Web services device profile on a multi-service device: device and facility manager

• US 7,873,647 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Regnier, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Cottingham; John R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOVEL, KIMBERLY M
• Application Number:
  US11/641,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20080148279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 707/999, 707/104.1, 707/758
• US Class Current: 707/758
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services

Abstract

A technique is provided for implementing multiple Web services on a multi-functional device (MFP) executing multiple service applications. A Device Facility Manager (DFM) executing on the MFP represents the MFP by responding to discovery, metadata, and logging requests with device location, metadata and logging information. When a client application discovers the services provided by the MFP, the client application may communicate directly with a service application executing on the MFP. The client application requests the service metadata of the service application and then transmits SOAP requests, which the service application processes. The implementation of one or more Web Service specifications may be packaged into one common module so that the complexity of the Web Services is hidden from developers. New services may be added to the MFP and existing services may be updated through communication with the DFM.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for processing requests to process data on multi-functional peripherals (MFPs), the method comprising:

sending, to a client application, location data of an MFP in a network, wherein;

a plurality of applications execute on the MFP, and

each application of the plurality of applications provides a service among a plurality of services;

receiving, from the client application, at a device facility manager (DFM) that executes on the MFP, a metadata request for metadata associated with the MFP;

sending, from the DFM to the client application, device metadata that indicates the plurality of services;

receiving, from the client application, at a first application of the plurality of applications, a request for service metadata that indicates how the client application is to interact with the first application, on the MFP, that provides a first service of the plurality of services;

receiving, from the first application, at the DFM, a service metadata request that corresponds to the request;

in response to receiving the service metadata request, the DFM;

retrieving the service metadata that corresponds to the first application, and

sending the service metadata to the first application;

the first application sending the service metadata to the client application;

receiving, from the client application, at the first application, a first particular request for the first service;

receiving, from a second client application, at second application of the plurality of applications that is different than the first application, a second request for second service metadata that indicates how the second client application is to interact with the second application that provides a second service of the plurality of services that is different than the first service;

receiving, from the second application, at the DFM, a second service metadata request that corresponds to the second request;

in response to receiving the second service metadata request, the DFM;

retrieving the second service metadata that corresponds to the second application, and

sending the second service metadata to the second application;

the second application sending the second service metadata to the second client application; and

receiving, from the second client application, at the second application, a second particular request for the second service;

wherein an application from the plurality of applications (a) retrieves, through an abstract application programming interface (API), information pertaining to the MFP, and (b) invokes, through the abstract API, one or more functions on a platform corresponding to the MFP;

wherein the abstract API defines an interface by which the application invokes one or more functions on the MFP and receives data from the MFP.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the MFP includes a print process for processing print data and causing a printed version of an electronic document reflected in the print data to be generated.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the DFM implements one or more Web Services that are approved industry standards or proposed drafts that may become approved industry standards.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the client application, a third request for a first particular-service of the plurality of services;

based on the third request, a first particular application corresponding to the first particular-service invoking a library routine from a shared library on the DFM, wherein the library routine implements one or more functions defined by a Web Services specification;

receiving, from a fourth client application, a fourth request for a second particular service of the plurality of services, wherein the second particular service is different than the first particular service; and

based on the fourth request, a second particular application corresponding to the second particular-service invoking said library routine from the shared library on the DFM, wherein the second particular application is different than the first particular application.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the DFM includes a Web Services Device (WSD) Manager that manages information pertaining to the MFP, wherein the information includes, but not limited to, at least one of the following:

service metadata for each service provided by the MFP, and the device metadata associated with the MFP.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the WSD Manager retrieves other information pertaining to the MFP using a general application programming interface (API); and

the general API defines an interface by which the WSD Manager exchanges data with a platform of the MFP.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the DFM, first update information from a first particular application of the plurality of applications, wherein the first update information pertains to first service metadata associated with the first particular application;

based on the first update information, the DFM causing the first service metadata, on the MFP, associated with the first particular application, to be updated;

receiving, at the DFM, second update information from a second particular application of the plurality of applications, wherein the second update information pertains to second service metadata associated with the second particular application; and

based on the second update information, the DFM causing the second service metadata, on the MFP, associated with the second particular application, to be updated.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving, at the DFM, logging information pertaining to one or more of the plurality of applications; and

providing access to the logging information to an administrator application that executes on a device that is separate from the MFP and is associated with the MFP.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the DFM, first configuration information from an administrator application that executes on a device that is separate from the MFP and is associated with the MFP, wherein the first configuration information pertains to a first particular application of the plurality of applications;

based on the first configuration information, the DFM causing the first particular application to be updated;

receiving, at the DFM, second configuration information from the administrator application, wherein the second configuration information pertains to a second particular application, of the plurality of applications, that is different than the first particular application; and

based on the second configuration information, the DFM causing the second particular application to be updated.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the DFM includes library routines corresponding to a messaging protocol for analyzing requests that conform to the messaging protocol and packaging messages according to the messaging protocol.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the DFM, first update information pertaining to an update of a first particular application of the plurality of applications;

sending, from the DFM, a first message to a first client that is registered to receive information pertaining to updates of the first particular application, wherein the first message includes an indication of the first update information;

receiving, at the DFM, second update information pertaining to an update of a second particular application, of the plurality of applications, that is different than the first particular application; and

sending, from the DFM, a second message to a second client that is registered to receive information pertaining to updates of the second particular application, wherein the second message includes an indication of the second update information.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the device metadata further indicates a Uniform Resource Identifier for each service of the plurality of services.

13. A machine-readable storage medium for processing requests to process data on multi-functional peripherals (MFPs), the machine-readable medium storing instructions which, when processed by one or more processors, causes:

sending, to a client application, location data of an MFP in a network, wherein;

a plurality of applications execute on the MFP, and

each application of the plurality of applications provides a service among a plurality of services;

receiving, from the client application, at a device facility manager (DFM) that executes on the MFP, a metadata request for metadata associated with the MFP; and

sending, from the DFM to the client application, device metadata that indicates the plurality of services;

receiving, from the client application, at a first application of the plurality of applications, a request for service metadata that indicates how the client application is to interact with the first application, on the MFP, that provides a first service of the plurality of services;

receiving, from the first application, at the DFM, a service metadata request that corresponds to the request;

in response to receiving the service metadata request, the DFM;

retrieving the service metadata that corresponds to the first application, and

sending the service metadata to the first application;

the first application sending the service metadata to the client application;

receiving, from the client application, at the first application, a first particular request for the first service;

receiving, from a second client application, at second application of the plurality of applications that is different than the first application, a second request for second service metadata that indicates how the second client application is to interact with the second application that provides a second service of the plurality of services that is different than the first service;

receiving, from the second application, at the DFM, a second service metadata request that corresponds to the second request;

in response to receiving the second service metadata request, the DFM;

retrieving the second service metadata that corresponds to the second application, and

sending the second service metadata to the second application;

the second application sending the second service metadata to the second client application; and

receiving, from the second client application, at the second application, a second particular request for the second service;

wherein an application from the plurality of applications (a) retrieves, through an abstract application programming interface (API), information pertaining to the MFP, and (b) invokes, through the abstract API, one or more functions on a platform corresponding to the MFP;

wherein the abstract API defines an interface by which the application invokes one or more functions on the MFP and receives data from the MFP.

14. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the MFP includes a print process for processing print data and causing a printed version of an electronic document reflected in the print data to be generated.

15. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the DFM implements one or more Web Services that are approved industry standards or proposed drafts that may become approved industry standards.

16. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising one or more additional instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, cause:

receiving, from the client application, a third request for a particular service of the plurality of services; and

based on the third request, a particular application corresponding to the particular service invoking a library routine from a shared library on the DFM, wherein the library routine implements one or more functions defined by a Web Services specification.

17. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein:

the DFM includes a Web Services Device (WSD) Manager that manages information pertaining to the MFP; and

the information includes, but not limited to, at least one of the following;

service metadata for each service provided by the MFP, and the device metadata associated with the MFP.

18. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein:

the WSD Manager retrieves other information pertaining to the MFP using a general application programming interface (API); and

the general API defines an interface by which the WSD Manager exchanges data with a platform of the MFP.

19. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising one or more additional instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, cause:

receiving, at the DFM, first update information from a first particular application of the plurality of applications, wherein the first update information pertains to first service metadata associated with the first particular application; and

based on the first update information, the DFM causing the first service metadata, on the MFP, associated with the first particular application, to be updated;

receiving, at the DFM, second update information from a second particular application of the plurality of applications, wherein the second update information pertains to second service metadata associated with the second particular application; and

based on the second update information, the DFM causing the second service metadata, on the MFP, associated with the second particular application, to be updated.

20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising one or more additional instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, cause:

retrieving, at the DFM, logging information pertaining to one or more of the plurality of applications; and

providing access to the logging information to an administrator application that executes on a device that is separate from the MFP and is associated with the MFP.

21. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising one or more additional instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, cause:

receiving, at the DFM, first configuration information from an administrator application that executes on a device that is separate from the MFP and is associated with the MFP, wherein the first configuration information pertains to a first particular application of the plurality of applications;

based on the first configuration information, the DFM causing the first particular application to be updated;

receiving, at the DFM, second configuration information from the administrator application, wherein the second configuration information pertains to a second particular application, of the plurality of applications, that is different than the first particular application; and

based on the second configuration information, the DFM causing the second particular application to be updated.

22. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the DFM includes library routines corresponding to a messaging protocol for analyzing requests that conform to the messaging protocol and packaging messages according to the messaging protocol.

23. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising one or more additional instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, cause:

receiving, at the DFM, first update information pertaining to an update of a first particular application of the plurality of applications; and

sending, from the DFM, a first message to a first client that is registered to receive information pertaining to updates of the first particular application, wherein the first message includes an indication of the first update information;

receiving, at the DFM, second update information pertaining to an update of a second particular application, of the plurality of applications, that is different than the first particular application; and

sending, from the DFM, a second message to a second client that is registered to receive information pertaining to updates of the second particular application, wherein the second message includes an indication of the second update information.

24. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the device metadata further indicates a Uniform Resource Identifier for each service of the plurality of services.

25. A multi-functional peripheral (MFP) for processing requests to process data, the MFP being configured to:

send, to a client application, location data of the MFP in a network, wherein;

a plurality of applications execute on the MFP, and

each application of the plurality of applications provides a service among a plurality of services;

receive, from the client application, at a device facility manager (DFM) that executes on the MFP, a metadata request for metadata associated with the MFP; and

send, from the DFM to the client application, device metadata that indicates the plurality of services;

receive, from the client application, at a first application of the plurality of applications, a SOAP request for service metadata that indicates how the client application is to interact with the first application, on the MFP, that provides a first service of the plurality of services;

receive, from the first application, at the DFM, a service metadata request that corresponds to the SOAP request;

in response to receiving the service metadata request, the DFM;

retrieves the service metadata that corresponds to the first application, and

sends the service metadata to the first application;

send, from the first application, the service metadata to the client application;

receive, from the client application, at the first application, a first particular request for the first service;

receive, from a second client application, at second application of the plurality of applications that is different than the first application, a second request for second service metadata that indicates how the second client application is to interact with the second application that provides a second service of the plurality of services that is different than the first service;

receive, from the second application, at the DFM, a second service metadata request that corresponds to the second request;

in response to receiving the second service metadata request, the DFM;

retrieves the second service metadata that corresponds to the second application, and

sends the second service metadata to the second application;

send, by the second application, the second service metadata to the second client application; and

receive, from the second client application, at the second application, a second particular request for the second service;

wherein an application from the plurality of applications (a) retrieves, through an abstract application programming interface (API), information pertaining to the MFP, and (b) invokes, through the abstract API, one or more functions on a platform corresponding to the MFP;

wherein the abstract API defines an interface by which the application invokes one or more functions on the MFP and receives data from the MFP.

26. The MFP of claim 25, wherein the MFP includes a print process for processing print data and causing a printed version of an electronic document reflected in the print data to be generated.

27. The MFP of claim 25, wherein the DFM implements one or more Web Services that are approved industry standards or proposed drafts that may become approved industry standards.

28. The MFP of claim 25, being further configured to:

receive, from the client application, a third request for a particular service of the plurality of services; and

based on the third request, a particular application corresponding to the particular service invoking a library routine from a shared library on the DFM, wherein the library routine implements one or more functions defined by a Web Services specification.

29. The MFP of claim 25, wherein:

the DFM includes a Web Services Device (WSD) Manager that manages information pertaining to the MFP; and

the information includes, but not limited to, at least one of the following;

service metadata for each service provided by the MFP, and the device metadata associated with the MFP.

30. The MFP of claim 29, wherein:

the WSD Manager retrieves other information pertaining to the MFP using a general application programming interface (API); and

the general API defines an interface by which the WSD Manager exchanges data with a platform of the MFP.

31. The MFP of claim 25, being further configured to:

receive, at the DFM, update information from a particular application of the plurality of applications, wherein the update information pertains to service metadata associated with the particular application; and

based on the update information, the DFM causes the service metadata, on the MFP, associated with the particular application, to be updated;

receiving, at the DFM, second update information from a second particular application of the plurality of applications, wherein the second update information pertains to second service metadata associated with the second particular application; and

based on the second update information, the DFM causing the second service metadata, on the MFP, associated with the second particular application, to be updated.

32. The MFP of claim 25, being further configured to:

retrieve, at the DFM, logging information pertaining to one or more of the plurality of applications; and

provide access to the logging information to an administrator application that executes on a device that is separate from the MFP and is associated with the MFP.

33. The MFP of claim 25, being further configured to:

receive, at the DFM, first configuration information from an administrator application that executes on a device that is separate from the MFP and is associated with the MFP, wherein the first configuration information pertains to a first particular application of the plurality of applications;

based on the first configuration information, the DFM causes the first particular application to be updated;

receiving, at the DFM, second configuration information from the administrator application, wherein the second configuration information pertains to a second particular application, of the plurality of applications, that is different than the first particular application; and

based on the second configuration information, the DFM causing the second particular application to be updated.

34. The MFP of claim 25, wherein the DFM includes library routines corresponding to a messaging protocol for analyzing requests that conform to the messaging protocol and packaging messages according to the messaging protocol.

35. The MFP of claim 25, being further configured to:

receive, at the DFM, first update information pertaining to an update of a first particular application of the plurality of applications; and

send, from the DFM, a first message to a first client that is registered to receive information pertaining to updates of the first particular application, wherein the first message includes an indication of the first update information;

receiving, at the DFM, second update information pertaining to an update of a second particular application, of the plurality of applications, that is different than the first particular application; and

sending, from the DFM, a second message to a second client that is registered to receive information pertaining to updates of the second particular application, wherein the second message includes an indication of the second update information.

36. The MFP of claim 25, wherein the device metadata further indicates a Uniform Resource Identifier for each service of the plurality of services.