Image-forming system and routing method for the same

• US 20040075863A1
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Tamura, Yuji, Suzuki, Tomohiro, Ishikawa, Tetsuya, Ogawa, Tomoya, Uchida, Fumikage, Sumi, Tadashi
• Application Number:
  US10/682,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20040075863A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/608 Secure printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database

Abstract

There is described a network system for processing image data. The network system includes an image-processing apparatus including an image-reading section to read an image from a document; an image-printing apparatus including an image-printing section to print an image on a sheet; a plurality of networks including a first network and a second network; and a plurality of information processing apparatus including a first information processing apparatus coupled to the first network and a second information processing apparatus coupled to the second network. The image-processing apparatus or the image-printing apparatus further includes: a routing section to conduct a routing operation between the first information processing apparatus and the second information processing apparatus. The image-processing apparatus further includes: a first network I/F section, through which the image-processing apparatus is coupled to the first network; and a second network I/F section, through which the image-processing apparatus is coupled to the second network.

Claims

1. A network system for processing image data, comprising:

an image-processing apparatus including an image-reading section to read an image from a document;

an image-printing apparatus including an image-printing section to print an image on a sheet;

a plurality of networks including a first network and a second network; and

a plurality of information processing apparatus including a first information processing apparatus coupled to said first network and a second information processing apparatus coupled to said second network;

wherein said image-processing apparatus further includes;

a routing section to conduct a routing operation between said first information processing apparatus and said second information processing apparatus.

2. The network system of claim 1,

wherein said image-processing apparatus further includes:

a first network I/F section, through which said image-processing apparatus is coupled to said first network; and

a second network I/F section, through which said image-processing apparatus is coupled to said second network.

3. The network system of claim 1,

wherein said image-printing apparatus is coupled to either said image-processing apparatus or anyone of said plurality of networks.

4. The network system of claim 1,

wherein said image-processing apparatus and said image-printing apparatus are integrated into a single apparatus;

and

wherein said single apparatus is coupled to both said first network and said second network.

5. The network system of claim 4,

wherein said single apparatus is a digital copier.

6. The network system of claim 1,

wherein said plurality of information processing apparatus includes a computer or a personal computer.

7. A network system for processing image data, comprising:

an image-processing apparatus including an image-reading section to read an image from a document;

an image-printing apparatus including an image-printing section to print an image on a sheet;

a plurality of networks including a first network and a second network; and

a plurality of information processing apparatus including a first information processing apparatus coupled to said first network and a second information processing apparatus coupled to said second network;

wherein said image-printing apparatus further includes;

a routing section to conduct a routing operation between said first information processing apparatus and said second information processing apparatus.

8. The network system of claim 7,

wherein said image-printing apparatus further includes:

a first network I/F section, through which said image-printing apparatus is coupled to said first network; and

a second network I/F section, through which said image-printing apparatus is coupled to said second network.

9. The network system of claim 7,

wherein said image-processing apparatus is coupled to either said image-printing apparatus or anyone of said plurality of networks.

10. The network system of claim 7,

wherein said image-processing apparatus and said image-printing apparatus are integrated into a single apparatus;

and

wherein said single apparatus is coupled to both said first network and said second network.

11. The network system of claim 10,

wherein said single apparatus is a digital copier.

12. The network system of claim 7,

wherein said plurality of information processing apparatus includes a computer or a personal computer.

13. A network system for processing image data, comprising:

an image-processing apparatus including an image-reading section to read an image from a document;

an image-printing apparatus including an image-printing section to print an image on a sheet; and

an information processing apparatus coupled to both said image-processing apparatus and said image-printing apparatus through a network;

wherein said image-processing apparatus or said image-printing apparatus further includes;

a provided function setting section to set a functional restriction for restricting a function to be provided for said information processing apparatus.

14. The network system of claim 13,

wherein said image-processing apparatus and said image-printing apparatus are integrated into a single apparatus;

and

wherein said single apparatus includes said provided function setting section.

15. The network system of claim 14,

wherein said single apparatus is a digital copier.

16. The network system of claim 13,

wherein said information processing apparatus is a computer or a personal computer.

17. A network system for processing image data, comprising:

an image-processing apparatus including an image-reading section to read an image from a document;

an image-printing apparatus including an image-printing section to print an image on a sheet; and

an information processing apparatus coupled to both said image-processing apparatus and said image-printing apparatus through a network;

wherein said image-processing apparatus or said image-printing apparatus further includes;

a server section that serves as a server for apparatus on said network.

18. The network system of claim 17,

wherein said image-processing apparatus and said image-printing apparatus are integrated into a single apparatus;

wherein said single apparatus is a digital copier including said server section.

19. The network system of claim 17,

wherein said information processing apparatus is a computer or a personal computer.

20. The network system of claim 17,

wherein said server section is anyone of a web server, a mail server and a database server.