US20090207460A1 - Service processing device and method - Google Patents

Service processing device and method Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20090207460A1
US20090207460A1 US12/432,212 US43221209A US2009207460A1 US 20090207460 A1 US20090207460 A1 US 20090207460A1 US 43221209 A US43221209 A US 43221209A US 2009207460 A1 US2009207460 A1 US 2009207460A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
processing
service
script
document
service processing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/432,212
Inventor
Yuji Hikawa
Yukio Tajima
Kazuko Kirihara
Akihiro Enomoto
Hidekazu Ozawa
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp
Original Assignee
Fuji Xerox Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fuji Xerox Co Ltd filed Critical Fuji Xerox Co Ltd
Priority to US12/432,212 priority Critical patent/US20090207460A1/en
Publication of US20090207460A1 publication Critical patent/US20090207460A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/0035User-machine interface; Control console
    • H04N1/00405Output means
    • H04N1/00408Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
    • H04N1/00413Display of information to the user, e.g. menus using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options
    • H04N1/00437Intelligent menus, e.g. anticipating user selections
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q50/00Systems or methods specially adapted for specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
    • G06Q50/10Services
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/10Office automation; Time management
    • G06Q10/103Workflow collaboration or project management
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L41/00Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
    • H04L41/22Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L61/00Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
    • H04L61/45Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
    • H04L61/4505Network directories; Name-to-address mapping using standardised directories; using standardised directory access protocols
    • H04L61/4511Network directories; Name-to-address mapping using standardised directories; using standardised directory access protocols using domain name system [DNS]
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00127Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
    • H04N1/00204Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server
    • H04N1/00209Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/32Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
    • H04N1/32101Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
    • H04N1/32106Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title separate from the image data, e.g. in a different computer file
    • H04N1/32122Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title separate from the image data, e.g. in a different computer file in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00127Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
    • H04N1/00344Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/0035User-machine interface; Control console
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N2201/00Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
    • H04N2201/0077Types of the still picture apparatus
    • H04N2201/0081Image reader
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N2201/00Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
    • H04N2201/0077Types of the still picture apparatus
    • H04N2201/0091Digital copier; digital 'photocopier'
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N2201/00Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
    • H04N2201/0077Types of the still picture apparatus
    • H04N2201/0093Facsimile machine
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N2201/00Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
    • H04N2201/32Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
    • H04N2201/3201Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
    • H04N2201/3212Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title of data relating to a job, e.g. communication, capture or filing of an image
    • H04N2201/3222Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title of data relating to a job, e.g. communication, capture or filing of an image of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N2201/00Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
    • H04N2201/32Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
    • H04N2201/3201Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
    • H04N2201/3273Display
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N2201/00Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
    • H04N2201/32Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
    • H04N2201/3201Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
    • H04N2201/3274Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
    • H04N2201/3276Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N2201/00Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
    • H04N2201/32Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
    • H04N2201/3201Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
    • H04N2201/3278Transmission

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a service processing device and method, and particularly to a service processing device and method suitable for use in a workflow system in which a paper document is digitized to construct workflow.
  • a paper document can be scanned and then can be transferred to a personal computer, or a document received through a facsimile machine can be directly transmitted as image data to a personal computer, rather than being printed. Further, after the paper document or the facsimile reception document is digitized, it is desired that many proceedings and processings be linked with each other and automated.
  • a technique is conventionally proposed in which a job template describing desired settings concerning items to be set in a compound machine is prepared in advance, the job template is specified, set values are changed as the need arises, and a set processing is performed.
  • a conventional image forming apparatus for example, a printer, a facsimile machine, a copier, all of which can print images on paper
  • the only object that can be set is “output form”, that is, only the output form (output settings) of the image forming apparatus itself can be set. Accordingly, since the above image forming apparatus does not perform the setting of another printer or scanner connected to a network, or perform the setting of linking processings by other equipment, there has been a problem that plural processings can not be linked with each other.
  • the present invention has been made to address the above problems, and provides a service processing device and method which can link different pieces of equipment connected to a network with each other to perform plural processings to be performed to document data.
  • a service processing device includes an interpretation unit that interprets contents of script data that describes at least a location of document data as a processing object and contents of plural service processing operations to be performed to the document data, and a linkage processing unit that links plural service processing units that are connected to a network with each other to perform the plural service processing operations to the document data on the basis of an interpretation result of the interpretation unit.
  • a service processing method includes the steps of: (1) interpreting contents of script data that describes at least a location of document data as a processing object and contents of plural service processing operations to be performed to the document data; and (2) linking plural service processing units that are connected to a network with each other to perform the plural service processing operations to the document data on the basis of an interpretation result at the interpreting step.
  • a service processing device includes an interpretation unit that interprets contents of script data that describes at least a location of document data as a processing object and contents of plural service processing operations to be performed to the document data, a processing execution unit that executes at least one of the service processing operations to the document data on the basis of an interpretation result of the interpretation unit, and a transmission unit that transmits the script to another service processing device to perform a next service processing operation after the processing execution unit executes the at least one service processing operation.
  • a service processing method includes the steps of: (1) interpreting contents of script data that describes at least a location of document data as a processing object and contents of plural service processing operations to be performed to the document data; (2) executing at least one of the service processing operations to the document data on the basis of an interpretation result at the interpretation step; and (3) transmitting, after execution of the at least one service processing operation is ended, the script to another service processing device for performing a next service processing operation.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a document processing system according to a first embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the flow of information among respective parts of the document processing system
  • FIG. 3 is a view showing the configuration of I/F information stored in respective devices
  • FIG. 4 is a view showing a script editor screen displayed on the GUI of a script editor
  • FIG. 5 is a view showing the configuration of a script created by a script creation part
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a script creation processing
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a linkage processing of a document processing system
  • FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a script list screen indicating the list of scripts
  • FIG. 9 is a block diagram for explaining the flow of information among respective parts of a document processing system according to a second embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 10 is a function block diagram of a compound machine.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a document processing system 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention.
  • the document processing system 1 includes devices and applications for performing various services connected to each other through a network 5 .
  • a service is a function usable on a document in accordance with a request from the outside.
  • Some examples of services are, for example: copy, print, scan, facsimile transmission and reception, mail delivery, storing into repository and readout from repository, OCR (Optical Character Recognition) processing, noise removal processing, and the like.
  • OCR Optical Character Recognition
  • the document processing system 1 includes a client terminal 10 provided with a user interface for linking plural services with each other to indicate a desired processing of a user, a service retrieval server 20 for retrieving the desired service(s) of the user, a script creation server 30 for creating a script from information relating to the service linkage indicated by the client terminal 10 , a script management server 40 for managing the script, and a linkage processing server 50 for executing a linkage processing of the respective services in accordance with the script.
  • a client terminal 10 provided with a user interface for linking plural services with each other to indicate a desired processing of a user
  • a service retrieval server 20 for retrieving the desired service(s) of the user
  • a script creation server 30 for creating a script from information relating to the service linkage indicated by the client terminal 10
  • a script management server 40 for managing the script
  • a linkage processing server 50 for executing a linkage processing of the respective services in accordance with the script.
  • the document processing system 1 includes an image processing device 61 for performing image processing such as, for example, a noise removal processing of an image document, an image rotation processing, an OCR processing, and binding of images, a document management server 62 for managing documents, a document delivery server 63 for delivering documents, a first service processing device 64 for performing a first service processing, and a second service processing device 65 for performing a second service processing.
  • image processing device 61 for performing image processing such as, for example, a noise removal processing of an image document, an image rotation processing, an OCR processing, and binding of images
  • a document management server 62 for managing documents
  • a document delivery server 63 for delivering documents
  • a first service processing device 64 for performing a first service processing
  • a second service processing device 65 for performing a second service processing.
  • the document processing system 1 has the configuration in which the plural servers for performing specific service processings are connected through the network 5 , as long as the plural services are connected through the network 5 , the configuration is not particularly limited.
  • the functions performed by two or more of the above-described services and devices can be performed by a single piece of equipment and/or processor.
  • the script is data containing, in a case where a series of processings are decomposed into plural functional processings: information expressing a relation among the respective functions, interface (I/F) information for invoking the respective functions, and information for configuring a graphical user interface (GUI) relating to the series of processings.
  • information expressing a relation among the respective functions
  • interface (I/F) information for invoking the respective functions
  • GUI graphical user interface
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the mutual relation of the respective service processing devices configuring the document processing system 1 .
  • Each of the service processing devices stores I/F information expressing the contents of the service provided by itself.
  • FIG. 3 is a view showing the configuration of the I/F information.
  • the I/F information is constituted by ⁇ Service Class>, ⁇ Service Name>, ⁇ Service Icon>, ⁇ Service Information Location>, ⁇ Input>, ⁇ Output>, ⁇ Parameter Restriction Rules>, ⁇ Service Location>, ⁇ Method Name>, ⁇ Invocation Scheme>, and ⁇ Implicit Elements>.
  • the ⁇ Service Class> is a class (processing content) of the service provided by the service processing device. Specific examples of a ⁇ Service Class> include, for example: scan, print, repository, flow and the like.
  • the ⁇ Service Name> is a name of the service provided by the service processing device.
  • the ⁇ Service Icon> is position information of an icon displayed on the GUI of the client terminal 10 .
  • the ⁇ Service Information Location> is a URL which the script creation server 30 uses for acquisition of the I/F information.
  • the ⁇ Input> is an input to the service.
  • the ⁇ Output> is an output from the service.
  • the ⁇ Parameter Restriction Rules> are restriction rules applied to the ⁇ Input>.
  • the ⁇ Service Location> is position information when the service is actually used. In the ⁇ Method Name>, a provision method of a service processing and a name expressing the service are described.
  • the ⁇ Invocation Scheme> is a scheme for invoking and starting the service processing.
  • Some examples of the ⁇ Invocation Scheme> are, for example; SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) as the protocol of message exchange, SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), and the like.
  • SOAP Simple Object Access Protocol
  • SMTP Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
  • the ⁇ Implicit Elements> are not data which are explicitly delivered as output to a latter stage processing, however, they are data which can be consulted at a latter stage processing.
  • the client terminal 10 performs the function of a graphical user interface (GUI) for performing a specific operation, for example, for indicating the creation of a script or for performing a screen display in order to select the script to be invoked.
  • GUI graphical user interface
  • the service retrieval server 20 retrieves a service corresponding to a retrieval condition from plural services connected to the network 5 .
  • the service retrieval server 20 previously stores part of the I/F information (hereinafter referred to as “partial I/F information”) of various service processing devices, such as the image processing device 61 , the document management server 62 , the document delivery server 63 , the first service processing device 64 , and the second service processing device 65 .
  • the partial I/F information can include, for example, the information of ⁇ Service Class>, ⁇ Service Name>, ⁇ Service Information Location>, ⁇ Input>, and ⁇ Output> in the elements of the I/F information.
  • the service retrieval server 20 uses the partial I/F information of the respective service processing devices to retrieve the service. For example, when a service similar to a specific service is retrieved, the service retrieval server 20 may retrieve services which are coincident to each other in the ⁇ Service Class>, or may retrieve services which are coincident to each other in the ⁇ Input> and ⁇ Output>, or may retrieve services which are coincident to each other in all of these.
  • the script creation server 30 acquires the I/F information from the respective service processing devices, and creates the script for linking the services provided by the respective service processing devices with each other.
  • the script creation server 30 specifically executes the following processing to create the script.
  • the script creation server 30 requests a specific service processing device dispersed on the network 5 to transmit the I/F information relating to the respective services on the basis of the ⁇ Service Information Location>.
  • the script creation server 30 instructs the service retrieval server 20 to retrieve another service processing device that is capable of performing the same service as the specific service processing device. Then, the script creation server 30 has only to acquire the ⁇ Service Information Location> of the another service processing device from the service retrieval server 20 .
  • the script creation server 30 manages the retrieval result from the service retrieval server 20 and the I/F information received from the respective service processing devices.
  • the script creation server 30 creates an HTML file which becomes a GUI screen for defining a job flow (linkage processing) on the basis of the I/F information acquired from the respective service processing devices.
  • the script creation server 30 transmits the HTML file which becomes the GUI screen to the client terminal 10 .
  • FIG. 4 is a view showing a script creation screen 100 as the GUI screen for defining the job flow.
  • the script creation screen 100 is constituted by a service window 101 , a flow window 102 , a logic window 103 , and a property window 104 .
  • the service window 101 displays various usable service processing devices and/or services.
  • the logic window 103 displays the job flow showing linkage patterns among the services.
  • the property window 104 displays detailed setting parameters of respective icons displayed on the service window 101 and the logic window 103 .
  • the user can define the job flow on the flow window 102 by dragging and dropping icons of the service window 101 and icons of the logic window 103 to the flow window 102 .
  • the user further edits the contents displayed on the property window 104 and can fully set the relation between services by using the available logics.
  • the user defines the job flow by dragging and dropping icon(s) of the service window 101 and icon(s) of the logic window 103 to the flow window 102 , and edits the contents displayed on the property window 104 , so that the user can easily create the script for linking various and complicated processings with each other.
  • the client terminal 10 transmits the job flow information defined by the operation of the user to the script creation server 30 in accordance with a CGI (Common Gateway Interface) format.
  • CGI Common Gateway Interface
  • the script creation server 30 creates the script defining the contents of the processing requested of the respective services, input parameters, the way (job flow) of linkage of the respective services, and information for specifying a document as a processing object, such as a document name and storage location information, on the basis of the job flow information relating to the indication of the service linkage from the user and the I/F information of the respective services.
  • the script is constituted by files of an XML format, for example.
  • FIG. 5 is a conceptual view showing the script composed in the XML format. Since the linkage processing itself of the plural services is also regarded as one service, the script has the configuration in which ⁇ Flow> is added to the I/F information shown in FIG. 3 .
  • the ⁇ Flow> is an element for describing the linkage between services and includes ⁇ Invoke>, control structure and logic operation, elements such as ⁇ if> for performing a conditional judgment, the operation indication of the XML structure for adjusting the linkage between the services, and information for specifying a document as a processing object.
  • the ⁇ Invoke> expresses a specific method of a service processing device, and executes invocation of a service.
  • Elements of ⁇ Invoke> include ⁇ Map> expressing the position information of a parameter, and ⁇ Method> expressing a method name to be invoked.
  • the ⁇ if>, ⁇ and>, ⁇ eq> and ⁇ gt> express the control structure, the logic operation and the like, carries out condition branching at the time of the linkage processing and the adjustment of parameters delivered between the services.
  • the script describes all information relating to the control of the linkage processing of the services in the element of the ⁇ flow>.
  • the linkage processing itself expressed by the script is also regarded as one service.
  • the script is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 5 , and it is sufficient as long as the respective services can be linked with each other.
  • the script creation server 30 transmits the script of the XML format as described above to the script management server 40 .
  • the script creation server 30 may directly transmit the script to the linkage processing server 50 .
  • the script management server 40 holds the script transmitted from the script creation server 30 , and transmits the script to the linkage processing server 50 in accordance with a request from the client terminal 10 .
  • the script can be invoked and executed as the need arises, so that it is not necessary to create the script each time a user desires it to be executed, and therefore documents can be efficiently processed.
  • the linkage processing server 50 is a server for interpreting and executing the specified script. When the script is transmitted, the linkage processing server 50 interprets the script, sequentially invokes the respective service processing devices, such as the image processing device 61 , the document management server 62 , and the document delivery server 63 in accordance with the order and the use method described in the script, and executes linkage processing.
  • the linkage processing server 50 also stores the state of the linkage processing that is being executed, and the information of the result of the completed linkage processing, and notifies the state of the linkage processing and the result in accordance with a request from the outside.
  • the linkage processing server 50 interprets the script, and when making a request to the respective service processing devices, the linkage processing server 50 creates individual indication information having the contents of the processing request, input parameters and information for specifying the document as the processing object.
  • the linkage processing server 50 may describe the relation to a processing before or after a processing is performed by the respective service processing devices in the script, or the processing request may be made in an information exchange form intrinsic to each service processing device, not the form of the script.
  • the image processing device 61 is a computer in which a software program for performing an image processing function is installed.
  • the image processing device 61 performs the processing of the document on the basis of the contents of the service processing request contained in the processing request from the linkage processing server 50 , the input parameter, and the information of the document that is the processing object.
  • the image processing device 61 also notifies the service retrieval server 20 of the partial I/F information at the time of invocation. Further, in accordance with the request from the script creation server 30 , the image processing device 61 transmits the I/F information expressing the use method of the image processing service. The I/F information is used when the script is created.
  • the document management server 62 has a document storage function.
  • the document management server 62 carries out the storage, retrieval, and readout of the document, the change of attribute relating to the document, and various processings on the basis of the information contained in the request from the linkage processing server 50 .
  • the document management server 62 also notifies the service retrieval server 20 of the partial I/F information at the time of invocation. Further, the document management server 62 transmits the I/F information expressing the use method of the document management service in accordance with the request from the script creation server 30 .
  • the document delivery server 63 functions to store the acquired document into the indicated document management server, to perform mail transmission or FAX transmission to an indicated transmission destination, and to perform a print output processing to an indicated printer.
  • the document delivery server 63 performs the delivery processing of the document on the basis of the document indicated by the client terminal 10 and the information of the delivery destination.
  • the document delivery server 63 also notifies the service retrieval server 20 of the partial I/F information at the time of invocation. Further, the document delivery server 63 transmits the I/F information expressing the use method of the document delivery processing service in accordance with the request from the script creation server 30 .
  • the first service processing device 64 is a device for performing a specific service processing relating to the document in accordance with the indication from the outside.
  • the first service processing device 64 carries out the service processing to be executed by itself on the basis of the contents of the processing request from the linkage processing server 50 , the input parameter, and the information for specifying the document as the processing object.
  • the first service processing device 64 notifies the service retrieval server 20 of the partial I/F information at the time of invocation. Further, the first service processing device 64 transmits the I/F information expressing the use method of the service processing that it performs in accordance with the request from the script creation server 30 .
  • the second service processing device 65 operates similar to the first service processing device 64 except for the contents of the service processing.
  • the service processing devices such as the image processing device 61 , the document management server 62 , and the document delivery server 63 notify the service retrieval server 20 of the partial I/F information containing the information expressing the respective service summaries and addresses at the invocation processing.
  • the service retrieval server 20 stores the partial I/F information transmitted from the respective service processing devices such as the image processing device 61 , the document management server 62 and the document delivery server 63 . Accordingly, when a specific service retrieval request is issued from, for example, the script creation server 30 or the linkage processing server 50 , the service retrieval server 20 can perform retrieval by using the partial I/F information.
  • the linkage processing server 50 functions as an interpretation unit and as a linkage processing unit.
  • the client terminal 10 functions as a setting unit and as a selection unit.
  • the script creation server 30 functions as a creation unit.
  • the script management server 40 functions as a storage unit.
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the client terminal 10 and the script creation server 30 at the time of creating the script.
  • the client terminal 10 accesses a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of an HTML file created for the user interface screen provided by the script creation server 30 through an installed browser in accordance with the operation of the user (step ST 1 ).
  • a URL Uniform Resource Locator
  • the script creation server 30 transmits the HTML file of the user interface screen to the client terminal 10 in accordance with the browse request from the client terminal 10 (step ST 2 ).
  • the client terminal 10 displays the user interface screen on the basis of the information for constructing the screen and contained in the HTML file transmitted from the script creation server 30 (step ST 3 ). At this time, the user can define a desired service linkage job flow by using the user interface screen displayed on the client terminal 10 .
  • the client terminal 10 judges whether or not the job flow is defined (created), through the user interface screen, and stands by until the job flow is defined (step ST 4 ). When it is judged that the job flow is created, the client terminal 10 transmits the job flow information relating to the service linkage, as defined by the user, to the script creation server 30 .
  • the script creation server 30 creates the script defining the contents of the processing requested to the respective services, input parameters, the way of linkage of the respective services, information for specifying a document as a processing object, such as a document name or storage location information, on the basis of the information relating to the job flow of the service linkage transmitted from the client terminal 10 and the I/F information acquired from the respective service processing devices (step ST 5 ). Then, the script creation server 30 transmits the script of the XML format to the script management server 40 .
  • the script management server 40 stores the script created by the script creation server 30 .
  • the script management server 40 stores plural scripts created by the script creation server 30 , and when the selection indication of the script is issued from the client terminal 10 , the selected script is read out.
  • the user selects a desired script among the plural scripts stored in the script management server 40 , and can invoke the linkage processing.
  • a desired script among the plural scripts stored in the script management server 40 , and can invoke the linkage processing.
  • a specific example is described below.
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing of the client terminal 10 , the script management server 40 and the linkage processing server 50 .
  • a description will be given of a case where an image processing such as noise removal and OCR processing is performed to a specific document, and a processing to bind an extracted text document and image document is performed, the bound document is stored into a specific storage destination, only the text document in the bound document is mailed to a mail address specified as a delivery destination, and only the image document is faxed to a specified FAX number.
  • the client terminal 10 accesses the script management server 40 and acquires the script list managed by the script management server 40 (step ST 11 ).
  • FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a service linkage processing selection screen 110 expressing the script list.
  • the service linkage processing selection screen 110 has buttons 111 to 116 for selecting scripts. The user can select the script by clicking a desired button from the service linkage processing selection screen 110 .
  • the client terminal 10 selects the script expressing the specific service linkage processing from the service linkage processing selection screen 110 on the basis of the operation indication of the user, and indicates the invocation of the script.
  • the parameter input screen is displayed to urge the user to input parameters (if any) necessary for execution of the job.
  • the script management server 40 transmits the script indicated by the client terminal 10 to the linkage processing server 50 (step ST 12 ). As a result, the linkage processing server 50 starts the execution of the linkage processing.
  • the linkage processing server 50 interprets the script transmitted from the script management server 40 , and requests the image processing device 61 as the first processing described in the script to execute the first service processing (step ST 13 ). Specifically, the linkage processing server 50 extracts the location of the service processing device to which the processing request is made, the input parameter and output parameter form necessary for the processing request, the method name for the processing request, invocation scheme, and the information for specifying the processing object document on the basis of the information described in the script, and creates individual indication information. The linkage processing server 50 transmits the individual indication information to the image processing device 61 as the first processing request destination.
  • the image processing device 61 copies the processing object document and acquires the document on the basis of the location information of the storage destination of the processing object document described in the transmitted script.
  • the image processing device 61 interprets the contents of the service processing request with respect to the acquired document image, performs the image processing such as noise removal and OCR processing, and performs a processing to bind it to the extracted text document.
  • the image processing device 61 again stores into the original storage destination, the document in which the image document obtained by the image processing and the text document are bound.
  • the image processing device 61 transmits the processing result, such as the status information (completion) of the processing, the output parameters, and the document storage destination information after the processing, to the linkage processing server 50 .
  • the linkage processing server 50 When receiving the processing result from the image processing device 61 , the linkage processing server 50 manages the result of the first processing request as a log. Then, the linkage processing server 50 specifies a second processing request destination on the basis of the script, and requests the document management server 62 to perform a second service processing (step ST 14 ). Similar to the first service processing request, the linkage processing server 50 transmits individual indication information (information to store a document as information relating to a processing request, information of a storage destination of the document, and information to specify a processing object document) to the document management server 62 .
  • the document management server 62 On the basis of the contents of the request of the linkage processing server 50 , the document management server 62 performs, on the basis of the storage destination information described in the request content, a storage processing of the document processed and stored in the previous processing (first service processing). When the processing as stated above is completed, the document management server 62 transmits the processing result, such as the status information (completion) of the processing, the output parameter, and document storage destination information after the processing, to the linkage processing server 50 .
  • the processing result such as the status information (completion) of the processing, the output parameter, and document storage destination information after the processing
  • the linkage processing server 50 When receiving the processing result of the second service processing (document storage processing), the linkage processing server 50 manages the result of the second processing request as a log.
  • the linkage processing server 50 specifies a third processing request destination on the basis of the script, and requests the document delivery server 63 to carry out a third service processing (step ST 15 ). Similar to the second service processing request, the linkage processing server 50 transmits individual indication information (information to store a document as information relating to the processing request, information of a storage destination of the document, and information to specify the processing object document) to the document delivery server 63 .
  • the document delivery server 63 On the basis of the contents of the request of the linkage processing server 50 , with respect to the document processed and stored in the previous processing (second service processing), the document delivery server 63 reads out the document file on the basis of the information (storage destination information) to specify the document, and performs the processing described in the contents of the request.
  • the document delivery server 63 mails only a text document to a mail address specified as a delivery destination in the document in which the text document and the image document are bound, and faxes only the image document to a FAX number.
  • the document delivery server 63 transmits the processing result, such as the status information (completion) of the processing, the output parameter, and document storage destination information after the processing, to the linkage processing server 50 .
  • the document delivery server 63 transmits the status information “mail transmission; completed, FAX transmission: non-transmission” to the linkage processing server 50 .
  • the linkage processing server 50 receives the processing result from the third service processing, and when judging that a next processing is not described in the script, the linkage processing server 50 notifies the client terminal 10 that all processings are completed, and ends the linkage processing (step ST 16 ).
  • the respective parts such as the server connected to the network 5 , may be respectively constructed as independent devices, some parts can be combined to be provided in one apparatus, or all parts may be provided in one apparatus.
  • the GUI function of the client terminal 10 for performing various operations such as script creation and script selection, the script creation function of the script creation server 30 , the script management function of the script management server 40 , the linkage processing function of the linkage processing server 50 , the image processing function of the image processing device 61 , the document management function of the document management server 62 , and the document delivery function of the document delivery server 63 may be provided in a compound machine 70 including various functions as functions to perform service processings, such as the copy function, FAX function, scanner function, and print function.
  • the creation and storage of the script can be performed, and with respect to document data stored in the compound machine 70 , the image processing such as noise removal processing and OCR processing, the storage processing of document data after the processing, FAX transmission, mail transmission and the like can be performed in linkage with each other.
  • the client terminal 10 it also is possible for the client terminal 10 to perform creation of the script and selection.
  • the document data as the processing object and the script may be stored in another external device connected to the network 5 .
  • the document data stored in the compound machine 70 or the document data stored in the another external device need not be processed by the compound machine 70 , but may be processed by another compound machine connected to the network or external devices respectively connected to the network and having various processing functions.
  • the service retrieval server 20 acquires part (partial I/F information) of the I/F information from the respective service processing devices, all of the I/F information may be acquired.
  • FIG. 9 is a block diagram for explaining the mutual relation among respective service processing devices constituting a document processing system 80 according to the second embodiment.
  • the document processing system 80 according to the second embodiment can carry out the linkage processing of plural services without using the linkage processing server 50 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 .
  • FIG. 9 shows only the service processing devices relating to the linkage processing.
  • a user selects a desired script among plural scripts stored in a script management server 40 and can invoke the linkage processing. Specifically, this is as follows.
  • a client terminal 10 selects a script expressing a desired service linkage processing from a service linkage processing selection screen in accordance with the operation of the user, and indicates the invocation of the script.
  • the script management server 40 transmits the script indicated by the client terminal 10 to an image processing device 61 .
  • the image processing device 61 acquires a document as a processing object on the basis of storage destination location information of the processing object document described in the transmitted script.
  • the image processing device 61 interprets the contents of a service processing request with respect to the acquired document image, performs the image processing such as noise removal and OCR processing, and performs a processing to bind it to the extracted text document. After the specific image processing is ended, the image processing device 61 deletes the service processing request described in the script.
  • the image processing device 61 transmits the document in which the image document obtained by the image processing and the text document are bound, and the script including the processing result such as the status information (completion) of the processing, the output parameter, and document storage destination information after the processing, to a document management server 62 for providing a next service processing.
  • the image processing device 61 corrects or deletes a portion relating to its own service request described in the script, and may transmit it to the document management server 62 . Further, the image processing device 61 may transmit the script to a next service processing device after the specific image processing is ended.
  • the document management server 62 temporarily stores the document transmitted from the image processing device 61 into a storage destination described in the script. Then, the document management server 62 deletes the service processing request described in the script, and transmits the document and the script to a document delivery server 63 to perform a next service processing.
  • the document delivery server 63 mails only the text document to a mail address specified as a delivery destination in the document in which the text document and the image document are bound, and faxes only the image document to a specified FAX number. Then, when judging that a next processing is not described in the script, the document delivery server 63 notifies the client terminal 10 that all processings are completed, and ends the linkage processing.
  • the respective parts, such as the servers, connected to the network 5 may be respectively configured as independent devices, some parts may be combined to be provided in one apparatus, or all parts may be provided in one apparatus.
  • the present invention has an effect that it is possible to link plural equipments connected to the network with each other to perform plural processings to be performed to the document data.
  • the various servers and devices can be individual units or can be combined into one or more than one unit.
  • Each of these servers and devices includes a controller that causes (controls) it to perform the functions described above.
  • the servers and devices are combined into one or more than one unit, then there would be one or more than one controller to perform the functions described above.
  • the invention can be implemented by one or more programmed general purpose computers.
  • the controller can be implemented using a single special purpose integrated circuit (e.g., ASIC) having a main or central processor section for overall, system-level control, and separate sections dedicated to performing various different specific computations, functions and other processes under control of the central processor section.
  • the controller can be a plurality of separate dedicated or programmable integrated or other electronic circuits or devices (e.g., hardwired electronic or logic circuits such as discrete element circuits, or programmable logic devices such as PLDs, PLAs, PALs or the like).
  • the controller(s) can be implemented using a suitably programmed general purpose computer(s), e.g., a microprocessor, microcontroller or other processor device (CPU or MPU), either alone or in conjunction with one or more peripheral (e.g., integrated circuit) data and signal processing devices.
  • a suitably programmed general purpose computer e.g., a microprocessor, microcontroller or other processor device (CPU or MPU), either alone or in conjunction with one or more peripheral (e.g., integrated circuit) data and signal processing devices.
  • CPU or MPU processor device
  • peripheral e.g., integrated circuit

Abstract

A plurality of equipment connected to a network are linked with each other to perform plural processing operations to document data. When, for example, a user defines a desired service linkage job flow by using, for example, a GUI screen displayed on a client terminal, job flow information is transmitted to a script creation server, and a script is created in which processing contents and a storage location of a document as a processing object are defined. The created script can be stored in a storage unit such as, for example, a script management server. When the user selects a desired script among plural scripts stored in the script management server, the selected script is transmitted to a linkage processing server. The linkage processing server interprets the script, makes a processing request to respective devices such as, for example, an image processing device so that the document is processed in accordance with the processing contents described in the script, and links the devices with each other to perform plural processing operations.

Description

  • This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 10/725,408 filed Dec. 3, 2003. The disclosure of the prior application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
  • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • 1. Field of Invention
  • The present invention relates to a service processing device and method, and particularly to a service processing device and method suitable for use in a workflow system in which a paper document is digitized to construct workflow.
  • 2. Description of Related Art
  • It is known to provide a compound machine in which facsimile, scanner and printer functions are integrated in one machine, which also can function as a copy machine. With such a machine, it is possible to link paperwork mainly using paper and employing a copying machine, a facsimile machine or the like with processing of documents digitized on a personal computer.
  • For example, a paper document can be scanned and then can be transferred to a personal computer, or a document received through a facsimile machine can be directly transmitted as image data to a personal computer, rather than being printed. Further, after the paper document or the facsimile reception document is digitized, it is desired that many proceedings and processings be linked with each other and automated.
  • Thus, a technique is conventionally proposed in which a job template describing desired settings concerning items to be set in a compound machine is prepared in advance, the job template is specified, set values are changed as the need arises, and a set processing is performed.
  • For example, a conventional image forming apparatus (for example, a printer, a facsimile machine, a copier, all of which can print images on paper) stores the plural output setting data (job template) for setting output forms, and can form and output an image in the output form in accordance with the selected output setting data (see, for example, JP-A-10-83263 (pages 5 to 7, FIGS. 2 and 5)).
  • However, for example, in the image forming apparatus disclosed in JP-A-10-83263, the only object that can be set is “output form”, that is, only the output form (output settings) of the image forming apparatus itself can be set. Accordingly, since the above image forming apparatus does not perform the setting of another printer or scanner connected to a network, or perform the setting of linking processings by other equipment, there has been a problem that plural processings can not be linked with each other.
  • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • The present invention has been made to address the above problems, and provides a service processing device and method which can link different pieces of equipment connected to a network with each other to perform plural processings to be performed to document data.
  • In order to address the above problems, according to an aspect of the invention, a service processing device includes an interpretation unit that interprets contents of script data that describes at least a location of document data as a processing object and contents of plural service processing operations to be performed to the document data, and a linkage processing unit that links plural service processing units that are connected to a network with each other to perform the plural service processing operations to the document data on the basis of an interpretation result of the interpretation unit.
  • According to another aspect of the invention, a service processing method includes the steps of: (1) interpreting contents of script data that describes at least a location of document data as a processing object and contents of plural service processing operations to be performed to the document data; and (2) linking plural service processing units that are connected to a network with each other to perform the plural service processing operations to the document data on the basis of an interpretation result at the interpreting step.
  • According to another aspect of the invention, a service processing device includes an interpretation unit that interprets contents of script data that describes at least a location of document data as a processing object and contents of plural service processing operations to be performed to the document data, a processing execution unit that executes at least one of the service processing operations to the document data on the basis of an interpretation result of the interpretation unit, and a transmission unit that transmits the script to another service processing device to perform a next service processing operation after the processing execution unit executes the at least one service processing operation.
  • According to another aspect of the invention, a service processing method includes the steps of: (1) interpreting contents of script data that describes at least a location of document data as a processing object and contents of plural service processing operations to be performed to the document data; (2) executing at least one of the service processing operations to the document data on the basis of an interpretation result at the interpretation step; and (3) transmitting, after execution of the at least one service processing operation is ended, the script to another service processing device for performing a next service processing operation.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • Preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, in which:
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a document processing system according to a first embodiment of the invention;
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the flow of information among respective parts of the document processing system;
  • FIG. 3 is a view showing the configuration of I/F information stored in respective devices;
  • FIG. 4 is a view showing a script editor screen displayed on the GUI of a script editor;
  • FIG. 5 is a view showing the configuration of a script created by a script creation part;
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a script creation processing;
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a linkage processing of a document processing system;
  • FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a script list screen indicating the list of scripts;
  • FIG. 9 is a block diagram for explaining the flow of information among respective parts of a document processing system according to a second embodiment of the invention; and
  • FIG. 10 is a function block diagram of a compound machine.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
  • Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a document processing system 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention.
  • The document processing system 1 includes devices and applications for performing various services connected to each other through a network 5. A service is a function usable on a document in accordance with a request from the outside. Some examples of services are, for example: copy, print, scan, facsimile transmission and reception, mail delivery, storing into repository and readout from repository, OCR (Optical Character Recognition) processing, noise removal processing, and the like. The invention is not limited to these particular services.
  • The document processing system 1 includes a client terminal 10 provided with a user interface for linking plural services with each other to indicate a desired processing of a user, a service retrieval server 20 for retrieving the desired service(s) of the user, a script creation server 30 for creating a script from information relating to the service linkage indicated by the client terminal 10, a script management server 40 for managing the script, and a linkage processing server 50 for executing a linkage processing of the respective services in accordance with the script.
  • Further, the document processing system 1 includes an image processing device 61 for performing image processing such as, for example, a noise removal processing of an image document, an image rotation processing, an OCR processing, and binding of images, a document management server 62 for managing documents, a document delivery server 63 for delivering documents, a first service processing device 64 for performing a first service processing, and a second service processing device 65 for performing a second service processing.
  • According to the embodiment, although the document processing system 1 has the configuration in which the plural servers for performing specific service processings are connected through the network 5, as long as the plural services are connected through the network 5, the configuration is not particularly limited. For example, the functions performed by two or more of the above-described services and devices can be performed by a single piece of equipment and/or processor.
  • In the present example, the script is data containing, in a case where a series of processings are decomposed into plural functional processings: information expressing a relation among the respective functions, interface (I/F) information for invoking the respective functions, and information for configuring a graphical user interface (GUI) relating to the series of processings.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the mutual relation of the respective service processing devices configuring the document processing system 1. Each of the service processing devices stores I/F information expressing the contents of the service provided by itself.
  • FIG. 3 is a view showing the configuration of the I/F information. The I/F information is constituted by <Service Class>, <Service Name>, <Service Icon>, <Service Information Location>, <Input>, <Output>, <Parameter Restriction Rules>, <Service Location>, <Method Name>, <Invocation Scheme>, and <Implicit Elements>.
  • The <Service Class> is a class (processing content) of the service provided by the service processing device. Specific examples of a <Service Class> include, for example: scan, print, repository, flow and the like. The <Service Name> is a name of the service provided by the service processing device. The <Service Icon> is position information of an icon displayed on the GUI of the client terminal 10.
  • The <Service Information Location> is a URL which the script creation server 30 uses for acquisition of the I/F information. The <Input> is an input to the service. The <Output> is an output from the service. The <Parameter Restriction Rules> are restriction rules applied to the <Input>. The <Service Location> is position information when the service is actually used. In the <Method Name>, a provision method of a service processing and a name expressing the service are described.
  • The <Invocation Scheme> is a scheme for invoking and starting the service processing. Some examples of the <Invocation Scheme> are, for example; SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) as the protocol of message exchange, SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), and the like. The <Implicit Elements> are not data which are explicitly delivered as output to a latter stage processing, however, they are data which can be consulted at a latter stage processing.
  • The client terminal 10 performs the function of a graphical user interface (GUI) for performing a specific operation, for example, for indicating the creation of a script or for performing a screen display in order to select the script to be invoked.
  • The service retrieval server 20 retrieves a service corresponding to a retrieval condition from plural services connected to the network 5. The service retrieval server 20 previously stores part of the I/F information (hereinafter referred to as “partial I/F information”) of various service processing devices, such as the image processing device 61, the document management server 62, the document delivery server 63, the first service processing device 64, and the second service processing device 65. The partial I/F information can include, for example, the information of <Service Class>, <Service Name>, <Service Information Location>, <Input>, and <Output> in the elements of the I/F information.
  • When the retrieval condition is transmitted from the script creation server 30 or from the linkage processing server 50, the service retrieval server 20 uses the partial I/F information of the respective service processing devices to retrieve the service. For example, when a service similar to a specific service is retrieved, the service retrieval server 20 may retrieve services which are coincident to each other in the <Service Class>, or may retrieve services which are coincident to each other in the <Input> and <Output>, or may retrieve services which are coincident to each other in all of these.
  • At the time of creation of the script, the script creation server 30 acquires the I/F information from the respective service processing devices, and creates the script for linking the services provided by the respective service processing devices with each other. The script creation server 30 specifically executes the following processing to create the script.
  • The script creation server 30 requests a specific service processing device dispersed on the network 5 to transmit the I/F information relating to the respective services on the basis of the <Service Information Location>. In the case where the specific service processing device does not exist, the script creation server 30 instructs the service retrieval server 20 to retrieve another service processing device that is capable of performing the same service as the specific service processing device. Then, the script creation server 30 has only to acquire the <Service Information Location> of the another service processing device from the service retrieval server 20.
  • The script creation server 30 manages the retrieval result from the service retrieval server 20 and the I/F information received from the respective service processing devices. The script creation server 30 creates an HTML file which becomes a GUI screen for defining a job flow (linkage processing) on the basis of the I/F information acquired from the respective service processing devices. When receiving a browse request for services from the client terminal 10, the script creation server 30 transmits the HTML file which becomes the GUI screen to the client terminal 10.
  • FIG. 4 is a view showing a script creation screen 100 as the GUI screen for defining the job flow. The script creation screen 100 is constituted by a service window 101, a flow window 102, a logic window 103, and a property window 104.
  • The service window 101 displays various usable service processing devices and/or services. The logic window 103 displays the job flow showing linkage patterns among the services. The property window 104 displays detailed setting parameters of respective icons displayed on the service window 101 and the logic window 103.
  • The user can define the job flow on the flow window 102 by dragging and dropping icons of the service window 101 and icons of the logic window 103 to the flow window 102. The user further edits the contents displayed on the property window 104 and can fully set the relation between services by using the available logics.
  • As stated above, the user defines the job flow by dragging and dropping icon(s) of the service window 101 and icon(s) of the logic window 103 to the flow window 102, and edits the contents displayed on the property window 104, so that the user can easily create the script for linking various and complicated processings with each other.
  • The client terminal 10 transmits the job flow information defined by the operation of the user to the script creation server 30 in accordance with a CGI (Common Gateway Interface) format.
  • The script creation server 30 creates the script defining the contents of the processing requested of the respective services, input parameters, the way (job flow) of linkage of the respective services, and information for specifying a document as a processing object, such as a document name and storage location information, on the basis of the job flow information relating to the indication of the service linkage from the user and the I/F information of the respective services. The script is constituted by files of an XML format, for example.
  • FIG. 5 is a conceptual view showing the script composed in the XML format. Since the linkage processing itself of the plural services is also regarded as one service, the script has the configuration in which <Flow> is added to the I/F information shown in FIG. 3.
  • The <Flow> is an element for describing the linkage between services and includes <Invoke>, control structure and logic operation, elements such as <if> for performing a conditional judgment, the operation indication of the XML structure for adjusting the linkage between the services, and information for specifying a document as a processing object.
  • The <Invoke> expresses a specific method of a service processing device, and executes invocation of a service. Elements of <Invoke> include <Map> expressing the position information of a parameter, and <Method> expressing a method name to be invoked. The <if>, <and>, <eq> and <gt> express the control structure, the logic operation and the like, carries out condition branching at the time of the linkage processing and the adjustment of parameters delivered between the services.
  • The script describes all information relating to the control of the linkage processing of the services in the element of the <flow>. By this process, the linkage processing itself expressed by the script is also regarded as one service. The script is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 5, and it is sufficient as long as the respective services can be linked with each other.
  • The script creation server 30 transmits the script of the XML format as described above to the script management server 40. In the case where immediate execution of the service linkage processing is indicated by the user, the script creation server 30 may directly transmit the script to the linkage processing server 50.
  • The script management server 40 holds the script transmitted from the script creation server 30, and transmits the script to the linkage processing server 50 in accordance with a request from the client terminal 10. As stated above, when the created script is stored and held, the script can be invoked and executed as the need arises, so that it is not necessary to create the script each time a user desires it to be executed, and therefore documents can be efficiently processed.
  • The linkage processing server 50 is a server for interpreting and executing the specified script. When the script is transmitted, the linkage processing server 50 interprets the script, sequentially invokes the respective service processing devices, such as the image processing device 61, the document management server 62, and the document delivery server 63 in accordance with the order and the use method described in the script, and executes linkage processing. The linkage processing server 50 also stores the state of the linkage processing that is being executed, and the information of the result of the completed linkage processing, and notifies the state of the linkage processing and the result in accordance with a request from the outside.
  • The linkage processing server 50 interprets the script, and when making a request to the respective service processing devices, the linkage processing server 50 creates individual indication information having the contents of the processing request, input parameters and information for specifying the document as the processing object. The linkage processing server 50 may describe the relation to a processing before or after a processing is performed by the respective service processing devices in the script, or the processing request may be made in an information exchange form intrinsic to each service processing device, not the form of the script.
  • The image processing device 61 is a computer in which a software program for performing an image processing function is installed. The image processing device 61 performs the processing of the document on the basis of the contents of the service processing request contained in the processing request from the linkage processing server 50, the input parameter, and the information of the document that is the processing object. The image processing device 61 also notifies the service retrieval server 20 of the partial I/F information at the time of invocation. Further, in accordance with the request from the script creation server 30, the image processing device 61 transmits the I/F information expressing the use method of the image processing service. The I/F information is used when the script is created.
  • The document management server 62 has a document storage function. The document management server 62 carries out the storage, retrieval, and readout of the document, the change of attribute relating to the document, and various processings on the basis of the information contained in the request from the linkage processing server 50. The document management server 62 also notifies the service retrieval server 20 of the partial I/F information at the time of invocation. Further, the document management server 62 transmits the I/F information expressing the use method of the document management service in accordance with the request from the script creation server 30.
  • The document delivery server 63 functions to store the acquired document into the indicated document management server, to perform mail transmission or FAX transmission to an indicated transmission destination, and to perform a print output processing to an indicated printer. In accordance with the request from the linkage processing server 50, the document delivery server 63 performs the delivery processing of the document on the basis of the document indicated by the client terminal 10 and the information of the delivery destination. The document delivery server 63 also notifies the service retrieval server 20 of the partial I/F information at the time of invocation. Further, the document delivery server 63 transmits the I/F information expressing the use method of the document delivery processing service in accordance with the request from the script creation server 30.
  • The first service processing device 64 is a device for performing a specific service processing relating to the document in accordance with the indication from the outside. Here, the first service processing device 64 carries out the service processing to be executed by itself on the basis of the contents of the processing request from the linkage processing server 50, the input parameter, and the information for specifying the document as the processing object. The first service processing device 64 notifies the service retrieval server 20 of the partial I/F information at the time of invocation. Further, the first service processing device 64 transmits the I/F information expressing the use method of the service processing that it performs in accordance with the request from the script creation server 30. The second service processing device 65 operates similar to the first service processing device 64 except for the contents of the service processing.
  • In the document processing system 1 configured as described above, when application programs for executing specific services are installed in the respective service processing devices such as the image processing device 61, the document management server 62, and the document delivery server 63, they operate as follows.
  • The service processing devices such as the image processing device 61, the document management server 62, and the document delivery server 63 notify the service retrieval server 20 of the partial I/F information containing the information expressing the respective service summaries and addresses at the invocation processing.
  • The service retrieval server 20 stores the partial I/F information transmitted from the respective service processing devices such as the image processing device 61, the document management server 62 and the document delivery server 63. Accordingly, when a specific service retrieval request is issued from, for example, the script creation server 30 or the linkage processing server 50, the service retrieval server 20 can perform retrieval by using the partial I/F information.
  • The linkage processing server 50 functions as an interpretation unit and as a linkage processing unit. The client terminal 10 functions as a setting unit and as a selection unit. The script creation server 30 functions as a creation unit. The script management server 40 functions as a storage unit.
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the client terminal 10 and the script creation server 30 at the time of creating the script.
  • The client terminal 10 accesses a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of an HTML file created for the user interface screen provided by the script creation server 30 through an installed browser in accordance with the operation of the user (step ST1).
  • The script creation server 30 transmits the HTML file of the user interface screen to the client terminal 10 in accordance with the browse request from the client terminal 10 (step ST2).
  • The client terminal 10 displays the user interface screen on the basis of the information for constructing the screen and contained in the HTML file transmitted from the script creation server 30 (step ST3). At this time, the user can define a desired service linkage job flow by using the user interface screen displayed on the client terminal 10.
  • The client terminal 10 judges whether or not the job flow is defined (created), through the user interface screen, and stands by until the job flow is defined (step ST4). When it is judged that the job flow is created, the client terminal 10 transmits the job flow information relating to the service linkage, as defined by the user, to the script creation server 30.
  • The script creation server 30 creates the script defining the contents of the processing requested to the respective services, input parameters, the way of linkage of the respective services, information for specifying a document as a processing object, such as a document name or storage location information, on the basis of the information relating to the job flow of the service linkage transmitted from the client terminal 10 and the I/F information acquired from the respective service processing devices (step ST5). Then, the script creation server 30 transmits the script of the XML format to the script management server 40.
  • The script management server 40 stores the script created by the script creation server 30. The script management server 40 stores plural scripts created by the script creation server 30, and when the selection indication of the script is issued from the client terminal 10, the selected script is read out.
  • The user selects a desired script among the plural scripts stored in the script management server 40, and can invoke the linkage processing. A specific example is described below.
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing of the client terminal 10, the script management server 40 and the linkage processing server 50. Here, a description will be given of a case where an image processing such as noise removal and OCR processing is performed to a specific document, and a processing to bind an extracted text document and image document is performed, the bound document is stored into a specific storage destination, only the text document in the bound document is mailed to a mail address specified as a delivery destination, and only the image document is faxed to a specified FAX number.
  • The client terminal 10 accesses the script management server 40 and acquires the script list managed by the script management server 40 (step ST11).
  • FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a service linkage processing selection screen 110 expressing the script list. The service linkage processing selection screen 110 has buttons 111 to 116 for selecting scripts. The user can select the script by clicking a desired button from the service linkage processing selection screen 110.
  • The client terminal 10 selects the script expressing the specific service linkage processing from the service linkage processing selection screen 110 on the basis of the operation indication of the user, and indicates the invocation of the script. At this time, as the need arises, the parameter input screen is displayed to urge the user to input parameters (if any) necessary for execution of the job.
  • The script management server 40 transmits the script indicated by the client terminal 10 to the linkage processing server 50 (step ST12). As a result, the linkage processing server 50 starts the execution of the linkage processing.
  • The linkage processing server 50 interprets the script transmitted from the script management server 40, and requests the image processing device 61 as the first processing described in the script to execute the first service processing (step ST13). Specifically, the linkage processing server 50 extracts the location of the service processing device to which the processing request is made, the input parameter and output parameter form necessary for the processing request, the method name for the processing request, invocation scheme, and the information for specifying the processing object document on the basis of the information described in the script, and creates individual indication information. The linkage processing server 50 transmits the individual indication information to the image processing device 61 as the first processing request destination.
  • The image processing device 61 copies the processing object document and acquires the document on the basis of the location information of the storage destination of the processing object document described in the transmitted script. The image processing device 61 interprets the contents of the service processing request with respect to the acquired document image, performs the image processing such as noise removal and OCR processing, and performs a processing to bind it to the extracted text document. The image processing device 61 again stores into the original storage destination, the document in which the image document obtained by the image processing and the text document are bound. When the processing as stated above is completed, the image processing device 61 transmits the processing result, such as the status information (completion) of the processing, the output parameters, and the document storage destination information after the processing, to the linkage processing server 50.
  • When receiving the processing result from the image processing device 61, the linkage processing server 50 manages the result of the first processing request as a log. Then, the linkage processing server 50 specifies a second processing request destination on the basis of the script, and requests the document management server 62 to perform a second service processing (step ST14). Similar to the first service processing request, the linkage processing server 50 transmits individual indication information (information to store a document as information relating to a processing request, information of a storage destination of the document, and information to specify a processing object document) to the document management server 62.
  • On the basis of the contents of the request of the linkage processing server 50, the document management server 62 performs, on the basis of the storage destination information described in the request content, a storage processing of the document processed and stored in the previous processing (first service processing). When the processing as stated above is completed, the document management server 62 transmits the processing result, such as the status information (completion) of the processing, the output parameter, and document storage destination information after the processing, to the linkage processing server 50.
  • When receiving the processing result of the second service processing (document storage processing), the linkage processing server 50 manages the result of the second processing request as a log. The linkage processing server 50 specifies a third processing request destination on the basis of the script, and requests the document delivery server 63 to carry out a third service processing (step ST15). Similar to the second service processing request, the linkage processing server 50 transmits individual indication information (information to store a document as information relating to the processing request, information of a storage destination of the document, and information to specify the processing object document) to the document delivery server 63.
  • On the basis of the contents of the request of the linkage processing server 50, with respect to the document processed and stored in the previous processing (second service processing), the document delivery server 63 reads out the document file on the basis of the information (storage destination information) to specify the document, and performs the processing described in the contents of the request. Here, the document delivery server 63 mails only a text document to a mail address specified as a delivery destination in the document in which the text document and the image document are bound, and faxes only the image document to a FAX number. When the processing is completed, the document delivery server 63 transmits the processing result, such as the status information (completion) of the processing, the output parameter, and document storage destination information after the processing, to the linkage processing server 50.
  • In this processing, for example, in the case where during the FAX transmission processing, the opposite party was engaged on the phone (i.e., the line was busy), and even if a retry was performed a predetermined number of times, the connection with the opposite party could not be established, the document delivery server 63 transmits the status information “mail transmission; completed, FAX transmission: non-transmission” to the linkage processing server 50.
  • The linkage processing server 50 receives the processing result from the third service processing, and when judging that a next processing is not described in the script, the linkage processing server 50 notifies the client terminal 10 that all processings are completed, and ends the linkage processing (step ST16).
  • As stated above, in accordance with the script in which the information relating to the indication of the linkage of plural service processings to be performed to the document, and the information relating to the storage position of the document are described, the service processings to be carried out in the processing parts respectively connected to the network are linked with each other, various and complicated processings can be efficiently performed.
  • The respective parts, such as the server connected to the network 5, may be respectively constructed as independent devices, some parts can be combined to be provided in one apparatus, or all parts may be provided in one apparatus.
  • For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the GUI function of the client terminal 10 for performing various operations such as script creation and script selection, the script creation function of the script creation server 30, the script management function of the script management server 40, the linkage processing function of the linkage processing server 50, the image processing function of the image processing device 61, the document management function of the document management server 62, and the document delivery function of the document delivery server 63 may be provided in a compound machine 70 including various functions as functions to perform service processings, such as the copy function, FAX function, scanner function, and print function.
  • In this case, in the compound machine 70, the creation and storage of the script can be performed, and with respect to document data stored in the compound machine 70, the image processing such as noise removal processing and OCR processing, the storage processing of document data after the processing, FAX transmission, mail transmission and the like can be performed in linkage with each other. Of course, similar to the above embodiment, it also is possible for the client terminal 10 to perform creation of the script and selection.
  • The document data as the processing object and the script may be stored in another external device connected to the network 5. The document data stored in the compound machine 70 or the document data stored in the another external device need not be processed by the compound machine 70, but may be processed by another compound machine connected to the network or external devices respectively connected to the network and having various processing functions.
  • In this embodiment, although the service retrieval server 20 acquires part (partial I/F information) of the I/F information from the respective service processing devices, all of the I/F information may be acquired.
  • Next, a second embodiment of the invention will be described. The same parts as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and their detailed description will be omitted.
  • FIG. 9 is a block diagram for explaining the mutual relation among respective service processing devices constituting a document processing system 80 according to the second embodiment. The document processing system 80 according to the second embodiment can carry out the linkage processing of plural services without using the linkage processing server 50 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • Although the document processing system 80 includes the service processing devices (except for the linkage processing server 50) shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 9 shows only the service processing devices relating to the linkage processing.
  • A user selects a desired script among plural scripts stored in a script management server 40 and can invoke the linkage processing. Specifically, this is as follows.
  • A client terminal 10 selects a script expressing a desired service linkage processing from a service linkage processing selection screen in accordance with the operation of the user, and indicates the invocation of the script. The script management server 40 transmits the script indicated by the client terminal 10 to an image processing device 61.
  • The image processing device 61 acquires a document as a processing object on the basis of storage destination location information of the processing object document described in the transmitted script. The image processing device 61 interprets the contents of a service processing request with respect to the acquired document image, performs the image processing such as noise removal and OCR processing, and performs a processing to bind it to the extracted text document. After the specific image processing is ended, the image processing device 61 deletes the service processing request described in the script. Then, the image processing device 61 transmits the document in which the image document obtained by the image processing and the text document are bound, and the script including the processing result such as the status information (completion) of the processing, the output parameter, and document storage destination information after the processing, to a document management server 62 for providing a next service processing.
  • After the specific image processing is ended, the image processing device 61 corrects or deletes a portion relating to its own service request described in the script, and may transmit it to the document management server 62. Further, the image processing device 61 may transmit the script to a next service processing device after the specific image processing is ended.
  • The document management server 62 temporarily stores the document transmitted from the image processing device 61 into a storage destination described in the script. Then, the document management server 62 deletes the service processing request described in the script, and transmits the document and the script to a document delivery server 63 to perform a next service processing.
  • On the basis of the script, the document delivery server 63 mails only the text document to a mail address specified as a delivery destination in the document in which the text document and the image document are bound, and faxes only the image document to a specified FAX number. Then, when judging that a next processing is not described in the script, the document delivery server 63 notifies the client terminal 10 that all processings are completed, and ends the linkage processing.
  • Also in this embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the respective parts, such as the servers, connected to the network 5 may be respectively configured as independent devices, some parts may be combined to be provided in one apparatus, or all parts may be provided in one apparatus.
  • The present invention has an effect that it is possible to link plural equipments connected to the network with each other to perform plural processings to be performed to the document data.
  • As noted above, the various servers and devices (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 61-65) can be individual units or can be combined into one or more than one unit. Each of these servers and devices includes a controller that causes (controls) it to perform the functions described above. Of course if the servers and devices are combined into one or more than one unit, then there would be one or more than one controller to perform the functions described above. Thus, the invention can be implemented by one or more programmed general purpose computers. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the controller can be implemented using a single special purpose integrated circuit (e.g., ASIC) having a main or central processor section for overall, system-level control, and separate sections dedicated to performing various different specific computations, functions and other processes under control of the central processor section. The controller can be a plurality of separate dedicated or programmable integrated or other electronic circuits or devices (e.g., hardwired electronic or logic circuits such as discrete element circuits, or programmable logic devices such as PLDs, PLAs, PALs or the like). The controller(s) can be implemented using a suitably programmed general purpose computer(s), e.g., a microprocessor, microcontroller or other processor device (CPU or MPU), either alone or in conjunction with one or more peripheral (e.g., integrated circuit) data and signal processing devices. In general, any device or assembly of devices on which a finite state machine capable of implementing the procedures described herein can be used as the controller. A distributed processing architecture can be used for maximum data/signal processing capability and speed.
  • While the invention has been described with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments or constructions. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements. In addition, while the various elements of the disclosed invention are shown in various combinations and configurations, which are exemplary, other combinations and configurations, including more less or only a single element, are also within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

1. A service processing apparatus comprising:
a controller that:
receives, through a network, instruction data which specifies (i) different types of service processing operations to be executed by different types of services processing apparatus to document data and (ii) an execution sequence of the service processing operations, each of the different types of service processing operations being executed by one of the different types of service processing apparatus;
acquires the document data,
executes, according to the instruction data, image processing described in the instruction data as one of the service processing operations to the document data to produce modified document data, and
transmits, through the network according to the execution sequence, the instruction data and at least one of the modified document data and information specifying a location in which the modified document data is stored to subsequent service processing apparatus so that the subsequent service processing apparatus executes, according to the execution sequence, different service processing operation to the modified document.
2. The service processing device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing includes at least one of a noise removal processing, an image rotation processing, and an OCR processing.
3. The service processing device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing includes a noise removal processing.
4. The service processing device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing includes an image rotation processing.
5. The service processing device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing includes an OCR processing.
6. The service processing device according to claim 1, wherein the modified document data includes text data which is extracted through an OCR processing.
7. The service processing device according to claim 1, wherein the instruction data specifies at least one of a facsimile transmission operation and a mail delivery operation as a service processing operation for the modified document data to be executed by the subsequent service processing apparatus.
8. A service processing apparatus comprising:
a controller that:
receives, through a network, instruction data which specifies (i) different types of service processing operations to be executed to document data and (ii) an execution sequence of the service processing operations,
acquires the document data,
executes, according to the instruction data, image processing described in the instruction data as one of the service processing operations to the document data to produce modified document data, the image processing including at least one of a noise removal processing, an image rotation processing, and an OCR processing, and
executes, according to the instruction data, at least one of a facsimile transmission operation and a mail delivery operation as a service processing operation for the modified document data.
9. The service processing device according to claim 8, wherein the modified document data includes text data which is extracted through an OCR processing.
10. A service processing method using a processor comprising:
receiving, through a network, instruction data which specifies (i) different types of service processing operations to be executed to document data and (ii) an execution sequence of the service processing operations,
acquiring the document data,
executing, according to the instruction data, image processing described in the instruction data as one of the service operations to the document data to produce modified document data, the image processing including at least one of a noise removal processing, an image rotation processing, and an OCR processing, and
executing, according to the instruction data, at least one of a facsimile transmission operation and a mail delivery operation as a service processing operation for the modified document data.
US12/432,212 2003-03-24 2009-04-29 Service processing device and method Abandoned US20090207460A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/432,212 US20090207460A1 (en) 2003-03-24 2009-04-29 Service processing device and method

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2003079269A JP2004287861A (en) 2003-03-24 2003-03-24 Service processor, service processing method and program
JP2003-079269 2003-03-24
US10/725,408 US7551303B2 (en) 2003-03-24 2003-12-03 Service processing device and method
US12/432,212 US20090207460A1 (en) 2003-03-24 2009-04-29 Service processing device and method

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/725,408 Continuation US7551303B2 (en) 2003-03-24 2003-12-03 Service processing device and method

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20090207460A1 true US20090207460A1 (en) 2009-08-20

Family

ID=33293432

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/725,408 Active 2026-10-09 US7551303B2 (en) 2003-03-24 2003-12-03 Service processing device and method
US12/432,212 Abandoned US20090207460A1 (en) 2003-03-24 2009-04-29 Service processing device and method

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/725,408 Active 2026-10-09 US7551303B2 (en) 2003-03-24 2003-12-03 Service processing device and method

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (2) US7551303B2 (en)
JP (1) JP2004287861A (en)
KR (1) KR100744728B1 (en)
CN (1) CN1304968C (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20100073710A1 (en) * 2008-09-24 2010-03-25 Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Information-processing device, an information-processing system, and a storing medium
US20110072356A1 (en) * 2009-09-18 2011-03-24 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Information processing apparatus, user interface display control method of the same, and storage medium storing program
US20110072322A1 (en) * 2009-09-18 2011-03-24 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha System, user interface display control method, server, information processing apparatus and storage medium
US20120081743A1 (en) * 2010-09-30 2012-04-05 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Image processing system, processing method, image processing apparatus, and relay apparatus

Families Citing this family (35)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7143150B1 (en) * 1999-12-09 2006-11-28 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Method of configuring a computer to include the available options of a printer
JP2004288026A (en) * 2003-03-24 2004-10-14 Fuji Xerox Co Ltd Service processing system, method for recognizing processing result of service processing system, and service processing program
JP4158649B2 (en) * 2003-08-13 2008-10-01 富士ゼロックス株式会社 Cooperation processing apparatus and program
JP4093251B2 (en) 2005-05-02 2008-06-04 コニカミノルタビジネステクノロジーズ株式会社 Image processing system and image processing apparatus
JP4508942B2 (en) * 2005-05-24 2010-07-21 キヤノン株式会社 Image processing apparatus, control method therefor, program, and storage medium
JP4096954B2 (en) 2005-06-03 2008-06-04 コニカミノルタビジネステクノロジーズ株式会社 Network image processing system, network image processing apparatus, and network image processing method
JP4207050B2 (en) * 2005-06-27 2009-01-14 コニカミノルタビジネステクノロジーズ株式会社 Image forming apparatus
JP4345721B2 (en) 2005-07-14 2009-10-14 コニカミノルタビジネステクノロジーズ株式会社 Management system
JP5142481B2 (en) * 2005-10-13 2013-02-13 キヤノン株式会社 Information processing apparatus, task linkage processing system, task linkage flow creation method, service processing method, management server, flow conversion method, flow execution method, and program
JP4906317B2 (en) * 2005-11-10 2012-03-28 キヤノン株式会社 Information processing apparatus and method
JP4124238B2 (en) * 2006-04-21 2008-07-23 コニカミノルタビジネステクノロジーズ株式会社 Image processing apparatus, function presentation method, and computer program
KR101235219B1 (en) * 2006-06-28 2013-02-20 삼성전자주식회사 Image forming device and web server providing workflow status of job, method for providing workflow status of job in image forming device and web server
JP4956314B2 (en) * 2006-09-12 2012-06-20 株式会社リコー Event notification device, event notification method, and event notification program
JP4337865B2 (en) 2006-11-01 2009-09-30 コニカミノルタビジネステクノロジーズ株式会社 Information processing system, information processing apparatus, and information processing method
JP4863475B2 (en) * 2006-11-01 2012-01-25 キヤノン株式会社 Information processing apparatus and method
JP4844400B2 (en) * 2007-01-09 2011-12-28 富士ゼロックス株式会社 Information processing apparatus, information collection apparatus, information collection system, and program
JP5039414B2 (en) * 2007-04-02 2012-10-03 キヤノン株式会社 Control device, program creation method, and program
US20090006989A1 (en) 2007-06-27 2009-01-01 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd Image forming method and apparatus, and host
CN101441757A (en) * 2007-11-23 2009-05-27 润弘精密工程事业股份有限公司 System and method for reporting graphic interface network
EP2075692A1 (en) 2007-12-26 2009-07-01 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Personalisation of image processing workflows
JP5247207B2 (en) * 2007-12-26 2013-07-24 キヤノン株式会社 Image processing apparatus, processing flow control method, and program
JP5541649B2 (en) 2008-07-14 2014-07-09 キヤノン株式会社 Image processing apparatus, control method thereof, and program
EP2189908B1 (en) * 2008-11-06 2012-04-11 ServiceTrace e.K. Device and procedure to determine an indicator in an IT system
JP5369812B2 (en) * 2009-03-25 2013-12-18 富士ゼロックス株式会社 Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing program
JP5459470B2 (en) * 2009-06-10 2014-04-02 富士ゼロックス株式会社 Information processing apparatus and program
JP5370029B2 (en) * 2009-09-10 2013-12-18 株式会社リコー Integrated management apparatus, integrated management system, integrated management method, integrated management program, and recording medium recording the program
JP2011192250A (en) * 2010-02-22 2011-09-29 Canon Inc Cloud computing system, and control method therefor
JP5494208B2 (en) * 2010-05-12 2014-05-14 富士ゼロックス株式会社 Image forming apparatus and control program therefor
JP2013135414A (en) 2011-12-27 2013-07-08 Canon Inc Image formation device, information processing method and program
US10135732B2 (en) 2012-12-31 2018-11-20 Juniper Networks, Inc. Remotely updating routing tables
US8954535B2 (en) * 2012-12-31 2015-02-10 Juniper Networks, Inc. Dynamic network device processing using external components
JP5973983B2 (en) 2013-12-05 2016-08-23 京セラドキュメントソリューションズ株式会社 Electronic device and workflow generation program
US9871940B2 (en) * 2015-08-19 2018-01-16 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Information processing system, information processing apparatus, and method for processing information
JP6729168B2 (en) * 2016-08-22 2020-07-22 ブラザー工業株式会社 Content processing device
JP6773758B2 (en) * 2018-11-07 2020-10-21 エムオーテックス株式会社 Cooperation system

Citations (43)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5220674A (en) * 1987-07-17 1993-06-15 Digital Equipment Corporation Local area print server for requesting and storing required resource data and forwarding printer status message to selected destination
US5467434A (en) * 1992-08-28 1995-11-14 Xerox Corporation Apparatus and method for determining printer option availability and representing conflict resolution in a combination of print job selections
US5596750A (en) * 1992-06-09 1997-01-21 Bull S.A. System for transactional processing between an information processing server and a plurality of workstations
US5625757A (en) * 1993-12-24 1997-04-29 Hitachi, Ltd. Printing system
US5689625A (en) * 1995-11-28 1997-11-18 Xerox Corporation Document server for processing a distribution job in a document processing system
US5761396A (en) * 1995-11-28 1998-06-02 Xerox Corporation Document server for processing a distribution job in a document processing system
US5774661A (en) * 1995-04-18 1998-06-30 Network Imaging Corporation Rule engine interface for a visual workflow builder
US5815152A (en) * 1995-04-18 1998-09-29 Logical Software Solutions Corporation Method and apparatus for defining and evaluating a graphic rule
US5819040A (en) * 1995-06-09 1998-10-06 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Image processing system for transferring electronic document and paper document as single mail
US5859711A (en) * 1995-08-07 1999-01-12 T/R Systems, Inc. Multiple print engine with virtual job routing
US5918226A (en) * 1995-01-11 1999-06-29 Nec Corporation Workflow system for operating and managing jobs with predicting future progress of workflow job
US5974234A (en) * 1997-04-15 1999-10-26 Xerox Corporation Centralized print server for interfacing one or more network clients with a plurality of printing devices
US6029238A (en) * 1994-03-31 2000-02-22 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Control of information processing using one or more peripheral apparatus
US6052684A (en) * 1998-03-24 2000-04-18 Hewlett-Packard Company System and method for performing consistent workflow process execution in a workflow management system
US6122633A (en) * 1997-05-27 2000-09-19 International Business Machines Corporation Subscription within workflow management systems
US6182136B1 (en) * 1998-09-08 2001-01-30 Hewlett-Packard Company Automated service elements discovery using core service specific discovery templates
US20020030840A1 (en) * 2000-09-12 2002-03-14 Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Image output system, and device and method applicable to the same
US6369909B1 (en) * 1997-07-25 2002-04-09 Seiko Epson Corporation Print system, printing method, and printer
US20020055849A1 (en) * 2000-06-30 2002-05-09 Dimitrios Georgakopoulos Workflow primitives modeling
US20020111841A1 (en) * 2001-02-09 2002-08-15 International Business Machines Corporation Controlling commands in workflow management systems
US20020129238A1 (en) * 2000-07-07 2002-09-12 Eng-Whatt Toh Secure and reliable document delivery using routing lists
US6483524B1 (en) * 1999-10-01 2002-11-19 Global Graphics Software Limited Prepress workflow method using raster image processor
US6502147B2 (en) * 1995-06-06 2002-12-31 Apple Computer, Inc. Centralized queue in network printing systems
US20030061266A1 (en) * 2001-09-27 2003-03-27 Norman Ken Ouchi Project workflow system
US6549516B1 (en) * 1999-07-02 2003-04-15 Cisco Technology, Inc. Sending instructions from a service manager to forwarding agents on a need to know basis
US20030103232A1 (en) * 2001-12-04 2003-06-05 Twede Roger S. Generation and usage of workflows for processing data on a printing device
US6604124B1 (en) * 1997-03-13 2003-08-05 A:\Scribes Corporation Systems and methods for automatically managing work flow based on tracking job step completion status
US6772216B1 (en) * 2000-05-19 2004-08-03 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Interaction protocol for managing cross company processes among network-distributed applications
US6775023B1 (en) * 1999-07-30 2004-08-10 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Center server, information processing apparatus and method, and print system
US6785015B1 (en) * 1999-11-12 2004-08-31 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. System and method for monitoring a computer system process or peripheral
US6790261B1 (en) * 2002-09-13 2004-09-14 Glenwood Delts Filter frame and method
US6822754B1 (en) * 1997-06-09 2004-11-23 Seiko Epson Corporation Print data generation system and corresponding method for use with a printing system
US6956662B1 (en) * 1998-02-05 2005-10-18 Nec Corporation Image workflow system
US6961144B2 (en) * 2000-06-06 2005-11-01 Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd. Image data transmission device and method, computer-readable storage medium storing program for transmitting image data, and image data transmission and reception system and method
US6968503B1 (en) * 2000-03-09 2005-11-22 Quovadx, Inc. XML user interface for a workflow server
US20060005229A1 (en) * 1999-07-26 2006-01-05 Microsoft Corporation Method of enforcing a policy on a computer network
US7069536B2 (en) * 2001-06-28 2006-06-27 International Business Machines Corporation Method, system, and program for executing a workflow
US7136941B2 (en) * 2002-12-04 2006-11-14 Microsoft Corporation Print management architecture for computing devices having a set of filters functions wherein the functions are prevented from conflicting with one another
US7143150B1 (en) * 1999-12-09 2006-11-28 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Method of configuring a computer to include the available options of a printer
US7146413B2 (en) * 2002-06-14 2006-12-05 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Remote updating of printer settings on a client device in a networked environment
US7168077B2 (en) * 2003-01-31 2007-01-23 Handysoft Corporation System and method of executing and controlling workflow processes
US7200860B2 (en) * 2003-03-05 2007-04-03 Dell Products L.P. Method and system for secure network service
US7315389B2 (en) * 2001-03-23 2008-01-01 Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha Electronic document assembly, proofing and printing system

Family Cites Families (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3639022B2 (en) * 1995-12-08 2005-04-13 株式会社東芝 Composite image forming apparatus
JPH09325928A (en) 1996-06-06 1997-12-16 Fuji Xerox Co Ltd Method and equipment for communicating message
JP3559656B2 (en) 1996-09-09 2004-09-02 キヤノン株式会社 Image forming apparatus and image processing method
JP4026960B2 (en) 1998-07-31 2007-12-26 キヤノン株式会社 Image position management apparatus, image position management method, and storage medium storing computer-readable program
JP2000105678A (en) 1998-07-31 2000-04-11 Canon Inc Image gathering device, print controller, image gathering method, print control method, and storage medium storing computer-readable program
JP3997013B2 (en) 1998-10-30 2007-10-24 キヤノン株式会社 Information processing apparatus and information processing method
CN1413410A (en) * 1999-11-16 2003-04-23 杜柯波特公司 Portable scanner, printer, facsimile and copier
EP1143695A3 (en) * 2000-03-29 2004-01-21 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Control method for image processing apparatus connectable to computer network
US6970261B1 (en) * 2000-07-11 2005-11-29 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Printing system and method with print job distribution among a number of printers
JP2002073576A (en) 2000-08-31 2002-03-12 Toshiba Corp Batch job control system
JP2002108632A (en) 2000-09-28 2002-04-12 Dainippon Printing Co Ltd Controller working with existing system
JP2003058478A (en) * 2001-08-10 2003-02-28 Konica Corp Network device and network system

Patent Citations (43)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5220674A (en) * 1987-07-17 1993-06-15 Digital Equipment Corporation Local area print server for requesting and storing required resource data and forwarding printer status message to selected destination
US5596750A (en) * 1992-06-09 1997-01-21 Bull S.A. System for transactional processing between an information processing server and a plurality of workstations
US5467434A (en) * 1992-08-28 1995-11-14 Xerox Corporation Apparatus and method for determining printer option availability and representing conflict resolution in a combination of print job selections
US5625757A (en) * 1993-12-24 1997-04-29 Hitachi, Ltd. Printing system
US6029238A (en) * 1994-03-31 2000-02-22 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Control of information processing using one or more peripheral apparatus
US5918226A (en) * 1995-01-11 1999-06-29 Nec Corporation Workflow system for operating and managing jobs with predicting future progress of workflow job
US5774661A (en) * 1995-04-18 1998-06-30 Network Imaging Corporation Rule engine interface for a visual workflow builder
US5815152A (en) * 1995-04-18 1998-09-29 Logical Software Solutions Corporation Method and apparatus for defining and evaluating a graphic rule
US6502147B2 (en) * 1995-06-06 2002-12-31 Apple Computer, Inc. Centralized queue in network printing systems
US5819040A (en) * 1995-06-09 1998-10-06 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Image processing system for transferring electronic document and paper document as single mail
US5859711A (en) * 1995-08-07 1999-01-12 T/R Systems, Inc. Multiple print engine with virtual job routing
US5761396A (en) * 1995-11-28 1998-06-02 Xerox Corporation Document server for processing a distribution job in a document processing system
US5689625A (en) * 1995-11-28 1997-11-18 Xerox Corporation Document server for processing a distribution job in a document processing system
US6604124B1 (en) * 1997-03-13 2003-08-05 A:\Scribes Corporation Systems and methods for automatically managing work flow based on tracking job step completion status
US5974234A (en) * 1997-04-15 1999-10-26 Xerox Corporation Centralized print server for interfacing one or more network clients with a plurality of printing devices
US6122633A (en) * 1997-05-27 2000-09-19 International Business Machines Corporation Subscription within workflow management systems
US6822754B1 (en) * 1997-06-09 2004-11-23 Seiko Epson Corporation Print data generation system and corresponding method for use with a printing system
US6369909B1 (en) * 1997-07-25 2002-04-09 Seiko Epson Corporation Print system, printing method, and printer
US6956662B1 (en) * 1998-02-05 2005-10-18 Nec Corporation Image workflow system
US6052684A (en) * 1998-03-24 2000-04-18 Hewlett-Packard Company System and method for performing consistent workflow process execution in a workflow management system
US6182136B1 (en) * 1998-09-08 2001-01-30 Hewlett-Packard Company Automated service elements discovery using core service specific discovery templates
US6549516B1 (en) * 1999-07-02 2003-04-15 Cisco Technology, Inc. Sending instructions from a service manager to forwarding agents on a need to know basis
US20060005229A1 (en) * 1999-07-26 2006-01-05 Microsoft Corporation Method of enforcing a policy on a computer network
US6775023B1 (en) * 1999-07-30 2004-08-10 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Center server, information processing apparatus and method, and print system
US6483524B1 (en) * 1999-10-01 2002-11-19 Global Graphics Software Limited Prepress workflow method using raster image processor
US6785015B1 (en) * 1999-11-12 2004-08-31 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. System and method for monitoring a computer system process or peripheral
US7143150B1 (en) * 1999-12-09 2006-11-28 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Method of configuring a computer to include the available options of a printer
US6968503B1 (en) * 2000-03-09 2005-11-22 Quovadx, Inc. XML user interface for a workflow server
US6772216B1 (en) * 2000-05-19 2004-08-03 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Interaction protocol for managing cross company processes among network-distributed applications
US6961144B2 (en) * 2000-06-06 2005-11-01 Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd. Image data transmission device and method, computer-readable storage medium storing program for transmitting image data, and image data transmission and reception system and method
US20020055849A1 (en) * 2000-06-30 2002-05-09 Dimitrios Georgakopoulos Workflow primitives modeling
US20020129238A1 (en) * 2000-07-07 2002-09-12 Eng-Whatt Toh Secure and reliable document delivery using routing lists
US20020030840A1 (en) * 2000-09-12 2002-03-14 Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Image output system, and device and method applicable to the same
US20020111841A1 (en) * 2001-02-09 2002-08-15 International Business Machines Corporation Controlling commands in workflow management systems
US7315389B2 (en) * 2001-03-23 2008-01-01 Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha Electronic document assembly, proofing and printing system
US7069536B2 (en) * 2001-06-28 2006-06-27 International Business Machines Corporation Method, system, and program for executing a workflow
US20030061266A1 (en) * 2001-09-27 2003-03-27 Norman Ken Ouchi Project workflow system
US20030103232A1 (en) * 2001-12-04 2003-06-05 Twede Roger S. Generation and usage of workflows for processing data on a printing device
US7146413B2 (en) * 2002-06-14 2006-12-05 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Remote updating of printer settings on a client device in a networked environment
US6790261B1 (en) * 2002-09-13 2004-09-14 Glenwood Delts Filter frame and method
US7136941B2 (en) * 2002-12-04 2006-11-14 Microsoft Corporation Print management architecture for computing devices having a set of filters functions wherein the functions are prevented from conflicting with one another
US7168077B2 (en) * 2003-01-31 2007-01-23 Handysoft Corporation System and method of executing and controlling workflow processes
US7200860B2 (en) * 2003-03-05 2007-04-03 Dell Products L.P. Method and system for secure network service

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20100073710A1 (en) * 2008-09-24 2010-03-25 Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Information-processing device, an information-processing system, and a storing medium
US8625128B2 (en) * 2008-09-24 2014-01-07 Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Information-processing device, an information-processing system, and a storing medium
US20110072356A1 (en) * 2009-09-18 2011-03-24 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Information processing apparatus, user interface display control method of the same, and storage medium storing program
US20110072322A1 (en) * 2009-09-18 2011-03-24 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha System, user interface display control method, server, information processing apparatus and storage medium
US9609152B2 (en) * 2009-09-18 2017-03-28 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha System, user interface display control method, server, information processing apparatus and storage medium
US20120081743A1 (en) * 2010-09-30 2012-04-05 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Image processing system, processing method, image processing apparatus, and relay apparatus
US8913274B2 (en) * 2010-09-30 2014-12-16 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Image processing system, processing method, image processing apparatus, and relay apparatus for electronic file storage and transfer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1304968C (en) 2007-03-14
KR100744728B1 (en) 2007-08-01
CN1532750A (en) 2004-09-29
JP2004287861A (en) 2004-10-14
US20050027825A1 (en) 2005-02-03
KR20040086510A (en) 2004-10-11
US7551303B2 (en) 2009-06-23

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7551303B2 (en) Service processing device and method
KR100596224B1 (en) Apparatus and method for processing service
US11546407B2 (en) Service processing system and service processing method
JP4265249B2 (en) Service processing apparatus, service processing method, and program
JP4055618B2 (en) Image processing device
JP5382195B2 (en) Service processing system
JP4770995B2 (en) Image processing system
JP5310934B2 (en) Service processing system
JP5310933B2 (en) Service processing system
JP4985318B2 (en) Image processing apparatus and method
JP5541403B2 (en) Service processing system
US20040205376A1 (en) Service processing system, processing result management device and processing result checking method of service processing system
US8395796B2 (en) Information processing apparatus, image processing apparatus, information processing method, and information processing program which outputs information in the form of a report
JP5516814B2 (en) Service processing system
JP5516812B2 (en) Service processing system
JP5516807B2 (en) Service processing system
JP2004288055A (en) Service processing system, service processing method and service processing program
JP2008005518A (en) Image processing system
JP5652533B2 (en) Service processing system
JP2005258626A (en) Service processing device and program
JP2009009567A (en) Service image processing system and image processor
JP2005258545A (en) Service processing device

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION