These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that illustrate a specific embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:
The following describes embodiments of the present invention with reference to related drawings.
1-1. System Structure
Referring to
As shown in
Each apparatus is respectively assigned a unique IP (internet protocol) address.
The PC 100 is composed of a PC main body 101, a monitor 102, a keyboard 103, and a mouse 104 in a two-button system.
1-2. Structure of MFP
Referring to
The MFP 3 includes a control unit 10, a scanner unit 12, a FAX unit 14, a mail transmission/reception unit 16, a storage unit 18, a network I/F (interface) unit 24, an operation panel unit 26, a printer unit 28, a web server application unit 30, and an XML analysis unit 32.
The control unit 10 is a functional block that executes overall control over processing of each unit of the MFP 3, and performs such control as display control and input reception regarding the operation panel unit 26, and control of the web server application unit 30.
The scanner unit 12 reads an original placed on a sheet feeder (not shown in the drawing), thereby generating image data.
The FAX (facsimile) unit 14 performs FAX transmission/reception via a telephone circuit.
The mail transmission/reception unit 16 includes a mailer, and performs e-mail (electronic mail) creation, transmission, and reception.
From a hardware point of view, the storage unit 18 is structured by an HDD (hard disk drive) and an EPROM and the like. The storage unit 18 stores therein a web contents file 20, account information 21, apparatus configuration data 22, and address data 23.
The web contents file 20 is a source file of web contents browsed (or displayed) on the web browser.
In the present embodiment, the web contents file 20 is in the format of XML (extensible markup language), JavaScript is embedded in the web contents file 20 as a script language.
The web contents file 20 functionally includes a display portion 20a, a detection portion 20b, and a transfer portion 20c.
The display portion 20a is a source that has characters, images, frames, and the like displayed on the web browser, and is also a source of a setting window detailed later (see
The detection portion 20b is a source that designates a part of a displayed window of the web browser as a drag and drop area, and detects a drag and drop of an icon directed to this area. Here, “icon” means a graphical image for representing a file, which specifically shows contents, functions, and a kind of program on which the file is executed, and the like.
A drag and drop area is specifically designated by coordinates of a rectangular area. In addition, event handlers such as “onmousedown” (press of a mouse button), “onmouseup” (release of a mouse button), and “onmousemove” (move of a mouse-cursor) are described within the source (the detection portion 20b), to enable detection of a drag and drop of an icon.
The transfer portion 20c obtains a file based on the file path of the icon that has been dragged and dropped, and analyzes the compatibility of the attributes and the contents of the file. Then when the analysis result of the file satisfies a predetermined condition, the transfer portion 20c transfers the file to the MFP 3 from a client PC browsing the content.
The account information 21 includes an apparatus account and a web server account.
The apparatus account is an account required to use the MFP 3 main body.
The web server account is an account required to log in to the web server, and has two types: one for the administrator, and the other for a general user.
The apparatus configuration data 22 is setting data that relates to the apparatus setting (e.g. power management).
The address data 23 is data that relates to destination (e.g. telephone number used in FAX Transmission and mail address used in mail transmission).
The network I/F unit 24 includes an NIC (network interface card), and is specifically an interface used in performing data transmission/reception with an external apparatus.
From a hardware point of view, the operation panel unit 26 is structured by a touch-panel display window, and press button keys. The operation panel unit 26 presents various displays to a user, as well as receiving operation input from the user.
The touch-panel display window of the operation panel unit 26 is not generally for swift key input, and so is required to simplify display as much as possible, and also to perform contents desired by a user with a smaller number of “presses” (touches).
The printer unit 28 performs printing processing to print out image data onto paper.
The web server application unit 30, upon reception of access (HTTP request) by the web browser, returns back a web contents file 20 to the web browser as a content.
The XML analysis unit 32 includes an XML parser, and analyzes data in XML format and converts it into a form available to other functional blocks.
1-3. PC Structure
Referring to
The PC 100 includes a control unit 110, a mailer 111, a web browser 112, a storage unit 113, an XML converter 117, a network I/F unit 118, an operation input unit 119, and a display unit 120.
The control unit 110 exercises overall control over processing of each unit of the PC 100.
The mailer 111 is electronic mail software.
The web browser 112 is software that (1) obtains a web contents file by transmitting an HTTP request to a designated URL(Uniform Resource Locator), (2) analyzes the obtained web contents file, and (3) displays a web content regarding the web contents file, in format readable by the user.
The web browser 112 is able to execute a script language such as JavaScript contained in the obtained web contents file. In this sense, the web browser 112 is equipped with a script engine for JavaScript.
The storage unit 113 is structured by an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and stores therein address book data 114, configuration parameter data 115, and a destination setting parameter data 116.
The address book data 114 is address book data for the mailer 111, and at least contains mail addresses on individual basis (or group basis). The address book data 114 may further contain such information as telephone number, address, company name, division name, and his/her position in the company.
The configuration parameter data 115 includes a file in XML format in which a setting parameter for the purpose of setting the apparatus setting for the MFP 3 is described (see
The destination setting parameter data 116 includes a file in XML format in which transmission destination addresses (i.e. destination) used by the MFP 3 in FAX transmission and mail transmission is described.
The XML converter 117 converts various types of data into XML format.
The network I/F unit 118 is an interface used in performing data transmission/reception with an external apparatus.
The operation input unit 119 is structured by such input devices as a keyboard 103 and a mouse 104 (see
The display unit 120 is structured by a monitor 102, and performs various types of display to the user.
2-1. Process Overview
As follows, simplified procedure is stated, and the details are described later.
2-2. Web Browser Window
Referring to
The present embodiment is realized by using Internet Explorer (trademark), as the web browser 112. However alternatively, the present embodiment may be realized by using Firefox (trademark) and Opera (trademark), for example, as the web browser 112.
The URL of the address bar 132 is indicating the IP address “AAA.BBB.CCC.50” of the MFP 3.
The window 130 displays a box 133 for an account name and a box 134 for a password. When a log-in button 136 is pressed, character strings respectively inputted in the input boxes 133 and 134 are transmitted to the MFP 3. When the transmitted information matches the account information 21 of the MFP 3, then log-in as the administrator is enabled successfully.
Next, the web browser window and the apparatus configuration method, after the successful administrator Log-in, are detailed.
As shown in
A rectangular area 145 in the window 140 is a drag and drop area for receiving a drag and drop operation of an icon. In the area 145, a message stating “please drag and drop a system configuration file” is on display.
Note that when a log-out button 146 is “pressed”, log-out from the administrator mode is performed.
Within the window 150 of the filer, a “Sys_Management” file icon 152 and a “Sys_MachineSetting” file icon 154 are displayed. The file icons 152 and 154 respectively represent a file in which a setting parameter used in apparatus configuration is described.
“Sys_Management” file 153 is a file that corresponds to the file icon 152, and in which a setting parameter regarding power management is described in XML format, where the power management is part of the apparatus setting.
The meaning of each tag is as follows.
<mng_id>: Administrator ID
<power_manage>: Power management
<auto_p_off>: whether automatic power-off is to be performed
<p_off_time>: a time at which automatic power-off is to be performed
<auto_p_save>: whether automatic power-saving is to be performed
Referring back to
2-3. Processing at the Side of Web Browser 112
Referring to
The drag and drop detection in Step S11 is for example performed by undergoing the following steps of (1)-(2).
When a drag and drop is detected (S11:Yes), the control is moved to a sub routine shown in
The file contents analysis processing is processing to judge the compatibility of a file, which is to be performed prior to transfer of the file to the MFP 3. Specifically the file contents analysis processing is to prevent a meaningless file that does not contain any setting parameter or a file that contains malicious scripts from being transferred to the MFP 3 and from imposing a processing load on the MFP 3.
First of all, it is judged whether the file extension is valid or not (S21). Specifically, it is designed to be judged valid if the file has an extension of “.xml”, for example.
Subsequently, it is judged whether the item described in the file is valid or not (Step S22). Specifically, it is judged whether the tag described in the file is valid, for example.
Next, it is judged whether the parameter described in the file falls within a valid range or not (Step S23).
When these conditions are judged to be satisfied (S21:Yes, S22:Yes, and S23:Yes), then the file is judged to be valid (Step S24).
Returning back to the main routine of
When the file is invalid (Step S13:No), a message reporting such is displayed (Step S15), where one example of the message states “the file is invalid, a drag and drop operation cannot be pursued”.
2-4. Processing at the Side of MFP 3
Referring to
The control unit 10, upon reception of a file via the web server application unit 30 (Step S31:Yes), controls the XML analysis unit 32 to analyze a setting parameter found in the file (Step S32).
When the file contains a configuration parameter (Step S33:Yes) and the administrator is authorized (Step S34:Yes), the control unit 10 rewrites the existing setting in accordance with the setting of the setting parameter (Step S35). On the contrary, when the file does not contain any configuration parameter (Step S33:No) or the administrator is not authorized (Step S34:No), the control unit 10 controls the web server application unit 30 to transfer an error notification to the web browser 112 (Step S38), so that the web browser 112 can display a notice reporting such on the browser window.
Here, the judgment (Step S34) as to whether or not the administrator is authorized specifically includes (1) judgment as to whether the administrator ID matches, and (2) judgment as to whether the administrator's act lies within the predetermined authorized range.
After completion of the rewriting (Step S36:Yes), a completion notification is transferred to the web browser 112 (Step S37), and the browser window displays a completion notice as shown in
The window 149 is displaying a file name of the configuration file and a notice reporting that the existing system setting (i.e. apparatus setting) has been rewritten in accordance with the configuration file.
According to the present embodiment, the user A who is the administrator of the MFP 3 is able to change the apparatus setting of the MFP 3 only by performing a drag and drop operation of a configuration file icon within the area 145 of the window 140 of the web browser 112. Therefore, intuitive usability is realized.
In addition, if the user A is an administrator of MFPs 4, 5, and 6, then the user A is able to perform configuration of the MFPs only by performing a drag and drop operation of a configuration file icon of a corresponding MFP on a corresponding web browser window, after activating the three web browser windows (URL:http://AAA.BBB.CCC.51, URL:http://AAA.BBB.CCC.52, UJRL:http://AAA.BBB.CCC.53
The overview of the second embodiment is such that the MFP 3 receives, from the web browser 112, a destination (address) setting file to be used in transmission processing performed by the MFP 3, and changes the display manner of the operation panel unit 26 of the MFP 3 according to the received setting file.
In the present embodiment, the structures of the MFP 3 and of the PC100 are the same as those described in the first embodiment, and so these structures are not described in the following description.
1-1. Process Overview
The first half of the present destination setting process (i.e. processing up to set, from the PC 100 by remote control, a destination used in transmission from the MFP 3) is substantially the same as the processes (1)-(10) described above with reference to
1-2. Web Browser Window
Referring to
The desktop screen 239 is displaying a window 240 of a web browser 112 and a window 250 of a filer.
A rectangular area 245 in the window 240 is a drag and drop area for receiving a drag and drop operation of an icon. In the area 245, a message stating “please drag and drop a transmission setting file” is on display.
Within the window 250 of the filer, a “SCAN_TO_Minoru” file icon 252 and a “FAX_TO_Minoru” file icon 254 are displayed. The file icons 252 and 254 respectively represent a file in which a setting parameter for destination setting is described.
The “SCAN_TO_Minoru” file 253 corresponds to the file icon 252.
The meaning of each tab is as follows.
<user_id> . . . user ID
<scan2email> . . . transmission method designation that designates to send an image obtained by scanning an original by mail (if the transmission method should be a FAX transmission, a tag of <FAX> is used).
<mail-from> . . . transmission source of mail
<mail-to> . . . transmission destination of mail
<mail-sub> . . . subject of mail
<scan-resolution> . . . resolution used in scanning
<scan-size> . . . size of an original to be scanned
Note that a “FAX_TO_Minoru” file is a destination setting file used in FAX transmission.
1-3. Processing at the Side of Web Browser 112
The processing performed by the web browser 112 is the same as described above in the first embodiment (see
1-4. Processing at the Side of MFP 3
Referring to
The control unit 10, upon reception of a file via the web server application unit 30 (Step S41:Yes), has the XML analysis unit 32 analyze setting parameters found in the file (Step S42).
In the subsequent step S43, a type of each of the parameters is judged. Specifically, it is judged as “FAX” if the parameter contains a telephone number, and it is judged as “Scan2email” if the parameter does not contain any telephone number.
When it is judged as “FAX” (Step S43:FAX), a FAX transmission one-touch key associated with the telephone number is displayed on the operation panel unit 26 (Step S44).
When it is judged as “Scan2email” (Step S43:Scan2email), a Scan2email transmission one-touch key display processing shown in
If there is a one-touch key display request (Step S51:Yes), and the operator user has logged in the MFP 3 (Step S52:Yes), the one-touch key is displayed on the operation panel unit 26 (Step S53) as shown in
The display screen 54 has a touch panel function as stated above. A one-touch key 55, an “OK” key 56, and a “Cancel” key 57 are selectable upon reception of a “press” (touch).
The upper side of the display screen 54 shows a user name of a user currently logging in (operator user A) and a remaining time before cancellation of the one-touch key setting (180 seconds). This remaining time is decremented as time elapses.
The one-touch key 55 shows “scan2email” as a transmission method and “minoru@zzz.yyy” as a destination of the mail transmission.
Upon “pressing” of the “OK” key 56 while the one-touch key 55 is being selected by being “pressed”, the scanner unit 12 starts reading the original fed by the sheet feeder, thereby generating image data. Then the mail transmission/reception unit 16 creates mail to which image data is attached as a attachment file, and transmits the mail to the designated destination.
Returning back to
When the set time has elapsed (Step S54:Yes), the display of the one-touch key is likewise cancelled (Step S55). If the display cancellation is performed according to the elapsed time in this way, it reduces the possibility of the destination being known to or misused by other users than the user A.
As stated so far, according to the present embodiment, destinations used by the MFP 3 in mail transmission and FAX transmission are able to be set from the PC 100.
If the PC 100 is a terminal that the user A uses on a regular basis, it is possible to make an effective use of the address book used in mail transmission from the PC 100, also in transmission from the MFP 3.
(1) In the second embodiment, a one-touch key is automatically displayed according to a parameter type (
The first portion of the flow (Step S41-S42) of
In Step S63, a transmission method selection screen is displayed. When FAX is selected (Step S64:Yes), a FAX transmission one-touch key is displayed (Step S65). On the contrary, when Scan is selected (Step S64:No, Step S66:Yes), a scan transmission one-touch key is displayed (Step S67).
(2) In the second embodiment, log-in to the MFP 3 is performed using the log-in screen 51 of the operation panel 26. However, as shown in
The authentication apparatus 300 is equipped with a card reading unit 301 in the upper portion of the package.
The card reading unit 301 authenticates a current user of the MFP 3 by reading magnetic information of the card having passed the reading slot.
(3) Although not detailed in the first and second embodiments, the setting file in XML format to undergo a drag and drop operation is for example generated as follows.
Referring to
The XML converter 117 analyzes the data found in the address book 114, thereby generating files in XML format that respectively describes individual names or mail addresses found in the address book. In this drawing, each file in XML format is named “file icon 270”.
(4) In the first and second embodiments, a desktop personal computer is taken as one example of a client (terminal). However the client (terminal) may alternatively be a personal digital assistant (PDA) equipped with a stylus pen as an input device.
Although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples with references to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being included therein.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2006-127687 | May 2006 | JP | national |