JP2006165807A - Image formation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation system for suppressing a load to be imposed on a network or a load to be imposed on an image formation device at the time of providing the new function of the image formation apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: This device A801 generates a mobile agent on the basis of data received from a device B802 (S1103), and transmits the generated mobile agent to the device B802 (S1105). The device B802 performs the mobile agent received from the device A801 (S1107), and provides a new function on the basis of the performance result (S1110). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system formed by a network-connected image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming system having a mobile agent generation environment and an execution environment.

  Conventional image forming apparatuses provide functions only in a single device without being connected to a network. In recent years, image forming apparatuses that provide various functions via a network have appeared.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that an agent has a function of performing cooperation between applications, thereby facilitating use of an existing application and addition or change of a cooperation protocol.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-316682

  However, even an image forming apparatus having such a network connection function must always be connected to the network during processing in order to provide the function, resulting in a problem that the network load increases. In addition, when providing a new function, it is necessary to handle detailed information for each image forming apparatus every time the function is provided, which increases the processing load on each image forming apparatus, resulting in a new It was a barrier to providing functionality. An object of the present invention is to provide the following system in order to solve the above problems.

  The image forming system according to claim 1 is an image forming system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to each other via a network, and the image forming apparatus includes a communication unit that communicates with other apparatuses. In the forming system, a first image forming apparatus having a mobile agent generating means for generating a mobile agent, and a second image forming apparatus having a mobile agent analyzing means for analyzing the mobile agent received by the communication means, It is characterized by including.

  The image forming system according to claim 2 is the image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the second image forming apparatus includes a detection unit that detects a state of another image forming apparatus, an analysis result by the analysis unit, and a detection unit. And control means for controlling the entire image forming system according to the detection result.

  An image forming system according to a third aspect is the image forming system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the second image forming apparatus includes a mobile agent updating means for updating the mobile agent.

  The image forming system according to claim 4 is the image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second image forming apparatus includes automatic generation means for automatically generating a mobile agent. And

  The image forming system according to claim 5 is the image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit performs complementary control of a plurality of the other image forming apparatuses. To do.

  The image forming system according to claim 6 is the image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second image forming apparatus receives a mobile agent received from another image forming apparatus by communication means. Mobile agent transfer means for transferring to a different image forming apparatus other than the generated image forming apparatus is provided.

  The image forming system according to claim 7 is the image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the mobile agent transfer unit receives the mobile agent received by the communication unit according to the analysis result by the analysis unit and the detection result by the detection unit. Transferring to an image forming apparatus.

  The image forming system according to claim 8 is the image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first image forming apparatus is a transmission destination of the mobile agent generated by the mobile agent generating means. An image forming system comprising retry transmission means for repeating transmission of the mobile agent at a predetermined timing when the second image forming apparatus fails to receive the mobile agent.

  The image forming system according to claim 9 is the image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first image forming apparatus is a transmission destination of the mobile agent generated by the mobile agent generating means. When the second image forming apparatus fails to receive the mobile agent, the information processing apparatus includes a storage unit that acquires and stores information related to the second image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention, an image forming system formed by connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses to each other via a network receives the first image forming apparatus provided with the mobile agent generating means for generating a mobile agent. Since the second image forming apparatus provided with the analyzing means for analyzing the mobile agent is included, it is possible to provide a new function while suppressing the load on the network and the image forming apparatus.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  First, an image forming apparatus constituting an image forming system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a control unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. The control unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 101, an image memory 102, a flash ROM 103, a font ROM 104, a hard disk controller 105, a hard disk 106, a display memory 107, a graphic controller 108, a key scan circuit 109, a scanner control I / O. An O circuit 113, a printer control I / O circuit 115, an infrared communication circuit 117, a network I / F circuit 118, a modem circuit 119, and a system bus 120 are provided.

  The CPU 101 centrally controls the image forming apparatus. The image memory 102 is used as an area for accumulating images read by the scanner unit 114 and drawing data to be sent to the printer unit 116. The flash ROM 103 stores a program for operating the CPU 101. The font ROM 104 stores font data for characters to be printed and characters to be displayed on the display unit 111. The hard disk controller 105 controls the writing / reading / stopping of data with the hard disk 106. The display memory 107 temporarily accumulates drawing data in order to display the drawn data on the display unit 111. The graphic controller 108 performs high-speed drawing processing on the display memory 107 and controls such as reading data from the display memory 107 and sending it to the display unit 111. The key scan circuit 109 reads the state of the key 112 arranged on the operation unit 110 and stores the state.

  The document reading operation is performed by the CPU 101 controlling the scanner unit 114 through the scanner control I / O circuit 113. The printing operation is performed by the CPU 101 by controlling the printer unit 116 through the printer control I / O circuit 115. The infrared communication circuit 117 is for the CPU 101 to perform infrared communication with a device outside the apparatus. The network I / F circuit 118 is for the CPU 101 to communicate with devices external to the apparatus connected on the network. The modem circuit 119 is for the CPU 101 to connect to a public line and communicate with a device outside the apparatus. The system bus 120 is for the CPU 101 to access each circuit and device.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the scanner unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. The scanner unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a pressure plate 201, contact glass 202, exposure lamp 203, mirrors 204, 205, 206, lens 207, CCD 208, document size sensor 209, wire 210, motor 211, scanner image processing. Part 212 is provided.

  The pressure plate 201 is provided to hold the document placed on the contact glass 202 or to protect the contact glass 202 when there is no document. The light emitted from the exposure lamp 203 is reflected by the document surface placed on the contact glass 202, reflected by the mirrors 204, 205, and 206, collected by the lens 207, and then imaged by the CCD 208. The The CCD 208 converts the imaged light into an analog electric signal and sends it to the scanner image processing unit 212. The traveling body 214 is mounted with the exposure lamp 203 and the mirror 204 described above, and moves in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. Is called. The document size sensor 209 is for detecting the size of the document placed on the contact glass 202.

  FIG. 3 shows the internal structure of the scanner image processing unit 212 shown in FIG. 3 that are the same as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. A scanner image processing unit 212 provided in the scanner unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a CCD 208, an AMP circuit 301, an A / D conversion circuit 302, a shading correction circuit 303, an MTF correction / smoothing filter circuit 304, and main scanning. A zoom circuit 305 and a γ / gradation processing circuit 306 are provided.

  In the scanner image processing unit 212, the analog signal output from the CCD 208 is amplified by the AMP circuit 301 and converted into a digital signal (for example, 8 bits) by the A / D conversion circuit 302. The digitized image signal is subjected to digital signal processing in each circuit of a shading correction circuit 303, an MTF correction / smoothing filter circuit 304, a main scanning scaling circuit 305, and a γ / gradation processing circuit 306, as shown in FIG. It is sent to the image memory 102. The shading correction circuit 303, the MTF correction / smoothing filter circuit 304, the main scanning scaling circuit 305, and the γ / gradation processing circuit 306 are connected to the CPU 101 shown in FIG. Optimal parameters are set in the circuits 303 to 306 by the CPU 101 so that signal processing suitable for the reading conditions is performed.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the printer unit (116 in FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. The printer unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a photosensitive drum 401, a charging unit 402, an LD unit 403, a polygon mirror 404, a lens 405, a developing device 406, a transfer belt 407, a static elimination lamp 408, a fixing unit 409, a discharge unit. A paper roller 410, a paper feed tray 411, and a paper feed roller 413 are provided.

  A paper feed tray 411 is disposed below the printer unit 116, and the paper 412 stored therein is picked up by a paper feed roller 413 and conveyed inside the apparatus. The image data output from the image memory 102 shown in FIG. 1 is emitted as LD light by the LD unit 403, reflected by the polygon mirror 404, and passed through the lens 405 on the photosensitive drum 401 whose surface is charged by the charging unit 402. To form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image is made into a toner image by being attached with toner by the developing device 406, transferred to the paper 412 by the transfer belt 407, and the transferred toner is fused to the paper 412 by heat and pressure by the fixing unit 409. . The paper 412 on which the toner fused image is written is discharged out of the apparatus via the paper discharge roller 410.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing details of the operation unit (110 in FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 5, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. The operation unit 110 of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a display unit 111, a numeric keypad 501, a display information import designation key 502, a start key 503, an application switching key 504, and a keyboard 505.

  A numeric keypad 501 is used for operations such as inputting the number of copies to be printed. The display information import designation key 502 is used for an operation for setting to capture arbitrary information specified by the user that is not related to the operation of the device displayed on the display unit 111. A start key 503 is used for an operation to instruct the start of copying or document reading. An application switching key 504 is used for an operation of switching functions such as a copy function / printer function / scanner function / FAX function. The 106 keyboard 505 is used for an operation of inputting an arbitrary character string, and is configured as a hard keyboard in this embodiment, but may be configured as a soft keyboard displayed on a liquid crystal touch panel.

  Next, an operation for displaying arbitrary character information designated by the user on the display unit (111 in FIG. 1) will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 5, and 6. FIG. 6 that are the same as those in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in FIG. 1 and FIG.

  The user inputs a character string to be displayed on the display unit 111 from the 106 keyboard 505. The input information is read into the CPU 101 through the key scan circuit 109 from the key 112 shown in FIG. The CPU 101 reads out the display font of the input character string from the font ROM 104 and writes it in the display memory 107. The data written in the display memory 107 is sent to the display unit 111 via the graphic controller 108 and displayed as a display unit 601 in FIG.

  Next, an operation for displaying arbitrary image information designated by the user on the display unit (111 in FIG. 1) will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 7. FIG. 7 that are the same as those in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in FIG. 1 and FIG.

  The user places a document on which an image image desired to be displayed on the display unit 111 is placed on the contact glass 202 shown in FIG. 2, and presses the start key 503 in FIG. 5, thereby causing the CPU 101 shown in FIG. An instruction to start reading an image is given. The CPU 101 operates the scanner control I / O circuit 113 to control the scanner unit 114 and read an image on the document. The read image data is stored in the image memory 102. The CPU 101 reads out image data stored in the image memory 102 via the system bus 120 and writes it in the display memory 107. The data written in the display memory 107 is sent to the display unit 111 via the graphic controller 108 and displayed as a display unit 701 shown in FIG.

(First embodiment)
Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a configuration example of the network system according to the present embodiment. In the network system according to the present embodiment, a device A 800 and a device B 900 that have different functions are connected to each other via a network.

  FIG. 9 shows a configuration of the apparatus A800 shown in FIG. The apparatus A 800 includes a CPU 801, a generation unit 802, a communication unit 803, an analysis unit 804, a memory 805, and a system bus 806.

  In the generation unit 802, a mobile agent is generated. The communication unit 803 has a function of data transmission / reception with the device B900 shown in FIG. In addition, you may make it have at least one function of transmission or reception. In the present embodiment, the mobile agent generated by the generation unit 802 is transmitted to the device B 900 by the communication unit 803. The analysis unit 804 analyzes the state of each apparatus constituting the entire network system and the network. The memory 805 stores data received by the communication unit 803, a mobile agent, or an analysis result by the analysis unit 804. The above-described operation control is performed by the CPU 801 via the system bus 806.

  FIG. 10 shows a configuration of the device B900 shown in FIG. The apparatus B 900 includes a CPU 901, an execution unit 902, a communication unit 903, a function unit 904, a determination unit 905, a memory 906, and a system bus 907.

  The execution unit 902 has a function of executing a mobile agent. The communication unit 903 has a data transmission / reception function with the apparatus B 900 shown in FIG. In addition, you may make it have at least one function of transmission or reception. The mobile agent received by the communication unit 903 is executed by the execution unit 902. The execution result is stored in the memory 906. The determination unit 905 determines an execution result stored in the memory 906 and selects a function provided in the function unit 904 according to the determination result. The selected function is executed under the control of the CPU 901. The above operation control is performed by the CPU 901 via the system bus 907.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart of processing according to the first embodiment. In this flowchart, the device B 900 that does not have the function of generating a mobile agent requests the device A 800 having the function of generating a mobile agent to generate a mobile agent, receives the generated mobile agent, and receives the received mobile agent. An example of executing an agent is shown.

  First, the device B 900 transmits data necessary for mobile agent generation to the device A 800 via the communication unit 903 (S1101). Data transmission may be performed in accordance with a user instruction, or may be controlled so that the CPU 901 automatically transmits data based on data stored in the memory 906. When the device A 800 receives data from the device B 900 via the communication unit 803, the analysis unit 804 analyzes the state of the device B 900 alone or the entire network system including the device A 800 and the device B 900 based on the analysis result. The conditions necessary for generating the mobile agent are determined (S1102). The generation unit 802 generates a mobile agent based on the processing result of the analysis unit 804 (S1103). The generated mobile agent is stored in the memory 805 (S1104), and then transmitted to the device B900 via the communication unit 803 (S1105).

  When the device B 900 receives the mobile agent transmitted from the device A 800 via the communication unit 903 (S1106), the execution unit 902 executes the mobile agent (S1107). At this time, the mobile agent can be stored in the memory 906 before execution. The execution result is stored in the memory 906 (S1108), and the function unit 904 compares the actually provided function with the execution result (S1109). Based on the comparison result, the device B900 includes the functions provided. An optimal function is selected (S1110). At this time, if the optimum function is not present among the functions provided in the function unit 904, nothing is executed ("NO" in S1110), and the routine is terminated. If the function is present (S1110) "YES"), the selected function is executed (S1111) and the routine is terminated.

  FIG. 12 is an example of a data table used in environment determination (S1102) and function selection (S1110) shown in FIG.

  The table 1201 stores the contents of data transmitted by the device B 900, the determination result, and the mobile agent program optimum for the determination result in association with each other. The table 1202 stores the mobile agent generated by the device A, the execution result of the mobile agent, and the functions to be selected based on the execution result in association with each other.

  For example, when the determination result of the device A 800 is “A”, the device A 800 generates a mobile agent called MA-A. The generated mobile agent is transmitted to the device B 900, and the device B analyzes the mobile agent. Since the analysis result is “a”, the scanner function which is a corresponding function is selected. Note that this embodiment is merely an example, and the data stored in the table 1201 and the table 1202 is not limited to the function of the image forming apparatus, and is stored in association with dynamic information such as information indicating the presence or absence of an error, for example. You may make it do.

  In the device A 800, a table 1201 is stored in the memory 805 in advance. The analysis unit 804 refers to the data received from the device B 900 and compares it with the table 1201, thereby sending a necessary mobile agent to the generation unit 802 as an analysis result. The flow of processing after generating the mobile agent is as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, in the device B900, a table 1202 is stored in the memory 906 in advance. The execution unit 902 executes the received mobile agent, and based on the execution result, the determination unit 905 refers to the table 1202 and selects a function from the functions provided in the function unit 904. The flow of processing after function selection is as shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the device B 900 is a digital multifunction device has been described. However, the device B 900 is not limited to a digital multifunction device as long as the device has a mobile agent execution function. Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the device A 800 generates a mobile agent in S1103 has been described. However, when the mobile agent is stored in the memory 106 of the device A 800, instead of generating a mobile agent, the device B 900 The stored mobile agent may be updated to the latest in accordance with the data sent.

  According to this embodiment, one image forming apparatus has a means for generating a mobile agent and a means for transmitting the generated mobile agent in response to a request from the other image forming apparatus, and the other image forming apparatus Since it has a means for executing a function based on the transmitted mobile agent, the network only needs to be connected only when the mobile agent is transmitted / received, and each device only generates or analyzes the mobile agent. good.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 13 is a configuration example of the network system according to the present embodiment. Devices A to E (1301 to 1305) are each connected to one or more devices via a network. In the present embodiment, the devices A to E (1301 to 1305) have different functions but have at least the same configuration as shown in FIG. 14 described later.

  FIG. 14 shows the configuration of the devices A to E (1301 to 1305) shown in FIG.

  The apparatuses A to E (1301 to 1305) include a CPU 1401, a generation unit 1402, a communication unit 1403, an analysis unit 1404, a memory 1405, an execution unit 1406, a function unit 1407, a determination unit 1408, and a system bus 1409.

  A CPU 1401 controls the entire apparatus. The generation unit 1402 generates a mobile agent. The communication unit 1403 has at least one function of data transmission or reception with another apparatus. In the present embodiment, the mobile agent generated by the generation unit 1402 is transmitted to another device by the communication unit 1403. The analysis unit 1404 analyzes the state of each device constituting the entire network system and the network. The memory 1405 stores data received by the communication unit 1403, a mobile agent, or an analysis result by the analysis unit 1404.

  The execution unit 1406 has a function of executing a mobile agent. The mobile agent received by the communication unit 1403 is executed by the execution unit 1406. The execution result is stored in the memory 1405. The determination unit 1408 determines the execution result stored in the memory 1405, and selects a function provided in the function unit 1407 according to the determination result. The selected function is executed under the control of the CPU 1401. The above operation control is performed by the CPU 1401 via the system bus 1409.

  FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram of processing according to the second embodiment. The processing only between the device A 1301 and the device B 1302, the device B 1302 and the device C 1303, and the processing between the device C 1303 and the device A 1301 is as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, as an example of processing between devices A1301 and D1304 that are not directly connected, an example in which data is transmitted from device A1301 to device D1304 and a mobile agent is generated by device D1304. Show.

  First, the device A 1301 transmits data necessary for mobile agent generation to the device B 1302 via the communication unit 1403 (S1501). The data transmission may be performed according to a user instruction, or may be controlled so that the CPU 1401 automatically transmits based on the data stored in the memory 1405. In the present embodiment, the data transmitted by the device A 1301 includes the destination, the request content, and the transmission source (T1501), but the present invention is not limited to this.

  Upon receiving data from the device A 1301 via the communication unit 1403, the device B 1302 analyzes the data received by the analysis unit 1404 (S1502). Since the transmission to the device D1304 is requested this time, the device B1302 transfers the data to the device C1303 via the communication unit 1403 to transmit the data to the device D1304 based on the analysis result (S1503). In this embodiment, the device A 1301 transmits data to the device B 1302, but when the data is directly transmitted from the device A 1301 to the device C 1303, the processing (S1502 to S1503) in the device B 1302 is not necessary.

  Upon receiving data from the device B 1302 (or device A 1301) via the communication unit 1403, the device C 1303 analyzes the data received by the analysis unit 1404 (S1504). In this embodiment, since transmission to the device D1304 is requested, the device C1303 transfers data to the device D1304 via the communication unit 1403 based on the analysis result (S1505).

  Upon receiving data from the device C1303 via the communication unit 1403, the device D1304 analyzes the data received by the analysis unit 1404 (S1506), and generates a mobile agent by the generation unit 1402 based on the analysis result (S1507). ). The generated mobile agent transmits it to the device B 1302 via the communication unit 1403 in order to send it back to the device A 1301 (S1508). In the present embodiment, information indicating that the mobile agent is requested to transfer data to the device A 1301 is added (T1502), but the present invention is not limited to this.

  When the device B 1302 receives the mobile agent from the device D 1304 via the communication unit 1403, the analysis unit 1404 analyzes the data (S1509), and based on the analysis result, the device B 1302 sends the mobile agent to the device A 1301 via the communication unit 1403. Is transferred (S1510).

  Upon receiving the mobile agent from the device B 1302 via the communication unit 1403, the device A 1301 executes the mobile agent by the execution unit 1406 (S1511), and based on the execution result, functions necessary from the function unit 1407 to the determination unit 1408 Is selected (S1512). The selected function is controlled to be executed by the CPU 1401 (S1513).

  According to the present embodiment, even in a complex image forming system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram of processing according to the third embodiment. In the present embodiment, an example of a case where only the request content is transmitted without including the destination in the data transmitted by the device A 1301 first is shown.

  First, the device A 1301 transmits data necessary for mobile agent generation to at least one of the device B 1302 and the device C 1303 via the communication unit 1403 (S1601). The data transmission may be performed according to a user instruction, or may be controlled so that the CPU 1401 automatically transmits based on the data stored in the memory 1405. In the present embodiment, the data transmitted by the device A 1301 includes the request content and the transmission source (T1601), but is not limited thereto.

  Upon receiving data from the device A 1301 via the communication unit 1403, the device B 1302 analyzes the data received by the analysis unit 1404 (S1602). In the memory 1405 provided in the device B 1302, the neighboring device capable of transmission and the function of the device are stored in association with each other (T1602). The determination unit 1408 determines the content of processing from the analysis result. In this case, since it cannot be determined even if the table T1602 is referred to, it is transferred to the device C1303 which is a device other than the transmission source by the adjacent device (S1603).

  Upon receiving data from the device B 1302 (or device A 1301) via the communication unit 1403, the device C 1303 analyzes the data received by the analysis unit 1404 (S1604). The memory 1405 included in the device C1303 stores adjacent devices that can be transmitted and the functions of the devices in association with each other (T1603). The determination unit 1408 determines the content of processing from the analysis result. In this case, since the determination cannot be made even by referring to the table T1603, the data is transferred to the device D1304, which is a device other than the transmission (transfer) source, by an adjacent device (S1605).

  Upon receiving data from the device C1303 via the communication unit 1403, the device D1304 analyzes the data received by the analysis unit 1404 (S1606). In the memory 1405 provided in the device D1304, adjacent devices that can be transmitted and the functions of the devices are stored in association with each other (T1604). The determination unit 1408 determines the content of processing from the analysis result. In this case, with reference to the table T1604, since it can be determined that the data e can be transferred to the device E, the data is transferred to the device E1305 via the communication unit 1403 (S1607).

  Upon receiving data from the device D1304 via the communication unit 1403, the device E1305 analyzes the data received by the analysis unit 1404 (S1608). Subsequent processing of each device is the same as that in the third embodiment (S1507 to S1513), and thus description thereof is omitted.

  According to the present embodiment, the same effect as the first and second embodiments can be obtained by merely requesting a function to be provided by a device that provides a function without considering the destination.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram of processing according to the fourth embodiment. In addition, about the process same as FIG. 15, the same code | symbol as FIG. 15 is used, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the present embodiment, when the mobile agent transmission from the device D 1304 to the device B 1302 fails (S1508), the mobile agent returns (S1701). Next, the device D1304 that is the generation source of the mobile agent retransmits the mobile agent that has returned to the device B1302 (S1702). This process is repeated until transmission to the apparatus B 1302 is successful (S1703 to S1705). The operation after the device B 1302 has successfully received the mobile agent transmitted from the device D 1304 is as described with reference to FIG.

(Fifth embodiment)
FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram of processing according to the fifth embodiment. In addition, about the process same as FIG. 15, the same code | symbol as FIG. 15 is used, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In this embodiment, when the mobile agent transmission from the device D 1304 to the device B 1302 fails (S1508), information (hereinafter referred to as “error information”) regarding the device B 1302 that is the transmission destination is returned (S1801). The error information will be described later (T1801). Next, the device D1304, which is the generation source of the mobile agent, acquires error information (S1802), and reviews the transmission route based on the acquired error information (S1803). When a new transmission route is determined, the mobile agent is transmitted using the route (1804). When the device C1303 succeeds in receiving the mobile agent (S1805), the device C1303 analyzes the mobile agent (S1806), and transfers the received mobile agent to the device A1301, which is the final transmission destination (S1807).

  In this embodiment, the example in which only the mobile agent is transmitted to the device C1303 in S1804 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the mobile agent may be transmitted together with the error information (T1801) acquired in S1802.

  The error information (T1801) has been described as an example including a device name, the location of the device (for example, IP address), an error code indicating the cause of the error, and the number of retries, but is not limited thereto.

  According to this embodiment, even when transmission of a mobile agent fails, there is an effect that it is possible to reliably execute the function of the mobile agent by taking an appropriate response.

2 is a block diagram of a control unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a scanner image processing unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printer unit of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example when the character information designated by the user is displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example when the user-specified image information is displayed on the operation part of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. 1 is a network configuration diagram according to a first embodiment. FIG. It is a block block diagram of image forming apparatus A800 which comprises the image forming system shown in FIG. It is a block block diagram of image forming apparatus B900 which comprises the image forming system shown in FIG. It is a flowchart of the process which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 12 is an example of a data table used in environment determination (S1102) and function selection (S1110) shown in FIG. It is a network block diagram concerning the 2nd-5th embodiment. It is a block block diagram of each image forming apparatus which comprises the image forming system shown in FIG. It is a processing sequence which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a processing sequence which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a processing sequence concerning a 4th embodiment. It is a processing sequence concerning a 5th embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

101 CPU
102 Image memory 103, 104 ROM
106 HDD
108 Graphic Controller 110 Operation Unit 114 Scanner Unit 116 Printer Unit 117 Infrared Communication Circuit 118 Network I / F
119 Modem 120 System bus

Claims (9)

In an image forming system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to each other via a network, the image forming apparatus includes a communication unit that performs communication with other apparatuses.
A first image forming apparatus comprising mobile agent generation means for generating a mobile agent;
A second image forming apparatus comprising mobile agent analysis means for analyzing the mobile agent received by the communication means;
An image forming system comprising: The image forming system according to claim 1.
The second image forming apparatus includes:
Detecting means for detecting a state of the other image forming apparatus;
Control means for controlling the image forming system according to the analysis result by the analysis means and the detection result by the detection means;
An image forming system comprising: The image forming system according to claim 1 or 2,
The second image forming apparatus includes:
An image forming system comprising mobile agent update means for updating the mobile agent. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The second image forming apparatus includes:
An image forming system comprising automatic generation means for automatically generating the mobile agent. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The control means includes
An image forming system that performs complementary control of a plurality of other image forming apparatuses. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The second image forming apparatus includes:
Image forming apparatus comprising: mobile agent transfer means for transferring the mobile agent received from the other image forming apparatus by the communication means to another image forming apparatus other than the image forming apparatus in which the mobile agent is generated. system. The image forming system according to claim 6.
The mobile agent transfer means includes
An image forming system, wherein the mobile agent received by the communication unit is transferred to another image forming apparatus in accordance with an analysis result by the analysis unit and a detection result by the detection unit. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The first image forming apparatus includes:
Retry transmission means for repeating transmission of the mobile agent at a predetermined timing when the second image forming apparatus that is the transmission destination of the mobile agent generated by the mobile agent generation means fails to receive the mobile agent. An image forming system characterized by that. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The first image forming apparatus includes:
A storage that acquires and stores information about the second image forming apparatus when the second image forming apparatus that is a transmission destination of the mobile agent generated by the mobile agent generating unit fails to receive the mobile agent An image forming system comprising means.

Images