JP6544133B2 - INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method.

  In recent years, various external services have come to be provided by cloud computing and the like. For example, an external service is known that stores electronic data designated by a user in an external storage.

  Further, for example, there is known a technology for storing image data acquired by scanning an original with an image forming apparatus in an external storage (see, for example, Patent Document 1). As described above, there is conventionally known a technology in which an image forming apparatus and an external service cooperate to perform processing.

  However, in the above-described prior art, in order to perform processing in cooperation with an external service, it is necessary to develop an application installed in the image forming apparatus. In addition, when an external service comes to provide a unique function (a function not provided by another external service), it is necessary to develop a module, plug-in, etc. for using the specific function. There is. Therefore, the number of man-hours required for development such as addition or correction of an application installed in the image forming apparatus may be increased.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been made in view of the above-described point, and an object thereof is to support development of an application for performing processing in cooperation with an external service.

In order to achieve the above object, an embodiment of the present invention is an information processing system including one or more information processing apparatuses, and for each application that executes a series of processing using electronic data in cooperation with an external service. Storage means for associating and storing application identification information for identifying the application, information on the series of processes, and screen information of a screen for designating the electronic data used for the series of processes, and the information processing When a first request including the application identification information is received from one of the one or more devices connected to the system, it is stored in the storage means in association with the application identification information included in the first request First transmitting means for transmitting the screen information being requested to the one device of the request source, and the preceding one based on the screen information transmitted by the first transmitting means When a second request including information on electronic data designated by the user via a screen displayed on one device is received from the one device, the second request is stored in the storage means in association with the application identification information A generation unit configured to generate processing information in which information indicating a series of processes based on the information related to the series of processes and information identifying a connection with the one device; Processing execution means for executing on electronic data specified by the information related to the electronic data included in the request of
A second transmission unit that transmits processing results of the series of processing executed by the processing execution unit to the one device based on the information specifying the connection included in the processing information generated by the generation unit And.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, development of an application for performing processing in cooperation with an external service can be supported.

It is a figure showing the system configuration of an example of the information processing system concerning this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of an example of the service provision system which concerns on this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is a figure showing the processing block of an example of the information processing system concerning this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of common I / F and intrinsic | native I / F. It is a figure which shows an example of screen definition. It is a figure showing an example of processing contents. It is a figure which shows an example of process information. It is a figure which shows an example of client application information. It is a figure which shows an example of a display process of the application screen of the scan delivery service concerning this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the application screen of a scan delivery service. It is a figure which shows an example of the whole process of the scan delivery service which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the process block of an example of the logic process part which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a type conversion table. It is a figure showing the sequence of an example of processing from OCR to distribution execution concerning this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the sequence of an example of a display process of the application screen of the cloud print service which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the application screen of cloud print service. It is a figure which shows the sequence of an example of the whole process of the cloud print service which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the sequence of an example of the process from file acquisition to printing conversion which concerns on this embodiment.

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

<System configuration>
First, the system configuration of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of an example of an information processing system according to the present embodiment.

  An information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a service providing environment E1, a user environment E2, and an external storage system 30, and is communicably connected via a wide area network N1 such as the Internet.

  The service providing environment E1 is a system environment that provides an external service such as a cloud service via the network N1. In the present embodiment, a cloud service is adopted and described as a specific example of the external service, but the present embodiment can be applied to a service provided by an application service provider (ASP) or a service provided via a network, such as a web service. A form may be applied.

  The service providing environment E1 has a service providing system 10 realized by one or more information processing apparatuses. The service providing system 10 provides a predetermined service via the network N1. For example, the service providing system 10 performs an OCR (Optical Character Reader) process on an electronic file generated by scanning a document in the image forming apparatus 20 of the user environment E2, and stores the file in the external storage system 30 (scan distribution Provide services). Also, for example, the service providing system 10 provides a service (cloud print service) for printing the electronic file stored in the external storage system 30 by the image forming apparatus 20 of the user environment E2. In the present embodiment, the service providing system 10 will be described as providing such scan distribution service and cloud print service.

  However, the service provided by the service providing system 10 is not limited to these, and may be, for example, a service that projects an electronic file stored in the external storage system 30 with the projector of the user environment E2. In addition, after an electronic file generated by scanning a document in the image forming apparatus 20 is subjected to OCR processing, it is translated into a predetermined language (for example, translated from English into Japanese) and stored in the external storage system 30 Or the like.

  Note that all or part of the service providing system 10 may be installed in the user environment E2. That is, all or a part of the information processing apparatus constituting the service providing system 10 may be included in the user environment E2.

  The user environment E2 is, for example, a system environment in a company or the like who is a user who uses the image forming apparatus 20. In the user environment E2, one or more image forming apparatuses 20 are connected via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), for example.

  The image forming apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment is a multifunction peripheral such as MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) having a print function and a scan function. The image forming apparatus 20 may have a copy function, a fax (FAX) communication function, and the like in addition to the print function and the scan function.

  The external storage system 30 is a computer system that provides a cloud service called storage service (or online storage) via the network N1.

  The storage service is a service that lends the storage area of the storage of the external storage system 30. In the present embodiment, in the scan distribution service, the OCR processed electronic file is stored (uploaded) in the storage area lent by the external storage system 30. Further, in the present embodiment, in the cloud print service, the electronic file to be printed is acquired (downloaded) from the storage area lent out by the external storage system 30.

In the following, the plurality of external storage systems 30 will be described using suffixes such as “external storage system 30 ₁ ”, “external storage system 30 ₂ ”, etc. Further, "Storage Service A" the name of the service provided by the external storage system 30 _1, and the like "storage service B" the name of the service provided by the storage system 30 _2.

  The external storage system 30 may be a system realized by a plurality of information processing devices. The configuration of the information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an example, and may be another configuration. For example, the user environment E2 may include various devices such as a projector and an electronic blackboard in addition to or in place of the image forming apparatus 20.

<Hardware configuration>
«Service provision system»
The hardware configuration of the service providing system 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of an example of the service providing system according to the present embodiment.

  The service providing system 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes an input device 11, a display device 12, an external I / F 13, and a random access memory (RAM) 14. The service providing system 10 further includes a read only memory (ROM) 15, a central processing unit (CPU) 16, a communication I / F 17, and a hard disk drive (HDD) 18. Each of these pieces of hardware is connected by a bus B.

  The input device 11 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and the like, and is used by the user to input each operation signal. The display device 12 includes a display and the like, and displays the processing result by the service providing system 10. The input device 11 and the display device 12 may be connected to the bus B when necessary and used.

  The communication I / F 17 is an interface that connects the service providing system 10 to the network N1. Thus, the service providing system 10 can perform data communication via the communication I / F 17.

  The HDD 18 is a non-volatile storage device storing programs and data. The programs and data to be stored include an operating system (OS) which is basic software for controlling the entire service providing system 10, application software for providing various functions on the OS, and the like.

  The service providing system 10 may use a drive device (for example, solid state drive: SSD) that uses a flash memory, instead of or in addition to the HDD 108. Further, the HDD 108 manages stored programs and data by a predetermined file system and / or DB.

  The external I / F 13 is an interface with an external device. The external device is, for example, a recording medium 13a. Thereby, the service providing system 10 can read and / or write the recording medium 13 a via the external I / F 13. The recording medium 13a includes a flexible disk, a CD, a DVD, an SD memory card, a USB memory, and the like.

  The ROM 15 is a non-volatile semiconductor memory that can hold programs and data even after the power is turned off. The ROM 15 stores programs and data such as a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System), an OS setting, and a network setting which are executed when the service providing system 10 is started. The RAM 14 is a volatile semiconductor memory that temporarily holds programs and data.

  The CPU 16 is an arithmetic device that implements control and functions of the entire service providing system 10 by reading programs and data from the ROM 15, the HDD 18 or the like onto the RAM 14 and executing processing.

  The service providing system 10 according to the present embodiment can realize various processes as described later by having the above hardware configuration.

<< image forming device >>
The hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 20 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  The image forming apparatus 20 illustrated in FIG. 3 includes a controller 21, an operation panel 22, an external I / F 23, a communication I / F 24, a printer 25, and a scanner 26. The controller 21 further includes a CPU 211, a RAM 212, a ROM 213, an NVRAM 214, and an HDD 215.

  The ROM 213 stores various programs and data. The RAM 212 temporarily holds programs and data. The NVRAM 214 stores, for example, setting information and the like. The HDD 215 also stores various programs and data.

  The CPU 211 reads programs, data, setting information, and the like from the ROM 213, the NVRAM 214, the HDD 215, and the like onto the RAM 212 and executes processing to realize control and functions of the entire image forming apparatus 20.

  The operation panel 22 includes an input unit that receives an input from a user, and a display unit that performs display. The external I / F 23 is an interface with an external device. The external device is, for example, a recording medium 23a. Thereby, the image forming apparatus 20 can read and / or write the recording medium 23 a via the external I / F 23. The recording medium 23a includes an IC card, a flexible disk, a CD, a DVD, an SD memory card, a USB memory, and the like.

  The communication I / F 24 is an interface that connects the image forming apparatus 20 to the network N1. Thus, the image forming apparatus 20 can perform data communication via the communication I / F 24. The printer 25 is a printing device for printing print data. The scanner 26 is a reading device for reading an original and generating an image file (electronic file).

  The image forming apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment can realize various processes to be described later by having the above-described hardware configuration.

<Software configuration>
Next, processing blocks of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing processing blocks of an example of the information processing system according to the present embodiment.

«Service provision system»
The service providing system 10 illustrated in FIG. 4 includes a service processing unit 110, a document service unit 120, and a storage service cooperation unit 130. These units are realized by processing that one or more programs installed (installed) in the service providing system 10 cause the CPU 16 to execute.

  Further, the service providing system 10 includes an application information storage unit 160 and a processing information storage unit 170. Each of these storage units can be realized by the HDD 18. The application information storage unit 160 and / or the processing information storage unit 170 may be realized by a storage device or the like connected to the service providing system 10 via a network.

  The service processing unit 110 includes an application management unit 111, a logic processing unit 112, a data I / F unit 113, a communication relay unit 114, a result notification generation unit 115, and a processing state monitoring unit 116.

  In response to a request from the image forming apparatus 20, the application management unit 111 sends back the screen definition included in the application information 1000. As a result, an application screen for using the service provided by the service providing system 10 is displayed on the operation panel 22 of the image forming apparatus 20.

  Here, the application information 1000 is information including a screen definition for causing the image forming apparatus 20 to display the application screen and the processing content of the service realized by the application information 1000, and the application information storage unit It is stored in 160. In the following, the application information 1000 will be described as including one screen definition and one process content, but the application information 1000 is not limited to this and one or more screen definitions and one The above processing content may be included.

  Further, in response to a request from the logic processing unit 112, the application management unit 111 sends back processing content included in the application information 1000. The process content describes a series of processes for realizing a service provided by the service providing system 10 such as a scan distribution service or a cloud print service. Such a series of processing is also referred to as a processing flow.

  The logic processing unit 112 acquires processing content from the application management unit 111 in response to a request from the image forming apparatus 20. Then, the logic processing unit 112 executes a series of processing based on the acquired processing content. That is, the logic processing unit 112 executes the series of processes by requesting the document service unit 120 and / or the file processing unit 140 of the storage service cooperation unit 130 to execute the process according to the process content. . Thus, various services provided by the service providing system 10 are provided to the image forming apparatus 20.

  When the logic processing unit 112 executes a series of processing based on the processing content, the logic processing unit 112 generates processing information indicating information on the series of processing, and stores the processing information in the processing information storage unit 170. Then, the logic processing unit 112 requests the processing state monitoring unit 116 to monitor whether or not the processing information stored in the processing information storage unit 170 is updated.

  Furthermore, the logic processing unit 112 updates processing information corresponding to the series of processes when execution of the series of processes based on the process contents is completed or when an error occurs during execution of the series of processes based on the process contents. Do. That is, the logic processing unit 112 updates the processing result included in the processing information to “completed” when the execution of the series of processing is completed, and includes the processing information when an error occurs during the execution of the series of processing. Update the processing result to "error". The detailed processing blocks of the logic processing unit 112 will be described later.

  In response to a request from the image forming apparatus 20, the data I / F unit 113 requests, for example, acquisition of a folder list and acquisition of a file list to the data processing unit 150 of the storage service cooperation unit 130.

  The communication relay unit 114 transfers various requests received from the image forming apparatus 20 to other units. That is, the communication relay unit 114 relays communication between the other units included in the service processing unit 110 and the image forming apparatus 20.

  The result notification generation unit 115 generates a result notification including the processing result of the series of processing executed by the logic processing unit 112 in response to the request from the processing state monitoring unit 116, and transmits the result notification to the image forming apparatus 20. Send back.

  The processing state monitoring unit 116 monitors, in response to a request from the logic processing unit 112, whether or not the processing information stored in the processing information storage unit 170 is updated. Then, when the process result included in the process information stored in the process information storage unit 170 is updated, the process state monitoring unit 116 requests the result notification generation unit 115 to generate the process result.

  The document service unit 120 is a group of programs (modules) for realizing the service provided by the service providing system 10. The document service unit 120 includes, for example, an OCR process 121 for executing an OCR process on an electronic file, and a print conversion process 122 for converting an electronic file into a data format (print data) that can be printed by the image forming apparatus 20. Be

  In the document service unit 120, various programs such as a program for compressing or decompressing an electronic file, a program for converting the data format of the electronic file (for example, conversion to a PDF format), etc. A program for executing the process may be included.

  The storage service cooperation unit 130 requests the external storage system 30 to execute various processes in response to requests from the logic processing unit 112 and the data I / F unit 113.

Here, the service providing system 10 has a storage service cooperation unit 130 for each external storage system 30. That is, the service providing system 10, the storage service A linkage unit 130 ₁ for requesting processing to the external storage system 30 _1, a storage service B cooperation unit 130 for requesting the processing to the external storage system 30 _{2 It has 2} mag. As described above, the service providing system includes the storage service cooperation unit 130 corresponding to each external storage system 30 for each external storage system 30 that performs processing in cooperation.

Hereinafter, the plurality of storage service cooperation units 130 will be described using subscripts such as “storage service A cooperation unit 130 ₁ ”, “storage service B cooperation unit 130 ₂ ”, etc.

  The file processing unit 140 has a common I / F 141 in which an (Application Programming Interface) for performing an operation (for example, acquisition, storage, editing, etc.) on an electronic file stored in the external storage system 30 defined, and a unique I / F. It has F142.

  The common I / F 141 is an API that can be commonly used among a plurality of external storage systems 30, and, for example, an API as shown in FIG. 5A can be mentioned. In other words, the common I / F 141 of the file processing unit 140 is an API group for using functions (for example, acquisition and storage of files, etc.) related to file operations that all external storage systems 30 can use.

  On the other hand, the unique I / F 142 is an API that can be used in a specific external storage system 30, and, for example, an API as shown in FIG. 5B can be mentioned. In other words, the unique I / F 142 of the file processing unit 140 is an API group for using a function related to file operation (for example, file editing etc.) that can be used in a specific external storage system 30.

  Therefore, the common I / F 141 is similarly defined for all the storage service linkage units 130. On the other hand, the unique I / F 142 is defined with respect to the storage service cooperation unit 130 corresponding to the specific external storage system 30 in which the API defined by the unique I / F 142 can be used.

  Also, the data processing unit 150 is a common I / I that defines an API for acquiring metadata (eg, file list, folder list, etc.) such as bibliographic information of electronic files stored in the external storage system 30. It has F151 and the intrinsic | native I / F152.

  The common I / F 151 is an API that can be commonly used among a plurality of external storage systems 30, and, for example, an API as shown in FIG. In other words, the common I / F 151 of the data processing unit 150 is an API group for using a function such as metadata acquisition that can be used by all the external storage systems 30.

  On the other hand, the unique I / F 152 is an API that can be used in a specific external storage system 30, and for example, an API as shown in FIG. In other words, the unique I / F 152 of the data processing unit 150 is an API group for using a function (for example, acquisition of an image file list, etc.) such as metadata acquisition that can be used in a specific external storage system 30.

  Therefore, the common I / F 151 is similarly defined for all the storage service linkage units 130. On the other hand, the unique I / F 151 is defined with respect to the storage service cooperation unit 130 corresponding to the specific external storage system 30 in which the API defined by the unique I / F 181 can be used.

  As described above, the service providing system 10 according to the present embodiment has the storage service cooperation unit 130 corresponding to each external storage system 30 for each external storage system 30 that performs processing in cooperation. Therefore, when adding an external storage system 30 to be a cooperation destination, the storage service cooperation unit 130 corresponding to the external storage system 30 may be added to the service providing system 10.

  Therefore, it is possible to localize the influence accompanying the addition of the external storage system 30 which is the cooperation destination. In other words, without affecting other processing blocks (such as the service processing unit 110 and the document service unit 120) (that is, there is no need to modify the other processing blocks, etc.), It is possible to add and so on. As a result, it is possible to reduce the number of man-hours required for development such as addition of the external storage system 30 of the cooperation destination. The addition of the storage service cooperation unit 130 can be performed using a software development kit (SDK).

  In addition, the storage service cooperation unit 130 defines the common I / F 141 and the unique I / F 142 with different modules and the like. Also, the API defined by common I / F 141 and unique I / F 142 can be used by specifying "storage service name" (external service name) (ie, "storage service name" (external service name) ) Is a variable part).

  Therefore, when the external storage system 30 of the cooperation destination is added, the common I / F 141 defined in the other storage service cooperation unit 130 can be reused. In other words, when adding the external storage system 30 of the cooperation destination, it is sufficient to develop only the unique I / F 142 of the external storage system 30 to be added. As a result, it is possible to further reduce the number of man-hours required for development such as addition of the external storage system 30 of the cooperation destination. The same applies to the common I / F 151 and the unique I / F 152 of the data processing unit 150.

  The application information storage unit 160 stores application information 1000. The application information 1000 includes a screen definition for displaying the application screen on the image forming apparatus 20 and processing contents for realizing the service, and application information for each application ID for uniquely identifying the application information 1000. It is stored in the storage unit 160.

In this embodiment, the application information 1000 for realizing the scan distribution service in cooperation with the storage service A is “application information 1000 ₁ ”, and the application ID of the application information 1000 ₁ is “app001”. Further, in the present embodiment, the application information 1000 for realizing the cloud print service in cooperation with the storage service A is “application information 1000 ₂ ”, and the application ID of the application information 1000 ₂ is “app002”.

Here, the screen definition included in the screen definition and application information 1000 ₂ included in the application information 1000 _1, in FIGS 6 (a) and 6 (b).

  The screen definition describes information for configuring an input field (input box) and a selection field (selection box) of an application screen displayed on the operation panel 22 or the like of the image forming apparatus 20.

  For example, in the data definition unit 1101 of the screen definition shown in FIG. 6A, information for forming an input field for the user to input the file name of the electronic file generated by the scan is described. Further, in the data definition unit 1102 of the screen definition shown in FIG. 6B, information for configuring a selection field for selecting a storage destination folder in the storage service A is described. In “data_source” of the data definition unit 1102, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of acquisition destination of each selection element (here, folder name and folder ID of storage destination candidate) of the selection column is described.

  Similarly, in the data definition unit 1201 in the screen definition shown in FIG. 6B, information for configuring a selection field for selecting a file stored in the storage service A is described. The “data_source” of the data definition unit 1201 describes the URL of the acquisition destination of each selection element of the selection column (here, the file ID of the file stored in the storage service A).

Next, the processing contents included in the processing content and application information 1000 ₂ included in the application information 1000 _1, in FIGS. 7 (a) and FIG. 7 (b). The processing content describes a series of processing (that is, processing flow) for realizing the service provided by the service providing system 10.

  For example, in the processing content shown in FIG. 7A, a series of processing for realizing the scan distribution service according to the present embodiment is described. That is, in the processing content shown in FIG. 7A, a series of processing is described which distributes the scanned electronic file to a designated folder of the storage service A after the OCR processing.

  Similarly, in the processing content shown in FIG. 7B, a series of processing for realizing the cloud print service according to the present embodiment is described. That is, in the process content shown in FIG. 7B, a series of processes for converting the print data into print data after acquiring the electronic file from the storage service A is described.

  As described above, in the service providing system 10 according to the present embodiment, the screen definition for causing the image forming apparatus 20 to display the blue prescreen and the process content in which a series of processes for realizing the service are described are included. A service is provided using the included application information 1000. Therefore, when adding a service provided by the service providing system 10, the application information 1000 may be added to the application information storage unit 160.

  Further, in order to add the application information 1000, the screen definition and the processing content may be described, so that development can be easily performed. Therefore, while being able to reduce the development man-hour accompanying the addition, change of service, etc., the addition, change, etc. of service by a third vendor etc. can be performed easily, for example.

  The processing information storage unit 170 stores processing information which is information related to a series of processing executed by the logic processing unit 112. Here, the details of the process information stored in the process information storage unit 170 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of processing information.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the process information has, as data items, a process ID, an application ID, a connection ID, and a process result. The process ID is identification information that uniquely identifies a series of processes executed by the logic processing unit 112. The application ID is an application ID of the application information 1000 including processing content in which the series of processing is described.

  The connection ID is connection information that uniquely identifies a connection (logical communication path) with the image forming apparatus 20 that has requested execution of the series of processes. The processing result is the execution result of the series of processing. The processing result is updated, for example, as “processing completed” by the logic processing unit 112 when the execution of the series of processing ends normally, and when an error occurs during the execution of the series of processing, the logic processing unit At 112, "error" is updated.

  As described above, the service providing system 10 according to the present embodiment stores, as processing information, information on the series of processing based on the processing content requested to be executed by the image forming apparatus 20. Thus, the service providing system 10 according to the present embodiment can manage the connection with the image forming apparatus 20 that has requested execution of the series of processes, and the processing result of the series of processes.

<< image forming device >>
The image forming apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 4 has a communication relay unit 210. The communication relay unit 210 is realized by processing that the CPU 211 executes one or more programs installed (installed) in the image forming apparatus 20.

  The image forming apparatus 20 further includes a client application management information storage unit 230. The client application management information storage unit 230 can be realized by the HDD 215.

  Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus 20, one or more client applications 220 are installed (installed). The client application 220 is a program that uses a service provided by the service providing system 10. The client application 220 uses the service provided by the service providing system 10 using, for example, a Web API that the service providing system 10 publishes to the image forming apparatus 20. In the following, the client application 220 will be abbreviated as “client application 220”.

The image forming apparatus 20 can use the client application 220 to make an execution request of processing for realizing the service provided by the service providing system 10 or the like. Hereinafter, the client applications 220 installed in the image forming apparatus 20 will be described using subscripts such as “client application 220 ₁ ” and “client application 220 ₂ ” when they are distinguished.

Further, hereinafter, the client application 220 using the scan delivery service is referred to as “client application 220 ₁ ”, and the client application 220 using the cloud print service is referred to as “client application 220 ₂ ”.

  The communication relay unit 210 transmits various requests such as processing execution requests to the service providing system 10. In addition, when the communication relay unit 210 receives, for example, a notification of the result in response to the process execution request, the communication relay unit 210 refers to the client application management information stored in the client application management information storage unit 230 and Send the result notification.

  The client application management information storage unit 230 stores application information 1000 for realizing the service used by the client application 220 and client application management information in which the client application 220 is associated. Here, the details of the client application management information stored in the client application management information storage unit 230 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of client application information.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the client application management information has an application ID and a callback destination as data items. The application ID is identification information that identifies the application information 1000 that implements the service provided by the service providing system 10. The callback destination is identification information that identifies the client application 220 that uses the service realized by the application information 1000 of the application ID. For example, an application ID of the client application 220 or an address (path) of a storage destination of the client application 220 may be used as identification information of the client application 220 designated as a callback destination.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment, the application ID of the application information 1000 for realizing the service provided by the service providing system 10 and the client application 220 for using the service are associated and managed. Do. Thereby, in the image forming apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment, when receiving a result notification for the process execution request from the service providing system 10, the result notification can be passed to the client application 220 that has made the execution request. .

<Details of processing>
Next, details of processing of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

«Display process of scan delivery service application screen»
Hereinafter, a process of displaying an application screen for using the scan distribution service according to the present embodiment on the image forming apparatus 20 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of display processing of an application screen of the scan distribution service according to the present embodiment.

First, the user of the image forming apparatus 20 uses the client application 220 ₁ performs display operation of the application screen for using the scan delivery service. The client application 220 ₁ of the image forming apparatus 20 receives the display operation (step S1001).

Client application 220 ₁ accepts the display operation, and transmits to the communication relay unit 210, an acquisition request for screen definition for displaying the application screen (step S1002). It should be noted that the acquisition request of the screen definition, includes the application ID of the application information 1000 ₁ to realize a scan delivery service "app001".

Communication relay unit 210 receives the acquisition request of the screen definition from the client applicant 220 _1, the service processing unit 110 of the service providing system 10, and transmits the acquisition request (step S1003).

When the communication relay unit 114 of the service processing unit 110 receives a screen definition acquisition request from the image forming apparatus 20, the communication relay unit 114 transfers the acquisition request to the application management unit 111 (step S1004). The application management unit 111, when the communication relay unit 114 receives the acquisition request of the screen definition, acquires screen definition included in the application information 1000 ₁ app ID included in the obtaining request "app001", from the application information storing unit 160 Do. Then, the application management unit 111 sends back the acquired screen information to the image forming apparatus 20 together with the application ID “app001”.

When the communication relay unit 210 of the image forming apparatus 20 receives the screen definition and the application ID "app001" from the service processing unit 110, the communication relay unit 210 of the call application corresponding to the application ID "app001" from the client application management information storage unit 230 "/ "apps / 01" is acquired (step S1005). Then, the communication relay section 210 transmits the screen definition to the client applicant 220 ₁ corresponding to the obtained call back destination "/ apps / 01".

Next, the client application 220 ₁ of the image forming apparatus 20 receives the screen definition, the communication relay section 210 transmits the acquisition request of the display information of the screen definition (step S1006). Communication relay unit 210 receives the acquisition request of the display information from the client applicant 220 _1, the service processing unit 110 of the service providing system 10, and transmits the acquisition request (step S1007). It should be noted that the acquisition request of the display information, includes the application ID of the application information 1000 ₁ to realize a scan delivery service "app001".

  Here, the display information is, for example, each selection element of the selection field of the application screen. That is, in this embodiment, the acquisition request for the list of folders of the storage service A, which is the delivery destination (storage destination) of the scan delivery service, is transmitted. Such a request is defined by the URL “http://sample.xxx.co.jp/service-a/data” defined in ““ data_source ”described in the data definition unit 1102 of FIG. It can be done by sending an HTTP request to / folders ".

  In the URL, the "http://sample.xxx.co.jp" portion is the host name of the service providing system 10, and the "/ service-a / data / folders" portion is the storage service linkage unit 130. It becomes specification of API (that is, API shown in FIG. 5).

Next, when receiving the acquisition request for display information from the image forming apparatus 20, the communication relay unit 114 of the service processing unit 110 transfers the acquisition request to the data I / F unit 113 (step S1008). When the data I / F unit 113 receives the acquisition request for display information from the communication relay unit 114, the data I / F unit 113 transmits the acquisition request to the data processing unit 150 of the corresponding storage service cooperation unit 130 (step S1009). That is, the data I / F unit 113, based on contained in the above URL "service-a" (external service name), and transmits the acquisition request to the data processing unit 150 ₁ of the Storage Service A linkage unit 130 _1.

  When the data processing unit 150 receives an acquisition request for display information from the data I / F unit 113, the data processing unit 150 transmits a folder list acquisition request to the corresponding external storage system 30 based on the URL included in the acquisition request. (Step S1010). That is, based on the URL included in the acquisition request for display information received from data I / F unit 113, data processing unit 150 uses the API defined in common I / F 151 to transmit data to external storage system 30. Request processing

More specifically, the data processing unit 150 _1, based on the "/ service-a / data / folders" in the URL included in the acquisition request of the display information, using the API defined in a common I / F151 ₁ Te, to request the acquisition of the folder list to the external storage system 30 _1.

The service processing unit 110 sends back to the image forming apparatus 20 to the folder list acquired by the storage service A linkage unit 130 ₁ together with the application ID "app001". The folder list is information such as the folder name and folder ID of the storage service A which is a candidate of the storage destination of the electronic file in the scan distribution service according to the present embodiment.

When the communication relay unit 210 of the image forming apparatus 20 receives the folder list and the application ID "app001" from the service processing unit 110, the communication relay unit 210 corresponding to the application ID from the client application management information storage unit 230 "/ apps / 01 Is acquired (step S1011). Then, the communication relay section 210 transmits the folder list to the client application 220 ₁ corresponding to the acquired callback destination "/ apps / 01".

Next, the client application 220 _1, based on the screen definition and the folder list, for example, the application screen 2000 as shown in FIG. 11, is displayed on the operation panel 22 (step S1012).

Here, the application screen 2000 shown in FIG. 11 is a screen for using a scan distribution service, and includes a file name input field 2001, a storage destination folder selection field 2002, and a scan execution button 2003. Such file name input field 2001, the client application 220 _1, is generated based on data definition unit 1101 included in the screen definition shown in Figure 6 (a). Similarly, the destination folder selection field 2002, the client application 220 _1, and the data definition unit 1102 included in the screen definition shown in FIG. 6 (a), is generated on the basis of the folder list.

  As described above, the application screen 2000 for using the scan distribution service is displayed on the operation panel 22 of the image forming apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment.

«Overall processing of scan delivery service»
Hereinafter, the entire process of the scan distribution service according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the entire process of the scan distribution service according to the present embodiment.

  First, the user of the image forming apparatus 20 inputs a desired file name in the file name input field 2001 on the application screen 2000 shown in FIG. 11 and selects the desired storage destination folder from the storage destination folder selection field 2002. Then, the document is set on the scanner 26 of the image forming apparatus 20, and the scan execution button 2003 is pressed (step S1201).

  Here, it is assumed that the user inputs the file name “test” in the file name input field 2001, selects “Folder B” from the storage destination folder selection field 2002, and presses the scan execution button 2003. As a result, the document is read by the scanner 26 of the image forming apparatus 20, and an electronic file having the file name "test" is generated (step S1202).

The client application 220 _1, to the communication relay section 210 transmits the execution request of the processing of the scan delivery service (step S1203). The execution request includes the application ID “app001”, the electronic file generated in step S1202, and the folder ID “folder_id_b” of the selected storage destination folder “Folder B”.

Communication relay unit 210 receives the processing execution request from the client applicant 220 _1, the service processing unit 110 of the service providing system 10, and transmits the execution request (step S1204).

  When the communication relay unit 114 of the service processing unit 110 receives a processing execution request from the image forming apparatus 20, the communication relay unit 114 transfers the execution request to the logic processing unit 112 (step S1205).

Then, when the logic processing unit 112 receives the process execution request from the communication relay unit 114, the logic processing unit 112 acquires the process content included in the application information 1000 of the application ID included in the execution request via the application management unit 111 ( Step S1206). More specifically, the logic processing unit 112 transmits, to the application management unit 111, an acquisition request for processing content including the application ID “app001”. Then, the application management unit 111 obtains the processing content included in the application information 1000 ₁ app ID "app001" included in the acquisition request from the application information storing unit 160, and returns the processing contents to the logic processing unit 112 .

  Next, upon receiving the processing content from the application management unit 111, the logic processing unit 112 generates processing information and stores the processing information in the processing information storage unit 170 (step S1207). More specifically, the logic processing unit 112 generates a process ID that uniquely identifies a series of processes based on the process content. Then, the logic processing unit 112 determines that the process ID is the connection ID of the connection (logical communication path) used when the process execution request is received from the image forming apparatus 20 in step S 1204, and the application ID “app001”. And generate processing information in association with At this time, blank (blank) or null value (NULL value) may be set as the processing result.

  Hereinafter, the description will be continued on the assumption that the process information including the process ID “420676”, the application ID “app001”, and the connection ID “5” is generated.

  Subsequently, the logic processing unit 112 requests the processing state monitoring unit 116 to monitor the processing information generated in step S1207 (step S1208). The monitoring request includes the process ID “420676” of the process information generated in step S1207.

  Thereby, the processing state monitoring unit 116 determines whether the processing information of the processing ID “420676” included in the received monitoring request is updated (that is, whether the data item “processing result” included in the processing state has been updated). Monitor.

Next, the logic processing unit 112, based on the processing contents included in the application information 1000 ₁ app ID "app001", executes the processing to delivery run from the OCR (step S1209). The details of the distribution execution process from the OCR will be described later.

  Next, the logic processing unit 112 updates the processing result of the processing information of the processing ID “420676” according to the processing result from the OCR in step S1209 to the distribution execution (step S1210). That is, when the execution of the distribution execution processing from the OCR is completed, the logic processing unit 112 updates the processing result included in the processing information to “completion”. On the other hand, when an error occurs during execution of processing from OCR to distribution execution, the logic processing unit 112 updates the processing result included in the processing information to “error”.

  Subsequently, when the processing information is updated by the logic processing unit 112, the processing state monitoring unit 116 detects this. Then, the processing state monitoring unit 116 transmits a generation request for result notification to the result notification generation unit 115 (step S1211). The generation request includes the process ID “420676” of the process information for which the update has been detected.

  When the result notification generation unit 115 receives the generation request for the result notification, the result notification generation unit 115 obtains the application ID “app001” and the processing result from the process information of the process ID “420676” included in the generation request, and generates the result notification ( Step S1212). Then, the result notification generation unit 115 transmits the generated result notification to the communication relay unit 114 (step S1213).

  When the communication relay unit 114 receives the result notification from the result notification generation unit 115, the communication relay unit 114 transmits the result notification to the image forming apparatus 20 (step S1214). At this time, the communication relay unit 114 transmits the result notification to the image forming apparatus 20 that is the transmission source of the execution request, using the connection that has received the processing execution request corresponding to the result notification. That is, the communication relay unit 114 transmits the result notification to the image forming apparatus 20 that is the transmission source of the execution request, using the connection identified by the connection ID “5”.

When receiving the result notification from the service processing unit 110, the communication relay unit 210 of the image forming apparatus 20 acquires the callback destination "/ apps / 01" corresponding to the application ID "app001" included in the result notification (step S1215). Then, the communication relay section 210 transmits the result notification to the client applicant 220 ₁ corresponding to the obtained call back destination "/ apps / 01" (step S1216). Thus, the client application 220 ₁ the execution request was carried out in the process of scanning and delivery service according to the present embodiment, the result notification including the processing result with respect to the execution request is transmitted. Incidentally, the client application 220 _1, in accordance with the received result notice, for example, it is sufficient to display a result screen or the like on the operation panel 22.

«Process from OCR to delivery execution»
Hereinafter, details of the process of step S1209 of FIG. 12 will be described. This process is mainly performed by the logic processing unit 112. Therefore, before the details of the process of step S1209 in FIG. 12, the detailed processing blocks of the logic processing unit 112 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating processing blocks of an example of the logic processing unit according to the present embodiment.

  The logic processing unit 112 includes a flow execution unit 181, a component management unit 182, a component group 183, a type conversion management unit 184, and a type conversion group 185. Also, the logic processing unit 112 uses the type conversion table 3000.

  When the flow execution unit 181 receives a process execution request from the communication relay unit 114, the flow execution unit 181 acquires the process content corresponding to the execution request from the application information 1000 via the application management unit 111. Then, the flow execution unit 181 requests the component to execute processing in accordance with the acquired processing content. Here, the component is a module or the like for executing one process included in the process content, and is defined by, for example, a class or a function.

  The component management unit 182 generates a component in response to a request from the flow execution unit 181. The generation of the component means, for example, expanding the component defined by the class on the memory (for example, the RAM 14).

  The component group 183 is a collection of components. The component group 183 includes a distribution component 1831 for distributing the electronic file to the external storage system 30, and an acquisition component 1832 for acquiring the electronic file from the external storage system 30. The component group 183 also includes an OCR component 1833 for performing an OCR process on the electronic file, a print conversion component 1834 for converting the electronic file into print data, and the like.

  Furthermore, each of these components has a component common I / F 1830. The component common I / F 1830 is an API defined commonly for each component, and includes an API for generating a component and an API for requesting a component to execute processing.

  In this manner, each component may include the component common I / F 1830 to localize the effects associated with the addition of components and the like. In other words, components can be added without affecting the flow execution unit 181 and the component management unit 182. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of man-hours required for development such as addition of components.

  The type conversion management unit 184 manages type conversion of data types. Here, each component has a predetermined data type that can be handled by itself. Therefore, the type conversion management unit 184 generates type conversion defined in the type conversion group 185 by referring to the type conversion table 3000 as shown in FIG. 14 in response to a request from the component.

  Here, the type conversion table 3000 shown in FIG. 14 stores type conversion information having a data type before conversion, a data type after conversion, and data items of type conversion to be generated. Thus, for example, when receiving from the component a request to convert the data type of “InputStream” to the data type of “LocalFilePath”, the type conversion management unit 184 generates a first type conversion 1851 described later.

  Then, the type conversion management unit 184 requests the generated type conversion to execute the type conversion process. Here, type conversion is a module or the like for executing type conversion processing of data type, and is defined by, for example, a class or function.

  Note that generation of type conversion means that, for example, type conversion defined by a class is expanded on a memory (for example, the RAM 14). Further, as data types, for example, data type “InputStream” indicating stream data, “Local File Path” indicating a path (address) of an electronic file stored in a storage device or the like, “File” indicating an entity of the electronic file, etc. Can be mentioned.

  The type conversion group 185 is a set of type conversions. The type conversion group 185 includes a first type conversion 1851 that converts the data type “InputStream” to “LocalFilePath”, and a second type conversion 1852 that converts “LocalFilePath” to “File”.

  Furthermore, each of these type conversions has a type conversion common I / F 1850. The type conversion common I / F 1850 is an API defined commonly for each type conversion, and includes an API for generating type conversion and an API for requesting execution of processing for type conversion. Be As described above, by causing each type conversion to have a type conversion common I / F 1850, it is possible to localize the effects accompanying the addition of type conversion and the like. In other words, components can be added without affecting the type conversion management unit 184. This can reduce the number of man-hours required for development such as addition of type conversion.

  Subsequently, the details of the process of step S1209 of FIG. 12 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a sequence of an example of processing from OCR to delivery execution according to the present embodiment.

  The flow execution unit 181 requests the component management unit 182 to acquire a component according to the processing content acquired from the application management unit 111 (step S1501). More specifically, the flow execution unit 181 selects ".to (" process: ocr ")" specified next to "From (" file: input ")" of the processing content shown in FIG. 7A. And requests the component management unit 182 to acquire the OCR component 1833.

  When receiving the acquisition request for the OCR component 1833, the component management unit 182 generates the OCR component 1833 (step S1502). The generation of the OCR component 1833 can be performed using an API for generating a component defined in the component common I / F 1830.

  Then, when the OCR component 1833 is generated, the component management unit 182 returns the OCR component 1833 to the flow execution unit 181. For example, the component management unit 182 may return the address on the memory (for example, the RAM 14) in which the OCR component 1833 is expanded to the flow execution unit 181.

When the OCR component 1833 is generated, the flow execution unit 181 designates data and requests the OCR component 1833 to execute processing (step S1503). It should be noted that the data that is specified here, is an electronic file that data type is passed from the client application 220 ₁ as "InputStream".

That is, the flow execution unit 181, an electronic file to be passed from the client applicant 220 _first data type as "InputStream" simply as "data" (without regard to data type), the execution of the transfer processing in the OCR component 1833 To request. In FIG. 15, an electronic file or the like passed without being aware of the data type is simply referred to as "data".

  When the OCR component 1833 receives the execution request from the flow execution unit 181, it requests the type conversion management unit 184 for type conversion (step S1504). The type conversion request includes data and designation of “LocalFilePath” indicating a data type that the OCR component 1833 can handle.

  When receiving a type conversion request from the OCR component 1833, the type conversion management unit 184 checks whether the data type of the data included in the type conversion request matches the designated data type (step S1505). . Here, since the data type of the data included in the received type conversion request is “InputStream”, and the designated data type is “LocalFilePath”, it is determined that they do not match.

  Then, the type conversion management unit 184 refers to the type conversion table 3000 and specifies type conversion for converting “InputStream” to “LocalFilePath” (here, the first type conversion 1851 is specified. And generates the identified type conversion (step S1506).

  Next, the type conversion management unit 184 requests the generated first type conversion 1851 to execute the type conversion process by designating data (step S1507). Then, the first type conversion 1851 converts the data type of the designated data from “InputStream” to “LocalFilePath” (step S1508), and sends the converted data to the type conversion management unit 184. Then, the type conversion management unit 184 sends back the data after type conversion to the OCR component 1833 (step S1509).

  Upon receiving the data after type conversion from the type conversion management unit 184, the OCR component 1833 executes processing (step S1510). That is, the OCR component 1833 performs an OCR process on the electronic file indicated by data (that is, a path or an address) of the data type “LocalFilePath”. More specifically, the OCR component 1833 requests processing to the OCR processing 121 of the document service unit 120, and the OCR processing 121 executes processing on the electronic file.

  Then, the OCR component 1833 sends the data back to the flow execution unit 181. Here, the data to be returned is a path or an address indicating the electronic file after the OCR processing (that is, the data type of the data to be returned is “Local File Path”).

  Next, the flow execution unit 181 requests the component management unit 182 to acquire a component according to the processing content acquired from the application management unit 111 (step S1511). More specifically, the flow execution unit 181 selects “.to (“ strage: send_send_to_folder? Type) ”which is specified next to“ .to (“process: ocr”) ”of the processing content shown in FIG. Based on “service−a”) ”, the component management unit 182 is requested to acquire the distribution component 1831.

  Of the processing content specified here, the part of “? Type = service-a” is called an optional parameter, and the storage service of the data upload destination by the processing of distribution component 1831 is “storage service A”. It is shown that. In addition, the storage destination (folder ID of the storage destination folder) included in the execution request in step S1205 of FIG. 12 is added as an optional parameter to the above-described designated processing content, and the ".to (" strage: send_to_folder? = service-a & folder_id_b ")".

  When the component management unit 182 receives the acquisition request for the distribution component 1831, the component management unit 182 generates the distribution component 1831 (step S1512). The generation of the distribution component 1831 can be performed using an API for generating a component defined in the component common I / F 1830.

  Then, when the distribution component 1831 is generated, the component management unit 182 sends the distribution component 1831 back to the flow execution unit 181. For example, the component management unit 182 may return the address on the memory (for example, the RAM 14) where the distribution component 1831 is expanded to the flow execution unit 181.

  When the distribution component 1831 is generated, the flow execution unit 181 requests the distribution component 1831 to execute data processing by specifying data (step S1513). The data type of the data specified here is "Local File Path".

  When the distribution component 1831 receives the execution request from the flow execution unit 181, the distribution component 1831 requests the type conversion management unit 184 for type conversion (step S1514). The type conversion request includes data and designation of “LocalFilePath” indicating a data type that can be handled by the distribution component 1831.

  When receiving the type conversion request from the distribution component 1831, the type conversion management unit 184 checks whether the data type of the data included in the type conversion request matches the designated data type (step S 1515). . Here, since the data type of the data included in the received type conversion request is “Local File Path” and the designated data type is also “Local File Path”, it is determined that they match.

  Then, the type conversion management unit 184 sends the data included in the type conversion request as it is to the distribution component 1831 (step S1516). As described above, when the data types of the two coincide with each other in the data type check (processing of step S1515), the type conversion management unit 184 does not generate the type conversion.

Upon receiving the data from the type conversion management unit 184, the distribution component 1831 executes a process (step S1517). That is, in this embodiment, the distribution component 1831, the file processing unit 140 ₁ of the Storage Service A linkage unit 130 _1, using the API of the file storage that is defined as a common I / F 141 _1, the distribution of the data Request execution.

More specifically, the distribution component 1831, the file processing unit 140 ₁ of the Storage Service A linkage unit 130 _1, a "service-a / process / folder" as API, as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) Use to request data delivery execution. As a result, an electronic file with the file name “test” (an electronic file obtained by performing an OCR process on an electronic file generated by scanning) is stored in the folder “Folder B” of the storage service A.

  Then, the distribution component 1831 returns data to the flow execution unit 181. Here, the data to be returned is the distribution result by the distribution component 1831.

  As described above, a series of processes from OCR to delivery execution in the scan delivery service according to the present embodiment are completed.

«Display processing of cloud print service application screen»
In the following, the process of causing the image forming apparatus 20 to display an application screen for using the cloud print service according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a sequence of an example of display processing of an application screen of the cloud print service according to the present embodiment.

First, the user of the image forming apparatus 20 uses the client application 220 ₂ performs display operation of the application screen for using the cloud print service. The client application 220 ₂ of the image forming apparatus 20 receives the display operation (step S1601).

Client application 220 ₂ accepts the display operation, and transmits to the communication relay unit 210, an acquisition request for screen definition for displaying the application screen (step S1602). It should be noted that the acquisition request of the screen definition, includes the application ID of the application information 1000 ₂ to realize the cloud print service "app002".

Communication relay unit 210 receives the acquisition request of the screen definition from the client applicant 220 _2, to the service processing unit 110 of the service providing system 10, and transmits the acquisition request (step S1603).

When receiving the screen definition acquisition request from the image forming apparatus 20, the communication relay unit 114 of the service processing unit 110 transfers the acquisition request to the application management unit 111 (step S1604). The application management unit 111, when the communication relay unit 114 receives the acquisition request of the screen definition, acquires screen definition included in the application information 1000 _{and second} application ID "app002" included in the acquisition request, from the application information storing unit 160 Do. Then, the application management unit 111 sends the acquired screen information to the image forming apparatus 20 together with the application ID “app002”.

When the communication relay unit 210 of the image forming apparatus 20 receives the screen definition and the application ID “app002” from the service processing unit 110, the communication relay unit 210 of the call application destination “/ app002” from the client application management information storage unit 230 "apps / 02" is acquired (step S1605). Then, the communication relay section 210 transmits the screen definition to the client applicant 220 ₂ corresponding to the acquired call back destination "/ apps / 02".

Next, the client application 220 ₂ of the image forming apparatus 20 receives the screen definition, the communication relay section 210 transmits the acquisition request of the display information of the screen definition (step S1606). Communication relay unit 210 receives the acquisition request of the display information from the client applicant 220 _2, to the service processing unit 110 of the service providing system 10, and transmits the acquisition request (step S1607). It should be noted that the acquisition request of the display information, includes the application ID of the application information 1000 ₂ to realize the cloud print service "app002".

That is, the client application 220 ₂ transmits a request to obtain a list of electronic file storage service A to be printed in the candidate cloud print service. Such a request is defined by the URL "http://sample.xxx.co.jp/service-a/data" defined in "" data_source "" described in the data definition unit 1201 of FIG. 6B. It can be done by sending an HTTP request to "/ files".

Next, when receiving the acquisition request for display information from the image forming apparatus 20, the communication relay unit 114 of the service processing unit 110 transfers the acquisition request to the data I / F unit 113 (step S1608). When the data I / F unit 113 receives an acquisition request for display information from the communication relay unit 114, the data I / F unit 113 transmits the acquisition request to the data processing unit 150 of the corresponding storage service cooperation unit 130 (step S1609). That is, the data I / F unit 113, based on contained in the above URL "service-a" (external service name), and transmits the acquisition request to the data processing unit 150 ₁ of the Storage Service A linkage unit 130 _1.

  When the data processing unit 150 receives an acquisition request for display information from the data I / F unit 113, the data processing unit 150 transmits a file list acquisition request to the corresponding external storage system 30 based on the URL included in the acquisition request. (Step S1610). That is, the data processing unit 150 uses the API defined in the common I / F 151 based on the URL included in the acquisition request for display information received from the data I / F unit 113 to use the corresponding external storage system. Request 30 for processing.

More specifically, the data processing unit 150 _1, based on the "/ service-a / data / files" on the URL included in the acquisition request of the display information, using the API defined in a common I / F151 ₁ Te, to request the acquisition of the folder list to the external storage system 30 _1.

The service processing unit 110 sends back to the image forming apparatus 20 a list of files that have been acquired by the storage service A linkage unit 130 ₁ together with the application ID "app002". The file list is information such as the file name and the file ID of an electronic file stored in the storage service A which is a candidate for printing in the cloud print service according to the present embodiment.

When the communication relay unit 210 of the image forming apparatus 20 receives the file list and the application ID "app002" from the service processing unit 110, the call relay destination "/ apps / 02" corresponding to the application ID from the client application management information storage unit 230. Is acquired (step S1611). Then, the communication relay unit 210 transmits the file list to the client application 220 ₂ corresponding to the acquired callback destination "/ apps / 01".

Next, the client application 220 _2, based on the screen definition and the file list, for example, the application screen 4000 as shown in FIG. 17, is displayed on the operation panel 22 (step S1612).

Here, the application screen 4000 shown in FIG. 17 is a screen for using the cloud print service, and includes a file selection field 4001 for selecting a print target file, and a print execution button 4002. Such file selection field 4001, the client application 220 _2, a data definition unit 1201 included in the screen definition shown in FIG. 6 (b), is generated on the basis of the file list.

  As described above, the application screen 4000 for using the cloud print service is displayed on the operation panel 22 of the image forming apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment.

«Overall processing of cloud print service»
Hereinafter, the overall processing of the cloud print service according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a sequence of an example of the overall processing of the cloud print service according to the present embodiment.

  First, the user of the image forming apparatus 20 selects a desired file from the file selection field 4001 on the application screen 4000 shown in FIG. 17 and presses the print execution button 4002 (step S1801). Here, it is assumed that the user selects “File A” from the file selection field 4001 and presses the print execution button 4002.

The client application 220 _2, the communication relay section 210 transmits the execution request of the processing of the cloud print service (step S1802). The execution request includes the application ID “app002” and the file ID “file_id_a” of the file name “FileA” selected from the file selection field 4001.

Communication relay unit 210 receives the processing execution request from the client applicant 220 _2, to the service processing unit 110 of the service providing system 10, and transmits the execution request (step S1803).

  When the communication relay unit 114 of the service processing unit 110 receives a process execution request from the image forming apparatus 20, the communication relay unit 114 transfers the execution request to the logic processing unit 112 (step S1804).

Then, when the logic processing unit 112 receives the process execution request from the communication relay unit 114, the logic processing unit 112 acquires the process content included in the application information 1000 of the application ID included in the execution request via the application management unit 111 ( Step S1805). More specifically, the logic processing unit 112 transmits, to the application management unit 111, an acquisition request for processing content including the application ID “app002”. Then, the application management unit 111 obtains the processing content included in the application information 1000 _{and second} application ID "app002" included in the acquisition request from the application information storing unit 160, and returns the processing contents to the logic processing unit 112 .

  Next, when receiving the processing content from the application management unit 111, the logic processing unit 112 generates processing information and stores the processing information in the processing information storage unit 170 (step S1806). More specifically, the logic processing unit 112 generates a process ID that uniquely identifies a series of processes based on the process content. Then, the logic processing unit 112 determines that the process ID is the connection ID of the connection (logical communication path) used when the process execution request is received from the image forming apparatus 20 in step S1803, and the application ID “app002”. And generate processing information in association with At this time, blank (blank) or null value (NULL value) may be set as the processing result.

  Hereinafter, the description will be continued on the assumption that the process information including the process ID “420677”, the application ID “app002”, and the connection ID “6” is generated.

  Subsequently, the logic processing unit 112 requests the processing state monitoring unit 116 to monitor the processing information generated in step S1806 (step S1807). The monitoring request includes the process ID “420677” of the process information generated in step S1806.

  Thereby, the processing status monitoring unit 116 determines whether the processing information of the processing ID “420677” included in the received monitoring request is updated (that is, whether the data item “processing result” included in the processing status has been updated). Monitor.

Next, the logic processing unit 112, based on the processing contents included in the application information 1000 _{and second} application ID "app002", it executes the processing up to printing conversion from the file acquisition (step S1808). Details of the file acquisition to print conversion processing will be described later.

  Next, the logic processing unit 112 updates the processing result of the processing information of the processing ID “420677” according to the result of the file conversion in step S1808 to the print conversion processing (step S1809). That is, when execution of print conversion processing from file acquisition is completed, the logic processing unit 112 updates the processing result included in the processing information to “completion”. On the other hand, when an error occurs during execution of processing from file acquisition to print conversion, the logic processing unit 112 updates the processing result included in the processing information to “error”.

  Subsequently, when the processing information is updated by the logic processing unit 112, the processing state monitoring unit 116 detects this. Then, the processing state monitoring unit 116 transmits a generation request for result notification to the result notification generation unit 115 (step S1810). The generation request includes the process ID “420677” of the process information in which the update is detected.

  When the result notification generation unit 115 receives the generation request for the result notification, the result notification generation unit 115 obtains the application ID “app002” and the processing result from the process information of the process ID “420677” included in the generation request, and generates the result notification ( Step S1811). Then, the result notification generation unit 115 transmits the generated result notification to the communication relay unit 114 (step S1812).

  When the communication relay unit 114 receives the result notification from the result notification generation unit 115, the communication relay unit 114 transmits the result notification to the image forming apparatus 20 (step S1813). At this time, the communication relay unit 114 transmits the result notification to the image forming apparatus 20 that is the transmission source of the execution request, using the connection that has received the processing execution request corresponding to the result notification. That is, the communication relay unit 114 transmits the result notification to the image forming apparatus 20 that is the transmission source of the execution request, using the connection identified by the connection ID “6”.

When receiving the result notification from the service processing unit 110, the communication relay unit 210 of the image forming apparatus 20 acquires the callback destination "/ apps / 02" corresponding to the application ID "app002" included in the result notification (Step S1814). Then, the communication relay section 210 transmits the result notification to the client applicant 220 ₂ corresponding to the acquired call back destination "/ apps / 02" (step S1815). Thus, the client application 220 ₂ performing the execution request of the processing of the cloud print service according to the present embodiment, the result notification including the processing result with respect to the execution request is transmitted. Incidentally, the client application 220 _2, in accordance with the received result notice, for example, it is sufficient to display a result screen or the like on the operation panel 22.

<< Processing from file acquisition to print conversion >>
Hereinafter, the details of the process of step S1808 in FIG. 18 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a sequence of an example of processing from file acquisition to print conversion according to the present embodiment.

  The flow execution unit 181 requests the component management unit 182 to acquire the component according to the processing content acquired from the application management unit 111 (step S1901). More specifically, the flow execution unit 181 sets “.to (“ storage: receive_from_file? Type =) specified next to “From (“ file: input ”)” of the processing content shown in FIG. 7 (b). Based on "service-a"), the component management unit 182 is requested to acquire the acquisition component 1832.

  Of the processing content specified here, the portion “? Type = service-a” is referred to as an optional parameter, and the acquisition (download) destination storage service of the electronic file by the processing of the acquisition component 1832 is “storage service A It shows that it is ". In addition, the file ID of “File A”, which is the file to be printed that is included in the execution request of S 1803 in FIG. 18, is added as an optional parameter to the above-described designated processing content, “.to (“ storage: receive_from_file? It is good also as type = service-a & file_id_a ").

  When the component management unit 182 receives the acquisition request for the acquisition component 1832, the component management unit 182 generates the acquisition component 1832 (step S1902). The generation of the acquisition component 1832 can be performed using an API for generating a component defined in the component common I / F 1830.

  Then, when the acquisition component 1832 is generated, the component management unit 182 returns the acquisition component 1832 to the flow execution unit 181. For example, the component management unit 182 may return the address on the memory (for example, the RAM 14) in which the acquisition component 1832 is expanded to the flow execution unit 181.

When the acquisition component 1832 is generated, the flow execution unit 181 requests the acquisition component 1832 to execute processing by specifying data (step S1903). The data that is specified here, the data type is a file ID of print object passed from the client applicant 220 ₂ as "InputStream" File "FileA".

That is, the flow execution unit 181, a file ID to be passed from the client applicant 220 ₂ as the data type "InputStream" simply as "data" (without regard to data type), the execution of the process by passing the acquisition component 1832 To request. In FIG. 19, an electronic file or the like passed without being aware of the data type is simply referred to as "data".

  When the acquisition component 1832 receives the execution request from the flow execution unit 181, the acquisition component 1832 requests the type conversion management unit 184 for type conversion (step S1904). The type conversion request includes data and designation of “LocalFilePath” indicating a data type that can be handled by the acquisition component 1832.

  When receiving the type conversion request from the acquisition component 1832, the type conversion management unit 184 checks whether the data type of the data included in the type conversion request matches the designated data type (step S1905). . Here, since the data type of the data included in the received type conversion request is “InputStream”, and the designated data type is “LocalFilePath”, it is determined that they do not match.

  Then, the type conversion management unit 184 refers to the type conversion table 3000 and specifies type conversion for converting “InputStream” to “LocalFilePath” (here, the first type conversion 1851 is specified. ), And generates the identified type conversion (step S1906).

  Next, the type conversion management unit 184 requests the generated first type conversion 1851 to execute type conversion processing by specifying data (step S1907). Then, the first type conversion 1851 converts the data type of the designated data from “InputStream” to “LocalFilePath” (step S1908), and sends the converted data to the type conversion management unit 184. Then, the type conversion management unit 184 returns the data after type conversion to the acquisition component 1832 (step S1909).

The acquisition component 1832, upon receiving the data after type conversion from the type conversion management unit 184, executes processing (step S1910). That is, acquisition component 1832, the file processing unit 140 ₁ of the Storage Service A linkage unit 130 _1, using the API of the file acquisition defined as a common I / F 141 _1, it requests the file acquisition.

More specifically, acquisition component 1832, the file processing unit 140 ₁ of the Storage Service A linkage unit 130 _1, a "service-a / process / file" as API, as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) Use to request file acquisition. Thus, an electronic file from the external storage system 30 ₁ file ID of "file_id_a" (i.e., an electronic file with the file name "FileA") is acquired (downloaded).

Then, the acquisition component 1832 sends the data back to the flow execution unit 181. Here, the data sent back is the path or address indicating the electronic file acquired from the external storage system 30 ₁ (download) (i.e., the data type of data returned is "LocalFilePath".) .

  Next, the flow execution unit 181 requests the component management unit 182 to acquire a component according to the processing content acquired from the application management unit 111 (step S1911). More specifically, the flow execution unit 181 selects “.to (.to (“ storage: receive_from_file? Type = service-a ”)” specified in the processing content shown in FIG. Based on “process: conv”), the component management unit 182 is requested to obtain the print conversion component 1834.

  When the component managing unit 182 receives the acquisition request for the print conversion component 1834, the component management unit 182 generates the print conversion component 1834 (step S1912). The generation of the print conversion component 1834 can be performed using an API for generating a component defined in the component common I / F 1830.

  Then, when the print conversion component 1834 is generated, the component management unit 182 sends the print conversion component 1834 back to the flow execution unit 181. For example, the component management unit 182 may return the address on the memory (for example, the RAM 14) in which the print conversion component 1834 is expanded to the flow execution unit 181.

  When the print conversion component 1834 is generated, the flow execution unit 181 requests the print conversion component 1834 to execute processing by designating data (step S1913). The data type of the data specified here is "Local File Path".

  Upon receiving the execution request from the flow execution unit 181, the print conversion component 1834 requests the type conversion management unit 184 for type conversion (step S1914). The type conversion request includes data and designation of “File” indicating a data type that the print conversion component 1834 can handle.

  When receiving the type conversion request from the print conversion component 1834, the type conversion management unit 184 checks whether the data type of the data included in the type conversion request matches the designated data type (step S1915). ). Here, since the data type of the data included in the received type conversion request is “Local File Path” and the specified data type is “File”, it is determined that they do not match.

  Then, the type conversion management unit 184 refers to the type conversion table 3000 and specifies type conversion for converting “LocalFilePath” to “File” (here, the second type conversion 1852 is specified). ), And generates the identified type conversion (step S1916).

  Next, the type conversion management unit 184 requests the generated second type conversion 1852 to execute type conversion processing by specifying data (step S1917). Then, the second type conversion 1852 converts the data type of the designated data from "Local File Path" to "File" (step S1918), and sends the converted data to the type conversion management unit 184. Then, the type conversion management unit 184 sends back the data after type conversion to the print conversion component 1834 (step S1919).

  Upon receiving the data after type conversion from the type conversion management unit 184, the print conversion component 1834 executes processing (step S1920). That is, the print conversion component 1834 executes processing for converting data of the data type “File” (that is, an electronic file) into print data in a data format that can be printed by the image forming apparatus 20. More specifically, the print conversion component 1834 requests the print conversion process 122 of the document service unit 120 to perform the process, and the print conversion process 122 executes the process on the data (electronic file).

  Then, the print conversion component 1834 returns data to the flow execution unit 181. Here, the data to be returned is print data.

  As described above, a series of processes from file acquisition to print conversion in the cloud print service according to the present embodiment is completed.

<Summary>
As described above, according to the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment, the service providing system 10 can provide the image forming apparatus 20 with a service in cooperation with an external service.

  Further, in the service providing system 10 according to the present embodiment, the addition of the external service of the cooperation destination. The change can be easily performed, and the addition / change of the service provided to the image forming apparatus 20 (that is, the addition / change of the application information 1000, etc.) can be easily performed. For this reason, in the service providing system 10 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the number of man-hours required for development and maintenance accompanying the addition and change of the service.

  Furthermore, the service providing system 10 according to the present embodiment manages processing information including a connection ID for identifying a connection with the image forming apparatus 20 that is the transmission source of the processing execution request for realizing the service. Thus, the service providing system 10 according to the present embodiment can provide a service to a plurality of image forming apparatuses 20.

  Further, with the client application 220 installed in the image forming apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment, the plurality of client applications 220 can use the service providing system 10 simultaneously. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment, communication resources can be efficiently used.

  The present invention is not limited to the above specifically disclosed embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible without departing from the scope of the claims.

Reference Signs List 1 information processing system 10 service providing system 20 image forming apparatus 30 external storage system 110 service processing unit 111 application management unit 112 logic processing unit 113 data I / F unit 114 communication relay unit 115 result notification generation unit 116 processing state monitoring unit 120 document Service unit 121 OCR processing 122 Print conversion processing 130 Storage service linkage unit 140 File processing unit 150 Data processing unit 160 Application information storage unit 170 Processing information storage unit 181 Flow execution unit 182 Component management unit 183 Component group 184 Type conversion management unit 185 type Conversion group 210 Communication relay unit 220 Client application 230 Client application management information storage unit 1000 Application information 3000 Type conversion table

JP, 2014-032659, A

Claims (7)

An information processing system including one or more information processing apparatuses, wherein
For each application executing a series of processes using electronic data in cooperation with an external service, application identification information for identifying the application, information on the series of processes, and the electronic data used for the series of processes are specified Storage means for storing the screen information of the screen to be displayed in association with each other;
When a first request including the application identification information is received from one of the one or more devices connected to the information processing system, the storage is associated with the application identification information included in the first request. First transmission means for transmitting the screen information stored in the means to the one device of the request source;
A second request including information on electronic data designated by the user via the screen displayed on the one device based on the screen information transmitted by the first transmission means and application identification information; Information indicating a series of processes based on the information on the series of processes stored in the storage unit in association with the application identification information, information identifying a connection with the one apparatus, and Generating means for generating processing information in which
A processing execution unit that executes the series of processing on electronic data specified by the information related to the electronic data included in the second request;
A second transmission unit that transmits processing results of the series of processing executed by the processing execution unit to the one device based on the information specifying the connection included in the processing information generated by the generation unit and,
Detection means for detecting that the processing information has been updated;
When adding a new application to the information processing system, application identification information identifying the new application, information on a series of processes executed by the new application, and a series of processes executed by the new application Storage means for storing in the storage means in association with screen information of a screen for designating electronic data to be used;
I have a,
The process execution means is
If the execution of the series of processes is completed, or if an error occurs during the execution of the series of processes, the process information is updated.
The second transmission means is
When an update of the processing information is detected by the detection unit, a processing result of the series of processing executed by the processing execution unit is used to specify the connection included in the processing information generated by the generation unit. An information processing system for transmitting to the one device based on information. The generation means is
When a second request including information on electronic data designated by the user via the screen displayed on the one device based on the screen information transmitted by the first transmission unit is received from the one device Processing information in which information indicating a series of processes based on the information on the series of processes stored in the storage unit in association with the application identification information is associated with information specifying a connection with the one device The information processing system according to claim 1, which generates The process execution means is
It has a plurality of components that perform predetermined processing on electronic data,
The series of processes to be performed on electronic data specified by the information related to the electronic data included in the second request is performed by combining components that perform the processes included in the series of processes. The information processing system according to 1 or 2 . The process execution means is
The electronic data further comprises one or more type conversion means for converting the data type of the electronic data into a predetermined data type,
Component for performing the series of processes to be executed on electronic data specified by the information on the electronic data included in the second request, the one or more of the type conversion means, and the processes included in the series of processes By converting the data type of electronic data specified by the information related to the electronic data into a predetermined data type that can be processed by the component by the type conversion means, and then performing predetermined processing by the component The information processing system according to claim 3 , which executes. The plurality of components include components that execute processing related to an external service,
The component that executes the process related to the external service is
At least includes a component that performs the process of downloading electronic data from components and external service to perform the process of uploading electronic data to the external service, the information processing system according to claim 3 or 4. An information processing apparatus,
For each application executing a series of processes using electronic data in cooperation with an external service, application identification information for identifying the application, information on the series of processes, and the electronic data used for the series of processes are specified Storage means for associating and storing screen information of the screen to be displayed;
When a first request including the application identification information is received from one of the one or more devices connected to the information processing apparatus, the storage is associated with the application identification information included in the first request. First transmission means for transmitting the screen information stored in the means to the one device of the request source;
A second request including information on electronic data designated by the user via the screen displayed on the one device based on the screen information transmitted by the first transmission means and application identification information; Information indicating a series of processes based on the information on the series of processes stored in the storage unit in association with the application identification information, information identifying a connection with the one apparatus, and Generating means for generating processing information in which
A processing execution unit that executes the series of processing on electronic data specified by the information related to the electronic data included in the second request;
A second transmission unit that transmits processing results of the series of processing executed by the processing execution unit to the one device based on the information specifying the connection included in the processing information generated by the generation unit and,
Detection means for detecting that the processing information has been updated;
When a new application is added to the information processing apparatus, application identification information for identifying the new application, information on a series of processes executed by the new application, and a series of processes executed by the new application Storage means for storing in the storage means in association with screen information of a screen for designating electronic data to be used;
I have a,
The process execution means is
If the execution of the series of processes is completed, or if an error occurs during the execution of the series of processes, the process information is updated.
The second transmission means is
When an update of the processing information is detected by the detection unit, a processing result of the series of processing executed by the processing execution unit is used to specify the connection included in the processing information generated by the generation unit. An information processing apparatus that transmits to the one device based on information. An information processing system including one or more information processing apparatuses, for each application that executes a series of processing using electronic data in cooperation with an external service, application identification information for identifying the application, and the series An information processing method for use in an information processing system including storage means for storing information related to processing and screen information of a screen for specifying the electronic data used for the series of processing in association with each other;
When a first request including the application identification information is received from one of the one or more devices connected to the information processing system, the storage is associated with the application identification information included in the first request. A first transmission procedure for transmitting the screen information stored in the means to the one device of the request source;
A second request including information on electronic data designated by the user via the screen displayed on the one device based on the screen information transmitted by the first transmission procedure and application identification information; Information indicating a series of processes based on the information on the series of processes stored in the storage unit in association with the application identification information, information identifying a connection with the one apparatus, and Generation procedure for generating processing information in which
A process execution procedure for executing the series of processes on electronic data specified by the information on the electronic data included in the second request;
A second transmission procedure for transmitting the processing result of the series of processing executed by the processing execution procedure to the one device based on the information specifying the connection included in the processing information generated by the generation procedure and,
A detection procedure for detecting that the processing information has been updated;
When adding a new application to the information processing system, application identification information identifying the new application, information on a series of processes executed by the new application, and a series of processes executed by the new application A storage procedure for storing in the storage means in association with screen information of a screen for designating electronic data to be used;
I have a,
The process execution procedure is
If the execution of the series of processes is completed, or if an error occurs during the execution of the series of processes, the process information is updated.
The second transmission procedure is
When an update of the processing information is detected by the detection procedure, a processing result of the series of processing executed by the processing execution procedure is specified to the connection included in the processing information generated by the generation procedure. An information processing method for transmitting to the one device based on information.

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