•
2
Description
Technical Field
[0001]
The present invention relates to a network system to which one
or more image input devices are connected for use, a device server,
and a network system control method.
Background Art
[0002]
Devices such as scanners and printers are commonly used connected
over a network to a computer, but device drivers for controlling the
devices are required in order to use the devices. The device drivers
are generally installed to the computer connected to the devices (see,
for example, PTL1)
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0003]
[PTL1] JP-A-2002-25l347
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0004 ]
However, because device driver operation depends on the as
(operating system) of the computer to which the device driver is
installed, the user must install the device driver corresponding to
the as installedon the user I s computer. However, the task of determining
the as that is used and installing software (device drivers) can be
difficult for users that are not computer-savvy, andcanbe a significant
burden. Reinstalling device drivers is also necessary when the computer
is replaced. Another problem is that the device manufacturer must
develop a device driver for each different computer as, thus increasing
development costs.
•
3
[0005]
With consideration for the foregoing problem, an object of the
present invention is to provide a network system enabling controlling
an image input device without requiring a device driver that depends
on the computer environment, to a device server, and to a network system
control method.
Solution to Problem
[0006]
A network system according to the invention is a network system
that includes a web application server on which a web application
operates, one or more client terminals that use a web browser to access
the web application server, and an image input device that operates
in conjunction with operation of the client terminal, wherein at least
the web application server and the client terminal, and the client
terminal and the image input device, are respectively connected over
a network, the network system characterized by: the client terminal
including a web page acquisition unit that gets from the web application
server a web page having an embedded image input control script that
operates at least on the web browser and controls image input from
the image input device, an image acquisition request transmission unit
that is controlled by the image input control script to send an image
acquisi tion request to the image input device when a specific operation
is performed on the acquired web page, and an image acquisition unit
that is controlled by the image input control script to acquire an
image from the image input device as a response to the image acquisition
request; and the image input device including an image acquisition
request receiving unit that receives the image acquisition request,
and an image transmissionunit that sends an image tothe client t erminal
based on the received image acquisition request.
[0007]
A network system control method according to the invention is
a control method for a network system that includes a web application
4
server on which a web application operates, one or more client terminals
that use a web browser to access the web application server, and an
image input device that operates in conjunction with operation of the
client terminal, wherein at least the web application server and the
client terminal, and the client terminal and the image input device,
are respectively connected over a network, the control method of the
network system characterized by: the client terminal executing a web
page acquisition step of getting from the web application server a
web page having an embedded image input control script that operates
at least on the web browser and controls image input from the image
input device, an image acquisition request transmission step that is
controlledbythe image input control script to sendan image acquisition
request to the image input device when a specific operation is performed
on the acquired web page , and an image acquisi tion step that is controlled
by the image input control script to acquire an image from the image
input device as a response to the image acquisition request; and the
image input device executing an image acquisition request reception
step to receive the image acquisition request, andan image transmission
step to send an image to the client terminal based on the received
image acquisition request.
[0008]
These configurations enable acquiring a specific image from an
image input device by means of an image input control script that is
embedded in a web page. More specifically, because the image input
device can be controlled using a web browser (in a web page), an image
input device can be controlled by simply installing a web browser to
the client terminal, and there is no need to install a device driver
(a driver for the image input device) on each client terminal as there
is with the related art. The need to develop a plurality of device
drivers for different operating systems is also eliminated for the
manufacturer of the image input device, and related development costs
can therefore be reduced.
5
Furthermore, because a web browser is typically already installed
onmostmodernclientterminals (computersincludingpersonalcomputers
and smartphones), even users that are not computer-savvy can easily
use the image input device without knowing the operating environment
(the type of operating system) of the terminal being used by the user.
Note that scanners and digital cameras are examples of image input
devices.
[0009]
In a network system according to another aspect of the invention,
the client terminal preferably also has a selection window display
unit that is controlled by the image input control script to display
a selection window for selecting whether or not to stop operation of
the image input device when a change event that changes the web page
occurs while the image input device is operating, and a stop operation
request transmission unit that is controlled by the image input control
script to send a stop operation request to the image input device when
stoppingoperationofthe image input device isselectedintheselection
window.
[0010]
When the operator (user) performs an action to change the web
page, this aspect of the invention informs the user that the image
input device is operating and causes the user to select whether or
not to stop operation of the image input device. Because the invention
controls the image input device with a script (image input control
script) , the image input control script is lost if the web page changes
while the image input device is operating (processing) . By displaying
a selection window when an event that changes the web page occurs,
this aspect of the invention can prevent a process from being interrupted
unintentionally as a result of the web page being accidentally changed
by the operator (user).
[0011]
A network system according to another aspect of the invention
6
preferably also has a printer that connects over a network to the client
terminal, wherein: a printing control script that operates on the web
browser and controls printing related to the web page is also embedded
in the web page acquired by the web page acquisition unit i the client
terminal includes a drawing process unit that is controlled by the
image input control script to draw an image acquired by the image
acquisi tion unit in a specif ic drawing area, a print data generating
unit that is controlled by the printing control script in conjunction
with a print operation on the web page to generate print data that
converts the image data drawn in the drawing area to a form that can
be processed by the printer, and a print data transmission uni t that
is controlled by the printing control script to send the generated
printdatatotheprinteriandtheprinterincludesaprintdatareceiving
unit that receives the print data sent by the print data transmission
unit, and a print control unit that controls a printing process based
on the received print data.
[0012]
This aspect of the invention can print images acquired by the
image input device from the printer (can control print ing by the printer)
by means of the printing control script embedded in the web page. More
specifically, because printing by the printer can be controlled by
a script that operates on the web browser (operates in a web page) ,
installing a web browser on the client terminal is sufficient, and
there is no need to install a device driver (printer driver) on each
client terminal as there is with the related art.
[0013]
A device server according to the invention has the parts of the
image input device in the network system described above, and is used
connected to the image input device.
[0014]
Further preferably, the device server of the invention also has
the parts of the printer in the network system described above, and
7
is used connected to the printer.
[0015]
With these configurations the invention can be achieved by
connecting the device server without changing the image input device
or printer (without incorporating a special function). The device
server can be achieved by an interface board (interface device) that
can connect to the image input device or printer.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0016]
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a network system according to
an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration
of the network system.
FIG. 3 is a flow chart describing steps in an image acquisition
process and printing process on the network system.
FIG. 4 is a flow chart of steps in a process for handling an event
that changes the web page during the image acquisition process.
Description of Embodiments
[0017]
A network system, device driver, and method of controlling a
network system according to this embodiment of the invention are
described below with reference to the accompanying figures. The network
system according to this embodiment is a system that can run an image
input process using a web browser without installing a dedicated device
driver on the client terminal. Note that a scanner is used as an example
of an image input device in this embodiment.
[0018]
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the network system BY. As shown
in the figure, the network system BY includes a web application server
1, a client terminal 2 that accesses the web application server 1,
a scanner 3 (image input device) that scans a specific document based
on a request from the client terminal 2, a printer 4 that prints based
8
on a request from the client terminal 2, and a removable interface
board 5 (device driver) that is installed to the printer 4. The web
application server 1 and client terminal 2 are connected so that they
can communicate over the Internet. The client terminal 2 and interface
board 5 are connected so that they can communicate over a LAN. The
scanner 3 is connected through an communication unit 33 disposed to
the interface board 5 installed in the printer 4. The client terminal
2 can thus communicate through the interface board 5 with the scanner
3 and printer 4.
[0019]
Note that the method of connecting to the network (Internet or
LAN) may be by wire or wireless. FIG. 1 also shows only one client
terminal 2, scanner 3, and printer 4, but the invention is not so limited
and any number of these can be used.
[0020]
The web application server 1 has the hardware configuration of
a general computer in addition to a control unit 11, storage uni t 12,
and communication unit 13. The main parts of the control unit 11 include
aCPU (centralprocessingunit) , ROM (read-onlymemory), andRAM (random
access memory). The CPU runs a program stored in ROM, and controls
operation of the web application server 1. ROM stores control data
and a control program enabling the CPU to execute various processes.
RAM is used as working memory for the CPU to execute different processes.
The storage unit 12 stores an HTTP server 14 and web application 15.
[0021]
The communication unit 13 is an interface for communicating with
the client terminal 2 (web browser 66) . Communication between the web
application server 1 and client terminal 2 is controlled by the HTTP
server 14 using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) . More specif ically,
the web application server 1 receives an HTTP request from the client
terminal 2 (web browser 66), and based on the URL (Uniform Resource
Locator) contained in the HTTP request, sends a web page 21 provided
9
by the web application 15 to the client terminal 2.
[0022]
As described in detail below, in addi tion to a page control script
22 (JavaScript (R) ) for controlling the web page 21, a printing control
script 23 (JavaScript (R)) for controlling printing related to the
web page 21, and a scanner control script 24 (JavaScript (R), an image
control script) that controls image input from the scanner 3, are
included (embedded) inthewebpage21,andtheclienttermina12executes
a printing process and an image acquisition process (image input
process) by running the printing control script 23 and scanner control
script 24 through the web browser 56 (on the web page 21) . The printing
control script 23 and scanner control script 24 can be contained on
different web pages 21, or both may be contained on a single web page
2l.
[0023]
The interface board 5 includes a control unit 31, storage unit
32, communication unit 33, and board interface 34. The control unit
31 primarily includes a CPU and RAM. The CPU runs a program stored
in the storage unit 32 and controls the interface board 5. RAM is used
as working memory for the CPU to execute processes. The storage unit
32 is, for example, nonvolatile memory (such as flash ROM) , and stores
control data and control programs for the CPU to execute the processes.
The storage unit 32 also an HTTP server 35.
[0024]
The board interface 34 is a port for installation to the printer
4, and communication with the printer 3A passes through this board
interface 34. The communication unit 33 is an interface for
communicating with the client terminal 2 (web browser 66) and scanner
3, and comprises a group of interfaces compatible with different kinds
of connections, such as a LAN interface and a USB interface.
[0025]
The HTTP server 35 handles communication between the interface
10
board 5 and the client terminal 2 (web browser 66) using HTTP. More
specifically, when a process request for the scanner 3 (such as an
image acquisition request or stop scanning request), or a process
request for the printer 4 (such as a printing process request), is
sent from the client terminal 2 to the service endpoint address (URI)
assigned to the interface board 5, the interface board 5 sends a process
command to the scanner 3 or printer 4 based on the received process
request (as described in detail below).
[0026]
The scanner 3 primarily includes a control unit 41, storage unit
42, image reader 43, and communication unit 44. The control unit 41
primarily includes a CPU and RAM. The CPU runs a program stored in
the storage uni t 42 and controls the scanner 3. RAM is used as working
memory for the CPU to execute processes. The storage unit 42 is, for
example, nonvolatile memory (such as flash ROM), and stores control
data and control programs for the CPU to execute the processes.
[0027]
The image reader 43 optically reads (scans) documents, such as
text or photographs, placed on the document table (not shown) as
controlled by the CPU. The communication unit 44 is an interface for
communicating with the interface board 5, and comprises a group of
interfaces compatible with different kinds of connections, such as
a LAN interface and a USB interface. The scanner 3 receives an image
acquisition command from the client terminal 2 through the interface
board 5, scans the document, and then sends the result of scanning
to the client terminal 2.
[0028]
The printer 4 primarily includes a control unit 51, storage unit
52, print mechanism 53, and printer interface 54. The control unit
51 primarily includes a CPU and RAM. The CPU runs a program stored
in the storage unit 52 and controls the printer 4. RAM is used as working
memory for the CPU to execute processes. The storage uni t 52 is, for
11
example, nonvolatile memory (such as flash ROM), and stores control
data and control programs for the CPU to execute the processes.
[0029]
The print mechanism 53 includes a paper feed mechanism, printhead,
and paper cutting mechanism, and performs a printing operation as
controlledbythe CPU. Anydesiredprintingmethodmaybeused, including
an inkj et or laser printing method. The board interface 54 is a port
that connects to the interface board 5 (board interface 34), and
communicates with the interface board 5. The printer 4 receives print
data sent from the client terminal 2 through the interface board 5,
and controls the print mechanism 53 to print based on the received
print data.
[0030]
The client terminal 2 primarily includes a control unit 61, storage
unit 62, display unit 63, operating unit 64, and communication unit
65. The control unit 61 primarily includes a CPU and RAM. The CPU runs
a program stored in the storage unit 62 and controls the client terminal
2. RAM is used as working memory for the CPU to run processes. The
storage uni t 62 is, for example, a HDD (hard disk drive) or nonvolatile
memory (such as flash ROM) , and stores control data and control programs
used by the CPU to execute different processes. The storage unit 62
also stores a web browser 66.
[0031]
The display unit 63 displays a web page 21 acquired (downloaded)
by the web browser 66, and displays windows for reporting events
accompanying operations performed in the web browser 66, as well as
windows for configuring settings and selections. These windows could
be displayed in the web page 21 displayed by the web browser 66, or
displayed in a new web page 21. The operating unit 64 is an operating
means for performing input operations (such as inputting text and
drawing figures), and making selection/decision operations, image
acquisitionoperations (scanning operations) , andprinting operations ,
12
in a web page 21 displayed by the web browser 66. Note that the display
unit 63 and operating unit 64 may be rendered as separate elements,
or rendered in unison by, for example, using a touch screen panel as
the display unit 63.
[0032]
The communication unit 65 is an interface for communication with
the web application server 1 and interface board 5, and the client
terminal 2 uses the web browser 66 to communicate with the devices.
The web browser 66 is a simple browser (standard browser) with no plugin
modules, and the client terminal 2 uses this web browser 66 to access
che network-connected (Internet-connected) web application server 1
and receive web pages 21 provided by the web application 15.
[0033]
The web page 21 includes a page control script 22, printing control
script 23, and scanner control script 24 as described above, and when
an image acquisition operation (such as pressing a scan button or
clicking on a specific area) is performed by the user in the web browser
66 (on the web page 21), the web browser 66 runs the scanner control
script 24 embedded in the web page 21, acquires (inputs) the image
data from the scanner 3 through the interface board 5, and draws the
image data in a specific drawing area. This drawing area is a drawing
canvas (HTML5 canvas element) defined (set) in the page control script
22, for example.
[0034]
When the user issues a print command (such as by pressing a print
button) on the web page 21, the web browser 66 runs the printing control
script 23 embedded in the web page 21, generates print data from the
image data written in the drawing area, and sends the print data to
the printer 4 through the interface board 5.
[0035]
The client terminal 2 may be any computer on which the web browser
66 runs, and may be a mobile terminal (such as a cellular telephone
13
or smartphone) or personal computer (PC), for example.
[0036]
The functional configuration of the network system SY is described
next with reference to FIG. 2. The client terminal 2 has a web page
acquisition means 71 (web page acquisition unit), image acquisition
request transmission means 72 (image acquisi tion request transmission
unit), image acquisition means 73 (image acquisition unit), drawing
process means 74 (drawing process unit) , print data generation means
75 (print data generation unit), print process request transmission
means 76 (print process request transmission unit), and event
processing means 77 (selection window display unit, stop operation
request transmission unit) .
[0037]
The web page acquisition unit 71 primarily includes the control
unit 61 and web browser 66, accesses the web application server 1 (web
application 15) through the web browser 66, and gets the desired web
page 21 (the web page 21 containing the page control script 22, printing
control script 23, and scanner control script 24) .
[0038]
The image acquisition request transmission means 72 primarily
includes the control unit 61 and scanner control script 24, and runs
the scanner control script 24 and sends an image acquisition request
(scan request) to the scanner 3 when the user performs an image
acquisition operation in the web page 21. More specifically, the image
acquisition request transmission means 72 sends an image acquisition
request containing scanner identification information (information
such as a scanner ID or communication port) identifying a scanner 3
and scanning configuration information (such as the scanning area,
resolution, color/grayscale/monochrome setting, the image processing
method to use for scanning, and a time limit to complete processing)
to the service endpoint address of the interface board 5. The service
endpoint address of the interface board 5 and the scanner identification
14
information are previously set in the scanner control script 24. The
scanning configuration information is set by, for example, displaying
a setup window on the web page 21 and the user inputting the settings
in the setup window when the user performs an image acquisition
operation.
[0039]
The image acquisition means 73 primarily includes the control
unit 61 and scanner control script 24, and acquires the image captured
by the scanner 3 in response to the image acquisition request through
the interface board 5. Note that the image acquisition means 73
interrupts image acquisition when the web page 21 is changed (when
an unload event occurs) during scanning (while an image is being
received). This is because the scanner control script 24, which is
an element of the image acquisition means 73, is embedded in the web
page 21, and the scanner control script 24 is lost when the web page
21 is changed.
[0040]
The main parts of the drawing process means 74 are the control
unit 61, page control script 22, and scanner control script 24, and
the drawing process means 74 draws the image acquired from the scanner
3 (the image scanned by the scanner 3) in the drawing area by running
the scanner control script 24 . When the user performs an input operation
on the web page 21 displayed by the web browser 66, the drawing process
means 74 edits (processes) the image acquired from the scanner 3 or
merges the acquired image with another image (an image selected by
the user) by drawing the result of the user input (the result of inputting
text or selecting an image, for example) in the drawing area by running
the page control script 22.
[0041]
The main parts of the print data generation means 75 are the control
unit 61 and printing control script 23. When the user performs a print
operation (such as pressing a print button) on the web page 21, the
15
print data generation means 75 runs the printing control script 23
to convert the image data drawn in the drawing area to a form that
can be processed by the printer 4, generating print data (such as a
raster image command, bitmap file, or XML print data) . The print data
generation means 75 also temporarily stores the generated print data
in a specific storage area (storage unit 62) . Web storage, for example,
can be used to temporarily store the print data.
[0042]
The control unit 61 and printing control script 23 are the main
parts of the print process request transmission means 76, which sends
a printing process request to the printer 4. More specifically, the
print process request transmission means 76 sends a printing process
request containing printer identification information (such as the
printer ID or communication port) identifying the printer 4, and the
print data temporarily stored (generated) by the print data generation
means 75, to the service endpoint address of the interface board 5.
Note that the service endpoint address of the interface board 5 and
the printer identification information are previously set in the
printing control script 23. If the web page 21 is changed (if an unload
event occurs) while the print data is being sent, the print process
request transmission means 76 interrupts transmission. This is because
the printing control script 23, which is an element of the print process
request transmission means 76, is embedded in the web page 21, and
the printing control script 23 is lost when the web page 21 is changed.
[0043]
The event processing means 77 primarily includes the control unit
61, display uni t 63, page control script 22, printing control script
23, and scanner control script 24, and reports various events to the
user. More specifically, when a user operation causes an event that
changes the displayed web page 21 (a beforeunload event) while the
scanner control script 24 is running and an image is being acquired
from the scanner 3 (while the scanner is operating) , the event processing
16
means 77 presents a message indicating that the scanner 3 is operating
and displays an operation selection window (selection window display
unit) for selecting whether or not to stop scanner 3 operation (whether
to stop or continue scanner operation) . If the user chooses to continue
scanner operation in this operation selection window, changing the
web page 21 is stopped. However, if the user chooses to stop scanner
operation in this operation selection window, the event processing
means 77 sends a request to stop scanner 3 operation (including scanner
identification information) to the interface board 5, and displays
a notice that the image acquisition process was interrupted (stop
operation request transmission unit) .
[0044]
When a user operation causes an event that changes the displayed
web page 21 while the printing control script 23 is running and the
printing process is executing (while print data is being sent), the
event processing means 77 presents a change confirmation window for
selecting whether or not to change the web page 21. If the option that
cancels changing the web page is selected by the user in this change
confirmation window, changing the web page 21 is stopped. However,
if the option that changes the web page is selected by the user in
the change confirmation window, the event processing means 77 displays
a notice indicating that print data transmission was interrupted.
[0045]
The interface board 5 has a process request receiving means 81
(image acquisi tion request receiving uni t, print data receiving uni t) ,
process command means 82 (print control unit), and board-side image
transmission means 83 (image transmission uni t) . The process request
receiving means 81 primarily includes the control unit 31 and HTTP
server 35, and receives process requests (such as the printing process
request, image acquisition request, and stop operation request) from
the client terminal 2 (printing control script 23 and scanner control
script 24) . The process command means 82 primarily includes the control
17
unit 31, and sends commands to the scanner 3 or printer 4 based on
the process request received by the process request receiving means
81. More specifically, when the process request from the client terminal
2 is a printing process request, the process command means 82 sends
print data to the printer 4 specified by the printer identification
information. When the process request from the client terminal 2 is
an image acquisition request, the process command means 82 sends a
commandbasedon the image acquisition request to the scanner 3 specified
by the scanner identification information. When the process request
from the client terminal 2 is a stop operation request, the process
command means 82 sends a command based on the stop operation request
to the scanner 3 specified by the scanner identification information.
The board-side image transmission means 83 primarily includes the
control unit 31 and HTTP server 35, and receives and sends the image
captured by the scanner 3 to the client terminal 2.
[0046]
The scanner 3 primarily includes an image reading means 91,
scanner-side image transmission means 92, and image reading
interruption means 93. The image reading means 91 primarily includes
a control unit 41 and image reader 43, and based on an image acquisition
command (image acquisition request) received from the interface board
5, scans the document set on the document table wi th the image reader
43. The scanner-side image transmission means 92 primarily includes
the control uni t 41, and sends the image captured by the image reading
means 91 to the interface board 5. The image reading interruption means
93 primarily includes the the control unit 41 and image reader 43,
and based on a stop operation command (stop operation request ) received
from the interface board 5 stops (interrupts) scanning by the image
reader 43.
[0047]
The printer 4 has a printer-side print data receiving means 101
and printing means 102. The printer-side print data receiving means
18
101 primarily includes a control unit 51, and receives print data sent
from the client terminal 2 through the interface board 5. The printing
means 102 primarily includes the control unit 51 and print mechanism
53, and prints images based on the received print data. The printing
means 102 prints in the printing process after all print data sent
from the client terminal 2 has been received. More specifically, the
print data sent from the client terminal 2 is temporarily stored to
a specific storage area in the storage unit 52, and the stored print
data is then read and printed.
[0048]
Steps in the image acquisi tion process (image input process) and
printing process in this network system SY are described next with
reference to the flow chart in FIG. 3. First, the client terminal 2
(controlunit61) accesses the web application server 1 (web application
15) based on user operations in the web browser 66, gets the desired
web page 21 (the web page 21 containing the page control script 22,
printingcontrolscript23, andscannercontrolscript24), anddisplays
the web page 21 in the web browser 66 (SOl, web page acquisition step) .
[0049]
When the user then performs an image acquisition operation on
the web page 21 (such as clicking a scan button displayed on the web
page 21) , the client terminal 2 acquires an image acquisition command
accompanying the image acquisition operation by means of the page
control script 22 (S02) . Triggered by acquiring this image acquisition
command, the scanner control script 24 is called from the page control
script 22, and the image acquisition process starts.
[0050]
More specifically, the client terminal 2 sends an image
acquisition request to the interface board 5 (the service endpoint
address of the interface board 5) by executing the scanner control
script 24 (S03, image acquisition request transmission step) .
Identification information (scanner identification information) for
19
the desired scanner 3, and the configuration information for scanning
operation, are contained in this image acquisition request.
[0051]
The interface board 5 (control unit 31) then receives the image
acquisition request (804, image acquisition request reception step) ,
and issues a command (scan command) to the specif ied scanner 3 based
on the image acquisition request (805). The scanner 3 (control unit
41) that received the scan command from the interface board 5 controls
the image reader 43 to start the document scanning process (806), and
sends the scanned image through the interface board 5 to the client
terminal 2 (807, 808, image transmission step).
[0052]
Once the image that was captured by the scanner 3 is received
from the interface board 5 (809, image acquisition step), the client
terminal 2 draws the image in the drawing area (810) . After the image
is drawn and the user then performs a specific input operation on the
webpage21, theclienttermina12receivestheinputoperationaccording
to the page control script 22 embedded in the web page 21, and draws
the result of the received input operation in the drawing area. More
specifically, processes such as editing the image acquired from the
scanner 3 or merging the image with another image selected by the user
can be performed. Process control when an event that changes the web
page 21 occurs as a result of user operation of the browser during
the image acquisition process (while scanning) is described below with
reference to FIG. 4.
[0053]
If the user calls a printing operation from the web page 21 after
the image is drawn in 810 (such as by clicking a print button on the
web page 21) , the client terminal 2 receives a print command resulting
from the printing operation from the page control script 22 (811).
Triggered by getting this print command, the printing control script
23 is called from the page control script 22, and the printing process
20
starts.
[0054]
More specifically, the client terminal 2 image processes (such
as digitizing and gathering) the image drawn in the drawing area
according to the printing control script 23 (812), converts the image
data to print data in a form that can be processed by the printer 4
(813) , and saves the resulting print data in the storage unit 62 (814) .
8teps 813 and 814 repeat until print data generation is completed,
that is, until all image data drawn in the drawing area is converted
to print data (815 returns No) .
[0055]
When print data generation is completed (815 returns Yes), the
client terminal 2 sends a printing process request to the interface
board 5 (the service endpoint address of the interface board 5) by
running the printing control script 23 (816). Identification
information (printer identification information) for the desired
printer 4, and the print data stored in the storage uni t 62, are included
in this printing process request.
[0056]
When the printing process request from the client terminal 2 is
received (817) , the interface board 5 sends the print data to the printer
4 specified by the printer identification information (818). After
the print data is received from the interface board 5 (819) , the printer
4 (control uni t 51) saves the print data in the storage unit 52 (820) .
8teps 819 and 820 repeat until all print data is received (821 returns
No) . After all print data is received (821 returns Yes), the printer
4 reads and prints based on the saved print data (prints an image)
(822) .
[0057]
The steps performed when an event that changes the web page 21
is generated while the client terminal 2 is receiving an image from
the scanner 3 (during the scanning process) is described next with
21
reference to the flow chart in FIG. 4. Note that a special process
is not performed when an event that changes the web page 21 is not
generated, and description thereof is omitted in the following
description of the flow chart in FIG. 4.
[0058]
The client terminal 2 (control unit 61) first starts the image
acquisition process of the scanner 3 by means of the scanner control
script 24 (831). If an event that changes the displayed web page 21
(that is, the web page 21 in which the currently executing scanner
control script 24 is embedded) to another page is generated by the
user using the web browser 66 (832 returns Yes), the client terminal
2 continues image acquisition by running the scanner control script
24 while simultaneously displaying a message indicating that the
scanner 3 is operating and an operation selection window for selecting
whether or not to stop the scanning operation of the scanner 3 (833).
[0059]
If continuing the scanning operation is selected by the user in
this operation selection window (834 returns No) , the client terminal
2 continues the image acquisitionprocess by running the scanner control
script 24, and when all image data has been received (835 returns Yes) ,
ends the image acquisition process (836). However, if stopping the
scanning operation is selected by the user in this operation selection
window (834 returns Yes) , the client terminal 2 sends a stop operation
request to the scanner 3 (837) , interrupts the image acquisitionprocess
(838) in conjunction with losing the scanner control script 24, and
displays a message indicating that the image acquisition process was
stopped (839) . By thus displaying an operation selection window when
an event that changes the web page 21 occurs, unintended interruption
of the image acquisition process (image input from the scanner 3)
resulting from the user accidentally changing the web page can be
prevented.
[0060]
22
As described above, this embodiment enables acquiring a specific
image from a scanner 3 (image input device) using a scanner control
script 24 (image input control script) embedded in a web page 21. More
specifically, because a scanner 3 can be controlled using a web browser
66 (from within a web page 21), the scanner 3 can be controlled by
simply installing a web browser 66 on the client terminal 2, and, unlike
with the related art, there is no need to install a device driver (a
scanner driver) on each client terminal 2. There is also no need for
the manufacturer supplying the scanner 3 to develop plural device
drivers for different different operating systems, and the related
development cost can be reduced.
[0061]
Furthermore, because a web browser 66 is typically already
installed on most modern client terminals 2 (computers including
personal computers and smartphones), even users that are not
computer-savvy can easily use the scanner 3 without knowing the
operating environment (the type of operating system) of the terminal
being used by the user.
[0062]
This embodiment is described using a scanner 3 as an example of
an image input device, but the invention is not so limited. For example,
a digital camera (camera) could be used as an image input device. In
this implementation, an image input control script that controls
(requests a process) selecting files and acquiring images stored in
the camera, and controls (requests a process) acquiring a directory
of files stored in the camera, is embedded in the web page 21 and used
to control the camera.
[0063]
The identification information that identifies (specifies) the
scanner 3 or printer 4 is predefined in the scanner control script
24 and printing control script 23 in this embodiment, but the invention
is not so limited. For example, when plural scanners 3 and printers
23
4 are connected and can be used, the user could be made to select the
desired scanner 3 or printer 4 from a device list (a list of scanners
or a list of printers) , and identification information for the selected
scanner 3 or printer 4 sent to the interface board 5 by the corresponding
control script.
[0064]
This embodiment describes a configuration in which the interface
board 5 is installed to the printer 4, but the invention is not so
limited and a configuration having the interface board 5 installed
tothescanner3isalsoconceivable. Inthisimplementationaninterface
for connecting to the board interface 34 of the interface board 5 is
disposed to the scanner 3, and an interface that communicates with
the communication unit 33 of the interface board 5 is disposed to the
printer 4.
[0065]
The means (functions) of the interface board 5 in this embodiment
can alternatively be rendered by a common personal computer (device
server). Further alternatively, a configuration in which the above
means are disposed to the scanner 3 and printer 4 is also conceivable.
[0066]
Elements of the network system BY (client terminal 2 and interface
board 5) described above can also be provided as a program. This program
canalsobe provided storedona storage medium (not shown in the figure) .
Examples of such storage media include CD-ROM, flash ROM, memory cards
(Compact Flash (R), smart media, memory sticks), Compact Discs,
magneto-optical discs, Digital versatile Discs, and floppy disks.
[0067]
The hardware configuration of the network system BY and process
steps are also not limited to the foregoing embodiment, and can be
changed as desired without departing from the scope of the invention.
Reference Signs List
[0068]
24
1 web application server
2 client terminal
3 scanner
4 printer
5 interface board
15 web application
21 web page
22 page control script
23 printing control script
66 web browser
71 web page acquisition means
72 image acquisition request transmission means
73 image acquisition means
74 drawing process means
75 print data generation means
76 print process request transmission means
77 event processing means
81 process request receiving means
82 process command means
83 board-side image transmission means
SY network system

25
Claims
[Claim 1]
A network system that includes a web application server on which
a web application operates, one or more client terminals that use a
web browser to access the web application server, and an image input
device that operates in conjunction with operation of the client
terminal, wherein at least the web application server and the client
terminal, and the client terminal and the image input device, are
respectivelyconnectedoveranetwork, the network system characterized
by:
the client terminal comprising
a web page acquisition unit that gets from the web application
server a web page having an embedded image input control script that
operates at least on the web browser and controls image input from
the image input device,
an image acquisition request transmission unit that is
controlledbythe image input control script to sendan image acquisition
request to the image input device when a specific operation is performed
on the acquired web page, and
an image acquisition unit that is controlled by the image
input control script to acquire an image from the image input device
as a response to the image acquisition request; and
the image input device comprising
an image acquisition request receiving unit that receives
the image acquisition request, and
an image transmission unit that sends an image to the client
terminal based on the received image acquisition request.
[Claim 2]
The network system described in claim 1, wherein:
the client terminal further comprises
a selection window display unit that is controlled by the
image input control script to display a selection window for selecting
26
whether or not to stop operation of the image input device when a change
event that changes the web page occurs while the image input device
is operating, and
a stop operation request transmission uni t that is controlled
by the image input control script to send a stop operation request
to the image input device when stopping operation of the image input
device is selected in the selection window.
[Claim 3]
A network system characterized by further comprising a printer
that connects over a network to the client terminal, wherein:
a printing control script that operates on the web browser and
controls printing related to the web page is also embedded in the web
page acquired by the web page acquisition unit;
the client terminal includes
a drawing process unit that is controlled by the image input
control script to draw an image acquired by the image acquisition unit
in a specific drawing area,
a print data generating unit that is controlled by the
printing control script in conj unction wi th a print operation on the
web page to generate print data that converts the image data drawn
in the drawing area to a form that can be processed by the printer,
and
a print data transmission unit that is controlled by the
printing control script to send the generated print data to the printer;
and
the printer includes
a print data receiving unit that receives the print data
sent by the print data transmission unit, and
a print control unit that controls a printing process based
on the received print data.
[Claim 4]
A device server that is characterized by comprising the parts
27
of the image input device in the network system described in any of
claims 1 to 3, and is used connected to the image input device.
[Claim 5]
The device server described in claim 4 that is characterized by
further comprising the parts of the printer in the network system
described in claim 3, and is used connected to the printer.
[Claim 6]
Controlmethodforanetworksystemthatincludesawebapplication
server on which a web application operates, one or more client terminals
that use a web browser to access the web application server, and an
image input device that operates in conjunction with operation of the
client terminal, wherein at least the web application server and the
client terminal, and the client terminal and the image input device,
are respectively connected over a network, the control method of the
network system characterized by:
the client terminal executing
a web page acquisition step of getting from the web
application server a web page having an embedded image input control
script that operates at least on the web browser and controls image
input from the image input device,
an image acquisition request transmission step that is
controlledbythe image input control script to sendan image acquisition
request to the image input device when a specific operation is performed
on the acquired web page, and
an image acquisition step that is controlled by the image
input control script to acquire an image from the image input device
as a response to.the image acquisition request; and
the image input device executing
an image acquisition request reception step to receive the
image acquisition request, and
an image transmission step to send an image to the client
terminal based on the received image acquisition request.
Dated this day of February, 2013.
ROBIN RK GROSER
. of GROS & GROSER
AGENT FO THE APPLICANTS