Image processing system, program, and image processing device

Abstract

To provide an image processing system, a program, and an image processing device that can prevent a computer from starting data communication by second communication regardless of the image processing device not having the capability of the second communication by a second program different from a first program for first communication.SOLUTION: A PC3 accesses an MIB16 of an MFP2 and confirms whether or not capability information stored in the MIB16 includes encrypted communication possibility information. The encrypted communication possibility information is information indicating that the MFP2 has the capability of encrypted communication by an encrypted communication program. When the PC3 confirms that the capability information stored in the MIB16 includes the encrypted communication possibility information, a port for the encrypted communication is designated, and data communication for executing a pull scan process is performed by the encrypted communication.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image processing system, a program, and an image processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] In an environment (system configuration) in which a PC (Personal Computer) and an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) are connected to a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), for example, pull scanning is possible, in which scan data of an object to be read set on the MFP is sent from the MFP to the PC upon instruction from the PC. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6084066 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Encrypted communication, which encrypts data before transmitting it, is effective in ensuring the confidentiality of pull scan. To perform encrypted communication between a PC and an MFP, both the PC and the MFP must have an encrypted communication program built in that is different from a program for plaintext communication. Therefore, even if encrypted communication from a PC to the MFP is started, if the MFP does not have an encrypted communication program built in, data communication between the PC and the MFP cannot continue, and a communication error occurs.

[0005] This problem is not limited to the combination of encrypted communication and plaintext communication, but can also occur in combinations of a first communication by a first program and a second communication by a second program different from the first program, such as communications with different communication speeds or data compression methods.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system, a program, and an image processing device that can prevent a computer from initiating data communication via a second communication even if the image processing device does not have the capability of the second communication via a second program that is different from the first program for the first communication. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an image processing system according to one aspect of the present invention is an image processing system constructed by connecting an image processing device and a computer to a network, wherein the image processing device has an image processing unit that performs image processing, and a capability information storage unit that stores capability information regarding the capabilities of the image processing device, and the computer accesses the capability information storage unit to check whether the capability information stored in the capability information storage unit includes second communication capability information indicating that the image processing device has the capability of second communication using a second program different from the first program for the first communication, and if it is confirmed that the capability information includes the second communication capability information, it designates a port for the second communication and performs data communication for executing image processing via the second communication.

[0008] According to this configuration, the computer accesses the capability information storage unit of the image processing device and confirms whether or not the capability information stored in the capability information storage unit includes the second communication capability information. The second communication capability information is information indicating that the image processing device has the capability of the second communication by a second program different from the first program for the first communication. Then, when the computer confirms that the capability information stored in the capability information storage unit includes the second communication capability information, a port for the second communication is designated, and data communication for execution of image processing by the image processing unit is performed by the second communication.

[0009] This prevents the computer from starting data communication by the second communication even if the image processing device does not have the capability of the second communication, and as a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of communication errors caused by the execution of data communication by the second communication when the image processing device does not have the capability of the second communication.

[0010] A program according to another aspect of the present invention is a program installed in a computer connected via a network to an image processing device having an image processing unit that performs image processing and a capability information storage unit that stores capability information regarding capabilities possessed by the image processing device, and causes the computer to access the capability information storage unit and confirm whether the capability information stored in the capability information storage unit includes second communication capability information indicating that the image processing device has the capability of second communication using a second program different from the first program for the first communication, and if it is confirmed that the capability information includes the second communication capability information, specifies a port for the second communication and causes data communication for executing image processing to be performed via the second communication.

[0011] By using a computer on which this program is installed, the image processing system described above can be constructed.

[0012] An image processing device according to yet another aspect of the present invention is an image processing device to which a computer is connected via a network, and is equipped with a first communication port for a first communication by a first program, a second communication port for a second communication by a second program different from the first program, an image processing unit that performs image processing, and a capability information storage unit that stores capability information regarding capabilities possessed by the image processing device, and the capability information stored in the capability information storage unit includes second communication capability information indicating that the image processing device has capability for the second communication.

[0013] The image processing system described above can be constructed using this image processing device. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a computer from starting data communication by the second communication even if the image processing device does not have the capability of the second communication. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a communication error caused by the execution of data communication by the second communication when the image processing device does not have the capability of the second communication. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing a data flow when a pull scan is executed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] <Image processing system> 1 includes an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) 2, which is an example of an image processing device, and a PC (Personal Computer) 3, which is an example of a computer. The image processing system 1 is constructed by connecting the MFP 2 and the PC 3 to a network (communication equipment) 4. The network 4 includes one or both of the Internet and a LAN (Local Area Network).

[0018] The MFP2 is a multifunction machine having multiple image processing functions. The image processing functions include, for example, a reading function and a printing function. The reading function is a function of optically reading an object to be read and generating image data of the object to be read. The printing function is a function of printing an image related to the image data on a sheet such as printing paper. The MFP2 includes a reading unit 11 for the reading function and a printing unit 12 for the printing function.

[0019] The reading unit 11 (an example of an image processing unit) realizes a reading function by executing a reading process. The reading unit 11 may be configured to adopt a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) method as a reading method. In this configuration, the reading unit 11 is provided with a reading device including a light source and an image sensor. The image sensor includes a plurality of light receiving elements arranged at equal pitches in the main scanning direction. When light from the light source is reflected by the object to be read and the reflected light is incident on the image sensor, photoelectric conversion is performed in each light receiving element, and a voltage (electrical signal) according to the amount of light received is output from each light receiving element. This achieves reading one line of the object to be read in the main scanning direction by the reading device. In the reading process, the reading device and the object to be read are moved relatively in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction, and the object to be read is read line by line by the reading device.

[0020] The reading unit 11 is not limited to a configuration that employs a CIS method, which is a life-size optical method, as a reading method, but may be a configuration that employs a reduced optical method, that is, a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices) method.

[0021] The printing unit 12 realizes a printing function by executing a printing process. The printing unit 12 may be configured to use an inkjet printing method. In this configuration, the printing unit 12 is provided with a print head having a plurality of nozzles. In the printing process, while the sheet is being transported, ink is selectively ejected from the nozzles of the print head, and the ink lands on the sheet, whereby an image made up of dots formed by the ink lands is printed on the sheet.

[0022] The printing unit 12 is not limited to a configuration that employs an inkjet printing method, but may be a configuration that employs an electrophotographic method or a configuration that employs a thermal method.

[0023] The MFP 2 also includes an operation panel 13 and a network interface 14 .

[0024] The operation panel 13 is a human interface, and includes, for example, a touch panel with pressure-sensitive or capacitive transparent film switches on a liquid crystal display. The touch panel displays various information such as keys operated for various settings and the contents set by the key operations. In addition to the touch panel, the operation panel 13 may include physical keys such as a numeric keypad operated for various settings.

[0025] The network interface 14 is hardware including a communication circuit necessary for communication with an external device such as the PC 3 via the network 4 .

[0026] Furthermore, the MFP 2 includes an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) 15 and a Management Information Base (MIB) 16.

[0027] The ASIC 15 (an example of an image processing unit) incorporates a CPU 17 and a memory 18. The memory 18 includes a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory or an E2PROM in which data can be rewritten, and a volatile memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory). Programs for various processes are stored in the nonvolatile memory. The CPU 17 executes the programs stored in the nonvolatile memory of the memory 18, and uses the volatile memory of the memory 18 as a work area when executing the programs.

[0028] The ASIC 15 also includes an A / D conversion circuit. The A / D conversion circuit has, for example, a resolution of 8 bits (0 to 255), and performs A / D conversion of an electric signal (voltage) output from the reading device of the reading unit 11 into image data (pixel value) which is a digital value. In the A / D conversion, for example, a voltage less than a reference voltage (lower limit value) on the lower limit side is uniformly converted into pixel data "0", a voltage exceeding a reference voltage (upper limit value) on the upper limit side is uniformly converted into pixel data "255", and a voltage in the range from the lower limit value to the upper limit value is converted into pixel data according to the magnitude of the voltage. The reading device reads the reading object line by line, and the electric signal output from the reading device in reading each line is converted into image data, thereby achieving the reading process.

[0029] MIB16 (an example of a capability information storage unit) is a text file in which information available in SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is described in a tree structure, and includes an extended MIB that allows the manufacturer of MFP2 to store information that is uniquely set in MFP2. Network 4 is a network that communicates using TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol), and SNMP is an application layer protocol for monitoring and controlling devices with communication functions such as MFP2 from PC3 and the like via network 4. MIB16 stores capability information related to various capabilities of MFP2 as information that is uniquely set by the manufacturer of MFP2. Each piece of information stored in MIB16 is assigned a unique OID (Object ID).

[0030] The PC 3 incorporates a CPU 21 and a memory 22. The memory 22 includes a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory or an E2PROM in which data can be rewritten, and a volatile memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory). Programs for various processes are stored in the non-volatile memory. The CPU 21 executes the programs stored in the non-volatile memory of the memory 22, and uses the volatile memory of the memory 22 as a work area when executing the programs.

[0031] <PullScan> In the image processing system 1, a pull scan is possible in which an instruction is issued from the PC 3 to the MFP 2, and image data of an object to be read is transmitted from the MFP 2 to the PC 3. When the PC 3 instructs the MFP 2 to execute a pull scan, in response to the instruction, data communication is performed between the MFP 2 and the PC 3 for executing a pull scan process, which is an example of image processing by the MFP 2.

[0032] In addition, both the MFP2 and the PC3 are equipped with a plaintext communication program (software) for plaintext communication in pull scan between the MFP2 and the PC3, and an encrypted communication program (software) for encrypted communication in pull scan between the MFP2 and the PC3. This allows the image processing system 1 to perform data communication for executing the pull scan process by plaintext communication, and to perform data communication for executing the pull scan process by encrypted communication. Then, before starting data communication for executing the pull scan process, the capability information stored in the MIB16 of the MFP2 includes encrypted communication capability information indicating that the MFP2 has the capability of encrypted communication, so that the PC3 can confirm whether the encrypted communication program is installed in the MFP2, that is, whether the MFP2 has the capability of encrypted communication.

[0033] When a user operates PC3 and inputs a command to start a pull scan to PC3, a TCP / IP stack with SNMP as the application layer protocol is executed by CPU 21 of PC3, and as shown in Fig. 2, a request (GetRequest) specifying an OID (Object ID) of encrypted communication possible information stored in MIB 16 is sent from PC3 to MFP2. In response to the request, the MFP2 returns the value of the OID specified by PC3 to PC3 (GetResponse).

[0034] When PC3 receives the response from MFP2, CPU21 of PC3 checks whether or not the capability information stored in MIB16 includes encrypted communication capability information, based on the received OID value.

[0035] Then, when it is confirmed that the capability information stored in the MIB16 includes encrypted communication capability information, that is, when it is confirmed that the MFP2 has the capability of encrypted communication, the CPU21 of the PC3 executes a TCP / IP stack (encrypted communication program) that uses TLS (Transport Layer Security) between the application layer protocol that executes the pull scan process and TCP, which is a transport layer protocol. As a result, an encrypted communication port corresponding to the encrypted communication program is specified from the PC3 to the MFP2, in other words, an encrypted communication port for encrypted communication, and data communication for executing the pull scan process is started between the PC3 and the MFP2. Various settings such as the reading resolution in the push scan are performed by operating the PC3, and the MFP2 executes the pull scan process according to the contents (reading resolution, etc.) set by operating the PC3. In this pull scan process, the reading unit 11 performs a reading process to generate image data of the read object, encrypts the image data, and transmits the encrypted image data from the MFP2 to the PC3.

[0036] When an MFP other than MFP 2 (hereinafter referred to as the "other MFP") is connected to network 4 and an encrypted communication program is not incorporated in that other MFP, or when the capability information stored in the MIB of the other MFP does not include encrypted communication capability information, CPU 21 of PC 3 confirms from the value of the OID received from the other MFP that the capability information stored in the MIB of the other MFP does not include encrypted communication capability information.

[0037] If it is confirmed that the encrypted communication possible information is not included, a TCP / IP stack (plaintext communication program) that does not use TLS between the application layer protocol that executes the pull scan process and TCP, which is a transport layer protocol, is executed. As a result, a plaintext communication port corresponding to the plaintext communication program, in other words, a plaintext communication port for plaintext communication, is specified from the PC3 to the MFP2, and data communication for executing the pull scan process is started between the PC3 and the MFP2. The MFP2 executes the pull scan process according to the contents set by the operation of the PC3. In this pull scan process, a reading process is performed by the reading unit 11, image data of the read object is generated, and the image data is transmitted from the MFP2 to the PC3 in plaintext.

[0038] <Action and effect> As described above, the PC 3 accesses the MIB 16 of the MFP 2 and checks whether or not the capability information stored in the MIB 16 includes encrypted communication capability information. The encrypted communication capability information is information indicating that the MFP 2 has the capability of encrypted communication using an encrypted communication program. If the PC 3 checks that the capability information stored in the MIB 16 includes the encrypted communication capability information, a port for encrypted communication is designated, and data communication for executing the pull scan process is performed by encrypted communication.

[0039] This makes it possible to prevent the PC 3 from starting encrypted data communication even if the MFP 2 does not have the encrypted communication capability. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of communication errors caused by the execution of encrypted data communication when the MFP 2 does not have the encrypted communication capability.

[0040] <Modification> Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention can be embodied in other forms.

[0041] In the above embodiment, a configuration was given in which encrypted communication and plaintext communication are selectively used in data communication (including transmission of image data of the object to be read) for executing a pull scan process depending on the presence or absence of encrypted communication capability, but the combination of the first and second communications in the present invention is not limited to the combination of plaintext communication and encrypted communication. The combination of the first and second communications in the present invention may be, for example, a combination of high compression communication in which data is compressed at a relatively high compression rate and communicated, and low compression communication in which data is compressed at a relatively low compression rate and communicated. When the compression methods are different between the high compression communication and the low compression communication, the program for the high compression communication and the program for the low compression communication are different. Therefore, for example, if high-compression communication capability information indicating that the MFP2 has the capability of high-compression communication is stored in MIB16, and PC3 confirms that the capability information stored in MIB16 includes the high-compression communication capability information, a port for high-compression communication is designated and data communication for executing the pull scan process is performed by high-compression communication, and if it is confirmed that the high-compression communication capability information is not included, a port for low-compression communication is designated and data communication for executing the pull scan process is performed by low-compression communication.

[0042] In addition, in the above embodiment, the image processing system 1 is capable of pull scanning, but may be capable of push scanning in which the MFP 2 transmits image data of an object to be read to the PC 3 in response to an operation of the operation panel 13 of the MFP 2. Various settings such as the reading resolution in push scanning are set by operating the operation panel 13.

[0043] In a configuration capable of push scanning, when a push scan start is instructed, the MFP2 notifies the PC3 of the instruction. In response to the instruction, the PC3 transmits a request (GetRequest) specifying the OID of the encrypted communication capability information stored in the MIB16 to the MFP2. In response to the request, the MFP2 returns the value of the OID specified by the PC3 to the PC3 (GetResponse). If it is confirmed that the capability information stored in the MIB16 includes the encrypted communication capability information, the PC3 designates an encrypted communication port for the encrypted communication to the MFP2, and data communication for executing a push scan process, which is an example of image processing, is started between the PC3 and the MFP2. The MFP2 executes a push scan process according to the contents (such as a reading resolution) set by the operation of the operation panel 13. In the pull scan process, a reading process is performed by the reading unit 11, image data of the read object is generated, the image data is encrypted, and the encrypted image data is transmitted from the MFP2 to the PC3. On the other hand, if it is confirmed that the encrypted communication enabling information is not included, a plaintext communication port for plaintext communication is designated from PC3 to MFP2, and data communication for executing push scan processing is started between PC3 and MFP2. In MFP2, push scan processing is executed according to the contents set by operation of operation panel 13. In this push scan processing, reading processing is executed by reading unit 11, image data of the object to be read is generated, and the image data is transmitted from MFP2 to PC3 in plaintext.

[0044] Furthermore, the MFP 2 may have a fax function, and the image processing system 1 may be capable of PC faxing in which an instruction is issued from the PC 3 to the MFP 2 to cause the MFP 2 to execute fax reception processing as an example of image processing.

[0045] In a configuration where PC fax is possible, when a user operates PC3 and inputs a command to start PC fax to PC3, PC3 transmits a request (GetRequest) specifying an OID (Object ID) of encrypted communication capability information stored in MIB16 to MFP2. As a response to the request, MFP2 returns the value of the OID specified by PC3 to PC3 (GetResponse). As a response to the request, MFP2 returns the value of the OID specified by PC3 to PC3 (GetResponse). Then, if it is confirmed that the capability information stored in MIB16 includes encrypted communication capability information, PC3 specifies an encrypted communication port for encrypted communication to MFP2, and data communication for executing PC fax reception processing, which is an example of image processing, is started between PC3 and MFP2. In this data communication, image data received by MFP2 in fax communication is encrypted, and the encrypted image data is transmitted from MFP2 to PC3. On the other hand, if it is confirmed that the encrypted communication enabling information is not included, a plaintext communication port for plaintext communication is specified from PC 3 to MFP 2, and data communication for executing PC fax reception processing is started between PC 3 and MFP 2. In this data communication, the image data received by MFP 2 in fax communication is transmitted from MFP 2 to PC 3 in plaintext.

[0046] The application layer protocol may be a protocol created independently by the manufacturer of the MFP2.

[0047] Furthermore, although the MFP 2 has been taken up as an example of an image processing device, the image processing device may be a single-function reading device having a reading function.

[0048] In addition, various design modifications can be made to the above-described configuration within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1: Image processing system 2:MFP 4: Network 11: Reading unit 15: ASIC

Claims

1. An image processing system constructed by connecting an image processing device and a computer to a network, The image processing device includes: an image processing unit that performs image processing; a capability information storage unit that stores capability information relating to capabilities of the image processing device, The computer includes: accessing the capability information storage unit and confirming whether or not the capability information stored in the capability information storage unit includes second communication capability information indicating that the image processing device has a capability of a second communication using a second program different from a first program for a first communication; An image processing system that, when it is confirmed that the capability information includes the second communication capability information, specifies a port for the second communication and performs data communication for executing the image processing via the second communication.

2. 2. The image processing system according to claim 1, the first communication is plaintext communication, The image processing system, wherein the second communication is encrypted communication.

3. 2. The image processing system according to claim 1, The capability information storage unit is a Management Information Base (MIB), The computer confirms whether the second communication capability information is included in the capability information stored in the capability information storage unit in accordance with Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

4. 2. The image processing system according to claim 1, An image processing system in which, when the computer confirms that the capability information does not include the second communication capability information, it specifies a port for the first communication and performs data communication for executing the image processing via the first communication.

5. The image processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The image processing system, wherein the image processing is a process of transmitting image data from the image processing device to the computer.

6. 6. The image processing system according to claim 5, the image processing unit includes a reading unit that reads an object to be read and generates image data of the object to be read; The image processing system according to the present invention, wherein the image processing is a pull scan process in which image data generated by the reading unit is transmitted from the image processing device to the computer in response to an instruction from the computer.

7. A program to be installed in a computer connected via a network to an image processing device including an image processing unit that executes image processing and a capability information storage unit that stores capability information relating to capabilities of the image processing device, The computer includes: accessing the capability information storage unit to confirm whether or not the capability information stored in the capability information storage unit includes second communication capability information indicating that the image processing device has a capability of a second communication using a second program different from a first program for a first communication; A program that, when it is confirmed that the capability information includes the second communication capability information, specifies a port for the second communication and performs data communication for executing the image processing via the second communication.

8. The program according to claim 7, A program that, when it is confirmed that the capability information does not include the second communication capability information, specifies a port for the first communication and causes data communication for executing the image processing to be performed via the first communication.

9. An image processing device to which a computer is connected via a network, a first communication port for a first communication by a first program; a second communication port for a second communication by a second program different from the first program; an image processing unit that performs image processing; a capability information storage unit that stores capability information relating to capabilities of the image processing device, An image processing device, wherein the capability information stored in the capability information storage unit includes second communication capability information indicating that the image processing device has capability of the second communication.

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