Image processing service system

• US 20030117642A1
• Filed: 12/20/2001
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Haraguchi, Tatsuya
• Granted Patent: US 7,102,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/181 Receiving print data characterized by its formatting, e.g. particular page description languages
• 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 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 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

The present invention provides a predetermined image processing service via a network to an image processing apparatus having an image information input/output function. In this case, the image processing service is provided by a dedicated server connected to a network or by a local or remote image processing apparatus.

Claims

1. An image processing service system comprising:

which provides a predetermined image processing service to an image processing apparatus having an image information input/output function via a network.

2. An image processing service system according to claim 1, wherein said image processing service is provided from any of an image processing service owned by a dedicated server connected to said network and an image processing service provided to a local or remote image processing apparatus connected to said network.

3. An image processing service system according to claim 2, wherein a variety of image processing services that can be provided to said image processing apparatus via said network are utilized for image processing to be selectively combined with each other based on a request from said image processing apparatus.

4. An image processing service system according to claim 1, comprising at least one of functions for applying compression/decompression processing and encryption/decryption processing to information communicated via said network.

5. An image processing service system according to claim 1, causing said image processing apparatus to select whether the image processing service that can be provided to said image processing apparatus via said network is registered in advance in said image processing apparatus in order to ensure regular utilization, or alternatively, is not registered in order to ensure temporary utilization.

6. An image processing service system according to claim 1, wherein, when the image processing service that can be provided via said network is utilized to be registered in advance in said image processing apparatus, information concerning operation of the registered image processing service is acquired in advance to be stored in said image processing apparatus.

7. An image processing service system according to claim 1, wherein charge billing for utilization of the image processing service of said image processing apparatus is carried out by a service for managing the utilization/registration state of the image processing service for said image processing apparatus and the result of utilization of the image processing service.

8. An image processing service system according to claim 1, wherein, even if version information added to said image processing service is registered in said image processing apparatus, and said image processing service is updated, said image processing apparatus can utilize the image processing service of the registered version.

9. An image processing service system according to claim 1, wherein information concerning a method for utilizing said image processing service is exchanged between said image processing apparatus and image processing service provider, and then, said image processing service is utilized by said image processing apparatus by using the specified utilization method.

10. An image processing service system according to claim 1, wherein the latest advertisement information is displayed at a time when the information is displayed and output by using a service for embedding information to be linked with advertisement information in image information.

11. An image processing service system according to claim 1, wherein a value added image is provided by using a service for embedding content information in image information.

12. An image processing service system according to claim 1, wherein image information quality is managed by using a service for diagnosing a sample image output from said image processing apparatus.

13. An image processing service system according to claim 1, wherein a replacement time of consumables is managed by using a service for detecting an image processing service utilization history in said image processing apparatus.

14. An image processing apparatus comprising an image information input/output function, thereby making it possible to selectively access a predetermined image processing service via a network.

15. An image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a variety of image processing services that can be accessed via said network can be specified by combing the services.

16. An image processing apparatus according to claim 14, comprising at least one of functions for applying compression/decompression processing and encryption/decryption processing to information communicated via said network.

17. An image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the image processing service that can be accessed via said network can be selected to be registered in advance to ensure regular utilization or not to be registered to ensure temporary utilization.

18. An image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein, when the image processing service that can be accessed via said network is registered and utilized, information concerning operation of the registered image processing service is acquired in advance, and is stored.

19. An image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein, even if version information added to said image processing service is registered, and said image processing service is updated, the image processing service of the registered version can be accessed.