Image processing device for requesting a server for services

• US 8,619,306 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2011
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• 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): Dulaney, Benjamin O
• Application Number:
  US13/336,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20120092728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 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. An image processing device connected with a server via a network, the server being configured to provide at least one of:

(1) a service based on image data generated by the image processing device; and

(2) a service that provides image data with which the image processing device forms an image,

the image processing device comprising;

a storing unit configured to store specification information which indicates set values of parameters regarding a plurality of input/output devices included in the image processing device;

a display unit configured to display various information; and

a processor configured to, when executing computer readable instructions, function as;

a service designation acquiring unit configured to, after the specification information has been stored in the storing unit, acquire a designation of a service to request the server to provide the service;

a receiving unit configured to receive parameter-related information, the parameter-related information relating to parameters to be designated to implement a service provided from the server and including a template, the template including type information for retrieving the parameters corresponding to the service acquired by the service designation acquiring unit and identification information of an input/output device which is necessary to process the image data received in the service acquired by the service designation acquiring unit;

a retrieving unit configured to retrieve settable parameters from the specification information, the settable parameters including set values of parameters of the input/output device identified by the identification information included in the template;

a list generating unit configured to generate a parameter list based on the parameters retrieved by the retrieving unit when the type information included in the template indicates the image processing device, and generate a parameter list based on the parameters included in the template when the type information included in the template does not indicate the image processing device;

a display control unit configured to cause a parameter designation screen that allows a designation of parameters based on the parameter list generated by the list generating unit to be displayed;

a parameter designation acquiring unit configured to acquire the designation of parameters on the parameter designation screen;

a service request unit configured to request the server to provide the service acquired by the service designation acquiring unit; and

a function implementation unit configured to implement functions when the service is provided from the server in response to the request by the service request unit, the functions including at least one of;

(1) transmitting image data which is generated, by the image processing device, based on the parameters acquired by the parameter designation acquiring unit to the server; and

(2) forming an image from the image data received from the server based on the parameters acquired by the parameter designation acquiring unit.

2. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit receives the parameter-related information from the server in response to the request by the service request unit.

3. The image processing device according to claim 1,

wherein the parameters include service side parameters used by the server to provide the service and device side parameters used by the image processing device when the service is provided,

wherein the template includes service side parameters,

wherein the device side parameters are retrieved from the specification information;

wherein the service request unit transmits the service side parameters to the server upon requesting the server to provide the service,

wherein the function implementation unit implement the service provided from the server in accordance with the device side parameters designated by the parameter designation acquiring unit, and

wherein the list generating unit generates the parameter list by inputting settable parameters of the device side parameters to the template.

4. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to, when executing the computer readable instructions, function as a transmitting unit configured to transmit settable parameters to the server, the settable parameters being stored in association with each function of the image processing device, and

wherein the receiving unit receives information relating to the parameter list displayed on the display unit as the parameter-related information.

5. The image processing device according to claim 4, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the settable parameters when the image processing device is activated.

6. The image processing device according to claim 4, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the settable parameters when the settable parameters are modified.

7. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the parameters acquired by the parameter designation acquiring unit include at least one of:

(1) a parameter corresponding to a resolution of a scanning function executed by the image processing device, and

(2) a parameter corresponding to a resolution of a printing function performed by the image processing device.

8. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to, when executing the computer readable instructions, function as an inquiry transmitting unit configured to periodically transmit inquiry information to the server,

wherein information from the server is received in response to the inquiry transmitted by the inquiry transmitting unit.

9. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to, when executing the computer readable instructions, function as a parameter transmitting unit configured to transmit the parameters acquired by the parameter designation acquiring unit to the server and a parameter receiving unit configured to receive the parameters transmitted by the server,

wherein the function implementation unit implements the functions based on the parameters received from the server.

10. A system including the image processing device and the server of claim 1, the server further comprising:

a server side processor configured to, when executing computer readable instructions, function as;

a server side storing unit configured to store the parameter-related information for each of one or more services to be provided to the image processing device in response to a request therefrom, the parameter-related information relating to parameters to be designated when the service is provided;

a server side receiving unit configured to receive service identification information for identifying a service from the image processing device;

an identifying unit configured to identify the settable parameters which cause the image processing device to implement functions;

a server side list generating unit configured to generate the parameter list based on the settable parameters identified by the identifying unit and the parameter-related information stored in the server side storing unit; and

a transmitting unit configured to transmit information relating to the parameter list generated by the server side list generating unit to provide the service identified by the service identification information received by the server side receiving unit to the image processing device.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the identifying unit identifies the settable parameters which are received from the image processing device.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the server side processor is further configured to, when executing the computer readable instructions, function as a request unit configured to request the settable parameters from the image processing device, the identifying unit identifies the settable parameters which are received from the image processing device in response to the request by the request unit.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the server is connected with an information management device which manages settable parameters of the image processing device, wherein the identifying unit identifies the settable parameters which are received from the information management device.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein the server side list generating unit generates the parameter list based on the settable parameters and service side parameters which are necessary to provide the service identified by the service identification information when the server side receiving unit receives the service identification information.

15. The system according to claim 10,

wherein the server side storing unit stores the template for generating the parameter list, the template including service side parameters which are necessary for the server to provide the service and the identification information, and

wherein the server side list generating unit generates the parameter list by inputting settable parameters to the template, the settable parameters being stored in association with each function of the image processing device, and wherein the settable parameters settable to the image processing device for the input/output device identified by the identification information are inputted to the template.

16. The system according to claim 10, wherein the transmitting unit transmits a designation request command for requesting a designation of parameters with the parameter list.

17. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the processor, when executing computer readable instructions, is further configured to:

request the server for service definition information to display a service selection window for allowing a selection of the service in response to receiving an instruction to change an operation mode to a service mode to request the server to provide the service; and

display the service selection window on the display unit based on the service definition information received from the server, and

wherein the service designation acquiring unit acquires the designation of the service on the service selection window.

18. The image processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a reading unit configured to read an image formed on a recording medium and generate image data representing the image,

wherein, when a designation of a service based on the image data generated by the image processing device is acquired by the service designation acquiring unit, the function implementation unit transmits the image data generated by the reading unit to the server based on the parameters acquired by the parameter acquiring unit in response to receiving a request, from the server, for transmitting data to be processed by the server.

19. The image processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a recording unit configured to print out an image represented by image data onto a recording medium,

wherein, when a designation of a service that provides image data with which the image processing device forms an image is acquired by the service designation acquiring unit, the recording unit prints out the image based on the image data received from the server based on the parameter acquired by the parameter acquiring unit.