JP2016057942A - Image processing system, application server and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable establishment of a connection state between an application server and a relay server by returning the relay server to a normal energization state in the case of receiving a communication request with an image processor in a local network from the outside of the local network, when the connection state between the relay server and the application server ends since the relay server is in a power-saving state.SOLUTION: When detecting that a connection state with a relay server 6 in a local network 3 ends, an application server 5 returns the relay server 6 to a normal energization state to make the relay server 6 establish a connection state with an own machine again by transmitting a start command for returning the relay server 6 to a normal energization state via information processors 9, 10 provided in the same local network 3 as the relay server 6 having already established a connection state with the own machine.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing system, an application server, and a program, and more particularly to a technique for relaying communication between a server provided on a network and an image processing apparatus.

  In recent years, various application servers such as SaaS (Software as a Service) applications are installed on the Internet cloud, and cloud services are provided by the application server via the Internet. Cloud services are highly convenient because they can be used anytime, anywhere as long as there is an environment that can connect to the Internet. As one usage mode of the cloud service, for example, data such as documents may be stored in an application server, and the data may be transferred from the application server to an image processing apparatus provided in an in-house local network for processing. .

  However, since there is a firewall between the local network and the Internet, even if the user issues a print instruction to the application server, data is transferred from the application server on the Internet to the image processing apparatus provided on the local network. Cannot be transferred. Therefore, in order to enable such data transfer, conventionally, a relay server that relays communication between the application server and the image processing apparatus is provided in the local network. The relay server is configured to access the application server from the local network through the firewall at the time of startup accompanying power-on, establish a connection state with the application server, and maintain the connection state. Therefore, the application server can transfer data to the image processing apparatus in the local network using the connection state.

  The relay server as described above is a device that relays data transmission when the application server transmits data to the image processing device in the local network, and can be said to be a relay device dedicated to the image processing device. Therefore, in recent years, the function of the relay server as described above may be installed in an image processing apparatus provided in a local network.

  However, in general, the image processing apparatus shifts to a power saving state when a standby state in which no operation is performed on the operation panel and no data is transmitted / received via the local network continues for a predetermined time or longer. To do. At this time, the image processing apparatus may cut off the energization state to the relay server. In such a case, since the connection state established by the relay server with the application server is disconnected, after that, even if the application server tries to send a job to the image processing apparatus in the local network via the relay server, the firewall The situation that cannot be transmitted because of being blocked by.

  In order to solve this problem, when a terminal device in a local network designates an image processing device to an application server and issues a print instruction, a relay server is omitted from the application server to the terminal device. There has been provided a printing system that returns an HTTP response indicating that it is in a power state and accessing a URL of a management page to return from a power saving state to a normal energization state (for example, Patent Document 1). However, when a print instruction is given to the application server from outside the local network, even if a response is returned from the application server to the source of the instruction based on the above solution, it is outside the local network. There is a problem that the relay server cannot be accessed and the power saving state cannot be restored.

JP 2013-14097 A

  The present invention solves the conventional problems as described above, and when the relay server is in a power saving state and the connection state with the application server is terminated, image processing in the local network from outside the local network is performed. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system, an application server, and a program that can transition a relay server to a normal energized state and establish a connection state with an application server when a communication request with an apparatus is received.

  In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is provided in an application server provided on a network, an image processing apparatus provided in a local network connected to the network via a firewall, and provided in the local network. An information processing apparatus, and an image processing system provided in the local network, and a relay server that establishes a connection state with the application server and relays communication between the image processing apparatus and the application server, The application server transmits a job generated by the job generation unit to the relay server while a connection state between the job generation unit that generates a job for the image processing apparatus and the relay server is established. To The connection management means for detecting that the connection state between the transmission means, the information processing apparatus and the relay server is established and terminated, and the connection state with the relay server is terminated by the connection management means. In response to receiving a communication request designating the image processing apparatus from outside the local network in a state in which it is detected that the connection state has been established via the information processing apparatus that has already been established. An activation request transmitting means for transmitting an activation request for requesting a server to shift from a power saving state to a normal energized state, and the relay server establishes a connection state with the application server in a state where the application server is established. A job transfer means for transferring a job received from the server to the image processing apparatus; A connection state with the application server at the time of start-up, and when the power supply control unit shifts from the normal power supply state to the power saving state with the application server. A communication control means for terminating the connection state, and the energization control means changes from the power saving state to the normal power state when receiving the activation request via the information processing device when in the power saving state. In addition, the communication control unit establishes a connection state with the application server while shifting.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing system according to the first aspect, the local network is provided with a plurality of the information processing devices, and the activation request transmitting means includes two of the plurality of information processing devices. When a connection state has already been established with the above information processing apparatuses, an activation request is transmitted to all of the two or more information processing apparatuses.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image processing system according to the first aspect, the local network is provided with a plurality of the information processing devices, and the activation request transmission unit is configured to include the plurality of information processing devices. When a connection state has already been established between two or more information processing apparatuses, one of the two or more information processing apparatuses is selected and the activation request is transmitted. It is a configuration.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing system according to the third aspect, the activation request transmission unit selects the information processing apparatus having the latest connection state establishment timing from the two or more information processing apparatuses. The activation request is transmitted as an information processing apparatus.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing system according to the third aspect, the application server activates a predetermined application and establishes a connection state with the information processing apparatus. A cooperation processing unit that executes a cooperation process performed in cooperation with a device; and a management unit that manages a progress status of the cooperation process by the cooperation processing unit. The activation request transmission unit includes the two or more information processing units. When selecting one information processing device from among the devices, the information processing device compares the progress of each cooperation processing performed by the cooperation processing means in cooperation with each of the two or more information processing devices. It is the structure characterized by selecting.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the image processing system according to the fifth aspect, wherein the activation request transmitting unit includes a plurality of cooperative processes performed by the cooperative processing unit in cooperation with each of the two or more information processing apparatuses. Among them, one information processing apparatus corresponding to the cooperation process with the slowest progress is selected.

  The invention of claim 7 communicates with an information processing apparatus and a relay server provided in a local network connected to the network through a firewall, and communicates with the local network through the relay server. An application server that communicates with the image processing apparatus provided in the job processing unit, and is generated by the job generation unit in a state where a connection state between the job generation unit that generates a job for the image processing apparatus and the relay server is established A job transmission unit that transmits the processed job to the relay server, a connection management unit that detects that a connection state between the information processing apparatus and the relay server has been established and has ended, and the connection management unit The connection status with the relay server has been terminated by In response to receiving a communication request designating the image processing apparatus from outside the local network in a state in which a connection state is detected, the connection state is already established to the relay server via the information processing apparatus. And a startup request transmission unit configured to transmit a startup request for requesting a transition from the power saving state to the normal energization state.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the application server according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of the information processing devices are provided in the local network, and the activation request transmitting means includes two of the plurality of information processing devices. When a connection state has already been established with the above information processing apparatuses, an activation request is transmitted to all of the two or more information processing apparatuses.

  A ninth aspect of the present invention is the application server according to the seventh aspect, wherein the local network includes a plurality of the information processing devices, and the activation request transmitting means includes two of the plurality of information processing devices. When a connection state has already been established with the above information processing apparatus, one of the two or more information processing apparatuses is selected and the activation request is transmitted. It is.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the application server according to the ninth aspect, the activation request transmitting means assigns the information processing device having the latest connection state establishment timing among the two or more information processing devices as the one information. The activation request is transmitted as a processing device.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the application server according to the ninth aspect, when a connection state is established with the information processing apparatus, a predetermined application is activated to cooperate with the information processing apparatus. The apparatus further comprises: a cooperation processing unit that executes a cooperation process; and a management unit that manages a progress status of the cooperation process by the cooperation processing unit, wherein the activation request transmission unit is one of the two or more information processing apparatuses. When selecting an information processing device, the cooperation processing means compares the progress of each cooperative processing performed in cooperation with each of the two or more information processing devices, and selects one information processing device. The configuration is as follows.

  The invention according to claim 12 is the application server according to claim 11, wherein the activation request transmission unit includes a plurality of cooperation processes performed by the cooperation processing unit in cooperation with each of the two or more information processing apparatuses. Among these, the configuration is characterized in that one information processing apparatus corresponding to the cooperation process with the slowest progress is selected.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, communication is performed with an information processing apparatus and a relay server provided in a local network connected to the network through a firewall, and the local network is connected through the relay server. A program executed in an application server that communicates with the image processing apparatus provided in the apparatus, wherein the application server generates a job for the image processing apparatus, and a connection state with the relay server is established. A job transmission unit that transmits the job generated by the job generation unit to the relay server in a state in which the connection is established, and a connection that detects that the connection state between the information processing apparatus and the relay server has been established and terminated Management means and said In response to receiving a communication request designating the image processing apparatus from outside the local network in a state where the connection management unit has detected that the connection state with the relay server has ended, the connection state is A function of causing the relay server to function as an activation request transmission unit that transmits an activation request for requesting a transition from a power saving state to a normal energization state via the already established information processing apparatus; is there.

  According to the present invention, the application server receives a communication request with the image processing apparatus in the local network from outside the local network in a state where the relay server is in the power saving state and the connection state with the relay server is terminated. In this case, the relay server is shifted to the normal energized state, and the connection state with the application server can be established.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing system. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a function structure of an application server. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware constitutions and functional structure of an image processing apparatus (relay server). It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the flow of each process in the case of making an image processing apparatus (relay server) into a normal energization state and establishing a connection via the information processing apparatus with which the application server is connected. FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram from when a communication request is received from outside the local network to when a connection start request is transmitted from the image processing apparatus (relay server). It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence performed with the application server of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the detailed process sequence of a starting command transmission destination determination process. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure performed in the image processing apparatus (relay server) of the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the detailed process sequence of the starting command transmission destination determination process in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the detailed process sequence of the transmission destination determination process in 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a function structure of the application server in 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the detailed process sequence of the transmission destination determination process in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows one modification of an image processing system.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments described below, members that are common to each other are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the image processing system 1. The image processing system 1 includes an application server 5 provided in the Internet 2 in a network environment in which the Internet 2 and a local network 3 such as an in-house LAN are connected via a firewall 4. 4, an image processing device 7 having the function of the relay server 6, an image processing device 8, and information processing devices 9 and 10. In the present embodiment, the case where the application server 5 is provided on the Internet 2 is illustrated. However, the application server 5 may be provided on a network different from the local network 3, and is not necessarily limited to that provided on the Internet 2. Absent.

  The application server 5 is a server that provides various application services (cloud services) based on, for example, SaaS (Software as a Service) applications. For example, the application server 5 can provide a storage service via the Internet 2 and store various data such as documents. The application server 5 provides an application service by executing a job in cooperation with the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 based on a request from the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 of the local network 3. For example, when a data upload request is received from the information processing devices 9 and 10 in the local network 3 via the Internet 2, the application server 5 receives the data uploaded from the information processing devices 9 and 10 and receives the data. A job for saving data in a storage area designated by the information processing devices 9 and 10 is executed. The application server 5 can also execute a job for transmitting data stored in advance to a transmission destination designated by the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10. Such an application server 5 also accepts requests from other than the local network 3. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when a user brings out an information processing apparatus 11 such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a personal computer, when the user accesses the application server 5 by operating the information processing apparatus 11, the application server 5 normally accepts such access, executes a job in response to a request from the information processing apparatus 11, and performs the same processing as described above. Therefore, the user can use the application service provided by the application server 5 even under an environment different from that of the local network 3.

  The information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 are configured by, for example, a general personal computer provided in the local network 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 may be a multifunction machine having a function of performing communication between the application server 5 and the image processing apparatus 7. The information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 can be connected to the application server 5 from the local network 3 through the firewall 4 and store data in the application server 5 or specify data stored in the application server 5. Thus, the job can be transmitted to the image processing devices 7 and 8 provided in the local network 3.

  The firewall 4 is an interface for connecting a local network 3 such as an in-house LAN to the Internet 2. The firewall 4 is provided in the local network 3 while allowing devices provided in the local network 3 to be connected to a server provided in the Internet 2 while allowing mutual communication between the devices and the server. When the connected device is not connected to the server provided on the Internet 2, access from the server to the device in the local network 3 is blocked.

  The image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 are configured by, for example, a multifunction peripheral or a printer, and can perform image processing based on data input via the local network 3. In this embodiment, the image processing apparatus 7 has the function of the relay server 6. The relay server 6 functions as a gateway server that relays communication between the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 and the application server 5. The relay server 6 accesses the application server 5 provided on the Internet 2 from the local network 3 at the time of startup when the power is turned on, establishes an HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) session with the application server 5, and transmits the HTTP session. Hold. By establishing the HTTP session, the relay server 6 and the application server 5 are in a state in which bidirectional communication can be performed using the HTTP session as a tunnel. In other words, the relay server 6 establishes a connection state in which two-way communication with the application server 5 is possible at startup. In the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus 8 is not provided with such a function of the relay server 6.

  The image processing apparatus 7 is in a standby state in which the user does not operate the operation panel and no data is transmitted / received via the local network 3, that is, there is no input / output in the image processing apparatus 7. In order to reduce the power consumption, the power supply to each unit is stopped except for a part, and a function of shifting to a power saving state that operates at a low power is provided in order to reduce power consumption. When the image processing apparatus 7 shifts to the power saving state, for example, the printer function and the scan function are turned off, and the function of the relay server 6 is also turned off. At this time, the connection state established by the relay server 6 with the application server 5 is disconnected.

  In such an image processing system 1, as described above, the relay server 6 establishes a connection state with the application server 5 via the firewall 4 at the time of startup accompanying power-on. When such a connection state is established, the application server 5 transmits the job to the relay server 6 provided in the local network 3 through the firewall 4, thereby allowing the local network through the relay server 6. It is possible to send a job to the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 in the apparatus 3. For example, when the user connects to the application server 5 from the outside of the local network 3 using the information processing apparatus 11 and designates the image processing apparatus 8 in the local network 3 to perform document print processing, and instructs the job execution. The application server 5 can transmit a print job to the relay server 6 using the HTTP session already established with the relay server 6 as a tunnel.

  When receiving the job from the application server 5, the relay server 6 transfers the job to the image processing device 8 and relays communication between the application server 5 and the image processing device 8. When the image processing apparatus 8 receives a job transferred from the relay server 6, the image processing apparatus 8 executes the job and performs print processing. When the user operating the information processing apparatus 11 designates the image processing apparatus 7 and instructs execution of a job, the job transfer from the relay server 6 to the print function is performed inside the image processing apparatus 7. As described above, in this embodiment, in the image processing apparatus 7 having the function of the relay server 6, communication between the application server 5 and the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 in the local network 3 is relayed.

  Further, as described above, the image processing apparatus 7 is in a power saving state (in order to reduce power consumption) from a normal energized state (hereinafter referred to as “normal mode”) that supplies power necessary for normal operation to each unit. (Hereinafter referred to as “power saving mode”). As an example, the image processing apparatus 7 transitions from the normal mode to the power saving mode when the standby state in which no further input / output is detected continues for a predetermined time or more after the last input / output is detected. In this power saving mode, for example, the energization state for the touch sensor of the operation panel operated by the user, the communication interface for connecting to the local network 3, and the control mechanism for controlling the energization state is continued, and power is supplied to the rest Is cut off. As a result, the power consumed by the image processing device 7 can be reduced. In the power saving mode, for example, the power supply to the printer unit and the scanner unit is stopped, and these units are stopped until an input of a job or the like to these units is detected. Similarly, since the power supply to hardware (such as a CPU) for functioning as the relay server 6 is stopped, the relay server 6 is in a stopped state. When shifting to the power saving mode, for example, the relay server 6 closes the HTTP session established with the application server 5 and ends the connection state with the application server 5.

  When the image processing apparatus 7 is in the power saving mode and the relay server 6 has not established a connection state with the application server 5, there is a job to be transmitted to the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 in the local network 3 in the application server 5. May occur. For example, when the image processing apparatus 7 is in the power saving mode, the application server 5 transmits a job specifying the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 as the transmission destination from the information processing apparatus 11 outside the local network 3. There may be a request. In such a case, even if the application server 5 tries to transmit a job to the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8, the application server 5 is blocked by the firewall 4 and cannot transmit the job. On the other hand, even when the image processing apparatus 7 shifts to the power saving mode, when the application server 5 executes a job in cooperation with the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 in the local network 3, the execution of the job is performed. Until the process is completed, the connection state between the application server 5 and the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 is maintained. Therefore, when the application server 5 cannot transmit a job to the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 in the local network 3, the information processing apparatus in the same local network 3 as the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 that are the transmission destinations. The start command for returning the image processing apparatus 7 to the normal mode is transmitted using the connection state already established with 9,10. That is, the application server 5 transmits a start command to the image processing apparatus 7 in the power saving mode via the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 that are currently connected. Thereby, the application server 5 can return the image processing apparatus 7 from the power saving mode to the normal mode.

  When the image processing apparatus 7 returns from the power saving mode to the normal mode, the image processing apparatus 7 supplies power to the relay server 6 that is an internal function thereof. Accordingly, the relay server 6 transmits a connection start request to the application server 5 and reestablishes a connection state with the application server 5. When the connection state between the application server 5 and the relay server 6 is established, the application server 5 transmits a job specifying the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 to the relay server 6. When the relay server 6 receives the job from the application server 5, the relay server 6 transfers the job to the image processing apparatus 7 or 8 that is the transmission destination designated by the application server 5.

  Next, configurations of the application server 5 and the image processing device 7 (including the relay server 6) will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the application server 5. The application server 5 includes a control unit 20 including a CPU and a memory, and a communication interface 22 for communicating with the relay server 6 and the information processing devices 9, 10, and 11. The control unit 20 functions as a connection request reception unit 25, a job generation unit 26, a job transmission unit 27, a connection management unit 28, an activation request generation unit 29, and an activation request transmission unit 30 by the CPU executing a predetermined program. To do.

  The connection request receiving unit 25 is a processing unit that receives a connection request for requesting communication with the relay server 6 from the information processing apparatuses 9, 10, and 11. For example, when the user operates the information processing apparatus 11 from outside the local network 3 and wishes to perform image processing in the image processing apparatus 8 in the local network 3, the user designates the image processing apparatus 8 in the local network 3. Then, the information processing apparatus 11 transmits a connection request for requesting communication with the image processing apparatus 8 to the application server 5. In such a case, the connection request receiving unit 25 receives a connection request transmitted from the information processing apparatus 11. When the connection request receiving unit 25 receives an instruction to execute a job to be transmitted from the information processing apparatus 11 to the image processing apparatus 8, the connection request receiving unit 25 notifies the job generation unit 26. The connection request receiving unit 25 notifies the activation request transmitting unit 30 when receiving a connection request from the information processing apparatus 11. Thereby, as described later, the activation request transmission unit 30 transmits an activation command to the image processing apparatus 7 in response to the notification from the connection request reception unit 25 when the connection state with the relay server 6 is terminated. Process.

  The job generation unit 26 is a processing unit that generates a job based on requests from the information processing apparatuses 9, 10, and 11. For example, when the job generation unit 26 receives a request to transmit a job to the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 provided in the local network 3, the job generation unit 26 generates a job to be transmitted to the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 based on the request. To do. For example, when the image processing apparatus 8 in the local network 3 is specified from the information processing apparatus 11 and a document printing execution instruction is received, the job generation unit 26 generates a print job to be transmitted to the image processing apparatus 8. .

  The job transmission unit 27 transmits the job generated by the job generation unit 26 to the image processing devices 7 and 7 in the local network 3 via the relay server 6 when the connection state with the relay server 6 is established. 8 is a processing unit that transmits data to 8. For example, when the job generation unit 26 generates a print job for the image processing apparatus 8, the job transmission unit 27 uses the connection state already established with the relay server 6 to display the print job as an image. The data is transmitted to the relay server 6 mounted on the processing device 7. As will be described later, in this embodiment, when the application server 5 receives a connection request to the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 provided in the local network 3 from outside the local network 3, the application server 5 and the relay server 6 If the connection state between the start request transmission unit 30 and the job generation unit 26 has not yet completed the generation of the job to be transmitted to the image processing apparatus 8, the connection request state at that time Is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 7 via the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 for which the Thereby, before the job is generated in the application server 5, the image processing apparatus 7 is returned from the power saving mode to the normal mode, the relay server 6 is restarted, and the connection state with the application server 5 is reestablished. It becomes possible to leave. That is, when the job generation by the job generation unit 26 is completed, the connection state between the application server 5 and the relay server 6 can be already established, so that the job transmission unit 27 immediately connects to the connection when the job is generated. It is possible to send a job to the relay server 6 using the status.

  The connection management unit 28 is a processing unit that detects that the connection state between the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 and the relay server 6 provided in the local network 3 has been established and has ended. The relay server 6 and the information processing devices 9 and 10 provided in the image processing device 7 in the local network 3 can be connected to the application server 5, and when connected to the application server 5 from any of these, The connection management unit 28 detects that a connection state has been established with the relay server 6 or the information processing devices 9 and 10. Further, when the connection state with the relay server 6 or the information processing devices 9 and 10 is finished in a state where it is detected that the connection state is established, the connection management unit 28 finishes the connection state with these devices. Detect that. For example, when the image processing apparatus 7 transitions from the normal mode to the power saving mode, the relay server 6 ends the connection state with the application server 5. Therefore, if the connection management unit 28 detects that the connection state with the relay server 6 has ended, as will be described later, the connection management unit 28 notifies the activation request generation unit 29 of this. Upon receiving this notification, the activation request generator 29 generates an activation command for causing the image processing apparatus 7 to shift from the power saving mode to the energization mode.

  In this embodiment, when the image processing apparatus 7 shifts to the power saving mode, the relay server 6 closes the HTTP session with the application server 5 and ends the connection state. Therefore, the connection management unit 28 can detect that the connection state with the relay server 6 is terminated when the close process of the HTTP session by the relay server 6 is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to such a mode. When the image processing apparatus 7 shifts to the power saving mode, the relay server 6 suddenly changes the connection state with the application server 5 without performing the HTTP session closing process. Sometimes cut. In such a case, the connection management unit 28 detects that the connection state with the relay server 6 has ended when data to be transmitted to the relay server 6 cannot be transmitted normally.

  The activation request generation unit 29 requests activation of the image processing apparatus 7 to shift from the power saving mode to the normal mode when the connection management unit 28 detects that the connection state with the relay server 6 has ended. A processing unit that generates a request. In the case of this embodiment, when the connection management unit 28 detects that the connection state with the relay server 6 has ended, the activation request generation unit 29 moves the image processing apparatus 7 from the power saving mode to the normal mode at a predetermined timing. Generate an activation request to enter mode. The timing for generating the activation request is, for example, the timing when the connection management unit 28 detects that the connection state with the relay server 6 has been completed. The activation request is transmitted by the activation request transmission unit 30 after the information processing apparatus 11 or the like is instructed to communicate with the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 in a state where the connection with the relay server 6 is terminated. . An instruction to perform communication with the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 by the activation request generation unit 29 generating an activation request in advance at the timing when it is detected that the connection state with the relay server 6 has been completed. Compared to generating an activation request at the specified timing, the activation request can be transmitted quickly. The activation request is first transmitted to the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 in the local network 3 that have already established a connection state with the application server 5. The activation request includes information that can specify the image processing apparatus 7 that is the transfer destination. Upon receiving such an activation request, the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 transfer the activation request to the image processing apparatus 7 that is the transfer destination. That is, the activation request transmitted from the application server 5 to the information processing devices 9 and 10 is a command requesting the image processing device 7 to shift from the power saving mode to the normal mode, and the activation request is received. This is a command that requests the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 in the local network 3 to transfer the activation request to the image processing apparatus 7.

  The activation request transmission unit 30 is provided in the local network 3 from the information processing apparatus 11 outside the local network 3 in a state where the connection management unit 28 detects that the connection state with the relay server 6 has ended. In response to receiving a communication request designating the image processing devices 7 and 8 to be saved, the image processing device 7 can save power via the information processing devices 9 and 10 in the local network 3 in which the connection state has already been established. It is a processing unit that transmits an activation request for requesting transition from the mode to the normal mode. The activation request transmission unit 30 transmits an activation request to the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 using, for example, an HTTP session established between the application server 5 and the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 as a tunnel. In other words, when the information processing devices 9 and 10 in the local network are in a state of being connected to the application server 5, the application server 5 and the information processing devices 9 and 10 execute jobs in cooperation with each other. Sending and receiving data. Therefore, the activation request transmitting unit 30 transmits an activation request for returning the image processing apparatus 7 to the normal mode using the existing connection state to the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 in the local network 3. As a result, it becomes possible to send an activation request to the inside of the local network 3 to which the image processing apparatus 7 is connected beyond the firewall 4.

  More specifically, when the connection request receiving unit 25 receives a communication request specifying the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 provided in the local network 3 from outside the local network 3 and is notified to the activation request transmitting unit 30, The activation request transmission unit 30 first extracts all the information processing devices that have established connection states at that time, and from the extracted information processing devices, the same local as the designated image processing devices 7 and 8 The information processing devices 9 and 10 provided in the network 3 are specified. In other words, the application server 5 is provided in the Internet 2 and can establish connection states with various information processing apparatuses existing in different local networks 3. Therefore, when the application server 5 receives a communication request designating the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 provided in the local network 3 from the outside of the local network 3, all the information that has established the connection state at that time. Among the processing devices, it is necessary to specify the information processing devices 9 and 10 provided in the same local network 3 as the designated image processing devices 7 and 8. Such processing is not required when a communication request specifying the image processing devices 7 and 8 provided in the same local network 3 is received from the information processing devices 9 and 10 existing in the local network 3. It is processing of. This is because when a communication request specifying the image processing devices 7 and 8 provided in the same local network 3 is received from the information processing devices 9 and 10 existing in the local network 3, the transmission source of the communication request This is because an activation request may be transmitted to a certain information processing device 9 or 10.

  The activation request transmission unit 30 is an information processing device 9 that exists in the same local network 3 as the designated image processing devices 7 and 8 among all the information processing devices that have established a connection state with the application server 5. , 10 is transmitted, an activation command is transmitted to the specified information processing devices 9, 10. The activation command is a command for requesting the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 that have received the command to transfer the activation command to the image processing apparatus 7 that includes the relay server 6. For this reason, the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 that have received the activation command from the application server 5 transfer them to the image processing apparatus 7 provided in the same local network 3. The image processing apparatus 7 can receive data addressed to itself sent to the local network 3 even in the power saving mode. Therefore, when the image processing apparatus 7 receives the activation command via the local network 3, the image processing apparatus 7 returns from the power saving mode to the normal mode. At this time, the relay server 6 is restarted. Then, the relay server 6 establishes a connection state with the application server 5 again. As a result, the application server 5 can communicate with the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 via the relay server 6 and can transmit jobs and the like from the application server 5.

  In the present embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 are provided in the local network 3, and each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 is connected to the application server 5. When the state is established, the activation request transmission unit 30 broadcasts an activation command to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10. In this way, by sending a start command to all of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 whose connection states are established in the same local network 3, one information processing apparatus 9 is temporarily in a busy state. Even so, the other information processing apparatus 10 can promptly transfer the activation command to the image processing apparatus 7. For this reason, the image processing apparatus 7 can be surely and quickly shifted from the power saving mode to the normal mode. Note that the transmission mode for transmitting the activation command to each of the plurality of information processing devices 9 and 10 may not necessarily be a mode of performing simultaneous transmission simultaneously. For example, the transmission mode is different for the plurality of information processing devices 9 and 10. A mode in which activation commands are sequentially transmitted at the timing may be used.

  Next, the image processing apparatus 7 having the function of the relay server 6 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration and a functional configuration of the image processing apparatus 7. The image processing device 7 having the function of the relay server 6 includes a control unit 41 configured by a CPU and a memory, a storage unit 42 configured by a hard disk drive (HDD), the application server 5, the information processing device 9, 10, a communication interface 43 for communicating with the image processing apparatus 8, an operation panel 44 serving as a user interface when the user operates the image processing apparatus 7, a printer unit 46 for performing print output, and a scan process. The scanner unit 47 and an energization control unit 60 that controls the power supplied to each unit are provided. When power is supplied from the energization control unit 60, the control unit 41 reads and executes a program stored in advance in the storage unit 42. Accordingly, the control unit 41 serves as a job execution unit 50 that executes a job in the image processing device 7 and a relay unit 51 that relays communication between the image processing devices 7 and 8 provided in the local network 3 and the application server 5. Function. The job execution unit 50 controls the execution of a job received via the communication interface 43 or a job designated by the user via the operation panel 44. For example, the job execution unit 50 performs print output by operating the printer unit 46. Or a job for reading a document by operating the scanner unit 47 is controlled. The relay unit 51 causes the image processing apparatus 7 to function as the relay server 6 described above, and includes a communication control unit 56 and a job transfer unit 57.

  The energization control unit 60 is a processing unit that shifts the energization state of the image processing apparatus 7 to either the normal mode or the power saving mode. For example, when the power switch of the image processing apparatus 7 is turned on and the power is turned on, the energization control unit 60 includes the control unit 41, the storage unit 42, the operation panel 44, the communication interface 43, the printer unit 46, and the scanner unit 47. Power is supplied to each of them, and the image processing apparatus 7 is activated in the normal mode. Accordingly, in the control unit 41, the job execution unit 50 and the relay unit 51 function, and the connection state with the application server 5 is established by the relay unit 51.

  The energization control unit 60 monitors the operation panel 44 and the communication interface 43 when a job is not being executed by the job execution unit 50, and if there is no data input / output in the image processing apparatus 7, the timer 61 Is activated. When the timer 61 measures a predetermined time after starting the time measurement operation, the energization control unit 60 shifts the energization state of the image processing apparatus 7 from the normal mode to the power saving mode. The timing measurement start timing of the timer 61 is, for example, the timing at which data input / output with respect to the image processing device 7 is completed. When new data input / output is detected during the time measurement operation, the timer 61 performs the time measurement operation. Stop and reset the previous measurement time. The energization control unit 60 stops the power supply to, for example, the printer unit 46, the scanner unit 47, the control unit 41, and the storage unit 42 when the timer 61 shifts from the normal mode to the power saving mode by measuring a predetermined time. . Thereby, the function as the relay server 6 in the image processing apparatus 7 is stopped, and the connection state with the application server 5 is ended. The energization control unit 60 stops the display function on the operation panel 44 in accordance with the shift to the power saving mode. However, the operation input detection function in the operation panel 44 is not stopped and the operation state is continued. Further, the energization control unit 60 continues to supply power to the communication interface 43 even when shifting to the power saving mode. As a result, the communication interface 43 can receive data addressed to itself via the local network 3 even when the image processing apparatus 7 shifts to the power saving mode.

  The communication interface 43 includes an activation command reception unit 43a. The activation command receiving unit 43 a is configured to receive an activation command addressed to itself received via the local network 3 when the image processing apparatus 7 is shifted to the power saving mode by the energization control unit 60. When receiving the start command in the power saving mode, the start command receiving unit 43a notifies the energization control unit 60 that the start command has been received.

  When the energization control unit 60 receives the notification that the activation command has been received from the activation command reception unit 43a, the energization control unit 60 resumes the power supply to the printer unit 46, the scanner unit 47, the control unit 41, and the storage unit 42. Return to mode. Accordingly, the control unit 41 activates the job execution unit 50 and the relay unit 51 again, so that the connection state with the application server 5 is established again by the relay unit 51.

  When returning from the power saving mode to the normal mode, the energization control unit 60 resumes only power supply to the control unit 41 and the storage unit 42 and stops supplying power to the printer unit 46 and the scanner unit 47. It may be continued. In this case, the energization control unit 60 can stop the power supply to the printer unit 46 and the scanner unit 47 until the time when the job execution unit 50 executes the print job or the scan job. Even when the mode is returned to the normal mode, the power consumption can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, there is a possibility that the activation command receiving unit 43a receives a plurality of activation commands from each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10. The start command receiving unit 43a notifies the energization control unit 60 to return to the normal mode based on the start command received first in the power saving mode state, and ignores or discards the start command received thereafter. Also good.

  When the relay unit 51 is activated or restarted by the control unit 41, the relay unit 51 first causes the communication control unit 56 to function. The communication control unit 56 establishes a connection state with the application server 5 when the relay unit 51 is activated, and ends the connection state with the application server 5 when the energization control unit 60 shifts from the normal mode to the power saving mode. It is a processing unit. For example, the communication control unit 56 transmits a connection start request to the application server 5 to establish a connection state. As a result, the relay unit 51 establishes an HTTP session with the application server 5 and is in a state in which data can be transmitted / received to / from each other via the HTTP session. When the connection state with the application server 5 is established by the communication control unit 56, the relay unit 51 causes the job transfer unit 57 to function next.

  The job transfer unit 57 transfers the job received from the application server 5 to the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 in the local network 3 or is received from the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 via the local network 3 Is a processing unit that transfers the data to the application server 5. When the connection state with the application server 5 is established by the communication control unit 56, the job transfer unit 57 receives a job addressed to the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 transmitted from the application server 5 using the connection state. . Then, the job transfer unit 57 transfers the job to the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8. At this time, the job transfer unit 57 analyzes the header of the received job, specifies the destination image processing apparatuses 7 and 8, and transfers the job to the specified image processing apparatuses 7 and 8. For example, when the job received from the application server 5 is a job addressed to the image processing apparatus 7, the job transfer unit 57 transfers the job to the job execution unit 50. If the job received from the application server 5 is a job addressed to the image processing apparatus 8, the job transfer unit 57 transfers the job to the image processing apparatus 8 via the communication interface 43. As a result, the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 can execute the job transmitted from the application server 5. When the job transfer unit 57 receives response information for the data transferred to the job execution unit 50 or the image processing apparatus 8, the job transfer unit 57 transfers the response information to the application server 5. That is, the job transfer unit 57 relays bidirectional communication between the application server 5 and the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8.

  When the image processing apparatus 7 shifts from the normal mode to the power saving mode, the communication control unit 56 transmits a connection end request to the application server 5, for example, and ends the connection state with the application server 5. As a result, when the image processing apparatus 7 shifts to the power saving mode, the application server 5 cannot communicate with the image processing apparatus 8 in the local network 3 via the image processing apparatus 7. In this state, the application server 5 returns the image processing device 7 from the power saving mode to the normal mode by transmitting a start command to the image processing device 7 via the information processing devices 9 and 10 in the local network 3. In response to this, a connection start request is received from the communication control unit 56 of the relay unit 51. Therefore, the application server 5 can reestablish a connection state with the relay unit 51 based on the connection start request, and can transmit a job to the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 using the connection state. It becomes like this.

  FIG. 4 shows the flow of each process in the case where the image processing apparatus 7 (relay server 6) shifts to the normal mode and establishes the connection state via the information processing apparatus 9 in which the application server 5 has established the connection state. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary. FIG. 4 illustrates a case where a job specifying the image processing apparatus 8 as a transmission destination is transmitted from the application server 5. The image processing apparatus 7 having the function of the relay server 6 in the normal mode starts the time measurement operation by the timer 61 (process P1), and shifts from the normal mode to the power saving mode when the predetermined time t1 is measured. Start processing is performed (process P2). Accordingly, the image processing apparatus 7 ends the connection state with the application server 5. At this time, for example, the image processing apparatus 7 transmits a connection end request to the application server 5 (process P3), and ends the connection state with the application server 5. Thereafter, when the application server 5 detects that the connection state with the image processing device 7 has ended, the application server 5 generates a start command for shifting the image processing device 7 from the power saving mode to the normal mode (process P4). Next, when the information processing apparatus 9 in the local network 3 accesses the application server 5 in order to use an application service provided by the application server 5, a connection state between the application server 5 and the information processing apparatus 9 is established. (Process P5). Note that the timing at which the connection state between the information processing device 9 and the application server 5 is established may be before the image processing device 7 shifts to the power saving mode. Thereafter, when the application server 5 receives a communication request designating the image processing apparatus 8 in the local network 3 from the information processing apparatus 11 outside the local network 3 (process P6), the application server 5 has been generated in advance. The activation command is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 9 that has already established the connection state (process P7). When receiving the activation command, the information processing apparatus 9 transfers the activation command to the image processing apparatus 7 existing in the same local network 3 (process P8). Then, the image processing device 7 performs a normal mode return process for returning from the power saving mode to the normal mode based on the start command received via the information processing device 9 (process P9). When returning to the normal mode, the image processing apparatus 7 activates the relay unit 51 described above, transmits, for example, a connection start request to the application server 5 (process P10), and reestablishes the connection state with the application server 5. .

  While the processing between the processes P6 to P10 is being performed, the information processing apparatus 11 displays a screen such as a Web page acquired from the application server 5 and performs detailed printing when the image processing apparatus 8 performs printout. Settings can be received from the user. When the start of printing is instructed by the user, the information processing apparatus 11 instructs the application server 5 to execute printing by the image processing apparatus 8 (process P11). As a result, the application server 5 generates a print job (process P12), and transmits the generated print job to the image processing apparatus 7 functioning as the relay server 6 (process P13). When the image processing apparatus 7 receives a print job in which the image processing apparatus 8 is designated as the transmission destination from the application server 5, the image processing apparatus 7 transfers the job to the image processing apparatus 8 (process P14). When the image processing apparatus 8 receives the print job transferred by the image processing apparatus 7, the image processing apparatus 8 executes the print job and performs print output (process P15).

  FIG. 5 shows the image processing apparatus 7 and the application server 5 having the function of the relay server 6 after a communication request designating the image processing apparatus 8 in the local network is transmitted from the information processing apparatus 11 outside the local network 3. It is a conceptual diagram until a connection state is established. When the user operates the information processing apparatus 11 outside the local network 3 and wants to print out, for example, a document stored in the application server 5 from the image processing apparatus 8 provided in the local network 3, the image processing apparatus 8 Is transmitted from the information processing apparatus 11 to the application server 5. If the connection state is established between the application server 5 and the image processing device 7 (relay server 6), the application server 5 relays the image processing device 7 to communicate with the image processing device 8 in the local network 3. Can be done. However, when the image processing apparatus 7 is in the power saving mode and the connection state between the application server 5 and the image processing apparatus 7 is terminated, the connection from the application server 5 to the image processing apparatus 7 by the firewall 4 is not possible. Can not. Therefore, the application server 5 identifies the information processing device 9 in the local network 3 in which the connection state is being established, and causes the information processing device 9 to start the image processing device 7 from the power saving mode to the normal mode. Send. Note that the start command may be generated when the connection state with the image processing device 7 is detected, when a communication request is received from the information processing device 11, or from the information processing device 11. It may be when a print execution instruction is received. When the information processing device 9 receives the activation command transmitted from the application server 5, the information processing device 9 transfers the activation command to the image processing device 7. As a result, the application server 5 can transmit a start command to the image processing device 7 via the information processing device 9 and shift the image processing device 7 from the power saving mode to the normal mode. When the image processing apparatus 7 receives the activation command transferred from the information processing apparatus 9, the image processing apparatus 7 shifts from the power saving mode to the normal mode, transmits a connection start request to the application server 5, and changes the connection state with the application server 5. Establish. When the connection state between the application server 5 and the image processing apparatus 7 is established, the application server 5 generates a print job based on the print execution instruction received from the information processing apparatus 11 and relays it to the image processing apparatus 7. Thus, it can be transmitted to the image processing apparatus 8.

  Next, specific processing procedures in the application server 5 and the image processing apparatus 7 will be described with reference to flowcharts. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure in the application server 5. The application server 5 in the activated state determines whether or not a connection start request has been received from the relay unit 51 of the image processing apparatus 7 (step S1). If the connection start request has not been received (step S1) NO) Wait. When the application server 5 receives the connection start request (YES in step S1), a connection state with the relay unit 51 of the image processing apparatus 7 is established (step S2). Next, it is determined whether an instruction to transmit a job is received from the information processing apparatus 11 or the like to the image processing apparatus 8 in the local network 3 (step S3). If it is determined that the instruction is received (YES in step S3), the application The server 5 generates a job for the image processing device 8 based on the instruction (step S4), and transmits the job to the relay unit 51 of the image processing device 7 (step S5). On the other hand, if it is determined that the transmission instruction for the job in which the image processing apparatus 8 is designated as the transmission destination has not been received (NO in step S3), the processes in steps S4 and S5 are skipped.

  Next, the application server 5 determines whether or not it is detected that the connection state with the image processing device 7 has ended (step S6). If it is determined that the connection state has not ended (NO in step S6), step S3 is performed. The process of thru | or S5 is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the connection state with the image processing device 7 has been detected (YES in step S6), the application server 5 issues a start command for shifting the image processing device 7 from the power saving mode to the normal mode. Generate (step S7). Then, the application server 5 determines whether or not a communication request designating the image processing device 8 in the local network 3 has been received from the information processing device 11 outside the local network 3 (step S8), and has not been received. (NO in step S8), it waits until a communication request is received. If it is determined that a communication request has been received (YES in step S8), start command transmission destination determination processing is performed to determine the information processing devices 9 and 10 in the local network 3 that are the transmission destination of the start command generated in step S7. (Step S9). Details of the start command transmission destination determination process will be described later. In this embodiment, since a start command is generated in advance when it is detected that the connection state has ended, the start command has already been generated when the communication request is received, and the start is quickly performed upon receipt of the communication request. A command can be transmitted.

  When the information processing devices 9 and 10 that are the transmission destinations of the start command are determined, the start command is transmitted to the information processing devices 9 and 10 (step S10). In the present embodiment, when a plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 in the local network 3 are connected to the application server 5, the application server 5 is activated for all of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10. Since the command is transmitted, it is possible to shift the image processing apparatus 7 from the power saving mode to the normal mode with the start command transferred to the image processing apparatus 7 earliestly from the plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10. When the image processing apparatus 7 returns to the normal mode, it transmits a connection start request to the application server 5. When the application server 5 receives the connection start request from the image processing device 7 (step S11), the application server 5 reestablishes the connection state with the image processing device 7 (step S12), and then repeats the processing of steps S3 to S12 described above. .

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a detailed processing procedure of the activation command transmission destination determination process (step S9 in FIG. 6) in the present embodiment. When the communication request is received (YES in step S8 in FIG. 6), the application server 5 is establishing a connection state with its own apparatus among the information processing apparatuses existing in the same local network 3 as the apparatus specified in the communication request. All of the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 are extracted (step S21). At this time, if there are a plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 that have established a connection state with the application server 5, the plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 are all extracted. If only one information processing device 9 or 10 has established a connection state with the application server 5, the one information processing device 9 or 10 is extracted. Then, the application server 5 determines all the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 extracted in step S21 as activation command transmission destinations (step S22). As a result, particularly when there are a plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 that are connected, the image processing apparatus 7 can be quickly and quickly shifted from the power saving mode to the normal mode. In addition, when there is a plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 that do not have a function of transferring a start command transmitted from the application server 5 to the image processing apparatus 7, or the start command is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 7. Even when the function for transferring to the image processing apparatus includes a malfunctioning function, the activation command can be reliably transferred to the image processing apparatus 7 from any of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10. The image processing apparatus 7 can be shifted from the power saving mode to the normal mode more reliably than when a start command is transmitted to one information processing apparatus, and the connection state with the image processing apparatus 7 can be changed. Can be established.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure in the image processing apparatus 7. Since the image processing apparatus 7 has the function of the relay server 6 and needs to relay communication between the application server 5 outside the local network 3 and the image processing apparatus 8 in the local network 3 as appropriate, The connection state is maintained except that the connection state is established and the connection state is temporarily terminated by shifting to the power saving mode. In the present embodiment, when the image processing apparatus 7 is powered on (step S30), the image processing apparatus 7 causes the relay unit 51 to function and transmits a connection start request to the application server 5 (step S31). A connection state with the server 5 is established. When the connection start request is transmitted, the image processing apparatus 7 starts the time measurement operation of the timer (step S32), and determines whether there is any data input / output in the own device (step S33). If it is determined that there is data input / output in the own device (YES in step S33), the timer during the time measurement operation is reset (step S34). Further, it is determined whether or not the input / output is reception of a job for the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 in the local network 3 (step S35). If the input / output is reception of a job for the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 (YES in step S35). The image processing apparatus 7 causes the relay unit 51 to function, and transfers the received job to the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 (step S36). Thereafter, the image processing device 7 starts the timer time measurement operation again (step S32). On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no data input / output with respect to the own device (NO in step S33), the image processing apparatus 7 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the timer measurement operation (step S37). If it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed (NO in step S37), the process returns to step S33. If it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed (YES in step S37), the image processing apparatus 7 shifts from the normal mode to the power saving mode (step S38), and the relay unit 51 connects to the application server 5 accordingly. Processing to end the state is performed (step S39). In step S39, a process for closing the HTTP session with the application server 5 may be performed, or the HTTP session with the application server 5 is simply disconnected and discarded without performing such a closing process. It may be a thing.

  When the image processing apparatus 7 shifts to the power saving mode, the activation command receiving unit 43a of the communication interface 43 is then operated to determine whether or not the activation command has been received from the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 in the local network 3 ( If it is determined in step S40 that it has not been received (NO in step S40), the process waits until an activation command is received. When the activation command is received (YES in step S40), the image processing apparatus 7 returns from the power saving mode to the normal mode (step S41). Thereby, the power supply to the control unit 41 is restarted, and the relay unit 51 is restarted. Then, returning to step S31, the image processing apparatus 7 causes the relay unit 51 to function, thereby transmitting a connection start request to the application server 5, and reestablishing a connection state with the application server 5 (step S31). Thereafter, the processing after step S32 described above is repeated. By performing the above processing, the image processing apparatus 7 temporarily terminates the connection state with the application server 5 by shifting to the power saving mode, but again in the normal mode by the start command transmitted from the application server 5. To establish the connection state with the application server 5 again. Thereby, the relay unit 51 can relay communication between the application server 5 on the Internet 2 and the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 in the local network 3.

  In the image processing system 1 according to the present embodiment, the case where the plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 provided in the local network 3 is provided has been described. However, the local network 3 includes one information processing apparatus. May be.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first embodiment, when the application server 5 establishes a connection state with a plurality of information processing devices 9 and 10 in the local network 3, an activation command is issued to all of the plurality of information processing devices 9 and 10. The case of sending was explained. In the present embodiment, when the application server 5 establishes a connection state with a plurality of information processing devices 9 and 10 in the local network 3, one information processing device is selected from the plurality of information processing devices 9 and 10. A case where the start command is selected and transmitted will be described. The specific configuration of the image processing system 1, the application server 5, and the image processing apparatus 7 having the functions of the relay server 6 in this embodiment is the same as that described in the first embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the activation request transmission unit 30 of the application server 5 is already connected to two or more information processing devices 9 and 10 among the plurality of information processing devices 9 and 10 provided in the local network 3. Is established, one information processing apparatus is selected from the two or more information processing apparatuses 9 and 10, and an activation command is transmitted. That is, as in the first embodiment, when a start command is broadcast to all of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 that are currently connected, they are broadcast to the line connecting the application server 5 and the local network 3. A large amount of data is sent out, and there is a possibility that the line is temporarily busy. Therefore, in the present embodiment, by selecting one information processing apparatus from the plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 that are currently connected and transmitting an activation command, the line is prevented from being in a busy state. .

  However, when a start command is transmitted to one information processing apparatus among the plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10, if one information processing apparatus that transmitted the start command is in a busy state, for example, the image processing apparatus 7 The startup command is not transferred promptly. For this reason, the application server 5 may not receive a connection start request from the relay unit 51 of the image processing apparatus 7 even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start command was transmitted. In such a case, the application server 5 cannot quickly establish a connection state with the relay unit 51 of the image processing apparatus 7. Therefore, when the application server 5 selects one information processing apparatus that is the transmission target of the activation command from the plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10, the activation command is sent to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10. It is preferable to assign a priority order for transmitting the commands, and select transmission targets of the start command one by one in descending order of priority. If a connection start request is not received from the relay unit 51 of the image processing device 7 even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the activation command is transmitted to one information processing device, the application server 5 performs information processing of the next priority order. The process of selecting one device and transmitting a start command to the selected information processing device is repeated. As a result, the application server 5 can establish a connection state with the relay unit 51 of the image processing device 7 even when the information processing devices 9 and 10 include a busy device. become.

  As one example of a priority order assignment method for selecting one information processing apparatus from among the plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10, the activation request transmission unit 30 includes two or more information processing apparatuses 9 and 10, respectively. On the other hand, there is a method of assigning priorities in order from the latest timing of establishing the connection state. In this case, for example, when the connection management unit 28 of the application server 5 establishes the connection state with each of the plurality of information processing devices 9 and 10 provided in the local network 3, the date and time when the connection state is established, that is, Store and manage connection start date and time. Then, the activation request transmission unit 30 assigns priorities in order from the latest timing when each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 establishes the connection state with the application server 5. When the activation request transmitting unit 30 transmits an activation command to any one of the plurality of information processing devices 9 and 10, the timing at which the connection state is established in order from the highest priority is the latest. One information processing apparatus is selected in order from the first one, and an activation command is transmitted.

  An information processing apparatus having a relatively new connection timing establishes a shorter time than the other information processing apparatus after the start of the process of cooperating with the application server 5, and the progress status of the cooperating process is other information processing apparatus. There is a high possibility that it is slow. Then, the information processing device that has a relatively short time to establish the connection state with the application server 5 is compared with other information processing devices that have a relatively long time since the connection state is established. It can be said that the state is likely to continue for a longer time. For this reason, by selecting the information processing device having the latest connection timing established by the activation request transmission unit 30 in order from the latest one and transmitting the activation command, it is possible to communicate with the information processing devices 9 and 10 during the transmission of the activation command. The rate of occurrence of transmission errors due to the end of the connection state can be reduced, and the activation command can be transmitted to the information processing devices 9 and 10 more reliably.

  Unlike the above, the activation request transmission unit 30 assigns priorities in order from the earliest timing at which the connection state is established, selects one information processing device in order from the oldest timing at which the connection state is established, You may make it transmit a starting command at the timing which the cooperation process currently performed in cooperation with the one information processing apparatus was complete | finished. That is, when the application server 5 is executing a cooperative process that cooperates with the information processing devices 9 and 10, the control unit 20 of the application server 5 is concentrated on the process. Transmission to the processing devices 9 and 10 causes a delay in the currently executing cooperative processing. In order to prevent this, it is preferable that the activation command is transmitted after the cooperation processing with the information processing devices 9 and 10 is finished and before the connection state with the information processing devices 9 and 10 is finished. In order to transmit the start command as early as possible, it is preferable to select the one that ends the cooperation process with the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 earliest. For this reason, the activation request transmission unit 30 assigns priorities to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 in order from the earliest connection state establishment timing, and becomes a transmission target of the activation command. When one information processing apparatus is selected, one information processing apparatus is selected in order from the earliest timing at which the connection state is established, and the cooperative processing performed by the application server 5 in cooperation with the one information processing apparatus is performed. You may employ | adopt the structure which transmits a starting command at the timing completed. That is, by selecting one information processing device in order from the earliest connection state establishment timing and transmitting the activation command, it is possible to quickly transmit the activation command without delaying the cooperation processing.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a detailed processing procedure of the above-described start command transmission process performed in the application server 5. This activation command transmission process is a process performed in place of, for example, steps S9 to S12 in the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, when the application server 5 re-establishes the connection state with the image processing device 7 (relay server 6) in the local network 3 based on the communication request from the information processing device 11 outside the local network 3, this activation is performed. Execute command transmission processing. When starting this processing, the application server 5 first extracts all the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 in the currently connected local network 3 (step S51). Then, the application server 5 determines whether or not a plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 have been extracted in step S51 (step S52). If there are a plurality of information processing apparatuses (YES in step S52), a destination determination process is performed (step S52). S53).

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a detailed processing procedure of the transmission destination determination process (step S53). When the application server 5 starts this process, the application server 5 checks the connection start time with each of the currently connected information processing devices 9 and 10 managed by the connection management unit 28 (step S71), and each confirmed information processing device. The connection start times of 9, 10 are compared (step S72). Then, a priority order for selecting one information processing apparatus as a transmission destination of the start command is determined (step S73). When determining the priority order, as described above, a plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 that are currently establishing a connection state are assigned a higher priority in order from the latest timing when the connection state with the application server 5 is established. Alternatively, on the contrary, a higher priority may be assigned in order from the oldest timing when the connection state with the application server 5 is established. However, when it is necessary for the application server 5 to establish the connection state with the relay unit 51 of the image processing apparatus 7 at an early stage, the priority with the highest timing is established from the latest connection timing with the application server 5. It is preferable to assign a rank. Because, when the activation command is transmitted to one information processing apparatus in order from the latest timing when the connection state with the application server 5 is established, the activation request transmission unit 30 selects without waiting until the cooperation processing ends. This is because the activation command can be promptly transmitted to the one information processing apparatus. Thus, the transmission destination determination process ends.

  Returning to FIG. 9, the application server 5 includes a plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 that are currently connected to the application server 5 based on the priority order determined in the transmission destination determination process (step S <b> 53). One information processing apparatus is selected from 10 (step S54). At this time, the application server 5 selects one information processing apparatus in descending order of priority. Then, the application server 5 stands by until the start command transmission timing comes (step S55). In the transmission destination determination process (step S53), when a higher priority is assigned in order from the latest timing when the connection state with the application server 5 is established, the standby time in step S55 does not occur, The application server 5 immediately starts the process of step S56. On the other hand, when the higher priority is assigned in order from the oldest timing at which the connection state with the application server 5 is established in the transmission destination determination process (step S53), the application server 5 determines in step S55. The process waits until the cooperation process performed in cooperation with the one information processing apparatus selected in step S54 is completed, and after the cooperation process is completed, the process of step S56 is started.

  In step S56, the activation request transmission unit 30 functions in the application server 5, and the activation command is transmitted to the one information processing apparatus selected in step S54 (step S56). Thereafter, the application server 5 determines whether or not a connection start request has been received from the image processing apparatus 7 (step S57), and if no connection request has been received (NO in step S57), until a predetermined time has elapsed. Wait (step S58). If the connection start request is received from the image processing device 7 until the predetermined time has elapsed (YES in step S57), the application server 5 is connected to the image processing device 7, more strictly, the image processing device 7. The connection state with the relay unit 51 is established (step S59). On the other hand, if a predetermined time has elapsed without receiving a connection start request from the image processing apparatus 7 (YES in step S58), the application server 5 returns to step S54, and next transmits a start command based on the priority order. The first information processing apparatus is selected and the above-described processing (steps S54 to S58) is repeated.

  When the number of information processing apparatuses extracted in step S51 is one (NO in step S52), the application server 5 determines that one information processing apparatus as the transmission destination of the activation command (step S60), and A start command is transmitted to the information processing apparatus (step S61). Then, after transmitting the activation command, the application server 5 stands by until a connection start request is received from the image processing device 7 (step S62). When receiving the connection start request (YES in step S62), the application server 5 relays the image processing device 7. A connection state with the unit 51 is established (step S59).

  As described above, when the connection state is already established between the application server 5 of the present embodiment and the two or more information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 in the local network 3, the two or more information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 are connected. Since one of the information processing apparatuses is selected and the activation command is transmitted, it is possible to prevent the line connecting the application server 5 and the local network 3 from being temporarily busy. In addition, when the application server 5 selects one information processing apparatus that is a transmission destination of the start command from the two or more information processing apparatuses 9 and 10, the connection state of the two or more information processing apparatuses 9 and 19 is connected. Since the information processing apparatus having the latest establishment timing is selected, the connection state with the relay server 6 provided in the local network 3 can be established more reliably and quickly.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, when there are a plurality of information processing devices 9 and 10 that are connected to the application server 5, when one information processing device is selected from the plurality of information processing devices 9 and 10. The case where one information processing apparatus as a transmission destination of an activation command is selected based on the connection state establishment timing is shown. In the present embodiment, when there are a plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 connected to the application server 5, the application server 5 cooperates with each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10. A case will be described in which the progress statuses of the processes being compared are compared, and one information processing apparatus that is the transmission destination of the activation command is selected based on the result. In this embodiment, the specific configuration of the image processing system 1 and the image processing apparatus 7 having the functions of the relay server 6 is the same as that described in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the application server 5 in the present embodiment. The application server 5 includes a control unit 20, a communication interface 22, and a storage unit 70. The control unit 20 reads and executes a program (for example, an operating system) (not shown) stored in advance in the storage unit 70 when the power is turned on, for example, thereby executing an application control unit 71, a job transmission unit 27, and a progress management unit 72. , Function as a connection management unit 28, an activation request generation unit 29, and an activation request transmission unit 30. The application control unit 71 also functions as the job generation unit 26. On the other hand, the storage unit 70 stores an application program 75 that is read and executed by the application control unit 71.

  When the application control unit 71 has established a connection state with the information processing devices 9, 10, and 11, the application program stored in the storage unit 70 based on a request from the information processing devices 9, 10, and 11 By reading and executing 75, the application is started and an application service is provided to the information processing apparatuses 9, 10, and 11. That is, the application control unit 71 activates an application every time it receives a request from the information processing apparatuses 9, 10, and 11, and executes cooperation processing that is performed in cooperation with the information processing apparatuses 9, 10, and 11. It is. Therefore, the application control unit 71 can also start a plurality of applications and execute a plurality of cooperative processes in parallel.

  The cooperation process performed by the application control unit 71 in cooperation with the information processing apparatuses 9, 10, and 11 includes a plurality of processes. Therefore, the application control unit 71 requests each information processing device 9, 10, 11 by executing the plurality of processes in a predetermined order in cooperation with each information processing device 9, 10, 11. Provided application services. For example, data uploaded from the information processing devices 9, 10, and 11 is stored in the storage unit 70, or the storage unit 70 is executed by the application control unit 71 executing cooperative processing in cooperation with the information processing devices 9, 10, and 11. Can be downloaded to the information processing devices 9, 10, 11. When it is specified that the information processing apparatuses 9, 10, and 11 transmit a job to the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 in the local network 3, the application control unit 71 executes a predetermined process included in the cooperation process. Sometimes, the job generation unit 26 functions to generate a job to be transmitted to the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8. The job generated by the job generation unit 26 is output to the job transmission unit 27.

  The storage unit 70 may store a plurality of types of application programs 75 according to the types of application services provided by the application server 5. In this case, the application control unit 71 reads and executes one application program from the plurality of types of application programs 75 in accordance with the types of application services requested from the information processing apparatuses 9, 10, and 11. Then, an application corresponding to the type of application service requested from the information processing devices 9, 10, 11 is started. Further, in the storage unit 70, for each application activated by the application control unit 71, the progression order of a plurality of processes included in the cooperation processing performed in cooperation between the application control unit 71 and each information processing device 9, 10, 11. Is stored in advance.

  The progress management unit 72 is a processing unit that manages the progress of the cooperation process when the application is started by the application control unit 71 and the cooperation process with the information processing apparatuses 9, 10, and 11 is executed. When the application is started by the application control unit 71, the progress management unit 72 reads the flow information 76 from the storage unit 70, determines the cooperation process corresponding to the application, and includes a plurality of processes included in the cooperation process. Identify the order of progression of these multiple processes. Then, the progress management unit 72 manages the progress of the cooperation process by specifying which of the all processes is the process currently being executed in the cooperation process performed by the application control unit 71. In other words, the progress management unit 72 manages the degree of progress of the cooperation process in progress in the application control unit 71 in real time.

  The job transmission unit 27, the connection management unit 28, and the activation request generation unit 29 illustrated in FIG. 1 are the same as those described in the first embodiment. In addition, when there are a plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 connected to the application server 5, the activation request transmission unit 30 selects one information processing apparatus from among the plurality of information processing apparatuses 9 and 10. Send the start command. Then, in the case where there are a plurality of information processing devices 9 and 10 connected to the application server 5, the activation request transmission unit 30 according to the present embodiment is configured so that the application control unit 71 performs each of the plurality of information processing devices 9 and 10. Are compared with each other, and based on the result, one information processing apparatus that is a transmission destination of the activation command is selected. Hereinafter, the details of the activation request transmission unit 30 will be described.

  When the activation request transmission unit 30 in this embodiment selects one information processing apparatus from the two or more information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 that have already been connected, the application control unit 71 selects the two or more information processing apparatuses 9 and 10. The progress of each cooperation process performed in cooperation with each of the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 is compared, and one information processing apparatus is selected. For example, the activation request transmission unit 30 acquires the progress degree of the cooperation processing performed by the application control unit 71 in cooperation with the information processing devices 9 and 10 from the progress management unit 72, and Compare the degree of progress of each application executed in cooperation. The activation request transmission unit 30 assigns a priority order to be an activation command transmission order to each of the two or more information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 based on the comparison result of the degree of progress. Then, the activation request transmission unit 30 selects one information processing device that is a transmission target of the activation command in descending order of priority assigned to each of the two or more information processing devices 9 and 10, and selects the selected one A start command is transmitted to the information processing apparatus. If a connection start request is not received from the relay unit 51 of the image processing apparatus 7 even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the activation command is transmitted to the one information processing apparatus, the next priority is assigned. The point that the process of selecting the information processing apparatus and transmitting the activation command is repeated is the same as in the second embodiment.

  For example, when the activation request transmission unit 30 compares the degree of progress of two or more cooperation processes performed in the application control unit 71 and assigns a priority order to each of the two or more information processing apparatuses 9 and 10, Among the two or more linkage processes, a higher priority is assigned in descending order of progress. When the activation request transmission unit 30 selects one information processing apparatus from the two or more information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 and transmits an activation command, the activation request is transmitted in descending order of priority, that is, the progress of the cooperation process. In order from the slowest, the first information processing apparatus is selected and the activation command is transmitted.

  When the progress status of the cooperation process is relatively slow and an initial stage process among a plurality of processes is performed, the number of processes to be performed in the future until the cooperation process by the application control unit 71 ends is relatively large. . On the other hand, when the progress status of the collaboration process is relatively fast and the final process among a plurality of processes is performed, the number of processes to be performed in the future until the collaboration process by the application control unit 71 is completed is as follows. Relatively less. Therefore, it can be said that the cooperation process with a slow progress state takes a relatively long time to complete the cooperation process than the cooperation process with a fast progress state. For this reason, the activation request transmission unit 30 selects one information processing device in order from the one that is performing the slowest cooperation process and transmits the activation command, so that the information processing device 9, 10 can be reduced, and the start command can be transmitted to the information processing devices 9 and 10 more reliably.

  However, unlike the above, the activation request transmission unit 30 may select one information processing apparatus in order from the one performing the cooperation process with the most advanced progress and transmit the activation command. That is, when the application server 5 is executing a cooperative process that cooperates with the information processing devices 9 and 10, the control unit 20 of the application server 5 is concentrated on the process. Transmission to the processing devices 9 and 10 causes a delay in the currently executing cooperative processing. In order to prevent this, it is preferable that the activation command is transmitted after the cooperation processing with the information processing devices 9 and 10 is finished and before the connection state with the information processing devices 9 and 10 is finished. In order to transmit the start command as early as possible, it is preferable to select the one that ends the cooperation process with the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 earliest. For this reason, the activation request transmission unit 30 assigns priorities to each of the plurality of information processing devices 9 and 10 in order from the one in which the cooperation process with the most advanced progress is performed. When selecting one information processing device to be transmitted, the one information processing device is selected in order from the one that is performing the cooperative processing with the most advanced progress, and the application server 5 and the one information processing device are selected. You may employ | adopt the structure which transmits a starting command at the timing which the cooperation process currently performed in cooperation is complete | finished. In other words, by selecting one information processing device in order from the one that is performing the cooperation process with the most advanced progress and transmitting the activation command, the activation command is transmitted promptly without delaying the collaboration process. be able to.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a detailed processing procedure of the transmission destination determination process (step S53 in FIG. 9) in the present embodiment. When the application server 5 starts this process, it refers to the flow information 76 corresponding to the application that is operating in cooperation with the two or more information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 that are currently connected (step S81), and is operating. The degree of progress indicating the progress of the cooperation process is calculated for each application (step S82). Then, the application server 5 compares the calculated degree of progress of each application (step S83), and determines the priority order assigned to each of the two or more information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 based on the comparison result (step S84). ). When determining the priority order, as described above, the priority order is the highest in order from the slowest progress of the cooperation processing performed in cooperation with each of the two or more information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 that are currently connected. Or, conversely, the higher priority may be assigned in the order of the progress of the cooperation process. However, when it is necessary for the application server 5 to establish the connection state with the relay unit 51 of the image processing apparatus 7 at an early stage, the highest priority is assigned in order from the slowest progress of the cooperation process. Is preferred. This is because when the activation command is transmitted to the one information processing apparatus in order from the slowest progress of the cooperation process, the activation request transmission unit 30 does not wait until the cooperation process is completed without waiting for the selected one information processing apparatus. This is because the activation command can be promptly transmitted to the apparatus. Thus, the transmission destination determination process ends.

(Modification)
As mentioned above, although several embodiment regarding this invention was described, this invention is not restricted to what was demonstrated in each embodiment mentioned above. In other words, in addition to the above-described embodiments, various modifications can be applied to the present invention.

  For example, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the function of the relay server 6 is installed in the image processing apparatus 7 is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be configured as. That is, even if the relay server 6 is an apparatus independent of the image processing apparatus 7, the connection state with the application server 5 may be terminated when the relay server 6 shifts to the power saving mode. possible. Even in such a case, the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 in the local network 3 are designated from the information processing apparatus 11 outside the local network 3 to the application server 5 by applying the technology described in the above embodiments. When the communication request is transmitted, the application server 5 transmits an activation command to the relay server 6 via the information processing devices 9 and 10 in the local network 3 that have established a connection state at that time. The relay server 6 can be returned from the power saving mode to the normal mode, and as a result, the connection state with the relay server 6 can be reestablished.

  In each of the above embodiments, the application server 5 transmits the start command to the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 mainly composed of a general personal computer or the like provided in the local network 3, thereby omitting the relay server 6. An example of returning from the electric mode to the normal mode is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the image processing apparatus 8 provided in the local network 3 accesses the application server 5 and establishes a direct connection state with the application server 5, the application server 5 May determine such an image processing apparatus 8 as a transmission target of an activation command. Therefore, the image processing apparatus 8 provided in the local network 3 is a kind of information processing apparatus.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the relay server 6 establishes a connection state with the application server 5 that provides an application service when the relay server 6 is started or restarted is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the application server 5 provides a service providing server that provides the application service, and a connection mediation server that requests the relay server 6 to connect to the service providing server in response to a request from the service providing server. The relay server 6 may establish a connection state with the connection mediation server instead of the service providing server that provides the application service at the time of starting or restarting.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing system in which the application server 5 includes a service providing server 5a and a connection mediation server 5b. FIG. 13 illustrates a case where the relay server 6 is configured separately from the image processing apparatus 7. In the image processing system shown in FIG. 13, the application server 5 provided in the Internet 2 includes a service providing server 5a and a connection mediating server 5b. On the other hand, the local network 3 such as an in-house LAN is provided with a relay server 6 and a plurality of image processing devices 7 and 8. The relay server 6 accesses the connection mediation server 5b of the application server 5 and establishes a connection state 90 with the connection mediation server 5b at the time of startup accompanying power-on. As a result, the connection mediation server 5b can communicate with the relay server 6 provided in the local network 3 beyond the firewall in the local network 3 at all times.

  In such an image processing system, for example, when the service providing server 5a of the application server 5 transmits a job to the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 provided in the local network 3, the service providing server 5a first selects the connection mediation server. A communication start request 91 specifying the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 as communication partners is transmitted to 5b. Upon receipt of the communication start request 91, the connection mediation server 5b identifies the relay server 6 that manages the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 designated as communication partners based on pre-registered information, and establishes with the relay server 6. The connection request 92 is transmitted to the relay server 6 using the connection state 90 being used for the tunnel. The connection request 92 includes address information for connecting to the service providing server 5a. When the relay server 6 receives the connection request 92 from the connection mediation server 5b, the relay server 6 transmits a connection start request 93 to the service providing server 5a based on the address information included therein. As a result, the relay server 6 and the service providing server 5a are connected, and the service providing server 5a can start transmitting a job to the relay server 6 provided in the local network 3. When the transmission of the job by the service providing server 5a is started, the relay server 6 relays the job and transfers it to the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 in the local network 3. As a result, the image forming apparatuses 7 and 8 can receive a job transmitted from the service providing server 5a via the relay server 6, and can perform printout or the like by executing the job.

  In the configuration as shown in FIG. 13, when the relay server 6 shifts from the normal mode to the power saving mode, the connection state 90 established between the relay server 6 and the connection mediation server 5b ends. Therefore, the connection mediation server 5b cannot transmit the connection request 92 to the relay server 6 in the local network 3 when receiving the communication start request 91 from the service providing server 5a. Even in such a case, by applying the techniques described in the above embodiments, the relay server 6 can be returned to the normal mode and the connection state 90 with the connection mediation server 5b can be reestablished. For example, when the connection mediation server 5b cannot transmit the connection request 92 to the relay server 6 when receiving the communication start request 91 from the service providing server 5a, the connection status 90 with the relay server 6 is changed. The service providing server 5a is notified that it has not been established. When the service providing server 5a receives a notification indicating that the connection state 90 with the relay server 6 is not established from the connection mediation server 5b, the information processing apparatus 9 provided in the same local network 3 as the relay server 6 is provided. , 10 (see FIG. 1) and establishes a connection state, and determines whether or not an application service is provided to the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10. As a result, when the connection state is established with the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10 provided in the same local network 3 as the relay server 6, the service providing server 5 a relays to the information processing apparatuses 9 and 10. An activation command for returning the server 6 from the power saving mode to the normal mode is transmitted. When the relay server 6 returns from the power saving mode to the normal mode, the connection state 90 between the relay server 6 and the connection mediation server 5b is established again, so that the connection mediation server 5b sends a connection request 92 to the relay server 6. Be able to send. According to such a configuration, since the service providing server 5a can establish a connection state with the relay server 6 only when communicating with the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 in the local network 3, the relay server 6 can be established. It is no longer necessary to manage a large number of connection states, and the management burden is reduced. Therefore, there is an advantage that the processing efficiency when the service providing server 5a provides the application service to the information processing devices 9 and 10 and the image processing devices 7 and 8 in the local network 3 can be improved.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the application server 5 is provided on the Internet 2 is illustrated, but the application server 5 is not necessarily limited to that provided on the Internet 2. That is, the application server 5 only needs to be provided in a network different from the local network 3 in which the relay server 6 and the image processing apparatuses 7 and 8 are provided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing system 2 Internet 3 Local network 4 Firewall 5 Application server 6 Relay server 7, 8 Image processing apparatus 9, 10, 11 Information processing apparatus 25 Connection request reception part 26 Job generation part (job generation means)
27 Job transmitter (job transmitter)
28 Connection Manager (Connection Manager)
30 Activation request transmission unit (activation request transmission means)
52 Energization control unit (energization control means)
56 Communication control unit (communication control means)
57 Job transfer section (job transfer means)
71 Application control unit (cooperation processing means)
72 Progress management department (management means)

Claims (13)

An application server provided on the network;
An image processing apparatus provided in a local network connected to the network via a firewall;
An information processing apparatus provided in the local network;
A relay server provided in the local network, which establishes a connection state with the application server and relays communication between the image processing apparatus and the application server;
An image processing system comprising:
The application server is
Job generation means for generating a job for the image processing apparatus;
Job transmission means for transmitting a job generated by the job generation means to the relay server in a state where a connection state with the relay server is established;
Connection management means for detecting that the connection state between the information processing apparatus and the relay server is established and terminated;
In response to receiving a communication request designating the image processing apparatus from outside the local network in a state in which the connection management unit detects that the connection state with the relay server has ended, the connection state An activation request transmitting means for transmitting an activation request for requesting a transition from the power saving state to the normal energization state to the relay server via the information processing apparatus already established;
With
The relay server is
Job transfer means for transferring a job received from the application server to the image processing apparatus in a state where a connection state with the application server is established;
Energization control means for shifting the energized state to either the normal energized state or the power saving state;
A communication control unit that establishes a connection state with the application server at the time of startup, and terminates the connection state with the application server when the energization control unit shifts from a normal energization state to a power saving state;
With
The energization control means shifts from the power saving state to the normal power state in response to receiving the activation request via the information processing apparatus when in the power saving state, and causes the communication control means to move the application server to the application server. An image processing system characterized in that a connection state is established. The local network is provided with a plurality of the information processing devices,
The activation request transmission unit is configured to activate the activation request for all of the two or more information processing devices when a connection state has already been established with the two or more information processing devices of the plurality of information processing devices. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the request is transmitted. The local network is provided with a plurality of the information processing devices,
The activation request transmission unit is configured to process one of the two or more information processing devices when a connection state has already been established with the two or more information processing devices. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the activation request is transmitted by selecting a device.   4. The activation request transmitting unit transmits the activation request with an information processing apparatus having the latest connection state establishment timing among the two or more information processing apparatuses as the one information processing apparatus. The image processing system described in 1. The application server is
In association with establishing a connection state with the information processing apparatus, a cooperation processing unit that starts a predetermined application and executes cooperation processing performed in cooperation with the information processing apparatus;
Management means for managing the progress of the cooperation processing by the cooperation processing means;
Further comprising
When the activation request transmission unit selects one information processing device from the two or more information processing devices, each cooperation processing unit performs in cooperation with each of the two or more information processing devices. The image processing system according to claim 3, wherein the information processing apparatuses are selected by comparing processing progress.   The activation request transmitting means is one information processing apparatus corresponding to the cooperation process with the slowest progress among the plurality of cooperation processes performed by the cooperation processing means in cooperation with each of the two or more information processing apparatuses. The image processing system according to claim 5, wherein the image processing system is selected. An image processing apparatus provided on the network and configured to communicate with an information processing apparatus and a relay server provided in a local network connected to the network via a firewall and provided in the local network via the relay server; An application server for communication,
Job generation means for generating a job for the image processing apparatus;
Job transmission means for transmitting a job generated by the job generation means to the relay server in a state where a connection state with the relay server is established;
Connection management means for detecting that the connection state between the information processing apparatus and the relay server is established and terminated;
In response to receiving a communication request designating the image processing apparatus from outside the local network in a state in which the connection management unit detects that the connection state with the relay server has ended, the connection state An activation request transmitting means for transmitting an activation request for requesting a transition from the power saving state to the normal energization state to the relay server via the information processing apparatus already established;
An application server comprising: The local network is provided with a plurality of the information processing devices,
The activation request transmission unit is configured to request activation of all of the two or more information processing devices when a connection state has already been established with the two or more information processing devices of the plurality of information processing devices. The application server according to claim 7, wherein the application server is transmitted. The local network is provided with a plurality of the information processing devices,
The activation request transmission unit is configured to process one of the two or more information processing devices when a connection state has already been established with the two or more information processing devices. The application server according to claim 7, wherein a device is selected and the activation request is transmitted.   10. The activation request transmitting unit transmits the activation request with the information processing apparatus having the latest connection state establishment timing among the two or more information processing apparatuses as the one information processing apparatus. Application server described in. In association with establishing a connection state with the information processing apparatus, a cooperation processing unit that starts a predetermined application and executes cooperation processing performed in cooperation with the information processing apparatus;
Management means for managing the progress of the cooperation processing by the cooperation processing means;
Further comprising
When the activation request transmission unit selects one information processing device from the two or more information processing devices, each cooperation processing unit performs in cooperation with each of the two or more information processing devices. The application server according to claim 9, wherein one information processing apparatus is selected by comparing processing progress.   The activation request transmitting means is one information processing apparatus corresponding to the cooperation process with the slowest progress among the plurality of cooperation processes performed by the cooperation processing means in cooperation with each of the two or more information processing apparatuses. The application server according to claim 11, wherein the application server is selected. An image processing apparatus provided on the network and configured to communicate with an information processing apparatus and a relay server provided in a local network connected to the network via a firewall and provided in the local network via the relay server; A program executed in an application server that performs communication,
The application server
Job generation means for generating a job for the image processing apparatus;
Job transmitting means for transmitting a job generated by the job generating means to the relay server in a state where a connection state with the relay server is established;
Connection management means for detecting that the connection state between the information processing apparatus and the relay server is established and terminated; and
In response to receiving a communication request designating the image processing apparatus from outside the local network in a state in which the connection management unit detects that the connection state with the relay server has ended, the connection state An activation request transmitting means for transmitting an activation request for requesting a transition from a power saving state to a normal energization state to the relay server via the information processing apparatus already established;
A program characterized by functioning as

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