JP2003216383A - Service providing system, service providing method, service providing device, its control method, its control program and computer-readable memory - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a service providing system, a service providing method, a service providing device, its control method, its control program, and a computer-readable memory for easily providing a service in response to a service request from a client device on a network. <P>SOLUTION: In this service providing system including a client 100, a printer 200, and a server 300 connected to a network, the client 100 notices first service contents required for a job to a printer 200 at the time of executing the job, and the printer 200 judges whether or not the first service contents noticed from the client 100 can be independently processed, and at the time of judging that the first service contents can not be independently processed, the printer 200 retrieves the server 300 which can process second service contents additionally necessary for executing the job on a network. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a service providing system, a service providing method, a service providing apparatus, a control method therefor, a control program, and a computer-readable memory.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a service providing apparatus and a service providing system which provide a service in response to a service request from a client apparatus on a network are known.

[0003] For example, with the rapid spread of communication via the Internet, network-compatible devices have been replaced with PDA (Personal Digital) from conventional personal computers.
Assistance), mobile phones, and other user-interactive devices, scanners, printers, copiers, image processing devices such as digital cameras, and home appliances such as televisions, air conditioners, and refrigerators are rapidly becoming compatible with networks.

Along with this, with respect to the data exchanged between these information devices, many standardization organizations continue to formulate their respective data formats, and as a result, a huge amount of data exists.

Taking the Internet environment using the WEB as an example, regarding the data format based on XML (eXtensible Markup Language), XTHML-Basic, X
There are multiple HTML, SVG (Scalable Vector Graphic) etc.,
Also regarding image data format, JPEG, PNG,
There are several standard formats such as GIF.

Under such an environment, there is still a demand for printing out document information exchanged between information devices as a hard copy by an image processing apparatus such as a printer and a copying machine compatible with a network. Therefore, each image processing apparatus mounts a formatter for converting various data formats into a printable data format in the image processing apparatus itself, or after format conversion by a third server existing on the network,
I was printing.

[0007]

However, in the conventional service providing system, if the service requested by the client device cannot be provided by the service providing device alone, the service is not provided at all or on the network. The service was provided by using another device designated in advance. If another device specified in advance is used, if the address information of the other device is changed, the device cannot be used. Therefore, it is indispensable to update the network information and the process is very complicated. .

To explain the print service as an example, it is virtually impossible to implement a formatter for all data formats within the limited resources of a network-capable printer. It had to be implemented after being limited. As a result, the newly created data format cannot be printed, making it difficult to maintain product value over a long period of time.

Further, when the conversion processing is performed by the third server, the client and the network compatible printer are previously provided with the IP address of the server or the DNS (Domain
In an environment where (NameServer) is valid, it is necessary to register the host name etc., so when adding a new conversion server on the network, it was necessary to reconstruct the network information for both the client and printer. .

The conversion processing procedure in this case is as follows.
The client first sends a document to the server, requests the format conversion, receives the conversion completion notification from the server, receives the converted data from the server, and after the reception of all the data is completed, the server converts the format. The procedure is to send the printable data to the printer, or the client transfers the document to the printer, and after the printer completes the reception of the data, it sends the data to the server and requests the format conversion. However, after receiving the conversion completion notification from the server, the processing procedure of receiving the converted data from the server and printing it is necessary. As a result, the processing procedure and processing path become complicated, which makes it difficult to implement a protocol for requesting conversion processing among clients, servers, and printers, and implementing conversion processing completion notification, and also requires a lot of processing time. .

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to respond to a service request from a client device on a network and to easily provide a service. It is to provide a service providing system, a service providing method, a service providing apparatus, a control method thereof, a control program, and a computer-readable memory.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a system according to the present invention comprises a client device connected to a network, a first service providing device, and a second service providing device.
A service providing system including a service providing apparatus, wherein the client apparatus, when executing a job, provides the first service content required for the job to the first service content.
A first notifying unit for notifying the service providing apparatus, wherein the first service providing apparatus determines whether or not the first service content notified by the client apparatus can be processed independently; If the first service content cannot be processed by itself, a search means for searching the second service providing device on the network, which is capable of processing the second service content that is necessary for executing the job. It is characterized by being provided.

The first notifying unit notifies all service providing devices on the network of the first service content.

The search means is capable of processing the second service content from the second service providing apparatus and the second notifying means for notifying all service providing apparatuses on the network of the second service content. And an input unit for inputting a response.

The second notifying means notifies the second service providing device of the address information of the first service providing device.

The second service providing device determines whether the second service content notified by the second notification means can be processed, and the second service when it determines that the second service can be processed. It is characterized by further comprising storage means for storing contents and first response means for responding at least address information of the second service providing apparatus to the first service providing apparatus.

The first response received by the first response means
The service providing apparatus is characterized by comprising a second response means for responding to the client apparatus at least the address information of the second service providing apparatus.

When the first service providing device determines that the first service content can be processed independently, the second service
The responding means responds to the client device with at least the address information of the first service providing device.

It is characterized in that the client device issues the job in response to the address information received by the second response means.

When the job is issued from the client device to the second service providing device, the second service providing device processes the second service content for the job, The processed job is transmitted to the first service providing apparatus, and the first service providing apparatus further performs the processing on the processed job to achieve the job.

To achieve the above object, the method according to the present invention is a service providing method performed on a network including a client device, a first service providing device, and a second service providing device, wherein the client device is a first device. A notification step of notifying the first service providing apparatus of the first service content, and the first service content if the first service content notified by the notifying step cannot be performed by the first service providing apparatus alone. And a second service providing apparatus capable of performing the second service content necessary for performing the content on the network.

The second searched by the searching step.
A first transmitting step in which the client device transmits first data that is the target of the first service content to the service providing device, and the second service providing device includes the first
The second service step of performing the second service content on the first data transmitted in the transmitting step and transmitting the second data to the image processing apparatus as second data, and the first service providing apparatus by the second transmitting step. A service providing step of performing the first service content with respect to the transmitted second data.

To achieve the above object, an apparatus according to the present invention is a service providing apparatus connected to a network and providing a first service content, wherein a second service content from a client apparatus connected to the network is provided. In response to the request, the determining means determines whether or not the service providing apparatus alone can execute, and the determining means determines that the second service content cannot be provided by the service providing apparatus alone. The third that must be combined with the first service content to provide the service content
Search means for searching on the network for another service providing device capable of providing service content.

[0024] It is characterized by further comprising a transmitting means for transmitting information specifying the other service providing apparatus to the client apparatus.

The first service content is print processing of print target data in the first format, the second service content is print processing of print target data in the second format, and the third service content is
It is characterized in that it is a data conversion process from the second format to the first format.

In order to achieve the above object, another method according to the present invention is a method of controlling a service providing device connected to a network and providing a first service content, which comprises a client device connected to the network. Second
In the case of a service content request, a determination step of determining whether or not the service providing apparatus alone can execute, and a case where it is determined in the determination step that the second service content cannot be provided by the service providing apparatus alone, A search step of searching on the network for another service providing apparatus capable of providing a third service content that needs to be combined with the first service content to provide a second service content. To do.

In order to achieve the above object, a program according to the present invention is a control program for a service providing apparatus that is connected to a network and provides a first service content, wherein a processor provided in the service providing apparatus includes:
A determination step of determining whether or not the service providing apparatus alone can execute a request for the second service content from the client device connected to the network, and the second service content is provided in the determination step. When it is determined that the device cannot be provided alone, another service providing device, which can provide the third service content that needs to be combined with the first service content to provide the second service content, on the network It is characterized in that a search step for searching and a search step are executed.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, another apparatus according to the present invention is a service providing apparatus connected to a network, and responds to a request for service provision from another apparatus connected to the network. Determining means for determining whether or not the service providing device can execute, and, when the determining means determines that the service providing can be executed, returns at least address information of the service providing device to the other device. Means, receiving means for receiving the data to be provided by the service, and transmitting means for executing the service provision for the data received by the receiving means and transmitting the data to the other device. Characterize.

In order to achieve the above object, another method according to the present invention is a method of controlling a service providing device connected to a network, wherein a service providing request from another device connected to the network is provided. On the other hand, a determining step of determining whether or not the service providing apparatus can execute the service, and at least the address information of the service providing apparatus with respect to the other apparatus when the service providing apparatus can be executed in the determining step. A step of responding, a receiving step of receiving data to be provided with the service, and a transmitting step of executing the service providing with respect to the data received in the receiving step and transmitting the data to the other device. It is characterized by having.

In order to achieve the above object, another program according to the present invention is a control program for a service providing apparatus connected to a network, wherein a processor provided in the service providing apparatus is connected to the network. In response to a service providing request from another device, the determining device determines whether or not the service providing device can execute the request, and when the determining process determines that the service can be executed, the other device In response to at least the address information of the service providing device, a receiving step of receiving the data to be provided for the service, and the service providing for the data received in the receiving step, A transmission step of transmitting to another device,
Is executed.

In order to achieve the above object, a storage medium according to the present invention is characterized by storing the above control program.

In order to achieve the above object, another system according to the present invention is a service providing system including a client device, a first service providing device and a second service providing device on the same network, wherein the client device is provided. Has a notifying means for notifying the first service providing apparatus of the requested first service content, and the first service providing apparatus sets the first service content notified by the notifying means as the first service content. When the service providing device cannot perform the service by itself, the client device includes a search unit that searches for a second service providing device that can perform the second service content necessary for performing the first service content. Further transmits a first data subject to the first service content to the second service providing apparatus. The second service providing device has a communication unit, performs the second service content on the first data transmitted by the first transmitting unit, and transmits the second data to the first service providing device as second data. The first service providing device further includes a service providing unit that performs the first service content with respect to the second data transmitted by the second transmitting unit. To do.

To achieve the above object, another method according to the present invention is a service providing method using a client device, a first service providing device, and a second service providing device on a network, wherein the client device is provided. And a notification step of notifying the first service providing apparatus of the requested first service content, and the first service providing apparatus providing the first service content of the first service content notified by the notification step. When it is not possible for the device alone to perform, a search step of searching for a second service providing device capable of performing the second service content necessary for performing the first service content, and the client device, 2 a first transmitting step of transmitting first data, which is the target of the first service content, to the service providing device; A second providing step in which the service providing device performs the second service content on the first data sent in the first sending step and sends the second data to the first service providing apparatus as second data; And a step of performing a process on the second data transmitted by the second transmitting step to achieve the first service content.

[0034]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be illustratively described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the protocols, versions, addresses, other numerical values, and the like described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to them unless otherwise specified.

(One Embodiment) A print system as one embodiment of a service providing system according to the present invention will be described.

<System Configuration> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a print system as an embodiment of the present invention.

The present system includes a client 100, a printer 200, and a server 300. More specifically, the application executed on the client 100 side, the service installed in the server 300, and the network compatible printer 200. It is equipped with.

The application provided to the client 100 is software that operates on the operating system environment in which the client 100 is operating. This software uses TCP as a communication function.
/ UDP / IP protocol stack 1 and Hyper Text Transfer Protocol version 1.1 (hereinafter referred to as HTTP) 2 on the protocol stack.
ple Object Access Protocol (hereinafter referred to as SOAP)
SOAP generator 3 that issues requests, and SOAP that analyzes responses by SOAP
It has a parser. Further, it has a GUI module 5 and interactively receives requests and displays processing results to the user.

On the other hand, the network service, which is the network-compatible printer 200 in this embodiment, has the TCP / UDP / IP protocol stack 6 as a communication function, and the HTTP 7 on the protocol stack.
Discovery request, Simple Servi
It has a ce Discovery Protocol (hereinafter referred to as SSDP) processing unit 8 and issues and analyzes SSDP requests.
Analyze and issue the response.

Here, in the request from the client, SOAP is used in the entity body part of the HTTP request, so that the SOAP parser 9 and the SOAP generator 10 that executes the issuance of the response are mounted on the upper layer of the HTTP 7.

A print protocol module 11 is mounted on the protocol stack 6 and has a function of analyzing a print request issued by a client and sending the print request to the printer controller 12.

Further, the server 300 similarly includes a TCP / UDP / IP protocol stack 13 as a communication function, and an HTTP 14 on the protocol stack.
Performs HTTP request analysis and response processing. It has a discovery request SSDP processing unit 15 in its upper layer, and analyzes the SSDP request and executes a response.

In the request from the client, SOAP is used in the entity body part of the HTTP request. Therefore, the SOAP parser 16 that analyzes the request content and the SOAP generator 17 that issues the response are the upper layers of HTTP7. Will be implemented in.

Further, the server 300 includes a file converter 18, which is a Micros
An application provided by oft, a document generated by "MS Office" (registered trademark) (for example, a document with the extension doc, xls, ppt), or PD by Adobe
It has a function to convert F data into a specified page description language.

Although the software configuration of each device has been described here, the hardware configuration of each device includes a so-called computer configuration, and at least a CPU for executing processing and a program to be executed by the CPU. And a memory storing data, and a communication means for connecting to a network. The control described below is achieved by appropriately reading the programs stored in the respective memories and executing them by the CPU.

<Control Flow> Next, the control flow of the present system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When printing a document created by an application running on a network-connected client such as a personal computer, for example, a word processing application, when the user selects "print" from the menu, a print instruction (job) is given to the client 100. Occurs (S201). Next, a search is performed to see if there is a printer available for executing this job on the network (S202). At that time, the protocol used for the search is the Universal Plug and
It uses SSDP specified by Play Architecture 1.0, and has a multicast address 239.255.255.250,
For port number 1900, SS in the format shown in Fig. 4
DP request (hereinafter also referred to as HTTP request)
Issue 400 as an HTTP packet.

In this case, the HTTP request 4
SOAP is used as the entity body of 00, and the format at that time is described in the Envelope tag 401 in FIG. 4, and DataFormat40 is used as an argument of the CreateJob request.
2, Copy 403 is notified. DataFormat402 is a page description language or an image format name, for example, names such as PCL, Postscript, Lips, JPEG, PNG, etc. are described. Copy 403 indicates the number of print copies.
FIG. 4 is an example showing a job in which Lips is specified as the Data Format and 10 copies are specified as the Copy.

When the network compatible printer 200 receives the HTTP request 400 of FIG. 4 in step S203, the ST (S) of the request is sent in step S204.
ervice Type) header (404 in FIG. 4) is analyzed. As a result, if ST is specified outside the Printer or if the packet contents are incorrect, the process proceeds to END, the processing is interrupted, and no response is issued to the request.
ignore. When the header content is Printer, the entity body in the HTTP request 400 is continuously analyzed. In FIG. 4, since the ST header 404 has "service: Print", it is determined to be the HTTP request 400 for searching for a printer, and step S
Go to 205.

Next, in step S205, the printer 20
0 analyzes the SOAP message (401 and below in FIG. 4) of the entity body of the HTTP request 400,
DataFormat402, C which is an argument of CreateJob request
Check the contents of opy403, and use DataFor in the printer itself.
Copy4 the data format described in mat402
It is determined whether or not there is a processing capacity capable of printing the number of copies described in 03.

<< When the printer can print alone >>
If it is determined in step S205 that processing is possible, the process proceeds to step S206 and the HT of the format shown in FIG.
The TP response 500 is issued to the client 100 by unicast.

Also here, SOAP is used as the entity body of the HTTP response 500, and the following information stored in the memory of the printer is notified to the client 100. These information are shown in Figure 5 by Envelo
Described in the pe tag 501, JobID 502: job identification ID PrinterMakeAndModel 503: printer vendor / product name PrinterName 504: printer name PrinterLocation 505: printer installation location DataReceiveURL 506: data transmission destination URL is notified as a return value for the CreateJob request.

Here, JobID is an integer from 1 to 255, which is an ID for identifying a job requested by the client 100, and is generated by the printer 200. FIG. 5 shows an example in which “123” is set as the JobID.

After issuing the SSDP request 400, the client 100 waits for a response for a predetermined period in step S207, and if there is no response during that time, it is determined that the job cannot be executed, and the process is executed in step S20.
The process proceeds from step 7 to step S208, an error message is displayed to the user, and the process is completed.

When there is one or more responses within the predetermined time, the printer names of the network printers that have responded are displayed in a list in step S209. Next, in step S210, when one printer is designated from the printer list by the user, the client 100 prints to the data transmission destination URL in the attribute information notified from the designated printer in step S211. Data to be printed is H shown in FIG.
It is transmitted in the format of TTP request 600. Here, it is assumed that the user selects the printer 200,
122.222.11 described in DataReceiveURL506 of FIG.
Send the print target data to 1.222.

Also in this case, SOAP is used as the entity body of the HTTP request 600, and its format is described in the Envelope tag 601 in FIG.
JobID602 is notified as an argument of Data request,
Following the SOAP-Envelope, the print target data 603 is added and transmitted in the DataFormat (Lips in this case) specified when the CreateJob request was issued.

Here, in JobID 602, the value notified from the printer is set as the return value for the CreateJob request. Here, “123” is set as the JobID 602, which indicates that the print target data corresponds to the response of FIG.

The printer 200 having received the print target data in step S212 proceeds to step S213,
The print process is started, and Cre is created in advance based on JobID 602.
The print processing for the number of copies specified by ateJob is executed, and when the print processing is completed, the process proceeds to step S214, where a status code "200 OK" is issued as an HTTP response to the client 100, and the client to that effect. Notify the 100 side and end the processing.

If the print process cannot be executed normally, the status code "500 Internal Server" is displayed as an HTTP error response in step S214.
Issue "Error", notify the client side to that effect, and end the process. Although not shown here, even if no data is received in step S212 within a predetermined time after the response is issued in step S206, the processing on the printer side is terminated. The predetermined time has passed,
After finishing the processing on the printer side, the client 100
"400 Bad Request" when data is sent from
Is issued and the client side is notified to that effect. The client 100 sends the printer 2 to the printer 2 in step S215.
When any execution result is received from 00, the process ends.

<< When the Printer Cannot Print Alone >> In step S205, the SOAP message of the HTTP request is analyzed, and the content of the DataFormat 402 that is the argument of the CreateJob request is checked. As a result, the printer 200 can print the data format. The case where the format cannot be converted will be described. Here, as an example, the content of the DataFormat 402 of the HTTP request 400 is XHTML, and the printer 200 uses Lips as a printable format.
And does not have an XHTML to Lips converter.

In this case, the process proceeds to step S301 in FIG. 3, and the printer 200 uses a server provided with a service for converting the data format (XHTML) designated by the client 100 into a format (Lips) printable by the printer 200, through the network. Search above. In other words, it searches for a server that provides the service required to accomplish the job from the client 100.

The protocol used for the search uses SSDP, and the multicast address 239.255.255.25
An SSDP request (hereinafter also referred to as an HTTP request) 700 in the format shown in FIG. 7 is issued as an HTTP packet to 0 and port number 1900.

Again, SOAP is used as the entity body of the HTTP request. Here, when the search packet is issued, the data format requested by the client 100 for printing, the page description language information supported by the printer 200, and the information of the data transmission destination URL after the conversion processing are notified.

The format at that time is Envelope tag 70 in FIG.
DataConversionRequest request 7 described in 1
As an argument of 02, JobID 703: Job identification ID DataFormat 704: Data format notified by the client as an argument of CreateJob request SupportedPDL 705: Page description language supported by the printer DataReceiveURL 706: Destination of data after conversion UR
L is notified.

Here, JobID is an integer from 1 to 255, which is an ID for identifying the job requested by the client 100, and is generated by the printer 200.

In FIG. 7, the job identification ID is "123" and the format of the data transmitted from the client is "XH".
TML ", page description language is" Lips ", data destination UR
L (address of printer 200) is “123.222.111.22
2 shows the SSDP request 700 in the case of “2”.

The server 300 having the data format conversion service, in step S302,
When the request 700 is received, the process proceeds to step S303, and the ST (Service Type) header of the request is analyzed. If the ST designation is other than ImageServer, or if the packet contents are incorrect, the process proceeds to the end, the processing is interrupted, a response to the request is not issued, and it is ignored. When the content of the ST header is ImageServer, the entity body of the HTTP request 700 is continuously analyzed.

The SOAP message of the HTTP request 700 is analyzed, and the DataConversionRequest request 7
DataFormat704, SupportedPDL70 which is the argument of 02
5 is checked, and the data format (XHTML in the example of FIG. 7) is checked by the server 300 itself in the printer 200.
If the page description language specified by is not convertible to the specified page description language (Lips in the example of FIG. 7), the process proceeds to the end and this SSDP request 7
A response to 00 is ignored without being issued.

If conversion is possible, the process proceeds to step S305, in which the server 300 receives all the arguments (JobID in this example) notified by the DataConversionRequest request 702.
703, DataFormat 704, SupportedPDL 705, Data
After storing the ReceiveURL 706), the HTTP response 800 in the format shown in FIG. 8 is issued by unicast to the printer 200 in step S306.

Here again, SOAP is used as the entity body of the HTTP response 800, and the following information is notified to the printer. These pieces of information are shown in FIG.
DataConversionReques described in the velope tag 801
JobID 802: job identification ID ServerDataReceiveURL: data transmission destination URL is notified as a return value for the t request.

Here, the job ID of the printer is DataConversionR
When the equest is issued, the same ID (here, “123”) as the value notified to the server is returned as its argument.

The printer 200 uses DataConversionReques
After issuing t, in step S307, a response is waited for a predetermined period, and if there is no response from any of the servers, the process proceeds to END, the job execution is deemed impossible, and the process is completed. In this case, CreateJo from client 100
b Does not respond to the request and ignores it.

When a response is received from any of the servers within a predetermined time, the service of the server that first responds is used, and in the present embodiment, the server that has notified the other response is ignored and the service is not used. do not do. Here, it is assumed that the response from the server 300 first arrives at the printer 200.

Upon receiving the response from the server 300, the printer 200 proceeds to step S308 and uses the same format as that shown in FIG.
A HTTP response is issued to 0 by unicast.

That is, SOAP is used as the entity body of the HTTP response, and information (job identification ID, printer vendor / product name, printer name, printer installation location, data transmission destination URL) stored in the memory of the printer is used. Notify the client 100.

As the job identification ID, the same ID as that generated when the printer 200 first issued the DateConversionRequest to the data format conversion server 300 is designated.

As the data transmission destination URL here, the data format conversion server is the printer 200.
As a response to the DataConversionRequest, the address value described in the ServerDataReceiveURL 802 notified to the printer 200 (123.222.111.23 in the example of FIG. 8).
4) Set.

When the response issued in step S308 is sent to the client 100, the process returns to step S207 in FIG. 2, and the client 100 displays the printer list based on the received response, and the client 100 displays the printer list in step S210. Wait for printer selection. The user
If the printer that has transmitted the response is selected in step S308, the server 3 is selected in step S211.
The print target data is transmitted to the address 00. The address of this server 300 is set in step S306.
And in step S308, ServerDataReceiveURL
The address is set as (123. in the example of FIG. 8).
222.111.234).

The data format conversion server 300 having received the data in step S309,
At 310, a data format conversion process is executed. That is, based on the JobID, the printer 200 is set to D
Page description language specified in ataConversionRequest (Fig. 7
In the example, convert to Lips).

When the conversion process is completed, the data format conversion server 300 determines in step S311 that the printer 200 has previously executed the DataConversation process based on the JobID.
Data transmission destination URL after conversion processing specified in ionRequest
(123.222.111.222 in the example of FIG. 7), the converted P
Send DL data.

At that time, the data format conversion server 3
In 00, the HTTP header part and the SOAP Envelope part of the SendData request received from the client 100 are copied as they are, and the PDL data after conversion is added to the SOAP Envelope part and transmitted.

Printer 2 which received the Lips data after conversion
00 starts print processing and creates a Creat based on the JobID in advance.
The print process for Copy (the number of copies) specified by eJob is executed, and when the print process is completed, step S313
In the same way as in step S214, the status code “20
Issue "0 OK" and notify the client side to that effect. On the other hand, if the print processing cannot be executed normally, H
As a TTP error response, a status code,
Issue "500 Internal Server Error" and notify the client side.

The print process is completed by the above series of processing sequences.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to convert various data formats and image formats into data that can be printed by the printer, by using services that exist in a distributed form on the network. This eliminates the need to incorporate the format conversion function in the network compatible service providing device.

Further, unlike the conventional client / server type network service, it is possible to dynamically search and find a required service, and even when a new service is added to the network, the network information is added. You no longer have to rebuild.

Further, the number of times of data transfer between each device until the job is completed and the protocol for data transfer are simplified, and the processing efficiency is improved.

(Other Embodiments) In the above, the printer has been described as one embodiment of the service providing apparatus according to the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a scanner, a FAX, a copying machine, In addition to an image processing apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral that combines those functions, all service providing apparatuses that are capable of implementing the communication method and the service providing method described in the above embodiments are included. It is a thing. .

Further, in the above-mentioned one embodiment, the server computer is explained as the third service providing apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the communication method and service providing shown in the above embodiment. All server devices that can implement the method are included.

In the above embodiment, SOAP is used as the notation method of the HTTP entity, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be realized by a description in a unique schema.

In the above embodiment, HTTP / TC
Although Ethernet (registered trademark) using P / IP is illustrated as the physical layer, wireless communication represented by Bluetooth or the like may be used as the communication method.

In the above embodiment, the data format conversion service is described, but other services may be used. For example, a server that provides any service such as compression / expansion processing of image data such as JPEG, PNG, GIF, OCR conversion, English-Japanese conversion, or a combination thereof is also included in the server device according to the present invention.

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) recording a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to supply a computer of the system or apparatus ( Alternatively, by the CPU or MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium,
It goes without saying that it will be achieved. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also based on the instruction of the program code,
An operating system (OS) running on the computer does some or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that the processing includes the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code. , The CPU provided in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that the processing includes the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized.

When the present invention is applied to the above storage medium, the storage medium stores the program code corresponding to the above-described flowchart (shown in FIG. 2 and / or FIG. 3).

[0095]

As described above, according to the present invention, a service providing system, a service providing method, a service providing apparatus, and a service providing apparatus for easily providing a service in response to a service request from a client apparatus on a network are provided. A control method, a control program, and a computer-readable memory can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing respective functional configurations of a client and a service providing device that constitute a service providing system as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing method of the service providing system as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing method of the service providing system as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a request format issued when a client searches for a print service.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a response format issued when the print service returns attribute information to the client.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a request format issued when a client sends a job to a print service.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a request format issued when the print service searches for a data format conversion service.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a response format issued when the data format conversion service returns attribute information to the print service.

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. A service providing system including a client device, a first service providing device, and a second service providing device connected to a network, wherein the client device is requested by the job when executing the job. First
A first notifying unit for notifying the service content to the first service providing apparatus, wherein the first service providing apparatus determines whether or not the first service content notified from the client apparatus can be processed independently. A means for judging, and when the first service content cannot be processed by itself,
A service providing system, comprising: a search unit that searches a second service providing apparatus on the network, which is capable of processing a second service content that is necessary for executing the job. 2. The service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the first notifying unit notifies all service providing devices on the network of the first service content. 3. The search means may process a second notifying means for notifying all service providing devices on the network of the second service content, and the second service content from the second service providing device. The service providing system according to claim 1, further comprising: input means for inputting a response to the effect. 4. The service providing system according to claim 3, wherein the second notifying unit notifies all the service providing devices of the address information of the first service providing device. 5. The second service providing device, if the second service providing device determines that the second service content notified by the second notifying device can be processed, 5. The service according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising: a storage unit that stores 2 service contents; and a first response unit that responds to the first service providing device with at least the address information of the second service providing device. Offer system. 6. A first response received by the first response means
6. The service providing device further comprises second response means for responding at least the address information of the second service providing device to the client device.
The service providing system described in. 7. If the first service providing apparatus determines that the first service content can be processed independently, the second service
7. The service providing system according to claim 6, wherein the response unit responds to the client device with at least the address information of the first service providing device. 8. The service providing system according to claim 6, wherein the client device issues the job in response to the address information received by the second response means. 9. When the job is issued from the client device to the second service providing device, the second service providing device processes the second service content for the job. After that, the processed job is transmitted to the first service providing apparatus, and the first service providing apparatus further achieves the job by performing further processing on the processed job. 8. The service providing system described in 8. 10. A service providing method performed on a network including a client device, a first service providing device, and a second service providing device, wherein the client device provides a first service providing device to a first service providing device.
A notification step of notifying the service content, and a first step required to perform the first service content when the first service content notified by the notification step cannot be performed by the first service providing device alone. (2) A search step of searching on the network for a second service providing device capable of providing the service content. 11. A first transmitting step in which the client apparatus transmits first data, which is the target of the first service content, to the second service providing apparatus searched by the searching step, The service providing device performs the second service content on the first data transmitted in the first transmitting step,
A second transmitting step of transmitting to the first service providing apparatus as second data, and a service in which the first service providing apparatus performs the first service content with respect to the second data transmitted by the second transmitting step. The service providing method according to claim 10, further comprising: a providing step. 12. A service providing apparatus, which is connected to a network and provides a first service content, wherein the service providing apparatus alone responds to a request for a second service content from a client apparatus connected to the network. Determining means for determining whether or not it can be executed; and if the determining means determines that the second service content cannot be provided by the service providing device alone, the second
It is possible to provide a third service content that needs to be combined with the first service content to provide the service content.
A service providing device comprising: a search unit that searches for another service providing device on the network. 13. The service providing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising transmitting means for transmitting information specifying the other service providing apparatus to the client apparatus. 14. The first service content is print processing of print target data of a first format, the second service content is print processing of print target data of a second format, and the third service content 14. The service providing device according to claim 12, wherein is a data conversion process from the second format to the first format. 15. A method of controlling a service providing apparatus connected to a network and providing a first service content, comprising: providing the service in response to a request for a second service content from a client apparatus connected to the network. A determining step of determining whether or not the apparatus can be executed alone, and the second step when the determining step determines that the second service content cannot be provided by the service providing apparatus alone.
It is possible to provide a third service content that needs to be combined with the first service content to provide the service content.
And a search step of searching for another service providing apparatus on the network, the method for controlling the service providing apparatus. 16. A control program for a service providing apparatus connected to a network and providing a first service content, comprising: a processor provided in the service providing apparatus, a second program from a client apparatus connected to the network. A determination step of determining whether or not the service providing apparatus alone can execute the request for the service content; and a case of determining in the determination step that the second service content cannot be provided by the service providing apparatus alone, Second
It is possible to provide a third service content that needs to be combined with the first service content to provide the service content.
A control program for executing a search step of searching for another service providing device on the network. 17. A service providing apparatus connected to a network, and determining whether or not the service providing apparatus can execute a service providing request from another apparatus connected to the network. And a means for responding at least the address information of the service providing apparatus to the other apparatus when the determining section determines that the service provision can be performed, and receiving the data to be provided by the service. A service providing apparatus comprising: a receiving unit; and a transmitting unit that executes the service provision for the data received by the receiving unit and transmits the data to the other device. 18. A method of controlling a service providing device connected to a network, comprising determining whether or not the service providing device can execute a service providing request from another device connected to the network. And a step of responding at least the address information of the service providing device to the other device when it is determined that the service provision can be executed in the determining step, and the data to be provided as the service. And a transmitting step of performing the service provision on the data received in the receiving step and transmitting the service to the other device. 19. A control program for a service providing apparatus connected to a network, wherein a processor provided in the service providing apparatus responds to a request for service provision from another apparatus connected to the network. A determining step of determining whether or not the service providing apparatus can perform the operation, and a response of at least the address information of the service providing apparatus to the other apparatus when the service providing apparatus can be performed in the determining step A receiving step of receiving data to be provided with the service; a transmitting step of performing the service provision on the data received in the receiving step and transmitting the data to the other device; A control program characterized by. 20. A computer-readable memory in which the control program according to claim 16 or 19 is stored. 21. A service providing system including a client device, a first service providing device, and a second service providing device on the same network, wherein the client device makes a request to the first service providing device. The first service providing apparatus, wherein the first service providing apparatus cannot perform the first service content notified by the notifying section by the first service providing apparatus alone. 1 has a search means for searching for a second service providing device capable of performing the second service content necessary for performing the service content, wherein the client device further includes: The first subject to the first service content
The second service providing device has a first transmitting unit for transmitting data, and the second service providing apparatus performs the second service content on the first data transmitted by the first transmitting unit, and outputs the first data as the second data. Service providing means for transmitting to the service providing apparatus, wherein the first service providing apparatus further performs the first service content for the second data transmitted by the second transmitting means. A service providing system comprising: 22. A service providing method using a client device, a first service providing device, and a second service providing device on a network, wherein the client device makes a request to the first service providing device. A notification step of notifying the first service content; and the first service providing apparatus, when the first service providing apparatus cannot perform the first service content notified by the notifying step by itself, the first service A search step of searching for a second service providing apparatus capable of performing the second service content necessary for performing the content, and the client apparatus instructing the second service providing apparatus of the first service content The first transmission step of transmitting the target first data, and the second service providing device are transmitted in the first transmission step. A second transmitting step of performing the second service content on the first data and transmitting the second data to the first service providing apparatus as second data; and the first service providing apparatus transmitted by the second transmitting step. And a step of processing the second data to achieve the first service content.