JP2009027498A - Image processing apparatus and image processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the flexibility of coping with a request of service accompanied by image processing. <P>SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus 10 includes: a function specification section 22 which specifies functions of constituting a service requested by a user; an apparatus specification section 24 which refers to packaged function information containing a list of functions packaged in the network-connected other apparatus, respectively, and specifies any other apparatus packaging therein a function that is not packaged in the present apparatus beforehand from among the functions specified by the function specification section 22; a function program acquisition section 25 which acquires a relevant function program by downloading it from the other apparatus specified by the apparatus specification section 24 and packages the relevant function in the present apparatus; and a processing execution section 26 which executes service processing requested by the user by implementing the function packaged in the present apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing program.

  With the enhancement of functions of image processing apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals and the development of processors, it has become possible to flexibly respond to various service requests from users. For example, when a user requests a service that involves image processing, even if some of the functions necessary to execute the image processing are not installed in the device, the request cannot be executed. It is now possible to return the execution result corresponding to the service requested by the user while taking measures such as cooperating with other image processing apparatuses.

  For example, a technique for requesting processing by transmitting image data to be processed to another image forming apparatus (for example, Patent Document 1) has been proposed. In addition, techniques (for example, Patent Documents 2 and 3) that acquire information necessary for upgrading and providing services from other devices via a communication network have been proposed.

JP 2003-274083 A JP 10-27077 A JP 2005-275474 A

  However, when requesting execution of a processing function for image data to another image processing apparatus, the image data to be processed must be transmitted to the other image processing apparatus via the network. Such problems arise. Even if it is possible to reduce the amount of data transferred by means of data compression, etc., there is a risk of performance degradation and image quality degradation associated with data compression / decompression processing, resulting in service quality degradation. Connected. Therefore, it is convenient if the service can be provided to the user while avoiding data transfer and the like as much as possible.

  It is an object of the present invention to improve flexibility in responding to a service request involving image processing.

  An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a function specifying unit that specifies one or a plurality of functions used for execution of a process specified by a user, and a mounted function including a list of functions mounted on each of the image processing apparatuses connected to the network. By referring to the information, among the functions specified by the function specifying means, the apparatus specifying means for specifying an image processing apparatus having a function that is not pre-installed in its own device, and the apparatus specifying means specified Acquired by downloading the function program from the image processing apparatus, and a function acquisition unit for installing the function in its own device, and a process for executing the process specified by the user by executing the function installed in the own device And execution means.

  Further, the installed function information includes a performance evaluation value when executing the function in each image processing apparatus, and the apparatus specifying means is an image processing apparatus equipped with a function not previously installed in its own device. When there are a plurality of image processing apparatuses, one image processing apparatus is identified from the plurality by referring to the mounted function information.

  The installed function information includes a performance evaluation value when executing the function in each image processing apparatus, and download information indicating whether or not a function program that realizes the function installed in each image processing apparatus can be downloaded. When there are a plurality of image processing apparatuses equipped with functions that are not pre-installed in the own device, the apparatus specifying means performs the best performance among the image processing apparatuses that can be downloaded by referring to the installed function information. One image processing apparatus having a high evaluation value is specified.

  In addition, the installed function information includes a relationship on the network between the performance evaluation value when the function is executed in each image processing apparatus and another image processing apparatus that provides the function installed in each image processing apparatus. Network information that has been set, and the device specifying means refers to the installed function information when there are a plurality of image processing devices equipped with functions not previously installed in the own device. One image processing apparatus is specified from the inside.

  In addition, the device specifying means is the one having the highest performance evaluation value when there is no downloadable image processing device even when there are a plurality of image processing devices equipped with functions not previously installed in the own device. When the function execution unit executes the function for which the function acquisition unit could not acquire the function program because there is no downloadable image processing apparatus, the process execution unit executes the function. The function is executed by transmitting a request to the image processing apparatus specified by the apparatus specifying means.

  An image processing program according to the present invention includes a function specifying means for specifying one or a plurality of functions used to execute a process designated by a user, and a list of functions installed in each of image processing apparatuses connected to a network. By referring to the mounted function information, among the functions specified by the function specifying means, the apparatus specifying means for specifying an image processing apparatus mounted with a function not pre-installed in its own device, specified by the apparatus specifying means Acquired by downloading the function program from the image processing apparatus, function acquisition means for installing the function in its own machine, and processing for executing the process specified by the user by executing the function installed in the own machine It functions as an execution means.

  According to the present invention, when all of the functions constituting the service requested by the user are not installed in the own apparatus, the function program is acquired from another image processing apparatus equipped with the functions not installed. And executing it to provide the requested service to the user. In this way, even when a service including a function that is not installed in the device itself is requested, the requested service can be reliably provided, and in general, a function program having a smaller data amount than the image processing target image data is subject to data transfer. By doing so, it is possible to avoid an increase in the network load accompanying the transfer of large-capacity image data.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image processing system including an embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a plurality of subnetwork configurations in which the user terminal device 2, the firewall 4, and the image processing device 10 are connected to the LAN 6. The image processing system in the present embodiment is constructed by connecting sub-networks by WAN 8. The image processing apparatus 10 provides a service to the user by executing a service process in response to a request from the user. The image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is assumed to be a multi-function machine equipped with functions such as a copy function, a scanner function, and a print function as basic functions. The user terminal device 2 is a device used by a user who wants to use a service. In the present embodiment, a personal computer (PC) is assumed. Each LAN 6 is connected to one or a plurality of user terminal apparatuses 2 and one or a plurality of image processing apparatuses 10.

  FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. As described above, the image processing apparatus 10 is a multi-function machine having various functions such as a copy function and a scanner function, and is an apparatus having a built-in computer. In FIG. 2, the CPU 11 controls the operation of various mechanisms such as the scanner 14 and the printer engine 16 mounted on the apparatus according to a program stored in the ROM 19. The address data bus 12 is connected to various mechanisms to be controlled by the CPU 11 and performs data communication. The operation panel 13 receives instructions from the user and displays information. The scanner 14 reads a document set by a user and accumulates it as electronic data in an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 15 or the like. The HDD 15 stores an electronic document read using a scanner. The printer engine 16 prints an image on output paper in accordance with an instruction from a control program executed by the CPU 11. A network interface (I / F) 17 is connected to a LAN 6 which is one form of a network, transmits image data held by the apparatus, receives image data and processing result data transmitted to the apparatus, and a browser. This is used for accessing the device via the Internet. The RAM 18 is used as a work memory during program execution and a communication buffer during electronic data transmission / reception. The ROM 19 stores various programs relating to the control of the apparatus and the encryption and compression of image data. By executing various programs, each component described later exhibits a predetermined processing function. An external media interface (I / F) 20 is an interface with an external memory device such as a USB memory or a flash memory.

  FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of the image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. The image processing apparatus 10 includes a request receiving unit 21, a function specifying unit 22, a mounted function information collecting unit 23, a device specifying unit 24, a function program acquiring unit 25, a process executing unit 26, a service configuration information storage unit 27, and a mounted function information storage. Unit 28 and a function program storage unit 29. In the service configuration information storage unit 27, configuration information of functions executed in providing each service is set and registered in advance. In the mounted function information storage unit 28, a list of functions installed in each image processing apparatus 10 is set and registered in advance. The function program storage unit 29 stores a function program that is executed when the function is realized by software.

  The request reception unit 21 receives a service request designated by the user. The function specifying unit 22 specifies one or a plurality of functions used for executing the service process requested by the user. The on-board function information collecting unit 23 collects on-board function information in the other image processing apparatus 10 via the network and registers it in the on-board function information storage unit 28. The installed function information includes a list of functions installed in each device. The device specifying unit 24 is preinstalled in its own device among the functions specified by the function specifying unit 22 by referring to the mounted function information of each image processing device 10 stored in the mounted function information storage unit 28. Identify an image processing device with no function. As will be described later, since the function program is acquired from the image processing apparatus 10 specified here, even when there are a plurality of image processing apparatuses 10 equipped with functions not previously installed in the own apparatus, one of them is selected. Only one image processing apparatus 10 is specified. The function program obtaining unit 25 obtains the function program by downloading a function program for exerting the function from the image processing apparatus 10 specified by the apparatus specifying unit 24, and mounts the function in the own apparatus. The process execution unit 26 executes a part of the process specified by the user by executing a function installed in the own machine. Here, the functions (programs) acquired by the function program acquisition unit 25 in addition to the functions installed in the own device correspond to the functions installed in the own device.

  Each component 21 to 26 in the image processing apparatus 10 is realized by a cooperative operation of a computer mounted on the image processing apparatus 10 and a program operating on the CPU 11 mounted on the computer. The storage units 27 to 29 are realized by the HDD 15.

  Further, the program used in this embodiment can be provided not only by communication means but also by storing it in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. The program provided from the communication means or the recording medium is installed in the computer, and various processes are realized by the CPU 11 of the computer sequentially executing the installation program.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data configuration example of service configuration information set and registered in the service configuration information storage unit 27 in the present embodiment. The service configuration information is information set for each service provided to the user, and the service to be provided needs to be registered in advance. The service configuration information is formed by associating the number of functions constituting each service process and each function with a service name that identifies the service. In FIG. 4, for convenience, services and functions are illustrated by names, but code data for identifying the services and functions is assigned to the services and functions for processing by the computer. The same applies to the on-board function information described later. FIG. 4 shows an example of setting information regarding the scan translation service. According to this setting example, it can be seen that the scan translation service is configured with five types of functions of scan, TI separation, OCR, translation, and print. That is, in order to execute the scan translation service, five types of functions of scan, TI separation, OCR, translation, and printing are necessary. There is no meaning in the order of function registration.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data configuration example of the installed function information of the own device registered and registered in the installed function information storage unit 28 in the present embodiment. The on-board function information is information set for each image processing apparatus 10 in order to specify a function mounted on each image processing apparatus 10, and it is necessary to register at least the own apparatus in advance. The installed function information is formed by associating the number of functions installed in the image processing apparatus 10 and each function with an apparatus ID that is an example of identification information for identifying the image processing apparatus 10. According to the setting example shown in FIG. 5, it can be seen that the own apparatus is equipped with three types of functions of scanning, printing, and TI separation.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example of the mounted function information of another machine registered and registered in the mounted function information storage unit 28 in the present embodiment. The on-board function information is the same as that shown in FIG. 5, but the drawings are divided for convenience of explanation to be described later. According to the setting example shown in FIG. 6, it can be seen that the other machine is equipped with five types of functions of translation, compression, decompression, search, and OCR.

  Next, a basic operation in the present embodiment when service processing is performed in response to a service request by a user will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, the user performs a predetermined operation to display a service request screen on the operation panel 13. On the displayed service request screen, a list of names or selection buttons of services provided by the present system is displayed, and the user requests a service by selecting a service desired to be provided. When image data is necessary for executing the service process, the user causes the scanner 14 to read the document. The user can make a service request from the user terminal device 2 depending on the type of service.

  The request receiving unit 21 in the present embodiment displays a service request screen prepared in advance according to the user operation described above on the operation panel 13, recognizes the service selected by the user, and reads by the scanner 14. A service request is received by receiving an image (step 110). Subsequently, the function specifying unit 22 specifies the function constituting the service by searching for the service configuration information registered in the service configuration information storage unit 27 with the name of the service instructed by the user (step) 120). Here, when the user requests a scan translation service as a service with image processing, the function specifying unit 22 specifies the five types of functions illustrated in FIG. Then, the function identification unit 22 reads the installed function information of the own device from the installed function information storage unit 28 and collates it with the functions constituting the identified service (step 130). In the present embodiment, the service configuration information is set and registered in advance in the on-board function information storage unit 28, so that the function necessary for executing the service can be specified from the service name specified by the user. Therefore, it is possible to facilitate the use of the service by the user. However, it may be configured such that the user can specify the function used for executing the service such as scanning, TI separation, etc., or the image processing apparatus 10 can infer and specify the function constituting the service from the service name. You may comprise.

  Here, when all of the functions constituting the service are not installed in the own device (Y in step 140), the installed function information collection unit 23 performs polling from all the image processing apparatuses 10 included in the system. The installed function information of the device is collected in order and registered in the installed function information storage unit 28 (step 150). FIG. 6 shows the mounted function information for one vehicle acquired in this way. Here, for simplification of description, it is assumed that the on-board function information illustrated in FIG. 6 has been acquired. If the image processing apparatus 10 included in this system is fixed, the mounted function information of each image processing apparatus 10 is set and registered in advance in the mounted function information storage unit 28 without performing step 150. You may make it leave.

  As apparent from a comparison between the service configuration information shown in FIG. 4 and the installed function information of the own device shown in FIG. 5, the own device is required to translate and perform the requested scan translation service. It can be understood that each OCR function is not installed. On the other hand, referring to the installed function information of the other device collected by the installed function information collecting unit 23 as illustrated in FIG. 6, the translation and OCR functions that are not installed in the own device are installed. I can understand.

  As described above, by collating the installed function information of the own apparatus and the other apparatus, the apparatus specifying unit 24 specifies the image processing apparatus 10 having the apparatus ID “M02” that has the function not installed on the own apparatus (step 160). ), The function program acquisition unit 25 operates in cooperation with the image processing apparatus 10, downloads the function program to be executed to exhibit the function from the image processing apparatus 10, and stores it in the function program storage unit 29 ( Step 170). In this way, the function program acquisition unit 25 acquires a function not installed in the own apparatus from another image processing apparatus 10 and installs it in the own apparatus, so that the own apparatus is necessary for performing the scan translation service. All functions are complete. Thereby, the process execution part 26 performs the service process requested | required by the user by executing the function program corresponding to each function which comprises a scan translation service (step 180). If it is necessary to install a function program or restart the system in advance, the process execution unit 26 executes the required process. If there is a function realized by hardware, it is realized by the hardware. And the process execution part 26 presents the result obtained by execution of a service process (step 190). In this scan translation service, the result of the service processing is presented by executing the print function. When the processing result is provided as electronic data, the user terminal device 2 or the like designated by the user is transmitted. It will be sent over the network.

  On the other hand, when all of the functions constituting the service are installed in the own machine (N in Step 140), the process execution unit 26 does not need the function program acquisition process from the other machine described above. The service processing requested by the user is performed using only the functions previously installed in the own device, and the processing results are presented (steps 180 and 190).

  According to the present embodiment, when all of the functions constituting the service with image processing requested by the user are not installed in the own device, from other image processing apparatuses equipped with functions that are not installed. Since the function program is acquired and executed, it is possible to flexibly and reliably cope with a case where a function necessary for providing the requested service is not installed. In particular, according to the present embodiment, it is generally possible to avoid the increase in network load associated with the transfer of large-capacity image data by using a function program having a smaller data amount than the image data to be processed as a transfer target. can do. Of course, it may be possible to reduce the data transfer amount by compressing / decompressing the image data. However, in the present embodiment, it is inherently necessary to provide a requested service of image data compression or decompression processing. It is also possible to avoid problems that may newly occur, such as a decrease in performance due to the execution of unnecessary processing and a deterioration in image quality.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the first embodiment, the basic operation of the present embodiment when providing a service has been described. In the present embodiment, the service can be provided with higher quality by considering the performance.

  FIG. 8 is a data configuration example of service configuration information in the present embodiment, FIG. 9 is a data configuration example of installation function information of the own device in the present embodiment, and FIGS. 10 and 11 are data of installation function information of other devices, respectively. It is the figure which showed the example of a structure, respectively. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11 correspond to FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. As can be seen from comparison with FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 shown in the first embodiment, data such as QoS, which is a performance index, is added to each information.

  QoS (Quality of Service) referred to in the present embodiment is one of the indexes indicating the quality of service, and is particularly an index indicating the performance. In this embodiment, the index value indicates how much performance is required for each function. The 5 [sheets / minute] illustrated in FIG. 8 is a setting content that requires the speed of processing 5 documents per minute for the entire scan translation. Also, the QoS shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 is a value representing the performance when each function in each image processing apparatus 10 is executed. For example, the setting example of FIG. 9 indicates that when the scan function installed in the own apparatus is executed, the scan function can be performed at a processing speed of 50 [sheets / minute].

  Further, PF (performance factor) is a value representing the processing speed of the own device when the processing speed of a certain processor is 1 (reference). 5 and 10 illustrated in FIG. 9 are five times the standard when software (SW) is used, and the standard when hardware (HW) is used when any function is performed in the own machine. It shows that it can be implemented at a processing speed of 10 times. In the case of this example, it is possible to obtain twice the performance by using hardware (HW) than by using software (SW). The QoS set in the on-board function information is a value representing the processing speed when the function processing is executed in the own machine, so that QoS is different depending on the performance of the processor even when the same function program is executed. The PF is used to eliminate the factor of processor performance and convert the QoS set in each of the installed function information into the QoS of the own device. Further, “HW or SW” shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is information indicating a function realization target indicating whether the performance (PF) is realized by hardware or software.

  Next, the operation in this embodiment will be described. The operation in this embodiment is the same as the basic operation shown in FIG. 7, and will be described with reference to FIG. The present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the performance is confirmed in the process (step 160) for specifying the other image processing apparatus 10 that acquires the unmounted function. Description is omitted. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, service configuration information and installed function information in which information related to performance such as QoS is set are used.

  First, as in the first embodiment, when a user requests a scan translation service, the functions constituting the service and the functions installed in the own device are collated. As a result, when it is recognized that there is an unmounted function, the mounted function information is acquired from another image processing apparatus 10 via the network (steps 110 to 150).

  In step 160, by comparing the service configuration information shown in FIG. 8 and the installed function information of the own device shown in FIG. 9, it can be understood that the own device does not have the functions of translation and OCR. On the other hand, referring to the installed function information of the other machine illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the OCR function that is not installed in the own machine is the image processing apparatus 10 of “M04”, the translation function is “M03” and It can be grasped that each image processing apparatus 10 of “M04” is mounted. Here, the PF of the OCR function in the image processing apparatus “M04” is 10, which exceeds 5 of the own apparatus, and the QoS when the OCR function is executed by the own apparatus having the PF of 5 is 10 (= 20 × (5/10)) exceeds the required 5 [sheets / minute]. Therefore, the acquisition destination of the OCR function is determined to be the image processing apparatus “M04”.

  On the other hand, the PF of the translation function in the image processing apparatus “M03” is 3, which is lower than 5 of the own machine, and the QoS when the translation function is executed by the own machine of PF 5 is 1.7 (= 1) X (5/3)), which is less than the required 5 [sheets / minute]. On the other hand, the PF of the translation function in the image processing apparatus “M04” is 10, which is higher than 5 of the own machine, and the QoS when the OCR function is executed by the own machine of PF 5 is 10 (= 20 X (5/10)) exceeds the required 5 [sheets / minute]. Therefore, the acquisition destination of the translation function is determined to be the image processing apparatus “M04”. Here, only one image processing apparatus “M04” satisfies the above-described selection condition regarding performance. However, when a plurality of image processing apparatuses 10 satisfy the selection condition, the image processing apparatus 10 uses its own PF. Are compared with each other and specified as one image processing apparatus 10 having the highest performance. In addition, one unit is selected based on selection conditions such as current state information of the current load state of each image processing apparatus 10, fixed information such as performance, or past results, or further considering these selection conditions. You may make it do.

  As described above, by collating each function information of the own machine and the other machine, when the apparatus specifying unit 24 specifies the image processing apparatus “M04” having the OCR and translation functions not installed, the function The program acquisition unit 25 downloads the function program to be executed to perform the OCR and translation functions from the image processing apparatus “M04” and stores it in the function program storage unit 29 (step 170). And the process execution part 26 implements the service process requested | required by the user by executing the function program corresponding to each function which comprises the scan translation service mounted in the own machine (step 180).

  According to the present embodiment, service processing can be executed with higher performance than requested as described above. Thereby, a high quality service can be provided to the user from the viewpoint of performance.

  The QoS set in the service configuration information is the processing speed required for the entire service processing. Therefore, strictly speaking, even if the set value (5 [sheets / min]) is reduced in the execution of any of the functions, the set value may be exceeded as a whole. However, in the present embodiment, for the convenience of explanation, the case where the set value of QoS is exceeded in each function has been described. This is because if it exceeds the QoS setting value in each function, it exceeds the overall value.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In each of the above embodiments, when a function not installed in the own machine is executed, the function program is downloaded from another machine equipped with the function, and the function is executed in the own machine. However, it can be easily assumed that the function is executed by hardware or cannot be downloaded even by software due to a problem such as a license. The present embodiment is characterized in that it can cope with such a case.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a data configuration example of the on-board function information of the own device in the present embodiment, and FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a data configuration example of the on-board function information of the other device in the present embodiment. 12 and 13 correspond to FIGS. 9 and 11 in the second embodiment, respectively. As can be seen from comparison with FIG. 9 and FIG. 11 shown in the second embodiment, download enable / disable information marked “DL” is added to each information. In the download availability information, whether the function program can be downloaded when the function is realized by software is set. 12 and 13, “Y” is a value indicating that download is possible, and “N” is a value indicating that download is not possible. Note that the service configuration information shown in FIG. 8 is used as the service configuration information.

  Next, the operation in this embodiment will be described. Since the operation in this embodiment is the same processing flow as the basic operation shown in FIG. 7, it will be described with reference to FIG. The present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except for the processing (steps 160 to 180) from when the other image processing apparatus 10 that acquires the unmounted function is specified until the processing is executed. The description of is omitted as appropriate. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, service configuration information and installed function information in which information related to performance such as QoS and download availability information are set are used.

  First, as in the first embodiment, when a user requests a scan translation service, the functions constituting the service and the functions installed in the own device are collated. As a result, when it is recognized that there is an unmounted function, the mounted function information is acquired from another image processing apparatus 10 via the network (steps 110 to 150).

  In step 160, it is possible to grasp that each of the functions of translation and OCR is not installed in the own device by comparing the service configuration information shown in FIG. 8 and the installed function information of the own device shown in FIG. Then, referring to the installed function information of the other machine illustrated in FIG. 13, it can be understood that both the OCR and translation functions that are not installed in the own machine are installed. Here, the PF of the OCR function in the image processing apparatus “M04” is 10, which exceeds 5 of the own apparatus, and the QoS when the OCR function is executed by the own apparatus having the PF of 5 is 10 (= 20 × (5/10)) exceeds the required 5 [sheets / minute]. The PF of the translation function is 10, which is higher than 5 of the own machine, and the QoS when the OCR function is executed on the own machine of 5 PF is 10 (= 20 × (5/10)) The required 5 [sheets / min] is exceeded. Therefore, the acquisition destination of each function of OCR and translation is determined as the image processing apparatus “M04”.

  Here, referring to the download permission information of each function in the image processing apparatus “M04”, since “N” is set for both functions, the function program cannot be downloaded. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the process for acquiring the function program (step 170) is not executed.

  The process execution unit 26 executes a service program requested by the user by executing a function program corresponding to each function constituting the scan translation service (step 180). For a function for which a program cannot be acquired, the execution of the function is requested by exceptionally transmitting the processing target image data to the other machine identified in step 160, and the function is executed on the other machine.

  According to the present embodiment, when a function program cannot be acquired, it is possible to reliably respond to a service request from a user by exceptionally executing the function on another machine.

  In the process of specifying the acquisition destination of the unmounted function in the present embodiment (step 160), if another machine that satisfies the performance is specified as the image processing apparatus 10 that executes the function, the download can be performed. The function program is acquired, and if the download is impossible, the execution of the function is requested. However, in step 160, only the downloadable image processing apparatus 10 may be selected as a selection candidate, and processing may be performed to ensure that the function can be executed by the own device.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
When specifying the image processing apparatus 10 from which the function program is acquired, in the above embodiments, no condition is set for the relationship with other devices on the network. In the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus 10 that is the acquisition destination of the function program is specified in consideration of the relationship on the network.

  FIG. 14 is a data configuration example of service configuration information in the present embodiment, FIG. 15 is a data configuration example of installation function information of its own device in this embodiment, and FIG. 16 is a data configuration example of installation function information of another device. FIG. As can be seen from comparison with FIGS. 8, 12, and 13, search level information indicated as “NSL” (Network Search Level) is added to each information. In the service configuration information, search level information indicating the level to which the function program is to be downloaded is set. In the on-board function information, search level information is set that indicates which level the function program download request is to be met from. In the present embodiment, as the value of NSL, “0” is set only within the own device, that is, when not acquired from another device (not responding to a download request from another device). Since it is not necessary to acquire the function installed in the own device from another device, “0” may be set in the corresponding function in the service configuration information as shown in FIG. Also, when “1” is limited to the same domain, “2” is not limited to the same domain, that is, when another device in another domain is also an acquisition candidate (also responds to a download request from another domain). Set.

  Next, the operation in this embodiment will be described. Since the operation in this embodiment is the same processing flow as the basic operation shown in FIG. 7, it will be described with reference to FIG. The present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the network relationship is confirmed as a selection criterion for other devices in the process of specifying another image processing apparatus 10 that acquires an unmounted function (step 160). Description of other processes will be omitted as appropriate. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, service configuration information and installed function information in which NSL is set are used.

  First, as in the first embodiment, when a user requests a scan translation service, the functions constituting the service and the functions installed in the own device are collated. As a result, when it is recognized that there is an unmounted function, the mounted function information is acquired from another image processing apparatus 10 via the network (steps 110 to 150).

  In step 160, by comparing the service configuration information shown in FIG. 8 and the installed function information of the own device shown in FIG. 9, it can be understood that the own device does not have the functions of translation and OCR. Furthermore, since the NSL of each function of translation and OCR is “2”, it can be understood that other machines in other domains are also acquisition candidates.

  On the other hand, referring to the installed function information of the other machine illustrated in FIG. 16, it can be understood that both translation and OCR functions not installed in the own machine are installed. Note that the above-described performance and downloadability are the same as described in the second and third embodiments, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  Referring to the installed function information of the other machine, the NSL for each function of translation and OCR is “2”, so the other machine (image processing apparatus “M04”) is related to the domain relationship. The function program can be downloaded in response to a request from the own device (image processing apparatus “M01”). Regarding the functions of translation and OCR, in this example, the image processing apparatus “M04”) satisfies the performance condition, and “Y” is set in both DLs.

  According to the present embodiment, since it is possible to set whether to download a function program based on the network relationship with other devices for each function to be installed, it can be used for data security and license management.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, by providing various information in the service configuration information and the installed function information of the own device, the service requested by the user is provided while considering performance, license, security, etc. However, it is possible to set each of the storage units 27 and 28 by operating the operation panel 13 of the image processing apparatus 10. It is also possible for the administrator to make settings from the user terminal device 2.

  In this embodiment, scan translation services that perform scanning and printing are used as examples of services that involve image processing. Therefore, a multifunction machine equipped with a computer is exemplified as an image processing apparatus. However, the service is not necessarily a multifunction machine. It is not necessary and can be realized by a computer connected to a scanner or printer.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image processing system including an embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the image processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example of service configuration information set and registered in a service configuration information storage unit according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data configuration example of own function information of the own device registered and registered in the function information storage unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data configuration example of on-board function information of another device set and registered in the on-board function information storage unit in Embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a basic operation when service processing is performed in response to a service request by a user in the first embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example of service configuration information set and registered in a service configuration information storage unit according to Embodiment 2. FIG. It is the figure which showed the data structural example of the mounting function information of the own machine set and registered into the mounting function information storage part in Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example of on-board function information of another device set and registered in the on-board function information storage unit in the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example of on-board function information of another device set and registered in the on-board function information storage unit in the second embodiment. It is the figure which showed the data structural example of the mounting function information of the own machine set and registered into the mounting function information storage part in Embodiment 3. FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example of on-board function information of another device that is set and registered in the on-board function information storage unit in the third embodiment. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example of service configuration information set and registered in a service configuration information storage unit in the fourth embodiment. It is the figure which showed the data structural example of the mounting function information of the own machine set and registered into the mounting function information storage part in Embodiment 4. FIG. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example of on-board function information of another device set and registered in the on-board function information storage unit in the fourth embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  2 User terminal device, 4 Firewall, 6 LAN, 8 WAN, 10 Image processing device, 11 CPU, 12 Address data bus, 13 Operation panel, 14 Scanner, 15 HDD, 16 Printer engine, 17 Network interface (I / F), 18 RAM, 19 ROM, 20 External media interface (I / F), 21 Request receiving unit, 22 Function specifying unit, 23 On-board function information collecting unit, 24 Device specifying unit, 25 Function program acquiring unit, 26 Process executing unit, 27 Service configuration information storage unit, 28 On-board function information storage unit, 29 Function program storage unit.

Claims (6)

A function specifying means for specifying one or a plurality of functions used for execution of processing designated by the user;
By referring to mounted function information including a list of functions mounted on each of the image processing apparatuses connected to the network, among the functions specified by the function specifying unit, an image mounted with a function that is not previously installed in the own device Device specifying means for specifying a processing device;
Obtained by downloading the function program from the image processing device identified by the device identifying means, and function obtaining means for mounting the function on its own device;
A process execution means for executing a process specified by the user by executing a function installed in the own machine;
An image processing apparatus comprising: The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
The installed function information includes a performance evaluation value when executing the function in each image processing device,
When there are a plurality of image processing apparatuses equipped with functions not previously installed in the own device, the apparatus specifying means specifies one image processing apparatus from among the plurality by referring to the installed function information. A featured image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
The installed function information includes a performance evaluation value when executing the function in each image processing apparatus, and download information indicating whether or not a function program for realizing the function installed in each image processing apparatus can be downloaded. And
The apparatus specifying means has the highest performance evaluation value among the image processing apparatuses that can be downloaded by referring to the mounted function information when there are a plurality of image processing apparatuses mounted with functions not previously installed in the own device. An image processing apparatus characterized by specifying one image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
In the installed function information, a performance evaluation value when executing a function in each image processing apparatus and a relationship on the network with another image processing apparatus that provides a function installed in each image processing apparatus are set. Network information, and
When there are a plurality of image processing apparatuses equipped with functions not previously installed in the own device, the apparatus specifying means specifies one image processing apparatus from among the plurality by referring to the installed function information. A featured image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 or 4,
The device specifying means is one image having the highest performance evaluation value when there is no downloadable image processing device even when there are a plurality of image processing devices equipped with functions not previously installed in the own device. Identify the processing equipment,
When the function acquisition unit executes the function for which the function program could not be acquired because there is no downloadable image processing device, the device specifying unit specifies the execution request for the function. An image processing apparatus, wherein the function is executed by transmitting to the image processing apparatus. Computer
A function specifying means for specifying one or a plurality of functions used for execution of processing designated by the user;
By referring to mounted function information including a list of functions mounted on each of the image processing apparatuses connected to the network, among the functions specified by the function specifying unit, an image mounted with a function that is not previously installed in the own device Device specifying means for specifying a processing device;
Function acquisition means for acquiring the function program by downloading the function program from the image processing apparatus specified by the apparatus specifying means,
A process execution means for executing a process designated by the user by executing a function installed in the own machine;
An image processing program characterized by functioning as

Images