JP2011071678A - Apparatus, system and program for processing information - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, and an information processing program which can let a function be executed by only selecting the function without needing awareness of what kind of the functions are mounted in any of devices connected to a communication network. <P>SOLUTION: A function information transceiving part 28 collects information regarding to functions which are transmitted from a plurality of image processing devices connected to the network and can be provided, and a function information holding part 30 holds information regarding to the collected functions in a memory device beforehand. A display control part 36 displays an instruction input image of a push button image, etc. for instructing execution of the function based on the information regarding to the functions. If the user inputs execution instruction of a specific function by the instruction input image, a function information search part 34 searches an image processing device 100 mounting the function, and an execution instruction part 32 instructs execution of the function to the image processing device 100 specified by the search result of the function information search part 34. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, and an information processing program.

  The following Patent Document 1 confirms the existence of devices that can be used from other image processing apparatuses connected to a communication network such as a network, displays a list of confirmed device names, and displays a list of users displayed. A configuration is disclosed in which, when an image processing apparatus to be used is selected, functions that can be provided by the image processing apparatus are displayed, and functions selected by the user are executed.

JP 2003-209659 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and an information processing apparatus that can execute a function only by selecting the function without being aware of what function is installed in the apparatus connected to the communication network. It is to provide a system and an information processing program.

  In order to achieve the above object, the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 is characterized in that function information holding means for holding in advance information about functions collected from devices connected to a communication network, and the function information holding means holds the information. A function display unit that displays an instruction input image for inputting an instruction to execute the function based on information on the function to be performed, and the function information holding unit when the instruction to execute the function is input by the instruction input image. And an execution instruction means for instructing the apparatus having the function to execute the function based on information on the function held by the device.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the execution instruction unit is operating the device having the function, the function information indicates another device having an equivalent function. A search is made from information on the function held by the holding means, and when there is another device equipped with an equivalent function, the other device is instructed to execute the function.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing system in which a plurality of image processing apparatuses having the information processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect are connected to a communication network, and the function information holding unit of each information processing apparatus includes: , As function information, function list information including all functions of the plurality of image processing apparatuses is held, and function information holding means for holding the function list information is provided for the plurality of image processing apparatuses. It is provided only in one of the image processing apparatuses.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, a range of an image processing apparatus that collects information related to functions held by the function information holding unit is preset.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the third or fourth aspect, the function display means displays information relating to an image processing apparatus equipped with a function instructed to be executed by the execution instruction means. And

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing program based on function information holding means for holding information relating to functions collected from an apparatus connected to a communication network in advance, and information relating to functions held by the function information holding means. A function display means for displaying an instruction input image for inputting an instruction to execute the function, and information related to a function held by the function information holding means when the function execution instruction is input by the instruction input image. On the basis of this, the apparatus having the function is caused to function as an execution instruction unit that instructs execution of the function.

  According to the first and sixth aspects of the present invention, the user is not aware of what function is installed in any of the devices connected to the communication network, as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided. The function can be executed only by selecting the function.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when a device equipped with a function instructed by the user is in operation and cannot execute the function as compared with the case without this configuration, the device is instructed by another device. Functions can be performed.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided, it is possible to save the communication amount when collecting information on functions from a plurality of devices and creating a function list.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, devices that are inconvenient for executing a function, such as being far from the user, can be excluded from the function execution candidates as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the function is executed by a device other than the device to which the user has input the execution instruction, the user can obtain information on the device that executes the function, as compared with the case where the configuration is not provided. Can be acquired.

It is a figure showing an example of composition of an information processing system concerning an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the hardware constitutions of the computer which comprises the information processing apparatus concerning embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of the information processor concerning an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the information regarding the function which a function information holding part hold | maintains beforehand in memory | storage devices, such as a hard disk device. It is a figure which shows the example of the instruction | indication input image which a display control part displays on the display screen of a display apparatus. It is a flowchart of the example of operation | movement of the information processing apparatus concerning embodiment.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of an information processing system according to the embodiment. In FIG. 1, a plurality of image processing apparatuses 100 are connected to a communication network 102 such as the Internet or an intranet. An information processing apparatus 104 is mounted on all or part of the image processing apparatus 100.

  Here, the image processing apparatus 100 is, for example, a scanner, a printing apparatus, a copier, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine (also called a multi-function copier, and has functions such as a scanner, a printing apparatus, a copier, and a facsimile machine). ) Etc. The information processing apparatus 104 mounted on the image processing apparatus 100 collects information on functions that can be provided by each image processing apparatus 100 from the image processing apparatus 100 connected to the communication network 102. Here, the information related to the function includes identification information of the image processing apparatus 100 that provides the function, types of functions that can be provided, and the like. Information regarding the collected functions is held in advance by the information processing apparatus 104. In addition, the information processing apparatus 104 displays an instruction input image such as a push button image for the user to input an execution instruction for the above function on the display apparatus 20 described later, and when the execution instruction is input Based on the information related to the held function, the image processing apparatus 100 equipped with the function is instructed to execute the function.

  FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a computer that configures the information processing apparatus 104 according to the embodiment. In FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 104 includes a central processing unit (for example, a CPU such as a microprocessor may be used) 10, a random access memory (RAM) 12, a read-only memory (ROM) 14, a communication device 16, and an input device 18. , A display device 20, a printing device 21, and a hard disk device (HDD) 22. These components are connected to each other by a bus 24. Note that the communication device 16, the input device 18, the display device 20, the printing device 21, and the hard disk device 22 are connected to the bus 24 via input / output interfaces 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, and 26e, respectively.

  The CPU 10 controls the operation of each unit described below based on a control program stored in the RAM 12 or the ROM 14. The RAM 12 mainly functions as a work area for the CPU 10, and the ROM 14 stores a control program such as BIOS and other data used by the CPU 10.

  The communication device 16 includes a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port, a network port, and other appropriate interfaces, and is used by the CPU 10 to exchange data with an external device via communication means such as a network.

  The input device 18 includes a keyboard, a pointing device, a touch panel, and the like, and is used by a user to input operation instructions and the like.

  The display device 20 includes a liquid crystal display, a touch panel, and the like, and displays a processing result by the CPU 10 and the like. A configuration in which the instruction input image is displayed on the display screen of the display device 20, and a user can input an execution instruction of a function provided by the information processing device 104 from a keyboard, a pointing device, a touch panel, or the like that configures the input device 18. It is preferable to do this.

  The printing device 21 prints out a document or the like on paper or other media. The printing apparatus 21 includes a printer engine or the like. As the printer engine, for example, a laser printer engine that forms an image by an electrophotographic process is used. An ink jet printer engine may be used.

  The hard disk device 22 is a storage device and stores various data necessary for processing to be described later. Instead of the hard disk device 22, a non-volatile storage device such as an EEPROM may be used.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the information processing apparatus 104 according to the embodiment. In FIG. 3, the information processing apparatus 104 includes a function information transmitting / receiving unit 28, a function information holding unit 30, an execution instruction unit 32, a function information search unit 34, and a display control unit 36. This is realized by the CPU 10 and a program for controlling the processing operation of the CPU 10.

  The function information transmitting / receiving unit 28 broadcasts information related to the function provided by the image processing apparatus 100 on which the function information is mounted to the communication network 102 via the communication device 16 (communication that sends information to the communication network 102 without specifying the other party). The information regarding the functions that can be provided, which is transmitted by a plurality of image processing apparatuses 100 connected to the communication network 102 by a method such as broadcast, is collected. The function-related information may be transmitted when the image processing apparatus 100 is newly connected to the communication network 102, or may be configured to be periodically performed by the image processing apparatus 100 connected to the communication network 102. .

  The function information holding unit 30 holds in advance in a storage device such as the hard disk device 22 information related to functions that can be provided by each image processing apparatus 100 collected by the function information transmitting / receiving unit 28. An example of information related to the function held by the function information holding unit 30 is shown in FIG.

  The execution instructing unit 32 inputs an execution instruction by operating a command input image such as a push button image displayed on the display screen by the display control unit 36 (to be described later) using a pointing device, a touch panel, or the like constituting the input device 18. Then, based on the information about the function held by the function information holding unit 30, the execution of the function is instructed to the image processing apparatus 100 equipped with the function to which the execution instruction is input. The image processing apparatus 100 that instructs execution is determined by a function information search unit 34 (to be described later) searching from information related to functions. In this case, as a result of the search by the function information search unit 34, when a function for which the execution instruction is input is installed in a plurality of image processing apparatuses 100, an image instructing execution according to a preset rule (rule). The processing apparatus 100 is determined. As this rule, for example, a priority order is set in advance in the image processing apparatus 100, or the user is allowed to select. The priority order may be, for example, the order closer to the image processing apparatus 100 to which the user inputs an execution instruction, but is not limited to this. Note that the execution instruction may be input by a user pressing a push button provided in the image processing apparatus 100 without using the instruction input image. The execution instructing unit 32 is an image that instructs execution of data necessary for executing the function for which the execution instruction has been input, for example, image data read by a scanner in the case of an OCR (optical character recognition) function. Processing to transmit to the processing apparatus 100 is also performed. In this case, items of data necessary for executing each function can be included in the information about the function held by the function information holding unit 30.

  When the execution instruction unit 32 instructs execution of a function, the function information search unit 34 receives an execution instruction based on the execution instruction input by the user and the information on the function held by the function information holding unit 30. The image processing apparatus 100 equipped with the function is searched, and the search result is notified to the execution instruction unit 32. This notification is performed based on, for example, identification information of the image processing apparatus 100.

  The display control unit 36 displays an instruction input image such as the push button image on the display screen of the display device 20. This instruction input image is created by the display control unit 36 based on the information regarding the function held in the function information holding unit 30. Alternatively, a push button image that is created in advance and stored in the storage device can be read and used. Also, an execution instruction input by a user operating the pointing input image by operating a pointing device, a touch panel, or the like constituting the input device 18 is received, and the contents of the execution instruction are notified to the execution instruction unit 32 and the function information search unit 34. To do.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of information related to functions that the function information holding unit 30 holds in advance in a storage device such as the hard disk device 22. FIG. 4 is an example of function list information including all functions installed in each image processing apparatus 100 that provides various functions. Here, an example in which three machines A, B, and C are connected to the communication network 102 is shown as the image processing apparatus 100 that provides various functions, but the present invention is not limited to this. In addition, examples of functions provided by each image processing apparatus 100 include an OCR (optical character recognition) function, a high compression function, and others (function 1 to function n), but the type of function is not limited. In the example of FIG. 4, the circle indicates that the function is installed, the OCR function is installed in the image processing apparatuses A and C, and the high compression function is installed in the image processing apparatus B. The same applies to the other functions 1 to n.

  The function list information shown in FIG. 4 can be configured to be held in the function information holding unit 30 by the information processing apparatus 104 mounted on the plurality of image processing apparatuses 100 connected to the communication network 102. The function information holding unit 30 that holds the function list information may be provided only in one image processing apparatus 100 among the plurality of image processing apparatuses 100 connected to the communication network 102. . When the function information holding unit 30 that holds the function list information is provided in only one image processing apparatus 100, the function list information may be distributed to other image processing apparatuses 100.

  Also, the function list information shown in FIG. 4 is created by the function information holding unit 30 based on the information about the functions collected by the function information transmitting / receiving unit 28. The function information transmitting / receiving unit 28 collects information about the functions. The range of the image processing apparatus 100 may be set in advance, for example, for each floor. This range can be set using, for example, a subnet or a domain.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of an instruction input image that the display control unit 36 displays on the display screen of the display device 20. In FIG. 5, functions that can be provided by each image processing apparatus 100 are displayed as push button images. As an example of each of the above functions, copy, scan (image reading), and fax (facsimile transmission / reception) are shown in the upper row, but are not limited to these. In the lower part, functions that accompany or complement the functions in the upper part are storage destination (function to specify the storage destination), color (color printing function), black and white (monochrome printing function), high compression, Although OCR is illustrated, it is not limited to these. These functions are displayed without distinguishing the function provided by the image processing apparatus 100 displaying the instruction input image of FIG. 5 and the function provided by the other image processing apparatus 100.

  As described above, the instruction input image shown in FIG. 5 is created by the display control unit 36 based on the information regarding the function held in the function information holding unit 30. In the example of FIG. 5, as a result of communication between the function information transmitting / receiving unit 28 and each image processing apparatus 100 connected to the communication network 102, image processing in which the information processing apparatus 104 itself having the function information transmitting / receiving unit 28 is provided. Functions that can be provided by any of the image processing apparatuses 100 connected to the communication network 102 including the apparatus 100 include copy, scan, and fax functions, and functions that accompany or complement these functions (storage destinations) , Color, black and white, high compression, OCR) are held in the function information holding unit 30. The display control unit 36 creates an image surrounded by a rectangle representing these functions as an instruction input image, and displays it in the upper and lower stages shown in FIG.

  When a user inputs an execution instruction by operating a push button image representing the upper function with a pointing device, a touch panel, or the like that constitutes the input device 18, a lower function that accompanies or complements the instructed upper function. In some cases, it is possible to operate a push button image of the function. In addition, when processing is performed using the function of another image processing apparatus 100 connected to the communication network 102, it may be displayed by changing the background color of the push button image, blinking, lighting, or the like. In the example of FIG. 5, when the “scan” button is pressed, the background color of the “high compression” button representing the high compression function associated therewith is changed.

  Further, based on the push button image operated by the user, the function information search unit 34 searches for the image processing apparatus 100 having the function represented by the operated push button image, and the execution instruction unit 32 performs the image processing apparatus 100. Is instructed to execute the function represented by the push button image.

  If the function corresponding to the push button image operated by the user is not installed in the image processing apparatus 100 displaying the instruction input image, a notification to that effect may be made. In this case, for example, notification can be made by changing the background color of the push button image shown in FIG. 5, blinking, lighting, or the like, but it is preferable that the display be different from the display of the push button image. As this notification method, for example, a confirmation message to be executed by another image processing apparatus 100 connected to the communication network 102 may be used. In addition, the display control unit 36 displays information on the image processing apparatus 100 having a function corresponding to the push button image operated by the user, for example, the name and installation location of the image processing apparatus 100 on the display device 20. Is preferred.

  FIG. 6 shows a flow of an operation example of the information processing apparatus 104 according to the embodiment. In FIG. 6, when the user selects a specific function from the functions indicated by the instruction input image shown in FIG. 5 and inputs an execution instruction (S 1), the function information search unit 34 displays the function information holding unit 30. Information regarding the function held by the user is searched, and it is determined whether or not the function instructed to be executed in S1 is mounted on the image processing apparatus 100 that has received the execution instruction from the user (S2).

  In S2, if the function instructed to be executed is not installed in the image processing apparatus 100 that has received an execution instruction from the user, the function instructed to be executed in S1 by the function information search unit 34 is installed. The other image processing apparatus 100 is searched from the information regarding the function (S3). In S2, if the image processing apparatus 100 that has received the execution instruction from the user is equipped with the function, but the image processing apparatus 100 is operating and the function cannot be executed, the process of S3 is performed. Execute.

  In S3, when there is another image processing apparatus 100 equipped with the above function, the function information search unit 34 determines that any one of these image processing apparatuses 100 is not operating, and in S1. It is determined whether there is an image processing apparatus 100 capable of executing the function instructed to be executed (S4). When there is an image processing apparatus 100 capable of executing the above function, the function information search unit 34 passes the identification information of the image processing apparatus 100 to the execution instruction unit 32, and the execution instruction unit 32 receives the information from the function information search unit 34. The image processing apparatus 100 specified by the received identification information is instructed to execute the above function (S5). In this case, when there are a plurality of image processing apparatuses 100 capable of executing the function, as described in the execution instruction unit 32 of FIG. 3, the image processing apparatus 100 that instructs execution according to a preset rule. To decide.

  In S2, when the function instructed to be executed is installed in the image processing apparatus 100 that has received an execution instruction from the user, the above function may not be executed due to reasons such as during operation. In addition, the execution instructing unit 32 instructs the image processing apparatus 100 to execute the above function (S5).

  In S4, when there is no image processing apparatus 100 capable of executing the function instructed to be executed in S1, the execution instructing unit 32 notifies the display control unit 36 that the above function cannot be executed. The image is displayed on the display device 20 (S6), and the process ends.

  As described above, the image processing apparatus 100 instructed to execute the function executes the function and outputs the result. If the function instructed to be executed is, for example, copying in the upper part of FIG. 5, color copying or monochrome copying is executed in accordance with the color or monochrome instruction in the lower part of FIG. In the case of the upper scan in FIG. 5, the image data read by the scanner is stored in the storage area designated by the lower storage location in FIG. In this case, if there is an instruction for high compression, the compression processing is performed and then stored. Further, when there is an OCR instruction, data of the result of optical character recognition processing is stored. In the case of a fax, transmission processing of facsimile transmission data is performed.

  The above-described program for executing each step of FIG. 6 can be stored in a recording medium, and the program may be provided by communication means. In that case, for example, the above-described program may be regarded as an invention of a “computer-readable recording medium recording a program” or an invention of a “data signal”.

  10 CPU, 12 RAM, 14 ROM, 16 communication device, 18 input device, 20 display device, 21 printing device, 22 hard disk device, 24 bus, 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, 26e input / output interface, 28 function information transmission / reception unit , 30 function information holding unit, 32 execution instruction unit, 34 function information search unit, 36 display control unit, 100 image processing device, 102 communication network, 104 information processing device.

Claims (6)

Function information holding means for holding in advance information about functions collected from devices connected to a communication network;
Function display means for displaying an instruction input image for inputting an instruction to execute the function based on information on the function held by the function information holding means;
Execution instruction means for instructing execution of the function to the device equipped with the function based on information on the function held by the function information holding means when an instruction to execute the function is input by the instruction input image; ,
An information processing apparatus comprising:   2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the execution instruction unit has a function for holding the function information holding unit with another device having an equivalent function when the device having the function is in operation. An information processing apparatus that searches for information related to a function and instructs the other apparatus to execute the function when there is another apparatus having an equivalent function.   A plurality of image processing apparatuses having the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 are connected to a communication network, and the function information holding unit of each information processing apparatus uses the plurality of image processing as information regarding the function. Function list information including all functions of the apparatus is held, and function information holding means holding the function list information is provided only in one image processing apparatus among the plurality of image processing apparatuses. An information processing system characterized by   4. The information processing system according to claim 3, wherein a range of an image processing apparatus that collects information related to functions held by the function information holding unit is set in advance.   5. The information processing system according to claim 3, wherein the function display means displays information related to an image processing apparatus equipped with a function instructed to be executed by the execution instruction means. Computer
Function information holding means for holding in advance information about functions collected from devices connected to a communication network;
Function display means for displaying an instruction input image for inputting an instruction to execute the function based on information on the function held by the function information holding means;
Execution instruction means for instructing execution of the function to the device equipped with the function based on information about the function held by the function information holding means when an instruction to execute the function is input by the instruction input image;
An information processing program characterized by functioning as

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