INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

An information processing apparatus for communicating with an external apparatus via a network is provided that includes a generating unit for generating identification information capable of specifying a service in order to launch the service, a receiving unit for receiving input information input by a user with the external apparatus from the external apparatus via the network, a judging unit for judging whether or not the input information received by the receiving unit corresponds to the identification information generated by the generating unit, and a notifying unit for notifying the external apparatus of address information indicating an address of the information processing apparatus if the judging unit judges that the input information corresponds to the identification information.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one example of a network of the present embodiment in which a PC on which a network storage service is operating and a multifunction device having a network connecting function are connected to a LAN.

FIG. 2 is an operational flowchart showing the flow from a launch of a storage service through a search through the storage service, a display of search results, operation of a file, and stopping the storage service in a first embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration example of a PC in the present embodiment.

FIG. 3B is a block diagram showing a configuration example of memory in the PC in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of software for a network storage service operating on the PC in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a display window example displayed when a storage service is launched on the PC in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation example from the launch to the shutdown of the storage service operating on the PC in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation example of an inquiry to the storage service operating on the PC in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8A is a block diagram showing a general configuration example of a multifunction device in the present embodiment.

FIG. 8B is a block diagram showing a configuration example of memory in the multifunction device in the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of a user interface unit provided to the multifunction device in the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of software that controls a document transmission function on the multifunction device in the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of a display window for storage service searching instructions displayed to a touch panel on the multifunction device in the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of a display window for storage service search results displayed to the touch panel on the multifunction device in the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a view showing an example of a display window for storage service search results displayed to the touch panel on the multifunction device in the first embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an operation example of a scan service operating on the multifunction device in the first embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an operational flowchart showing the flow from a launch of a scan service through the launch of a storage service, a search through the scan service, a display of search results, operation of a file, and stopping the storage service in a first embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of software that controls a document transmission function on the multifunction device in a second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a view showing a display window example displayed when a scan service is launched on the multifunction device in the second embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an operation example from the launch to the shutdown of the scan service operating on the multifunction device in the second embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an operation example of an inquiry to the scan service operating on the multifunction device in the second embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of software for a network storage service operating on the PC in the second embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a view showing a display window example displayed when a storage service is launched on the PC in the second embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a view showing an example of a display window for scan service search results displayed to a display on the PC in the second embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a view showing an example of a display window for scan service search results displayed to the display on the PC in the second embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing an operation example from the launch to the shutdown of the storage service operating on the PC in the second embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a figure showing an example of other service names in the present embodiment.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for communicating with an external apparatus via a network, comprising: a generating unit for generating identification information capable of specifying a service in order to launch the service,a receiving unit for receiving input information input by a user with the external apparatus from the external apparatus via the network,a judging unit for judging whether or not the input information received by the receiving unit corresponds to the identification information generated by the generating unit, anda notifying unit for notifying the external apparatus of address information indicating an address of the information processing apparatus if the judging unit judges that the input information corresponds to the identification information.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification information is valid for a predetermined time from a service being launched, and the information processing apparatus further comprises a stopping unit for stopping the service when the predetermined time elapses.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification information is a random value computed from information identifying the information processing apparatus, information identifying the user who caused the service to be launched, or information including a time at which the service is launched.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input information is the identification information.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the service is at least one of a storage service for storing document files and a scan service for reading document files.

6. An information processing apparatus for communicating with a plurality of external apparatuses via a network, comprising a transmitting unit for transmitting input information input by a user to a plurality of external apparatuses via the network,a receiving unit for receiving a reply indicating that the input information transmitted by the transmitting unit corresponds to identification information capable of specifying a service launched by an external apparatus, andan obtaining unit for obtaining address information indicating an address of the external apparatus from the reply.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the identification information is a random value computed from information identifying the information processing apparatus, information identifying the user who caused the service to be launched, or information including a time at which the service is launched.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the input information is the identification information.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the service is at least one of a storage service for storing document files and a scan service for reading document files.

10. A control method for an information processing apparatus for communicating with an external apparatus via a network, comprising: a generating step of generating identification information capable of specifying a service in order to launch the service,a receiving step of receiving input information input by a user with the external apparatus from the external apparatus via the network,a judging step of judging whether or not the input information received in the receiving step corresponds to the identification information generated in the generating step, anda notifying step of notifying the external apparatus of address information indicating an address of the information processing apparatus if it is judged in the judging step that the input information corresponds to the identification information.

11. A program capable of being executed on a computer for realizing the control method according to claim 10.

12. A storage medium for storing in a format readable by a computer the program according to claim 11.

13. A control method for an information processing apparatus for communicating with a plurality of external apparatuses via a network, comprising: a transmitting step of transmitting input information input by a user to a plurality of external apparatuses via the network,a receiving step of receiving a reply indicating that the input information transmitted in the transmitting step corresponds to identification information capable of specifying a service launched by an external apparatus, andan obtaining step of obtaining address information indicating an address of the external apparatus from the reply.

14. A program capable of being executed on a computer for realizing the control method according to claim 13.

15. A storage medium for storing in a format readable by a computer the program according to claim 14.

16. A communication method performed by a plurality of information processing apparatuses for communicating via a networks comprising: a generating step of generating identification information capable of specifying a service in order to launch the service in a first information processing apparatus,a transmitting step of transmitting input information input by a user with a second information processing apparatus from the second information processing apparatus to the first information processing apparatus,a replying step of returning a reply from the first information processing apparatus to the second information processing apparatus indicating that the input information corresponds to the identification information, andan obtaining step of the second information processing apparatus obtaining from the reply address information indicating an address of the first information processing apparatus.

17. The communication method according to claim 16, wherein the input information is the identification information.

18. The communication method according to claim 16, further comprising a step of generating the identification information from the input information in accordance with a generating procedure of the generating step.

19. An information processing apparatus for communicating with an external apparatus via a network, comprising a generating unit for generating identification information capable of specifying a service running on the information processing apparatus,a receiving unit for receiving input information input by a user with the external apparatus from the external apparatus via the network,a judging unit for judging whether or not the input information received by the receiving unit corresponds to the identification information generated by the generating unit, anda notifying unit for, if the judging unit judges that the input information corresponds to the identification information, notifying the external apparatus of identification information identifying the information processing apparatus.

20. An information processing apparatus for communicating with a plurality of external apparatuses via a network, comprising a transmitting unit for transmitting input information input by a user to a plurality of external apparatuses via the network,a receiving unit for receiving a reply indicating that the input information transmitted by the transmitting unit corresponds to identification information capable of specifying a service launched by an external apparatus, andan obtaining unit for obtaining identification information of the external apparatus from the reply.