Patent Publication Number: US-7912395-B2

Title: Monitoring apparatus and monitoring system for image forming apparatus and control method for monitoring apparatus and monitoring system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a monitoring system and a monitoring apparatus for causing a monitoring camera to capture and record a video image of an image forming apparatus in order to determine whether a material output from the image forming apparatus has been removed by a person who instructed performance of an output operation for the output material or by a person who did not instruct performance of the output operation, and to control methods for the monitoring system and the monitoring apparatus. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     An image forming apparatus that is used as a multifunction machine provided with a printing function for receiving print jobs from a personal computer (PC) and performing printing, a copy function, and the like is available. Such an image forming apparatus is connected to a network and can be shared, as a common printer, among a plurality of users. Since the image forming apparatus can be used by a plurality of users both when used as a printer and when used as a copying machine, an administrator may monitor the use status of the image forming apparatus. 
     A system for, when a copying machine connected to a monitoring camera determines, using pattern matching, that a document is a particular copy-inhibited document, inhibiting copying of the document and starting video image capturing using the monitoring camera is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No 7-44777. 
     For an image forming apparatus that can be used by a plurality of users, a material output from the image forming apparatus may be removed by a person who is different from a user who instructed performance of an output operation for a corresponding print job or copy job. In particular, it is undesirable that such a problem occurs when an output material contains confidential information or private information. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a monitoring apparatus and a monitoring system for monitoring a person who removed an output sheet for a print job or a copy job from an image forming apparatus that can be used by a plurality of users. With the use of a job-start notification, a job-end notification, and a sheet-removal notification received from the image forming apparatus, a video image during a period including the time at which the sheet output from the image forming apparatus was removed by a person can be recorded, and the video image can be managed in association with job information. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, a monitoring apparatus connected to a monitoring camera capable of monitoring a user of an image forming apparatus through a communication medium includes a job-start-notification reception unit configured to receive a job-start notification from the image forming apparatus; a sheet-removal-notification reception unit configured to receive a sheet-removal notification from the image forming apparatus; and a monitor-video-image recording unit configured to acquire a video image captured by the monitoring camera and to record the video image as a monitor video image. The monitoring apparatus causes the monitor-video-image recording unit to start recording of the video image in response to the job-start notification received by the job-start-notification reception unit. The monitoring apparatus causes the monitor-video-image recording unit to stop the recording of the video image in response to the sheet-removal notification received by the sheet-removal-notification reception unit and manages the monitor video image recorded by the monitor-video-image recording unit in association with job information contained in the job-start notification. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, a monitoring system includes an image forming apparatus capable of performing copying or printing; a monitoring camera capable of capturing a video image of a user of the image forming apparatus; and a monitoring apparatus for controlling the monitoring camera. The image forming apparatus includes a job-start-notification transmission unit configured to, when the image forming apparatus receives a job and starts an image forming operation, transmit a job-start notification containing job information to the monitoring apparatus, and a sheet-removal-notification transmission unit configured to, when the image forming apparatus completes the image forming operation and detects that an output sheet has been removed from a sheet output portion, transmit a sheet-removal notification to the monitoring apparatus. The monitoring apparatus includes a job-start-notification reception unit configured to receive the job-start notification from the image forming apparatus, a sheet-removal-notification reception unit configured to receive the sheet-removal notification from the image forming apparatus, and a monitor-video-image recording unit configured to acquire the video image captured by the monitoring camera and to record the video image as a monitor video image. The monitoring apparatus causes the monitor-video-image recording unit to start recording of the video image in response to the job-start notification received by the job-start-notification reception unit. The monitoring apparatus causes the monitor-video-image recording unit to stop the recording of the video image in response to the sheet-removal notification received by the sheet-removal-notification reception unit and manages the monitor video image recorded by the monitor-video-image recording unit in association with the job information. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows the configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a sequence diagram showing a monitoring method according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a sequence diagram showing a monitoring method according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing a process of the monitoring method according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing a process of a monitoring method according to a third embodiment of the present invention in which the type of finishing of a job is taken into consideration. 
         FIG. 8  is a sequence diagram showing a monitoring method for managing job information, a video image, and owner information according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  shows the configuration of a system according to the fourth embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail in accordance with the accompanying drawings. 
     In the description of the embodiments, unless it is not particularly specified, same or similar parts throughout the embodiments are represented by the same reference numerals, and the description of those same or similar parts will not be repeated. 
     Component parts described in the embodiments are merely provided exemplarily. Such component parts do not limit the scope of the present invention. 
     A configuration of an embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
     System Configuration 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of an image-forming-apparatus monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the image-forming-apparatus monitoring system includes an image forming apparatus  102 , a monitoring camera  103 , a monitoring system control apparatus  104 , and a client PC  105 . The image forming apparatus  102 , the monitoring camera  103 , the monitoring system control apparatus  104 , and the client PC  105  are connected to each other via a network (local-area network (LAN))  101 , which is a communication medium. 
     The image forming apparatus  102  has a copying function, a printing function, a facsimile function, a transmission function, and the like. The image forming apparatus  102  is capable of image forming operations, including outputting of an image obtained by scanning by a scanner, outputting of a print job issued from the client PC  105 , and outputting a facsimile/transmission job transmitted through a public line. 
     Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus 
       FIG. 2  shows the configuration of a controller unit  200  of the image forming apparatus  102 . The controller unit  200  is connected to a scanner  100 , which is an image input device, and a printer  300 , which is an image output device. The controller unit  200  is also connected to a LAN or a wide-area network (WAN), so that the controller unit  200  can input and output image information and device information. 
     A central processing unit (CPU)  201  controls the image forming apparatus  102 . A random-access memory (RAM)  202  serves as a system work memory to be used for an operation of the CPU  201 . The RAM  202  also serves as an image memory for temporarily storing image data. A read-only memory (ROM)  203  is a boot ROM. A boot program for the system is stored in the ROM  203 . System software and image data are stored in a hard disk drive (HDD)  204 . 
     An operation interface (I/F)  206  is an interface for an operation unit (UI)  212 . The operation I/F  206  outputs display image data to the operation unit  212 . The operation I/F  206  transmits to the CPU  201  information entered by a user through the operation unit  212 . 
     A network interface  210  controls connection with the network (LAN)  101  and performs inputting and outputting of information from and to the network (LAN)  101 . A modem  250  controls connection with a public line and performs inputting and outputting of information from an to the public line. The above-mentioned devices are arranged on a system bus  207 . 
     An image bus interface (image bus I/F)  205  is a bus bridge that connects the system bus  207  to an image bus  208  for transmitting image data at high speed and performs conversion of a data structure. The image bus  208  is, for example, a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or IEEE 1394. 
     The image bus  208  has a raster image processor (RIP)  260 , a device IF unit  220 , a scanner image processor  280 , a printer image processor  290 , an image rotator  230 , and an image compressor  240  thereon. The RIP  260  expands a page description language (PDL) code transmitted through the network into a bitmap image. The device IF unit  220  connects the scanner  100  and the printer  300 , which are image input and output devices, to the controller unit  200 , so that conversion of image data can be achieved. The device IF unit  220  receives information related to various sensors provided in the scanner  100  and the printer  300 , and transmits the received information to the operation unit  212  and the like. 
     The scanner image processor  280  performs correction, manipulation, and editing on input image data. The printer image processor  290  performs correction, resolution conversion, and the like corresponding to the performance of the printer  300 . The image rotator  230  rotates image data. The image compressor  240  performs JPEG compression/decompression for multi-valued image data and performs Joint Bi-level Image Experts Group (JBIG), Modified Modified Read (MMR), or (Modified Huffman) MH compression/decompression for binary image data. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a cross section of the image forming apparatus  102 . The image forming apparatus  102  includes a scanner  301 , a document feeder (DF)  302 , a print engine  313  including four-color drums and used for printing and recording, a sheet supply deck  314 , and a finisher  315 . 
     The scanner  301 , which serves as an image input device, irradiates a document by a light source  310 . A charge-coupled device (CCD)  343  reads an image through a reflector  311  and a lens  312 . Then, the read image is converted into a digital signal. The digital signal is subjected to desired image processing and is converted into a laser recording signal. The resultant recording signal is stored in a memory. 
     The recording signal (print image data) stored in the memory is transferred to the print engine  313 . A laser recording unit converts the recording signal into recording laser beams of four colors, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. Photosensitive drums  316  of corresponding colors are irradiated with the laser beams, and electrostatic latent images are formed on the corresponding photosensitive drums  316 . Toner development is performed using toner supplied from a toner cartridge  317 . Primary transfer of a visualized image is performed onto an intermediate transfer belt  321 . Then, the intermediate transfer belt  321  rotates clockwise. When a recording sheet supplied through a sheet conveying path  319  from a sheet cassette  318  or the sheet supply deck  314  reaches a secondary transfer position  320 , the image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt  321  to the recording sheet. A fixing unit  322  fixes, by pressurization and heating, the toner onto the recording sheet on which the image has been transferred, and the recording sheet is conveyed through a sheet ejection path. Then, the recording sheet is conveyed to a face-down center tray  323 , is switched back and conveyed to a sheet ejector  324  leading to the finisher  315 , or is conveyed to a face-up sheet ejector  325 . In a case where the finisher  315  is not installed, the face-up sheet ejector  325  is used for sheet ejection to a side tray that is attached to a leading edge of the sheet ejector  325 . 
     In accordance with a function designated by a user, the finisher  315  performs post-processing for a printed sheet. More specifically, the finisher  315  has a stapling function (single-position stapling or two-position stapling), a punching function (two-hole punching or three-hole punching), a saddle-stitch binding function, and the like. The multifunction machine shown in  FIG. 3  includes two sheet output trays  328 . A recording sheet conveyed through the sheet ejector  324 , which leads to the finisher  315 , is distributed to one of the sheet output trays  328  according the function, such as copying, printing or facsimile, set by the user. For example, in a case where the multifunction machine is used as a printer, various settings, such as monochrome/color printing, the sheet size, 2-up/4-up/N-up printing, duplex printing, stapling, punching, saddle-stitch binding, a slip sheet, a cover sheet, a back cover sheet, and the like, can be performed using a driver. 
     The image forming apparatus  102  includes a plurality of sensors for detecting the presence of a sheet. For example, the sheet output trays  328  each include a sheet output sensor. With the sheet output sensors, the controller unit  200  is capable of determining, for example, where to output a sheet. 
     Monitoring Camera 
     The monitoring camera  103  is installed, for example, at the rear and above the image forming apparatus  102 , so as to capture a video image of a user who operates the image forming apparatus  102 . A video image captured by the monitoring camera  103  is transferred to the monitoring system control apparatus  104  and is stored in the monitoring system control apparatus  104 . Although the monitoring camera  103  is connected to the monitoring system control apparatus  104  through the network (LAN)  101  in this embodiment, the monitoring camera  103  may be directly connected to the monitoring system control apparatus  104 . 
     Monitoring System Control Apparatus 
     The monitoring system control apparatus  104  controls the monitoring system. In this embodiment, the control of the monitoring system is implemented in accordance with an application program running on a general PC including an HDD for recording data, a network I/F, and the like. In addition, the monitoring system control apparatus  104  is connected to an external apparatus through the network (LAN)  101  in this embodiment. However, the monitoring system control apparatus  104  may be implemented on the controller unit  200  of the image forming apparatus  102 . Alternatively, Java implementation environment may be implemented on the image forming apparatus  102 , so that the monitoring system can be implemented as a Java program. 
     First Embodiment 
     A control method according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to a sequence diagram of  FIG. 4 . The client PC  105  transmits a print job to the image forming apparatus  102  ( 401 ), and the image forming apparatus  102  starts processing for the job. Then, the image forming apparatus  102  transmits a job-start notification to the monitoring system control apparatus  104  ( 402 ). The job-start notification contains device information identifying an image forming apparatus and job information identifying a job. In the case of a copy job, a job-start notification contains device information and the type of the job (copy). In the case of a facsimile job, a job-start notification contains device information and the type of the job (facsimile). In the case of a print job, a job-start notification contains device information, the type of the job (print), and job-owner information (the name of a client PC and a user ID). 
     When receiving the job-start notification ( 402 ), the monitoring system control apparatus  104  starts recording of a video image captured by the monitoring camera  103 . The image forming apparatus  102  performs processing for the print job, supplies a formed image to a sheet output portion, and ends the image forming operation. Then, after the sheet is removed by a user, a sheet output sensor detects the removal of the sheet. The image forming apparatus  102  transmits a sheet-removal notification to the monitoring system control apparatus  104  ( 403 ). When receiving the sheet-removal notification ( 403 ), the monitoring system control apparatus  104  stops recording of a video image captured by the monitoring camera  103 . The recorded video image is stored, in association with device information and job information contained in the job-start notification, into the HDD. 
     The monitoring camera  103  always captures a video image near the monitoring system control apparatus  104 . The monitoring system control apparatus  104  acquires the video image and records the acquired video image. The monitoring system control apparatus  104  may instruct the monitoring camera  103  to start or end capturing of a video image. 
     In the case of a copy job, the image forming apparatus  102  may transmit a job-start notification when a user presses a start key and processing for the job starts. Accordingly, for a copy job, a control method can be achieved with a configuration similar to that for a print job. 
     As described above, starting and ending of recording of a video image captured by a monitoring camera can be determined in accordance with a notification received from a device, and the acquired video image can be managed in association with job attribute information contained in the notification. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Although a method for managing the image forming apparatus  102  in a case where a single job is input has been described in the first embodiment, a case where jobs are sequentially input and output sheets are kept in a sheet output portion will be described in a second embodiment. As shown by a sequence diagram of  FIG. 5 , in a case where job A and job B are sequentially input ( 501  and  502 ), job-start notifications for the job A and the job B are transmitted to the monitoring system control apparatus  104  ( 503  and  504 ). A sheet-removal notification ( 505 ) is transmitted when both the output sheets for the job A and the job B are removed. A process performed by the monitoring system control apparatus  104  in this case will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
     When receiving a notification from the image forming apparatus  102  in step S 601 , the monitoring system control apparatus  104  determines whether the received notification is a sheet-removal notification in step S 602 . If it is determined in step S 602  that the received notification is not a sheet-removal notification (that is, the received notification is a job-start notification), the monitoring system control apparatus  104  internally registers, as information to be managed, attribute information of job n in step S 603 . In the example shown in  FIG. 5 , “n” represents A or B. Then, the monitoring system control apparatus  104  determines whether the received notification is a first notification in step S 604 . If it is determined in step S 604  that the received notification is a first notification, the monitoring system control apparatus  104  starts recording of a video image transmitted from the monitoring camera  103  in step S 605 . Then, the monitoring system control apparatus  104  waits for the next notification. If it is determined in step S 604  that the received notification is not a first notification, the monitoring system control apparatus  104  waits for the next notification. 
     If it is determined in step S 602  that the received notification is a sheet-removal notification, the monitoring system control apparatus  104  stops recording of a video image in step S 606 . Then, in step S 607 , the recorded video image and attribute information of the job are stored in association with each other in the monitoring system control apparatus  104 . All the images to be associated with attribute information are the same and are received during the period from the reception of the first job-start notification ( 503 ) to the reception of the sheet-removal notification ( 505 ). 
     Third Embodiment 
     In the first and second embodiments, a job-start notification is used as a trigger for starting recording of a video image. However, by changing a start trigger to delay the video-image-capturing start time in accordance with the attribute of a job, the time required for identifying, in accordance with a video image, a scene in which a user removed an output sheet can be shortened. Thus, the size of a video image file can be reduced, and the efficiency of video image management can be improved. In a third embodiment, an example in which a start trigger is changed according to the type of finishing will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart obtained by expanding the flowchart shown in  FIG. 6  according to the second embodiment. 
     When receiving a notification in step S 701 , the monitoring system control apparatus  104  determines whether the received notification is a sheet-removal notification in step S 702 . If it is determined in step S 702  that the received notification is a sheet-removal notification, the monitoring system control apparatus  104  stops recording of a video image in step S 706 , and the recorded video image and attribute information of a job are stored in association with each other in the monitoring system control apparatus  104  in step S 707 , similarly to the flow shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     If it is determined in step S 702  that the received notification is not a sheet-removal notification, the monitoring system control apparatus  104  analyzes the attribute information of the job and determines whether the type of finishing is binding in step S 708 . If it is determined in step S 708  that the type of finishing is biding, the monitoring system control apparatus  104  determines whether the notification received in step S 701  is a job-end notification in step S 709 . If it is determined in step S 709  that the received notification is a job-end notification, the subsequent processing is performed as in the second embodiment. That is, the monitoring system control apparatus  104  internally registers, as information to be managed, attribute information of job n in step S 703 . Here, “n” represents a received job (in the second embodiment, “n” represents A or B). Then, the monitoring system control apparatus  104  determines whether the received notification is a first notification in step S 704 . If it is determined in step S 704  that the received notification is a first notification, the monitoring system control apparatus  104  starts recording of a video image transmitted from the monitoring camera  103  in step S 705 . Then, the monitoring system control apparatus  104  waits for the next notification. If it is determined in step S 704  that the received notification is not a first notification, the monitoring system control apparatus  104  waits for the next notification. 
     If it is determined in step S 709  that the received notification is not a job-end notification, the monitoring system control apparatus  104  waits for the next notification. 
     If it is determined in step S 708  that the type of finishing is not binding, the monitoring system control apparatus  104  determines whether the received notification is a job-start notification in step S 710 . If it is determined in step S 710  that the received notification is a job-start notification, the monitoring system control apparatus  104  performs recording processing in steps S 703  to S 705 . If it is determined in step S 710  that the received notification is not a job-start notification, the monitoring system control apparatus  104  waits for the next notification. 
     The determination as to the type of finishing in step S 708  may be a determination of whether job information contains a finishing attribute. 
     Although the case of binding has been described in the third embodiment, post-processing, such as stapling, may be performed as finishing. 
     As described above, by analyzing the attribute of a job, starting and ending of recording by a monitoring camera and storing of a recorded video image can be controlled in consideration of the type of finishing, such as binding. Thus, management of a video image captured by the monitoring camera can be efficiently achieved. 
     Fourth Embodiment 
     In the first to third embodiments, in order to manage an output material (printed sheet), job information and a video image captured by a monitoring camera are managed in association with each other. In a fourth embodiment, since owner information of a job, job information, and a video image are managed together, high-precision management can be achieved.  FIG. 9  shows the configuration of a system according to the fourth embodiment. A user-information database  901  (for example, an employee DB) for managing owner information is disposed on the network (LAN)  101 . Since parts other than the user information database  901  are the same as in  FIG. 1 , the description of those same parts will be omitted. For example, in a case where the user information database  901  is an employee DB, a department, a name, a facial portrait, an extension number, and a mail address are managed in association with a user ID. 
     An example of a control method according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to a sequence diagram shown in  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  is obtained by expanding  FIG. 4 . The client PC  105  inputs a job A to the image forming apparatus  102  ( 801 ). When receiving a job-start notification ( 802 ), the monitoring system control apparatus  104  starts recording of a video image captured by the monitoring camera  103 . At the same time, when receiving the job-start notification for the job A ( 802 ), the monitoring system control apparatus  104  extracts owner information from attribute information of the job and queries the employee DB as to information on the owner of the job ( 803 ). Job-owner information contains the name of a client PC and a user ID. Normally, a user ID is a login ID used for entry for a network domain. Thus, the monitoring system control apparatus  104  is capable of acquiring job-owner information, such as a department, a name, and a facial portrait, by querying the user-information database  901  (the employee DB) as to user information. That is, when the monitoring system control apparatus  104  transmits a user-information search request to the user-information database  901  (the employee DB) ( 803 ), the user-information database  901  searches for user information of the corresponding user ID. Then, the user-information database  901  transmits a search result to the monitoring system control apparatus  104 . The user information, which serves as a search result, contains a department, a name, a facial portrait, an extension number, and a mail address corresponding to the user ID. 
     The image forming apparatus  102  performs processing for the print job, and a formed image output is transmitted to a sheet output portion. After the output sheet is removed by a user, a sheet output sensor detects the removal of the output sheet. Then, the image forming apparatus  102  transmits a sheet-removal notification to the monitoring system control apparatus  104  ( 804 ). When receiving the sheet-removal notification ( 804 ), the monitoring system control apparatus  104  stops recording of a video image captured by the monitoring camera  103 . The captured video image (photography record A) is stored in association with device information, job information, and job-owner information contained in the job-start notification into the HDD of the monitoring system control apparatus  104 . 
     Finally, the monitoring system control apparatus  104  stores job information, a video image captured by the monitoring camera  103 , and owner information together. If owner information contains image information, such as a facial portrait of an owner, comparison between the facial portrait and a person who appears in the stored video image can be performed. 
     Accordingly, higher-level management of information on an output job and a video image captured by a monitoring camera can be achieved. 
     Other Embodiments 
     Embodiments of the present invention may be embodied, for example, as a system, an apparatus, a method, a program, a storage medium, or the like. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of apparatuses or to an apparatus including a single device. 
     According to aspects of the present invention, functions of the foregoing embodiments can be attained when software programs are supplied to a system or an apparatus directly or via remote control and when a computer of the system or the apparatus reads and executes supplied program code. In this case, the supplied programs correspond to flowcharts represented in the foregoing embodiments. 
     Thus, in order to implement functional processing of an aspect of the present invention, a program code itself installed into the computer also implements embodiments of the present invention. That is, a computer program itself for attaining functional processing of an aspect of the present invention falls within the scope of the present invention. 
     In this case, the computer program may be of any type, such as an object code, a program to be executed by an interpreter, or script data to be supplied to an operating system (OS), as long as it has a function of a program. 
     As a recording medium for supplying a program, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disk (MO), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a compact disc recordable (CD-R), a compact disc rewritable (CD-RW), a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM, or a digital versatile disc (DVD) (including a DVD-ROM and a DVD-R) is available. 
     In addition, the program may be obtained by connecting to a website on the Internet using a browser of a client computer and by downloading a computer program according to an aspect of the present invention from the website to a storage medium, such as a hard disk. In this case, the program to be downloaded may be a compressed file having an automatic installation function. In addition, the program may be supplied by dividing the program code constituting the program according to an aspect of the present invention into a plurality of files and by downloading the divided files from different websites. That is, a World Wide Web (WWW) server for allowing a plurality of users to download a program file for attaining functional processing of an aspect of the present invention on a computer is also included in the present invention. 
     In addition, a program according to an aspect of the present invention may be encoded and stored in a storage medium, such as a CD-ROM, and may be distributed to users. Only a user who satisfies predetermined conditions may be able to download key information for decoding the encoded program from a website via the Internet. In addition, the encoded program can be executed by using the downloaded key information and can be installed to a computer. 
     In addition, the functions of the foregoing embodiments can be attained not only when the read program is executed by the computer but also when part or all of the actual processing is performed in cooperation with an operating system (OS) or the like running on the computer on the basis of instructions of the program. In this case, the OS or the like performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the foregoing embodiments can be attained by the processing. 
     Furthermore, the program read from the recording medium may be written to a memory arranged in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. The functions of the foregoing embodiments can also be attained when part or all of the actual processing is performed by the CPU or the like arranged in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit on the basis of instructions of the program after the program is written to the function expansion board or the function expansion unit. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all modifications, equivalent structures and functions. 
     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Application No. 2007-029354 filed Feb. 8, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.