Communication system providing services from a server to a client device

• US 8,169,639 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2005
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Aoki, Kazuma, Yanagi, Satoru, Kokubo, Masatoshi, Matsuda, Makoto, Ohara, Kiyotaka, Miyazawa, Masafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, James A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dulaney, Benjamin O
• Application Number:
  US11/267,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20060143286A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,367 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1293 Printer information exchange with computer
• 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 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• 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 1/00344 with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus monitoring H04N1/00002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00472 using a pop-up window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00474 outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00798 Circuits or arrangements for the control thereof, e.g. using a programmed control device or according to a measured quantity
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00931 Synchronising different operations or sub-apparatus, e.g. controlling on-times taking into account different warm-up times
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00933 Timing control or synchronising H04N1/00928, H04N1/00931, H04N1/00954 and H04N1/0096 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00954 Scheduling operations or managing resources H04N1/0096 takes precedence; program initiating or switching G06F9/48; allocation of computer resources G06F9/50
• 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 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• 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 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3223 : of type information, e.g. reception or copy job

Abstract

An image processing device is configured to provide a service relating to at least one of (1) the image data generated by the function of the image processing device and (2) image data representing the image to be formed, in response to a request from the image processing device. The image processing device may include a parameter designating unit, a service request unit, and a function implementation unit that is adapted to implement the function of the image processing device based on the service providing parameter designated by the parameter designating unit. The service providing device is provided with a service provision executing unit that is adapted to execute a process to provide the service to the image processing device after receiving the request from the service request unit provided to the image processing device.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a server that is configured to provide a plurality of services, each of the services being associated with corresponding URL information for requesting the service; and

a client device that is configured to have a communication unit configured to receive the services provided by the server via the corresponding URL information,

wherein the server includes

a receiving unit configured to receive an inquiry signal concerning the services transmitted from the client device, and

a replying unit configured to generate reply information concerning a service when the receiving unit receives the inquiry signal and to transmit a response signal including reply information to the client device, based on identifying information included in the inquiry signal, the identifying information for each service including the URL information associated with the service,

wherein the client device includes;

a storage unit configured to store

information indicating scheduled times at which the client device is to transmit an inquiry for each service to be received among the plurality of services provided by the server, and

immediate inquiry information indicating whether an immediate inquiry is required for each of the services provided by the server;

a processing unit;

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, cause the client device to provide;

a clock unit configured to measure current time;

a timing judging unit configured to judge whether the current time is a time to transmit the inquiry signal for each of the services by comparing the current time and the information indicating the scheduled times to transmit the inquiry for each of the services;

an inquiring unit configured to generate the inquiry signal including the identifying information of the service that is judged to be at the appropriate timing for transmitting the inquiry signal, and configured to transmit the inquiry signal to the server; and

a receiving unit configured to receive the response signal transmitted from the server to the client device in response to the inquiry signal,

wherein, when there exists only one service judged by the timing judging unit for which the time to transmit the inquiry signal has occurred for the service, the inquiring unit is configured to generate inquiry information including the identifying information of the service judged by the timing judging unit for which the time to transmit the inquiry signal has occurred for the service, and configured to transmit the inquiry signal including the inquiry information to the server,

wherein, when there exists a plurality of services judged by the timing judging unit for which the time to transmit the inquiry signal has occurred for the services, the inquiring unit is configured to generate converged inquiry information including the identifying information for each of the services judged by the timing judging unit for which the time to transmit the inquiry signal has occurred for the services, and configured to transmit the inquiry signal including the converged inquiry information to the server,

wherein when the immediate inquiry information of a service indicates that an immediate inquiry is required, the inquiring unit transmits the inquiry signal including the identifying information of the service when it is judged to be at the appropriate timing for transmitting the inquiry signal, and

wherein, when the immediate inquiry information of a service indicates that an immediate inquiry is not required, the inquiring unit does not transmit the inquiry signal including the identifying information of the service when it is judged to be at the appropriate timing for transmitting the inquiry signal, and transmits the inquiry signal after a predetermined extension period has elapsed.

2. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the storage unit is configured to store a value for a parameter indicating a content of the inquiry associated with the scheduled time of the service provided by the server, and

wherein the inquiring unit is configured to store the value of the parameter stored in the storage unit associated with the identifying information of the service for which the inquiry signal is transmitted along with the identifying information.

3. The communication system according to claim 2,

wherein the inquiring unit is configured to generate the converged inquiry information in which identifying information for each service that it is judged to be time to transmit the inquiry signal is collectively described based on the identifying information each of the services, each of the identifying information including an identical value for the parameter stored in the storage unit, when the timing judging unit judges that it is time to transmit the inquiry signal for the services, wherein an amount of the collectively described identifying information is less than a sum of the identifying information individually described for each of the services that is judged to be time to transmit the inquiry signal.

4. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the client device including a plurality of input/output units is configured to receive the service from the server by utilizing the communication unit and at least one of the plurality of input/output units,

wherein the inquiring unit is provided with a device operation judging unit, which is configured to judge whether the at least one of the plurality of input/output units is required to be driven to receive the service for each service that the timing judging unit judges to be at the time for transmitting the inquiry signal, and

wherein the inquiring unit is configured to selectively include the identifying information of the service wherein the input/output units to receive the service are not busy, and to transmit the inquiry signal to the server when a service exists that is judged to be at the time for transmitting the inquiry signal based on a result from the device operation judging unit, and the input/output units required to be driven to receive the service are not busy.

5. The communication system according to claim 4,

wherein the client device is provided with at least two input/output units including at least one image processing device, which is configured to form an image on a recording medium.

6. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the replying unit is configured to judge whether the server is ready to provide the service responsive to the inquiry signal received from the client device, to generate reply information when the server is judged to be ready, and to include the reply information in the response signal,

wherein the instructions executed by the processing unit further cause the client device to provide a readiness judging unit, which is configured to judge, based on the response signal from the replying unit, whether the service indicated in the reply information in the response signal is the service that is ready to be provided by the server, and

wherein the instructions executed by the processing unit further cause the client device to receive the service, which is judged to be ready by the readiness judging unit, when the server judges the service is ready to be provided.

7. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the replying unit is configured to generate converged reply information, which collectively describes the reply information of the services for which it was judged to be time to transmit the inquiry signal when the inquiry signal received by the receiving unit of the server includes identifying information for each of the services for which it was judged to be time to transmit the inquiry signal as the identifying information, and to transmit the response signal including the converged reply information to the client device that transmitted the inquiry signal.

8. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein the converged reply information includes reply information for each of the services for which it was judged to be time to transmit the inquiry signal, the converged reply information being associated with identifying information for each of the services for which it was judged to be time to transmit the inquiry signal corresponding to the reply information.

9. The communication system according to claim 7,

wherein the replying unit is configured to generate the converged reply information in which identifying information for each service that it was judged to be time to transmit the inquiry signal is collectively described based on the identifying information of each of the services, each of the identifying information including identical reply information, when identifying information for each of the services is included as the identifying information in the inquiry signal received by the receiving unit of the server.

10. The communication system according to claim 7,

wherein the replying unit is configured to judge whether the server is ready to provide the service for each service that it is judged to be time to transmit the inquiry signal, to generate reply information when the server is determined to be ready, and to include the reply information in the response signal,

wherein the instructions executed by the processing unit further cause the client device to provide a readiness judging unit, which is configured to judge, based on the response signal from the replying unit, whether the service indicated in the response signal is the service that is ready to be provided by the server, and

wherein the instructions executed by the processing unit further cause the client device to receive the service, which is judged to be ready by the readiness judging unit, when the server judges the service is ready to be provided.

11. The communication system according to claim 10,

wherein the instructions executed by the processing unit further cause the client device in parallel to receive each service, which is determined to be ready to be provided by the server, when the reply signal received by the receiving unit of the client device includes reply information and the readiness judging unit determines that the service is ready to be provided by the server.

12. The communication system according to claim 10,

wherein the client device including a plurality of types of input/output units excluding the communication unit is configured to receive the service from the server by utilizing the communication unit and at least one of the plurality of types of input/output units, and

wherein the response signal received by the client device includes reply information, and services exist that are judged to be ready to be provided by the readiness judging unit, then the instructions executed by the processing unit further cause the client device to receive in parallel each of the services, which utilizes an input/output unit that is required by one service, and to receive sequentially each of the services, which utilizes an input/output unit that is required by more than one service.

13. The communication system according to claim 12,

wherein the client device is provided with at least two input/output units including at least one image processing device, which is configured to form an image on a recording medium.

14. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein the replying unit is configured to generate the response signal, which includes only reply information that is a predetermined reply concerning the services being stored and transmitted to the client device.

15. A communication device comprising:

a storage unit configured to store

information indicating scheduled times at which the communication device is to transmit an inquiry for each service to be received among a plurality of services provided by a server, each of the services being associated with corresponding URL information for requesting the service, and

immediate inquiry information indicating whether an immediate inquiry is required for each of the services provided by the server;

a processing unit;

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, cause the communication device to provide;

a clock unit configured to measure current time;

a timing judging unit configured to judge whether the current time is a time to transmit the inquiry signal for each of the services by comparing the current time and the information indicating the scheduled times to transmit the inquiry for each of the services;

an inquiring unit configured to generate the inquiry signal including identifying information of the service that is judged to be at the time for transmitting the inquiry signal, and configured to transmit the inquiry signal to the server; and

a receiving unit configured to receive a response signal transmitted from the server in response to the inquiry signal, and

wherein, when there exists only one service judged by the timing judging unit for which the time to transmit the inquiry signal has occurred for the service, the inquiring unit is configured to generate inquiry information including the identifying information of the service judged by the timing judging unit that the time to transmit the inquiry signal has occurred for the service, and configured to transmit the inquiry signal including the inquiry information to the server,

wherein, when there exists a plurality of services judged by the timing judging unit for which the time to transmit the inquiry signal has occurred for the services, the inquiring unit is configured to generate converged inquiry information including the identifying information for each of the services judged by the timing judging unit for which the time to transmit the inquiry signal has occurred for the services, and configured to transmit the inquiry signal including the converged inquiry information to the server,

wherein when the immediate inquiry information of a service indicates that an immediate inquiry is required, the inquiring unit transmits the inquiry signal including the identifying information of the service when it is judged to be at the appropriate timing for transmitting the inquiry signal, and

wherein, when the immediate inquiry information of a service indicates that an immediate inquiry is not required, the inquiring unit does not transmit the inquiry signal including the identifying information of the service when it is judged to be at the appropriate timing for transmitting the inquiry signal, and transmits the inquiry signal after a predetermined extension period has elapsed.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable instructions that cause a computer system to function as a communication system, wherein the communication system includes:

a storage unit configured to store

information indicating scheduled times at which the communication device is to transmit an inquiry for each service to be received among a plurality of services provided by a server, each of the services being associated with corresponding URL information for requesting the service, and

immediate inquiry information indicating whether an immediate inquiry is required for each of the services provided by the server;

a clock unit configured to measure current time;

a timing judging unit configured to judge whether the current time is a time to transmit the inquiry signal for each of the services by comparing the current time and the information indicating the scheduled times to transmit the inquiry for each of the services;

an inquiring unit configured to generate the inquiry signal including identifying information of the service that is judged to be at the time for transmitting the inquiry signal, and configured to transmit the inquiry signal to the server; and

a receiving unit configured to receive a response signal transmitted from the server in response to the inquiry signal, and

wherein, when there exists only one service judged by the timing judging unit for which the time to transmit the inquiry signal has occurred for the service, the inquiring unit is configured to generate inquiry information including the identifying information of the service judged by the timing judging unit for which the time to transmit the inquiry signal has occurred for the service, and configured to transmit the inquiry signal including the inquiry information to the server,

wherein, when there exists a plurality of services judged by the timing judging unit for which the time to transmit the inquiry signal has occurred for the services, the inquiring unit is configured to generate converged inquiry information including the identifying information for each of the services judged by the timing judging unit for which the time to transmit the inquiry signal has occurred for the services, and configured to transmit the inquiry signal including the converged inquiry information to the server, and

wherein when the immediate inquiry information of a service indicates that an immediate inquiry is required, the inquiring unit transmits the inquiry signal including the identifying information of the service when it is judged to be at the appropriate timing for transmitting the inquiry signal, and

wherein, when the immediate inquiry information of a service indicates that an immediate inquiry is not required, the inquiring unit does not transmit the inquiry signal including the identifying information of the service when it is judged to be at the appropriate timing for transmitting the inquiry signal, and transmits the inquiry signal after a predetermined extension period has elapsed.