Workflow executing device, preview creating method

• US 8,479,095 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Nagamine, Shoh, Ozaki, Hiroki, Baba, Hiroshi, Kumagai, Masateru, Yanazume, Shinsuke
• Primary Examiner(s): RIES, LAURIE ANNE
• Application Number:
  US13/200,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20120096348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 715/273, 715/274, 715/243
• US Class Current: 715/273
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00222 details of image data generation or reproduction, e.g. scan-to-email or network printing
• 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 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00498 Multi-lingual facilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 Image display device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence

Abstract

A workflow executing device includes a workflow executing unit; a first extracting unit that extracts a first preview property including a first element constituting a first data item and first position information; a second extracting unit that extracts a second preview property including a second element constituting a second data item and a second position information item, the second data item being obtained as a result of processing the first data item; a preview property managing unit that saves preview properties; a preview property generating unit that inserts the second element that is the processing result into the first preview property in place of the first element that is the processing target, and generates a new second preview property by associating the first position information with the second element; and a preview creating unit that creates preview images based on preview properties.

Claims

1. A workflow executing device connected to plural service providing units via a network, the workflow executing device comprising:

a workflow executing unit configured to execute a workflow including a combination of processes provided by the plural service providing units;

a receiving unit configured to receive a first data item;

a first data generating unit configured to generate first identification information for uniquely identifying the first data item received at the receiving unit;

a first preview property extracting unit configured to extract, as a first preview property from the first data item, an element including position information of an image configuration of the first data item;

a second data generating unit configured to generate second identification information for uniquely identifying a second data item obtained as a result of the first data item being processed by the plural service providing units;

a second preview property extracting unit configured to extract, as a second preview property, an element including position information of an image configuration of the second data item based on the second data item and the first preview property stored in association with the first identification information;

a preview property managing unit configured to manage preview properties by storing, in association with each other, the first identification information generated by the first data generating unit and the first preview property extracted by the first preview property extracting unit, and storing, in association with each other, the second identification information generated by the second data generating unit and the second preview property extracted by the second preview property extracting unit; and

a preview creating unit configured to create preview images based on the first and second preview properties respectively associated with the first and second identification information, based on the first and second identification information respectively generated by the first and second data generating units and stored in the preview property managing unit.

2. The workflow executing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third preview property extracting unit configured to analyze a third data item obtained as a result of the second data item being processed by the plural service providing units, and extract a third preview property from the third data item, the third preview property including a third element constituting the third data item and third position information of the third element.

3. The workflow executing device according to claim 1, wherein

the first element constituting the first data item and the second element constituting the second data item are any one of an image content, a character content, a voice content, and a video content.

4. The workflow executing device according to claim 1, wherein

the preview property managing unit manages preview properties with the use of a style sheet.

5. A preview creating method performed by a workflow executing device connected to plural service providing units via a network, the workflow executing device including a workflow executing unit that executes a workflow including a combination of processes provided by the plural service providing units, the preview creating method comprising:

receiving a first data item;

generating first identification information for uniquely identifying the first data item;

analyzing a first data item;

extracting, as a first preview property from the first data item, an element including position information of an image configuration of the first data item;

generate second identification information for uniquely identifying a second data item obtained as a result of the first data item being processed by the plural service providing units;

extracting, as a second preview property, an element including position information of an image configuration of the second data item based on the second data item and the first preview property stored in association with the first identification information;

managing preview properties by storing, in association with each other, the first identification information generated by the first data generating unit and the first preview property extracted by the first preview property extracting unit, and storing, in association with each other, the second identification information generated by the second data generating unit and the second preview property extracted by the second preview property extracting unit;

and

creating preview images based on the first and second preview properties respectively associated with the first and second identification information, based on the first and second identification information respectively generated by the first and second data generating units and stored in the preview property managing unit.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an executable program stored therein, wherein the program instructs a processor of a computer to execute the preview creating method according to claim 5.