JP2007281782A - System, apparatus, and method for forming image, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image-forming system for connecting a job inputted by a user for execution, and to provide an image formation method and a program. <P>SOLUTION: In the image formation method, an image-forming apparatus connects a job instructed by another image-forming apparatus via a network for execution. The image-forming apparatus executes: a step S103 for identifying an insufficient program for executing a job while being connected to the other image-forming apparatuses, a step S104 for acquiring the identified program via the network to install the acquired program, and a step S105 for transmitting the job to be connected via the network for executing the connected job. There are provided: the image-forming system including the image-forming apparatus for executing the above processing, the image-forming apparatus; the image formation method, and the program. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system, and more particularly to an image forming system, an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program for distributing a print job among a plurality of image forming apparatuses.

  In office floors and the like, a plurality of image forming apparatuses are installed according to their functions and applications and used as copiers, facsimiles, printers, and the like. Data transferred from a computer from an image forming apparatus referred to as a multi-function peripheral (MFP) having functions such as a copier, facsimile, copy, printer, and image reader. There is also an image forming apparatus that is referred to as a printer that receives and outputs an image. In such an environment, the image forming apparatus may sometimes process print commands from a computer in a concentrated manner in addition to a user requesting a function such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a printer. As a result, multiple users tend to concentrate on one image processing device, and jobs are distributed to multiple image forming devices as much as possible in terms of efficient print job execution and effective use of device resources. It is preferable to make it.

  Various proposals have been made so far in order to improve the usability of the image forming apparatus at the user site. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-197044 (Patent Document 1) discloses a method of installing a printer driver for a printer newly connected to a network without using a storage medium.

  Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-366502 (Patent Document 2) discloses an automatic installation method for a network printer. The network printer is searched for in the network, and the driver of the searched network printer is sent via a Web server. A method for installing a driver on a client computer by downloading the program is disclosed.

Furthermore, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-110763 (Patent Document 3), a plug-in program is downloaded from a plug-in program storage location in response to a search result of the plug-in program for playing back digital content. A program for making this happen is disclosed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-197044 JP 2002-366502 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-110763

  The above-mentioned patent document discloses the point of improving the efficiency of the driver installation process at the user site. However, it does not disclose anything about efficiently distributing and acquiring insufficient program resources for efficient sharing of print jobs between image forming apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals and printers.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the present invention provides an image forming system, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus that efficiently share a print job between image forming apparatuses connected via a network. It is an object to provide a forming method and a program.

  In the present invention, a master / slave relationship is assigned to a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected via a network. A master image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a master apparatus) is defined as an image forming apparatus that receives a job command from a user. A slave image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a slave apparatus) is defined as an image forming apparatus other than the master apparatus. The master device or the slave device acquires a program necessary for a job that can be executed in the range of the hardware from an external device or a server. In the present invention, the program to be acquired is a plug-in program or an add-in program, and the image forming apparatus that has acquired the lacking program uses the acquired plug-in program or add-in program as a master device. The job transmitted from the client is executed and the job can be shared efficiently.

  In the present invention, a program downloaded under free or legitimate rights is held in the slave device without being deleted for efficient use of the program. In addition, the acquired program is uninstalled in response to the determination of the rightful title of the hardware resource or copyright of the image forming apparatus. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming system, an image forming method, and a program for efficiently sharing a job with an image forming apparatus connected via a network.

According to the present invention,
A master image forming apparatus connected to a network and receiving a job input from a user;
A slave image forming apparatus that is connected to the network and executes the job received by the master image forming apparatus in a linked manner;
An inadequate program supply unit that supplies the master image forming apparatus or the slave image forming apparatus with a program that is insufficient to connect and execute the job under the job conditions of the job. Is provided.

  The program of the present invention can be a plug-in program or an add-in program. The deficient program acquisition means of the present invention can transmit the job condition to the network, and transmit the program to an image forming apparatus that has notified that the job condition can be realized by adding the program.

Moreover, according to the present invention,
A server connected to the network;
A master image forming apparatus connected to the network and receiving a job input from a user;
A slave image forming apparatus that is connected to the network and executes the job received by the master image forming apparatus in a linked manner;
An image forming system comprising: a deficient program acquisition unit that acquires from the server a deficient program for linking and executing the jobs under the job conditions of the job.

  The program of the present invention can be a plug-in program or an add-in program. The deficient program acquisition means may include permission means for permitting acquisition of the program under a legitimate title when acquiring the deficient program. The deficient program acquisition means of the present invention can include means for acquiring the deficient program by accessing a file server connected to a public network via the network. It is possible to provide an uninstalling unit for uninstalling the program after the linked job of the present invention is completed.

Furthermore, according to the present invention,
An image forming apparatus that is connected to a network and that causes an input job to be linked and executed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses,
Means for transmitting a job condition via the network and determining that the job condition can be processed by adding a program;
Means for transmitting and receiving over the network the program that is deficient in response to the determination, in the form of a plug-in program or an add-in program;
An image forming apparatus comprising: means for transmitting job data for executing the job after the transmission of the program.

  In the present invention, a deficient program acquisition means for acquiring the deficient program from a server connected via the network can be provided. The deficient program acquisition unit may further include a permission unit that accesses a file server connected to a public network via the network and acquires a program having a legitimate title.

Moreover, according to the present invention,
An image forming method for executing a commanded job by connecting via a network,
Identifying a program that is insufficient to link and execute the commanded job among a plurality of image forming apparatuses in which a master device and a slave device are set;
Acquiring the identified program via the network, and installing the acquired lacking program in a corresponding image forming apparatus;
An image forming method is provided that executes the step of transmitting the jobs to be connected via the network.

  In the present invention, the program can be a plug-in program or an add-in program. In the present invention, the step of acquiring the program may include the step of permitting the acquisition of the program under a valid title. The installing step of the present invention may include obtaining the missing program from a file server connected to a public network via the network.

  Further, according to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus executable program for executing any one of the image forming methods described above.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming system 10 of the present invention. An image forming system 10 according to the present invention includes an MFP (Multi-Function) on a local area network (LAN) 12.
A plurality of image processing apparatuses such as a peripheral 14, a copier 16, and a printer 18 are connected to execute a print job. An information processing apparatus such as a personal computer 20 and a server 22 is connected to the LAN 12 and requests the MFP 14, the copier 16, and the printer 18 to process jobs. The LAN 12 is connected to a router (not shown), connected to a public network such as the Internet via the router, and remotely connected to a file server (not shown) such as a Web server or an FTP server. ).

  The MFP 14 and the copying machine 16 stand in front and accept input for various settings and processing from the operation panel, and perform processing such as setting of print conditions, print job, facsimile communication, and mail transmission / reception. The MFP 14 and the copier 16 also have a function as a printer, and receive and output job data transmitted from the information processing apparatus via the LAN 12. On the other hand, the printer 18 exclusively receives job data from the externally connected personal computer 20 or server 22 and executes the job.

  In the present invention, the master device is selected from an appropriate image forming device such as the image forming device MFP14 from which the user can input a job among the plurality of image forming devices shown in FIG. Are distributed to other image forming apparatuses connected to the LAN 12 to enable efficient processing by averaging jobs. For example, it is assumed that the MFP 14 functions as a master device, accumulates a plurality of jobs in the job queue, and processes the jobs using a first-in first-out method. On the other hand, it is assumed that other image forming apparatuses are not executing jobs and are in a job standby state. In this case, the MFP 14 inquires about the function of the image forming apparatus in the idle state, and when the job can be transferred under the existing hardware resources of the image forming apparatus only by adding the program, the MFP 14 adds the program. Processing is executed to expand the function of a predetermined image forming apparatus. Thereafter, the MFP 14 transmits the job data to the corresponding image forming apparatus to execute the job. In the present invention, the term “job” means a process that can be executed in relation to the image forming capability, such as a print job, a facsimile job, and a mail job. If it can be divided into job elements, the unit of the job element is included.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of each image forming apparatus constituting the image forming system 10 of the present invention. The MFP 14 includes a network I / F 26 and transmits job data or programs via the LAN 12. The MFP 14 functions as a master device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and includes a storage unit 24, a control unit 28, a display unit 30, a determination unit 32 for performing a linked job, an input operation unit 34, and the like. I have. These functional units are interconnected via an internal bus. The storage unit 24 stores job data and the like for use in a print job, and the control unit 28 performs user commands from the input operation unit 34 such as print execution, data reading, and image formation engine drive control. In response to control. The display unit 30 displays setting conditions so as to prompt the user to input condition settings when executing a print job.

  In addition, the determination unit 32 makes an inquiry to another image forming apparatus to connect and execute the job, receives the result, and performs processing for connecting and executing the job. In the present invention, the MFP 14 monitors functions of other image forming apparatuses connected to the LAN 12 and transmits / receives a program necessary for the job. In the present invention, the provided program is provided as an add-in program or a plug-in program, and can be called and executed by a main program for causing the image forming apparatus to function as necessary. . The program can execute the requested process in response to a call from the main program when the image forming apparatus that requested the program registers the program in a library file or the like.

  A copying machine 16 is also connected to the LAN 12, receives job data via the network I / F 26, and executes the commanded job. The copier 16 includes an input operation unit 34 that provides a user interface, and executes a print job in response to a job input from the user.

  The printer 18 includes a network I / F 26 and acquires job data from another image forming apparatus or information processing apparatus via the LAN 12. The acquired job data is temporarily stored in the storage unit 24 and is read out for a print job under the control of the control unit 40. The printer 16 also includes an input operation unit 34 and a display unit 38, and an input operation by the user is possible.

  FIG. 3 shows a more detailed functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. The functional block diagram shown in FIG. 3 is that of the MFP 14, and the copier, printer, or the like can be configured by installing functional blocks necessary for processing among the functions shown in FIG. 3. The MFP 14 illustrated in FIG. 3 acquires data or image data from the scanner device 50 including the ADF and the input unit 52 such as an operation panel and input keys. The image data acquired by the scanner device 50 is sent to the image determination / image processing unit 48 via the scanner I / F 54. The MFP 14 includes a CPU 42 that functions as a system controller. In the present invention, the central processing unit (CPU) 42 can use, for example, MIPS (registered trademark) or the like, and is suitable on an operating system (OS) such as UNIX (registered trademark) or LINUX (registered trademark). A main program written in an object-oriented programming language is executed. Further, the CPU 42 manages the processing timing of each functional unit of the MFP 14 and issues a processing command to each functional unit.

  The MFP 14 further includes a RAM 44 for processing images and the like, and providing an execution space for application programs, and a ROM 46 for storing data or programs for processing. Allows control of the forming apparatus.

The image determination / image processing unit 48 performs filtering processing, character image extraction processing, halftone image extraction processing, and chromatic image determination processing of the present invention on the image data acquired by the image scanner, and generates the result. Image processing is performed based on the various attribute values, and a print command is sent to the engine controller 60. The engine controller 60 operates on a printer including a photosensitive drum, a developing device, a fixing device and the like directly or via a bus 66 such as USB (Universal Serial BUS) or IEEE1284 according to the specifications of the image forming apparatus. Let the statue do. Further, the image forming apparatus includes a facsimile controller 58 or a network interface card (NIC) 62 constituting the network I / F 26, IDE (Integrated) having standards such as ATA, serial ATA, ATAPI, and ATA-4.
Drive Electronics) 64 and other interfaces.

  The facsimile controller 58 converts the acquired image data into a facsimile format such as G3, G4, and the like. Facsimile communication is performed via a digital line.

  Further, the NIC 62 is connected to the LAN 12 via an Ethernet (registered trademark) cable such as 100BASE-TX, and allows the user to function the MFP 14 as a remote printer, and under protocols such as SMTP and POP. Provides services such as e-mail. Note that services such as e-mail can be transmitted and received by specifying a connection destination each time via dial-up connection under PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) via DSU / TA, etc., without going through the NIC 62. .

  The IDE 64 is connected to a hard disk drive or the like, and stores original image data in the above-described large-capacity storage device or storage medium together with each attribute value to be described later along with data acquired by the ADF. In addition, the image forming apparatus may be connected to an external storage device such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, and an MO via a bus such as USB using an appropriate interface such as SCSI.

  Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention has the configuration shown in FIG. 3, and each functional unit such as the CPU 42, the RAM 44, the ROM 46, and the NIC 62 specifies a shortage program via the network, and the network 42 via the network. Provides functional means for transmitting programs and job data. Hereinafter, the image forming system of the present invention will be described in detail.

[First embodiment]
In the first embodiment of the present invention, an image forming apparatus selected as a master apparatus searches for program resources of another image forming apparatus, and transfers a job requested by the master apparatus only by adding a program. An image forming apparatus that can be used is identified. The master device transmits the add-in program or plug-in program stored in the master device to the identified image forming apparatus. In the present invention, an image forming apparatus connected to the LAN 12 has a predetermined range defined as a printer domain in consideration of the distance between the image forming apparatuses and usability for an office floor and the like. It may be possible to access each storage unit under a file system provided by a certain OS.

  Further, at least the image forming apparatus designated as the master apparatus at that time has an address list in which network addresses such as IP addresses of image forming apparatuses defined as printer domains are registered. The image forming apparatus is inquired by unicast or multicast. In the present invention, each image forming apparatus manages a resource table in which each program resource is registered in an appropriate storage unit, and a newly added driver program, add-in program, plug-in Each time a program or the like is added, an entry is made in the resource table.

  FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the resource table 80 stored in an appropriate storage unit by the image forming apparatus selected as the master apparatus of the present invention. The resource table 80 shown in FIG. 4 includes a field 82 for registering a program ID and a field 86 for registering a program name referred to by the program ID. The resource table 80 shown in FIG. 4 has a field 84 for registering job contents executed by the program. In the present invention, the job contents are uniquely identified by the program name. Does not have to be provided with a field 84 for registering job contents. In the present invention, the resource table 80 shown in FIG. 4 may be provided with a field for registering the program version. The resource table 80 shown in FIG. 4 is a resource table managed by, for example, the master device selected as the highest model in the normal printer domain. From the color print of program ID = 1, the program ID The programs necessary for the print job are registered up to the B process (for example, punch process) = 7.

  On the other hand, FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a resource table stored in a slave device among image forming devices that form a printer domain in the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the resource table 88 held by the slave device has the same configuration as the resource table 80 shown in FIG. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, it is assumed that the slave device is a monochrome multifunction peripheral. Since the slave device does not support color printing, it does not store a program corresponding to color printing with program ID = 1. In addition, although the slave device has a monochro_print program for performing monochrome binary printing with program ID = 2, the program version is low, and the master device simply transfers monochrome print job data. However, it is assumed that the slave device cannot properly print due to version mismatch.

  In the slave device, program resources with program ID = 6 to program ID = 8, for example, a program for executing stapling processing and punching processing are not entered because hardware resources that provide the functions are not installed. .

  When the master device intends to transfer a monochrome print job to the slave device, it is necessary to install a program that matches the version for executing the monochrome print job. On the other hand, since the master device already has a compatible version of the program, if the master device finds a slave device that holds the resource table corresponding to FIG. 5, the program held by the master device is copied. Then, the copy is transmitted to the slave device. Thereafter, the master device transmits job data and control commands, and starts a print job. In the present invention, the same processing can be executed for mail, facsimile, etc. in addition to print jobs.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the master device of the present invention. The process shown in FIG. 6 starts from step S100. In step S101, the master apparatus receives a user input or a command from an external information processing apparatus, and sets job conditions. In step S102, the job condition is transmitted to the slave device existing in the printer domain, and it is determined whether or not the job held by the master device at that time can be transferred with the existing configuration. As a result of the determination in step S102, if a notification that transfer is possible is received from the master device (yes), the process branches to step S105, and job data is controlled to the processable slave device. And send a connection job between the master device and the slave device.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S102 that the job cannot be executed with the existing configuration (no), in step S103, the master apparatus notifies the slave apparatus whether the job can be transferred only by adding a program. Use and judge. If it is determined in step S103 that the job can be handled by adding a program (yes), an add-in program or a plug-in program is specified in response to the determination of job execution in step S104. Thereafter, in step S104, a program addition process for transmitting the add-in program or plug-in program held by the master device to the corresponding slave device is executed, and the job data is transmitted together with the control command. In step S105, the slave device executes a linked job between the master device and the slave device using the received job data and control command.

  If it is determined in step S103 that the job cannot be handled only by adding a program (no), the process proceeds to step S106, it is determined that the job cannot be transferred, the process is terminated in step S107, and the master apparatus is set. The job is executed against. As a protocol for transmitting a program in the present invention, for example, a file may be transmitted in accordance with a protocol such as TCP / IP or UDP / IP, such as SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), FTP protocol, and TFTP protocol. Any possible protocol can be used. In addition, when transmitting an add-in program, a plug-in program, job data, or the like, the data transmission can be made efficient by using a known compression method such as ZIP, LZH, or LZW.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the processing of the present invention as an event flow between the master device and the slave device. FIG. 7A is an event flow when the master device transmits a program to the slave device, and FIG. 7B is an event flow when the slave device transmits a program to the master device. is there. As shown in FIG. 7A, when the user completes inputting job conditions and presses the start button of the master device, the master device multicasts or sequentially sets job conditions to the slave devices in the printer domain. Unicast and send job condition realization confirmation request. When receiving the job condition realization confirmation request, the slave device searches the resource table, determines whether or not it is possible, and returns the determination result to the master device as a confirmation result notification.

  The master device analyzes the received confirmation result notification, determines the resource environment of the slave device, identifies a slave device that can be handled only by adding a program, and searches for the corresponding program. Thereafter, the master device sends a download preparation request for downloading the program to the slave device. When the slave device receives the download preparation request, the slave device returns a download preparation completion response to the master device when the downloadable condition has been set. When the master device receives a download preparation completion notification from the slave device, it issues a download start notification for the corresponding program and downloads the program body.

  Thereafter, when the download of the program main body is completed and the installation process on the slave device side is completed, the slave device issues a download completion notification to the master device. Upon receiving the download completion notification, the master device transmits job data and control commands to the slave device. When receiving the job data, the slave device executes job data format adjustment and the like, starts the job, and notifies the master device of the end of the job when the job ends.

  FIG. 7B shows an embodiment when the master device downloads a program from the slave device. The embodiment shown in FIG. 7B is executed when the slave device is newer and has a new version program for a specific function. As shown in FIG. 7B, when the user completes the input of the job condition and presses the start button of the master device, the master device multicasts or sequentially sets the job condition to the slave device in the printer domain. Unicast and send job condition realization confirmation request. When receiving the job condition realization confirmation request, the slave device searches the resource table, determines whether or not the job is possible, and returns the determination result to the master device as a confirmation result notification.

  The master device analyzes the received confirmation result notification, determines the resource environment of the slave device, extracts the missing program, and identifies the slave device having a program that can be added. Thereafter, the master device sends a download preparation request for downloading the program to the slave device. Upon receiving the download preparation request, the slave device copies a downloadable program, issues a download preparation completion response to the master device, issues a download start request, and executes downloading of the program body. When the download of the program main body is completed and the installation process on the master device side is completed, the master device starts execution of the job.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the processing of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, similar to the embodiment of FIG. 7A, the master device transmits a job condition realization confirmation request to the slave device, and the slave device sends a necessary program from the master device. After downloading and receiving job data and control commands from the master device, the jobs are linked and executed. When the slave device finishes executing the job transferred from the master device, it uninstalls the downloaded program so that the resource amount of the slave device does not increase over time.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing processing in the second embodiment of the image forming system of the present invention as an event flow. The embodiment shown in FIG. 9 corresponds to an embodiment in which a master device acquires a deficient program from a server connected via a network. The process shown in FIG. 9 is started when the user presses the start button of the master device. The master device requests the connection device information from the server that manages the printer domain via the LAN. A connection device information sending notification is issued to the server. Thereafter, the server looks up the device information list stored in the server to search for the resource of the slave device, and notifies the master device of the result as a result notification.

  The master device determines the result notification, determines a program to be downloaded in response to the search result, and issues a download request to the server. When the server receives the download request from the master device, the server sends the corresponding program to the master device and executes the download. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the master device installs the downloaded program, notifies the server of the completion of the download when the installation is completed, and ends the acquisition of the program from the server. In the present invention, the master device may execute the process shown in FIG. 9 and then transfer the downloaded program to the slave device without performing the installation.

  FIG. 10 shows a device information list in which coupling device information managed by the server is registered. The device information list 90 shown in FIG. 10 includes a field 92 for registering the IP address of the image forming apparatus registered in the printer domain, a field 94 for registering the manufacturer code, and a unique information for the model of the image processing apparatus. It includes a model code 96 for registering a code and a field 98 for listing a corresponding plug-in program or add-in program registered by the server. When the server receives an inquiry about the connection device from the master device, the server looks up the device information list shown in FIG. The server identifies an image forming apparatus having a shortage of programs, copies a correspondingly registered program, and transmits the program to the master apparatus, thereby missing the program between the master apparatus and the slave apparatus. Is provided. Note that the server can transmit the program not only to the master device but also to an image processing device that functions as a slave device that lacks the program directly.

  FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the processing in the second embodiment of the image forming system of the present invention. In the process shown in FIG. 11, after the master device presses the start button, a connection device information sending notification is issued to the server. The server retrieves the connected device information and sends the result as a result notification to the master device. The master device determines the received result notification, selects a program, and requests the server to download. When the server receives the download request, the server sends the program to the master device. Thereafter, the master device installs the received program, and when the installation process is completed, sends a download completion notification to the server. Thereafter, the master device executes the job, and after the job is completed, uninstalls the downloaded program. In the present invention, the master device performs processing for uninstalling the program in response to the determination of copyright or the like after transmitting the program to a slave device that requires it, instead of executing the job of FIG. You can also.

[Third embodiment]
In the third embodiment of the image forming system of the present invention, a master device or a server connected to a network cannot acquire a deficient program using program resources in a network such as a LAN to which the master device belongs. If it is determined, the program is downloaded from a file server connected via a public network such as the Internet. In this case, the file server may be a file server managed by the same manufacturer or a file server managed by another manufacturer. However, in the case of the third embodiment, when copying and distributing a program, it is necessary to determine whether or not it has a legal title in terms of copyright.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart of another embodiment of processing executed by the image forming system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The process shown in FIG. 12 starts from step S200. In step S201, the master device generates a job condition in response to a user command. In step S202, it is determined by inquiring the slave device whether or not a linked job is possible by program transmission within the LAN. If it is determined in step S202 that a linked job is not possible due to the configuration of program resources in the LAN (no), the determination in step S203 is executed to determine whether a linked job is possible by adding a program. To do.

  As a result of the determination, if it is determined that the job can be performed by adding a program (yes), the connection to the file server connected to the Internet or the like in step S204 indicates the registered URI (Uniform Resource Indicator). Execute by referring to the value or IP address of the server. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S205, and attempts to download the corresponding program in accordance with a protocol such as HTTP or FTP. If it is determined in step S202 that the program resources in the network (LAN) can be used (yes), the process branches to step S206, and a program that is insufficient according to the process of the first or second embodiment is selected. Applies and concatenates and executes jobs.

  In the process of step S205, a determination is made as to whether or not a response is returned regarding whether or not there is a copy right of the program, free of charge, presence or absence of a license agreement, and the right of copyright of the program download is determined. Allow only what you have. If it is determined in step S205 that the program can be downloaded under the right of right (yes), the process proceeds to step S206, where the missing program is downloaded and the missing program addition process is executed. End the process.

  On the other hand, as a result of the inquiry in step S203, if it is determined that the program cannot be added by adding the program (no) and the program cannot be downloaded in step S205 (no), the process branches to step S208. To end the process. In the present invention, various standards can be assumed as criteria for determining that a program cannot be downloaded. As such a criterion, for example, the fact that the download is not started within the timeout time set as the period until the download is started can be used as the criterion. In addition, it is possible to use any judgment standard that provides a similar function, such as analyzing a copyright mark, a disclaimer, etc. attached as a program comment using a text parser or the like.

  FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of a compliance table used for the determination in step S205. The compliance table 100 shown in FIG. 13 is stored in an appropriate storage unit by the master device in order to determine that the attribute of the program to be downloaded has a valid copy right for use of the program. . The compliance table 100 shown in FIG. 13 includes a field 102 for listing whether or not the program is a program of another company, a field 104 for registering the attribute of the program, a field 106 for registering whether there is a charge request, A field 108 for registering whether or not there is a program copy / use right is registered as a compliance item. The item “○” indicates that a valid copy / use right is generated simply by returning a response that agrees to the requirement.

  In addition, the item indicated by “△” is based on the case where the payment of the fee is stipulated by a contract or the like, or when the permission setting is registered in advance for the individual device for copying and using the program. This item is used to determine whether download is possible and is included in a logical product described later. For example, if the master device makes a download request that requests a specific program from the file server, and if only a reply is returned from the file server asking for permission to use the terms, the terms of use are agreed. It is determined that the copy right and the use right are generated, and the program is downloaded. Also, in the case of shareware, etc., after agreeing to the terms of use, if a response that asks for payment is returned, the master device or server will look up whether or not the payment has been registered. Judgment is made with reference to a table, etc., and if it is not registered, it is judged not to be downloaded. If the URI of the image forming apparatus is determined by referring to an address such as the URI, the URI address of the program to be downloaded is transmitted to the file server, and the unconditional Run the download.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the product is a third-party product from the lookup of the resource table, whether or not a positive response was returned to the consent to the terms of use, payment of fees, and program duplication / use rights, etc. The result is logically ANDed and the download is executed after it is guaranteed that there is a valid title for the download. In this case, the image forming apparatus that has downloaded the program transfers the downloaded program to a slave device that is a product of another company, and then performs a process of uninstalling the program downloaded from the image forming apparatus.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the embodiment in which the program is uninstalled in the image forming system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The other embodiment shown in FIG. 14 starts processing from step S300, and creates job conditions in response to user input in step S301. In step S302, the master device inquires of the slave device about job conditions, receives a notification from the slave device, and determines whether or not a program must be obtained from an externally connected file server or the like. As a result of the determination, if it is determined that access to the externally connected file server must be made because it is not possible to cope with within the network (LAN) (no), an entry in the compliance table is displayed in step S303. While looking up, determine whether the program can be properly downloaded. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S302 that the deficient program can be obtained without accessing the file server (yes), the deficient program is acquired from the appropriate image forming apparatus in step S304, and the processing in step S305 is performed. Perform linked job execution processing.

  If the program can be downloaded under a valid title in step S303 (yes), the downloaded program is installed by the master device or transferred to a device that lacks the slave device program, In step S305, a linked job is executed. Thereafter, in step S306, the downloaded program is stored or uninstalled in response to a process for deleting the resource capacity of the image forming apparatus or other than an image apparatus having a legitimate authority. In step S307, the process of the present invention is terminated. If it is determined in step S303 that the program cannot be downloaded (no), it is determined in step S308 that a linked job is not possible, and the process ends in step S307.

  The above functions of the present invention are procedural processing types such as C, C ++, Java (registered trademark), Java (registered trademark) Beans, Java (registered trademark) Applet, Java (registered trademark) Script, Perl, and Ruby. It can be realized by a device-executable program written in a ramming language or the like, and can be stored and distributed in a device-readable recording medium.

  Although the present invention has been described with the embodiments shown in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings, and other embodiments, additions, modifications, deletions, etc. It can be changed within the range that can be conceived by a trader, and any embodiment is included in the scope of the present invention as long as the effects and effects of the present invention are exhibited.

1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of each image forming apparatus constituting the image forming system of the present invention. 2 is a more detailed functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a resource table stored in an appropriate storage unit by an image forming apparatus selected as a master apparatus of the present invention. The figure which showed embodiment of the resource table which a slave apparatus stores among the image forming apparatuses which form a printer domain by invention. The flowchart which showed the process which the master apparatus of this invention performs. The figure which showed the process of this invention as an event flow between a master apparatus and a slave apparatus. The figure which showed 2nd Embodiment of the process of this invention. The figure which showed the process in 2nd Embodiment of the image forming system of this invention as an event flow. The figure which showed the apparatus information list which registered the connection apparatus information which a server manages. The figure which showed other embodiment of the process in 2nd Embodiment of the image forming system of this invention. 10 is a flowchart of another embodiment of processing executed by the image forming system of the present invention. The figure which showed embodiment of the compliance table used by this invention. 10 is a flowchart of an embodiment in the case where program uninstallation is executed in an image forming system according to a third embodiment of the invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image forming system, 12 ... Network (LAN), 14 ... MFP, 16 ... Copy machine, 18 ... Printer, 20 ... Personal computer, 22 ... Server, 24 ... Memory | storage part, 26 ... Network I / F, 28 ... Control unit, 30 ... display unit, 32 ... determination unit, 34 ... input operation unit, 38 ... display unit, 40 ... control unit, 42 ... CPU, 44 ... RAM, 46 ... ROM, 48 .. Image determination / image processing unit, 50 ... scanner device, 52 ... input unit, 54 ... scanner I / F, 56 ... input / output I / F, 58 ... facsimile controller, 60 ... Engine controller, 62 ... NIC, 64 ... IDE, 66 ... Bus, 68 ... DSU / TA, 70 ... Printer, 72 ... Network (LAN etc.), 74 ... HDD (hard disk), 78 ... facsimile transmission / reception device, 80, 88 ... Source table, 82-86 ... field, 90 ... device information list, 92-98 ... field, 100 ... compliance table, 102-108 ... field

Claims (16)

A master image forming apparatus connected to a network and receiving a job input from a user;
A slave image forming apparatus that is connected to the network and executes the job received by the master image forming apparatus in a linked manner;
An inadequate program supply unit that supplies the master image forming apparatus or the slave image forming apparatus with a program that is insufficient to connect and execute the job under the job conditions of the job. .   The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the program is a plug-in program or an add-in program.   3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the insufficient program acquisition unit transmits the job condition to the network, and transmits the program to an image forming apparatus that has notified that the job condition can be realized by adding the program. Image forming system. A server connected to the network;
A master image forming apparatus connected to the network and receiving a job input from a user;
A slave image forming apparatus that is connected to the network and executes the job received by the master image forming apparatus in a linked manner;
An image forming system, comprising: a deficient program acquisition unit that acquires a deficient program from the server for connecting and executing the jobs under job conditions of the job.   The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the program is a plug-in program or an add-in program.   The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the deficient program acquisition unit includes a permission unit that permits acquisition of the program under a legitimate title when acquiring the deficient program.   The image according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the deficient program acquisition means includes means for acquiring the deficient program by accessing a file server connected to a public network via the network. Forming system.   The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising an uninstalling unit that uninstalls the program after the connected jobs are completed. An image forming apparatus that is connected to a network and that causes an input job to be linked and executed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses,
Means for transmitting a job condition via the network and determining that the job condition can be processed by adding a program;
Means for transmitting and receiving over the network the program that is deficient in response to the determination, in the form of a plug-in program or an add-in program;
An image forming apparatus comprising: means for transmitting job data for executing the job after the transmission of the program.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a deficient program acquisition unit configured to acquire the deficient program from a server connected via the network.   11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the insufficient program acquisition unit further includes a permission unit that acquires a program having a legitimate title by accessing a file server connected to a public network via the network. The image forming apparatus described in the item. An image forming method for executing a commanded job by connecting via a network,
Identifying a program that is insufficient to link and execute the commanded job among a plurality of image forming apparatuses in which a master device and a slave device are set;
Acquiring the identified program via the network, and installing the acquired lacking program in a corresponding image forming apparatus;
And transmitting the job to be connected via the network.   The image forming method according to claim 12, wherein the program is a plug-in program or an add-in program.   The image forming method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the step of acquiring the program includes a step of permitting the acquisition of the program under a valid title.   15. The image forming method according to claim 12, wherein the installing step includes a step of acquiring the lacking program from a file server connected to a public network via the network. An apparatus-executable program for executing the image forming method according to any one of claims 12 to 15.

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