JP7293654B2 - Electronic equipment and image forming equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic device and an image forming apparatus that refer to a database.

2. Description of the Related Art Electronic devices such as copiers, facsimiles, printers, and multi-functional peripherals having a plurality of functions of these devices are provided with a database of data transmission destinations, telephone numbers, and the like. In addition, the electronic device is equipped with a filtering function and a sorting function for narrowing down the data stored in the database, and the user uses these functions to narrow down the required data. Patent Literature 1 below describes a technique for narrowing down.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-256197

In order to search and extract the data that the user needs from the database, it is possible to use the narrowing down function such as the filter function, but the data can only be narrowed down with the search conditions prepared in advance as product specifications. .

In order to realize a more advanced search, it is conceivable to improve the firmware and prepare a large number of search conditions in advance, but there is a problem of increased cost. In addition, it is difficult and unrealistic to prepare a large number of search conditions so as to correspond to all kinds of cases requested by users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to enable a database to be searched even under search conditions not prepared as product specifications.

When data in an electronic device such as an image forming apparatus is managed by a general-purpose database, a database language such as SQL is used to access the database. Therefore, if a user can freely create SQL syntax or the like on an electronic device and increase the number of search conditions, it will be possible to search the database even with search conditions that are not prepared as product specifications.

An electronic device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a database, a display unit, an operation reception unit that receives an instruction input from a user, and a search formula for the database, which is prepared in advance as product specifications. a work environment providing unit for providing a user with a work environment for creating a search formula that does not exist, via the display unit, and creating the search formula in the work environment in accordance with instructions input by the user to the operation reception unit a search formula storage unit that stores the search formula created by the user; and a search unit that reads the search formula from the search formula storage unit and searches and extracts data from the database according to the read search formula. and, when an instruction to store the search formula in the search formula storage unit is received via the operation receiving unit, the search formula includes a predetermined character string that enables editing of the database. a determination unit that determines whether or not the predetermined character string is included; and the search that includes the predetermined character string when the determination unit determines that the predetermined character string is included. a prohibition unit that prohibits storage of the formula in the search formula storage unit .

According to the present invention, the database is searched using a search formula (for example, SQL syntax) created by the user, so it is possible to search the database even with search conditions that are not prepared in advance as product specifications. Therefore, even if the manufacturer of the electronic device or the like does not prepare the database in advance, it is possible to search the database with the search conditions desired by the user, and an expandable search function can be realized.

1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of an image forming apparatus as a first embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention; FIG. It is the figure which showed an example of the operation screen displayed on a display part. It is the figure which showed an example of the operation screen displayed on a display part. (A) and (B) are diagrams showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit. (A) and (B) are diagrams showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit. (A) is a diagram showing an example of an address book, and (B) and (C) are diagrams showing examples of search results. (A) and (B) are diagrams showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit. It is the figure which showed an example of the operation screen displayed on a display part. It is the figure which showed an example of the operation screen displayed on a display part. It is the figure which showed an example of the operation screen displayed on a display part. (A) and (B) are diagrams showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of an image forming apparatus as a second embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention; (A) and (B) are diagrams showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit. (A) and (B) are diagrams showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit. FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of an image forming apparatus as a third embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention;

An electronic device and an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of an image forming apparatus as a first embodiment of electronic equipment according to the present invention.

An electronic device according to the first embodiment is, for example, an image forming apparatus 1 . The image forming apparatus 1 is, for example, a multifunction device having multiple functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scan function, and a facsimile function. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a document feeding section 6, a document reading section 5, an image forming section 12, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 111, a fixing section 13, a paper feeding section 14, an operation section 47, and a facsimile communication section. 71 and a network interface unit 91 .

A case where the image forming apparatus 1 performs a document reading operation will be described. A document reading section 5 optically reads an image of a document conveyed by the document feeding section 6 or a document placed on a contact glass (not shown), and generates image data. Image data generated by the document reading unit 5 is stored in an image memory (not shown) or the like.

A case where the image forming operation is performed in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. Based on the image data generated by the document reading operation, the image data received from the computer as the external device 20 connected to the network, etc., the image forming unit 12 uses the recording medium fed from the paper feeding unit 14. A toner image is formed on the recording paper.

An HDD (an example of a storage unit) 111 is a large-capacity storage device that stores image data and the like transmitted from the external device 20 , and includes an address book 112 and a search formula storage unit 113 . The address book 112 is a database that stores information regarding transmission destinations to which image data is transmitted. The search formula storage unit 113 stores search formulas for databases such as the address book 112 .

The fixing unit 13 heats and presses the recording paper on which the toner image is formed by the image forming unit 12 to fix the toner image on the recording paper. Output to tray. The paper feed unit 14 includes a paper feed cassette.

The operation unit 47 receives instructions such as image forming operation execution instructions from the operator regarding various operations and processes that can be performed by the image forming apparatus 1 . The operation unit 47 includes a display unit 473 that displays operation guidance and the like for the operator.

The display unit 473 has a touch panel function, and the operator can operate the image forming apparatus 1 by touching buttons and keys displayed on the screen.

The facsimile communication section 71 includes an unillustrated encoding/decoding section, a modulation/demodulation section, and an NCU (Network Control Unit), and performs facsimile transmission/reception using a public telephone network or the like. The network interface unit 91 transmits and receives various data to and from an external device 20 such as a terminal device or a server within a local area or on the Internet. Note that the facsimile communication unit 71 and the network interface unit 91 are examples of communication units in the scope of claims.

The control unit 10 includes a processor, RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), and dedicated hardware circuits. The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The control unit 10 includes a control section 100 , an operation reception section 101 , a work environment provision section 102 , a search section 103 and a login processing section 104 .

The control unit 10 functions as a control unit 100, an operation receiving unit 101, a work environment providing unit 102, a searching unit 103, and a login processing unit 104 by the operation of the processor according to the control program stored in the HDD 111. is. However, these controllers 100 and the like can also be configured by hardware circuits independently of the operation according to the control program by the control unit 10 . Hereinafter, the same applies to each embodiment unless otherwise specified.

The control unit 100 controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 1 . The control unit 100 is connected to the document feeding unit 6, the document reading unit 5, the image forming unit 12, the HDD 111, the fixing unit 13, the paper feeding unit 14, the operation unit 47, the facsimile communication unit 71, and the network interface unit 91. Drive control and the like of these units are performed. For example, the control unit 100 transmits image data to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 via the facsimile communication unit 71 and transmits image data to the external device 20 via the network interface unit 91 .

The operation reception unit 101 receives an instruction input from the user via the operation unit 47 . For example, the operation reception unit 101 receives instructions from the user corresponding to the hard keys provided in the operation unit 47, and the display unit 473 receives instructions from the user for the operation screen displayed on the display unit 473. Accepted via the touch panel function.

The work environment providing unit 102 provides the user with a work environment for creating a search formula for a database (for example, the address book 112) by displaying the text input by the operation receiving unit 101 on the display unit 473. do. The work environment providing unit 102 creates a search formula according to an instruction input by the user's operation of the operation reception unit 101 in the work environment. The work environment providing unit 102 causes the search formula storage unit 113 to store the search formula created by the user in the work environment.

The search unit 103 reads a search formula from the search formula storage unit 113, and searches and extracts data from a database (for example, the address book 112) according to the read search formula.

When the operation reception unit 101 receives login information input by a user operation on the operation unit 47, the login processing unit 104 determines whether or not the input login information is legitimate. When it is determined that the information is legitimate, the user's login to the image forming apparatus 1 is permitted.

Next, a procedure for the user to create a search formula for the database (here, the address book 112) will be described. Note that the case where the logged-in user name is "Yamada" will be described as an example.

By operating the operation unit 47, the user instructs to create a search formula for the database, and when the operation reception unit 101 receives the instruction, the work environment provision unit 102 receives a title such as " address book search formula (Yamada)” is displayed on the display unit 473 .

On the operation screen G1, a search formula whose name is "search formula (1)", whose owner is "Yamada", and whose sharing setting is "Private" is displayed on the first line as a search formula list L1. A search formula whose name is "search formula (2)", whose owner is "Tanaka", and whose sharing setting is "Shared" is displayed. Also, check boxes C1 and C2 are displayed at the top of each.

"Owner" displayed on the operation screen G1 is synonymous with the creator of the search formula. The "share setting" displayed on the operation screen G1 indicates whether or not the search formula is jointly owned by a plurality of people, that is, whether or not it is open to other users other than the creator. "Do not", and "Shared" indicates "Publish".

The owner of the search formula with the name "search formula (2)" on the second line is "Tanaka", not the logged-in "Yamada", but because the sharing setting is "Shared", it is included in the search formula list L1. be On the other hand, the sharing setting for the search formula with the name "search formula (1)" on the first line is "Private", so if the logged-in user is other than "Yamada", the search with the name "search formula (1)" The expression is not included in the search expression list.

The operation screen G1 also displays selection buttons B1 to B4 labeled "Register", "Edit", "Delete", and "Cancel". When the user selects the selection button B1 labeled "Register", the work environment providing unit 102 receives an instruction to register the search formula via the touch panel function, and the work environment providing unit 102 creates a new search formula. Then, processing for newly registering it in the search expression storage unit 113 is performed. This will be explained later in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 9. FIG.

When the user selects the selection button B2 labeled "edit", the work environment providing unit 102 receives an instruction to edit the existing search formula via the touch panel function, and the work environment providing unit 102 receives the command specified by the user. The content of the search formula stored in the search formula storage unit 113 is edited. For example, the user can edit the search formula with the name "search formula (1)" by checking the check box C1 and selecting the selection button B2.

When the user selects the selection button B3 labeled "delete", the work environment providing unit 102 receives an instruction to delete the search formula via the touch panel function, and the work environment providing unit 102 performs the search specified by the user. The search formula stored in the search formula storage unit 113 is deleted from the search formula storage unit 113 . For example, if the user checks the check box C2 and selects the selection button B3, instructions corresponding to these are received by the work environment providing unit 102, and the work environment providing unit 102 corresponds to the work environment providing unit 102. The attached search formula with the name “search formula (2)” is deleted from the search formula storage unit 113 .

When the user selects the selection button B4 labeled "Cancel", the work environment providing unit 102 receives a cancel instruction via the touch panel function. In this case, the work environment providing unit 102 returns the operation screen displayed on the display unit 473 to the operation screen displayed immediately before the operation screen G1 was displayed.

When the operation accepting unit 101 accepts a user's touch operation on the selection button B1 labeled "Register", an instruction to register a search formula, that is, a new search formula is created via the touch panel function, and a search formula storage unit The work environment providing unit 102 receives an instruction to store in 113 . In this case, the work environment providing unit 102 displays on the display unit 473 an operation screen G2 whose title is "address book search formula (Yamada)" and whose subtitle is "search formula information", as shown in the example of FIG. do.

The operation screen G2 includes selection buttons B11 to B14 marked with "name", "search formula", "shared settings", and "password", and selection buttons B15 and B16 marked with "register" and "cancel". is displayed.

Here, when the operation reception unit 101 receives the user's touch operation on the selection button B11 marked with "name" using the touch panel function, the work environment providing unit 102 receives an instruction corresponding to the selection button B11, As shown in the example of A), an operation screen G3 whose title is "search formula: name" is displayed on the display unit 473, and a software keyboard (not shown) for inputting text is also displayed on the display unit 473. provides the user with a work environment for entering the name of the search formula.

On the operation screen G3, a display area E1 for displaying the text input by the user and accepted by the operation accepting unit 101 is displayed, and selection buttons B21 and B22 labeled "update" and "cancel" are displayed. is displayed. When the user operates the operation unit 47 to input the name of the search formula and accepts it in the operation accepting unit 101, the work environment providing unit 102 accepts the name of the search formula and displays it in the display area E1 of the operation screen G3. Let FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a state in which "search formula (3)" indicating the accepted search formula is displayed in the display area E1.

When the operation screen G3 is in the state shown in FIG. 4B, when the operation reception unit 101 receives an update instruction from the user associated with the selection button B21 labeled "update", the operation is performed. The environment providing unit 102 receives an instruction to save the “search formula (3)” displayed in the display area E1 as the name of a newly created search formula, and stores the name in the search formula storage unit 113. . Work environment providing unit 102 returns the operation screen displayed on display unit 473 to operation screen G2 shown in FIG.

Also, when the operation screen G2 is displayed, when the operation reception unit 101 receives an instruction from the user associated with the selection button B12 labeled "search formula" shown in FIG. , as shown in FIG. 5A, an operation screen G4 whose title is "search formula: search formula" is displayed on the display unit 473, and a software keyboard (not shown) is displayed on the display unit 473. , provides the user with a working environment for creating queries against the database.

On the operation screen G4, a display area E2 for displaying the text input by the user accepted by the operation accepting unit 101 is displayed, and selection buttons labeled "Update", "Cancel", and "Import" are displayed. B31 to B33 are displayed. FIG. 5B shows a state in which the SQL syntax as a search expression input by the user's operation of the operation unit 47 and received by the operation reception unit 101 is displayed in the display area E2. For example, in this search expression, specify the search target with "FROM", specify the column of data you want to search with "SELECT", specify the conditional expression with "WHERE", and specify the order of the extracted data with "ORDER BY". Specify

When the operation accepting unit 101 accepts an instruction from the user associated with the selection button B31 labeled “update” while the SQL syntax that is the search expression is input, the work environment providing unit 102 displays the display area The SQL syntax displayed in E2 is associated with the owner name (that is, the login user name) and the name (the name entered and saved by the user when the operation screen G3 shown in FIG. 4 is displayed), and further, the search With the target database as the address book 112 , a newly created search formula is registered in the search formula storage unit 113 . Work environment providing unit 102 returns the operation screen displayed on display unit 473 to operation screen G2 shown in FIG. Note that the owner name (login user name) stored in the search formula storage unit 113 in association with the search formula is an example of creator identification information in the scope of claims.

A search using the search formula created as described above will be described. For example, assume that the address book 112 stores data as shown in FIG. In this case, the search target database specified by the search formula is the address book 112, and the search conditions indicated by the search formula include "MAIL" for "Type" and "123" for "Destination". At one time, the search result by the search unit 103 is a search result R1 as shown in FIG. 6B, and the number of extracted data is five.

Also, the search target database specified by the search formula is the address book 112, and the search conditions indicated by the search formula include "MAIL" for "Type" and "123" and "abc.com" for "Destination". If it is included and the ID is "1 to 5", the search result by the search unit 103 will be the search result R2 as shown in FIG. 6C, and the extracted data will be one.

When the operation accepting unit 101 accepts an import instruction from the user corresponding to the selection button B33 labeled "Import" shown in FIGS. ), the operation screen G5 titled “address book search formula (Yamada)” is displayed on the display unit 473 .

Similar to the operation screen G1 shown in FIG. 2, the operation screen G5 displays a search formula list L1, check boxes C1 and C2, and select buttons labeled "Import" and "Cancel". B41 and B42 are displayed.

If the user selects a search formula by checking one of the check boxes C1 and C2, and then selects the selection button B41 marked "Import", the operation reception unit 101 via the touch panel function A selection of a search formula corresponding to one of the check boxes C1 and C2 selected by is accepted. The work environment providing unit 102 reads out the selected search formula from the search formula storage unit 113, and displays it in the display area E2 of the operation screen G4 as shown in FIG. 5B.

For example, when the operation screen G5 is displayed, if the user checks the check box C2 and selects the selection button B41 as shown in FIG. The selection of the search formula corresponding to the check box C2 selected by is accepted. The work environment providing unit 102 reads out the search formula with the name "search formula (2)" corresponding to the check box C2 from the search formula storage unit 113, and displays the read search formula in the display area E2. G4 is displayed on the display unit 473 as shown in FIG. 5B. At this time, the work environment providing unit 102 enters a state in which the user can receive an instruction to edit the search formula with the name "search formula (2)" and create a new search formula via the touch panel function. Become.

Also, when the operation screen G2 shown in FIG. 3 is displayed, when the user performs a touch operation on the selection button B13 marked with "shared setting", the operation reception unit 101 and the selection button B13 via the touch panel function A corresponding shared facility directive is received. At this time, work environment providing unit 102 displays on display unit 473 an operation screen G6 titled “search formula: shared setting” as shown in FIG. Provide the user with the opportunity to choose whether or not to jointly own the property.

On the operation screen G6, selection buttons B51 and B52 labeled "Private" and "Shared" and selection buttons B53 and B54 labeled "Update" and "Cancel" are displayed. After the operation reception unit 101 receives an instruction corresponding to the selection button B51 marked "Private" via the touch panel function, and then receives an instruction corresponding to the selection button B53 marked "Update", the work environment is provided. The unit 102 causes the search formula storage unit 113 to store, in association with the search formula newly registered in the search formula storage unit 113, information indicating that the search formula is not disclosed to other users.

Further, when the operation reception unit 101 receives an instruction corresponding to the selection button B53 marked "Update" after receiving an instruction corresponding to the selection button B52 marked "Shared" via the touch panel, the work environment The provision unit 102 causes the search formula storage unit 113 to store, in the search formula storage unit 113, information indicating disclosure to other users in association with the newly registered search formula.

Further, when the operation reception unit 101 receives an instruction corresponding to the selection button B14 labeled "password" via the touch panel function when the operation screen G2 shown in FIG. 3 is displayed, the work environment provision unit 102 As shown in the example of FIG. 9, an operation screen G7 whose title is "search formula: password" is displayed on the display unit 473, and a software keyboard (not shown) is displayed on the display unit 473. Provide the user with a work environment to set a password to grant editing permission to the created search formula.

On the operation screen G7, display areas E3 and E4 for displaying the password input by the user accepted by the operation accepting unit 101 are displayed, and selection buttons B61 and B61 labeled "update" and "cancel" are displayed. B62 is displayed. The work environment providing unit 102 uses the password input by the user through the operation screen G7 by operating the operation unit 47 as a password for giving permission to edit a newly created search expression, and stores it in the search expression storage unit 113. be memorized.

When the user sets the contents as described above based on the operation of the selection buttons B11 to B13, the work environment providing unit 102 displays the operation screen G2 on the display unit 473 each time the setting based on the selection buttons is completed. However, for example, when the user operates the selection button B15 indicating "register" when all the settings based on the operation of the selection buttons B11 to B13 are completed, the operation reception unit 101 is displayed via the touch panel. The search formula registration instruction is accepted, and the work environment providing unit 102 associates all the settings based on the operation of the selection buttons B11 to B13, that is, the stored search formula with the settings based on the operation of the selection button B12. , and all contents set by operating the other selection buttons are associated with each other, and the search formula is stored in the search formula storage unit 113 .

Assuming that a search formula with the name “log search formula (3)” is newly registered in the search formula storage unit 113 in this way, after that, the user inputs an instruction to create a search formula, and the operation reception unit When 101 receives the instruction, work environment providing unit 102 displays on display unit 473 an operation screen G8 whose title is "address book search formula (Yamada)" as shown in FIG. A search formula list L2 is displayed on the operation screen G8. In the search formula list L2, a search formula whose name is "search formula (3)", whose owner is "Yamada", and whose sharing setting is "Shared" is added to the third line. 2 is different from the search expression list L1 shown in FIG. Also, a check box C3 is displayed at the top of the third line.

Next, procedures for using the search formulas stored in the search formula storage unit 113 for narrowing down the database will be described. When the operation unit 47 is operated, the user instructs the use of the search formula stored in the search formula storage unit 113, and the operation reception unit 101 receives the instruction, the search unit 103 performs the operation shown in FIG. 11A. Such an operation screen G9 whose title is “address book search formula (Yamada)” is displayed on the display unit 473 .

A search formula list L2 is displayed on the operation screen G9, and selection buttons B71 and B72 labeled "select" and "cancel" are displayed. When the user checks any of the check boxes C1 to C3 and then touches the selection button B71 labeled "Select", the operation reception unit 101 operates the checked check boxes C1 to C3 via the touch panel. An instruction to select a search formula corresponding to any of C3 is accepted. The search unit 103 reads the selected search formula from the search formula storage unit 113, and searches and extracts data from the database according to the read search formula.

For example, as shown in FIG. 11B, when the user checks a check box C3 and selects a selection button B71, the operation reception unit 101 responds to the checked check box C3 via the touch panel. Accepts an instruction to select a search expression. The search unit 103 reads out the search formula whose name is “search formula (3)” from the search formula storage unit 113, and searches and extracts data from the database according to the read search formula.

Specifically, the search unit 103 displays data matching the conditions specified by the search formula from the database (here, the address book 112) specified by the search formula in the arrangement indicated by the search formula on the display unit 473. to display.

According to the first embodiment, the database is searched using a search formula (for example, SQL syntax) created by the user, so it is possible to search the database even with search conditions that are not prepared in advance as product specifications. Even if it is not prepared in advance as a product specification, for example, "Type" is "FAX" and "NAME" includes "bank", or "Type" is "MAIL" and "NAME" is " "Bank" and "Branch" are extracted, "Type" is "MAIL" and "NAME" is "head office" or "head office", and "date" is " It is possible to search for data under various search conditions, such as limiting to data within one year. Therefore, even if the manufacturer side does not prepare in advance, it is possible to search the database with the search conditions desired by the user, and an expandable search function can be realized.

In addition, since the search formula storage unit 113 stores a search formula created by a user in association with the creator identification information that identifies the creator of the search formula, each search formula can be stored by a user other than the creator. It is also possible to set whether or not to publish to the public.

By the way, in an office or the like, there are routine tasks, and users may use multifunction peripherals or the like with the same image processing settings. For example, there is a routine task of color scanning a document at full resolution and facsimile sending the scanned document to multiple destinations.

In order to improve the efficiency of such work, multi-function machines already exist in which work information, which is settings indicating a series of processes related to image processing, can be registered in advance. For example, the document reading unit 5 is caused to read the document (document) as a color image (setting 1), the resolution at the time of reading is set to the highest resolution (setting 2), the image obtained by reading by the document reading unit 5 is Data can be transmitted to the outside via the facsimile communication unit 71 (setting 3), and a plurality of transmission destinations (setting 4) for transmitting image data can be registered.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, a business information storage unit 114 is provided for storing business information, which is settings indicating a series of processes related to image processing performed by the image forming apparatus 1, and the control unit 100 , according to the business information stored in the business information storage unit 114, a series of processes related to image processing are performed. In the second embodiment, other configurations of the image forming apparatus 1 are the same as those of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.

Furthermore, the control unit 100 causes the business information storage unit 114 to store the business information in association with the search formula stored in the search formula storage unit 113 . When the control unit 100 performs a series of processes related to image processing according to the business information stored in the business information storage unit 114, the search unit 103 searches the database (here, address Search and extract data from the book 112). This makes it possible to extract and use the transmission destinations associated with the routine work based on the retrieval formula when executing the routine work, thereby further improving the efficiency of the work.

Next, a procedure for associating a search formula with business information will be described. When the operation unit 47 is operated and the user instructs to display already registered business information (program), and the operation reception unit 101 receives the instruction, the control unit 100 performs the operation shown in FIG. 13A. , the display unit 473 displays an operation screen G10 whose title is "program setting" and which displays already registered work information (program).

For example, on the operation screen G10, a program whose ID is "1", whose name is "program (1)", whose owner is "Yamada", and whose function is "Send" is displayed on the first line as the program list L3. A program whose ID is "2", whose name is "Program (2)", whose owner is "Tanaka", and whose function is "Copy" is displayed on the second line, and whose ID is "3" on the third line. , the name is "Program (3)", the owner is "Yamada", and the function is "FAX". Also, check boxes C11 to C13 are displayed at the top of each. The "program" displayed on the operation screen G10 has the same meaning as the business information.

The operation screen G10 also displays selection buttons B81 to B83 labeled "edit", "delete", and "cancel". When the user selects one of the check boxes C11 to C13 by checking and selects the selection button B81 labeled "Edit", any one of the selected check boxes C11 to C13 is selected via the touch panel function. The control unit 100 receives an instruction to associate the search formula with the corresponding program.

For example, when the operation screen G10 is displayed, as shown in FIG. 13B, the user checks a check box C11, and the operation reception unit 101 receives an instruction to select a program corresponding to the check box C11. When the operation accepting unit 101 accepts an instruction to associate a search formula with the selected program corresponding to the selection button B81 labeled "Edit", the control unit 100 performs the following operations as shown in FIG. The operation screen G11 whose title is “program setting” and whose subtitle is “program setting information” is displayed on the display unit 473 .

The operation screen G11 has a display area E5 for displaying the ID of the program, a display area E6 for displaying the name, and a display area E7 for displaying the name of the search formula associated with the program. In addition to being displayed, selection buttons B91 to B93 marked with "transmission destination search formula", "update", and "cancel" are displayed. In the operation screen G11, the control unit 100 causes the display area E5 to display the ID of the selected program, for example "1", and the display area E6 to display the name of the selected program.

Here, when the operation accepting unit 101 accepts an instruction from the user corresponding to the selection button B91 marked with "transmission destination search formula", the control unit 100 causes the title to be displayed as shown in FIG. The operation screen G<b>9 that is “address book search formula (Yamada)” is displayed on the display unit 473 .

The operation screen G9 displays a search formula list L2 and check boxes C1 to C3. In addition, selection buttons B71 and B72 labeled "select" and "cancel" are displayed on the operation screen G9.

Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 11B, the operation reception unit 101 receives an instruction to select the check box C3 by the user's operation, and then the operation reception unit 101 selects a selection indicated as "select". Upon receiving an instruction corresponding to the button B71, the control unit 100 receives a search formula associated with the check box C3 as a search formula associated with the selected program. As shown in the example of FIG. 14B, the control unit 100 causes the name "search formula (3)", which is the search formula associated with the check box C3 selected by the user, to be displayed in the display area E7. The operation screen G11 is displayed on the display unit 473. FIG.

In this state, when the operation accepting unit 101 accepts an instruction from the user corresponding to the selection button B92 labeled "update", the control unit 100 changes the name "program ( 1)” and the program with the ID “1” displayed in the display area E5 is associated with the search formula with the name “search formula (3)”.

After that, when the control unit 100 executes a series of processes related to image processing based on the program whose ID is "1", which is the work information stored in the work information storage unit 114, the search unit 103 Data is searched and extracted from the database according to the search formula linked to the program (here, the search formula whose name is "search formula (3)"). Here, the search unit 103 searches and extracts the transmission destination from the address book 112 according to the search formula whose name is "search formula (3)". The control unit 100 uses the transmission destination for a series of processes related to image processing based on a program whose ID, which is business information, is "1".

Next, an image forming apparatus as an electronic device according to the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of an image forming apparatus as electronic equipment according to the third embodiment. The image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment differs from the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. are the same as those of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. The control unit 10 further functions as a judgment section 105 and a prohibition section 106 through the operation of the processor according to the control program stored in the HDD 111 . However, the control unit 100 and the like can also configure the determination unit 105 and the prohibition unit 106 by hardware circuits without depending on the operation according to the control program by the control unit 10 .

The determination unit 105 determines whether or not the search expression includes a predetermined character string (for example, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE that are SQL syntax) that enables database editing. For example, when the operation accepting unit 101 accepts an instruction from the user corresponding to the selection button B31 labeled “Update” shown in FIG. Whether or not the predetermined character string is included in the SQL syntax (for example, the search expression displayed in the display area E2 shown in FIG. 5B) as the search expression accepted by the unit 101 to judge whether

The prohibition unit 106 prohibits storage of the search formula determined by the determination unit 105 to include the character string in the search formula storage unit 113 .

Allowing unrestricted authoring of SQL syntax would allow editing of the database, which is undesirable. Therefore, storage of search formulas containing character strings such as "INSERT", "UPDATE", and "DELETE" that allow operations such as addition, update, and deletion of data is prohibited.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. Further, in the above-described embodiment, a multi-function machine, which is an image forming apparatus, is used as an embodiment of the electronic apparatus according to the present invention, but this is only an example, and the copying function, printer function, scanning function, Other image forming apparatuses having a facsimile function or other electronic devices may be used.

In the above embodiment, the configuration and processing shown in FIGS. 1 to 15 are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention to the configuration and processing.

1 image forming apparatus 71 facsimile communication unit 91 network interface unit 100 control unit 101 operation reception unit 102 work environment provision unit 103 search unit 105 determination unit 106 prohibition unit 112 address book 113 search formula storage unit 114 business information storage unit

Claims (4)

a storage unit that stores a database;
a display unit;
an operation reception unit that receives an instruction input from a user;
A work environment for creating a search formula for the database, which is not prepared in advance as a product specification, is provided to the user via the display unit, and the operation receiving unit is operated by the user in the work environment. a work environment providing unit that creates the search formula according to input instructions;
a search formula storage unit that stores the search formula created by the user;
a search unit that reads the search formula from the search formula storage unit and searches and extracts data from the database according to the read search formula;
When an instruction to store the search formula in the search formula storage unit is received via the operation receiving unit, the search formula includes a predetermined character string that enables editing of the database. a judgment unit for judging whether or not
prohibiting storage of the search expression including the predetermined character string in the search expression storage unit when the determination unit determines that the predetermined character string is included An electronic device comprising: a prohibition part; 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the search formula storage unit stores the search formula created by the user in association with creator identification information for identifying a creator of the search formula. 3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the search expression is SQL syntax. an electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ;
and an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium.

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