IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND PROCESSING METHOD FOR USE IN IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM

• US 20080155568A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Wakana, Toru
• Granted Patent: US 8,171,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/321
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1214 at the submitting node
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0032 with a medium handling apparatus, e.g. a sheet sorter handling thin or filamentary material, e.g. sheets B65H
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00957 Compiling jobs, e.g. for batch processing H04N1/3208 takes precedence; program code compilation G06F8/41
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32529 of different type, e.g. internal and external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32539 Detecting or indicating the status of the output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

Image processing conditions that have been set are divided into a plurality of processes, and devices capable of executing the processes are searched for. Based on functions of devices that are found as a result of the search and the set image processing conditions, operation flows to be executed by the devices are assigned to the devices, and the assigned operation flows and the names of the corresponding devices are displayed. The operation flows are then executed. Thus, a desired output can be achieved by a plurality of devices that cooperate with each other.

Claims

1. An image processing system in which a plurality of network-connected devices perform image processing, comprising:

a setting unit configured to set image processing conditions;

a first search unit configured to search for a plurality of devices that meet the image processing conditions set by the setting unit;

an assigning unit configured to assign, based on functions of the plurality of devices found by the first search unit and the image processing conditions, operation flows to the plurality of devices;

a flow display unit configured to display the operation flows assigned to corresponding devices by the assigning unit and names of devices to cooperate with the corresponding devices on a display; and

an execution unit configured to execute the operation flows assigned to the corresponding devices.

2. The image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a selecting unit configured to, when a plurality of combinations of cooperative processing flows are displayed on the display, select at least one of the combinations of the cooperative processing flows.

3. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the flow display unit displays the operation flows assigned to the corresponding devices on the display in the order in which the operation flows are to be executed by the corresponding devices.

4. The image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a guidance information display unit configured to, after the execution unit executes an operation flow, display guidance information indicating another device that is to execute a next operation flow on the display.

5. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the flow display unit displays an operation flow to be executed next in accordance with input operation identification information.

6. The image processing system according to claim 5, further comprising a second search unit configured to, when the operation flow to be executed next is being displayed, re-search for a device that meets at least one remaining image processing condition set by the setting unit, wherein the flow display unit displays the device found by the second search unit on the display.

7. A method for performing processing for use in an image processing system in which a plurality of network-connected devices perform image processing, the method comprising:

setting image processing conditions;

searching for a plurality of devices that meet the image processing conditions;

assigning, based on functions of the plurality of devices that meet the image processing conditions and the image processing conditions, operation flows to the plurality of devices;

displaying the operation flows assigned to corresponding devices and names of devices to cooperate with the corresponding devices on a display; and

executing the operation flows assigned to the corresponding devices.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein, when a plurality of combinations of cooperative processing flows are displayed on the display, at least one of the combinations of the cooperative processing flows is selected.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the operation flows assigned to the corresponding devices are displayed on the display in the order in which the operation flows are to be executed by the corresponding devices.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein, after a device executes an assigned operation flow, guidance information indicating another device that is to execute a next operation flow is displayed on the display.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein an operation flow to be executed next is displayed in accordance with input operation identification information.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein when the operation flow to be executed next is being displayed, a device that meets at least one of the remaining set image processing conditions is re-searched for, and wherein the found device is displayed on the display.

13. A storage medium readable by a computer storing a computer-executable program, the computer-executable program comprising:

setting image processing conditions;

searching for a plurality of devices that meet the image processing conditions;

assigning, based on functions of the plurality of devices that meet the image processing conditions and the image processing conditions, operation flows to the plurality of devices;

displaying the operation flows assigned to corresponding devices and names of devices to cooperate with the corresponding devices on a display; and

executing the operation flows assigned to the corresponding devices