JP2009255390A - Image forming apparatus, functional cooperation control method, and functional cooperation control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which carries out in its own a cooperation processing with a function which an external device has, and also to provide a functional cooperation control method, and a functional cooperation control program. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 100 has: a first function 22 which provides an external device 300 as a request source with equipment information including application information the apparatus has, according to an information acquiring request; and one or more second functions 21 to execute a processing requested to an application according to a predetermined processing request. The second function 21 has: a detecting means 65 to detect an operation state of the image forming apparatus 100; an acquiring means 41Cp to acquire service information 71 to be provided, which is information on a service to be provided by an application which the external device 300 has; and a requested processing execution indicating means 43 which makes the external device 300 execute a processing requested to the apparatus 100, based on an operation state detected by a detecting means 43 and a provision service information 71 aqcuired by the acquiring means 41Cp. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that performs a predetermined process that is requested, and more particularly to a technique for controlling a requested process to be performed by another device when the image forming apparatus cannot respond to the processing request. It is.

  With the advancement of communication technology, multiple image forming devices such as multifunction peripherals (MFPs) that have multiple functions such as printers, facsimiles, printers, scanners, facsimiles, etc., are connected to local area networks (LANs). Systems that are connected to a network such as a WAN (Wide Area Network) and in which an image forming apparatus can be used as a shared device by a plurality of users have become common.

  In such an environment, since the PC (Personal Computer) on which the user makes a processing request and the image forming apparatus that performs predetermined processing in response to the request are located at a distance, the operating state of the image forming apparatus (failure occurrence) The processing request from the user may not be satisfied depending on the time and the state during the processing according to other requests.

  In order to prevent this from happening, before the user makes a processing request, the operation state of the image forming apparatus, for example, can be confirmed (confirmed whether the requested processing can be performed) via a browser. Although it can be done, it is not a practical way to check each processing request.

  For this reason, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a support environment that can be efficiently used as a printer that performs processing for switching registered default printers and avoids error handling work based on status information acquired from a printer. In the information processing apparatus provided and Patent Document 2, when the printer that made the print request cannot be used due to a failure, or when it is in use due to another print request, the output destination of the print data is different. A printer server having a control environment for automatically switching to a printer and improving the efficiency of print processing has been proposed.

As described above, since the plurality of image forming apparatuses are function-linked and controlled (switching control) so that the request processing is performed by the image forming apparatus that can be dynamically executed by the above-described conventional technology, the user can It can be efficiently used according to the operating state of the image forming apparatus without performing the complicated handling work as described above.
JP 2005-85132 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-4239

  However, the above prior art has the following problems.

  In the case of the technique proposed in Patent Document 1, in order for the user to efficiently use the image forming apparatus in accordance with the operation state of the image forming apparatus, the user must use the information processing apparatus including the support environment. Become. In addition, the user needs to reconstruct the support environment according to changes in the software environment of the information processing apparatus, such as an OS (Operating System) upgrade, which is basic software, that is, to install software components that can operate in the new software environment. On the other hand, a software vendor that provides a support environment to a user needs to develop a plurality of types of software components corresponding to various software environments of an information processing apparatus used by the user, and the work burden is large for both.

  In the case of the technique proposed in Patent Document 2, in order for the user to use it efficiently according to the operating state of the image forming apparatus, it is a condition that a printer server having the above control environment is installed. In addition, since the printer server switches printers according to predetermined rules, it is necessary to set rules that can be used efficiently by the system administrator according to the system environment. Each time it is installed in the printer server, it must be registered as a control object in the printer server, which places a heavy workload on the system administrator.

  As described above, in the prior art, it is necessary to introduce, manage, and operate an environment for efficient use according to the operation state of the image forming apparatus, which places a burden on users, software vendors, system administrators, and the like. End up.

  Originally, the function to be linked control is a function of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the function linkage control itself is performed by reconstructing a support environment according to the software environment of the information processing apparatus used by the user (software component). It is optimal that the image forming apparatuses can perform the update without updating, or introducing / managing / operating a printer server having a control environment.

  As described above, in order to control the function cooperation between the image forming apparatuses connected to the network, it is premised that the devices can exchange information on functions with each other.

  The current image forming apparatus exchanges messages with an information processing apparatus such as a PC connected to a network by using SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol), and the image forming apparatus has the request according to a request. It has a device information providing function for providing device information including information related to services that can be provided by an application to the requesting information processing apparatus. The “apparatus information” mentioned here includes information on application functions of the image forming apparatus, operation state information collected in the image forming apparatus, and the like.

  “SOAP” is a protocol specification for exchanging messages based on XML (eXtensible Markup Language), and is located above the protocols such as HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) and SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol). The protocol for exchanging SOAP messages necessary for calling objects. The purpose of SOAP is to easily link components constituting an application via a data transmission path such as a network. In addition, SOAP can add additional information other than the XML document body, such as destination information such as an IP address and a port number, and action information for instructing a predetermined process, to a SOAP message to be transmitted and received.

  However, the image forming apparatus has means for providing the requested information in response to an acquisition request by exchanging messages, that is, means for acquiring necessary information by making an information acquisition request by itself. That is, since it does not have a client function, it is impossible to acquire various types of information necessary for the image forming apparatuses to function together.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, a function cooperation processing method, and a function cooperation processing program that perform cooperation processing with a function of an external device by the apparatus itself in view of the above-described problems of the related art. .

  In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention provides, in response to an information acquisition request, a first function for providing device information including application information included in the image forming device to a requesting external device; An image forming apparatus having at least one second function for executing the requested process by the application in response to a predetermined process request, wherein the second function is an operation of the image forming apparatus. Detection means for detecting a state; acquisition means for acquiring provided service information that is information relating to a service provided by an application of the external device; an operating state detected by the detection means; and a provision acquired by the acquisition means Request processing execution instructing means for causing the external device to execute processing requested by the image forming apparatus based on service information. It is characterized in.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the request processing execution instructing unit determines the external device for executing the requested processing based on the provided service information acquired by the acquiring unit. Means, control means for controlling whether or not the external device determined by the determination means executes the requested process, and the external device that has determined the start of execution of the requested process according to the control by the control means And instructing means for instructing.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, can the control unit execute the requested process according to the operation state detected by the detecting unit? It is characterized by determining whether or not and, based on the determination result, controlling whether or not the requested external device executes the requested process.

  In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention has control availability setting means for setting whether or not to perform control by the control means, and the control means is set by the control availability setting means. On the basis of the above, it is characterized in controlling whether or not to execute the requested process by the determined external device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention has an analysis unit that parses provided service information acquired by the acquiring unit, and the determining unit is configured to analyze the provided service information by the analyzing unit. Requested from a plurality of external devices connected to the image forming apparatus via the data transmission path based on information indicating the performance of the application of the external device corresponding to the provided service information obtained from the analysis result. It is characterized in that an external device for executing the processing is determined.

  In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention uses the analysis unit when the determining unit acquires printer information, which is information related to a printing function of the external device, by the acquiring unit. An external device for executing a requested process is determined from the plurality of external devices based on information on the presence / absence of a color printing function and information on a printing speed acquired from the analysis result of the printer information. And

  In order to achieve the above object, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the determination unit includes a plurality of external devices based on information on the printing speed acquired from the analysis result of the printer information by the analysis unit. The external device with the fastest printing speed is determined as the external device that executes the requested processing.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the determination unit acquires vendor information and model information of an external device corresponding to the printer information acquired from the analysis result of the printer information by the analysis unit. And determining the external device that is the same as either the vendor information or the model information of the image forming apparatus as the external device that executes the requested process, based on the acquired information To do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a transmission unit that transmits processing target data to the external device, and the transmission unit starts execution of a requested process by the instruction unit. The processing target data is transmitted after an instruction is given to the external device that has decided.

  With such a configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is not able to respond to a processing request from a user due to an operating state (a state when a failure occurs or during processing corresponding to another request). Requested processing based on provided service information (for example, printer information) that is information related to a service that can be provided by an application of an external device acquired from a plurality of external devices connected to the network according to a predetermined protocol Is determined optimally, and processing target data is transmitted to the determined external device, thereby instructing a device other than the image forming apparatus to perform cooperation processing.

  As a result, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can perform cooperation processing with the function of the external device by the apparatus itself.

  In order to achieve the above object, the function linkage control method of the present invention includes a first function that provides device information including application information of the image forming apparatus to a requesting external device in response to an information acquisition request. A function cooperation control method in an image forming apparatus having at least one second function for executing a requested process by the application in response to a predetermined process request, wherein the second function includes: A detection procedure for detecting an operation state of the image forming apparatus, an acquisition procedure for obtaining provided service information that is information relating to a service provided by an application of the external device, an operation state detected by the detection procedure, Based on the provided service information acquired by the acquisition procedure, the processing requested by the image forming apparatus is executed on the external device. Request processing execution indication procedure that is characterized by having a.

  By such a procedure, the function linkage control method of the present invention is predetermined when the processing request from the user cannot be satisfied due to an operation state (when a failure occurs or while other processing is being performed). The requested processing is performed based on provided service information (for example, printer information) that is information about a service that can be provided by an application of an external device acquired from a plurality of external devices connected to the network according to the protocol of An external device that can be optimally executed is determined, and processing target data is transmitted to the determined external device, thereby realizing a function cooperation control operation that instructs a device other than the image forming apparatus to perform cooperation processing.

  Thus, the function cooperation control method of the present invention can provide an image forming apparatus that performs cooperation processing with a function of an external device by the apparatus itself.

  In order to achieve the above object, the function cooperation control program of the present invention provides a first function of providing provided service information including application information of the image forming apparatus to a requesting external device in response to an information acquisition request. And a function cooperation control program in an image forming apparatus having at least one second function for executing the requested processing by the application in response to a predetermined processing request. A detection unit that detects an operation state of the apparatus; an acquisition unit that acquires service information including information on a service provided by an application included in the external device; an operation state detected by the detection unit; and the acquisition unit. Based on the acquired provided service information, the requested processing is performed on the image forming apparatus. To function as a request processing execution instruction means to execute the vessel.

  As a result, the function cooperation control program of the present invention allows the computer to execute a predetermined process when the computer cannot respond to a processing request from a user due to an operating state (when a failure occurs or while other processing is being performed). The requested processing is performed based on provided service information (for example, printer information) that is information about a service that can be provided by an application of an external device acquired from a plurality of external devices connected to the network according to the protocol of It is possible to determine an optimally executable external device and to function to transmit the processing target data to the determined external device.

  Therefore, the function cooperation control program of the present invention can realize a function cooperation control function that allows the image forming apparatus itself to perform cooperation processing with the function of the external device.

  According to the present invention, according to a predetermined protocol, provided service information (for example, printer information) that is information related to a service that can be provided by an application of an external device acquired from a plurality of external devices connected to a network. Based on this, by determining the external device that can optimally execute the requested processing, the image forming apparatus itself can perform the cooperation processing with the function of the external device.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
<Hardware configuration>
Now, the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes an operation panel 11, a storage medium I / F 12, a controller 13, a data communication I / F 14, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 17, a scanner 15, and a plotter 16. Are connected to each other.

  The operation panel 11 includes an input device 11a and a display device 11b. The input device 11a includes hardware keys and is used to input each operation signal to the image forming apparatus 100. Further, the display device 11b is configured by a display or the like, and displays, for example, various types of information regarding the image forming operation. The data communication I / F 14 includes an interface device 14a, and is an interface that connects the image forming apparatus 100 to a data transmission path such as a network. The HDD 17 stores various data such as received document data and read image data handled by the image forming apparatus 100. Further, the HDD 17 manages these various data by a predetermined file system or DB (Data Base).

  The various data stored in the HDD 17 includes electronic data recorded by an external device such as a digital camera, for example. In such a case, it is provided to the image forming apparatus 100 by a recording medium 12b such as a memory card or uploaded via a network or the like that is a data transmission path. The recording medium 12b is set in the drive device 12a included in the storage medium I / F 12, and various data are stored in the HDD 17 from the recording medium 12b via the drive device 12a.

  The controller 13 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 13a, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13b, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 13c. The ROM 13a is executed when the image forming apparatus 100 is activated. Program and various data are stored. The RAM 13b temporarily stores various programs and data read from the ROM 13a and the HDD 17. Further, the CPU 13c executes a program temporarily stored in the RAM 13b. For example, when the print data is received via the data communication I / F 14, the controller 13 reads a program (PDL parser) that can read PDL (Page Description Language) read from the ROM 13a onto the RAM 13b by the CPU 13c. Execute and interpret the print data to generate a bitmap image.

  The scanner 15 includes an image reading device 15a, and optically reads a document placed on a reading surface and generates image data. The plotter 16 has a printing device 16a and prints a bitmap image on a recording sheet by, for example, an electrophotographic process method.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment realizes a plurality of functions such as a copy, a printer, a facsimile, and a scanner by the above hardware configuration.

<Software configuration>
Next, a software configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

<< Image forming apparatus >>
The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes the plotter 16 illustrated in FIG. 1, the scanner 15, the hardware resource 101 such as a facsimile machine and the HDD 17, and the like, and the platform 120 and the application 130 activated by the activation unit 140. And a software group 110 composed of

  The platform 120 interprets a processing request from the application 130 and generates a hardware resource acquisition request, manages one or more hardware resources, and arbitrates the acquisition request from the control service 150. It has an SRM (System Resource Manager) 123 and an OS 121.

  The control service is formed of a plurality of service modules, and includes an SCS (System Control Service) 122, an ECS (Engine Control Service) 124, an MCS (Memory Control Service) 125, an OCS (Operation Panel Control Service) 126, and an FCS. (FAX Control Service) 127 and NCS (Network Control Service) 128.

  The platform 120 includes an API (Application Program Interface) 103 that can receive a processing request from the application 130 by a predefined method, a plotter 16, a scanner 15, and other hardware resources 101. It has an engine I / F 102 that is an interface for controlling via the OS 121 in accordance with a request from an upper layer that uses resources.

  The OS 121 is a general-purpose operating system such as UNIX (registered trademark), and executes the software of the platform 120 and the application 130 in parallel as processes.

  The SRM 123, together with the SCS 122, controls the system and manages resources, and includes engines such as the plotter 16 and the scanner 15, memory, HDD files, host I / O (for example, Centro I / F, network I / F, IEEE 1394). I / F, RS232C I / F, etc.) arbitration is performed according to a request from a higher layer using hardware resources, and execution control is performed.

  Specifically, the SRM 123 determines whether the requested hardware resource is available (whether it is not used by another request), and if it is available, the requested hardware resource is used. Tell the upper layer that it is possible. In addition, the SRM 123 performs use scheduling of hardware resources in response to a request from an upper layer, and directly executes request contents (for example, paper conveyance and image forming operation, memory allocation, file generation, etc. by a printer engine). Yes.

  The SCS 122 performs application management, operation unit control, system screen display, LED (Light Emitting Diode) display, resource management, and interrupt application control. The ECS 124 controls a hardware resource engine including the plotter 16 and the scanner 15.

  The MCS 125 acquires and releases an image memory, uses the HDD 17, compresses and decompresses image data, and the like. The OCS 126 is a module that controls the operation panel 11 serving as information transmission means between the operator and the main body control.

  The FCS 127 transmits / receives facsimiles using PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Networks) / ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) from each application layer of the system controller, and various facsimile data managed by BKM (Backup SRAM: Static Random Access Memory). An API for performing registration / quotation, facsimile reading, facsimile reception printing, and fusion transmission / reception is provided. In the FCS 127, an FCU handler (FCUH) that is a subprocess thereof is activated. The FCUH controls the device driver of the facsimile engine when performing facsimile transmission / reception according to a command from the FCS 127.

  The NCS 128 is a module group for providing a service that can be commonly used for the applications 130 that require network I / O.

  The NCS 128 has a data communication function according to the present embodiment. Specific software components (programs) constituting the NCS 128 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The application 130 includes a printer application 111 that is a printer application having a PDL parser such as PCL and PostScript (PS), a copy application 112 that is a copy application, a fax application 113 that is a facsimile application, and a scanner application. It has a scanner application 114 as an application, a network file application 115 as a network file application, a process inspection application 116 as a process inspection application, and a distribution application 117 as a distribution application.

  Each of these control services, the SRM 123, and each application 130 is an object having one or more methods, and is generated and executed on the OS 121 as a process by activating this object. A plurality of threads are activated in each process, and parallel execution is realized by switching the CPU occupation time of these threads under the management of the OS 121. For this reason, compared with parallel execution by process switching, the processing speed at the time of parallel execution is improved.

  Messages are transmitted and received between each application process and each control service process by inter-process communication by executing a method.

<< NCS >>
From here, the NCS 128 having the data communication function according to the present embodiment will be described.

(Overview of software configuration)
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the software configuration of the NCS 128 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The software configuration of the NCS 128 according to the present embodiment is mainly composed of a module group that distributes data received by each protocol to each application 130 and mediates when data is transmitted from the application 130 to the network side. Among the module groups, there is a WS-MFP module group 20 according to the present embodiment.

  Here, the above-mentioned “WS” means a standardized Web service based on XML (eXtensible Markup Language) promoted by a working group (WG) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). When this Web service is used, various services can be realized by exchanging messages described in XML between installed devices (WS-Devices) via a protocol called WSD. A typical example of such a device is a PC equipped with Windows (registered trademark) Vista.

  As for “WS”, the published document “Devices Profile for Web Services” in which the details are disclosed is clarified, and the description here is omitted. The URL for obtaining the published document is “http://specs.xmlsoap.org/ws/2006/02/devprof/devicesprofile.pdf”. In the following description, function names and module names with “WS” are functions and modules designed in accordance with this standardized Web service. For example, the WS-MFP module group 20 is a module group for a multifunction machine designed in accordance with a standardized Web service.

  The WS-MFP module group 20 shown in FIG. 3 includes a WS-Printer 21p that handles printer-related data between the external device and the printer application 111 included in the image forming apparatus 100, and a scanner application included in the external device and the image forming apparatus 100. 114 includes a WS-Scanner 21 s that handles scanner-related data, and a DFM module 22 that handles device-related data between the external device and the image forming apparatus 100. Implemented to be invoked and run in a process.

  In other words, the WS-MFP module group 20 has a first function (providing device information including application information of the image forming apparatus 100) to the requesting external device in response to the information acquisition request by the above-described software configuration. A DFM module 22), at least one second function (for example, “WS-Printer 21p”, “WS-Scanner 21s”, etc.) that executes a process requested by an application in response to a predetermined process request. Have

  For example, the WS-Printer 21p has a function of responding to an information acquisition request regarding the printer application 111 from the DFM module 22 and notifying the printer application 111 of a print request from an external device. The DFM module 22 acquires application information such as the printer application 111 and the scanner application 114 from the WS-Printer 21p, WS-Scanner 21s, and the like, and provides the external device with an application included in the image forming apparatus 100 based on the acquired information. Device information including information on possible standardized Web services (for example, “information such as functions that the own device can provide to external devices”) is transmitted. In the above description, the case where the printer-related information held by the WS-Printer 21p is acquired from the DFM module 22 has been described. However, since the printer-related information is operated by different processes, data is transmitted and received by inter-process communication.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes the NCS 128 configured as described above, so that data can be transmitted and received between the external device and the image forming apparatus 100.

(Details of software configuration)
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the software configuration of the WS-MFP module group 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the NCS 128 according to the present embodiment includes a SOAP 50 and an IMC (Internal Message Communication) 51 in addition to the DFM module 22 and the WS-Printer 21p of the WS-MFP module group 20, and each of the above software components. Are implemented to run and run in separate processes.

  In the description of FIG. 4, the WS-Printer 21p corresponding to the printer 16 will be described as a representative of the application functions of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, and the description of the WS-Scanner 21s will be omitted.

  A characteristic of the software configuration of the WS-MFP module group 20 according to the present embodiment is that each of the DFM module 22 and the WS-Printer 21p provides information to an external device (reference numerals: 21Sp, 22S). ) And a client function unit C (reference numerals: 21Cp, 22C) for requesting information from an external device.

  A device for exchanging messages with an information processing device such as a PC connected to a network, which has been briefly described in the prior art, using SOAP and providing device information according to the request to the information processing device The image forming apparatus 100 having an information providing function is configured by only the server function unit S.

  In the following, main software components constituting the DFM module 22 and the WS-Printer 21p will be described separately for the server function unit S and the client function unit C.

(Server function part of DFM module)
The server function unit 22S of the DFM module 22 includes a WS-Discovery 31S, a WS-Transfer 32S, a WS-MetadataExchange 33, a WS-Addressing 34, and a WSD-Manager 35.

  The WS-Discovery 31S sends a message from the image forming apparatus 100 to detect a function of an external device that a device (WS-Device) capable of providing an installed application function has joined the network through a standardized Web service. Send to external device.

  The WS-Transfer 32S transmits a message for notifying information on a standardized Web service that can be provided by an application included in the image forming apparatus 100 (hereinafter referred to as “apparatus information”) from the image forming apparatus 100 to an external device. Also, the WS-Transfer 32S notifies the external device that the image forming apparatus 100 has joined the network by using UDP (User Datagram Protocol) (for example, a “Hello” command is sent to all external devices connected to the network. Multicast to).

  The WS-MetadataExchange 33 generates device information data of the image forming apparatus 100 based on information (hereinafter referred to as “function information”) related to application functions of the image forming apparatus 100 acquired from the WS-Printer 21p.

  The WS-Addressing 34 resolves an IP address in order to identify a transmission source or a transmission destination device when data or an event is transmitted / received to / from an external device via a WSD (protocol).

  The WSD-Manager 35 performs operation control and management of the WS-Discovery 31S, the WS-Transfer 32S, the WS-Metadata Exchange 33, the WS-Addressing 34, and the Printer DCP 41p included in the WS-Printer 21p.

(Client function part of DFM module)
The client function unit 22C of the DFM module 22 includes a device information acquisition manager 36 in addition to the WS-Discovery 31C and WS-Transfer 32C.

  The WS-Discovery 31C receives a message for notifying that a device (WS-Device) capable of providing an installed application function has joined the network from an external device.

  The WS-Transfer 32C transmits a message requesting acquisition of device information of the external device from the image forming apparatus 100 to the external device.

  The device information acquisition manager 36 performs a predetermined process based on device information acquired in response to an external device. The device information acquisition manager 36 performs, for example, a process of confirming what device function (WS-Device) that can provide an application function is connected to the network and in a communicable state based on the acquired device information.

  As described above, in the DFM module 22, by the configuration of the server / client function, for example, a device automatic detection function capable of providing an installed application function among a plurality of devices including the image forming apparatus 100 connected to the network. And device information provision / acquisition function.

(WS-Printer server function part)
The server function unit 21Sp of the WS-Printer 21p includes a Printer DCP 41Sp, a WS-Eventing 42Sp, and a WS-Addressing 34.

  The Printer DCP 41Sp receives print data transmitted to the printer application 111 included in the image forming apparatus 100 from a function (such as a printer driver) included in an external device (such as an information processing apparatus such as a PC) that uses the printer function. The WS-Eventing 42Sp notifies the printer application 111 of the image forming apparatus 100 of a processing request event such as a print request transmitted from a function of an external device that uses the printer function. Since WS-Addressing 34 is the same as that described in the server function unit 22S of the DFM module 22, the description thereof is omitted here.

(WS-Printer client function part)
The client function unit 21Cp of the WS-Printer 21p includes a printer information acquisition manager 43 in addition to the Printer DCP 41Cp and the WS-Eventing 42Cp.

The Printer DCP 41Cp sends a message requesting acquisition of information about a printer function (printing function) that can be provided as a service (hereinafter referred to as “printer information”) to an external device that is another image forming apparatus. 100 to an external device. The “printer information” here refers to information (provided service information) related to a service provided by an application installed in an external device that makes an information acquisition request.
In addition, when the printer DCP 41Cp receives an instruction for requesting the function cooperation processing from the printer information acquisition manager 43 to the external device, the print data received by the Printer DCP 41Sp of the server function unit 21Sp is transferred to the external device that requests the function cooperation processing.

  The WS-Eventing 42Cp notifies the printer information acquisition manager 43 of the image forming apparatus 100 of the reception event of the printer information transmitted from the printer function of the external device.

  The printer information acquisition manager 43 performs a predetermined process based on the printer information acquired in response to the external device.

  Based on the acquired printer information, the printer information acquisition manager 43 confirms what image forming apparatus (WS-Printer) that can provide printing performance is connected to the network and in a communicable state. In addition, the printer information acquisition manager 43 receives the server function unit 21Sp from the operation state of the image forming apparatus 100 in which the printer information acquisition manager 43 operates (state when a failure occurs or during processing according to another request). In response to a print request, processing such as determining whether or not function linkage processing can be performed with another printer whose printing performance (performance of the installed application) has been confirmed.

  As described above, the WS-Printer 21p determines, for example, whether or not the image forming apparatus 100 itself performs the function cooperation process according to the operation state of the server / client function, and performs the function cooperation process. If you decide to do so, determine the external device with the appropriate print performance based on the printer information acquired from the external device, and implement the function linkage control function between the devices that transfer the print data to the determined external device Yes.

  Subsequently, each of the SOAP 50 and the IMC 51 will be described.

  The SOAP 50 includes a SOAP message transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives a SOAP message between an external device and the image forming apparatus 100 via a network using a communication protocol such as HTTP or SMTP corresponding to a lower layer, and data generated by the WS-Metadata Exchange 33. And a SOAP message generator that generates a SOAP message based on

  As described above, the SOAP 50 converts the communication data received from the DFM module 22 and the WS-Printer 21p into a SOAP message and realizes a message exchange function between the external device and the image forming apparatus 100 with the above functional configuration. Yes. In the present embodiment, open source “gSOAP” is adopted as the SOAP 50, and it is mounted so as to operate in a process different from the process in which the WS-MFP module group 20 operates. For “gSOAP”, the URL to “gSOAP: C / C ++ Web Services and Clients” (http://www.cs.fsu.edu/~engelen/) soap.html), which is not described here.

  The IMC 51 has an inter-process communication function. Unlike the DFM module 22 and the WS-Printer 21p, the IMC 51 does not function as a software component alone. A group of inter-process communication programs for performing transmission / reception and the like is provided as a single file, that is, a library. Accordingly, a library of IMC 51 having an inter-process communication function is linked to each software component such as the DFM module 22 and the WS-Printer 21p.

  The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes the NCS 128 having the software configuration as described above, and performs data communication such as message exchange with an external device.

<Function linkage control function>
The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment performs cooperation processing with the function of an external device connected to the network by the apparatus itself by the hardware and software configuration. Hereinafter, a function cooperation control function for realizing this operation will be described.

<< Configuration >>
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the function cooperation control function according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The function cooperation control function of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a printer information data parsing 61, a determination parameter holding unit 62, a control parameter setting unit 63, a control unit 64, a printing operation monitoring unit 65, The print data parsing unit 66 is included in the printer information acquisition manager 43 in the client function unit 21Cp of the WS-Printer 21p. Below, each function part is demonstrated easily.

  The printer information data parsing 61 parses data of printer information 71 acquired from a plurality of external devices 300 having a printer function connected to a network. Parsing here means parsing text data to determine the logical structure. Therefore, the printer information data parsing 61 parses the data of the printer information 71 and interprets the data structure.

  The determination parameter holding unit 62 acquires various parameters (for determining the printing performance defined by a predetermined tag in the data of the printer information 71 obtained as a result of the printer information data parsing 61 parsing the printer information 71. Hereinafter referred to as “determination parameter”). For example, the determination parameter holding unit 62 temporarily stores and holds the acquired determination parameter in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 13b.

  The control parameter setting unit 63, for example, receives various parameters (hereinafter referred to as the parameters) for controlling the function cooperation performed by the image forming apparatus 100, which is received via the operation panel 11 having a user interface (UI) function included in the image forming apparatus 100. , "Control parameter"). For example, the control parameter setting unit 63 stores the received control parameter in a predetermined storage area of the HDD 17 and sets it as a control value.

  In the above description of the control parameter setting unit 63, an example in which control parameters are set from the operation panel 11 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this method. For example, the control parameter setting unit 63 is connected to a network. A method of receiving a control parameter setting instruction from a browser or a method of receiving control parameter setting data via an information processing apparatus such as a PC may be used. Although the control parameter storage destination has been described as the HDD 17, the present invention is not limited to this method, and may be, for example, an NV-RAM (Non Volatile RAM). That is, any non-volatile storage device provided in the image forming apparatus 100 may be used.

  The control unit 64 determines the external device 300 that can optimally execute the requested printing based on the determination parameter held by the determination parameter holding unit 62, and further, the control parameter set by the control parameter setting unit 63, Whether or not to execute the requested processing on the determined external device 300 based on the operation state detection of the image forming apparatus 100 from the printing operation monitoring unit 65 to be described later (hereinafter referred to as “cooperation processing execution start”). Whether or not to instruct "is determined) and the function linkage is controlled. At this time, when instructing the execution start of the cooperative processing relating to printing, the control unit 64 receives the print data from the Printer DCP 41Sp of the server function unit 21Sp, passes the received print data to the Printer DCP 41Cp of the client function unit 21Cp, and determines the determined external device 300 To transfer data to

  The printing operation monitoring unit 65 causes a failure of the image forming apparatus 100 (for example, “out of toner”, “no paper”, “paper jam”, etc.), a state during printing processing according to other requests, and the like. Detect the operating state of. Further, the printing operation monitoring unit 65 is a protocol other than WSD (hereinafter referred to as “non-WSD”) that is a protocol for the server / client function units 21Sp and 21Cp to transmit and receive predetermined data and events from the external device 300. Whether print data is received from the external device 300 is also monitored. At this time, when the print operation monitoring unit 65 detects that the print data is received from the external device 300 via the non-WSD, it passes the received print data to the print data parsing unit 66 described later.

  The print data parsing unit 66 parses the print data received from the external device 300 via the non-WSD received from the printing operation monitoring unit 65. Perth here also has the same meaning as Perth described above. However, the printer information data parse 61 is an XML parser because the analysis target is the printer information 71 and this data is data described in XML by the standardized Web service. On the other hand, the print data parsing unit 66 is a PDL parser because the analysis target is print data, and this data is data described in PDL by a printer driver or the like.

  Each of the functional units described above is realized by a function cooperation control program (software component) stored in the ROM 13a of the image forming apparatus 100 being read onto the RAM 13b and executed by the CPU 13c.

  In addition, regarding the transmission / reception of various data performed between the above-described functional units and the transmission / reception of various data performed between the client functional unit 21Cp and the server functional unit 21Sp of the WS-Printer 21p, the operations of the functional units thereafter are described. Explain in the procedure.

  The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment operates the function cooperation control function configured by each of the above-described function units, thereby performing an operation state of the image forming apparatus 100 (printing according to a failure or other request). If the print request EVN from the user cannot be satisfied due to the status during execution, etc., it is acquired from the external device 300 having a plurality of printer functions connected to the network according to WSD (predetermined protocol). Based on the printer information 71, the external device 300 that can optimally execute the requested printing is determined, and the print data is transmitted to the determined external device 300, so that cooperation processing related to printing is performed on devices other than the image forming apparatus 100. Instruct.

<< Operation >>
Hereinafter, the operation of the function cooperation control function according to the present embodiment will be described.

(Judgment parameter acquisition)
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the printer information 71 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The printer information 71 shown in FIG. 6 includes a GetPrinterElements message for requesting the printer function of the external device 300, which is another image forming apparatus, to be provided by the printer DCP 41Cp of the client function unit 21Cp. As a result of transmission from the image forming apparatus 100 to the external device 300, a GetPrinterElementsRes message that is obtained as a response from the corresponding external device 300.

  The printer information data parsing 61 parses the data of the printer information 71 shown in FIG. As a result, the printer information data parsing 61 acquires a plurality of determination parameters from the result of the syntax analysis.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of determination parameters for determining the printing performance defined by a predetermined tag in the data of the printer information 71 acquired by the printer information data parsing 61 as a result of parsing the printer information 71. Has been.

  As can be seen from the data structure of FIG. 6, in the data of the GetPrinterElementsRes message, detailed information related to the printer is defined by a “<wprt: PrinterDescription>” tag.

  Further, in the “<wprt: PrinterDescription>” tag, each of the determination parameters is defined by a plurality of tags. For example, in FIG. 6, the “<wprt: ColorSupported>” tag 71a, the “<wprt: PagesPerMinute>” tag 71b, the “<wprt: PagesPerMinuteColor>” tag 71c, the “<wprt: DeviceId>” tag 71d, etc. Corresponds to the tag to be defined.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of various determination contents based on the parse result according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7, the tags 71 a to 71 d indicate that “what determination parameter is defined (what determination information is defined)” and “what printing performance is determined from the acquired determination parameter. An example of correspondence with “Is it judged?” Is shown.

  The “<wprt: ColorSupported>” tag 71 a is a tag that defines color function presence / absence information that is a determination parameter, and the external device 300 that has responded to the printer information 71 based on the true / false value of the parameter value. Determine whether full color printing is possible.

  The “<wprt: PagesPerMinute>” tag 71b is a tag that defines monochrome printing speed information that is a determination parameter. Based on the PPM value (pages / minute) of the parameter value, the “<wprt: PagesPerMinute>” tag 71b Identify the device with the fastest monochrome printing speed.

  The “<wprt: PagesPerMinuteColor>” tag 71c is a tag that defines color printing speed information that is a determination parameter. Based on the PPM value (pages / minute) of the parameter value, the “<wprt: PagesPerMinuteColor>” tag 71c Identify the device with the fastest color printing speed.

  The “<wprt: DeviceId>” tag 71d is a tag that defines device ID information that is a determination parameter. The external device 300 that has responded to the printer information 71 based on a character string (vendor name / model name) of a parameter value. Whether the vendor name / model name is the same as that of the image forming apparatus 100 is determined.

  As described above, the determination parameters acquired by the printer information data parsing 61 are used for determination of various printing performances by the control unit 64 described later. Each determination parameter is held by the determination parameter holding unit 62, and is read when the control unit 64 determines various printing performances.

(Control parameter setting)
The control parameter setting unit 63 sets the control parameter received via the operation panel 11 or the like, for example. There are two types of control parameters that can be set here. The first control parameter is “cooperation processing execution designation” for designating whether or not the cooperating process is executed when the print request EVN is received via the WSD, and the second control parameter is a non-WSD. This is “alternative process execution designation” for designating whether or not to execute the alternative process when the print request EVN is received via the.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation content corresponding to the control parameter according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 shows a correspondence example between “setting” of the above two types of control parameters and “what kind of cooperation processing / substitution processing is performed from the set control parameters”.

  When the cooperation process execution designation is on, the printing function is controlled to cooperate with the external device 300 having the printer function.

  When the alternative process execution designation is on, control is performed so that the external device 300 having the printer function performs the print function even when the print request EVN is received via the non-WSD. The “alternative” here refers to the non-WSD, although the image forming apparatus 100 normally transmits / receives data and events to / from the external device 300 through a standardized Web service via a protocol called WSD. When data is received via another protocol and the image forming apparatus 100 cannot respond to the print request EVN at this time, it uses a standardized Web service instead of an information processing apparatus such as a PC that has issued the print request EVN. This means that the image forming apparatus 100 issues a print request EVN to the external device 300.

  As described above, the control parameters set by the control parameter setting unit 63 are used by the control unit 64, which will be described later, for control of function cooperation. Each control parameter is stored in, for example, a predetermined storage area of the HDD 17, and is read when the control unit 64 performs function cooperation control.

<< Processing procedure for realizing the operation >>
A processing procedure of the image forming apparatus 100 that performs the “determination parameter acquisition operation” and the “control parameter setting operation” described so far will be described with reference to a flowchart.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example (part 1) of the processing procedure of the printer information acquisition manager 43 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In the image forming apparatus 100, the Printer DCP 41Cp in the client function unit 21Cp of the WS-Printer 21p transmits to the external device 300 a GetPrinterElements message that requests acquisition of the printer information 71 that can be provided to the printer function of the external device 300. As a result, printer information 71 (GetPrinterElementsRes message) is acquired from the corresponding external device 300 (step S101).

  In the image forming apparatus 100, the printer information data parsing 61 parses the acquired data of the printer information 71 (step S <b> 102), and each determination parameter (parse result) obtained as a result of the syntax analysis is displayed by the determination parameter holding unit 62. It is temporarily stored and held in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 13b (step S103).

  The image forming apparatus 100 multicasts a predetermined command by WS-Discovery 31S or WS-Transfer 32S in the server function unit 22S of the DFM module 22, and the number of external devices 300 connected to the network that has responded from the above S101. It is determined whether or not the processing procedure of S103 has been performed (step S104).

  If it is determined in step S104 that the processing for the number of units has not been performed (if step S104 is NO), the processing procedure from S101 to S103 is performed on each external device 300. Printer information 71 is acquired. If it is determined in step S104 that the number of processes has been performed (if step S104 is YES), it is determined whether a control parameter setting notification has been received (step S105). .

  If it is determined in step S105 that a control parameter setting notification has not been received (if step S105 is NO), the process ends. If it is determined in step S105 that the control parameter setting notification has been received (if step S105 is YES), the control parameter setting unit 63 receives each of the control parameters received via the operation panel 11, for example. The control parameter is stored in a predetermined storage area of the HDD 17 and set as a control value (step S106).

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example (part 2) of the processing procedure of the printer information acquisition manager 43 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Following the processing procedure shown in FIG. 9, the image forming apparatus 100 determines whether or not a print request EVN from an information processing apparatus such as a PC has been received in WS-Eventing 42Sp in the server function unit 21Sp of the WS-Printer 21p. (Step S201).

  If it is determined in step S201 that the print request EVN has not been received (if step S201 is NO), the process proceeds to step S205. If it is determined in step S201 that the print request EVN has been received (if step S201 is YES), the control unit 64 is based on each determination parameter held by the determination parameter holding unit 62. The external device 300 that requests the cooperation processing is determined, and further requested based on each control parameter set by the control parameter setting unit 63 and the operation state detection of the image forming apparatus 100 by the printing operation monitoring unit 65. In step S202, it is determined whether to instruct the start of execution of cooperation processing with the printer function of the determined external device 300.

  If it is determined in step S202 that the cooperation process is not executable (if step S202 is "no cooperation process"), the process proceeds to the process procedure of step S205. If it is determined in step S202 that the cooperation process can be executed (when step S203 is “cooperation process”), the control unit 64 performs print processing on the server function unit 21Sp. The continuation is instructed (step S203), and the print data to be processed is transferred from the printer DCP 41Cp in the client function unit 21Cp of the WS-Printer 21p to the external device 300 to be linked in the determination process in step S202. The start of execution of the cooperation process is instructed (step S204).

  The image forming apparatus 100 uses the WS-Discovery 31S in the client function unit 22C of the DFM module 22 to check whether a new external device 300 is connected to the network based on whether or not a predetermined command by multicast has been received ( In step S205, it is determined whether or not it has been accepted that a new external device 300 has joined the network (step S206).

  If it is determined in step S206 that participation of a new external device 300 is not accepted (if step S206 is NO), the process proceeds to step S210. If it is determined that participation of a new external device 300 has been accepted (if step S206 is YES), printer information 71 is acquired from the external device 300 that has accepted participation (step S207).

  Subsequently, in the image forming apparatus 100, the printer information data parsing 61 parses the acquired data of the printer information 71 (step S 208), and each determination parameter (parse result) obtained as a result of the syntax analysis is stored as a determination parameter. The unit 62 temporarily stores and holds it in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 13b (step S209).

  The image forming apparatus 100 determines whether a control parameter setting notification has been received (step S210).

  If it is determined in step S210 that a control parameter setting notification has not been received (if step S210 is NO), the process ends. If it is determined in step S210 that the control parameter setting notification has been received (if step S210 is YES), the control parameter setting unit 63 receives each of the control parameters received via the operation panel 11, for example. The control parameter is stored in a predetermined storage area of the HDD 17 and set as a control value (step S211).

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 repeatedly performs each processing procedure from S201 to S211 until an end instruction is given.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 confirms the connection state of the external device 300 at a predetermined timing, updates the acquired printer information 71, and updates the external device corresponding to the print request EVN based on the latest printer information 71. Judgment is made as to whether or not cooperation processing with 300 is executed, and functional cooperation is controlled.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the cooperative process execution determination performed by the control unit 64 in the process procedure of step S202 will be described.

(Determination of devices subject to linkage processing)
As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 determines from the operation state of the image forming apparatus 100 based on the detection result from the print operation monitoring unit 65 whether to instruct the execution start of the cooperation process. The start of execution is controlled according to the determination result. At this time, in the image forming apparatus 100, the control unit 64 determines the external device 300 that instructs to start the cooperation process based on the printer information 71 acquired from the plurality of external devices 300 connected to the network.

  The control unit 64 can determine the printing performance of a plurality of external devices 300 connected to the network based on the determination parameter of the printer information 71 held by the determination parameter holding unit 62, and can optimally execute the requested printing. The external device 300 is determined. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation content corresponding to the determination result according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 shows a correspondence example between the “determination result of each determination parameter” and the “determination operation of the cooperation processing target device based on the determination result”.

  When color printing is designated in the print request EVN, the control unit 64 has a color function with a true / false value “true” based on the determination result based on the true / false value of the color function presence / absence information as a determination parameter. The external device 300 that is determined to be present is set as a device for cooperation processing, and the external device 300 that is determined to have a true / false value “false” and has no color function is regarded as a device that is not subject to cooperation processing. Note that when monochrome printing is designated in the print request EVN, an external determination is made that is the reverse of the determination contents described above, and that the true / false value is “false” and it is determined not to have a color function. Assume that the device 300 is a device to be linked. When color / monochrome printing is not designated in the print request EVN, a method that does not make a determination based on the color function presence / absence information or a determination that is the same as when monochrome printing is designated may be performed.

  As described above, the control unit 64 first narrows down to a predetermined number of external devices 300 among the external devices 300 connected to the network based on the determination based on the color function presence / absence information, and specifies device candidates to be linked. .

  Next, from the determination result based on the PPM value of the color / monochrome printing speed information, which is the determination parameter, the control unit 64 determines that the external device 300 having the largest PPM value among the plurality of external devices 300 connected to the network. Is the device to be linked.

  When color printing is designated in the print request EVN, the control unit 64 compares the PPM values of the external devices 300 with each other, and has a color function specified by the color function presence / absence information based on the comparison result. The external device 300 that can operate at the fastest printing speed is determined from the candidate devices to be processed. When monochrome printing is designated in the print request EVN, the external device 300 that can operate at the fastest printing speed is determined from the candidate devices for cooperation processing having the monochrome function.

  As described above, the control unit 64 determines the external device 300 that can operate at the fastest printing speed from the device candidate of the cooperation processing target having the color / monochrome function specified by the color function presence / absence information.

  Further, the control unit 64 determines the model name of the image forming apparatus 100 among the plurality of external devices 300 connected to the network from the determination result based on a predetermined character string representing the model name of the device ID information that is the determination parameter. The same external device 300 is set as a device candidate for cooperation processing. At this time, the control unit 64 determines whether or not the predetermined character string representing the model name of the device ID information is the same as the character string representing the model name of the image forming apparatus 100.

  In addition, even if it is determined that the model name is different in the determination, the control unit 64 can determine a plurality of connected to the network from the determination result based on the predetermined character string representing the vendor name of the device ID information. Out of the external devices 300, the external device 300 having the same vendor name as the image forming apparatus 100 has priority over the external device 300 having a different vendor name as a device candidate for cooperation processing. At this time, the control unit 64 also determines whether or not the predetermined character string representing the vendor name of the device ID information is the same as the character string representing the vendor name of the image forming apparatus 100.

  The determination based on the device ID information is performed on the external device 300 determined based on the previous color / monochrome printing speed information. As a result, when the vendor / model name is different, the control unit 64 performs the determination again based on the device ID information of the external device 300 having the second largest PPM value based on the determination based on the color / monochrome printing speed information.

  As described above, the control unit 64 determines the external device 300 to be linked that can be printed at the highest speed with either one of the vendor / model names being the same by the determination based on the device ID information.

(Cooperative operation control based on control parameters)
The control unit 64 cooperates with the external device 300 that has been determined based on the control parameters set by the control parameter setting unit 63 and the operation state detection of the image forming apparatus 100 from the print operation monitoring unit 65 described later. It is determined whether or not an instruction to start execution of the process is given, and the function linkage is controlled.

  First, the control unit 64 refers to the setting value of “cooperation processing execution designation” that is a control parameter set by the control parameter setting unit 63. At this time, only when the setting value is “ON”, the control unit 64 determines the external device 300 that is the target of the cooperation process that instructs the execution start of the cooperation process.

  When the printing operation monitoring unit 65 detects that the print data is received via the non-WSD, the detection result is passed to the control unit 64.

  The control unit 64 refers to the setting value of “alternative process execution designation” which is a control parameter, and prints via non-WSD only when the setting value is “on” based on the referenced setting value and the detection result. Even when data is received, the external device 300 to be subjected to substitution processing that instructs execution of substitution processing is determined. Note that the precondition for executing this alternative process is that the setting value of “cooperation process execution designation” is “on”.

  In this way, in the image forming apparatus 100, the control unit 64 determines the external device 300 that instructs the cooperation processing, and instructs the determined external device 300 to execute the cooperation processing / substitution processing according to the control parameter. At this time, the control unit 64 receives the print data from the Printer DCP 41Sp of the server function unit 21Sp, passes the received print data to the Printer DCP 41Cp of the client function unit 21Cp, and instructs the external device 300 to transfer the data to the external device 300 thus determined. Data to be processed is passed to 300. Further, when the printing operation monitoring unit 65 detects that the printing data is received via the non-WSD, the control unit 64 passes the received printing data to the printing data parsing unit 66. As a result, the print data parsing unit 66 parses the received print data, and the parsed print data converted into a predetermined data format is transferred to the Printer DCP 41 Cp of the client function unit 21 Cp, and the data is transferred to the determined external device 300. Transferred.

<< Processing procedure for realizing the operation >>
A processing procedure of the image forming apparatus 100 that performs the “cooperation processing device determination operation” and the “cooperation operation control operation based on control parameters” described so far will be described using a flowchart. The processing procedure described below is the processing performed in the processing procedure of step S202 in the printer information acquisition manager 43 described above.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example (part 3) of the processing procedure of the printer information acquisition manager 43 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In the image forming apparatus 100, the control unit 64 reads the setting value of “cooperation processing execution instruction” set by the control parameter setting unit 63 from a predetermined storage area of the HDD 17, and whether the read setting value is “ON” or “ It is determined whether it is “OFF” (step S301).

  If it is determined in step S301 that the set value is “OFF” (if step S301 is NO), the process ends. In the determination in step S301, when the set value is “ON” (when step S301 is YES), the control unit 64 uses the non-WSD based on the detection result from the printing operation monitoring unit 65. It is then determined whether a print request EVN has been received (step S302).

  If it is determined in step S302 that the print request EVN has been received via the WSD (if step S302 is NO), the process proceeds to step S304. If it is determined in step S302 that the print request EVN has been received via non-WSD (if step S302 is YES), the control unit 64 is set by the control parameter setting unit 63. The setting value of “alternative processing execution instruction” is read from a predetermined storage area of the HDD 17 and it is determined whether the read setting value is “ON” or “OFF” (step S303).

  If it is determined in step S303 that the set value is “OFF” (if step S303 is NO), the process ends. If it is determined in step S303 that the set value is “ON” (if step S303 is YES), the control unit 64 determines whether color printing is requested (step S304).

  If it is determined in step S304 that color printing is requested (if step S304 is YES), the control unit 64 determines whether or not the network functions based on the true / false value of the color function presence / absence information as a determination parameter. Out of the connected external devices 300, the external devices 300 (color function-equipped devices) that can perform color printing are narrowed down as device candidates for cooperation processing / alternative processing (step S305).

  If it is determined in step S304 that monochrome printing is requested (including a case where neither color nor monochrome is requested) (when step S304 is NO), the control unit 64 Based on the true / false value of the color function presence / absence information that is a determination parameter, out of the external devices 300 connected to the network, the external device 300 (monochrome function-equipped device) that can execute monochrome printing is selected as a target of the cooperation process / substitution process Narrow down as device candidates (step S306).

  The image forming apparatus 100 determines whether the corresponding external device 300 exists by the control unit 64 according to the processing procedure of step S305 or S306 (step S307).

  If it is determined in step S307 that the corresponding external device 300 does not exist (if step S307 is NO), the process ends. If it is determined in step S307 that the corresponding external device 300 exists (if step S307 is YES), the control unit 64 is based on color / monochrome printing speed information that is a determination parameter. Of the device candidates that have been narrowed down to a predetermined number by the processing procedure of step S305 or S306, the external device 300 that has the highest printing speed is determined (step S308).

  Subsequently, in the image forming apparatus 100, whether or not the control unit 64 is the external device 300 having the same vendor name as that of the image forming device 100 based on the device ID information of the external device 300 determined by the processing procedure of Step 308. Is determined (step S309).

  If it is not determined in step S309 that the names are the same vendor (if step S309 is NO), the process ends. If it is determined in step S309 that the names are the same (if step S309 is YES), the control unit 64 has the same model name as that of the image forming apparatus 100 based on the device ID information. It is determined whether the device is an external device 300 (step S310).

  If it is determined in step S310 that they have the same model name (if step S301 is YES), the control unit 64 performs a cooperative process on the external device 300 having the same vendor / model name and the fastest printing speed. / Determine as an alternative processing target device (step S311).

  If it is not determined in step S310 that the model name is the same (if step S310 is NO), the control unit 64 links the external device 300 having the same model name and the fastest printing speed. The device is determined as a processing / substitution processing target device (step S312).

(Function linkage control according to the operating state)
In the image forming apparatus 100, the external device 300 to be linked is determined by the method described above. Subsequently, the image forming apparatus 100 determines whether or not to instruct the execution start of the cooperation processing based on the detection result from the printing operation monitoring unit 65 based on the operation state of the image forming apparatus 100, and according to the determination result. The execution start to the external device 300 determined in step S3 is controlled.

  The printing operation monitoring unit 65 causes a failure of the image forming apparatus 100 (for example, “out of toner”, “no paper”, “paper jam”, etc.), a state during printing processing according to other requests, and the like. Detect the operating state of. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation content corresponding to the operation state according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 shows a correspondence example between “operation state” and “execution start control operation based on the operation state”. The printing operation monitoring unit 65 detects the operation state of the image forming apparatus 100 as shown in FIG. 13, for example, and passes the detection result to the control unit 64.

  When the operation state of the image forming apparatus 100 is “there is no print job being processed by the own apparatus (job waiting state)”, the cooperation process with the printer function of the external device 300 is not performed, and the own apparatus Perform the requested printing process.

  When the operation state of the image forming apparatus 100 is “a state where there is a print job being processed by the own device (during job processing)”, the printer included in the external device 300 is determined not to respond to the print request EVN by the own device. Instructs the function to start execution of linkage processing. At this time, the control unit 64 passes the print data received from the server function unit 21Sp to the client function unit 21Cp, and instructs transfer to the external device 300 that is the target of cooperation processing.

  When the operation state of the image forming apparatus 100 is “there is a print job being processed by the own device and there is a print job being processed by the external device 300”, the print job being processed by the own device is a print job. If it is determined that the processing is completed earlier than the external device 300 that is processing the job, the print processing requested by the own apparatus is performed without performing the cooperation processing. On the other hand, when it is determined that the external device 300 that is processing the print job completes processing earlier, it instructs the printer function of the external device 300 to start execution of the cooperation processing.

  When the operation state of the image forming apparatus 100 is “a state in which a print request is received via a non-WSD and there is a WS-Printer job (a process corresponding to the request received via the WSD) being processed”. In the same way as in the case where the operation state is “there is a print job being processed by the own machine (during job processing)”, the start of execution of the linkage processing is instructed. At this time, the control unit 64 parses the print data detected by the print operation monitoring unit 65 by the print data parsing unit 66, and then passes the parsed print data to the client function unit 21 Cp, so that the external device 300 to be linked is processed. Instruct to transfer to.

  In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 determines whether or not to instruct the start of execution of cooperation processing for the external device 300 that is the cooperation processing target determined previously, according to the operation state of the image forming apparatus 100.

<< Processing procedure for realizing the operation >>
A processing procedure of the image forming apparatus 100 that performs the “functional cooperation control operation according to the operation state” described above will be described with reference to a flowchart. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example (part 4) of the processing procedure of the printer information acquisition manager 43 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The processing procedure of step S401 shown in FIG. 14 corresponds to the processing procedure from the above steps S301 to S312.

  In the image forming apparatus 100, the control unit 64 performs processing for determining the external device 300 to be linked (step S401), and determines whether the target device is determined in step S401 (step S402).

  If it is determined in step S402 that the target device has not been determined (if step S402 is NO), the process ends. If it is determined in step S402 that the target device has been determined (if step S402 is YES), the control unit 64 uses the non-WSD based on the detection result from the printing operation monitoring unit 65. It is determined whether or not the print request EVN has been received via (step S403).

  If it is determined in step S403 that the print request EVN has been received via non-WSD (if step S403 is YES), the image forming apparatus is based on the detection result from the printing operation monitoring unit 65. It is determined whether 100 is processing a WS-Printer job (step S404).

  If it is determined in step S404 that the WS-Printer job is being processed (if step S404 is YES), an instruction to start cooperation processing execution is determined for the external device 300 that is the cooperation processing target. (Step S408). If it is determined in step S404 that the WS-Printer job is not being processed (NO in step S404), printing on the own apparatus is determined (step S409).

  If it is determined in step S403 that the print request EVN has been received via the WSD (if step S403 is NO), the image formation is performed based on the detection result from the printing operation monitoring unit 65. It is determined whether the apparatus 100 is processing a print job (step S405).

  If it is determined in step S405 that the print job is not being processed (if step S405 is NO), the process proceeds to step S409. If it is determined in step S405 that the print job is being processed (if step S405 is YES), the determined external device 300 that is the target for cooperation processing is in the process of the print job. It is determined whether or not there is (step S406).

  If it is determined in step S406 that the external device 300 is not processing a print job (if step S406 is NO), the process proceeds to step S408. If it is determined in step S406 that the external device 300 is processing a print job (if step S406 is YES), the print job being processed by the own device is more external. It is determined whether the print job is processed earlier than the print job being processed by the device 300 (step S407).

  If it is determined in step S407 that the print job in the external device 300 is processed earlier than the print job of the own device (if step S407 is NO), the process proceeds to step S408. Transition. If it is determined in step S407 that the print job of the own apparatus is processed earlier than the print job of the external device 300 (if step S407 is YES), the process of step S409 is performed. Move to the procedure.

<< Function cooperation operation with external device (other WS-Printer device) >>
In the image forming apparatus 100 having the function cooperation control function according to the present embodiment described so far, the external device 300 connected to the network responds to the print request EVN from the information processing apparatus such as a PC, for example. The printer function is linked to the printer function, and the requested printing process is optimally executed.

  The sequence diagram shown below shows an example of linkage processing relating to printing performed between the above-described apparatuses. FIG. 15 shows the processing when a print request EVN is made via WSD, and FIG. 16 shows non-WSD. This is a process when a print request EVN is made through the process.

(When printing is requested via WSD)
FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example (part 1) of the processing procedure of the function cooperation operation between the image forming apparatus 100 and the external device 300 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In the image forming apparatus 100 (WS-Printer client function-equipped device), the WS-printer client function unit 21Cp transmits a GetPrinterElements message requesting acquisition of the printer information 71 to a plurality of external devices 300 connected to the network. (Step S501).

  When the external device 300 receives the GetPrinterElements message, the external device 300 returns the printer information 71 as a GetPrinterElementsResponse message to the acquisition request source image forming apparatus 100 (step S502).

  In the image forming apparatus 100, the WS-Printer client function unit 21Cp passes the printer information 71 acquired from the external device 300 in step S502 to the printer information acquisition manager 43, and instructs to store the printer information 71 (step S503). .

  As a result, the printer information acquisition manager 43 stores the received printer information 71 (holds each determination parameter obtained from the printer information 71), and responds to the WS-Printer client function unit 21Cp that the storage is completed. (Step S504).

  For example, the information processing apparatus 200 such as a client PC generates print data using a printer driver, and transmits a print request EVN to the WS-Printer server function unit 21Sp of the image forming apparatus 100 connected to the network via WSD. (Step S601).

  In the image forming apparatus 100, the WS-Printer server function unit 21Sp confirms the print cooperation control policy with the print information acquisition manager 43 based on the print request EVN (step S602).

  In the image forming apparatus 100, the printer information manager 43 determines the external device 300 that is the target of the print cooperation process and determines whether to execute the print cooperation control (step S603), and the external device 300 is determined and the print cooperation control is performed. When it is determined that the execution is to be performed, both the WS-Printer client function unit 21Cp and the server function unit 21Sp are notified that the execution of the cooperative process related to printing has been determined (steps S604 and S605).

  The WS-Printer client function unit 21Cp receives the notification that the execution of the cooperation process related to printing has been decided, and instructs the determined external device 300 to start the execution of the cooperation process related to printing (step S606). The printer information acquisition manager 43 is notified of the instruction (step S607).

  In addition, the external device 300 responds to the WS-Printer client function unit 21Cp of the image forming apparatus 100 that is the request source that the cooperation process related to printing instructed by the processing procedure of step S606 can be executed (step S608). ).

  On the other hand, the WS-Printer server function unit 21Sp receives the notification that the execution of the cooperation process related to printing has been decided, and the request source information that the printing requested by the processing procedure of step S601 can be executed. It responds to the processing apparatus 200 (step S609).

  As a result, the information processing apparatus 100 transmits the print data generated in the processing procedure of step S601 to the WS-Printer server function unit 21Sp of the image forming apparatus 100 (step S610).

  When the WS-Printer server function unit 21Sp receives the print data, the image forming apparatus 100 transfers the received print data to the WS-Printer client function unit 21Cp (step S611).

  The WS-Printer client function unit 21Cp transmits the transferred print data to the external device 300 that can execute a cooperative process related to printing (step S612).

  As a result, the external device 300 performs print processing on the received print data (print cooperation is performed) (step S613), and the image formation that is the request source indicates that printing has been completed (print cooperation has been completed). It responds to the WS-Printer client function unit 21Cp of the device 100 (step S614).

  When the image forming apparatus 100 accepts that printing has been completed by the WS-Printer client function unit 21Cp, the image forming apparatus 100 notifies the information processing apparatus 200 that is the print request source via the WS-Printer server function unit 21Sp. (Steps S615 and S616).

(When printing is requested via non-WSD)
FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example (part 2) of the processing procedure of the function cooperation operation between the image forming apparatus 100 and the external device 300 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Further, the processing procedure of steps S701 to S704 shown in FIG. 16 is the same as the processing procedure of steps S501 to S504 described with reference to FIG.

  For example, the information processing apparatus 200 such as a client PC generates print data using a printer driver and sends a print request EVN to the non-WSD print function unit FUN of the image forming apparatus 100 connected to the network via the non-WSD. Transmit (step S801).

  In the image forming apparatus 100, the non-WSD print function unit FUN confirms the print cooperation control policy to the print information acquisition manager 43 based on the print request EVN (step S802).

  In the image forming apparatus 100, the printer information manager 43 determines the external device 300 that is the target of the print cooperation processing and the execution determination of the print cooperation control (step S803), and the external device 300 is determined and the print cooperation control is performed. If it is determined that the execution is to be performed, the WS-Printer client function unit 21Cp is notified that execution of the cooperative processing relating to printing has been determined (step S804). Further, the non-WSD printing function unit FUN is notified that the use of the WSD function and the execution of the cooperative process relating to printing have been decided (step S805).

  The WS-Printer client function unit 21Cp receives the notification that the execution of the cooperation process related to printing has been decided, and instructs the determined external device 300 to start the execution of the cooperation process related to printing (step S806). The printer information acquisition manager 43 is notified of the instruction (step S807).

  In addition, the external device 300 responds to the WS-Printer client function unit 21Cp of the image forming apparatus 100 that is the request source that the cooperation process related to printing instructed by the processing procedure of step S806 can be executed (step S808). ).

  On the other hand, the non-WSD print function unit FUN receives the notification that the use of the WSD function and the execution of the cooperation process related to printing have been decided, and indicates that the printing requested by the processing procedure of step S801 can be executed. A response is made to the information processing apparatus 200 that is the request source (step S809).

  As a result, the information processing apparatus 100 transmits the print data generated in the processing procedure of step S801 to the non-WSD print function unit FUN of the image forming apparatus 100 (step S810).

  When the non-WSD print function unit FUN receives the print data, the image forming apparatus 100 transfers the received print data to the printer information acquisition manager 43 (step S811).

  The printer information acquisition manager 43 parses the transferred print data (step S812), and transfers the parsed data to the WS-Printer client function unit 21Cp (step S813).

  The WS-Printer client function unit 21Cp transmits the transferred print data after the parsing to the external device 300 that can execute the cooperative process related to printing (step S814).

  As a result, the external device 300 performs print processing on the received print data (print cooperation is performed) (step S815), and the image formation that is the request source indicates that printing has been completed (print cooperation has been completed). It responds to the WS-Printer client function unit 21Cp of the device 100 (step S816).

  When the image forming apparatus 100 accepts that printing has been completed by the WS-Printer client function unit 21Cp, the image forming apparatus 100 notifies the information processing apparatus 200 that is a print request source via the non-WSD print function unit FUN. (Steps S817 and S818).

<Summary>
As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is in an operation state (a state when a failure occurs or a process according to another request is being performed). If the user cannot respond to the print request EVN from the user, the requested print processing is performed based on the printer information 71 acquired from the plurality of external devices 300 connected to the network according to WSD (predetermined protocol). Is determined optimally, and print data is transmitted to the determined external device 300, thereby instructing the device 300 other than the image forming apparatus 100 to perform cooperation processing.

  As a result, the image forming apparatus 100 can perform cooperation processing with the printer function of the external device 300 by the apparatus 100 itself.

  Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 can efficiently perform the requested predetermined processing (printing) in cooperation with the external device 300 connected to the network. In addition, since the image forming apparatus 100 itself has a function cooperation control function, an environment is reconstructed (software component update) that supports function cooperation according to the software environment of the information processing apparatus 200 such as a PC used by the user. Even without introducing, managing, and operating a server equipped with an environment for controlling function cooperation, function cooperation processing can be realized simply by connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses 100 to a network. And the administrator need not perform troublesome work to control the function linkage.

  So far, the present invention has been described based on the above embodiment, but the “function linkage control function” of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the above embodiment includes each processing procedure described with reference to the drawings. This can be realized by executing the program as a program coded in a programming language suitable for the operating environment (platform) of the controller 13. Therefore, the function cooperation control program according to the embodiment can be stored in the computer-readable recording medium 12b.

  Therefore, the function cooperation control program according to the above embodiment reads these recording media 12b by storing them in the recording media 12b such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a CD (Compact Disc), and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). The image forming apparatus 100 can be installed from the recording medium 12b set in the possible drive device 12a. Further, since the image forming apparatus 100 has a data communication I / F 14 that can be connected to a data transmission path (not shown) such as a network, the function cooperation control program is downloaded using an electric communication line such as the Internet. And can be installed.

  In the above embodiment, the cooperation process of the printing function (printer function) has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this function. Any application function that realizes a service that can be provided by the image forming apparatus 100 or the external device 300 may be a function that improves the processing efficiency of the entire system by function cooperation. For example, when the user tries to use the facsimile function but the image forming apparatus 100 is in the facsimile receiving / transmitting state, the requested image to be transmitted is sent to the destination. Along with information (for example, a FAX number), the data is transmitted to an external device 300 having a facsimile function by function cooperation processing, and data is transmitted.

  In the above-described embodiment, the process of notifying the information processing apparatus 200 that is the process request source that the process has been completed by function cooperation has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this process. . The image forming apparatus 100 displays a screen that notifies the information processing apparatus 200 that is a processing request source of what kind of external device 300 has performed the process, and what kind of process is performed before the cooperation process is performed. A screen for confirming whether the external device 300 performs processing may be displayed. As a result, the user can know how the request is processed in cooperation / cooperation.

  In the above embodiment, an operation for determining whether or not color / monochrome printing is requested is described as an operation example for determining what processing is requested for the data to be processed. However, the present invention is not limited to this content.

  Depending on the contents of the processing request, there are some cases where it is better not to perform the cooperative processing. For example, a request for document storage and a request for confidential printing. These can be determined in the same way as when a request for color / monochrome printing is determined. For example, for the request for color / monochrome printing, the received processing target data is parsed by the printer application 111, and the contents of the processing request designated by the PJL (Printer Job Language) command are interpreted in the data based on the analysis result. As described above, a document storage request or a confidential print request is also interpreted in the same manner before the cooperation process is performed, and the control unit 64 executes the cooperation process according to the interpreted processing request. The start may be controlled.

  Finally, the present invention is not limited to the requirements shown here, such as combinations of other elements with the shapes listed in the above embodiments. With respect to these points, the present invention can be changed within a range that does not detract from the gist of the present invention, and can be appropriately determined according to the application form.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the software structure of NCS which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of a WS-MFP module group according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of the function cooperation control function which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the printer information which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the various determination content based on the parse result which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation | movement content corresponding to the control parameter which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example (part 1) of the processing procedure of the printer information acquisition manager according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example (part 2) of the processing procedure of the printer information acquisition manager according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation content corresponding to the determination result which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example (part 3) of the processing procedure of the printer information acquisition manager according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation | movement content corresponding to the operation state which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example (part 4) of the processing procedure of the printer information acquisition manager according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example (part 1) of a processing procedure of a function cooperation operation between the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention and an external device. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example (part 2) of a processing procedure of a function cooperation operation between the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention and an external device.

Explanation of symbols

11 Operation Panel 11a Input Device 11b Display Device 12 Storage Media I / F
12a drive device 12b recording medium 13 controller 13a ROM
13b RAM
13c CPU
14 Data communication I / F
14a interface device 15 scanner 15a image reading device 16 plotter 16a printing device 17 HDD
20 WS-MFP module group 21p WS-Printer (21Sp: server function unit, 21Cp: client function unit)
21s WS-Scanner
22 DFM module (22S: server function part, 22C: client function part)
31 WS-Discovery (31S: server function unit, 31C: client function unit)
32 WS-Transfer (32S: server function unit, 32C: client function unit)
33 WS-MetadataExchange
34 WS-Addressing
35 WSD-Manager
36 Device information acquisition manager 41p Printer DCP (41Sp: server function unit, 41Cp: client function unit)
42 WS-Eventing (42Sp: server function part, 42Cp: client function part)
43 Printer Information Acquisition Manager 50 SOAP (50S: Server Function Unit, 50C: Client Function Unit)
51 IMC
61 Printer Information Data Parsing Unit 62 Judgment Parameter Holding Unit 63 Control Parameter Setting Unit 64 Control Unit 65 Printing Operation Monitoring Unit 66 Print Data Parsing Unit 71 Printer Information (Information Related to Printers Provided by External Devices (Provided Service Information))
100 Image forming apparatus 101 Hardware resource 102 Engine I / F
103 API
110 Software group 111 Printer application 112 Copy application 113 Fax application 114 Scanner application 115 Net file application 116 Process inspection application 117 Distribution application 120 Platform 121 OS
122 SCS
123 SRM
124 ECS
125 MCS
126 OCS
127 FCS
128 NCS
129 IMH
130 Application 140 Start Unit 150 Control Service 200 Client Terminal (PC)
300 External device (WS-Printer device)
EVN print request FUN Non-WSD (protocol other than WSD) print function part

Claims (11)

A first function for providing device information including application information of the image forming apparatus to the requesting external device in response to the information acquisition request, and a process requested by the application in response to a predetermined processing request An image forming apparatus having at least one second function for executing
The second function is
Detecting means for detecting an operation state of the image forming apparatus;
Obtaining means for obtaining provided service information, which is information relating to a service provided by an application of the external device;
A request process execution instructing unit that causes the external device to execute the process requested by the image forming apparatus based on the operation state detected by the detection unit and the provided service information acquired by the acquisition unit. An image forming apparatus. The request processing execution instruction means includes
Determining means for determining an external device for executing the requested processing based on the provided service information acquired by the acquiring means;
Control means for controlling whether to cause the external device determined by the determination means to execute the requested process;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an instruction unit that instructs an external device that has decided to start execution of a requested process in accordance with control by the control unit. The control means includes
In accordance with the operation state detected by the detection unit, the image forming apparatus determines whether the requested process can be executed, and based on the determination result, the requested process is executed on the determined external device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein whether or not to perform the control is controlled. The image forming apparatus is
Control availability setting means for setting whether to perform control by the control means,
The control means includes
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus controls whether or not to execute the requested processing by the determined external device based on the setting by the control availability setting unit. The image forming apparatus is
Having an analysis means for parsing the provided service information acquired by the acquisition means;
The determining means includes
A plurality of units connected to the image forming apparatus via a data transmission path based on information indicating the performance of an application included in an external device corresponding to the provided service information, obtained from the analysis result of the provided service information by the analyzing unit. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an external device that executes a requested process is determined from the external devices. The determining means includes
When the acquisition unit acquires printer information that is information related to the printing function of the external device,
Based on the information on the presence or absence of the color printing function and the information on the printing speed acquired from the analysis result of the printer information by the analyzing unit, an external device that executes the requested process is determined from the plurality of external devices. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: The determining means includes
Based on the information about the printing speed acquired from the analysis result of the printer information by the analyzing unit, the external device with the fastest printing speed is determined as the external device for executing the requested processing from the plurality of external devices. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6. The determining means includes
The vendor information and model information of the image forming apparatus based on the acquired information of either the vendor information or the model information of the external device corresponding to the printer information acquired from the analysis result of the printer information by the analysis unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the same external device as any one of the information is determined as an external device for executing the requested processing. The image forming apparatus is
Transmission means for transmitting processing target data to the external device;
The transmission means includes
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit data is transmitted after the instruction unit instructs the external device that has decided to start execution of the requested processing. 10. . A first function for providing device information including application information of the image forming apparatus to the requesting external device in response to the information acquisition request, and a process requested by the application in response to a predetermined processing request A function cooperation control method in an image forming apparatus having at least one second function for executing
In the second function,
A detection procedure for detecting an operation state of the image forming apparatus;
An acquisition procedure for acquiring provided service information that is information related to a service provided by an application included in the external device;
A request process execution instruction procedure for causing the external device to execute a process requested by the image forming apparatus based on the operation state detected by the detection procedure and the provided service information acquired by the acquisition procedure. Function linkage control method. In response to the information acquisition request, a first function for providing provided service information including application information of the image forming apparatus to the requesting external device, and the application is requested in response to a predetermined processing request. A function linkage control program in an image forming apparatus having at least one or more second functions for executing processing,
Computer
Detecting means for detecting an operation state of the image forming apparatus;
Obtaining means for obtaining provided service information including information related to a service provided by an application of the external device;
A function linkage control program that functions as a request process execution instructing unit that causes the external device to execute a process requested by the image forming apparatus based on the operation state detected by the detecting unit and the provided service information acquired by the acquiring unit. .

Images