Multifunctional apparatus, method for controlling multifunctional apparatus, control apparatus, method for controlling control apparatus, system for controlling multifunctional apparatus, control program, and computer-readable storage medium

• US 8,132,107 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2007
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Honma, Tomoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Pesin, Boris
• Assistant Examiner(s): SONG, DAEHO D
• Application Number:
  US11/799,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20070283295A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 715/847, 715/740, 715/827, 358/400
• US Class Current: 715/740
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00384 Key input means, e.g. buttons or keypads electromechanical details of key input means in general H01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00464 using browsers, i.e. interfaces based on mark-up languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00503 Customising to a particular machine or model, machine function or application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0097 Storage of instructions or parameters, e.g. customised instructions or different parameters for different user IDs
• 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 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

A multifunctional apparatus is capable of switching between a standard operation mode in which a Web service layer stops operating and an OS mode in which the Web service layer operates. In the OS mode, the multifunctional apparatus informs an external control apparatus of pressed-hardware-button information indicative of a pressed hardware button detected by a user interface layer. In the control apparatus, an event process section reads out, from a shortcut button storage section, process-contents information corresponded with button identification information indicative of the hardware button indicated by the pressed-hardware-button information, and a device control section transmits, to the multifunctional apparatus, a control instruction for executing a device process indicated by the process-contents information. Thereafter, in the multifunctional apparatus, the Web service layer acquires the control instruction from the control apparatus and executes the device process in accordance with the acquired control instruction. This allows for realizing a system for controlling a multifunctional apparatus, capable of executing, with only one touch, a process that has been registered.

Claims

1. A multifunctional apparatus, executing a device process obtained by suitably combining element functions which include (i) at least one of an image reading function and an image forming function and (ii) a communication function, comprising:

input buttons being hardware buttons provided in an operation section of the multifunctional apparatus;

pressed button detecting means for detecting one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus which has been pressed;

first execution means for executing a device process which has been corresponded with said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus detected by the pressed button detecting means;

pressed button information informing means for informing an external control apparatus of pressed button information indicative of said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus detected by the pressed button detecting means;

second execution means for acquiring, from the external control apparatus, a control instruction corresponding to said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus indicated by the pressed button information informed by the pressed button information informing means and, for executing a device process in the multifunctional apparatus in accordance with the acquired control instruction; and

mode setting means for setting either (i) a first mode in which the first execution means operates and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means stop operating or (ii) a second mode in which the first execution mode stops operating and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means operate, wherein the first mode is executed locally by pressing the input button on the multifunctional apparatus, and the second mode is executed remotely by acquiring a control instruction from the external control apparatus that corresponds to the pressed input button,

wherein if the multifunctional apparatus is in the first mode when the pressed button detecting means detects that the one of the input buttons has been pressed, the first execution means operates and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means do not operate, and

if the multifunctional apparatus is in the second mode when the pressed button detecting means detects that the one of the input buttons has been pressed, the first execution means does not operate and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means operate.

2. The multifunctional apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the pressed button information informing means further outputs, to the external control apparatus, user identification information by which a user who is using the multifunctional apparatus is identified, and

the second execution means acquires, from the external control apparatus, a control instruction corresponding to the pressed button information and the user identification information informed by the pressed button information informing means.

3. An external control apparatus, connected via a communication network with a multifunctional apparatus which executes a device process obtained by suitably combining element functions which include (i) at least one of an image reading function and an image forming function and (ii) a communication function, said external control apparatus controlling the device process of the multifunctional apparatus, said multifunctional apparatus comprising:

input buttons being hardware buttons provided in an operation section of the multifunctional apparatus;

pressed button detecting means for detecting one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus which has been pressed;

first execution means for executing a device process which has been corresponded with said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus detected by the pressed button detecting means;

pressed button information informing means for informing an-the external control apparatus of pressed button information indicative of said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus detected by the pressed button detecting means;

second execution means for acquiring, from the external control apparatus, a control instruction corresponding to said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus indicated by the pressed button information informed by the pressed button information informing means, and for executing a device process in the multifunctional apparatus in accordance with the acquired control instruction; and

mode setting means for setting either (i) a first mode in which the first execution means operates and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means stop operating or (ii) a second mode in which the first execution mode stops operating and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means operate, wherein the first mode is executed locally by pressing the input button on the multifunctional apparatus, and the second mode is executed remotely by acquiring a control instruction from the external control apparatus that corresponds to the pressed input button,

wherein if the multifunctional apparatus is in the first mode when the pressed button detecting means detects that the one of the input buttons has been pressed, the first execution means operates and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means do not operate, and

if the multifunctional apparatus is in the second mode when the pressed button detecting means detects that the one of the input buttons has been pressed, the first execution means does not operate and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means operate, said external control apparatus comprising;

a storage section in which shortcut information is stored, the shortcut information being information in which (i) button identification information by which an input button of the multifunctional apparatus is identified and (ii) at least one device process identification information indicative of a device process in the multifunctional apparatus are corresponded with each other;

reading means for acquiring, from the multifunctional apparatus, pressed button information indicative of a pressed input button out of the input buttons of the multifunctional apparatus, and for reading out, from the storage section, device process identification information corresponded with button identification information indicative of the input button indicated by the pressed button information; and

control instruction transmitting means for transmitting, to the multifunctional apparatus, a control instruction for executing a device process indicated by the device process identification information read out by the reading means.

4. The external control apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein

the shortcut information further includes at least one program identification information by which a program is identified, said at least one program identification information being corresponded with the button identification information, and

the reading means further reads out program identification information corresponded with button identification information indicative of an input button indicated by pressed button information acquired from the multifunctional apparatus,

said external control apparatus further comprising program execution controlling means for causing the external control apparatus or other information processing apparatus to execute a program indicated by the program identification information read out by the reading means.

5. The external control apparatus as set forth in claim 3, further comprising user information acquiring means for acquiring user identification information indicative of a user who is using the multifunctional apparatus,

the shortcut information being stored in the storage section with respect to each user identification information, and

the reading means reading out the device process identification information from the shortcut information corresponding to the user identification information acquired by the user information acquiring means.

6. The external control apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein

for a plurality of device process identification information included in the shortcut information, the shortcut information includes execution order information indicative of execution orders of device processes, and output data format information indicative of a data format suitable for a device process in a next execution order is added to each of the plurality of device process identification information, and

the control instruction transmitting means causes the control instruction to include an instruction for outputting data in the data format indicated by the output data format information.

7. The external control apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein

input data identification information by which input data necessary for a first device process is identified is added to device process identification information corresponding to the first device process,

when the input data identification information is added to the read out device process identification information, the reading means acquires input data identified by the input data identification information, and

the control instruction transmitting means transmits a control instruction for executing a device process based on the input data.

8. The external control apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein

the shortcut information includes execution order information indicative of execution orders of a device process and a program,

output data format information indicative of a data format suitable for a device process in a next execution order or indicative of a data format suitable for a program in a next execution order is added to the device process identification information and the program identification information,

the control instruction transmitting means causes the control instruction to include an instruction for outputting data in the data format indicated by the output data format information, and

the program execution controlling means executes a program so that data is outputted in the data format indicated by the output data format information.

9. The external control apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein

in a case where a device process is in a first execution order, input data identification information by which input data necessary for executing the device process is identified is added to device process identification information indicative of the device process, and when input data identification information is added to the read out device process identification information, the reading means acquires input data identified by the input data identification information and the control instruction transmitting means transmits a control instruction for executing a device process based on the input data, and

in a case where a program is in a first execution order, input data identification information by which input data necessary for executing the program is identified is added to program identification information indicative of the program, and when input data identification information is added to the read out program identification information, the reading means acquires input data identified by the input data identification information and the program execution controlling means executes the program based on the input data.

10. The external control apparatus as set forth in claim 3, further comprising shortcut registering means for acquiring the shortcut information and for registering the acquired shortcut information in the storage section.

11. The external control apparatus as set forth in claim 4, further comprising shortcut registering means for obtaining usage frequency of each combination of a device process and a program process, and for, when the usage frequency is larger than a predetermined threshold value, automatically generating shortcut information in which device process identification information indicative of a device process with the usage frequency and program identification information indicative of a program with the usage frequency are corresponded with button identification information indicative of one of the input buttons, and storing the shortcut information in the storage section.

12. A system for controlling a multifunctional apparatus, including:

a multifunctional apparatus for executing a device process obtained by suitably combining element functions which include (i) at least one of an image reading function and an image forming function and (ii) a communication function; and

an external control apparatus connected via a communication network with the multifunctional apparatus and controlling the device process of the multifunctional apparatus,

said multifunctional apparatus comprising;

input buttons being hardware buttons provided in an operation section of the multifunctional apparatus;

pressed button detecting means for detecting one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus which has been pressed;

first execution means for executing a device process which has been corresponded with said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus detected by the pressed button detecting means;

pressed button information informing means for informing an-the external control apparatus of pressed button information indicative of said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus detected by the pressed button detecting means;

second execution means for acquiring, from the external control apparatus, a control instruction corresponding to said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus indicated by the pressed button information informed by the pressed button information informing means, and for executing a device process in the multifunctional apparatus in accordance with the acquired control instruction; and

mode setting means for setting either (i) a first mode in which the first execution means operates and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means stop operating or (ii) a second mode in which the first execution mode stops operating and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means operate, wherein the first mode is executed locally by pressing the input button on the multifunctional apparatus, and the second mode is executed remotely by acquiring a control instruction from the external control apparatus that corresponds to the pressed input button,

wherein if the multifunctional apparatus is in the first mode when the pressed button detecting means detects that the one of the input buttons has been pressed, the first execution means operates and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means do not operate, and

if the multifunctional apparatus is in the second mode when the pressed button detecting means detects that the one of the input buttons has been pressed, the first execution means does not operate and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means operate, and said external control apparatus comprising;

a storage section in which shortcut information is stored, the shortcut information being information in which (i) button identification information by which an input button of the multifunctional apparatus is identified and (ii) at least one device process identification information indicative of a device process in the multifunctional apparatus are corresponded with each other;

reading means for acquiring, from the multifunctional apparatus, pressed button information indicative of a pressed input button out of the input buttons of the multifunctional apparatus, and for reading out, from the storage section, device process identification information corresponded with button identification information indicative of the input button indicated by the pressed button information; and

control instruction transmitting means for transmitting, to the multifunctional apparatus, a control instruction for executing a device process indicated by the device process identification information read out by the reading means.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, in which a control program is stored, said control program operating a multifunctional apparatus which executes a device process obtained by suitably combining element functions which include (i) at least one of an image reading function and an image forming function and (ii) a communication function, said multifunctional apparatus including:

input buttons being hardware buttons provided in an operation section of the multifunctional apparatus;

pressed button detecting means for detecting one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus which has been pressed;

first execution means for executing a device process which has been corresponded with said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus detected by the pressed button detecting means;

pressed button information informing means for informing an external control apparatus of pressed button information indicative of said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus detected by the pressed button detecting means;

second execution means for acquiring, from the external control apparatus, a control instruction corresponding to said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus indicated by the pressed button information informed by the pressed button information informing means, and for executing a device process in the multifunctional apparatus in accordance with the acquired control instruction; and

mode setting means for setting either (i) a first mode in which the first execution means operates and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means stop operating or (ii) a second mode in which the first execution mode stops operating and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means operate, wherein the first mode is executed locally by pressing the input button on the multifunctional apparatus, and the second mode is executed remotely by acquiring a control instruction from the external control apparatus that corresponds to the pressed input button,

wherein if the multifunctional apparatus is in the first mode when the pressed button detecting means detects that the one of the input buttons has been pressed, the first execution means operates and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means do not operate, and

if the multifunctional apparatus is in the second mode when the pressed button detecting means detects that the one of the input buttons has been pressed, the first execution means does not operate and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means operate, said control program causing a computer to function as each means of the multifunctional apparatus.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, in which a control program is stored, said control program operating an external control apparatus connected via a communication network with a multifunctional apparatus which executes a device process obtained by suitably combining element functions which include (i) at least one of an image reading function and an image forming function and (ii) a communication function, said external control apparatus controlling the device process of the multifunctional apparatus, said multifunctional apparatus comprising:

input buttons being hardware buttons provided in an operation section of the multifunctional apparatus;

pressed button detecting means for detecting one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus which has been pressed;

first execution means for executing a device process of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus which has been corresponded with said one of the input buttons detected by the pressed button detecting means;

pressed button information informing means for informing an-the external control apparatus of pressed button information indicative of said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus detected by the pressed button detecting means;

second execution means for acquiring, from the external control apparatus, a control instruction corresponding to said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus indicated by the pressed button information informed by the pressed button information informing means, and for executing a device process in the multifunctional apparatus in accordance with the acquired control instruction; and

mode setting means for setting either (i) a first mode in which the first execution means operates and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means stop operating or (ii) a second mode in which the first execution mode stops operating and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means operate, wherein the first mode is executed locally by pressing the input button on the multifunctional apparatus, and the second mode is executed remotely by acquiring a control instruction from the external control apparatus that corresponds to the pressed input button,

wherein if the multifunctional apparatus is in the first mode when the pressed button detecting means detects that the one of the input buttons has been pressed, the first execution means operates and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means do not operate, and

if the multifunctional apparatus is in the second mode when the pressed button detecting means detects that the one of the input buttons has been pressed, the first execution means does not operate and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means operate, said external control apparatus comprising;

a storage section in which shortcut information is stored, the shortcut information being information in which (i) button identification information by which an input button of the multifunctional apparatus is identified and (ii) at least one device process identification information indicative of a device process in the multifunctional apparatus are corresponded with each other;

reading means for acquiring, from the multifunctional apparatus, pressed button information indicative of a pressed input button out of the input buttons of the multifunctional apparatus, and for reading out, from the storage section, device process identification information corresponded with button identification information indicative of the input button indicated by the pressed button information; and

control instruction transmitting means for transmitting, to the multifunctional apparatus, a control instruction for executing a device process indicated by the device process identification information read out by the reading means,

said control program causing a computer to function as each means of the external control apparatus.

15. A method for controlling a multifunctional apparatus which executes a device process obtained by suitably combining element functions which include (i) at least one of an image reading function and an image forming function and (ii) a communication function, said multifunctional apparatus including input buttons being hardware buttons provided in an operation section of the multifunctional apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

causing pressed button detecting means to detect one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus which has been pressed;

causing first execution means to execute a device process which has been corresponded with said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus detected by the pressed button detecting means;

causing pressed button information informing means to inform an external control apparatus of pressed button information indicative of said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus detected by the pressed button detecting means;

causing second execution means to acquire, from the external control apparatus, a control instruction corresponding to said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus indicated by the pressed button information informed by the pressed button information informing means, and to execute a device process in the multifunctional apparatus in accordance with the acquired control instruction; and

causing mode setting means to set either (i) a first mode in which the first execution means operates and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means stop operating or (ii) a second mode in which the first execution mode stops operating and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means operate, wherein the first mode is executed locally by pressing the input button on the multifunctional apparatus, and the second mode is executed remotely by acquiring a control instruction from the external control apparatus that corresponds to the pressed input button,

wherein if the multifunctional apparatus is in the first mode when the pressed button detecting means detects that the one of the input buttons has been pressed, the first execution means operates and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means do not operate, and

if the multifunctional apparatus is in the second mode when the pressed button detecting means detects that the one of the input buttons has been pressed, the first execution means does not operate and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means operate.

16. A method for controlling an external control apparatus connected via a communication network with a multifunctional apparatus which executes a device process obtained by suitably combining element functions which include (i) at least one of an image reading function and an image forming function and (ii) a communication function, said external control apparatus controlling the device process of the multifunctional apparatus, said multifunctional apparatus comprising:

input buttons being hardware buttons provided in an operation section of the multifunctional apparatus;

pressed button detecting means for detecting one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus which has been pressed;

first execution means for executing a device process which has been corresponded with said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus detected by the pressed button detecting means;

pressed button information informing means for informing an-the external control apparatus of pressed button information indicative of said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus detected by the pressed button detecting means;

second execution means for acquiring, from the external control apparatus, a control instruction corresponding to said one of the input buttons of the operation section of the multifunctional apparatus indicated by the pressed button information informed by the pressed button information informing means, and for executing a device process in the multifunctional apparatus in accordance with the acquired control instruction; and

mode setting means for setting either (i) a first mode in which the first execution means operates and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means stop operating or (ii) a second mode in which the first execution mode stops operating and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means operate, wherein the first mode is executed locally by pressing the input button on the multifunctional apparatus, and the second mode is executed remotely by acquiring a control instruction from the external control apparatus that corresponds to the pressed input button,

wherein if the multifunctional apparatus is in the first mode when the pressed button detecting means detects that the one of the input buttons has been pressed, the first execution means operates and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means do not operate, and

if the multifunctional apparatus is in the second mode when the pressed button detecting means detects that the one of the input buttons has been pressed, the first execution means does not operate and the pressed button information informing means and the second execution means operate, said external control apparatus storing shortcut information in which (i) button identification information by which an input button of the multifunctional apparatus is identified and (ii) at least one device process identification information indicative of a device process in the multifunctional apparatus are corresponded with each other, said method comprising the steps of;

causing reading means to acquire, from the multifunctional apparatus, pressed button information indicative of a pressed input button out of the input buttons of the multifunctional apparatus, and to read out, from the storage section, device process identification information corresponded with button identification information indicative of the input button indicated by the pressed button information; and

causing control instruction transmitting means to transmit, to the multifunctional apparatus, a control instruction for executing a device process indicated by the device process identification information read out by the reading means.