U.S. patent application number 12/054550 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-01 for image forming method and apparatus, and host.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Invention is credited to Hyun-wook PARK.
Application Number | 20090006989 12/054550 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40162284 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090006989 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PARK; Hyun-wook |
January 1, 2009 |
IMAGE FORMING METHOD AND APPARATUS, AND HOST
Abstract
An image forming method and apparatus, and a host in which the
image forming method includes setting a processing order of a
plurality of operations of a same image data and detailed setup
information of the plurality of operations, and executing the
plurality of operations using the detailed setup information
according to the set processing order.
Inventors: |
PARK; Hyun-wook;
(Gwacheon-si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STANZIONE & KIM, LLP
919 18TH STREET, N.W., SUITE 440
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
40162284 |
Appl. No.: |
12/054550 |
Filed: |
March 25, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/762 ;
358/1.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03G 15/5075 20130101;
H04N 1/2307 20130101; G06F 3/1253 20130101; H04N 1/0035 20130101;
H04N 1/00973 20130101; H04N 2201/0094 20130101; H04N 1/00278
20130101; G03G 2215/00109 20130101; H04N 1/00962 20130101; G06F
9/45512 20130101; H04N 1/00464 20130101; G06F 3/1275 20130101; H04N
1/00204 20130101; H04N 1/32561 20130101; G06F 3/1205 20130101; G03G
15/502 20130101; G06F 8/38 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/762 ;
358/1.13 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/00 20060101
G06F003/00; G06F 15/00 20060101 G06F015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 27, 2007 |
KR |
2007-63813 |
Jul 10, 2007 |
KR |
2007-69356 |
Claims
1. An image forming method, comprising: setting a processing order
of a plurality of operations of a same image data and detailed
setup information of the plurality of operations; and executing the
plurality of operations using the detailed setup information
according to the set processing order.
2. The image forming method of claim 1, wherein icons indicating
the plurality of operations are arranged on a user interface screen
to set the processing order.
3. The image forming method of claim 2, wherein icons indicating
executable operations after an arbitrary operation are displayed,
and a processing order corresponding to icons selected from the
displayed icons is set so as to set the processing order.
4. The image forming method of claim 2, wherein when the icons are
arranged on the user interface screen, an error message is
displayed for an arrangement of icons of non-executable
operations.
5. The image forming method of claim 2, wherein the detailed setup
information corresponding to the plurality of operations is set on
the user interface screen.
6. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a user interface to
allow a user to select a plurality of image forming operations to
be performed on a same image data, and to set a processing order of
the selected image forming operations; and a controller to process
the selected image forming operations corresponding to at least the
set processing order, wherein the set plurality of image forming
operations are continuously processed.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the selecting of the plurality
of image forming operations comprises: selecting icons
corresponding to the respective image forming operations.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the setting of the processing
order comprises: arranging the selected icons corresponding to the
respective image forming operations in an order.
9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the user interface comprises:
a setup window to allow the user to set detailed setup information
corresponding to the plurality of image forming operations, wherein
the controller processes the selected image forming operations
corresponding to the respective detailed setup information.
10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality of image
forming operations comprise: one or more of a copying operation, a
printing operation, a faxing operation and a scanning
operation.
11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the user interface displays
icons corresponding to image forming operations in response to an
arbitrary operation.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, the user interface does not display
non-selected icons in response to a selection of an icon
corresponding to a respective image forming operation.
13. An image forming method, comprising: generating a GUI
(graphical user interface) webpage corresponding to a plurality of
operations on an image forming apparatus; generating an application
profile corresponding to the plurality of operations using the GUI
webpage; and generating an application corresponding to the
application profile to execute the plurality of operations on the
image forming apparatus.
14. The image forming method of claim 13, wherein the GUI webpage
is generated using the information, and includes a list menu of the
operations and an edition menu of an application.
15. The image forming method of claim 14, wherein the list menu
displays icons corresponding to the operations.
16. The image forming method of claim 13, wherein the application
profile is generated on a host.
17. The image forming method of claim 13, wherein the generation of
the application profile comprises: logging in the image forming
apparatus; receiving the GUI webpage from the image forming
apparatus; setting a processing order and detailed setup
information of the operations using the list menu and the edition
menu of the application of the GUI webpage; generating the
application profile corresponding to the set processing order and
detailed setup information; and transmitting the application
profile to the image forming apparatus.
18. The image forming method of claim 17, wherein the application
profile comprises: information regarding types of the operations,
detailed setup information, and the set processing order of the
operations.
19. The image forming method of claim 13, wherein the execution of
the operations comprises: receiving the application profile;
generating an application corresponding to the application profile;
and executing the application to execute the operations.
20. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an operation
registration manager to register and manage information including
types of the operations, detailed setup information, and execution
information of a plurality of operations; an internal web server to
generate a graphical user interface (GUI) webpage corresponding to
the plurality of operations; and an operation executer to receive
an application profile from a host to generate the application
profile corresponding to the plurality of operations using the GUI
webpage, to generate an application corresponding to the
application profile, and to execute the plurality of
operations.
21. The image forming apparatus of claim 20, wherein the internal
web server comprises: an icon information storage unit to store
icon information corresponding to the operations; a GUI webpage
generator to generate the GUI webpage including a list menu of the
operations and an edition menu of the application using the
registered information; and a first interface unit to transmit the
GUI webpage to the host and receiving the application profile from
the host.
22. The image forming apparatus of claim 21, wherein the operation
executer comprises: a profile storage unit to receive the
application profile from the host and storing the application
profile; a profile interpreter to interpret the application profile
stored in the profile storage unit; an application generator to
generate an application corresponding to contents of the
interpreted application profile; and an application executer to
execute the application so as to execute the operations.
23. The image forming apparatus of claim 22, wherein the operation
registration manager changes the detailed setup information of the
operations according to the contents of the interpreted application
profile.
24. A host, comprising: a generator to generate an application
profile corresponding to a plurality of operations using a
graphical user interface (GUI) webpage, wherein the GUI webpage
corresponds to the plurality of operations of an image forming
apparatus.
25. The host of claim 24, further comprising: a second interface
unit to log in the image forming apparatus to receive the GUI
webpage from the image forming apparatus and to transmit the
application profile to the image forming apparatus; a setter to set
a processing order and detailed setup information of the operations
using a list menu of the operations and an edition menu of an
application, wherein the list and edition menus are comprised in
the GUI webpage; and a profile generator to generate the
application profile corresponding to the set processing order and
detailed setup information.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(a) from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0063813,
filed on Jun. 27, 2007, and Korean Patent Application No.
10-2007-0069356, filed on Jul. 10, 2007, in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein
in their entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present general inventive concept relates to an image
forming apparatus, and more particularly, to image forming method
and apparatus to allow a user to check progress states of a
plurality of operations on a screen by using a user interface to
dynamically create the plurality of operations and to determine
setup information according to the user's intentions. The present
general inventive concept also relates to an image forming method
and apparatus and a host to allow a user to newly generate a
desired application to execute operations.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Conventionally, a user can select one of selectable
operations (e.g., copying, scanning, faxing, printing, etc.)
through a user interface of an image forming apparatus. If the user
selects one operation, the user can set only detailed setup
information corresponding to the selected operation on the user
interface. Thus, when the user desires to e-mail, print, and fax
copied data, the user cannot continuously execute such operations.
Also, if the user does not fully know about a multi-functional
peripheral (MFP) having multi-functions, the user cannot easily use
the multi-functions of the MFP due to complexity of the MFP.
[0006] Also, when products such as printers or MFPs come out,
usable software functions are realized as firmware. Thus, if
products are sold, functions of software of the products cannot be
changed or added. In order to solve this problem, open
architectures have been developed in the MFP industry so as to add
new functions or select and mount only software necessary for each
user. Examples of the open architectures include an OSGi-based
architecture by Richo, a java-based Multifunctional Embedded
Application Platform (MEAP) by Cannon, javascript-based JScribe
architecture by IBM, etc. However, open architectures of image
forming apparatuses such as MFPs, etc., which have recently been
developed and come out, to open objects/application programming
interfaces (APIs) of MFP platforms according to specifications
developed by manufacturing companies and provide an integrated
development environment (IDE) for developing new functions using
the open objects/APIs. Accordingly, solution developers can develop
solutions set to be suitable for additional functions of software
and specific use environments and mount the solutions in products.
This technology must be further developed. However, for substantial
development of this technology, a large amount of time is required
to thoroughly learn about object/API specifications open to
corresponding products and a method of using IDE. Also, users not
knowing about the technology cannot slightly change functions or
realize desired functions. That is, conventional open architecture
technology can be used by only developers and not by general
users.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present general inventive concept provides an image
forming method and apparatus to easily set and to continuously
execute a plurality of operations of a same set of image data on a
screen.
[0008] The present general inventive concept also provides an image
forming method and apparatus, and a host to allow a user to newly
generate an application to execute operations according to settings
of the user.
[0009] Additional aspects and utilities of the present general
inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description
which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description,
or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.
[0010] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
general inventive concept may be achieved by providing an image
forming method including setting a processing order of a plurality
of operations of a same image data and detailed setup information
of the plurality of operations, and executing the plurality of
operations using the detailed setup information according to the
set processing order.
[0011] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing an
image forming apparatus including a user interface unit to set a
processing order of a plurality of operations of a same image data
and detailed setup information of the plurality of operations, and
a controller to control the plurality of operations to be executed
using the detailed setup information according to the processing
order.
[0012] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing an
image forming method including generating a graphical user
interface (GUI) webpage corresponding to a plurality of operations
on an image forming apparatus, generating an application profile
corresponding to the plurality of operations using the GUI webpage,
and generating an application corresponding to the application
profile to execute the plurality of operations on the image forming
apparatus.
[0013] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing an
image forming apparatus including an operation registration manager
to register and manage information including types, detailed setup
information, and execution information of a plurality of
operations, an internal web server to generate a graphical user
interface (GUI) webpage corresponding to the plurality of
operations, and an operation executer to receive an application
profile from a host to generate the application profile
corresponding to the plurality of operations using the GUI webpage,
to generate an application corresponding to the application
profile, and to execute the plurality of operations.
[0014] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a host
including a generator to generate an application profile
corresponding to a plurality of operations using a graphical user
interface (GUI) webpage, wherein the GUI webpage corresponds to the
plurality of operations of an image forming apparatus.
[0015] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing an
image forming apparatus including a user interface to allow a user
to select a plurality of image forming operations to be performed
on a same image data, and to set a processing order of the selected
image forming operations, and a controller to process the selected
image forming operations corresponding to at least the set
processing order, wherein the set plurality of image forming
operations are continuously processed.
[0016] The selecting of the plurality of image forming operations
may include selecting icons corresponding to the respective image
forming operations.
[0017] The setting of the processing order includes arranging the
selected icons corresponding to the respective image forming
operations in an order.
[0018] The user interface may include a setup window to allow the
user to set detailed setup information corresponding to the
plurality of image forming operations, wherein the controller
processes the selected image forming operations corresponding to
the respective detailed setup information.
[0019] The detailed setup information may include one or more of a
size of a printing medium, a number of printed pages and a
resolution.
[0020] The plurality of image forming operations may include one or
more of a copying operation, a printing operation, a faxing
operation and a scanning operation.
[0021] The user interface may display icons corresponding to image
forming operations in response to an arbitrary operation.
[0022] The user interface may not display non-selected icons in
response to a selection of an icon corresponding to a respective
image forming operation.
[0023] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a
method of performing image forming operations with an image forming
apparatus, the method including selecting a plurality of image
forming operations to be performed on a same image data, setting a
processing order of the selected image forming operations, and
processing the selected image forming operations corresponding to
at least the set processing order such that the set plurality of
image forming operations are continuously processed.
[0024] The method may further include setting detailed setup
information corresponding to the plurality of image forming
operations.
[0025] The processing of the selected image forming operations may
further include processing the selected image forming operations
corresponding to the respective detailed setup information.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] These and/or other aspects and utilities of the present
general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily
appreciated from the following description of the embodiments,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
[0027] FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an image forming method
according to an embodiment of the present general inventive
concept;
[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates a process of setting a scanning operation
of a plurality of operations according to an embodiment of the
present general inventive concept;
[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates a process of setting a printing operation
to be executed after a scanning operation, according to an
embodiment of the present general inventive concept;
[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates icons of operations to be executed after
a printing operation, according to an embodiment of the present
general inventive concept;
[0031] FIG. 5 illustrates icons disappearing if fax forwarding is
selected as an operation to be executed after a printing operation,
according to an embodiment of the present general inventive
concept;
[0032] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an image forming
apparatus according to an embodiment of the present general
inventive concept;
[0033] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an image forming method
according to another embodiment of the present general inventive
concept;
[0034] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating operation 400 of the
method of FIG. 7, according to an embodiment of the present general
inventive concept;
[0035] FIG. 9 illustrates a graphical user interface (GUI) webpage
illustrating operation 502 of FIG. 8, according to an embodiment of
the present general inventive concept;
[0036] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating operation 402 of the
method of FIG. 7, according to an embodiment of the present general
inventive concept;
[0037] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating operation 404 of the
method of FIG. 7, according to an embodiment of the present general
inventive concept;
[0038] FIG. 12 illustrates a process of an image forming method of
generating an application to manage a security document, according
to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept;
[0039] FIG. 13 illustrates a process of the image forming method of
generating an application to manage a fax document, according to an
embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and
[0040] FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating an image forming
apparatus and a host according to an embodiment of the present
general inventive concept.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0041] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present general inventive concept, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference
numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are
described below in order to explain the present general inventive
concept by referring to the figures.
[0042] FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an image forming method
according to an embodiment of the present general inventive
concept.
[0043] In operation 100, a processing order and detailed setup
information of a plurality of operations of a same image data are
set. The processing order refers to an order in which a plurality
of image forming operations are continuously processed, e.g.,
copying, printing, faxing, scanning, etc. The detailed setup
information refers to information which is set to execute the
plurality of image forming operations, e.g., information regarding
a size of a printing paper sheet, a number of printed pages,
resolution, etc. which are set for the printing operation.
[0044] The present general inventive concept uses the processing
order and the detailed setup information to continuously execute
the plurality of image forming operations of the same image
data.
[0045] In particular, in the present embodiment, icons indicating
the plurality of image forming operations are arranged on a user
interface screen to set the processing order, and the detailed
setup information corresponding to each of the plurality of
consecutive image forming operations is set. Processes of setting
the processing order and detailed setup information will be
described with reference to FIGS. 2 through 5.
[0046] FIG. 2 illustrates a process of setting a scanning operation
of a plurality of operations according to an embodiment of the
present general inventive concept. An identification (ID) 200
illustrated in FIG. 2 indicates a user interface screen to set the
processing order. When icons of operations a user desires to
process are arranged on the user interface screen, the processing
order of the operations is set according to an arrangement order of
the icons. Here, a drag-and-drop method is used to arrange the
icons indicating a plurality of operations on the user interface
screen. An icon for a scanning operation is arranged on the user
interface screen using the drag-and-drop method to be set to an
operation to be executed.
[0047] After the icons indicating the operations are arranged,
detailed setup information corresponding to the operations is set.
The detailed setup information is set according to detailed setup
information input through a setup window. An ID 202 indicates
detailed setup information for a scanning operation, and an ID 204
indicates a setup window to set detailed setup information using a
drop-down method. The detailed setup information of the scanning
operation may be information regarding whether results of the
scanning operation are to be transmitted to a host or transmitted
through an e-mail, resolution, a size of a printing paper sheet,
reports, etc.
[0048] FIG. 3 illustrates a process of setting a printing operation
to be executed after a scanning operation, according to an
embodiment of the present general inventive concept. If a printing
operation is to be executed using data on which a scanning
operation has been executed, an icon indicating the scanning
operation is arranged on a user interface screen, and then an icon
indicating the printing operation is arranged on the user interface
screen as illustrated in FIG. 3. Here, when icons indicating a
plurality of operations are arranged on the user interface screen,
non-executable operations are not arranged but an error message is
displayed.
[0049] In the present general inventive concept, icons indicating
executable operations are displayed after an arbitrary operation,
and an operation processing order corresponding to an icon selected
from the displayed icons is set. Also, only the selected icon of
the icons indicating the executable operations is displayed after
an arbitrary operation, and displays of the other icons are
removed.
[0050] FIG. 4 illustrates icons of operations to be executed after
a printing operation, according to an embodiment of the present
general inventive concept. Icons corresponding to an ID 210 refers
to icons which correspond to operations to be executed after a
printing operation, i.e., icons of report printing, fax forwarding,
and data storing. As illustrated in FIG. 4, icons, which correspond
to operations to be executed after a printing operation, are
displayed. A user can select one of the icons of report printing,
fax forwarding, and data storing. If the user selects fax
forwarding, only the icon of fax forwarding is displayed and the
icons of report printing and data storing and thus are not
displayed.
[0051] FIG. 5 illustrates icons disappearing if fax forwarding is
selected as an operation to be executed after a printing operation,
according to an embodiment of the present general inventive
concept. A user can check information regarding operations to be
executed after an arbitrary operation and can easily select a
desired operation therefrom.
[0052] If the user desires to arrange an icon of a non-executable
operation on a user interface screen together with icons indicating
a plurality of operations, the user may not arrange the icon on the
user interface screen but may display an error message. Thus, the
user can check on the display whether an error message that an
operation corresponding to an icon selected by the user cannot be
executed.
[0053] In operation 102, the plurality of operations are executed
according to the processing order using the detailed setup
information. That is, the corresponding operations are continuously
executed using the processing order and the detailed setup
information determined in operation 100. For example, if the
processing order is set to the order of a scanning operation, a
printing operation, and fax forwarding as illustrated in FIGS. 2
through 5, the plurality of operations of the same image data are
sequentially executed with reference to the set detailed setup
information of each of the plurality of operations.
[0054] In operation 104, the processing order and the detailed
setup information are stored. That is, information regarding the
operation processing order and detailed setup information created
by a user can be stored so as to be re-used later. In the present
embodiment, the operation processing order and detailed setup
information are stored after operations are completely executed.
However, the operation processing order and the detailed setup
information may be stored during the executions of the
operations.
[0055] The image forming method of FIG. 1 operates during
executions of operations or on standby for the operations. That is,
the operation processing order and the detailed setup information
may be set to continuously execute additional operations even
during the executions of the respective operations.
[0056] An image forming apparatus according to the present general
inventive concept will now be described in detail with reference to
the attached drawings.
[0057] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an image forming
apparatus according to an embodiment of the present general
inventive concept. Referring to FIG. 6, the image forming apparatus
includes a user interface unit 300, a controller 310, and a memory
320.
[0058] The user interface unit 300 sets the processing order and
detailed setup information of a plurality of operations of the same
image data and outputs set results to the controller 310. For this
purpose, the user interface unit 300 includes a screen provider
302, an operation processing order setter 304, and a detailed
information setter 306.
[0059] The screen provider 302 provides a user interface screen to
set the processing order. The ID 200 illustrated in FIG. 2
indicates such a user interface screen. The screen provider 302
displays the user interface screen on which icons indicating the
plurality of operations are arranged.
[0060] The operation processing order setter 304 arranges the icons
indicating the plurality of operations on the user interface screen
to set the processing order and outputs the set results to the
controller 310. The operation processing order setter 304 arranges
icons indicating a plurality of image forming operations on the
user interface screen using a drag-and-drop method.
[0061] The operation processing order setter 304 displays icons
indicating executable operations after an arbitrary operation on
the user interface screen and sets an operation processing order
corresponding to an icon selected from the displayed icons. The
operation processing order setter 304 also displays only the
selected icon and removes displays of the other icons.
[0062] The operation processing order setter 304 displays an icon
indicating a scanning operation and then an icon indicating a
printing operation on the user interface screen as illustrated in
FIG. 3. The operation processing order setter 304 also displays
icons corresponding to operations to be executed after the printing
operation as illustrated in FIG. 4. A user can select one of icons
of report printing, fax forwarding, and data storing. If the user
selects fax forwarding, the operation processing order setter 304
displays only the icon of fax forwarding and removes the icons of
report printing and data storing. That is, if fax forwarding is
selected as an operation to be executed after the printing
operation, the other icons disappear as illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0063] If the user desires to arrange non-executable operations
together with icons indicating the plurality of operations on the
user interface screen, the operation processing order setter 304
displays an error message instead of icons of the non-executable
operations. The user can check through the display of the error
message that an operation corresponding to an icon selected by the
user is non-executable.
[0064] The detailed information setter 306 sets the detailed setup
information of the plurality of operations and outputs the set
results to the controller 310. The detailed information setter 306
sets the detailed setup information according to detailed setup
information input through a setup window using a drag-and-drop
method. If the operation processing order setter 304 arranges an
icon indicating an operation on the user interface screen, the
detailed information setter 306 sets detailed setup information
corresponding to the arranged icon of the operation. The detailed
information setter 306 displays the setup window using the
drag-and-drop method and sets information input through the setup
window as detailed setup information.
[0065] The controller 310 controls the plurality of operations to
be continuously executed using the processing order set by the
operation processing order setter 304 and the detailed setup
information set by the detailed information setter 306. For
example, if the processing order are set to the order of a scanning
operation, a printing operation, and fax forwarding as illustrated
in FIGS. 2 through 5, the controller 310 sequentially executes the
scanning operation, the printing operation, and fax forwarding of
the same image data with reference to detailed setup information
set for the scanning operation, the printing operation, and fax
forwarding. The controller 310 also controls the memory 320 to
store the set processing order and detailed setup information.
[0066] The memory 320 is a non-volatile memory and is controlled by
the controller 310 to store the processing order and the detailed
setup information.
[0067] The above-described image forming apparatus operates during
executions of operations or on standby for the operations. Even
when the operations are being executed, the image forming apparatus
can set the operation processing order and detailed setup
information to continuously execute additional operations. When the
operations are on standby, the image forming apparatus can execute
a plurality of operations.
[0068] An image forming method according to another embodiment of
the present general inventive concept will now be described with
reference to the drawings.
[0069] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an image forming method according
to another embodiment of the present general inventive concept.
[0070] In operation 400, a graphic user interface (GUI) webpage
corresponding to a plurality of operations is generated on an image
forming apparatus. Here, the plurality of operations may be
referred to as objects indicating functions of the image forming
apparatus. The objects indicate the abstracted functions of the
image forming apparatus, and examples of the objects include
objects "Print," "Scan," "Fax," "Image," "Ftp-client," "E-mail,"
etc.
[0071] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of operation 400 of the method of FIG.
7, according to an embodiment of the present general inventive
concept.
[0072] In operation 500, information including types, detailed
setup information, and execution information of the operations is
registered. When a power source is applied to the image forming
apparatus, the types of operations, i.e., types of objects, are
registered, together with detailed setup information and operation
execution information regarding the objects. The registered
information is managed as a database.
[0073] Examples of the types of operations include print, scanner,
fax, image, protocol, filter operations, etc. The types of
operations indicate what types of functions operations are in
charge of. The detailed setup information indicates attributes or
set information of the operations, i.e., indicates the resolution
in the scanner object, an ftp server IP address in the ftp-client
object, etc. The operation execution information indicates function
information to be executed by a corresponding operation, e.g.,
"Start scanning," "Stop scanning," etc. in the object "Scan," "Log
in a ftp server," "Start ftp transmission," etc. in the object
"Ftp-client."
[0074] In operation 502, the GUI webpage including a list menu of
image forming operations and an edition menu of an application is
generated using the registered information.
[0075] FIG. 9 illustrates a GUI webpage illustrating operation 502
of FIG. 8, according to an embodiment of the present general
inventive concept. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the GUI webpage
includes a list menu of operations and an edition menu of an
application. The list menu and the edition menu will be described
in detail later.
[0076] In operation 402, an application profile corresponding to
operations is generated on a host using the generated GUI
webpage.
[0077] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating operation 402 of the
method of FIG. 7, according to an embodiment of the present general
inventive concept. Referring to FIG. 10, in operation 600, the host
logs in the image forming apparatus. If a user activates a web
browser of the host, the host logs in the image forming apparatus
through the activated web browser.
[0078] In operation 602, the host receives the generated GUI
webpage from the image forming apparatus. The received GUI is
displayed on the web browser.
[0079] In operation 604, the processing order and detailed setup
information of the image forming operations are set using the list
menu of the image forming operations and the edition menu of the
application, wherein the list and edition menus are included in the
received GUI webpage. The list menu arranges and displays icons
corresponding to operations, i.e., objects, according to the
predetermined order. The edition menu of the application performs a
function of setting the operation processing order and a function
of generating an application profile corresponding to the operation
processing order. The edition menu of the application is used to
move the icons corresponding to the operations on the list menu
onto the edition menu using a drag-and-drop method and to provide a
user interface on which connection relations among the icons are
created to set the operation processing order of the icons. The
edition menu of the application is also used to generate the
application profile corresponding to the set operation processing
order.
[0080] An example of a GUI webpage displayed on a web browser is
illustrated in FIG. 9. A user moves the icons corresponding to the
operations on the list menu onto the edition menu using the
drag-and-drop method and then creates the connection relations
among the icons to set the operation processing order of the icons.
For example, if the user creates the connection relations among the
icons as illustrated in FIG. 9, the operation processing order of
first and second objects are set. Also, detailed setup information
of the first and second objects is also set using the edition menu
of the application.
[0081] In operation 606, the application profile corresponding to
the set operation processing order and detailed setup information
is generated. The edition menu of the application generates a new
application profile using the operation processing order and
detailed setup information displayed on a screen. The application
profile may be generated in an Extensible Markup Language (XML)
format or a predetermined script format. The application profile
includes information regarding types, detailed information, and the
set processing order of operations.
[0082] In operation 608, the host transmits the generated
application profile to the image forming apparatus.
[0083] In operation 404, the application profile is interpreted on
the image forming apparatus to execute image forming operations
corresponding to the operation processing order.
[0084] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating operation 404 of the
method of FIG. 7, according to an embodiment of the present general
inventive concept.
[0085] In operation 700, the image forming apparatus receives and
stores the application profile generated by the host.
[0086] In operation 702, the stored application profile is
interpreted. Here, the application profile is interpreted according
to pre-defined rules.
[0087] In operation 704, an application corresponding to contents
of the interpreted application profile is generated.
[0088] In operation 706, the generated application is executed so
as to execute operations. Detailed setup information of the
operations may be changed according to contents of the interpreted
application profile.
[0089] FIG. 12 illustrates a process of an image forming method of
generating an application to manage a security document, according
to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept. As
illustrated in FIG. 12, a user filters a document printed in an
image forming apparatus, stores the document in an ftp server when
the document includes items to be secured, and generates an
application when the document is to be managed. The user accesses
an internal web server of the image forming apparatus to create
operations and processing order of the operations on an application
edition menu as illustrated in FIG. 12. An object "Print-Port"
indicates a port through which printed data is received in the
image forming apparatus. The received printed data is transmitted
to an object "Filter," and words "confidential" are stored in
detailed setup information of the object "Filter" to filter the
words "confidential" off the document. The printed document
filtered by the object "Filter" is transmitted to an object
"Ftp-client" connected to an output of the object "Filter," and the
object "Ftp-client" stores the received document in the ftp server.
A document unfiltered by the object "Filter" is transmitted to an
object "Print" connected to a normal output so as to execute a
printing operation. Here, if detailed setup information of objects
is re-set by the user as illustrated in FIG. 12, the re-set
detailed setup information is transmitted to the image forming
apparatus so as to be changed according to re-set information.
[0090] As described above, an application profile created through a
GUI webpage is transmitted to an image forming apparatus. The image
forming apparatus interprets the application profile to generate an
application to substantially perform a function of the application
profile so as to execute operations according to the setting of a
user.
[0091] FIG. 13 illustrates a process of the image forming method of
generating an application to manage a fax document, according to an
embodiment of the present general inventive concept. It is assumed
that a user named "Park" desires to store a copied document of an
image in a personal computer (PC) of the user whenever the user
faxes the image. In this case, the user accesses an internal web
server of an image forming apparatus to create operations and the
processing order of the operations on an application edition menu
as illustrated in FIG. 13. A user name and an application name to
be newly generated are registered in an object "Panel user
interface (UI)." The object "Panel UI" is connected to an object
"Scan," and objects "Fax" and "Image" are connected to an output of
the object "Scan." In the object "Image," a format into which a
scanned image is to be transformed is set to "JPG." The object
"Image" is connected to an object "SMB," and a server information
provider (IP) as detailed setup information is registered as a PC
IP address of the user in the object "SMB." The contents are
transformed into an application profile and transmitted to the
image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus interprets
and executes the application profile. If the application profile is
executed, and the user logs in the object "Panel UI," the user may
regard a menu "myFAX" generated by the user as an UI. If the menu
"myFAX" is executed, a document may be scanned and faxed, and the
scanned image may be transformed into a JPG file and transmitted to
the PC of the user.
[0092] An image forming apparatus and a host according to the
present general inventive concept will now be described in detail
with reference to the attached drawings.
[0093] FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating an image forming
apparatus and a host according to an embodiment of the present
general inventive concept. Referring to FIG. 14, an image forming
apparatus 800 generates a GUI webpage and interprets an application
profile to execute operations corresponding to the processing
order. For this purpose, the image forming apparatus 800 includes
an operation registration manager 810, an internal web server 820,
and an operation executer 830.
[0094] The operation registration manager 810 registers and manages
information including types, detailed setup information, and
execution information of a plurality of operations. As illustrated
in FIG. 14, the operation registration manager 810 creates a
database (DB) of a type, detailed setup information, and execution
information of each of the plurality of operations, stores and
manages the DB, and provides the DB to the internal web server 820.
The operations indicate objects which indicate functions of the
image forming apparatus 800. The types of the plurality of
operations indicate what types of functions the operations are in
charge of. The detailed setup information indicates attributes and
set information of the operations, and the execution information is
function information which can be executed by corresponding
operations.
[0095] The internal web server 820 generates the GUI webpage
corresponding to the operations and transmits the GUI webpage to a
host 900. For this purpose, the internal web server 820 includes an
icon information storage unit 822, a GUI webpage generator 824, and
a first interface unit 826.
[0096] The icon information storage unit 822 stores icon
information corresponding to the operations and outputs the icon
information to the GUI webpage generator 824.
[0097] The GUI webpage generator 824 generates the GUI webpage
using the registered information of the operations provided from
the operation registration manager 810 and outputs the generated
GUI webpage to the first interface unit 826. The GUI webpage
includes a list menu of the operations and an edition menu of an
application corresponding to the processing order of the
operations. The list menu arranges and displays icons indicating
symbols of the operations, i.e., objects, according to the
predetermined order. The edition menu of the application executes a
function of setting the processing order and a function of
generating an application profile corresponding to the processing
order.
[0098] The first interface unit 826 transmits the generated GUI
webpage to the host 900.
[0099] The host 600 generates the application profile corresponding
to the processing order of the operations using the GUI webpage
corresponding to the operations of the image forming apparatus 800.
For this purpose, the host 900 includes a second interface unit
910, a setter 920, and a profile generator 930.
[0100] The second interface unit 910 logs in the image forming
apparatus 800 to receive the GUI webpage from the image forming
apparatus 800 and outputs the GUI webpage to the setter 920.
[0101] The setter 920 sets the processing order and detailed setup
information of the operations using the list menu of the operations
and the edition menu of the application, wherein the list and
edition menus are in the GUI webpage, and outputs the processing
order and the detailed setup information to the profile generator
930.
[0102] The setter 920 moves the icons corresponding to the symbols
of the operations on the list menu onto the edition menu using a
drag-and-drop method and then provides a user interface so as to
set the processing order and the detailed setup information. The
processing order and the detailed setup information are set using
the list menu and the edition menu as illustrated in FIG. 9.
[0103] The profile generator 930 generates the application profile
corresponding to the processing order and the detailed setup
information set by the setter 920 and outputs the application
profile to the second interface unit 910. The application profile
includes information regarding types, detailed setup information,
and the processing order of the operations. The profile generator
930 may generate the application profile using an XML format or a
predetermined script format.
[0104] The second interface unit 910 transmits the application
profile to the image forming apparatus 800.
[0105] The first interface unit 826 receives the application
profile generated by the host 900 and outputs the application
profile to the operation executer 830.
[0106] The operation executer 830 interprets the application
profile so as to execute image forming operations corresponding to
the processing order. For this purpose, the operation executer 830
includes a profile storage unit 832, a profile interpreter 534, an
application generator 536, and an application executer 838.
[0107] The profile storage unit 832 receives the application
profile from the first interface unit 826, stores the application
profile, and outputs the application profile to the profile
interpreter 834.
[0108] The profile interpreter 834 interprets the application
profile provided from the profile storage unit 832 and outputs
contents of the interpreted application profile to the application
generator 836 and the operation registration manager 810.
[0109] The application generator 836 generates an application
corresponding to the contents of the interpreted application
profile and outputs the generated application to the application
executer 838.
[0110] The application executer 838 executes the generated
application to execute the operations.
[0111] The operation registration manager 810 changes the detailed
setup information of the operations according to the contents of
the interpreted application profile.
[0112] As described above, in an image forming method and
apparatus, and a host according to various embodiments of the
present general inventive concept, a user can execute a plurality
of image forming operations with a one-time action and simply
perform setting of each of the plurality of image forming
operations. Thus, if the user is to scan, fax, and e-mail a
photograph and store the photograph in a storage medium of a
multi-functional peripheral (MFP) without repeating operations of
the same image data, the user can create image forming operations
in the order of scanning, faxing, e-mailing, and storing so as to
continuously execute the image forming operations without
additional repeated operations.
[0113] Also, the user can provide an execution list of next
executable functions to easily use convenient functions of the
image forming apparatus top perform various functions.
[0114] In addition, if operations to be executed are
non-executable, the user can select other executable operations or
cancel the non-executable operations.
[0115] Moreover, the user can newly generate an application to
execute desired operations. Thus, even if the user is not very
knowledgeable about a management program of the functions of the
image forming apparatus, the user can add and change the functions
of the image forming apparatus.
[0116] The present general inventive concept can also be embodied
as computer-readable codes on a computer-readable medium. The
computer-readable medium can include a computer-readable recording
medium and a computer-readable transmission medium. The
computer-readable recording medium is any data storage device that
can store data that can be thereafter read by a computer system.
Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include
read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs,
magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical data storage devices. The
computer-readable recording medium can also be distributed over
network coupled computer systems so that the computer-readable code
is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. The
computer-readable transmission medium can transmit carrier waves or
signals (e.g., wired or wireless data transmission through the
Internet). Also, functional programs, codes, and code segments to
accomplish the present general inventive concept can be easily
construed by programmers skilled in the art to which the present
general inventive concept pertains.
[0117] Although various embodiments of the present general
inventive concept have been illustrated and described, it will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in
these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit
of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in
the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *