Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
  • H04N1/0035—User-machine interface; Control console
  • H04N1/00405—Output means
  • H04N1/00408—Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
  • H04N1/00464—Display of information to the user, e.g. menus using browsers, i.e. interfaces based on mark-up languages
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
  • H04N1/0035—User-machine interface; Control console
  • H04N1/00405—Output means
  • H04N1/00474—Output means outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
  • H04N1/00912—Arrangements for controlling a still picture apparatus or components thereof not otherwise provided for
  • H04N1/00925—Inhibiting an operation
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
  • G06F3/121—Facilitating exception or error detection and recovery, e.g. fault, media or consumables depleted
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
  • G06F3/1218—Reducing or saving of used resources, e.g. avoiding waste of consumables or improving usage of hardware resources
  • G06F3/122—Reducing or saving of used resources, e.g. avoiding waste of consumables or improving usage of hardware resources with regard to computing resources, e.g. memory, CPU
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
  • G06F3/1237—Print job management
  • G06F3/1259—Print job monitoring, e.g. job status
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
  • G06F3/1237—Print job management
  • G06F3/126—Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
  • G06F3/1237—Print job management
  • G06F3/1268—Job submission, e.g. submitting print job order or request not the print data itself
  • G06F3/1271—Job submission at the printing node, e.g. creating a job from a data stored locally or remotely
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1278—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure
  • G06F3/1285—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
  • H04N2201/0077—Types of the still picture apparatus
  • H04N2201/0094—Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an
• information processing apparatus that is capable of communicating with a web server and includes a web browser that displays an operation screen provided by the web server, a control method for the information processing apparatus, and a program therefor.
• MFPs provided with a scanner or a printer include a web browser as described above.
• Such an MFP displays an operation screen provided by a web server via the web browser of the MFP using the procedure described above, and accepts various instructions from a user.
• 2008-003833 discloses that a web server provides an operation screen for inputting instructions for
• control script is executed according to the input instruction.
• This control script requests the MFP to execute various processes in accordance with the content of the
• the MFP that has received this request executes the requested processes. Accordingly, it is not necessary to hold in the MFP all the menu data for operating the MFP, and the menu data can also be easily changed in the web server.
• control processing is instructed using the control script loaded into the web browser based on the instruction input via the operation screen displayed by the web browser. Further, an MFP function to be executed by the control script is generated in the MFP device in the form of a job.
• the job generated in this way performs control of a scanner device or a printer device of the MFP, and also makes a request for
• the control script receives the request for such processing, and further performs the next process.
• the MFP functions are controlled by interactive processing performed by the control script and jobs.
• web browsers generally have a function of executing screen transition
• the present invention has been conceived to solve the problems in the conventional technology described above, and provides a mechanism for avoiding the loss of control of a job that is being executed due to input of an instruction for screen transition while the job is being executed.
• One aspect of the present invention provides an information processing apparatus that is capable of communicating with a web server and includes a web browser that displays an operation screen
• the apparatus comprising: an acceptance means configured to accept an instruction for screen transition from a user; a processing means configured to execute a job instructed by the web server; a management means configured to manage a status of the job executed by the processing means; and a control means configured to restrict acceptance of an instruction by the accepting means, according to the status of the job managed by the management means.
• Another aspect of the present invention provides a control method for an information processing apparatus that is capable of communicating with a web server and includes a web browser that displays an operation screen provided by the web server, the method comprising: accepting an instruction for screen
• invention provides a program for causing a computer to function as an information processing apparatus that is capable of communicating with a web server and includes a web browser that displays an operation screen
• the apparatus comprising: an acceptance means configured to accept an instruction for screen transition from a user; a processing means configured to execute a job instructed by the web server; a management means configured to manage a status of the job executed by the processing means; and a control means configured to restrict acceptance of an instruction by the accepting means, according to the status of the job managed by the management means.
• Yet another aspect of the present invention provides an information processing apparatus that is capable of communicating with a web server and includes a web browser that displays an operation screen
• the apparatus comprising: an acceptance means configured to accept an instruction for screen transition from a user; a processing means configured to execute processing requested by the web server in response to an operation performed by the user using the operation screen displayed by the web browser; a determination means configured to determine whether a prohibition request indicating to prohibit the screen transition has been provided by the web server together with the operation screen; and a control means configured to restrict acceptance of an instruction by the acceptance means while the
• processing means is executing processing, if the determination means determines that the prohibition request has been provided.
• Still yet another aspect of the present invention provides a control method for an information processing apparatus that is capable of communicating with a web server and includes a web browser that displays an operation screen provided by the web server, the method comprising: accepting an instruction for screen transition from a user; executing processing requested by the web server in response to an operation performed by the user using the operation screen
• Yet still another aspect of the present invention provides a program for causing a computer to function as an information processing apparatus that is capable of communicating with a web server and includes a web browser that displays an operation screen
• the apparatus comprising: an acceptance means configured to accept an instruction for screen transition from a user; a processing means configured to execute processing requested by the web server in response to an operation performed by the user using the operation screen displayed by the web browser; a determination means configured to determine whether a prohibition request indicating to prohibit the screen transition has been provided by the web server together with the operation screen; and a control means configured to restrict acceptance of an instruction by the acceptance means while the
• processing means is executing processing, if the determination means determines that the prohibition request has been provided.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram of an overall
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an MFP according to the embodiments of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a web server according to the
• FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating the software configuration of the information
• FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of processing in the information processing system.
• FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of screen transition that occurs in a series of processes in the information processing system.
• FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of
• HTML data for displaying a screen and an example of a control script HTML data for displaying a screen and an example of a control script.
• FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by a web browser.
• FIG. 9A is a diagram showing an example of status information of a job managed by the MFP.
• FIG. 9B is a flowchart showing the flow of processing carried out by a job status management unit.
• FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating
• FIG. 11A is a flowchart illustrating
• FIG. 11B is a diagram showing an example of a confirmation screen displayed in S12.
• FIG. 12A is a diagram showing an example of status information of a job managed by the MFP
• FIG. 12B is a flowchart illustrating processing according to the status of a job carried out by the job status management unit according to
• FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating
• FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a warning screen displayed in S32.
• FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating
• FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating
• FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of processing in the information processing system according to Embodiment 5.
• Embodiments 1 to 5 will be described as embodiments according to the present invention.
• Embodiment 1 described below in the case where a job is executed by a control script processed by a browser of an MFP, even if a user performs a screen transition operation with respect to the browser while the job is being executed, screen transition due to that operation is suppressed (the user instruction is canceled) .
• FIG. 1 is a diagram of an overall
• An MFP 101 and a web server 102 are connected to a LAN 110 so as to be capable of communicating with each other.
• the MFP 101 displays an operation screen provided by the web server 102.
• the multifunction peripheral (MFP) 101 is described as an example of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the MFP 101 according to the
• a control unit 210 including a CPU 211 controls the entire operation of the MFP 101.
• the CPU 211 reads out an OS and
• the HDD 214 stores image data, various programs,
• An operation unit I/F 215 connects an operation unit 219 and the control unit 210.
• the operation unit 219 is provided with a liquid crystal display unit that has a touch- panel function, a keyboard, and the like. Further, the MFP 101 has a web browser function that will be
• a printer I/F 216 connects a printer 220 and the control unit 210. Image data to be printed by the printer 220 is transferred from the control unit 210 via the printer I/F 216, and printed on a printing medium by the printer 220.
• a scanner I/F 217 connects a scanner 221 and the control unit 210. The scanner 221 reads an image on an
• a network I/F 218 connects the control unit 210 (the FP 101) to the LAN 110.
• the network I/F 218 transmits image data and information to an external apparatus (for example, the web server 102) on the LAN 110, and receives various information from the external apparatus on the LAN 110.
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the web server 102 according to the embodiments of the present invention.
• a control unit 310 including a CPU 311 controls the entire operation of the web server 102.
• the CPU 311 reads out an OS and various application programs from an HDD 314 and stores them in a RAM 313, using a boot program stored in a ROM 312.
• the RAM 313 is used as a temporary storage area such as a main memory and a work area for the CPU 311.
• the HDD 314 stores image data, various programs, various information tables, and the like.
• a network I/F 315 connects the control unit 310 (the web server 102) to the LAN 110.
• the network I/F 315 transmits and receives various information to/from other devices on the LAN 110.
• FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating the software configuration of the information processing system according to the embodiments of the present invention.
• the functional units shown in FIG. 4A are realized by the CPU 211 and the CPU 311 included in the MFP 101 and the web server 102 respectively executing the programs loaded in the corresponding RA s 213 and 313.
• the web browser 440 includes a web browser 440, a service provider 450, and a job status management unit 460.
• the web browser 440 s has a communication unit 441, an analysis unit 442, a screen display unit 443, a script execution unit 444, and a screen operation control unit 445.
• communication unit 441 communicates with a presentation unit 411 included in a web application 410 of the web server 102 in accordance with the HTTP protocol. More specifically, the communication unit 441 requests the web application 410 for an operation screen to be displayed by the web browser 440. In this case, the communication unit 441 receives a response (processing result) transmitted from the web application 410.
• the communication unit 441 transmits a function execution request to a communication unit 451 of the service provider 450.
• the communication unit 441 transmits a function execution request to a communication unit 451 of the service provider 450.
• communication unit 441 receives a response (processing result) transmitted from the service provider 450.
• the analysis unit 442 analyzes the response received from the web application 410. HTML data and a control script are included in this response.
• the HTML data includes description indicating the content of an operation screen to be displayed by the web browser 440, and the control script includes description for
• the screen display unit 443 displays an operation screen on the operation unit 219 based on the analysis result of the HTML data obtained by the analysis unit 442.
• the script execution unit 444 performs processing based on the analysis result of the control script obtained by the analysis unit 442.
• This control script includes code for giving instructions to the service provider 450 in order to control the function of the MFP 101, and code for processing such as updating a screen according to a response from the service provider 450.
• the screen operation control unit 445 controls the user interface with which the web browser 440 is provided.
• the control of the user interface includes processing such as enabling/disabling and displaying/hiding input buttons .
• the service provider 450 has the
• the communication unit 451 accepts a processing request from the communication unit 441 of the web browser 440.
• the job generation unit 452 receives the processing request accepted by the communication unit 451, and generates and executes a job for executing the
• the job status management unit 460 has a status judgment unit 461 and a status notification unit 462.
• the status judgment unit 461 judges the status of the job executed by the web browser 440, and carries out processing according to the status.
• the status notification unit 462 notifies the screen operation control unit 445 of the web browser 440 of the changed status.
• the job status management unit 460 may be included in the web browser 440, or may be included in the service provider 450.
• the web server 102 has the web application 410.
• the web application 410 is realized by the CPU 311 of the web server 102 executing the program loaded in the RAM 313.
• the web application 410 receives
• the web application 410 has the presentation unit 411 and a logic unit 412.
• the presentation unit 411 communicates with the
• the presentation unit 411 notifies the logic unit 412 of the request received from the MFP 101, and waits for a response from the logic unit 412.
• the presentation unit 411 that has received a response from the logic unit 412 transmits, to the communication unit 441 as a response, HTML data and a control script corresponding to an operation screen to be displayed by the web browser 440 of the MFP 101 in accordance with the content of the received response.
• the logic unit 412 executes various instructions
• the logic unit 412 processes according to the request notified from the presentation unit 411, and also generates HTML data of screen information to be displayed by the MFP 101, and a control script of the process to be executed by the MFP 101.
• the logic unit 412 generates a control script for requesting the MFP 101 for execution of print processing performed by the printer 220, execution of reading processing performed by the scanner 221, or execution of transmission processing via the network I/F 218.
• the logic unit 412 delivers, to the presentation unit 411, HTML data and a control script to be transmitted to the MFP 101 as a response .
• FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of processing in the information processing system according to the embodiments of the present invention.
• the web application 410 transmits an HTTP request to the web application 410 in S501.
• the web application 410 that has received this request generates HTML data of a screen to be displayed by the web browser 440, and a control script to be executed by the web browser 440.
• the web application 410 transmits a response to the web browser 440. For example, if the request in S501 is a request for a menu screen, HTML data for displaying a menu screen is transmitted to the web browser 440, and if it is a request for a scan execution screen, HTML data for displaying a scan screen and a control script for scan execution are transmitted thereto.
• the web browser 440 analyzes the received HTML data in the analysis unit 442, and displays a screen. Further, when a control script is received, the web browser 440 analyzes the script in the analysis unit 442, and instructs the service provider 450 to execute the analyzed function in S503.
• the service provider 450 executes the function in accordance with the content instructed in S503, and transmits the execution result of the
• the web browser 440 processes the received status based on the control script and carries out processing according to the status in S504.
• the web browser 440 requests the web application 410 for HTTP again according to the status in S505.
• the function execution result indicates the end of processing
• a request for HTML data of a processing end screen is transmitted, and if it
• the web application 410 generates HTML data of a screen and a control script according to the content of the request in S505. Then, in S506, the web application 410 transmits the data and script to the web browser 440 as a response. A series of processes for realizing the functions of the MFP 101 is carried out by repeating the above processing.
• FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of screen transition that occurs in a series of processes in the information processing system according to the embodiments.
• screens are displayed in accordance with the progress of processing in the order of a menu screen 601, an FTP transmission setting screen 602, a scan screen 603, a transmission-in-progress screen 604, and a transmission complete screen 605.
• These screens are displayed by the web browser 440, and transition according to the user operation or the content of a control script.
• the menu screen 601 is a screen for the user to select a desired function to be executed by the MFP 101. If the user selects a function via this screen, the screen transitions to a screen
• the FTP transmission setting screen 602 shows a screen in the case where the user presses an FTP transmission button 606 on the menu screen 601 so as to select an FTP transmission function.
• the user instructs execution of the FTP transmission function by setting settings for FTP transmission on this screen 602. In the example in FIG. 6, settings are such that an original is scanned and read, the read image data is stored in PDF format, having a filename "test.pdf".
• the scan screen 603 shows a screen in the case where the MFP 101 has started execution of the FTP transmission function by the user pressing an execution button 607 on the FTP transmission setting screen 602.
• a control script controls a scan job, and thus controls original continuous reading of originals and the like.
• the transmission-in-progress screen 604 is displayed while image data obtained by scanning to read an original is actually being
• transmission complete screen 605 is displayed when transmission to the FTP server is complete.
• FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of
• HTML data for displaying a screen and an example of a control script according to the embodiments is information for configuring the FTP transmission setting screen 602. Further, the control script and HTML data 701 is dynamically generated by the web application 410 of the web server 102 in response to a request from the MFP 101. Below is a detailed
• an endpoint variable 706 URL information for giving a request for FTP transmission to the service provider 450 is set.
• an ftpserver variable 707 the URL of the FTP server serving as a transmission destination of data is set.
• ftppath variable 708 the path to the storage destination of the data in the FTP server is set .
• a SoapParameter function 710 is a function for generating parameters in the SOAP format.
• the name of a file to be transmitted via FTP the format of the file, the transmission destination FTP server, and the storage destination path are set as "string" type data for this function.
• the name of the file is "filename”
• the format of the file is. "format”
• the transmission destination FTP server is "ftpserver”
• the storage destination path is
• a SOAP message that instructs the endpoint to perform execution is generated. Furthermore, in a send_soap_message function 712, a SOAP request with respect to the service provider 450 is actually executed. At that time, an ID that uniquely identifies an FTP transmission job is returned to a job_id variable .
• the process 715 gives an execution instruction that requests processing in order to obtain the data of a subsequent screen is described, with a parameter of a job ID obtained as an execution result of the
• a block 705 indicates screen data to be displayed by the web browser 440.
• a user input form 716 and a form 717 for making a request for HTTP data of the subsequent screen are defined.
• the input form 716 it is defined that the name of a file to be transmitted via FTP can be input, that a file format thereof can be selected, and that the
• execute_scan function 713 is invoked by pressing the execution button. Further, when the processing 715 is performed by the processing in the block 704, the form 717 is executed. By executing this form 717, a POST request is made with the job ID set as a parameter with respect to processing. aspx.
• FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by the web browser 440.
• a screen 801 is a screen displayed by the web browser 440 using received HTML data, and the web browser 440 displays the screen 801 as a screen for operating the MFP 101 in Embodiment 1.
• a back button 802 is a button for moving to the screen that was displayed just before the screen that is currently displayed.
• a forward button 803 is a button for returning again to the screen before switching if the screen currently displayed has been , switched using the back button 802.
• An address field 804 displays a URL of the screen currently displayed. Further, it is possible to switch a screen by directly inputting a URL to the address field 804 and making an HTTP request to that URL.
• the functions shown by 802 to 804 are independent of the screen 801, and thus can be operated any time. That is, if any of the back button 802, the forward button 803, and the address field 804 is operated while a job is being executed, a control script that is currently being executed stops, and the screen switches to another screen. Consequently, the job that has been partially processed can no longer be controlled.
• FIG. 9A is a diagram showing an example of status information of a job managed by the job status management unit 460 of the MFP 101.
• a job ID 901 is issued, when a job is generated, as information that uniquely identifies the job.
• a status 902 indicates the current status of the job identified by the job ID 901. With regard to that job, the following is
• FIG. 9B is a flowchart showing the flow of processing according to the status of a job carried out by the job status management unit 460. This processing starts concurrently with the start of recording job status information shown in FIG. 9A upon ' the start of a new job. Note that this processing is performed by the CPU 211 executing the program loaded from the HDD 214 into the RAM 213.
• the procedure then proceeds to S2, where the status notification unit 462 monitors the status of the job and stands by as long as determining that the status of the job is "active", and if it determines that the status changes upon the termination of the job processing, the procedure proceeds to S3.
• S3 termination of screen operation restriction control is notified according to the determination result of the status. This termination notification is transmitted from the status notification unit 462 of the job status management unit 460 to the screen operation control unit 445 of the web browser 440, as with the case of the start notification.
• FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating
• buttons and the field may be hidden.
• Embodiment 2 Next is a description of Embodiment 2 according to the present invention.
• Embodiment 2 the case where the processing carried out while a job is being processed differs from that in Embodiment 1 described above is described.
• screen control is
• Embodiment 1 screen control is performed so as to confirm with the user whether or not to perform screen transition after accepting a user operation in Embodiment 2. Note that since the configurations of the information processing system, the MFP 101, and the web server 102 according to
• Embodiment 2 are the same as those in Embodiment 1 described above, a description thereof is omitted.
• FIG. 11A is a flowchart illustrating processing carried out by the screen operation control unit 445 of the MFP 101 while screen operation
• Embodiment 2 Note that this processing is performed by the CPU 211 executing the program loaded from the HDD 214 into the RAM 213. This processing is executed between reception of the start notification of screen operation
• the screen operation control unit 445 stands by until a screen transition operation is performed by the user.
• the procedure proceeds from Sll to S12.
• a confirmation screen shown, for example, in FIG. 11B is displayed.
• FIG. 11B is a diagram showing an example of the confirmation screen displayed in S12.
• confirmation screen display control a warning is given indicating that since a job is being executed, the job needs to be canceled if screen transition is performed.
• the user instructs whether or not to cancel the job that is currently being executed and perform screen transition by pressing a "yes" button 1101 or a "no" button 1102.
• the button on which the user has performed the input operation via this confirmation screen is determined.
• the procedure proceeds to processing in S14 since it is an instruction to execute screen transition.
• the procedure proceeds to S16.
• the web browser 440 notifies the job status management unit 460 to cancel the job in S14, and switches to the screen instructed by the user in S15. Further, in S16, the screen transition operation performed by the user is canceled, and the procedure returns to the standby in Sll for a screen transition operation performed by the user.
• Embodiment 3 Next is a description of Embodiment 3 according to the present invention.
• Embodiment 3 differs from Embodiment 1 in that whether or not to suppress screen transition is judged utilizing more detailed job status, in contrast to Embodiment 1 in which it is judged based only on whether or not the job is being processed.
• Embodiment 1 above, a description thereof is omitted.
• Jobs of the MFP 101 include a job that constantly needs interactive control by the web browser 440 since interactive processing is performed during processing, such as a scan job. Further, there are jobs that do not need to be controlled by the web browser 440 once the MFP 101 starts processing as in the case of jobs, such as printing, e-mailing a scanned image, and transmitting a scanned image to the FTP server, because such jobs are executed using a
• Embodiment 3 the same processing as in Embodiments 1 and 2 described above is performed in the case where a job that needs to be interactively controlled by the web browser 440, that is, processing that uses the web browser 440, is being executed.
• screen operation restriction control different from that in Embodiments 1 and 2 described above is carried out in the case where a job that can continue to be processed even without interactive control by the web browser 440 is being executed.
• FIG. 12A is a diagram illustrating job status information for processing performed by the job status management unit 460 as with the case of FIG. 9A.
• a job ID 1201 and a status 1202 respectively correspond to the job ID 901 and the status 902 in FIG. 9A.
• a sub-status 1203 is added to the job status information.
• the sub-status 1203 in the case where the job that is currently being executed needs to be interactively controlled by the web browser 440 and thus in the state where screen transition is not allowed, "prohibit” is set.
• "permit” is set in the sub-status 1203. Note that if processing of a job terminates, this status is initialized, and nothing is set therein.
• FIG. 12B is a flowchart illustrating processing according to the status of a job carried out by the job status management unit 460, as with the case of FIG. 9B. This processing starts concurrently with the start of recording job status information shown in FIG. 12A upon the start of a new job. Note that this processing is performed by the CPU 211 executing the program loaded from the HDD 214 into the RAM 213.
• Embodiment 1 or the processing in Embodiment 2 is performed.
• the status notification unit 462 monitors the status of a job. If the status
• notification unit 462 determines in S22 that the status of the job is "active”, the procedure proceeds to S23, whereas the procedure proceeds to S26 if processing of the job has terminated and the status thereof has changed to termination. In S26, termination of screen operation restriction control is notified.
• termination notification is transmitted from the status notification unit 462 of the job status management unit 460 to the screen operation control unit 445 of the web browser 440, as with the case of the start notification.
• the procedure proceeds from S22 to S23, where the status notification unit 462 monitors the sub-status 1203 of the job. If the status notification unit 462 determines in S23 that the sub-status 1203 of this job indicates "prohibit", the procedure proceeds to processing in S24, whereas the procedure proceeds to processing in S25 in the case of "permit”. In S24, the status notification unit 462 performs sub-status notification so as to perform screen operation restriction control. Accordingly, in this case, screen transition performed by a user button operation is suppressed (prohibited) , as with the case of FIG. 10 in Embodiment 1 described above.
• the status notification unit 462 performs sub-status notification so as to permit screen transition performed by a user button operation. Note that this sub-status notification is transmitted from the status notification unit 462 of the job status management unit 460 to the screen operation control unit 445 of the web browser 440, as with the case of the start and termination notification.
• FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating
• FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the warning screen displayed in S32. This example shows a warning indicating that although it is possible to switch screens, the result of a transmission job needs to be separately confirmed if the screen is switched, since the job is being executed. If the user presses either a "yes" button 1401 or a "no" button 1402 with respect to the question displayed on the warning screen, the procedure proceeds to S33.
• Embodiment 4 Next is a description of Embodiment 4 according to the present invention.
• Embodiment 4 a
• the web browser 440 transmits an HTTP request to the web server 102 again according to the execution result of a function, obtains a screen and a control script for continuously processing a job, and advances the processing. If an HTTP request to the web server 102 fails due to a certain factor when screen operation restriction control is performed while the job is being executed, the web browser 440 cannot continue the job. Accordingly, the job that is being processed is retained in the MFP 101, and the user operation with respect to the web browser 440 also remains in a prohibited state. Further, the MFP 101 has a function of forcibly terminating the web browser 440 that is currently performing execution, such as a user log-off function. In this case as well, a job that is being processed will be retained in the MFP 101.
• FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating
• the procedure determines whether or not a terminating request has been received from the MFP 101. If a terminating request has been received, the procedure proceeds to S43, where the job that is being executed is canceled. On the other hand, if a terminating request has not been received in S41, the procedure proceeds to S42, where it is determined whether or not an HTTP request has failed. If it is determined that an HTTP request has failed, the procedure proceeds to S43. If it is determined that an HTTP request has not failed, the procedure returns to the processing in S41. The job is canceled in S43. At this time, the web browser 440 notifies the job status management unit 460 so as to cancel the job.
• Embodiment 5 Next is a description of Embodiment 5 according to the present invention.
• the case is assumed where the service provider 450 displays on the operation unit 219 a "j ob-in-progress screen"
• the "j ob-in-progress screen” is a screen such as the scan screen 603 and the
• the MFP 101 If a certain instruction is input by the user operating an operation screen displayed by the web browser 440, the MFP 101 notifies the web server 102 of that instruction. After that, the MFP 101 may cause the operation screen that is being displayed to
• the MFP 101 displays, based on screen information held by the MFP 101 itself, a "job-in- progress screen" indicating that processing requested by the web server 102 is being executed on the top screen on the operation unit 219.
• a "job-in- progress screen” indicating that processing requested by the web server 102 is being executed on the top screen on the operation unit 219.
• Embodiment 5 has a feature that in order to cope with such problems, transition of an operation screen is restricted when processing based on a request from the web server 102 is executed in the MFP 101.
• Embodiment 1 Note that with regard to the configurations of the information processing system, the MFP 101, and the web server 102 according to
• Embodiment 5 a description of the aspects in common with the embodiments described above is omitted.
• FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the software configuration of the information processing system according to Embodiment 5.
• the functional units shown in FIG. 4B are realized by the CPU 211 and the CPU 311 included in the MFP 101 and the web server 102
• a main control unit 480 controls the functional units of the MFP 101.
• the service provider 450 has a screen display unit 453, in addition to the communication unit 451 and the job generation unit 452.
• the screen display unit 443 displays on the operation unit 219 a screen created based on the analysis result of HTML data obtained by the analysis unit 442
• the screen display unit 453 displays on the operation unit 219 a screen created based on processing in the service provider 450.
• a screen control unit 470 controls switching of a screen displayed on the operation unit 219 between the display performed by the screen display unit 443 of the web browser 440 and the display
• FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a series of processes performed by the service provider 450 of the MFP 101 upon receipt of a request in
• Embodiment 5 The operations of the steps in the flowchart are realized by the CPU 211 of the MFP 101 executing a control program stored in the HDD 214.
• the communication unit 451 of the service provider 450 receives a request from the web application 410 of the web server 102 or a request via local loopback from the web browser 440 in the MFP 101.
• the service provider 450 judges the content of processing to be executed based on the request received in S1601.
• the service provider 450 advances the processing to S1607 if it is judged that the content of the
• processing is prohibition of screen transition by receiving a screen transition prohibition request via local loopback from the web browser 440.
• the service provider 450 instructs the screen control unit 470 to prohibit switching of a screen that is being displayed on the operation unit 219.
• This processing corresponds to S1703 and S1704 in FIG. 17 that will be described below.
• the screen control unit 470 executes control for canceling that operation in response to the above instruction.
• the service provider 450 advances the processing to S1603.
• the screen display unit 453 of the service provider 450 creates a "job-in-progress screen” indicating that "ScanToFTP” is being executed, and instructs the screen control unit 470 to display that screen on the operation unit 219.
• the screen display unit 453 displays, for example, the scan screen 603 and the transmission-in-progress screen 604 shown in FIG. 6 as the "j ob-in-progress screen” .
• the service provider 450 transmits a normal response to the web application 410 in S1604, and thereafter executes processing of "ScanToFTP" in S1605.
• the screen display unit 453 of the service provider 450 may update the "j ob-in-progress screen" displayed in S1603 so as to show the execution progress.
• the user operation via the display screen of the operation unit 219 may be limited to the range of the scan screen 603 or the
• transmission-in-progress screen 604, and transition to other operation screens may be prohibited. If
• FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of processing of the entire information processing system including the MFP 101 and the web server 102 in the case where the ' content of processing requested by the web application 410 is "ScanToFTP".
• the web browser 440 accesses the web server 102 (the web application 410) , in accordance with a URL registered in the web browser 440 in advance or a URL arbitrarily designated by the user, and
• the application 410 that has received the request transmits, as a response thereto, to the MFP 101 (the web browser 440) an HTML file that is screen data for the web browser 440 to display an operation screen on the operation unit 219.
• the web browser 440 that has received the HTML file transmits a screen transition prohibition request via local loopback to the service provider 450 in accordance with a control script
• the service provider 450 that has received the screen transition prohibition request instructs the screen control unit 470 to prohibit screen transition according to the user operation. Accordingly, even if the user inputs an instruction for screen transition via an operation screen after that, the screen control unit 470 performs control so as to cancel the instruction for screen transition until the processing requested by the web application 410 is complete.
• the web browser 440 notifies the web
• the web application 410 requests the service provider 450 to execute "ScanToFTP" in response to the received notification.
• the screen display unit 453 instructs the screen control unit 470 to display, in time with the execution of the processing, the scan screen 603 and the transmission-in-progress screen 604 shown in FIG. 6 as the "job-in-progress screen" (which corresponds to S1603 in FIG. 16) .
• the service provider 450 transmits to the web application 410 a normal response to the request received in S1707 (which corresponds to S1604 in FIG. 16) . While the processing requested by the web
• the service provider 450 executes the requested reading processing in S1710 (which corresponds to S1605 in FIG. 16) , and transmits image data obtained by the reading processing to the web application 410 in S1711.
• the web application 410 that has received the image data from the service provider 450 transmits that image data to the web browser 440 in S1712.
• the web browser 440 displays the image data received from the web application 410 on the operation unit 219 using a preview function, thereby allowing the user to confirm the content of the image data obtained by the reading processing.
• the web browser 440 notifies the web application 410 of that instruction in S1714.
• the web application 410 executes FTP transmission of the image data obtained by the reading processing in S1715. Note that it is assumed that the user has designated the destination of FTP transmission via the operation screen displayed in S1705.
• the MFP 101 prohibits (cancels) a screen transition operation performed by the user according to the content of a control script provided by the web
• the MFP 101 prohibits the operation screen displayed on the operation unit 219 by the web browser 440 from transitioning to another operation screen.
• aspects of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus (or devices such as a CPU or MPU) that reads out and executes a program recorded on a memory device to perform the functions of the above-described embodiments, and by a method, the steps of which are performed by a computer of a system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing a program recorded on a memory device to perform the functions of the above-described embodiments.
• the program is provided to the computer for example via a network or from a recording medium of various types serving as the memory device (e.g., computer-readable medium) .

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• 2010
  • 2010-09-16 JP JP2010208434A patent/JP5591040B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2010-12-01 CN CN201080055215.3A patent/CN102640483B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2010-12-01 US US13/058,160 patent/US9019528B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2010-12-01 WO PCT/JP2010/071944 patent/WO2011071053A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2010-12-01 EP EP10835973.8A patent/EP2510677A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-12-01 KR KR1020127017310A patent/KR101463665B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation

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