Image forming apparatus, image processing method, image processing program and recording medium

• US 7,933,033 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Ohishi, Tsutomu, Fujisaki, Kazumi, Tanaka, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson; James A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Singh; Satwant K
• Application Number:
  US10/900,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20050057771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,463 Days
• Field of Search: 358 11- 118, 709/220, 705/27
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1293 Printer information exchange with computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1296 Printer job scheduling or printer resource handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00095 Systems or arrangements for the transmission of the picture signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• 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 1/00944 using hot folders, i.e. folders or directories which trigger an action when written to or accessed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00946 Details of actions associated with a hot folder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2166 for mass storage, e.g. in document filing systems information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32358 using picture signal storage, e.g. at transmitter H04N1/17 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0043 Point to multipoint H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0046 Software interface details, e.g. interaction of operating systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An image forming apparatus that functions as a client of a distributed file system is provided, in which the image forming apparatus includes: a distributed file system process part for mounting a file system of a server apparatus on the image forming apparatus to enable the image forming apparatus to access the file system of the server apparatus as the distributed file system of the image forming apparatus; and a storing process part for accessing the file system of the server apparatus and storing, in the file system, information that is stored in a storage unit used by the image forming apparatus.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus that functions as a server of a distributed file system, the image forming apparatus comprising:

a plurality of applications;

a file system that is accessed as the distributed file system, and that includes a plurality of directories each of which is a file storing destination and each of which corresponds to a specific image forming process which is to be performed on a file stored in a directory selected from among the plurality of directories, wherein some of the plurality of directories correspond to an output destination; and

an image forming process part, wherein, when the file is stored in the directory selected from among the plurality of directories, the image forming process part performs the specific image forming process corresponding to the selected directory for the file by using an application, selected from among the plurality of applications, corresponding to the specific image forming process, and wherein when the selected directory corresponds to an output destination, the image forming process part outputs file data to the output destination corresponding to the selected directory.

2. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image forming process part includes a print process part for performing a print process for the file in the image forming apparatus.

3. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image forming process part includes a facsimile sending process part for performing a facsimile sending process for the file in the image forming apparatus.

4. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distributed file system is realized by NFS.

5. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distributed file system is realized by samba.

6. An image forming apparatus that functions as a server of a distributed file system, the image forming apparatus comprising:

a plurality of applications;

a file system that is accessed as the distributed file system, and that includes a plurality of directories each of which is a file storing destination and each of which corresponds to a specific image forming process which is to be performed on a file stored in a directory selected from among the plurality of directories, wherein some of the plurality of directories correspond to an output destination; and

an image forming process part, wherein, when the file is stored in the directory selected from among the plurality of directories, the image forming process part causes another image forming apparatus to perform the specific image forming process corresponding to the selected directory for the file by using an application, selected from among the plurality of applications, corresponding to the specific image forming process, and wherein when the selected directory corresponds to an output destination, the image forming process part outputs file data to the output destination corresponding to the selected directory.

7. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the image forming process part includes a print process part for causing another image forming apparatus to perform a print process for the file.

8. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the image forming process part includes a facsimile sending process part for causing another image forming apparatus to perform a facsimile sending process for the file.

9. An image forming apparatus that functions as a server of a distributed file system, the image forming apparatus comprising:

a plurality of applications;

a file system that is accessed as the distributed file system, and that includes a plurality of directories each of which is a file storing destination and each of which corresponds to a specific communication process which is to be performed on a file stored in a directory selected from among the plurality of directories, wherein some of the plurality of directories correspond to an output destination; and

a communication process part, wherein, when the file is stored in the directory selected from among the plurality of directories, the communication process part performs the specific communication process corresponding to the selected directory for the file by using an application, selected from among the plurality of applications, corresponding to the specific communication process, and wherein when the selected directory corresponds to an output destination, the communication process part outputs file data to the output destination corresponding to the selected directory.

10. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the communication process part includes a file transfer process part for performing a file transfer process for the file.

11. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the communication process part includes a file update process part for performing a file update process for the file.

12. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the communication process part includes a mail delivering process part for performing a mail delivering process for sending a mail to which the file is attached.

13. An information processing method performed in an image forming apparatus that functions as a server of a distributed file system, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises a plurality of applications and includes a file system accessed as the distributed file system, the file system including a plurality of directories each of which is a file storing destination and each of which corresponds to a specific image forming process, which is to be performed on a file stored in a directory selected from among the plurality of directories, wherein some of the plurality of directories correspond to an output destination,

wherein, when the file is stored in the directory selected from among the plurality of directories, the image forming apparatus performs the specific image forming process corresponding to the selected directory for the file by using an application, selected from among the plurality of applications, corresponding to the specific image forming process, and wherein when the selected directory corresponds to an output destination, the image forming apparatus outputs file data to the output destination corresponding to the selected directory.

14. The information processing method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the specific image forming process includes a print process for the file.

15. The information processing method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the specific image forming process includes a facsimile sending process for the file.

16. The information processing method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the distributed file system is realized by NFS.

17. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the distributed file system is realized by samba.

18. An information processing method performed in an image forming apparatus that functions as a server of a distributed file system, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises a plurality of applications and includes a file system accessed as the distributed file system, the file system including a plurality of directories each of which is a file storing destination and each of which corresponds to a specific image forming process, which is to be performed on a file stored in a directory selected from among the plurality of directories, wherein some of the plurality of directories correspond to an output destination,

wherein, when the file is stored in the directory selected from among the plurality of directories, the image forming apparatus causes another image forming apparatus to perform the specific image forming process corresponding to the selected directory for the file by using an application, selected from among the plurality of applications, corresponding to the specific image forming process, and wherein when the selected directory corresponds to an output destination, the image forming apparatus outputs file data to the output destination corresponding to the selected directory.

19. The information processing method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the specific image forming process includes a print process for the file.

20. The information processing method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the specific image forming process includes a facsimile sending process for the file.

21. An information processing method performed in image forming apparatus that functions as a server of a distributed file system, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises a plurality of applications and includes a file system accessed as the distributed file system, the file system including a plurality of directories each of which is a file storing destination and each of which corresponds to a specific communication process which is to be performed on a file stored in a directory selected from among the plurality of directories, wherein some of the plurality of directories correspond to an output destination,

wherein, when the file is stored in the directory selected from among the plurality of directories, the image forming apparatus performs the specific communication process corresponding to the selected directory for the file by using an application, selected from among the plurality of applications, corresponding to the specific communication process, and wherein when the selected directory corresponds to an output destination, the image forming apparatus outputs file data to the output destination corresponding to the selected directory.

22. The information processing method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the specific communication process includes a file transfer process for the file.

23. The information processing method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the specific communication process includes a file update process for the file.

24. The information processing method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the communication process includes a mail delivering process for sending a mail to which the file is attached.

25. A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer readable program configured to cause an image forming apparatus to perform information processing, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises a plurality of applications and functions as a server of a distributed file system and includes a file system that is accessed as the distributed file system, the file system including a plurality of directories each of which is a file storing destination and each of which corresponds to a specific image forming process which is to be performed on a file stored in a directory selected from among the plurality of directories, wherein some of the plurality of directories correspond to an output destination, the computer-readable medium comprising image forming process program code means,

wherein, when the file is stored in the directory selected from among the plurality of directories, the image forming process program code means performs the specific image forming process corresponding to the selected directory for the file by using an application, selected from among the plurality of applications, corresponding to the specific image forming process, and wherein when the selected directory corresponds to an output destination, the image formingprocess program code means outputs file data to the output destination corresponding to the selected directory.

26. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 25, wherein the image forming process program code means includes print process program code means for performing a print process for the file in the image forming apparatus.

27. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 25, wherein the image forming process program code means includes a facsimile sending process program code means for performing a facsimile sending process for the file in the image forming apparatus.

28. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 25, wherein the distributed file system is realized by NFS.

29. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 25, wherein the distributed file system is realized by samba.

30. A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer readable program configured to cause an image forming apparatus to perform information processing, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises a plurality of applications and functions as a server of a distributed file system and includes a file system that is accessed as the distributed file system, the file system including a plurality of directories each of which is a file storing destination and each of which corresponds to a specific image forming process which is to be performed on a file stored in a directory selected from among the plurality of directories, wherein some of the plurality of directories correspond to an output destination, the computer-readable medium comprising image forming process program code means,

wherein, when the file is stored in the directory selected from among the plurality of directories, the image forming process program code means causes another image forming apparatus to perform the specific image forming process corresponding to the selected directory for the file by using an application, selected from among the plurality of applications, corresponding to the specific image forming process, and wherein when the selected directory corresponds to an output destination, the image forming process program code means outputs file data to the output destination corresponding to the selected directory.

31. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 30, wherein the image forming process program code means includes a print process program code means for causing another image forming apparatus to perform a print process for the file.

32. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 30, wherein the image forming process program code means includes a facsimile sending process program code means for causing another image forming apparatus to perform a facsimile sending process for the file.

33. A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer readable program configured to cause an image forming apparatus to perform information processing, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises a plurality of applications and functions as a server of a distributed file system and includes a file system that is accessed as the distributed file system, the file system including a plurality of directories each of which is a file storing destination and each of which corresponds to a specific communication process which is to be performed on a file stored in a directory selected from among the plurality of directories, wherein some of the plurality of directories correspond to an output destination, the computer-readable medium comprising communication process program code means,

wherein, when the file is stored in the directory selected from among the plurality of directories, the communication process program code means performs the specific communication process corresponding to the selected directory for the file by using an application, selected from among the plurality of applications, corresponding to the specific communication process, and wherein when the selected directory corresponds to an output destination, the communication process program code means outputs file data to the output destination corresponding to the selected directory.

34. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 33, wherein the communication process program code means includes a file transfer process program code means for performing a file transfer process for the file.

35. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 33, wherein the communication process program code means includes a file update process program code means for performing a file update process for the file.

36. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 33, wherein the communication process program code means includes a mail delivering process program code means for performing a mail delivering process for sending a mail to which the file is attached.

37. A computer readable medium storing an information processing program for causing an image forming apparatus to perform information processing, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises a plurality of applications and functions as a server of a distributed file system and includes a file system that is accessed as the distributed file system, the file system including a plurality of directories each of which is a file storing destination and each of which corresponds to a specific image forming process which is to be performed on a file stored in a directory selected from among the plurality of directories, wherein some of the plurality of directories correspond to an output destination, the computer-readable medium comprising image forming process program code means,

wherein, when the file is stored in the directory selected from among the plurality of directories, the image forming process program code means performs the specific image forming process corresponding to the selected directory for the file by using an application, selected from among the plurality of applications, corresponding to the specific image forming process, and wherein when the selected directory corresponds to an output destination, the image forming process program code means outputs file data to the output destination corresponding to the selected directory.

38. A computer readable medium storing an information processing program for causing an image forming apparatus to perform information processing, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises a plurality of applications and functions as a server of a distributed file system and includes a file system that is accessed as the distributed file system, the file system including a plurality of directories each of which is a file storing destination and each of which corresponds to a specific image forming process which is to be performed on a file stored in a directory selected from among the plurality of directories, wherein some of the plurality of directories correspond to an output destination, the information processing program comprising image forming process program code means,

wherein, when the file is stored in the directory selected from among the plurality of directories, the image forming process program code means causes another image forming apparatus to perform the specific image forming process corresponding to the selected directory for the file by using an application, selected from among the plurality of applications, corresponding to the specific image forming process, and wherein when the selected directory corresponds to an output destination, the image forming process program code means outputs file data to the output destination corresponding to the selected directory.

39. A computer readable medium storing an information processing program for causing an image forming apparatus to perform information processing, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises a plurality of applications and functions as a server of a distributed file system and includes a file system that is accessed as the distributed file system, the file system including a plurality of directories each of which is a file storing destination and each of which corresponds to a specific communication process which is to be performed on a file stored in a directory selected from among the plurality of directories, wherein some of the plurality of directories correspond to an output destination, the information processing program comprising communication process program code means,

wherein, when the file is stored in the directory selected from among the plurality of directories, the communication process program code means performs the specific communication process corresponding to the selected directory for the file by using an application, selected from among the plurality of applications, corresponding to the specific communication process, and wherein when the selected directory corresponds to an output destination, the communication process program code means outputs file data to the output destination corresponding to the selected directory.