System, method, and program for image processing, and management server

Abstract

A method, program product, and system to provide an image processing system which allows the user to utilize a function of an image processing device with operation through another image processing device without implementing a large scale of modification on the device. The image processing system includes a service use device, a service provision device, and a management server which are connected to a communication network. The system can include more than one service provision device. The service use device transmits to the management server a service request signal which corresponds to a service selected by the user and image data. The management server transmits to the service provision device a service execution command signal corresponding to the received service request signal and the image data. The service provision device processes the received image data according to the received service execution command signal.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an image processing system of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram indicating configurations of each device of an image processing system of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C are types of data tables stored in a database of a management server in an image processing system of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram indicating registration steps of a service provision device in an image processing system of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram indicating a first half of service execution (start-service list display) in an image processing system of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram indicating a latter half of service execution in an image processing system of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D are screen transition diagrams illustrating each screen displayed on an operation panel of a service use device in an image processing system of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram indicating a first half of service execution (start-service list display) in an image processing system of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram indicating a latter half of service execution (use service selection-service execution) in an image processing system of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is another system configuration diagram of an image processing system of the present invention.

Claims

1. An image processing system, comprising: a service use device;a management server; anda service provision device; and the service use device, further comprising:a first service provision means which provides an image processing service according to an equipped function;an image data input means which reads in an image and loads image data of the image;a display unit which displays a list of performable image processing services, based on a notification from the management server;a service configuration means which performs configuration of the image processing service, according to an input operation; anda service request transmission means which transmits a service request signal according to the configured image processing service and the image data to the server;the management server, further comprising:a control means which controls the service use device and the service provision device;a storage means which stores a list of image processing services that the service provision device can provide;a service extraction means which extracts the list of image processing services available to the service use device;a service notification means which notifies the service use device of the extracted list of image processing services;a service request reception means which receives the service request signal and the image data from the service use device; anda service execution command transmission means which transmits the service execution command signal corresponding to the service request signal and the image data to a specific service provision device in the image processing system; andthe service provision device, further comprising:a second service provision means which is equipped with a function the service use device does not have and provides a service according to the function;a service execution command reception means which receives from the management server the service execution command signal and the image data; andan image processing means which applies an image processing corresponding to the service execution command signal on the received image data and outputs the data.

2. The image processing system of claim 1, further comprising: a database which stores the list of image processing services that the service provision device can provide stored in the storage means and wherefrom the service extraction means extracts the list of image processing services available to the service use device.

3. The image processing system of claim 2, further comprising: a model performance table which stores performance data of the service use device; anda service table which stores service data of the service provision device, wherein: the database has the model performance table and the service table, andthe service extraction means which, based on the performance data and the service data, determines and extracts an image processing service available to the service use device and the service provision device can provide.

4. The image processing system of claim 3, wherein: the model performance table stores performance data which includes a model ID, a model name, a panel type, input specifications, or output specifications of the service use device; andthe service table stores service data which includes a service ID, a service name, a screen information file, an input format, an output format, or a service execution data format of the service provision device.

5. The image processing system of claim 3, further comprising: an automatic registration means which acquires service data of the service provision device connected to a communication network by polling the service provision device and stores the service data thereof in the service table, wherein: the management server has the automatic registration means.

6. The image processing system of claim 5, further comprising: a service provider table which stores specific data including an IP address, a model ID, or a service ID of the service provision device in the database, wherein: the management server has the service provider table; andthe automatic registration means acquires the specific data of the service provision device connected to the communication network by polling the service provision device and stores the data thereof.

7. The image processing system of claim 1, further comprising: a panel display data creation unit which creates list data in order for the list of the image processing services notified by the service notification unit to be displayed, corresponding to the display unit of the service use device, wherein: the management server has the panel display data creation unit; andthe service notification means transmits the list data to notify the service use device of the list of performable image processing services.

8. The image processing system of claim 7, wherein: the panel display data creation unit creates operation information data for operation information of the selected image processing service in order for the operation information to be displayed corresponding to the display unit of the service use device;the service notification means notifies the service use device of the operation information; andthe display unit displays the operation information data based on the notification from the management server.

9. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein: the service provision device provides a color printing, a facsimile transmission/reception, a booklet printing, a staple processing, a document box, or a hole-punch processing service.

10. A management server connected through a communication network with a service use device which provides an image processing service corresponding to an equipped function, and a service provision device having a function that the service use device does not have, which provides an image processing service corresponding to the function, comprising: a storage means which stores in a database an image processing service that the service provision device can provide;a service extraction means which extracts from the database an image processing service available to the service use device;a service notification means which notifies the service use device of the extracted image processing service;a service request reception means which receives the service request signal and the image data from the service use device; anda service execution command transmission means which transmits the service execution command signal corresponding to the service request signal and the image data to a specific service provision device in the image processing system.

11. An image processing method having a service use device which provides an image processing service corresponding to an equipped function, and a service provision device having a function that the service use device does not have, which provides an image processing service corresponding to the function, comprising the steps of: storing an image processing service which the service provision device can provide;extracting an image processing service available to the service use device;notifying the service use device of the extracted image processing service;directing the service use device to display a list of performable image processing services;directing the service use device to configure, according to an input operation, an image processing service to use; anddirecting a specific service provision device in the image processing method to execute the image processing service.

12. A storage medium having stored thereon a computer program executable, in a image processing system having a service use device which provides an image processing service corresponding to an equipped function, a service provision device having a function that the service use device does not have, which provides an image processing service corresponding to the function, and a management server which controls the service use device and the service provision device, for causing: a computer constituting the service use device to function as: an image input means which reads in an image and loads image data of the image;a service list display means which displays a list of performable image processing services, based on a notification from the management server;a service configuration means which performs configuration of an image processing service to be used, according to an input operation; anda service request transmission unit which transmits to the management server a service request signal corresponding to the configured image processing service and the image data;a computer constituting the management server to function as: a storage means which stores an image processing service the service provision device can provide;a service extraction means which extracts an image processing service available to the service use device;a service notification means which notifies the service use device of the extracted image processing service;a service request reception means which receives the service request signal and the image data from the service use device; anda service execution command transmission means which transmits a service execution command signal corresponding to the service request signal and the image data to a specific service provision device in the computer system; anda computer constituting the service provision device to function as: a service execution command reception means which receives the service execution command signal and the image data from the management server; andan image processing means which applies an image processing corresponding to the service execution command signal on the received image data to output the data.