Image processing system and image processing method in which a plurality of devices cooperate to perform image processing, wherein the image processing system and image processing method are capable of displaying information on operations to be performed by the devices

• US 8,171,503 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Wakana, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, VAN H
• Application Number:
  US11/864,083
• Publication Number:
  US 20080155568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,677 Days
• Field of Search: 719/310, 719/321, 718/104, 358/1.15
• 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 including an image processing apparatus, a first device, and a second device, and performing image processing in cooperation of the first device and the second device, the image processing system comprising:

a setting unit configured to set image processing including a first process and a second process;

a search unit configured to search the first device, which is capable of performing the first process included in the image processing set by the setting unit, and the second device, which is capable of performing the second process included in the image processing set by the setting unit;

an assigning unit configured to assign the first process to the first device searched by the search unit and to assign the second process to the second device searched by the search unit;

a first display control unit configured to display, on a display of the first device that performs the first process assigned by the assigning unit, information indicating an operation to be performed by a user for the second process that is performed after the first process; and

a second display control unit configured to display information indicating an operation to be performed by a user for the second process that is to be performed by the second device but is not yet performed, on a display of the second device, before the second device performs the second process.

2. The image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising an instruction unit configured to instruct to perform the second process that is not yet performed, while the information indicating the operation to be performed by a user for the second process that is to be performed by the second device but is not yet performed is being displayed on the display of the second device.

3. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first display control unit displays, on the display of the first device, information indicating operations to be performed by a user for remaining processing to be performed after the first process, the operations being displayed in an order in which operations are to be performed by a user.

4. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the second display control unit displays, on the display of the second device, information indicating operations to be performed by a user for remaining processing to be performed after the first process, the operations being displayed in an order in which operations are to be performed by a user.

5. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first display control unit displays information indicating an operation to be performed by a user for the second process that is performed after the first process, in accordance with input operation identification information.

6. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the second display control unit displays information indicating an operation to be performed by a user for the second process that is to be performed by the second device but is not yet performed, in accordance with input operation identification information.

7. The image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a re-search unit configured to re-search a device that is capable of performing a process that is not yet completed among processes included in the image processing set by the setting unit.

8. A control method for an image processing system in which image processing is performed in cooperation of a first device and a second device, comprising:

setting image processing including a first process and a second process;

searching the first device, which is capable of performing the first process included in the set image processing, and the second device, which is capable of performing the second process included in the set image processing;

assigning the first process to the searched first device and assigning the second process to the searched second device;

displaying, on a display of the first device that performs the assigned first process, information indicating an operation to be performed by a user for the second process that is performed after the first process; and

displaying information indicating an operation to be performed by a user for the second process that is to be performed by the second device but is not yet performed, on a display of the second device, before the second device performs the second process.

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

setting image processing including a first process and a second process;

searching the first device, which is capable of performing the first process included in the set image processing, and the second device, which is capable of performing the second process included in the set image processing;

assigning the first process to the searched first device and assigning the second process to the searched second device;

displaying, on a display of the first device that performs the assigned first process, information indicating an operation to be performed by a user for the second process that is performed after the first process; and

displaying information indicating an operation to be performed by a user for the second process that is to be performed by the second device but is not yet performed, on a display of the second device, before the second device performs the second process.