Image processing device, system, and control method and program for image processing device

Abstract

To provide an image processing device that allows web content to be displayed simply with different devices, a control method of the image processing device, a system, and a program.SOLUTION: In a system configured by connecting an image processing device, a mobile terminal, and a content server over a network, the image processing device capable of displaying web content provided via a web browser includes: first display control means which displays web content acquired from the content server by using access information for acquiring the web content from the content server based on an instruction to display the web content; a QR generation unit which generates a code image including the access information for acquiring the web content from the content server; and second display control means which displays the code image on the display unit. The QR generation unit generates the code image and the second display control means displays the code image on the display unit in a case where the first display control means cannot display the web content.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a system, a control method for an image processing apparatus, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a technology for using a built-in browser in a multifunction peripheral to retrieve web content corresponding to an operation screen from a network and display it. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for generating a code indicating the URL of an image forming device's instruction manual and the page number of the manual corresponding to the operation screen, and displaying the code on the operation screen. Patent Document 2 discloses a technology for retrieving web content linked to a specific event that occurs in an image processing device from a content server on the Internet, and displaying the web content using a bulletin board application in the multifunction peripheral. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-68122 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-204696 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with the conventional technology, if the multifunction peripheral is not connected to a network, it is not possible to display web content on the built-in browser of the multifunction peripheral.

[0005] The present invention aims to make it possible to easily display web content on different devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, an image processing device of the present invention is an image processing device that includes a display unit and is capable of displaying web content provided via a web browser, The aforementioned a first display control means for displaying the Web content obtained from the server using access information for obtaining the Web content from the server, based on an instruction to display the Web content; The aforementioned Web content The aforementioned a generating means for generating a code image including access information for obtaining the code image from the server; and a second display control means for displaying the code image on the display unit, wherein the first display control means Based on communication with the server When the web content cannot be displayed, the generating means The aforementioned a code image, and the second display control means The aforementioned The code image is displayed on the display unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, web content can be easily displayed on different devices. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of an image processing device and a mobile terminal. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the software configuration of the image processing apparatus and the mobile terminal. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing a process for displaying a QR code when Web content cannot be acquired. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job status confirmation screen. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a help screen. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a QR code screen. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing web content displayed on a mobile terminal. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing a process for determining whether to display Web content in a browser. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of display settings. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a QR code screen for a network setting procedure. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a home screen. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a copy setting screen. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting value table. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a redirect table. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] (First embodiment) FIG. 1 is an overall diagram of a system according to this embodiment. The system includes an image processing device 100, a mobile terminal 102 that is a device different from the image processing device 100, and a content server 120 that stores web content related to the image processing device 100. The image processing device 100, the mobile terminal 102, and the content server 120 are connected via a network. The network may be, for example, a LAN 101 connected to the image processing device 100 and the mobile terminal 102, a LAN 121 connected to the content server 120, and the Internet 110 connecting the LAN 101 and the LAN 121. Note that the image processing device 100 and the mobile terminal 102 may be connected to the Internet via different LANs rather than the same LAN 101. The network may be, for example, a communication network such as a LAN or a WAN, USB communication, a cellular network (e.g., LTE or 5G), or a wireless network conforming to IEEE 802.11, or a combination of these. In other words, any communication method may be used as long as the network is capable of transmitting and receiving data.

[0010] The image processing device 100 is an example of a device equipped with a so-called embedded browser, which can display web content acquired from a network via a web browser on a display unit such as an LCD screen provided on the device. The image processing device 100 is, for example, an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) having multiple functions, such as printing, copying, and scanning. Note that the image processing device 100 may also be a single-function SFP (Single Function Peripheral) having only a printing function. In addition, while the present embodiment describes an example of a printing device that prints on paper, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image processing device 100 may also be a printing device that performs 3D printing, which forms a three-dimensional object based on three-dimensional shape data. Furthermore, the image processing device 101 is an example of a device equipped with an embedded browser, and this embodiment can be applied to any device, such as an information processing device, equipped with an embedded browser. The image processing device 100 is connected to the Internet 110 via a LAN 101. The image processing device 100 can acquire web content, such as an instruction manual for the image processing device 100 and FAQs, from a content server 120 via the Internet 110.

[0011] The mobile terminal 102 is a device that can access the content server 120 over a network different from that of the image processing device 100. The mobile terminal 102 is, for example, an information processing device such as a smartphone or a tablet. The mobile terminal 102 of this embodiment has a function for reading QR codes (registered trademark). Note that, in this embodiment, an example will be described in which the mobile terminal 102 performs the operations from reading the QR code to displaying the web content on a single device, but this is not limiting. For example, the mobile terminal 102 may be configured with multiple devices, such as reading the QR code with a smartphone and displaying the corresponding web content on a display device connected to the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal 102 is connected to the Internet 110 via a LAN 101.

[0012] The content server 120 stores various web contents including an instruction manual and FAQ for the image processing device 100, and the operating status of the image processing device 100 based on information collected from the image processing device 100. The content server 120 is connected to the Internet 110 via a LAN 121. Note that the content server 120 may be realized by a server device or a virtual machine (cloud service) that uses resources provided by a data center including a server device.

[0013] 2A is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the image processing device 100. The image processing device 100 includes a control unit 200, an operation unit 209, a printer 210, and a scanner 211. The control unit 200 controls the overall operation of the image processing device 100. The control unit 200 includes a CPU 201, a ROM 21102, a RAM 203, a HDD 204, an operation unit I / F 205, a printer I / F 206, a scanner I / F 207, and a network I / F 208.

[0014] A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201 reads out a control program stored in a ROM 202 and executes and controls various functions of the image processing device 100, such as scanning, printing, communication, and display. The ROM (Read Only Memory) 202 is a memory dedicated to reading data. For example, it stores programs such as a boot program for the system of the image processing device 100. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 203 is a memory from which data can be read and written. The RAM 203 is used as a temporary storage area such as the main memory and work area of ​​the CPU 201.

[0015] The HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 204 is a large-capacity storage unit that stores various programs, including image data and application programs such as a web browser, or various information tables. The HDD 204 can also store web content, which will be described later. While the HDD 204 has been described as an example of a storage unit in this embodiment, the storage unit is not limited to this. It may be a solid-state drive (SSD), or a device that can read and write data by inserting an external medium, such as a memory card. In this embodiment, one CPU 201 executes each process shown in the flowcharts described later using one memory (RAM 203 or HDD 204), but this is not limiting. For example, each process may be executed by multiple CPUs, multiple RAMs, or multiple HDDs working together.

[0016] The operation unit I / F 205 is an interface that connects the operation unit 209 and the control unit 200. The operation unit 209 displays various information to the user and accepts operations / inputs / instructions from the user. The operation unit 209 has a display unit 212. The display unit 212 is, for example, a liquid crystal display with a touch panel function. The operation unit 209 may also have an input device such as a pointing device (e.g., a touch pad, a touch panel, etc.) or a hardware key. The user can issue instructions, such as a job execution instruction, to the image processing device 100 on a user interface screen displayed on the touch panel. By associating display coordinates and input coordinates on the touch panel, it is possible to configure a GUI that makes it appear as if the user can directly operate the screen displayed on the touch panel.

[0017] The printer I / F 206 is an interface that connects the printer 210 and the control unit 200. The printer 210 is an image output device that forms an image according to a received print job and outputs it on paper, or optically reads an image of an original document set in the scanner 211 and outputs it on paper. Image data to be printed is transferred from the control unit 200 to the printer 210 via the printer I / F 206 and is printed on paper.

[0018] The scanner I / F 207 is an interface that connects the scanner 211 and the control unit 200. The scanner 211 is an image input device that optically reads an original placed on a platen or an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), not shown, and generates image data. The image data generated by the scanner 211 is input to the control unit 200 via the scanner I / F 207.

[0019] The network I / F 208 is an interface that connects the control unit 200 to the LAN 101. The image processing device 100 transmits image data and information to various services on the Internet and receives various information from external devices using the network I / F 208. For example, the image processing device 100 can print (copy) image data generated by the scanner 211 from the printer 210, and can also transmit a file or email to an external device via the LAN 101.

[0020] 2B is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the mobile terminal 102. The mobile terminal 102 includes a CPU 211, a ROM 212, a RAM 213, a storage unit 214, an operation unit I / F 215, and a network I / F 216.

[0021] The CPU 211 controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal 102. The CPU 211 reads out control programs stored in the ROM 212 or the storage unit 214 and performs various controls. The ROM 212 stores control programs executable by the CPU 211. The RAM 213 is a main memory accessed by the CPU 211 and is used as a work area or a temporary storage area for expanding various control programs. The storage unit 214 stores various programs and various setting information.

[0022] The operation unit I / F 215 is an interface that connects the operation unit 217 and the CPU 211. The operation unit 217 has a display unit and an input / output unit. The operation unit 205 functions as a display unit that displays information to the user and also functions as a reception unit that receives instructions from the user. The CPU 211 controls the display of information and the reception of user operations in cooperation with the operation unit I / F 215. The network I / F 216 communicates with external devices on a network or the Internet.

[0023] Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the software configuration of the image processing device 100 and the mobile terminal 102. Each functional unit of the image processing device 100 shown in Fig. 3 is realized by the CPU 201 in the image processing device 100 reading and executing a control program stored in the ROM 202 or the HDD 204. Similarly, each functional unit of the mobile terminal 102 shown in Fig. 3 is realized by the CPU 210 in the mobile terminal 102 reading and executing a control program stored in the ROM 212 or the storage unit 214.

[0024] The image processing device 100 has a browser application 300. The browser application 300 is an embedded software program installed in the image processing device 100, and has a browser function for browsing web content on a network, such as the content server 120, via a web browser. The browser application 300 has an external communication unit 301, a screen control unit 303, a URL management table 304, and a generation unit 305.

[0025] External communication unit 301 communicates with external devices via a network. In this embodiment, external communication unit 301 communicates with content server 120 and acquires web content managed by content server 120. URL management table 304 manages URLs for communicating with content server 120. Generation unit 305 has URL generation unit 306 and QR generation unit 307. URL generation unit 306 generates access information for accessing external devices, such as a URL for acquiring web content from content server 120. QR generation unit 305 generates a code image, such as a QR code, that includes access information such as a URL.

[0026] Screen control unit 303 controls the output of screens to display unit 212. Screen control unit 303 controls the screens displayed on display unit 212 by, for example, switching between screens managed for each application and outputting them to operation unit 209. Screen control unit 303 has a Web content display unit 302. Web content display unit 302 reads Web content stored in content server 120 or HDD 204 into RAM 203 and displays it by outputting it to operation unit 209. Web content refers to data that can be viewed in a Web browser, such as text data, HTML, image files (JPEG, GIF, etc.), and video files. In this way, screen control unit 303 also functions as first display control means that displays Web content. Screen control unit 303 also functions as second display control means that displays a QR code generated by QR generation unit 305.

[0027] The mobile terminal 102 has a QR reader 310, a communication unit 311, and a display unit 312. The QR reader reads a code image such as a QR code or a barcode, and acquires access information such as a URL. The communication unit 311 communicates with external devices such as the content server 120. The communication unit 311 of this embodiment also functions as an acquisition unit that acquires web content from the content server 120. The display unit 312 controls the display on the operation unit 217.

[0028] The process of displaying a QR code when web content cannot be acquired will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the process of displaying web content in the first embodiment. Each process shown in Fig. 4 is realized by the CPU 201 loading a program stored in memory (ROM 4202 and HDD 204) into the RAM 203 and executing it.

[0029] In S401, the control unit 308 determines whether an instruction to display Web content has been issued. In this embodiment, it is assumed that an instruction to display Web content is issued by pressing a help button displayed on the display unit 212, and it is determined whether the help button has been pressed. As an example of how the help button is displayed, an example in which the help button is displayed on a job status confirmation screen will be described with reference to FIG. 5.

[0030] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a help button. The job status confirmation screen 501 shown in FIG. 5 is a screen for confirming the status of a job accepted by the image processing apparatus 100. The job status confirmation screen 501 displays an OK button 502 along with the job reception number, execution result, and the like. After confirming the contents displayed on the job status confirmation screen 501, the user can close the screen by clicking the OK button 502. If an error is displayed on the job status confirmation screen 501, a help button 503 is displayed for checking the details of the error. The help button 503 is an icon for displaying a help screen on which the user can check the details of the error, such as the cause of the error, and how to resolve the error. Note that a help button determined to be an instruction to display web content may be displayed on a screen other than the job status confirmation screen 501, and the content displayed when the help button is pressed is not limited to the details of the error. Furthermore, an instruction to display web content may be given by a method other than selecting the help button. If it is determined in S401 that the help button 503 has not been pressed, the process waits until the help button 503 is pressed. If it is determined in S401 that the help button 503 has been pressed, the process of S402 is performed.

[0031] In S402, the URL generation unit 306 generates access information to the content server 120 according to the error content on the job status check screen 501. The access information to the content server 120 generates, for example, a URL. The URL generation unit 306 generates a URL according to the error content based on, for example, the state of the image processing device 100 (error content) and domain information of the content server 120. The domain information of the content server 120 is stored in the RAM 203 or the HDD 204. The URL generation unit 306 stores the generated URL according to the error content in the URL management table 304.

[0032] In S403, the external communication unit 301 communicates with the content server 120 based on the URL generated in S402, and attempts to acquire the Web content managed by the content server 120. The external communication unit 301 transmits an HTTP request corresponding to the URL to the content server 120.

[0033] In S404, the control unit 308 determines whether the acquisition of the Web content in S403 was completed successfully. For example, if the status code in the status line of the HTTP response returned from the content server 120 in S403 is "200", the control unit 308 determines that the acquisition process was completed successfully. If it is determined that the acquisition of the Web content was completed successfully, the control unit 308 executes the process of S405. On the other hand, if it is determined that the acquisition of the Web content was not completed successfully, the control unit 308 executes the process of S406.

[0034] In S405, the screen control unit 303 and the Web content display unit 302 display on the display unit 212 a help screen including the Web content acquired in S403 and corresponding to the help button pressed in S401. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the help screen. The help screen 601 includes a content display area 602, an up scroll button 603, a down scroll button 604, and an OK button 605. The Web content acquired in S403 is displayed in the content display area 602. The user can scroll and check the content in the content display area 602 using the up scroll button 603 or the down scroll button 604. After checking the content displayed on the help screen 601, the user can close the help screen 601 using the OK button 605 and return to the job status check screen 501. In this way, if the image processing apparatus 100 has successfully acquired the Web content from the content server 120, the user can check the detailed content of the error (help screen) on the display unit 212 of the image processing apparatus 100.

[0035] In S406, the QR generation unit 307 generates a QR code including the URL information generated in S402, and the screen control unit 303 displays a screen including the generated QR code on the display unit 212 of the image processing device 100. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a QR code screen. The QR code screen 701 includes a prompt message 702, a QR code 703, and an OK button 704. The prompt message 702 displays a message prompting the user to scan the QR code. The QR generation unit 305 generates a QR code 703 in which the URL information generated in S402 is embedded, and the screen control unit 303 displays both the QR code 703 and the prompt message 702.

[0036] The user follows the prompt message 702 to read the QR code 703 with the mobile terminal 102, access the URL obtained from the QR code 703, and can view the web content corresponding to the help button pressed in S401 on the mobile terminal 102. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of web content displayed on the mobile terminal 102. The mobile terminal 102 displays the obtained web content 802 in a mobile terminal browser 803. The displayed web content 802 is the same as the web content that the image processing device 100 attempted to obtain in S403. As a result, even if the image processing device 100 is unable to obtain the web content because, for example, the image processing device 100 is not connected to the Internet 110, the user can obtain and view the web content on another device such as the mobile terminal 102.

[0037] In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which a QR code containing URL information is generated, displayed, and read in order to display web content on the mobile terminal 102, but the QR code need not be used as long as the mobile terminal can refer to URL information. For example, in S406, a code image such as a barcode from which URL information can be obtained on the mobile terminal 102 may be displayed, or a URL character string may be displayed.

[0038] Furthermore, in the above flowchart, the display of the QR code is controlled based on whether the HTTP response is normal. However, the condition is not limited to this. For example, the condition may be whether the web content can be displayed normally on the web content display unit 302, and the QR code may be displayed if the web content cannot be displayed normally. This makes it possible to display the QR code even if the HTTP response is normal, but the web content cannot be displayed normally on the image processing device 100 due to reasons such as exceeding the data capacity. Furthermore, whether or not to display the QR code may be switched depending on whether or not the network settings of the image processing device 100 are normal. In other words, any determination may be made as long as the web content display unit 302 is configured to display the QR code when it determines that the web content cannot be displayed normally. Furthermore, if the HTTP response is abnormal, whether or not to display the QR code may be switched depending on the type of error. For example, if the content server 120 does not originally have the web content to be displayed, an error screen may be displayed instead of the QR code. With this configuration, if the mobile terminal 102 cannot display the web content in the first place, the QR code may not be displayed.

[0039] As described above, according to this embodiment, when web content cannot be displayed on an image processing device, a code image including URL information can be generated and displayed on an operation screen, thereby making it possible to easily display the web content on a different device.

[0040] (Second embodiment) In the second embodiment, an embodiment will be described in which it is possible to select whether to display Web content on the display unit 212 provided in the image processing device 100. The system configuration, hardware configuration, and software configuration of the image processing device 100 of the second embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted. Below, only the display processing of Web content that differs from the first embodiment will be described.

[0041] An embodiment in which it is possible to select whether to display Web content in browser application 300 will be described with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the display process of Web content in the second embodiment. Each process shown in FIG. 9 is realized by CPU 201 expanding a program stored in memory (ROM 4202 and HDD 204) into RAM 203 and executing it. Note that processes similar to those in the first embodiment (FIG. 4) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0042] When the help button corresponding to the error is pressed (S401-YES) and a URL corresponding to the error content is generated (S402), the process of S901 is then executed. In S901, the control unit 308 determines whether to display the Web content on the display unit 212 provided in the image processing device 100, i.e., on the browser application 300. The control unit 308 determines whether to display the Web content on the browser application 300 based on the display settings saved in the RAM 203 or the HDD 204.

[0043] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of display settings. Display settings 1001 include a flag name 1002 indicating a display target and a flag 1003 corresponding to the flag name. For a setting of whether or not to display corresponding web content when a help button is pressed, the flag name 1002 stores “Display help content in browser,” and the flag 1003 stores a value indicating either “Yes” or “No.” The display settings can be set or changed by the user on the setting screen of the image processing device 100. If the flag 1003 for the help content display setting is “Yes,” that is, it is determined that the setting is to display the web content, and the process of step S403 is performed. On the other hand, if the flag 1003 for the help content display setting is “No,” it is determined that the setting is to not display the web content, and the process of step S903 is performed. Note that, in this embodiment, an example of displaying help content as web content is described, but the web content is not limited to this. In step S901, it is determined whether or not to display the web content on the screen displayed in response to the button pressed in step S401, according to the display settings.

[0044] When displaying help content in a browser, in S403 external communication unit 301 communicates with content server 120 based on the URL generated in S401 and attempts to acquire the web content. Then, in S404 control unit 308 determines whether acquisition of the web content managed by content server 120 was completed successfully in S403. If it is determined that acquisition of the web content was completed successfully, processing of S405 is performed. On the other hand, if it is determined that acquisition of the web content was not completed successfully, processing of S902 is performed.

[0045] If it is determined in S404 that the Web content has been acquired, in S405 the screen control unit 303 and the Web content display unit 302 display the help screen 601 including the Web content acquired in S403. This allows the user to acquire the detailed contents of the job status check screen 501 from the content server 120 and check them on the display unit 212 provided in the image processing device 100.

[0046] If the display unit 212 of the image processing device 100 is set to display web content but is unable to do so, in S902 the QR generation unit 307 generates a QR code and displays a screen including the QR code. The screen displayed here is a screen (network connection guidance screen) that prompts the user to check the network of the image processing device 100, and the QR code includes URL information for acquiring web content related to network settings that address the network error. An example of the network connection guidance screen that is displayed on the display unit 212 when the display unit 212 of the image processing device 100 is set to display web content but is unable to do so will be described with reference to FIG. 11.

[0047] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a network connection guidance screen. The network connection guidance screen 1101 includes a network connection guidance message 1102, a QR code 1103, and an OK button 1104. The network connection guidance message 1102 displays, for example, a message that the image processing device 100's network needs to be checked and that instructions can be viewed by scanning the QR code 1103. The QR code 1103 has embedded therein URL information for an instruction manual for network configuration of the image processing device 100. By scanning the QR code 1103 with the mobile terminal 102, the user can easily display web content describing detailed network configuration procedures on the mobile terminal 102. Note that the method of displaying the URL information for accessing the web content displayed on the network connection guidance screen 1101 is not limited to a QR code; a barcode or a URL character string may also be displayed. Note that in addition to the QR code containing URL information corresponding to the network error in S902, a QR code containing URL information of web content corresponding to the help button in S401 may be generated and two QR codes may be displayed. This allows the user to select the QR code to read depending on whether the user wants to resolve a network error in the image processing device 100 or whether the user wants to immediately check a help screen for the error on the mobile terminal 102.

[0048] When the display unit 212 of the image processing apparatus 100 is not set to display web content, in S903, the QR code generation unit 307 generates a QR code and displays a screen including the QR code. The QR code displayed when the display unit 212 of the image processing apparatus 100 is not set to display web content is a URL for displaying web content having details of an error corresponding to the help button in S401 on the mobile terminal 102. That is, the QR code displayed in S903 is the same as the QR code displayed in S406 of the first embodiment. The web content 802 displayed on the mobile terminal 102 by reading the QR code is equivalent to the web content that the image processing apparatus 100 tried to acquire in S403 (FIG. 8). Thereby, the user can acquire and check the web content on another device such as the mobile terminal 102.

[0049] According to the present embodiment, the user can select whether to display the web content on the browser application 300 of the image processing apparatus 100 or to display it on the mobile terminal 102 by scanning the QR code screen 701. Thereby, in an environment where the mobile terminal 102 can be freely used, it is possible to operate the image processing apparatus 100 while checking the web content on the mobile terminal 102 and solve the troubles that occurred in the image processing apparatus 100. Further, when the user expects to display the web content on the browser application 300 of the image processing apparatus 100 but cannot display it, it is possible to provide the user with information on web content describing the detailed procedure of the network setting.

[0050] (Other Embodiments) <Method for Determining Whether Web Content Has Been Successfully Acquired> In the process of determining whether the web content has been successfully retrieved (S404), other methods than analyzing the HTTP response may be used. For example, a general command ping (network packet) for checking the reachability of nodes in the IP network is sent to the device itself (image processing device 100). If the network packet is successfully received, it is determined that the web content can be retrieved normally. On the other hand, if the device cannot receive the network packet sent to itself, it is determined that the web content cannot be retrieved normally. Also, it may be determined that the web content has been successfully retrieved when the image processing device 100 is connected to the Internet, and that the web content cannot be retrieved normally when it is not connected to the Internet. Further, it may be determined that the web content can be retrieved normally when the image processing device 100 is connected to a LAN cable, and that the web content cannot be retrieved normally when it is not connected to the LAN cable.

[0051] <Scene of displaying a help button for accessing web content> The help button 503 to be determined whether it has been pressed in S401 can be displayed not only on the job status confirmation screen 501. Also, the help button 503 is not limited to the display of the text "Help display", and can also be represented only by an icon. Examples of help icons will be described using FIGS. 12 and 13. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a home screen. On the home screen 1201, icons corresponding to each function of the image processing device 100 and a help icon 1202 are displayed. By pressing the help icon 1202 on the home screen 1201, the user can access web content that explains how to use the entire image processing device 100. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a copy screen. On the copy screen 1301, a setting screen for performing copy settings and a help icon 1302 are displayed. By pressing the help icon 1302 displayed on the copy screen 1301, the user can access web content that explains the basic usage of copying.

[0052] <URL generation for accessing web content> In the process of generating access information (S402 or S902) and the process of acquiring web content (S403), the redirect mechanism may be used. That is, the access information is not limited to the URL for accessing the web content, and may be the URL for which the content server 120 redirects to the web content. The content server 120 having the redirect mechanism has a redirect table that associates the URL generated by the image processing apparatus 100 with the URL of the web content managed by the content server 120. The case where the help button 503 of the job status confirmation screen 501 is pressed will be described as an example using FIGS. 14 and 15 for the redirect mechanism. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the setting value table. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the redirect table. The setting value table 1401 is stored in the RAM 203 or the HDD 204 of the image processing apparatus 100. The setting value table 1401 stores values for specifying the content corresponding to the help button 503. The values in the setting value table 1401 store values indicating the model name, destination, display application, error information, and the like. The redirect table 1501 is managed by the content server 120. In the redirect table 1501, the redirect URL 1502 acquired from the image processing apparatus 100 and the URL 1503 of the web content are managed in association with each other.

[0053] For example, if the help button 503 is to display error details, values ​​indicating the model name 1402 on which the error occurred, the destination 1403, the display application 1404 for displaying the error details, and the error information 1405 are obtained from the setting value table 1401. The URL generation unit 306 then concatenates the values ​​obtained from the setting value table 1401 to create a redirect URL 1502 for the error. The image processing device 100 accesses the content server 120 using the redirect URL 1502. Based on the redirect table 1501, the content server 120 returns the Web content located at URL 1503 corresponding to the redirect URL 1502 to the image processing device 100. The use of the redirect function makes it easy to update the Web content on the content server 120 and to create a URL that corresponds to the status of the image processing device 100.

[0054] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program.The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0055] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

Claims

1. An image processing device including a display unit and capable of displaying web content provided via a web browser, a first display control means for displaying the web content obtained from the server using access information for obtaining the web content from the server, based on an instruction to display the web content; a generating means for generating a code image including access information for acquiring the web content from the server; a second display control means for displaying the code image on the display unit, An image processing device characterized in that, when the first display control means is unable to display the Web content based on communication with the server, the generation means generates the code image, and the second display control means displays the code image on the display unit.

2. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the access information included in the code image is access information for acquiring the Web content instructed to be displayed.

3. An image processing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that when the display setting for whether or not to display the Web content on the display unit provided in the image processing device is set to not display the Web content, the first display control means does not display the Web content, the generation means generates the code image corresponding to access information for obtaining the Web content from the server, and the second display control means displays the code image.

4. An image processing device as described in claim 1 or 3, characterized in that when the display setting for whether or not to display the Web content on the display unit provided in the image processing device is set to display the Web content, and the first display control means is unable to display the Web content, the generation means generates the code image including access information for obtaining the Web content related to the network settings of the image processing device, and the second display control means displays the code image.

5. An image processing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first display control means cannot display the Web content based on communication with the server in any of the following cases: the HTTP response of the Web content is not normal, a network packet is sent to the device and the network packet cannot be received, there is no connection to the Internet, or a LAN cable is not connected.

6. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the access information is a URL for accessing the Web content or a URL for redirecting to the Web content.

7. 7. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the code image is a QR code or a barcode.

8. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction is to display a help screen by selecting a help button.

9. A system including an image processing device that has a display unit and is capable of displaying web content provided via a web browser, and an information processing device, The image processing device includes: a first display control means for displaying the web content obtained from the server using access information for obtaining the web content from the server, based on an instruction to display the web content; a generating means for generating a code image including access information for acquiring the web content from the server; a second display control means for displaying the code image on the display unit, When the first display control means cannot display the Web content based on communication with the server, the generation means generates the code image, and the second display control means displays the code image on the display unit; The information processing device includes: a first acquiring means for reading the code image and acquiring access information; a second acquiring means for acquiring the web content from the server based on access information acquired from the code image; and a display means for displaying the acquired web content.

10. A control method for an image processing device that has a display unit and is capable of displaying web content provided via a web browser, comprising: a first display control step of displaying the web content acquired from the server using access information for acquiring the web content from the server based on an instruction to display the web content; a code generating step of generating a code image including access information for acquiring the web content from the server; a second display control step of displaying the code image on the display unit, A control method for an image processing device, characterized in that if the Web content cannot be displayed based on communication with the server in the first display control step, the code image is generated and the code image is displayed on the display unit.

11. A program for causing a computer to perform each step of the method for controlling an image processing apparatus according to claim 10.

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