Multifunction machine, server, multifunction machine/server system and program recording medium
First Claim
1. A multifunction machine/server system comprising:
- a server connected to a network; and
a plurality of multifunction machines connected to the network, each of said plurality of multifunction machines, comprising;
a first-kind-of-process unit for transferring, when requested for a first kind of process, an electronic document needed for executing the first kind of process to said server via the network, and requesting said server to execute the first kind of process with respect to the electronic document; and
a second-kind-of-process unit for solely executing, when requested for a second kind of process, the second kind of process without linkage with said server, wherein said server has a function of executing the first kind of processes that said plurality of multifunction machines request said server to execute.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multifunction machine/server system capable of dealing with electronic documents at a higher efficiency and being actualized at low costs, is disclosed. The multifunction machine executes, when given a request for a second kind of process, the requested second kind of process without linkage with the server, and, when given a request for a first kind of process, requests the server to execute the first kind of process. The server incorporates a function of executing the first kind of processes that a plurality of multifunction machines request the server to execute. The multifunction machine/server system is constructed of the thus structured server and the plurality of thus structured multifunction machines.
69 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A multifunction machine/server system comprising:
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a server connected to a network; and
a plurality of multifunction machines connected to the network, each of said plurality of multifunction machines, comprising;
a first-kind-of-process unit for transferring, when requested for a first kind of process, an electronic document needed for executing the first kind of process to said server via the network, and requesting said server to execute the first kind of process with respect to the electronic document; and
a second-kind-of-process unit for solely executing, when requested for a second kind of process, the second kind of process without linkage with said server, wherein said server has a function of executing the first kind of processes that said plurality of multifunction machines request said server to execute.
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2. A multifunction machine so used as to be connected via a network to a server, comprising:
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scanner means for generating image data of a document;
first-kind-of-process executing means for executing an operation in linkage with said server, which utilizes the image data generated by said scanner means;
second-kind-of-process executing means for executing a second kind of process requiring no operation in linkage with said server, which utilizes the image data generated by said scanner means;
designating means for designating said first- or second-kind-of-process executing means;
execution control means for making, when said designating means designates the first- or second kind of process, said scanner means generate the image data, and making said first- or second-kind-of-process executing means execute the first or second kind of process using the image data;
state judging means for judging whether or not the first kind of process is in such a state as to be possible of linking with said server; and
designation control means for controlling, when said state judging means judges that the first kind of process is not in such a state as to be possible of linking with said server, said designating means so that said designating means is unable to designate the first kind of process. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A server used by its being connected via a network to a plurality of multifunction machines, comprising:
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a plurality of request processing means for processing requests received from said plurality of multifunction machines via the network, said request processing means assigning, when receiving the request from said multifunction machine, said multifunction machine having transmitted the request to said request processing means itself;
assigning means for sending to said multifunction machine a completion-of-assignment notification indicating that an operation in linkage via the network becomes possible; and
assignment canceling means for canceling, when the request is not received from said assigned multifunction machine even after a predetermined has elapsed, the assignment of said multifunction machine by said request processing means. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A program recording medium recorded with a program, usable in a computer capable of communicating with other apparatuses via a network, for making said computer function as a server, said program comprising:
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a request processing step of processing requests received from a plurality of multifunction machines via the network, and assigning, when receiving the request from any one of said multifunction machines, said multifunction machine having transmitted the request;
a step of sending to said multifunction machine a completion-of-assignment notification indicating that an operation in linkage via the network becomes possible; and
a step of canceling, when the request is not received from said assigned multifunction machine even after a predetermined has elapsed, the assignment of said multifunction machine in said request processing step.
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22. A multifunction machine comprising:
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a scanner unit for generating image data by scanning an image;
a printer unit for printing the image data;
a communications control unit for transmitting the image data onto a network;
a line control unit for transmitting the image data onto a public line;
a main control unit for controlling said scanner unit, said printer unit, said communications control unit and said line control unit in order to actualize a scanner function of sending the image data generated by said scanner unit onto the network for saving the image data, a copy function of transmitting the image data to said printer unit and executing the printing of the image data, a print function of sending the image data onto the network, and a FAX function of sending the image data onto the public line;
an operation unit for performing an operation of designating one or more arbitrary addressees among all addressees to which the image data can be sent in advance of the generation of the image data by said scanner unit; and
an interlocking operation control unit for executing scheduling so that the image data generated by said scanner unit are distributed to all the addressees designated by the operation of the said operation unit. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification