Image Forming Apparatus and Event Notification System That Reduces Load of Server for Helping Event Notification

• US 20150237162A1
• Filed: 02/16/2015
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Asano, Takehiko
• Granted Patent: US 9,712,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/12 Digital output to print unit , e.g. line printer, chain printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1207 resulting in the user being informed about print result after a job submission
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1259 Print job monitoring, e.g. job status
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00222 details of image data generation or reproduction, e.g. scan-to-email or network printing

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an event notification data preparing unit, an event notification data transmitting unit, an information-processor count calculating unit, and an information-processor count determining unit. The information-processor count calculating unit calculates a count of the at least one information processor to which the event notification data is transmitted. The information-processor count determining unit determines whether the information-processor count is equal to or less than an upper limit value for the event notification count. The event notification data transmitting unit directly transmits the event notification data to the at least one information processor if the information-processor count is equal to or less than the upper limit value for the event notification count, and via the server transmits the event notification data to the at least one information processor if the information-processor count is more than the upper limit value for the event notification count.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus connectable to a server and at least one information processor via a network, the image forming apparatus comprising:

an event notification data preparing unit that prepares event notification data for a generated event;

an event notification data transmitting unit that transmits the event notification data to the at least one information processor;

an information-processor count calculating unit that calculates a count of the at least one information processor to which the event notification data is transmitted; and

an information-processor count determining unit that determines whether the information-processor count is equal to or less than an upper limit value for the event notification count;

wherein

the event notification data transmitting unit

directly transmits the event notification data to the at least one information processor if the information-processor count is equal to or less than the upper limit value for the event notification count, and

via the server transmits the event notification data to the at least one information processor if the information-processor count is more than the upper limit value for the event notification count.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an event notification registration data receiving unit that receives from the at least one information processor event notification registration data including destination address or addresses of the at least one information processor;

wherein

the event notification data transmitting unit transmits the event notification data to the at least one information processor at the destination address or addresses.

3. An event notification system, comprising:

an image forming apparatus connectable to a network;

at least one information processor connectable to the network; and

a server connectable to the network;

wherein

the image forming apparatus includes;

an event notification data preparing unit that prepares event notification data for a generated event,

an event notification data transmitting unit that transmits the event notification data to the at least one information processor,

an information-processor count calculating unit that calculates a count of at least one information processor to which the event notification data is transmitted, and

an information-processor count determining unit that determines whether the information-processor count is equal to or less than an upper limit value for the event notification count;

the at least one information processor includes an event notification data receiving unit that receives the event notification data from the image forming apparatus; and

the event notification data transmitting unit

directly transmits the event notification data to the at least one information processor if the information-processor count is equal to or less than the upper limit value for the event notification count, and

via the server transmits the event notification data to the at least one information processor if the information-processor count is more than the upper limit value for the event notification count.

4. The event notification system according to claim 3, wherein:

the information processor includes an event notification registration data transmitting unit that transmits event notification registration data including destination address or addresses of the at least one information processor;

the image forming apparatus includes an event notification registration data receiving unit that receives the event notification registration data from the at least one information processor; and

the event notification data transmitting unit transmits the event notification data to the at least one information processor at the destination address or addresses.

5. The event notification system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one information processor comprises at least one of a personal computer, a smart phone, a mobile phone, or a tablet terminal.

6. An event notification method for an image forming apparatus connectable to a network, at least one information processor connectable to the network, and a server connectable to the network, the event notification method comprising:

via the image forming apparatus,

preparing event notification data for a generated event,

transmitting the event notification data to the at least one information processor,

calculating a count of the at least one information processor to which the event notification data is transmitted, and

determining whether the information-processor count is equal to or less than an upper limit value for the event notification count;

via the information processor;

receiving the event notification data from the image forming apparatus;

directly transmitting the event notification data to the at least one information processor if the information-processor count is equal to or less than the upper limit value for the event notification count; and

via the server transmitting the event notification data to the at least one information processor if the information-processor count is more than the upper limit value for the event notification count.