JP6500939B2 - SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, STORAGE DEVICE, AND PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a system , an information processing method, a storage device and a program.

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a multifunction machine is provided with a large scale storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) and has a function of storing scanned data and data received via a network. There is one that has been implemented (for example, Patent Document 1). Such an accumulation function makes it possible to provide various convenient services such as data reuse.

  However, a large scale storage device has a large impact on the hardware cost of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, there are many low-end devices that do not have large-scale storage devices.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is a system capable of providing services using a large scale storage device even if the image processing apparatus does not have a large scale storage device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing method, a storage device and a program.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, an image processing apparatus connected to a client apparatus capable of transmitting an image formation request via a network , and software not included in the image processing apparatus connected to the image processing apparatus A system comprising at least one device different from the client device and the one or more devices , wherein the one or more devices are externally connected via the same interface as the image processing device The software for operating data stored in the storage means using a receiving means for receiving data, a storage means for storing the data received by the receiving means, and an API for accessing the storage means Data stored in the storage means through the same interface as the image processing apparatus based on an instruction by the By sending an execution request for an output related to the image processing apparatus, and having an execution unit for executing the output of the data by the function of the image processing apparatus.

In such a system , even an image processing apparatus that does not have a large scale storage device can provide services using the large scale storage device.

According to the present invention, there is provided a system , an information processing method, a storage device and a program capable of providing a service using a large scale storage device even if the image processing apparatus does not have a large scale storage device. can do.

It is a figure showing an example of system configuration in an embodiment of the invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a hardware configuration of the external device in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the software structural example of the external device in embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a path of print data from a client PC to a low-end machine. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process sequence by an external device. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a storage document list screen. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining input processing of print data by a print input unit; FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the input process of the scan data by a scan input part.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the external device 10, low-end device 20, high-end device 30, client PC 40, etc. are connected via a network 50 (whether wired or wireless) such as LAN (Local Area Network). There is.

  The low end machine 20 and the high end machine 30 are image forming apparatuses such as a multi-function machine, a copying machine, a printer, or a fax machine. The low-end device 20 has a relatively small capacity of mounted memory, and does not have a large scale storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD). The high-end device 20 has a relatively large mounted memory capacity, and incorporates a large scale storage device such as an HDD.

  The client PC 40 transmits an image formation request such as a print request or a FAX transmission request to the low-end machine 20 or the high-end machine 30 according to the input by the user.

  The external device 10 is an information processing device for providing the client PC 40 (user) with a function corresponding to the high-end device 30 in combination with the low-end device 20. The external device 10 and the low end device 20 may be directly connected by a cable 60 such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) or LAN, or by wireless communication or the like. In this case, the low end machine 20 may not be connected to the network 50.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the external device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The external device 10 in the same figure includes a drive device 100, an HDD 102, a memory device 103, a CPU 104, an interface device 105, a display device 106, and an input device 107, which are mutually connected by a bus B. Configured to have.

  A program for realizing the processing in the external device 10 is provided by a recording medium 101 such as a CD-ROM. When the recording medium 101 in which the program is recorded is set in the drive apparatus 100, the program is installed from the recording medium 101 to the HDD 102 via the drive apparatus 100. The HDD 102 stores the installed program and also stores necessary files and data.

  The memory device 103 reads out the program from the HDD 102 and stores it when there is an instruction to start the program. The CPU 104 implements the function related to the external device 10 according to the program stored in the memory device 103. The interface device 105 is used as an interface for connecting to a network. The display device 106 displays a graphical user interface (GUI) according to a program. The input device 107 includes various buttons and the like, and is used to input various operation instructions. The display device 106 and the input device 107 may be integrally configured as an operation panel.

  The program does not necessarily have to be installed from the recording medium 101, and may be downloaded from another computer via a network.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the software configuration of the external device according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the external device 10 includes an SDK application 11, an SDK platform 12, a print input unit 13, a fax input unit 14, a scan input unit 15, a print output unit 16, a fax output unit 17, a conversion unit 18, and the like.

  The SDK application 11 is an application developed using a dedicated SDK (software development kit). That is, after shipping, the external device 10 can install and execute an application developed using the SDK. In the figure, a stored document operation application 11 a is shown as a specific example of the SDK application 11.

  The SDK platform 12 is a software component that provides an SDK (Application Program Interface) to the SDK application 11. That is, the SDK platform 12 implements an execution environment of the SDK application 11. The SDK platform 12 also includes an API (API for local storage) for accessing the HDD 102. The SDK application 11 can execute an operation (data input / output, data list acquisition, data deletion, etc.) of the HDD 102 using the local storage API.

  The print input unit 13 receives print data transmitted from the client PC 40 or the like, and stores (stores) the print data in the HDD 102. As data of network print, data such as PDL (Page Description Language) depending on the model of the printer is usually sent at port 9100. The print input unit 13 emulates the print function (printer) of the low end machine 20 by providing the client PC 40 with an interface similar to that of the printer (receiving print data transmission of port 9100), and acquiring the acquired data Is stored in the HDD 102 as a stored document.

  The print output unit 16 transmits the data (stored document) stored in the HDD 102 to the low end machine 20 to request printing of the data. More specifically, when instructed by the SDK application 11 to execute printing of the accumulated document via the SDK platform 12, the print output unit 16 reads the designated data from the HDD 102 and transmits the low-end machine 20 with the client PC 40. The client PC 40 is emulated by performing the same operation (sending print data via the interface (for example, port 9100) provided to the client PC 40 by the low end machine 20), and printing on the low end machine 20 is performed. Let

  The print data from the client PC 40 to the low-end machine 20 follows the following route by the print input unit 13 and the print output unit 16. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the path of print data from the client PC to the low end machine.

  As shown in the figure, print data from the client PC 40 is received by the print input unit 13 of the external device 10 and stored in the HDD 102. Subsequently, the print data stored in the HDD 102 is transferred to the low end machine 20 by the print output unit 16. When the print data follows such a route, the print data is stored in the external device 10 and can be reused. A printer driver corresponding to the low-end machine 20 may be installed in the client PC 40, and the IP address of the external device 10 may be set as the IP address of the printing destination for the printer driver. By doing so, the print instruction (print data) for the low end machine 20 is transmitted to the external device 10.

  Return to FIG. The FAX input unit 14 receives FAX transmission data transmitted from the client PC 40 or the like, and stores the FAX transmission data in the HDD 102. In PC-FAX, data depending on the model of the printer is usually sent at port 9100. The FAX input unit 14 emulates the FAX function of the low end machine 20 by providing an interface similar to a FAX to the client PC 40 (accepting FAX data transmission of port 9100), and stores the acquired data in the HDD 102. Save as.

  The FAX output unit 17 transmits the data stored in the HDD 102 to the low-end machine 20 to request FAX transmission of the data. More specifically, when instructed by the SDK application 11 to execute FAX transmission of the stored document via the SDK platform 12, the FAX output unit 17 reads the designated data from the HDD 102, and sends the client PC 40 to the low-end machine 20. To emulate the client PC 40 by transmitting FAX data via the interface (for example, port 9100) provided to the client PC 40 by the low-end machine 20), and transmits the FAX to the low-end machine 20. Run

  The FAX transmission data from the client PC 40 to the low-end machine 20 follows the path shown in FIG. 4 by the FAX input unit 14 and the FAX output unit 17.

  The scan input unit 15 receives data (scan data) scanned by the low end machine 20 from the low end machine 20 and stores the data in the HDD 102.

  The conversion unit 18 converts the data format of the data stored in the HDD 102 by the print input unit 13, the FAX input unit 14, the scan input unit 15, and the like. That is, the format of data stored in the HDD 102 generally differs among print data, FAX transmission data, scan data, and the like. Therefore, there is a restriction that data accumulated by the print input unit 13 can be used only for print output. Therefore, the conversion unit 18 realizes the data conversion function between the respective formats, prints the scanned data, faxes the print input data, etc., various combinations of the respective input units and the respective output units. To realize As specific contents of the data conversion process, known or known techniques may be used.

  The SDK platform 12 in FIG. 3 is implemented in the external device 10 in order to maintain compatibility with the SDK platform implemented in the high-end machine 30. That is, the high-end machine 30 can implement the SDK application on the SDK platform, and has sufficient memory for operating the SDK platform or the SDK application.

  On the other hand, the low end machine 20 does not have the memory required to operate the SDK platform. Therefore, by connecting the external device 10 equipped with the SDK platform 12 to the low end machine 20 and operating the SDK application 11 on the external device 10, the engine required for image formation uses that of the low end machine 20, It is possible to provide the same function as the high-end machine 10. Note that since the low-end machine 20 is not equipped with an HDD, by providing the external device 10 with an HDD, compatibility of APIs for local storage in the SDK platform is achieved.

  Hereinafter, the processing procedure of the external device 10 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the processing procedure by the external device.

  In step S101, an operation instruction is input to the external device 10. In the subsequent steps, branching is performed according to the type of the operation instruction.

  For example, when the operation instruction is an instruction to input data (Yes in S102), the external device 10 inputs data and stores the data in the HDD 102 (S103). More specifically, when the operation instruction is print data transmitted from the client PC 40, the print data (print request) is received by the print input unit 13. The print input unit 13 stores the received print data in the HDD 102. If the operation instruction is FAX transmission data transmitted from the client PC 40, the FAX transmission data (FAX transmission request) is received by the FAX input unit 14. The FAX input unit 14 stores the received FAX transmission data in the HDD 102. When the operation instruction is storage of scan data transmitted from the low end device 20, the scan data is received by the scan input unit 15. The scan input unit 15 stores the received scan data in the HDD 102.

  On the other hand, if the operation instruction is a list display instruction of a stored document input from the user via the input device 107 (Yes in S104), the stored document operation application 11a is stored in the HDD 102 via the SDK platform 12. The acquired data is acquired, and a screen including a list of acquired data (hereinafter referred to as "stored document list screen") is displayed on the display device 106 (S105).

  FIG. 6 is a view showing a display example of the accumulated document list screen. In the figure, the accumulated document list screen 510 has a list display area 511, an output button 512, a delete button 513 and the like.

  The list display area 511 is an area in which a list of accumulated documents is displayed. In the example of the figure, the data name, the format, and the date and time are displayed for each data. The format is classified into a print format, a fax format, or a scan format, and differs depending on the input unit (the print input unit 13, the fax input unit 14, the scan input unit 15) in which the data is stored. The date is the date when the data was saved.

  The output button 512 is a button for receiving an output instruction of data selected in the list display area 511. The delete button 513 is a button for receiving an instruction to delete data selected in the list display area 511.

  Therefore, when the operation instruction is pressing of the output instruction button 512 (Yes in S106), the accumulated document operation application 11a outputs an output unit (print output unit according to the format of the selected data via the SDK platform 12) 16. Instruct the FAX output unit 17) to output the data. The print output unit 16 or the FAX output unit 17 requests the low-end machine 20 to print or transmit the data (S107).

  Note that, in response to the pressing of the output button 512, the accumulated document operation application 11a may cause the display device 107 to display a screen for selecting an output type (print or FAX transmission). If the output type selected on the screen does not correspond to the format of the selected data, the stored document operation application 11a converts the selected data into a format according to the output type using the conversion unit 18, and then the print output unit 16 Alternatively, the FAX output unit 17 may be instructed to output data.

  At the time of output, an authentication screen may be displayed to input authentication information (such as an ID card or a password). As a result, the document for which printing is instructed from the client PC 40 is prevented from being left as it is output from the low-end machine 20, and secure printing can be realized.

  When the operation instruction is pressing of the delete button 513 (Yes in S108), the accumulated document operation application 11a deletes the selected data via the SDK platform 12 (S109). Accordingly, the data is deleted from the HDD 102.

  Next, details of the processing procedure at the time of print data input (corresponding to step S103 in FIG. 5) will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the input processing of print data by the print input unit.

  At normal times, the print input unit 13 opens a port (for example, No. 9100) for the network printer and stands by for input (reception) of print data (S201, S202). If reception of print data is detected (Yes in S202), the received print data is written (stored) in the HDD 102 (S203). Subsequently, bibliographic information (data name, format, date and time) regarding the stored data is written to the HDD 102 (S204).

  The processing procedure by the FAX input unit 14 may be the same as that shown in FIG.

  Subsequently, details of the processing procedure at the time of scan data input will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the input process of scan data by the scan input unit.

  The scan input unit 15 executes detection of scan execution in the low end machine 20 and acquisition of scan data from the low end machine 20 using a remote scan protocol such as TWAIN, SANE or WS-D (S301). (S302). Subsequently, the scan input unit 15 writes the acquired scan data into the HDD 102.

  Note that a database may be used to manage data written to the HDD 102 by the processing of FIG. 7 or FIG. 8, or a file system based on an OS (Operating System) may be used.

  As described above, according to the external device 10 in the present embodiment, even the low-end machine 20 not equipped with a large scale storage device can execute a service using the HDD 102. Specifically, data relating to an image formation request such as a print request to the low end machine 20 or a FAX transmission request can be stored in the HDD 102, and the low end machine 20 executes printing or FAX transmission of the stored data. be able to.

  Also, the external device 10 functions as an emulator of the low end machine 20 for the client PC 40 and as an emulator of the client PC 40 for the low end machine 20. Implementation of a new program by relaying the device 10 is not required.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims.・ Change is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 External device 11 SDK application 11a Accumulated document operation application 12 SDK platform 13 Print input part 14 Fax input part 15 Scan input part 16 Print output part 17 FAX output part 18 Conversion part 20 Low end machine 30 High end machine 40 Client PC
50 Network 60 Cable 100 Drive Device 101 Recording Medium 102 HDD
103 Memory Unit 104 CPU
105 interface device 106 display device 107 input device B bus

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-17821

Claims (14)

An image processing apparatus connected via a network to a client apparatus capable of transmitting an image formation request , and one or more apparatuses having software not included in the image processing apparatus connected to the image processing apparatus , the client A system comprising the device and the one or more different devices, wherein
The one or more devices are
Receiving means for receiving data from the outside via the same interface as the image processing apparatus;
Storage means for storing the data received by the receiving means;
Stored in the storage unit via the same interface as the image processing apparatus based on an instruction by the software for operating data stored in the storage unit using an API for accessing the storage unit And executing means for executing output of the data by the function of the image processing apparatus by transmitting to the image processing apparatus a request for execution of an output related to the data. The one or more devices are
And converting means for converting the data;
The system according to claim 1, wherein the execution means transmits the execution request for the data converted by the conversion means.   The system according to claim 1, wherein the output execution request is a print request.   The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the output execution request is a FAX transmission request.   The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the data received by the receiving means is scanned data to be executed in the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus,
The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the outside is a client device not included in the one or more devices.   The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more devices comprise a storage device comprising the receiving means, the storage means, and the execution means.   8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the storage device is connected to the image processing apparatus via USB, cable or wireless communication.   The system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the external device, the one or more devices, the one or more devices, and the image processing device are respectively connected via a network. The outside a said client device, further data received by the receiving means is a print data,
The system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the print data stored in the storage means is transmitted to the image processing apparatus. An image processing apparatus connected via a network to a client apparatus capable of transmitting an image formation request , and one or more apparatuses having software not included in the image processing apparatus connected to the image processing apparatus , the client An information processing method executed by a system configured by an apparatus and the one or more apparatuses different from each other,
The one or more devices are
A reception procedure for receiving data from the outside via the same interface as the image processing apparatus;
A storage procedure for storing the data received in the reception procedure in storage means;
Stored in the storage unit via the same interface as the image processing apparatus based on an instruction by the software for operating data stored in the storage unit using an API for accessing the storage unit An information processing method comprising: transmitting an execution request of an output relating to the data to the image processing apparatus; and an execution procedure for executing the output of the data by the function of the image processing apparatus. Connected to the image processing apparatus connected via a client device and a network capable of transmitting image formation request, the image processing apparatus have a no software, said a client device different from the storage device,
Receiving means for receiving data from the outside via the same interface as the image processing apparatus;
Storage means for storing the data received by the receiving means;
Stored in the storage unit via the same interface as the image processing apparatus based on an instruction by the software for operating data stored in the storage unit using an API for accessing the storage unit A storage unit characterized by further comprising: execution means for transmitting the execution request of the output related to the data to the image processing apparatus to execute the output of the data by the function of the image processing apparatus. Connected to the image processing apparatus connected via a client device and a network capable of transmitting image formation request, the information processing method of the image processing apparatus have a no software, the client device different from the storage device to be executed There,
A reception procedure for receiving data from the outside via the same interface as the image processing apparatus;
A storage procedure for storing the data received in the reception procedure in storage means;
Stored in the storage unit via the same interface as the image processing apparatus based on an instruction by the software for operating data stored in the storage unit using an API for accessing the storage unit An information processing method comprising: transmitting, to the image processing apparatus, an execution request for an output relating to the data, and executing an output procedure of the data by the function of the image processing apparatus. Connected to the image processing apparatus connected via a client device and a network capable of transmitting image formation request, have a software without the image processing device, to the client device different from the storage device,
A reception procedure for receiving data from the outside via the same interface as the image processing apparatus;
A storage procedure for storing the data received in the reception procedure in storage means;
Stored in the storage unit via the same interface as the image processing apparatus based on an instruction by the software for operating data stored in the storage unit using an API for accessing the storage unit A program for executing an execution procedure for causing the function of the image processing apparatus to execute the output of the data by transmitting an execution request for the output relating to the data to the image processing apparatus.

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