Method and apparatus to input workflow steps and parameters

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.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

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.

2. Description of the Related Art

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.

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 Ricoh, a java-based Multifunctional Embedded Application Platform (MEAP) by Canon, 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The selecting of the plurality of image forming operations may include selecting icons corresponding to the respective image forming operations.

The setting of the processing order includes arranging the selected icons corresponding to the respective image forming operations in an order.

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.

The detailed setup information may include one or more of a size of a printing medium, a number of printed pages and a resolution.

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.

The user interface may display icons corresponding to image forming operations in response to an arbitrary operation.

The user interface may not display non-selected icons in response to a selection of an icon corresponding to a respective image forming operation.

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.

The method may further include setting detailed setup information corresponding to the plurality of image forming operations.

The processing of the selected image forming operations may further include processing the selected image forming operations corresponding to the respective detailed setup information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is a flowchart illustrating an image forming method according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

In operation100, 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.

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.

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 toFIGS. 2 through 5.

FIG. 2illustrates 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)200illustrated inFIG. 2indicates 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.

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 ID202indicates detailed setup information for a scanning operation, and an ID204indicates 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.

FIG. 3illustrates 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 inFIG. 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.

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.

FIG. 4illustrates icons of operations to be executed after a printing operation, according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Icons corresponding to an ID210refers 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 inFIG. 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.

FIG. 5illustrates 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.

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.

In operation102, 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 operation100. For example, if the processing order is set to the order of a scanning operation, a printing operation, and fax forwarding as illustrated inFIGS. 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.

In operation104, 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.

The image forming method ofFIG. 1operates 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.

An image forming apparatus according to the present general inventive concept will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 6is a block diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Referring toFIG. 6, the image forming apparatus includes a user interface unit300, a controller310, and a memory320.

The user interface unit300sets the processing order and detailed setup information of a plurality of operations of the same image data and outputs set results to the controller310. For this purpose, the user interface unit300includes a screen provider302, an operation processing order setter304, and a detailed information setter306.

The screen provider302provides a user interface screen to set the processing order. The ID200illustrated inFIG. 2indicates such a user interface screen. The screen provider302displays the user interface screen on which icons indicating the plurality of operations are arranged.

The operation processing order setter304arranges the icons indicating the plurality of operations on the user interface screen to set the processing order and outputs the set results to the controller310. The operation processing order setter304arranges icons indicating a plurality of image forming operations on the user interface screen using a drag-and-drop method.

The operation processing order setter304displays 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 setter304also displays only the selected icon and removes displays of the other icons.

The operation processing order setter304displays an icon indicating a scanning operation and then an icon indicating a printing operation on the user interface screen as illustrated inFIG. 3. The operation processing order setter304also displays icons corresponding to operations to be executed after the printing operation as illustrated inFIG. 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 setter304displays 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 inFIG. 5.

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 setter304displays 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.

The detailed information setter306sets the detailed setup information of the plurality of operations and outputs the set results to the controller310. The detailed information setter306sets 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 setter304arranges an icon indicating an operation on the user interface screen, the detailed information setter306sets detailed setup information corresponding to the arranged icon of the operation. The detailed information setter306displays the setup window using the drag-and-drop method and sets information input through the setup window as detailed setup information.

The controller310controls the plurality of operations to be continuously executed using the processing order set by the operation processing order setter304and the detailed setup information set by the detailed information setter306. For example, if the processing order are set to the order of a scanning operation, a printing operation, and fax forwarding as illustrated inFIGS. 2 through 5, the controller310sequentially 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 controller310also controls the memory320to store the set processing order and detailed setup information.

The memory320is a non-volatile memory and is controlled by the controller310to store the processing order and the detailed setup information.

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.

An image forming method according to another embodiment of the present general inventive concept will now be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 7is a flowchart of an image forming method according to another embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

In operation400, 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.

FIG. 8is a flowchart of operation400of the method ofFIG. 7, according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

In operation500, 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.

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.”

In operation502, the GUI webpage including a list menu of image forming operations and an edition menu of an application is generated using the registered information.

FIG. 9illustrates a GUI webpage illustrating operation502ofFIG. 8, according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept. As illustrated inFIG. 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.

In operation402, an application profile corresponding to operations is generated on a host using the generated GUI webpage.

FIG. 10is a flowchart illustrating operation402of the method ofFIG. 7, according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Referring toFIG. 10, in operation600, 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.

In operation602, the host receives the generated GUI webpage from the image forming apparatus. The received GUI is displayed on the web browser.

In operation604, 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.

An example of a GUI webpage displayed on a web browser is illustrated inFIG. 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 inFIG. 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.

In operation606, 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.

In operation608, the host transmits the generated application profile to the image forming apparatus.

In operation404, the application profile is interpreted on the image forming apparatus to execute image forming operations corresponding to the operation processing order.

FIG. 11is a flowchart illustrating operation404of the method ofFIG. 7, according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

In operation700, the image forming apparatus receives and stores the application profile generated by the host.

In operation702, the stored application profile is interpreted. Here, the application profile is interpreted according to pre-defined rules.

In operation704, an application corresponding to contents of the interpreted application profile is generated.

In operation706, 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.

FIG. 12illustrates 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 inFIG. 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 inFIG. 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 inFIG. 12, the re-set detailed setup information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus so as to be changed according to re-set information.

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.

FIG. 13illustrates 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 inFIG. 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.

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.

FIG. 14is a block diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus and a host according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Referring toFIG. 14, an image forming apparatus800generates a GUI webpage and interprets an application profile to execute operations corresponding to the processing order. For this purpose, the image forming apparatus800includes an operation registration manager810, an internal web server820, and an operation executer830.

The operation registration manager810registers and manages information including types, detailed setup information, and execution information of a plurality of operations. As illustrated inFIG. 14, the operation registration manager810creates 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 server820. The operations indicate objects which indicate functions of the image forming apparatus800. 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.

The internal web server820generates the GUI webpage corresponding to the operations and transmits the GUI webpage to a host900. For this purpose, the internal web server820includes an icon information storage unit822, a GUI webpage generator824, and a first interface unit826.

The icon information storage unit822stores icon information corresponding to the operations and outputs the icon information to the GUI webpage generator824.

The GUI webpage generator824generates the GUI webpage using the registered information of the operations provided from the operation registration manager810and outputs the generated GUI webpage to the first interface unit826. 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.

The first interface unit826transmits the generated GUI webpage to the host900.

The host900generates the application profile corresponding to the processing order of the operations using the GUI webpage corresponding to the operations of the image forming apparatus800. For this purpose, the host900includes a second interface unit910, a setter920, and a profile generator930.

The second interface unit910logs in the image forming apparatus800to receive the GUI webpage from the image forming apparatus800and outputs the GUI webpage to the setter920.

The setter920sets 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 generator930.

The setter920moves 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 inFIG. 9.

The profile generator930generates the application profile corresponding to the processing order and the detailed setup information set by the setter920and outputs the application profile to the second interface unit910. The application profile includes information regarding types, detailed setup information, and the processing order of the operations. The profile generator930may generate the application profile using an XML format or a predetermined script format.

The second interface unit910transmits the application profile to the image forming apparatus800.

The first interface unit826receives the application profile generated by the host900and outputs the application profile to the operation executer830.

The operation executer830interprets the application profile so as to execute image forming operations corresponding to the processing order. For this purpose, the operation executer830includes a profile storage unit832, a profile interpreter534, an application generator536, and an application executer838.

The profile storage unit832receives the application profile from the first interface unit826, stores the application profile, and outputs the application profile to the profile interpreter834.

The profile interpreter834interprets the application profile provided from the profile storage unit832and outputs contents of the interpreted application profile to the application generator836and the operation registration manager810.

The application generator836generates an application corresponding to the contents of the interpreted application profile and outputs the generated application to the application executer838.

The application executer838executes the generated application to execute the operations.

The operation registration manager810changes the detailed setup information of the operations according to the contents of the interpreted application profile.

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.

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.

In addition, if operations to be executed are non-executable, the user can select other executable operations or cancel the non-executable operations.

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.