Image processing apparatus having BBS function and control method thereof and program therefor, and storage medium

• US 20020046217A1
• Filed: 06/12/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kanazawa, Toshiya
• Granted Patent: US 7,330,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/500
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/005 only locally
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1803 Receiving particular commands
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00477 Indicating status, e.g. of a job for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N2201/3219
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00493 Particular location of the interface or console
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32657 locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

To provide an image processing apparatus or a scheme to set a message displayed on a terminal device externally connected to the image processing apparatus. Arbitrary messages and display timings for the messages can be set. Furthermore, troubles associated with setting of messages can be prevented beforehand.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus having a Web server that can be accessed by external apparatuses, comprising:

display means of a printer having different display areas;

transmission means for transmitting information for a client display screen in which a message to be displayed on said display means is input, to an external apparatus of a first Web client externally connected to said image processing apparatus; and

reception means for receiving first message information based on a message input by the first Web client via the client display screen displayed on the basis of said client display screen information,

wherein said display means displays the message in one of said different display areas on the basis of said received first message information.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first message information contains display area information for providing such control that the message is displayed in one of said different areas, and

wherein said display area information is based on different input areas of said client display screen.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display means displays said first message information with different timings.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said display means displays said first message information with different timings corresponding to said different areas.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first message information contains deletion information indicating whether or not the message displayed by said display means can be deleted.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein that portion of the deletion information indicating whether or not said message can be deleted which indicates that the message can be deleted contains deletion button information on a displayed deletion button.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said different display areas include a first display area as a status display area for displaying a status of said image processing apparatus and a second display area as an operation menu display area for displaying an operation menu of said image processing apparatus.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display means has a function of accepting an operation input via said operation menu.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein if said message is displayed in said second display area, the function of accepting the operation input via said operation menu is not executed.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said display means gives a higher priority to display in said first display area of the status information on said image processing apparatus than to display of said message in said first display area, so that when said status information is not displayed, said message is displayed.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said display means displays said message in said first display area and/or said second display area when no operation has been performed via said operation menu for a predetermined period of time.

12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a timing used when no operation has been performed via said operation menu for the predetermined period of time corresponds to an auto clear operation of resetting a display screen displayed on the display means of said image processing apparatus.

13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transmission means transmits second message information based on the first message information received from said reception means, to an external apparatus of a second Web client externally connected to said image processing means, and

wherein the information transmitted to the external apparatus of said second Web client is screen information displayed on a screen of the external apparatus of said second Web client.

14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said client display screen information contains a function of setting whether or not said second message information based on the first message information displayed on said display means is displayed on the screen of the external apparatus of said second Web client, and the apparatus has means for controlling whether or not to display said second message information on the screen of the external apparatus of said second Web client, depending on said setting for the display.

16. The control method for the image processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said first message information contains display area information for providing such control that the message is displayed in one of said different areas, and

wherein said display area information is based on different input areas of said client display screen.

17. The control method for the image processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said display step comprises displaying said first message information with different timings.

18. The control method for the image processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said display step comprises displaying said first message information with different timings corresponding to said different areas.

19. The control method for the image processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said first message information contains deletion information indicating whether or not the message displayed by said display means can be deleted.

20. The control method for the image processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein that portion of the deletion information indicating whether or not said message can be deleted which indicates that the message can be deleted contains deletion button information on a deletion button displayed at said display step.

21. The control method for the image processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said different display areas include a first display area as a status display area for displaying a status of said image processing apparatus and a second display area as an operation menu display area for displaying an operation menu of said image processing apparatus.

22. The control method for the image processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said display means has a function of accepting an operation input via said operation menu.

23. The control method for the image processing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein if said message is displayed in said second display area, said display step comprises avoiding executing the function of accepting the operation input via said operation menu.

24. The control method for the image processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said display step gives a higher priority to display in said first display area of the status information on said image processing apparatus than to display of said message in said first display area, so that when said status information is not displayed, said message is displayed.

25. The control method for the image processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said display step displays said message in said first display area and/or said second display area when no operation has been performed via said operation menu for a predetermined period of time.

26. The control method for the image processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein a timing used when no operation has been performed via said operation menu for the predetermined period of time corresponds to an auto clear operation of resetting a display screen displayed on the display means of said image processing apparatus.

27. The control method for the image processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said transmission step comprises a second transmission step of transmitting second message information based on the first message information received from said reception means, to an external apparatus of a second Web client externally connected to said image processing means, and

wherein the information transmitted to the external apparatus of said second Web client at said second transmission step is screen information displayed on a screen of the external apparatus of said second Web client.

28. The control method for the image processing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said client display screen information contains a function of setting whether or not said second message information based on the first message information displayed on said display means is displayed on the screen of the external apparatus of said second Web client, and the method has a step of controlling whether or not to display said second message information on the screen of the external apparatus of said second Web client, depending on said setting for the display.

15. A control method for an image processing apparatus comprising a Web server that can be accessed by external apparatuses and a display device having different display areas, comprising:

a transmission step of transmitting information for a client display screen in which a message to be displayed on said display means is input, to an external apparatus of a first Web client externally connected to said image processing apparatus;

a reception step of receiving first message information based on a message input by the first Web client via the client display screen displayed on the basis of said client display screen information; and

a display step of displaying the message in one of said different display areas on the basis of said first message information received by said display device.

29. A program executed by an image processing apparatus including a Web server that can be accessed by external apparatuses, and a display device having different display areas, comprising:

a transmission step of transmitting information for a client display screen in which a message to be displayed on said display device is input, to an external apparatus of a first Web client externally connected to said image processing apparatus;

a reception step of receiving first message information based on a message input by the first Web client via the client display screen displayed on the basis of said client display screen information; and

a display step of displaying the message in one of said different display areas on the basis of said first message information received by said display device.

30. A computer readable storage medium storing a program executed by an image processing apparatus including a Web server that can be accessed by external apparatuses, and a display device having different display areas, comprising:

a transmission step of transmitting information for a client display screen in which a message to be displayed on said display means is input, to an external apparatus of a first Web client externally connected to said image processing apparatus;

a reception step of receiving first message information based on a message input by the first Web client via the client display screen displayed on the basis of said client display screen information; and

a display step of displaying the message in one of said different display areas on the basis of said first message information received by said display device.

31. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

accepting means for accepting a setting for a message displayed on a display unit provided in an image processing apparatus as well as a setting for a timing for display of said message;

storing means for storing a setting for a predetermined process to be executed by said image processing apparatus;

determining means determining whether or not the setting for the timing accepted by said accepting means is effective, on the basis of the predetermined process setting stored in the storage means; and

means for executing, if the determining step has determined that the setting is are ineffective, a process corresponding the ineffectiveness of the setting for the timing for the display of the message.

32. The image processing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said timing is one with which a predetermined process is executed by said image processing apparatus, and if the predetermined process stored in said storage means is not set be executed, said determining means determines that the setting for the timing is ineffective.

33. The image processing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the predetermined process executed correspondingly to said ineffectiveness comprises displaying a warning message or changing the setting stored in said storage means so that the setting for the timing for displaying said message is effective.

34. The image processing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said accepting means accepts the setting for the message and the setting for the timing for displaying said message, the settings being transmitted from a terminal device externally connected to said image processing apparatus.

35. The image processing apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the process of displaying said warning message comprises transmitting said warning message to the terminal device externally connected to said image processing apparatus.

37. The control method according to claim 36, wherein said timing is one with which a predetermined process is executed by said control method, and if the predetermined process stored at said storing step is not set be executed, said determining step determines that the setting for the timing is ineffective.

38. The control method according to claim 36, wherein the predetermined process executed correspondingly to said ineffectiveness comprises displaying a warning message or changing the setting stored at said storing step so that the setting for the timing for displaying said message is effective.

39. The control method according to claim 36, wherein said accepting step accepts the setting for the message and the setting for the timing for displaying said message, the settings being transmitted from a terminal device externally connected to said control method.

40. The control method according to claim 38, wherein the process of displaying said warning message comprises transmitting said warning message to the terminal device externally connected to said control method.

36. A control method, comprising:

an accepting step of accepting a setting for a message displayed on a display unit provided in an image processing apparatus as well as a setting for a timing for display of said message;

a storing step of storing a setting for a predetermined process to be executed by said image processing apparatus;

a determining step of determining whether or not the setting for the timing accepted by said accepting step is effective, on the basis of the predetermined process setting stored at said storing step; and

a step of executing, if the determining step has determined that the setting is are ineffective, a process corresponding the ineffectiveness of the setting for the timing for the display of the message.

41. A program to be executed by an image processing apparatus, comprising:

an accepting step of accepting a setting for a message displayed on a display unit provided in the image processing apparatus as well as a setting for a timing for display of said message;

a storing step of storing a setting for a predetermined process to be executed by said image processing apparatus;

a determining step of determining whether or not the setting for the timing accepted by said accepting step is effective, on the basis of the predetermined process setting stored at said storing step; and

a step of executing, if said determining step has determined that the setting is are ineffective, a process corresponding the ineffectiveness of the setting for the timing for the display of said message.

42. A computer readable storage medium storing program codes for executing:

an accepting step of accepting a setting for a message displayed on a display unit provided in an image processing apparatus as well as a setting for a timing for display of said message;

a storing step of storing a setting for a predetermined process to be executed by said image processing apparatus;

a determining step of determining whether or not the setting for the timing accepted by said accepting step is effective, on the basis of the predetermined process setting stored at said storing step; and

a step of executing, if said determining step has determined that the setting is are ineffective, a process corresponding the ineffectiveness of the setting for the timing for the display of the message.