Server for implementing image processing functions requested by a printing device

• US 9,906,678 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2016
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• 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:
  US15/337,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20170048415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• 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 apply a specific service from among a plurality of services provided by one or more servers, at least one of the one or more servers including information corresponding to a list of the plurality of services provided by the one or more servers, the image processing device comprising:

a display unit;

an operation unit;

an image processing unit configured to perform an imaging process;

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the image processing device to perform;

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

receiving the list of the plurality of services from the at least one of the one or more servers after transmitting the request for the list of the plurality of services, the list of the plurality of services not including setting item information including parameter values for each of the plurality of services;

displaying the received list of the plurality of services on the display unit;

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

transmitting selection information indicating that the selection of the specific service is obtained through the operation unit, to one of the one or more servers;

receiving, after transmitting the selection information, setting window information from the one of the one or more servers, the setting window information including the setting item information for the specific service, the setting window information being used for displaying, on the display unit, a setting window on which one or more specific setting items are set, the one or more specific setting items being used for providing the specific service;

displaying the setting window on the display unit in accordance with the setting item information for the specific service included in the received setting window information;

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

causing the image processing unit to perform the imaging process relating to the specific service in accordance with an instruction from the specific server, the image process including at least one of a scanning process and a printing process.

2. The image processing device according to claim 1,

wherein the one or more specific setting items include a plurality of specific setting items, and

wherein the setting item information for the specific service includes first specific setting item information and second specific setting item information, the first specific setting item information being used for displaying, on the display unit, a first specific setting window on which a first part of the plurality of specific setting items is set, the second specific setting item information being used for displaying, on the display unit, a second specific setting window on which a second part of the plurality of specific setting items is set, the second part being different from the first part.

3. The image processing device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of specific setting items is included in a single setting file.

4. The image processing device according to claim 3,

wherein the first part is described between a first pair of tags both including a first character string,

wherein the second part is described between a second pair of tags both including a second character string, and

wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the image processing device to perform:

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

displaying a window including the first part and the second part on the display unit.

5. The image processing device according to claim 2, further comprising a storage unit,

wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the image processing device to perform:

storing the received setting window information to the storage unit;

acquiring the second specific setting item information from the storage unit in response to the first part being set on the displayed first specific setting window through the operation unit;

displaying, on the display unit, the second specific setting window instead of the first specific setting window in accordance with the acquired second specific setting item information; and

transmitting the first part set on the first specific setting window and the second part set on the second specific setting window to the specific server.

6. The image processing device according to claim 2, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the image processing device to perform:

acquiring a request for specification information representing specifications of the image processing device from the specific server;

transmitting the specification information to the specific server; and

receiving, after transmitting the specification information, the first specific setting item information generated based on the specification information from the specific server.

7. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the image processing device to perform:

receiving first setting window information from a first server of the one or more servers in response to obtaining a selection of a first service from among the plurality of services, the first setting window information including first setting item information for the first service, the first setting item information for the first service being used for displaying, on the display unit, a first setting window on which one or more first setting items are set, the one or more first setting items being used for providing the first service; and

receiving second setting window information from a second server of the one or more servers in response to obtaining a selection of a second service from among the plurality of services, the second setting window information including second setting item information for the second service, the second setting item information for the second service being used for displaying, on the display unit, a second setting window on which one or more second setting items are set, the one or more second setting items being used for providing the second service.

8. The image processing device according to claim 1 further comprising a scanning unit configured to execute the scanning process and a printing unit configured to execute the printing process,

wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the image processing device to perform:

controlling the scanning process of the scanning unit;

transmitting image data scanned by the scanning unit to the specific server;

receiving processed image data from the specific server, the processed image data being the image data processed by the specific server; and

causing the printing unit to execute a printing process based on the processed image data.

9. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the setting window information includes parameter values for selection of a language for execution of the specific service.

10. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the setting window information includes parameter values related to resolution for execution of the specific service.

11. A server configured to provide a plurality of services to an image processing device, the server comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the server to perform;

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

transmitting the list of the plurality of services to the image processing device after receiving the request for the list of the plurality of services, the list of the plurality of services not including setting item information including parameter values for each of the plurality of services;

receiving, after a selection of a specific service from among the plurality of services has been obtained by the image processing device, selection information from the image processing device, the selection information indicating that the selection of the specific service is obtained; and

transmitting, after receiving the selection information, setting window information to the image processing device, the setting window information including the setting item information for the specific service, the setting window information being used for displaying a setting window on which one or more specific setting items are set, the one or more specific setting items being used for providing the specific service.

12. The server according to claim 11, wherein the setting window information includes parameter values for selection of a language for execution of the specific service.

13. The server according to claim 11, wherein the setting window information includes parameter values related to resolution for execution of the specific service.