminal screen as shown in FIG. 12 and operating remotely from the screen.

A specific control sequence of the remote control is as shown in FIG.
First, image data of the operation unit operation screen of the image forming apparatus is transferred from the image forming apparatus to the remote terminal apparatus, and the remote terminal apparatus displays the received image data in the display area of the operation screen of FIG.
When the operation screen display area is operated from the remote terminal device, the coordinate data of the screen is transferred to the image forming device, and the image forming device recognizes the same as when the received coordinate data is operated on the operation unit operation screen And execute processing such as screen transition, and after processing execution, transfer the image data of the operation unit operation screen of the image forming apparatus to the remote terminal device again, and display the screen displayed in the operation unit operation screen display area of the remote terminal device. Update.

Also, when the virtual hard key in FIG. 12 is operated from the remote terminal device, the hard key information is transferred to the image forming apparatus in the same sequence as above, and the same as when the received hard key information is operated on the operation unit. And execute processing such as screen transition, execute the process, transfer the image data of the operation unit operation screen of the image forming apparatus to the remote terminal device again, and display the operation unit operation screen display area of the remote terminal device. Update the screen to be displayed.
With such control, the same touch operation and hard key operation as those of the operation unit operation screen of the image forming apparatus main body are realized, and remote operation is realized.

  In remote control, the operation content on the main unit operation unit side is also monitored on the remote control side or the remote unit side, and the operation contents of the main unit operation unit are also monitored. It is desirable that a similar screen be displayed.

  By the way, when the operation is performed on the terminal operation unit side, the operation content is seen on the operation unit side of the image forming apparatus, so there is a security problem on a specific screen. By not displaying the screen of the main body operation unit in any way during the use of such remote operation, it is possible to perform processing to prevent the operation content by remote operation from being displayed on the main body operation unit side.

  For example, as a method of not disclosing operation contents to the user, when remotely operating a specific screen such as a service mode screen, the operation content may be a general user by hiding the operation panel of the image forming apparatus main body. The means which are not disclosed are taken (see Patent Document 1).

  Further, in Patent Document 2, the coordinates to be invalidated are provided for each operation screen, and when it is necessary to protect the security, the security is protected by invalidating the coordinates set on the screen. .

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-43647 JP, 2015-23305, A

  However, when the remote control is ended on the service mode screen as described above, it becomes impossible to operate if the operation screen of the image forming apparatus main body is not displayed.

In order to avoid these problems, it is possible to transition to the initial screen at the end of remote control, but when processing such as image quality adjustment or HDD format that may adversely affect the system due to interruption is executed If, during the process, transition to the initial screen to interrupt the process, there is a concern that the system may be broken.
While performing the above-mentioned processing, it is possible to avoid the above-mentioned danger by controlling the state to manage and wait until the processing is completed. When many processes are scattered, it is necessary to carry out similar control for each process, and the problem that the entire system becomes complicated may be mentioned as a problem.

  The present invention has been made against the background described above, and an image forming apparatus capable of solving these problems by realizing a remote control system capable of avoiding the inconvenience caused by the termination operation of the remote control. It is a basic object to provide an imaging remote control system and an imaging remote control method.

Among the image forming apparatuses of the present invention, the first form of the invention is an image forming apparatus connected to a terminal apparatus via a network,
The control unit has a control unit that enables remote control of the operation screen of the main body operation unit of the image forming apparatus in response to an operation input of the terminal operation unit of the terminal device .
The control unit does not end the process being executed in the remote control process if the operation screen during the remote control is a specific screen when the predetermined condition is satisfied during the remote control, and the terminal operation unit performs the remote control It is characterized in that control for prohibiting the operation for ending the operation is performed.

  The invention of an image forming apparatus in another form is characterized in that, in the invention of the form described above, the control unit is that the predetermined condition is that a request for termination of the remote control is received from the terminal device.

  The invention of an image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the aspect of the invention described above, the control unit is a case where the predetermined condition is that a screen update is generated by remote control.

  In the invention of the image forming apparatus of the other form, in the present invention of the form described above, the control unit notifies the terminal apparatus that the remote control can not be ended at the time of control not to end the remote control process, Control is performed to display a warning screen on the terminal operation unit.

  The invention of an image forming apparatus of another form is characterized in that, in the invention of the form described above, the control unit is a screen requiring the authority to refer to the specific screen. .

The invention of an image forming apparatus in another form is an image forming apparatus connected to a terminal device via a network,
The control unit has a control unit that enables remote control of the operation screen of the main body operation unit of the image forming apparatus in response to an operation input of the terminal operation unit of the terminal device.
When the image forming apparatus has lost communication with the terminal device, the control unit may:
If the screen under remote control is a specific screen, the operation screen is restarted after waiting for a predetermined time.

  In the invention of the image forming apparatus of the other form, in the present invention of the form described above, the predetermined time is a time required to complete the processing in a processing group in which transition to another screen is prohibited until the processing completion. It is characterized by being the maximum time.

  In the invention of the other form of the invention, in the invention of the form described above, the control unit can erase the display of the operation screen of the image forming apparatus during remote control, and is erased at the end of remote control. The display of the operation screen is enabled.

  In the invention of the image forming apparatus of the other form, in the present invention of the form described above, when the control unit displays the deletion of the display of the operation screen of the image forming apparatus on the operation screen during remote control It is characterized by doing.

  The invention of the image forming apparatus according to another aspect is characterized in that, in the invention according to the above aspect, the control unit can set ON / OFF whether to perform control not to end the remote control processing under the predetermined condition. I assume.

Among the image forming systems according to the present invention, the first mode relates to a terminal device and an image forming apparatus connected via a network, which are operated by the terminal operation unit of the terminal device and the main unit operating unit of the image forming apparatus. In an image forming remote control system capable of remote control of an operation screen,
It has a control unit that controls the remote control,
The control unit does not end the process being executed in the remote control process if the operation screen during the remote control is a specific screen when the predetermined condition is satisfied during the remote control, and the terminal operation unit performs the remote control It is characterized in that control for prohibiting the operation for ending the operation is performed.

  The invention of an image forming system in another form is characterized in that, in the invention of the form described above, the control unit is that the predetermined condition is that a request for termination of the remote control is received from the terminal device.

  The invention of an image forming system according to another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the aspect of the present invention, the control unit is a case where the predetermined condition is that the screen is updated due to remote control.

In the invention of the image forming system of another form, in the invention of the form described above, the control unit notifies the terminal apparatus that the remote control can not be ended at the time of control not to end the remote control process, Control is performed to display a warning screen on the terminal operation unit.
The invention of an image forming system according to another aspect of the present invention relates to a terminal device and an image forming apparatus connected via a network, wherein an operation screen of a main body operation unit of the image forming apparatus is remotely operated by an operation of a terminal operation unit of the terminal device. In an image forming remote control system which can be operated,
It has a control unit that controls the remote control,
The control unit may stop communication between the image forming apparatus and the terminal device.
If the screen under remote control is a specific screen, the operation screen is restarted after waiting for a predetermined time.

Among the inventions of the image forming remote control method according to the present invention, a first embodiment relates to a terminal apparatus and an image forming apparatus connected via a network, by operating a terminal operation unit of the terminal apparatus. Enables remote control of the operation screen of the main unit operation unit,
When a predetermined condition is reached during remote control, if the operation screen during remote control is a specific screen, an operation to end the remote control in the terminal operation unit without ending the process being executed in the remote control process To perform control to forbid .

  The invention of the image forming remote control method according to another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the invention of the above aspect, the predetermined condition is a case where a request for termination of remote control is received from the terminal device.

  The invention of the image forming remote control method according to the other form is characterized in that, in the present invention of the form described above, the predetermined condition is a case where a screen update is generated by remote control.

In the invention of the image forming remote control method of the other form, in the present invention of the above form, in the control of not ending the remote control processing, the terminal device is notified that the remote control can not be ended, and the terminal operation is performed. It is characterized by performing control which displays a warning screen on a part.
The invention of the image forming remote control method according to another aspect is an operation screen of a main body operation unit of the image forming apparatus by operating the terminal operation unit of the terminal apparatus and the image forming apparatus connected via the network. Enable remote control of
When a predetermined condition is reached during remote control, if the operation screen during remote control is a specific screen, control is performed not to end the remote control processing,
When communication between the image forming apparatus and the terminal device is interrupted:
If the screen under remote control is a specific screen, the operation screen is restarted after waiting for a predetermined time.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the specific screen is displayed as the operation screen, and by performing control so as not to end the remote control under predetermined conditions, the appropriate remote control end depending on the state of the image forming apparatus It is possible to carry out the processing, and to avoid the inconvenience caused by the termination of the remote control.

FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing the mechanical structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Similarly, it is a figure showing a control block of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus. Similarly, an operation screen showing a service mode screen is shown. Similarly, it is a flowchart showing a procedure for controlling display and non-display of the operation screen at the time of remote operation. Similarly, it is a flowchart which shows the control procedure at the time of receiving a remote control completion request | requirement. Similarly, it is a flowchart which shows the procedure at the time of the update of the operation screen with respect to a specific screen being performed. Similarly, it is a flowchart which shows the control procedure at the time of performing the operation which does not want to interrupt a process. Similarly, it is a figure which shows transition of the operation screen at the time of performing operation which does not want to interrupt a process. Similarly, it is a flowchart showing a control procedure when communication is interrupted. Similarly, it is a schematic view showing a system of remote control. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing sequence control in the image forming apparatus and the remote terminal in remote control. Similarly, an example of an operation screen displayed on the remote terminal device at the time of remote control is shown.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus used for the remote control system of the present invention will be described based on the attached drawings.
FIG. 1 is a central cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus, showing a mechanical configuration. The configuration will be described below.
The image forming apparatus 1 has a configuration in which a large capacity sheet feeding unit 155 is connected to the front stage side of the image forming apparatus main body 1a and a post-processing apparatus (FNS) 170 is connected to the rear stage side of the image forming apparatus main body 1a. There is.
In the image forming apparatus 1, the sheet can be transported between the apparatuses, and the apparatuses can communicate with each other. Although the image forming apparatus 1 includes the large-capacity sheet feeding unit 155 and the post-processing apparatus (FNS) 170, the image forming apparatus is configured with only the main body of the image forming apparatus. It may be one.

On the upper side of the image forming apparatus main body 1a, a scanner unit 130 including a CCD 131 (shown in FIG. 2) and a flow-type automatic document feeder (ADF) 135 are provided. An image of the document can be read through the glass 138.
An image reading unit is configured by the above-described scanner unit 130, the pouring type automatic document feeder (ADF) 135, the platen glass 137, the ADF document reading slit glass 138, and the like.
Further, an operation unit 140 formed of a touch panel is provided at a position where the platen glass 137 is not positioned on the upper side of the image forming apparatus main body 1a, so that the operation and information can be displayed by the operator. The operation unit 140 constitutes an operation unit and doubles as a display unit of the present invention. In the present invention, the operation unit and the display unit can be configured separately. The operation unit 140 corresponds to the main body operation unit of the present invention.

A plurality of sheet feed trays (1 to 3) 152 (three stages in the figure) are disposed on the lower side of the image forming apparatus body 1a, and further have a sheet feed tray so as to be attached to the image forming apparatus body 1a. A large capacity sheet feeding unit 155 is disposed.
In the image forming apparatus main body 1a, a conveyance path for conveying a sheet fed from any of the sheet feeding trays, a second sheet feeding roller 153, and the like are provided, along the conveyance path in the image forming apparatus main body 1a. The image forming unit 154 includes an LD 154a, a photosensitive member 154b, a charger 154c, a developing unit 154d, a transfer unit 154e, and a fixing unit 154f. Further, the large capacity sheet feeding unit 155 is provided with a conveying path (not shown) for conveying the fed sheet and introducing the sheet into the image forming apparatus main body 1a.
Further, in the post-processing apparatus (FNS) 170, the sheet on which the image is printed is transported and discharged without being subjected to the post-processing or after the post-processing.
The printer unit 150 is configured by the paper feed trays (1 to 3) 152, the conveyance path, the second paper feed roller 153, the image forming unit 154, the large capacity paper feed unit 155, and the like.

In the image forming unit 154, the charger 154c, the developing unit 154d, and the transfer unit 154e are disposed around the photosensitive member 154b. The charger 154c uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive member 154b before image writing. The LD 154 a irradiates the semiconductor laser to the photosensitive member 154 b whose surface is uniformly charged to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 154 b. The developing device 154 d develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member 154 b by the LD 154 a with a toner material. A toner image is formed on the photosensitive member 154 b by this development process. The transfer unit 154e transfers the toner image of the photosensitive member 154b to the sheet conveyed from the sheet feed trays (1 to 3) 152 or the large-capacity sheet feed unit 155. The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photosensitive member 154 b and conveyed to a fixing unit 154 f. The toner material remaining on the photosensitive member 154b is removed by a cleaning unit (not shown). The fixing unit 154 f fixes the toner image transferred to the front side of the sheet by heating the conveyed sheet. In the case of single-sided printing, the sheet subjected to the fixing process is conveyed as it is to a post-processing apparatus (FNS) 170 located to the side of the image forming apparatus main body 1a.
The post-processing apparatus (FNS) 170 performs post-processing such as stapling, punching, center folding, and the like.
On the other hand, in the case of double-sided printing, the sheet after fixing is switched back and a predetermined image is transferred by the image forming unit 154 on the back side of the sheet. Then, the sheet on which the image is formed on both sides is conveyed to a post-processing device (FNS) 170 after fixing.

Next, control blocks of the image forming system including the image forming apparatus 1 will be described based on FIG.
The image forming apparatus main body 1a includes a control block 110, a scanner unit 130, an operation unit 140, and a printer unit 150 as large blocks, and is further connected to a terminal (PC) 3 through the network 10 and a remote terminal through the network 11. It is connected to the device 4. The networks 10 and 11 may be the same network. The image forming apparatus main body 1 a is connected to the network 10 via an image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160. The types of networks 10 and 11 are not particularly limited, and appropriate networks such as LAN (whether wired or wireless), WAN, communication lines, etc. can be used, and the types are the same between networks 10 and 11. It may be different.

  In this embodiment, an example in which one image forming apparatus 1 and one remote terminal apparatus 4 are connected in the network 11 is described, but the number of image forming apparatuses and remote terminal apparatuses is particularly The present invention is not limited to this, and one remote terminal may be capable of remote panel operation for a plurality of image forming apparatuses. The remote terminal device 4 corresponds to a terminal device of the present invention that performs remote control.

  The image forming system of this embodiment may be configured not to include the networks 10 and 11 or the remote terminal device 4 or may be configured to include these.

The control block 110 has a PCI bus 112 connected to an image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160, and a DRAM control IC 111 is connected to the PCI bus 112. An image memory (DRAM) 120 is connected to the DRAM control IC 111. An image memory (DRAM) 120 has a compression memory 121 for storing compressed image data, and a page memory 122 for temporarily storing non-compressed image data to be printed before image formation. .
The image data acquired by the image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160 is transmitted to the DRAM control IC 111 through the PCI bus 112 along with the printing operation.

Further, the control block 110 includes a control CPU 113, and a DRAM control IC 111 is connected to the control CPU 113.
Further, the control CPU 113 is constituted by a ROM etc., a program memory storing a program etc. for operating the control CPU 113, a RAM etc., and a system memory used as a work area etc. None), a non-volatile memory 115 constituted by a flash memory or the like is connected. The non-volatile memory 115 readably stores initial print setting information of the image forming apparatus main body 1 a, machine setting information such as process control parameters, initial data of output setting, etc. and is included in the image forming apparatus 1. Control information of each unit is stored.

Further, in the non-volatile memory 115, setting information of remote panel operation in the image forming apparatus 1 is registered. The setting information may be registered by initial setting, or the operator may newly set through the operation unit 140 or may edit and delete the set information.
Among the setting information, the content of the specific screen, the predetermined condition for performing control to not perform remote operation termination, the type of erasing the main body operation screen of the image forming apparatus among the specific screen, and the control for not performing remote operation termination. The display contents of the warning screen displayed on the terminal operation screen, the data of the time to wait for the restart of the image forming apparatus when the communication between the image forming apparatus and the terminal apparatus is interrupted and the screen under remote control is a specific screen The types of processing groups whose transition to another screen has been prohibited until completion, and the data of the time required to complete processing for each type are stored.

The control CPU 113 can read nonvolatile data of the nonvolatile memory 115 and can write desired data to the nonvolatile memory 115.
Control CPU 113 operates according to an image forming apparatus control program stored in nonvolatile memory 115 or the like, and controls the operation of each part of image forming apparatus 1 according to the machine setting information, print setting information, output setting, adjustment value of unit control information, etc. And manage each part. Further, the control CPU 113 is operated by the image forming remote control program, and when there is a request from the remote panel side, execution of a server function for activating the remote panel side as a client or another application activated on the remote panel operation side On the other hand, information for the remote panel can be transmitted, and the operation screen can be synchronized between the image forming apparatus side and the remote terminal side. The control CPU 113 constitutes a control unit of the present invention.
The control CPU 113 makes it possible to perform job output settings and operation instructions, setting of unit control information, and communication instructions through the operation unit 140.
Further, in the present invention, a control unit for managing and controlling the image forming apparatus may be provided outside the image forming apparatus main body.

The scanner unit 130 includes a CCD 131 that performs optical reading and a scanner control unit 132 that controls the entire scanner unit 130. The scanner control unit 132 is connected to the control CPU 113 so as to be capable of serial communication. The CCD 131 is connected to a read processing unit 116 that processes image data read by the CCD 131, and the read processing unit 116 is connected to the DRAM control IC 111 in a controllable manner.
The reading processing unit 116 performs various processing such as analog signal processing, A / D (Analog to Digital) conversion processing, shading processing, and the like on an analog image signal input from the CCD 131 to generate digital image data, which will be described later. Output to compression / decompression IC 117.

The operation unit 140 includes an LCD 141 configured as a touch panel, which functions as a display unit and an operation unit, and an operation unit control unit 142 that controls the entire operation unit. The operation unit control unit 142 performs serial communication with the control CPU 113 It is connected possible.
In the operation unit 140, under the control of the control CPU 113, output setting of the image forming apparatus body 1a and machine setting input such as operation control conditions in the touch panel LCD 141, sheet information of each sheet feeding tray (size, sheet type ), Display of the contents of the setting, display of desired information such as a message, and manual setting of control information. Further, the warning display contents in the remote terminal device 4 may be settable. Furthermore, in the operation unit 140, ON / OFF setting may be made as to whether to perform control not to end remote operation under a predetermined condition, or setting may be made such that the control is always performed. The ON / OFF setting allows the user to switch whether to perform the above control.

A compression / decompression IC 117 capable of compressing or decompressing image data is connected to the DRAM control IC 111. The DRAM control IC 111 controls the compression processing of the image data and the decompression processing of the compressed image data by the compression / decompression IC 117 according to the instruction from the control CPU 113, and performs the input / output control of the image data to the image memory (DRAM) 120. .
The write processing unit 123 is connected to an image forming unit including the LD 154 a and the like of the printer unit 150, and generates write data used for the operation of the LD 154 a based on image data.

The printer unit 150 includes the image forming unit 154, a sheet feeding tray, a conveyance path, a reverse conveyance path, a fixing device, and the like.
The printer unit 150 also includes a printer control unit 151 that controls the entire printer unit 150 (paper feeding, image formation, paper discharge, post-processing, etc.), and the printer control unit 151 performs serial communication with the control CPU 113 described above. It is connected possible. The printer control unit 151 operates according to a control command of the control CPU 113 to control the printer unit 150, and performs sheet conveyance, image formation, and the like.

The HDD 119 is connected to the PCI bus 112 via the controller IC 118, and data can be stored in the HDD 119 or data in the HDD 119 can be read via the controller IC 118 under the control of the control CPU 113.
Further, a DRAM control IC 161 provided in the image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160 is connected to the PCI bus 112. The image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160 has a controller control unit 163 for controlling the entire image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160 and an image memory 162, and via the LAN control unit 164 and the LAN interface 165 Are connected to the network 10. The LAN interface 165 functions as a communication unit.

  When using the image forming apparatus main body 1a as a network printer or a network scanner, the image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160 uses the image forming apparatus main body 1a to transmit image data and the like from an information terminal unit connected to the network 10. The image data acquired by the scanner unit 130 is transmitted to a terminal (PC) 3 connected to the network 10 or the like.

Furthermore, the LAN interface 126 is connected to the control CPU 113 via the LAN control unit 125, and the network 11 is connected to the LAN interface 126.
The LAN interface 126 is responsible for transmission and reception with the remote terminal device 4 connected to the network 11, and functions as a communication unit.

  The remote terminal device 4 includes a terminal control unit 40 that controls the entire remote terminal device 4, and a LAN interface 41 connected to the network 11 is controllably connected to the terminal control unit 40. The LAN interface 41 corresponds to a communication unit. The terminal control unit 40 operates with a terminal control program stored in a storage unit of the terminal control unit 40 or the like.

In the storage unit of the terminal control unit 40, an application for activating a terminal to the image forming apparatus 1 as a client, a browser and other applications are stored so as to be activated, and these applications are activated by the operation of the terminal control unit 40. This enables operations such as remote panel operation.
Further, the remote terminal device 4 has a terminal operation unit 42. The terminal operation unit 42 may be configured to be able to perform operation and display by a touch panel or the like, and may be provided with an operation unit and a display unit separately. The terminal operation unit 42 enables remote panel operation on the image forming apparatus 1.

Next, the basic operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.
First, a procedure for accumulating image data in the image forming apparatus main body 1a will be described. A case where the scanner unit 130 reads an image and generates image data in the image forming apparatus main body 1a will be described. The scanner unit 130 optically reads an image from a document by the CCD 131. At this time, the scanner control unit 132 that receives an instruction from the control CPU 113 performs operation control of the CCD 131. The reading of the original may be performed while automatically feeding the original by a flow-type automatic original feeding device (ADF) 135, or the original may be placed on a platen glass.

  The control CPU 113 operates according to a program, and issues an instruction to the scanner unit 130 based on an operation (a read instruction or a copy instruction) by the operation unit 140. The image read by the CCD 131 is subjected to data processing by the reading processing unit 116, and the image data subjected to the data processing is sent to the compression / decompression IC 117 via the DRAM control IC 111 and compressed by a predetermined method. The compressed data is stored in the image memory (DRAM) 120 via the DRAM control IC 111.

  Besides this, image data can be input to the image forming apparatus main body 1 a via the network 10. Examples of the image data include those generated by an application program of a terminal (PC) 3 or the like. The method of generating the image data is not particularly limited.

  The image data is received by the image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160 through the network 10, the LAN interface 165, and the LAN control unit 164, and the print data is stored in the image memory 162 by the DRAM control IC 161 according to the instruction of the controller control unit 163. Be expanded. The print data of the image memory 162 is transferred to the DRAM control IC 111 via the PCI bus 112 and temporarily stored in the page memory 122. The data stored in the page memory 122 is sent to the compression / decompression IC 117 via the DRAM control IC 111 to be compressed and stored in the HDD 119 via the compression memory 121 or the controller IC 118 via the DRAM control IC 111.

  When storing the image data, output setting is performed before or after storing the image data. The output setting can be performed by displaying a setting screen on which the operation input can be performed on the operation unit 140 and by the operation input by the operator. In addition, when the output setting item is selected in the initial setting and the setting input is not made by the operator, the output setting is made by the initial setting.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 outputs an image, that is, when used as a copying machine or a printer, the image data stored in the compression memory 121 or the image data stored in the HDD 119 is compressed / decompressed IC 117 via the DRAM control IC 111. , And the decompressed data is delivered to the write processing unit 123, and writing is performed by the LD 154a on the photosensitive member 154b charged by the charger 154c.

  In the printer unit 150, control of each unit is performed by the printer control unit 151 that has received an instruction from the control CPU 113. In the image forming unit 154, the latent image written on the photosensitive member 154b is developed as a toner image by the developing unit 154d, and the toner image is transferred to a sheet supplied by the transfer path by the transfer unit 154e and fixed by the fixing unit 154f. Ru. In the photosensitive member 154b, after the toner image is transferred to the sheet, residual toner is removed by a cleaning unit (not shown). The sheet is fed from the large-capacity sheet feeding unit 155 or the sheet feeding trays (1 to 3) 152 in the image forming apparatus main body 1a according to the setting. The large capacity sheet feeding unit 155 and the sheet feeding trays (1 to 3) 152 in the image forming apparatus main body 1a are controlled according to the control information.

The sheet on which an image has been formed is conveyed to a post-processing apparatus (FNS) 170 through a conveyance path, or is reversed by a reverse conveyance path and circulated to an image forming unit. The recirculated sheet is subjected to image formation and fixing on the back side, and conveyed to a post-processing device (FNS) 170. The post-processing apparatus (FNS) 170 is controlled by the control information from the control CPU 113 directly or via each post-processing apparatus control unit to perform desired processing.
Although this embodiment has been described on the premise of monochrome image formation, it may be an image forming apparatus main body provided with a photosensitive member and the like for each color (for example, cyan, magenta, yellow, black). .

  In the image forming apparatus 1, when the remote terminal device 4 requests a predetermined operation, the LAN control unit 125, the LAN interface 126, the network 11, the terminal control unit 40, and the LAN interface 41 are operated by the operation of the control CPU 113. Control information is transmitted to the remote terminal device 4 via the terminal.

In the remote terminal device 4, the VNC (trademark, the same applies hereinafter) will be described as an example. The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a VNC server, and the remote terminal device 4 is provided with a VNC client. The control CPU 113 or the like can be used as the VNC server.
The VNC client acquires screen data from the VNC server of the image forming apparatus 1 through the network 11 and the LAN interface 41, and displays the acquired screen by passing it to the terminal control unit 40 of its own on the terminal operation display unit 42. At that time, the operation on the screen is accepted and transmitted to the VNC server of the image forming apparatus 1. The operation panel of the image forming apparatus 1 and information display can be performed by the remote panel of the remote terminal device 4.

In addition to the above, a remote panel URL or another application can be used as the remote control. In the present invention, the type of remote control is not particularly limited.
Further, the remote control does not have to be displayed in the same display form as the screen of the image forming apparatus 1, and a screen of another form in which display or operation corresponding to the operation screen of the image forming apparatus 1 can be performed It may be displayed. For example, an application such as a browser is activated on the remote terminal 4 in response to the activation of the remote control, and information is sent from the image forming apparatus 1 to the remote terminal 4 through the network 11 in markup language etc. The display or operation of the screen corresponding to the image forming apparatus 1 may be enabled.

  In this embodiment, the control unit has been described as being provided in the image forming apparatus, but a control unit for controlling remote control may be provided to a management apparatus or the like connected to the image forming apparatus via a network. The management apparatus may constitute the image forming system of the present invention, or may include the image forming apparatus as an image forming system. Furthermore, the image forming system may include a remote terminal device.

  In the above system configuration, the content being operated from the remote terminal device is displayed on the operation screen of the image forming apparatus, and there are concerns about security depending on the screen. Therefore, on the screen where security is required, when the image forming apparatus receives a remote control start request from the remote terminal, the image forming apparatus does not disclose the remote control contents to the person near the image forming apparatus. After hiding the operation screen, the remote control is started. When the image forming apparatus receives a remote control end request from the remote terminal apparatus, the remote control is ended, and at that time, the non-display of the operation screen of the image forming apparatus is canceled.

In an image forming apparatus capable of performing remote control, in the case where an operation is performed only by a serviceman or a system administrator from the terminal of the remote apparatus, the operation content may not be disclosed to general users.
A service screen is shown in FIG. 3 as an example of a screen which is displayed on the terminal operation unit by remote operation and which is not displayed on the main body operation unit. In this embodiment, the service screen corresponds to one of the specific screens in the present invention.
The service screen 1400 is assumed to be displayed and operated by a service person, not the user, and when performing remote control, it is often desired to display it on the main body operation unit to avoid the user viewing the contents. The service screen requires, for example, a password setting input for login and the like, and an authority to refer to the screen.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for hiding the display of the main body operation unit on the operation screen requiring security. This procedure can be performed under the control of the control unit. Note that, in this procedure, the setting of whether to perform the control not to end the remote control processing under a predetermined condition is OFF.

  First, it waits for reception of a remote control start request from the remote terminal (step s1). If there is a remote control start request (Yes in step s1), the operation screen of the image forming apparatus is not displayed and the operation is prohibited (step s2). Then, the remote control is started (step s3). Thereafter, the remote control unit waits for reception of the remote control end request (step s4), and when the remote control end request is received (step s4, Yes), the remote control is ended (step s5), and the image forming apparatus The non-display of the operation screen and the operation prohibition are canceled (step s6), and the process ends.

However, in the above-described procedure, when there is a remote control termination request also in the service mode or the like, there arises a disadvantage that the service mode screen is displayed on the operation screen of the image forming apparatus.
As described above, in the control of the remote control, inconvenience may occur when the remote control ends on the remote terminal side.
For example, in the above procedure, when the remote control end button is pressed on a specific screen such as a service mode screen, if the screen being operated is a service mode screen or the like, the operation of the image forming apparatus is canceled by canceling non-display. The service mode screen etc. is displayed on the screen.

In this embodiment, when the remote terminal device makes an end request for remote operation to the image forming apparatus, the remote terminal device transmits a notification indicating that the remote operation can not be ended, and the screen of the terminal operation screen of the remote terminal device is displayed. A warning screen is displayed in the area, and control is performed so as not to end remote control. When the remote control is ended, the remote control can be ended by pressing the remote control end button after leaving the specific screen such as the service mode screen.
The type of the specific screen can be appropriately selected, and the content can be stored in the non-volatile memory.

The above procedure will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The following procedure is executed under the control of the control unit.
First, it waits to receive a remote control end request from the remote terminal (step s10). The reception of the remote control termination request corresponds to the predetermined condition of the present invention.
If the remote control termination request is received (step s10, Yes), it is determined whether it is a service mode screen (step s11). In this embodiment, the service mode screen corresponds to the specific screen of the present invention. In the case of the service mode screen (step s11, Yes), a warning screen is displayed on the remote terminal device (step s13), and in step s10, reception of a remote control end request from the remote terminal device is awaited. Thus, in the case of the specific screen, control is performed so as not to end the remote control.
On the other hand, when the service mode screen is not displayed (step s11, No), an operation end notification is sent to the remote terminal device (step s12). At this time, when the operation screen is not displayed on the image forming apparatus, the non-display is canceled. Thereafter, the process ends.

When the operation screen transitions to a specific screen due to update of the operation screen, for example, when the operation screen transitions to a service mode screen during remote control from the remote terminal device to the image forming apparatus, the remote terminal device is remotely A notification that the operation can not be ended is transmitted, the remote control end button shown in FIG. 12 is hidden, and the remote control is prohibited from being ended.
When ending the remote control, the remote control end button is displayed again when the service mode screen is exited, so that the remote control can be ended by pressing the remote control end button displayed again.

Next, the procedure in the case where there is an update of the operation screen and the operation screen transitions to the specific screen will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The following procedure is executed under the control of the control unit.
First, it waits for the update of the operation screen (step s20). If there is an update of the operation screen (Yes in step s20), it is determined whether it is a service mode (step s21). Examples of updates of the operation screen include ones that adversely affect the system if interrupted. For example, image quality adjustment, HDD format, etc. may be mentioned. The present invention is not limited to a specific one that adversely affects the system when it is interrupted.

If it is the service mode (step s21, Yes), the remote terminal device is notified that the operation has been terminated (step s24), and control is made to hide the remote control end button of the remote terminal device (step s25). Leave inside.
If it is not the service mode (No at step s21), the remote terminal is notified that the operation can be completed (step s22), and control is performed to display the remote control end button of the remote terminal (step s23). Enable remote control.

  In addition, in the image forming apparatus, a system is incorporated that does not cause screen transition during execution of processing that is not desired to be interrupted on the operation screen. As an example, the control sequence of the HDD format is shown in FIG. 7, and the operation screen is shown in FIGS.

  In the image forming apparatus, as shown on the operation screen 1500 of FIG. 8A, when the start button 1501 is pressed in the HDD format operation (step s30), a start request is made on the HDD control side, and the process of the HDD format is started. (Step sH1). In the operation screen 1500, the return button 1502 is displayed until the start button 1501 is pressed, but when the start button 1501 is pressed, the display is changed to the display of the operation screen 1510 as shown in FIG. , And the back button 1501 are hidden (step s31), and the screen transition to another screen, that is, the interruption of the HDD format is disabled.

When the process of the HDD format is completed (step sH2), the HDD control side sends an end notification to the control side of the operation screen. On the control side of the operation screen, the return button 1502 is displayed by receiving the end notification (step s32), and the screen transition is enabled.
Thus, after the HDD formatting process is started, the screen transition itself in the HDD format is displayed by displaying the screen which does not display the "Return" button as shown in FIG. 8B until the notification of the completion of the HDD formatting process is received. It prohibits and it is the composition which controls the interruption of HDD format processing.

In a system that performs such operation screen control, it is determined whether processing that you do not want to interrupt, such as the HDD format, is being executed at the timing when the remote operation end request is received from the remote terminal device. Since the process of returning the operation screen to the initial screen is not performed, there is a risk that other processes may be interrupted and can not be performed.
As described above, processes that do not want to interrupt the process include image quality adjustment, data buffer, rewriting of firmware, rewriting of ROM, etc., and it is possible to appropriately select what to select as the process that you do not want to interrupt.
According to the present embodiment, it is possible to not disclose a screen such as a service mode screen to a general user without having to manage the state for each process with respect to a process that is difficult to interrupt at the end of remote operation. It is possible to provide a secure remote control system with the

Next, consider a case where the LAN cable of the image forming apparatus is disconnected or the like while the service mode screen or the like is remotely controlled, and the communication is interrupted.
If the screen being operated is a service mode screen, while the operation screen of the image forming apparatus is not displayed, the operation screen of the image forming apparatus is waited for 10 minutes which is the maximum time in the processing group which can not be interrupted. Restart

The procedure when communication is interrupted will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The following procedure is executed under the control of the control unit.
First, it is determined whether the communication between the image forming apparatus and the remote terminal has been interrupted (step s40). If the communication is not interrupted (Step s40, No), the determination is repeated. If the communication is interrupted (Yes in step s40), it is determined whether the service mode is in progress (step s41). If not in service mode, the process ends.

In the case of the service mode, there is a possibility that processing that you do not want to interrupt processing has been performed, so the process waits for a predetermined time (10 minutes in this example) (step s42). The predetermined time may be a preset time, or, among the processing groups whose transition to another screen is prohibited until the processing is completed, the time required for the completion of the processing may be the maximum time as the predetermined time. Good. The processing group includes image quality adjustment, HDD format, data buffer application store, firmware rewrite, ROM rewrite, and the like. The processing group may be a processing group that can be selected by the menu item selected in the service mode or the like, and the content and the number of processing groups may be different for each menu item.
After the predetermined time has elapsed, at least the operation screen is restarted so as to be rewritten to the initial screen or the like (step s43). This makes it possible to reliably avoid system failure.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the said embodiment, the appropriate | suitable change with respect to embodiment is possible unless it deviates from the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 4 Remote terminal device 40 Terminal control part 41 LAN interface 42 Terminal operation part 113 Control CPU
115 non-volatile memory 140 operation unit 150 printer unit 154 image forming unit 1500 operation screen 1510 operation screen

Claims (20)

An image forming apparatus connected to a terminal apparatus via a network, the image forming apparatus comprising:
The control unit has a control unit that enables remote control of the operation screen of the main body operation unit of the image forming apparatus in response to an operation input of the terminal operation unit of the terminal device .
The control unit does not end the process being executed in the remote control process if the operation screen during the remote control is a specific screen when the predetermined condition is satisfied during the remote control, and the terminal operation unit performs the remote control An image forming apparatus characterized by performing control for prohibiting an operation for ending the operation .   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to receive the remote control end request from the terminal device.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to update the screen by the remote control. The control unit, when performing control not to end the remote operation process, notifies the terminal device that the remote operation can not be ended, and performs control to display a warning screen on the terminal operation unit. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the control unit is a screen for which the specific screen requires an authority to refer to the screen. An image forming apparatus connected to a terminal apparatus via a network, the image forming apparatus comprising:
The control unit has a control unit that enables remote control of the operation screen of the main body operation unit of the image forming apparatus in response to an operation input of the terminal operation unit of the terminal device.
When the image forming apparatus has lost communication with the terminal device, the control unit may:
If the screen is a specific screen in the remote operation, after waiting for a certain time, images forming device characterized in that the restarting of the operation screen. 7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the predetermined time is a time in which the time required to complete the process is the largest among the processing groups in which the transition to another screen is prohibited until the process is completed. Image forming device. The control unit may be capable of deleting the display of the operation screen of the image forming apparatus during remote control, and enables the display of the deleted operation screen at the end of the remote control. The image forming apparatus according to any one of to 7 . 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the control unit erases the display of the operation screen of the image forming apparatus when displaying a specific screen on the operation screen during remote control. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , wherein the control unit can set ON / OFF of performing control not to end the remote control processing under the predetermined condition. . An image forming remote control system capable of remotely controlling an operation screen of a main body operation unit of the image forming apparatus by operating a terminal operation unit of the terminal apparatus with respect to a terminal device and an image forming apparatus connected via a network.
It has a control unit that controls the remote control,
The control unit does not end the process being executed in the remote control process if the operation screen during the remote control is a specific screen when the predetermined condition is satisfied during the remote control, and the terminal operation unit performs the remote control An image forming remote control system characterized by performing control for prohibiting an operation for ending the operation . 12. The image forming remote control system according to claim 11 , wherein the control unit is configured to receive the remote control end request from the terminal device as the predetermined condition. 12. The image forming remote control system according to claim 11 , wherein the control unit is a case in which the predetermined condition is that a screen update occurs by remote control. The control unit, when performing control not to end the remote operation process, notifies the terminal device that the remote operation can not be ended, and performs control to display a warning screen on the terminal operation unit. The image forming remote control system according to any one of claims 11 to 13 . An image forming remote control system capable of remotely controlling an operation screen of a main body operation unit of the image forming apparatus by operating a terminal operation unit of the terminal apparatus with respect to a terminal device and an image forming apparatus connected via a network.
  It has a control unit that controls the remote control,
  The control unit may stop communication between the image forming apparatus and the terminal device.
  An image forming remote control system characterized in that, if the screen under remote control is a specific screen, the operation screen is restarted after waiting for a fixed time. For a terminal device and an image forming apparatus connected via a network, remote control of the operation screen of the main body operation unit of the image forming apparatus is enabled by the operation of the terminal operation unit of the terminal apparatus ,
When a predetermined condition is reached during remote control, if the operation screen during remote control is a specific screen, an operation to end the remote control in the terminal operation unit without ending the process being executed in the remote control process An image forming remote control method characterized in that control for prohibiting 17. The image forming remote control method according to claim 16 , wherein the predetermined condition is a case where a request for termination of remote control is received from the terminal device. 17. The image forming remote control method according to claim 16 , wherein the predetermined condition is a case where a screen update occurs by remote control. Upon control without terminating the remote control processing, the terminal notifies that can not end of the remote operation on the device, according to claim 16-18, characterized in that for performing control to display a warning screen on the terminal operation unit The imaging remote control method according to any one of the above. For a terminal device and an image forming apparatus connected via a network, remote control of the operation screen of the main body operation unit of the image forming apparatus is enabled by the operation of the terminal operation unit of the terminal apparatus,
  When a predetermined condition is reached during remote control, if the operation screen during remote control is a specific screen, control is performed not to end the remote control processing,
  When communication between the image forming apparatus and the terminal device is interrupted:
  An image forming remote control method comprising restarting the operation screen after waiting for a predetermined time if the screen under remote control is a specific screen.

Images