JP6421454B2 - Server apparatus, gateway apparatus, image processing system, server apparatus control method, gateway apparatus control method, server apparatus control program, and gateway apparatus control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a server device, a gateway device, an image processing system, a control method for a server device, a control method for a gateway device, a control program for a server device, and a control program for a gateway device, and in particular, transmitted from the server device by HTTP. The present invention relates to a server device, a gateway device, an image processing system, a server device control method, a gateway device control method, a server device control program, and a gateway device control program that can execute a job based on job data.

  In the past, so-called cloud applications have been introduced in place of server software that has been running on servers for the purpose of reducing server installation / management costs in a LAN (local area network). A cloud application can provide various services to a user by operating using a so-called cloud server connected to the Internet.

  Some cloud systems that provide cloud applications in a usable manner provide various services while the cloud applications communicate with devices such as MFPs (Multi Function Peripherals) and printers operating on the LAN in each company. . In such a cloud system, communication from a cloud application to a device occurs. This communication is for accessing an MFP or the like in the intranet from the Internet. Therefore, communication may not be performed by a so-called firewall function that is generally installed at the boundary between the Internet and the intranet. For example, in an environment where a private IP address is assigned to the MFP, the cloud application side cannot specify the IP address of the MFP, and communication may not be performed. Therefore, a gateway device that relays communication between a device on the Internet side and a device in the LAN is used.

  The gateway device is always connected to a management server that can be connected via the Internet, and generates an HTTP tunnel with a device such as a cloud server on the Internet side based on the result of communication with the management server. Relay communication between the image processing apparatus and the image processing apparatus in the LAN can be established.

  In Patent Document 1 below, the server computer generates print instruction information in response to a request from the terminal device, and generates print information in response to an inquiry from the image forming device and provides the print information to the image forming device. The configuration of the cloud print system configured in is described. In this cloud print system, a proxy server disposed between a server computer and a terminal device selects a server suitable for use from an image forming apparatus set in the terminal device, and the terminal device prints Printing can be performed using an image forming apparatus suitable for performing the above.

JP 2013-175033 A

  2. Description of the Related Art An image processing system that uses a cloud system as described above and enables a cloud application to perform printing by communicating with an image forming apparatus in a LAN via a gateway apparatus is used. As such an image processing system, there is an image processing system capable of grasping a function possessed by an image forming apparatus in a LAN on the cloud system side and executing a job corresponding to the function.

  By the way, in such an image processing system, an image forming apparatus that does not support a service provided by a cloud application (hereinafter may be referred to as an incompatible image forming apparatus) may be used. For example, an image forming apparatus made by a manufacturer different from the provider of the cloud application may be used. When such an incompatible image forming apparatus is used, the cloud application may not be able to accurately acquire information regarding the functions held by the image forming apparatus. In addition, if the function configuration is changed after once confirming the functions held by the image forming apparatus, the function information grasped by the cloud application does not match the functions actually held by the image forming apparatus. You may fall. In such a case, when a cloud application requests execution of a job that uses a function that cannot be actually executed by the image forming apparatus, an execution error may occur.

  In addition, when the image forming apparatus that is to execute the job is executing another job, the job execution request sent from the cloud application is temporarily stored in the queue, and the job is not executed. A standby condition may occur for a while.

  In order to solve these problems, it is conceivable that information relating to job execution and information relating to the state of the image forming apparatus is monitored or analyzed by the gateway apparatus, and jobs are allocated to appropriate image forming apparatuses. However, when there is a large amount of information related to job execution or when there are a large number of image forming apparatuses connected to the gateway apparatus, the gateway apparatus constantly monitors and analyzes these states in this way. If it does so, there exists a problem that the load of a gateway apparatus will increase.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and can reduce a load on a gateway device and appropriately execute a job, a server device, a gateway device, an image processing system, and a server device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a control method, a gateway device control method, a server device control program, and a gateway device control program.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, connected to the first network and connected to the second network according to the relay operation of the gateway device connected to the second network The server device that requests execution of a job from the image processing device by communicating with the image processing device is based on an acquisition unit that acquires information about the image processing device, information acquired by the acquisition unit, and information about the job A determination unit that determines whether or not to instruct the gateway device to make a determination regarding job execution, and when the determination unit determines that the instruction is to be performed, the instruction information including the instruction and job execution for the job a first transmission unit that transmits the request to the gateway device, when it is not determined an instruction by determining means, about the job And a second transmission means for transmitting a job execution request to the gateway device.

  Preferably, the instruction information includes an instruction for causing the gateway device to execute a predetermined process related to the job.

  Preferably, the instruction causes the gateway device to execute processing for dividing the job.

  Preferably, the instruction causes the gateway device to control the job so that another image processing device capable of executing the job is substituted.

Preferably, when an error has occurred in the image processing apparatus in response to the job execution request transmitted by the second transmission unit when it is not determined that the instruction is to be issued by the determination unit, the occurrence of the error is detected. and detecting means, when it is detected that an error has occurred by detecting means, and generates a job execution request for a new job, and a third transmission means for transmitting the generated job execution request to the gateway device further Prepare .

Preferably, the determination unit performs determination according to the state of the image processing apparatus.

Preferably, the determination unit performs determination according to a function executed by hardware included in the image processing apparatus.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, an image processing system includes an image processing device connected to a second network, and a server connected to the first network and requesting the image processing device to execute a job. And a gateway device that connects the second network to the first network and relays communication between the server device and the image processing device, and the server device obtains information about the image processing device. When a acquired by the acquisition unit information, on the basis of the information about the job, the first determination means for determining whether or not an instruction to the decision on the execution of the job to the gateway device, the first when it is determined that an instruction by determining means, transmits the job execution request for instruction information and job containing instructions first to be transmitted to the gateway device And stage, when it is not determined an instruction by the first determination means, and a second transmission means for transmitting a job execution request for the job to the gateway device, the gateway device, the information about the execution of the job When receiving the information transmitted by the information acquisition means to be acquired and the first transmission means, a determination is made regarding the execution of the job based on the information on the job execution request and the information acquired by the information acquisition means . and second determination means, based on a result of determination by the second determining means, and a determination postprocessing means for executing a process based on the job execution request.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, an image processing apparatus connected to the first network and connected to the second network in accordance with the relay operation of the gateway apparatus connected to the second network; A server apparatus control method for requesting an image processing apparatus to execute a job by communicating is based on an acquisition step of acquiring information on the image processing apparatus, information acquired by the acquisition step, and information on the job A determination step for determining whether or not to instruct the gateway device to determine whether or not to execute the job, and when it is determined that the instruction is to be issued by the determination step, the instruction execution information including the instruction and a job execution request for the job a first transmission step of transmitting bets to the gateway device, is not determined an instruction by the judgment step Can, and a second transmission step of transmitting a job execution request for the job to the gateway device.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, an image processing apparatus connected to the first network and connected to the second network in accordance with the relay operation of the gateway apparatus connected to the second network; A server apparatus control program that requests the image processing apparatus to execute a job by communicating is based on an acquisition step of acquiring information of the image processing apparatus, information acquired by the acquisition step, and information on the job A determination step for determining whether or not to instruct the gateway device to determine whether or not to execute the job, and when it is determined that the instruction is to be issued by the determination step, the instruction execution information including the instruction and a job execution request for the job a first transmission step of transmitting bets to the gateway device, Do is determined that an instruction by the judgment step When Tsu, to execute a second transmission step of transmitting a job execution request for the job to the gateway device to the computer.

  According to these inventions, when the instruction information for causing the gateway apparatus to make a determination regarding the execution of the job is generated based on the information on the image forming apparatus and the information on the job, the instruction information and the job execution request are transmitted to the gateway apparatus. Sent. Accordingly, a server device, a gateway device, an image processing system, a server device control method, a gateway device control method, a server device control program, which can reduce the load on the gateway device and appropriately execute a job, and A control program for the gateway device can be provided.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system. It is a figure explaining the relay function performed by a gateway apparatus. It is a figure explaining an example of the basic relay operation | movement which a gateway apparatus performs. An example of a device list is shown. An example of a job division | segmentation possible list | wrist is shown. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of job functions that a gateway device and an MFP each have. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation of the image forming system according to the first embodiment. It is a figure explaining division of a CPDF scan job. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation flow of the image forming system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a first diagram illustrating an example of an operation different from the above in the image forming system. FIG. 10 is a second diagram illustrating an example of an operation different from the above in the image forming system. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image forming system in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a device status list. It is a figure which shows an example of a device list. It is a figure explaining an example of operation | movement of the image forming system in 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image forming system in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a job substitution possible list | wrist. It is a figure which shows an example of a device list. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation of an image forming system according to a third embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an example of an image forming system using the gateway device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The image forming system uses so-called cloud computing technology. For example, output from an image forming apparatus in an intranet arranged in a predetermined LAN (local area network) or the like can be performed from an external terminal via the Internet. For example, information obtained by an image forming apparatus in an intranet can be acquired or viewed using an external terminal via the Internet. On the Internet side, a cloud server that provides such a service and a management server that manages information for connecting the cloud server and the intranet are provided. On the intranet side, a gateway device that performs a relay function for communication with the Internet is provided.

  The image forming apparatus that functions as a gateway apparatus and the image forming apparatus that functions as an image processing apparatus that communicates with a cloud server may be any of monochrome / color copying machines, printers, facsimile apparatuses, and the like. The image forming apparatus may be an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) having a scanner function, a copying function, a printer function, a facsimile function, a data communication function, and a server function. The scanner function is a function for reading an image of a set original and storing it in an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or the like. The copying function is a function of printing (printing) it on paper or the like. The function as a printer is a function for printing on a sheet based on an instruction received from an external terminal such as a PC. The facsimile function is a function for receiving facsimile data from an external facsimile machine or the like and storing it in an HDD or the like. The data communication function is a function for transmitting / receiving data to / from a connected external device. The server function is a function that allows a plurality of users to share data stored in the HDD or the like.

  [First Embodiment]

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming system (an example of an image processing system) 10 roughly includes a group of devices provided on the Internet (an example of a first network) and an intranet (an example of a second network). ) Side of the device group.

  A cloud server (an example of a server device) 60 and a management server (an example of a management device) 70 are provided on the Internet side of the image forming system 10. The cloud server 60 and the management server 70 can communicate with each other through the Internet 90 using a communication protocol such as HTTP.

  Note that the configuration using the cloud server 60 and the management server 70 is merely an example of a cloud system that is abstracted for each function in charge, and is a specific example that actually realizes such a function. Various device configurations are possible. For example, the cloud server 60 may be configured to also serve as the management server 70. In addition, each of the cloud server 60 and the management server 70 may be a single computer, or a plurality of computers may operate in cooperation with each other. In each computer, one or a plurality of computers set to operate virtually may be used.

  On the intranet side of the image forming system 10, an MFP with a built-in gateway device (hereinafter simply referred to as a gateway device) 101 and a plurality of MFPs (an example of an image processing device) 511, 521, 531, 541,. These may be collectively referred to as MFP 501) without being distinguished from each other. The gateway apparatus 101 and each MFP 501 are connected to each other via a LAN, and an intranet 92 is constructed.

  The gateway device 101 is connected to the Internet 90 via a so-called firewall 95.

  Each MFP 501 can access a device on the Internet 90 via the gateway device 101.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming system 10.

  In FIG. 2, a plurality of MFPs 501 included in the image forming system 10 are representatively shown as one MFP 501 without being distinguished from each other.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the cloud server 60 operates a cloud application (an example of a control program; simply referred to as an application) 61 on the cloud application platform, and executes various control operations. The cloud server 60 includes an HTTP tunnel communication unit 63 and a management server communication unit 65 and can communicate with an external device via the Internet 90.

  The cloud server 60 has a storage unit 69. The storage unit 69 stores a control program 69b and a device list 69c. Various operations of the cloud server 60 are executed by a CPU (not shown) operating based on the control program 69b. The device list 69c will be described later.

  The management server 70 includes a device information management unit 71 and a communication processing unit 73. The management server 70 can communicate with an external device via the Internet 90 by the communication processing unit 73. The management server 70 is always connected to the gateway device 101. The device information management unit 71 manages information such as the MFP 501 with which the cloud server 60 communicates. Devices attempting to communicate with the MFP 501 and the like can communicate with these devices based on information managed by the management server 70.

  The MFP 501 includes a communication unit 502, an image forming unit 503, and the like. A communication unit 502 performs control related to communication between the MFP 501 and the cloud server 60 or the like.

  The gateway device 101 is roughly an MFP including a gateway unit 121, an image forming unit 111, and a storage unit 119. In other words, the gateway apparatus 101 itself can execute a print job by the image forming unit 111 to form and output an image on a sheet, and can execute various image processing operations.

  The storage unit 119 stores various data used when the gateway device 101 operates. For example, a control program 119b is stored in the storage unit 119. Various operations of the gateway device 101 are executed by a CPU (not shown) operating based on the control program 119b. The storage unit 119 stores, for example, a job division possible list 119c. Details of the job division possible list 119c will be described later.

  The gateway unit 121 includes, for example, a management server communication unit 123, an HTTP tunnel communication unit 125, a device communication unit 127, a processing unit 129, and the like. The gateway device 101 communicates with the cloud server 60 and controls communication between the cloud server 60 and the MFP 501 based on the operations of the HTTP tunnel communication unit 125, the device communication unit 127, the processing unit 129, and the like. . Further, the gateway device 101 communicates with the management server 70 based on the operation of the management server communication unit 123. Thereby, the gateway apparatus 101 can relay communication between the cloud server 60 and the MFP 501 (relay function).

  [Overview of relay communication via gateway device 101]

  Next, relay communication performed via the gateway device 101 will be described. For example, when communication is performed between the cloud server 60 and the MFP 511, the gateway apparatus 101 performs communication control as follows and relays communication between the cloud server 60 and the MFP 511. As a result, communication between the cloud server 60 and the MFP 511 becomes possible.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a relay function performed by the gateway device 101.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the image forming system 10, in step S100, the gateway apparatus 101 generates a message session with the management server 70 mainly at the time of activation. At this time, the gateway apparatus 101 transmits identification information of the MFP 511 to which the MFP 511 can be connected to the management server 70. The message session is generated by a protocol such as XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol). When a message session is generated, keepalive packets are continuously transmitted at appropriate intervals in order to maintain a constant connection state.

  In step S <b> 101, the application 61 of the cloud server 60 requests connection to the management server 70 in order to communicate with the MFP 511.

  In step S103, the management server 70 transmits a tunnel connection request to the gateway apparatus 101 through the message session.

  In step S105, when the gateway apparatus 101 receives the tunnel connection request, the gateway apparatus 101 establishes an HTTP session for connecting the cloud server 60 and the gateway apparatus 101 based on the request. The gateway device 101 relays communication between the cloud server 60 and the MFP 511 via the HTTP session established in this way. That is, the application 61 can transmit data by using this HTTP session as a tunnel without being affected by a firewall or the like.

  In step S109, the gateway apparatus 101 transmits the data received from the application 61 to the MFP 511. In addition, data received from the MFP 511 is transmitted to the application 61. Accordingly, relay communication using the relay function by the gateway device 101 is performed between the cloud server 60 on which the application 61 operates and the MFP 511.

  Note that such communication is performed by, for example, a terminal (not shown) such as a PC or a mobile terminal connected to the Internet 90 using the application 61 provided by the cloud server 60 to designate the MFP 511 to display an image. This is performed when outputting or performing other image processing operations.

  As a specific example in which relay communication is performed, it is assumed that output is performed using the MFP 511 based on document data held by the terminal. At this time, a document data and an instruction to output the document data using the MFP 511 are transmitted from the terminal to the application 61. Then, the application 61 operates as described above, and communication between the cloud server 60 and the MFP 511 is enabled based on the relay function of the gateway device 101. When communication is possible, the following operations are performed.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of a basic relay operation performed by the gateway apparatus 101.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4, in step S <b> 11, the cloud server 60 transmits HTTP data 2 to the gateway apparatus 101 through the HTTP tunnel to the MFP 511. The HTTP data 2 is roughly divided into an HTTP header (HTTP Header; hereinafter simply referred to as header) 2a and an HTTP body (HTTP Body; hereinafter simply referred to as body) 2b. The HTTP body 2b includes job execution information 4. The job execution information 4 is, for example, print data including document data and an output instruction. As described later, the header 2a includes various information for performing communication using HTTP. For example, a header that is normally included in the protocol, such as a declaration that the connection is continued, and a header for tunnel communication including an ID and a communication code that specify an HTTP tunnel are included.

  When the HTTP data 2 is transmitted, the gateway apparatus 101 analyzes the HTTP data 2 in step S12, and operates according to the analysis result. For example, the gateway device 101 transmits job execution information 4 included therein to the MFP 511. The MFP 511 executes a job based on the received job execution information 4 (for example, executes a print job). When the job is completed, information to that effect is transmitted from the MFP 511 to the cloud server 60, and the application 61 notifies the terminal that the job has been completed. As a result, the terminal can execute a job using the MFP 511 through the application 61.

  Note that the job performed using the cloud application 61 includes various image processing operations such as a print job, a scan job, a facsimile transmission job, a searchable PDF creation job, and a file format conversion job. There is a job about. Each job is executed by the MFP 501 by designating the MFP 501 having the function of executing the job.

  [Reducing load on gateway device 101]

  Here, in the present embodiment, the cloud server 60 acquires information on the MFP 501 connected to the gateway apparatus 101, and instructs the gateway apparatus 101 based on the acquired information and the job type. Is transmitted, or a predetermined process is executed by itself. The instruction information is information for causing the gateway apparatus 101 to make a determination regarding job execution or to execute predetermined job division processing. As a result, it is possible to prevent problems such as an error that the job cannot be executed in the MFP 501 that is the job execution destination or an increase in the processing load of the MFP 501 while preventing the load on the gateway apparatus 101 from increasing. Hereinafter, such an operation will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the cloud server 60 performs the above-described operation based on the device list 69c.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the device list 69c.

  The device list 69c is stored in the storage unit 69 of the cloud server 60. In the device list 69c, information on devices such as the MFP 501 connected to the gateway apparatus 101 is collected. Specifically, in the device list 69c, the MFP 501 and the like connected to the gateway apparatus 101 are manufactured by the company (here, manufactured to be compatible with the cloud service using the cloud server 60 and the gateway apparatus 101). Information (conformance information).

  Specifically, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the device list 69 c includes a device name (“device name”) such as the MFP 501 connected to the gateway apparatus 101 and an IP address (“ IP ”) and compliance information (“ in-house device ”). In the example shown in FIG. 5, the matching information is indicated by either “O” or “X”. “◯” indicates that the device is compatible with the cloud service, that is, a device manufactured in-house. “X” indicates that the device does not conform to the cloud service, that is, the device is not made in-house. In the example shown in FIG. 5, “device 1” is not a self-made device, its IP address is “xxx.yyy.xxx.zzz”, and “device 2” is a self-made device. It can be seen that the IP address is “yy.xxx.zzz.xx”.

  For example, the device list 69c may be stored in the storage unit 69 when the cloud server 60 acquires information collected by the gateway device 101, or a user input operation with respect to the gateway device 101 or a user with respect to the cloud server 60. The cloud server 60 may acquire information based on the input operation or the like and may be stored in the storage unit 69.

  The gateway device 101 executes an operation according to the instruction information transmitted from the cloud server 60 as described above based on the job division possible list 119c.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the job division possible list 119c.

  The job division possible list 119c is stored in the storage unit 119 of the gateway apparatus 101. The job division possible list 119c shows combinations for dividing a job that is instructed to be executed using the cloud service into two or more different jobs.

  Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, for each of the CPDF scan job (“scan (CPDF)” and the XPS scan job (“scan (XPS)”)), the job is divided into two jobs. The combinations to be shown are shown.

  Here, the CPDF scan job scans a document and generates a file in CPDF (so-called compact PDF) format based on the result. A CPDF format file is a document (PDF) file that is separated from characters and a photograph of a document image read by a scanner, compressed by different methods, and collected as a PDF (Portable Document Format) format file. A CPDF format file has a smaller file size than a normal PDF format file generated by JPEG compression of a document image.

  The XPS scan job scans a document and generates a file in an XPS (XML Paper Specification) format based on the result.

  As shown in FIG. 6, for the CPDF scan job, for example, there are three types of job division methods. That is, first, there is a combination of a PDF scan job (“scan (PDF)”) and a PDF-CPDF conversion job (“PDF → CPDF”). Secondly, there is a combination of an XPS scan job and an XPS-CPDF conversion job (“XPS → CPDF”). Third, there is a combination of a JPEG scan job (“scan (JPG)”) and a JPEG-CPDF conversion job (“JPG → CPDF”).

  For XPS scan jobs, for example, there are two types of job division methods. That is, first, there is a combination of a PDF scan job and a PDF-XPS conversion job (“PDF → XPS”). Secondly, there is a combination of a JPEG scan job and a JPEG-XPS conversion job (“JPG → XPS”).

  The combination for dividing the job is not limited to this.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of job functions that the gateway apparatus 101 and the MFP 511 have.

  In FIG. 7, “◯” indicates that the job can be executed on the device, and “X” indicates that the job cannot be executed on the device. In the present embodiment, the gateway apparatus 101 can execute any of a CPDF scan job, a PDF scan job, and a PDF-CPDF conversion job. On the other hand, in the MFP 511, a PDF scan job can be executed, but a CPDF scan job and a PDF-CPDF conversion job cannot be executed.

  In the following description, it is assumed that the MFP 511 is not an in-house machine as shown in FIG. 5, and some MFPs 511 cannot be executed depending on the type of job as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the image forming system 10 according to the first embodiment.

  FIG. 8 shows an example in which a user accesses the cloud server 60 via a web browser and performs a pull scan from the MFP 511 (acquisition of a scan result by the MFP 511). In this case, when an error occurs in the job execution in the MFP 511, the gateway device 101 performs job division, so that the error is handled without being notified to the user. Coping with such an error is realized by the cloud server 60 transmitting instruction information to the gateway apparatus 101 in advance.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the user accesses the cloud server 60 and makes a job execution request for the CPDF scan job to the MFP 511 (S311). When a job execution request is made, the cloud server 60 refers to the device list 69c owned by the cloud server 60, and determines whether the MFP 511 that is the job execution request destination is another company's machine (whether it is its own machine or its own machine). ).

  If the MFP 511 is another company's machine (not its own machine), the cloud server 60 transmits instruction information to the gateway device 101 as follows (S312). That is, the cloud server 60 makes a job execution request for the CPDF scan job 4a after setting a predetermined flag in the gateway apparatus 101. The job execution request is transmitted as HTTP data 2. Among the HTTP data 2, the header 2a includes a predetermined flag “JUDGE-Flag”, and the value of this flag “JUDGE-Flag” is set to “1” (“JUDGE-Flag: 1”). The transmission of the HTTP data 2 with the predetermined flag set in this way is performed in advance so that the gateway device 101 can execute job division processing when an error is detected when the MFP 511 executes a job. This means that an instruction is performed (transmission of instruction information).

  Upon receiving the job execution request, the gateway apparatus 101 checks the flag “JUDGE-Flag” included in the header 2a. Then, a job execution request for the CPDF scan job 4a is made to the MFP 511 (S313).

  Here, in the present embodiment, the MFP 511 cannot execute the CPDF scan job 4a as described above. Therefore, a job execution error occurs. The MFP 511 sends an error notification to the gateway apparatus 101 (S314).

  Upon receiving the error notification, the gateway apparatus 101 performs an operation based on the value of the flag “JUDGE-Flag” in the header 2a. That is, since the flag “JUDGE-Flag” is “1”, the gateway apparatus 101 analyzes the job ticket that has caused an error, and determines whether or not the job can be divided based on the job division possible list 119c. . In this example, since the CPDF scan job 4a can be divided into a first job (PDF scan job) and a second job (PDF-CPDF conversion job), the gateway apparatus 101 determines that it can be divided. To do.

  If the job can be divided, the gateway apparatus 101 refers to the job execution history of the MFP 511 and determines whether the MFP 511 can execute the first job. Further, the gateway apparatus 101 refers to its own executable function list owned by itself and determines whether or not the second job can be executed.

  When the first job and the second job can be executed by the MFP 511 and the gateway device 101, respectively, the gateway device 101 divides the job, generates the first job 4b as a new job ticket, and sends it to the MFP 511. Then, a job execution request is made (S315).

  The MFP 511 executes the first job 4 b and transmits the result to the gateway apparatus 101. That is, the PDF file (PDF data) 5a scanned by the PDF scan job is transmitted to the gateway apparatus 101 (S316).

  The gateway apparatus 101 makes a job execution request for the second job 4c to itself. The gateway apparatus 101 executes an image conversion process (PDF-CPDF conversion job) for converting the PDF data 5a, which is the execution result of the first job 4b, into a compact PDF file 5b.

  The gateway device 101 transmits the execution result of the second job 4c to the cloud server 60. That is, the CPDF format file (CPDF data) 5b generated by the PDF-CPDF conversion job is transmitted to the cloud server 60 (S317). Thereby, the user can acquire the CPDF data 5b via the cloud server 60 (S318).

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the division of the CPDF scan job.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the CPDF scan job 4a is requested to be executed as an original job (S251), the gateway device 101 can divide the job when determining whether or not the job can be divided. It is determined based on the list 119c.

  When the job is divided, the divided job is divided into a first job (PDF scan job) 4b and a second job (PDF-CPDF conversion job) 4c (S252). At this time, for the PDF scan job, the gateway apparatus 101 determines whether the MFP 511 can execute the job based on the job execution history of the MFP 511. On the other hand, for the PDF-CPDF conversion job, the gateway apparatus 101 determines whether it can be executed by the gateway apparatus 101 based on the function list of the gateway apparatus 101 itself. If it is determined that both jobs 4b and 4c can be executed, the jobs 4b and 4c are executed by the MFP 511 and the gateway apparatus 101, and a CPDF format file 5b is generated. The generated file 5b is transmitted to the cloud server 60.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation flow of the image forming system 10 according to the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 10, steps S <b> 212 and S <b> 213 are processes executed by the cloud server 60. Steps S214, S216, S217, and S218 are processes executed by the gateway apparatus 101. Steps S215, S219, S220, and S221 are processes executed by the MFP 511.

  As illustrated in FIG. 10, in step S <b> 211, a job execution request for a CPDF scan job performed using the MFP 511 is issued to the cloud server 60 from the user.

  In step S212, the cloud server 60 determines whether the MFP 511 is made by another company. If it is not made by another company in step S212, the cloud server 60 does not set a flag in the header 2a (after setting "JUDGE-Flag: 0"), and the gateway device 101 sets the job execution request of the CPDF scan job as HTTP data 2. Send to. Then, the process proceeds to step S215.

  On the other hand, if it is made by another company in step S212, in step S213, the cloud server 60 sets the flag in the header 2a (after setting "JUDGE-Flag: 1"), and sends the HTTP data 2 to the gateway apparatus 101. Send.

  In step S <b> 214, the gateway apparatus 101 transmits a CPDF scan job to the MFP 511. That is, it is confirmed whether there is an error notification from the MFP 511 and whether the MFP 511 has a function of executing a CPDF scan job. When there is no error notification (when there is a job execution function), the process proceeds to step S215.

  In step S215, the MFP 511 executes a CPDF scan job. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the MFP 511 executes the requested job as it is.

  On the other hand, if there is an error notification in step S214 (if there is no job execution function), the processes in and after step S216 are performed. That is, in step S216, the gateway device 101 determines whether or not the job can be divided.

  If it is determined in step S216 that the job can be divided, in step S217, the gateway apparatus 101 determines whether or not the MFP 511 can execute the first job.

  If it is determined in step S217 that the first job can be executed by the MFP 511, in step S218, the gateway apparatus 101 determines whether the second job can be executed by the gateway apparatus 101.

  If it is determined in step S218 that the second job can be executed by the gateway apparatus 101, the CPDF scan job is divided and executed. That is, first, in step S219, the MFP 511 executes a PDF scan job.

  In step S <b> 220, the gateway apparatus 101 executes a PDF-CPDF conversion job based on the job execution result by the MFP 511.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S216 that the job cannot be divided, when it is determined in step S217 that the first job cannot be executed, or in step S218, the second job cannot be executed. When it is determined that there is, the gateway apparatus 101 determines that it is a job execution error. Thereby, in step S221, the gateway apparatus 101 performs error notification. When the error notification is performed, the user is notified via the cloud server 60.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, first, based on the device list 69c, it is determined whether or not the MFP 511 is a third-party machine on the cloud server 60 side, and the gateway apparatus 101 determines that the MFP 511 is in accordance with the result. Determines whether or not the job can be executed, and determines whether or not to divide the job. Therefore, the gateway device 101 does not always make a determination regarding the MFP 511, and the processing load on the gateway device 101 is reduced.

  Here, there may be a case where the MFP 511 that is the job execution target is an in-house machine, but the job cannot be executed. In such a case, the following control is performed. That is, no determination instruction (error handling instruction) is issued to the gateway apparatus 101, and a job is issued from the cloud server 60 whenever a job execution error occurs in the MFP 511.

  FIG. 11 is a first diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the image forming system 10 different from that described above.

  FIG. 11 shows a case where the MFP 511 cannot execute the job when an execution request for an XPS direct print job with the MFP 511 as the execution destination is made. Here, it is assumed that the MFP 511 is manufactured by the company, and the corresponding information is recorded in the device list 69c.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when there is a job execution instruction from the user in step S331, the cloud server 60 executes the process. That is, in step S332, the cloud server 60 determines that the MFP 511 is an in-house product based on the device list 69c, and transmits HTTP data 2 to the gateway apparatus 101 accordingly. At this time, the job execution request of the XPS direct print job 4d is included in the body 2b.

  Here, since the MFP 511 is an in-house product, the flag “JUDGE-Flag” is set to “0” in the header 2 a of the HTTP data 2. That is, unlike the case where the MFP 511 is made by another company as described above, the HTTP data 2 is transmitted without setting a flag. This means that the gateway apparatus 101 is not instructed to execute processing corresponding to the gateway apparatus 101 when an error occurs as described above.

  In step S333, when the gateway apparatus 101 receives the HTTP data 2 and receives a job execution request for the XPS direct print job 4d, the gateway apparatus 101 makes a job execution request for the XPS direct print job 4d to the MFP 511. At this time, the gateway apparatus 101 confirms that the flag “JUDGE-Flag” is “0” in the header 2 a of the HTTP data 2, and transmits the job execution request to the MFP 511 as it is.

  Here, since the MFP 511 does not have an XPS direct print function, it cannot execute the XPS direct print job 4d. Accordingly, in steps S334 and S335, the MFP 511 transmits an error notification to the cloud server 60 via the gateway device 101. At this time, the gateway device 101 performs a process of relaying the error notification to the cloud server 60 without performing a special process for the error notification.

  FIG. 12 is a second diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the image forming system 10 different from the above.

  As shown in FIG. 12, when the cloud server 60 receives the error notification, the cloud server 60 analyzes the job ticket of the XPS direct print job 4d in which an error has occurred, and generates a new job ticket. Here, for example, a PDF direct print job 4e is generated. In step S336, the cloud server 60 transmits the HTTP data 2 including the job execution request for the PDF direct print job 4e to the gateway apparatus 101. Also in this case, the flag is not set in the header 2a of the HTTP data 2 ("JUDGE-Flag: 0" is set).

  In step S337, when the gateway apparatus 101 receives the HTTP data 2 and receives a job execution request for the PDF direct print job 4e, the gateway apparatus 101 issues a job execution request for the PDF direct print job 4e to the MFP 511. At this time, the gateway apparatus 101 confirms that the flag “JUDGE-Flag” is “0” in the header 2 a of the HTTP data 2, and transmits the job execution request to the MFP 511 as it is.

  The MFP 511 has a PDF direct print function. Therefore, upon receiving a job execution request for the PDF direct print job 4e, the MFP 511 executes the PDF direct print job 4e in step S338.

  When the PDF direct print job 4e is executed, in steps S339 and S340, the MFP 511 transmits the generated PDF file 5c to the cloud server 60 via the gateway device 101.

  When the PDF file 5c is transmitted to the cloud server 60, in step S341, the user terminal can acquire the file 5c as a job execution result.

  As described above, when the MFP 511 is an in-house machine, even when a job cannot be executed, an error notification is notified to the cloud server 60 via the gateway device 101, and an alternative job execution request is made for the error notification. Such a predetermined process is executed by the cloud server 60. Therefore, the user can smoothly obtain the execution result of the alternative job instead of the execution result of the desired job.

  [Second Embodiment]

  Since the basic configuration of the image forming system in the second embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment, description thereof will not be repeated here. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that various processes are performed based on the operation state of each MFP 501 connected to the gateway device 101.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system 10b according to the second embodiment.

  In FIG. 13, a plurality of MFPs 501 included in the image forming system 10 b are representatively shown as one MFP 501 without being distinguished from each other.

  As shown in FIG. 13, in the second embodiment, each of the cloud server 60 and the gateway device 101 of the image forming system 10b has slightly different information from the first embodiment. Other hardware configuration and the like are substantially the same in the image forming system 10b and the image forming system 10 in the first embodiment.

  That is, the device state list 69 d is stored in the storage unit 69 of the cloud server 60.

  The storage unit 119 of the gateway apparatus 101 stores a device list 119d.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of the device state list 69d.

  In the example shown in FIG. 14, information about each of a plurality of MFPs 501 connected to the gateway apparatus 101, that is, MFP 511 (device 1), MFP 521 (device 2), MFP 531 (device 3), and MFP 541 (device 4). It is included. The device status list 69d includes an IP address in the intranet 92 and status information for each MFP 501 (devices 1 to 4).

  Here, the status information includes information about whether the MFP 501 is executing a process (whether it is BUSY). In FIG. 14, “BUSY” is indicated as status information when the MFP 501 is BUSY, and “−” is indicated as status information otherwise. In the example shown in FIG. 14, it can be seen that the MFPs 511, 531, and 541 are BUSY and the MFP 521 is not BUSY.

  The cloud server 60 acquires the IP address, status information, and the like of each MFP 501 through the gateway device 101 and stores them as a device status list 69d.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of the device list 119d.

  In the example shown in FIG. 15, as in FIG. 14, a plurality of MFPs 501 connected to the gateway apparatus 101, that is, MFP 511 (device 1), MFP 521 (device 2), MFP 531 (device 3), MFP 541 (device 4). ) Information about each. The device list 119d includes an IP address in the intranet 92, possessed function information, and status information for each MFP 501 (devices 1 to 4). The IP address and the status information include the same contents as the device status list 69d described above.

  The device list 119d includes possessed function information for each MFP 501. That is, each MFP 501 can execute a job for the function indicated by the retained function information. In the example shown in FIG. 15, each of the MFPs 511, 521, and 531 has a print function, a scan function, a facsimile (FAX) transmission function, and a searchable PDF creation function. On the other hand, the MFP 541 has a print function, a scan function, and a PDF-CPDF conversion function (“PDF → CPDF conversion”).

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the image forming system 10b according to the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming system 10b will be described assuming that the possessed functions of each MFP 501 are as shown in FIG. 15 and the operation state of each MFP 501 is as shown in FIG. .

  FIG. 16 shows an example in which the user accesses the cloud server 60 via a web browser and causes the MFP 511 to perform facsimile transmission for the PDF format file 5f held by the cloud server 60.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the user accesses the cloud server 60 and makes a job execution request for a facsimile transmission job to the MFP 511 (S351). When a job execution request is made, the cloud server 60 refers to the device status list 69d held by itself and confirms status information for the MFP 511 that is the job execution request destination.

  At this time, the cloud server 60 determines whether or not the MFP 511 to be subjected to the job execution request is BUSY. In this example, since the MFP 511 is BUSY, the cloud server 60 instructs the gateway apparatus 101 to determine whether to execute the job on behalf of another MFP 521, 531, 541 or the like. That is, in step S352, the cloud server 60 sets the flag “JUDGE-Flag” of the header 2a of the HTTP data 2 to “1” (sets a flag), and transmits the HTTP data 2 to the gateway apparatus 101. Then, a job execution request for the facsimile transmission job 4g for the PDF format file 5f is made to the gateway apparatus 101. The transmission of the HTTP data 2 with the predetermined flag set in this way means that the gateway apparatus 101 is instructed to execute the above determination (transmission of instruction information).

  Upon receiving the job execution request, the gateway apparatus 101 checks the flag “JUDGE-Flag” included in the header 2a. Since the flag is “1”, the gateway apparatus 101 makes the above determination. In other words, the gateway device 101 refers to the device list 119d that is held, and based on the device list 119d, the gateway device 101 can execute a facsimile transmission job (has a facsimile transmission function) and is not BUSY among the plurality of MFPs 501. Search for. In this example, it can be seen that there is an MFP 521 that can execute a facsimile transmission job and is not BUSY.

  Then, in step S353, the gateway apparatus 101 sends a job execution request for the facsimile transmission job 4g for the file 5f to the MFP 521 searched and extracted in this way.

  In step S354, the MFP 521 executes a facsimile transmission job in response to the job execution request.

  If the MFP 511 designated as the job execution destination is not BUSY, the cloud server 60 transmits the HTTP data 2 to the gateway apparatus 101 without setting a flag. At this time, when it is confirmed that the flag is not set, the gateway apparatus 101 requests the MFP 511 to execute a facsimile transmission job without executing the above determination. Accordingly, the job is appropriately executed by the MFP 511 that is not BUSY.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the facsimile transmission job is substituted by the MFP 521 that is not BUSY and can execute the job. Therefore, even if a specific MFP 501 is in the BUSY state, it is possible to promptly execute a job on another MFP 501 without increasing the load on the MFP 501. The gateway device 101 selects the MFP 501 to execute the job when an instruction is given from the cloud server 60 by setting a predetermined flag. Therefore, it is not always necessary for the gateway device 101 to make a determination, and an increase in the load on the gateway device 101 can be prevented.

  Note that it may be determined whether such an operation is performed according to the type of job that the user has instructed to execute. For example, a facsimile transmission job can often be executed by a general MFP 501 regardless of whether it is a company machine or another company's machine. When the execution of such a job is instructed, it may be determined whether or not to execute the job, selection of the MFP 501 serving as the proxy, and the like. On the other hand, when executing a job including processing unique to the company, as shown in the first embodiment, first, it is determined whether the MFP 501 is manufactured by the company, and according to the determination result, The operation may be performed.

  [Third Embodiment]

  Since the basic configuration of the image forming system in the third embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment, description thereof will not be repeated here. The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that various processes are performed based on the function of each MFP 501 connected to the gateway device 101.

  FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system 10c according to the third embodiment.

  In FIG. 17, a plurality of MFPs 501 included in the image forming system 10c are representatively shown as one MFP 501 without being distinguished from each other.

  As shown in FIG. 17, in the third embodiment, each of the cloud server 60 and the gateway device 101 of the image forming system 10c has slightly different information from that of the first embodiment. Other hardware configuration and the like are substantially the same in the image forming system 10b and the image forming system 10 in the first embodiment.

  That is, the job substitution possible list 69 e is stored in the storage unit 69 of the cloud server 60.

  The device list 119e is stored in the storage unit 119 of the gateway apparatus 101.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of the job substitution possible list 69e.

  The job substitution possible list 69e indicates information on jobs (substitutable jobs) that can be substituted by any MFP 501 in the image forming system 10c. In other words, even if a type of job in the job proxyable list 69e cannot be executed by the designated MFP 501, it can be executed by another MFP 501 on behalf of it.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 18, there are the following proxyable jobs. PDF-CPDF conversion job, PDF-XPS conversion job, PDF-JPEG conversion job, XPS-CPDF conversion job, XPS-PDF conversion job, XPS-JPEG conversion job, JPEG-CPDF conversion job, JPEG-PDF conversion job, There are a JPEG-XPS conversion job, a searchable PDF conversion job, a facsimile transmission job of data stored in the cloud server 60, and the like.

  The cloud server 60 acquires such proxy job information through the gateway device 101, for example, and stores it as a job proxy list 69e. The cloud server 60 may be configured to acquire information input in advance by a user (such as an administrator) of the image forming system 10c and store the information as a job proxyable list 69e. In addition, the cloud server 60 may be configured to acquire possessed function information of each MFP 501 connected to the gateway apparatus 101 from the gateway apparatus 101 and to store it as a job proxyable list 69e based on the acquired function information.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of the device list 119e.

  In the example shown in FIG. 19, a plurality of MFPs 501 connected to the gateway apparatus 101, that is, the MFP 511 (device 1), the MFP 521 (device 2), the MFP 531 (device 3), as in the second embodiment described above. ) And information about each of the MFPs 541 (device 4). The device list 119e includes the IP address, possessed function information, and status information in the intranet 92 for each MFP 501 (devices 1 to 4) in the same manner as the device list 119d in the second embodiment. It is. In the example shown in FIG. 19, the status information includes information similar to that shown in the device list 119d except that only the MFP 531 is BUSY and the other MFPs 511, 521, and 541 are not BUSY. It is.

  Here, in the third embodiment, the device list 119e includes cloud registration information (“cloud registration”) and hardware codec information (“HW codec”) for each MFP 501.

  The cloud registration information indicates whether the MFP 501 is cloud-registered, that is, whether or not the MFP 501 can be designated as a job execution target in the cloud application provided by the cloud server 60. In the example shown in FIG. 19, it can be seen that the MFP 511 and the MFP 541 are registered in the cloud.

  The hardware codec information indicates whether or not the MFP 501 is equipped with a dedicated hardware codec for executing a job. In the example shown in FIG. 19, each of the MFPs 521, 531 and 541 has a hardware codec. In general, an MFP 501 equipped with a hardware codec can quickly execute a job of a type corresponding to the hardware codec with a low load. In the example shown in FIG. 19, the hardware codec information is shown in a simplified manner, but actually, the hardware codec information may be recorded for each corresponding job type.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining an example of the operation of the image forming system 10c according to the third embodiment.

  The operation of the image forming system 10c will be described below assuming that each MFP 501 is in the state shown in FIG.

  FIG. 20 shows an example in which a user accesses the cloud server 60 via a web browser and causes the MFP 511 to execute a searchable PDF creation job for the PDF format file 5f held by the cloud server 60. .

  As shown in FIG. 20, the user accesses the cloud server 60 and requests the MFP 511 to execute a searchable PDF creation job (S371). When a job execution request is made, the cloud server 60 refers to the job substitution possible list 69e held by itself, and determines whether or not the searchable PDF creation job is a substitution possible job.

  In this example, the searchable PDF creation function is a proxyable job. Therefore, the cloud server 60 causes the gateway apparatus 101 to determine whether or not another MFP 501 suitable for executing the job is to execute the job. Give instructions. That is, in step S372, the cloud server 60 sets the flag “JUDGE-Flag” of the header 2a of the HTTP data 2 to “1” (sets a flag), and transmits the HTTP data 2 to the gateway apparatus 101. Then, a job execution request for the searchable PDF creation job 4j for the PDF format file 5f is made to the gateway apparatus 101. The transmission of the HTTP data 2 with the predetermined flag set in this way means that the gateway apparatus 101 is instructed to execute the above determination (transmission of instruction information).

  Upon receiving the job execution request, the gateway apparatus 101 checks the flag “JUDGE-Flag” included in the header 2a. Since the flag is “1”, the gateway apparatus 101 makes the above determination. That is, the gateway apparatus 101 searches for a device that can process a job at a higher speed than the MFP 511 designated as a job execution request destination by the user. The search is performed with reference to the device list 119e held by the gateway apparatus 101.

  More specifically, the gateway apparatus 101 can execute a searchable PDF creation job to be executed in the MFP 501, and has a hardware codec that can process the searchable PDF creation job at high speed. A search is performed as to whether or not there is anything other than the MFP 511 that satisfies as many conditions as possible when the status information is not BUSY. At this time, the search is performed including the MFP 501 that is not registered in the cloud. In the example shown in FIG. 19, the MFP 511 does not have a hardware codec for the searchable PDF creation function. On the other hand, the MFP 521 satisfies all the above conditions. Therefore, the gateway apparatus 101 extracts the MFP 521 as a result that matches the condition as a result of the search.

  Then, in step S373, the gateway apparatus 101 makes a job execution request for the searchable PDF creation job 4j for the file 5f to the MFP 521 that is searched and extracted in this way.

  In step S374, the MFP 521 executes a searchable PDF creation job in response to the job execution request.

  In steps S <b> 375 and S <b> 376, the job execution result data 5 g is transmitted to the cloud server 60 via the gateway device 101.

  When the data 5g is transmitted to the cloud server 60, the user's terminal can acquire the data 5g as a job execution result in step S377.

  Note that the cloud server 60 transmits the HTTP data 2 to the gateway apparatus 101 without setting a flag if the job is not a proxyable job. At this time, when it is confirmed that the flag is not set, the gateway apparatus 101 requests the designated MFP 511 to execute the job without executing the above determination. As a result, the job is executed by the MFP 511.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, if there is an MFP 501 having a dedicated hardware codec, the MFP 501 substitutes the job. Therefore, the job is executed at a higher speed. Since the determination is made by the gateway apparatus 101 only when a proxyable job is executed, the load on the gateway apparatus 101 is reduced.

  Assume that a job execution request for a PDF-CPDF conversion job in which the MFP 511 is designated as an execution destination is made in the state shown in FIG. At this time, since the job is a proxyable job, the HTTP data 2 is transmitted from the gateway apparatus 101 with the flag set, and the gateway apparatus 101 makes the above determination. In other words, since only the MFP 541 can execute the PDF-CPDF conversion job, the gateway apparatus 101 transmits job execution information to the MFP 541. As a result, the job is executed on behalf of the MFP 541.

  [Effects of the embodiment]

  As described above, in each embodiment, only when the cloud server determines that the determination by the gateway device is necessary, the gateway device makes a determination such as job analysis or allocation to an appropriate MFP. . Therefore, the load on the gateway device is relatively reduced. If the job is executable in the image forming system, the user will not receive an error notification after making a single job execution request. Therefore, for example, it is not necessary for the user to specify another MFP that can execute the job, and the operation burden on the user can be reduced.

  [Others]

  A flag (instruction information) that serves as a reference for determining whether or not to make the gateway device execute the determination is not necessarily included in the HTML header. For example, instruction information may be included in the HTML body, and the gateway device may analyze the HTML body to acquire the instruction information, and perform determination and operation based on the analysis.

  The gateway device may not be built in the MFP. In other words, the gateway device may be a device that does not have an image forming function.

  The image forming system is not limited to the one using a cloud server or the like, but in a client server system having a relatively simple configuration, a device that communicates between a server and a device via a gateway device, or a terminal in a peer-to-peer network It may be one that communicates with each other via a gateway device. Even in such a case, the same effect as described above can be obtained by the gateway device functioning as described above.

  The hardware configuration of each apparatus constituting the image forming system is not limited to the above. Each device may be, for example, an MFP, or a device that is mainly used for a computer or another application using a computer.

  The device may be any one of a monochrome / color copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a complex machine (MFP) thereof. It is not limited to the one that forms an image by an electrophotographic method, and may be one that forms an image by a so-called inkjet method, for example. The device used in the image forming system in the present invention is not limited to the image forming apparatus. For example, the device may be an image processing apparatus used in various apparatuses such as a scanner apparatus that reads image data, an imaging apparatus, and an image data transmission / reception apparatus.

  The processing in the above embodiment may be performed by software or by using a hardware circuit.

  A program for executing the processing in the above-described embodiment can be provided, or the program can be recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, or a memory card and provided to the user. It may be. The program may be downloaded to the apparatus via a communication line such as the Internet. The processing described in the text in the above flowchart is executed by the CPU according to the program.

  The above embodiment should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

2 HTTP data (an example of job data)
10, 10b, 10c Image forming system (an example of an image processing system)
60 Cloud server (an example of a server device)
61 Cloud application 69b Control program 70 Management server (an example of a management device)
90 Internet (example of first network)
92 Intranet (example of second network)
101 Gateway device 119b Control program 501, 511, 521, 531, 541 MFP (an example of an image processing device)

Claims (10)

The image processing apparatus is connected to the first network and communicates with the image processing apparatus connected to the second network according to a relay operation of the gateway apparatus connected to the second network. A server device that requests the execution of a job,
Obtaining means for obtaining information of the image processing apparatus;
A determination unit that determines whether or not to instruct the gateway device to make a determination regarding the execution of the job based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit and the information about the job;
First transmission means for transmitting instruction information including the instruction and a job execution request for the job to the gateway device when the determination means determines that the instruction is to be performed ;
A server apparatus comprising: a second transmission unit configured to transmit a job execution request for the job to the gateway device when the determination unit does not determine to give the instruction .   The server apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction information includes an instruction for causing the gateway apparatus to execute a predetermined process related to the job.   The server device according to claim 2, wherein the instruction causes the gateway device to execute a process of dividing the job.   The server apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the instruction causes the gateway apparatus to perform control so that another image processing apparatus capable of executing the job performs the job. When the determination unit does not determine that the instruction is to be performed, when an error occurs in the image processing apparatus in response to the job execution request transmitted by the second transmission unit, the error has occurred. Detecting means for detecting;
When the error by the detecting means is detected that occurs, it generates a job execution request for a new job, further comprising a generated job execution request and a third transmission means for transmitting to said gateway device The server device according to claim 1. The judgment unit may, depending on the state of the image processing apparatus performs the determination, the server apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The judgment unit may, depending on the functions performed by the hardware by the image processing apparatus has, performs the determination, the server apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6. An image processing device connected to the second network;
A server device connected to a first network and requesting the image processing device to execute a job;
A gateway device that connects the second network to the first network and relays communication between the server device and the image processing device;
The server device
Obtaining means for obtaining information of the image processing apparatus;
First determination means for determining whether or not to instruct the gateway device to make a determination regarding execution of the job based on information acquired by the acquisition means and information regarding the job;
First transmission means for transmitting instruction information including the instruction and a job execution request for the job to the gateway device when the first determination means determines that the instruction is to be performed ;
A second transmission unit that transmits a job execution request for the job to the gateway device when it is not determined by the first determination unit to perform the instruction ;
The gateway device is
Information acquisition means for acquiring information relating to execution of the job;
A second determination for determining whether to execute the job based on the information on the job execution request and the information acquired by the information acquisition unit when the information transmitted by the first transmission unit is received; Means,
An image processing system comprising: a post-determination processing unit that executes a process based on the job execution request based on a determination result by the second determination unit. The image processing apparatus is connected to the first network and communicates with the image processing apparatus connected to the second network according to a relay operation of the gateway apparatus connected to the second network. A server device control method for requesting job execution to
An acquisition step of acquiring information of the image processing device;
A determination step of determining whether or not to instruct the gateway device to determine the execution of the job based on the information acquired by the acquisition step and the information on the job;
A first transmission step of transmitting instruction information including the instruction and a job execution request for the job to the gateway device when the determination step determines that the instruction is to be performed ;
A control method for a server device, comprising: a second transmission step of transmitting a job execution request for the job to the gateway device when it is not determined that the instruction is given by the determination step . The image processing apparatus is connected to the first network and communicates with the image processing apparatus connected to the second network according to a relay operation of the gateway apparatus connected to the second network. A server device control program that requests job execution to
An acquisition step of acquiring information of the image processing device;
A determination step of determining whether or not to instruct the gateway device to determine the execution of the job based on the information acquired by the acquisition step and the information on the job;
A first transmission step of transmitting instruction information including the instruction and a job execution request for the job to the gateway device when the determination step determines that the instruction is to be performed ;
A control program for a server device, which causes a computer to execute a second transmission step of transmitting a job execution request for the job to the gateway device when it is not determined that the instruction is given by the determination step .

Images