JP2003248637A - Image processing apparatus, control method for image processing apparatus, program, and computer-readable storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To easily register other images simply by registering an application added for each user and an operation parameter setting of the application set for each user for one image processing apparatus. It can be registered for the processing device. An image processing apparatus capable of adding and deleting a plurality of embedded applications includes a user identification unit that identifies a user who executes the embedded application, and a storage unit that stores information on the embedded application separately for each user. , Network 11
01, communication means for exchanging information on the embedded application with another image processing apparatus 1202, information on the application for each user stored by the storage means, and information on the application of the user stored by the other image processing apparatus 1202 And a control means for synchronizing the information based on the communication by the communication means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to a scanner,
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having a printer, a network interface, a user interface, a file system, etc., a control method for the image processing apparatus, a program, and a computer-readable storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A multi-function product (MFP), which is a combination of various image input / output functions based on a copying machine, a fax machine, a printer, etc., achieves a wide variety of image processing functions by an embedded application installed in the system of the apparatus. ing.

On the other hand, the user who uses the function is specified by keying in the department ID code or inserting an ID card. Alternatively, some keys are displayed on the operation screen of the function, the operation parameter settings are registered for each key, and the mode memory or one-touch that is configured so that the user can recall the favorite settings often used by pressing the key once Some functions provide keys.

Further, there has been proposed a device whose function can be expanded by adding an embedded application.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned conventional example has the following problems. That is, the function of the MFP can be expanded by providing a built-in application addition mechanism, but when a wide variety of built-in applications are added, one MF can be added.
In some cases, it may be difficult for the user to select an application that the user wants to start from among many built in P. Therefore,
Not all applications are required by all users, so if you configure each user who operates the device to display the choices of applications registered by that user, application selection will be easier, but that information will be available. Because it is closed inside one MFP,
In an environment where a user uses a plurality of MFPs connected to a network, the above information must be individually registered in a large number of MFPs, which compels the user to perform complicated operations.

Similarly, when a wide variety of built-in applications are installed, it is desired to be able to register operation parameters reflecting the user's preference for each of a large number of built-in MFPs. . However, in an environment where a user uses a plurality of MFPs connected to a network, the above information must be individually registered in a large number of MFPs, which compels the user to perform complicated operations.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in an image processing apparatus which is used by being connected to a plurality of network environments and in which functions are added by an embedded application, the application added for each user and the user added for each user. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily register the operation parameter settings of the application to be set for one image processing apparatus by simply registering the setting for that image processing apparatus.

[0008]

An image processing apparatus will be described as a means for solving the above problems. The image processing apparatus of the present invention is an image processing apparatus capable of adding and deleting an embedded application incorporated in the apparatus. A user specifying means for specifying a user who executes the embedded application, and a storage means for storing information related to the embedded application separately for each user,
The present invention relates to a communication unit for communicating information about an embedded application with another device via a network, information about an embedded application for each user stored by the storage unit, and an embedded application for each user stored in another device. It is characterized in that it is provided with a control means for matching information with the communication means.

Another image processing apparatus of the present invention is an image processing apparatus capable of adding and deleting an embedded application installed in the apparatus, and a user specifying means for specifying a user who executes the embedded application, and a network. An acquisition unit that acquires information about an embedded application unique to each user from a sharing unit that stores information about the embedded application shared by another device via each of the users, and is acquired by the acquisition unit. The present invention is characterized in that a control means for operating the embedded application according to information regarding the embedded application unique to each user is provided.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, referring to the drawings, an image processing apparatus of the present invention, a control method of an image processing apparatus, a program,
An embodiment of a computer-readable storage medium will be described.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the network system of this embodiment. The network 1101 is a network that provides a logical communication circuit between a plurality of image processing devices and information processing devices.

The image processing apparatus 1201 is an image processing apparatus whose function can be expanded by adding an embedded application. The preference 13 is information unique to each user stored in the image processing apparatus 1201 and includes a program related to an embedded application used when the image processing apparatus 1201 operates and data handled by the program.

The image processing apparatus 1202 is another image processing apparatus configured in the same manner as the image processing apparatus 1201 described above, and the image processing apparatus 120 is connected via the network 1101.
It is possible to communicate with 1. The preference 14 is information unique to each user stored in the image processing apparatus 1202 and includes a program related to an embedded application used when the image processing apparatus 1202 operates and data handled by the program.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the image processing apparatus 1201. As shown in the figure, the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2
The image input / output control unit 3 connected to the
The storage unit 5, the computer interface unit 7, the RIP (raster image processor) unit 8, the operation unit 9, and the core unit 10 are provided.

The reader unit 1 reads an image of a document and outputs image data corresponding to the document image to the image input / output control unit 3. The printer unit 2 records an image according to the image data from the image input / output control unit 3 on recording paper.

The facsimile unit 4 expands the compressed image data received via the telephone line, transfers the expanded image data to the core unit 10, and the image data transferred from the core unit 10 via the telephone line. Is transmitted. The image data to be transmitted / received can be temporarily stored in the hard disk 6 connected to the storage unit 5.

The storage unit 5 compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10 and stores it in the hard disk 6 together with an ID number for searching the image data. The storage unit 5 also searches the compressed image data stored in the hard disk 6 based on the code data transferred via the core unit 10 and transfers the searched compressed image data to the core unit 10. is there.

The computer interface unit 7 is an interface between the network 1101 and the core unit 10, and exchanges data with the client computer and other devices.

The RIP unit 8 expands code data (PDL) representing an image transferred from the network 1101 into image data which can be recorded by the printer unit 2.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a concrete structure of the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2. First, the reader unit 1 will be described. The document feeding device 101 feeds the documents one by one in order from the beginning onto the platen glass 102, and ejects the document on the platen glass 102 after the reading operation of the document is completed. When a document is fed onto the platen glass 102, the lamp 103
Is turned on, the movement of the scanner unit 104 is started, and the original is exposed and scanned. The reflected light from the document at this time is reflected by the mirrors 105, 106, 107 and the lens 1.
It is guided to the CCD image sensor 109 by 08.
In this way, the scanned image of the document is read by the CCD image sensor 109. The image data output from the CCD image sensor 109 is subjected to predetermined processing and then transferred to the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3.

Next, the printer section 2 will be described. The laser driver 221 drives the laser emission unit 201, and causes the laser emission unit 201 to emit laser light according to the image data output from the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3. Laser light from the laser emitting unit 201 is scanned on the photosensitive drum 202, and a latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 202. The developer (toner) is attached to the latent image on the photosensitive drum 202 by the developing device 203. Then, at the timing synchronized with the start of laser light irradiation, the cassette 204
Also, the recording paper is fed from any one of the cassette 205 and conveyed to the transfer unit 206, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 202 is transferred onto the recording paper. The recording paper on which the toner image has been transferred is transferred to the fixing unit 207, and the toner image on the recording paper is fixed to the fixing unit 2.
It is fixed by heat and pressure of 07. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 207 is ejected by the ejection roller 208, and the finisher 220 sorts the ejected recording papers to sort the recording papers or staples the sorted recording papers.

When double-sided recording is set, after the recording paper is conveyed to the discharge roller 208, the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed and the flapper 209 guides the recording paper to the re-feeding conveyance path 210. The recording paper is fed to the transfer unit 206 at the timing described above.

FIG. 4 shows the image processing apparatus 12 shown in FIG.
The external appearance of the operation unit 9 of 01 is shown. 2602 is a panel, a liquid crystal display 2601 with a touch panel,
Multiple hardkeys are located. 2603 is an LED
(Light emitting diode) display section for displaying a state. A screen contrast adjustment dial 2604 adjusts the screen contrast.

The operation unit 9 is also provided with a buzzer or the like (not shown). The button image displayed on the liquid crystal display 2601 is interlocked with the input coordinate calculation of the touch panel,
Functions as a software key. The user interface is used to give operation instructions and operation settings to the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 5 shows the image processing apparatus 12 shown in FIG.
01 shows the configuration of the core unit 10. The core unit 10 includes interfaces 120 and 122, a data processing unit 122, and a CP.
It has a U 123 and a memory 124.

The image data from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 via the interface 122. The data processing unit 121 is for performing image processing such as image rotation processing and scaling processing and image data compression and decompression, and internally has a page memory capable of storing a plurality of pages of image data corresponding to A4 / Letter size. Have.

The image data transferred from the reader unit 1 to the data processing unit 121 is temporarily stored in the page memory, then compressed and transferred to the storage unit 5 via the interface 120.

Code data (PDL) representing an image input via the computer interface unit 7 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 via the interface 120, then temporarily stored in the page memory, and then compressed. Then, it is transferred to the storage unit 5.

The image data from the facsimile unit 4 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, temporarily stored in the page memory, compressed, and transferred to the storage unit 5.

The image data from the storage unit 5 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, decompressed and temporarily stored in the page memory, and then transferred to the printer unit 2, the facsimile unit 4, and the computer interface unit 7. To be done. The storage unit 5 can also input / output image data and non-image data via the computer interface unit 7 and provide a data storage function to an external device.

Incidentally, after inputting various image data to the above-mentioned data processing unit 121 and temporarily storing it in the page memory, before transferring the image data to the storage unit 5, the printer unit 2, the facsimile unit 4, the computer 4, It is also possible to transfer to the interface unit 7 by switching the internal selector.

The CPU 123 performs such control according to the control program stored in the memory 124 and the control command transferred from the operation unit 9. Memory 12
4 is also used as a work area of the CPU 123.

As described above, with the core unit 10 as the center, the original image is read, the image is printed, the image is transmitted and received, the image is stored, and the data is input and output from the computer via the data processing unit 121 and the storage unit 5. It is possible to perform processing that combines functions such as.

Next, job control in the image processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 6 that logically shows the unit of job control. The unit of job control is input and output processing for a group of image data including multiple pages. Controlled jobs are roughly classified into input jobs and output jobs.

The input job includes an image input job 411 for sequentially recording the image data read by the reader unit 1 in the storage unit 5, and an image input job 412 for sequentially recording the image data expanded by the RIP unit 8 in the storage unit 5. And an image input job 413 for sequentially recording the image data received by the facsimile unit 4 in the storage unit 5, and a data input job for sequentially recording the image data or non-image data input from the computer interface unit 7 in the storage unit 5. 414.

The output job includes an image output job 401 for sequentially outputting the image data read from the storage section to the printer section 2, and an image output job 4 for sequentially outputting the image data read from the storage section 5 to the facsimile section 4.
03 and a data output job 404 that outputs image data or non-image data read from the storage unit 5 to the computer interface unit 7 according to the same.

The core unit 10 can realize various image input / output functions such as a copy function, a transmission function, a reception function and a box function by freely combining the above unit jobs.

FIG. 7 is a software hierarchy diagram conceptually showing the hierarchical relationship of the software module group operating on the CPU 123 of the core section 10. In the figure, the upper module calls and uses the service of the lower module.

The RTOS 701 is a real-time operating system, and is software that schedules various resources used by a software module group such as a CPU and a memory, and provides an operating environment for operating other software module groups operating thereon. It is a module.

721, 722, 724, 725, 72
Reference numerals 6, 727, 728, and 729 are device driver groups that are incorporated in the RTOS 701 and provide an algorithm and a data structure for device control within the framework thereof. The reader unit 1, the printer unit 2, the facsimile unit 4, and The storage unit 5, the hard disk unit 6, the computer interface unit 7, the RIP unit 8, and the operation unit 9 are controlled.

The job / device controller 702
It is a software module that controls devices by the device driver group described above and controls various image input / output jobs.

The controller API 703 provides a software-like interface for making the job and device control functions executed by the job / device controller 702 available to the application layer software modules located in a higher layer.

The native application framework 704 is a framework that provides a framework for operating a group of native applications, and its functions are the following three. That is, the first function is the controller API 70 issued by each native application.
It is to arbitrate the request to 3 and prevent conflict. The second function is to natively operate in parallel by selectively switching and connecting the user interface mechanism such as screen display and key input of the operation unit 9 to each of the component groups included in the framework. It is to provide a user interface environment that can be virtually occupied for each application group.
The third function is to collect the changed parts of each application, which are changed depending on the destination of the product and which are changed for the localization, to provide an environment in which the application group can be easily localized.

Reference numerals 705 to 708 are a group of native applications which are incorporated in the native application framework 704 and which are called from 704 and provide algorithms and data structures for realizing various functions. The copy 705 realizes a copy function of printing a copy of image data obtained by reading a document on paper. The transmission 706 provides a transmission function of transmitting image data obtained by reading a document to one or more destinations using various data transfer protocols. The box 707 provides an image database function of accumulating image data input from various image inputs in the storage 5, and searching the image data accumulated in the storage unit 5 and outputting the image data to various image outputs.
The other application 708 is a group of other applications that operate in the native application framework 704. For example, a reception function that manages an image input job group that asynchronously receives image data from various image inputs such as a communication line and a computer interface. There are applications that provide

J located on the other side of RTOS 701
The VM 709 is a well-known Java (R) interpreter environment. The Java (R) interpreter environment is composed of a set of Java (R) virtual machine and a group of class libraries, and provides an operating environment for software modules written in the Java (R) language. Java
The (R) interpreter environment can dynamically read an intermediate representation of an interpreter instruction sequence called a bytecode generated as a result of compiling a program written in Java (R) language at the time of execution. A Java (R) interpreter called a Java (R) virtual machine sequentially interprets and executes each read byte code. Java (R)
Is similar to the known machine language of a stack machine type processor, and the Java (R) interpreter operates in the same manner as a stack machine type CPU.

Reference numerals 710, 712, and 713 are a group of class libraries constituting the Java (R) interpreter environment.
The controller API 710 is the controller API 703.
Is a class library that is wrapped so that it can be used by an application group written in Java (R).

The connection of the JNI 711 indicates communication for connecting between the controller API 703 for the application described by the native machine instruction and the controller API 710 for the application described by the Java (R), and the known Java ( R) Native In
It is realized by interface (JNI). UIA
The PI 712 is a class library used by an application written in Java (R) to interface with a user, and a well-known software interface set such as AWT or Swing is installed so as to fit the operation unit 9. Is. The other class library 713 includes a standard class library group defined as standard in the Java (R) environment.

The Java (R) application framework 714 is a framework that provides a framework for operating an application group written in Java (R), and its functions are the following two. That is, the first function is to operate multiple Java on the JVM 709 that operates only on the real-time operating system 701.
(R) To operate multiple applications, multiple Ja
This is to manage the va (R) thread and allocate the execution context to the main method of the class that describes the Java (R) application. The second function is the user interface mechanism such as the screen display and key input of the operation unit 9,
By selectively switching, connecting, and adjusting each of the components included in the framework, a virtual occupying user interface environment is provided for each Java (R) application group operating in parallel. That is. The function of the latter is the operation unit 9
Through the arbitration function of the device driver of the above, it cooperates with the second function of the native application framework.

Applications 715, 716, 717
Is a Java (R) application group, and in order to provide various additional functions to the image input / output device, the image input / output device can be dynamically additionally installed after application shipment in units of applications.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a data structure of preferences for each user managed by the Java (R) application framework 714. A user list 801 is an entry point for searching information for each user. Here, the user list 801 includes records for two people. Each of the records corresponding to each user includes the values of UID, GID, and APPS, and represents the user ID, the group ID, and the reference to the user application list, respectively.

Reference numerals 802 and 803 denote user application lists of the respective users, which are a subset of the system application group incorporated in the system, and describe the application group that the user may use. Each of the records corresponding to each application includes the values of PREF, MTIME, and REF. References to the application preference data, the last update time of the application preference data, reference to the corresponding application record in the system application list, Represents

Numerals 804 and 805 are application preference data, which include information on the operation parameter setting of the corresponding embedded application according to the preference of the corresponding user.

A system application list 806 describes all the applications installed in the system. In each record corresponding to each application, APPLICATION, #REF,
The JAR value is included, which includes an application identifier, a reference counter, and a reference to the application archive file, respectively. #REF indicates the number of references in which each record is referenced from the user application list.

Reference numeral 807 denotes application archive file data, which is an archive of a class file group describing an algorithm for implementing an application and a data structure.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the liquid crystal display 2601 with a touch panel of the operation unit 9 and shows a user login screen. The user login screen is displayed to identify the user.

Reference numeral 901 denotes a user name input field,
Input the identification information uniquely assigned to each user. A password input field 902 is used to input a password character string corresponding to a user name. In both fields, when the coordinates in the field are tapped, a soft keyboard is displayed on the screen (not shown) on the liquid crystal display, and an arbitrary character string can be input using the soft keyboard. Password input field 9
The character string entered in 02 is not displayed on the screen.

When a correct character string is input in the field of the user login screen and then the OK button 903 is tapped, the user is specified and the subsequent operations until logging out are handled as those executed by the user. When the Cancel button 904 is tapped, the user login screen is exited to return to the screen that was previously displayed, and subsequent operations are handled as those performed by the default guest user.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the liquid crystal display 2601 with a touch panel of the operation unit 9 and shows an extended application starting screen. The extended application start screen is an operation screen for starting the added embedded application.

Reference numerals 1001, 1002 and 1003 denote built-in application start buttons. Even if there are many built-in applications registered in the system, the user operating this screen registers only three applications according to their preference, and the program for displaying the application startup screen is the data shown in FIG. The structure can detect this preference and display a startup screen optimized for it. For this reason, it is possible to display each button in a large size, and a user interface is provided in which the application can be easily identified and used.

Reference numeral 1004 denotes an application registration button, which is tapped by the operating user when registering the use of a new application. Reference numeral 1005 denotes an application delete button, which is tapped by the operating user to delete the application registration. Reference numeral 1006 denotes an application preference edit button, which is tapped when the user who is operating changes the operation parameter setting of the application. Reference numeral 1007 denotes a sync button, which is tapped when synchronizing the preference data relating to the operating user included in the preference 13 of the image processing apparatus 1201 and the preference 14 of the other image processing apparatus 1202.

Reference numeral 1008 denotes another image processing apparatus list edit button, which edits the settings of another image processing apparatus group which is reachable on the network 1101 and which is a partner machine for synchronizing the preference data. Other image processing devices included in the list may be automatically discovered by writing a broadcast packet instructing a response request to the network 1101 and collecting the response, or manually registered by the user. May be added and deleted.
Also, automatic discovery and manual editing may be combined. 1009 is a return button, and the return button 100
When 9 is tapped, the extended application start screen is exited, and the standard installed application screen as shown in FIG. 4, for example, is restored.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a data structure managed by the Java (R) application framework 714, and is a log recording a series of operations added to profile data for each user in time series. Each record corresponding to each operation is MTIME, OPERATIO
Each value of N and OPERAND is included and represents the time when the operation is performed, an identifier that describes the type of the operation, and the operation target. The operation add records an event in which the additional registration process of the application described as the operation target is performed. Operation r
“Emove” records the event that the registration deletion process of the application described as the operation target is performed. Operation modi
fy records the event that the operation parameter setting of the application described as the operation target is changed. Operation syn
c is between another image processing device described as the operation target,
Describe the event that the preference data of the user was synchronized.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the preference data synchronization process performed when the synchronization button 1007 is tapped. The synchronization process is performed between two image processing devices connected to the network. When the synchronization process is activated in one device, a TCP connection is established to a predetermined port of the other device. After that, both perform the same procedure.

That is, first, of the log data shown in FIG. 11, the logs after the synchronization process performed in the past and recent times with the partner device are exchanged with each other (step S1201). Next, one record is selected in chronological order from the log of the received partner machine (step S1202). The operation of the selected record is determined (step S1203), and if the operation is other than modify, step S12.
04, if the operation is modify, the process proceeds to step S1211.

In step S1204, it is determined whether the operation of the selected record is add or remove (step S1204). If true, step S12.
If it is false, the procedure moves to step S1214.

In step S1205, both the log received from the other device and the log held at a certain time are searched, and the operation add or remove of the selected record is performed.
Is the latest add or remove for the application described in that operand (step S1205). If it is the latest registration or deletion processing for the application, step S1
The process proceeds to 206, and if not latest, the process proceeds to step S1214.

In step S1206, whether or not the operation of the selected record is add (that is, r
It is determined whether it is an move (step S120).
6) If it is add, the process proceeds to step S1207, and rem
If it is ove, the process proceeds to step S1210.

In step S1207, the system application list 806 is searched to determine whether the operand of the add operation of the selected record has been effectively installed in the system (step S1207), and the operand is validated in the system. If the application is not registered, the process proceeds to step S1208, and if it is the registered application, the process proceeds to step S1209.

In step S1208, an acquisition request for the application archive of the application is issued to the partner machine, the application archive file is downloaded and stored, and the system application list 806 is updated (step S1208).

Next, the user application list 802 of the user is updated, the application is registered as an application used by the user, and a log is recorded (step S1209). Then, it progresses to step S1214.

On the other hand, in step S1210, if the application described as the operand of the remove operation of the selected record is included in the registration of the application used by the user, the user application list 802 of the user is updated and updated. Is removed and a log is recorded (step S121).
0).

On the other hand, in step S1211, both the log received from the partner machine and the log held at a certain time are searched and the operation of the selected record is modified.
Is the latest modify for the application described in that operand (step S1211). If it is the latest application preference update processing for the application, the process proceeds to step S1212, and if it is not the latest, step S1.
Proceed to 214.

In step S1212, an acquisition request for the application preference data 804 of the application is issued to the partner machine, the application preference data is downloaded and stored (step S1212), and the user application list 802 of the user is updated. The downloaded application preference is referred to as a user-specific application operation parameter, and a log is recorded (step S1213).

Next, in step S1214, it is determined whether or not the time series scanning of the log received from the partner machine is completed (step S1214). If completed, step S121
If the unscanned log remains in step 5, step S12.
Return to 02 and repeat a series of procedures.

In step S1215, the time-series points at which the synchronization processing with the other device is performed are recorded in a log (step S1215), and the procedure for synchronization is completed.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are conceptual diagrams illustrating the processing contents of the synchronization processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 13, (A) shows a log regarding a certain user held by the Java (R) application framework of the image processing apparatus 1201. (B) shows preference data regarding the same user held by the Java (R) application framework of the image processing apparatus 1201. (C) is a Java of another image processing apparatus 1202.
The log for the same user maintained by the a (R) application framework is shown. (D) is the image processing device 12
02 shows preference data regarding the same user held by the Java (R) application framework 02.

FIG. 14 shows a state after the synchronization processing is applied to the state shown in FIG. In FIG.
(A) shows a log regarding a certain user held by the Java (R) application framework of the image processing apparatus 1201. (B) is Java of the image processing apparatus 1201
(R) Shows preference data for the same user held by the application framework. (C) shows a log regarding the same user held by the Java (R) application framework of another image processing apparatus 1202. (D) shows preference data regarding the same user held by the Java (R) application framework of the image processing apparatus 1202.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
In an image processing apparatus capable of adding and deleting a Java (R) application incorporated in the apparatus, a login screen for identifying a user is provided, information regarding the embedded application is stored separately for each user, and other apparatuses and the other apparatuses are connected via a network. By exchanging and synchronizing information,
It is possible to provide an image processing apparatus in which the user's favorite settings made by each user in a plurality of image processing apparatuses can be commonly used in any image processing apparatus used by the user.

In FIG. 10, the sync button 100
Not only does the preference data synchronize when you tap 7, but also automatically synchronizes when the preference data related to the user is updated, such as adding or deleting the user application list or changing the application preference data. May be configured to perform.

Similarly, when the sync button 1007 is tapped, not only is the preference data synchronized,
The timer may be configured to automatically perform the synchronization process periodically or when a certain condition such as a light load on the image processing apparatus or a light network load is satisfied.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the structure of a network of another embodiment. In the figure, 1201, 12
Reference numerals 02 and 1203 denote image processing devices, respectively. NFS
Reference numeral 1501 denotes a network file server, which is connected to the network and provides a common storage area that can be read and written by the image processing apparatus group via the network to realize file sharing between the image processing apparatuses.

Reference numeral 15 is the preference data described with reference to FIG. 8, and the image processing devices 1201, 1202, 120.
It is updated when write access is made from any of the three, and when any of the image processing apparatuses needs the preference data, this data is read.

According to the present embodiment, each image processing apparatus exchanges the preference data unique to each user with the common network file server, and operates the embedded application according to the preference data acquired from the network file server. Thus, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus in which the user's favorite settings made by the user in each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses can be commonly used in any image processing apparatus used by the user.

(Other Embodiments) In order to operate various devices so as to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments, a computer in an apparatus or system connected to the various devices is operated in the above-described embodiment. Supply the program code of software to realize the function of
What was carried out by operating the above-mentioned various devices according to the program stored in the computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is also included in the category of the present invention.

In this case, the program code itself of the software realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself constitutes the present invention. As a transmission medium of the program code, a communication medium (a wired line such as an optical fiber or a wireless line) in a computer network (LAN, WAN such as the Internet, a wireless communication network, etc.) system for propagating and supplying the program information as a carrier wave. Etc.) can be used.

Further, means for supplying the program code to the computer, for example, a recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. A flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used as a recording medium for storing the program code.

Further, by executing the supplied program code by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS (operating system) or the other where the program code is operating in the computer. It goes without saying that the program code is also included in the embodiment of the present invention when the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized in cooperation with the application software of the above.

Furthermore, after the supplied program code is stored in the memory provided in the function expansion board of the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or function expansion unit is instructed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the present invention also includes a case where the CPU or the like included in the above-mentioned performs some or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

The shapes and structures of the respective parts shown in the above-mentioned embodiments are merely examples of the embodiment for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is thereby provided. It should not be construed as limiting. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit or the main features thereof.

[0090]

As described above, according to the present invention, in an image processing apparatus which is used by being connected to a plurality of network environments and added with functions by an embedded application, an application to be added for each user and a setting for each user are set. It is possible to easily register the operating parameter settings of the application for other image processing devices by simply registering them for one image processing device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing device 1201.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a specific structure of a reader unit 1 and a printer unit 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an external appearance of an operation unit 9 of the image processing apparatus 1201.

5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing device 1201 core unit 10. FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating job control in the image processing apparatus.

7 is a software hierarchy diagram conceptually showing the hierarchical relationship of software module groups operating on the CPU 123 of the core unit 10. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a data structure of preferences for each user managed by the Java (R) application framework 714.

9 is a diagram showing an example of a login screen displayed on a liquid crystal display 2601 with a touch panel of the operation unit 9. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an extended application starting screen displayed on a liquid crystal display 2601 with a touch panel of the operation unit 9.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a data structure managed by a Java (R) application framework 714.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a synchronization process of preference data.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of preference data before application of synchronization processing.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of preference data after application of synchronization processing.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network system according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Reader section 2 Printer section 3 Image processing device 4 Facsimile department 5 Storage department 7 Computer interface section 8 RIP section 9 Operation part 10 core part 1101, 1102 network 1201 to 1203 image processing apparatus 1501 Network file server

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus capable of adding and deleting an embedded application incorporated in the apparatus, wherein user specifying means for identifying a user who executes the embedded application and information regarding the embedded application are stored separately for each user. Storage means, communication means for communicating information regarding embedded applications with other devices via a network, information regarding embedded applications for each user stored by the storage means and users stored in other devices An image processing apparatus, comprising: a control unit configured to match information regarding an embedded application for each of the units based on communication by the communication unit. 2. An image processing apparatus capable of adding and deleting an embedded application installed in the apparatus, the user specifying unit for specifying a user who executes the embedded application, and the image processing apparatus being shared with another apparatus via a network. According to the information about the embedded application specific to each user, the acquisition unit acquiring the information about the embedded application specific to each user from the sharing unit that stores the information related to the embedded application separately for each user. An image processing apparatus comprising: a control unit that operates an embedded application. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information about the embedded application includes a program that describes an algorithm that realizes the application. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information regarding the embedded application includes data describing an operation parameter of the application. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a booting unit that boots the embedded application, wherein the storage unit stores a set of embedded applications that can be booted by the booting unit. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit synchronizes information regarding the embedded application when the setting information stored in the storage unit is changed. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit synchronizes information regarding the embedded application according to an instruction from a user. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit periodically synchronizes information regarding the embedded application. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sharing unit is a network file server that provides a storage area. 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the other apparatus is another image processing apparatus. 11. A method for controlling an image processing apparatus capable of adding and deleting an embedded application incorporated in the apparatus, comprising a user identification procedure for identifying a user who executes the embedded application, and information regarding the embedded application for each user. A storage procedure that distinguishes and stores information, a communication procedure that communicates information about embedded applications with other devices via a network, information about embedded applications for each user stored by the storage procedure, and information stored on other devices. And a control procedure for matching information regarding the embedded application for each user based on the communication according to the communication procedure. 12. A method for controlling an image processing apparatus capable of adding and deleting an embedded application incorporated in the apparatus, comprising a user identification procedure for identifying a user who executes the embedded application, and another apparatus via a network. And an acquisition procedure for acquiring information about an embedded application unique to each user from a sharing unit that stores information related to the embedded application shared by each user, and an embedded application unique to each user acquired by the acquisition procedure. And a control procedure for operating an embedded application in accordance with information about the image processing apparatus. 13. A program for controlling an image processing apparatus capable of adding and deleting an embedded application to be embedded in the apparatus, the user identifying process for identifying a user who executes the embedded application, and information about the embedded application. A storage process that distinguishes and stores for each user, a communication process that communicates information regarding an embedded application with another device via a network, information regarding an embedded application for each user stored by the storage process, and another device A program for executing a control process of matching information related to an embedded application for each user stored on the basis of communication by the communication process. 14. A program for controlling an image processing apparatus capable of adding and deleting an embedded application incorporated in the apparatus, comprising: a user identifying process for identifying a user who executes the embedded application; An acquisition process of acquiring information about an embedded application unique to each user from a sharing unit that stores information about the embedded application shared with other devices separately for each user, and for each user acquired by the acquisition process. A program for executing a control process for operating an embedded application according to information about a specific embedded application. 15. A computer-readable storage medium having the program according to claim 13 or 14 stored therein.