Server for implementing image processing functions requested by a printing device

• US 9,509,863 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2015
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Aoki, Kazuma, Yanagi, Satoru, Kokubo, Masatoshi, Matsuda, Makoto, Ohara, Kiyotaka, Miyazawa, Masafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dulaney, Benjamin O
• Application Number:
  US14/745,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20150288833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 configured to receive a provision of a specific service from among a plurality of services which are provided by one or more servers, at least one of the one or more servers storing information corresponding to a list of the plurality of services provided by the one or more servers, each of the plurality of services relating to an imaging process including at least one of a scanning process and a printing process of the image processing device, the image processing device comprising:

a communication unit configured to communicate with the one or more servers;

a display unit;

an operation unit;

an image processing unit;

a storage unit; and

a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to;

transmit a request for the list of the plurality of services;

receive the list of the plurality of services from the at least one of the one or more servers through the communication unit after requesting the list of the plurality of services;

display the list of the plurality of services received from the at least one of the one or more servers on the display unit;

obtain a selection of the specific service from among the plurality of services in the list displayed on the display unit, through the operation unit;

transmit selection information, which indicates that the selection of the specific service is accepted through the operation unit, to one of the one or more servers after obtaining the selection of the specific service;

receive, from the one of the one or more servers, setting window information including a plurality of setting items to be set for using the specific service after transmitting the selection information, the setting window information including first information and second information, the first information being used for displaying a first setting window on which a first part of the plurality of setting items is set, the second information being used for displaying a second setting window on which a second part of the plurality of setting items is set, the second part being different from the first part;

store the received setting window information into the storage unit;

display the first setting window on the display unit in accordance with the first information included in the received setting window information;

when the first part is set, by an operation through the operation unit, on the first setting window displayed on the display unit, obtain the second information included in the setting window information stored in the storage unit;

replace the first setting window displayed on the display unit with the second setting window in accordance with the obtained second information;

transmit setting information set on the first setting window and the second setting window to a specific server of the one or more servers;

cause the image processing unit to perform the imaging process related to a service provision in accordance with an instruction from the specific server;

after transmitting the selection information to the one of the one or more servers, receive a request for specification information representing specifications of the image processing device from the one of the one or more servers;

transmit the specification information to the one of the one or more servers in response to the request for specification information; and

after transmitting the specification information, receive the setting window information including the plurality of setting items, the setting window information being generated based on the specification information,

wherein the setting window information includes setting information of the imaging process related to the specific service, the setting information being determined based on the specification information.

2. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit receives the setting window information as a single setting file.

3. The image processing device according to claim 2, wherein the single setting file is described using a markup language.

4. The image processing device according to claim 3, wherein the single setting file is described using XML (eXtensible Markup Language).

5. The image processing device according to claim 2, wherein the single setting file includes:

a window number representing a total number of setting windows to be displayed; and

a setting item to be displayed on each of the setting windows.

6. The image processing device according to claim 2,

wherein the plurality of setting items included in the single setting file includes a first setting item and a second setting item, the first setting item being described between a first pair of tags both including a first character string, the second setting item being described between a second pair of tags both including a second character string,

wherein the control unit is configured to:

extract the first setting item which is a setting item described between the first pair of tags as the first setting item, and the second setting item which is a setting item described between the second pair of tags; and

display a window including the first and second setting items.

7. The image processing device according to claim 1,

wherein the storage unit stores a template which is used to display a setting window,

wherein the setting window information includes information to be embedded into the template, and

wherein the control unit generates a setting window by embedding the information included in the setting window information into the template stored in the storage unit and displays the setting window on the display unit.

8. The image processing device according to claim 1,

wherein the first information is setting information used in a server which provides the specific service, and

wherein the second information is setting information used when the image processing device performs an imaging process.

9. The image processing device according to claim 1,

wherein the setting window information includes information corresponding to an execution program in accordance with the setting information set on the first setting window and the second setting window, and

wherein the controller unit transmits the setting information to the specific server in accordance with the information, which is included in the setting window information, corresponding to the execution program.

10. The image processing device according to claim 9, wherein the information corresponding to the execution program is location information of the specific server executing the execution program.

11. A server configured to provide one or more services to an image processing device, the server comprising:

a communication unit configured to communicate with the image processing device;

a storage unit configured to store one or more pieces of setting window information corresponding to the one or more services, respectively, each of the one or more services requesting a plurality of setting items, each of one or more pieces of setting window information including first information and second information, the first information being used for displaying a first setting window on which a first part of the plurality of setting items is set, the second information being used for displaying a second setting window on which a second part of the plurality of setting items is set, the second part being different from the first part; and

a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to;

receive a request for a list of a plurality of services;

transmit the list of the plurality of services to the image processing device through the communication unit after receiving the request for the list of the plurality of services;

receive selection information from the image processing device, the selection information indicating a selection of a specific service from among the one or more services after a selection of the specific service has been obtained by the image processing device;

transmit one piece of specific setting window information including a plurality of setting items to be set for using the specific service to the image processing device after receiving the selection information from the image processing device;

,

after receiving the selection information transmitted by the image processing device, transmit a request for specification information representing specification information of the image processing device;

receive the specification information from the image processing device after transmission of the request for specification information;

after receiving the specification information, generate the setting window information including the plurality of setting items based on the received specification information, the setting window information includes setting information of the imaging process related to the specific service, the setting information being determined based on the specification information; and

transmit the generated setting window information to the image processing device.

12. The server according to claim 11, wherein the control unit transmits the setting window information as a single setting file.

13. The server according to claim 12, wherein the single setting file includes:

a window number representing a total number of setting windows to be displayed; and

a setting item to be displayed on each of the setting windows.

14. The server according to claim 12, wherein the single setting file is described using a markup language.