Composite service providing system

• US 9,569,158 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2013
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Otsuka, Naoki, Hibino, Masaaki, Fukazawa, Koshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Smarth, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US14/049,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20140036314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1296 Printer job scheduling or printer resource handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A composite service providing system including a plurality of network electronic devices communicatively connected with each other. The plurality of network electronic devices includes electronic devices, each of which is capable of providing at least one service. A plurality of services provided by a plurality of electronic devices are combined to constitute a composite service. The composite service providing system further includes a composite service designating system that designates a composite service to be provided, an electronic device determining system that determines an electronic device that provides each of a plurality of services necessary for providing the composite service designated with the composite service designating system, and a controlling system that control the electronic devices determined by the electronic device determining system to provide the services so that the composite service designated by the designating system is provided.

Claims

1. A composite service providing system including:

a plurality of electronic devices which are communicatively interconnected, the plurality of electronic devices being independent of each other and including a first electronic device and a second electronic device,

the first electronic device including a first independent service execution unit which is configured to execute at least one independent service from among a plurality of independent services including a scan service to obtain image data by scanning an original, and

the second electronic device including a second independent service execution unit which is configured to execute at least one independent service from among a plurality of independent services including a forming service to form an object based on image data, a storage service to store image data, and an image data transmission/reception service to transmit image data to a remote image data receiving device and to obtain image data by receiving the image data from a remote image data transmission device; and

a wireless communication terminal comprising;

a wireless communication unit configured to communicate with the plurality of electronic devices;

a user input receiving unit;

a notification unit;

a storage unit; and

a terminal side control device configured to;

acquire, with the user input receiving unit, a first user input designating the first electronic device and the second electronic device used for providing a composite service,

the composite service including a copy service, an image data storage service and an image data transfer service,

the copy service being performed as (i) the first electronic device obtains the image data using the first independent service execution system, (ii) the second electronic device obtains the image data from the first electronic device, and (iii) the second electronic device executes the forming service with respect to the image data using the second independent service execution system,

the image data storage service being performed as (a) the first electronic device obtains the image data using the first independent service execution system, (b) the second electronic device obtains the image data from the first electronic device, and (c) the second electronic device executes the storage service with respect to the image data using the second independent service execution system, and

the image data transfer service being performed as (1) the first electronic device obtains the image data with the first independent service execution system, (2) the second electronic device obtains the image data from the first electronic device, and (3) the second electronic device executes the image data transmission/reception service with respect to the image data using the second independent service execution system;

store device designation information indicating that the first electronic device and the second electronic device designated by the first user input are used for providing the composite service in the storage unit;

acquire a second user input with the user input receiving unit,

the second user input designating a first execution parameter of a first independent service executed by the first independent service execution unit of the first electronic device and a second execution parameter of a second independent service executed by the second independent service execution unit of the second electronic device for providing the composite service;

acquire first device information transmitted from the first electronic device and second device information transmitted from the second electronic device with the wireless communication unit;

notify that the independent services are executed by the first independent service execution unit of the first electronic device and the second independent service execution unit of the second electronic device in a predetermined order for providing the composite service;

acquire, with the user input receiving unit, a third user input instructing an execution of the composite service after notifying that the independent services are executed by the first independent service execution unit of the first electronic device and the second independent service execution unit of the second electronic device in the predetermined order;

generate first parameter information and second parameter information,

the first parameter information being used for executing the first independent service by the first independent service execution unit of the first electronic device designated by the first user input in accordance with the first execution parameter designated by the second user input and the second parameter information being used for executing the second independent service by the second independent service execution unit of the second electronic device designated by the first user input in accordance with the second execution parameter designated by the second user input; and

transmit the generated first parameter information, first execution instruction information for the independent service of the first electronic device, the generated second parameter information and second execution instruction information for the independent service of the second electronic device with the wireless communication unit,

wherein the first electronic device obtains the image data necessary for providing the composite service using the first independent service execution system in accordance with the first parameter information and the first execution instruction information, and

wherein the second electronic device obtains the image data which is necessary for providing the composite service and obtained by the first electronic device, and executes the independent service with respect to the obtained image data using the second independent service execution system in accordance with the second parameter information and the second execution instruction information.

2. The composite service providing system according to claim 1, wherein,

the terminal side control device is further configured to:

acquire, with the user input receiving unit, a fourth user input designating one of the plurality of composite services; and

determine candidate electronic devices which are appropriate for providing the composite services designated by the fourth user input, and

the first electronic device and the second electronic device are designated from the candidate electronic devices.

3. The composite service providing system according to claim 2, wherein, the terminal side control device is further configured to:

acquire, with the user input receiving unit, a fifth user input identifying a user;

receive user identifying information identifying a user which is transmitted by at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device; and

determine at least one of the plurality of electronic devices which broadcasts the user identifying information identifying the same user as the user identified by the fifth user input as the candidate electronic device.

4. The composite service providing system according to claim 3, wherein,

each of the first electronic device and the second electronic device comprises an electronic device side control device configured to acquire a sixth user input identifying a user, and

the terminal side control device is further configured to:

receive user information designating the user identified by the sixth user input from at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device; and

determine at least one of the plurality of electronic devices which is a source of the user identifying information identifying a user who is the same as the user identified by the fifth user input as the candidate electronic device.

5. The composite service providing system according to claim 3, wherein,

at least one of the plurality of electronic devices comprises an electronic device side control device configured to acquire the fourth user input and the fifth user input, and

the terminal side control device is further configured to:

determine an electronic device comprising the electronic device side control device as the candidate electronic device.

6. The composite service providing system according to claim 1, wherein,

each of the first electronic device and the second electronic device is configured to transmit execution status information representing an execution status of the service to the wireless communication terminal when each of the first and the second independent service execution system executes the independent service, and

the terminal side control device is further configured to notify a progress of the composite service in accordance with the execution status information transmitted from each of the first electronic device and the second electronic device.

7. The composite service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the forming service is a print service to print the image data.

8. The composite service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the image data transmission/reception service is a service to transmit the obtained image data in a different format.

9. The composite service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the image data transmission/reception service is a fax transmission service.

10. A wireless communication terminal comprising:

a wireless communication unit configured to communicate with a plurality of electronic devices;

a user input receiving unit;

a notification unit;

a storage unit; and

a control device configured to;

acquire, with the user input receiving unit, a first user input designating a first electronic device and a second electronic device used for providing a composite service,

the first electronic device including a first independent service execution unit which is configured to execute at least one independent service from among a plurality of independent services including a scan service to obtain image data by scanning an original,

the second electronic device including a second independent service execution unit which is configured to execute at least one independent service from among a plurality of independent services including a forming service to form an object based on image data, a storage service to store image data, and an image data transmission/reception service to transmit image data to a remote image data receiving device and to obtain image data by receiving the image data from a remote image data transmission device, and

the composite service including a copy service, an image data storage service and an image data transfer service,

the copy service being performed as (i) the first electronic device obtains the image data using the first independent service execution system, (ii) the second electronic device obtains the image data from the first electronic device, and (iii) the second electronic device executes the forming service with respect to the image data using the second independent service execution system,

the image data storage service being performed as (a) the first electronic device obtains the image data using the first independent service execution system, (b) the second electronic device obtains the image data from the first electronic device, and (c) the second electronic device executes the storage service with respect to the image data using the second independent service execution system, and

the image data transfer service being performed as (1) the first electronic device obtains the image data with the first independent service execution system, (2) the second electronic device obtains the image data from the first electronic device, and (3) the second electronic device executes the image data transmission/reception service with respect to the image data using the second independent service execution system;

store device designation information indicating that the first electronic device and the second electronic device designated by the first user input are used for providing the composite service in the storage unit;

acquire a second user input with the user input receiving unit,

the second user input including a first execution parameter of a first independent service executed by the first independent service execution unit of the first electronic device and a second execution parameter of a second independent service executed by the second independent service execution unit of the second electronic device for providing the composite service;

acquire first device information transmitted from the first electronic device and second device information transmitted from the second electronic device with the wireless communication unit;

notify that the independent services are executed by the first independent service execution unit of the first electronic device and the second independent service execution unit of the second electronic device in a predetermined order for providing the composite service;

acquire, with the user input receiving unit, a third user input instructing an execution of the composite service after notifying that the independent services are executed by the first independent service execution unit of the first electronic device and the second independent service execution unit of the second electronic device in the predetermined order;

generate first parameter information and second parameter information,

the first parameter information being used for executing the first independent service by the first independent service execution unit of the first electronic device designated by the first user input in accordance with the first execution parameter designated by the second user input and the second parameter information being used for executing the second independent service by the second independent service execution unit of the second electronic device designated by the first user input in accordance with the second execution parameter designated by the second user input; and

transmit the generated first parameter information, first execution instruction information for the independent service of the first electronic device, the generated second parameter information with the wireless communication unit and second execution instruction information for the independent service of the second electronic device.

11. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 10, wherein

the control device is further configured to:

acquire, with the user input receiving unit, a fourth user input designating one of the plurality of composite services; and

determine candidate electronic devices which are appropriate for providing the composite services designated by the fourth user input, and

the first electronic device and the second electronic device are designated from the candidate electronic devices.

12. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 11, wherein, the control device is further configured to:

acquire, with the user input receiving unit, a fifth user input identifying a user;

receive user identifying information identifying a user which is transmitted by at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device; and

determine at least one of the plurality of electronic devices which broadcasts the user identifying information identifying the same user as the user identified by the fifth user input as the candidate electronic device.

13. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 11, wherein the control device is further configured to:

acquire a sixth user input designating a usage condition of the composite service; and

determine at least one of the plurality of electronic devices which is capable of operating in an operational condition for providing the composite service in the usage condition designated by the sixth user input as the candidate electronic device.

14. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 11, wherein the control device is further configured to:

obtain locations of the plurality of the electronic devices, and

determine the candidate electronic devices based on the obtained location.

15. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 10, wherein the control device is further configured to:

obtain location information of the first electronic device and the second electronic device; and

notify locations of the first electronic device and the second electronic device in accordance with the obtained location information.

16. The wireless communication terminal according to claim 10, wherein the control device is further configured to notify a progress of the composite service in accordance with execution status information transmitted from each of the first electronic device and the second electronic device.

17. The composite service providing system according to claim 10, wherein the forming service is a print service to print the image data.

18. The composite service providing system according to claim 10, wherein the image data transmission/reception service is a service to transmit the obtained image data in a different format.

19. The composite service providing system according to claim 10, wherein the image data transmission/reception service is a fax transmission service.

20. A composite service providing method in a composite service providing system, the composite service providing system including:

a plurality of electronic devices which are communicatively interconnected, the plurality of electronic devices being independent of each other and including a first electronic device and a second electronic device, a plurality of electronic devices which are communicatively interconnected, the plurality of electronic devices being independent of each other and including a first electronic device and a second electronic device,

the first electronic device including a first independent service execution unit which is configured to execute at least one independent service from among a plurality of independent services including a scan service to obtain image data by scanning an original, and

the second electronic device including a second independent service execution unit which is configured to execute at least one independent service from among a plurality of independent services including a forming service to form an object based on image data, a storage service to store image data, and an image data transmission/reception service to transmit image data to a remote image data receiving device and to obtain image data by receiving the image data from a remote image data transmission device; and

a wireless communication terminal comprising;

a wireless communication unit configured to communicate with the plurality of electronic devices;

a user input receiving unit;

a notification unit;

a storage unit; and

a control device,

wherein the method includes steps of;

acquiring, with the user input receiving unit, a first user input designating the first electronic device and the second electronic device used for providing a composite service,

the composite service including a copy service, an image data storage service and an image data transfer service,

the copy service being performed as (i) the first electronic device obtains the image data using the first independent service execution system, (ii) the second electronic device obtains the image data from the first electronic device, and (iii) the second electronic device executes the forming service with respect to the image data using the second independent service execution system,

the image data storage service being performed as (a) the first electronic device obtains the image data using the first independent service execution system, (b) the second electronic device obtains the image data from the first electronic device, and (c) the second electronic device executes the storage service with respect to the image data using the second independent service execution system, and

the image data transfer service being performed as (1) the first electronic device obtains the image data with the first independent service execution system, (2) the second electronic device obtains the image data from the first electronic device, and (3) the second electronic device executes the image data transmission/reception service with respect to the image data using the second independent service execution system;

storing device designation information indicating that the first electronic device and the second electronic device designated by the first user input are used for providing the composite service in the storage unit;

acquiring a second user input with the user input receiving unit,

the second user input including a first execution parameter of a first independent service executed by the first independent service execution unit of the first electronic device and a second execution parameter of a second independent service executed by the second independent service execution unit of the second electronic device for providing the composite service;

acquiring first device information transmitted from the first electronic device and second device information transmitted from the second electronic device with the wireless communication unit;

notifying that the independent services are executed by the first independent service execution unit of the first electronic device and the second independent service execution unit of the second electronic device in a predetermined order for providing the composite service;

acquiring, with the user input receiving unit, a third user input instructing an execution of the composite service after notifying that the independent services are executed by the first independent service execution unit of the first electronic device and the second independent service execution unit of the second electronic device in the predetermined order;

generating first parameter information and second parameter information,

the first parameter information being used for executing the first independent service by the first independent service execution unit of the first electronic device designated by the first user input in accordance with the first execution parameter designated by the second user input and the second parameter information being used for executing the second independent service by the second independent service execution unit of the second electronic device designated by the first user input in accordance with the second execution parameter designated by the second user input; and

transmitting the generated first parameter information, first execution instruction information for the independent service of the first electronic device, the generated second parameter information and second execution instruction information for the independent service of the second electronic device with the wireless communication unit,

wherein the first electronic device obtains the image data necessary for providing the composite service using the first independent service execution system in accordance with the first parameter information and the first execution instruction information, and

wherein the second electronic device obtains the image data which is necessary for providing the composite service and obtained by the first electronic device, and executes the independent service with respect to the obtained image data using the second independent service execution system in accordance with the second parameter information and the second execution instruction information.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium to store computer readable instructions to cause a wireless communication terminal which comprises a wireless communication unit configured to communicate with a plurality of electronic devices, a user input receiving unit, a notification unit, a storage unit and a control device, to execute steps of:

acquiring, with the user input receiving unit, a first user input designating a first electronic device and a second electronic device used for providing a composite service,

the first electronic device including a first independent service execution unit which is configured to execute at least one independent service from among a plurality of independent services including a scan service to obtain image data by scanning an original,

the second electronic device including a second independent service execution unit which is configured to execute at least one independent service from among a plurality of independent services including a forming service to form an object based on image data, a storage service to store image data, and an image data transmission/reception service to transmit image data to a remote image data receiving device and to obtain image data by receiving the image data from a remote image data transmission device, and

the composite service including a copy service, an image data storage service and an image data transfer service,

the copy service being performed as (i) the first electronic device obtains the image data using the first independent service execution system, (ii) the second electronic device obtains the image data from the first electronic device, and (iii) the second electronic device executes the forming service with respect to the image data using the second independent service execution system,

the image data storage service being performed as (a) the first electronic device obtains the image data using the first independent service execution system, (b) the second electronic device obtains the image data from the first electronic device, and (c) the second electronic device executes the storage service with respect to the image data using the second independent service execution system, and

the image data transfer service being performed as (1) the first electronic device obtains the image data with the first independent service execution system, (2) the second electronic device obtains the image data from the first electronic device, and (3) the second electronic device executes the image data transmission/reception service with respect to the image data using the second independent service execution system;

storing device designation information indicating that the first electronic device and the second electronic device designated by the first user input are used for providing the composite service in the storage unit;

acquiring a second user input with the user input receiving unit,

the second user input including a first execution parameter of a first independent service executed by the first independent service execution unit of the first electronic device and a second execution parameter of a second independent service executed by the second independent service execution unit of the second electronic device for providing the composite service;

acquiring first device information transmitted from the first electronic device and second device information transmitted from the second electronic device with the wireless communication unit;

notifying that the independent services are executed by the first independent service execution unit of the first electronic device and the second independent service execution unit of the second electronic device in a predetermined order for providing the composite service;

acquiring, with the user input receiving unit, a third user input instructing an execution of the composite service after notifying that the independent services are executed by the first independent service execution unit of the first electronic device and the second independent service execution unit of the second electronic device in the predetermined order;

generating first parameter information and second parameter information,

the first parameter information being used for executing the first independent service by the first independent service execution unit of the first electronic device designated by the first user input in accordance with the first execution parameter designated by the second user input and the second parameter information being used for executing the second independent service by the second independent service execution unit of the second electronic device designated by the first user input in accordance with the second execution parameter designated by the second user input; and

transmitting the generated first parameter information, first execution instruction information for the independent service of the first electronic device, the generated second parameter information and second execution instruction information for the independent service of the second electronic device with the wireless communication unit.