JP2004135323A - Image processing apparatus, image processing system, control method of image processing apparatus, program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve efficiency of communications, to improve development efficiency of an image processing apparatus and to reduce a quantity of resources required for communications when the image processing apparatus and a communicating party mutually exchange an operation request and an operation response to the received operation request. <P>SOLUTION: In the image processing apparatus having a service layer 300 for controlling operations of hardware resources for performing image processing and a plurality of applications 330 for executing operations associated with the operation request utilizing the service layer 300 as a software configuration, a message controller 40 for managing the exchange of the operation request and the operation response is provided to be utilized by the plurality of applications, the operation request to be transmitted to the communicating party and the operation response to the operation request received from the communicating party are simultaneously transmitted to the communicating party, and the operation response to the operation transmitted to the communicating party and the operation request from the communicating party are simultaneously received from the communicating party. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having a communication function and a service function for controlling the operation of hardware resources for performing image processing, and providing a service to a communication partner by using the service function by a plurality of applications. An image processing system including such an image processing device and a communication device with which the image processing device communicates, a control method for such an image processing device, a program for causing a computer to function as such an image processing device, and And a computer-readable recording medium on which such a program is recorded.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a communication system in which communication apparatuses are connected via a network, communication apparatuses exchange messages with each other, thereby causing a communication partner apparatus to perform notification or request. In such a system, a device transmits a command as an operation request to another device to execute an operation, and a transmission partner returns an execution result of the operation as an operation response.
In addition, a part of the communication device constituting the communication system is a communication client, the other part is a communication server, the communication between the communication client and the communication server, always send a communication request from the communication client to the communication server, It is also known to perform the communication by a protocol in which a communication response is returned from a communication server to a communication client of the transmission source.
Therefore, an operation request from the communication client to the communication server is described in the communication request and transmitted, and an operation response to the operation request is described in the communication response and the communication server returns the communication request to the communication client.

On the other hand, the following techniques are known as techniques for transmitting an operation request from a communication server to a communication client to perform an operation.
For example, Patent Literature 1 describes that a remote processor transmits a message instructing a command to be executed to a local processor, and receives a response to the command.
Further, in this document, when a local processor is arranged inside a firewall, a communication request is transmitted from the local processor to a remote processor outside the firewall, and the remote processor sends a communication request to the local processor as a response to the communication request. A technique has also been disclosed in which a command can be transmitted from the outside to the inside of the firewall by transmitting the command.
In this case, the local processor corresponds to the communication client, and the remote processor corresponds to the communication server.
JP 2001-273221 A

In addition, the technology related to such an operation request can be applied to a system that remotely controls the operation of a device connected to a communication device. Patent Literature 2 discloses a remote operation system that operates a blind and a lighting by transmitting a command from a remote operation device having a function of receiving an operation from a user to a remotely operated device having a function of operating a blind and a lighting. An example in which such a technique is applied is described. However, this document does not show that a response to a command is transmitted.
JP-A-2002-135858

In recent years, image processing apparatuses such as printers, facsimile (FAX) apparatuses, digital copiers, scanner apparatuses, and digital multifunction peripherals are provided with the network communication function as described above, and accept operation requests from external devices and respond to the operation requests. It has been proposed to provide a function of performing such an operation and returning an operation response, or conversely, providing an operation request (including a notification or the like) to an external device and receiving an operation response to the operation request. . In this case, an image processing system can be configured by the image processing device and the external device. If the external device is a management device that remotely manages the image processing device, the management device is By exchanging the operation request and the operation response with the remote control system, a remote management system for managing the image processing apparatus can be configured.

By the way, when exchanging messages between a plurality of communication devices, the number of communication devices that transmit commands is not limited to one. It is also possible for a plurality of communication devices to transmit a command to each other, and in this case, the communication device that has received the command is caused to return an execution result to the transmission source of the command. It is required to be. For example, in the case of the above-described remote management system, a request for sensor value acquisition or the like is transmitted from the management apparatus to the image processing apparatus as a command, a response to the request is received, and an abnormality notification or the like is transmitted from the image processing apparatus to the management apparatus as a command. It is conceivable to receive a response to this.
When such an operation is performed, information transmitted from a certain communication device to a communication partner device may be a command for the communication partner device and an execution result of a command received from the communication partner device.

Conventionally, these commands and the execution result have been transmitted separately. However, in such a method, it is necessary to separately establish a communication connection when transmitting a command and when transmitting an execution result for a received command. Therefore, communication overhead becomes large and there is a problem in efficiency.
At present, there are still many environments in which communication via a network is performed by a dial-up connection, and in such an environment, the above point is particularly problematic. In such an environment, it may take several tens of seconds to establish a connection, and a fee is charged each time a connection is established. is there.

Further, the image processing apparatus is provided with various hardware resources such as a scanner, a plotter, a facsimile control unit (FCU) and the like according to the application, and utilizes these hardware resources to make a printer, a facsimile apparatus, a copier, and the like. In many cases, a scanner device is provided with an application for providing a function as a document storage device or a document management device. Then, in such an image processing apparatus, it is the application that executes the operation according to the received operation request.
However, since the application is provided for each function, a plurality of applications are often provided. Therefore, if the application itself manages the operation request and the operation response, it is necessary to design a management program for each application, and there is a problem that the labor required for the development of the entire image processing apparatus increases. In addition, since processing is performed for each application, there is a problem that the amount of resources (for example, memory consumption) required for the management processing increases. Such a problem is particularly remarkable in a multifunctional device called a digital multifunction peripheral.

The object of the present invention is to solve such a problem and to improve the efficiency of communication when an image processing apparatus and its communication partner mutually transmit and receive an operation request and an operation response to the received operation request. It is another object of the present invention to increase the development efficiency of an image processing apparatus and reduce the amount of resources required for transmitting and receiving an operation request and an operation response.

In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a communication unit for communicating with a communication partner, a hardware resource for performing image processing, and a service for controlling an operation of the hardware resource. Means for receiving a communication partner side request as an operation request from the communication partner and returning an operation response as an execution result for the operation request, or generating an image device side request as an operation request for the communication partner. A plurality of application means for receiving an operation response as an execution result with respect to the operation request, wherein the service means generates the execution result and is used by the plurality of application means in the image processing apparatus. Providing message control means for managing transmission and reception of the operation request and an operation response to the operation request; And a means for transmitting a communication request to the communication partner and receiving a communication response to the communication request from the communication partner. The message control unit includes: Transmitting means for transmitting the operation response to the communication partner side request as the communication request to the communication partner via the communication means, and an image device transmitting to the communication partner as a communication response to the communication request Receiving means for collectively receiving an operation response to the request from the communication side and the communication partner side request from the communication partner via the communication means, wherein the message control means is used by a plurality of the application means It is what it was.

Also, the present invention provides a communication unit for communicating with a communication partner, a hardware resource for performing image processing, a service unit for controlling the operation of the hardware resource, and an operation request from the communication partner. Or an operation response that is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is returned, or an image device side request that is an operation request to the communication partner is generated and an operation response that is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is received. A plurality of application units for receiving the operation request, wherein the service unit generates the execution result and is used by the plurality of application units in the image processing apparatus. Message control means for managing the transmission and reception of a response is provided. Means for transmitting and receiving a communication response to the communication request from the communication partner; a first storage means for storing the communication partner request and an operation response to the request in the message control means; Second storage means for storing a device-side request and an operation response to the request, means for notifying the application means of a communication partner request stored in the first storage means, and second storage means Means for notifying the application means of the operation response stored in the communication means, and collecting the operation response to the communication partner request from the first storage means and reading the image equipment request from the second storage means. Means, via the communication means, as the communication request, the operation response and the image device side request read by the collection means to the communication partner. A transmitting means for transmitting the request at once, and a communication response to the communication request as the communication response, the operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner and the communication partner request are collectively transmitted from the communication partner via the communication means. Receiving means for receiving the request from the communication partner, storing the request received by the receiving means in the first storage means, and transmitting an operation response to the image device request transmitted to the communication partner received by the receiving means. An image processing apparatus comprising: a distributing unit for storing in the second storage unit in association with an image device request transmitted to the communication partner, wherein the message control unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units. Also provide.
In such an image processing apparatus, it is preferable that the transmission unit periodically transmits a communication request to the communication partner.

Also, the present invention provides a communication unit for communicating with a communication partner, a hardware resource for performing image processing, a service unit for controlling the operation of the hardware resource, and an operation request from the communication partner. Or an operation response that is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is returned, or an image device side request that is an operation request to the communication partner is generated and an operation response that is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is received. A plurality of application units for receiving the operation request, wherein the service unit generates the execution result and is used by the plurality of application units in the image processing apparatus. Message control means for managing transmission and reception of a response, wherein the communication means includes an HTT Means for transmitting a request and receiving an HTTP response to the HTTP request from the communication partner. The message control means includes a SOAP request describing the content of the image device request and a communication partner received from the communication partner. Transmitting means for describing a SOAP response describing the content of an operation response to the side request in one HTTP request and transmitting the HTTP response to the communication partner via the communication means; and transmitting the HTTP response to the HTTP request as an HTTP response to the communication partner. A SOAP response, which is a SOAP response to the transmitted SOAP request and describes the contents of the operation response to the image device request transmitted to the communication partner, and a SOAP request describing the contents of the communication partner request, are defined as one HTTP. response While described Nsu provided receiving means for receiving through the communication means from the communication partner, the message control unit, also provides an image processing apparatus to which the means utilized in a plurality of said application means.

Further, the present invention provides a communication unit for communicating with a communication partner, a hardware resource for performing image processing, a service unit for controlling operation of the hardware resource, and an operation request from the communication partner. Or an operation response that is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is returned, or an image device side request that is an operation request to the communication partner is generated and an operation response that is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is received. A plurality of application units for receiving the operation request, wherein the service unit generates the execution result and is used by the plurality of application units in the image processing apparatus. Message control means for managing transmission and reception of a response, wherein the communication means includes an HTT Means for transmitting a request and receiving an HTTP response to the HTTP request from the communication partner; storing, in the message control means, a communication partner request as an operation request from the communication partner and an operation response to the request; A first storage unit that stores an image device side request as an operation request to the communication partner and an operation response to the request, and a communication partner side stored in the first storage unit. Means for notifying the request to the application means, means for notifying the application means of the operation response stored in the second storage means, and reading out the operation response to the request of the communication partner from the first storage means. Collecting means for reading the image device side request from the second storage means; A SOAP response describing the contents of the operation response read by the collecting means and a SOAP request describing the contents of the image device side request read by the collecting means are described in one HTTP request and transmitted via the communication means. The communication means in a state where a SOAP response to the SOAP request transmitted to the communication partner and a SOAP request from the communication partner are described in one HTTP response as an HTTP response to the one HTTP request. Receiving means for receiving from the communication partner via the communication partner, the contents of the communication partner side request described in the SOAP request received by the receiving means are stored in the first storage means, and the SOAP response received by the receiving means is received. To the above communication partner described in Distributing means for storing the contents of the operation response to the transmitted image device side request in the second storage means in association with the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner, and providing the message control means An image processing apparatus is also provided which is used as application means.
In such an image processing apparatus, it is preferable that the transmission unit periodically transmits an HTTP request to the communication partner.

Also, the present invention provides a communication unit for communicating with a communication partner, a hardware resource for performing image processing, a service unit for controlling the operation of the hardware resource, and an operation request from the communication partner. Or an operation response that is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is returned, or an image device side request that is an operation request to the communication partner is generated and an operation response that is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is received. A plurality of application units for receiving the operation request, wherein the service unit generates the execution result and is used by the plurality of application units in the image processing apparatus. Message control means for managing the transmission and reception of a response is provided, and a communication request is sent to the communication means from the communication partner. Means for transmitting a communication response to the communication request to the communication partner, wherein the message control means transmits the communication partner request and an operation response to the imaging device request transmitted to the communication partner. Receiving means for collectively receiving the communication request from the communication partner via the communication means, a communication response to the communication request, an operation response to a communication partner request received from the communication partner, and A transmission unit for transmitting the request to the communication partner via the communication unit in a batch, and the image forming apparatus in which the message control unit is a unit used by the plurality of application units.

A communication unit for communicating with the communication partner; a hardware resource for performing image processing; a service unit for controlling operation of the hardware resource; and a communication partner which is an operation request from the communication partner. Side request and returns an operation response as an execution result to the operation request, or a plurality of image device side requests to generate an operation request to the communication partner and receive an operation response as an execution result to the operation request. An image processing apparatus having application means, wherein the service means is used by the plurality of application means when generating the execution result. The image processing apparatus transmits and receives the operation request and an operation response to the operation request. Providing a message control means for managing, receiving, by the communication means, a communication request from the communication partner; Means for transmitting a communication response to the communication request to a communication partner; first storage means for storing the communication partner request and an operation response to the request in the message control means; Second storage means for storing a request and an operation response to the request; means for notifying the application means of a communication partner request stored in the first storage means; and storage in the second storage means. Means for notifying the application means of the received operation response, and an operation response to the communication device side request and the image device side request transmitted to the communication device as the communication request. Receiving means for receiving data via the first communication means and receiving the request from the other party received by the receiving means in the first storage means; Distributing means for storing an operation response to the image device request transmitted to the communication partner in the second storage means in association with the image device request transmitted to the communication partner; A collection unit that reads out the image device side request from the second storage unit while reading from the first storage unit, and an operation response read by the collection unit as a communication response to the communication request received by the reception unit. A transmission unit for transmitting the image device side request and the communication partner to the communication partner via the communication unit at the same time, wherein the message control unit is used by a plurality of the application units. I do.

A communication unit for communicating with the communication partner; a hardware resource for performing image processing; a service unit for controlling operation of the hardware resource; and a communication partner which is an operation request from the communication partner. Side request and returns an operation response as an execution result to the operation request, or a plurality of image device side requests to generate an operation request to the communication partner and receive an operation response as an execution result to the operation request. An image processing apparatus having application means, wherein the service means is used by the plurality of application means when generating the execution result. The image processing apparatus transmits and receives the operation request and an operation response to the operation request. Message control means for managing the communication means, and receiving an HTTP request from the communication partner in the communication means. Means for transmitting an HTTP response to the HTTP request to the communication partner; and providing the message control means with a SOAP request describing the content of the communication partner request and the image device transmitting the communication request to the communication partner. Receiving means for receiving a SOAP response describing the content of an operation response to the request from the communication partner via the communication means in a state described in one HTTP request; and receiving an HTTP response to the HTTP request from the communication partner. A SOAP response describing the content of the operation response to the communication partner side request received from the communication partner, which is a SOAP response to the received SOAP request, and a SOAP request describing the content of the image device side request are defined as one. HTTP Described in Pons provided transmission means for transmitting to the communication partner through the communication means, the message control unit, also provides an image processing apparatus to which the means utilized in a plurality of said application means.

Communication means for communicating with a communication partner; hardware resources for performing image processing; service means for controlling the operation of the hardware resources; and a communication partner which is an operation request from the communication partner. Side request and returns an operation response as an execution result to the operation request, or a plurality of image device side requests to generate an operation request to the communication partner and receive an operation response as an execution result to the operation request. An image processing apparatus having application means, wherein the service means is used by the plurality of application means when generating the execution result. The image processing apparatus transmits and receives the operation request and an operation response to the operation request. Message control means for managing the communication means, and receiving an HTTP request from the communication partner in the communication means. Means for transmitting an HTTP response to the HTTP request to the communication partner; and storing, in the message control means, a communication partner request as an operation request from the communication partner and an operation response to the request. A first storage unit, a second storage unit for storing an image device side request as an operation request to the communication partner and an operation response to the request, and a communication partner side request stored in the first storage unit To the application means, means for notifying the application means of an operation response stored in the second storage means, a SOAP request describing the request of the communication partner, and a request transmitted to the communication partner. A SOAP response to a SOAP request, the Receiving means for receiving a SOAP response describing an operation response from the communication partner via the communication means in a state described in one HTTP request, and a communication partner described in the SOAP request received by the receiving means The content of the request is stored in the first storage unit, and the content of the operation response to the image device request transmitted to the communication partner, which is described in the SOAP response received by the receiving unit, is transmitted to the communication partner. Distributing means for storing in the second storage means in association with the requested image device side request, reading out an operation response to the communication partner side request from the first storage means, and transmitting the image device side request to the second storage means. Collecting means for reading from the storage means, and as the HTTP response to the one HTTP request, the collecting means A SOAP response describing the contents of the read operation response and a SOAP request describing the contents of the image device side request read by the collection unit are described in one HTTP response, and the communication partner is described via the communication unit. And an image processing apparatus in which the message control unit is used as the plurality of application units.
In these image processing apparatuses, the operation request may be a function call, and the operation response may be an execution result of a function called by the function call.

Further, the transmitting means transmits an operation response and an operation request to be transmitted to the communication partner as a SOAP message, respectively, and the receiving means transmits the operation response and the operation request received from the communication partner, It is good to receive each as a SOAP message.
Further, it is preferable that a function call is described in the SOAP request, and an execution result of the function called by the function call is described in the SOAP response.

The control method of the communication device according to the present invention includes a communication unit for communicating with a communication partner, a hardware resource for performing image processing, a service unit for controlling an operation of the hardware resource, It accepts a communication partner request as an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response as an execution result to the operation request, or generates an image device request as an operation request to the communication partner and responds to the operation request. An image processing apparatus having a plurality of application units for receiving an operation response as an execution result, wherein the service unit is a unit used by the plurality of application units when generating the execution result; An image processing system comprising: a communication device that is a communication partner of the device; A message control unit for managing transmission and reception of an operation response to the operation request; transmitting a communication request to the communication partner to the communication unit of the image processing apparatus; and receiving a communication response to the communication request from the communication partner. Means, and the message control means collectively transmits the image device side request and the operation response to the communication partner side request received from the communication partner as the communication request via the communication means. And an operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner and the communication partner request are collectively received from the communication partner via the communication unit as a communication response to the communication request. Receiving means for performing communication, wherein the message control means is used by a plurality of the application means, Receiving means for collectively receiving from the image processing device the image device side request and an operation response to the communication partner side request transmitted to the image processing device as the communication request, and a communication response to the communication request, A transmitting unit that collectively transmits an operation response to the image device side request received from the image processing device and the management device side request to the image processing device, and executes an operation related to the image device side request, and as an execution result Means for generating an operation response to the image device-side request.

Also, the present invention provides a communication unit for communicating with a communication partner, a hardware resource for performing image processing, a service unit for controlling the operation of the hardware resource, and an operation request from the communication partner. Or an operation response that is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is returned, or an image device side request that is an operation request to the communication partner is generated and an operation response that is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is received. A plurality of application means for receiving the execution result, wherein the service means is an image processing apparatus which is a means used by the plurality of application means when generating the execution result, and is a communication partner of the image processing apparatus. In the image processing system including the communication device, the image processing device is provided with the operation request and an operation response to the operation request. Providing a message control means for managing the transmission and reception of the, the communication means of the image processing apparatus, a means for transmitting a communication request to the communication partner, and receiving a communication response to the communication request from the communication partner, A first storage unit that stores the communication partner side request and an operation response to the request in the message control unit; a second storage unit that stores the image device side request and an operation response to the request; Means for notifying the application means of a communication partner request stored in the first storage means, means for notifying the application means of an operation response stored in the second storage means, Collecting means for reading an operation response to the request from the first storage means and reading the image device side request from the second storage means; A transmitting unit that collectively transmits the operation response and the image device side request read by the collecting unit to the communication partner via the communication unit as the communication request, and the communication unit transmits the communication response as a communication response to the communication request. A receiving unit that collectively receives an operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the other party and the communication partner request from the communication partner via the communication unit, and transmits the communication partner request received by the receiving unit to the other party. The second storage unit stores, in the first storage unit, an operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner received by the receiving unit, in association with the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner. Means for storing the message control means, the message control means being means used by the plurality of application means, and First storage means for storing a device-side request and an operation response to the request; second storage means for storing the communication-partner request and an operation response to the request; A request generating means for storing the request in the second storage means of the communication device, and reading the image device side request from the first storage means of the communication device, executing the operation relating to the image device side request, and the execution result Response generating means for generating an operation response to the image device request, storing the operation response in the first storage device of the communication device in association with the read image device request, Receiving means for collectively receiving, from the image processing apparatus, an operation response to the communication partner request transmitted to the image processing apparatus as the communication request; The request is stored in the first storage unit of the communication device, and an operation response to the communication partner request transmitted to the image processing device received by the receiving unit is transmitted to the communication partner request transmitted to the image processing device. Distributing means for storing in the second storage means of the communication apparatus in association with the communication apparatus, reading out an operation response to the image device side request from the first storage means of the communication apparatus, and reading the communication partner side request of the communication apparatus. Collecting means for reading from the second storage means, and as the communication response to the communication request received by the receiving means of the communication device, collectively the operation response and the communication partner request read by the collecting means. And an image processing system provided with a transmission unit for transmitting the image data.
In such an image processing system, it is preferable that the transmission unit of the image processing device periodically transmits a communication request to the communication device.

Also, the present invention provides a communication unit for communicating with a communication partner, a hardware resource for performing image processing, a service unit for controlling the operation of the hardware resource, and an operation request from the communication partner. Or an operation response that is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is returned, or an image device side request that is an operation request to the communication partner is generated and an operation response that is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is received. A plurality of application means for receiving the execution result, wherein the service means is an image processing apparatus which is a means used by the plurality of application means when generating the execution result, and is a communication partner of the image processing apparatus. In the image processing system including the communication device, the operation request and the operation in response to the operation request are transmitted to the image processing device. A message control unit for managing transmission and reception of a response; and a communication unit of the image processing apparatus, wherein the communication unit receives a communication request from the communication partner and transmits a communication response to the communication request to the communication partner. Receiving, by the message control means, the communication partner side request and an operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner side as the communication request collectively from the communication partner through the communication means; Means for transmitting, as a communication response to the communication request, an operation response to the communication partner request received from the communication partner and the image device request to the communication partner via the communication means at a time And the message control means is means used by the plurality of application means, and the communication device is provided with the communication partner side. Transmitting means for transmitting the request and an operation response to the image device side request, which is an operation request from the image processing apparatus, to the image processing apparatus as a communication request, and the image processing as the communication response to the communication request. Receiving means for receiving, from the image processing device, an operation response to the communication partner request transmitted to the device and the image device request collectively from the image processing device; and executing an operation related to the image device request, and executing the image as an execution result. A means for generating an operation response to the device-side request.

Further, the present invention provides a communication unit for communicating with a communication partner, a hardware resource for performing image processing, a service unit for controlling operation of the hardware resource, and an operation request from the communication partner. Or an operation response that is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is returned, or an image device side request that is an operation request to the communication partner is generated and an operation response that is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is received. A plurality of application means for receiving the execution result, wherein the service means is an image processing apparatus which is a means used by the plurality of application means when generating the execution result, and is a communication partner of the image processing apparatus. In the image processing system provided with the communication device, the operation request and the operation response to the operation request are transmitted to the image processing device. Providing a message control means for managing the transmission and reception of the, the communication means of the image processing apparatus, receiving a communication request from the communication partner, and providing means for transmitting a communication response to the communication request to the communication partner, A first storage unit that stores the communication partner side request and an operation response to the request in the message control unit; a second storage unit that stores the image device side request and an operation response to the request; Means for notifying the application means of a communication partner request stored in the first storage means, means for notifying the application means of an operation response stored in the second storage means, The request and the operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner are collectively transmitted as the communication request from the communication partner via the communication unit. Receiving means for receiving, and storing the request of the communication partner received by the receiving means in the first storage means, and receiving the operation response to the request of the imaging device transmitted to the communication partner received by the receiving means, Distributing means for storing in the second storage means in association with the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner; reading out an operation response to the communication partner side request from the first storage means; From the second storage means, and collectively, as a communication response to the communication request received by the receiving means, the operation response read by the collection means and the image device-side request to the communication partner. Transmission means for transmitting data via the communication means, wherein the message control means is used as a plurality of application means, and A first storage unit for storing the image device side request and an operation response to the request, a second storage unit for storing the communication partner request and an operation response to the request, And a request generation unit for generating an image device request from the first storage unit and executing an operation related to the image device side request. A response generation unit that generates an operation response to the device-side request, stores the operation response in the first storage unit in association with the read image-device-side request, and stores the operation response to the image-device-side request in the first storage unit. A collection unit that reads the communication partner side request from the second storage unit while reading the communication partner request from the storage unit; and communicates the operation response read by the collection unit to the image processing apparatus. Transmitting means for collectively transmitting the other party request and the communication request as the communication request; and, as a communication response to the communication request, collectively an operation response to the communication other party request transmitted to the image processing apparatus and the image device side request. Receiving means for receiving from the image processing apparatus, and storing the image device side request received by the receiving means in the first storage means, and communicating with the communication partner which is received by the receiving means and transmitted to the image processing apparatus. There is also provided an image processing system provided with a distributing means for storing an operation response to the request from the communication partner side transmitted to the image processing apparatus in the second storage means in association with the request.
In the above image processing system, the operation request may be a function call, and the operation response may be an execution result of the function called by the function call.

Further, in the image processing apparatus, the transmitting unit transmits an operation response and an operation request to be transmitted to the communication device as SOAP messages, and the receiving unit receives the operation response from the communication device. And an operation request, respectively, received as a SOAP message, and in the communication device, the transmitting unit transmits an operation response and an operation request to be transmitted to the image processing device, as a SOAP message, respectively. The receiving means may receive the operation response and the operation request received from the image processing apparatus as SOAP messages.

The control method of the communication device according to the present invention includes a communication unit for communicating with a communication partner, a hardware resource for performing image processing, a service unit for controlling an operation of the hardware resource, It accepts a communication partner request as an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response as an execution result to the operation request, or generates an image device request as an operation request to the communication partner and responds to the operation request. A method for controlling an image processing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of application means for receiving an operation response as an execution result, wherein the service means is used by the plurality of application means when generating the execution result. The communication means transmits a communication request to the communication partner, and a communication response to the communication request from the communication partner. As a message control process for receiving and controlling the transmission and reception of operation requests and operation responses generated or received by the plurality of application means, the image device side request and the operation response to the communication partner request received from the communication partner are included. A transmission procedure for transmitting the communication request to the communication partner via the communication means in a lump, an operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner as the communication response to the communication request, and the communication The image processing apparatus is configured to execute a receiving procedure of collectively receiving the request from the communication partner from the communication partner via the communication unit.

Also, the present invention provides a communication unit for communicating with a communication partner, a hardware resource for performing image processing, a service unit for controlling the operation of the hardware resource, and an operation request from the communication partner. Or an operation response that is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is returned, or an image device side request that is an operation request to the communication partner is generated and an operation response that is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is received. And a plurality of application means for receiving the application means, wherein the service means is a means used by the plurality of application means when generating the execution result. A communication request is transmitted to a communication partner, and a communication response to the communication request is received from the communication partner. Providing, as a message control process for managing transmission / reception of an operation request and an operation response generated or to be received by the application means, a first storage area for storing the communication partner side request and an operation response to the request; Providing a second storage area for storing the image device side request and an operation response to the request, notifying the application unit of the communication partner request stored in the first storage unit, A procedure of notifying the application means of the operation response stored in the second storage means, reading an operation response to the request of the communication partner from the first storage area, and transmitting the image device request to the second device. The collection procedure read from the storage area, and the operation response and the imaging device request read out in the collection procedure are sent to the communication partner. A transmission procedure for transmitting the communication request as a batch through the communication means, and a communication response to the communication request, an operation response to the image device request transmitted to the communication partner and the communication partner request collectively. A receiving procedure for receiving from the communication partner via the communication means and a communication partner request received in the receiving procedure are stored in the first storage area and transmitted to the communication party received by the receiving means. And a distribution procedure for storing the operation response to the requested image device side request in the second storage area in association with the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner. A control method is also provided.
In such a method for controlling an image processing apparatus, it is preferable that the image processing apparatus periodically transmits a communication request to the communication partner.

Also, the present invention provides a communication unit for communicating with a communication partner, a hardware resource for performing image processing, a service unit for controlling the operation of the hardware resource, and an operation request from the communication partner. Or an operation response that is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is returned, or an image device side request that is an operation request to the communication partner is generated and an operation response that is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is received. And a plurality of application means for receiving the application means, wherein the service means is a means used by the plurality of application means when generating the execution result. A communication request is received from a communication partner, and a communication response to the communication request is transmitted to the communication partner. As a message control process for managing transmission / reception of an operation request and an operation response generated or to be received by the application means, the communication request and the operation response to the image device request transmitted to the communication target are transmitted to the communication request. As a batch, a receiving procedure for receiving from the communication partner via the communication means, and as a communication response to the communication request, an operation response to the communication partner request received from the communication partner, and the image device request Also provided is a method for controlling an image processing apparatus, which causes the image processing apparatus to execute a transmission procedure for transmitting the communication partner to the communication partner via the communication unit.

Further, the present invention provides a communication unit for communicating with a communication partner, a hardware resource for performing image processing, a service unit for controlling operation of the hardware resource, and an operation request from the communication partner. Or an operation response that is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is returned, or an image device side request that is an operation request to the communication partner is generated and an operation response that is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is received. And a plurality of application means for receiving the application means, wherein the service means is a means used by the plurality of application means when generating the execution result. A communication request is received from a communication partner, and a communication response to the communication request is transmitted to the communication partner. Providing, as a message control process for managing transmission / reception of an operation request and an operation response generated or received by the application means, a first storage area for storing the communication partner side request and an operation response to the request; Providing a second storage area for storing the image device side request and an operation response to the request, notifying the application unit of the communication partner request stored in the first storage area, The procedure of notifying the application means of the operation response stored in the second storage area, and the operation request for the communication partner side request and the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner side are collectively described as the communication request. A receiving procedure for receiving from a communication partner via the communication means, and a request of the communication partner received in the receiving procedure are stored in the first record. An operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner received in the receiving procedure is stored in the second storage region in association with the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner. A distribution procedure, an operation response to the communication partner request read from the first storage area, a collection procedure to read the image device request from the second storage area, and a communication procedure received from the reception procedure. Image processing for causing the image processing apparatus to execute, as a communication response, a transmission procedure of collectively transmitting the operation response and the image device request read in the collection procedure to the communication partner via the communication unit. A method for controlling the device is also provided.

In these control methods of the image processing apparatus, the operation request may be a function call, and the operation response may be an execution result of a function called by the function call.
Further, in the transmitting procedure, an operation response and an operation request to be transmitted to the communication partner are transmitted as SOAP messages, and in the receiving procedure, an operation response and an operation request received from the communication partner are It is good to receive each as a SOAP message.

Further, the program of the present invention includes a communication unit for communicating a computer that controls the image processing apparatus with a communication partner, a service unit for controlling the operation of hardware resources that perform image processing, The communication partner side request that is the operation request is received and an operation response that is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is returned, or the imaging device side request that is the operation request to the communication partner is generated and the execution result corresponding to the operation request is generated. In a program that functions as a plurality of application units that receive a certain operation response and uses the service unit as a unit used by the plurality of application units when generating the execution result, the computer further includes the operation request and the operation request. Message control means for managing transmission and reception of an operation response to the operation request The communication means has a function of transmitting a communication request to the communication partner, and receiving a communication response to the communication request from the communication partner. And a function of transmitting means for transmitting, together with the communication request, the operation response to the communication partner request received from the communication partner to the communication partner via the communication means as the communication request, and a communication for the communication request. As a response, a function of a receiving means for collectively receiving the operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner and the communication partner request from the communication partner via the communication means, and providing the message control The means is a means used by a plurality of the application means.

Also, the present invention provides a computer for controlling an image processing apparatus, a communication unit for communicating with a communication partner, a service unit for controlling operation of hardware resources for performing image processing, and an operation from the communication partner. The communication partner side request which is a request is received and an operation response which is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is returned, or the image device side request which is an operation request to the communication partner is generated and the operation which is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is generated. In a program in which the plurality of application means for receiving a response function and the service means is used by the plurality of application means to generate the execution result, the computer further includes the operation request and the operation. Function as a message control means for managing the transmission and reception of operation responses to requests The communication means has a function of transmitting a communication request to the communication partner and receiving a communication response to the communication request from the communication partner. As a function of the message control means, the communication partner request and the request are provided. A function of a first storage unit for storing an operation response to the request, a function of a second storage unit for storing the image device side request and an operation response to the request, and a function of the first storage unit. The function of the means for notifying the application means of the communication partner request, the function of the means of notifying the application means of the operation response stored in the second storage means, and the operation response to the request of the communication partner The function of the collection means for reading out the image device side request from the second storage means while reading it from the first storage means, and A function of a transmitting unit that collectively transmits the operation response and the image device side request read by the collecting unit as the communication request via the communication unit, and an image transmitted to the communication partner as a communication response to the communication request. A function of receiving means for collectively receiving an operation response to the device side request and the communication partner side request from the communication partner via the communication means, and transmitting the communication partner side request received by the receiving means to the first communication terminal; In addition to storing in the storage unit, the operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner received by the reception unit is stored in the second storage unit in association with the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner. A function of a distributing means for causing the message control means to be used by a plurality of the application means is also provided.
In such a program, the transmitting means may be provided with a function of periodically transmitting a communication request to the communication partner.

Also, the present invention provides a computer for controlling an image processing apparatus, a communication unit for communicating with a communication partner, a service unit for controlling operation of hardware resources for performing image processing, and an operation from the communication partner. The communication partner side request which is a request is received and an operation response which is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is returned, or the image device side request which is an operation request to the communication partner is generated and the operation which is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is generated. In a program in which the plurality of application means for receiving a response function and the service means is used by the plurality of application means to generate the execution result, the computer further includes the operation request and the operation. Functions as a message control means for managing the transmission and reception of operation responses to requests. The communication means, provided with a function of receiving a communication request from the communication partner, and transmitting a communication response to the communication request to the communication partner, as a function of the message control means, the communication partner side request, The operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner is collectively received as the communication request from the communication partner via the communication unit, and the function of the receiving unit, as the communication response to the communication request, An operation response to the communication partner side request received from the communication partner, and a function of a transmission unit that collectively transmits the image device side request to the communication partner through the communication unit are provided, and the message control unit includes: A program is also provided as means used by the plurality of application means.

Further, the present invention provides a computer for controlling an image processing apparatus, a communication unit for communicating with a communication partner, a service unit for controlling operation of hardware resources for performing image processing, and an operation from the communication partner. The communication partner side request which is a request is received and an operation response which is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is returned, or the image device side request which is an operation request to the communication partner is generated and the operation which is an execution result corresponding to the operation request is generated. In a program in which the plurality of application means for receiving a response function and the service means is used by the plurality of application means to generate the execution result, the computer further includes the operation request and the operation. Functions as a message control unit that manages the transmission and reception of operation responses to requests The communication means is provided with a function of receiving a communication request from the communication partner and transmitting a communication response to the communication request to the communication partner, and as a function of the message control means, A function of a first storage unit for storing an operation response to the request, a function of a second storage unit for storing the image device side request and an operation response to the request, and storage in the first storage unit A function of notifying the application means of the received communication partner request, a function of notifying the application means of an operation response stored in the second storage means, the communication partner request and the communication A function of receiving means for collectively receiving an operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the other party as the communication request from the other party via the communication means; The first storage means stores the communication partner request received by the receiving means in the first storage means, and the operation response to the image device request transmitted to the communication partner received by the receiving means is transmitted to the communication partner. The function of the distribution means to be stored in the second storage means in association with the image device side request and the operation response to the communication partner request are read out from the first storage means, and the image device side request is read by the second storage means. The function of the collecting means to be read from the storage means and the communication response to the communication request received by the receiving means. And a function of transmitting means for transmitting the message through the application means, wherein the message control means is means used by a plurality of the application means. Program is also provided.

In these programs, the operation request may be a function call, and the operation response may be an execution result of a function called by the function call.
Further, the function of the transmitting means is a function of transmitting an operation response and an operation request to be transmitted to the communication partner as a SOAP message, respectively, and the function of the receiving means is an operation response and an operation of receiving from the communication partner. The request may be a function of receiving the request as a SOAP message.

The recording medium of the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium on which any of the above programs is recorded.

According to the image processing apparatus, the image processing system, or the control method of the image processing apparatus of the present invention as described above, the image processing apparatus and the communication device with which the image processing apparatus communicates use the communication request and the communication response thereto. When configuring an image processing system for mutually transmitting and receiving an operation request and an operation response to a received operation request, communication efficiency can be improved. Further, in a case where the image processing apparatus constituting such an image processing system is configured to perform processing in accordance with an operation request received by a plurality of applications using service means for controlling hardware resources, It is possible to increase the development efficiency of the device and reduce the amount of resources required for transmitting and receiving an operation request and an operation response.
Further, according to the program of the present invention, the features can be realized by causing a computer to function as the above-described image processing apparatus, and the same effect can be obtained. According to the recording medium of the present invention, the above-mentioned effect can be obtained by causing a computer that does not store the above program to read and execute the program.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of an image processing system of the present invention configured using the image processing apparatus of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing system is configured by connecting an image processing apparatus 1 of the present invention and an external device 2 that is a communication partner of the image processing apparatus 1 by a network 10.
The image processing apparatus 1 can be configured as a device having a communication function, such as a printer, a facsimile (FAX) device, a digital copying machine, a scanner device, or a digital multifunction device. The external device 2 has a communication function. And various electronic devices having a communication function and an information processing function. As the network 10, various communication paths capable of network communication can be used regardless of wired or wireless, including the Internet and a LAN (local area network).

The image processing device 1 and the external device 2 have application programs for performing mutual control and management. Each of these nodes transmits an “operation request”, which is a request for processing to a method of an application program to be mounted, by RPC (Remote Procedure Call), and an “operation response” that is a result of the requested processing. "Can be obtained. That is, the image processing device 1 can generate a request to the external device 2 (hereinafter, referred to as an image device side request), pass it to the external device 2, and acquire a response to the request, while the external device 2 A request to the image processing apparatus 1 (hereinafter referred to as an external apparatus side request) is generated and transferred to the image processing apparatus 1, and a response to the request can be obtained.

Here, it is assumed that the method is defined as a logical function that defines input and output formats. In this case, the operation request is a function call (Procedure Call) for calling this function, and the operation response is an execution result of the function called by the function call. The content of the request by the operation request includes a notification without a meaningful execution result.
Further, specific examples of the external device side request include a print request (in the case of a printer) and a FAX transmission request (in the case of a FAX device). Specific examples of the image device side request include the operation status of the device. A notification, a data transfer request, or the like can be considered.

FIG. 2 shows the relationship between these operation requests and operation responses.
FIG. 2A shows a case where an operation request to the external device 2 is generated in the image processing apparatus 1. In this case, the image processing device 1 generates an image processing device-side operation request, transmits the request to the external device 2, and the external device 2 that has received the request returns an operation response to the request.

FIG. 2B illustrates a case where an operation request to the image processing apparatus 1 is generated in the external apparatus 2. In this case, the external device 2 generates an external device-side request, transmits the request to the image processing device 1, and the image processing device 1 that has received the request returns an operation response to the request.
Here, SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) is adopted as a protocol for transferring arguments and return values by RPC, and the above operation request and operation response are described here as SOAP messages.

One of the features of the present invention is that when a plurality of communication apparatuses mutually transmit and receive an operation request and an operation response to a received operation request, an operation request to be transmitted to a communication partner apparatus and a communication partner apparatus thereof This is to transmit the operation response to the operation request received from the PC in a lump.
As a communication protocol for actually transferring an operation request or an operation response, an appropriate protocol can be adopted according to the system configuration. For example, HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) or SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) Can be adopted. Here, an embodiment in which HTTP is used will be described.

[First Embodiment: FIGS. 3 to 32]
When the image processing system as shown in FIG. 1 is configured and HTTP is used as a communication protocol, a configuration in which the image processing apparatus 1 functions as a communication client and a configuration in which the image processing apparatus 1 functions as a communication server can be considered. First, an embodiment in which the image processing apparatus 1 functions as a communication client will be described.
FIG. 3 shows a configuration of an image processing apparatus management system which is an example of the image processing system shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the image processing apparatus management system is configured by connecting an image processing apparatus 11 and a management apparatus 12 for managing the image processing apparatus 11 via the Internet 13. However, in order to improve security, the image processing apparatus 11 is connected to the Internet 13 via a firewall 14. The image processing device 11 functions as an HTTP client that is a communication client, and the management device 12 functions as an HTTP server that is a communication server of the communication partner.

When communication is performed using HTTP, a node inside the firewall 14 cannot be freely accessed from outside the firewall 14, and a communication response (HTTP request) to a communication request (HTTP request) from the node is not possible. Response) is often set so that data can be transmitted only in the form of a response. Therefore, in this communication system, the image processing device 11 inside the firewall 14 functions as an HTTP client, and the management device 12 outside the firewall functions as an HTTP server. Therefore, the function of each of these devices does not need to be limited to the client or server except for the communication between them.

The image processing apparatus 11 and the management apparatus 12 have application programs for performing mutual control and management, as in the case of the image processing apparatus 1 and the external apparatus 2 shown in FIG. Then, by RPC (Remote Procedure Call), an “operation request”, which is a request for processing to a method of an application program to be mounted on each other, is transmitted, and an “operation response” as a result of the requested processing is obtained. I can do it.

FIG. 4 shows the relationship between these operation requests and operation responses.
FIG. 4A shows a case where an operation request to the management device 12 is generated in the image processing device 11. In this case, the image processing device 11 generates an image device-side operation request (corresponding to the image device-side request; hereinafter, also referred to as an “image device command”), transmits it to the management device 12, and receives the management device 12 12 is a model that returns an operation response to the command (hereinafter, also referred to as “command response” or simply “response”).

FIG. 4B illustrates a case where an operation request to the image processing apparatus 11 is generated in the management apparatus 12. In this case, the management device 12 generates a management device-side operation request (corresponding to a communication partner side request, hereinafter also referred to as a “management device command”), transmits the request to the image processing device 11, and receives the received image processing request. The model is such that the device 11 returns an operation response to the command.
As described above, the operation request and the operation response are handled symmetrically between the image processing apparatus 11 and the management apparatus 12 at the RPC level. However, it is not symmetric at the level of communication.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a communication sequence in the image processing apparatus management system.
As shown in the figure, in this communication system, communication is always performed by transmitting an HTTP request as a communication request from the image processing device 11 to the management device 12, and transmitting an HTTP response from the management device 12 as a communication response to the communication request. It is performed in the procedure of returning to the processing device 11. For example, the management device 12 returns an HTTP response X to the HTTP request X transmitted by the image processing device 11, and returns an HTTP response Y to the HTTP request Y.

The HTTP request includes an image device command, which is an operation request transmitted from the image processing apparatus 11 to the management apparatus 12, and a response (command response) to the management apparatus command transmitted from the management apparatus 12 to the image processing apparatus 11. And send it. The HTTP response includes a management device command that is an operation request transmitted from the management device 12 to the image processing device 11, a response (command response) to the image device command transmitted from the image processing device 11 to the management device 12, and the like. And send it.

Therefore, for example, the image device command A can be transferred by describing it in the HTTP request X, and the command response can be transferred by describing the command response in the HTTP response X corresponding to the HTTP request X. On the other hand, the management device command C is described and transferred in the HTTP response X corresponding to the HTTP request X, and the command response is described and transferred in the HTTP request Y which is the next HTTP request.

Also, in the case of FIG. 4A, the image processing apparatus 11 can establish a connection with the management apparatus 12 immediately after the image device command is generated, and can deliver the HTTP request including the command. In the case of FIG. 4 (B), the firewall 14 installed on the image processing apparatus 11 blocks the HTTP request from the management apparatus 12, so that the management apparatus 12 accesses the image processing apparatus 11 and immediately transmits the management apparatus command. Cannot be delivered. Therefore, the management device command cannot be transmitted until there is an HTTP request from the image processing device 11.

Note that an arbitrary number (or may be 0) of responses to the imaging device command and the management device command can be described in one HTTP request. May be described in one HTTP response. Then, the contents described in one HTTP request or HTTP response are logically and collectively transferred.
By doing so, the number of connections required to transfer necessary information is reduced, overhead is reduced, and communication efficiency is improved.

FIG. 6 shows another example of a communication sequence in this communication system.
For the sake of explanation, FIG. 5 shows an example of a very simple sequence, but FIG. 6 shows an example in which the number of commands and command responses described in each HTTP request or HTTP response is not constant.
Further, when a command is received, it is not necessary to return a response at the next transmission opportunity. For example, as in an image device command B shown in FIG. 6, a response is described in an HTTP response X 'corresponding to an HTTP request X' in which a command is described, and a response is described in a subsequent HTTP response Y '. You may return it.
Of course, the same applies to the management device command, and there is no need to describe the response to the command in the HTTP request next to the HTTP response describing the management device command. Then, it may be transferred in a later HTTP request.

By the way, since each command and command response are generated independently and should be provided for processing, in order to perform the batch transfer as described above, these commands and command responses must be transmitted before the transfer. It is necessary to perform processing for combining and separating after transfer. Next, a description will be given of a hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus 11 and the management apparatus 12, a software configuration and a functional configuration for performing such processing, and a procedure of the processing.

First, FIG. 7 shows an outline of a hardware configuration of the management device 12.
The management device 12 includes a modem 121, a communication terminal 122, a proxy (Proxy) server 123, an operator terminal 124, a database 125, a control device 126, and the like.
The modem 121 controls communication with the image processing apparatus 11 via a public line, and modulates and demodulates data to be transmitted and received. The modem 121 and a communication terminal 122 described later function as communication means.
The communication terminal 122 transmits and receives data to and from the image processing apparatus 11 via a public line.
The proxy server 123 transmits and receives data to and from the image processing apparatus 11 via the Internet 13 and performs security management. The proxy server 123 also functions as a communication unit.

The operator terminal 124 is a terminal operated by the operator of the management center, and accepts input of various data by an operation on an input device such as a keyboard by the operator, and displays information to be notified to the operator on a display unit. . The input data includes, for example, customer information such as an IP address and a call destination telephone number used when each image processing apparatus 11 communicates with the management apparatus 12.
The database 125 is stored in a storage device such as a hard disk device of a database server (not shown). Various data such as data is stored.

The control device 126 includes a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (not shown), and controls the entire management device 12 as a whole. The CPU executes the control program stored in the ROM or the like as necessary, and uses the modem 121, the communication terminal 122, the proxy server 123, the operator terminal 124, or the database 125 to provide the functions according to the present invention. (Functions as transmission means, reception means, first and second storage means, request generation means, response generation means, collection means, distribution means, and other means) can be realized.
The configuration of the management device is not limited to this, and may be configured using, for example, one PC.

Next, FIG. 8 shows a hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus 11.
Here, the image processing apparatus 11 is configured as a digital multifunction peripheral having functions such as a printer, a facsimile (FAX) apparatus, a digital copier, a scanner apparatus, and a document management apparatus. As shown in FIG. ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 202, SDRAM 203, flash memory (non-volatile memory) 204, NRS memory 205, PHY (physical media interface) 206, NVRAM (non-volatile memory) 207, operation unit 209, HDD (hard disk drive) 210, modem 211, PI (personal interface) 212, FCU (fax control unit) 213, USB (Universal Serial Bus) 214, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 1394_215, engine I / F 21 , And includes an engine unit 217. These configurations are hardware resources for performing image processing such as image reading, image formation, and image information transmission.

The CPU 201 is an arithmetic processing unit that performs data processing (control of each function) via the ASIC 202.
The ASIC 202 is a multifunctional chip including a CPU interface, an SDRAM interface, a local bus interface, a PCI interface, a MAC (Media Access Controller), an HDD interface, and the like. It supports high-efficiency development of applications (application software) and common system services.
Further, the ASIC 202 is directly connected to an operation unit 209 such as an operation panel for receiving an operation command of each engine unit and the like, and a PHY 206 is also directly connected thereto. Also, the FCU 213, USB 214, IEEE 1394_215, and LP 216 are connected via the PCI bus 218, and the modem 211, PI 212, and the like are directly connected as necessary.

The CPU 201 reads out a necessary control program from a storage unit such as the flash memory 204 or the HDD 210 via the ASIC 202, and develops and executes the control program on the SDRAM 203 or the like, thereby functioning as a processing unit for processing information. be able to.
The SDRAM 203 is a program memory for developing various programs including an OS, and a main memory used as a work memory used when the CPU 201 performs data processing. Note that a DRAM or an SRAM may be used instead of the SDRAM 203.

The flash memory 204 includes, for example, a boot loader (boot program) for starting the image processing apparatus 11, an OS image as an OS file, a program memory for storing various programs described later, a fixed parameter memory for storing various fixed parameters, and the like. A non-volatile memory (storage means) used as a memory, and retains the stored contents even when the power is turned off. Instead of the flash memory 204, another nonvolatile memory such as a nonvolatile RAM in which a backup circuit using a RAM and a battery is integrated, or an EEPROM may be used.

The NRS memory 205 is a non-volatile memory that stores an NRS application described later, and an NRS function can be added as an option.
The PHY 206 is an interface for communicating with an external device via a LAN.
The NVRAM 207 stores, for example, a model number memory for storing a model number as identification information of the image processing apparatus 11, a memory for storing initial values for operation by the operation unit 209, and an initial value for each application (APL). A non-volatile memory (storage means) used as a memory for storing the counter information (charging counter data), a memory for storing the setting status of itself or a communication partner, network address information, and model information such as a protocol. Yes, the stored contents are retained even when the power is turned off. As the NVRAM 207, a nonvolatile RAM in which a backup circuit using a RAM and a battery is integrated, or a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM or a flash memory can be used.

The operation unit 209 is operation display means (operation means and display means).
The HDD 210 is a storage unit (recording medium) that stores data regardless of whether the power is on or off. The HDD 210 may store the program in the flash memory 204 and other data, or the data in the NVRAM 207. It is also preferable that data to be periodically collected, updated, transmitted, and the like are stored in the HDD 210.
The modem 211 is a modulation / demodulation unit, and when transmitting data to the management device 12 via a public line, modulates the data so that the data can be transmitted to the public line. When receiving the modulated data transmitted from the management device 12, the data is demodulated.

The PI 212 has an interface conforming to the RS485 standard, and is connected to a public line via a line adapter (not shown).
The FCU 213 controls communication with an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine or a digital multifunction peripheral having a FAX device or a modem function (FAX communication function) and an external device such as the management device 12 via a public line.
USB 214 and IEEE 1394 — 215 are USB and IEEE 1394 standard interfaces for communicating with peripheral devices, respectively.
The engine I / F 216 is an interface for connecting the engine unit 217 to a PCI bus.
The engine unit 217 includes an image reading / forming engine including a known scanner engine and a plotter engine, and a post-processing unit that performs post-processing such as sorting, punching, and stapling on paper on which an image is formed by the plotter engine. And so on.

In such an image processing apparatus 11, when power is turned on (power is turned on), the CPU 201 activates a boot loader in the flash memory 204 via the ASIC 202, reads an OS image in the flash memory 204 according to the boot loader, and reads the OS image in the SDRAM 203. And expand it to a usable OS. Then, when the deployment of the OS is completed, the OS is started. After that, various functions can be realized by reading out a program such as an application in the flash memory 204 or an NRS application in the NRS memory 205 as needed, loading it into the SDRAM 203, developing it, and activating it. .

Next, FIG. 9 shows a software configuration of the image processing apparatus 11.
As shown in this figure, the software configuration of the image processing apparatus 11 includes an uppermost application module layer (application layer) 320, a lower service module layer (service layer) 300, and an operating system (OS) 312. The programs constituting the software are stored in the flash memory 204 or the HDD 210, read out as needed, and executed by the CPU 201. The CPU 201 executes these programs as needed, and controls the apparatus, so that the functions (application means, service means, communication means, message control means, functions as other means) according to the present invention are performed. Can be realized.
The OS 312 is an operating system such as UNIX (registered trademark), and executes each program of the service layer 300 and the application layer 320 as a process in parallel.

The service layer 300 includes a system control service (SCS) 301, an engine control service (ECS) 302, a memory control service (MCS) 303, an operation control service (OCS) 304, a fax control service (FCS) 305, and a customer support system. (CSS) 306, user control service (UCS) 307, delivery control service (DCS) 308, network control service (NCS) 309, system resource manager (SRM) 310, and image memory handler (IMH) 311. Further, a copy application 321, a fax application 322, a printer application 323, a scanner application 324, a net file application 325, an NRS (new remote service) application 326, and a document box application 327 are mounted on the application layer 320.

Here, each program of the service layer 300 is a program for causing the CPU 201 to function as a service unit for controlling the operation of the hardware resources. The programs of the application layer 320 include the CPU 201 as a command for the management device 12. And a program for functioning as application means for receiving a command response as an execution result thereof and receiving a command from the management device 12 and returning a command response as an execution result thereof.

These will be described in more detail.
The SRM 310 is a module that controls the system and manages resources together with the SCS 301. The SRM 310 arbitrates requests from upper layers that use hardware resources such as engines, memories, HDDs, and various I / Fs. Performs the operation related to each request. Specifically, it is determined whether the hardware resource requested to be used is available (whether it is not used by another request), and if available, the usage scheduling of the requested hardware resource is performed. And execute the operation related to the request content.

The SCS 301 is a module that performs start management and end management of each application program in the application module layer according to the content of a command, and (1) manages an application, (2) controls an operation unit, and (3) displays a system screen. Control, (4) display control of LED (light emitting diode), (5) resource management, (6) application interrupt control, and the like.
Specifically, in (1) application management, processing of registering an application and notifying the information to another application is performed. For the registered application, the status of the engine is notified according to the system setting and the request setting from the application. In addition, the registered application is inquired about the transition to the power saving mode, the interruption mode, and the like, as to whether or not the transition of the system state is possible.

(2) In the control of the operation unit, exclusive control of the right to use the operation unit 209 is performed for each application. Then, the key operation information from the OCS 304 is exclusively notified to the application having the right to use the operation unit 209.
(3) In the display control of the system screen, a warning screen corresponding to the engine state is displayed according to the request content from the application having the right to use the operation unit 209. Among these, there are those which turn on / off the warning display according to the state of the application such as a user restriction screen. In addition to the display of the warning screen, display control of a job list screen for displaying a job reservation / execution status, a counter screen for displaying a total counter value, and the like are also included in this processing.

(4) In the display control of the LED, display control of a system LED such as a warning LED and an application key is performed.
(5) In resource management, the ECS 302 performs exclusive control of engine resources (scanners, staples, etc.) that require exclusive control of usage rights when executing a job.
(6) In the interrupt control of an application, control is performed to cause a specific application to operate preferentially.

The ECS 302 is a module that controls hardware resources such as an engine, and performs image reading, printing, status notification, jam recovery, and the like.
More specifically, a series of copy / scan / print operations are realized by sequentially issuing print requests to the SRM 310 in accordance with the job mode designation received from the application. It is assumed that a job to be handled by the ECS 302 has a scanner (SCANNER) specified as an image input device or a plotter (PLOTTER) specified as an image output device.

For example, “SCANNER → PLOTTER” is specified for a copy operation, “SCANNER → MEMORY” is specified for file storage, and “SCANNER → FAX_OUT” is specified for facsimile transmission. In addition, in the case of storage file printing or printing from the printer application 323, “MEMORY → PLOTTER” is designated, and in the case of facsimile reception, “FAX_IN → PLOTTER” is designated.

Although the definition of a job differs depending on the application, a processing operation for one set of images handled by a user is defined as one job. For example, in the case of the copy application 321, the operation of copying one bundle of documents is one job, in the case of the fax application 322, one document transmission operation or one document reception operation is one job, and in the case of the printer application, Means that the printing operation of one document is one job.

The MCS 303 is a module that performs memory control, and performs, for example, acquisition and release of an image memory, use of the HDD 210, compression and decompression of image data, and the like.
Here, functions for managing necessary information regarding image data files stored in the HDD 210 include (1) a file access (generation / deletion / open / close) function (including exclusive processing), and (2) a file name. / ID (file / user) / password / accumulation time / number of pages / data format (compression method, etc.) / Access restriction / creation application / management of various file attributes such as printing conditions, etc. (3) Combining in file and page units / Insert / cut function (management of image data in physical page units as files), (4) file sort function (accumulation time order / user ID order, etc.), (5) notification of all file information (display / search) (6) recovery function (file / page discard of damaged file), (7) automatic file deletion function, and the like.

The functions for holding and accessing image data in a memory such as a RAM include (1) a function of acquiring file and page / band attribute information from an application, and (2) securing and releasing an image data area from an application. , And a function of performing an operation in accordance with a read (Write) request.

The OCS 304 is a module that controls the operation unit 209 serving as information transmission means between the operator and the image processing apparatus 11. The OCS 304 notifies the main body control of an operator's key operation event. , A process of managing the constructed GUI information for each application, a process of reflecting the display on the operation panel, and the like.
The OCS 304 includes (1) a function of providing library information for GUI construction, (2) a function of managing hardware resources of the operation unit 209, and (3) a video drawing / LCD (liquid crystal display) display function. (Functions such as hardware display, display application switching, display language switching, window dark display, message / icon blink display, message link display, etc.), (4) hardware key input detection function, (5) touch panel key input detection function, (6) It has an LED output function and (7) a buzzer output function.

The FCS 305 is a module that performs facsimile transmission / reception, facsimile reading, facsimile reception printing, and the like. The facsimile transmission / reception using a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) / ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) network from each application of the system controller, and a BKM (backup) ) Provides an API (Application Program Interface) for performing registration / quotation, facsimile reading, facsimile reception printing, and fusion image reception of various facsimile data managed in (1).

More specifically, the FCS 305 includes (1) a transmission function of transmitting a document requested to be transmitted from an application to a facsimile receiver using a PSTN / ISDN network, (2) a facsimile reception screen received from a PSTN / ISDN network, Reception function for transferring and printing various reports to each application, (3) Phonebook quotation / registration function for quoting and registering facsimile management items such as phonebook and group information stored in the fax board, (4) A fax log notification function for notifying an application that needs the transmission / reception result history information stored in the BKM mounted on the fax board, and (5) registered when the status of the fax board changes. It has an event notification function for notifying the event that the application has changed.

The CSS 306 is a module that converts data when transmitting / receiving data via a public line, and a module that collects functions related to remote management via a public line.
The UCS 307 is a module that manages user information such as destination information and address information registered by the user.
The DCS 308 is a module that transmits and receives image files and the like stored in memories such as the HDD 210 and the flash memory 204 using Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) or File Transfer Protocol (FTP).

The NCS 309 is a module that performs an intermediary process between the network and each application in the application layer 320, and provides a service that can be commonly used for applications that require a network I / F. Then, data received from the network by each protocol (here, HTTP) is distributed to each application, and mediation is performed when data is transmitted from each application to the network. Specifically, at least an HTTP request transmission function and an HTTP response reception function are realized. In the image processing apparatus 11, at least mediation of transmission and reception of a command and a command response is performed via the message controller 40 as described later.
The IMH 311 is a module that manages a memory for temporarily storing image data.

The copy application 321 is an application program for implementing a copy service.
The fax application 322 is an application program for implementing a fax service.
The printer application 323 is an application program for implementing a printer service.
The scanner application 324 is an application program for implementing a scanner service.
The net file application 325 is an application program for realizing a net file service.
The NRS application 326 is an application program that summarizes functions related to remote management via a network.
The document box application 327 is an application program for realizing a document box service that stores images as documents and enables file transmission and print output as needed.

In the image processing apparatus 11, each application uses each program of the service layer 300 when executing an operation in response to a command to generate an execution result, and issues a request here to operate a hardware resource. I have to. Since the service layer 300 is configured to be commonly used by each application, there is no need to prepare a program for controlling hardware resources for each application, thereby improving development efficiency and reducing processing load. ing.

In the image processing apparatus 11, a message controller 40 is provided as a program for controlling transmission and reception of commands and command responses with a communication partner such as the management apparatus 12, in addition to the above-described programs. I have. This program accumulates commands and command responses, distributes them to applications, sends and receives them to and from external devices, combines commands and command responses before transmission, and separates them after reception. The feature of the present invention is that such a program and functions realized by the program are provided.

Next, a function realized by causing the CPU 201 to execute the message controller 40 will be described. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram mainly showing the functions of the image processing apparatus 11 implemented by the message controller 40.
As illustrated in FIG. 10, the CPU 201 executes the message controller 40 to control each unit of the image processing apparatus 11, thereby controlling the image device command pool 41, the management device command pool 42, the command response notification unit 43, the command notification unit 44, the functions of the transmission message collection unit 45 and the reception message distribution unit 48 are realized.
The image device command pool 41 and the management device command pool 42 are provided in any of the rewritable storage units. For example, it can be provided in the flash memory 204, but may be provided in the SDRAM 203 or the HDD 210.
The HTTP request transmitting unit 46 and the HTTP response receiving unit 47 correspond to communication units, and are functions realized by executing the NCS 309.

These functions will be described in more detail.
First, the image device command pool 41 corresponds to a second storage area provided in the image processing apparatus 11, and includes an image device command which is a command for the management device 12 created by each application of the application layer 320, and a response to this command. And a pool for registering the command in association with the identification information of the command. The management device command pool 42 corresponds to a first storage area provided in the image processing device 11, and associates a management device command received from the management device 12, a response to the command, and identification information of the command. It is a pool to register. In these pools, a command sheet in a table format is created for each command and the information is stored, so that the command is associated with information such as identification information and a response. It is assumed that the storage units provided with these pools correspond to the second and first storage units of the image processing apparatus 11, respectively.

Here, FIG. 11 shows an example of the data structure in the imaging device command sheet.
As shown in this figure, the imaging device command sheet includes “command ID”, “method name”, “input parameter”, “status”, “notification destination of imaging device command execution result”, and “output parameter”. An area for storing data is provided. The “command ID”, the “method name”, and the “input parameter” correspond to the image device command (and the ID attached thereto), and the “status” and “the notification destination of the image device command execution result” Corresponds to the management information. The “output parameter” is the content of the command response received from the management device 12.

Next, the contents of each item will be described.
First, the “method name” is the content of a request to the management device 12 and indicates the type of function called in the management device 12. The “input parameter” is data accompanying the “method name”, and is an argument when calling a function. “Command ID” is identification information for identifying an image device command. The “state” is data indicating the progress of the process related to the image device command, and changes as “not transmitted” → “waiting for response” → “response received” as the process proceeds.

"Notification destination of imaging device command execution result" is reference information indicating a module that, when a response to the imaging device command described in the sheet is received, notifies that effect and executes necessary processing. The module to be referred to is often the application that generated the imaging device command, but it is not necessary to be so. In the “output parameter”, the content of the command response is stored when the command response is received. It is empty until a command response from the management device 12 is received.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a data structure in the management device command sheet.
As shown in this figure, the management device command sheet includes data of “command ID”, “method name”, “input parameter”, “status”, “output parameter”, and “management device command notification destination”. A storage area is provided. The “command ID”, the “method name”, and the “input parameter” correspond to the management device command (and the ID attached thereto), and the “status” and the “notification destination of the management device command” are managed. Applicable to information. The “output parameter” is the execution result of the management device command, and is the content of the command response returned by the image processing device 11.

Next, the contents of each data will be described.
First, the “method name” is the content of a request to the image processing device 11 and indicates the type of function called in the image processing device 11. The “input parameter” is data accompanying the “method name”, and is an argument when calling a function. “Command ID” is identification information for identifying a management device command. The “status” is data indicating the status of the process related to the management device command. As the process progresses, “unprocessed” → “process completed” → “responded” or “unprocessed” → “processed” → “ The process transitions from “processing completed” to “responded”. In the “output parameter”, a response generated by the application of the application layer 320 is stored. It is empty until the execution of the management device command is completed and the above “state” becomes “processing completed”. “Notification destination of management device command” is reference information indicating a module that executes the management device command. This module usually refers to any application in the application layer 320 or a command handler in the application.

戻 る Returning to the description of FIG. 10, it is each application of the application layer 320 that stores the imaging device command in the imaging device command pool 41. Each application assigns identification information (ID) for identifying the command to the generated command, further attaches management information for managing the command, and associates the information with the information to associate the generated information with a table format image device command sheet. And has a function of registering it in the image device command pool 41. When a response to this command is stored in the imaging device command pool 41 thereafter, the command response notifying unit 43 sends the command response to the module designated by the “imaging device command execution result notification destination” in the imaging device command sheet. Notify.

Further, when the management device command is stored in the management device command pool 42, the command notifying unit 44 notifies the command to the module specified by the “management device command notification destination” in the imaging device command sheet. Then, the module receiving the command executes the process related to the command, and stores the execution result as a command response in the management device command pool.
Here, the management device command received from the management device 12 is registered in the management device command pool 42 as a management device command sheet in a table format in association with an ID for identifying the command and management information for managing the command. I keep it. Then, the command response generated by the application is also registered in the management device command sheet for the executed management device command.
When the management device command includes information on the execution priority for causing the image processing device 11 to execute the process in priority, the notification may be given with higher priority.

The transmission message collecting unit 45 corresponds to a collecting unit. The command response generated by the application and the command ID of the management device command corresponding to the command response are read out from the management device command pool 42, and the image device command generated by the application and the command ID of the command are associated with each other. And read out from the image device command pool 41 and generate a transmission message therefrom.
When the execution priority is specified in the command response or the image device command, the transmission message collecting unit 45 may read out the transmission message in descending order of the execution priority.

Here, the transmission message describes the command response, the command, and the command ID as a SOAP message in XML (Extensible Markup Language), which is a structured language. Then, the transmission message collecting unit 45 generates one SOAP message as a transmission message for one command response or command. At this time, the command ID of each command is described in the SOAP header, and the contents of the command response and the image device command are described in the SOAP body. In communication by SOAP, a message called a SOAP envelope (envelope) including a SOAP header and a SOAP body is described in XML, and exchanged by a protocol such as HTTP.
The generation of a SOAP message from such a command or command response can be performed by executing a required conversion program (serializer) generated based on WSDL (Web Service Description Language) and serializing the data. .

The transmission message collection unit 45 also corresponds to a transmission unit, and has a function of passing the generated transmission message to the HTTP request transmission unit 46, generating an HTTP request including the transmission message, and transmitting the generated HTTP request to the management device 12. At this time, any number of transmission messages may be included in one HTTP request, or a transmission message relating to a command response and a transmission message relating to an imaging device command may be arbitrarily mixed.
Therefore, the HTTP request transmitting unit 46 transmits all the transmission messages generated by the transmission message collecting unit 45 in one HTTP request, regardless of which of these transmission messages. However, it is also conceivable to set an upper limit on the number of transmission messages included in one HTTP request.

Incidentally, the transmission of the HTTP request is performed when the transmission message collection unit 45 attempts to read an image device command or a command response, etc., when there is no data to be read, and as a result, a SOAP message to be transmitted is not generated. Also do. Then, this reading attempt is performed periodically. For example, it is conceivable to read out every 60 minutes using a timer.
This is because, as described above, even if there is information to be transmitted from the management apparatus 12 to the image processing apparatus 11, the information cannot be transmitted unless the image processing apparatus 11 requests communication. Even if there is no data to be transmitted from the image processing apparatus 11, a communication request is periodically transmitted to the management apparatus 12 to give an opportunity to transmit information from the management apparatus 12 to the image processing apparatus 11. In addition, it is possible to prevent the information that needs to be transferred from staying in the management device 12 for a long time.

Note that the reading by the transmission message collecting unit 45 and the subsequent transmission of the HTTP request by the HTTP request transmitting unit 46 may be performed at an appropriate time other than the regular timing. For example, when information that needs to be transmitted urgently is registered in any of the pools, the application may notify the transmission message collection unit 45 of the fact and read the information.

Next, the received message distribution unit 48 corresponds to a reception unit, and has a function of receiving an HTTP response from the management device 12 via the HTTP response reception unit 47. Here, the HTTP response optionally includes a management device command and a reception message including a command ID associated with the command, and a response to the imaging device command and a reception message including a command ID associated with the command. It is mixed and included.
Here, the received message describes the command or response and the command ID as a SOAP message.

Further, the received message distribution means 48 also corresponds to the distribution means. Then, it has a function of distributing and registering data included in the received HTTP response to the imaging device command pool 41 and the management device command pool 42.
Specifically, a management device command and a command ID associated with the command are registered in the management device command pool 42 by providing a management device command sheet, and a response to the image device command is associated with the command. The command ID is collated with the command ID of the imaging device command sheet stored in the imaging device command pool 41 to identify the corresponding imaging device command, and registered as an “output parameter” for the imaging device command.
At this time, the HTTP response is divided and each received message included therein is taken out, and the data is converted into a format required for registration in the table. This can be performed by executing a program (deserializer).

Next, an example of an HTTP request transmitted from the image processing apparatus 11 having such a function to the management apparatus 12 is shown in FIG.
In the HTTP request, as shown in FIG. 13, a multi-part message according to MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension) is described as a body part, and an entity header is described in each of these parts, and a detailed part is described. Although not shown, a SOAP envelope is embedded. In the example of FIG. 13, in the HTTP body of the HTTP request, each element divided by “MIME_boundary” forms independent first part, second part, third part, and fourth part. The number of parts that can be included in the body is not limited to four. Any number is acceptable, including zero.
The SOAP envelope embedded and delivered in the HTTP request includes a description of an image device command and a description of a response to a management device command.

FIG. 14 shows an example of an HTTP response received from the management device 12 by the image processing apparatus 11 having such a function.
As shown in FIG. 14, the HTTP response is different only in the format of the HTTP request shown in FIG. However, a multi-part SOAP envelope according to MIME is described. The contents of the SOAP envelope naturally differ according to the contents of the command and the command response.
The SOAP envelope embedded and delivered in the HTTP response includes a description of a management device command and a description of a response to an image device command.

Next, specific examples of parts described in these HTTP requests or HTTP responses are shown in FIGS.
FIG. 15 shows an example of a part describing an image device command.
In this example, first, information indicating whether the SOAP message described in this part is a SOAP request or a SOAP response is described in the “X-SOAP-Type” header of the entity header portion. . In this example, the value “Request” indicates that the request is a SOAP request, that is, a SOAP message describing a command.
The "SOAPAction" header indicates the content of the SOAP request. In this example, the content of the request is indicated by a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) "http: // www ....". Since the "SOAPAction" header is not added when the SOAP message is a SOAP response, the message receiving side determines whether the SOAP message is a SOAP request or a SOAP response based on the presence or absence of this header. You can also.

Then, the namespace is declared as an attribute of the "Envelope" tag. And here, in addition to the namespace defined as a standard in SOAP, it is specified by URIs of "http://www.foo.com/header" and "http://www.foo.com/server". To declare a namespace. Therefore, the XML tag with the namespace prefix “n” is found to belong to the namespace specified by the URI “http://www.foo.com/header”, and “ns” It can be understood that the XML tag to which the namespace prefix of "" is attached belongs to the namespace specified by the URI of "http://www.foo.com/server".

$ Also, in the SOAP header, "12345" which is the ID of the image device command is described as the content of the XML tag of "request ID". In the SOAP body, an “abnormality notification” tag is described as information for specifying the method stored in the “method name” of the image device command sheet, and tags “error ID” and “description” below the tag are described. As the element, an argument stored in the “input parameter” is described. Here, the notification contents of the abnormality notification are described.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a part describing a response to an image device command.
In this example, first, the value of the “X-SOAP-Type” header in the entity header is described as “Response”, so that the SOAP message described in this part is a SOAP response, This indicates that the message is a SOAP message describing a response.
Also in this example, the declaration of the name space is the same as in the example shown in FIG. In the SOAP header, “12345”, which is the ID of the imaging device command that generated the response, is described as the content of the XML tag of “command ID”. The SOAP body is provided with an "abnormal notification response" tag for indicating a response to the "abnormal notification" command, and the tag below the "abnormal notification response" describes the content of the command response. Here, information indicating that the abnormality notification has been normally received is described. Then, this information is stored in the item of “output parameter” of the image device command sheet.

FIG. 17 shows an example of a part describing a management device command.
Also in this example, as in the case of FIG. 15, “Request” of the value of the “X-SOAP-Type” header indicates that the SOAP envelope described in this part is a SOAP request, and “SOAPAction” The header information indicates the content of the SOAP request.

In addition, the fact that a namespace is declared as an attribute of the “Envelope” tag is the same as in the case of FIG. And here, in addition to the namespace defined as a standard in SOAP, it is specified by URIs of "http://www.foo.com/header" and "http://www.foo.com/client". To declare a namespace.
In the SOAP header, “98765”, which is the ID of the image device command, is described as the content of the XML tag of “request ID”. In the SOAP body, a “temperature sensor value acquisition” tag is described as information for specifying a method to be stored in the “method name” of the management device command sheet. , "Input parameter" are described. Here, the ID of the sensor for acquiring the sensor value is described.
As a case where the management device 12 transmits such a command, for example, a case where an abnormality notification is received from the image processing device 11 and an attempt is made to identify the cause of the abnormality is considered.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a part describing a response to a management device command.
In this example as well, as in the case of FIG. 16, the value of the “X-SOAP-Type” header in the entity header is described as “Response”, so that the SOAP message described in this part Is shown.
Also in this example, the declaration of the name space is the same as in the example shown in FIG. In the SOAP header, “98765”, which is the ID of the management device command that generated the response, is described as the content of the XML tag of “command ID”. The SOAP body is provided with a “Temperature Sensor Value Acquisition Response” tag for indicating that it is a response to the “Temperature Sensor Value Acquisition” command, and its lower tag describes the content of the command response. Here, information on the temperature value indicated by the sensor for which the value acquisition was requested is described.

Next, processing for realizing the functions of the respective units shown in FIG. 10 as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts in FIGS. The processing shown in these flowcharts is performed by the CPU 201 of the image processing apparatus 11 executing a program included in the message controller 40 or the NCS 309.

First, FIG. 19 shows a flowchart of the basic operation of message collection and distribution processing.
The CPU 201 of the image processing apparatus 11 starts the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 19 when the transmission message collecting unit 45 tries to read an image device command or a command response.
Then, first, an image device command collection process is performed (S11). This process is a process of collecting imaging device commands to be transmitted to the management device 12 from the imaging device command pool 41, and includes a process of generating a SOAP envelope part from the collected data.

Next, a process of collecting a management device command execution result, which is a response to the management device command, is performed (S12). This process is a process of collecting a command response to be transmitted from the management device command pool 42 to the management device 12, and also includes a process of generating a SOAP envelope part from the collected data.
Thereafter, the parts generated in the processing of steps S11 and S12 are merged into one, an HTTP request including all parts is generated (S13), and the HTTP request is transmitted to the management device 12 (S14).
In the processing so far, the CPU 201 functions as the transmission message collection unit 45 in steps S11 and S12, and functions as the HTTP request transmission unit 46 in steps S13 and S14.

Next, an HTTP response is received from the management device 12 as a communication response to the HTTP request (S15). Then, the HTTP body of the received HTTP response is divided into each part (S16). Here, division into each part is to divide into elements divided by “MIME_boundary”, and here, division is performed for all parts.
After that, the processing of steps S17 to S19 is repeated for all the parts obtained by division in order. In this processing, first, it is determined whether or not the target part is a part describing the management device command (S17). If the command is a management device command, a management device command registration process is performed (S18). If it is not a management device command, it is a part in which a response to the image device command is described, so that a response notification process is performed (S19).

After step S18 or S19, the process returns to step S17, and the process is repeated for the next part. Then, when these processes are performed for all parts, the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 19 ends.
In the processing so far, the CPU 201 functions as the HTTP response receiving unit 47 in steps S15 and S16, and functions as the received message distribution unit 48 in steps S17 to S19.

Next, the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 19 will be described with reference to a flowchart showing in detail part by part.
FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the processing of steps S11 to S14 in FIG. 19 in more detail.

In this processing, first, the CPU 201 of the image processing apparatus 11 transmits the contents of the “method name” and the “input parameter” of the imaging device command sheet whose “status” is “not transmitted” from the imaging device command pool 41. The command is collected as an image device command to be performed, and the content of “command ID” is also collected as the command ID of the command (S21). Since the “state” of “not transmitted” indicates that the command has not been notified to the management apparatus 12 after the command has been generated by the image device command generation unit 43, the command is transmitted to the management apparatus 12 based on this. Command to be extracted.

Thereafter, the processing of steps S22 to S24 is repeated for all the image device commands collected in step S21. In these processes, first, the target image device command and its command ID are converted into an XML document in which the information is included in the SOAP body and the SOAP header, respectively (S22), and the SOAP as a part related to the target command is performed. An envelope is generated (S23). Then, the “status” of the imaging device command sheet describing the target imaging device command is changed to “waiting for response” (S24). The “state” of “waiting for response” indicates that the command has been notified to the management apparatus 12.

After all of these steps are completed, the CPU 201 should transmit the contents of the “output parameter” of the management device command sheet whose “status” is “process completed” from the management device command pool 42 in the command response to the management device command. The content is collected as a command, and the content of the “command ID” is also collected as the command ID of the corresponding management device command (S25). The “state” of “processing completed” means that the processing corresponding to the management device command has been executed by the application, a command response has been generated and registered in the management device command pool 42, and the management device 12 has not yet been notified. Therefore, a command response to be transmitted to the management device 12 can be extracted based on this.

Thereafter, the processing of steps S26 to S28 is repeated for all command responses collected in step S25. In these processes, first, the target command response and the command ID collected together with the response are converted into an XML document whose information is included in the SOAP body and the SOAP header, respectively (S26). This is the process of generating a SOAP envelope (S27). These processes are the same as the processes in steps S22 and S23 except that the targets are different. Then, the “status” of the management device command sheet describing the target command response is changed to “responded” (S28). The “status” of “responded” indicates that the command response has been notified to the management device 12.

Then, after all the processes up to this point are completed, the CPU 201 merges the parts generated in step S23 or S27, generates a multi-part HTTP request as shown in FIG. (S29).
Note that the change of the “state” performed in step S24 or S28 may be performed after the transmission is actually finished. By doing so, even if a communication error occurs, the command and command response to be transmitted can be targeted for transmission again, so that the reliability of the system is improved.
Thus, the process related to the transmission of the HTTP request is completed, and the process proceeds to a process corresponding to step S15 and subsequent steps in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing in more detail the process of step S15 and subsequent steps in FIG. The processing subsequent to step S29 in FIG. 20 corresponds to step S31 in this figure.
In this process, the CPU 201 of the image processing apparatus 11 first waits for reception of an HTTP response to the transmitted HTTP request, and receives the HTTP response from the management apparatus 12 (S31). When this is received, the HTTP body is analyzed and divided into each part (S32).
After that, the processing of steps S33 to S41 is repeated for each of the parts obtained by division.

In the processing of this part, first, it is determined whether or not the target part is a management device command (S33). As described above, since the HTTP response may include the management device command and the response to the image device command, it is determined which of the target parts is the HTTP response. This determination can be made based on whether or not a SOAPAction header exists in the target part, or on the content of the X-SOAP-Type header.

If the command is not a management device command in step S33, the part is a response to the image device command, so the XML document of the part is analyzed and converted into data in a format that can be registered in the image device command sheet (S34). The image device command corresponding to the command response is searched from the command pool 41, and the command response data is registered in the item of "output parameter" of the image device command sheet for the image device command (S35). It is assumed that the command response has the same command ID as that given when the image device command was transmitted as information of the “command ID”, and the search for the image device command is performed using this information as a key. Can be.

When the data registration is completed, the "status" of the image device command sheet in which the data is registered is changed to "response received" to indicate that (S36). Then, a notification that the response has been received and the content of the response are notified to the notification destination registered in the “notification destination of the image device command execution result” (S37). By this notification, the application or the like that has generated the imaging device command can recognize that there has been a response to the generated command, and can perform processing according to the response.
For example, when an application that issues an abnormality notification generates an imaging device command for notifying the management device 12 of an abnormality, when this command is transmitted to the management device 12, the management device 12 issues a command indicating that the management device 12 has correctly received the command. Returns a response. Upon receiving the command response, the image processing apparatus 11 searches for a response to the image device command based on the command ID included in the command response, and associates the command response with the found image device command. Register Then, the application that issues the abnormality notification, which is registered as the execution result notification destination of the command, is notified of the response and the content thereof.

The notification destination application may be notified only that there is a response, and the notified application may refer to the image device command sheet and acquire the execution result.
In the process of step S37, the CPU 201 functions as the command response notification unit 43.
When the processing up to step S37 is completed, the processing from step S33 is repeated for the next part, if any.

On the other hand, if the command is a management device command in step S33, the XML document of the part is analyzed and converted into data in a format that can be registered in the management device command sheet (S38), and the management device command sheet corresponding to the management device command is converted. It is created and registered in the management device command pool together with the command ID (S39). Here, the content of the management device command is registered in the item of “method name” and “input parameter” in the management device command sheet, and the command ID described in the part is registered in the item of “command ID”. In the item of “management device command notification destination”, reference information to an application or the like for executing the method stored in the “method name” is stored as information on the correspondence between the previously prepared method and the application. Refer to and register. The initial value of “state” is “unprocessed”, and the initial value of “output parameter” is NULL.

After that, a notification indicating that the command has been received and the contents thereof are notified to the notification destination registered in “notification destination of management device command execution result” (S40). In addition, by this notification, an application or a command handler that should execute processing in accordance with the management device command recognizes that the command has been received, and can perform processing in accordance with the command. In order to indicate that, the "status" of the management device command sheet for the notified command is changed to "processing" (S41).
In the processing of steps S40 and S41, the CPU 201 functions as the command notifying unit 44.

When the processing up to step S41 is completed, the processing from step S33 is repeated for the next part, if any.
When the processing of steps S33 to S41 is completed for all parts, the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 21 ends.
The processes of steps S40 and S41 may be performed asynchronously separately from the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 21 in consideration of the processing capacity of the application.

By performing the above-described processing, the image processing apparatus 11 can transmit the operation request to be transmitted to the management apparatus 12 and the operation response to the operation request received from the management apparatus 12 to the management apparatus 12 collectively. it can. Further, an operation request from the management device 12 and an operation response to the operation request transmitted to the management device 12 can be collectively received from the management device 12 and processed.
In addition, when a command or a command response is received, the application can be notified.Therefore, the application does not need to search the command pool for each application. It is possible to reduce the labor required for developing a program for performing such processing.

Here, it has been described that all parts to be transmitted are generated and then merged and transmitted, and that all parts are received and then divided into individual parts for processing. You don't have to do this.
Regarding transmission, an HTTP header may be transmitted first, and thereafter, each time a part is generated, the part may be transmitted sequentially, and when transmission of all the parts is completed, data indicating the transmission may be transmitted. Even in this case, if the data transmitted in these processes is one logically continuous HTTP request having only one HTTP header, it can be transferred in one session, and the negotiation process is performed once. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the same effect as in the case of transmitting by merging. Further, since the memory capacity required for the buffer of data to be transmitted can be reduced, large data can be handled by a low-cost communication device.

Also, the receiving side can sequentially perform the processing for each part each time each part is received. The capacity can be reduced in this case as in the case of the transmission side.
This concludes the description of the functions realized by causing the CPU 201 to execute the message controller 40.

Next, handling of commands and command responses in the image processing apparatus 11 using the message controller 40 described above will be described. In the following description, for the sake of convenience, the fact that the CPU 201 performs an operation by executing a program may be referred to as the program executing the operation.
First, the general relationship between the application, the message controller 40, and the service layer 300 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 22 is a functional block diagram showing general functions realized by programs of an application, a message controller, and a service layer, and relationships among them.

As shown in FIG. 22, the application 330 is provided with an image device command generation unit 331, a management device command execution result generation unit 332, a service layer I / F 333, and an internal processing module 334.
The imaging device command generation unit 331 has a function of generating an imaging device command in accordance with a request from the service layer I / F 333 or the internal processing module 334 and storing the generated imaging device command in the imaging device command pool 41 of the message controller 40. In addition, when a command response is received from the command response notifying unit 43 of the message controller 40, the function of notifying the service layer I / F 333 or the internal processing module 334 of the completion of command execution and the result thereof is provided as necessary.

When the management device command execution result generation unit 332 receives the management device command from the command notification unit 44 of the message controller 40, the management device command execution result generation unit 332 needs to execute the management device command for the service layer I / F 333 and the internal processing module 334. It has a function to request processing. When the command execution result is received from the service layer I / F 333 or the internal processing module 334, the command execution result is stored in the management device command pool 42 of the message controller 40 as a command response. At this time, the command response is stored in the same management device command sheet as the received management device command.

The service layer I / F 333 has a function as an interface for data transfer when the application 330 uses the service layer 300. When the application 330 uses a hardware resource other than the CPU 201 and the memory serving as a work area when the application 330 realizes a certain function, the hardware is necessarily used via the service layer 300. / F requests the service layer 300 for processing, and obtains the execution result as a response. In addition, the service layer 300 may notify the application of the operating state or the like irrespective of the request from the application 330, and this notification is also received by the service layer I / F 333.

In addition, when a predetermined event is notified from the service layer 300, the service layer I / F 333 generates a request according to the event, passes the request to the image device command generation unit 331, and generates an image device command. When the command execution completion is notified from the device command generation unit 331, the device command generation unit 331 has a function of notifying the service layer 300 of the result if necessary. Further, when a process is requested from the management device command execution result generation unit 332, the process is requested to the service layer 300, an execution result is obtained as a response, and the execution result is transmitted to the management device command execution result generation unit 332. It also has a function to return.

The internal processing module 334 performs a process related to a function provided by the application 330 without using the service layer 300. For example, there is a change in a parameter handled inside the application. Further, when a request to the management device 12 is generated within the application 330, the request is generated and passed to the imaging device command generation unit 331 to generate an imaging device command. It also has the function of receiving notifications. Furthermore, when the processing is requested from the management device command execution result generation means 332, the function is executed, and the execution result is returned to the management device command execution result generation means 332 as a response.

The application 330 having each of the above-described units is a generalized version of the function of each application constituting the application layer 320, and each application has various specific modules corresponding to its use. Is provided. A plurality of applications exist in the application layer 320, but the service layer 300 and the message controller 40 used by these applications are common. Since the functions of the service layer 300 and the message controller 40 have already been described, the description will be omitted here.

Here, a flow of processing in the application 330 will be described.
First, a description will be given of a process performed when a notification (such as an abnormality occurrence notification) that requires transmission of an image device command is issued from the service layer 300 to the application 330.
In this case, the service layer I / F 333 receives this notification (X1), generates a request to be passed to the management device 12, and passes it to the image device command generation unit 331 (X2). Then, the imaging device command generation means 331 generates an imaging device command based on the request, and stores it in the imaging device command pool 41 of the message controller (X3). Then, as described above, the message controller 40 transfers this command to the management device 12 at an appropriate timing, receives a command response, registers it in the imaging device command pool, and sends the response to the imaging device command generation unit 331. A notification is sent (X4).

Upon receiving the response, the imaging device command generation unit 331 notifies the service layer I / F 333 of the command execution result according to the content (X5), and the service layer I / F 333 issues a request to the service layer 300 to execute. The result is notified (X6). In this case, the service layer 300 returns a response indicating that it has been received (X7). It is also conceivable that the imaging device command generation unit 331 returns the execution result of the command to the internal processing module (X8) and internally performs the processing corresponding to the execution result.
When a request to the management device 12 is generated in the internal processing module 334, the request is passed from the internal processing module 334 to the image device command generation unit 331 (X9), and the image device command generation unit 331 executes the command execution result. Is returned to the internal processing module (X8), but the processing in the middle is the same as in the above case.

Next, processing when a management device command is received from the management device 12 will be described.
When the management device command is registered in the management device command pool 42, the command notification unit 44 notifies the management device command execution result generation unit 332 of the command (X10). Then, when receiving the command, the management device command execution result generation unit 332 requests the service layer I / F 333 to perform processing when it is necessary to use the service layer 300 for execution (X11). Then, the service layer I / F 333 requests the service layer 300 for the processing (X6), acquires the execution result as a response (X7), and returns the execution result to the management device command execution result generation unit 332 (X12). . Then, when the management device command execution result generation means 332 receives the execution result, the execution result is stored in the management device command pool 42 as a command response (X13). At this time, the “status” of the management device command sheet for the processed management device command is changed to “process completed” to indicate that the process related to the command has been completed.

When the service layer 300 is not used for executing the command, the processing is requested to the internal processing module 334 (X14), and the execution result is obtained (X15).
The image processing apparatus 11 can transmit the image device command to the management apparatus 12 to obtain a command response, and receive the management apparatus command from the management apparatus 12 and return a command response by the above-described processing. .
Note that the imaging device command generation unit 331 may be provided with a function of assigning a priority when the management device 12 executes each command to the generated imaging device command.

Next, handling of commands and command responses will be described with reference to specific examples of applications.
First, the case of the NRS application 326 will be described. FIG. 23 shows the functions realized by the NRS application, the message controller, and the program of the service layer, and the relationship between them. As shown in FIG. 23, the NRS application 326 includes a command A handler 326b is provided. Further, the service layer I / F is provided with various modules for realizing the function of the NRS application 326. Here, the abnormality notification receiving module 326c and the counter value obtaining module 326d are shown as representatives.

A plurality of command handlers 326b are provided in correspondence with each command that may be executed by the NRS application 326, and have a function of requesting a necessary module to perform processing according to the command. Therefore, in the management device command pool 42, the reference to the command handler in the application is described in the section “Destination of management device command” in the management device command sheet.
A command handler corresponding to a plurality of commands may be provided, and the command handler may select a processing method according to the type of the command.

Examples of the function of the NRS application 326 include an abnormality notification function as a function of transmitting an image device command, and a counter value acquisition function as a function of operating according to a management device command. Therefore, a process when these functions are used will be described.
First, FIGS. 24 and 25 show flowcharts of processing by the NRS application 326 when the abnormality notification function is used. The step numbers in these figures correspond to the reference numerals attached to the arrows indicating the data flow in FIG.

The abnormality notification function is a function of notifying the management apparatus 12 of the occurrence of an abnormality in the operation of the image processing apparatus 11, and the detection of this abnormality is realized by the SCS 301. When the SCS 301 detects an abnormality, it generates an abnormality detection event. In this case, the CPU 201 starts the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.
First, the abnormality notification receiving module 326c acquires an abnormality detection event from the SCS 301 (A1), generates an abnormality notification request to be passed to the management device 12 according to the event, and passes it to the image device command generation unit 326a (A2). . Then, the imaging device command generation means 326a receiving this generates an abnormality notification command based on the command, registers it in the imaging device command pool 41 (A3), and terminates the process once.

Thereafter, as described above, the message controller 40 processes the command registered in the imaging device command pool 41 independently of the NRS application 326, transmits the command to the management device 12, receives a command response, and Register in the pool 41. When this registration is made, a notification is sent to the image device command generation means 326a, and at this time, the CPU 201 starts the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.
Then, the imaging device command generation unit 326a receives a response to the abnormality notification command from the command response notification unit 43 (A4). The content of this response is a reception confirmation, which is usually information indicating that the reception was successful. Then, the imaging device command generation unit 326a requests the abnormality notification reception module 326c, which is the command generation request source, to notify the reception confirmation (A5). Then, upon receiving this, the abnormality notification receiving module 326c confirms the reception with the SCS 301 and ends the processing (A6).

Next, FIG. 26 shows a flowchart of processing by the NRS application 326 when the counter value acquisition function is used. The step numbers in this figure also correspond to the symbols attached to the arrows indicating the data flows in FIG.
The counter value acquisition function is a function of returning a counter value in accordance with a request from the management device 12. Then, when the counter value acquisition command from the management device 12 is registered in the management device command pool 42 and the command notifying unit 44 notifies the command handler 326b of that, the CPU 201 starts the processing shown in FIG.

In this process, first, the command handler 326b receives a counter value acquisition command from the command notification means 44 (B1). At this time, information on the type of counter is also received as an argument. Then, the command handler 326b passes the information of the type of the counter to the counter value acquisition module 326d and requests acquisition of the counter value (B2), and the counter value acquisition module 326d receiving the request sends the information of the counter of the type designated in the SCS301. Request acquisition of a counter value (B3).

Then, since the SCS 301 reads and returns the counter value stored in the memory, the counter value acquisition module 326d acquires this (B4), and returns the counter value to the command handler 326b (B5). Then, the command handler 326b writes the counter value as an output parameter for the counter value acquisition command in the management device command pool 42, and changes the “state” of the management device command sheet for the processed counter value acquisition command to “processing completed”. Then (B6), the process ends.
The counter value written here is transmitted by the message controller 40 to the management device 12 as a command response independently of the NRS application 326.
The NRS application 326 has many functions in addition to the functions shown in FIG. 23, and these functions depend on whether the function is a function of transmitting an imaging device command or a function of operating according to a management device command. This can be realized by a process based on a concept similar to the above processes A1 to A6 or B1 to B6.

Next, the case of the document box application 327 will be described. FIG. 27 shows the functions realized by the document box application, the message controller, and the program of the service layer, and the relationship between them.
As shown in FIG. 27, the document box application 327 is also provided with a command handler 327b as a management device command execution result generation unit. Various modules for realizing the function of the document box application 327 are provided in the service layer I / F. Here, the print module 327c, the reading / storage control module 327d, the stored document management module 327e, and the UI are representative. (User interface) The module 327f is shown. A plurality of command handlers 327b are provided corresponding to each module as in the case of the NRS application 326.

Examples of the functions of the document box application 327 include a function of issuing an image device command, a function of notifying a document ID when storing a document, and a function of operating according to a management device command, such as a remote printing function. Therefore, a process when these functions are used will be described.
First, FIGS. 28 and 29 show flowcharts of processing by the document box application 327 when the document ID notification function is used. The step numbers in these figures correspond to the reference numerals attached to the arrows indicating the data flow in FIG.

The document ID notification function at the time of storing a document is a function of notifying the management device 12 of the document ID attached to the document when storing the image read by the reading unit as a document in the HDD 210. The operation related to this function starts when the document storage operation is specified and the start key of the operation unit 209 is pressed.
When the start key is pressed, the SCS 301 generates a start key pressing event. In this case, the CPU 201 starts the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.
Then, first, the UI module 327f acquires a start key press event from the SCS 301 (C1), and in response to this, requests the reading / accumulating control module 327d to read and accumulate the original (C2). The reading and storing control module 327d having received the request requests the ECS 302 to read and store the document (C3).

The portion indicated by the broken line below is processing on the service layer 200 side, but if there is a request for step C3, the ECS 302 drives the scanner engine to read a document, and the MCS 303 stores the read image data in the HDD 210 ( CX). Here, the ECS 302 and the MCS 303 operate in cooperation with each other. When the reading of the document is completed, the ECS 302 notifies the MCS 303 of the fact (CY), and when the storage of the image data is completed, the MCS 303 notifies the stored document management module 327e. Is notified (CZ).

Then, upon receiving the storage completion notification from the MCS 303 (C4), the stored document management module 327e notifies the document ID of the stored document to the image device command generation unit 327a (C5). Upon receiving this notification, the imaging device command generation unit 327a generates a stored document ID notification command for notifying the management device 12 of the document ID of the stored document, registers it in the imaging device command pool 41 (C6), and performs processing. Is temporarily terminated.

Thereafter, as described above, when the message controller 40 processes this command, receives a command response from the management device 12, and registers it in the imaging device command pool 41, the message controller 40 notifies the imaging device command generation unit 327a. Then, the CPU 201 starts the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.
Then, the imaging device command generation unit 327a receives a response to the stored document ID notification command from the command response notification unit 43 (C7). The content of this response is a reception confirmation, but there is no particular need to notify this to other modules, so the processing is terminated as it is.

Next, FIG. 30 shows a flowchart of processing by the document box application 327 when the remote printing function is used. The step numbers in this figure also correspond to the symbols attached to the arrows indicating the data flow in FIG.
The remote printing function is a function of printing out a document stored in the HDD 210 in accordance with a request from the management device 12. Then, when the print command from the management device 12 is registered in the management device command pool 42 and the command notification unit 44 notifies the command handler 327b of that, the CPU 201 starts the processing shown in FIG.

In this process, first, the command handler 327b receives a print command from the command notifying unit 44 (D1). At this time, information of the document ID and the number of copies is also received as an argument. Then, the command handler 327b requests the UI module 327f to display a message indicating that printing is being performed, for example, to display a message such as "Printing is being performed by a center request" (D2). The display is requested (D3).
On the other hand, the command handler 327b passes the document ID and the number of copies to the print module 327c and requests printing according to the request (D4). (D5). Then, since the ECS 302 acquires the image data of the target document from the MCS 303 and executes printing, and when this is completed, a print end notification is returned, so the print module 327c receives this notification (D6).

Then, when the print module 327c returns to the command handler 327b a notification that the printing has been completed (D7), the command handler 327b writes the print completion notification as an output parameter for the print command in the management device command pool 42, and executes the processed print command. Is changed to "processing completed" in the management device command sheet for (D8), and the processing ends.
Then, the print completion notification written here is transmitted from the message controller 40 to the management device 12 as a command response independently of the document box application 327.
The processing of D2 and D3 may be performed simultaneously with the processing of D4 and thereafter.
The document box application 327 also has many functions in addition to the functions shown in FIG. 27. These functions depend on whether the function is a function of transmitting an imaging device command or a function of operating according to a management device command. , Can be realized by a process based on the same concept as the processes C1 to C7 or D1 to D8 described above.

Next, a functional configuration for handling commands and command responses on the management apparatus 12 side will be described. The hardware is as described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 31 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a function for performing a process related to a command and a command response among the functions of the management device 12.
Each function shown in FIG. 31 is realized by the CPU in the control device 126 executing a required control program to control the operation of each unit of the management device 12. Of these functions, the management device command pool 141 and the image device command pool 142 are provided in rewritable storage means in the control device 126. The functions of the management device command generation unit 143, the image device command execution result generation unit 144, the transmission message collection unit 145, and the reception message distribution unit 148 are realized by the CPU in the control device 126. The functions of the HTTP response transmission unit 146 and the HTTP request reception unit 147 are realized by the CPU in the control device 126 and the proxy server 123.

As shown in this figure, the management device 12 does not employ the application layer and the service layer in the software configuration unlike the image processing device 11. Further, the division of the application layer and the service layer can be adopted to have a functional configuration corresponding to that of the image processing apparatus 11 shown in FIG. 10, but even if such a configuration is used, the hardware configuration and application are different. Accordingly, the types of programs included in the application layer and the service layer are different from those in the case of the image processing apparatus 11.

The function of each means shown in FIG. 31 will be described in further detail.
First, the management device command pool 141 corresponds to a second storage area provided in the management device 12, and is a pool in which a management device command, a response to this command, and identification information of this command are registered in association with each other. The image device command pool 142 corresponds to a first storage area provided in the management device 12, and is a pool for registering an image device command, a response to the command, and identification information of the command in association with each other. The storage units provided with these pools correspond to the second and first storage units of the management device 12, respectively.

The management device command generation means 143 corresponds to a request generation means. Then, a management device command is generated, identification information (ID) for identifying the command is assigned, management information for managing this command is added, and the information is associated with the management device command sheet in a table format. It has a function of registering in the management device command pool 141. Among these, an application included in the management device 12 corresponds to the portion that generates the management device command. The data structure of the management device command sheet of the management device 12 is the same as the data structure of the image device command sheet of the image processing device 11.

The image device command execution result generation means 144 corresponds to a response generation means. The application is an application that reads and executes an image device command from the image device command pool 142. Then, it has a function of generating a response to the imaging device command and registering it in the imaging device command pool 142 in association with the command ID of the imaging device command. The image device command received from the image processing apparatus 11 is registered in the image device command pool 142 as a table-type image device command sheet in association with an ID for identifying the command and management information for managing the command. I keep it. Then, the command response generated by the imaging device command execution result generation unit 144 is also registered in the imaging device command sheet for the executed imaging device command.

Further, it is conceivable to provide the image device command execution result generation unit 144 with a function of reading a plurality of types of image device commands from the image device command pool 142 and generating a response to each image device command. Further, the imaging device command execution result generation unit 144 may be a module that calls up an application necessary for executing the imaging device command and executes the command instead of the application itself.
The data structure of the management device 12 in the image device command sheet is similar to the data structure of the management device command sheet in the image processing device 11.

Next, the transmission message collecting unit 145 corresponds to a collecting unit. The command response generated by the imaging device command execution result generation unit 144 and the command ID of the imaging device command corresponding to this command response are read out from the imaging device command pool 142 in association with each other, and the management device command generation unit 143 generates the command response. It has a function of associating the management device command with the command ID of this command from the management device command pool 141 and generating a transmission message therefrom.
The format of the transmission message is the same as that of the image processing apparatus 11.

The HTTP response transmission unit 146 corresponds to the transmission unit, and generates an HTTP response including the transmission message generated by the transmission message collection unit 145 as a communication response to the HTTP request received from the image processing apparatus 11. 11 is provided. At this time, any number of transmission messages may be included in one HTTP response, or a transmission message relating to a command response and a transmission message relating to a management device command may be arbitrarily mixed.
Therefore, the HTTP response transmission unit 146 transmits all transmission messages generated by the transmission message collection unit 145 in one HTTP response, regardless of which of these transmission messages. However, it is also conceivable to set an upper limit on the number of transmission messages included in one HTTP response.

By the way, the transmission of the HTTP response is performed when the transmission message collection unit 145 attempts to read the management device command or the command response, etc., when there is no data to be read and, as a result, the SOAP message to be transmitted is not generated. Also do. The reading attempt is performed when an HTTP request from the image processing apparatus 11 is received.
This is because the HTTP request cannot be transmitted from the management apparatus 12 to the image processing apparatus 11 through the firewall 14 as described above.

The HTTP request receiving unit 147 corresponds to a receiving unit, and has a function of receiving an HTTP request from the image processing apparatus 11. Here, the HTTP request optionally includes a received message including an image device command and a command ID associated with the command, and a response to the management device command and a received message including a command ID associated with the command. It is mixed and included.
Here, the received message describes the command or response and the command ID as a SOAP message.

The received message distribution means 148 corresponds to the distribution means. Then, it has a function of distributing and registering data included in the HTTP request received by the HTTP request receiving unit 147 to the management device command pool 141 and the image device command pool 142.
Specifically, the imaging device command and the command ID associated with the command are registered in the imaging device command pool 142 by providing an imaging device command sheet, and the response to the management device command is associated with the command. The command ID is collated with the command ID of the management device command sheet stored in the management device command pool 141 to identify the corresponding management device command, and registered as an “output parameter” for the management device command.

At this time, the HTTP request is divided, each received message included therein is extracted, and the data is converted into a format required for registration in a table. This conversion is performed by a required conversion generated based on WSDL. This can be performed by executing a program (deserializer).
Since the HTTP request received by the management apparatus 12 having such a function is transmitted from the image processing apparatus 11, for example, the HTTP request described with reference to FIG. is there. The HTTP response transmitted by the management device 12 is also transmitted to the image processing device 11 and received by the image processing device 11, and thus is described with reference to, for example, FIG. The contents of the parts included therein are also as described with reference to FIGS.

Next, processing executed in the management device 12 having the configuration and functions described above will be described.
FIG. 32 shows a flowchart of the basic operation of message collection and distribution processing. The processing shown in this flowchart is performed by the CPU in the control device 126 of the management device 12 executing a required control program. .

When the HTTP request is transmitted from the image processing device 11, the CPU in the control device 126 starts the process shown in the flowchart of FIG.
Then, first, the HTTP request is received (S111). Then, the HTTP body of the received HTTP request is divided into each part (S112). Here, division into each part is to divide into elements divided by “MIME_boundary”, and here, division is performed for all parts.

{Circle around (4)} Then, the processing of steps S113 to S115 is repeated for all the parts obtained by the division in order. In this processing, first, it is determined whether or not the target part is a part in which an image device command is described (S113). If the command is an image device command, an image device command registration process is performed (S114). If the command is not an image device command, it is a part in which a response to the management device command is described, so that a response notification process is performed (S115).

After step S114 or S115, the process returns to step S113, and the process is repeated for the next part. Then, when these processes are performed for all parts, the process proceeds to the next step S116.
In the processing so far, the CPU in the control device 126 functions as the HTTP request receiving unit 147 in steps S111 and S112, and functions as the received message distribution unit 148 in steps S113 to S115.

Next, the CPU in the control device 126 performs management device command collection processing (S116). This process is a process of collecting management device commands to be transmitted from the management device command pool 141 to the image processing device 11, and includes a process of generating a SOAP envelope part from the collected data.
Next, a collection process of an image device command execution result, which is a response to the image device command, is performed (S117). This process is a process of collecting a command response to be transmitted from the image device command pool 142 to the image processing apparatus 11, and also includes a process of generating a SOAP envelope part from the collected data.

Thereafter, the parts generated in the processing of steps S116 and S117 are merged into one, an HTTP response including all parts is generated (S118), and the HTTP response is used as a communication response to the HTTP request received in step S111. The image data is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 11 (S119), and the process ends.
In the processing so far, the CPU in the control device 126 functions as the transmission message collection unit 145 in steps S116 and S117, and functions as the HTTP response transmission unit 146 in steps S118 and S119.

詳細 The details of these processes are the same as the processes described with reference to FIGS. 20 and 21 in the description of the image processing apparatus 11, and thus detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. However, since the positions of the imaging device command and the management device command are reversed and the HTTP request is received and the HTTP response is transmitted, the processing of steps S111 to S115 for reception is replaced with the processing of steps S116 to S119 for transmission. The point that the processing is performed before the processing is different from the case of the image processing apparatus. Further, since the functions corresponding to the command response notifying unit 43 and the command notifying unit 44 are not provided, the processes corresponding to steps S37, S40, and S41 in FIG. 21 are not performed.

Instead, the processing shown in FIG. 33 or FIG. 34 is performed as the processing related to the execution of the image device command. FIG. 33 and FIG. 34 are flowcharts illustrating different examples of the processing related to the execution of the image device command.
As the processing related to the execution of the image device command, first, the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 33 is performed after the process corresponding to step S39 of FIG. Can be considered. In this process, the CPU in the control device 126 functions as the image device command execution result generation unit 144.

Then, in this process, first, an application or the like is called based on the information of “notification destination of the imaging device command” of the imaging device command sheet for the registered imaging device command, and the data of the “method name” and the “input parameter” are read. The processing is passed to execute the processing related to the image device command (S141). Although not shown in this flowchart, the processing related to the image device command is separately executed by the CPU in the control device 126.
When this is completed, the execution result is registered in the item of "output parameter" of the imaging device command sheet (S142), and the "status" of the imaging device command sheet is changed to "processing completed". (S143), and returns to the original process.
By performing the above processing, the image device command can be executed, and the result can be transmitted to the image processing apparatus 11 as a command response.

Further, as the processing relating to the execution of the image device command, it is also conceivable to execute the processing shown in FIG. 34 independently of the processing corresponding to the processing in FIG. Also in this processing, the CPU in the control device 126 functions as the image device command execution result generation unit 144.
In this case, the CPU in the control device 126 starts the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 34 at an appropriate timing.
In this process, it is first determined whether or not there is an image device command sheet whose “status” is “waiting for processing” in the image device command pool (SY1). If not, such an image device command sheet is added. Wait until When such an image device command sheet is found, one of the image device command sheets is set as a processing target, and the “state” of the image device command sheet is changed to “processing” (SY2).

After that, the processing in steps S141 to S143 similar to the case of FIG. 33 is performed to execute the imaging device command described in the imaging device command sheet to be processed, and when this is completed, the process returns to step SY1 to repeat the processing.
The above processing may be performed simultaneously by a plurality of threads (for example, four threads). The “status” of the target imaging device command sheet is not “waiting for processing”, so even if processing is performed simultaneously by multiple threads, one imaging device command sheet may not be processed repeatedly. Absent.

If the above-described processing is performed, the image device command can be executed at an arbitrary timing. Therefore, even if there is a command that takes a long time to execute, the subsequent processing is not interrupted. Then, the results can be sequentially transmitted to the image processing apparatus 11 as a command response in order from the one after the execution.
This concludes the description of the processing for handling each command and command response, which is executed in the management device 12.

The image processing device 11 and the management device 12 are provided with the respective functions as described above, and by performing the respective processes, an operation request to be transmitted from the transmission source to the communication partner and an operation request received from the communication partner can be performed. Since the operation response can be transmitted to the communication partner in a lump, there is no need to separately negotiate the operation request transmission and the operation response transmission to establish a communication connection, thus reducing communication overhead. Communication efficiency can be improved.

The reason why the operation request and the operation response can be transmitted collectively is that they are converted into serialized data and converted into a transmission message described in a structured language format. With this configuration, the operation request and the operation response having different formats can be easily combined and logically transmitted as one transmission content.
In addition, the receiving side collectively receives the operation response to the operation request transmitted to the communication partner and the operation request from the communication partner, and easily separates the received content into individual messages. However, appropriate processing can be performed depending on whether the request is an operation request or an operation response.

Furthermore, if a communication request is always issued from one device to perform communication, and the transmission of an operation request or the like from the communication partner to the communication request source is performed as a response to the communication request, the communication requesting side can send the request. Even in a communication system in which a device (communication client) is provided inside a firewall, an operation request and an operation response can be transmitted and received without being aware of the existence of the firewall. Further, since the communication request corresponds to the communication response, timing management at the communication level is easy.

In this case, if a communication request is periodically transmitted from the one device to the communication partner, transmission of information from the outside to the inside of the firewall may be stagnated for a long time. Can be prevented.
In addition, an image device command pool and a management device command pool are provided, and operation requests and operation responses generated by each application are stored in these pools, so that generation of operation requests and operation responses can be performed by a communication partner. Can be performed without considering the transmission timing for Therefore, the processing performed by the application can be simplified, and the design and development are facilitated.

Even in such a case, the information to be transmitted can be transmitted without fail when communication is performed by providing a collection unit for reading out an operation request and an operation response to be transmitted to the communication partner from the pool.
Also, by providing distribution means for separating received operation requests and operation responses from each other and storing them in an appropriate pool, and by storing received information in the pool, execution of the operation related to the received operation request is performed. Alternatively, the processing after receiving the operation response can be performed without considering the reception timing from the communication partner. Therefore, the processing performed by the application can be simplified, and the design and development are facilitated.

In addition, since a plurality of applications use a common message controller and register commands and command responses in a common imaging device command pool and a management device command pool, commands and command responses generated by different applications can be easily performed. Can be sent and received at once. Further, since it is not necessary to prepare a message controller for each application, it is possible to increase the development efficiency of the device and reduce the amount of resources required for transmitting and receiving commands and command responses.

Also, identification information such as an ID is attached to the generated operation request so that the operation request is stored and transmitted in association with the identification information, and an operation corresponding to the operation response is stored and transmitted. If a plurality of operation requests and operation responses are included in one message (here, an HTTP message), the correspondence between the operation request and the operation response can be obtained through the identification information. Can be easily recognized.
Furthermore, since information on the notification destination of the command and the notification destination of the command response is managed in association with the command, even when multiple applications use a common message controller, the command or command response is notified to the required application. Then, it is possible to execute processing corresponding to these.

[Second embodiment: FIGS. 35 to 37]
Next, a description will be given of an embodiment in which the image processing system as shown in FIG. 1 is configured and the image processing apparatus 1 functions as a communication server when HTTP is used as a communication protocol.
FIG. 35 shows a configuration of an image processing apparatus management system which is an example different from that shown in FIG. 3 of the image processing system shown in FIG.
This image processing apparatus management system also includes an image processing apparatus 21 and a management apparatus 22 that manages the image processing apparatus 21 connected via the Internet 13, as in the example shown in FIG. However, since the image processing apparatus 21 functions as an HTTP server as a communication server and the management apparatus 22 functions as an HTTP client as a communication client of the communication partner, the image processing apparatus 21 connects to the Internet 13 without passing through a firewall. On the other hand, the management device 22 is connected to the Internet 13 via the firewall 14.

In such an image processing apparatus management system, the hardware configurations of the image processing apparatus 21 and the management apparatus 22 are exactly the same as in the case of the first embodiment described above.
Although the software configuration is almost the same, the difference will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 36 is a functional block diagram corresponding to FIG. 10, showing a part of the functional configuration of the image processing apparatus of this embodiment.

As can be seen from this figure, the image processing apparatus 21 of this embodiment is different from the image processing apparatus of the first embodiment in that an NCS 309 is provided with an HTTP response transmission unit instead of an HTTP request transmission unit 46 and an HTTP response reception unit. This is the point that means 51 and HTTP request receiving means are provided. With this configuration, the image processing apparatus 21 functions as an HTTP server that receives an HTTP request and returns an HTTP response as a response to the HTTP request.

Accordingly, a command response to the imaging device command and a management device command are received in a state described in the HTTP request, and a command response to the management device command and the imaging device command are transmitted in a state described in the HTTP response. Become. The transmission message collection unit 45 attempts to read a command, a command response, or the like at the time when the HTTP request is received and the analysis of the HTTP request is completed thereafter. This is for transmitting a command or a command response to the management device 22 as a communication response to the HTTP request.

That is, the basic operation of the message collection and distribution processing executed by the CPU 201 in the image processing apparatus 21 of this embodiment is the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.
This processing is the first processing except that the processing of steps S211 to S215 for reception is performed prior to the processing of steps S216 to S219 for transmission because an HTTP request is received and an HTTP response is transmitted. This is the same as the processing described with reference to FIGS. 19 to 21 in the embodiment.
Even when the image processing apparatus 21 functions as a server, it can be operated using the same functions as those of the image processing apparatus 21 described in the first embodiment except for the above points. Therefore, from the viewpoint of the application layer 320, there is no need to distinguish whether the image processing apparatus 21 functions as a client or a server.

On the management device 22 side, in order to function as an HTTP client, the HTTP response transmission unit 146 and the HTTP request reception unit 147 are changed to the HTTP request transmission unit and the HTTP response reception unit in the functional configuration shown in FIG. do it.
Accordingly, a command response to the image device command and a management device command are transmitted in a state described in the HTTP request, and a command response to the management device command and the image device command are received in a state described in the HTTP response. Become. The timing at which the transmission message collecting unit 145 attempts to read a command, a command response, or the like can be arbitrarily selected. This is the same as in the case of the processing device 11.

The basic operation of the message collection and distribution process executed by the CPU in the management device 22 is that since the HTTP request is transmitted and the HTTP response is received, the processes of steps S116 to S119 for transmission are replaced with the steps for reception. The processing is the same as the processing described with reference to FIG. 32 in the first embodiment, except that the processing is performed before the processing of S111 to S115.
Even when the image processing apparatus management system is configured as described above, it is possible to improve the communication efficiency, improve the development efficiency of the image processing apparatus, and transmit and receive operation requests and operation responses, as in the first embodiment. It is possible to obtain effects such as a reduction in required resource amount.

(Modification)
Next, a modified example of the above-described embodiment will be described.
First, in the above-described embodiment, for simplicity of description, the present invention has been described by taking an example of an image processing system including two communication devices, an image processing device and an external device as a communication partner of the image processing device. Of course, it is also possible to apply the present invention to an image processing system including more apparatuses and an image processing apparatus configuring such an image processing system. That is, a plurality of image processing apparatuses communicate with a common communication partner, one image processing apparatus communicates with a plurality of communication partners, or a plurality of image processing apparatuses each communicate with a plurality of communication partners. A system configuration is also possible.

However, if there are multiple possible sources and destinations of commands and command responses, these information should be included in the command and command response messages and included in the command sheet so that the source and destination can be identified. Should also be described and managed.
Although the embodiment has been described with reference to the image processing apparatus management system, as shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is also applicable to an image processing system in which an external apparatus other than the management apparatus is a communication partner. Needless to say. Further, the hardware configurations of the image processing device, the management device, and the external device are not limited to those described above.

変 形 Furthermore, modifications other than those described above can be applied to the present invention. For example, the imaging device command sheet and the management device command sheet registered in the imaging device command pool 41 and the management device command pool 42 may be described as an XML document. The “input parameters” may be stored as an XML document before deserialization, or the “output parameters” may be stored as an XML document after serialization.

Further, the collection of the command and the command response by the transmission message collecting means does not necessarily need to be performed immediately before the transmission of the HTTP request or the HTTP response. A transmission message may be generated in advance and stored in the storage unit irrespective of the transmission timing so that transmission of the message can be started immediately when transmission is requested.
Further, a limit may be imposed on the information amount of a command to be transmitted / received or a command response. In particular, if the information amount of the command to be received is limited, the memory usage can be reduced when the receiving side is a device having a limited memory capacity.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, SOAP is employed as an upper protocol for realizing RPC, and the application directly operates the pool to realize RPC. However, a CORBA (Common Object Request Broker) is provided between the application and the pool. Architecture) or a bridge (message conversion function) with JAVA (registered trademark) RMI (Remote Method Invocation) may further improve application development efficiency.
That is, in the above-described embodiment, the exchange of the command and the command response between the image processing apparatus 11 and the management apparatus 12 in the above-described embodiment is performed by a SOAP message described in XML, but is not limited thereto. Instead, it may be described in another format.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the image processing apparatus and the management apparatus function only as one of the communication client and the communication server. However, communication means corresponding to both functions is provided, and communication is performed according to the situation. The functions of the client and the communication server may be arbitrarily selected.
Also, the example in which the function of notifying the application when a command or a command response is stored in the pool has been described on the message controller 40 side has been described. Is also good. Further, a function of registering a command or a command response generated by the application in the pool may be provided in the message controller 40, and the application may simply pass these to the message controller 40.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, not only the SOAP standard protocol but also a proprietary protocol combining SOAP and MIME multi-part is adopted in addition to this, so that the SOAP envelope included in the HTTP request or the HTTP response can be used. Although it is treated as completely independent, the links to the SOAP envelopes of the second and subsequent parts are embedded in the SOAP envelope of the first part included in the HTTP response by the SOAP attachment defined as the SOAP related specification. May be delivered in association with each other.

Furthermore, although an example in which HTTP is adopted as an embodiment as a data communication protocol located below a higher-level protocol such as SOAP has been described, the lower-level protocol may employ another protocol such as FTP. Good.
Furthermore, the configuration of the communication system is not limited to that described above.

Further, a program according to the present invention is a program for causing a computer to control an image processing apparatus to function as an image processing apparatus such as the image processing apparatuses 1, 11 or 21, and to cause the computer to execute such a program. Thereby, the effect as described above can be obtained.

Such a program may be stored in a storage means such as a ROM or an HDD provided in the computer from the beginning, but may be stored in a non-volatile storage medium such as a CD-ROM or a flexible disk, an SRAM, an EEPROM, or a memory card as a recording medium. It can also be provided by recording it on a medium (memory). Each of the above-described procedures can be executed by installing the program recorded in the memory in the computer and causing the CPU to execute the program, or reading and executing the program from the memory by the CPU.
Further, the program can be downloaded from an external device provided with a recording medium storing the program or an external device having the program stored in the storage means and executed.

As described above, if the image processing apparatus, the image processing system, the control method of the image processing apparatus, the program or the recording medium of the present invention is used, the communication request and the communication request can be made by the image processing apparatus and the communication device with which the image processing apparatus communicates. When configuring an image processing system that transmits and receives an operation request and an operation response to a received operation request using the communication response to the communication request, communication efficiency can be improved. Further, in a case where the image processing apparatus constituting such an image processing system is configured to perform processing in accordance with an operation request received by a plurality of applications using service means for controlling hardware resources, It is possible to increase the development efficiency of the device and reduce the amount of resources required for transmitting and receiving an operation request and an operation response.
Therefore, by applying the present invention to such an image processing system or an image processing apparatus constituting such an image processing system, it is possible to configure a communication system with a small communication load, low cost, and low operation cost. it can.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing system of the present invention configured using the image processing device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an operation request and an operation response in the image processing system illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus management system that is an example of the image processing system illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an operation request and an operation response in the image processing apparatus management system illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication sequence in the image processing device management system illustrated in FIG. 3. It is a figure showing another example. FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a hardware configuration of a management device illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of the image processing apparatus. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating functions of the image processing apparatus, focusing on functions realized by a message controller.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure in an imaging device command sheet stored in the imaging device command pool illustrated in FIG. 10. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure in a management device command sheet stored in a management device command pool illustrated in FIG. 10. FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an HTTP request transmitted from the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3 to a management apparatus. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an HTTP response received by the image processing apparatus from the management apparatus. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a part describing an image device command. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a part describing a response to an image device command. It is a figure showing the example of the part which described the management device command. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a part describing a response to a management device command. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a basic operation of message collection and distribution processing in the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3. 20 is a flowchart showing the processing of steps S11 to S14 in FIG. 19 in more detail.

20 is a flowchart showing in more detail the processing of the part after step S15 in FIG. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing general functions realized by programs of an application, a message controller, and a service layer in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 3 and a relationship between them. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing functions realized by NRS applications, a message controller, and a program of a service layer, and relationships among them. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a part of a process by an NRS application when an abnormality notification function is used in the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3. 25 is a flowchart showing a process executed after the process shown in FIG. 24. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process performed by an NRS application when a counter value acquisition function is used in the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 24 is a functional block diagram corresponding to FIG. 23, illustrating functions implemented by the document box application, the message controller, and the program of the service layer, and the relationship among them. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a part of a process performed by a document box application when a document ID notification function is used in the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a process executed after the process shown in FIG. 28. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a part of a process performed by a document box application when a remote printing function is used in the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a function for performing processing relating to a command and a command response among functions of the management apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a basic operation of message collection and distribution processing in the management device illustrated in FIG. 3. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process related to execution of an image device command. It is a flowchart which shows the other example. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus management system, which is an example different from that illustrated in FIG. 3, of the image processing system illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 36 is a functional block diagram corresponding to FIG. 10, showing a part of the functional configuration of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 35. 36 is a flowchart illustrating a basic operation of message collection and distribution processing in the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 35.

Explanation of reference numerals

1, 11, 21: Image processing device 2: External device 10: Network 12: Management device 13: Internet 14: Firewall 40: Message controller 41, 142: Image device command pool 42, 141: Management device command pool 43: Command response Notification means 44: Command notification means 45, 145: Transmission message collection means 46: HTTP request transmission means 47: HTTP response reception means 48, 148: Received message distribution means

121: Modem 122: Communication terminal 123: Proxy server 124: Operator terminal 125: Database 126: Control device 143: Management device command generation unit 144: Imaging device command execution result generation unit 146: HTTP response transmission unit 147: HTTP request reception Means 201: CPU 202: ASIC
203: SDRAM 204: Flash memory 205: NRS memory 206: PHY
207: NVRAM 209: Operation unit 210: HDD
216: Engine I / F 217: Engine section

300: Service layer 301: SCS
302: ECS 303: MCS
304: OCS 305: FCS
306: CSS 307: UCS
308: DCS 309: NCS
310: SRM 311: IMH
312: OS 320: application layer 321: copy application 322: fax application 323: printer application 324: scanner application 325: net file application 326: NRS application 327: document box application 326b, 327b: command handler 330: application 331: image device Command generation means 332: management apparatus command execution result generation means 333: service layer I / F
334: Internal processing module

Claims (35)

Communication means for communicating with a communication partner;
Hardware resources for performing image processing,
Service means for controlling the operation of the hardware resources;
It accepts a communication partner request that is an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response that is an execution result for the operation request, or generates an image device request that is an operation request to the communication partner and generates the operation request. A plurality of application means for receiving an operation response that is an execution result for
In the image processing apparatus, wherein the service unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units when generating the execution result,
Providing message control means for managing the transmission and reception of the operation request and the operation response to the operation request,
The communication means includes means for transmitting a communication request to the communication partner and receiving a communication response to the communication request from the communication partner,
In the message control means,
The image device side request, and an operation response to the communication partner side request received from the communication partner, a transmission unit that collectively transmits the communication request to the communication partner through the communication unit as the communication request,
As a communication response to the communication request, receiving means for collectively receiving the operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner and the communication partner request from the communication partner via the communication means,
An image processing apparatus, wherein the message control unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units. Communication means for communicating with a communication partner;
Hardware resources for performing image processing,
Service means for controlling the operation of the hardware resources;
It accepts a communication partner request that is an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response that is an execution result for the operation request, or generates an image device request that is an operation request to the communication partner and generates the operation request. A plurality of application means for receiving an operation response that is an execution result for
In the image processing apparatus, wherein the service unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units when generating the execution result,
Providing message control means for managing the transmission and reception of the operation request and the operation response to the operation request,
The communication means includes means for transmitting a communication request to the communication partner and receiving a communication response to the communication request from the communication partner,
In the message control means,
First storage means for storing the communication partner request and an operation response to the request;
Second storage means for storing the image device side request and an operation response to the request;
Means for notifying the application means of a communication partner request stored in the first storage means;
Means for notifying the application means of an operation response stored in the second storage means;
Collecting means for reading an operation response to the communication partner side request from the first storage means and reading the image device side request from the second storage means;
To the communication partner, a transmission unit that collectively transmits the operation response and the image device side request read by the collection unit as the communication request via the communication unit,
As a communication response to the communication request, receiving means for collectively receiving an operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner and the communication partner request from the communication partner via the communication means,
The communication partner side request received by the receiving unit is stored in the first storage unit, and the operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner received by the receiving unit is transmitted to the communication partner. Distributing means for storing in the second storage means in association with the image device side request,
An image processing apparatus, wherein the message control unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit periodically transmits a communication request to the communication partner. Communication means for communicating with a communication partner;
Hardware resources for performing image processing,
Service means for controlling the operation of the hardware resources;
It accepts a communication partner request that is an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response that is an execution result for the operation request, or generates an image device request that is an operation request to the communication partner and generates the operation request. A plurality of application means for receiving an operation response that is an execution result for
In the image processing apparatus, wherein the service unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units when generating the execution result,
Providing message control means for managing the transmission and reception of the operation request and the operation response to the operation request,
The communication means includes means for transmitting an HTTP request to the communication partner and receiving an HTTP response to the HTTP request from the communication partner,
In the message control means,
A SOAP request describing the contents of the image device side request and a SOAP response describing the contents of the operation response to the communication partner side request received from the communication partner are described in one HTTP request via the communication unit. Transmitting means for transmitting to the communication partner,
As an HTTP response to the HTTP request, a SOAP response that is a SOAP response to the SOAP request transmitted to the communication partner and describes the content of an operation response to the image device request transmitted to the communication partner, and a SOAP response of the communication partner request Receiving means for receiving a SOAP request describing the content from the communication partner via the communication means in a state described in one HTTP response;
An image processing apparatus, wherein the message control unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units. Communication means for communicating with a communication partner;
Hardware resources for performing image processing,
Service means for controlling the operation of the hardware resources;
It accepts a communication partner request that is an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response that is an execution result for the operation request, or generates an image device request that is an operation request to the communication partner and generates the operation request. A plurality of application means for receiving an operation response that is an execution result for
In the image processing apparatus, wherein the service unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units when generating the execution result,
Providing message control means for managing the transmission and reception of the operation request and the operation response to the operation request,
The communication means includes means for transmitting an HTTP request to the communication partner and receiving an HTTP response to the HTTP request from the communication partner,
In the message control means,
First storage means for storing a communication partner request, which is an operation request from the communication partner, and an operation response to the request;
Second storage means for storing an image device side request as an operation request to the communication partner and an operation response to the request;
Means for notifying the application means of a communication partner request stored in the first storage means;
Means for notifying the application means of an operation response stored in the second storage means;
Collecting means for reading an operation response to the communication partner side request from the first storage means and reading the image device side request from the second storage means;
A SOAP response describing the contents of the operation response read by the collection unit and a SOAP request describing the contents of the image device side request read by the collection unit are written in one HTTP request to the communication partner. Transmitting means for transmitting via the communication means,
As an HTTP response to the one HTTP request, a SOAP response to the SOAP request transmitted to the communication partner and a SOAP request from the communication partner are described in the one HTTP response and the communication partner via the communication unit. Receiving means for receiving from
The content of the communication partner request described in the SOAP request received by the receiving unit is stored in the first storage unit, and the image transmitted to the communication partner described in the SOAP response received by the receiving unit. Distribution means for storing the content of the operation response to the device side request in the second storage means in association with the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner,
An image processing apparatus, wherein the message control unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting means periodically transmits an HTTP request to said communication partner. Communication means for communicating with a communication partner;
Hardware resources for performing image processing,
Service means for controlling the operation of the hardware resources;
It accepts a communication partner request that is an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response that is an execution result for the operation request, or generates an image device request that is an operation request to the communication partner and generates the operation request. A plurality of application means for receiving an operation response that is an execution result for
In the image processing apparatus, wherein the service unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units when generating the execution result,
Providing message control means for managing the transmission and reception of the operation request and the operation response to the operation request,
The communication means includes means for receiving a communication request from the communication partner and transmitting a communication response to the communication request to the communication partner,
In the message control means,
The communication partner side request, and an operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner side, receiving means for collectively receiving the communication request from the communication partner through the communication means as the communication request,
As a communication response to the communication request, an operation response to the communication partner request received from the communication partner and a transmission unit that collectively transmits the imaging device request to the communication partner via the communication unit are provided. ,
An image processing apparatus, wherein the message control unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units. Communication means for communicating with a communication partner;
Hardware resources for performing image processing,
Service means for controlling the operation of the hardware resources;
It accepts a communication partner request that is an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response that is an execution result for the operation request, or generates an image device request that is an operation request to the communication partner and generates the operation request. A plurality of application means for receiving an operation response that is an execution result for
In the image processing apparatus, wherein the service unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units when generating the execution result,
Providing message control means for managing the transmission and reception of the operation request and the operation response to the operation request,
The communication means includes means for receiving a communication request from the communication partner and transmitting a communication response to the communication request to the communication partner,
In the message control means,
First storage means for storing the communication partner request and an operation response to the request;
Second storage means for storing the image device side request and an operation response to the request;
Means for notifying the application means of a communication partner request stored in the first storage means;
Means for notifying the application means of an operation response stored in the second storage means;
A receiving unit that receives the communication partner side request and an operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner as the communication request from the communication partner through the communication unit at a time,
The communication partner side request received by the receiving unit is stored in the first storage unit, and the operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner received by the receiving unit is transmitted to the communication partner. Distributing means for storing in the second storage means in association with the image device side request;
Collecting means for reading an operation response to the communication partner side request from the first storage means and reading the image device side request from the second storage means;
As a communication response to the communication request received by the receiving unit, a transmitting unit that collectively transmits the operation response and the image device side request read by the collecting unit to the communication partner via the communication unit,
An image processing apparatus, wherein the message control unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units. Communication means for communicating with a communication partner;
Hardware resources for performing image processing,
Service means for controlling the operation of the hardware resources;
It accepts a communication partner request that is an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response that is an execution result for the operation request, or generates an image device request that is an operation request to the communication partner and generates the operation request. A plurality of application means for receiving an operation response that is an execution result for
In the image processing apparatus, wherein the service unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units when generating the execution result,
Providing message control means for managing the transmission and reception of the operation request and the operation response to the operation request,
The communication means includes means for receiving an HTTP request from the communication partner and transmitting an HTTP response to the HTTP request to the communication partner,
In the message control means,
In the state where the SOAP request describing the contents of the request of the communication partner and the SOAP response describing the contents of the operation response to the request of the image device transmitted to the communication partner are described in one HTTP request, Receiving means for receiving via communication means;
As an HTTP response to the HTTP request, a SOAP response to the SOAP request received from the communication partner, the SOAP response describing the content of an operation response to the communication partner request received from the communication partner, and the imaging device request And a transmitting unit for transmitting a SOAP request describing the content of the HTTP request to one of the communication partners via the communication unit in a single HTTP response,
An image processing apparatus, wherein the message control unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units. Communication means for communicating with a communication partner;
Hardware resources for performing image processing,
Service means for controlling the operation of the hardware resources;
It accepts a communication partner request that is an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response that is an execution result for the operation request, or generates an image device request that is an operation request to the communication partner and generates the operation request. A plurality of application means for receiving an operation response that is an execution result for
In the image processing apparatus, wherein the service unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units when generating the execution result,
Providing message control means for managing the transmission and reception of the operation request and the operation response to the operation request,
The communication means includes means for receiving an HTTP request from the communication partner and transmitting an HTTP response to the HTTP request to the communication partner,
In the message control means,
First storage means for storing a communication partner request as an operation request from the communication partner and an operation response to the request;
Second storage means for storing an image device side request as an operation request to the communication partner and an operation response to the request;
Means for notifying the application means of a communication partner request stored in the first storage means;
Means for notifying the application means of an operation response stored in the second storage means;
A SOAP request that describes the request of the communication partner and a SOAP response that is a SOAP response to the SOAP request transmitted to the communication partner and describes an operation response to the request of the image device transmitted to the communication partner are defined as one HTTP. Receiving means for receiving from the communication partner via the communication means in a state described in a request,
The content of the communication partner request described in the SOAP request received by the receiving unit is stored in the first storage unit, and the image transmitted to the communication partner described in the SOAP response received by the receiving unit. Distribution means for storing the contents of the operation response to the device side request in the second storage means in association with the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner;
Collecting means for reading an operation response to the communication partner side request from the first storage means and reading the image device side request from the second storage means;
As an HTTP response to the one HTTP request, a SOAP response describing the contents of the operation response read by the collection unit and a SOAP request describing the contents of the image device side request read by the collection unit are defined as one HTTP. Transmission means for transmitting to the communication partner via the communication means described in a response, provided
An image processing apparatus, wherein the message control unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
The operation request is a function call,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation response is an execution result of a function called by the function call. An image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
The transmitting unit transmits an operation response and an operation request to be transmitted to the communication partner as SOAP messages, respectively.
An image processing apparatus, wherein the receiving means receives an operation response and an operation request received from the communication partner as a SOAP message. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:
Describe the function call in the SOAP request,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an execution result of the function called by the function call is described in the SOAP response. Communication means for communicating with a communication partner;
Hardware resources for performing image processing,
Service means for controlling the operation of the hardware resources;
It accepts a communication partner request that is an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response that is an execution result for the operation request, or generates an image device request that is an operation request to the communication partner and generates the operation request. A plurality of application means for receiving an operation response that is an execution result for
In the image processing system, the service unit includes an image processing device that is a unit used by the plurality of application units when generating the execution result, and a communication device that is a communication partner of the image processing device.
The image processing apparatus further includes a message control unit that manages transmission and reception of the operation request and an operation response to the operation request,
The communication means of the image processing apparatus, a means for transmitting a communication request to the communication partner, and receiving a communication response to the communication request from the communication partner,
In the message control means,
The image device side request, and an operation response to the communication partner side request received from the communication partner, a transmission unit that collectively transmits the communication request to the communication partner through the communication unit as the communication request,
As a communication response to the communication request, receiving means for collectively receiving the operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner and the communication partner request from the communication partner via the communication means,
The message control unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units,
In the communication device,
A receiving unit that collectively receives, from the image processing device, the image device side request and an operation response to the communication partner side request transmitted to the image processing device as the communication request;
Transmitting means for collectively transmitting to the image processing device an operation response to the image device side request received from the image processing device and the management device side request as a communication response to the communication request;
Means for executing an operation related to the image device side request and generating an operation response to the image device side request as an execution result. Communication means for communicating with a communication partner;
Hardware resources for performing image processing,
Service means for controlling the operation of the hardware resources;
It accepts a communication partner request that is an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response that is an execution result for the operation request, or generates an image device request that is an operation request to the communication partner and generates the operation request. A plurality of application means for receiving an operation response that is an execution result for
In the image processing system, the service unit includes an image processing device that is a unit used by the plurality of application units when generating the execution result, and a communication device that is a communication partner of the image processing device.
The image processing apparatus further includes a message control unit that manages transmission and reception of the operation request and an operation response to the operation request,
The communication means of the image processing apparatus, a means for transmitting a communication request to the communication partner, and receiving a communication response to the communication request from the communication partner,
In the message control means,
First storage means for storing the communication partner request and an operation response to the request;
Second storage means for storing the image device side request and an operation response to the request;
Means for notifying the application means of a communication partner request stored in the first storage means;
Means for notifying the application means of an operation response stored in the second storage means;
Collecting means for reading an operation response to the communication partner side request from the first storage means and reading the image device side request from the second storage means;
To the communication partner, a transmission unit that collectively transmits the operation response and the image device side request read by the collection unit as the communication request via the communication unit,
As a communication response to the communication request, receiving means for collectively receiving an operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner and the communication partner request from the communication partner via the communication means,
The communication partner side request received by the receiving unit is stored in the first storage unit, and the operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner received by the receiving unit is transmitted to the communication partner. Distributing means for storing in the second storage means in association with the image device side request,
The message control unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units,
In the communication device,
First storage means for storing the image device side request and an operation response to the request;
Second storage means for storing the communication partner request and an operation response to the request;
Request generation means for generating the communication partner request and storing the request in the second storage means of the communication device;
The image device side request is read from the first storage unit of the communication device, an operation related to the image device side request is executed, an operation response to the image device side request is generated as a result of the execution, and the operation response is read out. Response generation means for storing in the first storage means of the communication device in association with the image device side request,
A receiving unit that collectively receives, from the image processing device, the image device side request and an operation response to the communication partner side request transmitted to the image processing device as the communication request;
The image device side request received by the receiving unit is stored in the first storage unit of the communication device, and the operation response to the communication partner side request received by the receiving unit and transmitted to the image processing device is stored in the image storage unit. Distributing means for storing in the second storage means of the communication device in association with the communication partner request transmitted to the processing device,
Collecting means for reading an operation response to the image device side request from the first storage means of the communication device and reading the communication partner side request from the second storage means of the communication device;
As a communication response to the communication request received by the receiving unit of the communication device, there is provided a transmission unit that collectively transmits the operation response and the communication partner request read by the collection unit to the image processing apparatus. Image processing system. The image processing system according to claim 15, wherein
An image processing system, wherein the transmitting unit of the image processing device periodically transmits a communication request to the communication device. Communication means for communicating with a communication partner;
Hardware resources for performing image processing,
Service means for controlling the operation of the hardware resources;
It accepts a communication partner request that is an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response that is an execution result for the operation request, or generates an image device request that is an operation request to the communication partner and generates the operation request. A plurality of application means for receiving an operation response that is an execution result for
In the image processing system, the service unit includes an image processing device that is a unit used by the plurality of application units when generating the execution result, and a communication device that is a communication partner of the image processing device.
The image processing apparatus further includes a message control unit that manages transmission and reception of the operation request and an operation response to the operation request,
The communication means of the image processing apparatus, provided with means for receiving a communication request from the communication partner, and transmitting a communication response to the communication request to the communication partner,
In the message control means,
The communication partner side request, and an operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner side, receiving means for collectively receiving the communication request from the communication partner through the communication means as the communication request,
As a communication response to the communication request, an operation response to the communication partner request received from the communication partner and a transmission unit that collectively transmits the imaging device request to the communication partner via the communication unit are provided. ,
The message control unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units,
In the communication device,
A transmitting unit that collectively transmits the communication partner request and an operation response to the image device side request that is an operation request from the image processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus as the communication request,
As a communication response to the communication request, receiving means for collectively receiving, from the image processing device, an operation response to the communication partner request transmitted to the image processing device and the image device side request,
Means for executing an operation related to the image device side request and generating an operation response to the image device side request as an execution result. Communication means for communicating with a communication partner;
Hardware resources for performing image processing,
Service means for controlling the operation of the hardware resources;
It accepts a communication partner request that is an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response that is an execution result for the operation request, or generates an image device request that is an operation request to the communication partner and generates the operation request. A plurality of application means for receiving an operation response that is an execution result for
In the image processing system, the service unit includes an image processing device that is a unit used by the plurality of application units when generating the execution result, and a communication device that is a communication partner of the image processing device.
The image processing apparatus is provided with a message control unit that manages transmission and reception of the operation request and an operation response to the operation request,
The communication means of the image processing apparatus, provided with means for receiving a communication request from the communication partner, and transmitting a communication response to the communication request to the communication partner,
In the message control means,
First storage means for storing the communication partner request and an operation response to the request;
Second storage means for storing the image device side request and an operation response to the request;
Means for notifying the application means of a communication partner request stored in the first storage means;
Means for notifying the application means of an operation response stored in the second storage means;
A receiving unit that receives the communication partner side request and an operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner as the communication request from the communication partner through the communication unit at a time,
The communication partner side request received by the receiving unit is stored in the first storage unit, and the operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner received by the receiving unit is transmitted to the communication partner. Distributing means for storing in the second storage means in association with the image device side request;
Collecting means for reading an operation response to the communication partner side request from the first storage means and reading the image device side request from the second storage means;
As a communication response to the communication request received by the receiving unit, a transmitting unit that collectively transmits the operation response and the image device side request read by the collecting unit to the communication partner via the communication unit,
The message control unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units,
In the communication device,
First storage means for storing the image device side request and an operation response to the request;
Second storage means for storing the communication partner request and an operation response to the request;
Request generating means for generating the communication partner request and storing the request in the second storage means;
An image device request read from the first storage unit, an operation related to the image device request is executed, an operation response to the image device request is generated as a result of the execution, and the image device read the operation response Response generating means for storing in the first storage means in association with the side request;
Collecting means for reading an operation response to the image device side request from the first storage means and reading the communication partner side request from the second storage means;
To the image processing apparatus, a transmission unit that collectively transmits the operation response and the communication partner request read by the collection unit as the communication request,
As a communication response to the communication request, receiving means for collectively receiving, from the image processing device, an operation response to the communication partner request transmitted to the image processing device and the image device side request,
The image device side request received by the receiving unit is stored in the first storage unit, and the operation response to the communication partner side request received by the receiving unit and transmitted to the image processing device is transmitted to the image processing device. An image processing system, further comprising: a distribution unit that stores the request in the second storage unit in association with the transmitted communication partner request. The image processing system according to claim 14 or 17,
The operation request is a function call,
The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the operation response is an execution result of a function called by the function call. The image processing system according to any one of claims 15, 16, and 18,
In the image processing apparatus,
The transmitting means transmits an operation response and an operation request to be transmitted to the communication device as SOAP messages, respectively,
The receiving means receives an operation response and an operation request received from the communication device as SOAP messages, respectively,
In the communication device,
The transmitting means transmits an operation response and an operation request to be transmitted to the image processing apparatus as SOAP messages, respectively.
An image processing system, wherein the receiving means receives an operation response and an operation request received from the image processing apparatus as SOAP messages. Communication means for communicating with a communication partner;
Hardware resources for performing image processing,
Service means for controlling the operation of the hardware resources;
It accepts a communication partner request that is an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response that is an execution result for the operation request, or generates an image device request that is an operation request to the communication partner and generates the operation request. A plurality of application means for receiving an operation response that is an execution result for
In the control method of the image processing apparatus, wherein the service unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units when generating the execution result,
Causing the communication means to transmit a communication request to the communication partner, and receiving a communication response to the communication request from the communication partner;
As a message control process for managing transmission and reception of operation requests and operation responses generated or received by the plurality of application means,
A transmission procedure of transmitting the image device side request and an operation response to the communication partner side request received from the communication partner to the communication partner via the communication unit as the communication request at a time,
As a communication response to the communication request, an operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner and a reception procedure of collectively receiving the communication partner request from the communication partner via the communication means are included in the image. A method for controlling an image processing apparatus, wherein the method is executed by a processing apparatus. Communication means for communicating with a communication partner;
Hardware resources for performing image processing,
Service means for controlling the operation of the hardware resources;
It accepts a communication partner request that is an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response that is an execution result for the operation request, or generates an image device request that is an operation request to the communication partner and generates the operation request. A plurality of application means for receiving an operation response that is an execution result for
In the control method of the image processing apparatus, wherein the service unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units when generating the execution result,
Causing the communication means to transmit a communication request to the communication partner, and receiving a communication response to the communication request from the communication partner;
As a message control process for managing transmission and reception of operation requests and operation responses generated or received by the plurality of application means,
Providing a first storage area for storing the communication partner request and an operation response to the request;
Providing a second storage area for storing the image device side request and an operation response to the request;
Notifying the application unit of the communication partner request stored in the first storage unit;
Notifying the application means of an operation response stored in the second storage means;
A collection procedure for reading an operation response to the communication partner side request from the first storage area and reading the image device side request from the second storage area;
To the communication partner, a transmission procedure of transmitting the operation response and the image device side request read in the collection procedure as the communication request collectively via the communication unit,
As a communication response to the communication request, a receiving procedure for collectively receiving the operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner and the communication partner request from the communication partner via the communication unit,
The communication partner side request received in the receiving procedure is stored in the first storage area, and an operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner received by the receiving means is transmitted to the communication partner. Controlling the image processing apparatus to execute a distribution procedure of storing the image data in the second storage area in association with the image device side request. 23. The control method of the image processing device according to claim 22, wherein
A method for controlling an image processing apparatus, wherein the image processing apparatus is caused to periodically transmit a communication request to the communication partner. Communication means for communicating with a communication partner;
Hardware resources for performing image processing,
Service means for controlling the operation of the hardware resources;
It accepts a communication partner request that is an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response that is an execution result for the operation request, or generates an image device request that is an operation request to the communication partner and generates the operation request. A plurality of application means for receiving an operation response that is an execution result for
In the control method of the image processing apparatus, wherein the service unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units when generating the execution result,
Causing the communication means to receive a communication request from the communication partner, and to transmit a communication response to the communication request to the communication partner;
As a message control process for managing transmission and reception of operation requests and operation responses generated or received by the plurality of application means,
The communication partner side request, an operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner side, a receiving procedure of collectively receiving from the communication partner through the communication means as the communication request,
As a communication response to the communication request, an operation response to the communication partner side request received from the communication partner, and a transmission procedure of collectively transmitting the image device side request to the communication partner through the communication means, A method for controlling an image processing device, wherein the method is executed by an image processing device. Communication means for communicating with a communication partner;
Hardware resources for performing image processing,
Service means for controlling the operation of the hardware resources;
It accepts a communication partner request that is an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response that is an execution result for the operation request, or generates an image device request that is an operation request to the communication partner and generates the operation request. A plurality of application means for receiving an operation response that is an execution result for
In the control method of the image processing apparatus, wherein the service unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units when generating the execution result,
Causing the communication means to receive a communication request from the communication partner, and to transmit a communication response to the communication request to the communication partner;
As a message control process for managing transmission and reception of operation requests and operation responses generated or received by the plurality of application means,
Providing a first storage area for storing the communication partner request and an operation response to the request;
Providing a second storage area for storing the image device side request and an operation response to the request;
Notifying the application means of the communication partner request stored in the first storage area;
Notifying the application means of an operation response stored in the second storage area;
A receiving step of collectively receiving the communication partner side request and an operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner from the communication partner via the communication unit as the communication request,
The communication partner side request received in the receiving procedure is stored in the first storage area, and an operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication party received in the receiving procedure is transmitted to the communication partner. A distribution procedure for storing the image data in the second storage area in association with the image device request;
A collection procedure for reading an operation response to the communication partner side request from the first storage area and reading the image device side request from the second storage area;
As a communication response to the communication request received in the receiving procedure, a transmission procedure of transmitting the operation response read in the collection procedure and the image device-side request collectively to the communication partner via the communication unit is performed by the image processing. A method for controlling an image processing apparatus, wherein the method is executed by an apparatus. A control method for an image processing apparatus according to claim 21 or 24,
The operation request is a function call,
The method according to claim 1, wherein the operation response is an execution result of a function called by the function call. A method for controlling an image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 22, 23, and 25,
In the transmission procedure, an operation response and an operation request to be transmitted to the communication partner are transmitted as SOAP messages, respectively.
The control method of an image processing apparatus, wherein in the receiving procedure, an operation response and an operation request received from the communication partner are received as SOAP messages. A computer that controls the image processing device,
Communication means for communicating with a communication partner;
Service means for controlling the operation of hardware resources for performing image processing;
It accepts a communication partner request that is an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response that is an execution result for the operation request, or generates an image device request that is an operation request to the communication partner and generates the operation request. Function as a plurality of application means for receiving operation responses that are execution results for
In a program, wherein the service unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units when the execution result is generated,
Further comprising the computer
Functioning as a message control means for managing transmission and reception of the operation request and an operation response to the operation request,
The communication means has a function of transmitting a communication request to the communication partner and receiving a communication response to the communication request from the communication partner,
As a function of the message control means,
A function of a transmitting unit that transmits the image device side request and an operation response to the communication partner side request received from the communication partner to the communication partner through the communication unit as the communication request in a lump;
As a communication response to the communication request, an operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner and a function of a receiving unit that collectively receives the communication partner side request from the communication partner via the communication unit. Provided,
A program, wherein the message control means is means used by a plurality of the application means. A computer that controls the image processing device,
Communication means for communicating with a communication partner;
Service means for controlling the operation of hardware resources for performing image processing;
It accepts a communication partner request that is an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response that is an execution result for the operation request, or generates an image device request that is an operation request to the communication partner and generates the operation request. Function as a plurality of application means for receiving operation responses that are execution results for
In a program, wherein the service unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units when the execution result is generated,
Further comprising the computer
Functioning as a message control means for managing transmission and reception of the operation request and an operation response to the operation request,
The communication means has a function of transmitting a communication request to the communication partner and receiving a communication response to the communication request from the communication partner,
As a function of the message control means,
A function of first storage means for storing the communication partner request and an operation response to the request;
A function of a second storage unit that stores the image device side request and an operation response to the request;
A function of a means for notifying the application means of a communication partner request stored in the first storage means,
A function of a unit for notifying the application unit of an operation response stored in the second storage unit;
A function of a collecting unit for reading an operation response to the communication partner side request from the first storage unit and reading the image device side request from the second storage unit;
To the communication partner, a function of a transmission unit that collectively transmits the operation response and the image device side request read by the collection unit as the communication request via the communication unit,
As a communication response to the communication request, a function of a receiving unit that collectively receives the operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner and the communication partner request from the communication partner via the communication unit,
The communication partner side request received by the receiving unit is stored in the first storage unit, and the operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner received by the receiving unit is transmitted to the communication partner. A function of a distribution unit to be stored in the second storage unit in association with the image device side request,
A program, wherein the message control means is means used by a plurality of the application means. 30. The program according to claim 29,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit has a function of periodically transmitting a communication request to the communication partner. A computer that controls the image processing device,
Communication means for communicating with a communication partner;
Service means for controlling the operation of hardware resources for performing image processing;
It accepts a communication partner request that is an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response that is an execution result for the operation request, or generates an image device request that is an operation request to the communication partner and generates the operation request. Function as a plurality of application means for receiving operation responses that are execution results for
In a program, wherein the service unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units when the execution result is generated,
Further comprising the computer
Functioning as a message control means for managing transmission and reception of the operation request and an operation response to the operation request,
The communication means has a function of receiving a communication request from the communication partner and transmitting a communication response to the communication request to the communication partner,
As a function of the message control means,
The communication partner side request, an operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner side, a function of a receiving unit that collectively receives from the communication partner through the communication unit as the communication request,
As a communication response to the communication request, an operation response to the communication partner side request received from the communication partner, and a function of a transmission unit that collectively transmits the image device side request to the communication partner through the communication unit. And
A program, wherein the message control unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units. A computer that controls the image processing device,
Communication means for communicating with a communication partner;
Service means for controlling the operation of hardware resources for performing image processing;
It accepts a communication partner request that is an operation request from the communication partner and returns an operation response that is an execution result for the operation request, or generates an image device request that is an operation request to the communication partner and generates the operation request. Function as a plurality of application means for receiving operation responses that are execution results for
In a program, wherein the service unit is a unit used by a plurality of the application units when the execution result is generated,
Further comprising the computer
Functioning as a message control means for managing transmission and reception of the operation request and an operation response to the operation request,
The communication means has a function of receiving a communication request from the communication partner and transmitting a communication response to the communication request to the communication partner,
As a function of the message control means,
A function of first storage means for storing the communication partner request and an operation response to the request;
A function of a second storage unit that stores the image device side request and an operation response to the request;
A function of a means for notifying the application means of a communication partner request stored in the first storage means,
A function of a unit for notifying the application unit of an operation response stored in the second storage unit;
A function of a receiving unit that receives the communication partner side request and an operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner as the communication request from the communication partner through the communication unit in a lump;
The communication partner side request received by the receiving unit is stored in the first storage unit, and the operation response to the image device side request transmitted to the communication partner received by the receiving unit is transmitted to the communication partner. A function of a distribution unit to be stored in the second storage unit in association with the image device side request;
A function of a collecting unit for reading an operation response to the communication partner side request from the first storage unit and reading the image device side request from the second storage unit;
As a communication response to the communication request received by the receiving unit, a function of a transmitting unit that collectively transmits the operation response read by the collecting unit and the image device side request to the communication partner via the communication unit is provided. ,
A program, wherein the message control means is means used by a plurality of the application means. The program according to claim 28 or 31, wherein
The operation request is a function call,
The program is characterized in that the operation response is an execution result of a function called by the function call. The program according to any one of claims 29, 30, and 32,
The function of the transmitting means, a function of transmitting an operation response and an operation request to be transmitted to the communication partner as a SOAP message, respectively,
A program according to claim 1, wherein the function of said receiving means is a function of receiving an operation response and an operation request received from said communication partner as a SOAP message. A computer-readable recording medium recording the program according to any one of claims 28 to 34.

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