KR20060009585A - Network image forming device capable of environment setting of remote image forming devices and method therof - Google Patents

Abstract

A network image forming apparatus capable of changing an operating environment setting for a remote image forming apparatus is disclosed. The network image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a network interface for transmitting a message requesting operating environment setting information of a remote image forming apparatus, a panel control unit and a panel for displaying operating environment setting information received from a remote image forming apparatus according to a message. And a control unit which controls to change the operation environment setting information by transmitting the change of the operation environment setting information input through the operation unit to the remote image forming apparatus. Therefore, the change of the environment setting information of the remote image forming apparatus connected through the network can be conveniently performed through the network image forming apparatus without a complicated control process through the information processing apparatus.

Printers, MFPs, Network Image Forming Devices, Environment Settings, UI

Description

Network image forming device capable of setting and changing the remote image forming apparatus and its method {Network image forming device capable of environment setting of remote image forming devices and method therof}

1 is a view for explaining an environment setting method for a general image forming apparatus;

2 is a view for explaining an environment to which the present invention is applied;

3 is a block diagram illustrating a network image forming apparatus and a remote image forming apparatus of FIG. 2; and

4 is a flowchart provided to explain an operation of a network image forming apparatus capable of changing a configuration of a remote image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

100: network image forming apparatus 110: panel operation unit

120: network interface 130: storage unit

140: printer engine 150: data processing unit

160: UI generation unit 170: control unit

200: remote image forming apparatus

The present invention relates to a network image forming apparatus and a method of changing a configuration of a remote image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a network capable of changing an operating environment setting of a remote image forming apparatus by directly connecting to a remote image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus and a method thereof are provided.

In general, an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a multifunction printer is connected to an information processing apparatus such as a PC through serial or parallel lines to transmit and receive data, and receive print data from the information processing apparatus to print on printing paper.

For the smooth operation of the image forming apparatus, it is necessary to check the system setting list and set the system operating environment.In general, the image forming apparatus checks the setting of the overall operating environment of the image forming apparatus through an information processing apparatus such as a connected PC. And change.

That is, in order to check or change the setting of the image forming apparatus operating environment, the embedded web server function is used to read and confirm the setting information stored in the image forming apparatus through data communication with the image forming apparatus in an information processing apparatus such as a PC. And change the settings to save again. In addition, the information processing apparatus may change settings of an operating environment of an image forming apparatus connected to a network using a specific protocol such as Simple Network Management Protocol / Management Information Base (SNMP / MIB).                         

1 is a view for explaining a method of setting and changing an environment for a general image forming apparatus. Referring to FIG. 1, an information processing apparatus 10 such as a PC is connected to an image forming apparatus 20 to transmit and receive data, and transmits print data generated through an application program to the image forming apparatus 20 for printing, or Various control functions such as setting and changing an operating environment of the image forming apparatus 20 are performed.

In other words, the management operation such as setting the option and changing the operating environment for the proper operation of the image forming apparatus 20 and the operation of the image forming apparatus 20 and the devices of the network are performed by the information processing apparatus 10. This is done using an embedded web server function or a protocol such as SNMP / MIB.

In other words, according to the related art, in order to check and change the operating environment of a remote image forming apparatus, a target image forming apparatus is selected by turning on an information processing apparatus such as a PC, and controlling the data through a predetermined program. The process must be carried out.

However, if there are a large number of image forming apparatuses in the network, the information processing apparatus is turned on and turned on for simple and quick change operations such as immediately changing the configuration information of each image forming apparatus or changing one or two settings. It is extremely cumbersome to select an image forming apparatus and go through a complicated control process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to access a remote image forming apparatus through a network image forming apparatus to read setting information about an operating environment and to change setting information. It is to provide a forming apparatus and a method thereof.

According to the present invention, there is provided a network interface for transmitting a message requesting operation environment setting information of a remote image forming apparatus, a panel control unit for displaying operation environment setting information received from the remote image forming apparatus according to the message; And a control unit which transmits a change to the operating environment setting information input through the panel manipulation unit to the remote image forming apparatus and controls to change the operating environment setting information. This is achieved by a network image forming apparatus capable of changing environment settings.

Preferably, the apparatus further includes a data processor configured to process data to display the received operating environment setting information, and a UI generator configured to generate a UI screen using the processed data and to display the panel manipulation unit.

The remote image forming apparatus preferably transmits the operation environment setting information when a predetermined password is presented from the network image forming apparatus.

Preferably, the remote image forming apparatus changes the operating environment setting information according to the received change and operates according to the changed operating environment setting information.

In addition, the above object is the step of transmitting a message requesting the operation environment setting information from the network image forming apparatus to the remote image forming apparatus for data communication via the network, the operation from the remote image forming apparatus in accordance with the message Receiving environment setting information, processing and displaying the received operation environment setting information, if a change to the operation environment setting information is input, transmitting the change to the remote image forming apparatus and the remote place The image forming apparatus is achieved by a method of changing an operating environment setting for a remote image forming apparatus by a network image forming apparatus, comprising changing the operating environment setting information according to the change.

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

2 is a view for explaining an environment to which the present invention is applied.

As shown, the network image forming apparatus 100 is connected to the remote image forming apparatus 200 through a network to enable data communication. In the drawing, an information processing device such as a PC connected to a network and other external devices are omitted.

The network image forming apparatus 100 connects to the remote image forming apparatus 200 through a network, receives and processes the operating environment setting information of the remote image forming apparatus 200, displays it as a UI, and displays an item for a user to change. The operation environment setting information of the remote image forming apparatus 200 is changed by receiving the change contents and transmitting the changed contents to the remote image forming apparatus 200. An operation performed through the above-described process for changing the operation environment setting information of the remote image forming apparatus 200 through the network image forming apparatus 100 is referred to as a "remote UI function".                     

3 is a block diagram illustrating a network image forming apparatus 100 connected to the remote image forming apparatus 200 of FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a view illustrating only blocks related to setting and changing an operating environment of the remote image forming apparatus 200 according to the present invention, among the network image forming apparatus 100 and the remote image forming apparatus 200. FIG. Illustration is omitted for convenience of description.

The network image forming apparatus 100 may include a panel operation unit (OPE) 110, a network interface 120, a storage unit 130, a printer engine 140, a data processing unit 150, a UI generating unit 160, and a control unit ( 170).

The panel operation unit (OPE) 110 includes an input unit (not shown) including a plurality of numeric keys and function keys, and applies a control signal generated by a user's key operation to the controller 170. In addition, the panel operation unit (OPE) 110 includes an LCD (not shown) for displaying an operation state of the image forming apparatus. The panel operation unit 110 displays and provides a separate key or menu for selecting a remote UI function according to the present invention on the LCD so that the remote UI function can be selected through manipulation of the input unit.

The network interface 120 receives data applied from an external device by interfacing between an external device connected to a network including an information processing device such as a personal computer and a remote image forming apparatus 200 and the controller 170, or a network image. The transmission data of the forming apparatus 100 is transmitted to an external device.

The storage unit 130 stores non-volatile memory in which various control programs for performing operations of the network image forming apparatus 100 are stored and detailed information about data and data generated during the operation of the network image forming apparatus 100. It includes a volatile memory. For example, the volatile memory temporarily stores print data received from the information processing apparatus and the environment setting information received from the remote image forming apparatus 200 through the network interface 120. In addition, the nonvolatile memory stores information such as an ID and a password such as an IP address of the remote image forming apparatus 200 for connection with the remote image forming apparatus 200.

The printer engine 140 prints print data stored in the storage 130 by a print command input from the controller 170, or prints environment setting information transmitted from the remote image forming apparatus 200, and prints the remote data. The environment setting information of the remote image forming apparatus 200 changed by performing the UI function is printed.

The data processor 150 processes data transmitted from an external device such as an information processing apparatus through the network interface 120 in a format required by the network image forming apparatus 100 and transmits the data to the controller 170. In addition, the data processor 150 processes the data requesting the configuration information to the remote image forming apparatus 200 and transmits the data to the controller 170, and processes the data received from the remote image forming apparatus 200 to control the controller. The transmission is transmitted to the UI generator 160 through the 170 or the printer engine 140.

The UI generator 160 performs necessary image processing such as graphics using data stored in the storage 130 and generates a UI screen to be displayed on the LCD of the panel operator 110. In addition, the UI generator 160 combines the data processed by the data processor 150 with a UI screen generated using the data stored in the storage 130 and displays the LCD on the LCD 110 of the panel operator 110. do.

The controller 170 generally controls the network image forming apparatus 100 according to a driving program embedded in the storage 130, and controls the data processor 150 to control print data applied through the network interface 120. The remote image forming apparatus 200 may be converted into a file of a bitmap format recognizable by the printer engine 140 or the environment setting information request data processed by the data processing unit 130 may be converted into a predetermined format, and the remote image forming apparatus 200 may be converted through the network interface 120. To an external device, such as).

Meanwhile, the remote image forming apparatus 200 may include a panel operator 210, a network interface 220, a storage 230, a printer engine 240, a data processor 250, a UI generator 260, and the like. The control unit 270 is included. Since the function of each component of the remote image forming apparatus 200 is similar to that of the corresponding component of the network image forming apparatus 100, a detailed description thereof will be omitted and the differences will be mainly described.

The network interface 220 interfaces between the control unit 270 and the network image forming apparatus 100 to transmit data applied from the network image forming apparatus 100 to the control unit 270, and under the control of the control unit 270, the network. The data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200.

The storage unit 230 stores non-volatile memory in which various control programs for operating the remote image forming apparatus 200 are stored and detailed information about data and data generated during the operation of the network image forming apparatus 200. It includes a volatile memory. In particular, the nonvolatile memory of the storage unit 230 stores operating environment setting data of the remote image forming apparatus 200. The operating configuration data includes a list of system setting data such as machine status, error history, and system usage. For example, information on the selected paper stack, information on the selected printing method such as double-sided or single-sided paper, and selected paper. Information on the discharge box, selection information on the post-eject processing method such as the printing surface direction, and information on a menu or function set for a plurality of numeric keys and function keys of the panel control unit 210. In addition, the nonvolatile memory stores information such as its ID and password required for the network image forming apparatus 100 to connect to the remote image forming apparatus 200.

The controller 270 generally controls the remote image forming apparatus 200 according to a driving program built in the storage 230, and controls the data processor 250 to process data applied through the network interface 220. The data required by the network image forming apparatus 100 is read by the storage unit 230 and transmitted through the network interface 220. In addition, when the user changes the operating environment setting information of the remote image forming apparatus 200 through the network image forming apparatus 100, the received operating environment setting information is processed through the data processing unit 250, and the UI generating unit ( The control environment 260 displays the processed operating environment setting information on the LCD of the panel operator 210 and controls the printer engine 240 to print.

4 is a flowchart provided to explain an operation of a network image forming apparatus capable of setting an environment for a remote image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

First, when a user selects a remote UI function through the panel manipulation unit 110 of the network image forming apparatus 100 (S310), the controller 170 of the network image forming apparatus 100 controls the LCD of the panel manipulation unit 110. A screen for requesting input of an ID and a password of the target remote image forming apparatus 200 to execute a remote UI function by controlling is displayed.

 Accordingly, the user inputs an ID and a password such as an IP address of the target remote image forming apparatus 200 to access the remote image forming apparatus 200 through the network image forming apparatus 100 (S320). On the other hand, the ID and password of the remote image forming apparatus 200 is stored in the storage unit 130 of the network image forming apparatus 100, when the user selects the remote UI function of the remote image forming apparatus capable of executing the remote UI function The list may be displayed on the LCD to select a desired device, or the user may directly search and select a list stored in the storage 130. In addition, the ID list of the remote image forming apparatus is displayed on the LCD, but for security purposes, the password may be directly input by the user.

When the ID and password of the remote image forming apparatus 200 are input, the controller 170 of the network image forming apparatus 100 controls the network interface 120 and the remote image forming apparatus 200 corresponding to the input ID. After accessing and logging on by transmitting a password, the operating environment setting information is read from the remote image forming apparatus 200 (S330). That is, when the ID and password match the ID and password stored in the storage unit 230, the controller 270 of the remote image forming apparatus 200 allows the network image forming apparatus 100 to access and sets the transmitted operating environment. The requested operation environment setting information is read from the storage unit 230 according to the information request message and transmitted to the network image forming apparatus 100.                     

In addition, the network image forming apparatus 100 may read operation state information of the remote image forming apparatus 200. That is, the network image forming apparatus 100 may include operating state information such as the working state, the amount of toner, and the selected paper size of the remote image forming apparatus 200, and the information such as the current state, error history and usage status of each component of the system. By requesting together, it is displayed on the panel operation unit 110 of the network image forming apparatus 100 as necessary data for changing the environment setting information, or printed on paper through the printer engine 140 to allow the user to remotely image forming apparatus 200. This can be checked before changing the operating environment configuration information.

When the operation environment setting information is transmitted from the remote image forming apparatus 200, the controller 170 of the network image forming apparatus 100 controls the data processor 150 to obtain data in a form recognizable by the UI generator 160. In order to process, the UI generating unit 160 is controlled to generate a UI screen and display on the LCD of the panel manipulation unit 110 (S340). In addition, for the convenience of the user, the controller 170 may control the printer engine 140 to print the transmitted operating environment setting information on a sheet of paper.

In order to check and change operation environment setting information of the remote image forming apparatus 200 through a UI screen displayed on the LCD of the panel manipulation unit 110, a corresponding numeric key or function key of the input unit of the panel manipulation unit 110 is changed. When operating, the panel operation unit 110 generates a corresponding key signal and transmits it to the control unit 170. Therefore, the controller 170 determines operation environment setting information that the user wants to change (S350), controls the data processing unit 150 with respect to the changed operation environment setting information, performs data processing necessary for transmission, and executes a network interface ( And transmits the image to the remote image forming apparatus 200 through the reference numeral 120.

The controller 270 of the remote image forming apparatus 200, which receives the changed operating environment setting information through the network interface 220, checks the received operating environment setting information and updates the operating environment setting information stored in the storage 230. In operation S360, the remote image forming apparatus 200 is generally controlled according to the changed operation environment setting information.

Meanwhile, the controller 170 of the network image forming apparatus 100 controls the printer engine 140 to print the changed operating environment setting information of the remote image forming apparatus 200. In addition, the remote image forming apparatus 200 displays the changed operating environment setting information on the LCD of the panel manipulation unit 210 and prints it through the printer engine 240, and operates according to the changed operating environment setting information (S370).

As described above, according to the present invention, in a network image forming apparatus system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses, a remote image forming apparatus is directly connected to a remote image forming apparatus through another image forming apparatus without using an information processing apparatus. You can set and change the operating environment.

Therefore, when there are a plurality of image forming apparatuses in the network, the operation such as immediately changing the configuration information of each image forming apparatus or changing one or two setting items is not performed through a complicated control process through the information processing apparatus. The forming apparatus can be performed simply and quickly.

In the above described and illustrated with respect to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, it is usually in the art to which the subject innovation belongs without departing from the spirit of the subject innovation claimed in the claims. Anyone of ordinary skill in the art can make various modifications, as well as such changes are within the scope of the claims.

Claims (5)

A network image forming apparatus for performing data communication with a remote image forming apparatus through a network, A network interface for transmitting a message requesting operation environment setting information of the remote image forming apparatus; A panel operation unit for displaying operation environment setting information received from the remote image forming apparatus according to the message; And And a control unit which transmits a change of the operating environment setting information inputted through the panel manipulation unit to the remote image forming apparatus to control the operating environment setting information to be changed. Network image forming apparatus that can change the operating environment settings. The method of claim 1, A data processor configured to process data to display the received operating environment setting information; And And a UI generator for generating a UI screen by using the processed data and displaying the UI screen on the panel manipulation unit. The method of claim 1, And wherein the remote image forming apparatus transmits the operating environment setting information when a predetermined password is presented from the network image forming apparatus. The method of claim 1, The remote image forming apparatus may change the operating environment setting information according to the received change and operate according to the changed operating environment setting information. Device. A method of changing an operation environment setting of a remote image forming apparatus by a network image forming apparatus in which data is communicated with a remote image forming apparatus via a network, Transmitting a message requesting operation environment setting information from the network image forming apparatus to the remote image forming apparatus; Receiving operation environment setting information from the remote image forming apparatus according to the message; Processing and displaying the received operating environment setting information; Transmitting a change to the remote image forming apparatus when a change to the operation environment setting information is input; And And in the remote image forming apparatus, changing the operating environment setting information according to the change of the remote image forming apparatus.

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