Data processing system, data processing device and data processing program

• US 20060114498A1
• Filed: 11/07/2005
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Miyazawa, Masafumi, Yanagi, Satoru, Kokubo, Masatoshi, Matsuda, Makoto, Ohara, Kiyotaka, Aoki, Kazuma, Otsuka, Naoki
• Granted Patent: US 8,174,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3212 of data relating to a job, e.g. communication, capture or filing of an image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3222 of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling

Abstract

In a communication system having a client and a server capable of communicating with each other via a network, the server can transmit a command to the client in response to a command request transmitted from the client to the server. The server may include a replying unit that transmits replaying data in response to the command received from the client in such a manner that (a) if there is a command to be transmitted to the client, replying data including the command is transmitted to the client, and (b) if there is not a command to be transmitted to the client, replying data, which does not include a command is transmitted to the client. Further, the replying unit may transmit the replying data without a command to the client when a no-command status lasts a predetermined standby period after receipt of the command request.

Claims

1. A communication system having a client and a server capable of communicating with each other via a network, the server being configured to transmit a command to the client in response to a command request transmitted from the client to the server,

wherein the server includes a replying unit that transmits replaying data in response to the command received from the client in such a manner that:

(a) if there is a command to be transmitted to the client, replying data including the command is transmitted to the client; and

(b) if there is not a command to be transmitted to the client, replying data, which does not include a command, is transmitted to the client, and

wherein the replying unit transmits the replying data without a command to the client when a status that there is no command to be transmitted to the client lasts a predetermined standby period after receipt of the command request.

2. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein, if there is a command to be transmitted to the client, the replying unit transmits the replying data including the command immediately in response to the command request received from the client.

3. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein, if the client receives the replying data which does not include the command in response to the command request, the client retransmits the command request to the server.

4. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the standby period is determined based on a predetermined timeout period, the predetermined timeout period being defined such that, if no reply to the command request by the client is made by the server within the predetermined timeout period, it is determined that a communication error has occurred.

5. The communication system according to claim 4,

wherein the standby period is shorter than the predetermined timeout period.

6. The communication system according to claim 4, further comprising a standby period setting unit that sets a value of the predetermined standby period.

7. The communication system according to claim 6,

wherein the standby period setting unit is provided to the client, and

wherein the replying unit uses the value set by the standby period setting unit as the value of the predetermined standby period.

8. The communication system according to claim 7,

wherein the standby period setting unit automatically sets the value of the predetermined standby period based on a period from transmission of the command request to the server to detection of the communication error as the predetermined timeout period has elapsed.

9. The communication system according to claim 7,

wherein the standby period setting unit sets the value of the predetermined standby period in accordance with an input value by an external inputting operation.

10. The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication investigating unit configured to determine that a communication error has occurred if the reply from the server in response to the command request by the client has not been made after elapse of the predetermined timeout period, the predetermined standby period being set in accordance with the predetermined timeout period.

11. The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication status detecting unit configured to detect congestion of the network, the replying unit adjusting the predetermined standby period in accordance with the congestion of the network detected by the communication status detecting unit.

12. The communication system according to claim 11,

wherein the communication status detecting unit is provided to the client.

13. The communication system according to claim 11,

wherein the communication status detecting unit is provided to the server.

14. A client of a communication system having the client and a server capable of communicating with each other via a network, the server being configured to transmit a command to the client in response to a command request transmitted from the client to the server,

wherein the server includes a replying unit that transmits replaying data in response to the command received from the client in such a manner that:

(a) if there is a command to be transmitted to the client, replying data including the command is transmitted to the client; and

(b) if there is not a command to be transmitted to the client, replying data which does not include a command is transmitted to the client, and

wherein the replying unit transmits the replying data without a command to the client when a status that there is no command to be transmitted to the client lasts a predetermined standby period after receipt of the command request.

15. A computer-readable medium having a program stored thereon, said program comprising computer readable instructions that cause a computer to function as a client of a communication system having the client and a server capable of communicating with each other via a network, the server being configured to transmit a command to the client in response to a command request transmitted from the client to the server,

wherein the server includes a replying unit that transmits replaying data in response to the command received from the client in such a manner that:

(a) if there is a command to be transmitted to the client, replying data including the command is transmitted to the client; and

(b) if there is not a command to be transmitted to the client, replying data which does not include a command is transmitted to the client, and

wherein the replying unit transmits the replying data without a command to the client when a status that there is no command to be transmitted to the client lasts a predetermined standby period after receipt of the command request.

16. A computer-readable medium having a program stored thereon, said program comprising computer readable instructions that cause a computer to function as a server of a communication system having a client and the server capable of communicating with each other via a network, the server being configured to transmit a command to the client in response to a command request transmitted from the client to the server,

wherein the server includes a replying unit that transmits replaying data in response to the command received from the client in such a manner that:

(a) if there is a command to be transmitted to the client, replying data including the command is transmitted to the client; and

(b) if there is not a command to be transmitted to the client, replying data which does not include a command is transmitted to the client, and

wherein the replying unit transmits the replying data without a command to the client when a status that there is no command to be transmitted to the client lasts a predetermined standby period after receipt of the command request.

17. An image processing system, comprising:

an image processing device having at least one of (a) an image reading unit configured to read an image and generate image data, and (b) an image forming unit that forms an image represented by the image data; and

a service providing device configured to execute a service regarding at least one of (a) image data generated by the image reading unit, and (b) image data representing an image to be formed by the image forming unit,

the image processing device and the service providing device being connected to a network so as to communicate with each other,

the image processing device and the service providing device exchanging information with each other as a predetermined message is attached to request information transmitted from the image processing device to the service providing device, and to response information transmitted from the service providing device to the image processing device as a response to the request information,

wherein the image processing device includes;

a command requesting unit that transmits control command request information in association with the request information, the control command request information being for requesting the service providing device to transmit a control command which is a control instruction to the image processing device when the service is executed; and

a command executing unit that executes a predetermined process in accordance with the control command information,

wherein the service providing device includes;

a service executing unit that executes the service;

a command transmitting unit that transmits the control command in association with the response information as a response to the request information transmitted from the command requesting unit, and

wherein the command executing unit executes a predetermined process in accordance with the control command information transmitted in association with the response information transmitted from the command transmitting device.

18. The image processing system according to claim 17,

wherein the image processing device is connected to the network via security system which is configured such that, among pieces of data transmitted from the network to the image processing device, the response information which is a response to the request information transmitted from the image processing device to the network is allowed to be transmitted, while the other data is shielded.

19. The image processing system according to claim 17,

wherein the image processing device and the service providing device execute therebetween a session which is a series of communicating procedures from the start of the service to the end thereof,

wherein the command requesting unit of the image processing device transmits at least one of (a) a session ID which is identification information for identifying a the session, and (b) a job ID which is identification information for identifying a job executed by the image processing device in the session, in association with the predetermined request information to be transmitted in the session to the service providing device,

wherein the service executing unit provided to the service providing device identifies the session based on at least one of the session ID transmitted in association with the request information as transmitted and the job ID transmitted in association with the request information as transmitted, the service executing unit executing a predetermined process corresponding to the identified one of the session and job in accordance with the control command request information associated with the request information.

20. The image processing system according to claim 19,

wherein the service executing unit generates the session ID corresponding to the service and assigns the session ID to the image processing device.

21. The image processing system according to claim 19,

wherein the command transmitting unit generates the job ID and assigns the job ID to the image processing device by transmitting the job ID to the image processing device.

22. The image processing system according to claim 19,

wherein the command transmitting unit transmits the response information associating the control command information for finishing the job to the image processing device together with the job ID, and

wherein the command executing unit finishes the job corresponding to the job ID transmitted to the image processing device.

23. The image processing system according to claim 17,

wherein the image processing device includes a transmission judging unit configured to judge whether the control command request information is to be transmitted to the service providing device based on a status of the image processing device, and

wherein the command requesting unit transmits the control command request information to the service providing device when the transmission judging unit determines that the image processing device is in a status where the request information associated with the control command request information is to be transmitted.

24. The image processing system according to claim 17,

wherein the image processing device is provided with at least one of (a) a sound input unit that receives sound and generates sound data representing the received sound, and (b) a sound output unit configured to output sound represented by the sound data, and

wherein the service providing device executes a service related to at least one of the sound data generated by the sound input unit and sound data transmitted to the sound output unit in response to the request by the image processing device.

25. The image processing system according to claim 24,

wherein the control command information associating with the response information transmitted by the command transmitting unit provided to the service providing device includes a command for controlling one of the sound input unit and the sound output unit provided to the image processing device.

26. The image processing system according to claim 17,

wherein the control command information associating with the response information transmitted by the command transmitting unit includes a command for controlling one of the image reading unit and the image forming unit provided the image processing device.

27. The image processing system according to claim 17,

wherein the image processing device includes an operation unit configured to notify a user of information and to accept an operation of the image processing device by the user, and

wherein the control command information associating with the response information transmitted by the command transmitting unit includes a command for controlling the operation unit.

28. An image processing device for an image processing system,

the image processing device having at least one of (a) an image reading unit configured to read an image and generate image data, and (b) an image forming unit that forms an image represented by the image data,

the image processing system further including:

a service providing device configured to execute a service regarding at least one of (a) image data generated by the image reading unit, and (b) image data representing an image to be formed by the image forming unit,

the image processing device and the service providing device being connected to a network so as to communicate with each other,

the image processing device and the service providing device exchanging information with each other as a predetermined message is attached to request information transmitted from the image processing device to the service providing device, and to response information transmitted from the service providing device to the image processing device as a response to the request information,

wherein the image processing device includes;

a command requesting unit that transmits control command request information in association with the request information, the control command request information being for requesting the service providing device to transmit a control command which is a control instruction to the image processing device when the service is executed; and

a command executing unit that executes a predetermined process in accordance with the control command information,

wherein the service providing device includes;

a service executing unit that executes the service;

a command transmitting unit that transmits the control command in association with the response information as a response to the request information transmitted from the command requesting unit, and

wherein the command executing unit executes a predetermined process in accordance with the control command information transmitted in association with the response information transmitted from the command transmitting unit.

29. A server functioning as a service providing device for an image processing system,

the image processing system including:

an image processing device having at least one of (a) an image reading unit configured to read an image and generate image data, and (b) an image forming unit that forms an image represented by the image data,

wherein the service providing device is configured to execute a service regarding at least one of (a) image data generated by the image reading unit, and (b) image data representing an image to be formed by the image forming unit,

the image processing device and the service providing device being connected to a network so as to communicate with each other,

the image processing device and the service providing device exchanging information with each other as a predetermined message is attached to request information transmitted from the image processing device to the service providing device, and to response information transmitted from the service providing device to the image processing device as a response to the request information,

wherein the image processing device includes;

a command requesting unit that transmits control command request information in association with the request information, the control command request information being for requesting the service providing device to transmit a control command which is a control instruction to the image processing device when the service is executed; and

a command executing unit that executes a predetermined process in accordance with the control command information,

wherein the service providing device includes;

a service executing unit that executes the service;

a command transmitting unit that transmits the control command in association with the response information as a response to the request information transmitted from the command requesting system, and

wherein the command executing unit executes a predetermined process in accordance with the control command information transmitted in association with the response information transmitted from the command transmitting unit.

30. A computer-readable medium having a program stored thereon, said program comprising computer readable instructions which cause a computer to function as an image processing device for an image processing system,

the image processing device having at least one of (a) an image reading unit configured to read an image and generate image data, and (b) an image forming unit that forms an image represented by the image data,

the image processing system further including:

a service providing device configured to execute a service regarding at least one of (a) image data generated by the image reading unit, and (b) image data representing an image to be formed by the image forming unit,

the image processing device and the service providing device being connected to a network so as to communicate with each other,

the image processing device and the service providing device exchanging information with each other as a predetermined message is attached to request information transmitted from the image processing device to the service providing device, and to response information transmitted from the service providing device to the image processing device as a response to the request information,

wherein the image processing device includes;

a command requesting unit that transmits control command request information in association with the request information, the control command request information being for requesting the service providing device to transmit a control command which is a control instruction to the image processing device when the service is executed; and

a command executing unit that executes a predetermined process in accordance with the control command information,

wherein the service providing device includes;

a service executing unit that executes the service;

a command transmitting unit that transmits the control command in association with the response information as a response to the request information transmitted from the command requesting unit, and

wherein the command executing unit executes a predetermined process in accordance with the control command information transmitted in association with the response information transmitted from the command transmitting unit.

31. A computer-readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon that cause a computer to function as a server having a function of a service providing device for an image processing system,

the image processing system including:

an image processing device having at least one of (a) an image reading unit configured to read an image and generate image data, and (b) an image forming unit that forms an image represented by the image data,

wherein the service providing device is configured to execute a service regarding at least one of (a) image data generated by the image reading unit, and (b) image data representing an image to be formed by the image forming unit,

the image processing device and the service providing device being connected to a network so as to communicate with each other,

the image processing device and the service providing device exchanging information with each other as a predetermined message is attached to request information transmitted from the image processing device to the service providing device, and to response information transmitted from the service providing device to the image processing device as a response to the request information,

wherein the image processing device includes;

a command requesting unit that transmits control command request information in association with the request information, the control command request information being for requesting the service providing device to transmit a control command which is a control instruction to the image processing device when the service is executed; and

a command executing unit that executes a predetermined process in accordance with the control command information,

wherein the service providing device includes;

a service executing unit that executes the service;

a command transmitting unit that transmits the control command in association with the response information as a response to the request information transmitted from the command requesting unit, and

wherein the command executing unit executes a predetermined process in accordance with the control command information transmitted in association with the response information transmitted from the command transmitting unit.

32. A computer-readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon that cause a computer to function as a service executing unit and a command transmitting unit for an image processing device,

the image processing device including:

at least one of (a) an image reading unit configured to read an image and generate image data, and (b) an image forming unit that forms an image represented by the image data,

the image processing system further including;

a service providing device configured to execute a service regarding at least one of (a) image data generated by the image reading unit, and (b) image data representing an image to be formed by the image forming unit,

the image processing device and the service providing device being connected to a network so as to communicate with each other,

the image processing device and the service providing device exchanging information with each other as a predetermined message is attached to request information transmitted from the image processing device to the service providing device, and to response information transmitted from the service providing device to the image processing device as a response to the request information,

wherein the image processing device includes;

a command requesting unit that transmits control command request information in association with the request information, the control command request information being for requesting the service providing device to transmit a control command which is a control instruction to the image processing device when the service is executed; and

a command executing unit that executes a predetermined process in accordance with the control command information,

wherein the service executing unit and the command transmitting unit are included in the service providing device, the service executing unit executing the service, the command transmitting unit transmitting the control command in association with the response information as a response to the request information transmitted from the command requesting unit, and

wherein the command executing unit executes a predetermined process in accordance with the control command information transmitted in association with the response information transmitted from the command transmitting unit.

33. A communication system comprising:

a client;

a server capable of communicating with said client over a network, the server being configured to transmit a command to the client in response to a command request transmitted from the client to the server,

wherein the server includes a replying unit that transmits replaying data in response to the command received from the client in such a manner that;

(a) if there is a command to be transmitted to the client, replying data including the command is transmitted to the client; and

(b) if there is not a command to be transmitted to the client, replying data, which does not include a command, is transmitted to the client, and

wherein the replying unit transmits the replying data without a command to the client when a status that there is no command to be transmitted to the client lasts a predetermined standby period after receipt of the command request.

34. A communication system comprising:

a client;

a server capable of communicating with said client over a network, the server being configured to transmit a command to the client in response to a command request transmitted from the client to the server,

said server including replaying means for replaying data in response to the command received from the client in such a manner that;

(a) if there is a command to be transmitted to the client, replying data including the command is transmitted to the client; and

(b) if there is not a command to be transmitted to the client, replying data, which does not include a command, is transmitted to the client, and

wherein the replying unit transmits the replying data without a command to the client when a status that there is no command to be transmitted to the client lasts a predetermined standby period after receipt of the command request.

35. An image processing system, comprising:

an image processing device having an image reading unit configured to read an image and generate image data; and

a service providing device configured to execute a service regarding image data generated by the image reading unit,

the image processing device and the service providing device being connected to a network so as to communicate with each other,

the image processing device and the service providing device exchanging information with each other as a predetermined message is attached to request information transmitted from the image processing device to the service providing device, and to response information transmitted from the service providing device to the image processing device as a response to the request information,

wherein the image processing device includes;

a command requesting unit that transmits control command request information in association with the request information, the control command request information being for requesting the service providing device to transmit a control command which is a control instruction to the image processing device when the service is executed; and

a command executing unit that executes a predetermined process in accordance with the control command information,

wherein the service providing device includes;

a service executing unit that executes the service;

a command transmitting unit that transmits the control command in association with the response information as a response to the request information transmitted from the command requesting unit, and

wherein the command executing unit executes a predetermined process in accordance with the control command information transmitted in association with the response information transmitted from the command transmitting unit.